asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what concessions have been given for the exploitation of iron ore in Swaziland, and under what conditions.

None, Sir.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what plans have been made for land settlement under irrigation in Swaziland and for the extension of water-power in Basutoland.

In Swaziland several areas are under irrigation and energetic steps are being taken to improve land use, but it has not so far become necessary to make special plans for land settlement under irrigation. In northern Basutoland it has been suggested that certain rivers might be dammed to provide electricity for Basutoland, and electricity and water for the Orange Free State. These possibilities are being investigated. In southern Basutoland, two surveys of the Upper Orange River have been made with a view to using the river to produce electricity, but more information is needed before conclusions can be reached.

Can the Minister give an assurance that the Government will not be slow in giving the maximum possible financial assistance under the various Colonial Development and Welfare Acts?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what concessions have been made for the exploitation of uranium and diamond deposits in Basutoland, and under what conditions.

No concessions have been granted in Basutoland for the exploitation of uranium. Exclusive rights to prospect for and mine diamonds were granted by the Paramount Chief of Basutoland to Mr. John Scott with effect from April, 1955. In return the grantee has agreed to make various payments, of which the principal ones are:

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations on whose authority the Basutoland police recently arrested and handed over to the South African police Elias Monare, who had participated in the boycott of schools in the Union of South Africa following the passage of the Bantu Education Act.

I regret to have to inform the hon. Member that inquiries made so far would seem to show that Elias Monare, a Mosuto born in the Union, was irregularly arrested and returned to the Union. The warrant issued by the South African authorities was endorsed, not by the magistrate as it should have been, but by the Superintendent of Police who was in charge of the District Headquarters in the magistrate's absence on tour. I am having further inquiries made.

Does the Minister realise the seriousness of the statement he has just made? Is he aware that this man is not a criminal, has never been charged, has never been tried, was banished and returned from that banishment to Basutoland without any charge whatsoever having been brought against him? Will he take steps to enable the man to return to Basutoland, which is his native country?

I do not think the hon. Gentleman would expect me now to enter into the merits of the case, although I should like to tell him and the House that the Union warrant for Monare's arrest was for failing to comply with an order of the Governor-General. I do not wish to go further than that, except to assure the hon. Gentleman that I fully realise the seriousness of the case.

Do I understand that the Under-Secretary will make a statement to the House about this very serious case as soon as his inquiries are complete?

In the proper way, of course, I shall do that. I most certainly undertake to keep the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) informed of developments.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what members of the Commonwealth accepting British immigrant labour insist on screening for tuberculosis either at port of exit or entry, or both, for such immigrants.

Most Commonwealth Governments have power to prohibit the entry of immigrants on specified health grounds, and I am arranging to send to the hon. Member such information as is available to me about the law in other Commonwealth countries relating to this subject.

Is the Minister aware that I was referring specifically to screening for tuberculosis? Is he aware that there appears to be an increasing element of informed medical opinion and opinion on the part of local health authorities that there is grave cause for concern about such people entering the country infected with tuberculosis and spreading the disease? Will he take steps to ensure that such information as he may be able to obtain is referred, to his colleagues in order to make sure that we are not running ourselves into the deepest danger?

If I can help in that way, I will do so.

Will the Minister bear in mind also that there is another medical point of view? It is that the majority of the immigrants are negative reactors and are thus free from tuberculosis but tend to contract tuberculosis in this country. We must be careful not to adopt a mistaken attitude towards this serious problem.

Is the Minister aware that the very severe rise in tuberculosis rates in Scotland after the war was due, in the opinion of at least one distinguished member of the medical profession, to the presence in the country during the war of persons from other countries where tuberculosis rates were very high?

I am not sure that that matter comes within the scope of my Department, although for other reasons, which the right hon. Gentleman will appreciate, I am interested in the subject of tuberculosis in Scotland.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations when the report of the Commonwealth Economic Committee on mineral development and raw materials will be available.

It is not yet possible to say precisely when this Report will be available. I understand, however, that the Committee's inquiries have reached an advanced stage and that the work of co-ordinating and bringing up to date the material collected and of drafting a Report is already in hand.

Will the hon. Member be able to expedite publication of the Report so that we may have it before us on Friday, 30th November, when one of the hon. Member's supporters has chosen this subject for a debate?

I will certainly see that the hon. Member's constructive suggestion is brought to the attention of those concerned.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will make a statement on discussions with other Commonwealth countries about aid for Hungarian refugees; and whether he will propose the establishment of a joint Commonwealth fund to assist in meeting the cost of transport and initial resettlement grants.

As my hon. Friend is aware, Her Majesty's Government have demonstrated financially and in other ways their keen sympathy with the Hungarian refugees. I am not sure that this particular matter is one in which joint Commonwealth action would be more effective than individual effort by each member country. If there were a desire on the part of other Commonwealth Governments to deal with it jointly, we would of course be ready to explore the possibilities with them.

Does my hon. Friend not consider that, whereas relief is a matter of urgency, the problem of resettlement will continue for a long time? Are there not some Commonwealth countries which could contribute more in facilities and others which could contribute more in money? Might not a more imaginative and far-reaching result be achieved in the long run by a combined operation by the Commonwealth, particularly as the need arises from action directly contrary to every belief and faith held by the Commonwealth?

Yes, Sir, I will, with pleasure, certainly look into the last suggestion of my hon. Friend.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what official communications he has had from the Government of Ceylon concerning the policy of Her Majesty's Government in the Middle East.

Exchanges of view between Commonwealth countries are confidential, and it is not the practice to publish details of them.

Is the hon. Member aware that the Prime Minister of Ceylon has publicly stated that if Ceylon remains in the Commonwealth it will be due to the fact that the official Opposition in the House opposed the policies of Her Majesty's Government?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what formal communication he has now received regarding the agreement that has been reached by the six nations on the main principles involved in the formation of a European Customs Union; and if he will give an assurance that Her Majesty's Government will now join in these discussions to work out the details for a harmonious development of a larger European common market in which the United Kingdom will participate.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "None, Sir"; but the Report on which the six nations are basing their negotiations has been published. As regards the second part of the Question, I am not yet in a position to add to the Answer given on 23rd October by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the right hon. Member for Huyton (Mr. H. Wilson).

What arrangements or liaison does the President of the Board of Trade have with the members of the Customs Union for knowing what stage they have reached? At what stage in the negotiations do the Government feel it is appropriate for Her Majesty's Government to join in?

We and other European nations and the six nations are all engaged even now in technical consideration of these problems. I would rather not elaborate on the matter ahead of the debate which we all agree we should have in the fairly near future.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the extent to which the importation of paper and newsprint will be affected as a result of the Middle East situation.

The direct effect of the Middle East situation on imports of paper and newsprint is likely to be negligible, since all the newsprint and nearly all the paper we import comes from North America and Europe.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now able to say if the British Standards Institution has decided on a standard for flammable materials.

I understand that the British Standards Institution hopes to publish before long a standard describing and correlating agreed methods of testing flammability in textiles. The British Standards Institution Committee concerned with this complex problem is also considering what information should be given to the public about flammability in fabrics and garments, and I think it would be better to await its report.

Will my right hon. Friend make certain that this report is published as soon as possible, because this matter has been under consideration for a long time and is causing great difficulty, particularly among parents?

I am aware of the hon. Lady's concern in this matter, and I hope that the report will be available before long.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the difficulties and delays in shipbuilding arising from a shortage of steel; and what action he will take to ensure that no further fall in supplies to shipbuilding and other essential export industries is caused by reductions in overall steel production due to reduced oil shipments.

Deliveries of steel to the shipbuilding industry in the first nine months of this year were 15 per cent. higher than in the corresponding period of 1955, but I am aware that they and other industries could do with more steel. I am consulting the Iron and Steel Board about the possible effect of reduced oil supplies on steel deliveries.

Does not the President of the Board of Trade agree that if the steel supply situation gets worse he has a duty to see that the most important users of steel get adequate supplies, in which case some kind of control of the situation may be required?

I am in consultation with the Steel Board, which has these things very much in mind.

In view of the Government having brought us near to the brink of war—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—yes—will the President of the Board of Trade give us an assurance that Her Majesty's Dockyards will not go short of steel?

I will leave aside the introductory phrase in that supplementary question. We debated that matter for a long time. I can say about steel supplies that I am in close touch with the Steel Board, which has very much in mind the interests of the shipping industry and will seek to see that steel is made available as possible.

In view of the difficulties which the shipbuilding industry is facing, apart from discussions with the steel industry, will the right hon. Gentleman ensure that there are discussions with the shipbuilding industry, because it is a question not only of supplies but of sequence of deliveries?

Certainly. Discussions with the shipbuilding industry are going on and we have those matters in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many Government-financed factories in the Scottish Development Area he has approved since 1st June, 1956;and how many have been deferred.

Three and two, respectively, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he has had with the Scottish Council (Development and Industry) regarding the provision of factories to rent in Scotland.

If the hon. Member has in mind a scheme which the Scottish Council has been considering to interest private capital in factory building in Scotland, the answer is that, whilst I have not been formally consulted, my Department has been kept informed.

Is the Minister aware that the Scottish Council opposes the Government's policy of stopping the building of Government-financed factories in Scotland and regards the scheme of which he talks as a second-best? Is he aware that the Government have turned down the most authoritative advice in Scotland on this matter, as far as we can see in order to provide some further profit for private enterprise?

In so far as the Scottish Council is encouraging private capital to go into Scotland, that is something which everybody in all parts of the House would support.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that skilled labour is still being drained out of Scotland and is leaving behind a great block of unskilled labour which cannot be employed because of the absence of balance? That has caused a higher rate of unemployment in Scotland than is normal throughout the country. There is very strong evidence—almost proof—that firms are willing to go to Scotland and provide work for workers if these factories are provided. Will he give very considerable and careful attention to the suggestion of the Scottish Council that these advance factories should be built?

I will bear all these matters in mind. Meanwhile, the attraction of private capital will help rather than hinder these matters.

There is no question but that the Scottish Council can attract private capital, but private capital cannot go there, although it is willing, because of the absence of the factories.

Will my right hon. Friend arrange for the Front Bench opposite to be given lessons on how to ask supplementary questions by the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes)?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the effect which the blocking of the Suez Canal will have on imports from Commonwealth and colonial sources; and if he will make a statement.

Of our total imports slightly less than one quarter by value came through the Suez Canal in the first nine months of 1956. Most of these imports, with the exception of oil, came from Commonwealth countries. Some routes are more affected by the closing of the Canal than others, and it is not practicable to make a general estimate of the delays which will be involved. I am confident that traders, in co-operation with shipping companies, will be able to accomplish the necessary re-routing in a way which will reduce the effects on our supplies to a minimum, and on examining our stock position I see no grounds for serious apprehension about our supplies from Commonwealth countries.

Can the President of the Board of Trade assure us that any rerouting which is necessary will not interrupt the continuity of supplies in such a way as to cause unemployment?

Obviously re-routing on this kind of scale is bound to cause some interruption in supplies or some delays, but I am satisfied that these matters are being handled in the best possible way. Our stock position, which does have its effect on unemployment, gives no immediate cause for apprehension.

Is it still Government policy to continue with the liquidation of important stocks of strategic raw materials in view of the tense international situation, and is it still their policy, by the credit squeeze and in other ways, to force the liquidation of private stocks?

I should have thought that in existing circumstances Governmental action through the credit squeeze to control inflation was certainly as necessary as at any other time. We are always studying the question of the proper level of strategic stocks in the light of developing circumstances, but I have no alteration in policy to announce.

The President will recall that it was in 1950–51, following the tense international situation after Korea, that the then Government invested many hundreds of millions of pounds in strategic stocks—and that was the main reason for the deterioration in the balance of payments in 1951. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] The Government have now published the figures in the last two years, and it is perfectly clear. Hon. Members can study them. In view of that, does the President now feel that the international situation has so much improved on the position then that this is the year when the Government should be disposing of these strategic stocks?

I must say that it has taken the right hon. Gentleman four years to think of that one. If he had thought of it a bit quicker, with the Election on at that period, it would have been more helpful to him. This Question deals simply with the increased length of time and the re-routing necessary in trade with the Commonwealth countries. I have given my answer, that it will take longer and does mean routing material round the Cape, but it does not have a major effect on our strategic stocks.

Does the President agree that it is not simply a question of rerouting but of the availability of shipping, and that there is going to be a shortage of bottoms? Is not this going to result in an increase in freightage? Has he taken that into account?

The hon. Gentleman is quite right. All these events have an effect on freight rates, which is visible today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the blowing up and burning of Customs stations on the Irish border on Remembrance Day.

Early on Sunday, 11th November, six Customs land boundary posts were destroyed as a result of explosion and fire. There was no loss of life or injury. Arrangements have been made for the Customs to operate from temporary accommodation, and investigations by the Royal Ulster Constabulary are continuing into these outrages.

As it seems unlikely that it will be possible to take effective steps to stop the periodic explosions on the Irish border, can my right hon. Friend say whether it is proposed to rebuild these Customs huts in the cheapest possible material, as they have been built before, and, if so, whether arrangements will be made for important papers to be removed at night?

I would not like to make any forecast about the steps that we shall take when we have done all we can to clear up what happened on these occasions. I fully appreciate the importance of looking after papers, and that is always done.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why these stations were not guarded?

They were unmanned that night—

Why?

because it would be most helpful to smugglers if they knew that Customs officers throughout the night always sat in the same place.

Does my right hon. Friend not consider that it speaks well for the loyal people of Ulster, who are so anxious to remain in friendship with their neighbours in Eire, that throughout these raids they have remained so restrained? Does not he also consider that, inasmuch as Her Majesty's Government are going to take any action, it should not be restricted to representations?

The implication of the latter part of that supplementary question goes far beyond my responsibilities. I am anxious for restraint in all directions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect which the general increase in shipping freight rates is likely to have on internal retail prices.

It is not at present possible to make a close estimate of likely changes in freight costs over the months ahead. For the sake of illustration only, the direct effect of a 5 per cent. increase in freight costs might be a rise in the general level of retail prices of about one-tenth of 1 per cent.

That may be true as a sort of estimate at this stage, but will the hon. Member tell his right hon. Friend that the best way to remain on a plateau of stability is to exercise restraint in all directions and not merely ask the trade unions to do so? In what is supposed to be a free market, can we have an undertaking that the Government will step in to prevent any exploitation of the situation by way of rising prices that are quite unreasonable and unnecessary?

The House will not expect me to answer any hypothetical questions contained in the hon. Member's supplementary question. In regard to the first part of it, my right hon. Friend bears closely in mind everything suggested by the hon. Member, but he is of course well aware of the requirements of the economic situation.

In view of the answer that has just been given, I wonder if the Minister could also answer this question. If a 5 per cent. rise in freight rates does in fact cause a rise of one-tenth of 1 per cent. on the retail price side, what will be the actual rise in invisible earnings?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will be good enough to put down that interesting question.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what action is being taken to meet the complaint of the Canvey Island Urban District Council that the new valuations for rating, in so far as they apply to the island, are unfair, having regard to the exceptional effects of the East Coast flood disaster of 1953 upon rental values and other relevant considerations.

This complaint was investigated by the valuation office. The investigation gave no grounds for thinking that the assessments in general had not properly taken into account the relevant local circumstances. The council was so informed. Appeals against a number of individual assessments are under consideration and will be dealt with by the local valuation court.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that if there is only one way in which to test complaints of this kind, namely, by using the appeal machinery laid down by law, it is most unfortunate that the valuation officer who issued letters to appellants is now seeking to dissuade them from making appeals at a time when a plan of this kind was under consideration? Will the right hon. Gentleman accept from me the grateful thanks of my constituents that he has issued instructions to the valuation officer to amend that letter?

No, Sir. I do not think there was anything wrong with the original letter issued, but clearly it gave rise to certain misunderstanding and, therefore, it has been re-issued in an amended form. The purpose of the letter was to be helpful by informing possible appellants that they would have to bring forward grounds of appeal recognised by law and that the general grounds on which many were seeking to appeal were not, in fact, valid.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the extent to which the imports of nuts and dates to this country will be affected by the shortage of shipping as a result of the closing of the Suez Canal.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent he estimates that the import of tinned fruit will be affected by the emergency in the Middle East.

It is not anticipated that imports of these foods will be materially affected.

When the Parliamentary Secretary says that these imports will not be affected, does he mean that there is going to be a continued importation for the next three months so that we shall have sufficient stocks to last us over the next three months, and, if that is so, will he say what the effect will be when the present stocks have been exhausted? Can we expect to pay higher prices?

I said that stocks would not be materially affected. The position is that up to Christmas and beyond we have sufficient stocks to carry us over the period. Normally, the restocking of these foodstuffs does not take place until after Christmas.

Does not my hon. Friend consider it rather a coincidence that the following twelve Questions on the Paper in the names of hon. Members opposite all refer to variations of the same subject?

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent he estimates that the importation of oranges and citrus fruits will be affected by the closure of the Suez Canal, the shortage of shipping, and other difficulties in the supply areas of the Mediteranean.

Our imports of citrus fruits do not come through the Suez Canal, and its closure will not affect our supplies. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation is not aware of any shortage of shipping for citrus fruit in the Mediterranean area. But, quite apart from and distinct from the closure of the Suez Canal, the abnormal frosts suffered by Spain last February will inevitably seriously reduce our own and Europe's supplies of oranges this winter.

Whilst appreciating that this commodity does not come through the Suez Canal, it is going to be affected by the general shortage of shipping. Can the hon. Gentleman give us an answer to the Question which has already been put, namely, will he see to it that no private interests will exploit the present situation and charge higher prices which are not justified on the short-term?

It is the supply position which will decide that. As I have said, for all practical purposes the imports of oranges and citrus fruits are not made through the Suez Canal. If it will give the hon. Gentleman any satisfaction, I can tell him that there is not likely to be any shortage of lemons.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that the import of dried fruits will be adequate to meet the demand over the next few months.

Yes, Sir.

While appreciating the irritation of hon. Gentlemen opposite—

I am not irritated.

The policeman was.

at the result of their tragic action in the Middle East, may I again ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether what he is saying as to the effect on these commodities is to be delayed for some two or three months while we use up the present stocks; and will he give an assurance that present stocks will not be sold at prices higher than is justified by the present position?

At this moment, we cannot see that there is likely to be any change in what would have been the case if the happenings of the last fortnight had not taken place. But if what the hon. Gentleman said in the words he used at the beginning of his supplementary question does arouse concern. in considering the whole situation he should try to estimate what would have been the effect if the steps taken by the Prime Minister had not been taken.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are being taken by his Department to ensure that the usual imports of wheat to this country are maintained in view of the closing of the Suez Canal.

My right hon. Friend has no reason to think that essential imports of wheat will not be maintained.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say anything about food stocks? Can he say whether we have drawn, or intend to draw, upon our strategic food stocks?

That is a completely different Question, but, on the overall picture, it may satisfy the hon. Gentleman to know that the grain trade and the milling industries have not made any representations at all at this stage.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the sharp increases in prices at tea auctions in the last fortnight; and what action he proposes to take to keep retail tea prices steady, by price control or otherwise.

There has been some increase in the price of plain teas which have been at low levels for some time past, but the average price of all teas offered at auction has remained virtually unchanged.

Would the hon. Gentleman agree that the tendency now is towards an increase in tea prices, apart altogether from the Suez situation, and that the Suez situation may make the matter worse? Will he keep a very careful eye on this matter to make sure, again, that there is no exploitation of the situation to the detriment of consumers in this country?

My right hon. Friend recognises the importance of this. I can understand the hon. Gentleman's reaction, because it is the fact that over the last two weeks the price per lb. of plain tea has gone up. It went up from 4s. 5½d. to 4s. 7d. But if the hon. Gentleman looks at the average price of all teas, he will find that it has actually gone down from 6s. 2½d. to 6s. 2d. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that we recognise the trend he has in mind and will watch the situation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect the hold up in the Suez Canal is having on imports of tea into this country.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the closing of the Suez Canal and the shortage of shipping, he will estimate the effect this will have on imports of tea into this country.

The diversion of ships round the Cape will cause some delay in arrivals, but supplies in this country should be fully sufficient to make good any temporary shortfalls on this account.

Will the Minister give a specific assurance that there will be no substantial increase in the price of tea during the next six months?

What I can tell the hon. Gentleman as regards supplies—and it is the supply and demand position that usually affects the price—is that the tea afloat on 2nd November totalled 64·5 million lbs. At the same time last year it was only 40 million lbs. Therefore, the hon. Gentleman will see that there is no need for any great anxiety at this moment.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect he estimates the closing of the Suez Canal will have on the importation of meat into this country.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the closing of the Suez Canal and the shortage of shipping, he will estimate what the effect will be on imports of meat into this country

Meat supplies in this country should be fully sufficient to make good any temporary short-fall arising from diversion of ships around the Cape. Such diversions will cause some delay in arrivals of Australian imports of meat, but Australian imports constitute a relatively small proportion of our total supplies.

In view of the big stocks of meat held in this country, will the hon. Gentleman ask his right hon. Friend to keep an eye on meat prices and to give an assurance that this Middle East adventure will not be used as an excuse to push up meat prices in the country? Is it not inevitable that sooner or later prices will go up?

I know that the hon. Gentleman has always kept a very keen eye on prices, but the best watch-dog in this connection is the housewife herself; I think that we can rely on her to do it.

Is the purpose of all these Questions to make clear that Her Majesty's Government will now have the full support of Her Majesty's Opposition in taking all possible measures to get the Suez Canal reopened?

May I ask, in so far as these meat imports come from Australia, that Australia, which is not awfully pleased with its balance of trade with this country, in spite of the recent agreement, will not be penalised as regards the increased shipping costs via the Cape?

That, of course, will be taken care of by the Australians. As regards the general meat position, imports from New Zealand come via the Panama Canal, but routing round the Cape will only make a difference of five to six days' sailing time from Australia.

What is the cost?

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the prospects for the importation of poultry for the festive season in view of the shortage of shipping arising from the Middle East situation.

Imports of poultry for the Christmas trade are unlikely to be materially reduced by any shortage of shipping because Eire is our main overseas supplier at this time of the year. Increased supplies of home-produced poultry, including record numbers of turkeys, will be available.

Is it not a fact that many turkeys come from the Middle East areas, and is the hon. Gentleman now stating that the normal supplies will be available for Christmas, 1956, or not until later?

We do not expect it to make any material difference at all to the Christmas supplies. It may interest the hon. Gentleman to know that the number of home-produced turkeys is 73 per cent. higher this year than last.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the effects of the blocking of the Suez Canal on the importation of butter, cheese, lard and eggs; and if he will make a statement on future prospects.

The blocking of the Suez Canal is not expected to have any significant effect on imports of butter, cheese, lard and eggs.

From the answers which the Minister has given, are we now to assume that the blocking of the Suez Canal will have no economic effect whatever on this country?

Well, the Questions put are very helpful and will enable the facts to be understood by the country. Regarding the particular commodities mentioned by the hon. Member in his Question, butter and cheese from New Zealand do not come through the Suez Canal—sorry, but we cannot alter that—

What about Australia?

So far as Australia is concerned, it will take five days longer round the Cape. Regarding lard, that is available from the United States, and concerning eggs, 95 per cent. are home-produced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding the experiments of permitting prisoners to go outside our prisons daily to work; how many prisons are now operating this scheme; and what steps are being taken to extend and encourage further schemes.

The scheme to which I think the hon. Member is referring is at present in operation for selected preventive detention prisoners at Bristol for men and Durham for women. The experience gained of the working of this scheme suggests that something like it might usefully be tried elsewhere with other classes of prisoners, and draft amending rules to permit this were laid before Parliament on 23rd October last. If they meet with approval, my right hon. and gallant Friend intends to ask the Prison Commissioners to submit detailed proposals for the application of this principle in a wider sphere.

Will the Minister give his blessing to the schemes which are now in operation, and will he do all he can to encourage prison governors all over the country to adopt similar schemes?

As soon as the rules are approved, we shall take the action which I have outlined.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now review the methods employed by the Metropolitan Police forces in selecting individuals for identification parades and the procedure adopted at such parades with the object of preventing the injustices which have arisen in recent cases.

There is no ground for suggesting that procedure in connection with identification parades has caused injustice in recent cases. The existing instructions issued by the Commissioner of Police provide all proper safeguards and my right hon. and gallant Friend sees no reason for reviewing them.

Is the Minister aware that, contrary to the view he has expressed, many barristers at the Criminal Bar think that there are many such cases which it is very difficult to bring to light? Will he not make representations to his right hon. and gallant Friend at least to see whether an improvement in the procedure may be brought about to lessen the number of these cases?

My right hon. and gallant Friend has already answered the hon. Member on this subject and has given assurances as to the conduct of these parades, which lead him to believe that no review is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what sum he proposes to pay to Mr. J. P. Harrigan, of Rosemary House, Shoreditch, N.1, to compensate for the wrongful imprisonment he has suffered and the costs incurred in establishing his innocence.

As I said in reply to a Question by the hon. Member on 1st November, it is not the practice, save in the most exceptional circumstances, to make any payment from public funds to a person merely because his conviction has been quashed on appeal. The Court of Criminal Appeal has power under the Costs in Criminal Cases Act, 1952, to order the payment to a successful appellant of such sums as appear to the Court to be reasonably sufficient to compensate him for the expenses properly incurred in prosecuting his appeal or carrying on his defence. The Court did not make any order in this case, and my right hon. and gallant Friend has been unable after careful consideration to find any ground on which he would be justified in making a payment out of public funds.

Is the Joint Under-Secretary aware that this is precisely one of those cases which he has just stated do not occur? Is he aware that this man had nothing whatever to do with the crime for which he was sentenced; that it cost him £240 to pay for his defence and appeal; that he had to sell his furniture to raise money, and that he spent five months in prison? Surely the Home Secretary must see that this man gets some compensation for such gross injustice?

The position is that ex gratia payments are made from public funds to successful appellants only if their innocence is established and substantial hardship has resulted from conviction, and that the hardship is attributable to negligence or misconduct by the police, or by other public officials, or the failure of the ordinary judicial machinery.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that, from the facts recited by my hon. Friend, hon. Members on both sides of the House think that this is a case of very real hardship and such that the Government should reconsider it.

My right hon. and gallant Friend will take note of what the right hon. Gentleman has said.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mounted police, constables, officials, police vans and police cars were in attendance at the meeting held on 5th November at Briggs Works, Dagenham, at 1 p.m.; why their presence was considered necessary; and what was the total cost incurred.

Seven police officers were on duty at the meeting. In addition 43 police officers, including three mounted officers, with two vans, were held in reserve. No additional cost was incurred. The task of the police was to ensure compliance with police directions regarding the meeting place and to prevent any possible obstruction or disorder.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the whole thing was completely unnecessary; that the appearance of so many constables and mounted policemen was a deliberate provocation to peaceful citizens and was resented very much indeed by those who called the meeting? Is the Minister further aware that he has not answered the whole of my Question? I wanted to know how many police cars were there and how many officials were there, as well as constables? I counted ten officials and six police cars as well as those to which the hon. Gentleman has referred.

On this occasion the hon. Lady attracted an audience of about 1,500 people. In those circumstances seven policemen was not considered an excessive number to be on the spot. There was also the reserve, which I have mentioned, which was held away from the actual meeting place—[HON. MEMBERS: "What for?"] As to the reserve, it is for the Commissioner of Police to make whatever dispositions he thinks the occasion may require.

Would not my hon. Friend agree that it would have been possible to reduce the number of police at this meeting, as the principal speaker is so seldom taken seriously by sensible workers?

Will the Minister look at this matter again, because his information is incorrect? Is he aware that if he is not prepared to do so, I shall have to raise the matter on the Adjournment? Is he aware that the information he has given is incorrect, and that I had to request the putting back into the vans of the constables who were brought out? Is he prepared to look further into this, or am I to give notice of my intention to raise the matter on the Adjournment?

I am always prepared to check our facts against those of the hon. Lady, but, to the best of my belief, there were seven policemen on duty at the meeting she addressed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the report of the inquiry into the treatment of prisoners at Liverpool Prison can be expected.

My right hon. and gallant Friend expects to receive the report early next month.

Can the hon. Gentleman say why it has been so long, particularly in view of the fact that there was no rebutting evidence at all given and that the only evidence which they had to accumulate was that given by the prisoners themselves? Is he aware that no warder gave any sort of evidence against the evidence given by the prisoners?

I can tell the hon. Lady that the inquiry lasted 19 days and that the promise given to publish the report stands.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when it is proposed to introduce legislation for the ratification of the Geneva Prisoner of War and other Conventions of 1949.

Legislation will be introduced as soon as time can be found for it, but its introduction during the present Session is unlikely.

Why have steps not already been taken to ratify these Conventions, in view of the protection they may give to our Service men and of the fact that most Governments of the world have already ratified them? Does not the prolonged inaction of the Government betray a somewhat contemptuous attitude towards these important international instruments?

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply given by the Prime Minister on 1st November, when he told the House that although certain legislation was required before the Conventions could be ratified, the Government accepted the Conventions and had every intention of applying their conditions should the occasion arise.

Can we have an assurance that not only are the Conventions accepted by Her Majesty's Government but, in the absence of ratification by us, we have the protection of other Powers as we would have if we had ratified? Or is there some doubt?

I think that point is covered by the statement made by the Prime Minister on 1st November that we have every intention to apply the Convention should the occasion arise.

I was thinking of the other parties. If we have not ratified, can we assume that all those who have ratified will apply the Convention in respect of our troops?

I think that is so. I should like to confirm it, and I will.

asked the Minister of Education the number of schools notified to him as being required in 1955 by local education authorities in the country; and how many were approved by his Department.

Local education authorities differ markedly in the realism which they apply to their proposals. A considerable number of the projects put forward fell outside the present building policy and could not therefore be considered as urgent. Of the 1,274 proposed, 824 were included in the 1955–56 programme.

Are we to take it from the Minister that his policy is and will be to ask local authorities what their requirements are for the coming year and then to proceed to reduce them by from 20 to 25 per cent. every year?

The local authorities know quite well that, for instance, a secondary school for reorganisation in a city is not within the building policy; but none the less they put that project forward. One day, we will be able to build that school, but not at present.