Tuesday, 20 February 1940
The House met at a Quarter before Three of the Clock, Mr. SPEAKER in the Chair.
Mr. SPEAKER made the following communication to the House:
Ministry of Health Provisional Order (Canterbury) Bill,
asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is in a position to make a statement regarding the funeral arrangements in the United Kingdom of the late Governor-General of Canada?
asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has any statement to make in respect of his recent visit to the Middle East to welcome the first contingent of the second Australian...
asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he is aware that our post-war power to compete in the export markets depends upon our cost of production; and is he arranging, well in...
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in order to prevent the misuse of the nominee-holding system, by which ownership may be masked, by avoiding Section 98 of the Companies Act,...
asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what steps he proposes to take to assist cotton manufacturers to secure a more adequate supply of cotton yarns; (2) what proposals he has in mind to...
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Export Council have given consideration to the position and prospects of the pottery and earthenware industry; and what arrangements have, or...
Mr. D. M. Adams: asked the Minister of Shipping whether he is aware that many of our ships are not accepting the protection of the convoys; and will he take such measures as are necessary to...
asked the Minister of Economic Warfare what exports from Germany are referred to in the recent assurance given to the United States Government as being allowed to reach the United States in very...
asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether he is aware that within the last three weeks more than 16 Italian vessels have been loading German coal in Rotterdam for Italy; and whether these...
asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether the recently concluded trade agreement between Great Britain, France and Belgium authorises Belgium to maintain her re-exports to Germany on their...
asked the Minister of Economic Warfare on what considerations it has been decided to remove from the statutory list the names of two banks, Scheel and Company, Tallin, and the Societa Bancara,...
asked the Secretary of State for War how many cases of cerebro-spinal meningitis have been reported in the fighting forces of the Crown, either at home or abroad, since the outbreak of war; and...
asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent architects are employed in connection with plans for the erection of camps and hutments for troops in various parts of the country; and...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a soldier, a native of Newcastle-on- Tyne, who has served 28 years with the Army and was due for discharge on the 4th February last,...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether leave is still in operation for serving soldiers who are in France, and whether he intends to continue same until all the original British...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether a volunteer who overstated his age for the purpose of enlisting in the Territorial Army prior to the war will, for the purposes of overseas service,...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the granting of field service allowance for members of His Majesty's Forces on duty in the Orkneys, in view of the active service...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether the military punishment of deprivation of so many days' pay can be abolished and the infliction of a definite fine with a suitable maximum...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has given further consideration to the disparity which exists between allowances for de pendent children of serving soldiers, and those made to...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any information respecting the present number of soldiers in the ranks recommended for commissions?
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the limitation of free travelling warrants to two per year frequently imposes hard ship on soldiers granted leave on com passionate...
asked the Secretary of State for War what progress has been made with the setting up of the court of inquiry into the conduct of the two military officers relating to Mr. C. K. Scott?
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will inquire into the alleged wastage of food at a camp in Wales, of which he has the name; in particular, that the swill contains whole loaves of...
Mr. Graham White: asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the numerous and long delays experienced by men sent on leave from their units pending discharge on...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the expressed intention of the Government to spread their contracts for building work, he has been able to give the builders and...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that British soldiers now serving in France have to purchase woollen garments which have been knitted in this country by voluntary...
asked the Secretary of State for War how much per mile is paid for private motor cars loaned by commissioned officers in the Army to the Army; and whether the same rate per mile is paid in the...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether the contract to erect Army hutments in County Durham is on a basis of wages and materials plus a percentage for profit; and how much longer is it...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that members of the Officers' Emergency Reserve who were called upon to serve at the beginning of the war in various ranks were promised...
asked the Secretary of State for War what steps, other than the appointment of two consultants, have been taken for the prevention and treatment of nervous disorders, as recommended by the War...
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give an assurance that all soldiers mobilised and serving at home are suitably supplied with blankets?
asked the Secretary of State for War whether officers granted emergency commissions on 3rd September, 1939, will be allowed to count service during the years 1914 to 1921 for pay and promotion?
asked the Secretary of State for War whether any arrangements are being made, as in the last war, for Ger- man prisoners to be hired out for manual labour on estates and farms, or by...
asked the Prime Minister whether he has considered the resolution from the Manchester Chamber of Commerce urging that a Minister be appointed to a seat in the War Cabinet who shall be primarily...
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what amount has expenditure by way of interest on Treasury bills, since the outbreak of war, exceeded the corresponding expenditure in the corresponding...
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer his estimates of the amount payable by persons with annual incomes of £5,000, £10,000, £20,000 and £50,000, respectively, in Income Tax,...
asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the present difficulty of maintaining good attendances during the late night hours by reason of curtailed train and road transport services and the...
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether comforts for the British Navy, sent free from America, are being subjected to Customs Duty, and whether he will consider admitting these articles...
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will, in order to save exchange, tender as payment by the British Government for purchases of Brazilian raw materials, a suitable amount of...
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the desirability of ensuring that no unnecessary expenditure is incurred on cinematograph films imported from abroad, he will take all...
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent war conditions show that the pre-war beet-sugar subsidy policy has been justified; how far the policy has saved foreign exchange being...
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has now prepared the basis of the Government's scheme for a levy on wealth created by the war; and whether a valuation during the period of the...
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to seek additional powers for the purpose of controlling the rate of day-to-day money?
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can now make a statement on the Treasury grant in aid of the universities and colleges in the coming financial year?
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what action it is proposed to take with a view to sharing amongst architects to the widest extent possible such Government work as is now being...
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what steps have been taken during the past 12 months to draw the attention of public libraries throughout the Kingdom to the fact that they may...
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how much money is allowed to His Majesty's Stationery Office each year for the purpose of promoting the sales of Government publications?
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the proposals of the Presbytery of Bathgate sent to him regarding war-time restriction on the sale of alcoholic liquor; and...
Mr. J. J. Davidson: asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many members of the Sutherland County Council are on the Sutherland Food Production Committee; and whether any consultations...
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has in view to provide for the summer pasturing of animals that were formerly carried by the permanent grass now being put under the...
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many towns and villages in each county in Scotland there was a shortage of bread during the recent spell of severe weather; in how many of these...
asked the Lord Advocate on what grounds the authorities in Glasgow refused to prosecute three Glasgow merchants for violating the Food Order, and thereby rejected the unanimous decision of the...
asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the short-time working in the Northumberland mines, and what steps he is taking to bring about an improvement?
asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the amount of coal held in reserve by the Glasgow Corporation gas and electricity departments, respectively; and whether they offered or...
asked the Secretary for Mines why three truckloads of coal destined for Aircraft Components, Cheltenham, were requisitioned on 24th and 27th January and 1st February and four truckloads for...
asked the Secretary for Mines (1) whether he will state the number of persons engaged on the surface and underground,
Mr. De la Bère: asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in view of the fact that frost and snow have prevented the use of tractors on farms throughout the country, he will take steps to...
asked the Prime Minister whether he can make a further statement on the naval action in connection with the German ship "Altmark"?
Sir, by your leave and with the permission of the House, I will make the following statement: The recommendations of the West India Royal Commission are being published to-day, and also a White...
Estimates presented,—for the financial year 1940 [by Command]; referred to the Committee of Supply, and to be printed. [No. 54]
Estimate presented,—of the additional Personnel required to be voted for Air Services for the year ending 31st March, 1940; referred to the Committee of Supply, and to be printed. [No. 55.]
Estimates presented,—for the Army for the financial year 1940 [by Command]; referred to the Committee of Supply, and. to be printed. [No. 58.]
First Report from the Select Committee brought up, and read;
Order for Second Reading read.
Message to attend the Lords Commissioners.
Question again proposed, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."
Resolved,
Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do now adjourn,"—[Mr. James Stuart.]
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.
