asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the finance committee of the Kenya legislative council proposes to reduce the estimates for the departments of public health, road construction, and education by £9,000, in order to render this sum available for further military expenditure; and what instructions have been sent to the Governor of Kenya by the Secretary of State for the Colonies in this matter?

My Noble Friend has seen a report in the Press to the effect stated in the question; but he has not yet received from the Governor of Kenya the despatch dealing with the Colony's estimates for 1930, which no doubt is on its way. Pending the receipt of that despatch the matter cannot usefully be considered.