asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many persons are still detained in No. 1 C.I.S. at Adelheide; and how many of that number have been in detention there or elsewhere for more than one year.

The number of persons detained at Adelheide has been reduced from 550 at the beginning of January, 1948, to 133 on 23rd April. All of these men had been in detention for more than one year.

May I ask my right hon. Friend how often their cases are reviewed, and whether it is the intention of the Control Commission to close down these detention centres?

They are constantly reviewed, and I am anxious to bring all this business to an end.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many Kreis resident officers in the British Control Commission in Germany have become redundant since 1st January, 1948; and how many of these were retired Air Force and Army officers.

Sixteen Kreis resident officers have been declared redundant this year, of whom nine are retired Royal Air Force and Army officers.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that there are possibly only 12 retired Royal Air Force officers employed by the Commission? Is it not a very high proportion, if four officers are regarded as redundant; and can the right hon. Gentleman assure us that there has been no discrimination?

I do not think that is correct. Of the Kreis resident officers on the strength of the Commission, 81 per cent. are ex-Service officers: of the 16 declared redundant, 87 per cent. are ex-Service, and naval officers are included in these figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet taken any action to expropriate the larger farms in the British zone of Germany.

Ordinance No. 103, which was promulgated in the British zone last September, dealt with limitation of estates. It laid down that Land Legislatures should enact legislation to carry out its provisions. The Land Legislatures have not yet completed the enactment of such legislation, but we have impressed upon them the urgency of doing so as quickly as possible.

Would it not be better if the right hon. Gentleman impressed upon them the urgency of ensuring the maximum food production?

What is the urgency in this matter?

It is very desirable, in order that people may have roots in their own soil that everything should not be monopolised by big landlords.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the Land Legislatures will be tied in any way to the area that must be supplied?

That point comes under another Question in a moment.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the uneconomic layout of many of the typical small farms of Western Germany; and what steps have been taken by the Control Commission to encourage the exchange of strips in order to promote more compact holdings.

When the Military Government ordinance on agrarian reform was issued last year, the Regional Commissioners were informed that, in our view, the consolidation of uneconomic small holdings is as much a part of agrarian reform as the division of big estates and should be tackled at the same time. Land Governments in the British zone have been encouraged to consider the exchange of strips in order to promote more compact holdings, and a draft law is being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs under what circumstances His Majesty's Government is prepared to carry on, or participate in, the administration of Palestine after 15th May.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies stated on 16th October, 1947, in his speech to the Palestine Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, that, in the event of a settlement between Jews and Arabs, His Majesty's Government would, if so desired, continue the administration of Palestine through the limited period of the transfer to independence; and that they would consider an invitation to participate in giving effect to such a settlement in partnership with other members of the United Nations. But there has been no agreement between Jews and Arabs. Moreover, the withdrawal of British administrative personnel has now begun and is rapidly proceeding, and His Majesty's Government cannot reverse the process at this late hour.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether any negotiations are taking place with the United States of America, the effect of which would be to require the presence of British troops in Palestine after 1st August next?

No, there are no such negotiations. The only thing going on is what is going on in the United Nations Assembly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reports he has now received to show by what means the mechanised force of the Syrian-Arab anti-Jewish forces entered Palestine.

My right hon. Friend has received no reports of the entry of mechanised Arab units from Syria into Palestine.

In view of the very circumstantial reports that have been made about the entry of these mechanised forces, can the hon. Gentleman find out how they managed to get in there, in view of the fact that the only effective road must have been, or should have been, patrolled by the British Forces?

We cannot always believe newspaper reports, even the "Daily Worker."

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether arrangements have been made to continue at least until the end of June the supply of essential foods, particularly bread grains and sugar, to Palestine, recently requested by the representatives in London of the United Nations Palestine Commission.

The High Commissioner for Palestine has issued import licences to cover essential requirements of food up to 30th June, including meat, oils and fats and wheat flour. Shipments of sugar now afloat or due to be loaded will suffice up to 30th June. Meat and oils and fats are normally procured through ordinary commercial channels and the Ministry of Food is assisting with advice in regard to procurement areas. His Majesty's Government are making available for Palestine 26,000 tons of wheat flour against credits to be provided by agents acting on behalf of Jewish and Arab interests.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him for an assurance that, in spite of the present difficulties, His Majesty's Government will continue to do all that is possible to supply Palestine with food, so that starvation is not added to the other troubles?

I can only refer to my reply, which shows, I think, that we have taken great pains and some foresight to try to overcome this difficulty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any statement to make on the present situation in Haifa.

Yes, Sir. Heavy fighting between Arabs and Jews broke out in Haifa on 21st April. For some days previously there had been sporadic violence largely due to the infiltration into the town of groups of armed Arabs intent on interfering with Jewish communications to the East and North. The Jews launched an attack by Haganah from Mount Carmel against the Arab sections of the town and by the morning of the 22nd had closed in on the market area. British forces concentrated to protect the port area and those installations and routes which are vital to the maintenance and the ultimate evacuation of our troops from the interior of the country. Meanwhile, the Military Commander in Haifa, in an effort to stop the fighting by negotiation, presided at two meetings between Arab and Jewish leaders on the 22nd to endeavour to arrange a truce. British forces also gave all possible help to Arab non-combatants attempting to escape from the town to the North, and Arabs wishing to reach Acre were transferred there in landing craft. With military assistance, the staff and patients of an Arab hospital in the battle area were evacuated to the Government Hospital in Haifa.

In these operations three Army officers were wounded; two British policemen were killed and one was wounded. By the morning of 23rd April the situation was much quieter and normal life was being resumed. On the 24th, the High Commissioner reported that quiet had been restored. Arab evacuation from the town has now practically ceased. Some 5,000 persons, out of a total Arab population of about 70,000, have left. Final casualty figures are not yet available, but it is thought that at least Too Arabs were killed and more than 100 injured before the fighting subsided on the 23rd. Fourteen Jews were reported to have been killed, and 40 wounded. Early reports of widespread massacre in the town are untrue, and were merely rumours caused by panic.

Can the Minister confirm that as a result of the curfew imposed by the Haganah no looting has taken place in Haifa, that the Moslem Holy Places in that town have been fully safeguarded, and that full protection has been afforded to Arab property?

I can only say that according to the latest reports quiet has been restored there, and that would imply those things.

In view of the situation in Haifa, can the Government see to it that the oil from Kirkuk is by-passed beyond Haifa, and sent down to Tripolis in Syria for the use of Europe?

I should like to have notice of that Question.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he has now completed his inquiries regarding the use by the Jews in operations against the Arabs in Palestine of one or more light aircraft; the source from which such aircraft were obtained; and if he will make a statement.

It has not been possible to establish the identity or the origin of the aircraft to which I referred in my reply to the hon. and gallant Gentleman's Question on 7th April. As he is no doubt aware, a light aircraft of a type similar to the Auster was shot down by British forces near Kefar Etzion on 12th April.

Does it follow from the Minister's reply that he agrees that it was a mistake that these Auster aircraft were sold to either faction in Palestine, and is it a mistake that will not be repeated in the future?

I have already told the hon. and gallant Member that an order has gone out that no more planes should be sold, and that has been carried out for the last three months.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will give a list of military stores and equipment that have been stolen from military units in Palestine since 1st January, 1948; and what quantity of such stores and equipment has been recovered.

This information is not available in London and I should be reluctant to impose the task of compiling any comprehensive list on the authorities in Palestine in present circumstances. If the hon. and gallant Member will be more specific as to the items in which he is interested, I should be willing to consider whether information about such items could be asked for without interfering with more important duties.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he is satisfied that British military strength in Palestine is adequate for its own protection, and will be adequate for its own protection until the final evacuation.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will make a statement on the present position of British Armed Forces in Palestine in relation to recent and current disorders; and on their strength in men and weapons in relation to the tasks which they are called upon to carry out.

The reduction of the Forces in Palestine is, as the House knows, proceeding in accordance with plans to complete their evacuation from that country. This planned reduction was designed to correlate the various stages of evacuation with the tasks incidental thereto.

The military authorities have full powers to take any further steps they consider necessary to assist the Government of Palestine in carrying out the policy of His Majesty's Government and to secure the final evacuation of the British Forces.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the possibilities of cattle-raising in Southern British Guiana have been fully investigated.

I have been asked to reply. Yes, Sir, by the British Guiana and British Honduras Settlement Corn-mission which was in the area last year and whose report I expect to receive shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in what circumstances the Honourable H. N. Critchlow has been deprived of his seat in the Legislative Council of British Guiana.

Mr. Critchlow has been unseated as a result of an election petition. The Chief Justice of British Guiana has heard the petition and certified to the Governor (under the Legislative Council Elections Ordinance) his decision that Mr. Critchlow's election and return were void for the reason that an illegal practice was permitted in connection with the election by Mr. Critchlow's agents, with his knowledge and consent. The illegal practice consisted of the making of false statements of fact in relation to the personal character and conduct of another candidate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on Government policy with regard to the setting up of a colonial economic planning board to consider, in broad outline and in detail, plans for the economic development of the whole of the British Empire and to supplement the Colonial Development scheme, which is necessarily only a small proportion of the whole economic planning required.

It is not thought necessary or appropriate to create any new central planning board of precisely the character suggested, but, following upon the recent strengthening of the Economic Division of the Colonial Office and the creation of the Colonial Development Corporation and the Overseas Food Corporation, my right hon. Friend has reconstituted the Colonal Economic and Development Council to advise him on matters affecting the whole development of the dependent territories for which His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom is responsible. The Council has been reorganised in order to bring it into closer relationship with the officials of the Colonal Office, with the Secretary of State's Advisory Committees on special subjects, with the new Corporations and with those in other Departments of His Majesty's Government concerned with the investment and development policy of the United Kingdom itself.

Does my hon. Friend think that this organisation which has now come into being will be adequate to this task? Does he realise that the economic planning section of the Lord President's Office is devoting itself to the organisation of a plan for this country, and is it not equally important that a similar organisation should be set up to study the problem for the British Commonwealth?

I do not think that is a precise analogy, and I doubt very much whether we need an organisation of the precise character suggested by my hon. Friend. At the same time, I know that my right hon. Friend will make a fuller statement on this on his return, and perhaps we can wait until then.

In view of the restricted limits of capital exports from this country, could the Colonial Office consider how to encourage the participation of foreign investments in British colonial development?

That is another question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is now the position of those convicted of murder in the Colonies and non-self-governing Dependencies of this country.

The position remains unchanged. If the Criminal Justice Bill becomes law, it will not apply to the territories mentioned. The question whether or not to abolish the death penalty would be a matter for consideration by the local legislatures. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has explained that the action which he proposes to take with regard to the staying of executions is being taken because there is a prospect of the law of this country being amended during the current Session. The question of similar action in a colonial territory would only arise if and when a comparable situation were to occur.

Can my hon. Friend tell me, in the light of the recent decision by this House, whether it is proposed later on to initiate any consultations with the Governors of these Colonies and Dependencies with a view to giving them some guidance or lead from this country?

The first thing would be for the Criminal Justice Bill to become law. After that, I do not think it would be appropriate to commit my right hon. Friend to giving guidance. It might be appropriate for consultations to take place.

May I take it that this Government will allow the Governors a free vote on this matter?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the total net dollar deficit on food imports by the Colonies.

The colonies have no net dollar deficit, in the sense that their total payments for imports of all kinds are more than covered by their total dollar earnings.

Can the Under-Secretary say how much of the amount allotted to the United Kingdom under the Marshall plan will have to be diverted for use by the Colonies?

That is another question, and perhaps notice can be given of it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is satisfied that the forces now existing on the island of St. Kitts are entirely capable of protecting members of the white population against another industrial trouble.

Order was maintained by the St. Kitts Police during the recent strike without the need for reinforcement from outside. The Police organisation has recently been investigated by an expert, and its efficiency in providing protection for the public in the Colony will no doubt be maintained and improved as a result. My right hon. Friend hopes, however, that the outcome of the Economic Commission of Inquiry now about to be appointed will render unlikely a recurrence of industrial strife.

The Question is rather different. Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied, or have there been any changes in the force there since the recent troubles took place, when a murder occurred?

We have had an investigation by an expert and action has been taken as a result.

Will the hon. Gentleman say what that change is?

For the details, I should need notice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if a satisfactory settlement has been now reached as a result of the recent strike of sugar workers in St. Kitts; what recommendations have been made by the investigator sent by the Secretary of State; and what action has been taken to improve conditions.

The strike has ended and work was resumed on 9th April: no details have yet been received except that the Sugar Producers' Association and the trade union have agreed to refer to arbitration all matters in dispute. The report of Mr. Parry, who inquired into the dispute, was published in the "Leeward Islands Gazette" on 2nd March. I am arranging for my hon. Friend to be supplied with a copy. Mr. Parry recommended that the parties should resume negotiations and go to arbitration on all points in dispute. As regards the last part of the Question, an Economic Commission of Inquiry is being appointed to investigate conditions in the sugar industry; it is hoped that this Commission will start work in the near future.

Will my hon. Friend keep in mind that industrial conditions there have been greatly inflamed by the fact that last year 1,000 million dollars of profit were made from sugar and cotton while estate workers were getting a wage of £41 5s. a year, and that if these conditions were altered, we should not need more police to keep the peace?

I cannot, without notice, comment on the figures, but I would say that that would be an appropriate subject for the Commission of Inquiry.

May I also have a copy of that report?

Certainly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what literature of a subversive and inflammatory nature was removed from the home of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, when he was detained in March with other members of the Gold Coast Convention.

My right hon. Friend has no information on this point, but a Commission of Inquiry is now examining in detail the events of last month in the Gold Coast.

is the hon. Gentleman aware that the one document which was removed from this man's home was in fact a book entitled "Revolution in the Colonies" by Mr. A. Creech Jones?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that it is precisely the content of the last question which makes one feel that in some cases subversive literature is really critical literature, and will he give an assurance that literature which is critical of our Government, or indeed of the British people, will not be subject to requisition of this kind?

Certainly, this is outside the Question, but I am sure my right hon. Friend would want me to give that assurance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has considered the letters sent to him by the hon. Member for West Fife dealing with the allegations made by Mr. Eusebius Tunde George, of 71, Foresythe Street, Lagos, who states that he and five other stowaways on the ss. "Duke of Sparta," a British ship which left Apapa on 24th December, 1947, were thrown overboard when the ship was off the Gold Coast; that he and another had been picked up by fishermen, but there was no trace of the other four; that he has made statements to the police authorities at Axim, Takoradi and Accra; and what action it is proposed to take, in view of the widespread feeling on this issue among the people of Nigeria.

My right hon. Friend has received a report on the matter from the Acting Governor of Nigeria, which includes statements taken from persons concerned and a summary of the investigation made by the Gold Coast Police. There is no evidence to support the allegation that six stowaways were thrown overboard from the vessel or that any deaths -occurred.

The facts are that five African stowaways were discovered on the vessel before she sailed from Lagos on 25th December, 1947, and were handed over to the police. Two days out from Lagos, when the vessel was a few miles off the Gold Coast, two more stowaways were discovered, and the master summoned fishing canoes which were in the vicinity and had a rope placed over the side to assist the transfer of the two stowaways to the canoes. Evidence on the question whether they were in the water at any time during this transfer is conflicting. Some days later, after the vessel had left Las Palmas, five more stowaways were discovered, and these five were carried on to the United Kingdom, and were landed at Hull. As regards the last part of the Question, action has been taken in Nigeria to correct the misleading stories which have been published.

In view of the very serious character of this accusation, can the Minister say why, in view of the fact that this was widely published in the Nigerian Press of 13th February, no action of any kind has been taken by any of those affected in order to stop that publication or against those responsible for the publication?

I have already stated that we have taken steps to correct the misleading stories. As the hon. Member says, the accusations are serious—a good deal more serious than the facts.

But in view of the widespread circulation of the account described in the Question, and the quite unscrupulous use of it for various purposes in the Colonies, can my hon. Friend describe more exactly the steps taken to publicise the full account of the matter in Nigeria? Secondly, would he consider, as an act of elementary justice to Captain Kirkwood, whose good name is seriously impugned in this matter, making it plain that the captain's account of the circumstances is substantially borne out by all the evidence that has been examined carefully?

Will the hon. Gentleman also confirm what the hon. Member for Bilston (Mr. Nally) has just said by taking action against Mr. George for bringing forward inaccurate accusations?

I do not think that last point is a matter for the Government. On the first point, we repudiated a large number of false statements made against the captain, but I would not like without notice to add to my carefully balanced statement.

Is it not the case that the hon. Gentleman has a copy of the paper of 13th February that I sent him which stated definitely that the man went to the police on three occasions and reported the facts, and that no action of any kind was taken by any of those affected until now, late in the month of April, I have raised the matter? Can he tell us why no action of any kind was taken until the Question was put down?

Is my hon. Friend aware that I hold in my hand the "Nigerian Review" for 17th February whose main heading is "Fantastic story about stowaways is proved false"?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is still anxious to encourage the activities of the Sea Cadet Corps; and why no national appeal for welfare funds on their behalf has yet been made on the lines of the national appeal for the Army Cadet Corps.

Yes, Sir. As regards the second part of the Question, the welfare and social activities of the Sea Cadet Corps are the responsibility of the Navy League, which has an excellent organisation for dealing with them.

Is the Minister aware that in many towns units of the Sea Cadet Corps are labouring under heavy financial difficulties? Can he take steps to ensure that they are relieved of the burden so as to enable them to carry on this very necessary work?

My information is that they have sufficient funds. If my hon. Friend's information is to the contrary, perhaps he will send it to me.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that the Sea Cadets depend very much on the capitation grant from the Admiralty, and that the capitation grant is always a long way in arrears? Will he help by seeing that it is paid up to date and promptly?

Why is it that head-quarters take such a large proportion of the capitation grant, making a very unfair state of affairs in which the grant never reaches the cadets at all?

I do not think that is the case, but I will look into the matter to see whether it is possible to effect an improvement.

Why does the national appeal apply only to the Army Cadet Force, and not to the Navy?

Because, as I have stated, the Navy League are responsible for raising funds for this purpose, and therefore appeals are constantly made through the Navy League.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will now make a statement on the distribution of prize money derived from the proceeds of sale of captured enemy merchant ships and cargoes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is yet in a position to make a statement about prize money.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he has any statement to make about the payment of prize money.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will now make a statement on the distribution of naval prize money.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will now make a statement as to the issue of prize money.

In so far as the Royal Air Force is concerned, I am speaking on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air.

The question of prize money has involved protracted negotiations, not only with other Government Departments at home, but with other members of the Commonwealth. Satisfactory progress has been made in these negotiations and the work of investigating entitlement to naval prize money of officers and men of the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines is proceeding. This investigation will take some time, but it is preferable that it should be completed before applications for prize money are invited from officers and men of the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines. A Prize Bill will be introduced as soon as circumstances permit, and will contain proposals for declaring fixed sums which will be available for disposal as droits of the Crown to separate naval and Royal Air Force Prize Funds. It is estimated that these sums will be in the neighbourhood of £4 million for the Naval Prize Fund and £1¼ million for the Royal Air Force Prize Fund.

After the passage of the Bill it is intended to seek a Royal Proclamation making a grant of prize money for the benefit of individual members of the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines. It is not the intention to make an individual distribution to officers and men of the Royal Air Force, and the Royal Air Force share will be applied for the general benefit of serving and past members of the Royal Air Force. By the time the Prize Bill has been passed, examination of individual entitlement in the case of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines should be nearing completion and distribution will begin as soon as possible afterwards.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind the necessity of keeping the grants as between officers and men in a reasonable relation one to another?

While I cannot state definitely what those grants will be, it will be found that the proportion as between the highest and the lowest will be somewhat less than it was after the last war.

With reference to the droits of the Crown, will the hon. Gentleman tell the House what sum goes to the Exchequer from the droits of Admiralty?

Yes, Sir; £2,625,000.

Seeing that the Navy could not have won the war without the aid of the Merchant Navy, could not precedent be stretched on this occasion in order to include the Merchant Navy?

That is quite another question. In fact the distribution of prize money on this occasion is following precedents of previous wars, and a distribution was not made to the Merchant Navy on those occasions.

When is it likely that these investigations will be completed? As some considerable time has passed, will the award be made retrospectively?

I should like to have notice of the second Question. With regard to the first Question, I hope it may be possible for distribution to take place some time early next year, but I cannot make a definite promise as to that. I would remind the hon. and gallant Member that distribution after the last war, although begun in 1920, was not finished until 1923.

Can my hon. Friend say what is the position of any Army personnel who might have been serving on board ship, as many of them were at certain times during the war?

I am afraid they will not qualify.

Is it not a case that, so far as the lower deck are concerned, scales of pay for the Royal Navy were on an infinitely lower level than in the Merchant Navy?

Could my hon. Friend explain on what principle it has been decided that in the case of the Navy the prize money will eventually take the form of individual distribution to officers and men, while in the case of the R.A.F. the money is to go to some welfare fund? Why is there a difference in the way the money is disposed of?

I can only speak for the Royal Navy. We are distributing on the same system as before. The Royal Air Force have decided to distribute their money in a different manner, and any question in regard to that distribution should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air.

Will the hon. Gentleman take this matter up with the Secretary of State for Air? Why should the members of the Royal Air Force be treated any differently from the members of the Royal Navy? Is it not quite iniquitous?

The hon. and gallant Member should put a Question to the Secretar of State for Air if he desires information on the matter.

In view of the important statement my hon. Friend has made, are we to understand that the Government have deliberately decided to disperse £4 million in the case of the Navy while they are asking the ordinary worker to wait for his Post-War Credit?

Would it not be better and more desirable if my hon. Friend convinced the Admiralty that they should follow the example of the Royal Air Force in this matter of the distribution of these funds?

I do not want to get into any controversy with my right hon. Friend.