asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken to implement the report of the Conservator of Forests, Jamaica, with regard to the forest resources of the Cayman Islands in December, 1945.

Good progress has been made in the thatch rope, and boat-building industries. Exports of ropes doubled in value between 1945 and 1950. The Conservator of Forests' Reports also recommended the carrying out of a cadastral survey but the cost of this (estimated at £23,000) is far beyond what the Dependency can afford.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Colonial Development Corporation Scheme on Eleuthera Island is operating at a heavy loss; and whether, in view of the serious consequences to the small local community if it should fail, he will examine alternative methods, not under the operation of the Colonial Development Corporation, by which the Scheme may be placed upon a sound basis and by which production can be maintained.

I am aware from the Annual Report for 1951 that the Corporation's operating losses on this Scheme were£49,960. I understand that alternative methods for developing the Eleuthera Estate are now being studied by the Corporation.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this is only one of the many cases in which the Colonial Development Corporation have been shown to be not the best instrument for large-scale development? Is it the intention of my right hon. Friend to make an early statement of policy on the matter?

There will no doubt be at some future date an opportunity of discussing all these matters on the Colonial Development Corporation's Report.

Can my right hon. Friend say when that is likely to be debated?

That is a matter which must be left to my right hon. Friend.

Is it not clear from our experience of development in the Colonies by both private and public enterprise that we ought not to cherish the hope that we shall always be able to make these developments at a profit?

Would not my right hon. Friend say that development by external agencies is hardly in keeping with our colonial policy in general? Would it not be far better to invest public money in the Colonial Development and Welfare Fund and let the responsibility be vested in Colonial Governments?

Is it not the case that the policy of the late Government, which this Government is continuing, was to use both the Colonial Development and Welfare Fund and the Colonial Development Corporation?

It is certainly our intention to draw on both.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will undertake that surface communications between the islands of the British West Indies shall be maintained at least at their present level.

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend is not in a position to give an undertaking in the terms suggested. He is, however, examining urgently, in consultation with the Minister of Transport and the local Governments, the whole question of shipping services between the West Indian Colonies.

May I take it from that reply that my right hon. Friend is aware of the danger that the so-called "Lady Boat Service" between the islands may be withdrawn and that he views that possibility with anxiety?

I am sorry to say that these two boats are going to be withdrawn, probably as from 1st October, and are not going to be replaced.

Will the Minister of State bear in mind that there is no likelihood of the present surface com- munications between the West Indian islands sinking below their present level so long as Plimsoll line regulations are observed?

Will the Minister bear in mind that the cost of air communication is somewhat prohibitive to many of the people out there.

We are well aware of the necessity to maintain communications between the islands, and we are considering what means there are of improving them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the resolution of the Kenya African Union protesting against the retention of the nomination system for African representatives in the Kenya Legislative Council and the decision of members of the Union not to accept nomination, he will reconsider his decision not to instruct the Kenya Government to introduce an electoral system for African representation.

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend does not propose to alter the arrangements for the appointment of the Legislative Council in 1952. Although in form the African members of the Legislative Council are nominated there is a considerable measure of popular choice in their selection.

Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the decision as the population of 30,000 Europeans has 14 elected members on the Legislative Council in addition to 25 ex officio members, while the population of five million Africans has no elected representative at all? As the Legislative Council is to appoint a committee to prepare future constitutional arrangements, is it not desirable that there should be Africans upon it?

The former Colonial Secretary, in a statement which he circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT in May last, reported that he had discussed the future constitutional development of Kenya with those concerned and proposed that within 12 months of the beginning of the life of the next Legislative Council—that is to say, within 12 months of the end of May this year—a body should be set up to consider what constitutional changes should be made, and he said that there would be no major constitutional changes in 1952. That is the position which my right hon. Friend has accepted and carried on. In any case, as the Council is to meet in the course of the next few days, it would be quite impracticable to make any arrangements for any other system of nomination.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say that there will be no change of policy in this matter, at any rate in the way of going back on the undertaking given by my right hon. Friend?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of the protest signed on behalf of the Agikuyu Mbaris, a copy of which has been sent to him, against the proposal to compensate them for land lost owing to the building of roads and railways by settling them on forest lands which the Mbaris claim is already their traditional property, he will urge upon the Kenya Government that compensation satisfactory to the Mbaris should be given.

I have asked the Governor of Kenya for a report on this matter and will write to the hon. Member when I receive it.

In view of the intense feeling in Kenya about land matters, will the right hon. Gentleman seek to meet the demands which have been made in this case? They form not an objection to building but a request that compensation should be given for land lost on the side of the new roadway?

The only information that we have on the subject is that received from the hon. Member and it is not enough to enable my right hon. Friend to say whether he is prepared to intervene. As I have said, we have asked the Governor for a report.

Would not all the difficulty be overcome if a thorough—going method of taxation of land values was introduced?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) how many scholarships for overseas study were granted by the Kenya Government in 1951 for Europeans, Asians and Africans, respectively; and what was the amount expended for this purpose on each of the groups mentioned;

(2) how many scholarships have been granted to Africans in Kenya in the last three years by individuals or private bodies amongst Asians or Europeans.

The information which the hon. Member desires is not available here, but I have asked the Governor of Kenya for details. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as have his reply.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that there is terrific discrimination against the Africans in regard to educational opportunities? Furthermore, is he aware that the European community use as an excuse the lack of knowledge of the Africans for opposing ultimate self-government, and that no conspicuous action has been taken by the Kenya authorities or this Government to help those people to get their education and ultimately to work for self-government?

Before the right hon. Gentleman replies, may I ask him whether it is not a fact that in recent years, since 1945, a university college has been built in East Africa and almost exclusively used for Africans, and that an increasing number of Africans are being trained there?

I thank the right hon. Gentleman. I must say that, from all my knowledge of the matter, the Government in Kenya are most attentive to the needs of the Africans in educational matters.

Is it not the case that only seven scholarships have been given?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what restrictions exist on applications for United Nations Organisation bursaries by African residents of Kenya or other non-self-governing territories.

None, Sir. On the contrary, in selecting candidates from Dependent Territories for fellowships and scholarships the United Nations give priority to indigenous candidates. Applicants must, of course, be able to fulfil the general conditions prescribed by the technical assistance administration of the United Nations.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the Kenya Government find it difficult, they say, to introduce compulsory education for Africans and to provide sufficient African teachers for the purpose, on the ground of lack of finance? Is this not a method whereby the Kenya Government might ease some of their burdens, and will the right hon. Gentleman encourage that Government to make a wider use of bursaries than they are evidently doing?

This particular matter, as the hon. Gentleman realises. concerns only persons already in Government service, or whom the Government would employ after the tenure of their scholarships. On the last occasion, the Government of Kenya informed us, in June, 1951, that they had no suitable indigenous candidates for nomination. I would point out that it is not only a question of finance from the United Nations, and that the Kenya Government are required to help with the financing of such matters as travelling expenses and outfitting, and in a number of other ways. This is solely confined to persons in the Government service.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that if the students who come over here would take up a course of teaching instead of wanting to become lawyers, it would be better for their own people when they got back.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent references are accepted from Africans on behalf of applicants for passports in Kenya.

Applicants for passports in Kenya must be vouched for by a British subject of professional or similar standing. Recommendations by Africans who fulfil this requirement are accepted by the Passport Office in Kenya.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how much land in the native leasehold areas of Kenya, as defined in the Sixth Schedule of the Crown Lands Ordinance, has been leased to Europeans since 1938.

None, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in how many cases the Governor of Kenya has sanctioned the transfer of a lease from an African to a non—African in the native leasehold areas since 1938; and what is the total area of land so transferred.

No such transfers have taken place.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what alterations in the boundaries of the native reserves of Kenya and the temporary native reserves have been made by the Governor of Kenya since 1938 in the exercise of the power conferred on him by Section 54 of the Crown Lands Ordinance; and what is the total area of land affected.

Only one such alteration has been made since 1938. The Kamasia tribe gave up 13,250 acres in a native reserve and received in exchange 14,743 acres of Crown Land in the highlands which the Government purchased for the purpose. This alteration, by which the reserve gained 1,493 acres and an improvement in the boundaries, was approved by, among other bodies, the Native Lands Trust Board, and confirmed by a resolution of the Legislative Council.

Am I to assume from that answer that the Government will continue the course followed by the previous Government and will see to it that land alienated from the Africans will not be transferred to the Europeans?

In general, there has been no alteration of policy whatever in this matter.

Which of these acres had most groundnuts on them?

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that while his answers may be technically accurate and his friends are laughing behind him, there is attested evidence that at the time the allocation of Crown Lands was made a lot of native holdings were overlooked by accident, and that there were cases in Kenya in the last 12 months of tribes being evicted from land which they and their ancestors had occupied for hundreds of years, and where their ancestors are buried?

Is the right hon. Gentleman giving us a firm assurance that the system which prevailed, and which I am assured is still in existence, whereby Members of the Government in Kenya can award land to themselves by decisions which they take in council, is now terminated finally?

That is another question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what hospitals and other health facilities financed by the Kenya Government are open to all races.

All hospitals and health facilities entirely financed by the Government of Kenya are open to all races, with two exceptions. The exceptions are the European hospitals at Nairobi and Kisumu where there are separate hospital facilities for other races.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total membership of trade unions in Kenya having an exclusive or predominant membership of African workers, with figures of their total membership for the years 1948, 1949, 1950 and 1951.

For unions known not to be exclusively Asian or European, Kenya Labour Department reports show membership figures of approximately 5,900, 1,500 and 3,600 for 1949, 1950 and 1951, respectively. These can only be regarded as estimates and in 1948 the Kenya Government was unable to give any firm figure for regular membership.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the United Nations Report on Non-Self Governing Territories makes it clear that in their view there were 10 such unions in 1948 and only eight in 1949, and that the estimated figure of membership they give indicates a further diminution in 1950? Will he therefore call for a full report on this matter so that I can put a Question down later when he has the information?

I have given the hon. Member all the information I have, I am quite willing to ask the Governor of Kenya for further information, but I have answered the Question.

Does not the hon. Gentleman realise that if there has been a progressive diminution of trade unions in Kenya it is time for him to ask for the reasons?

There is a perfectly good explanation for the recent average fall in 1950. It is that there is one union which previously had 2,500 members for which the Kenya Government felt unable to give any figures last year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress is being made with the new technical college for Nairobi.

The Governor of Kenya laid the foundation stone last month.

Is the Minister aware that to date there is no further technical education in the whole of East and Central Africa, which has a population of about 20 million Africans? Can I have an assurance that he will keep a jealous and vigilant eye upon the future development of this ewe lamb of ours in East Africa?

Certainly.

Is my hon. Friend aware that while there are other facilities for technical education, at least in Central Africa, it is most important that progress in this important project should be made as quickly as possible?

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many secondary technical and secondary commercial schools there are in Kenya.

I am asking the Governor of Kenya for this information and will write to the hon. Member when it is received.

Is the Minister aware that I think that is a disappointing answer? It is very important that we feed the technical college of the future with many school leavers from our technical and commercial schools in this part of Africa.

There are probably no exact counterparts in Kenya of the secondary technical and commercial colleges in this country, but there are schools which may be regarded as their equivalent. I will consult the Government of Kenya and let him know.

But the Minister will not dispute that the figures are much lower than those which apply to the Gold Coast where Africans have taken a larger share in public life?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why a collective fine has been imposed upon the inhabitants of the Nyeri area in Kenya, for failure to give information to the police; and under what existing Act or ordinance such fine has been imposed.

Under Section 2 of the Collective Punishment Ordinance, a collective fine was imposed on the inhabitants of the Nyeri District for suppressing evidence in the investigation of cases of arson which occurred in the district. The proceeds of the fine are being used to compensate those who have suffered losses as a result of this arson.

Would the hon. Gentleman please convey to the Government and Legislative Council of Kenya that a collective fine is contrary to principles of natural justice, contrary to the Declaration of Human rights, contrary to the undertakings we gave as governors of non-self-governing territories when we signed the Charter of the United Nations, and repugnant to the elementary conceptions of decency of this House?

Did not many of us on both sides of this House approve of the principle of a collective fine imposed upon the Japanese for the prisoners of war?

Is the Minister aware that this system of collective punishment punishes not only the guilty but the innocent, and therefore should be abolished forthwith?

I would agree in general in regard to collective punishment, but in this case almost the entire population were involved. It was a revolting attempt, not only to destroy the homes of these people, but to burn them in their own houses. These people were respectable members of the African community, including tribunal elders and the Christian schoolmaster of the Church of Scotland Mission. It was an attempt to murder them.

The police and the other authorities, including the chiefs, tried to get all the information they could out of the inhabitants and they were unable to get any answer at all. This fine, which is being used to compensate the people who lost their houses, seems to me in the circumstances to be quite fair.

Is the Minister then telling the House that there has been—[Interruption.]

Order. It would assist progress if hon. Members would keep silent and allow the questions to be asked.

Is the right hon. Gentleman then telling the House that there has been no trial in this case, no finding of guilt, because no evidence was available, and that because the men could not be put on trial and there could be no finding of guilt, and because there was no evidence, the Government have resorted to this system of collective punishment?

I am telling the House that acting under the existing Collective Punishment Ordinance, the Government of Kenya did exactly what they were supposed to do and that they carried out the law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) the total amount of compensation which has been paid in Kenya, since 1938 under Sections 16 and 17 of the Native Lands Trust Ordinance;

(2) of the total area set apart or excluded from the native lands, native reserves and the temporary native reserves in Kenya, since 1938, how much was held under a recognisable system of private-right holding within the meaning of Section 17 (1) of the Native Lands Trust Ordinance.

I am asking the Governor of Kenya for this information and will write to the hon. Member when it is received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that the Wemuru, in Tanganyika, petitioned to the Trusteeship Council of the United Nations in August, 1951, against the intention of the Tanganyika administration to evict them from their land, and that they were evicted in November, 1951, before the Trusteeship Council had had an opportunity to consider this petition, he will instruct that the tribe be reinstated with compensation for the losses they have suffered, pending a consideration of their petition by the next meeting of the Trusteeship Council.

No, Sir.

Is it not accepted practice that where the right of a petition to an authority is given, action shall not be taken before the authority has had an opportunity to consider the petition?

The terms of the land settlement scheme in the Wemuru area were drawn up and publicly announced in June, 1949. After that, arrangements went forward for carrying out the scheme. It was not until two years later when the time came for the move to be made that the Wemuru concerned petitioned the Trusteeship Council.

As the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths) has said on many occasions, it is clear that the land which the Wemuru are to receive is better than the land which they are vacating. As far as the position of the Trusteeship Council is concerned, it is not the practice, and we could not agree, that Her Majesty's Government should undertake to accept their directions in regard to the day-to-day carrying out of policy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will report the extent to which Her Majesty's Government, as administering authority in Tanganyika, have succeeded in issuing to the inhabitants of Tanganyika a progressively increasing share in the administrative and other services of the territory, and giving figures of the number of personnel involved, in accordance with the provisions of Article 6 of the Trusteeship Agreement for Tanganyika, Command Paper No. 7081.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the indigenous inhabitants.

The distribution by races of posts in the public service is given in Appendix V to each Annual Report on the territory. The Report for 1950 is in the Library. The 1951 Report will be placed there when it is published, probably in July. The senior and more responsible posts are still filled by non-Africans, but one objective of the education development plan now being carried out is to raise the standard of African education and so enable Africans to qualify for appointments to these posts

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, when this mandate had passed from the League of Nations to the United Nations, his Ministry entered into a solemn undertaking, in the form of the Command Paper to which the Question refers, to proceed progressively to give democratic representation and participation in administration to the indigenous population, and will he make it clear to the House that he intends to proceed with that as rapidly as possible?

I think I made that clear on answer to the Question. As I have said, the plan of the Tanganyika Government for the development of African education is published in the Annual Report for 1950. Its main features are: increases in the target figure for pupils in primary and secondary schools, for the gradual replacement of district by middle schools, increased provision for girls' education and an increase in teacher training facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many strikes have taken place in Singapore during the past two months; how many are now proceeding; what are the chief causes; and what is being done to create the necessary conciliation machinery to prevent them.

Three, Sir. The one affecting postal employees continues but has now been suspended for three days to permit further negotiations. To avoid a long statement I will write to the hon. Member about the causes. Normal machinery for conciliation and arbitration already exists. As regards negotiations with Government employees, there is another Question on the Order Paper.

Is the Minister aware that the Governor of Singapore recently stated that he is aware of the delays that are taking place in the negotiations on the wage claim by employees, that half this claim was put in in 1950, and that it was two days before the notice to strike terminated that an offer was made by the Government?

My hon. Friend is referring to the Post Office employees, and I shall be dealing with that in answer to the next Question.

As the matter is of some general interest, would the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to circulate his reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT when he receives the information, instead of writing only to my hon. Friend?

I will send the hon. Member a copy, too.

The right hon. Gentleman has not caught my point. This is a matter of some general interest, and will he consider, when he gets the information, circulating it in the OFFICIAL REPORT instead of writing only to my hon. Friend.

Certainly I will meet the convenience of the House in this matter, and I can circulate it in a written reply if that will be more convenient to the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how long the Post Office Uniformed Staff Union of Singapore were waiting for negotiations to commence over their wage claim before they decided to strike; and what steps he is taking to speed up such negotiations.

A formal demand was first made last November and the Government at once opened negotiations. After a postponement for good reasons accepted by both sides, these were resumed in March. Six out of 12 points had been settled by 12th May when the strike was called. The Singapore Government is aware of the need for speeding up negotiations on wage claims by its employees, and agreement has been reached with the unions concerned on the establishment of a joint negotiating council.

Can the Minister tell us what steps are being taken to bring to a conclusion the strike which is in progress?

All the information I have is that there has been a suspension for three days while the negotiations are going on.

Is the Minister aware that it was on 14th May that this strike started, that it has been going on for a fortnight, and what has been done by the Government to meet the employees to bring about a settlement of this dispute?

I will look into the matter and, if the hon. Member will be good enough to put down another Question, I will deal with it then.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the recent curfew at present in operation in Southern Johore applied to children.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, when imposing collective punishments or when restricting rations in Malaya in order to deny resources to terrorists, he will ensure that such punishments or restrictions do not fall upon children.

Curfew orders apply to children as well as adults. One reason is that the terrorists do not scruple to force children to fetch supplies or bear information. It is similarly not possible to exempt children from rationing restrictions, but care was taken to ensure that the supply of food was adequate to maintain health in places where these restrictions have had to be imposed.

But does not the Minister realise that, whatever the sins of the fathers, there is something very un-Christian, immoral and totalitarian in punishing the children for that, and will he not take steps to see that this policy is stopped? Does he not realise that this is building up a fund of hatred in Malaya which will eventually cause us to leave that country whether we like it or not?

I would not accept the assumption in the first part of the hon. Gentleman's question. I quite realise the hardship that has been caused to the children in this connection, but efforts are being made to arrange for them to go to school under escort if necessary. During curfew time patrols are out after dark and are compelled to fire if there is no reply to their challenge. There is considerable danger to children in allowing them out in those circumstances.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the indiscriminate restrictions which hurt children cannot but stiffen the morale of the enemy, and that it is inexpedient and immoral to apply punishments and restrictions which harm children who cannot be of any possible assistance whatsoever to the terrorists?

That is not the opinion of the authorities on the spot. Their information is that there have been many cases in which children under 12 have been used for carrying messages and taking supplies—

How many cases?

—to the terrorists.

Would my right hon. Friend give an assurance that the safety of our own troops and people is paramount and that all steps necessary to that end will continue to be taken?

Of course, that forms an important factor in this matter. In this particular area where the regulations had to be enforced, we know that 12 people, including two of our own British officers, lost their lives and the rest of the party included harmless Malayan and Chinese workers who were employed on repairing the water supply of the town in question. All these things have to be taken into consideration.

While everyone is in favour of all possible means being taken in order to protect our troops and those engaged in Malaya in the security service and the civilians as well, is not the purpose of this Question to safeguard innocent children from indiscriminate punishment, and will the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that some such measures are being taken to safeguard the children?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many arrests were made on the basis of information received in response to the questionnaire distributed to the people of Tanjong Malin; and how many of those arrested are still detained.

Thirty-two people were arrested. Three are still detained.

Does not that very small result of this considerable operation show that it was futile as well as barbarous?

It would be quite wrong to assume that the only purpose of this particular operation was to obtain answers to these questionnaires. As my right hon. Friend made perfectly clear, among the other objects a very important one was to reduce the rice supplies available to the terrorists and generally to discourage communication between the town and the terrorists.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what discussions he has had with the Rubber Growers' Association in connection with proposals made in the Federation of Malaya to reduce the wages of plantation workers.

None, Sir. This is a a matter for local negotiation between employers and workers' organisations. The existing agreement in the industry provides for fresh wage negotiations if the average price of rubber over the past quarter falls below one Malayan dollar per lb.

Should not the right hon. Gentleman interest himself in the proposal to reduce wages for 300,000 workers in Malaya, who received only negligible increases during the periods of boom profits and prices? Should he not take some interest in the matter, in view of the dangerous political consequences which are likely to flow and to affect still further the wages of these workers?

Has the attention of my right hon. Friend been called to a statement in a newspaper that rubber workers in Malaya have been told that their wages are going to be cut?

It is, of course, completely untrue.

Are the Government giving attention to the very serious consequences that will ensue in Malaya in existing circumstances, if the price of rubber continues to fall and small planters go out of existence as planters, because the economic life of the country will be disintegrated? Are urgent representations being made by him and his right hon. Friend to the Government of Malaya to take early steps to prevent that serious situation arising?

We are very concerned over the whole question of the fall in the price of rubber, and we are going into the matter with very great care.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how much of the pay of Lieut. Birnie, of the Malay Police, is marriage increment; by how much such increment exceeds the 25s. a week which he allots to his wife; how much could she receive by way of marriage allowance if the necessary formalities were completed by the officer; and what are the formalities involved.

Police Lieut. Birnie receives a total married increment of £175 a year. This includes £126 a year marriage allowance and £49 a year additional cost of living allowance. Any variation in the amount now being paid by Lieut. Birnie to his wife is a matter for agreement between the persons concerned or for the courts. There are no formalities involving the Federal Government.

Is the Minister aware that in this case and similar cases the Colonial Office are condoning a system by which some of these officers are putting into their own pockets money intended for the support of their wives? Is it not quite scandalous that the Colonial Office should be a party to this kind of proceeding, and will he take steps to put pressure on officers who are behaving like this and see that they are interviewed by their commanding officers and are reminded of their obligations to their wives?

I think this system, under which marriage allowances are made to the officer concerned and are under his control, exists in all the Services, both civil and military, in this country. So far as the second part of the question is concerned, the High Commissioner has expressed the view that it would not be proper for the Government to put any pressure upon Lieut. Birnie to increase his allotment. From my own examination of the case, it is quite clear to me that there is no possibility of successful pressure being privately brought to bear upon Lieut. Birnie. The matter has been put to him, without success, and it is quite clear that relations between this couple are so bad that there is no hope of persuading them to meet one another's wishes in any way.

What my right hon. Friend says about what happens in other services is perfectly true, but what also happens is that the commanding officer takes action with the officers concerned to ensure that they fulfil their obligations. Why is not the same thing done in the Colonial Office?

We have no constitutional powers, nor has the commanding officer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will identify and provide a copy of the regulation which precludes payment of marriage allowance to the wife of a police officer of the Malay Police unless the officer gives written consent to payment of such allowance.

Marriage allowance is an emolument of the officer which the Government has contracted to pay to him. It is not payable to any other person, nor is its payment subject to any other condition than that the officer is married and legally liable for the maintenance or part maintenance of his wife or a child. Colonial Regulation No. 48 provides that an officer may remit a portion of his emoluments monthly to a named recipient through the Crown Agents for the Colonies. The amount of any such remittance is entirely at the discretion of the officer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider issuing a contract of service to the Malayan Special Constabulary; and what gratuity it is intended to pay these men at the termination of the present emergency.

I am not aware of any need to vary the present arrangement whereby the terms of employment of the Special Constabulary are laid down in the Essential (Special Constabulary) Regulations, 1948. The question of release benefits is at present being considered by the Government of the Federation.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that these men have given as a whole very loyal and valuable service in the emergency, and there is a feeling that they suffer from disabilities in regard to, their service conditions which do not apply to the Regular Police? Would he therefore look into this question again with a view to considering the just complaints which are forthcoming from the supplementary police?

I think everybody would agree with what my hon. Friend has said in regard to the services which the special constables have rendered and are rendering. Certainly those services and their value will be taken into consideration when deciding upon the release benefits. These are at the moment being discussed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Chinese have been deported from Hong Kong this year; what were the reasons for the deportations; and how many of them were trade union officials.

As the answer to the Question is rather long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that no effort is being made in Hong Kong to suppress the trade union movement?

Yes, I can give the hon. Gentleman that assurance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in rehousing the 16,000 people rendered homeless by fire at Tung Tao Village in Kowloon last November.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the Question by the right hon. Member for West Bromwich (Mr. Dugdale) on 12th March. The latest information available shows that up to 10th April a total of 1,214 houses or huts had been completed in six of the new resettlement villages; that an additional 710 were under construction or approved. Additional sites for 127 dwellings have been allocated.

Is the site of the old village where the fire took place being built on and, if not, could the right hon. Gentleman give us the reasons for not building on that site?

That is another question, and if the hon. Gentleman will put it down I will get the information for him. I have not got it at the moment.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps he is taking to reduce the delays in development and production of modern naval aircraft.

The Admiralty are in constant touch with the Ministry of Supply, which is responsible for the development and production of naval aircraft, in order to see if there are any ways in which we can assist in securing the quickest possible delivery of aircraft to the Navy. My hon. and gallant Friend will be aware that it was recently decided to accord super-priority to the production of the Gannet anti-submarine aircraft.

Is it not a fact that very serious delays have taken place in the production of naval aircraft? Can my hon. Friend say how much of this is attributable to the Admiralty and how much to the Ministry of Supply?

I can speak only for the Admiralty. We are certainly doing our best to overcome the delay.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what were the terms of reference of the Evershed Committee on Naval Air Organisation; what were its conclusions; and what action is being taken to implement its recommendations.

During 1944, Sir Raymond Evershed was attached to the Admiralty, on a part-time basis, and undertook an examination of the internal organisation of naval aviation, then known as the Fleet Air Arm. His report was a confidential document intended for the advice of the Board of Admiralty of the day. It is not the practice to publish the content, of documents of this kind or to indicate what measures have been taken as a result of the recommendations contained in them. I regret, therefore, that I cannot give the information requested by my hon. and gallant Friend.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that it is generally considered that the Air Organisation of the Admiralty has many serious defects, and is it not a pity to suppress a valuable report of this nature?

I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by my commenting further on its recommendations.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that an eager long-service recruit was recently turned down by the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force because he could not spell conventionally such words as "secretary" and "discoveries"; and if he will see that spelling tests are not allowed to exclude worth-while candidates in future.

Spelling is only one part of a selection test designed to assess a candidate's suitability to join the Royal Navy. No candidate would be rejected solely because of his inability to spell correctly. I understand that similar conditions apply to candidates for the Royal Air Force.

While accepting that partly in good faith, may I ask whether it is not absolutely futile that a young man from a comfortable home, who is willing to enter the Navy as a recruit for long service, should be turned down because he could not spell one or two difficult words?

As I have pointed out, he was not turned down simply because he could not spell. I have seen the papers, and I do not believe that the spelling would be in conformity with the hon. Member's ideas on spelling reform.

is the hon. Gentleman aware that on this test neither Sir Francis Drake nor Lord Nelson would have been able to get into the Royal Navy?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the number of telephone calls, both local and trunk, made by the Ministry of Supply in the last recorded 12-monthly period.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 21st May to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Renfrew, East (Major Lloyd).

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he accords the same priority to parish clergy as to general practitioners in considering applications for telephone service.

No, Sir, but we do give a measure of priority to applications from ministers of religion, especially in rural areas.

Is my hon. Friend aware that in certain parts of Scotland, at any rate, clergy are given a very much lower priority, and that persons approaching death or in sickness are just as keen to have their minister as to have a doctor?

The Post Office have never pretended that they can give to ministers of religion anything like the same priority as is given to doctors.