asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many recruits with deaf aids have been accepted for service in the Royal Navy since 1st January, 1952, up to the latest convenient date.

None.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether an amended script has yet been submitted by the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve rating whose British Broadcasting Corporation broadcast was cancelled by order of the Admiralty; when it was submitted; and whether it has been approved.

A revised script was submitted by the rating on 10th July. It has now been approved for broadcasting at the discretion of the B.B.C.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the nature of his inquiries into the allegations of idleness at Rosyth Dockyard; and what was the result.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to allegations which appeared in the local Press in June. These allegations were unsupported by the concrete evidence necessary for any specific inquiry. After consultation with the Admiral Superintendent, I do not consider that any general charge of idling against the workers in Rosyth dockyard has been made out.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will publish the protests which he received from the British Broadcasting Corporation when frequencies, which should have been re-served for television broadcasting, were allocated for other purposes.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why his Department permitted six frequency channels in Band III to be allocated for purposes other than television broadcasting.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to paragraph 17 of the Television Advisory Committee's Report. At the Atlantic City Radio Conference of 1947, the band of frequencies between 174 and 216 megacycles (Band III) was allocated in Europe to broadcasting services. At that time the B.B.C. was primarily concerned with expanding its television services in Band I and was not yet contemplating a second programme; and there was, of course, no suggestion of competitive television. It was in 1949 that the B.B.C. recommended that all the frequencies in this band should be reallocated to television.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when he proposes to set up an independent commission to control all frequency allocations.

On present evidence, my noble Friend does not consider that there is any need to set up such an independent commission.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many applications have been received by his Department for the establishment of sponsored television stations in the Bristol area; and what was the nature of his reply to them.

Eleven applicants wish to serve Bristol, some of them from stations near Cardiff. They have all been told that no information can yet be given about the date or the terms and conditions on which competitive television would be permitted to operate.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General which of the applicants for licences to set up television stations complementary to the British Broadcasting Corporation have plans for the provision of a station to serve the district of Norwich and the surrounding countryside.

There is one applicant for the Norwich area.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many protests against the possibility of commercial television he has received from educational and religious organisations, respectively; and how many of these have come from Scotland.

Up to yesterday, 29 educational, of which 20 are from branches of the Workers' Educational Association; and 25 religious, including one of each kind from Scotland.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve has been reduced.

The reduction in strength of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve was the result of a reassessment of our reserve aircrew requirements in relation to war-time needs, and to the financial provision available in Air Votes. Under the decision announced in March we are retaining rather more than 3,000 reserve aircrew in flying training, and we could not in present circumstances justify giving flying training on a higher scale.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that Mr. J. E. Davies and Mr. W. A. Carlaw were employed from 8th August, 1939, to 2nd September, 1939. and Mr. T. Duffy was employed from 18th August, 1939, to 2nd September, 1939, all at No. 12 Maintenance Unit, Royal Air Force, and were recognised and paid as skilled workers during those periods; what was the date from which they were registered as dilutees; and under what authority this was done.

Messrs. Davies and Carlaw were posted to No. 12 Maintenance Unit on 26th August, 1939, and Mr. Duffy on 2nd September, 1939. At the time they were graded as airframe riggers and paid the appropriate basic rates. They were registered as dilutees on 24th July, 1940, under the Relaxation of Customs Agreement made on 21st October, 1939, between the Air Ministry and the Amalgamated Engineering Union.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what is the standard of houses per acre to which his Department builds officers' married quarters in the United Kingdom.

The density to which officers' married quarters are built varies with the type of quarter and site conditions. There is no standard.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many recruits with deaf aids have been accepted for service in the Royal Air Force since 1st January. 1952. up to the latest convenient date.

None.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the total cost of the fly past at the Royal Air Force Review.

Taking part in such a fly past is a most valuable form of training. The flying involved is in substitution for other forms of flying and there is, therefore, no extra cost to the Exchequer.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware of the extent to which derelict buildings on the disused airfield at Weston Long-ville, Norfolk, are leading to an increase in the number of rabbits and rats, and that the existence of these buildings is handicapping the work of pest destruction; and if he will give instructions which will lead to these derelict buildings being cleared away.

All but two of the sites on which these buildings stand are being released and I have given instructions that the work of derequisitioning is to go ahead without delay.The other two sites must be retained in order to preserve the water supply for the public and the Royal Air Force provided by the high level tanks on them. The pest officer of the county agricultural committee will, however, do all he can to keep down the vermin on these two sites.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation when he expects a full report from the Italian Government on the Hermes air crash off Sicily on 24th August last year; what steps he is taking to review the safety regulations as a result of that crash; and if he will make a statement.

The report of the investigation ordered by the Italian Government is expected shortly. The circumstances of this accident have been fully considered in the review of safety regulations which is constantly being undertaken by my Department and the position will be re-examined when the official report is received.Meanwhile, as a result of information immediately available on this accident, action has already been taken by the Air Registration Board to introduce modifications to the aircraft type and to life saving equipment.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation if he is now prepared to make a statement on future developments at Prestwick Airport.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which my right hon. Friend made in the House today.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation if he will use his powers under Article 15 (3) of the Broadcasting Licence and Agreement dated 12th June, 1952, to request the British Broadcasting Corporation to broadcast warnings from time to time of record fights by aeroplanes from London Airport.

No. I would not regard it as appropriate to use the powers in question for such purposes.

asked the Minister of Civil Aviation what summer services he has approved for operation on the Glasgow-London route.

British European Airways provide 48 services a week between Renfrew and London, while British Overseas Airways trans-Atlantic services provide 15 services a week between Prestwick and London.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the shortage and necessity of a supply of prunes, he will arrange to import some from Yugoslavia pending obtaining such supplies from the United States of America.

The Yugoslav 1952 crop was much below normal and none of it is now available. The 1953 crop will not be harvested until the late autumn, but my right hon. and gallant Friend will certainly consider the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Food what increase in price has been agreed with the Australian Meat Board for ewe mutton supplies during the present year.

The increases range from nothing for the heavy weight category to 5½per cent. for lightweight ewe carcases; the average increase will be about 4¼ per cent.

asked the Minister of Food the purpose of the discussions he is proposing to hold with the Governments of countries supplying meat and with whom the United Kingdom has entered into long-term contracts.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the discussions which take place at this time of year with Australia and New Zealand. These are concerned with the annual review of meat prices.

asked the Minister of Food why he has decided not to reimpose the restrictions on the use of milk for manufacturing purposes; and why he has decided to continue to allow the production of cream after 31st July.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my noble Friend the Member for Inverness (Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton) on 13th July. 1953.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about the present position in the Falkland Islands; and how many unauthorised foreign settlements are still there.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the present position in the Falkland Islands Dependencies. Seven Argentine and three Chilean posts have been established there.In reply to the first part of the Question, I would refer to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 23rd February last to the hon. and gallant Member for Poole (Captain Pilk-ington) and by my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State on 1st April to the right hon. and learned Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. A. Henderson), to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the private newspaper in the Falkland Isles which was bought up by the Government; and what publications are now issued in its place by the Public Relations Department of the Falkland Isles.

The "Falkland Islands Weekly News," a private newspaper, was acquired by the Falkland Islands Government in 1949. It later ceased publication when the post of Information Officer was abolished. No publications are issued in its place, but the local broadcasting service has been strengthened to include weekly news bulletins and discussion programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement in respect to future constitutional developments in the case of the small island or township Colonies.

As is well known, the policy of Her Majesty's Government is aimed at giving such territories the greatest possible degree of internal self-government. Each place has its own special problems, which have to be considered and dealt with according to local conditions and the views of the inhabitants. I cannot, therefore, usefully attempt a general statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what part of the Sugar Prices Stabilisation Fund is used for providing welfare services for employees of the sugar-growing plantations.

None. Sugar-producing Colonies have established separate labour welfare funds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total amount of the Sugar Prices Stabilisation Fund in Jamaica; for what purposes the fund is used, other than for rice growing; who controls the fund; and what trade union representation there is on the controlling board or committee.

About £1½ million at the end of 1952. The sole purpose of the fund is to stabilise producer prices of sugar, although part of its reserves is to be invested in securities of the Jamaica Government. The Government intend to re-lend this money to the Jamaica Agricultural Development Corporation. By Jamaican law, the fund is controlled by a board appointed by the Governor and including a trade union representative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the price of tin fell from £1,615 a ton in February, 1951, to £900 in April, 1953, and has now slumped to £585; what effect he anticipates this will have either directly or indirectly, upon the economy of our Colonial Territories; and what discussions Her Majesty's Government are having with the United States Government to prevent a general price slump in all raw materials produced in the Colonies.

Yes. The fall in tin prices is bound to do considerable harm to the economies of Malaya and Nigeria, but it is not possible at this stage to estimate it precisely.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the Employees Provident Fund and Weekly Holidays Ordinance is being implemented by the employers of Malaya; and what action is being taken to enforce these ordinances upon defaulters.

My information is that, in general, employers are observing the provisions of these laws. Despite the practical difficulties of this new venture, and some attempts at evasion, very satisfactory progress has been made in bringing the Provident Fund into operation. Labour officers carry out frequent inspections to enforce the ordinances and prosecutions are undertaken where appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what method is adopted in collecting from employers and workpeople the contributions toward the Provident Fund in Malaya; and how far the contribution is compulsory for both.

The employer deducts the employee's share from his pay and then pays this and his own contribution either to the accountant of the Fund or, if in cash, to an officer of the Postal Department. Contributions are compulsory for both employers and employees covered by the ordinance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies over what area of Kenya crops have been removed or destroyed to prevent the seizure of food supplies by Mau Mau gangs; what compensation has been given to the producers; and what steps have been taken to maintain the food supplies of those normally dependent upon these crops.

Only potato crops have been removed or destroyed and that only in certain areas in and on the border of the prohibited forest areas on the Aber-dare Range. In most cases the crops have been harvested under military guard and sold by the owners themselves. In one area where this was not possible the proceeds have been set aside for compensation of those of the owners who are not Mau Mau terrorists.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of Africans killed, wounded and taken prisoner by the security forces in Kenya since the beginning of the emergency.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Coventry, North (Mr. Edelman) on 15th July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what areas in Kenya the order has been applied authorising security forces to shoot to kill when persons fail to halt when challenged, resist arrest or attempt to escape; and how many persons have been killed under the order.

There are three categories of areas: Protected areas, that is, vital points; Prohibited areas, that is, forest areas into which no one is permitted to go without a permit; and special areas, in which anyone can be stopped and searched.In all three areas force, extending to the voluntary causing of death if necessary, may be used in order to apprehend persons resisting arrest or trying to escape.The majority of administrative districts in the Central and Rift Valley Provinces, together with a portion of Masai land, certain forest areas, and a number of military installations, prisons and power stations are in the categories I have mentioned.Up to 25th April, 364 persons had been killed in operations in these areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of guns, rifles and other firearms captured from suspected Mau Mau terrorists since 1st April, 1953, or the nearest convenient date for which statistics are available.

113 firearms were captured between 1st April and 11th July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements are being made concerning the costs of the defence in the recent trial at Kapenguria, rendered void owing to a geographical error on the part of the Government of Kenya.

An appeal has been lodged by the Crown against the decision of the Kenya Supreme Court and I have no statement to make on this matter.