asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that workers engaged in Trafford Park, Manchester, on night shift are complaining of noxious fumes; what inquiries he has made; and what steps he proposes to prevent these emissions.

My right hon. Friend is aware that there have been complaints, but he understands that these arise from processes which are not registered under the Alkali Act. The matter is therefore one for the local authority.

Is the Minister prepared to consider letters which I have received from very big trade union branches at Salford on this matter? Secondly, does he feel satisfied that the limits imposed by the Alkali Act on the emission of sulphur dioxide and other acid fumes are being adhered to in Trafford Park, both by day and by night?

The answer to the first part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question is certainly "Yes". On the second part, there are, I think, 12 works out of a total of about 150 at Trafford Park which fall within the jurisdiction of the Alkali Inspectorate. I assure the hon. Gentleman that we are doing all we possibly can to keep down the emission of sulphur dioxide fumes.

Is my hon. Friend satisfied that there are sufficient powers to deal with emission of sulphur dioxide fumes?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware of the unusually large number of hospital cases resulting from the recent fogs in Manchester and Salford; and what steps are being taken in conjunction with the Alkali Inspectorate and the Clean Air Council to reduce atmospheric pollution.

My right hon. Friend is informed that there has been a heavy demand for hospital beds in Manchester and Salford as elsewhere due mainly to the incidence of acute respiratory infections. Manchester and Salford City Councils have in mind the early establishment of substantial smoke control areas in addition to the existing smokeless zones, and the Alkali Inspectorate are dealing as vigorously as possible with air pollution from processes registered under the Alkali Act. My right hon. Friend has not so far consulted the Clean Air Council about the problems of particular areas.

Is the Minister aware that the Medical Officer of Health for Salford stated that on 30th January the amount of sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere was the highest ever recorded for Salford, which is saying something? It was considerably higher than the figure in the 1952 London disaster, which killed 4,000 people. Since it is possible to wash acid fumes out of effluent gases, may I ask the Minister whether he feels that industrialists are spending the money necessary to do so?

This is a difficult question. I understand the anxiety of the hon. Gentleman and indeed of my hon. Friend the Member for Stretford (Mr. Storey) about the conditions in the Manchester and Salford area, but it is a fact that one of the worst days for pollution in that district was Sunday, 25th January, when the only possible cause of the pollution was emission from domestic fires. Manchester City Council is proposing to introduce a further smoke-control area at Wythenshawe, and Salford Council is preparing four more smoke-control areas. On the industrial aspect of the matter the Alkali Inspectorate is vigorously pursuing this matter all the time. If the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun) has any suggestions that he would care to put to my right hon. Friend at any time we should welcome them.

Would my hon. Friend undertake to consult the Clean Air Council on this question, because many firms in Manchester have gone to a lot of trouble to comply with the regulations? It is just a few firms who have not even bothered to look into the matter with his inspectors. Much could be done to improve conditions.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the fact that the Prescot Urban District Council has been informed that it has no powers, under the Clean Air Act or otherwise, to deal with the problem of noxious fumes emitted from a local factory, what Departmental action he proposes to take in the matter.

The problems at this factory involve certain processes now registered under the Alkali Act, as regards which the alkali inspectors are responsible, and also certain unregistered processes, as regards which the council is responsible under the Clean Air Act. I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that every effort will be made to secure a reduction in air pollution from the registered processes, though there are technical difficulties which cannot be quickly overcome. The district alkali inspector, recently paid a visit to the factory in company with the council's chief public health inspector, and will be prepared to assist with his informal advice as to the unregistered processes if the council wishes.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Prime Minister, when Minister of Housing and Local Government five years ago, gave me a precisely similar Answer, except that he said on that occasion that the council had all the powers necessary to cope with this nuisance? Further, is he aware that over those five years householders in the area—I can send him evidence of this—have had to face a situation in which nothing will grow in their gardens, privet hedges have died, washing put out has turned green as a result of these fumes and there is corrosion of all metal properties? Will the Minister take some urgent action in view of the failure of the Government over the last five years to do anything about this nuisance?

There has been no failure of the Government. Until 1st July last year my Alkali Inspectorate had no powers to deal with this matter but, since then, we have had powers over certain of the processes and we have been working in close co-operation with local authorities. I can assure the right hon. Member that I take this matter very seriously. These copper processes are difficult to control and technical problems are involved which cannot be solved easily.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what advice he has received from the Clean Air Council, in connection with abating the pollution of the air, as to the effects of advertising open coal fires; whether he is satisfied with the present position; and if he will make a statement.

The Clean Air Council will meet in a few days time and my right hon. Friend hopes to discuss the matter then.

Is the Minister aware that the Coal Utilisation Council, in its advertising campaign, is urging people to burn coal in open fires? Is there any co-ordination of policy between his Ministry and the Ministry of Power and between the Coal Utilisation Council and the Clean Air Council? Will he suggest to the Minister of Power that it would be better to spend money advertising smokeless fuel and at the same time to make sure that it is available for those who want it?

There is, of course, close co-operation between my right hon. Friend and the Minister of Power. As I said, this matter is to be discussed with the Clean Air Council very shortly. In general, the Coal Utilisation Council is helpful to the cause of clean air, although I agree with the hon. Member that it is undesirable that sales of ordinary coal should be pushed in the "black areas" and particularly in smokeless zones, but this is a many-sided business.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs why the new procedure for public inquiries announced on 28th February, 1958, relating to reports of inspectors on public inquiries covering disputed planning permission applies only to inquiries held after 27th February, 1958; and whether he will make available to objectors and others concerned reports of inspectors on public inquiries held prior to that date, upon which his decisions have been given since that date.

The decision to publish reports, which was announced on 27th February, 1958, applied to any inquiries held from that date on. Previously, the reports made to my right hon. Friend by his inspectors were written as confidential documents not intended for publication. The answer to the second part of the Question is, therefore, "No, Sir".

Is the hon. Gentleman suggesting that there is any difference in the nature of the inspector's report if it is made confidential or if it is made available to those concerned in a particular inquiry? The underlying situation there is surely undesirable. Is the hon. Gentleman aware of how unsatisfactory it is that, when a change in procedure has been announced, twelve months afterwards there should be decisions taken in his Ministry governed by the old and obsolete procedure?

I am afraid I do not agree with the hon. Member. It is quite clear that reports written before 28th February were written as confidential reports. In certain cases they contained information about the personal circumstances of appellants and so forth. I think it would be quite wrong to publish those reports.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will place in the Library a copy of the report of his Department's inspector on the public inquiry heard in December, 1957, into the appeal of the Standard Brick Company Limited for planning permission to excavate sand at Godstone, Surrey, and upon which he has given his decision only recently.

Reports of planning inquiries held by my right hon. Friend's inspectors before 27th February, 1958, are not published in any form, and my right hon. Friend regrets that he cannot see his way to complying with this request.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that I am presuming to give some support to my own Member of Parliament, the hon. Member for Reigate (Mr. Vaughan-Morgan), whose views I understand coincide with my own? Will the Parliamentary Secretary give a more conciliatory answer for his sake, if not for mine?

I have already said that we are not prepared to publish the report, but, if it would help the hon. Gentleman, I am willing to let him have a copy of my right hon. Friend's decision letter, or, if need be, to place a copy in the Library.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what experiments are taking place in this country in the treatment and disposal of sewage by new methods, including the sonic vibration method now installed at works near Cologne.

Experiments are constantly in progress at the Water Pollution Research Laboratory and at sewage disposal works. One authority has had tests carried out in connection with the sonic vibration method. The results are not yet available.

Will not the Parliamentary Secretary agree that we are faced with a very real and growing problem in the disposal of sewage? Does he agree that we should do everything possible to devise some means of dealing with sewage, instead of simply putting it into the rivers? Can he say whether his Department accepts any national responsibility for trying out these methods, apart from the laboratory work, or are we leaving it to the different sewerage boards?

This is primarily a matter for the local sewerage boards. My right hon. Friend accepts an overall national responsibility. That is why I say that work is constantly being carried out at the Water Pollution Research Laboratory. The hon. Gentleman might also like to know that the method referred to in his Question has been the subject of tests carried out for Bracknell Development Corporation and that the Derby County Borough has recently applied for approval to instal this sort of installation. We are considering the application favourably.

Is there any possibility of applying this or other methods on a wide scale? Can we get beyond the laboratory scale?

So far, this experiment is being carried out for a local authority in the Ruhr in Germany, which has a population of about 20,000. The trouble at the moment is that it is not yet established, either in Germany or this country, that it would be effective in a large city.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that the sludge disposal at the Maple Cross works is now out of control and that the matter is one of urgency; and what action he proposes to take in these circumstances to expedite the construction of works already planned and the further expansion which is now needed.

I think it is going too far to say that the matter is out of control, though I agree that serious difficulty is being experienced. A public inquiry into the Colne Valley Sewerage Board's proposals has been provisionally fixed for 7th April.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the words I use in the Question are taken from a report by the Clerk of the Collie Valley Sewerage Board, in which he says that sludge disposal is out of control? Moreover, he threatens that, unless some help is given, he will simply open the sluice gates and let the whole of the sludge go untreated down the river. In those circumstances, is it not a most serious situation which faces us? Can the Parliamentary Secretary tell the House when we are likely to have extensions to the work, other than those that are proposed simply to cope with the increased sewage that has to be dealt with?

I agree entirely that the existing plant has failed badly. This is a very serious local problem. The public inquiry has been brought forward to an early date in April. I assure the hon. Gentleman that, once that Report is in, it will be considered as a matter of extreme urgency.

Does my hon. Friend know that, as an alternative to letting the sludge run down the river, the sewerage board is proposing to dump it on my constituency? Will he ensure that the board installs some proper machinery at its works in order to avoid recourse to either of these highly objectionable expedients?

We will consider what my hon. Friend has said.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether, in the interests of clean air, he will ask local authorities which have established smokeless zones to report to him the principal difficulties they experience, including any local shortage of the smokeless fuels which householders wish to burn, in order that the difficulties may be considered and removed and the establishment of smokeless zones greatly extended.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a circular issued on 26th January which invites local authorities in the "black areas" in England and Wales to consider a five-year programme for smoke control areas in their districts and to let my right hon. Friend know their conclusions. I expect that local authorities which already have smoke control areas will tell him of any difficulties they foresee as a result of their experience so far.

On the availability of smokeless fuel supplies locally, my right hon. Friend is guided by the views of regional advisory committees under the chairmanship of the regional directors of the Ministry of Power. An officer of the Department who recently visited a number of smoke control areas reported that the changeover to smokeless fuels has so far proceeded reasonably smoothly, but my right hon. Friend will continue to watch the position closely.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether the circular that he has issued to local authorities on this point makes provision for the information, when it has been received by the Minister, to be co-ordinated and disseminated to local authorities which have not yet introduced smokeless zones? Some action of this kind will be necessary to spur them on, because I believe that there were only twenty-eight smoke control orders in operation at the end of last year.

When the replies to the circular are received, they will be collated and my right hon. Friend, in conjunction with the Clean Air Council, will decide what the next policy steps ought to be.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what consideration he has given to control of the location of premises used for car sales by removing such premises from the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order; and if he will make a statement.

The effect of this Order is that if shop premises previously used for some other trade are used for the sale of motor cars, this change of use does not require planning permission. On the evidence before me, I do not consider that I should be justified in amending the Order so as to make planning permission necessary in such cases.

Since the sale of cars invariably involves as much disturbance and traffic nuisance as, say, a petrol filling station or a garage, is not it desirable that car sales showrooms should be taken out of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order so that planning permission is necessary before they come into operation?

We have had very few complaints in this matter. I am always ready to watch it. An access to the highway to enable cars to get on or off shop premises would require authorisation. I can say to the hon. Lady in all sincerity that at present I am not convinced that we need to make a change.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he has considered the publication issued by the Department of Health for Scotland entitled "Design for Safety in the Home," a copy of which has bean sent to him; and if he will issue a similar one for use in England and Wales.

I have not in mind to issue a separate booklet to housing authorities in England and Wales, because safety in the home will be dealt with as part of a general review of housing standards about to be made by a subcommittee of the Central Housing Advisory Cotnrnittee. Meantime, however, I shall be glad, with the concurrence of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, to send copies of the Scottish booklet to English and Welsh authorities for information.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when the Trowbridge Urban District Council can expect a decision on its appeal relating to the development of the Trowbridge Barracks site, having regard to the fact that nearly four months have elapsed since a public enquiry was held.

This is an exceptionally difficult case, and my right hon. Friend is still not quite ready to take a decision. He expects to do so very soon, and I will inform my hon. Friend.

Would my hon. Friend say how soon?

In a week or two.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs why he did not revoke the consent given by the planning authority to the erection of the unsightly school building in brick, plaster and glass in proximity to the ancient Otley Bridge, where all the surrounding buildings are in stone; whether he satisfied himself that the local authority had been consulted and agreed to this bad building; and if he will take steps to prevent the erection of structures in such bad taste.

My right hon. Friend was not consulted on the design of this school, and he thinks that such matters should be left to local planning authorities. I am told that Otley Urban District Council was consulted, and offered no comments before the plans for the school were approved by the West Riding County Council as both local planning authority and education authority.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he expects to announce his decision on the application of Mr. Erno Goldfinger for planning permission to develop a site in the Vale of Health, Hampstead, in view of the fact that a public inquiry was held in November, 1958.

I have given permission for this development. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the letter notifying the applicant of my decision.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what decision he has taken upon the inspector's report upon the public inquiry into the application of Petrochemicals, Limited, for planning permission to erect a 300-feet chimney at Partington.

The application raises difficult issues, which my right hon. Friend is still considering. He will reach his decision as soon as he can, and I will let my hon. Friend know when he does so.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the overwhelming medical opinion in the district is against this chimney, as it will throw out large quantities of sulphur dioxide over a residential area that is already suffering from severe atmospheric pollution? If he does agree to the putting up of this chimney, will he—in view of the somewhat surprising statement he made earlier this afternoon that he has ample powers to deal with sulphur dioxide—give an assurance that those powers will be used to the full?

The main issue here is whether this boiler plant and chimney, which is likely to discharge about 36 tons of sulphur dioxide a day, should be built in an area already badly polluted. The report now before my right hon. Friend deals with such considerations, and, of course, the alternative possibility that the sulphur should be removed by gas washing. I assure my hon. Friend that all those considerations will be taken into account.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action he proposes to take upon the representations he has received from the Urban District Councils' Association upon the need for additional powers to deal with noise nuisances.

The Association has been notified that, when opportunity permits, legislation will be introduced which will propose, among other things, that excessive, unreasonable or unnecessary noise should be made a statutory nuisance for the purposes of the Public Health Act, 1936. A provision on these lines is already included in many local Acts.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs the cost to his Department of the inquiry into the appeal against the Sheffield Corporation's decision not to allow building developments in parts of the Rivelin Valley in Sheffield

About £40.

Will the hon. Gentleman ask his right hon. Friend to look at the question of protecting the public from frivolous appeals such as this one? We must ensure that everyone has the right to make a legitimate appeal, but is he aware that, in this case, the solicitors must have known that every political party, every civic organisation and all the Government Departments concerned were utterly opposed to any idea of building development in this valley, and that any appeal was bound to be frivolous?

That is a point of view, but applicants for planning permission do not always regard their own applications—or, indeed, their appeals—as frivolous. I think that it would be quite wrong for my right hon. Friend to use his powers in a case like this to try to fetter the effective right of appeal of the citizen.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will institute an inquiry in Salford, in some other industrial city, or nationally, into the number of houses which have become decontrolled through a change of tenancy since the Rent Act became law and into the rent increases which have followed decontrol.

I am not sure what purpose the hon. Member thinks that such an inquiry would serve.

Would not the purpose be to reveal a very large number of such houses which are becoming decontrolled in this way despite the protection which was supposed to be given in the Rent Act to tenants in houses of under £30 a year rateable value? Does not this mean that new tenants, because of the terrible housing shortage, are being grossly overcharged when they go into their new homes?

No, Sir, I do not think there would be any evidence of that. There would be evidence of the fact that not nearly so many of these decontrolled houses have been relet as the Government hoped. That is because the effect of the Opposition's pledge to repeal the Rent Act has operated severely against tenants and would-be tenants.

Does not the Minister think that decontrol and its effects are matters of importance and of concern to him in relation to the housing situation generally? Why does he not answer the Question he has been asked?

I was anxious to know what was in the mind of the hon. Member, because I thought the effect of an inquiry such as he contemplated would certainly not satisfy him.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that some corporations, empowered to advance money on mortgages under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts, 1899 to 1923, to assist the purchase of existing houses or the construction of new houses, demand that women applicants supply a guarantor; and if he will introduce amending legislation to prohibit such restriction.

I have no evidence that local authorities in granting mortgages require women borrowers to supply a guarantor. I propose, however, to send a circular to local authorities making it a condition of schemes under the Housing Act that loans be given without distinction of sex. I cannot do this in respect of loans made under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts, as the conditions governing loans under these Acts are embodied in law; but most loans for house purchase are now made under the Housing Acts, and use of the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts is steadily declining.

While I was glad to hear the last part of that Answer, may I ask if the Minister is aware that I have with me the printed form for the scheme and general conditions of the County Borough of Hastings under these Acts, and that paragraph 9 says:

"The council will require to be satisfied that the applicant for the loan is capable of meeting his repayments, and where the applicant is a female, and in certain other cases, a guarantor of the repayments will be required."

Would not the Minister agree that such language is both outrageous and indefensible today? Could he find whether the County Borough of Hastings, following our debates in this House, is still using such out-of-date words?

I recognise that it is not only the building societies which the hon. Lady is up against, but certain local authorities. I have no evidence from Hastings and there is no reason why I should have because it is not obligatory on the council to tell me exactly what it is doing, I repeat my assurance that I shall tell all local authorities that in future it will be an important condition of my approval of schemes under the Housing Acts that there must be no discrimination such as that to which the hon. Lady objects.

If the right hon. Gentleman has not the necessary power under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts, could not he put down an Amendment today to be taken on the Report stage tomorrow of the House Purchase and Housing Bill?

No, I think it would be outside the scope of that Bill and, in any case, as the number of loans under these Acts is steadily declining in relation to the Housing Acts, I do not think that is really necessary.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he has considered the evidence supplied to him by the hon. Member for Coventry, South, on 17th December last relating to the demand for male guarantors in the case of women applicants for mortgage loans t and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward) on 22nd January, and to the debate on the Committee stage of the House Purchase and Housing Bill on 4th February.

The Minister will not mind if I prefer the Answers given to me on this matter. Is he aware that since those Answers and the statement by the Building Societies Association that no such discrimination is made, many people, including several of his own party, say that the association is not telling the truth? Will he look into the matter of further evidence?

I should be prepared to look into further any evidence, but what the Building Societies Association has done is to inform me that, as regards eleven societies which I thought the hon. Lady had in mind, it is the practice of those societies not to discriminate and not to demand that a woman shall have a guarantor. It is against the policy of the association as such to do that.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether, in view of the requirements of the Sunderland County Borough Council for new housing, he will reconsider his refusal to confirm the report of his inspector recommending the compulsory purchase of 53 acres required by the council for building purposes.

I have no power to review or alter my decision on a compulsory purchase order once it has been given, as it has in this case.

Is the Minister aware that his action is bound to disurb confidence in public inquiries and to import a suspicion of bias on his part? Is he further aware that the Sunderland County Borough Council believes that his action will seriously prejudice its present housing programme?

No. I do not think that it is right that a Minister should be absolutely bound to endorse the view his inspector expresses as a result of any inquiry. The Minister is responsible to Parliament, and he must reach his own judgment. In this case it was clear that, apart from this land, Sunderland had enough building land available for live years' council house building. In those circumstances, it did not seem to me that it was incumbent upon me to confirm the compulsory purchase order for further land.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that it is most unsatisfactory if he reverses a decision taken by an inspector at a public inquiry and then his decision is not challengeable in the House? It is very unsatisfactory that there is no procedure to enable a further review to take place of the Minister's reversal of an inspector's decision.

The inspector does not reach a decision. He makes a recommendation. I am answerable to the House and I must, therefore, be left free to reach my own decisions.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs why he has refused to grant a dispensation to members of the Walsall Borough Council who are tenants of council houses to vote on the proposed new rent scheme.

Members of a local authority are debarred by law from speaking or voting on matters in which they have a pecuniary interest, unless I give a dispensation under my statutory powers. The power relevant to this case requires me to be satisfied that dispensation is in the interests of the inhabitants of the area.

I am prepared, in the exercise of this power, to consider sympathetically any application for a dispensation allowing councillors to vote on a particular issue when their inability to do so might lead to the adoption of a policy contrary to that of the party group which had been given a majority by the local electorate.

At the last election in Walsall, an equal number of councillors was returned in each of the two groups, and, in these circumstances, I was not satisfied that the councillors who applied for a dispensation had discharged the onus of showing that the interests of the inhabitants required the setting aside of the normal rule that members with a pecuniary interest should not vote.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman recognise that by his decision in this case he has altered the composition of the voting power of the council as established, and is it not most undesirable that his Ministry should act as a means of assessing the value of individual votes on the council?

No, Sir. This jurisdiction that is given to me is a very difficult one. In this case, as the result of the last election had been to produce a dead-heat of councillors—a situation with which I am not unfamiliar—it did not seem to me that it would be right to give a dispensation. I can say to the House that in discharging my responsibilities I get criticised, now by Conservative councillors, now by Socialist councillors. That being so, I think that it is fair evidence that I am trying to act impartially.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, in Walsall, his decision has given very great satisfaction to fair-minded people of all political parties who value political consistency and despite the sort of chicanery that has given rise to the present position?

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. I just try to do my best.

One cannot deny that there was an element of political consistency in the Minister's decision, but did not it go against his own Departmental circular? Is not this a case in which the inability of even a small proportion of councillors to vote might possibly lead to the adoption of a policy to which the majority of a council were opposed? Is not that the very case to which his predecessor undertook to give sympathetic consideration? Is not the result of the electoral position in Walsall that he is, in fact, by refusing this dispensation, going against the views of the majority of the council and of the electors, and ought not this Section to be amended, and the inability of councillor tenants to vote withdrawn?

I think that we must look, not at he number of aldermen or anything like that, but at the result of the last election in terms, not of votes, but of councillors. The underlying suggestion in the circular issued by my predecessor is that the will of the local electorate should prevail. It is in the light of that that I seek to exercise my jurisdiction, but I am having discussions with the local authority associations to see whether there is a prevailing view that I should submit to Parliament that Section 76 should be amended. So long as that Section stands as it does on the Statute Book, I submit to the House that I am acting impartially in my application of it.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment of the House.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he has yet replied to the request of the Newcastle housing authority for an increased allocation of houses to be built in the city.

I told the council three weeks ago that it could expect to get approval for an increase in its 1959 house-building programme, and asked it for information about sites and projected contracts to show that it is likely to be able to fulfil an enlarged programme during the year. I am awaiting the council's reply.

As I understand that the reply that the Minister has requested is in course of being sent to him, could he say that, provided he is satisfied with the reply, he will allow the city council to build 2,000 houses instead of the 900 he has allocated?

As I have asked for certain information and have not yet received it. I think that it would be unreasonable for me to reach a decision now—before the information is available.

But all I ask is whether the right hon. Gentleman is willing, provided that he is satisfied with the information he receives, to agree to the allocation of the 2,000 houses that are urgently needed in the city?

I will say that, once I receive the reply, I will let the council know my decision as soon as I possibly can.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give details of the system of water rationing now in force on Ascension Island.

Each member of the English or St. Helenian community gets 8 gallons a day and, in addition, each household gets another 8 gallons.

Is it not the case that European employees on the island get 8 gallons of water a day each, and 8 gallons for use in their houses, but that the St. Helenians get only 1½ gallons, and one-quarter of a gallon of hot water, if available? If so, why should there be this differentiation between one section of the community and the other? Would the Under-Secretary look at this question again, as it is giving rise to considerable resentment?

My information is that there is no such discrimination; that each member of the English or St. Helenian community gets 8 gallons a day, and, in addition, each household, whether English or St. Helenian, gets 8 gallons a day.

But is not the hon. Gentleman aware that when I visited this island last August the situation was as I have described it? Has there been a change since then?

I have given the information, as I have it.

Will the hon. Gentleman reply to the Question? Is there any inequality at all in the provision of a water supply to the people on this island, whether English or otherwise?

I have tried twice to tell the House that, according to the information in my possession, there is no discrimination.

Whilst it may be true that the ration for the British population is 8 gallons a day each, is not the hon. Gentleman aware that there has been a British base on the island for over 60 years and an American base there for only 5 years, yet the American ration is 50 gallons a day? Will he look into this situation, and see if we can at least do as well as the Americans?

The American ration is supplied by an evaporation plant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why a curfew is imposed on St. Helenians employed on Ascension Island.

The curfew which is of long standing is enforced rarely and then only for special reasons. For example, on the last occasion—four days in January, 1958—it was the means of apprehending a night prowler who had been entering the homes of staff out on night duty. Until recently, lights were put out in the quarters of the St. Helenian staff of Cable and Wireless at 11 p.m. but. following an improvement of the electricity supply, the time is now 11.30. This restriction is relaxed for all social occasions.

Why should there be a curfew at all for these British subjects? Why should there be these disciplinary measures on this British island? Will the hon. Gentleman look at the matter again? To differentiate between one set of British subjects and another really does give rise to the greatest resentment on the island. I should be very grateful if the hon. Gentleman would consider the question from that point of view.

As I tried to explain at the beginnning of my reply, the curfew is very seldom used. The last occasion was just over a year ago.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when an economic survey of Mauritius will be carried out.

This matter is under consideration by the Government of Mauritius, and I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

As my hon. Friend has previously stated that emigration is no solution to the problems of Mauritius, will my hon. Friend agree that economic development becomes of increasing importance, and can he say whether the World Bank has been asked to carry out or will be asked to carry out any special survey?

I will certainly look into the point my hon. Friend has made.

Is the Minister aware that the Luce Committee found over 20,000 unemployed in the island, which is almost ten times the number given to me in answers by Ministers during the last year or two? In view of this unemployment, does not the hon. Gentleman think that we need an economic survey and that there should be diversification of the economy in order to mop up the unemployment?

Yes, Sir; we consider, and so do the Government of Mauritius, that an economic survey is of the greatest importance, more particularly for the longterm economic development of the island.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will ensure that the opposition parties in Mauritius have a fair proportion of broadcasting time over the local radio compared with Government Ministers prior to the election on 9th March.

The Mauritius Broadcasting Service will not be made available for party broadcasts by Ministers or anyone else before the election on 9th March.

Is it not a fact that Ministers have broadcast in support of the five-year plan? If that is so, should not the opposition parties be allowed to broadcast their views on this matter?

I understand that Mr. Guy Sauzier, who was a nominated member of the Executive Council, made a broadcast. I am informed that this was not a party political broadcast but a Ministerial broadcast. It was also something in the nature of a farewell broadcast, because Mr. Sauzier is leaving Mauritius and retiring from political life.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about the progress of urban African house building in Nairobi.

With the completion by the Kenya Government of 1,400 houses this month, the first stage of the city council's plan to provide 5,000 houses will have been achieved. Finance for some 500 more houses, to house 2,500 Africans, has been advanced to the council by the Central Housing Board, and construction is likely to begin in two or three months' time.

The Government propose to invite contractors to tender for a further 3,000 family type houses, on the understanding that in the first place the contractors will provide the capital, which will be repaid over a period of years after an initial moratorium.

Does not that reply reflect very great credit on Mr. Amalemba who has stood up to political intimidation and has now proved his ability as Minister?

Yes. I am very glad that Kenya has found a Minister who can devote his whole time and enthusiasm to this most important service and give real proof to the Africans of the real value which they gain by participation in the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many trade unions were dissolved in Singapore in 1958; how many have appealed against the dissolution; what were the reasons for dissolving the Malayan Seamen's National Union and the Harbour Board Workers' Union; and how are the rates of wages and conditions of employment of these men negotiated.

Two voluntarily and fifteen by withdrawal of certificates of registration. Of the latter, three have appealed. The Harbour Board Workers' Union was dissolved at its own request. The certificate of registration of the Malayan National Seamen's Union was withdrawn for continued contravention, after notice, of the provisions of the Trade Union Ordinance relating to the preparation of annual returns.

On the last part of the Question, an agreement applying to all seamen irrespective of union membership and negotiated in 1957 between four seamen's unions—of which the Malayan National Seamen's Union was then one—and the Singapore Maritime Employers' Federation is still in force. Harbour Board workers are catered for by a joint consultative and negotiating committee on which six trade unions are represented.

I am much obliged to the Secretary of State for that reply, but is he aware that, when a trade union secretary becomes a little pugnacious and puts up a good fight for his members, he is immediately dubbed a Communist and that is made an excuse for dissolving his union? Will he ensure that this is not made an excuse in the future.

The hon. Gentleman cannot have it both ways. He cannot both press for things to be made a matter of concern and responsibility for local Ministers and then get angry at the use they make of their responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress is being made in appointing suitable Africans to the Administrative Department of Zanzibar; and if he will state the number of Africans employed in the information section of this Department.

Four Africans now hold senior posts in the Provincial Administration. A total of eleven Africans are employed in the information section.

Does not the Minister think that, on an island of this racial composition, there are far too few Africans employed in this Department? Further, is he aware that, among the people of the island, the wireless is now named the "Voice of Aden" because of its predominantly Arab composition? Is not this an unhappy situation in view of the island's population?

I think that the expansion of African staff in the posts to which the hon. Gentleman is referring depends upon the expansion of education facilities. We are concentrating on that at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what consideration lie has given to the plans for expanding secondary education in Zanzibar, particularly for African girls; and if he will state the numbers of African boys and girls who completed their school certificate course in 1958.

This was one of the matters considered by a local committee on education problems, the report of which should be available shortly and will then be considered by the British Resident. Eleven African boys and one girl completed the 1958 school certificate course.

Can the Minister give an assurance that he will give his special attention to the matter of secondary education? Is he aware that the African Party won all the seats at the last elections in 1957, and, in view of this, there is much complaint by these members of the Legislative Council and their supporters about the lack of African secondary education?

I have no doubt that the Committee will have taken full account of this plainly very important problem.

Can the Minister say why it is not generally recognised that it is most important to educate the potential mothers of Africa?

I think that the right hon. Lady is quite wrong in thinking that it is not so recognised.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the disturbances in Aden that preceded and followed the elections to the Legislative Council in January.

There were no disturbances immediately before or after the elections on 4th January.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many complaints about these disturbances have been received from people in Aden? Were none of them transmitted to him by the local authorities?

No, Sir; there were none at all. There were about six cases of a minor character, the details of which I will send to the hon. Gentleman, but they certainly can in no way justify the description "disturbances".

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what representations he has received from the Aden Trades Union Congress, the International Confederation of Free Trades Unions, and the British Trades Union Congress about the industrial situation in Aden; and if he will make a statement.

I received in Aden a letter from the Aden Trades Union Congress dated 14th February which included representations on a number of matters related to the industrial situation in Aden. These are being carefully studied. No formal representations have been received from the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions on this subject, but before I went to Aden I had a talk with a delegation from the British T.U.C. about industrial relations in the territory.

Since the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions has expressed concern at the industrial situation in Aden, will the right hon. Gentleman agree to meet it to discuss the situation?

If it makes a request to me I will certainly consider it.

While fully recognising the interest of the British Trades Union Congress in industrial matters in Aden, may I ask my right hon. Friend to resist any attempt by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions to interfere in the internal affairs of British territories?

I think that it is to the British Trades Union Congress that the unions in Aden should most wisely look for guidance in their difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what consultations have taken place in Aden between the Government and the trade unions for establishing better machinery for industrial relations.

There have been no formal consultations recently, but the Aden Government have had regular informal discussions with representatives of the Aden T.U.C., the unions and employers with the object of improving the negotiating machinery. I understand that the Aden T.U.C. is now ready to consider co-operating in setting up a joint industrial council for the port.

Is the right hon. Gentleman willing to sponsor the plea of the Aden T.U.C. that there should be consultation in all the main industries in the port before redundancies and dismissals take place?

I gave the Aden T.U.C. an opportunity of meeting me when I was there last week. I am sorry to say that it did not take it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any decision has yet been reached by the Nyasaland Government regarding the future of European agriculture.

No, Sir.

Is the hon. Gentleman fully aware of the genuine fears felt by Africans in Nyasaland about the future of agriculture. Is he aware that they fear that this will be one more portfolio which will go over to the Southern Rhodesians in the Federal Parliament? Are not these factors one of the most important causes of the present physical disturbances in the Protectorate? Will the Minister pay careful attention to this matter when he is considering the future?

We shall certainly try to inform ourselves of the different currents of opinion in Nyasaland, but we must await the outcome of the Governor's discussion with the authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a further statement on the situation in Nyasaland.

I should be grateful if the hon. Member would await the statement which I am to make at the end of Questions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the value of educational text books imported last year into Hong Kong from Taiwan and China, respectively.

I am asking the Governor of Hong Kong if the information is available and shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

When the hon. Gentleman is seeking those figures, will he impress on the Governor the need to keep a fair balance in the type of educational text books now being used in the schools in Hong Kong?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Kenyan Africans have been arrested, up to 31st December, 1958, for offences connected with the newly-formed K.K.M. movement; and, of those arrested, how many were former Mau Mau adherents.

Of the 1,777 Africans arrested up to 31st December, 1958, for K.K.M. activities, 1,672 or 94 per cent. were former Mau Mau adherents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of those Kenyan Africans, arrested up to 31st December, 1958, for offences connected with the newly-formed K.K.M. movement, have been convicted and detained; and how many of such convicted and detained persons, respectively, are former released Mau Mau convicts and detainees.

Of the 1,777 Africans arrested up to 31st December, 1958, for K.K.M. activities, 1,315 were convicted in the courts and 326 were detained. Some 50 of the latter had previously been detained during the emergency. I am asking the Governor how many of those convicted were former Mau Mau convicts and detainees and I will circulate a further reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that these Questions and Answers indicate how right Her Majesty's Government and the Kenya Government are to resist political agitation for the premature release of Mau Mau detainees?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what support is being given by Her Majesty's Government to the commission appointed by the Jamaican Government to consider the marketing of bananas.

In instituting this inquiry the Jamaican Government have not sought the advice of Her Majesty's Government, although they did inform me that the Commission was being set up. The Commission will investigate every aspect of the banana industry and not only marketing.

is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is great concern in Jamaica about the price of £50 15s. a ton, which is the lowest for very many years? Is the right hon. Gentleman also aware that I put this Question down to the President of the Board of Trade, but it was transferred to his Department? Should not someone be responsible for ensuring that trade relations with Jamaica are better than they are, particularly with regard to price?

This Commission is purely an internal Jamaica matter. I am naturally extremely interested in the problem in Jamaica, the Windward Islands, and the Federation as a whole. Matters are not finally settled, but it is expected that a joint delegation from Jamaica, the Windward Islands and the West Indies Federal Government will come to London in the summer for talks on certain aspects of the price assistance scheme. That has nothing to do with the purely Jamaican commission of inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on developments in Malta following the suspension of the constitution providing for the election of a Parliament; and which Maltese citizens have been selected to serve on the Governor's Council.

The 1947 Constitution is still in force, but a new Constitution is being prepared and will be introduced in the near future. An important and serious development was a not last Friday at the dockyard, on which I am circulating a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

As regards the second part of the Question, the membership of the Gover- nor's Council will be announced when the new Constitution is ready.

What is the use of the Prime Minister in Moscow saying that British imperialism is obsolete when he destroys democratic institutions in Malta in this way? Is not the right hon. Gentleman yet able to say whether "stooges" have been found in Malta to sit on the fatuous Council which he is establishing?

The hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, perhaps not surprisingly, is a travesty of the facts.

Is not the future of Malta entirely dependent on its economic prosperity, and are the present activities of the late Prime Minister conducive to the future prosperity of Malta?

No, they certainly are not.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the bans on the activities of political and other organisations in Cyprus will be lifted; and when trade unions will be permitted to function freely.

As regards the first part of the Question, I cannot at present add to the Prime Minister's statement of 19th February, but it is our intention to bring the state of emergency to an end as soon as possible. Trade unions are, and have been throughout the emergency, allowed to function freely.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a number of political, ecclesiastical and other organisations—and, despite what he has said, trade unions as well—have had their functions restricted during the period of emergency? Will he take urgent steps to lift these restrictions?

No. Action has been taken against trade union leaders in their individual capacity. The trade unions have been allowed to function normally. Under the agreed conclusions of the London conference, two bodies will he set up--a joint commission in Cyprus and a transitional committee. The removal of bans on any organisation can best be considered in these connections.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many students of British Somaliland are receiving secondary school and university education, respectively, in the United Kingdom, Somaliland, or elsewhere; and what proportion of Somalis are now filling Government administrative posts in British Somaliland.

Students receiving secondary education in the United Kingdom, the Somaliland Protectorate and elsewhere number 39, 81 and 26 respectively. There are 12 students at universities in the United Kingdom and 4 else- where. A further 42 students are undertaking various courses of higher education and practical training in the United Kingdom. Higher education is not available in the Protectorate. All those students are government sponsored. Eight Somalis hold Government administrative appointments out of a total of 33.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman feel that the number of students receiving secondary and university education is quite inadequate in view of the very great responsibilities which Somalis will have to exercise next year when they have responsibility for their own Government?

It is certainly not enough, but it is a very great improvement on what it was before.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further developments have taken place in Uganda in respect of the political claims of Buganda.

A resolution passed by the Buganda Lukiko on 5th December, 1958. seeking termination of the Buganda Agreements and the surrender of the powers of protection was not approved by the Governor. A memorandum addressed to Her Majesty The Queen by the Lukiko, with a covering letter by the Kabaka, has been received, and I am consulting the Governor about it before tendering advice to Her Majesty.

Is anything being done to try to reconcile the rival claims of Buganda on the one hand and the rest of Uganda on the other?

We always try to do that.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many applications for land on the shore of the new Kariba Lake have been received by the Kariba Lake Co-ordinating Committee; and, of these, how many are from Africans.

Twenty-two, none of which is from an African, but it is expected that when the lake is full a number of African villages will move down to the shore.

Do not those figures enforce the view that Africans are now gravely worried by the fact that the new Kariba Lake will become a great commercialised venture for Europeans only in which they will lose existing rights which they may now have in fishing, and so on? Will the hon. Gentleman say whether the fears of the Africans will prove to be true?

First, the interests of the Africans are predominent in our mind. Secondly, as I tried to explain in my Answer, we expect that a number of African villages will move down to the shore.

That is not an answer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how much Crown Land lies along the shore of Lake Kariba.

I have consulted the Governor, and when his reply is received I shall circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Why does the hon. Gentleman need to consult the Governor on a matter like this? He has only to look at the map to see that on the north shore there is no Crown land whatsoever. Therefore, the only land which will be lost is the native trust land, the reserve land, which now belongs to the Africans. Is it the case that that land will not pass into the hands of the Europeans in the development of the new Kariba Lake?

I am afraid that the hon. Gentleman is misinformed. As I understand it, there is a strip of Crown land on the north bank of the Zambesi which is about ten miles long and two miles deep. I await details of the area upstream from the dam which will be on the shore of the lake. It is because I have not those details yet that I did not want to give the hon. Gentleman a false answer.