asked the Secretary of State for Air if it is with his authority that the Royal Air Force recruiing staff have been carrying out a recruiting campaign in employment exchanges.

The Royal Air Force does not carry out any special recruiting campaign in employment exchanges.Exchanges do, however, provide information about careers in the Services and facilities for interviews between our Careers Information Officers and those who have expressed an interest in Air Force service.I welcome these arrangements, which are of long standing.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is satisfied with the welfare arrangements provided for the airmen stationed at Kuwait; and whether he will make a statement.

Where Employed		Clerical Officer (Secretary)		Shorthand Typist		Machine Operator
		1.5.59	1.5.61	1.5.59	1.5.61	1.5.59	1.5.61
Air Ministry	…	73	76	174	149	35	36
Outstations	…	83	91	542	554	530	586
Locally Engaged Overseas	…	—	1	142	155	31	39
TOTALS	…	156	168	858	858	596	661

asked the Secretary of State for Air under what conditions private firms are allowed to sell foodstuffs and other goods in the Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus.

The policy governing the establishment of commercial enterprises in the Sovereign Base Areas is set out at Appendix "O" to the Treaty of Establishment (Command 1093).Firms wishing to trade in the Sovereign Base Areas must obtain business licences from the areas administration. These licences are granted only if there is a

Yes.The Royal Air Force in Kuwait is living in rough but adequate accommodation on the new civil airport. In general the arrangements are as satisfactory as we can expect to make them and morale is good. The Kuwait Oil Company has, from the beginning provided very welcome hospitality. Malcolm Clubs opened a canteen on the airfield at the beginning of last week. N.A.A.F.I. is providing supplies and is itself operating two canteens and a rest camp. The Royal Air Force Cinema Corporation has sent out projectors and films. I am grateful to the hon. Member for giving me this opportunity to express our thanks to all these organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many personal secretaries, shorthand typists and machine operators were employed in his Department in May, 1959, and May, 1961.

The numbers of civilian staff in these categories are as follows:military requirement for the services offered or, otherwise, in consultation with the Republican authorities. Within the military cantonments the Service authorities have a right of control and their practice is to agree to private trading if they consider there is a need for it.

asked the Secretary of State for Air, in view of the fact that Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes have the privilege of selling duty-free liquor in the sovereign base areas in Cyprus, why local firms are not allowed to sell liquor on which duty has been paid.

As in other parts of the world, the military authorities reserve the right to control the sale of liquor within military cantonments. However duty-paid liquor is sold at a number of establishments operated by local firms in the Sovereign Base Areas.

asked the Minister of Defence what plans are being made to make the ground-to-air Thunderbird missile available to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; what its production has cost to date; and what was the original estimate.

Thunderbird missiles have been on offer to our N.A.T.O. allies for the past three years, for procurement either from Britain or from local manufacture: so far those other N.A.T.O. countries with a requirement for a weapon in this class have adopted the American Hawk missile.It would not be in the public interest to give the cost of production of Thunderbird.

asked the Minister of Defence what arms have been supplied to South Africa since it became a Republic; and if he will give an assurance that no further arms will be supplied until the results of his present discussions on future defence relations with South Africa have been laid before the House.

It has been the practice of successive Governments not to disclose information about arms supplied to other countries. I am not prepared to give any assurance about the supply of arms to South Africa.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he proposes to take as a result of the Jack Committee Report; and if be will make a statement.

I have nothing at present to add to the replies given to the hon. Members for Carmarthen (Lady Megan Lloyd George) and Anglesey (Mr. C. Hughes) on 28th June.

asked the Minister of Transport bow many personal secretaries, typists and machine operators were employed in his Department in May, 1959, and May, 1961.

The figures are:

—	Employed in Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation at 1st May, 1959	Employed in Ministry of Transport at 1st May, 1961
Personal Secretaries	116	95
Typists	567	394
Machine Operators	40	22
TOTAL	723	511

The figures for 1st May, 1959, include 30 personal secretaries, 185 typists and 8 machine operators who were transferred to the Ministry of Aviation on the transfer of Civil Aviation to that Ministry in October, 1959.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish figures showing how many persons applied for driving tests in Lanarkshire during each of the last five years; how many passed; and how many passed after the first, second, third, fourth or subsequent examinations.

During the twelve months ending 13th July, 1961, 42,208 driving tests were conducted at centres in Lanarkshire, including Glasgow; 19,675 persons passed the test. No records are maintained which would show how many candidates passed the test at a first or subsequent attempt.Information for Lanarkshire alone relating to earlier years is no longer available.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has for encouraging the provision of parking harbours where pavements are wide, similar to those in Berlin, so that extra parking space can be provided without the flow of traffic being impeded.

This is already done in some places, but there is not much scope for it. Where bays can reasonably be cut into pavements on busy streets in this country the space is normally better used by vehicles loading and unloading or picking up and setting down passengers. But highway authorities are free to provide parking space in this way where circumstances permit.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will establish in London a central control for traffic lights, similar to that in Paris, which permanently records the flow of traffic to enable hour to hour alterations of the timing of the traffic lights to be made; and what he estimates would be the cost of this.

No. The vehicle-actuated signals we now install adjust themselves much more quickly to the flow of traffic. They can be coordinated with one another, as is the case in the Tottenham Court Road-Gower Street area. With the Road Research Laboratory I am investigating the possibility of other forms of area control in order to achieve even better results.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement regarding the present position of the Chester ring road southern section scheme; and when work on this new bypass will commence.

A number of objections have been lodged against the draft order proposing the route for this section of the ring road. We hope to be able to announce a decision on these later this year. Much preparatory work, however, still remains to be done and I can- not yet say when it will be possible to make funds available for the construction of the road.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made with the plans for an improved road system at Redbridge Junction, Southampton; and when he expects work to begin.

The Hampshire County Council has completed a broad design for this junction. This shows that Statutory Orders will be necessary. Before these can be published detailed plans must be prepared.I cannot say when work will start.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the outcome of the experimental Piccadilly Circus one-way system.

A considerable volume of data has been obtained, and until this has been evaluated I am not in a position to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now make a statement on the progress being made with plans for the proposed Leominster by-pass.

The Herefordshire County Council, as our Agent Authority, is now carrying out a preliminary survey with a view to establishing the line of a trunk road by-pass of Leominster.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will allocate a small proportion of parkng meter spaces in London specifically for the use of practising doctors.

No. Local authorities, in consultation with the British Medical Association, have already made reasonable provision for doctors' parking in metered zones.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the number of road accidents and casualties between the junction with the Parkway at Cranford and the eastern end of the Colnbrook by-pass for the first six months of this year; and what were the comparative figures for the same period in 1960.

Between 1st January and 30th June, 1961, there were 53 accidents resulting in 66 casualties; in the same period in 1960 there were 42 accidents and 53 casualties.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state the number of pedestrian subways completed this year at the latest convenient date, and the total number now under construction.

Twenty-seven pedestrian subways were completed on highways in England and Wales in the first six months of 1961. The number now under construction is 66.

asked the Minister of Transport why he has not included in the County of Dorset any authorisation of classified road schemes of over £100,000 grant value for the periods 1961–62, 1962–63 and 1963–64; and whether he will reconsider this decision.

I have been able to include in the first three year programme only those schemes which command the highest priority throughout the country having regard to the urgent need to alleviate congestion in our cities. I regret that it was not possible to include all the schemes submitted. I hope to announce the programme for 1964–65 later this year.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that severe traffic congestion occurred in the St. John's Wood area, N.W.8, between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Thursday, 20th July, causing people to be unexpectedly late for business, owing to minor road works in Park Road, N.W.1; and if he will ascertain the object of the works and whether they could have been deferred until after the morning peak hour.

The works in question were connected with the installation of a Central Electricity Generating Board power cable. The programme of work agreed in accordance with the Public Utilities Street Works Act, 1950, between the Board's contractors and the St. Marylebone Borough Council who are the highway authority was considered by the Metropolitan Police to be satisfactory. It did not require my approval.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now state when a commencement will be made with the construction of the proposed new Victoria Tube to north-east London.

:In view of the difficult economic situation described by my right hon. Friend yesterday it has been decided to defer a decision on this project.

asked the Minister of Transport if the total capital expenditure required to modernise and electrify the main lines between Manchester and Crewe, Liverpool and Crewe, and Crewe and Euston has now been authorised.

As I announced in the debate on the nationalised transport undertakings on January 30th, 1961, (HANSARD, col. 627) the Government have given general approval to this scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport what capital expenditure he has authorised to increase the acceleration of goods traffic from North Staffordshire; and whether it is intended to modernise the Stoke to Madeley line so that goods traffic can be carried via Crewe.

I have authorised the re-modelling of the marshalling yard at Crewe (Basford Hall) at a total cost of £280,000. In association with this scheme a new line to link the Stoke-Market Drayton line with the Stafford-Crewe line at Madeley will, it is hoped, be in operation by the end of this year.

asked the Minister of Transport what capital expenditure he intends to authorise for a new station at Stoke-on-Trent; and when he expects to give his authorisation.

I have nothing to add to the Answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Dr. Stross) on 1st February, 1961.

asked the Minister of Transport what provision was made, in the scheme to which he gave capital sanction, for expenditure on the Peter House office, the Sun Light House offices, and other offices in Manchester, respectively; and how many Manchester offices are included in the scheme altogether.

I am informed by the British Transport Commission that the London Midland Region undertook certain office works in the Manchester area, for which my approval was not required, as part of its scheme for decentralising traffic organisation.

asked the Minister of Transport on what date he gave capital sanction for the construction of the new Stoke railway goods centre; and what applications he has had for capital sanction to extend the new centre or to build another.

The British Transport Commission informs me that this project was authorised by it on 18th December, 1958. At that date individual projects were not submitted to me for approval. I have received no applications for authority to extend this railway goods centre or to build another.

asked the Minister of Transport what capital sanction he gave for the demolition of Stafford Station.

The decision to demolish Stafford Station was taken at a time when it did not require my sanction.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the poor quality of television reception in the Helensburgh area; and what remedy is proposed to rectify this.

Yes. The B.B.C. tells my right hon. Friend that it will be considering whether anything can be done to improve television reception in the Helensburgh area when it plans later stages of its satellite station scheme.The I.T.A. too, knows that reception is difficult in Helensburgh and will bear its needs in mind in future planning.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that letters posted in London on Friday by the country post to the Macclesfield area are often late and not delivered until Monday morning; and if he will take steps to improve this delivery.

My right hon. Friend very much regrets that some letters posted in London on Friday evenings and which should have been delivered in Macclesfield next morning have on occasions been delayed in delivery because the bags containing them were not unloaded at the night station. Steps have been taken to prevent a repetition of this.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that letters posted in the Macclesfield area in the morning do not always arrive in London S.W.1 area by the first post next day; and if he will take steps to improve this delivery.

Letters for London, S.W.1, posted in the Macclesfield area in the morning should be delivered by first post next weekday. The hon. and gallant Member has been good enough to send me details of some letters which ought to have received this service but which did not do so. I am making inquiries into his complaint and will write to him as soon as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General when he expects to announce his decision on the introduction of a Giro system in the Post Office.

My right hon. Friend regrets that he cannot add to the Answer given to the hon. Member on 14th June.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is proposing to take to improve the first postal delivery in the West End, so that it reaches offices and residences at or before 8.30 a.m. instead of 9.30 a.m. or after.

My right hon. Friend regrets that because of staff shortage the first delivery of letters in certain parts of the West End has not been completed until after 9 a.m., which is the time by which we aim to complete delivery in the London area. Every effort is being made to keep the delivery to time, but to complete it by 8.30 a.m., would involve prohibitive cost.

asked the Postmaster-General how many subscribers for private telephones situated more than three miles away from the nearest telephone exchange pay yearly rentals of more than £10, £20, £30, and £40, respectively; how many such subscribers there are in Great Britain as a whole and in Scotland and in the Highlands and Islands, respectively; and what are the total yearly rentals collected by the Post Office from these subscribers in each of these areas.

My right hon. Friend is sorry that the detailed figures asked for are not available centrally: for Great Britain as a whole about 3,000 subscribers have been paying, in total, excess rental of about £45,000 a year. But as my hon. Friend will know from the statement my right hon. Friend made to the House on 24th July last, the extra rentals previously paid by subscribers more than three miles from a telephone exchange have been abolished from today.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the continued dissatisfaction of members of the public who are refused telephone connections in Lichfield and district and that there is frustration among persons who are being encouraged under overspill and other planning schemes to reside in this area; and, in view of the fact that plant and cable shortages have been continuing for many years past, what plans he proposes to alleviate this problem.

My right hon. Friend is sorry that he cannot at present meet telephone needs in Lichfield more quickly, but he is doing all he can to improve the position with the resources available. The relief exchange has been slightly delayed but it will be opened next month and it will then be possible to meet about ninety of the outstanding orders. Additional cables are also being laid.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give a date for the reopening of the Government training centre at Felling; and, specifically, when the four proposed engineering classes will be started.

The centre will re-open in the first half of September, at which date the four proposed engineering classes will start.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the industrial accident figures, overall, to the latest convenient date; how recent figures for industrial accidents compare with the upward curve in 1958–59; and whether he will make a detailed statement on the position.

The latest available figures relate to the first quarter of this year in which 48,461 accidents were reported, this representing a fall of 1,750 compared with the first quarter of 1960. In that quarter there had been a rise of some 8,500 compared with the first quarter of 1959 and of some 5,500 compared with the first quarter of 1958.While the fall in the first quarter of this year is satisfactory it would be unwise to make assumptions about the general trend from one quarter's figures. Particulars relating to the second quarter of this year will be published in the Ministry of Labour Gazette next month.An article on the problems of interpreting trends in the statistics of indus-

—			May, 1959		May, 1961
			Full-time	Part-time	Full-time	Part-time
Personal Secretaries	…	…	103	—	101	—
Typists, including shorthand-typists	…	…	1,153	130	1,106	138
Machine operators	…	…	92	7	96	6
TOTAL	…	…	1,348	137	1,303	144

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty, how many personal secretaries, typists and machine operators were employed in his Department in May, 1959, and May, 1961.

It is not possible to give precise information for the particular dates mentioned. Estimated figures are:

—	1st May, 1959	1st May, 1961
Personal secretaries	192	189
Typists, including shorthand typists	1,681	1,635
Machine operators	450	493

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if, when allocating the new naval construction programme, he will bear in mind that no strike has taken place in Her Majesty's Dockyard, Portsmouth, in this century.

Certainly, but I would draw attention to the replies I gave to the hon. and gallant Member on 19th July.

asked the Minister of Labour how many personal secretaries, typists and machine operators were employed in his Department in May, 1959, and May, 1961.

The following table gives the figures asked for:

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will itemise in the OFFICIAL REPORT the pay of officers serving on Her Majesty's Yacht "Britannia".

The officer complement of Her Majesty's Yacht "Britannia" is:

• 1 flag officer.
• 3 commanders.
• 1 surgeon commander.
• 2 commanders or lieutenant commanders.
• 4 lieutenant commanders or lieutenants.
• 1 lieutenant commander (S.D.), or lieutenant (S.D.).
• 1 lieutenant.
• 5 lieutenants (S.D.).
• 3 sub lieutenants.
• 1 lieutenant (S.D.), R.M.

This number of officers is reduced by six whilst in harbour.2. Rates of pay are published in the Appendix to the Navy List, a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what is the current complement of the Royal Yacht "Britannia"; and whether, in the interests of the national economy, he will consider as a matter of urgency the appointment of an officer below the rank of flag officer to command the ship.

The complement whilst Her Majesty's Yacht "Britannia" is at sea is 22 officers and 257 ratings and other ranks. It is less in harbour.The Royal Yacht has ranked as a flag officer's command since the first world war for reasons which are just as pertinent today.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quantities and values of British beef have been sold in France and Belgium during 1961 to the latest convenient date; and to what extent such sales rank for the usual subsidies.

No separate figures are available for beef. The exports of fresh, chilled or frozen meat, including offal, during January-June, 1961, to France were 644 tons valued at £118,500 and to Belgium 607 tons valued at £103,600. It is not possible to say to what extent this meat was procured from animals which qualified for subsidy.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies, arising out of the withdrawal of British troops from the Southern Cameroons on 1st October, what action Her Majesty's Government is taking to help the Southern Cameroons Government to set up a security force of their own.

Arrangements for security after 1st October will be a matter for the successor authorities and are among the subjects to be discussed at the further meeting between the Southern Cameroons, the Cameroun Republic and Her Majesty's Government in Yaounde next week.

asked the Minister of Education what was the number of vacant places in grammar schools in Somerset at the latest convenient date.

I understand that the Somerset local education authority pro- vides a grammar school place for every pupil who qualifies in its selection arrangements. The number of pupils qualifying may vary from year to year and individual schools may take different numbers of pupils according both to the total numbers qualifying and to the preferences of parents for particular schools.

asked the Minister of Health what annual quantities of concentrated orange juice are involved in the current negotiations with West Indies citrus growers; and how these figures compare with the annual quantities purchased by him in 1958, 1959 and 1960 from the same source.

One thousand tons, with a prospect of a further quantity later in the year. Purchases from the same sources in 1958, 1959 and 1960 were 1,318, 1,844 and 2,126 tons respectively.

asked the Minister of Health how his negotiations with the pharmaceutical industry about the cost of its products are progressing; and what other measures he has in mind for encouraging economical prescribing.

I cannot yet add anything to what I said in the debate on 11th July.

asked the Minister of Health what travel concessions are provided for relatives of patients in the special hospitals to visit them, and with what frequency; what is the annual cost to public funds; and if he will consider extending these concessions.

Under arrangements with the British Transport Commission, relatives can get return tickets for one and a half times the single fare whenever they are visiting a patient. No cost to Exchequer funds is involved. In addition the National Assistance Board can meet the travelling expenses of near relatives who are receiving a regular assistance grant; information as to the cost is not available. No extension of these arrangements is under consideration.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what grants or loans, and for what amount, have been made to foreign countries during the years 1959, 1960 and 1961 to date; and what grants or loans are projected during the current financial year.

Grants and loans to foreign countries are made from the Foreign Office Grants and Services Vote and, in addition, loans to foreign countries are made under Section III of the Export Guarantees Act (1949) as since amended.Part I of the table below shows expenditure on grants and loans under the Foreign Office Grants and Services Vote in the financial years 1958–59 and 1959–60, and the estimated provisions in the years 1960–61 and 1961–62. The esti-

I. FOREIGN OFFICE GRANTS AND SERVICES VOTE
—			1958–59 (actual)	1959–60 (actual)	1960–61 (estimated)	1961–62 (estimated)
Jordan (Grant in Aid)	…	…	1,502,570	2,542,511	2,500,000	2,850,000
Jordan (Loans)	…	…	630,000	500,000	500,000	500,000
Libya (Grant in Aid)	…	…	3,250,000	3,250,000	3,250,000	3,250,000
Yugoslavia (Grant in Aid)	…	…	60,054	88,022	100,600	63,900
Sultanate of Muscat and Oman (Grant in Aid)			366,340	711,770	947,000	1,058,750
Turkey (Loan)	…	…	2,129,492	480,000	—	—
Turkey: O.E.E.C. Economic Aid (Loan)		…	2,681,250	893,750	—	—
Assistance to the Trucial States	…	…	64,323	72,715	100,000	100,000
Somali Republic (Grants in Aid)	…	…	—	—	1,200,000	1,450,000
Nepal: Economic Aid	…	…	—	—	160,000	230,000
Laos: Economic Aid	…	…	—	—	81,000	75,000
Gift of Aircraft to Mali, Payment to Ministry of Aviation	…	…	—	—	—	80,000
Brazil (Loan)	…	…	—	—	—	1,200,000

II. LOANS UNDER SECTION III OF THE EXPORT GUARANTEES ACT
—						1958–59 (actual)	1959–60 (actual)	1960–61 (estimated)	1961–62 (estimated)
Iran	…	…	…	…	…	1,705,000	60,000	—	1st quarter
Sudan	…	…	…	…	…	—	2,440,000	1,660,000	—
Yugoslavia	…	…	…	…	…	—	1,065,000	1,630,000	55,000

asked the Lord Privy Seal what action he has taken in furtherance of Resolution (61) 9 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which invited member Governments to

A company, to be called The European Cultural Fund (U.K.), limited by guarantee, is in course of incorporation, the object of which will be to pay contributions from various sources in the United Kingdom to the Cultural Fund of the Council of Europe and the European Cultural Foundation. The question whether this company will be entitled to tax relief as a charitable body under existing legislation is at present being considered by the Charity Commission. Until this has been settled, no further action is possible.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many personal secretaries, typists and machine operators were employed in the Foreign Office in May, 1959, and May, 1961.

The figures are:

Staff employed in Foreign Office	May, 1959	May, 1961
Personal Secretaries	60	64
Typists, including shorthand typists	189	185
Machine operators	4	4

asked the Lord Privy Seal what action has been taken in furtherance of Recommendation 251 of the Council of Europe on European cooperation in space research and space technology.

Events since its adoption in September, 1960, have overtaken much of Recommendation 251.Firstly, eleven European countries, including the United Kingdom, agreed at Meyrin on 1st December, 1960 (Cmnd. 1425), to set up a Preparatory Commission to study the possibilities of European collaboration in space research. This commission started work some time ago and is making satisfactory progress. Its report, which may lead to the establishment of a permanent organisation, is expected before the end of the year.Secondly, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Aviation told the House on 6th February that a conference convened by the Governments of the United Kingdom and France had just concluded at Strasbourg. The object of this conference was to consider the ideas of the two Governments for the development, through co-operation between European States, of space launchers for peaceful purposes. As to progress in this matter, I have nothing at present to add to my right hon. Friend's replies of 10th and 18th July.The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe reported to the Consultative Assembly in March of this year that the formation of the European Space Research Organisation Preparatory Commission had set at rest the anxieties expressed by the Assembly in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Recommendation 251. On the remainder, the Committee of Ministers reported that it intended to keep in touch with the European Space Research Organisation Preparatory Commission. This it is doing.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the ordering of ships for the shipping services to the North Isles of Orkney.

I have placed an order for a passenger-cargo ship with Messrs. Hall, Russell of Aberdeen. The ship is to be 150 ft. in length with a service speed of 12 knots and accommodation for 160 passengers under normal service conditions and 100 cattle. I expect the ship to be ready in about ten months. The ordering of a second vessel is still under consideration.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) how many of the weekly allowances paid by the National Assistance Board in June, 1960, to men over 65 years and women over 60 years included discretionary additions; and what was the average amount of such additions;

Information of this kind is available only on the basis of an annual sample taken towards the end of each year. The latest figures, those for December, 1960, are 752,000 and an average of 7s. 5d.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will indicate the total of British investment in India for the years 1955 to 1961, giving separate details of direct and portfolio investments.

Total private investment in India amounted to £5 million in 1958 and £8 million in 1959. Within these totals direct investment—excluding investment by the oil and insurance industries—accounted for £6 million and £10 million. Other private capital movements—including portfolio investment—showed a net disinvestment of £1 million in 1958 and £2 million in 1959. Comparable figures are not available for earlier years and figures for individual countries for 1960 and 1961 are not yet ready.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the total of direct investment by British companies in the European Economic Community, specifying the separate totals for every member country.

Direct investment—other than investment by the oil and insurance industries—by British companies in the European Economic Community in 1959, the latest year for which detailed information is available, totalled £15·6 million. The totals for separate countries are as follows:

Investment in:			£ million
Western Germany	…	…	6·5
Belgium	…	…	4·5
France	…	…	3·4
Italy	…	…	1·8
Disinvestment in:
Netherlands	…	…	0·2
Luxembourg	…	…	0·4

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the total of direct investments by companies in member States of the European Economic Community in the United Kingdom, giving details of the amount invested by industry.

Direct investment—other than investment by the oil and insurance industries—by companies in member States of the European Economic Community in the United Kingdom for 1959, the latest year for which information is available, totalled £7.7 million. The totals for separate industries are as follows:

Investment in:	£ million
Vehicles and Shipbuilding	1·4
Other manufacturing	8·1
Distribution	2·0
Disinvestment in Other Industries	3·8

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will indicate the total of British investment in Pakistan for the years 1955 to 1961, giving separate details of direct and portfolio investments.

Total private investment in Pakistan amounted to about £1 million in 1958 and £2 million in 1959. Direct investment—excluding investment by the oil and insurance industries—accounted for about half the total in 1958 and virtually the whole amount in 1959. Comparable figures are not available for earlier years and figures for individual countries for 1960 and 1961 are not yet ready.

asked the Secretary of State for War when he expects to complete his inquiries into the case of 23237377 Sergeant W. Atkinson, Military Provost Staff Corps, particulars of which were sent to him by the hon. Member for Chester-le-Street, on 21st March, 1961.

I am sorry that it has not been possible to give the hon. Member an answer before. My inquiries have taken rather longer than I had hoped, but my hon. Friend will be writing to the hon. Member in the next few days.