asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what discussions he has had with applicants for television transmission licences with regard to the terms on which such licences are to be granted.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General to give an assurance that, under the Government's scheme for competitive television, a prospective programme company need not wait until the new corporation is set up before it can obtain information about the prospects and conditions of a contract with the corporation.

While the terms and conditions of such a contract will, of course, be a matter for the new corporation when it is set up, my noble Friend would be glad to have preliminary talks with any individuals or bodies who are thinking of entering this field. He has, in fact, already met a few of them.

Can the Minister tell us who are the few with whom he has had discussions, because this is a matter of great public interest? Is Lord Beaver-brook and the "Express" group one of those interests with whom talks have taken place? Is it intended that such a company should be able to have news programmes as well as other programmes?

For the reasons I gave to the House a short time ago, it would not be proper for me at this stage to give names.

Why not?

Is the Minister not aware that a Bill is to come before the House in which all the terms and conditions are to be laid down? Is it not highly improper to have these secret talks with interested parties before this House is given an opportunity of discussing the matter?

I did not say secret discussions. They are not secret in the real sense of the word; they are confidential discussions.

If they are not secret, will the hon. Gentleman disclose the names of the people with whom he has had discussions?

No, Sir. For the reasons I have already given to the House, I am not prepared, while discussing the matter with them, to give any names at all.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General (1) whether he proposes to permit news programmes and political programmes on commercial television; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure a fair balance of political opinion on the boards of programme companies;

I would ask the hon. Members to await the publication of the Television Bill.

Meanwhile, may I ask the Minister to give a general assurance that he is not going to grant licences to groups of Conservative Party supporters?

At this stage, I am not prepared to give any assurances that I have not already given to the House.

Does the Assistant Postmaster-General realise that this is really an extraordinary attitude? Surely, it is elementary that the Government will have a responsibility to secure absolute political impartiality? [An Hon. Member: "Why?"] For the purpose of the record, let the Minister note that one of his own supporters asks "Why?" Surely, it is elementary that he must guarantee political impartiality? May I ask the Assistant Postmaster-General why, instead of going on with this silly business, he does not concentrate on protecting the mailbags in the interests of the public?

A guarantee has already been given to this House that strict impartiality will be maintained.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what steps his Department are taking to ensure that, when parliamentary approval is obtained for the institution of a system of commercial television, the necessary transmitters, lines and other equipment will be swiftly available.

While, in general, final decisions will have to await the setting up of the new corporation, I can assure my hon. Friend that we shall do our best—within our statutory powers—to help the corporation to get off to a good start, and, to that end, we propose to maintain continuous contact with the radio industry on the many problems involved.

My hon. Friend says "We shall do our best," and that they propose this and that. What is he doing now, because, unless these transmitters are ordered straight away and the trade are informed in good time, we shall never get the system going in time?

We cannot order transmitters in advance of the authority of this House.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what negotiations foreign television authorities have had with him with a view to making possible direct television broadcasts to this country from the Continent.

None, Sir.

May I ask the Minister whether he anticipates that foreign broadcasting stations capable of making direct television broadcasts to this country are likely to be established in the fairly near future?

I should doubt it in the fairly near future. There are considerable technical difficulties in the way.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that interference from the Waltham Naval Wireless Station with the reception of television programmes in the district has become worse in the past few weeks; and what further steps he proposes to take to end it.

The recent interference was caused by a new service operated from this station. The trouble has been dealt with, and reception again appears to be satisfactory.

While my constituents recognise the difficulties that must arise in connection with this wireless station, may I ask my hon. Friend to have the position watched carefully, because, although it has been put right once or twice, I am told it has got much worse in the last week or two?

If my hon. Friend assures me that the position has again deteriorated, I will, of course, have another look at it.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how far the treatment of a section of the electric railway between Lancaster and Heysham by engineers of his Department to eliminate interference with television reception continues to be satisfactory; and if he will extend the treatment to adjoining sections of the line.

I am glad to be able to inform my hon. Friend that the treated section of this line continues to be satisfactory. Other sections which cause interference will be similarly treated as soon as possible.

Is my hon. Friend aware that my constituents are grateful for the very great trouble which his Department and the local engineers have taken in this matter? Will he press on with this reform?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware of the continuing interference with television reception in the new town area of Kelvedon, Essex; what steps have been taken to deal with this interference; and what prospects there are of an early improvement.

The trouble to which the hon. Member refers comes from nearby high voltage electricity supply apparatus, and arrangements are in hand with the local electricity supply authority to trace and cure it. Trouble occurred on this line about a year ago when, by our joint efforts, we succeeded in improving reception for some months. I hope that it will be possible to effect a permanent improvement soon.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what steps are being taken to improve reception of the Light Programme in the Dundee area.

I understand from the B.B.C. that reception on long wave transmission is reasonably good with a satisfactory outdoor aerial, but I shall be pleased to investigate any particular case which the hon. Member has in mind.

Is the Minister aware that there are widespread complaints in Dundee over this matter because many local people feel that although they buy a licence for a service they are simply not receiving it? Would not the Government be better employed in devoting money to bringing this service to the citizens of Dundee rather than to commercial television, which will never reach the city anyhow?

I have given the hon. Gentleman a promise that if he cares to let me have particulars of any unsatisfactory long wave reception I shall certainly have the matter investigated. It must be long wave reception because Dundee is not likely to get good reception on medium wave lengths.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General upon what grounds he bases his estimate of 1955 as the year during which the permanent television transmitter for Northern Ireland will come into service; and what estimate he has received from the British Broadcasting Corporation on the matter.

I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that the estimate I gave him in my reply of 9th December represents the opinion of the B.B.C. and is based on information furnished by them.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the B.B.C. is apparently speaking with two voices, because the Director-General and the Regional Controller for Northern Ireland have already given us 1954 as the year in which this permanent transmitter will come into use? What is the cause of the difference of a year? What have the Post Office to hide in this matter?

We have not anything to hide, so far as I am aware. If my hon. and gallant Friend will be good enough to let me have particulars of any discrepancies, I will certainly ask the B.B.C. whether they can give me any explanation.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will make a statement on the steps the Government propose to take upon the recent report on very high frequency radio transmissions and the frequency-modulation system.

asked the Assistant Postmaster General if, in view of the fact that the British Broadcasting Corporation' spresent plan to relay existing sound programmes on very high frequencies will cost £3,500,000 of licence money and will cost the public £20 per set if they wish to receive these relays, he will submit the matter to the Television Advisory Committee, or some other expert committee, before coming to a decision.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when the construction of a station for very high frequency sound broadcasting for the North-East is to commence.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what steps are being taken regarding the introduction of very high frequency broadcasting in North-East England.

My noble Friend is considering the recommendation of the Television Advisory Committee that frequency modulation should be adopted for very high frequency sound broadcasting.

There is another part of the Question, namely whether the Government are considering the use of very high frequencies. That is not quite the same as to say that if they are used frequency modulation will be used on them. Can my hon. Friend answer that part of the Question and give me an assurance for my constituency that if these 50 small local stations are put up Morecambe will be considered, because it has never had good ordinary sound radio?

In this general consideration my noble Friend has to consider not only which form of modulation has to be adopted but the whole question of the V.H.F. broadcasting.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the Germans have some 70 V.H.F. stations operating and they have introduced this system with very much more economy than is suggested in the B.B.C. £3½ million plan? Could my hon. Friend place a copy of this plan in the Library so that hon. Members on all sides can have a look at it and see whether the plan is being introduced in the most reasonable manner?

That is one of the reasons why my noble Friend is considering this matter further. With regard to the scheme being placed in the Library, I am answering a Question about that later on.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that when the North-East does get a station for very high frequency broadcasting it will mean that the people in the area will have to pay extra money for their wireless sets? Does not he think that one of the wavelengths used for the Third Programme could be better used for the North-East and that the Third Programme should be transmitted on very high frequency?

That is an entirely different Question, but the point raised by the hon. Gentleman about the cost of new sets is one of the matters which we are considering at the moment.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how far the Television Advisory Committee's technical committee were limited in their recommendation on the form of modulation to be adopted, by the needs only of the British Broadcasting Corporation, and excluding the need of universities and like bodies to establish very high frequency broadcasting systems.

The recommendation to adopt frequency modulation applies whether very high frequency broadcasting stations are set up by educational authorities or not.

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that in the last part of the final recommendation of the Committee they say that it is based upon a small number of stations, but that, if provision is to be made for universities, that recommendation does not hold the field? Will the Minister take that into account?

Yes, Sir, I will.

Can my hon. Friend say whether, in view of the continuing failure of F.M. broadcasting in the United States, he will consider making an offer to purchase all the obsolete F.M. sets there for use in this country?

That is a proposition with which I could not possibly agree.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General on what waveband the six new television stations will operate; and what will be their power and aerial polarisation.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General in what areas the British Broadcasting Corporation propose to erect 2 kilowatt television transmitters; and the areas for which 5 kilowatt television transmitters are proposed.

All six stations will operate on Band I, i.e. between 41 and 68 megacycles per second. The power to be radiated from the permanent station near Norwich will vary with the direction of radiation, with a probable maximum of 15 kilowatts. The power of the other five stations has still to be determined. Horizontal polarisation will be used in each case.

Does not this reply suggest that the B.B.C.'s application for extra wavelengths in Band III for their first programme was based on false premises?

It was considered at one time that they might have to go into Band III, but now, I am glad to say, they have gone into Band I.

Is it not a fact that the B.B.C. has only been induced to go into Band I as the result of pressure put upon it and that probably a far better picture would be obtained by going into Band III?

The right hon. Gentleman is quite wrong about that. No pressure whatever has been brought to bear on the B.B.C. to go into Band I.

Can the Minister say whether, if this transmitter is to operate on Band I, it is necessary to have a temporary transmitter at all? My information is that a transmitter of the required power on Band I could be available more or less at any time that the B.B.C. wants it.

That is not my information. It is usual in all cases to have a stand-by transmitter.

In the consideration given to this matter, will it be borne in mind that people living in the area covered by the six stations to which the Minister has referred depend upon V.H.F. for receiving sound radio? At the moment they are neglected, and, therefore, it is a matter of urgency that a decision should be reached.

I am not sure whether I understand the hon. Gentleman aright. We are talking about television, not sound radio.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if the effective radius of the new Inverness television station will include Caithness and Sutherland.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what will be the range of the proposed television station at Inverness, and when it is likely to be established.

Until the site, power and frequencies of this station are settled, the B.B.C. cannot say what area will be served, but is unlikely to include any substantial part of Caithness and Sutherland. It is too early to say when the station is likely to be established.

What is the object of building a station so close to Caithness and Sutherland with a totally inadequate radius? Does the hon. Gentleman realise that the Government are making a big effort to stop de-population, which is the greatest of all Highland problems? Will not the Post Office do something to make it easier for people to live there if they want to?

I have never disguised from the House my belief that we can never give 100 per cent. television coverage and that some parts of the country must necessarily be excluded. I quite accept what the hon. Gentleman says about depopulation, but we could not possibly hope to cover all parts of the country.

Could the Minister tell us if there is any reason why the Inverness station should not cover the rest of the North of Scotland?

Because of the whole question of distance and the limited use of wavelengths.

Surely a station properly placed in Inverness would go very far to covering the whole of the North of Scotland? Can the Assistant Postmaster-General give some idea when the project is likely to commence, because the news last week was very heartening to the people in the North?

I only announced last week that it was going to be commenced, and I do not think that my noble Friend would expect me to be more specific about the location within a week. As to the area covered by the station, that must depend on where the station is located.

Will the hon. Gentleman consider leaving the Inverness station to commercial enterprise?

Does the Assistant Postmaster-General think that, in spite of the mountain ranges, when this station is established North Argyll will be covered by it?

I should doubt it very much.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the total amount of capital involved in the approved British Broadcasting Corporation television expansion plan and the proposed British Broadcasting Corporation sound development programme submitted to the Television Advisory Committee; and the amount estimated to be involved in the provision of commercial television.

The B.B.C. estimates that the capital cost of the 14 television stations now in course of construction or planned will be about £2,300,000. The Corporation's latest proposals for 56 V.H.F. sound broadcasting transmitters would cost some £2 million. As to the last part of the Question, I cannot add anything to what I said in the recent debate. There will be some considerable expenditure by the Post Office for television links, but at this stage I am unable to add to what I said in the debate on the Post Office Money Bill on 19th November last.

Do I understand that someone is trying to keep an eye on this generally large capital expenditure, and are we really in a position to afford this casting off of all control over this form of investment when the country's economic position is not too bright?

I do not think there is any question of casting off all control over capital expenditure, and one of the reasons why my noble Friend wishes to reconsider this recommendation a little further is because of the expense involved.

As V.H.F. and F.M. broadcasting has been almost a complete failure in every country in the world in which it has been tried, with the exception of Germany, will the Minister consider very carefully before embarking upon a £2 million scheme without first giving it a proper try-out in this country?

One of the reasons why we are considering it is because of the expense involved and because some of the matters are contentious.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will place in the Library the plan of development presented to the Television Advisory Committee by the British Broadcasting Corporation.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will arrange for a copy of the British Broadcasting Corporation development programme, which was submitted to the Television Advisory Committee, to be placed in the Library of the House.

I should like to place a copy of this plan in the Library, and will do so at the first opportunity, but as it has not yet been considered as a scheme of development by the Television Advisory Committee, both my noble Friend and the B.B.C. feel that it should be regarded as confidential until we have had an opportunity of considering any recommendations which the Television Advisory Committee may have on it.

In view of the difficulties which the country is experiencing at the present time in respect of both sound and television programmes, does not the hon. Gentleman think that keeping this information from Members of this House is somewhat reprehensible?

There is no intention whatever of keeping it from the House, but at the moment the whole question is more or less sub judice and, until a decision is reached, both the B.B.C. and my noble Friend feel that it would be premature to issue the report.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General (1) what field tests have been carried out in East Anglia in connection with the television transmitter proposed to be erected at Tacolneston, and when Great Yarmouth can expect to receive television transmissions;

The B.B.C. hopes to provide a temporary station within 12 months to serve Norwich and its immediate surroundings. Great Yarmouth will be served by the permanent station, which is expected to be ready by early 1956. I am informed that the Corporation has not found it necessary to carry out field tests for this station.

May I ask my hon. Friend what all that means? Why has the B.B.C. not considered it necessary to carry out field tests before announcing that a station is going to be set up in a particular area with a transmitter at a particular place? Further, why has it been announced by a B.B.C. engineer—and contradicted this afternoon by the Assistant Postmaster-General—that the temporary station at Tacolneston will be ½ kilowatt and the permanent station will be 2 kilowatt? May I further inquire why it is that this station, which has been a long time in coming, is now going to be delayed a further two years when private enterprise—

The hon. Member should come to the point of his supplementary.

I will, of course, defer immediately, Sir, to your wish that I should come to the point, but unfortunately so many Questions have been answered together that there is more than one point.

The reason why the hon. Gentleman's part of the world has to wait is because the B.B.C. has a very big programme on its plate.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that in certain parts of Merton and Morden the earliest postal delivery does not arrive until 9.30 a.m.; and whether he will take steps to effect an improvement.

The first delivery of letters in Merton and Morden should normally be completed by 9.15 a.m., but there have been periods this winter when abnormal absence of the regular postmen owing to sickness has caused some delay. We are trying to avoid delays of this sort, but if my hon. and gallant Friend will let me have particulars of any special cases that have come to his notice I will make inquiry.

Does my hon. Friend not think that 9.15 is very late for the first delivery, and will he also bear in mind that in the same areas, so I am told, the second and only other delivery takes place at about 11.30? Is it not very unsatisfactory to have those two deliveries so close together?

The first delivery should be completed, not started, by 9.15, but, for the reason which I have given, it has been impossible on several occasions during the winter to maintain that standard.

Will the Assistant Postmaster-General tell us what time this particular postman started in the morning?

I do not know to which particular postman the hon. Gentleman refers.

I should have thought that before the Assistant Postmaster-General answered his hon. and gallant Friend he would know what he was talking about. I want to know what time the postman on this round started?

The hon. Gentleman has asked a general question. I am afraid I cannot give him the answer.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the extent of the present restrictions on capital expenditure by the Post Office.

This Question cannot be answered in terms of a figure. The limitation is what the nation can afford for development of Post Office services, having regard to other claims on the national resources. I am glad to say that, for next year, capital investment has been increased.

If there is no figure, how can the extent of the restriction be known, and, if the extent of the restriction is not known, is it fair for the Post Office to use it as a frequent argument for not supplying telephone services?

I think I have answered what the hon. Gentleman asked. We can only afford on the Post Office services generally what the country can afford generally.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why, at Leicester Square Post Office on 17th January last, a member of the public who wished to buy 290 l½d. postage stamps was allowed, after repeated requests, to buy only 120.

There was no reason why 290 l½d. postage stamps should not have been supplied, and I very much regret the inconvenience and annoyance caused to the gentleman concerned owing to this inexcusable failure. Disciplinary action is being taken.

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his reply. It is good to know that postage stamps are not being rationed and that the public can buy as many as they wish.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will make a statement about the recent theft of a Post Office van in Waltham stow, and whether he will arrange for an immediate and complete overhaul of existing security arrangements in the postal services.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-Generalif he will take more positive precautions to prevent mail robberies.

The facts are that a Post Office van standing outside the Walthamstow Sub-District Sorting Office last Friday, with all doors locked, was driven away during the momentary absence of the driver and guard after the driver's door had been opened, apparently with a false key. The van was at once pursued, and abandoned by the thieves within a matter of minutes, but they had succeeded in stealing part of the contents valued at £4,700 out of a total of nearly £10,000. This case of highway robbery is under investigation by the police in association with the Investigation Branch of the Post Office. In answer to the second part of the Question, the problem of safeguarding the mails has been under continuous review for the past 20 months by a Committee of experts who have already been responsible, in consultation with the police and other authorities concerned, for the introduction of many useful new safeguards.

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that, despite his frequent promises to tighten things up, public confidence in the security of the postal services has never been lower than it is today? Even the Queen's personal mail is being tampered with, and the other day a newspaperman wandered all over Mount Pleasant without being challenged. Will the Assistant Postmaster-General ask his noble Friend either to take effective action to remedy this lamentable laxity or to make way for someone who will?

I think the hon. Gentleman is exaggerating when he says that confidence in the postal service has never been lower than it is today. What we have to remember is that this is a case of highway robbery, and in the general crime wave now assailing this country the Post Office cannot be expected to be exempt from it.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is considerable alarm throughout the country about these continual mail robberies and that the public are looking for more effective action than has been taken up to now? We are aware that he cannot disclose the methods which are being used, but will he put a stop to these thefts at once?

Merely because the Post Office is asked Questions in this House it does not follow that Post Office robberies are more serious than any other robberies. All other public utilities suffer equally from crimes of this type.

Is it not the case that there has been a marked tendency for mail robberies to increase since this Government came into office? Ought not the Postmaster-General to wake up and see what he can do about this matter, instead of letting it go on? Will the hon. Gentleman agree that it is quite possible that, as the mind of the Post Office has been diverted to commercial television as a result of a small pressure group opposite, it is likely that they have not the time to look after the mail?

The right hon Gentleman should be a bit more sure of his facts before making the dogmatic statement which he made at the beginning of his supplementary question. The fact is that Post Office robberies and losses have gone down very considerably as compared with five years ago.

Is not the serious point about the Walthamstow case that a large amount of public money in the form of cash was stolen from a van which was temporarily unattended? Will the Minister ensure that public cash, when gathered together in large quantities—as it must be by the Past Office from time to time—is always under somebody's care and supervision?

The investigations into this case have not been completed. One of the questions which has to be further investigated is the very point raised by my hon. Friend.

Will the Minister say that whilst those further investigations are proceeding the elementary precaution will be taken, without delay—at least in the case of vans which are carrying thousands of pounds—of seeing that these vans are manned by two persons, so that when one of them is away in the building on other duties the van is not left unattended and merely an invitation to anybody who may be knocking about to run away with it?

This particular van was manned by two persons.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what steps have been taken to increase the protection of mail vans in transit; and what instructions are given to the drivers to immobilise them when left unattended.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I have just given to the hon. and gallant Member for Brixton (Lieut.-Colonel Lipton). On the second part of the Question, I am not prepared to disclose what instructions are given to drivers, but my hon. Friend may Test assured that they are quite specific.

Can the Minister say whether the van referred to in the previous Question was capable of being immobilised? Does he not realise that during the war most car owners were asked to immobilise their cars? Would not this be an obvious measure to take to prevent vans being driven away?

This van was more than immobilised. It was locked.

Is it not quite obvious that the experts who are at present advising the Postmaster-General on general security arrangements are not quite so expert as those who are advising the robbers?

In view, of the allegations made from the Front Bench opposite, is it not significant that this robbery took place in Walthamstow?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the number of mail robberies which have occurred in London; and the number in the provinces during each of the last two years.

The numbers or robberies as such are not available, but, out of roughly 350 million bags in transit, 720 bags were recorded as missing during the year ended 31st December, 1953. In 1952 the figure was 660, and in the preceding year 760.

Does not the hon. Gentleman realise that all that these robbers are doing is to divert public funds to private profits? They are following the example set them by the Government.

In reply to a supplementary question a moment ago my hon. Friend said that there had been a decrease in the number of mail robberies, but according to his figures there has been an increase in the number of bags missing. Can he tell me the difference between missing bags and stolen bags?

The right hon. Member for Lewisham, South (Mr. H. Morrison) alleged that under this Government more mail had been lost than before. I wished to assure him that that was not true.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will provide mail van drivers with a mate when conveying valuable mail.

It would be contrary to the public interest for me to disclose under what circumstances a mate is carried on postal vans.

My hon. Friend said that there was a mate in the van from which the robbery took place on Friday. I understood that the purpose of the mate was to stay in the van whilst the driver left. Surely my hon. Friend is not going to suggest that a van could be stolen if the mate were sitting in it?

That is the very point which, as I assured my hon. Friend just now, was under investigation.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what security check is made on staff when they are engaged by the Post Office.

I can assure my hon. Friend that before staff are engaged for service in the Post Office all practicable steps are taken to ensure that they are of good character, but it would not be in the public interest to give particulars of the precise methods adopted.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is now in a position to ease restrictions on capital expenditure which are preventing the supply of telephones to communities in Sutherland which are without a single public or private telephone and where there is no telegraph service.

Much has been done to meet the need for telephone service in isolated communities, but much remains to be done both in such areas and in the rest of the country. Progress is governed by what the country can afford for telephone development, and while the Post Office programme is larger this year and will be increased again next year, it will be a long time before all arrears can be overtaken.

May I first say that I put this Question down to the Chancellor of the Exchequer? Is it not a fact that the people mentioned in the Question are in the greatest need of telephones? Will the Assistant Postmaster-General not attempt some system of priorities to deal with communities like these where, in a case of accident or illness, there is literally no means of communication.

I have the utmost sympathy with the point raised by my hon. Friend, but I assure him that we can only do what we have the money to carry out.

Can the Assistant Postmaster-General explain, if the country is not in a position to afford a reasonable development of the telephone service, how it is that it is able to afford the development of sponsored television?

Answer.

That is an entirely different question.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the total number of applicants waiting for telephone installation at the latest convenient stated date, in the county borough of West Ham; and the number of installations that have taken place in each of the years from 1945 until the latest convenient date.

On 31st December, 1953, 1,250 applications were outstanding and 747 were in course of being met or under inquiry. As the second part of the reply contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the average time an applicant must now wait before having a telephone installed; and how this period of waiting time compares with a similar date in each of the last six years.

Where exchange equipment and lines are available the average waiting period is about a month for priority applicants, and two months for residential applicants. There has been some improvement recently, but detailed information for previous years is not available. It is not possible to make an estimate of the average time when new plant is required.

When the Assistant Postmaster-General says that the average time of waiting for a telephone by non-priority applicants is two months, will he convey that information to his hon. and gallant Friend the Member for New Forest (Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre); in other words, tell it to the Marines'?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what additional amount of capital would be necessary to supply the existing list of applicants with telephones in the next two years.

A figure would, I think, be misleading. New plant must provide, not only for existing applicants, but also for current and future demand. Our capital programme is being increased next year, but a further increase would not of itself enable the waiting list to be abolished in two years because many projects, e.g., new exchanges, take several years to complete.

Has the Minister made any representations to the Treasury in relation to this matter with a view to securing the necessary capital so as to increase the efficiency of the country?

Yes, Sir, and, I am glad to say, made them successfully. The difficulty in answering the hon. Gentleman's Question as set out on the Order Paper is due to applications for new telephones. Last year there were no less than 400,000 such applications, which is an all-time high record.

Is the Minister aware that his hon. Friend the Member for Blackley (Mr. E. Johnson) recently stated in this House that workers in some of the cable undertakings were to be dismissed because there was insufficient work for them to do? As this is a very serious matter, does not he think that he ought to consult the Chancellor of the Exchequer in line with the main argument of the Question before us?

As I have told the House, we have consulted my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and I am glad to be able to inform hon. Members that we have an increased allocation for next year.

asked the Under-secretary of State for Air whether a flight of Bristol 171 Sycamore helicopters is now available for communication service in Korea.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given him yesterday by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence.

Is the Minister not aware that that is a most unsatisfactory reply? We can build and fly helicopters here, yet we are dependent entirely on United States' generosity in Korea. Can he do something about that?

The Commonwealth Division in Korea has expressed no dissatisfaction whatsoever with the services provided by the United States.

Is it not the fact that they have to go cap in hand to the United States Service authorities to get these helicopters?

It is not the fact. These services are provided for us as well as for them.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air what steps he takes to ensure that coloured Royal Air Force personnel are not officially sent to hotels that operate the colour bar when needing accommodation; and what action he takes to ensure that no Royal Air Force personnel are officially sent to, or accommodated in, hotels that operate the colour bar.

None, Sir. Members of the Royal Air Force are not officially sent to stay at particular hotels. I can, however, assure the hon. Member that there is no colour bar in any club, canteen, or hostel run by an organisation officially recognised by the Air Ministry.

I thank the Minister for that reply. Will he give an assurance that under no circumstances will he allow any of his officials or those in the Air Force to be accommodated at Government expense at the Green Park Hotel, which operates a colour bar?

I can only repeat that we do not send people to particular hotels.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what would now be the cost of constructing fresh runways at Horsham St. Faith Royal Air Force Station on the side of the station further from the city of Norwich so that the use of the runways nearest to the city could be discontinued.

Without a detailed survey it would be difficult to give an estimate. For operational reasons, however, we are now considering extending the east-west runway at the airfield, and this will, I think, meet the point which my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind. I hope that we shall shortly be in a position to discuss our proposals with representatives of the city of Norwich and other local interests.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what arrangements he is making for the future training of university air squadrons consequent on the closing of the Reserve training flying schools.

The training of the university air squadrons will not be affected by the closing of the Reserve flying schools.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what arrangements he is making for the continued employment of the staffs both ground and air who will become redundant consequent on the closing of the Reserve flying schools.

These staffs will have the same measure of assistance in finding employment in the Royal Air Force or in civil life as was given to the staffs displaced by the closing of the other flying schools last year.

Is the Under-Secretary of State aware that while those men who lost their jobs last year are grateful for the assistance they received there are some men, skilled pilot instructors, who have not yet got a job?

We have taken as many as we possibly can into the Air Force of those who wanted to come back, and we have even stretched our normal regulations a little to do the best we possibly can for them.

asked the Under-secretary of State for Air the number of fatal accidents to jet aircraft in the United Kingdom for the 12 months ended 31st December, 1953; and what was the number of personnel who were killed as a result of these accidents.

In the United Kingdom during 1953 there were 91 fatal accidents to Royal Air Force jet aircraft in which 112 members of the Royal Air Force lost their lives. These figures are slightly lower than the comparable figures for 1952, although the number of hours flown during the year was about one third greater.

Will my hon. Friend consider the possibility of extending training on slower and easier machines over a longer period before these young pilots are allowed to operate jet aircraft?

I do not think that is the answer. Indeed, on the contrary, I think it may well be that the step from the slower, light aircraft on to the jet is too big, and we are introducing now the Provost-Vampire sequence and also considering the introduction, anyway as an experiment, of a jet basic trainer.

What proportion of those accidents was caused by human error, and was there any other structural cause that accounted for a significant number of the crashes?

I would ask the hon. Gentleman to give me notice of that, and I shall do the best I can to answer it. I think I shall find that it is almost impossible to put one's finger on anything that is common to all accidents.

How do these figures for jet aircraft compare with the fatal accidents with piston-engined aircraft?

The fatal jet accident rate during 1953 was roughly half the fatal accident rate of the Spitfire when in comparable service.