asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will make better arrangements for drawing the attention of the public to the conditions under which they have no right of compensation for loss of parcels or registered mail.

Constant efforts are made through such media as the Post Office Guide, notices in post offices and in periodical statements issued with the cooperation of the Press and the B.B.C. to make these conditions known to the posting public; and if the hon. Member has any particular case in mind and will let me have particulars, I will gladly make inquiry.

While thanking the hon. Gentleman for his reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that most people who find that they have paid money for protection which they did not get are told that the regulations are to be found in the Post Office Guide? Does he not agree that that is not good enough and that no private firm would be able to get away with a system of that kind, and will he intensify the system which he mentioned for explaining these matters to the public in the post office and in the Press?

It is not only in the Post Office Guide that the information is given. I note that we have given two notices to the Press this year, and I think that both were transmitted over the B.B.C. Also, there are notices in the post offices themselves where people register letters or parcels.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when he proposes to restore the service of the night telegram letter.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Inverness (Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton) on 31st March, 1954.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the policy of his Department for the employment of older men and women.

In accordance with the policy of the Government, so far as Post Office Departmental grades are concerned the aim is to give older men and women opportunities of employment so far as is consistent with efficiency and with other commitments, such as the employment of ex-Service men. To quote an example, the upper recruitment age for postmen, telephonists and telegraphists is now 60 years. If the hon. Member has any individual case in mind and will let me have particulars, I will gladly make inquiry.

How can the hon. Gentleman reconcile his statement of policy, and that of his hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour, with the case which I brought to his attention in the Post Office Savings Department of a man who appeared to me to be extremely efficient and capable and was discharged although he was certainly no older than those mentioned by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour in the speech which he made to the Rotary International?

Possibly there were other factors concerned in the case.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether the building to be erected on the north side of Christ-church Green, Victoria Street, is to be used solely as a telephone exchange.

No, Sir; the building will also include a public post office but will be used entirely for Post Office purposes.

When the hon. Gentleman says "public post office," does he mean merely for handing stuff over the counter and that it will not become a general post office with a large number of post office vans outside?

No, Sir. It will be a public Crown office.

I hope that the Assistant Postmaster-General will not take it from the Question that any place is suitable for a post office. We want very good premises and the best facilities possible?

The right hon. Gentleman's point was that the place was not suitable for a post office.

No, Sir. On a point of explanation, is not the Assistant Postmaster-General aware that I resent the place being used for either a post office or a telephone exchange? If it must be so used, we must at least avoid adding to the congestion of traffic which is already absolutely insufferable.

Will the Assistant Postmaster-General take good care not to have my right hon. Friend as a consultant or adviser on this matter?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many sub-post offices exist in the borough of Leyton; how many of these are likely to be closed in view of the expansion of services and transactions; and what are the requirements of his Department in respect of extended facilities in sub-post offices when this is made necessary by the increased number of persons who attend sub-post offices.

Seventeen, it is not the present intention to close any of them. Sub-postmasters are expected to provide sufficient accommodation and staff to enable the public to transact their business with reasonable despatch. If the hon. Member has any particular case of difficulty in mind and will let me have details, I shall be glad to have inquiries made.

Is any consideration given to the question of space in some of these sub-post offices? There may be certain facilities, but sometimes in some sub-post offices there is a good deal of overcrowding.

The trouble lies in the number of transactions which the Post Office has to carry out, and the work increases every year. Some sub-post offices which were quite large enough a few years ago are certainly getting overcrowded now.

What will be done about the sub-post offices which are becoming overcrowded?

The idea is either to open more sub-post offices or, if it is feasible to enlarge existing ones.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what progress has been made in providing another sub-post office in Brixton to replace the one formerly operated on the premises of Bon Marché Limited, Brixton Road, S.W.9.

Since I replied to the hon. and gallant Member's last Question on this subject the vacancy has been advertised twice, but without success. We intend to advertise it again, and I should be grateful for any help the hon. and gallant Member can give in the matter.

Is the Assistant Postmaster-General aware that it has already proved quite impossible to find a sub-postmaster willing to undertake the job on the present inadequate scales? In those circumstances, will he consider opening a new Crown office in the Brixton Road at the interception with Stockwell Road, because the volume of postal business there would amply justify such action?

I am not quite as pessimistic as the hon. and gallant Gentleman is. I still hope that, with more advertisements and also with such help as he himself can give us, we may find someone.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what action he proposes to take in response to the petition from residents of Tenterden for a sub-post office at the western end of the borough.

I have looked personally into the matter raised by the petition, but I am sorry that I should not be justified in present circumstances in providing a new sub-post office, as the suggested site is barely half a mile from the existing Crown office in Tenterden.

Is my hon. Friend aware that in this case as distinct from a great many cases of this sort which come to him, there is a tenant who is willing to act on his behalf as the sub-post office tenant, and that there is a pressing local need for this sub-post office?

My difficulty, I am afraid, is that, unless we are going to change the standard under which we open new post offices, this case does not justify our opening a new office. If we were to change the standard, the cost of postal services would without doubt rise.

Will the Assistant Postmaster-General ascertain whether the gentleman in Tenterden who is willing to open a sub-post office can be persuaded to come to Brixton? I cannot find anyone at Brixton.

I suggest that the hon. and gallant Gentleman gets in touch with my hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Mr. Deedes) to enable them to ascertain what they can do in the matter.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when Mr. J. Crosland, Palmerston Lodge, Fairburn, near Leeds, may expect to be supplied with the telephone for which he applied in 1951.

I hope this telephone will be supplied towards the end of the year, when wires become available.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this man, my constituent, is an agricultural engineer who is constantly in demand in the agricultural area surrounding the village of Fairburn where he lives? Is it not possible to expedite the fitting of a telephone to this man's premises?

I am afraid that it is not possible. There are no spare wires in the cable which serves the locality in which the man lives. I would also point out that when we do the job we shall have to put up seven poles and over half a mile of wire.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what increase in the number of public transport vehicles, licensed under his regulations, will result from the decision of the London Transport Executive to replace 70-seat trolley buses with 64-seat diesel buses; and what steps he is taking to see that an increase of traffic congestion will not be the result.

I am told by the British Transport Commission that so far as can be foreseen the replacement will involve an increase of about 30 vehicles. Experience indicates that the motorbus, with its greater mobility, is less liable to cause traffic congestion in London streets. Further, the diesel buses will be shorter than the existing trolley buses.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that diesel buses will be dirtier than trolley buses and that cancer researchers have been considering that the fumes given out by diesel buses are dangerous and noxious?

Will the Minister indicate what he means by "so far as can be foreseen"? How far does he foresee?

The health consequences of the substitution of diesel buses was dealt with by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health in reply to a Question on 6th May. "So far as can be foreseen" was a prudent observation because, if the Commission or the Executive substitute these buses for all their trolley buses it would mean 30 more vehicles. They may decide, on examination, not to go as far as that

Is it not the case —I know it was, but I do not know whether it still is—that trolley buses are cheaper vehicles to run than petrol or diesel buses? Are they not cleaner and sweeter-moving vehicles than the others, and is the right hon. Gentleman quite sure that the London Transport Executive is right to make this change?

I have no reason to think that the intelligence of London Transport has diminished since the right hon. Gentleman had responsibilty for it.

Is there any evidence that economies will be achieved by replacing the trolley buses?

I understand that the operator in this field, who should, I think, be given the responsibility, agrees both that it will be better to run and will take up less road space.

May I ask the Minister whether he does not think it a good general rule that when a Minister is asked a polite question he should give a polite answer; and that even when he gets a cheeky question it is also sometimes best to give a polite reply?

I would not have thought it very rude to say that, as a result of six years' experience of Socialist Government, people's intelligence had not diminished.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation why local authorities are called upon to bear half the cost of the traffic census which is to be taken in August; and, as this is a national question, if he will also make it a national charge.

On trunk roads the whole cost of the census is being met from the Road Fund. My right hon. Friend has no power to contribute more than half the cost of the census on Class I roads, and I think that it is reasonable that the responsible highway authorities should contribute to the cost on such roads.

Does not the Minister think that, as all the advantages accruing from this census will be of a national character, the charge should be borne nationally? Could he not meet from the Road Fund the charges in the cities as well as those of the trunk roads?

No, Sir, that is not the case. A great deal of information will be obtained, from this census which will be at least as useful to local highway authorities as to the Ministry of Transport.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made with the proposals for the Queensferry Bridge.

The report by consulting engineers referred to in my answer of 16th December has just been received, and I shall need a little time to consider it.

Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been drawn to the concern expressed last week by the Chief Constable of Flintshire about the extreme congestion on this bridge, and will he do his utmost to expedite action following the report?

I will certainly expedite consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation on how many occasions the National Road Safety Committee has met since 1st December, 1953; and what is the date of the next meeting.

The Committee has met once during this period. The next meeting will be held on 24th June.

Has the hon. Gentleman's Department very much confidence in this Committee? There is a feeling that relations are not very happy.

Yes, Sir. We have very great confidence in them. The Committee met a number of times last year and made certain proposals, and we shall try to give effect to them.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the concern of the road safety committees in County Durham at the upward trend of road accidents; and if he will reconsider his decision and introduce the Road Safety Bill as promised in the Gracious Speech.

Yes, Sir. I recognise there is general concern everywhere, which I share, on this important matter. No Road Safety Bill for this Session was promised in the Gracious Speech, which said that Ministers were

"attentively examining the Road Traffic Acts with a view to introducing further legislation to improve road safety and promote the orderly use of the roads."

Preparatory work on the Bill was somewhat delayed until I had received the Thesiger Committee's Report, but since then work has been actively pursued. Most Clauses in this lengthy Bill will deal with general traffic problems, but some important ones will be directed to improve road safety. But, as I have said before, the problem does not depend on legislation alone.

Is the Minister aware that there has been an increase in the enormous number of road accidents, and that safety committees would prefer the Road Safety Bill to the Television Bill as it would save lives on the road?

The hon. Gentleman asked me a Question about the county of Durham. While I do not want to magnify what may be a temporary change in the figures, I am glad that there has been a reduction of road accidents in the county of Durham, not only for March, but for the first three months of this year.

Would not the best thing the Minister could do to improve road safety in Durham be to enable better roads to be built there?

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the position under his regulations with regard to the use of the right-hand side of the carriageway by pedestrians, pedestrians leading horses, riders and riders leading horses, respectively; and what changes it is intended to make in this respect in connection with the issue of a new Highway Code, with a view to clarifying existing doubts on the subject.

There are no regulations on this subject. The Highway Code advises pedestrians, where there is no footpath, to walk on the right. Anyone leading an animal is advised to keep it to the edge of the road and to place himself between it and the traffic. The new Code will repeat this advice.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the draft of the Highway Code recently circulated pedestrians were told to keep to the right but to move over to the left when approaching a right-hand bend; that marching bodies were told to keep to the left; that people riding on animals and leading other animals were told to keep to the left; that pedestrians leading animals were told to keep to the right, whilst the legal profession interprets the whole thing as meaning that everyone must keep to the left? Can my right hon. Friend give an assurance that this diversity of opinion as to who should go to the right and who should go to the left is not due to any political wrangling amongst the members of his staff?

The new version of the Code advises pedestrians that where there is no footpath they should walk on the right of the road so as to face oncoming traffic.

Will the Minister consider including in the Code, which I think is an improvement on the old Code—some advice as to who has the right of way on converging roads—advice not only to motorists, but to magistrates who have to deal with many cases where there is an argument as to whether the man coming from the right or from the left has to give way? In view of the experience in other countries, will he look at this?

I am much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman for that suggestion. We shall certainly give it careful consideration. It illustrates how useful it was that my right hon. Friend made copies of this new version of the Highway Code available to hon. Members. We should welcome any constructive suggestions from any quarter.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how long he estimates it will take to bore the Clyde Tunnel using one shield and two shields, respectively.

I should prefer to have further details of the scheme from the promoters before attempting an estimate.

Surely the Minister's technical advisers have some guidance to offer him on the respective merits of using one shield or two? If they have given no advice on the matter, how could the Secretary of State for Scotland inform the House yesterday afternoon that the tunnel would be started "very shortly."

The hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well—and he will certainly be reminded every weekend that he goes to his constituency—that the Government have given very high priority to this matter. It is now for the great local authority concerned to send me the details and the itemised estimates for which I have asked.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation why he is unwilling to receive a deputation from several West Sussex local authorities, to be led by the hon. Member for Arundel and Shoreham, who are anxious to lay before him, on behalf of the residents of West Sussex, the necessity of freeing the Old Shoreham Bridge from its present toll imposition.

We are already convinced of the desirability of abolishing these tolls, but we are not willing to postpone urgent road improvements in order to spend money on this. As I have already informed my hon. and gallant Friend, there is really nothing more that could be said to a deputation.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made in removing the use less and derelict huts on Heathfield Airfield at Ayr.

Since my Department took over responsibility for Heathfield aerodrome in February, a survey has been made of the existing buildings and arrangements have been made for the demolition of those which are derelict and can serve no useful purpose. Tenders have been invited for a contract to demolish these buildings, and to remove the materials, at an early date.

As these huts have been an eyesore at this place for the last seven years, will my hon. Friend and his right hon. Friend go into their usual hustle in order to get rid of it?

Yes, Sir; certainly. I hope these eyesores will be removed by mid-July.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what restrictions are placed on military and naval helicopters operating from central London.

The operation of military and naval helicopters is controlled by the appropriate Service authority.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is a strong feeling in some quarters that the regulations are relaxed for military helicopters, and will he give an assurance that, if civilian operators can find landing places such as that from which the Chief of the Imperial General Staff operates in Chelsea, they will be allowed to do so?

I am very glad that my hon. and gallant Friend has given me the opportunity of trying to clear up what 1 know to be a misconception. There is no reluctance on the part of my right hon. Friend to allow civilian helicopters to come into the centre of London, so long as they conform to the broad regulations, which provide that, in the event of an engine failure, a landing be made without risk to persons on the ground. Within these regulations, they have just as much latitude as Service helicopters, and the regulations, both Service and civilian, are broadly in line with each other.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman recognise that what is needed is a properly constructed helidrome somewhere on the banks of the Thames? When are we going to do something of that sort because until it is done there will be no suitable places for helicopters? What about Cannon Street Station, where very few people live.

We will certainly have a look at that suggestion. The trouble is that people live everywhere whether the area includes a railway station or not. We cannot progress any further in the construction of an air-stop at the cost of a very large sum of money, until we know the qualities of the twin-engined helicopter. At present we do not know them. The Sikorsky machine is not yet flying with twin engines.

Will the Minister keep in mind the tremendous noise which these machines make?

Everything possible is being done to diminish noise.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that if a helicopter engine failed at 400 feet, after taking off on the Chelsea site, there would be risk of loss of life to the local inhabitants?

I am afraid that that is a hypothetical question with me, because we have made no test on the Chelsea site which is a military site. I have reason to believe that if it was not a military site but a civil one it would broadly conform to the regulations laid down by my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation in view of the progress being made in the production of a 30–40 seater helicopter, the Sikorsky S56, which can be built in this country, what action he is taking to ensure that we do not lag behind other countries in utilising this type of aircraft.

I understand that the Sikorsky S56 is not in production yet in the United States, and that four military prototypes, but no civil ones, have been built there. When more is known, I shall be able to consider with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply whether it would be in the interests of British operators for S56s. to be built under licence in this country.

Does not the Minister appreciate that he must have some confidence in people? If he is going to wait until helicopters are actually made by other countries and are landing in this country we shall be in the humiliating position of having them flying into London.

It would help everybody if the hon. Gentleman's enthusiasm were equalled by his knowledge of the facts. I welcome the enthusiasm, but he must not assume that there is not quite close contact between our manufacturers and manufacturers in the United States upon this and kindred matters.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that 10 days ago I was flying in helicopters and that I speak with as great a knowledge of them as he does.

What representations have been made by either of the two Corporations about the possibility of using this particular helicopter?

The B.E.A. is, of course, very interested in the development of helicopters in general in the United Kingdom, but it understands perfectly the particular stage of development of the S56. I would not in the least regard it harmful to British helicopter development if, when we know all the facts, we gave a licence to produce a foreign helicopter in this country; but before we do that we must know all the facts.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the total expenditure, to date, on the provision of ground services for United Kingdom civil aerodromes; and what have been the total receipts, to date, paid in respect of aircraft using these ground facilities.

The total capital and recurrent expenditure, from Ministry of Civil Aviation Vote, from 1945 up to 31st March, 1954, on the provision of ground services for United Kingdom civil aerodromes is approximately £68 million. Total receipts to 31st March, 1954, paid in respect of aircraft using these ground facilities is approximately £13 million.

While appreciating the need for capital expenditure on such projects, may I ask whether my right hon. Friend is aware of the necessity for ensuring an adequate return? How do the landing charges for civil aerodromes in this country compare with those of other countries?

I could not answer offhand the last part of my hon. Friend's question. A great deal of the expenditure to which I have referred is revenue-producing. It will yield returns in the years to come.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what arrangements exist at Prestwick Airport for providing air transport for passengers desirous of proceeding to other parts of Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland.

Passengers who arrive at Prestwick with through tickets for other airports in Scotland, Belfast, Manchester or Newcastle-upon-Tyne may be conveyed, free of charge, by road to Renfrew where there are air services to these places. Direct air transport is not available between Prestwick Airport and the areas mentioned.

While being deeply grateful for what my hon. Friend, my right hon. Friend, and his colleagues, have done for Prestwick, may I ask him1 to bear in mind that we cannot designate. an airfield or an airport as "International" unless we provide it with a feeder service to collect and deliver passengers to and from their destination? Otherwise, it is only theory and not fact.

I cannot accept what my hon. Friend says. The provision of a feeder air service into Prestwick would not create an additional demand for trans-Atlantic travel, nor is the absence of such a service likely to deter any trans-Atlantic traveller who wanted to use Prestwick.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that services of the nature suggested in the Question are provided adequately by Renfrew Airport?

I am talking about Prestwick.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has yet abolished the passenger service charge of 5s. for each passenger leaving his Department's airports for overseas; and what new arrangements are now in force.

I have nothing to add to the statement which my right hon. Friend made on 8th March.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that the public regard this charge as a real imposition which should be withdrawn without further delay?

If the hon. Member reads the statement to which I have referred he will realise that the intention is to alleviate at the earliest possible date this great deterrent to air traffic.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the reasons which led to Great Britain agreeing to the recent declaration of 16 nations about peace in Korea.

I know of no recent declaration. If the hon. and learned Member is referring to the Declaration signed on 7th August, 1953, I can only refer him to the reply given to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Battersea, North (Mr. Jay) on 26th October.

Does the Minister of State realise that, whatever were the reasons which actuated Britain on that occasion, they have not had the desired effect? Will he now tell the House what he is doing to bring about a settled peace?

I think that the purpose of the Declaration was to make quite certain that there should not be a resumption of hostilities in Korea, and that certainly has not happened.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Anglo-Egyptian negotiations on the evacuation of British forces from the Canal Zone are still proceeding; and to what extent any of our troops are being withdrawn.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No, Sir." The answer to the second part of the Question is "None."

Does that answer mean that no representations are being made at the present time by either side for a resumption of negotiations? Is it not the intention of Her Majesty's Government to make such representations at an early date?

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said on 22nd March, which, I think, made the position perfectly clear.

The position was not made clear at all. The reply given to us by his right hon. Friend simply indicated a stalemate. I wish to know, as do many others, whether the Government— or the Egyptian Government—propose to resume negotiations.

What my right hon. Friend said on 22nd March was that conditions of confidence had to be created before negotiations could be properly embarked upon. In addition, there has been a good deal of change and shift of power during the past few weeks, and perhaps it is just as well to see how things settle down.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether President Eisenhower's proposal for the establishment of an international atomic agency is one of the subjects to be discussed by the sub-committee of the United Nations Disarmament Commission which is to meet this week.

As my right hon. Friend informed the House of 5th April, President Eisenhower's proposal is being discussed at present through diplomatic channels. But it is certainly a matter of which account must be taken in the forthcoming talks.

In view of the terms of the Resolution passed by the General Assembly in November last, can the Minister say whether the conversations will cover the whole field of disarmament, both conventional and unconventional, including atomic and hydrogen weapons?

Yes, Sir. It is certainly the case that the discussions will cover the whole of die field.

Is the Minister aware that he has the good wishes of both sides of the House in entering these conversations, and that we hope sincerely that an agreement will be reached on these matters which are vital to the future welfare of the world?

I am very grateful to the right hon. and learned Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he proposes to take about the desire of the Greek Government and of the majority of the people of Cyprus for the union of Cyprus with Greece.

As has repeatedly been made clear in answers to Questions, Her Majesty's Government are not prepared to discuss the status of Cyprus with the Greek Government.

Does the reply of the right hon. and learned Gentleman mean that in spite of the fact that 80 per cent. of the population of Cyprus is Greek and wishes to go to Greece, and that we derive no military or economic advantage from a dog-in-the-manger attitude, Her Majesty's Government are going to sit on their ample backside until there is violence in Cyprus or until N.A.T.O. is shaken by quarrels with our old friends the Greeks?

I do not accept any of the hon. and learned Gentleman's suggestions. We cannot agree that any foreign Government, however friendly, can assume the right to be consulted about the future status of one of Her Majesty's present possessions.

Can my right hon. and learned Friend say when Cyprus was last part of Greece?

Certainly not in the last 400 years.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that on no account should any decision be made on taking Cyprus out of the British Commonwealth and Empire without a fair and honest opinion being taken in Cyprus itself?

Is my right hon. and learned Friend certain that those who shout loudest for Enosis in Cyprus realise that it would mean their transfer from the sterling area, the loss of their British passports, and liability to call-up to the Greek armed forces?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fall of Dien Bien Phu, he has made, or will make, representations at Geneva as to the desirability of prompt and satisfactory arrangements in respect of wounded and prisoners and of the alleviation of suffering generally, both in the interests of humanity and of the creation of a climate favourable to the re-establishment of peace in Indo-China.

As my hon. Friend will, no doubt, have seen from today's Press, arrangements are now being discussed for the evacuation of the seriously wounded from Dien Bien Phu. My right hon. Friend has done what he can to initiate and support proposals designed to alleviate the sufferings of the sick, wounded and prisoners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total amount of grants in aid and special gifts given by the British taxpayers to British Honduras since 1931.

The total sum is £3,675,344, comprising the following items:

	£
Grants in aid	1,122,165
Colonial Development and Welfare schemes	2,382,896
Hurricane, 1931. Remission of outstanding loan	106,388
Loss on currency revaluation, 1950	63,895
	£3,675,344

In view of this enormous generosity on the part of the British taxpayer to 75,000 people, seeing that we have about 90 million in our Dependencies, may I ask if the right hon. Gentleman has any hope that these people will give up the will o' the wisp of Communism and co-operate with the Government in improving their prospects?

I do not think the hon. Gentleman is correct in attributing the present situation in British Honduras to Communism. While I breath, I still hope.