Written Answers
Marriage (Average Age)
asked the Minister of Health what was the average age of marriage for males and females, respectively, during the last census period?
The figures asked for are given in considerable detail in Table L of the Registrar-General's Statistical Review for 1932—Tables Part II: Civil—to which, with my hon. Friend's permission, I would refer him.
Inland Water Survey
asked the Minister of Health whether the inland water survey which he is instituting will deal with water in all aspects; and whether, for instance, prevention of flooding will be included as well as water supply, since these are two sides of the same problem?
The object of the survey is to collect and to correlate reliable records of available water supplies, particularly of river flows, including flood flows, and of underground water levels. The information for the survey will be obtained from catchment boards, who are primarily responsible in England and Wales for flood prevention, and other qualified bodies and persons, as well as from water undertakers. The survey will be of value to those concerned with all aspects of inland water administration.
Contributory Old Age Pensions
asked the Minister of Health whether he will inquire into the cause of the delay in dealing with the application of Mr. D. McGrath, of 54, St. Bees Street, Moss Side, Manchester, Claim No. 43,394,206, for an old age pension under the Health Insurance Acts?
On the information which has so far been obtained, the statutory conditions for the award of an old age pension are not satisfied in this case, but there is a suggestion that there was a period of employment which has not been taken into account. It cannot be assumed that the inclusion of that employment will complete title to pension, but efforts are being made to obtain verification of the employment and, if these efforts are successful, the claim will be reconsidered in the light of the additional information.
asked the Minister of Health how many wives are drawing old age pensions under the contributory scheme?
Approximately 191,000 wives between the ages of 65 and 70 were in receipt of old age pensions under the Contributory Pensions Acts in right of their husband's insurance on 30th September, 1934. No information is available as to the number of wives in receipt of pensions in right of their own insurance.
Post Office
Radiotelephone Services (West Indies)
asked the Postmaster-General whether telephonic communication is at present available between this country and Jamaica, Trinidad, and other West Indian islands, or whether steps are being taken to make it available?
Radiotelephone services are already available between this country and the Bahamas and Cuba; and there is also a service with Bermuda. The provision of a service with Jamaica is at present under consideration; but I am not yet in a position to make a definite announcement on the subject.
Conveyance Of Mails (Foreign Countries)
asked the Postmaster-General the respective rates paid by his Department for the conveyance of mails from this country to France, Italy, Germany, the United States of America, and Japan, and the comparative rates paid by these countries for the conveyance of mails to Great Britain; and what, if any, reciprocal cost arrangements are involved?
The conveyance of mails to the countries in question is covered partly by direct payments to the steamship companies concerned, and partly by payments to other postal administrations at the rates laid down in the Postal Union Convention, to which all the postal administrations of the world are signatories. Postal union rates are based on weight and distance, and are uniform for all countries. The arrangements made by other countries are generally similar to our own.
Agriculture
Potatoes
asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any census of potato growing has been recently made; and whether any financial advantage has accrued to the growers during the period of administration of the Potato Marketing Board and, if so, approximately to what extent?
On 10th November, the Potato Marketing Board conducted a census of ware potatoes of marketable quality then remaining on the farms of registered producers, and of those already sold off the farms. Annexed is a comparative statement of the index numbers of potato wholesale prices in England and Wales for the months July to November inclusive, in each of the years 1932, 1933 and 1934.
| Monthly Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices of Potatoes. | |||
| —— | 1932. | 1933. | 1934. |
| England and Wales— | |||
| July* | 134 | 95 | 136 |
| August* | 106 | 91 | 153 |
| September | 114 | 99 | 158 |
| October | 120 | 110 | 151 |
| November | 123 | 115 | 146 |
| Total crop (tons) (Great Britain). | 4,450,000 | 4,555,000 | 4,466,000 |
| * Relate to first early potatoes only. | |||
Milk (Publicity)
asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give the House any information as to the use to which the publicity fund in the hands of the Milk Board has yet been put; and what steps, if any, have been taken to encourage the greater consumption of milk, excluding that amount which is being given to school children?
The funds provided under Section 11 of the Milk Act, 1934, are available for meeting up to one-half of the expenses incurred by a milk marketing board in carrying out approved arrangements for increasing the demand for milk. The balance of the expenditure so incurred is met from the funds of the Milk Marketing Board which submits the arrangements for approval. The scheme for the provision of milk in schools, which has already been approved, comes under this arrangement. The question of other forms of publicity is at present engaging the attention of the Advisory Committee on Milk Publicity, appointed by the Milk Marketing Board, under the chairmanship of Viscount Astor, to consider these problems. The Milk Marketing Board also has funds derived from a levy on milk sales in May last, part of which, together with a contribution of equal amount from the distributors, is being devoted to general publicity in favour of increased milk consumption through the agency of the National Milk Publicity Council. I should be happy to arrange, if desired, for information as to the activities of the National Milk Publicity Council.
Herring Fishing Industry
asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps the Government have taken, or intend to take, to implement the recommendation in the Hewing Industry Command Paper 4677, page 41, sub-paragraph (f), to the effect that credit facilities should be made available for reconditioning and re-equipping boats, for constructing new boats and for the supply of nets?
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland stated on Monday last, in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Banff (Sir M. McKenzie Wood) that be hoped to introduce legislation this week for re-organising the herring industry on the lines of the report of the Sea-Fish Commission. The hon. Member will appreciate that I cannot anticipate the terms of the Bill.
Broadmoor Asylum (Staff)
asked the Home Secretary whether there has been any review of the complement of staff at the Broad-moor Criminal Lunatic Asylum during the past two years; and whether he is aware that a number of relief days are due to the staff in consequence of a shortness of attendants?
The attendants have received their full annual leave and rest days; but owing to sick leave amongst the male staff, it has not always been possible for them to have the full number of occasional hours off duty. An additional attendant was appointed last April with the object of enabling each attendant to receive the full number of occasional hours.
Borstal Institutions (Staffs)
asked the Home Secretary the estimated cost of the Borstal institutions and staffs for the financial year ending 31st March, 1936, as compared with that of the current year; how many assistant housemasters and housemasters were sanctioned and employed during the current year; the corresponding number estimated for during the year ending 31st March, 1936; and the annual and total salaries, respectively?
As regards the first, third and fourth parts of the question, I must ask the hon. Member to await the publication in due course of the Estimates for the coming financial year. As regards the second part of the question, the authorised establishment of Borstal institutions for the current year includes 20 housemasters and 27 assistant housemasters, and the numbers actually employed are 18 and 26 respectively. The three posts not allotted will be utilised in connection with the new Borstal institution to be established next year.
Proposed New Peoples Palace
asked the hon. Member for Bosworth, as representing the Charity Commissioners, whether he can report the stage reached in rebuilding the burnt-down Queen's Hall of the Peoples Palace, Mile End Road?
Sketch plans for the new Peoples Palace were submitted to the Commissioners in October last. In November, however, it was found to be necessary for the Governors to modify these plans in view of the necessity for economy and for other reasons. The Commissioners understand that the revised plans will be submitted for their approval in January next.
Milk (School Children)
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether necessitous children must now have a medical certificate before they can be supplied with milk by a local authority?
It is presumed that this question refers primarily to the provision of milk for children attending public elementary schools. The method of selection at present varies in different areas, but the Board have urged that a medical basis should be adopted as being in accordance with the intention of Section 84 of the Education Act, 1921, and the most effective means of securing that school meals, whether in the form of solid food or milk, are supplied to those children who need them. It is not necessary for a medical recommendation to be given before the child is supplied with free milk, as children may be given milk provisionally pending a report by the school medical officer.
Spain (British Trade Delegation)
asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he can now state the results of the Commercial Mission to Spain?
The delegation to Spain only returned to this country on Saturday, 15th December. I have consequently not yet had an opportunity to give full consideration to their report.
Road Accidents (Stationary Vehicles)
asked the Minister of Transport whether it will be possible, with a view to eliminating causes of road accidents, to ascertain and publish at intervals the proportion of accidents attributed to obstruction by stationary motor vehicles stored temporarily on public highways instead of in garages?
I will certainly see what can be done in this direction.