asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Administrator of Dominica has, against the advice of his engineers, and although the legislative council has three times given it priority, decided to defer the completion of the transinsular road, for which funds have already been allocated from Colonial Development and Welfare Funds under Scheme D1776, in favour of a new track through unsurveyed and unmapped country to an unspecified point on the eastern coast.

No such decision has yet been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the shortage of dry dock facilities at Port of Spain, Trinidad; and whether he will take steps to have in stalled a second slipway so that adequate facilities for ship repairing will be available.

Yes. A committee appointed by the Trinidad Government to examine shipbuilding and repairing facilities in the island has recently reported. The report, which advocates a second slipway, is being considered by that Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress is being made with the abolition of controls and restrictions in the West Indies, which were adopted during the wartime emergency.

Many wartime controls which no longer serve a useful purpose have been withdrawn and consideration is being given by the colonial Governments concerned to embodying in permanent legislation any that must be retained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that a West End hotel, details of which have been supplied to him, are officially operating the colour bar against applicants for accommodation, &c.; what steps he takes to ensure that the colour bar is not operated against coloured colonial students and administrators brought to this country under the auspices of his Department.

I am aware of the policy of the hotel to which the hon. Member refers. Every care is taken by my Department to see that students and administrators from the Colonies are accommodated in establishments where they are welcome.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, having regard to the increased cost of living and the action taken to improve the rates of pension of home civil servants by the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1947, what steps have been taken to increase the rates of pension payable to civil servants retiring from service in the Gold Coast.

The payment of increases to pensions is a matter for the colonial Governments concerned. The Government of the Gold Coast already pay increases to their pensioners similar to the increases paid under the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1947, but without income limitation. Colonial Governments have been sent copies of the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1952, and they have been invited to revise their schemes in the light of the provisions of that Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give details of the communication he sent to Mrs. Betty Chapman; and the reasons for refusing her readmittance to her home on the Gold Coast.

Mrs. Chapman was informed by my Department that on 8th December the Governor in Council declared her a prohibited immigrant under Section 12 of the Gold Coast Immigration Ordinance, 1947, which does not require any reasons to be given for decisions under it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to ensure that some organisation shall be set up to provide better facilities for the reception, accommodation and entertainment of colonial students coming to the United Kingdom, so that they may be afforded a generous and comprehensive knowledge of our life and institutions, divorced from any particular political influences.

:The British Council, in association with my Department and with many voluntary organisations, is already very admirably doing the work to which my hon. Friend refers. These arrangements are constantly under review to ensure the best possible facilities for students.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action has been taken by the Government of Nyasaland following the publication of the official communiqué in the "Nyasaland Times" making imputations against members of the African Congress Party, which led to a fine of £100 being imposed on the editor of the newspaper for contempt of court.

On 12th October the Nyasaland Government published a statement deeply regretting that a sentence which might be taken to carry certain imputations against the persons concerned should have found its way into the communiqué. Steps have been taken to ensure that further cases of this kind will not occur.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the officer of the Kenya Police Reserve and the warrant officer of the Kenya Regiment who were fined £100 and £50, respectively, and bound over for one year for assault on Elijah Njeru Gideon, who died from shock resulting from multiple injuries inflicted by beating as reported at the inquest of 30th January, 1953, have been allowed to continue in their posts.

No. Both have been discharged.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proportion of the new villages in the Federation of Malaya have held democratic elections; what was the percentage poll; and when it is expected to be able to hold elections at higher levels.

Elections have been held in over 100 of the 540 new villages and many more are planned for 1954. In these and similar local elections nearly 75 per cent. of those eligible have voted.Elections have also been held in all three municipalities and for 10 town councils. It is hoped to hold State elections in Johore and the Settlement of Penang, in 1954, and in the other States and Malacca, in 1955.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many new schools have been opened in the Federation of Malaya during the last two years.

Up-to-date figures for new schools are not immediately available, but I will send them to the hon. Member when they are received. The number of children enrolled in schools rose from 674,000 in January, 1951, to 803,992 in January, 1953—an increase of more than 19 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the proportion of European and Asian personnel, respectively, in the Malayan Civil Service including the States; and what were the comparative figures in 1951.

I am obtaining the figures and will write to my hon. Friend when I have a reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what improvement has been made in the health of the people of the West African Colonies, Protectorates and Trusteeship Territories in recent years.

There has been a general improvement in the health of the peoples of these territories. For example, the use of new drugs in certain areas has drastically reduced the incidence of leprosy. In Nigeria, mobile teams have been set up to deal speedily with outbreaks of epidemic diseases, and a large pilot scheme is in being to combat yaws. Trypanosomiasis has ceased to be a public health problem in the Gold Coast. In the Northern region of Nigeriaa considerable area has also been cleared of the tsetse fly.For further information I would refer the hon. Member to the health sections in the annual reports of the territories. Copies of these reports and of the latest annual reports of the Health Departments concerned have been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why he has instructed that lodging allowances are not now payable to those who have been serving in the Royal Naval Armaments Depot, Beith, Ayrshire, since August, 1943; and if he will make a statement.

To qualify for lodging allowance, a man must satisfy his Department that he and his family intend to be reunited near his place of work as soon as circumstances permit. It was found recently that a few men employed at the Royal Naval Armament Depot, Beith, did not fulfil this condition, and the allowance is, therefore, no longer payable to them.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty on what date Mr. Arthur Bryant agreed to write the Admiralty History of the War; how many assistants he has had; how much has been paid to Mr. Bryant; the total cost of the project to date; and why nothing has yet been published.

In 1946, Dr. Arthur Bryant agreed to write a preliminary naval history, designed as a single volume for the general reading public and intended to be available well in advance of the detailed Official History of the War at Sea. The research and collation of material necessary for the shorter work proved much more formidable than was anticipated and progress was, therefore, slower than had been hoped. As the first volume of the Official History of the War at Sea is to be issued shortly, I have decided, though with much regret, that the shorter work should now be abandoned.The research teams on the various histories have, of course, worked in close co-operation and the results of the labours of Dr. Bryant's team of five will be available for other purposes, so that the work is not wasted. The cost incurred to date on the necessary research and the drafts of the earlier part of the book is about £30,000, of which Dr. Bryant received £520 primarily to help him over the out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the part he was playing in the work.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty to what extent ships of the Royal Navy regularly patrol the Red Sea to maintain surveillance over craft suspected of carrying slaves from Africa to Arabia; and whether the vessels recently stopped and boarded in that vicinity were carrying slaves.

With regard to the first part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the reply which my hon. and gallant Friend the Parliamentary and Financial Secretary gave to the hon. Member on this subject on 18th March, 1953. The answer to the second part is "No."

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty on what grounds instructor lieutenants, "non-dagger," are promoted after eight years average seniority, whereas instructor lieutenants, ex-schoolmaster, average 11 years' seniority before promotion.

The regulations for the promotion of "non-dagger" instructor lieutenants were framed with the object of attracting officers with higher academic qualification than the ex-schoolmaster officers. In contrast with the ex-schoolmaster instructor officer, who has an assured career in the Royal Navy up to the age of 55, the post-1946 entrant to the Instructor Branch enters on a short service commission and only some of these officers are taken on to the permanent list. Even then, they are not assured of a career in the Royal Navybeyond the age of 48 years unless they are promoted to the rank of Commander.Taken together, these reasons are considered to justify the somewhat better promotion prospects offered to post-1946 "non-dagger" officers, bearing in mind that, in 1946, the ex-schoolmaster officers were themselves given far better career prospects than they had any reason to expect when they entered the Service.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will allocate further ships of the Royal Navy to the repair yards at Cardiff, in view of the anxiety about growing unemployment.

The Admiralty will continue to give full consideration to the needs of Cardiff, and of other ship repair centres, when allocating contracts for repair work on Her Majesty's ships, but I am unable to offer any hope of an increase in the future volume of such work.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that the Dutch Government, which is represented on the Consultative Group Co-ordination Committee, is accepting orders for dredgers from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Poland, whereas Her Majesty's Government is not; and if, in view of the assurances that Western Governments would act uniformly in such matters, he will now permit British firms to accept orders from these countries.

I understand that three dredgers are being built in Holland for the Soviet bloc. Certain dredger building firms in the United Kingdom have received inquiries as to the possibility of their undertaking orders for such vessels for these countries, and in the event of these firms applying for licences to build such craft I will give their applications sympathetic consideration.As I informed the hon. Gentleman, in reply to his Question on 9th December, I have so far received no requests for licences for dredgers for the Soviet

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General, in view of the fact that there are 656 applications for telephones outstanding at the Tulse Hill exchange, and that 275 of these have been waiting over 18 months, what action is being taken to increase the capacity of this exchange.

In the past year the number of applicants who have been waiting for 18 months or more has been reduced from 406 to 275. It is shortage of local cables rather than of exchange equipment which is preventing more rapid progress in this exchange area, but some new cables will be provided next year.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will arrange for the public telephone boxes at London Airport to operate as part of the ordinary London dial system.

I am sorry this cannot be done. Call boxes are fitted for dialling 3d. calls only, whereas the charge to central London from the boxes at London Airport is 4d.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General (1) if he has now completed his further investigations with regard to the Braunstone Frith Estate, Leicester; and if he will make a statement;(2) in view of the fact that most of the pavements are now laid in front of most of the houses on the Braunstone Frith Estate, Leicester, when work will commence on the installation of telephone kiosks on the estate.

Two kiosks are planned for this estate. A site has just been agreed for one of them and I hope work on it will be begun very quickly. The other, in New Parks Boulevard, will follow as soon as possible.I am sorry that my reply of 11th November to the hon. Member has proved on further inquiry to be incorrect, and I now find that over 200 houses have been completed. The mistake was due to a misunderstanding of the boundary between Braunstone Frith and an adjoining estate.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many applications for telephones are outstanding in Dinas-Powis, Glamorganshire; how many were outstanding a year ago; and what progress is anticipated during the next year in meeting requirements.

Fifty-four applications are outstanding compared with 43 a year ago. We hope to connect up some 40 applicants next year, but with new demand coming along, and as our resources are limited, I cannot say when the waiting list will be cleared.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the number of applicants for telephones in the county borough of Stockport at 30th November, 1953.

1,599 applications were outstanding on the 30th September, 1953, the latest date for which figures are available. 390 telephones were installed during the previous 12 months, but new demand continues high.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General (1) the area of the site purchased by his Department in Victoria Street, Christchurch Green; and whether he will state its rateable value;(2) for what purpose he has acquired the site known as Christchurch Green, Victoria Street; and how much was the purchase price.

A part of this area, but not that fronting Victoria Street, is being acquired for a new "Abbey" telephone exchange. The price has not yet been finally settled. The area is about 24,000 sq. ft. This site is not now rated: the old vicarage, when occupied, had a rateable value of £142.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why his Department, having accepted payment of £31 0s. 2d. from Mr. J. Cohen, 310, St. Paul's Road, Islington, in respect of a debt due from his tenant, and having promised that the three telephone lines at that address would be made available for Mr. Cohen, have failed for more than two months to connect any supply to this house or to answer his letters to the Department.

The delay in restoring service, which had been withdrawn because the account had not been paid, was due to a misunderstanding locally. The lines have now been connected to this address for the use of the new tenant.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the allocation of telephone kiosks to Inverness; how many kiosks have been allocated to the county; and what representations he has received from the Inverness County Council on this matter.

No quota is fixed for telephone kiosks in towns: seven have been provided in Inverness since April of last year.The 1953 quota of rural kiosks for Inverness-shire is 10, in addition to 21 already provided this year outside rural post offices. The county council has asked for a larger allocation, but this could only be met by reducing the quotas for other areas, which are no better off.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what representations he has received asking him to increase the allocation of telephone kiosks to the rural parts of the county of Glamorgan.

Many rural areas in Wales would, I know, like more telephone kiosks, but no specific representations have been received about Glamorgan.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why only 120 applicants for telephones in the borough of Barry were connected during the past year; why such poor progress was made in reducing the list of outstanding applications; and what steps will be taken to increase progress during the coming year.

We are connecting up telephones as fast as we can, and I am satisfied that Barry is having a fair share of our limited resources. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 9th December, 1953.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will take steps to increase the sale of telephone directories by way of additional copies to subscribers and to the general public.

Yes. Directories for other districts are particularly useful to business firms with interests in different parts of the country, and everything possible is being done to encourage sales.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware that people have been waiting over six years for telephones to be connected to the Peatling Magna, near Rugby, exchange; and when he anticipates development work will have been carried out to provide this area with an adequate service.

We have recently been able to connect up one of the applicants referred to, but I am sorry that there are no spare wires available for the other. Extra cables will be ready about the end of next year.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when pillar-box and post office counter services will be provided on the Douglas and Angus housing estate in Dundee.

A pillar box with a stamp-selling machine attached will be provided within the next three or four weeks. A sub-office cannot be opened on the estate until a candidate with suitable premises is available.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why his offices are refusing to give the Christmas parcel concession to National Service men in Malaya.

If the hon. Member will let me have particulars of any specific cases she may have in mind, I will gladly have inquiries made.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what number of claims his Department receives each year for the non-delivery of unregistered postal packets with contents of small value such as cigarettes and unregistered letters which obviously contain money.

As my hon. and gallant Friend will be aware, no compensation is payable in respect of unregistered letters and packets, so that detailed particulars are not available. Out of approximately 8,700 million of these items posted annually, about 55,000 claims are received in respect of letters and packets with contents valued at 5s. or more which are said to be missing.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the qualifications necessary for an association to obtain recognition in the Post Office.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Shrewsbury (Mr. Langford-Holt) on 11th November.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what arrangements are being made to provide additional Post Office facilities in the new town of Basildon.

The extension of postal facilities in Basildon is keeping pace with the development of the new town and the plans for the future are well forward. On the telephone side an extension of one exchange is nearly ready and I hope that extensions of two other exchanges will be completed in 1954 and 1955. Additional cables are also being provided.If my hon. Friend has any particular point in mind and will let me have details I shall be happy to look into it.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when he expects to receives the report of the Television Advisory Committee on the form of modulation for sound broadcasting on very high frequencies.

This week.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will give the necessary consent to enable the British Broadcasting Corporation to proceed with the erection of a television station near Norwich, for which a site has already been selected.

No decision has yet been taken as to the site, although the B.B.C. have one in view. It is too early to make a definite statement about coverage, but the Corporation expects the station to serve most of East Anglia not covered by the London station. As to work on construction and assembly of equipment, the Government have not yet authorised provision of a television station for East Anglia, but the position is being reviewed.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how long he expects to take in carrying out the recommendation of the Television Advisory Committee to clear the whole of Band III for television.

We estimate that it would take about seven years or so to make the whole of Band III available for television.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what will be the constitution of the selection board for the new scheme of scholarships to Cranwell.

The preliminary assessment of candidates will be carried out by a Royal Air Force Selection Board, but the final awards will be made by an Awards Board at the Air Ministry.The composition of the Boards is as follows:

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what machinery exists to enable the grade or category of dilutee engineering tradesman to make representations pertaining only to employees in this grade or category; and if he is aware that no recognised trade union exists at present which is prepared to give these employees full membership and advance the claim of the overwhelming majority of them for deregistration.

The Engineering Trades Joint Council provides machinery for joint discussion, between representatives of Government Departments and trade unions, of matters which concern all Government industrial engineering workers. There is no special machinery for dealing solely with matters affecting dilutee tradesmen. Eligibility for membership is entirely a matter for the trades unions concerned.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether the Air Information Directorate has yet ascertained from the station commander at Tarrant Rushton aerodrome the correct elevation of this airfield; and if he will publish in the Official Report the full reply of the station commander in the interests of air safety and for the benefit of aircraft diverted to this aerodrome.

My hon. Friend will be pleased to know that this controversy between the Aeronautical Information Document Unit and Tarrant Rushton about a possible variation of one foot in the elevation of the airfield has now been amicably settled.The answer to the second part of the Question is: "No." It would be most unusual to publish documents of this kind, and, if I were to yield to the temptation to do so here, it would be more for the diversion of Members than the diversion of aircraft.

asked the Under-secretary of State for Air why the non-industrial staff of his Department increased by 47 between 1st July and 1st October, 1953.

The total numbers in this category have, in fact, fallen 123 since the beginning of the year. The small increase between July and October was mainly due to the replacement of airmen by civilians.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that the road from Garve to Ullapool is quite inadequate to carry the heavy fish traffic during the winter months; and what steps he is taking to put it in proper condition.

Since last winter steps have been taken to improve conditions on this road by strengthening and widening embankments to reduce the danger of lorries leaving the road and to provide additional standing places for traffic during snow ploughing. Arrangements have also been made for additional snow clearing and gritting equipment to be available.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he expects to receive a report from the expert committee examining Sir Bruce White's scheme for a road bridge over the Forth railway bridge before the new year.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps he has taken, or intends to take, to speed-up the investigation into the possibility of incorporating a road bridge in the structure of the present Forth railway bridge; and when a report can be expected.

I do not expect a report before the New Year. The expert committee, however, are well aware of the urgency of their investigation, and that it is on their report that I shall decide whether to adopt Sir Bruce White's proposal or to authorise the improvement of the ferry facilities.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to make a statement on the future of Queensferry Bridge.

The long-term scheme is to construct a by-pass to Queensferry with a new bridge across the River Dee, but meanwhile I have arranged for consulting engineers to investigate the possibility of altering the present bridge in such a way as to provide accommodation for cyclists clear of the present carriageway and so relieve congestion. This, however, even if practicable, may prove very costly and I am afraid I cannot commit myself to it at the present stage.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is including provision for a double carriageway on the Tividale section of the Birmingham—Wolverhampton road in the £14 million to be expended on road improvement during 1954–55.

I do not think that it will be possible to authorise this scheme next year.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what amount is to be allocated to the Staffordshire County Council for road improvement and maintenance during the year 1954–55.

I regret that I am at present unable to go beyond the statement which I made on 8th December, either in regard to major improvements or to maintenance and minor improvements.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the amount of the extra grants for Highland roads under his revised policy; for what years they will operate; how far they will be in addition to normal grants and to special grants, respectively, as already announced by this Government and the last; for what classes of road they will be available; and if local authorities will have to pay their share of schemes approved for such grants.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what sums he estimates will be expended on road development in the seven Crofter counties within the next three years and in Ross and Cromarty in particular.

I am in close consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, but I regret that I can add nothing at present to the statement that I made to the House on 8th December regarding the new expenditure in Scotland; the distribution of this between different parts of Scotland is still under consideration. It is contemplated that the normal financial arrangements with local authorities will continue.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what major schemes have been agreed upon by his Department with Durham County Council; and what amount is to be allocated to them for 1954 and 1955 for road improvement and road maintenance.

The major improvement schemes to be authorised will be selected individually from time to time in consultation with the Durham County Council and will not form the subject of any block allocation of money. The Road Fund provision for maintenance and minor improvements of roads for 1954–55 will be notified as soon as possible. That for 1955–56 will not be decided for about twelve months.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give the total annual expenditure on major improvement and new construction of roads for each of the years 1937–38, 1938–39 and 1945–46 to 1953–54, inclusive.

The total annual expenditure borne by central funds and local authorities on the major improvement and new construction of roads in Great Britain was as follows:

Year	Total (£'000)
1937–38	16,695
1938–39	17,377
1945–46	938
1946–47	2,538
1947–48	4,678
1948–49	5,299
1949–50	6,032
1950–51	6,269
1951–52	5,981
1952–53	5,985

The figures are of net expenditure and exclude the cost of work which was covered by contributions from public utilities, frontagers, etc. The figures for 1953–54 are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation his estimate of the additional expenditure on the roads in 1954–55 and 1955–56 arising from his recent statement.

The estimated expenditure from the Road Fund on major improvements and new construction in 1954–55 is the same as for 1953–54—i.e., £5 million. In 1955–56 it will increase by £2½ million to £7½ million. It is proposed in those two years to enter into commitments amounting to some £37 million.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the total expenditure by central Government and local authorities on the road system of Britain, including unclassified roads, for the latest available year.

For the year ending 31st March, 1953, the total expenditure on the road system of Great Britain incurred by my Department and local highway authorities was £85,966,000. Details of this expenditure will be shown in the Report on the Administration of the Road Fund for 1952–53 which I hope to publish shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when it is anticipated that the overdue Gravesend Road improvements at the junction of routes A.289 and A.226 will be completed.

This scheme has my approval and can be put in hand as soon as the local authorities concerned are prepared to find their proportion of the cost.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will amend his programme of major road improvements to include the Tyne tunnel.

Although the Tyne tunnel scheme cannot be begun in the next three years, it is certainly not excluded from the programme, but is among the important schemes that I intend to fit in subsequently as soon as practicable.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the continued congestion over the only bridge between England and South Wales at Newport, he will authorise an additional bridge on the proposed by-pass road from the capital expenditure recently announced.

I do not see my way to authorise this in the next three years, but I hope to find a place for the by-pass and bridge in a later stage of the programme.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a statement on the result of the traffic check which has been taken to assess the current needs for the completion of the Dartford-Purfleet tunnel.

The figures submitted to me by the highway authorities concerned indicate that had the tunnel existed on the day of the census some 6,400 vehicles a day might have used it. These figures are being further checked and examined.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will consider the issue of a separate driving licence for electric vehicles, having regard to dangers which can arise when a driver tested on a slow speed electric vehicle is transferred to a faster petrol vehicle, and to the fact that a separate licence is required for trolley buses.

This matter is being considered in connection with the next revision of the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations, 1950.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a statement on the Government's intentions in regard to the recommendations contained in the Thesiger Report.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he will be in a position to make known his decisions about implementing the Thesiger Committee Report; and when it is intended that the necessary amending legislation is to be introduced.

I am indebted to the Committee for their comprehensive and lucid report, which I am now considering, and I hope to make a statement on the matter after the Recess.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the extra burden placed upon local authorities through the operation of the transport levy; and if he will take steps to minimise this charge upon the rates.

Parliament decided to impose this levy only after full discussion of its implications for local authorities. I have no power to modify its incidence.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in the interests of public safety, he will bring in an order under the Road Transport Lighting Act, 1953, making it compulsory for all motor vehicles to carry two rear lights after 1st October. 1954.

No. Manufacturing and servicing facilities alone make it impracticable to compel all vehicles to be fitted with two rear lights as soon as 1st October, 1954. The more that are fitted voluntarily, however, the better.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what reply he has given to the request contained in the first report of the Road Haulage Disposal Board to explain the true functions of the Board.

I am grateful to the hon. Member for giving me this opportunity of correcting any misconception there may be that the Disposal Board are responsible for the actual sale of the road haulage undertaking of the British Transport Commission. That responsibility is laid by the Act upon the Commission itself. The Board is a consultative and approving authority with the task of ensuring that the Commission's proposals give effect to the intentions of the Act.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in view of the increasing volume both of passengers and freight handled by Scottish airports, he will make a statement of his proposals for bringing additional airports into use, particularly in the East of Scotland.

Although I hope that the satisfactory increase in traffic at Scottish aerodromes will continue, I have no reason to believe that the existing number of aerodromes is not sufficient. In the absence of any requirement by air operators I have no proposals to increase this number. If an independent company should be ready to serve Errol I would most carefully consider any recommendation which the Air Transport Advisory Council might make on an application from such a company.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is yet in a position to make a statement on the Report of the Committee on the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil.

I have already announced my intention of giving effect to one of the main recommendations of the committee by inviting other maritime countries to a conference next April to discuss the international aspects of the problem of oil pollution. The invitations to the conference are in course of despatch.I am glad to be able to inform the House that I also accept the other recommendations of the committee in principle. Some of them involve legislation and this will be introduced as soon as possible after the international conference.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a statement on the works he proposes to authorise in connection with the improvement of transport facilities serving the North London area.

The Government have agreed to the selection of Route C, with the associated part of Route D, from among the routes recommended in the report of the London Plan (Railways) Working Party as the first to be subjected to detailed planning, including an estimation of the cost.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many derailments have occurred in the Severn Tunnel during the past 10 years.

One.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) when Her Majesty's Government propose to ratify the decisions reached at the Universal Postal Convention held in Brussels, 11th July, 1952:(2) when Her Majesty's Government propose to ratify the Universal Postal Union Agreement concerning insured letters and boxes.

The Universal Postal Convention and the Agreement concerning Insured Letters and Boxes were laid before the House on 1st December as Command 8998 and 8999 respectively.I hope that the formalities of ratification will be carried out about the end of January.

asked the Minister of Food to what extent the Hardship Committee set up under the chairmanship of the regional food officer in Belfast to consider the claims of members of his staff for preferential retention in Northern Ireland has taken into account the position of members who are ex-Service men or widows of ex-Service men.

A principal criterion has necessarily been the domestic circumstances of the staff. Ex-Service men, and widows of ex-Service men, who are living at home with dependants have all qualified for priority. The Hardship Committee also considered claims for preference on compassionate or hardship grounds arising from war service.

asked the Minister of Food, for the latest available period, the non-take-up of rationed foodstuffs, given separately for each foodstuff and expressed as amounts, percentages and in number of rations.

The following table shows the extent to which deliveries of rationed foods to the trade during the four weeks ended 28th November, 1953, are estimated to have fallen short of entitlement and, as an arithmetical calculation, the number of rations which the shortfall represents. The entitlement includes, in addition to the rations of domestic consumers, the allowances to catering establishments and institutions, and in the case of meat, the butchers' manufacturing allowance, which are not separately distinguishable. Non-take-up of domestic rations cannot be isolated.

UNDER-DELIVERIES OF RATION FOODS DURING THE FOUR WEEKS ENDED 28TH NOVEMBER, 1953
Note: The symbol + indicates deliveries in excess of entitlement.
Commodity	'000 tons	Per cent.	Equivalent rations (millions)
Bacon (a)	4·8	13	7·1
Meat	+1·6	+1	+0·8
Butter	0·7	3	1·9
Margarine	4·6	14	8·2
Cooking Fat	1·4	10	5·9
Cheese	3·3	20	13·5
(a) Deliveries of unrationed Category C bacon were 8·2 thousand tons.

asked the Minister of Food how the United Kingdom delegate at the Food and Agriculture Organisation meeting at Rome voted on the proposal to build up an international reserve of foodstuffs, temporarily surplus to immediate consumption.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 14th December, 1953; Vol. 522, c. 30] supplied the following information:RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE CONFERENCE OF THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANISATION ON THE EMERGENCY FAMINE RESERVE PROPOSALSTHE CONFERENCE—Recognises, notwithstanding a difference of opinion as to whether the creation of an international emergency food reserve or fund is necessary, that in any case a pre-requisite to the creation of such a reserve or fund would be evidence that Member Nations would be in a position to provide the necessary stocks or money resources; and that in the absence of such evidence it is impracticable to create an international reserve or fund as contemplated by the Sixth Session of the Conference so long as this situation continues,Reaffirms its belief in the value of Resolution No. 15 of the Sixth Session of the Conference, which reads as follows:

asked the Lord Advocate the costs of the recent trial in Edinburgh, when certain persons were charged with conspiracy to overthrow Her Majesty's Government.

The expenses amounted, in all, to approximately £137, made up of allowances to witnesses and jurors, and shorthand writers' fees. In Scotland, no fees are paid to Crown counsel in connection with criminal proceedings.

asked the Lord Advocate why, in the recent trial at the High Court at Edinburgh, he charged the accused with conspiracy to overthow Her Majesty's Government in Scotland and not with being in unlawful possession of gelignite.

The four accused persons were charged with a contravention of Section 3 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1883, in respect that they were in unlawful possession of gelignite with intent to endanger life and to cause serious injury to property, as an alternative to a common law charge of conspiring to alter the Constitution by illegal means.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many troops were sent from Jamaica to British Guiana after the suspension of the Constitution; what duties they were engaged in; and on what date they left Georgetown for return to Jamaica.

The 1st Battalion, the Royal Welch Fusiliers and supporting services, numbering some 740 all ranks, arrived in British Guiana on 8th October from Jamaica and British Honduras. This battalion returned to Jamaica on 24th October, on relief by the 1st Battalion, the Argylland Sutherland Highlanders. The troops have been employed on guard duty and duties in aid of the civil power.

asked the Minister of State, Board of Trade, as representing the Minister of Materials, if he will make a statement of policy with regard to the collection of waste paper; and, in particular, what assistance he will give local authorities in disposing of the salvage they collect in view of the difficulty which they are experiencing in finding a market.

There has been no change in the policy of Her Majesty's Government since it was stated in a reply to my hon. Friend on 20th July last. Consumption of waste paper has risen further since then and stocks are now lower, which should eventually make disposal more easy.Local authorities must, however, rely upon normal business negotiations with their buyers and not upon direct Government intervention.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to reduce the tax on petrol and fuel oil now amounting to over 260 per cent., in view of the fact that it is one of the main causes of the rising cost of living and discriminates unfairly against the poorer working section of the community as a result of the large proportion used for public service vehicles.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Portsmouth, West (Brigadier Clarke).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the fiduciary note issue.

Yes. To provide for a further seasonal increase in the demand for notes, the Treasury have authorised an increase of £50 million in the fiduciary note issue bringing the total of the issue up to £1,675 million. The Treasury Minute will be laid before Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children under 15 years of age were reported to the police as missing from their homes in 1950, 1951 and 1952; how many of these children have not been found: and what were their ages.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the composition of juvenile courts.

It has been the intention of the Government to amend the rules governing the constitution of juvenile courts to secure, as soon as this became practicable, that all juvenile courts should contain at least one man and at least one woman. My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor agrees with me that this stage has now been reached, and he proposes to amend the statutory rules to provide for mixed courts in every case, except in emergency, when a court may be composed of two men or two women.It is intended to bring the new rule into effect from the beginning of 1955, to allow time to add women justices to the few juvenile court panels which have not an adequate number. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has asked me to say that similar arrangements will be brought into effect in Scotland in May, 1955.

asked the Minister of Health the rates of incidence and the death rates for multiple sclerosis in England and Wales for the years 1938 to 1952.

I regret that no rates of incidence for multiple sclerosis are available. The death rates are as follow:

ENGLAND AND WALES
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS—DEATH RATES PER MILLION LIVING—1938 TO 1952
1938	18
1939	21
1940	25
1941	24
1942	24
1943	22
1944	22
1945	23
1946	20
1947	19
1948	16
1949	17
1950	18
1951	21
1952	18

asked the Minister of Health what proportion of the sum of £625,000 notified to the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board in July, 1953, for the financing of schemes in the region during the financial year 1954–55 has now been allocated by the Board.

I have not yet received the Board's programme of capital works for 1954–55 showing how they propose to allocate this sum.

asked the Minister of Health what schemes have been approved for grant by the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board during the financial year 1954–55; and what is the estimated cost of each.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to schemes financed outside the Board's allocation of £625,000. I have informed the Board that they may expect, subject to approval of the National Health Service estimates by the Government and by Parliament, to spend up to an additional £90,000 on mental health projects, but I cannot yet say what particular projects they wish to undertake.

asked the Minister of Health the aproximate cost of providing more beds at the Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital, Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry, thereby completing phase three of their programme, as discussed by his officials recently with the deputation from Regional Hospital Board and the Management Committee of the hospital.

The estimated cost of completing phase three of the building work at the Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital is £180,000.