asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what increase in the hours Radio Malaya is on the air has been brought about in the past six months.

Since last December there has been an increase of over 30 hours in Radio Malaya's weekly broadcasting time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many vacancies exist in Malaya for radiologists; and what steps he is taking to recruit them.

Two. These have been advertised in the medical Press and brought to the attention of any doctor with radiological interest and experience who has made inquiries about posts in the Colonial Service.

How does that tally with the information that I have been given that there are seven pieces of equipment at Ipoh and not even a part-time radiologist? Will he look into that?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many vacancies exist in the Colonial Service in Singapore and Malaya; and what measures he is taking to bring about an increase in recruitment.

There are 530 vacancies in all Departments of the Governments of the Federation of Malaya and Singapore to be filled from this country, not all of which however require to be filled immediately and of which 175 have been newly notified this year. Posts filled so far this year total 250. Special measures taken include extensive advertising and approaches to Government Departments and to the home police forces for assistance, and to a number of colonial Governments with a view to facilitating transfer of serving officers to Malaya. Salaries have been revised and special terms for short-term contract appointments arranged.

Is the Under-Secretary aware that this grave shortage of civil servants in Malaya is throwing a terrific strain on those carrying out their duties there? Will he try and take on for a short term ex-officers, even men in their fifties, and also approach the Dominion Governments to try and get suitable men?

We are exploring every possible avenue.

How many of these vacancies relate to the administrative service and how many to the technical service?

Thirty-one relate to administration and 59 to education.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what has been done up to date to settle squatters in Malay; and what has been the cost.

On April 30th about 220,000 squatters had been resettled or regrouped, about half the total number to be dealt with. Expenditure to that date was 27 million Straits dollars, excluding the cost of new police stations and administrative overheads. Resettlement of squatters is just about complete in the Southern States, which have priority under the Briggs Plan. A parallel operation to resettlement, namely, the regrouping of estate labour, is proceeding concurrently.

From what fund are the expenses of this operation met?

From both Malayan and U.K. funds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the system of conscription which is to operate in the call-up in Malaya.

All males between the ages of 18 and 24 are liable for compulsory service, but it is only intended to call up about 20,000. After registration, a list of selected persons is compiled by the Comptroller of Manpower and these men are then interviewed by State boards. Those selected are directed into service for a period of two years, normally in the regular police or the special constabulary.

Are we to understand that the Malays, the Chinese and the Tamils are to come under the Conscription Act, and could the Minister let us know if these men also had a vote at the recent elections?

Could my hon. Friend say on what basis the 20,000 are to be selected, since apparently conscription applies to all?

Suitability for service in any specialised force is required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he has taken, in consultation with the Governments of the Federation of Malaya and Singapore, to ensure that no one between the call-up age of 18 to 21 years who leaves Malaya and Singapore will receive a permit to return; and if he will make a statement on it.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Hornsey (Mr. Gammans) on 21st February.

Would the Undersecretary inform us what action he intends to take with Chinese living in Malaya who leave Malaya and go to China for a few years in order to avoid their obligations under the Conscription Act?

They will not toe permitted to return.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has given consideration to the revised labour code for Singapore; and when he proposes to introduce it.

A revised labour ordinance is in course of preparation in Singapore, but it is not possible to say at this stage when legislation will be laid before the Legislative Council.

Is the Minister aware that a revision of the labour code both for Singapore and the Federation of Malaya is long overdue, and will he hasten its publication and place a copy in the Library so that Members can see it?

The groundwork has been completed, but further consultations are still necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements exist for accommodation for police lieutenants in the Malayan police force recruited from this country.

In large towns police lieutenants normally live in messes in Government buildings or buildings hired by Government. At outstations many police lieutenants live in bungalows or other accommodation on rubber estates and tin mines. Others live in purely temporary accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many police lieutenants in the Malayan police force have resigned or been returned to England during the past 12 months.

Seven police lieutenants have resigned, some to take up local employment. Sixteen have returned to England on discharge.