asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many post offices there are in Scotland; what is the average population of the community served by each office; and what are the comparable figures for the county of Fife.

There are 2,612 post offices in Scotland and the average population served by each office is 1,955. The comparable figures for the county of Fife are 146 and 2,084 respectively.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what steps he took in 1952 and what steps he proposes to take in 1953, in order to reduce the cost of carrying out the duties of his Department.

During 1951–52 and 1952–53 Post Office expenditure increased by some £50 million, about two-thirds of which was due to increased staff costs. Only about half of the total increase was passed on to the public in the form of increased charges. In spite of a steady rise in postal and telephone traffic the non-industrial staff of the Post Office, so far from increasing during these years, has diminished.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what steps are taken to ensure that all post offices have available ample supplies of literature giving full particulars of National Savings Certificates.

The production, printing and distribution of National Savings Certificate literature is a joint responsibility of the National Savings Committee, the Stationery Office and the Post Office. As far as I am aware all post offices have ample stocks of such literature available for supplying the public, but if this may not be so in the case of any particular post office I shall be glad to look into the matter if the hon. Member will give me the name of the office.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many applications for telephones are outstanding in the borough of Barry; how many were outstanding a year ago; and what is the date of the oldest outstanding application.

Two hundred and ninety-eight applications were outstanding at the 31st December, 1952, and 245 at the 31st December, 1951. The oldest application is dated 6th December, 1946.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will notify private subscribers, who now only receive a copy of the telephone directory if they specially apply for it, when each new edition applicable to their district is published, at the same time enclosing a form to be filled up with instructions where to send it.

No. These arrangements were made as economy measures, and to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion would defeat that object. In any case, this year new directories will be distributed to all subscribers.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the disproportion of telephones supplied to Northern Ireland and Wales, compared with the rest of the country; and whether he will ensure that a larger number are erected in these areas this year.

Yes. Every effort is made to ensure a fair distribution of our resources among the regions and a special review of the position is at present in progress. Because of the differing conditions in individual regions, a uniform rate of supply of telephones in any one year cannot be expected.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what proportion of the 1,500 telephone lines to be installed in Woolwich this year will be in the Abbey Wood area.

As I said in my reply to the hon. Member on 4th March, separate figures for the Abbey Wood area are not readily available; but on a broad estimate the proportion will be about one-fourteenth.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many applications for telephones are outstanding in the Buckley, Connah's Quay, Hawarden and Overton-on-Dee exchange areas; and how many new connections were made in these areas in 1950, 1951 and 1952, respectively.

The information is as follows:

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air if overseas allowance for Royal Air Force personnel separated from their wives will be provided at the same rate as that announced for the Army.

As I said when introducing the Air Estimates, Royal Air Force personnel will draw the new married unaccompanied local overseas allowance at the same rates as those announced for the Army.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to the United States Administration.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has received from the Bonn Government to make available British aeroplanes to assist the clearance from Berlin to Western Germany of the present abnormal flow of refugees.

The German Federal Chancellor sent a letter on 5th March to the Allied High Commission requesting them to use their best endeavours to ensure that sufficient aircraft were provided immediately to increase substantially the number of refugees being flown from Berlin to Western Germany. Sufficient aircraft have as a result been provided to fly out all the refugees who are ready to leave Berlin and have completed the necessary formalities for entry into the Federal Republic.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress is being made in discussions with other Governments on the all-round reduction of passport visa fees; and if he will publish details of the fees charged by other countries and by the United Kingdom.

No such discussions are in progress. At various international conferences held under the auspices of the League of Nations and the United Nations, the last of which was held at Geneva in 1947, recommendations were made that visa fees should be kept as low as possible and that 10 gold francs for an entry visa and 1 gold franc for a transit visa were reasonable charges. United Kingdom fees have been fixed on that basis.A complete and up-to-date list of fees charged by other countries is not available, but I will send my hon. Friend a list of the countries whose nationals are charged fees varying from the standard rate under the powers referred to in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury (Mr. Langford-Holt) on 11th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to make a statement regarding British interests in the Buraimi Oasis.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) when and to what extent the boundaries between Saudi Arabia, Muscat and the Trucial Sheikhdoms have been defined;(2) to make a statement regarding the territorial dispute over the Buraimi Oasis in the Persian Gulf area; and the action taken by Her Majesty's Government in regard to it.

The boundaries between Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman and the Trucial Sheikhdoms have never been clearly determined. Her Majesty's Government have been engaged in negotiations with the Saudi Arabian Government over many years. The question of the frontier arose in acute form last summer when a Saudi Arabian official accompanied by armed men, established himself in the Buraimi Oasis.Buraimi is an oasis comprising eight villages, situated on the borders of the Trucial States and the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman. Six of these villages are regarded by Her Majesty's Government as belonging to the ruler of Abu Dhabi, who enjoys their protection, and the other two, by name Hamasa and Buraimi, as being under the authority of the Sultan of Muscat. This view was made plain to the Saudi Arabian Government.After some weeks of negotiation Her Majesty's Government acting on behalf of the Trucial Sheikhdoms under their protection, and with the authority of the Sultan, agreed to a standstill arrangement. Under the terms of this agreement the parties were to remain in their present positions in the Oasis without being reinforced, pending a resumption of the negotiations regarding the boundaries.Since there was a wide divergence of view between Her Majesty's Government and the Saudi Arabian Government, Her Majesty's Government proposed in November, 1952, that the matter should be referred to impartial arbitration. The Saudi Arabian Government countered with a proposal that a plebiscite should be held in Buraimi. In view of the presence of the Saudi Arabian official in Buraimi and his activities both before and after the conclusion of the standstill agreement Her Majesty's Government could not accept this proposal, and they renewed their offer to refer to impartial arbitration. The Saudi Arabian Government's reply to the renewed offer is still awaited.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the decision of the Venice Tribunal regarding the action brought by the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company in respect of the Persian oil carried by the tanker "Miriella."

The action in Venice was one of protective proceedings for the judicial sequestration of the oil in question, pending the outcome of a main action in Rome to determine the ownership of the oil. The court decided that there was no prima facie reason why the sequestration should be granted. It was not asked to decide on the ownership of the oil. This more important question will be determined in the Rome court at the suit of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.The Anglo-Iranian Oil Company has emphasised that its determination to take in all countries any such action as it deems necessary for the protection of its interests remains unchanged.

asked the Minister of Food how the present stocks of grain in the United Kingdom compare with those of 12 months ago.

It would not be in the national interest to give this information.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has now considered the proposal of the deputation from the Newport Town Council last year, asking for permission either to erect a new slaughterhouse or to improve the existing building, which is over 100 years old, out of date, unhygienic and has no modern facilities for the slaughter of animals; and whether he will now give permission for the erection of the new building.

As announced in the House on 5th November last, my right hon. and gallant Friend has appointed an inter-Departmental Committee to prepare a plan recommending the localities in England and Wales in which slaughterhouses should be sited. Until this plan is ready, approval cannot be given for the building of a new slaughterhouse at Newport.

asked the Minister of Food how many animals of each variety, separately, were killed in Government slaughterhouses with the use of a humane killer last year; and how many were not.

Standing instructions at all slaughterhouses used by my Department require that all cattle, calves, sheep and pigs must be stunned by a mechanically operated instrument before slaughter except in the case of animals slaughtered by the Jewish or Mohammedan methods. The numbers slaughtered by the Jewish and Mohammedan methods in 1952 were 73,000 cattle, 16,000 calves, and 129,000 sheep and lambs, representing about 2 per cent. of the total number of these animals slaughtered.

asked the Minister of Food when it is his intention to survey Rugby and district regarding the heat treatment of milk, and make an order specifying that area under the Food and Drugs (Milk, Dairies and Artificial Cream) Act, 1950.

My right hon. and gallant Friend is not yet able to state when this will be possible.

asked the Minister of Food how soon he anticipates the Committee of Inquiry into the Slaughter of Horses will have completed its deliberations.

During the summer.

asked the Minister of Food by what amount, expressed as a percentage, he increased the supplies to butchers of meat for manufacturing purposes, when he decontrolled sausages.

By about 20 per cent. on 25th January.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence what has led him to allow the revelation of the detailed secrets of the Naval Intelligence Division in respect of the matters published in the Press under the title of "The Man who Never Was."

The articles in this series were examined before publication. I am satisfied that there is nothing in them which conflicts with the requirements of security.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence if he will ensure secrecy to deserters who surrender under the present amnesty, so as to encourage those who do not wish to have their identity disclosed.

Men claiming the benefit of the amnesty must be identified by the Service authorities, in order that they may receive the treatment promised in the statement by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in this House on 23rd February. No deliberate publicity will, however, be given to their names.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence whether he will publish as a White Paper a detailed statement showing the achievement reached by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries in the matter of provision of military formations agreed at the Lisbon Conference.

No. The issue of such a statement would be a matter for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. The communiqué issued after the North Atlantic Council meeting in December said that the increase in forces agreed to at Lisbon for 1952 had been substantially achieved by the end of last year.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence how many Service men who deserted either before 3rd September, 1939, or after 15th August, 1945, have come forward and notified the authorities of the fact of their desertion.

The number of notifications so far received from men who are outside the dates of the amnesty is about 300.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in drawing up a detailed scheme for the development of the existing civil airport at Kai-tak, Hong Kong.

Initial surveys common to various alternative schemes have been completed. A detailed survey of one of these schemes should be finished in June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what strategic materials have been transported to China from or via Hong Kong during the last year.

No strategic goods subject to Hong Kong export control were exported under licence to China in 1952, except for a few insignificant items specially authorised for non-strategic uses. Strict precautions are taken to ensure that strategic goods re-exported to neighbouring territories other than China are for genuine local use and are not re-exported to China.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the fishing vessel "Yuchiung," the property of the Kwangtung Provincial Government, was seized on 31st January, 1953, by armed men acting upon the orders of the Hong Kong Marine Department; and whether the fishing boats "Yuchin," "Yuyang," "Yulien" and "Yupu," previously seized by the same authority, were returned to their rightful owners, the Kwangtung Provincial Government.

The hon. Member appears to have been misinformed. The only official to board the "Yu Chiung" on 31st January was the bailiff, who was unarmed, and who came to tell the crew that the court had ordered the release of the vessel to its owners, an organisation known as Board of Trustees for Rehabilitation Affairs, following proceedings in which the Kwangtung Provincial Government did not enter an appearance. Of the other vessels mentioned the "Yupu" was released to Board of Trustees for Rehabilitation Affairs on 31st May, 1952, the court proceedings in which the vessel was involved having been dismissed for want of prosecution. The remaining three vessels had left Hong Kong in June, 1950, after the proper officers accompanied by a representative of Board of Trustees for Rehabilitation Affairs had obtained clearance in the normal way.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many students are studying at Hong Kong University from Brunei, North Borneo and Sarawak, respectively; how many applications have been made from these territories; and how many have been refused.

This information is not available in the Colonial Office, but I am asking the Governor to obtain it from the University authorities, and I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what provision is made for workmen's compensation or industrial injuries benefit in Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, respectively.

Both territories have Workmen's Compensation Ordinances under which employers are liable to pay compensation to workmen for injuries received in accidents arising out of and in the course of employment. The amount of compensation is related to earnings at the time of the accident and to the degree of disability. In Northern Rhodesia certain occupational diseases are also covered by the Ordinance, while there is a special scheme for silicosis.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what has been done in Northern Rhodesia and in Nyasaland to establish inter-racial Whitley Councils in the Civil Service, as recommended by the Commission which reported on this matter in 1947.

No inter-racial Whitley Councils have been established in either territory. Northern Rhodesia has separate Whitley Councils for Europeans and Africans. Nyasaland has no Whitley Councils as such, but various forms of consultative machinery are in operation in different branches of the Civil Service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) if he will make a statement on the Advisory Committee recently set up in Kenya; and how many cases have come before it,(2) if he will make a statement on the detention of Mr. Odede.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements have been made to enable Mr. Odede. now under detention in Kenya, to hear the charges made against him and to state his case.

I hope to make a statement tomorrow, 19th March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many African members of the Kenya Legislative Council have made applications to hold meetings with their people; and how many of these have been granted.

African unofficial members of the Legislative Council have been informed several times, most recently in the Kenya Council on 20th February, that application to hold public meetings made by them will be considered, but so far no application has been received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he took in 1952. and what steps he proposes to take in 1953. in order to reduce the cost of carrying out the duties of his Department.

On the original Estimate for 1952–53 economies exceeding £50,000 p.a. were effected by cutting down staff and curtailing some services. The possibility of making further economies is continuously studied but another similar reduction would seriously impair the work of the Department, which must be expected to increase with the progress of colonial development in all fields.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what communication he has received from the Government of the Bahamas about the abandonment of the Colonial Development Corporation agricultural project in Andros; what has been the loss incurred; and to what other use it is proposed to put this land.

The Governor has reported disappointment in the Bahamas at the closing down of this project. It is not yet possible to say what loss has been incurred. I understand that the Corporation are now considering the future use of the land.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can give any information about the oil deposits found near Lahej, north-west of Aden.

I am not aware that any oil deposits have been found near Lahej.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has considered the Report of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development entitled "The Economic Development of Jamaica," a copy of which has been sent him, and how far it is proposed to give effect to these recommendations.

This is in the first instance a matter for the Government of Jamaica, who are now considering the Report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the fact that Mr. Clifford Murray, of Jamaica, was arrested in January, 1952; that the jury was dismissed at the first trial in May, 1952, and that after being kept in continuous custody for nearly 12 months, he was acquitted at Montego Bay in December, 1952, the Judge, Mr. Justice Rennie, saying that there was no evidence to call upon him for a defence; what administrative action he is taking to ensure that such delays are avoided in future; and whether he will consider giving compensation as an ex-gratia payment to Mr. Murray who has suffered these penalties.

I understand from the Governor that these events occurred in 1951, not 1952, that the retrial of Mr. Murray was delayed because his counsel withdrew from the case and that, since the incident, though not as a result of it, legislation has been passed to obviate a similar occurrence. The question of compensation is one for the Government of Jamaica, and Mr. Murray, if he so wishes, should take it up with them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to give an assurance that the supply of sulphuritone, as the most effective drug in use to combat leprosy, is sufficient to meet the requirements of the leper colonies in Malaya.

I assume the hon. Member refers to drugs of the sulphone group. I understand that these drugs can be supplied in any quantity Malaya requires.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what directive has been sent out preventing meetings of the Northern Elements Progressive Union in Kano City, Nigeria.

No such directive has been issued. No political party has, however, ever been allowed to hold public meetings inside the walls of Kano owing to the danger of a breach of the peace in this densely populated city. Permission for meetings outside the walls has been given freely to both the Northern Elements Progressive Union and other political bodies.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what provision Her Majesty's Government have made for patrolling the waters of the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf to check attempts at slave trading.

Anti-slavery patrols were suspended during the war. They have not been re-instituted but commanders-in-chief have a general responsibility for the prevention of slave trading.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty to make a statement on the recent successful rescue operations carried out by the Royal Naval Air Service during the flood disaster in Holland.

At the first news of the flood disasters, all available R.N. helicopters were ordered to stand by at immediate notice to help either in England or Holland. Some went to Kent, for use over the flooded areas in England. On 2nd and 3rd February, nine helicopters of No. 705 Squadron were sent, with their crews and mechanics from their base at the Royal Naval Air Station, Gosport, to Gilze-Rijen in Holland. These aircraft worked at full pitch for four days from the 4th to 7th February inclusive, during which period the nine pilots flew a total of 237 hours and rescued 752 people. Two pilots between them saved 257 people in one day.From 8th February onwards, the squadron was held at immediate readiness to deal with the effects of any further flooding that might occur during the next series of spring tides and was. in fact, used then mainly for supply dropping. In a week the pilots flew a further 185 hours and rescued 58 people. In all, therefore, 422 hours were flown and 810 people saved (80 of whom were hoisted into the aircraft by winch).During this latter period the squadron was privileged to fly Her Majesty Queen Juliana, Prince Bernhard and members of the Netherlands Government over the flooded areas. The squadron was released on 16th February but was unable to return to England until 19th February owing to fog. Before leaving Holland five helicopters visited the Royal Palace where the crews were thanked by Her Majesty and entertained by the Royal Family. Two helicopters were left behind to work with the Netherlands authorities for a further period; these have now returned.The absence of any technical troubles during these intensive operations is a tribute both to the design of the aircraft and to the efficiency of their ground crews. The co-operation afforded to the squadron by the Netherlands authorities was of the highest order and it received every assistance and consideration during its stay. The nature of the work it was called upon to do provided much useful experience in the search and rescue role for which these aircraft are provided to the Fleet.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state when the Working Party under Sir Arthur Dixon's chairmanship presented its report on Metropolitan Police questions; what office duties it considered should be transferred to members of the civil staff; to what extent the recommendations have been implemented; and what action is being taken to hasten the transfer of office work to civil staff.

The Working Party presented Part I of its Report on 22nd July, 1952, and Part II on 6th March, 1953; a further part is to be presented later this year. In Part I, which dealt with the headquarters organisation of the Metropolitan Police Force, the Working Party recommended the substitution of civil staff for police on those clerical and other indoor duties in which the work does not require the special powers of a constable or previous outside police experience or is not in itself an essential training for future police work.The recommendations which have been approved will entail an ultimate increase in civil staff of 225, a substantial number of whom will require specialist qualifications. Steps are now being taken to put the recommendations into effect, but, for a variety of reasons, the changes will take some time to complete. Part II of the Report, which recommends some replacement of police by civilians in the divisions, is now under examination.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why it has been considered necessary, on page 15 of the pamphlet publicising the British Industries Fair, to include a list of other European trade fairs taking place in March, April and May; and what arrangement has been made with the other trade fairs in question to obtain some reciprocal benefit in return for this publicity which they have received at British expense.

More overseas buyers are likely to be attracted, particularly from outside Europe, to undertake the trouble and expense of a journey to the British Industries Fair if they are informed how they can conveniently include visits to other fairs in the same trip. For that reason we consider it worth while to give this publicity to such fairs, whether or not they reciprocate. In fact many of them do.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what grants have been made through his Department, apart from the Hill Farming and Live- stock Rearing Acts, towards road repairs and maintenance in rural areas in the seven crofter counties and in Ross and Cromarty in particular.

I have no general power to make grants towards the repair and maintenance of roads in the crofter counties. My powers are restricted to aiding works of construction or improvement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has now carried out tests of the new humane rabbit trap; and whether the results are sufficiently satisfactory for him to be able to make the use of the gin trap illegal.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Ayr (Sir T. Moore) on 26th February. Supplies of the Imbra trap are now being despatched to county agricultural executive committees.