asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the sub-post office at Selhurst Road, S.E.25, was closed on 30th October, 1945, thereby causing considerable inconvenience in the neighbourhood; and whether he will re-open this office without further delay.

As my Noble Friend has explained in correspondence with the hon. and gallant Member, he is anxious to reopen this sub-post office as soon as a candidate with suitable premises to offer is forthcoming. At the moment the premises offered require reconditioning, but I hope with the assistance of the local council to surmount this difficulty.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the delay in reopening this sub-post office is causing considerable dissatisfaction in the district? If he cannot get anyone to take it on as a sub-post office why does he not open a post office, and staff it with permanent postal officials?

It is not merely a question of getting someone. We have a number of applicants. It is a question of finding premises as well. That is the difficulty here.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will in future consult the appropriate local authority before deciding to close a sub-post office in its area.

No, Sir. I think the Post Office must retain full responsibility in this matter. No office is closed without a careful review of all the circumstances, including, of course, the convenience of the inhabitants of the locality affected.

Is my hon. Friend aware that my Question does not refer to the matter of responsibility? I asked whether he would not consult local authorities. Surely, they have the right to be consulted on a matter which affects them?

The Post Office has to have a consistent policy, and to consult every local authority means that the policy would not be consistent.

Does my hon. Friend really suggest that this public service opens and closes offices without consultation with anybody?

It is not without consultation. All the circumstances are reviewed very carefully before a decision is made.

Is not the local authority really the best body through whom the voices of the electors can be heard? Will the Minister therefore give an undertaking to get into touch with the local authorities when these matters come up?

I think the hon. Gentleman will agree that it would be very unlikely that a local authority would agree in any circumstances to have a post office closed down.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I give notice that I intend to raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when he will install the dial system at Chiswick telephone exchange.

A new building will be needed, and I regret that I am unable to say at present when it will be completed.

Then would my hon. Friend consider increasing the staff at Chiswick telephone exchange, and would he also consider coming with me to Chiswick and trying to put through two or three telephone calls? I think it might change his ideas on the subject.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the present form in which telephone accounts are issued to subscribers is drawn up in such a manner that the accounts are difficult to comprehend and compare most unfavourably with accounts rendered by ordinary business firms; and when he anticipates that it will be possible to issue these accounts in a more satisfactory form.

No, Sir. The form in which telephone accounts are issued to subscribers has in general proved acceptable to them.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that accounts are rendered on a number of sheets, that the month is not entered at the head of each, nor is the total entered at the foot of each and carried on to the next sheet? Are not clarity and the convenience of subscribers at least as important as the convenience of the Post Office?

I never find any difficulty in understanding the account. I sometimes find difficulty in paying it.

Is the Minister aware that these documents are very confusing? I never completely check them. I think it is better to pay them than to try to check them.

Can the hon. Gentleman say when it will be possible to return to the quarterly basis of rendering these accounts, instead of half-yearly, as at present?

That is a question of staff.

In the meantime, cannot the account be rendered on a single sheet instead of several? Is it necessary to have this duplication of sheets?

They are prepared mechanically, with trunk calls and other items on separate sheets.

If I show the hon. Gentleman one of these accounts will he examine it, and will he, I wonder, be of the same opinion after he has examined it?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many new telephones were installed in Preston during 1945; how many applications for telephones were on the Preston waiting list on 31st December, 1945; and by what date he proposes to have the installation of these telephones completed.

Just over 1,000 telephones were installed during 1945, and 1,358 applications were on the waiting list on 31st December, 1945. The average monthly figure of telephones installed had increased to 114 during the four months October, 1945, to January, 1946, and will increase further as more staff becomes available. It is not yet possible to say when the heavy arrears of work, which exist in Preston as in many other parts of the country, can be overtaken, particularly in view of the large current demand for telephone service—which in January, 1946, was double the pre-war demand. I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given on 24th January last to the hon. Member for Clay Cross (Mr. Neal) as regards the measures being taken to meet the situation.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that applications. as far back as 16th July, 1945, have been made to his Lincoln office to have a telephone installed at 64, Clifton Road, Grimsby, for the use of a national newspaper representative, to whom a telephone is necessary; and what action is he taking in the matter.

Yes, Sir. Service would have been provided for this applicant in October last, but the work has been held up by the refusal of the Grimsby Corporation to grant consent for the erection of two poles needed to carry the wires. The Corporation has refused consent for poles required to serve other subscribers also, and the matter will be discussed with them shortly.

Is the Minister aware that this matter has been brought up in a sub-committee of Grimsby Corporation, and it was denied that the fault was theirs? In view of the fact that it is necessary for this man to have a telephone to earn his living, can something be done for him?

We are most anxious to do something quickly but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the difficulty does lie in getting agreement with the Corporation.

Is my hon. Friend aware that it is time that these poles were done away with, and the wires put underground?

Yes, but it is a costly and slow process.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the view, widely prevalent in certain parts of the country, that applicants for telephones who write to their Members of Parliament regarding delays in installation are placed at the bottom of the waiting list; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent the occurrence of such a practice.

I am not aware that such an idea is widely prevalent; but in any case it is absolutely unfounded. The last part of the Question does not, therefore, arise.

Will the Minister make it equally clear there is nothing to be gained by writing to Members of Parliament, otherwise we should be flooded with letters?

Every case is judged on its merits.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that letters to this effect have appeared in reputable national newspapers, including the "Manchester Guardian "?

Yes, Sir, I saw the letter and it has been replied to. I know the individual.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why a letter which is returned by the post office within 24 hours is not surcharged to the sender, but when held up for a longer period the postage due for returning to the sender is demanded.

My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. The envelope which he kindly sent me is that of a packet prepaid 1d. postage for transmission by printed paper post. Undeliverable postal packets prepaid less than the minimum letter rate are invariably charged a second postage on delivery to the sender, whether returned within 24 hours or not. This has been the practice since 1895. It is of course open to the sender not to request return if the packet is undeliverable, in which case it is destroyed.

Will my hon. Friend inform his Post Office staff accordingly, so that they can give correct instructions to the public?

They do give correct instructions but I think my hon. Friend is confusing this point with redirected letters, which are sent on free within 24 hours.

asked the Assistant Postmaster - General what arrangements are in existence for postal communications between civilians in this country and German nationals in Germany.

There is at present no civil postal service between this country and Germany. The Control Commission for Germany has, however, announced that it is hoped to introduce a restricted international postal service to and from Germany by the beginning of April. I would also call the hon. and gallant Member's attention to the reply which is being given today by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary concerning distressed persons in Germany.

asked the Assistant Postmaster - General what revenue he estimates will accrue from the sale of the new Victory stamps for other than postage purposes; and whether he will consider printing the design of the new Victory stamps in a wider range of colours to cover all the various denominations of stamps now in issue.

I have no information on which I could estimate what revenue will accrue from the sale of the new Victory stamps for other than postage purposes. Having regard to our manufacturing resources and the many preliminaries involved the time available will not permit of printing and issuing the new stamps in more than two values at most, and it may not be possible to issue these simultaneously.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a large quantity of dollars is ready to fall into the lap of the Chancellor, if my hon. Friend will do as suggested in the second part of my Question?

I hope that may be so.

Would the hon. Member say what this victory is? Is it the victory of the Labour Party at the General Election?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether air editions of newspapers enjoy any priority over letters for the Forces.

Newspapers prepaid at the appropriate postage for letters receive the same treatment as is accorded to letters. Otherwise they are in general forwarded by surface means.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a Twickenham man decorated for gallantry was described by the Service Department as of Hounslow, that being his postal address, with the result that the Twickenham columns of the local newspapers ignored him; that there are many cases throughout the country in which a post town overlaps a borough, or vice versa, to the inconvenience of the residents and the detriment of civic solidarity; and whether he intends to correct these anomalies.

The hon. Member kindly sent me an extract from a newspaper which explains the circumstances of the case to which he draws attention. The Post Office system of sorting correspondence is based on the use of "post-towns" on which the correspondence for delivery is concentrated, the selection of these towns being designed to ensure speedy delivery. The question of adjusting postal boundaries to coincide with municipal boundaries has been considered on many occasions, but it has been found impracticable to organise postal services on the basis of municipal areas without delay to the mail.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is a serious grievance here? Has he not some policy over a term of years for adjusting these anomalies?

The policy is to provide post offices that will enable us to meet, as early and efficiently as possible, the requirements of the largest number of persons That may not coincide with local boundaries.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General at how many post offices in the United Kingdom Savings Bank business is, and is not, transacted.

Savings Bank business is transacted at 18,380 post offices in the United Kingdom. There are about 5,800 post offices at which Savings Bank business is not transacted.

Is any attempt being made to increase the number of post offices at which Savings Bank business is transacted? Their importance in connection with the National Savings Movement is obvious.

We are very anxious to do so, but where we only get one or two transactions in the course of a month, it is not practicable. There are 300,000 savings groups in the country selling certificates and savings stamps, and the Savings Movement is not being impeded.

Before closing sub-post offices is the question of Savings Bank business taken into account?

All of these things are considered.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to provide a temporary postal and telegraph office on the docks at Grimsby, in time to handle the distribution of the increased spring landings of fish.

Arrangements are in hand to provide a temporary post office at the Grimsby Fish Docks by the erection of huts on the site, and it is hoped that the temporary office will be ready in a comparatively short space of time.

Does my hon. Friend appreciate that this is a matter of great urgency in view of the fact that the increased spring landings are practically upon us and the allocation of the zoning system is already in operation?

Yes, Sir. We had plans for a permanent post office. We cannot have that, so we have got some huts ready and we will put them in operation soon.

Will the hon. Gentleman see that similar arrangements are made for other fish ports, notably Aberdeen, in order to facilitate the distribution of the supply to the country? May I have an answer to that?

The Question referred to Grimsby.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what opportunities he is offering to local government officers with experience of administering public assistance to apply for posts in his Department for the operation of the new scheme of social insurance.

I am not in a position to add to the reply which I gave on 20th February last, to the hon. Member for Lichfield (Major C. Poole), a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend.

Will the Minister state whether it is a fact that several Government Departments have been circularised inviting applications for transfer, and will he offer the same opportunities to local government officers as are offered to civil servants of other Government Departments?

The circular in question was issued to Government Departments to find out whether we could arrange for the members of the staff evacuated to Liverpool and Blackpool, who have been there for six years, to return to London. That is a transfer from one Department to another and does not mean a new and increased staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is prepared to grant prisoners legal aid when accused before visiting magistrates of offences for which severe penalties can be imposed.

I am examining this proposal in the light of the discussion and vote which took place during the discussion of the Criminal Justice Bill in Committee in 1939 to see if it is possible to overcome the practical difficulties its adoption might occasion.

Is it not a fact that on the occasion of inquiries into such accusations, no notes are usually taken and any report made to the Home Secretary is ex post facto, and the absence of any legal advice to the accused persons opens the door to the possibility of grave injustice being done?

No, Sir. When these cases come in front of me, I have a verbatim report of what has taken place. When I have to review any punishment which is inflicted, I have that report in front of me and I take it into consideration. The Government of the day were defeated on this matter in 1939, and I have taken that into consideration. The advisory committee on the treatment of offenders, as a matter of fact, is having this matter under active consideration at the moment.

Is the right hon. Gentleman taking any steps to revive the Bill in question?

That will be considered when the legislation for next year is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the last Report of the Prison Commissioners was issued; and when the next Report will be published.

The annual publication of these reports was suspended during the war, and the last published report is for the year 1938. It is proposed to publish a report, covering the years 1939 to 1944, in two parts, of which the first part, for the years 1939 to 1941, is now being printed and it is hoped will be published within the next two months.

Could the Home Secretary tell me approximately when the second part is expected, because of the vital statistics that are in it?

No, Sir; I think we had better get the first part out first.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is the usual practice to bring prisoners accused of breach of discipline before one visiting justice only; and if he will see that at least two justices should sit in all cases.

The Statutory Rules provide that those offences with which the governor is not empowered to deal may be reported to the visiting committee or one of them, except in cases in which corporal punishment may be awarded, which must be heard by three members of the committee. The visiting committee is not required by the Rules to meet more than once a month, but one member of the committee visits the prison each week, and prisoners awaiting adjudication are ordinarily brought before the visiting magistrate. In present circumstances it would be difficult to arrange for two magistrates to visit every prison each week.

Does not the Home Secretary realise that, invariably in these cases, there are conflicts of evidence between the prison officers and the accused persons, to the latter's disadvantage, and does he think the responsibility ought to rest with one justice?

The difficulty is that, it there was a conflict on the tribunals, two justices would not be sufficient and it would be necessary to have a third. With the existing difficulties, I do not think it is possible to arrange for the visit of a sufficient number of justices each week to every prison.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is any age limit for these visiting justices?

Not that I am aware of.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many youths under the age of 20 have been placed on a restricted diet in Cardiff prison during the last six months.

Thirty-two, of whom some were awarded dietary punishment on more than one occasion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will obviate the difficulty of enabling taxicab men to charge increased fares at night by directing that a notice be placed in each taxicab permitting this; and if he will take such other steps as may be necessary to enable and encourage taxi-cab men to compete with uncontrolled private hire motorcars, in giving much needed service to the public.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Keeling) on 7th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that excessive fares are charged to the public for the hire of private hire motorcars; and if he will take' steps to control such charges.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply which I gave to a similar question by the hon. Member for Clayton (Mr. H. Thorneycroft) on 23rd August.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is a racket which is penalising the public who wish to use cars?

I very much doubt if it would be possible to frame legislation that would be effective in these cases.

In view of the fact that people who very often want to hire a car in an emergency only get faced with an exorbitant bill after they have already used the service, cannot the right hon. Gentleman arrange some way so that they should know the cost of the hire before they take the service?

They should take the same precaution as I do and ask what the charge is.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Members of Parliament and others who have to catch an early morning train have to pay a sum of 7s. 6d. for car fare from the West End of London to Euston because there are no taxis?

That is a matter for bargain between the hon. Member concerned and the proprietor of the car.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Departmente if he will take such steps as may be necessary to increase the number of taxicabs plying for hire at night, especially at Westminster after late sittings of this House.

I have no power to direct drivers of cabs to ply for hire at any particular place or time and in view of the varying times at which the House rises, it is unlikely that drivers will wait for uncertain periods for a single hiring in view of the continuous demand in other parts of the West End. The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has however drawn the attention of the cab trade to the matter.

Whilst I do not know the Home Secretary's previous answer, I would like to ask if it would not be to the advantage of the general public if the taxidriver were permitted to charge a reasonable and special fare during certain hours of the night. Would not that act as a deterrent to the practice that is going on at present?

The difficulty is that it would lead to very serious disputes between the owner of the car and the man who drives it, because it is not possible to show on the meter the time at which the journey was undertaken I am advised that it would lead to very considerable friction inside the trade. However, I shall be happy to consider any practical suggestions that can be made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now any statement to make as to the future of the N.F.S.

No, Sir, but I hope to be in a position to make a statement before the end of the month.

Will the right hon. Gentleman confer not only with the local authorities but with the representatives of the men concerned before reaching a conclusion as to the future formation of the Service?

I am in communication with them and have had several interviews. I hope to have another before the final announcement is made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the numbers of voluntary enlistment from members of the Armed Forces in the N.F.S. and its present strength.

Up to 23rd February, 172 men in the Armed Forces and 669 men, most of whom had been recently released from the Forces under Class A, had been accepted for employment in the National Fire Service. The whole time strength of the Service on 31st January, 1946, was 31,116.

May I ask the Minister if he is satisfied with this voluntary recruitment, and what steps he is taking to increase the intake of volunteers to the N.F.S.?

i am not completely satisfied with the recruitment, but I think it is going as well as can be expected in all the circumstances, and it shows some sign of improvement

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now state when voluntary release from the N.F.S. will become effective.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the terms of release for members of the N.F.S.; and when he proposes to make this a voluntary service.

I would refer to the reply which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr. Mitchison) on 21st February

Does the right hon. Gentleman recollect that, when he said the latest date, the date he had in mind was 30th April, 1946, and whether he does not think that the members of the N.F.S. deserve an early statement on this matter, so that they can decide their future?

I stand by the statement I have previously made.

asked the Secretary State for the Home Department if considered a memorandum prepared by the Middlesex Fire Brigade authorities on the future of the fire service; and if he will make a statement upon the recommendations contained therein.

Yes, Sir; and I hope to make a statement as to the Government's policy in regard to Fire Service organisation very shortly.

Would the Minister bear in mind the fact that a number of these local fire brigades were very efficiently organised and administered by some local authorities before they were transferred to the National Fire Service, and will he bear this fact in mind in giving further consideration to the matter?

Yes, Sir, but I also have to bear in mind the fact that, in some other parts, local authorities were not very efficient in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why men discharged from the N.F.S. for health reasons or some other honourable cause have not yet received their gratuities; and if he will arrange for these to be paid without further delay.

The payment of National Fire Service gratuities is proceeding as rapidly as possible. It would cause delay if any attempt were made to determine the order of payments by reference to the reasons for discharge from the Service.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say if there is any reason why an applicant should not be paid immediately after discharge, as happens when a man is discharged from the Army?

The amount of checking which has to be done with the man's previous employer before the service was nationalised leads to a considerable amount of delay. I am glad to say. however, that we are rapidly overcoming the difficulties which have prevented us making payments as rapidly as we should have wished.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been instituted in the last 12 months for which figures are available, against motorists for non-compliance with the pedestrian-crossing- place regulations.

Figures for the whole country are not available. During the year 1945, 1,248 summonses were taken out in the Metropolitan Police District for offences by motorists against the pedestrian crossing place regulations.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say, regarding these pedestrians, whether they have priority of passage?

I am not called upon to give an interpretation of the law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends introducing legislation to raise the maximum allowance payable to a wife and child under a separation order, in view of the increase in wages and the cost of living.

I cannot hold out hope of legislation on this subject at the present time.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that there are cases of hardship to those who are not receiving the maximum allowance, which is £2, and would he not bear in mind the fact that it is important that some relationship should be borne between the allowance and the cost of living?

The person aggrieved can go before the courts when the amount is below the maximum and ask for an increase.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suspected cases of sabotage have been brought to the notice of his Department in the past six months; and whether he has any statement to make on the recent fires at Woolwich Arsenal.

None, Sir, but such cases would not necessarily come to the attention of my Department. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply, that the recent fires at Woolwich Arsenal are at present under investigation.

Could the Home Secretary tell the House whether all the intelligence and detective agencies available to the Home Office would be employed in such circumstances, including M.I.5?

It would all depend what the nature of the allegation was. If I am asked by one of my right hon. colleagues to assist him in any of these matters, the resources of my Department are immediately placed at that Department's disposal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the polling clerk and staffs at polling stations, in county council and local authority elections, who do not reside in the area covered by the polling station at which they are officiating, are prevented from recording their votes; and if he will take steps to remedy this.

I understand that this matter will be considered by the Committee on Electoral Law Reform, of which Counsel to Mr. Speaker is Chairman.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bring to the notice of the Committee that, if it is not possible for men so engaged to vote at their own polling stations, arrangements should be made for them to vote at polling stations elsewhere?

I will see that that is brought to the notice of the Committee.

May I ask whether my right hon. Friend is really quite right? Surely, the Chairman of the Committee is the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Home Office and not Mr. Speaker.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Depart- ment if he is aware that persons born in the Channel Islands and now resident in this country, have to obtain a passport and permit to return to or visit the islands and that this passport and permit is only operative for one month; and what steps will he take to remedy this injustice.

The present system has been retained at the request of the Insular Authorities for the reason which I explained in reply to a Question on 1st November by my hon. Friend the Member for Rothwell (Mr. T. J. Brooks). Visits are not necessarily limited to one month. The progress made in improving the conditions in the Islands is such that I hope it will very soon be possible to abolish the control of travel.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Department of the Welsh Church Commissioners is going to be abolished.

As I intimated in the replies which I gave on this subject on 6th and 13th December last, the life of the Welsh Church Commission has been prolonged until the end of 1946, in the expectation that this will be final.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the protracted life of this body, and the consequent withholding of money due to beneficiaries, has become a matter of public concern, and will he not expedite the process of its dissolution, in view of the waste of money involved in salaries and upkeep of an expensive staff?

I have no intention of extending the life of this Commission beyond 31st December this year, and I hope that, on that date, the hon. Member will be able to issue the death certificate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why permission is not granted for Americans who have married British women to stay in this country if they so desire and can find employment; and, in particular, why William H. Lang of the U.S. Army is not permitted to remain, although he can find employment, and there are compassionate grounds on which permission might be granted.

Marriage to a British woman is not in itself a sufficient reason for allowing an Allied soldier to settle and seek employment in this country. In the case to which my hon. Friend refers, in view of the circumstances entitling him to compassionate treatment, if an application for discharge in the United Kingdom is submitted through the proper military channels, I should be prepared to consider it sympathetically to enable the man to be here on a temporary basis.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that a good deal of ill-feeling was generated in the United States, not only by the difficulties put in the way by his Department of Americans wishing to settle here but also by the difficulties experienced by American husbands of British women coming to this country to visit their wives?

With regard to the first part of the question, I cannot admit that there is a grievance. With regard to the second part, I am always prepared to consider cases where reasonable ground can be shown for temporarily admitting a United States citizen.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a good deal of reciprocal feeling caused by the fact that affiliation orders have been made against American soldiers which cannot now be enforced?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he is now able to make any further statement about the arrangements for the admission to this country of distressed relatives in Germany and Austria.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is yet in a position to state when machinery is likely to be set up to deal with applications from distressed persons in Germany and Austria who have relatives able and willing to look after them here, and who desire admission to this country.

Arrangements have now been made for dealing with applications regarding distressed persons in Germany and Austria who fall within the scheme which I announced. I will circulate a detailed statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now take steps to ensure that the remaining restrictions on travel between Great Britain and Northern Ireland are entirely removed, and the freedom of travel restored between Northern Ireland and other parts of the United Kingdom.

The sooner restrictions of this kind can be relaxed or abandoned the better pleased we all shall be, but as the hon. Member knows there are still reasons for the modified form of control now in operation.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an approximate date when these tiresome regulations will come to an end, as that would be cheering news to the public?

I hesitate to prophesy.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware of the complaints made by disabled ex-Service men and women against the delay experienced on the determination of pensions claim by the appeal tribunals; and will he take steps to expedite the hearing of such appeals by the tribunals concerned.

The Lord Chancellor and I have this matter under constant review and the steps already taken have reduced the period elapsing between the lodging and hearing of an appeal. I can assure the hon. Member that everything possible is being done to expedite the hearing of appeals by the Tribunals

In view of the number of cases waiting to be heard —and many have been outstanding for as long as 18 months—cannot the right hon. Gentleman give some more encouraging reply as to the length of time that will elapse?

We started with a huge number of arrears and we are faced with two difficulties—the insufficiency of tribunals and the lack of skilled staff. I am pleased, however, to say that we have 23 tribunals operating and that we are reducing arrears by over 200 a week.

Would it not be easier to accept the principle, "Fit for service, fit for pension ''?

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of further details which have been sent to him, which show the magnitude of the vested interests of their combine, he will reconsider his decision and nationalise the Co-operative Wholesale Society and all its branch organisations and activities.

No, Sir.

In spite of the pledges given at the General Election to control vested interests, is it not true that the right hon. Gentleman dare not offend such a powerful supporter of the Socialist Party?

No, Sir. I think the hon. Gentleman should study the Co-operative movement, when he would find that it is controlled by a large number of consumers on a non-profit making basis. His conception of a dangerous vested interest seems to be quite extraordinary.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this great vested interest is squeezing out small traders all over the country, and is supporting the Socialist Party with its funds?

Everybody is aware of the political conditions applying to co-operative societies, but I under- stood that the hon. Gentleman was a strong supporter of competition

Is the right hon. Gentleman quite accurate in saying that the Co-operative movement is a non-profit making movement?

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether the remarks made by the hon. Gentleman the Member for Chislehurst do not apply to the late Government in their dealings with the landlords who had the most appalling monopoly of the nation?

We have been discussing this question long enough.

May I correct the hon. Member for Ipswich (Mr. Stokes) and inform him that I am not the hon. Member for Chislehurst?

asked the Prime Minister if he will set up a Royal Commission on the lines of the May Committee presided over by an independent chairman at which evidence can be taken on oath and the proceedings open to the public to inquire and report to this House on the financial and economic position of Britain and to make recommendations as to where economies should be made.

No, Sir.

In view of the Prime Minister's appeal for increased production and more work, would it not be a good thing for the public to have the independent opinion of an independent committee about the financial and economic position of the country?

No, Sir. I do not think that the May Committee was a useful device, and I would also point out to the hon. Gentleman that it was not a Royal Commission, that it did not take evidence and that its proceedings were not open to the public.

What I am asking the right hon. Gentleman is whether we can have some facts without party bias.

The House and the country have been given abundant facts, and I do not think that the method of the May Committee was a particularly good way of establishing the facts.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to make sure that no committee similar to the May Committee will be set up, because it was a convenient way of getting rid of the last Labour Government?

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that facts and figures of our essential requirements are openly published in the U.S.A.; and if he will give an assurance that all facts and figures in this connection given to the U.S. Government will also be made available if called for to Members of this House.

I am aware that some information of this kind has been published in the United States; but I regret that I cannot give the assurance for which the hon. Member asks in the second half of his Question. In the course of negotiations with the United States Government there are bound to be exchanges of secret information which it would be against the public interest to publish at the time.

Is the Prime Minister aware that in one specific case the petroleum consumption figures for the period, which were denied to us in Parliament, were announced in the United States and published openly in all sections of the Press; and can he say why the House of Commons has been denied this information which is available to the American public? It would seem that there is discrimination against Parliament.

I am not aware of the incident mentioned by the hon. Gentleman and perhaps he will send me particulars of it. Obviously, if secret information is sent across to another country, I cannot be responsible for its being divulged there

Is it not a fact that we cannot get statistics, figures or information here? I do not think the Minister was right in saying last night that we were given everything we asked for.