asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the mission recently undertaken to the Middle East by the right hon. Member for Mitcham (Sir M. Robertson); whether he is satisfied that the valuable educational work which is being conducted by the British Council has been strengthened and expanded during the process of this visit; and whether a report will be published?

My right hon. Friend the Member for Mitcham (Sir M. Robertson), with my approval, recently visited Egypt, Turkey, Iraq and Palestine, in the capacity of Chairman of the British Council, to inspect the Council's establishments and to make personal contact with the authorities and others interested in the promotion of cultural relations with Great Britain. The importance of the Council's work is clearly realised by all those whom he met and it is hoped that as a result of the visit the educational and other activities of the Council will be considerably expanded. The report of my right hon. Friend is now under consideration, as also the question of the publicity to be given to it. Its substance will be embodied in one of the quarterly reports of the Council, which are placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

In view of the work that has been done by the British Council and of the valuable effect of missions of this kind, is such work still receiving the continued support of the Foreign Office?

Yes, Sir, certainly. We are very encouraged by the results of my right hon. Friend's mission.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the recent progress of the activities of the British Council in Brazil, with the number of branches which have been founded and their approximate membership; and whether the British Council is prepared to accept the co-operation and support of the recently-formed Anglo-Brazilian Society?

New Anglo-Brazilian cultural societies have been opened at Santos and Curityba, the capital of the State of Paraná. There are now five of these societies in Brazil, and about 5,000 attend classes there. Four additional teachers of English have recently been sent out. The members of the societies are showing great interest in books, periodicals, films and pictures illustrating British life and British scientific achievements. Exhibitions of graphic art have been sent to Brazil. The British Council will gladly co-operate with the Anglo-Brazilian Society in London.

If an application is made to the Foreign Office by the Anglo-Brazilian Society, will my right hon. Friend see that it receives favourable consideration?

Yes, Sir. I shall be glad to receive it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many political prisoners are still interned in North Africa?

No exact figures are available, but my latest information indicates that between 3,000 and 4,000 have been released during the past two months. I understand that there remain two to three hundred Frenchmen and probably rather less than 2,000 internees of all other nationalities. The majority of these are Spaniards, and a large number of these Spaniards are waiting until transport can be provided to take them to Mexico. Others are waiting for definite jobs and accommodation to be made available to them. There are likely to be a hundred or two who are medically unfit or incapable of employment for one reason or another. The medically unfit are to be admitted into a special rest centre organised with the assistance of the Red Cross. Up to 1st May, 794 internees had joined the British Pioneer Corps and a further 106 have been accepted for enrolment. The French authorities in Algiers have stated officially that all internment camps, except those for enemy nationals, are to be dissolved. I understand that this will be done as soon as employment and accommodation have been found for the remaining internees and as soon as transport has been provided for those of them that are willing and able to leave North Africa.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman very much for that very satisfactory reply, may I ask whether particular attention could be paid to the small number of so-called enemy nationals, many of whom have fought as anti-Fascists for many years, and see whether something can be done to improve their conditions, which, I understand, are not as satisfactory as those of some other nationals?

My attention had not been drawn to that matter, and I will look into it.

Do the figures which the right hon. Gentleman gave for people interned include people who are working in the mines, who are not exactly interned, but whose conditions are reported as being extremely unsatisfactory? They are said to be working in the mines under semi-prison conditions.

I am not quite sure of the definition, but I rather think my figures include all who could be described as interned; but I will look into the matter.