asked the Minister of Health if it is intended to introduce legislation to give effect to the Report of the Ridley Committee on the Rent Restrictions Act.

I can hold out no early prospect of legislation on these lines.

asked the Minister of Health what is the reason for the delay in building houses in the area administered by the Hereford rural district council.

The main cause of delay has been the selection of sites for which a pure and adequate water supply could be provided. This difficulty has now been overcome as respects a number of sites, and preparations for building are being pressed forward.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now issue licences for the erection of houses in the borough of Beverley on the lines suggested by the corporation in their communication to his Department of 28th May, 1947.

No. Local authorities were notified on 15th August, 1947, in a circular, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member, of the Government's decision that the issue of further licences cannot for the time being be authorised except in special cases referred to in the circular.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that Messrs. Pope Brothers, of Cricklade Street, Swindon, have been unable to complete their programme of Airey houses owing to the impossibility of obtaining joists and other materials promised them by his department; and whether he will give an assurance that all promised materials will now be delivered.

I am aware that there has been some unavoidable delay. But the firm's immediate requirements have been met and I hope there will be no further hold-up.

asked the Minister of Health what consideration has been given by members of his Department to the use of surplus huts in Aqualate Park, near Newport, Salop, for emergency housing.

These huts have been offered to the local authority for housing and their decision is awaited.

asked the Minister of Health how many times he has personally met the Negotiating Committee appointed with the approval of the Minister by the medical profession, to discuss regulations to be made under the National Health Service Act; and what was the date of the last such meeting.

These discussions have so far taken place with my officials following a procedure which I believe to be entirely acceptable to the Negotiating Committee. At their request I have arranged to meet the Committee myself next month.

asked the Secretary, of State for the Colonies the reasons for the initial ban on the book, "How Russia Transformed Her Colonial Empire," in the Gold Coast; and what procedure is followed by the Government of the Gold Coast in arriving at such decisions.

A consignment of 200 copies of this book was seized by the Comptroller of Customs under Section 27 of the Gold Coast Customs Ordinance which prohibits the importation into the Colony of "Books, Newspapers and Printed Matter which in the opinion of the Comptroller (subject to any directions of the Governor), are seditious, defamatory, scandalous or demoralising." In the exercise of these powers the Comptroller is advised by a Committee consisting of the Director of Education, the Public Relations Officer and an African Member of the Legislative Council. The final decision rests, however, with the Governor and in this case the Acting Governor after full consideration of the views of the Advisory Committee, decided that the disadvantages of allowing the book in question to circulate in the Colony were not sufficiently weighty to justify banning it. The consignment was accordingly released.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in what circumstances police fired on strikers at a Government-owned bacon factory near Nairobi on 6th September, 1947; how many casualties resulted; what were the causes of the strike; and what subsequent action has been taken by the Government.

The immediate cause of the strike, which involved some 200 workers at the Uplands Bacon Factory, was a refusal by the manager to accede to a demand that he should dismiss his African head clerk who had refused to attend a political meeting some days earlier or to contribute to a fund intended to buy food for the strikers. Despite every effort by Labour and Administrative Officers and an assurance by the strikers' spokesmen that they had no complaint regarding wages or conditions of employment, the strikers refused to return to work and, being joined by some 500 Africans from the neighbourhood armed with sticks, cutlasses and knives, became very truculent and advanced within a few yards of the District Commissioner who was attempting to reason with them. They became so threatening that a baton charge by the small party of police present was ordered. This failed to disperse the crowd and after many of the police and officials had been injured by stone-throwing and were in imminent danger of being overrun, the senior police officer ordered six of his rifle party to fire on the rioters, who retreated after 18 rounds had been fired. Three rioters were killed and three are known to have been injured. Order was then restored and 90 per cent. of the strikers later returned to work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many sentences of death and imprisonment of any kind, exceeding six months, were awarded by the criminal courts in Fiji in the years 1944, 1945 and 1946, respectively; in how many of these cases appeals were made; and how many of these appeals resulted in quashing of the conviction and reduction of the sentence, respectively.

I am afraid that my information is not complete in all details. I am asking the Acting Governor for particulars, and will communicate with the hon. and gallant Member again.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what facilities for appeal are available to a person convicted of a criminal offence in Fiji by a magistrates' court and the Supreme Court of Fiji, respectively; and whether he is satisfied that these facilities provide adequate protection against injustice, especially to poor defendants.

There is a right of appeal in criminal cases to the Supreme Court from a Magistrates' Court and, in addition, the Supreme Court has powers of revision over the proceedings. The Privy Council may grant special leave to appeal from a decision of the Supreme Court. As regards the second part of the Question, I am in communication with the Governor regarding the question of setting up a local court of appeal.