asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if all the claims for compensation arising from the acquisition of properties adjoining Greenham Common airfield have now been settled.

No.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what is the nature of the exercise that requires eight to 10 Anson aircraft, numbered 50, 53, etc., to fly repeatedly to and fro on a line through Calshot Castle and Hill Head on reciprocal courses at altitudes of 500–2,000 feet; what rules of navigation govern the head-on meetings of these aircraft so that they pass either to right or to left of one another; and what safeguards exist in view of the fact that these aircraft constantly cross or go contrary to the circuit in force at Lee on Solent air station.

These Anson aircraft, based at No. 1 Basic Air Navigation School, Hamble, are engaged on blind approach exercises, using a blind approach installation at Royal Air Force Station, Calshot. The standard rules of navigation governing head-on meetings apply: that is to say, each of two aircraft approaching bead-on shall alter course to the right.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what nations are now represented in the truce talks now taking place in Korea; and what are the names of their representatives.

The nations represented are the United States (on behalf of the United Nations Command), the Republic of Korea, the North Korean authorities and the People's Republic of China. Their present representatives are the following:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the present policy of Her Majesty's Government in relation to the resettlement of Korea, in view of the course now being pursued by President Syngman Rhee in Korea.

Her Majesty's Government do not intend to modify their policy of supporting the United Nations Korean Reconstruction Agency in their efforts to promote relief and reconstruction in Korea and to restore the Korean economy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made with Government schemes to encourage the coconut industry in the Cayman Islands.

Over 30,000 palms have been planted since 1945 and substantial exports of coconuts are expected within the next few years. The construction of a road on Cayman Brac under a Colonial Development and Welfare scheme has opened up new areas for production.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the need for a hotel in Belize and of the anxiety caused in the Colony by the delays in proceeding with the Fort George Hotel project of the Colonial Development Corporation and by the writing off of £75,000 therefrom before the hotel is open; and whether he will examine alternative methods of financing or operating a hotel.

I agree that there is some concern over the delay in completing this hotel, the reasons for which are set out in the Corporation's Report for 1951. As it is expected that the hotel will be ready at the end of this year, the last part of the Question does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement about the wholesale notices to quit being given to the residents of estates in the Colony of Dominica and what directive he has given; and whether he has given any directives to his officials to take appropriate action to assist these homeless people.

No wholesale notices to quit have been given. The hon. Member is probably referring to the notices to quit recently given at the Government-owned Goodwill Estate to provide for the proposed Government livestock farm and for the reallocation of leaseholdings to encourage food production. Compensation is being paid.In recent years, also, some estates which had previously been leased to small tenants have been developed by their owners, but neither the tenants concerned nor squatters had houses on the land and there is no question of their being homeless.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking to alleviate the distress being caused in the Colony of Dominica by the shortage of food, particularly milk, for expectant and nursing mothers.

Food production is being increased by peasant farmers, by some estates, and by the Government Agricultural Station. Frozen meat is being imported. The intended development of a Government livestock farm will assist the fresh milk supply and may also encourage private production. Imported dried and other milk products are available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what representations he has received about the appointment of Mr. Degazon as Administrator in the Colony of Dominica; and whether, having regard to the dissatisfaction being expressed by the inhabitants of this island about this appointment, he will reconsider it and make an appointment from this country.

The hon. Member appears to have been misinformed. I have received no representations of any kind about the filling of this post. The appointment of Mr. H. L. Lindo to it was announced on 21st May.Mr. Degazon is filling ably an important appointment in another territory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is his policy in the case of very small territories, such as townships or small islands in regard to the setting up of both legislatures and local government authorities with separate executive and local government staffs.

I am in favour of avoiding duplication of administrative machinery in the very small territories. I quite understand what the hon. Member has in mind and am in sympathy with his aim. But as he will realise it is very difficult to translate a general aim into a formal statement of policy applicable to places with such varying conditions as those to which he refers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps it is proposed to take to assist the authorities in Nigeria in connection with the rites known as "Horse Title" and "Second Burial" prevalent in the Ibo district of Nigeria; and whether, in view of the fact that these rites sometimes involve the severance of the horses' tails and their final death by burning alive, he will take steps to ensure at least the use of humane killing until such time as it is practicable to put an end to the undesirable elements in connection with these ceremonies.

The Nigerian Government is much concerned, as I am myself, about the cruel practices connected with the killing of horses in certain Ibo title-raking ceremonies and is doing everything possible to eliminate them. In particular, instruction in the use of humane killers is being given in order to hasten the universal adoption of this method of slaughter, and the possibility of introducing legislation to enforce its use is being kept in view.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why there is delay in the establishment at Enugu of the only Government secondary school for girls in the eastern region of Nigeria.

I am making inquiries from the Governor of Nigeria and will in due course circulate a reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that there is no faculty of education at the University College of Nigeria at Ibadan; and what steps he is taking in the matter.

I am aware of the fact, but the matter is, of course, one for the Provisional Council of the College.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what developments have taken place since 29th April last, in the steps he was then taking to bring about the federation of Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia, and Nyasaland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made after Questions today which will, I think, give him the information he seeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he has taken since 29th April last, to ascertain from representative Africans their present opinions on the proposed federation of Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland; who these representative Africans are; and what opinions they expressed.

I saw the delegates from the African Representative Council of Northern Rhodesia and the African Protectorate of Nyasaland before they left. I outlined to them the proposals agreed at the Lancaster House conference which, as I shall describe in the statement I have just promised, are published today. I asked them to reserve judgment on the proposals until they could study them in full, and they agreed to do so.Further steps would have been premature until the White Paper had been published.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why African civil servants in Kenya are not allowed to take the Asian Civil Service examination; and when the common scale of clerical grades for Europeans, Asians and Africans, as recommended by the Holmes Commission, will be instituted.

The Governor of Kenya is not aware of any case in which an African civil servant has been refused permission to take the Asian Civil Service examination. The Holmes Commission recommended separate salary scales for Europeans, Asians and Africans in a general and clerical division of the service, but the Kenya Government decided that the Commission's scales should be re-designated without racial discrimination so that outstanding officers of any race could be advanced from scale to scale according to their merits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what negotiating machinery exists for regulating the wages of African workers on the coffee plantations in Kenya.

Wages of African coffee workers are negotiated at an annual meeting of representative planters and growers and chief headmen from labour producing areas, under the chairmanship of the District Commissioner concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the price per ton of coffee in Kenya during each of the last three years; and what were the rates of wages for African workers on the coffee plantations during the same period.

The average prices per ton paid to producers during the last three completed seasons have been £161, £350 and £374 respectively. The minimum monthly rates of pay for permanent employees (excluding the value of housing and rations) were 17s. in 1950, 23s. 68 cents. in 1951, and 24s. 25 cents. this year. Annual bonuses equivalent to two or three months wages are normally given as well.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many European juvenile delinquents in Kenya have been sent to approved schools or similar establishments in South Africa; how many European juvenile delinquents were there in 1950 and 1951; and whether arrangements will be made for their treatment and supervision in Kenya.

The information asked for is not available in my office. I am asking the Governor for it and will write to the hon. Member when I have it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that there is a shortage of hospital beds and of staff for tuberculosis cases in Singapore; and what action he proposes to take in regard to this matter.

Over 500 beds are constantly in use for tuberculosis patients, and it is hoped to start work in the near future on a new sanatorium which will provide a further 300 beds. The Medical Plan for Singapore envisages the provision of 1,100 beds. There is also an extensive scheme of clinics and vaccination by B.C.G. There is a general shortage of trained staff and of staff accommodation, but these problems are gradually being overcome.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many farms there are in the county of Gloucester exceeding 50 acres; and how many of these are graded A, B and C, respectively.

There are 3,145 holdings of 50 acres and over in Gloucestershire. One thousand and fifty-eight have been graded A, 905 B and 67 C. The remaining 1,115 holdings have still to be surveyed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will consider the desirability of making representations to the Government of Eire with a view to ensuring effective cooperation between this country and Eire to eliminate as far as possible all unnecessary cruelty in the transport to this country of live horses from Eire for slaughter on the Continent.

Any horses brought from Eire to this country for export to the Continent become subject to the provisions of the Diseases of Animals Act and the Exportation and Transit of Horses Orders. These are effective in preventing the export of horses to the Continent for slaughter, and my right hon. Friend sees no need for making representations to the Government of Eire.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) what steps are being taken to train parachutists in the Territorial Army;(2) at what stage in the defence programme aircraft will be unconditionally allocated to the parachute training schools for the training of personnel of the Territorial Army.

I am at present discussing these matters with my noble Friend the Secretary of State for Air. Meanwhile, I think that there would be little value in my describing the existing arrangements.

asked the Minister of Food how many bakers applied for the bread subsidy in the current year.

About 14,400.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the number of houses now constructed by the New Town Corporation at Harlow; the cost thereof; and the number of persons housed therein.

The number of dwellings completed by the Harlow New Town Development Corporation at 31st May, 1952, was 1,010; it is not practicable to state the cost; the number of persons housed is approximately 3,300.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will publish his decision following the inquiry respecting the water supply to the Harlow New Town.

My decision was notified to the agents for the Harlow Development Corporation by letter on 2nd April. A copy of this letter was sent on 4th April to all the persons on whose behalf representations were made at the inquiry. I will send my hon. Friend copies of these letters.

asked the President of the Board of Trade who are the British representatives to the International Cotton and Textile Conference; and what sections of the textile industry they represent.

This Conference, which is between industrialists from a number of countries, is being called by the Cotton Board on behalf of the British cotton textile industry. I understand that the British representatives have not yet been nominated, but that they will be drawn from all the main sections of the industry.