asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the mutiny of Mau Mau detainees in Mageta Island prison camp in Kenya on 23rd November.

On the morning of 23rd November the camp commandant and members of his prison staff entered a compound of Mageta Island Detention Camp in order to remove fifty ringleaders of a strike which had continued there since 22nd June. The detainees attacked the prison staff, using material torn from the huts, injuring the camp commandant, another European officer and six African warders. Fifteen shots were fired in self-defence to enable prison staff to extricate themselves and one detainee received two shotgun pellets in the leg. The security forces on the island were increased and the Commissioner of Prisons took control of the situation. On the afternoon of 26th November another party of prison staff disarmed the mutineers and there has been no further disturbance since that date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why he authorised the despatch of a series of duplicated letters by his Department which contained allegations of mass murder against Dedan Kimathi while his appeal against the death sentence was pending; and why he was not charged with these crimes in court.

In stating that Dedan Kimathi was widely believed to have been responsible for some of the worst horrors perpetrated by Mau Mau, these replies to letters received in my right hon. Friend's Department were designed merely to refer to his leadership of Mau Mau. Two informations were filed against him, the first alleging unlawful possession of arms and the second alleging murder. The former was heard by the Supreme Court first and a conviction was obtained. The second was, therefore, not proceeded with.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now take steps to establish the independence of the police force in Kenya on the lines advocated by Colonel Young in view of the improved situation there.

The Government of Kenya have affirmed the independence and impartiality of the police in detecting crime and bringing offenders to justice. So long as the preservation of the peace of Kenya is the responsibility of a Governor, who is represented in the various areas of the country by Provincial and District Commissioners, the ultimate authority for giving general directions to the police in the case of threats to the preservation of order and good government must remain with these officers. This position is not affected by improvement in the state of emergency.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what amendments have been made in the Emergency Regulations in Kenya; and how many persons now under sentence of death would not be liable to execution under the new Regulations.

The Regulations revoked include those which prohibited the possession of more than one firearm at a time, the possession in certain circumstances of incendiary material, and the special provisions relating to sabotage which prescribed the capital penalty for this offence in certain circumstances. Full details are given in a Supplement to the Kenya Gazette of 8th January, a copy of which was placed in the Library on 15th January. The answer to the second part of the Question is "none".

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many juvenile delinquents are now detained in Kenya; to what extent the punishment of whipping is still inflicted; how many juveniles have been placed in solitary confinement; to what extent children left without parents are associated with juvenile delinquents; and what are the existing provisions for the care of children or young people in difficulties in Kenya.

Since the information is not immediately available, I am consulting the Governor and will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Kenya Government have yet announced their decision as to the nature of legislation which they propose to introduce to re-enforce their authority in any period of increasing tension and disturbance not amounting to a full-scale emergency.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply has been given to the offer of the International Committee of the Red Cross to send a mission to internment and detention camps in Kenya.

The International Committee has been informed that the Governor of Kenya would welcome most cordially a visit by their delegates to detention camps in the Colony.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Cyprus Emergency Regulations are now to be amended; and whether he will place copies of the proposed amendments in the Library.

The Emergency Powers (Control of Sale and Circulation of Publications) Regulations have recently been amended and copies of the amending Regulations are in the Library. The possibility of amending certain other Regulations is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, under the proposed constitution for Cyprus, the existing arrangements in regard to relief from double taxation will be maintained.

There is nothing in Lord Radcliffe's constitutional proposals which would disturb these arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the wages paid to the workers at the Bukit Koman gold mine in Malaya who went on strike during December, 1956, for better wages and conditions; and what has been the result of the strike.

Earnings for a working day of seven hours vary from $2·70 for unskilled labour to over $5 for skilled workers in addition to free housing. The strike is still in progress and the Government is continuing its efforts at conciliation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the weekly wages of the employees of the Malayan Airways, which is to be taken over by British Overseas Airways Corporation, who went on strike during the week of 24th December for bonuses totalling $1,000,000; and what has been the result of the strike.

Weekly wages range from about the equivalent of three guineas to just over £29. The strike was called off on 14th January at the request of the Minister of Labour and Welfare who is appointing a Court of Inquiry to investigate the dispute and to make recommendations. It is not intended that British Overseas Airways Corporation should take over Malayan Airways.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds the Harrigan Commission in Northern Rhodesia has declined the granting of an increase of 6s. 8d. in basic pay for daily-paid workers who are members of the African Mineworkers Union.

I have placed a copy of the Award of the Arbitration Tribunal in the Library. I think it would be unsatisfactory if I attempted to summarise the conclusions of the Tribunal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what were the reasons for the withdrawal of recognition of Mukutuma as Chief Naluama of Mazabuka district of Northern Rhodesia.

The Governor is being consulted and the information received will be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further information he has now received about the charge on which Mr. Daniel Crowley was arrested on 12th September, 1956, at Ketwe, Northern Rhodesia.

I regret that in reply to a similar Question on 24th October my right hon. Friend implied that the charge against Mr. Crowley was that of publishing a false report. As I have since explained in a letter to the hon. Member, the charge against Mr. Crowley was in fact that of publishing a report likely to prejudice public tranquillity; and the falsity of Mr. Crowley's statements was relevant to that charge.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the members of the African Mineworkers Union, who are still under restriction orders in Northern Rhodesia, have presented their cases against the orders before a Special Commissioner who is a High Court judge; what were the results of the hearings; and if the proceedings have been published.

No cases have yet been presented to the Commissioner.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the names of the United Kingdom representatives who attended the second meeting of the Inter-African Housing Committee; how many Africans attended as representatives; and whether a report of the recommendations of the Committee will be published and made available to the territories concerned.

The United Kingdom was represented at this meeting by Mr. W. M. Woodhouse of the Colonial Liaison Section at the Building Research Station of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.Mr. I. Small, Director of the West African Building Research Institute, and Mr. H. Winfull, an experienced African civil engineer who is the Gold Coast Director of Housing were present as observers.Publication of the Report of this technical Committee is a matter for the Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa (C.C.T.A.), but copies of the Committee's recommendations have already been sent to the British territories concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the moral obligation upon Her Majesty's Government to raise African living standards in those areas under British jurisdiction, he will take such action as will promote the exploitation of Southern Tanganyikan coal and iron deposits, release funds for the linking-up of Rhodesian and Tanganyikan railways, and set up machinery for an expert investigation of the economic possibilities of an oil-from-coal industry based upon the Ruhuhu coalfields.

The desirability of intensifying the development of coal resources in Colonial Territories in Africa, including Tanganyika, is being investigated, but no conclusions have yet been reached. Iron ore deposits have also been investigated but are unlikely to become worth working without other development in the area. I am advised that an oil-from-coal industry would be both impracticable and uneconomic at this stage of the territory's development.The linking-up of the Rhodesian and Tanganyikan Railways has been fully investigated, but I regret that the economic merits of this project are not at present considered such as to justify the allocation to it of money and resources required for other more urgent development in East and Central Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the surveys of the requirements of Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika for water from the Nile system are yet completed; and when they will be available to Members of the House of Commons.

The surveys have not yet been completed, and the question of their publication can be examined only when their contents are known.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken to counter the untruthful propaganda broadcast by Cairo radio, and in other ways, concerning the situation on the Aden-Yemen frontier.

The true facts about the situation have been made known by all means available, including broadcasts by the B.B.C., the "Voice of Britain" station in Cyprus and Aden Radio. Accurate news and background information have continuously been made available to the Press and broadcasting services at home and overseas through the official information services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further consideration has been given to the social, economic and constitutional problems of Fiji.

Continuous consideration is given to these problems. If the hon. Members desires information about my particular point, I am sure my right hon. Friend will do his best to supply it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further consideration has been given to the necessity of securing adequate safeguards for minorities in the respective States of Ghana; and what consultations have recently taken place or will be held with a view to removing apprehensiveness by these minorities.

My right hon. Friend will be arriving in the Gold Coast tomorrow for talks with the Gold Coast Government and others. After his return to this country he proposes to lay a White Paper before Parliament containing the substance of the proposed Constitution Order in Council. The House will not expect me to anticipate the outcome of his visit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if Her Majesty's Government have yet reached any decision, in principle, to participate in the Volta River Project in view of the still rising costs of material and equipment.

No. The position remains as stated in my right hon. Friend's written reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Haltemprice (Major Wall) on 26th July last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the recommendations of the three-man mission from the International Bank on the economy of the Gold Coast, which returned to Washington in December from the Gold Coast, will be published; and what consultations on the subject of Ghana's application for membership of the International Bank Her Majesty's Government has had with members of the Commission on their return through London.

The question of publication is one for the International Bank. Consultations between the Bank and the United Kingdom and Gold Coast Governments about the membership of Ghana have reached an advanced stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of hospitals, the number of qualified medical officers, and the number of African medical officers in the Colony and Protectorate of Sierra Leone.

There are 24 hospitals and 72 registered medical practitioners in Sierra Leone. Of the 46 Government medical officers, 21 are Africans.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what date he proposes to introduce the Legislative Council for the Somaliland Protectorate.

The Governor hopes to be able to hold the first meeting of the Legislative Council about the middle of this year.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware of the continuing shortage of steel deliveries to the shipyards, which is hampering production; and what further action he proposes to take to remedy this situation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will make a statement on the present position regarding steel supplies to the shipbuilding industry.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what steps he proposes to take to increase the supply of steel to the shipbuilding and repairing industry, and to ensure delivery in correct sequence.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what further steps are being taken to make good the inadequacy of the supply of steel to the shipbuilding industry.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what further action he is taking to ensure better supplies of steel to British shipyards so as to increase the launch output and improve delivery dates.

My right hon. and noble Friend's predecessor recently discussed the problem in detail with the shipyard industries and subsequently arranged for them to meet my right hon. Friend the then President of the Board of Trade and his advisers. Discussions initiated at these meetings are still proceeding.I agree that the rate of production would be improved by better supplies of steel.It is recognised that the delivery of steel in incorrect sequence is inconvenient and can hamper output, and the attention of the steel industry has been drawn to this problem on more than one occasion. There are however, considerable practical difficulties in eliminating it altogether.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what charges have fallen on his Department's Estimate for the current financial year in respect of supplies and services made available to French forces during and preceding the recent Middle Eastern operations and what arrangements have been made for recovery.

Approximately £17,000, excluding the cost of certain supplies and services provided to French salvage vessels since the cease-fire. Claims for refund of these costs are being made against the French authorities in the normal way.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what action he took to warn British shipping to avoid using the Suez Canal prior to Britain's armed conflict with Egypt; and whether he will publish in HANSARD full details of instructions sent to British shipping companies and merchant officers, together with dates of such instructions.

British merchant ships were advised, by an Admiralty message broadcast on 30th October, to keep clear of the Suez Canal and Egyptian and Israeli waters until further notice. No instructions were sent by the Government to shipping companies and merchant officers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what were the total numbers of officers of the rank of captain, and above, borne on the Active List of the Royal Navy at the end of the financial years 1946–47, 1949–50, 1952–53, and 1955–56, respectively.

The numbers, subdivided by specialisations and branches, are as follows:

asked the Postmaster-General what extra charge will be incurred by his Department in this financial year as a result of the increased tax and price of motor fuel.

About £320,000.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephones were outstanding in the Chigwell Urban District of Essex on 1st January, 1956, and 1st January, 1957, respectively.

The figures are 809 at 1st January, 1956, and 559 at the 1st January, 1957, a decrease of 250 during the year.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephones were outstanding in the Lambourne, including Abridge, Staple-ford Tawney, Theydon Mount, Nave-stock, Stanford Rivers, Doddinghurst, Blackmore, Stondon Massey, Kelvedon Hatch, High Ongar, Chipping Ongar, Greensted, Moreton, Bobbingworth, Shelley, Norton Mandeville, Willingale, Fyfield, High and Little Laver, Abbess Beauchamp and Berners Roding parishes of the Epping and Ongar Rural District Council of Essex on 1st January, 1956, and 1st January, 1957, respectively.

On the twelve exchanges which serve this area, 500 applications were outstanding on 1st January, 1956, and 612 on 1st January, 1957. More plant is being provided, and many of those waiting for telephones will be connected this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when Colin Bruce Lyon left the Royal Air Force; on whose authority he was sent to Egypt; what his duties were there; and when they ceased.

Mr. Lyon resigned his commission in the Royal Air Force on 5th November, 1953. I understand that he obtained employment as a civilian flying instructor under the Egyptian Government in September, 1955, and was so employed until October, 1956.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will now state how much of the cost of rations, petrol, etc., supplied for personnel and aircraft of the French Air Force serving in Cyprus or proceeding to Israel from British bases is chargeable to the Royal Air Force Vote; and what effect this has had on his Department's Estimate for the current financial year.

The cost of the supplies and services provided for the French Air Force in Cyprus is approximately £56,000, which is being recovered from the French authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will now make a statement on the future rôle of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

As the House will know, the Government have, with the greatest possible regret, decided to disband the Fighter Squadrons, the Air Observation Post Squadrons, the Regiment Squadrons and nine of the thirty Fighter Control and Radar Reporting Units of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force.The Auxiliary Fighter Squadrons are at present equipped with Meteors and Vampires, and their operational rôle is defence against air attack other than the high altitude threat. With the resources available to us it is not possible either to re-equip the squadrons with Hunters or to retain them any longer in their existing rôle except at the expense of regular units, a course which I am sure would be wrong. Similar considerations of priority apply to the Auxiliary A.O.P. and Regiment Squadrons.Changes in the organisation and equipment of the Control and Reporting System have made it necessary to disband nine F.C.U.s and R.R.U.s. These units have been selected on geographical grounds. The remaining twenty-one continue to provide essential backing for the Control and Reporting System.The record of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force has been an inspiration to the country, and the achievements of the Fighter Squadrons in the Battle of Britain and throughout the war will be remembered with pride and gratitude. I am sure that the House will join with me in paying tribute to the service rendered by all ranks of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and the fine spirit in which they have given it.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the disbanding of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force Fighter Squadrons, he is now satisfied that the Royal Air Force is no longer short of pilots, and if he will make a statement.

The factors which have led us to disband the Fighter Squadrons of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force are summarised in the answer which I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport, North (Sir N. Hulbert). They do not affect the need of the Royal Air Force for regular pilots.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many fully trained fighter pilots, and how many trained groundcrew will be lost to the country by the disbanding of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force fighter squadrons.

Three hundred and twenty-five pilots and some two thousand ground personnel of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force will be affected by the disbandment of these squadrons. We hope that many of them will be willing to serve in other units.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what were the total numbers of officers of the rank of group captain, and above, borne on the Active List of the Royal Air Force at the end of the financial years 1946–47, 1949–50, 1952–53, and 1955–56, respectively.

The figures are 1182, 806, 888 and 879.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress the Bowes Committee is making in considering the future of the Kennet and Avon Canal and other waterways; and when he expects to receive the committee's recommendations.

I understand that the Committee is still progressing steadily, but it cannot yet say when it will be able to report.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what action he has taken in regard to the recommendations contained in the Interim Report of the Committee appointed to survey parking in inner London.

As I explained in my Answer to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Truro (Mr. G. Wilson) on 12th December, the initiative in taking action on the recommendations contained in the Interim Report of the Committee on the Parking Survey of Inner London rests with the local authorities: I have no reason to suppose that they will be backward in making proposals to me.I have invited the Standing Joint Committee of the Metropolitan Boroughs to discuss with me as soon as possible the general recommendations made in the Committee's Report.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now make a statement about the resumption of driving tests.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now estimate the date on which driving tests will be resumed.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give an indication as to when driving tests will be restored.

I am anxious to resume driving tests as soon as possible. The position is that the full strength of driving examiners is at present required for work essential to the fuel rationing scheme for commercial vehicles. I have discussed with various organisations the possibility of making other temporary arrangements for, conducting driving tests. I am grateful to them for their proposals but I have decided not to do this. I hope, however, to be able so to re-arrange the work of fuel rationing as to allow the resumption of tests on a limited scale by the Ministry's examiners in the not too distant future.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the total amount realised from disposal of vehicles of the road haulage organisation of the Transport Commission and the net loss incurred after allowing for the transport levy.

The total amount realised from the disposal of British Road Services assets up to 31st December, 1956, was approximately £26 million.On the second part of the Question I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 14th November last.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the total amount realised from the proceeds of the transport levy which ceased on 31st December, 1956.

About £12,645,000.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how far the allocation of petrol by his Department has gone according to plan; on what date or dates the plan was decided upon; and how soon afterwards it was made known to road hauliers and other users for business purposes who applied in reasonable time for supplementary petrol.

My Ministry's plans for allocating petrol and fuel oil to goods vehicles was based on the general lines of the war-time scheme. The plan envisaged three phases—the issue of the basic ration; the issue of supplementary rations on account while the size of the demand for supplementary rations was gauged; and the final assessment and issue of supplementaries. Events have followed this pattern. I have kept in close touch with the associations representing road transport operators at all stages.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that the Ball Mill Sand and Gravel Company Limited, Grimley, near Worcester, supplying large quantities of washed sand, gravel, and aggregate to civil engineering works in the district, including requirements for the construction of new schools, factories, telephone exchanges, reservoirs, municipal housing estates, sewerage works, Royal Air Force runways, and similar undertakings, have been granted only 2,280 gallons of diesel oil for their vehicles delivering such materials to the works concerned, being only 17 per cent. of their 1956 rate of consumption; why this firm has not been given 75 per cent. allocation as promised in earlier Ministerial statements; and what further supplementary allocations will be granted to prevent the company being forced to a standstill.

As I have told my hon. Friend in my letter to him this firm should make use of the appeal machinery and approach the Regional Transport Commissioner for the West Midland area. But I must make it plain that the figure of 75 per cent. applies to the total tonnage of fuel available for goods vehicles as a whole and that the allocation to an individual firm may be more or less than 75 per cent. of normal consumption, depending on the work to be done.Regional Commissioners are anxious to be as helpful as possible particularly where the continuity of a business is involved.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many appeals against local office petrol rationing assessments have been received, to date, by the South Eastern Traffic Area district transport officers, based upon Southampton and Tunbridge Wells; and how many appeals have been rejected.

The district transport officer at Southampton has received to date 114 appeals and at Tunbridge Wells 222. On the numbers so far dealt with 65 and nil respectively have been rejected. In the main, appeals in the Southampton district have been from retailers in urban areas while in the Tunbridge Wells district they have been from people who make deliveries in rural areas with few shops.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many appeals against local office petrol rationing assessments have been taken, to date, to the South Eastern Traffic Area regional transport commissioner from the district transport officers, based upon Southampton and Tunbridge Wells; and how many of these have been rejected by the regional transport commissioner.

The regional transport commissioner for the South Eastern Traffic Area had up to yesterday received no appeals from awards made by district transport officers at Southampton and Tunbridge Wells.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will publish in HANSARD a list of the daily sailings of British ships and merchant vessels in the Suez Canal for the month preceding Britain's armed conflict with Egypt; and how many of these vessels were trapped in the canal after Egypt had blocked same.

I regret that official statistics relating to these sailings are not available. No British ships were trapped in the Canal when it was blocked.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the cost of exempting disabled persons using motor vehicles from the extra petrol tax.

The cost of exempting disabled drivers of invalid carriages from payment of the extra petrol tax on the basic ration would be about £15,000 for the four months period to 16th April, 1957. I am afraid I have no information as to the number of supplementary petrol coupons used by such persons nor as to the number of disabled persons using other types of motor vehicles.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, with a view to eliminating unnecessary delays in the completion of the road programme, he will allow greater freedom to highway authorities to proceed with their own plans for new works and improved works without long and elaborate inspection of those plans by his own surveyors.

Following the recommendations of the Local Government Manpower Committee in its 1949 Report, the examination of applications for grant by highway authorities has been reduced to the minimum consistent with my responsibilities to Parliament for the proper control of voted moneys.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will now give an approximate date when the Great North Road will be remade with dual carriageways during its entire length in accordance with his announced intentions.

I intend to provide dual carriageways on the Great North Road as fast as funds will allow, but I cannot at present say when every scheme between London and Newcastle, a length of about 270 miles, will be finally completed.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will place in the Library of the House a progress chart showing the present position with regard to work on each of the major road improvement schemes, together with an indication of the anticipated date of completion.

No. The schemes to be covered are very numerous and to be of real help such a chart would have to be accompanied by a large amount of explanatory material, the preparation of which would necessarily divert effort which is being concentrated on forwarding the roads programme.I am, of course, willing to supply information about the progress of any individual scheme in which the hon. Member may be particularly interested.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now give an approximate estimate of the cost of each of the trunk road schemes set out in his Departments official statement of 27th July, 1955.

On the information at present available the total cost of the 59 schemes set out in the statement of 27th July, 1955, will be about £17 million. At this stage I am not prepared to give the estimates for each individual scheme, since they may be subject to considerable variation depending on what is found when detailed engineering plans, etc. come to be prepared and such alterations in costs of labour and materials as may occur. Moreover, a large number of the schemes will be the subject of open contract in due course.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many members of the Air Transport Advisory Council have connections with any business or businesses dealing with transport or travel.

Two—Sir Gibson Graham, who is a director of ship-broking companies, and Mr. J. J. Taylor, who is Secretary and General Manager of the Workers' Travel Association.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is in a position to make a statement about the publication of the Report by Dr. A. G. Touch on his investigation into certain aspects of the accident to a Royal Air Force Vulcan aircraft at London Airport on 1st October, 1956.

The Report is being published this afternoon. I am in general agreement with it and its recommendations are being carefully considered. I should like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to Dr. Touch for the great service which he has rendered in undertaking and carrying out this valuable technical investigation.

asked the Minister of Defence what further steps he is taking to expedite the ending of conscription.

I have no statement to make on this subject at present.

asked the Minister of Defence what negotiations he is pursuing with the West German Government to reduce British military expenditure.

Negotiations with the German Federal Republic began on 14th January and are still in progress.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will make a statement on the Service cuts announced last week; and when the 1957 Defence White Paper will be available.

I have nothing to add at present to the statements issued last week by the Service Departments and Ministry of Supply. I am not yet able to say when the White Paper will be issued.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what claim has been made by the Jordanian Government for another British payment to the Jordan Development Board.

The last specific request received from the Jordanian Government was for a payment of £250,000 to finance the Desert Road from Amman to Ma'an up to the end of the current financial year. Payment of this sum was made on 14th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement concerning Her Majesty's Government's policy with regard to the continuation of the British Treaty with Jordan; and, in particular, whether it is proposed to continue the present subsidy to Jordan and to maintain British forces in that country.

On 16th January the Jordan Government were informed that Her Majesty's Government were willing, in accordance with the wishes of the Jordan Government, to enter into immediate discussions with a view to the termination of the Anglo-Jordan Treaty in an agreed manner.Her Majesty's Government have since noted that, by an agreement signed in Cairo on 19th January, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Syria have agreed to provide Jordan with financial assistance over the next ten years. It therefore appears that the way is now open for immediate discussions between Her Majesty's Government and the Jordan Government.The future of the British subsidy to Jordan and of British forces there will naturally be among the main subjects to be discussed. I should therefore prefer to make no further statement at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action he proposes to take to claim compensation from the Egyptian Government, on behalf of British shipping companies, for the ships that were trapped in the Suez Canal as a result of the Egyptian Government's action in illegally blocking the canal.

No British ships were trapped in the Canal.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) if he will arrange for publication of the full text of the agreement between the Egyptian Government and the United Nations Organisation, initialled on 3rd January, 1957, allowing the United Nations salvage fleet to clear the Suez Canal;(2) whether he will arrange for publication of the full text of the contracts made by the United Nations Organisation with governments and public or private undertakings for the salvage operations or the use of salvage ships in the clearance of the Suez Canal.

A copy of the Second Report of the Secretary General of the United Nations on the clearing of the Suez Canal is being placed in the Library of the House. This report includes the text of an exchange of letters on 8th January constituting an agreement between the Secretary-General and the Egyptian Government on Canal clearance. It also describes the arrangements made by the United Nations with various salvage organisations, including the Anglo/French salvage fleet.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how long he now estimates it will take the salvage fleet as at present constituted to clear the Suez Canal.

In his Second Report on the clearing of the Suez Canal issued on 10th January, the Secretary General said that Stage One of his clearance programme, for vessels up to 10,000 tons, should be completed by early March, and Stage Two, for larger vessels, by early May.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the Egyptian abrogation of the 1954 Treaty.

Her Majesty's Government have seen reports that Egypt has unilaterally repudiated the 1954 Anglo-Egyptian Agreement, but no official communication to this effect has been received through the Protecting Power, and I am not at present in a position to make a statement about it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how long the British prisoners detained by the Egyptian authorities on charges of alleged espionage have been in custody awaiting trial; what is known of their treatment and circumstances; and what steps have been taken by his Department to urge that these British subjects should either be brought to trial immediately or released at once.

Messrs. Pittuck and Swinburn were arrested on 27th August, Mr. Zarb on 28th August, and Mr. Stanley on 3rd September.After early difficulties, consular visits were permitted on 30th August in the case of Mr. Pittuck and Mr. Swinburn and, after that, regularly to all four men. Consular reports first indicated that they were tired and dazed after their initial interrogation, but showed no signs of physical ill-treatment. Subsequently, conditions of detention improved and the morale of the men was reported to be good. They and their families are able to send and receive letters. When diplomatic relations were severed, visits were for a time interrupted, but the Swiss authorities are now being permitted to visit them regularly. They report their condition as being satisfactory.On 16th January, Her Majesty's Government requested the Swiss authorities to convey to the Egyptian Government a communication calling upon them to release any British subjects still detained in prison or in internment against whom no charges had been made of specific offences against Egyptian law. This request concerns the four British subjects detained for alleged espionage, since no formal charges have yet been made against them. No reply has yet been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in addition to presenting Colonel Nasser with an account for the property of British citizens and companies which he unlawfully seized, he will also submit a demand for the repayment of costs incurred by rerouting British shipping via the Cape, the extra payments involved in the purchase of dollar oil, and the cost of British salvage vessels for which Egypt is primarily responsible.

All these matters and many others will be borne in mind when the time comes for a financial settlement with Egypt.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what contribution Her Majesty's Government is expected to make towards the cost of the United Nations Emergency Force in Egypt and of clearing the Canal; and if he will refuse to pay this until British claims against Egypt have been met in full.

On 26th November, the General Assembly of the United Nations authorised the Secretary General to establish a United Nations Emergency Force Special Account of$10 million, drawn from the Working Capital Fund and other sources available to him, pending the receipt of contributions from member nations. On 21st December, the General Assembly adopted a resolution providing that the $10 million should be contributed by members in accordance with the ordinary scale of assessment. The question of expenditure in excess of $10 million was referred to a committee for further consideration.The method of payment, for clearing the Suez Canal has not yet been settled. In accordance with the general responsibility laid upon him by the Resolution of 2nd November, the Secretary General is raising an interim loan from member countries to finance the first stage of the clearing operation.It would not in any way further British claims against Egypt to withhold contributions due to the United Nations Organisation to enable it to carry out the urgent tasks which it has assumed in Egypt.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present cost of the Consulate-General at Nice; what sums are received which can be put against the cost and how far he estimates that these sums are likely to be paid to the Consulate at Marseilles or lost altogether; what number of staff will be transferred and what number dismissed; how long the latter have been in the British Consular Service; and what will be the cost of their pensions.

The cost of maintaining Her Majesty's Consulate-General at Nice in 1955–56 (the last complete year for which figures are available) was £17,650. Consular fees received during 1955–56 amounted to £1,823. There is no reason to suppose that these fees, being paid in respect of essential services, will not in future be paid to Her Majesty's Consulate-General at Marseilles.The appointments of the eleven unestablished locally-engaged members of the staff are being terminated. Seven have been employed in the Consulate-General for ten to sixteen years, and four for two to eight years. Unestablished locally-engaged staff are not entitled to pensions, but terminal gratuities will be paid to all eleven amounting in total to about £3,580. Her Majesty's Consul-General, who joined the former Levant Consular Service in 1926, having reached the retiring age is retiring on pension.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in view of the severe petrol rationing in France, he will consider postponing the closing of the Consulate-General in Nice and its transference to Marseilles until the restrictions in France have been removed; and why the date for the closing has been fixed for 31st January and not for the end of the financial year.

The imposition of petrol rationing need not affect the timing of the closure of Her Majesty's Consulate-General at Nice. The 31st of January, 1957, was chosen as meeting to a reasonable extent the needs both for economy in expenditure and for adequate notice to the staff of the termination of their appointments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what sum Her Majesty's Government propose to allocate in 1957 as their contribution to the funds of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Her Majesty's Government propose, subject to Parliamentary approval, to contribute a sum not exceeding £100,000 to the United Nations Refugee Fund in 1957. As in 1956, £80,000 will be made available as an outright contribution and a further £20,000 will be paid if Governmental contributions to the Fund reach a total of $3·25 million. In 1956, Governmental contributions to the Fund exceeded this figure and the balance of the United Kingdom's 1956 contribution has therefore been paid.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of National Servicemen involved during the past year in the stationing of a British Army in Western Germany.

It would not be in the national interest to give this information.

asked the Secretary of State for War what reports he has received from the United Nations Organisation or the United Nations Emergency Force regarding the death of Second-Lieutenant Anthony Moorhouse of the West Yorkshire Regiment.

I understand that General Burns has sent a report to the United Nations, but that it deals only with the circumstances attending the transfer of the body of Second-Lieutenant Moorhouse, and that General Burns has been asked to provide a fuller report.

asked the Secretary of State for War the total numbers of officers of the rank of colonel, and above, borne on the Active List of the Regular Army at the end of the financial years 1946–47, 1949–50, 1952–53, and 1955–56, respectively.

Including those holding temporary rank, 1832, 1110, 1166 and 1128 respectively.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the concern that has arisen from the knowledge that a person can be certified as insane under the Lunacy Act, 1890, by one doctor at one interview lasting no more than five minutes, with the reasons for certification denied to the person concerned or to relatives; and what action it is proposed to take to minimise the risk of mistakes, which can have a grave effect on the liberty of the individual, and to bring this aspect of national life more into keeping with modern practice.

I do not accept the implication. A summary reception order may be made by a justice of the peace on a certificate by one medical practitioner. It is for the justice himself to examine the person, to make inquiries and to satisfy himself that the person is of unsound mind and a proper person to be detained. The law on this subject is being reviewed by a Royal Commission at the present time.

asked the Minister of Health what provision is made to ensure that important documents and belongings of value taken into a mental institution by a person certified as insane under the Lunacy Act, 1890, are recorded; how this is done; where the record is kept; what information is given in this respect to the patient and relatives; and what precautions are taken to see that this provision is enforced.

Hospital authorities have recently been reminded of the importance of proper control and custody of money and valuables brought with them by patients, that wherever practicable the handing over of money or valuables should be witnessed by a third party who should certify the appropriate record, and that the control or custody of patients' money or valuables should not be delegated to ward staff. The record is kept in the hospital and is subject to examination by my auditors. I have no reason to suppose that information about property which has been so recorded is not available to patients or to others who may be entitled to have it.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Power the quantities of coal, oil and other fuel used in Great Britain for factory space heating, in each of the last three years for which statistics are available.

No regular statistics are collected of the quantity of fuel used for factory space heating, but it is estimated that consumption of all fuels for this purpose is equivalent to about 6 million tons of coal annually.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations the number of registered medical practitioners in each of the High Commission Territories; the number of hospitals; and the number of nursing staff in each territory.

There are 29 registered medical practitioners in Basutoland; 20 in the Bechuanaland Protectorate, and 36 in Swaziland. Of this number two in Basutoland and 10 in Swaziland are nonresident. There are 13 hospitals in Basutoland, 14, including health centres with in-patient accommodation, in the Bechuanaland Protectorate and seven in Swaziland. Including probationers, there are 154 nursing staff in Basutoland, 146 in the Bechuanaland Protectorate and 130 in Swaziland.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations the number of primary and secondary schools, respectively, in Basutoland, Bechuanaland, and Swaziland; the facilities for higher and technical education in each of the territories; and the number of scholarships which have been granted to students from each of the three territories to the United Kingdom or other universities.

There are 957 primary schools in Basutoland, 163 in the Bechuanaland Protectorate and 244 in Swaziland. In Basutoland there are 17 secondary schools, seven in the Bechuanaland Protectorate and ten in Swaziland. These figures include schools with both primary and secondary classes. In answer to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Written Answer given on 4th December, 1956, to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway). At the present time 40 students from Basutoland are on scholarships to universities in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. I will send the comparable figures for Bechuanaland and Swaziland to the hon. Member as soon as they are available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the wheat deficiency payment will be for the period from 1st October to 30th November, 1956; and when it will be paid.

The ascertained average price for about 14·5 million cwts. of mill-able wheat despatched on delivery in the United Kingdom during the second accounting period (1st October to 30th November, 1956) is 22s. 11·5d. per cwt. The standard price for the period is 29s. 0d. per cwt. and the deficiency payment will, therefore, be 6s. 0·5d. per cwt. (£6 0s. 10d. per ton). In addition, approximately 1·4 million cwts. of wheat brought up to millable standard after sale will be included in the payment.Except for a few certificates which are under query the total payment of £4·8 million to about 44,000 growers will be completed early in February.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many eggs, in shell and in other form, were imported in 1956, specifying the countries of origin and the proportion their imports were to total home consumption.

Following is the information.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the future of the national silos.

Yes. The thirteen national silos and one depot drying plant operated by Re-Commissioned Mills Limited during the 1956 harvest, are no longer needed for the Government's warehousing programme. After consultation with the interests concerned, I have decided that these silos and drier should be offered for letting by competitive tender. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Works will invite tenders by public advertisement, in good time for tenants to take possession for the 1957 harvest.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what duties have been allocated to each of the Parliamentary Under-Secretaries.

Duties have been allocated to my hon. Friends as follows:

The hon. Member for Pentlands (Lord John Hope): agriculture, fisheries and food; forestry.

The hon. Member for Craigton (Mr. J. N. Browne): housing and allied subjects; health; local government.

The hon. Member for Dumfries (Mr. N. Macpherson): education; public order: children and miscellaneous social services; development; electricity; roads.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the receipts, in cash, for the three months, October, November and December, 1956, from the taxes on football pools, greyhound racing and bookmakers, respectively.

The receipts of pool betting duty and of bookmakers' licence duty for these months were as follows: