asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many smash-and-grab raids, both inside and outside buildings, have taken place in 1954, 1955, and the first six months of 1956; and how much money has been unrecovered as a result.

If the hon. Member is thinking of cases where someone openly drives up to a shop, breaks the window, steals and drives away, there were three such cases known to the Metropolitan police in 1954, one in 1955 and two in the first six months of 1956. The property stolen was valued at £4,000. All but £5 worth is as yet unrecovered. No corresponding figures are available for other forces.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visas have been issued to non-British subjects who have been expelled from Egypt; and how many British subjects have already reached Britain.

The Swiss authorities, acting as protecting Power, have issued 51 visas to foreigners in Egypt to come to the United Kingdom. No precise figures are available of the number of British subjects who have arrived from Egypt, but such records as it has been possible to make show that nearly 2,000 British refugees from Egypt are now in the United Kingdom.

Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say what conditions, if any, have to be subscribed to in order to allow non-British subjects to enter the country? Are they allowed if, for example, they have relatives or friends here who can give some warranty that they will care for them financially when they come?

Very sympathetic consideration is given in the case of those who have relatives here, and of others who have not. About 40 have been allowed to come in without visas.

I appreciate the interest which the right hon. and gallant Gentleman is taking in these cases. Will he continue this policy with a view to giving accommodation to those who come here from Egypt in future? He knows that barbaric treatment is being meted out by Egypt to people, including those who have no nationality. Will he also see to it that in those cases where Egyptians are insisting upon men of this description leaving other countries sympathetic consideration is given to their coming and remaining here?

I am not quite clear what the hon. Member means by Egyptians insisting upon them leaving other countries. About 2,000 British refugees have come in from Egypt and about 1,400 of them are accommodated in hostels.

Perhaps I did not make myself clear. Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that in the Sudan, for example, the Sudanese are asking Jewish Egyptian subjects to leave the Sudan, at the instigation of Egypt? I assume that what the right hon. and gallant Gentleman has said about receiving the refugees will apply to those who come from countries other than Egypt.

Yes. I now follow what the hon. Gentleman means. I shall certainly give sympatheic consideration to that point.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to remedy the anomaly under which people reaching 21 years of age in July are still not able to vote in an election until the following October.

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. In 1949 the autumn register, the qualifying date for which was 15th June, was abolished on grounds of economy. In response to strong representations from both sides of the House the Government of the day introduced the present provision to give persons reaching the age of 21 by 15th June the same voting rights as they would have had if the autumn register had not been abolished. When there were two registers annually a person reaching the age of 21 after 15th June had to wait until the spring register came into force on 16th March before he could vote. Now he waits until the register comes into force on 16th February.

As those people's names are already on the register, is there any reason why they should not vote when they become 21? Why should they have to wait four more months? Has the right hon. and gallant Gentleman noticed from the result of the Melton by-election that voters are now using their votes more intelligently?

I think that the hon. Member is under a misapprehension. Under the old scheme they had to wait for sixteen months before they were entitled to vote.

Why should they wait four months?

That is what Parliament decided, and there is nothing we can do about it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will arrange for milk to be on sale at all licensed premises under his control within State management districts.

No, Sir.

In view of the surplus of liquid milk which is worrying producers, the Milk Marketing Board, and taxpayers, could not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman try this experiment, to see whether he cannot make a small contribution towards dealing with this very important problem?

There are other places in Carlisle where one can get milk. If my hon. Friend is hoping to get rid of surplus milk by offering it for sale in public houses he is more optimistic than I am. There are milk bars in Carlisle, and in all the hotels and restaurants run by State management people can get milk.

Is it not the duty of licensed houses to provide food as well as drink? Does not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman agree that one of the most valuable foods is milk?

I do not dispute that with the hon. Member for a moment that is perfectly true. But I regret to have to inform him that there is no demand for milk in licensed premises in Carlisle.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the managers of Carlisle State Management Scheme public houses have been instructed to increase their profit margins by putting a bigger collar on the pints of beer they serve; by what authority this instruction has been given; and if he will make a statement.

I am glad to take this opportunity of repudiating the suggestion that any public house manager in the Carlisle State Management Scheme has ever been instructed to increase profits by giving short measure. On the contrary the Home Office has assured the Civil Service Union, which represents the managers of State Management Public Houses, that such practices would not be tolerated.

Is the Home Secretary aware that I have checked this information and I am prepared to supply to him the reliable source from which I obtained it? Will he at least ensure that my constituents who, as he has just said, would prefer to drink beer rather than milk in their pubs, are not subjected to this form of national economy during the coming season?

I have already said that I repudiate wholly what has been said, and I have done so on information. Before I took over the office of Home Secretary, in September, 1954, the Civil Service Union was asked to supply evidence in regard to this, and up to now we have not received any such evidence.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman consult the Secretary of State for War and ascertain from him that the technical name for this operation is not a collar on the pint but giving it too wide a chinstrap?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how far the 669 persons under 18 years of age against whom the offence of drunkenness was proved represents an increase or decrease as compared with the previous three years; and, in view of the aim of the law to prevent the sale of intoxicants to persons under 18 years of age, what steps he has taken to ascertain the principal sources from which these young persons obtain intoxicants.

The figure of 669 represents an increase over previous years, the corresponding figures for 1954 and 1953 being 511 and 368 respectively. Figures for 1952 are not available. Last year I asked chief constables for whatever information was available about each offence of drunkenness by persons under 18 in their police districts during 1954 and 1955. In 55 per cent. of the cases reported on, the source of the drink was not known, in 31 per cent. it is stated to be the public house; the next most frequent source was described as "friends or domestic sources". I have asked chief constables to supply similar information for offences in 1956.

I am much obliged to the right hon. and gallant Gentleman for that information. Would he inquire whether one of the greatest sources of this kind of drinking by young people under the age of 18 years is not those occasions when occasional licences are given for dances and activities of that kind all over the country? In my experience that is what I have found, and I should be glad if the Home Secretary would make some inquiries into that.

I made some inquiries last year on this subject, when the question was raised of the danger of occasional licences. The granting of these licences is in the hands of the justices. I asked the chief constables of England and Wales to look into this, and they then said that they could not find any evidence to that effect. I have asked them again, and if I thought that this was becoming a serious matter—and I cannot say as yet that it is—I would take any steps that I could to stop it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to bring English legislation regarding attempted suicide into line with Scottish law.

As long ago as 1916 the Metropolitan Police adopted, with the approval of the then Secretary of State, the practice of preferring a charge of attempted suicide only where there is no responsible person able or willing to take charge of the individual concerned, or where special circumstances, such as threats of renewed attempts of suicide or positive indications of insanity suggest that the individual should be kept in custody for his own protection. In 1921 the Metropolitan practice was brought to the notice of provincial forces. In the great majority of cases no proceedings are taken and I am not satisfied that a change in the law is desirable.

While thanking my right hon. and gallant Friend for that reply, may I ask him if he will not agree that these cases are among some of the greatest human tragedies? Attempted suicides are brought to a police station and sometimes to the courts, and if the law in Scotland is more humane than it is in England, what objection is there to introducing the Scottish law in England?

I should not like to get into a discussion about what is better in Scotland or in England. There are one or two things which we have accepted from Scotland as being better, but I am not at all sure that this would be one of those cases. So far as the Metropolitan Police are concerned, this circular was issued in 1921, the idea being—and I think that it is a sound one—that where a person charged with attemped suicide had no friends or relatives to go to it might be thought, and I think rightly thought, that it would be better for him to be charged so that the court could take some steps to protect a person from himself or herself. I do not think that is inhuman at all. It has worked very well, and so far as the Metropolitan Police are concerned I think that only 1 in 20 cases has been proceeded against. We circularised the provinces some time ago, and I am doing the same again.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend bear in mind that I am a Northerner and I am tired of hearing about the Metropolitan practice. Are there not first-class voluntary organisations and first-class local authorities, and why should people who are friendless have to go to court when there are public bodies which will befriend them? Will the Home Secretary please look at the matter again, and remember the North?

I am not likely to forget the North, because I happen to sit for a seat in the North. The fact of the matter is that it is through the courts that it is possible to get the use of these voluntary organisations, and all that the Metropolitan Police have done since 1921 has been to tell the provincial forces of their experience, and they are prepared to do so again.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the unemployment position in Coventry and the urgency affecting notification of vacancies, he will make an interim statement upon fee-charging employment agencies and their position in such an emergency.

The legislation to which I referred in my Answer to the hon. Member on 13th December would regulate the conduct of fee-charging employment agencies, and would not in any way affect the notification of vacancies by employers to employment exchanges. If the hon. Member is suggesting that all vacancies should be notified to the employment exchanges, I can only refer her to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour to her Question on 23rd October.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that I have followed this matter week by week because of the events in Coventry, and would he not agree that it is intolerable when people are out of work that agencies should take advantage of their misfortune? Is he aware that agencies in Coventry charge not only a registration fee but take half of the first week's money as well, and is there nothing he can do under the present position?

As I think I told the hon. Lady before, it will need legislation which I will bring in as soon as Parliamentary time permits. As to the other part of the Question, I can only refer her to what my right hon. Friend said in answer to her Question on 23rd October with regard to the Notification of Vacancies Order.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman consult the Minister of Labour because much of this trouble has arisen from the fact that, owing to the Government's economies, Ministry of Labour officials are now having to concentrate on the payment of benefits rather than on placings? If the Ministry of Labour are so concentrating on the payment of benefits in areas where unemployment has arisen that they cannot deal with placings, then the agencies are it greater attraction than they would otherwise be.

I will consult my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the Report of the Committee on Homosexuality and Prostitution.

I am informed that the Committee is still engaged in drafting its Report. It is aware of my anxiety to have it as soon as possible, but I cannot say when it will be completed.

Has my right hon. and gallant Friend noticed the remarks of one of the Metropolitan magistrates recently to the effect that unless the courts are given wider powers to deal with the problem of prostitution, a serious scandal will develop? Is he aware that streets which not long ago were regarded as respectable neighbourhoods are now places where no decent person would wish to be seen after dark; and will he draw the attention of the Committee to the urgency of this matter and the need for their making recommendations which can be quickly implemented?

What the Committee recommends is entirely its own affair. I did see what the magistrate said. I should have thought that to take any action in the form of legislation before we have the Report would be the height of folly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juvenile delinquents, certified under the Mental Deficiency Acts, are now detained under orders made by him.

Children and young persons committed to approved schools and certain other establishments who are transferred to mental deficiency hospitals by order under Section 9 of the Mental Deficiency Act, 1913, become the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health. Statistics are not kept in a form showing the number of such persons who are detained at any one time. The orders expire after a year unless continued by the Board of Control. Thirty-two orders were made in 1955, and 39 so far this year.

In view of the recent court cases showing that some persons in this category have been wrongly detained, will the Home Secretary have an urgent review made of all the outstanding cases in which juvenile delinquents have been detained by an order of the Home Secretary, sometimes for very many years after the original sentence to an approved school or Borstal has expired? Is the Home Secretary aware that there is very great uneasiness about the way in which some of these people are put away for the rest of their lives?

That, of course, as the hon. and gallant Member appreciates, is a matter for the Board of Control dealing with people certified in this way.

But the right hon. and gallant Gentleman makes the detention orders.

Of course; that does not make any difference to what I have just said. I will look into any matter at any time. Whatever outstanding cases the hon. and gallant Member has in mind, there has been a steady decline in the last few years.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that there is uneasiness about these medical certifications which are made under conditions of imprisonment and from which there is no appeal, as the detention which they warrant is continued after the prison sentences have lapsed? Will he review this matter in the same way as he promised me that he would look into the Criminal Lunatics Act when I asked him a similar Question?

Of course I will certainly look into anything about which my hon. Friend asks me on this question. I would remind him that the orders expire after a year unless they are continued by the Board of Control.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the increasing difficulties which are being experienced by ex-prisoners in obtaining employment, particularly in the London area, what steps he is taking, in consultation with the Central After-Care Association and the National Association of Discharged Prisoners' Aid Societies, to ensure that all possible action is taken to assist ex-prisoners to be suitably employed as soon as possible after their release from prison.

Certain types of prisoner tend to be difficult to place in employment but my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour is not aware of any recent general difficulty. If my hon. Friend will let me have details of any cases he has in mind I will look into them.

Would not my right hon. and gallant Friend agree that ex-prisoners who are unable to find suitable employment may be forced back into crime, thus constituting a liability on the taxpayer? Would he not think it would be useful, in consultation with the Minister of Labour, to detail special officials in the employment exchanges to help these men to find suitable work?

As my hon. Friend probably knows, employment exchanges work in very close contact with discharged prisoners' aid societies and after-care associations. The primary responsibility for finding employment for discharged prisoners rests with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour. I would remind my hon. Friend that this task is not always easy. There are some types of prisoners who may be unskilled, or physically unfit, and others who are professional men may have abused a position of trust. We must also never forget the work-shy psychopath, who on the whole is the loudest in his complaints.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to remove the temporary ban on the admission of Hungarian refugees into this country.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made on my behalf by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in his opening speech in yesterday's debate on Hungary.

Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman give the House any information as to the number of refugees who have now been moved out of first and second line reception centres, either into private homes, empty houses, or hostels run by local authorities?

I can give the hon. Member these figures: 11,500 have come here, and we have had very great congestion at the receiving centres, which at one time ran up to 6,000, but that has now been reduced to 2,000. As my right hon. and learned Friend said yesterday, we hope in the New Year to consider reopening.

asked the Minister of Education how many local education authorities do not co-opt on to the education committee two representatives of the teaching profession.

Every education committee of a local education authority must include persons of experience in education, and the great majority of authorities, in giving effect to this requirement, co-opt one or more serving or retired teachers.

The Minister has not given me the information for which I asked in the Question. May I ask if he is aware that, as most local education authorities do co-opt teacher representatives, they appreciate the practical value of the services which those representatives can render? Will he call to the attention of the minority group of local education authorities the fact that they are not doing what is provided for under successive Acts of Parliament?

I agree with the hon. Member, and I advise committees to do this. I cannot go further than that, but perhaps the Question and Answer today will bring this subject again to the notice of local committees.

asked the Minister of Education if he will circularise local education authorities recommending that when co-opting to education committees persons representing industry, one such co-optee should be a trade unionist.

Local education authorities have always been advised that their education committees should, according to local circumstances, include members with knowledge of industry, commerce and agriculture, but I leave them to decide how best to give effect to this advice.

Whilst thanking the Minister for that sympathetic Answer, might I ask him if he is aware that the trade union movement was keenly interested in education long before the Conservative Party was, and that the practice of many Conservative authorities in the country is almost to build a co-opted membership on education committees from one social class? In view of what the right hon. Gentleman has said, will he convey this sentiment to the education authorities concerned?

Of course I cannot agree with the first part of that supplementary question. The Conservative Party existed long before the trade union move—

It was only interested in chimney sweeping then.

and took a great interest in education. I am entirely in favour of the co-option of members who are going to be useful to the committees. I have no doubt that some trade unionists would be very useful to committees, but I believe the co-option should be on the basis of the person concerned being of use and not as a representative.

Is "co-optee" King's English?

Queen's English.

In view of the remarkable statement made by the Minister, may I ask whether, if he has had any book tokens given to him for Christmas, he will use one to get Sidney and Beatrice Webb's "History of Trade Unionism"?

Yes, if the hon. Member will oblige with a token.

asked the Minister of Education (1) if he is satisfied that the 11-plus selection and present secondary education facilities are providing the required increases in numbers of students who may qualify or be suitable to meet the increasing needs of industry; what action he intends to take to provide for the needs of the next 10 years in science, technology and engineering; and if he will call together the directors of education of all large concerns so that arrangements may be made for the works educational facilities, when not in use, to provide the foundation for a co-operative educational programme to meet the growing needs of industry;

The hon. Member is asking me to describe the policy for education which we are pursuing. This I cannot do in answer to a Parliamentary Question but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that we have the needs of industry constantly in mind, and if he can tell me of any spare capacity in any works school I shall be much obliged for the information.

I will treat the Answer as the Minister has treated the Question. Question No. 21.

asked the Minister of Education what action he has taken on the need to encourage girls to study for science and engineering; and what special attention has been given to paragraphs 87 to 92 on further education for girls in the White Paper on Technical Education, Command Paper No. 9703.

These paragraphs have already received wide publicity and there is encouraging evidence that the advantages of further education for girls are becoming better appreciated.

Does the Minister agree that knowledge of geometry and mathematics is the basis for meeting our present needs in industry? If so, what steps is he taking in order that girls can be encouraged to go in more for those subjects, to undertake teaching and take their place in industry?

I agree with what the hon. Member has said. I think that industry can do a great deal by making head mistresses and girls in schools aware of the kind of jobs which are open to the girls if they take those subjects. As a matter of fact, the number of girls who obtained passes at advanced level G.C.E. in mathematics and science has increased by 40 per cent. in the last five years.

Would not the Minister agree that industry, and especially large-scale industry, is doing all it possibly can in this respect? Has not the time arrived when some sense of urgency should be introduced in the matter by the Minister in particular, and by the Government in general?

Of course I do not agree that industry is doing all it can. It is doing a great deal, but industry and the Minister together have still a long way to go.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that among the Hungarian refugees and British nationals expelled from Egypt, there are young men and women who were in the midst of their university or technical training; what are the numbers involved; and whether he will give an assurance that facilities will be offered them to continue their education.

Yes, Sir. The universities have very generously undertaken to accept and, if possible, maintain up to 150 Hungarian students. It is possible that of those wishing to remain in this country more than this number will be found suitable for a university education, and that others will require other forms of further education. The arrangements to be made for Hungarian refugees and British nationals from Egypt are now being considered.

I thank the Minister for that reply, which will give great reassurance to the people who are involved. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that such an Answer will do much to show the world that we are deeply and consciously aware of the plight of these young people?

We hope to give them a new start in life.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that, contrary to accepted practice approved by his Department, the Stourbridge Labour Party has been refused the use of Stourbridge Grammar School, a grant-aided school, for a public meeting; and whether he will make a statement.

There is no accepted practice in this matter. Except during Parliamentary and local government elections, the governors of voluntary aided schools have unrestricted power under the Education Act, 1944, to control the use of their school premises for public meetings.

Surely the right hon. Gentleman is aware of what happened in Stourbridge on this occasion. While he may have no direct responsibility, surely he will take this opportunity of expressing disquiet at the action taken by one man, Alderman Jones, Chairman of the Governors, in preventing the Stourbridge Labour Party having the use of this hall for violently protesting against the Government's Suez policy?

The hon. Gentleman has many opportunities of speaking and I am sorry that he did not get this one. The fact is that the buildings of aided grammar schools belong to the school trustees and, as the Act stands, I have no power to direct them in their use, other than during elections. I am sorry that the hon. Gentleman was not allowed to speak. I understand that the Governors took a decision not to allow any political meetings during the Suez crisis.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that a very serious principle is involved here? If it were a question of a local authority or the governors of an aided school laying down a general principle to allow political meetings or not to allow political meetings, we might allow them discretion to take one of those decisions or the other. Here, as I understand it, the governors refused permission for a particular meeting because of the opinions that were to be expressed at that meeting. Surely it is extremely undesirable that buildings connected with the public education system should be used in such a manner. If the Minister has no powers, will he not consider whether it is necessary for him to take them?

That is another point. I have not the powers, and whether we should have them over the governors of an aided school requires consideration. I am not prepared to give an answer now.

While the use of school buildings for public meetings is a matter for the authorities concerned, does not the right hon. Gentleman think it is unwise and undesirable that the authorities should exercise political discrimination? Suppose this happened in a county with a Labour majority and the boot were on the other foot; what would the Minister say?

I should take exactly the same view as I have taken in this case.

asked the Minister of Education to what extent the Yorkshire West Riding education authority has now agreed to increase the number of university awards it offers; and how the new figures will compare with those for Lancashire and for other comparable authorities.

I understand that the authority is revising its selection arrangements. I have not yet received its detailed proposals, but I would expect the number of awards to be given to depend on the number of suitable candidates, and not to be limited to a total fixed in advance.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the sort of figure which is being discussed in the West Riding, taken on the basis of last year's university awards, would mean an increase of 60 in grants, whereas if the children were living in Lancashire some 200 or 300 more would have got grants on the basis of the policy pursued in Lancashire? Does not that mean that the West Riding is still going to be open to the charge, now being made nationally against it, of niggardliness and parsimony?

As the matter is under discussion, I had better wait and see what actual proposal is made to me.

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of protests made by headmasters, divisional executives and parents in the area, and in view of cases which have been brought to his notice, he will ask the West Riding of Yorkshire education authority to conduct a special review of the cases of university students who have been refused awards in the last two years, with a view to helping sonic of those who have suffered from its recent policy.

As I have just told the hon. Member, the authority is revising its selection arrangements, but I would not expect it on this account to undertake a general review of the cases in which applications for awards have been rejected in the past.

Why not? Is it not the case that there are students who have got themselves into the universities and are now trying to pay their way, when they come from the West Riding, whereas their colleagues at the universities from other counties are getting substantial help? Is there not therefore a case for reviewing the position of those who are going to universities and are now suffering?

Now that there is a Conservative majority in this council it is reviewing the bad policy of its predecessors. If it puts forward any proposals for students who are already at the universities I shall welcome them. I do not think that a general retrospective review is called for.

rose—

As a Member for a West Riding constituency, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he does not think that undue bias is being shown by the West Riding County Council with regard to these grants? Does not he think that his Department ought to use the powers it possesses to review the whole position? It is all very well reversing the policy, which is at present taking place, but it is another thing to penalise those who have won their places at the universities and who should be beyond the to-and-fro of party politics.

I agree with the lion. Member for Keighley (Mr. Hobson). In the past, this county council appears to have pursued a very niggardly policy, which is now being reviewed. The council has promised to send me proposals based on the review, and it seems sensible to wait for those proposals before I make any decision.

asked the Minister of Education to what extent the Yorkshire West Riding Education Authority regularly reviews the cases of university students who have not received awards, with a view to helping those who show promise in university examinations; and whether he will issue a circular to local education authorities encouraging this practice.

The authority does not make any such review. Many authorities are prepared exceptionally to entertain applications for awards from students who are already at university. I see no need for a circular on the matter.

Cannot local education authorities, like other people, make mistakes in the first place, and should not the Minister encourage them to review cases where they have made mistakes, and where a lad or girl has shown promise later on?

The hon. Gentleman forgets that although this authority has made mistakes it is now seeing how the mistakes can be put right. I assure him that it would be better to allow it to put its proposals up to me.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on the negotiations with the Prime Minister of Ceylon on the use of the bases at Trincomalee and Katunayake.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 11th December to the Question asked by the hon. Member for Govan (Mr. Rankin).

I have read the terms of that reply. Has not the hon. Gentleman now some further statement to make in the matter? Can he particularly say whether alternative bases are being sought at Mombasa and Dar-es-Salaam in East Africa and, if so, whether the local population will be consulted.

This matter is still the subject of discussion between the two Governments. So far as Ceylon is concerned, I would rather say nothing more at the moment.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, in view of the support given by Her Majesty's Government at the Security Council to the Resolution on Kashmir of 30th March, 1951, what representations he has received from the Pakistan Government consequent upon recent declarations of the Kashmir Constituent Assembly on the state's political future.

I am afraid that I cannot divulge the nature of confidential communications with another Commonwealth Government.

While I appreciate that point of view, may I ask whether my hon. Friend would be prepared at least to give an undertaking that Her Majesty's Government stands by all outstanding Resolutions of the United Nations Security Council as to the future of this State, and in particular the Resolution of 30th March, 1951, in which it is expressly laid down that the so-called Constituent Assembly of Kashmir has no right whatsoever by any method whatsoever to attempt to decide the future disposition of the State?

Yes, Sir. Her Majesty's Government stand by their support of that Resolution of 30th March I take it that the affirmation to which my hon. Friend refers is that which affirms

"that the convening of a Constituent Assembly recommended by the General Council of the All-Jammu and Kashmir National Conference and any action that the Assembly might attempt to take to determine the future shape and affiliation of the entire State or any part thereof would not constitute a disposition of the State in accordance with the above principle."

In view of the fact that this Question concerning India has emanated from the Government side of the House, may I ask whether it is the desire of Her Majesty's Government that India should stay within the Commonwealth?

The Answer, Sir, is "Yes".

asked the Under. Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the terms of all United Nations Resolutions or recommendations regarding the future status of Kashmir; and whether Her Majesty's Government's representative in the United Nations will continue to press for the holding of a plebiscite in Kashmir, and, in particular, for the consent of the Indian Government to the presence of United Nations observers in Kashmir during the forthcoming elections.

The United Nations Resolutions on Kashmir have been published in the records of the United Nations and are available in the Library of the House. The most important are those of the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan of 13th August, 1948, and 5th January, 1949, which were accepted by both sides and which provide for a settlement through a plebiscite under United Nations auspices. These Resolutions gave the plebiscite administrator authority to appoint observers. Her Majesty's Government have always hoped that this dispute would be settled by agreement between the two countries. That is still their hope. Meanwhile Her Majesty's Government will continue to support efforts to reach agreement which would give effect to the Resolutions of the United Nations.

Is my hon. Friend aware that many people find it very difficult indeed to reconcile Mr. Nehru's attitude to certain foreign problems with his repeated rejection of United Nations Resolutions on Kashmir? May I specifically ask my hon. Friend to be good enough to comment on some recent authorative reports that in the forthcoming elections in Kashmir in the spring, no party which wants union with Pakistan, or which even wants independence, is to be allowed to take part?

I cannot comment on the last remarks of my hon. and gallant Friend, but I think that it would be most unjustified for the House to assume that Mr. Nehru will, in fact, go back on any undertaking which he has given. The Prime Minister of India did say, in the Council of States on 18th May, 1954, when talking about the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954:

"Every assurance we have given, or every international commitment we have made in regard to Kashmir, holds good and stands."

Is the Under-Secretary aware that we welcome the statement that Her Majesty's Government will do all possible to bring about an amicable settlement of this problem?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether, in view of Pandit Nehru's forthcoming return visit to London on his way back from the United States of America to India he will take this opportunity to meet him to discuss implementation of outstanding Resolutions of the United Nations in regard to Kashmir.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister expects to meet Mr. Nehru when he returns to this country on 24th December. I cannot, however, say what will be the subject of their conversation.

Would the Minister at least suggest to his right hon. Friend that, at a time when this country has been under particularly heavy fire, rightly or wrongly, for not promptly complying with United Nations Resolutions, it would not be a bad idea if one of the chief protagonists were to set an example and practise just a little of what he preaches? While it may be wrong to assume that Mr. Nehru does not intend to stand by United Nations Resolutions, is it not, nevertheless, a fact which no one in any quarter of this House can deny that at this moment Mr. Nehru stands in default of precisely six United Nations Resolutions?

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is it not, in accordance with the past practice of this House, wrong for hon. Members to make serious reflections of that kind upon a gentleman who is to visit this country especially to meet the Prime Minister?

This Question was addressed to the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations. I presume that there is some Ministerial responsibility in the matter, otherwise it would not have been accepted by that Department.

Further to that point of order. What I say, Mr. Speaker, is based on past practice; that, apart from Ministerial responsibility, it has been considered ill-advised, and has been deprecated by previous Speakers, that reflections of that character should be made upon a representative gentleman—who is the Prime Minister of India—visiting this country.

Before you reply, Mr. Speaker, may I ask whether it is not a fact that all I have done is to point out the absolutely truthful fact that, at this moment, India stands in default of no less than six Resolutions of the United Nations? I made no reflection on any statesman or country, but simply stated the truth. During the last few weeks, we have often enough been told that we stand in default of Resolutions, so why is it not right to draw attention to others who are in default?

Order. I hope that we shall not have a debate on this. I have myself checked before what I considered to be an undesirable reflection upon this gentleman and I should do so again, but it is very hard to draw the line between what is allowable and what is not. I think that the form of the original Question, asking if the Prime Minister would discuss this matter with Mr. Nehru, was quite in order.

Does not the Minister think it a little difficult for the Prime Minister to raise this matter with the Indian Prime Minister, when our own hands are not clean in respect of the United Nations?

The answer to the right hon. Gentleman is that we have observed all our obligations so far as Resolutions are concerned. But perhaps I might ask the House to let me rest on the reply which I gave to the Question, which asked me what the Prime Minister and Mr. Nehru were going to talk about when Mr. Nehru came to see my right hon. Friend. I have not the slightest idea what they will talk about. That is what I was asked, and I would very much rather leave the matter there.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations when the situation in Kashmir was last discussed by the Security Council or the General Assembly of the United Nations; what decisions were taken; and what instructions have been given to our representative at the United Nations about ensuring that these decisions are carried out.

Kashmir was last discussed by the Security Council of the United Nations in December, 1952, when a Resolution was passed urging the two Governments to enter into further negotiations about the specific number of forces to remain on either side of the cease-fire line in Kashmir at the end of the demilitarisation period. These negotiations, which unfortunately were unsuccessful, took place on the subject with Dr. Graham, the United Nations representative for India and Pakistan, as intermediary. The result is set out in detail in his fifth Report, which is available in the Library. This Report has not yet been considered by the Security Council, since the Kashmir dispute then became the subject of a series of direct discussions between the Prime Ministers of the two countries, and neither party has yet formally asked the Security Council to resume its consideration of the dispute.

May I ask my hon. Friend if he is aware that people in this country who recall India's act of aggression against Hyderabad would think more highly of that Government if they took some notice of the Resolutions of the United Nations with respect to Kashmir?

Could the hon. Gentleman state whether Her Majesty's Government are going to take the occasion of the discussion at the United Nations of this question of Kashmir to raise the question of the imprisonment of Sheik Abdullah, who has been imprisoned for nearly four years without any charges even being preferred?

That is a different question, and I should be obliged if the hon. Gentleman would put it down.

I rather think that that is the responsibility of the Indian Government and not of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations by what authority Her Majesty's Government will be enabled to provide financial and technical assistance to Colonial Territories after they became independent sovereign States.

There is no general authority which would enable Her Majesty's Government to provide financial and technical assistance to independent Commonwealth Territories. Such authority would have to be sought from Parliament as and when occasion arose.

Does that mean that the noble Lord is to do nothing about seeking powers from Parliament to enable such a system to be set up? And why have the Government taken so long to deal with this matter, having in view its urgency as a result of the forthcoming independence of Ghana?

if the hon. Member will read the debate during the Committee stage of the Ghana Independence Bill, the Second Reading debate on that Bill, and the debate in this House on 30th November, he will see exactly what Her Majesty's Government's intentions are in this matter.

Would the Under-Secretary agree that in the debate which took place recently on the Motion of an hon. Member opposite, and in the debate on the Ghana Independence Bill, it was shown to be the desire of. I think, the overwhelming majority of this House that the Government should seek authority very quickly to enable us to make public grants to those territories that are now becoming independent, and will the Government bear that in mind, and bring in legislation as soon as possible to implement it?

I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman has not forgotten that what we wish to do now is to seek the advice of the other members of the Commonwealth on this whole matter in all its aspects. I think that it would be very much better from the point of view of the Commonwealth and of everyone else to do that before we think of further steps.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how the numbers of applicants for emigration from Britain to the Commonwealth under the Empire Settlement Act, in the last three or four months, compares with the number for the similar period last year; and if he will explain the increase.

The only Commonwealth country to which emigrants are proceeding with assistance under the Empire Settlement Acts is Australia. During the four months to the end of November, 1956, the number of applicants was 8,509 compared with 6,788 in the corresponding period of 1955. Hon. Members will appreciate that an applicant very often applies on behalf of a family group. The increase over the 1955 figures has been evident generally throughout the year; the total increase for the eleven months to the end of November, 1956, was 3,920. I therefore do not attach any special significant to the increase in recent months.

Is the Under-Secretary of State aware of the evidence showing that there has been an astounding threefold leap in the number of intending emigrants during the last three or four months compared with last year, and that this is explained largely by the widespread fears of parents for the safety of their children in this highly vulnerable country and the increased dangers of a third world war following the Government's aggression against Egypt?

I do not accept one single word of what the hon. Gentleman has said.

Would my hon. Friend not agree, whatever the cause of this increase in Empire migration, that it is most desirable that British people should emigrate to such countries as Canada and Australia?

Is it not a fact that this Government's financial policy, with the credit squeeze, is disheartening many small businessmen, particularly those with between £5,000 and £25,000? Is it not an amazing thing that the hon. Gentleman's own Government is now losing the support of the people in his own party?

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what quantity of birch, alder and sycamore poles were imported in 1954 and 1955 for the purpose of brushwork and turnery manufacture; and what proportion came from dollar countries;

These goods are not separately distinguished in the trade returns.

Would my right hon. Friend look into this matter again and see whether from the trade returns he could give some details, particularly with regard to birch which is being imported from Canada, when there is plenty of birch for cotton reels in this country? Surely that would be a way of saving foreign currency?

This Question asks only for the figures. If my hon. Friend would see me about the policy, I should be glad to discuss it with him.

In view of the news on the tape, does the President of the Board of Trade really think that it will be necessary to roll out any beer barrels? Does he not think that a quarter-pint jug would now be sufficient for import purposes?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the policy of his Department concerning the issue of export licences for Egypt.

Each case is examined on its individual merits, except in respect of goods of military significance for which no licences are granted.

While I am well aware of the present difficulties, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether he would bear in mind that there is a very considerable uncertainty about this point, and we would be very grateful if he would take steps to clear it up and make clear what the policy of the Government is?

I hope that my Answer may have done something to that end.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much dollar currency was released by the Treasury for the purchase of imported timber for pitwood and railway sleepers in 1954 and 1955, respectively.

Pitwood and railway sleepers may be imported from any country under open individual licences. Imports from the dollar area were £2·8 million in 1954 and £4·3 million in 1955. All this pitwood and about three quarters of these sleepers came from Canada.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Watson Report, which has just been produced, reveals that the figures relating to the National Coal Board's use of home-produced pitwood show a very great improvement? Would it be possible to urge British Railways, which in its way is doing good to the home trade, to improve its figures considerably in this respect?

I will look into that paint, but these are imports from a Commonwealth country, and I am sure that my hon. Friend would not wish to stop them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he entertains for the amendment of the Cinematograph Films Act, 1948, other than those contained in the Gracious Speech.

None in the present Session, Sir.

Do I take it that my right hon. Friend has no intention of varying the present definition of British films?

There is no intention to introduce in the present Session detailed amendments to the Cinematograph Films Act, 1948, but that does not mean that I shall not be discussing with the industry possible amendments which might be introduced at some future time.