Hon. Sidney E. Smith (Secretary of Stale for External Affairs):

Mr. Speaker, I desire to reply to a question addressed to me last Friday, January 3, by the right hon. member for Melville. The question was:

Has the government taken note of the declared intention of United States agricultural secretary Benson of increasing by 50 per cent in 1958 the farm surplus give-away program of that country and has the government taken any steps to protest this decision?

I took the question as notice. On the next day, January 4, an almost identical question was addressed by the hon. member for Laurier to the Minister of Trade and Commerce. I can best answer the question that was addressed to me by giving the reply made by my colleague the Minister of Trade and Commerce last Saturday. We are aware of the proposed action on the part of the United States. I do not think any action on our part is necessary. The United States surplus disposal program is not likely to interfere with the sale of wheat to our cash customers, and that is one of the main points about which we have been particularly concerned.

Mr. Stanley Knowles (Winnipeg North Centre):

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Secretary of State, but in her absence perhaps I may direct it to the Prime Minister. In view of the fact that Mr. J. George Neuspiel, who was discharged by the undersecretary of state last October 10, has been reinstated with his status unimpaired and his salary paid back to the time he was dismissed, could we now be told what were the reasons for his dismissal?

Right Hon. J. G. Diefenbaker (Prime

Minister): I have no information sufficient to answer the question, but I shall give it to the Secretary of State for her consideration on her return to the house.

Inquiries of the Ministry OLD AGE PENSIONS

Mr. H. J. Murphy (Westmorland):

I should like to direct a question to the Minister of National Revenue arising out of his answer on January 4 in which he stated that the microwave connection would not be completed in the maritime provinces until February 2. This question can be taken as notice, and the minister can draw it to the attention of the C.B.C. Can the minister report to the house what progress is being made by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to have the Durelle-Anthony fight televised live in the maritime provinces? I may state that I have received about 50 telegrams from people and organizations in the Westmorland county area concerning this matter.

Mr. Frank Howard (Skeena):

On Saturday last I directed a question to the Minister of Labour relating to alleged inefficiency in the processing of claims in the Vancouver unemployment insurance office. I wonder if he is in a position to give an answer at this time?

Hon. Michael Starr (Minister of Labour):

In answer to the hon. member's question about the alleged inefficiency of the unemployment insurance office in Vancouver, I should like to inform the hon. member that while I have received a number of inquiries from the united fishermen and allied workers on a number of subjects, I have not as yet heard from them on the point he raised. When and if I do hear from them, appropriate action will be taken.

Hon. Michael Starr (Minister of Labour):

On Saturday last the hon. member for Nipissing asked a question concerning the opening of an unemployment insurance office in Mattawa. I should like to inform the hon. member that I have asked my officials for a report on the situation in that area, and I shall be glad to make it available to him as soon as I have received it.

Mr. M. W. Martin (Timmins):

I should like to direct a question to the Minister of National Health and Welfare. Is the minister aware that some old age pensioners are receiving as little as $21 a month as a result of the department collecting up to $34 a month to recover alleged overpayments of old age assistance? If so, is the minister contemplating any arrangement to alleviate this abominable and heartless situation?