asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the approximate cost of training a bomber pilot.

The cost, up to the time a pilot joins a squadron, is about £25,000.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what ratio of aircrew to aircraft is used when calculating the future requirements of aircrew.

Different figures are used according to the type and role of the aircraft. It would not be in the public interest to give details.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the average time taken for a National Service man to be supplied with his full uniform and kit from the date of his call-up.

Kit is normally issued on the second day after arrival at the reception unit at Cardington, and uniform the next day.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will place in the Library of the House of Commons copies of the evidence at the court-martial proceedings arising out of the disclosure at the Wahnerheide Royal Air Force detention unit.

I am arranging for this to be done.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee has yet been advised of the estimated increase in vehicular traffic which will occur when London Airport is in full scale operation.

The London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee are aware of the expected increase.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation why Her Majesty's Government have not ratified the convention on road traffic, signed at Geneva on 19th September, 1949, and ratified by Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden.

This Convention will be ratified as soon as the necessary Orders in Council, now being prepared, have received Parliamentary approval.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, now that the restrictions for helicopter flying have been modified for the London area, he will permit helicopter flying between the mainland of the Western Highlands of Scotland and certain islands of the Inner and Outer Hebrides.

Single-engined helicopters are not suitable for this area where conditions would be likely to limit severely the occasions and the routes on which passengers could be carried with adequate safety.

asked the Attorney-General if he will report on progress in the inquiry regarding the Comet.

As regards the date on which the inquiries will open, I cannot at present add anything to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Beswick) on 5th July. I fully appreciate the desirability of holding the inquiries as soon as possible and I can assure my hon. Friend that good progress is being made with the preparations; but I am certain that it would be a mistake to open the inquiries before the evidence is ready to be put before the court.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a statement as to the progress of the plans for making the proposed Great Yarmouth-Birmingham trunk road.

Provision has been made in the development plans for the counties through which the road passes for 36 diversions or by-passes on the Birmingham-Great Yarmouth trunk road. For 15 of these the necessary orders have been made under the Trunk Roads Acts. One further diversion at Wisbech, in the Isle of Ely, has been added since the development plans have been prepared. The necessary trunk road orders outstanding will be made as soon as detailed engineering investigations into the proposals have been completed. Where the road is to be improved on its present alignment preliminary plans are nearing completion.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the estimated costs for the Loughton and Markyate by-passes on the A.5 road in 1953; the latest estimates; and on whose authority changes have been made which may increase the cost of these by-passes.

The estimated cost of the Loughton by-pass in 1953 was £130,000. The latest estimate is only about £87,000 in spite of a proposal to add slip roads provisionally authorised by my right hon. Friend.The estimated cost of the Markyate by-pass in 1953 was £175,000. A later detailed estimate is not yet available. No changes are proposed which are likely to increase the cost.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that signposting in the London area is inadequate and often misleading; and whether, in consultation with local authorities and the motoring organisations, he will take steps to ensure major readjustments in the signposting system so as to avoid confusion and annoyance to the British motorist and to visitors from abroad.

A comprehensive scheme for the signposting of London is being introduced. The erection of the new through-route signs which is the responsibility of the highway authorities should start soon and these will be followed later by new local signs.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has given further consideration to the desirability of continuing with the flashing beacons; and whether he is now in a position to announce the adoption of a more useful and practical alternative.

We are satisfied that no better alternative to flashing beacons has been devised as a means of warning motorists of the presence of a pedestrian crossing.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that traffic took 40 minutes to get through Maidenhead on Saturday morning, 3rd July, and that conditions on the previous Saturday were not much better, even though Henley Regatta was not being held; and when the uncompleted Maidenhead by-pass will be completed.

I know that traffic is sometimes seriously delayed in Maidenhead, but I regret that I cannot at present forecast when it will be possible to complete the by-pass.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) how many houses in Brentford and Chiswick will have to be demolished to provide for the Cromwell Road extension; and when the work of demolition will begin;(2) How much notice is being given to those families in Brentford and Chiswick who will be required to vacate their present accommodation as a result of the work of demolition which is necessary in connection with the Cromwell Road extension.

Fifty-seven houses will be demolished. The work is expected to begin during or shortly after July, 1955. The tenants have already been warned and will receive a further notice at least three months before the date when possession of their houses will be required.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, in the forthcoming regulations regulating the conduct of pedestrians, he proposes to limit the use of zebra crossings by old people and children.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what damage has been suffered by Christian Churches or other holy places in the recent fighting in Jerusalem.

According to the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation, six Christian churches and other holy places suffered slight damage during the recent fighting in Jerusalem. All these holy places are in Jordan Jerusalem, and the damage is reported to have been the result of mortar fire.I am glad to say that in spite of this, estimates of damage so far reported are all slight except in one case, that of the Armenian Convent.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the catches of fish by British trawlers from Icelandic waters as well as by Icelandic trawlers has shown that the catches are up 40 per cent. compared with the previous similar period; and, as this shows that the policy of conservation by Iceland was wise, what fresh steps he is taking to reach agreement with Iceland and thereby put an end to the total boycott on Icelandic landings imposed by the British trawler owners in September, 1952.

I am aware that there have recently been certain increases in British and Icelandic catches; but the rise in British catches has been proceeding since 1947 and is due to natural causes and to more efficient fishing methods. Similar factors would affect the Icelandic catches.As regards the second part of the Question, the hon. Lady is aware that Her Majesty's Government have made repeated attempts to achieve a settlement. In their view, it now rests with the Icelandic Government to make a proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether negotiations with the Egyptian Government have now been resumed.

Discussions with the Egyptian Government have been resumed, but I am not yet in a position to make any statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which Asian countries, other than Siam and the Philippines, have now expressed their readiness to participate in discussions on the formation of a South-East Asia security organisation.

I have nothing to add to replies previously given on this matter, notably to the right hon. and learned Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. A. Henderson) on 5th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is now in a position to make a statement on the Report of the Fact-Finding Commission in Guatemala; upon what evidence its conclusions are based; how this evidence is stated to have been collected; and what conclusions it reached as to the identity and source of origin of the aircraft responsible for the raids in which a British ship was burnt out.

As my right hon. and learned Friend informed the House on 12th July, the Fact-Finding Committee of the Inter-American Peace Commission sent an interim Report to the Secretary-General of the United Nations on 5th July. I understand that the Committee's complete Report on its activities was signed on 8th July and we are now waiting to receive the text of this Report through the United Nations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what assistance is being given to relieve the victims of the floods in Austria.

As a practical token of the sympathy of the British people, Her Majesty's Ambassador in Vienna has been authorised to offer the Austrian Government, free of charge, from the stocks of British troops in Austria, 4,000 blankets, 2,000 mess tins and 20 tons of rations. This offer has been accepted. He has also offered the services of two doctors, two nurses and a party of troops and the loan of first-aid equipment, tentage and field kitchens.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why he instructed our delegate to abstain from voting on the motion recognising Nationalist China's seat on the United Nations Trusteeship Council.

Because a negative vote would imply that Her Majesty's Government considered that the time had come to change the representation of China. As the Prime Minister explained on 12th July, this is not the case.

asked the Minister of Food what he is doing to make sure that a high standard of cleanliness, including proper washing facilities for the staff, is enforced in all catering establishments during the present holiday season.

Local authorities are responsible for enforcing section 13 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, which deals with the subject of cleanliness.

asked the Minister of Food whether his Department have now had conversations with the Food Manufacturers' Federation regarding the use of sulphur dioxide as a preservative for foodstuffs; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that when such preservatives are used a notification to that effect should be included on the label of the container holding such foodstuffs.

Discussions with the Federation on the use of sulphur dioxide in fruit pulp were held in February last. They were informed that further discussions must await the results of the Department's examination of the general problem of preservative in foodstuffs on which they would be fully consulted. Any further action must depend on the results of the examination which will necessarily take some time.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that many substances and ingredients used in the manufacture and processing of foodstuffs do not have a nutritional value and that some are injurious to health; and if he will take steps to see that the public is properly safeguarded.

It is an offence under the present law to add any substance to food so as to make the food injurious to health. Clauses 1, 3 and 4 of the Food and Drugs Amendment Bill would strengthen the law in this respect.

asked the Minister of Food what action he is taking to prevent cooked meats and pies from being displayed and sold in a manner likely to result in food poisoning among consumers.

Local authorities administer both the sections of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, and the relevant byelaws dealing with this subject.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a statement on his conversations with the Chairman of the Cold Storage Trade Association about the future use of the Ministry of Food Cold Store at Cardiff Docks.

Not yet.

asked the Minister of Food if he will reconsider the decision to operate the silos and stores of the Recommissioned Mills, Limited, on a service basis for the 1954 crop, as the changes involved are causing anxiety to the producers.

Now that a free market in grain has been established and guarantees to producers are provided by a system of deficiency payments without the intervention of a Government buyer, it is inappropriate for a Government-controlled company to operate by continuing to purchase and sell grain or to act on the commercial account of producersDetails of the service method of operation are now being worked out by my Department in consultation with the Agricultural Departments, the National Farmers' Unions and other interests concerned and a leaflet describing the service will be issued to growers and other users at the earliest possible moment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking to deal with the subversive activities of the Mauritius Hindu-Nationalist Party, which is organising a general strike for next August as part of a general political subversive campaign; and if he will make a statement on the political unrest in the island.

I am not aware of any steps by any party in Mauritius to organise a general strike for next August, or of unrest in this Colony.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the proposals for a federation of West African Colonies, he will consult the French Government, whose Colonies are contiguous with British territories, to see whether the proposals could be considered from a geographical and tribal community basis, rather than from the test of the nationality of the trustees.

No such proposals have been made to me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent imports of apples into Malaya and Singapore from Japan have increased lately; how this has affected imports from Australia; and how the price of Japanese apples compares with that of Australian.

Imports of apples from Japan rose from 60 tons in 1951 to 2,827 tons in 1953. The average price for 1953 was 434 Straits dollars (about £50) per ton.Imports from Australia arrive at a different season and have not been affected. The average price for 1953 was 750 Straits dollars (about £87 10s.) per ton.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the incidence of tuberculosis of the lung among unconvicted Kikuyu tribesmen detained in detention camps; and what precautions are being taken to prevent the distribution of the disease by infected persons on their return to the Reserves.

Emergency camps have not been established long enough and the population is changing too quickly to enable any estimate of the incidence of tuberculosis to be made, but the numbers found to be infected at a given time vary between 0·8 and 1·55 per 1,000

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which parts of the programme outlined in the statement of policy issued by the Kenya Council of Ministers have already been put in hand.

Work on most of the programme has already begun and in many instances considerable progress has already been made. The only matters in the statement on which progress has not already been made are the provision of old-age security, the future development of European farming and the investigation into the best method of choosing African members of Legislative Council. These three subjects are being considered now.The importance of the statement lies not in the novelty, but in the complete agreement of the multi-racial Council of Ministers which produced it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Africans have now been executed in Kenya since the declaration of the emergency; and on what grounds.

Up to 4th July, 505. The offences were:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking to make available on the island of Grenada an X-ray unit to make diagnosis in suspicious cases: and whether he is aware that the nearest ones available are at Barbados and Trinidad, and beyond the financial resources of the greater part of the Grenada population.

The Grenada Government intends to replace the present X-ray, when funds are available with a more powerful modern unit including a special attachment for miniature chest films. The present machine is suitable for normal work and any need to transfer patients to Barbados or Trinidad is quite exceptional.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction of the people of Grenada at his decision further to reduce the 1954 Estimates for the Medical Department and Education by $10,000 and $5,000, respectively; and that the Estimates had previously been pruned by the local Finance Committee, which is comprised of local experts with a knowledge of all the facts; and if he will, therefore, now review his decision on these matters.

In consultation with the Governor, I have temporarily reserved the sums of $15,000 and $10,000 on the medical and education heads in view of Grenada's difficult financial position. I see no reason to revise this decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will explain how it comes about that the island of Dominica has received grants under the Colonial Development and Welfare Acts totalling over £8,000,000.

As I have already in2 formed the right hon. Gentleman, the figure mentioned in the return of schemes made under the Colonial Development and Welfare Acts was a printers' error. The correct figure should have been £812,419.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he estimates that the Government of Jamaica will pass the Land Use Bill; what it is intended shall be the constitution of the tribunals to be set up under the Act; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the members are completely impartial.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what plans are under consideration to ensure that the best use is made of the land in Jamaica available to the tenants under the Land Use Bill, and to prevent over production of any particular crop.

The Jamaica Government have not yet decided the form in which a Land Use Bill should be submitted to the Legislature. I am sure that they will have very much in mind the importance of impartiality in the members of any tribunals which may be set up.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why, as Queen's Park, near Bridgetown, Barbados, is usually available for public meetings, the Caribbean Christian Socialist Party is not given the same rights in this respect as other political parties.

The use of the park is a matter for the local authorities Of the parish of St. Michael, Barbados.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) what requests have been made for the setting up of a wages council for the tin industry in Malaya;(2) if the Government in Malaya are now in favour of the setting up of a wages council for the tin industry in that country; what advice he has given on the matter; and when he expects such a wages council to become operative.

No request has been made for a wages council in the Malayan tin industry. Local conditions must determine whether improvement in the machinery for fixing wages and conditions in the industry can best be achieved through statutory rather than voluntary methods of wage regulation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many graduates have passed through the University of Malaya during the past five years; how many of them have taken up teaching posts; and what is being done to encourage them into this profession and to make it more attractive in order to meet the growing needs for teachers.

I am consulting the Commissioner-General for South-East Asia and will write to the hon. Member when I have his reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further discussions he has had with the United Malay National Organisation and the Malay Chinese Association on the question of elected representatives on the Legislature; what agreement was arrived at: what are its terms; and how far the members of the various committees who resigned recently are now willing to co-operate with the Government.

I have had no further discussions. For the result of those between the High Commissioner and the Leaders of the U.M.N.O. and the M.C.A. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Eccles (Mr. Proctor) on 8th July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make it clear that peaceful picketing in furtherance of a movement to end the colour bar in Northern Rhodesia has the same protection as peaceful picketing in furtherance of an industrial dispute.

For the reasons which I explained to the hon. Member on 16th June, I am not prepared to extend legal protection to the type of intimidation and interference with law-abiding citizens that has been going on in Northern Rhodesia under the guise of "peaceful picketing."

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now make a statement on the recent visit to the United Kingdom of the Governor of Cyprus.

The Governor of Cyprus, Sir Robert Armitage, arrived in this country on 27th June, for discussions at the Colonial Office on various matters of current interest. He returned to Cyprus on 3rd July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a further statement on the future constitutional position of Cyprus.

Not at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made towards carrying out the recommendations in the Report on the Drainage and Irrigation Problems of British Guiana, by Gerald Lacey.

The separate Drainage and Irrigation Department recommended by Mr. Lacey has been established and will soon take over responsibility for legislation on water control and for drainage and irrigation rates.Modifications recommended to the Boerasirie Project have been accepted, and funds have been provided for preliminary works and surveys in connection with other schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made towards carrying out the recommendations of Frank A. Brown's Report on Land Settlement Problems, and the Economic Production of Sugar Cane by Individual Farmers in British Guiana.

A new Department has been set up to take charge of existing land settlement schemes and to plan new ones in accordance with Mr. Brown's recommendations. His Report on the Economic Production of Sugar Cane by Individual Farmers has been discussed locally with the sugar producers, who are in the best position to take action on it, and Bookers Sugar Estates, Limited, are launching a pilot scheme under the direction of an agriculturist from the Sudan Gezira Scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will put in the Library a copy of the agreement made between British Guiana and the University of Maryland, United States of America, for assistance from the latter to the former on overall social and economic planning.

There has been no Agreement between the Government of British Guiana, or Her Majesty's Government, and the University of Maryland. Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the United States of America concluded a general agreement relating to technical co-operation in respect of British Colonial Territories in 1951 (Cmd. 8346). Under Article II, paragraph 1 (b) of this agreement an exchange of notes is being concluded, and will be published as soon as complete, relating to the grant of technical assistance by the United States Government to the Government of British Guiana.I understand that the Foreign Operations Administration of the United States Government has separately concluded an agreement with the University of Maryland by which the latter are appointed as the agents of the United States Government to supply the personnel necessary for the scheme of technical assistance to British Guiana. I regret that I have no copy of this last agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the raids by forces from the Yemen into the Aden Protectorate.

After the protest to the Yemen Government, of which I informed the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. T. Reid) on 30th June, the Yemen Minister in London assured the Foreign Office, on 1st July, of his Government's desire to restore tranquillity on the frontier. He accepted the suggestion, which had been made to him by the Minister of State, that the frontier officers on both sides should consult to this end.On 8th July a Note was handed to the Yemen Government pointing out that Her Majesty's Government had constantly striven to ensure peaceful conditions on the border, but that the actions of the Yemen Government gave colour to the belief that they laid claim to the whole of the Aden Protectorate and had no intention of settling the frontier problem. No fewer than 28 raids on the Protectorate had taken place in May; Mukeiras had been attacked on 10th June and some 480 Yemenis, including regulars, had invaded the Protectorate on 18th June.Her Majesty's Government called upon the Yemen Government to stop these attacks and to refrain from fomenting unrest within the Protectorate by supplying lawless elements with arms, money and food. Her Majesty's Government were encouraged by the Yemen Government's agreement to frontier talks which the Governor of Aden would be invited to arrange. If, however, the attacks continued. Her Majesty's Government must reserve their right to take such steps, including direct action in the frontier areas, as may be necessary to protect the territory and inhabitants of the Aden Protectorate.The opportunity was taken to inform the Chargé d'Affaires that on 18th June, when he had accused the R.A.F. of machine-gunning barracks in Yemen territory, our aircraft not only did not cross the frontier but did not carry any ammunition on that day. He was also told that the Dammani rebels were reported to be again sheltering in Yemen territory and unless the Yemen Government instructed the Amil of Beidha to co-operate to the fullest extent in removing all causes of friction, it was doubtful whether much good would come of the frontier talks.The Governor of Aden had hoped to arrange for the frontier officers to begin their talks on 14th July, but I am sorry to learn that the Amil of Beidha is reported to be unwell so that the talks may have to be postponed. I sincerely hope these talks are successful, but I confess I am not encouraged by learning that on 6th July, five days after the Yemen Minister delivered his peaceful assurances, a ration party inside the Protectorate was again fired on from across the border.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what change in the method of entry and training of apprentices is contemplated at Her Majesty's Dockyard, Sheerness.

No immediate change in the method of entry and training of apprentices in Her Majesty's dockyards is contemplated, although the possibility of some modification is under consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that foreign agents have been taking photographs of Her Majesty's latest warships at Portsmouth from the deck of Nelson's flagship, H.M.S. "Victory"; and what action he proposes to take.

I have no reason to believe that valuable intelligence can be obtained from photographs taken by visitors to H.M.S. "Victory."

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if in view of the fact that telephone equipment of every kind is now available, he will install telephones without delay wherever they are required.

The supply position is certainly much easier than it was, but as I explained in the House on 14th May, there is a large backlog to make up and some time must elapse before any guarantee can be given that telephones will be installed as soon as they are required. The current demand for telephones is nearly twice the pre-war rate. I am, however, glad to remind the House that capital investment on telephones will have risen from £43 million in 1950–51 to over £80 million next year.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many application for telephones in the Whitchurch, Rhiwbina and Dinas Powis areas of the county of Glamorgan, respectively, have been outstanding for three years or more; and if he will now meet these applications.

There are no applications outstanding over three years in Rhiwbina and Dinas Powis, but there are 39 in Whitchurch, which cannot be met at present owing to shortage of line plant. Over 600 applicants have been connected in these three places during the past 12 months.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many new telephones were installed within the borough of Derby during 1953; what is the number of applicants now on the waiting list; and the length of time that the senior applicant on the list has been waiting.

One thousand and eleven telephones were connected during the year ended 31st December, 1953, and 870 applications are outstanding, excluding 244 in the course of being met or under inquiry. The longest outstanding application is dated September, 1946.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many people in the borough of Wembley have been supplied with the telephone service in the last three years to the latest convenient date; and how many applicants remain on the waiting list.

Three thousand, eight hundred and seventeen telephones were supplied during the three years ended 30th June, 1954. At that date 412 applications were outstanding, including 198 in course of provision or under investigation.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will reintroduce the pre-war practice of carrying eggs in boxes in special mail bags made for that purpose, and discontinue the present method of sending them in ordinary parcel bags.

My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension in thinking that in pre-war days eggs were carried in special mail bags. They have always been sent at sender's risk. On grounds of cost and of the practical difficulties involved, an alteration in the current arrangements could not be justified.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that letters posted at the head post office in Leicester at 6.45 p.m. were not delivered at the Members' Post Office in the House of Commons until two days later; that constant complaints are being made about the poor delivery of letters; and if he will establish an independent inquiry to see how far the public can be given the pre-war facilities in postal deliveries.

Letters posted as stated should have been delivered in London by first post next week-day; inquiry is being made into the case of delay of which my hon. Friend has just given me some details, and I will write to him as soon as possible. I should add that I have no evidence of any general dissatisfaction with the postal service between Leicester and London.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what proportion of the mail traffic in rural areas is carried under contract by local bus companies or other carriers.

Precise information is not available, but the proportion is small.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what steps he is taking to ensure that use is made of the results of the research on quality, freshness and preservation of fish carried out at the Torry Research Station, Aberdeen.

The station is in daily contact with all sections of the industry in giving advice on improved methods of handling fish. New methods resulting from its researches are tested in collaboration with the White Fish Authority and Herring Industry Board. Publicity is given to all the activities of the station in reports and leaflets, in the trade and technical Press, and in exhibitions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total number of registered electors in Scottish burghs and Scottish counties, respectively.

According to the Register of Electors, published on 15th March, 1954. there are 1,620,028 electors, including 9,845 "Y" voters, in 32 burgh constituencies, and 1,787,225 electors, including 11,959 "Y" voters, in 39 county constituencies in Scotland.The corresponding figures for 1953 were 1,625,103 electors, including 10,720 "Y" voters, in burgh constituencies, and 1,783,674 electors, including 12,737 "Y" voters in county constituencies.The hon. Member will be aware that many Scottish burghs are included in county constituencies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he intends to establish a prison in the Stan-more area of Middlesex; and what are the details of the proposals.

No such proposal is being considered.