I beg to move,

"That this House will tomorrow resolve itself into a Committee to consider of authorising, for the purpose of any Act of the present Session confirming a Provisional Order relating to Cattewater made by the Minister of Transport under the General Pier and Harbour Act, 1861, the payment out of moneys to be provided by Parliament of such sums as may be necessary to enable the Cattewater Commissioners to be re-imbursed all or part of the expenses reasonably incurred by them in the exercise of powers in relation to vessels sunk, stranded or abandoned in Cattewater Harbour."—[King's Recommendation signified]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the present numbers on the staff of the public health adviser to the United Kingdom High Commissioner in Germany; and what are their functions.

The present numbers are ten, which will be reduced to seven in July and four on 1st January, 1951. The public health adviser is responsible for liaison with the German authorities on the many questions which arise concerning the public health of the Allied Forces. He advises the United Kingdom High Commissioner on health matters and co-operation with the United States and French public health officials on questions with a tripartite, federal or international aspect.

Do I understand from my hon. Friend that it is the public health adviser who is responsible for dealing with the German public health authorities in matters relating to the health of our Armed Forces in Germany, and that this is not the responsibility of the medical officers of the Armed Forces?

No, Sir. I understand that the arrangement is that the British civil authority conducts the liaison between the German health authorities and the Army authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the present numbers on the staff of the manpower adviser to the United Kingdom High Commissioner in Germany; and what are their functions.

The present numbers are 43, of which 18 are stationed in the regions and Berlin. The function of the manpower adviser is to exercise general oversight over a wide range of questions in the industrial and social field. These include the relationship between German Governmental bodies, trades unions and employers; the establishment and fostering of machinery and consultation and for the settlement of industrial disputes; terms and conditions of the employment of German labour and reporting upon German legislation relating to employment, wages, working conditions and social security; to advise on all questions relating to German participation in the International Labour Conferences and the work of the International Labour Organisation.

In view of the fact that Sir Brian Robertson is leaving, and that there has not been a Report by the Estimates Committee on functions and expenditure in Germany, will the Foreign Office take the opportunity of issuing a White Paper to show exactly what the situation is in the handing over of this responsibility by Sir Brian Robertson?

I will certainly consider that, but I should need notice before giving a reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the present numbers on the staff of the economic adviser to the United Kingdom High Commissioner in Germany.

One hundred and fifty-three.

As most of these functions are now matters for the German Government, and are not reserved functions of the High Commissioner, does not my hon. Friend think that all three of these staffs are still very much too large?

The staff is being very much reduced. The figure of 153 has been reduced from an initial figure of about 5,000, and we are continually reducing the numbers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the hardship and inequity suffered by German unmarried mothers of children whose fathers were British soldiers in Germany being unable to bring affiliation proceedings against putative fathers who now reside in the United Kingdom, he has considered this matter afresh; and if he will make a further statement on the matter.

I have nothing to add to the information which I have already given my hon. Friend.

Is my hon. Friend aware that he sent me a letter correcting that statement and that I am giving him an opportunity now to correct the statement in public? In view of that corrected statement, which has caused disappointment to large numbers of people whose hopes were raised by his original statement, will he look into the matter more carefully?

I regret that there was an error in one aspect of what I said on a previous occasion with regard to the availability of proceedings in the courts of this country to these women, but this is a very difficult question which, I am afraid, cannot be dealt with in the short compass of an oral answer. The position cannot be improved without legislation.

I understand that my hon. Friend cannot in question and answer give a full explanation, but will he look into the matter more carefully in view of his admission that great hardship is caused to these women?

I have looked into the matter very carefully indeed and had a full legal examination of the question, but I cannot offer any hope that there will be an alteration in future.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the responsibilities resting on the occupying Powers in Germany in regard to refugees and expellees now in Western Germany and also refugees who attempt to enter the British or United States zones from the east.

The occupying Powers in Germany are responsible for decisions of general policy regarding the admission of all refugees into the Federal Republic and for protecting the rights in Germany of those refugees who are not of German nationality.

Is my hon. Friend aware that considerable numbers of people keep coming into this area, which means a very heavy economic burden on the German people? Cannot he give an assurance that this matter will be further examined?

It is constantly under examination, and we are, of course, well aware that the position is unsatisfactory and that the burden is very great.

May we ask your help, Mr. Speaker, in seeing that the word "expellees" never appears on the Order Paper?

Can anything be done financially to assist those who have to bear this very heavy burden through no fault of their own?

That is quite another question. We have, of course, expended a great deal of money one way and another in dealing with the problem of refugees.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will explain the object of the Military Government Ordinance No. 188, dated 30th May, 1949, for Lands Nieder-Sachsen and Hansestadt Hamburg.

Since the legislatures of the two Lands in question had failed to carry out the provisions of Ordinance No. 103 it became necessary for the military Government to promulgate legislation covering land reform in Lower Saxony and Hamburg.

Did not this Ordinance come out on 20th June, 1949, and did not the basic law of the Federal Republic of Germany, published in May, 1949, state that the Germans would have control over the transfer of land?

I should require notice of that question, but the Ordinance, which was not carried into effect by these legislatures, was dated in 1947, and ample time was given for them to give effect to it. As no effect was given by the legislatures it was thought right to give effect to it by a new ordinance.

Was not the order mentioned in the Question made at the time when the subject matter of it—dealings in land—had been handed over to the German Republic?

I should require notice of that.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what has been the rise in the cost of living in Dominica since the devaluation of the pound; and what steps are being taken to remedy the hardship which has resulted from the said rise.

The Dominica index snowed an increase of about 8 per cent. in the cost of living between September, 1949, and April, 1950. The index is, however, in need of revision and the actual rise was probably greater than this. The effect of devaluation on the cost of living has been offset to an important extent by increased commercial activity, particularly in the growing and shipment of bananas. The wages of Government manual workers have recently been increased by a third and agricultural daily wages by a fifth.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the high price of kerosene and candles in Dominica; what is the reason for this state of affairs; and what action he proposes to ensure a better supply or a lower price.

I understand that the main reasons for the relatively high prices of these commodities in Dominica are the small size of the trade and the proportionately high handling costs. I am looking further into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken to stimulate research into the uses of timber other than the commonly used types produced within the Colonial Empire, with a view to their development and application to the housing problem of this country.

The Forest Products Research Laboratory is carrying out extensive research into the properties of some 20 Colonial timbers, with the object of developing their uses in the most effective and economical ways. Extra staff are being recruited for this purpose.

In view of the fact that experts think that some of the timbers being used in the construction of our new Chamber would be economical and quite suitable for more general use, would the Minister take the advice of his right hon. Friend the Minister of Works?

I will certainly consult my right hon. Friend on that point.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will request the Governors of Colonies to establish local commissions composed largely of elected legislators or councillors to consider the problem of securing for the people in future the necessities of life and desirable social services in view of the prevailing high birth-rates.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the problem to which my hon. Friend refers, but does not at present contemplate any approach to Colonial Governors of the kind he suggests. Colonial development plans, which did not ignore population trends and were designed to make available the necessities of life and desirable social services within the financial capacity of the territory concerned, were adopted after consultation with local legislators.

Is it not the fact that most of this beneficial work is carried out by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and as it does not appear to be well known would my right hon. Friend consider issuing a White Paper on the subject?

A large amount of development work is carried out by the Colonies themselves. We help by Colonial Development and Welfare funds, but the work is undertaken by the Colonies themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he takes to ensure that colonial administrative buildings and residences are all in a state of repair in keeping with British dignity.

It is the responsibility of Colonial Governments to keep their administrative buildings and official residences in repair. In the case of Government Houses, they are enjoined to do so by Colonial regulations.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of a report made by the recently retired Governor of the Leeward Islands, in which he says that the Governor's residence there is held up by only a streak of paint and will probably have collapsed by the time the new Governor gets there? Will the hon. Gentleman keep in mind the saying in his own constituency, "Keep a nice bright polish on your own front door and they will never know that there is poverty inside"?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the tonnage of British shipping actually serving the West Indies in 1947, 1948 and 1949; how far this is adequate; and what steps are being taken to increase it.

As the answer is rather long and contains a number of figures I will, with the hon. and gallant Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he will be able to restore the cuts made last year in imports into the British West Indies from Canada.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the reductions in dollar imports made by the Colonial Governments last year, in common with the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries. I cannot say when the dollar position of the sterling area will make it possible for Colonial territories to increase their dollar imports.

Is the right hon. Gentlemen aware that these cuts were made at the request of the United Kingdom Government? Are they not causing very bad relations between this country and the West Indies, and would he urge that they be restored at the earliest possible moment?

All countries in the sterling area did, in fact, agree to make certain reductions in their dollar imports, and this is one of many.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not realise how particularly closely these Colonies are linked with the dollar area, and how especially important it is in their case?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies by how much the cost of living has risen in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and the Gold Coast since 1945.

The cost of living index for Sierra Leone for the second quarter of 1950 shows a rise of 9 per cent. over the corresponding period in 1945. In Nigeria and the Gold Coast new statistical departments have begun work on indices, starting with the collection of price data, but I am not yet able to give comparative figures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to train suitable teaching staff for the three regional colleges which are to be established in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and the Gold Coast.

No special training of teaching staff is proposed at present. Fully qualified lecturers for the reconstituted Fourah Bay College are now being recruited by advertising both in the United Kingdom and in West Africa. It is hoped to start similar recruitment shortly for the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology and for the Gold Coast Regional College.

Is the Minister satisfied that by the time these colleges are opened he will have sufficient teaching staff?

Yes, I hope we shall.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies upon what grounds it is stated in the memorandum of February, 1947, sent from his Department's legal adviser to the General Council of the Bar relating to the removal from office of a Judge of Appeal in Malaya whose name is known to him, that the normal and prescribed retiring age is 55; where and in what document it is so prescribed; and when, how and in what form this condition of employment was brought to the notice of the judge in question at the time of his appointment.

The memorandum in question stated that it was customary for judges to continue in office, in most cases, until they attain the age of 62, but that the normal and prescribed retiring age is 55. This provision has been contained in the Malayan Pension law since before the appointment of the judge in question in 1930, and a copy of the law then in force was sent to him at that time.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that this unpublished law gives the Colonial Office the power during seven years, from "the age of 55 to 62," to dismiss a judge without any reason given, which is exactly contrary to the statement of the Lord Chancellor in another place that Colonial judges are to enjoy the same independence as judges in this country?

I think that a Question of the hon. and learned Gentleman I shall be answering a little later will deal further with that point.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that High Court judges in this country are by virtue of the Act of Settlement irremovable while of good behaviour; whether he is aware that the Lord Chancellor in a statement of 1st November, 1949, confirmed that judges in British Colonies have the same independent status as High Court judges at home; and whether these principles were taken into consideration when, by letter dated 7th April, 1942, his predecessor removed from office a judge of appeal in Malaya whose name is known to him although there was no suggestion that he was not of good behaviour or otherwise unfitted to hold office.

I am aware of the position of High Court judges in this country. The Lord Chancellor's statement confirmed that judges in British Colonies in discharging their judicial duties and in reaching conclusions of fact on the issues before them are just as independent of the Executive as are judges in this country. He did not refer to security of tenure though it is the case that the tenure of office of Colonial judges is as secure as that of judges in this country. Owing to the occupation of Malaya by the enemy it was not possible for this judge to continue performing the duties of his office, and as no other appropriate post was available he was necessarily treated as having retired upon abolition of office.

How does the right hon. Gentleman reconcile that statement with that of the Lord Chancellor, in view of the fact that this judge was removed without any suggestion of misconduct or being unfitted to hold his office? If the position is as the right hon. Gentleman suggests, the Colonial Office have the power to dismiss a judge and, therefore, to detract from his independence. It is impossible for a judge to carry on his work in that situation.

It is not a question of dismissal. Dismissal applies some censure. There was no question of that at all. It is simply the case that there was no work for him. No doubt if Britain had been occupied by an enemy there would be no work for the judges in Britain.

How does the right hon. Gentleman explain that this was the only judge to be treated in this way, and that every other Malayan judge was given another appointment and retained on pay until reaching pension age? How does he square that with the removal of this particular judge?

There was a general disturbance in Malaya at that time and this judge, in common with the other judges, was, naturally, unable to perform his functions.

Would the right hon. Gentleman agree that there was, in fact, a very great deal of work for judges immediately after the occupation?

There was later, but not at the time of the occupation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now make a statement on his visit to Malaya.

My right hon. Friend will, with permission, be making a statement on his visit after Questions today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many cranes are available at Mikindani to assist unloading materials needed to construct that port.

Two, Sir.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that one of these cranes was driven into the sea by an over-zealous African driver, so that the correct answer to my Question is, "One, Sir"?

asked the Secretary of State for Colonies by what methods maize is purchased from growers in Tanganyika; why it is resold to Africans at a higher price than they receive for selling it to storage; what portion of the price is put to any special fund; and for what purposes and to what extent that fund is utilised.

My right hon. Friend is asking the Governor about this and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as the reply is received.

Do I understand that my right hon. Friend has no information as to whether a fund exists from which subsidies are made in this case as in other Colonies? Is it necessary, in all these questions, that the Minister must wait until the Governor has been communicated with?

There are a number of questions in this matter which are of some considerable detail.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proportion of the 300,000 acres at Essemingore, to be leased for ranching, will be made available to European settlers; and what will be the terms of the leases offered to them.

The matter is under consideration and my right hon. Friend will write to the hon. Member when a decision has been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the plebiscite held in the churches of Cyprus last January, when some 96 per cent. of the Greek-speaking population of the island voted for union with Greece; and if he will state the attitude of His Majesty's Government to this proposal.

My right hon. Friend is aware of this plebiscite. It has repeatedly been made clear that no change in the sovereignty of the Island is contemplated. As was made known locally before the plebiscite by a published letter from the Governor to the Archbishop, the attitude of His Majesty's Government on this subject remains unaltered.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this sentimental wish for union with Greece is very widespread among Greek-speaking Cypriots of all points of view, from the Orthodox clergy to the Communists, and could he say what steps are being taken to demonstrate to them that they are moving steadily towards self-government—when, of course, they can do what they like—and that, meanwhile, they are better off with us than they would be with the Greeks?

Very large numbers of people in Cyprus can, and do, see for themselves that they are very much better off under us.

Without accepting the accuracy of the claim which is contained in the Question of the hon. Member, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he realises that the country as" a whole is behind him in making it quite plain that in view of its vital strategic importance we do not propose to leave Cyprus and that we do not regard Enosis as a discussable subject?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether, in his communications with the Greek Government, they have expressed themselves as quite satisfied with the present situation?

Communications with foreign Governments are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied with the manner in which this plebiscite was carried out and that no duress was exercised by the churches on the people in the taking of the plebiscite?

No; quite frankly, I am not altogether quite satisfied. I have heard of many plebiscites being conducted better than this one.

In view of the dissatisfaction which exists in Cyprus and the conduct of the plebiscite, to which the right hon. Gentleman has referred, does he not also consider this unholy alliance between the Godless Communists and the God-fearing Greeks is a strange one?

Can I take it from the original answer of my right hon. Friend, which did not dispute the percentage in my Question, that, broadly, he is not disputing the accuracy of my statement that there is a widespread sentimental feeling in favour of this reform, and will he observe that the Opposition Front Bench spokesman now seeks to censor matters which can be raised in this House?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the events leading to the imprisonment for an indefinite period of the Municipal Council of Limassol, Cyprus.

The Cyprus Municipal Corporations Law provides that the approval of a Commissioner is required for the naming of municipal streets and that it is an offence to put up a name-plate not so approved. The Limassol Town Council disregarded this provision and substituted for two existing names new names which had not been approved. In February, a local Order-in-Gouncil was made ordering the Town Council to reaffix the old name-plates. This Order was ignored. On 29th April the Supreme Court ordered the members of the Council to comply with the original Order. The Supreme Court Order was also ignored, and on 3rd June six out of the eight Councillors present in Cyprus were committed for contempt.

If it is found necessary to imprison for an indefinite period the elected mayor and most of the councillors of a town merely because they want the name of a street to be changed from "Sir Richmond Palmer Street" to "28th October Street," is it not going to be a little difficult to persuade them that it is essential to the maintenance of their civil liberties that they should remain within the British Empire?

No one likes a law of this kind, but the law about street naming being there, and the councillors having deliberately defied the court, there was no option but to imprison them.

They said that sort of thing at Peterloo.

Can my hon. Friend say whether these events were contemporaneous with the holding of the plebescite referred to in an earlier question?

I should say that the law was contemporaneous.

If the law is so foolish, why not change it?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a further statement on swollen shoot disease in the cocoa areas of Nigeria; what compensation is to be paid to the owners of diseased trees, especially in areas in which it has now been decided to abandon the cutting-out campaign; and what steps have been taken to investigate complaints of the methods used by some inspectors.

The Nigerian Government and Cocoa Marketing Board are now urgently considering plans for the rehabilitation of the endemic areas with particular reference to the encouragement of alternative crops. Compensation at the rate of 2s. 6d. per tree is only paid for trees which are cut out. All cutting out is supervised by an officer who frequently makes close checks to prevent abuses. All complaints are immediately investigated.

Will the right hon Gentleman remember that the very over-optimistic statement on this subject made by the previous Colonial Secretary has led to grave delay in tackling this question? As there is about £75 million in the kitty, owing to the Government's profit on cocoa, will they use it to make a really big effort to rescue, even at the last minute, the whole of the cocoa-growing trade?

I cannot admit that there has been a serious delay. The problem is being tackled adequately. It is an exceedingly difficult problem, and it will be tackled with the utmost possible despatch.

Is the Minister aware that because of the widespread nature of this disease it is essential that other parts of the Empire should be investigated with a view to starting a cocoa industry in other areas?

That is another question entirely.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what date he proposes to publish the minutes of the evidence given at the inquiry into the recent disturbances in the Eastern Province of Nigeria.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if it is his intention to make available to hon. Members the minutes of evidence taken by the Commission of Inquiry into the disorders in the Eastern Province of Nigeria.

A copy of the verbatim record of the proceedings of the Commission has been placed in the Library of the House. As it is very long, my right hon. Friend does not propose to publish it.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not appreciate that that is exceedingly unsatisfactory, and that it is quite impossible to make a detailed examination of the evidence of this very important inquiry unless it is possible to have the use of a copy at one's leisure? The putting of only one copy in the Library is completely unsatisfactory. It is impossible to do justice to the very important issues involved unless every Member of the House has available the full minutes of the evidence.

My right hon. Friend thought that that would be adequate, because it will be a quite expensive and long business to publish this document; but if there is a desire to have it, quite naturally we could get it. We do not, of course, want to withhold any information from the House.

May I remind the right hon. Gentleman—I think I asked the Minister for this last week—that if the House is to consider this matter intelligently it is necessary that we must have the printed document? We cannot all queue up in the Library for it.

Is the cost of publication of this document very heavy? Is it in the region of about £1,000 or not?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the evidence will be available to the Press in the meantime?

If it is published it must be available to the Press.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the ages, the experience and the qualifications of Mr. Edward Cain and Mr. P. C. Weeks, who have been chosen by him to advise on trade union organisations and labour relations in Nigeria; in particular, what experience either of them have had of labour relations in the Colonial Empire; and what Colonies they have visited.

Mr. Cain, who is 58, went to work in the pits at the age of 13 and has had a life-time of experience as a miner, trade unionist and local government councillor. Mr. Weekes, who is 30, holds a degree in mining engineering and has had four years as a colliery manager in South Wales. Both were chosen because of their experience of labour relations in the coal industry in this country, since it was advice and help from the United Kingdom that the Governor sought in his published despatch of 18th May.

I take this opportunity of informing the House that the two remaining members of the party, selected in consultation with the Trades Union Congress and the British Employers' Confederation respectively, will be Mr. Andrew Dalgleish and Colonel C. E. Ponsonby. Both they and my Assistant Labour Adviser, of course, have colonial as well as United Kingdom experience.

Arising out of the two first-mentioned appointments, will the Minister say why he chooses as advisers on Colonial affairs men who have had no experience of the Colonial Empire at all? Is he not aware that labour relations in the Colonies are a very different problem from what they are in this country?

That is just the point I sought to make clear in my answer to the Question. What was wanted was advice as to how these things are conducted in this country, as they have not been altogether satisfactorily conducted at Enugu. It is hoped to provide them with that advice.

Can my right hon. Friend say how anyone who has spent years in the Colonies can possibly have trade union experience?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many transfers from continuous service engagement have taken place since the inception of this transfer scheme; and what percentage they represent of the numbers involved.

Approximately 3,500. This if 71 per cent. of the number eligible.

Although this system may be a very good recruiting aid, will the Minister give great consideration to this problem in view of the shortage of senior ratings there may be in the next few years?

Yes, Sir, but the hon. and gallant Member will realise that if they transfer to this special service engagement it does not necessarily mean that they will leave the Service when their seven years expires.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what commercial work is at present on hand in Navy dockyards; and how much of it has been accepted at under cost.

The capacity available in the home dockyards for commercial work is now very small. Commercial orders employ at present fewer than 100 men out of a total of over 40,000. The small orders are undertaken either at actual cost or on a fixed price quoted on estimated costs.

Will the Minister bear in mind the highly critical comments of the Auditor and Comptroller-General about a recent contract which involved the taxpayers in a loss of more than £171,000? Will he see that such contracts, which cause a loss to the taxpayer, are not undertaken. Many private interests could take them on and probably make a profit?

I prefer to leave that matter for the time being because it is sub judice, and has to be reported to the Public Accounts Committee.

Is my hon. Friend aware that since the end. of the war His Majesty's dockyards undertook very difficult work indeed, for which outside engineering industry was not prepared to contract?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what measures he takes to prevent waste of timber in naval dockyards.

The custody, accountancy and issue of timber is governed by regulations laid down to ensure that all possible precautions are taken against theft, misappropriation and waste. These regulations are enforced by the responsible dockyard officers.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in certain naval establishments when a plank is taken out of store to have a piece cut out for use the remainder, instead of being put back into store, is cut up and thrown away, through laziness? Will he keep an eye on that practice?

I am not aware of anything of the sort. Responsibility is laid on the dockyard establishments to see that no waste is taking place, but if the hon. and gallant Member can give me instances I will inquire into them.

Does not the hon. Gentleman recall the terrific waste in high grade timber in the Royal Naval establishment at Almondbank?

No, I do not.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why Mr. F. R. Adams who was suspended from his employment in Chatham Dockyard for reasons of security has been reengaged for work in the same section from which he was suspended.

When suspended Mr. Adams was employed in the engineering department of Chatham dockyard proper. He is now employed in a separate section of the same department, some miles from the yard. In his new surroundings he will not be employed in connection with work the nature of which is vital to the security of the State.

Is the Minister aware that as a shop steward and, therefore, a strong member of the union, this man has opportunities for spreading Communism? Is he satisfied that this man has now become a reliable person as the result of his suspension on full pay, and that he will not endeavour to spread Communism among other members of the staff of His Majesty's dockyard?

I am quite satisfied that he comes within the terms of the statement announced in the last Parliament.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware of the national need for more ship tonnage, what steps he is taking to meet it; and if he will ensure that Aberdeen shipyards, where there is unemployment, get their fair share of orders to build new ships and to repair old ships.

The future requirements of British shipping are being adequately met by the ships on order and under construction in British yards. As regards the position in Aberdeen, the future prospects of the shipyards will depend on the ability of the yards to obtain further work.