Hon. George A. Drew (Leader of the Opposition):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to ask the Prime Minister if he is prepared to deal with the proposal I made a week ago that there be a debate on external affairs which would give us an opportunity for a coherent discussion of that subject following a statement by the Secretary of State for External Affairs (Mr. Pearson). It seems to me that events which have occurred since that time emphasize the desirability of a debate shortly after the termination of the debate on the address in reply to the speech from the throne.

Righi Hon. L. S. St. Laurent (Prime Minister):

I quite agree with the Leader of the Opposition, and I hope that arrangements can be made for such a debate shortly after the conclusion of the debate on the address in reply to the speech from the throne.

Hon. George A. Drew (Leader of the Opposition):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to direct a question to the Secretary of State for External Affairs'. In view of the photograph handed to the press by the public relations officers of the Royal Canadian Air Force, showing a Harvard trainer carrying military weapons, will the Secretary of State for External Affairs amend the answer he gave to the effect that he did not believe that Harvard trainers could carry weapons, and amplify the remarks he made on the earlier occasion?

Hon. L. B. Pearson (Secretary of State for External Affairs):

Mr. Speaker, I am quite ready to amend and amplify the answer which I gave on this point, and which was preceded by the cautionary observation that I was not a military expert. I said I did not believe this could be done. Apparently it can be done.

Mr. Drew:

Might I ask a supplementary question of the Minister of National Defence? If that is so, have any steps been taken to ensure that military weapons are not provided for the Harvard trainers being shipped to Egypt?

Hon. R. O. Campney (Minister of National

Defence): I shall be glad to get the information the Leader of the Opposition has asked for. I should like to say, in explanation of the statement on which he based his question, that I am informed that the pictures of the Harvard which were displayed in various newspapers were taken many years ago and they are in the offices of newspapers everywhere. The Harvard has for many years been regarded entirely as a trainer. It was never in fact in action, but was an armed trainer in use for some time years ago.

With regard to the question the Leader of the Opposition has asked, I shall obtain the answer for him.

Mr. Roland Michener (St. Paul's):

Mr. Speaker, now that the Minister of Finance is back in Canada and the debate on the address in reply to the speech from the throne is proceeding, would the Prime Minister reconsider his answer to the mayor and city council of Toronto who requested a conference on the matter of taxation on federal property in Toronto?

Hon. W. E. Harris (Minister of Finance):

would point out to the hon. member for St. Paul's that I saw the mayor and board of control of the city of 'Toronto last week and discussed this subject.

Mr. Stanley Knowles (Winnipeg North Centre):

Mr. Speaker, may I ask the Minister of Labour if his department has obtained a ruling from the Department of Justice as to whether it will be possible by regulation to

278 HOUSE OF

Inquiries of the Ministry pay unemployment insurance benefits to persons denied those benefits under the new act provided they could have qualified under the old act?

Hon. Milton F. Gregg (Minister of Labour):

The answer is that a ruling has not been received as yet. While I am on my feet, I can report at first hand to my hon. friend that in his own city of Winnipeg there are not a very large number so affected. I was glad to find in my week end visit there that under our new legislation some 25 per cent more were qualifying for seasonal benefits this winter, and I am quite sure it includes practically all those he has in mind.