Written Answers To Questions
Chemical Compounds (Imports And Production)
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give statistics as to the quantities and values of the following chemical compounds produced and consumed in the United Kingdom and also in other areas within the British Empire in the most recent year for which figures are available: salvarsan, bayer 205, tryparsamide, atebrin, plasmoquin, trypan-blue, and trypaflavin?
During 1935, the latest year for which the information is available, the output in the United Kingdom of salvarsan and neo-salvarsan and other organo-arsenic compounds of like medicinal application amounted to 7,900 lbs., of a selling value of £107,000. No other official information is available regarding the output or consumption of the specified substances in the United Kingdom or in other parts of the British Empire.
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give statistics as to the quantities and values of the following chemical compounds imported into the United Kingdom and also into other parts of the British Empire in the most recent year for which figures are available: salvarsan, bayer 205, tryparsamide, atebrin, plasmoquin, trypan-blue, and trypaflavin?
Imports of the commodities mentioned in the question are not separately recorded for the purpose of the published trade returns of the United Kingdom. Particulars in respect of salvarsan and neo-salvarsan and other organo-arsenic compounds of like medicinal application were, however, separately recorded up to the year 1933, in which year imports into the United Kingdom amounted to 69 lbs., valued at £3,296. I have no information as to imports of these commodities into other parts of the Empire.
Transport (Kingston By-Pass Lighting)
asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to improve and make uniform the lighting on the Kingston By-pass road, now a trunk road for which he is the highway authority?
The responsibility for the provision of street lighting on the Kingston By-pass rests with the appropriate lighting authorities. I understand that a conference will be convened shortly at which the County Council and three lighting authorities concerned will be asked to consider what action if any, is desirable.
Agriculture
Labour (International Inquiry)
asked the Minister of Labour whether he can make any statement on the committee which has been set up by the International Labour Office to investigate problems of agricultural labour?
The Permanent Agricultural Committee recently set up by the Governing Body of the International Labour Office includes six representatives of employers, six representatives of workers' agricultural organisations and 15 individual agricultural experts, as well as representatives of a number of International Organisations connected with agriculture. The Nationals of 24 different countries are represented on the Committee. Mr. G. Deakin, of the National Farmers' Union, and Mr. W, Holmes, of the National Union of Agricultural Workers, are members. The first Session of the Committee was held in February of this year when the questions of holidays with pay, hours of work, protection of child labour, and wage regulation in agriculture, were discussed. The Committee were assisted in their consideration of these questions by a series of reports which had been prepared by certain of its members.It has been decided to publish these reports in a single volume which will also include the report which was finally adopted by the Committee. This report, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, contained various proposals for the further consideration of the subjects referred to and of others related to the social and labour problems of agriculture, including proposals that the questions of holidays with pay and of wage regulation in agriculture should be placed upon the Agenda of one of the next Sessions of the International Labour Conference. These proposals were considered by the Governing Body at its meeting in April, when, however, no final decisions were taken. The question of the date and Agenda of the next meeting of the Committee will be before the Governing Body at its Session in October next.
Milk Bill
asked the Minister of Agriculture when he proposes to introduce the Milk Bill?
As I indicated in reply to the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Hopkin) on 5th May, the Milk Bill will be introduced as soon as possible, but I am not yet in a position to give a definite date.
Air-Raid Precautions
asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the payment of compensation to any man or woman injured while practising as an air-raid precautions volunteer or as voluntary firemen under the air-raid precautions schemes; and whether, if no method of compensation exists at present, he will consider the creation of one in view of the national nature of this work?
I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which was given on the 12th instant to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-on Tyne North (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle)
asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the representations from the Walsall air-raid precautions department as to the urgent need of a supply of respirators for training purposes; and how soon he expects to be able to make delivery?
Yes, Sir. The majority of the articles asked for have already been despatched to Walsall.