Written Answers
Scotland
Land Settlement Act, 1919
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that a small holding in the county of Berwick, on lands belong to the Depart- ment of Agriculture, is about to become vacant and selected applicants from the Department's list have been invited to say what rent they are prepared to pay if preferred for the tenancy; and whether the outgoing tenant is sitting under a fair rent and, if so, under what authority is this holding now put in the market for a competitive rent?
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, Section 6 of the Land Settlement (Scotland) Act, 1919, requires the Department to let land acquired by them under the Small Holding Colonies Acts at such rent as in their opinion is reasonable and in these circumstances I considered its proper to ascertain on the occasion of a holding falling vacant the rent which suitable and qualified applicants are prepared to pay. The information thus furnished is at present being examined and will, I think, prove to be of value. As instructed by Section 6 (1) of the Land Settlement (Scotland) Act, 1919, the holding referred to will be let in due course at a reasonable rent and it is proposed to offer a lease under the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Acts.
Fishing Industry, Moray Firth
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any information to give concerning the proposal that the Moray Firth should be closed to foreign trawling; whether negotiations on the subject with foreign Powers have taken place or are likely to be instituted; and, if not, whether he will take steps to institute negotiations to this end?
I am unable to make any statement, except that the matter is receiving the attention of the Government.
Unemployment
Dumbarton, Lanark And Renfrew
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the weekly expenditure in payment of able-bodied unemployment relief of each local authority in the counties of Dumbarton, Lanark, and Renfrew, burghal and county authorities separately, in the last week of August, 1931, and the last week in January, 1933?
I am sending the hon. Member a tabular statement containing the information asked for.
asked the Minister of Labour the number of men, women, and juveniles, separately, in each Employment Exchange area in the counties of Dumbarton, Lanark, and Renfrew whose title to standard benefit lapsed, and who were transferred to transitional benefit payments involving the application of the means test, in the years 1931 and 1932?
I regret that statistics giving the information desired are not available.
asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he will state the number of men, women, and juveniles, separately, in receipt of standard unemployment benefit in each of the Employment Exchange areas in the counties of Dumbarton, Lanark, and Renfrew in the first week of February, 1931, and the first week of February, 1933;(2) the amount of money paid in standard unemployment benefit to men, women, and juveniles, separately, in each Employment Exchange area, in the counties of Dumbarton, Lanark, and Renfrew, in the first week of February, 1931, and the first week in February, 1933?
I am sending the hon. Member the information desired so far as it is available.
Coal Industry, Lanarkshire
asked the Secretary for Mines if he is aware of the complaints of collieries in Lanarkshire drawing coal on Sundays as if they were ordinary days of the week; has any inquiry been made into the matter by his Department; will he state the names of the collieries at which this practice is carried on; and if he will take the necessary steps to enable his Department to put an end to such a, practice?
I have received no complaints on this subject except for the hon. Member's own representations. With regard to the second and third parts of the question, I am only aware of three collieries in Lanark where ordinary coal-drawing is being carried out on Sundays, namely, Auchengeich, Douglas Castle and Wester Auchengeich, and I am informed it is done at these collieries to secure a full six afternoon shifts a week without entailing work on every Saturday afternoon. With regard to the last part of the question, I strongly disapprove of ordinary Sunday working which as the hon. Member is aware, is one of the questions dealt with in the draft International Convention which is receiving the consideration of the Governments principally concerned.
Poor Law Institutions (Bacon)
asked the Minister of Health the number of poor law institutions to which British bacon is supplied in preference to imported; and what is the difference in price between British bacon and the comparable imported article?
The information for which my hon. Friend asks in the first part of his question is not in my right hon. Friend's possession. As regards the second part, he understands that wholesale prices of British and imported bacon are published in the Agricultural Market Report issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Kenya (Income Tax)
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the appointment of a committee in Kenya to investigate alternatives to the Income Tax, he still adheres to his decision to insist on the application of the Income Tax in accordance with the recommendation of Lord Moyne's Report?
The Governor has decided, with my approval, that the Income Tax Bill shall not be carried into law until I have had the opportunity of considering it, as amended in committee of the Legislative Council, side by side with the alternative proposals for increased taxation which are at present being scrutinised by a local committee. As I am not yet in possession of the necessary materials I cannot anticipate my decision.