COAL TRADE DISPUTE (UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT).
asked the Minister of Labour the amount of unemployment benefit paid out to colliery deputies, examiners, and firemen in each of the years since the Unemployment Insurance Act embracing them came into operation; what amount of weekly payments they have made in this period; and whether any payment has been made to any of them in respect of unemployment benefit during the present dispute?
There are no statistics available from which the information desired by the hon. Member could be obtained.
asked the Minister of Labour (1) the respective numbers of deputies, examiners, and firemen affected by the refusal of unemployment benefit on the ground that some of their members are connected with miners' organisations; how many of these members are so connected; and what is the percentage of these men to the aggregate number in their grades;
(2), whether the umpire, in dealing with the case of the deputies, examiners, and firemen, has admitted that he did not have the full figures; whether there is any instance of any umpire having reconsidered his decision, in view of later information being laid before him; and who is responsible for an umpire receiving a full and detailed statement on any case on which he is asked to decide?
I regret that I have not the figures asked for in the first question. As regards the second question, the umpire has power to revise a decision on new facts being brought to his knowledge, and he has exercised this power on a number of occasions. It is, of course, for the parties concerned to see that the umpire is furnished with a full statement of their case and of the necessary evidence in support of it. I understand that in dealing with the claims of the deputies the umpire was furnished with information by the Deputies, Examiners and Firemen's Association, which has appeared before him on several occasions.
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.
asked the Minister of Labour if he has received any complaints from insured persons who have been employed temporarily abroad by British firms that they have lost their title to benefits because contributions were not paid in respect of them during those temporary periods; and, if so, what action, if any, he proposes taking to remove the cause of these complaints?
No complaints of the nature described by the hon. Member have been brought to my notice recently. The position of the persons referred to in regard to unemployment benefit is similar to that of any other person who takes up uninsurable work. It is governed by Statute, and could not be altered without legislation. I understand, however, that this is one of the points which is engaging the attention of Lord Blanesburgh's Committee on Unemployment Insurance.
AUSTRALIA (IMPERIAL FAST SHIP SCHEME).
asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if his attention has been called to the Imperial fast ship scheme, consisting of seven new large 22-knot ships, of a type which does not now exist, for a new service between Britain and Australia, via India and Ceylon, for the carriage of mails, passengers, and refrigerated and general cargo; whether, in view of the advantages which is claimed, the new service could offer for inter-Imperial trade, not only between Britain and Australia, but between Britain and India and between Australia and India, careful attention will be given, or has been given, to the project by the Imperial Government; and whether, in view of the public announcement by the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. Stanley Bruce, that the success of the new scheme would depend upon the co-operation of the Imperial and other Dominion and Colonial Governments concerned, he can assure the House of the Imperial Government's ready co-operation?
I would refer the hon. Member to my reply yesterday to questions on this subject by the hon. Members for South Shields (Mr. Harney), Islington, North (Sir H. Cowan), Kirkdale (Sir J. Pennefather), and Richmond (Sir Newton Moore).
SOCOTRA.
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether any British agent is resident in Socotra; whether any form of administrative supervision exists there; and whether any trading revenue accrues to the Crown?
The answer to all parts of the question is in the negative.
BELGIUM (TAXATION OF BRITISH VISITORS).
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government proposes to make any representations to the Belgian Government in regard to the suggested new taxes which are to be levied by that Government on British subjects visiting Belgium?
No, Sir. I regret that the Belgian Government, in dealing with an extremely difficult financial problem, have found it necessary to impose taxes which must tend to lessen British intercourse with Belgium. But on full consideration it appears that the new taxes are not in contravention of British Treaty rights, and there are consequently no grounds on which representations to the Belgian Government could be based.
RIVINGTON AND BLACKROD GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has received a request for extending the premises of the Rivington and Black-rod Grammar School; if so, what decision has been reached in this connection; and, in view of the pressure on this space by the continuous increase in the number of students, he will facilitate the extension of the premises in the near future?
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. This proposal did not seem urgent enough to justify the work being put in hand in advance of the local authority's programme, but I expect to be able to approve its being undertaken in the first year of the programme period, if the authority so desire.
BRIGHTON POST OFFICE (PROMOTION).
asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that two officers, second and seventh on an acting list of eight, have been promoted overseers at Brighton; that in accordance with established procedure the staff side of the local Whitley Committee nominated two officers, first and third on the acting list, for the vacancies, being of the opinion that the officer second on the acting list was tactless, eccentric in manner, and devoid of qualities essential to smooth working; that the staff side agreed to the officer second on the acting list being given a month's trial, but were unable to modify their views as a result of the trial; and that the promoted officer seventh on the acting list had in June, 1924, been passed over for Grade A writing duties and the acting list, had never worked a clear fortnight on a writing duty, was not even recognised as a Grade A writing-duty reserve, and had done very little counter work; in what respect the qualifications of the promoted officers are superior to those of the other officers, and particularly of the two nominated by the staff side; and if he will take steps to secure that the invited views of the staff side will be given serious consideration, and that the whole matter will be re-examined in order that no officers may be unfairly penalised?
I am aware of the circumstances. The Promotion Board considered very carefully the representations made by the Staff Side and interviewed each of the officers on the Acting List. The members of the Board were unanimously of the opinion that the two officers selected were the best-fitted for performance of the duties of overseer. I can find no reason for dissenting from the Board's view; and I do not understand on what ground it is suggested that there has been any penalisation.
CORONERS (AMENDMENT) BILL (FIRES).
asked the Home Secretary if he will consider legislation having as its object the incorporation of the City of London Fire Inquests Act in an Act that shall apply to the whole of the country?
No, Sir. The matter arises on an Amendment which was put down in Standing Committee on the Coroners (Amendment) Bill, and the position of the Government will, if necessary, be fully stated in connection with that Bill.
INCOME TAX (INSURANCE PREMIUMS).
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider, in connection with his next financial statement, the possibility of having contributions under the national health insurance and widows' and orphans' pensions schemes treated on similar lines as life insurance premiums in respect of relief from income tax?
I would refer my hon. Friend to Subsection 1 ( b ) of Section 32 of the Income Tax Act, 1918, which provides relief, in certain conditions, in respect of contributions to widows' and orphans' pension schemes; the relief granted by this Section extends to contributions made under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925. As at present advised, I am unable to recommend any alteration of the law such as would authorise relief for contributions under the National Health Insurance scheme.
PRISONER'S PETITION, PORTS- MOUTH.
asked the Home Secretary whether the petition of Leonard Faulkner, Register No. 3, now undergoing sentence at His Majesty's prison, Portsmouth, has been received; and, in view of the fact that this man was recommended to make such a petition by a Bench of Magistrates, will he state whether any decision, and if so, what, has been arrived at in this connection?
A petition was received some time ago. The prisoner was not recommended by a Bench of Magistrates to petition. He was only advised by the visiting committee, to whom he had made representations, that he might petition. The decision was not to recommend interference with the sentence.
PENSIONS HOSPITAL, ORPINGTON (RELIGIOUS SERVICES).
asked the Minister of Pensions what facilities are afforded the inmates of the Ministry of Pensions Hospital, Orpington, Kent, to attend Divine worship?
Part-time chaplains, representing the Church of England, Free Churches and the Roman Catholic Church, respectively, have been appointed to this institution, and Church of England and Free Church Services are held every Sunday morning in the institution in separate rooms, suitably furnished and set aside for the purpose. The Roman Catholic patients attend Mass each Sunday at the Roman Catholic Church in the grounds of the Roman Catholic Orphanage, immediately opposite the hospital, or at the Roman Catholic Church at St. Mary Cray, Jewish pensioners (of whom there are at present only two) are visited from time to time by a Minister of their denomination, who makes appropriated arrangements for them in connection with the observances and festivals of their religion.