Sir Joseph Leech: As a new Member, I rise with some sense of embarrassment, and also of perturbation, to venture to address this great and historic House, and I must beg your indulgence, Mr. Speaker, together with the indulgence of the House during my effort, hoping that its consideration will be extended to me as generously as it has been extended to other Members who have proceeded me. Although I am a new...
Sir Joseph Leech: 33. asked the First Commissioner of Works what is the cost of maintaining the buildings and furnishings of the British Legation at Peking?
Sir Joseph Leech: 62. asked the Secretary for Mines the total exports of coal from the ports of Tyne and Blyth up to the end of October of this year, as compared with the corresponding period of 1932: also the number of men engaged in coal-getting for the same period?
Sir Joseph Leech: I beg to give notice that, on this day fortnight, I shall call attention to the present position of the Shipping Industry and Shipbuilding, and move a Resolution.
Sir Joseph Leech: 27. asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that the offices provided for His Majesty's inspector and staffs in the Newcastle 3rd, 5th, 6th and 10th tax districts are damp and unhealthy, and defective as regards lighting and ventilation, and that there are no facilities for interviewing members of the public in privacy; and whether it is proposed to rehouse these offices in...
Sir Joseph Leech: I beg to move, That this House views with grave concern the present depression in the shipping and shipbuilding industries due largely to uneconomic State-assisted foreign competition, and urges the Government to take immediate steps to assist and defend these vital and important industries. It is due to the luck of the Ballot that I have the honour and privilege of addressing the House this...
Sir Joseph Leech: 8. asked the Minister of Labour the number of musicians who are now unemployed; and how many have been placed in employment by his Department in the last 12 months?
Sir Joseph Leech: 4. asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give an assurance that, when the new Unemployment Bill becomes law, consideration will be given to the engagement for work in connection with the Unemployment Assistance Board of those available persons who have been for the past three years exclusively engaged in the administration of transitional payments?
Sir Joseph Leech: 4. asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the number of the Embassy staff at Madrid in 1913 and 1934; and whether the special commercial department of the Embassy has succeeded in arranging that Spain should purchase the agreed 750,000 tons minimum of coal in accordance with the treaty of 1922?
Sir Joseph Leech: 29. asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Great Britain buys twice as much of Spain as Spain buys of Great Britain and that Spain uses the resultant credit balance to make purchases in the United States and Germany; and will he state what steps he is taking to obtain from the Spanish Government better treatment for British trade in respect of coal, shipping dues,...
Sir Joseph Leech: 35. asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will obtain from the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain a statement showing the principal obstacles to the importation of British coal and goods into Spain; and will he then appoint a committee to examine the statement for the purpose of suggesting to him a line of action preparatory to drawing up a new Anglo-Spanish trade agreement...
Sir Joseph Leech: 53. asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that Newcastle-upon-Tyne and other large industrial towns in the North of England are not included in the new air-mail service; whether he is further aware of the public resentment that Newcastle and district have been left out of the scheme; and will he take steps to remedy this omission?
Sir Joseph Leech: I have waited patiently during the last four days hoping to get an opportunity to address a few words to the House. During the waiting periods I have heard many speeches, some very distinguished and some most interesting. Perhaps the most interesting which I have heard, at any rate to-day, is the speech which has just been delivered by the hon. Member for Sunderland (Sir L. Thompson). I would...
Sir Joseph Leech: 14. asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether it is proposed to form an auxiliary Air Force squadron in Northumberland and, if so, at what date; and whether applications for service will be invited?
Sir Joseph Leech: asked the Minister of Health whether in view of the recommendations of the commission on the State insurance scheme that the wage limit for insured persons be raised to £350 per annum, it would be possible to take steps to extend the privilege of voluntary insurance to all workers earning above that figure?
Sir Joseph Leech: asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the conditions of service and rates of pay of the West African section of the Colonial Medical Service have recently been revised; that this revision has caused such dissatisfaction as to compel the Nigerian section to memorialise his Department; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?
Sir Joseph Leech: Why is it not in the public interest that the terms of the contract should be revealed?
Sir Joseph Leech: asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what industrial applications have been received, since 11th May, 1936, by the proper authorities for consideration under the provisions of the Special Areas Reconstruction (Agreement) Act?
Sir Joseph Leech: asked the Minister of Health whether he is, in collaboration with the London County Council or with the Metropolitan Borough Councils, taking suitable steps to insure that the furnishings of rooms in private nursing homes in the Metropolitan Area are always sterilised after the rooms have been vacated by a patient?
Sir Joseph Leech: asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that there are opportunities for employment in the North Norfolk and South Lincolnshire areas owing to a shortage of farm labour; and will be ascertain where men are wanted and then notify the unemployed in the distressed areas, and invite and, if necessary, train and assist suitable young men to transfer?
