Written Answers
Housing (Direct Labour)
asked the Minister of Health which local authorities have built houses by direct labour under the 1923 and 1924 Housing Acts; and the number of houses so built or budding or sanctioned in each area?
I will have a statement prepared, and will send it to the hon. Member.
Casual Wards
asked the Minister of Health whether the stone-breaking task instituted in any casual ward under the Metropolitan Asylum Board will be performed by each man in a solitary cell or by men in association in the open air, or otherwise?
I am informed that this task will be performed in separate compartments and not in the open air.
asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the increasing number of unemployed men and boys who are sleeping in casual wards while in search of work, he will call for special reports from his inspectors as to the state of the wards, in particular as regards the supply of sleeping accommodation and of bathing facilities; and, should any of these wards be found to be below the standard laid down by his Department, will he bring pressure to bear on the recalcitrant local authorities to bring their wards up to the standard laid down?
The conditions of the casual wards are always the subject of consideration by my officers when inspecting Poor Law institutions, and, if necessary, pressure is always brought to bear upon the Boards of Guardians to secure any necessary improvements. I see no reason for any special action of the kind suggested.
Naval And Military Pensions And Grants
asked the Minister of Pensions what is the total number of pensions which have been awarded under special sanction to officers and men whose first claim to pension was submitted outside the statutory time limit of seven years; and what is the total number of final awards which have been amended under the correction of errors scheme?
The number of grants made in cases of the type referred to in the first part of the question was at the beginning of the current year about 180. The number of cases in which, since the system of final awards has been in operation, additional grants have been made under special sanction (including cases of secondary disability, re-amputation, change of diagnosis and other cases) amounted approximately to 5,300, or less than 1 per cent. of the final awards that have been made.
asked the Minister of Pensions if he will consider the desirability of making such amendments in the Royal Warrants and Orders in Council governing disability and other War pensions as will permit of pensions and/or treatment allowances being paid to British ex-service men and their families who have migrated to the Dominions Overseas at the rates payable in the respective Dominion where they may be situated?
I have no power to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion, nor do I feel that I could justifiably recommend its adoption.
India (Ex-Maharaja Of Nabha)
asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the ex-Maharaja of Nabha is regarded by the Government of India as a foreigner or as a British subject, or whether he will define his present status?
The ex-Maharaja of Nabha is the subject of an Indian State under the suzerainty of His Majesty.
Scotland
Blair Farm, Muir Of Ord
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if any conditions were imposed by the Land Court upon the proprietor of Blair Farm, Muir of Ord, when they permitted him to resume the holding; what these conditions were; and whether the conditions are being complied with by the proprietor?
I am informed by the Land Court that no conditions could competently be imposed by them with respect to the future actings of the proprietor. The answer to the first part of the question is accordingly in the negative, and the other parts do not arise.
Afforestation (Sheep-Grazings)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if any of the sheep farmers who have protested against the taking over of their grazings by the Forestry Commission have been allowed to retain their sheep-grazings; if so, how many; and what is the total acreage so retained?
I have been asked to reply. No protests from occupying sheep farmers have been received.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if any of the sheep farmers who protested against their grazings being taken over by the Forestry Commissioners have had their sheep grazings taken away; whether any other land suitable for sheep grazing has been offered to and accepted by them; and, if so, the total acreage offered and accepted and the total acreage taken away?
I have been asked to reply. I refer the hon. Member to my answer to his previous question.
London Underground Railway (Accommodation)
asked the Minister of Transport if he will investigate the overcrowding which takes place on the Underground Railway, particularly on the trains from Kennington to the City each morning and evening?
I am informed by the Railway Company that every effort is being made to provide additional accommodation between Kennington and the City during the morning and evening rush hours, and that more than 100 new cars have been ordered for the Hampstead and City system, which, during the next few months, will enable increased accommodation to be provided.
Food Prices
asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider giving the Food Council power to prosecute firms whom they find guilty of charging excessive prices?
I have been asked to reply. No, Sir.
asked the Home Secretary whether he is considering the disbanding of the Food Council on account of its ineffectiveness in keeping down prices; and whether he will consider handing over their duties to the local authorities, with powers to publish a black list containing the names of those firms whom they find guilty of charging excessive prices?
I have been asked to reply. No, Sir; the duty of the Food Council is not to control prices but to investigate questions relating to the supply or price of foodstuffs, in order that publicity may be given to the facts. It should be realised that except for three spring and summer months of last year the index figure for retail food prices was, on 31st March last, lower than it had been for 12 years, and nine points below the index figure for the general cost of living.
Arcos, Limited
asked the Home Secretary the number of persons still employed by Arcos. Limited, who are of Russian nationality; and how many permits have been issued to Russian subjects to land in this country during the past six months?
According to my latest information, the total number of person, employed by Arcos, Limited, is 233, of whom 105 are Soviet citizens, and of the remainder the great majority are British subjects. Between 16th October, 1927, and 16th April of this year, visas were authorised to be granted for temporary visits to this country in the interests of trade to 69 Soviet citizens, all of whose applications had been carefully scrutinised.
Wages (China-Clay Industry)
asked the Minister of Labour the rate of wages paid to men engaged in the china-clay industry in Cornwall for a normal working week?
The minimum time rates of wages recognised by the employers' association and the trade union concerned are reported to be 1s. per hour for china-clay workers, and 1s. 1d. for semi-skilled and 1s. for unskilled china-stone workers. The agreement of the Joint Standing Industrial Council for the China Clay Industry provides for a normal week of 42 hours and for pieceworkers to be paid at a rate which will enable them to earn not less than time-and-a-third of the ordinary day rate.