asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the number of fatal accidents that have occurred on the Geldard Road, Birstall; and if he will take steps to lessen the danger.

Road conditions are satisfactory for drivers proceeding with normal care, but as an additional safety measure I am arranging for the word "SLOW" to be painted on the carriageway to warn traffic descending the hill.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what proposals he has for the relief of traffic congestion in the main road through Morpeth, Northumberland.

An order was made in 1940 under Section 1 (3) of the Trunk Roads Act, 1936, establishing the line of a by-pass on the west side of Morpeth, and this when constructed will remove from the main road through Morpeth most of the heavy traffic which is the principal cause of traffic congestion. This scheme remains in the road programme, but I have no statement to make as to when it is likely to be authorised.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, pending the introduction of traffic lights, he will give authority for "Halt" signs to be placed on the minor roads at the junction of Sixth Cross Road, Hampton Road, Wellington Road and South Road, Twickenham, having regard to the fact that one of the minor roads has a dual carriageway.

As promised last year, I am about to undertake in consultation with the Commissioner of Police and the highway authority a further review of the traffic conditions at this junction to see whether they would justify the erection of traffic light signals. Visibility at the junction is good, and I do not think that "Halt" signs to replace the existing "Slow—Major Road Ahead" signs would be an improvement.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation which of the major trunk road schemes to be authorised under his new arrangements are proceeding according to the timetable envisaged; which are being delayed for procedural reasons; and if he will give further details with regard to such delays.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "All." The rest of the Question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress is being made on the bridge across the River Neath, between Briton Ferry and Skewen; and when he expects the work to be completed.

Work on the bridge across the River Neath is approaching completion, and I hope that the road will be available to traffic some time in November of this year.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in view of the increased funds being made available for modernising our roads, steps will now be taken to ensure that the Cromwell Road Extension is provided with an adequate flyover viaduct at Hammersmith on the lines proposed in the original plan.

No. As I have explained in answer to previous questions, this part of this scheme is promoted by the London County Council, which does not wish to include a flyover at this stage. It has been agreed, however, that the design will permit of the adding of a flyover later if it is necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give figures to show the increase in traffic, both goods and passenger, using East of Scotland airports this year as compared with last.

During the first four months of this year 40,656 passengers and 160.4 tons of goods used East Scotland airports, an increase of 3½ per cent. and 10 per cent. respectively, over the corresponding months of 1954.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what plans he has for dealing with rural transport services in Northumberland.

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

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now make a statement on his further proposals regarding the type of traffic indicators on motor vehicles.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a Question on this subject to my hon. Friend the Member for Dorset, North (Mr. Crouch) on 22nd June, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how much has been realised up to the latest convenient date by the transport levy in connection with the denationalisation of road transport.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Enfield, East (Mr. Ernest Davies) on 29th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how far there is an arrangement between his Department and the United. States of America on the acquisition of oil rights in the Middle East.

There is no such arrangement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give an assurance that the proposal of the United States representative to the United Nations that information on the effects of atomic radiations on human beings should be collected and brought together will be supported by the British representatives, and full co-operation promised.

Her Majesty's Government welcome this United States initiative and will take their full part in any discussion of this proposal in the United Nations. The Medical Research Council are preparing a report on the medical aspects of nuclear radiation which will be made available to any United Nations study of this problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what has been done so far to secure practical results in implementation of British adhesion to the European Coal and Steel Community.

I would refer to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) on 20th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has on the progress towards the political settlement in Laos which was required by the Geneva Agreements.

The International Supervisory Commission in Laos has formally upheld the Royal Laotian Government's right to administer the provinces of Sam Neua and Phong Saly within which the communist Pathet Lao forces were regrouped. Talks between the Government and the Pathet Lao are now to be resumed and Her Majesty's Government trust that, in view of the International Commission's ruling, the Pathet Lao will cease to obstruct the return of the Royal administration and will permit the practical reunification of the country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the Chief Minister of Jamaica has set up an investigation into the large migration of Jamaicans to Britain; and if he also will set up a co-relative investigation so that this problem can be considered and solved from both the Jamaican and British aspects.

The Chief Minister of Jamaica discussed with my right hon. Friend when he was recently here his proposal for a fact-finding inquiry into the migration of Jamaicans to this country to help the Jamaica Government in deciding what further measures they might take to alleviate the problems arising from this migration. On the second part of the Question, I have nothing to add at present to the previous answers which have been given.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how the decisions at the recent conference on the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade will affect the economic difficulties at present existing in Jamaica.

The only relevant decision of the recent conference is that enabling Her Majesty's Government to take specific action under the Agreement to assist colonial industries dependent wholly or in large measure on the United Kingdom market. On this I cannot add to the information given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade in answer to a Question by the hon. and learned Member on 16th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why an invitation by Her Majesty's Government to visit Malta was extended to the Yugoslav training ship "Galeb" against the wishes of the people of the Island.

The visit of this ship was arranged at the request of the Yugoslav naval authorities following the normal practice for the exchange of visits between units of the navies of friendly Powers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of Cypriots who have been arrested for acts of violence against the British occupation forces, the number found guilty and sentenced to punishment, and the number still awaiting trial.

Four Cypriots were arrested in connection with acts of violence against British military forces. None of them were proceeded against, because of lack of evidence, and they have all been released.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the disturbances in Cyprus.

Just before mid-night on Monday 20th June attacks were made with explosives at three police stations in different parts of Cyprus, and also on the house of the Commander-in-Chief, Middle East Land Forces, and at the court house at Paphos. Two police constables were wounded. Similar attacks were made on the following five nights by persons using bombs or grenades or submachine guns. The attacks were directed principally against the police and Service personnel.

One of the most serious incidents was the attack on Amiandos police station, which was carried out by six masked men who shot their way in with submachine guns, killing a police sergeant and seriously wounding a constable. The attackers stole three rifles and a shot-gun from the police armoury. The other serious incident was a bomb explosion outside the central police station, Nicosia. One Greek Cypriot civilian was killed, and 11 civilians and two police constables injured. Substantial damage was caused to the building.

In all, 38 attacks and 30 arrests have been made since 20th June. Two persons have been killed and 21 injured.

The campaign of outrages which began on 1st April was apparently directed primarily against property and in order to intimidate rather than to injure persons. The incidents since 20th June, however, while deliberately intended to kill and injure persons, particularly amongst the police and army have been sufficiently indiscriminate to endanger the lives of persons in the vicinity of the explosions.

I am sure that the House will again join with my right hon. Friend in expressing its condemnation of the persons responsible for these outrages. We all regret that no Greek Cypriot newspaper has seen fit to comment editorially on these events since 20th June, and that neither the Archbishop nor other leaders of the Greek community in Cyprus have yet publicly condemned these acts of violence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total numbers of gloves, fabric, woollen, and leather, manufactured in Hong Kong in each of the last four years.

Estimated production in 1952, 1953 and 1954 was, respectively, 145, 404 and 893 thousand dozen pairs. For the first six months of 1955, the estimate is 860 thousand dozen pairs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will reconsider the present arrangements by which appeals from Seychelles are heard in Mauritius; whether he will arrange for the Court of Appeal in East Africa to take over this responsibility in Mombasa; and if he will make a statement.

Appeals on criminal matters from Seychelles were transferred to the Eastern African Court of Appeal with effect from the 1st February, 1955. Civil appeals still lie to Mauritius, mainly because a large part of Seychelles Civil Law is French rather than English in origin. The Executive Council in Seychelles has recently considered and advised against the transfer of Seychelles Civil Appeals from Mauritius to East Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the regulations dealing with French Cameroonians resident in the British Cameroons who desire to be naturalised; and what means are taken to publicise the regulations.

The legislation which regulates the naturalisation of such persons is the British Nationality Act, 1948, and the British Nationality Regulations, 1948, made under that Act. I will ask the Governor-General of the Federation of Nigeria what local publicity has been given to this legislation, and will write to the hon. Member when I have his reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what decision has been reached respecting the development of Fourah Bay College, Sierra Leone, into a university college.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Wavertree (Mr. Tilney) on 3rd May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many official visits have been paid, since 1945, by the Secretary of State, the Minister of State, or an Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, to the Somaliland Protectorate, Gambia, Cameroons, Brunei, North Borneo, Sarawak, Antigua, Dominica, St. Vincent, British Solomon Isles, Gilbert and Ellice Islands, Tonga, Falkland Islands, St. Helena, and the Seychelles, respectively.

Since 1945 Antigua has been visited twice, and the other territories, except Somaliland, the Falkland Islands, St. Helena and the Seychelles, once, by a Colonial Office Minister. My right hon. Friend is hoping to visit the Borneo territories, amongst others, in the near future.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware of the difficulties experienced by British shipping companies in placing shipbuilding contracts with British shipbuilding yards; that as a consequence many British shipbuilding orders are being placed with German and other foreign shipyards thereby causing loss and damage to British shipyards; and what steps he is taking to rectify this position.

I am aware that, because of the number of outstanding orders on their books, many British shipbuilders are unable to quote early delivery dates, and that this is a main reason why some recent orders have gone abroad. I naturally cannot say how long this state of affairs may continue, as it depends on the flow of new orders from owners who may be prepared to wait for their ships.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what consultations he proposes to have with the Fife County Council on the housing problems of retired Admiralty personnel in the Crombie area.

In accordance with standing instructions, Fife County Council have been, and will continue to be, consulted about housing problems of retired Admiralty personnel in the Crombie area who are still in occupation of Admiralty houses.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty for what period of time naval reservist John McNamee Healey was called back for reservist training; what activity he was engaged in; and what part he and 28 other naval reservists had in preparing and stewarding at the officers' annual ball in Chatham Barracks.

Steward Healy reported on 20th June for one week's Reserve training at Chatham. For this period he was required to perform the normal duties of a steward rating. As part of these duties he spent one working day helping to prepare for the officers' ball; Healy, and 17 other stewards volunteered to assist, after normal working hours, with service at the ball itself. These men are members of the Royal Fleet Reserve and as such are paid a retainer of between £4 11s. and £9 2s. a quarter, as well as receiving full pay during training.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress he has made with his plans to provide better wireless and television reception in Cumberland.

The B.B.C. have completed the extensive tests necessary to select a site for the television station near Carlisle. They hope to open the station at the end of 1956, and afterwards they propose to establish a V.H.F. sound broadcasting station on the same site.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps have been taken to improve reception of British Broadcasting Corporation broadcasts in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

There is considerable interference with the Welsh Home Service during the hours of darkness, caused by a station in the Soviet Zone of Germany. The trouble was at its worst last winter. Repeated representations about this interference have been made through our Ambassador in Bonn, but I am sorry to say that they have so far been unsuccessful. Last winter, the B.B.C. introduced special technical measures at their Welsh Home Service transmitters, and were able to reduce the effect of the interference. In addition, they opened up four low-power transmitters, on a common international wavelength, at Cardiff, Wrexham, Penmon and Towyn—the last three of these have recently been closed as they are not necessary during the long hours of daylight. They have also increased the power of the Wrexham transmitter so as to serve a considerably wider area on its regular wavelength.

As part of their plans to meet the situation, the B.B.C. are pushing on with V.H.F. stations at Wenvoe in the South, and Penmon in the North West—both of these are due to be opened by the end of this year. When these stations are in operation, reception in the areas covered will be free of interference from foreign stations. The B.B.C.'s plans for Wales include two further V.H.F. stations, one near Wrexham and one at Blaen Plwy (near Aberystwyth).

asked the Postmaster-General the location of proposed frequency modulation stations in Southern England and the estimated dates of their completion.

The first stage of the Very High Frequency plan, already announced, includes two stations in Southern England—Wrotham, which was opened on 2nd May, and North Hessary Tor, which it is hoped to open next year. The British Broadcasting Corporation's further plans include stations at Rowridge (Isle of Wight), and Dover, but no time-table for these has yet been approved.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of outstanding applications for telephones in the area of the Tulse Hill and Macaulay exchanges; what progress is being made in meeting them; and when it is estimated that they will all be met.

Six hundred and eighty-seven, excluding 416 in the course of provision or under enquiry. New equipment is at present being installed in the Macaulay exchange and additional cables are to be laid in both exchange areas during the coming months. Nearly 1,400 telephones were connected in these areas last year. I cannot say when the order list will be cleared as this depends upon the level of new demand.

asked the Postmaster-General when the South exchange in Birmingham will be altered to the dial system; and when 999 emergency facilities will be supplied to subscribers there.

It is planned to provide an automatic exchange by 1962, when the 999 facility will be made available.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has been made aware of the need of additional telephone kiosks in the Bentilea Estate of Stoke-on-Trent, where the rapidly growing population now numbers 9,000 inhabitants; and what action he proposes to take.

Yes. A new kiosk was provided on 1st July, and others are being planned in conjunction with the local authority.

asked the Postmaster-General the approximate time an applicant for a telephone in a private house in Barry will now have to wait before a telephone can be provided; how this compares with the waiting time five years ago; and how it compares with the average waiting time all over the country.

I am sorry that it is not possible to give a general answer, because in Barry, as elsewhere, the time varies according to whether plant is available.

asked the Postmaster-General why the staff of his Department increased by 1,743 between 1st January and 1st April, 1955.

To handle increased business, chiefly more telephone calls and more new telephones.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to alleviate staff difficulties which cause late first post delivery of letters in Solihull, notably in Blossomfield Road and the Sheldon district.

We are sparing no efforts to recruit more staff in order to obviate delays in the first letter delivery in Solihull, but, as my hon. Friend knows, there is an acute shortage of labour in the area.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will undertake the provision, on all new housing estates, of postage stamp slot-machines, attaching them to post-boxes where possible.

Although the provision of stamp-selling machines necessarily depends on local circumstances, if the hon. Member has any particular case in mind and will let me have details, I shall gladly look into the matter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he has taken into consideration the amount of labour and materials which will be required by his Department to build 210 married quarters at the United States Air Force Base, Sculthorpe, Norfolk, for use by Americans and their families; and whether he is satisfied that this scheme will not adversely affect the provision of much-needed accommodation for British nationals in the area.

Yes. In seeking tenders for the contract, we specified that the houses should make the minimum demand on traditional building materials and labour. I am advised that the scheme will not affect the local authority's housing plan.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air to what extent the United States of America will meet the cost of the 210 married quarters which the Air Ministry propose to build at the United States Air Force Base, Sculthorpe, Norfolk, for the use of Americans and their families; and what is intended to be the duration of this scheme.

The arrangements are as foreshadowed by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury in his statement on 5th May, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how much money has been expended by his Department in issuing special shoes, boots, etc., and other aids, to physically disabled National Service men; and what are the medical costs involved in trying to make these men fit for service.

Over the past twelve months the cost of surgical boots and insoles for all Royal Air Force officers and airmen found to need them has been about £300. I regret that neither a separate figure for National Service men nor the other information asked for is available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air by what authority he retains National Service men in the Royal Air Force when they are not fully medically fit for service.

National Service men are not kept in the Service if it is decided that they are unlikely on medical grounds to become efficient in any form of Royal Air Force duties.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the amount of work to be undertaken in the making up of private streets for this year; what proportion of this amount is to be made available in Durham County; and how such amount compares with the allocation to the rest of county districts in the United Kingdom.

Except where loan sanction is required, local authorities now determine their own private street works programmes without reference to me. I am therefore not in a position to give the information requested.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the nature of the replies received by him from local authorities in response to the circular on the subject of the claims of serving members of Her Majesty's forces to be considered for inclusion on their housing lists.

In a circular dated 8th March, I recommended to housing authorities that any application for a council house from a regular ex-Serviceman, who had found employment in or near the district or had family connections with it (provided the application is made within one year of his leaving the Forces) should be considered exclusively on the basis of his housing need and without regard to the length of his residence in the locality. I asked authorities to let me know their practice in this regard and invited any who saw difficulty in treating ex-Service men in this way, to send me particulars of the problem in their area.

Out of 1,467 authorities in England and Wales, to whom the circular was sent, 868 have so far replied. Of these, 612 assured me that they were already applying these principles; 154 stated that, whilst they had not done so hitherto, they would in future bring their practice into conformity with my recommendations; five authorities are reconsidering their practice and 63 gave replies which were partially satisfactory. The number of negative replies was 34. Reminders are being sent to local authorities who have not yet answered.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a list showing the number of horses, cattle and sheep that have been killed, injured and associated with an accident, respectively, on the roads in England and Wales during 1954.

My Department has no authority to collect such information. I have consulted my right hon. and gallant Friend the Home Secretary, who tells me that the figures are not available in his Department.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the cattle of this country were members of tuberculosis-free herds at the last date for which information is available and also at approximately the same date in each of the last four years.

The percentage of the total cattle in Great Britain included in attested herds on 31st March in each of the last five years was: 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 26 34 41 45 53

asked the Minister of Education if he will make a statement indicating what steps his Department is taking to assist and encourage school sports under a county authority.

The advice and help of Her Majesty's Inspectors are always available to authorities and their schools, and my Department pays grant on the approved expenditure incurred by authorities on all forms of physical education including athletics and organised games. Most of the expenditure is incurred in the employment of specialist organisers or in the provision of playing fields and equipment. My Department also gives grants towards the cost of coaching schemes run by the bodies representative of particular sports.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he proposes to take in consultation with the Gloucestershire Education Committee, to improve the opportunities for technical education in the Forest of Dean.

I have approved the authority's proposals for additional accommodation at the Cinderford Mining and Technical College, and the work is due to start during the current financial year.

asked the Minister of Education (1) the total number of children of school age at present who have been ascertained to be in need of special education;

(2) the total number of children in need of special education who have not so far been accommodated either in special classes, day or residential special schools, or provided with adequate home teaching each week.

My Department does not collect information in the form asked for, but in December, 1954, local education authorities were providing special educational treatment for 55,907 pupils accommodated in special schools (other than hospital schools), boarding homes or independent schools, and were seeking places for a further 18,836. They were also educating 2,138 handicapped pupils at home and about 8,000 in hospital. All these figures include pupils both over and under the compulsory school age.

asked the Minister of Education the total number of children in need of special education who are not retained in ordinary schools, and are not accommodated in special classes, day or residential special schools, and are not provided with adequate home teaching each week.

This information is not available; but handicapped children who are educable are not usually excluded from ordinary schools until other arrangements have, where necessary, been made for them.

asked the Minister of Health the cost of treatment in hospitals during 1953 and 1954 arising out of accidents in the home.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health the number of deaths from accidents in the home during 1953 and 1954, and the death rate and numbers from road accidents during the same period.

The number of deaths registered in England and Wales in 1953 from accidents in the home and resident institutions was 5,895 and from road accidents 4,493. The death rate from the latter was 102 per million persons living. Comparable statistics for 1954 are not yet fully available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many local authorities in England and Wales have set up home safety committees; and how they are financed.

So far as I am aware, no such committees have been set up by local authorities. I understand that, as a result of voluntary action, sixty-six local home safety committees have been established and that financial assistance is given to many of them by local authorities with the consent of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government under Section 136 of the Local Government Act, 1948.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many owners have been prosecuted for allowing horses, sheep and cattle to stray on to the road in England and Wales during 1954.

I regret that this information is not available and could not be obtained without putting police forces to a great amount of labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of deaths from accidents in the home in 1953 and 1954 and the number of deaths from accidents on the roads during this same period.

The number of deaths registered in Scotland from accidents in the home and residential institutions was 1,134 in 1953 and 1,106 in 1954. The number of deaths from road accidents in Scotland was 600 in 1953 and 561 in 1954.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the cost for 1953 and 1954 of hospital treatment of patients arising out of accidents in the home.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Scottish local authorities have set up home safety committees; and what propaganda is being done in Scotland to lessen the number of deaths from accidents in the home.

I understand that there are home safety committees in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Kilmarnock, with which the local authorities are associated; and that elsewhere in Scotland many of the fifty-seven local accident prevention committees set up by local authorities concern themselves with home accidents as well as with road accidents. A good deal of propaganda to reduce home accidents is being undertaken in Scotland, both centrally and locally, and I will write to the hon. Member giving her fuller information about it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a list showing the number of horses, cattle and sheep that have been killed, injured and associated with an accident, respectively, on the roads in Scotland during 1954.

I regret that these figures are not available and could not readily be obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many owners have been prosecuted for allowing horses, sheep and cattle to stray on to the road in Scotland during 1954.

I do not have these figures at present, but I am trying to obtain them and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Defence what facilities are available, in conjunction with the Minister of Education, for Service men either to complete or begin courses in technical colleges or teachers' training colleges.

Part-time attendance at technical colleges and other institutes is arranged whenever possible in conjunction with local education authorities for men wishing to enter the teaching profession on leaving the Services, but full-time teachers' courses at residential training colleges cannot be completed by men during their service in the Forces. Courses are available for men wishing to satisfy the minimum entrance requirements for both teachers' and technical colleges. Parts of the syllabus of teachers' training colleges, and sometimes the whole of that of technical colleges, can also be studied under Service instructors or by correspondence courses.

asked the Minister of Defence the present strength of the Services' education branch at home and abroad; how many Service men, National Service men and Regulars are taking advantage of the available education services; and what are the main subjects of instruction.

The present strengths of the Services education branches are as follows: R.N., 977; Army, 2,581; R.A.F., 1,225 (excluding personnel under training). Attendance at classes for some categories of Service men, besides boys and apprentices, is compulsory. For example; all soldiers not holding the general certificate of education are normally required to attend classes until they obtain the Army certificate of education (second class); and airmen during the first two years of their service have to attend classes in current affairs and citizenship.

In addition to compulsory education classes, a substantial number of men in all three Services take part in voluntary educational activities covering a wide range of subjects. Practically all Naval personnel attend courses in strictly technical and professional subjects during working hours, and there is virtually no distinction made between the treatment of Regulars and of National Service men.

The principal subjects generally taught are English, mathematics and general knowledge; but a wide range of technical subjects is also covered, according to the requirements of the Services and of individual trainees.