Written Answers
Royal Navy (Submarines)
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any or all of the five submarines specified in this year's Naval Estimates to be constructed by private contract have yet been allocated to private firms?
These contracts will not be placed until towards the end of November.
Disarmament Conference (Questionnaire)
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the political as well as the technical nature of the questionnaire issued by the League of Nations relating to disarmament, the House will be given the opportunity of considering the replies to the questionnaire being prepared by the Committee of Imperial Defence before they are forwarded to Geneva?
The hon. Member's question is, I think, based upon a misconception of the procedure adopted by the League. The questionnaire is intended to assist the Governments concerned by indicating to them in broad outline questions which the Preparatory Committee on Disarmament may have to consider in the task of preparing a programme for a conference on disarmament. A public discussion at this stage of all the details involved in the questionnaire could not, I think, serve any useful purpose, and if all the Governments concerned committed themselves by such public discussions in their respective Parliaments to particular solutions before the meeting of the Preparatory Committee and in anticipation of its discussions, it would seem to me impossible that the Preparatory Committee should arrive at any agreement
International Conferences
asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs the names or name of the British representatives or representative at the following conferences: the World Educational Conference in Rome in April, the Conference on Russian and Armenian refugees in May, the Passport Conference under the auspices of the League of Nations in May, the International Labour Conference in May, and the Commission on the Composition of the Council of the League of Nations?
His Majesty's Government will not be represented at the international congress on moral education which is to be held this month in Rome. The head of the British delegation at the passport conference will be His Majesty's representative at Berne. Viscount Cecil of Chelwood will be the British representative to the commission on the composition of the Council of the League of Nations. No British representative has yet been selected for either of the other two conferences mentioned by the hon. Member.
Navigable Waters' (Oil Pollution)
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the House any information as to the composition and the powers of the intended international conference on the pollution of the sea by oil, and as to when such conference will be held?
I will communicate with my hon. and learned Friend as soon as I am in a position to give definite and official information with regard to the proposed international conference on oil pollution.
Housing (Subsidy)
asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of Section 5 of the Housing Act, 1924, he proposes to set up a committee to investigate the question of the continuance of the subsidy?
The question as to modification of housing subsidy will be determined in accordance with the terms of Section 5 of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924. This Section provides that the Minister of Health and the Scottish Board of Health shall after the let October next take this matter into con- sideration and shall consult with such associations of local authorities as appear to be concerned and with any local authority with whom consultation appears to be desirable.
asked the Minister of Health whether it is proposed in October next to reduce the subsidy on houses built by local authorities for letting under the Housing Act, 1924?
I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 25th March in answer to a similar question by the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. Taylor).
Southampton Employment Committee
asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that until recently the Southampton Trades Council had a representative on the local employment committee, but that on the committee being reconstituted the trades council was not invited to nominate a representative; and whether he will state the reason for ignoring this representative trade union body?
As I said in reply to questions in March and November of last year, it is the general rule that representation of workpeople on local employment committees should normally be obtained from trade unions, and this rule has been followed in the reconstitution of the Southampton Committee.
Royal Air Force (Meat Supplies)
asked the Secretary of State for Air what was the value of all fresh meat supplied to the Royal Air Force units stationed in Great Britain for the years 1920 to 1925, showing the cost month by month and distinguishing between beef and mutton?
The meat normally supplied to the Royal Air Force units in this country, which is drawn under Army contracts, is imported. The quantity of fresh meat supplied is negligible, and to ascertain the exact amounts issued during the years referred to would involve a lengthy examination of records which would not, I think, be justified.
Empire Settlement
asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what steps, if any, he proposes to take in connection with the suggestions and recommendations contained in the Interdepartmental Committee's Report on Migration (Cmd. 2608)?
The action to be taken in connection with the suggestions and recommendations of the Inter-departmental Committee is at present under consideration.
Education (Dentist, Reading)
asked the President of the Board of Education whether, seeing that at the instigation of the Board the Reading local education authority have agreed to appoint a full-time dentist with a capital expenditure on premises of £1,000, and that the Board are now objecting to the expenditure on the ground of economy, he will state whether the Board of Education have now decided what policy they intend to pursue in this matter?
The hon. Member is misinformed. The Board have not yet objected to this scheme, but are making inquiries in connection with it.
British Army
Meat Supplies
asked the Secretary of State for War what was the value of all fresh meat supplied to the troops in Great Britain for the years 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, and 1925, respectively, showing the cost month by month and distinguishing between beef and mutton.
Fresh meat is only bought on rare occasions when frozen meat is unobtainable. No figures are available as to the value of the fresh meat purchased during the years in question, but the quantity of such meat may be taken as negligible.
Forage
asked the Secretary of State for War what was the total value of oats purchased for the use of the Army in the years 1920 to 1925, respectively, and of hay and straw for the same periods?
The total cost of purchases of forage made during the years in question is as follows:
| £ | ||||
| 1920–21 | … | … | … | 4,370,852 |
| 1921–22 | … | … | … | 1,509,609 |
| 1922–23 | … | … | … | 810,472 |
| 1923–24 | … | … | … | 673,766 |
| 1924–25 | … | … | … | 614,250 |
Post Office
Boys (Secondary School Education)
asked the Postmaster-General the posts open in the Post Office for boys over 15 years of age with a secondary education?
A secondary school education is normally required in the case of recruits for the post of sorting clerk and telegraphist at the smaller provincial post offices (age limits, 16–17), and also in the case of youths in training in the engineering department (minimum age, 16). Other posts open to boys over 15 years of age are those of sorting clerk and telegraphist at a larger office (15–17), and probationary inspector in the engineering department (17–20).
Wireless Licences (Prosecutions)
asked the Postmaster-General how many prosecutions he has conducted against persons for installing wireless sets without a licence; and whether he is enforcing the existing Regulations?
Proceedings have been taken against 135 persons and 134 convictions secured. Active steps are being taken to trace illicit users, and further prosecutions will be undertaken where necessary to enforce the law.
Clun Rural District Council (Roadstone)
asked the Minister of Transport what action, if any, he proposes to take with regard to the protest unanimously passed by the Whitley Joint Council for the West Midland roadstone quarry industry, representing employers and employés at Ludlow, on the 2nd February against the illegal action of the Clun Rural District Council in quarrying and supplying roadstone to the Salop County Council and to the Bishop's Castle Corporation, particularly in view of the fact that the Clun Rural District Council paid wages at a lower rate than the rate fixed by the Joint Industrial Council and recognised as standard rates for the district?
This case does not appear to have been previously brought to my notice, but I will have inquiries made in order to ascertain whether any action on my part is called for.
Sugar Beet Industry
asked the Minister of Agriculture how many additional men were actually employed on the land in connection with sugar beet operations during 1925?
Sufficient information is not available to make a definite estimate of the total number of additional men employed on the land in connection with the cultivation of sugar beet. The work is mainly seasonal, and I understand that 1,573 men and 88 women were supplied by the Employment Exchanges for employment on lifting and topping operations during the past season, and from inquiries made by my local officers, it appears that a considerable number of workers secured such employment without using the medium of the Exchanges.
Stamp Duty (Cheques)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the desirability of reducing the Stamp Duty on cheques of £20 and under from 2d. to 1d.?
As I have stated in reply to a previous question on a similar matter, I cannot anticipate the Budget statement.
Import Duties
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount collected in the last financial year from the Silk Duties, from the McKenna Duties, and from the duties imposed under the Safeguarding of Industries Regulations?
The approximate figures of net revenue collected during the financial year ended 31st March, 1926, are as follows:—
| £ | |
| Duties on silk and artificial silk | 3,192,000 |
| McKenna Duties | 1,081,000 |
| Safeguarding of Industries Duties | 749,000 |
| Total | 5,022,000 |
The net revenue from the Silk and Artificial Silk Duties includes £601,000 on account of the Excise Duty on artificial silk. The Safeguarding Duties comprise the duties imposed under the Safeguarding of Industries Act, 1921, the Finance Act, 1925, Section 6, and the Safeguarding of Industries (Customs Duties) Act, 1925.