HC Deb 01 November 1938 vol 340 cc56-62W
Sir R. Glyn

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will arrange for a table to be issued of all the committees and commissions that have been appointed since 1931 which have not yet reported and concluded their labours, giving in each case the terms of reference, the authority under which the committees or commissions were set up, and the date, the name of the chairman, and the Command Paper reference of any interim report, but not including standing committees of any kind?

Captain Wallace

The following is a list of commissions and committees (excluding standing, statutory and advisory committees, departmental committees composed exclusively of officials and committees of the Committee of Imperial Defence) which have been appointed since 1931 and are still sitting, with in each case the terms of reference (abridged), the name of the chairman, the date of appointment, the authority by which they were set up, and the reference to any interim report.

Name of Commission or Committee. Abridged terms of Reference. Chairman. Date of Appointment. Authority.
Cardroom Workers (Respiratory Illness Compensation). To consider and report whether an equitable and workable scheme can be devised for providing compensation in the case of persons who, after employment for a substantial period in card-rooms or certain other dusty parts of cotton spinning mills, become or have become disabled by respiratory illness as indicated in the Report of the Departmental Committee on Dust in Cardrooms. Sir David Ross, K.B.E., M.A., D.Litt., LL.D., Litt,D. March, 1937. Home Office.
Abortion To inquire into the prevalence of abortion, and the present law relating thereto, and to consider what steps can be taken by more effective enforcement of the law or otherwise to secure the reduction of maternal mortality and morbidity arising from this cause. Mr. W. Norman Birkett, K.C. May, 1937. Ministry of Health. Home Office.
Geographical Distribution of Industrial Population. (Royal Commission.) To inquire into the causes which have influenced the present geographical distribution of the industrial population of Great Britain and the probable direction of any change in that distribution in the future; to consider what social, economic or strategical disadvantages arise from the concentration of industries or of the industrial population in large towns or in particular areas of the country; and to report what remedial measures, if any, should be taken in the national interest. The Rt. Hon. Sir Montague Barlow, Bt., K.B.E., LL.D., M.A., F.S.A. August, 1937. Royal Warrant.
Fair Wages To consider the working of the Fair Wages Resolution of the House of Commons of 10th March, 1909. Sir David Ross, K.B.E., M.A., D.Litt., LL.D., Litt.D. August, 1937. Ministry of Labour.
Nursing Services. To inquire into the arrangements at present in operation with regard to the recruitment, training, registration, terms and conditions of service of persons engaged in nursing the sick and to report whether any changes in those arrangements or any other measures are expedient for the purpose of maintaining an adequate service both for institutional and for domiciliary nursing. The Earl of Athlone, K.G., G.C.B., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., D.S.O. November, 1937. Ministry of Health. Board of Education.
Local Government and Public Health Law (Scotland). To consider the grouping of enactments in regard to Consolidated legislation. Sir John Jeffrey, K.C.B., C.B.E. December, 1937. Scottish Office.
Highway Law Consolidation. To examine the existing law relating to highways, streets and bridges in England and Wales and to prepare one or more Bills codifying the law with such amendments as may be desirable to secure simplicity, uniformity and conciseness. The Lord Amulree, G.B.E. January, 1938. Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Health.
Restoration of Land affected by Iron Ore Working. To consider and report on the problems raised by the destruction of agricultural land as a result of the excavation of iron ore. The Lord Kennet of the Dene, G.B.E., D.S.O., D.S.C. January, 1938. Ministry of Health.
Lunacy and Mental Deficiency (Scotland). To inquire into the existing law relating to lunacy and mental deficiency and to report what amendments, if any, are desirable as a preliminary step to Consolidated legislation. The Hon. Lord Russell, K.C. February, 1938. Scottish Office.
Name of Commission or Committee. Abridged terms of Reference. Chairman. Date of Appointment. Authority.
Domestic Subjects, Public Elementary Schools. To consider the aims of instruction in Domestic Subjects in Public Elementary Schools, and to review the present state of this instruction. Mrs. Eveline M. Lowe, J.P. February, 1938. Board of Education.
Rhodesia-Nyasaland (Royal Commission). To consider the question of closer co-operation or association between Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland. The Viscount Bledisloe, G.C.M.G., K.B.E. March, 1938. Royal Warrant.
Spinsters' Pensions. To examine and report on the complaints which are made as to the position of unmarried women under the Contributory Pensions Acts, and on the practical questions which would arise if the age at which Old Age Pensions under those Acts are payable to unmarried women are lowered. Mr. C. T. Le Quesne, K.C. April, 1938. Treasury.
Justices' Clerks. To inquire into the conditions of service of Clerks to Justices and their Assistants. The Lord Roche. April, 1938. Home Office,
Advanced Studies in Law. To take into consideration Branch B. of the report of the Committee on Legal Education; to advise as to the best practicable means of carrying into effect the recommendations therein contained with regard to the establishment in London of an Institute for the promotion of advanced studies in the history and principles of law. The Lord Macmillan, G.C.V.O., K.C., LL.D. May, 1938. Lord Chancellor.
Rag Flock To consider whether the Rag Flock Acts 1911 and 1928, and the Regulations made thereunder are adequate to secure proper cleanliness of rag flock used for the manufacture of upholstery, bedding and other house-hold furniture in Great Britain. The Lord Merthyr, D.L., J.P. June, 1938. Ministry of Health. Scottish Office.
Coal Distribution Costs. To inquire into the organisation and methods of distribution of coal, coke and manufactured fuel; to investigate the various items which make up the differences between the prices received by the producers and those paid by the consumers, and to make recommendations. Sir Walter Monckton, K.C.V.O., M.C., K.C. June, 1938. Mines Department.
Higher Education in Malaya. To survey existing arrangements for Higher education in Malaya; and to report upon the present work of Raffles College, Singapore. Sir William McLean, K.B.E., Ph.D., M.Inst.C.E. June, 1938. Colonial Office.
Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Vehicles. To review the legal provisions applying (a) to hackney carriages licensed to ply for hire and (b) to motor vehicles not so licensed which are used for carrying passengers for hire or reward and to consider what services are or should be provided by each of the two classes of vehicle. Sir Clement Hindley, K.C.I.E. July, 1938. Home Office, Ministry of Transport.
Rating and Valuation. To consider allegations which have been made that a strict application to certain classes of property of the existing law of valuation for rating purposes would cause undue hardship. Mr. Maurice FitzGerald. K.C. July, 1938. Ministry of Health.
Land Settlement Schemes. To inquire into the working of the various schemes for unemployed men, under-taken in England and Wales since November, 1934, by the Land Settlement Association, the Welsh Land Settlement Society and County Councils respectively, and to report thereon. Sir William Dampier, Sc.D., F.R.S. July, 1938. Ministry of Labour.
Name of Commission or Committee. Abridged terms of Reference. Chairman. Date of Appointment. Authority.
Marketing Boards (Imposition of Penalties). To inquire into the present arrangements for the imposition and recovery of penalties for contravention of schemes established under Statute for the organisation of agriculture and other industries. The Viscount Falmouth. July, 1938. Treasury.
West Indies (Royal Commission). To investigate social and economic conditions in certain of the West Indian Colonies and to make recommendations. The Lord Moyne, D.S.O. August, 1938. Colonial Office.
Distress for Rent. To consider whether the protection now afforded to tenants of controlled houses should be extended to the tenants of decontrolled houses. His Honour Judge C. W. Lilley. August, 1938. Ministry of Health.
India (Defence) Having regard to the increased cost of modern armaments, to the desirability of maintaining the Forces in India in accordance with modern requirements, and to the limited resources available in India for defence expenditure, to examine and report how these resources can be used to the best advantage. Admiral of the Fleet The Lord Chatfield, G.C.B., K.C.M.G., C.V.O. September, 1938. Prime Minister on invitation of Government of India.
Control of Flying. To examine the existing regulations governing the flight of aircraft over populous and other districts, and the adequacy of the means of their enforcement; and to consider whether further measures are required to regulate such flying in the interests either of the safety or the amenities of the public. The Lord Gorell, C.B.E., M.C. October, 1938. Air Ministry.