asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what representations have been received from the African Representative Council of Northern Rhodesia regarding the proposed constitutional changes.

None, Sir; but the African Representative Council started a new Session on 11th June, during which the proposals for constitutional change are due to be discussed. When I receive a report of the proceedings I will write to the hon. Member.

I thank the right hon. Gentleman, but is he aware that Mr. Sokota, representing the African Representative Council, has put forward proposals and has criticised the present suggestions on the ground that while there are more than 2 million Africans and 71,000 Europeans, the Africans have only eight representatives against the fourteen representatives of the Europeans?

Yes. I had rather an interesting talk with my friend Mr. Sokota when he was in London. When I receive the report of the proceedings which I have asked for, I will let the hon. Member know.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the negotiations regarding the future of Cyprus.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now make a statement about the future of Cyprus.

A statement will be made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister after Question Time today.

Can the right hon. Gentleman confirm that the decision of the Government has now been postponed again? Is he aware that while we feel it has been disastrous during this year that a decision should not have been reached, we would welcome it if the Government would assist a settlement?

I have nothing to add to my Answer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps the Government of Cyprus will take to prevent the incitement to murder and civil war of the Turkish Cypriot population by means of radio broadcasts and newspapers from Turkey.

Her Majesty's Government have made the strongest representations to the Turkish Government about the tone and content of recent broadcasts and newspaper articles The Cyprus Press censor has on one occasion prevented the circulation of Turkish newspapers and will do so again whenever necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Greek Cypriots and how many Turkish Cypriots were in detention or under arrest in Cyprus for offences against public order on the most recent date for which figures are available.

On 14th June there were 542 Greek Cypriots detained under the Detention of Persons Law and 281 Greek Cypriots serving prison sentences for offences connected with the emergency. Two Greek Cypriots and 63 Turkish Cypriots were held under arrest pending policy inquiries into recent offences against public order.

While I appreciate that those figures are not very recent, may I ask whether the hon. Gentleman is aware that they may lend credence to the widespread view that Her Majesty's Government are prepared to tolerate acts from one section of the population in Cyprus against which they took the most ruthless measures when they were perpetrated by members of the majority?

I very much regret what the hon. Gentleman has said, particularly at a moment such as this. There is no truth whatsoever in these accusations, and the figures of persons under arrest speak for themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proceedings the Government of Cyprus now proposes to take against Dr. Fazil Kuchuk and Mr. Raouf Denktash, in view of their repeated violations of the emergency regulations.

No proceedings have been taken against Dr. Kuchuk and Mr. Denktash. At the present time I would prefer to say no more than that.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Greek Cypriots and how many Tukish Cypriots are serving in the police mobile reserve and in the auxiliary police, respectively.

There are 536 Turkish Cypriots in the mobile reserve and no Greeks, and 1,281 Turkish Cypriots and 56 Greek Cypriots in the auxiliary police.

What steps is the right hon. Gentleman taking to make the administration of Cyprus less dependent upon the British policemen in the various reserves?

E.O.K.A. terrorism is entirely responsible for the failure of the Greeks to join these two forces and the consequent fact that these forces are now so largely Turkish.

Whoever was responsible for it, that was not the question. Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the question, which is whether in present circumstances, which are now somewhat different, he or the Governor will, so far as possible, cease to rely upon the services of an almost exclusively Turkish force?

I have answered the Question on the Order Paper, and any supplementary questions will fall more in place when we have a general discussion on Cyprus.

Have the Turkish police in fact shown any reluctance in dealing with Turkish rioters?

No. They have behaved extremely well under very great difficulties, and I think that much praise is due to them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will take action to supply modern typewriters and equipment to the modern school in Praslin in the Seychelles to enable the standard of teaching and instruction to be raised.

The Seychelles Government recognise the need for improved training in typewriting and propose to meet it as funds become available by providing commercial courses at the proposed new technical school for students whose basic education is already adequate. They believe that these proposals are to be preferred on educational grounds to the implied continuation and development of commercial courses in the secondary modern school.

While I am much obliged to the Under-Secretary of State for his Answer, may I suggest that the real point is whether they are to get modern equipment or not? My information is that the equipment in the schools is dilapidated and obsolete. Will the Government face the question of providing the Seychelles, which we know is very far away, with modern equipment for this instruction?

The typewriters are not of the most modern type but typewriter tuition does proceed. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that it is the intention of the Government when the new school is built to provide up-to-date equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give instructions to ensure that all clinics in the Seychelles are supplied with refrigerators for the keeping of sera and vaccines.

For reasons which I have explained to the hon. Member in a letter, I am satisfied that the present arrangements are adequate.

While thanking the Under-Secretary of State for the very long letter he wrote to me, which was extremely informative on this matter, may I ask whether he is aware that those who are in touch with medical people in the Seychelles still feel that there is a case for keeping serum in the clinics? Will be check the information given to him about expert opinion among medical officers on the spot on the supply to the clinics?

I do not think I have any need to check the medical information because I did that before I wrote to the hon. Gentleman. Perhaps I might ask him if he would forward a copy of the letter which I wrote to him to his informants in the Seychelles. If they are still worried, perhaps we can take up the matter further.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many visits detainees in Lokitaung detention camp, Northern Province, Kenya, are allowed to receive from relatives per month; how many letters they are allowed to send and receive per month; and what is their daily water ration.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the convicts at Lokitaung prison, since there is only one detainee there. In common with all other convicted prisoners in Kenya, those at Lokitaung may be allowed by the officer-in-charge once in each month the privilege of visits from relatives, and to write and receive one letter. Water is not now rationed at Lokitaung.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his Answer confirms one at least of the facts in the letter from this prison camp which has caused so much excitement? Is the Colonial Secretary also aware that, almost weekly, hon. Members of this House are now receiving letters, not merely from these out-and-out Mau-Mau convicts but from detention camps throughout Kenya, and it is quite impossible for hon. Members at this distance to learn the facts? In view of that, will he say whether members of the Kenya Legislative Council who represent Africans there have the right of free access to this prison came just as Members of Parliament would have access to prison camps in this country?

In reply to the three questions asked by the hon. Lady, my Answer in no way confirms any one of the charges made by these convicts. I dealt with this problem in great detail last night. The restriction on receipt of mail, for example, applies to all convicts, not just this particular lot, whether European or African. In reply to the second part of her supplementary question, if the hon. Lady is now receiving large numbers of letters from detainees, it is all part of a campaign to try to smear the security forces and the Administration in Kenya. In regard to the last part of the supplementary question, I have nothing whatever to add to what I said in the debate last night.

Further to the last answer, I do not think that the right hon. Gentleman dealt at all with the third question last night. I was present and heard the whole of the debate. May I ask him, therefore, if he cannot give a simple reply to that question? Is is possible for African members—and, indeed, European members—of the Kenya Legislative Council to visit these camps or prisons and see the conditions there?

There is a later Question on the Paper on that point.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the result of the investigation of the charges made in a letter by five prisoners at Lokitaung, Kenya, a copy of which has been forwarded by the hon. Member for Eton and Slough, particularly the charge that the prisoners were compelled to draw their water from a well condemned by the doctors and in which dogs' carcasses and filth had been thrown for years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he has approved the policy of the Kenya Government in keeping political prisoners in the desert prison of Lokitaung without water;

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the Government of Kenya has now concluded its inquiry into allegations of brutality and physical hardships suffered by prisoners at Lokitaung Prison in the Northern Province of Kenya; what were the findings; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement regarding the inquiry of the Kenya Government into the conditions at Her Majesty's Prison, Lokitaung, and, in particular, the complaints of ill-treatment of political detainees.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any statement to make on the conditions and treatment of political prisoners in Her Majesty's Prison, at Lokitaung, in Kenya.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the inquiry that is being held by the Kenya Government into the conditions of political prisoners serving sentences there.

I would refer the hon. Members to my reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 11th June.

As the only inquiry which has been made has been by a senior officer of the Defence Department of the Government of Kenya and in view of the fact that over the last two years—not only just recently—hon. Members have had frequent complaints, which we have always referred to the Minister, will the Minister now establish an independent and impartial judicial inquiry so that these charges can be met?

No, Sir. I will not do any such thing. I would ask all hon. Members to read the very full statement I made last night. The HANSARD containing it is not yet available to hon. Members, but when it is I would advise them to read it. If after reading it they have anything further to pursue, I am always ready to answer Questions.

As no person who is not a member of the Administration has been to the prison since these complaints were made, is not it essential, in view of the necessity to deal with these rumours once and for all, for an impartial inquiry to be held?

I dealt with that last night and I gave the list of people of all sorts and kinds, official and unofficial, who have been at the prison in recent months. I must repeat my plea that, on matters affecting the honour of the Kenya Legislative Council and a particular officer, hon. Members should read what was said last night before asking ill-thought-out questions and still further disseminating suspicion and uncertainty which is quite unjustified.

The Colonial Secretary must not add to his bullying of the House last night by lecturing us now. Is not it the case that normally the administration of these prisons is within the reach of independent observers? This prison is hundreds of miles away and no independent observation can be made, or has been made, by European or African members of the Legislative Council, nor anything of the sort. Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that, quite apart from anyone's honour, there is an obligation on him to ensure that there is some independent check upon the activities and administration of these institutions, which are a long way removed from civilisation?

Many hon. Members here now were not here last night. I must ask all of them to read what I said. If thereafter they still think there is anything worth pursuing, I will readily answer Questions.

I am sorry to persist, but will the Colonial Secretary answer the fair question which was put to him? Does he recognise that, where the Administration is not in touch, there is a particular obligation upon him to have some special inquiries made and special oversight of it? May I have a straight answer to that question?

The answer is that I do not think there is any need whatever to do beyond what I said last night had been done, which I believe will leave all fair-minded people convinced of the truth of the answers given.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the Prison Visiting Committee last visited Lokitaung Prison, Kenya; and how many visits have been paid during the past five years.

It has not been practicable to appoint official visitors to Lokitaung Prison since people were not available who could visit this prison regularly. The prison is, however, visited regularly by the visiting justices, who perform the same functions of inspection as official visitors, and also by senior prisons officers.

As the visiting justices are, I understand, the Provincial Commissioner and the District Commissioner, surely the right hon. Gentleman will realise that that kind of visit is not the sort of independent visit with which we are concerned? Quite apart from any of the immediate charges, would not he agree that it is not satisfactory for any such establishment to be without some kind of independent visiting?

No, Sir. I cannot agree to that. As I said at great length last night, people who are more concerned than anybody else to clear the Administration of charges and to arrive at the truth have arrived at certain conclusions. I gave a long list of other people who have also been to the prison recently.

Is it on this Question that the Colonial Secretary proposes to tell us whether he will allow members of the Legislative Council to visit the prison, or is there some other Question on which he proposes to do so?

The hon. Member can read the Order Paper for himself.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent elected members of the Kenya Legislative Council are allowed to visit detention camps and prisons in the Colony; and how many such visits have been made during the last twelve months to Lokitaung Prison in Turkana District.

Both in detention camps and prisons all visits are at the discretion of the officer in charge or the Commissioner of Police; convicts may, as a privilege, receive one visit a month from friends. No visits have been made by elected members of the Kenya Legislative Council to Lokitaung Prison.

What answer is being given to the elected members' request that they should be allowed to visit this prison in particular? Has the Minister seen the report in the Uganda Argus last week indicating that the administrative secretary has given an invitation to elected members in Uganda to visit prisons in Uganda? If those facilities are provided in Uganda, may we ask why the elected members in Kenya are not given them?

I should first draw a very clear distinction between the Mau Mau conspiracy, which has devastated parts of Kenya, and the Protectorate of Uganda. No greater mistake is made than to assume that the circumstances are similar everywhere. Answering the first part of the supplementary question, I should not be altogether surprised if the Kenya Government were reluctant to allow visits by Kenya elected members in view of the effect which certain utterances by some members had when circulated secretly last year in Athi River detention camp, when there was a great increase in the number of detainees refusing to co-operate in rehabilitation. I am content to leave this point, and many others also, to the discretion of the Governor and the Commissioner of Police.

In that case may I ask the Colonial Secretary whether he will convey to the Governor that in the minds of a great many people it will be very improper and will give an entirely false impression if elected members of the Legislative Council are not allowed to visit this prison, in view of the fact that there is no one else, as far as I know, who is in a position to do so and who is outside Government service?

I will always convey anything said in the House to His Excellency the Governor, but I repeat that the experience gained in other detention camps as a result of some communications from elected members does not suggest that this is the best way to help to bring Kenya back to normal.

After all the revelations in last night's Adjournment debate, would not Opposition apologies be more in keeping today than further Questions?

If we are to expect elected members in Kenya to be responsible, is it not highly important to treat them as responsible people? When all is said and done, and however bogus the Lokitaung complaints may have been, cases in the courts have shown that some pretty terrible things have happened occasionally in Kenya prisons, enough to cause some anxiety. I hope that the right hon. Gentleman will consider this question of allowing the elected members to visit prisons as, of course, they would be allowed to visit them in England.

I do not think it would be the contention of any elected African members that I have not treated them with a desire to try to give them a sense of responsibility.

When will the elected members get a reply to their request to be allowed to visit this and other detention camps?

That is a request made to the Government of Kenya and I am sure that a reply will be sent at the earliest date, but I will convey that question to the Governor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what financial arrangements are being made to enable the extra-mural work at Makerere University College to continue up to the period of the next quinquennial grant.

The latest information I have may be found in the Report of the Department of Extra-Mural Studies, Makerere College, for 1956–57, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that those of us interested in this matter have been much disturbed to hear that there is to be no expansion of this work, which is extremely necessary both in Kenya and Tanganyika, and that we have grave doubts whether even the present very inadequate level can be maintained?

I think the present level can be maintained, but I cannot go into what may or may not be possible after the present C.D. and W. Acts come to an end.

May I ask why over all these years, despite requests, there has never been any extension work in Tanganyika as a Colony? We have always had "No" as the answer to our questions. Why has there been extension both in Uganda and Kenya but not in Tanganyika?

That is a wider question and perhaps the hon. Member will put it on the Order Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on rural wages and conditions in Kenya following the submission of the report on this subject over a year ago.

When my right hon. Friend replied to the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. J. Johnson) on 9th July last, he said that in due course a full statement of policy on rural wages would be made after discussions with representatives of both employers and employees. These discussions, though valuable, did not result in agreement, and the Kenya Government have not yet reached a decision on policy.

Is not it very unsatisfactory that well over a year should have passed since the report on rural wages and conditions was made available to the Government and before any statement can be made, in view of the fact that it is one of the real political dissatisfactions now in Kenya?

It has certainly been a long time, but any system for the regulation of wages and conditions of employment stands a very much better chance of operating if there is general agreement between both sides. In the absence of that, the Kenya Government are now having to consider whether they can go ahead without this general agreement. My right hon. Friend is in touch with the Governor on this point.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Africans have been detained during 1958 in connection with Kiama Kia Muingi activities and, of these, how many have been brought to trial.

By 13th June 331 Africans had been arrested in connection with K.K.M. activities, of whom eight had been tried and convicted.

When is it proposed to bring to trial the remainder of those who have been detained and on what charges are they to be tried?

I cannot give the hon. Member the whole list of charges on which they are being tried. He probably knows that no one can be held for more than twenty-eight days without being either charged or committed to detention. I think he also knows that this threat which has existed and has reared its ugly head again is a threat which neither the Governor nor my right hon. Friend could ignore—a threat to peace and good Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he is taking to defend Mr. C. L. Ryland, the District Officer of Lokitaung, Kenya, against the complaints made against him in a letter published by a Sunday newspaper, particulars of which have been sent to him.

I hope that the facts which the Governor and I have given will receive sufficient publicity to redress the unfortunate effect of the unwarranted allegations made against Mr. Ryland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the clause insisted upon by the Government banning people concerned in subversions from taking part in the next Legislative Assembly in Singapore will apply to by-elections or only their participation in the general election; and to what extent objections were raised to this clause by the recent Singapore delegation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if full agreement was reached in the recent discussions with the representatives of the Singapore Government on the category of people to be included in, or excluded from, membership of the first Legislative Assembly to be elected in the Colony when independence has been established.

This ban is to cover the whole term of the first Legislative Assembly under the new constitution. At the recent talks, the Singapore delegation repeated its objection and I maintained my opinion that this temporary restriction is essential to safeguard the orderly development of democratic government in Singapore against the danger of Communist subversion.

In view of the fact, according to the report in The Times, that Lim Yew Hock seems to be coming to the same view as Lee Kan Yew, will not the Minister reconsider his attitude? Does he really believe that it helps others to copy the British way of life, which we want to see them doing, when we put people in gaol for political offences and refuse to allow them to contest elections?

I am not prepared to vary my decision at all. It was arrived at after a great deal of consideration. I am convinced that if we are to give privileges to democratic communities in the Far East or anywhere else, we should see that they are provided with the means of defence against those who are contriving their subversion.

Am I to understand that the Minister has come to an agreement with Mr. Lim Yew Hock on this question? Is there an arrangement that the constitution shall be revised after a certain period of time in the light of experience?

Of course, the constitution was negotiated. This particular provision was not negotiated but was imposed by myself on behalf of the British Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what agreement was reached during the discussions with the Singapore delegation on the provisions in the proposed constitution requiring British consent before the colony of Singapore could open trade negotiations with any other country.

The arrangements in paragraph 36 of the report of last year's Constitutional Conference (Cmd. No. 147) and the terms of the dispatch delegating authority to the Singapore Government, which is printed as Appendix B to Cmd. No. 147, were confirmed without alteration.

May I take it from that Answer that Singapore will not be in a worse condition under the new constitution than it was when Mr. David Marshall was able to head a delegation of fifty business men from Singapore to Peking to conduct trading negotiations?

It would be very rash of me to answer such a sweeping question of that kind without any knowledge of the precise point which the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) to what extent the position of the Malta dockyards and the plans for their future use were discussed with the Governor of the island at his recent talks; and what alteration has been made in the policy previously laid down by the Government;

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on his recent discussions with the Governor of Malta, especially in regard to the constitutional and industrial future of the island.

I have as yet nothing to add to my Answer of 10th June to Questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) and Sunderland, North (Mr. P. Williams).

Can the hon. Gentleman inform us whether any negotiations have taken place with any commercial undertaking with a view to converting the naval dockyard into a dry dock?

We are having talks with certain commercial undertakings about the future of the docks after 1960.

Is that holding up the statement, or is it something else that prevents the Minister reporting on his conversations with the Governor?

That is a factor in the talks I am having with the Governor, which are so significant for the future of Malta. It is better that they should be prolonged than that we should arrive at hasty conclusions, but I can give an assurance that the statement will not be long delayed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will place a copy of the report made to him by Professor D. T. Jack on his economic survey of Sierra Leone in the Library upon publication.

The report will be submitted to the Sierra Leone Government in the first instance. If they decide to publish it, I will certainly arrange to place a copy in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the amounts which have been, and will be, spent on airfields and air communications and road communications, respectively, for the years 1956–58 in Sierra Leone.

Expenditure on airfields and air communications totalled £86,250 in 1956 and £83,490 in 1957. Expenditure for 1958 is estimated at £163,652. On the information at present available, expenditure on roads and bridges in 1956 was £213,904, whilst estimated expenditure in 1957 and 1958 is £437,000 and £645,000 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many medical staff are employed in the ante-natal clinics at the Tsan Yuk Hospital, Hong Kong; how many sessions are held per month; and what has been the average attendance per session in the past year.

I have asked the Governor for the information and, when I have received it, will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

While thanking the hon. Member for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that I have received a copy of the Hong Kong Standard of 16th May which contains a photograph of the maternity hospital, with expectant mothers sleeping outside overnight because of the overcrowding of the ante-natal clinics and the necessity to queue for long hours? Would he look at this report, and, when he makes his statement, confirm or deny these facts?

I think that it would perhaps be better if, instead of relying on that report. I awaited the Governor's full report, which no doubt will take that sort of thing into consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he is taking to recruit suitable medical personnel for resident and visiting posts in the Hong Kong Medical Department and teaching posts in Hong Kong University.

Medical appointments in Hong Kong are made to a large extent locally. Such vacancies as are notified to my right hon. Friend are normally advertised in the medical journals. Teaching posts in the Hong Kong University are filled independently by the University authorities.

is the hon. Gentleman aware that I understand that the British Medical Journal has barred advertisements from Hong Kong, because of the payment of different rates of pay there to men and women in the service? Will he take the opportunity to review this decision and make the payments equal?

This is not a decision of my right hon. Friend. It is the decision of the Government locally.

Will the hon. Gentleman bring the matter to the attention of the Governor?

My right hon. Friend is in consultation with the Governor, but I must stress the fact that this is still a matter for the Government of Hong Kong to decide.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total combined value of Hong Kong's import and export trade in all commodities in 1957; and, of this combined total, the percentages of imports and exports.

In 1957, the total trade was £511 million of which imports were £322 million, or 63 per cent., and exports £189 million, or 37 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the percentages of Hong Kong's total imports and exports in 1957 which came from and went to the United Kingdom, China, and the United States of America; and what percentages of Hong Kong's total exports of cotton piece-goods and shirts went to the United Kingdom in the same year.

The figures for imports were: 13 per cent. from the United Kingdom, 22 per cent. from China, 10 per cent. from the United States of America. For exports: 11 per cent. to the United Kingdom, 4 per cent. to China, 7 per cent. to the United States. Twenty-two per cent. of cotton piece-goods and 22 per cent. of shirts exported went to the United Kingdom.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman if he agrees that these figures tend to indicate that both China and the United States benefit more from trade with Hong Kong than does the United Kingdom?

I think the percentage figures show that the 13 per cent. is worth £42 million and that the 11 per cent. is worth only £21 million, and that we thus have a favourable trade balance between the United Kingdom and Hong Kong of £21 million.

In the interests of Hong Kong, would my hon. Friend point out that Hong Kong imports from this country more than it exports to this country?

That is what I had hoped to indicate.

Can the hon. Gentleman confirm that the value of cotton imports from Hong Kong into this country has risen in seven years from £30 million to £100 million a year?

It has risen very considerably indeed, but I hope that the hon. Gentleman will remark the answer I gave to the last supplementary question, which I think is the important nub of this question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the maximum daily and weekly hours, according to law, that women may be employed in factories and industrial undertakings in Hong Kong.

The maximum daily period of employment is thirteen hours between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Overtime may be worked up to 9 p.m. with special permission of the Labour Department which is granted only subject to the condition that meal breaks of 2¾ hours are given. There is no separate legislation governing weekly hours.

Is the Minister aware that, on page 103 of the 1956–57 Report of the Hong Kong Commissioner of Labour, it is stated that women frequently work maximum legally permitted hours? That is the statement of the Commissioner of Labour. Is the Minister aware that the labour laws of Hong Kong governing the hours of work of women are the worst in Asia and probably the worst in the world? Will he and his right hon. Friend please give attention to this matter? Is it a fact that women frequently work about eighty hours per week?

I do not agree that the conditions under which these people are working are the worst in the world. [HON. MEMBERS: "It is the hours."] I am sorry, but the hon. Gentleman did refer to the hours of work and conditions, and I am saying that I cannot agree that the conditions are the worst in the world. We had a full discussion on this on the Adjournment the other day, during which I told the House that an Employment Bill is at present in course of preliminary drafting in Hong Kong. I have said also that my right hon. Friend and the Governor are both, naturally, concerned with this problem. I hope that, when the Employment Bill is published, it will be seen that it will start to rectify some of the things hon. Member's have in mind.

Does not the Minister think that this is a matter of great urgency and one touching the honour of our own country? Is not it a real disgrace to this present generation that we allow women to have to work thirteen hours and more a day? Can it be treated as a matter of urgency?

Certainly, it requires to be treated as a matter of urgency, but this is not a matter which the Governor who is giving a full report, can deal with in a few days. It is a matter which requires very careful consideration, and I hope that the hon. Lady the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Mrs. Slater) and other hon. Members will remember the very exceptional economic conditions existing at this stage in Hong Kong.

Will my hon. Friend publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures showing the comparable conditions in the neighbouring Communist Republic of China and in Japan?

Will the Minister bear in mind that this is a British problem as well as a Hong Kong problem and that, when he talks about exceptional eonomic conditions in Hong Kong, he should bear in mind that, as a result of those conditions, economic conditions in Lancashire are rapidly becoming exceptional too? Will he endeavour to see what relationship there is between the hours and the figures which he himself has given and the importation of goods produced under those conditions into Lancashire which is causing our own Lancashire cotton industry to bleed rapidly to death?

I would ask the hon. Gentleman to remember what he himself has just said and to understand that this is a British problem, whether one regards it from the Lancashire end or from the Colonial end. The people of Hong Kong are just as much the responsibility of the Government as the people of Lancashire.

Is the Under-Secretary aware that it is because we regard them as part of our charge that we are interested in this matter? When does he expect this Bill to be produced? Can he give an undertaking that it will provide for a substantial reduction in the maximum number of hours worked?

No, Sir; I am afraid that I cannot give any undertaking. I did indicate that it was in its early stages, but I am quite certain that the discussion we have had now will be fully reflected to the Governor and Government of Hong Kong.

In view of these shocking revelations, will the Minister at least give an undertaking that he will ask the Governor to prohibit women in an advanced stage of pregnancy working the maximum hours?

That is a matter which I should like to consider. Perhaps the right hon. Lady will put it down as a separate Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the results of the discussions between the Governments of Northern Rhodesia, Nyasaland and the Federation on the issue of passports to British protected persons in the Federation.

The proposed discussions have not yet taken place.

Is the Coloniel Secretary aware that we on this side of the House are very anxious about this question and about the doubt which a previous Answer has thrown on the rights of protected persons in this area? How soon will he be able to make this important statement?

I am very conscious of the interest which the House as a whole takes in this matter, and I will give an Answer as soon as I possibly can.

Mr. Stonehouse—Question No. 28.

On a point of order. May I ask Question No. 23?

I understand that that was answered with Question No. 13.

I was not allowed to ask a supplementary question on that. May I ask one now?

We have dealt with that Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if there is any further development with regard to the proposed West Indies capital at Chaguaramas.

The Federal Prime Minister made a statement in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. He said that the United States Government were willing to give an assurance that they would review the whole question of evacuating Chaguaramas after ten years in the light of any changes in methods of warfare which might make it unnecessary for them to retain it. He added that the Federal Government were prepared to accept that assurance.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask him, if the Government of the Federation are taking that line, whether Her Majesty's Government will look at this matter wtih a very definite bias in favour of the West Indies Government rather than of the United States?

Replying about the technical report, I had no option but to make the views of Her Majesty's Government clear. That seemed to me to be absolutely inescapable. I think that our sights should all now be directed on the future. The whole matter of the Federal capital is to be debated in the Federal Assembly in Trinidad tomorrow, and I therefore think that it would be wise to withhold further comment until we see the outcome of their deliberations. I need hardly add that the well-being of the people of the West Indies is very close to the heart of the British Government.

rose—

Order. I think that the hon. Member intends to raise this matter on the Adjournment tomorrow.

That is another matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the shortage of doctors in the Colonial Service; and what steps he is taking to encourage young doctors from Great Britain to take appointments in the West Indies and other colonial territories.

I am well aware of the constant demand for doctors in the Medical Departments of the overseas territories, which my right hon. Friend is doing his best to meet. Vacancies in the West Indies and other territories are advertised in the professional journals as they are notified. In addition, special arrangements have been made to allow applications from young doctors to enter the Colonial Service as an alternative to National Service.

Will the hon. Gentleman consider having some consultations with the teaching hospitals to see whether any kind of guarantee can be given to young men entering for temporary service that their chances of promotion in this country are not thereby spoiled?

That is something I should like to look at.

Can the hon. Gentleman bring this problem more closely before his right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, who, not long ago, received a report from a Committee which suggested that there should be a limitation on the intake of medical students because of the danger of the profession becoming overcrowded? Surely, if the problem is brought before the Minister of Health, he might take a different view of the standard of medical education in this country?

In so far as it affects my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, the hon. Lady had better put a Question down to him. I should like to make it clear that there is no overlapping, and that there is the closest co-ordination between our two Departments on this important matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of co-operative societies in the Colonies, their membership and owned funds in 1951 and 1956, respectively.

In 1951 there were 3,799 societies with 426,000 members. Their owned funds—paid up share capital and reserves—amounted to £2,682,000 or £6 5s. per member. In 1956 there were 7,844 societies with 1,022,000 members. Their owned funds amounted to £12,220,000 or £11 16s. per member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has completed his inquiries into the future financing of the Cameroons Development Corporation; and if he will make a statement.

This is primarily a matter for the local authorities, and my right hon. Friend is not directly concerned at this stage. I am afraid I have nothing yet that I can add to the Answer I gave my hon. and gallant Friend on 20th March last.

Is my hon. Friend aware that very important improvements and developments planned by the Cameroons Development Corporation have been hanging fire for quite a long time? Is he therefore aware that an early decision would be very welcome?

Indeed, I am aware of that. I am also aware that the local authorities are fully aware of these relevant considerations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he expects to be able to complete his study of the report of the Willink Commission that has recently been studying minority problems in Nigeria; to what extent their investigations covered the British Cameroons; and what will be the constitutional procedure before adopting or rejecting any proposals for alteration in the present regional boundaries.

I have not yet received the report of the Minorities Commission, but I expect to do so within the next two months. The Commission held public sessions in the Southern Cameroons. The report will be considered at the resumed Constitutional Conference due to be held later this year.

May I ask my right hon. Friend if he has any timetable in mind, in view of the fact that if there is to be any radical change in regional boundaries, this would have a very important effect on the federal elections, which cannot, presumably, be more than eighteen months hence?

I am very conscious of the timetable difficulties, and I hope that, at the first stage, anyhow, the report will be available in time for it to be properly considered before we have the resumed conference. I have that fact very much in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reports he has received from Aden about the use by Yemeni forces of newly-acquired arms and military equipment during recent attacks on Aden territory; whether the source of these arms, &c., is known; and what protest he is contemplating making about these acts either through the United Nations or direct to the countries concerned.

Last year substantial shipments of arms from the Soviet bloc were delivered to the Yemen and some of this equipment, including mortars and heavy machine guns, has been used on the frontier. As my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary told the House on 24th July, 1956, the policy of Her Majesty's Government has always been to urge restraint in arms deliveries to the Middle East but arms deliveries do not in themselves constitute grounds for protest. Her Majesty's Government have of course reported to the United Nations acts of Yemeni aggression on the frontier and have protested to the Yemeni Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will consider the setting up of a nutrition department under the auspices of the East African High Commissioner for the purposes of food and food consumption research, diet improvement and propaganda, and to co-ordinate the various activities undertaken to counteract malnutrition among children and adults in Uganda, Tanganyika, Kenya and Zanzibar.

Co-ordination of such activities is already the function of the East African Council for Medical Research, under the auspices of the East Africa High Commission, aided in particular by two High Commission services, the East African Institute for Medical Research and the East African Statistical Department. A big contribution is also being made by the Infantile Malnutrition Research Unit run by the United Kingdom Medical Research Council in Uganda with the co-operation of the local and High Commission authorities.

While thanking the Under-Secretary for that reply, may I ask him if he appreciates that this problem of protein malnutrition in these territories, particularly among children, is of fundamental importance, and is one in which even greater Government sponsorship and co-ordination of nutrition investigations are urgently needed if the problem is to be overcome?

I agree with the first part of the hon. Lady's supplementary question, but I do not think I agree that there is not enough co-ordination. Perhaps when the hon. Lady reads my Answer, she will agree that this matter is being carefully looked after.