asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any negotiations are taking place with the Iraq Government with regard to the claims of the Iraq railway officials?

Yes, Sir. Negotiations are being actively pursued.

May I ask whether any agreement is going to be come to during the lifetime of this Commission?

Yes, in my answer I have said that negotiations are at present being actively pursued.

Is my hon. Friend aware that that is similar to the answer he gave me some little time ago. May I ask him whether our representative in Iraq is having kept before him the desirability of bringing these negotiations to a satisfactory conclusion?

Yes, Sir. The High Commissioner is very actively engaged in this matter and is hoping to bring it to a satisfactory conclusion. The hon. Member will understand that it is difficult for me in the midst of these negotiations to give a more definite answer than I have given.