asked the Minister of Supply why, in view of the fact that the Economic Survey for 1952 estimates that 5,000 additional workers will be required for the Royal Ordnance factories, unemployed workers in Blackburn are informed that there are no vacancies at the Royal Ordnance factory, Lower Darwen.

Two hundred and fifty workers have been engaged since January. The expansion of production in the Royal Ordnance factories does not, of course, proceed at a constant rate. In consequence, the rate of recruitment is bound to vary.

asked the Minister of Supply what consultations have taken place between the British Broadcasting Corporation and his officials concerning the decision to televise the explosion of an atomic bomb.

None.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware that, under the existing regulations it has been ruled that in a case where the eldest child is a permanent and incurable invalid, family allowance is not paid in respect of the second child when the first child attains the age of 15; and what steps he is prepared to take about this matter.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Hartlepools (Mr. D. Jones) on 3rd March.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware that a citizen in Newport, now aged 72, details of whom have been sent him, has been paying into the Old Age Pension Fund for about 20 years for himself and his wife and is now refused a noncontributory old age pension because he was not insurably employed prior to 1940; that he was at that time and previously a semi-invalid and that it was therefore impossible for him to have been so employed, especially as he was then nearly 60 years of age; and whether a pension can now be awarded him or his contributions refunded.

I think the hon. Member is misinformed as the person to whom he refers is receiving a non-contributory pension at the full rate. The hon. Member has already had a letter regarding the separate question of the wife's claim to refund of contributions.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he is aware of the hardship caused to widows who are receiving only 10s. a week pension, out of which they have to contribute to the Insurance Fund; and if he will relieve them of the obligation of paying insurance contributions.

Contributions need not be paid by persons not in employment whose income is less than £2 a week, and I see no need for any special provision for the widows mentioned by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now reconsider and reverse his refusal to introduce legislation to amend the Transport Acts so as to enable him to provide by season tickets or otherwise a flat rate for all workers' passenger fares within specified areas irrespective of the distance covered or the number of journeys taken.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the geographical position of Sheffield, he will give an assurance that any legislation introduced will enable the British Transport Commission to extend the free zone to 75 radial miles from Sheffield.

I must ask my hon. Friend to await the White Paper on transport policy.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will review policy in respect of licensing appeals to ensure that there is continued freedom for the travelling public to choose the form of transport they wish to use; that full regard is paid to the needs of the public in the provision of road passenger transport services; and that the discretion of licensing authorities in giving decisions is not fettered or biased in favour of the railway companies or the State-controlled road passenger transport undertakings.

Both the licensing authorities when determining applications for road service licences and the Minister on appeal must have regard to the considerations set out in Section 72 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930. As regards the last part of the Question, the discretion of the licensing authorities is not fettered otherwise than by the terms of the Act and is in no way biased in favour of the rail or road passenger transport undertakings controlled by the British Transport Commission.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement as to the general directions he will issue to the British Transport Commission, pending the introduction of new legislation, to ease the permit restrictions in the interest of economy, so as to allow loading in both directions.

No direction to the British Transport Commission on this subject is in contemplation.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the danger to life and property, in the Penlan district of Swansea by the straying of cattle; and if he will take steps to give increased powers to magistrates to deal with this problem.

I am aware that straying animals are a nuisance and a danger in some districts, including this, and the possibility of strengthening the law on this subject is being borne in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to reduce the price of the cathode ray tube in television sets.

None.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the additional £20 million to £25 million worth of textile orders to be placed by his Department will be for wool and cotton goods, respectively.

Tenders for textiles to be ordered under this scheme are being invited as quickly as possible under an accelerated procedure and some contracts have already been placed. I cannot, however, say at this stage how much of the £20–£25 million will be spent on cotton and wool goods, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement upon the circumstances in which British troops have occupied Lahej, the capital of the territories of the Sultan Fadhl Abdul Karim in the Protectorate of Aden and have been seeking to arrest the Sultan; and under what provision of what treaty this action is being taken.

Although the Governor of Aden has visited Lahej and has done his utmost to help the Sultan, reports of progressive deterioration in the affairs of the State continued to reach Aden. This was brought to a head by a report on 14th April that the Sultan had authorised the killing without trial of two Amirs. In reply to an inquiry the Sultan virtually admitted that the Amirs, who were distant cousins of his, had been killed by his orders, claiming proof of their conspiracy against his life. There have been other incidents, though not so serious as the present, which have caused anxiety.In the opinion of the Governor and others the recent conduct of the Sultan gives ground for believing that he is mentally deranged. The Governor therefore felt that he ought to take quick and determined action. Accordingly, with my approval, he informed the Sultan on 20th April that he should come to Aden for medical treatment and that an independent inquiry should be held by the Judge of the Colony. When on the following day the Sultan fled to the Yemen, the town of Lahej was occupied, by the Governor's orders, by the Aden Protectorate Levies without any incident.The Political Officer with the Levies took steps to ensure that the administration was continued, and that law and order were maintained pending the election of a Council of Regency by the traditional electoral body of the Sultanate. The Governor has since reported that it is hoped that the Aden Protectorate Levies will be withdrawn not later than 29th or 30th April. The inquiry by the Colony Judge was held on the 25th April, and the Judge's report is awaited.This action was taken by the Governor of the Aden Protectorate as a necessary act of policy. The situation was exceptional and our obligations as the protecting power to the people of Lahej were considered to override any agreement with the Ruler concerning his personal rule.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will provide a transcript of the evidence of the trial of Mr. Zukas.

I will ask the Governor for the transcript and will have it placed in the Library.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent calves, which have been injected with smallpox virus from which vaccine is produced, are eventually sold to butchers for human consumption as veal.

So far as calves are now used at all it is by commercial makers of vaccine lymph. I am making inquiries and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the average number of days lost by sickness per man in the Metropolitan Police force during 1939 and 1950, respectively.

The average number of days lost per man by sickness including injuries was 9.9 in 1939 and 17.4 in 1950. The figures for sickness alone were 8.1 days in 1939 and 14.9 days in 1950.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now state the number of proceedings and convictions for drunkenness in the Metropolitan Police district and/or the County of London and in the City of London, respectively, during the calendar year 1951; and the comparable figures for 1950.

The following table gives the available information:

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is now in a position to reply to the letter which the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme wrote to the Under-Secretary of State on 29th November, 1951, about the pension of Mr. George Lovatt, of 33 Albert Street, Silverdale, Staffordshire.

The hon. Member will have received a recent letter from my hon. Friend and is aware of the reason for the delay in clearing this case.

asked the Secretary of State for War why Z Reserve men attending the course at Radar Training Wing, Woolwich Arsenal, from 30th March to 12th April, received only 14 days' pay.

Z Reservists receive pay for the actual period of attendance for training, including reasonable travelling time. The times of assembly and dispersal of this course were so arranged that the period of training, including travelling time, should not have exceeded a total of 14 days. If in the particular case which my hon. Friend has in mind this period was exceeded, I will look into it if he will let me have the man's name and the details of the time spent in travelling.

asked the Minister of Education whether she is aware that in response to Circular 242 the Warwickshire Local Education Authority and Dorsetshire Local Education Authority have decided to eliminate all instruction in swimming to children attending schools in their areas and the Bournemouth Local Education Authority to reduce expenditure on swimming instruction by 50 per cent.; and what action she proposes to take to ensure that the essential fabric of the education service is maintained by the local education authorities named and to see that facilities and instruction in swimming are maintained.

I am aware of the action proposed by Warwickshire, but I have no similar information about the other two local authorities. While I agree that instruction in swimming is very desirable, I should not regard myself as justified in interfering with the authorities' discretion in this matter.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will consider issuing a circular to local authorities and new town development corporations recommending them to include some single room dwellings for elderly single folk in all new buildings projects.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a circular and report issued in May, 1951.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will take steps to review Section 42 of the Local Government Act, 1948, with a view to ensuring that when new assessments on existing premises are made the alteration in the rates payable should only operate from the date of such new assessment and not retrospectively.

The existing provision is in accordance with legislation, and follows a long established practice. It could not be altered except by legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the waiting list for admission of in-patients to Law Hospital, Lanarkshire; and how many hospitals in Lanarkshire consistently have empty beds.

There are at present 2,389 patients awaiting in-patient treatment at Law Hospital. No urgent case is refused immediate admission. Three small general hospitals (at Coatbridge, Biggar and Douglas) have usually a small number of beds empty and use is made of those beds when the patient is willing and his medical condition is suitable.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has yet issued a circular to urge local authorities to encourage self-help housing groups.

I am sending to my hon. Friend a copy of a circular which I sent to Scottish local authorities on this subject on 18th April.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the value of the timber huts ordered by his Department from Italy on behalf of the United States Air Force stationed in Great Britain.

The Air Ministry has not ordered any timber huts from Italy for the United States Air Force.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will be in a position to enable the Board of Customs and Excise to make a reply to the claim lodged by the Civil Service Union on behalf of the grade of land preventive men on 15th October, 1951.

The lengthy statement relating to the work and conditions of this grade, lodged by the Civil Service Union in support of their claim, is under active consideration and it is expected that a reply will be given shortly.

asked the Minister of Food his estimate of the percentage rise in food prices caused by devaluation of the pound.

No estimate can be made, partly because the effects of devaluation were not felt for some time afterwards, and partly because the price rises due to devaluation cannot be isolated from other causes, such as the Korean war.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give full particulars of the total number of Parliamentary delegations that have made visits overseas since 1945; the Members of such delegations and the countries visited, together with the costs involved; and any other overseas delegation of Members of Parliament where Treasury expenditure has been incurred.

As the answer is extremely long, and involves an amount of detail which takes up a great deal of space properly to set out, I am writing to the hon. Member and sending him as much of the information for which he asks as is available.