Written Answers
Railway Train (Firing Of Bullets)
asked the Home Secretary what steps have been taken as a result of the complaints made to the police at Victoria Station on the night of Sunday, 10th June, with regard to the firing of bullets into trains between Sevenoaks and Victoria, and to the wounding of a passenger by one of such bullets; and whether the offender has yet been traced?
One case has been reported where a carriage window was apparently pierced by a bullet and a passenger was slightly injured by a splinter of glass. Careful inquiries by the Metropolitan Police and by the railway police have not so far resulted in finding the missile or in tracing the person responsible for firing it.
Royal Navy
Submarines (Life-Saving Devices)
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what stage experiments have reached regarding methods whereby a sunken submarine may make its position known and for saving life therefrom; whether satisfactory devices have yet been discovered; and whether he has any statement to make?
In addition to the older means of indicating position, such as by firing smoke signals and discharging oil, air or torpedoes, all submarines are now fitted with two special indicator buoys, which can be released from inside the submarine. Life saving is effected by means of the Davis Submerged Escape Apparatus, used in conjuction with special escape hatches and escape trunks or chambers, with which all submarines are fitted. For a full statement of the Admiralty policy with regard to submarine salvage, I would refer my hon. Friend to my speech of the 12th March introducing the Navy Estimates.
| Description. | 1929. | 1930. | 1931. | 1932. |
| Tons. | Tons. | Tons. | Tons. | |
| Tinned Plates | 467,186 | 413,103 | 347,366 | 394,960 |
| Tinned Sheets | 426 | 203 | 422 | 936 |
| Terne Plates | 8,217 | 7,979 | 4,618 | 5,630 |
| Terne Sheets | 1,149 | 75 | 55 | 53 |
| Tinned Plates, sheets and strips, shaped, decorated, printed, etc., for boxes and other containers. | 100 | 275 | 171 | 640 |
Short-Service Ordinary Seamen (Entry)
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of short-service ordinary seamen who entered His Majesty's Navy between 30th October, 1933, and 30th April, 1934; and whether the number reached that which he anticipated?
The number of short-service ordinary seamen entered between 30th October, 1933, and 30th April, 1934, was 343. This was the full entry allowed during the period in question.
Trade And Commerce
Rackets (Import)
asked the President of the Board of Trade the countries which import rackets into this country and the numbers of such rackets imported in the last 12 months?
I regret that the desired information is not available, as the imports of rackets are not separately recorded in the trade returns of the United Kingdom.
Tinplates (Export)
asked the President of the Board of Trade the tonnage of tinplates exported from South Wales in each of the years from 1929 to 1932, inclusive, also the countries of destination?
The following statement shows the total tonnage of the exports of the undermentioned descriptions of coated plates and sheets of iron and steel from the ports of Swansea, Cardiff, Llanelly, Newport (Mon.), and Port Talbot during each of the years 1929 to 1932.
There were no exports of the goods in question from Milford Haven during these years.
Information as to the countries of consignment of goods exported from individual ports is not available. The aggregate exports of tinplates from the above ports, however, represent a very substantial proportion of the total exports of such goods from the United Kingdom, and the principal countries of consignment of these exports will be found on pages 86 and 87 of Volume III of the "Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom, 1932."
London Traffic (Beaumont Square, Stepney)
asked the Minister of Transport if he will have a report made by his Department on the development of motor traffic in Beaumont Square, Stepney; and will he take steps to conserve the safe use of the garden square by children and to maintain quiet at night for the neighbouring Jewish hospital?
I propose to ask the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee to consider the traffic conditions in this square and to submit a report, on receipt of which I will communicate further with my hon. Friend.
South American Navies
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the present strength, if any, of the navies of Colombia and Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay?
The present strength of the fleets in question is understood to be:Colombia—2 destroyers; 3 gunboats; auxiliary and small craft such as armed motor boats, etc.Peru—2 cruisers; 3 destroyers; 4 submarines; 3 gunboats; auxiliary and small craft such as armed motor boats, etc.Bolivia.—Nil.Paraguay—5 gunboats.