Written Answers

                    The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.
                

Textile Goods (Sudan And East Africa)

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the most recent figures as to the quantity of cotton goods and other textiles annually imported into British East African Dependencies and mandated territories and the Sudan, from Great Britain, India, Japan, Italy, Holland and Germany, respectively?

Following are the details:A.—Statement showing the imports of the under-mentioned descriptions of textiles into Zanzibar during the year 1927, distinguishing the shares of the countries specified.

Zanzibar.
		1927.
Cotton piece goods:		Yards.
(1) Bleached:
Total imports	…	1,228,147
of which from:	…
United Kingdom	…	869,504
Holland	…	256,979
India	…	70,152
Japan	…	27,802
Italy	…	Nil.
Germany	…	1,000
(2) Dyed in the piece:
Total imports	…	2,814,070
of which from:
United Kingdom	…	859,741
India	…	1,404,607
Holland	…	421,469
Japan	…	55,105
Italy	…	12,797
Germany	…	12,247
(3) Printed:
Total imports	…	2,847,847
of which from:
United Kingdom	…	1,953,838
Holland	…	767,298
India	…	105,447
Germany	…	11,063
Japan	…	9,696
Italy	…	Nil.
(4) Unbleached:
Total imports	…	5,416,700
of which from:
India	…	2,569,202
Japan	…	2,511,210
Holland	…	21,098
United Kingdom	…	14,650
Italy	…	Nil.
Germany	…	Nil.

Cotton thread:
			Lbs.
Total imports	…	…	68,146
of which from:
India	…	…	57,759
Holland	…	…	2,698
United Kingdom	…	…	2,202
Japan	…	…	100
Germany	…	…	129
Italy	…	…	327

Cotton manufactures, un-enumerated:
	Rupees.
Total imports (returned by value only)	797,737
of which from:
Japan	231,968
United Kingdom	242,515
India	111,442
Holland	77,773
Italy	6,732
Germany	40,801

Woollen blankets:
			Pairs.
Total imports	…	…	406
of which from:
United Kingdom	…	…	368
India	…	…	12
Italy	…	…	26

Woollen manufactures, un-enumerated:
	Rupees.
Total imports (returned by value only)	93,937
of which from:
Germany	14,622
United Kingdom	25,733
Holland	9,385
Italy	20,868
India	3,850
Japan	Nil.

Silk piece goods:
			Yards.
Total imports	…	…	61,908
of which from:
Japan	…	…	33,944
India	…	…	269
United Kingdom	…	…	680
Holland	…	…	Nil.
Germany	…	…	Nil.
Italy	…	…	Nil.

Silk manufactures, un-enumerated:
	Rupees.
Total imports (returned by value only)	30,126
of which from:
Japan	13,999
India	2,699
United Kingdom	1,090
Germany	706
Holland	Nil.
Italy	Nil

B.—Statement showing the quantities of the under-mentioned textiles imported into Kenya and Uganda during the year 1927, distinguishing the shares of the countries specified.

Kenya and Uganda.
Imports for home consumption on private account.			1927.
Cotton piece goods:
Grey, unbleached:			Yards.
Total imports	…	…	16,987,045
of which from:
Great Britain	…	…	147,967†
India	…	…	2,880,285
Japan	…	…	8,630,175
Italy	…	…	^*
Holland	…	…	39,900†
Germany	…	…	—†
Bleached:
Total imports	…	…	3,175,068
of which from:
Great Britain	…	…	1,754,431
India	…	…	18,346
Japan	…	…	443,530
Italy	…	…	^*
Holland	…	…	916,483
Germany	…	…	12,325†
Printed:
Total imports	…	…	3,400,869
of which from:
Great Britain	…	…	2,067,857
India	…	…	135,530
Japan	…	…	498,540
Italy	…	…	^*
Holland	…	…	441,971
Germany	…	…	65,695†
Dyed:
Total imports	…	…	5,221,153
of which from:
Great Britain	…	…	3,726,487
India	…	…	201,670
Japan	…	…	316,112
Italy	…	…	^*
Holland	…	…	753,838
Germany	…	…	80,455†
Coloured:
Total imports	…	…	8,305,865
of which from:
Great Britain	…	…	900,316
India	…	…	2,341,676
Japan	…	…	2,954,732
Italy	…	…	^*
Holland	…	…	1,527,071
Germany	…	…	120,836

Imports for home consumption on private account.
			1927.
Blankets:			Number.
Total imports	…	…	1,668,688
of which from:
Great Britain	…	…	46,348
India	…	…	60,040
Japan	…	…	†
Italy	…	…	^*
Holland	…	…	1,244,274
Germany	…	…	120,874
^*Not yet received.
†These figures relate to the 11 months' period, January to November, 1927, only, figures for the whole year 1927 not yet received.

Note.—Particulars of the imports of other classes of textiles into Kenya and Uganda during 1927 have not yet been received.

C.—Statement showing the quantities of the undermentioned textiles imported into Tanganyika territory during the year 1927, distinguishing the shares of the countries specified.

Tanganyika Territory.
			1927.
			Yards.
Cotton piece goods:
Unbleached:
Total imports	…	…	14,836,438
of which from:
Great Britain	…	…	223,782
India	…	…	4,556,910
Japan	…	…	8,661,505
Italy	…	…	^*
Holland	…	…	627,020
Germany	…	…	37,116
Bleached:
Total imports	…	…	3,096,021
of which from:
Great Britain	…	…	1,749,217
India	…	…	121,435
Japan	…	…	250,647
Italy	…	…	^*
Holland	…	…	891,892
Germany	…	…	66,516
Printed:
Total imports	…	…	5,116,504
of which from:
Great Britain	…	…	3,141,894
India	…	…	29,850
Japan	…	…	85,593
Italy	…	…	^*
Holland	…	…	1,596,188
Germany	…	…	193,322
Dyed:
Total imports	…	…	8,251,123
of which from:
Great Britain	…	…	2,563,131
India	…	…	3,251,400
Japan	…	…	137,095
Italy	…	…	^*
Holland	…	…	2,005,786
Germany	…	…	186,270
Coloured:
Total imports	…	…	5,830,663
of which from:
Great Britain	…	…	929,754
India	…	…	1,498,745
Japan	…	…	782,111
Italy	…	…	^*
Holland	…	…	2,067,627
Germany	…	…	208,698
Blankets:			Number.
Total imports	…	…	706,290
of which from:
Great Britain	…	…	26,792
India	…	…	95,176
Japan	…	…	420
Italy	…	…	^*
Holland	…	…	544,652
Germany	…	…	36,181
^*Not yet received.

Note.—Particulars of the imports of other classes of textiles into Tanganyika Territory during 1927 have not yet been received.

D.—Statement showing the quantities of the undermentioned descriptions of textiles imported into the Sudan during the year 1927, distinguishing the shares of the countries specified, so far as possible.

Sudan.
		1927.
Cotton yarn:		Kilogs.
Total imports	…	15,950
of which from:
Great Britain	…	5,478
Germany	…	42
British India	…	363
Italy	…	1,634
Japan	…	^*
Holland	…	^*
Sewing cotton:
(a) Returned by kilogs:
Total imports	…	16,126
of which from:
Great Britain	…	14,046
Germany	…	—
British India	…	—
Italy	…	696
Japan	…	^*
Holland	…	^*
(b) Returned by dozens:		Dozens.
Total imports	…	5,915
of which from:
Great Britain	…	—
Germany	…	—
British India	…	—
Italy	…	—
Japan	…	^*
Holland	…	^*
Cotton piece goods:
(a) Grey:		Kilogs.
Total imports	…	3,125,304
of which from:
Great Britain	…	178,251
Germany	…	—
British India	…	103,397
Italy	…	13,535
Japan	…	2,467,888
Holland	…	^*
(b) Bleached:
Total imports	…	512,257
of which from:
Great Britain	…	409,016
Germany	…	—
British India	…	5,002
Italy	…	5,106
Japan	…	†11,100
Holland	…	^*
(c) Dyed in the piece:		Kilogs.
Total imports	…	1,247,355
of which from:
Great Britain	…	46,878
Germany	…	—
British India	…	188,959
Italy	…	1,825
Japan	…	^*
Holland	…	^*

(d) Dyed in the yarn:		Kilogs.
Total imports	…	74,818
of which from:
Great Britain	…	12,461
Germany	…	—
British India	…	3,654
Italy	…	12,156
Japan	…	^*
Holland	…	^*
(e) Printed:
Total imports	…	101,242
of which from:
Great Britain	…	52,978
Germany	…	626
British India	…	4,575
Italy	…	1,929
Japan	…	^*
Holland	…	^*
(f) Other kinds:
(1) Returned by kilogs:
Total imports	…	18,794
of which from:
Great Britain	…	9,665
Germany	…	—
British India	…	5,205
Italy	…	584
Japan	…	^*
Holland	…	^*
(2) Returned by metres:
		Metres.
Total imports	…	495,716
of which from:
Great Britain	…	4,090
Germany	…	—
British India	…	—
Italy	…	498
Japan	…	^*
Holland	…	^*
3otton coverlets:
		Number.
Total imports	…	31,077
of which from:
Great Britain	…	3,565
Germany	…	2,304
British India	…	3,179
Italy	…	1,513
Japan	…	^*
Holland	…	^*
Woollen and worsted cloths:	…
(a) Returned by kilogs:		Kilogs.
Total imports	…	2,574
of which from:
Great Britain	…	2,351
Germany	…	—
British India	…	5
Italy	…	199
Japan	…	^*
Holland	…	^*
(b) Returned by metres:
		Metres.
Total imports	…	16,813
of which from:
Great Britain	…	2,468
Germany	…	117
British India	…	164
Italy	…	1,184
Japan	…	^*
Holland	…	^*

Carpets and floor rugs:
(a) Returned by metres:	Metres.
Total imports	641
of which from:
Great Britain	45
Germany	390
British India	—
Italy	—
Japan	^*
Holland	^*
(b) Returned by number:
	Number.
Total imports	2,496
of which from:
Great Britain	362
Germany	40
British India	115
Italy	—
Japan	^*
Holland	^*
Woollen blankets and coverlets:
Total imports	21,336
of which from:
Great Britain	14,483
Germany	—
British India	699
Italy	—
Japan	^*
Holland	^*
Silk and artificial silk piece goods:
(a) Returned by kilogs:
	Kilogs.
Total imports	45,870
of which from:
Great Britain	21,405
Germany	2
British India	1,347
Italy	16,954
Japan	^*
Holland	^*
(b) Returned by metres:	Metres.
Total imports	166,231
of which from:
Great Britain	34,820
Germany	23
British India	—
Italy	97,245
Japan	^*
Holland	^*
Shawls:
Returned by value only:
	£E.
Total imports	1,879
of which from:
Great Britain	651
Germany	—
British India	52
Italy	—
Japan	^*
Holland	^*
Linen and jute piece goods:
(a) Returned by kilogs:
	Kilogs.
Total imports	94,431
of which from:
Great Britain	91,899
Germany	139
British India	—
Italy	222
Japan	^*
Holland	^*

(b) Returned by metres:
	Metres.
Total imports	52,176
of which from:
Great Britain	8,642
Germany	—
British India	—
Italy	1,313
Japan	^*
Holland	^*
^*Not yet received.
†Approximate figure.

Palestine (Naturalisation Of Emigrants)

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that certain Palestinian emigrants alleged that they failed to apply to be recognised as nationals of Palestine by reason of their ignorance that applications had to be made by a certain date; and if, in cases where such ignorance can be proved, he can sanction an extension of the time limit?

The time limit, within which application had to be made, was fixed by Article 34 of the Treaty of Lausanne and cannot be extended. Ottoman subjects, born in Palestine but now resident abroad, can obtain naturalisation as Palestinian citizens if they return to Palestine and there satisfy the High Commissioner that they fulfil the conditions set out in Article 7 of the Palestinian Citizenship Order in Council, 1925.

Trade Boards

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men, women and young persons whose wages and working conditions are regulated by trade boards?

It is estimated, on the basis of the information obtained at the Population Census of 1921, that approximately 350,000 males and 920,000 female workers are employed in Great Britain in trades for which there are trade boards in operation. Statistics showing the distribution of these workers among various age groups are not available.

Housing

Rating Assessment

asked the Minister of Health what is the number of houses in rural and urban areas assessed for rates at £10 and under, and at £8 or less, respectively, per annum?

I am not in possession of the desired information.

Compulsory Land Acquisition

asked the Minister of Health on how many occasions he has made an Order under Section 41 (1) of the Housing Act, 1925, or under the corresponding Section of former Housing Acts, in favour of persons whose land has been taken compulsorily in respect of an allowance for their reasonable costs, charges, and expenses, properly incurred by them in opposing the compulsory acquisition of their property?

I have issued Orders under the Sections of the Acts referred to by my hon. Friend in two cases since 1919.

Ministry Of Health (Staff)

asked the Minister of Health whether any ex-service temporary clerks have been dismissed from his Department while the clerical staff have been engaged on work necessitating overtime?

The answer is in the affirmative. A small number of officers of the clerical and writing assistant grades have had to be employed on overtime during the last few weeks in various headquarter branches and provincial offices, but the retention of temporary clerks would not, I regret to say, have obviated this recourse to overtime.

asked the Minister of Health whether the complement of staff required by his Department has yet been settled; and, if not, why he has issued notices terminating the employment of a large number of ex-service temporary clerks?

The complement of staff which will be required for the permanent needs of my Department has not yet been settled. I am, however, satisfied that, as the work under the Contributory Pensions Act approaches normality, a reduction in the number of staff at present employed can properly be made pending the settlement of a permanent establishment.

Omnibus Fares

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the Gravesend and District Omnibus Company has increased the fares in order to meet the extra cost of the petrol tax; if he can state whether other omnibus companies have taken similar action; if he has received any communications from other parts of the country complaining of the increased fares; and, if so, whether he intends taking any action in the matter?

I am not aware that the company to which the hon. Member refers had increased its fares, nor have I received any complaints of increased omnibus fares as the result of the duty on petrol.

Food Council

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the total cost of the Food Council to 30th April, 1928?

The cost of the Food Council to 30th April, 1928, excluding certain miscellaneous items such as postage, rent, telephones, heating and lighting, which are not readily available, has been £8,072.

Taxicabs (Advertisements)

asked the Home Secretary when the regulations will be issued permitting advertisements in taximeter-cabs?

The revised conditions of fitness for motor cabs which include a schedule of positions for the fixing of advertisements are already in draft form. It is hoped that they will very shortly be ready for issue.

Rating Relief, Scotland

asked the Chanceller of the Exchequer whether the rat- ing relief to public works will be granted to industrial undertakings in Scotland not later than the relief promised to English works, namely, October, 1929; and whether the necessary Scottish legislation will be introduced simultaneously with the principal Bills and take effect at the same time?

The intention is that the rating relief to industrial undertakings should synchronise in the two countries, and this will be kept in view in framing the programme of legislation necessary to bring the scheme into operation.

Military Permit Office

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the total annual cost of the British Military. Permit Office, London; and whether its continuation is considered necessary and, if so, for how long?

I have been asked to reply. The Military Permit Office was abolished in 1922. There is, however, a section of the Passport Office which deals, inter alia, with permits to enter territories in military occupation, and the issue of war grave passes. The cost is included in the total establishment of the Passport Office.

Devonport Dockyard (Wages)

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will give the fluctuations which have taken place in the wages of skilled men and labourers in Devonport Dockyard since 1914; and whether he will give the corresponding cost-of-living variations?

Shipwrights are the largest class of skilled workmen in the dockyards and the changes in their pay reflect substantially the changes in the pay predominantly prevailing for skilled men. On the 1st August, 1914, the rates of wages of shipwrights and labourers were 38s. a week and 23s. a week respectively. The changes in permanent rates which have taken place since that date are as follow:

Date.		New Rate.
Shipwrights:		s.	d.
October, 1914	…	39	0
April, 1919	…	41	0
March, 1924	…	48	0	by transfer of 7s. of war increase to permanent rates.
Labourers:
October, 1914	…	24	0
February, 1924	…	26	0
March, 1924	…	33	0	by transfer of 7s. of war increase to permanent rates.

The above rates are supplemented by temporary additions or "bonuses"; the amounts of these "bonuses" at the several dates since the "bonus" was instituted in 1915 are as follow:

Date payable.	Amount of "Bonus."
	s.	d.
28th March, 1915	3	0
19th December, 1915	4	0
23rd July, 1916	7	0
1st April, 1917	12	0
1st August, 1917	15	0
14th October, 1917	15	0	plus 12½ percent. on total earnings.
2nd December, 1917	20	0	do.
28th July, 1918	23	6	do.
24th November, 1918	28	6	do.
23rd November, 1919	33	6	do.
4th April, 1920	36	6	do.
6th June, 1920	39	6	do.
10th July, 1921	36	6	do.
4th September, 1921	33	6	do.
20th November, 1921	33	6	plus 8⅓ per cent.
18th December, 1921	33	6	plus 4⅙ per cent.
15th January, 1922	33	6
16th July, 1922	26	0
13th August, 1922	23	0
27th August, 1922	21	0
19th November, 1922	17	0
30th March, 1924	10	0	(7s. transferred to permanent rates).
3rd August, 1924	14	0

NOTE.—These "bonuses" have been paid to both skilled men and labourers.The variations in the cost of living index figure between 1914 and the present rate, as published in the Ministry of Labour Gazette, are shown in the following table:—

CHANGES IN COST OF LIVING.
Summary Table: 1914 to 1928.
Average Percentage Increase since July, 1914—All Items. (Food, rent, clothing, fuel and light, etc.)
Month (beginning of).				1914.	1915.	1916.	1917.	1918.	1919.	1920.	1921.	1922.	1923.	1924.	1925.	1926.	1927.	1928.
January	…	…	…	—	10–15	35	65	85–90	120	125	165	92	78	77	80	75	75	68
February	…	…	…	—	15	35	65–70	90	120	130	151	88	77	79	79	73	72	66
March	…	…	…	—	15–20	35–40	70	90	115	130	141	86	76	78	79	72	71	64
April	…	…	…	—	15–20	35–40	70–75	90–95	110	132	133	82	74	73	75	68	65	64
May	…	…	…	—	20	40–45	75	95–100	105	141	128	81	70	71	73	67	64	—
June	…	…	…	—	25	45	75–80	100	105	150	119	80	69	69	72	68	63	—
July	…	…	…	—	25	45–50	80	100–105	105–110	152	119	84	69	70	73	70	66	—
August	…	…	…	Under 10.	25	45–50	80	110	115	155	122	81	71	71	73	70	64	—
September	…	…	…		25	50	80–85	110	115	161	120	79	73	72	74	72	65	—
October	…	…	…		30	50–55	75–80	115–120	120	164	110	78	75	76	76	74	67	—
November	…	…	…		30–35	60	85	120–125	125	176	103	80	75	80	76	79	69	—
December	…	…	…	10	35	65	85	120	125	169	99	80	77	81	77	79	69	—

National Debt

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total amount of the National Debt outstanding on the 31st March in each year 1919 to 1928, excluding and including the estimated amount of accrued interest due on war saving certificates outstanding?

The answer is as follows:

Nominal amount of Dead Weight Debt outstanding on 31st March in each year 1919 to 1928.
—		Excluding estimated amount of accrued interest due on National Saving Certificates.	Including estimated amount of accrued interest due on National Saving Certificates.
		£m.	£m.
1919	…	7,434,949	7,446,449
1920	…	7,828,779	7,852,779
1921	…	7,574,358	7,609,358
1922	…	7,654,301	7,699,301
1923	…	7,742,233	7,807,233
1924	…	7,641,047	7,721,047
1925	…	7,597,848	7,687,848
1926	…	7,558,644	7,658,644
1927	…	7,554,618	7,675,618
1928	…	7,527,570	7,648,570

(Victory Bonds and other securities tendered for Death Duties and held by the National Debt Commissioners are excluded throughout from the above totals.)

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total amount contributed by the taxpayer to the repayment of Debt since the Armistice, discriminating between the amount paid into the new and the old Sinking Fund for this purpose; and if he can state the amount from each source for each year?

The position from the let April, 1919, onwards has been as follows. The column headed "Provided in Budget" shows for the earlier years the sums provided out of revenue for the (former) new Sinking Fund and for various specific sinking funds, all of which were amalgamated in the new Sinking Fund (1923). From 1923 onwards the column is identical with the the new Sinking Fund (1923).

Cash supplied for Repayment of Debt.
Financial Year.			Provided in Budget.	Derived from Surplus (Old Sinking Fund).
			£	£
1919	…	…	5,430,209	-326,201,000 (Deficit.)
1920	…	…	21,266,860	+230,556,000
1921	…	…	25,010,609	+45,693,000
1922	…	…	24,710,782	+101,516,000
1923	…	…	40,000,000	+48,329,000
1924	…	…	45,000,000	+3,659,000
1925	…	…	50,000,000	-14,038,000 (Deficit.)
1926	…	…	60,000,000	-36,693,794 (Deficit.)
1927	…	…	65,000,000	—
			+336,418,460	+52,820,206

It is not possible to give exact figures for the short broken period from the Armistice to 31st March, 1919, but the Debt increased with great rapidity, probably by about £300,000,000.

Written Answers

Volume 217: debated on Friday 5 October 1928

Written Answers

Textile Goods (Sudan And East Africa)

Palestine (Naturalisation Of Emigrants)

Trade Boards

Housing

Rating Assessment

Compulsory Land Acquisition

Ministry Of Health (Staff)

Omnibus Fares

Food Council

Taxicabs (Advertisements)

Rating Relief, Scotland

Military Permit Office

Devonport Dockyard (Wages)

National Debt