asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that as a result of the present occupation policy in Japan, control of the economic and political life of the country is being increasingly placed in the hands of reactionary and treacherous elements; and whether he will instruct our representative on the Allied Council to take every step possible to counteract this policy.

The present Japanese Government came into office as the result of a general election in April last, based on universal suffrage, in which over 75 per cent. of the electorate voted. My information is that this Government is doing its best to co-operate loyally with the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers and to deal in a democratic manner with the great problems of employment, labour and rehabilitation which are now so pressing. It is expected that a fresh general election will be held in the New Year when the Japanese people will again have an opportunity to express their views, and it would be an unnecessary interference with this democratic process to cause the Allied Council to intervene.

Would the Minister say whether it is true that Japanese industry is being handed back to the relatives of those people who controlled it prior to occupation?

Japanese industry is being treated in different ways, and, of course, proper care has been taken to deal with the people previously associated with the military régime of Japan.

May I ask my right hon. Friend if, in view of the importance of the proceedings of the Allied Council in Tokyo, and also of the Far East Commission in Washington, he will have some account of the proceedings placed in the Library, so that Members interested may have some continuous record of the proceedings?

There is a good deal of Press publicity available on the subject, but I will consider the point made by my hon Friend.

With regard to American assistance in occupied enemy territories, has the Minister's attention been drawn to a report of American opposition to the socialisation of industry in the British zone in Germany?

My attention has been drawn to that Press report, and I am very glad to give an assurance that it is absolutely without truth.

May I ask my right hon. Friend how far socialisation of industry has gone in Japan, and, if it has not yet commenced, on what basis they are trying to cure economic problems?

Perhaps my hon. and most courteous Friend will give notice of that Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will invite trade union and cooperative representatives from this country to visit Japan for the purpose of establishing contact with representatives of these bodies in Japan.

His Majesty's Government attach importance to the healthy growth of trade unionism and Co-operative movements in Japan and as a first step I am at present discussing with the State Department a proposal to attach a British expert on trade union affairs to General MacArthur's headquarters in Tokyo.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the number of senior British civilian personnel attached to the headquarters of the Allied Council for Japan.

The Allied Council for Japan consists only of four persons, one of whom, Mr. MacMahon Ball, an Australian, represents the Governments of Australia, New Zealand, India and the United Kingdom. A member of the United Kingdom Liaison Mission in Japan is attached to Mr. Ball in the capacity of United Kingdom Adviser. United Kingdom civilian representation is limited to the staff of the Liaison Mission on which, in addition to the head of the Mission, who has the personal rank of ambassador, there are three officers of the rank of diplomatic counsellor or consul-general. There is, however, no headquarters staff apart from a small secretariat which is supplied by General MacArthur's headquarters.

Judging by the result of their deliberations, does not my right hon. Friend feel that, if not the numbers, at least the strength of the delegation requires increasing?

No, Sir. I certainly could not accept that suggestion. I think that a very complex task is being well discharged.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the recent issue of an official publication by His Majesty's Embassy in Warsaw, bearing an inaccurate title, he will take steps to ensure that all such publications make perfectly clear that they are representative of Great Britain as a whole and not only of one specific part thereof.

I am indebted to the hon. and gallant Gentleman for bringing this point to my notice. I do not think that it would be desirable now to change the title of the publication, but I am instructing our Embassy in Warsaw that where they are officially referring to Great Britain they should use the Polish word for Great Britain.

Will the right hon. Gentleman extend that to other Embassies all over the world in order to make sure?

I am as concerned as the hon. and gallant Gentleman to see that English is correctly used, and in this particular; most correctly used.

Surely, the proper title is "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland"?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the fact that in Poland six more local district branches of the Polish Peasant Party have been closed down by the police; that at Wischowa, in the Poznan area, the chairman and entire executive committee have been arrested and the offices closed; that altogether 24 branch offices of Mr. Mikolajczyk's party have now been closed by the police; and what steps he proposes to take in order that the guarantees of free and unfettered elections given by both the Yalta and Potsdam agreements may be carried out.

My right hon. Friend deplores such incidents and His Majesty's Government have already informed the Polish Provisional Government that they would not be able to regard the undertaking given by that Government to hold free and unfettered elections as having been fulfilled if all democratic parties did not enjoy equal facilities to conduct electoral campaigns freely without arrest or threat of arrest and without discriminatory restriction of election activities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Praesidium of the Polish Peasant Party has lodged a protest before the State Electoral Commission complaining of the exclusion of representatives of that party and of independent citizens from the District Electoral Commissions, the members of which have been chosen from among the representatives of the parties supporting the governmental electoral bloc; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the elections are fairly conducted, in accordance with the assurances given at Yalta and Potsdam.

This particular incident had not been brought to my attention before, but I was aware that the Polish Peasant Party was not being represented on the District Electoral Commissions. As regards the last part of the Question, His Majesty's Ambassador at Warsaw has already made plain to the Polish Provisional Government the conditions which His Majesty's Government regard as essential to ensure that the Polish elections are held in accordance with the Crimea and Potsdam Agreements. One of these conditions was that all permitted parties should be represented on all electoral commissions and other bodies connected with the elections at all levels.

May we not ask that, before it is too late, His Majesty's Government, in conjunction with the other signatories of the Yalta Agreement, should finally impress upon the Polish Provisional Government that unless elections are held in accordance with that agreement, the very conditions under which that Government came into existence have not been fulfilled, and that recognition will no longer be accorded?

Of course, I cannot answer for the other Governments, but His Majesty's Government have already made their position clear and explicit. I do not think that it could be improved upon, even by the hon. Gentleman opposite.

If the Polish Provisional Government pay no more attention to these protests than they have given to those made in the past, what other action are His Majesty's Government going to take in this matter to fulfil their obligations?

In view of what the Polish workers suffered under the feudal landowners, are they not likely to combat every measure to get them back now that they have got them out?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any further statement to make regarding His Majesty's Government's policy towards Rumania following his announcement that the elections were neither free nor fair, but involved wholesale falsification of the results by Government authorities.

No, Sir

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether, as has been alleged, all the newspaper correspondents present in Rumania during these elections have expressed the view that arrangements on polling day were satisfactory?

No, Sir, that is quite untrue. There were many abstentions. There was only one British representative of a British newspaper who signed the declaration. He was Mr. Ivor Montague, of the "Daily Worker."

Is not the Minister aware that hon. Members on the other side are more concerned about oil than about democracy?

Will the Minister send a copy of this Question and answer to the hon. and learned Member for North Hammersmith (Mr. Pritt)?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now received a reply from the Rumanian Government to his representations regarding the falsification of the recent elections.

No, Sir.

Will the right hon. Gentleman demand an answer, and also call the attention of the Rumanian Government to the fact that, as the only two representatives of the Opposition have been compelled to resign, here again the Moscow Agreement has not been carried out?

I suggest that our views have been made plain to the Rumanian Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs who has been appointed to represent the British Government at the forthcoming meeting of experts on passport and frontier formalities arranged by the Economic Affairs Department of U.N.O.

The meeting has now been postponed until 17th March. His Majesty's Government will be represented by a delegation composed of officials representing the Foreign Office, Home Office, Treasury and His Majesty's Customs and Excise Office.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say who these representatives will be?

No, Sir, not without notice.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I gave notice, and was asked to postpone the Question until today, in order that the names might be given?

The Question does not ask for these details, but I shall be glad to meet the hon. Gentleman on that point.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is in a position to make a statement about assistance to Austria after the termination of U.N.R.R.A. relief.

Yes, Sir. As the answer is necessarily long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

In view of the importance of the statement which is to be circulated, will the right hon. Gentleman give the House, in a word, some indication of whether there is any bright hope for Austria in this respect?

Hope is always a comparative matter. The hon. Gentleman will find that the extent of our help is quite substantial. I hope it will not be the end of the help available to Austria, but it is a substantial commitment by His Majesty's Government.

Is there any loan, and if so, how much is it?

There are two sections to the help. There are a grant of £8,500,000, and a credit of £1,500,000 specifically available for the financing of wool purchases.

While thanking the Minister for these grants, which will be very much appreciated, may I ask whether political conditions are attached to the grants, and also, whether he can give an assurance that the money will be exchangeable for the necessary goods?

On the second point, we are arranging that the Austrian needs will be met, and perhaps I should add that the United States Administration means to ask Congress for an appropriation which would take care of these dollar charges. As to the first point, I am glad to be able to assure the House that there are. of course, no political strings. The grant is available to the Austrian Government for Austria, and not for any particular part.

Following is the answer:

His Majesty's Government have decided to make a substantial contribution by way of relief assistance to Austria. This decision is in conformity with the resolution adopted on nth December by the General Assembly of the United Nations on the subject of relief needs in the post-U.N.R.R.A. period, and we are confident not only that the other occupying Powers will make contributions proportionate to their resources, but that further help will be given in cash or kind by other countries in a position to assist. If these expectations are fulfilled, it should be possible for Austria both to acquire the necessities of life throughout 1947 and to set her feet on the road to economic recovery, thus limiting the need for further emergency assistance thereafter.

It is the desire of His Majesty's Government that Austria should be enabled to stand on her own feet at the earliest possible moment. They are, therefore, putting their assistance at the disposal of the Austrian Government and are making no stipulations which would favour the British Zone as against the rest of Austria. Indeed, it is their object to make as few stipulations of any kind as possible, because they believe that the independence and integrity of Austria can best be assured by freeing her from hampering restrictions to the greatest possible extent. The only conditions which they feel obliged to make and which the House will, I am sure, regard as entirely reasonable, are the following: (1) that the principle of economic unity is maintained by all the other occupying Powers, so that the Austrian Government is able to dispose freely of its resources and imports for the benefit of the Austrian population as a whole; (2) that the assistance is used only for purchases which are essential for Austrian recovery.

His Majesty's Government's contribution will take the form of grants for the purchase of relief imports and credits for the purchase of reconstruction imports. These grants and credits, up to a maximum of £8½ million, will be available to the Austrian Government for the purchase of such essential supplies as can be obtained in the United Kingdom and such other countries as may be agreed. In addition His Majesty's Government have guaranteed, under the Overseas Trade (Guarantees) Act, 1939, a commercial credit of £1½ million for the purchase of raw wool.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent His Majesty's Government have decided to support the proposals of Mr. La Guardia in reference to a substitute organisation for U.N.R.R.A. in the matter of food supplies.

Mr. La Guardia's proposal for the establishment of a United Nations Emergency Food Fund was not adopted. The text of an alternative resolution adopted by the General Assembly is being placed in the Library of the House.

I am aware that it was not adopted, but does not my right hon. Friend think that an international control of these matters is much better than single arrangements as between country and country?

It is not a unilateral arrangement between country and country, and I think I have previously explained to the House rather fully our proposals in this matter.

What were the precise aspects of the La Guardia proposals to which His Majesty's Government objected?

I think I could hardly be expected to explain that by question and answer.

As my right hon. Friend says that it is not a matter as between country and country, will he explain what it is, because I understand that America is preparing to make arrangements with individual countries?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will read the text in the Library, and discuss it further with me.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the recent resolution of the General Assembly urging the Atomic Energy Commission to fulfil expeditiously its terms of reference, it is the intention that the British delegate to the Commission shall indicate the willingness of Great Britain to discuss weapons of mass destruction, other than the atomic bomb, and including bacteriological warfare and to provide, on a reciprocal basis with other nations, information necessary for the study by the Commission of the problems of control of such weapons.

The resolution on, the regulation and reduction of armaments adopted by the General Assembly specifically urges the Security Council to expedite consideration of draft conventions which are to include the prohibition of atomic and all other major weapons adaptable now or in the future to mass destruction. To secure this end His Majesty's Government, now as previously, will give full and vigorous support.

Since the Attorney-General has taken the initiative in referring to weapons of mass destruction other than the atomic bomb, does my right hon. Friend think that it would be appropriate for the British Government to initiate discussions on such weapons?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will give me further time to consider that question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his announcement in New York on 14th December, 1946, that the numbers of British troops have been reduced to 1,000,000 referred solely to British troops overseas.

While I have not yet received the verbatim text of my right hon. Friend's speech to the General Assembly on 14th December, it is clear from the context in which he spoke that he was referring to the fact that the numbers of British troops abroad have been reduced to well below one million.

asked the Secretary, of State for the Colonies what plans have been made concerning transport between Tanganyika and Northern and Southern Rhodesia.

The Tanganyika Railway operates a road service southward to Mbeya, and a Northern Rhodesia operator provides a service for passengers and goods between Mbeya and also Abercorn and the Rhodesia Railway system. The expansion of this link will depend upon public demand and no definite projects are yet under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether full publicity is being given in the West African Colonies to His Majesty's Government's announcement that they have complete confidence in the United Africa Company for the initiation of the scheme for large-scale production of groundnuts in East Africa.

The statement has no doubt been reported in the Press, and I see no need for any other publicity in West Africa.

Can the Minister say that the confidence he has in the United African Company is based on their experience in East Africa?

I think the object of my hon. Friend is achieved by the Question he has put.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether opportunity will be given for owners and occupiers of land to be used for large-scale production of groundnuts in East Africa to present their views prior to dispossession.

The areas in contemplation for the groundnut scheme are generally uninhabited, and indeed in present conditions uninhabitable owing to dense bush cover, tsetse fly, or absence of surface water. No question of transferring communities from their homes arises, and if it should prove necessary to use any land already in private ownership or occupation, the protection and compensation of owners and occupiers will be governed by the laws of the territories concerned.

Will African interests be consulted in this proposal?

Yes, certainly. As far as tribal lands are concerned, consultations with the native authorities will take place.

Can the right hon. Gentleman inform us when and in what form he intends to give the House full details of these plans?

I think that is a question that should be addressed to the Minister of Food.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not going to be responsible for these developments in the Colonial areas?

I think it has been announced to the House that the Ministry of Food will take responsibility in regard to these development plans, but that there would be the fullest consultations with the Colonial Governments and, of course, with the Colonial Office.

On a Point of Order. On that occasion when the Minister of Food made a statement I remember asking certain supplementaries, and he said that they ought to be put to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

I certainly should be prepared to answer any question which relates to those matters and which comes under the jurisdiction of the Colonial Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it has been decided to use the Port of Lindi for the shipment of Tanganyika groundnuts, to be grown under the scheme recently announced by the Minister of Food; and if he will give an assurance that the natural advantages of Kilwa Kisiwani will receive consideration as a harbour for naval as well as commercial purposes.

No final decision has been reached on the use of Lindi as the port of export for groundnuts under the scheme announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food on 25th November. The natural advantages of Kilwa Kisiwani have certainly not been lost sight of, and the possibility of using that port as an alternative is under consideration.

Can the Minister give any indication when a decision will be reached in this very important matter?

I regret that for the moment I am not able to do so, but the whole scheme is receiving most active consideration and a decision should be taken very shortly.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman why he is answering these questions on the groundnuts scheme and not the Minister of Food?

The development of Tanganyika is obviously a matter for the Colonial Office and the Secretary of State, and this question relates to the development of a port there.

May I ask your advice, Mr. Speaker, as to which Minister these Questions should be addressed to in future in order that we may receive a reasonable answer?

Does it not appear that the groundnuts will be ready before the port, in which case there will be embarrassment, and would it not be as well to know which Minister will be embarrassed?

The matter is perfectly simple. There is no confusion between the Minister of Food and the Colonial Office. We work in perfect harmony, we have our respective responsibilities, and each in his sphere is doing his bit to secure the production of groundnuts as early as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent departmental staffs in Gambia and Sierra Leone have been amalgamated; and whether he is satisfied that the arrangement is economical and efficient.

Joint establishments have been set up for the departments of Agriculture, Education, Police, Printing, Veterinary and the Administration. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give details of the appointments now held by social science students from West Africa who have completed a year's work in West Africa since their return from this country, with special reference to their present status and salaries.

My information is incomplete and therefore I have asked the West African Governments to supplement it. I will write my hon. Friend later.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the future Constitution of Malta; and what statements on this subject have recently been made by the Governor of Malta.

On the first part of the Question I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply of nth December to my hon. Friend the Member for Tradeston (Mr. Rankin), in which I informed him of the documents regarding the new Constitution which it is proposed shortly to lay before Parliament. The Governor of Malta had already with my authority made a statement in the same sense in the local Council of Government on 28th November; and a copy of this statement is being placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make known the nature of the priorities which have been drawn up in connection with the schemes for the expenditure of £4,000,000 as the first instalment of the 10-year development plan in Cyprus; how much of this £4,000,000 will be raised in the island; and how much will be paid by money made available under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act.

The principal projects included in the first priority of the Cyprus development plan include work on irrigation and forestry development, agricultural improvement schemes, anti-malarial and rural health measures and improvement of hospitals, educational development, with emphasis on teachers' training, and village improvement schemes. Provision has also been made for tourist development. Fuller details are given in the printed plan, a copy of which is being put in the Library.

In reply to the second part of the Question, it is hoped to raise in Cyprus as much as possible of the £1,900,000 loan included in the £4 million plan. In reply to the third part, it has not yet been decided how much of the £1,750,000 allocation to Cyprus under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act will be allotted to first priority projects.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the British Council has not invited the Palestine Association of Engineers and Architects to a conference of the Reunion Internationale d'Architects to be held in London.

The conference to which I understand this Question to refer was held in London from 23rd to 28th September. I believe that the British Council was consulted regarding the representation of some countries, including Palestine, at the conference; but, as agreement could not be reached on the composition of a representative delegation for Palestine, no invitation was in fact issued in that case.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that both the British branch and the central headquarters of this international body urged the British Council not to discriminate against the Palestine delegation; and will he ask the British Council to mollify rather than exacerbate public feeling in those parts of the world where the situation is already difficult enough as it is?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been drawn to the dispute concerning clerks, employed by the British Institute of Engineering Technology in Jerusalem, who have been on strike for the past eight weeks demanding trade union recognition; and what steps he is taking to secure that British firms operating in British mandated territories observe regular trade union conditions and procedure

Yes, Sir. I understand that neither side in this dispute has approached the Government of Palestine for assistance in reaching a settlement. As regards the second part of the Question, I can assure my hon. Friend that in the British Mandated Territories, as elsewhere in the Colonial Empire, it is the policy to foster by all possible means the development and recognition of regular trade union procedure.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the approval of both sides is necessary before there can be an intervention in this matter, and would it not be possible to suggest to the Labour Department of the Palestine Government that they should intervene to prevent this dispute from continuing?

I should like to point out to my hon. Friend that neither side has so far approached the Government in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the size of the stock of cereals in Palestine; how this compares with last year's figure; and what arrangements have been made since the suspension of railway services to ensure that the stock is distributed where it is required.

Stocks of major cereals on 1st December, 1946, amounted to 29,000 tons or 59 days' supply. This compares with 62 days' supply held on the same date in 1945. Emergency stocks of cereals are maintained in all main towns to meet contingencies such as the recent suspension of railway services Full-time freight working on the railways was resumed yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to avoid the necessity of the Palestine Potash Company stopping production; and what stocks are at present available.

The Palestine railways resumed a full-time freight service yesterday; and it is expected that the transport of potash to Haifa will return to normal within a few days. The stock of potash accumulated owing to the interruption of the railway freight service amounts to 20,000 tons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how the cost of material damage to the Palestine railways amounting to £325,000 is to be met; what indemnification for the loss of revenue since 18th November due to suspension of services is to be expected; and from whom.

The cost of material damage to the Palestine railways and any deficit due to loss of working revenue will be a charge to Palestine funds. No indemnification from any external source is to be expected.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether that applies to any damage that has happened to the Kantara-Rafa and Hejaz section of the railway, which I understand is owned by His Majesty's Government, and whether the amount of damage is equally distributed all over the various sections of the Palestine railways, and, if so, how much in each case?

I should want notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for what purposes was the Fiji Government vessel "Viti" built and at what cost; whether she has been used for those purposes; why it is proposed to dispose of her; and whether it is intended to replace her.

The Fiji Government ship was built for administrative purposes at a total cost, including equipment, of £68,000. She was used as intended from August, 1940, until commissioned as a naval vessel in April, 1941. She is being disposed of because the development of air transport has rendered the use of so large an administrative vessel unnecessary and her replacement by a similar vessel will not be necessary

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he contemplates the preparation of an up-to-date edition of an economic survey of the Colonial Empire on the general plan of his Department's publication No. 95, issued in 1934.

Yes, Sir. The preparation of a revised edition has already been commenced, but, owing to staff difficulties both in the Colonial Office and in Colonial administrations, progress cannot be speeded up. I am unable as yet to predict when the new edition will be available.

Having in view the immense value of this publication to all of us interested in the Colonial Empire, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it will be on the same comprehensive plan as the volume referred to in my Question?

We are hoping so, and I can assure the hon. Gentleman that everything possible to speed it up will be done.

In view of the changes which have taken place since 1934, will the Minister consider making a new survey on a somewhat wider and more comprehensive scale than that undertaken in 1933?

All these points are being taken into consideration.

In the meantime, will the Secretary of State consider putting one of his officers in touch with the Librarian of the House of Commons with a view to providing a comprehensive bibliography which will be available to hon. Members and will cover the interim period?

I think that the Librarian of the Colonial Office has been in touch with the Librarian of the House of Commons. There is now a pretty wide exchange of books and papers and a bibliography has been supplied.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in which colonies in the West Indies members of the legislative councils are not remunerated for their services, and what steps he is taking to secure the introduction of legislation for the payment of members.

Members of the Legislative Councils are not remunerated in Barbados, British Guiana or British Honduras. In Barbados a Bill to provide for payment is to be introduced at the request of the House of Assembly. In British Guiana the principle of payment of members of the Legislative Council is approved, but in the absence of evidence of strong local support the Colonial Government has deferred further action until after the general election early next year. In British Honduras, the Governor advised in 1943 that action should be deferred pending the extension of the franchise, which has since been carried out.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many officers of the Colonial Development and Welfare Department in the. West Indies have been prosecuted for insufficient supervision of development and welfare funds; and if he is aware that the Inter-colonial Labour Conference, held in British Guiana in June, 1946, ask for investigation of the administration of Colonial development and welfare funds by independent persons.

There is no Colonial Development and Welfare Department in the West Indies, though there is a Comptroller for Development and Welfare who is advisory to the West Indian Governments and to the Secretary of State. I am not aware that any action such as that referred to by my hon. Friend has been taken against any officer. I have seen the resolution to which he refers, but it is not clear to me precisely what the Conference had in mind. If my hon. Friend will give me further information. I will certainly pursue these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that in March, 1946, the Jamaica House of Representatives passed a resolution requesting the introduction of legislation to prevent the expansion of chain stores and the entry of wholesale merchants into retail trade; and what action the Government of Jamaica have taken to introduce legislation for this purpose.

Yes, Sir. The Governor of Jamaica has appointed a committee to consider this resolution and to submit concrete proposals as to what action, if any, it may be possible or desirable to take in the matter. The committee has not vet submitted a report.

Does this mean that there has been an extension of the Co-operative societies in Jamaica?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the complete dependence of Bermuda upon the tourist trade and the exceptional need for an efficient public relations office in that Colony, any measures are in contemplation to increase the personnel and broaden the activities of the small existing office in Hamilton.

Publicity in regard to the tourist trade of Bermuda has for many years been handled by the Trade Development Board, which has an office in New York. The public relations office was a wartime creation; I regret to learn that the Legislature do not contemplate making provision for it after the end of March next.

Can the Minister make any representations in the matter in view of the very great possibilities open to American tourists due to the expansion of American civil aviation?

I appreciate the point of that and regret the decision. Unfortunately, we have no control over the Legislature, but I will see what can be done.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken by the Government of British Guiana to make available land suitable for occupation by peasant families now employed on sugar estates; what demands have been made for such provision; and with what result.

Peasant families employed on sugar estates are partly resident and partly non-resident. Resident families are ordinarily provided with allotments on estates. The majority of non-resident families own, or rent, land for food cultivation. The British Guiana Government have established a Land Settlement Committee to deal with peasant settlement, including that of workers on sugar estates, and have acquired a plantation for 150 families. The Government are alive to the need of land settlement schemes and for acquiring further land and a Development Sub-committee is studying the financing of such acquisition.

Would my right hon. Friend answer the second part of the Question by saying what demands have been made for such provision?

Certainly there is a demand for land and the Government are doing all they possibly can to meet it, although obviously there are certain financial limits beyond which they cannot go.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that many workers employed on sugar plantations in British Guiana are working only three days per week; if he will state the average wage earned by workers in this industry; and if this is, as a rule, supplemented by the production of food for the workers' own consumption.

As the answer is rather long and contains a number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The answer to the final part of the Question is in the affirmative.

Following is the answer:

The average number of days worked per week varies from 3½ to 5½ according to the category of worker.

The average daily wage, inclusive of war bonus, also varies as follows: Field Workers. Dollars Resident pieceworkers (Male) 1.50 cents Resident pieceworkers (Female) 80 dollars Non-resident pieceworkers (Male) 1.66 cents Non-resident pieceworkers (Female) 89 Resident and non-resident time workers (Male) 77 Resident and non-resident time workers (Female) 48 young persons (Male) 50 Young persons (Female) 43 Factory Workers. dollars Skilled workers and tradesmen 1.36 cents Other male workers 96 Apprentices and improvers 56 [The British Guiana dollar is equivalent to 4s 2d.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give details of the annual amount of sugar produced for export in British Guiana during the last 10 years; and if he is satisfied that the prices paid for British Guiana sugar provide a sufficient return to the industry to enable the workers to be provided with an adequate standard of living.

I will circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT. AS regards the latter part of the Question, the price paid by the Ministry of Food for Colonial sugar is adjusted annually to take account, among other factors, of variations in the cost of production, including wages, and I am satisfied that the present price permits the payment of reasonable wages in British Guiana.

Would my right hon. Friend say if he means that a reasonable wage is a satisfactory one?

In all the Colonies, including British Guiana, we are anxious that wage regulation machinery shall be brought into operation and that a fair standard of remuneration shall be established.

Following are the figures. Year. Quantity. Long Tons. 1937 … … 181,569 1938 … … 183,478 1939 … … 179,103 1940 … … 142,707 1941 … … 154,361 1942 … … 134,530 1943 … … 131,187 1944 … … 177,995 1945 … … 132,595 1946 (estimated) … … 155,000

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the composition of the Hong Kong Claims Commission will be announced.

The commission will consist of one commissioner and a secretary. Mr. M. H. Matheson of the Phoenix Assurance Company Limited has been appointed as the commissioner. The Secretary is Mr. C. G. Melmoth, formerly secretary-designate of the Hong Kong Port Trust.

Will the commission commence their duties at once?

Almost at once.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the prewar population of Hong Kong; the estimated present population; and if there are any restrictions on the entry of Chinese into Hong Kong at present.

The population of Hong Kong was estimated at mid-year 1939 at 1,050,256, including 23,611 non-Chinese. In March, 1941, a population count covering Kowloon and Hong Kong was conducted by the Hong Kong Corps of Air Raid Wardens, the results of which, together with an estimate of the population of the new territories, gave a figure of 1,639,337. No more recent figures are available. There are no restrictions at present on the entry of Chinese into Hong Kong from China, though Chinese coming by sea from other countries than China are subject to the usual immigration control.

Is the Minister aware that there has been a large influx of Chinese into Hong Kong and that the administration shows signs of not being able to cope with the situation? Will he get up-to-date figures of population?

It is impossible to get up-to-date figures of the population immediately, but as to the question of the influx of people from the mainland, that matter is continuously before us.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he approved the speech of the Governor of Sarawak, made at the first session of the Sarawak State Council, in which he stated that the decision on cession was final and referred to many of the inhabitants as ignorant and uneducated.

The Governor did not refer the text of his speech to me before he made it and I see no reason why he should have done so. But the reference to the decision on cession was no doubt based on the message to the Governor which I mentioned in my written reply to the hon. Member for London University (Sir E. Graham-Little) on 26th November.

May I ask the Minister if, in view of the fact that in the deed of cession there is a clause whereby the former position can be restored or changed by His Majesty the King, presumably if the Privy Council advises that that should be done, and in view of the fact that the Governor must have known that there is a possibility of the Privy Council being approached on this matter, is it not grossly improper that the Governor should make statements like that to people whom he himself calls ignorant and uneducated?

I should have thought he was perfectly within his rights to make such a statement. The cession has been concluded constitutionally, and, therefore, he was entitled to make it perfectly clear that this matter was no longer open.

Is it not a fact that it is not final but that it can be revoked if the Privy Council should consider that the action of the Government was not correct?

Certainly it is always open for someone to challenge the decision that has been taken.

Is the Minister aware that on the instructions of the Governor there has recently been some serious interference with the free expression of opinion of the inhabitants of this Colony?

I am not aware of that.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of Mauritius have plans for the development of irrigation facilities to benefit small planters in the district of La Nicoliere and the restoration of Mahebourg as a second port for the island.

The Government of Mauritius have already started repairing canals in the La Nicoliere region and the continuation of this work is included in the Colony's dvelopment and welfare ten year plan about to be considered by the Colonial Office. Further development of irrigation in the north of Mauritius is under examination but any extension of irrigation facilities must depend to a large extent on the result of experiments to determine the suitability for irrigation of the soils of that area. As regards the second part of the Question, I am informed that a suggestion that Mahebourg should be re-opened as a port is being examined by the Government of the Colony.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he proposes to take in view of the disclosures of irregularities in Ceylon, in the Auditor-General's Report on Civil Defence Expenditure for 1943–44 and 1944–45; who was the Civil Defence Commissioner concerned; and what office he now holds.

I do not propose to take any action in this matter. The Auditor-General in Ceylon is required, under the Constitution, to furnish his report to the Governor and to the Speaker for communication to the State Council, where it can be debated. It would then be for the Ceylon Government to decide in the light of the debate what further action if any would be appropriate. As regards the last part of the Question the Civil Defence Commissioner was Sir Oliver Goonetilleke, K.B.E., C.M.G., who is now the Financial Secretary of Ceylon.

asked the Prime Minister whether the statement made by the Minister of Fuel and Power to the Circle of Motoring Correspondents on 13th November, 1946, concerning petrol rationing, represents the policy of the Government.

I am informed that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power attended a private gathering of the Motoring Correspondents Circle and explained the difficulty in abolishing petrol rationing in view of the dollar position and added that the matter was under constant review. This represents the policy of His Majesty's Government.

Is it not a fact that the Minister on this occasion revealed to the motoring correspondents the fact that petrol rationing would be removed in February, 1947?

That is not my information. I understand that it was an informal meeting and my right hon. Friend took no notes of the meeting. I am not aware of exactly what was said, but what the hon. Member states is not my information.

asked the Prime Minister if he will arrange for a Royal Commission to investigate the reform of local government in all its aspects.

No, Sir.

While the reply is negative, would my right hon. Friend keep the whole question in mind? Is he aware that there is in this House and in the country a large volume of opinion which favours an urgent and radical reform of local government?

Yes, I dare say there may be, but I do not think there is any unanimity on the matter.

asked the Minister without Portfolio whether a system for the representation of collective grievances and suggestions is now being instituted in the three Services.

In all three Services arrangements now exist for the consideration of collective and individual suggestions. In the Army and Royal Air Force request hours have been instituted. In the Royal Air Force station committees representative of all ranks are also being established. A collective machinery for suggestions has for many years been in operation in the Royal Navy: this is now being overhauled with a view to improvement. The collective submission of complaints is a much more difficult problem in the case of disciplined Forces. The question is being examined in detail, but I cannot say at present whether any change will be practicable. Adequate facilities exist for the submission of complaints by individuals.

Will my right hon. Friend see that form S.272 is revised further in the light of this statement? It was revised about 18 months ago.

I will make a note of the suggestion and look into it.

May I ask whether we cannot now have a revival of the old Labour Party idea of soldiers', sailors' and airmen's councils?

I have nothing to add at the moment to what I have already said.

What is the difference between a collective grievance and a collective suggestion? Where is the line drawn?

I should have thought there was a vast difference between collective suggestion, which may well tend to avoid complaints, and a mass meeting in order to produce something quite different.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether in considering this question he will obtain information from other European countries, including Russia, as to what means their men have of representing their grievances?

We have some ideas about that.

asked the Minister of Food whether the turkeys ordered by his Department from the Argentine will reach this country soon enough to be available for retail sale before Christmas.

Of the 3,650 tons ordered all but 650 tons should be here in time for Christmas, if two ships which are now on the way arrive as expected.

Does that answer mean that the turkeys will not only be in this country but actually available in the shops?

Yes, Sir, I think so. The ships are due to arrive on the 19th, and the turkeys should be distributed.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that Dublin butchers are issuing circulars to people in this country inviting them to break the food regulations by ordering individual supplies of meat at uncontrolled prices; and if he will take steps to put an end to this practice.

Yes, Sir. I know this is happening. We have no evidence of the size of the resulting traffic but the meat is expensive and we have heard of some cases where it has arrived in very bad condition. It seems probable that the purchase of these joints is a bad speculation. I am afraid that anything I could do to stop it would keep out legitimate gifts and I do not want to do that.

Will my right hon. Friend consider taking this matter up with the Eire Government?

I will consider that suggestion.

Would not an extension of this practice quite easily do something towards breaking up the present equitable distribution?

An indefinite extension of it certainly would, but there is no possibility of such an extension at the present.

asked the Minister of Food what steps he is taking to increase the allocation of points goods and of soap, custard and blancmange powders to South Wales, in view of the fact that the percentage allocation operated unfairly.

asked the Minister of Food what steps he is taking to improve the allocation of foodstuffs to South Wales, as requested by the Council of Grocers' Associations.

I have looked into this very carefully. South Wales as a whole gets its fair share of points foods, soap and unrationed Jlocated foods. But for some unrationed foods distribution according to prewar trade does operate unfairly in certain particular areas of South Wales where unemployment was heavy before the war, and I am having this put right.