asked the Prime Minister whether he will arrange for the administration of service family and dependants' allowances to be transferred from the War Office to the Ministry of Labour?

No, Sir. I do not think such a transfer in present circumstances is either necessary or desirable.

As the right hon. Gentleman does not think this transfer desirable, will he do something to speed up the War Office in dealing with the many outstanding cases; and is he aware that in the country there is a great deal of dissatisfaction about the way in which cases are dealt with by the War Office?

Questions on that subject should be addressed to the Secretary of State for War.

But is the right hon. Gentleman, as the head of the Government, aware that the general administration of allowances by the War Office is proving very unsatisfactory, and will he not, as head of the Government, inquire into the matter and see whether he cannot transfer this work to another Department, or see that the administration by the War Office is improved?

If the hon. Member has any particular cases to bring to notice—

Hon. Members:

We all have them.

I am not aware that there is general dissatisfaction, but if the hon. Member will give me illustrations of delay or of other objections to the present administration which have been brought to his notice, I will have them examined.