Finance Act, 1909–10 (Income Tax Abatement).
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that under the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, the Paymaster-General's Office is informing those widows of naval and military officers entitled to pensions who ate living abroad that two years' Income Tax must be deducted from their incomes this year, and that that Income Tax must be at the rate of 1s. 2d. in the £, in spite of the fact that the incomes are in many cases as low as £70 a year, or about 4s. a day; whether he is aware that hitherto these pensioners have been able to claim abatement, but that, owing to Clause 71 of the Finance Act, they are not only unable to do so, but have to pay at the higher rate of unearned incomes; whether he can take steps now to prevent so great a burden falling on these small incomes; and whether he will amend the Finance Bill of this year so that these pensioners who are living abroad for other reasons than that of health—namely, better education of their children, etc.—shall not be prevented from obtaining abatement or exemption?
In those cases in which the pensions in question were paid for 1909–10 in full prior to the passing of the recent Finance Act deduction of Income Tax is being made now for that year. Without committing myself in any way in advance, I will consider the question of amending Section 71 (1) of the recent Finance Act in the light of the experience now being gained.
Newmarket (Ireland) Shooting Affray.
asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will state if District Inspector Price, Newmarket, was on duty on 26th May last, the day of the Newmarket shooting affray; and, if he was, will he state whether when on duty he is empowered by the regulations to entertain a party of friends at his house, and, knowing that there was a series of assaults committed on 11th May, why he did not make arrangements for extra police?
The District Inspector was on duty on the date in question. There is nothing in the police regulations to prevent an officer entertaining friends at his house, provided it does not interfere with the proper discharge of his duty, and the Inspector-General has no reason to believe that it did so on this occasion. There was no reason for anticipating the disturbances of 26th May from the assaults committed on 11th May. There was no connection whatever between the two occurrences.
asked on what date the investigation was held by the police authorities into the conduct of District Inspector Price in firing himself and ordering his men to fire on a crowd of forty persons, as testified by him at the inquest held on the victim of the shooting at Newmarket on 26th May last; whether the only witnesses whose evidence was taken at the investigation were police witnesses; and whether the Inspector-General received a copy of the depositions taken at the inquest?
The investigation referred to was held on 9th June by the county inspector, who, besides examining police witnesses, made general inquiry from other persons, and had before him a report of the sworn evidence given at the inquest. The Inspector-General did not receive a copy of the depositions taken at the inquest.
Land Purchase, Ireland (Vesting Orders).
asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if, in order to illustrate the effect of the improvements and increased work he promised in the House last Session, he will state the number of vesting orders issued to land purchasers in Ireland during the first six months of 1910, as compared with the number issued during the first six months of each of the preceding six years?
The number of holdings vested in purchasers in the periods mentioned in the question were:— 1st Jan, to 30th June. 1904 … … … 3,523 1905 … … … 7,524 1906 … … … 8,526 1907 … … … 7,259 1908 … … … 8,046 1909 … … … 9,576 1910 … … … 8,323
As regards the figures for half-year ended 30th June last, it should be explained that vendors were allowed up to 1st April to elect under the Act of 1909 whether they would accept payment partly in cash and partly in stock or wholly in stock. The estates of those who elected to accept payment in stock were as a rule low down on the priority list, and had not been inspected on 1st April. The inspection of these estates is now being proceeded with as rapidly as practicable, but the vesting orders cannot be issued until the inspectors' reports have been ruled on by the Estates Commissioners and their requisitions complied with. It has not been found possible up to 30th June to vest any considerable number of the holdings on these estates, but it is expected that a large number will be ready for vesting at an early date.
Rifle Clubs (Ammunition).
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is yet in a position to provide rifle clubs with ammunition, either free or at cheap rates; and whether he is aware of the provision of ammunition made to rifle clubs by the Governments of Canada and Australia?
The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part of the question, I am aware of the grants made to rifle clubs by the Governments of Canada and Australia, but it must be remembered that in Canada members of rifle associations become members of the Militia in case of emergency and that in Australia rifle clubs are portion of the reserve forces and active members of clubs are liable for service.
Rifle Ranges (Northumberland and Durham).
asked how much of the £30,000 to be expended on the provision of ranges in Northumberland and Durham is to be expended on rifle[...]ranges?
The hon. Member is presumably referring to certain figures mentioned in another place on 23rd June last. The provision alluded to related entirely to rifle ranges.
Musketry Instruction (Slings).
asked the Secretary of State for War what results have been achieved by the prohibition of the use of slings by a soldier firing his musketry course and in the musketry instruction of a recruit; and whether he will remove this prohibition in the interests of the efficiency of the soldier?
The prohibition of the use of slings has resulted in a great improvement in the general efficiency of the soldier under war conditions, and it would not therefore be in the interests of efficiency to reintroduce it.
Territorial Force (Small Arms Ammunition).
asked the Secretary of State for War how much of the small arms ammunition provided for the Territorial Force has been returned unexpended during each of the last two years; and whether in future he will place at the disposal of the general officer commanding a Territorial division the whole of the ammunition provided for his command, in order that the quantity unexpended by some units may be supplied to other units which find the provision insufficient?
No detailed information is available at the War Office to enable me to reply to the first part of the question. As regards the rest of the question, it is not proposed to alter the system which is in force also with the Regular Forces.
Rifle Bullet (175-Grain).
asked the Secretary of State for War whether extreme-range trials are being made with the 175-grain bullet 15572 E on the same lines as with the 160-grain bullet; and whether he can say which gives the best results at 2,000 yards?
No extended trials have been or are being made with the 175-grain bullet.
Royal Field Artillery (Special Reserve).
asked what is the present strength of the brigades of Special Reserve Royal Field Artillery; whether the quality of recruits for drivers is satisfactory; and what is the strength of each brigade in artificers?
The strength of the non-commissioned officers and men of the Special Reserve attached to the Training Brigades on 1st July was as follows:— Eastern Command … 1,128 Irish Command … 1,823 Northern Command … 1,120 Scottish Command … 1,105 Southern Command … 575 Western Command … 1,075 Total … 6,826
The quality of recruits for drivers is satisfactory. As regards artificers no details as, required are available at the War Office.
English Immigrants (Canada).
asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that Harry Pemberton, a native of Derby, left England on 13th May, with a party of fourteen other persons to start work obtained for him by his sister, who was already in Canada, and, on arrival at Quebec, the whole party was detained and kept in a detention hospital and herded with objectionable foreigners, and eventually sent back to England without being allowed to write to his friends, and, having regard to the fact that his mother, who is a widow, had to bear the whole expense, whether he will take action so as to prevent similar experiences to English immigrants, and give some redress in this case?
The attention of the Secretary of State has not been called to the particular case mentioned, but, as I stated in reply to a similar question on 12th July, he is prepared to communicate with the Canadian Government. Inquiry shall accordingly be made with regard to this case.
Post Office (Boy and Girl Messengers).
asked the Postmaster-General whether he will hold over the employment of girls as messengers until after the Report of the Committee on Boy Messengers is issued?
As I stated when introducing the Post Office Estimates I do not propose to employ girls on the outdoor duties at present performed by boy messengers. There are, however, a number of indoor duties for messengers in branches of the Post Office where a female staff is employed, and I propose to appoint girls to such of these duties as can properly be performed by them as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made.
Postal Work, Southampton.
asked the Postmaster-General if he will furnish a copy of Surveyor's Form No. 37, containing the units of work for Southampton for the year ending 31st December, 1907, similar to that supplied for Teignmouth?
No such Return is available, but a Return compiled in March, 1908, from figures obtained in 1907 shows 1,768 units of work.
Local Taxation Yield (Scotland).
asked the Lord Advocate whether the Secretary for Scotland can now state what sum will be allocated to Scotland for the current year in order to make good the deficiency in the yield of the local taxation, Customs and Excise duties, which has occurred in consequence of the drop in the consumption of spirits; and to what purpose or purposes the money will be applied?
I understand the amount allocated to Scotland is eleven hundredths of £328,000, or approximately £36,080. This sum is only sufficient to restore the Education (Scotland) Fund so far as dependent on the Customs and Excise Duties to the figure at which it stood in 1909, and it is proposed to apply the money to this purpose.
Dovey Estuary (Net Fishing).
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that the town of Machynlleth is seriously prejudiced by the action of net fishermen working upwards from the estuary of the Dovey; and whether, as a result of an inquiry recently held by an inspector under the Fisheries Board, steps will be taken to preserve angling on the river in the neighbourhood of Machynlleth for the benefit of that town and its inhabitants?
An inspector of the Board held an inquiry into this matter recently, and when considering his report, the Board will bear in mind my hon. Friend's suggestion.
Crop Reports.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the Board will consider the possibility of improving the organisation of the crop reports in consultation with their correspondents?
The Board will be glad to consider any suggestions that may be submitted to them for the improvement of their crop reports.
also asked what is the present cost of collecting the crop reports; how much is paid for the office part of the work and how much to the correspondents?
The amount paid to the crop estimators last year was £2,872. The tabulation and summarisation of the Reports are part of the work of Board's staff, and the cost cannot be separately shown.
further asked whether the crop reports are collected through local practical agriculturists or by officials of the Board of Agriculture; and if the Board are aware that the reports are not considered untrustworthy by many agriculturists?
The reports are supplied by local agriculturists, who are selected for the practical acquaintance with the agricultural conditions of their districts. The Board are aware that local objection is occasionally taken to the reports as affecting particular localities, but for the country as a whole the reports have been in previous years proved by results to be trustworthy.
Black Scab in Potatoes.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the attention of the Board has been drawn to the drastic measures being taken by the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction in Ireland with the view of checking the spread of black scab in potatoes, including the compulsory laying down to grass of land proved to be infected with the disease; and whether, in view of the recent increase of this disease in Great Britain, its seriousness and its infectivity, the Board will, in lieu of the recently issued general Order including this among several other diseases requiring somewhat different treatment, consider the desirability of proclaiming as infected areas all places where black scab has appeared, and prohibiting any potatoes being grown in such places for such period of years as may be deemed sufficient to secure immunity against a recrudescence of the disease?
The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Board do not think it necessary to adopt in this country the methods which have been adopted by the Irish Department of Agriculture under widely different conditions.
Small Holdings in Kent.
asked what steps are being taken to provide the applicants for small holdings at Dunton Green with land; whether any land has been provided for such applicants by the Kent County Council in that or any neighbouring village; and, if no land has yet been provided, whether the Board of Agriculture will take steps to fulfil the promise made on the subject by the President of the Board in November, 1908?
Negotiations for the acquisition of land to satisfy the applicants at Dunton Green are proceeding. Though no land has as yet been acquired, the Board are satisfied that every effort is being made by the council to secure the land required to satisfy the demand.
Anthrax.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he has received a copy of the resolution unanimously adopted at a recent meeting of the Central and Associated Chambers of Agriculture, requesting the Board to appoint a Departmental Committee to consider the best means of checking the increase of anthrax among live stock in Great Britain; and, if so, whether, having regard to the development of this disease with a consequent increase of mortality among both men and farm animals and also to the alleged errors in its diagnosis, the Board is prepared to accede to such request?
asked whether, in view of the danger to human beings and animals through the increase of the disease of anthrax, and in view of the doubts which have been thrown on the diagnosis of the disease, the Board of Agriculture will take steps to appoint a Departmental Committee to make a thorough investigation of all matters connected with so dangerous and prevalent a disease?
The Resolution mentioned has been received and considered. As I have already stated in the House, the Board's veterinary officers are continuously engaged in making inquiry as to the causes of the spread of anthrax and a revised Anthrax Order, designed to secure a more efficient method of diagnosis, will be issued shortly. In these circumstances the Board do not think that much advantage would accrue to agriculturists by the appointment of the Committee suggested at the present time.