asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about political developments in Kenya since the statement made by the Governor on 10th May.

I dealt with some of the more important aspects of the present situation at Question Time on 31st May, and there are a number of other relevant Questions on today's Order Paper. I would prefer not to make a general statement at this juncture.

In spite of what my right hon. Friend says, is he not aware of the three points which are causing considerable disquiet, firstly, the problem of the maintenance of law and order—this is causing considerable disquiet throughout the Colony—secondly, the question of security for the overseas civil servants, and, thirdly—personally, I think that this is the most important—the need to make the Lancaster House constitution work before there is any further constitutional advance at all?

On the first two of those three points—which was why I gave the Answer I did—there are, in fact, as my hon. Friend knows, Questions on the Order Paper today. I replied to my hon. Friend on the third matter the last time that we had Questions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about the security situation in Kenya.

Since my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 31st May, there has been the shocking murder of Wambugu Kimathi, a Headman in Nyeri District.

Will my right hon. Friend say something about two things, first, the apparent unrest in the farming areas, and secondly, the growing unemployment in urban areas, which are leading to an increase of crime and have a considerable amount to do with security?

Both those are matters which do cause a good deal of concern. There is another Question on the Order Paper as far as the second is concerned. I think there are some signs that the unemployment situation in Nairobi is less serious than it was.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the widespread anxiety of administrative officers now serving in Kenya about their future careers both until Kenya achieves independence and afterwards; and if he will make a full statement in order to restore confidence.

I am well aware of the anxiety about their future felt by many members of the East African Public Services.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that at least one very able and greatly respected senior officer in Kenya has recently announced that he is going to retire because of these uncertainties? Is my right hon. Friend aware that others may well follow in this officer's footsteps unless an early statement is made? Can my right hon. Friend say whether he hopes to make a statement at any rate before the House rises before the Summer Recess?

I will try to do that but this is an enormously difficult question, as the House will recognise. If hon. Members study what has been done recently, for example in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and British Somaliland, and all the White Papers laid before the House, they will see that in all these cases the undertakings which Her Majesty's Government gave to the public service were fully carried out.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that until he is able to announce detailed proposals to underwrite the value of farming land in Kenya, there will be a virtual standstill in new investment, which is urgently needed, that this is emphasised by the cancellation by more than one major enterprise of plans for expansion, and that apart from the effect on Kenya's economy the present uncertainty is aggravating the unemployment problem; and what progress is being made in the formulation of such proposals.

I am aware of the present concern among some investors, which affects the unemployment position in Kenya. I made it plain in replying to my hon. and gallant Friend on 31st May, that the scheme on which the Kenya Government are now working could not be an underwriting one, in the sense of offering immediate compensation in some form to landowners; but this does not preclude a scheme by which farms will be bought, if both parties are willing, for resale or redevelopment on economic terms. I shall be discussing this scheme further with the Kenya Ministers most concerned during the next few days, when I have received and studied their detailed proposals.

is my right hon. Friend aware that what many of us want to see is a scheme which will encourage farmers to stay in Kenya, as opposed to a scheme to encourage them to go by paying them compensation? Since my right hon. Friend is having these talks, can he say again whether he hopes to make a statement before very long?

I entirely agree with my hon. and gallant Friend. Mr. Havelock and Colonel Bruce McKenzie are now in this country and I shall be having discussions with them in the next day or two. Their proposals were put in front of me this morning. I will certainly make a statement as early as I can to the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he expects to receive from the Kenya Government the report of the Commissioner appointed to make a survey of unemployment and under-employment in the Colony.

In August.

Is it not possible for the Colonial Secretary to expedite the report? Is not this a matter that is really very urgent, and is it not also urgent that the Government should make a statement on how they intend to create full employment and in particular raise the level of wages in Kenya? Will it not, therefore, be possible before the Summer Recess for us to have an opportunity of considering this report?

I do not think that I can expedite the report itself. Those concerned are going ahead with that. It is a difficult inquiry into the extent of unemployment and under-employment. August is the earliest possible date but, in response to a Question from the hon. Member for Cardiff, South-East (Mr. Callaghan), I have asked the Government of Kenya a number of very detailed questions on the exchanges which we had last time at Question Time. I will either put that information in the Library or circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT when I have it, which I hope will be in a short time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why Mr. Kenneth Kaunda was declared a prohibited immigrant in Kenya and prevented from travelling to Tanganyika.

Mr. Kaunda became a prohibited immigrant under the Kenya Immigration Ordinance by arriving in the Colony without the prescribed entry permit. In the circumstances he was required to proceed on the aircraft in which he had arrived. I regret that he has suffered inconvenience but the Governor of Kenya has assured me that if on any future journey he should arrive in transit with his documents in order, there should be no difficulty.

Is the Colonial Secretary aware that that excuse will sound very thin? Will he reprimand those in Kenya who have been responsible for a stupid action which has undermined much of the good will which was established between him and the leader of the most important political party in Northern Rhodesia as a result of the talks which he himself had with Mr. Kaunda when he was in England? What reason can there possibly have been to prevent Mr. Kaunda from travelling to Tanganyika to meet Mr. Nyerere, particularly as in Tanganyika there has been great success in establishing friendship and understanding between the communities?

I greatly value the talks which I had with Mr. Kaunda here and in Northern Rhodesia. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman did not hear it, but I expressed my regret that Mr. Kaunda had suffered inconvenience. After all, this incident arose from the fact that Mr. Kaunda arrived in Kenya without the prescribed entry permit. It was from that circumstance that this chain of events came.

I appreciate the regret which the Minister has stated and which I received from the Colonial Office independently. However, is it not a fact that many visitors to Kenya do not fulfil the small technical requirement which Mr. Kaunda had omitted? Is it not the case that Mr. Kaunda did not desire to stay in Kenya but was using the airport merely in transit to Tanganyika? Is not this an example of certain officials at the airport seeking to take advantage of African leaders when they are passing through Kenya in this way?

No, I do not think so. It is difficult to tell at this distance from the events. I think that this is probably a case of an airport official applying the existing rules too rigidly but perfectly correctly. I do not think that it was a question of his trying to take anything out of Mr. Kaunda in that sense.

While it is welcome to hear the Colonial Secretary say that the airport official might have behaved correctly but perhaps rather tactlessly, will he represent to the officials there that it is undesirable that African leaders should be hustled in this undignified way and that nothing but good can come from a visit by Mr. Kaunda to Mr. Nyerere in Tanganyika and that this sort of behaviour can cause, I will not say irreparable harm, but unnecessary pinpricks and friction?

I think that the House has dealt with this matter in a very reasonable manner. I said that I regretted that Mr. Kaunda had suffered inconvenience and I know that that regret is shared by the Government of Kenya.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds the multi-racial children's party at Mufulira, Northern Rhodesia, was cancelled on the occasion of the Royal visit; and on whose authority the African guests at the official garden party at Lusaka on 20th May were segregated from white guests.

It was decided to cancel the children's party in favour of an extended drive by the Queen Mother through Mufulira. In the course of this drive thousands of children of all races were able to see and greet Her Majesty.

Whilst recognising the pleasure which this visit has occasioned, is not the right hon. Gentleman failing to state the full facts about the cancellation of the children's party? Is he aware that my information is that this children's party was cancelled because European parents declined to allow their children to attend the party where there were African children? Is the right hon. Gentleman further aware, so far as the garden party is concerned, that the Press reports clearly indicate that the African guests were segregated from the white guests?

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman's information on those matters is not accurate. On the first, of course, there was at the time a good deal of anxiety on the Copperbelt—that is perfectly true—particularly centring on the township in the area where the rally would be held. It was thought wiser that an extended drive should take place. As far as the other matter is concerned, I assure the hon. Gentleman that I have been carefully into it and I am sure that the allegation which he makes is untrue.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the law courts of Valetta were destroyed by enemy action in 1943 and are still in ruins; that the court has to sit in two different buildings causing great inconvenience; that the departments are scattered over the town; and, in view of this, when they are likely to be reconstructed.

Three hundred and ninety thousand pounds have been set aside in the Malta Government's Development Plan for the rebuilding of the law courts on their original site. The site has been cleared and the preparatory work put in hand. The plans formerly drawn up for reconstruction of the building have proved unsuitable and revised plans are now under consideration. It is intended that when completed the building, in addition to housing the courts, will provide some accommodation for those Government Departments whose work is closely related to the courts.

Is the Minister aware that some two years ago plans were prepared for this building and that nothing has been done? Is the right hon. Gentleman further aware that for seventeen years this building has been in ruins and that there is no other place in the world where buildings similarly destroyed have not been replaced? Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake, now that the hundredth anniversary of the founding of Valetta will take place in two or three years' time, that the Opera House and the law courts will be rebuilt by that time?

I will not link them together. I think there is a considerable difference between the two. The Opera House is the subject of another Question. As for the law courts, special provision has been made in the plan, and although some reconsideration of the original design has been thought necessary, it remains an important part of the Development Plan.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the site of the Royal Opera House in Valetta was cleared over two years ago in preparation for rebuilding but that no start has yet been made; and whether, with a view to attracting tourists, he will take steps to start building at an early date.

Where heavy capital expenditure is involved the Government of Malta's policy is to give priority to projects of an essential nature, and those likely to assist in the diversification of the island's economy. Nevertheless, it is intended that the Royal Opera House should be rebuilt if the reserve or contingencies element of £4 million in the Development Plan has not been otherwise committed before 1961–62.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is because of the economic position of Malta that I put this Question down? We promised the people of Malta some time ago that part of their new industries would be tourism, and surely the re-establishment of the Royal Opera House in Malta would encourage tourism in the island?

I think that there are more direct ways of encouraging tourism in Malta than this contribution, on which, I am sure, it would be necessary to incur a running deficit as well, but it stands a chance of being included, as my Answer indicates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what consideration he has given to the need for an all-party Parliamentary Commission of three or five Members to study the question of a constitution for Malta.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is yet able to state in detail the steps he proposes to take to restore the right of representation and self-government to the people of Malta.

I have considered many possibilities in connection with a future constitution for Malta but I am of the opinion that an all-party Commission would not be appropriate in the present circumstances. My noble friend the Minister of State will be visiting Malta very shortly, and this will help me in the urgent consideration I am giving to Malta's problems. But I am not yet ready to put forward detailed proposals.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that there is very little more information that he can get from Malta? Mr. Mintoff is not going to see Lord Perth. Dr. Borg Olivier has been here and has told by right hon. Friend everything he can, and so has Miss Strickland. From whom else can my right hon. Friend get information?

That is precisely one of the difficulties, but nobody has succeeded in producing a constitution for Malta that has lasted more than a few years. It would be very sad indeed to have a conference that failed. Therefore, although I know that I have been asking the indulgence of the House for some little time on this, even if I take a little longer I think that it would be right to explore one or two possibilities before trying to bring people round the table.

How long is it since Malta has been without a constitution? Is it not time that the right hon. Gentleman told us more than the bromides which he has uttered this afternoon? If the political leaders will not see Lord Perth over there, why not invite them here? It need not be a formal conference. Why not have conversations here on this matter?

When I went to Malta Mr. Mintoff refused to see me and therefore I am not sure that that is a way round. The answer to the first part of the supplementary question is that it is too long. I very much want to bring Governor's rule to an end but I want to find a satisfactory answer. When I replied to a similar Question from the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) some time ago I said that, first of all, I intended to move away from Governor's rule as soon as I could and that it would be a little time before I was ready with my proposals. Therefore, I have not changed my decision in that matter.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether when Lord Perth visits Malta he will also visit the dockyard and see for himself what progress is being made, at what speed the conversion of the dockyard to commercial use is going on, and whether Baileys at Malta are getting on with the job?

I am sure that my noble Friend will do that. He has been most closely concerned with the consultations for a very long time.

Is it not a fact that Malta has now been without any democratically elected Parliament for over two years? Would not the first step be to re-establish a Parliament elected by the Maltese people and then to consult representatives in that Parliament about a future constitution for the island?

I do not think that I differ very much from the hon. Member. This is just a question of what is the best way of doing that. Of course, I want to see a Parliament elected by the Maltese people, but I am sure that there must be some prior agreement and understanding about what sort of constitution it will operate. The worst service that I could give to Malta would be to call a conference that failed. There has been a stream of these conferences in the past. Even if it takes a little longer and takes a little more patience, we must try to come together on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many people have been detained without trial for more than one year in Kenya and Nyasaland, respectively; and what is the longest period any of the present detainees have been held.

In Kenya, 478 of those detained on 7th June had been held for more than one year, the longest period being since October, 1952, In Nyasaland, twenty of those still in detention had been held for more than one year, the longest period being since March, 1959.

While being gratified that the number in Nyasaland is relatively small, may I ask whether the Secretary of State is feeling that this is a blot on British justice, the basic fact of which is that people should not be locked up without fair trial? Is it not a disgrace that people should have been locked up since 1952 without trial?

The number of those in Kenya, 478, is, I suppose, something like a half of 1 per cent. of those who were in detention at the height of the emergency.

Oh.

Why put it in percentages? What has that to do with it?

It has this to do with it. It has been necessary for all those 80,000 people to go through a long and careful process of rehabilitation, and clearly it is the more difficult as one goes lower in the categories of people still there. It is bound to be the last few hundred cases which have to be studied with special care before they are released.

Surely now that the state of emergency is ended in Nyasaland and there is a chance of a new chapter beginning there, the Government ought not to go on detaining people without trial?

There is a total of twenty who will be detained for a time, but in the Governor's view, which I entirely support, it is possible to end the state of emergency and to look forward to what I hope will he better and more peaceful times in Nyasaland only by keeping a certain number of these people in detention for a time.

Could my right hon. Friend try to persuade hon. Members opposite to read the Corfield Report reasonably thoroughly and possibly persuade them to do a little less harm than they have done in the past?

Would the right hon. Gentleman tell the House a little more about the case which has been under continuous detention since 1952? Could he tell us what efforts at rehabilitating that particular detainee have been made and how much progress has been made in the eight years and how much more further detention is expected to be required before he is fully rehabilitated?

I do not believe that the hon. Gentleman himself can have had recent experience of the detainees to whom this Question refers. I have very recently been in these camps. I know the devoted work which is being done to try to release as many of these people as possible, but I assure the hon. Gentleman that there are still a considerable number of people in Kenya whom, in the judgment of the Governor and in my judgment, it is not safe to let out.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us what exactly he considers is meant by rehabilitation? When is a man definitely rehabilitated?

A man is rehabilitated when he has put behind him—in these cases we are talking about Kenya which, I assume, the right hon. Gentleman is talking about—once and for all the Mau Mau and all the elements which went with it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for how long he intends the new or modified Constitutions introduced in Tanganyika in 1960 and in Kenya in 1961 to run.

As far as Kenya is concerned, I have nothing to add to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. P. Williams) on 31st May. As for Tanganyika, I have already indicated that the way forward is to get the Constitution working and then study, in consultation with the local leaders, what the next steps should be.

Will my right hon. Friend make it quite clear that in Kenya constitutional progress depends on the evolution of a non-racial society and that till that actually happens Her Majesty's Government in this country intend to hold the reins of power?

I think I would not wish to add to the Answer I gave on 31st May to my hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. P. Williams) in which I spelt out fairly carefully the answer to the question which my hon. Friend has asked.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what representations he has received, since his recently announced increase in inducement pay, from the European Civil Servants Associations of Tanganyika and Uganda; and what reply he has given to them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply he has made to the deputations of civil servants from various East African territories, for which he is responsible, who have expressed discontent with their pay and prospects; and what further action he intends to take.

After consultation with the Associations, the Governments of Tanganyika and Uganda decided not to proceed with the offer of the immediate award to which I referred in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 24th May. Since then delegations from the Associations have been received by myself and by my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State and have stressed the urgent need for an increase in salaries. I am glad to say all the East African Governments and the East Africa High Commission have agreed that the Salaries Commission should be asked, as a matter of first priority, to examine and make recommendations regarding the need for interim awards where these appear to be justified.

I should like to thank my right hon. Friend for his reply, and to ask him to see that the Salaries Commission works with the utmost expedition, and to remind him that when the Lidbury Commission sat in 1954 it was two years from the date of its appointment to the date when the salaries were actually paid to the officials.

Yes. I can assure my hon. Friend that there will be a real sense of urgency in this. The whole report should be completed before the end of this year, and the interim report, of course, considerably earlier.

Will there be any appeal from the Salaries Commission's decision if the staff are still dissatisfied?

In a sense, no doubt: appeal to me. These matters will come to me for decision.

Arbitration?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on his recent tour of the Federation of the West Indies.

With permission, I will make a statement at the end of Question Time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the conference on cotton production has now taken place in Port of Spain; if he will make a statement on the discussions; and who were the representatives of British Honduras at the conference.

No conference on cotton production has taken place in Port of Spain. Perhaps the hon. Member has in mind discussions in Antigua last month between representatives of the Federal Government of the West Indies, unit territories and the West Indian Sea Island Cotton Association. I understand that at that meeting proposals were discussed for setting up a statutory board for marketing Sea Island cotton. The next step will be for the Federal Authorities to draft the necessary legislation. British Honduras, which does not produce cotton and is not of course part of the Federation, was not represented at the Conference.

Cannot something be done about the representation of British Honduras, which has been a neglected Colony and which is in need of further development? Will the right hon. Gentleman see whether it cannot be brought into these discussions which are of interest not only to the West Indian growers but to manufacturers in Lancashire?

I am very grateful to the hon. Gentleman for what he has just said.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the extent of the damage caused by the typhoon in Hong Kong; and what steps Her Majesty's Government propose to take to assist the people made homeless by the typhoon.

On present information 49 people were killed, 12 are missing and 127 were injured and treated in hospital. Two hundred and thirty-four craft were sunk, 40 damaged and 20 are missing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Governor and official members of the Hong Kong Legislative Council all abstained from voting on the Second Reading of the Football Pools Betting Bill, 1960, which had been officially presented, with the result that the Bill was defeated by seven votes to nil with eleven abstentions; and if he will make a statement.

After the First Reading of the Bill, public opinion reacted strongly against it. The Governor considered that in these circumstances it would be undesirable to force the Second Reading by the use of official votes.

To what extent were the unofficial members of the Legislative Council consulted before the announcement last December of the Government's intention to enable a football pool to be established? Secondly, why was not the Bill withdrawn instead of the Colonial Government being subjected in this way to such a humiliating defeat? Thirdly, can the right hon. Gentleman give an estimate of the cost already incurred by the Post Office and by the Asian Football Pool in preparation of these pools?

The answer to the first part of the supplementary question is that the Governor introduced the Bill after consultation with the Executive Council, which includes unofficials. I am not sure of the answer to the second question, but I imagine that it was wished to test opinion in the House, apart from public reaction in the Colony. The third question was a matter of detail and / will find out the answer and write to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Minister of Works whether he has considered the criticisms made in the Annual Reports of the Historic Building Councils for England and Wales about the inadequacy of the funds made available by his Department for the repair and maintenance of buildings of outstanding historic or architectural interest; and what steps he intends to take to meet those criticisms.

I am considering the Council's remarks in consultation with the Treasury.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his parsimony on this matter to date has resulted in the signing of the death warrant of fine buildings, to quote the English Report? Is it not intolerable that retrenchment on the preservation of beauty should become one of the hallmarks of the affluent society? Will he not, therefore, at least restore the 33½ per cent. which was cut from expenditure of this kind?

As well as the Councils' remarks, I will consider the hon. Lady's.

As it is seven years since the House had a chance of discussing this subject, when the original Act was passed, will my right hon. Friend represent to the Leader of the House that the possibility of our having even part of a day to discuss this subject might be acceptable to both sides of the House?

I will certainly see that my right hon. Friend knows about my hon. Friend's suggestion.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is most unfortunate that at a time when this country has never had it so goad there should be so many buildings falling into decay for lack of adequate funds—

Especially workers' houses.

including some workers' houses which are of historic interest and beauty? Will he not consider giving greater help so that these buildings might be preserved?

The right hon. Gentleman's observations lend themselves to some very tempting forms of riposte on which I will leave him to reflect in silence.

Is there any chance that if the House, in Committee of Supply, were to refuse an increase in my right hon. Friend's Vote for this purpose, he would report to the Chancellor of the Exchequer so that the Chancellor could reduce taxation to enable owners to keep the houses in repair?

While the Historic Buildings Councils appreciate the considerate and tactful way in which the right hon. Gentleman has approached this problem, two very large problems have arisen in Scotland and England which have taken most of the funds for one year, which makes the job a little more difficult in dealing with the smaller items. This is something quite outside what was originally contemplated in the amount of money granted. Will the right hon. Gentleman ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if something can be done for these exceptional cases to relieve the councils of the very large obligation involved?

I will certainly see that the right hon. Gentleman's remarks are borne in mind when we are considering this matter.

asked the Minister of Works what progress has been made with the proposal to remove the museum from the Banqueting Hall, Whitehall.

I cannot yet add to my reply of 23rd February, 1960, to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. F. Noel-Baker).

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that reply did not tell us anything? Could he not get on with the job of emptying this very important historic building of the very unimaginative and inappropriate contents which now occupy it?

I hope that the hon. Member and other hon. Members will realise that this does need, and is getting, from both sides, a tactful approach. There is good will on both sides. It is not quite as easy as he says. I should regret it if anything were said that implied that in some way those who own the museum have been at fault in having it there. It is not their fault.

asked the Minister of Works what representations he has received against the proposed change of speed limit in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh.

I have received letters from three hon. Members for Edinburgh constituencies enclosing constituent's letters on this subject. One or two other letters have been received by my Department.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say where the demand for this change came from? Did it come from Edinburgh? Is he aware that there is a great volume of opinion in Edinburgh very much opposed to this increase in the speed limit? In view of this, will he seriously consider withdrawing the Order?

No, Sir. I do not think, with respect to the hon. Gentleman, that he is right in saying that there is a great volume of opinion against this. I thought it was a sensible step to take, both there and in other parks. We have to move with the times and a 20 m.p.h. limit is quite unrealistic. It would be a pity if people looked upon a change from 20 m.p.h. to 30 m.p.h. as though it were a change to 60 m.p.h.

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

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that it will be welcome to me.

asked the Minister of Works whether he was consulted about the future of Hartlebury Castle; and whether he has taken any action in the matter.

No, Sir. As is required by the Episcopal Endowments and Stipends Measure, 1943, the Church Commissioners consulted the Ancient Monuments Board for England on proposals for work at Hartlebury Castle. The Board offered certain advice which the Commissioners did not accept. There is no provision for me to be consulted or to intervene.

asked the Minister of Works if he will cause an investigation to be made into the brick situation, in view of the long-standing shortages of bricks that there have been for some considerable time, which are hampering the building trade.

No, Sir. I am keeping in close touch with suppliers and users and the manufacturing industry is making great efforts to meet the high demand. Deliveries so far this year have been a post-war record.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is estimated that 8,000 million bricks are required this year, and that brick production will be nowhere near that figure? Is he also aware that many builders say that even by placing orders now they cannot get bricks before November or December unless they pay black market prices? Will not he have an investigation to find out the facts before it is too late?

My hon. Friends have been raising this matter for many months now, and the right hon. Gentleman has given us another complacent reply today. Is it not his Ministerial duty to see that the supply of bricks is adequate? Is it not wrong of him to hand over responsibility for discharging that duty to the brick-making industry, which is reaping record profits out of the shortage?

I do not know whether or not it is reaping record profits, but it is producing a record number of bricks. That is a matter for pleasure, I am sure, to the hon. Lady and her hon. Friends, just as it is to me and my hon. Friends.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many housing authorities in Scotland are not now building houses; what proportion this represents of the total number of such authorities; and how many small burghs are not building.

Of the 231 local housing authorities, 116—including 107 small burghs—had no houses under construction at the end of May.

Does not the hon. Gentleman think that this is a shocking state of affairs, in view of the fact that many hundreds of thousands of people in Scotland are still without adequate housing facilities? Does he still stand by the Answer which his right hon. Friend gave to me some months ago, which stated that the reason why many of these authorities, if not most, are not building is that their housing needs have been satisfied? Will he give particular attention to the problem of the small burgh of Culross about which I have been making representations for several months now, with no results?

Yes, I am very agreeable to considering Culross. I think the hon. Member knows that it is under consideration at the moment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that steps are now being taken to start drift netting for salmon round the Scottish coast, and that this will ruin the Scottish salmon industry; and if he will state his plans to protect that industry.

My right hon. Friend is aware of reports that some Scottish fishermen are intending to obtain gear for this purpose but it is too early to say what developments will take place or to assess their consequences.

Is not the present the time to protect this very important, nourishing, succulent and appetising industry, which is one of Scotland's most important industries? Will the hon. Gentleman investigate the threat to it and take steps to protect it now?

I am not satisfied that in present circumstances it is necessary or justified to take the steps suggested by the hon. and learned Member, but I will certainly watch the position very carefully.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the bad condition of many unclassified and unadopted roads in country areas, he will take steps to encourage local authorities to make fuller use of the Agriculture (Improvement of Roads) Act, 1955.

All county councils coming within the scope of the Act were informed in a circular letter dated 1st July, 1959, that my right hon. Friend was anxious that they should take full advantage of its scope and were invited to submit a list, in order of priority, of the schemes they proposed to carry out. There has been a good response from county councils and there seems no likelihood that the full amount provided under the Act will not be taken up.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that in the first quinquennial review of its de velopment plan, a copy of which has been sent to him, Glasgow Corporation insists that for the proper redevelopment of the city a new town is essential; and when he proposes to sanction this further development.

The quinquennial review has not yet been submitted to my right hon. Friend. On the question of a further new town I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Central (Mr. McInnes) on 8th December last.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that when his right hon. Friend gets this report—which should have been in his hands by now—he will discover that Glasgow needs 60,000 houses now in which to rehouse outside its boundaries those of its population who cannot get a home for space reasons within the city? As the overspill agreement provides for 30,000 houses only, can he suggest a better solution than that proposed by the Corporation for providing the other 30,000?

It would be better to wait until we have seen this report.

We have waited long enough.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the losses of valuable herds incurred in farm fires; and whether he will take steps to ensure that all farm buildings are equipped by already existing automatic mechanical devices for releasing trapped animals.

I have nothing to add at present to the reply given on this matter yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that that reply said that the Minister had not heard of it? Is he aware that I am informed that apparatus exists that can open doors in case of fire and allow trapped animals to escape? A great deal of valuable stock is lost in this way. Is he prepared to look into it if information is sent to him about it?

Certainly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the principles which limit the expenditure on new roads in Scotland to less than the work that could be done by existing available labour and equipment.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the hon. Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Holt) in reply to a Question on 26th April, the size of the road programme is determined in relation to all other demands on our resources.

As the making of roads is a matter of labour and materials, and as labour and materials are available in Scotland, is there any reason, in common sense, why we should not use them? Is it not the case that there is a false idea that book-keeping should decide whether or not people can work? We need these roads through Scotland. The labour is there, and I am told that valuable plant is lying idle. Is there any reason why the Government should not use their power to bring these three factors together and to institute a very much increased programme of new roads in Scotland?

We are using the labour and equipment. The real test is our expenditure on improvements, which was £2½ million four years ago and is running at £10 million this year.

It is not running; it is crawling.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reasons prevented the Planning Committee of Dumbarton County Council from granting permission for the erection of 283 houses by Cumbernauld Development Corporation.

The reasons given to the development corporation by the county council were, I understand, that the particular house types and layouts proposed are, in the council's view, open to objection on amenity and density grounds.

Does not the hon. Member agree that, in view of the tremendous need for houses in Scotland, it is essential that these delays should be cut out? Has he no suggestion to offer as to a method which might be used to speed up the building of houses in the Cumbernauld Estate?

My right hon. Friend the Minister of State recently met the two authorities with the object of trying to produce some procedure which would speed things up.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Calico Printers' Association's bid for United Turkey Red is causing disquiet in the textile trade, and monopoly is feared in textile printing; what steps he proposes to take to overcome the danger of monopoly; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware that apprehension has been publicly expressed in relation to the employees of United Turkey Red.

I should like to ask three supplementary questions. First, has the Calico Printers' Association given any undertaking that the United Turkey Red works in Scotland will not be closed down and workers thrown out of their jobs? Secondly, how can the Chancellor of the Exchequer succeed in his policy of reducing prices if price-raising monopolies are allowed to increase the scope of their activities? Thirdly—and I hope I shall not be thought to speak in a hostile manner—is the Board of Trade putting its foot on the accelerator or on the brake of the Monopolies Commission?

A bid has been made, but the closing date for acceptances is not until 29th June. I understand from a public statement that the Calico Printers' Association has taken no decision yet about the future of the Dumbarton works. In fact, the Monopolies Commission investigated the calico printing process in 1954 and made a number of recommendations, which were substantially carried into effect. Should a further reference to the Monopolies Commission appear advisable we should not hesitate to make one.

As there is deep apprehension in my constituency about the future of these work s, and as the Government, under D.A.T.A.C., gave a loan of £400,000 to this company last year for the purpose of providing employment in these works, can the President of the Board of Trade say whether the board of directors consulted the Board of Trade before they issued a statement to their shareholders advising them to accept the Calico Printers' Association's offer?

They were under no obligation to do that. The position of the D.A.T.A.C. loan is fully safeguarded. The Government would be very sorry to see anything that aggravated the unemployment situation in this part of Scotland.

As this is yet another case—following the recent one concerning bicycles—of an uncontrolled take-over bid possibly leading to a monopoly, is the President of the Board of Trade in this case going to take some steps before the monopoly is set up, and not simply wait to refer it to the Monopolies Commission afterwards?

That goes rather wide of the original Question. I can act only within the powers that Parliament has given me.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of Great Britain's relations with the Six and the Seven in Europe, if he will make a detailed statement of the policy of the British Government designed to maintain and develop British trade with the British Commonwealth of Nations.

It remains our policy to expand Commonwealth trade by all practicable means. This policy has not been affected by our relations with the Six or with our partners in the Seven.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that doubts and uncertainties are being expressed by industrialists in Europe and various Commonwealth countries as to the limitations of the operation of the Six and Seven in relation to the British Commonwealth? In the interests of trade between the Six, the Seven and the Commonwealth, therefore, will he make a comprehensive statement so that industrialists will know where they are?

The fact that the Commonwealth trading system was not mentioned in the Stockholm Agreement or in the negotiations leading up to it conclusively proves what the Government have always said, namely, that there is no conflict between our trading relations with the Commonwealth and closer trading relations with Europe.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any consideration has been given to the possibility of bringing the countries of Western Europe and the British Commonwealth into one great economic union and common market?

That is rather wide of the Question and Answer, but if the hon. Member studies the matter he will appreciate that the difficulties involved are very great.