§ Mr. BILLINGasked the Prime Minister if he has received a Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of the 1161W War Pensions (Special Grants) Committee; how many sittings this Committee has held within the last six months; whether any changes have been made in the personnel of this Committee during this period; what is the annual cost to the State of this Committee, including salaries, rent, rates, taxes, printing, posting, and stationery; and whether this Committee is to be continued?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH - BOSCAWENThe Prime Minister receives regular Reports as to the progress and recommendations of the Special Grants Committee. There have been twelve sittings of the full Committe since the date of its appointment—1st September, 1917—and numerous meetings of the seven different sections to which special functions have been allotted. The personnel remains as originally constituted. The expenses of the Committee cannot at short notice be extracted from the general expenses of the Ministry of Pensions, of which they form part. The Committee is constituted by Statute, and it is accordingly for Parliament to determine its continuance.
§ Mr. BILLINGasked the Prime Minister if he has received a Report as to the progress and recommendatins, if any, of the Pensions Appeal Tribunal; how many sittings this tribunal has held within the last six months; whether any changes have been made in its personnel during this period; what is the annual cost to the State of this tribunal, including salaries, rent, rates, taxes, printing, posting, and stationery; and whether it is proposed to continue this tribunal?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENThe Prime Minister receives regular Reports as to the progress and decisions of the Pensions Appeal Tribunal. The first meeting of the tribunal was held on the 14th July, 1917, and there have been sixty-seven further meetings since that date. The estimated annual cost of the tribunal, including the items mentioned by the hon. Member, is, approximately, £1,000 During the six months of its existence it has given definite decisions in 222 cases, and a large number of cases are still waiting to be heard I know of no suggestion that its work should be interrupted. and I presume that it will continue so long as discharged men are anxious to appear before it.
§ Mr. BILLINGasked the Prime Minister if he has received a Report as to the progress and recommendations, if 1162W any, of the Naval Service Board of Invention and Research Central Committee; how many sittings this Committee has held within the last six months; whether any changes have been made in the personnel of this Committee during this period; what is the annual cost to the State of this Committee, including salaries, rent, rates, taxes, printing, posting, and stationery; and whether this Committee is to be continued
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI have been asked by the Prime Minister to reply to this question. Reports of progress and recommendations are received by the Board of Admiralty from time to time from the Central Committee of the Board of Invention and Research and are dealt with as necessary. During the period from July to December, 1917, the Central Committee held twenty-four sittings. Within the last fortnight Mr. C. H. Merz, the well known consulting electrical engineer, who has, as already announced, been appointed Director of Experiments and Research (unpaid) at the Admiralty to supervise all the executive arrangements in connection with the organisation of scientific research and experiments for the Navy, has been added to the Central Committee, and Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Peirse has ceased to be a member. The appointment referred to has been made as part of a considered scheme by which the scientific experts assisting the Admiralty will work in much closer co-operation than hitherto with the officers of the technical departments concerned. It is not possible without the expenditure of much clerical labour, which cannot be spared for the purpose at the present time, to give the details asked for by my hon. Friend in regard to the cost of the Committee, but I may state that none of the distinguished scientists who are assisting the Admiralty as members of the Committee are accepting any salary for their services. The details as to the salary of the President are as given in reply to the question of the hon. and learned Member for York on the 21st May last. The Admiralty certainly desire to continue to have the benefit of the valuable advice and assistance of the Committee, and the revised organisation and appointment of Mr. Merz has received the unqualified approval of the Central Committee.
§ Mr. BILLINGasked the Prime Minister if he has received a Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of 1163W the Munitions Inventions Department; how many sittings this Department has held within the last six months; whether any changes have been made in the personnel of this Department during this period; what is the annual cost to the State of this Department, including salaries, rent, rates, taxes, printing, posting, and stationery; and whether the perpetuation of this Department is contemplated?
§ Sir W. EVANSThe Department referred to by the hon. Member is one of the Departments of the Ministry of Munitions. The staff of this Department, like others in the Ministry, sits daily during office hours.
§ Mr. BILLINGasked the Prime Minister if he has received a Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of the Army Canteen Committee; how many sittings this Committee has held within the last six mouths; whether any changes have been made in the personnel of this Committee during this period; what is the annual cost to the State of this Committee, including salaries, rent, rates, taxes, printing, posting, and stationery; and whether this Committee is proposed to be continued?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe Army Canteen Committee (now the Navy and Army Canteen Board) is an independent organisation controlled by the Army Council and is run as a commercial undertaking on the co-operative system for the benefit of the Navy and Army. The Board of Management meets at least once in every week; meetings of the full Board are held monthly; certain changes have recently been made in the personnel of the Board; these were necessitated by the change of the control of the organisation in the War Office. The organisation is self-supporting and there is no cost to the State. It is anticipated that the Board will be continued.
§ Mr. BILLINGasked the Prime Minister if he has received a Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of the Civilian Internment Camps Committee; how many sittings this Committee has held within the last six months; whether any changes have been made in its personnel during this period; what is the annual cost to the State of this Committee, including salaries, rent, rates, taxes, printing, posting, and stationery; and whether he proposes to continue this Committee?
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§ Sir G. CAVEThis Committee is engaged daily (with full meetings once a week or oftener if required) in organising and superintending on behalf of the Home Secretary the arrangements for the internment of alien enemies in this country. No changes in its personnel have been made during the last six months. No salaries are paid to the members of the Committee; its work is carried on in the Home Office, and the only expenses incurred, those for stationery, etc., form part of the general expenses of the Home Office. It is proposed to continue the Committee.