asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Her Majesty's Government will now undertake a comprehensive geophysical survey of the Colonial Territories.

This method of survey is not suitable for general application. It is, however, being used in limited areas where it is practicable, and the selection of such areas is being kept under constant review as new geological information is being established by colonial geological surveys.

Is the Secretary of State aware that many of our African territories, in particular, have not had a geological survey, never mind a geophysical one? Can he give an assurance that in those particular areas he will in future carry out an intensive geophysical survey? In view of the Commonwealth Conference, there is need to exploit all our resources, particularly in the African territories.

I think the hon. Gentleman will realise that a geophysical survey must follow after the general geological survey, which we are pushing on as quickly as we can, but which is an immense task.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many schemes of the Colonial Development Corporation have been liquidated since the advent of the new administration in October, 1951.

Five undertakings have been abandoned since October, 1951, namely: British Honduras Stock Farm; Seychelles Fisheries; South Atlantic Sealing Co., Ltd.; Keningau Cattle Ranch; British Somaliland Camel and Sheep Abattoir and Trading Investigation.

Will the Secretary of State not agree, in view of our economic position, that it is more imperative than ever that we should employ the Colonial Development Corporation for these schemes? Can he give us an assurance that this Government are not weakening upon the policy of the Labour Government since 1945 in this respect?

Nothing but damage is done to colonial development when schemes which do not turn out to be possible are undertaken, but I can give the hon. Gentleman the assurance for which he asks.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any new schemes have been started since the present Government came into office?

That is another question.

It may be another question, but would the right hon. Gentleman answer it in courtesy to the House? Can he tell us what statement has been made to the House, and what particulars have been given and what information has been furnished, to support the thesis that these schemes ought to be abandoned?

The Report of the Colonial Development Corporation is not prepared by the Government, but it will give the hon. Member all the information he requires about the abandonment of the schemes. I have no information here about new schemes, but I shall be very glad to answer that question in full if it is put on the Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what parts of the Colonial Empire have a regular passenger service of steamers registered in foreign countries but none of the steamers registered in the Empire and Commonwealth.

None, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to make a statement on the Colonial Civil Aviation Conference held in September.

I have nothing to add to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and of Civil Aviation on 29th October last, and the statement issued to the Press on 13th September at the conclusion of the Conference. I am sending a copy of the latter statement to the hon. Member.

Are not such statements most unimaginative? Surely the Colonial Office has not grasped the really enormous and important part that aviation can play in the development of under-developed areas. Will the Secretary of State study the Air League's Memorandum on the subject?

I will certainly study any document. I have already studied most of the documents.

What about the first part of my supplementary question, on the unimaginative statements which have been issued?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in how many instances and for what offences was corporal punishment inflicted in Tanganyika, Uganda and Kenya, respectively, in 1938, 1945, 1951 and to the latest available date of this year; and in how many cases this punishment was awarded by native courts.

Complete information is not available in the Colonial Office. I am therefore consulting the Governors and will communicate with the hon. Member when I have their replies.

The right hon. Gentleman has spoken of "complete information." Can he give us a rough idea whether the number of times that corporal punishment has been inflicted has increased or decreased?

I am sure the hon. Member will sympathise with me when I say that I really must not deal in rough information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made by the Government of Northern Rhodesia in the settlement of the dispute in the copper mines.

The employers and the African Mineworkers' Union agreed to the appointment of a conciliator and work was resumed on 10th November. The attempt at conciliation broke down, but work continues. Both parties are willing to submit the claim to arbitration, and consultations are taking place about terms of reference.

While appreciating that the preliminaries in these matters take a little while, can the right hon. Gentleman give some indication when it is likely the name of the arbitrator is to be announced?

That, of course, depends on the agreement of the two parties, but perhaps the hon. Lady will be assured when I say that the United Kingdom is quite willing to appoint the arbitrator if the parties agree.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in what quantities uranium has been found in Northern Rhodesia.

A workable uranium deposit has been discovered and exploratory work is in progress. I cannot disclose the quantities that might be available from this source.

Is it not a fact that it was stated that large quantities were available—stated, I gather, by a spokesman of the Colonial Office—and can the right hon. Gentleman verify whether that is so?

I do not know what is in the ground. I cannot disclose the quantities of uranium, and it would not be in the public interest to disclose how much ore is available from this source.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what discussions are to be held between representatives of Northern Rhodesia and the Secretary of State on the constitution of Northern Rhodesia in January; who is to attend; and what proposals for constitutional changes it is intended to discuss.

As I explained in replying to the right hon. Member for West Bromwich (Mr. Dugdale) on 22nd October, I hope to resume discussions with both Africans and Europeans some time after the Federation Conference. The exact date has not yet been decided nor has any agenda been drawn up.

Is the Minister aware that Mr. Welensky has stated that such discussions will be held with the African and other representatives after the conference on the subject of internal constitutional changes in Northern Rhodesia, and is he aware that such discussions would be welcome if their object were to implement the proposals made by the Northern Rhodesian Government in April about extending African representation on the Legislative Council?

These discussions will be resumed after the conference.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now announce his plans for the future development of Kenya.

It is not possible within the scope of Question and answer to cover an issue of this magnitude. I reported to the House on 7th November the plans of the Government of Kenya for development in many fields. I am also sending the hon. and learned Member a copy of addresses by the Governor and the Finance Member giving further detailed information to the Kenya Legislative Council.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for the documents he is going to send me, I should like to ask him, is it not a fact that the Government delayed eight months after receiving the expert and authoritative report of Sir Philip Mitchell, then the Governor of Kenya [HON. MEMBERS: "No."], asking for a Royal Commission, and is not that largely the cause of the present disturbances in Kenya? Will the right hon. Gentleman see that the economic causes underlying the present disturbances are resolved as soon as possible?

The hon. and learned Gentleman is under an entire misapprehension on all these points. First of all, the original dispatch of Sir Philip Mitchell was concerned with the three East African territories and had to be submitted to the East African High Commission as a preliminary. There has been no avoidable delay since the final dispatch was received—I think in May, but I have not the exact date. Secondly, the hon. and learned Gentleman is also under an entire misapprehension when he ascribes any of the present troubles to this delay over the appointment of the Royal Commission.

On a point of order. The White Paper to which reference has been made was handed to the Press last night; it is not available in the Vote Office; it is not even available in the Library, and when one asks for it one is told one must sign a green paper and in due course it will be provided. My point of order is this. Is it right that this document, of such an important character in the present crisis in Kenya, should be handed to the Press and that Members of Parliament should not be given opportunities of having it?

I cannot answer that straight away. I will have to look into the facts. It may be that it is not a Parliamentary Paper, but that is a matter I should have to investigate.

Will it be permissible to ask the right hon. Gentleman why it is that the Press have been issued with a copy of this statement and yet it is not available to hon. Members.

May I say that I am surprised if the Paper is not available in the Vote Office, because I gave instructions that it was to be put in the Vote Office. I will willingly look into any causes for the delay. I had some intimation that this was to be raised, and I was in communication with the Vote Office a few minutes ago.

On a point of order. Is it not the fact that it is not available in the Vote Office, not available in the Library and not available in the House, and that after today we shall have no chance of putting Questions on colonial affairs and on this important matter before the Christmas Recess—or, indeed, much before Easter; and that, therefore, this mistake will deprive us of discussing this whole matter unless some means can be devised of having a special debate upon this exceedingly important document?

There will be an opportunity of putting a Question on the Paper for next Wednesday.

I am afraid I cannot carry this discussion any further. I am not aware of the facts; I heard about them only this moment. I will look into it.

Is the Minister aware that when I rang his private office a few moments ago to ask about this I was told that they were not sure that there were any stocks of this document in the Colonial Office; and would he be a little more careful to see that a major document of this kind is made available to Members of this House? He really is treating the House with some discourtesy if he thinks we are not interested in this matter.

I must deny any wish to behave discourteously in any way. I have given instructions that it was to be in the Vote Office, and I am quite willing to look into any reasons why the instructions have not been carried out.

Why could it not have been issued as an ordinary White Paper in the ordinary way so that it could have appeared in the Vote Office? Why should there be this particular difficulty about this particular Paper.

There is no difficulty at all.

But it is not in the Vote Office.

It is going to be in the Vote Office.

rose—

We cannot carry this matter any further now. Clearly we do not know the facts about it.

Having regard to the serious issue of fact between the Minister and the rest of the House, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of the persons in Kenya who have been arrested, screened and not charged with any offence are being detained up to date; where they are being detained; and what are the physical and other conditions of their detention.

I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the places of detention of those in custody on 28th November. Otherwise I cannot add to the reply which I gave on this subject last week.

Why are these people being detained in custody without charge? Is that not contrary to our system of law; is it not improper; and will the right hon Gentleman have them either charged of released as soon as possible?

The hon. and learned Gentleman must consult the precedents of this thing. Everybody will be charged as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with reference to the number of cases heard to the most recent convenient date under the Emergency Laws in Kenya, the number of persons convicted and the number of persons acquitted.

The Governor of Kenya states that this information will need to he abstracted from the records of each separate magisterial court and police station. That is being done and I will circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is the right hon. Gentleman seriously telling the House that at this time there is not available to the Government of Kenya the record of convictions and acquittals for alleged serious crimes against emergency legislation at trials which have taken place in the last two or three weeks? If he is seriously suggesting that information is not available, will he find out why it is not and who is to blame? Is he really trying to conceal vital information from the House? Is it a fact that scarcely a newspaper has a record of a single acquittal?

I have nothing to add. I have given the total of those who have been tried and acquitted. It will take a long time—the Kenya Government have plenty to do—to obtain all the details.

It will not take long to find the number of acquittals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what emergency legislation, rules and orders are now in force in Kenya.

It would not be possible to give an account of all this legislation within the scope of a Question and answer. If the hon. and learned Member wants information on any particular point, he will, no doubt, put down a Question.

Copies of all but one of the Ordinances passed to deal with the threat to law and order before the proclamation of a state of emergency have been placed in the Library of the House. The exception is the Societies Ordinance, of which the final version is not yet available. Copies of the Emergency Regulations are also in the Library. Orders made under the Emergency Regulations are published in the Kenya Official Gazette, copies of which may be consulted in the Colonial Office Library.

Is the Minister aware—I must put it in that form—that the particular matter upon which I want information is this: are any steps being taken to revise these rules and orders so as to make them more consonant with the needs of Kenya today?

I really cannot answer a question in those terms. There is a mass of regulations here, and if the hon. and learned Gentleman will put down a Question on specific points I can perhaps give him an answer.

Is the right hon. Gentleman now in a position to state how many persons were arrested for screening under these Orders? A week ago he said he had not got that information.

I think the hon. Gentleman's memory is slightly at fault. I do not believe the total number of people screened will be available; I do not think I can give that information.

Are there so many?

The figure I did give was that 13,000 people had been detained after screening.

On a point of order. The right hon. Gentleman has not answered the last part of my Question asking what are the physical and other conditions of their detention.

That was the last Question, not this Question. We are now on Question No. 7.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what measures have been taken by the Kenya Government to deal with the reception and accommodation in the Kikuyu reserves of Kikuyu repatriated from European farms.

The Kikuyu families were moved in small groups and on arrival in the districts to which they were repatriated were met by their chiefs and headmen, who had previously made arrangements for their accommodation with relatives. As accommodation was available on arrival there was no need for a reception camp.

I am grateful for the answer the right hon. Gentleman has given, but is it not a fact that these people from European farms have been less affected by Mau Mau than other tribesmen; and does it not follow from that that it may merely aggravate the position if they are sent back to the reserves without adequate preparation being made for them, and without adequate provision made for accommodation in which they may live?

I do not accept the hon. Gentleman's premise. There have been disquieting signs lately that Mau Mau have penetrated to the so-called squatters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has any further statement to make concerning the membership of the Royal Commission to inquire into the situation which has arisen in Kenya.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has now secured the full personnel for the Kenya Royal Commission; and how far these include Africans and non-Europeans.

I am not yet in a position to make a further statement concerning the membership of the Royal Commission which is to inquire into land and population problems in East Africa as a whole. No time is being lost—

Nonsense.

That is a quite unfounded interjection.

Eight months.

It is not eight months. The report had to be referred to the High Commission Territories.

No time is being lost, but I am most anxious to secure the best people available.

In view of the fact that the decision to set up this Commission was taken several months ago, does he not think that is an awfully long time without having reached any finality; and, in view of the very gloomy picture this morning, will he approach his right hon. Friend the Prime Minister so that we can be allotted a day for a debate on the problems of Kenya before we break for the Christmas Recess?

That is an entirely different question, which is not a matter for me. I can only say that I know of no method by which the appointment of these gentlemen to the Royal Commission could be accelerated. I told the House last week that all communications with potential members of the Commission have been conducted by telegram.

In view of the fact that the personnel have not yet been decided upon, will the right hon. Gentleman see to it that at least one or two representatives of the non-Europeans in that area are approached?

I answered a Question from the hon. Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) on that subject. An African is being invited. So far, the first African who was asked was unable to accept for various reasons.

As it is over five months since the right hon. Gentleman announced in the House his intention of setting up this Royal Commission, and, we gather, many more months since it was suggested by the late Governor of Kenya, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is his intention to make an announcement on the membership of the Commission before the House rises for the Christmas Recess?

I must say in candour that I do not know when the whole thing will be completed, but I hope to make an announcement about some of the members. The delays, I agree, are regrettable, but they are unavoidable.

Since there is in the country and, I think, in the House considerable concern about this delay—and the right hon. Gentleman has indicated to us that he is having difficulty—may I ask what are the difficulties which have prevented the completion of the Commission?

I will give an example. I have sent an invitation to a certain gentleman—I think I had better not mention his name, as it would not be fair—and I have followed that up with three telegrams—I know that he is in an over-sea territory, although not in one of these territories—and I have had no answer. The gentleman in question would be a most desirable member of the Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the minimum wage payable to agricultural workers in Kenya; and what is the average wage.

There is no statutory minimum wage for agricultural workers. The average wage is 25s. per month plus rations valued at 20s. per month, housing and free medical attention. In many cases the worker is also allowed to cultivate a plot on his employer's farm on his own account.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in some cases farm workers are being still paid a wage of 6d. a day for a 60 or 65 hour week, and does he not consider that such conditions are instrumental in bringing about the present situation in Kenya more than anything else? Can he say what steps he is taking to improve that situation?

I have no information to support the figures which the hon. Member has put forward. I have given the average wage. This is a matter of extreme difficulty, and one of the matters to be discussed with Sir Evelyn Baring.

Does the right hon. Gentleman still hold the view that the state of affairs in Kenya has nothing to do with economic circumstances, in view of his statement that the average wage is 25s. a month?

The hon. Gentleman has put words in my mouth which I never used. I have said that the Mau Mau secret society was not the direct result of economic pressure.

Can not the right hon. Gentleman, in the interests and good name of this country, condemn this disgraceful rate of wages prevalent there?

I am not going to answer a question couched in these general terms. Obviously this is a matter which has to be investigated very carefully.

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the statement circulated by such an authority as the Church Missionary Society, which very definitely says that the economic and social conditions are a major cause in bringing this thing to an endemic stage?

I can only say that the opinion that I have expressed, and which I continue to express, is not only held by me but by everyone in Government service in Kenya, including the district officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds the son of Mr. Veljee Devshi has been excluded from the Government Primary School for Europeans in Nairobi after having attended St. Mary's School, Finchley, and Beckford Primary School, Hampstead, to the satisfaction of the teaching staff.

As I told the hon. Member in my letter of 14th October, schools in Kenya are at present organised by race and it is not the practice for an Asian to be admitted to a European school any more than it is for a European to be admitted to an Asian school.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is desirable in education and other spheres to end the colour bar completely, and that one of the most effective means of doing this would be to allow a child who has been in English schools in this country to go into an English school in Nairobi when he returns there?

I think the hon. Gentleman knows what my sentiments are in this matter; that these are highly desirable objectives.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the colour bar, and, if the Government have one, what they propose to do towards its implementation?

Our difficulties are very much those of the last Government in these matters. It is desirable to remove these discriminations, but one cannot proceed either at one's own pace or at that of hon. Members opposite.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that there is a psychological and moral factor—a non-economic factor—which has some relationship to Mau Mau?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has considered the protests by defence counsel in important trials in Kenya against the lack of proper facilities for the defence; and what action he has taken thereon.

I have received no such protests. But on Monday last the Governor reported that apart from an application, which the Supreme Court of Kenya rejected, for the case to be heard in Nairobi, Mr. Pritt had made only one protest about lack of facilities and had said that he was satisfied with the arrangements made as a result of that protest.

As the inquiry is being held in what can properly be described as a kind of bush outpost, is it not self-evident that defence counsel cannot possibly have the facilities which counsel ought to have for conducting a trial of this kind? Is it not right that, as "The Times" said today, the eyes of the world are upon us in this sort of thing?

The views of the hon. Baronet are not shared by Mr. Pritt.

But Mr. Pritt has protested against this place being used.

Mr. Pritt said he was satisfied with the arrangements which have been made as a result of his protest. That was the only protest which has been received. The reason why the trial is being held in a remote part instead of in Nairobi is fear of intimidation of the witnesses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has considered the further statement sent him by Mr. P. Strethill Wright; and what further action he and the Kenya Government are prepared to take in view of Mr. Wright's denials and requests.

I am consulting the Government of Kenya about some of the points raised by Mr. Wright. In the meantime, I have nothing to add to the statement I made on 26th November.

But Mr. Peter Wright was deported. Surely the right hon. Gentleman thinks that this is a sufficiently urgent matter to he communicated by cablegram so that information shall be available to the House? This most distinguished gentleman is at the moment out of work in this country, where he does not intend to seek work as he wants to get back to Kenya. He is waiting, and the House is about to rise for the Recess.

There has been a lot of correspondence about his case. Has the Secretary of State himself seen Mr. Peter Wright, and, if not, will he do so in order to discuss his case with him?

I have not seen Mr. Peter Wright, and, unless there are some grounds of which I am at present unaware, I see no reason to intervene.

Without passing judgment on facts that we know, there is a continuing controversy in the Press, and the information seems to be that Mr. Wright was a very good officer but he is alleged to have done something about which there is controversy. In those circumstances, will the Secretary of State reconsider his decision and invite Mr. Peter Wright to see him? Otherwise, the controversy in the Press may create the impression that a wrong has been done him and that it is not being rectified.

I will certainly reconsider the matter when I get the information for which I have asked from the Kenya Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the terms of the Devonshire Declaration with regard to the respective interests of the various races in the future of Kenya; and how far this still remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

In reply to the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to Part II of Command Paper No. 1922 of July, 1923. As regards the second part, the basic principles of Her Majesty's Government's policy remain as stated by my predecessor, the right hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths), in the House on 13th December, 1950.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to refer Command Paper No. 1922 of 1923 to the Minister of State for Colonial Affairs, who, in the debate on 15th November, stated that the new policy was the policy for all the inhabitants of Kenya and not for the local inhabitants, whose interests were declared to be paramount by the Devonshire Declaration in 1923? Will he have some discussion with the Minister of State for Colonial Affairs as to how far there has been a variation of policy or whether the Minister of State has been brought up to date in connection with policy enunciated 29 years ago?

The hon. Gentleman has put a gloss on statements which they do not bear.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many members of the Kenya administration speak the Kikuyu language.

I am asking the Governor for this information and will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is the Minister aware there is a wide impression that very few members of the administration in Kenya know the Kikuyu language and that this has lead to a lack of contact between the administration and the Kikuyu people with a consequent lack of appreciation of what was happening?

The point is well taken, but is one which we shall look into. It cannot be put right very quickly.

As the Colonial Secretary seems unable to answer any Question without asking the Governor, would he arrange with hon. Members from all sides of the House to have an opportunity of meeting the Governor himself while he is in London?

The first part of the Question gives currency to an idea which is entirely wrong. It is, in fact, quite impossible for the Colonial Office to keep statistical information over the whole field of all these Colonies which have governments of their own. I will try to arrange what the hon. Gentleman suggests in the second part of his supplementary.

In view of the tone and temper of the answers of the right hon. Gentleman, may I ask permission to read an extract from the Report which was not available to Members of this House, namely the Mitchell Report, Colonial No. 290, on page 23 of which there is—

We have had this already I think.

rose—

On a point of order. I thought I was right in asking the Minister if he was aware of something in the Report which he has given to us. Am I in order in asking the Minister whether he is aware of this sentence in the Report, which is not available to us, but which, after a great struggle and some effort, I managed to extract from the Colonial Office?

I thought the hon. Member was trying to reopen the controversy about the non-availability of this paper, which was dealt with at some length. The hon. Member can put his point if he puts it shortly.

On a point of order. Am I right in supposing that it is not in order to ask this question on the question of how many members of the Kenya administration speak the Kikuyu language?

In view of the fact that I have not asked the question, I do not know how anyone in the House could say what it is about.

We must clear this up. We are now at Question No. 30, and I take it that the hon. Member's supplementary is relevant to that Question?

Yes, it is very relevant.

What is it?

It is relevant because the Report suggests that

"it is imperative to keep clearly in mind that the problem is a human problem, compounded of the needs, hopes and fears of a great mass of people, most of whom are at the present time sadly handicapped by ignorance. ill health, poverty and inexperience for the world which has rushed upon them with a bewildering suddenness."

Will the Minister, therefore—

I do not think that question can be related to the narrow point of language.

rose—

Is the hon. Member rising to a point of order?

Further to the point of order raised by the Secretary of State, I should like to ask your guidance, Mr. Speaker. Surely it is clear that the effectiveness of an administration depends on a knowledge of the language of the people who are under their control?

On that interpretation of his question about the language the hon. Member could bring in the whole issue of the administration.

Is my right hon. Friend aware how glad we on this side of the House are that we have a Secretary of State for the Colonies who speaks with a sense of responsibility?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when it is proposed to make a cadastral survey of Kikuyu-land.

I doubt whether a cadastral survey would be appropriate in the Kikuyu reserve, where individual rights to land are not generally recognised by the people and the boundaries of holdings are not for the most part clearly set out. There may, however, be a case for the recording of presumptive titles in certain places; and the matter is one which I am proposing to discuss with the Kenya Government.

Would the Minister not agree that if we are going to get down to the land problem in Kenya, we have got to deal with the question of fragmentation, litigation and transfer, and all that that means, which can only be done through a cadastral survey?

I do not think that a cadastral survey is appropriate. These are questions into which the Royal Commission will have to look.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many members of the Kikuyu tribe it is proposed to settle on land outside the tribal reserves.

I am asking the Governor for information on this and will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that plans are being discussed in Kenya to employ suspect Kikuyu, who apparently will not have been tried, on tsetse-ridden land outside tribal reserves in conditions which look as though they may be approaching forced labour?

I have asked the Governor to have consultation with me on many of these matters, and this is one on which I shall be talking to him.

On a point of order. May we then have a special session of Questions after the right hon. Gentleman has seen the Governor?

That is not a point of order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why £47,000 is being spent this year on additional bases in the Falkland Islands Dependencies to support any claims to sovereignty.

Her Majesty's Government consider it essential to maintain British sovereignty in the Falkland Islands Dependencies. Local revenues are insufficient to support the bases necessary for this purpose.

I quite agree, but considering that we have been in possession of these dependencies for very many years, would it not have been better for the Estimates to speak of defending our rights or resisting other people's claims.

I think perhaps that is a good point.

Will the right hon. Gentleman agree that this method of obtaining our just claims in these dependencies is a very much more successful way of doing it than some of the old fashioned strong-arm methods recommended to us by his hon. Friends when they were on this side of the House and we were the Government?

That is a hypothetical question.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the extreme strategic importance of maintaining a passage between the Atlantic and the Pacific in the event of the Panama Canal ever being blocked?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the urgent need in Singapore to develop retail co-operatives to combat the rapidly increasing cost of living; and what development of co-operatives is planned by the Government of Singapore in 1952–53 from the budget of approximately £7,000.

There is intense competition amongst traders in Singapore and the development of retail cooperatives is slow. At the end of 1951 there were four societies and two others are being formed. The Adviser on Cooperation is to visit Singapore early next year for discussions with the Governor.

Is the Minister aware that the amount allocated by the Government of Singapore for the development of the co-operatives works out at l½d. per head of the population per year? Does he think that this is adequate to develop societies of this character, which can do a great deal to prevent an increase in the cost of living?

With regard to the second part of the Supplementary Question, I think that it would be doubtful to pitch it too high. The movement is weak and we shall try to stimulate it. I have every sympathy with the general object of the hon. Gentleman's Question.

While we are grateful for the right hon. Gentleman's sympathy, will he study the very remarkable results obtained in Ceylon by the cooperative movement and see if larger expenditure would not enable him to do the same kind of thing in Singapore?

The conditions are quite different. We have to be very careful about the co-operative movement in Singapore.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the names of the two assessors and the scale of tasks to be performed by the workers were omitted from the arbitration award of 24th October, 1952, in the Malayan rubber industry.

The chairman of the arbitration board has stated publicly that he alone signed the report because the two assessors unfortunately could not agree over the inclusion of an appendix concerning, the scale of tasks.

Is the Minister aware that the omission of the names of the assessors from this award and of the tasks which were expected from the workers has created a great deal of suspicion among the workers, especially when they were led to believe that there was to be no reduction in wages and the day after the award of 10 cents a day reduction took place?

I think that much too much is made of the difficulty arising in the case of arbitration procedure. The fact remains that the ordinary processes of collective bargaining, conciliation and arbitration were followed in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the names of the committee responsible for the administration of the Uganda Cotton Price Stabilisation Fund; how they are appointed; what directive is given them with regard to the disbursement of excess funds; and for what objects disbursements have been made in the past two years.

The Uganda Government themselves administer this fund, which by resolution of the Legislative Council was closed last year at a total of £20 million. The balance of approximately £5 million was credited to the African Development Fund, for the use of which a Select Committee of the Legislative Council has recommended the allocations which I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT. That Committee consisted of two official and all the unofficial members of the Legislature.

This is an enormous sum of money. Is there not a tremendous amount of work which could be done now in Uganda with the expenditure of a very small sum of money for technical assistance and so on? Will the right hon. Gentleman ensure that a proportion of the Fund is allocated for that purpose?

When the hon. Member sees the list he will realise that his general ideas are being carried out.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the terms of the resolution adopted by the Political Committee of the United Nations on the appeal of the Wemeru against eviction from land in Tanganyika; what decision was reached; and by what votes.

So far this question has been considered only by the Fourth (Trusteeship) Committee of the General Assembly, which adopted a draft resolution inviting the United Kingdom to return to the displaced Meru the lands from which they were moved. I have placed a copy of the full text, which is long, in the Library of the House. The voting in the Committee was 32 for the draft, 17 against and three abstentions. The draft has yet to be considered in a plenary session of the Assembly.

In any case, the Trusteeship Agreement grants full powers of administration in Tanganyika to the United Kingdom; and in this particular matter the policy of the Tanganyika Government has been debated in Legislative Council and supported by all unofficial speakers, including the senior Unofficial African Member.

In view of this decision of the Political Committee of the United Nations against these evictions, will the right hon. Gentleman hold up any further action until the matter has come before the plenary session of the United Nations?

I must have notice of that. I do not know if action is being taken at this moment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what measures are being taken to deal with the severe overcrowding of schools in British Guiana.

This problem has recently been examined by a local committee. Their recommendations will be considered by the Government to be elected next year under the new Constitution.

Is it not a fact that, according to an official report published recently, some of the classes contain more than 100 scholars? Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is very urgent that something should be done to improve the conditions?

I agree with the hon. Member. The Colonial Development and Welfare Fund has provided a large sum of money to assist the project.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is proposed that any new college for higher education in Central Africa shall be confined exclusively to Africans.

No decision on the issues involved in the establishment of such a college will be taken until the Governments concerned have received and studied the report of the Commission of which I gave particulars in reply to the right hon. Gentleman's Question of 26th November.

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that, in the interests of having partnership between the races, it is of great importance that the college should be open to all races?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which African representatives have been invited to attend the conference next January on Central African Federation.

In Nyasaland the African Protectorate Council has been invited to nominate delegates but has declined. In Northern Rhodesia a similar invitation is being issued to the African members of the Legislative Council.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House if, when these invitations were made, the undertaking, which was given in this House by the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, was at the same time conveyed to the persons concerned?

I think the hon. Lady is referring to the fact that their attendance did not carry with it a previous commitment. That is so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what debates have been held in the Legislative Council of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland on Central African Federation since the publication of the draft Federal Scheme; in which provincial councils the scheme has been discussed; what expressions of opinion on the scheme have been made by these councils; what debates on the scheme have been held in the Nyasaland African Protectorate Council; and whether these bodies have expressed opinions on the scheme.

The Northern Rhodesian Legislative Council discussed the scheme on 3rd and 4th July last, and I have put a copy of the Report of the debate in the Library. I have no report yet of a debate on the scheme in the Nyasaland Legislative Council. In Northern Rhodesia only the Central Province Council has, so far as I know, discussed the scheme. Again, I have put a copy of the record of this meeting in the Library.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of State discussed the scheme with members of the Nyasaland Provincial Councils. I understand that the African Protectorate Council of Nyasaland debated the Federation issue on 4th Decem- ber. Reports of this debate will be placed in the Library as soon as they are received.

In view of the fact that opportunities were not given to the Provincial Councils of Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia to discuss reports from the delegates to the July conference on the grounds that they had not attended the conference, has the Minister any views on how this African delegation, if they come to the next conference, can have any other mandate than they had before, not having had the opportunity of discussing the new mandate, and is he also aware that all African bodies which have discussed it have rejected federation, including the conferences of the chiefs? What steps is he taking to induce the African representatives to come to the conference and to discuss the scheme from a fresh point of view?

These very complicated questions are being discussed now.

Can the Minister say if any African has yet endorsed the proposals for federation?

Yes.

Would it be in order, now that we have come to the end of Colonial Questions, to ask you, Mr. Speaker, if you will try to protect the rights of private Members to see that in future they get White Papers and economic documents on the Colonies and elsewhere at the same time as the Press have them.

We have already dealt with that matter. There was one complaint about one document and I said that I would look into it.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many cadets from the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, have been commissioned during the past five years; and how many of them have qualified to fly.

Cadets in the Royal Navy are granted commissions when they reach the confirmed rank of sublieutenant. If officers in the electrical and supply branches, who normally do not fly, are omitted, 954 Dartmouth cadets have been commissioned during the past five years. Of these, 54 have so far qualified to fly, and others will do so in due course.

Does my right hon. Friend really think that these figures show that Her Majesty's Navy is following the modern trend and training for warfare? Will he really stress the importance to the Admiralty of training as many young officers as possible to learn how to fly?

I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that the Admiralty are very well aware of the value of learning to fly, but this scheme is only at its beginning, although the numbers are increasingly encouraging, and will improve in the next year or two. I can assure him that we are doing everything to try to improve the figures.

How do these figures compare with foreign naval colleges like Annapolis, or the Russian Naval Academy?

I must have notice of that question.

What are the facilities provided for gaining experience of long. range shore based aircraft?