Written Answers To Questions
Friday, 28th November, 1952
South Wales Development Area (Ex-Miners)
asked the Minister of Labour how many persons are registered as unemployed in the South Wales Development Area; how many of them are ex-miners; how many of the latter are disabled through dust diseases; and if he will give the corresponding figures for the same time last year.
The following table gives the information desired so far as it is available. It is not possible to say how many of the persons registered as unemployed were ex-miners.
| NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED MEN AND BOYS ON THE REGISTERS OF EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES IN THE SOUTH WALES AND MONMOUTHSHIRE DEVELOPMENT AREA. | ||
| — | 15th October, 1951 | 13th October, 1952 |
| 1. Total number on registers | 11,531 | 11,617 |
| 2. Registered disabled ex-miners suffering from pneumoconiosis (including silicosis) (included in item 1 above)* | 2,187 | 1,789 |
| * The figures exclude those ex-miners suffering from pneumoconiosis who were classified as unlikely to obtain work other than under sheltered conditions. The numbers in that category were 264 in October, 1951, and 275 in October, 1952. | ||
National Service (Call-Up)
asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the fact that postponement of National Service is weighted in favour of men undergoing educational training and against men who have business commitments and personal responsibilities, he will take steps to equalise the position, even if it entails creating fresh Umpire case practice.
Applications for postponement of liability to be called up on grounds of hardship are determined in accordance with the relevant provisions of the National Service Acts and Regulations as interpreted by the Umpire, who is an independent statutory authority. I cannot accept the suggestion that these judicial decisions are biased in favour of any particular class of case. Perhaps, however, my hon. Friend is thinking of the administrative deferment of call-up to enable training to be completed, but that is quite a different matter from postponement on hardship grounds.
asked the Minister of Labour if he will publish in HANSARD the number of men called up for National Service, expressed as a percentage of the number of males in the age group of the population of Great Britain aged 15 to 24 years, in each of the years 1946 to 1951, inclusive.
The following table gives the figures for the years 1947 to 1951. The numbers posted to the Forces in 1946 were higher than in later years and they probably included a considerable number of men over 24 years of age who, up to that time, had been retained in industry owing to the importance of the work on which they were engaged.Numbers of men posted to Her Majesty's Forces, expressed as percentages of the total numbers of men aged 15 to 24 in Great Britain, are as follow:
| Year | Per cent. | ||||
| 1947 | … | … | … | … | 5½ |
| 1948 | … | … | … | … | 4½ |
| 1949 | … | … | … | … | 5 |
| 1950 | … | … | … | … | 5½ |
| 1951 | … | … | … | … | 5 |
Fuel And Power
Glass Houses (Heating)
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will see that the allocations of coal and anthracite for the period 1952–53 are sufficient to heat the glass houses capacity in this country; and if he will undertake that legitimate claims will be considered sympathetically.
Claims for fuel for heating glass houses are always carefully and sympathetically considered. In view, however, of the very limited supplies of anthracite, I must ask growers to take a substantial part of their requirements in coke.
Electricity Supply (Control)
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will introduce legislation to restore the former Central Electricity Board and Electricity Commissioners, and decentralise control of generation in the electricity supply industry.
This would fall to be considered when the existing organisation of the industry is reviewed.
Coal Miners (Age)
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the average age of coal miners, both overall and at the face, for the year 1951.
40.5 years for all wage earners and 39.1 years for face workers.
National Assistance
False Statements (Prosecutions)
asked the Minister of National Insurance how many persons have been prosecuted under Section 52 of the National Assistance Act for knowingly making false statements in order to obtain any benefit or to avoid any liability under the Act.
I am informed by the National Assistance Board that they have prosecuted about 3,500 persons.
Disregarded Resources
asked the Secretary to the Treasury what matters have been prescribed by his Department for the purposes of the Second Schedule to the National Assistance Act, 1948, dealing with resources to be disregarded when applications are made for assistance; in particular what regulations have been made by his Department under Section 57 of the Act for the ascertainment of any war savings of an applicant for assistance, and how many times these regulations have been invoked.
The answer to each part of this Question is "None."
Scotland (Students' Grants)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his attention has been drawn to the recent survey of the School of Economics at Dundee, a copy of which has been sent to him, which shows that the grants made to Scottish students do not cover their expenses; and if he will set up an inquiry into the present methods of university finance.
I have seen the survey, which relates to bursaries awarded by education authorities. It was sent to me by the Scottish Union of Students, who claim that the increased maintenance allowances in the amending Bursary Regulations published in July are inadequate.I do not consider it practicable to make any further increase in the allowances for the present and I therefore propose to make the Regulations forthwith in the form in which they were published. I intend, however, to look further into the points made by the Union.
National Finance
Van Windows (Tax)
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he requires that Purchase Tax should be payable on windows put into an Austin van by the owner thereof, providing there is a guarantee that he will not sell it; and whether a reply can be sent to Mr. D. N. Lampard, of Church Street, Pewsey, in response to his letters asking for a ruling on this point.
The owner would be accountable for the tax under the law if, in the course of or for the purposes of his business, he fitted windows in the sides of the van to the rear of the driver's seat.I understand that Mr. Lampard first wrote to the Customs about this particular point on 31st October, and that inquiries are being made into the circumstances in which he proposes to carry out the alteration. When these are completed, I will advise my hon. Friend of the result.
Land Values (Tax)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the objects of the continued implementation of Section 28 of the Finance Act, 1931, in view of the fact that this Section was originally put on the Statute Book in connection with the tax introduced under the Finance Act, 1931, for taxing land values.
The information about transfers and leases of real property which is obtained under this Section is of great importance to the Inland Revenue valuation office in valuing land for Estate Duty and Stamp Duty purposes and in advising and assisting Government Departments and local authorities who are acquiring or disposing of land.