House Of Commons
Friday, 16th November, 1934.
The House met at Eleven of the Clock, Mr. SPEAKER in the Chair.
Oral Answers To Questions
Agriculture (Meat Imports; Regulation)
1.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the imports of beef in October this year were 959,434 tons, an increase of 45,063 tons compared with October of last year; and when he hopes to be able to deal with the situation?
I have been asked to reply. The figures for imports of beef in October are as stated, but they represent cwts. not tons. With regard to the second part of the question, my right hon. Friend has nothing to add to the answers he gave my hon. Friend on 5th November.
2.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the imports of frozen pork were 120 per cent. higher in October this year than last, and were 80 per cent. higher in the first ten months of this year than in the same period of last year; and whether he proposes to take steps to deal with these imports now aggregating nearly £3,000,000 a year?
My right hon. Friend is aware that imports of frozen pork have shown a substantial increase in recent months, the figures for October and the 10 months January to October, 1934, showing increases of about 123 per cent. and 94 per cent., respectively, compared with those for the corresponding periods of last year. With regard to the second part of the question, imports of frozen pork are covered by the general programme for the regulation of meat imports referred to in the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for South Molton (Mr. Lambert), on 30th October.
Trade And Commerce (Iron And Steel Imports)
3.
asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the imports of iron and steel in the first ten months of this year have aggregated £7,719,837, an increase of £2,815,439 on the same period of last year; and what steps he proposes to take to secure for British workers the employment represented by this importation?
I am aware of the increased imports to which my hon. Friend refers. With regard to the second part of the question I would refer to the reply which I gave to him and other hon. Members on the 31st, July. I should like to add that the value of our exports of these goods in the first ten months of this year was £4,293,509 greater than in the corresponding period of last year.
As the exports go to different countries from those from which these imports come, can the hon. Member tell me what relevance his figures have to the question?
They have an immense relevance. The hon. Member's question appears to assume that the iron and steel goods imported are fully manufactured. That is not the case. A great many of them are processed in this country and provide employment here, and the fact that on balance there is a large increase in exports over imports is a justification of the policy.
Can the hon. Member say which of the imports that are processed in this country cannot be produced in this country, other than a certain amount of charcoaled iron and steel?
I could with notice give a great list.
Is there not some way of preventing these continuous attacks on the Government by the hon. Member?
Opening Of Parliament (Members' Accommodation)
4.
asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will allow Members of this House to use the stand which is being erected in Parliament Square in connection with the royal wedding on the occasion of the State opening of Parliament?
It will not be possible to complete the decoration of the Parliamentary stand before next Tuesday, but there would be no objection to Members making use of it for this purpose if they so desire. No tickets will be issued, and no promise can be given that there will be room for everyone. The seating accommodation is limited, and in case there is a large demand Members are asked not to bring more than one visitor each.
As there are no tickets to be issued, can the right hon. Gentleman say how control will be exercised? Will an hon. Member only be able to go in with one guest or may he on his ticket send two guests?
An hon. Member must go himself; the House police and custodians know hon. Members. Hon. Members can bring one guest. Most hon. Members will find accommodation in the galleries of the House of Lords.
Royal Assent
Message to attend the Lords Commissioners.
The House went; and, having returned,
(standing in the Clerk's place at the Table): I have to acquaint the House that the House has been to the House of Peers, where a Commission under the Great Seal was reading authorising the Royal Assent to—
Prorogation
His Majesty's Most Gracious Speech
I have further to acquaint the House that the Lord High Chancellor, being one of the High Commissioners, delivered His Majesty's Most Gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament, in pursuance of His Majesty's Commands, as followeth:
My Lords and Members of the House of Commons,
The murder of the former Austrian Chancellor in July, and the assassinations of the King of Yugoslavia and of Barthou in October, profoundly shocked the world and evoked the deep sympathy of Myself and all my People. These tragedies undoubtedly caused a serious setback to movements then on foot for European appeasement, and I have therefore noted with satisfaction the untiring efforts which My Government have made in many directions to counsel moderation and promote more friendly relations between nations.
In continuation of the conversations which took place last summer, representatives of My Government are at present engaged in preliminary discussions with representatives of the Governments of the United States and Japan in preparation for the Naval Conference, which is due to take place next year. It is my earnest hope that their efforts may be attended with success, in order that the world may be spared the evil of unrestricted competition in naval armaments so effectively averted in recent years by the international engagements freely entered into by the parties concerned.
Two of My sons have been able to make visits during the present year to my Dominions overseas. The welcome which the Duke of Kent received during his recent visit to South Africa and that given to the Duke of Gloucester first in Ceylon and then in Australia have been a source of great pleasure to the Queen and Myself.
An Act has been passed making fresh provision for the administration of Newfoundland in accordance with the recommendations of the royal Commission on Newfoundland. A Commission of Government has been set up and will, I trust, succeed in restoring prosperity to the Island.
The Joint Committee of both your Houses, after patiently and assiduously examining the problem of the future government of India, have concluded their task, and their recommendations will shortly be before you. Seldom, if ever, has an enquiry covered a wider or a more important field, and I do not doubt that your Committee have discharged their duty in a manner worthy of the task entrusted to them.
Members of the House of Commons,
I thank you for the provision you have made for the public service.
My Lords and Members of the House of Commons,
Notwithstanding the continuance of difficult conditions affecting international trade, the purchasing and saving power of my People has been strengthened and the national finances have so far improved as to justify a substantial alleviation of the burdens which were accepted three years ago.
The continued improvement in trade and employment among My People gives Me great satisfaction. I am especially pleased at the welcome expansion in the export trade of this country, which has been materially assisted by the trade agreements which have been concluded with a number of foreign States, and by the development of trade within the Empire on the basis of mutual preference.
I regret that unhappily some areas have not shared in this improvement and their special conditions are receiving the sympathetic attention of My Ministers.
I have given My assent to a Bill providing for the amendment of the unemployment insurance scheme and for the establishment of a system of 'unemployment assistance on a national basis.
Bills have received My assent providing for the amendment of the law relating to betting and gambling, for the prevention of incitement to disaffection, and for regulating the hours of employment of young persons in the distributive trades.
Measures have also been passed for meeting the situation arising from the long continued drought, and for assisting the livestock and dairy sections of the agricultural industry.
Bills relating to Scotland have received My assent providing for the acceleration of the provisions of small holdings, for the suppression of illegal trawling, and for the amendment of the Poor Law.
A number of other Measures of public utility have been passed into law.
I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your labours.
Then a Commission for Proroguing the Parliament was read in the House of Lords.
After which the Lord Chancellor said:
My Lords and Members of the House of Commons,—By virtue of His Majesty's Commission, under the Great Seal, to us and other Lords directed, and now read, we do, in His Majesty's Name and in obedience to His Majesty's Commands, prorogue this Parliament to Tuesday, the twentieth day of November, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-four, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly Prorogued until Tuesday, the twentieth day of November, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-four.
End of the Third Session (opened Tuesday, 21st November, 1933) of the Thirty-sixth Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in the twenty-fifth year of the Reign of His Majesty King George the Fifth.