asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many broadcasting stations now operate in the Gold Coast and Nigeria, respectively; and what languages are broadcast.

In the Gold Coast there are one wireless and 16 wire re-diffusion stations. The languages used are English, Ewe, Ga, Fanti, Twi and Hausa. In Nigeria there is no wireless broadcasting station. There are eight wire rediffusion stations. The languages used are English, Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo and Efik.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many West Africans now hold a Governor's Commission or His Majesty's Commission in the Gold Coast and Nigerian Regiments; and what is the policy of His Majesty's Government in this respect.

No West Africans now hold Governor's Commissions in the Gold Coast and Nigeria. One West African in Nigeria and three in the Gold Coast hold Emergency Commissions, which are King's Commissions. No King's Commissions, other than Emergency Commissions, have yet been granted in Nigeria or the Gold Coast. With His Majesty's approval, it has been decided that permanent or short service King's Commissions shall be granted to West Africans in the West African Land Forces with the same powers in those Forces as for European Officers. The standards required will also be the same as for Europeans.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many private wireless sets are in operation in the Gold Coast, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, respectively; what is the system of granting licences in each of these Colonies; and what charge is made.

There are 1,630 private wireless receiving sets licensed to operate in the Gold Coast, 1,745 in Nigeria and 717 in Sierra Leone. The licences cost 10s. in each Colony and the system of granting them is similar to that in use in the United Kingdom. These figures do not include subscribers to wire rediffusion systems of whom there are approximately 7,000 in the Gold Coast, 7,850 in Nigeria and 1,050 in Sierra Leone. These subscribers do not require to take out wireless receiving licences in addition to their rediffusion subscriptions of approximately £3 a year.

asked the Minister of Works of the total buildings held under requisition by his Department, how many are in Lancashire; what is the total area involved; and what percentage it bears to the whole country.

The number of buildings or parts of buildings held under requisition on 30th September, 1948, by my Department in Lancashire is 365, with a total area of approximately 4½ million square feet. This was approximately 17 per cent. of the area for the country as a whole.

asked the Minister of Works what was the total payment made by his Department within the last 12 months in respect of buildings held under requisition.

The expenditure on compensation in respect of requisitioned land, buildings and chattels during the twelve months ended 30th September. 1948, was approximately £5,500,000.

asked the Minister of Works how many buildings are still held under requisition by his Department; what is the total area involved; of such buildings how many were residential; and what is the total area thereof.

My Department held on requisition on 30th September, 1948, 6,226 buildings or parts of buildings comprising a total area of approximately 27½ million square feet. 2,822 of these, with an area of approximately 9¼ million square feet, were residential. The figures include 1,222 houses with more than 12 rooms, and each flat held on requisition has been counted as a unit.

asked the Minister of Fuel acid Power whether he will make a statement on the circular issued by the London and South-Eastern Regional Board for Industry relative to reductions in consumption of electricity in the City of London by 50 per cent. at peak hours during November and throughout the whole day during the months of December, January and February; and whether he is aware that recipients are asked to sign a form of acknowledgment and compliance; that the terms of the circular are not clear and that full compliance would result in great difficulty for all industry.

The Circular to which the hon. Member refers is apparently that issued by the City of London Working Committee for Load Spreading to commercial consumers, and therefore the question of compliance by "all industry" does not arise. Attached to it was a printed form of acknowledgment which included the sentence "arrangements will be made to comply with these requirements." It is presumed that those commercial consumers who were unable to make such arrangements struck out this sentence. The Circular did not ask for consumption to be reduced by 50 per cent. but for load not to exceed 50 per cent. of installed capacity, which was estimated would produce the 20 per cent. reduction required. I am advised that in general commercial firms understand the position and are co-operating effectively.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the concern arising from the suggestion that electricity supplies may be cut off without warning in any district; and whether his Department has any overall scheme for the conservation of electricity in the winter months and if he will outline it.

Yes, but general warnings are usually given by announcements by the B.B.C., and in the Press. When it becomes known that a cut cannot be avoided there is not enough time to warn every consumer, but arrangements exist by which as many large consumers as possible receive warnings. In addition, there are in most areas rota systems which enable the consumer to know on which day of the week his supply is likely to be cut. So far as the latter part of the Question is concerned, I would refer to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour on 8th July, 1948, and the statement which I made on 30th July, 1948.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will give an estimate of the number of deserters who are still at large.

The position remains broadly as set out in my reply on 22nd September to my hon. Friend the Member for Spen Valley (Mr. Sharp). I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.