asked the Assistant Postmaster-General on what frequencies the stations will operate in connection with commercial television.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 20th January to my hon. Friends for Aberdeen, South (Lady Tweedsmuir), Sevenoaks (Mr. J. Rodgers), and Down, South (Captain Orr).

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General, in view of the necessity of making an early decision in respect to additional finance for the British Broadcasting Corporation, what progress has been made in the consideration given to this matter; and when an announcement is likely to be made.

I cannot yet add anything to the answer I gave the hon. Member last week.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when the Statutory Instruments, authorised under Section 2 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1949, will be published.

My noble Friend hopes to publish Statutory Instruments under Section 2 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1949, before the Summer Recess.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will make a further statement on the progress made to date with the new television station in Aberdeenshire to serve the North-East of Scotland; when it will be available for use; and how far north the service will extend.

The permanent station for the Aberdeen area will be at Core Hill and the B.B.C. expects it to be in operation before the end of 1955. The Corporation proposes, however, to put up a temporary low-power station at Red-moss which will serve Aberdeen and a limited area around, and that should be working by the end of 1954.With regard to the last part of the hon. and learned Member's Question, I cannot add to what I told him in reply to a question on 1st July.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what proportion of the total cost of postal services arises from the conveyance of mails.

The payments made to contractors for the conveyance of mails by rail, road, sea and air represented 16·5 per cent. of the total cost of the postal services as shown in the Post Office Commercial Accounts for 1952–53.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what have been the losses incurred by the Post Office in respect of thefts and fire during each of the last three years.

I assume my hon. Friend refers to losses by theft and fire of Post Office property. Including both cash and stores, the figures are as follow:

—	Theft	Fire
	£	£
1950–51	76,600	6,900
1951–52	67,400	5,500
1952–53	56,400	3,700

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he can now make a full statement on the result of the traffic check by Metropolitan Police officers and representatives of the London, Kent and Essex County Councils, with a view to making an assessment of the need for the completion of the Dartford—Purfleet tunnel.

I can confirm the figure of 6,400 vehicles a day which I gave in reply to the hon. Member's Question on 16th December. This figure is made up of 3,700 private cars and 2,700 commercial vehicles.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will consider a proposal to issue drivers convicted of a serious driving offence with a special and recognisable number plate.

No. Apart from objections of principle, there is the practical point that the number plate would be attached to the vehicle and not to the offending driver.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the estimated annual traffic over the Kincardine-on-Forth road bridge upon which approval of his Department for its construction was granted; and the annual traffic over the Kincardine-on-Forth bridge today.

I regret that the desired information is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the estimated annual traffic through the Mersey Tunnel upon which approval of his Department for its construction was granted; and the annual traffic through the Mersey Tunnel today.

Before the tunnel was opened traffic through it was estimated to be of the order of 1,300,000 vehicles annually. In the last complete year ended 31st March, 1953, 7,998,464 vehicles, including pedal cycles, used the tunnel.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will give an indication of the scope of the improvement of the Forth Ferry services which he has instructed the British Transport Commission to proceed with; and how soon the first effects of such improvement may be expected.

The improvements on which I have asked the British Transport Commission to proceed with the preparatory work comprise alterations to the north and south side piers to enable two vessels to berth at a time, at an estimated cost of £125,000, and the provision of a fourth vessel at an estimated cost of £100,000. The improvements will take 18 months to complete from the date when they are put in hand.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what Government restrictions exist at present on capital expenditure by the British Transport Commission.

I am not aware that any Government restrictions on capital expenditure are preventing the Commission from carrying out their existing investment plans where labour and materials are available.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress is being made with the encouragement of public use of the motor-cycle crash helmet.

We have no detailed figures, but observations suggest that roughly one in six motor-cyclists wear safety helmets. This is encouraging, but I should like to see many more worn.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what investigation his Department has carried out into the causes of the shattering of motor car windscreens; whether, in view of public concern, he will arrange an inquiry and, in particular, consult with the windscreen manufacturers as to the possibility of defective glass; and whether he will arrange for his Department to conduct suitable tests with air rifles and other similar small arms under practical conditions.

I know instances occur of the sudden shattering of certain types of windscreen and my advisers are in touch with manufacturers. The technical qualities of these types of glass are well known, and there is no need for us to arrange for the kind of tests proposed.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many car accidents have occurred in Whitehall during the last four weeks; and if he will consult with the Commissioner of Police on the control of traffic at the recognised crossings where police are sometimes on duty.

Two accidents occurred in Whitehall during the four weeks ended 25th January. In one a bus skidded into another bus; in the other a woman pedestrian was knocked down by a car at a controlled crossing.We have consulted the Commissioner of Police about these accidents. The arrangements for police supervision of the crossings in Whitehall seem adequate.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what the advantage is in continuing to meet the expenditure on trunk roads, and to pay appropriate grants to highway authorities through the Road Fund, rather than to make these payments direct and so avoid an extra account.

There are no great advantages or disadvantages in the present form of accounting, and since legislation would be necessary to abolish the Road Fund I cannot, therefore, make any change at the present time.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if his attention has been drawn to the recommendation of a coroner's jury in Newcastle-under-Lyme that a roundabout and pedestrian crossing be introduced at the Liverpool road crossroads, Wolstanton, on the Talke to Newcastle trunk road; and if he will give urgent consideration to safety measures at this danger spot.

Yes, and we are seeing what can be done to increase safety at the Dimsdale crossroads, which I think is the place the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps he is taking to improve the surface of the A40 trunk road between Whitland and Carmarthen.

Owing to sewerage work for connection to houses at Whitland, Bancyfelin and St. Clears final resurfacing at these places will probably not be possible before next year, as thorough consolidation of the trenches must be allowed for. Meantime everything possible will be done to minimise inconvenience, and I would add that elsewhere this road has been resurfaced in recent years and is in good condition.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he intends to authorise the widening of the Great Cambridge Road through Edmonton and Enfield so as to provide a dual carriageway.

My right hon. Friend hopes to authorise this widening through Edmonton in the coming financial year and to deal with the Enfield section subsequently.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he will introduce legislation to improve road safety and promote the orderly use of the roads.

I regret that I cannot yet say. We are doing our best and are pressing on urgently but it is a big job.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether the three members of the panel examining Sir Bruce White's proposals for a road bridge over the Forth Railway Bridge are now restored to health and pressing on with the preparation of their report.

I am glad to say that all members of the panel are now restored to health and are pressing on with their work on the Bruce White proposals. They have recently informed me that owing to the very general nature of those proposals, and the lack of a comprehensive detailed scheme, they find it necessary to consider the problem in much greater detail than they at first visualised, in order to establish the highway clearances that could be provided and the general feasibility of the project. They are proceeding with the production of amore comprehensive report, which they hope to present in March

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent evidence available to his Department indicates whether pedestrian crossings have reduced road accidents.

In the first 10 months of 1952 total pedestrian casualties fell by over 3,000, or 7 per cent., compared with the same period of 1951, that is, the period before zebra crossings were introduced. This reduction was due to an 8 per cent. reduction in urban areas, where nearly all the crossings are situated, and 2 per cent. in rural areas. In Northern Ireland, where there had been no similar change in pedestrian crossing policy, pedestrian casualties increased by 2 per cent. in the same period. In 1953 there has been a general rise in pedestrian casualties compared with 1952, but the total is still less than before the new Regulations were introduced. Other types of casualties have increased markedly.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make arrangements for earlier publication of the road accident figures.

There is an interval of about three weeks between the end of any month and the issue of provisional figures for that month; it is not generally possible to reduce this. With the help of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, however, I hope to make special arrangements to expedite the publication of the figures relating to public holidays—Christmas, Easter, Whitsun and August Bank Holiday.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in order particularly to assist the Scottish Diatomite Company in Skye, he is prepared to recondition the road over Bealach between Staffin and Uig.

This road is the responsibility of the Inverness County Council, who have not applied to my right hon. Friend for grant towards its reconstruction.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give a list of the bridges, including railway bridges on trunk roads, which are to be reconstructed as part of the road programme announced on 8th December last; and the date when it is estimated that work on each will be completed.

I cannot at present add to the information given to the House on 8th December. Further bridge schemes to be included in the coming year's programme are still being selected in consultation where necessary with local highway authorities and the British Transport Commission.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what plans there are for the elimination of the level crossings in the centre of the city of Lincoln.

I understand that the Lincoln City Council are preparing a scheme for the elimination of the level crossing in Pelham Street.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to make a statement on the deputation he received from the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators concerning the recognition and status of the Merchant Air Service.

I received on 7th January a deputation led by Sir Guy Garrod, Chairman of the Air League of the British Empire, and including representatives of the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators and the British Airline Pilots Association. They presented a number of suggestions for securing recognition and status of civil air crews reflecting the standing of the Merchant Air Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on future British policy about Trieste.

As the Prime Minister informed the House on 17th December, our policy is to withdraw our troops in conditions which will consolidate the forces of peace in the area. Now that tension has been reduced, consultations are continuing through the diplomatic channel between the Governments concerned in order to promote a solution of the problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the Korean truce talks.

The "liaison secretaries" met yesterday at Panmunjom. No date has yet been fixed for the resumption of the main discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government has received from the Afghanistan Government regarding a review of the Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1921.

On 21st November, 1953, the Government of Afghanistan formally notified Her Majesty's Government of their wish to conclude a new treaty to strengthen the political, commercial and cultural relations between the two countries, which are at present regulated by the Treaty of Friendship concluded in 1921.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will invite to an international conference those Icelandic and Norwegian Ministers who are concerned with the outstanding problems affecting the fisheries of the three countries for the purpose of considering, and, if possible, solving, those problems in an amicable way.

As my hon. Friend informed the hon. and learned Gentleman on 7th December, Her Majesty's Government regard our dispute with Norway about the areas which were the subject of The Hague Court's judgment of 18th December, 1951, as now settled. In the case of Iceland, Her Majesty's Government would be most willing to enter into conference, but the Icelandic Government have so far been unwilling to discuss the fishery limits they have sought to impose.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress he has made to date towards achieving a common formula between the British, United States of America and other Governments concerned for dealing with the problem of China's representation in the United Nations.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler) on 21st October.

asked the Minister of Food how much has now been purchased by his Department of last year's British-grown barley; and what proportion has been sold.

It would be against the public interest to give information about the level of current stocks; 18 per cent. of total purchases up to the 21st January had been sold by that date.

asked the Minister of Food in how many cases he has discontinued the payment of wholesale remuneration to dairy firms since 1st January, 1952; how many firms are now receiving such remuneration from his Department; and the annual payment involved.

Wholesale remuneration is paid to about 600 milk distributors and totals about £4 million a year. Since 1st January, 1952, a part of this remuneration payable to 43 wholesalers has been discontinued after a careful scrutiny of individual cases. The reduction amounts to about £160,000 a year.

asked the Minister of Food why he refuses to pay wholesale remuneration to Porthill Dairy, Limited, whereas he is continuing to pay wholesale remuneration to dairymen in similar circumstances.

Wholesale remuneration is paid to Porthill Dairy, Ltd., in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in circulars to the trade.

asked the Minister of Food on what grounds and under what circumstances he now discontinues the payment of wholesale remuneration to dairy firms.

The payment of wholesale remuneration is subject to the terms and conditions set out in circulars issued by my Department to the trade. These terms and conditions have always given the Ministry the right to discontinue or withhold remuneration in cases where it is satisfied that the service is unnecessary.

asked the Minister of Food to give comparisons for the periods April to mid-January in 1953–54 and 1952–53 of the total supplies of eggs distributed; the prices paid to British producers by the licensed packing stations; the retail prices in town shops; and the amounts of Government subsidy paid.

I only have information concerning home-produced eggs passing through the licensed packing stations and imported eggs. The total supplies of such eggs distributed from April, 1953, to mid-January, 1954, were 14·3 million boxes, compared with 13·6 million boxes in the same period in 1952–53. The subsidy amounted to £11·9 million in the 1953–54 period, compared with £17·4 million in the 1952–53 period.The prices paid to producers by licensed packing stations and the retail prices in town shops varied substantially during these periods. The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a statement on the offer that has been made by Californian growers to sell 2,000,000 cases of surplus cling peaches to this country.

My Department has received a number of offers of Californian canned peaches from the trade. The United States Government has also suggested that canned peaches and other fruits should be included among imports to be financed under the Mutual Security Act. The whole matter is under examination, but I am not in a position to make any further statement at present.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will take steps to safe guard an ample supply of tea at reason able prices, in view of the threatened reduction in supplies and the increases in price since decontrol.

There is no evidence of any threat to our total supplies of tea.

asked the Minister of Food if he will consider the reimposing of control in order to maintain quality in teas as retailed to the public.

No. I think that such a step would defeat the purpose which the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Minister of Food 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 26th December are estimated to have fallen short of entitlement and, as an arithmetical calculation, the number of rations which the short-fall 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 26TH DECEMBER, 1953
Commodity	'000 tons	Per cent.	Equivalent rations (millions)
Bacon*	4·1	11	6·0
Meat	2·5	2	1·3
Butter	0·5	3	1·5
Margarine	3·8	11	6·7
Cooking Fat	1·3	10	5·7
Cheese	5·3	24	14·5
* Deliveries of unrationed Category C bacon were 7·4 thousand tons.

asked the Minister of Food how much of the 238,000 tons of meat and offals which Argentina undertook to deliver were, in fact, delivered in 1953; and what arrangements have now been made for the delivery of meat from Argentina this year.

About 175,000 tons. The balance is being delivered this year. The Trade and Payments Agreement of 1949 expires on 30th June, 1954, and negotiations are now taking place in respect of the remaining half year of the Agreement.

asked the Minister of Food what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that there is enough cold storage available in Kent to handle the meat marketing scheme when it comes into operation.

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind the possibility referred to in the recent White Paper on Decontrol and Marketing that a producers' marketing board could be set up to undertake on a voluntary basis the slaughter of fatstock and the sale of meat by grade and dead weight. It would be for such a board when set up to determine the extent of any cold storage facilities required and to provide them or secure their use.

asked the Minister of Food (1) what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that there is enough man- power available to handle the slaughtering of livestock in Kent if the meat marketing scheme is implemented;(2) if he is satisfied that there are enough appropriately placed and adequately equipped approved slaughterhouses to make the Government's plan for fatstock economically workable in the county of Kent.

The Interdepartmental Committee on Slaughterhouses has made recommendations in an Interim Report about the procedure for assessing and reviewing the slaughtering requirements and facilities of each district on the decontrol of meat and livestock. This Report is to be published later this week.

asked the Minister of Food if he will do everything possible to accelerate the movement of potatoes already sold to his Department, in view of the anxiety felt by producers about the disposal of the 1953 main crop; and if he will consider making an advance payment for potatoes placed under contract with his Department.

Yes, we are doing all we can and have sold more than at comparable dates in recent seasons. Stock feeding remains the chief outlet for the surplus and farmers will best assist disposal by increasing their orders for stockfeed potatoes.I regret that it is not possible to make advance payments to growers

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will take steps to expand the facilities for technical training in Trinidad and Jamaica.

This is a matter within the responsibility of the Governments concerned, and I can assure my hon. Friend that they have it very much in mind. In Jamaica, technical education is one of the branches of education to which the Government of that Territory propose to give priority during the next 10 years. In Trinidad, rapid progress has been made in the construction of the Technical High School and College at San Fernando, which it is hoped will be open this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to encourage the production of animal feeding stuffs in the West Indies.

The measures which are already being taken include the purchase of guinea corn from small farmers, the manufacture of concentrates by Government Departments from cornmeal and rice milling residues, copra meal and citrus waste, and the fixing of guaranteed prices for feedingstuffs. There is however a general shortage of carbo-hydrate feedingstuffs and animal protein and this situation cannot be easily or quickly remedied. The recommendation of the industrialists' mission on this point is under consideration by the Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether in order to encourage the development of the fruit canning industry in the West Indies, he will urge the Governments concerned to set up minimum standards of quality such as are enforced in Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America.

The Jamaica Government has already engaged an expert adviser and the mission of United Kingdom industrialists which visited the West Indies last autumn has called attention to the need for minimum standards. I agree that it is important to enforce such standards and I am asking the Governors of West Indian Colonies what is being done.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about the strike situation in Grenada.

A strike of all agricultural workers except those on a few sugar estates was called on 25th November by Mr. Gairy, President of the Grenada Mental and Manual Workers Union, who is an elected member of the Grenada Legislative Council and a member of the Executive Council. The strike was extended on 4th January to all agricultural labour and other wage earners. Response to the strike has never been more than partial. At present considerably less than half the agricultural labour is on strike and only a few other wage earners have obeyed the strike call.Mr. Gairy has not yet formulated any demands despite efforts to induce him to do so and to use the existing negotiating machinery for the agricultural industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the Government's economic proposals for British Guiana, following the publication of the World Bank report.

This matter is being discussed fully with Sir Alfred Savage, who is now in London, and I hope that a statement can be made shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken to re-form the West Indian Regiment.

My right hon. Friend is still awaiting the final views of the Governments on the revised proposals concerning these two battalions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in disposing of the tractors, agricultural machinery and other equipment at Kongwa and Urambo, purchased for the groundnut scheme; and on what date the last delivery of new trucks to Urambo was made.

About two-thirds of the surpluses have been disposed of by the East African Disposal Board. The last delivery of new trucks to Urambo was made on 18th December last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received the reports he has called for from the Kenya and Tanganyika Governments on the Kenya screening team which was tried in November in Tanganyika.

Yes. In September, 1953, the Government of Tanganyika wished to repatriate to Kenya about 8,000 Kikuyu resident in the Northern Province. The Government of Kenya were unable to accept such large numbers but were prepared to accept those who after screening were shown to be Mau Mau supporters. It was, therefore, agreed that screening teams should be provided by the Government of Kenya to enable this to be done.Subsequent investigation has shown that there was a regrettable misunderstanding over arrangements for supervision. The Kenya authorities mistakenly assumed it had been agreed that Mr. Hayward would be accompanied throughout by a Tanganyika Government officer who would later take over responsibility for screening operations. The Tanganyika authorities understood that Mr. Hayward and his team would complete the screening and that all that was required of Tanganyika was a liaison officer, who in fact was supplied.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what occasions it is permissible to fly in Uganda the Blue and Red Ensigns with the badge of the Protectorate.

Uganda is subject to the same rules as other Colonies and Protectorates, as laid down in Colonial Regulations. The flag of the Protectorate is the Union flag, and the Governor's personal flag is the Union flag with the badge of the Territory emblazoned in the centre.The Blue and Red Ensigns are flags for use on Government and merchant vessels afloat; they are not normally flown by administrative authorities on shore. The British Blue Ensign, with the badge of the Territory emblazoned in the centre, may, however, be used exceptionally for decorative purposes on ceremonial occasions. For example British Blue Ensigns with appropriate individual Colonial badges emblazoned in the centre were flown on certain buildings in London during the Coronation celebrations, and at the "V Day" procession in London, colonial contingents taking part carried their appropriate Blue Ensigns.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether bombing operations from the air are still up to the present date being carried out against rebellious elements in Kenya.

Yes. I would refer the hon. Member to my reply last week to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what evidence he possesses with regard to the financing of Mau Mau activities in Kenya.

There is no evidence of any financial assistance to Mau Mau from outside sources. Such funds as are needed are obtained by robbery and by forced levies on Africans, particularly by way of fees for administering Mau Mau oaths.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a decision has now been reached in the matter of the reappointment of Mr. Brian Hayward.

Mr. Brian Hayward has resigned from his appointment. The question of his continued employment by the Kenya Government does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of unemployed in Singapore and Malaya on 30th November, 1952, and 1953; and what steps are being taken to deal generally with the problem of unemployment in these places and to give financial assistance to the workless.

As the registration of unemployed persons is not compulsory in either area, the figures sought are not available. In the Federation tentative schemes have been drawn up to reduce unemployment if the numbers become substantial. A Commission with members representing Government employers' associations and the Malayan Trades Union Council is examining the problem of unemployment in the tin and rubber industries and its recommendations are awaited. For other measures taken I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to his Question on the 28th October, 1953.In Singapore the chief employment officer recently seconded from this country by the Ministry of Labour is surveying the problem of unemployment. Methods of meeting it are expected to include the encouragement of light industries and the provision of training.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the divorce rate among Chinese and Malays in Singapore and Malaya; how many women and children have been left destitute where men have remarried and carried no responsibilities for wife or children; what steps are being taken to tighten the marriage and divorce laws and to give the women the same marital rights as are enjoyed by women in other parts of the British Commonwealth.

No comprehensive statistics are available. Marriage laws and customs differ according to the race and faith of those concerned, but with this proviso, I am not aware that the marital rights of women in these Territories are less than those in force in other comparable parts of the Commonwealth.In Singapore the law relating to monogamous marriages and divorces is broadly speaking the same as English law. It is however inapplicable to customary Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist marriages and divorces. Monogamous civil marriages have recently increased among the Chinese community, but marriages and divorces may still follow Chinese custom. The figures for Muslim divorces for the last three years are 1,526, 1,471 and 1,416.As regards the second part of the Question, complete figures are not available, but 149 deserted or divorced wives with 372 children are in receipt of public assistance.In the Federation of Malaya Malay marriages and divorces are governed by Islamic law. Non-Christian Chinese marriages are regulated by custom. There is no Chinese customary law covering divorce but a custom has developed of separation by agreement; such agreements normally make provision for care of any children of the marriage. Family unity is important among the Chinese and the customs which have evolved to regulate these matters provide a considerable measure of protection to women and children.A Civil Marriage Ordinance has been passed to enable any person other than a Malay to enter into a monogamous marriage and it is hoped to bring this Ordinance into force in the near future.It will be appreciated that the matters dealt with in this answer are governed by religious and customary observances. Moreover, in the Federation of Malaya, matters of Muslim religion are, by Treaty, the exclusive province of the Rulers of the States.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the cruel methods of killing horses in Nigeria, which include beating to death, inexpert shooting with Dane guns, and spearing to death; and whether he will introduce regulations making the use of a captive-bolt pistol compulsory.

The Nigerian Government have already made good progress in securing the widespread adoption of humane killing methods. Every effort is being made to educate public opinion in this matter, but without wider public support any attempt to make such methods compulsory would be ineffective.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the amount under each class of fund, as detailed in paragraph 4 of Colonial Paper No. 298, for each Colony or territorial group.

I regret that the conditions under which some of the information incorporated in Appendix A of Colonial No. 298 is received do not permit my right hon. Friend to publish the detailed analysis for which the hon. Member asks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to state the date of maturity of sterling assets shown in Appendix A of Colonial Paper No. 298.

Of funds held by the Crown Agents for the Colonies on behalf of Colonial Governments at the end of 1952, the maturity distribution was as follows:

	£ million
Liquid	57
Stocks maturing in:
Up to 5 years	207
6–12 years	145
13–20 years	207
Over 20 years	74
Total	688*
	[actually 690]
(*) Error due to rounding off.

Of the investments of the East and West African Currency Boards (which are not held by the Crown Agents and are not included in the above table) the maturity distribution at 12th May, 1953, was as follows: —

	£ million
Liquid	16
Stocks maturing in:
Up to 5 years	59
6–10 years	28
11–15 years	27
Over 16 years	23
Total	153

No complete figures for comparable dates are available for the investments of all the West African marketing boards, but of the investments held by most of the boards at various dates in 1951 and 1952, about 16 per cent. was in stocks maturing in up to five years, 36 per cent. in stocks maturing in 6–12 years, 28 per cent. in stocks maturing in 13–20 years, and 20 per cent. in stocks maturing in over 20 years.No information of this kind is available concerning privately held colonial assets in London.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will publish a table showing a list of all Colonial Territories indicating those where the humane killing of animals is compulsory and showing whether for horses, cattle, sheep and pigs, separately and, where it is not compulsory, what steps he is taking to make it so.

I have asked Colonial Governors for up-to-date information and will arrange for it to be circulated with the Official Report.

asked the Under-secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations the procedure for consulting other Dominions when Her Majesty's Government decides to grant full responsible government to a Colony under British trusteeship.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in reply to the hon. Member for Gravesend (Sir R. Acland) on 16th June, 1952, the grant to Colonies dependent upon the United Kingdom of responsible self-government within the Commonwealth is a matter for the United Kingdom Government and the territory concerned; we recognise the interest of the Governments of other Members of the Commonwealth and it is our practice to keep them informed. If any question were to arise of the admission of a Colony to full and independent membership of the Commonwealth, all existing Members would be consulted.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty on what date he proposes that Devonport Dockyard workers should start their fortnight's holiday this summer.

This will be arranged through local Whitley channels.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will now reconsider his decision not to permit staggered holidays for all employees at Devonport Dockyard.

No, but as I have already stated the matter will be reviewed next year.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many working days there will be in Her Majesty's dockyards in August, 1954.

This will depend upon which two weeks are determined as the closed period and may, therefore, vary in different dockyards.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when it is proposed to hold Navy Week in 1954.

There will be no Navy Weeks in 1954

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when it is hoped to complete demolition works on sunken wrecks in Milford Haven.

The only wreck remaining to be dealt with, for which the Admiralty is responsible, is that of the "Minicoy." This wreck has been reported as dispersed to sea bed, but confirmation by hydrographic survey is awaited. It is hoped to carry out this survey during the coming season.The other wrecks in Milford Haven are a responsibility of Trinity House. Of these, the "Matronna" is awaiting a diving survey which it is hoped to carry out during 1954; "Dakotian" is under further consideration; "Behar" is to remain marked by Trinity House; P.L.M.21 is being removed, and I understand that it is expected that the work will be completed by December, 1954.The Admiralty has acted as agent for Trinity House in the first three cases.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what action he is taking to secure quicker delivery of boiler plate to the shipyards.

Assistance in overcoming shortages of boiler plate in the shipyards, in common with shortages of other types of steel plate, is afforded through the medium of the Inter-Departmental Committee referred to in the announcement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply on 20th April last.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is satisfied that the Retail Price Index is a reliable measure of changes in retail prices.

I am glad of this opportunity to allay the doubts which appear to exist in some quarters as to the reliability of the Retail Price Index. I have no hesitation in saying that these doubts are without foundation and that according to the best expert opinion the index reflects, within narrow limits of accuracy, the actual change or absence of change in the price of the goods and services bought by the average family living on a weekly wage or small salary.All the relevant facts about the index will be found in the report on its working by the Ministry of Labour's Cost of Living Advisory Committee published as a White Paper in March, 1952. This Committee, which was reconstituted by the previous Government and which included representatives of the main industrial interests and a wide range of eminent economists and statisticians, concluded after thorough technical inquiry that the index did not understate or overstate the rise in prices since 1947. The Committee made certain recommendations for technical improvement, the principal one being to bring up to date the pattern of consumption—the shopping basket, so to speak, on which the index is based. These changes were adopted and are embodied in the present index.The index is, as the White Paper explains in detail, based on a pattern of expenditure carefully worked out to represent post-war spending habits. It covers food, rent and rates, clothing, fuel and light, household goods of all types, services such as travel and entertainment, and drink and tobacco. Some 250 items, including 84 food items, are regularly priced, and the number of separate price quotations used in calculating each month's index is nearly 100,000. The proportion of total expenditure allotted to food in the index is appreciably higher than the known overall national figure. This is an effective safeguard against any risk that the index might underrate the importance of changes in food prices to the budget of the average wage-earner.While the index thus gives a fair general measure of retail price changes in wage-earners' budgets, it obviously cannot correspond to the experience of every individual family. This is no doubt one reason for the impression in some minds that the index is not realistic. Another reason is the natural tendency to take sharp note of every rise in prices, and to be less sensitive to offsetting falls, such as have occurred during the past 12 months in a variety of articles of food, clothing and furnishing materials and general merchandise. And a third reason is that, apart from any price change, the greater quantity and variety makes people more conscious of the limitations upon what they have to spend.The Government are continuing to take measures to maintain the accuracy of the index. But as it stands today it is without doubt up to date, reliable and adequate for its purpose which is, in non-technical language, to show any variations in the cost of maintaining the 1950 standard of living of wage and small salary earners. What the index shows is that a month ago retail prices taken together stood substantially at the same level as last March, and only two points above October, 1952—14 months earlier. For food alone, prices in December were the same as last March, and a small fraction of one index point above the level of December, 1952; this is a record of price stability, I feel justified in adding, unprecedented since the war.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance when he last reviewed the question of the adequacy of pensions paid to women over 65 and men over 70 years of age; and the result of such review.

Rates of pension are kept constantly in mind, but there has been no formal review of them since they were increased in 1952. In any event, no special rates are provided for persons over the ages mentioned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the legal difficulties that make a comprehensive code of building byelaws impossible at present, he will institute an inquiry into the law relating to the regulation of building in Scotland.

I have decided that the whole system of building control in Scotland needs examination, and I have, therefore, appointed a Committee with the following terms of reference:

"To examine the existing law for the general regulation of building in Scotland so far as it relates to the control of building standards by the Secretary of State and by local authorities; to consider the extent of the jurisdiction exercised by the Dean of Guild Courts as regards building standards; and to recommend what changes may be necessary to secure a control of building standards which would operate as uniformly as possible in counties and burghs, and be flexible enough to take account of the development of new techniques and materials."

Mr. C. W. G. Guest, Q.C., has consented to serve as Chairman and the following as members of the Committee:Mr. C. C. Brownlie, Mr. G. R. Carle, Mr. W. P. Haldane,Dr. I. A. G. MacQueen, Professor Robert H. Matthew,Mr. J. M. Mitchell, Mr. T. Rutherford, Mr. J. W. Train, andMr. J. M. Vallance.I hope that the Committee will be able to commence work shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement about appointments to the vacant posts of Civil Defence Zone Controllers in Scotland.

Yes. I have appointed Mr. John McAslan, O.B.E., D.L., J.P., to be Zone Controller of the Western

Calendar Year			Number of Members who did not draw their Parliamentary salary				Gross Saving
			Whole	In part	Number included in Column 3 who did not draw the additional £400 for the full year	Total
(1)			(2)	(3)
							£	s.	d.
1945		…	1	8	—	9	1,766	15	2
1946	…	…	1	9	9*	10	3,525	15	0
1947	…	…	1	10	5	11	4,213	18	4
1948	…	…	1	10	4	11	3,366	15	5
1949	…	…	1	6	4	7	2,931	6	8
1950	…	…	2	7	—	9	2,152	6	5
1951	…	…	2	4	1	6	3,029	7	9
1952	…	…	2	3	1	5	2,098	6	0
1953	…	…	2	2	1	4	1,907	18	0
* From 1st April, 1946.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total number of Members of Parliament who have not drawn their Parliamentary salaries in each of the years from 1945 until the latest date; how many have not drawn the additional amount of £400 per annum since the date when the present salary was increased to £1,000 per annum in 1946; and what has been the gross and nett saving to the Treasury in each of these years, taking into account the normal Income Tax payments that would have been paid on these salaries had the Members concerned, in fact, drawn their full entitlement.

The answer to the first two parts of the Question is given in the following table, which also shows the gross saving to the Exchequer in each year. For the rest it would be contrary to established practice to give information based on the liability to tax of individual taxpayers