asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when it is proposed to issue postage stamps bearing the head of Her Majesty the Queen.

A decision has not yet been reached. An announcement will be made as soon as definite information is available.

Could the hon. Gentleman say what steps are being taken about the design, and could he also say whether a Coronation stamp is contemplated?

That, too, is under consideration.

Will the hon. Gentleman say whether it will be possible in the new issue of stamps to have some design illustrative of the industries and amenities of the country?

That is a matter, of course, which has to be decided by Her Majesty and is not entirely a matter for the Post Office.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that in the early days of postage stamps this country was pre-eminent in design and that we have fallen sadly away from that high standard? Will Her Majesty's Government do their best to restore the position?

Will the hon. Gentleman say whether the usual practice of consulting artists, who submit designs, will be followed?

Yes. Sir.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that the absence of a cash-on-delivery service to the United States of America is a deterrent to trade; and whether he will establish such a service.

The Post Office has as recently as 1949 proposed this service to the United States of America, but that Administration does not in general offer a foreign cash-on-delivery service and has not been prepared to agree to its introduction.

As this is a great deterrent to trade with the United States, and as the United States operate an internal cash-on-delivery service, will not my hon. Friend try to introduce some pressure at a higher level to settle this issue?

We made the suggestion to the United States as short a time ago as 1949, but they were not prepared to agree to it.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will try the Dutch system of collecting from the senders deficiencies in the postage paid on letters sent abroad, instead of leaving them to be collected from the addressees.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for this suggestion. It has long been the practice of the Post Office, where either a single package or a batch of packages from one sender would be liable to a heavy surcharge, for the additional stamps to be stuck on and the sender asked to refund them. It is proposed to extend this arrangement as an experiment to cover as many ordinary underpaid letters as possible, but this can only be done where the name and address of the sender appears on the outside.

Is the Assistant Postmaster-General aware that the old British custom of understamping letters send abroad causes much irritation in other countries, and that his efforts to remove some of the irritation and to change the custom to a greater extent will be applauded?

That is why we are making this experiment, but I would point out to my hon. Friend that it is bound to be limited so long as approximately only one person in five troubles to put his name and address on the envelope, because the Post Office have no authority to open letters.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the estimated monthly saving in Government expenditure involved in reducing the official cars attached to the headquarters of the Post Office from 14 to 9; whether the cars have been sold; and whether their drivers have left the Government service.

The estimated gross monthly saving is about £350, including overheads. The five cars will either be sold or used to meet other Government requirements; the drivers concerned have been transferred to other vehicles.

Will the hon. Gentleman explain where the saving has been made so far as Government expenditure is concerned, and if there has not been a saving does that not show that when the announcement was made in this House it was sheer hypocritical humbug?

If the hon. Gentleman saw me using the tube he would not think it was sheer hypocritical humbug; but the fact remains that the cars used by the Post Office are fewer by that number.

Is it not a fact that the drivers' wages are paid by the Government Department, and if cars have not been sold, where is the saving?

The drivers concerned have been transferred to other sections of the Post Office, which means that we have not had to take on new drivers to fill vacancies.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General his policy in regard to the future production and use of training films.

Subject to the paramount need for economy, my noble Friend proposes to continue to use films for training Post Office staff. Production of new films for this purpose will continue to be arranged through the Central Office of Information.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether, by the decision to abolish the Crown Film Unit, the extent of this service will be reduced and whether any extra charges will fall on the Post Office?

It will have no effect at all on the extent to which the films will be used. So far as the cost is concerned, I hope it will be cheaper for the taxpayer.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will consider adopting the same hours for the counter work in post offices in the United Kingdom as in Australia, where the hours are identical with those of commerce; and what would be the approximate saving in staff hours at the Post Office public counters if the hours of business at public counters were 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. with a convenient half holiday.

The hours of business at most sub post offices are already closely related to those of shops. These offices are mostly open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. frequently with an hour's break at midday, and a weekly half holiday. Crown offices generally open from 8.30 a.m. to 6.30–7 p.m. on each weekday.

I regret that the information which my hon. and gallant Friend seeks cannot be obtained without detailed investigation; but quite apart from the fact that any reduction of hours at Crown offices would, I am convinced, lead to strong public protest, I doubt if any economy would result because of the increased staff which would be necessary, when the offices were open, to deal with the resultant congestion.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General (1) whether he will meet the National Guild of Telephonists to discuss the implementation of the Terrington Committee Report;

(2) what he proposes to do with the application for recognition by the National Guild of Motor Engineers in view of the recommendations of the Terrington Committee Report.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will give an assurance that effect will not be given to the Report of the Post Office Department Classes Recognition Committee before the Report has been discussed in this House.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will now state what action he intends to take in relation to the Terrington Report on Trade Union Recognition within the Post Office.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will inform the National Association of Postal and Telegraph Officers of the findings of the Terrington Committee; and if he will implement the findings.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what steps he proposes to take with regard to the Electrical Officers Telecommunications Association, in the light of the Terrington Committee Report.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what decision he has reached in regard to the recommendations of the Terrington Committee.

My noble Friend is examining the Terrington Report and has asked interested associations to furnish him with any written comments which they may wish to offer. It is not proposed to take any action meanwhile.

Will not the Assistant Postmaster-General agree that in the light of the Terrington Report the attitude of the last Government to splinter unions of the Post Office has been fully justified?

I do not think that I ought to comment on the Terrington Report until my noble Friend has had a chance to examine it thoroughly and the comments which the interested bodies propose to make upon it.

Will the Assistant Postmaster-General then consult his right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour with a view to posting employment vacancies to Mr. W. J. Brown?

May I ask the hon. Gentleman one or two questions? First, is he satisfied that this inquiry was conducted fairly and impartially; second, whether or not it is the intention of his noble Friend to convene a meeting of the recognised trade unions for the purpose of implementing or discussing the implementation of these recommendations, and, third, whether or not we can have an assurance that no recognition will be given to any splinter union until full discussions have taken place in accordance with the recommendations?

My noble Friend is extremely gratified with the Report and very grateful to Lord Terrington and his colleagues for carrying out this investigation. Until my noble Friend has had a chance to consider it in all its implications, including the ones mentioned by the right hon. Gentleman, I prefer to make no further statement.

Does not the hon. Gentleman remember that when he and his colleagues were on this side of the House they pressed this matter as one of great urgency, and as his noble Friend has had this Report for six weeks, what is the reason for the delay?

As my hon. Friend did not answer my specific question, is he aware that no action should be taken until there has been an opportunity to discuss it in this House?

Whether there is a debate on the matter in this House is, of course, not a matter for me.

That is not an answer to my question.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that many of these amalgamations of trade unions which are recommended in the Terrington Report would have taken place months ago had it not been for the attitude of himself and his hon. Friends oppositee?

Is the Assistant Postmaster-General aware that many of us regard with disfavour those parts of the Terrington Report which tend to place restriction on free associations, and those of us who held that view have not changed it since we changed from that side of the House to this.

Further to the question of the hon. Member for Croydon, East (Sir H. Williams), will the Assistant Postmaster-General consult with the Leader of the House to see whether he can arrange a time to debate this subject?

I think that hon. Members in all parts of the House had better wait until the final statement is made on this matter.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what action he proposes to take in response to representations about the delays imposed on cables to Australia and New Zealand which have occurred this month.

There have been delays during February, and my noble Friend is extremely disturbed about them. It is, however, a fact that they were no worse than in February of last year in spite of the hurricane damage to the cable station in Fiji and interruption to the cables passing through Egypt.

This year the Atlantic cable from Porthcurno to Harbour Grace, which has been out of action since the middle of the war, should be working again.

Is the Assistant Postmaster-General aware that one result of these delays was that a certain amount of traffic was diverted via the U.S.A., and is he aware of the very serious implications of that move for the future of this branch of Commonwealth telecommunications?

That is one of the things disturbing my noble Friend.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will state, in detail, the reasons which have led him to doubt whether it would be profitable now to attempt any uprooting of Cable and Wireless.

Because not enough time has elapsed since the taking over on 1st April, 1950, for a considered judgment to be reached.

Does the hon. Gentleman think that one of the reasons might be that his party voted for the Second and Third Readings of the Telecommunications Act?

Will the hon. Gentleman consult all Commonwealth Governments concerned before he thinks of changing our policy on this matter?

There is no question of any immediate change being made. I have answered the Question which was put to me. The hon. Member asked why the statement was made in those words.

Can my hon. Friend say what is meant by "uprooting" wireless?

That is only a phrase used in answer to a Question.

As Cable and Wireless has been on a new basis for five years, does not that make it possible to review some aspects of its administration?

My noble Friend feels that not enough time has elapsed for him to come to a considered judgment about a very important matter of this kind.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what powers have been delegated by his Department to the Government of Northern Ireland to enable them to open postal packages in transit; and whether he will undertake to withdraw this authority.

None, Sir.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Post Office in Belfast is used for party purposes, and does this really differ from the practice in totalitarian countries where opponents' letters are opened?

I did not pick up what the hon. Gentleman said. Perhaps he would be good enough to put it again.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that opponents' letters are being opened in Northern Ireland, and is that any different from the practice in certain Continental countries?

That is not the Question which I was asked. The hon. Gentleman asked me if powers had been delegated to the Government of Northern Ireland and whether I would undertake to withdraw any authority given. My answer is that we have delegated no authority.

What action does the hon. Gentleman propose to take to prevent persons not directly under his control using accommodation in Room 22 of the G.P.O. in Belfast for the censorship of letters and mail?

That point does not in any way arise.

The supplementary question, I gather, concerns people who are not under the control of the Post Office. If that is so, the question cannot be asked.

This is taking place in the building which is under the control of the hon. Gentleman. Will he take action to prevent these unauthorised persons using those premises for the censorship of mails and letters?

If the hon. Gentleman wants to ask me that question he must put it down. That does not in any way arise out of the Question on the Order Paper.

If the allegation made by the hon. Member for Belfast, West (Mr. Beattie), is true, that postal packets and letters are being censored in accommodation under the hon. Gentleman's control in Belfast, would it not be his responsibility to deal with the matter?

If that is the question which the hon. Gentleman and the right hon. Gentleman wants answered and it is put down, I will consider it, but it does not arise from this Question.

Might I call the attention of the House to the terms of the Question? The hon. Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone (Mr. Healy) asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what powers had been delegated by his Department. That is what the Question said. Cannot the Minister give a straight answer to it?

I understood the Minister to answer that no powers had been delegated.

If the hon. Gentleman has delegated no powers, why is he allowing the premises to be used?

I think that is a separate question. It is clearly a separate question from the Question which has been answered, and it is ancient usage in this House when a new question is asked as a supplementary, that it is within the Minister's discretion to ask for notice of it. In asking for the question to be on the Order Paper the Assistant Postmaster-General is doing nothing that is not in accordance with the customs of the House.

Is the Minister aware that the Minister of Home Affairs in Northern Ireland, in replying to a Question in the Northern Ireland House of Commons, said: "I am not prepared"—[Interruption.]

The difficulty about that question is that certain powers have been given by this House to the Parliament of North Ireland. I cannot tell from the form of this supplementary question whether or not it is in order for this House to discuss the matter, because it might concern the delegated powers. I think it would be in the interests of us all, and to prevent any conflict between the two Houses, that we should see the question on the Order Paper in its proper form.

It is also said in the Northern Ireland House of Commons that no question on this issue can be answered there because the responsibility rests here. Under those circumstances, I respectfully suggest to you, Mr. Speaker, that it is in order for the question to be asked here, or else there ought to be some consultation between the authorities concerned in order that it may be settled where the question can be asked.

Surely it is reasonable for me to suggest that we should have notice on the Order Paper of the question so that we can see exactly what the question is.

Is it to be understood that where something in the nature of a criminal or similar offence is brought to the notice of a Minister of the Crown, he is going to take no action whatsoever until the question is put down on the Order Paper?

That is a proposition much wider than I have enunciated. All I am saying is that this House has delegated certain powers to the Parliament of Northern Ireland, and a question such as this ought to be on the Order Paper so that we can see whether it is in order or not.

I should like to be accommodating. I have asked a very simple and straightforward question. I am prepared to put it down on the Order Paper at your request, Mr. Speaker.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many postal packages have been opened in the post offices in Northern Ireland for the purpose of the examination of their contents by the police officers since 1st November, 1951; and how many of these packages were opened in order to exercise a political censorship of their contents.

I assume that the hon. Member refers to packages opened under the Royal Prerogative. I have no information as to the reason for the exercise of this power, and I am advised that it would not be in the public interest to disclose the extent to which it is exercised.

Is the Minister aware that the Northern Ireland Minister of Home Affairs has admitted that he is opening letters but he will not give any reason for opening them? Is he further aware that they have been opened in his premises and by persons apparently under his control in Room 22.

If they are under the control of the Minister of Home Affairs in Northern Ireland it is not a matter for this House.

I mean under the control of the Assistant Postmaster-General.

That is no concern of mine. I am merely acting under a Warrant which I mentioned in the answer to my Question.

The hon. Gentleman is now taking refuge in declaring that it might not be in the public interest to interfere. Can he give reasons why the public interest is affected by this? [Interruption.] Mr. Speaker, might I ask my question? [Interruption.] Hon. Gentlemen opposite should keep in order. May I repeat my question? Should the hon. Gentleman take refuge by declaring that the public interest in this matter prevents him from disclosing this information, and if so, would he advance a reason why the public interest is affected?

It is not a question of taking refuge at all. The Post Office are only agents in this matter. It might interest the right hon. Gentleman to know that I am acting under a Warrant that was signed during the time of my predecessor.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there has been an extension of this practice since November extending to the letters of a political party?

There has been no extension at all. This Warrant was signed while the hon. Gentleman who has just asked that question was occupying my present position.

Is it not a fact that the present practices which are being referred to have been in existence for over 20 years.

They have been extended.

Can the Minister say how he satisfies himself that the letters which are opened do not go beyond the prerogatives that are accorded to him in this matter unless he knows what the contents are?

I only act under the Royal Prerogative, and the Post Office are only agents in this matter.

How does the Assistant Postmaster-General know whether his servants are exceeding the Prerogative which is given to them unless he satisfies himself about the nature of the letters opened?

I am satisfied that the Post Office servants in this matter are only acting within the terms of the Warrant and I can assure the hon. Gentleman and his colleagues on the Opposition Front Bench that the Warrant under which I am acting is exactly that which was granted to my predecesor.

The hon. Gentleman is trying to put his case quite fairly. Certain obligations have been assumed under this Royal Warrant, but the allegation in the Question is that police officers are occupying premises and doing something now that was never intended under the Royal Warrant which has been standing for many years.

I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that the Post Office are doing no more and no less than they did when he was Postmaster-General.

Could the Assistant Postmaster-General answer the first part of the Question, because presumably no question of public interest arises there, and say how many postal packets have been opened?

I cannot answer that question, for the reasons I have given.

May I ask the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he knows, even if he will not tell us, the number that has been opened?

No, I do not.

I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether the agreement entered into by his Department with the Board of Trade for the periodical inspection by inspectors of weights and measures, provides machinery for enabling summonses to be issued against the Post Office where weighing appliances are found to be false.

No, Sir; this would require legislation, and the committee on weights and measures legislation did not recommend this action.

Must not this action, to be effective, include a provision to issue summonses? Why does my hon. Friend maintain that the Post Office should be free from the requirements that apply to private traders?

That raises the general question of suing a Government Department by another Government service and the question of who pays the fine.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what proof of identity is now required for the withdrawal of money from the Post Office Savings Bank.

No special evidence of identity is now required for the withdrawal of money from the Post Office Savings Bank. Where a counter clerk notices a difference between the signature on the withdrawal form and that in the book, or has any reason to suppose that an attempt at fraud is being made, he will, as always, be entitled to ask for some proof of identity.

Good.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the large number of people in the Sleaford area who are awaiting the supply of a telephone service at the present time; and what steps he is taking to ensure an improvement in the situation there.

The Sleaford exchange has recently been reconstructed and extended, and additional equipment and cables will be provided as quickly as possible; but in view of the heavy demands on our limited resources, I cannot at present say when this new plant is likely to be ready for service.

I thank my hon. Friend, but may I ask him to bear in mind the large number of applications outstanding, particularly from business people and from those connected with agriculture? It is a real problem at the present time.

I am aware of that, and I am sorry that we cannot complete it sooner.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what alterations are projected in regard to the publication of the London telephone directory.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 20th February to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Ian Harvey).

Can the Minister say if it is really definite that the London telephone directory as we now know it is not to be divided up into purely local directories?

That is another question.

To overcome this difficulty, will my hon. Friend issue amendments to the London telephone directory where he is not going to issue a full directory?

I do not think that is necessary because already the new directory will go to business subscribers and to new subscribers, and any private subscriber who wants a copy can get one if he asks for it.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if his revised regulations allow a residential telephone subscriber in the London area to obtain a copy of a new issue of the London telephone directory merely by asking for it; to whom application must be made; and in what manner.

If an existing residential subscriber specially needs a new issue, one will be provided; he should apply for it to his local telephone manager, preferably in writing.

How does my hon. Friend define "special need"? Is this a needs test of some form or other?

No, Sir. There is no difficulty about it. If any private subscriber really wants a telephone directory we shall be only too pleased to see that he has one.

If the subscriber makes an application once, will that be only for that issue, or must he make an application for each issue of the directory?

The subscriber must make an application for each issue of the directory.

My hon. Friend said he would be pleased to see that a subscriber got a directory if he wanted one. Did he mean to say "if the subscriber asks for it"? That is really what the Question asks.

I am sorry if I conveyed a wrong impression. If the subscriber asks for a directory, he will get one.

Is my hon. Friend aware that for some four years his Department, against my better wishes, has been sending me four copies of every telephone directory for one telephone number? He might find a useful source of supply there.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many applicants are on the waiting list for telephone installations in Newcastle-upon-Tyne; and how many have been connected during 1951.

Eight hundred and twenty-eight are on the waiting list and 420 are being provided or are under inquiry. In 1951 there were 2,360 new connections.

Will the hon. Gentleman do his utmost to ensure that a fair supply of materials are made available to Newcastle and district as there is still some feeling there that they do not get their fair proportion?

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that we shall do our best to get more satisfactory conditions in the Newcastle area as soon as possible.

Is my hon. Friend aware that in practically every town and city there is a shortage of telephones, and will he do his utmost to fill up the deficiencies which have arisen after six years of Socialist misrule?

As the House knows, the limiting factor is the shortage of raw materials and also the shortage of manpower.

Is the hon. Gentleman catching himself coming back?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when the present telephone system at Newport was installed.

The exchange was opened in 1915.

Was not this the first experimental dialling system station opened in this country, and has it not had all the inherent disadvantages of an experimental scheme ever since?

Did the hon. Member for Newport put his Question to the previous Government? If so, what answer did he get?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the inadequacy of the present telephone exchange at Newport to meet the growing needs of Monmouthshire and surrounding areas; and what action he proposes to take to modernise the existing installation.

As the hon. Member is aware, a building extension is in progress and when it is ready the new equipment already on order will be installed. I am chary of estimating when the building will be finished in view of present shortages of materials.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that that will be very favourably received by the community of Monmouthshire, particularly Newport? In view of the long delays which have occurred in connection with this installation, will he make every effort to press it forward with all possible speed?

I can assure the hon. Member that there will be no delay if we can possibly avoid it.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many applications for telephones on the Brixton exchange are now outstanding; and what progress is being made in granting such applications.

One thousand four hundred and three applications were outstanding on the 31st December, 1951. The exchange equipment is being extended and when the work is completed towards the end of this year we shall be able to give service to many of the present waiting applicants.

In view of the very large number of outstanding applications—

They have been outstanding for some years.

—can the hon. Gentleman say whether there has been any improvement at all during the past few months and how many of the applications will still be without a telephone at the end of 1952?

That is another question, but if the hon. and gallant Gentleman will put it down I will give him an answer.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many applications for telephone installations are outstanding in the Uttoxeter, Tutbury and Burton-on-Trent areas, respectively; and how many applicants, it is estimated, are likely to obtain installations during the current year.

The applications outstanding at 31st December, 1951, were 116, 35 and 147. During the current year it is hoped to provide up to 400 new lines in the three areas.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind, when allocating telephone equipment, that this area has greatly changed its character in recent years and is now an important engineering and industrial centre exporting large quantities of manufactures?

Yes, Sir, I have that point in mind.

May I ask for an assurance that, as a result of the Parliamentary Questions which are being asked in regard to particular areas, the fact will not be overlooked that other hon. Gentlemen who have not asked Questions have exactly similar problems?

I readily give that assurance.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when he proposes to honour the pledge of his Department to restore Stagshaw's own wavelength, 267 metres, which was taken during the war for operating the European broadcasting service.

I am unable to trace the pledge to which my hon. Friend refers; if she will let me have further particulars, I shall be happy to look into the matter. Under the Copenhagen Plan of 1950, the wavelength of 267 metres has not been allocated to this country.

I will immediately send my hon. Friend the information for which he asks. May I, then, have an assurance that he will redeem the pledge that was given to the Northern Region?

Perhaps the hon. Lady will send the information.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a way out of the hon. Lady's difficulty would be to put the Stagshaw and Holme Moss transmitters upon the same wavelength?

Will my hon. Friend please answer that question?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when he expects the new television transmitter at the Wenvoe Station, which is scheduled to cover south-west England, to be completed.

It is too early to say when the high power transmitter will be completed, but the B.B.C. hopes to open the station on low power in August.

In considering this matter, will the Assistant Postmaster-General bear in mind that one of the most populous and productive parts of the country, the north-east, is without a television service of any kind?

I am aware of that, but it does not arise on this Question.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when he anticipates that the Wenvoe television transmitter will be in operation.

The B.B.C. hopes to open the station on low power in August.

Is the low power transmitter which the B.B.C. are to use for this area the one that should have been erected at Pontop Pike and which would have given the North-East Coast the television they desire?

I should want notice of that question.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to improve the reception of British Broadcasting Corporation programmes in the north-eastern coastal area.

We have asked the Soviet Administration to reduce the interference being caused by a Russian station to reception of the Northern Home Service on 434 metres in the Yorkshire coastal area. Last November the B.B.C. provided a Home Service transmitter working on 261 metres to serve Scarborough and the immediate neighbourhood. The best hope for an improved sound broadcasting service lies in the use of very high frequencies, but owing to defence and economic requirements, it is too early to say when this will be possible.

Does my hon. Friend think that his efforts in this direction will be attended by better success than the efforts of his predecessors?

It is anybody's guess as to what will be the result of representations made to the Soviet Government.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what progress has been made by the British Broadcasting Corporation, in consultation with the Trades Union Congress, for recognition by the British Broadcasting Corporation of affiliated trade unions.

This is primarily a matter for the B.B.C. The Corporation have informed my noble Friend that, after expressing readiness to accept the Broadcasting Committee's recommendation No. 93 as a whole, they have had several meetings with representatives of the Trades Union Congress and the unions concerned with the object of reaching a working arrangement on that basis. Negotiations are still going on.

Does the hon. Gentleman's reply mean that the British Broadcasting Corporation are now prepared to recognise trade unions affiliated to the Trades Union Congress?

I suggest that the hon. Member waits until the negotiations are finished.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the negotiations have been going on for two years? Is he also aware that as a result of the Terrington Committee Report he will be further strengthened in giving the B.B.C. instructions to recognise trade unions?

It is not a part of my duty, any more than it was a part of the hon. Member's duty when he was Assistant Postmaster-General, to give the B.B.C. instructions in a matter of this sort.

As the B.B.C. Charter is being discussed, as the observations of the B.B.C. have been obtained upon the terms and conditions of the Charter, and as the B.B.C. itself undertook to carry out that recommendation last June, surely we could have a little more speed?

There is no evidence that the B.B.C. is not prepared to accept the recommendation. I do not think the right hon. Gentleman could have heard what I said. I told the House that the negotiations are still proceeding.

As every responsible authority in the country, local and national, and big industrial corporations, recognise trade unions, would it not be wise on the part of the Government to see that the B.B.C. also does so?

The B.B.C. has already said that it is prepared to accept recommendation No. 93 of the Broadcasting Commission Report as a whole.

Why has it not already done so?

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation if he will consider constructing a helidrome on the South Bank site in connection with the development of helicopter passenger transport; and if he will take the necessary action to discuss the matter with the various interests concerned.

Yes, Sir; I am at present discussing with those concerned the possibility of reserving a site on the South Bank as an airstop.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation the reason for the imposition of a passenger-landing charge at British airports; and the estimated annual yield.

The charge will make a contribution towards the cost of providing services and facilities for passengers at State airports. In this way the net cost to the Exchequer of operating the airports will be reduced. The yield in the coming financial year is estimated at £200,000.

Was there full consultation with the corporations before this charge was imposed, and was full weight given to their views and to the possibility of great inconvenience to passengers, particularly to tourists?

Full weight was given to all those considerations. I should add that the corporations were consulted about the method of imposing this charge.

Is it the intention of the Minister that this charge should be included in the passenger tickets and paid by the air companies, or that passengers should pay the charge separately upon arrival?

It is a matter for the air line operators concerned as to the most convenient and most practicable method of imposing the charge.

Were other countries consulted in regard to the charge?

Other countries were not consulted in the matter.

Has the Minister considered grading the charge so that passengers coming long distances, for example across the Atlantic, pay more than passengers coming short distances, as from Paris?

Yes, Sir. The question of grading has been considered, and grading is in fact applied.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation whether the new service charge of 5s. for each passenger arriving at United Kingdom airports from Europe will apply, under his regulations, to passengers from Eire.

Yes, Sir.

Does the Minister not agree that in the case of citizens of Eire the charge should be remitted, in accordance with the principle laid down in the Nationality Act that those citizens are to be treated as far as possible as citizens of the United Kingdom?

There are a lot of considerations to be remembered in connection with this matter, but the principal one is that Eire cannot be considered for this purpose as an internal service. It is a question of internal and external services.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation what proposals the British Overseas Airways Corporation have put forward for tourist class services; when the proposals were submitted; and why they have not been approved.

British Overseas Airways Corporation propose to operate tourist services across the North Atlantic from 1st May, 1952, in accordance with an agreement reached by the International Air Transport Association. This agreement was submitted for the United Kingdom Government's approval on 21st December, 1951, and has been approved, but I understand that the agreement has not yet been approved by all Governments concerned.

In view of the fact that the Department have pressed for tourist services for a long period of years, is it not unfortunate that the Corporation have had to advertise them for the last five weeks as being subject to Government approval?

This arises solely out of the procedure followed by the Internationl Air Transport Association, which provides that all these agreements must be approved by all the Governments of member airlines.

Will the Minister ask the Corporations to make it clear that it is not because of any laxity on the part of the hon. Gentleman's Department that approval has not been given?

I think the hon. Gentleman will find that all other airlines, foreign airlines too, have the same qualifying clause in their announcements.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made towards a settlement of the amount to be paid to former Far Eastern prisoners of war, or to their dependants.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 20th February to the hon. and gallant Member for Norfolk, Central (Brigadier Medlicott). It is not possible to give a more exact estimate of value of these assets than has already been given to the House, namely about £5 million.

Can the Minister give us an idea when the settlement is likely to be reached? Do we understand from the previous answer that it will be when the Treaty has been ratified by all concerned?

That is perfectly correct. When the Treaty is in force, we can lay our hands on those assets, under Article 14 in this country and under Article 16 in neutral and ex-enemy countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the composition of the delegation to certain Arab countries led by Sir Roger Makins; which countries it will visit; for what purposes; in what form its report will be made; and whether any parts of it will be made public.

Sir Roger Makins is accompanied by another member of the Foreign Office staff and by representatives of the Treasury and of the Bank of England. The territories which he is visiting are Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Sharjah, Dubai, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, where he has paid a call on King Ibn Saud.

The object of the mission is to enable a senior official of the Foreign Office to study at first hand and to discuss with those Rulers of the Persian Gulf to whom Her Majesty's Government have special responsibilities and with their principal advisers, the general situation in the area and in particular the problems arising out of the recent greatly increased production of oil in the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf.

On his return, Sir Roger Makins will report to my right hon. Friend and he will consider whether any parts of his report can be made public.