asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether the social survey. which his Department agreed to carry out in accordance with the recommendation of the Select Committee on Estimates, into the effectiveness of road safety publicity has been completed; and with what result.

In 1951, the Social Survey Division of the Central Office of Information in conjunction with my Department carried out a survey to test the effectiveness of local publicity in a limited area. The particular local campaign studied had no measurable effect on the behaviour of road users, but the circumstances were such that the drawing of generalised conclusions was not justified.

I hope to learn more about the effects of road safety publicity from the Slough experiment.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the present position with regard to the construction of the Hook Road flyunder on the Kingston by-pass; and whether he can now indicate what is likely to be the date of completion.

Arrangements have been made to hold a public inquiry on 9th July to hear objections to the Draft Compulsory Purchase Order which provides for the acquisition of the necessary land.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the present position in regard to the construction of dual-carriageways on the Western Avenue between Park Royal Station and Alperton Lane, including the flyunder at the intersection with the North Circular Road.

Consulting engineers are revising the pre-war plans for the underpass at the intersection and have made good progress.

The remainder of the scheme, consisting of the construction of dual carriageways on the approaches to the underpass, will be arranged to fit in with the work at the intersection.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what proposals have been submitted to him with regard to a new highway from London to Yorkshire, passing through the most fertile areas of the Isle of Ely; and if he will make a statement.

No such proposals have been submitted to me. My plans for better road communications between London and Yorkshire are based on the London—Yorkshire motorway and the modernisation of A.1 on the lines I have recently announced.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will authorise the parking of cars without lights in the fully lighted streets of Slough.

Under the Regulations governing this matter, which came into operation on 5th June, this is a matter for the Chief Officer of Police.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many of the members of the East Midland Area Transport Users Consultative Committee have been appointed to represent agriculture and other rural interests.

There are two members on the Committee representing agriculture, appointed after consultation with the National Farmers' Union, and three representatives of county councils.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the recent revelations concerning increases in atmospheric radioactivity consequent on the exploding of further nuclear weapons, he will now take a new initiative to stop or curtail any future such explosions.

I would ask the hon. Member to await the statement which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will be making to the House tomorrow.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware that at the recent official conference on high energy nuclear physics in Moscow British physicists were shown a high energy synchrocyclotron giving beams of protons of 680 Mev and a new proton synchroton containing 36,000 tons of steel and were informed of an even larger one under construction; and what steps he proposes to take to enable Great Britain to participate in the development of high energy physics.

I am aware of the large facilities which the Soviet Union is creating for fundamental nuclear research. Her Majesty's Government, as a member of the European Council for Nuclear Research, are collaborating in the building of a 600 Mev synchrocyclotron and a 25,000 Mev proton synchrotron of the most advanced design at present known at the High Energy Physics Laboratory which is being built up in Geneva.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken within the primary system of education in Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia to prepare girls for higher education and entrance to the University College of Rhodesia.

Education for children who are not Africans is the responsibility of the Federal Government. As regards African education, the main obstacle to progress in both territories is the reluctance of parents to let their girls stay at school. Great efforts are being made to overcome this by Government propaganda and personal persuasion.

In Northern Rhodesia girls at boarding schools receive grants of 75 per cent. of boarding costs as compared with 50 per cent. for boys; and no girl in either territory who qualifies for the upper primary or secondary course is refused a place.

The number of girls at school in both territories is increasing steadily. The Governments are giving special priority to the development of girls' upper primary schools, particularly at missions where European women teachers are available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in what territories elections on the common roll have been introduced or promised to be introduced.

The names of those entitled to vote at elections to the Legislatures of the following Territories are registered on common rolls:

Aden (Colony).

Bahamas.

Barbados.

Bermuda.

British Honduras.

Falkland Islands.

Gambia.

Gibraltar.

Gold Coast.

Jamaica.

Leeward Islands.

Federation of Malaya.

Nigeria (Federal and Regional Governments and Southern Cameroons).

Malta.

Mauritius.

Northern Rhodesia.

Seychelles.

Sierra Leone.

Singapore.

Trinidad.

Windward Islands.

2. For Territorial elections in Nyasaland, European and Asian electors are registered on a common roll.

3. The Governor of Uganda has stated that it is an aim of policy to introduce direct elections on a common roll for Representative Members of Legislative Council in 1961, provided that there is a general desire for this throughout the country and that arrangements can be recommended which are acceptable to Her Majesty's Government.

4. The Governor of Tanganyika has announced his Government's intention to introduce legislation which will enable elections on a common roll to be held in some constituencies at least in 1958.

5. Elections in British Guiana under the constitutional arrangements recently announced will be on a common roll.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to grow more maize in the Colonial Territories.

Substantial efforts are being made in individual territories to improve yields of maize per acre. There is no general plan for increasing the production of maize in Colonial Territories, since conditions differ from territory to territory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what authority is required before the imposition of collective fines in British Colonial Territories.

The authority of the Governor is required in those territories where the law provides for collective fines. The Governor can only act after a judicial inquiry except where the power is conferred by Emergency Regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make available in the Library a monthly return of persons detained without trial in all British Colonial Territories.

Yes. I shall arrange for a statistical statement to be placed in the Library of the House each month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what instructions he has issued to Colonial Governors regarding the conditions and diet of detained persons in Kenya and Cyprus.

None. These matters are covered by local laws, regulations and practices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish annually a report of penal statistics covering those territories for which he is responsible.

Penal statistics are already published by territories in annual Departmental reports. They could not be summarised usefully in a single report, as methods of compilation differ from territory to territory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will list the names of organisations which are proscribed or prohibited in all Colonial Territories.

I am making inquiries of the Governors and will inform the hon. Lady when I have received their replies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which Colonies employ systems of taxation based on racial origin.

In most African territories there are separate direct taxes for Africans and non-Africans, but such differentiation is rare in other territories. The purpose of having separate direct taxes is to adapt the incidence and nature of taxation to the differing circumstances of the various communities. I will send details to the hon. Lady as soon as they have been compiled.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the cause, nature, duration and result of the recent hunger strike by Archbishop Makarios in the Seychelles Islands.

Archbishop Makarios abstained from food from the morning of 6th May in protest against delays in his mail and against security restrictions. Following discussion with the Secretary to the Government, who explained the reasons for the delays and restrictions, he broke the fast on 8th May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will send a Parliamentary Commission to Cyprus to investigate ways and means of reopening negotiations about the island's future.

I doubt whether the time is opportune for such a visit, but this is one of the matters I shall be discussing with the Governor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, as a means of bringing peace and tranquility to Cyprus, he will request the United Nations to conduct a plebiscite among the nationals of Cyprus on their views as to the future of Cyprus; and whether Her Majesty's Government will agree to accept the results of such a referendum.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what restrictions there now are limiting the right of free speech in Cyprus.

Freedom of speech is not generally restricted in Cyprus, apart from the provisions in the Criminal Code governing sedition and libel. Terrorism constitutes the greatest restriction to free speech in Cyprus. It has been necessary, in the interests of public security, to make Emergency Regulations dealing with censorship, the holding of meetings of more than five persons, certain control over publications prejudicial to the public safety, and the imposition of penalties for statements likely to cause alarm or despondency or be prejudicial to the public safety.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what punishments are meted out to those who refuse to pay collective fines in Cyprus.

There has been no instance of refusal to pay.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons have been detained without trial in Cyprus since June 1955; how many have since been released; and how many are now held.

487 persons have been detained, 94 have been released, and 366 are now held.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the daily cost of upkeep for persons in detention camps in Cyprus.

Approximately 19s. a day for each detainee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a further statement on the position in the Gold Coast, particularly relating to its future constitution and the date when the independence of the Gold Coast will be officially announced.

The Governor published yesterday two proclamations. The first dissolved the Legislative Assembly with effect from the 5th June and the second appointed the dates for the General Election. In the Northern Territories, where two days are required, these dates are 12th and 17th July; in the rest of the Gold Coast, the appointed date is 17th July. As regards the future constitution and the date for Gold Coast independence, I refer the hon. and learned Member to my statement of 11th May.

With agreement of the Prime Minister of the Gold Coast it is hoped to arrange that a small all-party Parliamentary delegation should visit the territory to observe the General Election. The composition of the delegation will be announced to the House when it has been arranged.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now state the policy of Her Majesty's Government for the constitutional development of British Somaliland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement regarding the constitutional proposals for Somaliland, following the visit of the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies to Hargeisa.

During his visit to British Somaliland, my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State broadcast a statement, with the approval of Her Majesty's Government, on our policy regarding this and connected questions.

The following is his lengthy but very important statement:

Government arc aware that recent political developments have made the people of the Somaliland Protectorate keenly desirous to learn the future policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the Protectorate and in the Somali area in general. I have accordingly obtained authority of the Secretary of State to make the following statement. The details of policy still remain to be examined in many important matters, particularly in regard to finance, but this statement will provide an indication of the general intention of Her Majestyys Government. The details of implementation of the policy to be followed within this general framework will be subject to consultation with responsible Somali leaders from time to time.

(a) The aim of Her Majesty's Government is to press ahead with economic, social and political progress in the Protectorate. In particular Her Majesty's Government have decided that steps must be taken to accelerate development of education and economic resources within the limits of the physical capacity of the territory to undertake them.

(b) In the field of education plans already exist for expanding elmentary, intermediate and secondary education and technical training facilities; they will be discussed with the Secretary of State's Educational Adviser when he visits the Protectorate this autumn. Up to 200 overseas scholarships and training courses, in addition to those originally planned for the period ending 1960, will be provided subject to there being sufficient suitably qualified candidates. These scholarships are intended to cover all branches of education and include university and professional training of Somali students, technical training and apprenticeship overseas and provision for administrative and technical courses for serving Somali members in all branches of the Civil Service.

(c) In the development of economic resources particular attention will be paid to providing adequate water supplies both in the towns and in the interior, and to agricultural, irrigation, forestry and soil and water conservation projects by which grazing and natural vegetation will be improved and the Protectorate made less dependent on imported foodstuffs. It is hoped to improve outlets for livestock, skins and other livestock products, and schemes for an abbatoir and cold store at Berbera are being investigated. Berbera port will be developed. and the search for oil and minerals of economic value encouraged. Every effort will be made to develop a stable and self-supporting economy and modern social services within the limits of Protectorate resources.

The primary object of all these developments is to make the Somalis of the Protectorate ready for internal self-government. Her Majesty's Government is not, however, laying down a definite timetable for political advances, and indeed it is believed that responsible Somalis themselves would not wish this to be done. Her Majesty's Government will however review the position in consultation with the people of the Protectorate within a reasonable time after 1960.

Her Majesty's Government will therefore take every practical step to encourage Somalis to assume greater political responsibility. A Legislative Council with certain powers over legislation and finance will be introduced within the coming twelve months and local government councils will be progressively established throughout the Protectorate. The expansion in educational services and particularly the increase in oversea scholarships have been planned to secure among other things an acceleration of the process of the Somalis entering into posts in higher branches of the Civil Service.

Somali leaders in the Protectorate have made enquiries concerning the views of Her Majesty's Government in regard to the possibility of some form of association between Somaliland and Somalia sometime after 1960. When the time comes to consider such matters the views of the Somalis concerned will be one of the factors of decisive importance in determining Her Majesty's Government's attitude towards any proposals which may be put forward on this subject. Her Majesty's Government would certainly discuss any such proposals with representatives of the people of the Protectorate; and, if political and economic conditions were propitious, and the proposals were both well-conceived and favoured by the Somalis concerned, Her Majesty's Government would be ready to support them in principle.

The Protectorate's territorial integrity is guaranteed for as long as the territory remains under the protection of Her Majesty's Government and indeed Her Majesty's Government wishes to emphasise that she will certainly not withdraw her protection as long as the Somali people require it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the failure to achieve a settlement of the constitution of Singapore will now leave a vacuum which can be filled only by a mutual settlement or Communism; and, as the gap between the two sides in the final proposals is small enough to make success a possibility, whether he will now offer to renew the talks with the representatives of Singapore who have indicated their preparedness to meet him at any time for this purpose.

I am aware of the importance of reaching agreement and, as I informed the House on the 18th May, Her Majesty's Government are willing to renew discussions with the present or any other Government of Singapore on the basis of the proposals put before the Singapore delegation at the recent Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what political parties are to be represented at the Nigeria Constitutional Conference in September; in what proportions they will be represented; whether the All-Nigeria Trade Union Federation will be among those granted representation; whether an agenda for the Conference has been drafted; and when it will be published.

The numbers of the delegations from each region and the Southern Cameroons were agreed at a meeting held last January in Lagos. I am awaiting the proposals of the Nigerian Governments on the division of these numbers among the political parties. It will be for the Conference itself to settle the agenda and any question of its publication.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what restrictions have been imposed in British Guiana limiting the right of free speech.

There are no special restrictions limiting the right of free speech. Under the Emergency Order permission is required for outdoor meetings, except religious meetings and meetings in enclosed places. Such permission is, however, given freely and with as few restrictions as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what restrictions now apply to the right of free speech in Kenya.

Freedom of speech is generally unrestricted in Kenya, apart from legislation governing sedition and criminal libel. During the emergency, in the interests of public security, it has been necessary to take powers under Emergency Regulations to prohibit meetings of five or more persons except where a licence has been granted under the Police Ordinance, to prohibit the distribution of subversive publications, and to prevent communication with the terrorists. Such prohibitions have been almost entirely confined to Nairobi and the Central Province, and they are now being lifted gradually as and when security conditions permit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons have been detained without trial in Kenya since the beginning of the emergency; how many have since been released; and how many are now held.

At 30th April, 68,818 persons had been detained under Emergency Regulations since the beginning of the Emergency. 27,046 had been released and 41,772 remained in detention.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons detained without trial in Kenya have died while under detention since the beginning of the emergency.

Of the 69,000 detainees who came into detention since the beginning of the emergency 749 have died.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the daily cost of maintaining persons detained without trial in Kenya.

I am asking the Governor for this information and I will send it to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in view of the completion of the Togoland plebiscite, when he expects to receive from the United Nations Trusteeship Council their assessment of the results and their published conclusions; and whether Her Majesty's Government will request the Trusteeship Council to make recommendations in respect of the particular needs of the Ewe people.

The United Nations Trusteeship Council will consider the report of the U.N. Plebiscite Commissioner in July. Their recommendations should be available about the end of that month and will be considered by the General Assembly in November. As to the last part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on 15th May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a further statement in respect of the position in Aden.

As regards the labour situation in Aden, copies of the Report of the recent Commission of Inquiry have now been placed in the Library. The Governor of Aden has informed me that he accepts the Commission's recommendations without reservation to the extent that they affect the Aden Government and has arranged for action to be taken accordingly. All the workers concerned in the recent strikes had returned to work by 30th April, and there have been no further strikes since that date.

With regard to political developments in Aden, during his recent visit to Aden my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State made, with the approval of Her Majesty's Government, a statement to the Aden Legislative Council about the political future of the Colony of Aden. This very important statement indicates the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding future political development in the Colony, and I am circulating a copy of it below.

With regard to the Aden Protectorate, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies which I gave on 18th April to the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. J. Johnson) and on 1st May to the hon. Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison), since when there has as yet been no further development.

Following is the statement:

"There has been much speculation recently about the political future of the Colony of Aden, Such speculation, if unrelated to practical possibilities, is harmful to the commercial interests of the Colony upon which the prosperity and, indeed, the whole livelihood of the people depends: if carried to undue lengths, it can easily divert into unfruitful channels energies which might be better exerted in the pursuit of realisable aspirations. Her Majesty's Government consider, therefore, that the time has come when their political intentions in respect of the Colony should be clearly stated and my visit to the Colony has seemed to them a suitable opportunity for this purpose. I have had discussions with various representative bodies on matters affecting further constitutional development. I have listened to their views with interest and sympathy. Last January there was a most important political development when elected members of this Council took their seat for the first time. Her Majesty's Government sincerely welcome this advance, but it needs to be fully tested before further advance can be considered. Certainly there could be no question of any further radical change in the constitution during the life of the present Council. The degree of constitutional development and the pace at which it can be realised must depend on the sense of responsibility which is displayed by the people of the Colony and their leaders. There is no reason why you cannot expect to achieve further constitutional development in due course. Many of you have a perfectly legitimate desire to take a greater part in the affairs of Government and there is no reason why this desire should not be realised. But I should like you to understand that for the foreseeable future it would not be reasonable or sensible, or indeed in the interests of the Colony's inhabitants, for them to aspire to any aim beyond that of a considerable degree of internal self-government. Therefore whilst I have indicated the type of constitutional advance to which the people in this Colony may legitimately aspire, Her Majesty's Government wish to make it clear that the importance of Aden both strategically and economically within the Commonwealth is such that they cannot foresee the possibility of any fundamental relaxation of their responsibilities for the Colony. I feel confident that this assurance will be welcome to you and to the vast majority of the inhabitants of the Colony."

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what action has been taken in regard to the salaries of officers in the Naval Ordnance Inspection Department.

As I stated in reply to Questions from my hon. Friend and from my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Horncastle (Commander Maitland) on 25th April, the salary scales of these officers are now under examination, as also are the salaries of all groups which are affected by the Report of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service. I have no further announcement to make at the present moment.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will ban the flying of service aircraft below 2,000 feet over farmland and built-up areas other than approaching and leaving aerodromes.

In general, Service aircraft are forbidden to fly below 2,000 feet except on specially authorised exercises. These exercises, which as far as possible avoid built-up areas, are an essential part of air force training, and must continue.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will now abandon the bombing practice range near Bradwell-on-Sea.

No. The use of this range is essential to the efficiency of the United States Air Force and is a direct contribution to the strength of N.A.T.O.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what report he has received concerning the dropping of a practice bomb on the Dengie Hundred; and if he will make a statement.

Four 3 lb. non-explosive practice bombs were inadvertently dropped on the Dengie Hundred by an aircraft of the United States Air Force. No damage was caused to property and no one was injured. A full investigation was held. The cause of the incident appears to have been a defect in the bomb rack mechanism. All bomb racks of this type have now been withdrawn.

asked the Minister of Education how many men have transferred from industry in mid-career to the staffs of technical colleges in the last three years; and if he is still satisfied that this provides an important source of strength to the colleges.

The figures asked for by the hon. Member are not readily available, but most of the teachers of technical subjects are recruited from industry over the age of twenty-five.

asked the Minister of Education what grant aid he has made to each of the national voluntary youth organisations under the Social and Physical Grant Regulations, 1939, Article I (b) and (c) in each of the years 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955 and 1956, respectively; and what grants he proposes to offer them in the year ending 31st March, 1957.

I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date the inquiry was held into the educational endowments of Stirlingshire; when the Report of the Commissioner may be expected; and what is the reason for the delay between the holding of the inquiry and the rendering of the Report.

The inquiries into the educational endowments of Stirlingshire were held on 14th December, 1953. The Commissioner has submitted his Report to me and it has been considered, but the preparation of draft schemes relating to the future government and management of the endowments has taken longer than was expected. I hope, however, that it will be possible to publish new schemes in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the Government's aim to increase the number of day-release students in England and Wales by 355,000, why, in Command Paper No. 9703, Technical Education, he gives as his aim in Scotland an increase of only 15,000; and what total increase will be necessary to give Scotland proportionately the same number as the increase of 355,000 will give England and Wales.

The White Paper made it clear that the increase of 15,000 was merely a first step designed to bring the number of students in Scotland up to a figure equivalent to that in England and Wales, but that still further increases would be necessary to keep in step with expansion there. If the total of 355,000 in England and Wales is doubled, an increase of 45,000 will be necessary to give Scotland the equivalent number on a population basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what specific steps he intends to take to increase the number of day-release students.

Education authorities have been and will be given every encouragement to provide more and better facilities and I have already approached such agencies as the Regional Advisory Councils for Technical Education, the Scottish Council (Development and Industry) and the Scottish Board for Industry, to get their co-operation in persuading both sides of industry to make the maximum use of the facilities provided.