asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what steps he proposes taking respecting the delivery of a letter, posted in London for express delivery on 19th July, 1954, but not delivered in Kirkintilloch until 9th September, 1954, causing loss to the recipient.

As I have told the hon. Member by letter, this delay was due to a mistake at the counter, and I would again offer the hon. Member and his constituent my sincere apologies for what happened. I trust that such a mistake will not occur again.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many telegrams were delivered in the area of Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, during each of the four weeks beginning with 5th July, 1954; what was the average daily delivery during the 12 months ended 31st July, 1954, or any similar period for which figures are available; and what was the highest number delivered on any one day during that period.

Telegrams were delivered in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, as follows:

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the average waiting period for the installation of a telephone for an ordinary applicant in England; and how this compares with the position 12 months ago.

The average waiting time for all applicants cannot be given and, even if it could, it would be meaningless. So much depends on whether exchange and line equipment are available, and these factors vary from place to place. Nearly 400,000 lines were connected in the United Kingdom in the last 12 months, as compared with just under 350,000 in the previous year.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is satisfied with the number of telephone kiosks being provided on the new housing estates in Sunderland.

There are 12 kiosks on the housing estates in Sunderland. Two more will be provided within a month and a further five later on. These should provide adequate facilities for the time being.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when the television relay station in the Isle of Wight may be expected to commence operating.

On 12th November.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air under what circumstances he has repudiated the contract by which men of the Royal Air Force agreed to be seconded to the Royal Ceylon Air Force; how many protests have been made by the men concerned; and what action he proposes to take in order to minimise the financial loss subsequently suffered by these men.

There has been no alteration in the terms of the contracts under which airmen are seconded to the Royal Ceylor Air Force. However, I know of three airmen who misunderstood these terms and applied to bring their service to an end before their two years' tour of duty was finished.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many paid appointments to posts outside the Civil Service he is responsible for making; what is the nature of each appointment; and what salary is payable in each case.

I take it that my hon. Friend has in mind salaried civilian appointments. If so, the answer is "None."

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what branches of the Royal Air Force are closed to Service men born in what is today the Republic of Ireland.

None.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what branches of the Royal Navy are closed to Service men born in what is today the Republic of Ireland.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what consultations he has had with the French authorities about the study they are making of the possibility of constructing a gallery under the Channel for electric and telephone cables; and what communication has been made to the Channel Tunnel Company as to the possibility of incorporating in such a gallery their plans for a tunnel which would serve as a pilot tunnel for the cross-Channel traffic tunnel.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the total sum so far received from the Transport Levy.

£3,800,000 up till the end of September.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to institute legislation to give him greater responsibility with regard to the hand-over of vehicles to private contractors by the British Transport Commission, in view of the evidence of sabotage of vehicles which the hon. Member for Heeley has sent to him.

No, there is no need for legislation. I have asked the Chairman of the British Transport Commission for a report on the particular case which my hon Friend sent me, and I will write to him as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that in the newly-issued Highway Code a person riding and leading a horse is advised to keep to the left of the highway whilst a pedestrian is advised to walk on the right of the highway if there is no footpath; having regard to these directions, on which side of the road a pedestrian leading a horse should walk; and how far the decision in such a case depends on whether there is a footpath available.

No such advice is in fact given to a person leading a horse. On the contrary Paragraph 70 advises anyone leading a horse to place himself on the traffic side of the horse. This is good horse sense.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that in the new Highway Code groups of pedestrians are advised to walk on the right whilst marching bodies are advised to walk on the left; on what grounds the decision to differentiate between marchers and hikers was based; and whether he will take steps to minimise the confusion which may be caused by the present wording of the Code.

I do not think there is any confusion here. Organised marching bodies with lookouts front and rear and lights at night are safer and less obstructive to traffic when they are marching on the left. Individuals and small groups of pedestrians are safer on the right.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the unsatisfactory conditions under which Irish shire cattle are being conveyed by rail from Holyhead and through Rugby to the Midlands and Home Counties; and what steps he is taking in this matter.

No. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind, perhaps he will send me particulars, and I will make inquiries from the British Transport Commission.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when work on the new Conway Bridge is to commence.

Assuming that satisfactory tenders are obtained by the due date, which is 22nd November, I hope that it will be possible to start work at the site early in the New Year.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will announce a new programme of road construction and road-widening.

Her Majesty's Government have constantly in mind the desirability of allocating more funds for the improvement and construction of roads as soon as the country's financial and economic position permits, but I am not at present in a position to make any further statement.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many zebra crossings and other kinds of pedestrian road crossings have been removed in the city of Liverpool since 1st July, 1954.

None. But 23 have lost their stripes and beacons because they are now police controlled.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that zebra crossing lights have not been installed on many of the zebra crossings in Liverpool and other places; and what steps he is taking to ensure that all zebra crossing installations have lights installed.

Of the 131 zebra crossings in Liverpool, 88 now have their beacons lit. The work of installing this lighting is the responsibility of the Liverpool City Council, and I understand that they hope to complete the work of lighting in the next two months.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when the traffic lights are to be restored at the junction of the five busy roads by Kitchener Road Schools, Cardiff; how long this dangerous crossroads has been without lights; and what is the reason for the delay in attending to the matter.

Responsibility for these signals is that of the Cardiff City Council. I am informed that the installation of a new system started yesterday. The old traffic lights failed on 29th January after a cable failure; it was not possible to install new signals until equipment had been delivered by the manufacturers.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress is being made with the widening of Linlithgow High Street; the widening of the bridge over the Union Canal at Winchburgh; and the proposed new bridge over the River Avon at Linlithgow Bridge, all on trunk road A.9.

Negotiations are proceeding for acquisition of the remaining properties needed for the widening of Linlithgow High Street. I propose to invite the county council to prepare a scheme for the widening of the bridge at Winchburgh by the immediate construction of an independent footbridge. A new Linlithgow Bridge is likely to cost well over £100,000 and I have not sufficient funds at my disposal to enable me to authorise this scheme at the present time.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps he is taking to provide financial assistance to local authorities in North Wales, towards the cost of repairing the damage caused by recent flooding.

Damage to classified roads caused by flooding is a normal charge to the annual maintenance grants which I make to highway authorities. I am not aware that the damage in North Wales cannot be met from the grants already made.

asked the Minister of Defence in how many North Atlantic Treaty Organisation nations national service is as much as two years for the Army; and how many have a shorter period of service.

In addition to the United Kingdom, two N.A.T.O. countries at present require 24 months compulsory full-time military service in the Army. In Canada and Iceland there is no compulsory military service, and in the remaining nine countries the periods of service are less than 24 months.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will draw the attention of the North Atlantic Treaty Council to the fact that the United Kingdom has a higher level of defence expenditure per head and greater commitments than any other European Member-State; and if he

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what is the official estimate of the volume of traffic which London Airport can now handle; what is the actual volume being handled; and what will be the estimated figures in both cases when the improvements now being made at London Airport are completed.

The following is the answer:will take action to secure a more equitable sharing of the organisation's military burdens.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Leeds, South (Mr. Gaitskell) on 25th October.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he has taken to meet the request of the Fiji Legislature for a United Kingdom Commission to report on the problem created in Fiji by the rapid rise in population caused by a birthrate of about 40 per 1,000.

After carefully studying the request referred to, my predecessor informed the Governor of Fiji that further information on the basic economic and agricultural resources of the Colony was needed before the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry from this country would be justified. This despatch was laid before the Legislative Council, and I am awaiting a reply from the Governor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many people have been displaced under the Lagos Slum Clearance Scheme; where they are now being housed; what is the estimated cost of the scheme; and when it is hoped to complete the rebuilding of the area.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "None," and the second part does not therefore arise. I am informed that no decision on the scheme has yet been taken by the Council of Ministers who are still studying it. The estimated cost of the slum clearance and ancillary schemes as at present formulated is £2,750,000. It is expected to take six years to complete from the date it is started.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements have been made for the delimitation of constituencies and the registration of electors in each of the western, eastern and northern regions of Nigeria; what period has been allowed in each case for the registration of electors and consideration of claims; on what dates polling will take place; and what means have been adopted to publicise these arrangements.

In all regions, constituencies are formed by sub-dividing the administrative divisions into single-member constituencies, the number of constituencies depending on the population in the division. In a few instances where this method of division is impracticable, it has been necessary to create constituencies with more than one member; in the Northern Region there are five two-member constituencies, and in the Eastern Region nine two-member and three three-member constituencies. The federal territory of Lagos is divided into two single-member constituencies, and the Southern Cameroon's into six single-member constituencies.In every electoral district of the Western Region a preliminary list of electors is published at least 28 days before the election date. Claims must be lodged within seven days of the publication of the preliminary list, and final lists must be published 13 days before polling day. In the Northern Region 14 days are allowed for applications for inclusion in the preliminary list. After the publication of the preliminary list 10 days are allowed for the lodging of claims and objections and seven days for the consideration of such claims.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will endeavour to safeguard the position of ex-Service men resettled on the Kildare Land Settlement, Portland, Jamaica, and now threatened with eviction, pending his further investigation of their claims and grievances; and what steps will be taken to find other homes for them and their families in the case of eviction.

The administration of Land Settlement is a matter for the Government of Jamaica. I understand that the Jamaican Minister for Agriculture and Lands was to discuss this Settlement and other matters relating to the housing of ex-Service men with the Jamaica Legion of the British Empire Service League on 1st November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will inquire from the Governor of Jamaica what machinery exists to ascertain the percentage of Jamaican immigrants to Great Britain who have police or criminal records; and if he can give figures.

My hon. Friend possibly has in mind a remark recently attributed to the Governor of Jamaica that 10 per cent. of Jamaicans who come to this country have criminal records. I understand from the Governor that what he really said was to the effect that nine out of 10 are doing good work, but that there are a few, some with a bad record, who do not do credit to the Colony. There is no machinery which would enable me to give reliable figures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will appoint a committee to inquire into the position of coloured people in Great Britain.

I am studying this proposal in consultation with the other Ministries that would be concerned with any inquiry into the affairs of people living in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what activities are now under way in British Guiana for oil and mineral exploration; which companies are undertaking these activities; and from what dates.

The activities now under way are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many earthquake victims in Cyprus are still living in tents; and whether housing accommodation will be provided for all who lost their homes in the earthquake before winter sets in.

Of the 33,000 people originally rendered homeless by the earthquake, 459 were still living in tents in the middle of October. Permanent houses for all except 73 tenant families should be completed this month, and it is hoped to build permanent accommodation for some of those families before the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, more than a year after the earthquake in Cyprus, patients in the Paphos Hospital are still being nursed in tents; whether it is expected that another winter will have to be passed under canvas; and whether he is able to give details, including a completion date, for a new hospital.

I am aware that part of the accommodation in the hospital at Paphos consists of large marquees with double roofs and concrete floors. It was considered better not to repair the damaged hospital, which was on two storeys and not designed to resist earthquake shock. A new and larger hospital, all on one floor, is being planned and should be brought into use next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will arrange to publish as a White Paper the pamphlets issued by the Cyprus Government illustrating the political influence and pressure exercised by the Greek Orthodox Church in Cyprus.

No; but I have arranged for copies of these and other pamphlets issued by the Cyprus Government to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements are made in Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland to safeguard the rights of Africans in regard to land and employment; and what resources are used for this purpose.

In both respects Africans are safeguarded by legislation of which, since it is voluminous, I am sending the hon. Member a list. The full resources of the Administration are available to see that land rights are not infringed; and it is one of the tasks of Labour Departments to protect the legitimate interests of employed Africans.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the proportion of instructors to apprentices at Her Majesty's Dockyard, Sheerness.

Eight instructors are provided for group training of 104 apprentices; the proportion is therefore one instructor to 13 apprentices. In addition, 194 apprentices, mostly in the later stages of their apprenticeship, are attached to individual craftsmen for instruction, or are working independently.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to make a statement concerning the theft of bullion worth £46,000 on the night of 21st September, from Holborn Lane.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that bullion to the value of some £40,000 was stolen at about 6 p.m. on 21st September while being loaded on to a van at the freight depot of the Royal Dutch Airlines. The bullion was removed to a stolen van, which was later found abandoned. Inquiries are being made here and abroad with a view to recovering the property and tracing the thieves.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now resume the payment of a grant to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents for their home safety work.

Provision will be made in next year's Estimates for the payment of a grant of £1,500 to the Society for this work. I am informing the Society that it is the intention, subject to the approval of Parliament, to make a grant of £1,500 per annum for a period of three years, in order to enable the Society to extend the scope of its work so that it can be wholly maintained by voluntary subscriptions, and that in no circumstances will the grant be renewed after the end of the three year period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the cost of publishing the new Welsh Digest of Statistics.

I understand that the estimated cost of printing and publishing the Digest is £280, of which a proportion will be recovered by sales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to ensure that the quarterly meeting of heads of Departments in Wales will be presided over by a Minister when he himself is unable to preside because of his other duties.

The practice by which a Minister presides over these meetings, whenever possible, will be continued.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total exports and imports in volume and value between this country and India in each of the years 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952 and 1953, and for the first six months of 1954.

The values of total imports and exports (including re-exports) between the United Kingdom and India are:

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total exports and imports in volume and value between this country and Pakistan in each of the years 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952 and 1953, and for the first six months of 1954.

The values of total imports and exports (including re-exports) between the United Kingdom and Pakistan are:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a reply from the Chinese Government has been received by Her Majesty's Government in respect of the claim made for losses incurred on 26th July when the Cathay Pacific Airways liner was shot down.

Yes. On 15th September Her Majesty's Government presented a claim to the Chinese Government for £367,000. The Chinese Government have now informed us that they accept this claim as covering the entire benefits and compensation for all losses involved. Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking has informed the Chinese Government of the satisfaction of Her Majesty's Government at their willingness to settle the matter and added that Her Majesty's Government have noted the assurances given by the Chinese Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs that measures have been taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. When the money has been received from the Chinese authorities arrangements will be made as soon as possible for the payment of appropriate compensation to those who have suffered loss or damage as the result of the incident.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the hardship suffered under the existing Income Tax law by former German public servants living in this country who have become entitled to pensions under recent German legislation; and what steps he proposes to take to alleviate this hardship.

I understand that these former German public servants who were dismissed by the Nazis may claim pensions under a German law of 18th March, 1952, and that successful claimants receive pensions granted retrospectively to 1st April, 1951. These pensions are chargeable to United Kingdom Income Tax under Section 132 (2) (c) of the Income Tax Act, 1952, by reference to the amounts remitted to this country and hardship may occur if the amount remitted in one year is more than the pension attributable to one year.I propose to seek Parliamentary approval for legislation in my next Finance Bill to adjust the tax liability in such cases. The adjustment will be broadly to regard only the pension attributable to one year as remitted in the year of the actual remittance, and to treat the excess as though it had been taxably for the previous years to which it is attributable. Pending Parliamentary approval of the necessary legislation, the Board of Inland Revenue will in outstanding cases require payment of tax only on the basis of the prospective reduced liability.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent Ullenwood Camp, Cheltenham, is at present in military use; and what was the last available date when it was fully so used.

This camp is at present used partly for storage and partly for Territorial Army training. It was last fully occupied in July, 1948.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he proposes to take to make technical education available in Merionethshire.

The local education authorities for Caernarvonshire and Merionethshire have been asked by my right hon. Friend's Department to consider whether a technical college to serve the needs of both counties is needed, and, if so, to suggest where the college should be situated. My right hon. Friend is awaiting the authorities' views.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to state the number of town planning appeals decided by the Minister month by month from 1st January, 1953, to date, and the number of appeals lodged but discontinued before hearing during the same period.

The information asked for about appeals under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, are set out below. The figures for appeals withdrawn include cases where the withdrawal was made at, or following, the inquiry or hearing, and cases in which it was decided that the Minister had no jurisdiction or that no permission was required for the proposed development. No separate record is kept of such cases, but they are comparatively few.