asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what plans he now has for the future administration of the Protectorates of Bechuanaland, Basutoland and Swaziland, in view of the intention of the Union of South Africa to become a republic.

I see no reason why the intention of the Union of South Africa to become a Republic should in itself make necessary any change in the administration of the High Commission Territories.

Is the Secretary of State aware that there is great resentment in the three Protectorates at the fact that the administration of these Territories is handled by a High Commissioner who is also our diplomatic representative in the Union, and does not the Report of the Morse Economic Survey Mission reveal that there has been a lack of dynamism in the economic development of these Protectorates? Further, is not the administration of the Bechuanaland Protectorate from Mafeking completely out of date? Will not the right hon. Gentleman see that the headquarters of the administration are transferred into the Bechuanaland Protectorate?

The hon. Gentleman has asked me a number of supplementary questions. I will not speak about dynamics. On the other two points, these Territories are linked very closely geographically and economically with the Union of South Africa and are, in some cases, completely surrounded by its territories. Therefore, I believe that there are practical advantages in combining the post of British High Commmissioner in South Africa with that of High Commissioner for the High Commission Territories. On the other point raised by the hon. Gentleman, there would no doubt be some practical advantage in moving the headquarters of the Administration from Mafeking, which is in the Union, into the territory of the Bechuanaland Protectorate, but this, undoubtedly, would be quite expensive and in my view we have more urgent purposes to which I should like to devote such money as is available.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House that he is giving urgent consideration to the Morse Report mentioned by my hon. Friend, and will he in particular give personal consideration to the question of developing education there as quickly as possible?

Certainly.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether, in the new Constitution for the Bechuanaland Protectorate, he proposes to have a representative on the Legislative Council who will have the special responsibility of representing Bushmen.

The Bechuanaland Protectorate Government will continue to be directly responsible for the welfare of Bushmen; and the official members of the Legislative Council will have the duty to watch their interests.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether, in view of the fact that these are a small group of people, about 11,000 in all, who are practically illiterate, it would not be very much better to have a protector for the Bushmen representing them on the Legislative Council as, he may remember, was previously done in Malaya?

As my hon. Friend knows, these people are not in themselves sufficiently advanced to be directly represented on the Legislature, and the method that she has suggested is one method of securing representation. We feel that the duty which is placed upon the Government themselves is probably the most effective safeguard for the Bushmen, but, as an additional safeguard, the new Constitution does provide that when necessary outside persons may be invited to attend and speak at meetings of the Legislative and Executive Councils.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he would consider that one of the official representatives should have a special responsibility for these Bushmen who have no representation and who, as the right hon. Gentleman says, are probably incapable of voicing their own needs? Could not one of the official representatives be given this special responsibility?

I will look at that possibility, but, on the whole, I prefer to feel that the whole Government regard themselves as having responsibility for looking after these people.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will introduce legislation to suspend the Constitution of Southern Rhodesia, in view of the dangers of the situation arising from the arrest of unemployed Africans, the mobilisation of the territorial forces, and the proposed limitation of African membership in the Legislature to five in 50.

No, Sir.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this Question was tabled before the developments of this week on which, if I may, I should like to give him qualified congratulations? When the Constitutional Conference takes place, will the right hon. Gentleman seek to ensure that the Africans have adequate representation and are not represented by only two of the representatives of the National Democratic Party out of the 24 or 26 who are likely to be there?

There are several Questions on the Order Paper on that point.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will advise that the Vagrancy Act, 1960, be disallowed under the provisions of the Southern Rhodesia Constitutional Letters Patent of 1923 in view of its infringement of human rights.

I am not satisfied that the circumstances would justify the exercise of this exceptional constitutional power.

While recognising that this is exceptional, would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that a Bill which gives the police the right, without a warrant, to arrest a man only on the ground that he is unemployed, is contrary to all the principles of our Commonwealth? In view of that, will he urge the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia to reconsider this very distasteful legislation?

I am not sure that the hon. Member has quite accurately defined that provision in the Act. I have, naturally, looked at this very closely and have taken advice upon it. I am not sure that it would necessarily, as the hon. Member has assumed, infringe the provisions of the Code of the European Convention on Human Rights, which provides specifically for the detention of vagrants.

Is not the extent of this Measure deplorable? Hundreds of Africans are being picked up off the streets, and their only offence is that they cannot find a job. What is the Secretary of State doing to secure the release of British-protected persons and British citizens who have been arrested under the terms of this Act?

Fifteen hundred of them.

I do not think that that is the figure. I have already given information to the House about the numbers. I have not got them with me today, but I have been asked a Question about them. I have given them and I think that the picture is very different from what has been suggested.

May we have the Government's position made clear? They have power, in their view, to act, but have decided not to act, to disallow this legislation. That is the first question to which the country would like an answer.

We have to behave very carefully in a matter of this kind. When Parliament gives powers to a Territory for which we are responsible, and confers constitutional powers upon it, we must be very careful not to do its job for it. We get into very great difficulty if we start duplicating the executive powers or the legislative powers of a Territory overseas.

Mr. Biggs-Davison. Question No. 6.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Are we not to be allowed the opportunity of taking this matter further now?

I get into severe trouble with the House if we do not get on with Questions.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the grave dissatisfaction with the nature of the Secretary of State's reply, I must give notice that we shall seek to return to this matter later, on the Adjournment or in any other way.

Question No. 6.

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I seek your guidance? I have put a Question about British-protected persons and British citizens who have been arrested in Southern Rhodesia. How can we secure a reply from the Secretary of State in view of his refusal to answer that point today?

I cannot compel Ministers to answer anything.

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I thought that I had explained to the House that I had already answered a Question on that point. If the hon. Member will look it up in HANSARD he will see the figures.

rose—

Order. Several hon. Members are rising to points of order. Mr. Stonehouse.

Further to that point of order. I have already asked the Secretary of State for the numbers involved, but he has not been prepared to take action to secure the release of the British protected persons and British subjects. It was that question which I asked him today.

If he has not answered it—I shall have to look at the context to find out—the hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. Stonehouse) is at liberty to put down a further Question.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. We have had supplementary questions on a number of important subjects, but it appears, unfortunately, that no one on this side of the House has caught your eye.

Oh.

Order. We cannot discuss the matter of whom I select or see in the middle of Question Time. Mr. Biggs-Davison.

Question No. 6.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I also indicate that in view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Secretary of State's reply—

No. I do not think that the hon. Member can do so—unless I am confused. The matter is barred by the indication of the hon. Member for Cardiff, South-East (Mr. Callaghan) from the Front Bench.

I am sorry that the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) now adds dissatisfaction to his earlier qualified congratulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he is aware of growing distrust in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland towards the United Kingdom Government and its intentions in Central Africa, as disclosed in the statement by Sir Roy Welensky in the Federal Assembly; and, in view of the forthcoming constitutional conference, what steps he is taking to remove such distrust at the present time.

I realise that all the peoples of the Federation are going through a very anxious time. I hope that the personal contacts and direct discussions which we shall be having during the next few weeks will help to dispel any misunderstandings there may be.

In view of the prevailing uncertainty since the Monckton Commission, and the violent racialism of certain demagogic leaders, will my right hon. Friend do what he can to reassure men of all races in the Federation who want partnership, and who are in many cases standing up to the most atrocious political terrorism because they believe in partnership and Federation?

We intend honourably to discharge our duty to all peoples and all races in the Federation.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether it is proposed that the United Kingdom Government should give any further assistance to the victims of the recent cyclones in Pakistan.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what is the latest information he has received from the Government of Pakistan regarding the loss of life and the damage to property caused by the recent cyclones in East Pakistan; and what further help Her Majesty's Government propose to give.

The loss of life in the two cyclones is estimated at 10,000. A large number of people are homeless; the port equipment of Chittagong was severely damaged; and there was other widespread damage to property. There were also serious losses of cattle. Since these are used for ploughing, this has created a special problem.

I thank my right hon. Friend for the Government's generous reaction to this disaster. Have other Commonwealth countries also made contributions?

May I associate my hon. and right hon. Friends with the Minister's expression of sympathy, and may I congratulate the right hon. Gentleman on having reconsidered this matter and having generously increased the donation of one lakh of rupees which was to have been made by Her Majesty's Government?

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will now state when constitutional talks are to take place on Southern Rhodesia, and who the African delegates to this conference will be.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he is now in a position to state details of the delegations appointed to attend the Federal Review Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what information he has received regarding African representation on the delegations from Southern Rhodesia for the talks on future constitutional changes in that territory and for the conference to review the constitution of the Central African Federation.

I will circulate in HANSARD the names of delegates as far as they have been received.

If reports in the newspapers are correct, may I express my appreciation for what I should like to describe as the constructive realism of my right hon. Friend in securing representation from the N.D.P. and assure him, I am sure on behalf of the whole House, of our best wishes for the successful outcome of these very difficult but highly important Central African conferences which are about to take place?

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his good wishes and I will certainly need any good luck I can get. The composition of the Southern Rhodesian delegation is not a matter on which I took any decision. The decisions were taken by the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia.

May I, from the back benches on this side of the House, confirm what has been said by the hon. Member for Surbiton (Mr. Fisher) and congratulate the Secretary of State on the initiative he took to ensure that the National Democratic Party was represented at the Federal Review Conference, and also wish him luck in the conference? However, will he ensure that, specifically on the question of the Southern Rhodesia review, African participation is adequate enough to ensure that the nine-tenths of the population of Southern Rhodesia which is black are having a fair expression of opinion?

The hon. Gentleman must not embarrass me with too many congratulations on this rather delicate point. I explained that about half the delegation from Southern Rhodesia would be European and I expect that the remainder will be African, with possibly two exceptions—there may be one Asian and one coloured representative. However, before saying anything definite, I must wait for the final list. We are not going to count noses at a conference of this kind, and what is essential is that all points of view should be properly represented.

I do not wish to congratulate the right hon. Gentleman, because I have no desire to get him into trouble with some Members of his party. Can he explain a little more the status of the delegates to the conference? Will they all have the same ability to express their views? In other words, will they all be full members of the conference so that there is complete expression of opinion?

All delegates will be equal.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether any representations have been, or will be, made by the United Kingdom High Commissioner to the Government of the Central African Federation regarding the deportation of Mr. Francis Ivor Williams, a United Kingdom citizen; and whether the Federal Government has indicated the reasons for such deportation.

No, Sir.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that this gentleman is merely the latest addition to a long and distinguished list of prohibited immigrants in Central Africa? Is it not abundantly clear that the immigration laws are now being used as an instrument of persecution against United Kingdom citizens of whose views or activities the Federal Government happens to disapprove?

I believe that I am right in saying that in the last several years, apart from this case, there has been only one case of a United Kingdom citizen—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—let me finish my sentence—who is domiciled in the Federation being deported.

With blue eyes. Is not the Minister aware that if he did not make all those limitations the number would be far bigger? May I now have an answer to the question which I asked earlier when I said that there was great repugnance about some of these actions? When he is seeing the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia about these constitutional talks, will he inform him of the state of opinion in this country about these matters and ask him to desist from these actions, both by himself and by the Federal Prime Minister—to whom he can make representations—so that we can get on better terms with them?

Any talks which I have with the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia will obviously be free, will be full and frank, and will also be confidential.

asked the Minister of Education what steps are being taken to deal with the overcrowding at the Morpeth Boys' Grammar School; and whether he will make a statement.

The local education authority put forward for the 1962–63 building programme a proposal to rebuild this school on another site. I regret that resources could not be found for this in the 1962–63 programme but I will consider it for a later programme. New buildings have been approved for the neighbouring girls' school and when these are completed the present girls' school buildings may be used for the time being to relieve the boys' school.

Is the Minister aware that there is an urgent need for this matter to be speeded up? Is he aware that both staff and students are frustrated by the prevailing overcrowding, and that there are more than thirty students in the top class at a time when individual instruction is vital to their subsequent careers? Will he reconsider this matter to see whether something can be done to speed it up?

I am aware that the buildings are overcrowded and I shall shortly be considering the 1963–64 programme.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that a number of children in Leicestershire have not had a school dental inspection for five years; and what steps he is taking to deal with the position.

Yes, Sir. The basic problem is the general shortage of dentists, and my right hon. Friend is consulting with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health to see what further can be done to improve the school dental service while the shortage continues.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that his right hon. Friend and the other right hon. Gentlemen have been consulting for a long time, and that in the meanwhile children's teeth are decaying? Is he not prepared to do something to encourage dentists to enter this side of the profession, even though there is a shortage, as is generally understood, in the profession as a whole? Is he aware that this is a serious difficulty, because the cost of attending to their teeth later will be much higher than it would be if the children's teeth were cared for now?

My right hon. Friend is very much aware of these considerations and very concerned about them. We are trying to find in what ways recruitment into the service can be improved, and we are continuing to make the best possible use of those dentists who are in it.

asked the Minister of Education if his attention has been drawn to paragraph 96 of the Roberts Report; and what proposals he has to make.

Since the hon. Member raised this question previously, I have entered into discussions with the local authorities about the future of the library service in the light of the Government's decision to introduce legislation and further studies are envisaged. The provision of adequate and properly qualified staff is of great importance in the running of an efficient service and I know that the local authorities are fully aware of the comments of the Roberts Report on this matter.

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that reply. Is he aware that there is still dissatisfaction among librarians about their salaries, and that there has been no improvement since the publication of the Roberts Report in February, 1959?

I hope that paragraph 96 will be acted upon.

What are the results of the inquiry which the right hon. Gentleman promised to make into the wastage of librarians? Does the right hon. Gentleman have that information?

Not without notice.

The Minister promised last March, in reply to a Question, that he would make this inquiry, and I think that we are therefore entitled to ask what the results have been.

If the hon. Lady will put down a Question, I will do my best to give her an answer.

asked the Minister of Education whether he has reconsidered his decision to cut the major school building programme in Cornwall; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the speech of my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary in the House yesterday. The programme for 1962–63 is lower than in previous years because no more building is required in Cornwall for reorganisation of all-age schools.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that his hon. Friend's speech last night was most unsatisfactory from Cornwall's point of view and that, although no more rebuilding is needed for reorganisation, many schools are in a terrible state of repair at the moment and that children are working in extremely adverse conditions? Will he reconsider his decision particularly for technical education?

As soon as I can, I will approve proposals for schools which need to be replaced, but the policy for the building of secondary schools at the moment is to give reorganisation top priority.

Is the Minister aware that to complete the development programme for the fifty-one secondary schools in Cornwall, some of which need replacement, will take twenty-five years at the present rate of replacement which he has approved? Will he do something to improve on that position?

Clearly, the rate of replacement will change drastically as soon as we have finished reorganisation in other areas.

asked the Minister of Education if he will consider the introduction of an expurgated copy of the plays of Shakespeare for use in schools.

asked the Minister of Education in how many cases the requests by local authorities for new schools were reduced by his Department during the past three years; what was the estimated number required by the Bristol authority during each of these three years; and to what extent They were reduced each year.

As the Answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The hon. Member will see that approval was given to three-fifths of the Bristol proposals and about the same proportion in the country as a whole.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when he asks local authorities for estimates of their requirements for the coming year, he expects them to use their judgment and commonsense, and that it is a reflection on them when he always decides to reduce the number of schools for which they have asked?

The method by which we plan the programme is the most sensible. We ask authorities to give us a list of their projects which they feel are most important and we then have to scale it down to the total which we are prepared to grant.

No, Sir. Shortened and expurgated editions are available if teachers wish to use them.

I was not thinking of the aesthetic nature of Shakespeare's words, but of their prophetic nature. In view of current literary, theatrical and economic trends, in the interests of the morale of British youth would it not be as well to explain John of Gaunt's speech in Richard II:

"This dear, dear land …

Is now leas'd out."

asked the Minister of Education how the United Kingdom delegation to the Eleventh General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation was selected; to whom the delegation reports back; what form the report will take; and if he will make a statement.

The delegates were appointed by me after consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. A report will go to the National Commission. An account of the General Conference now proceeding will also he included in the annual report of my Department for 1960.

Is the Minister satisfied that he is getting sufficient participation of people in educational-scientific circles in the work of U.N.E.S.C.O. and particularly in this conference? Is this not rather a coterie which is being called upon from time to time, the same people without a sufficient spread of application?

The Answer to the next Question is relevant to the supplementary question which the hon. Member has just asked.

asked the Minister of Education how many meetings of the United Kingdom National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation have been held since 1954.

The United Kingdom Committee, which acted as an Executive Committee of the National Commission, met four times after 1954. The reconstituted National Commission held its first meeting on 4th October in preparation far the present session of the General Conference of U.N.E.S.C.O.

Is the Minister satisfied that it is good enough that over six years we have had only five meetings? The Commission has now been reconstituted, but the information available in the Library indicates that the United Kingdom makes a very poor show in relation to U.N.E.S.C.O. compared with other countries. Is it not time that this country played its proper part in U.N.E.S.C.O.?

We are trying at this conference to see whether we can change the emphasis of the work of U.N.E.S.C.O. If we are successful I think that will be a very good thing. I am determined to take more opportunities of consulting the National Commission in future.

asked the Minister of Education if he will now reconsider his decision not to receive a deputation from the Norfolk Education Committee.

No, Sir. I have offered to arrange for the deputation to be received by an officer of my Department.

Why will the Minister not receive this deputation? Is he aware that Norfolk Education Committee is desperately anxious to plan its future educational programme, and that the fact that we have so much leeway to make up is because in the past the Minister has been so niggardly? We in Norfolk are not prepared to remain quiet while our education is sacrificed for the benefit of more populous areas. Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his decision and see this deputation from Norfolk?

Norfolk has done well in the past, as I remember from the time when I was last at the Ministry. There are 146 authorities. I think the hon. Member will agree that I could not agree to see them all myself.

I only ask that the Minister should see the Norfolk authority.

asked the Minister of Education what special provision is being made for the training of handicapped children in need of specialised training; what schools have been provided for this purpose; what guidance has been given to local authorities for dealing with this problem; and if he will make a special grant to education committees to enable them to take a more active interest in this problem.

Special educational treatment is provided for handicapped children both in ordinary schools and in more than 800 special schools. There are also a number of institutions specially approved by me for the provision of further education and training of blind, deaf and physically handicapped children. Expenditure on this work is assisted under the general grant arrangements.

Is the Minister aware that in a large number of cities these unfortunate children are totally neglected? In some places it is left for charitable organisations to train them. Will he take steps to press on local education authorities the necessity of training these helpless little children?

I think that most local authorities are aware of their responsibilities in this matter. If the hon. Member has examples of neglect such as he has described, I shall be pleased to have them and to look into them.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that special bonus payments, outside the negotiated scales to teachers, are being offered by the Durham County Council and Gateshead Corporation in order to attract teachers; and, in view of the difficulties regarding recruitment of teachers generally, if he will consider issuing a circular to all local authorities giving guidance on this matter.

rose—

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I ask your guidance on an issue created by the Question which you have just called? Is it in order for an hon. Member to place a Question on the Order Paper without first ascertaining the facts of the situation? I have a letter from the director of education—

Order. I understand that the hon. Member is seeking to dispute the facts, but I think I should be allowing him to put himself out of order if I permitted him to do so. All I can say in answer to the point of order is that the particular hon. Member who tables a Question takes responsibility for the statements of fact in it.

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I say that there was a television showing in which this whole controversy was discussed?

Order. I am not in my official capacity interested in the source of the hon. Lady's information, nor its reliability.

On a slightly different but related point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I say that there is a courtesy in this House by which hon. Members do not put Questions about other constituencies without consulting the hon. Members concerned? In recent weeks the hon. Lady the Member for Tyne-mouth (Dame Irene Ward) on a number of occasions has interfered in other Tyneside constituencies.

rose—

Will you allow me to finish my point of order, Mr. Speaker?

No, because what the hon. Member is saying is not for me. We had this kind of trouble the other day.

The point was whether it could be made clear to the hon. Lady that, while she may be the Member for Tynemouth—

Order. That does not raise a point of order for me.

Is it in order, Mr. Speaker, for an hon. Member to put a Question on the Order Paper based on something which is an absolute fallacy?

That is not a matter of order for me. As I explained, the particular hon. Member putting a Question down himself or herself takes responsibility for the statements of fact in it. Sir David Eccles.

The provisions of the Burnham Report do not allow for any system of special allowances to act as an inducement to recruitment in areas of teacher shortage.

In view of the fact that my teachers in Whitley Bay have raised this issue, may I ask my right hon. Friend, in view of the importance of this matter and the general interest to teachers and local authorities, and as it is a general question, to be so kind as to assure me that the whole matter will be kept under careful review?

It is the business of the Burnham Reference Committee to look at allegations of this kind.

The right hon. Gentleman did not refer to Gateshead Corporation. I have in my possession a letter from Gateshead Education Committee in which it is made perfectly clear that no special bonus payments are made. Will he advise his hon. Lady—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—the hon. Lady the Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward) not to continue fishing in foreign waters because, if she does, she might catch a large sized cod?

All I can say is that I am not my hon. Friend's teacher.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is yet in a position to make a further statement on his consideration of the recommendations of the Anderson Committee on Grants to Students.

Yes, Sir. The Government have decided on the general lines of the radical revision of the scale of parental contributions which I announced in the House on the 7th November.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that Answer, and while I am glad that at least some advance is being made in this field, may I say that I am not altogether satisfied that the advance goes far enough? As we believe in the principle of free secondary education for all, and any child who passes for a grammar school gets a place irrespective of the parents' income, why cannot we transfer this further and give those with the necessary ability a place in further education irrespective of the parents' income.

This drastic relaxation of the means test is without prejudice to full abolition if on examination it should turn out to be the right thing to do.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us what the net cost of the proposal will be? The gross cost is presumably £10 million, but the Treasury will recoup on the Income Tax side. Can he say what will be the net cost?

Not without notice, but the child allowance for Income Tax purposes is being continued and the effect of that is that poorer parents will be better off under this relaxation than they would be by complete abolition.

Are we to understand from the Minister's statement that all local education authorities are to apply this uniformly?

That is the intention.

asked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, whether he will continue to treat as confidential the Report of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research on the shipbuilding industry.

As a result of discussions between the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Transport and the Shipbuilding Conference, it has been agreed to publish the Report as soon as possible.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the first reports of this D.S.I.R. Report appear to have been leaked from a source which I cannot name because I do not know it, and were very adverse to the reputation of the British shipbuilding industry, and that that is a practice which can only redound to the disadvantage of the British shipbuilding industry and, therefore, to our economy in general? Will he give the House an assurance that things of this nature will not happen again?

I cannot give that assurance—[HON. MEMBERS: "Why not?"]—because I have no idea from What source the leak came—but I can assure my hon. Friend that publication of the Report will set those doubts at rest.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that publication of the Report will be very welcome? Can he tell us whether the Report was prepared in consultation with the Advisory Committee of his right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport which is at present examining the shipbuilding industry?

The Report has been the subject of discussions with the industry and only this morning the industry and the Department agreed upon publication.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that when the Report was originally leaked it was at a stage when there had been no consultation with the industry? On what grounds can the D.S.I.R. possibly compile a report without consulting the industry?

The D.S.I.R. is perfectly entitled to compile a report in the preparation of which, in fact, it has taken a great deal of evidence from the industry.

No.

asked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, if he will give details of his plan to build and equip a biological research station at Leatherhead.

The research station at Leatherhead referred to in the hon. and learned Member's Question is planned by the British Industrial Biological Research Association. This is an autonomous industrial body and is not controlled by my noble Friend, although the D.S.I.R. will make a contribution to its finances. My noble Friend understands that the new laboratories will cover a total area of 5,150 sq. ft. and will cost the Association £56,000. The main purpose of the facilities is to investigate the effect on health of substances used in food manufacture, or which may find their way into food from things such as pesticides, packaging materials or utensils.

Does the Minister realise that the Government are behaving in an anomalous fashion in this matter of research? While building this station at Leatherhead and equipping it, they are breaking up a world-famous research station of a similar character at Greyhope Road, Aberdeen, selling the apparatus at a loss, and breaking up a band of scientists who have done very good work. Will the right hon. Gentleman consult his colleagues with a view to getting rid of the anomaly and leaving the station at Greyhope Road to continue its good work?

The two projects are completely distinct. The Leatherhead site was chosen to enable some facilities to be shared with the British Food Manufacturing Industries Research Association. It has the additional advantage that the site is quite near to the Medical Research Council's Toxicological Research Unit at Carshalton.

asked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, if he has now reached a decision with regard to the application from London University Imperial College of Science and Technology for permission to build a low-power nuclear reactor.

This, and a number of similar applications from universities, are under consideration by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, which is advised on the technical merits of these applications by the National Institute for Research in Nuclear Science. These applications involve for each reactor a capital expenditure of up to £250,000, plus annual maintenance costs, and raise considerable issues both of finance and of principle. They must also be assessed in relation to other requests in all fields of science for research grants to universities. A decision will be announced as soon as possible.

Is the Minister aware that, according to a statement in The Times on 19th October this year, this application has been in his hands for at least two years? Does he not think that the universities ought to have attached to them low-power nuclear reactors, in view of the fact that in Western Germany and in France—not to mention the U.S.S.R. or the U.S.A.—lowpower reactors are attached to universities? Does he realise that if we want to train nuclear engineers and reactor physicists—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech."]—just a moment—it is essential that we should have the best form of education for these engineers and scientists? I beg the Minister to give attention to this matter as soon as possible.

My noble Friend agrees that the provision of some reactors of this kind is most important, but as there have been a good number of applications it is clearly essential to determine where the reactors should be placed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of the early attainment of self-government by Tanganyika, what steps he proposes taking to increase the output of students who have completed their full secondary school course in order to enable more Africans to enter the Tanganyikan Civil Service.

The expansion of secondary education is being given a high priority by the Tanganyika Government who, on present plans, aim at increasing the number of African candidates for school certificate from 300 to over 2,000 and candidates for higher school certificate from 90 to at least 300, over the next three years. An increase in the supply of teachers to keep pace with this programme is also planned. Her Majesty's Government have already approved a grant of over £250,000 for secondary school expansion from moneys available under the Colonial Development and Welfare Acts.

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for those figures and for his Answer, but does he agree that a fully Africanised Civil Service is essential to the well-being of Tanganyika? Is he aware that at the moment there are 3,400 officers in the Civil Service of whom a mere 380 are Africans, and that last year only 324 took the school certificate while 762 vacancies awaited? Does he realise that these disgraceful figures are due to the fact that successive Tory Governments have failed to recognise—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech.]—the speed of political change in Africa and that, because of that fact, we are now faced with this problem of what special steps—

Order. The hon. Member's supplementary question is out of order; it is all argument. Mrs. Castle.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Surely it is within order for me now to ask what special steps the Minister is taking to meet this problem.

No. I ruled the hon. Member's supplementary question out of order. Mrs. Castle.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) why it is not proposed to extend the principle of equal pay, recently introduced for certain women medical officers in Hong Kong, to women teachers and other women civil servants in the employment of the Hong Kong Government;

On 1st January, 1960, 6,696 women were employed in the Government service. Twelve who are medical officers are receiving "equal pay".

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Salaries Commission was composed exclusively of men and that women are getting tired of having this stale, old trick foisted on them of appointing an all-male committee in order to establish that there is no case for giving women equal pay with men? Is he also aware that the women education officers of Hong Kong, who have equal professional qualifications with women medical officers, bitterly resent this discrimination? Will he intervene to get this equality for women in Hong Kong?

I cannot advise the Governor to disregard the report of the Salaries Commission to Which I have referred. In Hong Kong unequal pay is in fact normal inside and outside the Government Service. In this and all countries it has been a long and slow progress towards equal pay, but I am sure that progress will continue in the professional departments in particular in Hong Kong.

Is the Minister aware that in the British Civil Service we shall have reached this year equal pay in the public service after a transitional period of seven years? Is he also aware that the Leader of the House is to be the guest of honour at at least one occasion to celebrate this, and why is the right hon. Gentleman, representing the Colonies, going to let down his right hon. Friend?

If I am invited to attend a similar dinner, I shall see if I can fit it into my engagements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how long the books, "Balance of Payments, Rhodesia and Nyasaland", and "Economic Development in Africa", addressed to Mr. Dunduza Chisiza when in detention, were held by the Returned Letter Branch of the Post Office in Nyasaland; and why no attempt was made to deliver them before 7th November or to return them to the senders.

I am sure that the delay will be regretted, but the books referred to have now been discovered and forwarded to Mr. Chisiza and I am not in a position to comment further on the organisation of the postal services.

Does the Colonial Secretary really regard that as an adequate explanation, considering that the man to whom they were addressed has been regarded by the authorities as the second most dangerous man in Nyasaland? Did they not know that he was in Gwelo prison? Why did it take four months after I raised this matter for me to be informed that it had been established that there were no such books, when a fortnight later another letter came from the Secretary of State saying that they had been found?

I do not think there is any need to read any political significance into this matter. If it be true, and I am sure that it is on my information, that these books were wrongly addressed—not to a Nyasaland address at all but to Bulawayo—it is not surprising that this took some considerable time.

I am saying that either the right hon. Gentleman's administration or someone else's is grossly inefficient. Mr. Chisiza was the second best known name in Nyasaland. Is it not well known that he was arrested and sent to Gwelo gaol? Can the Colonial Secretary assure me that there was no attempt to keep these books from him whilst he was in prison?

As far as I know, I can on the last point give a complete assurance, but in fact postal matters, as the hon. Gentleman very well knows, are for the Federal authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what success has attended his efforts to induce the West Indian Governments to co-operate with him to reduce the flow of migrants to this country.

The West Indian Governments in general show an understanding of the problems involved in migration to this country and a readiness to co-operate with Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom in dealing with them. I am satisfied that they are fully alive to the need for impressing upon potential emigrants the problems involved in migration to this country.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that since he gave an assurance in this House on 21st July that the West Indian Governments would co-operate in this matter the rate of inflow of immigrants has greatly increased, and that during the first ten months of this year there were 43,450 immigrants from the West Indies as compared with 16,400 for the whole of last year? This has been a matter of concern for several months, and will my right hon. Friend consult with his Cabinet colleagues with a view to doing something effective instead of watching the situation carefully month by month while it is steadily deteriorating?

I can assure my hon. Friend that there is on this matter particularly co-ordination by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary—in view of his responsibility, very close consultation indeed. It is true that the figures are very large and must cause anxiety this year. I believe that administrative methods will not really serve in this matter and that the choice must be in trying to hold the balance between administrative methods and legislation, but I am sure that my hon. Friend will recognise what an immense breach in our tradition legislation would mean.

Will my right hon. Friend remember that there are far more hon. Members worried about this matter than would appear from Questions on the Order Paper?

I know that, and I hope that the answer I have given to the supplementary question shows that Her Majesty's Government are worried about it, too.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are a very large number of immigrants from Ireland coming to this country? If representations are to be made, will they also be made to Ireland?

The study that Her Majesty's Government undertake has no relationship whatever to colour or to different countries within the Common-wealth. It covers all the problems of both immigration and migration from all countries in the Commonwealth on the same basis.

asked the Prime Minister what representations he has received from Mr. Nehru about the low-priced textbooks to be supplied to India under the Government's scheme.

None, Sir.

While welcoming that assurance, may I ask whether the Prime Minister is aware that only one economic textbook has been provided for India under that scheme, namely, Marshall's "Principles of Economics," first published in 1890? Will the Prime Minister consult the publishers; they are a firm very well known to him? Have they not something a little more up to date in stock? Will he suggest to them Keynes' "Theory of Employment" or perhaps "The Middle Way", by a promising prewar economist?

I am informed that at all stages there has been close consultation with the Indian authorities. The hon. Member's Question, however, allows me to say that for obvious reasons I have myself taken no part in any Ministerial discussions of this matter, and I should be greatly obliged if Questions could be addressed either to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster or to the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations.