asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how the British delegate to the Trusteeship Council voted on the recommendation of the United Nations Mission to Tanganyika that an intermediate target date for the political independence of the territory should be stated.

As my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State for Colonial Affairs informed the hon. Member on 18th April, the United Kingdom delegation to the Trusteeship Council voted against the recommendation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the British Somali Protectorate Advisory Council decided unanimously on 22nd October to ask the United Kingdom Government to support British Somalis in presenting their claim to the United Nations organisation for the return of the Reserved Area and Haud; and whether he will take action in this matter.

The United Nations Charter does not give representatives of British Somaliland any right to petition the United Nations, since the Somaliland Protectorate is neither a member of the United Nations nor a Trusteeship Territory.Neither Ethiopia nor Her Majesty's Government question the validity of the 1897 Treaty, which recognised what is now the Reserved Area and the Haud as Ethiopian territory. Her Majesty's Government are therefore unable to support any attempt to contest the validity of this treaty in the United Nations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will arrange for a member of Her Majesty's Government to be present in New York to lead the United Kingdom delegation for the remainder of the present session of the General Assembly.

The level at which Her Majesty's Government are represented at the General Assembly of the United Nations, and the length of time during which members of Her Majesty's Government should be present, depend on the one hand on the business before the General Assembly at any given time, and on the other hand, on the other responsibilities of Ministers. The question whether a member of Her Majesty's Government should lead the United Kingdom delegation during the second half of the present Session, and if so for how long, is a matter which I have at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action is being taken to implement the recommendation of the General Assembly of the United Nations that the Secretary-General should visit Hungary to report on conditions in that country; and if he will instruct our representative at the United Nations to urge the Secretary-General to carry out this recommendation without further delay.

No specific recommendation has been made by the General Assembly of the United Nations that the Secretary-General should visit Hungary. He himself offered to go there, and that offer remains the basis of his proposed visit.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the amount of the United Kingdom contribution to the United Nations Technical Assistance Programme for 1957.

Subject to the approval of Parliament, Her Majesty's Government propose to contribute £800,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is still the intention of Her Majesty's Government to defend the territory of Iraq or Iran against subversion, as reaffirmed in paragraph 5 of the final communiqué by the Council of the Bagdad Pact of 22nd November, 1955.

Her Majesty's Government's intention remains as stated in paragraph 5 of the communiqué.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what have been the results of his endeavours to persuade the United States of America to support defence of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation flank by becoming a full member of the Bagdad Pact.

That is a question for the United States Government: so far as I know no decision has yet been taken by the United States Government on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what discussions he is having with other members of the Bagdad Pact about policies designed to avert any further build-up of Soviet material or influence in Syria threatening the Bagdad group from the rear.

These matters are under discussion with our allies in the Bagdad Pact.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is satisfied that adequate arrangements have been made for the maintenance of British interests in Kuwait and elsewhere in the Persian Gulf area; and whether he will make a statement.

As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer to the replies given to the hon. Member for Ashfield (Mr. Warbey) on 12th November and to my hon. Friend the Member for Sutherland, South (Mr. P. Williams) on 17th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what recent proposals he has made to or received from any Government or the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for the financing or performance of work in respect of the Aswan Dam.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reports he has received from the Secretary-General of the United Nations on plans for the clearance of the Suez Canal and the liberation of ships trapped therein.

With regard to the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to my statement of 17th December.No ships are detained in the portion of the Canal under allied control. Thirteen ships, none of them British, are still detained between the cease-fire line and the wreckage of the El Ferdan bridge. General Burns was informed nearly a month ago that the allied authorities would be glad to facilitate the departure of these ships, and that it was considered technically possible for most if not all to be got out. He replied that the Egyptian Government considered that no movement of ships could be allowed before the complete withdrawal of Anglo-French troops from Egyptian territory. The matter was brought to the notice of the Secretary-General and of the other Governments concerned. Nothing, however, has happened.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a further statement on the position of British civilians in Egypt.

Some 2,500 British nationals have left Egypt, voluntarily or under expulsion orders, since the beginning of November. The remainder, now estimated to be between ten and eleven thousand, are subjected to varying degrees of restraint, Their property has been sequestrated, and it has been made illegal for Egyptians to have any financial dealings with them.I have already referred, in my answer to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Dr. Stross), to the action which Her Majesty's Government have taken in the United Nations. We shall continue to do all we can to alleviate the position of our nationals in Egypt. On one aspect of the matter I think I can give some comfort to the House. Among the totals I have mentioned are between 400 and 500 British civilians who are interned. I hope very shortly to be able to give the House good news about them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give an assurance that the Government will press for the retention of the United Nations Force in the area of the Suez Canal until such time as the future of the Canal as an international waterway is assured.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has now received from the Secretary-General of the United Nations whether the United Nations Expeditionary Force will be kept in the Canal Zone until arrangements have been made for the international control of the Suez Canal which will safeguard free passage from being interfered with by the Egyptian Government.

Among the tasks for which we consider the United Nations force responsible, is to assist in the creation of conditions for carrying out the Assembly's resolutions, including that urging the restoration of secure freedom of navigation. The positioning of the force must be a matter for the United Nations Commander.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what salvage vessels General Wheeler now has under his command in the Suez Canal area; what salvage units belonging to which nations have been placed at his disposal; when the majority of this fleet is expected to arrive; and whether actual salvage operations other than those carried out by the Anglo-French salvage force have yet started.

According to the latest information which I have received, General Wheeler has ten salvage vessels now in the Suez Canal area; the Secretary-General has, I understand, made arrangements to assembly thirty-one salvage vessels under Belgian, Danish, German, Italian, Netherlands and Swedish flags. The majority of this fleet is expected to arrive before 1st January; salvage operations other than those carried out by the Anglo-French salvage force have so far been concentrated on survey work.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what prior information was given to the Israeli Government of the decision to send British and French forces into Egypt; and what representations were made by the Israeli Government in this regard.

As the Prime Minister told the House on 30th October, the Governments of Israel and Egypt were urgently requested on 30th October to stop all warlike action and to withdraw their military forces to a distance of ten miles from the Canal, failing which British and French forces would intervene in whatever strength was necessary to secure compliance. The Israel Government accepted the Anglo-French request in the early hours of 31st October, on condition that the Egyptian Government did likewise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that, during the attack on Egypt, at least one Israeli aircraft bore the yellow and black special invasion markings used by the British and French air forces; and what representations have been made to the Israeli Government.

The answer to the first part of the Question is No. The second part of the Question therefore does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many representatives of the foreign Press were invited to the showing of the Central Office of Information's film on Port Said on 13th December, 1956; and why the normal procedure for issuing such invitations was not followed on this occasion.

The Central Office of Information films on the allied action at Port Said were shown to Commonwealth and foreign Press correspondents on 12th December. Eighty correspondents were invited. There is no record of the Foreign Office having previously arranged a film show for representatives of the overseas Press and there is, consequently, no "normal procedure."

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now deleted from the Central Office of Information's film on Port Said the sequence which misrepresents certain foreign newspapers, to which attention was drawn at the showing of the film to representatives of the foreign Press on 13th December, 1956.

I have received no complaints about the misrepresentation of foreign newspapers in these films, except for that made by the hon. Member in his next Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the Central Office of Information's film of Port Said represents a copy of the German newspaper Tagesspiegel as attacking Her Majesty's Government when in fact, its protest was directed against the Soviet aggression in Hungary; and whether he will cut this sequence from the film in response to the protests made.

The sequence concerned, which includes a large number of newspapers, is intended to portray the breadth as well as the character of foreign opinion. I do not believe that the way in which the newspaper is filmed and the short length of time that it is on the screen could give rise to any real misapprehension. I am nevertheless looking into the possibility of amending the sequence, but I can give no undertaking that this will be possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what will be the saving to Her Majesty's Treasury of the closing of the British Council organisation in Egypt, Syria and Jordan; and in what other countries are British Council activities being curtailed.

It is too early to give a precise estimate, but during the remainder of the current financial year the British Council expect to underspend their allocations for Egypt and Syria by something between £13,000 and £14,000 in all. If the Council's operations in those two countries are not resumed during the financial year 1957–58, the total saving in that year might amount to some £95,000. The British Council's organisation in Jordan has not been closed, and its activities are not being curtailed elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many consulates-general are being closed to enforce economies; and where.

The only Consulate-General whose closure has so far been decided upon in the current review is that at Nice. There are however thirteen other career consular posts which are to be closed, and eleven further consular posts which, though remaining open, will no longer be manned by United Kingdom based officers. Other posts are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in the interests of British subjects and others in the Alpes Maritimes Department of France, he will reconsider the decision to close down Her Majesty's Consulate-General at Nice.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Mr. Teeling) on 12th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what discussions took place on the subject of the European common market during the recent Paris meetings of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and I had useful discussions on this subject with Monsieur Spaak and other Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information has been supplied to him in respect of the total number to date of refugees from Hungary and where these are now situated; and if he will propose to the United Nations the establishment of a special commission to deal with the problem of relief, rehabilitation and settlement, with a view to an equitable allocation of fundamental responsibility and, in particular, the easing of the burden now borne by Austria.

According to official information, up to the morning of 16th December. 134,077 Hungarian refugees had crossed into Austria and 859 into Yugoslavia. By that date 64,516 Hungarian refugees had left Austria for destinations in Western Europe, Commonwealth countries and the United States.With regard to the second part of the Question, I consider that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is best qualified to tackle the Hungarian refugee problem from the long-term point of view. Dr. Lindt, who was recently elected by the United Nations General Assembly, enjoys the advice of an Executive Committee on which twenty countries are represented including the United Kingdom. He has an experienced staff and the necessary liaison with the United Nations Secretary-General and with Governments and voluntary societies throughout the world, as well as international bodies such as the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent the Tripartite Declaration of 1950 remains in operation.

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the Answer given to the right hon. Member for Blyth (Mr. Robens) on 19th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs with which countries Her Majesty's Government have concluded alliances, treaties or pacts of mutual defence at present in force.

I would refer to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bradford, South (Mr. George Craddock) on 14th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will take steps to convene a meeting of the signatories of the Brussels Anti-Slavery Convention of 1890 for the purpose of combating the traffic in slaves from Africa to the Middle East.

No. Her Majesty's Government doubt whether such a meeting would assist in achieving the object desired. The signatories of the Brussels Act of 1890 included the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires and Czarist Russia whose successors are difficult to determine. Further, certain States which were signatories of the Brussels Act are known to consider that that Act is no longer in force.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will seek the authority of a resolution of the United Nations Assembly to supply food to those in particular need of it in Hungary at the present time, either by land or, if this should be prevented, by dropping supplies from aircraft in selected areas.

There are practical and legal difficulties in sending aircraft over Hungary without the consent of the authorities there, but the hon. Member's point is already met as supplies are now reaching the Hungarians through the International Red Cross, which is the body best fitted to ensure their proper distribution.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will make official proposals to the Governments of the United States of America and Germany, with a view to facilitating Soviet withdrawal from Hungary by offering a similar withdrawal of forces from a similar-sized area in Southern Germany to other parts of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation command in Europe.

We are, of course, already in close touch with our allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation on the problems and dangers arising from the Soviet intervention in Hungary. As regards the withdrawal of Russian troops, the first step is for the Soviet Government to comply with the Resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly, which are in accordance with the evident wishes of the Hungarian people themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will arrange for the publication of a White Paper on the events leading up to the Anglo-French ultimatum to Egypt and Israel, and on the proceedings of the United Nations General Assembly, from the beginning of the Special Session to the final decision by Her Majesty's Government and the French Government that the Anglo-French expeditionary force should be unconditionally withdrawn.

No. These matters have been amply publicised in the OFFICIAL REPORT and in the records of the proceedings of the United Nations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will continue the establishment at Wilton Park, Sussex, at least for a limited period.

No. As I informed the hon. and gallant Member for Arundel and Shoreham (Captain Kerby) on 23rd November, the Anglo-German discussion centre at Wilton Park will close next July.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the danger to world peace resulting from the present situation in Hungary, he will take the initiative in bringing together the 1955 Geneva Conference Powers in order to discuss proposals linking Soviet withdrawal from Hungary with a plan for general withdrawal of all foreign forces from West and East Germany and reduction and control of armaments on the lines of the latest Soviet offer and with the unification of Germany by democratic means within an all-European treaty based on the charter to which the rival military alliances would be subordinated.

As I have told the hon. Member before we are willing to negotiate with the Russians at any suitable time. But before we could embark on a conference we should have to satisfy ourselves that it would be likely to lead to progress. I do not believe that this is likely while the Soviet Government remains in flagrant breach of the United Nations Resolutions on Hungary. I think the first step towards removing the present danger to world peace is for the Soviet Government to comply with these Resolutions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what communications Her Majesty's Government have received from the United States Administration regarding its forthcoming disarmament proposals.

Exchanges of views about disarmament are now in progress between the United States authorities and ourselves. These discussions cover certain new American ideas, but I cannot make any statement at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the recent disarmament proposals of the United States Government, he will make a statement on the forthcoming meeting of the United States Sub-Committee.

With regard to the right hon. and learned Member's reference to United States disarmament proposals, I would refer him to the answer I have given today to the hon. Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Healey). No meeting of the Disarmament Sub-Committee has yet been arranged. A meeting of its parent body, the Disarmament Commission, is to take place on 20th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what obligations Her Majesty's Government have assumed to consult the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in respect of the Cyprus problem.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what number of refugees other than Hungarians is estimated by the United Nations High Commission on Refugees to be in camps in Europe at the most recent convenient date.

The Deputy-High Commissioner for Refugees informed the United Nations General Assembly on 15th November that the number of refugees in camps in Austria, Germany, Greece and Italy had fallen from 84,000 at the beginning of 1955 to 57,000 at the beginning of 1956.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what surveys have been made for the discovery and working of uranium and thorium in the Colonies; and with what result.

Special surveys have been made in eleven Colonial Territories. These have not as yet disclosed any major deposits of uranium capable of economic working. Thorium is being mixed in Nigeria and Malaya.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now issue as a White Paper Lord Radcliffe's present proposals for a new Constitution for Cyprus.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on his visit to Athens and Ankara in connection with the Radcliffe proposals for constitutional development in Cyprus.

I would refer hon. Members to the statement I made after Questions today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many prosecutions have been brought since the emergency began by Cypriots against the police, armed forces or security officers in Cyprus in respect of offences alleged to have been committed against civilians; and what the results have been.

Nine. In seven the charges were subsequently withdrawn and the cases were dismissed; in the eighth case the court held that no prima facie case had been made out, and in the remaining case the defendant was discharged absolutely.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the British community in Cyprus have been consulted with regard to the framing of a new constitution.

A memorandum was presented to Lord Radcliffe by representatives of the British Residents' Association and they had an interview with him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that, in the numbers of people in Cyprus who have been killed and wounded since the present emergency began, and as a result of that emergency, the highest in numbers and proportion of such persons are civilian police and non-combatant civilians; if he is also aware that sufficient safeguards for the lives of such police and non-combatants are not being taken; and if he will take steps to ensure that such police and non- combatant civilians are adequately protected.

I am aware that the heaviest casualties in EOKA's campaign of terrorism have been among civilians and the police, and mainly among Greek-Cypriots. I do not accept the second part of the Question. The Cyprus Government are bending their whole energies on the counter-terrorist campaign and everything possible is being done to protect both the police and other civilians from these murderous attacks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the charges on which the editor of the Times of Cyprus has been summoned.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. F. Noel-Baker) on 5th December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has completed his reconsideration of the drafting of the new emergency regulations extending the scope of the death penalty and intensifying Press censorship in Cyprus; and what conclusions he has reached.

The Governor announced yesterday that certain amendments were being made to the recent regulations relating to the Press. Points made on the drafting of the other regulations are still under examination.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies at what age the Emergency Regulations apply to children and young persons in Cyprus.

An age limit in respect of responsibility for crime is provided by Section 14 of the Cyprus Criminal Procedure Code, and I am advised that this provision applies to limit criminal responsibility under the Emergency Regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why permission is being refused by the police in British Guiana for the use of loudspeakers to advertise the holding of public meetings under the relaxed emergency order.

Permits are granted by the police to any applicant to use loudspeakers to advertise public meetings. Permits for Georgetown and New Amsterdam, however, are limited to certain times and places to prevent public nuisance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what trade union officials are in detention in Singapore; and of which trade unions they are members.

Fifty-three trade union officials are held in detention on Orders issued under the Preservation of Public Security Ordinance. The trade union officials held in detention are members of the following unions.

• Singapore Factory and Shop Workers' Union.
• Singapore Bus Workers' Union
• Singapore Traction Company Employees' Union.
• Amalgamated Malayan Pineapple Workers' Union.
• Singapore Spinning Workers' Union.
• Singapore Taxi Drivers Union.
• Army Civil Service Union.
• Naval Base Labour Union.
• Air Ministry Local Staff Union.
• Singapore Europeans' Employees' Union.
• Singapore Motor Workshop Employees' Union.
• Singapore Textiles and General Merchants Employees' Union.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of persons in Singapore still under detention, giving the number who are Malayan-born and the number who are foreign nationals.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to persons detained under the Preservation of Public Security Ordinance or in connection with banishment proceedings. On 11th December there were 182 persons in detention; of these, 112 are believed to have been born in Malaya and 68 are believed to be foreign nationals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements have been made for Mr. Lim Chin Siong, a member of the Legislative Assembly of Singapore, to appeal against detention to the tribunal of three judges; and if the proceedings will be made available to the members of the Legislative Assembly to hon. Members of this House and to the public.

Mr. Lim Ching Siong has been furnished with a statement of the grounds for his detention and has given notice of his intention to appeal. The proceedings of the Appeal Tribunal are not published.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what provision is being made for the education of children and students in Singapore who have refused to register at schools other than Chinese schools.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the pupils of the two Chinese Middle Schools that were closed by Government order in October. Of the 7,948 pupils concerned, 7,409 have registered for further study and are now back in school. Most of the remainder are over age and have no claim to a place in a Government-aided school.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what legislation the Government of Kenya propose to introduce to reinforce its authority in any period of increasing tension and disturbance not amounting to a full scale emergency; and what are the proposed conditions for such decisions.

The Kenya Government are still studying this question and no decision has been reached on the proposed legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of persons still imprisoned or detained in Kenya who have not been brought to trial.

On 30th November, 32,449 persons were still detained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Africans are at present detained on Manda Island; how many have had their cases reviewed by the Advisory Council since the camp was established; and how many have been released.

There are 194 detainees on Manda Island, from whom the Advisory Committee has heard 146 appeals, recommending four detainees for release. All four were released.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what approaches have been made since the beginning of the Kenya emergency by the International Committee of the Red Cross for permission to carry out its humanitarian duties in Kenya; and what has been the response of the British authorities concerned.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply yesterday to the hon. Member for Blackburn (Mrs. Castle).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Africans have been enfranchised in each tribe for the forthcoming elections to the Legislative Council of Kenya; and what proportion they represent of the total adult population in each case.

Constituency				Voters registered at 30th November, 1956	Approximate total Adults	Approximate percentage of adults registered as Voters
1. Akamba	…	…	…	14,405	235,000	6·0
2. Central Province	…	…	…	29,227	480,000	6·0
3. Coast Province	…	…	…	5,879	168,500	3·5
4. Nairobi	…	…	…	508	87,500	0·5
5. Nyanza, N.	…	…	…	16,164	228,200	7·0
6. Nyanza, C.	…	…	…	8,111	171,000	5·0
7. Nyanza, S.	…	…	…	14,520	253,000	6·0
8. Rift Valley and Masai		…	…	3,447	253,000	1·5
TOTAL	…	…	…	92,261	1,876,700	5·0

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken by the Government of Tanganyika to set up a minimum wages board to investigate complaints of the Tanganyika Federation of Labour of the conditions under which African labourers

The following is the information:

African Voters in Kenya
	Tribe	Total Voters Registered at 30th November,1956
1.	Abaluyha	8,006
2.	Bukusu	8,158
3.	Digo and Duruma	1,921
4.	Elgeyo and Marakwet	722
5.	Embu	2,239
6.	Giriama	1,539
7.	Kamba	14,405
8.	Kikuyu	8,779
9.	Kipsigis	3,819
10.	Luo and Kisii	18,812
11.	Masai	586
12.	Meru	18,191
13.	Nandi	783
14.	Riverine (Tana River)	690
15.	Samburu	175
16.	Swahili	26
17.	Teita and Taveta	1,052
18.	Tugen and Suk	820
19.	Settled areas containing more than one tribe, where tribal breakdown is not available	1,538
	Total	92,261

Only very approximate figures are available of Africans over the age of 21 in the Colony, but the proportion of registered voters compared with this total, by constituency, is as given below. The statistics do not permit of this computation on a tribal basis.under contract are transported in Tanganyika and to increase facilities for higher education and technical training for Africans.

The Dar-es-Salaam Minimum Wages Board was established on 4th May, 1956. The complaints received by the Government of Tanganyika about the transportation of African contract labour are being investigated. A technical institute is at present under construction in Dar-es-Salaam and a new trade school is to be opened at Moshi in 1957. During 1957 the Ifunda Trade School is to be expanded. Facilities for higher and technical education are also available at Makerere College and the new Royal Technical College. Nairobi.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the average minimum wages, respectively, of European, African and Asian workers employed in the mining industry in Tanganyika.

Minimum wage rates for unskilled African manual workers employed in the gold, lead and diamond mining industries in Tanganyika range from 32s. 6d. to 58s. per month. Minimum wages for skilled African workers go up to 125s. per month. En the majority of cases workers also receive free rations valued at approximately 30s. per month and free housing at a rental value of between 10s. and 15s. per month. No Europeans or Asians are known to he employed on comparable work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what facilities for extra-mural education exist in Tanganyika; and what action he is taking to assist the University College of East Africa at Makerere to develop this.

There is at present no provision for extra-mural work in Tanganyika under the auspices of Makerere College. The general extramural activities of the College are assisted by a grant from colonial development and welfare funds to meet the cost of the salary and other expenses of the Director of Extra-Mural Studies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what provision has been made by the municipality of Mufulira for the housing of the African employees of the Mufulira Copper Mines Limited.

None. The Mining Company itself makes all necessary provision for housing its African employees.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the names and trade union status of the members of the Northern Rhodesian African Mineworkers Union who are prevented by the recent legislation from returning to their place of work in the copper belt area.

53 members of the African Mineworkers' Trade Union are subject to restriction orders made under the Emergency Powers Regulations. The details asked for are being sent to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of the 54 detained officials of the African Mineworkers Union have been unconditionally released; how many have been placed under residential restriction orders and for what period; to what areas they have been restricted and the extent of such areas; and how far distant these areas are from the Copperbelt.

Of the 50 members or employees of the African Mineworkers' Union who were detained, six were released unconditionally. Under orders which remain in force until revoked, or until the Emergency Powers Regulations cease to have effect, the remainder are restricted, five to the areas of their Chiefs; nine to their districts of origin; 16 to their own provinces; six from entering the Western Province; and eight others who come from Nyasaland, to the Lundazi District near the Nyasaland border. All these areas are at varying distances away from the Western Province in which the Copperbelt lies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) for what reason the Petauke Co-operative Marketing Union of Northern Rhodesia was refused a landed price at Lusaka quotation for its own maize carried in its own vehicles but was compelled to hand over its maize at the Great East Road to public road hauliers at a loss to themselves of some £10,000 during the year 1955;(2) whether he will make representations to ensure that the recommendations of the recent Federal Report on Income Tax that the Petauke Co-operative Marketing Union in Northern Rhodesia shall be taxed as an ordinary public company so long as it continues to act as an agent to the Maize Control Board shall not be implemented;(3) what reply has been given by the Governor to the representations made by the Petauke Co-operative Marketing Union regarding the refusal to permit them to transport their own maize to the railhead at Lusaka.

I am consulting the Governor about these matters affecting the Petauke Co-operative Marketing Union and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action is being taken by the Director of Education in the Seychelles to require school managers in Praslin to send children who have passed Standard VI examination to the modern secondary school in order that children, now deprived of primary education, may thus find places.

None. The choice of school is a matter for parents and the school managers have no power to send children to the Modern School. In any case, no children are being deprived of primary education; there are many places available and not filled.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many refugees and others are now living in Hong Kong; for how many of these new domestic accommodation has been provided; and how many, approximately, remain in need of such accommodation.

There are roughly 700,000 refugees from China in a total population of some 2½ million. About 200,000 people, refugees and others have been re-housed by the Hong Kong Government. About 358,000 still await resettlement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what alternative accommodation is being provided for the 1,600 roof-top dwellers in Hong Kong who have been rendered homeless by the recent fire and for those advised by the Governor of Hong Kong to find other accommodation.

The only recent fire involved ground squatters. They are receiving Government relief and being both allowed and helped to rebuild their huts. Roof-top dwellers have been advised to find other accommodation because of the dangers of fire and disease. They cannot however take precedence over the many other people in Hong Kong in more urgent need of resettlement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the United Kingdom Government will pay the cost of the inquiry into the affairs of the African Continental Bank in Eastern Nigeria.

I intend to seek Parliament's approval in due course for United Kingdom funds to be charged with certain of the costs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why he has instructed the administrations of Her Majesty's Colonial Territories to refuse to issue passports to British subjects resident therein whose political views earn the disapproval of Her Majesty's Government; how many persons in Jamaica, who have applied for passports in Jamaica, have been refused them on the instructions of the Jamaican Colonial Secretary in the last two years, and for what reasons; and why a passport has been refused to Miss Alyss Kong, Kingston, who wishes to travel to London to undertake a course of commercial training.

No such instructions have been issued. Particulars of passport applications refused by the Governor of Jamaica in the last two years are not available in this country, but I am asking the Governor for details and will write to the hon. Member. The Governor has reported that a passport was refused to Miss Kong for security reasons, and that this action has the support of his Executive Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what consultation with the people of Sarawak took place before the official formulation of the new Constitution.

The proposals and the principles on which they are based were given wide publicity throughout Sarawak from 1952 onwards. Their substance were fully discussed by Divisional and District Councils and informally with representatives of all sections of the population.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the composition of the Legislative Council set up in Uganda by the Governor to consider the Government's proposals for the election of African representatives; and what is the number of Africans upon it.

I think the hon. Member refers to the Committee of the Uganda Legislative Council which was appointed to consider election proposals. The Committee comprises three official Members, three Government Backbench Members and eight Representative Members. There are seven Africans on the Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) why he has refused to receive a deputation from the Rukurato or Toro at the request of the Owekitinisa Katiro to discuss constitutional reforms in revision of the agreement of June, 1900;(2) what are Her Majesty's Government's proposals for constitutional reforms in the principality of Toro.

The Uganda Government has made proposals to provide Toro with a more democratic local government, endowed with wider powers and responsibilities, on lines which have recently been introduced in almost all other districts of the Protectorate. These proposals have been under discussion for some time with representatives of the Toro Rukurato but agreement has not yet been reached. I have not received a delegation from the Rukurato because I believe this is a question which can and should be settled through local discussions between the Protectorate Government and the Toro authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what discussions he has had concerning the undertakings for which the United Kingdom Government and the Government of Trinidad have asked from the purchasing company of the Trinidad Oil Company as specified in Command Paper No. 9790, of June, 1956; and whether agreement has now been reached on each of these undertakings.

Her Majesty's Government held discussions with representatives of the Trinidad Government and the Texas Company in July and August. It was announced on 2nd August that complete agreement had been reached in principle on the undertakings asked for by the Trinidad Government and an undertaking in legal form to give effect to this agreement was signed later in that month. On 29th August it was announced that arrangements satisfactory to Her Majesty's Government had also been made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what representations have been made to Her Majesty's Government by the United States Government requesting expansion of the United States base area in Bermuda.

The Government of the U.S.A. have asked H.M.G. for additional defence facilities in Bermuda in areas outside those presently occupied by U.S. forces. These requests are being considered by H.M.G. and the Government of Bermuda, and particular attention is being given to the possibility of siting the facilities in areas already occupied by U.S. forces wherever this is practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when it is expected that work will commence on the reconstruction of Ferry Point Bridge, Bermuda.

The U.S. Government have informed H.M.G. that it is their intention to proceed with the construction of the Ferry Point Bridge, subject to the necessary funds being authorised and appropriated by Congress. Provided the necessary Congressional consent is given, it is hoped that construction will begin in 1957.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proposals have been made for franchise and taxation reform in the Bahamas.

None. But the Governor mentioned these matters in his address at the opening of the new Bahamas House of Assembly in July and in reply the House promised to give full consideration to these matters. They have now appointed Select Committees to inquire into ways and means of increasing revenue and to consider the General Assembly Elections Act of 1946. The Committees have not yet reported.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the present numbers of tribal police, illalos, safeguarding the interests of British Somalis in the Haud and Reserved Area of Ethiopia; how far these numbers fall short of the maximum number permitted to us under the Anglo-Ethiopian Agreement, 1954; and whether he will increase this force.

295. This number falls short of the maximum number permitted in the Haud and Reserved Area of Ethiopia, under the 1954 Agreement, by 405. The actual number in those territories at any given time, up to the permitted maximum of 700, is decided by the Governor in the light of the need existing at that time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the effects on economic and social conditions in Sierra Leone of measures taken to control illicit diamond mining.

Yes. These measures have stopped the serious deterioration in social and health conditions in the diamond areas and have led to a marked improvement in law and order. Their success makes it possible for the Sierra Leone Government to make a constructive approach to social and economic development in these areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what representations have been made to the Government of Liberia calling for co-operation in reducing the illicit diamond smuggling from Sierra Leone.

None. It has not so far been considered that such an approach would be very useful.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what decision has been reached by the Sierra Leone Government on proposals to construct airfields at Kambia and Moyamba and to survey the airfields at Hastings, Port Loko, Bo, and Majburaka, with a view to reconstruction.

It is not proposed to construct airfields at Kambia or Moyamba, but the existing airstrip for light aircraft at Kambia is being cleared, while at Moyamba a possible site for a similar airstrip is under negotiation. The possibility of re-surfacing the runway at Hastings is being investigated, and at Bo extensions to the airstrip are proceeding. The existing airstrip at Magburaka is being cleared, and it is hoped that the same will be done at Port Loko.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many successful prosecutions have been made in Sierra Leone under the Alluvial Diamond Mining Ordinance, 1956.

In the six months ending on 30th November, 638 people were convicted in the principal diamond areas for offences under the Ordinance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give an assurance that those British subjects, of Maltese origin, expelled from Egypt, seeking to return to Malta from Egypt, having relatives in the island, and accommodation available, will be given every assistance to return.

Yes, if they belong to Malta in the terms of Section 5 of Ordinance No. 1 of 1948.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies under what authority a British subject, of Maltese origin, whose name has been given to him in a letter of 11th December from the hon. Member for Reigate, was denied authority to land in Malta; and whether he will instruct the Governor, under the powers vested in him by Sections 15, 16, 17 and 36 of Ordinance No. 1 of 1948, to allow this person to land.

The person concerned does not belong to Malta in the terms of Section 5 of Ordinance No. 1 of 1948. The Governor refused permission to land in accordance with immigration policy under the law. The policy in respect of persons who do not belong to Malta under Section 5 of the Ordinance is formulated in close consultation with the Maltese Government. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give an assurance that, in the negotiations for a new Constitution for Malta, it will be stipulated that all British subjects, including descendants of Maltese emigrants, shall have the same right of entry to Malta as to the United Kingdom.

No. It would be more appropriate to deal with immigration in a separate Immigration Law as at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about the results of the recent discussions with the delegation from British Honduras.

I was very glad to meet the delegation. It was headed by the Governor, and it came to discuss the financial position of the Colony and the question of assistance for 1957. The proposals of the British Honduras Government envisaged a substantial programme of rehabilitation and re-equipment, all of which was desirable. In view, however, of our own financial difficulties, Her Majesty's Government have not been able to agree to provide assistance which would enable all this work to be undertaken in one year. It is proposed, however, subject to the approval of Parliament, to make a grant-in-aid of £312,500 for 1957 to enable the Colony to meet immediate and essential needs of the administration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) why Mr. Paul Muwanga was refused a passport by the Government of Uganda for the purpose of attending the Asian Socialist Congress in Bombay;(2) whether he is aware that the Government of Nyasaland refused a passport to Mr. T. D. T. Banda, Secretary-General of the Nyasaland Congress, for the purpose of attending the Asian Socialist Congress in Bombay; and whether he will make inquiries as to the circumstances of this refusal;(3) why passports for the purpose of attending the Asian Socialist Congress in Bombay were refused by the Government of Northern Rhodesia to Mr. Harry Nkumbula and Mr. Kenneth Kaunda, the President and Secretary-General of the Northern Rhodesian African Congress.

Mr. Nkumbula was not refused a passport. As for the other cases, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 21st November to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Sorensen).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish the list of books and authors which have been declared to be seditious in Nyasaland.

I am asking the Governor for the list and will publish it in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what action the Government propose to take to remedy unfair conditions of service of officers in the Ordnance Inspection Department, and to bring their pay and emoluments into line with those of other branches of the service.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1) what action has been taken to improve the salaries of officers in the Naval Ordnance Inspection Department;(2) to make a statement on the future of the Naval Ordnance Inspection Department.

As I have said on occasions earlier in the year, the Naval Ordnance Design and Inspection Pool is included in the inquiry now being conducted into the materiel organisation of the Admiralty by the committee under the chairmanship of Sir Berkeley Nihill. It is therefore inexpedient and undesirable that the future of the Pool should be considered outside the context of this committee's overall review. An interim upward adjustment of the Pool salaries is being considered separately and will I hope be introduced very shortly.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when, and in what circumstances, the Royal Navy frigate "Crane" was attacked by Israeli jet aircraft while patrolling in the Suez area.

H.M.S. "Crane" was attacked by jet aircraft on the 3rd November just before sunset while on a routine patrol near the entrance to the Gulf of Aquaba. The aircraft were first sighted making a bombing attack ashore, after which they climbed and flew straight towards H.M.S. "Crane" where they formed in close formation. Attacks were then made by five aircraft with rockets, small bombs and cannon fire. H.M.S. "Crane" did not open fire until the first aircraft was committed to a dive-bombing attack. One aircraft was almost certainly destroyed. H.M.S. "Crane" suffered some damage, but her operational efficiency was not impaired. Three men were slightly injured. The aircraft were not positively identified.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why Mr. W. Hume, 28 Halstead Road, Cosham. Portsmouth, who was injured on board H.M.S. "Relentless" in Portsmouth Dockyard on 13th December, 1951, when falling through a gap in an unlighted catwalk and was severely injured, is receiving no compensation, especially as he is still assessed as 40 per cent. disabled; and whether he will look at the case again with a view to remedying this injustice.

As my hon. Friend is aware from correspondence which has passed between us, it has not been possible to establish that Mr. Hume's present disablement is due to the accident which took place five years ago; this is because of Mr. Hume's failure to represent his case for nearly three years. For the same reason, it has been extremely difficult to arive at the true facts of the accident itself, though enough is known to show that the catwalk was not unlighted at the time. I am afraid that it is no longer possible at this distance of time to consider any question of compensation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what decision has been reached regarding the future of the British naval base in Bermuda.

The dockyard at Bermuda and the bulk of the naval shore facilities were transferred to the Bermuda Government by mutual agreement in 1954. No further reduction in the naval base facilities is at present contemplated.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the newly-appointed Commander-in-Chief, Mediterannean Fleet, will also be the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces, Mediterranean, as heretofore.

Arising from the situation in the Middle East, Her Majesty's Government asked the Supreme Allied Commander Europe to release Admiral Grantham temporarily from his duties as Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Mediterranean in order to permit him to assume full time national duties as Commander-in-Chief, Mediteraranean. Whilst regretting even the temporary loss of Admiral Grantham's services the Supreme Allied Commander Europe appointed Vice-Admiral Glover U.S.N., Deputy Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Mediterranean, as Acting Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Mediterranean in the absence of Admiral Grantham. This arrangement will continue for the present. Whether it will be possible to revert to the normal arrangements for the Command of the Allied Forces in the Mediterranean will largely depend upon the situation in the Middle East at the time Admiral Edwards takes over from Admiral Grantham.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is Her Majesty's Government's latest estimate of the time within which it is technically possible for the Suez Canal to be cleared of serious obstruction to navigation.

The clearance of an emergency one-way channel through the whole length of the canal envisaged in Stage I of the operation can be achieved in about seven weeks if all resources are employed. The completion of Stage I should enable 70 per cent. of the normal traffic to get through. If Admiralty ships and crews are not allowed to help twice this time would probably be needed. Estimates between these extremes depend on the number of our ships employed. Stage II of the operation involves the removal of the remaining wrecks to provide complete freedom of navigation. This cannot be estimated until detailed surveys are available of the obstructions throughout the Canal.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that shipowners in the United Kingdom have for the first time in their history been compelled to have a large amount of tonnage constructed abroad because berths are not available in this country; and what steps are being taken to encourage the provision of the necessary suitable berths in British yards.

The increased demand for ships is principally for tankers, the building of which is taxing the resources of shipyards in this country and abroad. In these circumstances it is hardly a matter for surprise that some orders by British owners have gone abroad. The provision of additional building berths in this country is no solution until more steel plates and sections are available. Moreover, if many additional berths were built, a shortage of skilled manpower would also be a problem. My right hon. and noble Friend is doing what he can to encourage the supply of more steel for the shipyards which would enable a greater output to be achieved and in itself encourage the further development of British shipyards

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty to make a further statement on the supplies of steel for Scottish and British shipyards, respectively, indicating the allocations to each; and what steps he can now announce to increase the supplies of steel to Scottish shipyards.

There is no Government system of allocation of steel to shipyards at present in force and yards are free to order where they can. Scottish yards like all other yards in the United Kingdom are receiving more steel than last year, but supplies continue considerably below requirements and my right hon. and noble Friend, together with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, is consulting with the industries concerned with a view to further improvement.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the earliest date on which new tanker tonnage, not presently ordered, can be laid down.

I regret that the necessary information is not available to the Admiralty.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is satisfied with dockyard and repair facilities for large ships in the United Kingdom; and what action he proposes to take to improve the position.

I have good grounds for believing that the ship repairing industry is fully aware of the importance of providing for the docking and repair of the larger ships which are now building or on order. The repair facilities already available, with those under construction or planned, should be sufficient for large ships for the next few years. After that the need for more large dry docks is expected to increase. Encouragement is given by the Admiralty to the expansion of the repair facilities in question. Recent Finance Acts have given added taxation relief on the capital costs of building dry docks.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty to make a statement about the visit of the First Lord of the Admiralty to Port Said.

My right hon. and noble Friend paid a visit to the Mediterranean Fleet from 10th to 15th December. He arrived at Port Said harbour on the morning of the 14th and left on the evening of the same day. During his visit he took the opportunity of talking with officers and men of the Royal Navy, and inspecting Her Majesty's ships. He also visited some of the civilian vessels owned by or under charter to the Admiralty which are concerned in the salvage operations, and spoke with their masters and crews. After addressing the ship's company of H.M.S. "Forth" my right hon. and noble Friend answered a number of questions put to him orally by Press correspondents.

asked the Postmaster-General if he has now had a report from the British Broadcasting Corporation as regards the inquiry into allegations of bias which was announced by the Assistant Postmaster-General on 14th November.

The Chairman of the B.B.C. has assured me that the Governors have carried out a full inquiry into each of the allegations of bias made during the debate on 14th November. They have satisfied themselves that despite the peculiar difficulties of the period in question the allegations to the effect that the staff had acted with bias were groundless. He assures me further that vigilance in this matter has been and will continue to be exercised by the Governors.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will give an undertaking that the British Broadcasting Corporation's transmitting station at Londonderry will be put in full working order as soon as possible; and whether he will make a statement about damage caused to it by an Irish Republican Army outrage in the early hours of 12th December.

The Home Service transmissions were on the air again at 6.30 a.m. on the day after the explosion, and the Light Programme was restored one day later. The station building and equipment, including both transmitters, were damaged by the explosion.

asked the Postmaster-General by how much he anticipates his oil and petrol costs will rise as a result of the increase of 1s. 5d. a gallon on petrol; and whether he will give an assurance that he will not recoup this amount by increasing postage and telephone charges.

The Answer to the first part of the Question is about £80,000 a month. The Answer to the second part is that no consequential increase in Post Office charges is at present contemplated.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to protect wireless, telegraph and telephone installations and other Post Office property against further violent attacks by members of the Irish Republican Army and other terrorist organisations.

The Post Office is co-operating fully with the police in this matter. My hon. Friend will not, I am sure, expect me to disclose what particular measures have been taken.

asked the Postmaster-General if, in view of the heavy deficiencies and the number of mailbags lost on the overseas postal services, as reported by the Comptroller and Auditor-General, he will consider using non-returnable bags in future for the overseas service and thereby show a large saving as far as losses are concerned.