asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation when a daily scheduled air service between the Leeds-Bradford airport and London is likely to commence.

I am informed by British European Airways Corporation that their programme for the coming year does not include a service between Yeadon and London and I cannot give any indication when it will be introduced.

Does not the Minister realise that there is a very large centre of industrial population in the West Riding of Yorkshire which is not at present catered for by any air line, and will he bear in mind that there are more people within 50 miles of this airport than within 50 miles of the London Airport?

The distance between Leeds and Bradford and London is comparatively short. The surface communications are good and such an air service would not be an economical proposition.

Will the Minister be willing, under arrangements recently made, to allow a private company to operate such a service if it should so wish?

On 26th January, in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Eccles (Mr. Proctor), I said that the Air Transport Advisory Council are willing to receive and consider such applications. If such an application is made, it will be considered.

Is the Minister aware that there is a civil private line which wishes to run a scheduled service, and will he use his influence with B.E.A.C. to consider such an application?

There is an advisory council set up to consider such applications, and I think that the hon. and gallant Gentleman will agree that it would be unwise and improper for me to use my influence one way or another.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what plans he has for the resumption of air services between London and the North of England.

British European Airways Corporation do not propose to provide services between London and the North of England during the coming year; nor can I say when they will be in a position to do so.

Has the hon. Gentleman forgotten that before his Department laid a dead hand on these airlines there was a service between London and the North of England, and will he look into this matter again and restore this service?

To describe these haphazard operations which existed between London and the North of England as a service is being very kind to them. If any private company wishes to make application for such a service now, the avenue is open for them to do so.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what services, other than the London—Edinburgh service, it is proposed to run from Edinburgh.

None, Sir, but the London—Edinburgh service will be routed through to Glasgow, and seats will be available between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Will my hon. Friend ask the B.E.A.C. to reconsider the question of the resumption of the Edinburgh—Aberdeen—Orkney service?

So far as Edinburgh and Aberdeen are concerned, these districts have had their opportunity of showing enthusiasm and effective demand for the service but the traffic offering was very slight indeed and did not justify the resumption of the service. The traffic flow is from Aberdeen to the Shetlands and from the Shetlands to Aberdeen, and that service is provided.

In view of the answers to the last three Questions, can the hon. Gentleman say where the services are to be run?

In the view of quite a number of people, Scotland gets far more than its share of such services.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation when he expects the Report of the Working Committee set up to give further consideration to the part of the report of the Whitney Straight Committee detailing the financial difficulties facing flying clubs at the present moment.

My noble Friend has just received the recommendations of this Working Party and is giving them his consideration.

Can my hon. Friend tell me when they will be available to the House and to the clubs, and is he aware that the financial difficulties are so great that in order to meet them the fees to would-be flyers will have to be raised to such heights that it will be impossible for many people who wish to learn to fly to do so?

I am afraid that they have reached that stage at the present time. So far as the report is concerned, it will not be made public because it is Departmental advice to my noble Friend and the Service Ministers. My noble Friend's decision made in conjunction with the Treasury will, of course, be made public.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary bear in mind that the present position of these clubs is very serious and that many will have to close down altogether unless immediate action is taken by his Department?

Yes, Sir, and that view has been expressed by my Department; but my Department is only one of a number concerned. The Government, in making a decision, have to consider all the opinions involved.

Will my hon. Friend suggest to the Treasury that some assistance could be given within the next two months by remission of tax payable on petrol used by these flying clubs?

Does not the Parliamentary Secretary realise that this matter has been under consideration for nearly two years; and will he really press his noble Friend to make up his mind by the time the Service Estimates are introduced, because the clubs are about to "go bust"?

Yes, Sir.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the high costs of running are largely due to the fact that the cheaper type of plane made after the 1914—18 war has gone out of production, and no steps have been taken to see that that type of plane is made available for these flying clubs?

We are interested from the point of view of the flying clubs because of the effect on the light aeroplane industry. This is one of the problems that we are considering in conjunction with the Ministry of Supply.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he is aware of the numerous complaints of British South American Airways services, as regards delays en route to remedy technical troubles rendering flying unsafe; and whether early steps will be taken to effect improvement in these respects.

No such complaints have been reported to my noble Friend, either from the Air Transport Advisory Council or otherwise, but I understand that some complaints of this nature have been made to the Corporation and, in all cases, have been carefully investigated.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that delays of up to as much as 48 hours have recently been caused by these technical defects; and will he look into it to see that the bad name which is being given to these services is removed as soon as possible?

Yes, Sir. There have been delays, which are known to us, but they are not delays arising from faults in operation or maintenance. They have arisen from the equipment. For example, recently there was considerable difficulty from magnetos. There is full co-operation between the operators, the engine manufacturers and the sub-contractors to deal with the problems arising in the engines.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the cost per head of the Control Commission in Germany for the running of its car services.

During the second half of 1948 the cost of running car services for members of the Control Commission was just under £30 per head.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied—it is not possible to ascertain from his answer—that this is a satisfactory figure, of which we need not be ashamed in any way? There are very strong rumours from those who have been in Germany recently that a great many people, including Britishers, are thoroughly dissatisfied with the extravagant cost of these services, which contrasts very strongly with that for the Armed Forces.

I am constantly keeping a watch on this. In fact, this evening I shall have a talk with General Robertson, who is over here. All these kinds of costs mount up, and one has to be on top of it the whole time.

Does it amount to a cost of approximately £1 million per annum?

Seven hundred and seventy-seven thousand pounds for six months.

Is it true that the staff of the Control Commission still exceeds 15,000?

No, it is just under. In just over a year and a half we have brought it down from—speaking from memory—approximately 26,000 to about 14,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the total cost of running the clubs and hotels in the British zone of Germany which are used exclusively by British personnel.

The clubs and hotels used by the British staff of the Control Commission for Germany are not exclusively for British personnel but are used also by Allied personnel and sponsored visitors, as well as by Germans in some cases; they involve no net cost to public funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the request to send British troops to Aqaba was made by the Emir Abdulla of Transjordan.

On 2nd January. Sir.

Could my right hon. Friend say in what form the request was conveyed to him, and by whom?

That is not in the Question.

Would my right non. Friend answer it. Surely he knows the answer to it and will he give it. because it is rather important?

The right hon. Gentleman was asked for a date and nothing else.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what sums have been expended in the form of loans and subsidies from the British Treasury to the State of Transjordan during each year since 1944.

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

Is it not the fact that this State is now completely bankrupt; and instead of giving subsidies to maintain its present rulers in power would it not be wiser to give loans in order to improve the conditions of its people?

I do not think that arises out of the Question. The hon. Member has asked me for figures, and they will be in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

As £2½ million was put aside in subsidies in the last financial year, and as at the end of

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the British Embassy at Athens officially and publicly commended the formation of the new Greek Royalist Government; and whether he will give instructions for such interference in the internal affairs of another country to cease forthwith.

I take it that the hon. Member refers to a statement issued by His Majesty's Embassy in Athens wishing the new Greek Government success in its heavy tasks. I do not accept the implication that this constitutes interference in the internal affairs of a foreign country.

As this is the 16th Government that has been set up under British-American auspices, each one of which in turn the Foreign Secretary has been able to approve of, and as each one has been set up simply to prevent the Greek people being represented in the Government, will the right hon. Gentleman stop this squalid interference?

It is much better to let a democracy develop its Government by trial and error. That is a much better system than another country going in and putting somebody into office irrespective of the wishes of the people.

That is another question, and I should like notice of it.

Is not the worst intervention in Greek affairs taking place from Albania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia?

That was the decision of the United Nations.

Is there not as much error as there is trial in the present Greek democracy?

Why should the Greek people suffer from the Foreign's Secretary's errors?

I do not think they have done. The Greek people have suffered from the friends of the hon. Member.

If the right hon. Gentleman is contemplating issuing instructions on the lines suggested in the second part of the Question, would he consider including the hon. Member for Finsbury (Mr. Platts-Mills) in the distribution of those instructions?

Does my right hon. Friend recall that when the Greek Communist guerrillas tried abortively to set up a government in the mountains two years ago there was a good deal of commendation of that, official and otherwise, from another quarter; and would he suggest to the hon. Member for Finsbury (Mr. Platts-Mills) that he should make representations in the proper direction about that intervention?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations have been made to His Majesty's Government by any of the Arab States following the release of the Jewish detainees in Cyprus.

Expressions of regret at His Majesty's Government's decision have been received from Arab Governments. It would not be in accordance with normal procedure to publish details of such confidential communications.

Would my right hon. Friend say on what other ground these refugees were detained in Cyprus so long after the termination of the Mandate; and what were the changed circumstances which led to their sudden release?

That is another question. That is not the point put to me in this Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the estimated total cost of the Jewish Detainee Camps in Cyprus; and the cost during each year of their existence.

My reply contains many figures, and I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Would my right hon. Friend answer the last part of my Question?

I think the total figure is £5,185,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the number of German refugees in South Schleswig is almost as great as that of the native population, he will now implement the assurance given by the British representatives at the conference held with the Danish delegation between 18th and 23rd October, that he would pursue active investigations into the possibility of securing the equitable distribution of refugees in Germany.

That assurance is already being implemented. The Military Governors of the three Western zones recently agreed to set up a tripartite committee to study the redistribution of refugees throughout Western Germany. They held their first meeting on 17th January.

Has it been pointed out to them that in certain portions of the American zone the number of refugees is only 15 to 16 per cent., and that in certain portions of the French zone it is only 3 to 7 per cent.; and why should Schleswig-Holstein have to undertake a burden of 90 per cent. of refugees who have swamped the native Danish population?

There is much less damage there than there is in other parts. I think that this committee is at work trying to redistribute the refugees.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what decision he has now come to with regard to the administrative separation of South Schleswig from Holstein, in order that better consideration may be given of the needs of the native Danish population of South Schleswig, as distinct from the German inhabitants of Holstein.

The question of administrative separation has been raised on a number of occasions in the past three years. It has already been made clear to the Danish authorities and to others interested that, in the view of His Majesty's Government, this expedient is neither advisable nor practicable in present circumstances. There is no Danish population of South Schleswig, and I have no reason to believe that administrative separation is essential to safeguard the rights of the Danish-minded German population.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Royal Danish Government and the four Danish parties are unanimous in condemning this system, and that the whole German administration in Kiel is out of sympathy with these Danish people in Schleswig? Schleswig can no more be administered from Kiel than Ulster can from Dublin.

I am really averse from creating any more partitions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what requests have been received from the Netherlands authorities for the use by the Royal Dutch Airlines of the island of Mauritius as a base while the normal route across India is denied them by the Indian and Pakistani Governments; and what reply has been made.

The Netherlands Government requested permission from His Majesty's Government for the use of Mauritius by Royal Dutch Air Lines for their air service to Batavia. In accordance with their obligations under the Chicago agreements relating to Civil Aviation of 1944, to which the United Kingdom and the Netherlands are both parties, His Majesty's Government have felt bound to accede to this request. The Netherlands Government have given His Majesty's Government an undertaking that no military personnel, arms, ammunition or warlike stores will be carried by aircraft using this route.

Does not the Foreign Secretary think it would be safer if we entirely forbade the use of this island to the Dutch, bearing in mind that our two sister members of the Commonwealth have done so, and that the British people do not like what the Dutch are doing in Indonesia?

International agreements are international agreements, and under the Chicago agreements His Majesty's Government could not ban the Dutch from using this route unless they also banned themselves and the French. Those are the conditions laid down in the Convention. No sanctions have been applied on this matter, and we are averse from applying unilateral sanctions.

Would not it be a friendly act to assist the Dutch Government in crushing the thugs, gangsters and Communists in Indonesia?

In taking this action, did my right hon. Friend have due regard to the necessity not to offend the Moslem Powèr of Pakistan, which he took into consideration so much in another connection?

We informed them on this matter just as we informed them on other matters about which they felt deeply.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now make a statement on the recognition of the State of Israel.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement issued by His Majesty's Government on 29th January, copies of which I am having placed in the Library of the House.

Whilst appreciating the statement of my right hon. Friend may I ask what further practical steps have been taken to establish good relations between Israel and Britain?

That is not in the Question.

Could the right hon. Gentleman tell us if a British representative has been appointed, and if so, what is his name?

I would ask the right hon. Gentleman to wait for a day or two.

In view of the esteem in which the Foreign Secretary is held in Tel Aviv could he not be persuaded to go there himself?

I might be successful.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the declaration by the United Kingdom, Argentina and Chile that they foresee no need to send warships south of latitude 60 degrees during the current Antarctic Summer except for customary routine movements implies any abandonment of British sovereignty or of Argentinian or Chilean claims in that region; and whether Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have concurred in the declaration.

No, Sir. British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands Dependencies remains unaffected by the recent exchange of statements with Argentina and Chile. I have no information regarding any abandonment by the Argentine or Chilean Governments of their territorial claims in that region. In accordance with the customary practice of His Majesty's Government in such matters the Commonwealth Governments concerned, including the Governments of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, were informed in advance of the terms of the proposed exchange of statements.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action he has taken in protesting against the arrest of Cardinal Mindszenty, Primate of Hungary.

His Majesty's Government have already expressed the disapproval which they, in common with the overwhelming majority of the British people, feel at the arrest of Cardinal Mindszenty. After most careful consideration, however, we have come to the conclusion that no useful purpose would be served by making a formal protest to the Hungarian Government at this stage.

Surely the right hon. Gentleman does not intend to let this matter go on without putting a real protest, and will he urge his colleagues to reconsider the question and show what the British people really think about it?

On a point of Order. In view of the fact, of which the Foreign Secretary is well aware, that this trial will actually begin tomorrow, is it in order to discuss this matter in this House?

I see nothing out of Order in this Question.

In view of your Ruling, Mr. Speaker, in regard to trials in other countries, and in view of the fact that there is no evidence so far that this particular case falls within the Human Rights Clause of the Peace Treaty with Hungary, is it in Order to debate and discuss this Question?

We are not debating. We are merely asking questions.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the depth of feeling in the country on this matter, and will he reconsider the decision which he has announced and make the point of view of this country more deeply felt on this occasion? Will the right hon. Gentleman give the House an assurance that he is taking the fullest steps to be informed of the proceedings as they take place?

The answer to the latter part of the question is "Yes." With regard to the first part, I am not too clear as to the charges against the Cardinal. There is a suggestion of currency charges as well as of others, and I do not know whether they come exclusively within the Treaty or not. We came to the conclusion that we should not do the Cardinal any good at this stage by formally protesting.

Whilst having regard to the necessity of a fair trial for this gentleman, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the rights of Roman Catholic subjects in Northern Ireland in the forthcoming Election?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that irrespective of religion or politics, there is in this country a most intense feeling on this subject of the arrest of the Cardinal, and that he would have the backing of the whole population and hon. Members of this House, except the Communists and their fellow travellers, in making the strongest possible representations to prevent the murder of an innocent man?

In view of the deliberate provocation by the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. W. J. Brown) against this friendly country, would the Foreign Secretary bear in mind that the brother prelates of the Cardinal, namely, the Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church in Hungary, have been reported as declaring that, for their part, they entirely reserve their judgment until they hear the evidence, and the leaders of the non-Roman Catholic Churches in Hungary have condemned the Cardinal?

I am extremely sorry but I have not had this information.

While entirely accepting the Foreign Secretary's answer, may I ask him if he is aware of the fact that two prominent Ministers of the Crown last night attended a reception at the Hungarian Legation, no doubt with the best motives, and will he see that at a time like this his colleagues do not accept any such invitations?

I can assure my hon. Friend that when he becomes Foreign Secretary he will have some very difficult decisions to take.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is the view of His Majesty's Government that all European countries should be invited to participate in the Council of Europe; and whether he will make a statement.

While the decisions taken by the Consultative Council are being further considered by the Permanent Commission, it would not be appropriate for me to add anything to the communiqué issued at the conclusion of the Council's recent meeting.

Whilst appreciating what the Foreign Secretary says, may I ask him if he will bear in mind that there are still very great psychological and moral values in initiative of this kind even though it is not accepted, and also that the Council is to be called the Council of Europe and not of Western Europe.

We had all that in mind, but we must let the Permanent Commission work out the details and wait until the scheme is adopted or otherwise.

Will my right hon. Friend keep an open mind on the question?

A friend of mine once described an open mind as being an open sewer.

Without wishing to enter into the latter part of the right hon. Gentleman's observation, I should like to ask him how long this consideration is likely to take?

We are hoping to get the whole thing cleared up as early as possible and certainly not later than the next meeting of the Consultative Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, arising from the Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the disturbances at Aden in December, 1947, what disciplinary action he has taken against any of the senior officials whose responsibility it was to maintain law and order which the report shows they were ineffective in carrying out.

For reasons which will be clear from the full statement that I made on 21st September last, in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Attercliffe (Mr. J. Hynd), I do not consider that any disciplinary action is required in consequence of the report of this Commission of Inquiry.

In view of the fact that, among other things, Sir Harry Trusted says in his report, in paragraph 209:

"I do not think it can be suggested that these persons who were killed were doing anything unlawful,"

All that has been looked into. I explained the reasons in my reply on 21st September, and I have nothing to add to them.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that people are still living there in terror and have to be barricaded in at night? Will he see to it that the officials provide proper protection for them?

Protection is provided for them; but the question my hon. Friend asks me is quite different from the one on the Order Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will take steps to ensure the repeal of the Maltese Press Ordinance, and to assure full freedom of expression and opinion to the Press of Malta.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now make a statement on the reason for the Maltese Press Ordinance, by virtue of which the British-born editor of a Maltese newspaper has been convicted and sentenced for insulting His Excellency the Governor of Malta; and whether he is satisfied that this restriction on the freedom of the Press is necessary.

Under the present Constitution, the Press Ordinance, which was enacted in 1933, falls within the competence of Maltese Ministers, and it is therefore not a matter on which I could properly intervene. In the circumstances, the hon. and gallant Member for Withington (Squadron-Leader Fleming) will not expect me to comment on the second part of this Question. As regards the case of Mr. Scorey I would refer him to my reply today to the hon. Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg).

While I fully understand that this is a matter entirely for the competence of the self-governing colony of Malta, will not the Secretary of State at any rate send a representation to the Prime Minister of Malta that we do not think that this is the proper time to issue a Press ordinance in a free country?

I am certain that the Prime Minister will have some regard to the observations that are made in this House regarding this ordinance.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see to it that whatever influence he has with the government of Malta is used to the utmost to see that this ordinance is withdrawn?

The Maltese Prime Minister has already said that he has set up a commission to study the Press laws.

Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not the custom for the Governor of a colony who wishes to take action under an ordinance such as this to consult the Secretary of State for the Colonies as to the advisability of doing so, and whether that happened in this case?

The answer to the last part of the question is "No."

Does not the occurrence of this kind of thing within the Commonwealth make it rather more difficult for us to take up a high didactic line towards those parts of the world whose standards of civil liberty do not conform with our own?

Is it not the case that this action was taken by the Prime Minister of Malta and not by the Governor of Malta?

Will the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that no Press censorship is exercised in Malta, and that the newspapers would be perfectly free to publish a photograph of children born in this country in 1936 above the caption "Bonny Socialist Babies"?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the fining and imprisonment of Mr. J. J. Scorey, editor of an English newspaper in Malta, and the suspension of his newspaper for two months; and if he will cause to be reprinted in HANSARD the sentences whose publication led to the infliction of these penalties.

Mr. Scorey has asked for, and been granted, stay of execution on grounds that he is applying for special leave to appeal to the Privy Council. In the circumstances, any statement at this juncture would be inappropriate.

Could my right hon. Friend answer the second part of my Question, as it cannot possibly be sub judice.

It is whether I will cause to be reprinted in HANSARD the sentences whose publication led to the infliction of these penalties. I am quite prepared to do that, but I warn the House that it would give a most unfair and unreasonable presentation of the facts in this case.

Why?

Is it not a fact that the matter referred to deals with the question of the Governor losing his temper at a meeting where he is alleged to have thumped the table and said, "We are the masters now"?

I would point out that it is exceedingly unfair, if this matter is going to the Privy Council, as probably it will, for me to make any comment upon the proceedings complained of?

Whatever the feelings of hon. Members may be on this case, must we not always keep in mind the fact that this House has recently given Malta self-government, which entails that we should leave responsibility for matters of this kind to their elected representatives?

If I understand it aright, this case is going to the Privy Council and therefore it is sub judice. We ought not therefore to ask any further questions.

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. With all respect, the second part of my Question cannot possibly involve anything which is sub judice: it merely concerns making available to hon. Members material on which they can form their own opinion about the matter. That was all I was pressing my right hon. Friend to do.

On that point of Order. It is precisely because hon. Members cannot form a judgment that I thought it wise not to comment. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] If these extracts are printed, hon. Members will not be in a position to form a judgment on the case.

Further to that point of Order. Is it not a fact that the House is entitled to have information upon which hon. Members can form a judgment? The Colonial Secretary has just suggested that the House is not capable of forming a judgment. Is it not possible to have this information presented to the House?

I do not think that is so. This is not a point of Order at all. I said that if this is going to the Privy Council it must be sub judice, and we ought to be very careful what we say about the matter.

With all respect—

I am not going to pursue this matter any further.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in repatriating the 800 Chinese during 1948 from Malaya to China, the repatriates were consulted about the political part of China to which they preferred to return; and whether these wishes were taken into consideration on their repatriation.

Chinese repatriates are consulted about the port to which they wish to be sent, and their wishes are taken into consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information about the burning of Lintang, Malaya, by His Majesty's Forces; how many homes were burnt; how many people were rendered homeless; what accommodation was provided for them; and why this measure was carried out.

The bandits in this area, with the connivance and assistance of squatters from Lintang and other villages, had been responsible for the murder of three British planters, the killing and wounding of nineteen Ghurkas and other outrages. In the course of operations by the police and military against this place beginning on 20th October, over 400 squatters were removed to more settled areas together with their livestock, property and huts. The only huts destroyed were those of people known to have assisted the bandits or those which could not be removed and, if left intact, would have been used subsequently by the bandits. No one was transferred from the area who could show legal title to his land.

Is the Minister trying to convince the House that if there was evidence that the people in these houses had helped the bandits, the only penalty would have been the burning of their homes? Would they not have been actually charged? Can the Minister also explain why he did not answer the Question put down two weeks ago by my hon. Friend the Member for West Fife (Mr. Gallacher) relating to a specific date? What is the Minister hiding?

I have nothing to hide, and I am not aware of the Question having been put down before. In any case I would inform the hon. Member that not only has the Chinese Consul expressed appreciation of the way in which this operation was carried through, but a number of squatters requested that they should be moved to the new place for resettlement.

May I ask the Minister if he will refer to column 61 of the OFFICIAL REPORT of 20th January wherein he will find the answer of which he says he has no recollection?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the lime tree disease called die-back is threatening the lime industry in the Gold Coast.

Sample surveys conducted at six-monthly intervals over the last four years have shown a mortality rate from die-back of about 10 per cent. of the surviving trees every six months. Research on the disease, which is being vigorously conducted by the Gold Coast Department of Agriculture, indicates that sufficient resistance to ensure an economic crop may possibly be obtained by growing limes budded on rough lemon stock; rehabilitation measures have begun on this basis.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether the remedy is not to cut out the trees as in the case of the coconut disease? If so, may I ask whether the trees are being cut out to save the industry?

These steps are being taken. The Agriculture Department has the matter under its most vigorous attention and a plant pathologist is actually at work on the research necessary for saving these crops.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what opportunities exist for transfer to the Colonial Administrative Service of suitable personnel from the technical and other branches of the Colonial Service; and how many such transfers took place in 1946–47 and 1947–48, respectively.

Any member of the Colonial Service may apply for a transfer to the Colonial Administrative Service and his application would be given careful consideration, in the first place by the Governor in the territory in which he is serving, and secondly by myself. The aim is, of course, to use the qualifications and experience of each officer to the best advantage of the public service. The answer to the second part of the Question is: "Four in each year." A further four transfers were approved during the latter part of 1948.

In view of the very small numbers involved, is my right hon. Friend satisfied that the avenue of promotion is sufficiently wide?

I should have thought so. Promotion in the technical grades has been speeded up in recent times largely by the withdrawal of men in the older ages and largely because of war circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is, taking to bring to the notice of pupils in State-aided secondary schools the opportunities existing for employment in all branches of the Colonial Service.

As the minimum age for sending candidates overseas is 20, actual recruitment literature is circulated mainly to training institutions for students above school age. As indicated, however, in my right hon. Friend's reply to the Question by the hon. Member for Moseley (Sir P. Hannon) on 8th December general information about the Colonies is circulated to all schools and this includes material calculated to awaken interest in the Colonial Service as a future career.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many European officers of technical branches of the Colonial Civil Service resigned their appointments and returned to this country after fewer than six years' service, between 1st January, 1946, and 31st December, 1948.

I regret that the information is not immediately available. If my hon. Friend could specify the technical branches and the Colonies in which he is most interested I would ask Colonial Governments if they could supply the figures without disproportionate labour.

Will the Secretary of State make inquiries with particular reference to the Public Works Department and the Railway Department in West Africa?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent during the past three years, there has been interchange of European personnel as between the administrative and technical branches of the Civil Service in the Colonies.

Only four cases of transfer from technical branches to the administrative service have been recorded during the past three years, and no transfers from the administrative staff to technical branches. Little interchange is practicable since administrative staffs seldom have technical qualifications, and the special qualifications of technical staff are usually best employed in their own branches. They have, of course, opportunities of promotion to posts of an administrative nature mainly within their own departments.

Is it not within the recollection of the Secretary of State that there have been outstanding examples of technical developments due to the work of administrative officers, and will he create a precedent where such officers have proved that they would be better employed in a higher capacity in the specialist work they have developed, thus obtaining the interchange which is desirable?

That has always been done. There are a number of technical departments to which we have promoted some administrative people, and even in the case of appointment of Governor we have had technical qualifications in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that a number of officers serving in the Jamaica Battalion are debarred from applying for regular commissions because they are not of European descent; and if he will take steps to remove this discrimination.

Since the Jamaica Battalion is not a regiment of the Regular Army its officers, whether of European descent or otherwise, except for those seconded from Regular units, hold either Governor's Commissions or War Emergency King's Commissions.

Could my right hon. Friend explain what that answer means?

If my hon. Friend will see me afterwards I shall be very glad to do so.

Is not the effect of the right hon. Gentleman's answer to make plain that, in the case of the Jamaica Regiment, there is no discrimination in this matter between Europeans and those of African descent?

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman opposite for answering on behalf of my right hon. Friend, may I ask whether my right hon. Friend is aware that there is discrimination in fact, and that I shall refer to this matter in a speech on the Adjournment on Friday?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements exist for dealing with abnormally large numbers of Chinese wishing to enter Hong Kong; and whether he is satisfied that the defences of the Colony are adequate for any probable contingency.

It would not be in the public interest to detail the arrangements, which have been worked out by the Colonial Government in concert with the Service authorities concerned, to meet the eventuality to which the hon. Member refers. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which is being given today to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. T. Reid).

With regard to the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's answer, can he say whether the arrangements which have been worked out, about which he will not tell us, include a definite limitation on the number of people who will be allowed into Hong Kong in view of the danger to the Colony of the presence of large numbers of Chinese and the difficulty of feeding large numbers of people and looking after their health?

I can give the fullest assurance that that problem has been most carefully considered.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty on what date an architect was appointed to design the buildings required at Herstmonceux for the use of the Royal Observatory and for the housing of the instruments removed from Greenwich; who the architect is; and when his plans will be submitted to the Royal Fine Art Commission for consideration.

The design work in connection with the transfer of the Royal Observatory from Greenwich to Herstmonceux is being undertaken by qualified architects on the staff of the Admiralty. We shall be discussing the designs with the Royal Fine Art Commission at the appropriate stage.

Was this architect consulted from the very beginning of this work? Is the hon. Member aware that the Royal Observatory at Greenwich was the work of Sir Christopher Wren, and does he not think it was essential to employ a first-rate architect from the very beginning of this work?

So far as the work done up to now is concerned, the architect is employed by the Admiralty and he holds the degree of A.R.I.B.A. We have a number of architects with that qualification in the Admiralty and we think that they are very well fitted to carry out this work.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the work so far carried out by the Admiralty architect has made this place an absolute blot on the landscape and made complete nonsense of it? If his Department think the architect is good and is on a level with architects elsewhere, they should think again.

I cannot agree with the hon. and gallant Gentleman. I do not know whether he has been down to see the place—

I have.

—or has seen photographs of the place. Some of the photographs which have been printed are grossly misleading.

Were they taken in 1936?

In view of the beauty of Herstmonceux, would it not have been a good thing to put this out to competition in the ordinary way and thus get the very best that could be got in the circumstances?

I do not think it is necessary for a competition to be held in connection with this matter. We are quite satisfied that, with the architects at our disposal, when the scheme is completed everybody will be more or less satisfied.

Is it a fact that certain permanent buildings have been completed without having been submitted beforehand to the Royal Fine Art Commission and that it is only after the completion of certain buildings that the Commission have been brought into the matter at all?

Only one very small building has been completed. So far as the other buildings are concerned, we intend to discuss them with the Commission.

Would it not have been a good thing to discuss the matter with the Commission before any building started?

That might have been the case, but this is only a small building, 35 feet by 33 feet, and it is not a big part of the scheme.

Was the Admiralty one of the parties to the promise that matters of this kind should be submitted to the Royal Fine Art Commission?

The Admiralty were more or less parties to that promise. As I have said before, the greater part of the scheme will at least be discussed with the Royal Fine Art Commission.

When my hon. Friend says that it is only a small building, is he producing the well-known excuse of the housemaid that it was "only a little one"? Can he say whether this architect is accustomed to designing observatories, or whether he is accustomed only to designing the married quarters and the barracks which are such a pleasing feature of our dockyard towns?

Is the Civil Lord aware that the vandalism of the Admiralty in this matter belies the claim made last Friday that this Government is the most zealous in history in its care of historical and beautiful buildings?

Can the hon. Gentleman tell me whether the Royal Fine Art Commission were informed that they would be consulted before my Question appeared on the Order Paper?

I am afraid I must have notice of that question, but I can assure the House that we are getting no complaint from the Fine Art Commission. We have had correspondence with them on the subject and they are perfectly happy with the position as it stands at present.

asked the Postmaster-General if it is his practice, when any matters arise affecting staff, to consult with the appropriate trade unions on all occasions or to consult with the trade unions collectively if a number of individual employees or classes of employees are involved.