asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the importance of Cyprus and the present difficulties concerning this Colony and their desire for union with Greece, he will arrange for an all-party delegation of Members of Parliament to visit Cyprus for the purpose of making an investigation on the spot.

I have carefully considered this proposal but have come to the conclusion that such a visit would not be opportune or helpful at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Cyprus Government have banned any reference in local newspapers to the union of Cyprus with Greece, including reports of debates in Parliament on this subject.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to the hon. Member for Rossendale (Mr. Anthony Greenwood).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements have been made for the families of the detainees in Kenya; what steps are taken to ensure that women employed upon the land are paid enough to maintain their children; and what provision is being made for the children.

In general, dependants of detainees still get subsistence from the family or clan farms, or are cared for in accordance with tribal law and custom. Where this is not possible, paid work on relief schemes is provided, and is supplemented for women with children by the issue of free food. Free food is also given to persons who cannot work. Children who cannot be so absorbed are looked after under arrangements made by local authorities and missions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will specify the steps now being taken in Kenya to remove the economic, social and educational root causes of the trouble there; and what progress he has made along these lines towards achieving peace there.

I do not accept the implication in the first part of the Question. The objectives and plans of the Kenya Government are set out in the very full statement of policy made by the Council of Ministers on 5th July, 1954.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the month by month expenditure on action against Mau Mau since the declaration of a state of emergency in Kenya; and what has been the expenditure during the same period on African education, health, agriculture, housing, co-operatives, and social services.

As the information is not available here I am consulting the Governor and will write to the hon. Member when I receive his reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons convicted of various offences in Kenya during the past 12 months have been ordered to be flogged; and the nature of the flogging that takes place.

The most recent figures available are for the year ended 31st December, 1953, during which 1,145 persons were sentenced by the courts to receive corporal punishment. Two hundred and twenty-one were adults and 924 were under 20 years of age. A rod or cane is used and the maximum number of strokes in the case of an adult is 24, and in the case of a juvenile under 16, 12.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons are interned in Manyani Camp in Kenya; how many cases of typhoid fever have arisen in this camp within the last two months and how many of these have died; and what precautions are taken against such infections in this and similar camps.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply this afternoon to Questions by the hon. Members for Reading, South (Mr. Mikardo) and Rugby (Mr. J. Johnson).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total number of casualties inflicted on Mau Mau, and the casualties suffered at the hands of Mau Mau by European residents, including British, Asians and Africans, during the period of the emergency to the latest convenient date.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the information given today to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Mrs. Slater).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Africans have now been executed in Kenya since the declaration of the emergency; and on what grounds.

Up to 1st October, 686. The charges were:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what increases in school fees are proposed in the Federation of Malaya; and if he will have this matter reconsidered so as not to impose hardship on the parents unable to afford any increase in the fees and to deprive children of their education.

A committee (under the chairmanship of the Member for Education), recently recommended increases ranging from seven shillings to £2 6s. 8d. a month for tuition in Government and Government-aided English secondary Schools. In order to provide free or partly-free places for children whose parents could not afford the full fees, the authorities would have discretion to remit up to a maximum of 37½ per cent. of the total sum payable as fees. This report is now being studied by the Governments of the States and Settlements and will subsequently be debated in the Legislative Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what terms Indians in Singapore can become citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies; what time elapses before they are accepted as citizens; how many, so far, have registered; and what steps have been taken to explain and encourage such registration.

Indians in Singapore who are citizens of India or, under the British Nationality Act, 1948, British subjects without citizenship, can become citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies by registration if they are ordinarily resident in Singapore and have been resident there throughout the preceding 12 months. They are accepted as citizens as soon as they have been registered. 16,548 have so far been registered. A special registration centre and three sub-centres have been established. Wide publicity has been given to the procedure and facilities for registration through the Press and radio and through employers and communal organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has studied the petition submitted to the High Commissioner and the Rulers of the Malay States of the Federation of Malaya asking that a Special Independent Commission on constitutional reforms in the Federation of Malaya be appointed; and what action he proposes to take.

Yes, but the petition is addressed solely to Their Highnesses the Rulers of the Malay States, who are to consider the request for this Commission when they next meet later this month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken by the Government of Aden to encourage the development of trades unions; whether any wages councils have yet been set up; and what machinery exists for arbitration on wages and conditions of labour.

There is a labour and welfare department ready to help persons wishing to form a trade union. Two trade unions exist and three more are expected to seek registration. There are no wages councils in Aden, but there is a non-statutory Labour Advisory Board which reviews conditions of employment. Minimum wage orders are in force for young persons, labourers and skilled labourers. The law provides for conciliation and voluntary arbitration in any dispute, and for compulsory arbitration in a limited number of essential services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if Her Majesty's Government are now in a position to state the rate at which immigrants from East and West Africa, Aden, Malaya and the West Indies have arrived in search of work in the United Kingdom during the present year, compared with the rate of immigration in the years 1946 to 1953; and whether he will discuss with the Colonial Governments concerned a system of planned immigration.

I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary that he has no power to require British subjects arriving in the United Kingdom to furnish the information which would be necessary to answer the first part of the Question, and I regret that it is only in respect of the West Indies that a limited comparison can be made on the basis of information furnished to me by Colonial Governments. This suggests that from 1951 to 1953 migrants were leaving the West Indies for the United Kingdom at the rate of about 2,000 a year but that some 6,000 have set out during the first nine months of this year. As regards the second part of the Question, I do not think that it would be appropriate, at any rate at this stage, to suggest to Colonial Governments that they should introduce legislation to restrict emigration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will propose to the Ministers concerned that a conference be called of representatives of local authorities in areas where there are considerable populations of immigrants from Colonial and Commonwealth countries, with a view to consideration of problems of accommodation, employment, and social welfare.

While I am anxious to be as helpful as possible to local authorities where there are considerable populations of Colonial emigrants, I do not consider it advisable for Government to convene a conference. Should the authorities themselves feel the need for consulting Government Departments about their problems I would willingly arrange for my Department to join in discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many British subjects have emigrated from Jamaica and other islands in the British West Indies to the United Kingdom during the past three years; and what arrangements are made by the Colonial Governments concerned to advise intending emigrants about housing and employment in the United Kingdom.

Information furnished to me by West Indian Governments suggests that from 1951 to 1953 emigrants were arriving from those Territories in the United Kingdom at the rate of about 2,000 a year, and that some 6,000 set out during the first nine months of this year. The great majority of these people are Jamaicans.Frequent information has been issued by those Governments through the local Press and by their labour departments advising intending immigrants about the problems of housing and employment in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what notification is received by his Department of the impending arrival of emigrants from the British West Indies; and what steps are taken to deal with such emigrants who arrive in this country without jobs or homes.

Governors usually inform me by telegram of the numbers of emigrants, their means of transport and the estimated date of arrival. This information is passed on to other Government Departments concerned. The ordinary social services are available to those who arrive without jobs or homes, as they are to other British subjects similarly placed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to provide more air-conditioned rooms or air-conditioning apparatus in administrative and domestic buildings occupied by colonial officers in colonial areas.

This is a matter for the several Colonial Governments, and I am afraid I can give no general reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the proportion of illiterates to the population in the Colonies and Protectorates as a whole, and secondly in each Colony and Protectorate.

I regret that in the absence of any accepted criterion of literacy I do not feel in a position to answer this question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the proportion of doctors to the population in the Colonies and Protectorates as a whole, and, secondly, in each Colony and Protectorate.

The total number of doctors, including those who do not hold fully registrable qualifications but are licensed to practise, is approximately 6,000. This represents an average of 12,500 people for each practitioner for the Colonial Territories as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the proportion of children of school age attending schools in the Colonies and Protectorates as a whole, and secondly in each Colony and Protectorate.

The number of children of school age is known precisely only in those Territories with complete age group records. It is not possible therefore to calculate percentages attending schools for the Territories as a whole. Estimates can, however, be made for the majority of Territories with varying degrees of accuracy, and I am having this information prepared to send to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the differences between the sedition laws in the United Kingdom and those in the Colonies; and whether he

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the age expectancy of life in the Colonies and Protectorates as a whole, and, secondly, in each Colony and Protectorate.

The information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. Figures for those Territories for which they can be calculated are given in the following table.will take steps to bring the latter into conformity with those of the United Kingdom.

I am aware that there are some differences. I see no need to invite Colonial Governments to amend their legislation, but if the hon. Member will let me know the particuar points he has in mind I will consider them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many members of Her Majesty's Overseas Service retired before reaching the age for retirement for the particular region from June until September inclusive; and what are the comparable figures for 1953.

I am in communication with Colonial Governments about this matter and will circulate the information required in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as it is complete.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many vacancies there were in the Colonial Service and the Colonial Research Service when the White Paper entitled "Reorganisation of the Colonial Service" was published; and how many there were on 1st October, 1954.

The number of vacancies in the Colonial Service (including the Colonial Research Service), with the filling of which I am concerned, was 1,285 on the 31st May, 1954. The corresponding figure at the 30th September, 1954, was 1,278. This figure included 614 new vacancies declared between the two dates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now make a report on the success, or otherwise, of the nominated Governments now administering the affairs of British Guiana; and when a return to elected Governments may be contemplated.

The Interim Government has devoted its energies mainly to drawing up and putting into operation the two-year development plan, estimated to cost £9 million. More than 40 projects are now under way, and particular emphasis is being given to the provision of housing for the poorer people and to large scale drainage and irrigation and land settlement schemes.As for the second part of the Question. I would ask my hon. Friend to await the decision of Her Majesty's Government on the report of the Constitutional Commission which I hope to make when the report is published shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons have been sentenced under the emergency laws in British Guiana; on what charges: and to what extent the numbers so sentenced are increasing or decreasing.

Thirty-seven, of whom 22 were sentenced for holding illegal meetings, nine for taking part in illegal processions, one for leaving the area to which he had been restricted and five for failing to notify their movements as required under the terms of restriction orders. The numbers sentenced have decreased—three over the last three months as compared with 12 in the month of December last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how long the emergency laws have been in force in British Guiana; and how much longer he estimates the emergency will continue.

For a little over a year. I cannot say when it will be possible to dispense with the emergency powers but the position will, of course, be kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that a number of inaccurate statements were made in the White Paper, Command Paper No. 8980, entitled "British Guiana, Suspension of the Constitution"; and whether, therefore, he will issue a supplementary White Paper setting out corrections of all inaccuracies that have been brought to his notice.

I am aware that the paid-up membership of the Man Power Citizens Association, as of other unions in British Guiana, has proved upon investigation to be considerably lower than the nominal membership reported by the Association to the Registrar of Trade Unions and quoted in paragraph 16 of the White Paper. If the hon. Lady will let me have details of the alleged discrepancies she has in mind I shall be, glad to look into them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what consideration has been given by Her Majesty's Government to an increased financial grant to the Government of Hong Kong, in view of the burden to that Colony due to the number of refugees now within its territory.

The present financial position of the Hong Kong Government is not such as to require any annual grant-in-aid of administration or special assistance in respect of the refugee problem. On the occasion, however, of a disastrous fire in a squatters settlement area last Christmas, Her Majesty's Government made an ad hoc contribution of £200,000 towards the cost of rehousing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what advice was given to the inhabitants of the Healthy Village by the Hong Kong Government regarding their tenure and the question of compensation for any expenditure undertaken on construction or improvements when required to demolish their houses.

All inhabitants of Healthy Village were advised initially and have been reminded from time to time that their tenure was purely temporary pending permanent development of the area, and they have been well aware that any expenditure undertaken by them on construction or improvements which are not removable would be entirely at their own risk.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what has been the outcome of the appeal of the detainee, Mr. Pinto, to the Advisory Appeals Committee.

The Advisory Committee after careful consideration of the evidence against Mr. Pinto recommended that on grounds of public security he should continue to be detained. The Governor has accepted this recommendation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that in allowing the appeal of four Africans convicted of murder the Court of Appeal for Eastern Africa were satisfied of the fact that the accused had been held in custody for questioning for a period of eight weeks without any charge having been made against them; and whether he will hold an inquiry into the facts.

Yes. An inquiry is being held.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many prisoners have been transferred from Northern Rhodesia to South Africa since July of this year; and whether the one British subject of South African origin, transferred before this date, is an African, a coloured person, or a European.

None. The British subject is a European.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is now in a position to make a statement upon future constitutional changes in Mauritius following the visit of the Minister of State to that island.

No. I have nothing to add at present to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member on 28th July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the powers of the multi-racial district council established at Cholo, Nyasaland; and how its activities are financed.

The powers of the Cholo District Council are those laid down in the first schedule to Ordinance No. 48 of 1953 of the Nyasaland Protectorate, with the exception of items 1, 2, 3 and 6 of Part I and items 1 and 2 of Part II.Revenue is derived as in Section 37 of the Ordinance but no grant has yet been made under either sub-paragraph (

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that on Thursday, 5th August, Admiral Sir John Edelsten, Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, gave a dinner party aboard the frigate "Grenville," moored at Cowes, at which flowers and special silver were taken aboard; who were the guests; what was the cost to his department; and who gave the authority for using this frigate for a private party.

The dinner party was given by the Commander-in-Chief at his own expense. It is within the discretion of commanders-in-chief and commanding officers of Her Majesty's ships to entertain guests on board.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why the frigate "Grenville" was moored off the shore at Cowes during the whole period of the Cowes Yachting Week; why on Friday, 6th August, this frigate was used for a private cocktail party of some 300 people; if he is aware that one of the decks was converted into a large cocktail bar, deck flags being strung across the bulwarks, flowers taken on board, and hours of work spent on the preparations; and by whose authority this party was arranged.

By long-standing custom, the Royal Navy provides a guardship during Cowes Week. This year the duty was performed by H.M.S. "Grenville"

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what arrears have still to be paid to workmen in the Admiralty establishments in Dunbartonshire for work undertaken under contract during 1950, 1951, 1952 and 1953 by employees in the Electrical Engineering Manager's Department.

One very small sum still remains to be paid to a former employee, whose whereabouts have not been traced. I regret that there was considerable delay in making payment to 16 other employees who had left Admiralty service and steps have been taken to prevent delays of this kind in future.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is yet in a position to state what wavelengths he proposes to allocate to ambulance services equipped with radio at present operating in the television band.

Not yet. As the House is aware, my noble Friend has set up a committee to examine the problem of re-accommodating the mobile radio services now operating in the television band. The Committee fully appreciate the importance and urgency of the problem, but has not yet completed its inquiries.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what steps are being taken to improve the reception in Wales of the Welsh Home Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation.

The present poor reception of the Welsh Home Service is, as the hon. Member knows, mainly due to interference from a station in the Soviet zone of Germany. The matter is in the hands of our High Commissioner at Bonn and I hope Members will not press me further on the subject at the moment. I can assure the hon. Member that everything possible is being done to improve the position.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many paid appointments to posts outside the Civil Service he is responsible for making; and what are the individual and total salaries of these appointments.

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind paid appointments for which my noble Friend is directly responsible. These number 10, i.e. all the members of the Independent Television Authority. Details of their salaries and allowances have just been laid before Parliament.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what progress is being made in the re-equipment of the Eccles telephone exchange; and on what date he expects the new exchange will be opened.

The new building is nearly finished and installation of the equipment will start next month. We hope to bring the automatic exchange into service in about 18 months' time.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what saving in costs are expected to be made by the new dialling system; and what reduction will be made in cost of telephone calls.

The opening of a new automatic exchange at Orpington, which I assume my hon. Friend has in mind, is part of our well-advanced plan to increase the efficiency of the telephone service. The governing factor in telephone finance is, however, the steep increase in all costs since the war and I am afraid there can be no prospect of any reduction in telephone call charges.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what consultations he has had with the French telephone authorities about the possibility of having a gallery under the Channel for telephone and electric cables.

None.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General which districts in the Borough of Poole he proposes should, for the time being, be left outside Poole postal district.

My noble Friend is prepared to include Branksome Park, Canford Cliffs, Sandbanks and Parkstone in the Poole postal area, if and when he is satisfied that the change is acceptable to most of the residents affected. Should he decide to extend the area, all districts in the borough, except those which have the address "Wimborne, Dorset" and "Broadstone, Dorset," will be included.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is now in a position to announce the result of his consultations regarding the transport of large loads, the weight and shape of which entail undue interference with normal road traffic.

I am examining this difficult question. I hope, very shortly, to discuss it with the principal interests concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether recent reports which he has received from the Transport Commission of progress made in improving the ferry service at Queensferry enable him to name a date by which the new and improved service will be in operation.

I am informed by the British Transport Commission that the best estimate which can be made at present is that work on the piers will be completed at the end of next year, and the new ferry vessel will be delivered early in 1956.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent the running of buses on the same route in groups of three or four in central London increases traffic congestion.

Bunching of buses in central London is caused primarily by traffic congestion. Traffic conditions vary so much that I cannot estimate the extent to which bunching itself makes this congestion.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is now able to make a statement about the universal system of headlamp dipping on all classes of road vehicles.

No. This is an important subject, but I have no statement to make on it at present.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the cost of the recent census of traffic on the roads; how many people were employed; what useful results were obtained; and what new policy he proposes to adopt as a result.

As this census was carried out by local authorities, I do not yet know its actual cost or the number of enumerators employed, but these have been estimated at £400,000 and 20,000, respectively. The results are still being collated. They will provide up-to-date information of traffic flows for the first time since 1938, and help me to allocate road expenditure where it is most needed.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation his provisional estimate, in accordance with Section 14 of the Transport Act, 1953, of the capital loss on the disposal by the British Transport Commission of their road haulage undertaking; and over what period he has determined that instalments shall be paid to the Commission.

The provisional estimate which I have made in accordance with Section 14 of the Transport Act, 1953, of the road haulage capital loss, on the basis of information relating to disposal transactions furnished to me by the Commission and their auditors, is £20 million. With the approval of the Treasury, I have provisionally determined as five years the period over which this sum, together with the sum of £1 million due to the Commission in respect of loss from disturbance, shall be paid by annual instalments.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he has yet carried out his statutory obligation to make a provisional estimate of the total capital loss incurred in selling British Road Services; and what data he has used in view of the small number of lorries sold up to date.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what estimate he has made of the amount to be paid to the British Transport Commission under Section 14 of the Transport Act, 1953, in respect of loss sustained by them from the disposal of their road vehicles, excluding the sum allocated for disturbance by severance.

In accordance with the provisions of Section 14 of the Transport Act, 1953, I have made a provisional estimate of £20 million as the amount to be paid to the British Transport Commission in respect of the total capital loss. I used the information available at the date of my estimate relating to the book value of assets disposed of and the prices realised.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what sum has so far been yielded by the transport levy.

£3.789,000 up till the end of August.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when the hon. Member for The Hartlepools can expect to receive a reply to the communication that was sent to him on 13th September last, about the case of a ship's officer who lost his life at Goa, Portuguese India, on 18th October, 1953.

I wrote to the hon. Member on 14th October.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps Her Majesty's Government propose to take in the near future to encourage the construction of underground car parks beneath squares in the West End of London.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the present position regarding the proposals put forward nearly three years ago by the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee for building underground garages and car parks in central London.

As my predecessor announced on 23rd June in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend, the Member for Shrewsbury (Mr. Langford Holt), three firms of consulting engineers were appointed to prepare as soon as possible detailed plans and estimates for garages under Grosvenor Square, Cavendish Square and Finsbury Square respectively. These reports have just been received and are being studied.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that there were more fatal accidents in 1953 on the roads of Staffordshire than of any other Midland county; and if he will review the plans and grants for the improvement of Staffordshire roads so as to ensure a higher degree of safety in the future.

Yes, though, in fairness to Staffordshire, I should point out that the number of deaths from road accidents in this county per mile of road or per 100,000 of population is less than that of some other Midland counties.So far as the second part of the Question is concerned, the total amount from central funds authorised or expected to be authorised in this financial year for road work in Staffordshire amounts to an increase of about 86 per cent. over the amounts authorised in the previous year.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware of the handicaps and danger to large vehicles in using the bridge at Cannich; and whether he is prepared to take steps to see that the Bailey bridge erected for the use of contractors' traffic can be made available for general transport.

I know that this bridge is weak and requires early reconstruction. A scheme is being prepared by the Inverness County Council, the responsible highway and bridge authority. It is primarily for the Council to consider any question of making available for general transport the Bailey bridge to which the right hon. Member refers and which is, I understand, the property of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give an assurance that the priority which was granted for the construction of the twin tunnels at Whiteinch is still to be maintained, despite the fact that only a single tunnel is now to be completed.

I have nothing to add to the full reply which my predecessor gave to the hon. Member on 29th July.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the nature of the assurances which he has received from the British Overseas Corporation and the British European Airways that the proposed development of Gatwick Airport will meet their needs and that they will use it in the way and to the extent envisaged by his Department.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the White Paper on Gatwick, which is being presented today.So far as British European Airways are concerned, I would also invite my hon. Friend's attention to page 33 of their Report for 1953–54, which I recently presented to Parliament.

asked the Minister of Defence what percentage of recruits developed tuberculosis of the lung while undertaking National Service in the Armed Forces in 1952 and 1953.

In each of the years 1952 and 1953 about one recruit in 1,000 was found to have developed tuberculosis of the lung during his period of National Service in the Armed Forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will take steps to expedite Japan's carrying out her obligation under Article 16 of the Treaty of Peace to transfer certain assets to be used for the benefit of former Far Eastern prisoners of war.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will take steps to require the implementation of Article 16 of the Treaty of Peace with Japan so that compensation may be provided for members of the Armed Forces who suffered hardship while prisoners of war of Japan.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the present position with regard to Japanese assets under Article 16 of the Peace Treaty; when these frozen assets will be made available; and what amount each of the British Far Eastern prisoners of war is likely to receive from them.

I would refer to my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Heston and Isleworth (Mr. R. Harris) on 19th October.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will request the Prime Minister of Japan to postpone his goodwill visit to this country until the indemnity is paid in accordance with Article 16 of the Treaty of Peace with Japan to those members of the Armed Forces of the allied Powers who suffered undue hardship while prisoners of war.

No. I would refer the right hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Heston and Isleworth (Mr. R. Harris) on 19th October, which indicated that discussions about the settlement of this issue are at present taking place in Tokyo.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that Article 16 of the Treaty of Peace with Japan is not being carried out and the Far East prisoners of war have not received the compensation embodied in this Treaty; what efforts have been made to get it implemented; and what further steps he intends to take to influence Japan to carry out her obligations in this respect.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Heston and Isleworth (Mr. R. Harris) on 19th October.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can place a map showing the new boundaries in Trieste territory in the Library.

Yes. I have arranged to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action has been taken to remove refugees from Zone A of Trieste; how many remain; what are their nationalities; and what action it is proposed to take to deal with this problem.

It has always been the policy of Allied Military Government to facilitate the resettlement of as many refugees as possible. One thousand eight hundred refugees have been resettled in the first nine months of this year and it is expected that close on 800 more will have been resettled by the end of this month.On 15th October, 4,944 refugees were registered with Allied Military Government, of whom 3,474 were in camps receiving assistance from Allied Military Government and 1,470 were living in Zone A under private arrangements. The majority of both groups are of Yugoslav nationality, but the refugeees also include Albanians, Bulgarians, Czechs, Greeks, Hungarians, Poles, Roumanians and Ukrainians.The arrangements being made for the assumption by Italy of the administration of the Zone include arrangements for the Italian Government to take over the refugee camps as going concerns when Allied Military Government's responsibilities cease.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made by the United Nations with a view to their according the Government of the Republic of China a seat on the Council of the United Nations.

At its opening meeting on 21st September, the General Assembly decided not to consider the question this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will issue a White Paper about his official travels through Europe.

No. I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by so doing since the results were shown in the Final Protocol of the nine-Power Conference, the text of which has been laid as a White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the terms of those provisions of the Occupation Statute still in force regarding the responsibility of the Occupation Forces in relation to Nazi activities; and why Her Majesty's Government have not taken steps to prevent the recent Nazi and neo-Nazi rallies held in Western Germany.

There are no provisions in the Occupation Statute regarding the responsibility of the Occupation Forces in relation to Nazi activities. The latter is not a reserved subject under the Occupation Statute. There have been no recent Nazi or neo-Nazi rallies in Germany.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that a series of weekly articles written by Rudolph Hess, from Spandau prison, is to be published in a British Sunday newspaper; what facilities the British Government are affording him to write these articles and remit them from gaol to the newspaper; and what payments he will be allowed to receive.

I understand that the articles now appearing in the "Sunday Dispatch" have not been written as such by Hess, but are compiled from letters sent by him to his wife over a period of years. Hess is not allowed to write articles from prison nor to receive any payment.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will publish in HANSARD a list of the people who were convicted and sentenced as war criminals in Germany, a résumé of the charges and sentences awarded in each case; how many of these have been released on completion of their sentences and how many have been released before completion of their sentences; what were the reasons in each of the latter cases for their early release; and whether he will give details of how many of these former war criminals are now employed either directly or indirectly by the British and in what positions they are so employed.

The collection of the information requested in the first two paragraphs of the Question would entail a very great expenditure of time and labour on the part of the staff of the United Kingdom High Commissioner in Germany. In present circumstances, I could not agree to authorise this additional work.As regards the last two paragraphs of the Question, clemency is exercised on the merits of each case and I cannot give the reasons for its exercise in any particular case. I am not aware that any former war criminals are employed by the British authorities in Germany.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps have been taken by the Control Commission in Germany, in conjunction with the Federal German Government, to restore the property in Germany of Jewish and other refugees from Nazi oppression or to make compensation for the loss of such property.

The restitution of identifiable property to the victims of Nazi oppression is governed in the British Zone by Military Government Law No. 59 of 12th May, 1949, and subsequent amendments. Similar legislation has been enacted to cover the United States and French Zones and the Western sectors of Berlin.Under Law 59, restitution agencies, restitution chambers and a final court of appeal were established to hear restitution cases. By the final dates for the submission of claims under this legislation, 95,871 admissible claims had been filed in the British Zone. By 31st August, 1954, these had been converted into 110,572 cases before the courts, a very high proportion of which had been disposed of or appealed.In the Convention on the Settlement of Matters arising out of the War and the Occupation, the German Federal Government acknowledges the need for the above legislation, and assumes the obligation to implement it fully and expeditiously and to ensure the payment of monetary awards made under it against the German Reich, within a limit of D.M.1,500,000,000. The recent negotiations have not led to any alteration in these provisions.Accordingly, in consultation with the Allied High Commission the Federal Government is now drafting a law for the settlement of the monetary restitution liabilities of the German Reich. This will also accord a new filing period to individuals who failed to substantiate claims against the Reich within the time limits permitted by Law 59.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs under whose authority the British Consul at San Jose, Guatemala, gave instructions to Captain Thomas Bradford, master of the cargo vessel "Springfjord" that he was to keep silent about the loss of his ship by bombing off San Jose on 4th June; and what authority the Consul had for taking from Captain Bradford photographs of the incident.

No British consular officer ever instructed Captain Bradford to keep silent about the bombing of his ship on 27th June (not 4th June). Her Majesty's Legation at Guatemala City at once assisted Captain Bradford to communicate with the owners and asked him, in view of the political situation in Guatemala, to inform them of any statement that he might be making to the Press.The photographs taken by a member of the crew were handed over by Captain Bradford to the British Vice-Consul for safe keeping and to be developed. The film was handed back to Captain Bradford a few days later.

asked the Minister of Food when he proposes to make new regulations under Section 2 of the Slaughter of Animals (Amendment) Act for the purpose of securing humane conditions and practices in connection with the slaughter of animals in slaughterhouses and knackers' yards; whether he will draft these regula- tions so as to deal with the conditions under which the ritual slaughter of animals for human consumption in such places is still to be permitted; and what procedure will be adopted for consultation about such new regulations with the experts and interested organisations concerned.

Proposals for regulations including the ritual slaughter of animals were circulated for comment to the organisations concerned on 30th September and it is hoped to make regulations by the end of November.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a statement, following his examination of the information gained from various sections of the industry, about the distribution of food and vegetables; and what action he proposes to take to improve the situation.

I am not in a position to add to what has been said on this subject on past occasions.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the dissatisfaction of traders at his recommendation that the meat content of sausages should be displayed by them: and if he will, therefore, now give further consideration to introducing an order stipulating the minimum percentage of meat content.

I am not aware of any general dissatisfaction among traders, but shall continue to keep the position under review.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made with experiments in fluoridation of water supplies; and which local authorities are co-operating.

Investigations are taking place to determine the amount of fluoride suitable for addition to water supplies under British conditions and, simultaneously, arrangements are being made for dental examinations, the supply of fluoride and the development of suitable machinery. The authorities of Anglesey, Darlington and Watford have agreed to co-operate in the local studies. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland that the Council of Kilmarnock has also agreed to co-operate.

asked the Minister of Health what conclusions have been reached from the investigations made by his Department into the use of boracic in talcum and baby powders.

I think that ample publicity has already been given and I do not consider that any further action by me is called for at the present juncture. I will keep the position under review.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will give an assurance that in considering a review of all pensions he will take into account the alternative widows' pensions awarded to widows of soldiers killed in the 1914–18 war, some of whom have not had any rise since their initial award.

The scheme of alternative pensions ceased many years ago and no provision for this class of pension was made in the Pension Instruments for the 1939 War, successive Governments holding the view that a standard rate for all pensioners is the most equitable form of compensation for disablement or bereavement due to war service. Those who were awarded alternative pensions have continued to draw them while they remained more beneficial than the standard rates.My right hon. Friend would not feel justified in increasing an alternative pension which is above the standard rate, but where, as the result of the standard rate being increased, that rate becomes more favourable than an alternative pension, a widow automatically receives the benefit of the standard rate.