asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how much public assistance money has been paid out to date since the start of the present unofficial dock strike to unofficial strikers; and how many strikers have received this form of public subsidy.

As far as can be ascertained, up to last Friday night about £16,740 had been paid in National Assistance grants to the families of 5,221 persons involved in the various dock strikes. In addition, eight payments, totalling about £13, have been made to the men themselves on the ground of urgent need. One or two payments only were made in respect of the London bus strike.

Will the Minister make clear to the questioner that the wives and children of the strikers are not on strike?