asked the Home Secretary when the Jamieson Committee for dealing with German and Austrian aliens in Scotland last met?

The last meeting of this Committee was held on 10th September. It will be meeting again shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for supplementary grants have been made by old age pensioners to the Cowdenbeath assistance tribunal since the regulations came into force; how many of such applications have been refused; how many have been paid the maximum scale; and how many have received a reduced rate?

In the Assistance Board's administrative area of Cowdenbeath there were, up to 16th August, 1,542 applications for supplementary pensions; in 1,163 cases, supplementary pensions were awarded, and in 379 cases pensions were either refused or the applications were withdrawn. Information as to the amounts granted in the area is not available.

Is there no way in which the Minister can make the information available, because it is important that Members should understand just how many people are receiving full supplementary benefit and how many are receiving very small sums?

So many duties devolve upon those who are responsible for administration at the present time that it is wise not to press for things which may be unnecessary. If it is found, however, that these things can be made available without exceptional trouble, I certainly will consider the point which has been mentioned. I will look into the matter, and see whether excessive work will be caused by making the information available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the Cowdenbeath assistance tribunal have refused Mrs. Elspeth Anderson, an old age pensioner depending solely on her pension, any supplementary grant, on the grounds that she is living with her daughter, although Mrs. Anderson pays rent to her daughter, who is not in a position fully to maintain her; whether he is also aware that the tribunal decided that Mrs. Anderson's needs were 3d. per week in excess of her resources, but that as this sum was so small there was no need to grant any supplementary allowance at all; and whether he will take steps to ensure that more generous treatment is meted out to old people coming before this and similar tribunals?

I understand that, in the view of the officer of the Assistance Board, the pensioner was a member of her daughter's household, which consists of the two adults and two children. The total income of the household is £4 a week and the rent 7s. 4d. It was decided that, under the regulations, no supplementary pension was payable, and this decision was confirmed by the appeal tribunal. Under the Act, I have no power to interfere with the findings of appeal tribunals or to issue directions to them.

Is not the Minister aware that this is a typical case of a married woman with two children who took in her aged mother, that the mother contributes her share and there is a common household? Is it not clear that the daughter in this case is not actually responsible for maintaining her mother?

I have tried to give the facts in connection with this case. Mrs. Anderson is a widow of 69 and has lived for the last eight years with her daughter. I do not want to go into the details now. The responsibility is entirely one for the Assistance Board. If hon. Members can bring to the notice of the Secretary of State for Scotland or the Minister of Health information to show that the intention of Parliament is not being carried out, we will look into the matter to see that that intention is carried out, as I have already pointed out we have done in this case. I have no power to interfere with the appeal tribunals or to issue directions to them.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider, or appoint a committee to consider, the advisability of broadcasting the proceedings of the House of Commons; and, while the question is receiving consideration, will he make arrangements for important statements made in the House of Commons to be broadcast?

The question of broadcasting proceedings of the House of Commons has never commended itself to the House, and I do not consider that any useful purpose would be served by appointing a committee such as is suggested by my hon. Friend. The question, however, of electrically recording the Prime Minister's war statements on particular occasions with a view to subsequent broadcasting has been considered. Such an innovation, however, would require the general assent of the House, which so far has not been obtained.

This is a big step in the right direction. Will my right hon. Friend consider consulting the House as soon as possible on this question?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the present British broadcastaing system is totally inadequate to perform this purpose? Is he further aware that it shows the lowest index figure of individual programmes per thousand inhabitants for medium and long-wave stations compared with any other country in Europe, even including Portugal, Greece and Yugoslavia? Will he adopt the recommendation of the Ullswater Committee for the appointment of a Minister of Broadcasting in this House?

Will the right hon. Gentleman take an early opportunity of consulting the House in regard to broadcasts of the Prime Minister's occasional statements in this House? Is he aware that it would have an immense effect in America and all over the world if such statements could be broadcast straight from here instead of repetitions of his speeches being made under different circumstances?

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the recommendations of the Ullswater Committee, on which he himself sat, for the appointment of a Minister of Broadcasting in this House?

That is another question. In answer to my right hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Wedgwood), he will realise that there are difficulties with regard to the length of the speech and the available broadcasting time, and there are very different opinions in this House as to the effect on proceedings in this House. It would not be the kind of discussion we have to-day among Members if it was to be a public statement to the whole world. These are matters which require very careful consideration.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the broadcast could take place without the rest of the House or even the Prime Minister being aware of it; if the microphone was placed at the Box on the Table?

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the approval of the policy of leasing bases for a term of 99 years to the United States of America and that of closer co-operation between the United States of America and the British Empire, he will give an assurance that, before any union of the kind proposed to France is put forward, he will give an opportunity for the fullest possible discussion in this House?

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is prepared to give an assurance that, if ever such a far-reaching scheme were put forward, the House would be given every opportunity of discussing it.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that, in view of the intense social dislocation that may be expected at the close of this war, he would, even now, do well to set up a qualified body to draw up a scheme of government, local government and industrial action and to make it as complete as possible; and whether such action towards a Ministry of Reconstruction has yet received his favourable consideration?

As regards the possibility of setting up a Ministry of Reconstruction, I cannot add anything to the reply which I gave on 6th August to my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton (Mr. Craven-Ellis). So far as the larger questions involved are concerned, the importance of these is fully realised, and active steps are being taken by the Government to give them the fullest consideration.

Is there a possibility of some report or public statement being made upon the subject by the Prime Minister or the Government?

Not immediately. These matters w ill require a great deal of consideration, and the Government are very heavily pressed at the present time by the immediate exigencies.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that many of the steps which are being taken, or should be taken regarding shelters, demolition and so on have great bearing on the future planning and really require present consideration to see whether they cannot be usefully worked in?

That is one of the matters which will be kept closely in mind—that is to say, repercussions on the future of steps which have to be taken now.

Are any arrangements being made for the reconstruction of houses that are demolished, and do the Government intend to pay any kind of insurance?

I must have notice of that Question and perhaps the hon. Member will put it on the Order Paper.