HC Deb 14 August 1916 vol 85 cc1399-401
21. Mr. HOGGE

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the Civil Liabilities Committee are prepared to consider the case of indentured apprentices who have had to break their indentures on being called up for service?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Hayes Fisher)

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. As at present advised, I doubt whether a case of this kind would be covered by the Regulations.

Mr. HOGGE

Supposing a lad who had paid a considerable amount of money were called up compulsorily and his employers refused to meet him, could not he apply to the Civil Liabilities Committee?

Mr. HAYES FISHER

My hon. Friend knows the Regulations as well as I do, and, as I have said, it is doubtful whether the case he mentions is covered by them.

Mr. E. HARVEY

Will my right hon. Friend consider the advisability of making a supplementary Regulation dealing with this matter?

Mr. HAYES FISHER

That is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

25. Mr. HOGGE

asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board whether he has yet been able to arrange the promised conference between representatives of the mayors and provosts and the representatives of the Statutory Committee?

Mr. HAYES FISHER

The Lord Mayor of Liverpool had an interview with the Vice-Chairman of the Statutory Committee and myself last week, and suggested a date in September as probably the most convenient for the conference with representatives of the mayors and provosts. The matter was left in his hands to arrange.

Mr. HOGGE

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why the date of the conference has been fixed so late as 26th September?

Mr. HAYES FISHER

The date was provisionally fixed for 26th September because the Lord Mayor of Liverpool did not think that he could get a committee together before, but if he finds that he can get a committee together before that date we shall be very glad.

57. Mr. ANDERSON

asked the Prime Minister whether there is at present an almost complete absence of co-ordination in respect of the payment and administration of pensions, separation allowances, and civil liabilities of soldiers and sailors and their dependants: whether the work is divided between such institutions and committees as the War Office, the Admiralty, Greenwich Hospital, the Chelsea Commissioners, the Statut6ry Committee, the Civil Liabilities Committee, the Appeals Committee, and the National Relief Committee; whether this frequently involves much uncertainty, overlapping, and delay and inequality of treatment; and whether he will consider the question of obtaining greater uniformity of treatment and efficiency of administration by placing the treatment of all soldiers, sailors, and those dependent on them under a Department directly responsible to this House?

The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)

I can assure my hon. Friend that his suggestion will have the sympathetic consideration of the Government, though I am happy to think he somewhat exaggerates the defects of the present arrangements.