asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he has yet completed his survey of the working of the arrangements for the making-up of private streets; and what consideration has been given to preparing an amendment to the law to relieve frontagers in private streets of road charges.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how soon he anticipates completing his examination of the operation of the arrangements for the making up of private streets; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is at present consulting with the local authority associations about the assembly of factual information bearing on this question. Until he has this, he cannot forecast when the survey will be completed, but it will certainly take several months.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he proposes to call a conference of representatives of local authorities to consider problems involved in the discharge of radioactive wastes.

Arrangements have already been made for a meeting next week.

asked the Minister of Works, in view of the steadily increasing number of multi-storey buildings both now constructed and projected in many parts of Great Britain, what preparations are now being made for a nation-wide building code to apply to those to ensure that they shall be designed and constructed to embody the best-known principles for safety and economy, and with proper consideration for rights of adjoining owners and the use of adjoining thoroughfares.

I have been asked to reply.The fact that more high buildings are being constructed will certainly need to be kept in mind when the model building byelaws are revised. As regards economy, I have nothing I can add to the reply I gave my hon. Friend on 29th January. The effect on adjoining property and thoroughfares is a matter for consideration by the local planning authority whenever permission for a multi-storey building is sought.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what information he has received recently to indicate the extent to which, owing to increased rents made possible by the Rent Act, more accommodation is now being offered and accepted for equitable rents in the London and Greater London areas.

While I can make no precise estimate, there is no doubt at all that more owners are now re-letting accommodation as it becomes vacant, instead of selling it as in the past in order to escape from the deadening effects of the old control.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is the total amount of the loans he has sanctioned for the purchase by local authorities of houses held on requisition or bought in substitution for requisitioned houses.

I have sanctioned loans totalling £13,440,033 by 51 local authorities for the leasing or purchasing, and repair, improvement or conversion of suitable houses which they need to acquire in order to provide permanent accommodation for occupants of requisitioned houses. All but 100 of the properties so far acquired have been bought by agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the number of African and expatriate workers, respectively, on the railways of Sierra Leone who have been, and will be, declared redundant as a result of the report of the independent Commission recently published; and what compensation or alternative employment will be provided.

564 African and six expatriate workers regularly employed on railway maintenance works have been declared redundant since Christmas. This retrenchment was not the result of the report of the independent Commission but was made owing to heavy and rising costs in the railway on the recommendation of a firm of industrial consultants. Every effort is being made to provide alternative employment for redundant labour through the labour exchange machinery.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what changes he proposes to make in the methods of scrutinising and approving capital projects of the Colonial Development Corporation.

None

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will arrange for the detention camps in Nyasaland to be inspected.

The Governor of Nyasaland informs me that he has already arranged for officially recognised visitors to visit the camps in addition to visiting justices who have already visited them. This arrangement has been made with the Federal Government since camps are administered in accordance with Federal prisons legislation. A representative of the International Red Cross has also recently visited Kanjedza Camp for three days during which he carried out a thorough investigation. I understand his findings are likely to be made public in due course by the International Red Cross authorities at Geneva.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has now considered the Bill, referred to in the Nyasaland Gazette of 23rd March, 1959, empowering the Nyasaland courts to sentence children and young persons to corporal punishment for offences under the Children and Young Persons Ordinance; and what amendments or deletions he proposes.

Yes. As to the principle of corporal punishment of juveniles in certain circumstances and under specific control, I made clear my attitude in the supplementary reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (M. Brockway) on 7th April. In the light of my comments on the Bill as a whole, however, the Governor has told me that he has decided not to proceed with it at present but to examine the principal Ordinance with a view to the enactment of more comprehensive and up-to-date legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will with draw the advice contained in issue No. 2 of Talking Points for Government Officers and Estate Owners and Man agers in Nyasaland, which urges people to report by anonymous letter any person whom they believe to belong to the African Congress.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, if he is aware that in Issue No. 2 of Talking Points of the Nyasaland Information Department, Zomba, Africans are invited to inform by anonymous letter upon any of their neighbours and fellow workers whom they may think belong to Congress and have not yet been arrested; whether this leaflet was issued with his knowledge and consent; and if he will make a statement.

In view of the fear of intimidation which makes anonymity essential for those giving information to the Government, the Nyasaland Government considered that, in the circumstances of the time, the invitation to which the hon. Members have drawn attention was justified. It will not, however, be repeated; and I have the Governor's assurance that no action has been or will be taken against persons reported on in response to the invitation without the fullest and most detailed investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the Five-Year Plan for Mauritius is being implemented.

The latest half-yearly review of the Mauritius Five-Year Plan, of which copies are in the Library of the House, shows that considerable and praiseworthy progress has been made. In the first two years of the plan some £4·5 million or about 30 per cent. of the total expenditure proposed will have been spent and 27 schemes completed. Work on several large projects will shortly begin and a sharp increase in the rate of expenditure is expected.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement regarding the hostile disturbances outside his places of residence in Freetown, Sierra Leone and Bathurst, Gambia, during his recent visit to West Africa; and what are the grievances of the local inhabitants.

The disturbances were in no sense hostile to me or to Her Majesty's Government. In Freetown demonstrations took place to show support for the various political parties. As they became unruly it was necessary for the police to disperse them. In Bathurst an inaccurate account was given to a public meeting of a discussion which I had had with political leaders. As a result some of those at the meeting came to Government House to seek an interview with me. I was not there at the time, but the crowd would not go away and as they also were becoming unruly it was again necessary for the police to take action. I would add that both in Freetown and in Bathurst the responsible leaders later expressed their great regret that these incidents should have taken place.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what official functions the Somaliland Government are arranging for members of the Legislative Council who are to visit Mogadishu and discuss common problems with the members of the Somalia Assembly.

The Protectorate Legislative Council resolved in February that the Protectorate Government should try to arrange with the Government of Somalia for an exchange of visits between elected members of the two Legislative Councils. This proposal was conveyed to the Government of Somalia with a suggestion that about four members of the Somalia Assembly should visit the Protectorate in July. The reply of the Somalia Government is awaited. The suggested exchanges would be informal and would imply no commitments between the Governments concerned, and they will be entirely distinct from the negotiations about closer association between the Protectorate and Somalia which may take place after the latter territory becomes independent in December next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what official representations he has received from the Federation of the West Indies with regard to the future of the citrus industry; and whether he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proposals are being made by his Department to encourage the citrus industry in the West Indies; what official representations he has received from the West Indies; and if he will make a statement.

By "official representations" I assume that my hon. Friends are referring to the views expressed in the present discussions with the West Indian delegation now in London. These talks are still in progress and I think it would be better to reserve any statement that I make about them until they have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the number of citrus farmers in the West Indies Federation; to what extent they have been encouraged by the United Kingdom Government to develop the citrus industry; and what arrangements are contemplated to assure future markets for West Indies citrus products.

I am ascertaining the present number of citrus growers, and will write to the hon. Member as soon as I have the information.Her Majesty's Government have always welcomed the efforts of the West Indian Governments and British Honduras to develop their citrus industry as part of a policy of diversification. The industry has developed rapidly since the war when there was a general demand for sterling sources of supply; and was helped by a ten-year contract to supply orange juice for the Welfare Scheme in this country. More recently, in 1955, they drew up wtih the West Indies Governments a price assistance scheme for the industry.In reply to the last part of the Question, this is being discussed in the talks which I have mentioned in reply to earlier Questions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he will make a statement on the official negotiations now taking place with the Government of the West Indies about the citrus industry;(2) in view of the need to maintain the stability of the citrus industry of the West Indies, if he will give an assurance that Her Majesty's Government will make no proposals to the West Indies citrus industry which would be contrary to previous undertakings to that industry; and if he will make a statement.

I will gladly make a statement when the discussions with the West Indian delegation have been completed. Of course Her Majesty's Government stand by the previous undertakings to The West Indies, but any measures which Her Majesty's Government take to implement them must also be compatible with our long-standing international obligations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of the development and research schemes set up in the West Indies to develop the citrus industry, what plans are being made by the United Kingdom Government to ensure a market and stable prices for citrus products.

The existing scheme is the four-year price assistance scheme which terminates this year. At the talks now in progress with a West Indian delegation we are discussing in detail the need for further schemes for research and development. The very difficult question of what degree of price stability for the products can be achieved is also under consideration at these talks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further political developments have taken place in British Guiana.

The Constitutional Committee, referred to in the reply which my hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (M. Brockway) on 20th November, 1958, has not yet reported. Last month, following disagreement between himself and the other elected Ministers, the Minister of Natural Resources, M. Beharry resigned from Executive Council. He and also M. Bowman, Member for Demerara River, resigned from the Peoples' Progressive Party. M. Balram Singh Rai was appointed to Executive Council in place of M. Beharry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Nyasas were among the 80 people recently arrested in Southern Rhodesia; what inquiries he has made into the reason for their arrest; and what steps he is taking to safeguard their interests.

From information received by my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, I understand that 86 Nyasaland Africans have been arrested on charges of contravening Section 9 (A) of the Southern Rhodesia Unlawful Organisations Act. I am informed by the Governor of Nyasaland that his Government's representative in Salisbury is making inquiries. The representative has been in communication with the Southern Rhodesia authorities and is taking all possible steps to safeguard the interests of those who have been charged. He has attended a number of the trials.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will permit ex-Senior Chief Koinange, in view of his illness, to return to his home in Kiambu and allow his two sons resident in London to visit him in Kenya without restriction.

Ex-Senior Chief Koinange's illness makes it impossible for him to return to Kiambu, even if the Governor were prepared to allow him to go. Whether or not control would have to be exercised, for the purpose of maintaining public order, over either of his two sons who are now in this country is a matter for decision by the Governor in the light of the circumstances prevailing at the time. The Governor tells me that if both sons were in Kenya today it would be necessary to detain or restrict M. Peter Mbiyu Koinange, but not Mr. Joseph Karuga.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) if he is aware that on occasions in the last year or two the Attorney-General, Aden, has acted as Chief Secretary; that this is contrary to normal usage in the Colonies; and if he will arrange for this practice to cease;(2) why, when the Governor of Aden is absent and the Chief Secretary is acting Governor, the Attorney-General rather than the Financial Secretary or other administrative officers acts as Chief Secretary.

There is no firm rule about which officer should act as Chief Secretary when he or the Governor is absent. The officer administering the Government is responsible for ensuring that the work of government is carried out in the most efficient manner possible and the arrangements made in Aden in recent years have my full approval.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, when the official committee set up by the Government of Tanganyika in 1958 to examine the question of racial integration in schools is likely to publish its recommendations.

The Committee has not yet completed its work and I cannot say when its recommendations are likely to be published.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that there is now a considerable tourist traffic on the Regent's Canal; and whether he will arrange during the coming winter for the undergrowth along the canal to be thinned out to secure better views of and from the water both in Regent's Park and the Zoo.

I am aware of the growing tourist traffic on the Regent's Canal. The undergrowth on its banks is thinned from time to time. As the Canal runs in a cutting some 15 feet deep, no view of the Park from the water, or of the water from the Park, is possible, and I consider that the mature trees at present growing along the banks improve the general appearance of the Canal cutting from the Park.

asked the Minister of Works what buildings have ben designated as worthy of preservation at Douglas, Lanarkshire, by the Ancient Monuments Commission.

I am informed that the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments in Scotland have not yet made a survey of Lanarkshire. The only ancient monument in the care of the Ministry of Works at Douglas is St. Bride's Church.

asked the Minister of Works, in view of the fact that there are a considerable number of multi-storey buildings now being constructed and projected, what special effort has been made to ensure that the knowledge of the chief principles involved are known to those responsible for the expenditure of public money in connection with this special type of building.

I am sure that the considerable body of experience in the erection of these buildings accumulated over the years is well known to professionally qualified persons both in the public service and outside. Research into the economics and techniques of high building construction still continues and my Department, together with the Building Research Station of the Departmen of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, is concerned to see that the latest information is suitably disseminated. My hon. Friend may like to refer, as an example, to those parts of the publication Flats and Houses 1958 which deal with multi-storey flats. My Department's exhibit at the forthcoming Building Exhibition will deal with the provision of services in high buildings.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how long the proposed inquiry into reducing the cost and complexity of conveyancing in Scotland is expected to take.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the unsatisfactory position regarding the cost of conveyancing and the registration of title to land in Scotland, he will reconstitute the Committee of Land Registration in Scotland at an early date.

As my hon. Friend the Member for Craigton stated in debate on 18th June, I have decided to reconstitute the Committee on Registration of Title to Land and I hope to make a statement shortly about its membership. In view of the nature of the inquiry it would be premature to give any estimate of how long it will take.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what decision he has reached regarding the recommendation of the Special Committee of the Advisory Council for Education in Scotland on a scheme for widows' pensions for teachers.

I am at present awaiting the Educational Institute of Scotland's reply to a request I made, before the Advisory Council reported, for their views on the three possible widows' pensions schemes suggested in the Working Party Report published last October.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding the need for an inquiry into the licensing laws of Scotland.

In recent months I have received representations from several organisations, including the Association of County Councils in Scotland and the District Councils Association, as well as from some hon. Members and a number of individuals, to the effect that an inquiry should be held into the Scottish licensing law or into some aspect of it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a table showing, for each of the past three years, the number of cases known to the police of incidents relating to persons who were drunk in charge; in how many of these cases persons were subsequently prosecuted; what was the nature of the penalties imposed; and in how many instances the maximum penalty was imposed.

The following table gives the available information for periods since 1st November, 1956, the date of commencement of Section 9 of the Road Traffic Act, 1956, which separated the offences of driving or attempting to drive while under the influence of drink or drugs and of being in charge of, but not

asked the Lord Advocate, in view of the fact that Scottish courts have no power to award costs to a person acquitted on a criminal charge where the prosecutor was acting in good faith in the public interest, that such a person may be put to considerable expenses in preparing and presenting his defence, and that he may suffer loss and injustice thereby, if he will refer this problem to the Scottish Law Reform Committee for their consideration and report.

While I cannot entirely agree with the statement of the law of Scotland contained in the hon. and learned Member's Question, I realise that there are certain aspects of this problem which might usefully be examined, and I shall certainly consider with greate care the hon. and learned Member's suggestion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the report of his inquiry into consumer habits and needs will be published.

The information obtained at the interviews is being classified and tabulated. My right hon. Friend hopes to receive the results by the end of July and will then be able to decide whether they merit publication.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give, separately, the value of the imports into the United Kingdom of raw goatskins from the Commonwealth and from the rest of the world, respectively, for the years 1956, 1957, and 1958, and for the first four months of 1959.

The annual value of imports of raw goatskins into the United Kingdom from Commonwealth countries was £1·9 million, £2·2 million and £2·3 million in 1956, 1957 and 1958, respectively. The value for the first four months of 1959 was £0·8 million. Corresponding values from non-Commonwealth countries were less than £100,000 in each period.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that fully fashioned nylon stockings in the flat are being imported from Italy into Southern Ireland at 15s. per dozen and finished and resold in the United Kingdom at 22s. 6d. per dozen in un limited quantities, although they are not allowed to be sold at all in Southern Ireland, against British factory costs of 40s. per dozen; and if he will investigate the hidden export subsidy which is endangering the employment of hosiery workers in Great Britain.

I am aware that some of the nylon stockings imported from the Irish Republic are made from material imported from Italy as blanks or in the flat. But the Government of the Irish Republic have already taken steps to regulate exports to this country of stockings made from such imported material.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many nylon fully fashioned stockings have been imported each month since 1st January, 1959, in dozens and value from Europe and Southern Ireland, respectively; and what were the corresponding figures for the same months in 1958.

Nylon fully-fashioned stockings are not separately distinguished in the trade returns.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the import quota of finished nylon fully fashioned stockings from Europe in dozens and value for 1959; if it has been completed already; how far it has been extended by hardship licences in volume and value; to whom these have been granted and on what grounds; and how far the interests of the hosiery workers in this country are borne in mind before they are granted.

The general quota for all types of stockings and socks from Western Europe is £350,000 and has been fully allocated for 1959. Special facilities for individual countries have also been agreed bilaterally under which licences granted for 1959 so far total £114,000. The restrictions were imposed for balance of payments reasons. The interests of the industry, including the hosiery workers, are protected by the tariff.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what check is made on the age and quality of imports of eggs from other countries; and what form it takes.

I have no powers to act in this matter. Under the Public Health (Imported Food) Regulations, 1937, the Port Health Authorities have powers to prevent the distribution of foodstuffs unfit for human consumption.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Purchase Tax is disliked by manufacturers and retailers due to its hindrance of trade, and that it is unfair, as those in the lower income groups pay as much as those in the Surtax class; and what increase in Income Tax would be necessary on incomes above £3,000 per annum gross, to ensure the same return to the Treasury as that now received by Purchase Tax.

Most taxes are disliked by those who have to pay them, but I cannot agree that the Purchase Tax is a hindrance to trade or that it is unfair.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the percentage of the net income of a married man with two children, having a gross income of £400, £500, £5,000, £10,000 and £20,000 per annum, respectively, which was saved by reduced Income Tax in each of the financial years from 1951 until 1959–60.

The following table shows, for a married man with two children, the saving in Income Tax (including Surtax) for each of the years 1951–52 to 1959–60 expressed as a percentage of the net income remaining after giving effect to the tax changes.If the rates of tax were increased to 100 per cent. on the whole slice of income over £3,000, the additional yield would be little more than one-third of the produce of Purchase Tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that retail prices in Great Britain should be falling; and what action he proposes to take to ensure a reduction in retail prices on the home market.

The retail prices index has fallen by a point between March and May, and the May index was the same as in May of last year. I regard this as a satisfactory result and propose to continue the general line of policy which has brought it about.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, whether he will give an assurance that in his current discussions with Danish Ministers he will emphasise the critical position of the British bacon-curing industry, and obtain their agreement to adequate protective measures being taken to ensure its continued existence on an adequate and efficient scale.

I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that the interests of the British bacon curing industry will be borne in mind in the discussions with Danish Ministers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that difficulties have arisen over claims for the wheat subsidy; and what steps he will take by endeavouring to get the co-operation of millers and merchants in moving wheat off farms quickly, or otherwise, to enable farmers to get the appropriate wheat subsidy.

No. No difficulties have been reported to me and there is no reason to think that merchants and processors are not co-operating in clearing the balance of the 1958 wheat crop. They know that wheat must be sold and despatched by 30th June to qualify for deficiency payment at the rate for the current accounting period

asked the Minister of Health if for the assistance of dog advisory services and the owners of pets, he will list the hospitals who have readily available a stock of snake serum.

I have no powers under the National Health Service Acts to provide snake-bite antivenom for animals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will state the numbers of handicapped refugees accepted into this country since 1945 under appropriate headings of disability; and how many blind refugees have been accepted;(2) if he will state the number of handicapped refugees which have been accepted into this country since 1945 and the number expressed in family units.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what Orders in Council relating to any of the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man have been made under Section 56 (1) of the Administration of Justice Act, 1956.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now announce the names of the chairman and members of the committee he is setting up to study and report on rural transport.

I am not yet able to announce who the chairman and members will be, but I hope to do so in two or three weeks' time.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the widespread dissatisfaction in the Battle area of East Sussex at the inadequacy of rural transport services; what reports he has had on the matter; and what action he proposes to take.

I have received no complaints from the Battle area of inadequate bus services. If my hon. Friend has any particular point in mind I shall be happy to look into it.