asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take any action to exclude war savings from the calculation of means of applicants for public assistance?

No, Sir. The undertaking given by my predecessor on the 23rd April, 1940, as to the disregard of war savings for the purposes of the means test, did not extend to public assistance. The question of such an extension was very fully considered in connection with the legislation which gave effect to that undertaking, and there have been no subsequent developments which would justify a reopening of the conclusion then reached.