asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what representations he has received from the Upper Witham Internal Drainage Board about the Government's refusal to sanction the Hykeham pumping scheme; and whether he will make a statement.

In the present economic situation, new land drainage works are being authorised only where they are immediately necessary on grounds of health, safety or other public interest, and the Hykeham pumping scheme has been deferred because it does not satisfy these conditions. The board appealed on the ground that the scheme has been in contemplation for some years, but I felt unable to reverse my decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he now proposes to make any constitutional reforms in Gibraltar.

Yes. In the light of discussions which have been held by the Governor since my reply to the Question of the hon. Member for Goole (Mr. G. Jeger) on 2nd May, I have decided that the time has now come to make certain changes in the Constitution, and I am taking an early opportunity of laying before the Queen in Council the orders necessary to give effect to them.The changes to be made are the appointment of one more unofficial member to the Executive Council, an increase in the number of elected members of the Legislative Council from five to seven and provision for the appointment of an independent Speaker of the Legislative Council—it being understood that in view of the possible difficulty of finding a qualified and independent person for this office the Governor will continue to preside over the Council when the office of Speaker is vacant. Should the Legislative Council so decide, I shall also be agreeable to the reduction in the number of nominated members of the City Council from five to four and the removal of the ex-officio member from the Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any further statement to make on the Volta River Project.

The Report of the Preparatory Commission on the Volta River Project will be published on 27th July in the Gold Coast and in the United Kingdom as a non-Parliamentary publication. The Commission was set up in 1953, by the United Kingdom and Gold Coast Governments in accordance with a 1952 White Paper (Cmd. 8702). The Report consists of three volumes—the main document, a volume of appendices dealing with special features, and the Engineering Report of the Consulting Engineers. I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library.The Report provides evidence of an extremely thorough examination of all the problems, including health and human factors, to be overcome in a project of this magnitude, and Her Majesty's Government greatly appreciate the work done by the Preparatory Commission, by the Consulting Engineers and by the other experts in various fields who assisted them.The main conclusions of the Commission are that the project can be regarded as technically sound and could be carried out successfully; that it is not capable of significant improvement from an economic point of view but that the greatest return from the project would be derived by achieving maximum production as soon as possible. The Commission further concludes that the project should be competitive in relation to other schemes, provided that:—

asked the President of the Board of Trade the values of all classes of motor vehicles exported to and imported

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of exports from the United Kingdom were sold in 1955 to the British Commonwealth, the

The following is the information:Messina group countries, and the countries of Western Europe who are not members of the Messina group, respectively.

The following is the information:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Estate Duty will be levied on prize money paid on a Premium Bond which has been the subject of a gift within five years of the death of the donor and where the prize money was gained subsequent to the date of the gift.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions have taken place with the Dominions on the question of the possible entry of the United Kingdom into a European Customs Union either by itself or jointly with other Commonwealth countries.

I have nothing to add to the statement which I made to the House on 24th July.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state for 1938, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, and 1955, respectively, the quantities of raw cotton imported from each principal colonial supplying area, from the United States of America, Egypt, the Sudan, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, respectively.

The following are the figures of imports from each principal Commonwealth supplying area and from the listed foreign countries:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether this country has yet been invited to send a representative to Working Party No. 14 set up by the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation to examine the problem of future supplies of energy in Europe; and whether he proposes to accede to such invitation.

The Council of the Organisation, in their resolution establishing the Working Party referred to by my hon. Friend, invited Member Governments to be represented on it. Her Majesty's Government will, of course, be represented.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will signify before 31st August, this country's desire to take part in the work of a Special Working Party to be set up by the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation to study the question of a European Customs Union and a close association between such Union and member countries of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation who do not propose to take part in it.

Yes. As I indicated in my statement of the 24th July, Her Majesty's Government welcome this study.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement about the demonstration early in May by Africans at the village of Kapako in the Balovala district of Northern Rhodesia in which the District Commissioner was involved.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 27th June, 1956; Vol. 555, c. 47], supplied the following information:I have now received a full report from the Acting Governor of Northern Rhodesia. As it is of considerable length, I am placing a copy in the Library and sending one to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health how much the Medical Research Council is spending this year on genetical research.

I have been asked to reply, as representing the Lord President of the Council. During the financial year 1956–57, expenditure by the Medical Research Council on research on genetics is estimated at approximately £70,000.