Written Answers
Argentine Railways (British Capital)
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will take the opportunity of the presence here of the Argentine mission to ascertain from them whether the Argentine national and provincial Governments have yet discharged to the British-owned Argentine railways the debts owing to them in respect of freight and other services?
I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer I gave on the same subject on Monday last to my hon. Friend the Member for Fulham, West (Sir C. Cobb).
Kenya (Kikuyu Central Association)
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Government of Kenya provided, in February, 1931, by administrative order, that no native may ask or receive from any native any money towards the funds of any society or association, or for any purpose whatsoever, unless a permit in writing is obtained from the district commissioner; whether any permits have been applied for and refused since the date of this order; and whether any prosecutions have been instituted under this standing order, giving full particulars in both cases?
I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a question on 2nd December, 1931, by the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. D. Grenfell). I am sending him a copy. Twenty-one applications for permits were received up till July last, of which 20 were granted. I have no knowledge of any prosecutions under the circular.
South Africa (Concessions, Lewanika)
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will publish as a White Paper the concessions granted to Lewanika, to which reference is made in Clause 4 (e) and (g) of the agreement with the British South Africa Company of 29th September, 1923?
I hardly think I should be justified in incurring the cost of publication as a Command Paper. But I will have copies placed in the Library of the House of Commons.
Trade And Commerce
War Material (Export Licences)
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a statement giving particulars of the arms and munitions, and naval and military stores, not including sporting arms and munitions, in respect of which he has issued licences to export to Peru and Colombia during 1932, and January, 1933?
The following statement gives the desired information.
| Statement showing material covered by export licences issued for Colombia and Peru during the period 1st January, 1932, to 31st January, 1933. | |
| Colombia. | Peru. |
| 3 belt-filling machines for 7 m.m. machine-guns. | 5,000 percussion primers for 3-pdr. and 6-pdr. Cartridge cases. |
| 48,000 7·9 m.m. rifle cartridges. | |
asked the President of the Board of Trade the number and amount of licences issued for the export of arms from this country during 1931–32 to Brazil, Peru, Germany, Chile, Mexico and the Argentine?
I am having a statement prepared and will send it to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
Roofing Tiles And Slates (Imports)
asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the quantity and value of imported roofing tiles for each month of 1932 and January, 1933, and the country of origin;(2) the quantity and value of imported roofing slates for each month of 1932 and January, 1933, and the country of origin?
As the answer to each of these questions involves a long tabular statement, I am sending the required particulars to the hon. Member.
Housing (Rural Workers)
asked the Minister of Health the names of the local authorities who have reconditioned rural cottages under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act; and how many cottages have been so reconditioned by these authorities?
I am sending to my hon. Friend a statement of the particulars he desires.
Transport
Roads And Bridges (Local Authorities' Loans)
asked the Minister of Health what are the figures for the six months since 1st April, 1932, and for each of the last three completed financial years of capital expenditure out of loans by local authorities sanctioned in respect of roads and bridges?
The amounts borrowed by local authorities in England and Wales for highway purposes were £9,587,723 in 1929–30 and £11,059,901 in 1930–31. I regret that figures for later periods are not in my possession.
Waterloo Bridge
asked the Minister of Transport whether, under the Government proposals for the reconditioning of Waterloo Bridge, the London County Council is to take in hand the task of increasing the width of any of the arches of the bridge?
No, Sir.
Road Accidents
asked the Home Secretary whether he will supplement the statistics for the year 1932 relating to road accidents by a further statement showing the number of deaths which have taken place as a result of road accidents within a period of a week, and within a period of a month of the occurrence, respectively?
I regret that I should not feel justified in asking the police to undertake the special examination of the records of each fatal accident ocurring in 1932 which the hon. Member's suggestion would involve.
Unemployment (Chatham And Gravesend)
asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons on the register of the Rochester and Gravesend Employment Exchanges at the end of January or the latest convenient date?
At 23rd January, 1933, there were 7,204 unemployed persons registered at the Chatham Employment Exchange, and 3,298 at the Gravesend Employment Exchange. These figures include persons registered at the local juvenile employment bureaux.