Written Answers To Questions
Friday, 9th November, 1949
Ministry Of Supply
Commercial Flying Boats
asked the Minister of Supply what commercial flying-boats are in the process of design or construction in addition to the Princess flying-boat; what are the leading particulars of such aircraft; and when is it expected that they will be put into service.
Apart from the Saunders-Roe Princess, there are no British commercial flying boats in process of design. The following types are in production:—
Short Solent. In service on B.O.A.C.'s African routes. All-up weight 78,000 lb. Four Bristol Hercules engines. Latest version has accommodation for up to 40 day passengers; payload 10,000 lb. over a still air range of 2,300 miles; cruising speed 200 m.p.h.
Short Sandringham. Civil conversion of the R.A.F. Sunderland. Four Pratt and Whitney engines. All-up weight 60,000 lb. Can carry 30 passengers for 2,100 still air miles at a cruising speed of 170 m.p.h.
Short Sealand. Small amphibian, designed to carry 5–8 passengers for stage distances of up to 450 miles at a cruising speed of 150 m.p.h. Two de Havilland Gipsy Queen engines. Likely to commence operation on British West Indian Airways' routes early in 1950.
Royal Ordnance Factories
asked the Minister of Supply whether he will list the main articles manufactured in Royal Ordnance Factories for civil consumption; and state which compete with privately-manufactured goods.
Most of the civil work in the Royal Ordnance Factories is on capital goods and components and not on goods for direct civilian use. The articles manufactured are:—Oilfield equipment; woodworking machinery; turbines for electricity generation; electric alternators; prestressed concrete railway sleepers; car and cycle components; internal com- bustion engines; earth moving equipment; clock movements; pulverising mills for power stations; biscuit ovens; printing machinery; engineering services, e.g., casting, machining, plating; agricultural and industrial chemicals.All these goods are also produced by private industry.
Entertainments Duty (Cinemas)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the monthly receipts from Entertainments Duty on film exhibitions for 1946 and 1947 and for November and December 1948.
The approximate monthly receipts of Entertainments Duty during 1946 and 1947 in respect of admissions to cinemas were:
| 1946 | 1947 | |
| £ | £ | |
| January | 3,688,000 | 3,906,000 |
| February | 3,280.000 | 2,825,000 |
| March | 3,743,000 | 3,044,000 |
| April | 3,307,000 | 3,367,000 |
| May | 3,927,000 | 3,366,000 |
| June | 3,570,000 | 2,714,000 |
| July | 3,139,000 | 2,866,000 |
| August | 4,179.000 | 2,865,000 |
| September | 3,528,000 | 2,968,000 |
| October | 3,645,000 | 3,641,000 |
| November | 3,641,000 | 3,103,000 |
| December | 2,675,000 | 3,018,000 |
British Army
Colonel Miller (Employment)
asked the Secretary of State for War what is the nature of the present employment under his Department of Colonel P. D. Miller, C.B.E., lately chief secretary, Allied Commission for Austria.
Colonel P. D. Miller, C.B.E., is not employed by my Department.
Hong Kong (Instruction)
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that unit intelligence officers in Hong Kong are telling the soldiers that as long as there is a Communist Government in China there is a potential threat to Hong Kong's status; and whether he will take steps to have this type of instruction stopped.
I have called for a report on this matter and will write to my hon. Friend.
Nigeria (Export Of Skins)
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the reason for refusing a licence for the export of hides from Nigeria to Sweden when similar licences have been granted for the export of hides from Nigeria to France and Belgium; and if he will explain the difference between the granting of these licences in the case of France and Belgium and the export to Scandinavian countries.
I assume that the hon. Member refers to the export of skins, not hides, from Nigeria as no licences have been granted for the export of hides to France and Belgium. Since 21st July, 1949, the policy has been to restrict export licences for skins from Nigeria to exports to specified hard currency countries although one consignment to Sweden was permitted as the contract had been signed before the announcement of this policy. An exception is made for exports to France because some skins originating from French West Africa are exported through Nigeria.
Housing (Capital Costs)
asked the Minister of Health what was the capital cost of housing in the last year: and what saving is estimated as the result of reducing the number of licences for private houses.
In reply to the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Economic Survey for 1949 (Cmd. 7647) in which capital expenditure on the new construction and maintenance of houses in England and Wales during 1949 is estimated at £375,000,000. As regards the second part of the Question, the saving during 1949 will be very small and no estimate can yet be made of the saving in 1950.
Festival Of Britain
asked the Lord President of the Council if he will arrange for photographs of the model for the buildings proposed to be erected on the Thames South Bank for the Festival of Britain, 1951, to be displayed in the Library of this House.
It has been suggested to me by the Festival of Britain organisation that the opportunity might be taken for them to display visual material about the Festival, including the exhibition on the South Bank, at a special meeting of Members at the House. I think that this suggestion would meet the hon. Member's request, and if the House so desires I will ask my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury to consider what arrangements could be made.
Royal Air Force
Ministry's Staff (Selection)
asked the Secretary of State for Air as the method of selection by his Department of unestablished civil seryants for establishments is based on reports only, whether he is satisfied that these personal reports are made out to a common standard throughout the service.
It cannot be expected that a large number of different reporting officers will apply identical standards, but every effort was made to reduce to a minimum variations in reporting standards by introducing a very detailed form of report which was issued with accompanying instructions to reporting officers.
asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) why his Department decided to establish their agreed quota of unestablished civil servants without first getting agreement on the method of selection with the departmental Whitley Council, (2) if he will ensure that the vacancies that still remain in his Department for establishment of hitherto unestablished personnel will be filled in accordance with a method acceptable to his departmental Whitley Council.
The official side of the Air Ministry Departmental Whitley Council were reluctantly compelled to settle the method of selection without the agreement of the Staff Side as the proposals made by the Staff Association concerned were inconsistent with the overriding agreement reached on the National Whitley Council, to which their representatives were parties, and which was intended to ensure that the best and not the most senior temporary clerks in each age group should be selected for establishment, provided they had a minimum of three years service (including service in the Forces) and at least six months civil service. The Staff Side have since asked for discussions to be re-opened on the method of selection for the balance of the posts and conversations are proceeding.
Aerodromes, Kenya
asked the Secretary of State for Air what aerodromes are used by the Royal Air Force in Kenya; and what arrangements he has made with the Government of the Colony in this connection.
The R.A.F. are using Eastleigh and Mombasa aerodromes. Both are shared with civil aviation and arrangements have been made for certain aerodrome facilities to be operated by the Government of Kenya.