asked the Postmaster-General to state to the latest convenient date the number of applicants for the installation of telephones in the County Borough of West Ham; and the numbers that have been installed since August 1945.

On 30th September, 1948, there were 1,931 outstanding applications for telephone service in the County Borough of West Ham. Two thousand, five hundred and fifty-three subscribers have been connected in this area since August, 1945.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is still obligatory for the sender to sign his name and address on the reverse of a telegram; why this practice is maintained; why and when it was first originated; and if he will abolish it.

The sender is asked to give his name and address on the back of a telegram because this information is needed when there is difficulty in delivery or in case of query. For inland telegrams this requirement was made obligatory on security grounds on the outbreak of war in 1939, but it is no longer so. For foreign telegrams the practice has been in force for many years because of the importance of being able to refer back to the sender if the need arises and is still obligatory.

asked the Postmaster-General when the last wage increases for engineering grades in his Department took effect; and on what basis these awards were made.

The last increases took effect from 1st August, 1946. They were based on an agreement with the Post Office Engineering Union relating to a reorganisation of the work of Post Office engineering workmen.

asked the Postmaster-General on what date formal discussions took place between representatives of his Department and officials of the Post Office Engineering Union; and what assurance was given to the union officials on this date.

I presume my hon. Friend has in mind a discussion that took place on 26th April, 1948, when the union was informed that its claim for increased pay for certain staff would be considered as quickly as possible in the light of the White Paper (Cmd. 7321) on Personal Incomes, Costs and Prices. I may add that I recently received a deputation from the union for a personal discussion on this matter.

asked the Postmaster-General when the last wage increases were awarded for the stores grades in his Department; and what the amounts of these increases were.

The last increases were given under an agreement reached in September, 1947, and had effect from 1st January, 1947. The amounts varied with grade, age and length of service. The majority of the male grades received an immediate increase of 6s. a week and somewhat greater ultimate benefit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when it is proposed to pay to depositors in Palestine, and elsewhere, their holdings in Palestine 3 per cent. Defence Bonds, Savings Certificates and Savings Bank deposits which were guaranteed by His Majesty's Government.

None of the securities mentioned were guaranteed by His Majesty's Government; but under this year's Finance Act, Palestine 3 per cent. Defence Bonds and War Savings Certificates are to form part of the National Debt of the United Kingdom. The records of holdings have recently Men brought to this country and are now being examined. An announcement will be made explaining how these securities will be dealt with. The repayment of Palestine Savings Bank deposits out of the Savings Bank funds held by the Crown Agents for the Colonies is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Mr. R. Levy, K.C., was allowed right of audience in the so-called Israeli court; and whether the arrangements for the legal representation of Mr. Sylvester in his appeal include right of audience for British counsel.

Mr. Levy was not allowed a special licence to plead, but he was present in court throughout, and acted as adviser to the defence. The defence at the trial was led by Mr. Jacob Salomon, a well-known local barrister, who is also representing Mr. Sylvester at the appeal. He has had right of audience throughout.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether it is proposed to reinstate the London-to-Manchester passenger air service; and if not, the reasons therefor.

Over the 14 months in which this service was operated by British European Airways Corporation, the passenger demand was low and the service consequently lost money. My noble Friend cannot contemplate any addition to the Corporation's deficits at the present time, and he cannot therefore hold out prospects of the renewal of this service in the immediate future.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to recent legislation in the Argentine Congress and Senate affecting companies with large British capital; whether, in view of the visit of the Argentine Foreign Secretary and the coming visit of Senator Miranda, he is discussing this matter with them; and whether he can assure the House that he is taking all possible steps to protect British interests in these companies.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to recent Argentine legislation affecting the Buenos Aires Transport Corporation. Representations on this subject have already been made to the Argentine Government by His Majesty's Ambassador at Buenos Aires and my right hon. Friend also took advantage of the visit to this country of the Argentine Foreign Minister in order to emphasise the importance attached by His Majesty's Government to the payment of adequate compensation to the British shareholders of the Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how far there is unanimity of views with the Polish Government regarding the interpretation of the Anglo-Polish Agreement of Mutual Assistance of 25th August, 1939; what discussions have taken place with the Polish Government in this connection; to what extent Articles 4, 6 (1) and 6 (2) are fully operative; and what is now the agreed interpretation of the words, "European Power," in Article 1 (B) of the protocol.

No discussions regarding the interpretation of the Anglo-Polish Agreement of 25th August, 1939 or its application under Article 4 have taken place. No information of the kind referred to in Articles 6 (1) and 6 (2) has been communicated since the war by either party to the other, hut there is now an obligation on both parties as members of the United Nations to register international agreements concluded by them with that organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many strikes there were in Malaya in the period of six months immediately prior to the armed attacks; and how many trade unions were under Communist influence.

During the six months from December to May, 1948, there were 140 strikes in the Federation of Malaya. It is reported that probably 130 of the 335 trade unions come under Communist influence, while there is some doubt in respect of 70 others.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the services provided by the British Information Office in Nairobi are being used by newspapers in Kenya.

The only service provided for Kenya newspapers by the Regional Information Office at Nairobi comprises the relaying of the London Press Service transmitted by the Central Office of Information. During September, 1948, ten Kenya newspapers used 1,004 inches of that service. A similar service is provided by this Office for newspapers in Northern Rhodesia, Tanganyika, Uganda, Nyasaland, Somaliland and Portuguese East Africa, whose usage in September amounted to 1,690 inches.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the minimum wages rates for men and women employed on land in the Seychelles have been increased since 1938; what are the present rates; what was the price of coconuts per thousand in 1938; and what is the present price.

Yes. The rate for men has been increased from an average of eight rupees per month to a minimum wage of 16 rupees per month; that for women from an average of 3½ rupees per month to a minimum wage of eight rupees per month. The minimum wage is based on a nominal 5½ hour working day. It is usual for men to earn at least 24 rupees per month. The average price of coconuts in 1938 was 12 rupees per thousand; at the present time it is 53 rupees.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government in the Seychelles is taking steps to secure a better distribution of the agricultural population.

Yes. The Government of Seychelles has been engaged since 1943 in plans for the resettlement of agricultural labour on specially selected sites. With the assistance of a grant of £9,100 under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act, a scheme involving the settlement of some 300 persons and their families was started in 1945, and details of a further scheme for the construction of four village settlements to accommodate 400 persons at a total cost of £21,300, necessitating a further grant under the Act, are now being examined.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many trade unions there are in the Seychelles; and whether the Government welcomes the formation of such organisations.

According to the most recent information at my disposal, no trade union has so far been formed. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the affirmative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what steps his Department have taken to reconstitute the Royal Naval Reserve.

Ratings who were in the Royal Naval Reserve prior to September, 1939, have been given the opportunity of re-enrolling in the Reserve, and officers who held permanent commissions in the Royal Naval Reserve before September, 1939, are still regarded as forming part of the Reserve. As I explained in reply to hon. Members on 3rd November, no new enrolments can be made in the Reserve until it has been possible to resolve the difficulties connected with its reconstitution.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why it has been decided that in the future there is to be no medical examination of candidates for the Sea Cadet Corps.

These medical examinations were considered unnecessary. The decision to discontinue them brings the Sea Cadet Corps into line in this respect with the Army Cadet Force and the Air Training Corps.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many officers and ratings are at the present time engaged in maintaining a continuous guard on the Motor Vessel "Torous" lying in Portsmouth Harbour; and whether he will state the cost of the maintenance of the guard and give the reasons for it being instituted and maintained.

None. A guard consisting of one officer and two ratings was maintained on board the vessel continuously from 9th August to 13th October, 1948, under Section 692 of the Merchant Shipping Act of 1894, to enforce a detention order made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport. The pay of the guard for the period amounted to about £600 and their victualling to about £110, but these sums would have been disbursed in any case and the additional cost of maintaining the guard was negligible.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many contracts for ships building for

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what animals it is intended to use for experimental purposes on the vessels which are now being fitted out to experiment with atomic and other similar methods of

None.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will furnish figures showing, as at 30th September, 1948, the numbers of men and women employed in the Royal Dockyard at Portsmouth, distinguishing between established and non-established personnel; and whether he will state the intakes and discharges for the six months from 28th March, 1948.

The numbers employed on 30th September, 1948, together with entries and discharges during the period 28th March to 30th September. 1948, are as follow:warfare; and whether he will give an assurance that any animals to be used for this purpose will have to suffer no cruelty

It is not in the public interest to give details of experimental work which may be carried out to meet defence requirements. In so far as animals may at any time be involved in such experimental work, the safeguards of the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, would be applied.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will make a statement with regard to the vessels which are now being equipped to carry out certain experiments with atomic and other new weapons; what animals, and how many of them, are being used in this connection; is he satisfied that their participation is essential; and what steps will be taken to prevent undue cruelty.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Epping (Mrs. Manning).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, and to what extent, his regulations permit naval personnel to avail themselves of the facilities provided by the National Health Service.

Naval officers and ratings are entitled to free treatment by the Naval Medical Service or by Admiralty surgeons and agents under regulations which were already in force on 5th July last. They would not, therefore, make use of the National Health Service except where arrangements might be made for the Health Service to provide treatment on behalf of the Admiralty. Families of naval officers and ratings are, of course, entitled to the full range of benefits provided by the National Health Service.

asked the Minister of Pensions, with reference to the recent naval disaster at Plymouth, what compensation is paid by His Majesty's Government to the dependants of men who lost their lives when the royal naval launch was sunk.

I presume the hon. and gallant Member has in mind the recent disaster off Portland. The deaths resulting from the sinking of the naval launch are regarded as due to service and pension will be payable under the conditions applicable to death due to war service.

asked the Secretary of State for War to state the charges against the three German field-marshals who have been detained in close confinement in Germany for more than three months.

It is not possible to frame the detailed charges until all the evidence has been sifted and many thousands of documents analysed. On 29th August the officers were informed in writing of the broad nature of the charges which might be laid against them. It is hoped that it will be possible to give particulars of more specific charges in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the memorandum prepared by the U.S. authorities on the probable guilt of the German field-marshals now detained at Hamburg has yet been handed to them for their examination.

No. It is not proposed to hand it to them. This memorandum deals with some only of the allegations which will be made against the officers and also contains matters which will not be the subject of trial. It is not, therefore, a document which should be given to the accused, quite apart from the fact that there has not yet been an opportunity to check and substantiate the whole of its contents.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement on the results of the recent recruiting week for the R.A.F. conducted in the City of Nottingham.

The most important achievement of the Nottingham Recruiting Week was to bring to the attention of the people of the city the opportunities in the Royal Air Force today. The outcome is not only to be measured in the 300 inquiries received by recruiting officers in Nottingham since the week opened, but also in the long-term effect which we cannot gauge at present, when the young people of Nottingham consider their future. My hon. Friend will recall that in opening the campaign I emphasised the opportunities for schoolboys to become cadets and apprentices at Cranwell and Halton. I am sure that the information we gave them on the cadet, apprentice, aircrew and ground trade careers and openings for men and women and on life in the Royal Air Force will be well in their minds. The Nottingham week was well worth while and we are most grateful to the civic authorities and the newspapers for the great assistance and encouragement we received.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what are the minimum requirements which must be satisfied to qualify as a main haulier when submitting tenders to the Chief Contracts Officer of his Department for the haulage of opencast coal in the North-Western Region.

Specific requirements were not laid down in the advertisements inviting competitive tenders for the haulage of opencast coal, but tenderers were required to show that they had an adequate organisation and controlled sufficient vehicles to enable them to undertake the work.

asked the Minister of Supply whether it was with his knowledge and consent that representatives of the U.S.S.R. inspected the production of jet aircraft engines; when such inspections took place; how many jet aircraft engines have been dispatched to the U.S.S.R. and when; and whether further deliveries are contemplated.

Under contracts with the U.S.S.R. 55 gas turbine engines were sent to that country between December, 1946, and January, 1948. In accordance with normal procedure, two Russian inspectors were authorised to check the final assembly, testing and packing of these engines during the period March to October, 1947. These contracts have now been fulfilled and no further deliveries are contemplated.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of land girls employed during 1946, 1947 and the latest available date; and what is the average wage received by them.

The average number of W.L.A. members employed during 1946 and 1947 was 31,640 and 25,340 respectively. The number employed on 18th October last was 20,970. Land Army members are entitled to the minimum rates of pay appropriate to their age laid down by the Agricultural Wages Board for women agricultural workers generally. For women of 21 and over, this is 68s. per week of 48 hours. No statistical information is available as to the average wage received by W.L.A. members, but numbers of them receive more than the minimum rate.

asked the Minister of Education why he refused the application of a young woman, whose case had been submitted to him, for the new category of teaching posts open only to women between the ages of 21 and 35 years because, though otherwise eligible, she had not had the war service necessary; and whether he will review this decision.

The Emergency Teacher Training Scheme is not open to all women between the ages of 21 and 35, but only to those who have been engaged for at least a year, beginning not later than 15th August, 1945, in some form of national service, including most forms of civilian employment. The candidate to whom the hon. Member refers did not take up such service but entered a two-year Training College and failed to complete the course satisfactorily. I see no reason to review the decision in her case.

asked the Minister of Health what was the amount of public money spent each year since 1944 on research into the causes, cure and prevention of rheumatism and its allied diseases.

I regret that this information is not available since although research is extensive, expenditure is not separable from the expenditure incurred on the clinical treatment of patients.