asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is yet in a position to announce the date when a television service will be available for Aberdeen and the North-East of Scotland.

No, Sir, not yet.

Will the hon. Gentleman explain three esoteric mysteries about this television plan? First, will it take precedence over commercial television? Second, is it not strange that he can fix the place and mode in which but not the time when it will be available? Third, what areas in the North of Scotland will it cover?

The last part of the supplementary question I answered last week. With regard to the selection of the site, that is a matter for the B.B.C. As to the time when it will be ready, if the hon. and learned Gentleman will put down a Question in about six months' time, I shall probably be able to give him the information.

What about the first part of my supplementary?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General (1) what procedure is adopted in deciding whether a licence for business radio within Band III can be granted;

(2) what considerations are taken into account in dealing with applications for licences for business radio within Band III.

In order to conserve the limited number of frequencies available, a licence is not normally granted for radio where the telephone or telegraph services would do equally well. The frequencies assigned to a particular applicant are determined by the type of his business, the communication range required and the nature of the terrain, and the number of stations already operating on each of the available frequencies. The conditions under which business radio licences are issued are given in pamphlet BRs 1, 2 and 3, copies of which I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend and placing in the Library.

Is it not a fact that the whole of this Band is being allocated in rather a reckless and piece-meal fashion, and would my hon. Friend answer two questions? First, can existing users be removed if necessary; and, second, do we not require an independent licensing authority rather like the Federal Communications Commission in America?

It is only a part of this Band which has been allotted for that purpose. The people who occupy it can be removed if necessary by the cancellation of their licence, which is only for a limited period. The last point which my hon. and gallant Friend raised is a much bigger matter, but I would point out to him that F.C.C. in America deals only with civil allocations of frequencies and is not concerned with the fighting Services.

Is it not a fact that there is an Inter-Departmental Committee which does have something to do with the allocation of frequencies in this Band, and the reference he has made to business licences does not necessarily apply to other users of frequencies in this Band?

There is an Inter-Departmental Committee, but my hon. and gallant Friend raised the question whether this matter should be taken outside the range of a Governmental Department altogether.

Is not the B.B.C. represented on this Inter-Departmental Committee and was not the B.B.C. consulted before allocations were made in this Band to persons other than the BBC.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General who was represented on the committee which allocated frequencies between 174 and 185 megacycles to mobile services; and why these allocations were made in contravention of the 1947 Atlantic City international agreement where the United Kingdom reserved the right to share this portion of Band III between broadcasting and fixed services.

The committee had representatives from the Admiralty, War Office and Air Ministry; the Home Office, Post Office, Foreign Office, Dominions Office and Colonial Office; the Ministries of Information, Supply and War Transport; and the Wireless Telegraphy Board. A domestic allocation of this sort, which does not interfere with foreign stations, is not a contravention of the Atlantic City Agreement.

If international agreements mean anything—I have here a text which states specifically that the frequencies are reserved for fixed services—why does my hon. Friend's Department—or why did his predecessor—allocate them to mobile services? Does it not make nonsense of international agreements? Does not the muddle over the allocation of frequencies in this band suggest a need for an independent body which could hear representations from all who are interested, particularly those concerned with exports?

I am informed that the use which we ourselves make of the band does not in any way contravene the international agreements on the subject. I hoped I had dealt with the second point which my hon. Friend raised, in an answer which I gave just now.

Is not the reservation to the protocol on page 103 of the report of the Stockholm Conference an adequate cover for what has been done?

I believe I have answered the points which have been raised about the matter.

Order. There is to be a debate on this subject on Friday.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether the British Broadcasting Corporation have yet been informed that frequencies in Band III allotted to East Anglia, South-East Kent, West Wales, North Scotland and South Cornwall for first television coverage by the Stockholm Conference can now be used by them.

No, Sir. I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Truro (Mr. G. Wilson) on 22nd July.

Does not the hon. Gentleman believe that now is the time for him to make clear to would-be viewers in these areas that he will protect their interests before those of would-be advertisers to the areas?

Technically, the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question has no relation to the Question on the Order Paper. However, it is not in the least certain that the B.B.C. will require any band other than Band I in order to cover those areas.

Will the Assistant Postmaster-General read the Report of the Television Advisory Committee, where he will find the answer to what he has stated?

Is my hon. Friend aware that in this matter the great historic kingdom of East Anglia is associated with bits of Kent, bits of Wales, bits of Scotland and bits of Cornwall, and will he bear in mind that the claims of East Anglia are different from and in a far higher category than those of the other places?

I should not like to be responsible for starting a civil war. My hon. Friend will recollect that last week I informed him that when a further programme is sanctioned East Anglia will have priority.

If East Anglia is associated with a bit of Scotland, does not that compensate for all the other defects?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General on what dates licences were given to present users of frequencies in Band III.

Over 250 licences are involved, all of which were issued between 1945 and the present.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will make available immediately in the Library a list of the names with type of service operated and the frequency of all licences on Band III.

No, Sir; to publish only the names of licensees, without giving extensive details of the areas within which they are permitted to operate, would simply be confusing. I will, however, publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the services which occupy this Band.

Will the Minister reconsider this point? When we come to discuss the Television Advisory Committee's Report, it will be impossible to do so intelligently unless we have the full information before the House.

That would mean giving a whole list of taxi companies, docks, and so on. From the point of view of discussing the Television Advisory Committee's Report, that detailed information would not really be required.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he can now make a statement as to the use of North Hessary Tor for a transmitting station for television; whether a public inquiry is to be held; and when it is expected that a decision will be reached.

In view of the public interest in this proposal, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government has arranged that no decision will be taken until a public inquiry has been held.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this matter has now been dragging on for over a year and it is high time a decision was reached?

That is so, but there is a good bit of local controversy in the West Country as to whether this site should be used for this particular purpose.

Would the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that there is great anxiety in the West Country about this problem, and can he give any indication when this inquiry is likely to be set up and to reach a conclusion?

I think that question should be put to the Minister who is holding the inquiry.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the number of wireless and television licences issued in Wales; the total revenue; and what proportion of it is retained for developing and expanding the Welsh services.

The numbers of "Sound only" and television licences current in Wales (including Monmouthshire) are about 557,300 and 70,200. representing some £700,000 in licence fees. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the British Broadcasting Corporation's published report and accounts. The hon. Gentleman will be pleased to know that the amount spent on sound broadcasting in Wales is nearly double the revenue received.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the people in Wales will be extremely gratified that he is one of the few Ministers who are able to give separate figures for Wales?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in the northern region the sound and television reception at the present moment leave much to be desired; and what he is doing to improve the situation.

Good television reception is given in North-East England within the range of the temporary station at Pontop Pike, and the B.B.C. have now been authorised to go ahead with a permanent station which will give an appreciably wider range. The solution to the present difficulties in sound reception lies in the introduction of very high frequency sound broadcasting, and my noble Friend has promised to give North-East England priority in this matter. Before such a system can be introduced it will be necessary to determine the form of modulation to be used, and this is now being considered by the Television Advisory Committee.

I thank my hon. Friend for that information, but can he tell me whether more than its revenue is being spent on the services of the Northern Region, because that sounds an attractive proposal?

That is a different question from the one on the Order Paper, and if my hon. Friend wants to know that, perhaps she will put down a Question.

For the information of those who do not live in the North-East, can my hon. Friend say where Pontop Pike is?

My hon. Friend should seek not my advice but that of some other hon. Members who live in that area.

Has my hon. Friend yet decided about the question of modulation? Is his mind moving on amplitude or frequency lines?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General (1) how many frequencies for commercial television were provided in the national broadcasting plan put forward at Stockholm in June, 1952, by the British delegation;

(2) whether the national broadcasting plan for double television coverage put forward by the British delegation at Stockholm in June, 1952, still represents the policy of the Government.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether the reservation made by the United Kingdom delegation at the European Broadcasting Conference held at Stockholm, and included in the protocol and agreement, cover the present use of Band III in this country.

A plan was put forward at the Stockholm Conference which envisaged double television coverage but did not stipulate that Band III would be used either by the B.B.C. or by any other television interests. What our delegation did was to submit a draft plan envisaging the whole of Band III for the purpose of television, in order to safeguard our position within that Band. This plan showed proposals of a provisional nature for 28 television stations, but the United Kingdom delegation reserved freedom of action with regard to the actual use of frequencies in Band III for purposes other than television.

Does not the hon. Gentleman agree that the plan put forward for double coverage was the B.B.C.'s plan which had been accepted by the inter-departmental committee and authorised by the Cabinet and was accepted at Stockholm, and that in the plan there was no provision for commercial television?

No pledge whatever has been given to the B.B.C. that it will be allowed double coverage before its competitors have single coverage.

With all due respect, is not the position—the hon. Gentleman is dodging the question—that the British delegation was sent to Stockholm with the B.B.C.'s plan which had been accepted and authorised by the Cabinet and contained no provision for commercial television?

The plan which the British delegation took to Stockholm was the responsibility of the Post Office.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there would be deep resentment if the Post Office went to international conferences already committed about the allocation of frequencies? [HON. MEMBERS; "Why?"] There would be deep resentment in the country because the present procedure is that we submit plans to international meetings for the broad allocation of frequencies, and the individual allocations are made afterwards by my hon. Friend's Department, which must not be committed beforehand.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General which channel was applied for and granted at the 1952 Stockholm Conference for a British Broadcasting Corporation television transmitter for Cornwall; and if he will give an assurance that such a transmitter will take precedence over commercial television.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what channel was applied for, and granted, for a television transmitter in North Wales at the Stockholm Conference in 1952; and if he will give an assurance that the provision of such a transmitter will take precedence over commercial television.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how far labour and materials required to put into use the frequency for television allotted to Cumberland at the 1952 Stockholm Conference will take precedence over those required for competitive television.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how far the labour and materials required to put into use the frequency allotted at the Stockholm Conference for a television transmitter to the north of Scotland will take precedence over those required for commercial television.

The Stockholm Conference assigned frequencies as follows;

North Wales; 189·75 and 214·75 megacycles per second for vision and 186·25 and 211·25 megacycles per second for the associated sound.

Cornwall; 194·75 and 214·75 megacycles per second for vision and 191·25 and 211·25 megacycles per second for sound.

These assignments were made in accordance with a provisional plan tabled by the United Kingdom. I cannot at present give any information about the time-table for the erection of further B.B.C. television stations additional to those recently authorised, or of commercial stations.

Will the Minister give an assurance that the whole of Cornwall will get a satisfactory television service before any part of the country gets an alternative service?

The hon. Member had better wait until we have the White Paper on television in the autumn.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that certain parts of West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are experiencing difficulty and that they should not be left out of this?

There is no question whatever of leaving them out. It is merely a question as to when the expenditure to cover them can justifiably be sanctioned.

Is it not a fact, as the hon. Gentleman's answer indicates, that the North of Scotland will be still further prejudiced with regard to television? Does he not think that in common fairness the North of Scotland should have one television station before any other part of the country gets two stations?

As I said last week, the extreme North of Scotland is not within the range of any programme of television extension yet envisaged.

Why not bring it within range?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what representations have been received from countries represented at the 1952 Stockholm Conference against the use now being made in this country of frequencies in Band III.

None, Sir.

Does that reply mean that there has been no breach of the Atlantic City Convention and that all the allocations have been in strict conformity with the Stockholm Conference?

No. What is means is that I have answered the hon. Member's Question. He asked whether any representations have been made, and the answer is that none at all have been made.

Is it not of the greatest importance that as many channels as possible in this band should be freed as quickly as possible?

Will the Minister give serious consideration to resisting any pressure that may come from certain—only certain—hon. Members to interfere with the defence of the country by taking essential services away from Band III?

I should have thought that the hon. Member did not need any assurance on that point. We are not likely to put pure entertainment before the defence of the country.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what plans he has for the provision of television in parts of Wales not adequately served by existing transmitters; and if he will make a statement.

I regret that I am not able to add at present to the statement made on 2nd July by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General for an estimate of what would be the additional cost of a daily mail delivery service in the Tima Valley of Selkirkshire compared with the present service of three deliveries weekly.

About £60 a year, or rather more than Is, for each letter delivered earlier.

In view of the fact that the farmers of this area have been trying for 36 years to get an increased delivery service, will my hon. Friend not consider the benefits that could be derived from it by these rural areas, and in this case give it sympathetic consideration?

I should very much like to do what my hon. and gallant Friend asks, but if I did it here it would be necessary to do it for similar rural areas in Scotland, and that would involve us in very heavy expense.

But is my hon. Friend not aware that the rural areas in Scotland and in other parts of the country need some support, for they have few if any other amenities?

Yes, but I think it is rather difficult to make out a case for this when we are trying to economise in other directions and I tell my hon. and gallant Friend what would be the cost of this additional delivery.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if, to save expense, he will arrange for telegrams addressed to persons who are connected with the telephone to be telephoned and not to be delivered by motor-cycle.

It is our normal practice to deliver telegrams by telephone if this would be cheaper or appreciably quicker than delivery by hand. If my hon. Friend has any particular case of failure in mind, I shall be glad to look into it.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him to make it widely known, so that expense can be saved on this head.

Is it not a fact that this practice had been in operation for many years, and is it not time that the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) brought himself up-to-date on these things?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is now in a position to announce the result of his consideration of outstanding claims for recognition by Post Office associations.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is now in a position to announce the decision of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the recognition of the Electrical Officers (Telecommunications) Association.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will now make a statement concerning the recognition of the Engineering Officers (Telecommunications Association).

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is now able to make a further statement with regard to the recognition of the Engineering Officers Telecommunications Association.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is now in a position to make a statement regarding breakaway unions in his Department.

My noble Friend hopes it will be possible for a statement to be made tomorrow to this House and in another place.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether, and, if so, when, there will be an opportunity for asking Questions on this subject in this House?

I am making a statement tomorrow.

Is my hon. Friend aware there are some ugly rumours going round about this matter and that many of us on this side of the House will be very disturbed if recognition is not given to the Engineering Officers (Telecommunications) Association. If we do not give recognition of this kind we may force a man to join a union not of his choice, and that is a policy which is extremely hostile to the policy of this party.

I think that before we get too warmed up on this subject we had better wait until tomorrow.

Can the Minister say, as this was a matter of urgency some two years ago, why it has taken so long for the Government to make up their minds on this matter?

Because we have tried to see whether there cannot be some conciliation in the matter, which primarily concerns the unions themselves.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General for what reason the term "delivery officer" is being used increasingly in official correspondence; and if he will give an assurance that there is no intention of doing away with the respected designation of "postman."

It is true that the term "delivery officer" is sometimes used in official correspondence, but it is not in place of the term "postman" which since its introduction in the last century, has been respected by the public and the staff alike. I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that I have no ambition to be known as Her Majesty's Assistant "Deliverymaster-General."

Is my hon. Friend aware that his answer will help to mitigate the resentment felt by all who abhor this type of bureaucratic terminological pomposity? Can he assure us that neither he nor anyone in his Department will indulge during the Recess in the ancient game of "Delivery Officer's Knock"?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many new telephones were installed in the county of Roxburghshire in the year 1952; and how many outstanding unsatisfied applications were on file at the end of June, 1953.

115 telephones were provided during 1952; 147 applications were outstanding on 30th June, 1953, of which 35 were in course of provision.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that answer, may I ask him if he can see the vanishing point of these outstanding telephone applications in the near future?

I am afraid I cannot see the vanishing point, but certainly we should have been able to get on with this much more quickly if it had not been for the storm damage earlier this year. My hon. and gallant Friend will be pleased to know that some additional exchange equipment is planned for this area, and that should do a good bit to relieve the situation.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General, in view of the difficulties caused by inadequate communications in rural areas in the Highlands of Scotland and the fact that the postal authorities are unable to provide telephones in many instances through shortage of cables, when sufficient cable will be available to measure up to the needs of the area.

The reason why the telephone system cannot be developed more rapidly is restriction on capital expenditure rather than scarcity of materials. I appreciate that there are substantial arrears to be overtaken, but I regret that I cannot say when our resources will be sufficient to enable all applications to be met.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him if he will bear in mind the importance of telephone communication in the Highland area, and will he do his best to see that this is expedited?

I fully realise that. I do not like having to get up here every week and tell the same weary story about people waiting for telephones, but at least we have reduced the waiting list by 60,000 in the past year. I can assure my hon. Friend that we are very much alive to the importance of telephones in the Highlands.

Does not the hon. Gentleman think that it would be better to divert capital expenditure towards the removal of the waiting list for telephones rather than to waste it on sponsored television?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General to make a statement about the telephone breakdown at Bath on 16th July.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will make a full statement as to the cause of the overhead cable breakdown which cut off the telephones at Bath Race Course from the telephone exchange.

The damage occurred in an overhead section, about three-quarters of a mile from the Bath Race Course, where the cable is partly hidden by a large bush. Preliminary examination suggested that the cable had been deliberately cut and the police were immediately notified. With their agreement arrangements were made to have the cable examined by experts at the Post Office Research Station, Dollis Hill. Tests made with an identical cable showed that the damage was entirely consistent with its having been caused by an oxy-acetylene torch, and the presence of small splashes of metal from the cable sheath on the foliage and in the soil round about, further confirmed this impression. Police investigations are continuing.

How long did it take the Post Office to find out that this break down was not an act of God, and will the Minister also say whether he has considered the possible use of radio telephony as a stand-by in case of emergency, and so make communications to race courses more crook-proof than at the moment?

The break was discovered within half-an-hour of the cable having been cut. With regard to the other suggestion, I do not think that the Post Office could be put to this enormous expense to help the bookies.

What odds would my hon. Friend lay on the discovery of the miscreants?

Is this not an example of private enterprise, and why does the Minister want to interfere with it?

Can the Minister confirm whether or not there is any truth in the stories that are being circulated that the knowledge of what this cable did and the ability to decide at what particular point it could be broken could never have been discovered by an ordinary layman but only by someone with technical knowledge? Is there any truth in that?

There is not an iota of truth in it. It was perfectly obvious to anybody that this cable served the race course, and it did not require very much skill for a cut to be made.

Will the hon. Gentleman emphasise that, in view of the fact that a good deal of annoyance has been caused to certain sections of the Post Office industry by the widely-circulated Press stories that this thing could not have been arranged without technical knowledge?

If any annoyance has been caused to the Post Office staff, they certainly have not complained to me about it.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what duplication there is of names of telephone exchanges in the United Kingdom.

There are 139 names which apply to more than one telephone exchange. There are, for example, six Newports and six Whitchurches. The exchange names are distinguished, for telephone operating purposes, by the addition of a suffix, for example; Bampton (Devon); Bampton (Westmorland).

Is my hon. Friend aware that the use of the suffix, to which he refers, is not always successful, because when telephoning a certain exchange in the West Country I am invariably put through to somewhere in Derbyshire? Will my hon. Friend look into the matter and see whether the problem can be rectified?

I am surprised if my hon. Friend does not know the suffix of the particular Bampton to which be is telephoning.

Is the Assistant Postmaster-General aware that on one occasion I asked for a number on the Brixton exchange and was put through to Brixham, Devon?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when a cable was last laid to connect the Guide Lane district of Audenshaw with its appropriate local exchange.

A cable scheme to serve part of the district was completed in 1951.

When does the hon. Gentleman suggest that an additional cable should be laid in this area?

I should like to complete the cable scheme there as soon as our capital resources permit.

I understand that, but I want something more definite. It is not a question of when the hon. Gentleman would like to do it. When is it going to be done?

The Question asked about what has happened. If the hon. Members wants to know what is going to happen, I suggest that he puts down another Question.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many applicants for telephones in Denton and Audenshaw are still waiting for them; how many of these reside in the Guide Lane-Guide Bridge area; and what prospects they have of getting telephones soon.

Two hundred and ninety-seven. Of these, 36 are in the Guide Lane-Guide Bridge area, part of which is served from Ashton. I regret that, in view of our limited resources, it will be some considerable time before we can materially reduce the waiting list in this area.

Is the Minister aware that that will give no satisfaction whatever to the business people and others in the area who have been waiting a long time for telephone installation? What is the hon. Gentleman going to do about it?

Nothing would give me greater pleasure than if we could catch up with all these arrears, in which event I should not have to answer half the Questions that I now answer.

Is the Minister dealing with this area as equitably as with some of the large industrial areas?

I can give the hon. Member that assurance. It is certainly not being unfairly treated.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when it is proposed to provide additional cables which will enable waiting applicants in Denton and Audenshaw to be provided with telephones.

New cables will be provided in part of Audenshaw at the end of this year. Other cables are planned but I regret that they are not expected to be laid before the middle of 1955.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the first part of his answer will give some satisfaction but that I am extremely disappointed with the second part of his answer?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why the road from Molesworth in Huntingdonshire to Clapton in Northamptonshire has been closed; whether he is aware that the alternative road via Old Weston, which is suggested by his Department, is not the most suitable alternative available; and whether he will make a statement.

This road has been closed so that Molesworth airfield can be developed to modern operational standards. The question of the line of an alternative road is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport.

In negotiating with the Minister of Transport in this matter, will my hon. Friend remember that peace seems to be breaking out in Korea? Will that encourage him to do everything possible to enable the inhabitants of these peaceful villages to pursue their lawful occasions?

I shall bear that and other points in mind.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that the Acting Commanding Officer of the No. 4 Mobile Repair and Salvage Unit of the 2nd Tactical Air Force, Pilot Officer Speakman, with the support of seven senior non-commissioned officers, perpetrated a hoax on Sergeant W. Bailey, No. 4 Mobile Repair and Salvage Unit, in falsely presenting him with a Coronation Medal on behalf of Her Majesty at a ceremony in the office of the headquarters of the 2nd Tactical Air Force, Germany; and what action he proposes to take against those responsible for this breach of Service Regulations.

This incident is being investigated and the competent authority will if necessary, take appropriate disciplinary action.

The Under-Secretary will be aware that he wrote to me yesterday, and for that letter I thank him. In his letter he states at the outset that preliminary reports confirm the facts in this Question, and he went on to say that the Air Officer Commanding is still away—that is some 23 days ago—but he will investigate it and, if the facts are confirmed, he will take the necessary action. The latter part of the letter is completely contradictory, because the Under-Secretary himself says that the allegations are confirmed, and that if the Air Officer Commanding does not take suitable action he himself will. Why the long delay? Will the hon. Gentleman give us something more definite?

I will quote from the letter I wrote to the hon. Gentleman, a copy of which I have before me. I said in it;

"From the preliminary reports which I have had I think I can say that the facts of the matter are broadly as stated in your Question and in the report in the 'Daily Mirror'."

That is quite different from saying that we have investigated it and got all the details.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many civilians are employed on Royal Air Force stations as batmen and for domes tic purposes; and how many of these were previously employed in agriculture.

There are about 5,000 civilian batmen and mess staff at Royal Air Force stations in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. I cannot say how many were employed in agriculture before they entered our service.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that there is great disquiet in agriculture because of the number of men who are attracted to work on the aerodromes and, in view of the need to keep men on the farms, will he discourage this?

All our employees are engaged through the local employment exchange, and they ordinarily do their best to persuade the agricultural worker to remain in agriculture. In any case, I doubt whether the difference between our wages and those in agriculture is large enough to be considered a temptation by the average agricultural worker. Finally, I hope my hon. Friend is not suggesting that the agricultural worker should be restricted in his choice of employment.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what change of policy agreed between the Royal Air Force and the United States Air Force is indicated by the decision to withdraw the Washington bomber; and what air craft are now charged with the responsibilities hitherto assigned to the Washington.

There is no change of policy. A further stage has been reached in the re-equipment of our expanding bomber force with modern jet aircraft. Moreover, the experience gained in operating Canberras will be invaluable when we begin to form medium jet bomber squadrons as the Valiant, the Vulcan and the Victor become available.

The Under-Secretary has made it clear that the new bomber to which he has referred cannot do the task previously assigned to the Washington. Will he answer the second part of my Question, which asks which aircraft is now going to undertake this task, and can he say quite definitely that the United States Air Force is not to be responsible for all strategic bombing from this country?

I can start by giving the hon. Gentleman an assurance which he asked for in the second part of his Question. I am sure he realises that this is a complicated subject, but I should like to say in reply to him that the departure of the Washington will not in any way reduce the ability of the Royal Air Force to carry out its commitments.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air in what circumstances details from medical reports on men and women serving in the Royal Air Force are disclosed to outside persons; and to whom.

Details from such reports are only disclosed if a member of the Royal Air Force is charged with a serious criminal offence, such as murder. In a case of that kind, the medical record is made available to both the prosecution and the defence.

Does that answer mean that the practice of the Air Ministry differs in some respects from the practice of the War Office and the Army, and could the hon. Gentleman say whether he finds, in practice, that his Department's policy is adequate?

Our practice at courts martial differs a little in detail from that of the Army, but the result is very much the same. The defence, in confidence, may be given an idea of the contents of the reports to help in the preparation of their case, and the medical authority concerned may be called as a witness. No report or extract from it, however, may be produced in court.