asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in the economic development of Tanganyika in the last 10 years.

Remarkable progress has been made in a number of fields in the economic development of Tanganyika over the past ten years. But the country, which remains predominantly agricultural, is unevenly developed and considerable additional capital investment is required for further expansion.The most substantial progress has naturally been made in the production, marketing and distribution of agricultural commodities. European production has expanded considerably and made a vital contribution to the national income and the territorial revenues. Subsistence farming continues to account for the major part of African agricultural activity, but in a number of areas there has been encouraging progress in the production of cash crops. The cooperative movement has played a very important part in this aspect of development, the value of the produce handled having increased nearly tenfold and now amounting to about 20 per cent. of Tanganyika's exports. A satisfactory feature has been the much greater diversification of agricultural production, in which sisal formerly played an unduly predominant part.The growth in exports of primary produce is indicated by the following comparative figures for 1947 and 1956. Sisal increased in volume by 76 per cent. and in value from £5,470,000 to £10,820,000; cotton by 232 per cent. and from £780,000 to £7,480,000; and coffee by 31 per cent. and from £980,000 to £9,220,000; tea, caster seed, cashew nuts and ground nuts together in value from £260,000 to £3,160,000. Sugar production, mostly for internal consumption, has risen from 7,500 tons to 18,000 tons.Development has by no means been confined to agriculture, however. Mineral production, for example, has increased significantly. By far the most important factor in the past ten years has been the development of diamond mining. The total value of diamonds sold rose from £631,650 in 1947 to £2,855,000 in 1956. In the same period the total value of gold sold rose from £408,440 to £742,000, and of lead from nothing to £1,211,000. In addition, large-scale mineral prospecting and exploration has taken place, particularly by means of aerial surveys.The country's communications system has expanded considerably. In the period 1947–56, road mileage increased from 16,500 to 19,180 miles, and some 280 miles of new railway were built. The number of railway locomotives increased from 67 to 119, coach units from 230 to 454 and goods units from 1,360 to 3,207. Port facilities have been developed on a large scale, particularly at Dar es Salaam and Mtwara, where altogether five new deepwater berths have been built. Lighterage facilities have been improved by the construction of new wharves, and transit shed accommodation has been substantially increased. The net registered tonnage of shipping using Tanganyika ports rose from 2,020,000 in 1947 to 5,179,000 in 1956. In the same period cargo tonnage handled at the four major ports rose from 655,800 to 1,473,000 tons—including export tonnage handled from 410.000 to 694,000.The expansion in trade and commercial activity has been substantial. The total value of external and inter-territorial trade rose from £25 million in 1947 to £90,500,000 in 1956. In the same period the number of companies registered increased from 612 to 1,544, the number of business names registered from 2,199 to 5,356, and commercial bank deposits from £9,900,000 to £22,200,000.All these developments have had the active support of the Tanganyika Government, whose annual recurrent revenue during the period has risen between 1947 and 1956 from £5,600,000 to £17,500,000. Substantial sums have been spent by Government for the development of natural resources and communications on which, for example, expenditure—excluding railways—in the ten years ending June, 1957, totalled £17,250,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many persons in the United Kingdom today enjoy full or partial diplomatic immunity; how many of these are on the strength of an embassy or legation; and how many are members of non-sovereign international organisations.

A total of 3,090 persons, including 898 wives, are at present officially regarded as entitled to claim diplomatic immunity in the United Kingdom as Heads of foreign diplomatic Missions accredited to the Court of St. James's or members of their respective staffs.In addition, 511 persons, including 111 wives, being members of the staffs of foreign diplomatic Missions, enjoy immunity of a restricted kind under the provisions of the Diplomatic Immunities Restriction Act, 1955 (4 Eliz. 2, Ch. 21).Immunities of the kind prescribed in the Diplomatic Immunities (Commonwealth Countries and Republic of Ireland) Act, 1952 (15 and 16 Geo. 6 and 1 Eliz. 2, Ch. 18) are also enjoyed by 2,633 persons, including 869 wives, as High Commissioners of Commonwealth countries in London and the Ambassador of the Republic of Ireland or members of their respective staffs.A like immunity from suit and legal process as is accorded to the Head of a foreign diplomatic Mission is currently enjoyed in the United Kingdom by the Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General of Western European Union, upon whom it has been conferred by Order in Council made under the International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) Act, 1950 (14 Geo. 6, Ch. 14): and by the Chief Representative in the United Kingdom of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community, in accordance with the provisions of the European Coal and Steel Community Act, 1955 (4 Eliz. 2, Ch. 4).Immunity from suit and legal process in respect of things done or omitted to be done in the course of the performance of official duties is at present enjoyed in the United Kingdom by 132 officials of international organisations and by 7 members of the staff of the Delegation of the European Coal and Steel Community.

asked the Minister of Health the number of patients in mental and mental deficiency hospitals who have been detained for periods exceeding 20 years and 10 years, respectively; and what percentage of the total population of these hospitals is represented by these two groups.

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Health if he will give consideration to David Bell being transferred, after twelve years at the Rampton Mental Hospital, to an ordinary mental hospital so that relatives and friends in the London area can visit him more frequently, bearing in mind that if the present position is continued there can be no hope of progress by the patient and much hardship and distress to the parents.

As with all other patients, the progress of this patient is being continually reviewed by the medical superintendent and the board of control. He will be transferred when he is well enough to go.

asked the Minister of Health what recommendations regarding the necessity for a third injection with poliomyelitis vaccine he received from the advisory committee of doctors who considered this matter in December; and what decision in the matter he has arrived at.

The advice I have had is to the effect that first priority should be given to increasing the number of persons in the particularly susceptible groups who are vaccinated with two injections. The position will be kept under review, but for the time being I am continuing to concentrate on this.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give consideration to increasing the imports of Salk vaccine against poliomyelitis to supplement British vaccine and ensure that a more adequate amount is available to protect our children, as considerable anxiety is felt at the small quantities at present being imported compared with the need.

Substantial quantities of Salk vaccine are already being imported to supplement supplies of British vaccine and I am satisfied that good progress is now being made with the vaccination programme. I am of course keeping the position under constant review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received the report of the local inquiry into proposals for the amalgamation of the Counties of Cardigan and Carmarthen for police purposes.

I have received Mr. Nelson's report and have laid it. Mr. Nelson recommends that a combined police authority and a combined police force should be constituted for the two counties, and I propose to accept the recommendation. I am consulting the police authorities of the two counties about a draft amalgamation scheme, which I hope shortly to lay before Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that the present arrangements for the trial of offenders allow sufficient opportunity for the courts to be given the information about an individual offender which they need in considering what treatment is suitable for him; and, if not, what action he proposes to take.

This is an important problem to which I have been giving much thought, in consultation with my noble Friend, the Lord Chancellor. We have come to the conclusion that the arrangements for bringing offenders to trial need to be examined with particular reference to the problem of providing the courts with the information which they need in determining treatment and we propose shortly to set up an interdepartmental committee for the purpose. I am not yet in a position to announce the composition of the committee or its precise terms of reference, but I shall do so as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the number of war disability pensions in payment on 31st December, 1956, 30th June, 1957, and 31st December, 1957, respectively, under each degree of disablement, that is from 100 per cent. down to less than 20 per cent.

Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the number of weekly grants to meet increased rents which have been made by the offices of the National Assistance Board in the County of Lancashire and the total figure involved in the payment of such increased grants.

I am informed by the National Assistance Board that figures are not available for the County of Lancashire, as seven of the 46 offices which serve areas in the geographical county also serve areas, which in some instances are considerable, outside it. In the areas served by those 46 offices, however, about 42,000 weekly assistance grants had been increased up to 8th February by an average of 5s. 7½d. to provide for rent increases under the Rent Act. The Board is not able to give figures in respect of other rent increases nor, for reasons previously explained, to say what is the total expenditure on this account.

asked the Prime Minister if he will effect greater co-operation between Government Departments in the use and exchange of surplus plant and stores so as to render unnecessary sales by auction at uneconomic prices, in view of public disquiet over the methods now pursued.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement of 16th May, 1956. I investigated this matter thoroughly in 1956 as Chancellor of the Exchequer and suggested certain improvements, which have been put into effect. I do not consider that any further elaboration of the procedure is called for.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many cases legal proceedings have been ordered against cinema exhibitors for recovery of arrears of levy payable under the Cinematograph Films Act, 1957; how many of such cases have reached court; and how many have been settled before reaching court by payment of arrears in full with legal costs.

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Works how much accommodation his Department now holds on requisition; and how much has been released in the last six years.

On 1st January, 1958—the latest date for which full information is available—the floor area of buildings held on requisition was 525,000 sq. ft. During the last six years about 10 million sq. ft. of accommodation has been released from requisition.