asked the Chancellor of the exchequer whether he has considered the resolutionof the Scottish Old Age Pensioners' Association calling for an increase in the payments to old age pensioners, in order to meet the increased cost of living; and whether he can now state when the report of the committee set up to consider the question of pensions and contributions will be issued?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the latter part, I cannot at present add to the reply which was given to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson) on 5th December.

asked the Chancellor of the exchequer whether he will be in a position to make a statement on old age pensions before the Christmas Recess?

Mr. Jenkins:

asked the Chancellor of the exchequer whether he is now in a position to make a statement with reference to increasing the rate of old age pensions?

I am pressing on with the inquiry which I promised on 1st November, but I fear it will not be possible to make a statement before the House rises for the Christmas Recess.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that our patience is well nigh exhausted, and are we not entitled to know where the difficulty is and whether the Treasury or the employers are holding something back? Are we not entitled to that in fairness to our constant requests?

I am glad to tell the hon. Gentleman that there is nobody who is holding anything back. The inquiry has to he made, and there are a number of difficult questions that have to be considered.

Mr. Jenkins:

Is it not a fact that in July last, when the promise was given to set up this inquiry, it was stated by the Minister that a short period was required and that five or six weeks were considered to be ample for the inquiry? Has not the whole time which was then anticipated as being necessary long since passed, and what is the reason for this continued delay?

I do not think the hon. Gentleman's recollection is quite correct. My recollection is that it was stated that it was hoped to get the inquiry carried on far enough to enable an announcement to be made to the House in the autumn. That, I think, was the nature of the statement. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will appreciate that it is more difficult to carry things on rapidly in time of war than it is in time of peace. I still hope, however, that I shall have an announcement to make after the sort of interval that was then suggested.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be able to make a statement before Christmas?

That was the question asked in No. 52 which I have just answered.

When the right hon. Gentleman does make a statement, does he expect it to be favourable?

I think the right hon. Gentleman misunderstood my question. No. 52 said "before the Christmas Recess." Will the right hon. Gentleman be able to make any statement which may comfort the old age pensioners before Christmas?

I think the statement will have to be made to the House.

Will it be before the Recess? I beg to give notice that owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment to-night.

asked the Chancellor of the exchequer whether he will invite the committee considering the question of old age pensions to consider the adoption of a scheme for providing assistance to necessitous old age pensioners in the contributory group from funds provided by transfer from the Unemployment Insur- ance Fund of money which may be assumed to be unnecessary for the provision of unemployment insurance benefit to persons in the older age groups?

No, Sir. I do not think that an assessment of surplus moneys in the Unemployment Fund could be made on the basis suggested by the hon. Member, and even if it could I should hesitate to suggest that the surplus should be requisitioned for purposes quite different from those for which it was contributed.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that on Thursday last I was informed by the Minister of Labour that there was a surplus of £42,000,000 in the Unemployment Insurance Fund. Could not that be transferred to give an increase to old age pensioners, or, if there is a "snag" there, could it not be used to give an increase to the unemployed?

As to the second suggestion, that might be considered, but I am sure the hon. Member will see that any surplus which there is in the Unemployment Insurance Fund belongs to the beneficiaries of that fund, and there are various ways in which it could be used, but that it could not be taken out for the purpose of being used for others.