asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many employees in His Majesty's Dockyard, Portsmouth, earn £4 15s. or less per week.

Five hundred and four workpeople at Portsmouth Dockyard receive a regular weekly wage of £4 15s. or less. Overtime, work on payment by results and allowances for exceptional working conditions bring the weekly earnings of about 56 per cent. of this number to more than £4 15s. Juveniles and women are excluded from these figures.

Does the Minister consider that £4 15s. is an adequate wage, bearing in mind that the lowest paid agricultural worker gets £5 a week?

Up to the recent wage increase in the ship-building and engineering industries this wage was more or less the same as that paid by private industry, but in any case the trade unions are now considering the question of wage increases.

Can my hon. Friend say when the present negotiations for increases are likely to be concluded, in view of the natural anxiety of dockyard employees?

An offer of increased pay has been made to the trade union side of the S.T.J.C., and we are now awaiting a decision from the trade union side.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the unskilled workers in His Majesty's dockyards were the lowest paid unskilled workers in the country during the years the Tories were in power?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1) in view of our present defence commitments, how far the number of fleet destroyers being converted to fast antisubmarine frigates has been increased;

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he has any further statement to make on the new construction programme.

I regret I am not yet in a position to make a statement about these matters, but I hope that it will be possible to do so soon.

I apologise if my supplementary is a little long. In view of the effect of this matter on our allies, and particularly the United States of America, may I ask the hon. Gentleman, with all the seriousness at my command, whether a statement will be made in the very near future, possibly before certain decisions which may well be taken with the United States, perhaps in a week's time? May we expect a statement in the next few days?

The hon. Gentleman had an answer on that point from the Lord President yesterday. As far as the Navy is concerned, as the House knows, a number of orders for additional ships have already been placed. I am not yet in a position to give a full picture.

Does the hon. Gentleman mean that he himself will make a further statement on the Navy, or will it be included in the one which we are expecting any day now from the Minister of Defence?

That question had better be addressed to those who decide those matters.

In any case, will not a full picture be at the disposal of the House when we discuss the Navy Estimates?

Certainly, by the time they come along I should hope to be in a position to give the whole story.

Could the Minister say why he is not in a position to give the whole story now? Is it because he has not got the information, or is it because Government policy precludes him from giving it?

It is because there is a very long-term programme under consideration. No one can complain that the Admiralty have not been extremely forthright in the way in which they have dealt with their share of the programme.

As we all know that additions will have to be made to the present construction programme, could not the Parliamentary Secretary at least say that urgent negotiations and discussions are now taking place with a view to settling an increased programme?

I should have thought that was implicit in what was said yesterday by the Lord President of the Council.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what steps are being taken to standardise anti-aircraft gunnery equipment between the United States Navy and our own.

There is a full exchange of information on anti-aircraft gunnery equipment between the Royal Navy and the United States Navy, and all possible steps are being taken to standardise new equipment.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that certain classes of modern British destroyers, such as the Battle class, are fitted with U.S.A. gunnery equipment? The position is, therefore, that proper standardisation—[HON. MEMBERS:"Speech."] Will the hon. Gentleman tell us what steps are being taken to avoid any difficulties, because—

This is going beyond the limits of a supplementary question. I wish supplementaries could he shorter.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary tell us whether any steps are being taken in connection with American gunnery equipment now fitted in our ships? [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer."] I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible opportunity.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what types of aircraft now in service in the Fleet Air Arm were designed expressly for the Royal Navy.

The Barracuda, the Firebrand, the Firefly, the Sea Otter and the Sturgeon.

Does not the Parliamentary Secretary agree that there is the possibility of a certain lack of zeal in his Department in trying to get original designs of aircraft for the Navy, as opposed to modifying extensively aircraft which are redundant or not required or are not good enough for the Royal Air Force?

No, Sir. New types coming in are designed for naval purposes.

All of them?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what progress is being made in the development of a standard technique and practice of deck landing in British and American aircraft carriers.

Complete standardisation has been achieved between the Royal Navy and the United States Navy in this matter.

In view of the considerable disparity of landing-on rates and accident rates under this technique between British and American carriers, can the Parliamentary Secretary give an assurance that any modifications needed for the standardisation to be made a success in this country will be done by modifications of aircraft rather than of technique?

Standardisation was achieved some time ago. The process has been going on for a very long time.

Are we standardising the American system rather than our own?

It is standardisation by mutual agreement.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware of a shortage of personnel for manning the Home Fleet; and what steps he is taking to remedy existing deficiencies.

There is no general shortage of men in the Home Fleet, but we need more senior ratings in certain branches. The remedies now being taken for this are acceleration of the training and advancement of younger men, the granting of a bounty of £100 to men who re-engage to complete time for pension, and the re-entry of experienced men.

Is it not true that personnel were taken from the Home Fleet to reinforce the complements of ships in the Far East, particularly near Korea?

Yes, Sir, that is the normal process. When ships in the Far East needed strengthening men were taken from the Home Fleet for that purpose.

Is it not a fact that one of the major obstacles to the adequate manning of the Fleet is the fact that there has been no efficient revision of the pensions structure?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if his attention has been drawn to the criticisms made by the magistrates concerning the security arrangements at Chatham Dockyard; and what steps he has taken to meet the points referred to in such criticisms.

Yes, Sir. The arrangements in force are being reviewed once more in order to see what further safeguards would be justified, having regard to the cost in money and manpower of additional controls.

Having regard to the incident on which these particular criticisms were based, and to other incidents of a rather disturbing character, may we have the assurance that special vigilance will be shown in this matter?

Yes, Sir, I think I can safely give that assurance. I ought to point out to the House, also, that there are thousands of workpeople going in and out of the dockyards each day, and that the number of cases up to now—though we are not complacent about it—seems extremely small.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is now in a position to make a statement regarding the sale of duty-free cigarettes and tobacco to the personnel of Royal Naval Air Stations.

I am glad to say that naval personnel at all R.N. air stations will be able to have an allowance of duty-free tobacco (including cigarettes) by the middle of this year at the latest.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will ensure that the pensions of Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel are not unduly held up when they leave the Service, as this practice causes hardship to pensioners.

Yes, Sir, and the present procedure is being reviewed once more to make sure that delays are reduced to a minimum.

Does the hon. Gentleman appreciate the great hardship which is caused by a man's not getting his pension immediately he comes out? I raised two points recently with him on that. Will he please try to see that in future men get their pensions within a fortnight?

In the great majority of cases the amount of pension earned is notified to the man immediately prior to his retirement, and payment is commenced well within a month of the termination of his service.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the present shortage of pilots in the Air Branch; and what steps he is taking to remedy this.

The present deficiency of pilots is being remedied in the following ways. Basic pay and flying pay has been increased, and for short service officers an increased gratuity is payable on leaving the Service. Schemes for ensuring civil employment on leaving the Navy are in operation or are being worked out. Permanent commissions are given to extended service officers, and the ages of entry to short service commissions widened. An offer has been made to former naval pilots to re-enter for four years. National Service men may be trained to fly, and publicity has been intensified.

Is it too early yet for the hon. Gentleman to say whether there have been any satisfactory results from all these steps?

I cannot give any figures yet.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us what the effect has been on recruiting for flying duties of the granting in September of flying pay?

I think it would be dangerous to give any indication of longterm trends so far.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the offer of four years re-entry is not popular in the Air Branch of the Navy? Is he further aware that the system of promising an extension of the permanent commissions, which does not ultimately materialise, does not provide the pilots who are required?

So far as the first point is concerned, if the hon. Gentleman will let me know why, I shall be glad to look at the scheme again. So far as the second point is concerned, I do not think that the Navy can bind itself to offering permanent commissions to everybody who serves on extended service.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what arrangements exist for the co-ordination or command of naval forces of the Atlantic Treaty Powers in the event of hostilities; and whether it is proposed that Allied naval commanders should be appointed for the areas concerned.

The arrangements being made cover the naval forces of all Atlantic Treaty Powers, and there must be common agreement to publication of command organisation details. No mutual decision has been taken in the matter of publication.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us whether General Eisenhower has any connection at all with naval organisation, or is it proposed to appoint a similar naval commander?

If the details were published I am sure that that point would be included.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that co-ordination of command or co-ordination of Forces without co-ordination of policy can be a very dangerous thing?

Has any decision been taken, or have any mutual arrangements been arrived at, about who is to command, even if it is not possible to publish that information?

This is a continuous work that has been going on for many months, and I should not care to indicate now the precise point that has been reached.

Can we be assured that a suitable organisation is, in fact, in existence?

I can certainly assure the House that this has been the subject of continuous study, and that a number of arrangements have been made.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the unsatisfactory radio reception in South-East England, he is prepared to suspend the collection of licence fees in this area until the reception is improved.

No, Sir.

While it is quite impossible for the residents of this area to receive any of the B.B.C's. services because of interference and bad reception, why should they have to pay the present licence fee? They ought to have compensation.

I understand that one programme is received very clearly in that area. I can give the hon. Gentleman this, I hope, helpful information: the Russians have now undertaken to prevent the interference which is now taking place.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the reception in this area has been the subject of widespread complaint, and that although representations have been made to his Department there is a feeling that those representations are not being adequately considered in his Department? When the right hon. Gentleman says that one programme is well received, is he aware that the station is Luxembourg?

The B.B.C. are responsible in this matter, and they inform me that the Light Programme can be adequately received there. Complaints have been received about the reception of the Home Service. I told the House some time ago that representations were being made to the Russians, who were causing interference. We have now received a reply from them, in which they say they will take steps to obviate the interference.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will now consider dispensing with the radio licence fee for the old age pensioners over 70 years of age.

After careful and sympathetic consideration, the Government is unable to agree to the issue of broadcast receiving licences free to old age pensioners.

Why does not the right hon. Gentleman abandon his half-thoughts? Why does not he do something practicable? This suggestion is not impracticable. Is he not aware that there is no justification for his refusal?

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has yet received a reply from the Roumanian People's Republic to his representations about their use of wavelength 285.2 metres; and what action he is taking in the matter.

No reply has yet been received from the Roumanian Administration. A further telegram has been sent.

Has it got through? Would the right hon. Gentleman say when the telegram was sent, whether it has yet been received back through the dead letter office, and whether, having received a reply from the Russian Government, he has any hope of receiving a reply from the Roumanian Government about the interference on this wavelength?

I am hopeful. We sent a third telegram to the Russians. We have sent two to the Roumanians.

asked the Postmaster-General how many and what total duration of, breakdowns occurring in the British Broadcasting Corporation Television Service during 1950 were due to faults in the General Post Office lines or radio links; and what percentage, both in number and duration, were these of the total breakdowns.

In 1950 nine breakdowns in vision, with a total duration of 49 minutes, were due to faults in Post Office lines or radio links; I understand from the B.B.C. that these amounted to 7.1 per cent. and 5.1 per cent., respectively, of the totals. Additionally, there was one breakdown of five minutes in sound associated with television due to a fault in a Post Office link.

Is the Postmaster-General aware that the rate of breakdown in the Television Service is 10 times the rate in the United States, and is causing concern to many thousands of television licence holders who have to gaze at the notice. "Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible"?

I was asked about the amount of delay due to Post Office faults, and I have said that there was a delay of only a few minutes over the whole period due to Post Office faults.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he has any statement to make as to the Government's policy for the future of broadcasting.

No, Sir. It would be premature for me to make a statement until we have been able to give thorough consideration to the many and important recommendations of the Broadcasting Committee. This will necessarily take some 'time, but we will make our views known as soon as possible with a view to full Parliamentary discussion before final decisions are taken. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing the Government's appreciation of the great public service which Lord Beveridge and his colleagues have rendered, and for the valuable report—

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen it?

That is the kind of comment I would expect from the hon. Member—which they have submitted after an inquiry which has made exceptionally heavy calls upon them all.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consult Parliament before the Government announce their policy in this matter, and when does he expect that we shall have a debate?

I cannot say; but it must be some time. It is desirable that the public and Members should have an opportunity of arguing and debating the matter, and we ourselves must take some little time to consider it. Therefore, I should not like to give a date. We must remember that the existing Charter runs to the end of the year, and, therefore, there is time. I think that the Government must come to some provisional conclusion [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] I was asked that the Government should not do so, and I am saying that I think we should. In any case, the matter is not finally settled until the new Charter is dealt with later.

In view of the doubt—I do not say this offensively—whether the Government represent public opinion, will not the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of taking the view of Parliament and, to that extent. of the nation on this matter?

No Government can possibly live without taking into account the view of Parliament and the view of the nation. Governments live with Parliament; we cannot live a day longer than Parliament lets us.

asked the Postmaster-General how many times during the last 12 months he has made representations to British Railways about unsatisfactory service to his Department.

The Post Office and British Railways are in the closest regular contact at all levels to ensure that the most satisfactory arrangements are made for the conveyance of mails by rail. Representations are made either in writing or orally as circumstances require, but a numerical record is not maintained.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied about the results of his representations, or has he given up nationalisation as hopeless?

No, Sir, I am not satisfied with the consequences of the representations we have made, but I am sure that the railways are making every effort in these difficult times.

Will my right hon. Friend refute entirely the inference in the question that the overall service given by British Transport is unsatisfactory in this respect?

If anything it is an improvement on the old system.

asked the Postmaster-General how much money has been lost through fraud since the end of the war by the Post Office Savings Bank.

The amount lost during the period 1st July, 1945, to 31st December, 1950, was about £311,000. Of this amount nearly £250,000 was lost in the years 1946-48. I am glad to say that the safeguards which we have introduced during the last two or three years are having very satisfactory results and the current rate of loss is lower than it has been for many years.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the accounting arrangements which at one time made these losses possible are now adequate; and will he say whether the public will, within a short time, be relieved of the inconvenience of sending their book back at the completion of every page?

Sending the book back to the Department is really our only security against many of these frauds and I could not ask for a withdrawal of that arrangement.

asked the Postmaster-General what proportion of Post Office workers employed on his motor transport staffs now belong to the registered but unrecognised trade union known as the National Guild of Motor Engineers.

The latest figures submitted to me by the National Guild of Motor Engineers were equivalent to about 49.5 per cent. of the staff they seek to represent.

In view of this figure, will the Postmaster-General now recognise this union, having read the Treasury document produced in 1949 about staff relations in the Civil Service?

This is a matter of major policy. One has to make up one's mind whether to encourage a multiplicity of unions and destroy trade unionism or whether to adopt a policy of conciliation and try to get the maximum co-operation and team-work inside this important service.

Is it not known by the right hon. Gentleman that this union of motor transport staff in the Post Office, of which there are about 3,000 members, is completely absorbed at the moment in the larger union to which they are supposed to belong? The representations of these 3,000 men go almost unheard and are not put forward by the other 45,000 people in the P.O.U., who are concerned largely with telecommunications.

I invited this union to meet me. We had a discussion about the matter and I got for them all the means of representation they requested. Then, unfortunately, they would not agree to the final agreement, although they had given me authority to obtain a joint meeting of all parties concerned on the basis that there would be an agreement.

Will my right hon. Friend take particular notice of the fact that the Opposition are continually pressing for the recognition of unions which have broken away from other organisations?

Is not the real question that arises in this case, whether a man shall have the right to choose to which union he shall belong or whether that right shall be given to the employer?

That has nothing to do with this matter. What has to be considered is whether there shall be effective trade union representation for the people engaged in the Post Office or whether we shall have a multiplicity of ineffective little groups.

Are we to take it from the right hon. Gentleman's reply that he has decided to depart from the previous practice, and the practice which is observed in other Government Departments, that when a grade or a union can claim to represent a certain percentage of the grade they shall be recognised?

The hon. Gentleman knows that that is a complete misrepresentation.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a further statement about the later postal collections and indicate which towns will enjoy these facilities.

Late evening collections have now been introduced in some 540 towns and will, I hope, be introduced in a further 100 or so by the end of January. Recruitment difficulties have yet to be overcome in some places, including London; and in a few others sickness has caused postponement of the date of introduction.

Does the late collection apply to all the boxes in those towns and cities or only the central boxes?

There will be selected boxes.

Does the Postmaster-General still hope to redeem his promise of later collections in London early in the new year?

As soon as we can get over the manpower difficulty in London and recruit the postmen we shall introduce it.

asked the Postmaster-General how many post-free Christmas parcels were sent to members of the Armed Services in Korea and Malaya, respectively, and what was the total cost to the Post Office.

The numbers of postage-free Christmas parcels sent by air to members of the Forces in the Korean operations and Malaya were 14,322 and 2,091, respectively; and the overall cost of the concession was of the order of £37,000, of which £1,000 was borne on Post Office account.

Does the Postmaster-General agree that the general public observed the rule and that there was no abuse of this concession?

There was amazingly little.

Has the right hon. Gentleman in mind the making of any further concessions for postage to the troops in Korea, particularly of printed matter?

This is really a matter for the Minister of Defence. The cost is borne on the Ministry of Defence Vote, and perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put the question to my right hon. Friend.

rose—

The hon. Gentleman has now introduced a much wider question. It does not arise out of the Question on the Order Paper. which dealt only with Christmas mail.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) if he is aware that Press cables dispatched at urgent rates from Melbourne on 22nd December took up to four hours to reach London; and what steps he is taking to improve the service;

I am aware that bad wireless operating conditions towards the end of last year caused delays to many overseas telegrams, including Press telegrams, to and from Australia and New Zealand. These difficulties were increased by cable interruptions. The Empire Press Union made representations on 2nd November last about heavy delays in sending messages, especially to Australia and New Zealand. Urgent cable repairs have been made and I am considering means of improving circuit capacity to and from this country.

Is the Postmaster-General aware how very seriously this is regarded in Australia; that for 27 days in December the service was seriously disrupted; that consideration is now being given to transferring the service to America, and that if that is done London will lose its place as the news centre?

This is due entirely to the wireless circuit. There were bad radio conditions and the stuff could not get through. We are using the Atlantic cable to try to get the stuff through to Australia and New Zealand, because we regard these delays as the cause of a great sense of grievance in the Dominions.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the delays in the service cannot be put down entirely to technical faults; that they are due partly to the new set-up, for which he is not entirely responsible, and will he take the initiative in promoting a conference to see what can be done? Further, was the matter raised at all, either formally or informally, with the Dominion Premiers when they were here?

I cannot answer the last part of that question. With regard to the first part, I have already taken the initiative and called a conference.

In view of the importance of this matter, I beg to give notice that I shall raise it on the Adjournment at the earliest possible opportunity.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he proposes to take to speed up the transmission of news between Great Britain and Empire countries.

I would refer the hon. Member to my replies to earlier Questions on this subject, copies of which I am sending to him.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the greatly increased delay in the transmission of Press cables from this country to the Dominions since Electra House was put under the Post Office; what is the reason for this delay; and how he proposes to remedy it.

Delays occurred towards the end of last year to many telegrams, including Press telegrams, sent from this country to Australia and New Zealand. These delays were mainly due to bad wireless operating 'conditions and were increased by cable interruptions. A marked increase in the number of telegrams passing over the Commonwealth telecommunication network recently has reduced the margin of reserve against interruptions, and means of improving this margin are under consideration with other administrations concerned.

In view of the fact that the domestic Press cannot get any paper, and the Dominion Press cannot get any news, how is it that His Majesty's Government claim adequate publicity for their beneficent activities? The right hon. Gentleman says that consideration is being given to this matter. Why was not that fact mentioned at the Commonwealth Conference?

One of the reasons why we are having this trouble, is that the Commonwealth is getting more news.

asked the Postmaster-General what were the average and maximum delays on Press telegrams between Great Britain and Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, respectively, during November and December. 1950.

Under the operating conditions which existed up to the middle of October last, it was usual for ordinary Press messages from Great Britain to be cleared within two or three hours of the time of handing in. Under the difficult conditions of last November and December, delays on ordinary Press messages occasionally amounted to 12 hours to Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, and to 30 hours in the case of Australia.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman's answer, and his previous answers on this matter, another example of how inefficiency always follows closely on the heels of nationalisation?

No, Sir. This service is not nationalised.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that during the fortnight before Christmas many business letters were not delivered in the London area until five days after posting; and if he will take steps to ensure that in future they are not held up for so long by Christmas mail.

Owing to the enormous seasonal increase in the volume of traffic; some delay to letters cannot be avoided during the week before Christmas; but I am not aware of exceptional delays prior to that week. Every effort is and will be made to deliver correspondence as speedily as possible, but it is not practicable to segregate business letters for special acceleration.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it took five days for many letters posted in the East London area to reach addresses in Willesden? Does he not think that rather unreasonable, and will he look into the question of separating letters bearing penny stamps from those with 24½d. stamps?

Because of the inexperienced staff we had to recruit some delay was to be expected. We will do our best to watch this matter in the future.

To minimise some of the delay, will my right hon. Friend consider the possibility of having a late evening collection on Boxing Day?

asked the Postmaster-General what percentage of the rate of six gold francs per tonne/kilometre, as agreed between the Universal Postal Union and the International Air Transport Association, he pays to British Overseas Airways Corporation for the carriage of air mail on long haul services.

There is no agreement between the Universal Postal Union and the International Air Transport Association covering conveyance rates paid by postal administrations to their national air-operators. I am writing to the hon. Member to explain the. position more fully.

Would the right hon. Gentleman look at the B.O.A.C. report, which says, in paragraph 99, that if proper rates had been paid, their total revenue would have increased by £3 million? Is this statement' incorrect, or is the Postmaster-General using his unique position to under-cut the rate which he had agreed in international conference?

No, Sir. We never agreed the rate in international conference. These are commercial agreements, freely negotiated, and I am quite satisfied that what I have told the House is correct.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what the rate is per ton mile?

I have not the figure before me. Perhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman will put a Question on the Order Paper?

Will my right hon. Friend now consider making an increase, however slight, in this rate, to help B.O.A.C. in their attempt to reduce their deficit?

I am prepared to pay a proper rate to B.O.A.C. and no more.

asked the Postmaster-General why the temporary postmen employed during the Christmas rush are not paid overtime rates on the same basis as permanent postmen.

The week-day hourly rate paid by agreement with the staff association includes a factor for overtime. Rate and a half is paid on Sundays and Christmas Day.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that postmen who are taken on temporarily for holidays very often have to work much harder than permanent postmen, and resent the fact that their overtime rate is much lower than the rate paid to permanent postmen?

If the hon. Lady wants me to pay an ordinary hourly rate and the overtime rate she is really asking that the men should have a reduction in wages. I think it would be better if we left this to the trade unions concerned.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that large numbers of letters from Great Britain to the Continent are still being stamped only 2½d. instead of 4d.; and if, in view of the inconvenience and loss which this causes the addressees, he will, by broadcast and other means, make the rates more widely known.

Yes. Sir. Full use has been, and will continue to be, made Of all available means, including Press and broadcast notices, to bring the correct rates of postage to the notice of the public.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to review the remuneration of sub-postmasters; and when he anticipates making a statement.

This matter is under discussion with the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters, and I regret I am not at present in a position to make any statement on the subject.

This has been under discussion for some time. Is the Postmaster-General aware that owing to the long hours worked in the telegraphic sub-post offices, and the low pay, sub-post offices are rapidly becoming known as sweat shops?

As these matters are the result of freely negotiated agreements, and another agreement is now being negotiated, it would be quite improper for me to make any comment in the House.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that sub-postmasters, who give their services in the villages, are so tied to their jobs that it is very difficult for them to attend such conferences? Will he inquire in some of the remote villages what they think about it?

I have been to some of these conferences and it is not difficult for them to get there, as I can assure the hon. and gallant Gentleman.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of resignations by sub-postmasters during the last convenient 12 months; and the number of sub-post offices now awaiting the appointment of a sub-postmaster.

There were 1,606 resignations during 1950 and 287 vacancies at the end of the year.

Would the Postmaster-General not agree that if he would disgorge a little of his excessive profit, he would find it much easier to fill the posts?

There is a tremendous change over in all forms of industry, and the change over is not really excessive.

asked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been drawn to the recent protest meeting organised by the Eastern District Council of the National Federation of sub-postmasters on 10th December, 1950, to protest against the loss of mail work as a result of plans for the motorisation in rural areas; and whether he has any proposals to make for compensation to sub-postmasters.

Yes, Sir. 1 am always ready to consider on its merits any case in which a sub-postmaster's remuneration is due to be reduced on account of reduction of work and serious hardship would result.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean, with reference to his answer to the last sentence of my Question, that in suitable cases he admits the principle of compensation?

Not the principle of compensation. But where a widow is looking after a sub-post office and, by taking certain work away from her, there is likely to be considerable financial hardship, I am prepared to look at the matter, and, if possible, effect some sort of compromise to relieve her hardship. I cannot, however, agree to the principle of compensation.

asked the Postmaster-General why the cheap rate for greetings telegrams from Korea was withdrawn from British soldiers 12 hours after it had been instituted.

The notification to Korea was premature, but the special service of expeditionary Forces' messages from troops in Korea was, in fact, authorised a few days ago. The corresponding service from this country to Korea will be introduced next Monday.

Does that mean that the notification was premature? Does it mean that troops were told that they could have greeting telegrams when, in fact, they could not? Is this not one of a large number of very serious errors on the part of the right hon. Gentleman?

One can understand the sort of conditions under which people are having to work in Korea, and we should not unduly complain about faults of this kind in such circumstances.

asked the Postmaster-General how much a girl under 21 years of age is paid during her time of training to become a telephone operator; what allowance is made for board and lodging; and what travel concessions are given.

Is any undertaking given by these trainees that they will continue in the service of the Post Office for a reasonable time?

If we had an undertaking of that sort we could not enforce it. There is no undertaking.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for a telephone installation have been received from the area of the London County Council estate at St. Paul's Cray; and how many of such applications have been met.

About 300, of which 81 have been met. In addition, five public call offices have been installed and two more are proposed.

Is the Postmaster-General aware that many of these applicants live in what are known as houses for professional classes; that they had telephones in their former residences and that it is a very great hardship to them not to be able to continue to have a telephone in their house for professional purposes at present? Is there any hope of these people being supplied with this service?

This is a residential area. I am well aware of the hardship caused to these people and am doing what I can, but there are limits to the laying of new cables and the installation of new equipment.

Can the Postmaster-General assure us that the export of telephone equipment which is much needed at home has been stopped?

No, Sir, I cannot give that assurance.

Why not?

asked the Postmaster-General how many applicants in the Borough of Wembley await the installation of telephones; and when they are likely to have this service.

One thousand six hundred and forty in the areas served by the Wembley, Corinthian and Arnold exchanges. Most of these applications will be met after the new exchange equipment is brought into service in about four months' time.

Will my right hon. Friend, irrespective of the continuous pressure for telephone equipment in this country, do everything he possibly can to keep open our export market for this telephone equipment, upon which we depend so much?

asked the Postmaster-General when an automatically-controlled register of charges will be available at subscribers' premises in connection with telephone calls, such as has been in operation in Switzerland for many years.

Extensive development work is necessary in this country before such registers could be operative.

Would the Postmaster-General consider installing some of these automatic registers on an experimental basis in different parts of the country?

This equipment would have to be specially designed, and that is why I say that extensive development work would be necessary.

asked the Minister of Defence if he is aware of the widespread concern of the inadequate medical examination given to Service men prior to demobilisation, which tends to increase the number of healthy discharge reports and react unfavourably on subsequent applications for pension.

I have been asked to reply. Arrangements are now in force in all three Services for a comprehensive medical survey of all officers and men to be carried out shortly before release or retirement. The result of this examination is carefuly recorded. Where, subsequently, a claim to pension arises, the applicant is examined by a Ministry of Pensions medical board, whose report, together with the applicant's Service history —including the report of the medical examination on release—and all other relevant evidence is considered before a decision is reached. Many claims succeed notwithstanding that the Service medical report records that nothing abnormal was discovered at the time it was made.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that there is a large amount of evidence that the scanty medical examinations have been most unjust when illness becomes obvious after discharge? Doe he not think that the only fair system is: Fit for Service, fit for pension?

If my hon. looks at my reply, he will see it is to the effect that the examination, which I cannot agree is scanty, before release or retirement is not the important factor in whether the claim for pension can succeed or not.

Will my right hon. Friend ensure that medical examination on entering the Services is as comprehensive as he hopes to make the release examination?

Was not the last sentence of the right hon. Gentleman's original reply to the effect that the examination of pensions claims shows the necessity in many cases to contradict the results of the examination when the pensioner left the Services, indicating that these examinations are quite useless? Will he see that they are properly carried out?

No, Sir. My last sentence was that "many claims succeed notwithstanding that the Service medical report records that nothing abnormal was discovered at the time it was made." But we fully agree that something may develop which may be considered attributable and which may be brought out at the Ministry of Pensions medical board examination.