asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the current royalties per ton of phosphate rock mined on Ocean Island due to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands dependency, arising from the Canberra conference of the British Phosphate Commission.

Payment of 23s. (Australian) per ton of phosphates exported from Ocean Island is at present made to the Government of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. Proposals for changes in this rate were discussed at a conference of officials in Canberra in May, 1965, convened by the Governments of Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, in which the British Phosphates Commission did not take part. These proposals are still under consideration by the three Governments.