asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when, and to whom, prize money will be paid in respect of the last war.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave last week to the hon. Member for Southend-on-Sea (Mr. Channon), to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how much prize money the R.N. won during the war; how much has been paid out; and how much remains to be paid out.

. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to the hon. and gallant Member for Brixton (Lieut.-Colonel Lipton).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the dates on which the Nobel Committee began and finished taking evidence on the reforms for warrant officers; the date on which their report was submitted to his Department; when an announcement is likely to be made on the reforms proposed; and whether the announcement will be made to this House.

The Committee under the chairmanship of Admiral Sir Percy Noble, which has been inquiring into the future of warrant officers of the Royal Navy, began taking formal evidence on 2nd July, 1946, and finished on 8th October, 1946. The Committee has not yet presented its report. It is expected to do so shortly, but until the report has been received and considered by the Board of Admiralty, I am not in a position to make any further statement. I will certainly inform the House if any major changes are decided upon as a result of consideration of the report.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what changes have been made in the management of the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook; who are the chairmen and members of the present committee; what are their duties; how often they are to meet; and whether any changes are intended as regards the entry of sons of poor seamen, particularly orphans, and their education.

It is intended to set up a Committee of Management under my chairmanship to deal, under the general direction of the Board of Admiralty, with the administration of the Royal Hospital School, including its finance and educational policy. The Committee of Management will replace the present Advisory Committee, and I take this opportunity of paying tribute to the valuable work which the Advisory Committee has done during a transitional period. The membership of the new Committee of Management will include two Members of this House, and several outside educational experts, as well as Admiralty officials. The Committee will meet as required, and it is intended that Sub-Committees shall also be constituted to deal with particular aspects of the administration of the School. The Royal Hospital School will continue to be devoted to the education of the sons of seamen, preference being given to orphans and other compassionate cases.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the number of applicants for entry into the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, at the last entry and the date; the number accepted and rejected who were total orphans and those who had father or mother dead, respectively, with the totals and the reasons for the rejections.

The number of applicants for the last entry to the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, was 107. At this entry on 10th January, 1947, no applicant was a total orphan. Forty-nine were fatherless boys, and of these 42 were accepted, six failed educationally, and one medically. Six were motherless boys, all of whom were accepted.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when salvage award on s.s. "Jan Van Goyens" will be paid to H.M. Rescue Tug "Prosperous."

It is expected that an award to the officers and men of His Majesty's Rescue Tug "Prosperous" for the salvage of the s.s. "Jan Van Goyens" will be made in the course of the next few weeks.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what award will be made to H.M. Tug "Prosperous" for the salvage of, and repairs to, s.s. "Halfried."

I am not yet in a position to state what award will be made to the officers and men of His Majesty's Rescue Tug "Prosperous" for the services rendered to the s.s. "Halfried," but I hope that the matter will be settled at an early date.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether consideration will be given to preserving at Portsmouth a battleship, veteran of both wars, in a similar manner to H.M.S. "Victory"; and what is the estimated additional yearly cost if this ship was also used as an accommodation ship instead of one of those so used at present.

Proposals for maintaining a battleship as a relic, similar to H.M.S. "Victory," have been considered after both World Wars. It has been decided that the scheme is not feasible for many reasons. Such a ship would either occupy valuable berthing space alongside or would indefinitely occupy a capital ship dock which cannot be spared. To preserve a steel ship against deterioration and to keep her presentable would require constant work and expense and would make an unjustifiable demand on manpower. The possible solution of combining the duty of a floating accommodation ship with those of a relic has also been considered. To be of any value as an accommodation ship, however, a battleship would require extensive alteration to provide classrooms, messing accommodation, etc. Furthermore, the public could not be given constant access to what would be in fact a Naval Establishment. In these circumstances I have not thought I would be justified in having the additional annual cost calculated.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why at any given time more than half the public telephone kiosks in Central London area are out of order; how many personnel he has repairing these; how many kiosks per man; and how this compares with pre-war.

I am satisfied that the proportion of kiosks out of order at any given time in Central London is very much smaller than is suggested. A staff of 138, about the same as before the war, attends to all telephones in the area and averages nine public telephones per man.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what was the first date on which his Department was informed that all the four telephones in Burlington Gardens, W., were out of order and that three of them had had the instruments removed; why more than three weeks have elapsed before anything has been done; and how long after the original information was given it will be before they are working again.

The four kiosks were reported to be out of order on 23rd December. In one the mechanism was faulty and was repaired the same day. In three the cords were cut through. Two of these were repaired the next day and the other had to await a new handset. Before this was replaced one of the other handsets was stolen and it was not until 7th January that all were working again. On 9th January two cords were cut through and since that date four cords have been cut and one telephone dial and three electric light bulbs have been stolen.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether, in view of the inconvenience caused to business men and the general public by the long time taken in the transmission of mail from the U.S.A., he will accelerate that service.

The mail service from the United States of America is the responsibility of the United States Post Office. Since the interruption due to the strike of maritime workers in the States in October, surface letter mails have taken an average of 10–11 days in transmission. There was recently an exception to this in a mail of second class matter, and I am having this investigated. Air mail correspondence has been received in London generally within one or two days after despatch from New York.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why it takes three months for letters posted in Burma to reach this country; if he is aware that in some cases the last letters were received from the Far East on 24th October last; and if he will look into this matter with a view to improving delivery.

The mail service from Burma to this country is a responsibility of the Burmese Post Office. If my right hon. Friend will furnish full particulars of any cases of delay together, if possible, with the envelopes I will gladly have inquiry made.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what restrictions are placed on sending non-political publications, such as "The Tablet," to individuals in the U.S. zones of Germany and Austria.

As regards Germany, under existing regulations newspapers and periodicals may be sent only to the British zone and the British sector of Berlin. The question of extending the service to the whole of Germany is however under consideration by the authorities in the respective zones. There are no postal restrictions on the sending of publications to Austria.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will now reduce the charge for airmail letters to U.S.A., in view of the fact that the U.S. Government have recently reduced the charge on airmail letters to this country by 50 per cent

The postage on airmail letters for the U.S.A. was reduced on 17th January from 1s. 3d. to 1s. per half ounce. In addition, the sixpenny light-weight air letter service, hitherto available in general only to Commonwealth destinations, has been extended to the U.S.A. and provides a cheap and expeditious means for correspondence for which this particular type of communication is suitable.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the establishment strength of Princess Mary's R.A.F. Nursing Service, the present strength, the deficiency on 30th November last and the deficiency on 31st December, 1946, when Group 55 was released; and why release is slower than the nursing services in the Army and R.N.

The establishment of Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service is 715. At the end of December the actual strength was 550; the deficiency was, therefore, 165, while at the end of November it was 132. I regret that I cannot yet predict when Group 55 will be released. As explained in the White Paper, release must of necessity proceed at different rates in the different Services. Release from the R.A.F. Nursing Service is slower than release from the Army and the Navy, because the number of nurses is smaller in proportion to the work to be done

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the feeling of grievance and frustration on the part of redundant aircrews and of the hardship suffered by them by remustering in lower ranks in lower-paid grades of the R.A.F.; whether length of service, aircrew rank and service record were taken into consideration on remustering; and what steps he now proposes to take to ensure that these volunteers for aircrew duty are not penalised by suffering reductions in pay through no fault committed by them.

The hon. Member will be glad to know that we have now told the Service that most of the redundant aircrew will be released by the 1st July of this year, and the remainder by the end of September. We have also told them that the present concessions in rank and pay have been extended until the end of September. We have throughout tried to deal with this complex problem in the fairest possible way; I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the reply given by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 1st August last, which shows the detailed arrangements which had already then been made. I hope that the new extension which I have just announced will allay any sense of disappointment which may have arisen in the last few months.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will reconsider the period and timing of overseas tours for men in the R.A.F., and, as far as possible, allow their last period to be served at home preparatory to their re-entry into civilian life.

Before the war all regular airmen normally spent their last year of service in the United Kingdom, and I agree with the hon. Member that this practice should be restored as soon as it can advantageously be done. At present, however, the Air Force is so short of trained men that, if the change were made today, either the length of the overseas tour would have to be increased or the period spent at home between tours would have to be cut down.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why the release of R.A.F. meteorologists has fallen behind other trades; when he anticipates it will be level with the average of releases; and whether he is satisfied with the recruitment of civilian meteorological assistants to replace Service personnel.

The release of Royal Air Force meteorologists has recently fallen below the general level because we have not yet been able to recruit and train enough civilians to take their place. I am not satisfied with the present arrangements for recruiting civilians and I hope that these arrangements will be improved without delay. I cannot now predict how soon this may affect the date of release.

asked the Secretary of State what percentage of the personnel serving in India in the R.A.F. are employed in trades other than those in which they were mustered; and what steps are being taken to overcome this misemployment.

I regret that I cannot tell the hon. Member the precise number of airmen in India who are employed on duties other than those of their trade, but the percentage is certainly very small. There are, however, standing instructions that airmen in trades below the general level of release are not to be employed on other duties without permission from the Air Ministry, and no such authority has been given in India

asked the Minister of Defence what estimate has been made as to the approximate per capita expenditure upon defence of each of the principal democratic nations in 1938, or any convenient prewar year.

The hon. Member will find details of the estimated defence expenditure of a number of countries in the financial year 1938–39 on pages 156–7 of the League of Nations publication "World Economic Survey 1942–44." Particulars of the population of the countries there quoted are available in the League of Nations "Statistical Year Book 1939–40," pages 14–19. Copies of both these publications are in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Minister of Food what offers of cereal offals have been made to his Department during the last six months; and what quantity has been bought.

It is not possible to estimate the real quantity represented by the offers made to my Department during the past six months—the same parcels may be offered more than once, and by different traders. Seventy thousand three hundred tons of wheat offals have been bought during the period.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give the details of the rate and place of deliveries of wheat and flour negotiated under the provisions of Article 1, Section (d) of the July Wheat Agreement with Canada.

The rate of delivery and the ports to be used are settled by agreement from time to time according to the circumstances. Shipments under the contract during the period August-December, 1946, were as follow:

('000 Tons).
—		Wheat.			Flour*
		Pacific Ports.	Atlantic Ports.	Total.	Atlantic Ports.
August	…	27	119	146	2
September	…	38	201	239	14
October	…	65	149	214	36
November	…	126	232	358	27
December	…	169	76	245	21
		425	777	1,202	100
Note.—* In addition to the quantities shown, substantial quantities of flour have been shipped since 1st August, 1946, against purchases made prior to that date.

asked the Minister of Food by whom and on what grounds preferred cases are granted licences to trade in white fish; how many such permits have been granted in the Grimsby area to people not previously engaged in the trade; and if he intends further to increase the number of these preferred cases.

I grant these licences, after consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service, to disabled people who are unable to obtain a livelihood by any other means, and for whom the trade offers the best chance of rehabilitation. In Grimsby 13 wholesale or retail white fish licences have been issued in this way to people not previously connected with the fish trade. I propose to retain this preferred category so long as the present licensing restrictions continue.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give details of the carrying and forwarding charges negotiated by His Majesty's Government under Section 2 (d) of the Canadian Wheat Agreement to the various ports of shipment.

I have agreed with the Canadian Wheat Board to pay the current market rate for carrying all wheat applied against the contract for the period from 1st August, 1946, to 30th September, 1946, and an overall charge of 3½ cents per bushel for carrying wheat so applied during the year from 1st October, 1946, to 30th September, 1947. As for forwarding charges, I have agreed to pay the fixed official rate for each parcel according to the route over which it is moved.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the condition of the slaughterhouse at Penzance which was requisitioned by his Department in 1939; that it is open to the view of the public and all children that pass by, who are able to watch the actual slaughter of animals; and whether he will arrange for it to be closed pending more suitable accommodation.

I have given orders for this slaughterhouse to be closed immediately, and for the livestock to be diverted to Redruth and Helston.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has now allocated a fairer proportion of unrationed food and soap to South Wales grocers; and when the new arrangements will come into operation.

I have given instructions which will, I believe, ensure better supplies of certain foods such as cake, meat pies and fried fish in areas, like parts of South Wales, which suffered from heavy unemployment before the war. Distribution under the points scheme is also being revised with the object of making it more responsive to present day demand.

asked the Minister of Food if he is satisfied that the supplies of potatoes now available are adequate to meet the needs of this country and of shipments to Germany until the new crop is harvested; and whether he proposes to institute a rationing scheme for potatoes.

I am expecting the results of the January stock census shortly, which should enable me to judge the position. There are large supplies but consumption is also largely increased. No potatoes have been or will be sent to Germany this season. I do not propose to ration potatoes.

asked the Minister of Food whether in view of the infection during recent years of the Channel Islands potato crop by Colorado beetle, it is proposed to ship potatoes from this area to the mainland during the coming season.

Representatives of the Jersey growers are now in London discussing the matter with us.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that as a result of the rationing of oatmeal orders to the mills have fallen off by more than 50 per cent. in the last few weeks and that 25 mills in Aberdeenshire alone are now standing idle; and whether, to ensure that the large supplies of oatmeal now available at the mills are distributed to the public, he will consider either withdrawing oatmeal from the points rationing scheme or reducing the number of points required per pound.

This is obviously an unsatisfactory position and I am going into the matter carefully to decide on the best methods of dealing with it.

asked the Minister of Food if he is yet in a position to announce any agreement between His Majesty's Government and the British West Indian Sugar Association regarding the terms and conditions of the purchase of sugar from the British West Indies.

Yes, Sir. It has been agreed that the price to be paid for West Indian sugar should be increased from 1st January, 1947, by £4 15s. to £24 5s. per ton. It has further been agreed that of this increase £2 will be paid direct to sugar manufacturers to enable them to meet increased costs. The remaining £2 15s. will be allocated between various special funds for the benefit of the industry.

asked the Minister of Food what price his Department offers for coconut oil in Malaya; and whether this price is a competitive price or one determined by the ability to be the sole buyer because of any ban on coconut-oil exports.

Discussions are proceeding with the Malayan Government at present on the subject of coconut oil prices. The United Kingdom is not the sole buyer of Malayan copra and coconut oil.

asked the Minister of Food the number of barrels of cured herring the German Control Council is prepared to take this year; and how many standards of timber will be required to make the necessary barrels.

I understand from my hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster that this requirement is at present under discussion by the Joint Anglo-American Export/Import Agency. So soon as I receive a firm order from my hon. Friend, I shall be able to supply the required particulars.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that owing to the uncertainty which prevails about the number of herring barrels likely to be available this season, curers, who should now be engaging their crews of women, are unable to get on with the job; and what action has been taken to secure the necessary supplies of timber for manufacturing herring barrels.

The timber supply position is still very acute but in collaboration with the Board of Trade, Timber Control, we are doing our best to meet the demand for herring barrels. So far my Department has been able to meet all requests for licences for timber for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been called to observations by the stipendiary magistrate at Bow Street regarding the powers of search exercised by officials of his Department; whether he is aware that these powers are unnecessarily wide; and what steps he proposes to take to bring the present regulations governing such powers into line with the accepted practices in respect to search conducted by the police.

Yes, Sir; but I cannot agree that the power of my officials to search is unnecessarily wide. The character of food offences makes it essential to retain this power. This power can be used only in respect of premises which are food undertakings.

asked the Minister of Food the total quantity of food lost by reason of the recent strike of road haulage employees.

So far as I am aware, the total quantity of foodstuffs condemned as a result of the recent strike of road haulage employees was some 30 tons of fish and some 20 tons of imported fruit.

asked the Minister of Food what is the total quantity of milk sold off farms in England and Wales in the years 1945 and 1946, respectively; of these totals, how many million gallons in each year were used in the manufacture of butter, cheese and milk powder; and what quantity was sold as liquid milk.

The information for which the hon. Member asks is as follows:

England and Wales.	1945.	1946.
	Million gallons.	Million gallons.
Quantities sold off farms	1,217	1,278
Quantities used in the manufacture of:—
Butter	24·1	29·0
Cheese	42·1	47·7
Milk Powder	36·8	37·1
Other Milk Products	32·3	24·4
Quantities sold as liquid milk	1,082	1,140

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the failure of many retailers in the Kingsbury and North Wembley area to meet the soap allocation for December; and if he will take the necessary action to ensure adequate distribution in that part of Middlesex.

The quantity of soap available in retail shops in many parts of the country recently has provided only a relatively small margin over the total required to meet the ration, and accordingly housewives may have had to try more than one shop before getting the kind they desire. I think this is probably the reason for the difficulties in the Kingsbury and North Wembley area. Manufacturers have been authorised to increase by 5 per cent. the quantity of soap they may distribute, and I hope this will ease the difficulties of retailers in securing the supplies they need.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he will now give the details of the air service to South Wales; what rates are to be charged; when it will be commenced; what are the approximate times and period of flights; and whether it will call at Bristol or Cardiff, en route.

I regret that progress with the accommodation at Llandow aerodrome has been slower than I hoped when I answered a similar question by my hon. Friend in October last. It has been found that further improvements are necessary to the temporary terminal building and it has taken longer than was expected to agree the plans with the parties concerned. The contract and drawings are now well advanced and the services will begin as soon as the buildings are ready, but I cannot hope that this will be before the late summer of this year. As I said on the previous occasion, the rates and time tables have not yet been determined, but an initial frequency of two services a day in each direction is envisaged. The service will be direct to Cardiff without any stop at Bristol.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what progress has been made in acquiring the land necessary for installing the Standard Beam Approach System at Renfrew.

Negotiations for the purchase of the necessary land, which includes sites for three beacons, are now in progress with the landowners and I hope that agreement will shortly be reached. In view of the urgency of this matter the consent of the landowners concerned has been obtained to the immediate installation, without prejudice to current negotiations, of a temporary main beacon.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what steps have been taken in the formation of the Scottish Division of B.E.A.

I am informed by the British European Airways Corporation that appointments including those of divisional manager, traffic controller and North of Scotland area manager have already been made to the Scottish Division of the Corporation. As from 1st February, 1947, it will function independently as a division within the organisation of British European Airways.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation why passengers travelling by B.O.A.C. via Lisbon are accommodated at Estoril and not in Lisbon, thus becoming involved in an unnecessary journey of 50 miles in obsolete transport.

At Lisbon, as at other ports of call, it is essential that hotel accommodation for transit passengers should be guaranteed. Estoril provides not only suitable accommodation and amenities, but is the only place where they can be secured on a guaranteed regular basis. The transport which is used for this purpose is out of date, but it will be brought up to date as soon as conditions of supply allow.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation the reason for the retention of separate teams of officials by both B.O.A.C. and B.S.A.A. at Heathrow and Lisbon.

My noble Friend regards the question of joint arrangements between the corporations in such matters as falling within the field of management and not therefore requiring his intervention.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation the reasons for the abandonment of the aerodrome and flying-boat base in Gambia by B.S.A.A., and in the near future by B.O.A.C., in favour of a French base within one hundred miles.

The flying boat base which was established for military purposes during the war was, of course, manned by the Royal Air Force, and the staff has been withdrawn since there are no proposals for regular flying boat operations to or through West Africa. As regards landplane operations, British South American Airways' decision to divert their services to Dakar was occasioned by the reduction on demobilisation of the skilled Royal Air Force operating and maintenance staff at the aerodrome. Further, there are concrete runways at Dakar constructed during the war while the runways at Yundum, the land airport in Gambia, are of pierced steel planking.The British Overseas Airways Corporation Dakota service to West Africa is still operating through Yundum and there is no immediate intention of transferring it to Dakar. The question of the staging posts to be used as and when new and larger types of aircraft are introduced into service is under consideration. It is, of course, my noble Friend's desire that so far as practicable, British services should operate through airports in British territory.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation why an inquiry is being held now into the Dakota crash on 11th January, at Stowting, Kent, when some of the survivors, although eminently suited to give evidence, are not sufficiently restored to health to testify; and if he will give an assurance that their evidence subsequently will be taken, recorded and duly considered.

My noble Friend is of opinion that he would not have been justified in delaying the investigation until all the injured survivors were in a fit state of health to give evidence, as the delay involved might have been considerable and it was in the public interest to proceed forthwith. The only surviving member of the crew has, however, made a statement, and statements have been obtained from nearly every surviving passenger. These have been considered by the Chief Inspector of Accidents and such extracts or statements as were of value have been read in the course of the proceedings while one survivor has been called to give evidence.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he is yet in a position to make a statement on the re-installation of F.I.D.O. at Heathrow and elsewhere in Great Britain.

No decision can be taken about the installation of F.I.D.O. at London or other civil aerodromes in the United Kingdom until the results of investigations now proceeding are known. Further research into the development of F.I.D.O. is being undertaken and arrangements have been made for a delegation from this country to visit the United States to examine the work being carried out there. Meanwhile the installation at Blackbushe which has been on a care and maintenance basis, is being overhauled and will be made available as soon as practicable.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation why, when the makers of the Dakota and the U.S. authorities only allow this aircraft to fly at a total weight of 25,200 lb., he allows Dakotas to fly on British routes with a maximum weight of 28,000 lb.; and whether any foreign Governments have protested to him about this permission.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation on what grounds it was decided that British-operated Dakotas could safely fly with a load nearly 3,000 lb. heavier than the maximum load specified by their makers; and if, pending the reports of the inquiries into the recent disasters, he will give an assurance that none of these aircraft will carry a load heavier than 25,200 lb.

I refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Mid-Bedford (Mr. Lennox-Boyd) on Monday last. As soon as my noble Friend has received and considered the report of the Air Safety Board, a further statement will be made.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether the icing and engine difficulties with the Viking have now been overcome.

Considerable progress has been made with the development of modifications to overcome the icing difficulties on the Viking, but further tests, including flight in severe icing conditions, are required before an assurance can be given that the difficulties have been overcome. The engine difficulties have only been encountered when the aircraft have been taking off from high altitude aerodromes in tropical conditions, but they have been eliminated by the latest modifications to the carburation system.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he is now in a position to make a statement in regard to the future of Langstone Harbour, Portsmouth, as a marine airport.

The Government have now examined the implications of recommendations made by the Pakenham Committee. That committee, having reviewed from a civil aviation standpoint all the proposals received, recommended Langstone Harbour and Cliffe as possible sites for a major flying boat base, their first preference being for the former. The Government have necessarily taken cog- nizance of all relevant circumstances and has concluded that the balance of national advantage lies against further consideration being given to Langstone Harbour. In reaching this conclusion, the Government have been obliged to have regard not only to the civil aviation point of view and to all local implications, but also to the over-riding difficulties that would arise from the proximity of Langstone Harbour to Portsmouth as a main naval base. In the light of this conclusion my noble Friend has directed that detailed examination shall proceed of the Cliffe site from an operational and engineering standpoint so as to determine the physical and financial implications of its possible development.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will make a statement about the condition of German deportees who have recently arrived in the British zone from Poland, and whether he will represent to the authorities dispatching these people that, in the case of further expulsions, such arrangements should be made as will safeguard the people affected from death, injury and distress during their journey.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many Germans expelled from other areas and countries have arrived in the British zone since 1st December, 1946, either frozen to death or with limbs so badly frost-bitten as to require amputation.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) whether his attention has been drawn to the number of cases of frostbite amongst displaced persons arriving in the British zone; what explanation is forthcoming; and what steps have been taken to avoid such suffering in the future;(2) how many cases of frostbite have been noted among displaced persons recently arriving in the British zone; how many were fatal; and how many were children.

I would first refer to the full statement which I made on the 22nd January in reply to the hon. Member for The High Peak (Mr. Molson). I have since had a further report from Germany containing the following information:Casualties due to cold were confined to refugees travelling on the two trains which arrived in the British zone on 15th and 21st December, 1946. The total death roll from cold is now 53, of whom 31 died in hospitals in the British zone. There were no children amongst these casualties. In addition, there have been 162 cases of frost-bite, 29 of whom were children. No amputations have yet been carried out, but it is expected that 25 will have to be performed as soon as the patients are fit for operation. No casualties due to cold have occurred amongst refugees despatched into the British zone from areas and countries other than Polish administered territory.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the regulations limiting meals to three courses apply to Control Commission messes in Germany; and if he is satisfied that they are being observed.

The position in Control Commission messes is the same as in military messes in Germany, and I would therefore refer my hon. Friend to the reply given him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War yesterday.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for what reasons the postal censorship of private correspondence of German nationals in the British zone is being continued.

This censorship, established by Quadripartite agreement for purposes of control and security, is at present under review by the occupying powers in Berlin.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the Control Commission are responsible for the sale of the mass-produced people's motorcar in Hamburg; how much this motorcar costs British subjects serving in Germany and Germans, respectively; and how payment is made.

Yes, Sir, these sales are controlled by the British Element of the Control Commission. The cost to British personnel serving in Germany is £160 sterling, payable by cheque to the Control Office in London. The car is sold to those Germans only who can prove an essential need, the price being 5,000 marks payable in German currency to the retailer.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether it is the normal practice for units moving out of requisitioned accommodation in Germany to remove the furniture to their new billets; and whether he will arrange for the return of the furniture taken by 89 Intelligence Team from 20 Zollstrasse, Verden.

This practice is followed only when suitable ordnance supplies cannot be provided. It is hoped to abandon it is soon as ordnance factories are producing in sufficient quantity. Meanwhile I cannot authorise the return of the furniture taken from 20 Zollstrasse, Verden, in respect of which the owner is receiving a hiring fee in accordance with the usual practice in such cases. These premises have not been derequisitioned.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is satisfied that the de-cartelisation law recently agreed by the military governors of the British and U.S. zones does not conflict with the Government's policy of nationalising heavy industry in Germany; and whether he was consulted before agreement was given to this law by the British representative.

I am satisfied that the de-cartelisation law does not conflict with His Majesty's Government's policy of socialisation. I was consulted before agreement was given to it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now publish as a White Paper the secret documents discovered in the German Foreign Ministry which reveal hitherto unknown negotiations between Hitler and Stalin.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22nd January to the hon. Member for London University (Sir E. Graham-Little).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the food situation in Japan, and say what supplies of food are being imported by that country.

Exact information as to food supplies available in 1946 is not in my possession, but it appears that, if indigenous supplies could have been evenly distributed, they could have provided a low average diet that year of about 1,300 calories a day. Unfortunately, the farm population consumed far more than this, and so did the urban population in the early part of the year, so that some urban areas ran out of supplies in the summer months, and imported United States wheat flour had to be distributed. I understand that about 710,000 tons of imported food were distributed between February and the end of October. Japan's import requirements for 1947 are still under consideration. Her imports of foodstuffs in world short supply will be subject to approval by the International Emergency Food Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the number of unmarried mothers in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Poland and other countries. the fathers of whose children were foreign soldiers, any attempt is likely to be made by international agreement or otherwise to enable each of these women to secure financial assistance from the father of her children; and whether, in view of the need of relieving distress and implementing the moral responsibility of paternity, His Majesty's Government will encourage multilateral action by unilateral example.

His Majesty's Government share my hon. Friend's desire that means should be devised to secure to women in this situation financial assistance from the fathers of their children. His Majesty's Government are studying the question whether international agreements, bilateral or multilateral, would be a suitable method of dealing with this matter. There are a number of difficulties to be overcome and His Majesty's Government cannot at the moment express any opinion on this point.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proposals he has made to, or received from, the Soviet Government since August, 1945, for joint action for the organisation of security and economic prosperity in Europe in accordance with Article 5 of the Anglo-Soviet Treaty of 1942.

No proposals have been made on a bilateral basis by the Soviet Government or by His Majesty's Government. Prior to the establishment of the United Nations Organisation His Majesty's Government took the initiative in setting up temporary economic organisations for Europe, which the Soviet Government was invariably invited to join, and on different occasions in the Council of Foreign Ministers and at meetings of the United Nations proposals of the kind suggested by my hon. Friend have been made both by the Soviet Government and by His Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs for what reasons the British vice-consulate at Florina, Greece, has been closed down.

The British Vice-Consulate at Florina was opened after the end of the war to help the local British community in their difficulties in the immediate post-occupational period. The post was closed at the end of 1946 when it had become clear that there was no longer sufficient consular work to warrant its continued maintenance.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs for how many British subjects the British Vice-Consulate at Florina, Greece, was catering during its most active period, and at the end of 1946, respectively.

The number of British subjects in Western Macedonia (the Florina Consular district) at any given period cannot be established with accuracy, but remained fairly constant during this period at between 150 and 200 persons.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will indicate the Government's intentions with regard to the suggested revision and extension of the Anglo-Soviet Treaty.

Generalissimo Stalin's remark that before the Anglo-Soviet Treaty could be extended, it should be freed from certain reservations, which in his view at present weaken it, is naturally receiving our most careful consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the great place the University of Hong Kong could take in the cultural and educational life of the Far East, he will make a statement on the rebuilding, re-equipment and enlargement of the scope and functions of this university.

A committee representative of the universities in this country and of local interests has advised me on the future of the Hong Kong University. The recommendations of this committee which take account of the important considerations mentioned by my hon. Friend are at present under examination in consultation with other Departments concerned and I hope to make a statement in the near future

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if it is proposed to establish Income Tax in Hong Kong.

This possibility of introducing Income Tax was recently considered by a committee appointed by the Governor to go into the whole question of revenue and taxation in the Colony. The committee's recommendations on this subject are now under urgent examination.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if His Majesty's Government intends, at an early date, to make a final decision regarding Palestine and to ask the House for a vote of confidence in order that His Majesty's Government may implement such a policy.

The Palestine Conference resumed on Monday, 27th January, and His Majesty's Government must, of course, consider the outcome of its deliberations. The House may rest assured that there will be an opportunity for Debate before any new policy is implemented.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken to impose a punitive tax on Jewish terrorists in Palestine to pay for damage, similar to that imposed on the Arabs during the Arab rebellion.

No such tax has been imposed. The hon. Member will appreciate the difficulty of identifying those directly responsible for terrorism.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in what Colonies minerals in the soil are the property of freehold owners of land.

In the majority of Colonial territories minerals are vested in the Crown, except to the extent that before the passing of the vesting ordinance the alienation of the surface expressly carried with it the ownership of any minerals in the land. The position is therefore of some complexity but I will send my hon. Friend a note of the legal position. He is no doubt aware that I have recently asked Colonial Governments to consider the adoption of vesting legislation where it has not so far been enacted and to assess the balance of advantage in recovering rights already passed into private hands.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the shortage of geologists in the Colonial Service, he will consider improving their pay and conditions to bring them in line with administrative officers.

The present shortage of geologists is due to the interruption in the supply of young graduates caused by the war, and it is questionable whether an improvement of pay and conditions would provide a remedy. The whole question of salaries for scientific officers in the Colonial Service is at present under review, and new scales of salary have already been fixed in certain Colonies. I must not be regarded as accepting the contention that pay and conditions of Geologists are invariably inferior to those of adminstrative officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now give information on the progress made by the experimental yeast factory in the West Indies; and at what date he expects to establish a similar industry in Uganda and Mauritius.

The Jamaica factory of Colonial Food Yeast Limited is now in partial production, the various technical troubles incidental to the establishment on a factory scale of a novel process not having been entirely overcome. I propose to consider further developments elsewhere as soon as possible, but I do not consider that it would be prudent to do so until the technicalities of production have been fully worked out in Jamaica, and until moreover the probable level of effective demand has been clearly established by the use of bulk as distinct from experimental supplies of this foodstuff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what results in land administration were secured by Ordinance 12 of 1940 in Fiji; and if the system therein embodied of developing principles of land tenure by means of a permanent board with local advisory committees has yielded better results than recurrent legislation and case law decisions in the courts.

This ordinance is achieving, in large measure, its objects of protecting the interests of native landowners, ending wasteful alienation, preserving forests and soil fertility, and providing land for settlement; and I understand that the machinery set up by it has yielded better results than previous legislation affecting land tenure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the rehabilitation scheme for Sarawak recently referred to by His Excellency the Governor.

Proposals for the economic and social development of Sarawak over the next few years have been drawn up, but as they are not yet in their final form and I have not yet had the Governor's views on them, I regret that I am not at present in a position to make a detailed statement. I will gladly do so at the first opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies under what powers Mr. Anthony Brooke was forbidden to enter Sarawak and Singapore and forbidden to communicate with the Press while in Hong Kong.

Mr. Brooke is excluded from Sarawak by an order made under a local law (The Sarawak Undesirable Persons Order, 1935). In the case of Singapore it was a question whether he should be granted an endorsement of his passport for that territory. The grant of this endorsement was originally made subject to a condition which was subsequently withdrawn. Mr. Brooke is now in fact in Singapore. He was at no time forbidden to communicate with the Press during his stay in Hong Kong.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement regarding the recent strikes and sabotage in Trinidad.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement respecting recent disturbances in Trinidad; what are the underlying causes; and what action is being taken to deal with them.

There have been three recent strikes in Trinidad. On 8th November last, the Seamen and Waterfront Workers' Union declared a strike after their claim for a 50 per cent. increase in wages and a reduction in hours of work had been rejected by the Shipping Association. In this connection I would refer to my reply to the hon. Member for Central Hackney (Mr. H. Hynd) on 27th November.Employees of the Government Wharves Administration were also involved in this strike and on 2nd December, after the strike had lasted for 25 days, a meeting was held between representatives of the Government, the Shipping Association and the Union. At that meeting a formula was adopted under which the Wharves Administration undertook to offer available employment to waterfront workers seeking it, and to enter into negotiations as soon as conditions became sufficiently normal for the purpose of drawing up a mutually acceptable agreement. The Shipping Association agreed to cooperate with the Government to apply to its employees the terms of any agreement reached between the Wharves Administration and the Union. The Union thereupon agreed to call off the strike, and work was resumed on 5th December. A meeting to discuss the preparation of a new agreement was held on 12th December between the Wharves Administration and the Union.On 8th January the Public Works and Public Services Workers' Trade Union called a strike of its members. There have been long standing claims both by this Union and the Federated Workers' Trade Union, in respect of the wages for unskilled labourers. Increases of pay to skilled and unskilled Government workers were announced in December, to take effect from 15th February, 1946. Only a small number of men have come out on strike, and there has been no dislocation of work. I am informed by the Governor that the union has received no support from the local T.U.C., to which it is affiliated, and that responsible trade union leaders view the strike with disfavour. A number of other unions are concerned in the conditions of employment of public employees, and none of these has taken any part in this strike.Discussions have taken place between the Government and the Federated Workers' Trade Union, which, it is understood, has the largest membership of the workers concerned. As a result of these discussions a committee has been appointed to undertake a revision of current schedules of grades and basic wage scales for Government employees. The Public Works and Public Services Workers' Trade Union has rejected all invitations to participate in these discussions. The union's legal adviser, in an interview with the Colonial Secretary, stated that the purpose of the strike was to demonstrate the strength of the union.On 11th November, Uriah Butler', as president-general of the British Empire Workers' Peasant and Ratepayers' Association, submitted demands to the employers in the oil industry for an increase of wage rates to be granted within 48 hours as well as the handing over to the union of one penny on every barrel of oil produced in Trinidad. These demands were rejected by the employers. According to local Press reports of 13th December, Butler and three other members of the executive committee of the union were suspended from membership. On 19th December, however, Butler, on behalf of a union called the Mineral Development Union, called a strike of his followers in the oilfields. This strike was not supported by the Oilfield Workers' Trade Union, which is the union recognised by the Oilfields Employers' Associations and which has an agreement—operative until December, 1947—with the employers on all questions affecting wages and working conditions in the oil industry. The union issued instructions to its members not to take part in the strike. Only 1,470 workers out of 11,340 came out on strike, and three weeks ago the men started to return to work.At the end of December in the Fyzabad and Point Fortin area there were violence and mass intimidation. Early in January, when the strikers began to return to work, saboteurs and malcontents ignited a number of oil wells and emptied water reservoirs. In order to deal with this serious situation an Emergency Powers Ordinance was enacted, under which the Governor issued a Proclamation ordering Butler to leave the area, and imposing a nine-hour curfew. Butler established his headquarters in Port-of-Spain on 19th January and was joined by approximately 1,200 of his followers from the oilfield. Next day he asked for an interview with the Governor to discuss the union's wage demands, but this was refused because of the existing agreement with the Oilfield Workers' Trade Union. The following day 500 barrels of oil were burnt and a number of oil tanks destroyed, in a fire which broke out in the quarryfields of the Trinidad Petroleum Development Company.A large number of Butler's followers on 20th January picketed the main traffic routes and the bus termini and railway stations, and intimidated persons proceeding to work. The police were obliged to arrest 72 persons under the terms of the Trade Disputes and Protection of Property Ordinance, 1943, relating to the prevention of intimidation, annoyance by violence, besetting. etc. Later, an unlawful procession went to the Government buildings, with the apparent object of occupying the Legislative Council's Chambers and to force the Governor's hand. Some 3,000 to 4,000 people assembled and, the police having cleared the buildings, were attacked with sticks, stones and bottles. The Commissioner of Police, who had been injured, read the Riot Act and ordered the police to attack with tear gas and batons. Thirty-two persons were arrested. The crowd was subsequently broken up, but not before five police officers and 20 other ranks had received minor injuries. Two commissioned police officers were thrown to the ground and, to save them from further injury, a senior police officer fired his revolver and wounded a man. The Governor then issued a further Proclamation under the Emergency Powers Ordinance, extending its provisions to the whole of the colony, and made regulations to prohibit loitering, etc.A party of police under the Commissioner then visited Butler's headquarters. On arrival they were attacked with stones and other missiles. A shot was fired from the premises which severely wounded the Commissioner. Dangerous missiles continued to be thrown and the police were compelled to fire. Two of Butler's followers were wounded, one seriously. Two officers and 11 other ranks of the police force were injured. The police were then able to enter the premises and 357 persons were arrested, of whom about one-third were women. They were held on charges of rioting, unlawful assembly, breach of the regulations issued under the Emergency Powers Ordinance and assault. Steps are being taken for their early trial. My latest information is that conditions in Port of Spain are almost normal and that no further sabotage in the oilfields, where two companies of soldiers are now stationed, has been reported.It would appear that these recent industrial disturbances in Trinidad are partly a reflection of general labour unrest in other areas, accentuated by a measure of unemployment resulting mainly from the reduction of wartime naval and military establishments. These underlying causes are complicated in Trinidad by the existence of competing and overlapping labour organisations in the several industries, which has led to conflicting claims and rivalries between some of the leaders of the labour movement. The solution of these difficulties must be looked for in the development of the economic potentialities of the Colony and in the improvement generally of its labour organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for what reasons the Government of Trinidad made an appeal, during the recent seamen's strike, for volunteers to work under police protection; and whether there was any response to this appeal.

The appeal by the Government for volunteer wharfmen and stevedores was made to ensure the offloading of food cargoes in order to safeguard the food supplies of the Colony. The response was in excess of requirements and 712 volunteers, including 213 regular workers, were employed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the area covered by the four new game parks it is proposed to open in Kenya; in what part of the Colony they will be situated; and whether any of this land is fit for settlement.

It is assumed that the four areas which my hon. Friend has in mind are as follow:

(a) an area of 40 square miles adjoining the city of Nairobi;

(b) an area of 400 square miles on the summit of Mount Kenya;

(c) an area of 300 square miles on the summit of the Aberdare Mountains;

(d) an area of 10,450 square miles (provisional) in the Sabaki-Tsavo region.

The first of these areas was formerly largely a game reserve and now includes a portion of forest area. It is comparatively small in extent. The areas on the summits of Mounts Kenya and Aberdare are at present Forest Reserves and are quite unsuitable for settlement. The greater part of the area in the SabakiTsavo region is fly-infested, waterless and barren and could never be used for agricultural purposes. Investigations into the potential uses for settlement of certain portions of this area are at present being carried out. No portion which is capable of supporting a human population will be included in the proposed National Park. Of these four areas, only the first which adjoins Nairobi, has yet been proclaimed as a National Park.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many students from Nigeria are at present studying at universities and medical schools in the United Kingdom; how many of these were candidates on the priority list sent over here from Nigeria; why only two out of eight on the priority list of Nigerian medical students for 1946 could be found places by his Department; and what steps he is taking to ensure that more places are allotted in this country to colonial students in future years.

The number of students from Nigeria at present studying in Universities and medical schools in the United Kingdom is 381. Except in the case of medical schools, where the pressure is greatest, the Nigerian Government do not send over priority lists. Of the elevent students from Nigeria who were placed in medical schools in 1946, three figured high in the 'priority list for that year and the remainder had been recommended in previous years but could not be placed for various reasons. The situation in all institutions for higher education will be as difficult as it was in 1946–47, owing to the claims of ex-Service students. Every effort is being made by letter and personal contact with the University and other authorities to persuade them to allot as many places as possible to students from the Colonies; and I should like to pay public tribute to the help they have given to the Colonial Office despite their own difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is satisfied with the present rate of educational expansion in the West African Colonies; to what extent agreement has been reached respecting divergent proposals for higher education; and if all school and college buildings requisitioned during the war have now been derequisitioned.

No, Sir, I am not satisfied but, having regard to present difficulties in the recruitment of trained manpower and the execution of building programmes, the West African Governments are pressing forward with the development of education facilities as rapidly as possible. Proposals for higher education, based largely on the minority report of the Commission on Higher Education in West Africa were sent to the West African Governments by my predecessor in July last. A delegation of the Inter-Universities Council for Higher Education in the Colonies has just returned from a visit to West Africa, where these proposals were discussed with the four Governments and others concerned. I would prefer to await the Council's advice in the light of the report of this delegation before making any further statement on this subject.In reply to the third part of the Question; all schools and colleges in the Gambia, Sierra Leone and Gold Coast which were requisitioned during the war have now been vacated with the exception of one school in the Gold Coast which is not at present required. In Nigeria all educational buildings except King's College, Lagos, have been de-requisitioned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what occupations were affected by the recent strike in Mombasa; what were the demands of the strikers; and what action was taken during the strike by the Labour Department of the Government of Kenya.

Nearly all African labour in Mombasa was affected by the strike which has now ended, including port and railway workers, hotel, bank and office employees and domestic servants. I understand that while no precise demands were formulated on behalf of the strikers as a whole, their demands were primarily for higher wages and lower rents. The Labour Department, under the personal direction of the Labour Commissioner, was actively engaged throughout the strike in taking all possible steps to persuade the strikers to return to work so that their grievances might be investigated and where necessary remedied.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why, in view of the fact that timber, especially mahogany, exported from Nigeria to the U.S.A. could earn dollars, he has stipulated that all timber from Nigeria must be exported to the United Kingdom, especially in view of the fact that, in the case of the Gold Coast, the stipulation is that 60 per cent. must come to the United Kingdom, leaving 40 per cent. for the U.S.A.

I have made no such stipulation. Exports of timber from Nigeria are subject to licensing but, subject to current local requirements, licences are granted freely to the U.S.A. and Canada and to all destinations where there are prospects of permanent trade.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the recent strike in Singapore.

On 21st January, seven unions, under Indian leadership, representing a section of municipal employees outside the Government and Municipal Labour Union, went on strike, after twice ignoring offers to negotiate made by the President of the Singapore Municipal Commissioners. Sixteen of the 20 demands made by the unions had already been considered in joint conferences and agreement reached. The unsettled demands were for (1) 100 per cent. increase in basic wages; (2) double pay for Sunday work, Sunday to be a holiday with pay, and 3½ years' back pay in this respect; (3) maternity benefits for wives of labourers; and (4) free coffin and funeral transport. The Commissioner for Labour is trying to restart negotiations. No members of the Government and Municipal Labour Union are affected and there has been no strike in the power station or gas works.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is now in a position to make a statement on the development of higher education in Malaya.

Shortly before the war detailed examination was given to the future development of higher education in Malaya and a report was made by a commission in 1939. With the Japanese invasion, however, and the subsequent occupation of the country it was impossible for positive steps to be taken as a result of that examination and report. In the meantime there have been a number of important developments in the field of higher education in the Colonies. Out of the monies made available under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act, 1945, £4,500,000 has been set aside for higher education from which sum a proportion will be allocated by His Majesty's Government for the joint use of the Malayan Union and Singapore, after consideration of their needs together with those of other members of the Colonial Empire.Also in 1945 there was published the Report of the Asquith Commission which laid down certain principles affecting higher education in the Colonies generally. Since the issue of that report, and in accordance with the principles mentioned above, decisions to establish University Colleges in the West Indies and in West Africa have been taken and the Inter-University Council on Higher Education in the Colonies and the Colonial University Grants Advisory Committee have been established. The Asquith Commission was, however, unable owing to the Japanese occupation to consider the nature of the problem in Malaya except on the basis of the 1939 report.A member of the Asquith Commission, Dr. R. E. Priestley, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, recently visited Malaya to discuss with the authorities on the spot the application of the principles set out in the Report of that body. As a result of Dr. Priestley's visit I have have been reinforced in the view which my predecessor had already formed as announced in Malaya on 31st of August last, that there should be created a university college, of which the King Edward VII College of Medicine and Raffles College would form part, as a first stage in the development of a University of Malaya.To this end I propose to appoint a small commission to review the situation in the light of the Asquith Report and am fortunate in having secured the services of Sir Alexander Carr-Saunders, Director of the London School of Economics, as chairman. The commission's inquiry will be particularly directed to such fundamental questions as the constitution, financing, staffing, and siting of the future university, and of the university college which will precede it, and the creation of chairs in Malay and Chinese.The acceptance in principle of a university college in no way prejudges, at this stage, future decisions on such questions as that of its siting. These will be matters for inquiry and local consultation by the Commission, which will also consider the position of the various research and teaching institutions, including the technical college, at Kuala Lumpur, in their recommendation for the constitution of a future University. In the meantime I propose to arrange for the appointment of a principal-designate of the university college.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement, regarding the proposals on citizenship and jurisdiction in the Malay States which have emerged from the discussions between the Malayan Government and the representatives of the Malays and announced on 24th December.

1. Citizenship.—The proposals contain revised provisions for federal citizenship, which have been framed in an endeavour to open the doors of citizenship to those, and only to those, who genuinely regard Malaya as their home and as the object of their loyalty—a definition which of course includes, besides the Malays, the very considerable number of Chinese, Indians and others who are firmly rooted in the country.2.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies at what rate, approximately, Income Tax and excess profits tax are levied in the Seychelles; whether shopkeepers are required to keep proper accounts; and whether the local government is satisfied that the machinery for collection is adequate to prevent wholesale evasion.

Income Tax in the Seychelles is levied on a graduated scale and there is no standard rate. As an indication of the rates of tax payable, a single person would pay the equivalent of £6 1s. 2d. on a chargeable income of £200 and £161 14s. 2d. on a chargeable income of £1,000. An Excess Profits Tax of 50 per cent. of the standard profits was in force until 31st December last when it was due to expire. No particular form of accounts is prescribed in the case of shopkeepers; but any taxpayer who fails or refuses to keep books or accounts which, in the opinion of the Board of Income Tax Commissioners are adequate for income tax purposes, may be assessed for tax by the Board according to the best of its judgment. The Governor has for some considerable time been dissatisfied with the adequacy of the machinery for tax collection. One of the main problems has been the difficulty of obtaining trained staff, but the appointment of an experienced officer is now contemplated which it is hoped will lead to an improvement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for what reason all shops in the Seychelles closed for two days in December; whether any notification of the shopkeepers' intentions was made to the Government or to the public; and to what extent hardship was caused, especially amongst the poorer classes, by their action.

I understand that no notification of the intention to close shops in Seychelles for two days last December was given either to the local Government or to the public. The reason subsequently given by the Chamber of Commerce was to emphasise the need for reduction in the cost of living and the removal of certain taxation. The Governor, however, has reported that there is no doubt that the closing of the shops was an attempt to embarrass the local Government in the hope that it would rescind its decision to recover from various wholesale merchants the revised assessment of Income and Excess Profit Taxes in respect of the year 1943 which it has been found were grossly underdeclared. It is impossible to assess the extent of the hardship which was caused by this sudden and unexpected closing of the shops, but I am informed that many consumers had already previously purchased their supplies of rationed food for the month and there was no restriction on the sale of bread.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the MFDF radio station at Luka aerodrome, Malta, is closed from 0700 to 1300 hours daily; and what steps he is taking to ensure that civil aircraft are given every possible assistance in navigational aids from the island.

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am advised that the navigational equipments at present provided on the aerodrome are adequate to meet existing requirements. I am however in communication with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air and my noble Friend the Minister of Civil Aviation, with a view to determining what further steps will be required in the island in the future to meet the situation resulting from the contraction of the R.A.F.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he is aware that there is no income tax, land tax or inheritance tax in Bermuda; that there has been considerable demand for such direct taxation and that the burden of indirect taxation is very heavy; and whether he will take steps to reform the taxation system in this colony;(2) what is the present cost of living in Bermuda as compared with 1939; and whether he is satisfied that wages have increased to a similar extent.(3) how it is that school attendance is compulsory in Bermuda but fees are charged.

I have recently received representations on these matters from Bermuda and I am considering them in consultation with the Governor. It would therefore be premature for me to make any statement at this stage, but I hope to be able to do so in the near future. I may mention, however, that the cost of living figure at 1st December, 1946, was 187.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the police force of Jamaica are not supplied with steel helmets, tear gas and mobile radio equipment for emergencies as is done in Trinidad and British Guiana.

The police force of Jamaica are supplied with tear gas, but not with steel helmets, as this has not so far been considered necessary. Nor are they supplied with mobile radio equipment as hitherto they have depended in emergency upon wireless facilities provided by the military authorities. These and other questions affecting police equipment will be dealt with in the course of the reorganisation of the Jamaican Constabulary arrangements for which are now being made.

asked the Minister of Works on what authority his Department has notified that prisoner of war camps will be required for their original purpose for a further period of from 12 to 18 months.

I cannot trace any general notification of the kind suggested, but if the hon. and gallant Member will give me particulars I will look into the matter.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he will now state when the Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Training Areas will reach a stage at which a statement will be made to the House.

In view of the large number of areas to be examined by the Inter-Departmental Committee, it will necessarily be some time before any comprehensive statement on their work can be made.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will take immediate steps, in conjunction with the Government of India, to improve the conditions under which men of the Arm and R.A.F. are forced to travel in the trains of the Government of India, whether on duty or on leave

I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that G.H.Q. India are taking all steps possible to improve travelling conditions for British Service personnel in India, but if the hon. Member has any particular instances in mind I will ask the Government of India to investigate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if timber is actually available to meet the licences for 200 standards so far issued by his Department during the present quarter to herring barrel manufacturers.

Yes, Sir, but it may not be in the particular kind of timber they are accustomed to use.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he proposes to enlarge the scope of the issue of permits and dockets for utility furniture; and, in particular, whether he is prepared to give sympathetic consideration to cases where families need additional furniture because of moves consequent on a return to the neighbourhood of London of their office or other centre of employment.

I regret that supplies of utility furniture are not sufficient to justify an extension of the priority scheme in the manner suggested.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider freeing the movement of scientific workers within the Commonwealth by modifying existing pension schemes or the adoption of new ones or by instituting an arrangement similar to the F.S.S.U. scheme on a Commonwealth basis.

Most scientists in this country, who are in either university or

[B.T.U. = British Thermal Unit.]
G.W.R.		L.N.E.R.		L.M.S.R.		S.R.
1946. B.T.U's.	1938. B.T.U's.	1946. B.T.U's.	1938. B.T.U's.	1946. B.T.U's.	I938. B.T.U's.	1946. B.T.U's.	1938. B.T.U's.
ENGLAND AND WALES
13,840	14,960	13,300	13,600	12,960	13,230	13,470	14,440
SCOTLAND
—	—	12,400	12,500	12,050	12,285	—	—

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the estimated amount of any loss to public funds through the omission to print certain Subsections of the Town and Country Planning Bill in italics; how many copies of the Bill as originally printed remained unsold at the time when the error was discovered; and what has been done with these copies.

£26; 3,621 copies; sold to the public.

asked the Minister of Transport the average calorific value of coal supplied for locomotives to each of the main line railway companies during 1946, compared with 1938.

The following statement shows the result of certain limited tests made by the railway companies:

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that unnecessary hardship was caused to large numbers of Christmas period passengers by the inadequate arrangements at Paddington Station; and if he will make an investigation with the object of avoiding chaotic conditions during the periods of heavy passenger traffic.

I regret that shortage of rolling stock and staff made it impracticable for the railway company to deal promptly with the heavy passenger traffic at Paddington during the Christmas period. The situation was aggravated by adverse weather conditions and may be regarded as having been exceptional.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that 27 horses and their riders were transported from Churston and Paignton to the South Devon Hunt at Haytor by a special train engaged for the purpose in December; how much coal was required for this journey; how many men were employed; and whether he will in future refuse to permit the use of manpower and fuel for such purposes during the present emergency.

Yes, Sir. A special train was provided because it was not practicable to convey these horseboxes by the ordinary services. About 30 cwt. of coal was consumed but the engine used was one held ready in steam in case of need. Two sets of enginemen were employed, who would otherwise have been off duty that day, and a porter guard who was taken off platform duty. I have instructed the railway companies that special trains for social and sporting events should not, at present, be run.

asked the Minister of Transport when he can expect a reply to his letter, dated 23rd December, concerning the possibility of providing an omnibus service from Gillingham to Sturminster Newton, through East Stour, Stour Provost, Marnhull and Hinton St. Mary.

A reply was despatched to the hon. Member on the 24th January.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the serious position of many of the barley growers in Suffolk owing to the cut of the maltsters this year, resulting in a loss of £1 per quarter to the farmers, and if he will consider taking steps to compensate them for this deficiency.

The Government guarantee to barley producers is to provide an assured market at a prescribed minimum price for their product, but growers are permitted within a higher maximum to obtain the best price they can from maltsters or other buyers. No compensation would therefore be justified for any reduction in a farmer's receipts arising from a contraction in the malting demand or other similar cause.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what extra kilowatt capacity will be available for the supply of electricity to Great Britain in 1949, 1950 and 1951, respectively; and whether he estimates that such increases in capacity will meet all estimated increases of electricity demand, together with a. reasonable margin.

It is estimated that the additional generating capacity which will be available for the public supply of electricity will be 2,600,000 kilowatts by the end of 1949, 4,460,000 kilowatts by the end of 1950, and 5,660,000 kilowatts by the end of 1951. These increases will not be sufficient to meet the increase of electricity demand until the winter of 1950–51, but should then be sufficient, provided certain obsolete plant is still kept in commission.

asked the Minister of Health which local authorities in Great Britain are, at present, building houses by direct labour.

The following is the information: