PUBLIC MEETING FACILITIES, LONDON.
asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the gradual restriction of public meeting places in London, owing to the police practice of banning meetings at traditional meeting spots wherever traffic-lights are being erected; and whether, in view of the threat to free speech implied in such constant diminution of the number of meeting places, he will consult with the Metropolitan police authorities with a view to reducing to a minimum the places where meetings are ordered to be discontinued; and will he, where traffic necessities compel the banning in any particular place, ensure by consultation between the police and local organisations, that equivalent meeting facilities are provided in the vicinity?
According to the records of the Commissioner of Police there have been only five cases in which the installation of traffic signals has interfered with sites used regularly for meetings and in each case no objection has been raised by the police to the substituted use of another suitable site in the vicinity.
ALIENS (NATURALISATION).
asked the Home Secretary whether certificates of naturalisation granted by Governments of British possessions, as shown in the Aliens (Naturalisation) Return of 26th July, 1938, carry with them rights of entry into, and residence in, the United Kingdom in all respects similar to those granted by the Home Secretary, as recorded in that Return?
Persons naturalised by the Government of a British possession are ordinarily persons settled in that possession: but if any such person comes to the United Kingdom, he has the same rights and privileges in this country as any other British subject.
COTTON INDUSTRY (LYSSINOSIS).
asked the Home Secretary whether he can obtain an actuarial estimate of the cost of paying compensation at 10s. a week to persons already suffering from lyssinosis who have already left the industry, on the lines proposed in paragraph 14 of the Report of the Ross Committee, 1939, for every year from 1940 till the scheme comes to an end consequent upon the death of all beneficiaries; and whether he contemplates negotiations with those concerned in order to take power to make the levy through the agency of the proposed Cotton Industry Board?
I am advised that such an actuarial estimate cannot be given, various factors, including the expectation of life of those who would establish claims, being a matter of conjecture. The question of utilizing the proposed Cotton Industry Board in connection with the collection of levies has been noted for consideration.
UNEMPLOYMENT (MIGRANTS FROM EIRE).
asked the Minister of Labour what number of young persons between 16 and 30 years of age have come into the county of Glamorgan from Ireland for 1936, 1937, and 1938, and the latest date this year; and what number are employed, and what number unemployed during the periods mentioned?
The records maintained by my Department show that the total number of migrants from Eire to whom unemployment books were issued by local offices of the Ministry in Wales during the period for which this information is available were as follow: July, 1937—December, 1937 103 January, 1938—December,1938 189 January, 1939—March, 1939 129
Of these 10, 23 and 9 respectively were non-domiciled workers in agriculture. These figures do not include migrants from Eire to whom unemployment books were issued in other parts of Great Britain and who subsequently moved to employment in Wales in respect of whom no information is available.
I regret that the detailed particulars asked for in respect of migrants of the ages specified from Eire into the County of Glamorgan could not be obtained without disproportionate labour and expense.
MERCANTILE MARINE WAR SERVICES LIST.
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what arrangements are made for men on the Mercantile Marine War Services List who are temporarily serving in His Majesty's dockyards to attend the courses which are being arranged for merchant seamen gunners; whether it is possible for such men to be granted leave with pay in order to make themselves proficient under these courses; and whether, in view of the value of the services of these men to the mercantile marine in the event of hostilities, he can arrange to review the present arrangements?
It has been decided to extend the category of services for which leave with pay is granted to employees in Admiralty Establishments for attendance at camp or training courses to include the Mercantile Marine War Services list. Admiralty employees on this List when attending the training courses will be granted leave with pay under the same conditions as employees attending the territorial training camps. Under these conditions, of course, only regular employees are eligible for the paid leave; it has not been applied to purely casual employees.
AGRICULTURE (MILK PRODUCTS).
asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress has been made towards the establishment of a commodity council to deal with milk products; and whether he is in a position to give some assurance that the prices of British milk products will soon be placed on a satis- factory basis with a view to increasing this branch of food production?
I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given on 4th May by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for The Wrekin (Colonel Baldwin-Webb).