asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air who is responsible for the accommodation of the Air Training Corps in so far as maintenance and buildings are concerned; and what arrangements are made for urgent repair work to be undertaken.

Territorial and auxiliary Forces associations assumed this responsibility at the beginning of the current financial year. Funds are available for any urgent repair work which has to be done before the amount of the annual Air Ministry grants to the Associations can be assessed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will make a statement on the abolition of non-continuous training at Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve centres.

Yes. Experience has shown that the most effective training for ground members of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve is given during their annual 15 days' attachment to Air Force stations, but that part-time, or non-continuous, training at Reserve centres is difficult or impossible to organise efficiently and economically.It has, therefore, been decided to concentrate the training of the majority of these ground reservists into their annual camps, where they have the benefit of serving and training alongside Royal Air Force regulars. They will continue to be paid the annual bounty of £9, but they will no longer be given part-time training at Reserve centres. Members of special Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve units will carry on with part-time training in their units. Ground training for aircrew reservists will continue at Reserve flying schools.These changes will make it possible to improve the organisation of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and to reduce the number of Reserve centres, thus giving better value for outlay without undue effect on standards of training. The number and location of the centres to be retained is now being examined.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will delay the permanent closure of the Thoresway—Binbrook Road until a by-pass has been constructed and opened, since this road is of great local importance during the winter months; and if he will reconsider the matter, in view of the correspondence sent to him.

The use of this road will be allowed for the time being, subject to traffic control.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that Royal Air Force personnel have, in recent weeks, been taking part in exercises which require them to walk over grass fields and farm roads for long distances in areas which are affected by foot-and-mouth disease; and whether he will cause these exercises to be postponed immediately until such time as the risk of spreading the disease has disappeared.

These exercises were held with the knowledge and consent of the Ministry of Agriculture. They would certainly have been cancelled if foot-and-mouth disease restrictions had been in force in the areas concerned and, indeed, several have been cancelled for this reason during the past few months.

asked the Minister of Food what alteration there will be in the allocation scheme for retailers based on the amount of bananas retailers took in 1939 when the banana trade is handed back to private enterprise.

This scheme has been revised on several occasions to bring allocations into line with retailers' current trade, and supplies are available to new entrants. Further changes must depend upon the outcome of the consultations that are now starting on import arrangements.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the sudden price collapse for early potatoes grown in this country, because of which many growers have been forced to sell early potatoes below cost of production; and why, under these circumstances, permission was recently given to import 1,000 tone of Spanish potatoes which arrived during the first week-end of June.

My right hon. and gallant Friend is aware that the markets were over-supplied with potatoes in early June, with a temporary collapse in price. The closing date for the open general licence was 31st May. I am inquiring into the particular case to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Minister of Food by how much the price of beef sausages and beef sausage meat, respectively, was increased, when the price of meat was increased, on average, by 3d. last year and when it was increased by 4d. this year.

The retail prices of beef sausages and beef sausage meat were both increased by 2½d. per lb. in July, 1951, and recently by a further 4d. and 4½d. per lb. respectively. These figures cannot directly be compared because the latter increases, unlike those of 1951, take account of higher manufacturing and distribution costs.

asked the Minister of Food by how much he expects to reduce the total amount of the food subsidies by not making the usual seasonal reduction in the price of milk and by subsequently increasing the price.

About £20 million.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the need to maintain exports of jam, and for that purpose to keep the prices of jam at a competitive level, he will consider relieving jams which are for export from some, or all of the recent increases in the price of sugar.

I am considering this question in response to representations from sugar-using manufacturers that the present price of manufacturing sugar used in exports is above the world market price of sugar.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence how many ex-miners, who were serving in the Far East last year, have now applied for release to return to the mining industry; from which services these applications have come; and how many have been granted.

Twenty-five applications for release have so far been sent to the National Coal Board—13 from the Navy and 12 from the Army. Fourteen of these applications have been granted, three have been rejected and eight are under consideration by the Board.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence whether he will consider reverting to the practice of granting a free issue of civilian clothing to men on their release from service in the Armed Forces.

Men completing Regular engagements in the Armed Forces with not less than three years' qualifying service receive civilian clothing on discharge.As regards National Service men, the practice of making a free issue of a civilian clothing outfit on release from the Forces was discontinued in January, 1947, by the late Government, and its revival could not be justified in present circumstances.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence what is the total expenditure on military operations in Korea up to 31st May, 1952.

The additional direct expenditure incurred by the United Kingdom up to 30th June was about £17 million. In addition, there has been an exceptional rate of consumption of military stores which represents an indirect cost. Supplies and services have been received from other participants in the United Nations Command, the financial arrangements for which remain to be settled. I would refer the hon. Member to the figures given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister yesterday, which take all these factors into account.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what percentage approximately of the £400 million-odd given or promised in recent years by British taxpayers in gifts to British dependencies has been spent or earmarked for annual social services therein, and not on schemes for the continuous production of wealth, with which permanent dependency social services could be established.

Of a total of about £415 million given or promised to British dependencies and mandated territories by Her Majesty's Government since 1919, it is estimated that approximately £78 million, or just under 19 per cent., has been or will be devoted to social services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken in British dependencies in South-East Asia to increase the acreage under rice by private and public enterprise, in view of the decrease in supplies from Indo-China, Siam, Burma and Malaya and of the danger of famine if the United States exports of rice fail to prevent it as they have done recently.

A number of major irrigation schemes have been undertaken in Malaya and promising results have been obtained from experiments in the mechanical cultivation of dry land rice, the use of high yielding padi and fertilizers, and better methods of cultivation, including tractors for deep ploughing. Production has already increased from 340,000 tons in 1948 to 440,000 tons last year.In North Borneo important irrigation and drainage projects are under construction. In Sarawak good progress is being made with the extension of wet padi cultivation, and the development of pump irrigation schemes. The aim is that both these countries should become self sufficient in rice.Steps to increase the production of rice are not limited to South-East Asia and much is being done to that end elsewhere, for instance in West Africa, Tanganyika and British Guiana.Following are further details:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has now decided on a revision of the method and basis of elections in Sierra Leone.

I would refer the hon. Member to a statement which my right hon. Friend made on 9th April in reply to a Question on this subject by the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. T. Reid), to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any further statement to make about the Gambia Government's requests for assistance to Mr. R. Y. Rule, of Lermahago, for the disposal of the car bought by him for official use when he returns to the United Kingdom.

I am informed that Mr. Rule has now been authorised to import his car permanently into this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why, and on whose recommendation. District Commissioners in the Gold Coast Colony must now withdraw, should they believe that a breach of the peace is about to take place, and hand over to the local police, even if such police are only under the control of a native policeman of non-commissioned rank; and what steps he proposes to take to give adequate protection for the valuable plant and machinery of the mines and other industrial installations operating on the Gold Coast for the benefit of the whole sterling area.

There has been no fundamental change of policy as the police have always been responsible for public order and for dealing with breaches of the peace. The recent Gold Coast Government statement, which my hon. Friend presumably has in mind, was intended to emphasise the undesirability of District Commissioners becoming involved in police action.Their duty to do everything in their power to prevent a breach of the peace remains unaffected. In the mining and industrial areas the services of senior police officers are always available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why there is delay in the establishment at Enugu of the only Government Secondary School for Girls in the Eastern Region of Nigeria.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 18th June, 1952; Vol. 502, c. 99] supplied the following further information:There has been no delay. Construction of the school, which was scheduled to be built in 1955–56, has, in fact, been started in advance of the planned programme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether plans have now been completed for water control schemes in British Guiana in the area between the Pomeroon and Coventyne Rivers; what will be the effect of these schemes; and when will work start.

I have no further information which I can usefully add to the reply given to my hon. Friend on 25th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress is being made with regard to the introduction of a pension scheme for teachers of approved secondary schools by the Legislative Council of Mauritius.

No consideration has yet been given to the provision of pensions for teachers in approved secondary schools. The Bill referred to in my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member on 30th April contains provision for pensions for teachers in aided primary schools only. The Royal Assent to this Bill has now been signified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Coastal Steamer Committee appointed in 1951 to investigate the system of communications between Trinidad and Tobago has now made its report; and, what are its recommendations.

The Coastal Steamers and Island Launch Services Committee has submitted two interim reports. I am placing in the Library of the House a copy of a Trinidad Legislation Council paper containing their interim recommendations and a report of the action taken thereon by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has considered the desirability of making available to hon. Members as soon as possible the report of the Trinidad Government's Auditor on the Local Planning and Housing Commission's Report on that Colony for 1947–51 so that they may know the financial and planning position of Trinidad at present vis-à-vis past decades; and why the Special Report of the non-official auditors appointed by the local Government on the Planning and Housing Commission's Report of the Colony for 1947–51 has not yet been made public, so that hon. Members and local citizens may know the financial and planning position of Trinidad at present, in particular since the Governor of Trinidad is now in London for consultation.

The audit of the accounts of the Planning and Housing Commission is not undertaken by the Trinidad Director of Audit, but by a local firm of chartered accountants. The reports of the Commission, which are published annually and are on sale in Trinidad, contain its audited accounts for the year in question and the auditor's report on them. The latest published report of the Commission, which covers the year 1949, is available in the Library of the House and is on sale in this country through the Crown Agents for the Colonies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the Report of the Commission appointed by the Governor of Trinidad to inquire into the finances of the City Council of Port of Spain, which reported in March, 1952, is likely to be published.

The Commission's report was submitted to the Governor in May last, and the question of its publication is under consideration by the Acting Governor and his advisers. I am not in a position to anticipate the decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Report of the Commission appointed in 1951 by the Governor of Trinidad and Tobago to inquire into the financial and other affairs of the City Council of Port of Spain, received by him early in 1952, has been withheld from publication in Trinidad in spite of public interest; why the City Council, at whose request the Commission was appointed, have so far not been told of the findings of the Report; what prosecutions are contemplated, arising out of these findings; whether the necessary papers have yet been advised on by the Attorney-General; when all decisions on these matters will have been taken; and when the Report will be published in Trinidad.

The Commission's Report was submitted to the Governor in May last. The question of its publication and other action arising from its recommendations are under consideration by the Acting-Governor and his advisers. I am not in a position to anticipate the decisions on these points.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the unsettled state in Malaya, he will consider sending a commission of inquiry composed of Members of Parliament to examine the position on the spot, to attempt to make a political approach to the settlement of the problems in the Federation and to supplement the military action now being taken by General Templer.

No. My right hon. Friend is well satisfied with General Templer's handling of the political problems of the Federation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many claims have been dealt with by the War Damage Commission in Malaya; how many claims are still outstanding; and what is the annual cost of this commission.

The Commission has dealt with 64,148 composite claims involving 86,517 separate awards. 55,852 composite claims are outstanding.The approximate cost of the Commission (including capital expenditure) has been:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress is being made in the setting up of wage councils in Singapore and Malaya; and in what industries they will be established.

Legislation already exists in Malaya and draft legislation is being considered in Singapore.As regards the second part of this Question, I have asked the High Commissioner and the Governor for up-to-date reports on progress and I will circulate the information required in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what contribution is made by the Northern Rhodesian and Nyasaland Governments to the cost of education at Makerere.

These Governments pay the costs, per capita, of the students whom they send there.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies under what circumstances British citizens in Bermuda can be tried by United States tribunals.

Article IV of the Leased Bases Agreement entitles the United States Government to exercise exclusive jurisdiction over British subjects accused of security offences against the United States committed within the leased areas and of similar offences committed out-side the leased areas if they are not punishable under the law of the territory. This jurisdiction can be exercised only through a United States civil court sitting in the territory. There is a special exception providing for members of Her Majesty's Forces. So far as I am aware no United States civil court has been established in any of the Colonies to which the Agreement applies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the total of the Cotton Fund of Central Nyanza and of the Coast Province of Kenya; what is

I am consulting the Officer Administering the Government of Kenya and will circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many farm institutes of the Bukura type are established in Kenya; and what arrangements are made to follow up the work of the farmers and smallholders who come to study at such institutes.

My right hon. Friend is consulting the Officer Administering the Government of Kenya and will circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many boys from secondary grammar schools, and how many boys from independent and direct grant schools, passed the qualifying written examination for the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth; and how many of each group were awarded places at the College after selection interviews in 1951, 1950 and 1949, respectively.

The information is given in the following table:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what are the terms of the Queen's Regulations or Admiralty Instructions or other order under which a man failing to vacate married quarters within 28 days of his draft order is debarred from married quarters elsewhere for a period of not less than five years; whether he has considered the effect of this order on the borough of Gosport, where so great a part of the Royal Navy is accommodated, in constantly compelling the rehousing of families at 28 days' notice; and whether he will modify this order or his drafting policy in this area forthwith to avoid inflicting injustice.

I am sending a copy of the relevant Admiralty Fleet Order, No. 3655/51, to my hon. Friend.I fully appreciate the shortage of housing in the borough of Gosport and elsewhere, but married quarters are intended for use by those serving in the neighbouring establishments and it would be manifestly unfair to allow the families of men serving elsewhere to continue to occupy them indefinitely. The Admiralty Fleet Order makes it clear that, when naval personnel are drafted elsewhere, they will be required to give up their married quarter and should, therefore, find other accommodation well in advance of their next draft.The Fleet Order is administered with the greatest care and sympathy and I am satisfied that such regulations are necessary to deal with the occasional difficult case that arises.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General on how many occasions the Post Office Advisory Committee has met this year.

One. A second meeting has been arranged for Friday, 4th July.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General which Members of Parliament have appeared in television discussion programmes with other persons from 1st July, 1950, to the latest convenient date; and in how many such programmes each has appeared.

The B.B.C. has furnished the following information for the period 1st July, 1950 to 31st May, 1952.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General on what grounds it is proposed to make telephone subscribers in London pay a rental £2 a year more than in the rest of the country.

The answer is that a subscriber in London gets more for his money in respect of local calls than in the rest of the country. The distance he can 'phone, and the number of subscribers he can call for 1½d., is much greater than elsewhere.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what percentage of postal orders currently sold by post offices are for the purpose of football pool betting; and what average increase percentum in the price of such postal orders will be caused by his recent proposal for increased poundage.

During the financial year 1951–52, 56 per cent. of the total number of postal orders sold were cashed by football pool firms; their value was 34 per cent. of the total value of postal orders cashed in that period.I cannot answer the second part of the Question precisely, but I can say that the average value of such orders was 3s. 11d. and that under the proposals for increased poundage the total cost of an order for this amount would rise from 4s. 0½d. to 4s. 1d., an increase of about 1 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what quantity of pig food is collected monthly in household food scrap bins throughout the country; and, in particular, what quantity is collected in Scotland.

An average of 33,000 tons a month of waste food is collected from households, hotels and similar premises and sent for sterilisation. Of this Scotland accounts for nearly 2,400 tons a month.

asked the Minister of Health how he proposes to secure dental patients' National Registration numbers so that dentists practising under the Health Service can obtain the compensation payments due to them, when registration numbers are no longer recorded on ration books and the public has been freed of the obligation to carry identity cards.

Patients have been asked to insert their National Health Service number on their medical card and any patient unaware of his number should write to his local executive council, which will inform him of it.

asked the Minister of Health what method of recompense has been agreed between him and the pharmacists whereby chemists will not suffer financial loss by reason of giving dressings, drugs and medicines free of charge to National Health Service patients who have no money available and are in urgent need of treatment.

A small fixed allowance per prescription form has been agreed to cover the rare cases where the charge is irrecoverable for any reason. The chemist is not, of course, required to supply medicine, etc., unless the charge is paid.

asked the Minister of Health what is the estimated cost during the present financial year of all the additional forms which have been brought into use in connection with the charges recently imposed for National Health Service prescriptions, surgical appliances and dental treatment.

The estimated cost for England and Wales is £4,862.

asked the Minister of Health what are the arrangements whereby the 1s. charged for a National Health Service prescription by a dispensing medical practitioner passes from the patient to the Treasury.

At the request of the British Medical Association it has been arranged that in these cases at the option of the patient, the charge may be paid by postage stamp. The practitioner will convert any other payments to stamps and surrender them monthly to the executive council. The value of the stamps will be transferred from Post Office funds to Ministry of Health Vote.

asked the Minister of Health what is the cost of the posters, containing the information that financial assistance is available in cases of hardship for charges under the National Health Service, which are supplied for exhibition in chemists' shops and doctors' and dentists' waiting rooms.

The estimated cost for England and Wales is £203.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement arising out of the Danckwerts award.

Yes. While the adjustment of salaries is a matter to be dealt with through the established negotiating machinery, the Government must be much concerned, as is this House, at any developments which might substantially affect the public purse and the general economic situation.I want to make it clear that the terms of reference of Mr. Justice Danckwerts' Award were confined solely to the question of the remuneration of general practitioners in the National Health Service and his award has no wider application. In accepting the results of the adjudication, which was of an exceptional nature, the Government have by no means adopted the view that similar adjustments in other fields should follow. In their view there is no justification for any assumption that the appropriate standard of remuneration for the professional classes is a rate of 100 per cent. above that in force in 1939. They consider that remuneration should be determined in the light of all relevant circumstances.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is his policy with regard to further encroachments on the Green Belt.

There are two questions involved here. The first is what land should be included in the Green Belt. Local planning authorities concerned are making specific proposals for the Green Belt in their development plans, and when these are submitted to me there will be an opportunity of considering whether their proposals are adequate.The second is what building if any should be allowed on the land earmarked for Green Belt. Only in exceptional circumstances would I think it right for this to be allowed.