asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the number and nature of the crimes and misdemeanours, respectively, giving sexes and ages, which have been committed in Malta during each of the last ten years, distinguishing those which were from those which were not of a political character.

This information is contained in Section 17 of the Statistical Abstract of the Maltese Islands, copies of which have been placed in the Library. The available statistics do not distinguish age or sex and there is no special category of prosecutions of a political character.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that that is a very generalised type of reply? Would he agree that most of the crimes committed in Malta arise not from turpitude but from the discontents of a people desiring democratic self-government, and will he take steps to remove those discontents so that such offences will be diminished or, perhaps, abolished altogether?

I do not think that I would agree with that analysis. We have, of course, put forward our proposals for the future constitutional provision, but if the hon. and learned Member will study the table I think he will see that it is not possible to create a special category of political offences and that the statistics given are as full as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when, and for how long, Mr. Barker Benfield was appointed Chairman of the Malta Tourist Board; how much money was allocated for the Board's expenditure over five years and how much of this was spent in the first two years; whether Mr. Barker Benfield is now in Malta; and what proposals Her Majesty's Government now have in view of the annual reports of the Director of Audit for 1958–59 and 1959–60.

Mr. Barker Benfield was appointed Chairman of the Malta Government Tourist Board by the Malta Government in September, 1958, on a one-year contract. This was extended by mutual agreement for a further year in September, 1959. Mr. Barker Benfield resigned his appointment in June, 1960, and has not been employed in Malta since then.

Can my right hon. Friend tell us anything about this gentleman, in view of the fact that he was the only non-Maltese appointed to the Tourist Board and, presumably, he was appointed by the Colonial Office?

I do not know very much about the original appointment. I should like to have the Governor's comments on the matters which my hon. Friend raises in his Question before I write to him on it.

If there is to be a likelihood of the tourist industry expanding in Malta, is it possible that the land now under military occupation along that magnificent coast road will be released so that tourist activities can advance?

No. I could not give any undertaking about that. Tourism is of great importance to Malta and has been going ahead fast in recent years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in forming a representative Government in Kenya.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, if he will make a statement on the Governmental deadlock in Kenya.

The Governor is continuing his endeavours to form a Government and I would prefer to make no statement at present.

Will my right hon. Friend emphasise again in this House that we fully support the Governor of Kenya in the line he is taking in trying to recruit from elected members of all races in Kenya a Government that will take responsibility? That is the desperately urgent matter now, and we do not mind very much which African party first shows the political courage to do what is right for Kenya.

I am sure the best answer is that people of all races should come forward together in these circumstances to accept portfolios and form a strong Government. I believe that this could be done.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that there are very many in this House who profoundly disagree with the point of view expressed by the hon. Gentleman opposite in his supplementary question—[HON. MEMBERS: "Who?"]—nearly the whole of the Opposition—and that we regard it as a tragedy, with this new opportunity in Kenya and with the elections which passed off in a spirit of good will, that there should be the danger that this new hope will be ruined by the obstinacy of the Governor?

It certainly is not the obstinacy of the Governor, and, as he made clear in his broadcast, his thinking is exactly the same as that of Her Majesty's Government, and always has been. Naturally, on a matter of this importance, Her Majesty's Government would be most closely consulted. I do not think that what the hon. Gentleman says is right. On the contrary, I think it would be disastrous if after elections which were, on the whole, so amiably fought this sort of condition were imported into a constitution in which it has no part. It was never a condition of the Lancaster House agreement that anything to do with law and order should be a prerequisite of forming a Government, nor should it be made one now.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that pledges given by both African parties to their electorate make the release of Kenyatta one of the conditions prerequisite to forming a Government? If the right hon. Gentleman proposes to back the Governor in this position, what steps will he take to overcome the resulting deadlock?

I am not convinced that deadlock is yet there. I know that the Hon. Member recognises that this is an extremely difficult position and wants to see a way out if one can be found. I am sure that the way out is for a Government to be formed. Once a Government is formed, that being the first prerequisite the Governor laid down, it may be possible to move into happier days.

I appreciate what the right hon. Gentleman says, but does not he understand that it is very difficult for politicians to take office if they have previously given pledges which will not be redeemed upon their taking office? In those circumstances, could there not be a concurrent pledge that if these politicians take office and security is not endangered at the end of three months, Kenyatta will be released?

The specific difficulty about a proposal like that is that we cannot be sure what the law and order and security position will be in three, four or six months, or in any given period of time, I do not think that the conditions should be related in any way to a period of time, as the hon. Member suggests.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what plans he has for expediting and expanding the operations of the Land Settlement Board in Kenya and to take up European farms now offered for sale; and what response Kenya Ministers have had to their request to the International Bank to provide funds for the development of the new holdings for African yeomen farmers.

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to his Question on 9th March. The Kenya Ministers of Finance and Agriculture have just concluded discussions about the provision of funds with the International Bank. There is reason to believe that, subject to approval by the Bank's executive directors to the enactment by the Kenya Legislature of an Ordinance authorising the proposed borrowing, and to the conclusion of Her Majesty's Government's guarantee of the loan, the Bank will be willing to lend up to £3 million.

The House will be glad to know that, but are we pressing ahead fast enough with this land settlement scheme, which seems to provide an opportunity for giving more Africans a direct stake in the land as well as preventing many useful European farms from falling vacant, to the detriment of the Kenya economy? Are not we being cheeseparing in money, and are not we short of technical staff to advise the Africans who are going into these farms?

It may be that the second alternative is true, rather than the first. I am anxious to press ahead with these schemes, but the staff is already fully stretched. A considerable amount of money has been and will be found for these schemes, to which I intend to give high and continuing priority.

Could not we lend some from this country?

We already do that. Quite apart from the money lent by Her Majesty's Government, the Colonial Development Corporation has agreed, in principle, to a loan.

I am thinking of staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that at E1 Burgon, during the recent elections in Kenya, an African speaking for the Kenya Coalition was warned that if he continued speaking his wife and two daughters would be slashed on 4th March, 1961, and that on that date his wife and two daughters were discovered slashed and dead; and what steps he is now taking to investigate this and other cases of intimidation that occurred during the recent elections in Kenya.

The Governor reports that on 5th March the police found a Kikuyu girl lying unconscious in the forest area at Molo, and, nearby, the dead body of her mother. They were the daughter and wife of Zachariah Mbuthia who had spoken in support of the Kenya Coalition at an election meeting at E1 Burgon on 25th February.

Will my right hon. Friend himself take a certain amount of responsibility to inquire into these cases of intimidation, and not merely say, as his hon. Friend did, that this matter is purely one for the courts of Kenya? We have a responsibility here.

I think I have made it clear that I take this case very seriously, and I have said that I will report again to the House upon it. On the general question, when I saw the Governor of Kenya a few days ago, as I was passing through, he told me that very few cases of intimidation at the election had been reported, and that in none of them was there sufficient evidence to enable a prosecution to be laid.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action the Sierra Leone Government have taken as a result of his predecessor's circular dispatch No. 1065/59, of 2nd October, 1959, in connection with pension increases.

The Government of Sierra Leone have taken no decision in this matter as yet.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the pension increases given to those who in the past have served Sierra Leone are well below those awarded by this House, under the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1959, to the people who have stayed at home in the United Kingdom? Despite the fact that much aid will be given in the future to Sierra Leone—and nobody disputes that that is a good thing—does not my right hon. Friend agree that what has happened to pensioners in the Sudan and Somaliland is a thoroughly bad advertisement for those whom we want to continue to serve both in the developing countries and in this country?

It is true that these pensions are considerably below those given by the United Kingdom to retired civil servants, but I am sure that my hon. Friend will agree that at this stage it is not reasonable to ask the Government of Sierra Leone to take action in advance of their independence, which is coming in two or three weeks' time. I will take into account whatever action is taken in the general review of progress that I have said we will have later in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the directors of education and medical services in the Seychelles exercise sole responsibility for their Departments; to what extent they are responsible to the administrative secretary for matters other than those arising from the latter's membership of the Legislative and Executive Councils; and if he will define the respective duties of these three officials with regard to the educational and medical services in the Seychelles.

The distribution of duties of officials is a matter for the Governor and I am consulting him. I will write to the hon. Member when I receive a reply, but as mails to and from Seychelles are infrequent this may take a few weeks.

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that it has always been thought desirable that the directors of education and medical services in the Seychelles should not have responsibility for the administration but should be directly responsible to the Government and the Colonial Office?

No, Sir. They must be responsible to the Governor. We believe that is the correct way to run the business.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now make a statement on the financial review of the Colonial Development Corporation.

I expect to be able to make a statement within a fortnight.

Is the Secretary of State aware that it is exactly two years since the Sinclair Committee was appointed by his predecessor to report on this matter? The Sinclair Committee did the real donkey work in three months, but twenty-one months later the Government still find themselves unable to declare their policy. Is not this a disgraceful delay?

I cannot quarrel with the hon. Member's mathematics. I am sorry that I have not been able to make a statement earlier, but all the important matters of principle are now agreed and we are devoting ourselves to tidying up one or two smaller matters. I will make a statement within a short time.

Since the Minister has had such a long time to think about this matter, will he consider, in his statement, dealing with the general policy question of the area of operations of the Colonial Development Corporation?

I could not hold out any hope that there will be any change in long-established Government practice in that regard.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he intends to communicate to the political parties in Northern Rhodesia amended constitutional proposals for Northern Rhodesia before the date of the referendum on the Southern Rhodesian constitutional proposals.

The first step is for the Governor to proceed with his consultations in Lusaka. His own suggestions illustrating how the outline plan in the White Paper might be put into effect were set out in a memorandum sent to the political groups on the 16th March; and he is ready to consider any proposals within the framework and general spirit of the White Paper which those groups may put forward. I cannot at present forecast when he may be able to report the outcome of his consultations and make his recommendations, or, consequently, when Her Majesty's Government may be able to reach decisions.

Will my right hon. Friend take cognisance of the danger that the Southern Rhodesia referendum, based on the Lennox-Boyd proposals in 1958, may be lost through uncertainty and delay about what is to happen in Northern Rhodesia?

I am aware of that complication. I believe that in a speech a day or two ago Sir Edgar Whitehead indicated that the date of the referendum in Southern Rhodesia might be postponed. Things seem to be going slower in both Northern and Southern Rhodesia than we had hoped. I am conscious of the position.

Is my right hon. Friend conscious of the point that it would be a mistake to delay the referendum too long, because the Southern Rhodesian constitution is a welcome advance to multi-racial partnership, and if it is to be destroyed through the abandonment of constitutional development in Northern Rhodesia it will be a great misfortune?

I am sure that there is no desire to delay the referendum in Southern Rhodesia. As Sir Edgar Whitehead's speech made clear, the postponement was purely for an examination of further White Paper matters.

Will the Minister also take into account the fact that in Northern Rhodesia economic activity is proceeding very slowly indeed, and it is vitally important that we should get a constitutional settlement there?

That is equally true. There is a great deal going on in this field. Tomorrow morning I am starting talks with the Paramount Chief of Barotseland, who is now in this country. This is part of the pattern that we must get filled in.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the law concerning printing presses in Sarawak has been changed; whether the change is in tended to be permanent or temporary; to what extent defects in the existing law on sedition made necessary the change in respect of printing presses; and if he will make a statement.

Some newspapers in Sarawak have recently been publishing material likely to prejudice peace and good order and, in particular, good relations between the different races. The changes in the law to which the hon. Member refers provide for the immediate revocation of a printing press licence. The Governor rightly considers it desirable that it should be possible to take action promptly to check the publication of such inflammatory material. I am in consultation with the Governor about how long the new legislation will remain in force.

Is the Minister saying that the situation in Sarawak is so serious as to justify this drastic step of taking the control of the Press out of the courts of law and putting it into the hands of officials? Is not this action likely to discourage rather than encourage faith in the democratic process and the rule of law?

As the hon. Member well knows, we are making considerable advances there, and there will be further advances on the constitutional front in the near future. This action was taken in an effort to stamp out any trouble which might arise owing to these inflammatory articles.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are now being taken by the Hong Kong Government to organise the sending of food parcels to the famine areas of China; and what were the number of food parcels exported from Hong Kong to the Chinese mainland in 1959, 1960, and the first three months of 1961.

The answer to the first part of the Question is none. The answer to the second part is about 870,000, 3,700,000, and 2,600,000.

Is not that clear proof that there is a very serious famine condition on the mainland in China which is very much kept out of the newspapers over here? Most people know about it in Hong Kong and are hoping that there will be some guidance from the Government here to make the Hong Kong Government make it easier for these parcels to be sent into China.

There are arrangements for food packages to go there, and we are in negotiation with the Chinese authorities about the postal service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on constitutional progress in Tanganyika.

I presided at a successful Constitutional Conference with the Government of Tanganyika in Dares Salaam. It concluded on 29th March with an agreement that full internal self-government should be introduced on 1st May this year and that Tanganyika should be independent on 28th December. I am arranging for the text of the final communiqué to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT. A fuller report will be circulated as a White Paper.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that all hon. Members will wish to congratulate him upon this agreement and also to congratulate Mr. Julius Nyerere, the Chief Minister of Tanganyika? Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the statement by Mr. Nyerere that he proposes that Tanganyika, when it becomes independent, should totally disarm, because arms would be useless against the great Powers and would be wrong against other Africans? Will he give the greatest encouragement to Mr. Nyerere, as an example not only to Africa but to the world?

Although many people were involved, the true credit belongs essentially to two men—Mr. Julius Nyerere and the Governor, Sir Richard Turnbull, who have acted magnificently in these years. On the second point, at meetings which we shall have at Ministerial level in June, we intend to discuss with the new Government of Tanganyika matters relating to defence, finance and other matters.

Will the right hon. Gentleman add to his praise the name of the late Sir Donald Cameron, whose great work in the early thirties laid the foundation for what has happened in Tanganyika?

Yes, and also Lord Twining, to whom the Governor of Tanganyika and myself, on the date of the announcement, sent a joint telegram. There are many names, known and unknown, of people who have contributed to the very happy spirit which there is in Tanganyika. I wish it were the same everywhere else.

And also Arthur Creech Jones.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from teachers concerning the delay in negotiating their wage claim; and when he expects to receive the recommendations of the National Joint Council on this matter.

I have received one letter from a teacher complaining of the time taken in the negotiations on the present wage claim. I received a recommendation from the National Joint Council late yesterday.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that, although he may have received only one letter, there are great anxieties in the teaching profession about the continued delay in this matter? Will he say when a settlement will be reached and whether there will be any retrospection in it?

No, Sir. I cannot give any details about the future. I have only just received the recommendation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the prospects for the recruitment of teachers with ordinary arts degrees from the Dundee area.

Of eighteen ordinary arts graduates expected to complete teacher training at the Dundee College in June, twelve come from Dundee, Angus or Perthshire.

Is the Secretary of State aware that there is a certain amount of concern in Dundee about the proposed closing of the ordinary arts degree course at Queen's College, Dundee, and that there is anxiety lest this may hold up the recruitment of teachers and affect the cultural life of the city? While I appreciate that this is not his direct responsibility, will he support the representations being made by the Dundee Education Committee that this decision should be postponed for a year in order that the public interest as well as the university interest may be more thoroughly investigated?

The hon. Member clearly realises that I have no say in these matters and cannot properly have a say in them. He will not expect me to do more than comment that doubtless his remarks wall be noticed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the discontentment of Scottish school teachers resulting from the proposed regulations modifying teachers' superannuation arrangements which empower the Secretary of State to make payments in lieu from the Scottish Teachers' Superannuation Account because this new procedure will inflict hardship on the teachers and involves payments which that account should not be called on to bear; and if he will revise his proposals to meet these objections.

I have received a number of representations on this matter, but the proposed modification will not involve any hardship on teachers. Any deficiency in the Superannuation Account that may arise from payments in lieu, as from any other cause, will fall to be met by the employers.

Does the Secretary of State not realise that that kind of answer does not satisfy the discontents of the teachers and that those discontents are imperilling education in Scotland and depressing it below the level of Britain's competitors in educational and other matters? Will he take stops to resolve these discontents in a way which will satisfy the teachers and restore confidence in the education system in Scotland?

I think the hon. and learned Member can help me in this matter by making certain that Answers such as I have given to his Question are properly understood by the persons concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals were made to him at his recent meeting with representatives of Glasgow Corporation as a means of averting the threatened strike of teachers.

The representatives of Glasgow Corporation whom I met yesterday made a number of suggestions for improving the recruitment of teachers and their conditions of service. These were fully discussed and both the representatives of the Corporation and I undertook to examine certain of them further.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that today's Glasgow Herald tells us that means of relieving the teaching crisis by increasing wages were discussed? Is that correct or not? If it is, will the eight-point programme which was submitted to him form part of those discussions to avert the threatened strike? Could he say how many of those eight points he is prepared to accept?

Of the eight points discussed there were some which the Corporation representatives undertook to examine further and some which I undertook to examine further. It was a very useful discussion, but the implications of those particular questions do not arise on this Question as such.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is to be a further meeting between himself and Glasgow Corporation before the date of the threatened strike?

This meeting with the Corporation was not directed towards this grave issue, but was a general meet-ting—with that in the background, I agree—on the problem which has arisen of their getting the teachers which they must have.

Is it not the case that one of the points submitted to the right hon. Gentleman was the payment to those retired teachers who return to teaching of their pension plus the salary they are earning? Has he come to any considered conclusion about that point?

On that point I gave the representatives the same information as I gave recently in answer to Questions on the point on the Floor of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Western Regional Hospital Board is yet able to announce a date for the establishment of a general practitioner maternity unit at Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride.

The Western Regional Hospital Board is not able at present to say when this unit will be established. Meanwhile, East Kilbride will continue to be served by the maternity units at Hamilton and Bellshill.

Is the Secretary of State aware, and if so will he communicate his awareness to the Western Regional Hospital Board, that the distances which at present have to be travelled to these hospitals are considerable? Is he further aware that there is an utterly absurd situation here, in which we have a new town with a growing population, in which a large number of births are first births and in which mothers are more widely separated from their families and mothers-in-law—people who can normally be of assistance in home confinements—than is usual? Is he aware that here is a matter—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech."]—of very great importance to many of my constituents, on which very little expenditure is needed and where the building is available? Will not he press the urgency of this matter on the regional hospital board?

This must primarily be a matter for the regional board. As the hon. Lady may know, the board is about to have discussions about the matter with the district council.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has read the report of a committee of senior nurses, approved by the Central Health Services Council of England and Wales, on "The Pattern of an In-Patient's Day", and if he will draw its recommendations to the attention of Scottish regional hospital boards.

I have commended this report to the consideration of hospital authorities in Scotland.

While welcoming that reply, may I ask the Secretary of State to pursue the matter with the utmost vigour, since this is a practical hospital reform which could be achieved? Will he ask the regional hospital boards to report to him on what progress they have been able to make?

This is clearly an extremely interesting document. The hospital boards have copies of it, and I am sure that they will pay the closest attention to it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many civil servants now earn more than £2,000 a year; and (2) how many civil servants now draw salaries at the rate of about £1,750 a year.

Exact figures cannot be given without disproportionate work, but the number of civil servants having a salary maximum or fixed salary of between £1,750 and £2,000 per annum is about 11,000, and the number with a maximum or fixed salary of £2,000 or more is about 15,000.

Has the Chancellor had representations from the £2,000-a-year or more civil servants in support of the Surtax concessions to be announced next week after the council elections?

Such representations might not be very proper, but this whole subject is one which doubtless we shall have opportunities of discussing in the near future.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that when ready-mixed concrete is required in North Staffordshire, only one firm tenders; and, in view of this evidence of monopoly practice, if he will refer the matter to the Monopolies Commission.

:On the information before him, my right hon. Friend sees no reason to believe that the absence of other tenders is due to anything more than normal commercial considerations on the part of other potential suppliers.

Is that not a very strange reply? It really is using the negative procedure. Does the hon. Gentleman accept that there should never be any competition in this field? Is he content that these firms should parcel out each territory like cock robins in a wood and that we should have to pay for it? How many local authorities have protested about this?

If the hon. Gentleman has any information that the territory has been parcelled out as he suggests, he should bring that to the attention of the Registrar of the Restrictive Practices Court. This is not a monopoly matter; there is no evidence of monopoly here.

The Minister says there is no evidence of a monopoly, but is it not quite obvious that every local authority is held at the point of a pistol by the action of these concrete firms which put exactly the same price in their tenders? Is he not prepared to do something more about it in the interests of fairness and justice to every local authority?

If it is the case, as the hon. Lady says, that all the firms tender the same price and if that is the result of some agreement, that is a matter which should be brought to the attention of the Restrictive Practices Court. It is open to the hon. Lady to bring it to the attention of the Registrar.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that the cement industry has recently come before the Restrictive Practices Court and there is no denial whatever that there is a price ring?

There is no denial about the cement industry, but in this Question we are not dealing with the cement industry. It is dealt with in the next Question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that tenders received by the council of Stoke-on-Trent for cement, macadam and electric lamps are often identical in price; and whether, in view of this further evidence of monopoly practice, he will refer these matters to the Monopolies Commission.

The information which the hon Member has sent to my right hon. Friend shows that tenders recently received by the council for these goods were identical in some cases, but not, in all. As regards the second part of the Question, agreements between manufacturers of cement and macadam which may result in identical tendering are matters for the Restrictive Practices Court, and the Court has recently found an agreement on cement to be consistent with the public interest. As regards electric lamps, my right hon. Friend does not consider that the information provided by the hon. Member shows that there is either an agreement or a monopoly.

It does not seem that we are to get any satisfaction out of the hon. Gentleman. In view of that, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter as soon as possible on the Adjournment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what official discussions have taken place with the Hong Kong Cotton Employers' Association to terminate the United Kingdom-Hong Kong three-year cotton pact, by which imports from Hong Kong to the United Kingdom are limited; what recent views have been expressed to Her Majesty's Government by the Lancashire cotton trade regarding unlimited imports; what communications he has had with the industry; and if he will make a statement.

The voluntary undertaking by the Hong Kong industry expires in February, 1962, and I am not aware that any discussions for its termination have taken place. The Lancashire industry has expressed the view that unlimited duty free imports would do grave damage and drastically reduce re-equipment. Lord Rochdale, the Chairman of the Cotton Board, is in close touch with my right hon. Friend on this as on other matters affecting the cotton industry. My right hon. Friend informed him that the Government fully recognise the great importance of this matter both to Lancashire and the Commonwealth countries concerned.

Since this voluntary agreement will terminate in less than a year's time and since the Government admit that unrestricted imports from Hong Kong would very seriously affect the Lancashire position, surely the Government cannot wash their hands of responsibility? Is my hon. Friend aware that the Hong Kong manufacturers have publicly stated that they have no intention of being bound by this agreement when it ends? Surely the Government should do something now and not wait until February when the crisis will be upon us? Should they not take some action?

The previous agreement was an inter-industry agreement and it is the view of the Government that that is the basis on which any future agreement should be negotiated.

Does the hon. Gentleman not remember that more than Hong Kong is concerned in this matter and that the voluntary restrictions on the import of cheap cotton products by India and Pakistan are conditional upon the Hong Kong agreement? Therefore, if the Hong Kong agreement is not renewed or extended a very grave situation is likely to be produced in Lancashire. Many millions of public money spent recently under the Cotton Industry Act in the hope of reviving the industry will have been wasted, so that the last position will be worse than the first.

My right hon. Friend is very keenly aware of the importance of this matter to Lancashire, but he is also aware that the interests and welfare of other Commonwealth countries are involved as well. He considers that this matter is one which should be negotiated between the interests concerned.

May I put this to the Minister? This problem is much too big for the trade to handle. Is my hon. Friend aware that last October when I was in Hong Kong the leading spinners told me definitely that they had no intention of being bound by this agreement when it comes to an end in February? Surely the Government should do something now and not allow a crisis to arise next February and find that the industry cannot manage it? Will not he do something now?

The agreement still has ten months to run. This was a matter successfully dealt with between the industries. In spite of very great difficulties, it was previously negotiated with concessions on both sides. My right hon. Friend is by no means despairing of a similar agreement being negotiated.

In view of the devastatingly unsatisfactory answer which the Minister has given, I beg to give notice that I will seek to raise the matter at the first suitable opportunity.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what steps he intends to take to encourage Scottish firms to take advantage of the research facilities provided by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

The research facilities of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research are made known to Scottish firms in a variety of ways—through the scientific and technical Press, by exhibitions and conferences, and through direct liaison by staff from D.S.I.R. stations located in Scotland and also in the South.

Has the hon. Gentleman seen the report in The Scotsman of 30th March last that one of the D.S.I.R. laboratories had invited 200 handpicked firms in Scotland to examine its facilities and that out of those 200 only 15 bothered to reply and only 11 took the trouble to go to see the facilities? In view of this quite deplorable circumstance, what action will the hon. Gentleman and his Department take to wake these firms up?

I think the hon. Member will agree that one can issue invitations but one cannot compel people to accept them. He will remember the parable in the Bible to that effect.

But what is the hon. Gentleman prepared to do to further knowledge of the D.S.I.R. by Scottish firms and to emphasise the importance of using the facilities that, after all, they are paying for?

My noble Friend and myself do our best and the staff of D.S.I.R. does its very best to bring all the facilities available to the attention of Scottish firms. The hon. Member can himself act by being a missionary in this respect.

Does the hon. Gentleman not agree that the figures quoted by my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. W. Hamilton) reflect no credit on those in Scotland who were invited? Might it not be a good thing if the hon. Gentleman and the Secretary of State had a meeting to discuss this problem, because these services are being neglected? Does the hon. Gentleman not agree that it might be that, arising out of some joint meeting between his Department and the Scottish Office, some plan might be formulated to produce the results which Scotland so badly requires?

We are in close and continuing contact with the Offices of the Secretary of State as equally is the D.S.I.R. with ourselves.

asked the Minister of Works if he will give further details of the items of expenditure involved in the increase of £141,108 to a total of £807,000 in the estimate for expenditure on the Royal Palaces, in view of the necessarily limited explanation published in the Civil Estimates.

As the Answer is rather long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Would it not be better if the Government devoted most of this money, materials, and building labour to relieving the really tragic conditions of other British families whose needs are far more serious?

I think that when the hon. Member reads the detailed Answer he will see that that supplementary question is not really relevant.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that builders and contractors in the Manchester area are experiencing difficulties in obtaining the supplies of cement required for essential building purposes; and what action he proposes to take to remedy the position and to ensure proper distribution.

No difficulties in obtaining cement have been brought to my notice. Dry weather in the Manchester area has increased demand, but I understand that the cement industry is aware of this, and is taking steps to meet it.

Is the noble Lord aware that on a number of occasions in recent months it has been necessary to obtain supplies from the London area at an increased cost of £2 per ton? Does he not think that this is evidence of unequal distribution of cement where it is already available?

I should be grateful for definite examples of what the hon. Member says has happened. In that north-west area in February of this year deliveries of cement were 4 per cent. higher than they were in February of last year.

asked the Minister of Works what improvements have been made by him in the pay and allowances to his staff working in Vientiane since the hon. Member for Leek raised this question on 15th May 1959.

There is no Ministry of Works staff now serving in Vientiane.

In view of the fact that there is no Ministry of Works staff serving there now it is obvious that the staff has completed the task which it was sent out there to do when I was there two years ago. Were the staff's conditions improved as was promised to me in 1959?

The hon. Member might be good enough to put a Question down about the present employment of the staff. That is quite different from the Question which he has now asked.

That is not the point. Is the Minister aware that the House was promised that these people who were working in difficult conditions without air conditioning and were being paid poor allowances would be given some aid when I put the Question down in May, 1959? The simple question is: did they get that?

Yes, Sir.

Why did I not have that answer in the first place?

The hon. Member is so short and brisk with his questions that I waited to be sure that he had asked the whole lot. The answer is that their pay and allowances were increased.

I thank the noble Lord.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to announce Her Majesty's Government's policy on the building of a tunnel connecting the United Kingdom with the Continent of Europe.

The matter continues under close study, but I cannot say when any announcement will be made.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Government's continued lack of decision on this matter may cause the shipbuilding industry the loss of millions of pounds? Has he noticed that one of the large shipping companies has made it clear, according to Press reports, that it cannot see any purpose in proceeding with its replacements if a tunnel is to be built? If a tunnel is not to be built, the company will proceed with its replacements. Has he no indication of a policy to give to the company on this matter?

The question of a Channel tunnel does not depend only on Her Majesty's Government. The French Government are involved, and naturally they are giving it the closest study as well.

Will my right hon. Friend ensure that no Government money is put into this absurd project?

When will the right hon. Gentleman make an announcement about anything? Is he not aware that he keeps promising that he will consider this and look at that and all that sort of thing, but nothing ever happens? Will he make an announcement about anything—it does not matter what?

I will make the announcement that the hon. Gentleman himself is often wrong but never in doubt.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that in the communiqué issued from Washington last Saturday on the talks between the Prime Minister and President Kennedy a major point was made concerning the unity of Europe and bridging the Common Market countries with the E.F.T.A. countries? Does my right hon. Friend agree that it will be practically impossible for Britain to compete effectively in Europe with many members of the Common Market unless this obstacle of the transportation of manufactured goods by sea across the sea channel is overcome?

There are many angles to this very controversial problem. Some people think that there should not be a tunnel. Some think that there should be a bridge. Some think that there should be shipping. I can assure my hon. Friend that both the French Government and ourselves are in close touch on this matter. It depends not only on Her Majesty's Government but on the French Government as well.

While respecting whatever view the French Government may have, in view of the possible effect on shipbuilding, which should concern the right hon. Gentleman, will he tell us whether the British Government have a view in the matter? If they have not a view at the moment, will they soon be coming to a view on the matter? Can the right hon. Gentleman give us that information at least?

It is only right and proper that Her Majesty's Government should consult the French Government, because a tunnel cannot be built without the French Government agreeing to it. Therefore, the only thing to do is to consult them and see if we can come to some arrangement.