ROYAL NAVY (OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS).
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what sums were paid and are still owing to outside contractors in respect of work done for the Admiralty during the years 1924, 1925, and 1926, respectively, exclusive of the sums spent on hulls and on main and auxiliary machinery; and in respect of what items these sums were payable?
The approximate total sums paid to outside contractors, exclusive of expenditure on hulls and on main and auxiliary machinery, during the financial years 1924, 1925, and 1926 were: £ 1924 12,680,000 1925 13,910,000 1926 13,300,000
These figures cover the whole of the payments to outside contractors (with the exceptions indicated) and include payments for gun mountings, armour, armament stores, works, naval stores, fuel, victualling stores, medical stores, etc., etc. The amounts owing to contractors at any particular time are trifling, since claims are almost invariably paid within a very short time of their becoming due under the contracts.
MAILS (SAFETY MEASURES).
asked the Postmaster-General whether he intends taking any action on the recommendation made at the Gutteridge inquest that two men should always travel with each Royal Mail road van, even when let out to contract?
The cost of such an arrangement would be out of proportion to any possible advantages. I am considering the practicability of other special measures for the safety of mails when conveyed by road, but my Noble Friend will appreciate that it is not in the public interest to say more than this.
TELEPHONE EXCHANGES.
asked the Postmaster-General the number of telephone exchanges which are situated on the premises of scale payment sub-offices, showing separately those which give a continuous service and those at which a restricted service is in operation?
In July, 1927, the latest date for which statistics are available, there were 2,271 telephone exchanges situated on scale payment sub-office premises. At 1,237 of these exchanges a continuous service was in operation and at 1,034 a restricted service. Many subscribers served by the restricted service exchanges are afforded night service on a party line basis by through-switching, when their own exchange closes down, to another exchange which gives a continuous service.
METROPOLITAN FORCE (REFRESHMENT INTERVAL).
asked the Home Secretary if he will give particulars of the additional cost, if any, to the Police Fund on account of the working of the eight-hours tour of duty and the half-hour refreshment time allowed in the Metropolitan police force?
I am not quite sure what information the hon. Member desires to obtain. The grant of the refreshment interval involves no additional cost to the Police Fund but the "value" of the time so occupied, measured as 1/16th of the pay of the men concerned, amounts to about £240,000 per annum.
TELEPHONE FACILITIES (RURAL DISTRICTS).
asked the Home Secretary whether he intends taking any action on the recommbendation made at the Gutteridge inquest as to the compulsory possession of a telephone in the houses of all rural police constables?
I do not think it would be practicable to give
STATEMENT showing the total amounts of Customs and Excise revenue derived from the taxes on Silk and Artificial Silk during each of the months from June to October, 1927 inclusive. Month. Silk (Imported). Artificial Silk (Imported). Cocoons and Waste. Raw. Yarn. Tissues. Waste. Single Yarn and Straw. Double or Twisted Thread. Tissues. 1927. £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ June … 9,189 12,723 21,651 197,326 1,047 26,510 388 89,946 July … 8,113 11,857 15,298 186,548 1,049 21,661 448 77,600 August … 9,634 13,481 12,283 203,596 368 32,115 1,162 89,879 September … 8,439 13,396 14,577 205,057 258 24,895 1,029 95,470 October … 15,121 15,219 17,648 204,780 228 25,303 1,380 104,412
effect to this recommendation as it stands, but I agree that there is room for improvement in the telephone facilities available to the police in rural districts and I am asking His Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary to give the matter their special attention.
FALSE FIRE ALARMS (METROPOLITAN AREA).
asked the Home Secretary the number of false fire alarms made in the Metropolitan police area for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?
702 false alarms were given during the 12 months ended 31st October, 1927. A certain number of these cases was undoubtedly due to defective wiring.
SILK DUTIES.
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he can give the total amounts of Customs and Excise revenue received by the Treasury from silk and artificial silk from June, 1927, to the end of October, 1927, or, if possible, to the end of November, 1927, under the various headings of these duties, including the amount of drawbacks refunded in the same months?
The information desired, with the exception of the November figures, which are not yet available, is given in the following table:
Month. Articles made wholly or in part of silk or artificial silk. Total Customs receipts. Deduct draw backs. Net Customs revenue. Net excise revenue from artificial silk yarn and waste. Total. 1927. £ £ £ £ £ £ June … … 96,489 455,269 72,369 382,900 100,766 483,666 July … … 84,106 406,680 69,225 337,455 87,557* 425,012* August … … 102,619 465,137 82,910 382,227 99,192* 481,419* September … 120,363 483,484 80,758 402,726 100,570* 503,296* October … … 112,661 496,752 112,312 384,440 106,356* 490,796* * The figures from July to October (inclusive) are provisional.
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS (EX-SERVICE MEN).
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether promotions from the ranks of the P-class clerks to the established clerical classes in His Majesty's Civil Service have been effected through paragraph 5 of the Guinness Agreement dated 12th January, 1925; and, if so, will he name the various Ministries and give the respective totals therein of such promotions?
In view of the fact that the assignment of ex-service clerks successful at the Southborough examination held in accordance with paragraph 1 of the Agreement of 12th January, 1925, is now being completed, the question of the exceptional promotion of individual ex-service men under paragraph 5 has been taken into consideration. The following are the promotions which have already been authorised: Air Ministry 4 Board of Control 1 Colonial Office 1 Education, Board of 15 Health, Ministry of 26 Home Office 3 Labour, Ministry of 20 Privy Council Office 1 Public Works Loan Board 1 Treasury 1 War Office 20 93