Written Answers
Government Departments (P-Class Clerks)
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the grounds on which the Government are unable to grant improved conditions of employment and scales of pay to P-class clerks as advanced to the Controller of Establishments of His Majesty's Treasury by the Association of Ex-Service Civil Servants on 9th January last; and whether His Majesty's Government have any alternative proposals for the betterment of the present pay and conditions of these ex-service men?
I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. Member for South Battersea (Mr. W. Bennett), a copy of which I am sending him.
Navy, Army And Air Force Institutes
asked the Secretary of State for Air when inquiry was held into the conditions operating at the Royal Air Force canteen at Martlesham, and what was the conclusion arrived at in that Report?
I am not aware that any inquiry has been held, but the matter appears in any case to be one of administration of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes, and I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of yesterday.
Epilepsy (New Treatment)
asked the Minister of Health if he can give any information as to a new treatment of epilepsy by Professor Fitzimons, of Port Elizabeth, which has now been tried for a considerable period; and the results, if any, of the treatment?
I understand that this is a treatment with a preparation from the venom of the puff adder and the Cape cobra. I have no exact information of the results of the treatment, but according to an article in the Journal of the Medical Association of South Africa of 24th November, 1928, page 598, there is no reason to believe that the results are superior to those obtained by the use of the more common remedies.
Housing (Plymouth)
asked the Minister of Health the number of houses built in Devonport during the years 1928 and 1929, respectively, stating under which Act and whether by private or public erection; and how many are in course of erection?
I am unable to give separate statistics for Devonport, but the numbers of houses completed in the County Borough of Plymouth during
| — | Houses completed with State | |||||||
| During year ending 31st March, 1928. | During year ending 31st March, 1929 | In course of erection on 31st March, 1929. | Houses completed without State Assistance. | |||||
| By Local Authority. | By Private Enterprise. | By Local Authority. | By Private Enterprise. | By Local Authority | By Private Enterprise. | During year ending 31st March, 1928. | During year ending 31st March, 1929. | |
| Housing, etc., Act, 1923. | — | 57 | — | 148 | — | — | 237 | 307 |
| Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924. | 399 | 52 | 277 | — | 269 | — | ||
Contributory Pensions Act
asked the Minister of Health what is the total amount of new contributions from employers and employers under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, from the beginning of the scheme up to 31st March, 1929, and what is the amount of the total disbursements under this Act down to 31st March, 1929?
I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Spennymoor (Mr. Batey) on the 23rd instant.
Royal Navy
Submarines
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will give the figures showing the present ratio of submarine strength of Great Britain to that of the United States of America, France, and Italy?
The position to-day in all types of submarines in service is:
| British Empire | 50 |
| United States of America | 122 |
| France | 52 |
| Italy | 43 |
Private Contracts
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how much money
the years ended in March, 1928 and 1929, and the numbers under construction at the end of the year, were as follow:
has been paid for whatever purpose to private contractors for work done for and on behalf of his Department from October, 1924, to the present day?
To supply the information required would involve an expenditure of time and of labour which I am not prepared to incur.
Unemployment
Glasgow
asked the Minister of Labour the number registered as unemployed in Glasgow for the years ending March, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, and 1928?
Numbers of persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the Glasgow area at about the middle of March in the years 1924 to 1929 inclusive:
| Date. | Number of Register. |
| 17th March, 1924 | 72,774 |
| 16th March, 1925 | 73,629 |
| 15th March, 1926 | 71,395 |
| 14th March, 1927 | 58,307 |
| 12th March, 1928 | 45,832 |
| 11th March, 1929 | 59,065 |
Railway Work
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any undertaking has been obtained from the railway companies that on any work financed as a result of the remission of the Railway Passenger Duty employment will be given to men transferred from depressed areas?
I have been asked to answer this question. The answer is in the negative.
Railway Accidents
asked the Minister of Transport the number of fatal accidents to passengers using or workmen employed on the railways of Great Britain for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?
The hon. Member will find full particulars of railway accidents in the annual published Returns.