UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT (OLD AGE PENSIONERS).
asked the Minister of Labour what is the procedure adopted to secure that no payment of unemployment benefit is made to a person while in receipt of an old age pension; and whether he is supplied with the names and addresses of old age pensioners?
The instructions to the local officers of my Department provide that where an applicant for unemployment benefit declares his age as 70 years or over, or appears to be 70 years of age, the disqualification for unemployment benefit resulting from the receipt of an old age pension shall be brought specially to his notice, and if he denies that he is in receipt of such a pension, inquiry shall be made of the local old age pensions officer in the matter. Close co-operation exists between the local officers of my Department and the Board of Customs who have authorised the local pensions officers to give to the local Exchange officers the necessary information. Lists of the names and addresses of all old age pensioners are not furnished to my Department, as it would be a cumbrous process to keep such lists up-to-date and the above-mentioned procedure renders them unnecessary.
"LONDON GAZETTE" (STATE PRINTING).
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why the printing of the "London Gazette" was transferred to the State works without any attempt to obtain competitive prices from private firms?
I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for the Basingstoke Division (Sir A. Holbrook) on the 26th June.
ROYAL AIR FORCE (SURPLUS STORES).
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Disposals Board include in their contracts for the sale of surplus or derelict Air Force stores a provision that everything purchased should be cleared away within a specified time; and whether, if such is not the case, instructions could be given that such a Clause should be inserted?
The answer to the first part of the question is in the
— Interest and Management. Repayment of Principal from Revenue. £ £ Paid in 1920–21 … … … … … 328,331,756 251,823,647 (New and Old. Sinking Funds) Paid in 1921–22 … … … … … 307,283,738 70,703,856 (New and Old Sinking Funds). Paid in 1922–23 … … … … … 299,279,150 126,226,629 (New and Old Sinking Funds). Estimated for 1923–24 … … … … 310,000,000 40,000,000 (New Sinking Fund only).
Interest on the debt to the United States Government was not paid in 1921–22 and in 1920–21 and 1922–23 was paid for part of the year only. The figure of £310 millions for 1923–24 includes a full year's provision for this interest.
GOVERNMENT LAND AND BUILDINGS.
asked the Prime Minister whether he can make any statement as to the policy of the Government respecting the recommendations of the Committee of Sir Howard Frank, more especially in the creation of a Lands Department?
I am unable at present to add anything to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Central Edinburgh (Mr. W. Graham) on 22nd March last.
affirmative. Steps were recently taken with a view to secure that this provision, which entails the re-sale or destruction of such material, is observed in all cases.
NATIONAL DEBT.
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what sums were devoted to the service of the debt out of revenue for the cost of interest and management, and for the reduction of capital, in each of the years 1920–21, 1921–22, and 1922–23, and what are the estimated sums for the current year?
The amounts are as follow:
COUNTY COURT SERVICE.
asked the Prime Minister when the Bill will be introduced carrying into effect the recommendations of the Rigby-Swift Committee regarding County Court officials; and whether, in view of the fact that this legislation is long overdue, he will do his best to expedite its consideration?
I regret that it is not yet possible to say when the Bill for the reorganisation of the County Court service will be introduced. The hon. Member may, however, rest assured that every effort will be made to expedite its consideration.
NATIONAL FLAG (ADVERTISEMENTS).
asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the objections felt in the Dominions to the use of the national flag in this country for advertising purposes, he will officially consult them as to the policy they consider should be followed by the Mother Country in this respect?
No representations on this subject have been received from the Governments of the Dominions, and I am not aware of the facts upon which my hon. and gallant Friend bases his statement as to the feeling in the Dominions. In the circumstances, I am not prepared to undertake to communicate officially with the Dominions on the subject.
CANDIDATES nominated by the Army Council since June, 1921, to cadetships at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY Date of nomination. Name. Schools by whom recommended. Marks obtained in the Army Entrance Examination. (Maximum Mark—15,000). August, 1921 … Sorsbie, R. W. … … Brighton College … … 8,216 Hill, T. W. R. … … Cheltenham College … … 7,115 Thomlinson, J … … Tonbridge School … … 8,047 Hughes, B. P. … … Eton College … … … Did not compete. January, 1922 … Osmond, S. R. … … Wellington College … … 7,664 August, 1922 … Collins, W. H. … … Wellington College … … 8,576 Maltby, E. F. … … Eton College … … … 7,786 Streatfeild, R. J. … Wellington College … … 9,022 January, 1923 … Burridge, D. W. … Ellesmere College … … 7,104 Ferguson, R. M. … Cheltenham College … … Did not compete. Harman, C. R. … … Cheltenham College … … 7,406 Stevenson, N. le M. … Victoria College … … 7,722 ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE. (Maximum Mark—13,000). August, 1921 … Denaro, C. T. … … Downside School … … 5,058 Kinloch, A. D. … … Eton College … … … 3,198 Challice, C. J. … … Framlingham College … 5,713 Bruce, J. C. D. … … Imperial Service College … 3,764 Bate, A. K. … … Imperial Service College … 1,981 Dennys, R. E. … … Plymouth College … … 5,405 Macmullen, M. N. E. … Winchester College … … 3,681 January, 1922 … Browne, W. F. … … Campbell College … … 4,831 Cubitt, C. G. … … Eton College … … … 3,932 August, 1922 … Evans L. N. … … Tonbridge School … … 5,000 Madocks, G. H. B. … Shrewsbury School … … 2,360 Neve, G. E. … … Eastbourne College … … 4,662 Sugden, G. B. … … Radley College … … 2,442 January, 1923 … Butler, A. H. … … Harrow School … … 3,545 Clegg-Hill, G. R. … Shrewsbury School … … 2,575 Clifford, W. R. M. … Radley College … … 6,451 Jacob, M. A. … … Trent College … … Did not compete. James, A. W. … … Eton College … … … 3,322 Niven, E. C. H. … … Imperial Service College … 4,144 Steele, T. M. … … Eton College … … … 3,765
CADETSHIPS (NOMINATIONS).
asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will furnish a list of the names of those who have received from the Army Council nominations for Woolwich and Sandhurst since the date of the Army entrance examination in June, 1921, giving the names of the schools from which they came and the marks which they obtained in the Army entrance examination preceding their nomination?
The information asked for is as follows:
WOOLWICH ARSENAL (WAGES).
asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he has received representations urging a revision of the wages of employés at Woolwich Arsenal; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?
Representations have been received and a conference on the subject was held with certain hon. Members who have been good enough to interest themselves in the matter.
PRE-WAR RE-ENLISTED PENSIONERS.
asked the Under-Secretary of State for War why pre-War re-enlisted pensioners who served during the Great War, and are eligible for reassessment of their pensions under Army Order 483 of 1921, and the provisions of Article 1,030 ( a ), Royal Warrant, 1922, have been subjected to a 50 per cent. deduction of their disability pension?
The effect of Army Order 483 of 1921 is to give to the pre-War pensioners referred to in the question the benefit, when it is advantageous to them, of the new and improved scale of disability pensions authorised by Army Order 432 of that year. This latter Army Order lays down that a disability pension may consist of three elements, ( a ) a disability element, ( b ) a service element, and ( c ) a rank element; It indicates how these elements are to be severally assessed, and further provides inter alia, that "the disability and service elements shall not both be drawn in full together; whichever is at any time the larger shall be drawn in full, but only half the other." This arrangement was adopted after the fullest consideration, and is not correctly described as a deduction from disability pension.
VOLUNTEER OFFICERS (WAR SERVICE GRATUITY).
asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether a lieutenant in a Volunteer Force, who, having qualified and been appointed in 1917 with rank of captain as adjutant of a Volunteer battalion, was placed on the general list, Territorial Force, was entitled upon discharge to the gratuity received by officers serving in Territorial battalions?
The answer is in the negative.