Development Fund
42.
asked the Minister of Agriculture how the sum of £850,000, placed in the hands of the Development Commissioners under the Corn Production Acts (Repeal) Act, 1921, for the purpose of developing agriculture, has been expended?
I have been asked to reply. The fund to which the hon. Member refers will, as at present arranged, be expended over a period of not less than five years from the 1st April last. It is estimated that during the current year, approximately, £140,000 will be spent from the fund, and next year, approximately, £275,000. The purposes to which the money is being devoted are, in general, schemes of agricultural education and research. The programme on which the Ministry of Agriculture is working includes schemes for such purposes as the improvement and extension of the accommodation at research institutes and agricultural colleges; increases of staff and the development of the work of existing re-search institutes, the establishment in one or two cases of new centres of research, such as a Professorship of Animal Diseases at Cambridge; and the establishment of a system of scholarships for the sons and daughters of agricultural workmen and others, as directed by the Act constituting the fund. If the hon. Member would like detailed information concerning any scheme or class of schemes in which he is particularly interested, and will communicate with me, I shall be happy to furnish it.
Where does the accumulated unexpended portion of this money go to—back to the Fund or is it kept in the hands of the Commissioners?
I could not answer that off-hand.
Rural Industries Intelligence Bureau
43.
asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress has been made in regard to the revival of rural industries; and what further steps are being taken in connection therewith?
The problem of the revival and development of rural industries is now being dealt with by the Rural Industries Intelligence Bureau, which was set up some time ago under a Trust Deed and is supported out of public funds. I am sending the hon. Member some particulars with regard to the functions of this body, from which it will be seen that the Committee of the Bureau comprises representatives of this Ministry and other Ministries interested in the subject. There are various other institutions, such as the National Federation of Women's Institutes, who are also dealing with this subject as part of their general activities.
Will Papers be laid showing whether the officers of the Rural Industries Bureau are whole-time officers paid by the State, or whether they split their time between the bureau and the co-operative societies?
The hon. Member had better put that question down.
The particulars referred to are as follow:
Rural Industries Intelligence Bureau
The Treasury, on the recommendation of the Development Commissioners, have made a grant towards the establishment of a Rural Industries Intelligence Bureau, whose object it is to provide skilled advice to all who are concerned in the promotion and extension of these industries.
The Bureau has been set up under a trust deed, and the following have been appointed trustees by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries:
- Sir Douglas Newton, K.B.E., M.P.
- Sir Basil Mayhew, K.B.E., F.C.A.
- Sir Charles McLeod.
- Major-General Sir Gerard M. Heath, K.C.M.G., C.B., D.S.O.
- The Hon. Edward G. Strutt, C.H.
The trustees in the exercise of their authority have appointed a committee, of which they will themselves be members, to conduct the business of the Bureau. The committee has as its chairman the right hon. Lord Ernie, and is composed of the trustees in association with representatives from the Board of Trade, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ministry of Labour, Board of Education, Board of
Agriculture for Scotland, Ministry of Pensions, the Forestry Commission, the Labour party, the Federation of Women's Institutes, the British Legion and other interested associations.
The Bureau is thus controlled by a body equally representative of social interests and of technical and business experience. It is essentially an organisation set up for practical purposes.
The primary purpose of the Bureau is to offer skilled advice to those who are engaged in, or contemplate, the establishment of commercially profitable rural industries. The Bureau will be prepared to advise generally and more especially on
Briefly, therefore, the Bureau is prepared to give all possible assistance in the directions indicated above to the isolated handicraftsmen and to rural groups of workers direct, or through their own Associations, and no effort will be spared to obtain information and to give assistance of practical value without delay.
Communications should be addressed to
The Secretary,
Rural Industries Intelligence Bureau,
258–262, Westminster Bridge Road,
London, S.E.I.
The work of the Intelligence Bureau would, however, be, incomplete unless it were supplemented by a central agency providing the workers with materials and deposing of their goods. It is the lack of adequate trading facilities, as well as of authentic information, that has prevented the natural development of these small industries. In conjunction with the Bureau, therefore, a co-operative trading society, known as the Country Industries Co-operative Society, Limited, has been registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act, and is situated also at 258–262, Westminster Bridge Road, S.E.I, where it has large showroom and warehouse accommodation.
The Development Commissioners are debarred by the terms of their Act from recommending a grant to an association trading for profit; accordingly, the capital has been raised from private quarters and the trading society will be entirely independent of Government control, and a business concern pure and simple.
A strong governing body has been appointed, composed of Sir Ernest J. P. Benn, Baronet, C.B.E.; Sir Charles McLeod; Sir Basil Mayhew, K.B.E., F.C.A.; Lady Denraan; Mr. Vaughan Nash, C.B., C.V.O.; Mr. J. J. Dent, C.M.G.; Mr. T. L. Coltman.
The functions of the trading society are two-fold—
The present moment would appear to be peculiarly favourable to the revival, stabilisation and extension of country crafts and industries. It is common knowledge that the War has served to stimulate country life and activities; cooperative societies, women's institutes, village clubs, and ex-service men's organisations are flourishing and multiplying. There is a greater degree of familiarity with mechanical methods of work, and there is more leisure which could be turned to account if suitable and congenial occupations were forthcoming. The unsettlement and insecurity of the agricultural situation make it all the more important that the possibilities of alternative or supplementary employment should be thoroughly explored and tested without delay.
In reviewing the situation, the Development Commissioners have been particularly impressed by the opportunities which a revival of village industries would offer to many disabled ex-service men. There is still in existence a great training organisation under both Government and voluntary auspices, and it is clear that a large proportion of those undergoing training will never be able to take their place within the ranks of full-time urban industry. For those men occupations are needed which, while compatible with the limitations of their physical powers, will yet be congenal and remunerative and can be carried on either in their own homes or in a small workshop after a short term of special training.
Before adopting the proposals outlined above, the Commissioners submitted them to their Advisory Committee on Rural Industries, of which Lord Ernie is the chairman. The Committee contains representatives of all the Departments concerned with various aspects of the rural problem and with the care of disabled men, and it strongly supported the action proposed.
Counciliation Committees
44.
asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the general dissatisfaction expressed in reference to the working of the Con- ciliation Committees, he will reintroduce the Wages Boards so that the decisions thereof may be legally enforced?
I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend does not admit that there is general dissatisfaction with the working of the Conciliation Committees. During September there were 49 agreements in force, and the number of complaints of non-observance of the agreements was insignificant. Difficulties are being experienced in reaching agreements in several counties at the present time, but my Tight hon. Friend is not without hope that these difficulties will be overcome. In any case, he is not prepared to introduce legislation to re-establish the Wages Board.
Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman inform the House whether a single one of the alleged agreements have been registered?
I could not do that without notice.
Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman not aware that since the Wages Boards were abolished an enormous reduction in the wages of the agricultural labourers has taken place, and in consequence of the present distribution of wages by the farmers many of the men are worse off than before the War?
Agreements with Burial Boards!
Naval Armaments (Washington Treaty)
51.
asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the two new capital ships authorised by Parliament must be laid down under the Washington Agreement by the 31st December, 1922; whether the orders have as yet been given out; and whether he can make any statement on the subject?
I propose to make a statement on this subject before the House rises.
Will the right hon. Gentleman invite the opinion of the new House of Commons as to the desirability of spending this sum of money?
We are considering it as a Government, but I am afraid I cannot promise what is asked for by the hon. and gallant Gentleman.
Does the right hon. Gentleman mean that there will be an opportunity for discussion?
No; what I have said does not necessarily mean that.
Lausanne Conference
53.
asked the Prime Minister whether the Allied invitation to the Russian Government to send representatives to Lausanne envisages their participation in a consultative capacity; and whether the Russian representatives will be invited to sign the protocols drawn up concerning the particular questions in which Russia is deemed to be interested?
Russian delegates have been invited to take part in the discussion about the Straits. The question of the form in which decisions are to be recorded, whether in protocols or otherwise, is for the Conference itself to settle.
When the question of Asiatic boundaries comes up, will the discussion be open to the Russians, especially the Armenian question?
No: I believe the invitation to the Russians is limited to the question of the Straits.