Written Answers
National Health Insurance (Public Assistance)
asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the practice of many public assistance committees who, although disregarding the statutory amounts of National Health Insurance benefit and/or disability pension while the applicant is at home, take such amount into consideration as family income, and deduct from sick allowance when a patient is sent to a convalescent home or hospital, thus depriving him of personal benefit; and whether, as in many instances there is a consequential disproportionate reduction in the family income resulting in hardship, he will take steps to instruct these committees to cease such practice?
My hon. Friend's question involves legal questions on which my right hon. Friend has no power to give instructions to local authorities. I am not aware that the practice of local authorities is giving rise to hardship, but if my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind, I shall be glad to make inquiries into it and communicate with him in due course.
Crown Agents For Colonies (Staffs)
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will take the necessary action to ensure that the staffs employed by the Crown Agents for the Colonies have granted to them the same facilities for reference of disputed questions to arbitration as are provided to Civil Service staffs by agreement between the official and staff sides of the Civil Service National Whitley Council?
I have been asked to reply. Under the agreements of 1925 and 1936 between the official and staff sides of the National Whitley Council for the Civil Service, access to the Civil Service Arbitration Tribunal is confined to civil servants affiliated to the Civil Service National Whitley Council. The staffs employed by the Crown Agents for the Colonies are not so affiliated. If any question concerning those staffs should arise which, in the case of civil servants, would be a matter for the Arbitration Tribunal, I should be prepared to consider making suitable arrangements for arbitration. So far as I am aware, however, no such question has in fact arisen.
Scotland
Town-Planning Schemes (Playing Fields)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the town-planning schemes submitted to him by local authorities have made provision for playing fields; and how much money has been expended by his Department for the provision of such facilities?
Of 12 planning schemes submitted to the Department of Health by local authorities under the Town and Country Planning Acts, all except two which relate to small built-up areas make provision for the reservation of land for use as public open spaces, including playing fields.With regard to the last part of the question, grants totalling £27,309 have been made by the Special Areas Commissioner towards schemes in the Scottish Special Areas and grants amounting to £19,280 in respect of 15 schemes have been approved under the Physical Training and Recreation Act. Applications under the Act in respect of 30 other schemes are presently being investigated.The hon. Member will also be aware that grants in aid of playing field schemes are given from voluntary funds by the Scottish Committee of the National Playing Fields Association.
Electricity Supply
asked the Minister of Transport whether he will state the extent to which the development of Scotland is being performed through electrification?
Particulars relating to electricity supply in Scotland will be found in the engineering and financial statistics published by the Electricity Commissioners. The volume for the year 1937–38 will be issued shortly. The total sales of electricity to consumers by authorised undertakers in Scotland in the year 1937–38 were 1,869 million units, of which 638 million units were sold for lighting, heating and cooking and 1,145 million units were sold for power.
Education
Blacklisted, Non-Provided And Council Schools, Wales
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he can state the number of blacklisted schools, non-provided and council schools, respectively, for each county in Wales and Monmouthshire for each year from 1932 to the most recent date?
The table below shows the number of provided and non-provided elementary schools in Wales on the Black List on 31st December of each year from 1932 to 1938 and on 24th March, 1939.
| Local Education Authority. | 1932. | 1933. | 1934. | 1935. | 1936. | 1937. | 1938. | 24th March, 1939. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Provided. | Non-Provided. | Provided. | Non-Provided. | Provided. | Non-Provided. | Provided. | Non-Provided. | Provided. | Non-Provided. | Provided. | Non-Provided. | Provided. | Non-Provided. | Provided. | Non-Provided. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Anglesey | … | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Brecknockshire | … | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| Caernarvonshire | … | — | 4 | — | 3 | — | 3 | — | 3 | — | 3 | — | 3 | — | 3 | — | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| Cardiganshire | … | 5 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
| Carmarthenshire | … | 5 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| Carmarthen | … | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Llanelly | … | 2 | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | 2 | —1 | 1 | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Denbighshire | … | 2 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
| Flintshire | … | 3 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
| Glamorgan | … | 9 | 33 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 33 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 30 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 29 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 26 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 26 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 24 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 22 | l | 4 |
| Neath | … | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Aberdare | … | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Pontypridd | … | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Rhondda | … | 7 | 1 | 7 | — | 7 | — | 7 | 1 | 5 | — | 5 | — | 4 | — | 3 | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Cardiff | … | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Merthyr Tydfil | … | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Swansea | … | 10 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 9. | 1 | 9, | 1 | 9 | 1 | 8 | — | 7 | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Monmouthshire | … | 16 | 25 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 25 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 24 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 24 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 23 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 23 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 22 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 22 | 9 | 11 |
| Abertillery | … | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Ebbw Vale | … | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Newport | … | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Montgomeryshire | … | — | 2 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Pembrokeshire | … | 4 | 15 | 4 | 14 | 4 | 14 | 4 | 14 | 3 | 14 | 3 | 13 | 2 | 13 | 2 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||
| Radnor | … | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| Totals | … | 83 | 74 | 83 | 67 | 78 | 67 | 77 | 64 | 72 | 62 | 72 | 60 | 64 | 59 | 61 | 58 | ||||||||||||||||
Notes —:a) These figures include two Provided Schools and three Non-provided Schools which are not classified under category A, B, or C of the Black List.
(b) In the case of n Provided Schools and three Non-provided Schools plans have been approved, which will—on completion of the work—enable the Schools to be removed from the List.
(c) In some cases the most urgently needed improvements have been carried out, but the schools have been retained on the List until the outstanding defects have been remedied, while in 24 cases proposals for improvements are under consideration.
(d) In many cases conditions have been improved considerably by substantial decreases in the number of children in attendance,
Royal Arsenal, Woolwich (Discharges)
asked the Secretary of State for War what discharges or suspensions are contemplated in the Woolwich Arsenal high explosives establishment; and whether such discharges or suspensions will take effect with or without reference to past service in His Majesty's Forces?
Suspensions in the Royal Filling Factories, Woolwich, are about to cease, and further suspensions or discharges are not contemplated at present.
Mercantile Marine
Crews' Accommodation
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the number of vessels registered in this country in which separate accommodation for the watches is provided?
I regret that this information is not available.
German Shipbuilders (British Orders)
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give particulars of any information as to the orders for the number of ships that have been placed in Germany for the previous two years, as a means of withdrawing credit balances from that country?
No, Sir, but it is reported that the German authorities have for some time been permitting transactions of the kind only in very exceptional cases.
Unemployment (Old Age Pensioners)
asked the Minister of Labour whether, for purposes of information, he will institute an inquiry at one of the largest exchanges in the country to ascertain the number of persons over 65 years of age, who would definitely retire from the employment field upon grant of an increased old age pension?
An inquiry confined to unemployed persons registered at an Employment Exchange would, I think, be seriously defective. As regards the matter generally, I would point out that an inquiry of the kind suggested could not be instituted without precise details of the pension proposed and if undertaken through official channels at the present time would be likely to create misunderstandings out of proportion to the practical value of the results.