asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will give an estimate of the likely approximate cost to the Exchequer of granting basic pensions to spinsters at the age of 55.

I assume that by "basic pensions" my hon. Friend means pensions at the rate of 26s. a week. It is estimated that the cost of granting such pensions under the National Insurance Scheme to spinsters from the age of 55 would be about £9 million in the first full year, rising to about £14 million aften ten years, when those not insured at the outset had become qualified. This would mean an increase in contributions under the scheme in respect of spinsters of about 7½d., together with a substantially increased contribution from the Exchequer.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he is aware that temporary clerks employed by approved societies are being informed that, in the event of their being offered an appointment with his Ministry, it is unlikely that the post will be in the town in which they are at present employed; and, having regard to the shortage of accommodation in the provinces, if he will ensure that those clerks living in London will be offered employment in or near London.

Posts for these temporary clerks must necessarily be limited by the number of vacancies, and are being found wherever possible in the towns in which they live, or some other place of their choice. Where this is not possible, they are offered posts elsewhere.

Will the Minister give special consideration to clerks living with their families in Greater London, because he will appreciate that it is very expensive for them to move their households to a provincial town, and also that it is very difficult to obtain accommodation in such a town?

We are very anxious to do all we can, but I am sure the hon. and gallant Gentleman, and the House, will realise that one of the difficulties confronting us is that the administration of existing schemes is very much more centralised than will be the administration of the new scheme. Therefore the staffs will be much more widely dispersed. We are conscious of the fact that it is our duty, and we are trying to carry it out. We are very anxious to fit them in as near to their homes as possible.

In view of the importance of the personal element in the work of these offices, will the Minister give an assurance that, as far as possible, he will send West country people to the West country, and so on.

We shall do our best, but it is a very difficult problem owing to the highly centralised location of the existing staffs. We are doing our best to fit people in where they can be of service.

Would the Minister be able to give extra allowances to people who have families working in other jobs in London, and who, because of this, would have to keep up two establishments if they were employed in the provinces?

That is another question.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed workers in the film industry at the latest date for which figures are available.

Separate figures for the film industry are not available.

Could not the Minister give any indication of the situation? Is it not a fact that, during the past six months, unemployment among workers of all types in the film industry has been increasing; and is his Department taking any action, in view of the need for the production of more films?

So far as unemployment is concerned, the Minister and the Department are doing all they can to fit workers into jobs, and they will continue to do that. However, I am not quite sure what the hon. Gentleman means when he refers to the film industry. Workers are concerned in the filming of the productions, and in the acting, distribution and exhibition of the films. If the hon. Gentleman will let me have more details, I will try to give information. At the moment, the workers are included in the entertainment industry. They overlap with other forms of entertainment.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of foreign immigrants who have taken up industrial employment in the United Kingdom since 1st July, 1945.

As the reply is long and contains a series of figures, I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that the absorptive capacity for these people has yet been filled, or does he think that there is plenty of room for further absorption?

We are in the process of recruiting almost as many as have already been recruited.

Will the Minister say whether the figures will show from which countries these men and women will come?

The answer as now tabulated will not show that, but if there is a desire for that information, I will give it.

Is it not desirable that the public should know how many of these people come from countries which helped us during the war?

If the hon. Gentleman will put down a Question to that effect, we will gladly give him the information.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has now received the report on wages and conditions in the cotton weaving industry; and if it is his intention to publish it as a White Paper.

The initiative for the establishment of this Commission came from the industry. At the invitation of the parties, I appointed a chairman and two independent members to serve on the Commission. I have now received from the Commission a copy of an Interim Report which they have presented to the two sides of the industry and in view of its importance I have arranged for it to be issued as a Stationery Office publication.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state the date when that Report will be available to hon. Members?

Yes, Sir. It will be ready on 6th March.

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of insured workers employed by firms having quota obligations, under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, in Newport; the numbers of registered disabled persons; the numbers of such persons unemployed in the Newport district; and the quota which would need to be observed to reduce unemployment amongst the disabled, to that obtaining for all insured workers in the Newport district.

The information requested in the first part of the Question is not available. The number of persons registered as disabled in the Newport district is 3,357, of whom 488 were unemployed on 19th January last. It is not possible to make the calculation asked for in the last part of the Question.

Are the firms concerned observing this regulation regarding disabled ex-Service men as far as possible?

Yes, Sir. We are satisfied that they are observing it as far as possible. There may be instances where we are checking up and where we are not quite satisfied; but in fact many firms have employed more than the three per cent.

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of insured workers employed by firms having quota obligations, under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, in Cardiff; the numbers of registered disabled persons; the number of such persons unemployed in the Cardiff district; and the quota which would need to be observed to reduce unemployment amongst the disabled to that obtaining for all insured workers in the Cardiff district.

The information requested in the first part of the Question is not available. The number of persons registered as disabled in the Cardiff district is 5,399, of whom 527 were unemployed on 19th January last. It is not possible to make the calculation asked for in the last part of the Question.

In view of the high proportion of disabled men who are unemployed, will the right hon. Gentleman make representations in the Cardiff area that employers should take a larger proportion than the quota which, in- the opinion of many people, is much too low?

The quota presents a difficult problem, because an employer is not compelled to discharge an able-bodied man in order to employ a disabled man. Many employers are doing very well indeed. I went down to South Wales at the weekend to consider this problem, and I must admit that, in spite of considerable difficulties, I am not satisfied with the progress. However, we will do the best we can.

Has the Minister considered selecting certain trades and occupations which would be specially suitable for these people, and trying to get a few more than the quota introduced into those trades?

Yes, Sir. There is power under the Act to designate certain classes of employment, but we have found that some of the men do not like being placed in designated employment. We hive found that it is much more satisfactory to train them for more general employment.

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled persons were on the disabled persons' register on the latest available date in Heywood, Radcliffe, Whitefield and Ramsbottom, respectively, and how many in each area were unemployed on that date.

The numbers of registered disabled persons on 19th January, 1948, at Heywood, Radcliffe and Ramsbottom were 653, 609 and 243, of whom 23, 24 and 3 respectively were unemployed. Separate figures for Whitefield are not available.

While thanking my right hon. Friend, especially for the attention he has given to individual cases which I have brought to his notice, may I ask whether he is satisfied that employers generally are carrying out their obligations?

Yes, Sir. I am satisfied that employers generally are carrying out their obligations. The problem is due to the difficulty of obtaining sites and starting the building work. As I have already indicated, I am not satisfied with the progress made, and we are pursuing the matter most vigorously.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed are registered in Brighton and Hove, how many were registered at the same time last year, and how many of those registered at present were employed in the hotel and entertainment industry.

The number at 16th February was 2,200, including 501 in the hotel and catering industry and 112 in the entertainments industry. At 22nd February, 1947, the number registered as unemployed was 6,846.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the unemployment figures for the hotel and catering industry have gone up or down in that year?

I am sorry I cannot; the hon. Gentleman did not ask me that question. I will inquire into the matter and let him have the figures.

asked the Minister of Labour in how many cases Government trainees in the building industry have been obliged to transfer to other industries on account of changes in the building programme.

None, Sir; the industry will be able to absorb all those already admitted to training and further admissions have been almost entirely suspended. There are at the moment some 2,700 cases in which the 14 months training with an employer, after leaving the centres, is interrupted, but it is not possible to say in how many of these cases this is due to changes in the building programme. These men are being put back in industry as quickly as possible where they can complete their training unless they elect to seek their careers in other industries.

Does the Minister recollect the case I brought to his notice, where he said that certain men had been moved from the building industry to another industry because of changes in the.building programme; and will he say how many cases there are of that kind?

I could not say how many cases there are. I do not recall the particular case to which the hon. Gentleman refers. Most of these transfers will be due to changes in the building programme. If there is not so much building work going on, the men are not able to find a suitable trade.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the number of man shifts lost in the mining industry through trade disputes from V.E. day to the end of February, 1948; and comparative figures for a similar period after Armistice day, 1918.

The number of days lost owing to industrial disputes in the coalmining industry between V.E. day and the end of February, 1948, was about ¾ million. In the 34 months from November, 1918 to August, 1921, 98 million days were lost.

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that the number of days lost since V.E. day has been caused largely by the grades of people commonly called officials, who never struck under the old private owners; and, further, would not he agree that, even taking into account these stoppages, the policy pursued by this Government has saved the country from the turmoil in this industry that followed the 1914–18 war?

I think the best and most correct answer I can give is that it is due to improved industrial relationships generally.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us what percentage of these stoppages since 1945 have been official and what percentage unofficial?

I could not say without notice.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the estimated costs of the publicity campaign to persuade public schoolboys to take up coalmining as a career; and what have been the results to date.

No such publicity campaign has been undertaken, but I understand that officials of the National Coal Board have addressed meetings of boys at some of the public schools to tell them about coalmining as a career.

Could my right hon. Friend tell us whether his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has not frequently visited Eton to appeal to them to join up in the coalmining industry, and what were the results?

I saw a number of lads working in a coal pit recently, but they were all so dirty that I could not tell whether they came from Eton or anywhere else.

Does the reply refer to public schools as we know them in England, or to public schools as we know them in Scotland?

I must frankly admit that I do not know the difference between the two.

In view of the importance of such a campaign, and the value it would have for the coalmining industry——

Moscow High School.

—would not the Minister consider advising the Conservative Party to accept responsibility for continuing such a campaign?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he proposes to introduce legislation to give effect to the request of the Herring Industry Board for additional powers.

This matter is at present under consideration.

Is the Secretary of State aware that it has been under consideration by the Government for well over a year, and that the matter is extremely urgent? When is a decision likely to be reached?

I may say that the matter is under rapidly maturing consideration.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that the lack of coordination in the industry is due to the lack of disciplinary action by the Herring Industry Board, and does he appreciate the necessity for getting more discipline on the Scots element as quickly as possible?

The Government must tackle practical things, and the disciplining of Scots is not one of these.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he has taken on the representations made by town councils of fishing burghs for priority in materials and manpower to be accorded to the building of houses for fishermen.

No special preference is given to the housing of fishermen, because the manning of the industry does not in general involve the movement of families from one locality to another, as is so often the case in mining, agriculture and certain industries in the Development Areas. I am, however, prepared to consider the special circumstances of particular fishing areas, where it can be shown that the lack of houses is in fact hampering necessary recruitment from other areas.

Does the Minister accept the principle that fishermen, being food producers, are entitled to the same privileges as agricultural workers?

We certainly appreciate the importance of fishermen and the work they are doing, but most of them are working from their own places, and there is not the same necessity for rapid recruitment to the fishing industry as there is in the case of mining and agriculture.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many persons availed themselves of the facilities offered by the Small Dwellings Acquisition (Scotland) Acts and amending Acts to acquire ownership of houses in 1947 in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen and the rest of Scotland, respectively; and the total amounts involved;

(2) what are the arrangements for publicising the facilities offered by the Small Dwellings Acquisition (Scotland) Acts and amending Acts for assisting persons to acquire ownership of dwelling-houses for personal occupation.

No recent information is available about the number of advances made by local authorities under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts, but I am Calling for a return and will send the hon. Member the particulars for which he asks. It is for authorities to make such arrangements as local conditions may require for publicising the facilities which they offer under the Acts.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, for various reasons, certain local authorities are not very anxious to publicise these arrangements, and will he look into the matter with a view to making them more generally known?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements are being made for the allocation of the houses now being built at the Logan Estate, Cumnock, Ayrshire, by the Special Housing Association; and if preference is to be given to the people now living in the district.

Half of the houses will be let to transferred miners nominated by the National Coal Board and the balance to miners on the local authority's waiting list.

Is the Minister aware that grave dissatisfaction exists in this district, because people believe that preference is to be given to people from outside, and will he increase the percentage from 50 to a higher figure? Will he consider that?

No, Sir, because mining areas are having special priority for the specific purpose of attracting miners to go from one area to another, and fairness is obtained by this method of giving half the houses to those in the locality and half to those coming in.

Is it fair to those who have been overcrowded in two rooms for a generation to have other people from outside coming in?

Some of those who are being transferred are overcrowded in their own areas. People must eat, and in order to get more food, we must have more coal.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many demobilised soldiers have been asked by Records Officers to return the last page of the release book isued to them so that their military character could be downgraded; who will benefit by this alteration; why it is considered necessary; and what degree of response has been shown to such requests.

In November, it was decided to increase from three to five years the minimum period of service necessary to qualify for the award of an "exemplary" character. It has been found that the character assessment in a small proportion of the release certificates since issued has failed to take account of this change, owing, presumably, to delays in the notification reaching commanding officers. In order to avoid unfairness to other men who were released at the same time, the recipients of these certificates were asked by Officers in Charge of Records to return them for correction; the great majority have done so. Steps have been taken to ensure that no further certificates will be wrongly completed.

Can my hon. Friend say why it was considered necessary, for correction purposes, to send for release documents which had already been issued? Is he aware that many of the parents of these men have been brokenhearted on finding that the men's characters were not as good as they had otherwise been led to believe, and can he say why an A.C.I, issued in October, which became effective in November, was not known to CO., R.A.S.C., Hastings, in the case of men demobilised in December, and why he had to send for such documents in January? Will my hon. Friend look into the efficiency of his own Department?

If the hon. Member will give me particulars of the case to which he has referred, I will certainly look into it. I have already said that steps have been taken to ensure that this mistake is not repeated, but I think I may also explain that the reason for making this recall of certificates was in fairness to other men who had had certificates correctly completed. I could not accept the suggestion that parents of men have been heartbroken. All that is involved is that, with an "exemplary" certificate, positive conditions have to be fulfilled, and, in the case of these men, it was merely a matter of time which was not fulfilled. No compulsion was exercised to get the certificates returned, and 90 per cent. of the certificates were returned voluntarily.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the assessment of the character of a soldier is the duty of his commanding officer, and nobody else? How can the Officer in charge of Records, even if there has been a mistake, change the commanding officer's assessment?

The assessment of military conduct is governed by standards laid down in Army Council Instructions. The other parts of the assessment of character, commonly called the testimonial, were not called in question at all.

In view of his statement, will the Under-Secretary ensure that employers are made aware that in cases where "exemplary character" has been altered that does not necessarily imply anything derogatory to the man?

I will make sure that is known.

May I ask the Minister whether it has been the practice for the words "exemplary character" to be scratched out and something else put down, or is a new certificate issued?

I do not speak with absolute certainty, but I think it has been the practice to issue a new certificate. I will, however, look into the matter.

Regulations say how a commanding officer will arrive at his decision; they do not alter the fact that the commanding officer is the man who has to do it.

But it is laid down that the grade "exemplary" cannot be given unless certain positive conditions are fulfilled. Even if they were fulfilled, it would still lie in the discretion of the commanding officer whether or not to grant the grading "exemplary," but the positive condition must be fulfilled, as laid down in Army Council Instructions.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Dusseldorf leave centre has now been completed; and what were the quantity and value of timber and cement used in it for rehabilitation and the number of Germans ejected in order to provide the necessary accommodation.

The leave centre is somewhat less than half complete. Some 160 cubic metres of timber and 860 tons of cement have been used in it, at an estimated cost of approximately 30,000 Reichsmarks. Seventeen German families, who were squatters, have been moved to alternative accommodation of a higher standard.

Is my hon. Friend aware that, with all this muddling, practically nothing has been done to repair the ravages of war in Dusseldorf, where there are still over 20,000 people living below the ground, and where there has been no change for nearly two years?

I am aware of and appreciate the difficulties of the population of Dusseldorf, but I appreciate also the need to make proper provision and amenities for our soldiers in Germany.

Why does my hon. Friend want to send people on leave to a ruined city? It is a perfectly ridiculous thing to do.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many buildings required for Territorial or Cadet units, and previously occupied by them, are still in other occupation.

Nine drill halls and one hutted camp, previously occupied by the Territorial Army and required for the Territorial Army or the Army Cadet Force, are in use for other purposes. In addition, some 250 permanent staff instructors' quarters are otherwise occupied.

As regards drill halls, does the War Office hope to get them all back this year, and as regards the permanent staff, what is being done to get them other quarters? Do they get any priority?

With regard to the drill halls, two, which are being occupied by the Regular Army will be handed back within the next two months; several others are held by the Ministry of Works and will be handed back in a few months. We are making determined efforts to get out the irregular occupants of the permanent staff instructors' quarters, and we have, in fact, made a number of such quarters available during the past few months.

asked the Secretary of State for War what proportion of the Territorial Army will go into camp this year; and to what extent employers are giving extra leave with pay for this purpose.

I hope that as many volunteers as possible will attend camp this year, but I cannot yet say how many will go. As regards the last part of the Question, no precise information is available, but employers have been asked to follow the example of the Government in the matter of granting extra leave for the period of annual camp.

Can the Minister say whether, not only the Government, but also all local authorities and all socialised industries, are setting a good example by giving extra leave for the whole period of camp, on full pay?

I will bear that in mind.

Is that right or not?

Is the Minister aware that whereas the Government give this leave and set a good example at the expense of the taxpayers, private employers have to do it at their own expense?

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the strength in officers and other ranks of the Territorial Army and Cadet Force in comparison with the establishments in each command.

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

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that former members of the Women's Services with good records are being informed that they are not eligible for consideration under the present A.T.S. Direct Entry Commission scheme, and if he will state the reason for this ban.

The A.T.S. Deliberate Entry Scheme was introduced to tap a new source of supply and to attract into the A.T.S. civilian applicants with suitable educational qualifications who would not otherwise apply. It is not intended that the new scheme should prejudice the normal selection of officers through the ranks. Ex-Service personnel can rejoin under the Extended Service Schemes. Consideration is, however, being given to the possibility of extending the scheme to include certain applicants with previous service.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that on 15th November, 1947, the father of No. 9120006 Pte. E. Wight, R.A.O.C., received notice from the Paymaster, Leeds, that his son's pay and remittances had been stopped as from 17th October; that on 17th January an apology was sent regretting that the stoppage notice had been a mistake; that on 28th January the Wight home was visited by police with orders to arrest Pte. Wight as a deserter; that this also was a mistake; and what disciplinary action has been taken against those responsible for such inefficiency and distress.

I have called for an urgent report on this case from the overseas command concerned. When it has been received I will write to the noble Lord.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will grant permission to the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers to wear full dress on the occasion?of their receiving the Freedom of Berwick-on-Tweed.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware that the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers are to receive the Honorary Freedom of Berwick-on-Tweed on 21st April, and of Newcastle-on-Tyne on St. George's Day, and that permission to wear full-dress uniform on these two occasions has been refused in spite of the fact that full-dress uniform is available at the regimental depot for the band, the colour parties and the escorts; that this refusal has caused great disappointment to the regiment and to the general public in Northumberland, and if he will now reverse this decision;

(2) on what grounds it is laid down in A.C.I.'s and confirmed in Northern Command orders that full-dress uniform is obsolete and may not be worn by Army personnel even on special ceremonial occasions for which it was appropriate before the war.

Prewar pattern full dress is now obsolete, in consequence of the decisions taken on postwar dress for the Army. It would be quite inappropriate that an obsolete pattern of uniform should be worn on a regimental and public occasion.

Is not the Minister aware that if permission were granted for this uniform to be worn—and it is in the possession of the regiment—it would not involve any charge whatsoever on the public, and would have the effect of turning a drab ceremony into a most colourful one of great recruiting value, and may I appeal to the Minister to look further into this and to give some more sensible reason for this ruling?

The issue is not one of expense, but that the uniform is now obsolete, and it is felt that on those grounds it would not add to the recruiting value.

It the full-dress uniform of the British Army is obsolete, how is it that the Household Cavalry were put into it for the Royal wedding?

The prewar full dress is obsolete for the whole Army, except the Household Troops, for whom its wear is in abeyance. The future dress of the Household Troops has yet to be decided.

Is the Minister aware that in Committee upstairs there was a solemn decision taken that wigs in the courts were traditional and desirable, and if wigs are desirable, what is the matter with the fusiliers' uniform?

In view of the failure of the Minister to give any adequate reasons for this ruling, and the disappointing nature of his reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Labour what has been the response to the request of the managing director of Wembley Stadium for a quota of prisoner of war labour to clean up the stadium.

No such request has been received.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many prisoners of war are still detained in Cyprus; and when it is proposed that they should be returned to their own country.

On 31st December there were approximately 1,000 prisoners of war in Cyprus. They will be repatriated along with prisoners of war from other parts of the Middle East.

Is my hon. Friend aware of the short distance across the water, and would it not be possible to pop them across to Greece and let them find their own way home?

I do not think that would be an improvement on the present system.

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the powers of camp commandants to defer repatriation of prisoners-of-war as punishment for breaches of disciplinary regulations.

The camp commandant can recommend deferment of repatriation in the case of a prisoner of war who habitually misconducts himself. This compulsory deferment must, however, be approved by the local commander and is limited to three months.

In view of the possibly detrimental effect on the announced programme of repatriation of any considerable extension of this practice, will the Under-Secretary of State consider notifying the camp commandant that it would be preferable if alternative disciplinary measures were taken?

I will consider that, but we have no reason to suppose that the use of this method will endanger the repatriation scheme as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now able to state the final date by which all prisoners of war in the Middle East will have been repatriated to their country.

It is hoped to complete the repatriation of prisoners of war from the Middle East during October, 1948

asked the Secretary of State for War why it is proposed to return to Germany 656597 Heinz Beenen, a single man and a skilled farmer, now at P.O.W. Camp, Weston-Sub-Edge, Gloucestershire; for how many days since 1st November has this man been working as a farmer; and why his skill has not been properly utilised; and whether, in view of Beenen's wish to remain in the United Kingdom, preferably in the West Riding of Yorkshire, as a civilian farm worker, he will arrange for action to be taken to this end.

This man has been employed in accordance with requirements for labour, including nine days on farm work since 1st November. No application has been received from him under the scheme of release to civilian status for agricultural work, and he must now be repatriated in his turn in a few weeks' time.

In view of the fact that this man applied to remain here as a civilian farm worker in September, 1946, and a joint agreement between himself and his farmer was sent to the labour officer of the prisoner of war camp, Butcher's Hill, Leeds, in that month, will my hon. Friend consider this matter further, and in the meantime will he consider deferring the date of this man's repatriation?

My information conflicts with that of my hon. Friend, and I shall be very glad to look into it.

Will my hon. Friend agree to defer repatriation in the meantime?

Certainly, until the matter is looked into.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why it is impracticable for his Department to keep separate Customs and Inland Revenue figures for Wales.

The present collections take no account of the Welsh border and a re-arrangement is out of the question for the time being on man-power grounds.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that before the war separate figures were kept for Scotland and England, and cannot this practice be restored with separate figures for Wales as well as Scotland?

Scotland is not Wales.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will give instructions that the maturities of Treasury Deposit Receipts shall in future be 273 days for those issued in the first three months of the financial year and 182 days for those issued in the following nine months of the year;

(2) whether he will give instructions that the maturity of all Treasury Bills to be issued in the future shall be 91 days.

No, Sir. I am unwilling to disturb the present arrangements which have worked smoothly under a variety of conditions.

Is the Chancellor aware that that is not the opinion of the money market? The present arrangements do not enable the spacing out of maturities of Government obligations to suit the needs of credit. Will he look into these quite separate questions again in order that the bunching up of the revenue in the last three months of the financial year will not cause the disturbance which it does now?

The hon. Gentleman is wrong. It does not cause any disturbance. It is corrected by other methods. This has worked quite satisfactorily for a large number of years, and the majority of the people in the money market think it is suitable.

Is not the Chancellor very unprogressive? This is a simple way of tidying up our mechanism, and he will not take it because certain people in the City do not want it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will include in his statement on public relations officers the total expenditure on public relations officers to the Coal Board, and the boards of other nationalised industries.

No, Sir.

Is the Chancellor aware that when I entered the public service in 1910, we managed to conduct the whole business of this country without the aid of a single public relations officer? A great number are now employed, and surely we are entitled to know what the total cost is, both in the Government service proper and in the nationalised undertakings?

The answer is, "No, Sir." I am not responsible for what the nationalised boards spend on public relations officers.

Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman tell us where we can get information as to how much money is being expended on this matter?

I imagine that the hon. Member can write to the boards, and if they like to give the information, they will do so.

Is if not a fact that the right hon. and learned Gentleman and his colleagues have powers under the nationalisation Acts to obtain this information if they so desire?

We have not got the information, and we do not propose to use the powers to obtain it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the reassessment of pensions under the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1947, has now been completed; or in how many cases is payment still outstanding.

Not quite; 500 civil servants and 3,000 teachers have still to be reassessed.

I am very much obliged, but may I ask that every possible step shall be taken to speed up the payment of these allowances? They are now a year overdue, and the people are suffering very badly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if salaries paid to members of boards of nationalised industries are pensionable.

Apart from certain special cases where existing pension rights are preserved, there is at present no pension provision for members of the boards of socialised industries. Except in the case of the Airways Corporations, the relative legislation, however, enables such provision to be made.

Is it not misleading to compare the value of such salaries with pensionable salaries?

Certainly, Sir.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that I asked an exactly similar question of the Minister of Fuel and Power, who refused to answer on the grounds that he need not do so?

Well, I have answered this one.

Would the right hon. and learned Gentleman say how he was able to get the information? Then he can tell his right hon. Friend.

From general knowledge on these matters.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that under the present financial agreements concluded by His Majesty's Government with India and Pakistan, no sum devolved from sterling balances either held on blocked account or released to current account can be used by those Dominions to purchase units of His Majesty's Navy.

No, Sir. It would be meaningless to seek to correlate payments out of current account with releases to current account, rather than with the much larger amounts received from current earnings.

Is the Chancellor aware that practically the whole of that current account is made up of releases from the blocked account, that the amount so released at the moment stands at the figure of some £60 million, and that if he does not reconsider this, it merely means that the moneys spent by this country in India for the defence of India can now be used by that country to buy units of the Royal Navy, which was one of the main factors in saving India?

I do not agree with the hon. and gallant Gentleman's premises.

If the right' hon. and learned Gentleman does not agree with them, will he give facts and figures to disprove them?