asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the wheat deficiency payment will be for the period from 1st March to 30th April, 1955; and when it will be paid.

The ascertained average price for about 7·6 million cwt. of millable wheat despatched on delivery during the fourth accounting period (1st March, 1955, to 30th April, 1955) is 22s. 11.7d. per cwt. The standard price for the period is 33s. 1d. per cwt. and the deficiency payment will, therefore, be 10s. 1·3d. per cwt. (£10 2s. 2d. per ton). In addition, approximately 100,000 cwt. of wheat brought up to millable standard after sale will be included in the payment.About 30,000 growers will share £3·9 million. Except for a few certificates which are under query, payment will begin towards the end of June and be completed during July.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the views officially expressed by the Egyptian member of the Sudan Governor-General's Commission in a recent interview with the Egyptian weekly "Al-Musawwar"; and whether he will make plain to the Egyptian Government that Her Majesty's Government regard this statement as a clear attempt to prejudice the free exercise by the Sudanese people of their right to determine their future status.

Yes. My attention has been drawn to this interview. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister informed the House on 30th March, it remains the firm intention of Her Majesty's Government to respect both the spirit and the letter of the Anglo-Egyptian Agreement and to do everything possible to facilitate the process of self-determination. We have refrained from, and shall continue to refrain from, any action that might tend to influence the Sudan people's free choice of their future status. We expect the Egyptian Government to do the same. It is not clear whether Air Commodore Zulfacar was expressing an official view or a personal opinion. But on 6th June my right hon. Friend the Minister of State told the Egyptian Ambassador that Her Majesty's Government regard Air Commodore Zulfacar's statement as a breach of the Agreement and expressed the expectation that the Egyptian Government will prevent any activities that might tend to influence the Sudan people's choice.