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Oral Answers
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Sir S. Hoare: Yes, Sir, I think upon the whole that is the case. We have had no complaints, but I will look into the matter again.
POLICE (PENSIONS). 39. Mr. Kelly asked the Home Secre- tary the number of retired police officers on pension and how many widows of police officers are in receipt of pension?
Sir S. Hoare: On 31st March last, the latest date for which figures are available, the numbers were 37.742 and 7,045 respectively.
METROPOLITAN POLICE FORCE (SECTION HOUSES).
40. Mr. Kelly asked the Home Secretary the number of section houses to be built or rebuilt for the Metropolitan Police; and how many of these are for the women police?
Sir S. Hoare: As at present proposed, about 30 new section houses will be built and 20 existing section houses recon- structed. For women police three section houses are contemplated; one has already been provided by adaptation of an exist- ing building, one will be a new building and the third will be either a new build- ing or an adapted or reconstructed build- ing.
Mr. Kelly: Will the right hon. Gentle- man publish the location of the section houses; and are they being constructed in keeping with the town-planning arrangements of the London County Council?
Sir S. Hoare: I will certainly look into the matter and see what action can be taken. I believe the answer to the second question is in the affirmative, but I will look into it.
AGRICULTURE. GOVERNMENT POLICY.
44. Mr. De la Bère asked the Minister of Agriculture, whether he has now any statement to make regarding the future of the poultry industry?
59. Mr. H. G. Williams asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any further statement to make on agricultural policy?
Oral Answers
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(Mr.
The Minister of Pensions Ramsbotham): As my right hon. Friend stated in reply to a question by the right hon. Member for Hillsborough (Mr. Alexander) on 22nd June, it is hoped early next Session to introduce a Bill to imple- ment the proposals contained in the White Paper on Milk Policy issued in July, 1937. Legislation will also be introduced at an early date to provide for a periodical re- view of the standard price of wheat under the Wheat Act, 1932, and to make certain other Amendments in the Act to deal with outstanding problems. As regards the poultry industry, I would refer my hon. Friends to the statement made by my right hon. Friend in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Mathers) on 11th July.
Mr. De la Bère: May I ask the Minister when we are to have a comprehensive and constructive policy for the poultry in- dustry? Does he realise that some prompt action is necessary, as we have heard nothing since June?
Mr. Ramsbotham: The programme I have mentioned is fairly comprehensive, and I think it will take my hon. Friend all his time to digest the three measures I have mentioned.
Major Braithwaite: Can my hon. Friend say whether it is proposed to take any action in connection with barley and sheep?
Mr. Ramsbotham: I have nothing to add to the answer I have given on that point.
Mr. Gallacher: Has not the Minister received representation from the poultry industry, and is he not prepared to give any attention to it?
Mr. Ramsbotham: We hope to produce the Poultry Bill during the coming Session.
CREDITS.
58. Mr. De la Bère asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has now any statement to make regarding the improved facilities for credit for agriculturists?
Mr. Ramsbotham: This matter is under consideration, but my right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make a state- ment.
Mr. De la Bère: Is it not a fact that the Foreign Office, the Board of Trade and the Federation of British Industries
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Oral Answers
Oral Answers
ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE
I NOVEMBER 1938 forced the Government to grant £50,000,000 to Eastern Europe? Cannot the Minister of Agriculture do something for agriculture?
Mr. Ramsbotham: My right hon. Friend has given very careful considera- tion to this matter, but my hon. Friend will appreciate that recent events have in- volved some delay in dealing with it.
Mr. Macquisten: Is anything to be gained by putting farmers into debt? Would it not be much better to relieve them of the burden of many of the recent officials who have been appointed under the Marketing Acts and other Acts?
SHEEP AND LAMBS (PRICES).
60. Major Dower asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now in a posi- tion to make a statement with regard to the serious decline in prices for sheep and lambs?
Mr. Ramsbotham: Since my right hon. Friend's statement during the Estimates Debate on 13th July, to which I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend, the number of fat sheep offered for sale at representative markets in England and Wales has shown an increase of 12 per cent. over the corresponding period of 1937, and the increase in the past four weeks has exceeded 20 per cent. Prices of fat sheep have nevertheless shown no further decline during the past three months, but there has been a slight seasonal fall in the price of fat lambs. The prices realised at the autumn sales of store sheep have proved less unsatisfac- tory than was at one time anticipated. The slight increase of 1 per cent. over 1937 quantities in total imports of mutton and lamb during the first nine months of the year is due to larger arrivals of ewe mutton, which is not normally competi- tive with the home product. Imports of lamb have declined. The supply position during the forthcoming year is receiving
consideration.
Major Dower: May I ask whether the discussions which have been taking place with Australia and New Zealand have been concluded, whether they are satisfac- tory, and whether the result will be to stop the inflow of mutton and lamb into this country?
Mr. Ramsbotham: I should be glad if my hon. and gallant Friend would give notice of that question.
(COSTS).
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45. Mr. Alan Herbert asked the Prime Minister whether he will recommend to His Majesty the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the costs of justice to the citizens, the inquiry to cover such matters as the arrangements for the legal assistance of poor persons and persons of small means, the charging of court fees, the distribution of the busi- ness of the courts so far as this affects the cost of litigation to persons of small means, the requirement that a husband shall pay the costs of a wife in all divorce proceedings, and any other rule or prac- tice which appears to conflict with the declaration in the Magna Charta that justice shall not be delayed or sold?
The Prime Minister (Mr. Chamberlain): The matters to which the question relates involve problems of very great difficulty. They have constantly been the subject of Government inquiries, including during recent years a Royal Commission and several Departmental Committees which have expended a great deal of time and trouble in an endeavour to carry out the objects which no doubt my hon. Friend has at heart.
A number of things have been done in that direction in recent years, and, in particular, it may be men- tion that the County Court limit has been raised by an Act passed this year. More- stantly under review by my noble Friend over, the questions which arise are con-
the Lord Chancellor and his advisers, and, after consultation with him, I am not satisfied that the interests of the adminis- tration of justice would be served by the appointment of a Royal Commission as suggested by my hon. Friend.
Mr. Davidson: Is the Prime Minister aware that the Scottish Commission has already sat on this particular question with regard to assistance to poor persons, made its recommendations a considerable time ago to the Scottish Office, and that none of its recommendations have been operated by the Scottish Office?
The Prime Minister: That does not seem to be very encouraging to the sug- gestion for another of them."
CHANNEL TUNNEL.
46. Mr. Day asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the changed condi- tions of aerial warfare and the danger to
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