asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will arrange to broadcast on sound and television giving a factual explanation of the effect of the Rent Act with regard to the decontrolling of rents, and security of tenants.

I gave such a broadcast on Monday, 17th June, after the nine o'clock news. The broadcast was repeated on B.B.C. television the same evening.

Is the Minister aware that since the broadcast people have been queueing up at the town halls complaining that the landlords are taking advantage of the provisions of the Act? Is he aware that in the Daily Herald this morning a number of cases are reported where the right hon. Gentleman ought to take action against the landlords? Will he do something about that?

No, Sir. I do not think there is any case for me to take any action, nor do I think that landlords as a whole are acting unreasonably. I have already expressed to both landlords and tenants the great importance of thinking before they act.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is widespread consternation about the operation of the Act? Will he do something more to make their safeguards known to tenants?

The answer to the next Question will indicate what is already happening to make the safeguards known. I cannot for one moment accept what the hon. Member says.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that those of us who are tenants are thinking and that our landlords are acting?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he proposes to take to secure wider publicity for the Government's explanatory booklet on the effects of the new Rent Act; whether he will supply a copy to each Member of Parliament or those who request one; and whether he will arrange for old-age pensioners to receive a copy free, on production of their pension books.

This booklet is already being sold as fast as it can be printed, and I doubt whether wider publicity is needed to increase its sale. I have arranged for copies of both the English and the Welsh versions to be available in the Vote Office. I do not think that it is necessary to arrange for a special issue to all old-age pensioners.

Is the Minister aware that old-age pensioners are finding that their rents are going up by between 5s. and 15s. a week, and yet they now have to pay to obtain a booklet to explain to them the intricacies of this pernicious Act? Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that he could at least assist old-age pensioners by providing them with the booklet free of charge so that they can ascertain if and when landlords are taking advantage of them under the new legislation?

I do not think that the vast majority of old-age pensioners will have difficulty in getting hold of a copy of the booklet from their friends, if not otherwise, but if they have any difficulty, all they have to do is to go to the local citizens' advice bureau or town hall.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that, having introduced a very complicated Act, the least he could do would be to let people have a free guide to it?

No, Sir; I do not think so. I do not think I should be in favour of distributing free millions and millions of copies of something which costs money to produce.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that the Goole Town Council has over 1,000 applications for houses, that it has ceased the building of houses except for slum clearance, and that last year only 25 council houses fell vacant; and whether he will take appropriate action, under Section 5 of the Housing Subsidies Act, 1956, to ensure that the normal housing needs of small towns are met.

It is for the council to decide how many houses it will build and for what purposes, and to make application to me if it thinks it has a case for additional help under Section 5 of the Housing Subsidies Act, 1956. Goole has not applied.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Goole is still wondering what has hit it as a result of the Government's housing policy? Can he offer no hope whatever to the 1,000 applicants on the waiting list for council houses in Goole, and have I his authority to tell them that he can do nothing for them?

No, Sir. It lies entirely with the Goole Council to decide how many houses it will build. I am placing no restriction on it.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that, with present interest rates and no subsidies, a net rent, without rates, of 52s. 6d. to 54s. weekly makes it impossible for local authorities to build for general needs?

Most local authorities are wise enough to adopt some kind of differential rents scheme or some other arrangement whereby they save money by not excessively subsidising existing tenants, and are thus able to reduce the rents for new houses.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now draw up proposals to increase contributions to housing authorities borne on the Vote of his Department towards the cost of special housing schemes for old people, in view of the rent increases permitted by the Rent Act.

No, Sir. There is already a general subsidy for one-bedroom dwellings to encourage housing authorities to provide accommodation for old people.

Bearing in mind that considerable sums of taxpayers' money will be spent through other Departments as a result of increased payments by the National Assistance Board, does the Minister consider it within his responsibility to take note of these other payments and to advise the Government whether the money is being spent less wisely that way or whether more use could be made of it through direct subsidies to local authorities for old people's housing?

The question relates to contributions to local housing authorities and I pointed out the wisdom of the Government in having arranged that, although the general need subsidy should not remain for other houses, it should remain for the one-bedroomed house, because what we had in mind was precisely the special needs of old people for housing.

If the Government had followed the Labour Party's programme of municipal ownership of private houses, would not the increases of rent have been on a far larger scale?

I think that is quite certain.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, for purposes of comparison, he will state, as on the latest convenient date, the annual charges to be debited to the housing revenue account of a local authority in any convenient area in respect of a typical three-bedroom house and its services built and provided with money borrowed from the Public Works Loans Board for sixty years, and similar loan charges in respect of a similar house as on the corresponding date in each year since and including 1951.

Since the Answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, have it circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Since the Answer contains seven figures, could not the Minister tell us what the first and the last are and how much rise they show in the cost of housing to local authorities?

It would be best if I circulated the figures.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement on the progress of his slum clearance programme.

The slum clearance programme is well under way. The number of unfit houses closed or demolished has gone up from nearly 20,000 in 1954 and just over 25,000 in 1955 to about 35,000 in 1956. The number of people from these old houses who have gone into new homes was 61,000 in 1954, 75,000 in 1955, and 108,000 in 1956. These figures are encouraging, but slum clearance is so important that I want to see the pace quickened, and I hope that local authorities will intensify the splendid efforts they have already made.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether the total amount of building this year will compare favourably with that of previous years?

That is—

And who created the slums?

—a different question which perhaps my hon. Friend will put on the Order Paper. There is no doubt that the amount of slum clearance this year will show an advance on that done in 1956.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House when the local authorities will reach the figure which they expected to reach before the Government introduced their slum clearance programme?

All I can say is that the only two successful slum clearance drives in the history of this country have been carried out under Conservative Governments.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what county boroughs, other than Coventry, have been given his approval to begin new sewage disposal schemes in an effort to check the growing pollution of rivers in their vicinity.

Since 1st January, 1955, fifty-two inland county boroughs, apart from Coventry, have had works of sewerage or sewage disposal authorised which should improve the effluent discharged into rivers in the vicinity.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us how this compares with last year's total of applications? Can he give the House an assurance that he will be sympathetic towards an application for financial help from the authorities concerned, because this is the only effective way to check the growing menace of river pollution?

The hon. Member's Question did not refer to a particular period, and I gave him the figures for the last two and a half years, in which schemes amounting to £11,600,000 have been authorised.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what improvement there has been since the passing of the Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Act, 1951? Can he now see any difference in the rivers in the industrial areas?

I answered a Question on that subject last week and said that sixteen river boards reported an improvement in the condition of rivers.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to what extent he satisfied himself as to the safeguards to the general public against the dust fall-out in the West Cornforth and Ferryhill areas before granting planning permission for the construction of the new Steetly works.

Permission was given by the Durham County Council as local planning authority, and not by my right hon. Friend. But I am assured that the firm's proposals for controlling dust emission were carefully examined before the decision was made.

Is the hon. Member aware that there is great concern in the area in view of what has happened at the Steetly works in the Coxhoe area which is only about two miles from where the new plant is being erected? Is he aware that people in the area are very concerned about the fall-out which may take place when the new works come into operation?

Yes, we are aware of the concern felt in other parts of Durham, but before the Durham County Council gave planning permission there was a conference of the county council, the local authority and my right hon. Friend's alkali inspector. We are satisfied that this firm is doing all it possibly can. We shall, however, watch the position carefully.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now make a statement on the reform of local government finance.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement on local government finance.

I hope to present a White Paper tomorrow.

Is there any reason why we could not have it today? Why, when the Question was down for today, could not we have had the Answer today, instead of tomorrow? Will the White Paper give a complete balance sheet to show what the local authorities will lose by this operation?

The White Paper will be ready tomorrow and I recommend the hon. Member to wait and see.

Will the right hon. Gentleman keep in mind the important debate we had yesterday and its relevance to guarantees about finances for the development of mental health work.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what report he has received from his alkali inspector as to the source of the smell affecting Stockton-on-Tees; and what action has been taken to end this nuisance.

The probable cause of the very bad smell at the end of May was discovered and dealt with. The sources of the remaining smells have not yet been established with certainty, but intensive efforts are being made to solve the problems by all concerned, including the medical officers of the local authorities and my Alkali Inspectorate.

Is the Minister aware of the conference of the eight local authorities and the hospital authorities who at the end of June were asking for very strong measures to be taken to eradicate the smell and who were asking for an alkali inspector to be stationed permanently in the area where the smell has been found? Is not that the best way to deal with the problem?

I have heard of the conference, but I am bound to say that I have not yet received any official approach from the local authorities as a result of it.

asker the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made with the inquiry into the amended plans for the layout of the precincts of St. Paul's; and when he hopes to give a decision.

The public local inquiry into the revised plan for the St. Paul's area will be opened on 15th July, and my decision will be given as soon as possible after I have considered the inspector's report.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made with the approval of the revised plans for the Tower Hill area.

If the hon. Member is referring to a proposal that building should be allowed on a small part of the land proposed for new open space in the development plan, a public local inquiry has just been held into this, and my right hon. Friend is now awaiting his inspector's report.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much parking space is to be provided at ground or other levels in the new New Zealand House, which is to replace the Carlton Hotel.

I understand that the plans provide for parking space for thirty-nine cars under the building which is to replace the Carlton Hotel.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what schemes for supplying piped water in the area of Cheadle Rural District Council, North Staffordshire, have been submitted to him; and how many have been approved, with dates, since 1945;

(2) what schemes for supplying piped water in the area of Biddulph, North Staffordshire, have been submitted to him; and how many have been approved, with dates, since 1945.

As the Answer lists 28 schemes I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

While thanking the Parliamentary Secretary for that reply, can he tell the House how long it takes for the Ministry to make its decision after a scheme is submitted to his Department?

On the average, a matter of two or three months for these.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what grants have been made since 1945 to the local authorities of Kids-grove, Cheadle, Biddulph, and Leek to help provide water and/or sewage schemes in the areas.

No such grants have been made to the Urban District Councils of Kidsgrove or Leek.

The capital equivalent of grants paid or undertaken to be paid by my Department to Cheadle Rural District Council is £7,694 for water, and £108,000 for sewerage; and to Leek Rural District Council £35,000 for water and £4,636 for sewerage.

During the same period my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has also paid or undertaken to pay grants for water schemes for farm purposes totalling £5,000 to Biddulph Urban District Council, and £11,500 to Cheadle Rural District Council.

While thanking the Parliamentary Secretary for that reply, does he realise that the problem throughout the whole of the country is similar to that of the hill districts which I have mentioned? Has not the time come, whichever party is in power, to consider water supplies as being of major importance to the country? Can he say whether the Government intend urgently to do something about water supplies to rural areas in the near future?

If the hon. Member had been present at the recent debate on water supplies, he would have realised that the Government are greatly conscious of their importance.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what arrangements he is making to bring in amending legislation to enable grants to be paid to local authorities for their administrative and warden service expenses in connection with National Parks.

My right hon. Friend cannot hold out hopes of introducing legislation to amend the National Parks Act in the near future.

In view of the Parliamentary Secretary's predecessor's invitation to various bodies to submit proposals for amendment, is not it time to give further consideration to the matter, particularly in view of the discussion in the House the other day?

My right hon. Friend has received various representations from several bodies on these two points, and he will certainly bear them in mind against the time when legislation is considered.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he has yet reached a decision concerning the inquiry into the Derwent Valley Reservoir proposed by the Durham County Water Board.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he has yet received the report on the inquiry into the Derwent Valley proposed site for a new reservoir for the Durham County Water Board; and what decision he has come to.

I am now considering the reports made by the engineering inspector and by the planning inspector who held the public local inquiry into this project, and I hope to announce my decision shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the rateable value of the St. James's Theatre; and the estimated value of the site when the theatre has been pulled down.

The present rateable value of the St. James's Theatre is £3,283, and the value of the cleared site is estimated at £250,000.

Does not this make nonsense of the statement by the Minister last week? Does he not realise that £250,000 is clearly not included in the rateable value? Surely, if that is so—if I am right in my statement, and I believe that I am—the figure of £50,000 which he mentioned last week for compensation in order not to pull down St. James's Theatre pales into insignificance.

I think it is seldom that one finds that the rateable value exceeds the value of a site in Central London; but I simply informed the House that, if the planning permission granted in 1954 were revoked, I estimated that the compensation from public funds would be upwards of £50,000.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that someone has written to The Times offering to start a subscription fund to reach the figure of £50,000 if he will revoke the planning permission?

I also read another letter in The Times describing how hard it was to run an uneconomic theatre.

May I ask the Minister whether he will now indulge in a little mental arithmetic and assess what would be the 20-year purchase at the rateable value? If he does so, he will find that it is £70,000, whereas the value of the site is £250,000. Therefore, it would be to the national advantage to pay £70,000 in order to acquire it, thereby giving the people an asset value of £250,000.

That is as it may be, but the Socialist-controlled London County Council did not think so.

That is no answer for the Tory Government continuing—

Order. The right hon. Gentleman is making a statement. This is Question Time.

May I ask the Minister, through you, Mr. Speaker, whether he really thinks that is an excuse for the Tory Government continuing to sin against the light?

I have nothing to add to my last rather conclusive reply.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what recent representations he has received from the Middlesex County Council in regard to the state of the River Colne below Rickmansworth; and what reply he has sent.

I have received no such representations from the Middlesex County Council.

Is it not unsatisfactory and is not the Minister concerned that he stated in this House last week that the River Colne was in a better state now than for some time; whereas the Middlesex County Council, in a letter it was constrained to write to local authorities, states:

"The county medical officer considers that the river is little better than dilute sewage and constitutes a definite risk to the health of any Middlesex resident who may be tempted to bathe in it."

In the circumstances, does not the Minister think this calls for some action on his part?

No, not by me in the first instance. This is a matter for the Thames Conservancy in the first instance rather than for me.

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman abrogates all responsibility in this matter? Is it right that he should assure people by a statement from this House that the condition of the river is all right, when the county medical officer says it is not?

I am fully aware of my responsibility, but the primary task here rests with the Thames Conservancy. If the Thames Conservancy wishes me to intervene, I am sure that it will communicate with me.

The Minister repeats that there are sixteen rivers where conditions have improved, but hon. Members on this side of the House know from their correspondence that the local authorities in the areas of these sixteen rivers are denying any improvement. Can the right hon. Gentleman explain that?

I was basing my statement largely on the reports of the river boards presented to this House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what decision has been reached by the Government of Tanganyika regarding the lifting of the ban on open air meetings addressed by leaders of the Tanganyika African National Union.

I am told by the Governor of Tanganyika that instructions were issued to the Commissioner of Police on 2nd July for the resumption of the grant of permits for public meetings to be addressed by officers of the Tanganyika African National Union under such conditions as may be specified in individual permits.

We welcome that concession, but may we have some particulars about these conditions? Is not it desirable that Mr. Nyerere, the leader of the Tanganyika African National Union, should have these facilities on his return from the United Nations?

I will consider publishing in the OFFICIAL REPORT the sort of conditions that might be instituted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the numbers of Africans from Tanganyika who are receiving technical training at Makerere College, at the Royal Technical College, Nairobi, at the Yunda Trade School, the number who will be admitted to the new trade school at Moshi and the numbers receiving technical training in the United Kingdom respectively, for the years 1955–57 inclusive.

My right hon. Friend is asking the Governor for this information and will circulate it when received in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of Africans in the mining industry in Tanganyika who are employed in skilled work and the number of Asians and Europeans who are employed on comparable work.

No labour statistics are available yet for the current year. In 1956 African skilled labour employed in the mining industry in Tanganyika numbered 4,342. No Europeans or Asians are known to be employed on comparable work.

Is not it a fact that, although the number of Africans in the territory is very much greater than that of Asians or Europeans, very few Africans are employed in work which requires skilled labour? What is being done to ensure that Africans will have a greater opportunity to become skilled workers in future?

One has to see this matter in perspective. There are about 600 Europeans, 300 Asians and 16,000 Africans doing mining work in Tanganyika. Steps are being taken, both in Government institutions and in the mines, to bring Africans properly along in the advancement of their skill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the recommendations of the Governor of Tanganyika for constitutional advance.

I do not think that I can usefully add to my statement on constitutional advance in Tanganyika during the debate on 4th June, beyond informing the House that the Ministerial system was inaugurated on 1st July.

Is the Colonial Secretary aware that in Tanganyika there is anxiety lest constitutional advance is held back? Can he give any indication when it will be possible to announce direct elections to take place in Tanganyika?

If the hon. Member will read what I said both on 4th June and also on 6th May he will see that I dealt with both those points. I recognise the anxiety to which the hon. Member has referred, but I also recognise the anxiety lest progress should be in the wrong direction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many African children of primary school age there are in Tanganyika; how many of them attend primary schools; and how many go on to secondary schools.

Out of an estimated total of 859,000 African children of primary school age in Tanganyika, 336,079 were enrolled in primary schools in 1956. In the same year, 32,845 African children were enrolled in the middle schools, which are an intermediate stage in the educational system in the territory, and 2,409 in secondary schools.

In view of the fact that less than half the African children of primary school age seem to be in primary schools, will the Minister reconsider the official statement that the new five-year plan may be held back for financial reasons? If the manpower is available, will he give an undertaking that finance will not stop the expansion?

It is not only a question of expense, but, as the hon. Gentleman knows, of establishments and teachers. The Government of the Territory have got what they regard—and my right hon. Friend agrees with them—as a balanced programme, which we intend to pursue.

Is not that exactly the point I have just made? Will the Minister undertake that if the manpower is available, in the terms that he has just described, finance itself will not hold back the development of the plan?

I think that that is hypothetical. I did not say that all the other factors were as the hon. Member presumed.

Will the Under-Secretary say what is being done about these other factors? Are not these figures appallingly low? What is the good of talking about political advance unless some further steps are taken to provide universal education? Will he be more forthcoming and say what is being done to provide the resources to give this education to the African children?

I do not agree with the hon. Member that progress is not being made. I think that hon. Members on both sides of the House realise the problems that still exist in this Territory. Within these limitations, everything is being done to promote education.

Has not there been an immense advance on the position of ten years ago?

That is perfectly true.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken by the Government of Kenya to prevent all forms of racial discrimination in hotels, restaurants and other public places.

In accepting a Motion in the Kenya Legislative Council calling for the progressive elimination of all forms of discrimination in hotels, restaurants and public places, the Kenya Government expressed its strong opposition to racial discrimination. As hon. Members who have visited Kenya recently will realise, there has been a great improvement in this matter in the last few years and the publicity given to the debate on the Motion will doubtless provide a stimulus for further advance. However, while being anxious to secure further improvement by every form of persuasion and guidance, the Kenya Government does not consider that there is scope at the present time for hastening the process by legislation. I agree with the Kenya Government's views.

Will the Colonial Secretary bring to the attention of some of his hon. Friends—who on two occasions talked out a Bill introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) to deal with racial discrimination—the most progressive step taken by the Kenya Government?

I will certainly bring to their attention the action taken in Kenya. I think also that a great many people, including certain trade unions in East Africa and elsewhere, need some guidance on this point.

I welcome the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's answer. Would not he suggest that the Governor might make an announcement that no hotel practising racial discrimination will be used in future for any official function whatever, and that, as an example to the rest of the population of Kenya, the Governor will himself refrain from using such hotels?

I do not know whether a dramatic observation of that kind would be a real contribution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken by the Government of Kenya to establish co-operative societies to assist in land development projects.

The formation of co-operative societies to handle the growing output of cash crops in these areas is encouraged by the Kenya Government.

Is it a fact that the establishment strength is not filled in the co-operative department in Kenya? What are the Kenya authorities doing to correct this position?

I should not like to answer that question without notice. I can assure the hon. Member that the Kenya Government are giving every possible encouragement to this movement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Kenya Government do not intend to publish the Report on Rural Wages.

The Kenya Government decided that publication of the Report would not be in the best interests of either employers or employees, but their examination of the whole question of rural wages will continue in the light of the committee's recommendations, and a full statement of policy will be made after discussions with representatives of both employers and employees.

Why is this? Is the Minister aware that this Report has been awaited with anxiety by the Africans for a long time? Does not he also agree that it is a fact that there is not a single African upon the committee which sat? Is not it unfortunate that, with no African upon that committee, we are not publishing its Report? Will not that have an unfortunate effect upon public opinion?

When the full statement that I have promised is published the hon. Member may think it was wise not to publish the Report at this time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in which Colonial Territories the use of leg irons for the transportation or detention of prisoners is still permitted.

The use of leg irons is still permitted in twenty-three Colonial Territories but they have been used in recent years in Bahamas, Fiji, Kenya, the Federation of Nigeria, St. Vincent, Tanganyika and Uganda only. They are in no cases used as a punishment, but to prevent escape during transfer or to ensure that a prisoner does not injure himself or others.

Is the Minister aware that early last month the Australian Government banned the use of leg irons in New Guinea and that, clearly, the Australian Government regard this as a medieval and barbaric practice? Does not the Minister agree that this is contrary to the Declaration of Human Rights and will he now use his influence to see that these instruments are banned throughout the territories for which he is responsible?

I think it important to remember what I said in the last part of my Answer. These have not been used in all the territories. They are not used as a punishment. The laws governing the use of mechanical restraints are constantly being reviewed in the various territories and there is much evidence to show that legislation is gradually being brought into line with accepted practice.

Why not quicken it up?

Will the Minister reconsider this matter? Is he aware that in the past this form of punishment was used in this country and in other so-called civilised countries, but we departed from that method? Is not it possible to do something to prevent this going on?

I need hardly ask my right hon. Friend to look into the matter. I am sure that he has noted what the right hon. Gentleman said.

Will the Minister consider to what extent effective use might be made of handcuffs instead of leg irons?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why actual expenditure on colonial development and welfare schemes during the year ended 31st March, 1957, was little more than two-thirds of the amount available.

Of the £220 million made available under the Colonial Development and Welfare Acts, 1945 to 1955, £178 million had been committed to approved schemes by the 1st April, 1957, and just over £135 million had been spent. The main factor which governs the rate of expenditure is the capacity of Colonial Governments to execute development works. This capacity has steadily increased and is expected to increase more rapidly in the future.

In view of the need for colonial development, which is admitted on both sides of the House, is it not most unfortunate that there should be this underspending of moneys voted by Parliament for that purpose?

It may be unfortunate, but I have told the right hon. Gentleman the limitations which exist.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply has been given by Her Majesty's Government to the recomemndation of the Constitution Committee of the Bahamas that six members be elected to the Executive Council by the House of Assembly and that the elected Executive Council should advise the Governor on the appointment of public boards and commissions, standing committees and public authorities.

The consideration of the Committee's Report in the Bahamas is not yet completed. The question of a reply does not therefore yet arise.

Is not it a fact that the Committee was devastating in its criticism of the present Constitution? Will the Minister hurry up this matter? Further, will he have more copies of this very important Report placed in the Library and made available to Members?

To the last part of the hon. Member's supplementary question, the answer is "Yes". The Report of the Committee of the House of Assembly is now being considered by the Legislative Council and the Council has sent the Report to a Committee. That is the stage reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the Government of the Bahamas in the terms of its agreement with the firms formally licensed in the Free Port Authority of Grand Bahama will ensure that statutory minimum wages and trade union rights are available to workers in the proposed development of the port.

Firms will be licensed by the Grand Bahama Port Authority and not by the Government of the Bahamas. Under the terms of the agreement with the Port Authority, workers employed by firms so licensed will enjoy the protection of the statutory minimum wages and trade union rights available elsewhere in the Bahamas.

Would not it have been better if the Government had undertaken the construction of this new port themselves? The guarantee would have been very much better than it is in the hands of the American millionaires who are building the port.

No, Sir. I think that this is being done in the widest national interests, and I do not think there is any reason to think that it is being done in the wrong manner.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the restrictions by the Spanish Government on trade and movement between Gibraltar and Spain are still being maintained.

Yes, Sir. I regret that that is still so.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House what representations have been made to the Spanish Government on this subject? Can he also tell us what are the reasons for the Spanish Government's actions?

I suppose the reasons are largely historical. As to representations, we have made them from time to time; indeed, we are constantly pointing out what I believe to be true, namely, that these restrictions are harmful to the interests of Spain herself, as well as to those of Gibraltar.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will consider making approaches to the Government of Liberia with a view to joint action for the controlling of illicit diamond mining on the Liberian-Sierra Leone frontier.

Yes, Sir. I will consider the hon. Member's suggestion in consultation with the Government of Sierra Leone and with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

Is not it a fact that the loss is due not so much to illicit diamond mining, as such, as to diamond smuggling? Will the Minister look into that point also?

I think that that is the larger factor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what decisions have been reached by the Governments of the United Kingdom and Sierra Leone as a result of their discussions with Columbia-Southern Chemicals Company and British Titan Products Limited on the development of Sierra Leone's rutile deposits.

No decisions have yet been reached.

During these negotiations, will the Minister take into consideration the fact that, despite the name "British Titan Products Limited", this is really an international firm and part of an international restrictive cartel? Will he give some assurances that what happened in pre-war days will not happen in Sierra Leone, and that, if the company receives permission to develop, it will really develop and not restrict development in order to prevent some other company exploiting these important deposits?

As the hon. Member knows, negotiations broke down because the Government did not feel that they could grant various things which the company wanted. I think that we had better wait until negotiations open again before we go into the matter any further.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the amounts spent during the current year by the Sierra Leone Government on the development of air services, roads, and railways, respectively.

Approximate figures for the first half of this year are £11,500 for air services, £383,000 for roads and bridges, and £186,000 for the railway.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of the students at the new farm institute at Bukalasa, Uganda, are African, Asian and European, respectively; what are their fees; what financial assistance is available to students; and how many are women students.

The fifty-two students, all of whom at present are male Africans, are charged a fee of £15 a year towards the cost of tuition, board and accommodation. In cases of need Government bursaries up to this amount are awarded and, in addition, each student so assisted receives a personal allowance of £12 a year.

Am I to understand from that Answer that there are no Asian or European students?

That is correct. There are not at present, but I am not aware of any restriction on them.

asked the Prime Minister to what extent the most recent advice from the Medical Research Council in regard to radiation hazards from the fall-out resulting from nuclear weapon tests represented the unanimous opinion of the committee appointed by the Medical Research Council to report on the hazards to man of nuclear and allied radiation.

The most recent advice from the Medical Research Council has been given after full consideration of the available scientific evidence and the various views which have been expressed regarding its significance, and after consultation with the Council's expert advisers and committees. As I have stated previously, there has been no full meeting of the committee which produced the Report on the Hazards to Man of Nuclear and Allied Radiations since its publication in June, 1956, but I am assured that there is no reason to modify in any important respect the conclusions reached at that time.

Are we to understand, therefore, that not only has there been no recent report from the full committee but that the Report to which the Prime Minister referred itself underlines the incomplete character of the evidence before the committee? In view of the fact that some individual members of the committee have expressed their concern about information which has come to light since the Report was published, does not the Prime Minister think that he was ill-advised to give such categorical and definite assurances as he has given in this House?

The evidence is under continuous review, of course, by a special sub-committee of the Council's committee concerned with protection against ionising radiations.

In view of the claims made for the recent bomb tests both by this country and the United States, is not it vital that we should have a complete revision of the earlier investigation made by the Medical Research Council?

That is why this process of revision is continuing.

asked the Prime Minister if his attention has been drawn to Recommendation 140 (1957) of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on nuclear and thermonuclear test explosions; and what action is being taken thereon by Her Majesty's Government.

This Recommendation of the Consultative Assembly was submitted to the Committee of Ministers at the Council of Europe, whose Deputies considered it at a meeting on 24th–28th May. They decided not to support the Recommendation but to inform the Assembly that a conference of the type requested has already been set up by the United Nations.

In view of the anxiety which is expressed in this Recommendation by other European countries who may be themselves on the verge of production, will the Prime Minister intimate that Her Majesty's Government are prepared to agree to the setting up of a committee of European scientists? Further, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he agrees, in view of the recent explosion by the United States of America and what appears to be the failure of the present discussions on nuclear tests at the disarmament conference, that it is time that somebody took the moral leadership? Why should not this country make up its mind not to have any more tests?

I do not know that there is any great moral leadership in setting up a committee. It is only a question whether this expert work had better be done by a committee of the Council of Europe or by the United Nations Committee on Radiation Hazards. In view of the fact that the Ministers of the Council of Europe decided that on the whole it was better not to duplicate this work but to rest upon the United Nations committee, I think the hon. Gentleman will see that it would be difficult for Her Majesty's Government to dissent from their view.

When may we expect the White Paper on the work of the United Nations Sub-Committee that the Government promised us last week?

That is another question. If the right hon. Gentleman will put it down, I will do my best to answer it.

If we are to debate this White Paper next week, is it not becoming rather urgent?

That is why I suggested that the right hon. Gentleman should put a Question on the Paper.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the use now made of the Count and the changed circumstances since it was first introduced. He will move to amend Standing Orders 27 and 28 with a view to abolishing the Count and, as a safeguard, substituting a minimum number of votes to be required in support of a Question before it can be carried.

The right to call a Count is founded on very long-established practice. I am not clear what changed circumstances my hon. Friend has in mind but I do not consider that a procedure of such antiquity should be lightly changed. I would also point out that the need for a quorum is common to almost all assemblies.

asked the Prime Minister what consultations he had with representatives of firms experienced in dealing with the Soviet trade enterprises before he sent his letter to Mr. Bulganin expressing doubt about the possibility of achieving an increased turnover of trade with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

I have no doubt about the possibility of increasing Anglo-Soviet trade even more rapidly than it has been increasing in recent years if the Soviet authorities will respond constructively to the suggestions in my letter. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is of course constantly in touch with firms handling Anglo-Soviet trade.

Is the Prime Minister not aware that the tone of the letter was more liable to upset relationships than to help them, in view of the doubts it suggested whether this matter can be best handled through the machinery which the Soviets have very definitely established and will continue to use?

I hope that the terms of my letter were not calculated to upset the Government of Soviet Russia. The letter was carefully thought out, and I think it was courteous and constructive.

Has the right hon. Gentleman noted the rather friendly note in the speech about Russia delivered during the weekend by the right hon. Member for Woodford (Sir W. Churchill)? Will the Prime Minister assure us that he will not ask the Foreign Secretary to denounce the right hon. Member for Woodford as a fellow-traveller?