asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement about the proposals for constitutional development in Malta.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now state the constitutional changes proposed for Malta.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he proposes to take on the report of the Minister of State's recent visit to Malta.

I shall make a statement on this matter before the House rises for the. Summer Recess.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that, as the House has given a Second Reading to the Cyprus Bill, there is bound to be pressure for constitutional advance in Malta, and may we hope that the promised statement will give an indication of political advance for the Maltese people?

It will cover the matters dealt with in Questions Nos. 1, 6 and 8.

While welcoming the announcement that a statement is to be made before the end of the Session, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman, in view of the passing of the Cyprus Bill on Tuesday, whether he will refrain from making any declaration that Malta is never to have self-determination, recognising that the people of that island are demanding independence?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now state his proposals for introducing representative government in Malta; if he will now formally declare that it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to grant independence to Malta; when he expects that Malta will achieve independence; and what plans he has for assisting in the island's future economic development, following the report made by the Minister of State as a result of his recent visit.

As regards the first three parts of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my replies to Questions Nos. 1, 6 and 8. As regards economic development, my right hon. and noble Friend was able to see something of the progress being made under the five-year Development Plan, to which Her Majesty's Government are contributing £29¼ million. The plan, which was introduced last autumn, is not due for review until next year.

Is the Minister aware that the failure to bring about a conference between himself and representatives of the Maltese people is due to the fact that he has not made a categorical promise of independence for Malta by an early date? Will he proceed to do this and then ask for a conference of the Maltese representatives with himself?

I think we can discuss the answer to that better on my statement next week. No one who has examined the position in Malta over the last few months, and the intransigence which has been shown in at least one quarter there, really believes that it is the fault of Her Majesty's Government that we have not so far been able to arrange a settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the reasons for the delay in granting pensions increases to retired Malta civil servants; and whether he will now instruct the Government of Malta to make proposals to the staff association concerned.

Representations made in February for increases in the level of bonus paid to pensioners were considered by a special Committee set up for the purpose. Representatives of the pensioners appeared before this Committee. The Committee's recommendations are now being considered by the Government of Malta.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now instruct the Government of Malta to place on the agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the Whitley Council the recommendations of Sir Arton Wilson's report of 1956 relating to pensionable status for clerk-typists.

No, Sir. The agenda for meetings of the Malta Government Joint Council are a matter for agreement between the Official and Staff Sides of that Council.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there seems to be some breakdown in the relations between the Government of Malta and the representatives of the Civil Service staffs? Why are these matters conducted at arms length? Why is there difficulty in discussing on a Whitley Council in Malta matters which are quite appropriate for discussion on a Whitley Council in this country?

As the hon. Gentleman knows, this matter has had a long and difficult history. First, there was the Wilson Commission and then the Water-field Commission. Since then Mr. Elwood was appointed to examine and make recommendations. His recommendations have been submitted to the Malta Government and have been applied without prejudice to any subsequent arbitration or negotiations on individual scales. I understand that Mr. Elwood is currently engaged on an examination of the grading structure and has submitted an interim report. Until this has been considered, I should not like to be drawn further.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) how much money he has advanced to Messrs. Bailey (Malta) Ltd. under the terms of the Financial Agreement of 11th September, 1959; and, of the amount involved, how much Messrs. Bailey have spent on the modification and improvement of the fixed assets and services of the dockyard in accordance with Clause 2 (a) of the Financial Agreement, and how much on any other purpose;

With permission, I will circulate the Answer, which contains a number of figures, in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will my right hon. Friend give a specific answer as to whether any of the money that has been advanced to Messrs. Bailey (Malta) Ltd. has been advanced otherwise than in accordance with Clause 2 (a) of the Financial Agreement? There is a great deal of public concern on this matter.

My Answer, which includes a considerable number of figures, clears up any anxiety there may be on that matter. Of course, with regard to the expenditure of the sums, the accounting procedure is not yet finished.

Could my right hon. Friend say, in particular, whether any money has been advanced to this firm in respect of its financing of a pension fund? If so, how is that provided for in the Financial Agreement?

No, not for that purpose, but my hon. Friend is quite right—there have been considerable and prolonged discussions between the Government and Messrs. Bailey on the question of pension funds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give an assurance that the recently-appointed Salaries Commission for the Civil Service in East Africa will make recommendations for the revision of salary of all civil servants in Kenya on an entirely non-racial basis, and will not restrict its recommendations to expatriate officers only.

The Commission will not restrict its inquiries in Kenya to expatriate officers only, but I cannot of course anticipate the scope of its recommendations.

May I thank my right hon. Friend for his reply? This point caused some misapprehension in Kenya.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what preparations have been made in East Africa for the reception of African refugees from the Congo.

Very few African refugees from the Congo have arrived in East Africa. Like the European refugees, they are being accommodated with their families either in the camps arranged for all refugees or in Government buildings.

As the number of these African refugees is likely to increase, can my right hon. Friend say whether the cost of caring for them will have to be borne by the local governments or whether the British Government will make a contribution?

At the moment there are only two or three families involved. These are mainly African wives of Belgian citizens, so the problem envisaged by my hon. Friend is not one that at the moment is arising. There has, of course, been some influx back and forth from Ruanda into Uganda.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies Whether he contemplates taking action to protect the pension funds of expatriate local government employees in East Africa.

The undertakings by Her Majesty's Government concerning the protection of pensions set out in Colonial Paper No. 306 relate only to members of the Overseas Civil Service for whom I have special responsibility. The question of any special protection for the pension funds of local government officers who are not members of the Overseas Service can be considered only in the context of a general constitutional settlement.

As my right hon. Friend is considering the future of the Overseas Civil Service, in East Africa in particular, will he also give a thought to the future of the expatriate local government employees who make a considerable contribution to the welfare of these countries?

I understand that point, but successive Governments have maintained the distinction implicit in my main Answer. I cannot give an undertaking to vary it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the present feelings of insecurity in the Colonial Civil Service and their increasing reliance on the guarantees contained in Colonial Paper No. 306, 1954, he will take steps to define more clearly which officers are eligible to join Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service, and to clear up the anomalies in eligibility which at present occur in Kenya.

Eligibility for membership of the Overseas Civil Service is determined by Special Regulations made by the Secretary of State. In applying these Regulations to Kenya there has been difficulty in determining the domicile of some officers. I am taking up with the East African Governments the question of the uniform interpretation of these Regulations and will inform the hon. Member when the question is settled.

May I ask my right hon. Friend to press on with this definition as early as possible? The Civil Service Association of Kenya is quite unaware of any clear definition, and there is a great deal of difference between the categories of officers in Tanganyika who are entitled to be members of the Overseas Civil Service and those of the officers in Kenya.

This is a Kenya problem. We have put forward a solution acceptable to the other East African Territories, but not, so far, to Kenya. We are still discussing it with them.

In view of the pretty wide degree of insecurity in the Civil Service in Kenya at the moment, when my right hon. Friend 'has reached his conclusion in regard to it—about which he promised to write to my hon. Friend below the Gangway—could he make the conclusion public, in the OFFICIAL REPORT or something like that?

Certainly. I will find some way of doing that.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the grant to the Colonial Development and Welfare Fund for the Colonial Schools Transcription Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation has been withdrawn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what facilities are to be provided to replace the Colonial Schools Transcription Service, hitherto financed through the Colonial Development and Welfare Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what amounts have been paid out of Colonial Development and Welfare Funds to the British Broadcasting Corporation in respect of the Colonial Schools Transcription Service; and if he will reconsider his decision not to renew this grant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what representations have been received by his Department for the continuation of the British Broadcasting Corporation Colonial Schools Transcription Unit; and whether he will give an undertaking that these shall be carried on in the future.

The scheme was designed at its inception in 1952 to last for a limited period with the aim of encouraging broadcasting services in Colonial territories to build up their own school broadcasts. The grant was renewed in October, 1955, on the explicit understanding, which was communicated to Colonial Governments in 1956, that Colonial Development and Welfare assistance would not be continued after the autumn of 1958. The scheme was extended for one further year until 31st March, 1960, and in February. 1960, a grant was made to secure full rights, where they did not already exist, in the best of the programmes and to transfer them to long-playing records. Total expenditure from C.D. and W. funds on the scheme between 1952 and 1960 amounts to £95,850. I am satisfied that the scheme has made an effective contribution, and a number of broadcasting stations in Colonial Territories now have some form of educational broadcasting.

No Colonial Government has made representations to me about the longstanding decision to terminate C.D. and W. assistance, but I have so far received two expressions of regret that the unit's work is not continuing.

Why, since the Minister pays tribute to the good work of this unit, is he now proposing in effect to close it down? Is he aware that this decision means that no new recordings will be made for those programmes? This means in fact that these links that we have with these colonial teachers and school children through this transcription service will effectively be broken. What could be more economical and effective than carrying on this transcription service for the school services in the Colonies?

As my Answer makes clear, there is nothing new in this decision which in fact was taken in 1956, and in view of the interest and questions on it I have been very closely into it myself. This was always intended as a pump-priming operation, and I believe that the use of C.D. and W. funds for that purpose was right. What I have said is that C.D. and W. funds will not be available. It does not necessarily follow that it will not be possible, in one way or another, for some form of service to be continued. For example, we are in touch with the B.B.C. on that matter.

I recognise that many of these Colonies now have their own systems, some of which are quite good. In view of the fact that this scheme has been extended on more than one occasion, may I ask my right hon. Friend if he will not think about this again? It is essential that these Colonies should have further information from this country, and, with great respect to those long,-playing records, I do not think that they are necessarily up to date, and that is what we want—up-to-date factual information. I should have thought that education was the outstanding need in these territories at the present time. Anything that we can do to help will be beneficial

I will certainly look at the point. I should be less than Frank with the House if I held out any hope that help can be continued from C.D. and W. funds. For the reasons that I have given, I do not believe that that is a proper use of C.D. and W. funds.

The Minister says that he has not received representations from Colonial Governments to continue this service. Has his attention been drawn to a letter in The Times from the Director of the Tanganyika Broadcasting Corporation in which he points out that, at the request of the Government of Tanganyika, and therefore, I take it, with the approval of the right hon. Gentleman, the Tanganyika Broadcasting Corporation has been asked to double its schools output? How, asks the director, are we to do it without a B.B.C. colonial schools unit, or something like it? As the decision to make this a pump-priming operation was taken before the Government initiated its new Commonwealth education programme, does not the right hon. Gentleman feel that this is essential to the carrying out of that programme?

I feel that these matters are very important. This service is recorded here and then sent to, and used in, those countries. About 600 programmes—and the very best of them—have been recorded and will be available, and all the fees have been paid. I think that they will be of very great help indeed, and many Colonial Territories have acknowledged that in their letters to me on that matter.

Mr. Dugdale.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply— —

Order. I called the right hon. Member for West Bromwich (Mr. Dugdale) before the hon. Member rose on his point of order.

Looking at the matter again, will the Colonial Secretary have regard to the fact that, owing to the reduced number of territories for which he is responsible, there should be a great deal more C.D. and W. money to go round? Will he have regard to this fact in considering whether it can be used for this service?

It works both ways, because, as the right hon. Gentleman knows very well from his experience, calls on C.D. and W. funds increase all the time, but I will take note of the anxiety on both sides of the House on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied that the map section of his Department is sufficiently large to carry out the increased duties required of it since 1st June, 1960.

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the Directorate of Overseas Surveys can meet all reasonable demands made of it.

In that case, can my hon. Friend assure us that in future, when maps are promised in a White Paper, they will be available in time for hon. Members to consider them?

It was not the fault of the Directorate of Overseas Surveys, because it was not actually asked to do so. It was thought that it would be more convenient for Members to have smaller scale maps which could be held in the hand and which yet showed a good deal of detail. To give my hon. Friend some idea of the size of the large-scale maps—for the Akrotiri sovereign base area there are 10 sheets of large-scale maps, over 80 air photographs, which can only be fully understood with the help of a stereoscope, and three pages of verbal descriptive matter. One set of photographs and descriptive matter would together weigh 30 1b.—heavier than an ordinary fish extracted out of Lake Kelvedon.

In that case, perhaps my hon. Friend will explain why they were promised in the White Paper, since there was no intention of carrying out the promise?

The bound copies of the maps have been laid in the Library. What was promised in advance of the debate was the small maps which were in the hands of hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the annual cost of administering the map section of his Department.

The estimated gross cost of the Directorate of Overseas Surveys in 1960–61 is £793,200.

Would not my hon. Friend agree that that enormous estimate is sufficient to cover the cost of producing maps for hon. Members before two o'clock in the afternoon on the day of a debate?

I do not think that the maps my hon. Friend has in mind would have been of great assistance to him in the debate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether special finance will now be provided for the building of a multi-racial girls' secondary school in Kenya.

I understand that an ad hoc committee is exploring the possibility of building a non-racial secondary girls' school, but that detailed plans are not yet complete. The Kenya Government are very willing to approach outside sources for special finance, on the assumption that these plans are satisfactory, but cannot provide capital help themselves without deferring other important projects.

I accept what my right hon. Friend says, but surely it is complete hypocrisy to go on talking about establishing a multi-racial society unless something can be done in the most fundamental of all services, namely, education?

I hope that my Answer makes it clear that I welcome very much this imaginative approach which has come from all races to the problem of education, as exemplified by this proposal, but I think that my Answer is also the right one as far as the finance is concerned. It is obviously necessary for Kenya to study it first.

In view of the welcome the Secretary of State gives to this very imaginative and important proposal, will not he consider making a grant out of C.D. and W. funds to help towards achieving it?

As I am sure the hon. Gentleman knows, there is always great pressure on C.D. and W. reserves, and any proposal has to be considered in the light of all the other claims. I think that Kenya should look at this first. If they have any proposal to put to me later as a result of that, I will look at it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about the recent recrudescence of Mau Mau activities in Kenya, and the detention of persons suspected of initiating oath-taking ceremonies.

During the last few months the Kenya authorities have been investigating reports of a large increase in illegal oath ceremonies, accompanied by intimidation and extortion of money by certain Kikuyu in the Central and Rift Valley Provinces and in Nairobi. The Governor decided, on the advice of his Ministers, that the time had come when protection must be given to the victims of known instigators, under the "fire-brigade" powers specially designed to deal with a situation of this kind and to prevent its deterioration. Accordingly, regulations were made under the Preservation of Public Security Ordinance to control collections and to enable restriction orders to be made. Orders have been served upon seventy-two of the main organisers who are so far known. They are being restricted, not detained, on Lamu Island in the Coast Province.

I appreciate the firmness with which this trouble is being handled by the authorities on the spot, but may I ask my right hon. Friend if he has any information about whether these troubles are being organised from the centre, or whether they are the purely individual acts of ex-detainees?

There is no evidence at all—I particularly checked on that point—of central direction.

Can the Colonial Secretary say what arrangements are being made to allow those in detention to appeal against the detention?

With respect, I make the point again. They are not being detained. They are being restricted, and there is a very big difference, as the hon. Gentleman knows, between the two.

What is the difference?

They are free to move within the area; they are not confined in prison; their families can be with them, and they are paid a certain amount of money. There are considerable differences, indeed. I am sorry that I was led away. I come back to the original point. The answer is, "Yes". There are arrangements for appeal to a tribunal, and the object of the appeal, wherever possible, must be to remove the order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply he has given to the letter from Sir Ferdinand Cavendish-Bentinck, ex-Speaker of the Kenya Legislative Council, on the subject of constitutional advance in the Colony.

Sir Ferdinand asked for an opportunity of discussing with me some of the repercussions of the main proposals emerging from the Lancaster House Conference, to which, he said, he had no intention of seeking amendments. I had a talk with him on 13th July.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the House an assurance, not only that the proposals of the Lancaster House Conference will be implemented and that he will resist pressure to withdraw them, but that when there is an African majority in the Legislative Council next year their democratic rights will not be interfered with?

On the first part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, I have always made that clear and Sir Ferdinand accepted it fully. The second part of his supplementary question seems to me to go much wider. I am not clear what he has in mind. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will table a Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement about his proposals for the maintenance of stable land values and development of farm lands in Kenya.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my replies of 20th July to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, South (Sir R. Robinson) and the hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. Stonehouse).

While thanking my right hon. Friend for the helpful replies which he made yesterday, may I ask him whether he is aware that the total sum referred to, about £8 million, gives ground for anxiety? Will he agree that the smaller the fund the more likelihood there is of pressure for selling land? Has my right hon. Friend considered the memorandum submitted to him by the Kenya National Farmers' Union on the matter?

I have certainly consider the memorandum of the Kenya National Farmers' Union on the amount of money to be made available. The Kenya Ministers most concerned are working out their plans. This matter is at the moment being discussed in the Legislative Council in Kenya, and the Kenya Ministers will be returning for further discussions with the Government.

Is it still envisaged that this plan should operate for three years only, or is the right hon. Gentleman still open to receive representations on this matter?

I am glad that the right hon. Gentleman asked that question. I think that there is some misunderstanding about the period of three years. This period is limited to the currency of the Colonial Development and Welfare Act. It has nothing to do with any political or economic considerations in Kenya or elsewhere.

Will my right hon. Friend recognise that, if the economy of Kenya is to be stabilised and then is to go ahead, the biggest problem of all is that of the stability of land values and the security of land titles, and that he will have the support of everyone who has the interests of the whole of Kenya and all its races at heart in restoring confidence in this aspect of its affairs?

I am sure that that is true. I think that in particular the question of land titles bulks very large. We are trying to resolve it.

In view of the serious shortage of land for large numbers of Africans and the very small holdings which have resulted from some of the consolidation schemes, may we take it that the idea promulgated by the Kenya Government that farms of 50 acres be provided when land in the White Highlands is sold is also not an absolutely firm figure and that the figure could be smaller than 50 acres?

The Kenya Government have plans for what one might call yeomen and peasant farmers. Those two together will take care of the point the right hon. Gentleman mentioned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the increases of pensions of expatriate officers to bring them up to the level of the United Kingdom Pensions Increase Act, 1959, were made before the grant of independence to British Somaliland.

I regret that Ministers of the Somaliland Government did not agree before independence to legislate such increases.

It is proposed therefore to request Her Majesty's Ambassador in Mogadishu to invite the attention of the Government of the Somali Republic to the provisions of the United Kingdom Pensions (Increase) Act, 1959. It will be represented to that Government that it would be equitable to grant similar increases to former expatriate members of the public service of the Somaliland Protectorate.

Is my hon. Friend aware that in answer to a letter written in mid-May by the East and Central African Colonial Service Pensioners' Association to his office, a reply was received on 25th May that the question was under urgent consideration with the Somaliland Government which at that time was a grant-aided Protectorate? Is he aware that I myself wrote to the Minister of State about it long before Somaliland obtained her independence? Can he say what action was taken by his office in meetings with representatives from the Somaliland Protectorate before the grant of independence, and does he not feel that this inaction has a bad effect on the morale of the Overseas Civil Service elsewhere, other than in Somaliland?

Representations were made to the Somaliland Ministers, but in the short time available before independence it was not possible for them to introduce legislation which in their view might have led to misunderstanding or criticism.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proportions of children of school age of the Chinese, Malay and Iban communities, respectively, of Sarawak are receiving full-time education; and how much of the cost in each case is being met from public funds, and how much from private sources.

A very approximate estimate, pending the result of this year's census, is 85 per cent. of the Chinese, and 65 per cent. of the Malay, Iban and other groups combined. Public funds meet roughly 60 per cent. of the recurrent cost for Chinese and 85 per cent. for Malays and Ibans.

Do not these figures show that the Chinese have better educational facilities than the other two communities and that this is largely due to their own voluntary efforts? As there are signs that this leads to resentment among the other communities, can the hon. Gentleman assure the House that, in seeking to avoid an increase in this resentment, he will pursue a policy of equalising up to the Chinese level and provide multiracial schools rather than put any kind of restraint upon the development of Chinese education?

The figures show that the greater proportion of Government aid goes to public aid for schools for the Malays and Ibans—85 per cent. for the Ibans as against 60 per cent. for the Chinese. The main obstacle among the Malayan and Iban communities is the shortage of teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies since what date Colonial Regulations have been freely available for inspection at the Colonial Secretariat in Hong Kong.

I will find out the date and inform the hon. Member.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that his right hon. Friend informed the House last week that these Regulations are freely available? However, I have a copy of a letter from the Hong Kong Colonial Secretary dated 10th December, in reply to an inquiry by an Australian accountant resident in Hong Kong, which states:

"I am directed to refer to your letter of 8th December"— —

Order. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman could keep in order by summarising the effect of the letter.

This reply clearly indicated that copies of the Regulations were not available for public inspection. In view of that, will the hon. Gentleman look into the matter? I will send him a copy of the correspondence. If he finds that what I have said is right, will he ensure that this House receives accurate information and not information which misrepresents the position?

I will certainly study carefully any correspondence which the hon. Gentleman likes to send me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what replies he has received from the West Indian Government to his appeals to them to restrict the migration of West Indians to this country.

My right hon. Friend discussed migration with West Indian Ministers during his recent visit. In general he found them fully aware of the problems involved, and very ready to co-operate with us by continuing their efforts to reduce the flow of migrants to this country.

In view of the recent figures which we have had about migration from the West Indies, will not my hon. Friend agree that these discussions have had no practical effect in limiting migration? Does he realise what a desperate and even dangerous problem will face us in many large towns in this country as a result of the present flood of immigration if we should get only a moderate degree of unemployment? Will he consider whether our present policy of relying solely on the efforts of the West Indian Government to discourage emigration are adequate?

No, Sir. As my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary said last week, we need to approach with deep caution and care any proposal to change or depart from the traditional open door policy of this country.

While agreeing that we have to approach this matter with caution and care, may I ask the hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that only yesterday in one of Her Majesty's courts I had to deal with a Jamaican who had been arrested but was fund unfit to plead and was therefore sent to an institution where he probably will be kept for the rest of his life at the expense of British taxpayers? Must this go on?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what restrictions are now imposed by the Government of Northern Rhodesia on the United National Independence Party; and when they will be withdrawn.

The Northern Rhodesia Government has imposed restrictions on the United National Independence Party only in the Western Province, where local branches have been declared unlawful. Some members of the party's National Executive have been restricted from entering that Province. The restrictions will be withdrawn when it is considered possible to do so without prejudicing public security.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these restrictions encourage extremists and extremism and handicap the moderate leaders of U.N.I.P.? Surely it would be to the advantage of peace and order in that area of Northern Rhodesia if the responsible members of the National Executive Committee of U.N.I.P. were allowed to go there?

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Would it be possible for you to use your influence among Members on both sides of the House to stop the sloppy practice of using initials all the time?

I would rather like to get on. Sometimes initials are shorter than words.

The hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. Stonehouse) will not, of course, expect me to agree with what he said. I am convinced that these measures—nobody was detained—have proved to be an effective use of the fire-brigade powers. I am quite certain that if we had not had that legislation an emergency would have had to be declared. I think that this is eloquent proof of the value of this precaution.

In view of the disastrous events in the Congo, would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is better in British territories in Central Africa at the present time to consult with the elected and chosen leaders of democratic parties wherever they may be found, whether in Northern Rhodesia or Southern Rhodesia, and not to lock them up in prison?

I am not quite sure what the right hon. Gentleman means by the words "lock them up in prison". I made it quite clear that under these regulations nobody has been detained without trial, so that does not arise. I believe that the restrictions avoided an immensely dangerous situation following the death of Mrs. Burton, and that we averted a very great tragedy indeed by the action taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is yet able to announce the terms of reference of the Constitutional Commission on Uganda and give details of its composition.

Not yet, Sir.

When the right hon. Gentleman determines the terms of reference, will he include the necessity of maintaining the unity of Uganda and breaking away from the feudal institutions which have too great an influence in that country?

The object of the Commission and its terms of reference will be to study the form of Government most appropriate for a self-governing Uganda. I do not want to prejudice either the terms of reference or the recommendations of the Commission.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that Her Majesty's Government have absolute obligations by treaty to the kingdoms situated in Uganda? Will he, on no account, give his countenance to any constitution that will give an elected assembly in the centre power to vary the constitution of any kingdom against the wishes of the monarch and people of that kingdom?

That is a slightly different point, but it is because I have been so concerned with the difficult relations that we know exist between what we can call the traditional elements in Uganda and the others, that I have set up this Constitutional Commission, which does not prejudice the fact that elections are to be held early next year. But it is of great importance that we find the right form of government for Uganda in the future, and it is to this end that the Commission will direct its activities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the administrative arrangements for the Trust Territories of 'the Northern and Southern Cameroons following Nigerian independence in October, 1960; and what steps are being taken to retain an adequate number of United Kingdom personnel to ensure a smooth transfer of administration when the results of the United Nations plebiscites finally come to be implemented.

Sir Percy Wyn-Harris has been appointed Administrator of the Northern Cameroons and will take up office during September. The Northern Regional Government has seconded staff for the district administration of the territory and is continuing to provide other services on repayment. The Southern Cameroons already has a separate administration comparable to that of a Region in Nigeria and, as I informed the hon. Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Mr. Tilney) on 5th April, the Nigerian Federal Government has agreed to lend staff (including overseas officers) to enables services to be maintained in the territory. Additional staff are also being recruited from this country.

I am very grateful for the assistance of both the Federal and Regional Governments.

Is the Secretary of State aware that my information is that there is a real danger of a breakdown of administration in the Southern Cameroons? Is he aware that I have information that within a month or two there may be no magistrates' department in the Southern Cameroons; that there may be only two doctors and a few competent nurses, and that the public works department may be left without engineers? Will the look into this seriously to make sure that, when the people of the Southern Cameroons take their decision under the United Nations plebiscite, there may be sufficient administration to carry the transfer through smoothly?

We are doing everything we can to fill the needs to Which the hon. Member has drawn attention. There are a number of vacancies in the Southern Cameroons. It is difficult to recruit the necessary staff, but we will do everything we can so that When the time comes we shall have an efficient administration.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the acute state of anarchy which prevails in the neighbouring state of the Cameroun Republic? Will he make sure that that anarchy does not spread across the border to the British Cameroons?

We have undertaken that after this period in October when the Nigerian ordinary troops are no longer available we shall send a British battalion, if necessary, to the Southern Cameroon's.

In view of the discussion we had on the Nigeria Bill and the large number of Questions there have been on the Order Paper on this subject of helping emerging territories and territories likely to become independent, will the Secretary of State make a statement to the House on his general conclusions on this matter before the House rises?

I am working very hard on the matter and hope to be able to make a statement, but I cannot promise that I shall do so.

In view of the seriousness of the situation in the Southern Cameroons, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter before the House rises for the Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made towards his declared intention of seeking powers to deport people from Commonwealth countries who are convicted of crimes.

I am keeping this matter under review, but at present I have nothing to add to the Answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Kirkdale (Mr. N. Pannell) on 17th March last.

Is the Home Secretary aware that anyone going from this country to a Commonwealth country and breaking the law there is, quite rightly, liable for deportation? Is he aware that many magistrates in this country would welcome similar powers here?

I do not think the ultimate power would lie with the magistrates, even if cases may be referred by them. If it were done, the ultimate power would lie with the Secretary of State— —

Who could recommend?

It would be a matter of reference. I am aware of the situation as broadly outlined by the hon. Member, but from consultations we have had with our fellow Governments in some of these territories the view has not been unanimous.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the recommendations contained in paragraph 45 of the Departmental report on the powers of subpoena of disciplinary tribunals, whether he is satisfied that the list of disciplinary bodies at present lacking express statutory powers, contained in appendix B.2 to the report, is complete; and if he will make a statement.

Appendix B does not purport to be a complete list of bodies that might possibly be described as disciplinary tribunals; but in so far as it deals with disciplinary tribunals of the statutory bodies set up to regulate the conduct of professions, my right hon. Friend has no reason to think that it is not complete.

While thanking the hon. and learned Gentleman for that reply, may I ask if he is aware that it could be argued that the disciplinary tribunals set up under the Agricultural Marketing Acts could, under the terms of the Simonds Committee's Report, be given the power to subpoena witnesses? Is not this a very deplorable recommendation and a strong reason why the House should have an opportunity of debating this very controversial Report?

There are various bodies which could be described as disciplinary tribunals, including, as the hon. Member suggested, those under the Agricultural Marketing Acts, but this Committee was concerned with disciplinary tribunals which concern professional conduct, and from that point of view the list appears to be complete.

Is the Joint Under-Secretary aware that many hon. Members on both sides of the House feel that we ought to have, or ought to have had, an opportunity to debate the Simonds Committee's Report? Although I realise that we cannot be told about work for next Session, will he bear in mind that this is a very important Report and that we ought to have had a chance to discuss it in the House?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of the medical staff at each of the Bristol and Exeter prisons, and the number of prisoners allocated to each doctor; and what provision is made for the mental health treatment of the men, in view of the fact that a variety of problems exist and that the need for treatment is greater than among the general public.

At Bristol, with about 400 prisoners, there is one full-time senior medical officer, one full-time senior psychologist—both of whom have certain responsibilities at other prisons— and one part-time medical officer. At Exeter, with about 470 prisoners, there is one part-time medical officer; the medical officer from Dartmoor attends regularly; and the senior medical officer from Bristol visits at intervals. Prisoners are not allocated to a particular medical officer. At both establishments prisoners are referred to outside consultants as may be necessary. Prisoners requiring major psychotherapy are transferred to prisons with special facilities.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that my information is that the medical men employed in prisons are overworked and that some have to attend at two or three prisons? If that is so, will he take steps to remedy the position?

The medical men at all prisons work very hard. I have met many of them recently. I should not like to suggest that prisoners are receiving inadequate medical attention. In fact, the ratio in many prisons is better than it is in the Health Service.

Would the right hon. Gentleman agree that there is a need for review of the prison medical service generally? Since there is about to be a vacancy among the Prison Commissioners, would he consider the appointment of a Commissioner with medical qualifications so that his services could be available to the Prison Commission in this very valuable part of prison life?

We already have a Director of Medical Services in the Prison Commission who occupies a position of some standing. I do not think that the transfer to the rank of Commissioner would achieve anything. Although, on that and the previous supplementary question, I am in agreement that in the prison service they have their problems, on the whole I do not think that they can be accused of not fulfilling their obligations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why a person, aged 19 years, still awaiting sentence, was not allowed out of prison to attend his father's funeral, details of which have been forwarded; and what are the regulations concerning this.

At present, convicted prisoners who are ineligible or unsuitable for parole may be taken under escort to see dying relatives, as was done in this case, but not to funerals. My right hon. Friend is considering whether in future, subject to reasonable availability of escorts in a particular case, this rule should be relaxed.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for what he has said, may I ask whether he appreciates that, at a time when millions of pounds are being spent on prison reform and buildings, not to allow this young man to attend his father's funeral, when in the result he was only placed on probation, might well warp his whole outlook in coming out of prison?

I have considerable sympathy with my hon. Friend, but this is dependent on the availability of escorts and an escort was provided when the young man's father was dying. The Home Secretary will see if he can relax the rule further to cover funerals as well.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for the initiation of registered clubs he has sanctioned in the Carlisle district during the five years up to 31st December, 1959, under the provisions of Section 77 of the Licensing Act, 1953; whether he is satisfied that the provisions of this Section, which forbid a registered club to deal in intoxicating liquor without first obtaining his consent in writing, should apply exclusively to Carlisle and the adjacent parts of Cumberland; and if he will make a statement.

During the period in question authority has been given under Section 77 of the Licensing Act, 1953, for the supply of intoxicating liquor in five registered clubs and thirteen other clubs have been informed that authority will be given as soon as they are duly registered. The provisions of Section 77 derive from the Secretary of State's statutory responsibility for the control of the supply of liquor in the Carlisle State Management District and could not suitably be applied elsewhere.

Does not my right hon. Friend consider that these powers, which have served no social purpose whatsoever in Carlisle for the last forty years, could be more usefully applied to other districts where there are problems, such as Stepney and Soho? Why keep them in Carlisle when other places need them far more?

My right hon. Friend has other proposals for dealing with the clubs problem in many districts. I do not think his exercise of the powers in Carlisle in recent years has been restrictive to general club interests.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take to remedy the difficulties in the segregation of different categories of prisoners in women's prisons at the present time.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to her Question on 12th May.

Does the Home Secretary appreciate that, while his proposals for the transfer of women from Holloway to other establishments are awaited with very great interest, in the meantime, women prisoners on remand in Holloway, some of them under 21, and some of whom may not subsequently be convicted, have to be shut up in their cells at 4 o'clock in the afternoon in order to keep them from contact with convicted prisoners? As the right hon. Gentleman in a previous reply to me indicated that this reorganisation scheme would not solve the problem, can he say what he is going to do to make conditions for women on remand more tolerable?

We are trying to do what we can for women in Holloway. I will certainly bear in mind the hon. Lady's points in looking at future policy.

How long will it be before the women are moved from Holloway, and how long will it be before the women in the north of England are in buildings other than those in which male prisoners are also housed?

It depends on reaching the final settlement of new establishments, with which we are pressing ahead as far as we can.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now received the report of the Working Party which has been studying the problems of compensating the victims of crimes of personal violence; and whether he will make a statement on the nature of the report and the Government's conclusions arising from it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the report of the Working Party on compensation for victims of violent crimes.

The Working Party's report is in an advanced stage of preparation, but it will not be possible for me to make any statement before the Recess.

While appreciating that the Report has not yet been finalised, does the right hon. Gentleman agree that a workable scheme of State insurance for the victims of criminal assaults could be introduced at a cost of about £200,000 per year, which is less than I d. per year per head of the whole of the population? Does he think it likely that the Government will have positive proposals to bring before the House early in the new Session?

I am not sure about the timing, but I hope to receive the report during the Recess. Meanwhile, I would rather not go into details, because there are considerable complications in the scheme, but I should not have set up the Working Party if I had not been keen to get a report.

Will the Home Secretary give the House an assurance that, if the Working Party produces a practicable scheme, the Government will implement it? Is he not aware that I have recently sent him details of the very tragic case of Mrs. Gallacher, of Blackburn, whose husband was the victim of the pawnshop murder recently, and who has made a desperate appeal to me for help? I referred her to the Home Secretary, and all he could give her was sympathy. Is it not time that something practical was done to help the victims of these crimes?

That is precisely why, when I first came to the Home Office, I took an interest in this subject, following upon Miss Margery Fry's ideas. I cannot at the moment go further until I receive this report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what authority the Metropolitan Police recently issued a statement that serious allegations made against the Metropolitan Police Fraud Squad cannot be sustained.

By direction of the Commissioner, the Solicitor to the Metropolitan Police communicated with a newspaper to draw attention to a statement that had been published in it which might be taken to reflect generally on the character of Metropolitan officers of the Company Fraud Branch. The newspaper was good enough to retract the statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police dogs are employed in the Metropolitan area of London; and what is the full authorised establishment.

The Metropolitan Police has 201 dogs at present. The establishment is 272.

Will not the Joint Under-Secretary agree that if we had more of these dogs on the streets at night, it would in some way reduce crime in the West End during the dark hours?

Yes, Sir. I agree with my hon. Friend that we need more dogs on the street at night. In order to help to reduce crime generally, the Commissioner is doing all he can to obtain more of them, but it may be important for my hon. Friend to bear in mind that the Commissioner recently has been given authority to spend a larger amount for breeding purposes.

Will the Joint Under-Secretary tell us a little more about his proposals for the recruitment of dogs? If we cannot easily keep our men up to establishment in the police, surely we could succeed in keeping the dogs up to establishment?

The difficulty is that there is a shortage of suitable dogs in this country for police purposes. Many of those which have been offered to the police are unsuitable. Indeed, in 1959 no fewer than 547 dogs were inspected, but only 27 were found to be suitable.

Is my hon. and learned Friend using the word "dog" in a technical sense, or does it mean both sexes?

I assume that, in the Parliamentary sense, the word "dog" includes both sexes.