§ 46. Sir Ian Fraserasked the Prime Minister whether he will now appoint a Select Committee or other similar inquiry to consider war pensions and allowances.
§ The Prime MinisterFull information as to the war pension provisions and the many improvements that have been made in recent years has been made available to hon. Members, and the Government are not persuaded that any inquiry is necessary.
§ Sir I. FraserDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree that a committee of Members of all parties, looking into this matter in the quiet of a committee room, would undoubtedly discover that His Majesty's recent Government in many respects did well for ex-Service men and women, but that there is still much to be done, and does he not think that the Members of this House and the public would like to feel that after a second major war a full review of the whole situation has taken place?
§ The Prime MinisterThere is, as the hon. Member knows, a Central Advisory Committee which meets frequently. In addition to leading members of ex-Service men's organisations, there are upon it hon. Members of all parties in this House, including, I think, the hon. Member for Morecambe and Lonsdale (Sir. I. Fraser). There is no subject upon which the Government are more fully provided with information than this one. Therefore, I do not think that it is necessary to set up a special committee.
§ Sir I. FraserBut is the Prime Minister aware that the Central Advisory Committee does not publish its agenda or its minutes; and would not great goodwill be brought about if this matter could be dealt with in the manner I have suggested.
§ The Prime MinisterNo. I think the matter would be better ventilated and debated in this House if it is desired to ventilate it. There is very full information on this matter.