asked the Minister of(I) whether he is aware that Rubber Control is calling for the release of barrage balloon scrap and that thousands of yards of uncut material are being offered for sale in South Wales free of Purchase Tax and coupon free; and whether he will explain the reason for this anomaly;

(2) the considerations that enabled the demolition contractors, engaged by his Department, to demolish a fire-damaged barrage balloon factory in South Wales, to dispose of some 10,000 yards of balloon fabric for resale in retail shops?

With the hon. Member's permission, I will answer Questions 61 and 62 together.

On a point of Order. When a Minister asks for permission and immediately assumes he has got it, what can an hon. Member do when he does not wish to give that permission?

It is so usual to give that permission that I do not know any other way out than to do so.

I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, answer the two Questions together. I am obliged to him for calling my attention to this matter. I regret that, owing to a misapprehension, a mistake was made in allowing this material to be disposed of, and steps are being taken with a view to recovering it.

asked the Minister of Supply why the Rubber Control has called for the return waste rubber scrap from barrage balloon manufacture which has been used for making shopping bags, etc., from a small factory in South Wales, whilst gill permitting the use of this scrap material for the same purpose in Luton; and whether he has any statement to make thereon?

The manufacture of shopping bags from waste rubber has been prohibited since June last by the Control of Rubber (No. 14) Order. I am not aware that any firm in Luton has infringed this prohibition.

Is the Minister aware that a firm in Luton is advertising these shopping bags and that I was able to get one last week? For some months now the prohibition has applied to South Wales. Will the Minister see that it applies equitably?

The Question I had to answer applied to the making of shopping bags, whereas the Supplementary Question refers to the selling of them. I shall be very glad indeed to consider this matter if the hon. Member will give me further particulars.

I referred in my Supplementary Question to a firm in Luton making and offering for sale a very substantial quantity. They are seeking for new orders and new production.

I shall be glad to have particulars, as my information is to the contrary.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that Mr. R. J. Excell, of 47, Hadley Way, Lambeth, London, N.21, now a temporary civil servant in his Department, employed at Euston House, Eversholt Street, Euston, is going to America on Ministry business; and, in view of the fact that he is an undischarged bankrupt, is he satisfied that Mr. Excell is a fit and proper person to carry out commissions on behalf of His Majesty's Government?

It is not at present proposed to send this officer to America.

Has the Minister changed his opinion since this Question was put upon the Paper?

No, Sir; as it happens, my opinion has not been changed.

Is it desirable that a gentleman in this condition should remain in a position of responsibility?

I hope that my hon. Friend will excuse me from going into details on this subject. I would point out that there are occasions when there is nothing personally discreditable about such a position. It is unfair to discuss these questions further.

Since when have undischarged bankrupts not been allowed to assist their country in the way for which they are best fitted?

Is the Minister aware that judgment was given against this man in December, that he was made a bankrupt in January, and that he obtained his passport in March to go to America and had permission to sail on 6th May? Does the right hon. Gentleman think that this type of individual should represent this country overseas?

The purpose for which it was proposed to send someone to America was a purely departmental one. In my judgment there has been nothing at all in the history of this case that should discredit this individual from performing that particular function; but it so happens that, apart from the merits of the individual, it has been possible to clear the situation for the present and to make it unnecessary to send anyone.

Would the Minister be willing to receive further information from me concerning this man's history?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether he is aware of the complaints in Sierra Leone of discrimination against Africans in the granting of permits by the director of supplies for the importation of various commodities and the export of certain African products and that adequate shipping space is granted to Europeans but refused to African traders; and whether he will inquire into these grievances with a view to remedy?

A complaint of this nature has already been brought to my notice, but on investigation was found to be without foundation. Import licences are allotted by the Sierra Leone Government as nearly as possible in proportion to the applicant's pre-war imports, and similar arrangements apply to exports. African traders who have secured import licences place their orders with export houses in the United Kingdom, and ship- ping space is allotted to these exporters in accordance with arrangements operated by the shippers themselves. If, however, the hon. Member would care to send me details of any specific complaints, I should be glad to have them investigated.

Is not the Minister aware that the Press is replete with cases of this kind? I shall be very happy to send the Minister details.

I shall rely more upon the hon. Member than upon the Press.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any African labour inspectors have been appointed in Kenya arising from the adoption of forced labour in that Colony; and in what circumstances Africans are denied the right of assembly?

For the purpose of supervising the labour conscripted under the Defence Regulations, the Labour Department has been strengthened by the appointment of three additional European labour officers, two of whom have been seconded from the Provincial Administration. In addition, three African sub-inspectors and registration officers are being appointed, during the current year. If these appointments are a success, their number will be increased later. With regard to the last part of the Question, there are certain legal provisions applying to all persons in the Colony, irrespective of race, which give power to regulate assemblies with a view to preventing a breach of the peace. But if my hon. Friend has anything particular in mind, I will gladly look into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what agreement was reached with the Nigerian tin companies governing the price of tin; and whether an Excess Profit Tax is to be instituted in Nigeria?

As the reply to the first part of the Question is rather long, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. With regard to the second part of the Question, it is not at present proposed to introduce an Excess Profits Tax in Nigeria, owing to the absence of such a tax in the other three West African Colonies and the difficulties in securing the services of officers, with the necessary experience of dealing with this form of taxation.

Do I understand that the price of tin is included in the reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

Not the actual price, although I will get that for the hon. Gentleman. It shows the methods adopted for contracting with various types of producers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the provisions which the Colonial Governments have been notified are necessary for purposes of Section 1 (2a) of the Colonial Development and Welfare Act, 1940; when were the instructions notifying Colonial Governments of the necessity for those provisions sent; and what are the Colonies whose legislation does not contain these provisions?

Colonial Governments were notified on 12th July, 1941, that for the purposes of Section 1 (2) (a) of the Colonial Development and Welfare Act their legislation should contain provisions corresponding to Sections 2 and 3 of the United Kingdom Trade Union Act, 1871, Sections 3 and 4 (1) of the Trade Disputes Act, 1906, and Section 3 of the Conspiracy Act, 1875, as amended by the Trade Disputes Act, 1906. As the list asked for in the concluding part of the Question is of some length, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Before any payments are made under the 1940 Act, will my right hon. and gallant Friend get a definite guarantee or assurance from the Colonial Government that such legislation will be enacted, and will he see that as far as possible all the Colonies are brought into line with regard to this Section?

Certainly that is what I hope to do. The statement I am circulating will show the position in those Colonies where the legislation has not yet been enacted.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is now able to announce the promised changes in the regulations for the supply of petrol to "Drive yourself" motor-cars?

My right hon. and gallant Friend hopes to do so shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered the information sent to him that certain officers taken prisoners by the Italians in Libya last June when serving in tanks were, at the time of their capture, wearing only tropical shorts and have suffered hardship in consequence; and will he arrange for battledress or uniform and shoes or boots to be supplied to them?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Abingdon (Sir R. Glyn) on 16th February, of which I am sending him a copy. Adequate supplies of clothing were sent to this camp in November last. Letters written from the camp in January reported the arrival of clothing, but it is not yet known whether all the clothing sent has in fact arrived.

Will the hon. and learned Gentleman consider allowing relatives of these prisoners of war to send uniforms coupon-free if they so desire?

I should require notice of that Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government will reimburse fire brigade authorities the amount of any payments payable by them under the Fire Brigade Pensions Act, 1925, arising from war injuries?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for North Eastern Derbyshire (Mr. H. White) on 15th April, of which I am sending him a copy.

(by Private Notice) the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has any statement to make regarding affairs in Newfoundland?

Yes, Sir. As the House is aware, I visited Newfoundland myself last September, accompanied by my hon. Friend the Member for Pontypool (Mr. A. Jenkins). Under war conditions Newfoundland has become a centre of great activity; it is an important naval and air base and is making a most valuable contribution to the war effort in men and resources. This has resulted in a great improvement in economic conditions; but it has also given rise to economic and social problems which may be a difficult legacy when employment for war purposes comes to an end. Therefore, while concentrating on the winning of the war, we must think and plan ahead so far as this can be done. It would be premature at present to attempt to reach conclusions, but I feel, from my own experience, that it would be valuable if fuller knowledge of Newfoundland's war effort, and of the problems likely to face the island after the war, could be made available to Parliament. I am therefore arranging for a small mission, composed of three Members of this House, to visit the island during the early summer. I am happy to say that my hon. Friend the Member for North Camberwell (Mr. Ammon) has consented to lead this mission; his colleagues will be the hon. and gallant Members for Thornbury (Sir D. Gunston) and the senior burgess for Oxford University (Petty Officer Alan Herbert).

The mission will not be a formal body charged with a specific inquiry, constitutional or otherwise. Conditions at the end of the war cannot be foreseen, and the present war pre-occupations of Newfoundlanders and the absence of many of the younger generation with the Armed Forces make a formal inquiry into the island's future Constitution inappropriate at the present time. The mission will be of an informal and good-will character. It will have no defined terms of reference and will not present a written report, but I should hope that my hon. Friends on their return would give members of the House orally an account of their impressions. The mission's objects will be to acquaint itself with all that the island is doing in the war, to give to Newfoundlanders a first-hand picture of our own war effort, and to go about amongst the people in the outports as well as in the towns so as to see something of their way of life. In view of the United Kingdom Government's special responsibility for the welfare of Newfoundland, I feel sure that the House will regard such a mission as most valuable, and I am confident that it will be cordially welcomed by the Government and the people of Newfoundland.

Will this mission have the power to make definite recommendations, or will it be merely to inform itself?

I thought I had explained that the suggestion was not that it should snake a formal report but that it was more of a good-will mission.

Did the right hon. Gentleman in fact take any steps to find out whether the people of Newfoundland would welcome this interference with their internal affairs and regard it as a reasonable substitute for the immediate restoration of the self-government which was taken away from them several years ago?

I do not think that the people of Newfoundland would regard a visit from Members of this House as an unwarrantable interference with their private affairs. I have explained in the answer that the position with regard to the constitution is one of great difficulty, and I have endeavoured to make myself acquainted with the various opinions in the Island, and they are not all agreed as to the future.

I have no doubt that this mission will enjoy itself in Newfoundland and that the people of Newfoundland will treat it very hospitably. I have no doubt of that at all, but did the right hon. Gentleman take any steps to see whether the people of Newfoundland wanted such a mission? It is not merely a friendly visit, as I understood the right hon. Gentleman's statement; it is a visit of some importance, inquiring into what we are going to do for Newfoundland after the war. Are the Newfoundland people not wanting the right to decide for themselves what they are going to do for themselves after the war?

Of course the people of Newfoundland have the right to decide on their own future, and there is no suggestion, as I have pointed out, that this mission was designed to make any specific proposal or to interfere with that right. I think it is useful that there should be a greater acquaintance on both sides with this problem.

I have had two cables in the last fortnight from Newfoundland —

May I ask whether, pending the return of the Commission, all consideration of constitutional change or the development of local government will be held up?

Certainly not.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider issuing a White Paper to this House giving the position in Newfoundland, so that Members of this House may have some idea of it?

Perhaps the hon. and gallant Member would consult me about it.

Would the right hon. Gentleman be good enough, either now or in response to a further Question, to make a statement to the House to indicate how far this increased activity in the Island has been reflected in the improvement in its economic and financial position?

I will certainly be glad to answer any such specific question.

I wish to give notice that at the very earliest possible moment I shall raise this on the Floor of the House.