EDUCATION.
RECONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE.
asked the Prime Minister whether he can give any information concerning the investigations which have been instituted by the Government into the various aspects of the education problem; and who is presiding over the superior Committee which reviews the results of the different inquiries?
The terms of reference are as follows:—
"To consider the system of education as a whole; to review and formulate from that point of view proposals for developing it, particularly in directions indicated as desirable or necessary by experience gained during the War, and with special reference to:— ( a ) Proposals prepared before the War for the development of the national system of education; ( b ) The memoranda already submitted by the Education Departments for the consideration of the Reconstruction Committee; ( c ) Any proposals submitted hereafter from the Departments, or from special Committees, or from other responsible organisations; and to recommend from time to time such action, whether by way of legislation or otherwise, as may be practicable."
PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE.
asked whether any statement could be made about the proposed Conference on Franchise Reform?
The Conference will consist of Members of the two Houses of Parliament, representative of different political views.
The names of the members are as follows:—
Peers: Marquess of Salisbury. Earl Grey. Viscount Bryce. Viscount Gladstone. Lord Burnham.
Members of Parliament: Sir Ryland Adkins. Rt. Hon. Sir Frederick Banbury. Sir John Bethell. Sir William Bull. Colonel James Craig. Colonel Page Croft. Mr. Ellis Davies. Rt. Hon. W. H. Dickinson. Rt. Hon. Sir R. Finlay. Mr. Goldstone. Rt. Hon. Laurence Hardy. Mr. Maurice Healy. Rt. Hon. George Lambert. Sir J. Larmor. Mr. Macmaster. Mr. J. Mooney. Mr. T. P. O'Connor. Mr. Peto. Mr. Pringle. Rt. Hon. Sir Harry Samuel. Mr. Scanlan. Mr. MacCallum Scott. Rt. Hon. Sir John Simon. Mr. Turton. Mr. Stephen Walsh. Mr. Wardle. Mr. Aneurin Williams.
WASTE LAND RECLAMATION.
asked the Prime Minister (1) whether, in view of the vital necessity to the nation of enlarging the food area in the United Kingdom as well as the production of its existing food area, it is proposed to carry out a scheme for the reclamation of waste land in this country; if so, whether during the War German prisoners will be employed upon this work; and (2) whether the Government have yet decided upon a scheme for the re-afforestation of the extensive areas in Great Britain which have been depleted of timber during the War and the afforestation of further suitable areas to meet future national requirements; and whether such scheme will be embarked upon, with the help of German prisoners or otherwise, during the War?
As my hon. Friend knows, both the questions to which he refers are the questions to which he refers are undergoing very careful and special examination at the present time. Both of them will probably require legislation before any large schemes can be ret going, and, as my hon. Friend also knows, legislation affecting land is not easy. All the German prisoners for whom the War Office can provide guards and hutments are being employed in felling timber and other work, and I see no prospect at present that it will be possible to employ them in the manner suggested.
WAR CHARITIES ACT (IRELAND).
asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps have been taken or are about to be taken to extend the War Charities Act to Ireland; (2) whether a person collecting money or goods, or promoting a bazaar or entertainment in England, Scotland, or Wales on behalf of a war charity, the governing body of which is in Ireland, without having the authority of that governing body or persons authorised to act on their behalf, is guilty of any offence under the War Charities Act; if not, will he explain why Irish war charities are not protected equally with war charities in Great Britain; and (3) if any money is being collected or solicited in England, Scotland, or Wales for any war charity, the governing body of which is in Ireland; and, if so, will he explain why money contributed to Irish war charities by the British public should not be safeguarded with equal care as money collected in Great Britain; for British war charities?
All persons making appeals or soliciting subscriptions in Great Britain, for any unregistered war charity, are guilty of an offence under the War Charities Act, 1916, even though the organisation of the particular charity is in Ireland. This is so whether the appeals are or are not authorised by the organisation. I have no information as to "whether money is being collected in Great Britain for any Irish war charity. No steps can be taken to apply the Act to Ireland until an address is presented to His Majesty by either House of Parliament praying that the Act shall be so applied.
BRITISH CASUALTIES.
asked the Secretary of State for War what are the number and nature of the British casualties to date?
I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for North Somerset on 21st August, by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the War Office.
LOCAL AND APPEAL TRIBUNALS (FARM WORKERS).
asked the Secretary of State for War whether definite instructions were given to local and appeal tribunals in August or September to extend beyond Michaelmas the period of exemption from military service in the case of all farm workers whose labour is essential for autumn cultivations and the sowing of wheat and winter oats; and, if so, with what results?
My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. My hon. and gallant Friend will have received a copy of the circular I have recently addressed to tribunals informing them of the arrangement arrived at between the War Office and the Board of Agriculture with the concurrence of the Man-Power Board.
FOOD PRICES (INCREASE).
asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the cost of food has increased during the War?
The average increase in the retail prices of the principal articles of food between July, 1914, and September, 1916, was 65 per cent., assuming the continued consumption of the same commodities in the same proportions. In estimating the total change in cost of living, the rise in food prices should, of course, only be applied to the proportion of expenditure spent on food. Including, in addition, rent, clothing, fuel, light, and miscellaneous items of expenditure, the rise in cost of living during the War was found by the Food Prices Committee to be 45 per cent.
SALICYLATES IMPORTED.
asked the President of the Board of Trade what weight and what value of salicylates were imported into the United Kingdom in each of the years 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, and 1915, and, out of the total, what weight and value came from Germany in each year; and will he, if possible, give the details-, separately, for each salicylate, namely, salicylic acid, sodium salicylate, and acetyl salicylate?
Salicylates are not separately recorded in the import statistics, but are entered under the head ofChemicals and drugs unenumerated. The actual declarations of importers in 1913 have been carefully examined and indicate the following imports in that year:— Total Imports. Imports from Germany. £ £ Salicylic acid … 10,703 … 10,375 Sodium salicylate … 16,147 … 15,264 Acetyl salicylate … 3,518 … 3,376 Aspirin … 20,096 … 19,974
Quantities cannot be given except in the case of sodium salicylate, of which 2,385 cwts. were declared, including 2,305 cwts. from Germany.
No corresponding analysis of imports has been carried out for the other years specified, nor would the great labour involved in such an analysis be, in my opinion, justified.
BOARD OF TRADE (STAFF).
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the number of the staff employed by the Board of Trade in March 1906, March 1914, and in September 1916; and what were the duties of the Board of Trade in 1906; what new duties were added between 1906 and 1914, and what further duties have been added since the outbreak of war?
March, 1906. March, 1914. 1916. Commercial. Commercial. Commercial. Labour. Labour Statistics. Labour Statistics. Statistical. Harbour. Harbour. — Marine. Marine. Harbour. Railway. Railway. Marine. Finance. Finance. Railway. Bankruptcy. Bankruptcy. Finance. Companies. Companies. Bankruptcy. Seamen's Registry. Seamen's Registry. Companies, Standards of Weights and Measures. Standards of Weights and Measures. Seamen's Registry. Standards of Weights and Measures. Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks. Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks. Patents. Designs, and Trade Marks. Solicitor. Solicitor. Chief Industrial Commissioner. Chief Industrial Commissioner. Solicitor. London Traffic. Labour Exchanges and Unemployment Insurance. Exhibitions. Labour Exchanges and Unemployment Insurance. Trade Boards. War Risks Insurance. Census of Production. Import Restrictions. Trade Boards. Commission Internationale de Ravitaillement. Petrol Control, and many other Committees.
submitted the following statement, showing the distribution of duties by Board of Trade departments in 1906, 1914, 1916:—