Tuesday, 4 March 1924
The House met at a Quarter before Three of the Clock, Mr. SPEAKER in the Chair.
PRIVATE BILLS (Standing Orders not previously inquired into complied with),
1. asked the President of the Board of Trade if legislation is contemplated by the present Government to deal with the repatriation of destitute seamen who are natives of British tropical...
13. asked the President of the Board of Trade if his inspecting staff have reported the condition of s.s. "Berengaria"; whether he is aware that it is reported that this vessel has a defective...
14. asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that, as a result of a trade dispute in Southampton, mail steamers and great passenger-carrying vessels which require overhauling on...
22. asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that orders for repairs to British steamers are being obtained by Dutch ship repairers through a bounty of 30 per cent. of the wages...
2. asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any information as to the abolition of the State match monopoly in France; and whether in its sale to private enterprise the British...
3. asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any information as to the abolition of the State tobacco monopoly in France; and whether in its sale to private enterprise British...
49. asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total of the French Debt to Great Britain, and in what currency is it to be paid?
4 and 5. asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what is the value of the imports of silk manufactured goods, including embroidery and apparel, from Italy during 1923; and what is the...
11. asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, as a result of successes obtained by American steel manufacturers in Australian markets, a Commissioner was appointed by the Board of Trade...
15. asked the President of the Board of Trade the total annual value and volume of the export and import trade of the British Empire and the United States of America, respectively, during 1922...
19. asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state the export of cotton goods of Great Britain, the United States, France, Germany, Italy, and Belgium, both in respect of value and...
6. asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the rate of duty at the present time on imports of raw sugar into the countries of France, Germany, and the United States of America?
9. asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of chemists employed in research work by the British Dyestuffs Corporation?
12. asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the world's sugar crop he estimates to be grown outside the British Empire?
17. asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will arrange for preliminary discussions between himself and representatives of firms and companies previously operating in Russia for the...
18. asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the greater part of the petrol used in this country comes from the United States, that consumption in the latter...
23. asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the introduction of legislation to make advertising and the distribution of circulars by moneylenders illegal?
27. asked the Secretary of State for War if he will reconsider the case of Major-General D. Shaw, who, whilst general-officer commanding the Karachi brigade, was made responsible for the Karachi...
30. asked the Secretary of State for War if he will now arrange for the publication of the Report of the Committee appointed to make recommendations with regard to the employment of pharmacists...
31. asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in the case of a contract of £50,000 for meat given to a foreign firm, any tenders were received from Australia; and whether any preference...
33. asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is prepared to put in operation the findings of the Haldane inquiry as to the means of democratising the methods of admission to the military...
34. asked the Secretary of State for War how many cases of and deaths from small-pox occurred amongst British troops during each year of the War in each of the important areas in which the troops...
38. asked the Secretary of State for War how many British troops are stationed at home and how many abroad; how many of these latter are on territory outside the British Empire, not counting the...
40. asked the Secretary of State for War when he proposes to make a statement as to whether the Army is being organized purely for Home defence, being trained with a view to possible intervention...
41. asked the Secretary of State for War what are the decisions of the Army Council with reference to the Report of Lord Weir's Committee on Establishments; and whether the economies recommended...
42. asked the Secretary of State for War when he will be in a position to make a statement concerning the advances, if any, in methods of mechanical warfare adopted in the Army since the War; and...
43. asked the Secretary of State for War whether the personnel of the proposed commission to visit the Baltic States has yet been decided upon?
28. asked the Secretary of State for War, whether he is aware that there is much suffering and discontent in and around Gretna due to unemployment, high and inequitable rents, vacant houses, and...
29. asked the Secretary of State for War the reason why the staff of the Territorial Army Directorate has increased from 15, costing £4,980 in 1914–16, to 25, costing £12,752, in...
32. asked the Secretary of State for War the number at present on the staff of the War Office and the total salaries for the year 1923–24, together with the corresponding figures for...
52. asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that permanent civil servants in almost every case are granted consider ably longer holidays and yet work shorter hours than...
53. asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many permanent civil servants have passed the retiring age of 60 and are still being retained; and whether, in view of the large number of ex-service...
45. asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if a simplified form of return for Income Tax assessments is to be issued in April, 1924; whether such form is the result of any recommendation made to...
46. asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, owing to the greatly enhanced prices of Government publications, very few libraries can now provide full sets of such...
47. asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement to the effect that the present advantages given to English-grown sugar shall be maintained, having regard to the fact that...
48. asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Island of Jersey costs the Imperial Exchequer per annum?
50. asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of revenue obtained through the instrumentality of the Entertainments Duty in 1922–23 from charges of admission not exceeding 2s.?
51. asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government have taken into consideration the Report of the Select Committee on Betting Duty; and, if so, whether it is proposed to impose...
55. asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated value of the deliveries either in cash or kind by Germany to Great Britain, France, Belgium and Italy, respectively, on account of...
Sir F. HALL: 58. asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any estimate has been prepared of the cost of giving old age pensions to all at the age of 65 years; and, if so, what the cost would be?
60. asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the names of the expert Commissioners who are to inquire into the best way of dealing with the burden of the National Debt?
66. asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will see that ex-Prison Officer J. J. Bennett, Pentonville Prison, is not deprived of the benefits of the Superannuation Act, 1919,...
67. asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a document written in the Welsh language and submitted for stamping toy the trustees of Jerusalem Chapel, Garn...
68. asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in providing work for the unemployed, the opportunity will be taken to place funds at the disposal of the Ancient Monuments Commission...
Mr. ATHOLL ROBERTSON: 69. asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the comparatively brief reports of Parliamentary proceedings in the Press, he can see his way to reduce...
70. asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he proposes to present a Bill to Parliament dealing with the question of amending and consolidating the existing Salmon Fishery Acts?
71. asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the proposed contribution by the Board of Agriculture towards the cost of seed oats and potatoes to the smallholders in the Highlands...
73. asked the Secretary for Scotland the number of classes in Scottish schools with more than 60 pupils, and the number of classes with from 50 to 60 pupils?
74. asked the Secretary for Scotland if the new Regulations for the training of teachers in Scotland are now prepared; and, if so, will they be placed upon the Table of this House, and will they...
75. asked the Secretary for Scotland what steps he has taken to carry out the recommendations of the Trawling Committee regarding the closing of the Moray Firth to seine-net fishing, and the...
76. asked the Secretary for Scotland if he is aware that the Stirlingshire education authority has fixed a maximum of £300 as the income beyond which no maintenance grant will be paid to...
77. asked the Secretary for Scotland if he will reconsider the proposal to take away the veterinary college from Glasgow, and also the proposal to reduce the grant at present payable to it.
78. asked the Secretary far Scotland whether, in view of the great interest and value of the Lister Ward in the Royal Infirmary of Glasgow, and the strong pleas for its preservation received from...
80. asked the Secretary for Scotland the number of small holdings taken over at East Fortune, East Lothian; and whether there is more land available for the said purpose?
83. asked the Secretary for Scotland the number of agricultural co-operative societies in Scotland and their total present membership and working capital?
88. asked the Secretary for Mines when he proposes to amend, by legislation or Regulation, Section 67 of the Mines Act, so that no person may be employed in an atmosphere containing 2½ per...
89. asked the Secretary for Mines if he is yet in a position to give the names of the new members of the Commission on Subsidence, and if he has appointed a chairman to that body?
90. asked the Secretary for Mines the total amount paid into the welfare scheme and the total amount paid out for approved schemes; and how many of the approved schemes include pit-head baths?
91. asked the Secretary for Mines if he has any information as to the intention of the London coal merchants to increase the price of coal to the consumer by 2s. per ton; and, if so, whether he...
92. asked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been drawn to a resolution passed by the Kent County Council urging the construction of a tunnel under the Thames between Gravesend and...
On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. I desire to ask as to the best method to adopt to obtain a verbal answer from the Postmaster-General. I have made inquiries, and find that Tuesday is his day for...
On this day fortnight, to call attention to the loss of land in this country caused by the process of coast erosion, and to move a Resolution.—[Mr. Savery.]
On this day fortnight, to call attention to the state of the agricultural industry with special reference to corn growing in Great Britain and to move a Resolution.—[Major Wheler.]
On this day fortnight, to call attention to the anomalies and injustices of a capital levy, and to move a Resolution.—[Sir E. Iliffe.]
I beg to move, That leave be given to introduce a Bill to amend the Safeguarding of Industries Act in respect of goods made under conditions not allowed by trades union or by law in Great...
"to regulate the publication of Reports of Judicial Proceedings in such manner as to prevent injury to public morals," presented by Sir EVELYN CECIL; to be read a Second time upon Thursday, and...
Mr. NICHOLSON reported from the Chairmen's Panel; That they had agreed to the following Resolutions:
Consolidation Bills,—"That they propose that the Joint Committee appointed to consider all Consolidation Bills of the present Session do meet in the Chairman of Committees' Committee Room...
Lords Message considered:—
Mr. NICHOLSON reported from the Committee of Selection: That they had added the following Member to Standing Committee A: Sir Berkeley Sheffield.
Mr. NICHOLSON further reported from the Committee: That they had nominated the following Members to serve on Standing Committee B: Mr. Alden, Mr. Becker, Sir Robert Bird, Sir Henry Buckingham,...
Order for Second Reading read.
Order for Second Reading read.
Order read for resuming Adjourned Debate on Question [27th February]. "That the Bill be now read a Second time."
I beg to move, That, in view of the practically universal acceptance of the principle that a leving wage for all workers should be the first charge upon industry, and in view of the large measure...
Resolved, That the draft of a Special Order proposed to be made by the Board of Trade under Section 10 of the Gas Regulation Act, 1920, on the application of the Brierley Hill District Gas Light...
Postponed Proceeding resumed on Question, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."
Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do now adjourn"—[Mr. F. Hall.]
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.
