Mr John Herriotts: 27. asked the Minister of Health how many persons are now in receipt of outdoor Poor Law relief in the administrative area of the county of Durham, and the numbers in 1928 and 1929?
Mr John Herriotts: 35. asked the Minister of Labour how many persons are in receipt of unemployment benefit in the administrative area of the county of Durham; and what is the estimated number who will be referred to the public assistance committee to calculate their rate of benefit during the next six months?
Mr John Herriotts: 28. asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of persons in the county of Durham at present in receipt of unemployment benefit paid for the week ended 8th August; and the number in receipt of transitional benefit who, under the Government's proposal, will be referred to the public assistance committee for the calculation of their rate of benefit?
Mr John Herriotts: 27. asked the Minister of Labour how many men are at present employed on work schemes in the county of Durham which have received financial assistance from the State; and what are the total commitments since June, 1929, giving the liability of the State and local authorities, respectively?
Mr John Herriotts: Can the hon. Gentleman give approximate us any idea?
Mr John Herriotts: I do not ask for a guess. I am asking for some approximate figure.
Mr John Herriotts: 65. asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the Urban District Council of Billingham has no direct representative on the Tees Conservancy Commission; and whether, in view of the size, importance, and special interests of this council, he will take the necessary steps to readjust the representation or add two representatives of the council to the Commission?
Mr John Herriotts: 82. asked the Secretary for Mines if he has made further inquiries with regard to the withdrawal of the pumping machinery from the Chilton and Windlestone collieries; and, seeing that valuable seams of coal will be lost in those collieries and also in the Eldon collieries, if he will make an investigation in that area with a view to establishing central pumping machinery, and whether...
Mr John Herriotts: Are we to understand that the Secretary for Mines has no power whatever to order the installation of central pumping machinery? Must the initiative always come from the owners?
Mr John Herriotts: Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, unless he makes some investigation and uses some influence in this matter, the whole of these valuable seams will be lost?
Mr John Herriotts: 85. (for Mr. TILLETT) asked the Minister of Labour if, as a result of the application by the Tees Conservancy Commission for a grant in aid of development work on the River Tees, a grant has been sanctioned; and will she state the amount of the grant and the date upon which it was paid?
Mr John Herriotts: Has there been any extension of the scheme which was put into operation in June of last year?
Mr John Herriotts: 13. asked the President of the Board of Trade if any financial assistance is given by the German and Italian Governments to the shipbuilding industry; and whether those industries have any advantages or facilities over the shipbuilding industry in this country which have been conferred by State action?
Mr John Herriotts: Has the right hon. Gentleman any scheme in contemplation to assist this industry, and will he consider, in cases where a definite order can be assured in a shipyard, giving some assistance for a limited period and with complete safeguards?
Mr John Herriotts: 40. asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will make a statement with regard to the results of The recent negotiations at Geneva on the hours to be worked in the coal mines of Europe; and whether he will publish the reports as a White Paper?
Mr John Herriotts: Will the hon. Gentleman see that this information is made public as speedily as possible, in view of the present negotiations?
Mr John Herriotts: 7. asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has received a report from Messrs. Pease and Partners, the owners of the Chilton Colliery Com- pany, Durham, with regard to the closing down of that mine and the dismantling of the pumping machinery and the consequent flooding of the workings; and whether there is any action his Department can take with a view to preventing this?
Mr John Herriotts: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in the opinion of expert mining engineers and practical workmen, if these pumps are withdrawn it will be many long years before they can be started again; and will he consider a very practical proposal for setting up central pumping machinery in that area, in order that the work may be done more efficiently and the whole cost may not fall upon the workers?
Mr John Herriotts: May we have the right hon. Gentleman's assurance that he will consider the question of setting up central pumping machinery?
Mr John Herriotts: 8. asked the Secretary for Mines whether the Mines Reorganisation Commission have had under consideration the following mines in Durham County, owned by Messrs. Pease and Partners, namely: West Comforth, Chilton, and Windlestone; and, if not, will he suggest that this be done immediately before these mines become derelict, owing to the removal of pumping machinery and the withdrawal of safety men?