asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will specify the detention camps in Kenya at which rehabilitation is being practised and the number of persons in each.

The following is the reply:

Camp			Population
South Yatta	…	…	1,160
Marigat	…	…	1,105
Makutano	…	…	1,507
Narok	…	…	415
Athi River	…	…	1,670
Mackinnon Road	…	…	7,283
Manyani	…	…	16,120
Kamiti	…	…	1,139
			(Women)
Aguthi	…	…	445
Mweru	…	…	466
Kangema	…	…	1,251
Kandara	…	…	758
Takwa	…	…	200
Kigumo	…	…	967
Mwea	…	…	882
Tebere	…	…	887
Isiara	…	…	908
Kiambere	…	…	263
Liliaba	…	…	283

The measures at some camps are more intensive than those at others, depending on the numbers of rehabilitation staff and on the length of time for which the camp concerned has been in existence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the survey of Kikuyu children in Nairobi and the surrounding area, who are orphaned or in need of protection and care, is completed; and whether the children's home in Nairobi which was to be opened by the voluntary societies, including the local Save the Children Fund, is now available.

I do not think I can add to the reply which I gave on 8th December to the hon. Member for Central Ayrshire (Mr. Manuel).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the incidence of the venereal diseases among the Masai tribe in Kenya; and what medical provision is available for treatment of those who are infected.

A survey of two small sections of the tribe carried out in 1950 showed an incidence of about 20 per cent. in males and 5 per cent. in females. Medical treatment by penicillin injections and other modern drugs is available at hospitals and dispensaries free of charge.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) if he is aware of the criticism of the African court at Karatina by the Supreme Court at Nyeri; what is the jurisdiction of this court; what is the maximum sentence awarded; and how many are still undergoing punishment as a result of its judgments; and(2) the number of cases in which the prosecution had relied on statements by accused persons obtained by Muriu Wamai, head man of Ruthagate Post; and how many of these cases resulted in sentences of death.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will put a transcript of the evidence and judgment in Regina versus Muriu Wamai and others in the Supreme Court at Nyeri in the Library.

I am aware of Press reports on this case and I have asked the Governor for the necessary information. When I have received his reply I will circulate the information sought in the OFFICIAL REPORT and will consider whether any part of the case record should be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of cases in which the prosecution had relied upon the evidence of ex-police commandant Derek Searle; how many of these cases have resulted in sentences of death; and how many men are still undergoing punishment.

I have asked the Governor for this information and will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT when I receive his reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will put a transcript of the evidence and judgment in Regina versus Derek Searle in the magistrates' court at Nairobi in the Library.

I will consider this request when I receive the Governor's report on the case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the uncertainty in Kenya and this country regarding the responsibilities of different arms of the police and military forces to interrogate Mau Mau suspects and regarding the methods employed, he will appoint a commissioner of legal standing to investigate the position and to report to him on the matter.

The Governor has informed me that there is no such uncertainty in Kenya. Investigation is the responsibility of the Police and clear instructions on procedure have been laid down by the War Council. Any breach of these instructions is dealt with as soon as it is discovered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for what reason he has banned the importation of the journal "Socialist Asia" to Kenya; and whether he will place a copy of this journal in the Library.

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I have given today to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler). I am arranging for a copy of the journal to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of registered co-operative organisations in each Colony and Protectorate; and what was the number in each case in 1950.

The following is the latest available information:

Territory	Number of registered Co-operative Societies
	1950*	1953*
Barbados	Nil	7
British Guiana	120	254
British Honduras	Nil	35
Cyprus	622	734
Dominica	Nil	5
Fiji	28	47
Gilbert and Ellice Islands	21	26
Gold Coast	317	445
Hong Kong	Nil	38
Jamaica	81	118
Kenya	Not available	298
Federation of Malaya	1,094	1,663
Malta	18	15
Mauritius	229	276
Nigeria	597	Eastern Region 850; Northern Region 141; Western Region 577
Northern Rhodesia	78	109
Nyasaland	70	71
St. Helena	Nil	1
St. Lucia	6	14
Sarawak	24	123
Sierra Leone	Not available	28
Singapore	41	51
Tanganyika	127	198
Trinidad and Tobago	180	578
Uganda	273	811
Zanzibar	Nil	21
Totals, so far as information is available	3,926	7,534
* Figures for most territories relate to the end of the calendar year, but some are for an earlier date in the year in question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the registered co-operative organisations in each Colony and Protectorate.

The list would comprise the names of over 7,000 organisations, and while appreciating the hon. Member's interest in the progress of the co-operative movement in the Colonies, I do not feel that the value of such a list would be commensurate with the labour involved in obtaining the necessary details from each Colonial Government. I will, however, be happy to obtain for the hon. Member the list for any Colonial Territory in which he is especially interested.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he is now prepared to lower from 100 per cent. the coverage in sterling demanded for the local currency issued by Colonies; and(2) to what extent regulations permit Colonies to invest in local issues, as against United Kingdom securities, to cover local currency issues made by them.

At present Colonial currency authorities are normally required to invest their funds in sterling securities issued by any of Her Majesty's Governments except those of the territories in which the currency circulates. But I have recently told Colonial Governments that, subject to a review of the individual circumstances of each territory, I would agree in principle to the investment of a small part of the cover for Colonial currencies in locally issued securities. The currencies would still be fully backed and automatically redeemable for sterling. It is not the intention to go beyond this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to state for the last 10 years the annual revenue accruing to Colonies from funds deposited in this country to cover local note issues, and the amounts payable by the Colonies in respect of long-term loans raised by them in this country.

I am arranging for these figures to be compiled and will send them to my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) on what grounds Chief Mpamba of the Lundasi District of Northern Rhodesia has been deposed from his chieftainship; and(2) how many chiefs in Northern Rhodesia have been deposed since the establishment of the Federation of Central Africa; and what have been the reasons for their deposition.

Recognition has been withdrawn from Chief Mpamba, after a formal administrative inquiry, at the strong request of senior chiefs, and in accordance with the wishes of the people, because he opposed the wishes and flouted the formal orders of senior chiefs and members of his Native Authority. Chief Mpamba is the only Chief in Northern Rhodesia from whom recognition has been withdrawn since Federation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the new Game Laws in Northern Rhodesia limit the rights of Africans to hunt game in the areas where they are resident.

Under one of the provisions of the Fauna Conservation Bill, residents of whatever race in special areas to be designated by the Governor-in-Council will require a permit as well as a game licence before hunting game therein.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the present position of the wine industry in Cyprus.

There are 29 factories in Cyprus, employing about 700 persons and producing annually about three million gallons of wine and spirits, about half of which is exported. Production and marketing are mainly undertaken by private enterprise, but there is also a co-operative organisation, which produces about 13 per cent. of the total output. If there is any point on which my hon. Friend wants more detailed information I will ask the Governor of Cyprus to supply it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent East African sisal is affected by subsidised production of sisal in Brazil.

I am afraid I cannot say to what extent the special measures adopted by the Brazilian Government in respect of their sisal industry have affected the market for East African sisal. As my hon. Friend knows Brazilian products is less than 30,000 tons while British East Africa production is 204,000 tons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what changes are proposed in the existing sedition legislation of the Western Region of Nigeria.

I understand that the Western Regional Legislature has passed a Bill to amend the Nigerian Criminal Code Ordinance in various respects, including the law governing sedition. This legislation has not yet been assented to by the Governor.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will make a statement on helicopter trials which have been carried out in connection with anti-submarine work with merchant ships.

Trials carried out about four years ago showed that a helicopter could land and take off from the type of merchant ship used in the trial, in moderate weather. I am advised however that, in their present stage of development, anti-submarine helicopters operated from merchant ships could not be economically deployed, adequately briefed, or properly maintained.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the extent of tuberculosis in the Navy for the years 1939, 1952 and 1953, respectively.

The number of cases diagnosed per thousand officers and men in the years 1939, 1952 and 1953 were 1·94, 2·71 and 2·38 respectively. The post-war figures are not directly comparable with those of 1939. Modern techniques bring to light many early and arrested cases which might have escaped notice before the war.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will make a further statement as to what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the construction of new aircraft carriers.

Details of the building programme for aircraft carriers were given in my explanatory statement presented with the Navy Estimates for the current year. I am not prepared to anticipate next year's statement.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the total cost of construction and maintenance incurred by his Department on the "Britannia" up to 1st December, 1954.

The latest estimate of the total cost of construction is £2,139,000; maintenance costs incurred up to 1st December, 1954, are estimated at £83,000. This includes the cost of the latest refit.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the nature of the recent refit on the R.Y. "Britannia" at Portsmouth; what was the purpose; and what was the cost.

This was a routine refit normally due in February, 1955, and advanced to October, 1954, to fit in with the ship's future programme. The cost is approximately £50,000.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will ensure that restrictions on the use of Pyle Lane across the Royal Naval Air Station by traffic from Yeovilton are kept down to the minimum required by safety considerations.

Yes. I am glad to give the assurance for which my hon. Friend asks, but I must point out that the volume of flying is liable to increase.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will make a statement on the future of the Naval Ordnance Inspection Department.

I regret I cannot make a statement at present. The problem has become even more involved because it is now bound up with our review of the whole of the officer structure of the Royal Navy. I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that, as soon as I have anything to report, I will do so.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has yet found it practicable to allow junior ratings of the Royal Navy to wear civilian clothes when leaving naval shore establishments on shore leave.

Yes. Junior ratings and ranks over the age of 17½ years, if not undergoing training on first entering the Navy, will in future be allowed to wear plain clothes when entering and leaving naval shore establishments. This will apply to commands both at home and abroad.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what contracts he will place or has placed for refitment of naval vessels in Mersey dockyards during 1955 which may relieve the possibility of unemployment of dock workers there after completion of the winter renovation of passenger liners.

A contract for the refit of a cruiser for the Indian Navy has recently been placed on Merseyside and contracts for the refit of three destroyers are also about to be placed there. It is impossible for me to say at present what further naval work will be placed on Merseyside next year, but my hon. Friend may rest assured that the claims of this area will be fully borne in mind together with those of other repair areas.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that in no case relating to an increase in wages made by the Post Office Engineering Union since 1948 has a settlement been made by the Post Office authorities and the claims have had to be sent to the Civil Service Arbitration Tribunal; and what proportion of the tribunal's award resulted in higher rates than the offers made by the Post Office to the engineers' union prior to arbitration proceedings.

This is not so. Since 1948, two major pay claims made by the Post Office Engineering Union, as well as a number of minor claims, have been settled without reference to the Civil Service Arbitration Tribunal. In particular, there has been an agreement with the Union within the last few weeks estimated to cost the Post Office £1,700,000 a year. In three other major cases where a claim was taken to the Tribunal, the award exceeded the offer, but was substantially lower than the amount claimed. I will send the hon. Member a table illustrating the position in the leading cases under review.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware of the discontent within the Post Office Engineering Union, because of the difficulty in making any progress regarding claims for 3,000 of its members made in July, 1953, and the claim made in January, 1954, for a revision of the general standards of its 50,000 members; and if he will consider arranging for an independent inquiry into these matters.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my noble Friend in another place on Wednesday, 1st December. I will send him a copy of it.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that the Post Office Engineering Union, in connection with claims for an improvement in their members relative economic standards, is prepared to consider favourably any necessary changes to increase productivity; and if he will consider the matter and notify the union of his proposals as soon as possible.

The Union wishes to establish a connection between wages and productivity. The principles by which Civil Service wages are determined are at present under review by the Royal Commission on the Civil Service, to whom the Union has put its views. Until the Royal Commission has reported, that matter rests sub judice, but I need hardly say that my noble Friend is ready at any time to examine constructive proposals designed to increase productivity.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what progress has been made in finding a new sub-postmaster for Lower Shiplake, near Reading.

I am sorry that we have had no success as yet, but the search continues.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many telegrams have been sent since the recent increased charges were made; what were the total receipts; and what was the number, and value, for the corresponding period last year for ordinary and greeting telegrams, separately.

Between 1st August and 31st October this year the number of inland telegrams was 4,936,595 excluding Greetings telegrams but including the new overnight telegrams. The revenue was £965,982. The number of Greetings telegrams was 1,188,397, from which the revenue was £273,501, making a total of 6,124,992 telegrams and £1,239,483 of revenue.In the same period last year the number of inland telegrams was 7,205,028 excluding Greetings telegrams. The revenue was £711,166. The number of Greetings telegrams was 1,638,260, from which the revenue was £208,161, making a total of 8,843,288 telegrams and £919,327 revenue.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how often telephone receivers in public telephone boxes are cleaned and sterilised; what are the steps taken, especially in winter time, to avoid infection; and whether the same procedure is adopted in London and in Brighton.

In public telephone boxes in town areas, including London and Brighton, the instruments are cleaned summer and winter alike, generally three times a week and in some cases every day. The cleaning is done with a cloth damped with a mild disinfectant, though in fact I have medical advice that strictly speaking disinfection is not necessary on telephone instruments.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when a telephone service can be supplied to Mr. Vitty, Dale View, Sawdon, near Scarborough, who has been told that he cannot have one next year and Whose business is suffering in consequence.

I am sorry Mr. Vitty is having to wait for a telephone, but we cannot put any more wires on the telegraph poles serving his neighbourhood. No one in his neighbourhood is under an obligation to share his line, and we have not succeeded in persuading anyone to share with him voluntarily. We have plans for a new line scheme to serve this area, but because of other more urgent work I am afraid it will be some time before it is completed.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the interference by another station with the Home Service in the Arbroath area; which station is causing this interference; and what steps he is taking to improve reception of the Home Service in this area.

I am sorry that reception of the Home Service in this area is not wholly satisfactory. This is due to periodic interference from a station at Barcelona. We have taken the matter up with the Spanish authorities, and they have made certain changes; but there has been no permanent improvement, and we are approaching them again.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General which wavelengths have been promised for commercial television transmissions; and for which stations.

The following is the information:

—		Vision	Sound
		Megacycles	per second
London	…	194·75675	191·27
Lancashire	…	194·75	191·25
Birmingham	…	189·75	186·25

The London and Lancashire stations will both work on Channel 9 of Band III, and nominally will have the same wavelengths—i.e., 194·75 Mc/s for vision and 191·25 Mc/s for sound. The London wavelength will, however, be slightly "offset"—by 6·75 kc/s for vision and 20 kc/s for sound—to guard against possible interference between the two stations. The figures given above for the Birmingham station represent Channel 8.

asked the Assistant Postmaster General if a wavelength has been allocated for commercial television in Scotland; and how far discussions have taken place with programme contractors regarding the provision of commercial television programmes in Scotland.

asked the Assistant Postmaster General if any discussions have yet taken place with regard to a commercial television transmission for Wales; and if any wavelength has yet been made available for such transmissions.

As regards wavelengths, none has so far been allotted to the I.T.A. for Scotland or for Wales; as regards the other part of the Questions, the matter is one for the I.T.A. and I understand that no formal discussions will be held about programmes in Scotland, Wales or elsewhere until the Authority has advertised for, and received, applications from potential programme contractors to serve such specified areas.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many of the 166 British ships transferred during the past five years to the flags of Panama, Liberia, Honduras and Costa Rica were sold outright to those countries; and how many changed the flag without changing ownership.

165.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give the names of those branch railways in Wales which have been closed down either wholly or in part, or for freight and not passenger traffic or vice versa, since vesting day.

Following is the answer:

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will consider the possibility of converting the old Great Central Railway permanent way from Marylebone to Rugby into a modern trunk road; and what he estimates to be the approximate cost of such an operation.

No. The British Transport Commission, who are responsible for this railway, regard it as an important route carrying traffic which could not be diverted to alternative routes.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what instructions he proposes to issue to the Transport Commission regarding the rent allowance of railway workers in the London area who are so adversely affected by rent increases, in some cases of 20 per cent., which are being imposed, under the Housing Repairs and Rents Act, by the Transport Commission on its tied accommodation.

None. The Act provides for the protection of tenants against unreasonable charges.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many ground control approach systems are in operation at civil airports in the United Kingdom.

The following is the answer:

Radar devices for assisting landing in poor visibility are in operation at civil aerodromes in the United Kingdom as follows:—

(1) Full Ground Control Approach Systems (G.C.A.) providing precision glide path facilities—

• London Airport.
• Prestwick.
• Manchester.
• Belfast (Nutts Corner).
• Bournemouth (Hurn).
• Bovingdon (operated by the United States Air Force).
• Blackbushe (operated by the United States Air Force).

(2) Decca Approach Radar—

• Newcastle (Woolsington).
• Lydd (Ferryfield).

(3) E.K. Cole Radar—

• Southend

(4) Search Radar—

• Jersey.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he has yet arrived at a decision regarding the proposal by the British Overseas Airways Corporation to purchase D.C.7D. aircraft.

No. I have nothing at present to add to what I told the House on 15th November.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what meteorological records referring to the Boldon Airport site his Department has kept; and whether he is aware of the unsuitability of the weather there in the winter months.

No meteorological records have been kept for the Boldon Airport site, but some records are available for the R.A.F. airfield at Usworth, which is only a mile away. I have no reason to believe that the weather there is any worse than at existing airports in industrial areas.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a statement on the future of the proposed international airport site at Boldon in County Durham.

I have no present plans for the development of Boldon.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a statement about the financing of further development at Newcastle Airport.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what financial assistance he is prepared to give to the Newcastle Corporation towards the maintenance and improvement of Newcastle Airport.

I am considering a request from the Newcastle Corporation for a contribution towards the cost of certain development work which they are planning to undertake at their airport at Woolsington.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has yet asked for applications to operate helicopter services within the United Kingdom.

No. It is for operators to make application through the Air Transport Advisory Council for approval to operate such services. The Council's terms of reference specifically provide for their consideration of applications for helicopter services.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what experimental helicopter routes have been approved in the United Kingdom; and how many are operating at present.

All the routes mentioned in my reply to the hon. Member's Question of 8th December have been approved for experimental operation. Two routes are being operated at present, namely, London Airport—Southampton and London Airport—Gatwick, the latter having started on 13th December.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is yet in a position to make a statement upon the report he is expecting on the subject of aircrew fatigue.

Yes. I received the Report on 13th December and am now considering it.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many units of British Road Services in Scotland have been offered for sale; what is the total number of vehicles in these units; and the number of units and vehicles actually sold to date.

2,463 vehicles in 498 units have been offered and 1,188 vehicles in 356 units have so far been sold. In addition, two companies comprising 130 vehicles have been disposed of under the provisions of Section 5 of the Act.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps have been taken by his Department to produce and publish a road safety text-book; and when this is likely to be issued.

I have in mind the possibility of producing a small book containing advice to road users. This has been pressed for by the Departmental Committee on Road Safety.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he has now received the views of all the interests concerned on the proposal to extend the permitted size of goods vehicles; and how soon he anticipates being able to make a statement on this subject.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he has now completed his inquiries regarding the possibilities of permitting larger-sized goods vehicles on our roads; and what are his conclusions.

I have now received the views of organisations concerned, and I hope to make Regulations very soon.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the technical considerations that are preventing him from permitting the building of two-axle double decker omnibuses for use in the United Kingdom.

The building of such vehicles is not prohibited for use in the United Kingdom provided that they do not exceed the 27 feet limit of length laid down for doable decker buses generally.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will consider instituting special inquiries with a view to encouraging consignees of suitable heavy freight traffics to use the rail services in preference to the roads and thereby assist in reducing present road traffic density.

No. In the case of indivisible loads of over 150 tons or more than 20 ft. wide, permission has to be obtained for them to be hauled by road. In other cases, traders should have a free choice. By means of reorganisation, modernisation and more flexible freight charges, British Railways are fitting themselves to compete more effectively for these traffics.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation why the claim of the British Transport Commission for £351,630 compensation in respect of East Coast flood damage 1953, Account No. VI-IB, Maintenance of and Renewal of Way and Structures, was refused.

Because, as was explained at the time, it was not the policy of Her Majesty's Government to make payment in respect of damage caused by the East Coast floods to any large business concern, which could of course decide either to insure or carry its own risks.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what research is now being made into methods of more effectively preventing the emission of harmful gases from motor exhausts; and what new devices for this purpose have recently been submitted to him.

As is stated in the Report of the Committee on Air Pollution, research on the effect of concentration of gases in busy streets is being undertaken by the Fuel Research Station. I understand they are also exploring the possibility of completing the combustion of exhaust gases so as to reduce the emission of harmful contents, and a new device with this object is to be tested.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made with the road improvement and construction schemes announced by his predecessor on 8th December, 1953; and if he will make a statement giving the present position of each.

The following notes give the position in regard to each scheme announced by my predecessor for authorisation in the current financial year. I hope to complete all outstanding authorisations before the end of 1954–55.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent the procedures which have to be carried out following the authorisation of a road improvement or construction scheme enable actual physical work to be started as expeditiously as the present state of the country's highway system demands; and what modification of such procedures he intends to propose.

Procedures laid down by Parliament for the protection of the rights of the property owners and others concerned cannot be modified except by legislation, and I have no intention of proposing legislation to reduce these safeguards of individual rights. But within these limits I intend to proceed as speedily as possible with such road construction as it is possible to authorise.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the amount of commitments it is expected will be entered into for new construction and major improvement under the expanded roads programme during each of the next three years; and the total expenditure on these works that will fall on the central government during each of these years.

I hope to be able to make an announcement about the expanded roads programme soon after the Christmas Recess.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress is being made with the provision of a new road to the north of Turnhouse Aerodrome to take the place of that section of trunk road A9 which is now closed to traffic.

Work on the new road cannot begin until its alignment has been settled by an order to be made under Section 2 (5) of the Supplies and Services (Defence Purposes) Act, 1951. The precise line of the route is still under consideration with a view to ensuring that it shall be economical and satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he has now considered the representations which have been made to him that the available funds should be diverted to the widening of country roads rather than to the provision of kerbstones; and if he will make a statement.

I cannot at present add to the answer I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Poole (Captain Pilkington) on 27th October.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is now able to make a statement on the proposed high-level bridge at Barton.

I am afraid not.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will publish the results of the census taken of traffic at Pool crossroads in Camborne-Redruth; and when the census was taken.

This census was taken on 15th April, 1954, and the results are as follow:

16-HOUR COUNT
Number of vehicles entering junction		Percentage of Total Traffic
		Trunk Road	Side Roads
From Trevenson Road	2,769	89	11
From Church Road	282
From Fore Street	3,125
From Station Road	421
Total	6,597

PEAK HOUR COUNT (5 p.m.-6 p.m.)
Number of vehicles entering junction		Percentage of Total Traffic
		Trunk Road	Side Roads
From Trevenson Road	352	91	9
From Church Road	24
From Fore Street	302
From Station Road	42
Total	720

AVERAGE HOURLY COUNT
Number of vehicles entering junction		Percentage of Total Traffic
		Trunk Road	Side Roads
From Trevenson Road	173	89	11
From Church Road	18
From Fore Street	195
From Station Road	26
Total	412

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has formed an estimate of the cost of installing traffic lights at Pool crossroads in Camborne-Redruth; and what proportion of the cost will fall upon his Department.

It has not been found possible, owing to the difficult physical layout, to devise a satisfactory scheme for installing traffic light signals at this junction. Had such a scheme been possible the cost would have been about £1,500, the whole of which would have fallen on my Department.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the intention of the British Transport Commission to close down for freight transport the Merthyr Tydfil-Abergavenny Railway, if he will take steps to expedite the large-scale improvements necessary to the Neath-Merthyr-Abergavenny road.

Improvements to the Heads of the Valleys Road were announced as part of the programme outlined on 8th December, 1953. I cannot at present add to what was then said, except that I am not aware of any material change in the railway freight services available to traders in this area.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the closing down of the railway on the west side of the valley of Merthyr Tydfil, if he will take immediate steps to commence work on the proposed Cardiff-Merthyr-Brecon trunk road, particularly that part of this road intended to traverse the west side of the Merthyr Valley, and thereby remove the traffic congestion in the narrow streets of Merthyr Tydfil and adjoining towns and villages.

No.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will ascertain from the United Kingdom North Atlantic Treaty Organisation representative, and publish, information showing the proportion of national income spent on defence and the proportion of the male population in the armed forces in each European member State of the Organisation; and if he will publish what information he has on the same subjects about the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

I am consulting the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation on this Matter, and will communicate with the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Minister of Defence when he intends to take steps to increase officers' service pensions and officers' widows' pensions to an extent comparable with the increases proposed for war disabled and war widows.

Different considerations apply in the case of service officers' retired pay and forces family pensions; my hon. Friend will find a full statement of Her Majesty's Government's views on those matters in the White Paper (Cmd. 9092) issued last March. I have nothing to add to that statement.

asked the Minister of Defence why the widow of a retired Regular officer is denied a pension, and thus be forced at times to subsist on National Assistance, because she happened to marry her husband after his retirement; and if he will take steps to amend the entitlement to pension so as to cover such circumstances.

The Government cannot reasonably be asked to make provision in the Service pensions code for family responsibilities incurred by a Regular officer after he has ceased to be actively employed.

asked the Minister of Defence what action is being taken with regard to the future of the Maltese civilians now employed in the Canal Zone.

A number of the Maltese civilians working for the Services in the Canal Zone will be found employment in Service establishments elsewhere. Any who have to be discharged will receive the gratuity for their past service for which they may be eligible, and it is hoped that many will find employment in Egypt. Her Majesty's Government will give them such assistance as is possible in obtaining further employment.

asked the Minister of Defence what consideration he has given to the question of financial assistance to service parents posted abroad towards the education of their children in the United Kingdom.

My Service colleagues and I have recently had discussions with the Minister of Education and I hope that plans now under consideration may help towards a solution of this problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what form of inquiry he proposes to order as a result of the report to the House of Commons of the Select Committee on Estimates; and what will be the terms of reference of this inquiry.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend on 13th December to my hon. Friend the Member for Yarmouth (Mr. Fell), to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the number of staff now employed in the office of the High Commissioner for South-East Asia.

The staff of the Commissioner-General for South-East Asia numbers 102 United Kingdom based staff and 314 locally-engaged.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of Peru arising from the seizure of whaling ships owned by Mr. Aristotle Onassis; and what reply has been received.

On 19th November Her Majesty's Ambassador at Lima delivered to the Peruvian Government a Note reserving the right of Her Majesty's Government to support any claims for compensation for damage done to such British interests as might be involved in this incident. The Peruvian Government in their reply declined to accept this reservation. The Peruvian Ambassador was therefore invited to call upon my noble Friend the Minister of State and was asked to inform his Government that we nevertheless reserved our rights to obtain redress by all means open to us. On 6th December Her Majesty's Ambassador made an informal request to the Peruvian Government to postpone the time limit of 7th December fixed for payment of the fine, without prejudice to the eventual liability for payment. The hon. and gallant Member will have noted that this time limit was postponed until 13th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the action he has taken already in our capacity as looking after United States Government interests in Peking to bring about an exchange of the Chinese students at present in the United States of America who have been refused permission by the United States authorities to return to China and a similar number of Americans who are detained by the Chinese authorities.

In matters affecting United States interests in China we act only at the specific request of the United States Government. We have received no request to take action on the lines of the hon. Member's Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the petition presented to the Trusteeship Council of the United Nations Organization by the natives of the Marshall Islands, regarding injuries suffered by inhabitants on the islands of Rongalab and Utirik following the detonation of a hydrogen bomb in the Pacific, has now been considered; and what action was proposed by Her Majesty's Government's representative on the Trusteeship Council.

I have nothing to add to the reply given on 26th July to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Fenner Brockway).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the nature of the proposals put forward in the past year by the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics and considered by Her Majesty's Government for the control and supervision of any ban or prohibition of nuclear weapons.

The proposals for the control of a prohibition on nuclear weapons based on the principle of inspection put forward by the Soviet Representative during the meetings of the Sub-Committee of the United Nations Disarmament Commission in London in May and June are set out in Command Paper 9204. These proposals did not differ in any important respect from proposals put forward by the Soviet Union in the Atomic Energy Commission in 1947 and rejected by the Commission as not providing an adequate basis for the effective international control of the elimination from national armaments of atomic weapons. The Soviet proposals were repeated in general terms by the Soviet Representative during the recent disarmament debate in the United Nations General Assembly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will increase the allocation of cartridges to grey squirrel clubs.

The allocation of cartridges is based on the number of squirrels shot, and I do not consider I should be justified in increasing it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that due to the steadily decreasing number of rabbits the foxes are increasingly raiding the chicken farms in Kent; and what steps he is taking to remedy this situation.

I have no evidence of any marked increase in the raiding of chicken farms in Kent by foxes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to the establishment of a free market in Brazilian cruzeiros in London.

United Kingdom creditors with blocked balances can now dispose freely of their cruzeiros, subject to the agreement of the Brazilian authorities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the yield of the Entertainments Duty on stage plays and other living entertainments in each year since the duty was first imposed.

The receipts of Entertainments Duty allocated to theatres and music-halls and other entertainments (excluding sports) chargeable at the same rates of duty are approximately as shown in the following table.These figures do not include revenue derived from sales of Entertainments Duty stamps through Post Offices, as this cannot be allocated to particular entertainments. I regret that separate figures are not available prior to 1st October. 1934.

Year (ended 31st March)	Theatres and Music Halls	Other
	£'000	£'000
1934–35 (six months)	751	162
1935–36	1,037	240†
1936–37	1,010	100
1937–38	1,060	130
1938–39	1,050	110
1939–40	710	80†
1940–41	580	20*
1941–42	1,130	30
1942–43	2,650	90*
1943–44	3,890	110*
1944–45	3,820	150
1945–46	5,090	230
1946–47	4,930	530
1947–48	4,910	640
1948–49	2,900	490†
1949–50	2,360	430
1950–51	2,210	380
1951–52	2,320	500
1952–53	2,400	385
1953–54	2,400	324
* The rates of duty were increased in this period.
† The rates of duty were reduced in this period.

asked the Minister of Health how many hearing aids have been distributed since the inception of the Health Service.

At the end of October last, 401,524 patients had been provided with Medresco aids in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Health the total expenditure since the inception of the Health Service on hearing aids, including the servicing of such aids, and batteries.

Excluding the cost of minor repairs and distribution which are not separately ascertainable, the cost of electric and non-electric aids up to 31st March last, was about £4 million for the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man.

asked the Minister of Health why the concession granted in 1952, by agreement with the National Medical Manpower Committee, whereby doctors could serve in the Federation of Malaya or West Africa instead of being called up for National Service, has been withdrawn; how many doctors were recruited under this arrangement in each of the territories; and whether the Government will consider restoring the concession.

The concession for West Africa under which 23 doctors were recruited, was brought to an end in 1951 on the recommendation of the Medical Priority Committee, the predecessor of the National Medical Manpower Committee. The arrangement for Malaya related to 12 doctors who have all been recruited. My right hon. Friend informs me that there is now no further demand for Malaya for doctors liable to call-up. He and I are consulting together about West Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement concerning the incidence of horror comics in Wales; and what evidence he has of such comics being printed in Wales or in Welsh.

I have no information which suggests that publications of this kind are being printed in Wales or in Welsh, nor have I any detailed information about their circulation in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many surgeons, fully trained in thoracic surgery, are available in each of the Scottish Hospital Regions; what accommodation in terms of beds is available in each tuberculosis thoracic surgery centre; what is the present average waiting time for patients requiring this type of operation in each area; what is the number or estimated number of patients waiting for this operation at each regional centre; and how

TABLE
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)	(7)
Region	Number of surgical sessions per week (b)	Number of surgical treatment centres	Average number of beds for pre- and postoperative care (c)	Waiting List (d)	Respiratory tuberculosis notifications in 1953	Ratio of notifications per week to number of surgical sessions per week
Northern (a)	3	2	28	134	207	4·2
North-Eastern				185	447
Eastern	2	1	36	40	516	5·0
South Eastern	5	3	78	157	1,753	6·7
Western	20	7	234	172	4,593	4·4
Scotland	30	13	376	688	7,516	4·8
NOTES
(a) Surgical treatment for patients in the Northern Region is provided at the centres in the North-Eastern Region. One of the two is Tor-na-Dee Sanatorium, which also provides facilities for patients from all parts of Scotland in a number of surgical sessions not shown in the table.
(b) Thoracic surgeons deal with non-tuberculous as well as tuberculous conditions; and some general surgeons in the Western Region carry out tuberculosis thoracic surgery. The figures given represent the average number of operating sessions per week devoted to tuberculous conditions.
(c) In most of the centres there is no fixed allocation of beds for tuberculosis thoracic surgery patients; the number so used depends on the number of operations being performed and the requirements of pre- and post-operative care.
(d) The waiting lists in the different areas are not compiled on the same basis, since the practice of the surgeons concerned differs. The lists include patients already fit for operation and also many for whom a pre-operative period of medical treatment is required. It is not possible from the information available to give the average period of waiting for patients fit for operation.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 7th December, 1954; c. 24], supplied the following information:The following table gives the information available for each hospital region. To enable the scale of provision to be seen the table also includes (i) the number of respiratory tuberculosis notifications in 1953; and (ii) the ratio of notifications per week to the number of surgical sessions per week. Information is not available on the number of operations performed under private arrangements. A few tuberculosis thoracic surgery operations have been carried out on patients paying for services under Section 5 of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act, 1947, in the Watson-Fraser Nursing Home, Aberdeen, and in Hairmyres Hospital, Lanarkshire, but the number is very small in relation to the operations carried out otherwise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his discussions with the Yugoslav economic delegation headed by Svetozar Vukmanovic, Vice-Chairman of the Federal Executive Council, and officials of the British Treasury, Board of Trade and Foreign Office, which took place in London on 25th and 26th November.

On his way home from Washington through London Mr. Vukmanovic recently paid me a courtesy call. In the course of general conversation covering a wide range of topics, including the expansion of trading opportunities between Yugoslavia and the United Kingdom, Mr. Vukmanovic stressed the financial problems facing Yugoslavia. Yugoslav officials also had useful informal conversations with representatives of the Treasury, Foreign Office and the Board of Trade about the possibility of increased collaboration between the two countries in the agricultural and industrial fields.