Written Answers
Tax Office, Hinckley
asked the Under Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, what obstacles, if any, are delaying the removal of the Hinckley tax office from the unsuitable premises at 28, Castle Street, which is reached by a dark staircase between grocers' and foreign meat shops; are insufficiently ventilated and heated by gas stoves with no outlet pipe; are constantly subject to smells from the meat and grocers' shops and bonfires of garbage which are burnt nearly every day at the back of the premises, and overrun with flies, mice and other vermin; where the lavatory accommodation is inadequate and the risks from fire great, the electric light cables being unprotected and fixed on wood?
It is hoped to enter into a lease of more suitable premises at an early date, and these will be available for the Hinckley tax office
| — | Fresh or Frozen. | Cured or Salted (not Canned). | Canned. | Total Imports. | Handed direct from the fishing grounds.* | ||
| Quantity (cwts.) | |||||||
| 1913 | … | … | 2,316,970 | 370,755 | 1,001,244 | 3,688,969 | 739,690 |
| 1919 | … | … | 1,067,235 | 472,607 | 1,408,114 | 2,947,956 | 289,526 |
| 1920 | … | … | 1,292,479 | 375,368 | 1,068,419 | 2,736,266 | 367,383 |
| 1921 | … | … | 1,610,997 | 419,280 | 793,794 | 2,824,071 | 515,923 |
| 1922 | … | … | 1,728,394 | 380,030 | 882,890 | 2,991,314 | 817,094 |
| 1923 | … | … | 2,610,818 | 421,203 | 736,527 | 3,768,548 | 1,246,028 |
| 1924 | … | … | 2,544,323 | 456,043 | 1,201,906 | 4,202,272 | 1,300,487 |
| 1925 (Jan.-Oct.) | 2,575,645 | 382,413 | 605,901 | 3,563,959 | 1,221,657 | ||
| Value (£). | |||||||
| 1913 | … | … | 1,174,873 | 490,348 | 3,221,706 | 4,886,927 | 323,612 |
| 1919 | … | … | 2,170,125 | 1,478,766 | 10,698,930 | 14,347,821 | 665,921 |
| 1920 | … | … | 1,768,590 | 1,240,417 | 9,884,964 | 12,893,971 | 598,948 |
| 1921 | … | … | 2,549,273 | 808,572 | 6,159,285 | 9,517,130 | 1,021,647 |
| 1922 | … | … | 2,258,683 | 687,435 | 5,980,753 | 8,926,871 | 840,102 |
| 1923 | … | … | 3,369,430 | 588,751 | 4,301,946 | 8,260,127 | 1,090,631 |
| 1924 | … | … | 3,641,544 | 676,693 | 6,748,861 | 11,067,098 | 963,054 |
| 1925 (Jan.-Oct.) | 3,234,545 | 606,455 | 3,715,380 | 7,556,380 | 875,243 | ||
| * Included in preceding column. Consists chiefly of "fresh or frozen" with small quantities of "cured or salted (not canned)." | |||||||
Ex-Service Men (King's National Roll)
asked the Minister of Labour what progress has recently been made with the efforts under the King's Roll to help disabled ex-service men?
as soon as the necessary adaptations have been carried out. The First Commissioner is aware of the unsatisfactory character of the present accommodation, but the absence of suitable alternative accommodation in Hinckley has, until recently, made it impossible to re-house the staff.
Imported Fish
asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can give the figures of foreign fish landings in this country during the year 1913, and for each year from 1919 to 1925?
The quantity and value of fish imported into the United Kingdom in the undermentioned years are as follow:
, pursuant to his reply [OIFICIAL REPORT, 18th November, 1925, col. 410] supplied the. following statement:1.
Firms on the Roll.
The present number of firms on the King's National Roll is approximately 28,000. There have been removals from, and additions to, the Roll during the last year, but the net number has remained practically constant. Removals from the Roll are due, in the main, to the inability of small firms to maintain their quota of disabled ex-service men. It is interesting to note that the total number of disabled ex-service men employed by firms on the Roll has gradually increased from approximately 350,000 at the beginning of 1925 to approximately 365,000 at the present date. This increase
| LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND THE KING'S NATIONAL ROLL. | ||||
| Local Authorities. | Number which are on the Roll. | Number not on Roll which on present information may be regarded as employing too small a staff to be reasonably expected to enrol. | Number no on Roll which might reasonably be expected to enrol. | Total number of Local Authorities. |
| 1. | 2. | 3. | 4. | |
| ENGLAND. | ||||
| London:* | ||||
| County Council | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| Corporation of the City of London. | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| Metropolitan Boroughs | 28 | — | — | 28 |
| Boards of Guardians | 24 | — | 1 | 25 |
| Totals | 54 | — | 1 | 55 |
| Provinces: | ||||
| County Councils | 47 | — | 3 | 50 |
| County Boroughs | 79 | — | — | 79 |
| Town Councils | 182 | 28 | 15 | 225 |
| Urban District Councils | 434 | 214 | 71 | 719 |
| Rural District Councils | 179 | 148 | 252 | 579 |
| Boards of Guardians | 173 | 156 | 225 | 554 |
| Totals | 1,094 | 546 | 566 | 2,206 |
| WALES. | ||||
| County Councils | 7 | — | 5 | 12 |
| County Boroughs | 3 | — | — | 3 |
| Town Councils | 20 | 6 | 1 | 27 |
| Urban District Councils | 29 | 29 | 3 | 61 |
| Rural District Councils | 14 | 35 | 18 | 67 |
| Boards of Guardians | 12 | 22 | 13 | 47 |
| Totals | 85 | 92 | 40 | 217 |
| SCOTLAND. | ||||
| County Councils | 14 | 15 | 4 | 33 |
| County District Committees | 42 | 22 | 35 | 99 |
| Town Councils | 78 | 94 | 30 | 202 |
| Parish Councils | 14 | 930 | 16 | 960 |
| Education Authorities | 8 | — | 29 | 37 |
| Totals | 156 | 1,061 | 114 | 1,331 |
| GRAND TOTALS | 1,389 | 1,699 | 721 | 3,809 |
* The Metropolitan Asylums Board are also on the Roll. | ||||
is due partly to the enrolment of large concerns (e.g., railway companies) and partly to increased staff employed by enrolled firms, which entails, under the percentage scheme, the employment of an increased number of disabled ex-service men.
2. Local Authorities.
As regards local authorities and the Roll, there have also been fluctuations during the last year. The following table gives the present position:
It will be seen that the number of local authorities who might reasonably be expected to enrol and who are not, in fact, on the Roll has now been reduced to 721. This balance includes only the smaller authorities throughout the country, with the exception of a relatively small number of county councils and town councils.
3. Royal Warrant Holders.
Out of 1,134 firms holding the Royal Warrant, 616 were on the Roll at the beginning of 1925. This number has now been increased to 632; 365 of the remainder, however, either employ too small a staff, or are engaged in too specialised an industry to be reasonably expected to enrol. The balance of non-enrolled holders of the Royal Warrant is, therefore, 137.
4. Public Utility Companies.
An appeal has recently been addressed by the King's Roll National Council to a number of companies engaged in the provision of public services (e.g., electricity, gas, water, etc.). The present position is that, out of 418 important concerns of this nature throughout the country, 228 are on the Roll and negotiations are proceeding with regard to enrolment in a number of the remaining companies.
5. Local Committees.
The local administration of the King's National Roll is carried out by local King's Roll Committees set up on the recommendation of the Select Committee on the training and employment of disabled ex-service men. There are 254 committees carrying out this work throughout the country. The Minister of Labour has recently invited newly-appointed heads of municipalities to preside over the local King's Roll Committee in their area for their year of office. These invitations have met with a ready response.
6. King's Roll National Council.
The work of these local committees is co-ordinated by the King's Roil National Council under the chairmanship of Field-Marshal Earl Haig, and the Council have supplemented the work of local committees by direct appeal in the case of local authorities, Royal warrant holders, public utility companies, and in other directions have taken whatever steps possible to keep this problem before those most able to assist.
7. Restriction of Contracts to Firms on the Roll.
The restriction of Government contracts to firms on the King's National Roll has had a considerable effect in maintaining the number of enrolled firms at its present figure. The Minister of Labour has recently announced that the Government propose to ask Parliament to pass a Resolution definitely laying down the existing practice of restricting Government contracts to firms on the Roll.
At the present date 543 local authorities, as against 513 at the beginning of the year, follow the Government practice in this matter, and it is hoped that a larger number will do so in the future.
Unemployment (Iron And Steel Trades)
asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed workers in the iron and steel trades on 1st November, 1924, and on the latest date for which information is available?
The following table gives the information desired:
| Number unemployed. | ||
| 27th October, 1924. | 26th October, 1925. | |
| Pig Iron Manufacture | 5,210 | 5,510 |
| Steel melting and iron puddling furnaces, iron and steel rolling mills and forges. | 48,557 | 48,548 |
Russian Petrol
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that under the Anglo-Russian trade agreement of 1921 petrol is being distributed in this country by a company formed in London by agents of the Soviet Government; that this petrol is being obtained from confiscated oil wells in Russia belonging to British companies, and is being sold at such low prices as to endanger the existence of a Scottish industry giving employment to many Scotsmen; and whether he will consider the desirability of taking some action to check this competition?
The answer to the first part is in the affirmative. It is understood that the petrol is obtained from crude oil won indiscriminately from the nationalised properties of various companies British and foreign. The petrol is being sold within restricted areas at a price below the normal, but there is no reason to believe that the quantities involved are sufficient to imperil the Scottish shale industry. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the replies which wore given to the hon. Member for Newcastle (North) on 26th November, and 1st December.
Scottish Oils And Anglo-Persian Oil Company
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the subsidiary companies associated with Scottish Oils and the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, Limited; and whether he can obtain and publish the agreement between the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, Limited, and the firms which form the Scottish oil industry.
The subsidiary companies in question are:
- Broxburn Oil Co., Ltd.,
- Dalmeny Oil Co., Ltd.,
- Oakbank Oil Co., Ltd.,
- Pumpherston Oil Co., Ltd.,
- James Rose and Co.,
- Young's Paraffin Light and Mineral Co., Ltd.,
- Scottish Oil Agency, Ltd.
Foreign Barley (Import Duty)
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there are any treaty obligations which would be violated in the event of a customs duty being placed on foreign barley; and, if so, what are the countries which would be affected?
I have been asked to reply. The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative.
Streatham Post Office (Christmas Traffic)
asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that, during the Christmas season of 1924, parcels lay for three days in the Streatham sorting office, as the staff was too small to cope with the volume of work; and whether arrangements will be made to provide adequate staff to cope with the work during the ensuing season?
I cannot find that delay occurred at the Streatham sorting office last Christmas to the extent stated. It is anticipated that the arrangements which are being made for the coming Christmas traffic at that office will prove adequate. I may, perhaps, refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for the Lewes Division (Rear-Admiral Beamish) on the 24th November.
German Reparation
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of reparations, in cash and kind, which have been paid by Germany to date?
The total payments by Germany in cash or kind distributed between the Powers concerned on account of reparation up to the 31st October, 1925, is approximately £214 millions. This excludes sums allocated to the costs of armies of occupation and other charges.
Customs And Excise
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state, for the years ending 31st March, 1923, 1924, and 1925, the total cost of collections for the Customs and Excise service, showing salaries and allowances, commuted allowances, and superannuation, and any de- partmental charges, with the percentage of cost to the total amount of duties collected?
| — | Salaries, Wages and Allowances (including overtime). | Superannuation charges (including Lump sum Payments). | Travelling and miscellaneous charges. | Total Gross Expenditure. | Add Allied Services rendered by other Public Depts. | Deduct | Net Cost of collecting Customs and Excise Revenue. | |
| Appropriations in Aid and Exchequer Extra Receipts. | Cost of services rendered to other Public Depts. | |||||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| 1922–23 | 4,339,622 | 774,515 | 239,457 | 5,353,594 | 329,204 | 461,489 | 616,420 | 4,604,889 |
| 1923–24 | 3,773,347 | 864,365 | 213,952 | 4,851,664 | 323,714 | 265,041 | 585,350 | 4,324,987 |
| 1924–25 | 3,895,250 | 806,440 | 198,694 | 4,900,384 | 366,163 | 312,951 | 630,450 | 4,323,146 |
| approx. | approx. | |||||||
| The percentage cost of collection of Customs and Excise Revenue (including the coat of Allied services rendered by other Public Departments, but excluding the estimated cost of Old Age Pension work and of services rendered to other Public Departments) is— | ||||||||
| Per cent. | ||
| 1922–23 | = | 1·64 |
| 1923–24 | = | 1·61 |
| 1924–25 | = | 1·84 approximately. |
Royal Navy
Naval And Marine Personnel
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the numbers and cost of the personnel of the Fleet in 1913–14; and (as estimated) in 1925–26?
The average number of naval and marine personnel on which the Estimates for the years 1913–14 and 1925–26 were based was 139,370 (excluding coastguard) and 101,420 respectively. The cost of pay, victualling, clothing, medical attendance and accommodation for each of these years is estimated at approximately £11,447,000 and £20,526,000 respectively. Allowance has been made for the cost of providing shore accommodation (furniture, stores, etc., and maintenance of barrack buildings) or granting allowances in lieu of accommodation, but nothing has been included in respect of lodging accommodation in the ships of the Fleet, as this accommodation is merely incidental to the use of the shins as fighting machines and cannot be separated. No account has been taken of non-effective charges (half, unemployed and retired pay and pensions).
Devonport Dockyard (Dining Hall)
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is
The particulars asked for are given in the following table:aware that the dining hall put up for the use of about 90 men employed by the director of works through His Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport, has now been converted into a joiners' shop and drying room for wet clothes, although it is still used as a dining hall; and whether the necessary action will be taken to provide adequate accommodation for these men?
The dining hall referred to is presumed to be that at Ernesettle. Pending the completion of other buildings this dining hall has sometimes been used for setting out timber work and for drying at night time the protective clothing provided for the use of the men. It will not be necessary to use the dining hall for these purposes in future, as other buildings are now being brought into use.
Gratuities
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what are the gratuities of varying figures paid to naval men who do not re-engage for pension?
Gratuities are not payable to men who leave the Service at the end of their first continuous service engagement and do not re-engage to complete time for pension.
Housing
Subsidy
asked the Minister of Health the number of houses in England approved for subsidy to 31st October, 1925, under the Housing, Etc., Act, 1923, and the estimated capital value of the subsidies for these houses; and the number of houses approved for subsidy to 31st October, 1925, under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924, and the estimated capital value of the subsidies for these houses?
The following table shows the number of houses authorised and the estimated capital value of the Government contributions which would be payable in respect of such houses. Information is not available which would enable an estimate to be made of the additional payments by local authorities out of local funds in respect of these houses:
| Housing Act of | Number of houses authorised. | Estimated capital value of Government contributions. |
| £ | ||
| 1923 | 240,604 | 18,045,300 |
| 1924 | 88,954 | 14,232,640 |
Demonstration Houses (Subsidy)
asked the Minister of Health the amount of money that has been paid to 1st November, 1925, as a subsidy towards the erection of demonstration houses built by alternative methods of construction; how many of such houses have been completed; and how many have not been commenced with the exception of the foundations?
£28,800 has been allocated for grants in respect of demonstration houses. The subsidy is not payable until the houses have been completed and have been open to inspection by the public for one month. The actual payments made amount to £2,800. Complete particulars as to the stage of all the schemes is not available, but, according to the latest information, 51 of the houses had been completed and, apart from work on foundations, 48 had not been commenced.
Necessitous Areas Committee
asked the Minister of Health whether the Government have selected a Welshman as a member of the Necessitous Area Committee which has been set up by the Government?
The answer is in the affirmative.