asked the Minister of National Insurance what steps he proposes to take to disseminate copies of the Welsh handbook on the National Insurance Acts prepared by his Department.

Copies of the Welsh Family Guide have been sent to all post offices, to the local offices of my Department in Wales and also to the offices of the Ministry of Labour and National Service, the Assistance Board and citizens advice bureaux. Copies are also available at meetings held throughout Wales to explain the new scheme. If my hon. Friend knows of any difficulty in obtaining copies perhaps he would let me have the details.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, may I ask whether he is prepared to consider supplying copies of this handbook to the education authorities in Wales for distribution to the primary and secondary schools?

I shall be quite prepared to consider that suggestion.

Can the Minister say how many of these copies have been printed in Welsh?

Not without notice.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware that it is proposed after 5th July to require tuberculosis patients to draw their allowances from post offices; and whether, in view of the recognised necessity for maintaining close contact between these people and their local tuberculosis care committees and the undesirability of asking tuberculosis patients to stand in queues with the general public, he will make it possible for them to receive their payments through the care committees.

Assistance under the National Assistance Act to persons undergoing treatment for tuberculosis will in the great majority of cases be paid in supplementation of sickness benefit under the National Insurance Act which is normally payable by orders cashable at a post office. It is not essential for the patient to attend personally at the post office. If he signs the order he can authorise someone else to cash it on his behalf.

Has the right hon. Gentleman given adequate consideration to the other points in my Question, particularly the point about maintaining contact between the patients and the care committees?

Yes, Sir, but this matter falls to be considered by the Assistance Board as one of administration. They have received a very representative deputation with whom these problems were discussed. If the hon. Member would like to discuss the matter further with me, I should be happy to do so.

Can the Minister give an assurance that his first answer will be widely circulated, because some people do not know about this?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what will be the position, after 5th July, of widows aged 55–60 years of age who at present are in receipt of a 10s. pension.

As my hon. Friend explained in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Chelsea (Commander Noble) on 8th June, such widow pensioners, if they do not qualify for increased widows' pensions from 5th July, 1948, by reason of having children or being incapable of self-support, will be liable to contribute under the new National Insurance scheme in their appropriate class. For retirement pension purposes they will be given an initial credit of contributions from their 55th birthday to 5th July, 1948, and the ordinary contribution conditions will be modified in their favour so that they can qualify from age 60 for the full rate of retirement pension by paying contributions for the balance of the period from 5th July, 1948, to their 60th birthday. I am arranging for an explanatory letter to be issued shortly to each widow pensioner affected by these special arrangements.

While recognising that the credits give some concession, is it not true nevertheless that there is some inequality between the widow who is 60 before 5th July and the widow who becomes 60 after 5th July; and in view of this fact, cannot the right hon. Gentleman, in his customary humane manner, go a little further in this matter?

We have provided pensions for widows who were 60 in October, 1946, and for those who reach 60 before 5th July. By the terms of the Act, women of 60 and over on 5th July cannot come into the scheme. There will probably be some inequality, but every effort is being made to reduce it to the lowest possible quota.

Is the Minister aware that many of these widows are in receipt of only 10s. a week and are living with sons and daughters, and does he not realise that it will be an added hardship to the sons and daughters to pay 3s. 8d. a week? Will he not consider, in cases of non-employed widows aged 50 to 60, waiving the contributions?

We have provided that if these widows are incapable of self-support, their pension is immediately raised to 26s. The others will have to contribute for about six months only, and they will then get the full pension. I wish that it had been possible to do more within the limits of the insurance scheme, but that is not possible.

In cases where hardship does arise, can the widow apply to the Assistance Board for a supplementary pension to meet the contribution?

As from 5th July, they will be able to apply for national assistance. If the hon. Member will look at the scale, he will see that we have made provision for that.

Will those widows who are incapable of working have to submit to a medical examination by officers of the Minister's Department?

No. We have invited all those widows to submit their applications, and at the same time to submit a report by their own doctor that will satisfy us and enable us to pay the pension.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how far under the new scheme of National Insurance the local offices of his Department will have responsibility for claims to retirement and widows' pensions; and to what extent pensioners and persons desiring to claim these pensions will still deal with the Assistance Board.

As from 5th July next claims for retirement and widows' contributory pensions should be addressed to the local office of the Ministry of National Insurance, which will handle all the local work in connection with them. The Assistance Board, whose help has been invaluable in the previous administration of the scheme, have undertaken to clear up belated claims from existing retirement pensioners with wives under age 60 who may be entitled, from 5th July, to increase of their pensions on that account. A large number of such claims are still outstanding and I would urge the pensioners concerned to make them without further delay. Claims for noncontributory old age pensions should be addressed to the Assistance Board as hitherto.

asked the Minister of National Insurance the extent to which he has secured reciprocal arrangements with European countries in respect of social insurance; and whether he intends to seek similar arrangements with other European and non-European countries.

I have great pleasure in informing the House that I signed a reciprocal agreement with the French Minister of Labour and Social Security on Friday last, 11th June. Negotiations are now proceeding with Eire, and there have been discussions with Canada, Australia and New Zealand. I hope to be in a position to conclude reciprocal agreements covering certain parts of the social security field with some of these countries at a fairly early date, and also to approach the Governments of some other countries with whom a basis for reciprocity in social insurance may be found.

Is the Minister aware of the great appreciation felt in all parts of the House at this excellent extension of this principle, but could he say when we shall be able to have some particulars regarding this scheme; and will it be discussed in the House, or otherwise?

I will see that a statement on the agreement with France, covering the points upon which we have arrived at reciprocal arrangements, is made as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour if the statement in Kansas City on 6th June by Sir Godfrey Ince, Permanent Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, that unless America continued to send aid to Britain we should go bankrupt and there would be a crash, was made on his behalf.

I presume that the hon. Member is referring to a report in "Kansas City Star" of 3rd June of a statement made by Sir Godfrey Ince. I am informed that this statement, which was made in reply to questions, was to the effect that at present we cannot close the dollar gap and if we do not receive Marshall Aid we shall be in "a serious economic plight." This is a statement of fact that has been made many times, and to which I can see no possible objection.

Is not the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the report appeared in "The Times"; and would it not have been better to have given this report at Scarborough and to the T.U.C., instead of sending a man to Kansas City to make a statement in that way?

I should have thought that even the hon. Member would have recognised the statement quoted in "The Times" or the other paper as not being quite Civil Service standard. It is really a very vigorous American interpretation of what was said.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary say what this officer was doing in Kansas City?

Certainly. He was on his way to the I.L.O. Conference, which began yesterday.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men of East and West African and West Indian origin are registered as unemployed in the City of Manchester at the nearest convenient date; and what were the comparable figures for 1945, 1946 and 1947.

I regret that statistics giving the information desired are not available.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are a considerable number of unemployed coloured men in the City of Manchester; and, in view of the difficulty they are facing in securing employment, will he do everything possible to dissuade these irresponsible people who are sending shiploads of West Indians to this country without there being any jobs here waiting for them?

The latter part of the supplementary question will be dealt with in answer to the next Question on the Order Paper. On the first part, our difficulty is not in finding these men jobs but in finding them private billets. Private billeting raises a matter of very great social consequence, and embarrasses us very greatly indeed in placing these men.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has any further statement to make on the circumstances surrounding the journey of 400 West Indians to this country to seek employment.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has been able to ascertain how many of the 400 West Indians, who are on their way to this country in search of work, are skilled workers and in what trades; on what date their ship is due to arrive; and what provision is being made for their accommodation on arrival.

I understand that these men are coming to Great Britain at their own expense and of their own initiative. I cannot say how many of them are skilled workers until they have registered at an employment exchange, where their qualifications and experience can be assessed. I understand that the ship is due on 22nd June. Provision of accommodation for persons who arrive in Great Britain in these circumstances is not a matter for my Department.

Would not the Parliamentary Secretary agree that it would be very much better if these men were interviewed before they left, and proper arrangements made for them by the time they arrived?

The right hon. Gentleman has had great experience at the Ministry of Labour and he will know how extremely difficult it is if even our own people are transferred about this country, and it now falls upon the Ministry of Labour to find them accommodation. The right hon. Gentleman will appreciate that the Ministry has accepted that responsibility only for any worker it drafts, directs, or finds work for in any part of the country. If we are now to be asked to do this for these men, we are being asked to do something for them which we have refused to do for our own people.

When these men do arrive, does the Parliamentary Secretary expect full co-operation from the trade unions, employers and others in assembling them into mines, transport and other occupations where they might be of use?

That raises a difficulty. I hope the House will excuse these lengthy answers to supplementary questions. Only last week we had to stop a trainload of voluntary workers coming to work in the mines of this country because we had not the accommodation, which makes the position still worse. No matter what co-operation we may have from the employers and trade unions, our great problem will be accommodation.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that the reference to accommodation was only included in the Question because last week his right hon. Friend, answering a Question on this subject, did say that accommodation would have to be found for these men; and, although obviously it is impossible to prevent British subjects who choose to pay their own way from moving from one part of the British Empire to another, does the Parliamentary Secretary not recognise that a very serious problem does arise here, and will he do his utmost, in conjunction with the Colonial Office Welfare Department, for these men?

We are prepared to do all we possibly can, but I should make it quite clear that we can do no more for these men than we do for our own men in this matter. We will do no more and no less. That is the position.

As these people are British subjects, will not the Parliamentary Secretary arrange to have this ship met, and some arrangement made other than just decanting them into London; and can he assure the House that there is no colour prejudice in any of the trade unions for the trades in which these people might seek employment?

I can assure the House that there is no colour prejudice at all with regard to their employment. The great difficulty is in getting these people into private billets. If our people will not take them, we are up against a real difficulty.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman answer the question?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement about the strike of dining-car staff on the Southern Division of British Railways on 7th June.

According to my information, there was no such strike.

But is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that in one of the principal trains to Waterloo on this day, the dining-car had no cooks, no waiters and no food?

I understand that this train was run in two parts, and, as happens very often on other systems, the second part of the train had no dining-car staff; but there was no strike at all.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether in the old days of private ownership these ghost dining-cars ran?

Certainly, it happened regularly.

asked the Minister of Labour how many women are at present engaged in manual work on the railway track systems; and how many were similarly engaged in 1938.

The precise information requested is not available, but according to the figures published by the British Transport Commission there were, at 21st March, 162 women employed in the conciliation grades of the Civil Engineering Department.

Is the Minister aware that many people are shocked at women undertaking this hard and dangerous work, and is it the policy of the Transport Commission to continue employing women on work of this sort?

The women who have voluntarily accepted this employment are entitled to the greatest approbation by Members of this House. However, they are not compelled, and I find that the number who are employed on hard manual work is extremely small, and that women are being transferred to lighter forms of work if they so wish.

asked the Minister of Labour how many agricultural workers were signing on for benefit at the Employment Exchanges on a regional basis at the latest convenient date.

As the reply includes a table of figures, I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that there is much unrest and dissatisfaction among the members, managers Section, of the Northern District Licensed Victuallers' Association, over the serious delay in the publishing of the decision of the Catering Wages Board for licensed non-residential establishment managers; and will he explain the present position and make the decision public as soon as possible.

I understand that the Licensed Non-Residential Establishment Wages Board is today sending to all employers concerned its proposals for remuneration and holidays-with-pay for public house managers and club stewards. The Board will consider any representations received regarding these proposals within the next 28 days before it submits its final proposals for the making of a Wages Regulation Order.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of European volunteer workers now in Scotland; the numbers of them employed as land workers and in other occupations, respectively; the average weekly number of days or hours during which they are so employed; and the average weekly payment received by them.

Up to 12th June, 5,495 European volunteer workers had been placed in work in Scotland. 3,858 of these were placed in agriculture, and the remainder in other occupations. Hours of work and wages are the same as for British workers.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the strong feeling existing in certain districts against these Europeans on account of the small amount of work supposed to be done by them, and will he examine the position?

I am afraid that this is one of the consequences of the variable weather in Scotland as against the weather in England. It is difficult to plan intakes into an industry which depends so much on the weather.

Does the right hon. Member realise that he has not answered the Question. The Question asks the number of European voluntary workers now in Scotland, and the figure he gave was the number who were placed in work? Can he say how many there are in Scotland?

I have given the number who are placed in agriculture in Scotland, and in that sense I think I have answered the Question completely.

Does the figure also include those Polish soldiers who were stationed in Scotland and volunteered for this class of work?

No, Sir. It refers to the European voluntary workers.

Is the right hon. Member aware that the weather in Scotland this year has been just as good on the average as in England, and why does he mention that particularly?

Because it seems that in Scotland they have had a very good season so far, and that the labour has been used much more effectively, with the result that not quite so much labour as was first thought has been wanted.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary consider employing these men on other work while they are waiting for employment on the land?

Those arrangements are in hand.

When the Parliamentary Secretary uses the word "agriculture," does it include horticulture and forestry?

One usually uses the word in that sense.

asked the Minister of Labour what is his estimate of the amount of unemployment there would be in this country in the absence of the aid to be given by the European Recovery Programme; in what trades it would mainly prevail; what employment he estimates will actually be created by that programme; and in what trades.

It is not possible to make any such statistical estimates, but, as pointed out in the foreword, and in paragraphs 50, 193 and 245 of the Economic Survey for 1948, there is no doubt that in the absence of Marshall Aid, widespread unemployment would develop.

While accepting the impossibility of making any assessment, may I ask the Parliamentary Secretary to persuade the Economic Secretary to the Treasury to give up blandly asserting in this House that the figure is two million?

I am sure that my hon. Friend will note what has been said by the hon. and learned Member.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of Government posts filled through the Appointments Department of the Ministry of Labour in 1946 and 1947 and to latest available date in 1948, respectively.

The number of Government posts filled by the Technical and Scientific Register of Appointments Department in 1946 was 1,748; in 1947, 941; and in 1948 to 10th May, 301. The records at appointment offices are not kept in such a way as to show separately the number of persons placed in Government posts, but it is estimated that over 1,000 persons have so far been placed this year.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is some dissatisfaction among the applicants to the Appointments Department in view of the fact that a large number of Government Departments do not make use of this Department when they desire to fill vacancies?

Other Government Departments are now using the Appointments Department to the fullest degree.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary tell us what percentage of applicants have been placed?

Those figures were given by the Minister last week.

asked the Minister of Labour whether conscripts who volunteer under the Bounty Scheme for a further three or four years' service are to be treated as eligible for the Further Education and Training Scheme.

Men who volunteered under the Bounty Scheme for a further period of service not exceeding four years will not be debarred on that account from applying for awards under the Further Education and Training Scheme, provided the extended service commenced before 1st January, 1948. Applications from such men will, of course, be subject to the normal conditions of eligibility under the Scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give consideration to the desirability of exempting steeplejacks from military service, in view of the continuous training and experience required by young steeplejacks in order to become proficient and reliable in their specialised calling.

I have no power to exempt anyone from his obligations under the National Service Acts, but a young man learning to become a steeplejack may have his call-up deferred until the completion of his training if the necessary conditions are satisfied.

If the men express a preference for naval training rather than for military training, will they be accepted into the Navy?

No, Sir. A man may express a preference, but it is for the Service Department to decide whether they accept him.

Can my hon. Friend not take into account the fact that men who are training for this sort of work find a certain amount of advantage by going into the Navy rather than into the Army?

This matter has been discussed in the House on many occasions.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will revise Administrative Memorandum No. 282, to ensure that boys who wish to enter the university before service with His Majesty's Forces may hear the decision of the University Joint Recruiting Board regarding deferment and that those who fail to obtain deferment may complete the essential pre-university services training to enter the university in October, 1949.

Administrative Memorandum No. 282 deals with the arrangements for the call-up before the end of July, 1948, of boys who have definitely decided to do their military service before going to a university. It would clearly be impracticable to apply these arrangements in the case of boys who seek deferment, since it is not possible to reach decisions about deferment in time to permit of call-up before the end of July. Most universities do not finally decide their acceptances until the results of the Higher School Certificate examination are known at the end of August.

That is the whole point, that these students are in rather a predicament because they are being asked to make their decision without knowing the essential facts. Is there no way for them to make a decision so that they either go to the university in the autumn, or do their service and have a chance of getting into the university in 1949? Will the right hon. Gentleman look into that?

This memorandum is the result of the request made in this House to give these boys a speedy call-up so that they can be released by October, 1949. I thought we had substantially met the wishes of the House in the matter, but I will certainly look into the other point raised. Unless these boys are called up by July, they cannot hope to start their university careers in October, 1949.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Annual Report on Education in Scotland for the year 1947 will be published.

I hope that this Report will be published not later than the beginning of September.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the report for 1946 was published so long ago as 16th April, 1947, and that it will be very inconvenient if no more up-to-date information is made available to Scottish Members before we reach the Scottish Estimates?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Highland Panel is to submit its report.

The Advisory Panel on the Highlands and Islands was not set up as a reporting committee, but as a body which would keep in constant touch with the Departments concerned with administration in the Highlands and Islands and advise me from time to time on specific questions and on the carrying out of concerted plans.

Does that mean that the right hon. Gentleman is not going to make a report on the progress of the Panel, and are we not to have a report laid before the House?

The purpose of the Committee is to advise me on action to be taken. The action speaks for itself when it is taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many committees or groups in addition or subsidiary to the Highland Panel have been set up by him to investigate different aspects of affairs in the Highlands; on what dates they were appointed; what matters they are investigating and when each of them is to conclude its inquiries.

The Panel is free to set up its own working machinery. At its second meeting on 14th February, 1947, it appointed four working groups to deal with the problems of agriculture and forestry, fisheries, textiles and transport. At its ninth meeting, on 5th March last, a fifth group was appointed to consider the problems of industries and planning in the Highlands. These groups report to the Panel at each of its meetings, and their recommendations, if agreed, are thereupon submitted to me.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the appointments to the Advisory Panel are made by himself, or whether the members are co-opted by the sub-committees? Would he assure the House that there is no undue and unnecessary overlapping?

The Panel sets up its own committees, and frames their composition. They can depend on my office for every possible assistance. I am satisfied that they will do the work efficiently, and that there will not be any unnecessary overlapping.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the work which he has outlined has been done by the Scottish Council (Development and Industry)?

The Scottish Council (Development and Industry) covers the whole of Scotland. The two work together, but the Panel is dealing specially with the Highlands and Islands, whose problems are entirely separate.

Has any action Peen taken on the recommendations which have been received from this Panel?

Quite a number of things have been going on regularly. They have been able to stimulate developments in the Highlands, which are now in process of execution.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the popular impression in Scotland is that the Panel is responsible for investigating all developments in the Highlands, and that many people are looking forward to a report from the Panel? If it is only an advisory body, I think its name might well be changed to "Advisory Committee." Will my right hon. Friend consider that?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether there has been a committee set up for Scotland to report on the feasibility of extending the protection of the Rent Restrictions Acts to shopkeepers; or if the Lord Chancellor's Committee who are to report on this matter contains any Scottish members.

The general question of the tenure of shop premises in Scotland was examined recently by a Committee of Inquiry, whose report was published in December, 1947. The terms of reference of the Leasehold Committee appointed by the Lord Chancellor do not extend to Scotland, and there is, accordingly, no Scottish representation.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the committee to which he has referred, the Taylor Committee, did not deal with the Rent Restrictions Acts in its terms of reference? Although the Leasehold Committee is applicable to England, they at least have had the perspicacity to inquire into the extension of protection to shopkeepers by the Rent Restrictions Acts. Can my right hon. Friend explain why they do things so much better in England than in Scotland?

I cannot accept my hon. Friend's last assertion. [HON. MEMBERS: "Why not?"] Because it would require some proof before it was admitted in Scotland. Any recommendations which the Leasehold Committee makes will be watched with interest by us in Scotland.

What has really happened in this matter? Two months ago the right hon. Gentleman gave a typically soporific answer, and since then nothing has been done to protect people under the terms of the Taylor Committee.

Perhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman has not been in Scotland lately.

I have.

Quite a number of shops have been requisitioned, and a large number of cases investigated. A great deal has been done which the hon. and gallant Gentleman has evidently not noticed.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the report of the Taylor Committee was unsatisfactory, that no solution of the problem was found, and that the matter is urgent? Will he set up another committee to deal with it, or seek to extend the terms of reference of the Lord Chancellor's Committee so that they can deal with it? Could I have an answer?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can give any estimate of the number of houses required in Scotland for the category classed as homeless; and how far he expects to have reached such a target by the end of 1948 and 1949.

Of the 500,000 new houses estimated at the end of the war to be needed in Scotland about 200,000 were for persons without a home of their own. A total of 51,628 temporary and permanent houses have already been provided under postwar schemes. In present circumstances it is not possible to estimate what additional number will be completed by the end of 1948 and 1949, but the Government's aim is to complete the largest number that the available resources will permit.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that his reply is very unsatisfactory? Does he know that his counterpart in England announced that the target of 750,000 houses, stated to be required for the homeless, would be reached by October? Not within years do we appear to be able to reach the target for Scotland.

There is a simple explanation. Scotland started off with ten times worse housing conditions than England. It is easier to solve the English problem than the Scottish problem.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his answer is not only very unsatisfactory, but also incomplete, since he has not said how many houses are required for the homeless?

About 200,000 of the houses were for persons without a home of their own. I am not quite clear what the term "homeless" means.

Is Scotland to remain always and forever in a ten times worse position than England?

I am pleased to say that some leeway is being made up, but it is entirely a question of materials. If they are not there, we cannot build any quicker.

As there is some doubt about the interpretation of "homeless," should it not be referred to the courts?

In view of the fact that in years gone by the right hon. Gentleman advised the Scottish people that they could never get their affairs in order until they had more power, will he see that they get more power when he has more power to give them more power?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what instructions are in force regarding the wearing of the kilt by Government employees in St. Andrew's House and elsewhere.

There are no instructions regarding the wearing of the kilt by Government employees in St. Andrew's House.

And elsewhere?

"Elsewhere" is a wide term. They wear the kilt in the Army and in the streets, and in some parts of the Highlands. I am not quite clear what the hon. and gallant Gentleman means by "elsewhere."

The courts.

I do not wish to refer to the courts. I mean all Government offices.

So far as my information goes, there is no prohibition against wearing the kilt in Government offices, although it is appropriate that people should wear the dress which is suitable for the place they are in and I am not sure that kilts are the best dress for office work.

Will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that under no circumstances will effeminate, knock-kneed men be allowed to wear the kilt?

As I do not come in that category, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will be sure that people do not wear more than one kilt each?

I cannot guarantee that; I understand that ladies are sometimes accused of wearing more than one kilt.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the present extra allowance given to disabled ex-Service men who are receiving a disability pension for clothing; when the allocation was altered; and how many are now receiving the extra allowance.

The present allowances to cover abnormal wear and tear of clothing as a result of the pensioned disablement are £5 a year where one artificial limb, other than a tilting-table limb, is worn and £8 a year where the pensioner wears a tilting-table limb or more than one artificial limb. Up to £ a year is also payable in certain other cases where exceptional wear and tear results from the pensioned disablement. The allowances, originally £3 and £5 a year respectively, were raised to the present rates with effect from 1st February, 1948. Approximately 33,000 pensioners are now receiving a clothing allowance.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether these allowances are given automatically; whether each one has to apply for it on his own merits, and what percentage of disability is allowed to get a full allowance?

I dealt with this on 1st February when the increases were announced. If a person now has the allowance, there is no need for a new application at all, but obviously if a person wants it for the first time he must make an application for it.

Could my right hon. Friend say what percentage is not receiving it?

Obviously, I could not say without notice.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many applications for a pension have been refused in respect of ex-Service men suffering from cancer; and will he arrange for all these to be automatically reviewed in the light of the recent judicial decision.

The number of applications in respect of cancer which have been rejected is estimated to be about 5,500. With regard to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) on 8th June, to which I would add that pensions have been granted in respect of cancer in about 1,000 cases.

Is my right hon. Friend referring to the cases that were granted before the recent judicial decision?

I answered a Question on this last week and I made it plain to the House that, although the learned judge had arrived at that decision, we were operating that plan before he came to that decision. In the judge's case there was a conflict of facts, but we have been operating it for some time. Where-ever a person suffering from cancer could link that disability up with another disease and it could be proved that that was as a result of war service, my instructions were to exercise the new proposals to the greatest possible extent.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that at one critical moment this disease ceases to be innocent and becomes malignant, and that that is the time the Ministry's medical officials do not seem able to define? Will the right hon. Gentleman also take the opportunity of having these cases reviewed?

We may not be doing as much as some hon. Members would like, but compared with anything done in the past we are miles ahead. In the past it used not to be possible to allow cancer applications in any way, and now we are doing it to the extent I have outlined. If my hon. Friends want me to grant pensions without a doctor's certificate, I will soon do it, but none must grumble at the money that has to be found if that is done. As long as I am bound by medical evidence and learned judge's decisions in court, then I must rule out cancer in most cases, but whenever we can link it up to any other circumstance it can be taken that both my officials and myself try to do it in the most kindly and humane way possible.

rose—

Already 45 minutes have gone and we have not yet reached Question No. 30. We must get on.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will take steps to improve the quality of stump socks required by disabled persons.

The stump stock supplied by my Department to the war disabled are made of the best quality materials. If the hon. Member has received any complaint about their quality, perhaps he will be good enough to let me have particulars.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the same regulations regarding work before breakfast, drills at the double and time of reveille now operate in all military detention barracks in this country.

Yes. The two military prisons and detention barracks in this country are governed by the same rules.

Does that mean that drill at the double as a form of punishment is now forbidden?

Drill at the double is not a form of punishment under these instructions.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that on 30th November last at Teramni, the President General of the Pro-Reunion to Ethiopia Party was prevented from appearing before the Four Power Foreign Ministers' Deputies' Inquiry Commission to present his protest to the Commission, on account of police violence to members of his party, including the Venerable Abbot of Enda Abuna Ebranios, the Abbot of Enda Abuna Ionas, the Reverend Father Twelde Mehin and the Reverend Father Fessahaie, who had assembled to give their evidence to the Commission; and whether he will arrange for an impartial tribunal to investigate this and other charges concerning the administration during the Four Power Foreign Ministers' Deputies' Inquiry in Eritrea.

I was not aware of the facts alleged in the Question, but I have called for a report from the military authorities overseas and I will write to my hon. Friend when it has been received.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Jews and Arabs, respectively, who had been convicted in Palestine of murder, attempted murder and assault on any member of His Majesty's Forces and any person in the employment of the Government of Palestine, and for carrying arms or explosives, were taken into custody by the G.O.C. British troops in Palestine on or before 15th May; how many are still in custody under his control; how many it is intended shall be released before their sentence has expired; and if he will issue a written statement showing the offences committed by these persons.

I am obtaining this information and when it has been received I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps he is taking to guard or dispose of explosive clumps in the West of Scotland.

Civilian watchmen, military guards and motor cycle patrols are on duty at the depot to which my hon. Friend is referring. Guards are augmented at weekends. The ammunition is being disposed of as fast as possible.

Is the Minister aware that at a recent trial in Scotland statements were made that grenades, bombs and land mines were being freely stolen from dumps all over Scotland, and will he take precautions in the future to prevent that happening?

I am aware of what occurred recently. I regret it, but the fact is that unless we are able to provide manpower and transport to remove these dumps, many of them must remain. However, we are proceeding with the work as expeditiously as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War for what purposes the War Office used the flat at 19, Rugby Mansions, Bishop Kings Road, Kensington; what were the nature of the duties of Mrs. Wiggins there; and if she is still in the employment of the War Office.

I understand that this fiat was used recently for the temporary accommodation of Colonel Tasoev while he was here as a refugee. Mrs. Wiggins was employed as a housekeeper. She is still employed.

Can the Minister say whether the statements in the Press on 7th June are accurate? They were to the effect that this six-roomed flat was let to the Military Intelligence Department of the War Office by a judge, and that the rent was paid to the judge. Can the right hon. Gentleman say why these premises were vacated so suddenly?

I am afraid I have not got any further information on this matter, but I understand that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary replied to a question on this point.

As my right hon. Friend said that Mrs. Wiggins is still employed as a housekeeper, can he say whose house she is keeping at the moment?

I have just replied to that question—that Mrs. Wiggins was employed as housekeeper and she is still employed.

Can my right hon. Friend say how many other foreign political or similar refugees were accommodated in that flat?

If my hon. and learned Friend puts a question down, I will try to furnish the answer.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say where Mrs. Wiggins is now?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date he estimates Britain will become economically independent of foreign aid; if he is satisfied that the Government's plans to achieve this so far have produced adequate results; and if he will make a statement.

I regret that the questions raised by the hon. Member are not suitable to be dealt with by Question and answer.

Even if they are not suitable to be dealt with by Question and answer, does not the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that they are quite important? If the Marshall Aid were to fall, which trade would be most affected? Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman tell the House that, please?

That is another question.

It is a very important question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to state the amounts of the adverse balance of trade for 1937, 1938 and 1939; and the balances in terms of present value.

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

Will my right hon. and learned Friend at lease how these deficits compare with what has been happening lately?

One can say, I think, that if our pre-war trade were revalued at 1947 prices, the adverse visible balance would have been twice as big as it was in 1947.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether claims made by the Inland Revenue Department for under-payment of Income Tax against ex-Service men in respect of their wives' earnings in wartime employment may be settled by surrender of Post-war Credit certificates.

Under a special arrangement authorised by my predecessor and announced in the House on the 29th October, 1946, these arrears, like P.A.Y.E. arrears due at the end of 1945–46, may be set-off against Post-war Credit for 1945–46, but I cannot authorise any general settlement of arrears of tax by set-off against credits.