Written Answers To Questions
Friday, 9th July, 1948
Toll Bridge, Hayling Island
asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that excessive charges are made for the use of the single road toll bridge to Hayling Island; that this bottleneck causes traffic delays and annoyance to local residents and holiday visitors; and if he will convene a meeting of all local authorities concerned together with representatives of the Transport Commission in order to abolish this wooden toll bridge in the interests of cyclists and motor users, whose dues have long ago paid for its building and upkeep.
I know that these charges are unpopular, and I accept the view that the bridge should be freed from tolls. Following a meeting on 28th June further discussions are to take place between the Railway Executive Committee and the County Council. If, as a result of these discussions, the County Council decide to acquire the bridge and free it from tolls, I shall be prepared to entertain an application from the County Council for a grant towards the cost.
Vagrants, Accommodation
asked the Minister of National Insurance if, in view of the numbers of vagrants who are unable to find accommodation at Halstead, Essex, and other centres in East Anglia, he is prepared to consider the provision of temporary hostels for the proper treatment of these unfortunates, many of whom are ex-Service men.
Under the National Assistance Act the responsibility for providing accommodation for vagrants rests with the National Assistance Board. The Board are making use of the services and experience of the local authorities who have hitherto borne the responsibility. Vagrants in the neighbourhood of Halstead can find accommodation at Braintree, only five miles away, but the accommodation there tends to be overcrowded during the pea-picking season. It is understood that the Essex County Council have forwarded proposals to the Board for some alternative or additional provision.
Racing Pigeons (Foreign Sale)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much foreign exchange in dollars and other hard currencies was obtained during the last yearly period for which figures are available, by the sale of racing pigeons.
I regret that the information is not available.
Johore Bahru Hospital, Malaya
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that under present conditions the only accommodation for first class maternity cases in the hospital in Johore Bahru. Malaya, is two beds in the corner of a second class ward and these two beds are reserved mainly for the wives of Government servants who have priority in this connection; and for what reason Government servants have priority in such matters seeing that the hospital is mainly financed from public funds, and by what specific date fully adequate alternative accommodation will be available in this hospital.
I have asked the Actting High Commissioner for a report on this matter and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as I have received it.
Economic Co-Operation Agreements (Negotiations)
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the minutes of the negotiations carried out in Washington between the State Department and the Ambassadors of Great Britain, France, Denmark and Sweden, have been made a matter of diplomatic record and exchanged in the form of notes to serve as a guide to explain and define exactly the terms of the agreements between the U.S.A. and other countries of Western Europe; and if these minutes will be published as a White Paper.
No agreed record was made of the negotiations between the State Department and the representatives of the United Kingdom, France, Denmark and Sweden. There is therefore no question of publication.
Westwood Aerodrome, Peterborough
68.
asked the Minister of Works what buildings or huts situated on
| WESTWOOD AERODROME, PETERBOROUGH | ||||||||
| ALLOCATIONS OF REDUNDANT ACCOMMODATION. | ||||||||
| Buildings. | Date. | Allocated to. | Department Supporting. | *Cost of Adaptations. | ||||
| W.A.A.F. Site No. 1 | … | 20th February, 1947 | Ministry of Works | Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. | Not known | |||
| Sick Quarters Site | … | 19th August, 1947. | Ministry or Works | do. | Not known | |||
| Huts 49, 50, 61–66, 73–76, 81–85, 103, 176, 180, 194. | 1st February, 1948. | Ministry of Works | Ministry of Labour | £2,700 | ||||
| Huts 19, 51–54, 57–60, 67, 69–72, 77, 80, 101, 102, 123, 134, 181. | 5th July, 1948 | Ministry of Works (tentatively) | Ministry of Labour | Estimated £3,300. | ||||
| Buildings Nos. 14, 14A, 47, 120, and ground between Huts 14 and 15. | 16th June, 1948. | Messrs. Hartleys | Ministry of Food | Not known | ||||
| Buildings Nos. 16, 56, 6 bays of No. 13 and Lavatory No. 11. | 16th June, 1948. | Messrs. Baxter Guion. | Ministry of Food | Not known | ||||
| Hangar 117 | … | … | 16th June, 1948. | Messrs. Baker Perkins. | Ministry of Supply | Not known | ||
| Hangar 116, Buildings Nos. 15, 15A, 158, and14 bays of No. 13. | 16th June, 1948. | Ministry of Works | Post Office | … | Nominal | |||
| Buildings Nos. 3, 5, 6, 7, 12, 166, 207, 208, 209. | 16th June, 1948. | Ministry of Works | — | Nil | ||||
| Buildings Nos. 20, 23, 23A, 24, 91, 92, 93, 109, 110, 114, 115, 118, 217. | 16th June, 1948. | Ministry of Agriculture. | — | Not known | ||||
| Buildings Nos. 92, 93, 110, and 1/3rd of each of buildings Nos. 23 and 23A | 16th June, 1948. | B.E.A.C. | … | Ministry of Civil Aviation and Post Office. | Not known | |||
| * Where adaptations, if any, are carried Out by the occupying Department the Ministry of Works would have no record of the cost. | ||||||||
Food Imports
asked the Minister of Food if he will give the value of foodstuffs imported from the countries of Western Europe during the year 1938 and for the last available year.
The values of food, feedingstuffs and drink imported in 1938 and 1947 from the countries participating in the European Reconstruction Programme were £93 million and £110 million respectively.
the Westwood Aerodrome, Peterborough, were allocated by his Department; on what date; to whom were they allocated; which Departments supported such allocations; and what capital cost will be involved in each case, due to alterations arising from such allocations.
, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 5th July, 1948; Vol. 456, c. 9] circulated the following statement:
National Insurance Cards (Receipts)
asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will consider the desirability of continuing the practice, which was current under the National Health Insurance scheme, by which receipts were given for stamped cards handed in for exchange.
Under the former Health Insurance scheme contribution cards were issued by Approved Societies before the end of the contribution year, and separate arrangements were made for the collection of the completed cards. A direct receipt was accordingly issued for each card surrendered. Under the new National Insurance scheme, following long established practice under the former Unemployment Insurance scheme, contribution cards will be issued through the local offices in exchange for the completed cards, so that the issue of the new card will be evidence of the receipt of an old one. There is, therefore, no need to continue the Health Insurance practice. A statement of contributions paid and credited in any particular contribution year will, however, be issued in all cases where future benefit rights are liable to be reduced by reason of a deficient record of contributions and credits in that year.
Tractor Engines (Import)
asked the President of the Board of Trade why a Board of Trade licence to import £1,000,000 worth of U.S. Continental petrol-driven Ferguson tractors was granted in view of the fact that it would have been possible to import instead paraffin-driven models.
No licence has been granted for the import of Ferguson tractors. Licences have, however, been granted for the importation of Continental engines for incorporation in British made tractors for export, as the output of engines in this country was insufficient to match the output of tractors. As regards the use of different types of fuel, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Fuel and Power to the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale (Mr. Erroll) on 22nd April last.
Government Offices, Ruislip-Northwood
asked the Minister of Works the number of Government office buildings now being erected, or immediately projected, for the urban district of Ruislip-Northwood; the Departments for which they are intended; and the capital value of each project.
Three temporary Government office buildings are now being erected in the urban district of Ruislip-Northwood. The estimated cost of the three schemes is as follows:—
| £ | |
| Tolcarne Drive, Northwood Hills (extension of existing buildings) | 88,000 |
| Lime Grove, Eastcote, Middlesex (extension of existing buildings) | 103,000 |
| Victoria Road, Ruislip, Middlesex | 314,000 |
Education
Playing Fields
asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that large numbers of young workers in youth clubs have no football pitches; and whether he will take steps to secure that playing fields belonging to secondary schools shall be used on Sundays where reasonable supervision is guaranteed.
Yes. The hon. Member will, however, be aware of the provision of playing fields which is being made with the assistance of grants under the Physical Training and Recreation Act. The question of the use of school playing fields by youth clubs and similar organisations at times when they are not needed by the school is a matter for the local education authorities, governors or managers concerned. In general I should be in favour of such arrangements, where they can be made without inconvenience or damage to the condition of the playing fields. Local education and school authorities are generally aware of the position and I see no need for any special action on my part.
Teachers' Conditions
asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that dissatisfaction with the conditions of teaching, particularly in the infant and primary schools, have led, as in cases submitted to him, to the resignation of promising women teachers, wishing to continue their work, and as it is his wish to recruit women teachers, will he investigate the position, especially in relation to the Walthamstow and Essex Education Committees.
No. Conditions in some primary schools are admittedly unsatisfactory, and I have recently in Circular 174 reminded local education authorities of the importance of doing what they can to make them more attractive to teachers. The hon. Member is wrong, however, in assuming, from the one instance which he has brought to my notice, that teachers are easily daunted by adverse conditions. I am not aware that there is any need for a special investigation in Essex generally or in Walthamstow in particular.
Supplementary Petrol Allowances
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that owing to petrol coupons not arriving, one caterpillar and a nine yard scraper on outcrop coal were stopped, one five foot saw mill at Dennington was stopped, round and sawn timber to London was delayed and timber deliveries were reduced to half, despite repeated requests by letter and telephone from Mr. Wyatt of Diss; and if he will investigate the reason for this and take steps to prevent its recurrence.
The hon. Member is under a misapprehension if he thinks that the activities to which he refers suffered from a failure of my Department or the Ministry of Transport to issue coupons for the plant concerned. Mr. Wyatt has made representations that the allowances issued to him for use in certain private cars at his disposal are not sufficient for him personally to supervise his numerous activities, and for this reason they have had to be curtailed. An interim issue of coupons has been made to him, but in view of the very substantial allowances of petrol which he has already received for the current quarter, we are not prepared to authorise the further allowances for which he has asked without further information on the uses to which he has put the petrol already consumed and the purposes for which these additional allowances are required.