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Written Answers

Volume 438: debated on Friday 6 June 1947

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Written Answers To Questions

Friday, 6th June, 1947

Child Care

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the total number of children deprived of normal home lives in England and Wales on 31st March, 1947, or the latest available date; the number of children deprived for the following reasons: death of parents; foundlings; desertion; legitimate and illegitimate; homelessness of parents; immorality of parents; cruelty of parents; inadequate home conditions; and the number of children in which the rights and powers of parents are vested in local authorities.

The number of children in England and Wales deprived of a normal home life, exclusive of delinquent and physically or mentally handicapped children, is estimated to have been about 94,000 on 1st May, 1946. This figure includes children who may have been only temporarily separated from their families. As regards the last part of the question, approximately 8,000 children are committed to the care of local authorities under the Children and Young Persons Act. Figures are not available to show in how many cases the rights and powers of parents vest in local authorities by resolution of the Council under Section 52 of the Poor Law Act, 1930. I regret that it is not possible to furnish the remainder of the information requested by my hon. Friend.

Strike (High Wycombe)

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been directed to the strike at the works of Long and Hambly, Limited, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, when no trade dispute in respect thereof was referred to his Department under paragraph 2 of S.R. & O., 1940, No. 1305, as amended by S.R. & O., 1942, No. 1073; whether he is aware that this strike is officially recognised by the Transport and General Workers' Union, whose officials have urged railway workers, dock workers and others to support the strike by refusing to handle goods destined for Long and Hambly, Limited; and if he has yet been asked to intervene.

Yes, and I am glad to be able to record that at a meeting which my officers held with the parties a basis of settlement was reached.

Workmen's Compensation Cases

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether any arrangements have yet been made to include existing cases of workmen's compensation under the Industrial Injuries Scheme after the appointed day.

No, Sir. Further legislation would be required to enable this to be done and I cannot, therefore, make any statement about the matter.

Germany (Supplies, Cost)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what the net cost of supplies to Germany amounted to from VE-Day to 31st December, 1945, and between 1st January, 1947, and 31st March, 1947, excluding military expenditure.

Medical Officers Of Health

asked the Minister of Health whether the conditions under which his Department gives approval to the appointment of Medical Officers of Health include any requirement as to their periodical revaccination.

Post Office (Postmen)

asked the Postmaster-General how many postal servants were engaged in the collection and delivery of postal packets in July, 1945, as compared with the number at present so employed.

Figures relating solely to the collection and delivery of postal packets are not immediately available, but for collection, delivery and various allied operations, the number of postmen employed (each part-timer counted as one half) was:

1st July, 194567,157
1st May, 194782,125

Food Supplies (Statistics)

asked the Minister of Food (1) if he will give figures, on the same basis as those used in the Report on Food Consumption Levels in the U.S.A., Canada and the United Kingdom, showing the value in calories of the following food groups per day per head of the population during the year 1946 and, where comparable, during the 12 months to June, 1947: dairy products, meats, poultry, game and fish, sugars and syrups, fats and oils, eggs and egg products, potatoes, pulses and nuts, tomatoes and citrus fruit, other fruit, leafy, green and yellow vegetables, other vegetables, grain products and beverages:

(2) if he will give per capita statistics of consumption of shellfish and tinned fish per head of population during the years 1934–38, 1946, and during the 12 months to June, 1947.

(3) if he will give figures showing supplies of honey, glucose, imported jams and marmalade, entering human consumption during the years 1934–38, 1946 and during the 12 months to June, 1947, expressed in lbs. per head per year by product weight and also equivalent sugar content.

(4) if he will give figures showing the yearly per capita weights of liquid milk, cheese and condensed, dried and evaporated milk entering into human consumption in the years 1934–38, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946 and the 12 months to June, 1947, expressed in equivalent milk solids, together with the total weight in equivalent milk solids to which they amount each year.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on 4th June to his Questions on the same subject.