House of Commons debates

Tuesday, 25 March 1919

  • Preamble

    The House met at a Quarter before Three of the clock, Mr. SPEAKER in the Chair.

  • Peivate Business.

    Private Bill Petitions (Standing Orders not complied with),—Mr. SPEAKER laid upon the Table Report from one of the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills, That, in the case of the...

  • Oral Answers to Questions — Ukraine.

    6 speeches

    2. asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make a statement as to the state of affairs in the Ukraine?

  • Oral Answers to Questions — Soldiers' Bodies (Exhumation).

    4 speeches

    5. asked the Secretary of State for War whether bodies of soldiers are to be exhumed and transported by rail to other burial grounds; and whether, if this is the case, facilities will be given to...

  • Oral Answers to Questions — Demobilisation.

    • Army Form Printed in Cologne.

      2 speeches

      6. asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Army Form Z 30 M (Soldier), which is distributed among men about to be demobilised, bears the imprint "Printed in Germany by Fr....

    • Release Postponed.

      2 speeches

      3. asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will issue Army Orders to the effect that no officer or soldier eligible for demobilisation shall be liable to have his release postponed by his...

      Men Attested in 1915.

      2 speeches

      4. asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Derby men who attested in 1915 and were not called to the Colours until 1916 are included in the new scheme of demobilisation and are liable to...

      Doctors and Nurses.

      2 speeches

      7. asked the Secretary of State for War what are the latest orders he has issued for the demobilisation of additional doctors and nurses still attached to the Army; and what steps he is taking to...

      Compassionate Grounds.

      2 speeches

      11. asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in the consideration of cases eligible for demobilsation on compassionate grounds, he will give directions that the claims be considered of those...

      Royal Army Service Corps (Forage Department).

      6 speeches

      12. asked the Secretary of State for War when the Forage Department of the War Office is to be closed down and when the men of the Royal Army Service Corps attached to the Forage Department are...

      Re-Enlisted Men.

      2 speeches

      85. asked if men who enlisted in 1915 were then discharged and re-enlisted under the Compulsory Service Acts of 1916 can be treated as if they were enlisted men from 1915 as regards eligibility...

      Soldiers Sent to Russia.

      10 speeches

      Lieutenant-Colonel Sir F. HALL: 26. asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a considerable number of men who joined the Service in 1914 and 1915 have been sent from Salonika...

      Guarding German Prisoners.

      2 speeches

      27. asked whether non-commissioned officers and men, admittedly entitled to demobilisation on account of their age and length of service, are rightly retained when in England to guard German...

      One-Man Businesses.

      8 speeches

      30. asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the hardship suffered by being retained in the Army by one-man business men who are in many instances qualified for demobilisation, he...

      Clothing.

      2 speeches

      31. asked the Secretary of State for War whether upon demobilisation a soldier is entitled to an issue of underclothing, boots, and cardigan jacket; and, if not, will he consider the advisability...

      Machinery of Demobilisation.

      7 speeches

      33. asked the Secretary of State for War why Corporal A. G. Ruck, No. M.S./30004, Royal Army Service Corps, No. 13 General Headquarters Reserve, Mechanical Transport Company, British...

      Army Withdrawal (France).

      4 speeches

      37. asked if a statement can be made explaining the nature of the withdrawal of the Army from France; and if the map in the Tea Room can be marked to show the evacuation of the different towns...

      Volunteer Enlistments.

      4 speeches

      Captain COOTE: 8. asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the number of Volunteers enlisted to date; and whether the rate of recruitment is being maintained at 1,000 per day?

      Low Category Men.

      2 speeches

      Captain COOTE: 9. asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is his intention to keep with the Colours men of a low medical category, e.g., B 3; and, if so, for what purpose will these men...

      Service on Land.

      2 speeches

      10. asked the Secretary of State for War whether a man serving in an agricultural company in the United Kingdom can volunteer or be detailed for service on the land with a private employer; and,...

      Triumphal Marches.

      10 speeches

      13. asked the Secretary of State for War if all the triumphal marches have so far taken place only in the City and West End; and, if so, will he arrange that the East End will have the same...

      Soldiers Returning from East.

      2 speeches

      16. asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that anxiety is prevalent amongst relatives of soldiers returning or expected to return from the war zones of the East, who, by reason...

      First Army Signals.

      2 speeches

      18. asked the Secretary of State for War whether men who volunteered in 1914 are being retained with the 1st Army Signals to complete the technical minimum of office telegraphists; whether, of...

      Army Boots.

      2 speeches

      15. asked the Secretary of State for War if he has yet come to a decision with regard to offering to volunteers at a reasonable price the Army boots which have been tried by them; and whether he...

  • Oral Answers to Questions — Naval and Military Pensions and Grants.

    • Re-Enlisted Men.

      4 speeches

      14. asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the services rendered by re-enlisted men during the War, he will consider the possibility of taking into consideration the previous...

    • Regular Officers.

      2 speeches

      36. asked the Secretary of State for War if he has under consideration an increase in the rates of pension to Regular officers?

      Old Soldiers.

      2 speeches

      58. asked the Pensions Minister whether he is aware that old soldiers discharged before the War consider it a hardship that they should not receive such increase in their pensions as is given to...

      Consular Service.

      2 speeches

      1. asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made with reference to the reform of the Consular Service?

      Central Regimental Institutes Funds.

      11 speeches

      19. asked whether the Central Regimental Institutes funds have been used by the Navy and Army Canteen Board as part of the trading capital of the board; whether the board was financed by a loan...

      National Expenditure (Select Committee).

      2 speeches

      21. asked whether any decision has been arrived at between the War Office and the Treasury in reference to the question referred by the Select Committee on National Expenditure in August, 1918,...

      Royal Defence Corps (Sergeant W. J. Johnson).

      2 speeches

      22. asked why Sergeant W. J. Johnson, No. 3509, Royal Defence Corps, Experimental Guard, Portam, Salisbury, aged about fifty, married, with two children, is detained in the Army?

      Officer Cadets.

      4 speeches

      23. asked the Secretary for War whether he will consider the question of giving officer cadets who after passing the test for commissioned rank at the training schools have been granted temporary...

      Silver Cross of Sacrifice.

      4 speeches

      28. asked the Secretary for War whether he has observed that the Canadian Government is now issuing a silver Cross of Sacrifice to widows and mothers of Canadians killed at the front; and whether...

      Territorial and Temporary Officers.

      4 speeches

      34. asked the Secretary of State for War if the applications of Territorial and temporary officers for Regular commissions are being considered; if so, will previous war service be taken into...

      Chinese Labour (France).

      2 speeches

      38. asked how many Chinese are now employed in France and what steps are being taken to get them back to China; and how many natives from Africa are now being employed and when they will be...

      Forcible Feeding.

      3 speeches

      39. asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Prisoners (Temporary Discharge for Ill-Health) Act, 1913, was passed to obviate the necessity of forcible feeding; and how...

      Taxi-Cabs.

      8 speeches

      40. asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, having regard to the fact that a large number of cabs were withdrawn from the streets in consequence of the refusal to sanction...

      School Children (Employment).

      2 speeches

      42. asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet received for confirmation any by-laws relaxing the Statute which prohibits employment of school children by others than...

      Sir Edgar Speyer.

      4 speeches

      43. asked what is the state of the proceedings taken for revoking the certificate of naturalisation of Sir Edgar Speyer; and when a decision is likely to be arrived at?

      Conscientious Objectors.

      2 speeches

      44. asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that K. H. Birtles, a conscientious objector who was on hunger strike in Wandsworth Prison, was kept without water...

      War Atrocities.

      2 speeches

      45. asked the Prime Minister when the Committee dealing with individual responsibility for breaches of civilised warfare expects to report; and whether there is any reason why immediate action...

      League of Nations (Government Policy).

      2 speeches

      46. asked the Prime Minister if the interview on the subjects of the League of Nations and the preliminary Peace Treaty given to the Press in Paris by the right hon. Member for Hitchin, and...

      Rumania (Destruction of British Property).

      4 speeches

      Sir F. HALL: 47. asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that damage was previous to the Armistice caused to property of British subjects at Galatz and Sulina, including destruction of...

      Dukes of Albany and Cumberland.

      2 speeches

      48. asked whether, now that the Report of the Privy Council recommending the deprivation of the peerages of the Dukes of Albany and Cumberland has been laid upon the Table for the necessary...

      Water Power (Highlands of Scotland).

      2 speeches

      49. asked whether the Government intends to take early action on the recommendations contained in the Interim Report of the Water Power Resources Committee which affect the Highlands of Scotland?

      National Relief Fund.

      2 speeches

      50. asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the desirability of taking such steps as will secure Parliamentary control of the National Relief Fund?

      Ministries of National Service and Reconstruction.

      2 speeches

      51. asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the Ministries of National Service and Reconstruction have now been combined in one Department; if so, can he state under what authority this has been done;...

      Income Tax.

      6 speeches

      52. asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if there are any circumstances under which an interim repayment claim in respect of Income Tax can be made by a married woman living with her husband?

      Entertainments Duty.

      2 speeches

      53. asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the remission of Entertainments Tax on the gate money of cricket clubs and other clubs founded for the encouragement of sports?

      Influenza Epidemic (National Schools, Ireland).

      2 speeches

      56. asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, owing to the influenza epidemic in Ireland, the average attendance in the majority of Irish national schools has been seriously...

      Concrete Ships.

      4 speeches

      59. asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller if he can state how many concrete ships are now under construction and how many have been passed into service; if the construction...

      Physical Training Inspectors.

      3 speeches

      61. asked the President of the Board of Education whether, considering that of the seven expert inspectors of physical training on the staff of the Board of Education in November last five were...

      Civil Servants (Pensions).

      2 speeches

      62. asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is prepared to consider the advisability of granting a temporary increase in the pensions of all Civil servants whose pensions are at present based...

      London County Council Staff (Salaries).

      2 speeches

      63. asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the London County Council, after consultation with the London County Council Staff Association, recently resolved to increase the...

      Discharged Soldiers (Employments).

      2 speeches

      64. asked the Minister of Labour whether, having regard to the number of discharged men recommended for employment in light work only and so certified on their medical cards, and the lack of such...

      Unemployment Donation (Agriculture).

      6 speeches

      65. asked the Minister of Labour if he can give a Return showing the number of land workers or agricultural labourers at present drawing unemployment benefit, and as to which areas that are...

      Oswestry Town Council (Sanitary Inspector).

      4 speeches

      60 and 67. asked the President of the Local Government Board (1) whether, in the case of the assistant sanitary and water inspector appointed the week before last by the Oswestry Town Council,...

      Road Deterioration.

      2 speeches

      68. asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, with a view to preventing unnecessary deterioration of roads, he will introduce a regulation fixing a definite relation between the...

      Telephone Repairs (Nelson).

      2 speeches

      70. asked the Postmaster-General what progress has been made in repairing the telephone lines brought down on 4th January last in the Nelson district; is he aware that a large number of important...

      Import Restrictions.

      8 speeches

      Captain BROWN: 71. asked the President of the Board of Trade if there are any existing restrictions on the import to this country of manufactured paper; and, if so, whether it is intended to...

  • Oral Answers to Questions — Railway Administration.

    • Existing Companies.

      2 speeches

      Colonel THORNE: 72. asked the President of the Board of Trade how many railway companies there were in the United Kingdom in 1918 and the number in 1895, how many boards, and how many directors;...

    • Purchase of Lines.

      2 speeches

      Colonel THORNE: 73. asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Government have the right to purchase the railways constructed after the date of the passing of the Act...

      Trade Conditions.

      2 speeches

      Major BARNES: 76. asked the President of the Board of Trade whether industries, such as the dye trade, which require to be shielded from foreign competition, will be carried on under Government...

  • Oral Answers to Questions — Food Supplies.

    • Oats.

      2 speeches

      Colonel THORNE: 77. asked the Food Controller if he will state the price at which proprietors of racing or hunting studs are enabled to procure oats, and how this compares per lb. with the...

    • Meat.

      2 speeches

      Colonel THORNE: 78. asked the Minister of Food if, between 9th December, 1918, and 2nd February last, the Government slaughter-house agent at Salisbury voluntarily surrendered to the local...

      Potatoes.

      5 speeches

      70. asked the Minister of Food whether Scotland is getting a share of the German order for potatoes; and, if so, how many tons are to be exported to Germany, and at what price?

      Corn, Meat, and Tea (Government Stocks).

      4 speeches

      80. asked the Minister of Food whether he will state the present stocks held by the Government of corn, meat, and tea?

      Retail Business Licence.

      2 speeches

      81. asked the Minister of National Service why a retail business licence has been refused to Mr. Harry Simmins, of S. Simmins and Sons, Crawley?

      National Shipyard, Chepstow.

      2 speeches

      82. asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the conditions of the contract with the contractors at Bulwark, Chepstow; whether their contract has been cancelled; whether any...

      Constantinople (ST. Sophia Church).

      4 speeches

      83. asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has made any representations to the Foreign Office as to the importance to the peace of India of retaining under Moslem control the ancient...

      Russia (Bolshevist Forces).

      2 speeches

      (by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for War if the Allied Forces are still in Odessa; if he can inform the House what has been the result of the fighting reported in the North of...

      Industrial Unrest.

      2 speeches

      Sir H. DALZIEL: Can the Leader of the House say when he hopes to be in a position to make a statement with regard to the labour negotiations?

      Egypt.

      2 speeches

      (by Private Notice) asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement regarding the situation in Egypt?

      Message from the Lords.

      That they have agreed to,—

      Standing Committees (Chairmen's Panel).

      Sir SAMUEL ROBERTS reported from the Chairmen's Panel, That they had appointed Mr. Macmaster to act as Chairman of Standing Committee C in place of Mr. Brace (in respect of the Civil Services and...

  • Orders of the Day — Notices of Motion.

    • Pensions for Mothers.

      To call attention, upon this day two weeks, to the question of Pensions for Mothers, and to move a Resolution.—[Mr. Tyson Wilson.]

    • Eastern Europe (British Policy).

      To call attention, upon this day two weeks, to British policy in Eastern Europe, and to move a Resolution.—[Lieutenant-Colonel Walter Guinness and Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Samuel Hoare.]

      Business of the House.

      1 speech

      Brigadier-General CROFT: May I ask the Leader of the House whether he has received a widely signed memorial from hon. Members asking for a day for the discussion of indemnities?

  • Increase of Rent Bill

    Lords Amendments to the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Bill considered.

  • Clause 1. — (War Prolongation of Duration of Principal Act.)

    6 speeches

    The Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (War Restrictions) Act, 1915 (hereinafter referred to as the "principal Act"), and the enactments amending that Act, shall continue in force until Lady...

  • Clause 2. — (Limited Power of Increasing Rents during the Extended Period.)

    28 speeches

    (1) An increase in the rent of a dwelling-house to which the principal Act applies payable in respect of the extended period or any part thereof which would but for the principal Act be...

  • New Clause. — (Restriction on Raising Assessment.)

    7 speeches

    A. It shall not be lawful during the period of the operation of the principal Act to raise the assessment (or in Scotland the valuation) for rating purposes of any house to which the principal...

  • New Clause. — (Limitation on Rent of Houses Let Furnished.)

    4 speeches

    B.—(1) Where the occupier of a dwelling-house to which the principal Act, either as originally enacted or as extended by this Act, applies, lets, or has before the passing of this Act let...

  • New Clause. — (Application of Act to Ireland.)

    1 speech

    In the application of this Act to Ireland: (a) The first day of May shall be substituted for Lady Day in the case of tenancies where the former day is the gale day;(b) The medical officer of...

  • New Clause. — (Amendment of Definition of Standard Rent.)

    1 speech

    D. At the end of paragraph (a) of Sub-section (1) of Section two of the principal Act, the following words shall be inserted: Provided that in the case of any dwelling-house let at a progressive...

  • Naval, Military, and Air Force Service Bill.

    As amended (in the Standing Committee), considered.

  • New Clause. — (Discharge, of Soldiers.)

    15 speeches

    A person discharged after the passing of this Act shall not be deemed to be re-enlisted under the Military Service Acts, 1916–18.—[Mr. G. Locker-Lampson.]

  • Clause 1. — (Power to Prolong Period of Naval, Military, or Air Force Service.)

    49 speeches

    (1) If the competent authority is of opinion that, as respects any men to whom this Section applies or any class of such men, they cannot consistently with the public interest be released from...

  • Imperial Preference.

    25 speeches

    Major NEWMAN: I beg to move, That, in the opinion of this House, the delay on the part of the Government to declare its policy for the protection of key industries, for the prevention of...

  • Increase of Rent Bill.

    To be communicated to the Lords.—[Mr Fisher.]

  • Russia.

    2 speeches

    Whereupon Mr. SPEAKER, pursuant to the Order of the House of the 12th February, proposed the Question, "That this House do now adjourn."

What is this?

Debates in the House of Commons are an opportunity for MPs from all parties to scrutinise government legislation and raise important local, national or topical issues.

And sometimes to shout at each other.

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