asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that Joseph Hart, No. 39/D 133, lodged his unemployment insurance book at the Dartford Labour Exchange and has had his unemployment vacant ticket signed continuously from 24th February to 10th April; that up to the present time no definite decision has been given by the Board of Trade as to whether he is entitled to unemployment benefit or otherwise; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I have made inquiries into the question raised by my hon. Friend, and I think that he has been misinformed as to the facts of the case. I understand that Joseph Hart made a direct claim for benefit on the 24th February, which was authorised on the 3rd March; that on the following Friday, the 7th March, he received the amount of benefit due to him, in the ordinary way. On the 10th March he desired to have his claim transferred from a direct to an association claim, and, pending a decision on this question, which was being discussed between him and the insurance officer, he did not make a direct claim for payment of the further sums due to him. I am further informed that the full amount, two guineas, due to him in the way of direct unemployment benefit, was paid to him on the 18th instant.

May I ask whether it is not a fact that when men sign these vacant tickets, it is an indication that they are to be allowed to get their unemployment pay from the associations?

It has been explained several times that where there is an agreement between the Board and an association the Board does not pay independently of the association the men getting unemployment benefit, but under the Act it goes to them periodically.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that William Jones, 53/D 1232, lodged his unemployment insurance book at the Shoreditch Labour Exchange on or about Wednesday, 29th January, and signed daily as being unemployed up to 8th February and up to that time did not receive any decision of the Board of Trade as to whether he was entitled to unemployment benefit; if he is aware that he obtained employment, but again fell out of work and lodged his book at the Shoreditch Exchange on 19th February, and continued to sign as being unemployed up to 15th March, and that up to the present time the Board of Trade has not given a decision as to whether he is entitled to benefit; whether he can state the reason for the delay; and if he will take action in the matter?

I have inquired into this case and am informed that Mr. Jones claimed, as stated, on the 29th January. There were several points to be cleared up before a decision could be given, and, owing to the fact that the workman was claiming benefit through an association and not direct, he did not attend regularly at the Exchange, and though a communication asking him to call was sent to him it was not possible to settle the matter with him till the 6th March. The claim was authorised on the 11th March, and Mr. Jones's union were duly informed to that effect. I am informed that the second claim referred to could not be authorised until the point raised in the first case had been cleared up. This claim was, however, duly authorised on the 17th April. I can only repeat what I have already said in reply to previous questions that it was inevitable at the outset, when a great rush of claims had to be dealt with simultaneously that claims on which queries arose should in some cases be delayed. No one regrets any inconvenience caused by these initial delays more than the Department, but so far as I can judge, they have been remarkably few in number compared with the great mass of claims dealt with, and now that decisions have been given on a number of questions of principle that have caused difficulty at the beginning, and the staff are growing accustomed to the work, I hope and trust that these cases may be diminished to vanishing point.

May I ask whether there is any possible chance of decisions being given more speedily, because in this case which I have before me the man signed as stated in the question, while as a matter of fact it was only last Friday he was paid, receiving then the amount for four weeks and two days?

It is one of those cases of which I have spoken. In this case the delay has arisen out of the association agreement, but as I have said it is the desire of the Department that no such delays should take place in future.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that, in some instances, the decision as to benefit on the claims of members of associations having an arrangement under Section 105 is not given for several weeks, and that it has been the practice of associations to obtain the member's signature on one U.I. 75 form for the whole of the benefit paid during the period of unemployment; if he is aware that Labour Exchange managers are now asking secretaries of associations to fill in a U.I. 75 form to cover each week a member is unemployed and to alter the amount of the receipt signed by the member and divide the amount over the period of weeks covered by the unemployment; and if he is aware that this action of the Labour Exchange managers is causing considerable clerical work and consequent irritation; and if he proposes to take action in the matter?

The form referred to by my hon. Friend is used commonly for the purposes both of Section 105 and of Section 106, under the latter of which any sum in excess of 12s. per week paid by an association to an unemployed member is excluded from account in estimating the repayment to be made by the State to the association. In any case, therefore, in which a large payment is made in a single week, representing benefit for several preceding weeks, it is essential in the interests of the association that this latter fact should be made clear, so that the payment made for the purposes of Section 106 be treated as a payment for several weeks and not as a payment for one week. Otherwise the whole excess of the payment (12s.) would be excluded from account and the association would suffer financial loss. The action taken by the Labour Exchanges in regard to this matter is taken for the purpose of saving the association from this loss. The question of the revision of the forms is at the present moment being carefully considered.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell me whether, when a man signs, the Department insists upon the forms being altered? When, for instance, a lump sum of £2 is sent to a man for four weeks' pay, has he then to date the sheets three weeks back?

I am not aware of the details, but, as I have stated, the whole matter of forms is under consideration.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury how many employed contributors earning less than 1s. 6d. and 2s. a day, respectively, were assured at any recent date under the National Insurance Act, and how many were male and how many female?

The number of employed contributors of twenty-one and over, whose rate of remuneration did not exceed 2s. a working day and in respect of whom claims have been made for the first quarter for payment of the State contribution of 1d. a contribution, is approximately 411,000—

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman say from the returns from the societies how many get under 1s. 6d. a day?

Do the figures given include Ireland?

These figures include all portions of the United Kingdom. On the other point I will see if I can ascertain what is desired.

asked the number of male and female voluntary contributors under the National Insurance Act who joined before the 15th January, 1913; and how many of these contributors were already members of friendly societies?

Voluntary contributors' cards for the second quarter have not yet been received from societies, and information as to the number of such contributors who join before the 15th January is therefore not yet available. With regard to the number of those who joined in the first quarter, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Walsall on the 27th March. I will see whether it is possible, without throwing a disproportionate amount of work on the approved societies, to obtain the information asked for in the last part of the question.

asked how many male and female employed persons, respectively, have claimed exemption from contributions under the National Insurance Act; and whether any scheme has yet been formulated for using their employers' contributions for their benefit?

One hundred and thirty-six thousand four hundred and thirty-one applications for exemption under Section 2 in all have been received by the Insurance Commissions, and 109,311 certificates have been granted, 69,932 to men and 39,379 to women. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. Further information than is yet available as to the average payments for exempt persons, and the proportion who cease to be exempt by becoming insured persons or ceasing to be employed or otherwise, is required before a scheme for the disposal of the contributions can properly be framed.

Meanwhile are the contributions being kept apart so that ultimately some of these people may get something?

I think that thee record is being kept.

asked whether, in the proposed Bill to amend the National Insurance Act, he will include a provision that marriage certificates required for claiming maternity benefits shall be supplied at 6d. each as in the case of birth certificates, and so avoid the hardships of the present charge of 3s. 7d.?

The question whether it is practicable to make provision whereby insured persons who require copies of their marriage certificates in connection with a claim for benefits under the National Insurance Act may be able to obtain such copies at a reduced charge is now receiving consideration.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state in which counties, and county boroughs in Ireland panels of doctors have been formed in connection with the National Insurance Act; and if he can explain why circulars were issued by the Irish Insurance Commissioners stating that panels had been formed in every county and county borough in Ireland when panels had not-been formed in many cases?

I am informed by the Irish Insurance Commissioners that no such circulars as are referred to in the question have been issued by the Commissioners. I understand the hon. Baronet to refer to a paragraph in a specimen copy of a form that is intended to be used when the panel system is workings, which was issued to doctors for the purpose of explaining their duties under the panel system. That it was not intended as a statement that panels had already been formed is shown not only by the character of the form, but by the fact that it was issued to the doctors (who alone received it) before the date by which they were asked to have sent in their names for the panels. I am informed by the Commissioners that sufficient doctors have already intimated their willingness to serve to enable panels to be formed in the following areas:—

asked under what conditions the insurance committees are to be appointed in the future so as to comply with the condition that they are to be really representative in part of the insured persons in the district?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn on Monday last.

asked the date on which the Wandsworth District Insurance Committee last met?

The district insurance committees for the London boroughs have only recently been constituted, and I am informed by the London Insurance Committee that no meeting of the Wandsworth District Insurance Committee has yet been held. All the members, however, have been informed of their appointments, and the London Insurance Committee are in communication with the borough council on the matter.

asked the number of persons insured against unemployment under Part II. of the National Insurance Act; and the number of claims presented between 15th January, 1913, and 15th April, 1913?

The number of unemployment books issued to applicants up to the 12th April, 1913, was 2,392,677, and the number of separate claims to unemployment benefit made up to the 11th April, 1913, was 350,780.

asked whether the Scottish railway companies have decided to increase the third-class railway fares 5 per cent. and the excursions 2½ per cent.; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?

I am aware of the decision to which my hon Friend refers, and I am sending him a copy of a letter which I have received from the Caledonian Railway Company on the subject. The Board of Trade have no power to interfere with the discretion of the railway companies as regards the revision of passenger fares within the statutory maxima.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether he would publish the letter from the Caledonian Railway Company in the Votes?

I will consider the point.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the number of masters and mates of foreign nationality employed in British registered trading vessels is increasing or decreasing; and whether he will consider the question of altering the regulations with a view to prevent aliens acquiring certificates under the British flag?

As stated in a reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Orkney and Shetland on 14th April, the number of aliens shown by the Census of seamen for 3rd April, 1911, as serving as officers on British registered trading vessels on that date was as follows:—87 masters, 310 mates, and 288 engineers out of a total of 7,995 masters, 12,578 mates, and 17,589 engineers. The corresponding figures for the Census day in 1903 were:—120 masters, 352 mates, and 352 engineers out of a total of 10,017 masters, 13,481 mates, and 16,576 engineers. From these figures it will be seen that the number of alien officers had decreased. The question of excluding aliens from holding certificates of competency has been considered on several occasions, but it has not hitherto been thought desirable or necessary to take action in this direction.

Does not the hon. Gentleman consider it a sound suggestion that the Regulations should be so changed as to prevent these alien officers from acting as pilots in time of war?

It is hardly possible to exclude the possibility. As I have pointed out the total number is steadily decreasing.

Will the hon. Gentleman make arrangements to prevent any alien commanding an armed trading vessel?

I do not know what steps the hon. Gentleman would suggest. If he will communicate them to me I shall be glad to consider them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the recent case of a man named Frederick Jansen being drowned in the Bristol Channel while returning to the pilot cutter after putting a pilot on board of a steamer; is he aware that the Cardiff pilots, with the consent of the Cardiff pilotage authority, have decided to substitute a steam pilotage service for the present sailing cutters, and if the Board of Trade must consent to this change before it can be made; and, if so, will the Board of Trade see that the change can be made without any more delay in order to minimise the danger of lives being lost and a more efficient pilotage service being maintained?

A report of the case to which my hon. Friend refers has been received by the Board of Trade. The Cardiff Pilotage Board have submitted for confirmation by the Board of Trade a new code of by-laws relating, amongst other things, to the institution of a steam pilotage service. The Board of Trade have no power to confirm the by-laws in the form submitted to them pending the making of a Pilotage Order modifying or repealing the Bristol Channel Pilotage Act, 1861, some of the by-laws being in contravention of provisions of that Act, but the Board have informed the pilotage authority that they will consider an application for the confirmation of amended by-laws dealing only with the proposed steam pilotage service.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the proposal now before the London County Council to ask the Board of Trade to schedule the laundry trade, on the ground that it is practically impossible, owing to there being no recognised or agreed wages in the trade, to secure that contractors tendering for the washing done in the schools pay wages to their employés at rates generally accepted as fair in the district; and whether he will, take steps to include laundry work within the scope of the Trade Boards Act?

I am aware of the proposal which formed the subject of a letter appearing in the Press on 14th, April. My right hon. Friend is giving the matter careful consideration, but he doubts whether it is practicable this Session to add to the trades which he has already indicated an intention of including in the Provisional Order to extend the application of the Trade Boards Act.

asked whether there is a six months limit for application for relief of taxation on petrol spirit used in stationary engines; and, if not, whether he is aware that this limit has been imposed in some cases?

Under the provisions of Section 85 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, all claims for rebate of duty on motor spirit used for purposes other than supplying motive power for motor cars, must be preferred within six months of the date of use.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he has yet received the Report of the actuarial investigation into the Irish Constabulary Force Fund; and if it will be communicated to Parliament?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The question of presentation will be considered in due course.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will lay upon the Table of this House copies of the letters which were addressed to those who gave evidence before the Committee on Irish Finance asking them whether they had any objection to the publication of their evidence?

My right hon. Friend does not propose to lay a copy of the letters on the Table of the House.

Was the same letter sent to all the official witnesses?

I wrote all the letters myself. In substance they were the same, but I think that at the beginning and the end of the communications there was a slight difference.

asked whether all the evidence from Ireland for the purposes of the Imperial and local taxation inquiry has yet been taken; and, having regard to the urgency given to the Irish branch of the subject by the Government of Ireland Bill, whether a Report on this branch of the subject will be presented before that Bill becomes law?

I am informed that the Irish evidence has not yet been taken. I am unable to make a statement as to the date when a Report of the Committee dealing with Ireland will be received.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that in some cities, like Bristol, there are no overcrowded elementary schools and no fees charged to elementary scholars, whereas in other cities, like Liverpool, thousands of children are in overcrowded schools and pay thousands of pounds annually in school pence; and whether, in the forthcoming Education Bill, provision will be made to give especial encouragement to cities like Bristol, where educational responsibilities are fairly sustained, and to penalise cities like Liverpool, where they are habitually shirked?

I must ask the hon. Member to wait for the introduction of the Bill, but he must not, of course, assume that I agree with the allegations contained in the question.

May a copy of this reply be sent to the Lord Chancellor?

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will, by the educational reforms which are in contemplation, give effect to the hopes and promises with regard to children under five in elementary schools which were expressed by the right hon. Member for West Islington, speaking on behalf of the Government, on 6th and 7th January, 1906?

I must ask the hon. Member to wait for the introduction of the Bill.

Would not it be desirable to carry out old pledges before undertaking new ones?

asked the Prime Minister whether he has noted recent expressions of doubt as to the present force of the Cockerton judgment which restricted the extent of elementary education; whether he is aware that this judgment is embodied with legislative sanction in Section 22 of the Education Act of 1902, and is the basis of the policy of the Board of Education; and, having regard to the perplexities of the position, whether he will call for a reasoned opinion on this question from the Law Officers of the Crown?

Unless the hon. Member can bring to my notice a case where difficulty has been created by the uncertainty in the law which he alleges, I see no reason to trouble the Law Officers in the matter.

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered the statements of the Lord Chancellor on the subject?

I have.

May I bring them to his attention?

I know them already.

asked whether the Public Health (Acquisition of Water) Bill will be reintroduced this Session?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked when the Established Church (Wales) Bill will be reintroduced into this House.

I am not yet able to make any statement on the subject.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider that it will be for the convenience of a very large number of people that some date should be given, approximately?

I have no doubt that a statement will be made in due course by my right hon. Friend. I am not in a position to make any statement.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what he means by "due course"?

That question has got to be addressed to the Prime Minister. He is attending a meeting of Ambassadors at present.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the general consensus of opinion expressed in support of the recommendations made by the Royal Commission on London Traffic in 1905 by such bodies as the London Society, the London County Council, the Institution of Civil Engineers, and others, and by many witnesses before the Motor Traffic Commission now sitting, he will take steps to appoint a Traffic Board and empower them to adopt a general road scheme for London while it is still possible to do so in connection with the town-planning schemes at present under consideration; or, if not, what steps he proposes to take to secure the necessary outlets for the proposed new main roads at present available on the outskirts of London, which will be blocked by the various town-planning schemes if the latter are allowed to mature independently?

I am aware of the situation in London and its outskirts and of the urgent importance of the traffic problem to which the hon. and gallant Member calls attention. As the Prime Minister indicated, however, in reply to a previous question from him, the main difficulties with regard to the adoption of a general road scheme are pecuniary ones, which I fear would not be removed by the appointment of a Traffic Board. While these difficulties are serious, and while I am not at the moment able to suggest a way of overcoming them, I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that the question is not being lost sight of.

asked the Prime Minister, seeing that certain Members of this House commonly take part in voting certain payments to themselves, apart from salaries, involving consequences, if challenged, in the House or in Court, and that, the Comptroller and Auditor-General disregards the vitiating circumstance and allows the questionable payments, whether he will introduce on this subject a new and uniform rule not open to challenge?

I am confident that, if any payments properly calling for question were made, the Comptroller and Auditor-General would not fail to draw-attention thereto.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in the case of Bowles v. The Bank of England, the defence was undertaken on the advice or with the concurrence of the Law Officers; and whether, the result of that case being to affirm the existing law instead of a Departmental custom, he will say on what law, custom, or precedent the Comptroller and Auditor-General relies in allowing the payment to the Law Officers of extra fees consequent on their own error; and, the Law Officers being interested parties, from whom did the Auditor-General obtain independent advice on the legality of the payment?

The answer to the first branch of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the other branches I can only refer the hon. Member to the reply which I have just given to his previous question.

May I ask, Mr. Speaker, if it was on the erroneous opinion of these two Gentlemen that he ruled my Labour Bill out of order recently?

No. It was on my own opinion.

asked whether the Government has considered the proposal now being put forward in favour of day continuation schools and the provision of new buildings which such proposal will involve; and whether, before introducing legislation in this direction, Grants will be given to increase the buildings which are in many districts inadequate for present requirements?

The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative, but various questions relating to continuation schools are now under consideration in connection with our proposed legislation.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the right of parents to send their children to school before and after the age of compulsory attendance was recognised before 1870 in the Education Code, was confirmed by the Education Act of 1870, was recognised in every subsequent Code until 1905, and was also assumed in the Free Education Act of 1891 and by the Memorandum issued by the Eight Hon. A. H. D. Acland in May, 1903; whether he is aware that the right of parents, thus repeatedly sanctioned both by Parliament and the Board of Education, has been taken away by the action of the Board of Education divesting itself of the responsibility to enforce it; and whether, in view of a pledge of the Government given in 1906 that this obstruction of the rights of parents should cease, he will take early steps to restore to parents a valued right and to redeem the pledge of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman's Government?

I think I am aware of all the material facts. I am satisfied that the Board acted legally in leaving the admission of children under five to the discretion of the local education authorities, but whether the Board could or could not compel them to provide accommodation for children under five is a question which could only be determined by the Courts.

Will the right hon. Gentleman afford facilities to the Courts if a friendly action is taken to test whether the Board of Education has been acting within its powers?

I am quite sure that the Board of Education has been acting within its powers.

asked the Prime Minister if he will give facilities during this Session for the passage of the Mental Deficiency Bill through all its stages?

The Government intend to proceed with the Bill, and hope to pass it this Session.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean that time will be given to pass this measure through all its stages?

Yes.

Does the answer also apply to the Scottish Bill?

I am not quite sure about that.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state when the Second Reading of the Bill will be taken?

I cannot say.

asked when the Departmental Committee on allowances (vide Report, Cd. 6290), commenced to investigate the questions affecting the waterguard staff; and when the Report is likely to be issued.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on the subject on the 10th instant. I hope to be in a position to deal with the allowances very shortly.

asked whether it is the duty of old age pension officers to bring all the facts ascertained by them under the notice of pension committees; whether the body to which appeal lies may consider other facts obtained from an officer or from any other source, which have never been before the committee; and, if so, under what authority this is done?

The Regulations made under Section 10 of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908, prescribe that the pension officer is required to annex to every report sent by him to the committee a statement of the inquiries made by him in reference to the claim and of the result of those inquiries, and unless he is satisfied that the yearly means of the claimant do not exceed £21, and so states in the report, a summary of the income, property, and other yearly means of the claimant. In the case of any appeal to the Local Government Board, the Board is required to cause such inquiry to be held or take such other steps as they think necessary for the purpose of enabling them to come to a proper decision on the case.

Are new facts referred to the committee before a decision is given?

I should think that is invariably done. In any case, on appeal to the Board, any new facts could be raised.

asked under what instruction, oral or written, directly or indirectly, from the Treasury, old age pension officers in Ireland say that their business is, not to administer the Old Age Pensions Acts according to the merits of each case, but to disallow and reduce pensions as much as possible in the interest of the Treasury; and whether that is the spirit in which the Acts are administered in Great Britain; and, if not, will he account for the difference?

No instructions have been issued which would justify a pension officer in making a statement of the nature described in the question, and no case in which a pension officer has made such a statement has been brought to my notice.

asked whether the general instruction to old age pension officers in 1908 to disregard furniture and personal effects actually belonging to and used by a claimant not exceeding £30 in value, and another instruction embodying a scale of the value of maintenance, or any substituted instructions on these two points, are now in force; will the Financial Secretary to the Treasury say, substantially, what the instructions now in force amount to as regards Great Britain and Ireland, respectively; and, seeing that pension officers in Ireland act as though unaware of such instructions, will he have copies of them sent to each pension officer in Ireland with an intimation that they are in force?

The original instruction in regard to furniture and personal effects is no longer in force, having been cancelled by Section 2 (1) (c) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1911, the effect of which is that in calculating means for Old Age Pension purposes no account is to be taken of furniture and personal effects where their total value does not exceed £50. With regard to the subject of maintenance, I have nothing to add to the answers to the hon. Member's previous questions on the same subject.

May I ask whether the circular on the subject of maintenance is in force in Ireland, and whether the old age pension officers have been informed, or will be?

I do not think any scale is in force in Ireland at the present time. Perhaps the hon. Member will put a question down.

This question has been down three times. Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the letter containing the instruction embodied a scale which is in force in this country and not in Ireland?

I do not think any scale is in force in Ireland. I think the merits of each particular case are considered. I will inquire.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can now state what has been the result of his inquiries into the rates of wages paid by Messrs. Ransomes and Napier which was promised on 25th March?

We are still in communication with the firm on the subject. I will let my hon. Friend know the result as soon as possible.

asked whether the recent increases in pay given to the lower deck are but an instalment and further increases are to follow; and will the right hon. Gentleman say whether he can now go beyond the general pronouncement made when introducing the Naval Estimates that the advance of pay need not be taken as finally exhausting the goodwill of the State?

No, Sir.

Would it be improper for anybody to state that the increase of pay to the lower deck is only an instalment of a further increase of pay?

I prefer to judge of the propriety or impropriety after the statements have actually been made.

Would the right hon. Gentleman have any objection if I brought to his notice a statement which has been made by a member of the right hon. Gentleman's own party?

No, Sir; I should always be glad to read the speeches made by members on my own side.

asked if he will state the period it takes to make an efficient seaman in the Royal Navy?

I mentioned four years as a general statement; a seaman of this service would ordinarily have been an able seaman for some months or longer. It must not be assumed that a man of less service though not fully trained would be inefficient for the duties required of him.

Are we to understand that the statement is that three years are required?

No, not at all. Four years was the statement, qualified as I have now qualified it.

asked whether, in view of the fact that the Admiralty propose to increase the Navy by approximately 7,000, the First Lord of the Admiralty will explain what is meant in the statement over his signature explanatory of the Naval Estimates, 1913–14, that in order to reach a total of 146,000 officers and men by 31st March, 1914, an addition is required to Vote A of 8,500; and will he give the number of officers and the number of men, respectively, included in the figure 8,500?