Sir Henry Channon: I am sure that all hon. Members, whether they are in favour of the Bill or whether they oppose it, will agree that if this Measure is to be placed upon the Statute Book, it should arrive there in a workable form. Strong representations have been made to me from my constituency that the Bill will be unworkable unless the figure of 7½ per cent. is increased. The promoters of a lottery...
Sir Henry Channon: This Bill is a straightforward proposal to rid the community of an illogical, inconvenient and ridiculous situation, and surely no one knows more about that situation than the Member of Parliament. Scarcely a week goes by in which a Member of Parliament is not asked to buy a raffle or lottery ticket for something or other. On every visit to the constituency one is confronted by little books...
Sir Henry Channon: I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Southend, East (Mr. McAdden) for raising the matter which has caused some comment and, indeed, some bewilderment in Southend. The airport is not in my division but on the fringe of it, and many people are employed there who live in my division. So it will be seen that this is a matter of some importance to me. I have watched the airport grow,...
Sir Henry Channon: asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the final report of the Boundary Commission will be available, together with the draft Orders in Council giving effect to their recommendations.
Sir Henry Channon: The hon. Member for St. Pancras, North (Mr. K. Robinson) said he hoped that we would have a broad debate. I think we have done so, but he and successive speakers, with the exception of the hon. Member for Ladywood (Mr. Yates) concentrated, no doubt rightly, on mental defectives, conditions in their homes, certified people and voluntary patients. Like the hon. Member for Ladywood, I wish to...
Sir Henry Channon: Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that the reports of casualties are somewhat inaccurate and that the manner in which they are reported might lead to undue apprehension? In my own constituency of Southend it has been reported in the Press that there were seven or eight deaths. Actually there have been none attributable to the floods. People have unfortunately died in hospitals in...
Sir Henry Channon: I find myself in agreement with almost everything which has been said in the debate and particularly with what was said by my hon. Friends the Member for Windsor (Mr. Mott-Radclyffe) and for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Viscount Lamb-ton). I want to make a modest plea to the Government that they should implement the recommendations of the Gowers Report, if not in toto at least in a modified form...
Sir Henry Channon: asked the Secretary of State for War if he will now make a further statement about the ill-treatment of Signalman Walter Jones at Catterick Camp last November.
Sir Henry Channon: asked the Secretary of State for War if he has any information about the ill-treatment of Signalman Walter Jones, No. 5 Regular Training Squadron, at Catterick Camp.
Sir Henry Channon: Can my right hon. Friend give an indication when he will be able to make a statement about this unfortunate incident, because there is considerable anxiety among the boy's parents and others?
Sir Henry Channon: I should like to endorse what my hon. Friend the Member for Southend, East (Mr. McAdden) said about the Southend line, which is well known to the public generally. Originally Southend owed its prosperity to the railways which brought London to the sea. Now it is the other way. The railways owe a great deal to Southend and they are not playing the game. The service was never good but in the...
Sir Henry Channon: asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether arrangements can now be made to authorise the use of franking machines in connection with the application of 2d. receipt stamps.
Sir Henry Channon: Would not the installation of these machines save a great deal of trouble and manpower in many large firms?
Sir Henry Channon: Is it not the same principle as the stamping machines?
Sir Henry Channon: asked the Minister of Health at what date he is proposing to put into operation the scheme whereby it is proposed to apportion the global sum of £66 million which is to be distributed amongst doctors on their retirement in compensation for the goodwill of their practices.
Sir Henry Channon: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of these people have been waiting for over two years, perhaps suffering hardship, for this sum to be distributed, so that they can buy a farm or cottage to which to retire? They want the money as quickly as possible?
Sir Henry Channon: asked the Minister of Transport what steps are taken by local licensing authorities to verify that applicants for general trade licences are in fact occupying bona fide business premises for the purpose of manufacture, or repair or dealing in mechanically-propelled vehicles.
Sir Henry Channon: Does the Minister not think that this system very often leads to abuse?
Sir Henry Channon: asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that doctors' fees for applicants for establishment in the Civil Service are paid by the Civil Service Commissioners whereas similar fees for potential school teachers are paid by the candidates; and whether he will consider amending his Department's practice to accord with that of the Civil Service Commissioners in view of the hardship...
Sir Henry Channon: Is the Minister aware that this practice causes considerable hardship to a number of people who are already badly off?
