Written Answers
Premium Bonds
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the fact that an issue of premium bonds has recently been made in France under Government sanction and has proved a great success, producing large sums of money and being eagerly bought by the industrial classes; and whether, under the present financial conditions existing in this country, he will reconsider the decision of his predecessor not to make such an issue here?
I cannot add anything to the answer given to the hon. Member for South Hackney on the 19th February.
Capital Issues Committee
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the capital Issues Committee is sitting de die in diem; how many applications for a licence to issue new capital have been made to the Committee up to date under the new Regulations; how many applications have been disposed of, and of those how many have been granted and how many refused; whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists as to the dilatory manner in which the Committee is dealing with applications; and whether any steps can be taken for securing greater expedition?
The Capital Issues Committee sits, as a rule, three clays a week. The number of applications made up to date under the new Regulations is 345; the number of applications disposed of is 294; of these, the number granted is 276; and the number refused is eighteen.Of the remaining fifty-one, thirty-five are awaiting reports from other Government Departments, and in sixteen cases applicants have been offered interviews and "oral hearings" are pending. I under stand that the great majority of cases are disposed of within a fortnight.
Exceptional Profits
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will institute a general inquiry into the question of exceptional profits made during and in consequence of the War with a view to the appropriation by the Government of the whole amount of such exceptional profits as a contribution towards the payment of the war bill?
Exceptional profits made during the War, whether in consequence of the War or not, have already been taxed- For the last two years the tax has been at the rate of 80 per cent., and I am not prepared to pro pose a further retrospective levy.
Land Valuation Department (Mr W D Littlewood)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the application of Mr. W. Douglas Littlewood, who was formerly employed in the Land Valuation Department under the Commissioners for Inland Revenue and joined the Royal Field Artillery in May, 1915, when volunteers were called for; and whether, in spite of the fact that Mr. Littlewood joined the Army without the sanction of the head of his Department, he will consider the possibility of reinstating him without loss of seniority?
I find on inquiry that Mr. Littlewood was a temporary valuation assistant employed by the Board of, Inland Revenue on a monthly engagement for the purpose of assisting in the original valuation prescribed by Part 1. Of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910. Mr. Littlewood left the Board's service in May, 1915. As From the commencement of the financial year 1915–10, the temporary stall of the Inland Revenue Valuation Office was being disbanded in view of the stage then reached in the work of the original valuation, and Mr. Littlewood merely anticipated by a short time the date on which his services would no longer be needed.
Cinematograph Films (Import Duty)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, since the cessation of hostilities and the removal of restrictions on travelling and photographing, British film-producing companies have travelled to countries out side the United Kingdom to photograph scenes as part of their plays;. that for this purpose they are taking with them their British staff and British actors; and whether, in these circumstances, he can give an assurance that the exposed negative film will not be subject to duty on being brought into The United Kingdom?
:The duty on cinematograph films is an Import Duty on which any negative exposed abroad is liable, irrespective of the circumstances under which it was produced.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the event of any quantity of cinematograph negative films, which have been exposed but not developed by a British Company photo graphing scenes outside the United Kingdom, being subsequently imported into the United Kingdom, such consignments will be liable to the Import Duty on negative films and on the whole length of such films consigned; and whether provisions exist or will be made which would limit the liability to duty, if such liability be deemed to exist, to such portions of the negative only as are subsequently shown to be intended for the printing of positives?
The answer to both parts of this question is in the affirmative. The Board of Customs and Excise will explain to any applicant the arrangements for developing under bond and Customs supervision on imported, exposed and undeveloped negative.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any duty is chargeable on the reimportation of cinematograph negative films produced in and exported from the United Kingdom; if not, why the Commissioners of Customs and Excise are imposing Regulations which, if carried out, must involve the exporter of such negatives in considerable expenditure and loss of time; and whether he will instruct the Commissioners to accept a declaration by the importer to the effect that the reimported negative contains no parts except such as were previously exported from the United Kingdom?
No Import Duty is chargeable on such films, provided that satisfactory proof of their identity and previous exportation is furnished, but any drawback paid on exportation in respect of the raw stock must be repaid; a mere declaration cannot be accepted as furnishing such proof, but the proof required has been cut down to the minimum in the Regulations referred to.
Royal Parks (Employes' Sick Pay)
asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether on the 1st of January, 1915, the Treasury stopped the practice of payment of sick pay to all employés under forty-five years of age in the Royal parks; whether these employés were to receive as compensation for this loss one week's pay a year; whether new entrants into the service were not to participate in this; whether the one week's pay per year was continued to men who went into the forces for the War, but this year it has not been paid; and, if so, will he state the reason for this action?
The answer to the first three parts of the question is in the affirmative. Last year it came to the knowledge of the Treasury that some Departments had continued the payment of this compensation to the dependants of men serving in the forces as part of the balance of civil pay, and instructions were given for stopping such payments. The reason for this action is that men serving in the forces are provided for during periods of illness, and their dependants receive the balance of their civil pay continuously throughout their period of service.
Unestablished State Servants (Pensions)
asked the Secretary to the Treasury when the Committee to in quire into the question of pensions for un-established State servants will be set up; and whether he can also state by what method it is proposed to appoint the trade union member of the Committee, to whom reference was made at the conference on the 1st of April?
I am asking the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Deptford, as Parliamentary Secretary of the Trade Union Congress, to suggest suitable names.
Beer Prices
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that increased prices for beer have been charged by brewers on de liveries made to working men's clubs since the announcement of the Budget proposals; whether it was intended that the additional taxes should entirely fall upon the brewers; and, if so, what steps do the Government propose to take in the matter?
I have been asked to reply. It was intended that the additional duty to which the hon. Member refers should be borne jointly by the brewer and retailer and not by the consumer. The Food Controller has no in formation to the effect stated in the first part of the question; but he is confident that any case of grievance or dispute can be remedied by reference to the local committees recently set up, as stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Macclesfield on 19th May.
Maize (Cost Of Shipping)
(whose name did not appear on the Notice paper) asked the Food Controller if he will state the relative cost of shipping maize in bulk as against bags; and if steps are being taken to make the South African maize trade more competitive by shipping in bulk?
:No valid comparison of the cost of shipping maize in bulk and in bags respectively is possible since the question as to which of these systems is adopted is dependent on the amount and the nature of the trade in maize done by the country of export. So far as South Africa is concerned, the custom of the trade has always been to ship maize in bags as being clearly the most convenient method owing to the large variety in the grades of maize produced and the necessity for the inland transport of comparatively small amounts; and in the opinion of the Food Controller it is not desirable that any alteration in the present method should be made.
Potato Pits (Assessment Of Damage)
asked the Food Controller whether he is aware that the pledge given to a meeting of East Anglian farmers! At Peterborough in March that committees should be set up to assess the damage to potato pits has not yet been fulfilled; and what steps have been taken in this direction?
The Food Controller has taken all the necessary steps to set up these committees which will be able to commence work as soon as he receives from the farmers' unions concerned the names of the representatives of the potato growers nominated to act upon the committees.
Reduced To The Ranks
asked the Secretary of State for War if he will cause investigation to be made into the circumstances under which Company Sergeant-Major H. L. Caudle, No. 552002, 521st London Field Company, Royal Engineers, was reduced to the ranks on the unfavourable report of the officer commanding his company; and whether he is aware that this non-commissioned officer was mentioned in dispatches, rendered excellent service during the War, and is in receipt of numerous recommendations from officers under whom he has served?
Inquiries are being made into this case, and my hon. and gallant Friend will be informed of the result as soon as possible.
Demobilisation
Applications Foe Release
asked the Secretary of State for War when Private G. P. Richings, No. 74,468, Royal Army Medical Corps, 102nd Field Ambulance, British Expeditionary Force, may expect to be demobilised, seeing that he is thirty-nine years of age and joined the Colours in 1915?
Private Richings is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If his age and length of service is as stated by my hon. Friend he is eligible for demobilisation, unless he is serving under pre-war conditions of Service and his term of. Colour service is not completed. If he is eligible he will be released as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit. I would remind my hon. Friend that personnel of the Royal Army Medical Corps, though eligible for demobilisation, are liable to be temporarily retained as part of the military machinery for demobilisation until they can be replaced or their services dispensed with. Men so retained are-being replaced as rapidly as possible by men who are not eligible for demobilisation.
asked the Secretary of State for War on what date Private H. Keck, No. 80614, D Company, 9th Worcesters, may expect to be demobilised, seeing that he was promised his release on 18th March, 1919, and that he was over thirty-seven years of age on 1st January. 1919?
Inquiries are already being' made in' this case, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as early as possible.
asked the Secretary of State for War when Sergeant Albert Smith, No. 445013, 87th Company, Chinese-Labour Corps, may expect his release, seeing he is nearly forty-one years old?
Sergeant Smith is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If his age is as stated by my hon. Friend he will be released as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit.
asked the Secretary of State for War why Private A. P. J. Tucker, No. 115910, Army Service Corps, Mechanical Transport Section, who joined the Army in July, 1915, is still in France with no intimation whatever that he is to be discharged?
Private Tucker is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If his length of service is as stated by my hon. Friend he is eligible for demobilisation, unless he is serving under pre-war conditions of Service, and his term of Colour service is not completed. If he is eligible he will be released as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit. I would remind my hon. Friend that personnel of the Royal Army Service. Corps, though eligible for demobilisation, is liable to be temporarily retained as part of the military machinery for demobilisation until they can be replaced or their services can be dispensed with. Men so retained are being replaced as rapidly as possible by men who are not eligible for demobilisation.
asked the Secretary of State for War what are the reasons for the retention in the Army of Captain W. W. Otter, Sussex Yeomanry, D.A.P.M., No. 8 (Kent) Area,. Eastern Command; and whether, in view of the importance of the return of this officer to his farm, he will direct that he be released?
Captain Otter is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If this officer's services are no longer required he will be released as soon as circumstances permit. I regret that I can take no special action in this matter.
Signallers In India
asked the Secretary of State for War whether many signallers who have been in India for three years are being refused demobilisation; whether many of these men have been loaned to the India Telegraph Department where they work with a civilian staff on public paid traffic, and whether he will take steps to ensure that soldiers shall not be employed on civil work and will order the immediate release of all men improperly employed?
A report on this question is being obtained from India and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
Army Of Occupation (Machine Gun Corps)
asked the Secretary of State for War whether sufficient officers in the Machine Gun Corps have volunteered for the Armies of Occupation to enable every non-volunteer in this corps to be relieved; and if arrangements have been made for relieving non-volunteers in the Eastern theatres of occupation?
The answer to the first part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question is in the negative. As regards the second part of the question, arrangements have been made to relieve those officers of the Machine Gun Corps in the Eastern theatres of war who have not volunteered for the Armies of Occupation, and these arrangements are being pressed forward as fast as possible.
Canadian Soldie11s (Repatriation)
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state, approximately, how long a period will elapse before it will be found possible to repatriate the Canadian officers and men of Imperial regiments now awaiting repatriation at Winchester?
It is anticipated that all those now waiting will have been embarked by the end of this month.
Wounded Soldiers (Bonus)
asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether soldiers who were wounded overseas and are now in hospital at home are entitled to the bonus granted to the New Army; and, if so, from what date?
The circumstances under which the first issue of the bonus is affected by a soldier being in hospital are fully set out in paragraph 2 of Army Order 84, of which I will send my right hon. Friend a copy. All serving soldiers will receive the bonus from the 1st May.
Gun Factory, Burton-On-Trent
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Munitions if the gun factory at Burton- On-Trent is completed; if it is to be used and worked as a Government factory or, in the alternative, what is intended to be done with this factory?
The machine gun factory at Burton is not quite complete, but. the constructional and installation work will, it is anticipated, be finished by the end of June. The factory will be held as a reserve unit of production, and in order to avoid the expense of erecting new buildings, it will be used for storage of machine guns.
Naval And Military Pensions And Grants
Case Fou Inquiry
asked the Secretary of State for War if he will say whether, in the case of a man enlisted for the War who attained commissioned rank, was dismissed the Service, subsequently re-enlisted and was again granted a commission, gratuity is issuable for the total length of service'?
If my hon. and gallant Friend will furnish me with the name of the officer I will have the case investigated. I am afraid I cannot give a general reply.
Separation Allowance (Widowed Mother)
asked the Secretary of State for War whether a Government separation, allowance is issuable in respect of a son to the widow of a soldier in respect of whom she is receiving an alternative pension?
The answer is in the affirmative.
Pension Committeks (Office Accommodation)
asked the Pensions Minister if his attention has been called to the want of proper accommodation for the offices of the borough of Shrewsbury and the county of Shropshire pension committees; and whether ho could go into the question with other Government Departments for a re arrangement of offices, so that better offices could be procured for the pension committees?
I am inquiring into this matter, and will inform my hon. and gallant Friend of the result.
Regional Area (Lancashire)
asked the Minister of Pensions what counties will comprise the-regional area which is to include Lancashire; what decision has boon arrived at in respect to the location of the head quarters of that area; and whether, if the matter is not yet decided, due regard will be given to the claims of Manchester as a location for those headquarters?
Lancashire is in the-North-Western Region, which will also comprise Westmorland and Cheshire. A decision has not yet been reached as to-the location of the head quarters. The answer to fie last pail of the question is in the affirmative.
Regulations (Hamdkook)
asked the Pensions Minister whether he could see his way to publish a book giving the regulations up to date for the use of officials and members of pensions committees?
A handbook for the use of local war pensions committees, containing all the regulations and instructions of the Ministry, is in course of preparation.
Elementary Education (Leaving Age)
asked the President of the Board of Education whether a boy who attains the age of fourteen five days after the commencement of a school term, and who is put into employment by his parents previous to the commencement of such term, can be compelled by the local education authorities to relinquish the employment and return to school for the remainder of the term, and, if so, under what Clause of the Act?
Under Section 9 of the Education Act, 1918, which came into operation on the 1st February, 1919, a child attending a public elementary school who attains any year of age. during the school term shall not for the purpose of any enactment or by law relating to school attendance, be deemed to have attained that year of age until the end of the term.
Cycling, Tooting Common
asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the reckless riding by bicyclists, motor, and otherwise, in the Avenue, Tooting Common, resulting in danger to the public; and whether he will direct the police to give their special attention to this road?
The Commissioner informs me that nothing is known to the police of reckless cycling in this place; but attention will be paid to the road.
London Special Constabulary
asked the Home Secretary when the special constabulary, London district, will be demobilised; and if he is aware that these men are unpaid?
The London Special Constabulary will shortly be relieved of all war duties. These men have. freely given their services without hope of remuneration.
Workmen's Compensation (Dermatitis)
asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that, during the War, very many workmen have suffered financial loss through contracting dermatitis on account of working in picric acid; and whether he is prepared to consider a revision of paragraph 2 of the rules made by him, dated 26th February, 1918, in order that these men who have suffered a reduction in earning capacity may be entitled to compensation?
:I have no information to the effect suggested in the first part of the question. The provision referred to has been in force since the 6th May, 1916, when dermatitis was first scheduled under the Workmen's Compensation Act, and no complaints as to its working have been received at the Home Office; but if the hon. Member will for ward any evidence in his possession as to the need of modification, my right hon. Friend will be glad to consider it.
Bolshevism
asked the Home Secretary what steps he is prepared to take to punish Bolsheviks and check Bolshevism in this country?
It is not a criminal offence in this country to hold Communistic views or to advocate them by peacable and constitutional methods. The ordinary law, supplemented as it is in certain points by emergency legislation, is sufficient to meet any attempts to carry out by force or violence the views which the Russian Bolsheviks profess, or to instigate others to use force or violence for that purpose.
Mines Inspector, North Wales
asked the Home Secretary whether Mr. G. J. Williams, His Majesty's senior inspector of metalliferous mines and quarries for North Wales, is about to retire under the age limit; and whether, in appointing a successor, experience and training in metalliferous mining and quarrying and a knowledge of the Welsh language will be made essential qualifications?
Mr. Williams is not due to retire under the age limit till December next. The answer to the latter part of the question is in the affirmative.
House-Letting (Bonus)
asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that there is a growing tendency amongst house agents and owners to insist upon a bonus being paid to them by in-going tenants; and whether the Government intends to take any action to prevent this practice.
I have been asked to reply to the question of the hon. and gallant Member. My right hon. Friend is not aware that the practice referred to is in creasing. I may; however, point out that any payment of such a bonus in the case of a house to which the Increase of Rents, etc., Acts apply would be recover able by the tenant.
Lea Valley (Flooding)
asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has received a letter dated 11th April from the town clerk of the Metropolitan Borough of Hackney concerning the floods which have taken place owing to the overflow of the River Lea; whether he is aware that such flooding is detrimental to the health of the borough and has resulted in numbers of houses having closing orders served upon them owing to the premises being rendered unfit for human habitation; and whether he will state what steps the Government are taking to carry out such work as may be necessary to prevent the recurrence of such flooding in the future?
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As I have already stated in reply to previous questions on this subject, the flooding in the-Lea Valley is being investigated by one of ray engineering inspectors.
Pine Mill Company, Oldham
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the offer of purchase made to the Pine Mill Company, Oldham, a spinning company, whose capital was £20,000 in shares of £20 each, to which £15 bonus was added during the past year; that the offer of the purchasers was £135,000, or nearly seven times the original capital; and whether this firm was one of the mills which recently closed down on account of the alleged bad condition of the cotton industry and threw (.heir disbanded operatives on the Government unemployment fund?
I have no know ledge of the offer of purchase referred to in this question. As the mill is in the section spinning American cotton it was presumably among those which recently closed down for a fortnight?
Postmen's Hours
asked the Post master-General whether, in provincial towns, the eight hours which postmen are supposed to work necessitates their commencing work at six o'clock in the morning, putting in a second spell at mid-day, and finishing off with a third spell at ten o'clock in the evening?
The arrangement of postmen's attendances necessarily varies according to the requirements of each case. I have no knowledge of any attendances arranged as indicated in the question and shall be glad if the right hon. Baronet will supply particulars of any such case that has been brought to his notice. It is my wish to improve attendances as far as circumstances permit, particularly in large towns.
Allotments
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether ho is aware that complaints have been made by allotment-holders at Waltham Abbey in regard to the annual flooding in the Lea Valley; and whether he will take action on this matter with the appropriate authorities?
In August, 1917,the Board received a petition on the subject from the allotment-holders referred to in the question, and they asked the district council to inquire into the matter. The council came to the conclusion that the only method of draining the allotments would be to clean out and deepen the ditch in the south-east corner, but they pointed out that if this were done it would cause the water to flow back into the ditch whenever floods occurred in the River Lea, and thus cause more frequent floodings of the allotments. In the circumstances, the Board regret that they are unable to take any furl her fiction in the matter.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he can now publish a Return giving those local authorities which have acquired on lease for allotments under the Small-holdings and Allotments Act, 1908, in accordance with the Board's recommendation in the Circular of November, 1918, land previously acquired under the Cultivation of Lands Order, the area of land, the number of allotment-holders provided for, and the rent per rod charged to the holders in each case; and, failing these particulars being at present available, whether he will call upon local authorities to furnish such Returns as early as possible?
Negotiations between local authorities and owners are proceeding in a large number of cases, but the information required by my hon. Friend is not likely to become available for some time.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that loss has been sustained by allotment holders at Waltham Abbey in consequence of a plague of rats in the district in proximity to the local council's sewage farm; and whether he will take action with the local authority with a view to the removal of this evil?
The Board have received no information or complaint as to loss sustained by allotment-holders at Waltham Abbey in consequence of the plague of rats in that district. Complaints as to the prevalence of rats have been received from other districts in the county of Essex, and the attention of the local authority of the county has been drawn to these, and they have been repeatedly urged by the Board to take measures to enforce the provisions of the Rats Order and to secure systematic and effective destruction of rats in their district. It rests with the local authority to enforce the necessary measures, but the Board are willing that their technical adviser should make local inquiry into the matter and advise the local authority as to the best means of dealing with it.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture what steps have been taken by the owner of the piece of land at Fife Road, East Sheen, from which a number of allotment-holders were recently rejected, to cultivate the ground for the production of food on the conditions on which the land was re leased from the obligations of the Cultivation of Lands Order?
Inquiries will be made, and the result communicated to my hon. Friend.
Electrical Energy Generation, River Dee
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the Board of Agriculture obtained a Grant from His Majesty's Treasury at the end of 1917, in order to investigate proposals for developing the generation of electrical energy from the River Dee, with a view to promoting the further development of agriculture and rural industries in the counties of Cheshire, Flintshire, Shropshire, Denbigh-, shire, and Merionethshire; and whether the report desired by them has now been obtained?
On the recommendation of the Board and the Development Commission, the Treasury made a Grant of a sum not exceeding £200 from the Development Fund to the Chester Corporation for the purpose stated in the question. The report referred to by my hon. Friend was received last month and is now under consideration.
Deputies' Association (Griff Colliery)
asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the action of the manager of the Griff Colliery, near Nuneaton, in persuading a member of the colliery deputies to withdraw from membership to the Deputies' Association; and whether, in view of the danger of a stopping of work, lie will make representations to the management of the colliery with a view to the adoption of the recommendation made by the provisional committee of the Industrial Conference in favour of the complete recognition of trade unions?
My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. No information has been supplied to the Controller of Coal Mines relative to this matter, but inquiries are being made by him both of the colliery company concerned and of the local branch of the Deputies' Association. The result of these inquiries I shall be glad to communicate to the hon. Member.
Fishery Cruisers, Scotland
asked the Secretary for Scotland if he will state the date of construction and the average speed of the "Norna," "Minna," "Freya," "Brenda," and "Vigilant"?
The dates of construction of the fishery cruisers are as follows:
| "Vigilant" | … | … | … | 1886 |
| "Brenda" | … | … | … | 1898 |
| "Minna" | … | … | … | 1899 |
| "Freya" | … | … | … | 1904 |
| "Norna" | … | … | … | 1909 |
Chemists And Druggists (Register)
asked the Lord Privy Seal whether any steps are being taken by the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain to make any by-laws under Section 4 (b) of the Poisons and Pharmacy Act, 1908, admitting apothecaries' assistants to the registers of pharmaceutical chemists and chemists and druggists; and, if so, whether the by-laws referred to have been already agreed to by the Privy Council or have been submitted to the council for approval?
My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I am informed that the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society, on the 6th instant, read a first time a draft by-law under Section 4 (b) of the Poisons and Pharmacy Act, 1908, admitting certain certified apothecaries' assistants to the register of chemists and druggists. Under the charter of the society a new by-law requires to be confirmed "by three meetings of the said council," after which it is submitted to the Privy Council for. approval.