§ 22. Mr. George Thomsonasked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the arrangements for the accommodation and welfare of the families of Servicemen evacuated from Malta.
§ Lord BalnielSome 1,900 families were returned to the United Kingdom last week. Over half the families decided to make their own accommodation arrangements. Nearly all the rest were accommodated in officially provided quarters. Only a very small number had to be put in temporary accommodation such as hostels.
All Servicemen in Malta have been allowed advances of pay to clear hire- 654 purchase debts, an increase in their baggage entitlement, free freight of their cars to the United Kingdom and compensation within defined limits for unavoidable losses on the sale of goods in Malta. Also any Customs duty or purchase tax payable in the United Kingdom on capital goods will be met by the Ministry of Defence.
The whole withdrawal operation went remarkably smoothly in spite of the very short notice available. This reflects great credit on the staffs and Departments concerned.
§ Mr. Thomsonis the Minister aware that, without commenting on the merits of the Government's policy over Malta generally, I think both sides of the House would wish to congratulate those in Air Support Command and in the Service welfare organisations generally for their contribution towards making this such a smooth operation?
§ Lord BalnielI will see that the congratulations of the right hon. Gentleman and the whole House are conveyed to the personnel concerned.
§ Mr. BurdenI am sure my right hon. Friend will also take into consideration that, although many of these families have been rehoused, there remains an urgent need to ensure that all Forces' families are accommodated in reasonable accommodation as quickly as possible.
§ Lord BalnielYes, I fully appreciate the point made by my hon. Friend. If he has a specific instance in mind which causes him particular worry, I hope that he will communicate with me.
§ 27. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will give details of the costs to the Exchequer of removing polo horses from Malta; who own these horses; and why time and money was expended on this in preference to the shipment of personal and family belongings of the other ranks serving in Malta.
§ Lord BalnielThe horses owned by the Combined—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Hon. Members must realise that they are putting the Chair in an intolerable position.
§ Lord Balnielrose—
§ Mr. HefferOn a point of order.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Lord Balniel.
§ Lord Balniel rose—
§ Mr. HefferOn a point of order.
§ Lord BalnielI have been asked to reply to Question No. 27 by the hon. Member for West Ham. North (Mr. Arthur Lewis)—
§ Mr. HefferOn a point of order.
§ Lord BalnielThe horses owned by the—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Mr. Heffer—point of order.
§ Mr. HefferOn a point of order. Has the Prime Minister in any way notified you, Mr. Speaker, that he intends to come to the House today to make a statement that he intends to resign as a result of today's unemployment figures?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is not a point of order. Lord Balniel.
§ Lord BalnielI have been asked to answer Question No. 27—
§ Lord BalnielThe horses owned by the Combined Services Saddle Club in Malta are being transferred to the Army Saddle Club.—[Interruption.]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. This is Question Time and it is quite wrong to try—[Interruption.] Order. It is quite wrong to try to prevent a Minister answering a Question that he has been asked. Lord Balniel.
§ Lord Balniel rose—
§ Mr. SwainOn a point of order. Has the Prime Minister notified you, Mr. Speaker, that he intends coming to the House today to make a statement about unemployment?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I have already ruled that that is not a point of order.
§ Lord Balniel rose—
§ Lord BalnielThe answer to Question No. 27 is as follows. The horses owned by the Combined Services Saddle Club in Malta are being transferred to the Army Saddle Club. They travelled in a Service-owned ship after it had been loaded with all baggage available for shipment at that time. No extra cost was involved.
§ Mr. Arthur LewisIt was somewhat difficult to hear that reply. Does not the Minister think it scandalous to spend any money at all on bringing polo horses back to this country when there are over 1 million unemployed—men who are prevented from obtaining work because the Government refuse to take action to ensure that these workers can get employment? Is it not scandalous that money should be spent for this purpose when the only thing the Government can boast of is having achieved 1 million unemployed?
§ Lord BalnielI appreciate that the hon. Gentleman found it difficult to hear my answer, but I pointed out that no extra cost was involved.
§ Lord BalnielThe cost of forage for the animals was met by a non-government organisation. The grooming and care of the horses was met by volunteers who gave up their leave for this purpose. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] There was no market for the horses in Malta and had they been left in Malta it would have been necessary for them to have been shot.