ARMY, NAVY, MUNITIONS (EXPENDITURE, 1915-16).
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the estimated amount to be spent on Army, Navy, and munitions, respectively, for the financial year 1915-16?
Separate figures under these heads have not hitherto been published with the exception of the estimate that I gave in my Financial Statement on the 21st September last. I will, however, consider the question whether they may be given without public disadvantage in the Budget Statement for the ensuing financial year.
ROYAL NAVY (LOSS OF SIGHT).
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can state the number of sailors or others in the Navy who have entirely lost their sight in the War, indicating the number in each rank or grade of the Service; and whether he can give any estimate of the proportion that will be self-supporting with or without the State pension?
Five naval officers and men have entirely and, so far as can be told, permanently lost their sight in the War. Of these, one midshipman, one ordinary seaman (Royal Naval Division), and one boy are still under naval care and have not yet been awarded pensions. The other two—a sapper, Royal Naval Division, and a petty officer, second class, Coastguard—have been discharged with life pensions of 25s. and 27s. a week respectively, dating from their discharge from naval hospital, up to which date they were in receipt of full pay. In addition, a private, Royal Fleet Reserve, has lost the sight of one eye permanently, and the other is at present so affected as to make the man practically blind, and he has been awarded a pension of 26s. 2d. a week, including an allowance for one good conduct badge, for a year from discharge. His case will be reconsidered in six months' time, when it will be possible to say more definitely how the sight is likely to be permanently affected. It is impossible to say in any of these cases whether they will be able to earn anything until their aptitude for acquiring knowledge as blind men has been gauged. This, however, is a matter for the Statutory Committee of the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation, on whom the responsibility for finding employment for disabled sailors and soldiers has been specifically placed by Parliament.
TRENCH-FOOT (PENSIONS OR ALLOWANCES).
asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what provision, if any, is made, by way of pension or allowance, for soldiers discharged from the Army owing to the disablement known as trench-foot?
I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement which I made in the House on this subject last Tuesday. As far as I know, every man who has been discharged on account of trench-feet has been pensioned.
ARMY MOTOR-CAR DRIVERS.
asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the daily pay and approximate number of motor-car drivers and their daily cost to the State; why these men are paid on a much higher scale than men who are fighting in the trenches; whether these motor-car drivers have been enlisted or engaged only for the purposes of motor driving; if so, can their engagements be terminated; whether these men can be replaced by men who have enlisted under Lord Derby's scheme; and can he say how many of these motor drivers are single men who would be now liable to military service?
My hon. Friend's question raises points which require time to investigate, and I should be glad if he would repeat his question next week.
AEROPLANE ENGINES.
asked the Minister of Munitions whether, and, if so, to what extent the Ministry of Munitions has any responsibility for the production of aeroplanes or aeroplane engines for war service?
The Minister has no responsibility in respect of the supplies mentioned in this question.
WAR MOTOR VEHICLES.
asked the Minister of Munitions whether and, if so, to what extent the Ministry of Munitions has any responsibility for the provision of motor vehicles for the purposes of war?
The Ministry of Munitions have no responsibility for the provision of the articles referred to in this quesion.
DISCHARGED SOLDIERS (EMPLOYMENT).
asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board if the Government have formed, or have the intention of forming, any official Employment Committee to assist soldiers discharged from the Service through wonnds or sickness to obtain work; and if he will consider the desirability of such a step in the interest of the ratepayers?
The duty of making provision for the training and employment of disabled officers and men has been placed upon the Statutory Committee established under the Naval and Military War Pensions, etc., Act of last Session, which also provides that the Statutory Committee shall appoint a special Sub-Committee for the purpose. The constitution of the Sub-Committee is now under consideration, and it is expected that it will be appointed shortly.
PAPER COMMISSION.
asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether he will give instructions to the Paper Commission to give serious consideration to the special requirements of those weekly trade, technical, and professional publications which are so necessary for the maintenance of our export trade and industrial efficiency and to hear the evidence of the representatives of such publications before arriving at a decision?
I do not think that it is possible for the Commission, in arranging for the distribution of paper amongst the various users, to take account of the purpose to which the paper is to be put.
NATIONAL INSURANCE ACT (COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY).
asked the Comptroller of the Household, as representing the National Health Insurance Commissioners, the reason why no Irish labour representative has been included on the Committee appointed to inquire into the working of the National Insurance Act, seeing that representatives of friendly societies, employers, and denominational societies have been included; and whether steps will now be taken to add a representative of Irish trade union approved societies?
Having regard to the large size of the Committee as at present constituted, I do not consider I should be justified in adding to its numbers.