Armaments Trial (Tokio)
1.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that, at the recent trial of Messrs. Pooley and others in Japan, serious charges were made against the agents of the Vickers firm, who were found guilty of bribery; and whether inquiry will be made in Japan through the British representatives there as to the facts of the case?
So far as I am aware no agents of Messrs. Vickers have been prosecuted or tried and I have no means of investigating charges made against persons, in Japan.
Will the right hon. Gentleman ask for a full report of this trial so that he can form his own opinion upon good evidence?
A full report of the trial could only be of interest as regards the people actually tried. I understand that no agent of Messrs. Vickers has been tried or prosecuted.
Armed Merchant Vessels
35.
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty on how many vessels in the Royal Reserve of merchant cruisers has work been done by owners at the expense of the Admiralty; and what value of fittings, armaments, clothing, utensils, and other stores has been provided by the Admiralty for the same vessels?
If the question is intended to refer to merchant vessels armed for defensive purposes, the number is that given in my right hon. Friend's reply of the 15th of this month. I do not wish to make any statement at the present time in reply to the second part of the question.
Will a statement be made later about this question?
I would rather not say.
How can we judge the policy unless we have some facts and figures?
Royal Naval Reserve
36.
asked whether preferential consideration for promotion to the rank of a commander on the active list of the Royal Naval Reserve is given to officers of the merchant service who have commanded a British ocean-going passenger steamer of not less than 4,000 tons gross for three years; how many of the present commanders on the active list of the Royal Naval Reserve have been promoted after service in command of cargo vessels only; and whether he will consider the desirability of abolishing this preferential treatment, if it exists, in order that service in command of cargo vessels will be no obstacle in the promotion of an officer who has shown zeal and ability whilst holding a commission in the Royal Naval Reserve?
One of the ordinary qualifications for promotion to the active rank of commander in the Royal Naval Reserve is to have held command of a British ocean-going passenger steamer of not less than 4,000 tons for three years. Twelve officers now on the active list of commanders have not held command of passenger ships, but they have special service to their credit. The Admiralty has power to promote officers to the rank of Commander for specially good service. No reason is seen for departing from the present system.
Are there, as a matter of fact, any cases in which an officer who has been in command of a cargo vessel has been made a commander on the active list of the Royal Naval Reserve?
I should not like to say for certain, but I think not.
Hms "Blenheim" (Drowning Of Three Sailors)
40.
asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he can give any details of the drowning of the three sailors of His Majesty's ship "Blenheim"; if these men died on duty; and if their widows and children will receive the usual pension, and at what date?
The accident occurred when a boat belonging to His Majesty's ship "Savage" was manned preparatory to being lowered. The men were on duty at the time. One of the men only has left a widow. The usual pension will be granted on the receipt of replies to inquiries which have been addressed to her.
Messrs Braime, Leeds
37.
asked whether Messrs. Braime, of Leeds, hold any con tract with his Department; if so, whether he is aware that this firm have, with the Engineering Employers' Federation, granted an advance of 1s. weekly in wages to their skilled workmen and refused a similar advance to their labourers; and whether he will make inquiry into the matter in order to see whether this firm is complying with the Fair-Wages Clause of such contract?
The firm named are contractors to the Admiralty. No representations have been made that the firm are not paying their labourers the rate current in the district, but if my hon. Friend will give me detailed information the matter shall be inquired into.
38.
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that at Nobel's Ardeer factory all the tradesmen employed are paid the district rate of wages with the exception of the painters, who are paid 7½d. an hour instead of 9d.; and whether he will make representations on the matter, even although the painters may not be employed on Government work, their duties being necessary in the conduct of the business?
If my hon. Friend will give me details of the information on which his question is based, inquiry shall be made.
39.
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that in the work of painting oil-fuel tanks at Invergordon, of the first ten tanks about two were painted by a Dingwall contractor, who paid his men the district rate of 7d. an hour, plus lodging money, and the remainder were done by an Aberdeen firm paying 9d. an hour, plus 5s. a week lodging money; whether he is aware that a number of other tanks are now being painted by a Tain contractor, who is employing wholly unskilled labourers at a rate of 6d. an hour; whether, in view of the rates paid on the previous contracts he will have inquiries made with a view to enforcing the Fair-Wages Clause; and whether the work is being inspected to ensure its being properly done?
No complaint has reached the Admiralty, but inquiries are being made into the matter.
53.
asked the Secretary of State for War whether Messrs. Braime, of Leeds, hold any contract with his Department; if so, whether he is aware that this firm have, with the Engineering Employers' Federation, granted an advance of 1s. weekly in wages to their skilled workmen and refused a similar advance to their labourers; and whether he will make inquiry into the matter in order to see whether this firm is complying with the Fair-Wages Clause of such contract?
This firm does not hold any contract with the War Office, so far as I can ascertain.
93.
asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether Messrs. Braime, of Leeds, hold any contract with his Department; if so, whether this firm have, with the Engineering Employers' Federation, granted an advance of 1s. weekly in wages to their skilled workmen and refused a similar advance to their labourers; and whether he will make inquiry into the matter in order to see whether this firm is complying with the Fair-Wages Clause of such contract?
Messrs. T. F. Braime and Company, of Leeds, hold no contracts with the India Office at present.
Certificated Mates (Foreign-Going Steamships)
41.
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, as regards the instructions to their principal officers, superintendents, and surveyors as to procedure in respect to manning wherein it is specified that foreign-going steamships of over 200 feet in length and not less than 700 tons gross when proceeding to sea shall carry at least a master and two mates, it is the intention of the Board of Trade that both of these mates shall be duly certificated.
The intention of the instructions to which the hon. Member refers is to determine the number of efficient deck hands which must be carried independently of the master and deck officers. The number of certificated officers to be carried is governed by Section 92 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, as amended by Section 56 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906.
Light Railways (Development Fund)
44.
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Attorney-General has advised that it is almost impossible that a light railway constructed and run by a group of private individuals can be constructed and run otherwise than as a commercial, that is a profit-making, concern, with the result that no association of persons or company formed to construct and work a light railway would in practice be found to satisfy the condition of not trading for profit within the meaning of Section 1 (1) of the Development and Roads Improvement Funds Act, 1909; and, if so, whether seeing such opinion renders the Act entirely inoperative as regards the construction of light railways by voluntary effort with State aid, he will say what course under these circumstances the Government propose to adopt?
The Development Commission have experienced difficulties owing to the legal interpretation which we are advised must be placed on the Statute referred to, and the whole question is receiving the careful attention of the Government.
61.
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any light railway has been constructed under the provisions of the Development and Roads Improvement Funds Act; and, if so, what is the mileage of such railway?
No advance has been made under the Development and Roads Improvement Funds Act, 1909, towards the cost of construction of a light railway.
Land Taxes (Lumsden Case)
46.
asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the termination of the appeal in the Lumsden case, the House of Lords being equally divided; whether he has considered the judgment delivered and in particular the observations of Lord Justice Moulton; whether he is aware that legislation was promised on this subject by the Government on 1st August of last year; and whether, as the Revenue Bill is dropped, the Government will introduce and press through the House a one-Clause Bill, giving the promised relief to those who are affected by this decision?
I understand that this case—which had already been decided in favour of the Crown by the Revenue judge, and in the Court of appeal—has now been decided in favour of the Crown by the House of Lords. As regards the last part of the question, the Government are prepared to introduce and pass this Session a one-Clause Bill as suggested, provided the measure is treated as unopposed.
I understand that either the Chancellor of the Exchequer will introduce the Bill at once or that the Prime Minister will make the inquiries through the usual channels?
Yes, Sir.
92.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the Lumsden appeal in the House of Lords, where, owing to the constitution of the Court, the judges were equally divided on the merits of the appeal, and consequently Increment Value Duty is still demandable in cases where the value of the bare site has not increased; and whether, having regard to the pledges which he has already given, and in view of the withdrawal of the Revenue Bill, he will now give an undertaking that no Increment Value Duty is to be collected except in cases where there has been an actual rise in the value of the bare site?
I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave this afternoon in answer to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for West Birmingham.
Increment Value Duty
91.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the equal division of opinion of the House of Lords in the Lumsden appeal and of the provisions of the Revenue Bill, which, if passed into law, would exempt builders' profits from claims for Increment Value Duty, he will agree that the Commissioners shall pay the costs incurred by Mr. Lumsden in prosecuting his appeal?
My right hon. Friend regrets that he does not see his way to accede to the hon. Member's suggestion.
Did not the Chancellor of the Exchequer give something like a promise that in all fair test cases of this kind the Treasury would pay the expenses of both parties? Does the hon. Gentleman not think, in a case of this kind, where the Government propose to repeal a decision by amending the law immediately it has been given, it is a most fair case for paying the expenses?
My right hon. Friend is of opinion that the matter is on all fours with the case of the minus site values which arose in Scotland. There the same decision was arrived at.
Is it not the case in regard to the minus site values that no Bill was introduced to repeal it?
It was a matter for discussion on the Bill.
Criminal Law Amendment Bill
47.
asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the Criminal Law Amendment Bill has passed the House of Lords and would be practically unopposed in this House, he will give facilities for the passage of this measure into law this Session?
Owing to the exigencies of business I fear I can only consider this suggestion if assurances reach me through the usual channels that there is no opposition to the Bill referred to.
Established Church (Wales) Bill
48.
asked the Prime Minister whether he intends to advise His Majesty to call a Conference at Buckingham Palace, similar to the one which he has already advised His Majesty to call with reference to opposition to the Government of Ireland Bill, to deal with similar opposition to the Established Church (Wales) Bill?
The answer is in the negative.
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in view of the Plumage Bill violent opposition is threatened by many sober-minded milliners?
Rural Housing
50.
asked the Prime Minister whether, in order to increase and develop the activities and usefulness of public utility societies in providing new cottages in rural areas, the Government will consider the desirability of increasing the term of loans to such bodies from the Public Works Loan Commissioners to sixty years, reducing the rate of interest thereon and authorising local authorities to contribute one-third of the capital required for erecting cottages within their administrative areas?
The Government will certainly give consideration to the hon. Member's suggestions, all of which, however, would require legislation.
Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of incorporating this Amendment as one of the new provisions in the Government Housing Bill?
If provisions of this kind were proposed by the Government they would be in the larger Housing Bill the Government contemplate introducing later. I am afraid it is desirable to keep the scope of the present Housing Bill as small as possible.