Sir Patrick Donner: asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) what financial aid Her Majesty's Government proposes to give to Cyprus to assist rehabilitation in view of the severe earthquake last month; (2) how many tents have been asked for by the Commissioner for the Paphos district, Cyprus, far people rendered homeless by the earthquake; and how many have now been delivered; (3) whether he will...
Sir Patrick Donner: While I welcome the Minister's expression of sympathy for the people who have suffered so much in this devastating earthquake, will he bear in mind that there are still thousands of people sleeping out in the cold at night in tents? Will he give an assurance that at least as much will be done for these people in this Colony as was done for the people of the Ionian Isles? Secondly, is he aware...
Sir Patrick Donner: asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will set up a small committee of persons with expert knowledge of African witchcraft and of tribal psychology to consider the profound influence of the Mau Mau oath upon Kikuyu mentality; and to make recommendations designed to weaken, or ridicule, the spell of fear which this oath imposes on Kikuyu.
Sir Patrick Donner: In view of the binding character of the oath in the minds even of Kikuyu who have been forced against their will to take it, will my right hon. Friend consider some alternative measure to lessen its effect if the proposal which I have made does not commend itself to him?
Sir Patrick Donner: Listening to the speeches from the Opposition benches this afternoon, it is difficult to remember that it was the Labour Government which twice increased the duty on petrol. The right hon. Member for Battersea, North (Mr. Jay), in moving the Amendment, charged the Conservative Party with inconsistency in proposing this additional duty when last year most of us spoke against the increase in...
Sir Patrick Donner: I was trying to keep within the Rules of order which you laid down, Mr. Hulbert. For once in my life, I find myself in agreement with the right hon. Member for Leeds, South (Mr. Gaitskell), when he said that it is very difficult to discuss this matter of economics without also impinging upon politics. I will do my best not to do so. I was saying that when we lost the oil of Abadan we also...
Sir Patrick Donner: I do not think that the hon. Member was listening very closely to what I said. My argument was that the increased Petrol Duty followed inevitably upon the loss of Abadan, but the hon. Member, by some form of mental gymnastics, denies the truth of that. He cannot deny that this increased Petrol Duty does help to pay for the increased social services which this Budget gives to our people.
Sir Patrick Donner: Can my hon. Friend say what proportion is requisitioned?
Sir Patrick Donner: On a point of order. We were listening to a speech by the Minister of Health. In 20 years' experience of this House, I cannot recall a previous occasion when a right hon. Gentleman has not only interrupted a Minister of the Crown but has proceeded to speak at length.
Sir Patrick Donner: asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how much has been spent on Greenham Common Aerodrome up to 26th October.
Sir Patrick Donner: asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether the nature of the sub-soil at Greenham Common Aerodrome enables it to be used by heavy bombers for which it was designed and built; and whether or not it is proposed to use this airfield for this particular purpose.
Sir Patrick Donner: Is it not a fact that when the decision was taken to build this airfield by the late Government, after a Cabinet discussion, not a single Minister insisted on an investigation to ascertain whether the site was suitable for this aerodrome—for the whole of it and not merely for a part of it?
Sir Patrick Donner: asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the new chief Foreign Office security officer to replace Mr. Askew, due to retire this month, has been either selected or appointed; and what steps he is proposing to take to improve upon existing security measures in the Foreign Service.
Sir Patrick Donner: In view of the fact that this officer was both efficient and conscientious, will the right hon. Gentleman revise the regulations which governed his work and also review the general security measures of the Foreign Office in order to allay public anxiety?
Sir Patrick Donner: Are the Government doing anything to assist these West Indians or to advise them in any way as to how best they can return to the West Indies?
Sir Patrick Donner: asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to which Colonies, Protectorates and/or Trusteeship Territories the £2,750,000 grant from the Economic Co-operation Administration's special reserve fund for overseas development will be allotted; and whether he will publish a detailed statement showing the specific purposes for which these grants from Marshall Aid funds will be made in each...
Sir Patrick Donner: Can the Minister say whether these grants are specially designed to supplement the British investment programme, or whether they are to be regarded as two wholly separate operations?
Sir Patrick Donner: Has the right hon. Gentleman in mind the desirability of making any difference between the ordinary company which desires to migrate to the Colonies and the purely mining company which is dealing with a wasting asset, and which therefore, quite naturally thinks that it ought not to be taxed like a company not operating wasting assets?
Sir Patrick Donner: Would the right hon. and learned Gentleman give an assurance that the 40,000 people concerned, particularly the unlucky inhabitants of Enborne Valley, will have an opportunity of making representations before any irrevocable decision is taken, since their lives and property are bound to be adversely affected if this proposal proceeds?
Sir Patrick Donner: asked the Minister of Defence what are the precise duties and functions of the Standing Group of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.