asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will have published the original German Nazi foreign policy documents, the German military records and other documents in his possession which will enable historians to compile an accurate history of the German Nazi record; and if he will ensure that all documents held by members of the inter-Allied scheme shall be microfilmed before being returned or destroyed.

As my noble Friend informed the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Hale) on 6th June, the principal documents of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs relating to the outbreak of the last war have already been published both in the original and in English translation by Her Majesty's Government, together with the United States and French Governments. It is our intention to extend the publication of translations of these documents to cover at least the pre-war years of the National Socialist regime in Germany, and this will in itself provide historians with material for a record of Nazi policy. Microfilms have been or will be made of all the principal files of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs on which the inter-Allied publication scheme is based, before their return to Germany.

Can the Under-Secretary say whether it is now possible for historians to have access to the mass of German documents which are retained in the Pentagon Building in Washington, or is there still some sort of alleged security ban upon such access?

Of course, I have no responsibility for the documents kept there, but if the hon. and learned Member has any particular point he would like me to look into, I will certainly take it up.

May I ask for an assurance that microfilms of the German Admiralty documents and the German Army documents will be made available to our historians so that we may have these in the records as well?

It is hoped ultimately to make microfilms of the principal files available to historians.

Yes, but may I have an assurance?

I will do my best, but without notice I cannot go into the details of the point which my hon. Friend is inquiring about.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will arrange for a cheap edition to be published of the Documents on German Foreign Policy, 1918-1945, Series D, Volume VI.

No, Sir. There appears to be little public interest in this specialised publication and a cheap edition would involve Her Majesty's Government in additional expense which I would not regard as justified.

Is the Under-Secretary aware that it was the article which appeared in the Manchester Guardian, together with a leading article, which stimulated great interest in this matter and also interested me? Will he consult his right hon. and learned Friend with a view to reconsidering his reply?

No, Sir. I am afraid I cannot give an assurance that I will do that. Copies of Volume VI and others in Series D are, of course, available in public libraries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Field Marshal Von Manstein has been appointed to an important office in the German Defence Ministry; and, in view of his previous war record, what steps will be taken by Her Majesty's Government to prevent his obtaining information through the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation of allied planning.

The answer to the first part of the Question is that Von Manstein is not an official of the Federal Defence Ministry. I understand that, together with other former high officers, he was appointed by the Bundestag Defence Committee to give the Committee professional advice on military legislation at present before the Federal Parliament, and that in that capacity he neither requires nor sees classified North Atlantic Treaty Organisation documents. The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make further inquiries? Is he aware that a report in a responsible newspaper stated that this war criminal was to have the task of preparing a defence report for Germany? Is it not essential for him to have access to N.A.T.O. documents for that purpose? What steps will the right hon. Gentleman take, if that is the case, to see that he does not have access to those documents in view of his previous record?

If the hon. Gentleman will give me particulars of the allegation which he mentions. I will certainly look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what requests have been made by him to the Jordan Government for certified accounts in respect of grants in aid to the Arab Legion; and when these accounts were last received.

The normal procedure is for audited accounts of expenditure from the Arab Legion subsidy to be given to Her Majesty's Government as soon as they are available. The audited accounts for the year 1953–54 were received at the end of March, 1955, and the accounts for 1954–55 are expected shortly.

May we have an assurance that, from now on, there will be rather more energy shown by the Foreign Office in getting these accounts much more quickly than they have been received in the past? Is it not a fact that we are spending £8 or £9 million on this very unreliable force, and should at least know as quickly as possible how this money is being spent?

I cannot accept what the hon. and gallant Gentleman said about the Arab Legion. Of course, we use all expedition in order to see that these accounts are received.

Are these accounts audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General in the usual way?

No, Sir. I should like notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what compensation has been paid by the Jordan Government for damage to British property during the riots in December and January last.

So far, none, Sir. Detailed claims have been sent to the Jordan Government who now have them under study.

Can the Minister say how much is being claimed from the Jordan Government, and whether, in this particular instance, there will not be a continuance of the spineless grovelling which the Foreign Office has shown to such an extent in its dealing with Middle East countries?

I do not know if the hon. and gallant Member regards himself as an expert on spineless grovelling, but certainly we have made our best attempts to clear up the matter of this claim, which is for some £520.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how far there has been a decrease in the number of passenger lines calling at Gibraltar during the past three years.

There has been no decrease. One line has transferred from Gibraltar during the past three years, but six others have started to call there.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what provision is made in the budget of the Kenya Government for grants to assist agricultural development in the European and African areas, respectively.

For the financial year 1956–57, total provision for agricultural and veterinary services amounts to £3·58 million, of which £1·75 million is for African and £155,000 for European agricultural development. The balance is for purposes common to all agricultural development, such as research and field services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking to improve the supply of teachers, both African and European, in Kenya for primary, secondary and technical education.

I have recently approved a grant of £45,000 from colonial development and welfare funds to meet half the cost of a new teacher training college for 240 women in Kenya. This is only a part of the expansion scheme now in progress for which the Kenya Government have allocated £200,000 for capital expenditure during the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the dates when the prisoners No. 13222/J, Kikuyu/ Nanyuki, No. 12795/J, Kikuyu/Kiambu, and No. 7966/J, Kikuyu/Fort Hall, now in Kamiti Prison, were sentenced respectively in court; where the court was held; and what were the ages of these Kikuyu girls then and there given.

I must apologise for the length of this answer.

In the light of these facts, given openly by him, will the Minister agree that the charges made by Miss Fletcher now call into question, for possibly the first time, the impartial administration of justice by a British magistrate in a British Colony? Further, if the job of the magistrates in the courts was to settle whether these young Kikuyu girls were over or under 14 years, why could there not have been medical examinations in the first place, without waiting until the Minister himself sent out a cable and there was a hullabaloo in the House of Commons about it?

I certainly do not think it can be said that this in any way calls into question the administration of justice. I have told the House that certain of the statements made by Miss Fletcher are being examined by her in consultation with my officers and with the Attorney-General of Kenya, who is now over here, and this afternoon, now that Mr. Dingle Foot has returned, they are actually having consultations. Copies of certain documents, including those to which Miss Fletcher referred in the articles at the end of last week, are now being flown from Kenya. It will take a little time to consider the results of the talks and to study the rest of the papers. When I have done this, I shall be glad to make available to the House all the information at my disposal, and I would venture to think that that might be the best way of resolving all the contradictions and, in many cases, undoubtedly, disagreements as to the facts.

Is not the Minister aware that, whatever may be the differences as to the actual facts, sufficient has already been admitted by the Minister himself to show that there is something very seriously wrong with the administration of justice? Surely, would not the Minister agree that, after this lapse of time, to keep a child under 18 years of age in prison on a capital charge of consorting with persons carrying arms—the con-sorting being in most cases involuntary —that, in such circumstances, to keep that child in prison—in life imprisonment—

indicated dissent.

Yes, certainly—if the right hon. Gentleman will listen. This was established. They are called in the prison documents "lifers", and life sentences are reviewed by the Governor every four years. This is a monstrous perversion of British justice.

The right hon. Gentleman's supplementary question shows the danger and, may I add, the mischief that can come from sweeping charges unrelated to the facts. The right hon. Gentleman calmly used the word "lifers" as applying to three people, not one of whom was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that his policy in this matter has the entire support of this side of the House and that we support him entirely in repudiating the unworthy and shameful suggestions which are habitually made by the right hon. Member for Ebbw Vale (Mr. Bevan)?

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the prison documents which have been quoted in the House a person detained at the Governor's pleasure is classified as a "lifer"? Is he not also aware that these children's sentences are reviewed every four years and is he not of the opinion that he and the Governor should be ashamed of themselves for keeping children in prison all this time?

Once more the right hon. Gentleman enters the lists without having troubled to ascertain the facts. [Interruption.] These matters are so serious that I will try to retain my poise and deal with what the right hon. Gentleman has said. The four-year re-examination—if the right hon. Gentleman would listen—takes place in all cases of people sentenced to seven years' imprisonment or more. In addition to that, there is a special review procedure, about which a Question appears later in the Order Paper. In addition to that, in the case of those detained at the Governor's discretion, it is up to the Governor, at any time he likes—and without, of course, waiting for four years to elapse—to look at every case in the light of the circumstances. And I wish that the right hon. Gentleman would trouble to ascertain the facts before he lends his oratory to the mischievous continuance of untruths.

In view of the allegations and denials and contradictions that are inherent in statements made on both sides, would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that, in all the circumstances, and in order to remove suspicions that may exist in various quarters, it would be desirable to have a judicial inquiry into the matter? Would he consider that?

No, Sir. I do not believe that that is necessary or desirable. What I am proposing to do is to assemble all the information, which is being most carefully gathered—and my asking the Attorney-General of Kenya to come was an indication that I intended to take any such suggestions very seriously—to assemble this information and then find the appropriate means of letting hon Members have access to all the information to which I have access myself.

rose—

Order. It seems to me that there is material here for a debate, which we cannot carry on at Question Time.

On a point of order. With your permission, Mr. Speaker, I will transfer the subject of my Adjournment debate on Monday to the subject of these child prisoners in Kenya.

We shall see about that.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the constitutional reforms proposed by the European Elected Members of the Kenya Legislative Council.

I have nothing to add to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the Member for Eton and Slough. (Mr. Fenner Brockway) on 25th April.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that African opinion in Kenya has been gravely disturbed by the nature of these proposals which have been put forward from the European representatives' side? If any such proposals are put to him, will he not insist that the prime need in the Kenya Legislative Council at the moment is for a relative increase in African representation and not merely an absolute one which is offset by an equal increase in European representation?

I have all through made it clear that I do not propose to comment on the proposals put forward by any one section of the Legislative Council representatives, but I am prepared to consider agreed proposals, and only agreed proposals, put forward by representatives of all races on the Legislative Council. If such proposals are put forward, I will of course consider them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies who are the members of the committee which is to examine and review the sentences of persons convicted in Kenya of Mau Mau offences; what are their qualifications; and what are the powers of the committee.

The members are: Lieutenant-Colonel S. H. La Fontaine, D.S.O., O.B.E., M.C., formerly Provincial Commissioner of the Central Province and Acting Chief Native Commissioner; Mr. Desmond Ryland, formerly Officer in Charge of Nairobi Extra Provincial District; and Mr. J. Sinclair Lockhart, District Commissioner. All have served in Kenya for many years and have considerable knowledge of the Kikuyu peoples.

Although these gentlemen may be experienced in Kenya itself, in view of the grave public disquiet with regard to the administration of justice in Kenya generally, is there not now an overwhelming case for the appointment of a high-powered tribunal presided over, if possible, by a High Court judge of this country which will look into this whole question? Is the Secretary of State aware that this assurance that he is going to have conversations with the Attorney-General in Kenya is not enough, and that the Attorney-General is a party involved in this matter? The decision of the committee of inquiry may well satisfy public opinion, but I ask for consideration to be given to this question.

No, I think this is much the best way to set about this work. Already over 500 cases have been considered by the committee; remission has been recommended in 354 cases, and release orders have been signed in 164 cases. The committee hopes to speed up its work very soon.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his reply? Would he not appreciate that there might be on both sides of the House a considerable volume of opinion that it would be a very good thing indeed to have some fresh blood on this committee from outside so that we might be satisfied not only that justice was done in the old way but that it was seen to be done? It is not seen to be done only by having persons drawn from the Colony itself on this committee. Furthermore, will the right hon. Gentleman recognise that great mischief has been done already to public opinion in Kenya by virtue of the fact that some of his followers in the last debate urged the Government not to hurry up the release of these prisoners?

That was in very different circumstances. Justice is not only done but is seen to be done by those people of many differing political persuasions and backgrounds who are now working to help the Government of Kenya.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what estimate he has made of the cost to the Kenya Government, and how many additional teachers would be needed, to introduce free compulsory primary education for all children in that Colony.

Primary education is already compulsory for European children and, in some of the larger towns, for Asian children. The demand for primary education by the Arab community is being satisfied. As regards African education, the objective is to provide, as soon as possible, an eight year course of education for every African child; the immediate target is to provide by 1960 a four-year primary course for every African child whose parents wish the child to go to school.

Is the Minister aware that this question of education is now perhaps the most important political and social issue in Kenya, now that the emergency is coming to an end? Would he consider a loan of something like £5 million for African education, because, if nothing or little is done, this will be almost dynamite in the Colony?

The hon. Gentleman knows the Colony much too well to say that nothing or little has been done. I believe he knows perfectly well that the figures laid down in the Beecher Report have already been exceeded. For instance, there are in existence 2,287 primary schools and 337 intermediate schools, as opposed to the Beecher recommendation of only 2,000 primary schools and 270 intermediate schools.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent segregation of students is practised at the Royal Technical College of East Africa, either in respect of tuition or of living and recreational facilities.

All students, irrespective of race, receive tuition and enjoy recreational facilities together. Students of all races live together in the men's hall of residence. There is at present one women's hostel which is open to women of all races. There is now under construction a second women's hostel which was planned some years ago before the incorporation of the Royal Technical College.

In view of the position in relation to racial segregation in the Colonies of East Africa, why on earth cannot the same kind of thing be done in the new university in Central Africa?

That is not a question which the hon. Gentleman can put to me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will ask the Government of Northern Rhodesia to bring to the notice of hotel keepers the obligation imposed on them by common law to receive in their hotels all who are bona fide travellers, regardless of race.

A statement emphasising this obligation was made in the Northern Rhodesia Legislative Council on 24th March, 1955. This was given wide publicity in the local Press.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what extensions to Government offices at Kitwe and Mufulira in Northern Rhodesia have been asked for by the District Commissioners for these places; and whether he will expedite these schemes, bearing in mind the fact that racial discrimination is still practised in these places and in various Government post offices owing to the inadequacy of office accommodation.

The District Commissioner, Kitwe, has asked for seventeen offices and a room for use as a conference room or courtroom. The District Commissioner, Mufulira, has asked for four additional offices and a conference room and verandah. Efforts are being made to provide this additional accommodation and the Protectorate Government expect that it will be ready at Mufulira by February, 1957, and at Kitwe by January, 1958.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that an official Government inquiry in Northern Rhodesia condemned discrimination of all kinds in shops, post offices and Government buildings? Will he be good enough to ensure that all plans of Government buildings and post offices are in future vetted by him personally so that there shall be no segregation and no scope whatever for discrimination in the way of queues, hatches or any other means in Government buildings?

I am not aware of any racial discrimination in district offices in Northern Rhodesia. If the hon. Gentleman has any instances that he would care to bring to my attention, I will certainly look into them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Commissioner of Mines was granted, under Northern Rhodesia Government Notice No. 55 of 1956, powers to grant exemptions to mines from those Mining Regulations which deal with reports on dangerous and defective places and equipment, Regulations 7, 23, and 60, removal of safety arrangements, Regulation 13, reporting injuries and deaths, Regulations 15 and 16, the provision of means for treating injuries, Regulations 18 and 19, and the employment underground of youths and females under 16 years of age, Regulation 26; and what experiments or tests are to be tried which require exemptions from these regulations, or in what circumstances such regulations are inapplicable or unduly onerous.

Some very small mines and quarries are unable to maintain the high standard of the Mining Regulations and would have to close down if exemptions could not be granted where reasonable. No exemptions would be granted, however, in respect of the Regulations mentioned in the Question. At present no experiments or tests are contemplated which would require exemption from any of the Mining Regulations.

If it is desirable that in any case some exemption should be given, is it not possible for application for exemption to be made to another responsible body before it is granted?

The hon. Gentleman can rest assured that no exemptions are granted which involve a lowering of the standard of safety or an increase in the mining hazards. These exemptions are sometimes necessary during the introduction of new machinery or new mining methods pending the introduction of new legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the boycott by Africans of shops in Northern Rhodesia which practise the colour bar.

Extensive boycotts of European. Asian and, in a few cases, African-owned shops have been organised by the African National Congress during the last two months in the main urban centres. These have not been directed specifically against shops which are alleged to practise a colour bar. Indeed, the shops most affected are those which cater mainly for the African population.

Is the Minister of State aware that the Prime Minister of the Federation has expressed his concern about this grave boycott and that reporters on the spot are saying that it results from the colour bar in shops? Will the Minister consult his right hon. Friend and ensure that, while we are insisting that American oil companies do not practise the colour bar in Trinidad, British firms do not practise the colour bar in other Colonial Dependencies?

Both my right hon. Friend and I will pay heed to what the hon. Gentleman has said, but I would point out that, according to my information, Congress leaders themselves as late as April attributed these boycott activities to higher prices and not to the alleged colour bar.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in respect of which of those universities in the Commonwealth towards the cost of which contributions have been made by Her Majesty's Government it has been made a condition of the grant that there shall be no separate living accommodation and dining halls for white and coloured students.

None, Sir.

Is this because it has been found possible to have universities throughout the Colonies where men of all races live together in the same quarters? If this is so, and if there has been no trouble over this, will the right hon. Gentleman convey that information to his colleague, the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, when he is considering the question of a university for Salisbury?

The question of race has never been made a condition for a grant to any of the university institutions with which my Department is concerned because it has always been taken for granted that they would be open to people of all races. I would most earnestly draw the right hon. Gentleman's attention to an article by Professor Walter Adams, published in The Times last month, on the bold experiment in race relations, dealing with the New Rhodesian University, and I would urge him not, by attempting to do overnight what may take a longer time, to prejudice a really valuable experiment.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Federal Government are not only anxious but determined to create a multi-racial university for the Federation? Does he not consider that ill-considered pressures and advice from the House might only make their task more difficult and might even make it almost impossible to bring the project to successful maturity?

I fully agree with my hon. Friend. That there should be no segregation of any kind in academic work, sport or social intercourse is the first great thing, and I think it is remarkable considering the views which prevailed in certain quarters such a short while ago.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I saw the article by Dr. Adams, and that I wrote a reply to it, but The Times found that it had not sufficient space to print my answer? I replied particularly to his point about the Africans being polygamous and, therefore, having to have separate accommodation.

Perhaps I might find it easier if I received a letter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what provision is made for the encouragement of cooperative services in the Colonies and Dependencies; and if he will make a statement on Government policy.

My right hon. Friend attaches much importance to the development of co-operative societies in the Colonies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what representations he has received from the Aden Association concerning a constitution for the Aden territory; and whether he will make a statement.

A letter presented by the Aden Association to my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State during his recent visit to Aden included various proposals for constitutional advance both in the short and the long term. My noble Friend discussed these proposals in Aden and left it for the Governor to have further talks regarding the next constitutional steps with the leaders of the association and other members of Legislative Council, who are not yet in complete agreement on the proposals to be made to Her Majesty's Government, but I hope that following on discussions which are continuing the new Governor may be in a position to submit proposals, within a reasonable time after he has assumed office.

In view of our large oil refining interests in the Aden territories, would it not be desirable to take the relatively moderate, if not entirely practicable, proposals of the Aden Association very seriously in order to obviate the danger of the Aden people listening to the poisonous propaganda of Colonel Nasser and his agents?

I am very conscious of the value of what the hon. Gentleman says.

When considering the matter, will the right hon. Gentleman keep in mind the fact that the minorities should be looked after when any council is set up under the new constitution? May we be assured that in future we shall not again have the unhappy experience of a small community which has been considerably reduced in numbers in consequence of pogroms not being represented on a legislative council, if such a council exists?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman would like to speak to me about that.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied that adequate forces exist in Aden to support adjacent allied sheikhs against marauding tribesmen armed and encouraged by foreign Powers; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, Sir. I am satisfied that the land and air forces in Aden Colony and Protectorates which have been strengthened during the last year, are adequate.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that satisfactory reply, may I ask if he will confirm that in the event of aggression these forces would be available to support our allies in that part of the Aden Peninsula?

Most certainly, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies his plans for the future political development of Aden Colony and the Protectorate.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 6th June to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Sorensen), to which I have nothing to add.

In that reply, the Secretary of State has committed himself to a measure of internal self-government for Aden. Can he tell me what that means? Will it mean the creation of Ministerial posts in which the local people can take part in government? Will it mean an increase in the number of elected members of the Legislative Council, and will it mean the appointment of a trade union adviser to assist these people in the ways of a democracy?

It means what I said in reply to an earlier Question today, that I am awaiting certain recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what were the contents of the publication on account of which Mr. Banda, Secretary of the Nyasaland African Congress, was sentenced to pay a fine of £10.

I am arranging to have copies of the document placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the plan of the Government of Tanganyika to lease 70,000 acres of land in Kilombero Valley, Morgoro District, to a South African company; and if he is aware of African objections to South Africans entering Tanganyika.

Negotiations are proceeding for the formation in Tanganyika of a public company registered and operating under Tanganyika law to establish a large scale sugar project in the territory. The scheme would involve the grant by the Tanganyika Government to the company of a right of occupancy for 99 years over an area of approximately 60,000 acres in the Kiberege area in the vicinity of the Kilombero Valley. Investigations have indicated that this area is particularly suitable for sugar cane cultivation.

Will the Secretary of State remember that the Africans in Tanganyika object to this scheme because of the vicious segregation policies pursued by the South African Government? Will the right hon. Gentleman take that fact into consideration and use his influence to ensure that there is no colour bar created in Tanganyika by this company?

No such bar would be tolerated, but I must make it clear that we welcome outside investment in Tanganyika where, quite apart from our duty under the Trusteeship agreement, we recognise our obligation to see the country developed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the joint consultative committee for the Malayan rubber estates has yet met to consider the dispute on the rubber estates which has involved a complete day's stoppage of work each week for the past five weeks; what were the recommendations; and if the principle of arbitration has yet been agreed upon to change the system by which the scale of wages is pegged to the price of rubber.

A working party of the Joint Consultative Council of the rubber industry met on 15th and 16th June to consider this dispute, and a meeting of the Joint Council itself is to be held today. I cannot anticipate the outcome of these negotiations.

Is the Minister aware that this dispute has been going on, on one day each week, for several weeks and that the delays in dealing with these problems lead to serious trouble? Is he further aware that the tying up of wages to the price of rubber, which fluctuates so violently, causes a feeling of instability among the workers? Will the right hon. Gentleman get his Department to deal with this problem and encourage the principle of arbitration among the workers and employers?

I am sure the hon. Gentleman is the last person who would wish to embarrass these negotiations which are now going on between the two sides. We can derive some comfort from the fact that both parties have agreed to refer their disputes to this joint council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that Mr. Lim Yew Hock, the new Chief Minister of Singapore, is willing to come back to London for more talks with the Government on the Constitution; and if he will, with a view to breaking the present deadlock, invite Mr. Lim to meet him again.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he now proposes to reopen the discussions on the constitution with the new Chief Minister of Singapore.

Yes, Sir. Mr. Lim Yew Hock has indicated in public pronouncements he has made since becoming Chief Minister that he is aware that the door remains open for further negotiations. I hope that in due course we shall be able to arrange a meeting.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a settlement must be arrived at in Singapore by negotiation sooner or later, and that a settlement will depend as much upon London as it will upon Singapore? Is the Secretary of State further aware that now is the time for the negotiations to take place, before tragedy raises its ugly head as it has done in Cyprus?

I do not think it would help if I added anything to my answer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he expects a report regarding the complaints of ill-treatment in the village of Phrenaros to be available.

Police investigations have been completed and reveal no sufficient grounds for proceedings against either members of the security forces or the several persons who appear to have made false allegations of ill-treatment. Apart from the investigation of certain complaints in a letter forwarded to me by the hon. Member and now under reference to Cyprus, the inquiry into this incident has been closed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what restrictions he has imposed on the correspondence of Archbishop Makarios of Cyprus; how long his mail takes in transit between Mahé and Cyprus and the United Kingdom; where and by whom examination of his mail is conducted; and whether he is allowed to read newspapers and other publications.

Inward and outward mail is examined in Cyprus by the Cyprus Government. The normal mail takes between two to four weeks in transit. The answer to the last part of the Question is: Yes, Sir.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say, first, what the purposes of these restrictions are, and second, will he give an assurance that the Archbishop's mail with people in this country and, in particular, with Members of this House will not be interfered with?

The purpose of the restrictions is that the Archbishop—who. were he not Archbishop, would be detained in Cyprus rather than in the Seychelles, and be subject to the same controls—shall not, through the medium of letters and through the mail, carry on his propaganda campaign or issue instructions to his followers. I do not believe that Members of Parliament who wish, or expect, to receive letters from him would themselves wish to be exempt from the ordinary rules in the case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many rooms are available at "Sans Souci" villa at Mahé to Archbishop Makarios of Cyprus; how many servants attend him; how many persons are responsible for guarding him, and what are their ranks; and what protest has been made by His Beatitude about the conditions in which he is detained.

The house has a sitting room, three bedrooms and a verandah. There are four servants. There is a police guard of non-commissioned officers and constables commanded by two assistant superintendents of Police. The last part of the question was covered by my replies to the hon. Member on the 13th June and to the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on 6th June.

With great respect, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that the last part of the Question was not covered? Is he aware that the Archbishop went on hunger strike, with his colleagues, for three days because of the unsatisfactory conditions; and would he not agree that, whatever the wisdom or otherwise of departing these people, it really is folly not to make them as comfortable as possible while they are in deportation?

I think they certainly are as comfortable as possible, and since the Archbishop offered his parole, which was accepted, things have been made easier still.

If there are any funds available for comforts, may they, please, be devoted to our troops in Cyprus?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies his estimate of the weekly sum now being spent on restoring law and order in Cyprus.

The total estimated weekly cost is of the order of £130,000.

Does that include the cost of military occupation as well? Is it not time that the Government realised that this is a running sore from the point of view of expenditure and of everything else?

The hon. Gentleman certainly should not think there is any pleasure from the point of view of Her Majesty's Government that this money has to be spent in restoring law and order; but as long as law and order has not been restored this money must be expended.

Is this figure of announced expenditure the total figure, or is it a figure which falls to be spent by the Colonial Office, or does it include all expenses of the Services as well?

No, the figure I have given is the total weekly figure which will fall on the Cyprus Government, less a grant which will be given by Her Majesty's Government.

Can we have the total cost? Is it the cost falling upon the Cyprus Government and on the Colonial Vote, or is it the cost of that Vote, including the additional cost of the Services themselves?

I will try to give the right hon. Gentleman more detailed figures. I was asked what is my estimate of the weekly sum now being spent on restoring law and order in Cyprus.

Since we may not reach Question No. 50, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether a general statement on Cyprus may be made this week, or next week, in view of the fact that there is a number of anxious Questions put down on that subject?

That is not in order now.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what expenditure was incurred in Cyprus from January to May this year; and how it compared with the expenditure from January to May, 1955.

Expenditure from the funds of the Cyprus Government was about £5·31 million from January to May last and £3·77 million for the same period of 1955; these figures exclude Service and development expenditure, which are not readily available in respect of the periods concerned.

Is it possible for the Minister to give us an estimate of the total sum which has been spent in Cyprus? Does he think that Cyprus is on the plateau which is talked about by his right hon. Friend?

No, if the hon. Gentleman would like to know the estimated total expenditure in Cyprus in 1956, it is around £16 million. Of that sum, the emergency represents something like 14 per cent., the rest being social services, 23 per cent., development, 33 per cent., administration and so on, 30 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to ensure the main- tenance and subsequent expansion of the air services in British Guiana.

The British Guiana Government, who have recently acquired the ownership and control of British Guiana Airways, have appointed British West Indian Airways to act as their managing agents and advisers in the operation and development of air transport services in the Colony. Arrangements are being made for British West Indian Airways, after a year's experience in this capacity, to provide the Government with a report on the operation and future development of the air services in the Colony.

Is the Minister aware that at the present time the air services of British Guiana are very much undermanned? Will he urge upon the Government of the Colony the need for securing adequate flying personnel so that these services may be continued?

I certainly will bear in mind what the hon. Gentleman has said. I should like to repeat that, in a year's time, the various lessons which will have been brought forward in this report by the British West Indian Airways will be available for the study of the British Guiana Government.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what research is being conducted into the possibilities of controlling radioactive fall-out over the United Kingdom.

If the hon. Member has in mind possibilities of preventing or controlling the rate of fall-out of radio-active particles which already exist in the upper atmosphere, the answer is that there are, so far as is known, no means.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this is a very disturbing reply indeed? We have already received a traceable amount of radio-strontium. There is a concentration of radio-activity in the atmosphere 200 times greater than what has already fallen. Does the right hon. Gentleman not agree that, without any more atom or hydrogen bomb tests over the next few years, because of that much which is already falling, we shall already have received a high percentage, I think a dangerously high percentage, of radio-strontium?

That raises rather a different issue, because that is set out in the Medical Research Council's Report which has just been published. I have to give the hon. Gentleman an answer which the best scientists in this country say is true, namely, that there is no method, so far as is known, of controlling radio-active fall-out in the manner suggested by the hon. Gentleman.

Will the right hon. Gentleman not state clearly and emphatically whether he thinks that there is real danger? Is he not aware that this radioactivity is bound to fall and that the radio-strontium, with all its dangers and after-effects, will cause some grave concern in the near future?

The words chosen by the Medical Research Council were very carefully chosen, and it would not be right for me to enlarge upon them. There is, of course, a degree of danger set out in the Report.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he proposes to ask the permission of the House to answer Question No. 50 today?

The right hon. Gentleman has not given me notice that he wants to answer it, and that is what counts.