asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the difficulty of obtaining tinned salmon; if he will account for the shortage; and what prospect there is of better supplies in the next few months.

The quantities which we can import are determined entirely by balance of payments considerations and I am unable to hold out hope of an early improvement.

Does not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman appreciate the disappointment that his statement will give? If a greater variety of food is to be available, salmon is a most important factor. Does he not realise that he would be blessed by the housewives if he could pull a little more out of the bag?

We have been pulling things out of the bag for a long time. One of the difficulties is that the only sources of salmon supplies are in difficult currency areas. As soon as the currency position improves we shall be able to improve the supplies.

Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say how much tinned salmon comes from the Soviet Union, and whether the amount from that source can be increased?

Before the war about 15,000 tons came from the Soviet Union. As the hon. Gentleman knows, we now have an agreement with the Soviet Union by which we send them herring in return for canned salmon.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the disabilities of milk retailers in Newport and Monmouthshire and other parts of the country by the decision of wholesale milk purveyors to limit their supply of milk to one specified firm; that little or no notice was given of this change of policy to the retailers concerned; what consultations there have been with the regional milk supply officer; and whether he will order a full inquiry as to the desirability of this policy which, in effect, creates a monopoly.

The answer to the first and last parts of the Question is, No, Sir. Wholesalers in South Wales have recently rationalised their deliveries to reduce transport costs. This does not affect the quality, price or availability of milk, but it safeguards supplies to remote areas where they seemed likely to break down. Such arrangements do not require my consent, and there was, therefore, no need for formal consultation with my officers, although they were aware of the proposals.

Is it not a fact that the wholesalers themselves are becoming retailers and as a result there is practically a monopoly of milk supply in South Wales, or will be before long? Is it not likely to be a serious menace if it happens in other parts of the country?

Already some retailers have done the same thing, purely to rationalise distribution. As the hon. Gentleman knows, some parts of South Wales are, because of their situation, not easy places to which to get supplies, and there was a danger that some people in remote places would not get any supplies at all. This will definitely improve their position.

Could not the retailers have been provided with the opportunity of supplying those people? There has been no complaint or difficulty about supplying them.

It is the supply by the wholesaler to the retailer to which I referred in my answer.

asked the Minister of Food how many applications were received for roasting an ox whole, in celebration of the Coronation; how many were withdrawn, how many refused, how many granted, and how many were actually carried out.

One hundred and fifty-four applications were received; of these 40 were withdrawn, 33 refused and 81 approved. I do not know how many oxen were roasted.

Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether in this connection any of the residue or refuse or offal from the corpses of these oxen were ultimately made into meat pies to become the cause of the thousands of cases of food poisoning recorded since the Coronation?

I do not think I could follow the hon. Gentleman in that question. I have no idea what happened to the residue, but I am perfectly certain that it did not go into any meat pies.

asked the Minister of Food why no beef was available in the meat ration in East Suffolk in recent weeks, although many bullocks are fattened in the county.

During the five weeks ended 12th June beef formed approximately 35 per cent. on average of issues of meat from depots in East Suffolk, and the bulk of this was locally produced. This corresponds with the average for the rest of the country over the same period.

While thanking my right hon. and gallant Friend for his reply may I ask him if he is aware that this did not appear so obvious to the housewife drawing her rations? After all, do we not have a Biblical precedent for those who fatten their bullocks having some share in them?

As a matter of fact, in my hon. and gallant Friend's constituency they had a slightly bigger share than the rest of the country.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that we have received this year less beef from the Argentine than we had last year, and that this is very disappointing? Is he making representations to the Argentine about it?

I do not know what this has got to do with East Suffolk, but I would remind the hon. Gentleman that overall we are receiving much more.

asked the Minister of Food the total tonnage of meat he anticipates having available in 1953 to meet ration demands; how much of this, in tons, will be home produced and how much imported; what estimate he has formed of total meat requirements for 1954 to secure derationing; and what obstacles now remain to derationing meat in the early part of 1954.

Supplies of ration meat in 1953 are expected to be about 1,500,000 tons, of which about 900,000 tons will be home produced and 600,000 tons imported. Manufacturing meat and offals will bring the total to nearly 1,900,000 tons. Pre-war consumption levels would indicate a need of about 2,300,000 tons in 1954 but this may not be a conclusive guide.

The pre-requisites of derationing are adequate supplies spread reasonably over the year; freedom from undue currency restrictions; and satisfactory arrangements for giving effect to the price and market guarantees for home production under the Agriculture Act, 1947. I earnestly hope these pre-requisites will be satisfied during 1954, but I will not venture to make any firm forecast at this moment.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend bear in mind that the reward of boldness is great success as in the case of his scheme for the derationing of eggs, and in view of the overwhelming desire of all people in this country to see the back of meat rationing after 14 years of it, will he take the most energetic steps to bridge this marginal shortage which still remains?

In view of the figures for 1953 which the Minister has just given, will he say why he is trying to force people all over the country to take fat pork and imported mutton which butchers and consumers will not touch with a pitchfork, and is he not aware that as a result the meat ration system is on the verge of complete collapse in more places than one?

I cannot possibly accept the hon. and gallant Gentleman's last observation. With regard to the figures of the meat ration, pork and mutton have to play their part. As I pointed out to an hon. Friend of mine in an earlier answer, at least 35 per cent. of the meat ration was in beef.

When will my right hon. and gallant Friend realise that if he continues to break the law of supply and demand, as, for instance, by continuing bulk purchase, he will land the country in bankruptcy, and has he not seen the result of State controls in the £22 million loss on the Raw Cotton Commission? Will he close down the Ministry as soon as possible?

There is nothing in the Question about cotton.

Is it not a fact that the 2s. 4d. meat ration is only possible because of the distribution of excessively fat and very poor quality meat, and is it fair to place the onus on the retail traders, particularly when the Ministry might easily use that addition for the provision of better meat?

I cannot answer the rest of the Question because I do not agree with the first part of it.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the small amount of beef being supplied at the Brandon and Byshottles, County Durham, distribution centre, and of the poor quality of the mutton now being offered; and what he is prepared to do to bring about some improvement in this matter.

During the five weeks ended 12th June this district received about 37 per cent. of beef, which is slightly above the average for the rest of the country. Its share of imported mutton was in the same proportion as elsewhere. Future issues must depend on home marketings and the types of meat arriving from abroad.

Is the Minister aware that variety is the spice of life, and does he not realise that it is a bit monotonous for the women of this country to be told week after week that it is mutton, mutton, mutton? Is he aware that I am informed that the quality of the old ewes which have been received in this country is not worth the carriage of bringing them here, and will he not do something at least to give the women of this country a bit of real English beef?

As I told the hon. Gentleman, the average received in this district is slightly above the average for the rest of the country. I am interested to hear him say that variety is the spice of life, as I am doing my best to give some of that variety. The proportion of imported mutton, to which the hon. Gentleman referred contemptuously, was only 10 per cent. in that particular period.

asked the Minister of Food what offers he has so far received for the 500,000 tons of adulterated orange juice concentrate purchased in error by his Department and now offered for sale.

Of the 500,000 gallons—not tons—of juice which did not accord with the purchase specification, as yet only part has been reconditioned and prepared for sale. No more than a few trial barrels have been sold.

In view of the heavy financial loss involved, and in view of the very long time which it took to discover what was happening, will my right hon. and gallant Friend institute an early inquiry into this whole business?

That would not be necessary, I can assure my hon. Friend, because I have personally gone into this matter very carefully, and I can assure him that we are doing everything we can to avoid any repetition.

Does my right hon. and gallant Friend recollect the written answers he gave to Questions of mine this week which indicated that a fraud had occurred there, and that 18 shipments at least have been rejected and of 54 which have been accepted two were found to be defective and thoroughly unwholesome?

My hon. Friend has a Question later on that, and I shall deal with it.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the preservative used in defective shipments of orange juice purchased by his Department from Sicily is so virulent that the lacquer on the cans is destroyed; and, in view of the possible danger to consumers, if he will stop all sales, pending further inquiry and examination.

The use of this preservative is a common and harmless practice. The effect of the reaction on the containers is being removed by appropriate treatment, and searching tests of the reconditioned juice by the Government Chemist, the British Food Manufacturing Industries Research Association and chemists drawn from the trade have disclosed no harmful substances.

Does my right hon. and gallant Friend really think that it is right for a Government Department to traffic in orange juice of this kind, and in view of the strange circumstances surrounding the whole of this contract would it not be good policy to destroy the lot and stop the expense of £1,000 a week for storage?

No, I do not think so. The question is whether this juice is harmful, and there is no question at all about that, it is not harmful. There is also the other point that if the manufacturers do not want it they do not have to buy it.

If these particular deliveries were not up to the standard in accordance with the specifications why were they accepted by the Ministry of Food? Why were they not rejected, as they could be under the contract?

Because in all contracts this particular type of juice does not have anything added to it. On this particular occasion, quite contrary to the specification, it was added to, and this was not discovered until it was made into welfare juice. As far as the vendors are concerned, action has been taken, but I would remind my hon. and learned Friend that this consignment was ordered long before we came into power.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has yet decided upon the date for derationing sugar.

The final date must depend upon our having enough refined sugar. Our refiners are doing their utmost to expand output, and I have taken special steps to supplement supplies from overseas. If all goes well I hope to end rationing in September.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend have special regard to assuring that no part of the luscious soft fruit crop is wasted, and that all available plums, damsons, cherries, loganberries and raspberries are this year usefully employed? Will he give special attention to that?

I shall certainly do all I can, but I would remind my hon. Friend that with the present ration and bonus the housewife is receiving roughly what she had before the war.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will make a statement upon prospects for derationing bacon.

Bacon must be considered together with pork, and I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave about the latter to my hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lonsdale (Sir I. Fraser) on 17th June.

Is it not a fact that month by month the pig population is steadily increasing, and that while there appears to be abundant pork we still have this static bacon ration? Can my right hon. and gallant Friend hold out any hope of disposing of bacon rationing at a fairly early date?

As I said in my reply to my hon. Friend on 17th June, I am satisfied that a piecemeal approach to the derationing of meat would not be satisfactory, and that, therefore, I should deal with the whole of the meat question as one.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman see to it when the time does come for the derationing of these commodities that the hon. Gentleman the Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro) is asking about, that the prices will not increase, as has happened in the case of those foods already derationed?

asked the Minister of Food what proportion of cheese made in England and Wales is made from goats' milk.

Cheese made from goats' milk is not subject to rationing or other forms of control. I have no information on the quantity produced.

As very much excellent Continental cheese is made from goats' milk, will the Minister do all he possibly can to encourage the production of such cheese in this country?

indicated assent.

asked the Minister of Food (1) whether, in view of the need to lessen the incidence of food poisoning, he will introduce to Parliament at an early date the legislation for the purpose of amending the Food and Drugs Acts;

(2) what action he proposes to take to combat the possibility of further mass outbreaks of food poisoning.

Outbreaks of food poisoning can only be combated by the vigilance of all concerned with the handling of food. I am anxious to support these efforts by the introduction of legislation to amend the Food and Drugs Act, which I hope will not be long delayed.

While this long-promised legislation is not the complete solution to the problem of food poisoning, does the Minister agree that in view of the recent outbreak in Lancashire, with more than 1,100 cases, the Government should make every effort to raise the standard of food hygiene? Can we have an assurance from the right hon. and gallant Gentleman that the Government will introduce this Bill at the beginning of the next Session?

I obviously cannot answer that question. I can give the hon. Gentleman this assurance, however, that I am most anxious to bring this Bill on as soon as possible, and will do everything I can to achieve that purpose.

asked the Minister of Food why Messrs. Walbrooks, Butchers, Ltd., of 592, High Road, Wembley, have been refused an application for a Group I manufacturing licence.

It is undesirable to supply substantial quantities of manufacturing quality meat to premises used for selling ration meat, and the rule is that there must be separate premises. This firm's application does not at present comply with the rule.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that this factory has been described by the Wembley Borough Council sanitary inspector as virtually separated from the retail premises, that it is a member of the Wembley Clean Food Association, which aims at a very high standard of cleanliness, and will he look into this matter again?

It is not a question of cleanliness in this instance; it is a question of whether the manufacturers' premises are separated from the retail butchers and that is the difficulty. If we did not insist upon that it would not be possible to maintain the rationing system.

asked the Minister of Food what discussions he has had with representatives of the Australian and Canadian Governments regarding wheat supplies.

None, Sir.

Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman think it will be a good thing if he began these discussions, because, rightly or wrongly, there has been a good deal of public criticism in both of these Dominions because of the action we took in connection with the International Wheat Agreement?

Nothing of the sort.

I can assure the right hon. and gallant Gentleman that in the Dominions there has been a good deal of criticism. If the initiative does not come from them, would it not be a good thing that it should come from us?

I do not think so. People are perfectly free to criticise if they so wish. I do not think our action is open to criticism, and, whilst they are perfectly entitled to express their own opinion, the answer given by Her Majesty's Government was that we did not propose to accede to the price demanded under the Agreement.

Have any offers been made of wheat from these Dominions below the ceiling price?

The position remains exactly as it was. We refused to accede to this price, and, therefore, when this Agreement comes to an end there will be a free market.

Is the Minister aware that most people in this country congratulate him on the steps he has taken to keep down the price of wheat and so reduce the cost of living?

asked the Minister of Food what profit he expects to make during 1953–54 on the purchase and sale of imported eggs.

Imported eggs are sold at free market prices and it is not possible to give a reliable forecast of profits, if any, which may arise.

Can the Minister say what profit he has made to date?

No, Sir; even if I could I would not do so. The hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well that this is a practice which was employed by his Government as well. The fact of the matter is that it is not possible to say what the profit will be.

Does not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman agree that it is nonsense to talk about a free market if, by making a profit on the sale of imported eggs, he is supporting an uncommercial price for the retailer?

It is not altogether that. The hon. Gentleman knows that at certain times of the year there are more eggs available than at others, and it is to the advantage of the consumer that we should retain some for the short period.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the effect and operation of the decision to reduce the production of tea in India by one-eighth, he will reconsider the reimposition of price controls for tea.

I think that the hon. Member has in mind a scheme of voluntary limitation of production which was abandoned. Export quotas remain unchanged at levels which do not, in practice, restrict supplies.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that I have had this confirmed from India House, and that the import of tea this year is substantially less—16 per cent. less—than it was in the corresponding period last year, which is a disturbing thing, and that, therefore, it is not surprising that the price of tea is again going up on Monday by a further 4d.

There is no inconsistency between what the hon. Gentleman says and what I have said. Earlier this year a scheme was proposed by the India Tea Association to restrict imports which has since been dropped.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has noted that the volume of milk sold in the liquid market has fallen in the year 1952–53 by 33 million gallons, while the total production has increased by 30 million gallons; why this fall in consumption has occurred; and what he proposes to do to offset this.

The true decline is about 20 million gallons in England and Wales and represents a fall of less than 1½ per cent. This is too small to assign to any single reason but the improvement in the supplies of other foods is undoubtedly a contributory factor.

Has the Minister not noted the observations made last week, as reported in "The Times," by the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board, in which he described the fall as 2 per cent. and gave the figure that I have suggested; and that he went on to say that it is due to the sharp rise in retail prices? Will not the Minister consider what he is doing and see to it that people can afford to drink all the milk available for them in liquid form?

We are doing so. As the hon. Gentleman knows, the consumption of liquid milk is 60 per cent. above what it was before the war. [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] I do not know why hon. Gentlemen opposite should cheer that so much, it is not particularly due to them. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"] The scheme started before the war and was developed during the war. The figure of the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board is 33 million, the same as that of the hon. Gentleman. I was giving the net figure, which, by omitting certain things, brings it down to 20 million. As far as the price of milk is concerned, I would remind the hon. Gentleman of what the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board also said, that it is obviously desirable that the price payable by the public for milk should, as soon as practicable, cover the real cost involved.

Surely the Minister does not accept the last part of those observations and will not take that type of advice? If he does, it means that we shall return to what we had under Tory Governments in the past, milk will be fed to pigs and poured down the drains and used for the manufacture of plastic umbrellas.

I was not taking the advice of the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board. The hon. Gentleman quoted him and so I thought I had better quote him further.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many terrorists surrendered in Malaya during the months of January, February, March, April and May of this year.

The figures are 39, 36, 30, 29 and 14. During the first half of June the rate of surrenders rose again to an average of one a day.

Does my right hon. Friend consider these figures satisfactory, and is he aware that while the recent statement of General Templer is good as far as it goes, the fact is that war may continue for some time to come, and so these figures are disconcerting to everybody? Would my right hon. Friend care to enlarge on them?

The decline in surrenders which these figures show during those five months is not due to any stiffening of morale among the terrorists because the evidence is that their morale is deteriorating. The reduction in the figures may be because surrender is difficult in the deep jungle. As I said, the rate is now up to one a day.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the pronouncements by General Templer that the situation in Malaya has improved, it is the Government's intention to reduce the size of United Kingdom military forces in that Colony.

Her Majesty's Government hope in the near future to reduce by one battalion the United Kingdom Forces in Malaya—which I must remind the right hon. Gentleman is not a Colony. As more local forces become fully trained and equipped further reductions of those forces may be possible, but Her Majesty's Government will remain responsible for the defence of Malaya against external aggression. It is their firm intention to discharge that responsibility to the full extent of their resources.

Yes, but in view of the frequent pronouncements of General Templer, the High Commissioner, which are of an optimistic character, indicating that there has been a substantial improvement, does the right hon. Gentleman content himself with the removal of one battalion out of more than 40 battalions, apart from other military ancillaries?

The statements by General Templer, to which I think the right hon. Gentleman refers, relate essentially to the internal situation in Malaya. He must know, as I have said, that we are responsible for external defence and have to take into account such things as the situation in Indo-China.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the ban on the export of rubber from Malaya to China was imposed because of the war in Korea; and what steps have been taken to lift this ban immediately an agreement in Korea is signed.

Yes, Sir. On the second part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 18th June by the Joint Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes).

Is the Minister aware that when the ban was imposed nearly two and a half years ago Malaya loyally carried it out and refused to export rubber to China, but other countries continued to export rubber to China; and the result will be that when the war ends those countries will find themselves at the winning point while Malaya will be at the starting point? Will the right hon. Gentleman do what he can to encourage trade between Malaya and China when the war ends?

That is a hypothetical question, but the embargo cannot be lifted without contravening Her Majesty's Government's obligations under the Agreements of the United Nations General Assembly of 18th May, 1951. Therefore any action in this matter must be conditional on obtaining their agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will take steps to broaden the terms of reference of the Malayan rubber industry inquiry so that it will include wages and working conditions, the effect of the production of synthetic rubber upon the industry and the need for establishing a system of unemployment insurance for the workers.

No, Sir. This inquiry is being instituted not by the Government of the Federation of Malaya alone but by agreement between that Government and the industry to deal with certain specific problems of common concern to both.

Is the Minister aware that any inquiry which does not embrace every phase of the industry will turn out to be a farce? Should he not include in the inquiry the wages of the planters, the conditions in the industry, the control of prices, and the production of synthetic rubber and its effect on the production of natural rubber in Malaya?

No, Sir. I think the hon. Gentleman is wrong here. I do not consider it correct for this body to consider wages and working conditions, which are matters for negotiation between the unions and the employers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of the Federation of Malaya has yet determined the composition and terms of reference of the proposed committee on elections to the Federal Legislative Council; and whether he will give an assurance that the committee will have the advice of persons experienced in the conduct of democratic elections.

The composition and terms of reference of this committee have not yet been finally settled. The committee is to be as representative as possible of all substantial interests in Malaya, and I have no doubt that it will seek any expert advice for which it finds need.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House whether the views of those who organise elections in, for instance, the Gold Coast, where there is a large illiterate population, will be consulted?

I find it difficult to give any pledge on that matter before the committee has been formed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent it is intended that Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom should be associated with the administration of the proposed Central African University.

As I made clear to the House on 6th May, Her Majesty's Government take a lively interest in this project. They have no doubt that there will be full consultation between governments over its establishment and the provision of assistance from this country. But, as the hon. Lady will be aware, it is customary for universities to enjoy a high degree of autonomy; and it is not contemplated that this institution, once established, should be administered by any government.

While agreeing with the last part of the remarks of the right hon. Gentleman, will he not agree that as the Government in this country are likely to be called upon for a grant of more than £1 million, and as really vital decisions are being taken now in Central Africa, it is desirable that there should be some close association between this Government and those responsible for taking these important preliminary decisions?

I think the hon. Lady is confusing preliminary decisions with a matter of administration; they are two different things. Naturally, before making a grant, Her Majesty's Government will satisfy themselves that the Charter of the University is one of which they approve. Having done so, they must leave the administration to the local people.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that letters sent to a particular person in Nyasaland are being refused delivery and returned to the sender; and by what authority this is being done.

No, Sir; but if the right hon. Gentleman has any more precise information which he would care to give me I shall be glad to look into the matter further.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have here a letter addressed from Dr. Hastings Banda in this country to Chief Msamala, that it was stated to have been refused by the addressee but that in fact the Chief has stated he never refused to open the letter and never had any recollection of having received the letter?

Of course I am not aware of what the right hon. Member has in his hand, because he has not communicated it to me. I repeat what I said in my reply, that if the right hon. Member cares to give me more information I will look at it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why Lieut.-Commander Davidson was deported from Kenya to the United Kingdom, where he has had no home since 1926, without being given the option of going to other places in the Commonwealth with which his connection has been more recent.

I understand that Mr. Davidson refused to supply any information to the Governor about his alleged domicile in Australia, and was therefore deported to the United Kingdom, as this appeared to be the part of Her Majesty's dominions to which he belonged.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that according to statements made by Commander Davidson he was told only half an hour before he was taken to the ship to which country he was to be deported, that he has a house in Northern Rhodesia and some property but no home nor friends in this country, and his wife is in Australia?

It does not take half an hour to say to which country one belongs. He refused the information and anything that happened was his own fault.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will announce the intentions of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the renewal of the Commonwealth Development and Welfare Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in order to ensure continuity in Colonial development and welfare schemes, especially research schemes, he will make a statement concerning the future of the Colonial Development and Welfare Acts.

Yes, Sir. I am asking Colonial Governments and other authorities concerned to provide me with material on which this Government can approach Parliament for further funds for colonial development. I hope it will be possible to introduce the necessary legislation early in the 1954–55 Session.

Meanwhile, I am telling Colonial Governments that they may proceed on the assumption that the period in which the £140 million provided under the Colonial Development and Welfare Acts of 1945 and 1950 may be spent will be extended by legislation beyond 31st March, 1956.

I am also telling them that, where necessary for essential development, they may enter into commitments extending beyond 1956 and over and above the £140 million already provided, on the understanding that Her Majesty's Government will in due course ask Parliament to vote the necessary moneys. Such advance commitments will be limited to a total of £7 million and will not be made without the concurrence of the Treasury.

There is a further matter of which I should inform the House. Because of the serious world rice shortage, we have thought it necessary to make funds available to a maximum of £3 million for promoting the production of rice in the Colonies. Expenditure on such schemes is proper to the existing Colonial Development and Welfare Acts, but we do not wish it to displace desirable developments in other directions. These special schemes for growing rice may therefore in due course involve allocations, and ultimately expenditure, in excess of the existing statutory limit of £140 million. The legislation to which I have referred will also, if necessary, provide cover for expenditure up to £3 million which may be incurred under these arrangements.—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech."]

I should make it clear that there is no question of authorising in advance of the new legislation actual expenditure in excess of the existing statutory limits. But the House should be aware that Colonial Governments may in the interim be entering into commitments, to the extent which I have indicated, on the understanding that the necessary funds to meet these commitments will be provided by Her Majesty's Government under the new legislation.

Speech.

On a point of order, which I address most respectfully to you, Mr. Speaker, and to the Minister who is on his feet. It is difficult to follow such a long statement as the Minister is now making. Secondly, it is jeopardising the opportunity of hon. Members who have Questions later on the Order Paper. Could we have an extra few minutes at 3.30, or could not such statements be made at the end of Questions?

I cannot allow more time than is allowed by Standing Orders.

I apologise for the length of the answer, but I am trying to answer two Questions at once. Of course the answer will appear in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The remainder of it is as follows:

I can see no other way of ensuring that the continuity of colonial development is not interrupted, and I feel confident that I have the full support of the House in the action I am now taking.

I would remind the House that the expenditure of Colonial development and welfare funds also opens up further fields for private investment.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that his statement, which will ensure the continuity of colonial development, will be widely welcomed throughout the Colonial Territories, and at least on this side of the House? Will there be an opportunity for this House to discuss, at the same time as they discuss the future of colonial development and welfare, the terms of reference of the Colonial Development Corporation, which are closely tied up with this matter?

Whilst warmly congratulating my right hon. Friend on the wise and timely decision to concentrate on rice development, which is of enormous importance, may I ask if he will give some indication of the information for which he is asking the Colonial Governments?

The Colonial Governments and other authorities are being asked for an estimate of what help they want under these funds. Due allowance is being made for what they can contribute themselves.

The statement the right hon. Gentleman has made is important, and this is one of the most valuable agencies we have developed in assisting Colonial Territories. I hope it will be possible for the right hon. Gentleman to persuade the Leader of the House to give a day on which we can debate the matter.

At the moment I am under some criticism for having made too full a statement.

Mr. Speaker, I should like to refer to the point of order that was raised during Question time by my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock (Miss Lee). I am sure the whole House is grateful to you for your generosity in allowing several supplementary questions at the end of Question time. But would you make an appeal to Ministers to keep their answers as brief as possible so that as many Private Members as possible are able to ask Questions, and to ensure that when they have long statements to make, as occurred at Question time today, they should ask your permission to make those statements after Questions instead of taking up the time of Members?

I have frequently delivered injunctions to this House on the virtues of brevity, and these apply to Ministers as well as to Private Members.

May I be allowed to say that that is a rule which Ministers do try to follow, but today there was a misunderstanding about the long statement. I hope that the House will accept that explanation.

I am sure from my experience that today's occurrence is quite exceptional.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will instruct the Colonial Attaché in Washington to make more widely known among Members of the United States Government the policy and purpose of British rule in the Colonial Territories.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to him on 18th March. It is part of the attaché's main function as adviser on colonial matters to Her Majesty's Ambassador to assist the Embassy in explaining our policies to U.S. Government officials at all levels.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in a recent speech in the Middle East the United States Secretary of State referred to what he called "The old Colonial interests of the Allies of the United States"? Does he not think such remarks very unhelpful and completely out of date? Could he press on our attaché in Washington to do even more to bring that home to the American Government?

Her Majesty's Government regard it as of high importance to make the nature of our policies known and we shall spare no effort in doing that.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what policy is being pursued for the replanting of depleted forest areas in the Colonial Territories.

In many Territories local legislation provides for the establishment of forest reserves. In Territories where forestry is comparatively advanced, such as Malaya, the Western Region of Nigeria, Trinidad and Cyprus, fellings in any one year are restricted, either by acreage or by volume, to allow for regeneration by natural seedling growth. In less advanced Territories, commercial extraction is controlled by regulations prohibiting the felling of trees of less than a prescribed girth. In some Colonies, particularly in East and Central Africa, depleted indigenous forests are being replaced by plantations, often of coniferous softwoods.

Is my right hon. Friend able to assure us that effective policies are in operation in all our Colonial Territories where there are forests?

No, I will not say that effective measures are in force everywhere, but we are trying to see that they come into force everywhere.