asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when the House may expect a White Paper on broadcasting policy; and when the new draft charter, licence and agreement for the British Broadcasting Corporation will be published.

The Government intend to issue a White Paper on broadcasting as soon as their proposals are complete; a draft Charter and a new Licence and Agreement will be published when Parliament have had the opportunity of considering the White Paper.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that the reception of British Broadcasting Corporation programmes in East Suffolk is unsatisfactory; and how he proposes to improve matters.

I understand from the B.B.C. that the Light Programme on 1,500 metres and the Third Programme on 464 metres can be received satisfactorily in East Suffolk.Reception of the Home Service on 330 metres is impaired by interference from stations in the U.S.S.R. and in the Russian Zone of Germany. We have asked the Soviet Administration to reduce the interference.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what is the effect of recent wage awards on the Post Office wages and salaries total in 1952–53.

Awards made since 1st April, 1950, which include the central wages agreement recently reached on the National Whitley Council, will add approximately £28 million to the estimated Post Office wages and salaries bill in 1952–53, and represent 17.9 per cent. of that bill.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what is the approximate number of Post Office employees who are eligible for 36 days, 28 days and 21 days annual leave, respectively.

About 8,000, 5,500 and 51,000.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how much money was dishonestly withdrawn from the Post Office Savings Bank by fraudulent withdrawals or similar false pretences in the last convenient 12 month period; and the comparable figure for a similar period prior to September, 1939.

The amount lost during 1951 as the result of fraudulent withdrawals by the public was £18,199, representing.004 of the total withdrawals. The comparable figure for 1938 was £3,608, equivalent to.003 of withdrawals.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will ensure that imports of threshed peas during 1952–53 will be regulated on the basis of the tonnage and acreage grown and not on the acreage covered by contracts between growers and merchants.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the shortage of food arising from the proposed import cuts and the shortfall supplies of meat from the Argentine, he will introduce a system of coupons for meals, a three-course meal limit and a maximum meal price order in all public restaurants.

No. Such measures would be neither useful nor practicable.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the supply of meat from Argentina will be 50,000 tons short of the promised amount; that the Anglo-Argentine negotiations for a new meat contract are likely to be of long duration; and whether he will ban the sale of meat in all public restaurants until a new agreement is reached.

It is impossible at the moment to say by how much Argentine shipments will fall short of the promised amount, or how long the new negotiations will last. I do not think that the prohibition of meat in public restaurants would serve a useful purpose.

asked the Minister of Food what were the meat imports to the United Kingdom for the year July, 1938, to June, 1939, on the comparable basis of 1,552,000 tons for 1949–50 and 1,130,000 tons for 1950–51 as given in the United Nations economic survey for Europe in 1951.

The comparable figure for the calendar year 1938 is estimated at 1,723,000 metric tons.

asked the Minister of Food what was the amount of home-produced meat for the years July, 1938, to June, 1939, 1949–50 and 1950–51.

Figures for the year July, 1938, to June, 1939, are not readily available, but for the calendar year 1938 and the years ended June, 1950, and June, 1951, the figures are 1,104,000 tons, 863,000 tons and 958,000 tons.

asked the Minister of Food how much butter was produced in the United Kingdom for the years 1938, 1950, 1951; and what is the estimated production for 1952.

The figures are as follow: 1938, 44,000 tons; 1950, 25,000 tons; 1951, 15,000 tons; 1952 (estimated), 16,000 tons.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he proposes to take to obtain the interest due since July, 1941, on over $13,000,000 5 per cent. Refunding Mortgage Bonds of the Manila Railroad Company, owned and operated by the Philippine Government, since all these bonds are British held.

I understand that negotiations for the resumption of interest payments on the bonds referred to by my hon. Friend have been proceeding in Manila between representatives of the bondholders and the Philippine authorities. Her Majesty's Government very much hope, however, that these negotiations will soon reach a successful conclusion.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Paris and on his talks with the French Foreign Minister.

The primary object of the visit which my right hon. Friend paid the French Foreign Minister on 1st and 2nd February was to inform M. Schuman of the results of the conversations with the United States Government which the Prime Minister and he had held shortly before in Washington.The talks in Paris ranged over a number of topics, and disclosed an identity of view between Her Majesty's Government and the French Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the total transmission time of British Broadcasting Corporation overseas broadcasts on 1st October, 1951; the total transmission time following the proposed reductions; and what would be the additional sum required to maintain those transmissions and activities it is proposed to cut;(2) what was the total transmission time of British Broadcasting Corporation broadcasts to European countries on 1st October, 1951; the total transmission time following the proposed reductions; and what additional sum would be required to maintain those transmissions and activities it is proposed to cut.

This answer is based on schedules for the last quarter of 1951. All overseas broadcasts, including European, then amounted to 556 basic programme-hours weekly from transmitters operating for an aggregate of 2,796 hours per week. The number of basic programme-hours is to be reduced to 524 and transmitter-hours to 2,599 hours per week. The avoidance of these economies would involve an annual expenditure of £208,000.To Europe alone, broadcasts during this period amounted to 246 basic programme-hours weekly on transmitters operating for 1,116 hours per week. These figures are to be reduced to 214 and 977 hours respectively. Avoidance of these economies would involve an annual expenditure of about £68,000.As stated in the reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Lewes (Major Beamish) on 4th February, it is not intended to reduce in any way broadcasts to the U.S.S.R. and the countries in the Soviet orbit.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what agreement has been reached with Germany concerning her researches into atomic and bacteriological weapons.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent the Western allies have agreed to allow Germany to carry out research in bacteriological warfare.

The subject of the distribution of arms production, and of research into war material, in States of the European Defence Community was discussed between Dr. Adenauer and the three Foreign Ministers at the recent London talks, and discussions are proceeding in Germany.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet received the answer of the Burma Government to his official proposal that a fact-finding commission from the United Nations should be allowed to investigate the presence of Nationalist troops in the Kentung Province of Burma; and whether he can now make a further statement on the matter.

No. I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to the hon. Members for Aston (Mr. Wyatt) and Eton and Slough (Mr. Fenner Brockway) on 20th February. As stated by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State in reply to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Mr. Edward Davies), on 25th February, no reply has been received from the Government of Burma.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the damage to the Jamaican economy caused by the 1951 hurricane has been repaired; and whether he will make a statement.

The relief phase is now nearly over; shelter, food and clothing have been provided for many thousands and building materials worth £500,000 have been given to the poorer people to help them to repair their homes. Free distribution of seed and prompt payment of statutory insurance claims has mastered agricultural recovery. The banana fields were cleared and replanted quickly and large scale exports will be resumed about the middle of this year.Other aspects of reconstruction will take longer and complete recovery of agricultural production will take years. The detailed schemes covering the use of Her Majesty's Government's grant and loan have been approved and work has begun. Staff are being recruited and stores and equipment obtained for the housing and agricultural reconstruction programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the closing of the Native Authority Court, Wenchi, Gold Coast, on 23rd January, 1952.

Because of allegations that the Wenchihene and his counsellors had abused their powers, the Governor, on the advice of the Executive Council, issued a Commission of Inquiry by a Judge of the Supreme Court to investigate the allegations. As the Wenchihene and his counsellors form the Native Authority, and some counsellors are also members of the Native Court, the Wenchi Native Authority and the Court were suspended on 28th January pending the outcome of the inquiry. The inquiry opened on 18th February and is still proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he proposes to take in respect to the official proposal to make Mr. Nkrumah Prime Minister of the Gold Coast.

I hope to be able to make a statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether consideration has been given to the need of arranging for groups of artisans to visit this country for further training and experience similar to the scheme promoted by the Gold Coast Government and now operating in this country.

Consideration is not at present being given to further schemes for the training of groups of artisans in the United Kingdom, though training is arranged from time to time for individual artisans as the need arises. Colonial Governments in general rely on the local facilities available in technical colleges and departmental trade schools for the training of artisans.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Commissioner of Police in the Federation of Malaya recently resigned; why the announcement to the public was delayed until after he had left that country; and why his resignation was not accepted when it was tendered in 1950.

When, in November, 1950, Mr. Gray asked to be allowed to resign his appointment, Sir Henry Gurney was in England. On his return to Malaya he discussed the matter with Mr. Gray, who then withdrew his request.When I visited Malaya in December, 1951, I came to the conclusion that the reorganisation of the police force was a matter of importance and urgency, and that it could best be carried out under a police officer with wide experience of normal police work. Mr. Gray with great public spirit placed his services at my disposal and his resignation was accepted.The decision not to announce Mr. Gray's resignation until after his departure from Malaya was taken after consultation with him. I should like to pay tribute to the courage, initiative and determination shown by Mr. Gray in carrying out his duties in Malaya. It is greatly to his credit that he achieved so much in circumstances of difficulty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why it is not proposed to appoint a Malayan as Deputy High Commissioner in Malaya.

The post demanded a man of wide administrative experience and, as was made clear in the announcement of Mr. MacGillivray's appointment, it was essential that the Deputy High Commissioner should bring a fresh mind to bear on the many complexities of the Government machine in Malaya.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Colonial Office Welfare Advisory Committee in Liverpool was not consulted before it was decided to close the office there on 31st March, 1952; if he is aware that the proposed closing has created much concern among colonials in Merseyside; and if he will call the committee immediately to ascertain their opinions on the matter.

The reasons for my decision to close the Liverpool area office have been explained to the Chairman of the Liverpool Advisory Committee and I understand that he is to hold an early meeting of the Committee. I recognise that this decision may cause some disappointment among people from the Colonies on Merseyside, but owing to the decline in business at the area office I cannot justify its continuance in view of the need to restrict Government spending.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of houses and flats built in Singapore during 1951; what percentage of the house building target does this represent for that year; and what steps he proposes to deal more effectively with this urgent problem.

One thousand one hundred and eighty flats and quarters were built by public authorities and 2,030 were still under construction at the end of the year. The Singapore Improvement Trust's target for 1951 was 2,238 homes, but, in fact, all housing completed in 1951 was only the backlog from the previous year.I share the Government of Singapore's deep concern at the housing shortage, which is a problem demanding imaginative planning and vigorous execution. I will ask the new Governor to give this matter special attention.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of Singapore's record budget surplus, he will press the Government there to adopt a policy of subsidies for house-building projects.

Government loans to the Singapore Improvement Trust so far total £2,624,000. These are at specially low rates of interest and constitute an indirect subsidy.The question of further subsidisation is now being considered by the Singapore Government as part of their general plans for rehousing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will take steps to stop luxury buildings, such as cinemas, hotels and luxury residences, and to control the price of building materials in Singapore.

By a law passed last year, all new luxury building and all buildings costing more than £5,800 must be licensed by the Governor in Council.The distribution of scarce building materials was controlled during the latter half of 1951; control of distribution being found more effective than direct price control. In December, 1951, this control was suspended because supplies had become much more plentiful.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to reassure African workers in the Rhodesian Copper Belt that the conference to be held in London in April regarding the Federation Scheme in no way invalidates the promises and assurances already given that tribal customs and land tenure will be safeguarded.

I am not aware of any suggestion having been made that the decision to hold a conference in April in any way invalidates the assurances given in the final communiqué of the Victoria Falls Conference, to which I drew special attention in my statement to the House on 21st November. If any reassurances on the point are required I will certainly give them and arrange for them to be given suitable publicity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many African delegates were accommodated at the Government hostel, Livingstone, during the Conference on Closer Association; what reasons were given by the two civil servants for leaving the hostel on the arrival of the African delegates; and whether the hostel is normally open for the accommodation of both Europeans and Africans.

Five African delegates were accommodated at this hostel. The hostel was built primarily to house European officers stationed at Livingstone, where there is an acute shortage of housing. It is normally occupied only by Europeans. The two junior officials who left the hostel were not, of course, required to state their reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the agitation that is being stirred up amongst the African miners in the Rhodesian copper belt in regard to the intention behind the formation of the new police reserve and the reasons why the particular regulations governing recruitment to this force have been made; and whether he will take steps to discount the mischief so created.

I am informed by the Governor that he is not aware of any such agitation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the purpose and the duties of the Commissioner-General for South-East Asia.

The Commissioner-General is Her Majesty's Principal Representative in the Colonial and Protected territories in South-East Asia. He does not exercise any executive or administrative functions within these territories, but it is his duty to promote co-ordination of policy and administration between their Governments.For this purpose he may convene conferences of the Governors and High Commissioners. He is required to advise the Secretary of State from time to time on the question of closer political co-operation between these territories. He represents the civil and political interests of the territories (as well as of Hong Kong) on the British Defence Co-ordination Committee, of which he is Chairman. In the sphere of defence—that is to say, the external defence of South-East Asia as a whole he thus has special responsibilities.In the field of foreign affairs the Commissioner-General holds the personal rank of Ambassador, and in consultation with Her Majesty's representatives in the foreign countries of South-East Asia, is responsible for advising Her Majesty's Government on general problems of foreign policy in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what estimate he has made of the reasons for the greater number of instances of corporal punishment for offences in Tanganyika as compared with other Colonies.

As the hon. Member knows, conditions in African territories vary widely and I do not think that the best approach to this problem is by comparison between them. It must be dealt with in the light of conditions in Tanganyika.One major reason for the number of corporal punishments there is the extent of cattle theft and the importance attached by public opinion, especially African opinion, to its being dealt with by this kind of punishment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will convene a conference on West Indian Federation.

Yes. I have invited all the Governments concerned to send representatives to a conference in London next summer. A despatch setting out my detailed plans for this conference is being published today, and I will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any statement to make on the explosion in H.M. Submarine "Alderney"; and how far it is linked with the loss of H.M. Submarine "Affray."

The explosion in the main engines of H.M. Submarine "Alderney" occurred on 14th February while the submarine was undergoing sea trials following a refit. Fortunately, there were no serious casualties. One rating was admitted to hospital with shock and burns and three others were treated for minor burns. The submarine returned to harbour under her own power.The accident appears to have been due to failure and overheating of a bearing in the supercharger drive leading to a minor crankcase explosion. The cause of the bearing failure has not yet been established, but is still under investigation. The type of engine in "Alderney" has been in service since 1945 and this is the first known crankcase explosion.I have no reason to suppose that there is any connection between this accident and the loss of H.M. Submarine "Affray."

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty by what date it is expected that the ship's company of H.M.S. "Kenya" who have served in foreign waters for the last two years will return to this country.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps have been taken by the Admiralty to bring wages and salaries of Maltese personnel in line with the Malta Arbitration Tribunal's award of 8th January of this year.

The award of 8th January related to a claim against the Malta Government by its own employees, and the employees of the Admiralty are not directly affected by

I assume that the hon. Member is inquiring about the ship's company that was serving in H.M.S. "Kenya" at the time he raised a somewhat similar question last July. He will be glad to know that this ship's company returned home in time for Christmas.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will give the numbers of non-industrial and industrial civil servants, respectively, in the service of his Department, other than those employed in dockyards at home and overseas, on 1st January, 1952; and what were the numbers of industrial and non-industrial civil servants, respectively, employed in dockyards at home and dockyards overseas on 1st January, 1952.

I regret that it is not possible to give some of the figures for a date later than 1st October, 1951. The following table gives the information available:it, nor is the Admiralty in any way bound by the award. The Admiralty, War Office and Air Ministry, however, offered an increase of 6s. a week in the cost of living allowance of locally entered civilian employees in Malta with effect from 1st July, 1951, and a further increase of 4s. a week with effect from 1st January, 1952.At the same time, the Departments offered an investigation in Malta to consider, with all concerned, the whole question of the pay of the locally entered employees of the Service Departments. This offer was not accepted, and a strike commenced as from cease-work on Friday, 22nd February. There has been no attempt by the men's representatives to negotiate since the offer was made.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will give the numbers of officers and ratings, respectively, borne on the books of ships in full commission, sea-going vessels employed on training duties and ships in reserve on 1st January, 1952.

The approximate numbers of officers and ratings and other ranks borne on 1st January last in the three categories were:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will give the numbers of officers and ratings, respectively, borne in shore establishments on 1st January, 1952.

Approximately 9,050 officers and 64,400 ratings and other ranks were borne in shore establishments on 1st January last. These figures include about 29,000 officers and men training or employed in training establishments, about 14,000 officers and men employed ashore on naval aviation duties and also personnel on passage.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will make a statement on the resumption of sale of premium grades of petrol.

The Government have decided that in our present financial and economic position premium brands cannot be introduced and have so informed the oil companies.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will make a statement concerning the inquiries he has made into the leakage which has resulted in disclosures being made in the foreign Press about a British fighter aeroplane still on the secret list.

The role of the aircraft, the type of engine and three photographs approved by the Ministry of Supply and the Air Ministry have been released for publication. A description which has appeared in a foreign publication is evidently based on surmise.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make an exception to his 1s. prescription charge in the case of prescriptions which cost less than that sum.

It is proposed that when the prescription charge is in operation items, the retail cost of which is less than 1s. and which are not supplied against a prescription form would be purchased over the counter in the ordinary way, and not under the National Health Service.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that approximately 200,000 tortoises from Casablanca alone were imported into England during 1951 and that only 2 or 3 per cent. of those imported are able to survive an English winter, he will consider the desirability on economic and other grounds of withdrawing the present arrangement under which tortoises can be imported on an open general licence.

No. The import licensing powers conferred on the Board of Trade under the Import Export and Customs Powers (Defence) Act, 1939, are intended primarily to safeguard the balance of payments, and I do not think that it would be appropriate to use these powers for such a purpose.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will call for a report on the conditions at the Royal Air Force Regiment School, Dumfries.

I am making inquiries and will write to the right hon. Member.

asked the Minister of National Insurance on how many occasions during the last two years chairmen of local appeal tribunals have been dis-

During the last two years the appointment of one chairman of a local appeal tribunal has been terminated. Out of 307 whose terms of office expired 23 were not re-appointed. I do not think that it would be proper for me to give the names of the individuals concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of Government-appointed directors and the boards of public companies on which they serve.

The list of Government-appointed directors and the boards of public companies on which they serve is as follows: