asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will take steps to increase the maximum of £3 a week allowed to be earned by widows in receipt of pensions, in view of the increased cost of living.

The earnings rule applying to widowed mother's allowance, to which I presume the Question refers, is among the provisions governing widows' benefits which I have asked the National Insurance Advisory Committee to review.

Will the right hon. Gentleman speed up a decision on this matter? Is he aware that many widows are finding it very difficult indeed to live on their pensions and on the amount which they earn at the present time?

I expect that the report of the Advisory Committee will be available before very long.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether, pending the introduction and passing of the necessary legislation, he will take steps to provide some interim financial help to old-age pensioners and others who will otherwise have insufficient to live on in the approaching winter months.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what immediate steps are to be taken to relieve the plight of old-age pensioners.

Immediate help is available to any pensioner whose resources are insufficient for his needs in the form of National Assistance.

This answer has whiskers on it. Can the Minister advance any insuperable obstacle to granting the wish of almost the entire community for an immediate increase in pensions? As the Minister accepted a resolution not so long ago on this very issue, can he now define what he means by "immediate"?

As the hon. Member is aware, the experience both of 1951 and 1952 is that the increase of insurance pensions is a cumbersome operation. It involves the issue and preparation of seven or eight million order books. The pace of the operation depends very largely upon the speed with which we can get the necessary legislation through this House.

:Having regard to the promises and half-promises which have been made to old-age pensioners in the course of the last year and to the fact that their expectation of life is necessarily limited, cannot the right hon. Gentleman at this stage give a specific date?

No, Sir. I cannot give a specific date until we have received the two reports which we are awaiting—the report of the Government Actuary and the report of the Phillips Committee—but I will give this assurance, that so far as the Government are concerned not a day will be wasted as soon as these reports are available.

As the Minister has just suggested that National Assistance is available, would he tell the House whether National Assistance is available for food, except in so far as that food is required for medicinal purposes?

National Assistance is available in all cases of need, and I would impress upon the House that these scales of National Assistance give a better standard today than at any time in the six years before 1952. I would also impress upon the House that in no fewer than 500,000 cases, in addition to the scale rate the Board are paying discretionary additions to that rate.

Is there any restriction on the National Assistance Board paying supplementary pensions where the pensioners can produce evidence that that is necessary—in other words, evidence of need?

So far as I know, there is no restriction at all.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if, in view of the Government's intention to await the reports of the Phillips Committee and the Quinquennial Review of National Insurance before increasing pensions to the aged and other handicapped persons, he will give consideration to an immediate increase in the rates of National Assistance to meet the higher cost of living in the interim period.

Any question of revising the Assistance scale is, under the statute, a matter for the National Assistance Board in the first instance. I am sure they have the matter constantly in mind.

Is the Minister aware that at both the major party conferences during the Recess only one individual in the whole of the two conferences voted against a resolution demanding that something be done for old-age pensioners at once? Will he not do something about it?

I think that the answer which I have already given shows that the Government intend to waste no time at all in improving all these old-age pensions.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance when he expects to be able to make an announcement regarding increases in old-age, widows and disabled ex-Service pensions.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is now in a position to state the approximate date upon which old-age pensioners may expect their promised increase in pension.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will now say at what date the Government intends to raise the retirement pension.

I hope to be able to make an announcement before the Christmas Recess.

Will my right hon. Friend try to speed up the announcement as I feel that the old-age pensioners are suffering considerably? Further, when he does make the announcement, will he try to speed up the payment as well?

I shall certainly undertake to lose no possible time in making the announcement which I have promised, but I stress that the report of the Government Actuary, in particular, is essential to a proper consideration of what the contributions to the scheme are to be for the future. We must also consider the contributors as well as the beneficiaries under any insurance plan.

Does the Minister not realise that it is in the winter that pensioners suffer the most hardship? Can he confirm that, on the Government's present intentions, there is no prospect of the pension being raised before the end of the winter?

I cannot confirm or deny any suggestion so far as the date is concerned until I have had the reports to which I have referred and have made the announcement I have promised.

Is my right hon. Friend; aware that at the annual meeting of the Inniskillings Association it was stated that, as the payment of war disability pensions had been delayed so long, it was hoped that when the restoration of their value was finally granted the benefits would be back-dated at least two years?

No, Sir; I was not aware of that resolution.

Could we not have a little humanity in this matter? Is the Minister aware, or has he the faintest conception, of what this eternal waiting is like to the old people? What use is it to them to know that perhaps after Christmas something will be done for them? Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to give an assurance to the House that if the price of tea is increased in the immediate future, he will take steps to ensure that the old people are not penalised thereby?

I hope that the hon. Lady will not get too cross with me about this. The fact is, as I have stated, that persons on Assistance today are more comfortable than they were at any time between 1946 and 1952—[HON. MEMBERS: "The same old story"]—and that the Board are giving discretionary additions to the scale rates mare freely today than at any previous time.

Does my right hon. Friend's answer mean that he is not going to make a statement on the disabled pensions before Christmas, in view of the fact that at the Conservative Conference it was announced, I understand, that he might be able to do something by action earlier? Will my right hon. Friend tell hon. Members opposite that when their party was in office, eternal waiting was eternal?

I certainly hope to make a statement regarding the war disability pensions at the same time as I make a statement about all the other pensions.

I meant before then.

If the Minister is so certain that the pensioner is better off now than at any time since 1946, why is he so certain that he will increase the rates at the end of the year?

I was talking of persons on Assistance, which is quite a different thing from the insurance pension.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what would be the scales of payment for retirement pensions if their purchasing power was now raised to the level they commanded in 1946.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what amounts would be required to be added to the present retirement pensions for a single person and for a married couple, to restore the value of these pensions to that of 1946.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what increase of old-age pension would be necessary to bring its purchasing power to the level of October, 1951.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance by what weekly amount retirement pensions will require to be raised per person, and per couple, to bring them to 1946 purchasing standards; and how soon these increases will operate.

As the reply contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT. As regards the second part of Question No. 36, I would refer the hon. Lady to the reply I have already given on this point.

May I ask the Minister whether the new scales or the increase that is appropriate is the figure he has in mind himself for the increase that will be given to the old-age pensioner?

I cannot at this stage, until I have received the reports to which I have referred earlier, make any statement as to the amount of the increase in the pension. I can, however, tell the hon. Member the figure which, I think, he has in mind: that is, that at the present rate it would require approximately 4s. 9d. to restore the weekly value of a single person's pension to the rate at which it was originally fixed in 1946, and it would require an addition of 11d. a week to restore the value of the pension today to what it was in October, 1951.

Whilst I do not agree with the 4s. 9d. and the 11d., it is good to know that the Minister is aware of the amount that would be required. Now that he knows this, could he not overcome the difficulty of the great delay in re-writing the pension books merely by instructing that at the post offices all old-age pensioners should get an interim payment on production of their pension books until the new rates are in operation?

I doubt whether the hon. Lady realises that retirement pensions are not all paid at standard rates. Many of them are paid at specially high rates on account of deferred retirement and others have to be reduced on account of a deficient record of contributions.

Is not the increase a standard increase?

No. Therefore, any method such as the hon. Lady suggests would be impracticable.

Does my right hon. Friend have the comparable figure for 1951, before the Socialists went out of office, of the pensions that were then given to old-age pensioners? If not, will he include it in the list which he circulates?

I will see whether it is possible to put it in the list.

The Minister now knows, does he not, that the majority of pensioners—those not on National Assistance, at any rate—are much worse off than they were in 1946?

Oh, yes.

As the 1946 figure was given immediately after the war when the country was in a very desperate state, could we have an assurance from the Minister that the maximum ambition of the present Government will not be to give the old-age pensioners after another 10 years of national development the equivalent of what we were able to give them at the end of the war?

Our declared objective is to make good to the pensioners the loss that they suffered during the years of inflation under Socialism.

When the Minister has finished making his party points, will he consider this particular aspect? If the old-age pensioners are not just to wait on administrative convenience—and we understand the difficulty of re-writing the books—will he give an assurance that any increase announced before Christmas will be back dated to that time no matter when the legislation goes through?

The first thing we have to do is to get Parliamentary authority by means of a statute for increasing pensions, and the point made by the hon. Member can be debated during the progress of the Bill.

While appreciating the Minister's problem with regard to administrative difficulties, might I ask whether he has seen the very thoughtful article in the "Daily Mail" this morning—

And in the "Daily Sketch."

—dealing with the problem of the old-age pensioners, and will he give consideration to that?

Any pensioner who at the moment is in need should go to the National Assistance Board, and I hope hon. Members on both sides of the House, if they come across cases of pensioners who are in need, will strongly recommend them to go to the Assistance Board.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what would be the cost of an immediate increase in the retirement pension of 2s. 6d. and 4s. a week, respectively.

The immediate cost to the National Insurance Fund of increasing retirement pensions by 2s. 6d. a week would be about £30 million a year and for an increase of 4s. a week, about £45 million a year. These figures would, of course, increase in future years.

Is the Minister aware that the House will willingly give him the whole of the legislation to provide either of these figures within a week? As the Prime Minister wishes it, and as the whole party opposite say they wish it, why is he waiting for this report? Why not make an immediate increase now?

I am very glad to have the assurance from the hon. Member that the legislation will get an expedited passage, but the necessity for the report rests upon the procedure laid down in the Act of 1946 passed by the party opposite, which was that there should be a full review of the insurance scheme at the end of the first five years.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what representations he has received respecting the position of old-age pensioners in Scotland.

I have recently received representations from a number of local authorities in Scotland advocating an increase in the rates of old-age pensions.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Council of the Burgh of Clydebank sent a resolution to the Secretary of State for Scotland asking him to make representations to the right hon. Gentleman to increase immediately the pensions of old people, and would he, when consulting with the Secretary of State, seek his advice on the new arithematical formula which gives certain financial benefits in certain directions and apply the same formula to increase the benefits to old-age pensioners?

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I are always pleased to receive suggestions from local authorities in Scotland, and I am glad to tell the hon. Gentleman that 31 resolutions from Scottish local authorities upon this question have been passed to me. I welcome this widespread support for the policy I announced on behalf of the Government at the end of last July.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many blind persons are now in receipt of old-age pensions and National Assistance; and what would be the total annual cost of raising the scales of National Assistance for such persons by 10s. a week.

At the end of September last, about 46,000 blind persons were receiving retirement or non-contributory old-age pensions supplemented by National Assistance. The cost of increasing by 10s. a week the Assistance rates for blind pensioners, which are already considerably higher than those for sighted persons, would be about £1,200,000 a year.

Is the Minister aware that, in spite of the scales, many people in this limited class are suffering considerable hardship? He now has the figures in regard to this particular class, so there is no need to wait for the report of the Actuary with regard to them. Cannot something be done for this class forthwith?

I must remind the hon. and learned Member that for these particular people the initiative does rest with the National Assistance Board, and when the Board increased the scales in 1952 they not only maintained the differential in favour of blind persons, which was then 15s., but increased it to 18s. a week.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what action is being taken to relieve the position and poverty in which many blind persons now find themselves, in view of the steady increase in the cost of living in recent years.

Blind persons who are in need can apply for Assistance, which, in their case, is assessed at special rates substantially above the normal rates.

Is it not a fact that a blind person is in a far worse plight than the old-age pensioner? Does the Minister, therefore, consider the additional 3s. adequate to meet the special needs of a blind person, in view of the fact that an old-age pensioner can sometimes earn a little extra for himself whereas a blind person can do practically nothing?

We all sympathise very deeply with blind persons, but the hon. Member is mistaken if he thinks that they get only 3s. more than sighted persons. In fact, they get 18s. more from the Assistance Board.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that, as long ago as the early days of the war, a certain local authority which then had the care of the blind under its aegis decided that 15s. a week in those days was a reasonable increase above the assistance which it paid to the other categories of people under its responsibility, and that since those days the change in prices and in the value of money has far oustripped the extra 3s. which the Minister now pretends is a reasonable amount?

The hon. Lady perhaps overlooks the substantial increase in scales generally which was made in 1952, but I will, of course, convey her views to the National Assistance Board.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what conditions have to be fulfilled by immigrants to this country before they can draw National Assistance benefit.

Before he can receive Assistance, an immigrant must satisfy the same conditions as any other person. He must show he is in need by the standards laid down by Parliament, and, if he is capable of work, that he is registered for employment.

Does my right hon. Friend consider it fair to those in this country who contribute to the moneys provided that a penniless person should come into the country and immediately be able to draw National Assistance benefit within a matter of days?

I must refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. and gallant Friend the Home Secretary if he wants to put down a Question regarding immigration.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will make a further statement about the distribution of Japanese assets in the United Kingdom and of the United Kingdom share from the sale of the Burma-Siam Railway.

I am glad to say that we have received substantially more than we expected from the realisation of Japanese assets in this country under Article 14 of the Peace Treaty. This enables us to increase the final payment forecast in July from £20 to £28 a head. Taking into account the first distribution of £15, all those qualified to take part in the distribution of this money will, therefore, receive a total sum of £43. Service men will also get a further sum out of the money received from the Burma-Siam Railway, which will bring their total payment up to £46.

We want to complete the distribution of this money as soon as possible. I therefore appeal to any ex-Japanese prisoner-of-war or internee who has neither received a payment nor applied for one to write to the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance at Thames House South, Millbank, London, S.W.1, for an application form as soon as possible. Applications received after 31st March, 1955, may have to be excluded from the distribution.

There are still some outstanding matters connected with the realisation of the assets, and until these are cleared up and we know the total number of eligible claimants we cannot say exactly how the fund will turn out. We propose that any, surplus which remains after this final distribution has been made should be made available for the welfare of former Japanese prisoners-of-war and internees and their dependants through the King's Fund and benevolent funds specially concerned with their interests.

As one who is personally interested in this matter, I should like to thank my right hon. Friend for all the time he has spent on this question and the very happy outcome. I am sure that those who receive the money, whether dependants or the men themselves, would be extremely glad if they could receive it before Christmas, as happened with the first distribution. Would it not be particularly useful to those men who have no pensions but who lose an odd day's work through recurring illnesses contracted at that time?

It may be that we may be able to get these payments actually made before Christmas.

What arrangements are being made for those ex-prisoners-of-war who have emigrated?

I have been able to extend the category of recipients to include those who have emigrated since the end of the war.

How far do these additional payments meet the very legitimate claims of those men who suffered so much in Japanese prisons?

Of course one cannot possibly begin to assess the suffering and hardship in terms of cash payments. I simply regard this as a token of what I think is due to these men for what they underwent in Japanese hands.

While recognising that a time limit must be set, will the Minister reconsider March, 1955, because in some cases of exceptional circumstances the men might not have an opportunity of making a claim before that time?

Certainly we shall in exceptional circumstances, but we want to get in as many claims as possible by the end of March.

Can we have an assurance that steps will be taken to ensure that an equally successful conclusion will be brought about in regard to Article 16?

That rests more with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs than it does with me.

The Minister mentioned certain dependants of men who were prisoners-of-war, and I presume he means by that dependants of men who died while in Japanese hands. Has he considered the cases of men reported missing and whose dependants feel that they probably fell into Japanese hands though there is no record of them as prisoners-of-war? Will he give consideration to such cases?

Perhaps I might be allowed to consider that rather complicated point and write to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will call an early meeting of his Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions.

There will be matters on which I shall wish to consult the Committee before long, and as soon as I am in a position to do so I will arrange a meeting.

Is not the time between the publication of the last Report on war pensions and a meeting of the Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions already longer than the time between the issue of the Reports of the Ministry of Pensions and meetings of the Minister's Central Advisory Committee under his predecessors?

I was not aware of that. The members of this Committee are busy and important people, and I only want to summon them together when I have something of real importance for them to discuss. I shall have such matters before very long.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is in a position to report on the ultimate findings of the Rock Carling Committee.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether the expert medical Committee, under the chairmanship of Sir Ernest Carling, considering matters relating to ageing ex-Service men has yet made its report; what report the Committee has made on the relationship between arterial diseases and amputations; and what action is to be taken on the matter.

No, Sir, but I am hopeful that the report will be available shortly.

Can the Minister give any date, as we have been given dates before and I think it is about 12 months since we were promised this report?

I am afraid that when I have given a date before we have all been disappointed. On this occasion, I would rather not give a date.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to what extent provisions for increasing age form part of the assessments of war disability pensions; whether such pensioners are entitled under his regulations to old-age pensions in addition to their war disability pensions; and what special provision for age will be included in the coming war pensions increases.

Under the Royal Warrant, pensions are assessed on a comparison of the condition of the disabled person with that of a normal healthy person of the same age. In 1947, an expert committee, presided over by Judge Hancock, came to the conclusion that it was neither practicable nor desirable to fix different assessments for different ages and, on existing medical advice, I can see no ground for departing from this view. Retirement or old-age pensions are payable in addition to war disability pensions.

Whilst thanking my right hon. Friend for that answer, may I ask if he will again look at the question of ageing limbless ex-Service men, because it seems to many of us that the difficulties under which they suffer are increased out of all proportion to the difficulties of other ageing people not suffering from their disability?

I doubt if my hon. Friend realises that assessments of disability can at any time be increased in individual cases. In fact, more than 1,000 World War I assessments were reviewed only last year.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will consider raising the amount of the clothing allowance to limbless disabled in view of the increased cost of replacing damaged clothing.

This is one of a number of matters which I am examining, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

Will the Minister refer that to the Central Advisory Committee?

I am not quite sure about that. I may decide to do something without taking the advice of the Advisory Committee.

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?

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether, in view of the new statistics being collected in respect of family expenditure and the use which will be made of them in providing a new cost-of-living index, he will bear in mind that an average calculated with the inclusion of budgets from the higher income groups is detrimental to old-age pensioners; and whether he will consider this when fixing a fair rate of pension for the aged.

All such considerations will be taken into account.

Will my right hon. Friend send that Question and answer to the chairman of the National Assistance Board?

Most certainly.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what conditions it is necessary for Mr. Walter Harwood, of 49, Maidstone Road, Lowestoft, to fulfil in order that he may obtain full benefit under the National Insurance benefit regulations; and how, in view of his disability, he can do so.

To get sickness benefit a man must have paid or been credited with the required number of contributions as laid down by the Act. In Mr. Harwood's case this condition is not fulfilled for reasons which have been explained to the hon. Member in a letter.

I certainly have the explanation of the Ministry; they are nothing if not explanatory. My worry is how this poor chap, who can hardly speak and can only totter about, is to get the information which the Minister requires in order to receive the additional 14s. a week to give him a reasonable standard of living. Surely the Ministry understand that this job cannot be done by the man himself? I and others have tried to get the information from the Minister. Surely we can expect a little more co-operation and humanity from his Department?

This is an insurance scheme. This man has paid no contributions at all since July, 1948, and is not qualified for benefit. He is, however, in receipt not only of a small pension from Norfolk County Council, I am told, but also of National Assistance.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many payments of National Assistance are being made at the latest available date, showing separately the numbers of payments in supplementation of retirement, sickness, unemployment and widows' benefits and the numbers of noncontributory old age pensions.

As the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Would the Minister at least give me the figure for the total number of payments?

1,764,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now give the result of his representations to the Government of Iraq on the discriminatory regulations which it has imposed against British nationals of the Jewish faith travelling to Iraq, or other destinations via Iraq, by requiring them to hold special visas.

Yes, Sir. The Iraqi Government have replied that the instructions in force do not permit foreign Jews to enter into or pass through Iraq except in special cases which must be referred to the Iraqi authorities in advance, and approved by them. The Iraqi Government have been left in no doubt that Her Majesty's Government deplore discrimination against British subjects of a particular religion or racial origin. We shall continue to represent this to them.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for the latter part of his reply, may I ask if he will be good enough to see that this disgraceful discrimination is dealt with rapidly, and, if it cannot be done by us unilaterally, see that the matter, which is quite contrary to the elementary principles of the United Nations Charter, shall be dealt with by the United Nations?

I have considered the last possibility the hon. Member mentioned, but there is no internationally recognised right which these regulations can be said to contravene. We deplore it, but unfortunately a number of countries do discriminate in certain circumstances in this matter as against particular categories of foreign nationals. We do not like it, but it does exist. I believe that in this case the solution really lies in bringing about better relations between Israel and the Arab States. I ought to add that no case of a British Jew being stopped in transit through Iraq has come to my notice.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what answers have been received from the Governments of India, Pakistan, Ceylon, Burma and Indonesia to communications regarding the proposed regional defence organisation for South-East Asia.

As the only communications which have been received are confidential, the hon. Member will not expect me to divulge their contents.

Will the right hon. Gentleman confirm that most of these Governments have strongly opposed this proposal? If that be the fact, is it not very dangerous to lose the goodwill of these Asian Governments regarding the defence of Asia?

We did have very full discussions with these countries before the Conference, and, as a result, I believe that the Manilla Treaty, in its final form, relieves many of the apprehensions felt by the four countries not represented, as well as by Pakistan, which was represented.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the outcome of discussions about a South-East Asian security treaty.

Yes, Sir. Her Majesty's Government welcome the conclusion at Manilla on 8th September of the South-East Asia Collective Defence Treaty. By making plain the resolve of the parties to co-operate in upholding the security, welfare and independence of the countries of the area, this Treaty supplements the work of pacification and stabilisation begun at Geneva. It provides, in the Treaty Council, the means of making this co-operation effective, and it allows for the eventual participation of other countries. Her Majesty's Government will play their full part, as soon as the Treaty has been ratified and entered into force, in the work to be done under its provisions.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the total population of the Asian nations which have adhered to the Treaty, and the total population of the Asian nations which have not?

Not without notice.

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain to the House how the cause of security in South-East Asia is advanced by a treaty to which nearly all the nations of South-East Asia refuse to adhere?

Not "nearly all" Mutual defensive arrangements cannot really be considered harmful by any nation, least of all by those who practice them themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how the British delegate to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations voted when a resolution supporting a $12 million programme sponsored by the High Commissioner for Refugees for the rehabilitation of refugees was adopted.

For the reasons explained by my hon. Friend the present Under-Secretary for Commonwealth Relations in the reply given on 28th July to the hon. Member for Jarrow (Mr. Fernyhough), the United Kingdom delegation abstained on this resolution.

Does the Minister recall the very thoughtful article in the "Manchester Guardian" of 20th August on this subject? Now that we are very much better off and can do all sorts of things, like waiving holiday allowances, could not the Government change their attitude on this?

The hon. Baronet is probably not aware that the High Commissioner's programme is now being considered by the Third Committee of the General Assembly, which has decided to amalgamate the proposed 12 million dollar fund with the existing United Nations Refugee Emergency Fund, subject to control by an inter-governmental committee for approved projects, and the United Kingdom delegation voted for that resolution.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how the British delegation at the United Nations voted on the proposal that the Chinese People's Republic should be recognised as a member State.

As my hon. Friend stated in his reply to the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on 20th October, the General Assembly decided not to consider the question of Chinese representation this year. The United Kingdom delegation supported this decision.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he would reconsider this policy in the United Nations? Is it not the case that the recognition of China and membership of the United Nations is the key to the whole peace of the world, and ought we not to come out strongly in favour of it?

My right hon. Friend dealt with this matter very fully in a speech on 12th July. If the hon. Gentleman would be good enough to look it up, he will see that our whole position is fully set out there. I do not think that I can add to it usefully by question and answer.

Would the right hon. Gentleman explain to the House how it was that the British delegate to the Security Council justified his vote on this issue by saying that it would be very undesirable for the United Nations to debate such a violently controversial matter? Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us how that squares with his recent broadcast in which he attached importance to United Nations as a forum for international discussion?

I should like to look at the actual terms used by our representative at the Security Council. It seems to me that if he said that it was not the particular moment to inject this controversy, he may well have been right.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what replies he has received from the Chinese Government to his inquiries as to the whereabouts of Mr. Robert Ford, who was arrested by the Chinese in Tibet in 1950.

Mr. Ford is understood to be in prison at Chungking. In September of this year a Chinese official informed Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking that Mr. Ford had been found guilty of charges of espionage and complicity in a plot which is said to have led to the death of a Tibetan Lama, and that he awaits sentence.

Is the minister satisfied that Mr. Ford had a fair trial? What is he doing to find out whether Mr. Ford had a fair trial, and what is the background of this case?

My right hon. Friend took up this matter with the Chinese Delegation at the recent Geneva Conference, and the representative of the Chinese delegation agreed to take into account the representations which he made. Since that date Mr. Ford has been permitted to correspond with his parents.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further communications he has received from the Greek Government on the subject of Cyprus.

The Greek Ambassador handed to me on 6th April a personal message from the Greek Prime Minister conveying the intention of his Government to raise the Cyprus question at the United Nations. Since then no communication has been received from the Greek Government about Cyprus.

Is the Foreign Secretary aware that there has been considerable distress in Athens at the off-hand manner in which Her Majesty's Government have received representations about Cyprus and refused to listen to them? Would it not be better to settle this mater amicably, insead of having a quarrel with one of our most important allies in the Mediterranean, especially as the Greeks and the Cypriots are willing to give us all the defence facilities we need in Cyprus?

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that there has been nothing off-hand about the attitude of Her Majesty's Government. We have a traditional friendship with the Greeks which I feel as strongly as any hon. Member of this House, but what I have explained to the Greek Government, and what is in fact our position, is that we cannot discuss the affairs of Cyprus, which fall under the domestic jurisdiction of the United Kingdom, with any foreign Power.

Has my right hon. Friend received any representations from the Turkish authorities on this subject?

Yes, on several occasions, and they have made it clear to us that they are strongly opposed to any change in the status of Cyprus.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that it is now over one year since the imprisonment of Cardinal Wyszynski took place; and if he will make further representation to the Polish Government for his release.

Yes, Sir, I am aware of the position, which I deplore. The reply of my hon. Friend, who is now Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, to the Adjournment Debate on 18th of December, formed the subject of a protest by the Polish Government. Her Majesty's Ambassador at Warsaw' rejected this protest and reiterated the views of Her Majesty's Government oil this persecution.

Regarding the many millions all over the world who are interested in this case, and from the point of view of the peace of the world, is it not time that something more than a general remonstrance was raised? How about applying to the Russian Government; they are the main-spring; could not something be done there?

Her Majesty's Government have made their position quite clear, and will continue to press this strongly.

Will the hon. Gentleman explain how he reconciles that answer with the answer his right hon. Friend sent to the Greek Government about representations regarding Cyprus?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now put forward proposals for the relaxation of strategic restrictions on exports to China.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now take steps to propose the removal of the United Nations embargo on exports to China imposed on 18th May, 1951, pursuant to the resolution condemning Chinese participation in the Korean war.

This is an important subject to which Her Majesty's Government are giving careful thought, but I have no statement to make at present.

As it is well over a year since the Korean war ended, and several months since the fighting stopped in Indo-China, does not the Foreign Secretary think that it is time to end the restrictions imposed by Her Majesty's Government?

The right hon. Gentleman knows the terms of this embargo and how it originated. I can assure him that I have in mind the considerations which perhaps he has in mind. I do not wish to say any more today.

Since successive Government spokesmen, both here and in another place, have attributed the embargo specifically to the Korean fighting, and then the late Minister of State said that it was tied up with Indo-China, will the right hon. Gentleman recognise that these successive reasons for the maintenance of this boycott have now ended, and would he specifically say that it does not require a peace settlement in Korea before the ban can be lifted?

The right hon. Gentleman knows very well that this is not an issue in which we only are concerned, but that it is an international issue of considerable—what shall we say?—explosive possibilities. I think that we should be wise to handle it with caution. Though I fully understand the force of the question, I would rather not say any more today.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has now had time to consider the most recent Union of Soviet Socialist Republics proposals for a disarmament convention; and if he will make a statement with regard to the position of Her Majesty's Government in relation to those proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the progress made in the United Nations towards an agreed plan of general disarmament and the elimination of weapons of mass destruction.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the progress of the discussions on disarmament which have been taking place within the United Nations.

On 11th June an Anglo-French Memorandum was submitted, which dealt with a suggested programme for setting up a Control Organ and for carrying out any prohibitions and reductions that might be agreed regarding weapons. This Memorandum was warmly supported by the United States and Canada. The Soviet Government, however, refused to discuss these proposals unless there was acceptance of an immediate and unconditional ban on nuclear weapons.

There the position rested until 30th September, when it was announced at the United Nations on behalf of the Soviet Government that they accepted the Anglo-French Memorandum as the basis for a draft international convention, and tabled a resolution to that effect, also including certain Soviet proposals for a programme of disarmament. This was a welcome reply to the Anglo-French initiative of 11th June, and I consider that, notwithstanding the difficulties that have still to be surmounted, it provides hope of progress in further discussions.

I should like to add that the progress in these matters has, in a large part, been due to the initiative and hard work of my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Supply.