asked the Undersecretary of State for Air to state, as percentages of the total number, the commissions awarded to university graduates, graduates of the Royal Air Force College and men from the ranks, in each of the past five years.

The following is the information:

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many officer cadets, respectively, entered for and passed the examination for a Royal Air Force Short Service Commission in each of courses 30 to 41.

The following is the information:

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what percentage of National Service men desirous of entering the Royal Air Force were rejected on medical grounds in each of the last six years.

The figures are as follow:

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the principal affections which were responsible for the rejection of one-third of the National Service men desiring to enter the Royal Air Force during the 12 months ended 30th April, 1953.

The great majority of these men were rejected after an examination conducted by a Ministry of Labour and National Service medical board; the remainder after a second examination conducted by a Royal Air Force medical board. Most of the rejections by the second board were on the grounds of ear. nose and throat troubles.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what arrangements will be made to enable Members of this House to see the Royal Review of the Royal Air Force.

I regret that it is not yet possible to announce our arrangements to the House, but I will do so shortly.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many deaths and injuries, respectively, have resulted from military and civil air accidents during each of the last five years.

The following table gives the numbers of aircrew and passengers (both Service and civil) killed and seriously injured in accidents to Royal Air Force aircraft during the last five calendar years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will publish a White Paper to indicate the correspondence and results of conferences to give effect to the present constitution of Nigeria with special reference to the representations made by the Northern Territories that for the present they should not be forced into the political arrangements of Nigeria as a complete entity.

I do not think that a White Paper is necessary as the reports of the proceedings of the conferences in Nigeria which preceded the introduction of the present constitution, and the relevant despatches between the then Secretary of State and the Governor, were published at the time. Copies were put on sale by the Crown Agents and were placed in the Library of the House.In particular, I would cite the Report of the Proceedings of the General Conference on the Review of the Constitution, 1950, and the despatches exchanged between my predecessor and the Governor which later were published in Nigerian Government Gazettes Nos. 35 and 65 of 1951. The published material shows that the North agreed to participate in the constitution after its views on certain points, notably the North's numerical representation in the central legislature and on the allocation of revenue, had been met.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what representations have been made on behalf of the Administration of the Northern Territories of Nigeria that their attitude towards the constitution, as drawn up now, should be reconsidered in order that these Territories may, if they so desire, contract-out of the existing scheme.

During his recent visit to Nigeria, my right hon. Friend the Minister of State heard the views of members of the Northern Region Executive Council on constitutional revision. The Northern Regional Houses are now in session and are, I understand, considering their attitude.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that a Kikuyu tribesman suffering from tuberculosis of the spine was recently beaten by the police and subsequently died, and that an inquest followed; what was the cause of death recorded at this inquest; whether tuberculosis of the spine was found at the post mortem examination; and whether this was known to the police before chastisement was administered.

pursuant to Mr. LYTTELTON'S reply of 11th March [OFFICIAL REPORT, Vol. 512, c. 125], supplied the following information:At the inquest held on Elijah Njeru Gideon on the 30th January, 1953, the presiding magistrate found that the deceased had died on 29th January from shock resulting from multiple injuries inflicted by beating. It appears from the record of the inquest that the beating was carried out under orders by askari, who were not themselves called as witnesses, with a view to obtaining information as to the whereabouts of hidden firearms used by a Mau Mau gang. There was evidence of past tubercular infection which medical opinion declared to have healed and not to have affected the deceased's ability to withstand shock. There is no suggestion in the record that the fact of this previous infection was known to those who ordered the beating or those who carried it out.The inquest proceedings were referred last month to the Attorney-General in order that he may consider the institution of criminal proceedings against the persons responsible for this man's death.

asked the Minister of Education how many local education authorities have included the provision of a comprehensive school or schools in their development plans; and how many have not.

Of the 146 local education authorities in England and Wales, 23 have included one or more comprehensive schools in their development plans.

asked the Minister of Education how many comprehensive schools have been built and completed by local education authorities; and what is the number of pupils in each completed school.

A number of comprehensive or similar schools are in existence, but none has yet been established in new premises built for the purpose. There were, however, 14 such schools or instalments of schools under construction on 30th April last.

asked the Minister of Food if he will take urgent steps to improve the collection and distribution of pigs for slaughter.

I am always ready to examine any particular difficulty that has arisen in the collection and delivery of pigs for slaughter, and I am considering certain points to which my hon. Friend has drawn my attention.

asked the Minister of Food the value of Scotch whisky as a dollar export during 1950, 1951 and 1952; and if he is satisfied that this export is being bought and sold at its true value.

The values of exports of Scotch and Irish whisky to dollar markets in 1950. 1951 and 1952 have been as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the names of the countries whose representatives voted or abstained from voting on resolutions in connection with the Bahrein Islands and the Falkland Islands, respectively, at the meeting of the World Health Organisation at Geneva on 19 th May, 1953.

I regret that the information desired is not available.It is not the practice in the United Nations or the Specialised Agencies, such as the World Health Organisation, to record the names of the countries when a vote is taken unless there is a special request for a roll-call vote, and in these cases there were no such requests.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many of the commercial counsellors, at present employed abroad, are able to speak, write and understand competently the language of the country to which they are accredited; and what steps are being taken to improve the position in this respect.

There are at present 17 commercial counsellors on the staff of Her Majesty's Missions abroad. There are also seven commercial ministers. According to such inquiries as have been possible in the time available, in 14 cases the officer concerned has a competent knowledge of the language of the country. In eight other cases the officer has a knowledge of a foreign language which is either akin to the language of the country or in common commercial use there. At posts where the language presents special difficulties, the staff includes experts whose services are available to the commercial section. This situation seems satisfactory and I do not consider that special steps are necessary to improve it. All members of Branch A of the Foreign Service are expected to learn the language of the country to which they are posted and may be allowed tuition fees on a reasonable scale. Special allowances are granted to officers with a competent knowledge of certain difficult languages, while serving in the country concerned.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government for how many houses under 1,000 square feet and for how many between 1,000 and 1,500 square feet building licences have been issued since the beginning of this year.

Licences for 20,011 houses were issued in the first quarter of 1953. Of these, approximately 65 per cent. were for houses of under 1,000 square feet and 35 per cent. for houses between 1,000 and 1,500 square feet.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what arrangements he proposes to make after 5th July, 1953, for those in receipt of extended unemployment benefit.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Pontypool (Mr. West) on 9th February, a copy of which I am sending her. The regulations referred to have now been made and were laid yesterday.

asked the Minister of National Insurance to what extent increase in rent allowances have been granted by his officers in respect of increased rates or increased rents charged by local authorities.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to National Assistance. The National Assistance Board inform me that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of National Insurance the numbers of employed married women who in each year 1949–52 paid National Insurance contributions; and the numbers who opted not to pay contributions.

Throughout the period there were about 2¾ million married women working for employers and the proportion paying contributions decreased from about 55 per cent. to about 45 per cent.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the need for increased home food production and the consequent necessity of conserving agricultural land, he will take steps to make the acquisition of agricultural land for defence, housing or industrial purposes subject to approval of the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries before any acquisition order of such land becomes operative.

No. The existing arrangements already ensure that no agricultural land is used for any other purpose, except after full consultation with the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what grants are made to each of the organisations providing adult and further education in Scotland.

The following table shows the current annual grants authorised under the Further Education (Voluntary Associations) (Scotland) Grant Regulations, 1952, and the Regulations which they replaced at the beginning of this year. Some of the grants are made in respect of the total annual expenditure by the organisations' headquarters, and others relate only to particular activities.

asked the Minister of Supply if he has now issued a certificate dispensing with the printing of the Schedules to the Iron and Steel Prices Order, 1951; and on what date.

It would not be possible to do this, since the Statutory Instruments Regulations, 1947, provide that such a certificate shall be given at the time when the Order in question is sent to the Queen's Printer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity of Dutch bulbs, corms and tubers landed at Scottish ports each month in 1951, 1952 and to the last convenient date in 1953.

I regret that monthly figures are not available for 1951 and 1952. The number of bulbs, corms, tubers and rhizomes imported through Scottish ports from the Netherlands during those years and during the first three months of 1953 were as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the proposed voluntary liquidation of British Bemberg, Limited, and the consequent dismissal of some 750 employees, he will state the extent of the holding of the Custodian of Enemy Property in the company.

The Custodian's holding in British Bemberg, Limited, is just under 30 per cent. of the issued capital.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that complaints about the quality of upholstered furniture are still being sent to his Department; and, as British Standards Institution standards for this class of goods are not likely to be ready for a considerable time, if he will give instructions that the system of investigation, as under the Utility scheme, shall be

No. Few such complaints are received, and those which relate to Utility furniture continue to be investigated when necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will provide a list of the plans which have been prepared for new schemes for road improvement throughout Great Britain which could be put in hand quickly as soon as the necessary resources can be made available.

I am arranging for a list of schemes on trunk roads to be prepared and will let the hon. Member have it as soon as it is ready.

asked the Minister of Transport why his Department has informed the Carmarthenshire County Council that the major schemes for road improvements urgently necessary in the interests of road safety and submitted by them cannot be approved for grant during the current year; and if he will reconsider this decision.

I regret that the funds at present available to me are not sufficient to enable me to approve these schemes for grant, but I will gladly consider them further as soon as I have additional funds at my disposal.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of fatal and non-fatal road accidents in Lanarkshire in each quarter of the years 1951, 1952 and in the first quarter of 1953.

The casualties reported by the police as due to road accidents in the county of Lanarkshire (including large burghs) are as follows:

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will indicate for each of the counties in Scotland, the mileage of roads which have been classified

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now announce the names of the chairman and members of the Committee of Inquiry into London Transport.

I am not yet in a position to give this information.

asked the Minister of Works what advice he took in selecting the designs for the Coronation decorations in the Mall which are giving pleasure to so many people.

I am pleased to say that the decorations in the Mall were designed by. Mr. Eric Bedford, A.R.I.B.A.. Chief Architect of my Department, and his staff.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what information he has received from the British Medical Association with regard to its refusal to publish advertisements of

The figures are:vacant medical appointments in the Civil Service; what is the subject at issue that has given rise to this decision; and what action he is taking to remedy the situation.

The British Medical Association indicated some time ago that, if advertisements of these posts were offered for insertion in the British Medical Journal, they would not be accepted, and I received on 7th May a letter from the Association saying that they still adhere to that decision. Vacancies are not now being advertised and therefore no question of refusal to insert advertisements at present arises.The reason, I understand, for the British Medical Association attitude is that they do not regard as satisfactory the present salaries, which are those recommended by an independent Committee under Sir Harold Hewitt's chairmanship in 1951. I have discussed the matter several times with a joint committee of the British Medical Association, the Medical Staff Association of the Ministry of Health, and the Institution of Professional Civil Servants, and I offered to reconvene the Howitt Committee to review the present salaries. This offer was rejected. I have made other suggestions for settling this matter, but so far without result.