asked the Secretary of Slate for the Colonies the number of Africans in Northern Rhodesia who have been given official assistance to undertake training in Great Britain and elsewhere in co-operative methods, the number of these who are members of societies and officials of the Cooperative Department, respectively, the length of their courses, and the total expenditure for this purpose during the past five years.

Five Africans received such assistance, all being officials of the Co-operative Department, 3 took eleven-month courses and 2 three-month courses. Expenditure from official sources so far amounts to £2,413, but in two cases final claims for travel and subsistence allowances have not been received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for what reasons the General Workers Union and the Shops and Distributive Workers Union have been dissolved by the Northern Rhodesian Government.

Because they served notices of their wish to be dissolved on the Registrar of Trade Unions. I am writing to explain the full circumstances to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the function of the security legion formed in Northern Rhodesia; what official statements have been made about this body by the Northern Rhodesian Government; and whether it has been registered under the Societies Ordinance.

No security legion has been formed in Northern Rhodesia, and no statement has been made about such a body by the Northern Rhodesian Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he is satisfied that in Aden the employment of ex-Sudan officers is not blocking the promotion of regular Colonial Service officers; and if he will make a statement;(2) what percentage of the super scale posts in Aden are held by ex-Sudan officers.

Taking the Aden Colony and Protectorate establishments together, 9·4 per cent. of the officers holding super-scale appointments have at some time been employed in the Sudan. I am satisfied that the employment of these officers is in the best interests of the public service and that when vacancies occur, the claims of regular Service officers are always fully considered on their merits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1), in view of the injustice caused by the retention of the rank of Administrative Assistant in scale B in the Aden Secretariat, if he will place the officers concerned on scale A with the title of Assistant Secretary;(2) the differences in duties performed by an Assistant Secretary in Aden on scale A and an Administrative Assistant on scale B;(3) why the rank or title of Administrative Assistant was introduced in Aden in the Secretariat; and if he is satisfied that it is necessary to retain this rank.

The post of Administrative Assistant was abolished at the beginning of the current financial year. It was introduced as a training grade, and when it was abolished there was a proportionate increase in the number of posts of Assistant Secretary. Assistant Secretaries are appointed on A or B scales according to qualifications and experience. I am satisfied that there is no injustice involved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of those arrested, detained and rusticated by the authorities in Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia are known to be members of recognised trade union organisations.

Nyasaland: 6; Northern Rhodesia: 15.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what decision has now been reached on the request of Archbishop Makarios that the bans on certain organisations and newspapers in Cyprus should be lifted.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member on 5th May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied that there are adequate arrangements for the preservation of law and order and, in particular, the safety of life and property in Cyprus, pending the transfer of power to the Cypriot Republic.

The Governor retains full responsibility for the maintenance of law and order in the island and I am confident of his ability with the forces at his disposal to discharge this responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what conclusions he has reached in his consideration of the proposal put to him that Somalis ordinarily resident in Great Britain should have their passport renewed or replaced by the Passport Office without reference to the Somaliland Government.

The responsibility for authorising passport facilities in such cases rests with the Governor of Somaliland Protectorate. He has recently decided that where a Somali is normally resident in this country, and has regular employment, his passport may be renewed or replaced at the discretion of the Passport Office without reference to the Protectorate Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made with constitutional talks in the Gambia; and when he will announce the proposals of the Government.

My right hon. Friend is in the Gambia at the present moment. He is discussing constitutional and other matters and will be ready to answer Questions when he returns.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what instructions he has given to United Kingdom High Commissioners in Commonwealth countries with regard to the issuing of new British passports to Messrs. Maclean and Burgess.

As regards the issue of instructions to United Kingdom High Commissioners I have nothing to add to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs on 4th June, 1959, to a similar Question relating to foreign countries.

asked the Minister of Education (1) the respective total figures for the capital value of endowments and the annual endowment incomes, gross and net, of all the endowed schools in each of the following categories, namely, independent, direct grant, voluntary aided, voluntary controlled, and county;

I regret that this information is not available in my Department.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in view of the rapid increase in road traffic, he will revise the basis for estimating future traffic volumes laid down in Circular 727 of 30th April, 1956.

The basis for estimating future traffic volumes as laid down in Circular 727 is at present under review. I hope to issue shortly fresh guidance on rural road design standards which will take into account the latest evidence on likely growth of traffic.

asked the Secretary of State for War, now that a system of reduction is taking place in the Armed Forces and certain of the rifle ranges are being abandoned, if he will examine the situation as regards the existing ranges, which will not be abandoned and are at present in use by the Army or the Territorial Army, and make it possible for bona fide rifle clubs or associations to have the use of such ranges on suitable occasions.

Clubs which are affiliated to the National Rifle Association or the National Small-Bore Rifle Association may by arrangement shoot on Army and T.A. ranges, when they are not otherwise in use, on payment of an annual fee of one shilling for each member.