Written Answers
Electricity Supply (Grid System)
asked the Minister of Transport whether the recent severe weather in the West of England has exercised any effect on the grid system and the distribution of electricity?
During the recent severe weather there was a breakdown in the secondary grid line to Salisbury, but a supply was for the most part maintained from alternative sources. Certain transmission lines of the companies operating in that area, as well as individual service lines, were also affected, but I understand that a supply was soon generally restored.
Lighterage, Port Of London
asked the Minister of Transport whether he can state the total number of working barges registered with the Port of London Authority, excluding sailing and power-driven craft; and how many of these are of wooden construction?
I am informed by the Port of London Authority that the number is approximately 8,200, of which some 1,400 are of wooden construction.
asked the Minister of Transport whether the provision of more craft is required to provide sufficient lighterage facilities for the Port of London at all times of the year; and, if so, what approximate number?
I have no reason to think that the existing supply of barges does not meet all normal requirements.
Palestine (Crimes Ordinance)
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons have been deported or forcibly expelled from Palestine since 30th September, 1936, under the Prevention of Crimes Ordinance?
No power exists under the Prevention of Crimes Ordinance for the deportation or expulsion of persons from Palestine.
China And Japan
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the question of Japanese aggression against China is to be again considered by the League of Nations Advisory Committee of 23 members?
I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend on 8th December to the hon. Member for Kingswinford (Mr. A. Henderson), to which I have nothing to add.
British Army
Educational Corps
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the block in promotion in the Army Educational Corps due to the retention of certain officers in senior positions for a much longer period than is usual in other branches of the Service; and whether he will consider in what way this situation can be improved?
As my hon. Friend is aware, officers in this Corps, unlike officers in other corps, are serving under special conditions as regards age of retirement, and my liberty of action is thus unfortunately restricted.
Establishment And Strength
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the present deficiency in officers and other ranks, respectively, in the Regular Army; and the figures of recruiting for the Regular Army during the last three months, together with the figures for the same months of last year?
On 1st December last the Regular Army was deficient of 973 officers and 18,990 other ranks. During the three months ended 30th November, 7,211 recruits were obtained, as compared with 5,289 during the corresponding period in 1936, being an increase of 1,922 or about 36 per cent.
Territorial Force Organisation
asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is his intention that serving Territorial officers are to be called upon to give evidence before the committee which has now been appointed to inquire into the organisation of the Territorial Army?
The evidence to be given is in the discretion of the committee and there is no exclusion.
Shipping (Australian Trade Route)
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give particulars of any changes that have taken place in the shipping of freight between Australia and this country for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; and whether such changes have had any effect on the shipping on the routes concerned?
I do not know what changes the hon. Member has in mind, but I understand that in the last two years there has been a tendency for cargo ships between Australia and this country to use the Cape rather than the Suez Canal route.
Unemployment (Assistance, South Wales)
asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the number of single men in receipt of allowance from the Unemployment Assistance Board at the Bridgend, Aberkenfig, Maesteg, Pontycymmer and Ogmore Vale Exchanges, and the number to whom reductions have applied since November last?
I regret that the information desired by the hon. Member is not available.
Cost Of Living Index Figure
asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the cost of living figures, specifying the various items at the lowest cost in the last five years, together with the number of unemployed at that date, with the latest comparable figures of the cost of living and the number of unemployed, and the increase in aggregate wage-rates between the two periods?
The lowest cost of living index figure recorded during the past five years was at 1st May and 1st June, 1933, when the figure was 36 per cent. above the level of July, 1914. The following table shows the index figures for the various items included at 1st June, 1933, and 1st December, 1937, the figures for July, 1914, being taken as = 100.
| Item. | 1st June, 1933. | 1st December. 1937. |
Food: | ||
| Beef, British— | ||
| Ribs | 141 | 146 |
| Thin Flank | 112 | 118 |
| Beef, Chilled or Frozen— | ||
| Ribs | 122 | 134 |
| Thin Flank | 94 | 105 |
| Mutton, British— | ||
| Legs | 141 | 155 |
| Breast | 115 | 124 |
| Mutton, Frozen— | ||
| Legs | 132 | 152 |
| Breast | 88 | 104 |
| Bacon | 102 | 137 |
| Fish | 190 | 200 |
| Flour | 113 | 153 |
| Bread | 127 | 163 |
| Tea | 115 | 145 |
| Sugar (granulated) | 115 | 126 |
| Milk | 156 | 199 |
| Butter— | ||
| Fresh | 90 | 122 |
| Salt | 80 | 115 |
| Cheese | 103 | 128 |
| Margarine | 86 | 93 |
| Eggs (fresh) | 87 | 212 |
| Potatoes | 106 | 129 |
| All the above | 114 | 146 |
Rent (including rates) | 156 | 159 |
Clothing
| 185 | 210 |
Fuel and Light: | ||
| Coal | 175 | 195–200 |
| Gas | 145–150 | 145–150 |
| Fuel and Light* | 165–170 | 180–185 |
Other Items Included† | 170–175 | 175 |
| All above items | 136 | 160 |
* Coal, gas, oil, candles, matches. | ||
| † Soap, soda, domestic ironmongery, brush-ware, pottery, tobacco, fares and newspapers. | ||
The increase shown by the figures for "All items" is between 17 and 18 per cent.
The number of persons registered at Employment Exchanges in Great Britain as unemployed at 22nd May, 1933, was 2,582,879. At 15th November, 1937, the number of unemployed persons on the registers was 1,499,203. Comparison of these figures is to some extent affected, however, by changes which were made in September, 1937, in the procedure for counting the unemployed, as a result of which persons subsequently found to be in employment at the date of the count are excluded from the totals. Information is not available as to the number of persons in employment at 15th November, 1937, excluded from the count under the new procedure, but at 13th September the change reduced the total figure by over 49,000, or about 3.6 per cent.
On the basis of the information in the possession of the Department, relating mainly to rates of wages fixed by collective agreements or by statutory orders, it is estimated that weekly full-time rates of wages rose by nearly 9 per cent. between 1st June, 1933, and 1st December, 1937. These figures take no account of changes in actual earnings due to reductions in short-time working, or to increased overtime, as to which statistics are not available, but in view of the improvement in employment between the two dates, the average increase in actual weekly earnings must have been considerably more than that in rates of wages.
Police Pensioners
asked the Home Secretary (1) whether he will give early consideration to the question of improving the financial position of pre-1919 police pensioners, bringing them on to the same basis as post-1019 pensioners, in accord- ance with the recommendations of the 1919 Desborough Report on the police service;(2) whether he will give favourable consideration to the granting of old age pensions to police widows of pre-1919 class, bringing them on to the same basis as post-1919 police widows?
These questions have often been considered but I cannot hold out any hope of legislation to alter the position of either.
Imperial Airways, Limited
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the total loss of revenue resulting from the drawbacks on petrol granted to Imperial Airways, Limited, during 1936?
The drawback referred to is paid under the operation of the general law relating to duty-paid oil on all aircraft proceeding on a foreign journey, and it would be contrary to Revenue practice to disclose particulars relating to the business of an individual firm.