Written Answers
Petition Of Right (Messrs Wills Brothers)
asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has received a communication from Messrs. Wills Brothers respecting defective or contaminated Australian canned fruits; whether he is aware that, although the Agent-General for New South Wales (through his brokers) sold the goods after they had arrived in London in the usual way, that is to say, duty paid ex wharf, London, the purchasers, on presenting a petition of right, were refused permission to commence an action in the Courts here; whether the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown has been taken; and on what grounds a fiat has been withheld?
The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's question is in the affirmative. As regards the remaining parts, I understand that a petition of right was submitted in March, 1923, by Messrs Wills Brothers in respect of a claim arising out of the sale of certain Australian canned fruits, on behalf of the Agent-General for New South Wales. The petition of right was referred in the ordinary course to His Majesty's Attorney-General, who advised that the petition on its face showed a claim, if any, against the Government of New South Wales, and not against His Majesty's Government; and the petitioners were so informed.
Beet-Sugar
asked the Minister of Agriculture if it is the view of his Department, as stated in official literature, that if a drop of 20s. per ton of beet is indicated when the sugar subsidy ceases the farmer will then have to rely for his profit on the indirect advantages which the crop secures for him; and whether this point is made clear to those agriculturists embarking on sugar-beet growing?
As stated in my reply on 15th February to my hon. Friend the Member for Sudbury (Colonel Burton) the responsibility for statements made and opinions expressed in the Research Monograph No. 3 of the Agricultural Economics Research Institute of the University of Oxford based as it was on limited data from 34 farms in 1924 rests with the authors and not with the Ministry. The Ministry would not, on present experience and information feel justified in expressing any view on this point.
Unemployment
Borough
asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed, men, women, and young people, respectively, registered at the Borough (Walworth Road) Employment Exchange, on the latest convenient date, together with the number registered on the corresponding date last year.
The numbers on the registers of the Borough Employment Exchange at 26th April, 1926, and 27th April, 1925, were as under:
| 26th April, | 27th April, | ||
| 1926. | 1925. | ||
| Men | … | 5,069 | 6,833 |
| Boys | … | 258 | 467 |
| Women | … | 1,315 | 1,968 |
| Girls | … | 351 | 326 |
| Total | … | 6,993 | 9,594 |
Devonport
asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons, specifying men, women, boys, and girls, on the Devonport Employment Exchange during the month of April.
The following table shows the numbers of persons on the registers of the Devon- port Employment Exchange during April, 1926:
| — | 5th April. | 12th April. | 19th April. | 26th April. | |
| Men | … | 1,402 | 1,432 | 1,412 | 1,420 |
| Boys | … | 97 | 113 | 115 | 116 |
| Women | … | 103 | 105 | 124 | 126 |
| Girls | … | 84 | 90 | 92 | 87 |
| Total | … | 1,686 | 1,740 | 1,743 | 1,749 |
asked the Minister of Labour the number of applications from persons in Devonport for extended benefit recommended for disallowance by the local employment committee during the period 8th March, 1925, to 1st April, 1926?
Between 10th March, 1925, and 12th April, 1926, the number of applications for extended benefit (including repeat applications from the same individuals) recommended for disallowance by the Plymouth and Devonport Local Employment Committee was 2,593, out of 27,085 applications considered.
Finance Bill
Motor Ambulance Wagons (Duty)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with reference to the proposed increase of taxation on heavy motor vehicles, he will consider favourably an exemption in favour of ambulance wagons and such like motors kept by charitable bodies for public purposes that relieves the taxpayer from part of the cost of such services?
I have been asked to answer this question. Ambulances are at present exempt from taxation under Section 13 (4) of the Finance Act, 1920, and it is not proposed to impose any tax in respect of these vehicles.
Pictures And Objects Of Art (Export Duty)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that lately a great number of valuable pictures and objects of art have been sold out of this country, he will further consider the desirability of imposing an export tax on such articles sold by auction or foreign treaty?
I would refer the hon. Member to the replies which my right hon. Friend gave on behalf of the Prime Minister on the 27th April in connection with a similar question by the hon. Member for the South Eastern Division of Leeds (Sir H. Slesser).
Ministry Of Munitions (Unsettled Claims)
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number, if any, of claims still unsettled by the Ministry of Munitions for goods supplied by engineering and other firms, and how soon will these claims be settled?
The only claims unsettled are those which form the subject of litigation, and every effort is being made by the Department to bring these claims to an issue.