Written Answers To Questions
Friday, 10th December, 1954
Courts-Martial (Appeal Rules)
asked the Attorney-General what steps are being taken to speed-up the procedure for hearing appeals from courts-martial.
Rules amending the Courts-Martial Appeal Rules, 1952, were made by the Lord Chief Justice with the approval of the Lord Chancellor on 22nd November. These Rules, which will come into operation on 1st January, 1955, provide inter alia for a reduction of the period within which a person convicted by court-martial must present the petition required by Section 3 (2) of the Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act, 1951. It is hoped that this change will go some way towards preventing any repetition of cases where the sentence has been served before the appeal is heard.
National Finance
Petroleum Imports (Foreign Exchange)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much foreign exchange was required in 1952 to finance the import of petrol and oil into the United Kingdom; and what proportion of the total imports of petrol and oil in that year involved the expenditure of foreign exchange;(2) how much foreign exchange is likely to be required in the current financial year for the purpose of the import of petrol and oil into the United Kingdom; and what proportion of the total imports of petrol and oil involve the expenditure of foreign exchange.
All petroleum imports into the United Kingdom have a foreign currency element in their cost, including imports from the British companies' own resources overseas. The companies' expenditure of foreign currency is in respect of their world-wide operations in the production of crude oil, refining, purchasing, transport, and marketing, and it is not possible to allocate this expenditure among imports into individual countries.
Pool Betting Duty
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider taking powers to make grants from the pool betting duty revenue to encourage the breeding of greyhounds in this country.
It would be an undesirable departure from normal Exchequer arrangements to earmark the proceeds of a particular tax for a specific purpose.
Agriculture (Product Value)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what, at current or recent prices, is the value of the gross agricultural product stated as a percentage of the value of the gross national product.
In 1953 agriculture contributed 5 per cent. of the gross national product.
Anti-Aircraft Units (Responsibility)
asked the Minister of Defence what will be the organisation responsible for the command and control of ground-to-air anti-aircraft weapons consequent upon the disbandment of Anti-Aircraft Command.
For command and administration, the anti-aircraft units in the United Kingdom hitherto under Anti-Aircraft Command, will come under Army Home Commands. Operationally, they will remain under the control of the Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Fighter Command, in his rôle of Air Defence Commander.