asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many members of the United States Federal Communications Commission are stationed in Cyprus; what is the nature of their employment there; who is responsible for their maintenance; and when are they expected to leave the island.

No members of the United States Federal Communications Commission are stationed in Cyprus.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how much of the cost of the Jewish detainee camps in Cyprus was defrayed by the former Palestine Government; and whether the remainder of the cost will be recovered from Palestine assets held in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what account will the £850,000 estimated expenditure during 1948–49 on the Jewish detainee camps in Cyprus be charged.

All expenditure for the Jewish detainee camps in Cyprus up to 31st March, 1948, amounting to £4,335,000, has been met by the former Palestine Government. Expenditure after 14th May, 1948, will form part of the deficit on account of the Government of Palestine and will be dealt with in the financial settlement to be negotiated with the appropriate successor authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the increase of fatal incidents and the danger of a breakdown in the Malayan economy due to failure to suppress the new wave of insurgent activity.

I cannot accept the implications of the hon. Member's question and I would refer to the reply I gave on 26th January to the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight (Sir P. Macdonald). Murders of civilians by terrorists fell from an average of 48 a month during the period June-December to 31 in January, 1949. The production of rubber has been maintained and that of tin increased, thanks largely to the loyalty and courage of those concerned and to the confidence which they and others have shown in the future of the territory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement concerning the burning of the village of Batang Kali, North Malaya, by British troops, stating how many houses were burned, how many people were rendered homeless, what aid was rendered to them, and why this measure was taken.

I have no record of any such incident at Batang Kali.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that despite the severe strain imposed upon them by present conditions, the planters and miners and other workers in the rubber and tin industries in Malaya have been able to maintain and even increase output during recent months; and what steps he proposes to take to improve the present conditions under which they are living and working.

Yes. His Majesty's Government are deeply appreciative of the steadfastness of the planters, miners and other workers in Malaya in the face of difficulty and danger. The High Commissioner, who is responsible for taking the measures necessary to safeguard life and property, is, I know, making every effort to restore conditions under which all classes in Malaya can carry on their work with confidence and security.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has considered the report of the meeting of the Joint East and Central African Board regarding the reduction in the number of African students coming to this country to study, sent to him by the hon. Member for West Fife, and if he will make a statement.

I consider that the views expressed in the report referred to by the hon. Member are based on incomplete information. I am not aware of any proposal to reduce numbers of African students who need to come to this country to obtain higher qualifications.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to encourage rice-growing in Trinidad, especially in the Caroni area, where this crop was grown as a war-time expedient.

A committee is being appointed by the Governor to study the possibilities of large-scale rice planting in Trinidad. I will inform my hon. Friend of the terms of reference of the committee as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what training for technical grades in the mining and building industries and in the railway service will be given in the three projected junior trade schools in Northern Rhodesia.

Training will be given at first in carpentry, building and thatching as building artisans are urgently required throughout Northern Rhodesia including the railway and mining industries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that many of the British Broadcasting Corporation talks re-transmitted by the Hong Kong radio are most unsuitable for Chinese listeners; that an undue percentage of them consist of recordings from the Third Programme; and what arrangements are in force for consulting public opinion in Hong Kong regarding the nature of these British Broadcasting Corporation recordings.

I am consulting the Governor of Hong Kong on the points raised by the hon. Member and will communicate with him as soon as I have received the Governor's reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Government of Mauritius imported a large stock of pulses to the value of about 400,000 rupees; that these supplies have proved unsaleable because they are unfit for human consumption; and what loss does the Government expect to make on the transaction.

Between March/July, 1948, 985 tons of dhall, which is in demand by the Indo-Mauritian population, were ordered by the Government of Mauritius. Soon after its arrival a large quantity of yellow split peas was imported by the trade and sold at a lower price. Consequently, the dhall sold slowly, but not because it was unfit—;indeed, a recent inspection of what is left shows it as fit for human consumption. The Government of Mauritius has now reduced the price. The subsidy will amount to Rs.150,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in what Colonies any form of compulsory civil, industrial or military service has operated since 1913.

This Question entails much research, I will ask Colonial Governments for the information and will communicate in due course with the hon. Member when the replies have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will take action to expedite the delivery of hospital equipment in Nigeria.

Everything possible is being done to avoid delay in the supply of this equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any decision has yet been reached respecting any unspent surplus of grants available for 10 years' development in Nigeria.

I assume that my hon. Friend refers to grants available under the Colonial Development and Welfare Vote. The rate of expenditure of Nigeria's allocation from this source, as of the allocation made to other Colonial territories, is being continuously watched, but I would point out that little more than a quarter of the period covered by the Nigerian 10-year development plan has yet elapsed.

asked the Minister of Food to what extent bullocks, heifers and cow heifers respectively are bought on his behalf in the Dublin market; and how the prices for such cow heifers in that market compare with the prices paid for cow heifers purchased on his behalf in the British Isles.

Cattle are not bought in Dublin market on my behalf: they are exported by Eire shippers and purchased on arrival here at specified slaughterhouses. The prices we pay are approximately the same as we pay for Eire bred stores fattened for more than two months in this country and are about 1d. per 1b. less than for home-bred animals.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the large number of hotels and restaurants charging over the maximum prices allowed, he will cause to have fixed in every such establishment a public notice conspicuously displayed indicating the maximum price allowed during all hours that it is open to the public.

Hotels and restaurants are already required to bring any permitted variation from the normal 5s. maximum price for a meal to the notice of their customers. So far as the 5s. maximum for a meal is concerned, this is so well known that no special notice is now required. I cannot agree with my hon. Friend that a large number of establishments are charging over the maximum prices allowed.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the persistent demand for a sub-food office in the Royal Burgh of Renfrew; and if he will take steps to meet that demand in the near future.

I am satisfied that reasonable facilities are available and that the additional trained staff for a sub-office open all the year round would not be justified. A centre will be provided for the forthcoming issue of ration books. There is already a welfare food distribution centre at Renfrew.

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the difficulties that will arise from the suggested partial de-rationing of sugar confectionery, he will give further consideration to the possibility of taking all sweets off the ration.

Discussions with the industry are still proceeding and cover every possibility in connection with the de-rationing of sweets. We hope to be able to make a statement very shortly.

asked the Minister of Food what additional rations are granted to inshore fishermen working their own boats within the three-mile limit.

The extra allowances of rationed food granted to inshore fishermen vary according to the time normally spent afloat and are dependent on the availability of shore catering facilities. Crews of fishing boats are collectively eligible for an allowance on the industrial canteen scale when they are continuously fishing for periods of more than eight hours per day, without access to catering facilities, and individual fishermen in similar circumstances are eligible for the grant of the special cheese ration. If inshore fishermen habitually spend the greater part of their time, both day and night, afloat they are eligible for an individual scale of rations comparable with those given to articled seamen.

asked the Minister of Food what additional rations are granted to Thames pier workers.

No additional rations are granted to Thames pier workers, as such, but they may be eligible for the special rations granted to various categories of marine workers who spend the greater part of their time afloat in circumstances which preclude access to catering facilities.

asked the Minister of Food to what extent it is proposed to spend Marshall Aid dollars Off protein feedingstuffs during 1949 and 1950.

It is not proposed to spend any Marshall dollars on such imports.

asked the Minister of Food whether he can give the number of registrations for Kosher meat each year from 1941.

Exact statistics of registrations for Kosher meat are not available but the number at present is estimated to be about 260,000.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what are the release dates for men serving overseas in the R.N.V.R. whose entry dates were January, February and March, 1947.

As my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Labour and National Service announced in the revised programme of releases on 18th January, those whose entry dates were January, February and March, 1947, will be released in April, May and June respectively this year. Those serving overseas will be sent home in time for release on the due date.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the dates of entries to Dartmouth Naval College under A.F.O. 656/48 since the new scheme's inception; how many cadets were accepted with each entry; how many of these were listed for Executive, Engineering and Supply Branches respectively; what is the rate of application; what is the proportion of rejections; what were the main reasons for rejection; and whether he is satisfied with the progress and success of the scheme.

Entries to Dartmouth under the new scheme were made in September, 1948, and in January of this year. I give below the further information required about these entries and about the number of candidates for the entry in May next. As regards the

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will call for a report on the damage to certain foreshores in South Ronaldshay, Orkney, which appears to be a direct consequence of the erection of the barrier across Water Sound.

The attention of the Admiralty had not previously been drawn to any complaints of damage to foreshores in South Ronaldshay. An early report has been called for and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the proposed navalisation of the Directorate of Electrical Engineering will involve the employment of a greater number of electrical engineers by the Admiralty than under the present system in which civilians are employed; and whether he is satisfied that under the present conditions when highly skilled professional labour is very scarce it will be possible to obtain the necessary staff for this purpose without adversely affecting the economic position of the country. last part of the Question, the scheme is, still in its infancy and the Admiralty has no reason to feel dissatisfied with its progress so far.

The navalisation of the Electrical Engineering Department will be a very gradual process. I cannot agree that it will necessarily lead to any increase in the number of electrical engineers employed by the Admiralty, nor that replacement of civilians by naval officers will have any adverse effect on the country's economic position.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why, in view of the position of the Directorate of Electrical Engineering as a civilian department of long standing, he has now rejected the offer of the organisation representing the professional men in that department to discuss with him the economic and efficiency aspects of the decision to reorganise that department on strictly naval lines.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I made to the hon. Member for Southend-on-Sea (Mr. Channon) on 15th December last.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will make a statement regarding the discovery of damage in H.M.S. "Terrible" on the eve of her transfer to the Royal Australian Navy.

On 9th December, 1948, damage was discovered to the starboard main gearing of H.M.A.S. "Sydney," then H.M.S. "Terrible," which was still under construction in Devonport Dockyard. The ship was about to be handed over to the Australian Government as H.M.A.S. "Sydney" and transfer took place as arranged on 16th December. In accordance with the normal practice on discovery of damage, the Commander-in-Chief immediately ordered a Board of Inquiry, which carefully investigated the incident and the report of which is now being studied in the Admiralty.The ship was under dockyard control and the machinery which had been installed by the main machinery contractors had not been finally accepted. In such circumstances, a number of persons who must necessarily have access to machinery would, despite all appropriate security precautions, be in a position to commit sabotage if they had a motive for doing so. Exhaustive inquiries have so far failed to reveal any direct connection between the damage and persons who may have had a possible motive for sabotage. Nevertheless, the nature of the damage points to sabotage and the case as not regarded as closed. The damage was fortunately slight and has been made good.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the issuing of wireless licences to cover six-monthly periods, as there are many who feel that the present cost for 12 months is beyond their means.

No. I would not feel justified in recommending to this House a system which would involve a large increase in expenditure both in money and manpower and which would add to the pressure on Post Office counters. The Post Office already provides facilities for saving by means of 6d. and 2s. 6d. saving stamps and listeners can, if they wish, save up the money for their licences in this way.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the size and qualifications of the Organisation and Methods team appointed at the end of 1947 to make a full-scale inquiry into the Post Office Savings Bank; what proportion of their time has been devoted to this work; why it has taken over a year to make a preliminary investigation; and whether he proposes strengthening the team in order to bring the investigations to a speedy conclusion.

The investigating body consists of eight members, four being members of the Treasury Organisation and Methods staff, two members of the Post Office Headquarters Organisation and Methods staff and two, including the Secretary, senior officers of the Post Office Savings Bank. Four members are occupied entirely on the work and the others devote a substantial part of their time to it. The preliminary stage of the investigation comprised a complete examination and charting of the present system and procedure, as well as the collection of statistical and other material, to enable the members to reach conclusions on the efficiency of the present organisation and to assist them in the formulation of schemes for reorganisation. In view of the size and complexity of the system I do not think the time occupied is unreasonable and I do not think that it would be of advantage to increase the size of the team.

asked the Postmaster-General why, in view of the changes made in the system of the clearing banks, there has been no substantial change during the last 20 years in the main system, including organisation and methods, operated by the Post Office Savings Bank; and what recommendations have been made on the need for such change.

I would remind my hon. Friend that the Post Office Savings Bank introduced in 1927 a mechanised system which was, I think I can claim, the most up-to-date system then devisable. Changes in organisation have, of course, taken place but it is by no means clear that the mechanised system can be improved upon. It is precisely because we wish to keep abreast of the times that an Organisation and Methods investigation is now being carried out.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that numerous letters posted in Rawalpindi for delivery by air mail in England are not received; and what steps he is taking to ensure the safe delivery of His Majesty's mails.

I have received a complaint about the non-receipt of air mail letters posted in Rawalpindi. Inquiries are proceeding. I will advise the hon. Member of the result as soon as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General how many air mail services a week run to Hong Kong; what is the average time between posting in the United Kingdom and delivery in Hong Kong; and to what extent the fast service of Pan American Airways is used for air mails.

There are two direct air mail services weekly to Hong Kong and two additional despatches a week are made by overtaking air services; the four air services in question are operated by B.O.A.C. Assuming delivery in Hong Kong on the day after arrival the minimum interval between despatch and delivery should be six days. The Pan American Airways service is not used for the conveyance of United Kingdom mails for Hong Kong.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement on the intentions of His Majesty's Government in regard to the extension of the television services throughout the country, specifying the areas where it is contemplated that key stations shall be set up, and including details regarding re-transmission sub-stations.

A television station is being erected at Sutton Cold-field and it is probable that the next station will serve South Lancashire and a substantial part of Yorkshire. It is hoped that further stations will be provided in Scotland, the South West including South Wales, and the North East of England to serve other main centres of population.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the value of the orders placed for equipment for the television service by his Department and the B.B.C. in 1948; and the value of the orders which it is estimated will be placed during 1949.

In 1948 the value of orders for television service equipment placed by my Department was roughly £120,000 and by the B.B.C. was about £207,000. It is too early to state the value of the orders which will be placed in 1949.

asked the Postmaster-General when he anticipates that work will begin on the installation of a telephone kiosk in the Royal Park district of Bexley, authority for which had already been given in June, 1948.

This kiosk is expected to be ready for service in about four weeks' time.

asked the Postmaster-General in view of the increasing installations of automatic telephone systems, what steps he is taking to enable totally blind subscribers to use the automatic dial.

When it is known that an automatic telephone, to be provided for a subscriber, will be used by a blind person, arrangements are made to mark the edge of the dial fingerplate by small file cuts against the numbers four and seven. This device was adopted many years ago on the suggestion of the hon. Member for Lonsdale (Sir I. Fraser).

asked the Postmaster-General when the telephone which was first applied for on 17th March, 1941, for Mr. J. Brewin, of 29, Bocking Lane. Beauchief, Sheffield, will be installed.

There is no trace of any application for a telephone by Mr. Brewin before the 5th November, 1945. At that time, service could not be provided as there were no spare lines in his locality. The necessary line and equipment have recently become available, but owing to pressure of essential work in the Sheffield area, including permanent repairs following the recent heavy storm, I regret that it will be some months before we shall be able to provide Mr. Brewin with service.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that delay on the part of his Department is causing applicants for re-enlistment in the R.A.F. to withdraw their applications; and whether he will take steps to ensure that the process of considering applications for re-enlistment by former members of the R.A.F. is speeded up.

I do not think that the length of time taken in dealing with applications for re-enlistment in the R.A.F. has led to many withdrawals. Entrants to ground trades are normally given an offer of service within two weeks of applying. The period is normally about eight weeks in the case of aircrew, as the process of selection involves a number of stages which cannot be curtailed. The entrant has also to be fitted into a training course at the point appropriate to his particular needs. Nevertheless, the importance of keeping these waiting periods to a minimum is fully appreciated and the processes involved are under close watch.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the present methods of marking high ground for the prevention of flying accidents: and whether he will consider the reintroduction of radio beacons for this purpose.

I am grateful to the hon. and gallant Member for his suggestion but I am advised, as is my noble Friend the Minister of Civil Aviation, that the reintroduction of radio beacons would be of limited value for either service or civil aircraft. It is considered that careful briefing of aircrews and a high standard of navigation are at present the most, effective means of avoiding high ground.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what action he has taken to bring to an end the withdrawal of normal leave facilities for Royal Air Force personnel stationed at Leconfield Royal Air Force station, East Yorkshire.

Normal leave facilities for R.A.F. personnel stationed at Leconfield were not withdrawn by the commanding officer. Weekend passes for 48 hours or less were, however, withheld by the commanding officer following the removal of a number of official notices from notice boards. Pass privileges have now been restored. Although a large measure of discretion must be vested in the officer who has the task of maintaining discipline at a station, the Air Council deprecate in general the collective withdrawal of privileges where individual responsibility for an offence cannot be fixed.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many retired Post Office officers are receiving pensions at the present time; and if it is his intention to increase these to correspond to the increased cost of living and to abolish the means test now imposed.

On 1st February, 53,701 retired Post Office officers were receiving pensions; in 50,368 of these cases, these pensions have been increased under the Pensions (Increase) Acts, 1944 and 1947. I can hold out no hope of further legislation. The means test applied in a proportion of these cases is designed to ensure that the increase is only given in the more necessitous cases and has been laid down by this House in the statutes.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1) how many Treasury clerical officers in the Customs and Excise Department with over 15 years established service have not yet been interviewed for promotion;(2) how many officers in the Statistical Office of over 15 years established service have not yet been interviewed for promotion.

The number of Treasury clerical officers in the Customs and Excise Department with over 15 years' established service who have not yet been interviewed for promotion in the normal line to higher clerical officer is 128. Of these 38 are employed in the Statistical Office. Other opportunities of promotion have arisen from time to time for which these clerical officers were included in the field.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the increasing fear among pitwood merchants and woodland owners that the market in this country for home-produced pit props is likely to decline still further owing to the inclination of the sole buyer, the National Coal Board, to buy imported props without regard to home production; and whether he will consult with the other appropriate Departments to ensure that all home-produced pit props can be absorbed at fair prices, thereby saving much foreign currency and helping British forestry.

As I explained to the hon. Member in my reply of 25th January, our constant object is to encourage the home production of pitwood with due regard to considerations of forestry. The Board of Trade is in close touch with other Departments and the National Coal Board about ways and means of ensuring that as large a proportion as possible of our pitwood needs comes from home sources.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what fraction of the mining timber, both sawn and in the round used in this country during 1948 was home grown; and how the price paid for this compared with the price paid for imported timber of similar types.

About a quarter of out total consumption of all mining timber came from home sources during 1948. Controlled prices have remained constant during 1948, and in this connection I would refer the hon. Member to the reply to his Question on 2nd November 1948.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now announce the composition of the Working Party which he is appointing to examine ways and means of reducing costs of film production.

The members of the Working Party will be as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the high price demanded for ordinary kitchen swabs; and whether he will reduce the 66⅔ per cent. Purchase Tax upon articles so essential to cleanliness in the kitchen.

The hon. Member will not expect me to anticipate my right hon. and learned Friend's Budget Statement; but I must point out that the increase in the price of kitchen swabs, as of other articles, is not wholly attributable to the Purchase Tax.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total number of patients who have been instructed by the Birmingham National Health Executive to change their registered medical practitioners.

Approximately 5,000.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many regular officers resigned or retired in 1947 and 1948, respectively; how many others applied to resign; how many have resigned or retired in 1949; how many others have applied to resign, and if he will circulate a table showing separate figures for each arm and branch of the Service and give particulars of numbers in each rank.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 8th February, 1949; Vol. 461, c. 188] supplied the following information:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the unauthorised shooting of swans to be used for food; and whether he is prepared to take steps to make this an offence.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Eastern Surrey (Mr. Astor) on 7th February.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, as commercial production and sale overseas of the Medresco hearing aid has been effected, as details submitted to him demonstrate, he will now reply to the Question by the hon. Member for London University on 23rd September, 1948, and state what payment is being made by the contractors for the commercial use of the design and development work paid for out of public funds.

The specification and design details of the Medresco hearing aid have been published and may be used by any manufacturer without charge. The registered name "Medresco" may not be used without Government permission; but the sets exported by the manufacturer referred to in the Question will not bear this name.

asked the Minister of Health in which districts accommodations have been registered for the purposes of Regulation 68CB of the Defence (General) Regulations, 1939; and the numbers of such registrations in each of such districts.

I regret that this information is not available.