Written Answers
War
Mercantile Ports (Control)
asked the Prime Minister if he will inquire of the different Departments concerned as to why mercantile ports, such as Liverpool, are under the sole control of naval officers; whether it is possible to restrict the naval officers to the naval side of the work in the vicinity of the port, giving him priority for warships, leaving the important rapid and methodical berthing of the merchant ships and transports to the experts who controlled the ports in peace time; and whether the Royal Naval Reserve officer who used to control the port of Liverpool in peace time is now employed as an examination officer doing routine duties?
My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question.It is not correct to say that mercantile ports such as Liverpool are under the sole control of naval officers.Except in so far as the transport officers are concerned, who are the local representatives of the Shipping Controller and are assisted by shipping experts and commercial shipping agents, the work of the naval officer in the mercantile ports is confined to purely naval duties, including the formation of convoys, in which he is assisted at Liverpool by a committee of shipowners.At certain of the larger ports, including Liverpool, port co-ordination committees have been set up composed of representatives of the following interests: Admiralty, Ministry of Shipping (principal naval transport officer), War Office, port authority, shipowner, and labour, whose duties are to co-ordinate the naval, military, and civil requirements of the port, utilising its facilities to the best advantage.In the case of Liverpool, the arrangements for berthing the ships very largely remain in the hands of the owners and port authority, under the general superintendence of the Ministry of Shipping. The principle, followed is that of leaving the work of the ports in the hands of those who carried it out in peace time, subject to such supervision by the transport staff as will secure the necessary priority for naval and military work.The Royal Naval Reserve officer referred to is combining his office of marine surveyor and water bailiff to the port authority with the general superintendence of the examination service, and no difficulty has been experienced in the proper and efficient performance of his duties in. this respect.
Land Duties
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated yield in the current year of the Increment Value Duty, the Undeveloped Land Duty, and the Reversion Duty, respectively; and what is the estimated cost of the Land Valuation Department engaged in assessing and collecting these duties?
The estimated yield for the current year of the Increment Value Duty is £110,000, and of the Reversion Duty £25,000. As a result of decisions in the. Courts, the assessment and collection of the Undeveloped Land Duty is at present suspended, and also in some measure that of the Reversion Duty. The estimated cost of the Inland Revenue Land Valuation Office for the current year is £363,500, including a sum of about £100,000 in respect of the salaries of men serving with His Majesty's Forces. I would remind the right hon. Member that the staff of that Department is also engaged upon important work for the Board of Agriculture and other Departments as well as in connection with Death Duties.
asked what has been the aggregate yield up to 31st March, 1918, of the Increment Value Duty, the Undeveloped Land Duty, and the Reversion Duty, respectively, from the date at which they were first imposed; and what has been the aggregate cost of the Land Valuation Department, established to assess and collect those duties, from the date of its establishment?
The aggregate yield of the duties in question up to 31st March. 1918, is as follows:Increment Value Duty, £321,917.Undeveloped Land Duty (in abeyance since February, 1914), £411,959.Reversion Duty (partially in abeyance since February, 1914), £223,569.The aggregate cost of the Inland Revenue Land Valuation Office—inclusive of expenditure charged on other Votes—during the same period was approximately £3,858,000, but the right hon. Member is, of course, aware that only a relatively small part of this expenditure is attributable to the assessment of the duties referred to.
asked how much of the sum of £700,000 set down in the Budget statement under the head of Land Value Duties is estimated to be received from Mineral Rights Duty, and how much for the three Duties strictly concerned with land values as distinct from profits on the working of minerals; and whether, for the better information of the public, he will in future statements issued from the Treasury to Parliament or the Press group the revenue obtained by taxing the profits derived from the working of minerals with the revenue from Income Tax, and group the revenue obtained from the excess profits derived from the working of minerals with the revenue from Excess Profits Duty, leaving the revenue derived from the duties levied upon land values to be stated separately?
The estimated yield for the current year of the Mineral Rights Duty and the Excess Mineral Rights Duty is £565,000, and of the remaining Land Values Duties £135,000. The two first-named duties are classed as Land Values Duties in accordance with the statutes imposing them.
Income Tax
Schedule B
asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the differences in Scotland and England relating to the tenure and the rating of lands which inevitably involve some difference of treatment for Income Tax purposes; and whether, by reason of these differences, any people in Scotland are liable to assessment under Schedule B when in the same circumstances people in England are not so liable?
It is not possible to furnish within the limits of question and answer an exposition of the differences to which the question refers. It can, however, be stated that these differences do not involve liability to assessment to Income Tax under Schedule B in Scotland which would not equally arise in the same circumstances in England.
Paper Shortage (Company Meetings Reports)
asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will suggest to the Paper Controller that companies should be prohibited from circulating copies of the minutes of proceedings at annual general meetings except in the cases where shareholders apply for the same to the companies concerned?
My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The President of the Board of Trade is not prepared to stop the circulation of all reports of companies' meetings except on request, in view of the fact that such reports often contain matter of importance. The Paper Controller will, however, be glad to consider any cases brought to his notice in which the reports involve evident waste of paper, with a view to considering what action can usefully be taken to prevent the waste.
Lichnowsky Memoranda (Pamphlets)
asked the Patronage Secretary to the Treasury whether the War Aims Committee and the Ministry of Propaganda have both published pamphlets regarding the Lichnowsky memoranda; if so, whether he will explain why one of the pamphlets is disposed of gratuitously and the other is sold for 6d.? and whether he will take the necessary steps to prevent overlapping and competition between the War Aims Committee and the Ministry of Propaganda?
Both the War Aims Committee and the Ministry of Information have given wide publicity to Lichnowsky's revelations. The 6d. edition is a verbatim translation of the complete text. The smaller pamphlet, issued gratuitously, quotes the most striking passages. Both productions have been in great and constant demand. There has been no overlapping nor competition, the scheme of distribution having been centralised and carried out on comprehensive lines to meet the requirements of all classes.
War Aims
asked the Joint Patronage Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the recent announcement by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs that Great Britain is still bound by the once secret treaties now informally disclosed, the War Aims Committee will issue maps showing the enemy territories claimed by the Allies and instruct lecturers to inform their audiences regarding them, in order that the public may know what are the war aims of the Allies?
The War Aims Committee have no present intention of issuing maps of the kind suggested.
Food Supplies
White Flour
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why the medical section of the Ministry has declined (No. 32,182) to act upon the medical certificate of Dr. A. Grace, of Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire, certifying that Mrs. Young, aged seventy-three, of Church Farm, Rudgeway, Gloucestershire, who is confined to her bedroom through illness, requires a little white flour bread; and whether, having regard to the fact that on this lady's farm 1,600 bushels of wheat have lately been threshed in one week, he will explain the reason of this treatment?
The information originally supplied in this case was not thought to afford sufficient ground for sanctioning a grant of white flour. As the result of further medical information the grant has now been sanctioned.
Sugar
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the policy of saving transport adopted by his Department applies also to the Sugar Commission; whether he is aware that dealers in the counties surrounding London are compelled to receive sugar from Glasgow and to receive a kind of sugar which they may have had before the War for sweet-makers, which they are not now permitted to sell to sweet-makers, and which, consequently, they do not want; and whether, if he has no power of enforcing this rule to buy only what is wanted from the nearest source, he will indicate the best course for representations to be made?
The policy in regard to transport varies to some extent with the commodity concerned. That' of the Sugar Commission is to require traders to obtain supplies from the same sources as in 1915. No trader is compelled to take any sugar, but each trader receiving sugar must take his fair quota of such qualities as are now available. War conditions rule out nice discriminations between different qualities. The amount to which a wholesale dealer is now entitled is limited by the number of vouchers lodged with him under the rationing system. Any representation on this subject that the hon. and gallant Member may desire to make can be made to the Sugar Commission or the hon. Member for Wilton as chairman.
Tea
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether China tea can now be bought; and, if not, why those who desire this beverage are precluded from obtaining it?
Very little good China tea remains in the United Kingdom. The Ministry of Food is purchasing a certain quantity in China, but the tonnage available for its transport is very small. When the purchases arrive moderate supplies will be made available.
Meat
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why, in the absence of certain meats, those distributors holding live permits are allowed to purchase dead weight to make up their full quota, while a person holding a dead permit may not buy live meat of any kind, even though there be a surplus?
The hon. Member would appear to have misunderstood the Regulations with regard to this matter. Retailers of meat are permitted to take out permits to buy either live stock or dead meat according to the class of trade which they were doing in October, 1917, but in neither case are these permits interchangeable. In consequence of a shortage of supplies in a particular market, the holder of a live stock permit may not succeed in obtaining his full quota, in which case his supply is made up with imported meat through the prescribed channels. The holder of a dead-meat permit on the other hand is assured of obtaining the full amount of his quota from the wholesaler with whom he is registered, and it may further be assumed that, since his trade is in dead meat, he would not be in a position to handle live stock even if it were available. In the event of there being a surplus of live stock in any particular market, it is transferred to a market where there is a deficiency.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the control of both home and foreign-produced meat is in the hands of officials who, before the establishment of the Ministry of Food, were solely inter- ested in the import of foreign meat; and whether he will give the names of those responsible for the distribution of meat, together with the names of the firms or companies with which they were originally connected?
The control of both home-produced and imported meat is in the hands of the Meat and Live Stock Executive Board of the Ministry of Food, which is composed of Civil Servants and representatives of agricultural interests, the meat trade, auctioneers, etc. The supplies under their control are distributed through the agency of the National Meat Distribution Committee, which is composed of wholesale meat traders who, before the establishment of the Ministry of Food, dealt with supplies both of home-produced and of imported meat, The following are the names of the members of these two bodies:
Meat and Live Stock Executive Board.
Mr. E. F. Wise (Chairman), Civil Servant.
Mr. E. M. H. Lloyd, Civil Servant.
Mr. W. Anker Simmons, Chartered Surveyor; Messrs. Simmons and Son, Land Agents and Auctioneers, Henley-on-Thames, Reading and Basingstoke.
Mr. F. T. Boys, London Manager of the New Zealand Refrigerating Company, Limited.
Mr. W. H Wells, President of the Auctioneers' Institute; Messrs. Chesterton and Sons, Auctioneers and Estate Agents.
Mr. S. P. Kerr, Barrister-at-Law.
Mr. P. B. Proctor, Secretary to the Colonial Consignment and Distributing Company, Limited, and to the Australian Chilling and Freezing Company, Limited.
Captain Wilkie, Advisory Accountant to and member of Management Committee of the Home and Colonial Stores, Limited.
Lieutenant the Hon. A. Borthwick, Messrs. Thomas Borthwick and Sons. Limited, meat importers.
Mr. T. E. Metcalfe, Secretary.
National Meat Distribution Committee.
Mr. Willis (Messrs. Willis Brothers, Birmingham), Messrs. Webster and Bullock.
Mr. Nichol, Messrs. Nichol Brothers, Smithfield.
Mr. Whitney, Messrs. Armour and Company, Limited.
Lieutenant Lewis, Secretary.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that a quantity of foreign meat consigned to Petersfield, Hants, by the Ministry of Food last week for local distribution to butchers, etc., was examined by the local sanitary inspector and condemned by him as unfit for human consumption; and whether he can say how long the meat in question had been in cold storage and who are the officials who are responsible for sending the meat to Petersfield without previous examination?
I am making inquiries with regard to this matter, and will inform the hon. Member of the result.
Rations (Disposal)
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if a person in receipt of his rationed allowance of meat, butter etc., is liable to prosecution should he dispose of a portion of his ration without payment?
The rations obtained by any person may be shared by him with any members of the household, including guests sharing common meals. It is not in accordance with the Order for a person not needing the rations for himself or his household to obtain them for others.
Salmon And Sea Trout (Ireland)
asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is aware that the Food Controller by Order, dated 30th July, 1917, No. 769, empowered his Department to authorise the taking in Ireland of salmon and sea trout by engines other than single rod or line; whether he will say if such Order was made to apply to tidal or inland waters generally, or to any rivers or lakes, or districts specified in such Order; whether he will state if application to exercise the powers granted under this Order in the tidal waters at Clogher Head was made to his Department, and if permission was granted; and, if not, why it was refused?
The Order referred to gave power to the Department of Agriculture to extend the open season for the capture of salmon and sea trout by engines other than rod or line until such date in the year 1917 as the Department should see fit. Such power was applicable to tidal or inland waters generally, or to any rivers or lakes, or parts of districts. The Dundalk and Drogheda districts meet at Clogher Head. Orders were made by the Department extending the open season for netting salmon and trout in tidal waters to the 24th August, 1917, in the part of the Dundalk district immediately north of Clogher Head and in the tidal waters of the River Boyne. No application for extension in special relation to Clogher Head was received.
Ministry Of Food (Officials)
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he will give a statement of the number of men in his Department in the West of Scotland or in the whole of Scotland who are receiving salaries of £200 a year and over, their names, ages, military fitness or otherwise, and the duties they are called upon to perform in his Department)
The statement for which the hon. Member asks involves, perhaps, more labour than the value of the information justifies. It is, however, being prepared, and I will send it to him so soon as it is complete.
National School, Kilkeel, County Down
asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that a school designated by its promoters as a higher-grade national school has been opened at Kilkeel, county Down; whether this school has received the sanction of the Commissioners of National Education; if so, under which rule or provision of the Code has such sanction been given, or has special sanction been obtained from the Treasury for the establishment of higher-grade national schools in Ireland; will he state the number of teachers employed in this school, their conditions of service, the salary payable to each, and the Vote to which such salary is chargeable; is he aware that if children under fourteen years of age are admitted to this school the position of several teachers in the neighbouring national schools will be seriously jeopardised, and that a memorial to that effect has been sent to the Commissioners by the teachers concerned; and what action does he propose to take in the circumstances?
Provisional consent has been given under Rule 178 of the Code of the Commissioners of National Education for the establishment of a national school at Kilkeel, county Down, the attendance to be confined to pupils over twelve years of age who have passed the fifth standard. No information is at present available as to the actual number of teachers employed in the school and the conditions of service, but the school will be conducted in strict conformity with the Rules and Regulations.A protest from the Kilkeel Teachers' Association has been received as stated in the question, but, as the school has only been opened for instruction since Easter, the Commissioners of National Education are not in a position to say whether there are legitimate grounds for the opinion expressed by the association.
Troopships (Supervision)
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he has any information showing that troopships conveying wounded Canadians across the Atlantic were filthy with vermin and that men who had tickets entitling them to cabin berths and exemption from duty lay at the bottom of the ship on the sometimes wet floors; and, if so, whether it is possible to have better supervision of troopships?
We have no information as to these allegations. No complaints have been received from the officer commanding troops on board. There is no reason to think that the supervision of troopships is other than adequate, but if my hon. and gallant Friend will tell me to what ships the allegations refer, the matter shall certainly be inquired into.
Royal Dockyards (Apprenticeship)
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can make any announcement as to the policy of his Department in the matter of reducing the period of apprenticeship in His Majesty's dockyards and naval establishments?
Orders have recently been issued to the effect that in future the period of apprenticeship is to be reduced from six years to five years. The scale of pay has also been raised as follows:Old scale: 4s., 6s., 8s., 10s., 12s., and 15s. weekly rates, year by year.New scale: 6s., 8s., 10s., 14s., and 20s. weekly rates, year by year.The apprentices at present serving will benefit by the change in scale by being paid 20s. in place of 15s. for the sixth year, and 14s. in place of 12s. for the fifth year of their apprenticeship.
Royal Artillery Officers
asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that certain officers of the Royal Artillery serving in home stations and who have attained the age of fifty-five are being warned that they may shortly be placed on the unemployed list; and whether many of these officers are gentlemen who have been given temporary commissions from the ranks and who are well qualified to take the place of younger officers and others now employed in munitions and other Departments; and if he will suggest the same to these Departments?
Officers of the Royal Artillery are not placed on the unemployed list on attaining the age of fifty-five years unless it is necessary to move them to make room for serving officers. A certain number are moved for this purpose. Their names are submitted to the Ministry of Munitions, and a very large number are employed in this way. Any requests for employment in other Government Departments are also noted, and the names of the officers forwarded to-the Departments concerned. In addition to this, officers can register at the War Office for employment, and their names are circulated to all Government Departments.
King's Own Scottish Borderers
asked whether any decision has been arrived at in the case of Private Matthew Watt, King's Own. Scottish Borderers, a thrice-wounded man, with five serving brothers, who is being kept at home pending an inquiry into the circumstances of his case?
My right hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries Burghs has also written to me on more than one occasion about this case. I regret that in present circumstances I can give no undertaking that Private Watt will be retained on home service.
Prisoners Of War
asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the arrangements for transferring officers and non-commissioned officers to Holland still prohibits the transfer of privates from Germany to internment in Holland; and whether he is aware that the privilege given to officers and non-commissioned officers tends to create a feeling of soreness amongst the privates who are left behind in Germany?
The facts are as suggested in the question, but the fault does not lie with His Majesty's Government, who proposed that privates should be included in the transfer, whereas the German Government categorically refused. My hon. Friend will doubtless have seen the statement of Lord Newton that the whole question of the transfer and exchange of prisoners of war is being reconsidered.
War Bounty Order
asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the war bounty granted under the second Military Service Act was refused to men who were not bound to remain in the Service under that Act, i.e., men over forty-one years of age; that men who were refused the bounty because they were over age are now being compelled to serve on under the new Military Service Act because they are under age; and whether he will consider the amendment of the War Bounty Order to include men who have not attained the age of fifty-one at the time of being compelled to re-enlist or to serve with the Colours?
I will consider the point raised.
Naval And Military Pensions And Grants
asked the Pensions Minister whether he is aware that the £5 bounty to widows has not been issued to the widows of those men who died in the service of their country before 1st July, 1916; that the widows of those men who died after that date are receiving the bounty; and whether he will state what reason there is for this treatment of the widows of those men who volunteered to serve their country?
Before the 1st July, 1916, the gratuity of £5 for the widow (with £5 for each child) was paid by the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation-out of funds received from the National Relief Fund. When, therefore, the Ministry subsequently conceded the award of the widow's gratuity, the 1st July, 1916, was fixed as the date after which the death of the soldier must have occurred for the widow to be entitled. I am informed that it was the practice of the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation to make certain inquiries as to whether the husband's death had involved the widow in expense, before making the grant, so that there may be a certain number of widows of soldiers dying before 1st July, 1916, who did not obtain the gratuity.
Shamrock Fund
asked the Pensions Minister whether he has now made inquiries into the work of the Shamrock Fund; and if he can make any statement to the House?
I regret that a misunderstanding arose with regard to the question addressed to me last Thursday concerning this fund. There was, unfortunately, nothing in the records of the Ministry of Pensions to suggest the association of the "Shamrock Fund" with the Employment Bureau of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Help Society (Irish Branch). The work of that bureau in training and securing employment for disabled men is, I need hardly say, cordially approved by the Ministry, which has only within the last few months gratefully accepted for the bureau a donation of £5,000 towards the cost of a training scheme which has been instituted at Leopardstown Park, near Dublin.
East Africa (German Coinage)
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that there is considerable local feeling in German East Africa owing to the use by the British Government of German gold and silver coinage for the payment of British and Indian troops in that country; whether he will consult with the Governments of British East Africa and India as to whether it is possible to provide currency from those countries to replace the German coinage and notes now in use; and, if that is not possible at the present time, he will direct that all German coinage passing through local treasuries and Banks shall before reissue be stamped with G.R. on the face of each coin and that all German notes shall be surcharged in the same manner?
I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answers which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for East Antrim on the 2nd and 9th of this month, respectively.
Lunatic Asylums (Congestion)
asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the provisions of Section 22 of the Lunacy Act, 1890, are not known to persons who might be likely to avail themselves of them; whether a wider knowledge of them has been considered by the Lunacy Commissioners as tending to relieve the present congestion and expense of lunatic asylums; whether a short leaflet will be prepared setting out the terms or effect of this Section and pointing out that friends or relatives of an alleged lunatic may, previous to certification, claim that the patient may be handed over to them on their assuming responsibility for him; and whether efforts will be made to make this procedure and its advantages known?
There is no reason to think that patients are detained in asylums who might be properly cared for by relatives or friends. Before a justice makes an order for the detention of an alleged lunatic he must satisfy himself that the patient is a proper person to be detained, and for this purpose takes into consideration the question whether any relatives or friends are able and willing to give the patient proper care. Further, any application from relatives or friends for the discharge of a patient is carefully considered by the Asylums Committee, who are anxious to discharge patients when this can safely be done. I do not think any useful purpose would be served by such action as the hon. Member suggests.
Teansport (Inquiry)
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government consider that an independent inquiry into the whole subject of transport is necessary and should be undertaken without delay, and that the committee of inquiry should be one before which witnesses can be called from all quarters, including the Board of Trade, engineers, and railway managers, from which useful information may be procurable, so that, as a result of such inquiry, reforms may be suggested of a practical and comprehensive nature destined to be the means of placing the transport system of this country at least on an equality with that of other great nations?
The President of the Board of Trade dealt with this matter in the Debate on the Board of Trade Estimates yesterday, and I would refer my hon. Friend to what my right hon. Friend said on that occasion.
Petrol Licences
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether licences for the supply of petrol granted to the tenant occupiers of hotels in the country entirely dependent on motor traction are personal licences or are intended for the benefit of the premises and of the public using the same; whether the tenant of such an hotel ought to be obliged to give up or transfer to his successor such licence on ceasing to be the tenant; whether his attention has been called to the case of the "Anglers' Hotel" at Ennerdale Lake, in West Cumberland, whose customers are obliged to use railway facilities at Whitehaven and Cocker-mouth, and to the fact that the late tenant, William Mulley, had a licence for 30 gallons a month, but, having ceased to be the tenant, declines to transfer such licence to the present tenant, Mrs. Reid; and will he say on what ground the Petrol Committee declines to allow Mrs. Reid a supply of petrol or enable her to obtain the licence from William Mulley?
The motor spirit licence granted to occupiers of hotels are personal licences granted to them as hackney carriage proprietors. If an outgoing tenant continues to be a hackney carriage proprietor, and thus requires to retain his licence, he is not obliged to surrender it. If he surrenders it, a corresponding licence may be issued to his successor. If, however, he retains it, I regret that the necessity for preventing any increase in the number of motor vehicles used as hackney carriages renders it impossible to issue a licence to his successor. With regard to the particular case mentioned by the hon. Member, I find that William Mulley is now the tenant of another hotel, and continues to use his motor-car as a hackney vehicle.
Season Tickets
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has sanctioned the Great Eastern Railway Company charging an extra 20 per cent. on renewal of all season tickets for distances beyond a radius of 12 miles from Charing Cross, even when such season tickets have been held since dates previously to 1st January, 1917?
The increase in the price of season tickets applies generally, and is not affected by the applicant for a ticket having held one previously to the 1st January, 1917.
Postal Rates (Army Women)
asked the Postmaster-General whether the concession as to the postage of letters to soldiers serving overseas applies also to women serving overseas in His Majesty's forces?
I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given yesterday.
Emperor Of Austria's Letter
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that authoritative French reports have attributed to the Prime Minister an important share in the negotiations which arose out of the letter of the Emperor Charles to Prince Sixte of Bourbon-Parma, he will publish a state-, ment of the part played therein by British diplomacy simultaneously with the French report which he has already promised?
As the hon. Member is aware, I have promised to lay before the House any report published by the French Government on this subject. When I am in possession of such a report, I will consider whether it can usefully be supplemented.
Prison Officials, Ireland (Promotion)
asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that a chief warder in an Irish prison has recently been promoted to the position of first-class or senior clerk, passing over nine second-class clerks, and without having passed any such examination as is imposed on the clerks; and whether he can take any steps to allay the dissatisfaction caused by this method of promotion?
The' chief warder referred to was an officer of senior rank and higher salary than the clerks in question, and was, in the opinion of the General Prisons Board, the most suitable for appointment as senior clerk. The scheme of reorganisation recently introduced into the Irish prison service provided for the promotion of the most suitable man, irrespective of rank, and second-class clerks have no prescriptive right to promotion to senior clerkships. The vacancy caused by the promotion of the chief warder referred to has been filled by the promotion of a second-class clerk.
Civil Service Examinations
asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can arrange that in every examination held by the Civil Service Commissioners in which papers on the French and German languages are set similar papers, marked on the same scale, shall be set in the Italian, Russian, and Spanish languages?
The Civil Service Commissioners fully recognise the importance of encouraging the study of foreign languages, and in the case of appointments for which linguistic knowledge is specially desirable modern languages additional to French and German are already included in the scheme of examination. But as at present advised they are not prepared to recommend that Italian, Russian and Spanish should be included in all schemes of examination in which French and Ger man now appear, and I understand that where modern languages may be offered as alternatives to French and German the number of candidates offering such other languages has hitherto been small.
State Medical Service
asked the Minister of Re construction upon what ground the question of a State medical service was regarded as a forbidden subject in considering a Ministry of Health; and whether he is aware that many of the workers under the National Health Insurance Acts are desirous of having the above proposal thoroughly examined with a view to remedying some large and serious evils?
The negotiations to which the hon. Member refers were limited to the discussion of the redistribution of the functions of central Departments in relation to health services. As stated, in reply to a similar question by the hon. Member on the 22nd April, the question of a State medical service would not, therefore, have been relevant to the proceedings.
Ministry Of Health
asked the Minister of Reconstruction whether he has completed his negotiations with the various interests who wished to press personal and other claims in connection with the proposed Ministry of Health; whether the principal posts have now been conditionally allocated and if the way is clear for the proposals to be discussed in public so that the interests of the millions of people concerned can be safeguarded?
The negotiations referred to have been completed, and there was no disposition on the part of those concerned with the negotiations to suggest that personal claims entered into the important matters under consideration. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise, and I am not in a position to make any statement in regard to the third.