Written Answers To Questions
Rivers (Pollution)
asked the Minister of Aircraft Production with what object the Foundry Services, Limited, Order, 1944, has been issued; what remedy lies with the Fishery Board concerned in the event of a noxious effluent, as defined in the Freshwater Fisheries Act of 1923, being discharged by Foundry Services, Limited; and what efforts have been, and are being, made to purify the effluent before discharge into a clean stream.
The object of the Order is to authorise the discharge of an effluent arising from the manufacture of a product needed for the efficient prosecution of the war. Steps are being taken to dilute the effluent, before its discharge into the stream, to a degree which the Water Pollution Research Laboratory are satisfied is sufficient to render it harmless. When the installation is complete, the effectiveness of this method will be tested on the spot by an officer of the Laboratory. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to a related question on 27th April by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.
International Labour Force Order (Polish Women)
asked the Minister of Labour if he will indicate the opportunities afforded to Polish women refugees in this country to contribute to the United Nations war effort; and in what organisations and on what particular activities are these women engaged.
Polish women between the ages of 16 and 50 are subject to registration with the Ministry of Labour and National Service under the International Labour Force (Registration of Polish Nationals) Order, 1941, and so far as is practicable are dealt with similarly to British women of the same age and in similar domestic circumstances. A considerable number have enlisted in the Auxiliary Services or are employed in Polish Government Departments or in hospital or Red Cross services, and many are also employed in industries of importance to the war effort. In common with women of other Allied Nations residing in this country the women of Poland are playing an essential part in the total Allied war effort and I am glad to have this opportunity of paying tribute to their services.
Royal Navy (Voting Arrangements)
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will appoint a certain week and take steps to ensure that, so far as possible throughout the Royal Navy, when each man receives his pay in respect of that week, he shall also receive the form necessary in order to be placed on the absent voters' list or to have his vote recorded by proxy, together with an explanation on how to complete it.
It is not practicable to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion. The Admiralty are, however, alive to the importance of ensuring that every man in the Royal Navy has an opportunity to register himself as an absent voter or to appoint a proxy to record his vote. The orders which are being issued provide that officers shall be detailed to explain the procedure to the men and to assist them in the completion of the forms.
Forestry (Post-War Personnel, Training)
asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether he is aware that a number of serving personnel would like to make a career after the war in forestry at home; what plans are being evolved to meet this desire; will he make arrangements for suitable candidates to be enrolled now, even though they may not take up their posts till after the war; is the Government sponsoring correspondence courses for personnel interested in forestry; and what arrangements have been made for service personnel to attend university or other courses in forestry after the war.
The Forestry Commissioners are aware of the interest of serving personnel in post-war forestry at home and plans are being formulated to meet this desire. The names of suitably qualified candidates are being recorded: Correspondence courses in forestry are not sponsored by the Government but suitable literature is being recommended in reply to inquiries. As regards forest officers, for whom there is only a limited demand, arrangements for suitable courses are being made with those universities which provide degrees in forestry and suitable service personnel are eligible to benefit by the Government Further Education and Training Scheme. Regarding foresters, the number of forest apprentices' schools under the Forestry Commission will be increased and short courses will also be provided for ex-Service men who desire to enter either State or private service. The courses at the universities and the forest apprentices' schools will be started immediately circumstances permit. There is also under consideration the formation of a Forestry Corps in which untrained men from the Forces would be enrolled for temporary work but which would afford opportunities for transfer to permanent forest work.
Wages And Prices (Post-War Control)
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is the policy of His Majesty's Government in the postwar period to encourage the acquisition by trade organisations or federations of statutory powers for the compulsory regulation of wages, prices and general conditions in industry.
As regards wages, I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service. As regards prices, statutory control could not, in my view, be suitably delegated to trade organisations.
Estate Duties (Property Valuations)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why, in view of the fact that the value of a property is determined under the War Damage Act as that obtaining in 1939, for the purpose of probate the estimated value of property is that ruling in 1944.
I would refer my hon. Friend to the provisions of Section 7 (5) of the Finance Act, 1894, from which he will see that the basis of valuation for estate duty purposes of property passing on a death, is the market value at the time of death.
Motor Vehicles (Producer-Gas Trailers)
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport how many vehicles have now been fitted with producer-gas attachments mounted on trailers; what estimated saving in oil fuel results; and what additional quantity of rubber tyres is consumed.
Under the Government scheme about 1,060 vehicles have been fitted with producer-gas trailers by Commercial operators. The estimated saving is at the rate of about 9,000 tons of petrol and 1,000 tons of diesel oil a year; the estimated consumption of rubber on the trailers is about five or six tons a year.
Petrol Rationing (Greyhound Racing)
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport what was the total amount of petrol per week which was originally permitted when petrol rationing started to be used by the proprietors of greyhound racecourses throughout the United Kingdom for the purpose of carrying dogs from their kennels to the racecourses and back again; and what is the amount now permitted for this purpose.
The Regional Transport Commissioners only allow a period of three months before they destroy their detailed records of the claims for fuel rations which they allow. The records for 1939 are not, therefore, now available. To compile the total figure of the present issues to greyhound racing would entail a good deal of work, which I hope my hon. Friend will not ask for at the present time, when the Commissioners' staffs are under heavy pressure.
Colonial Empire
Advisory Committee On Education
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps it is proposed should be taken to implement the proposals in the Report on Mass Education in African Society issued by the sub-committee of the Advisory Committee on Education in the Colonies.
I would refer to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Fulham East (Mr. Astor) on 19th January. As I said then, I have commended the Report warmly for the consideration of the Colonial Governments concerned and I am awaiting their views.
Corporal Punishment (East And West Africa)
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for what offences corporal punishment is inflicted on civilians in East and West African Colonies.
In the East and West African Colonies corporal punishment may be imposed on civilians for certain offences against morality and against the person. It may also be awarded under the prison rules for certain serious prison offences, such as mutiny, violence and gross insubordination. I will send details to my hon. Friend.
Production Surveys
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will arrange, at an early date after the war, censuses of production at regular intervals not exceeding three years in all the Colonies.
A full census of production at frequent intervals would, I fear, be administratively impracticable in most dependencies for some time to come. I understand, however, that the possibility of arranging more limited surveys of production has already been under consideration by the Colonial Economic Advisory Committee in the course of a general review of Colonial statistics which I have asked them to undertake and on which I await their recommendations.
Malta (Macleod Report)
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Macleod Report on matters affecting Government employees at Malta has been repudiated by all the staff delegates representing the various associations and trade unions and by the elected members of the Government Council; that, on 8th March, delegates from the associations and unions submitted a case for uniform bonus for all grades and requested the local administration to grant an interview for discussions on this matter; that such discussion has not been granted; and if he will instruct the local administration to hold that discussion before he reaches a decision on the related matters in this Report.
I am aware that the elected members of the Council of Government in Malta and the representatives of the associations and unions of Government employees have adversely criticised the Macleod Report. The case presented by the employees for a uniform bonus for all grades is being considered by the Malta Government in consultation with the Service authorities. The request for a discussion has not been overlooked, and before any final decision is taken the matter will be referred to the Labour Coordination Committee for that purpose, about which I am making a statement in reply to another question.
Palestine (Surplus Grain Crops, Disposal)
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent all grain in Palestine, except that reserved for the farmers' own use, must be sold to the Government through a single firm at a controlled price; whether there is any regulation as to the quality of the grain; on what basis the firm which acts as agent for the Government is paid; does the remuneration vary according to the amount of adulteration in the grain; and whether he will state the amount of remuneration paid for the purchase of the grain in 1942 and in 1943.
In 1942 it became necessary, in accordance with the general principle of making the maximum possible use of foodstuffs grown within the Middle East, and to ensure equitable distribution, for the Palestine Government to assume exclusive right of buying indigenous wheat, barley, maize and millet surplus to the quantity which was considered sufficient for the maintenance of the producer and his family and for future seed requirements. Assessment of the crops and of village surpluses was undertaken by the District Administration, and prices were fixed by the Palestine Government in consultation with the Middle East Supply Centre. The grain purchased was used in the milling of standard flour. Messrs. Steel Brothers were appointed as sole Government agents for the purpose of actual purchases on Government Account, in accordance with a scale of prices fixed by the Government, of the surplus assessed as above and for its delivery to store. The system adopted in 1942 was continued in the 1943 season with the modifications that maize and (except in Beersheba) barley were omitted from the scheme and that, to save transport and encourage greater co-operation by villagers, the redistribution between surplus and deficit villages was in most cases arranged administratively in terms of grain without intervention of the purchasing agents. The system as modified in 1943 is being continued in the current season. The quality of the grain is regulated by a system of fixing a 2 per cent. premium or penalty on the price for every I per cent. of impure content below or above the norm. The accepted norm on which the basic price was fixed was an impure content of 3 to 5 per cent. in the case Of wheat and barley and 2 to 3 per cent, in the case of millet. It is proposed that in 1944 the norm should be 5 per cent for wheat and barley and 3 per cent. for millet, the object of the change being to encourage the delivery of cleaner grain through more advantageous terms as to premium.The purchasing agents are paid a corn-mission per ton on the completion of purchase and delivery. The rates of commission are 300 mils per ton for the first 15,000 tons, 200 mils per ton for the next 35,000 tons and 100 mils per ton for the next 50,000 tons and over. The agreement with the agent specifies that this commission is deemed to cover remuneration for their services and all expenses. The remuneration to the agents does not vary according to the amount of adulteration in the grain, but as described above improvement in the quality of the grain purchased is encouraged by a system of premiums and penalties on the price paid for the grain I understand that primitive Primitive harvesting methods have always led to a content of impurities in locally produced grain around the accepted norms, The remuneration of the purchasing agents for the 1942 crop was £P.7,162 and for the 1943 crop £P.1,397. The decrease was mainly due to the change in the method of redistribution between surplus and deficit villages referred to above which took most of the collection for eventual redistribution between villages out of the hands of the purchasing agents.
Training Of Disabled Persons (Film)
asked the Minister of Labour whether it is proposed to make and show publicly a film dealing with the training and rehabilitation of ex-Servicemen on the lines of the official film showing American Army methods.
I am not sure what American film my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind, but I have seen an admirable War Office film on this subject. In consultation with my Department, Dame Georgiana Buller recently initiated the making of a film demonstrating the training of disabled persons, and copies are now available at the Central Film Library. In addition, I understand that the Ministry of Information have in preparation a film for general distribution, on the rehabilitation of the limbless.
Northern District Post Office (Overtime)
asked the Postmaster-General to what extent mail porters employed at the Northern District Office, many of them over 60 years of age, are compelled to perform overtime beyond the 54-hour week; and whether they are compelled to do Sunday duty after doing overtime all the week.
During the four weeks ending the 16th April the 42 mail porters at the Northern District Office did an average of less than one hour compulsory overtime per week per man. The total gross weekday attendance of these men averaged 57 hours for the same period. The total gross weekday attendance of the five mail porters who are over 60 years of age average about 56 hours. Sunday duty is performed on a rota, agreed with the staff, involving normally an attendance of about five hours on alternate Sundays. A compulsory attendance on Sundays is only rarely necessary.
London Planning (Covent Garden Area)
asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether any scheme has been decided upon by the appropriate authorities for the redevelopment of the Covent Garden area in London in connection with post-war reconstruction of London; and to what extent Parliament will be consulted about these arrangements.
The answer to the first part of the Question is, "No, Sir." In answer to the last part of the Question, I would ask my hon. Friend to await the Bill which will shortly be introduced.
United Nations (Educational Reconstruction)
asked the President of the Board of Education the position with regard to the setting up of a United Nations organisation for educational and cultural reconstruction.
I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the Member for Shipley (Mr. Creech Jones) on 27th April, a copy of which I am sending him.
Raf (Women Education Officers)
asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will consider appointing women educational officers in the W.A.A.F.
The educational requirements of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force are already met by the Royal Air Force Educational Service which provides for the needs of both R.A.F. and W.A.A.F. The number of posts in this Service in which women could be employed is not large, but the possibility of appointing women will be borne in mind as vacancies occur.
U-Boats (Losses)
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can give the figures available of the total loss of U-boats since the commencement of hostilities.
It would not be in the public interest to divulge these figures.
Burglary And Housebreaking (West London)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many burglaries were reported in the West End of London during the last 12 months for which the figures are complete; in how many cases the culprits were traced; and if he is satisfied that the sentences that can be given are a sufficient deterrent to protect the public from what, in the circumstances, often amounts to a form of looting.
Five cases of burglary and 82 of housebreaking were reported during the year ended 31st March, 1944, in those Metropolitan Police Divisions that may be regarded as cover- ing the West End. Twenty-three of these cases have been cleared up. The maximum penalties for burglary and housebreaking are penal servitude for life and for 14 years respectively. I have no reason to think that these penalties are not adequate.