Mr John Swan: 110. asked the Minister of Labour on what grounds the local unemployment committee refuse to allow the ordinary unemployment benefit to men who are out of work, or have been, at Hamsterley and Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham, who happen to be the possessors of small holdings; is he aware that the statement that these men put only three or four days' work in at the mines when such were...
Mr John Swan: 78. asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the fact that the substantial cause of unrest in Egypt is due. to the Egyptian Cabinet refusing to have a general election, and the continuing of martial law and the deportation of Zaghloul Pasha and his colleagues, and that Morcos Hanna Bey and others have been arrested due to them having protested against what they...
Mr John Swan: Will the hon. Gentleman consider putting into operation what was promised in the Proclamation?
Mr John Swan: Would the hon. Gentleman be prepared to recommend to his Government that the same principle should apply here as in Egypt—of putting into prison the political opponents of the Cabinet. [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear!"]
Mr John Swan: 104. asked the. Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Mrs. Kirkup, of Langley Park, County Durham, widow of the late Sergeant G. W. Kirkup, No. 13867, East Yorkshire Regiment, has been refused a pension; that Kirkup's pension was raised up to 100 per cent.; and that he had served, not only in the late War, but also in Africa and will he see that, in the light of all the service rendered...
Mr John Swan: Is my hon. and gallant Friend aware that the 100 per cent. was given after repeated inquiries and it was recommended?
Mr John Swan: As an allotment holder I hope that the Minister in charge of the Bill will accept this new Clause. I do not know a more appropriate time than the present for the introduction of this Bill, and this Clause into it. To-morrow, at least in the County of Durham, there will be a large number of allotment shows, which are a manifestation of the great advantage of allotments to the individual and to...
Mr John Swan: I quite agree, Sir. I was lured away by the arguments of the hon. and gallant Gentleman opposite. However, I hope the proposed Clause will be accepted, so that the apprehensions of insecurity on the part of the allotment holders will be taken away. They will then be able to promote a more intensive cultivation and better work will be done.
Mr John Swan: 22. asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the present martial law in Egypt is under the Proclamation of the 2nd November, 1914; and whether there is any precedent for the maintenance of martial law by one independent state in the territory of another when the two are at war?
Mr John Swan: Will the hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question? Is it compatible with Section 11 of the Proclamation and Section 10?
Mr John Swan: I was invited to put down this question last week, and now it is put aside and I am asked to put down another question.
Mr John Swan: My object was to elicit information. It is not given and it is put aside again.
Mr John Swan: 23. asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in what Section of the Declaration to Egypt of 21st February, 1922, the answer to the question of whether it is His Majesty's Government or the Egyptian Government which is responsible for the continuance of martial law can be found?
Mr John Swan: Is it not a fact that it is impossible to have the indemnity until there has been an election, so that the Parliament may decide it? Was it not presumed, when the Proclamation was issued, that martial law would be raised, and how can it he raised unless there is an election?
Mr John Swan: Is that balance due to the fact that men who expected to have this payment have been deliberately turned down without any reason by the various committees?
Mr John Swan: When this tax was introduced 10 or 12 years ago there was nothing more popular in the country. Nothing was ever better accepted. The only objection raised to it was that it was too small. I would have liked to have seen the Prime Minister here to-day, as he was such an urgent advocate of the tax which is now to be whittled away. I would like to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Law...
Mr John Swan: I do not intend to go into elaborate details, but I would say that ever since decontrol the miners of the country have been getting into a most tragic plight. Not only has the position of things acted as a blight on the mining community, but it has re-acted on every other industry in the country. We were told that under decontrol the nation would prosper. Where is the prosperity? In the...
Mr John Swan: Yes, if there is a demand for that to be done. It would be for the League of Nations to see that an economic price was fixed which would guarantee to the workers such a wage as would enable all engaged in the industry to have a decent life. We were told that the shorter hours had militated against good wages and handicapped this country in the markets of the world. The hon. Member for Cardiff...
Mr John Swan: Will the miners' wages be in that category?
Mr John Swan: 15. asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government will reconsider the continuance of British martial law in Egypt now that that country has been declared an independent foreign State?