asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Government has yet decided to recognise the Provisional Government of France.

I am unable at present to add anything to what was said on this subject by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and myself in the course of our statements on 28th and 29th September.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind how very greatly it would encourage the French if that recognition could be accorded quickly? Could he say that the British Government are not opposed to recognition in any way?

My right hon. Friend dealt with this subject rather fully in the recent Debate and I should be reluctant to compress his statement in any way. He said in the course of it:

"We are now engaged in discussing these matters both with the French and with other Allied governments, and I am hopeful that, in the near future, a happy settlement will be reached to the satisfaction of all concerned."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 28th September, 1944; Vol. 403, c. 496.]

As we have already recognised General de Gaulle, is it not a little invidious that we should not recognise the Provisional Government of which he is the head?

Has the right hon. Gentleman received a definite request from the Foreign Minister of the French Provisional Government for such recognition?

I should like notice of that Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the part played in the liberation of France by Spanish Republican refugees in that country operating alongside the F.F.I.; whether all Spanish republicans lately interned in French camps and prisons have now been released; and whether assurances can now be given to these Spaniards of continuity of asylum on democratic territory and a guarantee against enforced repatriation to Spain.

I understand that a certain number of Spanish Republican refugees in France joined the French Forces of the Interior but I have no detailed information regarding either the exact numbers or the part which they played in fighting against the Germans.

As regards the second part of the question, I caused inquiries to be made of the French authorities. The present position is that the latter are conducting a rapid examination of the files of all Spanish internees in France, the great majority of whom have already been released. As regards the last part of the Question, this is of course a matter for the French authorities, who will, I am sure, deal with it in accordance with the principles of justice and humanity.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he will give the name of our Commercial Counsellor or Representative at the British Embassy in Paris.

The head of the Commercial Department of His Majesty's Embassy at Paris is Mr. A. R. Fraser who has the rank of Minister (Commercial).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can yet state the new conditions of service for the Foreign Service.

The amalgamation of the diplomatic, commercial diplomatic and consular services has now been put into administrative effect and vacancies are filled, as they arise, from the ranks of the amalgamated Service irrespective of an officer's previous career in any of the former separate branches of the Foreign Service. Thus a number of the members of the former consular service have during the past twelve months been appointed to posts both at home and abroad previously reserved for members of the diplomatic service. Plans for the recruitment of the Foreign Service in accordance with Command Paper 6420 are now in an advanced state and will be put into effect as soon as possible on, the termination of hostilities in Europe. Regular arrangements are now in force under which Foreign Service officers at posts abroad come home at intervals at the public expense for refresher courses and for the renewal of contacts official and otherwise in this country.

As recently announced in the Press a Deputy Under-Secretary for Administration and an Inspector of Diplomatic Establishments Abroad have now been appointed. The special Board to advise the Foreign Secretary in cases of retirement on pension before the age of sixty has been set up and a number of cases have already been referred to it. Various financial and administrative questions arising out of the amalgamation of the services and of other measures referred to in Command Paper 6420 are under active consideration between myself and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

But could my right hon. Friend say how long these conversations on the financial aspect of the new Foreign Service have been going on between himself and the Treasury?

I think my hon. Friend will see from my answer that a very great number of matters have already been settled. There are others which are still being discussed, but I think we are making quite good progress.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the importance of giving further opportunities to women for service in the diplomatic and consular services?

The hon. Lady will be aware that that is a question which is being otherwise dealt with.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will ask the Governments of the United Nations to make a declaration that as soon as practicable every effort will be made to obtain the names of those responsible for crimes against German democrats and anti-Nazis, such as the recent murder of 7,000 internees in Buchenwald concentration camp; and that those names will be added to the list of war criminals and tried by an appropriate court.

Crimes committed by Germans against Germans, however reprehensible, are in a different category from war crimes and cannot be dealt with under the same procedure. His Majesty's Government have this matter under consideration, but I am not in a position to make any further statement at present.

Does not the Foreign Secretary agree that the murder in cold blood of anti-Nazi Germans in Germany, is just as criminal as the murder of anti-Nazis of other nationalities elsewhere? At the present stage of the war, would it not be salutary to issue a warning that such crimes will be punished with equal ruthlessness?

I was not trying to measure the degree of the reprehensible in any of these deeds; all I was saying was that it was not a war crime in the sense of other crimes that are being committed, and other means would have to be found for dealing with it.

Would the Secretary of State bear in mind that any action he may take in this respect will have a big effect on the possibility of getting a decent Government in Germany after the war?

Might it not have an effect on the danger of further crimes, such as Buchenwald, if it is made perfectly clear now, that under whatever procedure, criminals will not escape punishment?

Can anything be a crime if it is not a breach of some existing law?

Would the right hon. Gentleman not agree that all these matters are equally offensive against the human conscience, and on exactly the same grounds? Would it not, therefore, be very much better to widen the terms of reference of the War Crimes Commission so that all these matters could be dealt with by exactly the same procedure?

No, Sir. We really have given some thought to this. I cannot agree with my hon. Friend about widening the work of the War Crimes Commission; they have a very definite and circumscribed task. I agree, however, about the offensiveness of these crimes; all I say is, that they must be handled in some other way.

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now, disclose the terms of all agreements made by the British, American and Ethiopian Governments in relation to air services in Ethiopia.

There is no agreement between His Majesty's Government and the Ethiopian Government in relation to air services in Ethiopia other than Article 11 of the Agreement and Military Convention of January 31st, 1942 (Command Paper 6334 of February 3rd, 1942).

Negotiations for the revision of this agreement are pending. I have no knowledge of any agreement between the American and Ethiopian Governments on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in view, of the fact that the Anglo-Ethiopian Agreement, 1942, has terminated, the Ethiopian railway which, for the period of the agreement only, was placed under British military control has now been restored to Ethiopian control; and whether British troops have vacated the reserved areas which they occupied under the 1942 Agreement.

In view of the negotiations for a fresh agreement now pending, the Ethiopian Government have agreed to maintain the status quo in both respects for a further period.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in view of the Ministry of Information pamphlet "The First to be Freed," recording that slavery was practised by the Italian Government in their Colony of Somalia, and the neglect of sanitation, public health, water supply, and education in Eritrea and Somalia, the imprisonment for years without trial and under bad conditions of persons guilty of no crime known to the laws of civilised countries, he will assure the House that His Majesty's Government is opposed to the return of the colonies to Italy, and that their declaration that the Italian Empire in Africa is irrevocably lost will be strictly adhered to.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the statements by British and allied prisoners of war recently liberated in Bulgaria, that they have been treated with exceptional severity; and, whether he will see that those Bulgarians found responsible shall be included in the lists of war criminals.

I have seen reports in the Press about the statements to which my hon. Friend refers. All such statements will certainly be fully investigated so that appropriate action may be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now received an assurance from the Spanish Government that it will forbid asylum to any Fascist or Nazi war criminals whom the Allies desire to bring to judgment.

His Majesty's Ambassador at Madrid has received assurances that it is not the intention of the Spanish Government to provide asyum for war criminals in Spain. Similar assurances have also, I understand, been given to the American Ambassador.

Can the Foreign Secretary say whether he has had similar assurances in this respect from Portugal?

Perhaps my hon. Friend would be good enough to put that Question down; I am not sure exactly what is the present position.

What is the use of any such assurances, if these war criminals arrive in Spain under assumed names?

I should think human ingenuity might almost deal with that.

Would the Minister not give an assurance to the Spanish people that we will not tolerate Fascism in Spain?

asked the Secretary of State for Air if it is his intention to develop aerodromes in the Home Counties of which details in one case have been sent to him involving that much of a village will be swept away; and whether the present church is also doomed.

I appreciate my hon. Friend's anxiety in regard to this airfield, but I am glad to be able to assure him that no development of it is intended.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if the Government's proposals for demobilisation will permit of officers who are serving on permanent regular commissions in the R.A.F. re- signing their commissions at the appropriate time should they so desire and being demobilised in accordance with the scheme; and what will, similarly, be the position of other ranks on long service attestations.

The Government scheme of release or transfer from the Forces does not apply to officers holding permanent commissions or to airmen of the regular Air Force whose periods of engagement have not expired.

Can the Minister say what will be the position with regard to the resignations of officers in future? Does he appreciate that there will undoubtedly be officers who, not seeing much prospect for themselves in the Service, would probably like to take jobs in civil life?

The position will be exactly the same as it is at present. Applications to resign commissions will be considered on their merits.

Does that mean that the right hon. Gentleman's policy is to put officers in a privileged position with regard to getting out of the Air Force, as compared with other ranks?

Most decidedly not.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what are the Government's plans and programmes for an orderly world system of civil aviation.

As the House is aware, the Government are seeking international collaboration in the development of an orderly world system of civil air transport. The principles which the Government favour were stated by the Lord Privy Seal in another place on 10th May last. These are the elimination of uneconomic competition, the maintenance of a balance between transport capacity and traffic offering on the international routes and the control and allocation of frequencies by and between the countries concerned.

Has the Minister's attention been called to a speech made by his right hon. and gallant Friend the Under- Secretary about two and a half weeks ago, in which he was trying to assure people interested in civil aviation that plans really did exist, and indicated that he, at least, could not accept as satisfactory to the ordinary civilian aviation people the kind of statement just made by the right hon. Gentleman?

I am sure that the plans referred to by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Under-Secretary are those I have just mentioned.

Has the Minister seen the speeches which have been made by air experts in America indicating that nothing will prevent America from entering bilateral agreements with other countries in relation to air routes?

A great many speeches have been made on both sides of the Atlantic, and that is why I am glad to know that representatives of the Governments concerned will shortly meet round a table to discuss this problem.

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Air whether any arrangements have been made for further Inter-Commonwealth discussions about civil air transport, following the talks which were held in October of last year.

Yes, Sir. At the invitation of the Canadian Government, officials of British Commonwealth Governments will meet for a Conference in Montreal beginning on the 23rd instant to discuss operational and technical problems connected with the establishment of air routes between members of the British Commonwealth. Air transport services operated for war purposes will be reviewed and it is expected that there will be discussion of possible operations during the remainder of the war as well as in the post-war period. Any recommendations made by the conference will be submitted to the Governments for approval. It has for some time been the intention of the Commonwealth Governments to hold further conversations on aviation problems. Now that a general international conference on the subject is to be held in the United States in November it has been agreed that the further Com- monwealth talks could most conveniently take place in Canada at a meeting attended by the officials of the delegations visiting North America for the Conference in the United States. The South African Government has agreed to postpone the conference which was to have been held in Johannesburg this month to discuss civil aviation problems affecting Southern Africa.

Can we have the date of this Conference in Canada?

23rd October.

May I ask, Mr. Speaker, why it was necessary to have this Private Notice Question?

The answer is obviously that a simultaneous announcement is being made in the Canadian House of Commons, and I think this House of Commons would have objected if the Canadian House had heard it and we had not.

What policy, so far as civil aviation is concerned, will His Majesty's Government stand for in the Canadian parleys on 23rd October and what policy will they press for in the international talks in November?

As regards the outline of the policy, I answered a question on that, which the hon. Member put to me earlier in the Sitting. The Commonwealth Conference is to be a discussion of practical operational and technical problems, for the organisation of routes between the Empire countries represented at the Conference.

Which Ministers will represent the United Kingdom Government; and will they represent a general policy acceptable to the House?

; This is a Conference of officials, and not of Ministers.

Is it not very desirable that the Conference in Canada should take place before the Conference in the United States?

It will. The Conference in Canada, as I have said, is to take place on the 23rd of this month.

asked the Minister of Aircraft Production why his Ministry acceded to the request for a number of aeroplanes to be sent to Lady Dudley's fête recently, when similar requests for the loan of aircraft for exhibition were refused.

No request was received by my Ministry from Lady Dudley's fête, and no aircraft were sent there.

If they were not sent by the right hon. and learned Gentleman's Ministry, will he inquire from the Ministry of Supply whether they were sent from there?

I think the hon. Gentleman had better make inquiries from Lady Dudley.

They were certainly sent there.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is now in a position to make a statement about the question of monetary awards to holders of the D.S.M.

No, Sir, but I hope that it will be possible for a statement to be made within the next few weeks.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of recent war developments, he will authorise some increase of publicity with regard to the progress of our campaign against German U-boats.

In spite of the safe passage of the invasion convoys and of many millions of tons of shipping across the oceans, it must not be overlooked that the enemy can still deploy against us an effective force of U-boats of improved design, armed with new weapons. We may yet have to face dangerous losses. It is our duty to deny the enemy any information which would assist him. We must not forget the Japanese war and its many problems. Of course, we should like to tell the country the deathless tale of how our sailors and airmen beat the U-boat, but we must not throw needless burdens on the future.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether No. D/JX287308, Able Seaman L. C. Hale, was under the ship's doctor at the time when he left his ship in May, 1944; and why Able Seaman Hale was sentenced to 42 days' detention for the offence of desertion after being treated as a mental case for several weeks both in the Royal Salop Infirmary and elsewhere and in view of the opinions of the doctors who first examined him when he arrived at Shrewsbury and the length of time which finally elapsed before disciplinary action was taken against him.

From the entries in this rating's medical history it appears that he was not under the ship's doctor when he deserted from his ship. Both the naval hospital where he was subsequently treated and the psychiatrist who re-examined him after he arrived at the barracks reported on his mental condition and considered that he was responsible for his actions at the time of his desertion, and the psychiatrist recommended that there should be no interference with the usual disciplinary action. In these circumstances the rating was sentenced to 42 days' detention for the serious offence of deserting from his ship. The fact that this man was required to undergo medical treatment for some weeks after his desertion did not, of course, make it possible to ignore his offence.

Is not a matter of principle involved here? If this man was not a medical case, why was he not arrested and taken straight back to his ship? What justice can there be in taking disciplinary action against him weeks after he had arrived home, and had been given medical treatment for a number of weeks?

I do not think a question of principle arises, because the officer responsible for exercising disciplinary action took no action against the man for the offence until he had taken advice from the naval hospital, and the psychiatrist who specially examined him, as to whether he was or was not responsible for his desertion.

Is great care taken in such cases as this to see that men are not suffering from strain or mental trouble before or even after court-martial?

I say frankly that I am glad this case has been brought to my notice because I want to advise the people concerned to be careful about these cases and consider them as sympathetically as possible.

Is it not obvious that if a man deserted, and it was found necessary to treat him immediately afterwards for a considerable period in a mental hospital, he should not have been detained for 42 days?

I have given the House the facts as they are.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible opportunity.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty on how many occasions Members of Parliament have addressed naval units during the recess; how many Members from each party gave these addresses; and if any of these addresses were given at places outside Great Britain.

As part of the education of naval personnel in current affairs, visits by three Members of Parliament to naval units in the Orkneys and Shetlands were arranged during the Recess. The hon. and gallant Member for Hornsey (Captain Gammans) gave 13 lectures, the hon. Member for Maidstone (Mr. Bossom) gave 11, and the hon. and gallant Member for Ormskirk (Commander King-Hall) 16. The hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. Bartlett) gave one lecture at H.M.S. "Collingwood." The answer to the second part of the Question is, therefore, two Conservatives, one Independent National and one Independent. So far as I am aware, no meetings were arranged outside Great Britain, though I cannot exclude the possibility that less formal occasions may have been arranged by local Naval authorities.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for his reply, may I ask him whether it is his intention to extend in the future this very desirable practice of Members of all parties addressing naval personnel?

I confess that I do not want to butt in on this question of educational leaders in the Navy finding people whom they consider would be suitable to address personnel on particular subjects. I would much rather they had freedom and no political guidance from me.

When did the Minister reach the conclusion that no Labour Member was capable of lecturing to men under his control? Are we to understand that the hon. and gallant Member for Hornsey (Captain Gammans) was entitled to lecture 13 times—I do not know why it should have been 13—while no Member on this side was considered fit and proper to undertake that task?

My hon. Friend on this occasion is rather too previous. Labour Members have lectured to the Navy. During the Easter and Whitsun Recesses lectures were given by my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Mr. Thomas).

Are any of these lecturers in favour of democracy?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if his attention has been called to an incident which occurred at Bembridge, Isle of Wight, on the 16th instant when an airman lost his life within 50 yards of the shore; and, as the lifeboat crew were prevented by Admiralty Regulations and the control officer on duty from launching the lifeboat, what action he proposes to take to prevent a recurrence of further incidents of this kind.

Yes, Sir, I have received a full report on this unfortunate occurrence, which is very much regretted. The reports first received were that someone was in distress in the direction of Bembridge and secondly that a Wellington aircraft had come down off Bembridge and that one of the crew had landed there. Two high speed rescue craft were sent out immediately to search in the vicinity, one inshore and one further out. Five minutes later a message was received by the naval authorities from the coastguards to say that they had been informed by the hon. Secretary of the Bembridge Lifeboat Station that a man near the lifeboat house was calling for help. Unfortunately, it was wrongly assumed that this message referred to the man who had just previously been reported as having landed at Bembridge. Thus, when a few minutes later a request was received by telephone for permission to launch the lifeboat, it was believed that this was unnecessary and that it would be better to hold the boat in reserve. It was known that boats were already searching in the vicinity. If it had been appreciated that a man was at that time in the water calling for help and that the lifeboat crew knew where he was, permission for the boat to launch would, of course, have been given immediately. It is necessary that traffic in the approaches to all defended ports should be strictly controlled in order that craft may not run into danger or precipitate action by the local defences. For this reason orders had been given by the C.-in-C. which required the lifeboat in its own interests to obtain permission to launch. Orders of this nature are being reviewed in consultation with the Inspector, H.M. Coastguards, in the light of the changing war situation and the changing balance of risk, and I hope that this will prevent a recurrence of this regrettable incident. I wish to take this opportunity of expressing my deep sympathy to the bereaved relatives.

Is it not a fact that those who asked permission for the launching of the lifeboat were informed that the man in distress was in view of the lifeboat crew at the time, and they could hear and see him, and yet they were not given permission; in fact they were told they could not launch it?

The incident was unfortunate and there was an error of judgment in interpreting the Regulations. That has been dealt with.

Is it not a fact that it was not a question of an error of judgment, but a question of red tape?

Not at all. You must remember that you are dealing also with the lives of a large number of lifeboat- men and you have to consider not only mines laid by the enemy, but the immediate operation of our local defences which would begin to work automatically unless proper steps were taken by the naval authorities.

Would not the difficulty be better met if the launching of the lifeboat were immediately notified to the naval authorities? They would still have time to prevent it, if necessary.

In some cases, where defence permits of it, that is done already, and in this case I think it is going to be done in the future.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if the Government's proposals for demobilisation will permit of officers who are serving on permanent Regular commissions in the Royal Navy resigning their commissions at the appropriate time, should they so desire, and being demobilised in accordance with the scheme; and what will, similarly, be the position of other ranks on long-service attestations.

The release scheme promulgated in the recent White Paper does not apply to permanent service officers or men whose normal periods of service have not expired.

Will sympathetic consideration be given to the claims of officers and men in these categories who, on the termination of hostilities, would like to take up vacancies that may occur or be offered them in civil life?

I can assure the hon. and gallant Gentleman that applications received in that way will be dealt with, as now, on their merits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken by him to recruit suitable men and women for the political and technical services in British dependencies, in the light of present and post-war needs; whether terms of employment are under revision; and what methods will be employed in the selection of candidates.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the official announcement on post-war recruitment to the Colonial Service which appeared in the Press on 16th September. The arrangements for reopening recruitment after the defeat of Germany are well advanced, and detailed information about them and about the method of application and selection will be published shortly in pamphlets which will be widely circulated both in this country and among the Armed Forces serving overseas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking in the international meetings to consider the future of rubber to protect the interests of the native producer and the organisations necessary to prepare, ship and distribute the product; and will he ensure that shareholders' associations and agency firms obtain no advantage over the real producers, including a high proportion of Chinese producers, so that the purchasing power for export goods from this country to rubber producing countries may not be seriously affected by adopting a policy which fails to protect the native producer.

My hon. Friend can rest assured that at the meetings of the Rubber Study Group all these considerations will be borne in mind by the official members of the United Kingdom delegation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the prosecutions recently of the Mayor of Limassol and the secretary of the Cyprus trade unions for public assembly without permission; and whether he will consider the removal of such restrictions.

I am aware of these prosecutions. The persons concerned took part in a demonstration which followed a meeting addressed by the Mayor of Limassol on 17th August. The Mayor of Limassol had given an undertaking that there would be no procession after the meeting, but a procession was held without the official permit which is required by law. I understand that in these two cases the defendants were bound over to keep the peace for two years. As regards the last part of the Question I do not consider it advisable, nor in the interest of good order in Cyprus, that the Government should relinquish powers of control over public meetings and processions.

In view of the very intense nationalist feeling in the island, and the considerable irritation against restrictions of this kind, cannot something be done now to relax things?

I do not think it would be at all advisable. It is the very intensity of feeling that makes certain precautions unavoidable, also the fact that Cyprus is still within the zone of possible operations.

Are we to take it that the Colonial Secretary does not encourage any underground movement in this part of the Empire?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on Sir Cosmo Parkinson's mission to Cyprus and on the arrest of political and trade union leaders for taking part in a demonstration on 17th August.

Sir Cosmo Parkinson visited Cyprus as my personal representative to acquaint himself at first hand with local conditions and problems. His visit was of the same nature as those which, as the hon. Member is no doubt aware, he has paid to other Colonies on behalf of my predecessor and myself during the past two years. As regards the demonstration of 17th August, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the Question on the same subject by the hon. Member for Shipley (Mr. Creech Jones).

Is it not strange that there should be any discontent in Cyprus in view of the fact that the Prime Minister, during his visit, said they were having a period of unrivalled prosperity and everyone was exceedingly happy?

Human nature is very strange.

Will any report be issued of Sir Cosmo Parkinson's visit to this Colony?

No. That will not be done this time. It has not been done in the past. He went as my personal representative and his report will be confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken in Nigeria to overhaul the conditions of labour in the tinmines of the plateau; whether new conditions are being imposed on the concession holders in respect to restoration of land, removal of debris, adoption of up-to-date methods of extraction and welfare, relief of density of population, restoration of fertility of soil for the tribes; whether any new regulations governing existing and new concessions will be imposed; and whether the portion of the royalties distributed to private shareholders in Europe will be retained for the benefit of African development.

Future policy with regard to the mining industry in Nigeria is now under review, but I am not at present in a position to make a statement on the subject.

When the right hon. and gallant Gentleman comes to consider the whole problem, will he take into consideration some of the points mentioned in my letter, because of the rather disgraceful conditions that exist there?

I would not use the word "disgraceful" but both the hon. Member and I have recently visited the area, and I agree that there is a good deal to be done.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of a petition, presented in May of this year, in favour of widening the pension scheme of the Nigerian railways to include artisans and other workers; and how far the petition was granted.

The matter is under consideration, but I am not in a position to make a statement at present. I will communicate with the hon. Members on the subject as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any further action has been taken in consultation with the Governor of Nigeria respecting the control and advertisement of questionable or fraudulent drugs.

The Government of Nigeria is considering whether legislation should be introduced for the control of undesirable advertisements of the type in question. Meanwhile the Government is carrying out propaganda to educate the public in regard to the dangers of fraudulent drugs.

Is not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that a Government publication has drawn attention to this kind of things; and does he not consider that something more might have been done to prevent the swindling of the labour population?

There were already some regulations in existence.

But not nearly sufficient to cover very grave abuses.

The hon. Member knows that, even in this country, it is not easy to control this kind of thing purely by regulations. Propaganda is probably the best way.

Will juju charms and medicines be included in the drugs on, which action is proposed to be taken?

Yes, Six, if they come under the description of either "questionable" or "fraudulent."

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there are any fully-qualified ophthalmic specialists in the service of the Government of Nigeria; and whether the service of such specialists is available to inhabitants of the Colony.

A Government medical officer fully qualified in ophthalmology has been attached to the Nigerian Government and his services have been available to the public at the Government Ophthal- mic Clinic. I understand that he will shortly be leaving Nigeria and I am inquiring of the Governor as to the arrangements which he proposes then to make. Mr. Sorensen: Has he any assistants adequate to the task?

He has assistants, I think, but there is in Nigeria, I understand, only one other fully qualified practitioner.

Does not the right and gallant Gentleman consider it advisable that there should be a greater supply of ophthalmic assistants in Nigeria with its 20,000,000 people?

The hon. Gentleman must realise that there is an extreme scarcity of medical practitioners all over the world to-day, and I am governed, not by what I desire to have, but by what I can get.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any statement to make on franchise matters in British Guiana and Trinidad.

With regard to Trinidad I made a full statement in reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Hornsey on the 2nd August. With regard to British Guiana, the report of the Franchise Commission has been placed in the Library of the House, and I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT, a statement showing the action which, with my approval, it is proposed to take on the main recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the names of the members of the representative committee who are dealing with problems arising out of prisoners of war and civilian internees from Malaya and Hong Kong and the type of problems being dealt with.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the names and qualifications of the members of the representative committee considering problems of the Malaya and Hong Kong prisoners of war and internees.

As the reply is necessarily long and detailed, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is it a permanent Committee, with terms of reference and a chairman?

Yes, it has a chairman and members and an agenda.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action is being taken to appoint African representatives to serve on the Nairobi municipal council in accordance with the recent suggestion of the mayor of Nairobi.

The Nairobi municipal Council has approved a proposal to nominate two Africa members to serve on the council, and the Kenya Government now has the proposal under consideration. An amendment of the law relating to municipalities is involved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is now the position regarding the introduction of the secret ballot in the Bahamas; and was a measure with this end in view presented to the House of Assembly with the recommendation that it should be passed in accordance with His Majesty's Government's desire and rejected by them.

A message from the Governor was sent to the Bahamas House of Assembly in June of this year inviting the House to enact legislation to make voting by secret ballot permanent in New Providence Island and to extend it to the Out Islands. In July the House passed a Bill making the secret ballot permanent in New Providence but rejected by 17 votes to 8 the proposal for the extension of the secret ballot to the whole Colony. The former Bill has since been concurred in by the Legislative Council which has also passed a resolution placing on record its determination to support legislation extending the secret ballot throughout the Colony.

In reply to the last part of the Question, the Governor's message informed the House that the passing of this Measure was expressly desired by His Majesty's Government.

Is it the intention of the Government to do anything in this matter?

I am in communication with the Governor as to future action.

asked, the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that although there are 4,000,000 Africans, 27,000 Asiatics and 2,700 Europeans in Uganda, there are only four non-official members of the Council and no non-official members of the Executive Council, he will cause the whole question of non-official representation to be reviewed.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on this subject on 7th June.

Does not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman agree that it is about time that the 4,000,000 Africans had more non-official representation?

I am very anxious that the hon. Member and the House should understand that Uganda is in a different position from some other Colonies in that a great part of the work there is done by purely African assemblies. I am not at all averse to a proposal of this kind if I were sure that it would not damage the existing system of African government.

Do I take it that the right hon. and gallant Gentleman is giving sympathetic consideration to the possibility of more non-official representation?

A new Governor has been appointed and I will discuss this with him before he goes out.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made respecting publication of the report on the Mauritius disturbances.

Printed copies of the report are now on their way to Mauritius and it will be published both here and in the Colony as soon as possible after they arrive.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been called to the recent Report by Mr. Alexander Paterson on Juvenile Delinquency and Penal Administration and Welfare Services in Sierra Leone; and whether he proposes to take any action arising out of the Report.

Yes, Sir. I have read the report with interest and am at present in correspondence with the Governor about it. I hope that action in a number of directions will result from Mr. Paterson's recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has now obtained any information on the alleged colour-bar discrimination in operation under the Defence Regulations in the town of Mahé in the Seychelles Islands, to which his attention was called by the hon. Member for Dewsbury.

The Regulation to which the hon. Member refers put hotels, bars and restaurants out of bounds to non-commissioned Seychelles Pioneers and to African Troops. It also put bacca shops out of bounds to Africans. Its purpose was to stop Seychellois and African Troops from drinking rum and other drinks that are strange to them. Unit canteens have been established both for the Pioneers and for African Troops. The Regulation was made with the full concurrence of the local Service and civilian authorities and I am informed that it has proved very successful.

asked the Prime Minister if he can give an assurance that men who are serving overseas when the war in Europe ends will be given a period of home leave before they are posted to the Far East.

We We shall do the very best we can.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of the Government to issue, when conditions permit, free travel passes or to afford other assistance to the next of kin of sailors, soldiers, airmen and other service personnel killed an active service abroad, to visit the graves of their relatives.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is proposed to make possible the visits after the war of parents to the resting places of their sons who have fallen in the Middle East and on the Continent.

This proposal will be very carefully considered. But not now.

asked the Prime Minister if he will give an undertaking that no Minister will in future issue a propagandist pamphlet at public expense in support of a proposal of the Government which has not been discussed in Parliament similar to the pictoral pamphlet on social insurance issued by the Minister of Reconstruction.

No, Sir. I do not know what is going to happen in the future.

Will my right hon. Friend compare this pamphlet with the last catalogue of Lewis's great white sale?

asked the Prime Minister whether Hitler, Goering, Goebbels and Himmler are on the British or United Nations list of war criminals for trial in due course.

So far as the British List is concerned, the parties mentioned are included. It should not be assumed that the procedure of trial will necessarily be adopted. I am not in a position to make any statement about the United Nations' list at the present time.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that under the present terms of reference of the War Crimes Commission, none of these gentlemen would be indictable for any act committed against German nationals in Germany?

As I say, we have to consider a lot of countries and are working in touch with a great many countries. I was asked a Question which I was not particularly looking for, because all this is very general at the present time. We have not completed our job yet, and I am not able to give full answers respecting international bodies and international procedure.

Is not the War Crimes Commission examining whether these crimes are punishable under what we know as international law, and, in view of recent events, is not international law as we knew it a thing of the past, and is it not high time that we laid down how cases of this kind are to be dealt with in the future?

I would not commit myself to any sweeping assertions which appeared to challenge the broad foundations of international law. I do not think there is any immediate hurry about making any further announcements on this subject.

Would the Prime Minister give an assurance that if any German citizens should shoot any of these individuals, they would not be dealt with as the assassin of Darlan was dealt with in North Africa?

The hon. Member is asking me to give an assurance covering a vast field of uncertainty which is influenced at every stage by hazard and chance.

asked the Lord President of the Council when he expects to receive the Report of the Television Committee.

I have ascertained that the Television Committee has made good progress, but it is not yet possible to say when its report will be ready.

Will the report be published?

I think so.

asked the Minister of Production whether, in view of the serious exchange position arising owing to the low volume of British exports, he will take immediate steps to release substantially larger supplies of raw materials to firms engaged on manufacture for export.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, gave to the hon. Member for South Croydon (Sir H. Williams), the hon. and learned Member for North Edinburgh (Mr. Erskine-Hill) and the hon. Member for Ipswich (Mr. Stokes) on 26th September. Steps will be taken, when the times comes, to see that the allocation of raw materials for civil production including exports keeps step with the release of capacity and labour from war production.

Would it not be possible, where it is not practicable for a large bulk to be issued, for smaller supplies to be given to a firm so that they could make a certain amount into samples to be sent out with a view to future deliveries?

My hon. Friend will have seen the arrangements which are being made for the manufacture of certain prototypes and samples.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that this is universally considered in industrial circles as very unsatisfactory, and that this matter requires urgent and serious attention?

My right hon. Friend mentions "when the time comes;" will he indicate what sort of time he has in mind, because it is no use waiting until the end of the war before we start?

As far as raw materials and such things as prototypes and samples are concerned I do not think there is any immediate difficulty.

In view of the fact that some factory workers are already idle, is not the time for action now?

When the right hon. Gentleman speaks of "when the times comes," will he make sure that the Americans do not steal a march on us? They have already done so.

I beg to give notice that I shall raise this question on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Production whether, in view of the shortage of paper, he will restrict the quantity of paper allotted to publishers of pamphlets and manifestos and correspondingly increase the amount allowed to British newspapers.

No, Sir. At this stage of the war I am not in favour of placing further restrictions on the small amount of paper available for pamphlets and manifestos, which is negligible as compared with the consumption of newsprint.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, whether the quantity is negligible or not, the volume of pamphlets showered upon Members of Parliament is such that it is impossible to read them all, however edifying their contents, and that the greater part of mine go into the wastepaper basket? Could not the newspapers have a little more of this paper?

asked the Minister of Production whether he is aware that many important technical journals are still obliged by the paper shortage to refuse to print important technical data which would be of great value to British scientists in the development of new processes; and whether he will give an assurance that at an early opportunity the full requirement of scientific journals will be met as regards paper supplies.

I can assure my hon. Friend that the fullest consideration will be given to the needs of technical journals as soon as paper supplies permit.

Will the Minister reply to the latter part of the Question, and say whether the supply can be increased?

I cannot give an answer to it now. As soon as we can give it, we shall.

Is not the paper situation getting better month by month?

No, Sir. Recent increases in allocation are due to our feeling that we can take a bit more risk on the stock position, rather than to any improvement in the current supply.

Is there not a lot of waste paper sent to Members of Parliament?

asked the Minister of Production what steps he is taking to release productive resources for civilian needs, in view of the reduced demand for war-time stores.

asked the Minister of Production whether he can now make the statement which has been promised on the Government's policy in regard to the allocation of facilities for the manufacture of goods for export and civilian use.

I would ask my hon. Friends to wait for the statement which I hope to make next week.

May I ask the Minister what he means by what he has said? Does he propose to make a statement at the end of Questions?

I propose to make a statement at the end of Questions, with Mr. Speaker's permission.

Are we to understand that a statement is to be made on this very important question without an opportunity for debate?

If a demand for a Debate on the preliminary information which I shall give in the statement is forthcoming, of course that is a matter to be taken up through the usual channels.

asked the Minister of Production if he has received the comments of his Department's representatives at Washington regarding the publication of the Report of the Textile Mission to the U.S.A.; and if he now proposes to make the Report available to the public or to Members of Parliament.

The Report of the Mission is to be published by H.M. Stationery Office and will be available at an early date.