asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to state, in table form in order of descending burden of tax, the rates of Income Tax levied on limited companies operating in each Colonial Territory, incorporated locally and in the United Kingdom, respectively; and whether, in such table, he will indicate briefly depreciation and similar allowances.

The following is the table:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to state in table form and in descending burden of tax, the rates of personal Income Tax in each Colonial Territory for those earning incomes from

The following is the table:

asked the Postmaster-General if he has yet opened a sub-post office and appointed a sub-postmaster for the Mastrick and Northfield areas of Aberdeen with facilities for payment of old-age pensions as well as, for ordinary postal facilities.

The office at Northfield was opened on 25th June, and that at Mastrick will open in a week or two. Both will pay old-age pensions.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give permission to postmen to dispense with their coats during spells of hot weather.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Llewellyn) on 7th July, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Postmaster-General when he hopes to provide a beam radioprinter service which will cover the British Caribbean area.

Tests are being carried out at this moment. Whether such a service would be a practical proposition will depend upon the results of these.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to shorten the amount of time which elapses between the announcement of an award by an arbitration court and its coming into effect.

None. It is the normal practice to implement such awards as soon as possible after they have been announced.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of public telephone kiosks that have been provided by his Department in Welwyn Garden City since January, 1949.

Seven.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the Newbury Rural District Council asked for 19 telephone kiosks to be provided in the district and so far provision has been made for six; and when he expects to be able to provide the others.

Our records do not agree with my hon. Friend's figures. Since 1950, when the present arrangements for providing rural kiosks were introduced, we have had six applications for the Newbury district from the Berkshire Rural District Councils' Association, five of which have been met. The sixth, which was put forward in 1950, could not be provided at the time and has not been asked for since.

asked the Postmaster-General why the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion, had to wait 20 minutes on Sunday, 17th July, to obtain Inquiries, and eventually get through to the number required, though only 30 miles from Brighton; why, during the height of the summer week-end season in Brighton, the Post Office telephone service is cut down to a skeleton staff; and if he will, instead, consider increasing the staff over week-ends.

I am sorry for the bad service my hon. Friend received, which was due to a shortage of staff during a period when the early morning traffic was much higher than had been expected. We have now arranged to increase the staff working on Sunday mornings, and I hope that there will be no further delays.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that business representatives and others in Kimcote, near Rugby, have been informed by his Department that they have no hopes of telephone facilities before 1957; and whether he will expedite the extension of facilities in this area.

Yes. There are at present eight people waiting for telephones in the Kimcote area because of a shortage of wires in the local cable. Although we have planned a new cable, I regret that it will not be ready for service until about the middle of 1957.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that Mr. Edwin Lilley, Printer, 8, Newhall Hill, Birmingham 1, has been waiting for the installation of a telephone for three years; and if he will take appropriate action to avoid further delay.

Yes; I regret the delay, which has been due to shortage of lines, but we hope to instal the telephone within the next three months.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applicants in Birmingham have been waiting for the installation of telephones for more than one, two, and three years, respectively; and how long it will be before the present demand has been met.

On the 27 exchanges concerned, 2,121 applicants have been waiting more than three years, 1,187 from two to three years, and 2,844 from one to two years. We expect to provide over 10,000 telephones in Birmingham this year, but with the demand increasing I cannot say when all applications will be met.

asked the Postmaster-General when coloured telephone instruments will once more be freely available to subscribers.

Since the war ended we have had to devote all our resources to meeting the very heavy demand for new telephones, which is now running at the rate of over half a million a year. We hope, however, to increase the supply of coloured telephones next year to 100,000, but we shall not be able for some time to divert labour to replacing existing black telephones.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress has been made with the design and production of a new type of telephone instrument; and whether he will make a statement on the subject.

A new and slightly more efficient telephone is shortly to be given a trial. A new wall telephone will also be available soon.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applicants for a telephone service in the area served by the Uplands Exchange are still without a telephone; and what is the longest time such an applicant has been waiting.

Three hundred and seventy-three. One residential applicant has been waiting since 1948: there is no telephone cable anywhere near his address, and I am afraid it may be some time yet before we can lay one.

asked the Postmaster-General when the Post Office will be carrying out the necessary works in Brighton Road, Coulsdon and Purley, so that persons living in that road, who have been without a telephone for long periods, can be connected to the telephone services.

New cables now being laid will enable some of the applicants in this road to be joined up from September onwards. Other cables are planned for completion later.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of applicants in the Greenford area awaiting the installation of telephones; and how long it will be before the present demand has been met.

On the Waxlow exchange, which is mainly concerned, there are 1,118 applications outstanding. More exchange equipment is being provided and a new cable will be laid next spring. We expect to double the rate of supply during the next 12 months, but while the present heavy demand for telephones continues, I cannot say when all applications will be met.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give figures to show the number of telephones installed in East Lothian during the last 12 months, as compared with the same period in the last three years; how many applications are outstanding; and what is the average delay before obtaining installation.

Eighty-two applications are outstanding, apart from 97 in course of being met or under inquiry. 554 telephones were connected during the 12 months ended 30th June, 1955; in previous years the figures were: 1953, 184; 1954, 370. Particulars for 1952 are not available. I regret that I cannot say what is the average delay, since it depends upon whether plant is available.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give figures to show the number of telephones installed in Berwickshire during the last 12 months, as compared with the same period in the last three years; how many applications are outstanding; and what is the average delay before obtaining installation.

Seventeen applications are outstanding, apart from 20 in course of being met or under inquiry. Two hundred and one telephones were connected during the 12 months ended 30th June, 1955, and the figures for previous years were: 1953, 65; 1954, 175. Particulars for 1952 are not available. I regret that I cannot say what is the average delay since it depends upon whether plant is available.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephone installations are outstanding on the Hastings exchange; what factors are delaying the necessary connections; and by what date this waiting list will be fulfilled.

One hundred and ninety-four applications are outstanding, of which 101 are in course of being met or are under enquiry. New cables are required in certain parts of the town and plans are in hand to provide these. There has been a substantial increase in the demand for telephones in the past two years and, while this tendency continues, it is impossible to say when all applications will be met.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to accelerate the installation of telephones on the Larkswood, Chingford, Exchange having regard to the facts that 50 applications have been outstanding for over five years and that there were 280 more applications waiting at the end of 1954 than at the end of 1953.

We began building a new exchange which will provide equipment for 6,000 additional lines in November last, and this will be ready for service in about two and a half years. Some new cables are being laid and will come into use six months from now.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the bad reception of the Home Service programme in the north-western part of Hampshire; what steps he is taking to remedy this; and when the inhabitants of this area can expect to hear any improvement.

There is a small area on the borders of Hampshire, Berkshire and Wiltshire, which is at the limit of range of both the London and the Western Home Services and, consequently, suffers from some fading at night. The effect of this fading is aggravated by interference from stations abroad, about which we have made repeated representations.I understand from the B.B.C. that, in Basingstoke itself, listeners who have V.H.F. sets and suitable outdoor aerials are getting good reception of the London Home Service from the new V.H.F. station at Wrotham.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will delay making a decision regarding allocation of wave-length channels in Band III for a third television service until the public have had an adequate opportunity of judging the merits of the rival television service, and until a technical appreciation is available as to whether such a programme ought to be started in black and white or colour.

My right hon. Friend is examining the question of allocation of Band III channels, but it will be some time before a decision can be reached on this difficult problem.

asked the Postmaster-General how far he proposes to issue any new directions to the British Broadcasting Corporation under Clause 15 (4) of the Corporation's Licence and Agreement, 1952.

I have today sent to the Corporation a direction to give effect to the so-called "fortnight" rule about broadcasting on issues which are to be debated in Parliament and another direction requiring them to continue to arrange party political broadcasts only for the United Kingdom as a whole. A notice corresponding to the first of these directions has been sent to the I.T.A. under Section 9 (2) of the Television Act, 1954. I am arranging for copies of all three directions to be made available in the Library.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the operations in the Aden Protectorate which aircrews can count towards entitlement for active service medals.

None.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the public concern at the closing by his Department of the public footpath along the cliff adjoining the Royal Air Force station, Hopton, Suffolk; and, in view of the deprivation of the rights of the public, if he will restore the path to its former use.

The path was not closed by the Air Ministry but collapsed owing to a fall of the cliff. We are now considering with the local authorities whether a substitute can be provided through Air Ministry land.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how the live bomb warheads found on the disused airfield at Fersfield, Diss, Norfolk, came to be left in an area to which the public have access; whether this area had been officially passed as free from danger; and what steps are being taken to ensure that no other explosives have been overlooked on this or any other disused airfield.

An inquiry into the circumstances in which bombs were left on this airfield when it was derequisitioned in 1949 is still proceeding and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as it is complete. Meanwhile the airfield is being searched by bomb disposal squads. Since 1952 it has been the practice for any bomb storage site given up by the Royal Air Force to be searched for live explosives, and certified as safe for public access before it is derequisitioned.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the number of candidates this year for Royal Air Force scholarships from county grammar schools and from independent and direct-grant schools, respectively.

In the February, 1955, competition there were 197 candidates, of whom 125 came from schools maintained by local education authorities.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what representations have been made to him with regard to the prohibition of flashing indicators on motor vehicles; and what steps he proposes to take.

Since 1st January last representations in favour of prohibiting flashing indicators have been received in my Department from the Police Committee of the Association of Municipal Corporations, the Police Federation of England and Wales and the Canvey Island Road Safety Committee, in addition to one or two letters from private persons. On the second part of the Question, I have nothing to add at present to the replies I have given to earlier Questions asked by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will cause the publication at the earliest possible moment of the results of the research at present being conducted into the use of winking traffic indicators; and if he will bear in mind the possibility of the publication of an interim report.

I will bear in mind my hon. Friend's suggestions.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress had been made by the investigation into the question of flashing traffic indicators on vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a Question on this subject by my hon. Friend the Member for Dorset, North (Mr. Crouch) on 22nd June.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what plans he has for dealing with the increasing traffic congestion at The Angel, Islington.

I am discussing with the Finsbury Borough Council plans to modernise the existing traffic signal at this point. The London County Council have provided for an eventual roundabout here in the second period of their Development Plan which was recently approved by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Local Government.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation by what authority road signs erected by highway authorities are permitted in the London area which differ from those illustrated in the Highway Code; and what steps he will take to see that all road signs conform to those in international use.

The Highway Code only illustrates a few authorised traffic signs. I am not aware that highway authorities in the London area have erected unauthorised traffic signs. As regards the second part of the Question, no world-wide agreement has yet been reached on traffic signs. The new draft traffic signs regulation, which I hope to issue shortly for the comments of representative organisations, will move closer in several respects to the system in use in most Continental European countries.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when the proposal to sell the 498 meat vehicles in one unit to one tenderer, whose terms were considered by the Commission to be unsatisfactory, was referred to him; and whether he has yet made a decision.

I received notice of the difference between the Commission and the Disposal Board on 24th May and their reasoned cases on 8th June. I am still awaiting further information from the Commission.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that Leek Town is neglected in the matter of the provision of examiners for driving tests; and what steps he is taking to remedy this situation.

No. The waiting period for a test at the Leek centre is about the same as for the West Midland area as a whole.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now bring to an end the special levy upon road vehicles imposed to meet losses on the sale of road transport businesses by the British Transport Commission, having regard to his change of policy on trunk services.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what revised estimate he has made of the loss likely to be incurred by the disposal of vehicles, in view of his decision to permit an increase in the number of vehicles the Transport Commission is to be permitted to retain.

I have nothing to add at this stage to what I said in reply to a supplementary question by the hon. Member for Enfield, East (Mr. Ernest Davies) on 21st July.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in view of the continuing decrease in the number of regular agricultural workers and the depopulation of certain rural areas, he will take steps to arrange an inter-Departmental committee to be set up to consider ways and means of improving public transport facilities in rural areas.

No. I do not think such a committee would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will take steps to reduce the number of statistical returns which operators of public service vehicles, trams and trolley vehicles are required to make to his Department.

Yes. I have decided to reduce the number and complexity of these returns. In particular, as regards public service vehicles, the present quarterly statistical statement and the present annual financial and statistical return will be simplified and will in future be required only from operators of at least twenty-five vehicles. This will reduce the total number of forms required to about one-third of the present total.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many miles of trunk roads in Shropshire have dual-carriageways; and what percentage this represents of the total mileage of trunk roads in the county.

None. The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what representations he has received from the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police to cause to be removed the No Parking signs which have been put up without authorisation in Park Lane.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what are the instructions by his Department regarding lay-bys suitable for heavy road transport on main trunk roads in all cases having road-side notices indicating their proximity at a suitable distance; and how many lay-bys in Scotland are so indicated.

I have not issued any specific instructions about notices for lay-bys, but a standard sign has been approved and I am prepared to authorise its erection in appropriate cases. These signs are provided at four lay-bys in Scotland.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what policy is adopted by his Department in siting lay-bys for heavy road transport on main trunk roads having regard to the optimum distance from main centres of industry and population.

It is my policy to provide lay-bys wherever they are needed.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many lay-bys for heavy road transport have been provided by his Department on the Aberdeen-Inverness, Aberdeen-Glasgow, Aberdeen-Edinburgh via ferries, Aberdeen-Peterhead-Banff-Elgin, and Aberdeen-Carlisle main roads since 1945 and during the last three years, respectively.

The number of lay-bys provided on these roads since 1945 is forty-two, of which thirty have been provided during the last three years. There are also numerous places which can be used as lay-bys, though they have not been specially constructed for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what representations he has received requesting the imposition of a 30 miles per hour speed limit in Bassett Avenue, Southampton, and the retention of the 30 miles per hour limit in The Avenue, Southampton.

Following previous representations my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary received a deputation from the borough council on 4th July urging that I should revoke the present Order derestricting Bassett Avenue. I have not received any representations about The Avenue, Southampton.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, in view of the increasingly heavy traffic in the West Midlands and especially in Newcastle-under-Lyme, he will now revise the roads programme so as to provide for the earlier construction of the proposed Preston-Birmingham motor road.

As regards this motor road I cannot at present add to the statement which I made on 2nd February.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when work is to be started on making the dual carriageway on the Great North Road, A.1, between Alconbury Hill and Stilton; and when the work is likely to be completed.

Work on the section from Alconbury Hill to Woolpack Crossroads will start next spring. It is expected to be completed in the summer of 1957. I hope to continue the work from Woolpack Crossroads to beyond Stilton during the next few years.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that administrative and technical procedures are preventing the completion of works of general road improvement already authorised by him; and whether he will take steps to expedite such procedures, bearing in mind that many of the delays which are occurring do not result from the need to give full opportunity of representation by persons whose property may be affected.

I am not sure what particular procedures my hon. and learned Friend has in mind. Some are fixed by statute for the protection of individuals concerned. With these I cannot interfere. But I am wherever possible arranging to accelerate administrative steps in connection with road construction.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that narrow service roads are being used as omnibus routes on part of the New Parks and Braunstone Frith Estates, Leicester, because there is no main road outlet; and if he will now grant permission for such a main road to be built without delay.

The answer to the first part of the Question is, "Yes." The construction of a new road here is primarily a matter for the city council and no application has been made to me for grant.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how long it will now take to make a decision on the closing of the Enderly railway bridge on A46; and whether he is aware of the importance of removing this danger spot as quickly as possible.

The British Transport Commission inform me that they have taken steps to expedite the negotiations upon which a decision about the future of this line depends. The answer to the second part of the Question is "Yes."

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the growing density and delay of traffic over the Usk Bridge at Newport and pending the erection of the new bypass bridge and one for local traffic to reduce the congestion, if he will authorise the widening of the present bridge by arranging that the present footpaths shall be included in the road for motor traffic and a separate path for pedestrians provided outside the present railings on one side and one for cyclists on the other and thus enable 50 per cent. additional traffic to cross at the same time.

I will ask my divisional road engineer to consider this matter with representatives of the Newport County Borough Council.