asked the Minister of Supply the total cost to public funds, in the most recent period of 12 months for which figures are available, of the Royal Aircraft Establishment.

It would not be in the public interest to publish this information.

asked the Minister of Supply the total money paid to manufacturers and assemblers of aircraft. air-frames and aero engines, in the most recent period of 12 months for which figures are available, in respect of research, design, development work, experimental work and tooling.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the right hon. Member for Battersea, North (Mr. Jay), on 26th January.

asked the Minister of Supply what recent orders he has given for the supply of swords; for what purpose; and at what cost.

Orders have been placed for swords for ceremonial purposes on behalf of the War Office and Air Ministry. It would be contrary to established practice to publish prices at which contracts are placed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will investigate the evidence submitted to him by the hon. Member for Southampton. Test, in regard to the murder of Mr. Arthur Yencken, acting British Minister to Spain in May, 1944.

I have fully investigated the evidence submitted by the hon. Member. This consisted of a report published in a Communist propaganda sheet in English originating in the Soviet Zone of Germany and called "Democratic German Report." This sheet is apparently sent by post to recipients in this country. The report claims that the air crash in which Mr. Yencken lost his life in Spain on 18th May, 1944, was engineered by Dr. Panhorst, now an official of the German Federal Government. and a certain Commandante Moreno, about whom I have no information. The report reproduces an alleged facsimile of a letter said to have been written by General Faupel, then head of the Ibero-American Institute in Berlin. to Dr. Hans-Joachim von Merkatz, then employed in the Institute and now a leading member of the German Party in the German Federal Republic. In fact, this tragic occurrence was fully investigated at the time and the Spanish authorities showed themselves most helpful and courteous. All the evidence points to the fact that the crash was an accident.Mr. Yencken's aeroplane crashed a few feet below the crest of a mountain ridge in an area notorious for its sudden clouding and mists. The weather conditions were bad and the pilot had been advised by the Spanish authorities to delay his departure. The only eye witness of the crash stated that the aircraft was flying through mist, visibility being about 60 feet. The ridge itself was completely obscured by mist. He made no reference to any second aircraft. The Air Attaché to Her Majesty's Embassy, a senior R.A.F officer who personally took part in the exhaustive investigation. expressed himself completely satisfied that any question of sabotage could definitely be ruled out.Dr. Merkatz has declared that the letter reproduced in the Communist sheet is a forgery. I have been informed that General Faupel was at the time of the accident and of the despatch of this alleged letter from Madrid, very ill in Potsdam. I have further been informed that Dr. Panhorst, who had severed all connection with the Ibero-American Institute some years previously, denies that he has ever know or heard of the Cornmandante Moreno, with whom he is alleged to have organised Mr. Yencken's death.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the number of Foreign Office staff. at home and abroad, who were, in 1946. in receipt of £1,000 per annum; how many of these have not received an increase since that date; what, on average, has been the percentage increase in salary of the remainder; and how many of those, in this category, are expected to meet the cost of their travel, postage, secretarial assistance and living away from home expenses whilst engaged on State service from their salary.

In 1946, there were 371 Foreign Office staff at home and abroad in receipt of salaries of £1,000 per annum or more. Most of this staff were on scales of salary and these scales have been increased since 1946. Owing to changes of grade and other factors, the average percentage increase cannot be calculated without a disproportionate expenditure of labour and its result would he meaningless.No officer employed by the Foreign Office normally has to meet from his salary the expenses mentioned in the final part of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will move to appoint a Select Committee to inquire into all matters pertaining to allegations of neglect made against the British Secret Service and Foreign Office by the author, Colonel H. J. Giskes, in his book entitled "London Calling North Pole," a copy of which has been sent to him

No. These matters were fully and adequately investigated both at the time of their occurrence and afterwards

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking, in consultation with his colleagues, to rectify unemployment in Cardiff docks.

As my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary and Minister for Welsh Affairs stated in his reply to the debate on Welsh Affairs on 22nd January. the Ministers concerned are considering whether anything could be done to increase traffic and reduce the number of dockers surplus to requirements in the Cardiff docks.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the members of the four committees that are to be established under the Licensed Residential and Catering Establishments Board; and if he will indicate which of these members are drawn from Scotland:(2) whether he has now set up the committees which are to deal with the four different categories of hotels and catering establishments that come under the jurisdiction of the Licensed Residential and Catering Establishments Board.

The committees have not yet been established as some nominations have still to be received from the organisations concerned. When all the nominations have been made, the committees will be set up without delay, and I will then communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend to give him the desired information regarding their membership.

asked the Minister of Labour what proportion of unemployed males in Scotland. at the latest convenient date, were skilled men; and what was the proportion at the corresponding date the previous year.

I regret that statistics giving, the information desired are not available

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total value of new school building started in 1952; and the comparable figures for each of the last five years.

The figures are given in the following table:

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will give the percentage increase in telephone rentals for the year ended December, 1952.

There are three separate rental tariffs, namely, London; Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow; and the provinces generally; and the rentals are different for business and residence subscribers. The increases made on 1st July, 1952, represented 30–34 per cent. of the rentals then payable for exclusive lines, and 11–25 per cent. for shared lines. The differences in these percentages are due to the rebate allowed for shared service, which was increased from 11s. 6d. to £1 10s. a year on 1st July, 1952.

asked the Minister of Works when he expects that work on the removal of temporary defence works on private land will be completed.

During the past seven years approximately £3½ million has been spent by my Department on the removal of temporary defence works on private land, and substantial progress has been made. In the present economic circumstances it is not possible to provide enough money for me to carry out the residue of work quickly and it has been decided to discontinue the programme of restoration for which my Department has been responsible. Sites will be de-requisitioned and site owners will be paid terminal compensation assessed in accordance with the terms of the Compensation (Defence) Act. 1939. as subsequently amended.In cases where it is desired to clear the defence works from the derequisitioned private land and the compensation is not sufficient to pay for the cost, it will be open to owners to apply to the Minister of Agriculture, the Minister of Housing and Local Government or the Secretary of State for Scotland for financial assistance under the Requisitioned Land and War Works Act, 1945. A local planning authority which takes action for removal of such works under the powers of the Town and Country Planning Acts, 1947, may apply similarly for financial assistance. My right hon. Friends the Minister of Housing and Local Government and the Secretary of State for Scotland are issuing circulars to local planning authorities explaining the procedure.I must emphasise that it will only be possible for Ministers to give financial assistance in cases where they are fully satisfied that restoration is really essential in the national interest. The economic circumstances which make it impossible for large sums of money to be made available to me for a programme of restoration will severely restrict the number of cases in which it will be possible for other Ministers to give financial aid.I am anxious that every facility should be afforded to site owners to remove defence works, and any applications for building licences needed for the work of restoring war damaged land will be considered as sympathetically as possible.