asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the price of tea has risen since derationing and decontrol; that the recent increase of 4d. per lb. has placed the better qualities of tea outside the purchasing range of the average housewife; and whether he will now reintroduce price control.

No.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a statement on the home preservation of fertile eggs.

Fertility in an egg cannot be detected until the germ has developed. Unless such an egg has been subjected to an incubating temperature it should be safe for preserving.

asked the Minister of Food if he can yet announce that port butchers will no longer be required to take a percentage of mutton in their allocations, following his discussions with the trade.

No. The most we can do at present is to allow pork butchers to refuse mutton without thereby prejudicing the rest of their allocation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Government of Northern Rhodesia seek the advice of the High Court of that Colony before exercising their power to expel a person from the territory; and whether he will take steps to discontinue this practice.

The hon. Member is, I think, referring to Section 34 (3) of the Northern Rhodesia Penal Code, which provides that where it is shown on oath to the satisfaction of the High Court that a person is conducting himself in certain undesirable ways, the Court may recommend to the Governor that such person be deported.In exercising these powers the Court is performing a judicial function, and for the Government to secure an impartial investigation into fact does not, in my view, amount to seeking the advice of the judiciary in executive matters. Similar powers are given to the courts in this country by Section 12 of the Aliens Order, 1920.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will take steps to draw up a declaration of rights for all citizens in the three Central African Territories as proposed by Mr. Moffat, the nominated European representative of African interests in his speech in the Northern Rhodesia Legislature on 18th April.

No. I regard the practical provisions of the federal scheme as a firmer foundation for progress in human affairs in Central Africa than any general declaration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish a full report of the trial of Jomo Kenyatta.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that Mr. Awori, in a declaration published last week in Nairobi on behalf of the Kenya African Union, referred to the difficulties experienced in holding meetings and offered to the Kenya Government the help of the Union in propaganda by radio, Press or meetings; and if he will make a statement on the discussions on this matter between the Kenya Government and representatives of the Union.

I have seen Press reports of Mr. Awori's statement. There is, however, no record that he has made any official offer to the Kenya Government on behalf of the Kenya African Union to assist through broadcasting or meetings. In the Legislative Council, and during discussion with the Governor, he sought permission for the African unofficial members and other leading Africans to bold public meetings and he was informed that applications to hold public meetings will be considered in the light of all the particular circumstances such as the state of the area in which the proposed meeting is to be held, the subject to be discussed and the size of the audience.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to prevent increasing distress in Malaya as a result of the continuing fall in the price of tin and rubber; and if he will introduce a system of unemployment insurance to help the unemployed.

There is at present no substantial unemployment in Malaya, but the Federation Government have plans to provide as much productive work as possible if serious unemployment develops. It is not yet administratively possible to introduce unemployment insurance but an important step has already been taken by the creation of an Employees Provident Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in the establishment of a Whitley Council for the Government employees of the Federation of Malaya; how far the proposed scheme provides for arbitration if requested by one of the parties; and how many meetings have been held.

The High Commissioner reported last month that two Whitley Councils are being set up, one for daily-rated staffs and one for the other grades of the public service. The staff side of the daily-rated Staffs Council have elected their officers and a meeting of the Council has been arranged for this month. Similar developments are shortly expected of the other Council. The establishment of a Government Staff Arbitration Tribunal is one of the first subjects which the Councils will be asked to discuss.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when payments of grants under the war damage compensation schemes in Far Eastern territories will be finally completed.

The Malayan War Damage Commission expects to complete all payments in 1955. Sarawak and North Borneo payments are complete except, in the latter, for some 700 restoration awards which depend upon completion of rebuilding by claimants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons have landed in this country from the Colonies during the past 12 months; how many of these were non-students and stowaways, respectively; what approximately is the aggregate colonial population now in this country; and what further steps have been taken to control emigration from the Colonies to this country.

Board of Trade returns show that about 70,000 persons landed in this country from Colonial Territories during 1952. This figure includes officials, visitors, tourists, etc. Out of the total 2,200 were known to be migrants and not students, seeking work, and 158 were stowaways. Most of the others were temporary visitors or United Kingdom residents returning home. The total population of Colonial origin in the United Kingdom has been estimated at between 50,000 and 60,000 persons but there are no precise figures.Intending emigrants from the Colonies are warned against leaving for this country without making arrangements in advance for work and accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what additional duties are being allocated to the present Registrar of Co-operative Societies in Cyprus.

None, but the holder of this post (now entitled Commissioner for Co-operative Development) has recently had the additional duty of acting for a short time for another officer who was away.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is now prepared to accept letters up to two ounces in weight, carrying a three halfpenny stamp, and marked before 1 p.m. for second delivery next day.

No.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he can arrange for the television test card to be broadcast at some period each week outside the normal working hours of industry so that working people building their sets from components can have an opportunity of making adjustments.

This is a matter for the B.B.C., who inform me that the proposal would involve a substantial increase in running costs while benefiting a relatively small number of people.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs his latest information about the present size, organisation and equipment of German armed forces in the Soviet zone of occupation in Germany.

According to the latest information available to Her Majesty's Government at least 100,000 East Germans are now under arms. Of these 6,000 are in the Air Force, 4,000 in the Navy and some 90,000 in the land forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland upon what terms negotiations have been concluded with the National Coal Board for the purchase by the Board of timber suitable for pitwood blown in the gale on 31st January.

I understand that agreement has been reached between the Home Timber Merchants' Association for Scotland and the Scottish Division of the National Coal Board covering deliveries and prices of pitwood for the Scottish pits for the period up to June, 1955. The prices are on a delivered price basis instead of free on truck as formerly, and vary according to specification. I am not in a position to give further particulars of the prices agreed, but I understand that the parties to the negotiations will shortly be issuing a statement for the information of all interested parties.Negotiations have also been provisionally concluded between the Home Timber Merchants' Association for Scotland and the National Coal Board for pitwood surplus to Scottish requirements being absorbed by mines in England and Wales.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total volume of exports from Scottish ports in 1952; what was the value of such exports; and what were the comparable figures for each year since 1945.

I give below the total value of exports through Scottish ports during each of the years 1946 to 1951. I regret that comparable figures for 1952 have not yet been compiled and those for 1945 are not available.It would be impracticable to make estimates of the total volume of goods exported through Scottish ports, similar to the volume indices published for exports through all ports.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to introducing legislation to permit the merging of the Metropolitan police force and the City of London police force.

None.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why 4042531 L.A.C. Leddington, G. B., whose period of service should have terminated on 28th March, has been informed that he is not due to be released until 28th June; and whether he is satisfied that no confusion has existed between the service records of L.A.C. Leddington and his twin brother 4042532 Leddington, C. T., whose period of service will properly terminate on the latter date.

Through an administrative error, this airman was not released on 29th March. Authority for his immediate release was, however, given on 8th April. I am personally very glad to assure my hon. Friend that this is not an example of the misfortunes which. sometimes overtake a man who has a twin brother.

asked the Attorney-General how many applications for financial aid in order to take proceedings against the Minister of Health, or hospitals, or doctors, have been received by the Law Society; and how many have been granted since the Legal Aid and Advice Act, 1949, came into force.

This information is not readily available, and I do not think that the work involved in obtaining it would be justified.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will extend beyond 30th April the period during which the full rate of grant is to be paid on the cleaning of ditches in the areas that were affected by flooding.

The arrangement under which the Government is meeting the full cost of clearing out drains and ditches blocked by flood-borne debris is now to be continued until 31st July next. The Government will meet 75 per cent. of the cost of cleaning out other drains and ditches in the flooded areas until the end of 1953.

asked the Minister of Works whether a decision can now be given in connection with the application of the Hove Street Garage, Hove, to build additional lock-up garages which are urgently required in the vicinity; whether he is aware that there is some unemployment in the local building trade and the labour is readily available; that the scheme involves the use of no rationed materials and has been approved by the Town and Country Planning authority; and what is causing the delay.

I am prepared to grant a licence for the repair of the existing garages, but not for the erection of additional garages since this work would require bricks and bricklayers. These are urgently required for local housing work.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the representations made to him, he will arrange for the issue in Welsh, in Welsh-speaking areas, of explanatory notes on Income Tax.

Yes. The Inland Revenue hope to have available later in the year an explanatory leaflet in Welsh to accompany certain return and claim forms.