Tuesday, 25 April 1939
The House met at a Quarter before Three of the Clock, Mr. SPEAKER in the Chair.
The VICE-CHAMBERLAIN OF THE HOUDSEHOLD (Mr. FRIMSTON) reported His Majesty's Answer to the Address, as followeth:
London County Council (Money) Bill (Standing Orders applicable thereto complied with).—
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number and acreage of allotments being used for the production of foodstuffs in Scotland in 1933 and 1938, respectively; and whether he is taking...
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the new offices on the Calton Hill, Edinburgh, will accommodate all the personnel of the Departments operating in Edinburgh under his...
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the refusal of the Department of Health to meet the cost of or lend officers to assist in making the survey of water supplies in...
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the salary of sheriffs in Glasgow and the salary of county court judges in England; and if he is satisfied with the present salaries and conditions of...
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the Second Scottish National Housing Company, Limited, have repeatedly received letters from the Sandyhills Tenants...
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many burning colliery refuse heaps there are in Scotland, and on how many of these is refuse still being tipped?
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of persons in Scotland now in receipt of Poor Law relief; and how many old age pensioners are included in that number?
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that difficulty is being experienced by brickworks in some parts of Scotland in disposing of supplies, resulting in loss of time; and...
asked the Secretary for Mines particulars of the provisions which have been made to render bomb-proof the reservoirs at present used for the storage of oil so as to ensure the maintenance of...
Mr. W. Joseph Stewart: asked the Secretary for Mines whether anything has been done by the interests concerned to promote a scheme for the draining of the waterlogged coal measures in South-West...
asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the increase in the use of shale dust for coal-dusting purposes; and whether, in view of the fact that shale dust contains substantial...
asked the Secretary for Mines the maximum age at which per sons can now be appointed as inspectors of mines and what period of practical experience of coal-mining is required; and whether he is...
asked the Secretary for Mines the earnings per person employed and the total wages paid in the mining industry in 1938?
Mr. David Adams: asked the Secretary for Mines what number of coalmines were temporarily closed and not re-opened in County Durham last year?
asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can make a state- ment on the Government's plans for storing reserve stocks of coal and oil in preparation for an emergency?
asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether the discussion he has had with the Governor of Newfoundland concerning the conditions that exist in the island, substantiate and confirm...
asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he can make any statement as to the possibilities of using oil supplies from Alberta in Canada in time of war; and whether any...
asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is aware that increasing quantities of essential metals are being supplied to potentially hostile countries by British Dominions; and...
asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he is aware that, approximately, 60,000 tons of calcium carbide is imported annually into this country; that the need is on the increase in...
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the growing system of barter between Germany and the South American Republics, whereby great damage is being...
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now make a statement as to whether he is prepared to consider limiting the subsidy for shipbuilding to coal-burning ships?
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the decline in imports will have an adverse effect on the stocks of essential commodities which the Government are storing in preparation for an...
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Germany is demanding an artificially high rate for the German mark in relation to Rumanian currency, thereby giving Germany...
asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he can now make a statement on the progress made in the trade negotiations between his Department and representatives of foreign countries?
Vice-Admiral Taylor: asked the President of the Board of Trade the reason for the delay in carrying out the investigation into the affairs of the Gaumont British Corporation, and whether he can...
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the large number of defects reported by port medical officers of health under the headings of insufficient heating, defective...
asked the President of the Board of Trade the number and tonnage of British ships which have been sold to foreign companies since 1st January, 1938?
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has completed his consideration of the Report of the Imperial Shipping Committee on British Shipping in the Orient, dated 8th December, 1938;...
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet approved the Special Order under the Gas Undertakings Acts, 1920 to 1934, of the Drighlington Gildersome Gaslight Company, in...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can make a statement on the arrangements that are to be made to increase the number of cooks provided for each unit and on the scheme to be adopted...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will publish weekly, by counties, the total Territorial establishment required under the extended scheme, the number of men actually on the...
asked the Secretary of State for War particulars of the extent the Bren light machine-gun is to be manufactured in the Dominions; and whether the Government now have the right to manufacture...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether the coastal, landward, and anti-aircraft defences of Gibraltar are now in a complete state of preparedness to resist possible enemy attack?
asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. T. R. Sexton, formerly No. 2559577, signalman, Royal Signals, Territorial Army, who, in the course of...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that bricks for the depots at Helensburgh and Perth, and for the barracks at Lanark, have been supplied from Manchester and Middlesbrough;...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the hardships caused to young married Reservists who are called back to the Colours but who are not in receipt of marriage allowance;...
asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether a new walking-out uniform for the Army has yet been designed by the War Office; whether the War Office is in agreement with the feeling through...
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps His Majesty's Government have taken to obtain the co-operation of the banking system in securing that the Government borrowing places the least...
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the total income taxation borne by British companies on profits arising from business subject to income taxation in foreign...
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is considering the taking over by the Government of American dollar securities held by British subjects on the outbreak of war in exchange for...
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of gold which has been exported from London since 15th March, 1939; what proportion of this is British gold and what proportion is foreign in...
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount spent on the Secret Service in 1913, 1923, 1933, and 1938; and how many Debates have been held on this Vote in the last 20 years?
asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the fact that limbless ex-service men suffer grave economic loss from war disablement and the consequent industrial handicap, and in many cases...
asked the Minister of Transport what is the position with regard to the Deans Road Bridge, Wolverhampton; and when he expects to be able to give sanction for its reconstruction?
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has given any consideration to the serious burden imposed on the ratepayers, particularly in rural areas of poverty-stricken...
asked the Minister of Labour whether he will afford facilities for the training of unemployed men and women as tractor-drivers?
asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the British Government intend to accept the recommendations of the International Convention in favour of fuel and lubricants in any aircraft on...
asked the Prime Minister the nature of the communication which has been received by the League of Nations from the Swiss Government, with regard to the evacuation of Swiss territory in time of...
asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the executive committee of the Miners Federation of Great Britain had information on 4th March that it was the intention of Germany to occupy...
asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the revelations of the Committee of Inquiry into the Anti-Tuberculosis Service in South Wales, he will cause inquiries to be set on foot in all...
asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that vaccination has had fatal results in cases in which adolescents have been vaccinated for the first time to qualify for employment with an...
"to provide for the acquisition by the Secretary of State for Air of certain land in Middlesex, and for the stopping up of certain highways in Middlesex and Surrey; to confirm an agreement...
Ordered, That the Proceedings on Government be exempted, at this day's Sitting, from the provisions of the Standing Order (Sittings of the House)"—[The Prime Minister.]
That they have passed a Bill, intituled, "An Act to confer further powers on The Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Treasurer and Governors of the Infant Orphan Asylum; to change the name of the said...
Copy ordered, of Statement of Revenue and Expenditure as laid before the House by Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer when opening the Budget"— [Captain Crookshank.]
Colonel Gretton reported from the Committee of Selection; That they had discharged the following Members from Standing Committee A.: Mr. Petherick and Mr. Graham White; and had appointed in...
The House met at a Quarter before Three of the Clock, Mr. SPEAKER in the Chair.
Considered in Committee.
3.46 p.m.
I must now refer to some of the components in last year's revenue totals. As the Committee will see on page 3 of the Blue Print, Customs and Excise receipts produced £340,500,000. There were...
Now I can pass to the expenditure side of the account, where there are one or two comments which must be made. First as to the Fixed Debt Charge. For five years prior to 1938 the Fixed Debt...
There is one other matter on which I must make a short statement, because it is important to have it on record. I must refer briefly to the changes in the National Debt total. During the year, in...
Now at last we can pass from the results of last year to the prospects and estimates of the present year. On page 11 of the Blue Paper there are certain gaps to be filled up. I propose to leave...
Now comes the question whether on the existing basis of taxation I can count on equal revenue this year. I must take the figures under each of the heads of revenue and form the best estimate that...
I have got so far, therefore, an expenditure of £922,500,000 and an estimated revenue of £918,300,000. If it were not for the necessity of providing for the large increases in Defence...
Before I disclose how I propose to raise this taxation, there are some minor proposals to be embodied in the Finance Bill which I ought to mention at this stage, and I will do so as quickly as I...
There is a troublesome question of long standing to which I propose to give a final quietus. It is that of the Medicine Stamp Duties. These duties have a long history, and the present law, which...
Then there is another suggestion which I wish to make, connected with the Entertainments Duty. The Committee will remember that in the course of last year's Finance Bill Debates I gave an...
These two matters cut into the revenue to the tune of about £1,000,000 in a full year and I wish to provide for these losses of revenue approximately by a modification of the duty on...
Let me say a few words now about tax avoidance. Finance Acts of recent years have contained many provisions relating to the avoidance of taxation, and I have made it my business to examine as...
Now we can return to the main question. How is the gap of £24,000,000 to be filled? In framing my proposals for raising this additional sum I have had two considerations mainly in mind. On...
I must get a proper contribution from the direct taxpayer by other means. The first resource to which I apply is the horse-power Duty on motor cars. For a long period prior to 1935 the licence...
Next, I must propose a modification both in Surtax and in Estate Duty by way of a percentage addition to the present rates. The Surtax payer suffered a 10 per cent, addition to the charge in...
My remaining proposals—they are two—are in the region of indirect taxation. In this connection let me remind the Committee that in the three preceding years, 1936, 1937 and 1938,...
Motion made, and Question proposed, That in lieu of the full duties of customs now chargeable on tobacco imported into the United Kingdom there shall, on and after the twenty-sixth day of April,...
Resolved, That in lieu of the duties of excise now chargeable on tobacco grown in the United Kingdom there shall, on and after the twenty-sixth day of April, nineteen hundred and thirty-nine, be...
Resolved, That as respects tobacco on which the increased duties proposed by the foregoing Resolutions have been paid, drawback shall be allowed at the rates set out in the following Table...
" That as from five o'clock in the evening on the twenty-fifth day of April, nineteen hundred and thirty-nine, the duties of customs on sugar, molasses, glucose and saccharin shall be charged in...
Resolved, That as from five o'clock in the evening on the twenty-fifth day of April, nineteen hundred and thirty-nine, the excise duties on sugar, molasses, glucose and saccharin shall be at the...
Resolved, That where a duty of customs or excise has been paid in respect of sugar, molasses, glucose or saccharin at the higher rates for which provision is made by the foregoing Resolutions,...
Resolved, That on and after the first day of May, nineteen hundred and thirty-nine, there shall be charged— (a) on all sensitised photographic plates and film manufactured in the United...
Resolved, That on and after the twenty-sixth day of April, nineteen hundred and thirty-nine— (a) the rate of additional duty chargeable under the Import Duties Act, 1932, on un-exposed...
Resolved, That it is expedient to make provision for authorising a brewer for sale to add priming and colouring solutions to beer at premises other than premises entered by him for the brewing of...
Resolved, That on and after the twenty-sixth day of April, nineteen hundred and thirty-nine, any duties of customs chargeable under the Ottawa Agreements Act, 1932, on goods of the classes or...
Resolved, That on and after the twenty-sixth day of April, nineteen hundred and thirty-nine, the customs duty imposed by Section six of the Finance Act, 1934, on patent leather not forming part...
Resolved, That, as from the date on which the agreement made on the twentieth day of March, nineteen hundred and thirty-nine, between His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the...
Resolved, That the drawback of customs duty heretofore allowed in the case of goods manufactured in the United Kingdom and exported or shipped as stores there from, in respect of linseed used in...
Resolved, That, in the case of ground-nut oil (whether hydrogenated or not) manufactured in the United Kingdom and exported or shipped as stores there from, no drawback of customs duty shall be...
Resolved, That as from the first day of January, nineteen hundred and forty. Section thirteen of the Finance Act, 1920, which imposes duties of excise in respect of mechanically propelled...
Resolved, That— (1) income tax for the year 1939–40 shall be charged at the standard rate of five shillings and sixpence in the pound, and. in the case of an individual whose total...
Resolved, That income tax for the year 1938–39 in respect of the excess of the total income of an individual over two thousand pounds shall be charged at rates in the pound which...
Resolved, That there may be included in any Act of the present Session relating to finance such amendments of Section twenty-one of the Finance Act, 1922 (which relates to Surtax on the...
Resolved, That the enactments relating to the national defence contribution shall have effect and be deemed always to have had effect subject to such amendments as will secure that, in the case...
Resolved, That, in the case of persons dying after the twenty-fifth day of April, nineteen hundred and thirty-nine, the rates of Estate Duty set out hi the Second Schedule to the Finance Act,...
Resolved, That the enactments relating to Estate Duty shall, in the case of persons dying after the twenty-fifth day of April, nineteen hundred and thirty-nine, be amended with regard to—...
Resolved, That the whole or any part of the sums required in the current financial year for the purposes mentioned in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of Sub-section (4) of Section twenty-three of...
Resolved, That the National Debt Commissioners shall, as and when the Treasury request, pay into the Exchequer out of their account of unclaimed dividends, under Part VII of the National Debt...
Motion made, and Question proposed, That it is expedient to amend the law relating to the National Debt, Customs and Inland Revenue (including Excise) and to make further provision in connection...
Read a Second time, and committed to a Standing Committee.
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.