asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the reason for transporting two Sea Hawk aircraft, details of which have been sent to him, from Lossiemouth to Gosport on 17th January by road.

These aircraft, which were unfit to fly and could not be repaired at Lossiemouth, were sent to the Royal Naval Aircraft Yard at Fleet-lands for reconditioning. Road transport was the most practicable way of moving these aircraft.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty (1) to what extent, in view of the development of the atom and hydrogen bombs and other forms of nuclear weapons, it is his policy to scrap battleships and stop the building of aircraft carriers and conventional cruisers with a view to concentrating on small vessels such as destroyers, frigates, minesweepers and submarines;(2) if he will make a statement on the position of the Royal Navy in an atom and hydrogen bomb war; for what rôle battleships and aircraft carriers are now intended, in view of the development of nuclear weapons; and what proposals he intends to make to modernise the Royal Navy in the light of these new types of nuclear weapons.

I should prefer not to anticipate the presentation to Parliament of my statement accompanying the Navy Estimates, 1955–56, nor the speech I shall make in introducing those Estimates.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is satisfied with the procedure for the medical examination of boy recruits for the Royal Navy; and if he will consider obtaining a second opinion if the boy fails in one respect only, for example, colour vision, and the boy's parents wish to appeal.

The answer to the first part of the Question is, "Yes." I am always ready to arrange for the reexamination of individual boys where good reasons are given, but I have no evidence of any need for a regular system of appeals.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many telephones have been installed in the borough of Tunbridge Wells during the past year; and how many applicants are on the waiting list.

Four hundred and ninety telephones were installed during 1954; 143 applications are outstanding.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware of the long delays often experienced by Solihull telephone subscribers in obtaining a reply after dialling either for the operator or for a toll call; and whether he will take steps to remedy this.

I am very conscious of the need to reduce the present delays in answering Solihull subscribers. Until recently we have not been able to get enough recruits to replace losses due to marriage, etc., and to meet rises in traffic, but recruitment has been improving and we hope to have sufficient trained staff within the next two months.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air by how much the purchasing value of the allowance to an aircraftman's wife has fallen since the allowance was last fixed.

The rate of marriage allowance for a Regular aircraftman has not changed since 1948, but there have been substantial increases in pay. The rate of the qualifying allotment which an aircraft-man must make from his pay as a condition of issue of marriage allowance has also increased. For these reasons and also because it is an airman's responsibility to supplement his wife's marriage allowance and qualifying allotment where it is necessary to do so, it would not be correct to assume that the purchasing power of what the wife receives has necessarily fallen proportionately to the general fall in the purchasing power of the £.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air, under what form of censorship or other security arrangements he requires the British Press not to refer to the fact that the Hawker Hunter is armed with four 30mm. Aden guns.

There is no objection to any newspaper printing this information.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when the findings of the Comet Inquiry will be published.

I am expecting to receive the Reports of the Comet Inquiries shortly, and they will be published as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what representations have been made to him by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation for the use of Renfrew, Scotland, as a reception centre for United States aircraft.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if the route of the projected new diversion road to the North of Turnhouse Aerodrome has now been decided; and when it is intended to make an order under Section 2 (5) of the Supplies and Services (Defence Purposes) Act, 1951.

Yes. Draft proposals for the Order will be published in about six weeks' time. This must be followed by a period of three months for the receipt of objections before other steps (including possibly the holding of a public inquiry) are taken to make the Order effective.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how soon he anticipates receiving the Report of the Committee of Inquiry on London Transport; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the Committee have completed their Report and that I shall receive it in a few days' time.

asked the Minister of Defence his estimate of the net increase in voluntary recruitment to the Armed Forces required to effect a six months' reduction in the National Service period.

On the assumption, which it is by no means prudent to make, that no other effects on recruitment were to follow, it would be necessary to increase the strength of the Regular component of the Forces by over 70,000.

asked the Minister of Defence the number of Regular recruits enlisted in the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force during the period 1st January to 31st December, 1954, together with the comparable figures for 1953.

The following is the reply:

MALE REGULAR RECRUITS ENTERED IN EACH OF THE SERVICES IN 1953 AND 1954
—		1953	1954
Royal Navy	…	9,334	8,111
Army	…	42,680	38,895
Royal Air Force	…	31,615	27,974
TOTAL	…	83,629	74,980

asked the Minister of Defence the number of man-years recruited by the Royal Navy, Army and the Royal Air Force, separate figures being given for each Service, in the years 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953 and 1954, excluding boys and short-service engagements; and if he will give separate figures to show, respectively, when no allowance is made for National Service and when National Service liability is excluded.

MALE RECRUITMENT TO ACTIVE FORCES IN TERMS OF MAN YEARS (1
1950 TO 1954
INITIAL RECRUITMENT
(Including National Service liability)
Service			1950	1951	1952	1953	1954
Navy	…	…	96,000	100,500	113,000	101,000	83,000
Army	…	…	120,000	134,500	178,000	137,000	126,500
R.A.F.	…	…	106,500	196,000	164,500	140,000	123,500
Total	…	…	322,500	431,000	455,500	378,000	333,000

(Excluding National Service liability
Navy	…	…	77,500	81,500	93,000	83,500	67,500
Army	…	…	86,500	100,000	91,000	72,500	57,000
R.A.F.	…	…	69,500	116,500	92,500	84,000	73,000
Total	…	…	233,500	298,000	276,500	240,000	197,500

PROLONGATIONS OF SERVICE
Service			1950	1951	1952	1953	1954
Navy	…	…	15,500	34,500	18,000	21,500	14,000
Army	…	…	25,500	52,000	40,500	48,000	68,000
R.A.F.*	…	…	(2) 20,000	(2) 65,500	38,500	46,000	45,500
Total	…	…	61,000	152,000	97,000	115,500	127,500
(1) The figures given exclude the man-year product of boys and apprentices not included in the effective strength and of men joining the Army on the special Short Service engagements, Types A, B, C, E, K, N, S and T.
(2) Represents best possible estimate.
* Excluding aircrew.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will show under the headings normal volunteers male, volunteers from National Service, part-time National Service, and women, the numbers serving in the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces on 31st December, 1954, the number in each category who carried out training, part-time and whole-time being shown separately and separate figures being given for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, the Army and the Royal Air Force.

I regret that the figures are not immediately available. I am having them collected and will circulate them as soon as possible in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Defence the amounts spent on publicity in connection with recruiting in the years

The following is the reply:1952, 1953, and 1954, showing separate figures for each year, by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, the Army, the Royal Air Force, and the Ministry of Defence, showing separate figures for each.

The following table shows the approximate amounts spent on publicity, almost all of it on recruiting, in the financial years shown. The figures for the current year are, of course, estimates only:

—	1952–53	1953–54	1954–55 (estimated)
	£	£	£
Royal Navy and Royal Marines	114,000	126,500	120,500
Army	344,500	344,000	354,500
Royal Air Force	245,000	231,000	249,000
Ministry of Defence	(nil)	(nil)	(nil)

asked the Minister of Defence how many British subjects entering this country from the Dominions and Colonies have enlisted in the Armed Forces on Regular engagements within the nearest convenient 12-month period.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why he issued a statement concerning the consequences of the non-ratification of the Paris Agreements at a time when the Agreements were being debated by the French National Assembly.

This statement was necessary in order to make clear the attitude of Her Majesty's Government to the Agreements to which this country is a party.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the present duties of the Rice Adviser to his Department.

The duties of the Rice Adviser are to advise on questions arising from the supply and distribution of rice. particularly in South-East Asia and the Far East. This officer also acts as Chairman of the Consultative Committee on Rice, an informal official body which meets in Singapore under the auspices of the Commissioner-General for the United Kingdom in South and South-East Asia, and on which all the major rice importing and exporting countries of the world are represented.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now say how much he estimates our obligations under the Manila Pact will cost Britain; and to what extent these obligations will reduce the assistance available to further the Colombo Plan.

It is impossible to make such an estimate as the cost must be related to the degree and nature of the detailed tasks to be undertaken. In reply to the last part of the Question, in my speech on the Manila Treaty on 8th November, I assured the House that the Colombo Plan would not be impaired by any commitments arising under Article III.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what report he has received about the bombing by Chinese Nationalist aircraft of a British ship, the "Edendale"; what action he is taking in the matter; and, in particular, what claim he has submitted for compensation in respect of the damage involved.

Reports received from the British naval authorities in Hong Kong state that the "Edendale," a ship of some 1,700 tons, registered in Hong Kong, was attacked on the afternoon of 19th January during a bombing raid on Swatow harbour by Chinese Nationalist aircraft. The ship, which was prominently marked with the British flag, was hit near the engine room and sank before she could be beached. The master has reported that all the crew are safe. Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking was at once instructed to ask the Chinese Government to afford all necessary facilities for the crew to return to Hong Kong and any other assistance which might be required. The Chinese Government have since replied that the Swatow authorities are looking after the crew and helping them to return to Hong Kong as soon as possible.As soon as Her Majesty's Consul in Formosa was informed of the attack on the "Edendale" he made an oral protest to the Provincial Authorities there. He followed this up on 22nd January by a written note protesting on behalf of Her Majesty's Government against this wanton and unprovoked attack against an innocent British merchant ship. His note reserved the right to claim full and prompt compensation for the loss caused.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the content of the official statement of the Chairman of Chinese Overseas Affairs on 3rd January, what representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government to the Chinese Government to use its influence on Chinese Communists in Malaya to bring to an end their terrorist activities.

Her Majesty's Government have made no representations to the Chinese Government on the lines suggested by the hon. Member. They have, however, noted that in the statement to which the hon. Member is presumably referring, Madame Ho Hsiang-ning, Director of the Commission of Overseas Affairs of the Government of the People's Republic of China, said that it was the duty of the Chinese Communists overseas not to take part in political disputes in their countries of residence, and to obey and observe the local laws and customs.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has studied the proposal of the Soviet Government on the subject of a possible agreement to hold free all-German elections under appropriate international supervision; and whether he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government on this question.

Yes. I have studied the Soviet statement of 15th January. But I have nothing to add to the reply given by the Prime Minister yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what offers of assistance were made by Her Majesty's Government to the President of the United States of America as a result of the widespread devastation caused by the hurricanes Carol and Edna in the United States of America on 31st August and 11th September, 1954, respectively; if such offers were accepted; and what assistance was actually given.

No offers of assistance were made by Her Majesty's Government. The staffs of Her Majesty's Embassy, Missions and Consulates in the United States privately subscribed $500 for the restoration of the Old North Church steeple in Boston damaged by the hurricane Carol.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the state of the law of sedition in the Colonies, with a view, so far as may be practicable, to giving effect in the Colonies to the principles of the English Common Law.

The laws relating to sedition in Colonial Territories follow, in the main, the principles of the Common Law, and I see no need for the inquiry suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Chinese in British colonial areas participated in the election of overseas Chinese representatives to the Government of the Peoples Republic of China.

Since there has been no overt participation, if any, the information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what policies have been adopted by the Government and Legislature of Bermuda adequate to cope with their population and illegitimacy problem set out in the Bermuda Commission's Report of 1951, which revealed that the population was about 2,300 to the square mile, a figure so rapidly increasing that it may be about 5,000 to the square mile within the next 30 years.

There have been no material changes in the position as outlined in my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member on 20th October.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many legislatures, chambers of commerce, agricultural societies and other organisations in the British West Indies have sent to him resolutions urging that the Government should be free to make special protective arrangements, where necessary, to assist commodities produced in the Colonies; and if he will give a list of the authorities.

Resolutions to this effect have been received from one Legislative Council and 18 other bodies in the British West Indies. The following is a list of these bodies:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is satisfied that adequate precautions exist to deal with any outbreak of violence in British Guiana; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. There has been no violent reaction to the publication of the report of the Constitutional Commission, and the situation in the Colony generally is quiet at present. I am, however, by no means complacent about the underlying position which must be improved considerably before there can be any relaxation of our precautions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the amount of total profit recorded by the company, Rhodesian Anglo-American Limited, for the year to July, 1954; and what was the total amount paid by the company in Income Tax and Profits Tax during 1953–54.

Income Tax throughout the Central African Federation is now the responsibility of the Federal Government, but the hon. Member may like to know that the information for which he asks is to be found in the company's report for the year ended 30th June, 1954.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what amount of Colonial Development and Welfare grants were made to Northern Rhodesia from United Kingdom funds during the year 1953–54.

Issues during 1953–54 totalled £684,500, £30,000 as loan and the rest as grants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been drawn to the comments of the resident magistrate in sentencing the president and secretary of the African National Congress in Northern Rhodesia to two months' hard labour for being found in possession of prohibited publications, that they were both educated and intelligent men, and that the publications were harmless to persons of intelligence and experience; how many non-Africans have been charged with offences under the legislation authorising such prosecutions; and whether he will now review this enactment.

I have seen newspaper reports of the proceedings. The Governor, however, informs me that the two persons convicted in this case have appealed against conviction. I regret therefore that I am unable to reply on the second and the last parts of the Question, since I am advised that they raise matters which remain sub judice.On the third part of the Question, a number of non-Africans have been prosecuted under the section of the Northern Rhodesian Penal Code which authorises prosecutions for possession of prohibited literature; but considerable research would be required to provide exact figures since the Legislation has been in force for over 16 years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply has been made by the Federal Administration in Malaya to the offer of Dato Sir Cheng Lock Tan to approach the Communist terrorist forces with a view to ending the fighting in Malaya.

The offer was not made to the Government but was announced in the Press in connection with the U.M.N.O./M.C.A. Alliance's proposals for an amnesty. These proposals were later discussed in the Director of Operations Committee when leading members of the Alliance were present. The Committee agreed unanimously that no general amnesty should be offered and that the present surrender policy which embodies a very real measure of amnesty, should continue and greater efforts be made to induce the remaining terrorists to take advantage of it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the present state of negotiations between the Gold Coast Government and Ashanti representatives.

The Prime Minister of the Gold Coast has invited representatives of Ashanti to a discussion with him. The invitation has not yet been accepted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the report of the commission investigating the Volta River Hydro-Electric Scheme on the Gold Coast will be available.

Studies of the various aspects of the scheme are well in hand, and it is hoped that the Volta River Preparatory Commission's Report will be available early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that loyal Kikuyu are being dismissed from their employment and repatriated to the tribal reserves without notice or reason being given; and what steps he is taking to prevent this.

No. I have seen a report to this effect about Y.M.C.A. hostel servants, but it is not correct. Some of the Kikuyu concerned have been found to be members of a Mau Mau committee and detained; the rest, all self-confessed members of Mau Mau, have been released on bond while the possibility of prosecution is being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the terms of the amnesty that has been offered to adherents of Mau Mau; and whether those now in rehabilitation and other camps will be released in the near future.

Terrorists who surrender while the new offer is in force will not be prosecuted by the Government for any offence connected with the Emergency committed before 18th January, but will be detained. The length of detention will depend on the circumstances of each individual case.As regards the second part of the Question, there has been no change in the Kenya Government's policy towards detained persons, which is to hold such persons so long, but only so long, as the security situation requires.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the values of manufactured goods originating in the United Kingdom and the United States of America, respectively, which have been consigned through Hong Kong to the Chinese People's Republic during the past year.

As Hong Kong trade statistics do not distinguish re-exports, the figures are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has yet received the Report of the Royal Commission on Agrarian Problems in East Africa; and how soon publication will be made.

No, but I understand that the Report should be with the printers early in February; but I cannot yet say when it will be ready for publication.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now arrange that a Minister of the Crown should answer Questions in the House on matters connected with the finance and administration of the nationalised industries.

I have no reason to doubt the efficacy of the existing arrangements governing these matters, especially as hon. Members may expect soon to enjoy increased opportunities for studying the affairs of the nationalised industries through the appointment of the proposed Select Committee.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will make a statement about his discussions with the National Farmers' Union on the future marketing of eggs.

Informal discussions have been taking place with the National Farmers' Unions with the object of enabling a marketing scheme for eggs to be put forward. Financial arrangements have now been worked out for implementing the Agriculture Act guarantees through a marketing board which appear both to the leaders of the unions and to the Government to offer a practicable basis for the consideration of a scheme containing full trading powers under the Agricultural Marketing Acts. I understand that the unions will now examine detailed proposals for a scheme on this basis. If they decide to submit a scheme it will of course be considered under the normal procedure laid down in the Agricultural Marketing Acts.

asked the Minister of Food what progress has been made by the Food Standards Committee in its investigations into the question of colouring matters in food.

The Committee's report was published on 5th January. Copies may be obtained from H.M.S.O., price 1s.

asked the Minister of Food how many complaints have been made to him about the undesirable activities of rings at cattle auctions; and what further consideration he has given to the matter.

I have received no specific complaints which on investigation have proved to be well-founded. Officers of my Department are continuing to keep a close watch on the operation of the auctions.

asked the Minister of Food the average rate of subsidy paid to egg packers in each month since April to bridge the gap between market prices and the prices guaranteed to egg producers; and the total amount expended.

The average rates of cash allowances paid to egg packers from April to December. 1954, inclusive were as follows:

Month	…	…	Cash Allowances per dozen eggs
April	…	…	1s. 7½d.
May	…	…	1s. 7¼d.
June	…	…	1s. 0d.
July	…	…	5½d.
August	…	…	5½d.
September	…	…	9½d.
October	…	…	6½d.
November	…	…	5¾d.
December	…	…	5d.

The total amount so expended was £15,850,000. In addition, a trading loss of £950,000 on eggs purchased from packers at support prices was incurred. The total subsidy incurred over the period to give effect to the price guarantees to producers under the Agriculture Act, 1947, was thus £16,800,000.