Written Answers
Married Persons (Statistics)
asked the Minister of Health the approximate total number of married women between the ages of 60 and 65 whose husbands are over 65?
The best available figures are those relating to husbands and wives who were enumerated in the same dwelling at the 1931 Census. The number of couples of the ages specified in England and Wales was 159,969; but this figure does not take into account any couples of those ages who happened to be separated on the Census night.
Late Mrs Taylor, Manchester (Inquiry)
asked the Minister of Health whether it is proposed to publish the findings of the inquiry into the death of Mrs. Taylor, of Manchester; and, if so, when?
I have not yet received the report on this inquiry. The question of publication will be considered in due course.
Bolivia And Paraguay (War Material)
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish a statement giving particulars of the arms and munitions and naval and military stores, not including sporting arms and munitions, in respect of which he has issued licences to export to Bolivia and Paraguay, in June, July, August, September, and October, 1934?
No licences were issued for the export of war material either to Bolivia or to Paraguay during the months of June, July, August, September, and October, 1934.
Unemployment (Stepney)
asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he can state, to the last convenient date, the number of persons registered as unemployed in the borough of Stepney who are in receipt of transitional benefit and the number in receipt of standard benefit;(2) how many dock workers in the borough of Stepney were unemployed on the last available date; and how many were unemployed at the same time of the year in 1931, 1932, and 1933, respectively?
Statistics are not available showing the numbers of unemployed persons, resident in the Metropolitan Borough of Stepney, in receipt of insurance benefit and transitional payments or in separate industrial classifications, but the following table gives the information desired in respect of insured persons recorded as unemployed at the Stepney Employment Exchange:
Stepney Employment Exchange.
1.Insured persons with claims admitted at 24th September, 1934:
| Insurance benefit | … | 5,681 |
| Transitional payments | … | 1,356 |
2. Insured persons in the dock, harbour, etc., service classification recorded as unemployed at the undermentioned dates:
| 21st September, 1931 | … | 2,049 |
| 26th September, 1932 | … | 2,160 |
| 25th September, 1933 | … | 1,318 |
| 24th September, 1934 | … | 569 |
Foot-And-Mouth Disease, Lincolnshire
asked the Minister of Agriculture the latest information of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in North Lincolnshire and if its source has yet been traced?
Since the initial case was confirmed at Atterby in the Lindsey division of Lincolnshire on 20th October, 20 further outbreaks have been confirmed in the county. Eleven of these, the last of which occurred on 29th October, were in the immediate vicinity of the initial case. Six were confirmed in the district of Market Rosen, about five miles from Atterby, the latest ease occurring on 29th October; one occurred on 25th October at Cleethorpes, 25 miles from the original case; one on 28th October at Stallingborough, eight miles from Cleethorpes, and one on 28th October at Wykeham, near Louth. The source of infection in the county has not yet been traced, but inquiries are proceeding.
Coal Industry
Horses
asked the Secretary for Mines the number of mines in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Yorkshire, Durham, Northumberland, and South Wales, respectively, at which horses and ponies have been during the last three months out of the stables at work for more than one shift per day or more than seven or nine shifts per week?
The information asked for is not available. A general investigation made in 1931, however, showed that, except in South Wales, less than one-third of the horses employed worked more than six shifts per week and only a very small proportion more than eight. In South Wales the proportions were then somewhat higher, but a further investigation made in that area this year indicates that it is in present circumstances unusual for any horse to work more than one shift a day.
asked the Secretary for Mines how many mines out of the total of 363 mines employing horses below ground in 1932 in South Wales provided a regular supply of bedding for the horses in their underground stables; the names where bedding of any kind is regularly provided for the horses; and whether the horses lie down to sleep in any of such mines whether bedding is provided or not, and, if so, in which?
No statistical information is available, but it is the general and regular practice both in the district named and throughout the country to use sawdust, moss-litter or some other material of the kind. I regret that I cannot answer the last part of the question.
Mine Dangers
asked the Secretary for Mines the average depth of the workings of the mines in South Yorkshire; the highest and lowest temperatures recording at the coal face in these mines; and if there is any tendency to heating of gobs in any of these mines and any danger of ignition of coal dust due to rapid transit of wheeled tubs on rails or by friction in some other way?
The workings of the mines in South Yorkshire vary so widely in depth that an average would have no significance. Systematic records of temperature at the coal face are not kept, and I cannot answer the second part of the question. The answer to the third part of the question is "Yes," to the fourth part "No" and to the fifth part that there is a very remote risk.
Transport
>Speed Limit
asked the Minister of Transport what steps have been taken to put the speed limit into operation?
asked the Minister of Transport whether he has considered the imposition of a speed limit on motor cars in built-up areas; whether he has arrived at any decision; and, if so, whether he can now state what that decision is?
I would refer the hon. Members to the answer which I gave on Wednesday last to questions on this subject.
Road Improvement Schemes, Stepney
asked the Minister of Transport particulars of the proposed road work which is to be undertaken in the borough of Stepney, and what is the probable date of the commencement of the work; and whether preference will be given to local men in respect thereof?
Grants have been promised from the Road Fund towards the reconstruction (at a total estimated cost of approximately £100,006) of the Wapping entrance, New Gravel Lane and Glamis Road bridges, and towards the cost of widening Cable Street, Wapping Wall and Three Colt Street. I cannot say how soon the responsible local authorities will commence work on these schemes, but I see no reason for any considerable delay. I have asked the local authorities to arrange, as far as possible, to recruit labour for grant-aided works from the local Employment Exchanges.