Written Answers
League Of Nations
Aircraft And Motor Transport
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the present position with regard to the regulations as to the facilities to be granted to aircraft and motor transport travelling at times of emergency on the work of the League of Nations?
As the hon. Member will be aware, at its eleventh session the Assembly of the League of Nations adopted two resolutions dealing with this matter. His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have decided that they will be prepared, if and when the need arises, to grant the facilities provided for in these resolutions, and the Secretary-General of the League of Nations has been informed accordingly.
Latvian Minorities
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action has been taken with regard to complaints received by the League of Nations concerning the treatment of either the Polish, German, or Russian minorities in Latvia?
The only petition addressed to the League of Nations by a Latvian minority, regarding which His Majesty's Government have received notification, was presented in April, 1925, by representatives of the expropriated German landowners in Latvia. The Committee of three members of the Council, to whom the petition was referred for examination, decided not to bring it before the Council.
Education
School Accommodation, Bristol
asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is satisfied with the steps taken by the Bristol authority to provide suitable and sufficient elementary school accommodation in their area; and if he will make a statement as to whether any correspondence has taken place on the subject?
I regret to have to inform my hon. Friend that the answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. On 16th May, 1929, prior to the accession of the present Government to office, my Department communicated to the authority a report indicating generally the extent to which the authority's programme for 1927–30 was in arrear, especially as regards the provision of school accommodation in the new housing estates. Further communications were sent to the authority on 26th June, 1930, 26th August, 1930, and 12th November, 1930, in regard to their failure to deal expeditiously and effectively with problems of elementary school supply. On 2nd April, 1931, their attention was again called to the conditions of congestion and disorganisation existing in the schools, and also to the fact that the delay in providing the requisite school accommodation was leading to wasteful and uneconomic expenditure on temporary expedients. After consideration of the authority's observations on the position, I was not satisfied that the existence of the admittedly unsatisfactory conditions could be regarded as consistent with the due performance of the authority's statutory duties in the matter of elementary school supply. I was, therefore, reluctantly compelled to inform them, on 27th May, 1931, that I did not feel justified in paying in full the grants conditionally due for the year 1930–31, though I was prepared to give the matter further con- sideration if, in six months' time, I was satisfied with the progress then achieved or in prospect.
Teachers' Salames
asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in connection with the request of the London Schoolmasters' Association for representation on the teachers' panel of the standing joint committee on the salaries of teachers in elementary schools, he will give consideration to the fact that their membership exceeds 7,500 men, and that such members are not also members of the National Union of Teachers, whose policy is in many respects opposed to that of the London Schoolmasters' Association; and whether he will, in constituting the panel, reconsider his decision and follow the precedent of the teachers' panel of the Burnham Committee in 1919, when eight associations, in addition to the National Union of Teachers, were given representation, in addition to the National Union of Teachers?
I assume that the right hon. Member is referring to the National Association of Schoolmasters,
| 1929. | 1930. | |||||||||
| Nationality. | With Cargo. | In Ballast. | With Cargo. | In Ballast. | ||||||
| Vessels. | Tons net. | Vessels. | Tons net. | Vessels. | Tons net. | Vessels | Tons net. | |||
| Swedish | … | … | 707 | 11,976 | 21 | 320 | 747 | 11,799 | 25 | 429 |
| Norwegian | … | … | 11 | 293 | — | — | 21 | 2,045 | — | — |
| Danish | … | … | 1,481 | 30,592 | 2 | 26 | 1,645 | 39,782 | 1 | 14 |
| German | … | … | 1,154 | 109,063 | 278 | 25,339 | 1,127 | 110,324 | 257 | 23,843 |
| Dutch | … | … | 73 | 4,464 | 90 | 7,071 | 145 | 9,336 | 65 | 4,879 |
| Belgian | … | … | 602 | 31,729 | 37 | 2,583 | 933 | 37,985 | 109 | 4,457 |
| French | … | … | 142 | 7,083 | 119 | 5,562 | 139 | 6,282 | 75 | 5,052 |
| Total | … | … | 4,170 | 195,200 | 547 | 40,901 | 4,757 | 217,553 | 532 | 38,674 |
Trade And Commerce
Scientific And Industrial Research (Associations)
asked the Lord Privy Seal in which important industries there exists up to the present no research association?
to which the London Schoolmasters' Association is affiliated. After careful consideration, I have satisfied myself that it would not add to the usefulness of the standing joint committee on salaries of teachers in elementary schools if representation were given to this association. No association other than the National Union of Teachers has at any time been represented on the teachers' panel of this committee.
Fishing Industry (Foreign Vessels)
asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the number of foreign fishing vessels entering British ports during the years 1929 and 1930; and to what countries these vessels belonged?
The following table shows the number and net tonnage of the foreign fishing vessels that entered at ports in the United Kingdom from the deep sea fisheries, including their repeated voyages, in the years 1929 and 1930. The number and tonnage of vessels of each nationality are distinguished.
I have been asked to reply. The following is a complete list of research associations established in accordance with the scheme formulated by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research:
Existing Research Associations:
British Boot, Shoe and Allied Trades Research Association.
British Cast Iron Research Association.
British Association of Research for Cocoa, Chocolate, Sugar Confectionery and Jam Trades.
British Colliery Owners' Research Association.
British Cotton Industry Research Association.
British Cutlery Research Association.
British Electrical and Allied Industries Research Association.
Research Association of British Flour Millers.
British Food Manufacturers' Research Association.
British Launderers' Research Association.
British Leather Manufacturers' Research Association.
Linen Industry Research Association.
Research Association of British Motor and Allied Manufacturers.
British Motor Cycle and Cyclecar Research Association.
British Non-Ferrous Metals Research Association.
Research Association of British Paint, Colour and Varnish Manufacturers.
British Refractories Research Association.
Research Association of British Rubber Manufacturers.
British Scientific Instrument Research Association.
British Silk Research Association.
Wool Industries Research Association.
Printing Industry Research Association.
National Federation of Iron and Steel Manufacturers (Industrial Research Council).
British Iron Manufacturers' Research Association.
Scottish Shale Oil Scientific and Industrial Research Association.
The following Research Associations have been wound up:
British Photographic Research Association.
British Portland Cement Research Association.
Glass Research Association.
* British Sugar Research Association.
* British Music Industries Research Association.
As regards agriculture there are, of course, numerous research institutes and similar bodies acting with the aid of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
* These research associations never started actual operations.
Royal Navy (Cordite)
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether there is any available source for the supply of cordite as now manufactured for the Navy other than Holton Heath?
The answer is in the affirmative.
In the absence of a British National Pavilion in the International Colonial Exhibition in Paris, no special facilities exist for the exhibition of British goods.
India
Crime
asked the Secretary of State for India how many outrages involving loss of life, injury to life, or damage to property have taken place during the present year which can be attributed to the so-called Red Shirt Army; and what steps the Government of India are taking to deal with this situation
The figures of ordinary crime in some parts of the North-West Frontier Province show an increase for the year, but I have no statistics which show the number of criminal offences committed by members of the organisation to which the hon. Member refers. With regard to the second part of the question, I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on 22nd June.
Small-Pox (Deaths)
asked the Secretary of State for India the number of deaths from small-pox which have occurred each year in Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras, respectively, since the year 1924?
The following table gives the figures for which my hon. Friend asks:
Air Services (Australia)
asked the Postmaster-General the cost of the two experimental air-mail flights to and from Australia and the receipts from the carrying of mails; and whether, in view of the results of the experiments, a regular service is intended?
I have been asked to reply. The net cost to the British Exchequer is the amount of the subsidy to Imperial Airways, which is approximately £8,000. As regards receipts, the sums due to the various companies concerned, including Imperial Airways, in respect of postal traffic carried amount to approximately £3,600. It would, however, be unwise to draw any deductions from these figures. On the question of a regular service, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Chelmsford (Colonel Howard-Bury) of 22nd May. It may be added that the flights have certainly shown that a regular service is technically feasible.
Experiments, Living Animals
asked the Home Secretary (1) whether any record is kept of the details of experiments on living animals which are mere repetitions of previous experiments and therefore useless for purposes of research; and, if not, whether he will consider the desirability of keeping such a record, to be published in his annual report, or of prohibiting such experiments altogether;(2) whether any record is kept of the number and details of experiments on living animals performed for demonstration purposes to students or for similar reasons; and, if not, whether he will consider the desirability of keeping such record and publishing this information in his annual report?
I am not aware of any experiments which are mere repetitions of previous experiments, except the experiments performed not for purposes of research but for demonstration to students (i.e., experiments under Certificate C). The number of these experiments is given each year in the report prefixed to the annual return. Special provision is made for these experiments by Section 3 of the Act, and I have no power to prohibit them. It is impracticable to publish details of experiments in the annual return.
Scotland
Jetty, Strontian
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the jetty, or landing place, at Strontian is in so dangerous a condition that the steamers refuse to discharge cargo thereon and no ferrymen will land goods thereat; and will he take steps to accelerate the erection of the necessary pier?
I am aware that the jetty is in a bad condition, and that improved facilities for landing goods are required. I have no information that the steamers have refused to discharge cargo, but, in view of a recent representation as to the possible discontinuance of the ferry, I have instructed the Department of Agriculture to submit proposals for remedying the situation.
Basking Sharks, Kilbrannan Sound
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the plague of basking sharks, or sail fish, in the Sound of Kilbrannan, which destroy the salmon and herring fishers' nets; and whether he will take steps to employ some of the Fishery Board craft to clear the sound of basking sharks, which are easily killed by harpoon or explosive?
A few complaints have been received by the local fishery officer of the Fishery Board for Scotland concerning damage caused to salmon and herring nets by basking sharks, and the Fishery Board have asked the naval vessel on fishery duty in the Clyde area to inquire into the matter and report whether any action can be taken.
Sporting Rights (Rates)
asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the decisions in the courts under the Agricultural Rates Act, 1929, namely Hastings v. Revenue Authority, Walsingham (1930, 2, K.B. 278), and Towler v. Thetford Rural District Council (1930, 99, L.J.K.B. 258), regarding the rating of sporting rights; and what steps are proposed to be taken to remedy the difficulties which as a result now exist in the rating of such rights?
I am aware of the decisions in the cases referred to, and! that the legal position with regard to the persons liable for payments of rates in respect of sporting rights is in certain cir cumstances still in some doubt. The matter appears to be one in which assessment committees and county valuation committees interested might well avail themselves of the provisions of the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925, which empower them to share the cost of securing authoritative decisions from the Courts on questions of principle.
Members Of Parliament (Railway Vouchers)
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many Members have been using their free railway vouchers to obtain third-class railway tickets since the announcement was made that this was permissible?
The announcement that vouchers could be exchanged for third-class tickets was first made several years ago. I understand that a special detailed scrutiny of used vouchers would be necessary in order to obtain the information desired by the hon. and gallant Member. The labour involved in such a scrutiny would not, I think, be justified.