asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that many West Indian immigrants would like to return home but cannot do so because they cannot afford the return fare; and since British immigrants are not allowed into the Colonies without sufficient money to pay their return fare, whether he will take powers to ensure that no future colonial immigrants into the United Kingdom will be allowed unless they deposit sufficient money to enable them to return home.

I have no information to support the suggestion in the first part of the Question. As regards the second part, I can add nothing to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend on 27th October.

How many, if any, Jamaicans are in receipt of National Assistance and, therefore, are a burden on the British taxpayer? If there are men who wish to return, can my right hon. and gallant Friend provide loans to enable them so to do?

I could not without notice give the figure for which my hon. Friend asks. My recollection, however, is that their unemployment compares very favourably with our own—as a matter of fact it is about the same. I could not, without notice, answer my hon. Friend's question about whether we can help them with loans. However, very few inquiries have been received at the Colonial Office from people wishing to go back.

Since the Home Secretary indicated that he has some information about the relative unemployment rates, does that mean that separate records are kept for Jamaicans, apart from the records generally of British subjects? If so, is not that an innovation?

I do not think that is so. I am subject to correction on this, and I will let the right hon. Gentleman know if I am wrong. Local inquiries were made, and on the whole that was the position which was found; but no separate figures are kept.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government propose to implement the unanimous recommendation of the Royal Commission on Capital Punishment that the doctrine of constructive malice in English law should be abolished.

The Royal Commission, although recommending that the doctrine of constructive malice in English law should be abolished, said "the practical effect of the doctrine of constructive malice at the present day is very limited and we cannot think that its abolition would lead to any striking change in the practice of the courts." This recommendation will, however, be considered when some prospect of legislation on the subject can be seen.

Cannot the Home Secretary tell us a little more about his intentions in these matters? Does he realise that this is one more in the long list of negative answers which he has been returning to hon. Members on both sides of the House on numerous recommendations, very often unanimous, both by this Royal Commission and the Royal Commission on Betting, Lotteries and Gaming? Is he aware that the comments in the newspapers on his unconstructive attitude to the work of his Department is now becoming more widespread? Is he content to allow that to continue?

Frankly, I am not worried by what the newspapers say, and I do not accept what the right hon. Gentleman has said about unanimous recommendations. There was division about this recommendation. Some people, including some legal witnesses, thought, as this particular doctrine for all practical purposes was dead, that we might as well treat it as dead; others said that in that case we might as well abolish it; but there was no unanimity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of off-licence establishments owned by the State management scheme in the City of Carlisle.

There are at present four off-sales shops in Carlisle under State management: a fifth will be opened as soon as practicable. In addition, off-sales facilities separate from the bars are provided in eighteen State managed public houses in the city.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that in the coming season of the year there is customarily a long queue outside the single private off-licence in Carlisle, while his own off-licence generally remains in a state of under-employment? Will he not agree that this indicates a demand for more facilities for private enterprise services—?

Perhaps the hon. Member has not yet learned that it is contrary to the practice of the House to read a supplementary question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will recommend the grant of a free pardon to Mr. A. E. G. Anderson of Exeter, who has been disqualified from driving for 12 months, in view of details of which case have been sent to him.

No, Sir. As my hon. Friend is aware from our correspondence about this case, I have considered the circumstances very carefully but I have found no grounds on which I should be justified in recommending the grant of a free pardon.

Does my right hon. and gallant Friend realise that this man was disqualified for 12 months because it was held that in fact the vehicle concerned was not insured, whereas an official of the insurance company said that it would have been held covered in the circumstances? In view of that, does not my right hon. and gallant Friend agree that Mr. Anderson has been most harshly treated and should be pardoned?

The grounds on which my hon. Friend relies in making this application for a free pardon were before the court; nevertheless, the court convicted. It was open to Mr. Anderson to appeal. He did not avail himself of the opportunity. It is, of course, open to him to apply after six months to see if the disqualification can be removed.

In view of my right hon. and gallant Friend's reply, I give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in order to reduce traffic congestion, he will not reconsider previous refusals to hold the Lord Mayor's Show on a Saturday.

No, Sir. This proposal was carefully examined but rejected as recently as 1952. The route and procession were shortened in that year, and I would like to see further experience of the new arrangements before another change is considered.

Is the Home Secretary aware that this annual nuisance dams London traffic over a very wide area and is damned by everyone who has business to do in London on that day? Has not the situation deteriorated even more since 1952, and why is the Home Secretary being so obstinate about it?

I am not being obstinate. First, it is not within my power to alter the date of the Lord Mayor's Show, because it is a statutory obligation that the ceremony at the Law Courts shall take place on 9th November unless it be a Sunday. As to its being a nuisance, there are a large number of people in the City of London who like it very much.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many warnings or summonses have been issued by the Metropolitan Police in the past year to owners of diesel-engined vehicles which emit smoke from their exhausts.

In the twelve months ended 30th September last five summonses and one hundred and fifteen written cautions were issued in respect of the emission of exhaust smoke from motor vehicles. No separate record is kept of the type of engine concerned or of the numbers of oral warnings.

Can my right hon. and gallant Friend say what response there has been to the warnings or to the summonses? Has he no impression, apart from actual figures, about whether diesel-engined vehicles are the main offenders in this respect, and whether the owners of them are helping in any way to reduce the smoke?

I could not answer that question now, but from my own observation I should have thought that probably the diesel engine may emit a lot of smoke. I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport on this question, and I hope to be able to do something about it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many former Polish citizens who are ex-members of the Polish forces under General Anders, but who were previously conscripted during the occupation of Poland into the German armed forces, have been granted certificates of naturalisation;

(2) how many former members of the German armed forces have been granted certificates of naturalisation.

I regret that this information is not available.

Does that mean that no statistics are kept of the number of Poles who are naturalised, the number of ex-members of the Polish forces who are naturalised, or the number of Poles who were former members of the Polish forces who were temporarily conscripted into the German Army and are now naturalised British subjects?

Figures showing the total number from Poland, Germany and Italy are available, and I can give them. In round figures, since the war there have been 16,000 of Polish nationality, 16,300 German and 2,400 Italian. It would be impossible to find out, as my hon. Friend asks, the number who were previously conscripted into the German armed forces, because it would mean going through about 35,000 files, and even then one would not know whether a man was conscripted or whether he volunteered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many known addicts to the drug heroin there are, or are believed to be, in the United Kingdom.

Fifty-two in England and Wales and two in Scotland.

Can the Home Secretary say how many of those were doctors?

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the evidence of the extent of heroin addiction in the United States of America and in other countries where the drug is already banned, which was submitted to him before he made his decision to ban heroin.

I will place in the Library a copy of the United Nations Summary of the Reports of Governments relating to Opium and Other Narcotic Drugs for 1953, the latest available.

In view of the figures which have been published of the extent of heroin addiction in the United States, can the Home Secretary tell the House why he imagines that the proposed ban will have any effect on addiction in this country?

I am simple enough to believe that, if large numbers of countries think that to ban heroin is a good thing to get rid of this appalling scourge, the contribution made by this country would help in some way towards it. The fact that the figures for the United States are as high as they are does not seem to me to be a reason why we should not join with other countries.

Is the Home Secretary aware that the published figures and the evidence available are no real indication of the widespread extent of addiction?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the further protests which he has received from the Council of the British Medical Association, he will now reconsider his decision to prohibit the manufacture of heroin for medicinal purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the disquiet among informed opinion owing to the Government decision to ban the manufacture, import or export of the drug heroin at the end of this year; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that there is no adequate substitute for heroin in the treatment of certain cases; and if he will reconsider the decision to impose a ban on its production.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue a White Paper on the proposed ban on the manufacture of heroin.

As regards the general question, I would refer to the Answer I gave on 1st December to a number of Questions by hon. Members.

As regards the particular Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Westbury (Sir R. Grimston), I am considering, in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State for Scotland, the publication of a White Paper.

Arising out of that answer, in addition to considering the publication of a White Paper, will my right hon. and gallant Friend, together with his right hon. Friends the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State for Scotland, consider the possibility of carrying out a series of clinical tests, if possible under the auspices of the Medical Research Council, before he finally puts into effect the decision which he has taken?

I am afraid that I cannot commit myself in regard to the second part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question about carrying out clinical tests, but I will certainly talk to my right hon. Friends about it.

Is the Minister aware that I put this Question down because a man came to me in great distress because his wife had had a very serious operation and was allergic to morphia and heroin was the only drug which gave her relief? Will this man be any easier in his mind as a result of the Government's decision? Can the Minister comment upon that aspect of the matter?

I do not think that the hon. Lady will expect me to comment upon that aspect by way of question and answer. This is an extremely difficult matter. As I have said in a Written Reply, most anxious consideration was given to it. There is no unanimity upon this question and, whatever decision was taken, I am bound to say that I never could see any unanimity upon it at all. In view of that fact, I think we have to take this step in order to help the international situation.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend make it clear, in any statement or White Paper that he issues, that this ban will not prevent the use of existing stocks of heroin? Will there not therefore be an intervening period when tests can be made and medical opinion crystallised? Will my right hon. and gallant Friend give an undertaking that the Government will keep a close watch upon the matter, so that if the fears of a very large proportion of the medical profession prove to be right—and there is no proper alternative—the ban may be rescinded before the stocks of heroin have been exhausted?

Under the Dangerous Drugs Act the manufacture, import and export of dangerous drugs can be carried out only by licence of the Secretary of State. This ban simply means that the manufacture, import and export of heroin will cease, and that is all it means.

In giving further consideration to this matter, will my right hon. and gallant Friend take particular note of the views of general practitioners who are in day-to-day touch with patients who may require heroin?

This is more a matter for my right hon. Friend, but I should not like it to be thought that the members of the committee who advise him upon this matter are people who are out of touch with general practice. Of the twenty-nine persons who were on the committee, about nineteen are in fact engaged in daily practice.

I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise this question on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what account he took of the experience of other countries where a similar ban operates in deciding to ban the manufacture of heroin.

All relevant considerations were taken into account before I decided to impose the ban.

Would not my right hon. and gallant Friend agree that, from the evidence which we can obtain, it would seem that the banning of heroin in other countries has led to an increase and not a decrease in addiction? In view of the very little advantage that appears to be gained by the present proposal weighed against the amount of human suffering which might be involved, would he not consider this ban again?

I cannot accept the contention that imposing a ban has led to increased addiction in other countries. I have no information to confirm that at all.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations have been made to him on behalf of the medical profession regarding the proposed ban on the manufacture of heroin.

Representations have been made to me by the British Medical Association, the Medical Women's Federation, and on behalf of the medical staffs of fifteen hospitals or medical schools.

What action does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman intend to take on those representations? Does he consider that it is a proper function of the State to interfere with a doctor's freedom to prescribe?

I really do not think that we can take this very important matter much further by question and answer. We had better wait until we can consider the whole position. The idea that no consultation has taken place is quite contrary to the facts. The history of this ban did not start in 1954, as the document issued yesterday by the B.M.A. tried to indicate. It started in 1950.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the present Government policy in regard to the gypsy population of this country; and what circulars on this matter have been sent to chief constables in recent years.

I understand that this Question relates to suggestions which have appeared in the Press about police action against gypsies. Chief officers of police are responsible for enforcing the law, which applies to gypsies in the same way as to other people, and no circulars have been issued to them by my Department in recent years.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that this small and defenceless community of approximately 20,000 people is in danger of having its spirit broken and of dying out in consequence of the harrying police methods to which its members have been subjected, especially in Kent? Will he therefore take steps, before it is too late, to save the remnants of a distinguished people who have been a characteristic feature of the English countryside since Elizabethan times?

I have made inquiries and cannot find any evidence whatever that the action taken against gypsies is any different from the action taken against other people in similar circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now make a statement on his investigations into the problem of drunkenness among young persons.

Any increase in the number of convictions for drunkenness of young persons is a matter of great regret and concern. I am glad to say, however, that the number remains very small in proportion to the total number of young persons. The figures for 1954 were 124 offences among about 865,000 males under 17; 12 offences among 839,000 females under 17; 3,157 offences among 1,041,000 males aged 17 and under 21, and 209 offences among 1,107,000 females aged 17 and under 21.

The number of offences in any one police district is small, and the police, I am informed, have no reason to think that they indicate any tendency for juvenile drunkenness to assume serious proportions.

My inquiries have not disclosed any clearly apparent cause of the increases that have taken place. Such further inquiries as seem practicable will he made, and I shall, of course, continue to watch the situation closely.

Has the attention of the Home Secretary been drawn to a report recently published in the Manchester Guardian which describes what I think most hon. Members would agree are disturbing conditions concerning drunkenness or excessive drinking by young persons, especially at dance halls? Has he any information on that aspect of the problem, and, if so, does he propose to take any steps with regard to it?

The right hon. and learned Gentleman will appreciate that I have to answer Questions a little later about dance halls. Those Questions are in rather a different category to the one which he asked. As I indicated in my Answer, I have had special inquiry made. I do not think that the figures which I gave support the contention that there is a very serious problem at the moment.

Can my right hon. and gallant Friend say if there is a greater proportion of drunkenness among young people in Carlisle than in other parts of the country?

Is the Home Secretary aware that many social workers and statisticians are critical of the figures which are given, as they do not disclose the nature of the problem? Will he consider whether more useful figures could be compiled?

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the prisoners and staff in Holloway Prison were greatly disturbed, shortly before the execution of the late Mrs. Ruth Ellis, by the noise caused through hammering in the erection of the scaffold on which she was subsequently hanged; and whether he will take steps to prevent inconveniences of this kind in future in all Her Majesty's Prisons where executions are carried out.

My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. No scaffold was erected in Holloway prison before the execution of Mrs. Ellis.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that what he has just said will reassure those members of the public who were alarmed at a statement to the contrary sense made by the Bishop of Stepney, who visited Mrs. Ellis shortly before her execution?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation whereby intoxicants may not be obtained in dance and public halls by boys and girls under the age of 18, as in the case of public houses.

An occasional licence for the sale of intoxicating liquor on unlicensed premises may only be granted with the consent of the justices, and my information is that this enables the justices to exercise an effective measure of control. Should there be substantial evidence to the contrary, however, I should certainly be ready to consider legislation.

Would the right hon. and gallant Gentleman agree that there are a great number of anomalies in the licensing law? Does not he think the time has come when he might introduce a Miscellaneous Provisions Bill to cover many of them? In reference to what the right hon. and gallant Gentleman said to my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. A. Henderson), is it not a fact that the figures he gave are based on convictions and that there are many cases of disturbances of this kind which never reach the courts?

I would not dispute that. The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that it is not always easy to obtain precise information about this sort of thing. I have made such inquiries as are open to me and have given the best information available, and I am prepared to look at the matter.

Would the Minister answer my supplementary question?

I have given the hon. Gentleman an answer; if there is substantial evidence to the contrary, I will consider legislation.

Does the first answer of the Home Secretary mean that unless the justices insert a condition in the occasional licence that persons under eighteen shall not be served, it is legal for the person holding the occasional licence to serve them?

No. I had in mind that there was a remedy. If there were occasions of misconduct of that sort, the remedy would be in the hands of the justices when it came to issuing licences in the future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider introducing legislation on the lines of that successfully tried in Victoria, Australia, under which individuals habitually consorting with convicted criminals were liable to arrest and punishment.

No, Sir.

While agreeing that the liberty of the subject must be jealously preserved, would not my right hon. and gallant Friend agree that where known criminals consort together on race courses and in other places in order to create trouble, it would be a good thing were some action to be taken?

I do not think that would meet with much support in this House. It is quite contrary to our legal system. So far as I understand it, apparently it would be up to a man who is consorting to prove that his consorting was innocent. A father might be consorting with his son who had just been released from prison, and he would have to prove that the consorting was innocent. I do not think that idea would be very acceptable in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions are given to police officers in the Metropolitan area in questioning the owners of motor vehicles which bear C.D. plates.

No instructions have been issued on this point.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that police officers accept the C.D. plates as prima facie evidence that the cars are the property of members of the Diplomatic Corps? Does he not agree that people not entitled to diplomatic privileges use these plates in order to gain some benefit; that this is a growing habit and that steps should be taken to stop it?

The display of C.D. plates on a motor car confers no immunity on the driver, the car or its owner. I wish to make that perfectly clear.

This question has also arisen with the Foreign Office, and I cannot understand the position of the Government. Is it not the case that there can be only one purpose for putting C.D. plates on a car—the hope that the police will feel rather benevolent towards the driver? Would not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman agree that it is misleading and that the plates are put on the vehicles without any authority whatever? Ought not the Government to do something to prevent the use of a C.D. label, indicating the Diplomatic Corps, by persons who are not members of the Diplomatic Corps? I beg the right hon. and gallant Gentleman at any rate to promise to reconsider it.

I am not anxious to interfere in matters where it is not necessary to do so. We have had no complaints about these_ C.D. plates at all, and no immunity is given to the driver, the car or the owner of the car by the fitting of C.D. plates on the vehicle. I have had no complaints, but if there were complaints it might be a different matter. After all, some people put G.B. plates on their car for no reason at all, except that it looks nice. I do not know, but it may well be that some people think there is some value attached to having C.D. plates on their cars.

Is it not the case that recognised members of the Diplomatic Corps, or at any rate those in a certain position, are not prosecuted? I think that is the case. Surely, the purpose of these unauthorised people who put C.D. plates on their car must be to get some more friendly treatment from the police in the event of an offence being committed? Is it not the duty of the Government to look into the matter?

I have no evidence at all on the subject, and I do not want to interfere in matters where no interference is necessary until I get some evidence of abuse. The fact is that a person enjoying diplomatic privileges can claim immunity from prosecutions, but he cannot claim immunity from the attentions of the police. Were there evidence of gross abuse in this matter regarding speeding and other things, I might consider action, but I have no such evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what complaints have been made to his Department about the greatly increased number of cars in London that bear C.D. plates.

I can find no trace of recent complaints.

If that be the case, will my right hon. and gallant Friend keep his eyes open, when I am sure he will agree that the numbers are growing? Will he go out, or get someone else to go out, and question the ordinary policeman on the beat about this, as I have done? Is he aware that they will certainly tell him that they accept C.D. plates as prima facie evidence that the people using them are members of the Diplomatic Corps and that they approach these people with that in mind?

My hon. Friend asks me to keep my eyes open, and I propose to ask him to do the same. The question was:

"… what complaints have been made to his Department. …?"

My answer is that I can find no trace of recent complaints.

They have been made in this House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that a number of charitable trusts are unable to carry out the functions for which they were originally designed; and whether Her Majesty's Government will consider introducing legislation at an early date to obviate the difficulties experienced by such trusts.

The White Paper on Government Policy on Charitable Trusts in England and Wales (Cmd. 9538) sets out the nature of the legislation which Her Majesty's Government consider to be required. The preparation of such legislation will take some time, and I can hold out no hope of its introduction in the present Session.

Will the Home Secretary consider the importance of speeding up this matter? Is he aware that there is such a charitable trust in Birmingham, with valuable resources in land and investment income, which cannot fulfil its function of caring for deprived children because it is not in accordance with the function originally suggested, and now that they are anxious to do work of vital importance—

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. It will be within your recollection that on three occasions recently you have reprimanded me for giving a modicum of information in a supplementary question As the last three supplementary questions have been of excessive length and consisted of nothing but the giving of information, may we have a further restriction on this?

I agree that they have been somewhat lengthy, but I am always buoyed up by the hope that the supplementary question is coming to an end sooner than it does.

If I spent half as much time as the hon. Member—

Order. The hon. Member asked a supplementary question. Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman wish to reply to it?

I was not sure that the hon. Member had come to the end of his supplementary question.

Further to that point of order. I was putting my final point. Will the Minister not take into consideration the case that I have mentioned? It is vital that legislation should be brought in earlier.

I certainly will do everything I can to expedite this matter, but the hon. Member will appreciate, from his knowledge, that it is an extremely complicated affair and that legislation will take a considerable time to prepare.

Some time ago, as I understand it, the Government promised me that they would look into the question and try to find how many of these charitable trusts existed. The whole country is peppered with offices, some of which are suspected of belonging to long-since defunct charities. Is the Minister prepared to try to find out how many of these trusts are carrying out obsolete functions and using property which could be used for better purposes?

That is another question altogether.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that a representative of Her Majesty's Government is not required to be present at the execution of persons condemned to death, whether he will undertake to be present at all future executions.

No, Sir.

Does not the Home Secretary consider that as certain persons are required to be present, namely, a minister of religion and a doctor, the Home Secretary—who has the responsibility of writing across the papers, "The law must take its course"—is under a moral obligation to be present in such cases to see that the law is carried out in the name of this House?

I have nothing to add to my Answer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of prosecutions for peddling in drugs for the latest available year.

During 1954 there was one conviction under the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1951, for offering to supply drugs. There were 218 other convictions under the Act, the majority of which were for unlawful possession of drugs, but it is not possible to say in how many of these cases the drugs would have been sold to another person.

Is the Minister aware that although the figures which he has given this afternoon show that the main ravages of the drug menace are outside this country, many of us are behind him and the Government in their linking up with other nations in a universal effort to stamp out this evil?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence he has obtained of an increase in the traffic and use of illegal drugs in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Whilst I have no evidence of any serious increase in illegal traffic in or use of drugs in this country, there has been some increase in the traffic in Indian hemp, and I am watching this development closely.

In view of the 216 convictions for this offence, can my right hon. and gallant Friend say whether he has any reason for believing that new methods of smuggling these drugs into the country are being adopted?

I am afraid I could not answer that question without notice. I am glad to say that the figures for the first part of this year show a decrease, which is satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the World Health Organisation about the advisability of banning other drugs in addition to heroin.

The Eighteenth Session of the Economic and Social Council, which recommended the banning of heroin, also urged governments to prohibit the manufacture, import and export of ketobemidone, and urged countries in which cannabis preparations are still being used to explore the possibility of discontinuing their use as rapidly as possible. Ketobemidone, which I am informed is an exceptionally addicting synthetic drug, has never been used in this country, and I do not propose to licence its import or manufacture here unless it is required for scientific purposes. Cannabis is used in small quantities as colouring matter in corn plasters and corn paints. I am informed that its use is on the wane. I do not propose to take any action at present to prevent its use.

Is the Home Secretary aware of a Press report of 9th September indicating that the World Health Organisation had asked his right hon. Friend the Minister of Health to inform doctors of the addiction dangers of pethedine, and can he assure the House that he is not proposing to deprive the public of this drug also?

I think that the hon. Lady should put down a Question to my right hon. Friend about that.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of allegations recently made about the conduct of the police, and in order to allay suspicions respecting their integrity, he will cause a public inquiry to be made, both in the interests of the force and the public.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that there is public disquiet at the allegations made of bribery and corruption among certain London policemen; and whether, in order to allay public anxiety and to satisfy the honour and dignity of the police force, he will cause a public inquiry to be held into the existing vice and other rackets prevalent in London, and the allegations made against the police.

I regret that anxiety should have been caused by statements of a general nature which are quite unwarranted, but this is no reason for holding a roving inquiry into the general conduct of the Metropolitan police, a force of which this country is justly proud.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that, far from making any allegations against the conduct of the police, I regard them as being, on the whole, a well-behaved and responsible body of people? In view of recent incidents which have caused some public disquiet, however, if the right hon. and gallant Gentleman does not see his way to causing a public inquiry to be made, will he himself institute Departmental inquiries and afterwards report the facts to the House so far as he is able?

As the right hon. Gentleman knows, this matter has already been the subject of inquiry. What I meant in my answer is that sweeping and grossly inaccurate statements were made about the force in general, whereas the actual inquiry concerned only a small number of people. That inquiry has been carried out and certain steps have been taken, as the right hon. Gentleman knows. I do not think it is right that we should have general public inquiries into all statements, however ludicrous, which are made.

Was not the recent inquiry conducted by the Commissioner of Police? Surely he ought to go a step beyond that. Will not the Minister himself take charge of such an inquiry, or appoint an impartial person to conduct it and, so far as is practicable, then report to the House, in order to remove any disquiet that exists?

Naturally want to remove any disquiet that may exist. At the same time, I have a certain responsibility in this matter. The disciplinary head of the police force is the Commissioner. Upon the receipt of a complaint, the first step taken is an inquiry by the Commissioner. That was in fact carried out. I am satisfied that the allegations—which were grossly distorted—have, as a result of that inquiry, been very fully investigated, and the steps taken have been to my entire satisfaction.

If the Minister will not agree to a general inquiry, will he agree to one in relation to the West Central Police Station? Is he aware that many policemen on the beat would welcome an inquiry? I think I am also correct in saying that the Police Federation itself would not be against such an inquiry in regard to that station.

Here again I am bound to come back to this Press statement. The hon. Member speaks as though he believed the original statement made in the newspaper about C Division, in which is was said that 450 men were to be transferred. I am not sure that that number is not greater than the whole strength of C Division. The fact is that the report to which I have referred concerned eight people. The matter has been fully investigated, and that was the whole basis of the article which made such sweeping statements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the statement made by the Commissioner of Police on Thursday, 1st December, concerning the investigations into allegations of bribery and corruption among certain London policemen, carried out by Superintendent Hannam, was made with his authority: and whether he will make a statement.

The Commissioner's statement was made with my authority and I do not think I can usefully add to it.

Will the Home Secretary consider putting Superintendent Hannam's Report in the Library for the convenience of hon. Members?

No, Sir—certainly not. It would be quite impossible to have police reports put in the Library of this House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give details of the petitions he received from prisoner Joseph Grech making charges and allegations of bribery and corruption against certain police officers; what action he has taken; and whether he will make a statement.

The statements made in petitions by Joseph Grech were referred to the Commissioner of Police for investigation. The substance of the allegations and the results of the investigation were given in the Commissioner's statement of 1st December, and I have nothing to add to it.

Was any opportunity given to this prisoner to add to his written information by obtaining the services of counsel and getting legal advice? Did he ask for it, and, if he had done so, would it have been granted?

If the hon. Member wants details he should put down a Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reconsider his decision not to introduce legislation to prohibit the use of bows and arrows in a public place, except under responsible supervision, in the light of the facts brought to his notice by the hon. Member for Eton and Slough and the evidence of accidents to the eyes of young children from their use.

I have considered with sympathy the further letters which the hon. Member has sent to me, but have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to him on 24th November.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that I am not asking for the prohibition of the toys; indeed, I am all in favour of Robin Hood; but that this should be practised under some supervision? Has not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman received from me information about a case in my constituency where a child lost an eye, and is he also aware that I hold in my hand letters from other parts of the country from parents of children who have lost their eyes? Is he prepared to come to the head doorkeeper to see one of these weapons, which I have not been allowed to bring into the House?

The hon. Gentleman may be surprised to learn that I have seen a bow and arrow at some time or another, and indeed I have used one too. I do not think we should legislate against every kind of boyish prank. Accidents will happen, and it is quite impossible to cover them all by legislation. I think we can leave this one alone.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what permits Mr. Emile Bustani, a Lebanese, enters this country; how many visits he has paid during this year; and what is the purpose of his visits.

Mr. Bustani has made seven short visits to this country during this year on visas authorised abroad. According to the information given to the immigration officer, five of these were business visits, one was in transit, and one was an official mission.

While not wanting to interfere with the liberty of a man to express himself when he comes to this country to put his country's point of view, may I ask the Home Secretary to make representations to Mr. Bustani that when he comes here again he expresses himself with moderation so as not to give offence to many citizens of this country?

I have no idea what the hon. Gentleman is referring to. Perhaps he will be good enough to let me know and I will certainly look at it. One day we are criticised for not letting people in and another day for letting them in.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Mr. Bustani is a Member of Parliament for the Lebanon and is a highly reputed citizen in that country?

Is he also aware that Mr. Bustani indulges in offensive propaganda when he comes to this country on behalf of the Arab States against the State of Israel?

Having heard these three questions, I cannot help feeling that it is a good thing that my immigration officers are non-political.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now considered the Report of the Working Party on Hackney Carriage Law in the Provinces; and if he will carry out its recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now reached a decision regarding the recommendation of the Hackney Carriages Committee that station ranks should be open by rota to taxi-cabs occupying nearby ranks.

I would refer the hon. Members to the answer which I gave on 27th October to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for St. Marylebone (Sir W. Wakefield).

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the Report of the Working Party has been before him for a long time now and that it contains a number of recommendations which are welcomed not only by the hire-cab industry but by hon. Members on both sides of the House? Will he therefore expedite the bringing forward of proposals to carry out some of these recommendations and at the same time bear in mind the 30-year-old report of his predecessors which would give him the opportunity of dealing with the menace of the pirate in the taxi industry?

Did not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say in the House of Commons before the Summer Recess that he would give attention to these recommendations and would make a statement? Will he at least proceed with the very simple proposal that station ranks should be open to all taxicab drivers who wish to use them?

I have dealt with that particular part of the Report before, as the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) knows. The fact of the matter is that these are very lengthy reports and do not deal only with that particular subject. It will take time to go through them. I will expedite it. If the hon. Gentleman cares to ask me a Question later, I will give him what information I can.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unconvicted persons between the ages of 17 and 21 years were remanded in prison and subsequently sentenced to a term at a detention centre during the last three months.

The number of persons between 17 and 21 years of age convicted between 1st August and 31st October, 1955, who had been remanded in prison before being sentenced to detention was 14.

Were not detention centres meant to be an alternative to prison, and is it not a confession of failure that there are not enough remand centres for these unconvicted young people to be sent to? What is the Home Secretary going to do about it?

In some cases, it may well be, they were remanded in custody until the magistrates had decided what they should do. They could be either on bail or not, according to the circumstances. The magistrates alone are the ones to decide. The number remanded was about 36 between 17 and 21 in the three months. It is for the magistrates to decide what they should do, whether to send them to detention centres or not.

Is it not a fact that these young people are unconvicted and remanded in prison, which is contrary to the intentions of Parliament in the Act?

If the hon. Gentleman has any specific case and will let me have particulars of it, I shall be very glad to look into it. So far as I can make out, it is for the magistrate to decide what he is going to do with the unconvicted young person. I shall be glad to look into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes he has made in the immigration regulations in respect of aliens who no longer require a visa for entry to this country but who ask at our consulates abroad for some indication as to their chances of being refused admission on arrival here.

There has been no change of practice. An alien who does not require a visa to enter the United Kingdom but seems to a visa issuing officer to be unlikely to be given leave to land would normally be so advised.

Since nowadays an alien from many countries does not need to have a visa and is under the liability of being refused admission when he gets here, could not the regulations be changed so that he can be given that advice when he applies to the consul?

The ultimate decision for leave to land in the United Kingdom is a matter for the immigration officer and the visa officers are circularised and asked to help in any way they can. The very fact that a visa issuing officer says he thinks he may probably get in is not sufficient to let him in, although it will be a great help to the immigration officer when he examines him. The decision must rest with the immigration officer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have taken place, during the last 12 months, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, against keepers of brothels, persons living on the earnings of prostitutes, persons for importuning, also against keepers of betting houses; and if he will give comparable total figures for each group for the previous six years.

With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether Newcastle, which he and I have in part the honour to represent, is any worse than any comparable city of this size in this direction?—I do not think it is. Will he also say whether in the last 12 months there have been more prosecutions than in the previous six years; and could he give reasons why and try to split his reply up into the respective police divisions?

Yes. I think the hon. Member will find that the report has been split up into divisions. I am sure that he will be interested to know that in my own division there are no cases at all.

Are the Messina brothers mixed up with any of these places in Newcastle?

I did not know they were still here. There is no evidence.

They are still here.

So the right hon. Gentleman says, but I am still awaiting his evidence on that. It will come some day, I have no doubt. Judging by the figures given here, I could hardly think it is a profitable area for the Messina brothers.

Has there been a larger number of prosecutions during the past 12 months than in the previous six years?

I believe there has been an increase with regard to importuning, but I am told that that has been due very largely to a change in the attitude of the courts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases in each of the last three years he has refused to grant visas to enter the United Kingdom to the foreign husbands of British citizens.

Immigration statistics are not kept in a form that would enable me to give this information.

As these citizens fall into a special category, will not the Home

The Minister implies that I have not sent him the evidence. Will he take the trouble to read my last letter to him, to which, as far as I know, I have never had a reply?

The right hon. Gentleman's memory is not as long as it ought to be. I invited him to come and give evidence, as he seemed to know everything about it, and the obvious thing was that he should give evidence to the committee. The committee is still waiting for the right hon. Gentleman.

In the first place, I cannot accept the remark that we have turned down so many cases—quite the contrary. The attitude of the Home Office is a very liberal one, and these people are treated with every possible consideration. I gave an answer to the case which the hon. Member has in mind, and I have nothing to add to it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish the names known to him of Communist influences in the former School of Planning and Research for Regional Development.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 1st December to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond).

Does not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman realise how very unfair that reply was? Does he not appreciate that not only does this kind of promiscuous smear cause very grave pain to people who were connected with the school, but that the chairman of this board has just been appointed by the Prime Minister to a Royal Commission, and that the vice-chairman, a noble Lord, is, I believe, a brother of a Conservative Member of this House? Would he not convey to his hon. Friend who made the original remark that it was irrelevant, inaccurate, thoroughly mischievous and damaging?

I can only recommend the hon. Gentleman to look again at my Answer, when he will find that a lot that he has said is quite inappropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in order to remove from the minds of visitors to the United Kingdom the feeling that they are being cold-shouldered, he will end the practice of separating passengers arriving at the ports into two streams, British and foreign, for passport examination.

No, Sir. It has been found that, where large numbers are involved, this practice is in the best interests of the passengers as a whole.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the more civilised countries of Europe do not follow this practice and that he is really being led by the nose in this less civilised practice by the United States of America?

I was not aware that there were any more civilised countries in Europe than this country. We are always getting complaints about delays in getting people off ships, and it has been found that, by this splitting, the passengers—who, after all, are the first consideration, and whose convenience is very important—are dealt with more quickly. Whilst the Home Office has no particular desire one way or the other, from the point of view of the passengers' convenience this is much the better way.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the total establishment for all police forces in England and Wales; the present numbers employed; and what action he intends to take to make good the full numbers.