asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the concern felt in Fiji and other Pacific territories about the effect of nuclear testing on the fish which form part of the islanders'staple diet; and if he will make representations on this matter to the French Government and other Powers contemplating further tests in this area.

I have no evidence of any widespread concern among the populations of Fiji and other Pacific territories about the effect of nuclear testing on fish.

While I am grateful for the assurance in the latter part of the Answer, may I ask the hon. Gentleman, since he expresses doubt about widespread concern, whether he has seen the very strong statement made a few weeks ago, by the Bishop in Polynesia, who travels constantly about his vast diocese by cargo-boat or catamaran, and who knows the islands at least as well as the hon. Gentleman does?

I did see the Bishop in Polynesia a few days ago and in a very long conversation between us of over an hour on a wide range of subjects he never mentioned this subject at all.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the situation in British Guiana.

I am glad to say that terms for the resumption of work were agreed on 6th July and that most strikers resumed work yesterday. I am sure the whole House will wish me to express our gratitude to Mr. Robert Willis and to the Trade Union Congress for making him available to help in the negotiations. The resumption of work is to no small extent due to his efforts. I hope that incidents of violence will now cease and that the people of British Guiana will work hard and constructively to repair the harm to their country's economy which this prolonged strike has caused. As the House knows, my right hon. Friend left by air for British Guiana this morning.

Whilst appreciating the end of the general strike and wishing to endorse the congratulation of Mr. Willis, may I ask the hon. Gentleman whether it is not the case that the crisis in British Guiana is much more than the general strike? Is it not a matter also of the difficulties between the leaders of political parties, between the races, between the economic conditions of that country and the need to satisfy America before independence? Is the hon. Gentleman thinking in these broader terms towards some solution of the problem of British Guiana?

Yes, we certainly are, of course, but I, like the hon. Gentleman, do not want to minimise the seriousness of the industrial dispute. He is perfectly right in saying that we also have a very acute political and racial conflict here, and we are certainly thinking in the wider terms which he mentioned. That is why my right hon. Friend has gone there. He was never going to mediate in the strike but was always going in the wider context which the hon. Gentleman mentioned.

While wishing to be associated with the tribute to Mr. Robert Willis and the T.U.C., bearing this in mind, would it not have been wiser to have accepted his further guidance that the Secretary of State might have delayed his visit?

I do not think so, for the reason given in the latter part of my Answer to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway). My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State was not going out to mediate in the general strike but in the much wider context mentioned by the hon. Gentleman.

While welcoming the news which my hon. Friend has just given the House, may I ask him if he will bear in mind the fact that the life of this Colony is being strangled by hatred and fear; that the hatred is basically racial while the fear is that this country will soon be giving independence to this Colony and so creating on the mainland of South America another Cuba?

This, of course, is one of the additional complications in this very difficult territory. Not only do we have a political and racial difficulty but we also have the genuine fears which my hon. and learned Friend has expressed about the future of the country in the context of Communism and so on. This is another aspect which my right hon. Friend wishes to see for himself.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking to prevent Russian and Cuban ships carrying fuel and foodstuffs from breaking the strike in British Guiana.

None, Sir. The strike is now over but, in any event, this is a matter which would have fallen within the responsibility of British Guiana Ministers.

In reaching any decision about the future of British Guiana, will my hon. Friend take into account the profound concern which has been felt by those who oppose Communism in British Guiana about the use of Russian and Cuban ships to break the strike and to keep in power an avowed Communist, Dr. Jagan.

Essential services have been safeguarded by the provision of fuel oil by these ships. Indeed, Dr. Jagan, to be fair to him, could not, owing to the trade union position, obtain fuel oil to keep these essential services going except from Cuba.

While welcoming the rather unexpected support of the hon. and learned Member for Billericay (Mr. Gardner) for the principle of the right to strike, and while wishing that it would be extended to other strikes in other parts of the world, may I ask the Under-Secretary to say whether, in the opinion of the Government, there is any sound foundation for preventing anyone's ships from carrying foodstuffs to anywhere in the world?

There may not be any such sound foundation, but if trade unionists do not want to load and unload such ships I do not think that it is for me to criticise them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action is being taken by British troops to maintain law and order pending the settlement of the present strike in British Guiana; and if he will make a statement.

As I have said, the strike is now over. Detachments in support of the civil powers are available both in Georgetown and in the rural areas. In Georgetown they are helping the police by providing static guards and street patrols.

Is my hon. Friend aware that during the last few days I have received urgent cables from more than 50 responsible people in British Guiana expressing their despair at the support which they think the British Government have been paying for and giving to a Communist règime in a British Colony?

I, too, have received a good many cables. The troops are in British Guiana to maintain law and order and whatever the complexion of the Government in British Guiana, we traditionally provide this aid; and I think that we should do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the continuing constitutional and political stalemate in British Guiana, he will now take steps to suspend the constitution and hold a referendum on the future electoral system desired by the majority of the adult inhabitants of all racial derivations.

No. Sir.

I am not quite sure whether my hon. Friend's reply of"No, Sir", applies to the whole of the Question or only to part of it. If the Minister finds it objectionable to suspend the Constitution, does he favour holding a referendum on what the majority of the people want, whether this be our system, proportional representation or the single transferable vote? What most of us find quite intolerable is a system continuing in which British bayonets support a Government in power and a Prime Minister supported by less than half of the electorate.

We have one here.

The suspension of the Constitution is one possible course. The institution of proportional representation, as opposed to first past the post, is another. There are many courses we could follow in this very difficult situation, none of them at all attractive, but as my right hon. Friend is now on the way to British Guiana to study the position at first hand, I do not think the House would wish me, or expect me, to anticipate his policy decisions.

Would the Under-Secretary consider suggesting to his right hon. Friend that while he is there he should explore in advance the possibility of renewing constitutional talks in London in the hope that perhaps in a fresh setting there might be a more constructive approach by both sides?

That is another idea, but the atmosphere was not very helpful when the British Guianese leaders were here last autumn, and until we can assume a more hopeful atmosphere it is, perhaps, better not to get them back to London for another conference.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what undertakings have been given to the Government of Malta regarding a modification of the immigration restrictions on its citizens when they wish to come to the United Kingdom.

None, Sir.

Has the attention of the hon. Gentleman been drawn to a report to the effect that the Secretary of State made a statement in Malta in which he suggested that there were great possibilities for immigration to this country? If that is the case, and while recognising the needs of the Maltese people, does it not make nonsense of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, since unemployment and the pressure of population is greater in many of the West Indian territories?

My right hon. Friend pointed out that there were some vacant jobs in the south of England and that Maltese would be welcome to fill them. On the West Indian point, the comparable numbers are very small. We have about 1,000 Maltese coming here every year and we propose to try to step that number up to about 2,000. In the West Indian context, it will be within the hon. Member's recollection that Barbados has already a very successful scheme similar to this one—concentrating on recruitment to London Transport—which has been operating for a long time. We are trying to give the Maltese the same facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proposals he has for extending to other parts of the Commonwealth, other than the United Kingdom, his scheme for planned emigration from Malta.

Plans for emigration are the responsibility of the Malta Government. But we are of course ready to do all we can to assist them.

Butis the hon. Gentleman aware that, while we welcome the offer of emigration facilities given by his right hon. Friend to Malta, we think that Her Majesty's Government have put themselves in the position of appearing to discriminate in immigration in favour of a European Colony and against the coloured Colonies of the West Indies? Is he aware that Malta already has emigration facilities to Australia which are denied to the West Indies, so will he ensure that the West Indies get full and equal treatment with Malta?

There is certainly no question of colour discrimination at all. We are helping the Government of Malta, at their request, with the planned emigration to this country such as has been long adopted by West Indian Governments such as Barbados, and this, of course, will all fall strictly within the terms of the Commonwealth Immigration Act. There is no question of discrimination. Some hon. Members may feel—I certainly do—that as the unemployment situation in Malta is partly, at any rate, due to our defence run-down, we have, perhaps, a special responsibility to Malta.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that it is really absurd to encourage any territories, white or coloured, to send population surpluses to this overcrowded island, particularly so when the encouragement is, as in this case, to send them to what are described as jobs in southern England? Is not the whole idea of our policy to decrease the number of people crowding into southern England?

AsI said in reply to an earlier supplementary question, the scale of this encouragement to the Maltese is minimal, putting it up by about 1,000 only, which would not make much difference. We are concerned mainly to help Maltese emigration to other parts of the Commonwealth, such as Australia, which badly need it.

Since the Under-secretary is saying that there is no substantial change in the announcement by his right hon. Friend, and since there is a widespread misunderstanding of the Government's position in the West Indies, may I ask whether he will now tell the West Indies Government that the Government are ready to negotiate with them planned emigration facilities for Barbados similar to those for Malta?

There is no question of negotiation. Malta asked whether we could make facilities available for a retired official from the Ministry of Labour to help to place these people in jobs. We did that and the Ministry of Labour found a very senior and excellent official, now retired from the Ministry, who is working for the Malta Government at the Malta Commission in London. We can certainly arrange this for other territories.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will take steps to ensure that Mr. and Mrs. Hodgson and Mr. Michael Harmel, political refugees from South Africa now resident in Bechuanaland, are not returned to South Africa or deported from the High Commission territories.

Mr. Harmel has recently come to Britain. Mr. and Mrs. Hodgson have temporary permits to reside in Bechuanaland which expire on 31st July. If they do not wish to return to South Africa it is assumed that they likewise will move to Britain or some other country.

Is the Minister aware that Mr. Harmel wishes to return to Bechuanaland, that Mr. and Mrs. Hodgson wish to stay there and to open a chicken farm, but that they have been presented with a sweeping declaration of renunciation of elementary political rights which, they have been told, they must sign in order to stay? Is not this an intolerable imposition on political refugees from South Africa who certainly do not want to engage in Bechuanaland politics, gun-running or any incitement to violence against the South African Government but who merely wish to enjoy the same political rights in Bechuanaland as are enjoyed by the residents there?

I dare say that they would like to go back, but we must consider the interests of the people of Bechuanaland, because they are vulnerable to economic pressures from the Republic of South Africa. The harbouring of political refugees who might abuse the hospitality of the territories—plot against the Republic—might well provoke severe economic sanctions. The inhabitants of these territories are aware of this and are anxious to avoid this risk.

Can the Undersecretary say to what extent the African members of the Executive Council have been consulted and to what extent they agreed to the steps taken in this case?

They have. The Resident Commissioner acted on the advice of his Executive Council which, in Bechuanaland, includes four unofficials, of whom two are Africans. To that extent they have been consulted and have expressed this very definite view; they do not want these people there.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why political refugees from South Africa, including British citizens, are forbidden to take an active part in politics, including speaking, writing or activity in a political association, as a condition of being issued with permits to stay in the High Commission Territories.

I invite the hon. Member's attention to the explanation given to the House by the then Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations on 28th July. 1960.

But is the Under-Secretary aware that we protested then against the imposition of these restrictions on political refugees from South Africa and that we are still protesting against them? Is he not aware that what he has just said in reply to the previous Question amounts to saying that this country has decided to deny political asylum to refugees from South Africa whose only crime is that they have criticised the policies of that Government in the same terms as our own Prime Minister has? [Hon. Members:"Speech."] Is he not aware that the Bechuanaland People's Party has sent official protests to the Resident Commissioner against the imposition of these restrictions, which prevent the refugees from explaining what is going on in this territory?

I have no reason to suppose that any hon. Member is entitled to forget the essential need for us to keep supplementary questions short.

I suggest, Mr. Speaker, that what I said was responsible.

We have, of course, never refused admission to political refugees, as the hon. Lady knows. What we are trying to do is to safeguard the people of these territories against the residence there of the type of political refugee who would stir up trouble for the residents in the Republic of South Africa; and that is a very different thing.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is no evidence to show that these people have stirred up or desire to stir up any kind of political trouble, that they merely want the same political rights as residents in Bechuanaland and that they are backed in this by the Bechuanaland People's Party?

I am sorry to tell the hon. Lady that there is certain evidence to show that the wishes of these people are to take part in political activities in Bechuanaland against South Africa. As the hon. Lady well knows, these people have Communist affiliations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps Her Majesty's Government is taking to set up negotiating machinery on pay and conditions for Government servants in Hong Kong.

The Government of Hong Kong are conducting a review of staff relations in the Government service, and ways of improving the machinery for consultation and negotiation with staff associations.

Can the hon. Gentleman be a little more positive by saying that he himself is encouraging the Hong Kong Government in this matter? Does he not agree that the efforts of the Hong Kong Government to get trade unionism on a more regular footing in the Colony as a whole would be more effective if the Government were themselves to put more effort into this with their own employees?

This is probably a matter best left to the Hong Kong Government. I am sure that hon. Members will recognise that Whitleyism, as practised in Britain, may not fit very easily into the different pattern of Hong Kong. There are a number of very real difficulties here.

Is the hon. Gentleman saying that, for instance, representations from married women Government servants in Hong Kong should have to proceed by humble petition? Does not he feel that this is a little archaic?

I think that there is another Question on that matter a little later on the Order Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the conditions of service for married and unmarried women doctors employed in the public service in Hong Kong.

I have asked the Governor for full details, and I will circulate the information in the Official Report.

Will my hon. Friend ask the Governor to consider the differential made between married women in the medical service, and widows and separated women, and alter the categories in the medical service so that married women will be placed on an equal basis with men?

I will certainly consider that point. I know that there are different arrangements for unmarried and married women, and I will certainly go into that as soon as I have the Governor's advice.

Is the Under-Secretary aware that his right hon. Friend received a petition, dated 7th February this year, from married women in Hong Kong, but that they have had no reply? Can he tell us when the Colonial Secretary will reply to this petition?

I am very sorry about that. I knew that we had had a petition, but I did not know that we had not sent a reply, I will try to nave the reply expedited, and will let the hon. Gentleman know as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Government of Bermuda has refused permission to counsel of Mrs. Joyce Hendrickson's choice to enter the country to act on her behalf.

The Bermuda Board of Immigration, in considering applications for non-Bermudians to engage in gainful occupations in the Islands, is required to take into account the availability of the services of persons already resident there. In this case, permission was refused as the Board was satisfied that local lawyers were competent and available to act for Mrs. Hendrickson.

Is the Under-Secretary aware that the Attorney-General said in this House that a person should have the counsel of his or her own choice, after representations were made to the Nigerian Government to this effect? Bearing in mind that the Board of Immigration is the responsible body for the prosecution and is stopping the lady from having her own counsel, does not this seem unfair?

I must tell the House quite frankly that I am personally not very happy about this case. I have the right hon. Gentleman's point. I saw the Question only this morning for the first time. I at once telegraphed the Governor for his advice, and have asked him to notify Mrs. Hendrickson of her right of appeal against the decision of the Board. She may not know that she has a right of appeal, and that appeal can go to the Governor in Executive Council.

Will the hon. Gentleman keep me informed?

I will, indeed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he intends to return to Kenya the battalion of troops at present in Swaziland.

I am not yet in a position to give a firm date.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that many hon. Members find it repugnant that British troops should be used to break up a strike in which men are claiming that they cannot live on 5s. 4d. a day? May we therefore take it that it is the Government's intention to return these troops at the earliest possible moment? Is it not the fact that the strikes took place in two firms that have so far refused to recognise the trade unions? Would not the hon. Gentleman agree that what is really needed is not troops, but that the two firms should be brought into the twentieth century and give proper recognition to trade unionism?

I recognise that these firms have not recognised the unions. In extenuation, I should, perhaps, point out, that the trade unions in this part of the world are very young—I think they began only about a year ago—so I hope that we shall come to the state of affairs which the hon. Gentleman recommends. We shall naturally withdraw the troops just as soon as we can. Although the position is now quite quiet throughout Swaziland, we cannot very well withdraw the troops until it is perfectly clear that the police can cope unaided with the situation.

Is the Undersecretary aware that this anxiety about using troops on strike breaking in these circumstances is very widely shared? Can he assure the House that positive steps will be taken to encourage trade unionism in Swaziland in order to prevent any recurrence of this most unfortunate situation?

I do not think that the troops were used for strike breaking, but to support the police, if necessary, in preserving law and order. They were not, in fact, used in the way the hon. Gentleman suggests, or on work to break the strike.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many companies in Swaziland prohibit trade union activities among their employees.

None. A recent proclamation prohibits any employer from making it a condition of employment that an employee shall not belong to a trade union.

Can the Under-secretary say how many trade unionists are detained without trial and what encouragement is being given to employers to enable trade unionists to make representations, bearing in mind the appalling conditions in the Territory?

I did not know that any trade unionists were awaiting trial. I will certainly look into the matter and will tell the right hon. Gentleman the result of my researches. I am afraid that some of the larger companies have not encouraged unions—and this point was raised in an earlier Question—but I think that recent events have led to a change of heart and I hope we can make some progress.

Is it not the case that during the recent strike British troops surrounded a compound of workers and the workers were then screened as to whether they were ready to go back to work or wanted to continue the strike? Is it not a fact that those who refused to go back to work were arrested and are being detained in conditions which my right hon. Friend the Member for Middlesbrough, East (Mr. Bottomley) has described as appalling?

I will look into the points which the hon. Member draws to my attention.

In view of the success of Mr. Willis in British Guiana, may I ask whether it would not be a good idea if he or some other representative went out to try and help to obtain a better understanding in Swaziland?

These strikes are now over and therefore it does not arise as an urgent matter, but I am always conscious of the fact that in these territories where unions are just beginning to develop anyone sent out by the T.U.C. is always a very good asset in helping local unions to develop in the right way. I hope that the T.U.C. may bear in mind the suggestion made by my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Miss Vickers).

Will the hon. Gentleman undertake to place in the Library copies of the Regulations and Proclamations issued during the state of emergency?

Yes, Sir. I think that I can give that assurance but I have not read them myself. The right hon. Gentleman therefore is putting me in something of a difficulty in asking me to place in the Library things which I have not studied and when I do not know whether or not they are confidential. But I hope to be able to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what examination he is making of the labour problem in Swaziland, following the recent strike; and if he will make a statement.

The report of the Board of Inquiry into the Havelock Mine strike has been received and is being studied. The report of the Inquiry into the Big Bend Sugar Plantation strike in March is expected very shortly.

In view of our responsibilities as the protecting Power and the particular importance of not continuing to follow the South African pattern of exploiting very low workers'standards, what power will this new Board of Inquiry set up by the Swaziland Government have to recommend an adequate wage structure as part of a comprehensive programme of social advance? Further, can the hon. Gentleman say when it is expected to report?

r: I cannot answer the last part of the hon. Lady's supplementary question. The question of minimum wage rates will certainly be one of the matters which the Board of Inquiry will be considering.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in view of the fact that a scale model of the new city to be built near mile 50 on the Western Road in British Honduras has now been produced; when it is proposed to begin the building of this city; and what is the estimated cost.

A decision on when the building of a new capital might begin, and an estimate of its cost, depend on the results of an examination of a plan which is now being studied in British Honduras.

Can my hon. Friend possibly hurry up the decision? Does he realise that there was a most devastating hurricane, and that people have been living in most appalling conditions ever since? This capital is most urgently needed, and I hope that the Government will be very generous in the amount of money they give for it.

A report was made to the British Honduras Government, which must consider the matter before we can take any action upon it. We have asked by telegram for their comments to be expedited.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress is being made in the discussions in Aden Colony regarding changes in the franchise; and if he will give an assurance that there will be no further postponement of the date of elections beyond the present legal date.

Hon. Members will have learnt with deep regret of the recent death of Mr. Bayoomi, the Chief Minister of Aden. Before his illness Mr. Bayoomi invited representatives of other political groups in Adenincluding the Peoples Socialist Party to participate in a Commission of Inquiry to revise the franchise, which everyone agrees to be unsatisfactory. They have so far refused; and the Aden Council of Ministers is at present considering the problem thus created.

While sharing the hon. Gentleman's regret at the death of the Chief Minister of Aden, may I ask whether the hon. Gentleman will direct his attention to the Question? Will he recall that he gave the House an assurance that elections postponed already for one year in Aden would definitely take place before the end of this year? Is he prepared to honour that assurance to the House?

I hope so. The local difficulty, and the problem to which I drew attention in my original Answer, had arisen subsequent to my statement. It obviously raises a doubt whether in practice the date set for the Constitution can be complied with precisely. I must be frank and tell the House that there is this physical difficulty.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this is an extremely unsatisfactory reply? Is he aware that this matter has now been before us for some years? Is he not prepared to take action from this country to get something done about this?

I do not think that there is any action one can take. This is a purely physical difficulty. Time is needed to revise the franchise. The different political parties, for reasons which I gave, have not discussed together in what way the franchise can be altered. Until that is done and until various ways of revising it can be put in hand, I do not think that there is anything I can do from here to implement the matter.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons are now detained or imprisoned in Aden for political offences; and what offences they have committed.

None, Sir.

Does this mean that no prisoners who deem themselves to be political prisoners are in detention at present? On the latter part of the Question, can the hon. Gentleman say whether any advocacy of union between the South Arabian Federation and the Yemen is an offence?

I do not know what these people think about their own status. I merely say that there are no such people whom we consider, and the Government of Aden consider, as guilty of political offences. As far as I know, there is no reason why someone should not say that he is in favour of joining the Yemen.

Can the hon. Gentleman say how many people are in prison in Aden for going on strike, for holding meetings, publishing newspapers or doing other things which are normally regarded as legitimate political activities outside Aden?

Fifteen people, among them three women, due for release on 10th July, are in prison for the sort of offence which the hon. Member mentions—taking part in illegal processions, unlawful assembly, and rioting.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what information he has about progress made towards Brunei's entry into the Malaysian Federation.

As the hon. Member will know, the Malaysia Agreement was signed last night without Brunei.

Could the hon. Gentleman give us a little more information? Does this mean that Brunei is permanently out of the Federation? Does it mean that Brunei can come in at any time? Does it mean that negotiations are still proceeding? Could the hon. Gentleman give a little more information about the possibility of Brunei coming into the Federation in the way originally anticipated?

The advice of Her Majesty's Government to the Sultan has always been that it is in the best interests of Brunei to join. That advice still stands. I cannot speak for the Sultan as to his intentions, but there is no reason to suppose that the negotiations cannot be resumed.

rose—

On a point of order. Yesterday an Agreement was signed between the Prime Minister of Singapore, the Prime Minister of Malaya, and Sarawak and North Borneo. That agreement has just been reported to the House of Commons in a few phrases. Ought not the House of Commons which is responsible for this matter to have a full statement from the Minister at the end of Questions today?

That is not a point of order for me.

Is my hon. Friend aware that both sides of the House have welcomed this new agreement and congratulate Tunku Abdul Raman on his statesmanlike ability in arranging this with our Government?

I thank my hon. Friend very much indeed.

Can the Under-Secretary say whether a statement will be made about the successful conclusion of these talks and whether and when legislation will be introduced?

I am sure that my right hon. Friend would have liked to have made a statement today. He has been engaged on this problem night and day for the past four or five days. I am sure that his inclination would have been to make a statement, but straight from these negotiations he went off early this morning to British Guiana and therefore he could not make one. These Territories do not fall within my responsibilities and therefore I was not present at these discussions on Malaysia. Possibly it would be better for the House to await my right hon. Friend's return than to accept a third-hand statement from me which would not be really satisfactory.

rose—

We really must get on.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why Mr. Michael Harmel has been declared a prohibited immigrant in Bechuanaland.

Mr. Michael Harmel was declared a prohibited immigrant under Section 8, paragraph (1), subsection (i), of the Immigration Proclamation on the grounds that he is a person whose presence in the Territory is deemed by the Resident Commissioner, on the advice of his Executive Council, to be or likely to be prejudicial to the peace, order and good government of the Territory or of the people living therein.

Was Mr. Harmel at any time told the actual reasons why he would be declared a prohibited immigrant, was he given any chance to make reply, or is this procedure wholly arbitrary?

He was told what conditions he must observe if he wished to stay in Bechuanaland, and he did not wish to observe them.

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that Mr. Harmel was given a temporary residence permit despite the fact that he had not been willing to sign these conditions, that the permit was not due to expire until 31st July, and that since then quite arbitrarily it has been cancelled, with no reason given and without his having in any way violated the conditions of it? What has happened? What is this man supposed to have done to warrant this change of action?

It was withdrawn because of the advice the Resident Commissioner received from his Executive Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what estimate he made of the number of properties likely to be purchased in Kenya under the recently announced plan to provide up to £700,000 for the assistance of those who have compassionate or security grounds for leaving Kenya.

About 100 properties are likely to be purchased, in addition to the 63 cases which have already been dealt with under earlier arrangements.

I appreciate the help which this £700,000 will give, but can my hon. Friend say who will administer the scheme, and will he do what he can to see that these cases are dealt with before Kenya becomes independent?

We are pushing on with it as fast as possible. The Government of Kenya will be responsible for dealing with these cases as part of their land settlement programme.

Will the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that this compensation will be given to those who helped to build up the country of Kenya, not to those who left this country after the war to avoid paying taxes to develop the Welfare State?

A very good question.

It is not really a very good question. I should explain that this particular sum of £700,000 is being put on one side specially to help those who are very old or infirm or who live in very remote properties and are therefore exposed to special security risks. This is a special scheme for that category of people and is not part of any general scheme.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what progress is being made in the study of methods of weather-proof building, with a view to saving unemployment during the winter when present-day building methods cannot be undertaken.

My right hon. Friend has appointed a technical committee to examine the problems of winter building and to report before the winter. It will examine techniques for dealing with these problems on the basis of existing knowledge and experience in this country and abroad. The committee has also been asked to advise on which matters further research is required.

Will the hon. Gentleman take steps to ensure that the report comes in good time so that we may cope with the building situation which must of necessity arise in the winter, particularly in view of the fact that a considerable amount of unemployment is created in consequence of it not being possible to proceed with the normal type of building?

The committee has been asked to produce its report as soon as possible, and it will be published.

Does the hon. Gentleman appreciate that something more than a saving of unemployment is involved in this? The building industry is not one of the best industries. It has an element of casual labour in it, and it is a very dirty industry. There may be something to be said for giving the people who work in this necessary industry rather more dignity than they have at present.

That is one of the points which my right hon. Friend has been emphasising in his speeches.

Will my hon. Friend draw the attention of local authorities to this report when it is published?

I will see that my hon. Friend's point is taken care of.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works why an extra £425,000 has been allowed in his Department's Estimates for 1963–64 for increase of staff.

When the Service Departments transferred to the Ministry of Public Building and Works the staffs directly engaged in works services, they were unable to transfer all the people concerned in supply services, accounting and other ancillary operations. The latter were occupied for only part of their time with works services. £452,000 was the estimated cost of filling the gaps left in the organisation.

Surely the point of amalgamation was to make more efficient use of staff and to make economies in staff. In that case, would it not have been better to have had a much smaller increase in the Ministry of Works and to use those people in the military Departments later rather than make them redundant?

I do not think any redundancy is involved in this. These are non-industrial staff. This is, in some ways, in the nature of a bookkeeping transaction because any economies will be shown in the Estimates of the Service Departments.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works why no evaluation of the economies to be effected by the merger with his Department of the Works Services of the War Departments was made before that merger took place.

Because the extent of the savings can only emerge as the new organisation is worked out in detail and the successive stages of it are introduced.

Was a proper survey made of the effects of the amalgamation on the military Departments? What sort of consultation did the Parliamentary Secretary have and what advice did he receive, for example, from the Chief Mechanical and Electrical Engineer, the Chief Quantity Surveyor and other heads of departments in the War Office organisation?

The details of the new organisation are still being worked out. We hope to make rapid progress on that, and my right hon. Friend intends to press on as fast as possible with the necessary consultations. The original proposal for the amalgamation was made much more from the point of view of the practical advantages which could be obtained from the merging of the various works organisations than from the point of view of direct economy.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that parcel post deliveries to and from Glasgow, even when additional payment is made for express delivery, are continuing to take from four to seven days, thus causing concern and loss of trade to business in Glasgow; and what steps he proposes to take as a matter of urgency to remedy this situation.

We are aware of, and very much regret, these delays. Action has been taken at Glasgow both at the post office and at the railway station which I hope will bring some improvement; and British Railways are working with us in a special drive to eliminate delays to these parcel mails while in transmit.

Will the hon. Gentleman say what is the nature of these steps, because the delays are still continuing? It is over three months since this matter was first drawn to his attention. Is he aware that business is lost to business houses in Glasgow through these admitted failures of the Post Offices? Will he take even more urgent steps than he appears to be taking at the moment to rectify the situation?

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his patience in this matter. We are taking steps to try to solve it. We have increased our staff in the Glasgow sorting office to make certain that we keep things moving there. With regard to the railways, a number of changes have been made in times of trains, and so on. We are definitely doing everything we can to speed up the solution of this problem because we can see that it is affecting the hon. Gentleman's constituents.

Despite the courtesy of the hon. Gentleman's reply, in order to ascertain what steps have been taken, I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment at an early date.

asked the Postmaster-General what representations he has received from Bristol and the West Country with regard to the delays in the transmission of parcels to the Midlands and the North; and what steps are being taken to eliminate these delays.

Representations have been made to us from time to time by a number of firms and individuals in Bristol and the West Country. Each complaint has been thoroughly investigated. Most of these delays occur while the mails are in transit, and with British Railways we are doing our best to improve matters. I can assure the hon. Member that we shall not let up.

Is it not a fact that the Chamber of Trade in Bristol has complained on several occasions about these delays? Since these complaints have been received, why has the hon. Gentleman allowed these delays to continue?

I have no information about official complaints being made by the Chamber of Trade. As I have said, we have had complaints and we are still receiving complaints on individual items, but the movement of parcels is a much wider problem throughout the country. We hope that the progress that we are making in the East Anglian experiment will enable us to extend this over other parts of the country so that we can have a more efficient parcel-handling service throughout the country.

Is my hon. Friend aware that he is still receiving many complaints from me on behalf of Weston-super-Mare? Will he incorporate Weston-super-Mare in any improvement which he gives to Bristol?

Is itnot clear from the persistent complaints which have been made that the rate of progress in the joint discussions between the British Transport Commission and the Post Office is not rapid enough? Some very serious principle must be decided upon, otherwise these complaints will continue.

Iagree completely with the hon. Gentleman that it is very much a matter of our being able to reach agreement with British Railways and of trying to come to an arrangement by which we can both do our part efficiently together rather than pull against one another. We are aming at that.