Mr Alexander Walkden: I am sure we are all glad that this valuable Bill has gone through Committee unscathed for I do not think it has been damaged at all in that dangerous process. I am sure the House will give it its Third Reading with great pleasure, as I support it very gladly. Although this Bill only occupies 14 pages of paper, it is in my view one of the greatest Measures this Parliament has carried. Its...
Mr Alexander Walkden: asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether assurances have been given by the Vatican authorities that in the event of any war criminals taking refuge in that State they will be handed over to the Allies.
Mr Alexander Walkden: In supporting the Motion which, in effect, approves this very excellent Report, I would like to say that having perused it carefully, and having had something to do with Private Bills from time to time for a good many years, I feel that it is a very good piece of work. The Chairman of Ways and Means and his helpers have performed a very good job of work, and I would like to express our...
Mr Alexander Walkden: I am sure that every one will be delighted to hear the good news which the House has just received. May I ask the Financial Secretary whether there is in mind any arrangements for sending further lorries? Thirty lorries is not very much, considering the great need of our people now in the hands of the Germans, and if more could be sent, we should be still more pleased.
Mr Alexander Walkden: I take it that this proposal is to make provision for the coming General Election. There are one or two points on which we should like to ask for information and guidance. I should like to know whether the women, members in the Forces have registered in as high a percentage as the men. In the men's case it is up to 95 per cent., which is very gratifying, but we have no information as to how...
Mr Alexander Walkden: Those who come home on their voyages can get the information much more easily, but seamen may be plying between Newfoundland and St. Johns, Canada, or between Iceland and New York, or in South America, and not come home at all. Special consideration needs to be given to see that they all get their opportunity. We feel that the Government should appeal through the wireless and the Press to the...
Mr Alexander Walkden: It appears that building trade operatives are likely to be retained in London until the end of this year.
Mr Alexander Walkden: Is the Prime Minister aware that the negative announcement he has made with regard to the Women's Land Army will cause very deep and bitter disappointment? They have been called an army, they are not recruited through the employment exchanges, they are required to live in hostels, they have been paid on lower terms than Civil Defence workers or the auxiliary services. They have many special...
Mr Alexander Walkden: As a lot of work is being held up through lack of labour, will the hon. Gentleman do all he can to provide labour for the local authorities?
Mr Alexander Walkden: I would point out that many very bitter attacks have been made on the hon. Member's fellow workmen, the miners, and not actually on the Minister, and surely as the hon. Member has himself lived and worked in the mines for 40 years he should be allowed to reply to those statements which are dishonourable attacks on the miners.
Mr Alexander Walkden: My hon. Friend the Member for Seaham (Mr. Shinwell) was only describing how experiments carried on under the aegis of the State were stopped owing to what was called the "axe," when other useful work was being destroyed. That did happen, it is a fact. Had it not happened, our experiments in the production of liquid fuel from coal would have been much further advanced by the time this war...
Mr Alexander Walkden: The hon. Member must remember, as we all do, that this mechanisation of the mines was advocated by the Samuel Commission in 1926. I have yet to learn that the mining industry did anything from 1926 until the start of this war to carry out the recommendations of the Samuel Commission.
Mr Alexander Walkden: I am never happier than when I find myself in agreement with my hon. Friend the Member for the Combined English Universities (Mr. Harvey), and I was equally happy yesterday to be completely in agreement with the hon. Member for Elland (Mr. Levy). To-day, however, I am not in agreement with them. I am in agreement with my hon. Friend the Member for Ebbw Vale (Mr. Bevan), and. as that does not...
Mr Alexander Walkden: Yes, according to the hon. Gentleman's own statement. What is the good of talking like that? Cyclists are moving in great numbers at all times, although, obviously, there are far fewer at night. This Table shows that since the red light has been required to be used fatalities have fallen by Too each year. I think that is worth while.
Mr Alexander Walkden: If the hon. Member must.
Mr Alexander Walkden: I do not think there is much in that point. In the summer months there are fewer deaths and in the months of darkness there are more. But where the table is very impressive indeed is that, whereas in 1939–40 there were 360 cyclists killed in the hours of dark-ness, and in 1940–1 393, in the following years, 1941–2, 1942–3 and 1943–4. they fell to 260, 282 and 283. The average in...
Mr Alexander Walkden: Will that be the same committee or a new committee?
Mr Alexander Walkden: Not the same personnel?
Mr Alexander Walkden: In the first place I want to congratulate the Minister on the fulfilment of a promise. Cynics outside this House sometimes say that we never bother about promises once we have made them, but the Minister, after he had first alarmed me very much by saying that this Bill would be produced "in the not too distant future," has kept his promise so far as the term is concerned, and I thank him. I...
Mr Alexander Walkden: Will my hon. and learned Friend allow me? I hope he can appreciate the difference between a rather small private company, or any private concern, big or little, and a public statutory authority comparable with the London Passenger Transport Board. I do not want to detach it from any Ministry; it must be associated with some Ministry. Such an authority, national in character and backed by this...
