asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the judgment given in the Nairobi courts in favour of ex-Chief Koinange, who had been prosecuted for growing coffee; and whether he will now proceed to abolish all discrimination between Africans and Europeans in relation to coffee growing.

The answer to the first part of the Question is, "Yes." I do not accept the implication in the last part of the Question. Coffee growing by Europeans and by Africans is controlled in different ways because of differing needs. It is not a matter of discrimination but of facilitating the growth of coffee by the most suitable methods in each case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why meetings of the Kenya African Union in the Central Province, Kenya, have been prohibited.

Meetings by the Kenya African Union in the Central Province of Kenya have been prohibited in three instances. In one case permission to hold a meeting was refused because it was intended to hold it on the football ground at a time when a match was due to be played. In two other instances the result of meetings held by the Union was such that it seemed likely that further meetings would lead to a breach of the peace. Meetings have, therefore, been temporarily prohibited in these two districts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the age group meetings among the Kikuyu Tribe have been prohibited in Kenya.

They have not been so prohibited. Certain Africans held age group meetings in 1950 to collect funds for the African Independent College at Githunguri. They applied again earlier this year to hold such meetings. They were asked to publish accounts showing the collections made at their earlier meetings and how the money had been dispensed. This they have failed to do and they have made no further application to hold such meetings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will take immediate steps to investigate the possibility of developing the iron ore resources of Sierra Leone, to overcome the shortages of this material which may handicap steel production in the future in this country.

The company now working iron ore at Marampa is actively pursuing the possibility of developing further deposits. It will, however, take at least five years to bring in further production since a railway extension of about 80 miles will have to be built and the handling capacity of the port increased.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how it is proposed to finance the development plan approved by the Gold Coast Government costing about £75,000,000 and the Volta River Project costing about £105,000,000.

The methods proposed for financing the Gold Coast Development Plan are set out in Chapter 6 of the Plan itself. I am sending a copy to the hon. Member. The Volta River project is still at the stage of discussion and I have no statement to make at present on how it would be financed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the purchase price of the s.s. "African Queen"; how much was spent on refitting and converting her; what was her operational cost; why she has been withdrawn; and what is the total estimated loss.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the cost of buying and equipping the s.s. "African Queen"; what revenue has been obtained from catching sharks off West Africa; what is the total loss to the taxpayer to date; and if he will drop this venture.

As already announced, the Colonial Development Corporation has abandoned this scheme. The total cost of the vessel and its conversion was £304,200. Operating and administration costs of the ship and shore station for the nine months from January to September, 1951, amounted to £134,827. The total revenue from all fishing, chiefly shark fishing, is expected to be about £18,000. The Corporation withdrew the ship because of the high cost of operation coupled with the severe fall in the price of vitamin A oil, the scheme's primary product. The Corporation cannot estimate the loss sustained until the assets are realised.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in view of the great hardship caused in Sierra Leone by the increasing cost of living, what action is being taken to meet this problem.

It would be wrong to assume that the bulk of the population, namely, the farmers, who are receiving good prices for their produce, are suffering hardship in consequence of the rise in the cost of living. The effects of the rise are felt mainly by the wage-earning and urban communities. Substantial wage increases have been awarded to the lower paid workers during the last six months. The Sierra Leone Government is fully aware of the problem and the measures it is taking include control of the retail price of rice, purchase of stocks of rice for release when supplies are short, and various schemes for increased local production of staple foodstuffs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the official results of the Nigerian elections including the support given to the respective parties.

The elections are not complete and it would be premature to make a statement. Seventy-two seats out of 80 in the Western House of Assembly have been filled. The final election of members to the Northern and Eastern Houses of Assembly has yet to take place. I will provide the House with information on the results when the elections are finished.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement regarding the death of the High Commissioner for Malaya, Sir Henry Gurney.

The murder of Sir Henry Gurney by Communist terrorists was a grievous blow to all who uphold the cause of freedom in Malaya. Moving tributes have been paid to his memory not only by leaders of all the Malayan communities, but by people in all walks of life. I should like now to associate myself with these tributes and to express my sympathy with Lady Gurney and her sons. Sir Henry Gurney was an outstanding colonial servant who had devoted himself to the task of laying the foundations of a united Malayan nation and who died in the service of that cause.I reaffirm the determination of His Majesty's Government to rid Malaya of terrorism.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the present position in Malaya.

The heavy casualties suffered by the security forces and civilians in October show the seriousness of the situation in Malaya. I can, however, report considerable progress in the resettlement of squatters and in the improvement of the intelligence organisation. The murder of Sir Henry Gurney has aroused the leading members of all communities to the need to strengthen the drive to rid the country of Communist terrorism. I should prefer to defer any further comment until after my return from Malaya.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what regulations are in force in Malaya regarding the use of soft or armoured vehicles when senior officials are travelling by road in areas in which bandits are known to operate: and in what type of vehicle the late Sir Henry Gurney was travelling at the time that he was killed.

The arrangements for the protection of senior officials while travelling by road in Malaya have now been revised and strengthened, but it would not be in the public interest to divulge particulars. At the time of his death Sir Henry Gurney was travelling in his official car, a Rolls Royce of standard design.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now circulate a full list of the names of rubber planters who have lost their lives in Malaya since the commencement of the emergency, including the dates on which they were killed and the compensation which has been granted in each case.

I have not yet received the information but I have consulted the Acting High Commissioner and will write to the hon. Member when I have his reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have now been taken for the rehabilitation of Jamaica following the recent hurricane.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement with regard to the progress of relief and reconstruction measures in connection with the hurricane in Jamaica.

Immediate relief was vigorously organised by the Governor; towards this His Majesty's Government contributed £250,000, for which a supplementary Vote will shortly be presented. Building materials to the value of £250,000 have already been distributed free. £45,000 worth of seed is being given to farmers. Within 10 days of the hurricane the Jamaica Government promised the banana industry £½million towards the cost of clearing and replanting and the work has gone ahead rapidly.Subject to Parliamentary approval, His Majesty's Government will contribute up to a further £3,100,000 by grant and £1,500,000 by interest-free loan towards the cost of reconstruction. Detailed schemes for using this money in restoring agriculture and in rehousing have recently been received from the Governor and are being considered urgently.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement with regard to the findings of the Commission which has made proposals for the future constitutional development of British Guiana.

I have at present nothing to add to the despatch which my predecessor sent to the Governor and which was published with the report of the Commission last month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to develop the rice industry in British Guiana.

The Colony's consulting engineer is completing a comprehensive water control plan for the whole coastland. where rice is grown, and upwards of £750,000 has been allocated under the Colonial Development and Welfare Acts to enable a start to be made on the first stages of the plan. His Majesty's Government have undertaken to do their utmost to facilitate the raising of a loan on the London market when further finance is required. Plans for expanding the rice industry are under discussion with the Colonial Development Corporation. In the meantime, experimental work is being carried out on rice production and milling.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is now-the position in regard to alien groups in illegal occupation of British territory in the Falkland Island Dependencies.

The latest available information is as follows:

(a) Three Chilean parties are established:

(i) Six men at Greenwich Island (S. Shetlands Group).

(ii) Six men at Cape Legoupil (N.W. tip of Graham Land).

(iii) An estimate of ten men at Paradise Harbour (W. coast of Graham Land), although they had not been established at the time of the last British visit.

(b) Four, and possibly five, Argentine parties are established:

(i) Eleven men at Laurie Island (South Orkney Group).

(ii) Ten men at Deception Island (South Shetland Group).

(ii) Four men at Paradise Harbour (see above).

(iv) An uncertain number in the Melchior Islands (Palmer Archipelago, off the west coast of Graham Land).

(v) A party of uncertain number may possibly be established (report not yet confirmed) at Marguerite Bay. (W. coast of Graham Land).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement concerning his proposal to review the Rent Restriction Acts.

Yes. The Government will consider this matter in due course.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what arrangements will be made for tenants of council houses to purchase these dwellings; and what percentage of the 300,000 houses will be for sale and to let, respectively.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made on this subject on 13th November.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of horses used below ground in coal mines at the end of June, 1951; and the number used below ground in the Durham and Northern (N. and C.) Divisions, as well as in the other divisions, at the same date.

The latest information available is as follows:

NUMBER OF HORSES USED BELOW GROUND IN COAL MINES AT 30TH JUNE, 1950
Division
Scottish	…	139
Northern (N. and C.)	…	2,427
Durham	…	6,870
North Eastern	…	2,582
North Western	…	59
East Midlands	…	1,333
West Midlands	…	776
South Western	…	3,154
South Eastern	…	—
Great Britain	…	17,340

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the average annual rate of reduction in the number of horses and ponies used in coal mines in each of the 10-year periods from 1920 to 1930, 1930 to 1940 and from 1940 to 1950; and the reasons for the reduction rate in the respective periods.

The average annual rates of reduction in the number of horses and ponies used in coal mines in the 10-year periods ended 1930, 1940 and 1950 were 1,810, 1,880 and 1,250 respectively. These reductions reflect the increasing mechanisation of the mines.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the percentage of the coal output of each division at the end of June, 1951, as well as the percentage of the total output in all coalfields, that was carried by mechanical conveyors at or near the coal face.

The percentage of coal output mechanically conveyed at the coal face in 1950 was as follows:

Division			Percentage
Scottish	…	…	76.4
Northern (N. & C.)	…	…	66.4
Durham	…	…	55.8
North Eastern	…	…	91.7
North Western	…	…	91.1
East Midlands	…	…	99.3
West Midlands	…	…	93.2
South Western	…	…	83.7
South Eastern	…	…	90.5
Great Britain	…	…	84.0

asked the Minister of Health if, with a view to avoiding the burden of travel, especially for old people, he will set up a distribution centre for hearing aids in York.

I very much regret that, both for financial and for other reasons, it is not possible for me to do this yet.

asked the Minister of Food how many cattle and cows were killed for food in 1950; how many were inspected; how many were totally condemned as unfit for human consumption, and for what reason; and how many car-cases there were of which some part or organ was condemned and the percentage, in each case.

The total numbers slaughtered for sale for human food in Great Britain in 1950 and the numbers wholly condemned after slaughter were as follow:

	Number of slaughtered	Number carcasses wholly condemned
Cattle (other than cows)	1,580,409	11,657
Cows	634,892	34,284

All animals slaughtered on behalf of my Department may be inspected by the meat inspectors of the local authorities. Where animals are accepted for slaughter as casualties or on the basis of owner's risk it is a condition of purchase that the carcass shall be examined by the meat inspector as the payment to the producer is based on the weight of the carcass, or part of the carcass, passed fit for human consumption. 117,145 cows and 189,884 other cattle were accepted under the latter arrangements and of these 20,556 cows and 6,110 other cattle were totally condemned and are included in the totals given above.Records are not yet available from all local authorities of the number of carcasses of which parts only were condemned but we have records of the total weight of all condemned meat, including parts of carcasses, and the percentage which this bears to the total weight of meat produced on slaughter during this period was as follow:

Cattle (other than cows)	0.74 per cent.
Cows	5.36 per cent.

Records are not yet available from all the local authorities of the total number of carcasses examined by their meat inspectors or of the reasons for condemnation.

asked the Minister of Food how present meat consumption per head in this country compares with pre-war.

The consumption of meat (including bacon) in terms of edible weight was 82.2 lb. per head of the civilian population in the 12 months ended June, 1951, compared with an average of 109.6 lb. before the war.