Eldon Gorst's Report on the Admini- | and those from British Possessions; and stration and Condition of Egypt and the whether there has been any increase or Sudan in 1907 will be issued as as a decrease as compared with the figures of Parliamentary Paper; and whether in it, the previous year. or through some other official channel, information will be given as to the result of the proposals for modifying the capitulations and establishing an International Legislative Council, which were set forth in Lord Cromer's Report for 1906; also as to other measures promised with a view to removing present anomalies and difficulties in the government of Egypt. SIR EDWARD GREY: It is hoped to lay Sir Eldon Gorst's Report for 1907 before Parliament on Monday next, May 4th. Information as to the present situation with regard to Lord Cromer's proposals for modifying the capitulations and establishing an International Legislative Council will be found on pages 1 and 2 of that Paper. The Budget-Broadening the Basis of MR. BOTTOMLEY: I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with a view to broadening the sources of revenue within the limits of the present fiscal policy of the country, he will consider the expediency of taxing advertisements, introducing a graduated receipt stamp, imposing a stamp duty on share certificates, taxing betting and racing stakes, establishing an employment tax of a penny in the pound on all wages paid and taxing theatre and other amusement tickets beyond a given price. *MR. LLOYD-GEORGE: It will be seen from pages 216-7 of the 50th Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, that it is impossible to give any complete figures of profits and income resulting from investments abroad. The gross income from abroad brought under review for income-tax purposes, so far as it can be identified in the statistics of the tax, amounted in 1906-7 (the latest year for which figures are available) to £79,558,000. The corresponding figure for the preceding year was £73,899,200. Information is not available with regard to the other points raised by the hon. Baronet. SIR EDWARD SASSOON: May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, arising out of the reply he has just given, whether these £5,500,000 increase in the profits earned from capital placed abroad does not represent a capitalised sum of £150,000,000 in one year, and whether he views without alarm the increasing tendency of British capital to seek investment in foreign countries, with the resulting contraction of employment at home? *MR. LLOYD-GEORGE: I should have thought the hon. Baronet would know that the figure does not represent so large an increase of capital invested abroad. It represents, to a great extent, very largely increased returns from investments. THE CHANCELLOR OF THE Night Wanderers in London. EXCHEQUER (MR. LLOYD-GEORGE, MR. BOTTOMLEY: I beg to ask Carnarvon Boroughs): I will reflect upon the Secretary of State for the Home my hon. friend's suggestions. Department whether, as stated by a police official in the course of some recent legal proceedings, the police have instructions to wake up all persons found asleep on public seats during the night; and, if so, whether he will consider the expediency of annulling or modifying such instructions? MR. BOTTOMLEY: I will repeat the Question after allowing the right hon. gentleman a reasonable period for reflection. Income Tax on Investments Abroad. SIR EDWARD SASSOON: I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the amount of income-tax received during the fiscal year now closed on profits and income resulting from investments abroad, the amounts on which the tax was received, discriminating between those earned in foreign countries THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL, Yorkshire, Cleveland) : It is the practice for the police to wake persons found sleeping at night on public seats and to direct them to the nearest shelter or casual ward. It is undesirable that public seats should be used as sleeping places, and the Secretary of State does not think any alteration in the regulations should be made. omnibuses. Police on ordinary duty report cases of defective omnibuses coming to their notice. SIR HENRY CRAIK: Is the hon. Gen MR. CROOKS: Why should not they tleman aware that the ordinary policeman sleep there? disclaims any such duty as part of his ordinary duties ? MR. BYLES (Salford, N.): I should like to know under what Act of Parliament men are harried and very often punished for the wholesome practice of sleeping in the open air. MR. HERBERT SAMUEL: Under their general powers the police are em powered to take action against persons who are found committing the offence known as "sleeping out." MR. CROOKS: Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the law that allows a man to sleep in the open if he has the price of a lodging in his pocket, whereas it is the poor fellow with nothing who is moved on ? MR. BOTTOMLEY: Can the hon. Gentleman tell us what difference it makes to the police or to the public whether a man who occupies a seat in the middle of the night is asleep or awake? MR. HERBERT SAMUEL: I am not aware of that. North Camberwell Radical Club. *CAPTAIN FABER (Hampshire, Andover): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the inquest held on Tuesday, 28th January, on R. C. Drummond, who was proved to have died from syncope from delirium caused by a fall at one o'clock on a Sunday morning in the North Camberwell Radical Club, and whose death was proved to have been accelerated by long-continued alcoholic excesses; and whether he can insert provisions in the Licensing Bill to drink in such clubs. prevent the excessive consumption of MR. HERBERT SAMUEL: My right hon. friend has not had before him the facts of the case mentioned, and is unable to say whether or not the alcoholic excesses which are stated to have accelerated the death took place in a club. The question of legislative restrictions on the sale of liquor in clubs is receiving the full MR. HERBERT SAMUEL asked for attention of the House in the debates on notice. MR. ASHLEY: Has the Home Secretary power to do away with this regulation? Motor 'Buses in London. SIR HENRY CRAIK (Glasgow and Aberdeen University): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the total number of motor omnibuses now running in London, and what is the number of the staff employed in their inspection; and whether the ordinary police constables are charged with any duty of observing and reporting cases of serious nuisance caused by these omnibuses through smell, smoke, or undue vibration due to defective machinery? MR. HERBERT SAMUEL: There were on the 27th instant 1,137 licensed motor omnibuses. The public carriage inspect ing staff consists of 37 officers, whose the Licensing Bill, and I would venture. to suggest can be discussed in those debates with greater advantage than by way of Question and Answer. *CAPTAIN FABER: May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether he would think it desirable to take steps against this club which, in the words of the Prime Minister, appears to be "a vicious drinking club?" MR. HERBERT SAMUEL: That is a matter of opinion. EARL WINTERTON (Sussex, Horsham): Having regard to the allegations which have been made against this club, will the hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of instructing a detectiveinspector of the Metropolitan Police to enter the club disguised as a temperance AN HON. MEMBER : reformer. As a tariff of the investigations, if any, made in consequence thereof. MR. HERBERT SAMUEL: The Particulars Section of the Factory Act was extended to wholesale tailoring in 1898 and to other tailoring in 1903. The Secretary of State has not been able in the short interval since the Question appeared on the Paper, to obtain full statistics of prosecutions in the tailoring trades; but, excluding ladies' tailoring, it appears that since 1903, fifteen cases have been taken,. resulting in twelve convictions. The answer to the last part of the Question as to complaints is in the negative. MR. CLAUDE HAY: Is the hon. Gentleman aware that though the number of cases is small, the number of persons. affected is over 1,000 ? MR. HERBERT SAMUEL: No, Sir. The Aliens Act. MR. CLAUDE HAY: I beg to ask the Prime Minister if the pledges in regard to the alteration of regulations under The Aliens Act, 1905, given by the President of the Board of Trade to his lateconstituents at Manchester, represent the views of His Majesty's Government; and, if so, when these regulations will beissued. MR. HERBERT SAMUEL: I beg leave to answer this Question. The statements made on behalf of His Majesty's Government by the President of the Board of Trade involve partly administrative and partly legislative action,. but not the issue of fresh regulations as is suggested in the question. The provision of receiving houses at immigration ports where clear necessity can be shown must be recognised to be an essential part of the machinery of the Act; and power is taken in the Port of London Bill, which is under the charge of the President of the Board of Trade, to enable such a house to be established in London, the port at which difficulty has arisen. The question of according to an immigrant the right of appeal to the High Court is a matter which requires legislation, and is under consideration. My right hon. friend also repeated in emphatic terms the promises already given by the Home Secretary to adopt any suggestions which will, in his opinion,. improve the composition of the Immigra- | wise, to deal with the case of workmen tion Boards, or any suggestions for re- thrown out of employment by this cause. medying defects in the arrangements for the interpretation of evidence and representation of aliens. These pledges stand, but they affect only administration, and do not involve any new regulations. MR. CLAUDE HAY: May I ask the 'hon. Gentleman to reply to my Question with reference to the reduction of naturalisation fees? The President of the Board of Trade stated at Manchester on March 25th that he spoke with the authority of his colleagues, and that, though the late Cabinet had not seen their way to reduce the naturalisation fees, that circumstance did not bind the present Cabinet. Is it intended, in accordance with the declaration of the President of the Board of Trade, to reduce naturalisation fees? MR. HERBERT SAMUEL: That does not in any way arise out of the Question on the Paper. MR. LEVERTON HARRIS (Tower Hamlets, Stepney): Is it proposed to add to the boards members who are agreeable to the Christian community as well as members who are agreeable to the Jewish community? MR. HERBERT SAMUEL: In cases where their present composition is defective it is proposed to make the boards thoroughly representative of all sections of the community. MR. CLAUDE HAY: Not having received a reply to my Question, I beg to give notice that I shall put a series of Questions with the object of getting a reply. Workmen's Insurance. MR. HERBERT SAMUEL: The Secretary of State has been informed that in some cases workmen subject to a physical defect have been discharged on account of alleged difficulties of insuring them. The refusal to insure such men is not universal among insurance companies and there does not appear any reason why such men should not be insured upon adequate terms as well as other workmen. Further inquiries will be made into the matter. MR. CROOKS: Will the hon. Gentleman instruct the Public Prosecutor to take action under the law of intimidation ? What right have the insurance companies to do this? AN HON. MEMBER: Is there any evidence whatever that insurance companies do ask questions of employers with regard to the physical defects of those employed? MR. HERBERT SAMUEL: There have been cases where they have refused to insure such men, but it is not by any means the universal practice. Motor Fatalities.—Misuse of High Roads. MR. CATHCART WASON (Orkney and Shetland): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department. whether his attention has been drawn to three recent cases at Kenley, Albourne (on the Brighton Road), and at St. Albans, respectively, in which a motorist, after a serious accident, in two of the cases fatal, ran away without stopping, in contravention of Section 6 of The Motor Car Act, 1903; whether he is aware that these are not isolated cases; MR. CHARLES MCARTHUR and whether, without waiting for general (Liverpool, Kirkdale): I I beg to legislation, he will take immediate steps ask the Secretary of State for to strengthen the law by imposing the Home Department, whether he heavier penalties for this class of offence. is aware that in some employments. workmen who are subject to a physical defect, but have nevertheless performed their duties to the full satisfaction of their employers, are being discharged by the latter because the insurance companies refuse to insure them on ordinary terms against risks under the Workmen's Compensation Act; and whether he purposes to take any steps, by legislation or other MR. CHIOZZA MONEY: At the same time may I ask the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been directed to the fact that early on Saturday morning, 25th April, a man named John Bryan was knocked down, killed, and abandoned on the road between Guildford and Ripley by a motor car of unknown identity; if he is aware that a considerable number of such cases have occurred recently, and that the misuse of public high roads by motorists is increasing; and whether he can definitely promise drastic legislation to suppress these evils. THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. JOHN BURNS, Battersea): My right hon. friend has asked me to reply to these Questions. I regret to say that cases of the kind mentioned in them have occurred. I would point out that under section 6 of The Motor Act, 1903, a person who is driving a motor car is bound to stop if an accident occurs to anyone, and if required he must give his name and address. Further, that if he causes the accident he may render himself liable to penalties considerably heavier than those imposed for noncompliance with the section. In the Kenley case a man was arrested and charged with manslaughter. I will, how. ever, consider whether some amendment should be made in the law with regard to this point. Viscount Portman's Marylebone Property. MR. CHIOZZA MONEY: I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been directed to the fact that some twenty-five mews and yards in Marylebone have recently been claimed by Viscount Portman as his private property, although they have been for nearly a century drained, paved, cleansed, and lighted by the public authority, which has exercised in regard to them precisely the same powers which it has exercised over other local public places; and whether he is taking any action in the matter. MR. JOHN BURNS: I have made inquiry and am informed that there has been litigation between Lord Portman and the Borough Council on this subject, and that judgment has been given against the Council. The fact that the Borough Council or their predecessors have paved and lighted the mews which was the subject of the litigation, was brought under the notice of the Court. I presume that the decision of the Court will govern other cases of the same kind as that to which it related, but the Borough Council have resolved to deal with each mews in VOL. CLXXXVII. [FOURTH SERIES.] turn when the freeholder proposes tc enclose it. The matter is not one with respect to which I can take any action. Shetland Mail Service. MR. CATHCART WASON: I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if he has received a memorandum from the North Isles District Committee, Shetland, pointing out how, by a simple re-arrangement of the service and without any additional cost to the Post Office, a much more satisfactory mail service could be obtained; if he has replied to the said memorial ; and what is the nature of the reply. |