asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, since the conclusion of the recent Anglo-Italian Agreement, the British Government have had any cause for complaint with regard to the provocation of the Arabs by the Italian press or broadcasting stations; and whether, in particular, any complaint has been made with regard to the Italian broadcast and press comments on the recent arrest of the members of the Arab Higher Committee in Jerusalem?

In a reply to the Member for Nuneaton (Lieut.-Commander Fletcher) my right hon. Friend stated on 28th June last that the question of Italian anti-British propaganda in Palestine and Arabia had been taken up more than once, both with the Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs in Rome and with the Italian Ambassador in London. My right hon. Friend further stated that he was glad to be able to inform the House that the tone of the broadcasts from Bari had lately shown an improvement. Since that date it has not been considered necessary to make any representations to the Italian Government on press or broadcast questions: but in the meanwhile full reports have been received by His Majesty's Government on the attitude adopted by the Italian press and wireless towards the recent troubles in Palestine, and these reports are at present under consideration.

Are the Government receiving full reports of these broadcasts, and do they know what is actually said?

Yes, I have just said so in my answer.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government are pressing the French Government to extradite the Mufti of Jerusalem?

No, Sir.

Would it not be possible to suggest to the Mufti that he should go to Rome, where he would probably be welcome?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the reason for the arrest and deportation from Palestine of members of the Arab Higher Committee; what was meant by the statement issued by the Government of Palestine on 1st October declaring the members of the Arab Committee morally responsible for the deaths of Arabs and Jews, the attempted murder of Mr. R. G. B. Spicer, inspector-general of the Palestine police, and the assassination of Mr. Lewis Andrews and of Constable McEwan; whether the Government were in possession of proof of the direct complicity of members of the Arab Committee in these terrorist acts; and, if so, why this was not stated?

The action taken against the Arab Higher Committee was a direct result of the recent campaign of murder and terrorism, which had become greatly intensified and culminated in the assassination of Mr. Andrews, the District Commissioner, and his escort, Constable McEwan, on their way to attend church at Nazareth on Sunday, 26th September. His Majesty's Government were satisfied that the activities of the Arab Higher Committee had been prejudicial to the maintenance of public security, and that they must be regarded as morally responsible for these events.

As one who has had associations in the past with deportees, and who realises the unfounded rumours that can be utilised against them, is the Minister not going to reconsider his attitude, and adopt a different attitude for solving the problem?

No. I say, quite definitely not.

Is the Minister not aware that he is going from one desperate expedient to another, and that the situation becomes worse all the time?

For a whole year the Government have exercised exemplary patience in the face of murder, outrage and rebellion, and we have come to the conclusion that forbearance has been mistaken for weakness. It is essential to restore law and order in the country if the moderate Arabs' lives, as well as Jewish lives, are to be saved.

Is the Minister not aware that it is not patience that is wanted? It is a sensible policy that is wanted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the newly-formed Colonial Marketing Board will be giving attention to the problem created by the necessity of marketing increased supplies of Palestine oranges in Great Britain during the forthcoming winter season?

Generally speaking, the citrus producers of Palestine are already much better organised than most Colonial producers, and I question whether they will find it necessary to ask for the assistance of the Board; but if they do so, I do not doubt that the Board will consider any such request on its merits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the substantial development of the economic prosperity of Palestine dependent upon the marketing of Palestine citrus fruit, better arrangements have been made this year for the transport, storing and shipping of these products from that mandated territory; and whether, in particular, full advantage will be taken of the new port facilities now available at Tel Aviv?

So far as the Palestine Government is concerned, further improvements made since last season include the completion of the Jaffa-Haifa road and other road construction, also the building of an additional transit shed at Haifa, where work on a new cargo jetty is proceeding. A comprehensive scheme of research into the wastage of citrus fruit in transit is being undertaken by the Government and the citrus growers working in co-operation. As to the last part of the question, it is for the exporters themselves to decide which port they will use.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements have been made in the way of special provision as to pensions for the widows and dependants of officials murdered in the course of their duty in Palestine; and whether the treatment accorded is on similar lines to that provided in the Crown Colonies and in the case of the British officials serving in Egypt, and, in particular, what has been done in the case of the widow of Mr. Andrews, recently murdered on duty in Palestine?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the Member for Tamworth (Sir J. Mellor) on 1st November. The provision under the Palestine pension law is similar to that under the pension laws of the Colonial Empire generally. I am inquiring as to the provision under the laws applicable to British subjects in the service of the Egyptian Government, and I will communicate on that point with the hon. Member. The arrangements to be made in the case of the widow of Mr. Andrews are at present under special consideration.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what special compensation is intended to be given in cases of assassination?

I am discussing that matter with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in an endeavour to get a principle established.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make any further statement upon the destruction of the airport at Lydda and the present facilities for air communication at any alternative place?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the recent destruction of the Lydda airport on the eve of its adoption by regular commercial air services between England and India, he will consider the desirability of authorising the construction of a new airport in an area of greater security; and whether, in this connection, he will consider the desirability of investigating the possibility of establishing an aerodrome nearer to the centre of population comprised by Tel-Aviv?

Shortly after midnight on the night of 15th-16th October a large party of neighbouring Arabs penetrated the premises of the Lydda airport and, having cut the wires, set on fire and completely burned out the buildings housing the Customs and Passport Offices and the wireless installation. Efficient wireless communication was quickly re-established by means of receivers lent by the Royal Air Force. Temporary arrangements for feeding passengers and for the discharge of formalities have been made in the hangars, and I understand that these arrangements are capable of improvement in a few weeks' time. So far as I am aware, it has not been necessary to provide alternative facilities at other airports. I do not consider that this incident would justify consideration of the construction of a new airport. The present site was selected after the most careful consideration of all the circumstances. I should add that the Lydda airport is now under military guard.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether there was any guard at all at the Lydda Airport at the time of this disturbance, in view of the conditions obtaining in Palestine, and whether the ordinary service from Alexandria and Cairo to Lydda, which is the only full service by air communication, is still existing?

Yes, Sir, there is communication with Egypt, either Cairo or Alexandria. There was a police guard.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the kind of communication now existing from either Alexandria or Cairo to Lydda, which is the only system of air communication that exists, is the same now as it was before the airport was burnt out?

I should like to have notice of that question.

Were British officers in charge at Lydda?

I think so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why, in view of the fact that the Royal Commission on Palestine recommended that a political high level of Jewish immigration should be fixed for the next five years at 12,000 per annum as an alternative to the policy of partition, the British Government have adopted it in addition to partition; and why this departure from the recommendations of the Royal Commission was made?

I cannot accept the hon. Member's suggestion that His Majesty's Government have adopted the recommendation of the Royal Commission for a "political high level" of Jewish immigration for the next five years. The recommendation of the Royal Commission in favour of such a proposal envisaged the indefinite continuance of the existing Mandate, and the Commission made no recommendation for dealing with immigration during the immediate interim period between publication of the report and final agreement to terminate the Mandate and establish a treaty system on a basis of the tripartite division of the country. As a new labour immigration schedule was due in August, an immediate decision was required, and His Majesty's Government felt justified in limiting, as a purely interim measure, Jewish immigration in all categories to a total of 8,000 for the eight-months period August, 1937, to March, 1938. As regards the arrangements to be made after that date, I cannot do better than quote from the statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, at the last session of the Council of the League of Nations. He said;

"The Permanent Mandates Commission have drawn attention to the reduction of Jewish immigration to a total of 8,000 persons in the next eight months. That, as the Commission recognised, is a purely temporary measure designed to meet temporary and exceptional conditions….

What is to happen when the period of eight months is over, that is to say, after the 31st March, 1938, must necessarily depend upon the progress made in the meanwhile with the partition scheme. If the scheme has by that time reached a stage of provisional acceptance, the whole question of immigration as affecting both the Arab and the Jewish areas will clearly have to be considered on a fresh basis."

Is it not the fact that certain ordinances have recently been published altering the system of immigration?

Yes, Sir, an ordinance has been approved to implement the decision announced by me in this House last July.

Do I understand that this is only temporary?

Certainly.

Is it the case that, say a Jewish doctor wishes to go to Palestine, before he can get into Palestine he has to be prepared to put down £1,000?

Yes, Sir, under the principle of regulation by economic absorptive capacity. Anybody with £1,000 would be allowed in, but there are various categories. There is always the principle of economic absorptive capacity, and there are certain categories, for example, capitalists, labour immigrants, dependants and the like, and whether the doctor would have been admitted or not depends upon which category he was in.

I have got the reply from the Home Office that if my friend the doctor wishes to get into Palestine, he has to be prepared to put down i,000. He has no country. He cannot get back to his native land, because he is a Jew. He has been educated as Glasgow University, but he is without any country.

I know perfectly well that, since the recent trouble in Central Europe, there have been, from Germany and Poland, a very large number of Jewish doctors who have already become established in Palestine, and to establish more doctors in Palestine might only deprive the present Jewish doctors of a chance of making a living.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this departure of limiting the number of Jews, not by economic absorptive capacity, but by the act of this Government, is regarded by the Jews in Palestine, and by those who approved of the Mandate of this country, as being a deliberate breach of the Mandate?

We have always denied that this is any breach of the Mandate I know perfectly well that the Jews wish to be back under the old economic absorptive capacity system. As I made perfectly clear in this House, for the interim period, that is, for eight months, we decided to adopt this arbitrary figure.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is now in a position to make any statement with regard to marriage allowances for naval officers; whether the pensions for widows of naval officers will be reviewed as the cost of living is now higher; and can the date be given when the present scale of widows' pensions was fixed?

I am not yet in a position to make a statement with regard to marriage allowances for naval officers, but the investigation of this question is being actively pursued. A review of the pensions for widows of naval officers is not at present contemplated. The existing rates were fixed in 1920 and 1921 when the cost of living was higher than it is now.

Can the First Lord say for how many months or years that matter is to remain under investigation?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is in a position to announce that the naval base at Port Edgar will be brought into active use; and, if so, when?

There is no intention at present of re-opening Port Edgar Base.

When the right hon. Gentleman was in Scotland, did he see this base, and does he not think it is rather regrettable that property of this value should remain unused?

I did not visit the base, but it was the considered opinion of those on the spot that there was no case for reopening it at present.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of individuals who have received training in the naval dockyard schools during each of the past five years; and how many of these have since taken up service in His Majesty's naval establishments and are still employed therein?

The numbers of boys who attended the dockyard schools at home in 1933 was 1,001; since then the following numbers have been entered each year:

1934	…	…	…	264
1935	…	…	…	333
1936	…	…	…	592
1937	…	…	…	766

giving a total of 2,956 who have attended the schools during the past five years. Of these, 2,683 are still employed in the dockyards.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that at present a considerable proportion of those who are permitted to become pupils at the naval dockyard schools leave them to take up careers in private industry and employment other than in His Majesty's naval establishments; whether these schools are intended primarily to provide a training for those proposing to take up careers in His Majesty's naval establishments; and whether, in view of the cost of the training, he will see whether it is possible, by making careers in the dockyards more attractive, to retain more of the trainees for the benefit of these yards and for the increase of their efficiency?

As regards the first part of the question, I should like to refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the figures which I have just given. Of those who have left dockyard service, a large number have entered other branches of the Civil Service or the Royal Navy. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the third part, the prospects for ex-dockyard apprentices are now much better than they have been at any time since the War. By the end of this month the wages of adult workmen will have increased by 7s. a week since 1st January, 1935; about four times as many workmen are being transferred annually to the Established List as in 1935, and the number of higher posts of all kinds open to workmen has greatly increased.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is satisfied with the swimming and gymnastic arrangements on board His Majesty's Ship "Caledonia" at Rosyth; and whether, in deciding upon permanent buildings on shore, he will consider giving preference to an adequate swimming pool and a gymnasium?

Provision of a swimming bath on shore has been approved, and the question of the gymnasium is now under consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what decision has been arrived at on the question of giving assistance towards the extra travelling expenses which will be incurred by artificer apprentices who are being transferred from the mechanical training establishment at Chatham to His Majesty's ship "Caledonia" at Rosyth and whose homes are in- the south of England?

I am glad to be able to inform my hon. Friend that the Admiralty have decided to give assistance Of the kind he mentions to those artificer apprentices who entered from the April examination in 1936 with the prospect of being trained at Chatham, but were subsequently transferred to the new training establishment at Rosyth. When these apprentices go on long leave, the Admiralty will make up the difference between the cost of travelling from Chatham and that of travelling from Rosyth.

I hope that the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence will pay attention to these two replies that have been given here to-day regarding the conditions of artificers and apprentices in the Royal dockyards, and the increase of 7s. a week. I will take the matter up with the right hon. Gentleman later on.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether men in the Royal dockyards who are members of the Territorial Army are granted 'leave with pay when going on courses of instruction; and, if not, whether he will consider extending in this direction the recent concession with regard to leave with pay during annual camp?

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the instructions issued this year with regard to the conditions of enlistment of civil servants in the Territorial, Auxiliary and Reserve Forces; from these he will observe that dockyard men who are members of the Territorial Army are now entitled, provided they fulfil the necessary conditions, to a fortnight's special leave with pay in addition to their ordinary leave. Such special leave would normally be taken for the purpose of annual training in camp; but the Admiralty would not object to its being utilised in whole or in part on courses of instruction.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has considered the representations made to him with regard to the wages of surgery assistants in the Royal Dockyards; and what decision he has arrived at regarding the matter?

The Board have been unable to accede to the claim for an increase in the wages of surgery assistants and the question of referring this claim to arbitration by the Industrial Court is under consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what action he proposes to take on the subject matter of the memorandum from the Dockyard and Imperial Workers' Union presented to him in Malta?

This memorandum is now under consideration, and a reply will be sent shortly. I am not at present in a position to make a statement.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into account the very great rise in the cost of living which has taken place in Malta since these rates were fixed, and also the comparative wages in this country?

Yes, Sir; that will be taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that a Bill has been introduced into Kenya Colony providing for a system of penal sanctions for servants and proposing that fines and, in some cases, imprisonment will be inflicted upon employés for breaches of their civil agreements; that the penalties proposed include a fine equal to one-half the monthly wages or, alternatively, one month's imprisonment; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The Bill to which the hon. Member refers is mainly a consolidation of the existing law with some amendments. The provisions relating to penal sanctions in connection with labour contracts are substantially the same as those already in existence, though the penalties have been reduced and in some cases provision is made for the imposition of a fine where previously there had been no alternative to imprisonment. The Bill has been under consideration for a long time, and I see no reason to delay its enactment, since it incorporates several amendments which experience has shown to be desirable.

Is the Minister not aware that it actually does make arrangements for what is practically a system of slavery for the natives and that there is no escape unless they perform a certain number of days per year?

I must repudiate that. It is really not in accord with the facts. As I said, this Bill merely consolidates old legislation with some mitigation in favour of the natives.

As the right hon. Gentleman says, it is consolidation, but it also introduces a factor that has never been there before, namely, the right to demand of these people a certain number of days per year, in default of which they either go to prison or receive a heavy fine.

Under the system of contract which has obtained in the past so many days of service have been required in the year of squatters on European land. It is a very old-established principle and no new principle has been introduced. There is no new thing in this Bill at all.

Is it not a fact that this Bill actually increases the number of days of compulsory labour from 180 to 270, and is it not time that this method of penal sanctions should be abolished?

Certainly, as the hon. Gentleman knows, there have been difficulties in the Colonies, and attempts have been made from time to time to deal systematically with the problem.

Was there anything worse under the Germans in Tanganyika?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give the House any information with regard to the numbers and conditions of refugees from Abyssinia in Kenya?

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

Following is the reply:

It is difficult to give precise figures, but according to my most recent information there are now in Kenya about 6,000 Abyssinian refugees, including many women and children. These have entered the Colony at various times and in varying numbers, but the main influx took place between the latter part of June and the beginning of August this year, when several parties varying from a few score up to about 2,000 in number crossed the frontier at intervals of a week or so. The majority had travelled long distances and had suffered very severe hardships. Many were sick and there were 155 cases of smallpox. Other diseases were also prevalent, though I am glad to say that fatal cases are said to be very few. The parts of Kenya into which they had penetrated are remote, arid and devoid of communications. Even water supplies are scanty and occur only at isolated places separated by considerable distances. It therefore became immediately necessary to improvise arrangements for supplying them with food, water, and medical attention, for their segregation (in their own interests) from the native population of the Colony, and for their transfer to an area where it was possible to maintain life. Supplies of vaccine were despatched by aeroplane from Nairobi, vaccination was carried out and other assistance rendered by all the medical staff available. A camp was established at Isiolo, which is over 200 miles from the frontier. This involved a 350-mile journey for some of the refugees, but such motor transport as was available was fully utilised for the transport of the necessities of life and for the conveyance of those who were too ill or exhausted to walk across the desert country.

This sudden advent of large numbers of refugees presented a grave problem to the Kenya administrative, police, military, and medical authorities, and I cannot speak too highly of the splendid work which they have performed under conditions of great stress in providing the refugees with supplies and supervising their health. With reference to a report which appeared in the Press a few days ago, there is no foundation whatever for the suggestion that the Government of Kenya took any action to invite these refugees to the Colony, though of course, when presented with the problem, they took immediate steps to deal with with it in accordance with the dictates of humanity. I may mention that owing to the stiuation of the camp at Isiolo, the refugees concentrated there are not in a position to engage in any anti-Italian activities, even if they wished to do so. I cannot say what the future of the refugees will be. They cannot be accommodated in Kenya, where it would be impossible for them to maintain themselves

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the instructions to the committee which has been set up in Kenya Colony on the demarcation of the so-called White Highlands include, in view of the desire of some owners to sell to Indians, a recommendation that land may be offered for sale or lease to Indians as well as to Europeans?

I am not aware that any such committee has been appointed; and the remaining parts of the question do not, therefore, arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether an Order in Council will be made in respect to the European Highlands in Kenya; if so, when, and what proposals will be embodied in it; and will he make a statement on his policy in regard to the whole matter of land tenure and ownership?

Yes, Sir, I propose to submit an Order for the approval of HIE; Majesty in Council at an early date after I have received the observations of the Governor of Kenya to whom the matter has been referred. In brief, it is proposed that the Order shall contain a definition of the Highlands and that it shall provide for the establishment of a board to advise the Governor in matters relating to the disposal of land within the defined Highlands area. As regards the last part of the question, the policy of Government is summarised in their conclusions on the Kenya Land Commission Report as stated in Command Paper No. 4580 of 1934, to which I have nothing to add.

When this Order is made, will it include racial discrimination in so far as the Indian inhabitants of Kenya are concerned; will it involve administrative discrimination if not legal discrimination; and, further, will it mean that the policy of the Government will be the complete exclusion from the European Highlands of all those natives who have an ancestral claim in the land?

I should like the hon. Member to put down all those very difficult questions. I cannot possibly answer them now.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the purpose of the reduction in the number of official members in the Kenya Executive Council; and why, if an official majority is retained in the Legislative Council, it is not retained in the Executive Council also?

I have approved the reduction of the Executive Council in Kenya in order to make that body more convenient in working and more useful as a means for confidential association with unofficial opinion. An Executive Council does not work by votes or divisions, and the Governor is not bound to accept the advice of a majority. I may, however, point out that, including the Governor, there will actually be a majority of officials in the Council as revised.

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether he is aware that the supply of essential foodstuffs available on this Island does not exceed the volume requisite for a few weeks; and whether he proposes to repair this deficiency by a large-scale system of storage?

I cannot accept my hon. Friend's estimate that the quantity of essential foodstuffs available in this country does not exceed the volume requisite for a few weeks. As I stated in the Debate on 27th July, the question of storage, including the cost of any plan, has required consideration as part of the general scheme of defence and in relation to other requirements and their cost. I am not able at present to add to this statement.

Is it not true of wheat, that there is only about 13 weeks' supply in the country, and is not this one of the most vital aspects of Defence?

No, Sir, that is not the case.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what supply of wheat is, on the average, kept in the country?

The hon. Gentleman asked me a question as to the supply of essential foodstuffs now available in this Island, and I have given him the answer.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that during the past year pastoral or crop producing in Scotland has decreased?

Does the right hon. Gentleman recognise that a great deal of time has elapsed since the establishment of the Food (Defence Plans) Department, and that it is high time that a decision should be arrived at on the main principle of this vitally urgent problem?

I am well aware of the importance and attraction of a food storage policy, but when we are spending enormous sums to make the Defence of this country such as to secure to us our safety, we have to consider the whole cost of every scheme in the general plan of Defence as a whole.

In view of the importance of this matter, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of making an early statement as to what the Government's policy is towards food supplies and food storage in relation to Defence?

Has a decision yet been arrived at in connection with the storage of wheat in this country in elevators?

The Government undoubtedly will make a statement as soon as an answer to this and a number of connected questions can be announced in the House.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are thousands of old age pensioners who have not a half-day's supply?

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence, the number and cost of the agency factories and of additions to the existing plant of private manufacturers financed by the Government, under the Defence Programme, in Great Britain and in each of the main groups of special areas, distinguishing between Tyneside and Durham?

The number of agency factories which have been financed by the Government in Great Britain under the Defence Programme is 14, and the cost of these has amounted to £8,368,000. Of these, two, of which the cost has been £2,200,000, are situated in Special Areas. As regards additions to the existing plant of private manufacturers which have been financed by the Government, the total amount so expended in Great Britain has been £8,162,552 and in the Special Areas £3,962,250. It is regretted that figures for particular Special Areas cannot be given without an undue amount of labour.

Is this money given to the private manufacturer, or is it a loan? If it is given, is it given without a means test?

This question was discussed in the Select Committee on Estimates last March. These sums are not given to contractors, but arrangements are made to suit the special circumstances of each case.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see to it that the individuals who have control of that £8,000,000 give as good conditions to their workpeople as the Government give to their employés in the Royal dockyards? On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. Surely my Supplementary is relevant to the original question and demands an answer?

I respectfully suggest to the hon. Member that it is a question which he might address to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how much of that actual sum has been expended in the Special Areas? If the whole of it has not been spent in the Special Areas, can he say how much has been spent in sub-contract work in or outside the Special Areas?

That is another question, and I very much doubt whether I could give an answer even if the hon. Lady put it down on the Order Paper.

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence the value of the orders placed by the Defence Departments in each of the past few years in Great Britain in the scheduled areas, and in each of the main groups of Special Areas, distinguishing between Tyneside and Durham?

The value of orders placed by the Defence Departments in Great Britain during the financial year 1936–37 was £195,666,900 and for the first six months of 1937–38 was £92,324,000. The values of orders placed during the corresponding periods in the Special and Distressed Areas were £52,840,000 and £29,048,400 respectively. I regret that it is not possible to give detailed figures for the orders placed in particular areas without an undue amount of labour.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the interests of the Special Areas it is of the utmost importance that we should know how much of that money is expended in the Special Areas, and will he consider asking the firms to whom the contracts have been allocated how much money has been spent in the Special Areas?

I am afraid that it would be quite impossible to expect the contractors all over the Kingdom to furnish reports as to the value of the subcontracts which they have made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any steps are yet under contemplation to carry out the recommendations of the Commission on Higher Education in East Africa?

The report of the Commission will be considered by the Advisory Committee on Education in the Colonies and by the Governments of the East African Dependencies. I cannot, therefore, make any definite announcement at this stage, but I am hopeful that the Commission's main recommendations will prove acceptable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether His Majesty's Government have considered the report of Sir Frank Stockdale on soil erosion in East Africa; and what steps he proposes to take to give effect to the proposals on anti-erosion measures and reconditioning of the reserves in Kenya and on the development of improved methods of agriculture and of animal husbandry?

Yes, Sir. The attention of the Governments of all the East African Dependencies has been drawn to Sir Frank Stockdale's report. As regards the second part of the question, the Government of Kenya is establishing a special Soil Conservation Service to deal with the problem. It will be the duty of the officers so employed to prepare the necessary surveys and schemes for the whole colony. As a beginning, a comprehensive scheme has been prepared for reconditioning 100,000 acres in the Machakos Native Reserve as an experimental and demonstration measure, and the Government of Kenya has submitted an application for financial assistance from the Colonial Development Fund to enable this work to he carried out. The Government has also applied for a loan on behalf of the local native council for that area, to enable other reconditioning measures to be taken in the rest of Machakos Reserve.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether a decision has been reached, as to whether the grant and loans are to be given to the Government, and whether the same conditions are to be applied in Tanganyika and in Kenya?

Kenya has led the way in making experiments which have been most successful. We have learned a very great deal from the experiments. Tanganyika requires different treatment because of the different conditions.

Have the Government actually agreed to make a loan and grant?

That is a question which must come before the Colonial Development Fund, a committee which was set up by the Government to consider this matter.