§ Mr. Gallacherasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can give information concerning the road building in the Khaisora Valley; what is the total length of the roads built in Waziristan during the past five years; what has been the cost to date of the road construction; have the roads a commercial or only a strategical importance; what further road building is contemplated in the North-West Frontier Province; and whether the Government realise that the frequent armed encounters with the inhabitants of the Khaisora is due to their opposition to what they regard as an invasion of their territory?
§ Mr. ButlerDuring the recent operations a road was constructed from Mir Ali in the Tochi Valley to the Khaisora Valley; I regret that I have not the detailed information required for an answer to the second and third parts of the question; the roads on the North-West Frontier are of value in facilitating trade and improving the economic condition of the tribesmen, and it is the policy of the Government of India to extend them in agreement with the tribes concerned when finances permit. As regards the last part of the question, the hon. Member is misinformed; the origin of the operations in the Khaisora Valley was described in answers given to questions on 30th November.