KENSINGTON GARDENS.
asked the Minister of Transport on whose authority and with what reason authority was given the Kensington Borough Council to curtail the space in Kensington Gardens?
The First Commissioner of His Majesty's Works has given authority for the incorporation in Kensington Road or a narrow strip of Kensington Gardens, as part of the general widening scheme which is contemplated by the Kensington Borough Council, and which I consider highly desirable on traffic grounds.
AFFORESTATION.
asked the hon. Member for Monmouth, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what operations are now contemplated by the Forestry Commissioners in the counties of Sutherland and Caithness; and, in particular, what policy they propose to pursue in regard to their forest at Borgie?
Planting and incidental operations will proceed steadily but on a small scale on the Borgie Estate, which was acquired by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland before the Commission was established. The conditions there are difficult and the Commissioners do not feel justified in proceeding quicker at present. No other areas have been acquired in the two counties named, as the land offered was unsuitable in quality or extent or the terms were unacceptable. The Commissioners are prepared to consider any reasonable offers of land suitable for planting. Grants for afforestation schemes are available to local authorities and others.
HOUSING (SUBSIDY).
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of houses in Scotland approved for subsidy to 30th June, 1926, 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 30th June, 1926, under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924, and the estimated capital value of the subsidies for these houses?
Up to 30th June, 1926, the figures are as follow:
1923 Act houses approved 17,168 Estimated capital value of annual Exchequer contribution £1,304,768
In addition to the above, 9,121 houses have been approved for the erection with the aid of the grant for the improvement of insanitary areas under Section 1 (3) of the Housing, etc., Act, 1923. These houses replace existing insanitary houses. The estimated capital value of the annual grant under this head is £1,441,270; but as the grant is on a fluctuating basis it is impossible to give an accurate figure.
1924 Act houses approved 21,989* Estimated capital value of annual Exchequer contribution £;3,557,920
In addition the Government are providing moneys for the erection of 2,000 steel houses in different parts of Scotland by the Second Scottish National Housing Company (Housing Trust) Ltd. *Of these approximately 1,900 houses were transferred from the Act of 1923.
CONTRIBUTORY PENSIONS ACT.
asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a claim for a widow's and orphan's pension from a Sheffield resident who was married in 1909 to her mother's deceased sister's husband; and whether, seeing that the claim was admitted but subsequently rejected on evidence voluntarily submitted by the applicant that the marriage was not legal, that no doubt as to the validity of the marriage and the legitimacy of the children subsequently born existed in the mind of the applicant until after her claim to pension was lodged in 1926, and that, on such doubt arising owing to Press reports of similar circumstances, she took immediate steps to notify the pension authorities, he will, in these circumstances, grant this claim to pension?
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I have no power to grant a pension in a case where the requirements of the Act are not satisfied. I may add that the claimant has given notice of appeal, and the case will come before the referees appointed under the Act.
DOG LICENCES (EXEMPTION CERTIFICATES).
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many certificates of exemption from duty have been granted during the 12 months to the last convenient) date in respect of dogs kept solely for the purpose of tending sheep or cattle on a farm or used by shepherds in their calling?
There is no information available as to the number of certificates of exemption from dog licence duty granted in England and Wales, where the dog licence duties and exemptions are administered by the local taxation authorities. The number granted in Scotland during the 12 months ended the 31st March, 1926, was 57,672.