Written Answer
Naval And Military Pensions And Grants
Mr J M Robertson (Application)
asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will reopen the case of
| Date. | Men. | Boys. | Women. | Girls. | Total. | ||||
| 2ndMay | … | … | … | … | 1,346 | 109 | 95 | 100 | 1,650 |
| 9th May | … | … | … | … | 1,295 | 101 | 86 | 105 | 1,587 |
| 16th May | … | … | … | … | 1,270 | 94 | 95 | 112 | 1,571 |
| 23rd May | … | … | … | … | 1,298 | 94 | 81 | 110 | 1,583 |
| 30th May | … | … | … | … | 1,274 | 93 | 76 | 108 | 1,551 |
J. M. Robertson, of Barnets Close, Aberdeen, who was decorated for gallantry at Zeebrugge and is now sick and destitute; if he is aware that Robertson has again attempted a light job and has been obliged to give it up after a few days; and whether, under the exceptional circumstances of the case, the man can be provided for so as to avert the necessity of an appeal for pauper relief?
As I have already explained to the hon. Member, the man referred to made application for the first time only to the Ministry eight years after his demobilisation. The case has, nevertheless, been specially considered, but I am advised that there are no circumstances in it to connect the man's illness with his War service which would enable my Department to take special action.
Orphans
asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in the granting of pensions to war orphans, it is the practice to base the amount of the pensions solely upon the exclusive needs of the war orphans, or whether any allowance is made for the part maintenance of any other member of the household?
Pensions in the case of orphans are granted in all cases at the specific uniform rates laid down by the Royal Warrants, and are not determined in amount by considerations as to the circumstances of individual cases.
Unemployment (Devonport)
asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons, specifying men, women, boys and girls, on the Devonport Employment Exchange for the month of May?
The following Table shows the number of persons on the registers of the Devonport Employment Exchange at each Monday in May.
Air Ministry (Temporary Officer)
asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that there is employed in the works and buildings directorate, Air Ministry headquarters, a temporary assistant who passed the Lytton examination, and has since refused on more than one occasion to take up an appointment as a clerical officer, although other disabled ex-service men have had to take this course or accept dismissal; whether this man is filling a post that would normally be held by an established civil servant; and why exceptional treatment should be accorded to this temporary civil servant?
The answer to the first part is in the affirmative, subject to the qualification that I am not acquainted with cases where the alternative stated has been presented. The post is one which would, in the event of a vacancy, probably be filled by an established clerical officer, but no grading for it in such event has ever been fixed. The incumbency of this post by a temporary officer has not involved exceptional treatment.
Post Office (London) Railway
asked the Postmaster-General whether he is now in a position to state when the Post Office (London)
| EXPENDITURE of Local Authorities in the year 1924–25 on the maintenance, improvement and cleansing of roads and bridges. | ||||||
| — | Expenditure out of Revenue. | Loan Charges. | Expenditure met out of Loans. | |||
| £ | £ | £ | ||||
| England and Wales | … | … | … | 40,202,529 | 5,578,088 | 9,919,862 |
| Scotland | … | … | … | 4,901,471 | 453,515 | 970,269 |
| £ | |||||
| England and Wales | … | … | … | … | 12,041,070 |
| Scotland | … | … | … | … | 1,594,258 |
| £ | ||||
| From Road Fund | … | … | … | 1,106,887 |
| From Other Public Funds | … | … | … | 43,675 |
| £1,150,562 |
railway will be completed and open for traffic; what has been the total cost to date; and what was the estimate for the work when the Act was passed in 1913 (3 and 4 George V)?
It is expected that the railway will be open for traffic within the next three months; the sum expended to date is £1,550,000, the sum provided under the Post Office (London) Railway Act, 1913, was £1,100,000.
Roads (Expenditure)
asked the Minister of Transport the total expenditure during the 12 months ended 31st March, 1927, on roads in this country, and the proportion thereof which was provided out of the Road Fund,
The figures which appear in the Annual Report on the Administration of the Road Fund, showing the total expenditure of local authorities on the maintenance, improvement and cleansing of roads and bridges are obtained from the local taxation returns furnished to the Ministry of Health and to the Scottish Board of Health. The returns for 1926–27 will not be published for some time. The latest figures available are those for 1924–25, which are as follow: