asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he is aware that the buildings at the civil airport terminus at Nutt's Corner in Northern Ireland are inadequate, unsuitable and unworthy of such a place; and when proper buildings will be provided.

Yes, Sir. Passengers will, however, be using a new adequate, suitable and workmanlike interim building from the end of this week.

Will the Northern Ireland Advisory Council have any responsibility for the upkeep of this terminus?

No, Sir, that is the responsibility of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he is being consulted on the detailed scheme and its application for the reorganisation of B.O.A.C. and B.E.A.C. now proceeding, in the preparation of which two members of his Department are being associated.

The Deputy Chairman of British Overseas Airways Corporation has been assigned by the Board executive responsibility for carrying out the recently announced plan of reorganisation of that Corporation. British European Airways have invited the assistance of a firm of consultant engineers in the overhaul of their organisation. In each case the official of the Ministry appointed by my noble Friend is in close touch with the work involved, and my noble Friend is being kept informed of progress.

Has my hon. Friend received any representations to the effect that recruitments are taking place almost as fast as reductions of staff? Can he assure me that any long-term service agreements obtained by any members of the staff will not be allowed to stand in the way of reorganisation, for instance, those which have been obtained by the General Manager for External Affairs and the Technical Developments Officer? In the latter case great concern has been expressed about the way in which the aircraft development programme, particularly of Tudors, has been handled.

I have no information about the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary. As regards the second, any group of employers must observe the legal implications of any contract; apart from that consideration, no obstacles stand in the way of reorganisation.

Does the association of the hon. Gentleman's Department in the reorganisation of the Corporations mean any change in the relationship between the Minister and the Corporations, because we have been told that the Minister would not interfere with the internal organisation of the Corporations, which were to be run as business concerns?

There is no alteration in the relationship, but the Minister and the Boards have their different functions and responsibilities. The closer the co-operation between the Minister and the Boards of the Corporations, the better the service is likely to be.

As public funds are involved in the deficit of the Corporations, and as the Ministry are represented on them, is it intended to make a report to Parliament, by means of a White Paper, in connection with any reorganisation which may be involved?

No, Sir, nothing other than the annual reports of the Corporations.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation how much has been spent on the development of airfields at Castel Benito and Malta respectively, since 1st January, 1946.

Both Castel Benito and Luqa (Malta) aerodromes are jointly used by military and civil aviation. The expenditure on combined military and civil account in developing runways and taxiways during the period from 1st January, 1946, to 31st July, 1948, was £4,100 at Castel Benito and £52,600 at Luqa.

Could the hon. Gentleman differentiate between that which was spent on behalf of B.O.A.C.?

I cannot give the actual division of costs between the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Air Ministry, but it will be shown in their respective Votes.

Would it not have been better if the £4,100 had been spent in a British colony, and not in a foreign country?

No, Sir, both aerodromes are jointly used by Royal Air Force and civil operators.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, what are the sizes of the runways at Castel Benito and Luqa, Malta, respectively.

As the reply contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the Minister tell the House which of the two runways is the longer?

The longest runway is at Castel Benito. The length of a runway is not the only factor governing its operational suitability. Bearing strength, over-shoots and the degree of slope are also factors to be taken into account.

In view of the unemployment at Malta, is it not possible for Luqa to be enlarged and made suitable to receive aircraft by day and night?

The Question asked was about the sizes of runways and not about unemployment in Malta.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation how many passengers for London have been carried by motor from Edinburgh to Renfrew by B.E.A.C. since the suspension of the direct Edinburgh—London air service on 1st November.

I am informed that 30 passengers for London were carried by motor car from Edinburgh to Renfrew by British European Airways Corporation during the period 1st to 9th November inclusive, and 36 in the reverse direction.

Does the Minister consider this arrangement is a satisfactory substitute in practice for the service between Edinburgh and London?

No, it is not a satisfactory substitute, but I must point out that the load factor is almost as high as it was on the direct service.

Does my hon. Friend intend to continue this for the whole of the time until the service is resumed?

Yes, Sir. So long as Edinburgh requires air communication with the South, using Renfrew in default of Turnhouse, then this service will remain available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he can give an assurance that the proposed alterations and additional navigational aids at Turnhouse Aerodrome will provide Edinburgh with an aerodrome capable of meeting estimated future requirements all the year round; and when it is expected they will be completed.

A programme of improvements specifically designed to make Turnhouse suitable for all-the-year-round Dakota services is being prepared by the Scottish Aerodromes Board. We shall aim to do whatever work is necessary before the end of summer. 1949.

Whilst thanking my hon. Friend for that answer, may I ask him if he will make sure that this promise is actually fulfilled, because we have had promises in the past?

Yes, Sir, if my hon. Friend can make sure that the service will be adequately used when it is provided.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he will cause an inquiry to be made into the circumstances which led to the recent cessation of British European Airways services.

No, Sir.

If our nationalised corporations are to be really efficient is it not essential that joint consultation machinery should work effectively and would not useful lessons for the future be learned if we examined why the machinery did not work in this recent incident? If the trade unions concerned ask for an inquiry will my hon. Friend encourage the holding of an inquiry?

As to the first part of the supplementary, in this instance at least I am satisfied that the management of the British European Airways Corporation used the machinery correctly, both in spirit and in the letter. As to the latter part of the supplementary, if the application comes from the trade unions as distinct from individual trade unionists then I think it would be considered; but individual trade unionists should make their application through the correct channels of the trade union machine.

Yes, but if my hon. Friend is now saying that the men were wrong, would not an inquiry show where they went wrong so that they would act differently in the future?

That may be, but surely such instruction is the function of the trade union organisation and not of my Ministry as a Ministry.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he will now make a statement about the procedure for investigating accidents to civil aircraft; and if he will reconsider the decision not to publish the report of the Newton Committee.

As the reply is rather long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will this report now be made available for interested Members?

Yes, Sir. The report is now available in the Vote Office and attached to it is a memorandum from my noble Friend setting out the new procedure for investigations and the reasons why some of the recommendations of the report are not accepted.

Has the hon. Gentleman received permission from the Belgian Government for the publication of the report on the Sabena accident at Heathrow in March, 1948.

That is an entirely different question. If the hon. Gentleman will put it down I will give him an answer.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he will now make a statement giving the estimated date of delivery of six Boeing Stratocruisers ordered for B.O.A.C.

I am informed that, according to the latest estimate, the first of the six aircraft on order should be delivered in July of next year, and that delivery should be completed by the end of October.

If, as it appears, these aircraft are late in delivery, is there a penalty clause which will be operated against the manufacturers for late delivery?

The penalty clause in the contract is such that certain contingencies are excluded from the responsibility of the manufacturer. Amongst these are strikes, type modifications and certain rulings by the C.A.A. Boeings had a strike which lasted from April to September, 1948, and delivery dates are correspondingly bad.

When does the hon. Gentleman expect the aircraft to be put into service.

I would require notice to give a factual reply to that supplementary question, but the date originally intended when the contract was placed in May, 1947, was six months from the date of delivery.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why, in view of the decision to stop extradition of alleged war criminals from the British zone of Germany as from 1st September, except in cases of murder, two Poles, named Lotz and Westphal, were transported from Fuhlsbüttel Gaol to Poland on 18th October, although the Extradition Court had not found a prima facie case of murder; why no action was taken in response to a telegram from the Bishop of Hamburg to his Department asking for a reprieve while further evidence was secured for the defence; and what steps he has taken to satisfy himself these men will receive a fair trial.

The Military Governor's decision was to restrict acceptance of applications submitted after 1st September to those which show a clear prima facie case of murder as defined in the German Penal Code. The application for the extradition of Lots and Wetphal was submitted before 1st September. On 15th October a telegram asking that their extradition should be deferred was received from Oberkirchenrat Herntrich of Hamburg and its contents immediately communicated by telephone to the Military Government authorities. Responsibility rests upon Poland to ensure a fair trial under a United Nations Resolution and His Majesty's Government cannot undertake to enforce this Resolution.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that these prisoners and others similarly situated have appealed to be tried by British courts? Will he stop this senseless hypocrisy of sending extradited people to countries where he knows they will not get a fair trial?

I should make it clear to the House that, as far as the trials of war criminals are concerned, we have no evidence to suggest that the Polish trials are unsatisfactory.

While that may very well be, does not my hon. Friend consider it about time that this thoroughly un-British practice ceased? Is he aware that nothing so calculatedly vile has ever been perpetrated on a conquered people since the days of the barbaric Assyrian kings?

My right hon. Friend has made it clear to the House that he wishes to wind up all this business as quickly as possible. We have, therefore, since 1st September, refused to accept new applications for extradition. There are, however, some cases which have still to be cleared up.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a few days after 18th October, when these two prisoners were extradited, the evidence required arrived from Brussels, and that if he had deferred trial, these men would not have been sent to their death in this way?

That is not so. The evidence was carefully considered. It was considered by our legal advisers to have no bearing on the matter.

Are steps being taken to ensure that this country does not become the asylum for every rogue in Europe?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Dominions were consulted before the decision to reject the proposal made by Dr. Evatt and Mr. Trygve Lie.

It is incorrect to state that His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom rejected the proposal made by the President of the Assembly and the Secretary-General. In their reply His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom renewed their statement that they are fully prepared to agree to a Four Power meeting to discuss Berlin and other outstanding German questions as soon as the present restrictions on communications, transport and trade between Berlin and the Western zones of Germany have been removed, but said that under existing circumstances they felt the most hopeful method of reaching a solution of this problem would be to leave it, as it stands at present, in the hands of the Security Council.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether in this action in regard to the proposal he had the support of the Australian Government?

We had no reactions to the information we sent to the Australian Government. At the same time, of course, we are in close contact with their delegation in Paris.

Is the hon. Gentleman able to say whether the Security Council is making any satisfactory progress towards a solution of the Berlin deadlock?

That is a different question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many women and how many children are employed in the sugar industry in Mauritius; what are their rates of pay; and whether he is satisfied with the existing position.

The reply is long and contains figures. I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether any action has yet been taken to implement the recommendations in the Report of the Mauritius Economic Mission regarding the setting up of day nurseries, the provision of meals for school children, and helping workers to get nourishing food in view of the enhanced cost of living?

That supplementary question relates to the subject of another Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which of the recommendations of the Mauritius Economic Commission have been accepted by the local Government and what action has, so far, been taken.

This is the Question to which my hon. Friend's supplementary question referred.

May I say, Mr. Speaker, that I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for his guidance, and in the circumstances I will not repeat my supplementary question for reply at this stage?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the result of his investigations into the circumstances in which a telegram was sent to his Department by Press Officer, Nigeria, containing a suggestion for the exclusive use of its contents by two specified newspapers.

Yes, Sir. I have identified the telegram in question. The suggestion in this telegram that it should be exclusive for two papers was due to a local misinterpretation of a remark by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State that its contents would be of particular interest to those papers. My hon. Friend had no intention of suggesting that circulation of the message should be limited in any way, and he had made arrangements before his tour began that all messages relating to it would be sent to Reuters Agency and to those Colonial specialist papers in London most closely concerned with West Africa. The telegram in question was sent to them at the time when copies were passed to "Reynolds News" and the "Daily Herald" and it was therefore available to the whole of the Press through Reuters and the linked agency of the Press Association.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that his officers in Colonial territories now understand that information services should be available to all newspapers and agencies, and that they are not to act as exclusive correspondents?

I answered that question a fortnight ago.

Have my right hon. Friend's investigations disclosed how it comes about that these private official communications come to have been accessible to hon. Members of this House?

I think the telegram was issued with these words on it. These words were struck out, but it was an unfortunate mistake in my own office.

Does the right hon. Gentleman regret that this matter should have been made public and an explanation been given of it?

Answer.

Will my right hon. Friend say how it is that hon. Gentlemen opposite came to see this telegram?

I have no information on that point.

M.I.5.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made with the scheme for the game-free zone along the Tanganyika- Northern Rhodesian border; how many head of wild game have been slaughtered since its inception; and will he give an estimate of the success of the scheme.

The game-free area was closed down in May, 1947. A large number of smaller game animals was shot but I am not in possession of detailed figures. I am advised that the fence, combined with controlled shooting of game and immunization of cattle was successful in preventing the spread of rinderpest southwards.

Will the Minister make other inquiries in regard to this costly experiment, where something like 200 miles of fencing were destroyed and the wild animals were just as numerous after as before the four years' shooting took place?

I have been in touch with the local Governments about it, and they declare that the experiment was successful.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the approximate percentage of illiteracy in Jamaica among adults; among young people between the ages of 14 and 21; among children under 14; and what percentage of the children now regularly attend school.

The approximate figures of illiteracy are—adults of 20 years and over, 27 per cent., persons 15 to 19 years, 16 per cent., children 7 to 14 years, 26 per cent. The percentage of regular attendance at public elementary schools of children of 7 to 14 years is 54.

Since this largely illiterate population has universal adult suffrage, will my right hon. Friend do all he can to encourage general education and education in citizenship such as that provided by institutions like the Institute and the new University?

Yes, the new University has now set up an extramural Department, and Mr. Springer is actively engaged in organising adult education work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the overcrowded and squalid conditions in which large numbers of people in Jamaica have to live, especially in Western Kingston, Port Royal and Spanish Town; if he can estimate approximately how many new houses will be needed to rehouse satisfactorily the bulk of these slum-dwellers, taking into account the rapid increase of population; how many new houses have been completed since 1944 by the Central Housing Authority; and how many are under construction.

Housing conditions in most of the principal towns of Jamaica are unsatisfactory. Approximately 8,000 new houses are required in West Kingston and Port Royal and 1,750 in Spanish Town to re-house the present population. Since 1944 the Central Housing Authority has completed 133 tenements, five barracks (for temporary housing) and 535 cottages. Thirty-five tenements and 121 cottages are under construction. The Authority has also completed 6,057 cottages under the hurricane rehabilitation scheme and has 741 under construction.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether there are any financial difficulties in the way of more extensive housing schemes?

Not at present. The local authorities are pressing on as hard as they can.

Would my right hon. Friend say why it is that the scheme is so totally inadequate having regard to the numbers that are needed?

That question should be addressed to the Government of Jamaica.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the large sums of money spent on the construction of luxurious tourist hotels in Jamaica and the greater desirability of modernising sugar-growing and other forms of agriculture, of developing more productive secondary industries, and so of providing steadier employment for larger numbers of people, he is satisfied that the Government of Jamaica have adequate powers of controlling capital investment and directing it to socially useful purposes.

Under Regulation 9 of the Jamaica Defence (Finance) Regulations, the Government have powers of controlling capital investment. No capital issues have been made for hotel construction.

While fully realising the importance of the dollars involved, may I ask my right hon. Friend to bear in mind that the luxury tourist industry makes no contribution at all to the social advancement of the people of the island, and is moreover an extremely unstable industry, dependent largely as it is on American booms and slumps?

Yes, I appreciate that. There is much work to be done, and the Governor himself is taking steps to see that capital investment is properly controlled.

But does the right hon. Gentleman really agree with the statement that the tourist traffic is of no economic importance to the West Indies?

He did not say that.

No, the tourist traffic has great economic importance in the case of Jamaica.

With respect, I did not say "economic"; I said "social"—it contributes nothing to the social advancement of the people.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement regarding the position in Cyprus.

I am hoping to discuss all aspects of the position in Cyprus with the Governor during his leave in this country, and when I have done so I will consider whether any general statement is required.

But surely the Governor has been in this country now for three or four weeks? Has not the Minister yet been in touch with him and been able to discuss the matter?

Yes, Sir, I have been in touch with him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what charge, and under what law, the mayor of Famagusta, Cyprus, was recently fined £100.

The mayor of Famagusta was charged under the Assemblies, Meetings and Processions Law, about which my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary gave information on 17th November in reply to the question by the hon. Member for Finsbury (Mr. Platts-Mills). The mayor had been granted a permit to address a meeting on the building workers' strike. He pleaded guilty in the court and was fined for deviating from the terms of the permit.

Does the Minister tell the House that a mayor was fined £100 for making a speech in his own town; and can he say what kind of law it is which exists in a Colony of the British Commonwealth which forbids a mayor to speak in his own town?

The mayor in question had already been charged and convicted nine times for similar offences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why 50 U.S. geologists are being permitted to visit the Colonies; what facilities are being granted to them; why this work cannot be undertaken by British geologists; and what security measures are being taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why he is asking 50 U.S. geologists to survey the coast-to-coast African railway; and why he is not inviting British geologists to do the work.

It is hoped to recruit some 25, not 50, United States geologists for attachment for three years to the Colonial Geological Service. The Service cannot obtain enough qualified British geologists, owing to the break in training during the war. It is also hoped to recruit for attachment for three years to the Directorate of Colonial Surveys 24 to 30 geodetic engineers for work in East and Central Africa, including areas where railway development is planned. The geologists and geodetic engineers will carry out the same duties and enjoy the same facilities as British members of the two Services.

May I ask, first, whether in making efforts to recruit British geologists and scientists the salaries were a sufficient incentive to induce them to do the job as were, presumably, the salaries for the Americans; and, secondly, whether a reply can be given to the last part of the Question regarding security measures against these foreigners?

There is no difference in the treatment of the American geologists and our own.

May I have a reply to the second part of my supplementary question?

Can the Minister say whether these United States geologists will be paid in sterling, in dollars or in convertible sterling?

They will be paid in sterling.

Do I understand my right hon. Friend to say that the American geologists will be paid exactly the same rates of pay as the British?

Yes, Sir.

With regard to the final part of the Question about security measures, are these, possibly, the same security measures as those applied to our diplomatic representatives in Moscow?

Can the Minister tell us how long this collaboration has been going on between the questioners who have asked Questions No. 41 and No. 72, and is it symptomatic of the future?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many square miles of the Colonial Empire have been air-surveyed since January, 1946, by private companies; and whether he will publish details.

The air surveys by private companies have been carried out under arrangements made direct by the companies with the Colonial Governments concerned or with private firms in the Colonies, and I regret that the information asked for by the hon. and gallant Member is not available.

Does the right hon. Gentleman know how these figures, whatever they may be, compare with those for similar work carried out by the Royal Air Force?

Yes, sir. The private companies would not have the resources to do the large-scale work which these surveys require.

Can the Secretary of State say why none of the British survey companies has been asked to take part in the survey of Africa, for which Americans are being employed?

They have been doing quite a number of local schemes. It would be quite impossible for the private companies to cope with the new schemes, however, because of their size.

asked the Minister of Defence what has been the average cost to those Service men who have obtained their discharge by purchase, since the reintroduction of this practice after the war, excluding all discharges that have been given free.