asked the Postmaster-General whether, under his regulations, the sharing of a telephone line with a new subscriber is still voluntary for an established subscriber; and whether his officials are empowered to withhold telephones from new subscribers who refuse to share.

Up to the end of 1947 the sharing of telephone lines was voluntary. Since January, 1948, all new and removing residential subscribers have been required to accept liability to share a line as a condition of being given service.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the average time taken for letters from this country to reach British troops in Austria and vice versa.

Transit time by air in both directions is one day, and by surface from Austria two and a half days. Tests of overall transmission times are being made and I will write further to the noble Lord as soon as they are complete.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what is the estimated shortage of air transport pilots for civil aviation corporations and companies in Great Britain; and what steps are being taken to increase the number available.

There is no shortage of pilots in British Overseas Airways Corporation but British European Airways Corporation require 40 more. The charter industry give estimates of a requirement up to about 100 pilots.These shortages have arisen because releases of trained pilots from the Services are at present severely restricted. The short-term need has been alleviated by various expediencies, but a longer term scheme to attract pilots to civil aviation through National Service training is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many Eritreans have been introduced into the new administration; what positions they occupy; what the comparative figures are for those of any other nationality in each Department of State; and what proportion are Muslim and Christian.

The new Eritrean Administration has not yet been formed, but a number of Eritreans are employed in the British Administration, which under the United Nations Resolution of 2nd December, 1950, is to continue to conduct the affairs of Eritrea until, at the latest, 15th September, 1952. Full information about the positions occupied is not available in London, but I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as the details have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will consider bringing the AngloPersian oil dispute before the Assembly of the United Nations under Article 11 of the Charter.

His Majesty's Government have referred the dispute to the International Court of Justice, which is an organ of the United Nations. Since the dispute involves complicated legal issues the International Court was considered by His Majesty's Government to be the appropriate United Nations organisation to which to refer it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the disquiet existing in Turkey today on the grounds that this country is believed to be preventing Turkey becoming part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; and whether he will take steps to secure the invitation of Turkey and Greece to discussions, with other Powers concerned, on the creation of a pact for the defence of the Eastern Mediterranean or of any other defence organisation.

I am aware that it has been suggested in the Turkish Press that His Majesty's Government are opposing the entry of Turkey into the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, and I am glad to take this opportunity of saying that there is no truth in these suggestions and that His Majesty's Government do not oppose the accession of Turkey or Greece to the North Atlantic Treaty. As I stated in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Shoreditch and Finsbury (Mr. Turtle) on 2nd July, we are still discussing this question with our Allies; and we hope that it will not be long before a decision is reached. I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by calling a conference at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what evidence he has of jamming or other interference with broadcasts to China from the Malaya Broadcasting Station.

There is no evidence of any intentional jamming of these broadcasts. But there is from time to time a certain amount of unavoidable interference due to congestion in the high frequency bands on which the broadcasts are transmitted.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to an official statement made by President Syngman Rhee derogatory to the British effort in Korea; and what representations have been made with the object of obtaining a withdrawal and apology.

I have been unable to trace any such public statement by President Syngman Rhee.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the nature of the discussions at present taking place, or contemplated, regarding the payment of German pre-war debts; and what are the countries involved.

The Tripartite Commission on German Debts, which was set up by the Governments of France, the United Kingdom and the United States to arrive at settlement arrangements for the German external debt, is holding a series of meetings with interested parties. On 25th June preliminary informal discussions about Germany's pre-war debts with representatives of creditors in the three countries began in London. The Governments of Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland accepted invitations to send observers. Tomorrow, informal consultations will begin with a German delegation in addition to those engaged in the earlier discussions. These meetings are designed to prepare the ground for an autumn conference, to which all countries with a significant creditor interest will be invited.

asked the Minister of Food when the arrival of the first consignment of Argentine chilled beef can be expected; and with what regularity in what quantities further shipments are anticipated.

The first trial shipments of chilled beef from Argentina are likely to arrive in September. After that I hope that shipments will arrive regularly in steadily increasing quantities, but I cannot say at present, with any certainty, what those quantities will be. We must, of course, recognise that it will take the Argentine authorities some little time to restore these facilities after so long a period of disuse.

asked the Minister of Food what are the authorised prices for sheep and beef casualties; and what element of price for hides and wool is included in these prices.

These prices vary seasonally according to the weight, class and quality of the carcases passed fit for human consumption; they are set out in the published price lists, copies of which I will send to the hon. and gallant Member. The prices paid for casualty cattle cover the value of the hides and of all offals. Additional seasonal allowances are made for casualty sheep skins according to the weights of the carcases. This year we are also paying a further allowance of 3d. per 1b. dressed carcase weight at certain periods for sheep and lambs received in wool.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the shortage of eggs in the holiday resorts of the Chichester rural district area; and if he will take urgent action to equalise the allocations there with those of the neighbouring areas.

Retailers in the Chichester rural district area are at present receiving eggs on the same basis as those in neighbouring areas. But after 15th July extra supplies will be allowed to retailers in certain areas to help them to meet the needs of holiday visitors. One of these areas is the Chichester rural district. I hope these extra supplies will cover all the needs raised in the hon. Member's Question.

asked the Minister of Food what is the average price paid to his Department on account of the sale of beef hides during 12 months to a recent and convenient date.

The average price during the 12 months ended 25th May this year was £7 1s. 3d. per hide, or about 2s. 4½d. per 1b. I must emphasise that this is an average and covers a very wide range of prices.

asked the Minister of Food if, owing to the increasing production of sugar in the non-dollar area, he is yet in a position to make a statement with regard to the termination of the rationing of sweets.

Although sugar production has increased in non-dollar areas, non-dollar supplies are still only sufficient to maintain the ordinary ration, recently increased to 10 oz., the existing monthly bonuses, and present allocation rates to manufacturers. In these circumstances, I do not think that I should be justified in increasing sugar allocations to sweet manufacturers sufficiently to enable sweets to be de-rationed.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he is aware that many foreign visitors to the Festival of Britain are handicapped by not knowing the English language; and what would be the cost of printing the catalogue in one or in two foreign languages.

The cost of printing, say, 100,000 guides to the South Bank Exhibition and 10,000 catalogues in one foreign language would be approximately £16,000 and £4,000 respectively. The Festival Office considered the matter at the appropriate time, but decided that such expenditure would not be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what ophthalmic services are provided in Singapore and Malaya; how many eye specialists there are; and what effective steps are being taken to teach the people the best methods of preserving their own and their children's sight.

My right hon. Friend is consulting the Governor of Singapore and the High Commissioner for the Federation of Malaya, and will write to my hon. Friend when he has their replies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the estimated blind population of Singapore and Malaya; how many have been recorded as blind; how many schools for blind children and workshops for blind adults there are; and what action is being taken to improve the training of both blind children and adults.

No reliable estimate has yet been made of the blind population of these territories. So far 240 persons have been registered as blind in Singapore and 12,000 in the Federation. There is one school for blind children in the Federation. No workshops for blind adults yet exist in either territory, but some training is carried on in such centres as the Nantina Home in Singapore.In each territory a committee set up under Government auspices is formulating plans for the improvement in the care and training of the blind. My right hon. Friend is asking the Governor of Singapore and the High Commissioner for the Federation of Malaya to keep him fully informed as to their progress.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, despite the fact that the Incorporated Society of Planters represents approximately 80 per cent. of the rubber planters in Malaya, there has been no consultation with that body about the selection of the planters' representative on the Federal War Council; and whether arrangements can be made for such consultation to take place in connection with any future appointment.

The High Commissioner is fully alive to the desirability of informal consultation with planters in regard to the appointment of the planter member of the War Council, but considers that as there are a number of associations it would be inappropriate for that member to be nominated by or regarded as representing any particular body or association.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps were taken to seek the views of the inhabitants of the Cocos Islands before it was decided to transfer their administration to Australia; and why this matter was not referred to the Legislative Council of Singapore, under whose jurisdiction the islands have been up to now.

As my right hon. Friend indicated in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby (Mr. J. Johnson) on 22nd June, the majority of the islanders have indicated during recent years their wish to emigrate to North Borneo, and emigration has been proceeding. It is the intention that all who wish to emigrate should have the opportunity of doing so before the islands are transferred, and we and the Australian Government have agreed that arrangements should be made to this end.In these circumstances, the islanders were not consulted beforehand about the proposed transfer. The Governor of Singapore consulted the unofficial members of the Legislative Council who agreed unanimously with the proposal and suggested certain conditions regarding the future status of the remaining islanders, which the Australian Government has readily accepted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what results have been achieved by the State Research Station, Mauritius, in respect of the improvement of sugar cane.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the article entitled "Sugar Cane Research in Mauritius" which was published in "Nature" of 3rd February, 1951. The most important achievement of the Sugar Cane Research Station has been breeding and distributing an improved variety of cane, M.134/32, which is now grown on over 90 per cent. of the total cane area and has been largely responsible for the record crops of recent years. Good work has also been done on such matters as the survey of the soils of the cane belt, the investigation of the nutritional status of cane and of the role of fertilisers, and pest and weed control.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how far the State factory in Mauritius has been successful in making sacking from wild aloes to meet the shortage of jute.

The Government sack factory in Mauritius at present produces about one-sixth of the sacking requirements of the Colony's sugar industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what schemes the Overseas Food Corporation have in project for the Kilombero Valley area of Tanganyika; and why the Corporation is assuming powers to alienate land in this area for private farmers.

None. The Corporation has merely agreed to help the Tanganyika Government in its survey of this area by lending some of its experts provided they are available at the time required. The Corporation has no interest in or control over any land in this area. This is a matter for the Tanganyika Government, who have as yet come to no conclusion on the use to which this land may eventually be put.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many eye hospitals there are in the African colonial territories; and where they are situated.

Eye diseases are treated in the vast majority of hospitals in the British African colonial territories. There is one hospital—a mission hospital at Kano in Northern Nigeria—devoted entirely to eye diseases. There are ophthalmic specialists in all the larger territories and special eye clinics in the larger centres.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the incidence of blindness in Nigeria and the Gold Coast, respectively; and what special measures are being taken in these Colonies to check this disease.

There are no reliable figures for the incidence of blindness in Nigeria and the Gold Coast but the British Empire Society for the Blind estimate that the blind population of the four British West African Territories is at least 300,000.That Society propose to undertake shortly, with the help of the colonial Governments, an ophthalmological survey of the northern areas of the Gold Coast and Nigeria, and the Cameroons. The object will be to ascertain the extent and causes of blindness in the areas concerned, and to recommend measures for prevention and treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that an epidemic disease described as vomiting sickness due to malnutrition has broken out in Jamaica; and what steps are being taken to deal with this and its cause.

There are no cases of vomiting sickness reported at present. Jamaica's current budget includes £10,000 for detailed laboratory investigation of the condition with the co-operation of the staff of the University College of the West Indies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will discuss with the Hong Kong and Indian Governments means whereby they can stop goods from India and other countries, considered by the United Nations as unsuitable for export to China, and destined for Communist China from using the facilities of Hong Kong harbour.

My right hon. Friend is already in consultation with the Governor of Hong Kong on this matter. Discussions with the Government of India do not of course, fall within my right hon. Friend's sphere, but the hon. and gallant Member has a Question down for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations on this subject.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether reconsideration can be given to King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions, Article 1120, as this precludes free discharge, even on compassionate grounds, when the applicant and/or his family has any means to purchase his discharge.

The rules for discharge by purchase set out in columns 251 and 252 of the OFFICIAL REPORT for 17th March, 1948, have since been slightly relaxed. Where there is extreme hardship, the Admiralty may now remit the purchase money and yet pay any gratuity to which the man may be entitled.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how long H.M.S. "Kenya" has been in foreign waters; and when the ship is due to return to home waters.

Nearly two years. She is expected to return about the middle of 1953, but her present ship's company should arrive home in February next.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what further information he has about H.M. Submarine "Affray."

As already reported 'n the Press, the snort mast of the "Affray" has been recovered and is being examined. The results of that examination will, of course, be considered by the naval board of inquiry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the world shortage of D.D.T., B.H.C. and other important insecticides and the importance of these in dealing with malaria, locusts and other diseases and pests, what action His Majesty's Government have taken through the World Health Organisation or otherwise 10 ensure increased production and more equitable world production of these substances.

The World Health Organisation, who have had this matter under continuous review for the past two or three years, have suggested certain measures whereby Governments could increase and maintain the supply of these insecticides, and these are under consideration by His Majesty's Government. Meanwhile, within the limits imposed by the restrictions on capital expenditure and availability of materials, the Board of Trade are at all times prepared to consider sympathetically applications by industry to increase its productive capacity.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what reports he has received showing the numbers of sheep killed by dogs in the past year.

Reports have been received from every county council in Great Britain. According to those reports the number of sheep killed by dogs during 1950 was nearly 6,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the net amount of income left after deduction of Income Tax applicable to earned income of £10,000, £20,000, £30,000, £40,000 and £50,000, for each of the financial years 1913–14, 1938–39 and 1950–51.

The following table gives the desired information in the case of a married man with two children.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what loss His Majesty's Stationery Office has sustained up to date on the production of the booklet "Country Code" on behalf of the National Parks Commission.

The net revenue from sales to date is about £60 less than the cost of production, but sales are continuing and it is expected that revenue will eventually cover production costs.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will release on compassionate grounds those National Service men who wish to emigrate to Dominion or Colonial countries in company with their families.

Applications for the compassionate release of such men are considered on their merits, but an individual would not be relieved of the liability to complete his period of whole-time service solely because his parents were emigrating.

asked the Secretary of State for War the present numbers of the Territorial Forces; and at what rate they are now recruiting.

The strength of the Territorial Army, including women's Services, on 31st May, 1951, was 11,409 officers and 107,040 other ranks. The average monthly recruitment of direct volunteers over the last six months was 115 officers and 1,406 other ranks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many public houses under his control in the Carlisle State Management District there are facilities for playing darts.

In 62, and I have recently been asked for, and have given, approval in principle to the formation of a darts league among the customers of these houses.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning when the hon. Member for Billericay may expect to have an answer to his letter of 16th April last concerning Mr. A. French, 14, High Road, Rayleigh.

As soon as the Rayleigh Urban District Council decide whether or not to give Mr. French a licence.

asked the Minister of Local Government and Planning the total number of district heating schemes that have been actually contemplated by his Department; how many of these are in operation; and how many are successful.

There are five schemes in operation, two others are under construction; 46 local authorities are known to be considering schemes.

asked the Minister or Health what is the institutional accommodation for mental defectives under the age of 16 of the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board; and what is the number on the waiting list at the moment.

Figures of institutional accommodation for defectives under the age of 16 in this Region are not available. There are, however, 560 children under 16 in the institutions of the Regional Hospital Board, and 358 children are on the waiting list.