asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when the project for linking television with France was decided on; on what date the contract was placed for the two temporary relay stations; and on what grounds the cost of the contemplated stations at Pontop Pike was disclosed and the cost of these two south coast relay stations withheld.

I am informed by the B.B.C. that the project for linking television with France was decided on at a meeting between representatives of Radiodiffusion Francaise and the Corporation in November, 1951. The provision of a television station at Pontop Pike would involve substantial capital expenditure whereas the link with France, consisting of two temporary relay points, was set up by means of mobile equipment normally used for outside broadcasts.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware of the complaints regarding wireless sound reception in south-east Scotland; and what steps he proposes to take to improve the British Broadcasting Corporation services to that area.

I understand from the B.B.C. that the Light Programme should be generally well received in south-east Scotland on the long wavelength (1,500 metres), but that there may be some fading in winter at night. Reception of the Scottish Home Service (371 metres), is less satisfactory in Roxburgh and in the southern parts of Selkirk and Berwick. The area is outside the present coverage of the Third Programme.Owing to the scarcity of wavelengths, reception cannot be improved by providing additional medium wave stations, and I regret that I can hold out no prospect of improvement until it is possible to introduce very high frequency services.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many foreign-controlled companies were registered in this country since the Finance Act, 1951; and what was the yearly average for the previous four years.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he is aware of the undue delay in completing the Bamangwato secondary school in Bechuanaland; and what steps he is taking in this matter.

I am aware that completion of this school according to the original plans has been held up. The school, on which £100,000 has been spent to date, was opened in 1949 and has been functioning on a reduced scale since with the aid of a Government grant. It is a tribal project, begun by Tshekedi Khama, and financed by tribal levies. Once a new native authority has been established in the Bamangwato Reserve, it will be practicable to take the tribe's view about raising further funds to complete the original building programme and raise an endowment fund.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what extent the diminished rate of increase in electricity consumption during the first half of 1952, compared with increases in earlier years, is due, respectively, to mild weather, less industrial demand, lighting, scrapping of electric trams and to what other causes; and whether lesser use of electric space and water heaters and cookers has contributed appreciably to such diminution.

I regret that it is not possible to measure the separate effects of the factors mentioned.