asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now make a statement with regard to the payment of injury compensation to persons who, though not civil servants, are employed by the State in a civil capacity.

Under the Injury Warrant now in force, persons who are not civil servants but who are employed by the Government in a civil capacity, whether paid or not, are eligible for injury compensation on the same basis as civil servants.

Is my hon. Friend aware that his Department very kindly sent me a letter stating that this very good decision had been taken by his Department quite recently after eight years of battle to win this right for these people, and that I am very grateful to him for having accepted this proposal?