Mr Alan McKibbin: Is my right hon. Friend aware that I got into trouble with some of the 10s. widows in Belfast for not bringing them along to see him on the occasion of his recent visit? They thought he looked so kind and handsome in his photographs in the Press. They thought that if I had taken them to see him they could have "blarneyed" him into doing something for them. Is my right hon. Friend aware that...
Mr Alan McKibbin: asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many persons there are in Great Britain in receipt of the 10s. widow's pension; and how much he estimates it would cost to double the pension to these recipients.
Mr Alan McKibbin: Does my hon. Friend know that in Northern Ireland there are, in addition, 2,804 expectant 10s. widows waiting for him to do justice to the widows over here so that the Northern Ireland Government can follow suit and give them a quid pro quo?
Mr Alan McKibbin: The name of Messrs. Short Brothers and Harland Ltd. has been mentioned very often tonight, and I am very perturbed about the unemployment there because its factory is in my constituency. Since I raised this matter as long ago as June, 1954, I, together with the other Ulster Members, have done everything in our power to get further work for this factory. I appreciate that the Minister of...
Mr Alan McKibbin: Could it not have been directed to Northern Ireland in view of the present circumstances, when we so much need the employment?
Mr Alan McKibbin: I will not delay the House for more than two or three minutes, but I feel I must say something on behalf of the Northern Ireland linen trade. The Chancellor had an opportunity of doing something for the Ulster linen trade and what he did was very disappointing indeed. The reduction in Purchase Tax given to linen, in common with cotton, rayon and other non-linen materials, was helpful and we...
Mr Alan McKibbin: Is my right hon. Friend aware that ever since the Comet disaster I have been in touch with his Department, and whilst we appreciate very much the orders for the Britannias, that does not mean that we could not do with more?
Mr Alan McKibbin: asked the Secretary of State for War what establishments in Northern Ireland he has included in his plan for spending f15 million over the next three years in building and modernising barracks and military hospitals.
Mr Alan McKibbin: Would my right hon. Friend care to comment on the recent statement made by Lieut.-General Cantlie, former Director of the R.A.M.C., who said that there had not been a hospital built at home for 50 years, and that there was a scandalously bad one in Northern Ireland?
Mr Alan McKibbin: I am sorry; I did not clearly hear what was said in the main answer.
Mr Alan McKibbin: The news that the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers was one of the units which the War Office has decided to disband in the course of the next few years was received with distress in Northern Ireland. While I realise the need for economy and for cutting down the Army as much as possible with due regard to our commitments, I ask to have the decision to disband this battalion...
Mr Alan McKibbin: Is my right hon. Friend aware that, according to yesterday's "Daily Mail," the title of the world's No. 1 shipbuilders, which was formerly held by Messrs. Harland and Wolff, has been captured by a Hamburg firm, and that the reason given is that the German yards can quote a firm price and a guaranteed delivery date? In the interests of shipbuilding workers in Belfast and elsewhere, will the...
Mr Alan McKibbin: asked the Secretary of State for War on what date it is proposed to disband the 2nd Battalion The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Mr Alan McKibbin: Whilst regretting that my right hon. Friend has not changed his mind about disbanding this battalion, may I ask if he does not consider that a portion of the money being saved owing to the absence of National Service in Northern Ireland could be usefully spent in keeping alive this battalion of the famous "Skins," which has always attracted recruits in Ireland?
Mr Alan McKibbin: The hon. Member for Thurrock (Mr. Delargy) and other hon. Members have suggested that the Government of Northern Ireland would be better employed in trying to solve the problem of unemployment than in endeavouring to give a salary increase for the Governor. No one, especially myself, would suggest that the employment situation is as it should be. But the Ulster Government are doing and have...
Mr Alan McKibbin: I accept your Ruling, Sir, as did the hon. Member for Thurrock, and I shall not say a lot of the things I should like to have said. The hon. Member for Thurrock did the same, but he got away with quite a lot—probably far more than I shall get away with. There is one thing I should like to say. Apart from the suggestions against the Ulster Government in this matter, there were suggestions...
Mr Alan McKibbin: I would merely like to say that that is also stated at the end of my letter, but as I had already been called to order, I did not quote that part of it.
Mr Alan McKibbin: Is my right lion. Friend aware that immediately before the Recess, the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Minister of Labour were good enough to see a deputation of Ulster Unionist Members of this House, when proposals were put to them to improve the employment situation in Northern Ireland? Will my right hon. Friend continue to give this his personal attention so that a...
Mr Alan McKibbin: Is my right hon. Friend aware that I have taken this matter up with the Admiralty on several occasions since 17th November? Is he also aware that, while I welcome help in this matter from hon. Members on the Opposition benches and, indeed, from any quarter, most of the people concerned are my constituents?
Mr Alan McKibbin: On behalf of the war disabled and war widows in Northern Ireland, I thank the Minister for the very satisfactory increases that he has proposed. The old-age pension and other pensions are matters for the Government of Northern Ireland who, at their meeting this afternoon, will doubtless move step by step with the increases given here.
