Tuesday, 23 January 1940
The House met at a Quarter before Three of the Clock, Mr. SPEAKER in the Chair
Private Bill Petitions,
asked the Secretary of State for War the names and rank of Members of Parliament now serving in the Army with the British Expeditionary Force in France and those serving with the Army at home...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether the usual allowances are paid by the War Office to wives and children of men serving from whose pay deductions are made and forwarded to the...
asked the Secretary of State for War the present position of the controversy over the withdrawal of the kilt from its use by Scottish regiments?
Viscountess Astor: asked the Secretary of State for War how many searchlight units are still living under canvas?
asked the Secretary of State for War the proper channels through which complaints or representations intended for the attention of His Majesty's Government should be transmitted by officers of...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that billeted members of His Majesty's Forces have in many cases to pay exorbitant fares, involving grave hardship; and whether he will...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will issue instructions to the responsible authorities that in future every member of the armed Forces should be provided with his ration allowance...
Major Cazalet: asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a number of officers serving in antiaircraft units, who had been promoted and gazetted with acting rank of captains,...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now prepared to grant freedom of enlistment into the British Army to friendly Czech citizens as well as to Germans and Austrians now in this country?
Mr. De la Bère: asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Government is considering utilising the services of the existing qualified staffs to be found in the Territorial Army and...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the increasing number of fatal accidents in camps due to the thoughtless handling of weapons; and whether he proposes...
asked the Secretary of State for War how many soldiers serving in the ranks have received commissions since 3rd September, 1939; and how many commissions have been granted to other persons?
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the firm of Considere Constructions, Limited, have intimated to their clients that Major Graham T. Lyall, V.C., M.Inst. B.E., who is...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in any future arrangements made for children to visit the war zone in France for any purpose, he will require satisfactory assurances which will...
asked the Secretary of State for War who ordered the military precautions which were taken at the port at which Miss Unity Mitford arrived from Germany; what was the reason for the military...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that ex-service men, aged up to 50, who were invited to re-enlist and were told that it would be for home service only, but who, on...
Major Cazalet: asked the Secretary of State for War under what conditions serving officers and other ranks may wear civilian dress when on leave?
asked the Secretary of State for War the cost to the State, respectively, of employing an Auxiliary Territorial Service girl on clerical work and a temporary clerk, allowance being made for the...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in order to provide non-commissioned officers old enough to command respect, he will consider the formation of schools to train volunteers for the...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether the announcement made by the Government that young men under 20 years of age would not be sent abroad applies to all sections of the Army; and, if so,...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to reply to the representations, made on behalf of the Parkwood Methodist Church, Golcar, for the return to them of their...
asked the Secretary of State for War how many men called up under the Military Service Act from Wales are now serving with non-Welsh regiments and units; and whether they were or are now being...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether preference in promotion is being granted to sports professionals commissioned or enlisted in the Army; and on what grounds are they given special...
Mr. Creech Jones: asked the Secretary of State for War for what reason the Army Education Corps has been abandoned; what steps are being taken to pursue the recommendations of the Gore11 scheme...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether the grant of the General Service Medal with Palestine clasp to officers and men of Royal Air Force units who served in Palestine and Trans-Jordan...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is intended that each soldier should have two sets of uniform; what instructions have been issued to this effect to commanding officers; and what...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that many commanding officers have threatened to place hotels and public-houses out of bounds to their troops if the proprietors do not...
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the impossibility of voluntary hospitals being able to maintain and extend their services in such a way as to meet the urgent needs...
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the measure of response to his campaign for the creation of war gardens in Scotland giving the numbers of such gardens or allotments by counties?
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the discontent in Glasgow, owing to the fact that there is no provision for the elementary education of children in the city; that...
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses have been completed in the Borrowfield housing scheme in the Camlachie Division of Glasgow; and whether the provision of houses in this...
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the discontent among parents of evacuated children who have been evacuated to places hundreds of miles from their...
Mr. Vyvyan Adams: asked the Prime Minister whether he will arrange for another Secret Session?
asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the economic direction of the war; and whether he will now reconsider the creation of a central directing organisation for the economic war?
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the comprehensive economic agreement which has now been arrived at between France and Great Britain, he will consider relaxing the...
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider exempting from Customs and Excise Duty tobacco, beer, wines, minerals, etc., supplied to British and Imperial Forces?
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the fact that the acceptance of the Government grant towards the breaking up of land, and any further increased expenditure by the owner will lead...
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Treasury Bill rate is 100 per cent, higher than the pre-war rate; and will the Government exercise the powers they now possess over the country's...
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, as the level of the Bank rate is now at the unfettered discretion of the Treasury, he will reduce the rate to 1½per cent.?
Mr. V. Adams: asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures are in contemplation to prevent the evil of inflation?
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Excess Profits Tax in its present form bears inequitably upon the cotton industry which has had to carry the full effect of...
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that in seaside and other resorts large sums for local authority rate purposes are ordinarily collected from hotels and other...
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can now make a statement on the question of an increase to old age pensions?
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Curator of the Tate Gallery is still being paid full salary; and, now that the Gallery is closed, what duties does he perform?
Mr. David Adams: asked the Secretly for Mines whether he is aware of the increased number of coal miners' deaths due to falls of ground at the working face in the coal mines of the Northern...
asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will give the latest information on the wage negotiations in the coal industry; and what action he intends taking to bring about a satisfactory settlement?
asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that Statutory Rules and Orders, 1939, No. 1557, permits the owner of a coalmine to increase the price of coal sold by him by 1s. per ton from...
Mr. De la Bère: asked the Secretary for Mines whether, with a view to decreasing unemployment amongst the coal-miners, the Government will take steps to increase the output from the mines...
Mr. Creech Jones: asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will consider the abolition of the death penalties in respect to murder arising out of witchcraft in native communities?
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade what steps are now being taken to increase our trade with the Balkans?
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade what is the total amount received as premiums under the War Risk Insurance Act, 1939; the amount of claims and expenses to date; and...
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade whether the permitted increase in price-regulated goods is calculated on the August, 1939, price or on current replacement prices; and...
asked the Minister of Shipping the number of staff, other than clerical, typing and messenger staff, now engaged in his Department, excluding those transferred with their functions from the Board...
asked the Minister of Shipping, in view of the discrepancy between British and neutral charter rates, what steps are being taken by the Government to safeguard the British shipping industry after...
asked the Minister of Shipping whether he can now make any statement concerning the amount of new shipping being built in this country?
Vice-Admiral Taylor: asked the Minister of Shipping whether rafts as lifesaving appliances are generally carried in addition to lifeboats in merchant ships; and if not, whether he will consider...
asked the Minister of Shipping (1) whether full use is being made of all available shipyards in Scotland; (2) whether he proposes to revive shipbuilding in all the yards which were closed some...
Mr. White: asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is in a position to make any further statement with regard to the future of the Civil Service examinations?
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that within a few days of its issue OFFICIAL REPORT NO. 6, Volume 355, of the 7th December, 1939, was out of print, and that...
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade whether, in view of the continued shortage of batteries for electric torches and the urgent need of pedestrians, he will take steps to...
That they have agreed to,—
Order for Second Reading read.
Message to attend the Lords Commissioners.
Question again proposed, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."
Considered in Committee, under Standing Order No. 69.
Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do now adjourn."—(Lieut.-Colonel Kerr.)
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.
