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Oral Answers
HOUSE OF COMMONS
[Mr. Morrison.] learned Member, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the restoration of State grants to the local authorities, which have been reduced by the Govern- ment since 1931, and will he give the House some assurance that he is not con- templating the cutting and the reduction of the social services?
Mr. Elliot: I am glad to have an oppor- tunity of doing that. The right hon. Gentleman cannot have seen to-day's So far from thinking of newspapers. cutting the social services, it is our hope to maintain them and, if possible, to expand them.
Mr. Morrison: In that case, will the right hon. Gentleman inform the House why he intimated only a few days ago that the Government were considering cutting the social services?
Mr. Elliot: I am afraid the right hon. Gentleman cannot have read this morn- ing's Daily Herald."
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Mr. McGovern: Is the Daily Herald" the Government organ now?
BURNING PIT-HEAP (BRYN, WIGAN).
90. Mr. Gordon Macdonald asked the Minister of Health what is the result of the investigation by his Department into the nuisance arising from a burning pit- heap formed by the Garwood Hill Collieries Company, Limited, Bryn, near Wigan; and what steps are to be taken to have the nuisance abated?
Mr. Elliot: My inspectors have made several visits to this pit-heap. Endeavour has been made to reduce the fire by the removal of combustible material and the selection of the material tipped on the heap. I understand that no further spon- taneously combustible material is being added to the heap and that an effort is to be made to quench the fire with water. I am keeping in touch with developments. Mr. Griffiths: Is the right hon. Gentle- man aware that at the Barnsley football ground they can hardly see the match because of the burning heaps nearby?
now
PALESTINE.
91. Mr. Mander asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the present
Oral Answers
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position in Palestine, and the number of casualties that have taken place among British, Jews, and Arabs during the last three months?
92. Mr. T. Williams asked the Secre- tary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information to give the House as to the position of affairs in Palestine?
93. Mr. Graham White asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any statement to make with re- gard to the position in Palestine?
94. Mr. David Adams asked the Secre- tary of State for the Colonies what is the present position in Palestine?
95. Lieut.-Commander Fletcher asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the situation in Palestine?
Mr. M. MacDonald: On 5th October I described to the House the measures which were being taken to deal with the serious situation in Palestine. Since then I have conferred with the High Com- missioner in London, and, as has already been announced, further reinforcements have been despatched to Palestine to bring the total strength of the garrison up to 18 battalions of infantry, two cavalry regiments, a battery of howitzers, and some armoured cars, with ancillary troops. The recruitment of additional British police continues. The General Officer Commanding has now at his dis- posal such forces as he requires for the purpose of restoring order but the
process
of suppressing the rebel bands and of re- establishing the civil administration in outlying areas may take a considerable time.
In order to ensure speedy action in the sphere of public security the High Com- missioner has delegated to the General Officer Commanding power to appoint, with his consent, military commanders over districts, who will be responsible for all security and defence measures and will take over from the District Administration all the powers at present vested in the latter by Regulations under the Defence Order-in-Council. District Commissioners in such areas will become political ad- visers to the local military commanders, while continuing to be responsible for the administration of purely civil matters. Such military commanders have now been appointed in all the districts of Palestine.
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1 NOVEMBER 1938 Business of the House
Oral Answers
The following are the figures of casual- ties desired by the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, East (Mr. Mander):
During the three months of August, September and October, 29 British, 144 Jews and 231 Arabs have been killed, and 75 British, 232 Jews and 179 Arabs wounded. These figures for Arabs ex- clude armed rebels killed or wounded in action. It is impossible to secure com- plete figures for casualties amongst the Arab rebel forces, but well over 400 are known to have been killed during the three months, and considerable additional numbers wounded.
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Mr. MacDonald: The principles which govern the schedule for those six months have often been stated in the House. question, I am not certain that my figures With regard to the second part of the
are up to date, but when I last made inquiry, the figure was something over 6,000.
Mr. T. Williams: How many Jews have been recruited for the supernumerary police?
Mr. MacDonald: The figure of 6,000 covers the total figures of Jewish regular police and supernumeraries. Of these the great majority are supernumerary, but I could not give the exact figures without notice.
Mr. Williams: Are they being increased?
Mr. MacDonald: They have been lately, but whether they are still being increased, I am not quite certain.
The rebels recently intensified their efforts, and a fortnight ago made a con- certed attempt to dominate the Old City of Jerusalem. This attempt was frus- trated by the prompt occupation of the city by British troops and police, followed by a thorough search. The success of this operation has had a most salutary effect. Every precaution was taken to avoid injury of innocent members of the civil population and to preserve the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance sanctity of mosques and sacred buildings and I have been glad to learn from the High Commissioner that the conduct of the troops and police was exemplary. Subsequent intensive searches for rebels have been made in other centres and many arrests have been made.
The Government have now received and are carefully considering the report of the Palestine Partition Commission. I hope that it will be possible to publish the report and to issue a statement of the Government's intentions shortly after the beginning of the new session.
Mr. T. Williams: Now that the Govern- ment are re-establishing order in Pales- tine, will they consider the advisability of increasing what was definitely described as a reduced low level, for a temporary period, of immigration?
Mr. MacDonald: The announcement was made recently as to the schedule for the six months up to the end of April, and I have nothing to add to it.
Colonel Wedgwood: May I ask whether the Jewish quota of immigrants took into account the number of Jews who have been killed during the last three months, and further, how many Jews are now armed so that they can defend themselves against murder?
Lieut.-Commander Fletcher: Will the
that the determination of the Government to restore order in Palestine will not be allowed in any way delay their putting forward their proposals for pacification and conciliation in Palestine?
Mr. MacDonald: Yes, Sir. I hope to make a statement of the Government's intentions about that shortly after the new Session opens.
Mr. Petherick: Is close contact being maintained with the French Government, in view of the fact that the co-operation of neighbouring Powers would be of great advantage in dealing with this problem?
Mr. MacDonald: Yes, Sir.
Mr. Gallacher: Is the right hon. Gen- tleman not aware that if he withdrew the forces from Palestine, the Jews and Arabs could get on all right?
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
Mr. Attlee: May I ask the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make with regard to the business of the House?
The Prime Minister: The Adjournment of the House will be moved to-day for a Debate on the international situation.
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