asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that in Tanganyika German planters are heavily subsidised by the Government of the Reich and, therefore, able to compete on unfair terms with planters of other nationalities; that German Government credit is being used to buy up the land of non-Germans and that, in general, the German community is becoming a totalitarian State within another State; and whether he intends to take any action in the matter?

I am aware of the statements which have recently been made on this subject, and I am asking the Governor to furnish me with the facts. Until I receive them I am not in a position to consider what action should he taken.

Are German planters in Tanganyika allowed to sell their own produce in their own way without any interference from anybody?

I think that no restrictions beyond formal restrictions are put upon them or anybody else.

Is it not true that a German company is operating in Tanganyika through which all these planters have to sell their produce?

I am asking the Governor to let me have a full report of the facts so that I can consider the situation.

Will that report include information as to the intensive Nazi propaganda going on in the Colony?

I am asking for a full report.

Has the right hon. Gentleman received any representations direct from the planters of Tanganyika?

I have received communications from one or two individuals in the Colony, and as a result of these communications and also as a result of the hon. Member's question, I am making inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, as the result of the anxieties expressed at the last Session of the Permanent Mandates Commission, any steps are proposed to deal with the health conditions of the Lupa goldfield in Tanganyika?

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to a similar question by the hon. Member for Shipley (Mr. Creech Jones) on 13th July in which I gave an account of steps recently taken. I have no doubt that the Government of Tanganyika will bear carefully in mind the views expressed by the Permanent Mandates Commission and that they will consider, in the light of those views, what further measures can be taken to improve health conditions in the Lupa goldfields area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many land holdings there were in Tanganyika in 1935; how many were British, German, Indian and Greek, respectively; what was the European and German population; what were the total exports; what amount of that export trade went to the British Empire; and what is the square mileage of Tanganyika?

As the reply contains a large number of statistics, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what extent and/or proportion of land is held by native owners and non-native owners in Nigeria, the Gold Coast and Kenya, respectively; and how far alienation of land from native owners to European and other non-native owners is discouraged or prohibited in these three areas?

As the reply is necessarily long I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements are made for school medical inspection; what facilities exist for dental treatment for school children in the Gambia, Sierra Leone, Gold Coast and Nigeria Colonies; and what Government scholarships for higher education in Britain are given in each of these Colonies?

With regard to the first two parts of the question, the latest information available is contained in the reports of the Medical and Education Departments of the Colonies concerned. I am arranging for copies of these reports to be placed in the Library of the House. As regards the last part of the question, no such scholarships are at present awarded in Sierra Leone or in the Gambia. In Nigeria two scholarships have recently been granted and the early grant of others is being considered. In the Gold Coast there is provision for two or more Government scholarships to be awarded annually, and the number in existence at the end of 1937 was four.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give attention to the extension of these scholarships to the territories where scholarships are not at present enjoyed, and also will he give very serious attention to the position with regard to medical and dental inspections for school children?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the first part, the whole question of higher education in these Colonies will be considered by the Governors' Conference when it meets next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements were made in the Colony of Kenya to ensure that proper precautions were taken for protection against air raids and other attacks in connection with the recent emergency?

Air-raid precaution plans for the main centres, and other schemes for the defence of the Colony generally had been prepared and would have been put into operation if it had been necessary.

May I ask whether effective precautions were taken in Croydon?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has reached any conclusions from his inquiries into the employment of children and young persons in Kenya?

I have received an advance copy of the report of the committee appointed in Kenya to consider this question. I have not yet formed my final conclusions on it, as I am waiting for the views of the Governor which I expect to receive in the immediate future. As soon as possible after that I shall make an announcement on the subject.

Would my right hon. Friend place a copy of the report in the Library of the House?

I expect to have some printed copies of the report very shortly, and I will then arrange for them to be put in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of Kenya intends to take a share together with the other East Africa Governments, according to the recommendation of the commission on higher education, in the costs of erecting the new university college in Uganda?

The Governor of Kenya proposes, subject to the approval of the Legislative Council, to contribute£50,000 towards the College Endowment Fund. So far as I am aware, it has not yet been possible to bring the matter before the Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of German and Austrian girls who have been admitted into Kenya and Tanganyika in order to take up employment during the last two years; and why, if these opportunities for employment exist, adequate information is not issued in this country, so as to interest British girls?

I am not in possession of the figures, but I will inquire of the Governors of the Territories concerned. Information as to opportunities for employment in these territories is readily obtainable from the East African Dependencies Trade and Information Office in London. Moreover, this Office is in close touch with the Society of Over-sea Settlement for British Women in London, and they, in turn, are represented in East Africa by the East African Women's League.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will indicate in what particular the issue of the "African Sentinel," prohibited from entry into Sierra Leone, is deemed to be seditious?

The section of the ordinance under which action was taken provides for the prohibition of importation of literature which is "seditious, defamatory, scandalous or demoralising." The entry of the issue of the "African Sentinel" in question was prohibited by reason of the content of the article beginning on page 3.

As a purchaser and reader of this magazine, may I ask the Minister whether he would not, upon a reperusal of this issue, agree that it contains nothing except fair comment on details of our own trade union movement?

I cannot agree with that. My recollection of the article is that there were some passages in it which came fully under the description which I have given.

If, in future, articles similar to that complained of are excluded from the journal, will the prohibition on its entry into Sierra Leone be withdrawn?

That is a matter which I must leave, in the first instance, to the discretion of the Government on the spot.

Is it not being excluded on the ground of being a trade union journal?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (I) whether he can make any statement as to the intentions of His Majesty's Government regarding the appointment of a Royal Commission to examine into the workings of the constitution in Ceylon, with a view to effecting changes therein;.

(2) whether he has considered the memorandum signed by the elected and nominated representatives in council of all the indigenous minorities in Ceylon, setting forth suggested changes in the extent of the representation of those communities under any scheme of constitutional change in the colony; and whether he will make a statement on the matter?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he can state the means by which His Majesty's Government propose to implement the pronouncement of the previous Secretary of State for the Colonies that selected changes as suggested could not be expected to produce good results unless they were adopted with the genera/ consent of all the important interests in Ceylon;

(2) whether His Majesty's Government are aware of the complaints of the minority communities in Ceylon of the manner in which the constitution is being worked by the major community; and what are they doing to meet these?

I have received a number of representations from all communities in Ceylon on the subject of the working of the constitution. I hope shortly to publish despatches which have passed between the Governor and myself on the subject, pending which I can make no statement.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that an ex-President of the Council told some of the minority members that if they wanted anything done for internal affairs they must combine with the Cingalese members in trying to get the powers which the Governor refused?

The Governor has had many conversations with representatives of the minority communities as well as others while considering questions of constitutional reform, and he will bear these considerations in mind in making proposals to me.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that five years ago a Motion was moved in this House urging Parliament to appoint a committee to inquire into the defects of the constitution, which was only defeated by Members of the Government voting against it? Will he therefore not reconsider that proposal?

The whole question is under consideration, and the result of our considerations will appear in the despatches when I am able to publish them, which I hope will be in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether His Majesty's Government are aware of the widespread and growing fear among large sections of the people in Ceylon that constitutional changes may be in contemplation without the previous appointment and advice of a Royal Commission; and what action he is taking to allay this?

While I have received representations from a small number of individuals and bodies in Ceylon in favour of the appointment of a Royal Commission to advise on constitutional changes, I am not aware that there is at present any wide demand for such an appointment. The whole question is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of a statement by the leader of the Ceylon State Council and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Ministers that the exclusion of any representatives of the minority communities in Ceylon was deliberately planned by the leaders of the majority community in order to secure a Board of Ministers composed entirely of the members of that community; and what action does he propose to take in this matter?

I am aware that allegations of this nature have been made; but I have been informed by the Governor that not a single Sinhalese leader with whom he has spoken has expressed himself in favour of a Pan-Sinhalese Ministry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the strong dissatisfaction of the domiciled Indian population in Ceylon with regard to the proposed disfranchisement, in local government elections, of the Indian estate workers possessing residential qualifications; and what steps does he propose to take to meet this?

I am aware that the Village Communities Bill, passed by the State Council of Ceylon, originally contained a provision depriving certain estate labourers of the franchise in local elections on a racial basis. I was unable to advise His Majesty to assent to a Bill containing such a provision, and an amending Bill, which is not open to the charge of racial discrimination, has now been passed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the total strength of the police and of His Majesty's Forces in Palestine; and what is the average cost per month falling upon the British Exchequer of these two forces?

The approximate strength of the personnel of the police, Royal Air Force, and Army serving in Palestine is at present 7,300, 700 and 15,500 respectively. I am afraid that I am not yet in a position to give the average cost per month falling upon the British Exchequer in respect of the police. As regards the Air Force, the average monthly cost to the British Exchequer is about£30,000. The extra cost of maintaining the military forces in Palestine, over and above the cost of maintaining them at their normal stations, amounts to about £175,000 a month (exclusive of capital services).

Can my right hon. Friend state whether the numbers are likely to be reduced in the near future, and also whether the Palestine Government contribute towards the cost?

The Palestine Government do make a considerable contribution towards the cost. With regard to the possibility of reducing the numbers, I am afraid I cannot hold out any hope of that in the immediate future, but I do hope that later on conditions may make that possible.

Can the right hon. Gentleman inform me whether the police are now at full strength, or whether further recruits are required?

Further recruitment of British police is going on all the time. They are going out in batches of 100 or 150 as quickly as they can be absorbed in the local forces. I do not think the full complement which is required will be in Palestine for two months or so.

Is any difficulty being experienced in obtaining recruits for this service?

None, Sir.

Will the right hon. Gentleman present before the proposed conference the suggestion which has been made for a Legislative Assembly, which would eliminate the need for this?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has a statement to make as to the position in Palestine?

So far as the general situation regarding Palestine is concerned, I can add nothing at present to the recent statement on policy by His Majesty's Government and to answers which I gave to questions on 10th November. Preparations for the proposed discussions in London are continuing. In Palestine itself steps are being taken to restore the Government's authority throughout the country.