House of Commons debates

Wednesday, 7 March 1923

  • Preamble

    The House met at a Quarter before Three of the Clock,Mr. SPEAKERin the Chair.

  • Oral Answers to Questions — Peace Treaties.

    • Rhineland High Commission.

      4 speeches

      Major-General Sir R. HUTCHISON: 1. asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether ordinances passed by the Rhineland High Commission with the object of furthering the French...

    • France and Ruhr District.

      8 speeches

      10. asked the Tinder-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the black French troops in the occupied area are billeted in private houses or in barracks?

      Hungary.

      2 speeches

      11. asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Little Entente has made any proposal to occupy any part of Hungarian territory with a view to exacting the payment of...

      Serbia and Bulgaria.

      6 speeches

      12. asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Government has been consulted in regard to any proposal that Serbia should occupy any part of Bulgaria in order to...

      Eastern Galicia.

      2 speeches

      18. asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that Eastern Galicia is placed under the sovereignty of the principal Allied Powers by Article 91 of the...

      Rhineland(British Zone).

      4 speeches

      Sir R.HUTCHSON: 45. asked the Prime Minister whether he has any information with regard to the isolation of the British area in Rhineland by Belgian and French troops; and whether communications...

      Rhineland Railways.

      6 speeches

      47. asked the Prime Minister whether the Rhineland High Commission has passed an ordinance transferring the control of all the Rhineland railways to a Franco-Belgian civil administration; and...

      British Goods, Germany.

      2 speeches

      50. asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that vessels on the Rhine containing goods consigned to, and paid for by, British importers are being held up by the French at Duisburg-Ruhrort,...

      Passports and Visas.

      8 speeches

      4. asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government will endeavour to enter into an arrangement with the Government of Italy for the nationals of the two...

  • Oral Answers to Questions — Smyrna.

    • British Warships.

      2 speeches

      5. asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether British naval ships recently sent to the port of Smyrna have with one exception been withdrawn; whether the French and Italian...

    • British Claims (Compensation).

      2 speeches

      6. asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give any information as to the steps that are being taken to protect the interests of British subjects whose goods or...

      British Military Attache, Lithuania (Arrest).

      2 speeches

      8. asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government has received any apology for, or explanation of, the arrest of the British military attaché in Poland?

      British Fishermen, Russia (Release).

      4 speeches

      9. asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any reply has as yet been received from His Majesty's representative at Moscow with reference to the steps taken to secure the...

      Blue Nile (Irrigation Scheme).

      2 speeches

      14. asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that numbers of Arabs who inhabit Egypt fear that the schemes for the development of the Sudan by...

      Austria.

      2 speeches

      16. asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state under which article, protocol, or provision of the League of Nations scheme given in Command Paper No. 1765, Austria...

  • Oral Answers to Questions — Royal Navy.

    • Submarine Indicating Nets (Inventor's Awards).

      2 speeches

      20. asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if any award was ever given for the invention of the submarine indicating nets; if so, who was the individual who received the same; and could the...

    • Engine Room Artificers (Discharges).

      6 speeches

      21. asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the actual number of fifth-class artificers who were recently drafted from the "Fisgard" to naval establishments for 12 months' service afloat to qualify...

      Witnessed Pay-Sheets.

      2 speeches

      22. asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if the Admiralty proposes to introduce a new system of witnessed pay-sheets for their employés and abolish the necessity of their providing receipt...

      Naval Reserve (Northern Ireland).

      6 speeches

      23. asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will inform the House of the precise nature of the assistance which has been promised to the Government of Northern Ireland in the creation of...

      Battleship Construction (River Tyne).

      2 speeches

      25. asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why delay is taking place with the proceeding of the work on the battleship on the Tyne; if he is aware that the pattern-makers, who ought to be among...

      War Clasps.

      4 speeches

      28. asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can give a date on which the clasps awarded to the Royal Navy (A.O. 2051, C.W. 1654, August, 1920) and sanctioned by His Majesty will be given; and...

      Dockyard Ratings.

      2 speeches

      33. asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether naval ratings in dockyards outside this country are subject to reduction under the recent Order?

      Dockyards (Working Hours).

      3 speeches

      34. asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that under a recent Admiralty order those crane-drivers, engine-drivers, etc., who are required by the nature of their work to be in...

      Schoolmasters.

      2 speeches

      35. asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the intention of the Admiralty to increase the number of naval schoolmasters; and, if so, whether it will consider the advisability of...

      Warrant Officers (Retirement).

      4 speeches

      36. asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether 50 years of age is to be retained as the age for the compulsory retirement of warrant officers and naval officers promoted from that rank; and,...

      Coastguard.

      6 speeches

      37. asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he proposes to introduce legislation to repeal the Coastguard Service Act, 1856; whether any steps will be taken to reduce the Coastguard before...

      Lower Deck (Promotion).

      2 speeches

      38. asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been directed to the uneasiness which prevails in the lower deck ratings of the Navy owing to the lack of opportunities for...

      Personnel (Reductions).

      2 speeches

      Viscountess ASTOR: 39. asked the Financial Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the compulsory termination of the engagements of men to be discharged before the end of the current...

      Discharge by Purchase.

      4 speeches

      Viscountess ASTOR: 40. asked the Financial Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the recent innovation whereby naval ratings may he discharged from His Majesty's Service with a month's...

      Coal Contracts (Fair Wages Clause).

      2 speeches

      42. asked the Financial Secretary to the Admiralty what steps are taken to ensure that firms to whom Admiralty coal contracts are allotted comply with the Fair Wages Clause in respect of their...

      Commercial Airship Service.

      4 speeches

      24. asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Admiralty propose to devote any and, if so, what sums towards the maintenance of airships?

      Navy Estimates.

      4 speeches

      26. asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Admiralty has come to any final decision on the subject of presenting the Estimates classified as to the purposes of expenditure on the same...

      Naval Armaments (Scrapping)

      4 speeches

      Captain ARTHUR EVANS: 27. asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what progress has been made by the various signatories to the Washington Treaty in scrapping the units of their fleet in excess of...

      French Destroyers.

      2 speeches

      Major Sir GEORGE HAMILTON: 30. asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any information as to the ceding to Brazil of two French destroyers in exchange for two ex-German steamers, and...

      Ex-German Mine Sweepers (Argentine).

      2 speeches

      Sir G. HAMILTON: 31. asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether six ex-German mine sweepers have been secured by the Argentine Government; whther these mine sweepers were covered by the Clause...

      Naval History of the War.

      5 speeches

      41. asked the Financial Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that an ex-lndian civil servant is employed in writing the naval history of the War at a salary of £500 per annum while in...

  • Oral Answers to Questions — Unemployment.

    • Industrial Disputes.

      3 speeches

      Mr. T. THOMSON: 43. asked the Minister of Labour whether he has yet received any Report from the Committee appointed by his predecessor to consider what steps could be taken to remove the...

    • Statistics.

      3 speeches

      54. asked the Minister of Labour the total numbers of unemployed on 1st January, 1921, 1st July, 1921, 1st December, 1922, and 1st March, 1923?

      Meiros Collieries, Llanharran?(D. Adams).

      3 speeches

      55. asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that David Adams, a miner, formerly employed at the Meiros Collieries, Llanharran, Glamorgan, has been discharged on the allegation of filling...

      Road Widening, Cowbridge.

      3 speeches

      58. asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, in connection with a local public works relief scheme for road widening being carried out by the Cowbridge Rural District Council,...

      Benefit and Wages.

      13 speeches

      59. asked the Minister of Labour if he will be prepared to consider, or has considered, a scheme of unemployment relief whereby on every contract or order of the value of £5,000 or over the...

      China-Clay Workers.

      2 speeches

      61. asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give the number of china-clay workers registered as totally unemployed on 1st November, 1922, and 1st March, 1923; and, if so, what are the figures?

      Reconstruction Work (France and Belgium).

      2 speeches

      69. asked the Minister of Labour whether any suggestions have been made to him with regard to the employment of British workers on reconstruction work in the devastated area of France or Belgium;...

      Relief Works, Glasgow (Wages).

      8 speeches

      73. asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that, while the number of men employed on relief work by the Glasgow Corporation has increased since 23rd December from 3,594 to 3,614 on 10th...

      Employment Exchange (Horbury).

      2 speeches

      79. asked the Minister of Labour whether he will reconsider the decision to close the Employment Exchange at Horbury, near Wakefield, on 6th March next; whether he is aware that the unemployment...

      Benefit Disallowed.

      2 speeches

      80. asked the Minister of Labour why benefit is not being paid to Neil Gillies, 6, Eglington Lane, at the Glasgow South Side Exchange for the past nine weeks; and, if the reason is alleged fraud,...

      Tin Miners, Cornwall.

      2 speeches

      85. asked the Minister of Labour the number of tin miners and tin streamers who are now registered as unemployed at Employment Exchanges in Cornwall, and the average weekly payment of...

      Loans (Boards of Guardians).

      5 speeches

      Mr. THOMSON: 87. asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Ministry of Health, whether, in view of the prolonged period of unemployment and...

      Relief Works (Sunderland).

      2 speeches

      98. asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Ministry of Health, whether he is aware that on the Sunderland barrack site relief works, which is...

      Thatcham Board and Paper Mills.

      6 speeches

      44. asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the Thateham Board and Paper Mills, Limited, are working their employés on 12-hour shifts; and whether, in view of the fact that the...

      Royal Air Force.

      5 speeches

      Captain BENN: 48. asked the Prime Minister whether he will undertake that no disintegration of the Air Service shall be sanctioned until the House of Commons has approved of the same by a direct vote?

      National Expenditure.

      2 speeches

      Captain A. EVANS: 51. asked the Prime Minister, in view of the fact that this House has in effect no control whatsoever over expenditure, whether he will set up a Royal Commission to explore the...

      Parliamentary Elections (Pro Poiitional Representation).

      3 speeches

      53. asked the Prime Minister if he has considered that the successful candidate in the recent election at Mitcham obtained only 38 per cent. of the total votes polled, whereas other candidates...

      Living (Cost).

      2 speeches

      62. asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give the figures for the cost of living on 1st November, 1922, and 1st March, 1923?

      Industrial Disputes (Arbitration).

      2 speeches

      63. asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that we have now 12 years' experience of the, Canadian Arbitration Act, as amended in 1910, and applied to means of communication and mines;...

      Cabinet Trade Dispute, Tottenham.

      4 speeches

      64. asked the Minister of Labour whether he has taken, or intends to take, any steps to invite the firm of Messrs. Harris Lebus, Finsbury Cabinet Works, Tottenham, to confer with the...

  • Oral Answers to Questions — Ex-Service Men.

    • King's Roll,

      4 speeches

      68. asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the fact that in England and Wales the majority, 1,371 out of 2,431, and in Scotland the great majority, 236 out of 333,...

    • Shorthand-Typists.

      5 speeches

      66. asked the Minister of Labour whether his Department has declared its willingness to make arrangements for the training of disabled ex-service men as shorthand-typists; and whether anything...

      Watch and Clock Repairing.

      3 speeches

      75. asked the Minister of Labour what are the reasons for terminating, before the time agreed upon with the trainees, the period of instruction irk watch and clock repairing of disabled...

      RECORD OFFICE, Kew (DISMISSALS).

      5 speeches

      Mr. DOYLE: 72. asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the women still retained in the claims and record office at Kew are doing precisely the same work as was done up to a few...

      Ministry of 'labour, Kew (Dismissals).

      2 speeches

      Mr. DOYLE: 71. asked the Minister of Labour what steps, if any, have been taken to check the statements of the women employed at the Kew Claims and Record Office that they are all hardship cases...

      Farm Labourers' Wages,Tudlow and Wrestlingworth.

      3 speeches

      77. asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to a strike of farm labourers at Tudlow and Wrestlingworth against a reduction of wages from 24s. to 21s. 3d. pew week, the...

      Ex-Service Nurses.

      2 speeches

      Major ASTOR: 84. asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled ex-service nurses have completed courses of training; and what percentage have obtained employment, in the occupations in which...

  • Oral Answers to Questions — Housing.

    • Local Schemes (Men Employed).

      6 speeches

      Mr. T. THOMSON: 86. asked the total number of men now employed upon the erection of houses for local authorities by the various schemes sanctioned under the provisions of The Housing and Town...

    • Drainage (Llantwit Major).

      4 speeches

      90. asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Ministry of Health, whether he is aware of the bad state of the drainage of sewage in connection with...

      Slum Property, Poplar.

      2 speeches

      92. asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Ministry of Health, if he is aware that a considerable amount of slum property in the borough of Poplar...

      Overcrowding (Poplar).

      2 speeches

      93. asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Ministry of Health, whether he is aware that there is very considerable overcrowding in various parts...

      New Houses.

      2 speeches

      94. asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Ministry of Health, whether the Government. has considered the effect of the policy of decontrol of all...

      Working-Class Houses.

      2 speeches

      95. asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Ministry of Health, if he will grant the Return (Housing of the Working Classes) standing in the name...

      Askern Colliery, Doncaster.

      4 speeches

      100. asked the Parliamentary. Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Ministry of Health, if he is aware that the Askern Main Colliery Company, Askeran, near Doncaster,...

      Middle-Class Houses.

      2 speeches

      103. asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Ministry of Health, if he is aware that a very large number of what are known as middle-class houses...

      Building Schemes (Statistics).

      4 speeches

      104. asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Ministry of Health, what number of new houses have been completed since 1st January, 1919, up to 15th...

      Kennington Park.

      2 speeches

      108. asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Ministry of Health, whether he will inquire into the projected demolition of houses acquired by the...

      Gas (Leakages).

      2 speeches

      88. asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Ministry of Health, whether he is aware of the growing feeling of insecurity among consumers of gas for...

  • Oral Answers to Questions — National Health Insurance.

    • Insurance Committees.

      2 speeches

      89. asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Ministry of Health, the total number of insurance committees in England, the total number of members,...

    • Domestic Servants.

      2 speeches

      Mr. W. A. JENKINS: 97. asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Ministry of Health, if he can modify the requirements that all domestic servants,...

      Tuberculosis (Treatment).

      2 speeches

      102. asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Ministry of Health, if he can state the number of insured persons suffering from tuberculosis who are...

      Vaccination.

      2 speeches

      Mr. W. A. JENKINS: 96. asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Ministry of Health, whether, in view of the opinion of the medical fraternity in...

      Poor Law Relief, Sheffield.

      2 speeches

      99. asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Ministry of Health, whether the Report, of the officer of the Ministry who held an inquiry into the...

      Metropolitan Boroughs(Audits).

      2 speeches

      107. asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Ministry of Health, whether he is aware that great delay has arisen in auditing the accounts of the...

  • Oral Answers to Questions — Notices of Motions.

    • Workmen's Compensation.

      On this day fortnight, to call attention to the necessity for the codification of the Workmen's Compensation Acts, and to, move a Resolution.—[Mr. Sexton.]

    • Agricultural Produce.

      On this day fortnight, to call attention to the question of postal rates for agricultural produce, and to move a Resolntion.—[Major Brown.]

      Reparation Payments.

      On this day fortnight, to call attention to the detrimental effect on British commerce of reparation payments made to this country and to countries with which this country has trading relations,...

  • Oral Answers to Questions — Parliamentary Elections(Alternative Vote).

    2 speeches

    I beg to move, That leave he given to introduce a Bill to amend the law relating to Parliamentary Elections. This Bill provides for single member constituencies only, and it thus preserves that...

  • Oral Answers to Questions — Entertainment Agencies Registration Bill,

    "to provide for the registration of entertainment agencies, and for purposes incidental thereto," presented by Mr. BOWERMAN, supported by Mr. Clynes, Mr. John Jones, Captain O'Grady, and Mr....

  • Orders of the Day — Fees (Increase) Bill.

    57 speeches

    Order for Second Reading read.

  • Orders of the Day — Unemployment Insurance [Money].

    12 speeches

    Resolution reported, That, for the purpose of any Act of the present Session to amend the Law relating to insurance against unemployment, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of moneys...

  • Orders of the Day — Supply.- [1ST Marcie]

    Resolution reported,

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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