asked the Postmaster-General what is the number of outstanding applications for telephones at the latest convenient date; and what is the estimated number of new subscribers to be provided with private lines during 1951.

The waiting list numbered 540,143 on 31st December, 1950. During 1951 we expect to connect about 390,000 subscribers, including new applicants for whom local plant is available.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that the figure has risen from 200,000 at the end of the war, and does he not think it would be a good thing if the Post Office put first things first, cut out some of the frills and concentrated on a telephone service which will help the productive efficiency of the country?

The hon. and gallant Member may know that 92 per cent. of the Post Office expenditure is now concerned with telephones.

Does "private lines" here mean party lines?

No, Sir.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is yet in a position to make a further statement upon his efforts to improve the telephone facilities by connecting more than two subscribers upon a single line.

No, Sir. The problem is a very complex one and the study now being made will take some considerable time to complete.

asked the Postmaster-General why it is impossible to telephone to Caracas, Venezuela, from this country in view of the fact that it is possible to do so from New York.

Negotiations for the extension of the London—New York service to Venezuela are already in progress and I hope that service will be available from this country in the near future.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that it causes considerable loss and inconvenience to commercial firms who are not able to get through on the telephone? As it is possible to get through from New York there seems to be no technical reason why we cannot get through from London.

That will depend entirely on the commercial undertakings on the opposite side of the Atlantic cooperating with us and agreeing to these facilities.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is now satisfied with the radio-telephone link between North Ronaldshay and Sanday.

Yes, Sir. It is hoped that the first public telephone kiosk on North Ronaldshay will be provided in a few months' time.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can give any further information as to when the island of Skerries, in Shetland, may expect a telephone link.

The equipment for this link has been ordered.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when it may be received, and whether there is now any general shortage of equipment for this sort of service?

I cannot get a firm date from the firm with whom the order has been placed.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that, although the accidental omission of a subscriber's name from the telephone directory must cause 12 months' inconvenience to a private person and financial loss to a business firm, the telephone regulations deprive the subscriber of any claim against his Department in respect of the error; and whether he will amend these regulations so as to ensure that telephone subscribers who suffer through his Department's mistake are not debarred from establishing a claim for redress.

We cannot agree to pay compensation in these very rare cases but every effort is made to minimise their effect, e.g., by distributing the subscriber's correction notices at Post Office cost, and by specially recording his number at directory inquiry bureaux.

Does the right hon. Gentleman really think that the Government are justified in obliging members of the public to sign away their rights in matters like this before connecting them with the telephone service?

The directory is published conditionally. This condition is on the front of the directory and it is on the agreement. We do all that we can to see that the issue is correct, and it is very rare that there is an omission.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the weight of the telephone directories annually distributed; and what is the weight of the old ones annually collected by his Department and sold for re-manufacture as paper.

About 10,000 tons. About 80 per cent. of old directories are recovered by the Post Office. The remainder largely go into local salvage.

As the Post Office does not collect many old directories, including my own and those of other hon. Members, and as many local authorities do not collect waste paper at all, is the Postmaster-General doing anything to reduce the substantial gap between the two figures?

I have said that we collect 80 per cent. of the old directories—

But two thousand tons not collected.

We collect 80 per cent. of 10,000 tons. We cannot compel everybody to give up their old directories. We would not take steps to get everybody to give up their old directories. Many subscribers want to retain them and they are allowed to do so. In areas where there is no collection of salvage we insist upon collection as far as we can, but where we are informed that the local authorities collect salvage we do not take this action.

asked the Postmaster-General how copies of Communist leaflets came to be inserted in a package delivered in Sevenoaks on Friday, 22nd December; and if he will take steps to prevent such occurrences in the future.

Detailed inquiry has failed to throw any light on this most regrettable happening, and there is no evidence to show that these leaflets were inserted by any Post Office employee.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the leaflets demanded the immediate recall of troops from Korea and described the Prime Minister as having sold out British interests? Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that it reflects badly on the morale of his Department, and has he taken any steps to find out how many Communists there are in the Post Office?

As I said, a detailed examination has been made and there is no evidence to show that the leaflets were put in the envelope during the time it was in the charge of the Post Office. Apparently, no Post Office employee can be shown to be guilty of this occurrence.

This package was despatched from the Conservative Central Office and it cannot be suspected that it was subject to Communist interference there. Therefore, the only time during which the Communist leaflets could have been inserted was during transit through his Department.

No matter from what office the package was sent, I give the assurance to the House that so far as we can find out no Post Office employee was responsible for inserting the leaflets.

asked the Postmaster-General how many special commemorative stamps and at what values, are being issued in connection with the Festival of Britain.

Two special postage stamps of the 2½d. and 4d. denominations are being issued to commemorate the Festival of Britain. New designs of the permanent 2s. 6d., 5s., 10s. and £1 stamps will be put on sale at the same time.

As these stamps will have an advertising value throughout the world, will they be on sale at the earliest possible moment? If so, can my right hon. Friend say when that will be?

Yes, Sir. They will be on sale on 3rd May.

asked the Postmaster-General why his Department accepts telegrams for rural addresses not connected to the telephone and then delivers them by post the following day.

Anyone handing in a telegram in the late afternoon is warned of the possibility of non-delivery that day. The telegram is accepted on this understanding and is delivered by post only if it reaches the distant end too late for delivery by hand.

Is the right hon. Gentleman sure that his Department does warn people that these telegrams will not be delivered if people are not on the telephone. I have evidence here that that is not so. Will the pre-war system of delivery be restored, and, if not, will the right hon. Gentleman see that instructions are issued that people are not charged 1s. 6d. for a message which could be delivered for 2½d.?

Adequate instructions have already been issued, but if the hon. Member knows of any case in which he believes these instructions have not been carried out, and will let me have the particulars, I will look into the matter. I have been pressed from both sides of the House to let sub-postmasters close offices much earlier and, on the other hand, to arrange for delivery of telegrams much later.

How many post offices or sub-post offices are there without facilities for delivering telegrams?

Most of them have facilities for delivering telegrams up to 6.30 p.m.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the dissatisfaction at the length of time it takes for communications to and from various parts of the Commonwealth; that the average time for the transmission of news messages on the first Test Match from Brisbane was over three hours and the second from Melbourne from four to six hours; and what efforts are being made to improve the services.

I would refer the hon. Member to my replies to the hon. Member for Ashford (Mr. Deedes) and the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Hollis) on 24th January. The delays in news messages about Test matches were mainly due to the bad operating conditions with which the Australian authorities, in common with ourselves, were faced.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether understaffing and wage dissatisfaction is affecting the efficiency of a service that is vital in war and in peace?

The delay in this case was due entirely to atmospheric conditions in the Southern Hemisphere.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that this news was not delayed because its dangerous character was likely to lower the national morale?

So far as the Post Office is concerned, we delivered the news as soon as we received it.

Apart from the cricket scores, which are very important, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is also a rising number of complaints from commercial undertakings which are suffering most serious losses from these delays? All the evidence points to serious internal chaos in his Department as well as sun spots. Will the right hon. Gentleman find out what is wrong?

The Commonwealth Telecommunications Board is meeting today for the purpose of considering this question. It is really a matter for them, but when broadcast transmission is impossible for as much as 12 hours at a stretch it is bound to cause delays in reception at this end.

asked the Postmaster-General in view of the delays in the transmission of news to and from Commonwealth countries, what steps he is taking to improve this service.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Hollis) on 24th January.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that, contrary to his earlier answer on this point, this service has now been taken over by his Department, and is, in fact, less efficient than when it was run by Cable and Wireless? What does he propose to do about it? Will he give Press messages some degree of priority?

The hon. Gentleman is quite wrong. If he had been in the House when the Cable and Wireless Bill was discussed, he would know of certain international considerations, which decided what terms should be applied to describe this company. It has been split up in many ways. Various Colonies and Dominions have taken their share and I am responsible only for the part at this end. In view of the enormous increase in traffic which there has been I am unable to trace any decrease in efficiency.

Does the right hon. Gentleman deny that the "part at this end" to which he referred has been nationalised?

I must appeal to the right hon. and gallant Gentleman opposite on this point. This matter was referred to before the debate on the Bill. Because of difficult negotiations in other parts of the world, it was decided that this should be an independent firm nominally under the Post Office, but that it should not be described in the way in which the hon. and gallant Gentleman has described it.

Can the right hon. Gentleman possibly deny that this service is nationalised, in the same way as other public corporations which are described as nationalised?

Various parts of this service have, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, been transferred to the Colonies and Dominions, but the part that is here is under our control and comes under the Post Office.

As the right hon. Gentleman does me the courtesy to ask me what I think, I can assure him that we consider this service to be a nationalised service, under his general control, and also recognise that it has been a complete failure.

I do not think that nationalisation comes into this Question.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider putting up notices in all post offices drawing the attention of the public to the regulations governing the registration of letters that registered letters should be sent in the official envelopes provided by the Post Office otherwise money compensation cannot be paid, and that only £5 can be claimed for the registration fee of 4d. in the event of a registered letter being lost.

Despite the wide publicity already given to these regulations I propose to act upon the suggestion of my hon. Friend.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the normal avenues of recruitment of permanent and temporary postmen. Respectively; and what steps are taken in each case to establish the probity of candidates.

Permanent and temporary postmen are normally recruited through the Ministry of Labour and National Service. References are required from each candidate and are taken up by the Post Office.

Is not it a fact that at least during the Christmas rush temporary postmen are engaged without references? Does the right hon. Gentleman regard that as being satisfactory?

The difficulty of getting personnel for the Christmas rush is very great indeed. We take what we can get and apply such checks as we can in the time available to us.

Has the Postmaster-General any reason to doubt the efficiency of the method of recruitment or the honesty of the people who serve in the Post Office?

I can see no alternative method of dealing with the problem.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is now able to announce the date upon which the 8 p.m. collection of letters in Eccles will be inaugurated.

The facility was introduced on Monday last.

asked the Postmaster-General when late evening postal collections will be introduced into London.

Late evening collections will be introduced in the London postal area on 19th February provided unforeseen difficulties do not arise.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of his decision to allow certain news agencies to operate multi-destination radio Press services, he is now satisfied that such a transfer of work is giving a satisfactory public service.

I have every reason to believe that the transfer has resulted in satisfactory service.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied, in view of the worsening situation, that this arrangement is still

This is a facility which the Press require and, by and large, the fact that they want more of it indicates that it is going very well.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that in spite of the worsening of the manpower position it is possible for his Departmental heads to refuse to grant to a healthy and efficient officer an extension of service after the normal retiring age of 60 and to deny any officer so treated the right of appeal to the Postmaster-General; and if he will make a statement on this matter.

The Post Office, following general Civil Service practice, retains fully fit and efficient officers who wish to stay after 60, provided retention is in the interests of the service. For all but the most senior grades the final decision is devolved on the regional directors or heads of Departments.

Does that mean that the man himself has no appeal to the Postmaster-General, and will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Post Office really wants men to stay on after the age of 60?

All employees of the Post Office have a right of appeal to the Postmaster-General in any circumstances. In many areas we certainly do want men to stay on. In other areas, where we have a surfeit, it causes dissatisfaction among the staff if staying on holds back promotion.

If such appeals are made to the Postmaster-General, will he deal with them personally or will they be dealt with by an underling?

They are seen either by myself or the Assistant Postmaster-General.

asked the Postmaster-General at what rate does he pay British Overseas Airways Corporation for the carriage of air mail on long haul services.

The rates range from 143.16d. to 190.89d. per ton-mile.

Is the Postmaster-General aware that these rates compare unfavourably with those of other large air lines, such as the American air lines, and will he look into the matter? Why should he make a profit out of it?

I only want to say that I pay twice as much for the carriage of mail as is being paid for the carriage of freight or persons. In the circumstances, I think that I am giving a fair price for the service we get.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the arrangements for conveyance of air mail parcels to European countries; and whether he is satisfied that the limited publicity given to this scheme is sufficient to inform the public of the facilities available.

Excepting Portugal, air parcel mails to European countries are forwarded by services of the British European Airways Corporation. All available means of publicity are employed to bring these facilities to the notice of the public.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that while these parcels can be handed in at any post office at rates which compare favourably with other freight charges—inclusive of Customs clearing charges and matters of that kind—the only advertisement is a very small notice in certain post offices? Should not there be better information given to the public generally and to business people in particular?

I had better make the facilities known to my hon. Friend. Ninety-seven thousand airmail leaflets dealing with this subject are sent to head post offices every month. Press notices and broadcasts are made, and chamber of commerce and Board of Trade journals throughout the country carry advertisements relating to this service.

asked the Postmaster-General why a cablegram handed in on board H.M.S. "Theseus" in an operational area on 15th December last was not delivered in Hill Head, Hampshire, until 29th December; and what was the longest period taken by prepaid mail from England to reach this ship.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the great dissatisfaction in this ship due to the very long delay of some weeks in the delivery of mail to the ship, and of the resentment felt by next-of-kin at having to put 6d. stamps on mail?

I am not aware of that. My responsibility is to get the mail to the British Fleet Mail Office at Tokyo. I do that within four days.

Would the Postmaster-General say what telegram facilities exist for communication with H.M. ships?

A new service is to be started on Monday, with a new cable code. I will send the hon. and gallant Gentleman a copy of that.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has yet received a reply to his representations to the Soviet Government about their radio transmissions affecting the British Broadcasting Corporation's Home Service programme.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) on 29th January.

Has it been established yet whether the Russian stations are within the Copenhagen Convention area; and is not it a fact that France and Spain have both collaborated to remove this interference and that the Soviets are being as unhelpful as usual?

It has not yet been ascertained that the transmission is within the Copenhagen Convention area. The Russians require technical information about any interference there has been in order to see what they can do about it.

Is it not a fact that in the North-Eastern area—

There is a later question dealing with the North-Eastern area.

asked the Postmaster-General what representations he has made on the subject of interference to radio reception to the North-East coast; and with what result.

I would refer the hon. Member to my answers to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) on 14th December and 29th January. I understand that the B.B.C. are seeing what they can do to eliminate the interference on the northeast coast between their European Service and the Light Programme.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that a great deal of time has elapsed since I last asked about this interference, and can he undertake to give a definite answer in the very near future about those representations which have been made?

I have already reported to the House about interference from Spain. The adjustments within the Copenhagen plan which would be necessary to deal with those two programmes would take some time.

Is the Postmaster-General aware that at Scarborough on Sunday last, as often before, the B.B.C. musical performance was completely ruined by bad reception due, apparently, not to foreign interference and distortion but fading transmission? Will he make such changes in the B.B.C. as will ensure greater efficiency in future?

I have no authority to make any changes at all in the B.B.C. That is a matter that the House has passed to their control, but I certainly will make representations in accordance with the complaint of the hon. Member.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when he will be able to give a definite answer to this question?

I will inquire from the B.B.C. when they can let me have a final answer.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider issuing wireless licences at a reduced rate to old age pensioners who live alone.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has considered a petition signed by 450 old age pensioners in the borough of Ilford and forwarded to him by the mayor of Ilford, asking that sympathetic consideration be given to their request that the charge at present made for broadcast receiving licences be reduced by half in so far as old age pensioners are concerned; and how far it is his intention to meet their wishes.

asked the Postmaster-General what representations he has received regarding reduced wireless licence charges for old age pensioners; and what steps he proposes to take in this connection.

I have received a number of representations from organisations and individuals suggesting that broadcast receiving licences should be issued to old age pensioners either free of charge or at a reduced rate. After careful and sympathetic consideration, the Government regrets that it is unable to accept the proposals either in relation to all old age pensioners or any section of them.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman look at this matter again, bearing in mind that these old people have very few pleasures, and that to many of them, I refer particularly to those living alone, the wireless is a great source of companionship and pleasure? A pound is an expensive charge in these days of rising costs. Could not he look at this once again, rather more sympathetically?

I have looked at the matter as sympathetically as I can, but there are widows, and sick and unemployed persons on the same level of incomes. We could not make this concession to old age pensioners unless we gave it to the others, and in bulk a very large sum is involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many airmen have been sent on leave owing to lack of fuel for heating at their camp; and how many are at present on leave for this cause.

No airmen have been sent on leave this winter because of lack of fuel at units. Four hundred airmen at one unit may, however, be sent on leave tomorrow as a result of a fuel shortage. Emergency stocks are being sent immediately to the station concerned, and it is hoped that they will arrive in time to make this step unnecessary.

Is not the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that I am constantly meeting men up and down the country who tell me that they have been sent on leave for this reason? Further, is he aware that somewhere between 400 and 600 men from Moreton-in-the-Marsh training station are to go on leave for a month in the near future? Does it make sense to call up 250,000 reservists while sending on leave men from training establishments?

I should be grateful if the hon. Member would give me any particulars that he has. I have consulted every R.A.F. command in the country, and the information I have given to the House is that which I have received. Moreton-in-the-Marsh is the case to which I referred in my original reply. The men have not gone on leave and if fuel reaches the camp tomorrow, as it is expected to do, they will not go on leave.

Mr. Russell.

rose—

I think that the answer was quite comprehensive.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why recruits enlisted under the National Service scheme are instructed not to use brushless shaving cream.

No such instructions are given to recruits.

Is the Secretary of State aware that the instruction was given in one instance of which I have given him particulars? In any case, does not he think that it is a waste to issue shaving brushes or to compel recruits to buy them when they do not use them?

There are many hon. Members in the House today who have served in the Forces and they are well aware that compulsory items of kit have always included a hair brush, a tooth brush and a shaving brush.

asked the Secretary of State for Air for what reason he is equipping the Royal Air Force with F86 Sabre aircraft from the United States of America.

No decision has been made to equip the Royal Air Force with F86 aircraft, though a proposal of this kind is under examination. These aircraft would be additional to our own jet fighters, which are being produced under the Government's rearmament programme.

Is not the fact that this proposal is even under consideration either tantamount to a slight on the British aircraft industry which can very easily produce aeroplanes which, in the opinion of many, are just as good; or, failing that, a reflection of the vacillation and indecision of the policy of the Government in rearming this country?

No, Sir. I endeavoured to make clear in my reply that these aircraft, if they are received, will be in addition to all ordered under our programme.

In that case, would not we have enough without them?

It is a matter of opinion as to whether one has enough of anything.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is satisfied that sufficient priority is being given to the development and production of the flying boat fighter SRA1.

There is no R.A.F. requirement for this type of fighter, and the question of priority does not therefore arise.

Is the Minister aware that there is considerable disquiet about the defences of Hong Kong, where the airfields are threatened with artillery bombardment, and that fighters of this type might provide a very desirable means of defending bases of that kind?

I have taken the best Service advice available to me in my official position, and it is not considered that this type of aircraft has any utility to the Royal Air Force.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will create more Auxiliary Air Transport Squadrons by issuing aircraft now in storage to firms able to service and operate these aircraft on behalf of his Department.

It is hoped to form three more auxiliary squadrons of this type as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is now the strength of the Royal Air Force Regiment; and whether it is his intention to increase the size of this unit.

The strength of the Royal Air Force Regiment is about 5,000. The question of an increase in size is under consideration.

Is the Minister satisfied that the aerodromes in the east of England are properly protected against airborne attack, and can he tell the House whether any ex-members of the Royal Air Force Regiment will be included in the proposed call-up?

The latter part of that question raises an entirely different matter, and perhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman will put it on the Order Paper. In regard to the first part, again, it is a matter of opinion as to whether anything can be properly defended. What I can say is that, within the limits of the establishment of the R.A.F. Regiment, we are satisfied that it is sufficient and able to do the job it has to do.

How can it do it with 5,000 men?

I want to be quite frank with the House. All the 5,000 men are not deployed in this country—

That makes it worse.

—but, after all, there are other forms of anti-aircraft defence, and Anti-Aircraft Command have to be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what staging facilities are afforded by the Government of India for aircraft carrying service personnel proceeding to the Korean theatre of war.

As there has been no occasion to ask the Government of India for these facilities the question does not arise.

Is not this the most direct route to Korea, and have not provisional arrangements been made with the Government of India? If not, ought they not to be made?

There is no need to invite the Government of India to afford these facilities, because the transport planes land at Karachi and go on to Ceylon, and there is no need to stop at any intermediate station.

Do not planes of the United Nations land in India, and have they not permission to do so?

That is not the Question which the hon. Gentleman asked.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many Soviet-built YAK-25 fighters have been identified over Korea; and whether he is yet in a position to make a comparison between the performance of this aircraft and the MIG-l5.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "None." It would not be in the public interest to answer the second part.

Is the Minister aware that there is growing concern about the development of Russian jet fighter and bomber aircraft, and will he take an early opportunity of making a full statement on the subject'?

All I can say is that Russia is not the only country developing the most advanced types of aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what liaison exists between France, Great Britain and the United States of America concerning radar and general air force matters.

The daily contacts between Royal Air Force, United States Air Force and French Air Force staffs in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and Western Union defence organisations provide ample means of liaison on Air Force matters. In addition, there are the British Joint Services Mission in Washington and the Air Attaches at the appropriate embassies. French and Royal Air Force officers are among the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Air Forces Western Europe.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman completely satisfied that all is well with this organisation and that decisions are made? Are not things going far too slowly?

No, Sir. I think things are going extremely well in this organisation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what was the loss sustained by British Overseas Airways Corporation as a result of the strike of electrical workers.

British Overseas Airways Corporation estimate that their net loss was of the order of £360,000.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether an inquiry has been made into this unofficial strike, and, if so, can the report on it be placed in the Library of the House?

Inquiries were going on all along with a view to ending the strike, but there has been no official report upon them.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation why the Brabazon is not to be used as a commercial airliner.

The Brabazon project was undertaken for experimental purposes, and with a view to possible use on trans-Atlantic services. As the result of a review of recent developments, it now appears that the commercial requirements for this and other long distance routes can be met more economically by other British aircraft which will be available in the future.

Does this mean that this aircraft will never earn a penny? If so, is it the intention of the Government to write off this sum at once or over a number of years?

The meaning of the answer is what it says.

Is it not a fact that the Government knew this at least 12 months ago? Are they not aware that they are merely repeating another nuts scheme, and that the best thing to do is to cut it right out?

No, it is not a fact that the Government knew it 12 months ago. There are a number of factors, including the development of new aircraft, about which we could not be certain 12 months ago.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the experience gained by those building the two Brabazon aircraft was worth the money we spent upon them?

Could they not be used for carrying groundnuts back from Africa?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he has yet collected the evidence to indicate what broadcast sources are interfering with British aircraft communication services in South-East England and the Midlands.

The evidence shows that the main broadcast source concerned has been the Daventry (Overseas) Service, but other B.B.C. short-wave broadcast stations have also been responsible to a limited extent. The interference is due to an harmonic of the transmitted frequency and as soon as this was established the B.B.C. took immediate measures to effect a remedy. Reports from pilots show that some improvement has been effected. Technical staff from my Ministry are at present collaborating with the B.B.C. engineers with the object of eliminating the interference altogether.

Has the harmonic in question been transferred to the Cabinet?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what are now his intentions with respect to the Princess flying boat.

The requirements of rearmament have necessitated a review of work on the development and production of civil aircraft, including the Princess flying boat. No final decisions about the future of the Princess flying boat have, however, yet been reached.

Is it not a fact that five or six aircraft of this type can carry as many troops as the "Queen Mary" or "Queen Elizabeth," without the construction of any docks or runways whatever, and will the hon. Gentleman make sure that no prejudice in high places against the employment of flying boats will be allowed to blind them to their possibilities?

There is no prejudice in high places against this boat, and the question which the hon. and gallant Gentleman raises is one that is being studied carefully at the moment.

asked the Minister of Defence if, in view of the comparatively small number of British troops engaged in Korea, he will consider relieving the troops of 29th British Brigade and returning them to Europe.

I have been asked to reply. No, Sir.