asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what progress has been made with the proposed constitutional changes in Basutoland.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what action Her Majesty's Government proposes to take on the recommendations for administrative changes in Basutoland made by the official committee over which Sir Henry Moore has presided.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he is aware of the dismay in Basutoland regarding the proposed administrative reforms of the Moore Committee; and whether he will make a statement.

The Administrative Reforms Committee under the Chairmanship of Sir Henry Moore reported in July, 1954. The Committee's Report has been presented to the Basuto in the district councils in all districts and will be discussed at an extraordinary meeting of the Basutoland National Council on 22nd March. Her Majesty's Government will then decide what action to take on its recommendations.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there has been considerable disquiet in Basutoland about these proposals, and that, in particular, there is unrest because the provision of a legislative council is desired by a number of people in Basutoland but is said to have been outside the terms of reference of this Committee? Could the hon. Gentleman make a statement on the attitude of the Government to that matter?

It is outside the terms of reference of this Committee. It was laid down by the previous Government on 4th May, 1950, that it was

"… intended that the local authorities shall progressively acquire a more representative character, and as they gather strength and experience they will be given increasing responsibilities."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 4th May, 1950; Vol. 474, c. 235.]

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind the difficulty that this Report proposes certain limitations on the powers of the chiefs but that the population will apparently be wary of such limitations until it has the rights provided by a legislative council? Will the hon. Gentleman look at that problem?

All these points were taken most carefully into account by the Moore Committee when it was consulting with so many local bodies before it made these recommendations.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that there is not only a strong but a very representative body of opinion in Basutoland in favour of the formation of a legislative council? As that is in accordance with the traditions of British policy, can he say whether it is still under consideration?

That has nothing to do with the present proposals, about which Sir Henry Moore's Committee has made recommendations.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what provision is made in Basutoland for old-age pensions, blind persons' pensions and grants to disabled persons.

The care and maintenance of persons who have become destitute from whatever cause is traditionally a matter for relatives in Basutoland, as in other African societies. No special provision is, therefore, made for the payment of pensions to the old, the blind, or the disabled as such, but where no relatives are available to maintain them, relief is given by the Basuto National Treasury.

Am I right in assuming that the Minister is no doubt aware that provision is made in the Union of South Africa, on certain conditions, for payments to the persons in the categories which are mentioned in the Question? Does he not think it very disadvantageous that in the neighbouring territory of Basutoland there is no statutory provision for such payments? Will he reconsider the matter?

I will look at what the hon. Lady has said, but this is essentially a matter for the local authorities to handle, and they must take some account of the current finances at their disposal. That is why we are busily building up the economic development of this territory.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now give a decision about the withdrawal of the option under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, which allows imported goods which are required to be marked to bear the words "Foreign" or "Empire" instead of the name of the country of origin.

I had hoped to announce a decision before this. I will do so as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will exempt domestic furniture from the provisions restricting the operation of hire purchase.

No, Sir.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that unemployment is developing in factories which are engaged in furniture production, and that young people are finding it difficult because they are not allowed to buy their furniture on the instalment system? Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider this matter?

I should first correct the hon. Gentleman by saying that they can buy furniture on the instalment system. All this Order does is to require 15 per cent. deposit and repayment over 24 months.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, in the first place, there is no unemployment in the Wycombe area, which has a large furniture industry? Second, is he aware that, in general, it is those who sell hire-purchase terms rather than furniture who are objecting? Nevertheless, will he look at the matter from the point of view of the deposit, because it would help home building, amongst other things, if there were a reduction of the deposit?

If the right hon. Gentleman cannot do anything about furniture, will he at least consider the representations that have been made on behalf of caravan purchasers, because a lot of them still cannot get houses, even though the Government are claiming to have done so much in that respect?

That is a different question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the proposals made to him by the Welsh Board of Industry for the introduction of industries to the rural towns of Brecon and Radnor; and what action has been taken.

I am not aware of any such proposals, but I shall be happy to examine any which are put to me.

Will the President of the Board of Trade ask the Welsh Board of Industry to make a special investigation of this problem in the rural parts of Wales, and not only in my constituency, without waiting for the report from the Board?

As I told the hon. Member, if he has any proposal to put to me, I will certainly look at it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about Anglo-Brazilian trade

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Horncastle (Commander Maitland), on 15th February last.

Yes, Sir, but is my right hon. Friend aware that, as time passes and no positive steps are taken in this matter, there is a growing concern about the situation, and will he please look at all aspects of it with a view to assisting those who want to sell to Brazil as well as those in Brazil who want to buy from us?

I am not sure what my hon. Friend means by "positive steps," but if he has any specific proposals to put to me, short of my asking the Chancellor of the Exchequer to take over all bad debts, whether the traders were insured or not, I shall be happy to look at them.

On a point of order. Can you, Mr. Speaker, tell the House what has happened to the Opposition Front Bench today?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman has forgotten that it is St. Patrick's Day.

It has nothing to do with me.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider reducing the size of the £5 and £10 Bank of England notes, while retaining the present type of paper, but improving its texture and quality.

No £10 notes have been issued since 1943. The size and quality of £5 notes is a matter for the Bank of England, who I am sure will take note of my hon. Friend's suggestion.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that helpful reply, would he bear in mind that these notes are now happily found in most pay packets, and, furthermore, that they are sometimes found in wallets? Therefore, would it not be a good idea to suggest to the Bank of England that they should be made to a size suitable to fit both the pay packet and the wallet?

I am certain that the Bank takes careful note of everything that is said in this House, especially concerning Bank notes, but these matters are really not within my responsibility.

Has the Minister any idea what an Ayr bus conductor would say if offered a £10 note?

asked the Chancellor of he Exchequer, in view of the great success of the former Empire Marketing Board, if he will consider, in conjunction with the Secretaries of State for the Colonies and for Commonwealth Relations, the desirability of re-establishing his organisation in order to encourage United Kingdom consumers to buy more Commonwealth produce.

Today there are other ways in which the work of the former Empire Marketing Board is being done. and, accordingly, I do not think there is a case for re-establishing it.

Is my hon. Friend quite satisfied with the way this work is being one compared with the way in which it was done by the Empire Marketing Board many years ago?

The work is being done by producers' marketing organisations, by the Economic Intelligence Establishment of the Commonwealth Economic Committee and the Colonial Products Laboratory. I would say that those organisations are doing their work excellently, but if my hon. Friend has any suggestions to put to me on the subject, no doubt he will do so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total sum of money allocated to the Arts Council which has been spent in acquiring permanent assets involving capital expenditure; and if he will give a list of the projects.

The Arts Council receives a global grant from the Treasury annually, which it may use at its entire discretion for any purpose within its charter. It has acquired from time to time certain permanent assets; its latest balance sheet shows theatre and concert hall equipment, pianos, pictures, sculptures and lithographs valued at some £38,000, apart from its own office equipment, etc.

In view of the fact that the pictures purchased by the Arts Council carry an enhanced value, and in view of the fact that some of the pictures would not be acceptable to the taxpayers—some of them are appalling—would my hon. Friend consider whether it would not be a good idea for the Arts Council to pay attention to the fact that it ought to stimulate taste in art and leave our great galleries and contemporary art societies to purchase, in view of the fact that it has only a limited circle of people buying them, and that some of the purchases are most unacceptable?

I am sure that the Arts Council also takes note of whatever is said in this House, but I hope my hon. Friend is not suggesting that the Chancellor of the Exchequer or I should become Minister of Taste.

Better than the Arts Council.

In view of the declaration by the Government against the principle of the colour bar, may I ask the hon. Gentleman whether he would approach the Arts Council to see that its exhibitions are not held in countries where people are excluded from such exhibitions on the ground of their colour?

I think that supplementary question is a considerable distance away from the Question on the Paper.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much will be refunded in post-war credits, and how much will be outstanding, by the end of the current financial year.

By the end of the current financial year it is expected that £240 million of post-war credits will have been repaid, and a further £20 million set off against arrears of tax for 1945–46 and earlier years. The amount still outstanding will then be about £540 million.

Can the hon. Gentleman say how many years, at the current rate of repayment, it is going to take before these debts are repaid, and will he tell the Chancellor that if he were a bookmaker he would long since have been posted at Tattersall's as a defaulter?

It was said in the House the other day that it would be about 35 years before the bulk of these post-war credits were paid off—

Too long.

—but these are Budget matters, and the hon. and gallant Gentleman will not expect me to anticipate anything that my right hon. Friend might wish to say.

Can my hon. Friend give an assurance that in future we shall never repeat the experiment of post-war credits?

Can the hon. Gentleman estimate, on the assumption that the post-war credits continue to be repaid at the same rate as they have been so far—it is said it will take another 35 years—whether, at the end of that time, they will, at the present rapidly falling value of the pound, be worth anything at all?

That would depend whether or not there is a Socialist Government in power.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he intends to announce the names of the committee on horticultural marketing.

On behalf of the three agricultural Ministers, I have issued invitations to six persons who, we hope, will be willing to serve on this committee. The names of the members will be announced when their acceptances have been received.

Whilst thanking my right hon. Friend for that answer, may I ask whether he will bear in mind that there is growing impatience in the country to have this announcement, and will he do what he can to hasten it?

Yes, Sir. My hon. Friend will agree with me that this is an important inquiry and I am anxious that we should get the best people obtainable for membership of the committee.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure us that there will be a representative from Wales on the committee?

We seldom forget that important point, but I have not got with me the names of those whom I have invited.

Will there be any representative of the consumers or housewives on that committee?

Hear, hear.

I am hoping that a lady will serve on the committee.

asked the Minister of Agriculture which poultry geneticists his Department consulted in preparing the new poultry progeny testing plan; and whether the proposals have been approved by them.

A number of geneticists and other scientists were consulted during the preparation of this plan but they were not invited to approve the proposals in detail. I am satisfied that the plan has a sound scientific basis for its purpose.

In developing this progeny testing plan for poultry, will my right hon. Friend take full account of the opinion of scientists in this country and also of the experience of the United States, because there appears to be a considerable difference of opinion?

I believe that our plan is soundly based. We have taken account of the views of scientists, and shall continue to do so. I think my hon. Friend may be referring to an article by an American, but the object there may have been slightly different from our object in this case.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what he estimates the percentage is of herds of pigs that are free from virus pneumonia.

I regret that I am unable to give a reliable estimate, but the disease is believed to be widespread.

Would my right hon. Friend agree that virus pneumonia is the most serious problem facing the pig industry at present, and that if we could free our herds from this disease, by immunisation or selective breeding, it would completely revolutionise pig breeding in this country?

Yes, Sir, I agree with my hon. Friend that this is a most important matter, and the Agricultural Research Council has the question of a possible programme under consideration.

Mr. Willey.

On a point of Order. May I draw your attention, Mr. Speaker, to the fact that at this early stage in Question time, 11 hon. Gentlemen and one right hon. Gentleman who have Questions on the Paper have not risen? Is this not a gross discourtesy to the House, and a great inconvenience to Ministers, and may I respectfully inquire whether the right hon. Gentleman and hon. Gentlemen concerned intimated to you in advance that they would not be here?

Further to that point of order. Is it not the case that those right hon. and hon. Gentlemen who are unavoidably absent are celebrating the 25th birthday of the greatest newspaper in this country?

There is no point of order for me to deal with in that Mr. Teeling.

Further to that point of order—

Order. The hon. Member says "Further to that point of order," but I have already said that there was no point of order in it.

May I, therefore, raise an additional point of order? My original point was to ask you, Sir, whether certain action was not a grave discourtesy to the House. My further point of order is whether the observation of the hon. Member for Coventry, North (Mr. Edelman) is not in itself a discourtesy to the House—to intimate that attendance at a function of a newspaper, which I believe is called the "Daily Herald," is more important than attendance in Parliament?

I see neither a point of order nor any discourtesy involved in that. Personally I welcome the opportunity of making rather more rapid progress with Questions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the death of Mrs. Teresa Kate Friend-Smith on 1st March, widow of Ernest Friend-Smith who was murdered on the Brighton Downs in 1928, and in view of the letter sent to him by the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion, he will consider re-examining the evidence in the case with a view to recommending the granting of the Queen's Pardon to James Weaver who was condemned to death for this crime, reprieved, and has now served his sentence.

This case was considered with the greatest care at the time, and all the representations made by and on behalf of the prisoners, both then and subsequently, were fully examined. I have reviewed the case in the light of the representations brought to my notice by my hon. Friend, but I can find nothing in the information before me to suggest that there are any grounds for further action on my part.

Is my right hon. and gal-Friend aware that there has always been a great deal of uncertainty as to why this reprieve was granted at the last moment, and in view of the fact that one or two people connected with the case have in recent weeks offered to come forward and talk about it again, does he not think that it would be possible to raise the matter again—if not now, later?

I do not think any useful purpose would be served because, at the time when the decision was made by the Home Secretary of the day, he stated that his recommendation cast no reflection whatever on the decision of the court.

In view of the fact that it is difficult to ask these questions by way of Question and Answer, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about the discussions between his immigration officers and the representatives of Messrs. P. and A. Campbell Limited, concerning no-passport cross-Channel day trips.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what answer he has given to the deputation which met his officials recently on the subject of permitting cross-Channel trips without passports when taking day trips.

In the light of the discussion with my officers, Messrs. P. & A. Campbell Limited has represented that during the forthcoming season it should be permitted to operate no-passport excursions from Newhaven and Eastbourne only. In order to facilitate further consideration of this proposal, I have arranged for my officers, together with Customs representatives, to hold a further meeting with the company at Eastbourne on Monday, so that they may ascertain whether suitable accommodation could be provided on the pier for the purposes of immigration and Customs control.

I thank my right hon. and gallant Friend for his answer, but can he tell us whether we shall get a definite answer which will make it possible to publicise these day trips in the rest of England during the next week or two?

I am hopeful that, as a result of Monday's meeting, we shall come to some conclusion. I am fully aware of the need for an announcement one way or the other as soon as possible, because I know the difficulty about making arrangements.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that preparations have to be made now if agreement is reached? Will he hurry the matter on in order to help the people who want to make preparations?

I think I can say that no time has been lost since we started looking into the matter. As I said in the first instance, tremendous difficulties are attached to it. We are most anxious to do what we can, and we are proceeding with all possible speed.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that very considerable disappointment will be caused to Great Yarmouth and the people of the Midlands who use Great Yarmouth as a holiday resort if the facilities do not also apply to Great Yarmouth, where they applied before the war, particularly as the facilities exist now, and there is also a shipping company to carry out the arrangements.

I cannot accept that full facilities exist, because the question of personnel becomes very important, particularly in view of the very different circumstances in which immigration control has to work compared with before the war. This is an earnest endeavour to secure some relaxation, as a result of which we hope to be able to go even further later.

Will my hon. and gallant Friend consider the possibility at Great Yarmouth?

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend also consider the claim of Ramsgate? Ramsgate had a very substantial part of the traffic before the war. I am not quite clear whether the difficulty is that Ramsgate is not an approved port within the terms of the approved ports Order. I understand that the facilities which now exist are the same as those which existed before the war. Will my right hon. and gallant Friend give some assurance that he will bear Ramsgate in mind?

I have borne in mind as many cases as there are hon. Members representing the various ports. The difficulty is that there is a limit to the staff which can be provided, especially if the trade is for a very short period of the year. I am doing everything I possibly can to make arrangements which will give the greatest possible advantage to all the ports concerned. As a result of any experience we gain if an experiment is tried, we shall see what more can be done later.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases during the past 10 years the Metropolitan Police have pressed claims for costs against persons acquitted of criminal charges.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 18th November, 1954, to a Question by the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes).

As I have no knowledge of what was contained in the reply to which my right hon. and gallant Friend refers—

It is very unsatisfactory.

—can he give me some idea how common the practice is in England and Wales, apart from the Metropolitan area? If it is uncommon, as I hope it is, would that not be a good case for the local authority not pressing the claim in the case of Mr. Harry Fletcher, a garage proprietor in my constituency, who was acquitted of a criminal charge, and who is now being pressed for these costs?

I am sure that my hon. Friend will appreciate, as I mentioned in the reply to which I have just referred, that I can speak only for the police area for which I have authority, which is the Metropolitan area. However, I am very well aware of the circumstances of the case of Mr. Fletcher. I have been giving it close consideration, but at the moment I am not in a position to make any statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what authority he prevents British citizens who do not possess passports from leaving or re-entering the United Kingdom.

British subjects who establish their national status are not prevented from leaving or re-entering the United Kingdom. Under the Aliens Order, 1953, however, a British subject may be required by an immigration officer to produce either a valid passport or some other document satisfactorily establishing his identity and nationality.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that this Question distinguishes itself in so far as it seeks information, and that at least one hon. Member is a little bewildered why my right hon. and gallant Friend should be granting permission or otherwise for people to leave the country on trips without passports?

That is one of the difficulties about the scheme with which I have dealt in replying to previous Questions. The difficulty is to get a method by which something which is equivalent to a passport can be used. That is what we are examining at the present moment. Anybody can go on a day trip if he has a passport, but there are difficulties attaching to that. Our endeavour at the moment is to find some method which will avoid that trouble.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that Miss Ursula Wassermann, who lived in England for six years as a student and refugee from Nazi Germany, has been refused a visa to enter the United Kingdom for a brief visit to discuss with her British publisher the forthcoming publication in London of her book; and if, in view of the fact that she visited the United Kingdom without difficulty on an Israeli passport in 1951, 1952 and 1953, he will reconsider this refusal.

I regret that I am not prepared to reconsider the decision to refuse a visa in this case, which was taken by my predecessor.

Although I know that the Home Secretary is under no obligation to explain his reasons for such action, will he agree that it does seem somewhat arbitrary and strange in the case of a person who has, as my Question states, visited this country so often with, apparently, no harmful consequences to the country? Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman indicate at all what the background of the case is?

No, Sir, I cannot go further than say that applications for visas are considered on their merits and in relation to the facts of the particular case. It would not be in the public interest to say more than that.

Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether there have been any representations from the State Department in Washington about the case?

So far as I am aware, none. This has been done purely on the merits of the application which has been made.

asked the Minister of Education whether he has considered the Anson Report on Adult Education; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

I take it the hon. Member means the Ashby Report. I hope to meet the organisations concerned in about 10 days' time.

asked the Minister of Education if he will make available boarding school facilities, either free of cost or at considerably reduced fees, for children from the age of eight years whose parents by virtue of their service in the Colonial Service, the Armed Forces, or the Foreign Service, are compelled to live in countries which, for reasons of climate or absence of adequate facilities, are unsuitable for the education of children from the United Kingdom over the age of eight years.

In Administrative Memorandum No. 442, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend, local education authorities were asked to pay special attention to the needs of such children and in appropriate cases to give financial assistance towards the cost of boarding education. I would also refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Dodds) on 10th March.

Will the right hon. Gentleman draw the attention of the authorities to the facilities of the L.C.C. school at Woolverstone Hall, and do everything he can to develop facilities there for such children?

I am anxious to increase the number of places for the children of those serving overseas.

asked the Minister of Education the main recommendations of the Report recently submitted to him on grants to students in training colleges.

As the Report will be published soon, I would ask the hon. Member to wait till he can see the whole document.

I will certainly await the publication of the document. Meanwhile, will the right hon. Gentleman treat this as a matter of urgency, because we are anxious to get his decision upon these recommendations as soon as possible?

So am I. The Report is going to the printers almost at once.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is satisfied that Circular 280 has been sufficiently observed in all areas to ensure a reduction of the size of infant school classes of all local education authorities; and whether he will consider further measures.

So far as I know, authorities are observing the terms of this circular. The size of primary classes is expected to decline as a result of additional teachers, more school buildings, and fewer children under 11.

asked the Minister of Food what time has elapsed between the end of each accounting period and the dispatch of wheat deficiency payments to farmers for the 1954 crop; and whether calculating machines have yet been introduced to speed up the process of payment.

About 11 weeks, the first four of which are allowed for the receipt of claims. The work is fully mechanised.

Will the right hon. Gentleman keep as his aim the shortening of that period of 11 weeks? It is a very long time. Would it not be possible to work to eight weeks at the longest?

My hon. Friend will remember that in the booklet on the scheme, published a year ago, we said that the period would be two to three months. We shall aim at getting it as near as we possibly can to two months. I hope that we shall be successful.

asked the Minister of Food the cost of subsidy on cereals for the 1953 harvest year, including cost of re-condition mills; and the estimated cost under the new deficiency payments scheme, in view of the lower world price of wheat.

The total cost of the subsidy on cereals of the 1953 harvest was £34 million. The estimate of the cost of deficiency payments on cereals of the 1954 harvest, in relation to the latest published subsidy figure is £38·8 million.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the time has come when he should explain frankly to the House the purpose of these subsidies? After all, his predecessor abolished them, but now they keep increasing year by year.

I thought the hon. Gentleman was clear about the fact that the purpose of these subsidies is to afford a secure basis and proper incentives for our agricultural industry, so that it may make the most of its opportunities and ensure that our food production shall at all times be as efficient and productive as it possibly can be.