asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the fact that first-line manned aircraft such as the Lightning fighter and the Vulcan and Victor bombers are obsolescent, he will name the prototypes of aircraft intended as their replacements; and how their respective development trials are progressing.

The premise of the Question is mistaken. The present mark of the Lightning is an up-to-date and effective interceptor. A new mark, which will represent a considerable advance and will carry the new air-to-air guided missile Red Top, is being developed. The mark 2 versions of the Vulcan and the Victor have only recently entered service. With the progressive developments we plan in equipment and in the means of warhead delivery they will remain formidable weapons systems for a long time to come.

asked the Lord Privy Seal when and where the international Commission of Inquiry into the "Red Crusader" incident will sit; what witnesses will be examined and what other evidence will be adduced; whether counsel will be allowed to appear on behalf of the interested parties; and what notice of the time and place of the sitting will be given to the parties involved.

The Commission will sit in The Hague, where its first meeting was held on 21st November. Its work will begin immediately with the study of memorials to be submitted by Her Majesty's Government and the Danish Government. These will be followed by counter-memorials and by an oral hearing. Both Governments have the right to call witnesses to give evidence before the Commission. Her Majesty's Government, whose case before the Commission is being prepared in close consultation with the Crusader Fishing Company of Aberdeen, will be repre- sented before the Commission by counsel led by my right hon. and learned Friend, the Attorney-General. The proceedings of the Commission will be held in private.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he can now make a further statement about membership of the Commission for the New Towns.

I have now appointed, as members of the Commission, Mrs. B. F. R. Paterson, J.P., and Mr. J. M. A. Smith. Mrs. Paterson is a Hertfordshire County Alderman, Chairman of the County Health Committee and a member of the North-East Regional Hospital Board. Mr. Smith is Director of Finance and Assistant Managing Director of the Ford Motor Company.These appointments bring the membership of the Commission, including the Chairman, Sir Duncan Anderson, to six in all.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will take steps to extend the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act, 1960, to cover the operation of administrative tribunals.

No. This is a matter which is better dealt with in the rules of procedure for each tribunal, where it is not provided for by Statute.

asked the Minister of Aviation how the development trials of the TSR2 strike-aircraft are progressing.

As I explained in reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Govan (Mr. Rankin) on 5th June, 1961, I do not think that periodic statements on projects of this kind serve any useful purpose.

asked the Prime Minister what action he proposes to take in the United Nations in the light of the recent communication he has received from President Tshombe of Katanga.

In his speeches to the Security Council on 17th and 21st November, our permanent delegate to the United Nations repeated that the policy of Her Majesty's Government is to see a united Congo. We consequently hope that Mr. Tshombe will enter into negotiations with the Central Government, as the constitutional structure for the Congo can only be worked out by the Congolese themselves. As our delegate said, we believe that the proper task for the United Nations is conciliation and pacification.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total annual cost of first-class rail travel for members of the Civil Service; how many persons are entitled to first-class fares; and what would be the saving if half of them travelled second class.

Expenditure on first-class rail travel is not readily identifiable in Departmental records, and an Answer to the first and the last parts of the Question would involve a disproportionate amount of work. Entitlement to first-class rail travel is granted to staff in grades above a certain level; it is estimated that the proportion of non-industrial civil servants so entitled is about one in twenty.