Written Answers
Cotton Industry (Lancashire)
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can report the special assistance that is now proposed for Lancashire as the result of the case put forward by the delegation that lately visited him?
I am not in a position to make any statement on this matter at present.
Spain
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the number of British merchant vessels which have cleared from Welsh pos for Spain in the last six months, giving the ports of destination in each case?
The number of British vessels, including their repeated voyages, that cleared for Spain from Welsh ports during the six months ended March, 1937, was 26; of this number 17 cleared with cargo. Particulars regarding ports of destination are not required to be furnished for the purposes of the navigation returns.
Scotland
Police (Ayrshire)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can state the number, rank, age, and names of members of the police force of Ayrshire who are still serving and have over 30 years' service?
Ten serving members of the Ayr County Police Force—the deputy chief constable, a superintendent, four inspectors, a sergeant and three constables —have had over 30 years' service. The ages of the men in question range from 49 to 61 years, and I am sending to the hon. Member the further information for which he asks.
Housing, Sandyhills
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give serious consideration to the request of the tenants in Sandyhills steel houses to have electric light installed, and get this carried out by the Second Scottish National Housing Company?
The Department of Health approved, on 12th January, 1937, the proposal of the Second Scottish National Housing Company, to instal electricity into the steel houses at Sandyhills. Tenders for the work have already been invited.
Building Materials (Cost)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that building contractors in Scotland in recent weeks have added to their estimates for housing schemes a proviso that these estimates are subject to unspecified increases in the event of changes in the cost of material; and whether this is having an adverse effect on the housing programmes of local authorities?
I am aware that in a number of recent cases building contractors in Scotland, when submitting tenders for housing schemes, have added to these tenders a proviso of the nature referred to in the hon. Member's question. No tenders of this kind have, however, been approved by the Department of Health, and as the Local Authorities concerned have succeeded in securing firm tenders, no adverse effect on housing programmes has resulted.
National Defence Contribution
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what new staff will be required for the collection of the Defence tax; and what is the estimated cost of such collection?
Until the form of the tax has been determined by Parliament no estimate of the cost of its assessment and collection can usefully be attempted. It is not, however, anticipated that it should be very considerable.
Contributory Pension (Mrs L I Walker)
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will expedite inquiries into the application for pension of Mrs. Louisa 1. Walker, 103, Colegrave Road, Stratford, E.15, Case No. X 3P/P 05,424,444?
I have been asked to reply. I find that Mrs. Walker was informed on the 24th November last that as she was in receipt of a service dependant's pension, a pension under the Contributory Pensions Act was not payable to her before she reached the age of 70.
Tuberculosis (Schoolchildren)
asked the Minister of Health how many cases of tuberculosis have been notified among schoolchildren, during the last year for which the figures are available, in Chesterfield and in Sheffield, respectively?
Three hundred and ninety-four fresh cases of tuberculosis were notified among children between the ages of five and 15 in Sheffield in 1936, and seven were notified among children between the same ages in Chesterfield in 1935, the last year for which figures are at present available for that borough.
Vivisection
asked the Home Secretary whether the various experiments in vivisection upon animals performed under licence by his Department, with a view to the advancement by new discovery of physiological knowledge and of knowledge which will be useful for saving and prolonging life and alleviating suffering, have so resulted; and, if so, what evidence is supplied to his Department, and by whom?
I am afraid that it would not be possible within the limits of an answer to a Parliamentary question to deal with the wide and controversial issue raised by the hon. Member.
Broadcasting (Schools)
asked the President of the Board of Education how many schools in the country possess facilities for listening in to broadcasts; and will he give figures for the City and County of Leicester, respectively?
According to the register of schools kept by the Central Council for School Broadcasting, the number of schools of all categories in England and Wales possessing facilities for listening in to broadcasts is 6,513. The figures for the City and County of Leicester are 30 and 40 respectively.
British Army (Petrol And Oil Consumption)
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the total quantity of oils used by his Department in 1936 in the following categories: fuel oil, Diesel oil, motor spirit, and lubricating oil; and what proportion of each was produced from indigenous materials?
I regret that this information is not available.
Unemployment Assistance (Need Test)
asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the hardships caused by the inclusion, for the purpose of calculating family incomes in respect of the means test, of lump sums paid to injured workmen by way of compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act; and whether, in view of the fact that these commutated sums represent the loss of earning capacity, both present and future, of injured workmen, and are not savings or interest on investments, he will consider discontinuing assessing these settlements for the purposes of relief of unemployment existing in the households of these workmen?
I would remind the hon. Member that the special nature of these lump sum payments has already been recognised by the board so that one-half is treated as required for the special needs or personal requirements of the holder. If the holder is other than the applicant or the applicant's husband, wife, father or mother, the balance is taken into account only in so far as the actual income derived from it, together with any other available resources, exceeds the amount of the scale rates of the holder and his dependants. In other cases the balance of one-half is regarded as producing an income of 1s. per week for each £25 in excess of the first £25.
Transport
Railway Safety Precautions
asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that much passenger rolling stock is still in use in which the bars across windows are not removable; and whether he will draw the attention of railway companies to the recommendations on this subject made in the report on the Gretna Green disaster of 22nd May, 1915 (Cmd. 8114)?
I understand that non-removable bars are fitted across the drop lights of carriages on certain lines, mainly suburban, where, owing to the width of the stock and the small clearances available, passengers leaning out of the windows would be specially liable to sustain injury; across some of the lights of certain sleeping cars where, for example, passengers have to reach upper berths; and across the large fixed windows of corridor stock. In the first two cases I am advised that the provision of bars is likely to prevent a number of accidents, whereas conditions in which their presence might have an adverse effect are likely to be extremely rare. In the third case the presence of protecting bars across these large windows should not prevent egress in case of emergency. In the circumstances in which bars are now used, it is thought undesirable to have bars which could be removed by children or other passengers.
Road Improvement, Glasgow
asked the Minister of Transport the reason for the failure to widen the road and bridge over the North British Railway on Duke Street, and near Todd Street, Parkhead, Glasgow; and whether he will take steps to urge on the parties concerned the carrying out of this necessary alteration, as this is recognised as a dangerous part of the public road?
I assume the bridge which the hon. Member has in mind is that which carries the London and North Eastern Railway over Duke Street near Todd Street. I understand that the Corporation of Glasgow are anxious to widen both bridge and road and that the necessary plans are being prepared by the railway company.