asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the grave overcrowding which exists in many parts of the country; and whether he will cause the necessary local surveys to be made in the over-populated areas with a view to allocating surplus accommodation according to need?

I am aware of the serious problem presented by overcrowding. Surveys have already been made in 862 districts in connection with arrangements for finding lodging accommodation for transferred war workers where conditions were difficult so as to assist in putting any existing surplus accommodation to the fullest use and these surveys have been of great assistance. I should be glad to consider any area in respect of which my hon.' Fnend cares to give me information.

Has the Minister seen a pamphlet by Henry McShane dealing with overcrowding in Glasgow, and will he get it and confer with the Secretary of State for Scotland?

That question should addressed to the Secretary of State.

Do I understand, with regard to the last part of the Question, that surveys have or have not been made where gross overcrowing exists?

Eight hundred and sixty-two areas have been surveyed.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state either the highest or lowest all-in estimate accepted from any.contractor for each type of the 3,000 rural cottages?

No tenders have yet been accepted.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say when he will be able to give information to the House?

I am not sure. Perhaps the hon. Member will put a question down for the next series of Sitting Days.

Do I understand that of this plan for 3,000 cottages not a single tender has yet been accepted?

Not yet.

Have any tenders been called for for the construction of cottages in chalk?

I should want notice of that question.

Let us get on with the job.

Is the Minister aware that it is several months since he decided to proceed with the erection of these 3,000 cottages? When is he going to speed up delivery?

There has been no undue delay.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is officially proposed to use English green unseasoned timber for roof works in connection with the Government scheme of houses for agricultural workers, or whether seasoned imported timber will be available?

The answer to the first part of the Question is, "No, Sir." I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply, who is responsible for timber control, that every endeavour will be made to supply suitable timber where timber is to be used, but operational and Service demands for which seasoned timber is essential must, of course, have precedence.

asked the Minister of Health approximately how many local authorities have now prepared provisional plans for rebuilding houses in their localities; how many houses these will provide; and whether he is satisfied that all possible preparations are being made, in view of the shortage that now exists, and that will be accentuated by the end of hostilities?

I am not in a position to add to the general information I gave my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for East Leicester (Major Lyons) on 20th May. The particular question of rebuilding war damaged houses, whether by the local authority or by the private owner, will be given further consideration immediately labour and materials are available, as a matter of the highest priority.

Can the Minister at least give some indication of how far local authorities have been making the preparations urged upon them some time ago? Can we have an answer?

If my hon. Friend win look at the rather long answer that I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for East Leicester, perhaps he will decide, in the light of that, whether he wants to put another question.

If my memory serves me right, that answer does not cover my Question. Could we have an answer to that Question, in view of the very grave situation?

The answer points out that the, preparations for the first year's programme by local authorities, in accordance with my circular of 4th March, are making progress.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, as under the present law the first rent becomes the standard rent, owners are able to charge high rents in new tenancies, first rents in some areas in houses of equal value have varied from £70 to £100; and whether he will introduce amending legislation to provide that where a standard rent has never existed, the first rent fixed shall have some relation to rateable value and the rents charged for similar houses?

I am aware of this anomaly in the Rent Restrictions Acts, and have already noted it for consideration when amending legislation is undertaken.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that under the present Act a person who was an owner-occupier in 1939 could let his house in December, 1940, at £125 per annum when the rateable value of that house was only £22? Is not that an example of profiteering and taking advantage of the law of supply and demand as it operates at present?

I am not aware of that particular case, but my attention has been drawn to several others. Only a small proportion of the total number of houses in the country are affected add as I have said in my answer, I have noted the matter.

Can amending legislation be expected quite soon?

Is my right bon, Friend aware that landlords can keep getting round this Act? Will he give the matter his attention? It is a growing scandal as a result of the growing shortage of houses partly due to the lack of building and partly due to destruction.

I have already said that I have noted the point for consideration when the time comes for amending legislation.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that in the end he will find it impossible to control rents adequately unless he is prepared to control prices too? Has he abandoned the idea that he once entertained of asking a Committee of this House to consider the whole question of rent restriction with a view to abolishing the anomalies that exist?

That is a very much wider question.

asked the Minister of Health, whether he will consider making it obligatory on all landlords to register with local authorities the 1914 and 1939 standard rents?

No, Sir. I do not consider that the adoption of my hon. Friend's suggestion would be of any practical advantage.

Would not the suggestion assist local authorities in their work of preventing profiteering in rents?

It might add to the difficulties. If my hon. Friend will address his mind to the number of houses built between 1914 and 1939 and the changes that have occurred, he will see that it might add to the difficulties.

asked the Minister of Health, whether policemen, both regular and war reserve, who, when off duty, are doing part-time work at local factories and have therefore to pay health insurance, are entitled when their part-time work ceases to become voluntary contributors, thereby becoming eligible for the old age pension at 65 years of age?

Regular members of the Police Force who have taken up part-time insurable employment when off duty are entitled to become voluntary contributors for health insurance or contributory pensions, or both, on the cessation of their part-time employment if by that date they have been so employed for not less than 104 weeks. I should mention, however, that where a policeman within this category has attained the age of 45 before taking up part-time insurable employment and subsequently retires from the Police Force on superannuation, the rate of old age pension payable to him at age 65 by virtue of his insurance will be lower than the full rate of 10s. a week, the amount of the reduction depending upon his age at the date of his becoming insured. Whole-time members of the Police War Reserve are, with few exceptions, cornpulsorily insurable in respect of their police service and their position in regard to insurance would therefore not be affected by reason of their taking up part-time work in addition to their police duties. These men will become qualified for voluntary insurance on completing 104 weeks of service with the Police War Reserve.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is competent for the Assistance Board to take into account the rise in the cost of tobacco when considering applications for supplementary pensions?

The scales in accordance with which supplementary pensions are determined. have been approved by Parliament, and the Assistance Board have no power to vary them, except to meet some special circumstances of an individual case.

Is not the rise in the cost of tobacco a especial circumstance?

I think it is of general application, and not a special circumstance.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take note, when drawing up the forthcoming Regulations, of the point raised by my hon. Friend? Will the Minister answer?

I will discuss that with my colleagues concerned.

Are we to understand that the reluctance of the right hon. Gentleman indicates that there is no intention on the part of the Government to provide any increase in the scale?

Perhaps the hon. Member had better await the Regulations.

Does not this Question show that it is just tinkering with the matter? Will the right hon. Gentleman use his influence with the Board to get them to give adequate consideration to the question?

asked the Minister of Pensions what advice he has given to the British Legion about their attitude towards the policy of trade unions representing their ex-Service men and women members on pension questions; and whether he will make a statement on the matter?

My right hon. Friend has not given, nor would he presume to give, advice to the British Legion as to their policy in this matter.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the "British Legion Journal" for May reports a speech by his right hon. Friend, in which he states that the British Legion should prevent trade unions from interfering with the question of pensions of ex-Service men and women? Will he look at that journal, and ask his right hon. Friend whether he is prepared to withdraw that statement?

My attention has been called to that report, and I can give the assurance that it was never intended to apply to trade unions as understood by my hon. Friend. It was intended to apply to ex- Service associations catering for these people.

Will my hon. Friend ask his right hon. Friend, when making speeches on such occasions, to make his meaning more clear?

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will reimburse claimants for pensions for the expenses they incur in obtaining medical certificates or other evidence to satisfy his Ministry's inquiries or to prove their cases before the forthcoming appeal tribunals?

No, Sir, my right hon. Friend is unable to undertake to reimburse claimants for these expenses.

Will the hon. Gentleman represent to the Minister that it ought not to cost an old soldier money to sustain his claim and to bring the necessary evidence?

I will represent that to my right hon. Friend. But we do not find that there is any difficulty in getting these statements, particularly from a man's own doctor.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that that is because the doctor, being in sympathy, nearly always gives his services free? There is no reason why the doctors should have to do so, though I hope they will go on doing it until such expenses are allowed.

Can we have an assurance that when the necessity of obtaining such evidence has caused additional expense, that expense will be met?

I will make that representation to my right hon. Friend.

What excuse is there for not doing it; why not do it?

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the fact that the legal presumption in pension claims before appeal tribunals is that the State is not liable until the contrary is proved, he will insert a Clause in his forthcoming Bill which will ensure that the tribunals to be set up to judge the cases of this war shall give the benefit of reasonable doubt to the claimants?

My right hon. Friend does not accept the premise on which this Question is based, as the terms of the pensions instruments are sufficiently wide to enable the benefit of any reasonable doubt to be given to the claimant. The tribunal will be required, in the same way as the Ministry, to have regard to the terms of the pensions instruments, so far as they relate to the issue before the Tribunal.

In view of the fact that there is grave uncertainty where the presumption lies, would not the Minister take advantage of forthcoming legislation to make it clear?

The answer already deals with that, where it says:

"The terms of the pensions instruments are sufficiently wide to enable the benefit of any reasonable doubt to be given to the claimant."

Is not this a question of interpretation, and is my hon. Friend aware that up to date the interpretation has not been read in the way that my hon. and gallant Friend asks the question?

Can the hon. Gentleman give an assurance on this matter that the presumption shall be upon the Minister?

If the benefit of the doubt is already there, as already indicated, I see no necessity for giving an assurance on this matter.

But will not the hon. Member agree to make it perfectly clear, as it is not so at present?

I think it is fairly clear

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Report on Afforestation and Amenity Planting after the War will be published?

The Report will, I hope, be published before the Whitsun Recess.

Will that be available to Members of the House?

Yes, Sir, certainly.