§ Mr. MOSLEYasked the Secretary of State for War whether the rules governing the employment of military bands in private engagements, instituted by the Labour Government, are still in force?
§ Captain KINGI assume the hon. Member refers to the arrangement under which, before a military band accepted a civil engagement, the General Secretary of the Musicians' Union was asked in each case to advise what would be the charge made at the current Musicians' Union rate. After a full trial, this arrangement was found to be impracticable and was cancelled, but Commanding Officers are required, before accepting band engagement, to satisfy themselves, after reasonable inquiry, that the terms offered are not less than those charged by local civilian bands.
§ Mr. MOSLEYasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will cause a Paper to be issued showing the engagements undertaken by the eight staff bands in London during the past 12 months; the number of performers employed for each engagement; the fee received for each engagement; and the amount received by the men and the amount received by the bandmaster?
§ Captain KINGIn view of the labour which would be involved in preparing such a return, I do not think that I should be justified in calling for this information.
1859W
§ Mr. MOSLEYasked the Secretary of State for War whether, seeing that a large number of civilian musicians are totally unemployed, largely as a result of permitting the regimental bands of His Majesty's forces to accept private engagements, he will issue instructions to curtail the number of private engagements that a military band may accept in any one year?
§ Captain KINGI have no knowledge of the conditions referred to at the beginning of the question. Military bands are only permitted to accept civil engagements because there is a public demand for their services, and they are not permitted to do so on terms which are lower than those which would be offered in the same circumstances to a civilian band. I am not prepared, therefore, to issue instructions on the lines suggested.
§ Mr. MOSLEYasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, while the total fee paid to military bands for an engagement may be in accordance with trade union rates, the members of the band individually receive less than the trade union rate, and a very large proportion of the fee is retained by the bandmaster; and whether he proposes to take any action to ensure that each bandsman receives payment at the trade union rates?
§ Captain KINGThe allocation of the fees received by military bands for civilian engagements rests, according to custom, with the Commanding Officer. I
1860W
Rural District In respect of maintenance expenditure. In respect improvement works and other purposes. Total On roads and bridges in Classes I and II. On certain unclassified roads. £ £ £ £ Ash by-de-la Zouch … … 429 753 85 1,267 Barrow-upon-Soar … … 1,644 4,638 2,062 8,344 Belvoir … … — 618 117 735 Billesdon … … 150 1,170 428 1,748 Blaby … … 134 650 1,783 2,567 Castle Donington … … — 1,038 1,065 2,103 Hallaton … … — 363 — 363 Hinckley … … 108 1,013 1,728 2,849 Loughborough … … 94 574 284 952 Lutterworth … … 411 1,806 1,081 3,298 Market Bosworth … … 191 1,613 1,413 3,217 Market Harborough … … 85 1,232 4,327 5,644 Melton Mowbray … … 173 3,479 3,814 7,466 Total … … 3,419 18,947 18,187 40,553 do not propose to alter the existing practice.