asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the annual cost of wireless licences in Jamaica; how many licences were issued in 1946; and how this number compares with those issued in 1945 and 1944.

Mr. Creech Jones:

The cost of a wireless receiving licence in Jamaica is ten shillings a year. The number of such licences issued in 1946 was 7,218, compared with 6,725 in 1945, and 7,280 in 1944.

But is this not an extra-ordinarily small number in view of the fact that the population of Jamaica is over one million, and does not the right hon. Gentleman think that something ought to be done about improving the wireless service in Jamaica?

Mr. Creech Jones:

If the hon. Member read the reply I gave a week ago, he will know that experiments are being made and technical improvements are taking place, and the Government are very actively pushing on with improvements to the existing arrangements.