§ 17. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs 1733 whether his attention has been drawn to the treatment of Mrs. Munce, a British subject, by the Soviet Government; and whether he will inform the House of the facts of this case?
§ Viscount CRANBORNEYes, Sir. Mrs. Munce is the widow of a British subject who was working under contract for the Soviet Government when he was killed through the negligence of another employé. The Soviet Government have decided that she is capable of working, and on these grounds have deprived her of a pension, although it appears that she has been dependent on her husband for the past 17 years and is unfitted to earn her own living by her age (she is nearly 50) lack of training and failing eyesight. His Majesty's Ambassador at Moscow has made repeated representations to the Soviet Government on this case, but so far without success.
§ Sir W. DAVISONWill the Noble Lord see that this poor woman's case is not overlooked, and that our Ambassador is instructed to keep it in mind with a view to making further representations and obtaining satisfaction?
§ Mr. SILVERMANIs the Noble Lord aware that under the existing law of this country, if the same circumstances applied here, the same result would follow?