Written Answers
Defence Forces Expenditure
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the aggregate amounts spent on the Navy, Army and Air Force, respectively, during the 10 years to the 31st March, 1935?
The aggregate net expenditure from Navy, Army and Air Votes in the 10 years to 31st March, 1935 (including the estimated expenditure in the financial year 1934–35), amounted approximately to 552,404 and 166 millions of pounds respectively, making a total for the three Votes of £1,122 millions, of which £172 millions represented expenditure on non-effective services.
Palestine (Malaria)
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give the number of cases of malaria recorded in Palestine for the last three years; and whether there is any reason to fear a recrudescence of the disease during the coming season?
The only comparative statistics available are those of the number of malaria cases among dispensary patients up to the year 1933. The figures for 1934 are not yet available. In 1931 out of 458,941 dispensary patients there were 8,147 cases of malaria; in 1932 out of 495,583 patients there were 2,984 cases of malaria; and in 1933 out of 528,186 patients there were 3,330 cases of malaria. The High Commissioner for Palestine has recently reported that, owing to the unusually heavy rainfall of the past winter, there is a serious danger of an increase of malaria, particularly in certain areas where new development is proceeding. The Director of Medical Services in Palestine has caused a survey to be made in the districts likely to be affected and has drawn up a programme for the necessary anti-malarial measures.
Transport (Toll Roads And Bridges)
asked the Minister of Transport for what reason no toll roads or toll bridges were freed during the financial year 1934 to 1935; and whether he will reconsider whether the grants which he is prepared to make at the present time for the freeing of these roads and bridges are sufficient to encourage highway authorities to take advantage of their powers under the Road Traffic Act, 1930?
Only one definite application was submitted during the last financial year for the freeing of toll roads or toll bridges in private ownership and that was not received till the end of March. Some authorities made tentative enquiries and were informed that I was prepared to consider any definite proposals for grants at the normal rates (60 per cent. for roads and bridges of class I value and 50 per cent. in all other cases). These rates should be sufficient to encourage local authorities to get rid of these local burdens.
asked the Minister of Transport whether he can state the names of the local authorities at present owning toll roads or toll bridges and, with regard to each case, by what date it is anticipated that these roads and bridges will be freed to the public; and to what extent at the present time the tolls thereon are being used to subsidise the rates of the local authorities concerned?
The following is a list of local authorities owning toll roads and bridges:—(i) Toll Roads.Rochdale C.B.C.Roch Mills Lane.Llandudno U.D.C.Loop Road encircling Great Ormes Head.(both are unclassified roads.)
(ii) Toll Bridges.
Sandwich T.C.
Sandwich Bridge.
Widnes T.C.
Transporter Bridge.
Newport (Mon.) T.C.
Transporter Bridge.
Bournemouth C.B.C.
Tuckton Bridge.
Littlehampton U.D.C.
Littlehampton Bridge.
Leeds C.B.C.
Gotts Bridge.
Conway T.C.
Conway Bridge.
Carnarvon T.C.
Aber Bridge.
Horsforth U.D.C.
Newlay Bridge.
I regret that I am unable to say when these roads and bridges will be freed from tolls, and I have no information as to the extent, if any, to which the tolls are being used to subsidise the rates of the local authorities concerned.
Burma (Army, Church Accommodation)
asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will ask for a Report on the adequacy of the accommodation for religious worship at present available for troops in Mingalodon, Rangoon?
My right hon. Friend is looking into this matter in connection with the representation that has been sent to him by my hon. Friend.
Post Office
Broadcasting (Inquiry)
asked the Postmaster-General what evidence from Wales will be called by the Broadcasting Investigation Committee?
Any person or organisation desiring to submit evidence or representations to the Committee, on matters within its terms of reference, has been invited, by notice in the press, to communicate with the Committee.
Savings Bank Deposits
asked the Postmaster General whether he will state the total number of depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank and the aggregate amount of their deposits at the latest convenient date in 1935; and the comparative figures at the nearest similar time in 1934?
The number of depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank on the 30th April, 1935, was approximately 9,700,000 and the total amount of their deposits with accrued interest was £369,000,000. The corresponding figures at the same date last year was 9,332,000 and £338,300,000 respectively.
Aviation (Accidents)
asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air, how many flying accidents occured in Great Britain during the year 1934 in which fire was the cause of the accident; the number of cases in which fire followed an accident; and the total number of accidents for the year?
In no case, during the year 1934, was any flying accident caused by an outbreak of fire. In nine cases fire broke out subsequent to the accident. The total number of accidents to civil aircraft of all classes was 96. It should be added that this figure relates to cases of structural damage and not to personal injury.
Coroners'courts
asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to set up a commission to inquire into the general administration of coroners' courts and, if so, will he state what terms of reference; and whether the inquiry will be held in public?
I appointed a Committee on this subject in February last and gave the names of the members and the terms of reference in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Tinker) on 28th February. The proceedings of the Committee are being held in private.
Liquid Milk
asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the output of liquid milk in Great Britain for each year from 1923 to 1934, and the quantities utilised each year for the manufacture of butter and cheese?
Estimates of the output and disposal of milk in Great Britain, based on the Census of Production enquiries undertaken in 1924–5 and 1930–1, are only available for those years and are conveniently summarised in Appendix D of the Report of the Reorganisation Commission for Milk (Economic Series No. 38), to which I would refer the hon. Member. Statistics of milk sold by wholesale in England and Wales under the Milk Marketing Scheme are published in the Journal of my Department, but these figures are not comparable with those relating to the years 1924–5 and 1930–1.
British Shipping (South Wales Registration)
asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether he will state the number of vessels, the registered tonnage, number of seamen carried by vessels registered in South Wales ports for 1932 and 1934, and the total exports and imports cleared at these ports in the years referred to?
The number and tonnage of trading vessels registered under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, that remained on the register of South Wales ports (namely, Cardiff, Llanelly, Newport, Port Talbot, Swansea and Milford) at the end of 1932 and 1934 were as follow:
| — | No. of vessels. | Gross tonnage. | Net tonnage. |
| At 31st December, 1932. | 323 | 430,774 | 258,113 |
| At 31st December, 1934. | 251 | 279,182 | 166,305 |
| — | Imports. | Exports. |
| £ | £ | |
| 1932 | 12,293,000 | 28,546,000 |
| 1933 | 10,761,000 | 29,203,000 |