asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air his estimate of the financial saving in his Department which would result from reducing the National Service period by six months.

The direct saving in pay, allowances, accommodation, etc., resulting from the reduced numbers of National Service men in the Air Force would amount of £8 million. But the total financial effect would depend upon the extent to which the power of the Royal Air Force would have to be reduced to match the available manpower.

Is not the Under-Secretary aware that this money could be much better used for improving the pay and conditions of volunteers in the Air Force? Since the Korean Armistice there is no real justification for this long period of conscription. Will not the Under-Secretary consider how this saving could be made for the purpose of attracting more volunteers?

The hon. Gentleman knows that we are doing everything we can to attract long-term Regulars. We would much sooner have them. He also knows that the Air Force played very little part in the Korean War.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what inquiry has been made into the loss of two Shackleton aircraft which were lost from St. Eval on the evening of 11th January; at what time these aircraft took off; what was the estimated time of arrival back at base; when the last message was received from these aircraft; at what time search and rescue operations began; and if he is satisfied that no avoidable time elapsed before the first aircraft and surface vessels began their searches.

As the answer is rather long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

I should, however, like to take this opportunity of expressing the sympathy of the Air Council with the relatives of those who are missing.

If the Under-Secretary cannot give all the details for which I have asked, can he at least give the assurance for which I asked in the last part of my Question?

Yes, Sir. I have examined this matter very carefully, and I am quite satisfied that search and rescue operations were carried out as quickly as possible, and that no delay occurred before the aircraft and surface vessels began their search.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the percentage of officers and other ranks registered, respectively, as Church of England, other denominations, Roman Catholic, Jews and Agnostics or Rationalist; the approximate percentage attending officially provided religious services; and whether, in the absence of any personally declared conviction, the registration of Church of England is still automatically made.

I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table of figures giving the answer to the first part of the Question as at 1st January, 1954, the latest date for which the figures required are available. Details of attendance at official religious services are not recorded. The Regulations provide that any declaration of belief or non-belief is to be accepted and registered.

I wonder if the Under-Secretary could answer more specifically the last part of my Question, in which I asked whether

" in the absence of any personally declared conviction, the registration of Church of England is still automatically made "?

I wish to ask a supplementary question on that.

Officially, it never was automatically made. I think that now the position has been made quite clear—that in the absence of any declared religious conviction, a man would be registered as holding no religious belief.

Is it not true that a very large percentage arc registered as Church of England when in many cases they have no religious convictions whatever?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (1) how many of the Blackburn freighter and the V.1000 transport aircraft, respectively, have been ordered for the Royal Air Force; approximately when they are expected to be available for service; and what other aircraft types, other than the Comet, have been ordered for Transport Command;

It would clearly not be in the public interest to give the total number of every type of aircraft ordered. Enough V.1000's have been ordered to get economic production going but it is not at present possible to say when this aircraft will come into service.

Meanwhile, orders have been placed for a number of Comets Mark 2; these aircraft are being strengthened and modified for use by the Royal Air Force and, subject to the satisfactory outcome of special tests, we hope that the first aircraft will be delivered at the beginning of next year. As the House knows, substantial orders have been placed for the Blackburn freighter. Deliveries will begin within the next few months. No other aircraft types have been ordered for Transport Command.

May I ask, first, whether it is possible to give a date, within at least a year, with regard to the V.1000; and, secondly, if the hon. Gentleman's answer means that the idea of using the Princess flying boat has now been completely dropped?

On the first point, I would hesitate to give a forecast because it is still so far off, but, as the hon. Gentleman knows, the V.1000 was ordered off the drawing board in the middle of 1954, and we are hoping that the first prototype will fly in mid-1956. As to the second part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, the development of the Princess flying boat is, of course, a matter for the Minister of Supply. But, as I said in the course of the debate on the Air Estimates, we have been forced to the conclusion that in nuclear warfare there would be few tasks which only a flying boat could perform, and that, from the point of view of the Royal Air Force, the money would be better spent on the provision of land-based aircraft.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what results the international exchange of views on oil pollution has had to date; and what likelihood there is in the near future of an agreement to install separators on all ocean-going cargo vessels.

Twenty countries have signed a convention, subject to ratification. The Oil in Navigable Waters Bill will, if Parliament passes it, enable Her Majesty's Government to ratify it, and power is proposed to be taken to provide for the installation of equipment of this kind in certain British ships. Another international conference will take place in 1957. The question of separators will be further discussed then.

While gratefully acknowledging what the Government are trying to do in this matter, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether there is really any hope of success in getting international agreement on the installation of separators, because that really is the issue?

The international convention to which I referred was a great advance on any previous agreement which it had been possible to reach, but we can always hope to carry it further.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if his attention has been called to the resolution, a copy of which has been sent to him, passed by the United Kingdom Chamber of Shipping, calling on Her Majesty's Government to refrain from transactions involving flag discrimination; and what action the Government is taking to discourage practices of this sort which tend to increase shipping costs, and hinder the flow of trade.

The answer to the first part of the Question is " Yes, Sir." As regards the second part, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Holt) on 23rd March.

Has my right hon. Friend impressed upon the other Government Departments the fact that if the Government condone practices of this sort it is bound to encourage other countries to do the same, and will be greatly to the detriment of our own shipping interests as well as being liable to impede the trade of the free world?

The answer to which I sought to invite my hon. and gallant Friend's attention indicates the attitude of Her Majesty's Government in this matter.

Can the Minister at least assure us that no further purchases of American coal will take place upon this sort of flag discrimination basis?

I do not think that questions concerning purchases of coal are for me.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent the practice of discrimination against the British Mercantile Marine is in operation; and if he will name the countries concerned.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Holt) on 23rd March.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that our grand Mercantile Marine takes a very poor view of what is happening about this flag discrimination? Can we look to my right hon. Friend really to stand up in a big way for the rights of our Mercantile Marine?

Yes, Sir.

On a point of order. I did not hear what my right hon. Friend said.

I said " Yes, Sir."

Does the Minister appreciate that his rather evasive reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East (Mr. Blenkinsop) about purchases of coal will cause concern, unless he amplifies it? Will he give an undertaking to the House that the Government will not in future enter into any bargains of this nature which involve, as part of the purchase price, the bringing in of coal in ships the chartering of which may cost more than the chartering of our own ships?

The hon. Member will appreciate from his own experience that I cannot answer questions which, if they are to be put at all, should properly be put to one of my right hon. Friends and not to me.

Will my right hon. Friend represent this case to other Government Departments? His Department is responsible for the interests of our merchant shipping.

I am constantly in touch with my right hon. Friends upon this and other matters.

Is it not the case that the Government ought to speak with one voice, whether or not they do so, and it really ought not to be a case of the Minister making representations to other Departments? He is in a position to give us an assurance, and unless he will give us an assurance the worst deductions will be drawn from his evasiveness. Does not he agree that the best possible practice in relation to any future purchases of coal or any other commodity would be that those who purchase should be free to charter ships in the best market?

No one who knows anything about the processes of administration would regard it as sensible or wise for one Minister to answer questions which should properly be put to another Minister. It may have happened under the previous Government, but it does not happen under this one.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps he is taking to protect the British Merchant Navy against discrimination by means of exporters of merchandise in foreign countries insisting on the use of their own ships for its transportation.

I try to support resistance to flag discrimination wherever it is met, but I am afraid I have no control over the actions of individual shippers.

May I ask my right hon. Friend once again if he will collect together all the Ministers responsible and make a great protest in support of the British Mercantile Marine and its rights in this matter?

If my hon. Friend will study the answers which I have given upon several previous occasions in connection with this subject she will see that such a meeting would be wholly unnecessary.

The answers of the right hon. Gentleman are really very unsatisfactory. Does not he agree that this is essentially a matter for his Department? Will he at least give an undertaking that he will urge upon his right hon. Friends in the other Departments which deal with the supply of coal that they should not do this kind of thing in future?

If the hon. Member will read the reply which I gave him a few days ago, he will see the answer to his question.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will institute an inquiry into the loss of life that occurred in the s.s. " Stratheden " during rescue operations on Sunday, 13th March, and report to the House.

A statutory Inquiry into the cause of death of those who lost their lives has already been held and, with permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT an account of the incident based on the proceedings at the Inquiry.

I am sure the House will join with me in expressing deepest sympathy with the relatives of those who have lost their lives in this tragic accident.

I should like to associate myself with the sympathy expressed by the right hon. Gentleman to those who have been recently bereaved by this tragic incident, but in view of the widely publicised criticisms which have been levelled against the captain of the " Stratheden " and the amount of correspondence which I have received in connection with this matter, and of which the Minister is aware, does not he think that it is only right, in the interests of the captain and his crew, as well as the public, that this inquiry should be much bigger than a Departmental inquiry? Does not he agree that it should be a full and public inquiry, in order that those who have been adversely criticised may have the opportunity of stating their case, and the nation can judge the matter when the proceedings are published?

I do not know whether the hon. Member appreciates that the inquiry, which was held under Section 690 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, was held in public and was, in fact, very fully reported in the Press.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, in view of the evidence that road hauliers are now combining for the purpose of avoiding rate cutting, thus nullifying the objective of free competition upon which the Transport Act, 1953, was based, he will now take steps to repeal the Act.

I do not accept the assumption in the first part of the Question. The second part does not, therefore, arise.

Is the Minister aware that Mr. Duncan Carmichael, who is the Scottish Area Chairman of the Road Haulage Association, said, in a speech to road hauliers at Aberdeen, that they must avoid rate cutting and must combine together for this purpose? Surely, that is against the aims of the Act, which was to ensure that competition existed?

I am sure that the gentlemen in question, like all Scotsmen, made a very good speech, but I do not think that the quotation from his speech amounts to any justification of the implication in the Question.

Is it not a fact that the presence of several hundred thousand C licence vehicles will always infuse a large degree of competition into the road haulage industry and prevent any of the undesirable practices to which the hon. Gentleman's Question so falsely alludes?

I think it has something of that effect.

Is the Minister aware how glad we are to hear that the hon. Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro) is catching up on the argument which we used against the disposal of nationalised lorries two years ago?

That is the worst thing I have ever heard said of my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) if he will take action to see that the holder of a driving licence to drive anything from a motor-tricycle to a heavy locomotive is not required to pass a further test to convey a small motor lawn mower on the public highway from one garden to another without displaying L plates;

I am advised that as the law stands at present, small domestic lawn mowers are probably not " motor vehicles " within the meaning of the Road Traffic Acts, even if occasionally used on a road, and that, accordingly, their drivers do not need driving licences. Nevertheless, to avoid any doubt on the point, the Government in another place accepted an Amendment to the Road Traffic Bill which provides that " pedestrian-controlled grass cutters " shall not be treated as " motor vehicles " for the purposes of the Road Traffic Acts, with the result that their drivers will not have to undergo driving tests or obtain driving licences and that certain other statutory requirements will not apply. The same Amendment provides that for lighting purposes these lawn mowers shall be treated as hand-propelled vehicles.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I raised this matter in December, 1952, and again in January, 1953? I am sure that the more active members of the nation will feel very pleased, and will be thankful to the right hon. Gentleman for having at last taken steps to come to a common-sense decision in the matter?

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman's name will be remembered gratefully on every lawn.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the Amendment which has been inserted in the Bill in another place covers a tractor towing a wire-bailer?

I should like notice of that question, but I should be inclined to think not.

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider extending this Amendment a little further with regard to agricultural instruments used on one farm? Quite often we get a road across one farm. and it is a tremendous inconvenience if one has to go back from one farm gate to another.

That raises a much bigger question, because the implements with which we are dealing in the Amendment are pedestrian-controlled, whereas those which the hon. Gentleman has in mind are generally not so controlled.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has now completed his reconsideration, and with what result, of the 20 miles-perhour speed limit for certain heavy goods vehicles, with a view to raising it to 30 miles per hour.

I have no further statement to make on this subject at the present time.

Can my right hon. Friend confirm that he is continuing to reconsider the matter, in view of the fact that only 5 per cent. of the drivers of all the vehicles which are subject to this speed restriction are observing it, and 95 per cent. are violating it? Does not that bring the law very gravely into disrepute?

As my hon. Friend will be aware, there are a good many other aspects of that matter. As to the present position, I need only refer him to what was said by my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor in another place.

Does the Minister accept the allegation that 95 per cent. of our lorry drivers are violating the speed limit?

I did not accept that; that statement was made upon the responsibility of the hon. Member who made it.

It is still perfectly correct.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many persons took driving tests during 1954; what percentage passed on the first occasion; and the total cost to the taxpayer of the subsidy provided on driving tests.

Seven hundred and eighty-two thousand and ninety-one persons took the driving test in 1954. My Department does not keep a special record of the number of candidates who succeed at the first attempt but a sample check taken during the year indicated that 55 per cent. of candidates passed at the first attempt. The cost to the Exchequer in the financial year 1953–54 was £90,000.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a feeling among the public that in some areas it is made a principle to " plough " a man or woman when they first take the test, and will his Department look into this matter to see whether a standard which is fair and just is being applied all over the country?

I think that the figures which I have given for the country as a whole indicate that there is no such general practice. If my hon. Friend has any particular area in mind, I will, of course, gladly look into it.

Does the test include making sure that the driver knows the difference between red and green?

I should think that he probably also knows the difference between red and blue.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that a majority of the public are in favour of the imposition of a blood test for motorists involved in serious accidents; and if he will give consideration to the introduction of legislation to enable such tests to be carried out in the future.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, in view of the recent substantial increase in the number of deaths and injuries on the roads, he will now make legislative provision for the imposition of a blood test on all drivers of motor vehicles involved in accidents causing death or serious injury.

I have no evidence either to confirm or to reject the assertion made in the first part of the Question by the hon. Member for Willesden, West (Mr. Viant). Research is being carried out jointly by the Medical Research Council and the Road Research Laboratory to find out, under laboratory conditions, how precisely measured quantities of alcohol affect driving performance and whether such effect can be satisfactorily assessed. I hope their report will be available this year.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, in view of the first part of his reply, whether he is aware that the " News Chronicle " has recently taken a Gallup poll, and it was upon the evidence provided by that poll that I based the Question?

I note the source of the hon. Gentleman's information. As I said in my answer, I can neither confirm or reject it, but for practical purposes I think that we ought to await the results of the tests to which I have referred.

In view of the fact that the reliability of this test has to a large extent been proved—[HON. MEMBER: " No."]— would it not be a much more satisfactory way of ascertaining the condition of drivers than the present unsatisfactory tests of conduct that have been taking place?

As I said in my earlier reply, I would rather await the conclusions of the Road Research Laboratory tests.

Contrary to what the hon. Member has said, is it not a fact that most of the Members of this House would fail to pass the test if they were tested immediately after lunch, and that it bears no relation whatever to the condition of the driver?

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many copies of the new Highway Code have now been sold; and how this figure compares with those of previous editions.

Approximately 3 million copies. In 1935 and 1947, very few were available for sale, as distribution was almost entirely free. In 1931, 163,000 were sold in the first six months.

Does not my right hon. Friend consider that these very satisfactory figures which he has mentioned should have an appreciable effect in reducing road accidents?

I must say that I find the very considerable sale which has taken place interesting and reassuring, as indicating general public interest in this most important matter.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the result of his inquiries into the evidence sent him by the hon. Member for Cardiff, South-East, on 10th March, that a driver was dismissed for refusing to work illegal hours.

I have written to the hon. Member about this case. As indicated, proceedings against the firm in question are pending, in respect of, among other things, record keeping.

As the Minister's reply was marked " Confidential " it places me at a slight disadvantage. May I ask the Minister if he is proposing to send out special instructions to the enforcement officers to watch this question of the working of illegal hours being required of drivers, as the practice seems to be growing?

As I have indicated in former replies to the hon. Gentleman on this question, my licensing authorities are keeping close watch, and I very much doubt whether further instructions are required.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what methods of persuasion he is using to prevent the withdrawal of country omnibus services.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hexham (Mr. Speir) on 16th February.

As I do not know what that answer was, may I ask the Minister—[HON. MEMBERS: " It is in HANSARD."] I know, but I do not carry all the HANSARDS around with me. May I ask the Minister, as his powers of persuasion seem to be in inverse ratio to the withdrawal of country bus services, what practical steps he is taking in order to maintain production in agriculture?

If the hon. Gentleman would read the answer to which I have referred him, he would find illumination and guidance.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will promote propaganda to encourage pedestrians to signal their intention to cross before they proceed across an uncontrolled pedestrian crossing.

While such signals, if given clearly and in good time, are most helpful, I do not think, for the reasons given by my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary, on 8th November last, that it would be wise to carry out my hon. Friend's suggestion.

While appreciating what my right hon. Friend and his Department have done in considering this question, may I ask whether he is aware that in a recent poll taken among 179 local authorities, in whose areas about two-thirds of the pedestrian crossings in this country exist, 112 of those local authorities were in favour of propaganda advising the pedestrian to signal before proceeding over an uncontrolled crossing?

I did not know of that, but I am bound to say that, on the merits of the matter, it appears to me that there might be some danger, if this proposal were carried out, of making it seem that the priority which the pedestrian has on uncontrolled crossings depended on him giving an adequate signal.

Will the Minister give very serious consideration to the important matter raised by the hon. Gentleman opposite, in view of what has happened on these crossings in the last two years? There have been 80 deaths and about 800 accidents on them. Surely something better than the present system is required on these uncontrolled crossings?

I am prepared to consider any proposal which I think would help in dealing with this serious problem, but, for the reasons which I and my hon. Friend have given, I do not think that my hon. Friend's suggestion would contribute to safety.

Is the Minister aware that many hundreds of pedestrians do not know their rights in regard to these crossings? On the contrary, they stand on the crossings, half way across the road, looking pleadingly and pathetically at the oncoming traffic. Will my right hon. Friend look into the matter again to see whether this danger of accidents to pedestrians cannot be avoided?

My noble Friend is quite right in his diagnosis of the situation that sometimes arises, but I do not think that the suggestion contained in this Question would help to avoid that state of affairs.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will indicate the priority of the scheme for building a bridge across the Humber.

I have not seen any such scheme in definite form. If the responsible highway authorities submitted one to me, I would consider it. I can, of course, give no indication of the priority which I could give to such a scheme as against others which have already been submitted to me.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the very great feeling that exists in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and in other parts of northern England, regarding the necessity for this bridge on both local and national grounds? Is he further aware that local authorities are spending large sums of money on definite plans for the bridge, and will he himself consider contributing to it in due course?

I take note of what the hon. and learned Gentleman says, but I understand that neither of the local authorities concerned has, in fact, inserted any mention of this bridge in its development plan.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what recent proposals he has received from the Essex County Council concerning the provision of a high-level bridge linking Canvey Island with the mainland.

None, Sir.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the existing ramshackle bridge is causing very great anxiety to my constituents? It is the sole link between the island and the mainland. In view of the fact that his Joint Parliamentary Secretary indicated in this House last December that the Ministry was interested in the county council hurrying on with the plans, can my right hon. Friend expedite progress in the matter?

The present position regarding a proposal to this effect is that the county council, as the highway authority, is discussing with the Port of London Authority the degree of clearance above water level which would be required if a bridge were constructed. Until that point has been cleared up. I do not imagine that the highway authority will submit a proposal to me.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that these discussions have now been going on for a year and that is why I put down the Question, in the hope that my right hon. Friend might be able to inject a little energy into these authorities?

I really cannot deal with the matter until the responsible highway authority is in a position to put forward a specific proposal, and desires to do so.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether a decision has yet been reached by his Department concerning the alignment or diversion of A13 where it passes through Basildon.

No application in respect of this diversion has been made to me by the Essex County Council, the highway authority concerned. I understand that discussions are taking place between it and the Basildon Development Corporation and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that both the highway authority —the Essex County Council—and the development corporation are agreed that this diversion should be proceeded with, on grounds both of economy and good planning? Will he, therefore, look into this matter to see whether some decision can be arrived at at a fairly early date?

I think that my hon. Friend is right in saying that both the bodies concerned would like to see this road built, but there are a good many points which are not yet settled between them.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that plans for the redevelopment of the derelict area near the Clock Tower in Lewisham High Street are being held up until he has given his approval to the road improvement scheme therein; and whether he will now announce his decision.

The London County Council was informed in December, 1952, that the scheme as submitted by it could not be approved as it did not provide a satisfactory solution of the traffic problem at this road junction.

Can my right hon. Friend do anything to expedite the matter? There is a derelict area near this very important road junction, and I know that the local authority wants to get on with its planning.

I know the site to which the hon. Baronet refers, but this is not a question of expediting anything; it is a question of a proposal having been put up in December, 1952, which involved the creation of a shopping centre in the middle of what would have been a roundabout surrounded by 40-ft. roads—which, upon traffic grounds, simply could not be approved.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has any further statement to make on proposed alterations to Hyde Park Corner.

Not yet, Sir.

In view of the fact that, like my right hon. Friend, I had the advantage, some eight years ago, of seeing a model of the proposed alterations displayed in the Library of the House, may I ask my right hon. Friend when it is proposed that these alterations will be carried out? He will appreciate that the bottleneck which has been created at Hyde Park Corner is a very small one.

I have already indicated to the House my concern about that place, but, as my hon. Friend may have seen from the Press, certain proposals in respect of this matter are now before the Royal Fine Art Commission.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many accidents occurred on the section of the A2 road, from Strood to Brenley Corner, Faversham, during 1954; and how many persons were fatally injured.

One thousand and ninety-one on the 25 miles of road in question. Four hundred and sixty-three people were injured and six killed.

In view of those figures, will the right hon. Gentleman give the Medway by-pass a higher priority than it occupies in his road programme at the present time?

As I believe the hon. Member is aware, the position in respect of that scheme is that a survey has been made, but I understand that there is some objection, upon agricultural grounds, to the proposed line of the road, and that objection will have to be considered.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the main road over Soutra has been obstructed by snow long after other roads have been cleared; and whether he will consider assisting local authorities in dealing with the problem of snow clearance in particularly difficult stretches of busy main roads.

Conditions on this road were exceptionally severe, and the ice which formed had to be broken by compressors and an ice-breaking machine. My information is that the road was blocked for two days but was then opened to single-line traffic, double-line traffic being restored 11 days later. As this road is a trunk road, I provide the necessary snow-clearing equipment and pay the full cost. On classified roads the responsibility for snow clearing rests on the local highway authority, but all equipment available is used to the best advantage.

Arising out of that reply, for which I thank my right hon. Friend, may we take it that in future snow clearance over Soutra Hill will be improved?

As my hon. and gallant Friend, who knows the place well, realises, this hill stands high and faces north, and therefore does sometimes provide very difficult problems indeed, but we are taking steps to see that, in general, rather more apparatus than was available last year will be available in the future.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he can now state when the Report on road accidents for 1953 will be published.

Towards the end of May.

Will the right hon. Gentleman note that it is 15 months since these statistics should have been completed, and that should have given his Department at least 12 months to consider them? It will now be nearly 18 months before we get the Report of 1953, so when are we to get the Report of 1954? Will they both be published next year?

I am sure that the hon. Member knows that the figures have been given a long time ago. The publication to which his Question relates involves a detailed analysis of the figures and the causes of the accidents. The figures, of course, have been available for a very long time.

asked the Minister of Defence if he is now in a position to state by how much the estimated defence budget for 1954–55 will be underspent.

Final figures for 1954–55 will not be available until the Appropriation Accounts are published. It will be some months before any accurate estimate of outturn can be given, but the amounts drawn from the Exchequer by the Defence Departments, which will be included in the Exchequer Returns published on Friday, will give a rough indication.

Is it not possible for the Minister to give some indication now of what the amount of the over-estimating or under-spending has been?

As I have stated, I would rather wait for the rough estimate until Friday, which will not be very long, when the Exchequer Returns will be available.

asked the Minister of Defence what arrangements he will make to implement the policy announced in paragraph 106 of the Defence White Paper.

My Service colleagues are having prepared a revised and expanded syllabus of Civil Defence training. This will include individual training in rescue, first-aid and fire-fighting, and collective training in the problems likely to arise in a nuclear war. Where appropriate, collective training will be carried out in conjunction with the local Civil Defence authorities.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will move for the setting up of a Select Committee of this House to inquire into the working of the National Service Acts.

The conclusions reached by Her Majesty's Government on the present National Service arrangements were set out in paragraphs 67 to 69 of the recent Statement on Defence. Various aspects of these arrangements have also been discussed in recent debates in this House. I doubt whether any useful purpose would be served at the present time by an inquiry of the kind suggested by the right hon. Gentleman.

Has the right hon. Gentleman noted that, quite recently, the Ministry of Labour has agreed to defer up to 2,000 police cadets, and does not he think that that and other indications go to show that the National Service Acts are now not working in the way in which they were intended to work when they were passed by this House?

I have noted the first point because I naturally was aware of it. I should have thought that was not a sufficient reason to justify this suggested wide review of the actual working of the Acts, but I have the point in mind, and I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for raising it.

Quite apart from the question of the length of service, will not the right hon. Gentleman consider further whether there is some method by which the number of people called up each year can be reduced, as it is quite plain that the three Services cannot absorb them?

All these questions are reviewed and considered by the Government from time to time. It is one of their duties to do so. All I was referring to was whether this particular method was likely to be useful.

Would my right hon. Friend consider some of the more limited inquiries into the operation of the National Service Acts that some of us on these benches proposed during the recent debate on defence?

Yes, Sir, but the Question dealt with a Select Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) the number of appeal tribunals at present in existence throughout Kenya;

The Regulations provide that every person under a detention order shall be given the earliest opportunity to make written representations to the Governor, and shall be informed of his right of appeal. It is the duty of camp commandants to inform every detainee of this right, and the Advisory Committee itself interviews petitioners in the camps. There should not, therefore, be any risk of detainees being ignorant of their rights.

There is at present one Advisory Committee. The Governor considers that this is adequate to deal with the current flow of appeals against detention; but the system is capable of immediate expansion to meet any increase.

My right hon. Friend has given a long and reassuring answer on this subject. Are he and the Secretary of State for the Colonies satisfied that through both the written and the spoken word the existence of these appeal tribunals is made fully known to the people in these camps?

I can certainly give that assurance. My right hon. Friend is entirely satisfied that every effort is made in the camps to make the existence of these appeal tribunals known.

Am I right in assuming that, when the right hon. Gentleman speaks of advisory committees, he does not mean to include the screening committees, and that these are a separate organisation?

Yes. This refers entirely to people under detention orders.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give figures as to the establishment of rehabilitation officers at present working in the Kenya detention camps; and how far recruitment for this purpose from the United Kingdom is being sought.

There are 12 permanent posts, 26 contract posts and a number, at present 22, of temporary posts. In addition, 14 officers are seconded for rehabilitation work. Recruitment for 11 vacancies is proceeding locally in the first instance, and recruitment from overseas will depend on the results.

How far do recruitment difficulties lie in the language difficulty? Are my right hon. Friend's Department and the Home Office prepared to provide language courses for Africans?

The value of these officers depends very much upon their knowledge of Swahili and Kikuyu. From that point of view, it is far easier to meet the demand locally than from this country. We have in fact recruited one officer in this country, but I will bear in mind the point which my hon. Friend has raised.

How many of these officers are African? Is there likely to be any number of Africans for these posts? Are they not more likely to gain the confidence of African detainees than are Europeans?

I made that inquiry of my Department this morning, but I could not be given an answer. I will find out, and will write to the hon. Gentleman. I agree that Africans like Mr. Waruhiu and others can do, and are doing, magnificent work in rehabilitation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what consultations have taken place between the Government of British Guiana and the Federation of Unions of Government Employees about the implementation of the Hand Report; and whether he will take steps to see that consultations take place between the two sides and if possible that agreement is reached before any attempt is made to implement the recommendations of the Report.

The Federation of Unions of Government Employees has already submitted its comments on the Report and these are being considered by the British Guiana Government. There will be further opportunity for representations by staff associations when the Government's recommendations on the Report are submitted for consideration. by the Legislature.

Can the Minister assure us that a real attempt will be made to reach some kind of agreement between the two sides before the recommendations are implemented?

Yes, Sir. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the British Guiana Government, as also, of course, Her Majesty's Government, are naturally anxious that salary revisions should, if possible, have the agreement of the staff associations concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps it is proposed to take to conduct a land utilisation survey on the island of Antigua; and whether he will propose to the authorities concerned on the island that the lands under the control of the syndicate tenancy should be included in such a survey.