asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Committee appointed to make inquiries into the Crown Agents will be inviting evidence from non-Government sources; and whether the publication date of their Report has been determined.

It is for the Committee to decide the sources from which it receives evidence. Anyone wishing to give evidence should get in touch with the Secretary, Mr. M. H. Jay, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Over-seas Development Administration, Eland House, Stag Place, London, S.W.1. The Committee hopes to report in the first few months of 1972. On the question of publication, I have nothing to add to the statement made on November 8 in another place by my right honourable friend the Minister for Overseas Development.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What estimates can be given of the number of persons who, at the latest convenient common date,

It is estimated that on November 30, 1971, 110,000 persons were in receipt of a pension awarded under Section 1 of the National Insurance (Old persons' and widows' pensions and attendance allowance) Act 1970. Of these, 28,000 had had their supplementary benefit reduced because they were receiving the pension; it is not known how many ceased to be entitled to supplementary benefit for this reason.Figures are not available of the number of persons over 80 who did not qualify under the 1970 Act, but the great majority of them will have received a pension under the National Insurance Act 1971, which provides a pension, subject to a residence test, for everyone over 80 not already qualified.House adjourned at two minutes before nine o'clock.