Written Answers
Trade And Commerce
Rayon Industry
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the figures show a serious diminution in the output of the English rayon industry; and if he intends to take international steps, through the International Labour Bureau, to protect the industry and its workers?
According to the figures published in the "Board of Trade Journal" of 23rd February, 1933, the monthly average production in the United Kingdom of artificial silk yarn and waste during the past year, and in January of the current year was as follows:
| Artificial Silk Yarn and Waste. | |||
| Monthly Average. | Million lbs. | ||
| Year 1930 | … | … | 4.06 |
| Year 1931 | … | … | 4.55 |
| Year 1932 | … | … | 6.04 |
| January-March, 1932 | … | … | 6.43 |
| April-June, 1932 | … | … | 6.26 |
| July-September, 1932 | … | … | 5.34 |
| October-December, 1932 | … | … | 6.14 |
| January, 1933 | … | … | 5.93 |
Irish Free State Dairy Produce (Import)
asked the President of the Board of Trade the total value of dairy produce imported into this country from the Irish Free State from the passing of the Imports Duties Act to 1st March, 1933, and for a similar period in the previous year?
pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 16th March, 1933; col. 2157, Vol. 275] supplied the following statement:The following table shows the total declared value of the imports into the United Kingdom of the undermentioned commodities registered during the 12 months ended February, 1932 and 1933, respectively, as consigned from the Irish Free State.
| Description. | Twelve months ended February. | ||
| 1932. | 1933. | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Milk, fresh | … | 47,542 | 29,543 |
| Milk cream | … | 385,388 | 265,891 |
| Butter | … | 2,103,849 | 1,419,170 |
| Cheese | … | 5,625 | 4,400 |
| Eggs in shell | … | 2,146,562 | 1,608,354 |
Public Health
Vaccination
asked the Minister of Health how many death certificates were received during the year 1932 on which vaccination or vaccinia was mentioned as a cause of death; and what were the ages of the persons to whom these certificates referred?
Three such certificates were received in 1932. The ages of the deceased were three months, five months and six months, respectively. In addition, there were five cases in which the practitioner had entered vaccinia or vaccination as one of the causes of death, but where in the course of the customary inquiries it was ascertained that neither vaccinia nor vaccination had contributed to the fatal issue and the original certificate was withdrawn.
Small-Pox
asked the Minister of Health how many deaths were registered in the year 1932 as due to small-pox; in how many of these was some other disease mentioned on the death certificate; and what were the ages of the persons covered by this certificate?
The answer to the first part of the question is three; to the second part, one; to the third part, three week, 56 years and 79 years.
Coal Industry (Oil Extraction)
asked the Secretary for Mines what was the amount of oil obtained from British coal by any process during 1932; and what was the tonnage of coal involved?
No official information is available, but it is estimated that in 1932, 25,000,000 gallons of "motor benzol," 2,500,000 gallons of benzol for other purposes, and 225,000 tons of creosote oils were distilled from coal in Great Britain. The tonnage of coal consumed in high and low temperature carbonisation processes from which the above products are obtained is not yet available for 1932. For 1931, the figure was 30,549,000 tons. In that year the quantity of the oil products obtained was rather higher than in 1932.
Royal Seamen's Pension Fund
asked the Minister of Health the number of pensions awarded from the Seamen's Special Fund and the Royal Seamen's Pension Fund in each year since the inception of the scheme, distinguishing, if possible, between foreign-going seamen and fishermen; and the total number of pensions in each category still being paid?
The number of pensions granted out of the Royal Seamen's Pension Fund in each year since 1st January, 1922, the date of the first award made by the governing body of, the fund, is as follows:
| 1922 | … | … | … | … | 202 |
| 1923 | … | … | … | … | 522 |
| 1924 | … | … | … | … | 449 |
| 1925 | … | … | … | … | 624 |
| 1926 | … | … | … | … | 613 |
| 1927 | … | … | … | … | 643 |
| 1928 | … | … | … | … | 1,940 |
| 1929 | … | … | … | … | 1,995 |
| 1930 | … | … | … | … | 1,233 |
| 1931 | … | … | … | … | 1,468 |
| 1932 | … | … | … | … | 800 |
British Army (Vocational Training)
asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office how many men leave the Army each year; what is the character of the vocational training provided, and for how many; and in what measure are these trainees absorbed in industry and agriculture?
Excluding deaths and desertions, the number of men who leave the Colours each year is approximately 27,000, but of these a large number are either already tradesmen or are not eligible for vocational training for some other reason, such as discharge by purchase. The vocational training comprises two categories, training in the less highly specialised trades and training in agriculture. The maximum number for whom training provision is made each year is 2,950 men. Those soldiers who have served as tradesmen do not, of course, require such training. As regards the last part of the question, out of 6,679 men who were trained at the centres in the past three years, 5,257 were placed in employment after their training, of whom 466 were absorbed in agriculture. My hon. Friend will appreciate, no doubt, that these figures take no account of a very large number of ex-soldiers for whom employment is found by Government Departments, or by voluntary organisations, with the assistance of the War Office.
Income Tax
Assessments
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many per- sons in the years 1929–30, 1930–31 and 1931–32 elected to be assessed and charged under Schedule D instead of under Schedule B, in accordance with Rules 5 and 7 of Schedule B to the Income Tax Act, 1918?
The statistics collected regarding assessments to Income Tax under Schedules B and D do not distinguish these particular assessments, and it is regretted that the information asked for is therefore not available.
Co-Operative Societies
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he can give an estimate of the amount of revenue that would accrue to the Treasury if the proposals of the Committee on Co-operative Societies in relation to Income Tax were carried out?
I would refer the hon. Member to paragraph 27 of the Committee's Report.