asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about the position in Aden.

The improvement in the security situation to which I referred in the House last week has been sustained, and there has been a reduction in the number of terrorist attacks. It remains our unaltered aim to bring South Arabia to independence not later than 1968. Meanwhile, as I informed hon. Members on the 28th October, the Federal Government has appointed two constitutional advisers of the widest experience to help it in its declared intention of going ahead as fast as possible with the liberalisation of the Federal Constitution.

'While noting the Government's intention to stick to the 1968 timetable, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman can estimate the time that the constitutional revisers will take to report?

I am much obliged to the hon. Member. They are, of course, working for the Federal Government. They are appointed by the Federal Government and will report to them. They have already begun their investigations and have paid a visit to the territory. I hope that the report to the Federal Government will be submitted very early in the new year.

Could the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether the Federal Government were consulted at all stages when the Constitution was suspended and security measures intensified? Have the measures taken been with their agreement?

Yes, the Federal Ministers are kept fully in contact with all our actions in the area and they were fully informed on that occasion.