Mr Thomas Cook: I would direct my appeal to the Financial Secretary, since I understand that he is dealing in the main with this matter. I hope that he will listen to the blandishments of his right hon. Friend the Member for Torquay (Mr. C. Williams). On the last Amendment, the Chancellor gave the figures of the incidence of this tax as 20 per cent. on dogs and 20 per cent. on football. On cinemas, it is 40...
Mr Thomas Cook: I am very grateful to the hon. Gentleman. My information was that there was a tendency to fall. I hope I did not exaggerate. I am glad the hon. Gentleman has given an assurance that that is not so, but I assure him that I have information to the contrary.
Mr Thomas Cook: Is the Minister aware that, while it is true that this dispute has been going on for 25 years, there is now a very grave danger of the issue spreading to an area much wider than Dundee and Glasgow; and will he take steps to see that that does not happen?
Mr Thomas Cook: I hope that the Minister will endeavour to get as much jute as possible. It is a vital commodity, not only for our re-armament programme, but also for the export trade. I am pleased to see that jute figures largely in the Estimates. I was rather surprised at the point made by the hon. Member for Bury and Radcliffe (Mr. W. Fletcher), who questioned, by inference, whether we had bought at the...
Mr Thomas Cook: I am unable at present to add to what I said on the subject during the debate on the West Indies on 11th July.
Mr Thomas Cook: Because local governments have to be consulted in the matter.
Mr Thomas Cook: When any British colonial territory becomes self-governing, the nature of the steps which it may be desirable or appropriate to take to protect United Kingdom investments, including those of the Colonial Development Corporation, in that territory will depend on the circumstances at that time.
Mr Thomas Cook: There is another Question on that point on the Order Paper.
Mr Thomas Cook: Visits are made by officers of my Department and my right hon. Friend is in frequent consultation with the British Council about the running of the hostels for which they are responsible.
Mr Thomas Cook: If my hon. Friend will send me particulars of the case to which he refers, I am quite prepared to look at it.
Mr Thomas Cook: The Report of the Committee has been received by the Government of Jamaica, which has authorised its release for local publication as soon as copies have been laid on the Table in the Jamaican Legislature.
Mr Thomas Cook: It is not intended to look at this in the Executive Council until a final report is received from Soil Mechanics, Ltd., who have been carrying out experiments.
Mr Thomas Cook: The call-up is for police and civilian service, not for military service. Steps are being taken against persons who fail to attend medical boards and disobey orders of direction. No visa or permit is required to leave Malaya, but those leaving to avoid call-up are not, in any case, likely to become desirable citizens. No alien leaving Malaya to avoid call-up will be permitted to return.
Mr Thomas Cook: The figures for new citizenship are quite staggering, and we are handling them as rapidly as we can.
Mr Thomas Cook: We are watching this very carefully indeed.
Mr Thomas Cook: I should require notice of that question.
Mr Thomas Cook: The Emergency (Civilian Injuries Compensation) Regulations, 1949, under which theseex-gratiaawards are made were based on the recommendations of a committee containing representatives of the interests involved, and the High Commissioner does not consider that a review of the present scheme is necessary.
Mr Thomas Cook: No, Sir. We are in constant consultation with the High Commissioner on this issue. It must not be assumed that this is the only method of payment made, because many European civilians are employed as auxiliary police and allowances are made in case of injury.
Mr Thomas Cook: These are additional provisions made by the planters.
Mr Thomas Cook: The Uganda Government are preparing proposals for the re-organisation of the industry. These will be published for discussion locally before they are implemented. I am not in a position to make a statement at present.