HC Deb 22 June 1950 vol 476 cc1622-31

(1) If the claimant proves—

  1. (a) that at the commencement of the year of assessment he has reached the age of fifty-five years; and
  2. (b) that he was unmarried throughout the year of assessment; and
  3. (c) that a female person is resident with and maintained or employed by him in the capacity of a housekeeper; and
  4. (d) that neither he nor any other individual is entitled to a deduction in respect of the same person under this or any of the provisions of section nineteen and section twenty of the Finance Act, 1920, or section fifteen of the Finance Act, 1943,

he shall be entitled to a deduction of £50. (2) Where more than one individual is entitled to relief under this section in connection with the same person employed in the capacity of a housekeeper the fifty pounds mentioned in subsection (1) of this section shall be apportioned between them in such proportions as may be agreed between them or in default of agreement m proportion to the amounts of the provision made or paid to, the person maintained or employed as defined in paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of this section. (3) No more than one deduction of tax shall be allowed under this section to any claimant for any year.—[Mr. C. S. Taylor.]

Brought up, and read the First time.

Mr. C. S. Taylor (Eastbourne)

I beg to move, "That the Clause be read a Second time."

The Clause is designed to extend the housekeeper's allowance of £50 to unmarried persons, whether male or female, who attain the age of 55. As the House knows, the housekeeper's allowance is obtainable by the taxpayer only if the claimant is a widow or widower, irrespective of age and irrespective of fact that they may or may not have in their care children who qualify for the children's allowance. It seems to me to be quite illogical that a widow or widower, who might be young, even in the early 20's, in good health and without family obligations, can be in a position to obtain this allowance, whereas elderly unmarried people are not.

Elderly unmarried people of this age are probably in greater need than the young people I have mentioned. Moreover, elderly unmarried taxpayers, even though they suffer from some infirmity, cannot qualify for their dependant relative's allowance of £25. That is restricted to those cases where a daughter is looking after them. Since the housekeeper's allowance was first introduced its scope has been extended and widened from time to time. As far as I know, nothing has yet been done to help these elderly unmarried people, unless they have young children under their care. I ask the Committee to be good enough to accept this new Clause, and to dispense with this anomaly. I cannot believe that the cost to the Exchequer would be very great, and it would relieve many people and do away with considerable hardship.

Miss Ward

This is rather an old controversy which has been argued on many occasions, but I wish to add my support for the new Clause which has been moved by the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. C. S. Taylor). As a matter of fact it is rather a new controversy from the point of view of this Committee, because we have had on many occasions in the past arguments as between men and women, but on this occasion it is really between the married and the unmarried.

As the principle behind this new Clause has a great deal of support, particularly from civil servants and the National Union of Teachers, I hope we shall be able to persuade the Treasury to accept the proposals contained in it. If I may say so, I am not absolutely certain that I shall not be able to persuade the Chancellor of the Exchequer, because I remember with great appreciation that during the war he was susceptible to pressure for equality of treatment in certain instances which were brought to his notice in the war years.

I think it might clarify matters for hon. Members who may not have been particularly interested in the proposal which has been put forward if, for the information of the Committee, I were to give one or two instances which have been supplied to me by the National Union of Teachers, so as to indicate why we are pressing for this particular allowance to be made. There is the case of two sisters, one of whom is widowed and who serves as director and secretary of a firm, but does her work at home and can claim a housekeeper's allowance. The other sister is single, and a teacher, she has to go out to her work each day and is unable to claim the allowance.

There is the instance of two single sisters, one a teacher and the other a civil servant. They had an invalid mother who could not be left. They employed a housekeeper, and, as she was elderly, it was necessary to have a daily woman to do the housework. They received no allowance for the housekeeper or for daily woman. In contrast, a widow who was working and drawing a pension in respect of her husband, employed a resident housekeeper and received an allowance for that housekeeper. In order that there shall be no sex discrimination, I have a particular case to bring to the notice of the Committee relating to bachelors. An elderly bachelor lived with his sister who acted as his housekeeper. Now she is failing in health, and they need a resident housekeeper, but cannot afford to have one as they get no allowance.

A woman teacher, now in the late fifties, has an elder sister who always kept house, first for the large family, and later for the aged parents. The parents are now deceased, and the teacher continues to keep her sister at home, as housekeeper, and bears all the expenses of the home. When her father was alive and widowed, he was able to claim income tax allowance in respect of his daughter, who acted as the housekeeper; but the sister is not entitled so to do.

10.45 p.m.

The argument that unmarried men and women should be put on a basis of equality compared with widowers and widows is a really human approach to a very real problem, and I cannot believe that the right hon. and learned Gentleman will not respond to the pressure from all sides of the Committee to end, once and for all, this great inequality. It is a very long time since any Government has really acceded to a measure of this kind, and the time has come, for once, to grant something which is put forward with the support of the civil servants and the National Union of Teachers in respect of men and women who make a very great contribution to the national life. Therefore, I have pleasure in supporting the new Clause, and I cannot believe the Minister, with his goodness of heart, will refuse it.

Mr. Jay

As the hon. Lady says, this is an old controversy, and the history of the housekeeper's allowance illustrates the dangers in these matters of taxation which come from departing from a firm basis of logic and giving way to what appears to be goodness of heart.

The housekeeper's allowance, if I may briefly recall the history of the matter, was originally given only to widowers where there was a female person living in the house looking after a young child. It was extended in 1920 to widows and widowers who had a female housekeeper looking after children and also to any single taxpayer with a female relative looking after children. That was a reasonable basis of logic, so far. In 1924, as the hon. Lady knows, it was decided by the House to remove the condition of the existence of the young child in the household in the case of the widower and the widow only, and from that moment there has been a certain element of lack of logic about the working of the housekeeper's allowances.

In 1943, in response to representations on the subject of these allowances, the late Sir Kingsley Wood agreed to review the whole matter, and went into the question thoroughly. He came to the conclusion that the basis of the allowance should, in future, be a double one: first, that it should be confined to persons who were getting the adopted child relief in respect of young persons in the household, and secondly, that a housekeeper should also be maintained. These conditions, however, were not applied to the case of the widower or the widow, but only to other taxpayers, and Sir Kingsley Wood said frankly at the time that he did not think the extension to the widower and the widow was wise, but it having been made, he saw no special reason to withdraw it. In all other cases the allowance would be confined to those where young children were present in the household.

I think that is sound. We do not feel able to disagree with the conclusions Sir Kingsley Wood then arrived at, and indeed, if one were to depart in general, even with the age limit proposed by the hon. Gentleman, from the condition of the young child, I think, there would be a further anomaly. One would then find that the single taxpayer, who chooses and can afford to maintain a housekeeper in his or her household, would be able to obtain an allowance towards that at the expense of the Revenue, whereas another taxpayer, who cannot afford or does not wish to maintain such a housekeeper, would not be able to do so. I think that: would introduce a further anomaly into the working of this allowance, and therefore I must ask the Committee to reject the new Clause.

Miss Ward

Before the hon. Gentleman sits down, may I ask whether it is his intention always to follow the advice of Conservatives, or does he not have a mind of his own?

Mr. Jay

I propose to agree with Conservatives only when they appear to be right.

Mr. C. S. Taylor

What would the cost of this concession amount to?

Mr. Jay

It is very hard to estimate. It probably would not be very much.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore (Ayr)

I expect the Committee as a whole will completely disagree with the arguments advanced by the hon. Gentleman. In fact, he said nothing on which to convince us. He referred, of course, to the period when Sir Kingsley Wood decided, rightly or wrongly, to set down certain restrictions on the award of this allowance, but conditions have altered very much since then. These are days of full employment. We are all working now. We have all got to be out at our daily work and we have to leave our house or our flat, or whatever it may be, uncared for. Therefore, whether or not there a child in the flat, the flat must be kept clean and tidy, the beds must be made, and all the necessary arrangements of a house or a flat must be kept up.

We have had already in this Debate, first, a married man speaking—and I must admit that he spoke remarkably convincingly for a married man—then we have had a spinster. I can never understand quite why she should be one still, if I may say so. It does show the lamentable want of enterprise on the part of many of my bachelor colleagues in this Committee. Now there is speaking one who must disclose his interest, for I am one of the many who are in the very position which this Clause seeks to cover. I have to contribute as much of my time as possible to the service of this House. I have to earn my living outside it. [AN HON. MEMBER: "Why?"] I always thought it was an essential thing to try to earn one's living, and I never knew it was really derogatory to a man's character to do so.

I do think, therefore, as one who is representing quite a substantial number of the community, that I have a right to ask the hon. Gentleman to give a few more reasons why he cannot accede to this new Clause than he has given so far. To my mind it is one of the least costly and yet most beneficial of any of the new Clauses which hon. Members have asked the Government to accept during the proceedings of this Finance Bill. If the hon. Gentleman had even advanced one argument which would have convinced the Committee, we would have

been prepared probably to accept it, but those arguments being what they were, I think my hon. Friend might be well advised to take further action to see that this new Clause is accepted.

Viscountess Davidson (Hemel Hempstead)

I should like very shortly to support this Clause on behalf of a section of the community who, I believe are very definitely suffering, and suffering mostly in silence. Although this matter may be argued according to certain actions taken by past Chancellors of the Exchequer, nevertheless I do not see that the arguments put forward by the Financial Secretary are logical at all. I see no reason why this particular allowance should not be made and thereby help a section of the community who deserve that help.

Mr. C. S. Taylor

Are we to have a further reply to the speeches made since the Financial Secretary spoke?

Question put, "That the Clause be read a Second time."

The Committee divided. Ayes, 273; Noes, 287.

Division No. 43.] AYES [10.58 p.m.
Aitken, W T. Clarke, Brig. T. H. (Portsmouth, W.) Gates, Maj. E. E.
Alport, C. J. M. Clyde, J. L George, Lady M. Lloyd
Amery, J. (Preston, N.) Colegate, A Gomme-Duncan, Col. A.
Arbuthnot, John Cooper, A E. (Ilford, S.) Granville, E. (Eye)
Ashton, H. (Chelmsford) Cooper-Key, E. M. Gridley, Sir A.
Assheton, Rt. Hon. R. (Blackburn, W.) Corbett, Lieut.-Col. U. (Ludlow) Grimond, J.
Astor, Hon. M Craddock, G. B. (Spelthorne) Grimston, Hon. J. (St. Albans)
Baker, P. Cranborne, Viscount Grimston, R. V. (Westbury)
Baldock, J. M. Cross, Rt. Hon. Sir R Harden, J. R. E.
Banks, Col. C. Crosthwaite-Eyre, Col. O. E. Hare, Hon. J. H. (Woodbridge)
Baxter, A. B. Crouch, R. F. Harris, F. W. (Croydon, N.)
Beamish, Maj. T V. H. Crowder, F. P. (Ruislip-Northwood) Harris, R. R. (Heston)
Bell, R. M. Cundiff, F. W. Harvey, Air-Codre. A. V. (Macclesfield)
Bennett, Sir P. (Edgbaston) Cuthbert, W. N. Harvey, I. (Harrow, E.)
Bennett, R. F. B. (Gosport) Darling, Sir W. Y. (Edinburgh, S.) Hay, John
Bennett, W. G. (Woodside) Davidson, Viscountess Head, Brig. A. H
Bevins, J. R. (Liverpool, Toxteth) Davies, Nigel (Epping) Heald, L. F.
Birch, Nigel de Chair, S. Heath, Col. E. R.
Bishop, F P. De la Bère, R. Henderson, John (Cathcart)
Black, C. W. Deedes, W. F. Hicks-Beach, Maj. W W
Boles, Lt.-Col. D. C. (Wells) Dodds-Parker, A. D. Higgs, J M. C.
Boothby, R. Douglas-Hamilton, Lord M. Hill, Mrs. E. (Wythenshawe)
Bossom, A. C. Drayson, G. B. Hill, Dr C. (Luton)
Bowen, R. Drewe, C. Hinchingbrooke, Viscount
Bower, N. Dugdale, Maj. Sir T. (Richmond) Hirst, Geoffrey
Boyd-Carpenter, J. A. Duncan, Capt. J. A. L. Hogg, Hon. Q.
Braine, B. Duthie, W. S. Hollis, M. C.
Braithwaite, Lt.-Comdr. J G Eccles, D. M. Holmes, Sir J. Stanley (Harwich)
Bromley-Davenport, Lt.-Col W Eden, Rt. Hon. A. Hope, Lord J.
Brooke, H. (Hampstead) Elliot, Lieut.-Col. Rt. Hon. Walter Hopkinson, H. L. D'A.
Browne, J. N. (Govan) Erroll, F. J. Hornsby-Smith, Miss P
Buchan-Hepburn, P. G. T Fisher, Nigel Horsbrugh, Miss F.
Bullock, Capt. M. Fort, R. Howard, G. R. (St. Ives)
Bullus, Wing-Commander E E. Foster, J. G. Howard, S. G. (Cambridgeshire)
Burden, Squadron-Leader F. A. Fraser, Hon. H. C. P. (Stone) Hudson, Sir Austin (Lewisham, N.)
Butler, Rt Hon. R. A. (S'ffr'n W'ld'n) Fraser, Sir I. (Lonsdale) Hudson, Rt. Hon R S. (Southport)
Carr, L. R. (Mitcham) Galbraith, Cmdr. T. D. (Pollok) Hudson, W R A (Hull, N.)
Carson, Hon. E. Galbraith, T. G. D. (Hillhead) Hulbert, Wing-Cdr. N. J.
Channon, H Gammans, L. D. Hutchinson, Geoffrey (Ilford, N.)
Clarke, Col. R. S. (East Grinstead) Garner-Evans, E. H (Denbigh) Hutchison, Lt.-Com. Clark (E'b'rgh W.)
Hyde, H. M Morrison, Maj. J. G. (Salisbury) Spearman, A. C. M
Hylton-Foster, H B. Morrison, Rt. Hon. W. S (Cirencester) Spence, H. R. (Aberdeenshire, W.)
Jeffreys, General Sir G Mott-Radclyffe, C. E Spens, Sir P. (Kensington, S.)
Jennings, R. Nabarro, G Stanley, Capt. Hon. R. (N. Fylde)
Johnson, Howard S. (Kemptown) Nicholls, H. Stevens, G. P.
Jones, A (Hall Green) Nicholson, G Steward, W. A. (Woolwich, W.)
Joynson-Hicks, Hon L W Nield, B. (Chester) Stoddart-Scott, Col. M.
Kaberry, D. Noble, Comdr. A. H. P. Storey, S.
Keeling, E. H Nugent, G. R. H. Strauss, Henry (Norwich, S.)
Kerr, H W. (Cambridge) Nutting, Anthony Stuart, Rt. Hon. J. (Moray)
Kingsmill, Lt.-Col. W. H Oakshott, H D. Studholme, H G
Lambert, Hon. G. Odey, G. W. Summers, G S.
Lancaster, Col. C. G O'Neill, Rt. Hon. Sir H. Sutcliffe, H.
Langford-Holt, J. Ormsby-Gore, Hon. W. D Taylor, C. S. (Eastbourne)
Law, Rt. Hon. R. K Orr, Capt L. P. S. Taylor, W. J. (Bradford, N.)
Leather, E. H. C Orr-Ewing, Charles Ian (Hendon, N.) Teeling, William
Legge-Bourke, Maj E. A. H Orr-Ewing, Ian L. (Weston-super-Mare) Thomas, J. P. L. (Hereford)
Linstead, H N Osborne, C Thompson, K. P. (Walton)
Llewellyn, D Perkins, W. R. D Thompson, R. H. M. (Croydon, W.)
Lloyd, Rt. Hon. G. (King's Norton) Peto, Brig. C. H M Thorneycroft, G. E. P. (Monmouth)
Lloyd, Maj. Guy (Renfrew, E.) Pickthorn, K. Thornton-Kemsley, C N
Lloyd, Selwyn (Wirral) Powell, J. Enoch Tilney, John
Lockwood, Lt.-Col. J. C. Prescott, Stanley Touche, G. C
Longden, G. J. M (Herts, S W.) Price, H. A (Lewisham, W.) Turton, R. H
Low, A. R. W. Prior-Palmer, Brig. O. Tweedsmuir, Lady
Lucas, P. B. (Brentford) Profumo, J. D. Vane, W. M. F.
Lucas Tooth, Sir H. Ralkes, H V Vaughan-Morgan, J K
Lyttelton, Rt. Hon O Rayner, Brig. R Vosper, D F.
McCallum, Maj. D. Redmayne, M Wakefield, E. B (Derbyshire, W.)
McCorquodale, Rt Hon. M. S. Remnant, Hon P. Wakefield, Sir W. W. (St. Marylebone)
Macdonald, A. J. F. (Roxburgh) Renton, D. L M Walker-Smith, D. C.
Macdonald, Sir P. (I. of Wight) Roberts, Emrys (Merioneth) Ward, Hon G. R. (Worcester)
Mackeson, Brig H. R Roberts, P. G (Heeley) Ward, Miss I. (Tynemouth)
McKibbin, A. Robertson, Sir D. (Caithness) Waterhouse, Capt C
McKie, J. H. (Galloway) Robinson, J. Roland (Blackpool, S.) Watkinson, H.
Maclay, Hon. J S Robson-Brown, W (Esher) Watt, Sir G. S. Harvie
Maclean, F. H. R. Rodgers, J (Sevenoaks) Webbe, Sir H. (London)
MacLeod, Iain (Enfield, W.) Roper, Sir H. Wheatley, Major M. J. (Poole)
MacLeod, John (Ross and Cromarty) Ropner, Col L White, J Baker (Canterbury)
Macpherson, N. (Dumfries) Ross, Sir R D (Londonderry) Williams, C. (Torquay)
Maitland, Comdr. J W Russell, R S. Williams, Gerald (Tonbridge)
Manningham-Buller, R. E Ryder, Capt R E. O. Williams, Sir H G. (Croydon, E.)
Marlowe, A. A H Savory, Prof D L. Wills, G.
Marples, A. E Scott, Donald Wilson, Geoffrey (Truro)
Marshall, D. (Bodmin) Shepherd, W S (Cheadle) Winterton, Rt. Hon. Earl
Marshall, S. H. (Sutton) Smiles, Lt.-Col. Sir W Wood, Hon R
Maude, A. E. U. (Ealing, S.) Smith, E. Martin (Grantham) York, C
Maude, J. C. (Exeter) Smithers, Peter H. B. (Winchester) Young, Sir A. S. L.
Maudling, R Smithers, Sir W. (Orpington)
Mellor, Sir J Smyth, Brig J. G. (Norwood) TELLERS FOR THE AYES:
Molson, A. H. E. Snadden, W McN Mr. Conant and Mr. Wingfield Digby.
Moore, Lt.-Col. Sir T. Soames, Capt. C.
NOES
Acland, Sir Richard Brown, George (Belper) Davies, R. J. (Westhoughton)
Adams, Richard Brown, T. J. (Ince) Davies, S. O. (Merthyr)
Albu, A. H. Burke, W. A. de Freitas, Geoffrey
Allen, A. C. (Bosworth) Burton, Miss E. Deer, G.
Anderson, F. (Whitehaven) Butler, H. W. (Hackney, S.) Dodds, N. N.
Attlee, Rt. Hon. C. R. Callaghan, James Donnelly, D.
Awbery, S S. Castle, Mrs. B. A. Donovan, T. N.
Ayles, W. H. Champion, A. J. Driberg, T. E. N.
Bacon, Miss A Chetwynd, G. R. Dugdale, Rt. Hon. J. (W. Bromwich)
Baird, J. Clunie, J. Dye, S.
Balfour, A. Cocks, F S. Ede, Rt. Hon. J. C.
Barnes, Rt. Hon. A. J. Coldrick, W. Edelman, M.
Bartley, P. Coilick, P. Edwards, John (Brighouse)
Bellenger, Rt. Hon. F. J Collindridge, F. Edwards, Rt. Hon. N. (Caerphilly)
Benson, G. Cook, T. F. Edwards, W. J. (Stepney)
Beswick, F. Cooper, G. (Middlesbrough, W.) Evans, Albert (Islington, S. W.)
Bevan, Rt. Hon. A. (Ebbw Vale) Cooper, J. (Deptford) Evans, E. (Lowestoft)
Bing, G. H. C. Corbet, Mrs. F. K. (Peckham) Evans, S. N. (Wednesbury)
Blackburn, A. R. Cove, W. G. Ewart, R.
Blenkinsop, A. Craddock, George (Bradford, S.) Fernyhough, E.
Boardman, H. Crawley, A. Field, Capt. W. J.
Booth, A. Cripps, Rt. Hon. Sir S. Finch, H. J.
Bottomley, A. G. Crosland, C. A. R. Fletcher, E. G. M. (Islington, E.)
Bowden, H. W. Crossman, R. H. S. Follick, M.
Bowles, F. G. (Nuneaton) Cullen, Mrs. A. Forman, J. C.
Braddock, Mrs. E. M. Daines, P. Fraser, T. (Hamilton)
Brockway, A. Fenner Darling, G. (Hillsboro') Freeman, J. (Watford)
Brook, D. (Halifax) Davies, A. Edward (Stoke, N.) Freeman, Peter (Newport)
Brooks, T. J. (Normanton) Davies, Ernest (Enfield, E.) Gaitskell, Rt. Hon. H T. N
Broughton, Dr. A. D. D. Davies, Harold (Leek) Ganley, Mrs. C. S.
Gibson, C. W. Logan, D. G. Ross, William (Kilmarnock)
Gilzean, A. Longden, F. (Small Heath) Royle, C.
Glanville, J. E. (Consett) McAllister, G. Shackleton, E. A. A.
Gooch, E. G. MacColl, J. E. Shawcross, Rt. Hon. Sir H.
Gordon, Walker, Rt. Hon. P. C. McGhee, H. G. Shurmer, P. L. E.
Greenwood, A. W. J. (Rossendale) McInnes, J. Silverman, J. (Erdington)
Greenwood, Rt. Hn. Arthur (Wakefield) Mack, J. D. Silverman, S. S. (Nelson)
Grenfell, D. R. McKay, J (Wallsend) Simmons, C. J
Grey, C. F. Mackay, R. W. G. (Reading, N.) Slater, J.
Griffiths, D. (Rother Valley) McLeavy, F Smith, Ellis (Stoke, S.)
Griffiths, Rt. Hon. J. (Llanelly) MacMillan, M. K. (Western Isles) Snow, J. W.
Griffiths, W. D. (Exchange) McNeil, Rt. Hon. H. Sorensen, R. W.
Gunter, R. J MacPherson, Malcolm (Stirling) Soskice, Rt. Hon. Sir F
Hale, J. (Rochdale) Mainwaring, W. H. Sparks, J. A.
Hale, Leslie (Oldham, W.) Mallalieu, E. L. (Brigg) Steele, T.
Hall, J. (Gateshead, W.) Mallalieu, J. P W. (Huddersfield, E) Stewart, Michael (Fulham, E.)
Hall, Rt. Hon. Glenvil (Colne Valley) Mann, Mrs. J. Strachey, Rt. Hon. J.
Hamilton, W. W. Manuel, A. C. Strauss, Rt. Hon. G. R. (Vauxhall)
Hannan, W. Marquand, Rt. Hon. H. A Stross, Dr. B.
Hardman, D. R. Mathers, Rt. Hon. George Summerskill, Rt. Hon. Edith
Hardy, E. A. Mellish, R. J. Sylvester, G. O.
Hargreaves, A. Messer, F. Taylor, H. B. (Mansfield)
Harrison, J. Middleton, Mrs. L. Taylor, R. J. (Morpeth)
Hastings, Dr. Somerville Mikardo, Ian Thomas, D. E. (Aberdare)
Hayman, F. H. Mitchison, G. R. Thomas, George (Cardiff)
Henderson, Rt. Hon. A. (Rowley Regis) Moeran, E. W. Thomas, I O. (Wrekin)
Herbison, Miss M. Monslow, W. Thomas, I. R. (Rhondda, W.)
Hewitson, Capt. M. Moody, A. S. Thorneycroft, Harry (Clayton)
Hobson, C. R. Morgan, Dr. H. B. Thurtle, Ernest
Holman, P. Morley, R. Timmons, J.
Holmes, H. E. (Hemsworth) Morris, P. (Swansea, W.) Tomney, F.
Houghton, Douglas Mort, D. L. Turner-Samuels, M
Hoy, J. Moyle, A. Usborne, Henry
Hubbard, T. Mulley, F. W. Vernon, Maj. W. F.
Hudson, J. H. (Ealing, N.) Murray, J. D. Viant, S. P.
Hughes, Emrys (S. Ayr) Nally, W. Wallace, H. W.
Hughes, Hector (Aberdeen, N.) Neal, H. Watkins, T. E.
Hughes, Moelwyn (Islington, N.) Noel-Baker, Rt. Hon. P. J. Webb, Rt. Hon. M. (Bradford. C)
Hynd, H. (Accrington) Oldfield, W. H. Weitzman, D.
Hynd, J. B. (Attercliffe) Oliver, G. H. Wells, P. L. (Faversham)
Irvine, A. J. (Edge Hill) Orbach, M. Wells, W. T. (Walsall)
Irving, W. J. (Wood Green) Padley, W. E. West, D. G.
Isaacs, Rt. Hon. G. A. Paling, Rt. Hon. Wilfred (Dearne V'lly) Wheatley, Rt. Hn. John (Edinb'gh, E.)
Janner, B. Paling, Will T. (Dewsbury) White, Mrs. E. (E. Flint)
Jay, D. P. T. Pannell, T. C. White, H. (Derbyshire, N. E.)
Jeger, G. (Goole) Pargiter, G. A. Whiteley, Rt. Hon. W.
Jeger, Dr. S. W. (St. Pancras, S.) Parker, J. Wigg, George
Jenkins, R. H. Paton, J. Wilcock, Group-Capt. C. A. B.
Johnson, James (Rugby) Pearson, A. Wilkes, L.
Johnston, Douglas (Paisley) Peart, T. F. Wilkins, W. A.
Jones, D. T. (Hartlepool) Poole, Cecil Willey, F. T (Sunderland)
Jones, Frederick Elwyn (West Ham, S.) Porter, G. Willey, O. G. (Cleveland)
Jones, Jack (Rotherham) Price, M. Philips (Gloucestershire, W.) Williams, D. J. (Neath)
Jones, William Elwyn (Conway) Proctor, W. T. Williams, Ronald (Wigan)
Keenan, W. Pryde, D. J.
Kenyon, C. Pursey, Comdr. H. Williams, W. T. (Hammersmith, S.)
Key, Rt. Hon. C. W Rankin, J. Wilson, Rt. Hon. J. H. (Huyton)
King, H. M. Rees, Mrs. D. Winterbottom, I. (Nottingham, C.)
Kinley, J. Reeves, J. Winterbottom R. E. (Brightside)
Lang, Rev. G. Reid, T. (Swindon) Wise, Major F. J.
Lee, F. (Newton) Reid, W. (Camlachie) Woods, Rev. G. S.
Lee, Miss J. (Cannock) Richards, R Wyatt, W. L.
Lever, L. M. (Ardwick) Robens, A. Yates, V. F.
Lever, N. H. (Cheetham) Roberts, Goronwy (Caernarvonshire) Younger, Hon. Kenneth
Lewis, A. W. J. (West Ham, N.) Robertson, J. J. (Berwick)
Lewis, J. (Bolton, W.) Robinson, Kenneth (St. Pancras, N.) TELLERS FOR THE NOES:
Lipton, Lt.-Col. M. Rogers, G. H. R. (Kensington, N.) Mr. Popplewell and Mr. Delargy.