Written Answers
Education
Physical Training
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether it is the intention of his Department to send display teams to the Swedish Ling festival at Stockholm; whether he can state the areas from which the teams are to be selected; and whether the Board intends defraying all or part of the cost?
Seven teams are being sent to participate in the forthcoming Swedish Lingiad at Stockholm, two teams (one of men and one of women) to represent the physical training work of the schools, and five teams to represent the work of post-school organisations. As regards the work of the schools, the men's team is being provided by the Loughborough and the Carnegie Physical Training Colleges, and the women's team by the Ling Physical Education Association, who will be able to draw upon the resources of the Women's Physical Training Colleges. The five teams representing the post-school work are being provided by the Young Men's Christian Association, the Young Women's Christian Association, the National Association of Boys' Clubs, the National Council of Girls' Clubs, and the Women's League of Health and Beauty. The selection of these teams rests with the national voluntary organisations concerned, and I am unable to say from what particular areas, if any, they are being drawn. Grants totalling £1,100 towards the cost of the participation of these seven teams are provided for in a special sub-head of the published Estimates of the Board for 1939–40.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether, in view of the fact that some two years are likely to elapse before the physical training college is complete, he can say what arrangements are being made in the meantime for the training of the necessary teachers?
Pending the establishment of the National College of Physical Training, grants have been, and are being, made to the Central Council of Recreative Physical Training, in accordance with the arrangement outlined in paragraph 21 of the White Paper (Cmd. 5364) to enable the Council to provide, and to assist in providing, training courses for teachers and leaders. Under this arrangement an increasing number of courses for both men and women have been held in most parts of the country. The courses that have been arranged and are in contemplation are of varying types, from short courses held in the evenings and at week-ends to full-time residential courses of three months' duration, and include summer vacation courses and training camps. As I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member for Derby (Mr. Noel-Baker) last Thursday, the Central Council is being enabled to expand the work still further during the coming financial year.
Board Of Education Staff
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he can state the reason for the increase in the staff of the Board from 2,101 in 1935 to 2,386 in 1939, despite the fact that the average attendance in public elementary schools has fallen in the same period from 4,748,000 to 4,392,000?
The increase of administrative, inspectorial and clerical staff has in the main been necessitated by additional work arising out of the Government's programme of educational reform issued in October, 1935, and out of the Education Act, 1936, which provided, inter alia, for the raising of the school-leaving age. In addition a new organisation with a staff of 83 has had to be created for the administration of the Physical Training and Recreation Act, 1937. Some part of the increase of staff is due to developments in the work of the Science Museum. The fall in the average attendance at public elementary schools which is spread over the whole country does not result in any diminution in the administrative duties of the Board.
Elementary Education (Increased Cost)
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he can furnish any information as to the cause of the increase of 10 per cent. in the cost of education per child in the elementary schools, as assumed in the Board's estimates for 1939–40, as compared with the actual cost in 1936–37?
The increase to which my hon. Friend refers is primarily due to increased expenditure upon reorganisation and development, including the conveyance of children, owing to the progress which authorities are making in preparation for the raising of the school-leaving age on 1st September next, and also to the general development of the Special Services.
Czecho-Slovakia
asked the Prime Minister what representations have been made by the British Ambassador in Berlin on behalf of His Majesty's Government to the German Government as a result of the failure of the German Government to consult with His Majesty's Government on recent developments in relation to Czecho-Slovakia, as promised by Herr Hitler in the Anglo-German Declaration signed at Munich on 29th September, 1938?
I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply given to him earlier this afternoon.
Northern Ireland (Subsidies)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the amount of subsidies paid to the Government of Northern Ireland by the British Treasury for each year since the setting up of the Governments of the Free State and Northern Ireland?
The following payments have been made to the Government of Northern Ireland in accordance with the provisions of the relevant Statutes:
| Payments to the Government of Northern Ireland (to nearest £100). | ||||||
| — | Buildings: Government of Ireland Act. | Unemployment Payments. | Special Grants. | |||
| Sec. 34(1). | Sec. 24(1) (b). | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| 1921–22 | … | … | 103,400 | — | — | — |
| 1922–23 | … | … | 53,000 | 6,200 | 56,700 | 3,878.300 |
| 1923–24 | … | … | 66,200 | 9,100 | 243,300 | 3,002,500 |
| 1924–25 | … | … | 107,600 | 63,200 | — | 1,250,000 |
| 1925–26 | … | … | 161,000 | 6,600 | 706,100 | 1,200,000 |
| 1926–27 | … | … | 126,800 | 5,900 | 879,600 | — |
| 1927–28 | … | … | 119,000 | 5,900 | 296,400 | — |
| 1928–29 | … | … | 153,500 | 30,500 | 483,100 | — |
| 1929–30 | … | … | 191,200 | 50,400 | 346,600 | — |
| 1930–31 | … | … | 223,400 | 56,600 | 547.400 | — |
| 1931–32 | … | … | 257,500 | 52,000 | 165,400 | — |
| 1932–33 | … | … | 109,300 | 73,500 | — | — |
| 1933–34 | … | … | 17,200 | 26,500 | — | — |
| 1934–35 | … | … | — | 500 | — | — |
| 1935–36 | … | … | 1,600 | — | 760,900 | — |
| 1936–37 | … | … | 700 | 500 | 935,800 | — |
| I937–38 | … | … | 1,300 | — | 1,615,900 | — |
| 1038–39 | … | … | — | — | 1,787,200* | — |
*Provisional. | ||||||
| The above figures do not include— | ||||||
| (a) subsidies for agricultural producers in Northern Ireland (Milk, Cattle, Lime and Basic Slag, Oats and Barley) and Wheat deficiency payments; | ||||||
| (b) the amount (approximately £656,000 a year) collected from tenants and retained by the Government of Northern Ireland under Section 26 of the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, in respect of land purchase annuities under agreements entered into before the passing of the Act. (An equivalent sum is paid as a non-recoverable charge out of the Imperial Exchequer to the National Debt Commissioners.) | ||||||
| The special grants (in the last column of the table) were made up as follows: | ||||||
| £ | |
| Special initial expenses | 438,300 |
| Additional provision for Buildings (under First Report of Northern Ireland Special Arbitration Committee, Command Paper 2072/1924) | 400,000 |
| Special Constabulary | 6,492,500 |
| Malicious Injuries | 2,000,000 |
Air-Raid Precautions
asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware that, so far, all deliveries of Government air-raid shelters have been by rail, notwithstanding that Wolverhampton and Walsall, from which shelters are being despatched, are connected with London and other parts of the country by canal; and, as this is the cheapest form of transport, will he see that in future contracts provision will be made for delivery by canal?
No single manufacturer is producing a complete shelter. The production of the various parts comprising a shelter has been arranged with about 90 firms, spread over the country. The task of collecting these component parts from the works and of synchronising the arrival of complete sets with the minimum delay in transit and without intermediate handling and storage at a number of points from which delivery can be made by short haul to householders is regarded as an operation not suited to the canal transport system and has been arranged with the railway companies.
asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the relative position of tenants in buildings in which the only possible accommodation for air-raid shelters to be constructed is in the basement, which is occupied by a different firm from the tenants, occupying the upper storeys of the building; and will he take steps to ensure that the upper tenants obtain the right to make use of a shelter constructed in the basement, either by payment of a consideration or otherwise?
The Civil Defence Bill, which I am introducing to-day, will deal with the provision of air-raid shelters in commercial buildings occupied by a number of different firms; and I would ask my hon. Friend to await the publication of that Bill.
Unemployment
Bo'ness (Statistics)
asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give particulars of the unemployment position in respect of persons coming within the ambit of the Bo'ness Employment Exchange, showing
| — | Aged 14–15. | Aged 16–17. | Aged 18–20. | Aged 21 and over. | Total, aged 14 and over. | |
| 24th February, 1936: | ||||||
| Wholly Unemployed | … | 73 | 38 | 35 | 416 | 562 |
| Casuals | … | — | 10 | 31 | 361 | 402 |
| Temporarily Stopped | … | — | 7 | 17 | 177 | 201 |
| Total | … | 73 | 55 | 83 | 954 | 1,165 |
| 22nd February, 1937: | ||||||
| Wholly Unemployed | … | 74 | 42 | 46 | 329 | 491 |
| Casuals | … | — | — | 26 | 413 | 439 |
| Temporarily Stopped | … | — | 8 | 17 | 100 | 125 |
| Total | … | 74 | 50 | 89 | 842 | 1,055 |
| 14th February, 1938: | ||||||
| Wholly Unemployed | … | 79 | 53 | 56 | 294 | 482 |
| Casuals | … | — | — | 31 | 340 | 371 |
| Temporarily Stopped | … | — | 10 | 36 | 160 | 206 |
| Total | … | 79 | 63 | 123 | 794 | 1,059 |
| 13th February, 1939: | ||||||
| Wholly Unemployed | … | 83 | 35 | 40 | 333 | 491 |
| Casuals | … | — | — | 11 | 178 | 189 |
| Temporarily Stopped | … | — | 15 | 34 | 182 | 231 |
| Total | … | 83 | 50 | 85 | 693 | 911 |
Royal Air Force Contract, Middle Wallop
asked the Minister of Labour how many men are being employed by Messrs. Higgs and Hill on the Royal Air Force aerodrome near Middle Wallop, in Hampshire; how many of these are Irish; how many local men have been engaged through the local Employment Exchange; and how many agricultural labourers have been engaged direct by the contractor or his representatives?
On 18th March the employers state that approximately 525 men were employed on the site, including
categories and age groups for the latest available date, and comparing the position with the same dates in the last three years?
The table below shows the numbers of unemployed persons on the registers of the Bo'ness Employment Exchange at the dates in question, for the age-groups for which separate figures are available, distinguishing persons wholly unemployed, unemployed casual workers, and persons temporarily stopped.about 135 Irish workers and 91 agricultural labourers, who were engaged direct by the contractor or his representative; 138 local men were engaged through the Employment Exchange.
Agriculture (Ox Hides, Prices)
asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state the price of hides for each of the last 12 months; and whether this has had any effect on the prices paid for bullocks?
The following statement shows the average price realised at Manchester Market at the end of each of the past 12 months for first quality clear English ox hides of 60–69 1bs weight:
| Month. | d. per lb. | ||
| March, 1938 | … | … | 4¾ |
| April, 1938 | … | … | 4¾ |
| May, 1938 | … | … | 5½ |
| June, 1938 | … | … | 5 |
| July, 1938 | … | … | 5 1/8 |
| August, 1938 | … | … | 5 1/8 |
| September, 1938 | … | … | 5¼ |
| October, 1938 | … | … | 5¾ |
| November, 1938 | … | … | 5⅜ |
| December, 1938 | … | … | 4¾ |
| January, 1939 | … | … | 4¾ |
| February, 1939 | … | … | 4¾ |
Distributive Trades (Employes)
asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state approximately the total number of persons, males and females, respectively, employed in the distributive trades of this country at any date in 1920, and at each quinquennium afterwards, up to date?
The table below shows the estimated numbers of insured males and females in employment in the distributive trades in Great Britain at a date in June of the years 1923, 1925, 1930, 1935 and 1938. Comparable statistics are not available in respect of any year earlier than 1923.
| — | Males. | Females. | Total. |
| Aged 16 and over: | |||
| 1923 | 686,870 | 476,930 | 1,163,800 |
| 1925 | 813,420 | 545.180 | 1,358,600 |
| Aged16–64: | |||
| 1930 | 946,210 | 647.130 | 1,593.340 |
| 1935 | 1,082,290 | 684,440 | 1,766,730 |
| 1938 | 1,124,630 | 751,060 | 1,875,690 |
Licensed Trade (Employes)
asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state approximately the number of persons employed, male and female, respectively, in the sale of intoxicating drinks in this country?
The sale of intoxicating drinks is not separately distinguished in the statistics compiled by my Department and I regret that the desired information is, therefore, not available.
Evacuation (Sewerage And Water Supply)
asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the need for securing an adequate supply of pure and wholesome water and a satisfactory sewerage and sewage disposal system in every village to be utilised in a national emergency to accommodate women and children evacuated from danger zones, he is prepared to give further consideration to making further contributions towards the expenses incurred by a local authority in providing a supply, or improving an existing supply, of water in a rural locality, and also making contributions to a local authority towards the expenses of providing or improving a sewage and sewage disposal system in a rural locality?
In the evacuation arrangements steps will be taken to avoid areas where insuperable difficulties are likely to arise on account of water supply or drainage. It is not considered that the number of such areas will be large, and I am not satisfied that there is any case for grant from national funds for the purpose of improving water supply or drainage in rural areas as part of the evacuation scheme.
Population Statistics (Males)
asked the Minister of Health whether he can furnish an estimate of the number of males in England and Wales aged 18, 19, and 20, respectively?
The estimated number as at the middle of 1938 are:
| 18 | … | … | … | 407,500 |
| 19 | … | … | … | 266,500 |
| 20 | … | … | … | 264,800 |
Coal Industry (Mines Accidents)
asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the number of miners killed and the number injured in the coal mines of Great Britain during the year 1938?
No more figures are available than were given to the hon. Member in reply to a question on 14th February, except that the number of persons killed during 1938 has since been revised and is now 859.
Political Processions, East London
asked the Home Secretary whether the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, acting under powers conferred upon him by the Public Order Act, 1936, has issued any further orders prohibiting political processions in the
| Year. | Imports consigned from the Soviet Union. | Exports consigned to the Soviet Union. | |||||
| Quantity. | Declared value. | Quantity. | Declared value. | ||||
| Thousand cwts. | £000. | Thousand cwts. | £000. | ||||
| 1934 | … | … | … | 448 | 1,693 | 207 | 94 |
| 1935 | … | … | … | 324 | 1,208 | 256 | 111 |
| 1936 | … | … | … | 310 | 1,231 | 129 | 65 |
| 1937 | … | … | … | 325 | 1,313 | 15 | 7 |
| 1938 | … | … | … | 335 | 1,442 | 76 | 28 |
Royal Air Force
Recruits (Age Groups)
asked the Secretary of State for Air what proportion of recruits in 1938 were aged 18 to 20; and what numbers of airmen there are in each of the boy groups of the Royal Air Force?
East End of London; and whether he has issued similar orders in any other district of London?
With my right hon. Friend's consent the Commissioner has renewed for three months as from the 13th instant the order prohibiting the holding of public processions of a political character in certain areas in the East End of London. The order covers the same areas as before and no new areas have been included.
Fish Imports And Exports
asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the export of salted herring to Russia has declined since the Herring Industry Board first started operations; and to what extent, during this period, the imports of Russian fish into the United Kingdom have exceeded the exports of British fish to the Soviet Union?
The following table shows the quantity and declared value of fish of all kinds imported into and exported from the United Kingdom in trade with the Soviet Union during each of the years 1934 to 1938. A large proportion of the imports consists of salmon from Japanese canneries situated in Soviet territory, while the exports consist almost entirely of herring, cured or salted, not canned, exports to the Soviet Union of other kinds of fish being negligible.
Approximately 39 per cent. of the recruits who enlisted in the Royal Air Force during 1938 were in the age group "over 18 and under 20." At present the Force includes 6,631 apprentices and 1,851 boy entrants.