Written Answers To Questions
Friday, 11th February, 1949
Post Office (Engineering Workers)
asked the Postmaster-General what is the annual cost of the wage increases recently granted to Post Office engineering workers; and what would have been the cost of granting in full the claim put forward by the men's representatives.
The ultimate annual cost of the recent wage increases for engineering workers is estimated to be £922,000 (this includes provision for overtime and pension liability). The ultimate annual cost of granting in full the claim put forward by the Post Office Engineering Union last April would have been approximately £3 million.
Juvenile Delinquency, Warrington
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young persons of each sex have been brought before the juvenile court for the Warrington district in the last six months on charges alleging them to be in need of proper care and attention; and what were the figures in the comparable period during the previous 12 months.
The number of young persons brought before the Warrington juvenile court as being in need of care or protection were, for the second half of 1948, none; and, for the corresponding period of 1947, one girl.
India And Pakistan (Uk Income Tax)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what authority the High Commissioners for India and Pakistan deduct United Kingdom Income Tax from leave salaries and pensions paid by them to persons resident in the United Kingdom.
By Section 17 (1), Finance Act, 1923, and Section 1, Income Tax (Offices and Employments) Act, 1944.
National Insurance
Local Offices
asked the Minister of National Insurance how many local offices his Department has opened; and how many are in Wales.
There are 984 full-time offices open, of which 105 are in Wales. In addition, there are 245 offices which are open on one or two days a week to take claims and deal with inquiries. Of these, 38 are in Wales.
Students
asked the Minister of National Insurance if he is aware that many students are uncertain as to their position under the National Health Insurance scheme: and whether he will state in detail what their liabilities are whilst they are students and on ceasing to be students.
The information for which the hon. and gallant Member asks is set out in detail in leaflet N.I.30 issued by my Department, and any student in doubt as to his position should get a copy from the nearest local office. The question of the payment by students after the end of their course of contributions not paid during the course is still under consideration.
Food Subsidies
asked the Minister of Food what are the proportions of the food subsidies paid as between home and foreign sources of supply.
If the subsidies on animal feedingstuffs and fertilisers are attributed to home production 56.6 per cent. of the current subsidies on food, feedingstuffs and fertilisers are payable on home produce and 43.4 per cent. on imported supplies.
Nature Conservancy (Membership)
asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will now give further information about the new arrangements for the conservation of flora and fauna throughout Great Britain.
Arrangements have now been completed for the constitution of a Nature Conservancy with the following membership:
- Prof. A. G. Tansley, M.A., F.R.S. (Chairman).
- Alexander Anderson, M.A., M.P.
- Charles Elton, M.A.
- E. B. Ford, M.A., D.Sc., F.R.S.
- Harry Godwin, M.A., D.Sc., F.R.S.
- E. H. Keeling, MC., M.A., M.P.
- N. B. Kinnear, C.B.
- Professor R. C. McLean, M.A. D.Sc.
- Professor J. R. Matthews, M.A., F.R.S.E.
- E. M. Nicholson, C.B.
- Professor W. H. Pearsall, D.Sc., F.R.S
- M. Philips Price, M.A., J.P., M.P.
- J. A. Steers, M.A.
- W. L. Taylor, C.B.E.
- A. E. Trueman, D.Sc., F.R.S.E., F.R.S.
- Professor J. R. Matthews, M.A., F.R.S.E., F.L.S. (Chairman).
- A. Anderson, M.P.
- H. C. Beresford-Peirse.
- Dr. Frank Fraser Darling, D.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.S.E.
- Arthur Bryce Duncan.
- Dr. D. N. McArthur, D.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.S.E.
- Major Sir Basil H. H. Neven-Spence, D.L., M.P.
- Professor A. D. Peacock, D.Sc., F.R.S.E.
- Professor J. Ritchie, M.A., D.Sc.
- Professor John Walton, M.A., D.Sc., F.R.S.E.
- The Earl of Wemyss and March.
- Professor C. M. Yonge, D.Sc., F.R.S., F.R.S.E.
Dr. John Berry, M.A., F.R.S.E., has, with the consent of the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board, to which he is biologist, been released to serve as Director for Scotland. As I informed the House on 2nd November last, Captain Cyril Diver, C.B.E., has been appointed as Director-General and his office is at Thorney House, Smith Square, S.W.1.
The Conservancy is seeking a Charter on similar lines to the Charter of the Agricultural Research Council, with which it will work in the closest co-operation. The Committee of Privy Council for Agricultural Research will be reconstituted as the Committee of Privy Council for Agricutural Research and Nature Conservation and the Minister of Town and Country Planning will be added to it in view of its extended responsibilities over the Nature Conservancy as well as over the Agricultural Research Council.
The Conservancy will start work at once, but the House will appreciate that it will need considerable time to survey and prepare action over the complex range assigned to it.
Coastline Protection
asked the Minister of Agriculture what proportion of the coastline of England and Wales is protected by catchment boards, drainage boards or other authorities constituted by the Minister of Agriculture; and if he will specify the locality and the length of coastline for which each such authority is responsible and in cases where coast erosion is taking place if he will indicate the rates levied on drainage ratepayers.
Catchment Boards are responsible for works protecting the outfall of their "main rivers" and this often necessitates the construction or maintenance of works for defence against the sea and in estuaries as well as the maintenance of tidal embankments for the protection of low-lying land flanking the river. Drainage boards outside catchment areas also exercise sea defence powers for the protection of their districts against tidal inundation and to preserve a proper outfall for their main drains. No distinction is drawn between works of this nature on the coastline proper, in estuaries, and up tidal rivers, all of which serve the same purposes. The extent of sea defence, estuarial and tidal river works taken together amounts to approximately 1,750 miles. The length of embankments threatened by direct wave action from the sea would perhaps be between 200 and 300 miles. I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a statement showing such figures as are available.Catchment Boards meet their expenditure out of precepts but may secure contributions from internal drainage boards. Such boards, and boards outside catchment areas, generally levy rates in respect of all their drainage works and it would not be possible to separate out that part of the rates which is attributable to sea defence works.