asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many electronic computers are now in use in Government Departments; whether more of these machines are to be installed in the current financial year; and if he will give an estimate of man hours saved or staff reduced consequent upon their use.

Ten electronic computers are in use in Government Departments on mathematical or scientific work. Five machines are due to be installed during the current financial year, of which three will be for work of a clerical or statistical nature. No estimate of staff savings consequent upon their use can be given until further operating experience is available.

Can my hon. Friend tell me what measures are taken to ensure that the use of this expensive equipment is co-ordinated between Departments so as not to have unnecessary duplication?

Great care is taken before these machines are installed on preparatory work to ensure that the maximum benefit is derived from them.

Whilst everyone welcomes the scientific developments which will ease the drudgery of clerical work, will the Minister and his colleagues take every precaution against the use of these machines for compiling vast amounts of useless statistics about things not of general utility?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the nature of his objections to amending Section 20 of the Superannuation Act, 1834, so as to allow Civil Service pensioners re-employed in a lower grade to benefit from increase in pay awarded to staff employed in the lower grade.

No re-employed Civil Service pensioner receives less than the current rate for the job he is doing, and the Royal Commission recommended no amendment of Section 20.

Does he not fail to receive any increase given to others in that grade, and is not that the cause of the grievance? Is it not a discouragement to civil servants to go back to work at a lower grade?

He never receives less than tae pay of the grade in which he is employed. Frequently and usually he receives more than that.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the inflationary influences inherent in takeover bids, he will refrain from increasing Government holdings of ordinary shares during his term of office.

Her Majesty's Government are not contemplating making any take-over bids.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that a policy of this nature is, so to speak, prescribing a hair of the dog that bit you as a cure for inflation?

I fully agree with my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the 15 per cent. Purchase Tax has now been withdrawn from the Crayleigh cooker safety device.

No, Sir.

Can the hon. Gentleman explain why?

Because my right hon. Friend has not completed his study of the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an assurance that, in planning the financial needs of those living on small fixed incomes, he will have regard for the policy of greater responsibility for local authorities which may vitally affect the income position of State pensioners, old-age pensioners and others dependent on fixed incomes and difficult to relieve of tax burdens.

I am afraid I cannot make head or tail of my hon. Friend's Question.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this point about those living on small fixed incomes, who may have additional burdens to bear when the proposals for local government reforms are implemented, was made to me by a local deputation of the National Union of Teachers? If I ask the chairman of that deputation to write to my hon. Friend and explain the matter, will my hon. Friend be kind enough to see whether the Treasury is clever enough to know what the National Union of Teachers means?

If, as it now possibly appears, this is a matter connected with rates, it is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government.

If the hon. Gentleman cannot make head or tail of the Question, how is it that the Clerk at the Table accepted it?

Perhaps he was able to make both head and tail of it.

I am obliged to the Chair for helping me out of a dilemma.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an assurance that, in assessing the capital investment programme for the nationalised industries, he has available the most up-to-date figures from the various Departments to whom these industries are under an obligation to supply them.

Yes, Sir, though we are always concerned to imrove our estimating.

It was very difficult to get the Question I wanted on the Order Paper, and I had to adopt this means. Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a feeling among many Government Departments that figures collected from private industry are given more readily, more accurately and more quickly, and that the nationalised industries are dragging their feet? Will he inquire of Government Departments about that and see whether they are as satisfied as he seems to be?

Yes, Sir.

As the Question refers to up-to-date figures, does the Treasury condone the idea of this quite extraordinary report which has been produced by the Board of Trade on women's measurements?

Do let us have an answer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the public anxiety in Rugby regarding the closure of the tax collection office; and whether he will reconsider his decision, bearing in mind the inconvenience caused to Rugbeians having to journey to Coventry or Leamington.

I understand that the town clerk has written to the Board of Inland Revenue, which has explained that the new arrangements will cause little inconvenience to residents of Rugby, but will make a substantial contribution to economy and efficiency.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that it is not the view of the town clerk, nor of the town council, nor of the chamber of commerce, nor of the big industrial firms working in the town? Is it not a fact that no employees will be sacked but will merely move offices? Is not this a matter of penny wise pound foolish?

I can assure the hon. Member that this closing, with others, will result in a net saving in staff and in expenditure. There is widespread confusion in Rugby and elsewhere about the functions of collectors' offices and inspector's offices. It is with an inspectors' office that the public nearly always has to deal.

Can the hon. Member say what other towns of comparable size and economic and industrial importance have suffered this fate?

Perhaps the hon. Member will study the list in my reply of 3rd June to my hon. Friend the Member for Lang-stone (Mr. Stevens).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1)if he will now make a full report, in accordance with the several promises made to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South, including the promise made in April, 1953, on the problems which arise from industrial fluorosis with its effect on vegetation and animal life;

(2)if he will make a full statement or publish a White Paper on the results of the research based upon the observations on cattle which began in September, 1953, at the Fenton Manor Farm. including the effects of fluorosis on teeth, bones, milk and on the development of the calf; and what further action it is intended to take.

My Department's concern with this problem lies in trying to find a remedy for fluorosis in farm livestock, and in giving farmers the best advice we can meanwhile. A full report on the work at Fenton Manor Farm cannot be made until the experiments have been completed, which will probably not be before the end of 1959. Meantime, the hon. Member has already been provided with two interim reports, and I will continue to keep him informed of the progress of the work.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to help machinery cooperatives to assist the smaller farmer to reduce the costs of mechanisation.

My right hon. Friend will always be interested in any practical suggestions for developments of this kind on a commercial basis. Such services are already provided in various ways, for example, through contractors, co-operative societies and agricultural syndicates.

While appreciating that something has been done in this matter, does not the Joint Parliamentary Secretary realise that not sufficient is being done and that some initiative is demanded of the Government to see whether costs of mechanisation can be kept clown in this way?

My right hon. Friend keeps in touch with the central organisations responsible for development of agriculture generally, and if they have any suggestions we shall be happy to examine them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is now in a position to disclose the results of the investigations made by the Lancashire River Board into the excessive pollution of the River Ribble on 3rd and 4th July, 1957, when many thousands of fish were poisoned; and what action he proposes to take against those responsible.

As to the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government to my hon. Friend the Member for Darwen (Mr. Fletcher-Cooke)on 30th July.

Any proceedings would be for the Lancashire River Board to take, but my right hon. Friend understands that it has decided against taking such action.

Is the Joint Parliamentary Secretary not aware of the growing disquiet in the north-west of Lancashire about the heavy pollution of rivers and water courses? Is he further aware that, in the last three months, it has grown progressively worse? Will he not ask the river boards to have keener and stricter supervision and, when possible, to take action against the culprits?

I accept that this matter is causing concern. My right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government are very concerned about this, but there are strict limits to what we can do in this matter, although we will keep in touch with the river boards about it.

Is the hon. Member aware that the continued pollution of this and other rivers is creating grave concern among ordinary, decent, humble anglers, decent working chaps, whose minds are becoming poisoned—they are already poisoned enough against the Government?

I should be sorry to think that while angling they were thinking about the Government.

Will not the hon. Gentleman consider using the default powers in the River Boards Act, 1948, because this is a serious matter?

I will consider that. This particular pollution arose in special circumstances and was aggravated by a severe storm. I do not think that at the moment we have sufficient grounds for using the default powers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take the further increase in interest rates on money borrowed from the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation into consideration in the Annual Review and determination of guarantees; and if he will devise some means of lessening the effects of increased interest charges on those applying for grants for long-term improvements of agricultural land.

Increases in interest rates on borrowings for long-term purposes affect the owner of land directly, and they would be only taken into account at Annual Reviews in so far as their indirect effect might be to increase the level of farm rents. My right hon. Friend has no power under the Farm Improvement Scheme to have regard to interest charges payable by owners borrowing money in order to make long-term improvements.

Is it not the case that what happens in effect is that the taxpayer gives the farmers money largely so that they can hand it over to the moneylenders?

I do not accept that entirely. The money goes mainly to landlords for capital improvement. Interest rates affect Government policy as a whole, but it would not be right for me to discuss them here.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in his draft regulations prescribing standards for slaughterhouse design, he will ensure that adequate provision is made for suitable accommodation and space for meat inspection, following the best European standards.

Yes, Sir. Adequate provision for meat inspection will be required.

Who is the hon. Gentleman consulting in this connection? Will he consult the British Veterinary Association, which has an exceptional knowledge in these matters, as well as others?

We have consulted a very large number of bodies. Without notice I could not be certain, but I should have thought that the B.V.A. would have been consulted.

Can my hon. Friend say when these draft regulations will be published, because the intolerable delay over publishing is causing the greatest inconvenience to local authorities and the meat trade generally?

Yes, Sir. I am aware of the need, and I hope that recommended standards in the form of these draft regulations will be published as a White Paper next week. If we get that, I am sure that it will be helpful to all those whom my hon. Friend has in mind.

Does the Minister realise that there will be an awful row if his right hon. Friend does not introduce legislation about slaughterhouses next Session?

I realise the concern of the hon. Member and of the House in this matter. I share that concern.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now state what progress has been made in the negotiations between the Severn River Board and the British Transport Commission for a scheme to deal with erosion by the River Severn.

I regret that I cannot yet add anything to the reply I gave my hon. Friend on 27th June.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there has been uncertainty about this matter for a very long time? Can he hold out some hope that if I put the Question down again shortly after the House resumes at the end of October he will be able to furnish a more definite reply?

I realise that this has been a long time, but it is a very complicated matter. Answering the latter part of the supplementary question, I hope that all sorts of things will appear in a different perspective after we have had a holiday.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will cause a review to be made by the Milk Marketing Board of allowances paid for the bulk transport of milk from creameries to processing dairies.

These allowances are approved by my right hon. Friend and he knows of no immediate need for a special review.

Is the Minister aware that the concern about the uncertainty of the allowance to be paid in future is handicapping the long-term development of the haulage of milk by hauliers and distributors of milk? Is he further aware that special attention needs to be given to the station allowance paid in respect of milk transported by rail?

These are matters primarily between the Board and those concerned with transport. If there are any particular difficulties in transport by rail, I am sure that if the railway authorities will get in touch with the Milk Marketing Board these are questions which they should be able to resolve. We will keep in touch with the whole matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the present political situation in Nyasaland reflected in the expulsion of two African members of the Federal Parliament from the African National Congress.

No African member of the Nyasaland Legislative Council has been expelled from the Nyasaland African Congress. I assume the hon. Member is referring to the expulsion from Congress of the two Nyasaland African members of the Federal Assembly. This dissension within Congress ranks reflects no change in the political situation in Nyasaland.

May I first express my appreciation of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State is here? I do not mean that sarcastically; I appreciate his presence. Will the right hon. Gentleman look at my Question on the Order Paper? The Question on the Order Paper refers to two African Members of the Federal Parliament. He seems to be replying to a Question on the Order Paper before this. In view of that correction, I hope that I may be allowed to ask a supplementary.

There is nothing in that correction to answer. The hon. Member asks me how the present political situation in Nyasaland is reflected in the expulsion of these African Members. I pointed out that the two Members had been expelled from Congress, the two Members being sitting Members in the Federal Parliament, and that it reflected no change in the territorial political situation in Nyasaland. The purpose of my answer was not to cast doubts on the hon. Member's accuracy but to pin-point what he had in mind.

Is it not a fact that the political situation is changing, largely due to the action of the right hon. Gentleman, in which he is conniving at the actions of Federal leaders? Is it not a fact that since the visit of Sir Roy Welensky to London and the apparent acceptance by the Colonial Secretary of his views, Africans in the Federation are becoming desperate about the situation? Is not the situation changing, as a result of which these two men have been expelled from their party because they went to Salisbury and accepted Federation until 1960?

The hon. Member cannot get away with that. The only thing which this Question reflects is dissension within the ranks of the Nyasaland Congress, and I think the hon. Member will agree that I have enough to answer for without dealing with the internal affairs of the Nyasaland Congress or taking any responsibility for them.

Would it be fair to put it to the Colonial Secretary that the dissension in the African National Congress in Nyasaland is purely one of the tactics to be used in opposing Federation and does not reflect any agreement on the part of anybody in the African National Congress that Federation should continue?

I hope that there are members of Congress who will follow the advice of Lord Attlee when he said, in this House, that if Federation became law the Labour Party of Great Britain would do their best to make it work.

Can we ask the Colonial Secretary for once in a while to answer the question put to him, instead of putting a gloss on the answer which he himself is giving? May I ask him again, is the dissension in the African National Congress, as far as he knows, one of tactics in opposing Federation? If that is so, does it not justify some of the comments which my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby (Mr. J. Johnson)made?

I must repeat that I cannot possibly put an interpretation on the action of people who belong to a body for which I have no constitutional responsibility.

In view of the intense feeling in Nyasaland of the Africans against Federation, can the right hon. Gentleman now give urgent attention to a much more liberal constitution in Nyasaland itself?

As the right hon. Gentleman knows, when I was in Nyasaland fairly recently I discussed with the Governor and with other leading people in the Colony what might be done in that field. I await the recommendations, which will come in due course. I share the right hon. Gentleman's desire that the constituent parts of the Federation shall move in a constitutional and sensible manner towards greater responsibility within the framework of the Federation as a whole.

rose—

On a point of order. May I draw your attention, Mr. Speaker, to the fact that when I rose earlier I was only correcting the right hon. Gentleman, who had answered a Question which is not now on the Order Paper, and that I refrained from putting a supplementary question? In these circumstances, may I put a supplementary question now?

I listened to the hon. Member and I thought he was asking a supplementary question.

No, Sir.

I would not credit to him the offence of asking about another Question on the Order Paper. I took it for granted that what he asked was relevant to the Question which he had put down. I am sorry if I was mistaken about that.

It was not I who was asking a Question which was irrelevant; it was the Minister, as I am sure he will acknowledge, who was answering a Question which was irrelevant and which was not on the Order Paper.

I cannot go into that.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what decisions have been reached by the Government of Nyasaland in regard to the mining of iron ore three miles from the main railway line near Lirangwe; to what extent the Government of Nyasaland will participate in the production of the ore; for what purposes it will be used; and if trade union rights and minimum wage rates will be included in any agreements undertaken with private industrial organisations.

No decisions have yet been reached. The matter is still in the exploratory stage and the question of Government participation has not arisen. Small amounts of ore may initially be mined for cement production. The protective provisions of the Trade Unions and Trade Disputes Ordinance, the Wages and Conditions of Employment Ordinance and the African Employment Ordinance would automatically apply to the employees of any mining company.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a further statement on the case of Njau Kariuki.

I have already placed a copy of the judgment in this case in the Library. In addition to the five convictions in the Jasiel Njau case there were 37 other convictions of detainees, all for common assault, arising out of incidents which occurred at Gathigiriri Camp on 25th January. Of these, 12 of the accused were sentenced to ten weeks' imprisonment with hard labour, 24 to six weeks' imprisonment with hard labour and one was discharged under Section 36 of the Penal Code.

Does not this reveal that there has been the most unsatisfactory state of affairs in this camp for a very long time? Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether the statement which he has placed in the Library includes the report of the disciplinary inquiry into the conduct of the commandant of the camp in not stopping assaults earlier? If it does not, will he say when that report will be available and will he be good enough to send me personally a copy of it?

The hon. Lady ought to see this in perspective. As the sentences suggest, these were only very minor cases of assault. The hon. Lady knows enough about the conditions and the type of men who are detained not to regard this as very, very serious. She asked about the disciplinary inquiry. The inquiry under the Solicitor-General has now been completed and the report is being prepared for submission to the Governor-in-Council-of-Ministers. The Governor will let me know his intentions after he has considered the report. The report is made to the Governor-in-Council, and I do not propose to publish it.

When the right hon. Gentleman says that these were minor offences, is he aware that the offence was that hard-core detainees in this camp who did not confess were tied by their hands some three feet from the ground and flogged with strips of rubber cut from tyres until they did confess? Is this a minor assault?

I was dealing with minor injuries. Only minor injuries were inflicted. The hon. Lady should not thaw from that the belief that there was widespread violence and cruelty at this camp.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies under what enactment female circumcision has been declared illegal in Kenya; how many prosecutions for illegal circumcision have occurred in the Meru tribal area since the practice was prohibited; what has been the range of fines imposed; and how many parents have been imprisoned.

The practice is contrary to Sections 230 and 237 of the Penal Code but the Kenya Government's policy of eradicating it is most effectively pursued through the tribal authorities. Since the Meru tribal authorities in May of this year declared it to be contrary to modern tribal law and custom 254 prosecutions have been brought in African courts and 239 have led to convictions. The range of fines imposed varied from 50/shs. to 400/shs. and 65 persons have served terms of imprisonment in default of payment. I have no information on how many parents have been imprisoned.

While we would all deplore the horrible practice of female circumcision, may I ask the Colonial Secretary if he agrees that the right way to deal with it is not by legal prosecutions, in which the parents of the girls who have inflicted this practice on themselves without the parents knowing may be brought to court and be heavily fined? Is he aware that the fine may be as much as 400 shillings in the case of a man whose monthly wages are only 50 shillings, which amounts to a crippling burden, and, in default, imprisonment? Is not this a barbaric way of dealing with a barbaric custom, which must be dealt with by educational methods?

I am all for education, but I think that parental responsibility is a good thing in Kenya, as in Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can now make a statement on increased African representation in the Kenya Legislative Council.

The African members have asked for increased African representation in the Kenya Legislative Council. This is one of the aspects of constitutional development on which I have been able in the last few days to have useful talks with the Governor, the three elected European Ministers and the Asian Minister for Works and with Mr. Mboya and Mr. Ngala. These helpful and friendly talks have helped me to clarify a number of the issues involved.

I am hoping to visit East Africa later in the year and to be available to take part at an appropriate stage in the further discussions in Kenya which will clearly be necessary.

Whilst welcoming the announcement that the Minister intends to go to East Africa to carry on these discussions, may I ask him that when he is there he will do his utmost, in view of the fact that the Asians and the Arab groups have endorsed these African claims, to secure also endorsement by the European group?

If by "African claims" the hon. Member means claims to increased African representation, I could not, of course, deal with that question in isolation from other aspects of the constitutional problem, but I welcome the recognition by the European-elected members that in certain circumstances an increase in African representation should be a feature of any settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement about the future of the Royal Technical College, Nairobi.

The Royal Technical College was set up in 1954 by an Act of the East African High Commission to provide in the East African territories facilities for higher technological, professional and vocational training. The question of introducing degree courses at the Royal Technical College is at present under consideration, but no decision has yet been reached.

Does the hon. Gentleman not think that, in the immediate future, this college would be better employed in undertaking work equivalent to the level in this country reached in National Certificate and Higher National Certificate, and if it is to do work at a higher level, would it not do better to give its own associateship rather than attempt to give a degree at the present time which might not be accepted in this country or elsewhere?

No, Sir; I think that the arrangements are perfectly adequate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in implementing the Milbourne Report on the commercial development of Gibraltar harbour.

Plans for improved oil bunkering and watering of ships have been worked out. The oil company concerned is willing to come into the scheme. Arrangements for certain Admiralty wharves to be used as part of the commercial port have been discussed and it is hoped will soon be completed.

Can my right hon. Friend tell me whether any actual progress has been made in preparing these deep-water berths, and whether both fuelling and watering connections are available at the North Arm?

No, Sir. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretray of State was in Gibraltar recently and addressed himself, among other things, to this problem. The preliminary administrative work is being carried out, and I think that the coming in to the scheme of that particular oil company is something by which we are all gratified. The Admiralty have now made arrangements to produce detailed plans for the loan of their wharves to the Gibraltar Government, and these are going ahead. All the difficulties, one by one and quickly, are being moved out of the way.

Can my right hon. Friend say if the tendency for American shipping lines to use Algeciras rather than Gibraltar is continuing?

Yes, Sir; it is at the moment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet been asked to receive a delegation from the Legislature of British Honduras for the purpose of considering their plans for economic development.

No, Sir, but it has always been the intention that the visit of the delegation last year should be followed by further discussions with a delegation this year on financial and economic problems. No date has yet been fixed for these further talks, but it is expected that they will take place in the autumn.

Has the Under-Secretary of State any information to give to the House as to whether the present Administration in British Honduras is willing, and is preparing plans of this kind?

Yes, Sir I certainly think so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has considered a report of the results of the official visit of the Member for Natural Resources of British Honduras to the United States of America and Guatemala: and whether he will make a statement.

I understand that the Member for Natural Resources recently visited the United States to investigate certain possibilities of the utilisation of the resources of British Honduras forests, and visited Guatemala to inquire about the system of oil prospecting licences there. The Member made a public statement on these visits at a meeting of the Legislative Assembly on the 7th June. I have not seen the text of this statement, but this is primarily a matter for the local Government, and I should not, in the normal course, expect to receive a report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what official advice he has given to the Legislative Councils of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland regarding the published proposals of the Federal Government of the Rhodesias and Nyasaland on changes in the franchise.

None, Sir, regarding the franchise proposals of the Federal Government in regard to the Constitution Amendment Bill, but as I stated in the House on 9th July, I told the Governors of Northern Rhodesia and of Nyasaland that no objection was seen to the passage of a resolution by each of the Legislative Councils that they did not object to the introduction of the Federal Constitution Amendment Bill. The answer also explained my reasons for this view.

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the report in today's Press that the Constitution (Amendment)Bill was only carried by a majority of one in the Federal Assembly yesterday? Is he aware that the African Affairs Board has denounced these franchise proposals and that many Europeans in the Federal Parliament have also opposed them? Will he therefore reconsider giving his endorsement to proposals which may be very dangerous in inflaming opinion in these territories?

The hon. Gentleman is once again wrong in his detail, and a very important detail. The Bill was carried by the two-thirds majority which is necessary in order to secure an amendment of the Constitution. As I know that the hon. Gentleman and many people outside this House are interested in this matter, I should like to answer his questions at greater length. The African Affairs Board has reported to the Assembly that the Constitution (Amendment)Bill is, in its view, a differentiating Measure. Since then, yesterday, in fact, the Assembly has passed the Bill. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations has not received any information that the Board has requested the Speaker of the Federal Parliament to ask the Acting Governor-General of the Federation to reserve the Bill for Her Majesty's pleasure on the grounds that it is a differentiating Measure. If such a request is made, the Acting Governor-General of the Federation will transmit it to my noble Friend.

Do I understand that the Minister is now answering Question No. 66, which is in my name, because he did not say so in the first place?

I was not answering that Question, but, in case the hon. Gentleman's Question was not reached, I thought it might help him and the House if I referred to it in my answer.

This will be the first time since the Federal Constitution came into operation on which the African Affairs Board has certified a Measure as being differentiating. If it reports it in the constitutional way, it will come to the Secretary of State. May I ask him whether, in view of the fact that this is an important issue and that this is the first time it has arisen, he will give an assurance that he himself and the Government will not make up their minds on a final decision about this matter until Parliament resumes in the Autumn?

That is a perfectly proper question which the right hon. Gentleman has asked. It is speculative, in the sense that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations has not received any official information that the Board has asked the Speaker of the Federal Parliament to ask the Acting Governor-General to reserve the Bill. If he is so asked, it will come, not to me, but to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, and if my noble Friend recommended to Her Majesty that Her Majesty should give assent to the Bill, an Order in Council would be necessary. This Order in Council would have to lie on the Tables of both Houses of Parliament for 40 sitting days.

Is it not a fact that, under these proposals, the Europeans will not only elect their own European Members but will also elect the African Members? Is the Minister aware that it has been widely stated in the Federation that, when Sir Roy Welensky came here, the Minister gave his assent and consent to these proposals? Will the right hon. Gentleman therefore care to deny or to confirm that, because of the very great misunderstanding in the Federation about the structure suggested in the proposals?

I would recommend the hon. Gentleman and all others interested to read the very fair leading article in the Manchester Guardian, which sets out in great detail the advantages and some of the disadvantages of this procedure. I would urge him also to recognise that through this procedure persons are placed for the first time on the electoral roll, and that this represents a very considerable advance and one which I hope hon. Members on neither side of the House will tend to forget.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer my Question? Is it not obvious that this is a two-tier system, and also that the Europeans elect their own Members and also elect the African Members on the lower tier?

Everybody who qualifies is entitled to vote under the proposals as put forward by Mr. Greenfield on either the A or B roll. Mr. Greenfield has also said in the Federal Parliament in the last two or three days that they would be prepared to consider sympathetically an Amendment to reduce the qualification from £180 to £150 a year, which would have a considerable effect on the number of Africans enfranchised.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent in the fixing of minimum wage rates in the Colonies, representatives of the workers affected by such wage rates are consulted.

Legislation in the majority of territories provides for worker representation on wage-fixing bodies. Elsewhere workers are in practice usually represented on wages advisory boards.

In view of the appallingly low wage rates in many of our Colonies, will the Under-Secretary investigate this matter in order to strengthen the representation of the workers and in order to foster trade union organisation while it is clear that living standards should be raised?

All Colonial Governments are aware of the basis of wage fixing legislation in this country and have been encouraged to follow the same pattern.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will recommend to the Governments of the Colonial and Trust Territories the introduction of schemes of family allowances, particularly where low wage rates are received by the majority of the indigenous populations.

No, Sir. Families in need of assistance are the concern of the respective Governments, but the form and extent of such assistance must be decided in the light of local circumstances.

In view of the fact that in this country we have adopted a system of family allowances, and in view of the enthusiasm of the Secretary of State for upholding parental responsibility, does not the Under-Secretary think something should be done to give assistance to families in the Colonies and to foster a system of family allowances such as we have here?

The hon. Member should remember that family allowances were introduced here at a late stage in the development of our economy and of our system of social security. It seems to me that the first aim should be to raise basic wage levels so that they are sufficient to support a man and his family as soon as he is fully employed as a wage earner.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that when the French introduced family allowances in Dahomey, somewhat retrospectively, one of the civil servants obtained more than £1,000 in one payment because of the immense numbers of his children?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in which Colonial and Trust Territories schemes of family allowances have been introduced.

In none.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply has been sent by Her Majesty's Government to the resolution passed by all the unions of Malta Government employees and sent to him at the beginning of July regarding discharges from defence departments, the provision of alternative employment and a general revision of salaries and wages.

A reply is still under consideration. I hope it can be sent before the end of the week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the purpose of the Special Branch in Uganda, the number of its personnel, and the annual expenditure by the Uganda Government on it.

Special Branch is the branch of the Police Force charged with investigation of matters which may affect law and order and the security of the Protectorate. It is not the practice to disclose the size or expenditure of such branches.

Is the Colonial Secretary aware that the activities of this Branch have become very near to a complete farce? In view of the improvement in the political situation in Uganda and the need to increase expenditure on some of the other departments in Uganda, has not the time arrived for a review to be made of this expenditure?

I could not accept the charges of the hon. Member. I am sure that the Governor and the Protectorate Government, whose responsibility this is, will notice his suggestion for alternative use of this money, but I cannot accept it myself.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many secondary schools in Cyprus now remain closed by order of the Cyprus Government; and how many children are being deprived of schooling as a result.

One secondary school, the Larnaca Lyceum, was closed from November, 1956, until the summer vacation began last month. I have no figures to enable me to give a precise answer to the second part of the Question, but the number is probably not large.

Could the Minister say whether there is any prospect of this school reopening after the summer holidays? How can it help the maintenance of law and order in Cyprus for any number of these school children to be idle all day? Can he say whether anyone is training teachers, or what happens to their livelihood when schools are closed?

There has been a most spectacular improvement in the education situation in Cyprus compared with last year. If this school is prepared to accept the requirements of discipline and good order, it could be reopened this year. I would remind the hon. Lady and the House that this was a school where the two people who tried most to keep discipline, the secretary of the committee and the senior English master, were brutally murdered. I am not prepared to go beyond the statement of the Governor that certain conditions must be accepted before the school is reopened.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is now able to make a statement on the Government's proposals for discussions with representative Cypriots on the constitutional future of their country.

I have nothing to add to my hon. Friend's reply on the 25th July to the hon. Member for St. Pancras North (Mr. K. Robinson).

Is it not outrageous that the House should be adjourned tomorrow for three months without hon. Members being given any information about the plans of the Government for the future of Cyprus? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this matter is coming again before the United Nations before the House reassembles and this Government will stand condemned before the world, as it did by the Resolution passed at the last meeting of the General Assembly?

In order to prevent reasonable people suggesting that it was outrageous, we had a full day's debate a fortnight ago.

Were we not told in that debate that the Government were waiting for certain things to happen and we did not know what they were? Can the right hon. Gentleman now tell us whether the Governor has returned with any instructions to start discussions on the future of the island?

Being anxious, as we all are, for a settlement, those who are most anxious will, I think, keep silent.

Would the right hon. Gentleman make the intentions of the Government quite clear? Are they prepared to allow the present deadlock to continue indefinitely, or do they intend to make a statement about their proposals as soon as this House has safely dispersed for the Recess?

The hon. Member knows that that rather ungenerous dig at the end of his question was hardly justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many cooperative societies have been started in the past twelve months in the Eastern Region of Nigeria; and if he is satisfied that the staff of the Registrar of Co-operatives is numerically adequate to deal with the increase, and that the advertised qualifications and salaries for auditors are adequate, in view of the higher standards required and salaries given for British auditors.

One hundred new societies were started in the last twelve months. I am informed that the Eastern Regional Government does not consider the staff of its Co-operative Department to be adequate and that steps are being taken to improve the situation. I am also informed that the work at present performed by the auditors is regarded as commensurate with their qualifications.

Do I understand from that Answer—which I heard indistinctly owing to the noise which was being made—that in fact the auditors are to be brought up to a standard commensurate with those of auditors in this country?

As I said, the work at present performed by auditors was regarded as commensurate with their qualifications.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of the small number of graduates produced by the present educational system in Sierra Leone and inadequate educational standards generally, what further consideration is being given to educational development, particularly in view of the increasing need of well-qualified Africans in Sierra Leone.

The Sierra Leone Government are to give educational development the highest priority. As the hon. Member will know from my reply to his Question on 16th July, a statement of policy is to be put before the House of Representatives and I would suggest that he awaits this.

Does the hon. Gentleman appreciate that, unfortunately, there have been somewhat poor results so far? In those circumstances, can we be assured that steps are being taken, or proposals are to be applied, which will improve that situation?

I do not think I have anything to add to the Answer I have given.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds the Minister of Health in Sierra Leone was unseated after the general election; how many petitions have been presented against elected candidates, and for what reasons; and what is the present political position in that Colonial Territory.

After considering a petition against the Minister's election, the Supreme Court found that corrupt practices had occurred and that undue influence had been exercised in the constituency; and it declared the election void. Nine election petitions have been filed in all, involving such matters as corrupt practices, irregular procedure by returning officers, and nomination by unqualified persons.

The new Government, formed after the recent elections, is now functioning and the new House of Representatives has concluded its first meeting, in which it tackled its business in a constructive manner.

How many of these elected candidates are not taking their seats and, therefore, not acting in that Parliamentary sense?

So far, the outcome of only three hearings is known. All have been successful.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is his policy regarding land tenure in the African townships of Northern Rhodesia.

The Northern Rhodesian Government are considering one aspect of land tenure in African townships, the facilitation of African leasehold tenure in African township and municipal areas, as I explained in my reply to the hon. Member's Question on 8th May. Apart from that, the Northern Rhodesian Government recently established a committee to investigate land tenure in urban and peri-urban areas, with particular reference to the need to encourage capital investment and other development.

Is it not a fact that the Northern Rhodesian Government have had a Bill on the stocks for the last six months to allow Africans to have title deeds to land, arrange mortgages, and be given some security in their holdings in African townships? I was told out there that they were being held up by the dilatoriness of the Colonial Secretary——

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Have you noticed the long period which has been taken on these Questions to the Colonial Secretary. Is it in order for hon. Members to give information rather than ask for information in their supplementaries?

Really, a supplementary question should be a question, as the words imply, but I have frequently heard a supplementary question put in such a way that one is in doubt as to who is answering the Question and who is asking it.

May I ask it now, Sir? Is it not a fact that the Rhodesian Government are waiting for the Colonial Secretary to alter or repeal the 1924 Ordinance so that they can get on with their own Bill in their Legislative Council? Why is the Colonial Secretary so slow in taking action here?

I am trying to alter a situation which was tolerated throughout the whole tenure of office of the late Socialist Government. I am doing my best. I have had nothing but praise from the Northern Rhodesian Government for the spirit with which we are tackling this quite difficult problem.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proposals have been made by the Government of the United Kingdom and by the Governments of the Caribbean area to replace the s.s. "West Indian", which is likely to be withdrawn at the end of the year owing to lack of financial backing.

The agreement for operation of the ship expires next January. The West Indian Governments, whose responsibility this is, have rejected proposals for renewal because the subsidy proposed would involve too great a proportion of the expected Federal revenue. Other proposals are now being considered by those Governments and it is not necessary for Her Majesty's Government to intervene at this stage.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that The Times shipping correspondent referred to this boat as a symbol of growing kinship, and would he not agree that Federation of the West Indies can be a complete mockery if there is not sufficient transport and communication? Will not the United Kingdom do something to assist in this regard, so that there may be really adequate communications and transport?

It is the hope that inquiries which are now proceeding will lead to a replacement scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement about the laws passed in Jamaica recently designed to encourage the establishment of secondary industries there; and what are the prospects of these laws being extended to include other British. West Indian territories when Federation is implemented.

The Industrial Incentives Law. 1956, and the Export Industry Encouragement Law, 1956, have been recently enacted in Jamaica to encourage the establishment of secondary industries. Under these two laws, together with the Pioneer Industries (Encouragement)Law, 1949, persons wishing to establish or expand industrial undertakings may obtain tonnage tax, Customs Duties and income tax concessions. This legislation is somewhat complicated, and I am arranging for copies of it to be placed in the Library.

A variety of legislation having similar objectives exists in most of the other British West Indian territories. I cannot prophesy how the establishment of Federation will affect this.

Will not my hon. Friend agree that this is very sound policy which ought to be copied throughout the Colonial Empire wherever possible?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the estimated reserves of bauxite in Jamaica; and what are the prospects of the rate of output of bauxite being still further increased.

The reserves of bauxite in Jamaica are at present estimated at between 500 and 600 million tons. Output is expected to increase from the current annual rate of 3⅓ million tons to between 7 and 9 million tons by 1960.