As was expected, the Government has made con- siderable concessions
upon that part of the Unemploy- ment Bill which deals with the assessment of need, and has agreed to instruct the Unemployment Assistance Board to disregard wounds and disability pensions up to 20s. a week, and also the first 40s. of maternity benefit. These concessions have done much but not everything to quiet their own supporters, though some members, such as Captain Crookshank and Mr. Macmillan, are pressing for more. The same is true of the concession in respect of the cost of relief to distressed areas, which has now been inserted in the Bill. This restiveness is only one sign that the political pot is boiling. There has been much gossip about changes in the Government, which are certainly not imminent but may some day materialize. There is also likely to be an increase in the output of Government decisions. Mr. Elliot has already announced to a House much cooler than usual a plan to subsidize milk ; and it is probable that an announcement of a new housing policy is not far off. This is more likely to involve an expansion than a change in the Government, because the most concrete rumour suggests that some now junior Minister should be entrusted with the co-ordination of all housing.
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