Written Answers
Poor Law Relief (Health Insurance Benefits)
asked the Minister of Health what instructions, if any, he has issued to his inspectors and to public auditors in connection with Poor Law relief to persons in receipt of national health insurance benefit; and whether he is aware that his officers and certain auditors are forcing boards of guardians to take into account health insurance benefits when assessing out-door relief, despite the fact that the Insurance Acts expressly provide that boards of guardians shall not take health insurance payments into account when assessing the need of applicants for Poor Law assistance?
My right hon. Friend has given no instructions of the kind suggested in the first part of the question. The answer to the second part is in the negative. I would, however, remind the hon. Member that boards of guardians are only precluded from taking into account health insurance benefits up to 7s. 6d. a week.
Air Mail Services
asked the Postmaster-General whether he will arrange that full information as to air-mail service and facilities for the supply of stamps or labels necessary for attachment to such letters, in addition to postage charges, shall be available at all post offices situated in towns throughout the country?
Full information regarding air-mail services is already available at all post offices in the country. Air-mail labels are supplied to all the larger offices, and to smaller offices at which there is a demand for them. This arrangement has hitherto appeared to meet public requirements, but I will arrange for the labels to be available in future at all offices. Ordinary postage stamps are used to prepay the air-mail fees.
Land Settlement, Scotland
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total area covered by the schemes of land settlement inaugurated by the present Government during its period of office, in acres, distinguishing between arable land and pasture land; the total gross cost of carrying the schemes to completion; and the average rent per holder?
Negotiations initiated by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland since the present Government came into power have resulted in the utilisation of 16,209 acres for schemes of land settlement. Of this total 4,895 acres consist of arable land and 11,156 of pasture. The gross cost of carrying the schemes to completion is estimated at £240,542 and the average fair rent per holder is £15 5s. 9d.
Unemployment
Training For Overseas
asked the Minister of Labour whether, seeing that the law at present does not allow unemployment insurance to be paid to the wife and family of a man while he is training for farm work overseas, he will consider amending the Unemployment Insurance Act to provide for this?
The question of providing assistance in the maintenance of the family of a married man who is undergoing training for overseas has, I understand, been considered by the Industrial Transference Board, whose report will shortly be in the hands of the Government.
asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement regarding the success or otherwise of the experimental camp at High Lodge, Brandon, for miners emigrating to Canada; whether he proposes to establish more camps on these lines; how many skilled Canadian farmers are employed as instructors; and does he intend to add to their number?
I am satisfied that the experimental camp at High Lodge has served the purpose intended, namely, to test the fitness of intending migrants for work on Canadian farms. Farm workers are not sent to Canada after the end of July. Accordingly it is not proposed to establish more camps at present. Seven of the instructors have had practical experience of farm work in Canada, and I think this number is adequate.
Statistics
asked the Minister of Labour the total number of persons on the live register at the present time at Pontlottyn, Bargoed, Fochriw, and Caerphilly; the number of
| (1) Persons on the Live Register of certain Employment Exchanges at 18th June, 1928. | ||||||
| —— | Pontlottyn. | Bargoed. | Dowlais.* | Caerphilly. | ||
| Wholly unemployed | … | … | 1,178 | 2,776 | 1,442 | 2,842 |
| Temporarily stopped | … | … | 10 | 40 | 1,102 | 8 |
| 1,188 | 2,816 | 2,544 | 2,850 | |||
| (2) Number of persons included in the Live Register at 23rd April, 1928† whose claims to benefit had been disallowed. | |||
| Pontlottyn. | Bargoed. | Dowlais.* | Caerphilly. |
| — | 111 | 105 | 46 |
| (3) Number of claims to benefit disallowed during the period 19th April, 1928, to 11th June, 1928.‡ | |||
| Pontlottyn. | Bargoed. | Dowlais.* | Caerphilly |
| 141 | 139 | 74 | 26 |
| * Includes Fochriw. | |||
| † Figures for 18th April are not available. | |||
| ‡ These figures relate to the first decision given on the claims and include the cases in which the decision was reversed on appeal. | |||
British Army (Inspector Of Medical Supplies)
asked the Secretary of State for War whether the inspector of medical supplies employed at the War Office is a qualified pharmacist?
Yes. Sir.
asked the Secretary of State for War if it is part of the duties of the inspector of medical supplies employed at the War Office to pay periodical visits to the medical store depots for the purpose of inspecting medical supplies and of ascertaining whether due care is being exercised in
cases disallowed on 18th April at each place, respectively; and the total number of cases disallowed since 19th April?
The following statement gives the information for which the hon. Member asks:respect of the storage of such medical supplies?
There is only one Army Medical Store Depot. It is not part of the duties of the inspector of medical supplies to inspect it.
asked the Secretary of State for War whether the advice of the inspector of medical supplies has been taken as to what medicinal preparations used by the Army could be conveniently and economically prepared in the dispensing laboratories of Army hospitals?
Yes, Sir.
Ancient Manuscripts, Constantinople
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, having regard to the changed conditions and new outlook in Turkey, he will, in the interests of international scholarship, request the Turkish Government to allow Western scholars to have access to the manuscript treasures preserved in the Mosque of St. Sophia, Constantinople?
The existence of ancient manuscripts at the Mosque of St. Sophia is very doubtful, but I will request His Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople to make inquiries of the Turkish Government. The hon. Member is doubtless aware that there are, or were, Greek manuscripts in the Old Seraglio at Constantinople. These have been investigated by scholars, and a list of them is given in a pamphlet written by Mr. Gaselee, Librarian of the Foreign Office, and published by the Cambridge University Press in 1916.