asked the President of the Board of Trade why some twenty men on 19th June, from the fitting shops, smiths' shops, and die makers of James Russell and Sons, Limited, and some eighty men, on 23rd June, from the wheel shop, Old Park Smithy, and Old Park Foundry, of the Patent Shaft and Axle-tree Company, Limited, were allowed unemployment benefit when other but exactly similar cases on 26th June and 3rd July were rejected, one man who was rejected on the latter date doing exactly similar work to that of five men whose claims were allowed on 19th June, all six men being employed in the same department?

I have made inquiries into this matter and am informed that the facts are not quite correctly stated in the question. The only case in which opposite decisions have been given by a Court of Referees as regards the same class of men in the same factory are those of certain men employed by Messrs. James Russell and Sons, Limited. On the 19th June the Court of Referees for the district recommended that benefit should be allowed in regard to certain employés of this firm. The insurance officer did not accept this recommendation, but referred it further to the Umpire, interim benefit being paid in accordance with Section 91 (1) (e) of the National Insurance Act and the Regulations thereunder. On the 3rd July the Court of Referees had to consider the case of other employés of the same firm, and in the light of further information as to the circumstances under which work at the factory was stopped, recommended that benefit should not be allowed, on the ground that the workmen were disqualified under Section 87 (1) of the Act. In the ordinary course the earlier decision of the Court to grant benefit in the other cases would as a consequence have been brought before the Court for their recon sideration in the light of fresh facts laid before them. This was, however, unnecessary, as on the same day the Umpire had reversed the previous decision of the Court and had decided that benefit should not be allowed in any of these cases. The payment of interim benefit was thereupon stopped. I understand that the other cases referred to by the Hon. Member are in different factories, and that the circumstances are in no case the same. In all cases the payment or withholding of benefit has been made in accordance with the decision of a Court of Referees or the Umpire. While I give the above explanation, I must remind the hon. Member that, the Board of Trade have no power to control or influence the decisions of those independent authorities, except in so far as they can promote uniformity of decisions by appeals to the Umpire.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why employment, benefit allowed on 23rd June to men employed in the wheel shop, Old Park Smithy, and Old Park Foundry, of the Patent Shaft and Axletree Company, Limited, has not been paid to all the men, some having been in receipt of benefit for two weeks and others not having received any payment; and why a number of men were directed to attend daily and sign the unemployment register for five and six weeks before the Court decided that their unemployment was due to a strike, and that they were not entitled to any unemployment benefit?

I am informed that in all the cases referred to the consideration of the claim by the Court of Referees took place within a few days after the lodging of the appeal. In some cases the men did not lodge their appeals till three or four weeks after the insurance officer's decision to disallow benefit was communicated to them. The men mentioned in the question, with one exception, have been paid the full amount of benefit to which they are entitled. In that case it appeared, after the finding of the Court of Referees, that the particular workman concerned was disqualified for benefit on another ground. This case is still the subject of investigation, but arrangements have now been made to pay interim benefit to the workman in accordance with the recommendation of the Court.

The hon. Gentleman has not answered the last part of the question: I did not catch any answer to it?

"Why a number of men were directed to attend daily and sign the unemployment register for five and six weeks before the Court decided that their unemployment was due to a strike, and that they were not entitled to any unemployment benefit." That does state precisely the difficulty which I have mentioned, that the cases are not on all fours with those previously discussed; but I am afraid I cannot go into details now.

Would it not have been possible to show a little more consideration for these men than to expect them to come day after day for five or six weeks and sign the unemployment register; surely, it, was unnecessary to put them-to that inconvenience?

They were obeying the ordinary rules.

Is it to be considered the ordinary thing that questions of this kind will not be considered within six weeks?

No, the question, I said, was not delayed. The men did not lodge their appeals till three or four weeks after the insurance officer's decision to disallow the benefit was communicated to them. It is the rule for unemployed men daily to sign the unemployment register.

asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade if he is aware that workmen in London who are insured against unemployment under Part II. of the National insurance Act, and who register at the Labour Exchanges as unemployed, are being compelled to accept employment at places from 150 to 250 miles distant from their homes; that if they refuse to go their unemployment benefit is stopped; that this is a hardship upon men with families and a prospect of getting employment in London; that no period of employment is guaranteed them at the places they arc requested to go to; and that there are workmen in the same trade registering as unemployed at Labour Exchanges in towns scores of miles nearer the places where the workmen are required than London; and whether, in view of these facts, he will take steps to prevent workmen being compelled to accept employment under the circumstances mentioned or to forfeit their unemployment benefit?

No such cases as those referred to by my hon. Friend have been brought to my notice. As I have frequently stated, the decision as to what employment a workman is entitled to, refuse as unsuitable, without forfeiting his claim to benefit, rests not with the Board of Trade, but ultimately with a Court of Referees or the Umpire, and ample machinery is provided whereby any workman whose benefit is refused or stopped can obtain a decision. In the case of a direct claim to benefit, the work man can appeal from the decision of the insurance officer to a Court of Referees, and the local officers of the Board are instructed to bring this right of appeal to the workman's notice in every case in which benefit is refused or stopped. In the case of a claim through an association, under Section 105 of the Act, any disputed claim is the subject of discussion between the Board of Trade and the association, and failing settlement is referred to the Umpire. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the memorandum setting out this procedure.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think these men ought to be compelled to accept employment 300 or 400 miles away?

As I said, there has been no case brought before the Department of such a distance as that my hon. Friend cites. If there is any such case it will be looked into, but I would remind my hon. Friend that the Act provides machinery of independent Courts, and it is not for us to overrule them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if copies of the National Insurance Act will be available to the members of the Grand Committee, to which the Amending Bell is referred?

I shall be glad to send a copy of the Act to the hon. Member, and I will arrange for further copies to be available to members of the Committee.

Has the right hon. Gentleman given any consideration to the suggestion that we should have the reprint continued of the answers concerning the administration of the Act?

I think they will go on with the reprint.

I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, as in the case of the last Insurance Bill referred to a Grand Committee, an OFFICIAL REPORT will be furnished?

The Prime Minister has already promised that.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the action of the Great. Eastern Railway Company in issuing tickets and dispatching passengers by train from Liverpool Street Station to various places in the Eastern Counties on the afternoon of Saturday, the 12th July, after it was known by the railway company that the line was blocked owing to a serious accident, on the railway at Colchester; whether he is aware that the railway company, while taking money from the passengers for their conveyance, omitted to inform them of the impossibility of carrying out their contract owing to the breakdown on the railway and omitted to make any arrangements for the supply of food, thus keeping many men, women, and children for many hours without food or water; whether he has any powers to prevent such conduct on the part of the railway company whereby passengers were treated worse than would be allowed in the case of cattle, sheep, and pigs; and whether he can make any representation to the rail-nay company or take any other action in the matter for the protection of the travelling public?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, as a result of an accident which occurred on the Great Eastern Railway on Saturday last., some thousands of excursionists returning from Clacton and other popular resorts did not reach the London terminus until about eleven o'clock on the Sunday morning; and if he will inquire of the directors of the company why no apparent effort was made by the company's officials either to expedite the passengers' return or to provide them with some kind of refreshment during their fourteen or fifteen hours' detention on the line?

I understand that both lines at Colchester were blocked as a result of the accident and that traffic could only be worked through a siding. Considerable delays were in the circum- stances unavoidable, but the company inform me that several trains both up and down were diverted to other routes. The company further state that in accordance with their standing rules, their booking clerks informed intending passengers that an accident had taken place and that delay would arise on the journey. I pro pose to communicate further with the company on this point, and also with regard to the arrangements for supplying, passengers with food.

Is the right hon.. Gentleman aware that even the refreshment bars were closed to the passengers, and that amongst them were hundreds of young factory girls who were out for the firm's annual outing?

Any further facts that the hon. Member can give me will be taken into account in communicating with the railway company.

Will the question be put to the directors how it was that they did not attempt to provide necessary refreshments for the people?

No doubt that question will be put.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the suspension of singleline-staff working on the Donegal Joint Committee Railway between Stranorlar and Fintown stations on 2nd July last; and whether such suspension of ordinary electric-staff working was with the knowledge or consent of his Department?

I have asked the Joint Committee for their observations on this matter, and will communicate with my hon. Friend upon receipt of their reply.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the leading country in domestic exports in 1872, 1882, 1892, 1902, and 1912?

The exports of domestic produce from the United Kingdom exceeded in value those of any other country in each of the years specified. In the year 1912 the exports from the United Kingdom and the United States approached each other so closely that the question which was the greater depends on the rate adopted for the conversion of the dollar. In the above answer this has been taken at the exact figure of 4s. 1 1-3d. If, however, the rougher equivalent of 4s. 2d. were taken, as is very usually done, the value of the United States exports would appear slightly the greater.

May we take it that this is the first time in modern years that any foreign country has approached this country in domestic exports?

I believe so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether a tariff has had the effect of restricting the total value of imports into the United States, Germany, France, Belgian-1, Japan, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa; and whether the total value of imports into these countries have increased during the last thirty years to a greater proportional extent than imports into the United Kingdom during the same period?

Imports into the United Kingdom have increased between 1882 and 1912 by a greater amount than those of any of the other countries specified, except Germany, though the percentage increase to which the hon. Member appears to attach importance has been greater in the case of nearly all of them than in the case of the United Kingdom. The question to what extent the tariffs in force in the countries named have restricted the natural tendency of the foreign trade of these countries to expand is one which cannot be answered by references to these statistics, and I am afraid the hon. Member must form his own opinion.

Will it be impossible for the hon. Gentleman kindly to state these percentage figures, because they are of interest; they were of interest, as in the case of exports, up till this year?

If the hon. Gentleman will put a question down we will make the calculations for him.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value of exports of iron and machinery from the United Kingdom to Germany in 1912, and also from Germany to the United Kingdom in the same year?

This information -will take a little time to compile, but I will send the figures to the hon. Member In the course of a day or two.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value of domestic exports of the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States, respectively, in 1872, 1882, 1892, and 1912; and will he state the percentage increase between 1872 and 1912?

Any comparison, including the year 1872 would, for reasons which have been often pointed out, be fallacious. I will, however, have a statement giving the information asked for, so far as regards the other years, printed in the Votes.

asked the Prime Minister whether, before the end of the Session, an opportunity will be given to the House to consider the appointment of the Poet Laureate?

My right hon. Friend is not aware of any such general desire for a discussion of this matter as would justify the Government in giving time for the purpose.

asked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the growing interest in art throughout the nation, and also in view of the fact that the encouragement of art and the care of art treasures are now left to a number of separate bodies, such as trustees of galleries and various official boards and departments, he will consider the advisability of establishing an office whose function shall be to control matters connected with the fine arts, and which shall be directed by a Minister responsible to Parliament?

My right hon. Friend does not think that this is a practicable suggestion.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are certain Ministers who have very much lighter work than others, and would it not be well to extend their field of labours in this direction?

asked the Prime Minister whether the proposals relating to the reform of the House of Lords will be in the form of a Bill, and whether it will be introduced in this House?

My right hon. Friend cannot anticipate the form which our proposals will take.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if anything can be done to prevent the firing of naval guns near to the shore during the herring season on the north-east coast, as such practice has a detrimental effect on the coming of the herring and causes loss on those engaged in the herring fisheries; and will he consider the advisability of making arrangements for firing further out to sea or postponement until the herring season is over so far as the north-east coast is concerned?

I am not aware that the movements of the herring are affected by gun-firing. The Admiralty would require definite evidence before allowing the exercises of the fleet to be governed by this consideration.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a very great consensus of opinion amongst the fishermen in Scotland upon this subject?

Whenever we receive representations from them we always treat them with a considerable amount of sympathy and all the officers of the fleet are provided with means of avoiding damages to the nets in the waters of the British Isles.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that the men in the medical mess service are working on a basis of a seventy-two hours week of seven days' work; and if he can arrange to have the hours reduced or pay increased so as to place the men on a forty-eight hours' basis?

It is only at Chatham that the hours are as long as those mentioned by my hon. Friend, the hours at Haslar and Plymouth being sixty-one and sixty, respectively. Steps are being taken to reduce the hours at Chatharn to the level of the other big hospitals. The men are paid for seven days a week, and owing to the nature of their duties, I do not think the case is one in which the forty-eight hours' basis can 'be made strictly applicable.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if time worked as skilled labourer, although short of the twelve months qualifying period, will count as part of the twelve months in the event of men, owing to exigencies of the service, being reduced to ordinary labouring and then subsequently again being put on the skilled labouring list?

My hon. Friend appears to be under a misapprehension as to the working of the probationary rate. It is not necessary for a skilled labourer to serve twelve months on that rate. In the discretion of the yard officers he can be advanced to the 24s. a week rate at any period if in their view the quality of his work justifies the advancement. With regard to the suggestion that small and broken periods of work as a skilled labourer should be noted and ultimately added together to make a complete twelve months, I am afraid that course is not practicable, and in any case, in view of the earlier part of my answer, it is not necessary.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that the management of the Arsenal are transferring men from the metal case department on the plea of lack of work, while private firms are employed at the same class of work for the Admiralty at rates of pay as high or higher than that paid at the Arsenal; and, if so, can he see that the Admiralty work is given on a basis of a more liberal allowance to Government workshops?

I would suggest that the first part of the question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War. In regard to the second part of the question I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich on the 9th instant.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the lack of work in the Arsenal is owing to the fact that the Admiralty are putting the work out to be done?

No; on every occasion most careful consideration is given to all cases, as I stated the other day.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that one of the circumstances arising out of this particular allocation of work is that quite a large number of men are transferred to the lower grades?

No.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that 179 men were sent out of the yard at Portsmouth, being men of the Works Department, because of rain, and lost thereby half a day's wages from their rate of 22s. or 23s. per week; and if, having regard to the low rate of wages, he can see his way to the payment of those wages in full, so long as the men are available for work?

My hon. Friend does not state the date of the standing off of the workmen he refers to; but 177 men were stood off in consequence of inclement weather on the 16th April last. The necessity for standing off these men, who were engaged on outdoor work, was due to wet weather and the impossibility of finding other employment for them. The general question is under consideration with a view to reducing the time which may be lost through standing off to a minimum.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question, "Whether if, having regard to the low rate of wages, he can see his way to the payment of those wages in full, so long as the men are available?"

I am very anxious the men should lose as little as possible, and that is why I said I would give the matter further consideration.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been called to the case of Brown and O'Toole v. Bell, tried by Judge Rueeg, K.C., at the Newcastle-under-Lyme County Court, on 15th July, when serious charges were made and proved against the defendant, a solicitor, as to unprofessional conduct in the management of a small estate which had been placed in his hands; whether he has made himself acquainted with the evidence and findings of the judge; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

My attention has been called to the case referred to, and I am causing further inquiries to be made into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the terms of Clause 8 of The West Indian Trade Agreement Act, of 1913, of the Parliament of Canada; whether he can state if any other British Colonies or Possessions have been admitted by proclamation of the Governor-General to the benefits of the reciprocal agreement; and, if so, which Colonies have been so admitted and what obligations, if any, have been undertaken by them with a view to giving preference to Canadian goods?

Under Section 3 of the Canadian Act referred to it is provided that goods enumerated in Schedule B to the Agreement shall be charged either—

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the case of Mrs. E. Tookey, 57, Priolo Road, Charlton, Kent, who made a statutory declaration of conscientious objection on 24th May, 1912, to the vaccination of a child that had been born on 28th January, 1912, her husband being for eleven months after the latter date at work in various distant parts of the world as a marine engineer; whether he is aware that the vaccination officer refused to register the declaration and that he is now threatening to institute proceedings; and whether he can see his way to advise the vaccination officer that a prosecution should not be set up under such circumstances, seeing that the father was unable to make the declaration and that the mother was the person having the custody of the child?

My attention has been called to the case, and I have communicated with the vaccination officer and informed him that, in my opinion, the case is not one in which proceedings should be taken.

asked the President of the Local Government Board (1) whether the Board has decided to comply with the application of the London County Council for the imposition of a speed limit of 10 miles an hour at Hyde Park Corner, notwithstanding the fact that a Select Committee of this House is still inquiring into the whole question of street accidents in London caused by motor traffic; and whether, in view of the opinion expressed by the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis that reduced speed limits would lead to serious traffic congestion and consequent danger to the public, and that no reduced speed limits have yet been imposed on the arterial thoroughfares of London, he will defer the definite decision of the Board until the Report of the Select Committee on motor traffic is presented to the House; arid (2) whether the Local Government Board propose to impose a 10-mile speed limit at Hyde Park Corner; whether his attention has been drawn to the evidence given at the local inquiry, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, to the effect that Hyde Park Corner is the busiest traffic point in the world, that the imposition of a 10-mile speed limit would result in serious congestion of traffic, and that congestion is the most prolific cause of accident; whether the Board have taken into consideration the accident figure put in evidence by the police showing that 88 per cent. of the accidents at Hyde Park Corner during the past three years had occurred at speeds less than 10 miles an hour; and whether he will state the grounds upon which the Board has decided to comply with the application?

I have decided to comply with the application of the London County Council for the imposition of a speed limit at Hyde Park Corner, and I have informed the council accordingly. Before coming to this decision I gave careful consideration to all the evidence given at the local inquiry, including that submitted on behalf of the Commissioner of Police. Having regard to the exceptional conditions of traffic at Hyde Park Corner, and to the number of accidents which have taken place there, I did not consider that I should be justified in rejecting the application.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has seen a statement made at the Leeds Board of Guardians last Wednesday that the workhouse was half empty, the number of inmates being 690 as compared with 1,240 in February, 1910; whether other workhouses in the country are also half empty; whether the decline of pauperism is attributable to recent social legislation; and what, in this state of things, he proposes to do to relieve the ratepayers of the upkeep of the empty buildings?

:I have seen the statement referred to. The workhouse contains 1,072 beds, and the comparison, even if accurate, which my information does not confirm, is evidently between a time of abnormal pressure and one when, owing to the season of the year, and the bulk of trade and employment, pauperism is at a very low ebb. Recent social legislation has, no doubt, had its effect upon the Poor Law problem, and I am naturally anxious to see that no undue multiplication of Poor Law buildings takes place. The first thing that I look for as a result of a reduction in the numbers of inmates of these institutions is further improvement in classification, and this is obviously facilitated when there is a margin of accommodation available.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the fact that emigration to foreign countries in the first three months of this year has increased more rapidly than emigration to British Dominions; and what steps he is taking, if any, to keep such emigration under the British flag?

The excess of passengers of British nationality leaving for ports in foreign countries out of Europe over those arriving in the United Kingdom direct from foreign ports not in Europe was, during the first three months of the current year, 24.3 per cent. of the balance of outward over inward passengers of British nationality to all countries out of Europe. The corresponding figure for 1912 was 22.7 per cent. These figures do not suggest that interference on the part of the British Government with the free choice by emigrants of their future homes is called for.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been directed to the warning issued by the Trades and Labour Congress, of Toronto, Canada, to the effect that there is an excessive supply of rough labour in Canada and that there are many penniless immigrants in the country, and that the prospects for the winter are that there will be no room for additional workmen in the industrial centres; and if, in view of the above manifesto, he will direct the attention of the Canadian Government to the extraordinary exuberance of immigration agents and railway companies to induce immigrants to leave this country?

I am obliged to my hon. Friend for drawing attention to this matter. I understand that the Canadian emigration authorities in this country have already taken steps to call public attention to the condition of the labour market in the Dominion. Similar action has also been taken by the Emigrants' Information Office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a builder who buys an estate for development by building, but cannot borrow the necessary capital and cannot, except at a heavy loss, sell the estate he bought, is liable to pay Undeveloped Land Duty; and, if so, whether the law will be amended so as to absolve a man from being taxed under such circumstances?

Subject to the exemptions and allowances granted by law, Undeveloped Land Duty is chargeable in respect of the site value of undeveloped land and is payable by the owner for the time being. I do not consider that any amendment of the law is called for in the class of case indicated by the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that under the Finance (1909–10) Act, and its amending Act of 1912, a trustee, who holds a licensed property let to a firm of brewers on lease at £100 per annum, is liable as lessor for the sum of £109 16s. by way of deduction of proportion of increased Licence Duties exacted from the lessees; and whether it is proposed to further amend the Finance (1909–10) Act, so as to render impossible so heavy a duty and so heavy a resulting deduction?

I have no knowledge of any authoritative legal decision having the effect described in the question, but if, as I imagine, the hon. Member has a particular case in mind, perhaps he will kindly refer me to it.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what percentage of assistant teachers, who were trained in a recognised training college, are now in grades higher than third grade; seeing that all assistant teachers who are trained are classed higher than third class, according to Rule 109 (c) of the Commissioners' Rules, will he say why they are not correspondingly graded; considering that these teachers, in order to be trained and classed higher than third class, had to pass the highest examination now held under the National Board and that some of them have given nearly thirteen years of their most capable service to the Board in expectation of promotion to higher grade than third, will the Commissioners take such steps as will ensure a snore speedy promotion for these teachers; and what means do the Commissioners intend employing to expedite such promotion?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that over 5 per cent. of the assistant teachers who were trained in a recognised training college are now in grades higher than the third grade. Assistant teachers who have been trained in a recognised training college rank as "classed higher than third class" for the purpose of qualifying for bonus under the Irish Education Act, 1892. This gives them no claim to second grade, which can be attained by assistants under exceptional circumstances only and by special order of the Commissioners. The claims of deserving assistant teachers to promotion beyond the third grade in cases of exceptional merit are carefully considered by the Commissioners.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland (1) if any steps have been taken to provide a holding for Thomas Brennan (Donal), of Monavea, Crettyard, Queen's County, who was evicted from his holding on the Carter estate, Queen's County; and (2) if he will say what steps, if any, have been taken by the Estates Commissioners to provide a holding for Martin Quinn, of Monavea, Crettyard, Queen's County, who was evicted from his holding on the Carter estate. Queen's County?

I will answer these two questions together. This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale to the Estates Commissioners under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and has not yet been reached in order of priority. When the estate is being dealt with by the Commissoners the applications of Brennan and Quinn will be considered by them.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether.he is aware that a sub-commission court is to be held in Wicklow on the 23rd instant for the fixing of fair Tents; whether he is aware that there are fifteen or sixteen cases pending in Wexford, and that hardship would be caused by those cases being held over for twelve months; and, under the circumstances, will the sub-commissioners arrange to hear those cases either in the present month or in the months of August or September?

The list of fair rent applications to be heard on the 23rd instant at Wicklow, contains only cases from county Wicklow in which applications were received between April, 1912, and February, 1913. There are at present twelve applications pending from county Wexford. All these applications, with the exception of one which was received in November, 1912, have been received since the 1st January, 1913. Under present arrangements a sub-commission will sit for the hearing of these cases either in September or early in October, 1913.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether one of the officers of the Second Wessex Howitzer Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, Territorial Force, although he was for four and a-half years, up to the present year, an officer of the brigade and attended five camps, had only one opportunity to practice on a land range and to gain experience with fuse and shrapnel; (2) whether he will state the establishment strength of the 2nd Wessex Howitzer Royal Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, Territorial Force, on the 1st May, 1913; the actual strength of the brigade on that day; the numbers that attended the annual training and practice camp at Okehampton in 1912; and (3) whether, on the occasion of the 2nd Wessex Howitzer Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, Territorial Force, undergoing annual training at Okehampton in 1912, there were so few gunners that a batters before firing at the ranges was obliged to borrow gunners from another battery to snake up the necessary gun complement?

On May 1st, 1913, there were ten officers and 253 non-commissioned officers and men on the strength out of an establishment of fifteen officers and 371 non-commissioned officers and men. Six officers and 174 non-commissioned officers and men attended the annual training in 1912. During the training in 1912 the two batteries of the brigade practised independently, and owing to the shortage of gunners present had to borrow from each other the numbers eight and nine to complete the detachments. It is possible that as the brigade practised seawards in 1909 and 1910, and did not practise in 1911 and 1913, an officer had only one opportunity of practise on a land range, but I would point out that fuse and shrapnel are used at sea ranges.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the length of the present rifle issued to the Imperial Yeomanry; what is the length of the new rifle, and when is it proposed, roughly, to issue the new rifle to the Yeomanry?

The length of the present rifle is 3 feet 8 9–16 inches without bayonet, and that of the experimental rifle is 3 feet 10 3–10 inches. I am not in a position at present to make any statement as regards the last part of the question.

What did the right hon. Gentleman mean by 'his reply the other day that he was putting off the alteration in carrying the rifle until the new rifle was introduced, and, as the new rifle is only an inch different, why should there be any difference in carrying it?

With regard to the first part of the hon. and gallant Member's supplementary question, I meant what I said. With regard to the second part, I do not think the answer I have given is contradictory.

Can the right hon. Gentleman given a clearer reply on the Vote for his salary later on?

Certainly, I shall be glad to do so. It is difficult to deal with this subject by question and answer.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the increase in the cost of living and the expenses thrown on married officers for removal of furniture on change of quarters, he will extend the same privileges to all classes of officers as are now granted to certain privileged ranks; and, if unable to do this, if he will ascertain if it would be fair and practicable to throw some of the burden borne by married officers on bachelors?

I cannot at present add anything to the replies which I have given to questions on this subject put by my hon. Friend and the hon. and gallant Member for the Mahon Division.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether any reply has yet been given to the Petition of the crews of the Naval Ordnance vessels presented in 1911; and, if so, will he state the nature of the reply?

The question is still being considered by the Admiralty, but it is hoped that a decision will be announced shortly.

I beg to ask the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade a question, of which I have given him private notice, namely: Whether he has anything to communicate to the House with regard to the strike in Leith, more particularly in regard to attempts at conciliation?

I regret that I am unable to make any statement at present as to a settlement of the dispute by conciliation, but our representative is making a very careful inquiry into the matter, and we shall be glad to use our good offices at the earliest moment at which they can be of any use.