Written Answers
Kenya
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that a Japanese motor car has been landed at Mombasa, Kenya, for sale at £49 c.i.f.; and whether he can state what duty was levied on such an import?
I am informed by the Governor that there have been no importations of Japanese motor cars at Mombasa to date.
Housing
Scotland
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses, other than houses built under slum clearance schemes, were erected in Scotland during the 12 months ended 31st January, 1934; how many of these were let at rents of less than £30 per annum excluding occupier's rates; how many at less than £25 per annum; how many at less than £17; how many of the houses in each of these categories were built with the help of subsidies provided under the Housing Act, 1923; how many under the Act of 1924; how many under other Acts; how many without the aid of any subsidies or guarantees; how many by private enterprise; and how many under Section 1 of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1933?
The number of houses, other than houses built under
| Enabling Act. | Total number of assisted houses (other than houses built under Slum Clearance Schemes) completed during 12 months ended 31st Jan., 1934. | Number of assisted houses (other than houses built under Slum Clearance Schemes) completed by local authorities and having annual rents (exclusive of occupiers rates). | Total of three preceding columns. | ||
| Less than £30 but not less than £25. | Less than £25 but not less than £17. | Less than £17. | |||
| Housing, etc., Act, 1923— | |||||
| By local authorities | — | — | — | — | — |
| By private enterprise | 3,721 | Not available | — | ||
| Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act, 1924— | |||||
| By local authorities | 8,510 | 474 | 4,483 | 1,927 | 6,884 |
| By private enterprise | 1,482 | Not available | — | ||
| Housing (Rural Authorities) Act, 1931— | |||||
| By local authorities | 172 | — | — | 100 | 100 |
| Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act, 1933— | |||||
| By local authorities (Section 1). | 84 | — | — | 84 | 84 |
| By private enterprise (Section 3). | — | — | — | — | — |
| Totals | 13,969 | 474 | 4,483 | 2,111 | 7,068 |
Rents
asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, as compared with pre-War standards, the property owners have had their profits increased
slum clearance schemes, completed with State assistance in Scotland during the 12 months ended 31st January, 1934, was 13,969. Of these, 5,203 houses were completed by private enterprise, but no information is available as to the rents charged for them, if let. The remaining 8,766 houses were completed by local authorities, and the information so far received by the Department of Health shows that of these, 7,068 houses have rents of less than £30 per annum (exclusive of occupier's rates). The desired rental classification and the Acts under which these houses were provided are shown in the following statement. No houses were completed by local authorities without State assistance during the period referred to. The number completed by unassisted private enterprise during the year ended 31st December, 1933, was 5,570, but no information is available as to the rents charged for these houses, if let.
by about 50 per cent., whereas the wages of the workers have decreased by about 25 per cent.; and whether, in these circumstances, he will reconsider his decision and introduce a Bill to reduce rents to the pre-War level?
My right hon. Friend is aware of the provisions of the Rent Restrictions Acts, but not of the grounds for the hon. Member's estimates of profits and wages. He fears he cannot add anything to the reply given to the hon. Member's question of Monday last.
Electricity Supply (Overhead Grid Lines)
asked the Minister of Transport if he can give an estimate of the saving of cost by carrying electricity cables above ground on pylons instead of underground; and whether he is satisfied that this is sufficient to warrant the continuance of such a method in country places considering the effect on the landscape and the danger to aircraft?
I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind the high voltage lines of the grid system. On the basis of the few lengths of 132,000 volt underground cables which have been laid for experimental purposes, the cost of such cables can be taken as approximately
| Accidents in the Metropolitan Police Districts resulting in death and injury in January and February in each of the years 1930–1934 inclusive. | ||||||||
| — | Fatal. | Non-Fatal. | Total. | |||||
| January. | February. | January. | February. | January. | February. | |||
| 1930 | … | … | 118 | 102 | 3,501 | 2,928 | 3,619 | 3,030 |
| 1931 | … | … | 86 | 87 | 3,016 | 2,804 | 3,102 | 2,891 |
| 1932 | … | … | 108 | 91 | 3,361 | 2,873 | 3,469 | 2,964 |
| 1933 | … | … | 126 | 89 | 2,978 | 2,981 | 3,104 | 3,070 |
| 1934 | … | … | 109 | 91 | 3,827 | 3,112 | 3,936 | 3,203 |
Coal Consumption, Great Britain
asked the Secretary for Mines the amount of coal consumed by industrial undertakings in this country, as distinct from that used for domestic and other purposes, during the year 1933, as compared with the previous year?
The estimated total amount of coal available for consumption in Great Britain for all purposes in 1933 was 148,250,000 tons as compared with 149,500,000 tons in 1932. I am unable to state the amount consumed by industrial undertakings as distinct from
10 times the cost of 132,000 volt overhead lines, and the substitution of underground for overhead grid lines would, I am advised, be impracticable.
Road Accidents
asked the Home Secretary if he can give any information, from the latest available statistics, as to whether or not road accidents are still on the increase?
I have obtained statistics of accidents involving death and personal injury in the Metropolitan Police District for the months of January and February of this year and I regret to say that the total of accidents in each of these months is higher than it has been in corresponding months in previous years. The figures for January and February of the last five years are given in the following table. Figures for this year for the rest of the country are not available, and it must not be assumed that the Metropolitan figures are typical of the country as a whole.that used for domestic and other purposes.
Unemployment (Expenditure)
asked the Minister of Labour the total expenditure on unemployment from the operation of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, up to the latest date?
The total expenditure under the Unemployment Insurance Acts from 8th November, 1920, to 17th March, 1934, is approximately £915,750,000. This figure includes transitional benefit and transitional payments, interest on debt and administrative expenses.