POOR LAW RELIEF, DEVONPORT.
asked the Minister of Health the number of able-bodied persons, together with their dependants, in receipt of Poor Law relief, institutional and outdoor, in Devonport during each of the months of this year?
Figures based on a classification distinguishing "able-bodied persons" are not now obtained. The available information is set out below.
been completed; and with regard to each submitted scheme will he state the total number of tenements to be cleared away and, where available, the estimated cost of the whole scheme, the cost if possible being separated into the cost of clearance and the cost of re-housing, respectively?
112 schemes for the improvement of unhealthy areas have been submitted of which 105 have been confirmed since the 1st January, 1919. On the 1st October last action had been taken by local authorities in respect of 91 schemes. 10 schemes had been fully completed, and others were nearing completion.
The following table shows the number of properties included in each confirmed scheme. Reliable estimates as to the cost of clearance and of re-housing are not available in respect of individual schemes. Local Authority. Number of properties included in scheme. Region A. Carlisle T.C. (Rigg Street, etc.) 46 Carlisle T.C. (South George Street, etc.) 31 Hartlepool T.C 104 Wallsend T.C 59 Durham T.C. 96 Gateshead T.C. 124 Tynemouth T.C 63 Newcastle-upon-Tyne T.C. (Pilgrim Street) 156 (Prudhoe Street) 58 (Liverpool Street) 79 Stockton-on-Tees T.C 107 Sunderland T.C. (Area No. 2) 101 Sunderland T.C. (Area No. 3) 43 Region B. Sheffield T.C. (Smithfield) 43 Scarborough T.C. (Potter Lane) 17 Rotherham T.C 56 Sheffield T.C. (Oborne Street) 22 Dewsbury T.C. 61 Wakefield T.C 101 Scarborough T.C. (East Mount) 48 Middlesbrough T.C 63 Kingston-on-Hull T.C 184 Sowerby U.D.C 40 Keighley T.C 143 Bradford T.C 670 Barnsley T.C 123 Doncaster T.C. 127 York T.C 180 Halifax T.C 232 Rotherham R.D.C. 22 Sheffield T.C. (Duke Street, etc.) 41 Sheffield T.C. (Matthew Street, etc.) 97 Otley U.D.C. (Leeds Road) 16 Region C. Eccles T.C 288 Manchester T.C 199 Liverpool T.C. (Burlington Street) 496 Burnley T.C. 187 Rochdale T.C 83 Widnes T.C 75 Lancaster T.C. 58 Liverpool T.C. (Prince Edwin Street)* 205 Wallasey T.C. 86 Chester T.C 55 * Re-submission of a partially lapsed scheme.
Local Authority. Number of properties included in scheme. Region C —cont. Oldham T.C. 281 Rawtenstall T.C. 59 Darwen T.C. 83 Region D. Welshpool T.C 40 Region E. Wednesbury T.C 11 West Bromwich T.C. (Barton Stand Old End) 81 Stoke-on-Trent T.C 87 Wolverhampton T.C. 280 Atherstone R.D.C 70 Worcester T.C 32 Oldbury U.D.C 20 West Bromwich T.C. (Swan Village) 102 Region F. Chesterfield T.C 103 Lincoln T.C 139 Nottingham T.C. 326 Mansfield T.C 73 Region G. Bristol T.C. (Eugene Street) 80 Poole T.C 22 Cheltenham T.C 56 Bath T.C 41 Torquay T.C 49 Bristol T.C. (Bedminster Down) 12 Region H. Portsmouth T.C 59 Brighton T.C. (Paradise Street, etc.) 59 Brighton T.C. (Hereford Street, etc.) 67 Hastings T.C 64 Ramsgate T.C 35 Region K. Stepney M.B. (Dupont Street) 27 Poplar M.B. (Lower North Street, etc.) 46 L.C.C. (Brady Street) 328 L.C.C. (Ware Street) 404 Bethnal Green M.B. (Diss Street) 26 City of London (Hutchinson Street) 151 City of London (Queen's Court Minories) 7 Hammersmith M.B. (Southern) 194 L.C.C. (Hickman's Folly) 324 L.C.C. (Bell Lane and Ellen Street) 335 Battersea M.B. (Plough Road) 88 L.C.C. (Prusom Street) 304 L.C.C. (Baker's Alley) 111 Bermondsey M.B. (Salisbury Street) 151 St. Pancras M.B 45 Poplar M.B. (Gale Street, etc.) 16 L.C.C. (George's Road, etc.) 211 L.C.C. (Watergate Street) 269 L.C.C. (Ossulston Street) 321 Finsbury M.B. (White Horse Alley) 35
Local Authority Number of Properties Included in scheme. Region K —cont. Stepney M.B. (Limehouse Fields) 347 Barking Town U.D.C 51 L.C.C. (China Walk, etc.) 493 L.C.C. (Basing Place, etc.) 133 Region L. Hitchin U.D.C. (St. Andrew's Street) 83 New Windsor T.C. 52 Aylesbury T.C. (Whitehall Street) 29 Aylesbury T.C. (Upper Hundreds) 27 Oxford T.C. 64 Banbury T.C 57 Hitchin U.D.C. (Queen Street) 110 St. Alban T.C 41 Region M. Ipswich T.C 132 Norwich T.C. (Robinson's Yard) 51 Norwich T.C. (Baker's Yard) 44 — Men. Women. Juveniles. Total. Claims to Benefit made 3,127 529 64 3,720 Applications for Extended Benefit— Considered 2,381 97 15 2 493 Allowed 1,971 61 14 2,046 Disallowed 410 36 1 447 Statistics regarding the results of applications for Standard Benefit are not available.
BRITISH SHIPS (LOSSES).
asked the President of the Board of Trade the number and tonnage of vessels belonging to Great Britain, exclusive of vessels of the Royal Navy, totally lost at sea for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?
The number and gross tonnage of vessels registered in the United Kingdom, reported as having been totally lost at sea or in rivers or harbours during the year 1926, were as follow: — Number. Gross Tons. Trading Vessels 80 116,697 Fishing Vessels 51 3,796 131 120,493
MENTAL DEFICIENCY BILL.
asked the Prime Minister whether the Government intend
UNEMPLOYMENT (DEVONPORT).
asked the Minister of Labour the total number of persons, giving the number of men and women, respectively, who have applied for unemployment benefit in Devonport during the last six months, and the number of men and women refused, respectively?
The following table shows the number of claims to benefit (including repeat claims by the same individuals) made at the Devonport Employment Exchange, and the applications for extended benefit considered by the local employment committee at Devonport in the period 10th May to 14th November, 1927:
to give facilities for the passing into law this Session of the Mental Deficiency Bill?
The Government may be able to find time for this Bill, but the final decision must, of course, depend on the state of business.
SUGAR-BEET SUBSIDY.
asked the Minister of Agriculture the amount of the Government subsidy paid to date in respect of the sugar-beet industry; the approximate quantities of sugar, &c., produced; the number of persons, other than those normally employed in agriculture, employed in the new industry; and the average number of hours worked by, and the average weekly wages paid to, the workpeople in question?
The gross subsidy paid up to the 22nd November, 1927, on sugar and molasses has been £6,169,915. Approximately 5,791,782 cwt. Of sugar and 1,222,851 cwt. of molasses have been produced. No estimate can be given of the quantity of pulp produced. 8,400 weekly wage earners are at present employed in the 19 beet-sugar factories; the average number of hours worked daily is approximately 9.4. I have no information as to the average weekly wage paid to these workpeople.
IRAQ (ATTACK BY WAHABI TRIBESMEN).
asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received any reports of the reported rising of the Wahabi Sheik Feisal-ed-Dourish, in preparation for an attack on Iraq territory, and can he give the House particulars?
The Acting High Commissioner for Iraq reports that a raiding party of about 100 Wahabi tribesmen attacked the Iraq Police post at Busaiyah on the night of the 5th November and killed 20 persons, including six police and one civil official, and wounded one other. This post is situated some 50 miles within the Iraq frontier. The raiders made good their escape. A strongly-worded protest has been sent to the King of the Hejaz and Nejd, to whom the raiders are understood to owe allegiance. Since the raid took place reports have reached the Iraq Government to the effect that Wahabi tribesmen were concentrating for a further raid upon Iraq territory, which was said to be planned for the 16th November. So far as I am aware, no such further raid has taken place; and it is possible that the reports were, in fact, a belated forecast of the events of the 5th November. Precautionary measures have, however, been taken to deal with any further trouble that may arise.
LOST LETTER PACKETS (COMPENSATION).
asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the Post Office authorities refuse to compensate for loss or damage in respect of any package sent by letter post, but admit liability for any damage or loss for the identical parcel if sent by parcel post; and, having regard to the fact that the Post Office charge a larger fee for a parcel if sent by letter post than if sent by parcel post, will he take the necessary action to amend the Regulations in order that liability be accepted by the Post Office authorities where the charge made does for either letter or parcel post?
I presume my hon. Friend refers to the fact that compensation is payable in certain circumstances for the loss or damage of an unregistered parcel, but not of an unregistered letter packet. I think it is undesirable to encourage the posting of letters containing articles of value without registration, and accordingly I am not prepared to amend the existing regulation so as to include unregistered letters. As to compensation in the case of unregistered parcels, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to page 31 of the Post Office Guide.
TEMPORARY STAFF, CHRISTMAS (MR. J. W. BEATY).
asked the Postmaster-General whether he can give any reason for the refusal to employ an ex-sorter, Mr. J. W. Beaty, as a temporary sorter at the General Post Office during Christmas, seeing that he is possessed of a Civil Service certificate and is a fully qualified man, and has been employed in previous years during the Christmas season?
I am having inquiry made into Mr. Beaty's case, and will write to the hon. Member.