asked the Minister of Civil Aviation the number of occasions during the last few months on which he has had complaints of ice falling from aircraft; what steps are being taken to prevent such falls; and what further action is now contemplated.

During the past five months one case has been notified. Modifications to ensure that pieces of ice shall not fall out of aircraft have been introduced to all types on the United Kingdom register, which are liable to this failing. In addition, foreign operators have been asked to take similar measures.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation what plans he has for the development of a national helicopter passenger service; and if he will give an assurance that Sheffield will be included in the service.

It would be premature to make any plans for a national helicopter passenger service until the development of a twin-engined commercial helicopter is much further advanced.With regard to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Heeley (Mr. P. Roberts) on 7th May, 1952.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the uncertainty about the attitude of the South Sudanese over the powers of the Governor-General since the reported agreement of some of them with Egypt, what steps he is taking to find out the attitude of representative South Sudanese on this question.

The attitude of the South Sudanese over the powers of the Governor-General was made clear by their representatives in the Sudanese Legislative Assembly which accepted the draft Self-Government Statute.As I informed the House last week, no representatives of the Southern population were parties to the agreement in Khartoum. If any further clarification of the views of the Southerners is needed, no doubt it could be given by their representatives in the proposed new Sudanese Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what increase there has been in the number of diplomatic and consular representatives of foreign Governments in the Sudan in recent months; and by which countries.

There are no diplomatic or consular representatives of foreign Governments in the Sudan.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will suspend negotiations with the Egyptian Government on the self-government statute pending the elections in the Sudan.

No. As I informed the House last week it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government to seek agreement with Egypt, and to hold elections in the Sudan at the earliest possible opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many of the ex-Nazis arrested in the British zone of Germany were members of the Stalhelm organisation.

My present information is that none of these men were members of the Stahlhelm organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has yet received any reply to his representations to the United States Administration on the screening of British seamen; and if he will make a statement.

The Note which, as the hon. Member was informed on 20th January, was addressed to the United States Government on 24th December, has been acknowledged, but no reply has yet been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the poor progress made by the United Nations Korean Reconstruction Agency and the bad conditions existing in Korea, whether Her Majesty's Government will now substantially increase its contribution to this Agency; what appeals the Agency has made for an increase; if he is aware that the United States Government is unwilling to make further contributions unless the British Government increases its contribution; and why there has been this delay in implementing the United Nations assurance in respect of Korean reconstruction.

I think the hon. Member may be under some misapprehension. £2 million was provided for this purpose in the 1952–53 Estimates, and sterling is, therefore, available when it is needed to help to pay for any work in hand which has been approved by the Agent General's Advisory Committee.In fulfilment of their pledges, Her Majesty's Government are prepared to contribute up to £2,800,000 towards a recently approved programme whose cost may amount to 70 million dollars by next June. Up to £1 million may be paid by the end of March. There is as yet no programme for 1953–54.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what rank and position Mr. H. M. G. Lauwers held with his Department during 1942–43; what duties were allotted to him; and what position he now holds.

Mr. Lauwers was recruited as a W/T. operator by the Joint British-Netherlands Section of the Special Operations Executive, a now defunct organisation which, during its lifetime, was under the direction of the Minister of Economic Warfare.In late 1941 he was parachuted into Holland and captured by the Germans.I understand that Mr. Lauwers is a Netherlands national, and I am unaware of the position he now holds.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why British official witnesses were refused permission to give evidence before a Parliamentary Commission held at The Hague and presided over by the present Dutch Minister of Justice, to inquire into alleged neglect on the part of the British Secret Service.

His late Majesty's Government welcomed the Netherlands official inquiry and while it is true that no British official witnesses attended the hearings of the Netherlands Parliamentary Commission at The Hague, representatives of the Commission were invited to London, where arrangements were made for them to meet and question British officials concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that during 1942–43, 54 British agents fell into German hands, 47 of whom were subsequently executed at Mauthausen, through the deception perpetrated on the British Secret Service by Lieutenant H. M. G. Lauwers, a British Secret Service agent; and what action was taken on this matter.

The figures given by the hon. Member are, so far as I am aware, substantially correct, though I cannot accept the implication of the responsibility of Mr. Lauwers. Appropriate action was taken immediately on discovery of the deception perpetrated by the Germans.I understand that the matter was the subject of a full inquiry at the time. After the war further inquiries were conducted by the British and Netherlands authorities.

asked the Minister of Food how much of the demerara sugar available possesses its colour and flavour owing to the adhering film of molasses; and how much consists of white sugar coloured by aniline dyes.

I am not aware that any white sugar is being dyed and sold as demerara. Demerara sugar gets its characteristic colour and flavour primarily from the natural cane juice, although occasionally a little colouring matter is added in the course of manufacture to ensure a uniform product.

asked the Minister of Food how much sugar would be needed to ensure that no manufacturer of chocolates or sweets receives less than 54 per cent. of his pre-war consumption;

asked the Minister of Food what is meant by the term, "Fresh Fruit Standard," for jam; and how much fruit is the maximum permitted in strawberry and raspberry jam.

asked the Minister of Food what is meant by the term, "Full Fruit Standard"; what are the dyes used for restoring the colour to the fruit pulp; and how the sulphur dioxide used for preservation is removed.

Fresh Fruit Standard jam must be made from fresh fruit and may not contain any added colouring matter or preservative other than sugar.Full Fruit Standard jam need not comply with these conditions, and is normally made from fruit pulp. and whether he will take steps to ensure that allocations do not fall below this level.

From 25th January the rate of allocation is being raised to 57 per cent. Pre-war performance will govern three-quarters of each manufacturer's allocation, and the remaining quarter will be governed by recent performance.My right hon. and gallant Friend is satisfied that it is no longer appropriate that everything should depend on what happened before the war.

asked the Minister of Food how much white fish was landed at Hull and Grimsby on 20th, 30th and 31st December; and how much edible fish was unsold on those dates.

Following is the information:There is no limit on the maximum fruit content of any jam. The minimum is 37½ per cent. and 25 per cent. respectively for strawberry jam and raspberry jam.No manufacturers may add to jam any colouring agent which renders it injurious to health. The colours most commonly used are ponceau reds, carmoisine and amaranth. The boiling during manufacture of the jam removes all but traces of sulphur dioxide used for preserving pulp.

asked the Minister of Food by what amount the up-take of the margarine ration has fallen in recent months.

During the 16 weeks ended 9th August, 1952, when the ration was 4 oz., deliveries of margarine to wholesalers averaged 98 per cent. of entitlement. During the following 16 weeks, when the ration was 5 oz., deliveries averaged 94 per cent. of entitlement. The provisional figure for the first five weeks after 30th November, when the ration returned to 4 oz., is 97 per cent.

asked the Minister of Food the consumption of full-price fresh milk for the month of December, 1952.

The provisional total of full-price sales in the United Kingdom is 109 million gallons.

asked the Minister of Food why he delayed his decision to purchase Canadian cheese until the quantity of cheese available was considerably less than the quantity offered in November.

The quantity purchased was determined by the sum in dollars which could be spent on Canadian cheese and was not affected by the date upon which the decision was taken to buy.

asked the Minister of Food why the bread subsidy is not payable to the Stapleton Hospital, which bakes bread for other hospitals and homes in the Bristol area.

Bread subsidy is payable in respect of national bread sold by bakers who, in the normal course of trading, produce bread for sale to the general public. Bread produced by persons or bodies other than bakers so trading does not quality for bread subsidy.

asked the Minister of Food if he will consider afresh the new scheme for allocating raw materials to the confectionery trade, taking into account the representations by the governing body of the trade, that the scheme is unfair and misconceived.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Clapham (Mr. Gibson) on 26th January.

asked the Minister of Food the arrangements that will be made to allow Coronation committees in towns and villages to have an ox or sheep roasted for local feasts on Coronation day.

As I informed the House yesterday, the arrangements will provide for the traditional roasting of oxen. My right hon. and gallant Friend does not feel justified in providing for the much greater numbers in which smaller animals might be roasted. To preserve tradition is a worthy object, but to extend it beyond what I have already announced would not be justified by the present supply position.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the nature of the shipment of books recently imported from Britain to the West Indies by the Honourable Cheddi Jagan and refused entry by the Customs Department.

I assume that the shipment referred to is one to British Guiana which was forfeited in February, 1952, on the ground that it was not covered by an import licence. It consisted of a large number of books and gramophone records of Russian origin containing Communist propaganda.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether an African Affairs Board still forms part of Her Majesty's Government's proposals for a constitution for any Central African Government that may be set up in the near future.

Yes. I regret that I cannot give any details until the publication of the White Paper which Her Majesty's Government intend to lay before Parliament at the earliest opportunity after the conference has finished.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the decisions of the Conference on Closer Co-operation between the Central African Territories.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on Tuesday, 20th January, to the hon. Members for Gravesend (Sir R. Acland), Bradford, South (Mr. George Craddock), Oldham, West (Mr. Hale) and Cannock (Miss Lee).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any Africans have yet been appointed to serve as full-time members of municipal councils or township boards in Northern Rhodesia.

No, but the steps which I described in reply to the right hon. Gentleman on 22nd October are being extended to other towns.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that Ceylon has agreed to export 250,000 tons of rubber to China during the next five years; and when the restriction on the shipment of this commodity from Malaya to China is to be lifted.

Yes. With regard to the second part of the Question, the embargo on shipping rubber to China from Malaya could not be lifted without contravening Her Majesty's Government's obligation under the United Nations General Assembly Resolution of 18th May, 1951, which calls on member States to deny contributions to the military strength of the aggressor in Korea.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many students there are in this country from Malaya and Singapore; how many of them are scholarship students; how many are financed privately; and what are the chief subjects of their studies.

1,011, of whom 480 are scholarship students and the remainder financed privately. The main courses of study are education and teacher training, law, engineering, medicine, architecture, agriculture, accountancy, and arts and science subjects

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in what Colonial Territories foreign manufactured motor cars are in use as official cars.

To answer this I should have to circulate an inquiry to all Colonial Governments. I do not think that this would be justifiable. The general policy is to encourage Colonial Governments and their officials to use British cars, and our efforts are generally successful.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken in Cyprus to regulate the employment of domestic servants under 18 years of age and to regulate the adoption or quasi-adoption of children for the purpose of exploiting their labour.

The law, as amended in November, requires employers to register all young domestic servants (females under 18 and males under 16) including particulars of their conditions of service. These have to be approved by the Commissioner of Labour, who has powers of inspection to ensure that the conditions are being observed.This law provides adequate safeguards against the misuse of adoption for the purpose suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement with regard to the rioting at Anloga in the Gold Coast.

A deep-seated opposition has developed in the State of Anlo in the Gold Coast Colony east of the Volta River to the payment of the rate imposed by the newly-elected Local Council. A headman who supported payment has disappeared and on 17th January the local Government Agent was stabbed while enquiring into the rate question in the area. He is making a good recovery from his wound.General disturbances in the area then broke out. A local councillor who supported payment of the rate was murdered, 55 houses in Anloga and neighbouring villages were burned down and some pilfering took place.Prompt and firm action by the Gold Coast Government through the regional organisation quickly restored order. Many arrests were made, 33 persons have so far been convicted of various offences connected with the riots and the trials of 99 others are proceeding. No arrests have yet been made in connection with the disappearance of the headman or the murder of the local councillor.The action taken has the full support of the local members of the Gold Coast Legislative Assembly, of the Anlo District Council, and of the traditional authorities in the neighbourhood who have co-operated in restoring order.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when he hopes to publish the report of the working party on the recruitment and selection of cadets for commissions in the Royal Navy.

My right hon. Friend has not yet received the report. Meanwhile, I have nothing to add to the answers given to previous Questions from the hon. Member.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will give a list of naval aircraft, past and present, giving the interval between the time when staff requirements were first approved and the time when they first came into squadron service.

I regret that it would not be in the public interest to give the information in the form asked for by my hon. and gallant Friend in respect of modern types of aircraft.For older types the following table gives the information for which he asks. This table covers the principal types of British aircraft which have been designed or adapted for operational use from carriers and have come into squadron service over the last 10 years.

asked the First Lard of the Admiralty why the request of the employees of the naval base at Singapore, that their recent claims should go to arbitration, was refused and only conceded after the strike had started.

The hon. Member is misinformed. The Admiralty were prepared, before the strike, to agree to arbitration on any matters which were appropriate for arbitration. The Naval Base Labour Union were so informed on 19th December.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the loss of amenity that would be caused by the construction of a road between Lossiemouth and Hopeman, passing, in part, through the Moray Golf Course; and whether, since there are no technical or security problems involved in routing this road to the south of the Royal Naval Air Station "Fulmar," he will instruct his representative at the public inquiry to press for the adoption of the southern alternative at the forthcoming inquiry.

I am glad of the opportunity of explaining the Admiralty's position on this matter. The Admiralty is responsible for meeting the cost of whatever road is decided upon by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport to replace those which are to be closed.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how he proposes to dispose of the undistributed balance of the Royal Naval Prize Fund amounting to £612,328.

I regret that the settlement of certain administrative details has delayed the distribution of the residue of the Royal Naval Prize Fund which stood at £537,000 on 31st December last. I cannot forecast how soon these questions will be settled, but I can assure the hon. Member that everything is being done to enable the residue to be disposed of in accordance with the terms of the Prize Act, 1948. My right hon. Friend will make an announcement to the House as soon as possible.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will arrange for travel warrants issued to sailors on leave to cover the whole journey to and from their homes by any public service vehicle, and not merely to the nearest convenient railway station.

Since certain expenses in travelling beyond the railhead may be refunded, this innovation does not seem really necessary or worth the cost of the additional administrative overheads to which it would give rise. Although I should be glad to help in any reasonable way, I have no reason to think that the present arrangements are unsatisfactory

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when, in order to increase efficiency in industry and business, he will be improving the postal services so far as collection and delivery of mails are concerned.

The present postal collection and delivery services are designed to meet the reasonable needs of industry and business, with due regard to the continuing need for economy in the use of manpower and money, but if my hon. Friend will let me know of any particular case of difficulty which he has in mind I shall be glad to have inquiries made.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why he issues leaflet PH 907 to car owners when their car licences are renewed, as it depicts a large saloon motor car being driven one handed by a lackadaisical driver, in view of the Government's crusade against road accidents.

The car is clearly parked and the occupants are listening to the radio.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether, in view of renewed complaints of current delay in the commercial and Press telecommunications service to Australia and New Zealand, due to wireless interference, he will examine existing cable facilities, with a New to their expansion.

I am glad to say that Cable and Wireless, Ltd., restored to service, in September, 1952, an Atlantic telegraph cable the speed of which will be almost doubled by further work this year. They have also strengthened the Red Sea cables and improved the capacity of the Pacific route. Further improvements are being pushed forward as speedily as possible.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that letters must be posted in Carlisle by 3 p.m. to be sure of first delivery in London the following day; and what measures he proposes to provide a better service.

Letters posted at Carlisle head Post Office up to 8 p.m. are delivered in inner London on the majority of days first post the following week-day. The train by which these letters are carried does not, however, keep reliable enough time for this service to be guaranteed, and the latest posting time for first delivery is therefore advertised at the earlier hour of 3 p.m.I am looking into the possibility of improving on this time and I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what progress has been made regarding a new telephone exchange for Eccles.

Building work for a new automatic exchange started on 2nd January. Meanwhile, the present manual exchange is to be extended.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the number of applications for telephones outstanding in the Eccles exchange area and the Swinton exchange area, respectively.

At 31st December, 1952, 492 applications were outstanding in the Eccles exchange area and 508 at Swinton.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the number of applicants for telephone service at the latest convenient stated date for the county borough of West Ham; and how many applicants have been supplied with service in this borough in the year 1952.

On the 31st December, 1952, 1861 applications were outstanding and 502 were in course of being met or under inquiry.One thousand, one hundred and ninety applicants were supplied with service within the county borough during 1952.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if, before allowing the cinema interests free use of the Coronation television programme, he will obtain from them an undertaking that it shall be used on a non-profit making basis, or that any profits that are made shall be devoted to charity.

The object of my noble Friend in arranging for the free use of the Coronation television programme was to remove all obstacles to public viewing of the Coronation. Not only cinemas, but also hotels, public houses, village halls. etc., are involved. It would be difficult, and might well defeat the object of the concession, if any attempt were made to impose special conditions on the licence.In this matter my noble Friend is confident that he can rely on the public spirit of the interests concerned to ensure that this happy and historic occasion is not misused for purposes of private gain.

asked the Assistant Postmaster - General what arrangements he is making to link up television of the Coronation with continental European countries; and what will be the cost a mile of doing so.

The B.B.C. inform me that they are providing one temporary link from London to Dover, with equipment of a type normally used for outside broadcasts, which would be quite unsuitable for a permanent television station in this country. The relay from the Channel will be the responsibility of countries on the Continent who wish to take the B.B.C.'s Coronation programmes, and they will carry out all the work necessary for the reception of the signals.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he has any proposals for providing adequate television reception in the area of Carlisle, comparable to other areas in the country.

I would refer the hon. Member to my statement about television on 8th December.

asked the Minister of Supply why work on the Cromwell tank, carried out at the Royal Ordnance factory, Dalmuir, has been transferred to Newcastle.

The work has not been transferred. It was never intended that the Royal Ordnance factory at Dalmuir should do all the work in the Cromwell programme. They were given as much of this work as they could complete in the time laid down.

asked the Minister of Supply why, in his Department's official descriptions of the new bomber, no mention was made of its approximate cost.

The particulars given were in accordance with previous practice on similar occasions.

asked the Secretary of State for War what percentage of National Service men do a proportion of their service in overseas theatres, including Western Germany.

I regret that this figure is not readily available and to get it would mean a special and laborious inquiry. I can, however, say that during the past year at any one time between 44 per cent. and 48 per cent. of all National Service men in the active Army were serving outside this country.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will arrange for travel warrants issued to soldiers on leave to cover the whole journey to and from their homes by any public service vehicle, and not merely to the nearest convenient railway station.

No. Under the existing arrangements a man travelling on leave at public expense gets a warrant for the return rail journey from the station nearest his unit to that nearest his home. In addition, if he has to travel more than five miles at either end of the rail journey, he may claim a refund of that cost. As a result, a soldier who has far to go by road is not out of pocket. To alter these arrangements by giving a choice of means of travel would cause administrative difficulties and expense which would be out of proportion to the benefit to the soldier.

asked the Minister of Health the cost of distributing pamphlet 94609/208/7, dated 19th December, 1952, issued by his Department to hospitals.

£16 2s. 6d.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the contents of pamphlet 94609/208/7, dated 19th December. 1952, issued by his Department to hospitals, concerning the washing-down of walls and paint-work; and, since such detailed instructions should be left to the discretion of local hospital boards, if he will revise this pamphlet.

This memorandum asked hospital authorities to observe an agreed recommendation of the two sides of the appropriate Whitley Committee, on which hospital authorities are represented, with regard to the class of labour to be used on washing-down walls and paint-work in certain circumstances.If my hon. Friend knows of any local difficulty in its application perhaps he will let me have particulars.

asked the Minister of Health what medical evidence is available to support recently-published opinion that smoking may cause cancer of the lung; and if he will make a statement.

This whole question is before my Standing Advisory Committee on Cancer and Radiotherapy, which is to meet on 5th February, and I am awaiting their observations.

asked the Minister of Health why there has been a 100 per cent. increase in the cost of meals to children attending the Fosse Road Occupation Centre, Leicester; and why the meals at this school are 1s. as compared with 7d. at the normal schools.

Charges for these meals are a matter for the local health authority which is empowered by the National Health Service Act to make such charges (if any) as it considers reasonable, having regard to the means of the persons concerned. School meals are provided under the Education Act and different financial provisions apply.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will arrange for travel warrants issued to airmen on leave to cover the whole journey to and from their homes by any public service vehicle, and not merely to the nearest convenient railway station.

No. It is already the practice to issue a bus warrant or refund the fare if the distance between the airman's home and the nearest railway station is more than five miles.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will grant a free travel warrant to all officers and other ranks allowed time off to celebrate the Coronation of Her Majesty, or a fixed cash payment in lieu thereof.

No.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if, in view of the fact that a meeting is to take place shortly in Delhi of the Commonwealth Advisory Committee on Defence Science, he will propose that a committee be also set up to deal with the principle of constructive defence based on good will and for the purpose of fostering friendship by propaganda.

No. The existing forms of Commonwealth co-operation are directed towards our common objective of fostering the cause of peace and friendship between nations.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that, on several occasions during the current winter, highway authorities have not been sufficiently quick in taking action to apply gritting or snow ploughs to roads rendered dangerous or virtually unusable by reason of snow or icing; and what steps can be taken to improve the equipment and procedure in order to reduce to a minimum the traffic delays which result through delay in applying the necessary remedies.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to him on 26th January.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will make an itemised statement on the average percentage increase in pensions and allowances administered by his Department since 1st April, 1946.

The pensions and allowances payable under the schemes in operation on 1st April, 1946, were so different from those now provided under the Family Allowances and National Insurance Acts that it is impossible to make the comparison and calculation suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why biscuits, to the value of £100,000, are to be imported from Czechoslovakia; and whether the biscuits concerned are of types normally manufactured in this country.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon North (Mr. C. I. Orr-Ewing) on 20th January. The choice of the types of biscuits to be imported against the quota is a matter for the importers concerned.