Written Answers
Under-Sized Sea Fish (Landing)
asked the Minister of Agriculture which of the local sea fisheries committees have made application to the Ministry for an amendment of Section 4 of the Sea-Fishing Industry Act, 1933, so as to secure the prohibition of landing, instead of sale, of sea-fish under sizes to be prescribed; what resolutions he has received in support of this application from county councils, municipal corporations, or other bodies; and whether he proposes to amend the Act?
The Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Committee has asked for the substitution of the prohibition of landing for the present prohibition of the sale of under-sized sea fish, and this would involve an amendment of Section 4 of the Sea Fishing Industry Act, 1933. No other sea fisheries committee has asked for an amendment of the Order or of the Act. Resolutions in support of the application of the Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Committee have been received from the county councils of Lancashire and Cheshire, the councils of 13 boroughs in those two counties, and the Dovey Fishery Board. As regards the last part of the question, I can see no advantage in a prohibition of landing over a prohibition of sale. In any event, in view of the greatly increased expenditure from public funds which would be involved, I do not feel I should be justified in adopting the suggestion.
Co-Operative Societies (Companies Capital Duty)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Stamp Duty of one-half of 1 per cent. upon authorised capital, or any impost equivalent to or similar in character to that, which is paid by limited liability companies upon incorporation, is also levied upon co-operative societies?
| Year. | Provision in Budget. | Cash issued from Revenue. | Notes. | ||
| Budget deficits were as follows:— | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | |||
| 1919–20 | … | … | — | 5,430,210 | 326,201,547 |
| 1920–21 | … | … | 6,686,000 | 21,266,858 | — |
| 230,556,789* | |||||
| 1921–22 | … | … | 23,456,000 | 25,010,610 | — |
| 45,693,246* | |||||
| 1922–23 | … | … | — | 24,710,782 | — |
| 101,515,848* | |||||
| 1923–24 | … | … | 40,000,000 | 40,000,000 | — |
| 48,329,073* | |||||
| 1924–25 | … | … | 45,000,000 | 45,000,000 | — |
| 3,658,884* | |||||
| 1925–26 | … | … | 50,000,000 | 50,000,000 | 14,038,120 |
| 1926–27 | … | … | 60,000,000 | 60,000,000 | 36,693,794 |
| 1927–28 | … | … | 65,000,000 | 65,000,000 | — |
| 1928–29 | … | … | 65,000,000 | 57,509,435 | — |
| 1929–30 | … | … | 50,400,000 | 47,748,315 | 14,523,263 |
| 1930–31 | … | … | 55,400,000 | 66,830,431 | 23,275,970 |
| 1931–32 | … | … | 32,600,000 | 32,507,786 | — |
| 364,337* | |||||
| 1932–33 | … | … | 32,500,000 | 26,330,450 | 32,278,988† |
| * Budget surpluses. | |||||
| † During this year a payment of £28,956,000 was made in connection with the debt to the United States Government for which no provision was made in the Budget. His Majesty's Government reserved the right to treat the whole of this sum as a capital payment of which account should be taken in any final settlement. Roughly £9,000,000 of this sum is included in the figure of £26,330,450 in the third column. | |||||
Agricultural Workers
asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of people engaged in agriculture in the years 1931, 1932 and 1933?
The number of workers, regular and casual, employed on agricultural
The Companies Capital Duty applies to companies and a similar duty is levied under the Limited Partnerships Act, 1907, on capital contributed by a limited partner. Co-operative societies which are registered industrial and provident societies are not within the charge.
Debt Redemption
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the provision made for debt redemption in the Budget statement and the actual sum ultimately applied to the redemption of debt in each year from 1919–20 to the present time?
The figures are shown in the following statement:holdings above one acre in extent in Great Britain, as returned in June, 1931, 1932 and 1933, were respectively: 829,073, 808,738 and 827,400, the latter figure being subject to revision so far as Scotland is concerned. These figures do not include farmers and persons working on their own account who were estimated in connection with the Agricultural Census of 1925 to number 360,000 in Great Britain. Later figures are not yet available.
Children And Young Persons Act, 1933
asked the Attorney-General whether the attention of advisory committees has been directed to the need in making recommendations for appointment to the magisterial bench of giving special consideration to persons competent and qualified to fulfil the requirements under the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933?
The attention of advisory committees has frequently been directed to this matter, and in the appointment of justices of the peace careful regard is paid to the requirements of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933.
India
Land Revenue (Suspension Or Remission)
asked the Secretary of State for India (1) in which of the Provinces of British India there exists any provision of law authorising the administration to reduce or waive the collection of taxation from peasants deprived of income or impoverished by national calamity such as drought, flood, cyclone, hail, or earthquake;(2) whether the provision of law which is applicable in the case of the Gonds, authorising the administration to reduce or waive the collection of tax from such people as may be found to be deprived of income or impoverished by national calamity such as drought, flood, cyclone, hail, or earthquake, is also applicable in the Central Provinces?
All Provincial Governments have the power to suspend or remit land revenue in the circumstances indicated; and instructions on general lines in regard to the exercise of this power are contained in manuals issued by the Provincial Governments for the guidance of Revenue officers.
Imperial Defence
asked the Secretary of State for India the cost of the contribution per head of population in British India to Imperial Defence?
The amount has been estimated at 2s. 7d. per head. But the figure appears to me only to be significant in relation to the average income per head.
Hides (Export Duty)
asked the Secretary of State for India if he is aware that the Indian Government proposes to abolish the export duty of 5 per cent. on all raw cowhides, and will His Majesty's Government recommend the Indian Government to remove the duty only on those hides exported to any place within the Empire, and retain a duty on hides to any country outside the Empire, in order to assist tanners in this country?
The object of the Government of India in removing the export duty on hides is to help the Indian export trade. The United Kingdom takes so small a part of the Indian exports of raw hides, that I fear the course desired by the hon. Member is not likely to be acceptable.
Air Mail, Calcutta
asked the Postmaster-General how much of the 9s. 5d. postage, which is the cost of sending by air mail one copy of the daily "Times" to Calcutta, is allocated to the Post Office, Imperial Airways, and the Government of India?
Payment for air conveyance to Calcutta is made to Imperial Airways on the total weight of the mails. One copy of the "Times" would represent a payment of about 9s.
British Industries Fair
asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the separate net receipts from the attendance for 1934 at the British Industries Fair at Olympia, the White City, and Birmingham, together with the net revenue from the charges for space to exhibitors in each building; and the estimated total orders taken at each section of the fair?
The receipts from admissions of trade buyers and members of the public at Olympia, amounted to £6,864, at the White City to £3,253, and at the Birmingham section to £5,872. Receipts from charges for space at Olympia amounted to £46,313, at the White City to £32,557, and at the Birmingham section to £39,100. An additional receipt of £1,338 was derived from the sale of exhibitors' admission badges. It has never been considered practicable to insist on a return from exhibitors of the value of all orders taken at the fair, as such a picture would be misleading, since an important function of the fair is to encourage inquiries which are followed up by subsequent orders; but, as already stated in reply to the question by the hon. Member for Walthamstow, West (Mr. McEntee), reports from all sections of the fair indicate that the results surpassed those of the 1933 Fair.
Ministry Of Health (Housing Staff)
asked the Minister of Health whether any increases have been made in each of the grades of staff in the housing division of his Department since 1st April, 1933; what has been the previous housing experience of any such additional officers; have any of them been promoted; what is the number of the original staff of that division who, on 1st April, 1933, had been occupied in such work, i.e., housing, for 10 years or longer; and whether, since that date, any such officers have been promoted to higher posts in that division and, if so, what number?
The housing division of the Ministry has been strengthened since April, 1933, by the addition of one assistant-secretary, two principals, two assistant-principals, three staff officers, eight higher clerical officers, and 28 clerical officers. Of these officers, five had previous experience of housing work in the Ministry; two were promoted on transfer to the division. On 1st April, 1933, 20 officers in the housing division in different grades had been continuously on housing work for 10 years or more—none of them have since been promoted.
Road Traffic Act (Third-Party Risks)
asked the Minister of Transport whether he proposes to alter the third-party clause in the Road Traffic Act so as to cover the loopholes which at present enable insurance companies to evade reasonable claims?
I have the existing provisions in this matter under review at the present time.
Manchuria
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the strength of feeling in China in favour of the non-recognition of Manchuria and in order not to imperil Lancashire trade with the 400,000,000 people of China, he will continue to abstain from recognising the new Government of Manchuria with its population of 40,000,000?
I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 6th March to a similar question put by my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, West (Mr. Donner).
Japan (Naval And Military Defence, Cost)
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any information as to the cost per head of the population for naval and military defence, respectively, of Japan?
According to the latest information, the annual cost per head of the population of Japan for naval and military defence is at present about 6 and 6⅔ yen respectively.