asked the Minister of Civil Aviation what action he is taking following the recommendations of the French Inspectorate General who investigated the accident to the British Overseas Airways Corporation Hermes aircraft G-ALIN in Mauritania on 26th May, 1952.

The recommendations made in the French accident report to Hermes G-ALDN in Mauritania have been studied in my Department and are, in the main, acceptable.They require discussion, however, with various other interested authorities such as the Air Registration Board, the operators, the pilots' associations and the French authorities. These discussions are now proceeding but, in the meantime, a requirement has been introduced for the carriage of flight navigators on the Tripoli—Kano route.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation whether he will approach the French Government with the object of increasing the ground aids on the Tripoli—Kano route.

Approaches have already been made to the French Government, who recognise the necessity for improving the ground aids on the Tripoli—Kano route as soon as practicable.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation how many hours had been flown by, and what was the purchase price of, the York aircraft sold by his Department to the charter company which recently successfully applied for the transatlantic air freight service.

No charter company has yet been authorised to provide a Trans-Atlantic air freight service. One such company has applied, but I am informed that they have not acquired York aircraft.

asked the Minister of Food why the consumption of full price fresh milk for the first eight months of this year is over 20 million gallons less than for the corresponding period last year, whereas the total production of milk for that period is nearly 20 million gallons more than last year.

Total sales of full price fresh milk for the first eight months of this year were 14 million gallons less than during the corresponding period last year when about 6 million gallons were used in the manufacture of cream. The decline in liquid consumption amounts to 1½ per cent.

asked the Minister of Food whether with a view to ensuring the consumption of home-grown fruit, he will confer with the Hotels Executive of the British Transport Commission, so that steps may be taken to cause home-grown fruit always to be on sale at railway restaurants and buffets, and in restaurant and buffet cars on the railways, when such fruit is available at reasonable prices.

I have brought my hon. Friend's suggestion to the notice of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the demand put forward through the Governor of Tanganyika by European settlers for an amplification of the British Government policy announced in June which would indicate to them the extent of security offered under the new constitution, he will give an assurance that no further constitutional changes will be considered without equal consideration being given to the views expressed by all races in the territory; that European settlement in Tanganyika is to be regarded as a permanent feature essential to the territory's economy and that, bearing in mind the provisions of the Trusteeship Agreement. Her Majesty's Government would not be a party to any move towards self-government without full security of the right of the non-indigenous peoples resident there.

My right hon. Friend can readily give an assurance that the views of all communities in the territory would be ascertained and taken fully into account before any further changes in the constitution were decided. It can reasonably be assumed that future Governments would adopt the same procedure.My right hon. Friend considers that his statement on 25th June was clear on both the points raised in the last two parts of the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many trade unions have now been formed in Tanganyika.

There are three registered trade unions in Tanganyika.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is satisfied, after another season's operations at the Kongwa, Urambo and Nachingwea centres of the East African groundnut scheme that the large-scale experimental development proposed in Command Paper No. 8125, January, 1951, is practicable; and if the policy and financial provisions then decided for the scheme have been adopted by Her Majesty's Government.

Neither the Board and Chairman of the Corporation nor my right hon. Friend are satisfied with the scheme as laid down. The experimental data which it was the object of that scheme to provide can certainly be obtained, but the Board consider that there are fundamental agricultural problems in Urambo and Nachingwea which should be worked out on a lesser scale.The Board are considering revised plans for this purpose which will keep the cost within the balance remaining of the £6 million. These should be available by December and my right hon. Friend will then make a further statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many houses were built in Nairobi for the years 1949, 1950 and 1951, respectively; and, of this total, how many were for Europeans and for Africans, respectively.

In the years 1949, 1950 and 1951, 2,263, 2,012 and 3,201 houses (including flats) respectively were built in Nairobi. Of this total 1,009 were for Europeans and 5,435 for Africans.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, during the present emergency, the Kenya Government will take steps to stop potential agitators from entering the Colony.

My right hon. Friend is confident that the Government of Kenya can be relied upon to exercise wisely their powers under the law to withhold permission for entry to the Colony.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission or consider some other form of inquiry to report on the disturbances in Kenya.

The Royal Commission on Land and Population in East Africa, the appointment of which has already been announced, will consider a very wide range of the basic problems affecting Kenya and the other East African territories. In view of this my right hon. Friend does not consider that a separate inquiry into the disturbances in Kenya would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what parts of the Dalgleish Report have been implemented by the Government of Northern Rhodesia.

Those parts of the Report concerned with advancing the African worker in the mining industry can be implemented only with the agreement of all parties concerned, which has not so far been forthcoming. In the sphere of Governmental action (e.g., in developing technical training and trade testing facilities and wage-fixing machinery) there has been good progress.Some of the Commission's proposals about better housing and consolidated wages for higher grade African workmen were embodied in an agreement between the African Mineworkers' Union and the employers in 1949.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that an organisation in the Rhodesias, the Capricorn Society, which supports Central African Federation, is paying 2s. 6d. to every African who signs a statement supporting federation, and that they have several Africans in their employment who are going about trying to win support from Africans for federation; and whether he will take steps to end this practice.

My right hon. Friend understands that this Society, like other independent political bodies elsewhere, employs paid agents, some of whom are Africans. Inquiries have not disclosed any evidence to support the allegation in the first part of the Question; nor has anything to support it come to the knowledge of the Governments of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland or, I am informed, to that of the Government of Southern Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the composition of the African Provincial Council of Nyasaland; how often the Council meets; and for how long the agenda is circulated before the meetings.

There are three African Provincial Councils in Nyasaland. In both the Northern and the Central Provinces 13 chiefs and 12 non-chiefs are members; for the Southern Province the figures are 16 chiefs and nine non-chiefs. The Councils meet twice a year.My right hon. Friend is consulting the Governor on the last part of the Question and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken by the members of the African Provincial Council of Nyasaland to inform the African tobacco and cotton producers on the use of the Native Development and Welfare Fund.

My right hon. Friend is consulting the Governor of Nyasaland and will circulate the information required in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in what ways the African Press, Ltd., will be of benefit to the African tobacco and cotton producers; and what information will be given in the newspaper, and in what language, as a result of the loan approved by the Governor.

My right hon. Friend is obtaining further information from the Governor of Nyasaland about the African Press, Ltd., and will include it, when received, in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the post of radiologist at Georgetown, British Guiana, which was vacated on 21st July last, has yet been filled; and whether he will take special emergency steps to see that the Colony is supplied with a radiologist as soon as possible.

No. The Colonial Office have been trying without success since last March to find a radiologist. The post is being advertised again. If an emergency arose the Acting Governor would no doubt try to get help from a neighbouring territory, but my right hon. Friend has not heard that this has been thought necessary nor has he received any request for special or temporary assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what regulations are in force to ensure that the sealers of South Georgia use humane methods when killing the elephant seal.

None. It is, however, illegal to kill seals except under licence.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the cost of laying the road over requisitioned land to Polgwidden Cove on the Helford River; and what is the estimated cost of restoring the land to agricultural use.

I understand that the cost to the Exchequer of building this road was of the order of £14,000. This does not include the cost of widening and improving the road, which was done by the United States Army.It would cost at least £15,000 to restore the land to agricultural use.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what were the terms of the cable he received recently from the Naval Base Labour Union, Singapore, on outstanding claims; and what was his reply.

The cable concerned a number of claims which were referred to when I recently met representatives of the Union in Singapore. Most of the claims have already been answered and the remainder will be dealt with as quickly as possible.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will make Local Overseas Allowance available for officers and naval ratings serving in Her Majesty's ships in Korean waters.

No. Local Overseas Allowance is paid to compensate for the higher cost of living on shore in certain places abroad. Those serving in Her Majesty's ships in Korean waters are in the same position in this particular respect as all sailors serving afloat.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that many people find the present make-up of the 5s. book of postage stamps inconvenient; and if he will consider alternatives, including a book of 2½d. stamps entirely.

Yes. It has been decided to replace the present 5s. book of stamps by one containing 12 at 2½d. and 6 each at 2d., 1½d., 1d. and ½d. Books containing only one denomination of stamps have been tried in the past but they were not popular and were finally withdrawn from sale: my noble Friend is, however, having the matter looked at again.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will give an estimate of how much revenue would be gained by including advertisements interleaved in books of postage stamps as before the war.

It has been decided to reintroduce interleaved advertisements in books of stamps but, as forms of tender are about to be issued, it would be undesirable to give any current estimate of the probable revenue.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will give a comprehensive list of postal, telegraphic and telephone charges made by his Department on 1st October, 1951, and at the latest convenient stated date.

To give a comprehensive list of Post Office charges at any time would involve the reproduction of scores of pages of matter already published in the Post Office Guide and elsewhere and would be unjustifiable.I would refer the hon. Member to Statutory Instrument No. 1377 of 1951 which increases certain call office and coin box charges, to page 23 of the Financial Statement (1952–53), to Statutory Instrument No. 557 of 1952 which amends the parcel post rates and to my statement regarding overseas telegraph rates made on 30th July last.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the hardship and distress caused by the non-delivery of telegrams between the hours of 7 p.m. and 8.30 a.m.; and whether he will now give consideration to the delivery of telegrams till a later hour at night, and from an earlier hour in the mornings.

About 98 per cent. of telegrams are delivered on the day of handing in. Telegrams arriving after the hours of messenger delivery are, where possible, delivered by telephone until 11 p.m. At all times, any available means—orthodox or otherwise—are used to deliver telegrams which are clearly of extreme importance of urgency.My noble Friend believes that these arrangements are generally acceptable, and does not consider that their extension would be justified. There is already a loss of over £4 m. annually on the inland telegraph service and any extension beyond the present hours of delivery would certainly increase this loss.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what is the latest date for posting free parcels to members of Her Majesty's forces in Korea; and what publicity has been given to this date.

I understand that an announcement is shortly to be made on this subject.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will provide information such as will enable a comparison to be made of the receipts from the postage on circulars before and after the increase to 1½d.

Separate figures for circulars are not available. For the printed paper class as a whole the estimates are as follow:

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General which Members of Parliament have appeared in broadcasts on overseas services from 1st July, 1950, to the latest convenient date; and in how many such programmes each has appeared.

I am informed by the B.B.C. that Members of Parliament have broadcast in the external services on 734 occasions between 1st July, 1950, and 30th September, 1952. I would not feel justified in asking the B.B.C. to compile the detailed information asked for.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the need for additional telephone kiosks in the new Fairwater Housing Estate, Cardiff; and whether he will take steps to satisfy this need.

A kiosk will be put up in Plasmawr Road early next year, and I hope that it will be possible to provide another kiosk on the estate later.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware of the increase in road safety consequent on the laying of telephone and telegraph wires underground and the consequent removal of the supporting poles from certain road verges; and how far this policy of removal will be extended in future.

The siting of telegraph and telephone poles is always agreed with the highway authorities, who naturally watch the road safety aspect. Post Office policy for many years has been to place telephone and telegraph lines underground wherever this is economical, and over 90 per cent. of the wires are now in underground cables.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many persons in the urban district of Ruislip—Northwood who have applied for telephones in their business premises and private houses, are still waiting for telephones; and how many new connections were provided in 1951.

Figures for the urban district of Ruislip—Northwood are not available. In the Ruislip and Northwood Exchange areas which cover the greater part of the urban district, 251 business applications and 1,495 residence applications were outstanding on the 30th September, 1952. 630 new connections were provided in 1951.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether the city and county of Londonderry are expected to be included under the coverage of the projected new television station to be situated at Belfast.

I am informed by the B.B.C. that the coverage of the temporary television station near Belfast is unlikely to extend into the county of Londonderry. The Corporation expects the station to bring television within range of about half a million people in Belfast and its immediate surroundings.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether, in view of the comparatively small cost of erecting a temporary television booster station, he will allow the construction of the station at Princetown, which was to have priority in the west, and would enable South Devon, Plymouth and a large part of Cornwall to see the Coronation.

I am informed that other considerations apart, satisfactory service in the areas quoted could not be given by a booster station near Prince-town, because of its very limited range.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will give the estimated date for the beginning of the television service for the north-east.

The B.B.C. hopes to begin the service at Pontop Pike in time for the Coronation, but it is too early to estimate a date.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what plans for television relay stations to improve reception in southern England have been submitted to him; and what action he proposes to take.

Two applications for television rediffusion service have been received and two for radio boosters: the whole question of improving reception in fringe areas is under consideration as I indicated in my statement to the House on 22nd October.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will make a special temporary arrangement for the relaying of television broadcasts to the great cities in the South of Hampshire in time for the Coronation; or whether he will allow some private firm to supply this satisfaction of the local public demand.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will give an assurance that any equipment capable of retransmitting television in the hands of commercial firms or the services will be brought into temporary use to extend the field of television reception at the time of the Coronation.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what improved facilities on television will be available to the South coast towns in time for the Coronation.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when he anticipates installing a permanent television station in the Isle of Wight.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will consider making temporary arrangements to relay television from the Isle of Wight so that people on the South coast may view the Coronation.

I regret that I cannot go beyond my statement on 22nd October that the B.B.C. is proceeding to set up stations at Pontop Pike and Belfast, and is examining possible ways and means of improving service in fringe areas.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is now in a position to announce the names of the members of the reconstituted Television Advisory Committee.

My noble Friend has today made a statement on this subject in another place.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will consider an extension of the order which suspends the operation of the Merchandise Marks Order relating to the marking of butter with an indication of the country of origin, having in mind the point that retailers, even after 24th May next year, are not likely to have any choice as to the source of their supplies of this commodity, and the fact that complaints are likely to arise from consumers who desire a particular brand of butter when the retailer is compulsorily supplied with something else by the Department.

No. The shortage of wrapping paper has been the chief reason for the directions exempting butter from marking under the Merchandise Marks Act. Sufficient supplies are now available and my right hon. Friend does not consider that the difficulties to which the hon. Member refers would justify a further direction of this kind.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why day-old chicks have been imported recently from Denmark and the Netherlands; and what arrangements have been made for future importations.

Imports of day-old chicks are on open general licence, and there are consequently no restrictions on importation other than those imposed under the Disease of Animals Act. Under the Poultry and Hatching Eggs (Importation) Orders, 1947 and 1952, imports from Denmark are permitted under conditions designed to secure that the chicks are free from disease, but owing to the existence of fowl pest in that country imports from the Netherlands are prohibited and none have taken place recently.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes have found it necessary to raise the price of a cup of tea, in view of the fall in the cost of the raw material.

The Board of Management have been compelled, with reluctance, to take this step since expenditure in wages, fuel, light, transport, etc., has been steadily rising.

asked the Secretary of State for War what profits the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes made during 1950 and 1951; and what is the estimated current rate of profits.

There was a net overall surplus for distribution of £496,572 in 1950 and of £457,309 in 1951, as shown in the published accounts. Current trading, which is affected by the service for Korea and by abnormal costs in Egypt, will probably result in a very small surplus for distribution.