asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make new regulations making lighting-up times earlier in relation to sunset.

I have no power to alter lighting-up times by regulations.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he intends to take appropriate action to prevent the use in this country of driving licences issued in Northern Ireland to persons who have not passed a driving test.

The use in Great Britain of Northern Ireland driving licences is provided for in the Road Traffic Act, 1930. I am aware that our mutual arrangements with Northern Ireland may occasionally lead to abuse, to correct which would require legislation. I understand, however, that the Government of Northern Ireland are considering the introduction of driving tests in connection with their forthcoming Road Traffic Bill.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what recent consideration has been given to the possibility of connecting the new Terminal Buildings at London Airport with the London Underground system.

The British Transport Commission and the air corporations jointly considered this question early this year and concluded that the Underground system was unsuitable for the carriage of airline passengers and their baggage and that special fast trains cannot be superimposed on the existing services.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is now in a position to advise local authorities upon the likely future requirements for heliports.

Advice on possible helicopter stations has been given to 59 county and local authorities so far. The Ministry has also made available a memorandum giving general guidance on this subject. This is at present being revised to incorporate recent experience gained from single-engined helicopter operations in this country and abroad.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware of the difficulty experienced by motorists in seeing Halt Major Road signs during the hours of darkness; and whether, in view of the fact that more active steps are now being taken to enforce the observation of these signs, arrangements can be made for them to be illuminated or painted with luminous paint.

I agree that proper lighting of these signs is important. Most are already fitted with reflectors, or are illuminated by individual or street lighting. If my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind, I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give the mileage of cycle tracks on trunk roads and classified roads, respectively.

112 miles on trunk roads and 50 miles on classified roads.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the restrictions placed by the Indonesian authorities upon the British agricultural and industrial businesses, worth about £150 million, in that country that the majority of British trading firms are to be liquidated by the Government; what negotiations he is holding about the terms of such liquidation; and what representations he has made about the treatment of British interests generally.

Her Majesty's Government are aware that there is a strong demand for increased Indonesian participation in all forms of economic activity within the country. Where this operates to the detriment of British interests, Her Majesty's Government are always ready to make representations. But reports hitherto received do not lead to the conclusion that the Indonesian Government intend to liquidate British firms at present active in that country. Her Majesty's Government are, however, watching the situation carefully.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further information he has about the Anglo-Argentine tramways case in the Argentine courts; and when a decision is likely to be reached.

The case has not yet come before the courts. The courts must, in accordance with Argentine law, first receive a certificate from the Argentine Government to the effect that the Company's claim has been duly lodged with them. I cannot forecast when a decision is likely to be reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what decision has been reached about war damage compensation for Maltese and other British residents in Tunisia.

An agreement was concluded last month with the French Government whereby British nationals will receive the same treatment as French nationals as regards compensation for war damage sustained in the Second World War in French overseas territories, including Tunisia. The agreement will enter into force on 10th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government will reconsider the contribution this country is to make to the United Nations Children's Fund in view of the much larger funds proportionately per head of the population other member States are making.

Her Majesty's Government fully share the widespread desire that the United Kingdom should give as much support as possible to the United Nations Children's Fund.But the House will realise that we must consider our contributions to all organisations active in humanitarian and practical social work as a whole. From this point of view, I think we can claim that we are playing our full part. In addition, in the case of UNICEF, it is fair to point out that only last year we doubled our contribution. In the circumstances, Her Majesty's Government are not prepared to consider any further increase in 1955.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply the Trusteeship Council of the United Nations has received to the resolution passed at the Trusteeship Council in respect of the petition by native leaders of the Marshall Islands, asking greater protection against the effect of nuclear weapon experiments.

The United States Government, who are the Administering Authority of the Marshall Islands, accepted the recommendation of the Trusteeship Council that all possible precautionary measures should be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Foregin Affairs what guarantees exist under the Paris Agreements that the speed, quality and extent of the aid given to German rearmament by the United States of America and Great Britain does not have precedence over the re-equipment of the armed forces of other countries in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation with whom Great Britain is in long-standing alliance.

Even after the entry into force of the Paris Agreements, the final decision on the distribution of aid will continue to rest with the donor. Nevertheless, the system of unified Command and combined defence planning in North Atlantic Treaty Organisation affords the firmest possible guarantee that all aid is distributed in the best interests of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as a whole. In addition, the distribution of aid to the Continental forces of the Western European Union will be taken into account by the Aegency for the Control of Armaments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is yet in a position to make a statement, following negotiations with Egypt, on the amount of compensation due to British nationals, following the incidents which took place in Egypt in 1951.

The Egyptian Government have undertaken, in connection with the Agreement signed on 19th October, to set up forthwith a Commission which will be charged with the assessment of the reparation which the British officials dismissed at the end of 1951 could have obtained in a court of law. It will be for the Association representing these officials to present their case to the Egyptian Commission.As stated by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 25th October, claims on behalf of British Government servants who lost their lives or suffered injury as a result of conditions in Egypt after October, 1951, will be considered and dealt with by Her Majesty's Government and not by the Egyptian Government. These claims will be dealt with on an

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the amount of the award that is given to people in Malaya for killing others in the rebel forces before surrendering.

Rewards are offered both to surrendered terrorists and to ordinary loyal civilians (but not to whole-time members of the Security Forces) for information or for any outstanding act which helps in suppressing armed Communist terrorism. One such act may be the killing of an armed terrorist in circumstances which justify it; but the reward for killing would always be much less than for capture, and the amount of the reward would depend upon the circumstances, and, in particular, upon the degree of courage and determination shown. The reward to a surrendering terrorist for killing an important and closely guarded armed terrorist whose capture was impossible would not exceed $35,000: that for capturing him might be as much as $50,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies who is responsible for the consideration of claims made by surrendered terrorists in Malaya for rewards based on the elimination of other terrorists; whether such an inquiry is made in public; and what reports are transmitted to the United Kingdom.

According to the amount of the proposed reward, the responsible authority may be either the chief police officer of the State or Settlement, or the State or Settlement War Executive Committee, or the Commissioner of Police. The inquiries are held in private, and no reports are sent to this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the details of the proposed increases for school fees at Government secondary schools in Malaya; and what alternative means are now being considered to raise revenue as an alternative to the proposed increases, particularly in view of the need of extending secondary education in Malaya.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give details of the recently proposed increases in school fees in Malaya.

A local committee recently recommended increases in English secondary school fees. The majority suggested that the increase should be £1 3s. 4d. a month for the lowest forms, £1 15s. for intermediate forms, and £2 6s. 8d. for the highest. The minority suggested that the increase should be 7s., 11s. 8d. and £1 3s. 4d., respectively. The report is now under consideration in Malaya and will be debated in the Legislative Council. My right hon. Friend is consulting the High Commissioner about the second part of Question No. 82 and will write to the hon. Member when he has a reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the expenditure on education of the Government of the Federation of Malaya and of the State Governments respectively; what proportion of this is devoted to secondary school scholarships and higher education; and how many scholarships, in both categories, have been granted by State Governments to Malays, Chinese and Indians, respectively.

My right hon. Friend is consulting the High Commissioner, and will write to the hon. Member as soon as he has his reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of guerrillas killed, wounded, and captured by the security forces in Malaya during the present year to the latest convenient date; and if he will give the comparable figures for the same period of last year.

The numbers are:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the litigation in Uganda relating to the status of the Kabaka has terminated with the judgment of the court there; and if he will now make a statement of his present policy for Uganda.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which my right hon. Friend made yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that ability to read and write English is to be a condition of membership of the Singapore Legislature and City Council that many will be eligible to vote, but not to stand as candidates; that British subjects of ability and excellent character will be disqualified from membership; and if he will review the position.

The Rendel Commission which included representatives of all the major races in Singapore, examined most carefully the possibility of using other languages than English in both these bodies. They concluded that it was not practicable to do so since, if the principle of a multi-lingual Assembly was accepted, there were a number of languages for whose use a case could be made. This unanimous recommendation of the Commission was accepted, and my right hon. Friend sees no reason to dissent from it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of electors on the electoral roll of Singapore; and how many of them are unable to read or speak English.

The estimate is 300,000 of whom just under 200,000 are unable to read or speak English.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the intentions of the Seychelles Government concerning the island of Aldabra; and what consultations have taken place between his Department and the Royal Geographical Society and the Natural History Museum concerning the unique fauna on the island.

The Government of Seychelles are proposing to lease the Aldabra group of islands to a Mr. H. Savy who, it is understood, intends to develop the commercial exploitation of the mangrove timber on the main island of Aldabra. As regards the second part of the Question, my right hon. Friend is in urgent consultation with the Governor with the object of safeguarding the rare fauna of this island which is, I understand, of important scientific interest, and my right hon. Friend will consult the appropriate scientific authorities when he has received the further information which he has asked the Governor to furnish.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what vacancies exist in the establishment in Nyasaland for administrative, agricultural and forestry officers, respectively; and what steps are being taken to fill them.

Present vacancies in Nyasaland are for 18 administrative, nine agricultural and two forestry officers. Officers have already been selected to fill five of the administrative and six of the agricultural vacancies, and are now in training. All appropriate means are being used to fill the remaining vacancies as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if famine conditions still prevail in parts of Tanganyika; and to what extent assistance has been received from sources outside the territory.

Near famine conditions still prevail in certain parts of the Central Province of Tanganyika, following poor rainfall in two consecutive seasons. Food supplies in the territory generally are adequate, and Government have the position well in hand. The United Nations International Children's Fund have generously given 1,200 tons of dried milk for women, children and old people in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider an inquiry into the state and practice of criminal law in the colonies.

No. I have no reason to think that such an inquiry is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is yet in a position to announce the personnel and terms of reference of the inquiry which the Government intend to set up to deal with problems arising from the immigration of large numbers of colonial immigrants to Britain.

I cannot at present add to what I told the House on 5th November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what recent changes have been made in the powers of the East African High Commission.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of Kenya have now considered increasing the security forces by recruiting Asians and Africans for the Kenya Regiment.

Asians and Africans are already serving with the security forces, and the Government of Kenya do not consider there would be any advantage in amending the Kenya Regiment Ordinance to allow them to be recruited into it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the major and minor offences, respectively, for which an African can be flogged in the detention camps of Kenya, set up since the beginning of the present emergency; and how many Africans have been thus punished to date.

I would refer the hon. Member to Regulation 17 and to the second and third Schedules of the Emergency (Detained Persons) Regulations, a copy of which is available in the Library. On the second part of the Question, my right hon. Friend is, as he informed the hon. Member for Bristol, South-East (Mr. Benn) on 15th November, asking the Governor for the information.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what sum of money was spent on service publicity, particularly as it applies to recruiting, in the year 1953–54.

One hundred and twenty-six thousand, five hundred pounds, mainly on recruiting.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will now make a statement with regard to the recent damage to H.M.S. "Delight."

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Rochester and Chatham (Mr. Bottomley) on 16th November, 1954.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty on what basis work is being undertaken for the completion of the cruiser, H.M.S. "Defence"; which firms were invited to tender; which firms declined to tender; which firms submitted a tender; and which tender has been accepted.

Her Majesty's ship "Defence" is being completed on the basis that a fair and reasonable price will be agreed between the Admiralty and the selected shipbuilders, who are required to quote a fixed price as soon as possible. Work of this magnitude and complexity does not lend itself to valid competitive tendering, and the remaining parts of the right hon. Gentleman's Question do not arise.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware that some people in Newport have been waiting over eight years for telephone service; and what action he is taking for expediting the matter in this area, especially in view of the long list of applicants requiring a telephone in Newport.

Yes. I regret that nine people have had to wait so long for telephone service: in each case there are no spare wires in the local cable, but additional cables are planned for their localities. Over 700 telephones were connected in Newport during the past 12 months, and the number of applications on hand has been reduced by 400. New exchange equipment and cables are being provided, and we shall do our best to maintain this high level of supply in the coming year.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when the proposed new trunk line is to be laid between Aberdeen and Alford; and when additional subscribers can be taken on this exchange.

Work has started on the new cable and we hope to complete it in 12 months' time. A new exchange will then be provided at Alford, and this will enable us to connect up additional subscribers.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the financial and other interests declared by his appointees to the Independent Television Authority when, under Section 1 (7) of the Television Act, he asked them for information on which he could satisfy himself that they had no such interest as was likely to affect prejudicially the discharge of their functions.

No. The Act places on my noble Friend the responsibility for satisfying himself that members of the Authority will have no financial or other interest likely to affect prejudicially the discharge of their functions as members of the Authority. As regards the present members of the Authority, he was so satisfied as the result of the inquiries he made before appointing them.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether, under Section 1 (4) of the Television Act, he will dismiss Miss Dilys Powell from membership of the Independent Television Authority, on the ground that her employment by Kemsley Newspapers, which is a main participant in a programme company selected by the Independent Television Authority, prohibits her, under Section 1 (7) of the Act, from holding office.

No. My noble Friend is completely satisfied that Miss Powell's employment as film critic of the "Sunday Times" has not affected prejudicially the discharge of her functions as a member of the Authority. The Act lays on my noble Friend the continuing duty to satisfy himself that no member of the Authority has any such prejudicial interest, and he will, of course, fully observe his responsibilities in that regard.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what moneys have so far been advanced, and out of what Government funds, to the Independent Television Authority.

£50,000, out of the Consolidated Fund, under Section 12 of the Television Act.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how far the proposed new television station in central Norfolk will go to improve the present poor television reception on the North-East Essex coast.

Transmissions from the Norfolk station will not reach as far as North-East Essex, but that area should benefit when the new station at Crystal Palace opens early in 1956.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether, in view of the large amount of public money being used to subsidise the Independent Television Authority, he will require the Independent Television Authority, under Section 15 (5) (b) of the Television Act, to furnish him with the full information obtained by the Independent Television Authority as to the financial resources and financial security of the programme contractors as they are selected.

No. It is the responsibility of the I.T.A. to satisfy themselves that every programme contractor is both able and willing to carry out his duty under the Act, and this includes his having adequate financial resources and financial security.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why no licences have been granted as part of the experimental plan to permit the televising of the England versus Germany football match on 1st December in cinemas in the north-east.

My noble Friend is advised that the originators of this proposal had in mind an experiment on a small scale, and that the request for licences to eight cinemas was put forward after consultation with the cinema interests. Should application for licences be received from other cinemas, my noble Friend would be ready to consider issuing them, if the Football Association and the other interests concerned were in agreement, on terms identical to those of the licences being issued under the proposal as it now stands.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether the proposed very high frequency station at Wenvoe Or the proposed station near Aberystwyth will be sufficiently powerful to enable listeners in mid-Wales to receive the Welsh Service.

These stations should give a much better service in the southern and western parts of mid-Wales, but in the central part, reception would vary because of the mountainous nature of the country. My noble Friend is awaiting a further report from the Television Advisory Committee on the development of the Corporation's V.H.F. plan. Subject to their views, he proposes to give early authority for extension of the first stage of that plan (which includes Aberystwyth) to cover Wenvoe.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what the intentions of his Department are with regard to the future of Fordoun Airfield, in the county of Kincardine.

We have no further use for this airfield, and my noble Friend is in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland about its future.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what amount of home leave is allowed to Royal Air Force personnel at Gibraltar.

There is no provision for free leave passages to this country for airmen serving in Gibraltar or in most areas overseas.

asked the Secretary of State for War what action he proposes to take to improve the amenities and the wet weather training facilities at Redesdale Artillery Practice Camp.

We are spending about £20,000 this year on improvements at both Redesdale and Otterburn Camps.

asked the Secre of State for War what further appointment he has in view for General Templer; and on what date he will take up his new duties.

An announcement will be made in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek for information as to, and lay as a White Paper an account of, the measures of civil defence which have been taken by the Governments of the United States of America and Sweden.

The United States of America and Sweden have, in the past, published information about civil defence measures proposed in their respective countries, and a considerable amount of other information is available. It would not be appropriate for this information to be published as a White Paper, but I have arranged for a copy of Civil Defence Corps Training Memorandum No. 3 entitled "Civil Defence in other Countries" to be placed in the Library.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the negotiations on a trade pact with Bulgaria.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Mr. Teeling) on 11th November.

asked the Minister of Food (1) what amount has been paid this financial year by way of deficiency payments for fatstock; and how much it is now estimated will be paid this financial year;(2) what amount has been paid this financial year by way of Home-Grown Cereals Deficiency Payments; and how much it is now estimated will be paid this financial year.

Deficiency payments on fat-stock to 12th November amount to £21·8 million. No deficiency payments on cereals have yet been made. I cannot yet say what, if any, Supplementary Estimate may be required.

asked the Minister of Food if he will speed up the payment to pig producers of the amounts due to them under the individual guarantees of deficiency payments, as at the moment delays of up to eight weeks are occurring.

We are already making good progress with the speeding up of payments. The average time taken to pay a producer is between 2½ to 3½ weeks from the date of sale. If my hon. Friend will send me particulars of recent instances of delays such as he mentions, I will look into them.

asked the Minister of Education what amount each local authority distributes from the pool by way of increased payments for posts of special responsibility.

I am sending the hon. Member the figures for which he asks.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities have received redevelopment grants under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, in each succeeding year since it came into force.

Following is the required information:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is prepared to sanction a redevelopment grant in respect of the Brierley Hill Urban District Council's scheme at Pensnett, which has been approved for inclusion in the Staffordshire County Council redevelopment plan.

Grant may well be payable on this redevelopment scheme, but until formal proposals are submitted I cannot give any undertaking.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what consideration he has given to the advisability of establishing a small permanent Commonwealth secretariat to carry on the interchange of information after the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference called for 31st January, 1955.

The United Kingdom Government are always ready to develop the machinery for Commonwealth consultation. The existing arrangements for the interchange of information, however, are working satisfactorily, and I doubt whether there would be any general desire on the part of the Governments of other Member countries for the establishment of a permanent secretariat. I would remind my hon. Friend of the communiqué on this subject issued after the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference in 1946. I have no reason to suppose that since then there has been any general change of view in in the direction of his proposal.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to reconsider the existing procedure followed by his Department in connection with the compulsory acquisition of land, in order to avoid, as far as is possible, the infliction of hardship.

The procedure followed by my Department in connection with the compulsory acquisition of land is laid down by statute and provides safeguards for interested persons. Every endeavour is made to avoid hardship.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the principles which he takes into account when deciding whether or not to grant official recognition to trade unions or professional organisations.

As regards the non-industrial Civil Service, my Departments follow the practice adopted throughout the Civil Service generally and ask any association which applies for recognition to demonstrate that it is representative of the category of staff concerned; recognition depends solely on numerical strength.