Major Lyall Wilkes: They have been encouraged, but there has been difficulty about the financial grants. Local authorities have been backward in many parts of the development areas. I suggest that on many occasions the local authori- ties might well have had a prod from the Government to get on with this work, but that lead has not been given. Local authorities are no more perfect than Government Departments,...
Major Lyall Wilkes: The "Economist" did not mean that. They were talking about the expenditure of the raw materials and the houses actually built. To hearten the Minister of Health and to bring this Debate from the general to the specific, I would point out that in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, between 1918 and the beginning of 1921, not a single house was built for renting within the city's boundaries. In 1924, there...
Major Lyall Wilkes: Can the Lord President of the Council say how long it is intended that this exhibition should be shown in Newcastle?
Major Lyall Wilkes: asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation why successive proposed schemes to develop Woolsington Airport, Newcastle-on-Tyne, for continental traffic, at a cost of £450,000, and a subsequent revised scheme costing £140,000, were both refused sanction and grant-in-aid when permission for other airport development schemes, including that at Ringway, Manchester, have...
Major Lyall Wilkes: Whilst I appreciate the limitations put upon airport development schemes by reason of cuts in the capital investment programme, will my hon. Friend bear in mind that at present the North-East coast of England is entirely without any air communication with Scandinavia and that that part of the country feels rather neglected as a result?
Major Lyall Wilkes: It is quite obvious and is widely recognised, that great hardship is caused to thousands of families by reason of certain gaps which would appear still to exist in the enforcement of maintenance orders. I should like my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary to say why a husband who has a maintenance order made against him should not be required to give to the court by which the maintenance order...
Major Lyall Wilkes: In the vast majority of cases the obligation is not to the court but merely to the wife. If the court had power to make another obligation, to record the man's address, it might be more of a deterrent.
Major Lyall Wilkes: I should very much like to support the admirable speech of the hon. Member, and the constructive suggestions he made. It is always difficult, and possibly dangerous, to generalise from one's own correspondence, but my impression is—and it may be supported by the impressions of other hon. Members— that compassionate releases from the Army, and compassionate leave, when the grounds are...
Major Lyall Wilkes: asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, as a result of the cut in the building programme of houses to be built under licence, the price of houses for sale with vacant possession has risen; and whether he will introduce legislation in order to place a ceiling price on houses for sale with vacant possession so that the present shortage does not lead to yet further profiteering.
Major Lyall Wilkes: In my view this extremely enlightened and comprehensive Measure gives the system of lay justices in this country possibly its final chance for safeguarding itself against the fears and doubts which are occasionally expressed about its working. I do not wish to be misunderstood on this point. If one studies the number of appeals which come from courts of summary jurisdiction to appeal...
Major Lyall Wilkes: No, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Central. It is rather" important.
Major Lyall Wilkes: asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the British representative at Lake Success on 22nd November, 1949, voted with the South African representative to exclude the Reverend Michael Scott from making representations to United Nations Organisation regarding the treatment of certain native tribes in South-West Africa by the South African Government.
Major Lyall Wilkes: Can my hon. Friend enlighten us on this? Since the South African Government have refused to send any reports of German South-West Africa to the United Nations, and since no provision exists for referring these matters to any tribunals, how can the United Nations find out what is happening, unless some hearing is given to non-governmental organisations and non-governmental individuals?
Major Lyall Wilkes: Does the hon. Gentleman think it is a very satisfactory position when, let us say, two solicitors or two barristers have been arguing a point of law about a new Act, as to where the burden of proof lies or some other aspect of that legislation, that the matter should then be left in the hands of a man entirely unqualified and without training in the law?
Major Lyall Wilkes: Is not the case for some review of this relationship very much strengthened by the fact that a British ballet company, the Metropolitan Ballet, has just had to close down because it could obtain no financial support from the Arts Council? Would it not seem that this ballet company is much more deserving of financial support from the Arts Council than a great many other ventures?
Major Lyall Wilkes: Is the Minister aware that since July, 1945, in five cases where juries made a strong recommendation to mercy the death sentence was still carried out? Would not the Minister agree that as a jury, who listen most patiently to a case from the beginning to the end, probably know more about the case than anybody else it would be advisable to treat strong recommendations to mercy as an expression...
Major Lyall Wilkes: asked the Minister of Health the number of local authorities who have submitted schemes for his approval under Part 2 of the Housing Act, 1949, whereby, subject to certain conditions, they may obtain 75 per cent. Exchequer grants towards the cost of converting and improving old houses into satisfactory housing accommodation; whether he is satisfied that local authorities are availing...
Major Lyall Wilkes: In view of the valuable assistance which is given to local authorities in Part II of the Housing Act, and in view of the very small number of authorities which utilise these provisions, would the Minister consider cricularising local authorities and drawing their atten- the great assistance that can be given to them?
Major Lyall Wilkes: asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he is aware that in the city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne only 387 council houses were completed during 1949; whether he will make inquiries as to the exact number and extent to which the corporation failed to avail itself of its 1949 allocation and the reasons for such failure; and whether he will further inquire why the building programme in Newcastle is...
Major Lyall Wilkes: Can my right hon. Friend say whether, since the abolition of the points system, he has been able to increase any raw material supplies to the manufacturers of goods formerly on points, because that would seem to be the core of the matter? Has he been able to give any increases?