Written Answers
Indian Army
asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether some of the many officers of the Indian Army who are under orders immediately to return to India can with advantage be detained in order to fill vacancies in the Territorial Force and elsewhere; and whether he will consider the propriety of making this suggestion to the Secretary of State for India?
The Secretary of State is unable to make a statement on this subject, but whatever is necessary in the public interests will be done.
Home-Grown Foodstuffs (Supply And Distribution)
asked the Prime Minister whether he is proposing to set up a central Committee and local connection with the suffrage agitation, supply and distribution of home-grown wheat and other foodstuffs in the United Kingdom; and, if so, whether, in order to promote confidence and secure the smooth working of the Government scheme, he will consider the desirability of making full use of the services of selected agricultural landowners in carrying out such scheme?
My Noble Friend the President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries has appointed a consultative Committee, of which I understand the hon. Gentleman is himself a member, to consider this and other questions of a like nature.
Bank Notes
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it clear through the Press for the information of those who do not understand technical expressions, such as legal tender, that the new Government bank notes for £1 and 10s., as well as postal orders issued by the banks, will be just as negotiable and just as valuable for every-day trading purposes as the coin which they represent?
Notices to this effect have been posted up in post offices throughout the United Kingdom.
Reservists' Children (Vaccination)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the case of the children of Reservists who have been called up, he will give his sanction to magistrates granting an exemption certificate under the Vaccination Acts to the mother of the child?
In ordinary circumstances it rests with the father as having the legal custody of the child and being therefore responsible for its vaccination to make the statutory declaration required by the Act of 1907 in order to exempt himself from liability if he has a conscientious objection. Where, however, owing to the father's absence from home on military service the mother has the control of the child and becomes responsible for its vaccination, it would be open to her under the Acts to make the statutory declaration. No sanction from me is required, nor have I any power to take any action in the matter.
Meat (Home Supply)
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture (1) if he is aware that, owing to the prevailing scarcity of store cattle in Great Britain and the probability of some reduction in the importation of fat stock and meat from overseas, there is likely to be a shrinkage in the normal Home supply of meat during next spring and early summer; whether the Government are taking any steps to cope with this contingency; (2) whether, in view of the possible shortage of meat in the course of next spring and early summer and of the fact that of all farm crops those of a leguminous character, such as peas, beans, and lentils, alone afford, as flesh formers, an adequate substitute for meat; and, seeing that it is still not too late this season to sow kidney beans and possibly some other leguminous crops as a farm or garden crop, the Board will, by leaflet, notices in the Press, or otherwise, advocate the immediate adoption of such a course by farmers and gardeners?
I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Board of Agriculture. It appears from the latest returns collected by the Board that there has been a substantial increase since last year in the number of livestock in this country, and as there is no reason to anticipate any serious diminution in the supply of meat from abroad, I do not share the hon. Gentleman's fear expressed in these questions. At the same time, the suggestion with regard to leguminous crops might, I think, be considered with advantage by the Consultative Committee which the President of the Board of Agriculture has appointed.
British Press Bureau
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a censorship of the Press has been established; and, if so, whether it extends to news items only or also to other journalistic matter?
A Press Bureau has been established which, during the continuance of hostilities, will arrange the distribution of news on naval and military matters to the Press, and to which the newspapers will refer in regard to news which in the national interests it is not advisable to make public. The arrangement applies to news and matter of that description.
Foreigners (Landing In United Kingdom During War)
asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that all our foodstuffs will be wanted during the war for our own people, he can say whether foreigners will be prevented from landing in this country till the end of the war?
In the opinion of His Majesty's Government, absolute prohibition is not desirable. Very strict supervision is being exercised by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, under the powers conferred on him by the Aliens Restriction Act.
Horse Buyers, County Longford
asked the Under-Secretary of State for War on whose recommendation the War Office has appointed Messrs. Michael M'Cann and Alexander M'Niel, of county Longford, horse buyers to the War Office, and whether there were better qualified persons in the locality?
The War Office have no information on this point, but I have no doubt that the gentlemen named were selected by the local remount officers, and that they made the best selection they could.
Meat Prices
asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, owing to the large buying on behalf of the French and English Governments in the Central Meat Market, prices for beef advanced fully 2d. per pound; whether, in consequence, prices for all other classes of meat rose in sympathy; and whether he is taking any action in the matter?
A rise in price occurred before special purchases were made for the Army, and so would appear to be attributable to other causes.
Civil Service (Special Allowances)
asked the Secretary to the Treasury in how many of the Civil Service Departments the principle of special allowances for London is recognised at the present time, the dates on which such allowances were first introduced, and the reason in each case for this discrimination between London and provincial cities and towns?
So far as I have been able to ascertain London allowances have been granted to certain officers serving under the Admiralty, War Office, Post: Office, and Home Office. The information: necessary to enable me to answer the rest of the hon. Member's question is not readily available.
National Insurance Act
Railway Engineering Workshops
asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the Insurance Commissioners, why some-workmen in railway engineering shops have to pay unemployed insurance contributions, whilst others doing the same class of work, working the same hours, and taking the same wage, are not called upon to pay any unemployed contribution?
The scheme of Un employment Insurance contained in Part II. of the National Insurance Act, 1911, applies only to certain insured trades, and accordingly a certain number of cases of the kind referred to by the hon. Member are inevitable. I am not aware, however, that any special difficulty of this kind has occurred in connection with railway engineering workshops. If the hon. Member will supply me with particulars I will look into the question.
County Kerry (Grand Jury)
asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the grand jury summoned by the high sheriff of Kerry at the last Assizes held at Tralee was entirely composed of Unionists, although the county of Kerry is over 95 per cent. Nationalist; and whether he will see that in future any high sheriff will not have the opportunity of casting a stigma of political and religious ill-feeling which does not, as a matter of fact, exist in Kerry?
In the absence of the high sheriff of county Kerry the sub-sheriff informs me that he is not aware of the political opinion of the gentlemen summoned at the last Assizes held at Tralee.
Royal Irish Constabulary
asked the Chief Secretary low many district inspectors of the Royal Irish Constabulary have been retired on pension since the 1st January, 1914, what was their age and length of service; and can he state what are the respective ages and what length of service District Inspectors M'Hugh, Culhane, Keaveney and M'Mahon have?
Four district inspectors of the Royal Irish Constabulary have retired on pension since the 1st January last. They were all 60 years of age, and one had 40 years, two had 40 years and 11 months, and one had 42 years' service. The ages and length of service of the district inspectors referred to in the last paragraph of the question are:—P. Culhane, 61 years 6 months, 42 years 6 months; P. M'Hugh, 60 years 8 months, 42 years 5 months; T. Keaveney, 60 years 6 months, 40 years 9 months; P. M'Mahon, 58 years 5 months, 40 years 1 month. The services of District Inspectors M'Hugh, Culhane and Keaveney are being retained for the present in the public interest.
Land Purchase (Ireland)
asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Listowel Rural District Council unanimously passed a resolution asking the Estates Commissioners, who have purchased Moyvane, to sell to the rural district council plots of land for the labourers of the village of Newtownsands; and whether he will use his influence with the Estates Commissioners to meet the wishes of the local people?
The Estates Commissioners are aware of the resolution referred to, and they propose to allot to the rural district council about nineteen acres of the lands of Murber when they acquire the estate.
Enticement Of Labour (Assam)
asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can give any information as to the draft Bill recently introduced in India, entitled a Bill against Enticement of Labour in Assam; and whether he can say what are the causes that led to the introduction of the Bill and the main purport of its provisions?
The Bill has not been introduced.
Postmen's Wages, Croydon
asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the postal clerks in Croydon have already received the increase of wages recommended by the Holt Committee; and when the postmen of Croydon may expect to receive their increase, seeing that the Committee, which reported on 7th August, 1913, recommended that this readjustment of wages should take place within six months of the publication of the Report?
The adjustment of wages of postmen at Croydon are in hand, and instructions for payment will be issued in the course of a day or two. The improved scale will, of course, date back to 2nd February last.
Thames Ironworks (Receivership)
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the liquidator of the Thames Ironworks paid £260,000 into Court in January last, which was then invested in Consols by the order of the Court, and that the Court recently issued instructions to the receiver to pay off 75 per cent. of the amount due to the first mortgage holder; and whether he will see that this proportion at least is paid, having regard to the time during which this liquidation is being carried on?
The Thames Ironworks Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Limited, is not in liquidation. A receiver on behalf of the debenture holders was appointed by the Court on the 17th November, 1911, and his administration is under the control of the Court, and not of the Board of Trade. The Board have no information as to the progress of the receivership.