asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will take steps to revise the composition of the Army Council in order to include the Director of the Territorial Army.

No, Sir. The appropriate military members of the Army Council are now responsible for Territorial Army matters in the same way as for the Regular Army.

Does not the hon. Gentleman feel that the special aspect of Territorial Army service demands that it should be represented on a higher level than is the case today?

No, Sir. The Director of the Territorial Army is called into consultation as a matter of course when matters affecting the Territorial Army are concerned.

Does not the hon. Gentleman think that it would be a good practice to revive the scheme which was in operation before the war under which there was a Deputy Director-General of the Territorial Army who was himself a Territorial officer?

The circumstances are somewhat different from what they were before the war. The Territorial and Regular Armies are more closely integrated and I think that the present procedure gives the best result today.

Does the Under-Secretary not think that now that the Territorial Army will shortly comprise more than half the whole Army, an impression will be given to members of the Territorial Army that it is a Regular Army "racket" and that their representative is being kept off the Army Council, on which he should have a place in view of his responsibility?

No, Sir. It is not as if the Territorial Army were unrepresented. The Deputy-Chief of the Imperial General Staff is the member of the Army Council who is responsible for Territorial Army matters.

asked the Secretary of State for War what period of training is required for a National Service conscript before he is sent to Malaya on active service.

All National Service men must complete at least 16 weeks' training and a total of 18 weeks' service before being sent to Malaya. They must also have completed their basic training.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is grave anxiety among parents throughout the country that these conscripts should be sent to Malaya after such a very short period of training? Is it possible for steps to be taken to give them, say, 20 or 24 weeks' training in future before they go on active service in the jungle?

When they arrive in Malaya they have four weeks' training before being sent on operations. Both my right hon. Friend and I are well aware of the anxiety that is felt, and if and when it is at all possible for an extension of the time of training to be made, that will certainly be done.

asked the Secretary of State for War how long his Department has been considering the question of the pay and allowances payable to warrant officers serving with His Majesty's Embassy in Cairo; how many other capitals are under similar consideration; and when he expects to come to a decision.

The detailed review of the allowances payable to the warrant officer serving with His Majesty's Embassy, and other comparable Service personnel serving in Cairo, began when the information on which to base such a review became available to the Departments concerned, in February, 1950. It is hoped that a decision will be reached this week. The allowances at one other capital are under consideration.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what is the difficulty which causes his Department to spend three months in assessing the allowances payable to warrant officers in two capitals? Is not the hon. Gentleman's answer this afternoon a complete contradiction of his right hon. Friend's answer on the same point last week?

The hon. Member will realise that it is not these two capitals only which are concerned. When a decision of this kind is made, these allowances have to be kept in step with other comparable allowances elsewhere. These matters are always somewhat complicated. The hon. Member will see that a decision is to be reached this week. I cannot see that there is any contradiction between what I have said and what my right hon. Friend said.

Did not the Under-Secretary's right hon. Friend say last week that it had not taken three months to come to a decision, which is completely contrary to the hon. Gentleman's admission today?

asked the Secretary of State for War what the ad ministration costs are of Combined Ser vices Entertainment; and to what extent British artists are being employed.

These administrative costs, which do not involve any net charge on public funds, are estimated at £21,000 during the current financial year. In Germany about half of the artists employed are British. Elsewhere, they are all British.

Can my hon. Friend say why in Germany only 50 per cent. of the artists are British? Is he aware that there is some dissatisfaction in the profession that there is a small proportion of British artists employed in Germany?

Yes, but there seems to be far more satisfaction among the audiences, who prefer that there should be a mixture of British and German shows. It must also be remembered that it is somewhat cheaper, and therefore possible to put on a greater number of shows, if some German artists are employed.

asked the Secretary of State for War why extra tropical kit allowance is available only to male officers who were posted to stations requiring such kit on or after 3rd November, 1948; and if he is aware of the hardship falling upon officers so posted prior to that date.

The date 3rd November, 1948, was selected as being the date of introduction of improved scales of tropical kit and of the announcement that the State would in future meet the reasonable cost of officers' uniform on first commissioning. My right hon. Friend is not aware of hardship having fallen on officers posted to tropical stations before that date. It is understood that most of them were already in possession of the majority of the items authorised by the new scales.

Is it not a fact that a considerable number of short service officers were posted to the Far East in August, 1948, and did not, of course, qualify for the extra £22; and is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that they feel this is rather unfair, and that they have not had explained to them the reason for the limiting date?

The reason for the limiting date has, if my memory serves me rightly, been mentioned in the House before and will be known to them. Whenever a new allowance is issued, there will be some who fail to qualify, but I do not think, in view of what I have just mentioned, that it involves hardship.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it was by his authority that trumpeters from the Welch Regiment were employed in playing fanfares during Mr. Bruce Woodcock's training exhibitions at Gwrych Castle, North Wales.

No trumpeters from the Welch Regiment were so employed. On one occasion some boys of the Royal Artillery who had received free admission tickets to Gwrych Castle to watch the boxing each evening gave a trumpet fanfare voluntarily and in their own time.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that these boys were in fact cadets, and should not greater care be exercised in the use of His Majesty's uniform for advertising commercial circuses?

Boys will be boys.

It looks as if this occasion gave pleasure and profit to all concerned, and I see no reason to criticise it.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us what call these trumpeters were sounding? Was it the "Charge" or the "Retreat"?

Perhaps the hon. and gallant Member will put that Question on the Order Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will take steps to prevent the families of soldiers who are being ordered overseas being evicted from houses under the control of his Department or the local Territorial associations.

Before a soldier is allotted a married quarter he has to sign a certificate, included in which is a statement that he understands that he will be required to move his family when he is posted from the station and alternative accommodation is offered. It is the policy of my right hon. Friend to enable soldiers to be united with their families at their duty stations whenever possible and there are long waiting lists for married quarters vacated by the families of soldiers posted abroad. No family of a serving soldier is required to leave War Department or Territorial Army married quarters unless alternative accommodation, usually in a families camp, is available for them.

Is my hon. Friend aware of the case which I have forwarded to his Department of a Regular soldier with 17 years' service who is now getting a posting to Malaya; and on the same day as he got that posting his wife got an order for her eviction, along with four children, from the Territorial house?

We should certainly see that no such order was carried out with improper haste, and in any case not unless alternative accommodation was available.

Are these military quarters known as tied cottages?

Only by people who confuse two distinct ideas.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the pay of caretakers employed in Northern Command was, on 19th April, 1950, reduced from £4 15s. per week to £4 6s. 4d. per week; and whether caretakers will in the future be permitted to earn overtime pay for Sun day work.

My right hon. Friend is not aware that this reduction has been made. Perhaps the hon. Member will forward details of the caretakers he has in mind when it will also be possible to deal with the second part of this Question.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many lives of Service personnel were lost by drowning during training operations during each of the last 20 years; how many of these persons could and could not swim, respectively; and what is being done to increase the proportion of swimmers in the Services.

The statistics requested are not available. Swimming is one of the subjects included in the annual training of all ranks of the Army. Inadequate bathing facilities frequently limit training, but it is agreed in principle that, subject to the availability of labour, materials and money, public funds should bear the expense of providing the necssary facilities in the most reasonable way at any particular station.

asked the Secretary of State for War why he is contemplating the re-introduction of compulsory church parades in the Army.

My right hon. Friend is not contemplating this action.

Is my hon. Friend aware that, while my Question appears to be unnecessary, I heard his answer with great satisfaction?

Is the Minister not contemplating this action because he believes the practice of the Army is inconsistent with Christianity?

No, Sir; I think it is more because we think the practice of compulsion is not consistent with Christianity.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of discontent among civilian employees of the United Kingdom War Department in Ceylon, whose employment has been, or will be, terminated; and if he has considered the possibility of increasing the gratuity for those affected.

Yes, Sir. A substantial improvement in the gratuity terms provided for in the regulations under which these employees serve has already been announced. It is regretted that no further improvement can be made.

Is this a response to the discontent and to certain representations then made, or was it just the reverse?

It was on 3rd April that the concession was announced and we were following very largely the advice offered by the Commander-in-Chief, Middle East Land Forces.

Has the hon. Gentleman any reason to believe now that this is acceptable and satisfactory to the complainants?

I believe that the complainants would have preferred certain other proposals, under which some employees would have been better off and others worse.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning how far the Crawley Development Corporation and other development corporations are subject to regulations laid down by his Department in respect of the lay-out and appearance of the houses erected by them.

My policy is to do all I can to stimulate building, both of houses and factories, by all these development corporations. If they feel themselves to be obstructed I hope they will let me know.

Does the right hon. Gentleman's answer, then, mean that this corporation and other corporations are not subject to any electoral control, as, for example, a local authority, and that they can in fact carry out what plans they like?

I am not quite sure that I understand what the noble Lord means by "electoral." All that happens is that their proposals are merely sent for observation to the local authorities charged with planning functions. So far as I can find—and I have inquired into the matter—my Department have never turned down any of their proposals on the ground of lay-out and appearance.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he will publish an up-to-date list of the members so far appointed to the Boards of New Town Development Corporations, together with details of any salaries, pensions and other allowances; a separate list showing all individuals holding more than one appointment on either these boards or other boards of a nationalised character; and what those double appointments are.

As the answer is long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the Minister say whether the second part of my Question is answered, giving a list of such people? If so, then there are several "boys" with more than one job.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he is aware that the rents for the houses being erected by the Crawley Development Corporation are higher than those for houses which have already been erected since the war by the Horsham Rural District Council in the town of Crawley, and that the rents of many of them are beyond the reach of the average wage-earner; and for whom these houses are intended.

This may well be, but new town corporations are not able, as local authorities are, to reduce the rents of new houses by averaging them with those of pre-war houses. The houses now being built at Crawley are well worth the rent and many families are only too happy to pay it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the case of four-roomed houses, the houses built by the local authority are being let for 19s. per week and in the case of the same type of houses also erected since the war by the Crawley Development Corporation, the rent is 28s. per week? Is he aware that this discrepancy will give rise to great difficulty in the future, as these are both public authorities?

We shall have to deal with these difficulties in the further future when the development corporation hand over, when their work is done, to the local authority. I may add that this particular corporation are planning to build some houses with somewhat lower rents than those which they have hitherto put up.

As this town is designed to accommodate the surplus population of Croydon, does not the Minister think it is rather hard luck on my constituents to have to pay such extortionate rents?

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he proposes to adopt the recommendations of the Abercrombie Report in regard to the safeguarding of the scenic and landscape beauty of the Martley and Tenbury Wells rural areas in the county of Worcester.

Yes, Sir, and I understand that the Worcestershire County Council share my view.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise the dreadful devastation that would follow opencast coal mining in this particularly beautiful area; and, in view of the impossibility of restoring the wooded and well-timbered hill-slopes and landscape, will not he consider refusing permission to the Ministry of Fuel and Power to continue these opencast mining projects.

Without reference to the wider questions of opencast coal in general, my information is that no borings have yet been made in this area and there is no firm proposal as yet to work opencast in this area. If such a proposal were to be made, it would have to be considered in the light of the West Midland plan, to which the hon. Member has referred.

May I ask the Minister, further, whether he will refer to the 13 series of drawings which have already been issued by the Ministry of Fuel and Power to all the local authorities concerned in this area, which clearly set out the opencast borings which are projected?

I did not deny that. I said that they had not been made and, therefore, no firm proposal was before me for opencast workings in this area.

Could we have an assurance that none of the land will be desecrated?

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he is aware that his Department recently refused permission to Mr. J. B. Morton, The Elms Hotel, Abberley, Worcestershire, to erect a road sign reading, "For Elms Hotel, fork left"; and how the erection of this sign would detract from the scenic amenities of the district.

The Worcestershire County Council refused consent, and I upheld their decision on appeal.

Is the Minister aware that, notwithstanding this refusal to allow the erection of an inoffensive signpost, it is now definitely proposed by the Minister of Fuel and Power to requisition the whole of the surrounding land, including the kitchen garden of The Elms Hotel, for opencast coal mining, and what does he think that will do to the scenic amenities?

That does not seem to arise out of the Question. The Worcestershire County Council turned down this proposal because they thought it was contrary to local amenities and that it would distract the attention of travellers going round the corner. I upheld them because I think that probably they are the best judges of local amenities.

Have similar signs near Dorking just been taken down?

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he will give details of his proposals to allow freer building alterations, etc., in the Lake District.

In the Lake District a farmer must give the planning authority 14 days' notice of his intention to erect a permanent farm building and must provide a site plan, description and details of the materials. Within this period, the planning authority may require that the design and external appearance of the building shall be subject to their approval.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that, consistent with maintaining the beauty and amenities of this part, both agriculture and the hotel industry, and other industries where applicable, will have freedom to develop?

The recent Regulations which I issued are designed to ease the planning restrictions very considerably upon farm buildings all over the country and, in spite of the special provisions, to a considerable extent in the Lake District.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he is aware that the present condition of ironstone workings in Northamptonshire constitutes a grave interference with agricultural production and with the amenities of the countryside; and when he expects to make a statement on the question of restoration.

I have recently visited this area and am very much concerned at the devastation due to ironstone workings. I hope soon to make a statement on the action which I propose to take.

Is the Minister aware that his predecessor hoped to issue such a statement in January, and will he remember that this is a matter of real urgency which is causing a great deal of feeling not only in the countryside but elsewhere?

Hear, hear.

During my visit, which lasted for two or three days, I had the opportunity of meeting many people with authority to speak for the local community.

Could the Minister be more explicit instead of using the word "soon"? The hon. and learned Member for Kettering (Mr. Mitchison) is right when he says that there is strong local feeling in the area because of the promises made over so many months which, up to now, have not been kept.

Yes, Sir. There are one or two interests which conflict in this matter and which I am trying to harmonise; but I am anxious not to delay.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning how many industrial concerns have so far been granted a building licence to erect factories in the Harlow New Town.

One building licence has already been issued, and my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is issuing industrial development certificates and building licences for two other firms. He is also issuing industrial development certificates for two more firms and I have every reason to expect that building licences will follow soon.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether it may be hoped that the building of these factories will start reasonably soon because, as he is aware, upwards of 1,000 houses are already being built in Harlow and it is, therefore, a matter of prime urgency?

Once the building licences have been given, it is part of the work of the Corporation to synchronise the building of factories and houses, and I am sure that they will.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what are the highest and lowest sums so far assessed for development charge on building new dwelling-houses.

One thousand six hundred and fifty pounds and nil.

Does the Minister appreciate the tremendous deterrent to private house building represented by these very heavy development charges which are levied?

It is all laid down by law, and I seem to remember that the law embodying this—the Act of 1947—was not regarded as controversial by the Opposition when it was going through.

Be that as it may, does the Minister appreciate that the way in which this is working out—and that is what we are concerned with—is that private house building is being deterred by these very high charges? Will the Minister be good enough, as this concerns his Department, to look into the matter to see whether or not he should advise the Government to take some action?

As the House knows from previous answers I have given, I have asked the Chairman of the Central Land Board to make proposals to me for administrative easements in this matter I received his proposals a few days ago. and I am going into them. I hope that after Whitsuntide I shall be able to say something about them. I do not accept the view that house building is being restricted by the development charge.

Would the right hon. Gentleman disclose the basis upon which these charges are made, because they seem to vary in every part of the country?

The basis is laid down by law. The basis is the difference between the value of land with and without planning permission.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether it is with his permission that the chairman of the Stevenage New Town Development Corporation has actively engaged in party politics; and whether he will issue instructions to prevent chairmen taking such action in future.

I agree with my predecessor's rule that chairmen of new town corporations should be free to speak at political meetings outside the new towns with which they are associated.

Will the Minister also extend that principle to curbing the rather contentious oratory of the chairman of the Stevenage Corporation in the areas of other new towns where it is likely to bring the principle of new towns into the political arena?

It must be remembered that these are only part-time appointments. It would be contrary to practice to impose unreasonable restrictions on persons holding part-time appointments, whatever their political party, to express their political opinions. I do not want to be unduly censorious in this matter. I agree that it should be done within reason and with some discretion, having regard to circumstances, but I am not prepared to muzzle them completely.

Does that mean that the chairman in question is free to come into my constituency at Crawley and make a political speech on behalf of the Socialist Party objecting to my Questions to the right hon. Gentleman today? Perhaps the Minister will answer that?

The remark which I made about reasonable discretion, of course, covers new town policy generally. I should have thought it most undesirable for the chairman of a new town corporation to make a speech relating to new town policy generally, but I have no evidence that that has yet taken place.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning (1) what proportion of the houses to be erected this year by the Basildon Development Corporation will be allotted for housing families living within the area designated for the new town and on the waiting list of the Billericay Urban District Council;

Allocation of new houses is a matter for the development corporation and not for me. But I am glad to hear that a high priority will be given to building trade workers and to workers in new factories. No houses built this year will be for sale.

But how does the Minister reconcile that answer with the repeated assurances that he and his predecessor have given that the new town will benefit the 25,000 people already living in the area?

There is no conflict at all between my answer and that statement.

asked the Minister of National Insurance when she issued her directive to branch offices instructing them that a claim may establish title to sickness benefit, by furnishing certificates signed by a person other than a registered medical practitioner, such as an osteopath, Christian Science healer or dentist; by what power such a directive was issued; and how many sickness claims have been paid on the evidence of certificates issued by persons other than registered medical practitioners.

The National Insurance (Medical Certification) Regulations, 1948, require all claimants for sickness benefit to submit evidence of their incapacity. While this evidence normally includes a medical certificate, the statutory adjudicating authorities can take into consideration alternative evidence of incapacity if they think fit. I have no power to issue directions to these authorities. The information asked for in the last part of the Question is not available, but the numbers are believed to be very small.

Is the Minister satisfied that certificates should be accepted from faith healers, herbalists and other persons over whom control must necessarily be very vague, and is she herself, as a registered medical practitioner, satisfied with a state of affairs whereby the Willesden Institute of Natural Healing can tout for business by issuing circulars stating that certificates are available for National Insurance purposes?

This method of determining incapacity has been operating for nearly 40 years, and if the hon. Gentleman was a little older he would remember the sect called the "Peculiar People "——

They are all over there now.

—who have a religious objection to doctors, and who have, in fact, formed their own approved society. I am quite aware of the fact that this right which people have of exercising conscientious objection, and which we believe it is right for them to have, may be abused, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that we are keeping a careful eye on the matter and that we have certain safeguards. We have sick visitors and also regional medical officers who can be called in for further medical examinations.

Does not the Minister draw some distinction between public funds and the funds of an approved society which were not public funds before?

Really, the hon. Gentleman is displaying appalling ignorance. Does he not know that, before 1948, these approved societies used both public funds and private funds?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that her reply will give great satisfaction to thousands of people in this country who have for many years exercised this right of freedom of choice in determining what type of treatment they should take when sick, and that her devastating reply to the prejudices of the hon. Member opposite will be gratefully received?

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether any reciprocal arrangements exist with the Government of Eire in respect of the provisions of the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act and, in particular, whether any provision is made for a wife residing in Eire whose husband meets with an industrial accident in this country which results in his death.

There is at present no general reciprocal arrangement, but my Department is exploring the possibility with the Department of Social Welfare in Dublin. Existing Regulations provide for the payment of death benefits, within certain limitations imposed by the Act, to widows residing in the Irish Republic.

Will my right hon. Friend see that the earliest possible steps are taken to come to some arrangement, as great hardship and injustice arise by reason of the existing arrangements?

Perhaps my hon. Friend did not hear the last part of my answer. Widows do benefit.

If that be so, might I send my right hon. Friend a case in which a widow has been refused benefit, although her husband was killed in this country and she herself resides here?

Certainly.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether her attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. Percy Wyld, of Longley Hill, Derbyshire, whose claim to industrial injury benefit has been rejected, and whether, in view of the report of the specialist appointed by her Department that Mr. Wyld was suffering from dupuytrens contraction which was directly attributable to his employment as a machine hosiery knitter, she will take steps to have this disease prescribed under Section 55 of the Industrial Injuries Act, especially as by reason of the introduction of heavier, longer and faster running machines in the hosiery industry involving considerable friction to both hands, this trade is a potential source of disablement from this disease.

I have studied the reports on this case, which is the only one in this industry which has been brought to my notice. I do not think I would be justified in taking the action suggested, but if my hon. Friend has any further information about the incidence of the disease in this industry I will consider it.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that her own specialist makes it quite clear that this disease was contracted by reason of this man's employment, and that, if she will consult the Hosiery Workers' Union, she will find that there are similar cases, though not so pronounced, and that there are cases which have been prescribed where only one or two persons in an industry have been discovered as contracting the disease by reason of their employment?

If my hon. Friend will read Section 55 (2) of the Act, he will see the conditions which have to be satisfied before a disease is prescribed.

asked the Minister of National Insurance (1) what sums are outstanding for payment by her Department to branches of friendly societies; and when she anticipates these liabilities will be discharged;

I am not aware of any sums owing by my Department to branches of friendly societies. There are a few large societies with which a final settlement awaits completion of audit, but the amounts involved are relatively small. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind, I will certainly make inquiries.

Quite apart from sums actually owing to friendly societies, is the Minister aware that in a great many cases money is owed to the secretaries of these societies and, in view of the fact that they are only small sums, will she take steps to meet these obligations at the earliest possible moment?

Certainly I agree with the hon. Gentleman that there has to be some final settlement, and I hope it will be completed in the autumn, but if any secretary feels aggrieved, I should be glad if he will get in touch with my Department, when we will try to make him happy.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether she will now arrange for the National Assistance Board to exhibit at each area office the name, address and telephone number of the local officer to whom a person in need of assistace may apply when the area office is closed.

I am informed by the Board that they have considered this matter very fully and are satisfied that the present arrangements are adequate.

Will my right hon. Friend take notice of the assurance given by her predecessor in Standing Committee "C" on 10th December, 1947, and implement it as soon as possible?

Yes, I have read that, of course, and a full investigation has been made, but my hon. Friend will recall that before 1948 the relieving officers under the old Health Act were responsible for discharging the duties which are now discharged by the executive officers and area officers. We discovered that almost the only cases which the relieving officers were called upon to deal with outside, their ordinary hours were those which needed admission to hospitals or mental hospitals. That work is done by the health authorities, and therefore it would be rather extravagant to set up a special service now.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many people are getting public assistance in the borough of Accrington; and how many were getting unemployment assistance or public relief on the corresponding day in 1939.

At 25th April last, about 3,400 assistance grants were being paid from the National Assistance Board's office at Accrington, which also covers territory outside the borough. I regret that the information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the Minister of National Insurance the total number of people in receipt of National Assistance at the last convenient date.

At the end of April, 1950, regular weekly grants of National Assistance were being paid to 1,192,000 persons; the grants take into account the needs of dependants.

In view of this very large number of people who are in receipt of National Assistance in this era of so-called full employment, will the right hon. Lady consult her right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions, because it is quite clear from this that these pensions are entirely inadequate and that the time has come for a review, which will ease the work of her Department?

asked the Minister of National Insurance to what extent discussions are in progress with the National Assistance Board for improving the scales of supplementary pensions to meet the increasing cost of living for old age pensioners.

The Regulations increasing National Assistance scales, which were approved by Parliament on 4th May, are coming into operation on 12th June.

Does the Minister really believe that the new scales adequately compensate for the ever-increasing cost of living to the old age pensioners?

I think that if the hon. Lady reads the Debates, she will see that an adequate answer was given to her allegation.

Can my right hon. Friend say how many people, out of the million persons who are in receipt of assistance from the National Assistance Board, are old age pensioners receiving supplementary assistance of this kind?

Not without notice.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what obligation rests upon doctors, nurses and other members of hospital staffs to notify patients that claims for sickness benefit must be lodged within three days; and whether she is satisfied that the present arrangements are working efficiently

My right hon. Friends have asked hospitals in the National Health Service to make suitable arrangements to this end, and I have no reason to think that these arrangements are not working satisfactorily. I am, however, also asking the National Insurance Advisory Committee to consider certain relaxations in the Regulations governing claims by persons in hospital.

Is the Minister aware that these cases do arise, and that I have sent to her comparatively recently three instances in which people have gone into hospital for operations or because of serious illness, have not been notified of the three days' rule and have lost benefits as a result?

I told the House the other day, when a Motion by the hon. Member for Croydon, East (Sir H. Williams) was discussed, that I was considering it and that I hoped to make certain relaxations.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she is aware that many members of the public do not realise that a claim for sickness benefit must be lodged within three days; and whether, in view of the considerable increase in the number of claims for benefits refused arising from this ignorance of the Regulations, she will take steps by means of a wireless announcement, posters and Press advertisements to remind the public of this important Regulation.

I have no reason to believe that their is general ignorance of the rules, which have received widespread publicity, including a recent short film. Every opportunity is taken and will continue to be taken to bring the matter to public notice.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she has considered a letter from the Secretary of the West Ham Trades Council, Mr. H. C. Willig, concerning the National Insurance payments of students over the age of 18 years; what was the request that the trades council made; and what reply she has sent.

Yes, Sir. I was asked to review the regulations governing the payment of contributions by students, and have replied explaining why I do not feel able to do so.

Does the Minister realise that many students find it very difficult to pay the contributions, and could she extend the concession which is given to students under 18 years of age to those who are over 18?

I think my hon. Friend has forgotten that these students have the opportunity of paying the contributions after they have obtained work, and I am sure he would agree that it would be inequitable to the majority of young people who are called upon to pay these contributions while they work if we gave special privileges to the minority who are fortunate enough to have a university education.

asked the Minister of Labour how many bricklayers in Shrewsbury were registered as unemployed on 1st April, 1949, and 1st April, 1950.

None at either date.

asked the Minister of Labour how many general iron moulders were unemployed on 1st May, 1950.

At 13th March, the latest date for which figures are available, there Were 253 men registered at employment exchanges in Great Britain for employment as iron and steel founders and moulders.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) what was the number of unemployed registered in the Burgh of Irvine during the month of April, 1949; and what proportion of those unemployed during that month had been idle for one week or more;

The number registered as unemployed at the Irvine employment exchange was 76 at 11th April, 1949, and 167 at 17th April, 1950. Figures showing the number who had been unemployed for one week or more are not available, but the number who had been continuously on the registers for more than two weeks at the dates in question were 37 and 126, respectively.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the trade unions in this area are becoming rather perturbed at the increasing curve of unemployment arising chiefly from the fall off of work in the Royal Ordnance Factories, and will he devote some attention to it with a view to curing unemployment in that area?

I am afraid that the trade unions must have misunderstood the position because, as I see the figures, they are not due to the factories mentioned, but cover a number of industries including coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, and so on.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the result of his recent discussions with the Trade Union Congress regarding a national minimum wage; if any figure has been agreed as the minimum required for a worker to meet his reasonable needs; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave him on the 25th April, to which I have nothing to add.

As the T.U.C. are considering the desirability of establishing a minimum wage for the nation, could the right hon. and learned Gentleman say whether he has considered it at all, and, if so, at what figure he thinks it could be established?

No, Sir, I cannot.

Why not?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated gain or loss to his Department in Income Tax and Profits Tax if all wage and salary earners' personal incomes were brought up to a minimum of £6 per week with a proportional fall in taxable profits.

It is impossible to say what would be the effect on the Revenue of a hypothetical change of this nature.

Am I to understand that the Chancellor is not unsympathetic to the view of the minimum wage?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that 2,550 companies paid £112,670,000 in ordinary dividends in 1950 and £112,791,000 in 1949, and that since the appeal for restriction of wages made in February, 1948, wages have increased on an annual basis by some £160 million; and what steps he is taking to stop this inflationary process.

I would refer the hon. Member to my Budget Speech.

Is the Chancellor aware that I read his speech? Will he ask those claiming increases in wages what is the good of a thousand paper pounds a week if they are worthless because the credit of this country has been ruined by the Labour Government?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is the proposal of His Majesty's Government that ambulances should attract Purchase Tax of 33⅓ per cent.

No, Sir. I would refer the hon. Member to the Third Schedule to the Finance Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement as to the response to the appeal made in February, 1948, by the Prime Minister to restrict profits and dividends.

Since the Prime Minister's statement, about 90 per cent. (measured in terms of issued capital) of industrial companies have paid dividends not greater than their dividend in the preceding year.

Is the Chancellor aware that quite recently Odham's Press, who own 50 per cent. of the "Daily Herald," increased their dividend from 17½ to 20 per cent.? Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman consider that a good example for a Labour paper to give the country?

There is a Question on that matter on the Order Paper.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Odham's Press have increased their dividend from 17½ per cent. to 20 per cent.; and what action he proposes to take in view of his policy of dividend limitation.

Dividend limitation is voluntary, and though I deplore the increasing of the rate of dividend, I cannot take action in any individual case.

Does not the right hon. and learned Gentleman think that if he would write a letter to the "Daily Herald" on these lines, it would be advantageous?

It is not usual for a Minister to write letters to the Press.

Even if he cannot take any action in his official capacity, would it not be a friendly action for the Chancellor to see Messrs. Odham's and show them that their action makes absolute nonsense of the Socialist case?

No, I think they can read HANSARD.

Would not the Chancellor of the Exchequer consider the matter, in fairness to all companies—and not only Odham's—who are faced with the situation of an enormously increased wages bill? I believe that in the case of Odham's it is something in the nature of £500,000 a year against £20,000 dividend. This is not a single case. There are many companies all over the country facing the same problem, and, if the wage freeze is being broken, surely it is only fair that they should have some recourse——

That is not a supplementary question. Supplementary questions should not be as long as that.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Customs officers it is estimated will be employed at each of the various ports from which cross-Channel day trips are to be allowed this season when these boats leave and return.

It is expected that the Customs staff normally in attendance at the Channel ports will suffice to deal with those passengers who make the crossing with day return tickets.

Cannot the right hon. and learned Gentleman give some figure? He must have worked out how many people are likely to be employed?

No extra people will be employed, but only those already there. As I understand it, the proposals of the Railway Executive are merely to allow people, where there is room on their ordinary steamers, to go on a day trip, so that there will be no more passengers than normally.

In view of the fact that before the war people who sent boats backwards and forwards from Eastbourne and Brighton paid to have Customs officials from Newhaven and Shoreham, could not they be allowed to do so now?

I am afraid that Customs officials are so rare and valuable that we could not utilise them in that way.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in view of the recommendation of the Council of the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation that member countries should make the allowance available to tourists equivalent to 150 dollars he will amend the tourist rate for France to £53 to correspond with the current exchange rate.

No, Sir. When accepting this recommendation we made it clear and it was accepted that we regarded the existing £50 allowance as being broadly equivalent to 150 dollars.

While British travellers to France this year will not entirely share my right hon. and learned Friend's view, is it not a case that France has a trade deficit with the Commonwealth as a whole, and that therefore it would be in the interest of all to raise the present tourist allowance for France?

It would not be to the interest of general agreement in O.E.E.C, who do not like preferential treatment for different countries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, with the aim of increasing national savings, he will consider allowing the first £1,000 of savings to be exempt from Income Tax and Surtax.