asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what percentage of the Royal Air Force requirements of canned vegetable products were placed with canners in South Wales.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to his Question yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what consideration has been given to the existing air facilities in the county of Anglesey in the extension of the Royal Air Force; and if he will make a statement.

The air facilities in the county of Anglesey consist at present of the airfields at Valley and Mona. These are used for flying training, and it is intended to increase this use in the near future.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (1) the value of the services rendered by the Post Office to his Department for which no cash payment is made;

The estimated values of the services rendered during 1951–52 by the Post Office to the Air Ministry without cash payment are: telephone services (including teleprinter network) £4,265,000; telegraph services £17,050.

Does that include telephone conversations overseas?

Yes, Sir.

Can my hon. Friend say how these figures are arrived at, if a careful account is not kept of all the calls made?

The hon. Member will see that the vast bulk of this money is for the radar reporting network and not for ordinary calls. I think that the question of how the Post Office arrive at the exact figure should be addressed to the Assistant Postmaster-General and not to myself.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how much has been spent on Greenham Common Aerodrome up to 26th October.

Up to the end of October, 1951, the Air Ministry had incurred expenditure amounting to about £157,000 on the present reconstruction project.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether the nature of the sub-soil at Greenham Common Aerodrome enables it to be used by heavy bombers for which it was designed and built; and whether or not it is proposed to use this airfield for this particular purpose.

It is intended to use the airfield now being built at Greenham Common for the medium bomber squadrons for which it was designed.

Is it not a fact that when the decision was taken to build this airfield by the late Government, after a Cabinet discussion, not a single Minister insisted on an investigation to ascertain whether the site was suitable for this aerodrome—for the whole of it and not merely for a part of it?

There has been no subsidence in the runway. There has been some subsidence in the standings and taxi-runs. I think that it is too great an assumption to suppose that a big error has been made. There may have to be certain realignments of the subsidiary parts of the airfield, but I think that the main runway will be all right.

Can the Minister assure the House that a further review is now being made of the suitability of this site, and that he does consider that, in the end, it may be possible to make a satisfactory airfield for bombers of that type?

The matter is now under the most careful consideration, and, as at present advised, I think that it will be possible to provide a suitable airfield for the bombers for which it was designed.

When will there be a final decision?

There is no question of holding up the work. There is no evidence to suppose that the airfield cannot be used.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when, approximately, 150 Royal Air Force cadets who flew to Canada for training on 19th August, 1951, can expect to receive their heavy luggage containing their winter clothing, of which they are now greatly in need.

Seventy-seven, Royal Air Force officers flew to Canada in August, 1951, to undergo flying training and each officer took 66 lb. of luggage with him.

Is my hon. Friend aware that these officers have been put to considerable inconvenience, not to say expense, as a result of their winter clothing not reaching them, and can he in future see that incidents of this kind do not occur?

I am very much obliged to my hon. and gallant Friend for drawing my attention to this case. Clearly the arrangements have not been right or suitable, and I am going into the matter myself. I hope to make it right.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what is the average weekly wage in British currency of unskilled Egyptian labourers employed by his Department on work at aerodromes in the Suez Canal area.

Twenty shillings.

Will the hon. Gentleman consider giving them a little extra for Christmas?

They are now receiving more than they did under the late Government.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many airmen have signed on for Regular engagement since 1st January, 1951; how many have volunteered for the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve since that date; and how these figures compare with the previous year.

Between 1st January and 31st October, 1951, 30,208 National Service men volunteered for Regular engagements when they registered, or converted to Regular engagements while in the Service. The corresponding figure for 1950 was 10,136.

Would my hon. Friend agree that the recruiting of National Service men into the regular Air Force is very satisfactory, but that the number of men joining the Volunteer Reserve is not so good? Will he pay particular attention to methods of attracting boys from the A.T.C. into the Volunteer Reserve when they can join?

I agree with my hon. Friend on both points. Regular recruiting has been satisfactory; recruiting for the Volunteer Force has not been. This is under the most active consideration at the moment, and we are carrying out certain reforms which I hope will help.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he has any information as to what proportion of the Russia fighters now in action in Korea are propelled by axial-flow jet engines.

Air fighting has taken place mainly over enemy-occupied territory in Korea. As a result, United Nations Forces have had few opportunities of examining crashed enemy jet aircraft. No aircraft examined has been propelled by an axial-flow engine.

Is it not a fact that although it has been thought for some time that the motive power of the Russian fighters derived from the Jumo Junkers axial-flow jet engines, it is now determined that the main bulk of their fighter forces are powered by engines of British origin and derivation?

As I said in my answer last week, all the engines examined have been centrifugal flowing, and of the Nene type.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when he expects to settle the outstanding claim in respect of chattels lost during the requisitioning of Bomb Ketch House, Hardway, Gosport, by his Department.

This claim was first made in 1941 and dealt with by the Headquarters of Balloon Command. As the Command has been disbanded and many of its papers destroyed, it has not been possible to establish from Royal Air Force sources whether the amount claimed is justified.

While thanking my hon. Friend for his reply, might I ask him whether he realises that this voluminous correspondence has gone on since February last, and has been almost entirely one-sided?

I am advised that the correspondence is likely soon to draw to a close.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement upon the future of the Jamaican cigar industry, in view of the economic difficulties facing this country.

I realise the importance of the cigar industry to the economy of Jamaica, and the Government are considering what can be done to assist it, consistent with revenue considerations and the international obligations entered into by the late Administration.

Is the Minister aware that when they were in Opposition the Conservative Party often talked about helping these industries in the Empire, and that we are very happy that they are to make a start?

is it not a fact that the Jamaican cigar industry expects to sell practically the whole of its output in this country? Will my right hon. Friend take steps to exclude Havana cigars in favour of Jamaican cigars only?

As both the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. J. Johnson) and my hon. Friend the Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro) know, an Agreement has been signed with Cuba under which for the years 1952–53 a certain value of cigar imports will be taken. As I pointed out in my answer, this Agreement was entered into by the late Administration.

Can we be assured that the views the right hon. Gentleman expressed when he was on this side of the House will guide him in any action he may take with regard to the Jamaican cigar industry?

The hon. Member can be sure of that.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the overcrowding of prisons in Jamaica; and what steps are being taken to deal with this matter.

The Government of Jamaica have sought to relieve overcrowding by the construction of additional buildings in the existing prisons and of a new "open" prison for 200 first offenders. I am asking the Governor for a report on the position and I will write to the hon. Member when I receive it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that meanwhile overcrowding amounts in some instances to 50, 60 and sometimes 70 per cent. above what the numbers should be, and is he giving further advice with a view to relieving this serious state of affairs?

We very much hope that overcrowding will diminish partly through the provision of new facilities and partly through the decline in the amount of crime.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the compulsory cutting out of diseased cocoa trees was abolished in the Gold Coast; and what progress or the reverse has taken place since in preventing the spread of the disease in question.

Compulsory cutting out of diseased cocoa trees was suspended on 3rd April, 1951. The declared policy of the Gold Coast Government is to control swollen shoot disease at the earliest possible time. A new scheme of cutting out and rehabilitation grants was brought into effect on 1st September, and the Government are preparing to launch next January an intensive publicity campaign to secure the full support of the farming community. The new policy of the Gold Coast Government has not yet been in force long enough to become fully effective. Until the forthcoming campaign is over it will be impossible to assess the progress made.

Has the suspension of the compulsory cutting out led to an increase of the disease or not?

Undoubtedly it has in certain areas. I think the Gold Coast Government are fully conscious of this fact, and I think everybody will have been glad to have heard in his broadcast on 28th June the words of Doctor Nkrumah, when he said, "If there ever was a test of our fitness to control our own affairs this is it."

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will arrange for a small delegation of Members of the House of Commons to attend the formal opening Session of the new House of Representatives in Nigeria at the end of January, 1952.

If it were the wish of the House to send a delegation to Nigeria to attend either the formal opening Session of the new House of Representatives about the end of January or the first business Session about the middle of March, that would be very welcome both to the Nigerian Government and to my right hon. Friend.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to bear in mind that earlier this year a delegation from both sides of the House, with a message from Mr. Speaker, was very well received in the Gold Coast and helped to cement the friendship between us? May I ask him to make approaches to ensure that a delegation representing this House goes to Nigeria on this occasion?

Certainly, I will bear that in mind. I endorse the statement that under the right hon. Gentleman's auspices a delegation went to the Gold Coast with the happiest consequences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the voting in the Nigerian Legislative Council on the Pensions Bill which provided for expatriation allowances to be included in the assessment of pensions; and, what approximately, was the extra cost of this.

The voting was 31 to eight in favour, with two abstentions. Expatriation pay has, in fact, been pensionable since the Harragin Report was adopted by resolution of the Legislative Council in December, 1946. No question of extra cost, therefore, arises.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give further details of his proposals for developing the production of essential raw materials and foodstuffs in the Colonies.

My right hon. Friend informed the House on 8th November that the scope for immediate increases in the production of raw materials and foodstuffs in the colonial territories is limited, and that most of our hopes must be concentrated on the midterm and long-term prospects. His Majesty's Government are now examining the different measures which can be taken to secure increases. This examination covers a wide field of Government action in this country no less than in the Colonies, and I do not expect that it will be possible to make a further statement at an early date.

Would my right hon. Friend agree that the policy of His Majesty's Government is rather to create conditions under which private enterprise can develop the Colonies rather than that the Government should start schemes on their own?

I very much hope it will be the result of enlightened partnership between Government and private enterprise.

Does that reply mean that my right hon. Friend will freely support the import to this country from our Colonies of all foodstuffs available to come here?

I should like to know precisely what my hon. Friend has in mind. In general, we are only too glad to have supplies of foodstuffs from the British Colonial Empire in the interest of the Colonies and in our own interest.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the consultations with Colonial Governors in respect of deportations in the Colonies have now been completed; and what recommendations have been made.

The consultations initiated by my right hon. Friend's predecessor are still in progress, and I am not yet in a position to say anything as regards the outcome.

Can the, right hon. Gentleman say when it is likely that the report will be made, in view, of the urgency of this matter?

As the hon. Gentleman knows, Governors in the British Colonial Territories have a great deal to do at the moment. We are getting the information as quickly as we can, but it would be altogether wrong to press them to hurry it up.

The hon. Gentleman used the word "consultations." I think his predecessor used word "reviews." Can he say whether it is intended to have a full review and whether it is intended to publish the report when it has been received?

Our line is entirely in keeping with that of the previous Government. We shall have consultations with the Colonial Governments and, having had those consultations, we shall review the position ourselves.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the effects on the efficiency of Makarere College of the recent explosion in the college laboratories; and whether he intends to make any grant towards the replacement of the equipment.

Until a survey now in progress has been completed the full effect of the explosion cannot be assessed nor can decisions be reached about the extent of replacement required. The matter is being urgently examined, and I will write to my hon. Friend when the survey is completed.

In view of the importance of developing higher technical education in East Africa, will my right hon. Friend undertake that any requests for a grant will be considered very sympathetically by the Colonial Office?

I think we had better wait and see if any request is made. I can assure my hon. Friend that the importance of this College and the work that it is doing is fully appreciated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement regarding the decision to recruit units of the East Africa Pioneer Corps for service in the Middle East.

With the desertion of unskilled labour in the Canal Zone an alternative source of supply had to be found and, at the request of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War, the Government of Kenya and Uganda were asked whether they would agree to help His Majesty's Government by the raising of a labour force from their territories. Their agreement to this proposal, with which my right hon. Friend concurred, was gladly given and the necessary steps to raise this force are now being taken by the War Office.

Will my right hon. Friend in conjunction with the Secretary of State for War ensure that special steps are taken to make certain that European officers and N.C.O.'s for these units are specially selected from those with a knowledge of African troops and of the problems of African labour?

I think that matter is very much in the minds of the Governments of Kenya and Uganda. My hon. Friend may be interested to know that an appeal has been made to Europeans with the requisite experience to fill the necessary commissioned posts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the numbers of African children of school age in Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, respectively; the numbers attending school; and the numbers who have completed the secondary stage in both of these territories.

I will ask the Governors concerned for this information and communicate with the hon. Member as soon as their replies are received.

Is the Minister aware that when he does get these figures they will be disappointing?

I think that is a pretty gloomy thought. I do not think we are doing too badly. After all, we have the 1950 figures, and out of an estimated 468,000 children of school age in Nyasaland, 219,000 were at school; and in Northern Rhodesia out of 380,000 there were 165,000 at school. Considering the great difficulties in these territories, I think that is a pretty good start.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that one of the reasons why these figures may appear to be disappointing. is the fact that teachers in Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland find it more remunerative to get employment in Southern Rhodesia, and will he consider the conditions under which African education is undertaken in Southern Rhodesia with a view to finding out whether the two Protectorate territories can learn anything from the practice in Southern Rhodesia?

There may well be something in what my hon. Friend says, and that makes it more than ever necessary to consider in a favourable light the problems of federation in Central Africa.

Is the Minister aware that I asked this question last year. Is he further aware that in a wealthy firm in Rhodesia, exporting £20 million worth of base metals, there were only 17 African youngsters who had finished their secondary school course?

The policy of the previous Government and of the Colonial Office for some time has been to concentrate on primary education first, and that is the reason why there has been a comparatively small intake into secondary schools. "First things first" is the policy of the present Administration.

When the Minister was replying to the supplementary question put by the hon. Member for Colchester (Mr. Alport) he said that the education problem was a further reason for federation. Does he realise that the education of Africans will not be transferred to the proposed federal government, and that any such suggestion would lead to very strong opposition?

I did not say that it was a further reason for federation. I said it was a further reason for considering in a friendly light the problems raised by federation. Undoubtedly the difficulties and problems met by teachers in Southern Rhodesia may have some contribution to make to the problems in Northern Rhodesia, but there is no doubt also, as the right hon. Gentleman said, that the education of Africans would fall under a different heading.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the proposed discussions are to begin in Northern Rhodesia between representatives of Europeans and Africans to define the principle of partnership, and to seek agreement upon its implementation.

The Governor has arranged a meeting on 3rd December at which the African Representative Council will be invited to say whether they are prepared to take part in consultations to define the principle of partnership. My right hon. Friend shares the view of his predecessor that in the conditions of Northern Rhodesia the policy of partnership is the only one which can succeed, and he sincerely hopes that the African Representative Council will agree to participate in the proposed consultations.

Does the Minister agree that it is only when these talks begin and continue that Africans and Europeans can settle down together in partnership, and that we can expect no satisfactory settlement of this problem of federation until these talks take place?

I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman, and that is why the Government took the first opportunity, on 21st November, of declaring their attitude towards the Central African federation problem.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if, in consequence of the Admiralty decision not to proceed with the attempted salvage of H.M. Submarine "Affray," he will arrange for a memorial service to be held over the spot where she is located.

Memorial services have already been held, and it is not considered desirable to hold any further service at this late stage. On 17th April, 1952, the first anniversary of the loss, Flag Officer Submarines, in one of H.M. Ships, will visit the place where H.M. Submarine "Affray" lies, taking a wreath from the Submarine Service.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will call for recommendations for awards to the divers and salvage staff engaged in the recent operations on the wreck of H.M. Submarine "Affray."

The Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, has made a report to the Admiralty on this matter.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will consult with the Minister of Labour with a view to ensuring offers of suitable employment to those part-time workers at the Royal Marine tailoring depot at Portsmouth, whose contracts cease in December, and for whom his Department can find no further employment owing to the move to Chatham.

In accordance with the normal practice, the local officers of the Ministry of Labour and National Service will be informed that there will no longer be employment for the majority of these part-time workers at the depot. I should explain that there is no contract between the Admiralty and these workers, who have been employed only when suitable work has been available.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is considerable anxiety in my constituency on this subject? Will he do his utmost to see that recommendations are made to find these people employment?

Certainly that will be done, and already provision has been made in cases of special hardship.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will give an estimate of how much public expenditure would be involved if all naval pensioners were to receive an increase in their pensions equivalent to those recently awarded to men who left the Service after 1st September, 1950; and what action he is proposing to assist those naval pensioners who did not receive the recent increase.

Approximately £1,000,000 a year. In reply to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Merton and Morden (Captain Ryder), on 21st November last.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give an estimate of the extent to which the quantity of biscuits manufactured in this country is likely to be reduced as a result of the cut in imports of sweetened fat.

No, Sir. It is too early to judge, but I am pleased to say that manufacturers have already announced that they will make every effort so to use the reduced supplies as to have the least possible effect on total output.

Is it not a fact that biscuit manufacturers are very dependent on these supplies of continental sweetened fat for the output of biscuits, which were already very inadequate before the import cuts, and, therefore, as the supply of biscuits is likely to be very seriously reduced, would he agree that we ought to consider a return to some points system for a fairer distribution?

It is obvious that a reduction in the supply of this material will have its effect, particularly on the luxury lines and novelties in the biscuit field, but my right hon. Friend is assured by the trade that they will do their utmost to minimise the effect on the output of biscuits, and my right hon. Friend is not prepared to re-introduce the points system.

asked the Minister of Food if he will consult the meat trade with a view to restoring the procurement of our meat supplies through the services of the various meat trade organisations.

My right hon. Friend is studying the whole problem and will certainly consult the interests concerned about it.

Is the Minister aware that Sir Henry Turner, one of the greatest authorities in the meat trade, expressed the view some three months ago that, given six to nine months notice, the meat trade could produce adequate supplies at prices comparable with those which were being paid at the time?

My right hon. Friend is also aware of, and will take into account, the views of the gentleman concerned, as of all other views.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that optimistic statements of that kind have been much out of fashion during the last month?

asked the Minister of Food if he will discontinue the imports of Danish, Dutch and Swedish sprats, having regard to their effect upon the British sprat fishing and canning industry.

No, Sir. The home canning industry is protected by a 10 per cent. ad valorem import duty.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has decided to proceed with the appointment of a public relations officer in his Department.

I cannot yet add anything to the statement made by my right hon. Friend on 12th November.

Is the hon. Gentleman in a position to say when the Minister will be able to make up his mind on this matter, which has been the subject of consideration by him for some weeks past?

No, Sir, but it should not be long before the Minister is in a position to reply.

Is it not a fact that the Minister's relations with the public are worsening every day?

asked the Minister of Food if he will take steps to encourage the use of hygienic methods in the handling of food, both in its preparation and in its serving, among food manufacturers and in catering establishments.