Written Answers
Juvenile Offenders (Approved Schools)
asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that no report on the work of the children's department has been published since 1928; and whether, in view of the importance of making the work done by the Department, and in particular of approved schools, as widely known as possible, he will consider the need for a further report in a popular form at an early date?
I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Lichfield (Mr. Lovat-Fraser) on 1st February last.
Royal Air Force
Petrol And Oil Consumption
asked the Under-Secretary of. State for Air whether he will state the total quantities of motor spirit, Diesel oil, and lubricating oil used by his Department in 1936, and what proportion of each was produced from indigenous materials?
It would not be in the public interest to give the information requested. The estimated annual expenditure on petrol and lubricants is shown in the Air Estimates, Vote 3.L.
Air Raid Precautions (Balloon Barrage)
asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether the Air Ministry contemplates the provision of a system of effective balloon-barrage defence for provincial cities, especially those where important Government contracts are being carried out?
I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Berwick-on-Tweed (Sir Hugh Seely) on 24th February.
asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he can state the number of balloons for the London barrage defence delivered up till 17th April?
As intimated in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Berwick-on-Tweed (Sir Hugh Seely) on 10th February, it is not in the public interest to give the figures asked for. Satisfactory deliveries continue to be made.
Chimney Sweepers Acts
asked the Home Secretary what sums were received last year from licences to chimney sweeps under the Chimney Sweepers Acts, 1875 and 1894; and whether they are credited to the Exchequer or to local revenues?
The fees for chimney sweepers' certificates issued by the police are credited to local police funds. I cannot, without detailed inquiry, give the total for the whole country, but for the year ended 31st ultimo the amount received in the Metropolitan Police District was £2 15s.
Unemployment (Transferees, Durham County)
asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the total
| Number of applicants. | Number of entries to Dartmouth. | Number who failed to qualify. | Number not selected to take qualifying examination. | |||
| 1934 | … | … | 242 | 111 | 40 | 91 |
| 1935 | … | … | 259 | 115 | 62 | 82 |
| 1936 | … | … | 272 | 141 | 58 | 73 |
number of persons transferred from the county of Durham?
, pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 19th April, 1937; col. 1428, Vol. 322) supplied the following information:During the years 1932 to 1936 and the first two months of 1937, 32,546 persons were transferred from Durham under the Department's Industrial Transference Scheme. Figures are not available showing transfers from particular areas for years prior to 1932.
Royal Navy (Cadetships, Dartmouth)
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty (1) how many applicants there have been in each of the last three years for cadetships at Dartmouth; and how many and what percentage of the total number of applicants in each case have been, respectively, granted cadetships, rejected after sitting for the qualifying examination, rejected after having been interviewed by the Admiralty committee and without having sat for the qualifying examination;(2) how many of the cadetships to Dartmouth granted in each of the last three years have been King's cadetships paid for at reduced fees and paid for at the full fees;(3) in regard to the special entry of naval cadets, how many and what percentage of the total number who have sat for the examination in each of the last three years have failed; and if he will say how many and what percentage of the total number of the special entry cadetships granted over the last three years have been in each case King's cadetships granted for payment at reduced fees and granted for payment at full fees?
Following is the information required in the first question:
| Percentage of total number of candidates to enter Dartmouth. | Percentage of total number of candidates who failed to qualify. | Percentage of total number of candidates who were not selected to take the qualifying examination. | |||
| 1934 | … | … | 46 | 16·5 | 37·5 |
| 1935 | … | … | 44·5 | 24 | 31·5 |
| 1936 | … | … | 52 | 21 | 27 |
Following is the information required in the second question:
| Number of Cadetships to Dartmouth granted in 1934, 1935 and 1936, distinguishing between those at Full Fees, those at Reduced Fees, and King's Cadetships. | ||||||
| Year. | King's Cadetship. | Reduced Fees. | Full Fees. | |||
| 1934 | … | … | … | 4 | 116 | 253 |
| 1935 | … | … | … | 4 | 104 | 283 |
| 1936 | … | … | … | 4 | 114 | 287 |
| NOTES.—A King's Cadetship carries remission of all fees and the grant of an Outfit Allowance of 140 on first entry. King's Cadetships are granted to Cadets whose fathers died as a result of Active Service and when substantial help is needed towards the cost of Naval training. | ||||||
Following is the information required in the third question:
| Year. | Number of unsuccessful candidates.* | Percentage of total number of candidates.* | Number of King's Cadetships granted.† | |||
| 1934 | … | … | … | 166 | 64 | 1 |
| 1935 | … | … | … | 169 | 56 | 2 |
| 1936 | … | … | … | 178 | 46 | 1 |
| NOTES. | ||||||
* These figures relate to the numbers of candidates for Paymaster Cadetships and Royal Marine Commissions as well as for Special Entry Cadetships. It is not possible to distinguish between these candidates as all sit for the same examination. | ||||||
| † In the Special Entry, King's Cadetships carry the privileges of a grant of £40 towards the cost of uniform and the remission of the "private allowance" of £24. | ||||||
Spain
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will publish any communications recently received from the Naval Command off the Basque coast, relative to mines in that area?
In my statement in the Debate on the 10th April I gave the substance of the information received about minelaying off the Basque coast. It would not be in the public interest to give the text of the messages from Naval sources as they are in cypher.
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will give the text of the Admiralty communication in which the captain of His Majesty's ship "Blanche" based his recent order to British ships not to leave St. Jean de Luz; and at what precise time that order was withdrawn?
It is not in the public interest to publish operational orders which are sent in cypher. The substance, however, was that the Admiralty approved the action of the captain of His Majesty's ship "Blanche" in detaining the British ships in St. Jean de Luz harbour pending the communication which was on its way to the Consul from the Board of Trade. The commanding officer's message to the ships was cancelled at 10.30 a.m. on the 12th April.