asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will place on view to the public the stamp collection in his Department.

The question of doing something on these lines is being considered and an announcement on the subject will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the shortage of stamp machines; and, in view of the difficulty caused to residents in the outlying districts of Coventry and elsewhere, if he will make a statement upon the supply position as at present.

There is no shortage of stamp selling machines as such, but, because of a shortage of the cases in which they are housed, there has been some delay in installing machines attached to pillar boxes and mounted on pedestals. Arrangements have recently been made to step up the rate of supply of these cases. If the hon. Member will let me have details of any difficulties that may have come to her notice, I shall be pleased to look into the matter.

While thanking the hon. Gentleman for his answer, may I ask him if, in the outlying districts of Coventry at Tile Hill, where housing progress is rapid, he would see if machines could be put at Standard Avenue and Elm Tree Avenue?

I will look into those particular places.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why details of the increases in charges for overseas telegrams were not made available to hon. Members; and why the details were withheld from publication in the London Gazette until 29th August, when the increases were to operate from 1st September.

The main effect of the new charges was explained in my reply to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Dulwich (Mr. Robert Jenkins) on 30th July. The list of actual charges takes up more than 17 pages of the Gazette and, in order to avoid misunderstanding and confusion, it is desirable that publication, both in the Gazette and in the Post Office Guide, should be reasonably near to the day on which the charges are due to take effect.

My complaint is not that it took up so much time but that hon. Members of this House are surely entitled to this information, which could have been made available either in the Library or in HANSARD? I think it is quite wrong that the public should not have this information at the earliest possible date rather than the day before it happened.

I think the right hon. Gentleman has forgotten Regulation 1023 of 1950, for which I think he was responsible, which states there is no question of laying this information before the House but that a statement should be published in the way it has been published.

But surely the hon. Gentleman does not make that the excuse for delaying publication for a month?

No, Sir, not delaying publication? In my original answer to the Question I gave a pretty clear idea of what the increased charges would be.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what steps have been taken to compose the differences between the Post Office unions, having regard to his statement on the Terrington Committee Report.

In response to my noble Friend's suggestion, the unions concerned have agreed to try to compose their differences by direct discussions between themselves: such discussions are now in progress. As I stated in the House on 25th June, my noble Friend proposes to review the position during the early part of next year.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that a circular was sent to hon. Members on this side of the House before the Recess indicating that all three of these break-away unions would not meet for the purpose of these discussions and, in view of that, the Question was put down? Is he now satisfied that these discussions are taking place on an amicable basis?

Yes, Sir, and I hope with good results.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the numbers employed in the Investigation Department of the Post Office in May, 1952, and at present.

205 and 207, respectively.

The Postmaster-General having admitted the other day that the present security arrangements in the Post Office are inadequate, does not this answer reveal a somewhat niggardly appreciation of the need to improve security arrangements in the Post Office?

My noble Friend merely pointed out that, if we were to expect gang robberies with violence in the streets of London, then the previous arrangements are inadequate.

Does this small increase represent the maximum that the Post Office will do as far as the Investigation Departments is concerned?

No, Sir.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the amount of loss sustained during the last 12 months of old currency notes being transported for destruction, new currency notes, and registered mail, respectively, together with the total claims made on the Post Office for losses; and the total liability for losses accepted by the Post Office, respectively.

I regret I cannot give answers to the questions raised by the hon. Gentleman in the exact form in which he asks them. The Post Office would not know when accepting registered packets from banks what is in the packets, but we understand that normally the percentage of old notes to new is relatively small. The total estimated loss of currency due to mailbag thefts for the year ending 30th September last was £290,000, but the liability for these losses which falls on the Post Office is only about £5,000.

Does the hon. Gentleman recollect that the last time I put a similar Question he suggested that it was only a small percentage of the letters in which old notes were involved? Has he had an opportunity of looking at the suggestion that was made for the cancellation of these notes before they pass through the Post Office, and would he like to receive a copy of a letter from a bank manager, which I have here, which commends the suggestion I made to him on the last occasion?

I am always delighted to receive any sort of letter from the hon. Gentleman, but, regarding the defacement of notes, it would not be a matter for the Post Office, but would have to be decided as between the banks and the Treasury.

Is the Minister satisfied that the safety precautions taken by the services which assist the Post Office to carry on their business are as good as he would wish them to be?

No safety precautions are ever as good as anyone would like them to be, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman and the House that we are very much alive to the need for tightening up the whole basis of security, in view of what has happened, not only in regard to the Post Office but in other directions, in the past year.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will reconsider his decision not to supply temporary television services for the north-east of Scotland before the Coronation.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether, in view of the growing dissatisfaction that television is not available for the North East Coast, particularly in view of the Coronation next year, he will reconsider his decision not to proceed with Pontop Pike at the present time owing to the financial situation.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there is growing demand in Northern Ireland that television facilities should be provided in time to allow Ulster people to view the Coronation; and what steps he proposes to take to meet this demand.

I propose with your permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House, to make a general statement on television after Questions.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether any means have yet been discovered of relaying television to the United States of America and Canada; and when they can be put into practice.

It would be technically possible to relay television to North America, but the practical problems and the enormous cost of setting up any such system rule the idea out for the present.

I realise that it would cost a tremendous amount of money but would it not be possible for something on these lines to be done for the Coronation? I understand the American companies would be more than willing to take part.

It is estimated that it would cost something in the order of £18 million, and I am sure that the House will agree that we should not be justified even in spending a small percentage of that sum at the present time.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when the number of outstanding applications for telephones on the Brixton exchange will be reduced.

I expect a progressive reduction to start about the end of this year, when the extension of the exchange equipment will be completed.

Is the Minister aware that, during the past 12 months, the number of outstanding applications from Brixton has increased by 22 per cent., and that, at the present rate of completion, it will take something like 67 years, without touching any new applications? Can he give me an assurance that Brixton is not being worse treated than any other exchange?

I think the hon. and gallant Gentleman knows that, by the end of this year, there should be a very rapid increase in the number of subscribers to the telephone, and I think that, early next year, he will find that the number of his constituents who will be able to ring him up will be very considerably increased.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many outstanding applications there are for telephones in the Matlock area; how much preliminary work to meet the demand has already been done in the area and at what cost; and what would be the cost of completing the work.

Fifty-seven. The preliminary work, recently completed, consisted of the laying of ducts for the new cables required to meet these applications and to provide for future growth, and cost £14,000. The provision of the cables themselves will cost about £10,000.

Could the Minister say exactly how much has already been spent on this work?

If my hon. Friend will put a Question down I will certainly give him that information.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what has been the average time, during the last three months, for which men have been held at No. 5 Personnel Despatch Centre, Lytham-St. Annes, pending posting overseas.

During June, July and August of this year, the average time was about 13 days.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why S. A. C. Vernon Walker was withdrawn from a university course in Russian five days before the course was due to begin.

As I explained to the hon. Member in my letter of 13th October, S. A. C. Walker was selected for the course at Cambridge in error and was withdrawn when the mistake was discovered. This airman was then returned to his former trade of photographer, instead of being allowed to complete the full nine-month course for training regular airmen as second-class translators at a Joint Services School for Linguists. Instructions are now being issued for S. A. C. Walker to be returned to a Linguist School.

Could the Under-Secretary say to which school he is being returned?

I hope Coulsdon, but I am not sure.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation how many civil air attaches are competent to, and, in fact, fly aircraft in the course of their duties.

Of the three civil air attaches and three civil air advisers, four have flying experience. One of these flies in the course of his duties.

Does not my hon. Friend agree that this is a most unsatisfactory state of affairs? In view of the importance of the export of British aircraft and equipment, ought not all these men to be able to fly in the course of their duties? Is it because we use the system of a permanent civil servant, instead of using the man most capable of doing that work?

While agreeing with my hon. and gallant Friend as to the importance of promoting the sales of British aircraft abroad, I would not agree that this is an unsatisfactory situation. Flying experience is of course valuable to everybody occupying this type of position, but it is by no means the only consideration to be taken into account in making these appointments.

In view of the fact that a great many people have flying experience, would my hon. Friend look at the matter again?

I have looked into it closely. I say that the possession of flying experience is one of the qualifications, but we have to decide what man is best, and we have to take into account not only that consideration but many others as well.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation when the South Bank site for a helicopter station is likely to be ready; and whether he will give the positions of other helicopter stations in Great Britain already earmarked.

Discussions are proceeding on the future of the existing South Bank site, which has been used for a series of experimental flights. The earmarking of sites for airstops elsewhere is a matter for the local authorities concerned, and I understand that a number have reserved sites. If my hon. Friend has any particular town in mind, I will endeavour to provide him with further information.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation if his attention has been drawn to the inadequacy of the reception buildings at London Airport, where at peak periods the departure lounges are overcrowded, and where even slight delays in the departure of aeroplanes cause confusion; and if he will cause early steps to be taken to increase the accommodation, especially in view of the likelihood that passenger traffic will be considerably increased next year.

Although there is some congestion at the busiest times, the reception accommodation at London Airport is reasonably adequate for present needs. The facilities will, of course, be extended and improved as soon as the permanent buildings, now under construction, can be brought into use.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation whether he will install F.I.D.O. at London Airport and so save the large sums of public money necessary to build the long runways at Gatwick Airport.

The installation of F.I.D.O. at London Airport would be no substitute for Gatwick. It would provide neither a satisfactory alternative in all weather conditions nor a lightening of the regular traffic load, both of which purposes Gatwick will serve.

If F.I.D.O. were to be installed at London Airport there would be no delays due to fog; in fact aircraft could operate 100 per cent.

I am sorry to say that that is not so. This kind of apparatus is by no means satisfactory in all fog conditions.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation the intentions of his Department regarding the use of No. 1 runway at London Airport; and whether it is now possible to restrict the use of this runway to daylight hours.

It is planned to bring No. 1 runway back into use during the winter of 1953–54. Generally, this runway will not be used at night for take-offs to and landings from the east, but I can give no assurance that it will be possible to restrict its use to daylight hours.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation when it is proposed to start the building of the blast walls at London Airport designed to deaden the noise of engines being serviced by day or night.

Work will start at London Airport at the beginning of November on the construction of an experimental acoustic wall.

Is the Minister aware that the noise of engines being serviced at night is the greatest curse of airports, and can he give an undertaking that experiments will continue persistently to see whether better methods can be found of deadening this noise on the assumption that this acoustic wall will not achieve all that is desirable?

I am aware of this problem as it affects residents in airport areas. I can say that the Corporations and foreign airlines have expressed their willingness to use this first wall to the fullest extent possible so that we may get as much information of its effectiveness at the earliest possible moment.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation whether he will consider reducing the minimum amount of 12s. per hour charged for the mechanical baggage trolley at Bovingdon, in view of the fact that many firms use this trolley for only five minutes, and are thus faced with an unnecessarily heavy charge.

I am glad to be able to tell my hon. Friend that the basis of the minimum charge for the hire of the baggage trolley at Bovingdon has been reduced from one hour to one quarter of an hour.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation what further progress has been made towards providing a memorial to Sir John Alcock and Sir Arthur Whitten-Brown at London Airport.

As the House was informed on 5th March, the Royal Aero Club is sponsoring an appeal for funds for this memorial. It has been decided to limit the appeal to aeronautical interests. I am informed that the sculptor, Mr. William McMillan, R.A., will shortly start work on the statue.

Is the Minister aware that there is a widespread misunderstanding in other countries as to who were the first men to fly directly across the Atlantic, and that this well-placed memorial will be a fitting tribute to one of the most heroic deeds in the history of aviation?

I am aware of this misunderstanding, and I am grateful to my hon. and gallant Friend and to anyone else who will assist in dispelling it.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation what proposals have so far been submitted from private companies who are prepared to take over the aviation services in Scotland at present operated by the British European Airways Corporation.

My right hon. Friend has received no firm proposals.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say where now are all those companies which were straining at the leash to take over these Scottish services?

I think the companies are at their registered offices. I do not quite understand the purpose of the hon. Gentleman's question.

Is my hon. Friend aware that since State control the services in Scotland have been much reduced? Is it not a fact that it is not economic only to operate internal air services, and, therefore, can my hon. Friend say whether any tenders have been invited for services other than those for purely internal operation in Scotland?

The Question asked what proposals have been received, and I said that my right hon. Friend has received no firm proposals. He has been anxious and continues to be anxious to examine any proposition put before him which in his opinion may contribute to the improvement of air services.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that since the last Question was asked statements have been made which indicate that there is a great hankering to go back to the romantic pioneering days of the opening up of Scottish air services, and would he be careful that any efforts made are gone into realistically so that people realise that modern conditions are quite different from the conditions of safety required in those days?

My right hon. Friend is well aware of the requirement of modern conditions, but I would very much deprecate any writing down of the valuable work done by pioneer services.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation under what regulation he has powers to suspend or revoke the licences of aircrew; whether the regulations provide for any hearing of aircrew concerned before a decision is made, or any appeal after the decision is made; and how far he is empowered by regulation to restrict rather than completely suspend an aircrew licence.

Article 28 of the Air Navigation Order, 1949, gives powers to suspend or revoke aircrew licences. Provision is made for investigation before taking such action, but in any particular case the Minister may suspend a licence provisionally pending investigation. No specific provision is made for appeal against such decisions, although the licence holder is, of course, free to make any representations he wishes. The Article includes powers for the restriction of a licence as an alternative to suspension.

I do not wish to comment on a recent case, but would not the Parliamentary Secretary agree that the procedure disclosed was unsatisfactory, and will he undertake to get in touch with the Airline Pilots' Association with a view to developing a more satisfactory and fair procedure in these cases?

I am very glad at any time to listen to the views of the Airline Pilots' Association on this very important question, but I would not agree that the present situation is not satisfactory. The overriding responsibility of my right hon. Friend is to make sure that no one is held up to the public as possessing qualifications certified by the Minister if the Minister is of opinion that he is an unsatisfactory person to hold such qualifications.

But am I right in thinking that, on the other hand, the Minister would not wish to deprive an individual of his livelihood if he is capable of carrying out duties rather more restricted than those hitherto carried out?

I have no desire whatever to deprive any individual of his livelihood, but neither have I any desire to reduce the standards of safety to which the public are entitled.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation whether he will re-examine the standards of proficiency in navigation, now accepted by the British Overseas Airways Corporation and the British European Airways Corporation, in respect of captains and navigating officers of their aircraft.

No, Sir; I am satisfied that the Corporations maintain high standards in these matters.

In view of the somewhat disquieting facts revealed in the report on the accident to the Hermes aircraft in Africa, does not my hon. Friend think that the navigational qualifications ought to be tightened up in some direction?

My right hon. Friend is considering what has been revealed by the report made by the French authorities on that accident, but, in the meantime, he considers that the standards of safety maintained by both our Corporations are extremely high.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation if he will set up a committee to consider the whole question of siting of airports, and, in particular, to consider the effect on the local populations of the siting of existing and proposed airports.

No, Sir. Few, if any, new sites will be required for future civil airports. Any development or extension of existing airports is invariably preceded by close study of the effects on the local populations and by consultation with the local authorities concerned.

Does that answer mean that the Minister is not prepared to consider any fresh airports, having regard to the anticipated great increase in the traffic at London Airport which is said to be going up to 100 planes an hour?

It means, as I have said, that few if any new sites will be required for civil aviation.

The Minister will be aware of correspondence passing between himself and myself about the airport at Rochester. He must recognise that airports in built-up areas are of great public concern, and will he consider the establishment of a committee of this kind?

I do not think a committee of this kind would serve the purpose which the right hon. Gentleman has in mind.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation if he is aware that, by imposing a tax of 1s. 6d. on motorists parking their cars at Northolt whilst visiting the restaurant, he discourages the patronage of the airport restaurant; and if he will withdraw this tax.

A charge of 6d. for the first hour, 1s. 6d. up to 12 hours and 2s. for 24 hours has been made since July, 1951, for parking cars at Northolt Airport. The car parks are provided at public expense and the charges, which are in no sense a tax, conform to normal practice.

Would not the hon. Gentleman agree that it may be a very good plan to extend the hour to an hour and a half in order that lunchers and diners may not have to watch the clock all the time they are having a meal? Will he not extend the time for half an hour?

I have much sympathy with the hon. Gentleman's point, and I have investigated the possibility. The fact is, however, that these hours are part of an agreement made with the concessionaire during the time when the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Beswick) occupied my position, and this agreement is in general proving very satisfactory to the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that his information on this point is inaccurate or, at least, incomplete? The concession was not made during the time that I was connected with the Ministry of Civil Aviation. There was certainly an agreement that increased fees should be payable after one hour, but it was never imposed until one and a half hours had elapsed. The new contract has been put into operation on the change of Government. Will the hon. Gentleman see if, in the interest of all concerned, his Department can make the very sensible arrangement which my hon. Friend suggests?

I am informed that the arrangements date from July, 1951, but if I am in error in saying that the hon. Gentleman occupied my place at that time, I apologise to him and to everybody concerned.

May it not be that it is now more efficiently run and that they do pay for one hour and not for one and a half hours?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs for a statement on the recent 25 per cent. cut in allowances for embassy staff in South America; and on the recent 50 per cent. increases for occasional visitors' allowances.

There has not been a general cut of 25 per cent. in the allowances of embassy staffs in South America. The Foreign Service Inspectors made a routine inspection of diplomatic and consular posts in that area early this year, in the course of which the foreign allowances of the staff and the daily rates of subsistence allowance payable to occasional visitors were reviewed in the light of changes in the cost of living. At some places the foreign allowances were reduced, at others they were increased. Changes were also made in the rates of subsistence allowance.

Does my hon. Friend realise that at least one member of the embassy staff in South Africa, with a wife and three children to maintain, has had his allowances cut by over £700 a year, and that the Foreign Office official who went out to look into this stayed at the best hotel and subsequently increased his allowance by 50 per cent.?

If my hon. and gallant Friend will give me particulars of the case I will, of course, look into it, but I would say that these Foreign Service Inspectors do a very difficult job in a very remarkable, tactful and efficient way.

Was not a sliding-scale arranged a year or two ago in regard to the extra cost of living in different parts of the world?

That, of course, is precisely the reason why certain allowances have been increased and others reduced. This has been due to the rise or fall, as the case may be, of the cost of living.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is now in a position to make a further statement on the disappearance of Mr. Burgess and Mr. MacLean.

No, Sir.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is very grave disturbance in the public mind about these happenings and that the sooner some full investigation can be carried out and a report made, without damaging security thereby, the sooner will the public mind be put at rest?

Inquiries are continuing into these cases, as I have often informed the House. As to the possibility of a public inquiry, an open inquiry of this kind could not be held without revealing highly confidential details and methods used in the current investigation and the channels through which inquiry is being conducted. I think that my hon. and gallant Friend would agree that disclosure of such information would be prejudicial to the public interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reports on individuals are called for and examined before appointments to important posts in the Foreign Office are made.

Recommendations for appointments to senior posts in the Foreign Office are made on the basis of the confidential personal records of the officer concerned kept by the Personnel Department, which include periodical reports made by his superiors, and of the personal knowledge of him possessed by the Senior Promotions Board of the Foreign Office.

If that is the case, can my hon. Friend explain how it came about that two disreputable characters such as Burgess and MacLean could have been in important positions in the Foreign Service?

The question of security precautions and the vetting of staff to be engaged on highly secret and important work has been tightened up since the incident to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the extent of kidnappings by Communists in the Allied Zones of Berlin; and what steps have been taken by the British High Commissioner in the case of Dr. Linse.

From January, 1950, to September, 1952, West Berlin police records show 32 cases of alleged abduction from the western sectors of Berlin. Some of these cases have already been rejected by the Berlin Public Prosecutor, and it is probable that some others could not be substantiated.

Can the Minister say if these kidnappings were the result of private enterprise or was any Government implicated?

As far as I know, no private enterprise is allowed in the Soviet Union or in territories under Soviet control.

Is it necessary to maintain the Russian guards in front of the monument which is in the British sector in Berlin in view of the fact that these guards have been proved to assist in kidnappings?

If the hon. Member will give me notice of that Question I will take note of it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps have been taken to ensure that no captured German war documents, or copies thereof, relating to submarine or air warfare against this country, now in the possession of Her Majesty's Government, have been, or will be, handed over to the West German Federal Government.

No such documents have been returned by Her Majestys' Government to the German Federal Government. Before any documents are returned to the German Federal Government Her Majesty's Government will satisfy themselves that no documents affecting the security of this country are included amongst those to be returned.

Is it the case that the Federal German Government have asked for the return of a number of documents, including the complete German wartime plan for bringing this country to her knees by air and submarine warfare, and including also many other German intelligence reports? If they have asked for these, has not a flat denial already been given?

This question, is being discussed with the Federal German Government at the moment.

Do I understand that it is still possible that the Government may decide to return to the German Government these documents? Quite apart from the undesirability of returning them to Bonn, does he not agree that if they do go there they might not stay there but go further East?

I would refer to the reply I have already given. We shall satisfy ourselves that no documents affecting the security of this country will be returned to the Federal German Government.

Would my hon. Friend confirm that copies of these documents, under a long standing wartime agreement, have been supplied to the Russian Government, who may have supplied them to the East German Government, and they may have been supplied back to the West German Government through those channels?

That is a very much wider question.

In view of the assurance he has given, can the hon. Gentleman add a further assurance, that we shall have the initiative as to whether such documents will be handed back or not, as some documents may be handed back by another Government having control of another part of Germany? Can we stop such documents being handed back, even if they are not in our own possession?

We shall act with the United States and the French Governments in this matter, No documents as far as I am aware have been handed back by either of these two Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what, approximately, is the value of British property in China seized by the Communist authorities without payment of rent or compensation.

About £9 million.

Is there any chance whatever of recovering this property, or getting any compensation for it?

As my right hon. Friend informed the hon. Member last week, the full rights of the owners of these properties, where they so desire, have been reserved by Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British subjects are held incommunicado by the Chinese Communist authorities; and whether any have yet been brought to trial for the alleged offences which led to their arrest.

Eight British subjects are under arrest in China: six of them are held incommunicado and despite repeated efforts by Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires it has proved impossible to find out whether or not they have been tried.