Written Answers
War
National Expenditure
Statement By Me Bonar Law
on 1st May asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action has been taken by the Government with respect to each of the recommendations in the Third Report of the Select Committee on National Expenditure for the Session of 1917 and in the First and Second Reports of the Committee for the Session of 1918, and with respect to the recommendations in paragraph 17 of the First Report of 1917, repeated in paragraph 34 of the Second Report of 1917, and in paragraphs 38, 44, 57, 62, 64, 65, and80 in the Second Report of 1917; if he will state what progress has been made by the Committees appointed in pursuance of the recommendations in paragraphs 15 (3) and 33 (2) of that Report; and what appointments, if any, have been made in pursuance of the recommendation in paragraph 15 (1).
has circulated the following statement with reference to the Second Report for the Session of 1918, supplementing the reply given by him on 2nd May, 1918:—
Recommendations of Committee
| Action Taken.
|
| has suffered; except where the slight increase in physical disability does in fact cause a serious decrease in earning capacity. | the Minister does not see his way now to ask for power to introduce the principle recommended by the Committee. Where, however, on the occasion of the review of a conditional pension the Medical Board are able to say that the effect of the aggravation due to service has passed away, the pension is not renewed. |
| 3. That where a man claims that his health has been worsened by service, some evidence should be required that this is the case, or that the conditions under which he has served have been such as to justify that presumption; it should not be Assumed to be so merely because good evidence cannot be adduced to the contrary. In cases of real doubt, the benefit should be given to the man. | 3. Steps are now being taken to secure careful medical examination of the papers in all those classes of cases where there are reasonable grounds for doubt. Unless it is clear that there is a balance of evidence that the disability is not due to service or has not been aggravated by it, the benefit of the doubt will be given to the man. |
| 4. That the administration of Article 9 of the Royal Warrant, which allows a claim to be made for a pension at any future time on the ground that health had been injuriously affected during the present War, should be carefully and continuously watched by the Treasury. The existing practice with respect to the records obtained of the men's physical condition on discharge and the means of securing identification, should be reviewed. | 4. The Treasury will watch this as suggested by the Committee. In cases arising under Article 9 the onus of proof that any disability, on account of which pension is claimed, was due to military service, clearly falls on the man. The Minister of Pension has under consideration the best means for securing the identification of claimants in such cases and for preventing personation. |
| 5. That adequate local inquiries should be made into a man's medical history prior to his military service, before any steps are taken to decide whether a pension should be granted on the ground of deterioration of health due to service. | 5. Pension claims are received now at the rate of over 1,000 a day. Of these, one half are in medical cases. If local inquiries such as those suggested by the Select Committee were undertaken in each case before the grant of a conditional pension, long delay and the issue of temporary allowances, exceeding in most cases the pension rate, would result. Moreover, in many cases there can be no doubt as to the question of attributability. Such inquiries are, however, made in cases where the disability or its increase is adjudged not to be due to service and the man appeals against this decision. |
| 6. That the procedure for selecting cases for further review at Chelsea, Hospital should be revised. | 6. The procedure for selecting cases for further review at Chelsea is constantly under consideration. The medical staff there has been increased and a greater proportion of cases are sent to them for such review. |
| 7. That officers, either attached to the Board of Customs and Excise or of similar standing, should be appointed for the purpose of assisting in the examination of claims which will come before local committees. | 7 and 8. These recommendations have been most carefully considered by the Treasury and the Ministry of Pensions, but it is not deemed advisable to adopt them. |
Recommendations of Committee.
| Action Taken.
|
| 8. That an officer appointed by the Treasury should appear before the Appeal Tribunal to assist in the elucidation of the facts of each case. | |
| 9. That local inquiries should be made in all cases in which a separation allowance of more than 7s. 6d. a week is to be converted into a pension. | 9. The question of making local inquiries in all cases in which a separation allowance of more than 7s. 6d. a week is to be converted into a pension is under consideration by the Minister. |
| 10. That the constitution of admission medical boards should be reconsidered, with a view to the interests of the Ministry of Pensions being represented. | 10. This question has not yet been taken up by the Ministry of National Service, but that Department ha sat the instance of the Ministry of Pensions been giving special consideration to the question of avoiding as far as possible the admission of men into the Service likely presently to become subjects for pensions, and has issued to its boards instructions with regard to it. |
| 11. That the observations of the Director of Finance of the Ministry should always be invited before any decision on a matter of financial importance is arrived at by the Minister. | 11. The observations of the Director of Finance of the Ministry are now always invited before any decision on a matter of financial importance is arrived at by the Minister. |
| 12. That the organisation of pensions administration in Ireland should be reviewed. | 12. The further control of the work now done by local war pensions committees in Ireland awaits the passing of the Bill of which the Minister has given notice in Parliament. |
| 13. That the Ministry's Estimates should be presented to Parliament. | 13. On 16th April, 1918, a statement in some detail of the estimated expenditure of the Ministry of Pensions was laid before Parliament [Cd. 9031]. |
Military Service
Right Of Appeal
asked the Minister of National Service whether his attention has been called by the town clerk of Bradford to the following case of extreme hardship in regard to military service which is not provided for in the King's Proclamation relating to the right of appeal to a tribunal on personal grounds, namely, Tom Bush-field, Register No. 601,962 R, 114, St. Stephen's Road, father practically bedfast, four sons in the Army, two of whom have been killed, this man only son at home, two other sons married; and if he will take steps to secure a revision of Clause B (Second Schedule) of the Proclamation, which confines the right of appeal only in respect of a man who establishes to the satisfaction of the tribunal that he is the last surviving son of a widow of whom at least one son has died as the result of wounds received in, or sickness contracted by, service with the armed forces during the present War, to the effect that power be given to the tribunal, after consultation with the Director of National Service or his representative, to make recommendations, in cases of extreme hardship, that the call-up notice be suspended for the time being?
I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him to-day to Question 24.
Munitions
Carbide
asked the Minister of Munitions whether the price of carbide since this commodity has been controlled by the Government has been fixed at £40 per ton; whether he is aware of the fact that the Acetylene Corporation of Great Britain, Limited, were able to keep the price at about £27 per ton to the consumer when they were allowed to import and handle their own supplies; and will he state who is now benefiting by the increased controlled price?
At no time has the price of carbide been fixed at £40 per ton. From 24th September, 1917, to 20th November, 1917, the controlled price was £25 per ton, and from that date to 31st December, 1917, it was increased to £45 per ton. Since 1st January, 1918, it has been reduced to £35 per ton. It is quite true that the Acetylene Corporation of Great Britain, Limited could at one time import from Canada and supply their consumers at £27 per ton, but this was before the heavy rise in freight. In order to meet national requirements it has been necessary to place large contracts in Norway, and the controlled rates were based on the average price per ton of the contracts then existing with a margin to protect against possible loss in transit.
Kingsway Offices (Compensation Claims)
asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Defence of the Realm Losses Royal Commission have assessed the compensation to be paid to the 122 firms in Kingsway dispossessed by the Government in order to house the Aircraft Production Department of the Ministry of Munitions; and, if so, what is the total amount?
None of these claims have yet been disposed of by the Commission, and I am therefore unable to state the total amount involved.
Income Tax (France)
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can state the rate at which the Income Tax is levied in France, and the minimum income upon which the tax is payable?
No Income Tax whatever is levied in France on incomes of less than 3,000 frs.; over that sum the tax is applied at the rate of 12.50 frs. for each 400 frs. of a proportion of the total income, as follows:
One one-tenth of the amount between 3,000 frs. and 8,000 frs.; on two-tenths of the amount between 8,000 frs. and 12,000 frs.; on three - tenths of the amount between 12,000 frs. and 16,000 frs.; on four-tenths of the amount between 16,000 frs. and 20,000 frs.; on five-tenths of the amount between 20,000 frs. and 40,000 frs.; on six-tenths of the amount between 40,000 frs. and 60,000 frs.; on seven-tenths of the amount between 60,000 frs. and 80,000 frs.; on eight-tenths of the amount between 80,000 frs. and 100,000 frs.; on nine-tenths of the amount between 100,000 frs. and 150,000 frs.; and on the whole amount by which 150,000 frs. is exceeded.
Thus, in the case of a person with 15,000 frs. a year, the tax would work out as follows: 3,000 frs. no tax; from 3,000 frs. to 8,000 frs., or on 5,000 frs., one-tenth is taxable— i.e.,500 frs.; from 8,000 frs. to 12,000 frs., or on 4,000 frs., two-tenths are taxable, or 800 frs.; from 12,000 frs. to 15,000 frs., or 3,000 frs., three-tenths are taxable, or 900 frs., making a taxable total of 2,200 frs., and, at the rate of 12.50 frs. per 100 frs., a total tax to be paid of 275 frs.
This is in the case of a bachelor with no dependants, but the law provides that the amount on which the tax shall not be levied shall be raised by 2,000 frs. for a wife and by 1,000 frs. for each dependant (father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, etc., without means, children, grandchildren, under twenty-one, etc.) up to five, and by 1,500 frs. for each dependant above the number of five. Thus, a married man with one child would pay no Income Tax unless his income were above 6,000 frs.; with two children, 7,000 frs.; with three children, 8,000 frs., etc.
Moreover, once the amount of the tax payable has been settled, in accordance with the Schedule given above, this amount is reduced in respect of each dependant (except the wife, who, in the case of this reduction, does not count as a dependant) by 5 per cent. for one dependant, 10 per cent. for two dependants, 20 per cent. for three dependants, 30 per cent. for four dependants, 40 per cent. for five dependants, and by 50 per cent. for six dependants or more. Thus a married man with two children and an income of 19,000 frs. would begin by deducting 4,000 frs. in respect of dependants, and the calculation would proceed as above for the bachelor, except that from the amount of the tax of 275 frs. payable he would then deduct 10 per cent. for the two children, or 27.50 frs., making a total tax payable by him of 247.50 frs.
A new Income Tax law has been voted by the Chamber, and is now before the Senate. It provides that, after all deductions as above, the tax on incomes up to 5,000 frs. shall be 1.50 frs. per 100, and that 1 centime additional shall be added for every 100 frs. above that sum, such addition to be paid on the whole amount. The tax would thus be: 1.60 frs. per cent. on 6,000 frs.; 1.70 frs. per cent. on 7,000 frs.; and so on, up to 150,000 frs., on which sum tax calculated on this basis would amount to 16 per cent. On incomes over 150,000 frs. the increase will be 1 centime per 1,000 frs., until the rate of 20 per cent. is reached, on incomes of 850,000 frs. No increase is provided for incomes above this amount. The tax would consequently remain at 20 per cent. whatever the income above 650,000 frs.
Children Abroad (School Attendance And Employment)
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the age to which children are compelled to attend school in America, France, and Germany, respectively; and up to what age are they prohibited from working for wages or any form of remuneration in these countries?
Neither in the United States of America nor in Germany is there any general law regulating the period of compulsory attendance at school for the whole of the country. Such attendance is regulated by the separate enactments of each individual State. In Germany, except in the case of Bavaria and Oldenburg, the upper age limit of compulsory attendance at the elementary school has been fixed at fourteen years. In America there is a greater variation in the age at which a child ceases to be subject to compulsory attendance at school. In twenty-six States the upper age limit is fixed at sixteen and in eight States at fifteen, though in nearly all these States a child may be exempted from attendance at the age of fourteen if he is in regular and lawful employment. In eight States the upper age limit of compulsory attendance is fixed at fourteen and in one State at twelve. Five States possess laws applicable by local option only; one State has no compulsory attendance law. Further, it should be noted that the annual period of attendance shows considerable variation. It may be as little as eighty days in the year, but in the majority of cases attendance is required for the full period during which the school is in session. In France, the legal limit at which attendance at the public elementary school ceases is fixed at thirteen. Children, however, who have obtained the Certificat d'Etudes Primaires may be excused from attendance at school. They can, however, only be admitted to the examination for the Certificat after they have reached the age of twelveIn none of these countries is there any general law fixing the minimum age under which a child shall not be employed for wages or any form of remuneration. There are, however, ten States in America in which a regulation of this kind exists, the age in eight of these being fixed at fourteen, in the remaining two at fifteen. In all but two of these States children employed in agriculture are exempted from the operation of the law. In all these countries there are special regulations affecting the employment of children in factories, workshops, mines, etc., but the age varies with the nature of the employment.
Singapore (Prostitution)
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the fact that in Singapore prostitution is a fully recognised trade carried on under the supervision of the police and to the full knowledge of an officer appointed by the Colonial Government called the Protector of Chinese; that there are two central areas of public tolerated brothels in Singapore, one in the northern half of the town, known as the Malay Street quarter, and the other in the southern half, known as the Smith Street quarter, adjacent respectively north and south of the principal entry running from end to end through the middle of the town; if he will say whether he proposes to take any measure for abolishing this state of things, which is compromising to the British name and dangerous to the health of His Majesty's Forces stationed in Singapore; whether he has received a Report from the Government of the Straits Settlements upon the subject; and whether he will lay the Report from the Governor of the Straits Settlements upon the Table of the House?
I have called for and received a full and confidential Report on this subject from the Governor of the Straits Settlements which I do not propose to lay upon the Table of the House. I have complete confidence in the policy which is being pursued in this matter by the Governor, who has throughout given it his most careful attention in consultation with the official members of the Legislative Council and is anxious to adopt all practicable measures which will really effect improvement and not lead to the substitution of worse evils. The wide variety of races represented in the population of Singapore makes the problem peculiarly difficult. The statements in the first part of the question are misleading. The Protector of Chinese satisfies himself that no Chinese girl under twenty enters a brothel, and that every woman understands what she is doing and does it of her own free will. He also assists women to leave brothels if they so desire, and has, I am glad to say, been successful in helping a large number to do so. I do not know what is the police supervision to which the question refers, beyond what is necessary for the maintenance of public order and decency. As regards the position of the two areas mentioned, the Governor reports that the streets are cross streets, intersected by other side streets, and are not main thoroughfares ordinarily traversed by Europeans.
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Protector of Chinese reported that in 1914 the inmates of all brothels were called to his office and their legal freedom explained to them; whether each woman was questioned as to whether she had any complaint to make; what answer did they make; were the keepers of the brothels present while this was taking place; and whether the inmates of the brothels included young girls or children?
:The answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the third and fourth parts, I have no precise information, but I assume that the keepers were not present. Children are not permitted to live in brothels, and on the rare occasions when a child is found it is removed and inquiry made.
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Protector of Chinese reported to the Government of the Straits Settlements that in 1914 there were over 2,000 prostitutes and 348 brothels in Singapore known to his Department; and whether they were registered as such?
The figures in the first part of the question are accurate; the answer to the second part is in the negative.
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of the Straits Settlements has by Ordinance made ten years the age limit of protection for young girls?
No, Sir.
The following Answers were issued during the Whitsun Recess:
Military Service
Resettlement In Civil Life
asked the Prime Minister what steps have been taken to assure our own men called up for naval or military service that their businesses, shops, or occupations will be restored to them after the War, and that they will not be kept out of them by the aliens who have taken their places on account of the fact that they, as British and Irish subjects, have been serving their country?
As the hon. Member will recognise, the matter is one of considerable complexity, but I am proposing to seek the advice of the Labour Resettlement Committee to see what practicable steps can be taken.
Soldiers' Leave
asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the possibility of arranging that men who in civil life were in charge of single-handed businesses shall have more frequent week-end leave when stationed in home training camps, in order that the complete disorganisation of their businesses may be averted?
Commanding officers are empowered to grant leave in exceptional circumstances. subject, of course, to the exigencies of the Service and training. I am afraid it is not desir- able to issue any instructions which would appear to give preferential treatment to any particular class of hard cases, but I am sure sympathetic consideration is given to cases such as those mentioned by my hon. Friend in his question.
asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether a large number of troops in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers coming from Ireland on their way to France on the 7th instant, after having in vain appealed for leave, which had been granted to other troops similarly placed, protested at Holy head against their treatment and were punished; whether he will have an inquiry as to why leave was refused the men; and will he see that Welsh troops are so treated as not to leave them under the impression, in the matter of leave, that they are not given the same privileges as those of other nationalities?
I am having inquiries made, and will communicate with ray hon. Friend as soon as possible.
Army Interpreters
asked the Undersecretary of State for War under what circumstances the positions of interpreters with the Army in the field have been reserved for Belgians or Frenchmen only, and applications from Englishmen to the Military Intelligence Department, even when the qualifications are up to the standard, are refused; and whether he will reconsider the decision of giving some of these posts to Englishmen who are proficient in languages?
Interpreters are French and Belgian and are attached to the British Army as the representatives with units of the Missions of their respective countries at General Headquarters. Their duties far exceed the mere interpretation from French or Flemish into English, and vice versâ and it was found in practice that the British interpreters appointed at the beginning of the War did not and could not represent the Missions of the Allies at General Headquarters. They were so little used that other employment had to be found for them, and it is not considered desirable to alter the present arrangements.
Pigeon Flying
asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether there is any and, if so, what danger to the State in approving, under all proper safeguards, a reasonable code for regulating short-distance pigeon flying?
The possibility of allowing short-distance pigeon flying has been very carefully considered on more than one occasion and formed the subject of a deputation to the Secretary of State in November, 1916. It was decided early in the War that, for military reasons, it was impossible to permit the liberation of pigeons, and I am afraid there is no ground for reconsidering the matter.
Officers' Wives (Travelling Permits)
asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether permission to travel to India has already been granted to any wives of such officers; and, if so, to how many within the last year?
Since May, 1917, two such permits have been issued by the War Office.
British Troops In Greece
asked the Undersecretary of State for War what is the general health of the British troops in Greece; and if he is aware that a number of soldiers are taken into hospital from tune to time with malarial fever?
The general health of the troops is good, but I regret that malaria is still prevalent among the troops serving in Greece. The admission rate for malaria, although high, is, I am glad to say, not due to serious cases, as will be seen from the following review of the death rates:
- 5.64 per 1,000 in 1916.
- 3.61 per 1,000 in 1917.
- 2.51 per 1,000 for the first eighteen weeks of 1918.
Royal Army Medical Corps
asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether members of the Royal Army Medical Corps who are serving abroad are being transferred to combatant corps; and what facilities such men have for making their protest and having it adequately considered?
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. A man having grounds for protest has the same right as any soldier to represent the facts to his commanding officer, and instructions have been issued which provide for careful investigation of such cases. I would also refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on the 5th February last to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn.
Territorial Force (Pay Clerks)
asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether there is variation in the rates of pay of the clerks of the separation allowance offices of the different county Territorial Force associations, some of them having followed the Government example of giving increased salaries to their clerks above pre-war rates; and whether he will secure a uniform retrospective increase for all these clerks corresponding to the increases given to pay clerks in the Regular pay offices?
Rates of pay of clerks in the offices of Territorial Force Associations are a matter for the associations. Information has. however, recently been circulated by the War Office to the associations which should be of assistance to them in dealing with the question of war increases.
Naval And Military Pensions And Grants
asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if the increased pay and the payment of the separation allowance and service pay granted to soldiers last October has been given to the men of the Artisans' Company, Royal Engineers; and, if not, why this has not been done?
I presume the hon. Member refers to those men in the Artisans' Works Companies, Royal Engineers, who are in receipt of a special rate of pay. Such men are ineligible for the increases recently granted, but they may elect to draw ordinary rates and the increases, in lieu of their special rates, if they so desire.
Royal Air Force
asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry if he will define the meaning of the words "attachment" and "transferred" in Clause 5 of the Order governing service in the Air Force; and will he say if transferred men are liable to service with the Air Force only for the duration of the War, while attached men are liable to service for the duration of the War or for four years,, whichever period is the longer?
The answer to the first part of the question is that transferment means, generally, that the officer or man transferred severs his connection with the force from which he comes, and attachment means that he maintains his connection with that force while serving in the Royal Air Force. The answer to the second part of the question is that a transferred officer or man takes over the liability as regards duration of service which he had in the force from which he was transferred. Arrangements are being made under which attached officers may revert to their former service at the end of the War, irrespective of whether they have completed four years service.
Representation Of The People Act
Registration
asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that in some districts more than 50 per cent. of the forms that have been issued by the registration officer have been returned with incorrect particulars filled in; and whether, seeing that this is obvious proof that there is great confusion in the minds of the public as to the correct manner in which the forms should be filled in, and having regard to the fact that the staffs of the registration officers are already working at full pressure, he will, in order to obtain the most accurate lists possible, consider the desirability of extending the date fixed for publishing the lists?
I understand that in certain districts a considerable proportion of the forms have been incorrectly filled up. The desirability of extending the date referred to is under consideration.
asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is strong objection on the part of many persons whose duty and business it is to assist in compiling a complete and accurate register of voters to the inclusion in one column of the register of the place of abode and the place of qualification of the elector; and whether, seeing that confusion is likely to arise in the future when notices are being sent out, he will consider the desirability of amending the Order in order to provide separate columns for the respective particulars mentioned.
It was necessary in framing the form of the first register to pay special regard to the need for economy of printing and paper. I do not, however, think the method adopted is open to the objections mentioned. It is not practicable now to alter the Order in Council as proposed.
Constituencies
asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the constituencies suggested in the. Report of the Boundary Commissioners were altered in many cases and that, in consequence thereof, the maps attached to the Report do not accurately represent the new constituencies; and whether he will, therefore, issue instructions to provide maps showing the actual areas and boundaries of the new constituencies created by the Representation of the People Act, 1918?
I understand that the boundaries of constituencies in Great Britain suggested in the Reports of the Boundary Commissioners were altered during the passage of the Representation of the People Bill through Parliament in the case of only four counties and three Parliamentary boroughs. The contents of each constituency are clearly indicated in the Act, and I hardly think it necessary at the present time to prepare and issue fresh maps.
Proxies
asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that soldiers who have been taken prisoner in the recent battles in France and Belgium will be debarred from exercising their votes at a General Election taking place during the War; whether, in order to prevent the provisions of Section 5 of the Representation of the People Act, 1918, giving votes to naval or military voters, from becoming a dead letter, he will at once consider the desirability of urging that the Order in Council provided by Sub-section (4) of Section 23 of that Act should include all areas outside the British Isles as areas where voting by proxy by naval or military voters shall be permitted; and whether, in view of the probability of further severe fighting, he will consider the desirability of issuing at once forms to members of His Majesty's Forces which will enable them to appoint proxies before they leave this country?
I will give consideration to my Hon. Friend's suggestions, but I doubt whether it would be possible to give effect to them.
Absent Voters
asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that, owing to the recent extension of the military age, it will not be possible for men joining the Naval, Military, or Air Forces after 5th July to claim as absent voters; and whether, in order to prevent many thousands of such electors being in fact debarred from exercising their votes at a possible General Election, he will consider the desirability of at once introducing a Bill to amend the Representation of the People Act, 1918?
I will consider my Hon. Friend's proposal.
Dye-Making Industry
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the considerable number of smaller manufacturers of dyes and intermediates already established, the Board of Trade will provide that the amalgamation with British Dyes, Limited, now announced, shall leave full opportunity for the existence and expansion of smaller undertakings.
As I stated in the course of the discussion on the Board of Trade Vote on the 15th May, it is not proposed that the amalgamation of British Dyes, Limited, and Levinstein, Limited, if carried through, shall have any privileged position in respect of the new scheme of Government assistance to the dye-making industry which will be given to all British undertakings able to make: effective use of it.