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Oral Answers
Oral Answers
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HOUSE OF COMMONS
prepared to reconsider his decision with regard to the Forth road-bridge?
Mr. E. J. Williams: Will the Minister publish a White Paper indicating what precisely the Board proposes to do?
Mr. Brown: I have laid the instructions of the Board in the Library.
STATISTICS.
66. Mr. Shinweil asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons unem- ployed; and whether the Government have any schemes in contemplation for the provision of useful work?
Mr. E. Brown: At 12th September, 1938, there were 1,798,618 unemployed persons, aged 14 and over, on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain. As regards the second part of the question, I have nothing to add to previous replies on this subject.
Mr. Davidson: Will the right hon. Gentleman try to obtain the figures taking also into account the figures of the un- employed now under unemployment assistance relief?
Mr. Brown: That is a matter between the health services and my own Depart- ment, but I should like to see the ques- tion in precise terms on the Order Paper, and then I will do my best to give what information I can.
Mr. Davidson: Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that these figures added to those of the registered unemployed are the only honest figures of unemployment in the country?
Mr. Brown: That is not so. A great many of those who registered are in the figures.
Mr. Lawson: Is the Minister not aware that the situation is getting worse in many of the heavy industry areas, and that there are great numbers of men who have been out of work for many years? Can- not the Government do more in this matter?
Mr. Brown: The Government are doing a great deal. I cannot accept the hon. Member's statement that the situation is gradually getting worse. During the last two or three months there has been some improvement, although there have been some variations.
PROPOSED FORTH ROAD-BRIDGE.
68. Mr. Pethick-Lawrence asked the Minister of Transport whether he is now
67. Mr. Mathers asked the Minister of Transport when it is intended to re- consider the question of making a sub- stantial grant towards the erection of the projected Forth road-bridge, near Queens- ferry; and what are the conditions precedent to such a grant being made? The Minister of Transport (Mr. Burgin): I have nothing to add to the statement which I made on the Motion for the Adjournment on 29th July, 1938.
FOREIGN BROADCASTS.
70. Mr. R. Gibson asked the Post- master-General whether the broadcasts to Germany and Italy by the British Broad- casting Corporation are to be continued; and whether he has any statement to make regarding an extension of such broadcasts to include other and, if so, what languages?
The Postmaster-General (Major Tryon): It is proposed to continue for the present the broadcast news bulletins in French, German and Italian which were recently introduced. In addition, news bulletins have been broadcast for some months past in Spanish and Portuguese for South America, and in Arabic. There is no present
intention of adding other languages.
Captain Sir William Brass: May I ask whether these broadcasts are given by natives of the country to which the broad- cast is sent?
Major Tryon: Not necessarily.
Mr. Lees-Smith: Will the Postmaster- General bear in mind that a good many of the comments sent to Italy and Ger- many are so sparse and scrappy that they really give little information of what is happening in this country?
Viscountess Astor: Is it not true that the broadcasts to Germany have done a great deal, but that we must give, them on a wave-length which will reach the smaller sets of the poorer people in Germany?
Major Tryon: These matters fall within the responsibility of the Governors of the British Broadcasting Corporation and I shall be happy to convey to them the views of hon. Members.
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Oral Answers
CHINA AND JAPAN.
I NOVEMBER 1938
72. Mr. Paling asked the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make with regard to the situation in China?
for
The Under-Secretary of State Foreign Affairs (Mr. Butler): After a lull during the summer, the Japanese in September commenced a converging movement from North and South with the object of taking Hankow. By the middle of October these operations had developed into a serious threat to the Chinese lines of communication, and in consequence the Chinese forces evacuated Hankow, which was entered by the Japanese on 25th October. I am glad to report that no loss of British life or damage to British property occurred, and in this connection my Noble Friend would like to pay a tribute to the Acting Consul- General at Hankow and Rear-Admiral Yangtse, who were chiefly responsible for bringing the foreign areas safely_through the crisis. In South China the Japanese landed a force at Bias Bay, north-east of Canton, which met with little opposi- tion and occupied Canton October. The occupation of these two important cities by the Japanese has naturally not been without its effect on British interests in South and Central China. The situation, however, will be closely watched, and
appropriate measures are being and will be taken as occasion requires. It is too early to assess the effects of the events in question on the future course of hostilities, but there appears to be no immediate prospect of a cessation of fighting.
on
21st
Sir P. Harris: Are the Government doing anything to protect British interests and to see that the open door is main- tained?
Mr. Butler: Yes, Sir.
79. Mr. Vyvyan Adams asked the Prime Minister whether any measures are in pro- gress or contemplation to concert collective measures against Japanese aggression upon China?
Mr. Butler: No, Sir.
Mr. Adams: Is it too late for the Gov- ernments to consider the proposition of a collective refusal of Japanese imports?
Mr. Butler: I must refer the hon. Mem- ber to the full reply I gave to the hon. Member for Consett (Mr. David Adams) on 6th October,
Oral Answers
CZECHOSLOVAKIA.
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73. Mr. Noef-Baker asked the Prime Minister whether he has any information to give the House as to the position of affairs in Czechoslovakia?
84. Lieut.-Commander Fletcher asked the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make on the visit of Lord Runciman to Czechoslovakia and on the position in that country?
The Prime Minister: I would refer the hon. Members to the full statements on the Czechoslovak question which I made in the course of the Debates on 28th Sep- tember and at the beginning of last month. As regards developments in the situation since the House adjourned, I would ask hon. Members to be good enough to await the statements which will be made in the Debate this afternoon.
Mr. Noel-Baker: Is the Prime Minister aware of the decision of the International Commission in Berlin that movable pro- perty taken from the Sudeten country after 20th September must be returned, and does he consider that this decision is in accordance with the terms of the agreement?
86. Mr. Arthur Henderson asked the Prime Minister whether he can make a statement on the international guarantee in respect of the present frontiers of Czechoslovakia?
87. Miss Rathbone asked the Prime Minister how the matter now stands with regard to the proposed guarantee of the new frontiers of Czechoslovakia and whether he is in a position to issue a White Paper showing the limits of the frontiers, the condition of the guarantees, and any steps that have been taken with a view to checking threats to the security of that State?
The Prime Minister: I have at present nothing to add to the statement on this subject made by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Co-ordination of De- fence on 4th October. The question of issuing a White Paper on the subject will not arise until the new frontiers of Czechoslovakia have been finally settled after the conclusion of
the present negotiations between that country and Germany, Hungary and Poland, and the completion of the formal instrument of Guarantee.
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