asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the terms of reference of the delegation representing the London Standing Conferences of Voluntary Youth Organisations, in association with the London Council of Social Service, for whom he provided the necessary allowances, and who are leaving on 19th March for a conference on unemployed youth in Berlin.

At the request of the Foreign Office certain persons drawn from British bodies interested in youth welfare will take part with their German counterparts in discussions to be held in Berlin from 18th to 28th March on the various vocational and educational problems confronting the unemployed youth of Berlin. The British participants were recommended by the London Standing Conference of Voluntary Youth Organisations on the basis of their personal qualifications and ability to take part in such discussions. As is usual in these cases, they will attend in their private capacity and have, therefore, been given no terms of reference.

In view of the fact that the object of this exercise is to co-operate in forming a link between the young people of London and those of Berlin, is the Minister aware that it seems strange to many people that the list includes no representatives of any such youth organisations as the Boy Scouts or Girl Guides or Boys' Brigade, or of any of these well-known youth organisations in this country?

In this matter the Foreign Office acted on the advice of the London Standing Conference of Voluntary Youth Organisations, which is understood to be a body representative of all the organisations to which my hon. Friend referred.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend also aware that, as a member of that body, I can say that there are on it representatives of these youth movements; but that I have here a list of the people who are attending the conference and, although their qualifications are very high, would it not have been useful to have included in the list members of these youth organisations who are also members of that body?

I think that is a matter of debate.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many war criminals, S.S. men, former Gestapo and concentration camps' staffs have worked, or are working, without guard outside Werl Prison.

During the period October, 1950, to February, 1952, six persons of the types enumerated, comprising four men and two women, have been so employed without guard. They have worked as gardeners and domestic help in the Governor's house and warders' mess close to the prison. No such person is now working outside the main part of the prison without guard.

In view of the dreadful nature of the offences for which these people were convicted, is it desirable that they should have been accorded these privileges?

I am not sure that, in fact, they were accorded any privileges. One of the reasons these persons were used in this work was that they were the most suitable persons for it.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman appreciate that any leniency shown to these brutes, who were convicted for the most vicious crimes, may be regarded by the followers of neo-Nazism as something in their favour? Will he please take every possible precaution not to encourage the rise of that nefarious movement by any action of this sort?

Mr. Erroll.

On a point of order. I should like an answer to my supplementary question, if possible. It is a very important question.

I did not understand the point of the question.

I also had some difficulty in understanding what was the precise point of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question. There is no intention by this practice to give any special benefits to this class of prisoner. In these matters, the prison authorities are governed by the German penal regulations, under which there is no discrimination between particular types of prisoner.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman realise that even if it is not a privilege to the individual himself, the fact that he is allowed to go outside the prison gates when other prisoners could be used for that purpose will, in itself, indicate to the neo-Nazis that we do not regard the crimes which they have committed with the same fierceness as we did before?

I do not agree that that inference arises. In fact, no such person will be permitted to work, or is now permitted to work, outside the main part of the prison without a guard.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why labour to help in the house of the commandant of Werl War Criminals Prison is not recruited from among the 1,100 Allied and German common criminals also housed in the same prison instead of from among the 139 war criminals convicted of crimes against the Allies.

Female prisoners are employed as domestic help in the official houses attached to Werl Prison in accordance with the normal German penal practice. There has been no question of war criminals only being employed in the Governor's house to the exclusion of other criminals: no distinction is made between different classes of prisoners where work is concerned. At the present moment, however, there are eight women held in Werl Prison as war criminals and only two other women criminals. As one of those was convicted on a charge of murder and the other of espionage it was not thought suitable that they should be employed on work of this nature.

In this case, as there were already eight female prisoners in this prison, would it not have been much better to have accorded equality of treatment to them, and not appear, however unintentionally, to seem to give preferential treatment to female war criminals?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what grounds 11 German war criminals were released from Werl Prison in Western Germany on 26th February, 1952.

These 11 men were released on the expiry of their sentences.

But is the Minister of State aware that one of them is a Nazi general—Kurt Gallenkamp—who was convicted of having been responsible for the execution of several British prisoners and one American prisoner? Does he think, in view of the reply he gave me a fortnight ago today that none of the people released had committed war crimes of the first order, that his answer today corresponds with the facts of the situation?

This group of 11 men has been released in pursuance of a practice, which will cover all such prisoners, of allowing a third remission of sentence for good conduct, and of allowing for the time spent in pre-trial custody to be counted towards the sentence.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he is taking in the discussion of the contractual arrangements now being negotiated with the Federal Government of Western Germany for the protection of the rights and privileges of the native Frisian population of Heligoland, in accordance with the petition dated February, 1952, which the hon. Member for Antrim, South, has sent to him.

None, Sir.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend not aware that in the Anglo-German Treaty of 1890 rights— most definite rights—were laid down? We are asking that these rights should be confirmed. What they want is that their own language—the Frisian language—should be taught in the schools. In view of the fact that that Treaty was so shamefully violated, we must ask for some guarantee.

My hon. Friend refers in his Question specifically to a petition dated February, 1952. That was a petition making an appeal for money and gifts in kind. It does not seem really appropriate as a subject for discussion.

Will not my right hon. and learned Friend read the petition again, and the numerous other petitions which I have sent in to the Foreign Office?

May I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman what arrangements he has made for the protection of the peaceful inhabitants of a place for which we have some responsibility, and who were attacked by the local police at a meeting on St. Patrick's Day in Derry? [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer."] Has the Minister no reply as to the protection of the peaceful citizens of Derry, who are in a majority?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he is taking in the contractual arrangements now being negotiated with the Federal Government of Western Germany to obtain a guarantee in the Kiel Agreement for the protection of Danish schools and equality of rights between the native Danish population and the Germans in South Slesvig.

None, Sir. The Kiel Declaration will remain unaffected by the conclusion of the contractual agreements, and is not a subject which could be included in them.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend not aware the whole Danish population demands that the Kiel Agreement should be guaranteed? They demand that 80 Danish schools should be upheld, and they fear that they will not be maintained unless we protect them.

The Kiel Declaration is a unilateral declaration by the Provincial Government of Schleswig-Holstein supplementing the guarantee of minority rights given in the basic law of the Federal Republic, and referring to the rights of Danish sympathisers in Schleswig-Holstein. Neither the Government nor any of the other Occupying Powers are parties to it.

Did not the British Commissioner preside over the deliberations? Is it not a contractual obligation between the Germans and Danes in Schleswig-Holstein which must be incorporated in the Treaty?

Arising out of the right hon. and learned Gentleman's answer, may I ask if the majority of the inhabitants of Derry are guaranteed their rights, and protection against attacks by the Northern Ireland police?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what official representations have been received from the West German Parliament by the Western Allied High Commission in respect of financial and other considerations for more than 94,000 illegitimate children in West Germany who were fathered by Allied occupation soldiers.

No specific representations have been received from the Federal Government or Parliament on this subject, although the question of future arrangements is the subject of negotiation with the German authorities in connection with the contractual settlement. As explained in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bridlington (Mr. Wood) on 12th March, publication of the Convention is not possible at the moment.

Do I understand that, although negotiations are being carried on, representations in those negotiations have come only from one side? Has the right hon. and learned Gentleman not seen reports of definite proposals made by the West German Government regarding this very serious matter?

This is an extremely complicated matter, and my information is that there have been no specific representations upon the subject, but I am making further investigations with regard to it in order to ascertain what the position is.

Could we have the information circulated at some time?

Perhaps if the hon. Gentleman would permit me to inform him, he might consider whether he would like to put down another Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what consideration has been given to the possibility of raising an infantry battalion in the Eastern Caribbean territories; and whether he is aware that a decision to raise such a battalion would find a ready response from voluntary recruits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken to re-form the West Indies Regiment.

There is at present one local infantry battalion in Jamaica. In August, 1951, my predecessor put to Colonial Governments in the Caribbean area proposals for the establishment in its place of a force of two local Regular infantry battalions, to be liable for service throughout the area. Conditions of service and the division of costs between Her Majesty's Government and Colonial Governments are still being worked out. Recruits for the force will be drawn from all the Colonies concerned, and I have no doubt that the response will be satisfactory.

Is this a revival of the old West Indies Regiment, which had such high traditions, or is it some other force?

I find that one rather difficult to answer. I think I must look into that.

Having regard to the fact that this matter was mooted in August of last year, can my right hon. Friend say whether an early decision can be expected?

Yes. The plans have been put back by the destruction of the barracks by a hurricane, and that has caused some delay.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken by the Jamaican Government to suppress traffic in drugs.

The Jamaican police, with the help of other Departments and of the Press, are waging a vigorous and effective campaign against ganja, the only drug in common use in Jamaica. Cultivations are raided and destroyed. Growers of ganja and people found in possession of it are prosecuted. The Governor of Jamaica informs me that a propaganda campaign against the drug, will shortly be launched.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that efforts to stamp out this dreadful traffic have failed; that the drug is even peddled inside Jamaican prisons; that there is some evidence to suggest that the practice is spreading to this country through the medium of Jamaican immigrants; and will he, as a matter of the greatest urgency, consult again with the Jamaican Government to see whether the efforts to stamp out this dreadful traffic can be intensified?

I think that police action is effective. I have already told my hon. Friend that a propaganda campaign is being launched. In 1951, for example, there were 600 prosecutions, and about 60 per cent. convictions were obtained. I am fully alive to the danger of this traffic.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he has taken to ensure that the Jamaican Hurricane Relief Fund has been wisely distributed.

The Fund is administered by a Committee of which the Governor of Jamaica is Chairman, and the fifteen members are leading figures in the public life of the Colony.

In view of the fact that the British Government gave a very large sum to this Fund and that there have been widespread allegations in Jamaica that much of the relief has been badly distributed, and that, in some cases, goods have been resold, should the Secretary of State not impress upon the Government that an inquiry should be made into this distribution, and the accounts published?

The hon. Lady should know that the Government of Jamaica are now investigating these allegations, and when I hear the results of the investigations, I will take the appropriate action.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken to increase the export of bananas from British Honduras to Canada.

I am consulting the Governor and will write to my hon. Friend when I have had his reply.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a very ready market in Canada for greatly increased imports of bananas, and would he not agree that it would be much wiser to spend the British taxpayers' money in developing this market than on abortive attempts to raise beef cattle in an unsuitable country?

There are serious marketing and shipping difficulties relating to the Canadian market which are now being investigated. I am not entirely hopeful about the result.

When the right hon. Gentleman is consulting the Governor on the export of this particular commodity to Canada, will he also inquire whether British vessels can be employed in this trade, and look into the whole question of the employment of British tonnage to and from the West Indies?

I can certainly give the right hon. Gentleman that assurance. At the present moment we are examining the whole marketing and shipping question relating to this export trade, and the question which the right hon. Gentleman raises about the use of British bottoms in this trade will, of course, form part of that investigation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is a very important matter affecting British shipping and the commercial development of that particular area, and that one of the reasons that is given for the failure to develop that area is the lack of British shipping facilities?

I have already given the right hon. Gentleman an assurance that the matter is being looked into, and I think that he has performed a public service in raising the matter again.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the late Government were repeatedly pressed about this matter and did nothing about it?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that no British shipping firm would put forward any proposal for developing this shipping trade without a very heavy subsidy?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action has been taken to combat the outbreak of yellow fever in villages near Enugu, Nigeria, where over 200 Africans have died of this disease; and whether there has been regular routine inspection of mosquito breeding grounds and educational propaganda aimed at removing the source of disease.

A well-organised and comparatively large staff has done everything possible to prevent the disease from spreading and about half a million people have already been vaccinated. No cases have been discovered during the last month and there is every sign that the epidemic is now under control. All appropriate measures of the kind indicated in the second part of the Question have been, and continue to be, taken.

Does it not seem likely that the deaths of these 200 Africans were due to some negligence in what are called the regular routine inspections of mosquito breeding grounds; and is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that everything was done before the unfortunate deaths of these 200 Africans?

The first report of the epidemic was received at the regional medical headquarters on 19th November, and from the information that I have I am satisfied that as soon as that was known every step was taken as speedily as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what amounts of beer, spirits or other intoxicating beverages were imported into each of the West African Colonies, Nigeria, the Gold Coast, Sierra Leone and Gambia, for 1950 and 1951, respectively.

As the answer contains many figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can my right hon. Friend indicate whether the figures of these imports that he will circulate show an increase or a decrease on previous years?

I have the table here. I think that I must ask my right hon. Friend to study it in the OFFICIAL REPORT, as it is rather long.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether these figures are more or less than those that were arranged for at the time that Lord Passfield held the position that the right hon. Gentleman now holds?

If the hon. Gentleman will put a Question on the Order Paper, I shall be glad to conduct the necessary research.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the school population of Singapore; how many of the children attend school; and when he anticipates that school accommodation will be provided for all children.

There are about 153,000 children of six to 12 and 69,000 of 12 to 16, of whom some 151,000 attend school. When schools now under construction are complete there will be places for all between six and 12. Despite the sharp rise in the birth-rate since the liberation, it is hoped that universal primary education can be provided by 1960.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the people of Malaya are more keenly interested in education for their children than in almost anything else, and will he speed up the school accommodation so that every child will have an opportunity of getting at least an elementary education?

I agree with the hon. Member. This is one of the primary tasks to be undertaken in Malaya and Singapore.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many members of the Singapore City Council are elected and how many appointed; and what are the recommendations of Dr. L. G. Hill, who recently held an official inquiry into the local government, regarding the composition of this Council.

Eighteen members of the Singapore City Council are elected and nine are nominated by the Governor. Dr. Hill recommends that all 27 members should be elected.

Is the Minister aware that the Governor recently stated that if we are to win the war in Malaya we must win the minds and hearts of the people there, and that the best way of doing that is to give them self-government, locally and nationally, as quickly as possible?

The Question on the Order Paper relates to Singapore, and the matter has not yet been discussed by the Legislative Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why he has abolished the Colona] Economic Advisory Committee.

The main function of the Colonial Economic and Development Council (to which I assume that the right hon. Member is referring) was to advise upon new colonial development plans. Such plans having now been adopted by almost every Colonial Government, I have not felt justified in keeping the Council in being.

Is not the real reason that the right hon. Gentleman is afraid of exposing his economic nakedness to these eminent gentlemen, who really do know something about economics?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he anticipates that the report of the Colonial Development Corporation will be available.

I am unable to give a definite date but I hope that the report will be published by the end of next month.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the concern which recent reports of the failure of C.D.C. schemes have caused, and when the report is available will he ensure that this House has an opportunity of debating it?

That is not a matter for me.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty (1) what action he has taken or proposes to take on the 8th and 9th Reports from the Select Committee on Estimates;

(2) what action he proposes to take on paragraphs 21 and 75 (6) of the 8th and 9th Reports of the Select Committee on Estimates which deals with Her Majesty's Dockyards;

(3) what action he proposes to take on paragraphs 12 to 23 of the 8th and 9th Reports of the Select Committee on Estimates.

As my hon. and gallant Friend said in winding-up the debate on the Navy Estimates, a number of the recommendations of the Select Committee on Estimates in their report on the dockyards are still under consideration, and I must ask the hon. Member to await the reply which the Admiralty will shortly be sending to the Select Committee.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is some time ago since this Select Committee's Report was published, and I should have thought that ample time had been given to enable its recommendations to be considered; and in view of the uneasiness that exists because of so much rate-cutting in the past and the favouritism that exists with regard to the merit scheme, is it not time in the national interest that action should be taken?

Some of the recommendations were very complicated and some very good. The Admiralty have been going very thoroughly into the whole Report, and it will not be long before we write to the Estimates Committee. I understand that it would be improper for me to give orally to the House information which has first to be sent in writing by the Admiralty to the Select Committee on Estimates.

In view of the fact that many of the recommendations contained in this Select Committee's Report merely repeat recommendations made by the Committee as long ago as 1927 to the Admiralty, and pigeon-holed by the Admiralty, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that there should be the most earnest consideration given to these recommendations; and can he give an assurance that there will be a full discussion and statement in the reply which is made by his Department?

The fact remains that these recommendations came from the present Select Committee on Estimates, and it would be very discourteous of me not to reply first to the Committee in writing. I can assure the hon. Member that if he wishes to discuss our reply to the Report in full I will, when the time comes, certainly make recommendations to the proper quarter.

May I ask the First Lord of the Admiralty to maintain the attitude that it is against the whole procedure of the House of Commons for any statement to be made in the House before a reply is made to the Select Committee on Estimates by the Department concerned?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the ratio of staff to students, respectively, at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, the Naval Staff College, the Naval War College, the Royal Naval Engineering College and the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.

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

Will my right hon. Friend examine the staffing of these educational institutions in comparison with that of residential universities with a view to effecting economies?

Yes, Sir. It is my object, as I said in my speech on the Estimates, to effect certain economies, and I am sure that the subject which my hon. Friend mentions will be one for me to consider.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty on what grounds the allocation of steel for shipbuilding has been reduced.

At the present time steel is scarcer than it was in the first quarter of 1950, the last full quarter for which allocations were previously made, but it is hoped that this shortage will be only temporary.

While I am very much enheartened to hear what the right hon. Gentleman has said, does he realise that the shipbuilders are facing a very serious problem in trying to complete a four-year programme of orders in three years in order to enable them to hold their own in world markets, and that this is a very serious matter which merits his very careful consideration?

I can assure the hon. Member that the Admiralty, and, indeed, the Government as a whole, know how serious the matter is. I have seen a deputation from the shipbuilders and all branches of the shipbuilding industry, and I am fully aware what their difficulties are. I hope we shall be able to give them a more encouraging answer very soon.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why Commander Edgar P. Young has been removed from the Navy List.

The name of Mr. Edgar P. Young has been removed from the list of retired officers of the Royal Navy because the Admiralty have, and will have, no further use for his services. His activities on behalf of the Communist Party are proving a source of such embarrassment and distress to the Royal Navy at home and abroad that it has been found necessary to make it clear that the Admiralty do not hold themselves responsible in any way for his conduct, and that he is not entitled to call himself Commander R.N. (retired) nor to wear naval uniform.

I am sure there is no need to tell the House that very great consideration was given to the case of Mr. Young before this decision was taken but, acting as I am on behalf of all those who are serving their country loyally in the Royal Navy, I am convinced that this decision was the right one.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman two Questions? First, are their Lordships now introducing, by a side-wind, an entirely new principle, that because of his political opinions, however repugnant, and in a situation in which there are no considerations of security, a man may be disadvantaged purely on political grounds? [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] There cannot be any security considerations in the case of a retired officer.

Secondly, how does the right hon. Gentleman reconcile his answer with the fact that Admiral Sir Barry Domville, who has urged Fascist opinions, and who was interned during the war as a potential enemy of this country, remains on the same list from which Commander Young has been removed?

I can assure the House that there is no intention of curtailing Mr. Young's political activities or his freedom of speech. What we are anxious to achieve is that he should not do and say these things in the guise of a naval officer.

As to the second part of the supplementary question, I can only speak from my own period of administration at the Admiralty, and, to the best of my knowledge, Admiral Domville is in retirement and is not engaged in any political activities at the present time.

As it is quite clear that Commander Young is being accused of misconduct, under what Section of Queen's Regulations is the First Lord acting, and what opportunity has been given to Commander Young—[HON. MEMBERS: "Mr. Young."]—to the commander—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—to state his case? Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me of any other precedent for an officer being removed from the Navy List with this lack of formality?

I can assure the hon. Gentleman—he was Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty and probably knows this—that the Board of Admiralty have complete discretion by their Patent to dispense with the services of any officer found to be unsatisfactory, without necessarily giving the reasons. I have today given the reason to the House. Mr. Young was informed of the decision of the Board of Admiralty, and he has replied in full and the Admiralty have in turn replied to his answer.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General for what purposes and under what authority his officers propose to inspect trade union membership cards; and why they should satisfy themselves about the authenticity and validity of these private and unofficial documents.

I am not sure to what my hon. and gallant Friend refers. No authority is given to Post Office staff to demand the production of trade union membership cards. The only case in which I can imagine the staff inspecting such a card is where a counter clerk feels it necessary, as a safeguard against fraud or misrepresentation, to seek some evidence of identity in connection with certain transactions, such as a withdrawal from the savings bank, handing over of poste restante correspondence, and the payment of money orders and postal drafts. In such circumstances, the production of a trade union membership card is one of the methods by which a person may choose to establish his identity. Otherwise no Post Office staff should have any reason to inspect such a card.

Will my hon. Friend give instructions to some of his officials not to issue statements to the Press to the effect that they would have the right to call upon all kinds of evidence, including trade union lodge membership cards, as proof of identity? Not only are such statements misleading but they are also entirely contrary to the principles of British freedom.

If I find that there is any general ambiguity on the subject, I shall be only too pleased to issue an instruction.

Will my hon. Friend also make it clear that trade union membership is not required as a condition of employment in the Post Office?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General (1) if he will consider an ex gratia payment of £20 being made to the Metropolitan Police Rugby Club in part payment of expenses incurred through the delay in London of delivery of telegram No. 000093 on 26th January, 1952;

(2) why a telegram, No. 000093, sent from Bleasby NG on 26th January, 1952, at 8.37 a.m., and recorded in London at 8.46 a.m., was not delivered to Great Scotland Yard until 11.20 a.m.

With the hon. Member's permission, I will answer Questions 41 and 42 together.

I desire my Questions to be answered separately, because they deal with two different issues.

The hon. Member withholds his permission for the two Questions to be answered together.

I shall be pleased to read the same answer twice, if the hon. Gentleman prefers that.

My noble Friend much regrets the inconvenience caused to the club by the delay in delivery of their telegram: this arose because the telegram was accidentally sent to the wrong delivery office. The Postmaster-General is not liable for loss sustained in connection with telegrams, and, moreover, when the margin of time is very short, as it was in this case, it is desirable to use the priority service or the telephone. Nevertheless, my noble Friend is arranging in the exceptional circumstances to make an ex gratia payment to the club of £20.