asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the tonnage moved by Nigerian Railways in 1954 and in 1950.

1,766,000 tons were moved in 1950 and 2,537,000 tons in 1954. This striking increase in performance, on which those concerned are to be congratulated, is due to improvements in maintenance and operating methods and in the supply of new locomotives and wagons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what approximate proportion of the export tonnage for Nigeria was moved to the ports by railway, river, and road, respectively, in 1954.

As the exportation routes frequently involve a combination of two, and sometimes three, methods of transport, exact figures are difficult to arrive at, but about 49 per cent. was carried by rail, 25 per cent. by river and creek and 26 per cent. by road. The total tonnages involved were 329,200 tons by road, 622,172 tons by rail and 315,249 tons by water.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what programme of works, with approximate dates of completion, has been decided upon for general wharf and berth accommodation at Port Harcourt.

A new lighter berth, tenders for which have to be submitted by 2nd March, 1955, should be completed by about mid-1956. Meanwhile, a temporary lighter berth has been completed. The contract drawings for the three new deep water berths are expected to be issued for pricing next summer. The main wharf will be extended by 1,500 feet to provide the deep water berths and three large transit sheds and a warehouse of 20,000 tons capacity. Work should begin on the wharf extension before the end of 1955 and the whole programme should be completed by about the end of 1958.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the revised estimate of casualties in the recent riots in Sierra Leone.

The revised figures are 18 killed and 96 injured.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress is being made in combating river blindness on the Volta.

Entomological research undertaken by the British Empire Society for the Blind in the Volta region, as part of their West African Survey, is nearing completion. This is expected to lead to recommendations for insecticidal campaigns in inhabited areas of the Upper Volta, along the tributary and subsidiary streams where the incidence of river blindness is higher than along the Volta itself.As regards the lower Volta, the special measures which may be required if it is decided to embark upon the Volta River hydro-electric project have been studied by the Preparatory Commission for that project, and will be included in its report. Meanwhile, substantial progress is being made by Government medical field units in the treatment of sufferers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the result of the inquiry in the eastern region of Nigeria regarding the alleged subversive activities of some civil servants; and whether he will publish the report.

I will ask the Governor of Eastern Nigeria for information about this matter and whether it is the intention to publish any report which may have been prepared, and will write to the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he proposes to take to lessen the formalities and undertakings required of British citizens domiciled in the United Kingdom who desire to visit British Colonial Territories in West Africa, the West Indies and elsewhere.

I am not aware that these formalities have caused any widespread inconvenience, and I see no reason at present to make any approach in the matter to the colonial Governments concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what inducement is given to administrative officers in the Colonial Service to learn native languages and dialects.

Each overseas Government has its own regulations, and they vary considerably. In most territories administrative officers are required to become proficient in a local language before they are confirmed in their appointments and are required to pass further language tests before they can pass certain points in their salary scales. Bonuses are offered for additional languages. If my hon. Friend is interested in any particular territory, I could let him have more precise information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that dissatisfaction is felt by the civilian employees at the naval base, Singapore, owing to the fact that their trade unions are not properly recognised and that this is breaking down the proper relationship which should exist between employers and employees; and if he will invite experienced trade unionists from this country to hold an inquiry into the position of the civilian employees of the three Government Departments in Singapore in order to prevent any future strikes.

No dissatisfaction on this score has been reported to my right hon. Friend. Joint consultative machinery is operated by all three Service Departments. There is an experienced trade union adviser in the Singapore Labour Department, and my right hon. Friend sees no reason to intervene in the manner suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has yet considered the complaint which the Singapore-Malay seamen have sent to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, a copy of which is in his possession, to the effect that European-operated shipping companies are using Malay seamen as sweated labour, and asking for an investigation; and if he will make a statement on the wages and conditions of Malay seamen and officers as compared with Europeans in that area.

My right hon. Friend has received from the United Nations only an undocumented complaint on this subject from an unnamed organisation in Singapore. Pay for seamen and officers recruited in Singapore is determined by qualification, regardless of race, whether for employment in foreign-going, home trade, or coasting vessels.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made with the rehabilitation of English Harbour, Antigua; and to what extent it is proposed to use Colonial Development and Welfare funds to complete this work.

Considerable progress has been made. Below is the list of repairs done during 1954. As regards the second part of the Question, it is in the first place for the Government of Antigua, taking into account their development plans as a whole, to consider whether they wish to apply for colonial development and welfare assistance for this particular project.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now make a statement indicating the effects on the economy and the unemployment in the West Indies which he expects will flow from the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, recently concluded at Geneva.

The negotiations at Geneva for the revision of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade have still not yet been concluded, and I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave him on 16th February, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has now received the five-year development plan from the Government of Sarawak; whether he has approved this plan; and what assistance he is providing through the Colonial Development and Welfare Fund.

Yes. The broad outlines of the plan have been generally approved, and my right hon. Friend hopes soon to announce the further colonial development and welfare assistance that will be made available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the recommendations of the expert who examined the educational systems in British North Borneo and Sarawak last year; to what extent those recommendations also covered Brunei; to what extent they included educational co-ordination with Brunei; and what action is being taken in respect of the recommendations.

Separate reports have been submitted to each of the three Governments, who are now considering them. They cover a very wide field. It is proposed to publish them when this consideration has been completed, and I will then have copies placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied that the Government farm guards are, in regard to training, equipment, and other relevant respects, competent to safeguard small farmsteads in the affected area of Kenya, and particularly in the district of Laikipia; and if he will make a statement.

A scheme to reorganise and strengthen the Farm Guard, which includes courses of military and police training began in December and will be completed in March. I understand that in the Laikipia district the spirit of guards and labour on the farms is particularly good.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that the majority of hangings in Kenya in the last 2½years have been for being in possession of arms and for consorting with terrorists and that proof of evil intent is not always easy to establish, he will consider advising the Governor of Kenya to modify the Regulations under which death sentences for this class of offence are given.

The question of capital offences created by the Emergency Regulations is under consideration by the Kenya Government, with whom I am in close touch.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Africans in Kenya were executed following trials in which witnesses were subsequently convicted of perjury; and what action Her Majesty's Government propose taking to order fresh trials for those sentenced under the same circumstances.

Intensive search of records has revealed no such cases. It has revealed only one case in which sentence of death was passed and witnesses were subsequently accused of perjury. In that case, the sentence was quashed on appeal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds Richard Achierg Oneko, who was absolutely acquitted on all charges at the Kapenguria trial in Kenya in 1953, has been detained since then without trial.

Richard Achierg Oneko, who was convicted at Kapenguria but acquitted on appeal on the charge of being a member of Mau Mau, is detained on grounds of public security. The Advisory Committee on Detainees, having heard his appeal, has recommended that he should continue to be detained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in respect of the implementation of constitutional reforms in Uganda.

The proposed changes in the Executive Council of Uganda will require minor amendments to the Constitutional Instruments, which are now being prepared for submission to Her Majesty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether money received by the Governor from individuals and companies granted rights for hydro-electric development in the Native Trust Lands under the Northern Rhodesia (Native Trust Land) Amendment No. 2 Order, 1954, will be made payable to the original occupier, owner, the native authority or to the Native Trust Land Fund.

Under the Native Trust Land Order in Council the Governor may acquire such land for public purposes. The object of the amending Order was simply to make it clear that public purposes include hydroelectric purposes. Under the Orders if any land is acquired for such purposes compensation must be paid both to the occupier and to the Native Trust Land Fund.The amendment is of general application and it was not considered necessary to consult any particular Native Authority. The Orders vest these powers of acquisition in the Governor, subject to my general or special directions; and in each case the Native Authority concerned, if any, must be consulted before the land is acquired. There is no specific power of appeal but any interested parties can, of course, make representations to the Governor or to me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many lepers there are in Northern Rhodesia; how many cases requiring treatment are now receiving it; whether he has satisfied himself that the new leprosy camps established on a self-supporting basis will not deter would-be patients; and, since the economic value of wider treatment and cure would be greater than the amounts saved by these economy measures, if he will reconsider his policy.

Care of lepers and treatment of leprosy is now the responsibility of the Federal Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Government's medical officer of health for Mufulina in Northern Rhodesia gave his approval to the recent decision of the Mufulina Municipal Board that three-and-a-half tons of meat, condemned as unfit for consumption, should be sold only to Africans.

No such incident has occurred.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) why the Inter-Territorial Movement of Persons (Control) Ordinance, 1954,in Northern Rhodesia, provides that the burden of proof in proceedings arising out of the Ordinance rests upon the accused; why no appeal except on points of personal identity are allowed against the Governor's warrants; and if he will give an assurance that Asians will still be allowed to enter from Nyasaland despite its provisions;(2) why the Inter-Territorial Movement of Persons Control Act has been given the Governor's assent in Northern Rhodesia.

The burden of proof rests on the prosecution except that a person charged with entering or remaining in the territory in contravention of the Ordinance has to prove either that he has a valid permit or other permission, or that he has a reasonable excuse for failure to comply with the conditions of entry.There is no appeal from the Governor's Orders because, under Section 5, the recommendation of the High Court is required, and, under Sections 6 and 7, the making of the Order is at the Governor's discretion; while Governor's warrants can only be issued after a conviction by a court under Section 9. No absolute assurance can be given as suggested, since the provisions of the Ordinance are irrespective of race, and each case is to be considered on its merits. The Governor saw no reason to withhold his assent to this Ordinance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the recognition was withdrawn from Chief Mpamba; why Green Zulu was appointed as his successor by the Provincial Commissioner since he was known to be unsympathetic to Congress; and if he will give an assurance that his appointment is acceptable to the Tumbuka people, whose chief he is to become.

On the withdrawal of recognition for Chief Mpamba, I invite the hon. Member's attention to my reply to the hon. Member for Central Ayrshire (Mr. Manuel) on 15th December, 1954. Green Zulu has been selected as chief by the headmen and people of the area in accordance with native custom and is fully acceptable to them; whatever sympathy he may have or lack towards Congress has no bearing on his acceptability to the Tumbuka people.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that Africans travelling first class by rail in Nyasaland are now segregated from Europeans; and what steps he is taking to end this discrimination.

Railways in Central Africa are on the Federal Legislative List, and although the Federal Government have not yet legislated to assume their powers in this field, I understand that they will do so shortly. They have already assumed general responsibility. The affairs of the railways in Central Africa are, therefore, no longer the responsibility of the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what financial measures he is taking to enable Africans in Tanganyika to play an increasing part in the trade, commerce and industry of that Colony.

The principal measure taken by Her Majesty's Government is the provision of colonial development and welfare funds. These have helped the Tanganyika Government to expand general and technical education of Africans, and to develop the economy of the territory and African participation in it.In particular the number of African co-operatives has been almost doubled since 1950. There are now 236 societies with an annual turnover exceeding £8 million. Apart from marketing raw produce they now own plant for processing coffee, maize and rice. There is also a revolving loan fund of £100,000 for encouraging African industrial and commercial projects.The Makonde Water Scheme and the participation of Africans in the Colonial Development Corporation's Wattle Scheme at Njombe are interesting examples of new forms of African enterprise which the Tanganyika Government are actively encouraging.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the terms and purpose of the Tanganyika Societies Ordinance, 1954.

I am arranging to send the hon. Member a copy of the Ordinance. It provides for a system of registration of societies (with certain defined exceptions) and examination of their constitutions and objects. Its purpose is to protect Africans from exploitation by unscrupulous society organisers, and it gives the Government power to declare illegal a society which is used for any purpose prejudicial to law and order or at variance with its declared objects.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the progress to date of the new Whitley Council in Tanganyika.

I am consulting the Governor, and will circulate the information in the Official Report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which branches of the Tanganyika African Union have been refused registration, and in which cases branch property has been and remains impounded

The Lake Province, Mwanza, and Malampaka branches of the Tanganyika National Union have been refused registration, and their property has been vested in the district commissioners concerned for disposal in accordance with the provisions of the Tanganyika law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that 76 families of earthquake victims in Ktima, Cyprus, are still living in tents, he is satisfied with the measures for earthquake relief; and whether he will authorise some further immediate action to end the continuing homelessness of these people some of whom are aged and infirm.

Nearly all these families have now been settled in houses. The last four families living in tents are expected to move into houses this week. The second part of the Question, therefore, does not arise.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, of the types of aircraft to come into service with the Fleet Air Arm since the war, how many have been delivered on time; and which types were received behind schedule.

The original forecast dates, given long before development has been completed, are very rough estimates which though necessary as targets are liable to be affected by many factors which cannot be assessed at the time. They are apt to be misleading if taken as criteria for judging achievement. In the event none of the forecasts for aircraft introduced since the war has proved correct.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the births of children born overseas to the wives of Army and Royal Air Force personnel stationed abroad may be registered at Somerset House; that no such provision exists in the case of children born to the wives of Royal Navy personnel at shore stations overseas, such as Malta; and whether he will introduce legislation with retrospective effect to remove this anomaly.

Yes. The question of legislation is being considered.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when the naval General Service Medal with clasp, Bomb and Mine Clearance, 1945–51, will become available for distribution.

A clasp for bomb and mine clearance 1945–53 was recently approved, and will be available for distribution in about a month.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty to make a statement about the tampering with the oil supply in the port main gearing of H.M.S. "Grenville" in the Royal Naval Dockyard, Chatham.

During the refit of Her Majesty's Ship "Grenville" at Chatham Dockyard, sand was discovered in the oil supply to the port main gearing. Careful inquiries have been made but I am not at present in a postion to indicate any firm conclusions. No damage was caused.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many of the recommendations of the Pilcher Committee on the Naval Discipline Act have not yet been implemented; and with what subjects these recommendations deal.

All the recommendations of the Pilcher Committee have been implemented except the 12 which require legislation and the nine which were rejected. For the details of these recommendations I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave him on 17th March, 1954, and to Command Paper No. 8141 issued in January, 1951.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when he will introduce legislation to implement the 12 recommendations of the Pilcher Committee on the Naval Discipline Act, which he has accepted and which involve amendments to the Act.

It is not possible at present to introduce legislation for this purpose.

—	Re-engagements among men completing 12-year (1st continuous service) engagements				Transfers to 1 st continuous service engagements among men completing 7-year (special service) engagements
	April to September, 1953		April to September, 1954		April to September, 1953		April to September, 1954
	Numbers completing 1st C.S.	Percentage reengaging	Numbers completing 1st C.S.	Percentage reengaging	Numbers completing S.S.	Percentage transferring	Numbers completing S.S.	Percentage transferring
		Per cent.		Per cent.		Per cent.		Percent.
Seaman and communication	798	28	513	30	688	3	1,794	3
Stoker mechanic	37	60	32	46	691	5	983	3
Electrician	251	26	221	33	979	11	287	7
Naval airman	139	57	138	59		14	591	12
Supply and secretariat	40	68	17	59		15	467	13
Others (mainly artificers)	156	63	150	44		31	74	39
Total R.N.	1,421	36	1,071	37	2,358	8	4,196	6
R.M	116	20	145	22	Nil	Nil	30	Nil
*NUMBERS OF TRANSFERS OF NATIONAL SERVICE MEN TO CONTINUOUS OR SPECIAL SERVICE ENGAGEMENTS

April to September, 1953	…	…	…	…	31
April to September, 1954	…	…	…	…	58
*These occurred amongst men at various stages of their two years' full-time service and cannot therefore be related directly to numbers completing such service during these periods.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will establish a committee of inquiry into the reasons for the decline in voluntary recruitment to the Royal Navy.

I would ask the hon. Member to await my right hon. Friend's speech introducing the Navy Estimates tomorrow, when he will deal with this subject.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the percentage of ratings during the six months since the last pay rise given to the services in each branch of the Royal Navy who have, respectively, signed on to complete time for pension, signed on to complete a 12 years' engagement from an original engagement of seven years plus five years on the reserve, and signed on for a continuous or special service engagement after completing their National Service; and how these percentages of re-engagements compare with a similar period 12 months prior to the pay rise.

Following is the answer:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what account is to be taken of submarines driven by nuclear power in future naval construction.

The Admiralty has this matter fully and constantly in mind.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the fighter air craft designated N.113 in the Naval Estimates, 1955–56, is the aircraft formerly known as S.525.

S.525 is the makers' designation for the aircraft from which the N.113 is being evolved.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what conditions are attached to the grant of requests for discharge by purchase from the Royal Navy.

Men are required to produce a "good and substantial reason" for wishing to purchase their discharge. If this is of a compassionate nature, immediate discharge is normally granted. If the reason is not of a compassionate nature, priority of release is determined by length of service in each class of engagement.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider allowing men who executed special service engagements prior to the issue of A.F.O. 3342/50 to enjoy the benefits of that order in respect of previous National Service.

No.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that the provision of telephones at Sully, Glamorgan, is being held up by shortage of equipment at the Sully Exchange; and if he will take steps to improve the supply of necessary equipment.

The present exchange cannot be extended but a larger and more modern exchange is to be installed by the end of the year.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why the latest collection of letters in the Members' Post Office in the House of Commons for the first delivery in Cardiff the next morning is as early as 8 p.m. in view of the fact that the mail train leaves Paddington at 1 a.m. and arrives at Cardiff at 5.30 a.m.

Letters for Cardiff posted at the Members' Post Office up to.9.30 p.m. and, when the House is sitting late, up to 11.0 p.m. are due to be delivered by first post next weekday. If my hon. Friend has posted any letters in time for these collections which have not been delivered by first post, I shall be glad if he will let me have details.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware of the distress among inhabitants in the Falkland Islands owing to the delay in the delivery of mail from the United Kingdom; if he is aware that although L. N. P. Machell, of 3, Lister Terrace, Crook, County Durham, wrote to friends on 6th August, 7th October, and 5th November, 1954, these mails did not arrive at Port Stanley until just before Christmas; that for over three months inhabitants of these islands had no United Kingdom mail; and if he will take steps to improve this state of affairs and thus help this isolated community from suffering hardship.

The hon. Member has been good enough to send me details of this complaint, and I shall be writing to him about it very shortly. Meanwhile I can assure him that the circumstances which led to some delay in delivery of surface mail to the Falkland Islands in the autumn of last year were quite exceptional and are not likely to be repeated.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what further negotiations have taken place between the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority about the joint use of transmitting masts; and to what extent Band III transmissions can function on Band I masts.

As regards the first part of the Question, I cannot add to my reply of 2nd February to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Down, South (Captain Orr).As regards the second part, it is not possible to give a general answer. The matter largely depends on the capacity of the individual B.B.C. mast to carry a suitable Band III aerial array, with its associated power leads, and on the coverage that could be obtained thereby.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will intro duce legislation to prevent the commercial television operators holding discussions on political matters which are likely to be debated in Parliament within a fortnight in circumstances in which the Government prevents the British Broadcasting Corporation holding such discussions.

No new legislation is necessary. The power exists under Section 9 (2) of the Television Act, 1954. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister indicated in reply to the right hon. Member for Smethwick (Mr. Gordon Walker) on 23rd February, it is intended that arrangements regarding B.B.C. broadcasts of this kind shall also be applied to the I.T.A.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether, in view of the Government's policy of restraining excessive internal demand, he will take steps to postpone the operation of the Television Act, 1954.

No.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (1) if he is satisfied that the "D" notice procedure of the Press Committee is now working satisfactorily; and if he will make a statement:(2) how comprehensive, among newspapers and magazines, the agreement is to abide by the "D" notice procedure of the Press Committee; what sanctions exist if a publication refuses to give an undertaking; and to what extent the agreement extends to the publishers of books.

Under the "D" notice procedure editors of newspapers and periodicals in this country voluntarily accept guidance in security matters. Publishers of books are encouraged to seek guidance about the subjects with which they are likely to be concerned. In itself the procedure does not provide for sanctions. It is not easy to reconcile the need for security with the satisfaction of public interest in Service matters but, in general, the arrangements work very well. I should like to pay tribute to the high sense of responsibility that editorial staffs show in these matters.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air whether, in view of the fact that vaccination and inoculation are voluntary in the Services, he is aware that an order, page 5 of S.R.O., Serial No. 7. dated 27th January, 1955,signed A. H. Corston, Flight Lieutenant, Adjutant, Royal Air Force Support Unit, whereby leave for un-vaccinated personnel is stopped, is displayed at headquarters in France; that there is no date limit; that, as the leave year ends in March, non-compliance with the order would mean in many cases loss of leave; and if he will take disciplinary action in respect of this order which is contrary to regulations.

I regret that my investigations are not yet completed. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what discussions he has had with the International Committee for Bird Preservation, with a view to the protection of wild birds from bombing operations during the moulting season; and if he will make a statement.

My noble Friend and I have considered with the British section of this Committee what can be done to minimise the danger to sheld-duck on the Cuxhaven Bombing Range, off the north-west coast of Germany, during the moulting season, when the birds cannot fly. During the next moulting season, only practice bombs will be dropped. These contain no explosive other than a small charge to set off a smoke marker. The Royal Air Force will co-operate with ornithologists, under arrangements to be made with the British section of the Committee, to inspect the range both before and after bombing, to establish the effect on the sheld-duck. I have every hope that as the result of these measures we shall find that the species has been able to moult without being seriously molested.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has reached a decision on the proposal made to him by the Kent County Council, concerning the construction of a new bridge over the Swale at Kingsferry.

No. I am awaiting specific proposals from the Kent County Council.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation which schemes in the proposed road developments will directly benefit the County Borough of Stockport.

I have nothing to add at present to my statement of 2nd February, for the reasons which I gave then.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the progress to date of the 10 major road improvement schemes announced by him on 8th December, 1953.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps he is taking to expedite the preliminary procedure in regard to new road construction.

The preliminary procedure in connection with new road construction is necessarily somewhat lengthy, since it incorporates adequate safeguards for the interests of those affected, but I will ensure that as far as practicable simultaneous action is taken on the various things to be done.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is satisfied that highway authorities take all possible steps to de-ice slippery roads; what research is being undertaken to simplify this operation; how many accidents have occurred during February, which can be solely attributable to skidding on greasy or icy roads; and if he will state the number of deaths from injuries in those accidents.

Yes. The Road Research Laboratory are continuing research on this question. I am afraid the figures requested in the third and fourth parts of the Question are not yet available, and will not, when available, distinguish between accidents solely attributable to skidding from those involving skidding.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent the local work of propaganda for launching the new Highway Code is being held up because local authorities are uncertain of their financial position; and if he will consider sending a letter advising local authorities of the continuation of the 50 per cent. grant.

I shall shortly be sending out the circular on this subject which is normally issued at this time of year.It will indicate that I will continue to contribute 50 per cent. grant from Exchequer Funds towards approved road safety activities carried out by local authorities in 1955–56.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what sums he intends to allocate for the maintenance and minor improvement of trunk and classified roads in the counties of Northumberland, Durham and Cumberland, and the North Riding of Yorkshire for 1955–56;and how these compare with the allocation for the current financial year.

The following are the figures. In order to retain comparability those for 1954–55 exclude any supplementary allocations made during the course of the year.

Authority	Allocation
	1954–55	1955–56
	£	£
TRUNK ROADS:
Cumberland C.C	98,000	98,000
Workington T.C.	3,156	2,000
	101,156	100,000
Northumberland C.C.	185,000	215,000
Durham C.C	105,000	100,000
Stockton T.C	20,000	18,000
Felling U.D.C	4,000	4,000
	129,000	122,000
North Riding C.C.	140,000	135,000
Scarborough T.C.	2,000	6,000
	142,000	141,000
CLASSIFIED ROADS:
Cumberland C.C.	199,200	225,000
Northumberland C.C	310,124	325,000
Durham C.C	510,000	560,000
North Riding C.C	288,732	295,000

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the importance of A66 as a traffic route for heavy industrial loads passing between Lancashire and the North-East Coast, what steps he is taking to improve the road and provide adequate lay-bys, shelters, and similar facilities.

I am at present considering what improvements are to be carried out on this road during the coming financial year. Among them I hope to include some widening and realignment of the existing carriageway in Yorkshire and the provision of two additional lay-bys in Westmorland.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation in view of the potential snow danger to heavy industrial loads and their drivers travelling between Lancashire and North-East England, what steps he is taking to install an adequate snow-warning system on the exposed section of A66.

Full warning was given to drivers during the recent bad weather that before setting out they should get the latest news about the state of the roads from the police or the motoring organisations.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many road casualties occurred in Brentford and Chiswick during 1954; and how these figures compared with those of the three previous years.

The number of road casualties in Brentford and Chiswick during 1954 and in the three previous years are given in the table below.

Year		Number of Casualties
		Killed	Seriously injured	Slightly injured	Total
1954	…	6	75	340	421
1953	…	7	43	368	418
1952	…	6	59	377	442
1951	…	8	46	352	406

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if the plan for improving the London-Glasgow trunk road in the County of Lanark, particularly the Crawford and Larkhall-Hamilton by-passes, has now been approved; and on what dates he expects work to start.

The improved line of this trunk road in Lanarkshire has been surveyed throughout and Orders under the Trunk Roads Acts have been made fixing the lines of by-passes and diversions, including the Crawford and Larkhall-Hamilton by-passes. No detailed drawings have been prepared except for the length from Auldton Heights to a point 1·7 miles south of Millbank. As regards the second part of the Question, I am not at present in a position to go be yound what was included in my statement of 2nd February.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the number of accidents in which personal injury and loss of life, respectively, was sus-stained within the designated area of the new town of East Kilbride, and on the trunk roads within the county of Lanark last year and the year before, respectively.

In 1954 28 accidents involving personal injury and 1 fatal accident occurred in the new town of East Kilbride, compared with 37 personal injury and no fatal accidents in 1953. On trunk roads in Lanarkshire in 1954 there were 312 accidents involving personal injury and 12 fatal accidents, compared with 262 personal injury accidents and 22 fatal accidents in 1953.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many successful prosecutions there were in 1954 under Section 19 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930; and how many there were in 1952.

506 and 1,040 respectively. In both cases the figures are for the year ended 30th September. In addition there were in these two years 2,825 and 4,545 convictions for offences against the provisions of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, relating to hours of work and the keeping of drivers' records.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now place a copy of the Survey Report on British Canals in the Library.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will now arrange for a copy of the Rusholme Committee's Report to be placed in the Library; and what further negotiations he has had with the Transport Commission with a view to accelerating the publishing of the Report.

The British Transport Commission intends to publish this Report, which is now being printed. The Commission informs me that it will be glad to supply a copy of the Report to any hon. Member who will let them know that he would like one.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a statement on the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into London Transport.

Yes, as soon as I have completed my consideration of the Committee's conclusions and recommendations.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to place in the Library copies of Part II of the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into London Transport.

I will arrange for a typescript copy of Part II of the Report to be placed in the Library.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation on what date he received the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into London Transport.

On 28th January, 1955.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps he is taking to meet the need for new boats for the car ferries in Scotland which are under the control of his Department, having special regard to the needs of the industry and the tourist traffic.

No car ferries in Scotland are under the control of my Department. The provision of new boats for these ferries is a matter for the different authorities concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will take steps to encourage potential recruits to the Merchant Navy to join the Sea Cadet Corps.

I am issuing very shortly an amending Regulation granting young men who satisfactorily complete the cadet petty officers' course in the Sea Cadet Corps remission of up to three months in the period of qualifying sea service required for the statutory certificate of competency as A.B. Cadet petty officers make excellent recruits for the Merchant Navy and I hope this arrangement will encourage boys to join this excellent organisation and make the sea their career.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is satisfied that relatives and dependants of passengers and members of the crews who died in the two Comet disasters have received, or will receive, proper and adequate compensation; and if he will make a statement.

In the case of the Comet which crashed off Elba, death benefit under the Airways Corporations' Joint Pension Scheme has already been paid to employees of B.O.A.C. and B.E.A. whether aircrew or passengers. B.O.A.C.'s underwriters are now dealing with claims received in respect of other passengers, which have necessarily remained unsettled until the findings of the public inquiry were published I am unable to state the position as regards those whose lives were lost in the aircraft which fell into the sea off Naples. This aircraft was on hire to South African Airways who were operating it with their own crew. Questions of compensation arising out of this accident are, therefore, a matter for South African Airways.

asked the Minister of Defence what action he is taking to ensure that guidance is given to all ranks of all three Services to assist them to resist treatment as prisoners of war of the type described in the pamphlet issued by him on the treatment of British prisoners of war in Korea.

This matter is naturally receiving my careful attention in the light of the circumstances to which my hon. Friend refers. I am not yet able to give him a detailed answer.

asked the Minister of Defence how many non-industrial civil servants were employed altogether by his Department and the three Service Departments at the latest date for which

(1)			(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)
Department			Staff in position, 1st January, 1952	Staff in position, 1st January, 1954	Staff in position, 1st January, 1955	Increase or decrease of col. (4) over col. (2)	Increase or decrease of col. (4) over col. (3)
						Per cent.	Per cent.
Ministry of Defence	…	…	1,010	887	865	- 14·0	- 2·5
Admiralty	…	…	32,843	33,652	33,765	+ 2·8	+ 0·3
War Office	…	…	37,800	39,032	39,442	+ 4·3	+ 1·1
Air Ministry	…	…	26,117	26,356	26,536	+ 1·6	+ 0·7

asked the Minister of Supply to state in detail the nature of the steps taken by the Electric Lamp Manufacturers Associations, and the nature of the steps taken by the associations concerned with the supply of electric wire and cables to bring their arrangements into conformity with the Monopolies Commission's conclusions in respect of those goods.

The steps taken by the Electric Lamp Manufacturers' Association to implement the recommendations in the Monopolies Commission's Report which were agreed by the Government are as follows:

(a) E.L.M.A. has given the required undertaking that members who sell lamp components (other than patented components and ready coiled filaments) will make them equally available to members and non-members at prices which shall not be higher to non-members than to members;

(b) E.L.M.A. has given the required assurance that the controlled companies will continue to provide a measure of competition as suppliers of cheap lamps and that they will not be used as fighting companies;

(c) the sales quota system has been brought to an end;

(d) E.L.M.A.'s rules about type B lamps have been altered to remove quantity and quality restrictions;

The answer is as follows:

(e) the arrangements for exclusive dealing have been brought to an end;

(f) payments to associations of distributors have been brought to an end;

(g) E.L.M.A.'s revised rules no longer provide for the enforcement of resale price maintenance by means of the collective sanction of fines and the stop list;

(h) E.L.M.A.'s revised rules permit all retailers to give deferred dividends on purchases.

• On prices the Monopolies Commission recommended that the continuance of the practice of fixing common manufacturers' prices should be subject to two conditions, namely:
• (a) that E.L.M.A. members should take steps to ensure that the system of exchange of technical knowledge ex tended to all manufacturers who are within the system of common prices; and
• (b) that the level of prices fixed by E.L.M.A. should be reasonable.

The Association has given an assurance that the necessary steps have been taken to meet the first condition. The Monopolies Commission concluded that the general level of prices charged by E.L.M.A. in 1950 was almost certainly moderate and the Association has justified the two subsequent increases on the grounds of increased production costs.As regards insulated electric wires and cables, I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Cleveland (Mr. Palmer) on 21st February and to the two statements made by my predecessor on 20th May and 30th July, 1954, of which I am sending him copies.The detailed measures taken by the Associations to bring their arrangements into conformity with the conclusions of the Monopolies Commission's Report are a domestic matter for the Associations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to state for 1953 and 1954, respectively, for England and Wales, the number of murders known to the police; the number of murders in which the suspected murderer committed suicide; the number of murders in which the supposed murderer was found unfit to plead or, on pleading, was found guilty but insane; the number of persons charged with murder and acquitted; the number of persons found guilty of murder and sentenced to death; the number of those sentenced to death who were subsequently found to be insane; the number of those sentenced to death who were reprieved; and the number of those sentenced to death who were executed.

The number of murders known to the police in England and Wales in 1953, excluding cases ultimately dealt with as manslaughter or infanticide, was 141. In 53 of those cases, the suspected murderer died before trial,51 of them by suicide. In 36 cases the supposed murderer was either found insane on arraignment and unfit to plead, or guilty but insane. Two persons were handed over to the United States authorities for trial; in respect of one person the Attorney-General entered a nolle prosequi: and seven persons were acquitted. The number of persons convicted and sentenced to death was 28. Of these, one had his conviction quashed on appeal; one was subsequently certified insane; 10 were reprieved and had their sentences commuted to imprisonment for life; and 16 were executed. Similar information for 1954 is not yet available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government by what percentage he has instructed his principal regional officers to cut local authority allocations in house building.

None. My regional officers are instructed to treat each local authority's building programme individually.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the sum paid to local authorities by the Exchequer under Sections 16 and 25 of the Housing Act, 1949, for each of the years 1950 to 1954, inclusive.

The sums paid to local authorities in England and Wales by the Exchequer under Sections 16 and 25 of the Housing Act, 1949, have been as follows:

Financial year			Amount
			£
1950–51	…	…	179
1951–52	…	…	2,276
1952–53	…	…	12,621
1953–54	…	…	29,854

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government his estimate, based on the areas of land scheduled in development plans, of land likely to be required, in England and Wales, for house-building and urban development in the next 20 years.

I have been most carefully considering what information I could give my hon. Friend in reply to his Question. I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that there are so many unknown or uncertain factors, that any estimate which I might give him regarding the building programme over the next 20 years would be wholly unreliable and consequently misleading.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many applications have been made for certificates of disrepair under the Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne; and how many such certificates have been issued.

I am informed that up to 14th February, 1955,Newcastle-upon-Tyne City Council had received 196 applications by tenants for certificates of disrepair. Of these 182 had been granted and none refused. Five had been withdrawn; the rest were still under con- sideration. Up to the same date, there had been four applications by landlords for the revocation of certificates of disrepair, upon the completion of the required repairs. Two of these had been granted and two were under consideration.