Written Answers To Questions
Beveridge Report
asked the Minister without Portfolio whether he is aware that the official brief Report, asserted to contain all that anyone needs to know about the Beveridge Report, while giving publicity to the benefits promised, suppresses certain restrictive regulations included in the full Report; and whether, as this will mislead the public, who would see the brief Report but not the more expensive full Report, he will issue an amending statement indicating particularly the suppressed passages, with publicity comparable with that accorded to the brief Report.
The brief Report was issued in December, 1942, in view of the public demand for a shorter and cheaper edition of the full Report, and it carried no assertion in the sense suggested by my hon. Friend. It indicated plainly which of the paragraphs of the full Report had been omitted and, in general, stated very briefly the ground covered by them. The object of the brief Report would have been defeated had the contents of the omitted paragraphs been embodied with greater particularity. I do not think that there is any ground at this date for the issue of a further version of the Report.
Industrial Workers And Armed Forces (Pay)
asked the Minister of Labour the weekly standard wages for miners, engineers, railway men, platelayers, permanent-way men and drivers, agricultural workers, pottery workers and dockers for 1939 and 1943, respectively, and give the total possible income for a married private in the Army, Navy and R.A.F. and that of a serving man with two children.
I am having a statement prepared summarising information in my possession regarding the rates of wages of the classes of workers referred to in the first part of the Question, and I will send it to my hon. Friend. The last part of the Question would be a matter for the Ministers of the respective Service Departments.
National Finance
Inland Revenue, Annual Reports (Publication)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now authorise publication of the Annual Reports of the Board of Inland Revenue containing full information, whose publication has been suspended during hostilities.
The decision to suspend publication during the war of certain Annual Reports, including those of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, was made on security grounds. When publication is resumed after the war the Reports for war years will also be released for publication.
University Grants
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can now make a statement as to his intention regarding the forthcoming grant to the universities.
Yes, Sir. The Government, after considering a report from the University Grants Committee, have decided to maintain the provision for Universities and Colleges in the Estimates for 1944 at its existing level. This provision is, of course, related only to current requirements. The University Grants Committee, which, as my hon. Friend is aware, has just been reconstituted, is now embarking upon an examination of the post-war needs of the Universities.
Agriculture
Fruit Orchard (Church Lench, Evesham)
asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will have inquiries made in connection with Corporal G. H. Jones' fruit orchard at Church Lench, near Evesham, in view of the fact that the owner is serving with the R.A.F.; and the action that has been taken under the Cultivation of Lands Order, 1939, by the Worcestershire War Agricultural Executive Committee.
I understand that the greater part of Corporal Jones' orchard is unproductive and depreciating in value as a result of continued neglect. The Worcestershire War Agricultural Executive Committee consider that it would be in Corporal Jones' own interest to grub the trees and clean the land and let it for arable cropping. Before directions were given to Corporal Jones he was interviewed by technical officers of the Committee, and the question of affording him assistance in carrying out the work was discussed. I am making further inquiries and will let my hon. Friend know the result.
Cultivation Orders (Convictions)
asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of persons convicted for not carrying out the directions of war agricultural committees in each county in England and Wales to 31st December 1943.
To ascertain the number of persons convicted in relation to each county in England and Wales would involve an expenditure of labour which I do not think would be justified in existing circumstances. The total numbers in relation to the whole of England and Wales are as follows:
| 1940 | … | … | … | 155 |
| 1941 | … | … | … | 185 |
| 1942 | … | … | … | 142 |
| 1943 | … | … | … | 111 |