Written Answers
India
Tbadees Licences, South Africa
asked the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the difficulty experienced by Indians in the Transvaal in securing new traders' and hawkers' licences and the renewal of old hawkers' licences, the Government of India will make representations to the Government of the Union of South Africa on the subject?
I prefer to leave the initiative in this matter to the Government of India who are kept informed in regard to it by their Agent in the Union of South Africa.
Small-Pox
asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has received information regarding the small-pox outbreaks in Bombay and other cities in India; whether he is aware that areas well known for their insanitary condition are more affected by this outbreak than other parts; and whether he will draw the attention of the health authorities concerned that they should remove filth from the poor quarters of the city twice daily instead of only once daily as at present?
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the remainder of the question, the matter is one which falls within the field of responsibility of the Ministers and Legislature of Bombay.
Coal Industry (Quota System)
asked the Secretary for Mines whether, seeing that there are wide variations in different districts in the methods employed to dispose of excess quota, he will state what these various methods are in the several districts of Great Britain?
Under Section 3 (2) (e) every district scheme must provide for arrangements whereby coal-owners having quota tonnage in excess of their requirements may transfer it as they think fit to other coalowners in the district.I understand that in the districts of Northumberland, Durham, Warwickshire, Cannock Chase, Bristol, South Wales and Scotland, transfers of quota are effected directly by arrangement between individual coalowners, subject to the Executive Board being notified of the actual tonnages so transferred. The secretaries of the Executive Boards are usually willing to place those owners in need of quota in touch with others who have tonnage to spare.In Lancashire and Cheshire, an arrangement, of which practically all the coalowners in the district take advantage, is in operation, whereby those owners with surplus quota tonnage notify the Executive Board. The Board then arranges for its distribution at a price of 6d. per ton to other owners in the district requiring additional tonnage. If there is less tonnage in the pool than is sufficient to meet demands upon it a
pro rata distribution is made. The Board discourage any direct transactions among individual owners in regard to the transfer of quota.
In the districts of Shropshire, Somerset, North Staffordshire and Kent, somewhat similar arrangements are in force, whereby the Executive Boards act as clEarlng houses for surplus quota tonnage.
In South Staffordshire coalowners representing 80 per cent. of the output of the district have subscribed to a formal agreement under which a pool of quota tonnage in excess of requirements is created. These owners have agreed not to purchase excess tonnage from anyone not a party to the agreement, provided tonnage from the pool is available. The maximum charge for transfers is 9d. per ton.
In North Wales, owners with surplus quota tonnage are deemed to have registered at specified intervals during the quota period 50 per cent. of the excess with the Executive Board, which distributes the quantity so registered to other coalowners in the district who may be in need of additional tonnage.
In Cumberland, it is the practice of the Executive Board to distribute all quota tonnage which is surplus to the requirements of individual coalowners among those owners in the district who may be in need of additional tonnage.
Although in the Midland (Amalgamated) District, transfers of quota tonnage during a quota period are effected directly between the coalowners concerned, subject to notification to the Executive Board of the tonnages involved, the district scheme provides that if an owner fails to produce the whole of his permitted output during a quota period, one-half of the deficiency is carried, at the end of the period, to a tonnage pool managed by the Executive Board. The tonnage in that pool is available for purchase at a rate fixed by the board by any owner requiring additional quota. As monthly quotas are declared in this district, it follows that a tonnage pool operates for the second and third months of the quarterly allocation period.
In a number of districts, transfers of quota tonnage through the agency of the Executive Board are effected without charge.
Diphtheria (Inoculation, Italy)
asked the Minister of Health whether he has received information regarding the deaths of 10 children and the serious injury of a number of others from inoculation against diphtheria in the provinces of Venezia and Rovigo, in Italy; and, if not, whether he will obtain full information respecting these cases and publish it?
I have so far no information on this subject beyond what has appeared in the public Press, but steps are being taken to obtain an official report. I will consider the question of publication when the information is available.
Prison Service (Remuneration)
asked the Home Secretary what are the minimum and maximum basic rates of pay of a prison officer; and how many years does it take the officer to reach his maximum basic rate of pay?
The remuneration of a prison officer of the lowest grade amounts to 43s. 6d. per week rising by annual increments to 64s. 10d. per week, the maximum being attainable after 20 years' approved service. These rates are related to basic rates of 29s. at minimum and 45s. at maximum. An officer is entitled, in addition, to free quarters and uniform, or allowances in lieu.