asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is satisfied with the administration of the Clean Air Act and with the results obtained; what further action it is intended to take; and by what date it is expected that the air in this country will compare with the best in other industrial countries and cities.

An encouraging start has been made. But I should like to see faster progress in the worst polluted parts of England and Wales, and that is why I have asked the local authorities concerned to let me know their plans for speeding up the creation of smoke control areas. How soon we shall make the air in this country as clean as the best in other industrial countries I cannot say, but I intend to press on.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is great disappointment and frustration among all sections of the community within a 50-mile radius of Manchester, and that feeling is such that the Lancashire Federation of Trades Councils is considering inviting authorities from Pittsburgh? If that invitation is made, will the Minister co-operate?

I did not hear every word of the hon. Member's supplementary question, but if he was asking me whether I will use any powers or influence I can to get the air cleaner, whether around Manchester or elsewhere, the answer is "Yes".

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that no permanent solution to pollution of the atmosphere is possible until energetic steps are taken to deal with the emission of noxious and asphyxiating fumes from diesel oil road vehicles? Will he impress on his right hon. Friend the Minister of Works the urgent need for intensive research by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research towards that aspect of the problem?

That is a matter which I hope to discuss with the Clean Air Council before long.

I am very much obliged.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he has considered the 95th Annual Report on Alkali, etc., Works by the Chief Inspectors; what general action is to be taken; and, in particular, what action is to be taken in respect of pages 36, 37 and 38 of the Report, with special reference to the 80 kilns and the hard core referred to on page 37.

I have, of course, studied this excellent document. With my approval and support, my Chief Alkali Inspector is proceeding in England and Wales on the lines indicated in the Report, including that part of it relating to ceramic works.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that my hon. Friends and I very much appreciate the great improvements which have been brought about in the City of Stoke-on-Trent, but that we still suffer from the serious effects of the inaction of the minority? Will he undertake to use his maximum influence to bring about a higher standard among those people?

Yes, Sir. As I said, I want to help in every way I can. When I received my Chief Inspector's Report, I asked him to come to see me, and I discussed it with him. I am very grateful to the hon. Gentleman for what he said about the progress being made.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it would help in authorities like mine, Stoke-on-Trent, if he would give the address of the alkali inspector resident in the area, so that when we got a case we could immediately contact him instead of going the long way round and seeing the Minister, as in the case which I have recently sent to the right hon. Gentleman?

I am not sure that it would be wise to short-circuit local authorities who are partners with my Alkali Inspectorate in this matter, but I will certainly take note of what the hon. Lady has said.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what recent action has been taken about the emission of fluorine compounds into the air in the City of Stoke-on-Trent; what are the future prospects; and what consultations he has had with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food about its experience at the Fenton Farm.

Investigation is continuing and is being extended to include an analysis of the fluorine content of various raw materials used in pottery manufacture, in order to assess their individual contributions to the problem. My right hon. Friend keeps me informed of the progress of the experiments at Fenton Manor Farm.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that, while we greatly appreciate what has been done, it is now twenty years since I first raised this matter and that in the meantime people and cattle in the area have continued to suffer? Has not the time arrived when a sense of urgency should be introduced?

At present, there is no evidence of any hazard to public health. There is evidence of harm to cattle and that is what we are investigating. The Alkali Inspectorate and the Chief Inspector of Factories are co-operating in an investigation of these emissions. They are important, but to my mind they are not the most serious element of pollution in the area of Stoke-on-Trent.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what official restrictions are placed on the use of slotted angles made of steel or aluminium alloy for the framework of buildings in this country.

I am not aware of any restrictions on the use of these slotted angles. A building in which they were used would have to comply with any requirements of the building byelaws.

Is my hon. Friend aware that that is the point I was making? Are there any building byelaws which will make it difficult to use this method of construction? If so, will my hon. Friend bear in mind that British firms export this type of framework for their building abroad, and that any out of date restrictions should be abolished?

If these angles are used in the construction of houses, those houses will be subject to the byelaws. I am not aware that there are any restrictions against the use of these angles.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he proposes to make the further regulations, under the Town and Country Planning Act, for the control of advertisements, drafts of which he circulated on 25th February last.

I am at present considering certain observations which I have received from the bodies I consulted.

Would the Minister care to tell us when he thinks he will have completed these consultations, and whether he will let us have the regulations before the Summer Recess? He will no doubt be aware that there is some concern among various bodies, such as the C.P.R.E., at the rather long delay that has taken place.

I did not get in all the replies by the date I asked. Although the draft regulations are almost universally agreed in principle, there are specific detailed points which I have been asked to consider further. I would not like to give a promise about laying the new regulations before the Summer Recess, but I am anxious to get on.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, whether he has now considered the proposals of the advertising interests for a voluntary code of standards applicable to outdoor advertising on business premises; and what action he proposes to take in this matter.

I understand that representatives of the advertising interests are meeting representatives of the local authority associations within the next two or three weeks to discuss a draft of a voluntary code of standards. I hope they will quickly reach agreement. In that event I shall do all I can to encourage adoption of the code.

Can the Minister say what he intends to do if agreement is not reached quickly? What sort of time limit has he in mind? Can he also state what further action it will be possible for him to take, if necessary?

That is a hypothetical question. This meeting is being held in the middle of next month, and I have expressed my strong hope that agreement will be reached.

Can the Minister state whether there will be any advisers on art or on the countryside to advise this body, or will it be merely a utilitarian conference? Will it be a conference which all those who are interested in the countryside can attend?

In this case the matter under discussion is purely concerned with the clutter of advertisements on business premises. We had better read the code first and then reach our decisions upon it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what steps he will take to restrict the display of electrical advertisement signs, particularly those with vivid red, amber and green colours, in view of the danger that they may be confused, by motorists, with traffic signals.

I see no need to strengthen the powers already available to local planning authorities under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations, 1948, for restricting the display of advertisement signs likely to be confused with traffic signals.

If organisations representing road users wish to make representations, will the right hon. Gentleman either receive them himself or make arrangements for one of his right hon. Friends to do so?

If anyone feels that this is not working well, I should be glad if he would first send in his views, and then we can consider whether a deputation would be helpful.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) to what extent the plans for the development of the site of the Stag Brewery, Victoria, contain provision for the parking of cars; and how many car spaces will be made available;

My right hon. Friend has under consideration certain proposals for the redevelopment of this site, which have been referred to him as they constitute a departure from the County of London Development Plan. These proposals include provision for 359 car spaces in addition to lock-up garages, and for a new street from Victoria Street to Warwick Row. My right hon. Friend can express no opinion on the merits of the proposals at present.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this very fine project for a new street in the centre of London, and for over 350 car spaces and underground car parks, will receive the widest approval and appreciation if it proves acceptable?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs the number of planning appeal applications received by his Department during the last twelve months; how these figures compare with the previous twelve months; and the approximate time that is taken to deal with these appeals.

Seven thousand, seven hundred and sixty-eight appeals were received during the twelve months ended 31st May last, and 7,329 during the previous twelve months. The average time taken to determine an appeal is now about six months.

I thank my hon. Friend for those figures, but I would point out that a delay of six months causes considerable hardship when it means that during the summer months no building can take place? Is my hon. Friend confident that everything is being done to speed up these appeals, including the full use of the Minister's powers, under the Act, to deal with minor cases by correspondence?

Yes. In fact, the number of these appeals has doubled in the last six years, but my right hon. Friend is trying to reduce the delay in a variety of ways, such as, where the parties agree, dealing with cases on the basis of written representations, by increasing the number of inspectors and by putting out more information about the general planning policy of Her Majesty's Government. We are doing all we can.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether, in view of a recent case in Barking where an elderly widow was evicted from her shop by the local authority without compensation, he will take further steps to draw the attention of local authorities to paragraph 6 of Circular 43 issued by his Department in 1956.

I am proposing to send a further circular to local authorities very shortly.

I thank my right hon. Friend for that most helpful Answer, but in view of the shocking circumstances of this case, would not his proposed action be more effective and pointed if his Circular made it clear that the vast majority of local authorities are humane in the exercise of their discretionary powers?

I think that my hon. Friend will be well satisfied with the Circular when he sees it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will use his powers to prevent any further encroachment on land zoned as green belt areas in the area of the Brierley Hill Urban District Council.

My right hon. Friend attaches great importance to the preservation of green belts, but he must consider on their merits any proposals that may come before him to build in such areas.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that since the Conservatives have controlled the Staffordshire County Council speculative builders have been getting away with murder? Has his attention been drawn to the report in the Wolverhampton Express and Star of 13th June, of a meeting of the Brierley Hill Urban District Council, at which it was said that the "pressure boys" were at work on the county, and the county authority was succumbing to pressure put upon it by the landed interests? Will he look at that report if I send it to him?

I have not seen a copy of the report, but I can assure the hon. Member that my right hon. Friend has the interest of preserving green belts very much at heart. It would be wrong for me to comment upon these proposals at the moment.

Can the hon. Gentleman state what considerations are borne in mind when deciding between the preservation of a green belt and the claim of a local builder to build on it?

The main consideration is the public interest. If an area has been formally declared a green belt, or it is known that the local planning authority wishes it to be a green belt, it is usually respected. But exceptions are sometimes made for building in the public interest.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will make a further statement on the problem of the foaming agent in detergents and its effect on sewage purification.

My right hon. Friend has, as yet, no information beyond that published in April in the Second Progress Report of the Standing Technical Committee on Synthetic Detergents. He hopes, however, to be able to make a statement before the summer Recess on the progress of the trials being carried out by the Committee.

I am very pleased to hear that we are likely to have a statement before the Recess. Can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether he has any knowledge of how far a new chemical has been developed which will dissolve the worst qualities of the foaming agent and make it less of a danger to sewerage authorities and to the people who use detergents? Has the Parliamentary Secretary or the Minister seen the picture in Reynolds News on Sunday of the effects of detergent foam being blown about in Castle-town?

I am afraid I have not time to read all these newspapers. I think it much more enlightening to read the Second Progress Report of the Committee which makes clear that a new detergent material has been discovered by the manufacturers and that it has been subjected to tests by the Water Pollution Research Laboratory of the D.S.I.R. In the main those tests have been successful, and we are trying to ascertain whether such tests could be carried out at major sewerage works. We shall know more when we have the results of these inquiries.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what consideration he has given to the case for a national water grid involving the Grand Contour Canal Project, submitted to him by Mr. J. F. Pownall, of Cardiff; and if he will make a statement.

This project, as I understand it, would involve construction of a canal system based on London and extending to Bristol in the West and via Manchester to Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the North, with branches to other large cities. It appears that the total length of canal would be some 1,300 miles, and it would require some 26,000 acres of land. Apart from technical difficulties, the value for water supply purposes would be small in relation to the cost in land and money, which would be prohibitive.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what special action he is proposing to take to help local authorities in districts where there are many vacancies for men and women and where there is no housing accommodation available.

It is for local authorities to assess the needs of their districts when considering their housing programmes. I am always ready to look sympathetically at any case where the authority thinks that it ought to build additional houses in order to meet a special and urgent housing need.

Is the Minister aware that a report made recently showed that about a thousand vacancies were available for men and women in a place not very far from here, but that it also said that there was not the slightest chance of their being filled because of the acute housing shortage? How can the Minister try to impress the House that he is dealing with the housing situation if such a state of affairs can exist in this place?

Perhaps the hon. Member will let me have further information. The present situation is that I have told nearly every local authority in England and Wales that it can have the full programme it has asked for. If more houses are needed the initiative lies with the local authorities to ask for them.

Did the Minister notice that in asking his supplementary question my hon. Friend referred to a place not far from here? Does not that illustrate the fact that industry is concentrated in these conurbations, where there is lack of housing accommodation, whereas in other parts of the country families are moving out, leaving accommodation empty?

I realise what the right hon. Gentleman has in mind, but he will know what the Government are doing in West South Wales—and doing successfully—to attract industry to these areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action is proposed, before the holding of the conference to review the Federal Constitution in 1960, to secure that the Governments of Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia more fully represent the peoples of those territories.

I do not contemplate before 1960 any change in the Constitution of Northern Rhodesia introduced at the beginning of this year. I am still considering the possibility of changes in the Nyasaland Constitution, and am not yet able to make a statement.

Since neither of these Legislatures represents the majority of the people, and their fate will be decided for many years by this conference, is not it desirable that steps should be taken before 1960 to see that the democratic right of the people is reflected when their destiny is being determined?

These are valuable bodies, but I am not suggesting that, by themselves, and in their present form, they would provide an adequate method of ascertaining the views of the people of the Territories.

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that the Government of Northern Rhodesia is more representative than ever before but that a similar advance was prevented in Nyasaland because of the widespread revolt against law and order?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which publications of the All African Peoples' Conference in Ghana have been banned in Nyasaland; and for what reasons.

The "All-African People's Conference News Bulletin" has been banned as its importation was considered to be against the public interest.

Is not this really rather silly? [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] Does not the Conference at Accra represent a great democratic African movement—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—of the whole continent? Is it not like the attitude of King Canute to try to prevent these things arising and being reflected among the people?

I will not follow up the rather inadequate reference by the hon. Gentleman to the rôle of King Canute. The effect of this document on people who hitherto have not been subjected in a great degree to the extravagance of political writings may well be serious to public order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he now expects the report of the Devlin Commission to be published.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has yet received the Report of the Devlin Commission of Inquiry into the recent disturbances in Nyasaland.

I have not yet received the Report. I hope to receive it about the middle of July and it will be published as soon as possible thereafter.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance to the House that when the Report of the Commission is published Dr. Hastings Banda and the other detainees will either have charges brought against them or be released?

I shall certainly await the publication of the Report before making any statement about what I shall do after its publication.

Will the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that the Report will not be delayed so that it is too late to discuss it in this House before the Summer Recess?

That is certainly not the practice of this Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies under what circumstances, in what places, and in what form compulsory public labour is being used in Nyasaland.

The emergency regulations provide for the direction of labour, where required, to remove obstructions on public roads. The power has been very sparingly used, and then only in widely separated areas for very short periods on specific road blocks.

Is not this a degrading form of punishment in which the guilty and innocent are punished alike? Is not the damage which will be done to world opinion greater than the immediate temporary advantage to the authorities in Nyasaland?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Africans have been found guilty of being members of an unlawful organisation since the beginning of the state of emergency; and if he will state the maximum sentence imposed for this offence.

I understand that the hon. Member has Nyasaland in mind. The figure is 127 up to 19th June, the maximum sentence being two and a half years' imprisonment.

Is the Secretary of State aware that this organisation, which is now illegal, until recently had the blessing of the Governor in Nyasaland, and, in the long run, will once again come to be recognised by the Governor in Nyasaland? Would he not agree that it might be much better, and would not embitter relations nearly so much, and would encourage a sane and sensible solution, if this policy of repression were stopped before publication of the Devlin Commission's Report?

I have nothing to add to my Answer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are now being taken to clear slums and build new houses in St. Helena.

It is planned to clear the two remaining blocks of slums in Jamestown and to build further Government cottages including some for rent purchase. Further subsidies for building will also be made.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that according to the last census a very high percentage of houses in St. Helena are substandard? Is he aware that suitable houses could be built at comparatively low cost? Will he authorise a really imaginative and large-scale slum clearance scheme?

If the hon. Gentleman studies my Answer, he will see that I am aware of most of this trouble. Within their resources the Government of St. Helena are getting on with it with vigour.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the present position with regard to the Fisher's Valley Irrigation Scheme in St. Helena.

The plan to construct a dam has been abandoned for the time being owing to the discovery of underground springs at the proposed site. An alternative scheme for supplying water to Longwood plains by gravity from a point higher up the valley is now under consideration. Meanwhile swamp land below the dam site has been drained and cleared and an open channel has been provided to enable it to be irrigated all the year round.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to provide trained teachers in St. Helena.

This is a difficult problem to which the Governor has been giving much attention. It would be hard to cover the ground adequately in reply to a Question and I propose to write to the hon. Member. Perhaps he may wish to put down a further Question after receiving my letter.

Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider two possibilities: first, the paying of higher salaries to the trained St. Helenian teachers already there, in order to keep them on the island, and secondly, a scheme with one of the larger education authorities in this country so that some of our teachers could go to St. Helena for a short time?

In view of the fact that previous dictators have been exiled to St. Helena, could not the right hon. Gentleman be persuaded to go there to look after the dam mentioned in answer to Question No. 24 personally?

I think that perhaps I should be more profitably engaged here.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now announce the ending of the state of emergency in Kenya, in view of the improved political situation in the colony.

I have nothing to add to the reply of my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State to the hon. Member on 2nd June.

Is the Minister aware that the continuance of the state of emergency in Kenya is impeding peaceful political progress and that the emergency powers are being used not to suppress Mau Mau and K.K.M. but to interfere with the legitimate political activities of Mr. Tom M'Boya, and Mr. Mathenge, who has been rearrested?

I cannot add anything to the Answer I have given. I shall be glad when the security situation allows these powers to be withdrawn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total cost to Government funds in this country and in Kenya, respectively, of payments in money and grants of educational benefit, travelling and other allowances made to Rawson Mbogwa Macharia since July, 1952; when were these applications for benefit first made; and what were the dates of payment.

The Kenya Government paid to Macharia and his dependants a total sum of £426 in Kenya and £1,644 in the United Kingdom. Macharia first asked whether the Government would give him protection on 6th November, 1952.

As regards the third part of the Question, in view of the length of the information requested, I will, with permission, write to the hon. Member.

In view of the fact that it is extremely important that we should know whether these payments were promised before or after the trial at which Macharia gave evidence, could not the Colonial Secretary at least give us that information? If it was before the trial, were the facts communicated to the solicitors who were advising the defence?

I think that the hon. Gentleman has read the case very carefully himself, and I think he knows that in fact the statement was made by Macharia unaided, as the judge noted in his findings at the end of the trial. In an interview on that day—6th November—with the then public prosecutor, Mr. Somerhough, after going over the statement of 6th October, Macharia asked whether the Kenya Government could give him protection should he give evidence against Kenyatta, and the deputy prosecutor said he would raise the question with the authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what date the evidence given by Rawson Mbogwa Macharia at the trial of Jomo Kenyatta was first supplied to the prosecution.

A statement written and signed by Macharia, and dated 6th October, 1952, which was substantially the same as the evidence which he gave at the trial of Jomo Kenyatta, was first seen by the then deputy public prosecutor on 5th November, 1952.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that so long as he goes on using the word "protected" and talks about the promise of protection given on 6th November, before the trial, without saying what arrangements were made for the payment of something like £2,000 of benefit to this witness who testified at the trial, the whole question of the trial comes under acute suspicion, because this man was the one really important witness.

As the hon. Gentleman knows, this is a very complicated matter. I am very ready to discuss it at length, and if he cares to raise it on the Motion for the Adjournment, I will deal with it in the full detail which it deserves.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now make a statement on the form and nature of the expert advice which is to be made available to the forthcoming Kenya round-table conference; and to what extent he has consulted African opinion in Kenya on this aspect of the matter.

I am still considering this question and have no statement to make at present. Since my discussions with the delegation led by Mr. Odinga in April, Mr. Blundell has given me an account of the preliminary views of his group on this question, including, of course, its African members.

Would the Colonial Secretary agree that it is very desirable that such experts as he does select to advise the Conference shall have the confidence of the African representatives, as well as that of other racial groups?

I think that is very important, and, indeed, essential for all the experts, whatever may be the final conclusion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has yet received the report of the tribunal considering the disciplinary charges against Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Coutts; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the disciplinary committee, which has been inquiring into the actions of the Hola Camp commandant and his deputy, is yet in a position to issue a report.

No, Sir.

Is not the Colonial Secretary aware that it is more than six weeks since these disciplinary charges were instituted; and, in view of the fact that the Attorney-General told the House that all the facts were known in this matter, why the delay? Is he now trying to delay publication of the report until the Recess?

I repeat what I said. This is the sort of malicious innuendo that I deeply resent. Nothing of the sort is intended, but the disciplinary inquiry is concerned with the position of two servants of the Crown in Kenya, and it is essential that the charges against them should be properly gone into, and not skimped or hurried in order to meet some need of the hon. Gentleman. The disciplinary inquiry has already been completed and the tribunal is now preparing its report and recommendations. It will then have to be considered by the Governor, his Ministers and by me. I shall arrange for the report and proceedings to be published as a Command Paper. I hope this can be done some time next month, well before the House rises.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action it is proposed to take against named officers of the Special Branch in Kenya who were found to have committed acts of brutality towards detainees at Manyani, according to the report of the administrative inquiry conducted by Mr. A. P. Jack, Deputy Public Prosecutor.

These allegations were made by one of the 94 witnesses interrogated by Mr. Jack while investigating 19 allegations by Mr. V. C. Shuter into conditions at Manyani, not a single one of which was established. They were made by one, uncorroborated witness and the Special Branch officers concerned, both of whom had left the service some time ago, were traced after the publication of Mr. Jack's report and denied them. Attempts to identify detainees who might have been concerned in the alleged events failed. In view of the lack of corroboration and conflict of evidence, legal proceedings have not been initiated.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that among the evidences of brutality were two authenticated instances, accepted by Mr. Jack, where detainees had been beaten with a rubber hose on the genitals by ex-officers of the Special Branch. Does he really say, in view of the fact that this evidence was accepted by Mr. Jack, that no action is to be taken?

No, Sir. I have nothing to add to the Answer which I have given. In fairness to the Government of Kenya, the hon. Gentleman ought to reflect that of 94 witnesses interrogated on 19 allegations, not a single one of the allegations made by Mr. Shuter was substantiated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what charges have been brought against Mr. Kenneth Kaunda in Northern Rhodesia; and with what evidence.

The charges were:

(1) convening an unauthorised meeting contrary to Section 30 of the Police Ordinance;

(2) conspiracy to effect an unlawful purpose contrary to Section 358 of the Penal Code;

As regards the evidence, I have asked the Governor to forward the case record and copies will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as possible.

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that Answer. May I ask whether he is aware that Mr. Kaunda made a statement before the election in Northern Rhodesia appealing against violence, and that he has done his best to smooth down the antagonisms which have existed in the Territory? Is he aware that, in view of this, these sentences will sound very harsh and oppressive?

It is not always by words that people ought to be judged. I ask the hon. Gentleman to await the case record.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the appropriations for the Information Services in Northern Rhodesia have been cut; and if he will make a statement.

The revised provision of £87,016 in 1958–59 compared with £122,840 in 1957–58 is accounted for mainly by the transfer of responsibility for broadcasting in Northern Rhodesia to an independent Corporation.

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that, in spite of the transfer of broadcasting, the appropriations still represent a cut in the Information Services? In view of the present situation in Central Africa, should we not be spending more on our Information Services rather than less?

We work according to a budget. The Government do as well as they can—I think very well—on the money available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in how many Colonial Territories a state of emergency has been declared since October, 1951; and in how many political leaders have been imprisoned, detained or interned.

In thirteen territories or parts of territories, a number of them being due to inter-tribal troubles and many of them concerned with relatively minor disturbances.

No person is imprisoned save after conviction by the ordinary process of the criminal law for a criminal offence. Moreover, in no case has action been taken against a person for legitimate political activity. Powers of detention have only been used where it has been necessary, by reason of the other activities of the persons concerned, to exercise control over them for the purpose of securing or maintaining public order.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman know that this is the second successive Question which he has failed to answer? He is not asked about the normal processes of criminal law, but about people being detained without trial. Has not this happened under his rule in Colony after Colony, and is it not causing concern, both in our international relations and in the Commission on Human Rights, which body the right hon. Gentleman promised that the Declaration of Human Rights would be applied to the Colonies?

No, Sir; that is indeed not true. With regard to the second part of the supplementary question, I was asked to specify how many times people had been arrested or detained because of their political views. I have explained in my Answer that it is impossible to distinguish that, because they have not been detained for their political views, but for other reasons. In regard to the number of disturbances, I ask the hon. Gentleman to address himself to the very large number of states of emergency under previous Administrations, which shows that this problem is common to all Governments in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what official representations have been made to him by the Federation of the West Indies concerning the effects of dollar liberalisation proposals upon the West Indian citrus industry, which was developed as a result of undertakings given by this country; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he is taking to safeguard the position of the West Indies citrus industry, in view of the policy of Her Majesty's Government to liberalise trade with the dollar area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what plans he has been preparing to offset the effects on the citrus industry of the West Indies of the dollar trade liberalisation policy.

A West Indian delegation led by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Federation is at present discussing the question of safeguards to the citrus industry. The delegation have drawn attention to the risks to which their market in this country would be open in the event of complete dollar liberalisation. The position regarding liberalisation is, broadly, that quantitative restrictions on imports can only be imposed so long as they are justified on balance of payments grounds. As the discussions are still continuing, I am sure the House would not expect me to make any further statement about the probable outcome at this stage. But I can say this. Her Majesty's Government fully recognise the importance of the citrus industry to the West Indies and are in the present Conference discussing means of helping the West Indian Governments to build it up so that it can meet fair competition from any quarter.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that Answer, which, of course, one recognises has been given in the middle of the negotiations, may I ask if he would urge upon his colleagues in the Government that the minimum requirement to save this industry is to maintain the quantitative restriction on dollar imports for sufficiently long to enable the industry to make adjustments in its arrangements over a period of years?

That is one of the matters that is being considered by the Conference, and I feel that it would not be appropriate for me to give an answer now.

Will the Colonial Secretary bear in mind that in recent years some degree of progress towards viability has been made in the West Indies by long-term contracts and secure markets; and, in view of the fact that the islands have now embarked upon this great venture of federation, will he realise how very important it is that we should give them every assistance to maintain their basic industry?

I certainly agree.

Does the Answer of the Secretary of State mean that in these negotiations Her Majesty's Government intend to make proposals with the object of safeguarding the economy of the West Indian Federation from the competition of economically more developed countries?

The right hon. and learned Gentleman must not read into my Answer more than I intended. I fully recognise the importance of the industry, and the historic ties of that industry with the United Kingdom. One of our tasks is to reconcile the economic interests of the West Indies with our international obligations. I am hopeful that that can be done, but I am sure that it would be premature to go beyond the Answer I have given.

Will not my right hon. Friend agree that unrestricted United States competition in the United Kingdom would be completely disastrous for the West Indian citrus industry? Will he confirm, if possible, the undertaking given to the West Indian Ministers by the present Lord Chandos when he was Secretary of State?

Yes, Sir, I certainly will; and also the undertaking I have given myself.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies by what authority the Governor of Cyprus has confiscated 5,000 copies of a book published in Greece, the title of which has been sent to him.

By the authority of Section 58A of the Cyprus Criminal Code Law.

Does not the Colonial Secretary realise that the withholding of this book, which is about the experiences of a man detained for eighteen months without trial and without charge in a camp in Cyprus, is most unjust? Is it not also a very silly decision, because sooner or later the book will be published, and it is now getting an exceedingly good advertisement and will have a much wider circulation than it normally would have had?

No, Sir. I fully support the action of the Governor in this matter. The Governor's liberal approach to the problems of Cyprus is well-known. The circulation of this book in Cyprus would certainly stir up feelings entirely contrary to the spirit of constructive co-operation which flowed from the London Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he intends to set up a court of inquiry into the incident that took place recently in Uganda when police opened fire on a crowd of persons watching a wrestling match.

I assume that the right hon. Member refers to the riot which took place at Katwe on 4th June, on which I gave a full report in my reply to the hon. Members for Wednesbury (Mr. Stonehouse) and Flint, East (Mrs. E. White) on 11th June. In the light of this report I do not consider that a court of inquiry into the incident is necessary or desirable.

Is not the Colonial Secretary aware that my information, obtained from eye witnesses and from my own visit to the place shortly after the shooting, differs in many respects from his? Is he also aware, in particular, that the crowd was not engaged in any political activity but was watching a wrestling match and dancing, and that ail it did was to break a regulation that there should not be more than 250 people together? Finally, is he aware that the police opened fire without reading the Riot Act? Does he think that this is desirable, and that if such things happened in this country there would not be an inquiry? Why should there not be an inquiry if they happen in Uganda?

I made a long statement on this matter in reply to a Question and I have nothing to add to that statement. I cannot accept the value of the sources from which the right hon. Gentleman claims to have his information. I have proof that those for whom he claims to speak repudiate his right to speak on their behalf. The best comment upon his journey is an article in the Uganda Argus which described him as "an innocent abroad".

Was there not once in the Colonial Office a very healthy practice that when serious events of this kind occurred involving loss of life an independent inquiry was held? Has the Colonial Secretary abandoned that practice altogether?

No, but if the right hon. Gentleman were still occupying my post he would get his facts correct. No one was killed on this occasion.

Is it not possible for the Colonial Secretary, instead of trying to score runs, to tell the House a little more fully what is happening? Is it not the case, if people are fired on in a crowd for whatever reason, that that ought to be a most unusual occurrence in a Colonial Territory? Are the men against whom the firing was directed being charged with riotous assembly or some charge of that sort? In other words, how are these facts to become known before the Colonial Secretary condemns my right hon. Friend?

Of the nineteen persons charged in connection with the riot at Katwe eleven have appeared before the magistrates, three have been released for lack of evidence, four have been remanded, six are awaiting a court hearing, and two are still in hospital.

In view of the fact that no one has yet been found guilty of the charges brought against him, does the Colonial Secretary think he is justified in the strictures which he has applied to my right hon. Friend?

Although the Colonial Secretary is perfectly correct in saying that on one was killed, is he aware that I have seen a woman with shrapnel wounds in her breast as the result of the shooting by the police. Will he take this matter a little more seriously?

On a point of order. In view of the fact that the earlier reply of my right hon. Friend the Colonial Secretary showed that the whole matter is sub judice, are we not stretching the bounds of order in pursuing the matter in this House at all, and are not the imputations being cast by hon. Members opposite wholly unjustified by the facts of the situation?

I do not know about the facts, but it did appear, from the Colonial Secretary's last answer—if I understood him aright—that some of these people are on remand, which means that the court is still to consider their cases. Presumably that would put these cases sub judice.

Was not my right hon. Friend's original Question to ask the Colonial Secretary to hold an inquiry? Is it not a fact that such inquiries used to be held in the past?

Further to the same point of order. If it be a fact that all these matters are sub judice, so that the question of whether anyone was pursuing unlawful conduct at the time when the shooting took place is still before the courts and not decided, was it not most improper of the Colonial Secretary to make a retort to my right hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich (Mr. Dugdale) which implied that his statement of their innocence of any offence only showed that he was an innocent abroad?

The purpose of the rule relating to criminal matters which are sub judice is that this House should be scrupulously careful not to prejudice the trial of persons who may be accused by making statements about them. That is the general rule—

rose—

Order.

The House has generally shown a certain reticence about such matters if they are even connected with a criminal prosecution.

I am much obliged, Mr. Speaker. That was exactly the point which I was putting to you and on which I would like your Ruling. Was not the statement to which I referred, made by the Colonial Secretary, highly prejudicial and embarrassing to the defence in any proceedings which are now going on?

I do not know enough about these things to express a view on them. It seems to me to have been a remark directed more against the right hon. Member for West Bromwich than against any of the persons involved in the riot.

In view of the most unsatisfactory statement made by the Colonial Secretary, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Prime Minister how many meetings at Government level have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and Euratom since the Euratom-United Kingdom Treaty was signed; and to what extent there is co-operation between Her Majesty's Government and the Consortium to further develop exports to Europe of nuclear reactors, nuclear materials, instruments and knowledge of different reactor techniques.

A Joint Working Group of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and the Euratom Commission has held its first meeting and has put in hand the practical task of developing fields of collaboration between the two organisations. There has not yet been any occasion since its establishment was announced in May for a meeting of the Continuing Committee for Co-operation.

Close contact is maintained between Government Departments, the Atomic Energy Authority and industrial firms on the question of nuclear exports to Europe and other parts of the world.

Does the Prime Minister think that is sufficient? Is he not aware that the consortium, to say the least, is finding it financially disturbing at the moment, that it has been promised only 14 nuclear reactors compared with the previous promise of 19 and only managed to export one to Europe as compared with the United States which is going to export 6 to 8, an order worth £129 million? Why are the Government so complacent about Euratom? Is it not time that they stepped in and tried to help Euratom?

In fact no orders for power stations have been placed under the American Euratom agreement and Euratom as an institution does not place orders. Those are placed as between the separate countries. I regard this as a very important collaboration, but the immediate task is practical measures of collaboration, which are being studied by the Joint Working Group of officials.

Is there not provision in the agreement for the Government to step in on a higher level than this technical collaboration? How much help is there to be to the consortium in this respect?

It is the general experience that meetings of Ministers are most fruitful after inquiry into the problems by officials on both sides.

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the increasing complexity of colonial affairs, he will now appoint a Minister of State solely responsible for the affairs of Colonies and Protectorates in Africa.

I note the hon. Gentleman's suggestion. While the appointment of Ministers of State in different Departments has certainly helped to reduce the pressure, yet this device has not, in practice, affected the ultimate responsibility of the Secretary of State.

Is the Prime Minister aware that the Hola debate disclosed a situation in which either the machinery did not exist for the Secretary of State to know what was happening, or the Secretary of State was culpably negligent? Is the Prime Minister saying that he is proposing to take no further action to see that a situation like that of Hola does not arise again?

I do not accept the two deductions made by the hon. Member, but I perfectly accept, as I think is well known to us all, that while assistant Ministers or Ministers of State can very much help and do much, we have not yet found a solution of the problem which remains, that ultimate responsibility must remain with the Secretary of State. That is still a very difficult problem with the amount of travelling and additional work put on Secretaries of State nowadays.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that with the changing form of the Commonwealth today there is a case for reviewing the work of the Commonwealth Relations Office on the one side and the Colonial Office on the other, and considering in the long run the desirability of amalgamating the two, perhaps under the title "Commonwealth Office" with two or three Ministers of State operating in control of the oceanic regions assigned to them?

That has been considered and no doubt we shall have to think of it again. I sometimes think that many of these suggestions tend to add to rather than to reduce the total responsibility lying on the Minister in charge.

Whatever the merits of this suggestion, is not the real difficulty about the deterioration of relations in Africa today due to the policies followed by the Colonial Secretary?

No, Sir. I could not accept that either.

asked the Prime Minister if he will, in view of the growing importance and extension of aviation throughout the world, consider the creation of a separate Ministry of Civil Aviation for the purpose of dealing exclusively with questions of civil aviation.

The problem of the correct organisation of Government is of course a difficult one. But the best time for change is at the beginning of a Parliament and not towards its end.

Is not the Prime Minister aware that aviation has grown to such proportions and such importance that it has become necessary that there should be two departments instead of one? Would he give further consideration to this problem?

I am quite aware of all that, but I still say I do not think this would be a particularly good moment to embark on such a change.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the sequence of events has placed the aircraft industry in a very difficult position? Would my right hon. Friend give an assurance that, when he comes back as Prime Minister after the General Election, perhaps something can be done for the industry?

I recognise the problem. Like many others, we are trying to deal with it by committees of Ministers and by the Cabinet itself; but I fully realise that, just as we have sometimes made amalgamations of Ministries, conditions might change and it might be desirable to make further groupings. All that requires much study to which I have given a great deal of preliminary work.

Would the Prime Minister agree that civil aviation is a form of transport and therefore it is not unnatural that it should be part of the Ministry of Transport? There are constitutional and Parliamentary objections to the needless multiplication of Ministers. Therefore, would the right hon. Gentleman be careful—I am sure he will—about a needless multiplication of Ministers which would upset the balance of things in proceedings in this House?

I agree with that, but what we have done in recent years has been rather in the opposite direction—an amalgamation of Ministries. There may be conditions where, owing to changing circumstances, a result which is produced is not altogether satisfactory and in that case, of course, it would need looking at again.

asked the Prime Minister if he will publish the official communication he made to President de Gaulle on 22nd June.

I made no official communication to President de Gaulle on 22nd June.

Is the Prime Minister aware of the content of the message which was passed by the British Ambassador in France to General de Gaulle on 22nd June—and if not, why not?

I have made no such communication. A message was sent, but it did not deal with any current political problems. It was a communication of a formal character.

The Prime Minister has admitted that a communication did pass. That contradicts his earlier Answer. Will he tell us what was the nature of the communication?

I said that no communication was made by me to President de Gaulle. I was asked in Question No 48 if I would publish the communication made by me to President de Gaulle. If the hon. Member referred to a communication which was made it was of the character of a formal kind which it is not customary to publish.

Why is the Prime Minister being so coy about this matter? Is he attempting to evade responsibility for the official communication made to General de Gaulle? Why should he not tell us what it contained?

I should be perfectly ready, as the right hon. Member knows, to speak about it to him, but it would be contrary to precedent and practice to publish the terms of the communication at the present moment.

Did the communication originate with the Prime Minister or with the Ambassador?

It was approved by the Government, but was of a character which it is not customary or according to precedent to publish.

Are we to understand that the Prime Minister's reticence is connected with the fact that he has not yet had a reply from the President? In that case we should understand it. May we have an assurance that when a reply has been received he will make a statement to the House?

I shall make a statement as soon as, according to precedent, it is customary to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what official communications he has received from Chancellor Adenauer regarding a possible meeting of Western Heads of Government.

None, Sir.

Could the Prime Minister assure the House that he will take the first opportunity of telling Chancellor Adenauer that the recent criticisms he has made of the British Prime Minister in the American Press must have been a calculated campaign to impair relations between the two countries? Will he take the Chancellor by the arm and tell him that "enough is enough"?

asked the Prime Minister if he will now reconsider the position of holders of the Victoria Cross who find themselves in needy circumstances by entirely disregarding war disability pensions in the determination of means.

This is a matter which, as the House knows, has often been raised in the past; but I am quite prepared to look into it again.

Does the Prime Minister realise that the war disability pension is disregarded for Public Assistance and things of that kind? Will he see that Victoria Cross holders are not put in a worse position than the recipients of National Assistance? Will he look at the general position of holders of the Victoria Cross who are in impecunious circumstances?

I have not had time to go into all the details, but I have seen some first statement of them. They are rather complicated, but I will do my best to look into the matter and to see if a solution can be found. I do not think the hon. Member would wish to press me on this matter at the moment.

Does not my right hon. Friend consider that there is a great objection to these conditions and is he aware that considerable feeling in the country that it is distasteful to subject holders of the Victoria Cross annuity to a scrutiny as to means? Will he consider whether opportunity should not be taken for a more complete revision of this Pay Warrant?