asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what consideration has been given to the effect of cosmic rays on personnel flying at high altitudes; and what research has been made on this problem.

The R.A.F. medical authorities have been watching this problem in the light of information received from a number of sources, including data from instrument carrying balloons, and they are satisfied that cosmic rays present no hazard to aircrew flying on Royal Air Force operations.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will order a Departmental inquiry into the handling of the various claims submitted by Mr. R. E. Harrison of Rugeley, Staffordshire, details of which have been sent to him; and whether he is satisfied that his Departmental records concerning the emergency transfer of Royal Air Force personnel from Singapore to Australia in 1942 are adequate enough to justify the rejection of Mr. Harrison's claims.

Mr. Harrison's claims have been considered very fully, and I am satisfied that he has been paid all the money to which he is entitled.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give a list of the public services provided by his Department, and the total cost to the public for each of these services, in the years 1951 to 1955, respectively, together with the percentage increase in cost at 1955, compared with 1951, taking into account the application of the increases proposed in the Budget.

A volume of statistics would be needed to answer the hon. Member's Question in its present comprehensive form. Certain comparisons have been given in Part X of the White Paper. If the hon. Member wishes to have further similar comparisons between specific tariffs at particular dates, I will try to provide them.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephone service are outstanding in the borough and rural district of Newcastle-under-Lyme; and to what extent he expects this list to be reduced as a result of the increased charges recently announced.

Excluding those in course of being met or under enquiry, the numbers are 302 in the borough and 58 in the rural district. It is too soon to say what effect the increased charges are likely to have on the number of applications.

asked the Postmaster-General how many directives he has issued to the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority; and on what subjects.

Two and one, respectively. For the B.B.C., these relate to the Fortnight Rule, and regional party political broadcasts; for the I.T.A., to the Fortnight Rule.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give the necessary instructions for the installation of traffic control signals at the junction of Bridge Road, Barn Hill and Forty Lane, Wembley.

The Middlesex County Council are, with my approval, now preparing a scheme for traffic light signals at this junction.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the estimated cost of road schemes authorised to date under the expanded road programme for Durham County; and how much of this cost it is expected will be spent during the current financial year.

The estimated cost of trunk and classified road schemes formally authorised so far under the expanded road programme in the geographical county of Durham is £362,910, of which about £100,000 may be expected to be spent during the current financial year.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will reconsider his decision not to allow the Durham County Council Joint Road Safety Committee to purchase a cine camera for the making of local films to demonstrate the importance of road safety since the repeated cost of having to buy film strips is in the end more costly and not as effective as films in local settings.

I have decided not to pay road safety grant on the purchase of this cine camera. I am, however, quite willing to pay grant on the cost involved if the council decided to hire a cine camera, or better still towards the expenses of a local film club if they were able to help.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give the figures taken at the last census of vehicles passing between Darlington and Durham on the A1 road.

In August, 1954, the average daily number of vehicles passing the three census points on A1 between Darlington and Durham was 6,417, 5,747 and 7,433, respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has now accepted the decision of the London County Council not to provide dual-cariageways on a section of Cromwell Road Extension now under construction between Hammersmith Bridge Road and the existing dual-carriageways of West Cromwell Road; and what steps he proposes to take to minimise the traffic delays which are likely to be caused by the bottleneck which will thus be created.

The answer to the first part of the Question is that I have accepted the London County Council's views on the initial layout of this scheme. As regards the second part, the layout east of Hammersmith Bridge Road will be such that it could be further improved in due course, including the provision of a viaduct for through traffic, should conditions warrant it.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will ensure that adequate provision is made for pedestrians to cross on the surface of the road on the Cromwell Road Extension at Hammersmith which is now under construction.

No. The London County Council are providing subways on this section of the road.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many vehicles an hour use the Penarth Road, Cardiff; and why he has refused permission to improve it in view of its steady deterioration.

The latest count shows 792 vehicles in a peak hour. The city council do not require my permission to improve this road but, if the hon. Member has in mind the question of grant, I have told them that only a small part of the scheme submitted is in fact eligible for grant, that an application restricted to eligible work will be considered, but that it is not at present possible to say when funds will be available.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that during peak hours in the main streets of Cardiff transport has slowed down to a walking pace; and whether he will now sanction work on the eastern orbital road proposed by the city council.

I am well aware of the difficulties of Cardiff. A survey has been made for the eastern section of the orbital road for the purpose of an Order under the Trunk Roads Act, 1946, but I cannot say when I shall be able to authorise the scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether his investigations concerning the construction of an inner relief road in Stamford are yet completed.

As I announced on 27th July, I hope to authorise the construction of this road within the next three years. I am about to appoint consulting engineers to report on the suggested line so that I can publish the necessary draft Order under Section 1 (2) of the Trunk Roads Act, 1946. This may give rise to objections, and I cannot therefore be more precise until the necessary statutory procedure has been completed.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will take steps to ensure that the vacant site adjoining the Hyde Park Hotel in Knightsbridge is acquired for the purpose of constructing a road to connect Sloane Street with the carriage road in Hyde Park, thereby reducing congestion in Knightsbridge and at Hyde Park Corner.

This is an interesting suggestion, but it is in the first place a matter for the L.C.C. as the planning authority, and is connected with other proposals in the immediate vicinity.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is yet in a position to publish a draft scheme for the Rochester by-pass road under the Special Roads Act, 1949.

No. I am still in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food preparatory to the publication of a draft Scheme to establish the line of this road.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will now agree to the creation of a footpath on the Stainforth—Hatfield railway bridge.

As I have already told the hon. Member, I am ready to consider whether this scheme can be fitted into next year's programme if the West Riding County Council give it a higher priority than they have hitherto done.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many accidents took place in the Laceby village area near Grimsby, for each of the last five years; and when he proposes to commence the building of a modern road from Laceby cross-roads to Bradley Corner.

The answer to the first part of the Question is given below. So far as the second part is concerned, I have nothing to add to the statements I made on 2nd February and 27th July.The following is the number of reported accidents in the Laceby area for the last five years:

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission on road safety with wide terms of reference to inquire into the problems of road safety in their entirety.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the uncertainty and perturbation of the Leyton Borough Council in respect of the Ruckholt Road bridge and road improvement and the necessity for reconstruction in that immediate area, whether he will expedite issue of the grant towards this project; and what is the reason for the delay.

Work is being carried out by the British Transport Commission on Ruckholt Road Bridge, and no question of grant arises. So far as approach road is concerned, the Leyton Borough Council informed my Department the day before yesterday that the estimated cost had risen by about 20 per cent. I understand that a revised grant application is likely to be submitted soon and when this is done, if it is in order, it will be granted.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether the agricultural objections to the route of the proposed A2 Medway by-pass road have now been resolved

No.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the inadequacy of signposts in this country after dark; and what plans are being made to lead towards a greater uniformity in the height and size of lettering on signposts, especially on main roads, and their illumination at night.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave last Wednesday to a Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Poole (Captain Pilkington).

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what proportion of road traffic accidents are due to the driver being under alcoholic influence.

"Road Accidents, 1953" which were compiled by my Department on the basis of police reports indicate that the driver being under the influence of drink or a drug was a factor in one-third of one per cent. of accidents during that year. My hon. Friend will appreciate the difficulty of obtaining completely comprehensive statistics.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how long it takes to reply in normal circumstances to letters addressed to him by hon. Members.

It depends mainly on how much work has to be done to obtain the information required or investigate the complaint made.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many A, B, and C licences, respectively, were revoked by the licensing authorities following convictions for infringement of the Road Traffic Acts during 1954 and during the current year.

No carriers' licences were revoked by licensing authorities in 1954; during the current year, two C licences, involving eight vehicles, have so far been revoked.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what provisions for payment of pensions to members of the air corporations have been made under Section 2 of the Air Corporations Act, 1953.

I have determined the pension provision to be made in respect of the Chairman of the British European Airways Corporation. A statement of the provision was laid before Parliament on 15th March, 1955.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the housing problem which still faces workers at London Airport; and what special steps he has taken, in consultation with the Minister of Housing and Local Government, since October, 1951, to meet this problem.

I am aware that some of the workers at London Airport are faced with housing problems. Whilst it is not my direct responsibility, my Department has collaborated fully with the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, the local authorities and the British Airways Staff Housing Society in preparing schemes for the provision of houses. Six hundred houses have already been specially provided under these schemes since October, 1951, and a further 750 will be available by the end of next year. I may add that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government is arranging for an early meeting of the responsible authorities to review the position and consider what further action is necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that shipbuilders of Germany are providing special facilities for the transportation of motor cars which enable a vessel to carry a much larger number of cars by fixing additional floors; and if he will now give permission to British shipbuilders to provide similar facilities on British vessels to place them on a competitive level.

Yes. There is no objection to installing fittings of this kind in British ships provided they are so arranged as not to endanger the safety of the ships or their crews.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) how many students for examination at the University of Southampton for Merchant Navy Certificates have been either deferred or transferred to other centres during the last six months;(2) why examinations for the Merchant Navy at the University of Southampton cannot be held fortnightly.

These examinations are held monthly at Southampton. To hold them fortnightly would require two sets of examination rooms and extra staff, which I do not think would be justified. Arrangements were made some time ago to obtain a larger examination room which would enable 50 per cent. more candidates to be examined in Southampton each month. This accommodation will be ready early next year. I regret that as no records are kept showing where candidates undergo their preliminary training I cannot say how many students from the University of Southampton had to be examined in other ports.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that the sale of sub-standard ships abroad by British shipowners is causing anxiety to British shipbuilding employees; and whether he will make a statement.

No. There is no reason for British shipbuilding employees to feel anxiety about this.

asked the Minister of Defence what total number of non-industrial civil servants were employed by his Department and the three Service Departments at the latest date for which the figure is available; and what was the total number of Service personnel on that date.

The number of non-industrial civil servants as at 1st October, 1955, was:

asked the Minister of Defence what increased marriage allowances will be given to members of the Armed Forces to help in meeting increased rents and Purchase Tax.

As I explained in the course of the debate on 2nd November, Service emoluments, of which marriage allowance forms part, are now under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the date of the recent visit of an Egyptian Government Mission to this country to discuss a supply of arms according to the intentions of the 1950 Tripartite Declaration; and if he will make a statement.

The Egyptian Quartermaster-General made a number of visits to this country between March and July of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the rates of compensation, and their basis, paid to men who were killed while serving in the Canal Zone.

The payments to the dependants of men who were killed while serving in the Canal Zone after October, 1951, are £400 for an officer and £250 for an other rank. These payments are made on an ex gratia basis and are not intended as compensation for loss of life. The decision to make them was taken in view of the extinction by the Anglo-Egyptian Agreement of the private right to claim against the Egyptian Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why he has instructed the United Kingdom delegate to the United Nations Assembly to oppose the lodging of a petition by the British Somalis against the turning over of the Haud to Ethiopian administration.

No proposal to include this matter on the agenda of the United Nations General Assembly has been put before the Assembly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what approaches have been made by Her Majesty's Government to Mr. Dinh Diem to implement the talks with North Vietnam as laid down by the Geneva Armistice Agreement.

Her Majesty's Government have repeatedly impressed on the Government of Vietnam the desirability of entering into consultations with the Vietminh authorities as specified by the Final Declaration of the Geneva Conference of 1954. On 7th October, 1955, the Vietnamese Government officially notified Her Majesty's Government that they reaffirmed their acceptance of the principle of elections as a means of unifying Vietnam on condition that those elections were genuinely free and democratic.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is satisfied that there is no undue delay in publishing the annual accounts of the Gold Coast Cocoa Purchasing Company; and if he will make representations suggesting that the accounts, when published, contain more detailed information than in the past.

An audited statement of the company's accounts for the year ending 30th September, 1954, has now been published. I am confident that the Government of the Gold Coast is aware how desirable it is that the company's future accounts should be published as early as possible and in the fullest detail.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has yet received the petition, forwarded from certain persons in the Gold Coast, alleging corruption in the Cocoa Purchasing Commission; and whether he will make a statement.

I have received the petition, which I am now considering. I hope to send a reply to it very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking to fill the vacancies for magistrates in Fiji, having regard to the fact that one vacancy has been open for three years and another for nine months; and whether he will consider increasing the number of magistrates in that Colony in addition to filling those vacancies.

There are at present two vacancies for magistrates in Fiji. Both date from May of this year, and one of them is due to an increase in the establishment. One is under offer to a serving officer. Endeavours to find a suitable candidate for the other are proceeding both here and in Australia and New Zealand. Any increase in the establishment of magistrates is a matter for the Government of Fiji.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he proposes to take to ensure that minimum standards of safety and cleanliness are observed in factories in Uganda.

The legislation itself, governing safety and cleanliness in factories, is adequate but the enforcement of prescribed standards has been handicapped by staffing difficulties in the Factories Inspectorate. The Inspectorate has now been strengthened, and I hope that the situation will soon greatly improve.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the appointment of a new Principal to Fourah Bay College, Sierra Leone, has been so long delayed.

Considerable efforts have been made by my Advisory Committee on Colonial Colleges of Arts, Science and Technology to attract applicants for this post. This process has unfortunately taken longer than I or my Advisory Committee wished, but I hope that an announcement about the appointment of a new Principal will be made very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the high prices charged for lodgings for soldiers' families in Gibraltar; and what steps are being taken to control these rents.

I am aware of this problem. A local committee has been going into the question of rents in Gibraltar, including those charged to Service men in furnished lodgings. The report of the committee is expected to be ready by the end of the month, and I understand that it will contain recommendations for the introduction of legislation to deal with this aspect of the problem.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the Agricultural Census of the East Africa Statistical Department states that 3 per cent. or 210,000 acres of the White Highlands has no owner, and another 11 per cent. or 880,000 acres, is undeveloped or unused; and whether he will consider the transfer of some of this land in the districts of Laikipia, Uasin Gishu and Thika to selected African farmers.

Parts of the unowned area are useless for agricultural purposes and for some the development costs have proved too high. Other parts consist of small pockets which require to be joined to larger units for economic working. The undeveloped areas consist mostly of small isolated parts of well-developed European farms which have not been brought into use because of poor fertility, irrigation problems or inaccessibility. They would be useless to peasant farmers. Under the Agricultural Ordinance passed this year, the Kenya Government has taken powers to ensure full development in the Highlands and other scheduled areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total number of cases of irregular treatment of Mau Mau suspects in custody or undergoing sentence; what further action has been taken to prevent a recurrence of these irregularities; what further evidence was presented which led to an increased term of imprisonment for those convicted of irregularity; and how many Mau Mau attacks on persons or property have been recorded during the past six months.

On the first point, I am still in consultation with the Governor on certain matters of detail so that my reply may be complete and up to date, and I will circulate a further reply as soon as possible. During the past six months 1,382 attacks by Mau Mau have been recorded. On the remaining points I would refer the hon. Member to the statements I made on 26th October about the case of Kamau Kichina.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what restrictions are still in force upon the growing of cash crops by Africans in Kenya.

I am asking the Governor for this information and, when available, will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is satisfied with the existing arrangements for keeping parents in this country informed of their son's welfare and whereabouts while imprisoned in a Colony; and if he will make a statement.

Persons imprisoned in Colonial Territories are allowed to send and receive letters, and prisoners who are United Kingdom nationals are therefore able to communicate with their relatives in the United Kingdom. If any relative in this country of a person serving a sentence in a colonial prison has not been informed by the prisoner of his whereabouts, or if the relative has reason to be anxious about the prisoner's welfare, I should be glad to ask the Governor of the territory concerned to make inquiries.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the average percentage of time spent at sea and ashore, respectively, by naval ratings during their service life at the present time; and what those percentages were in 1950 and 1938, respectively.

Average percentages would depend upon conditions which might fluctuate considerably over the whole period of a rating's service and could not be given in terms of a single year. Nor would it be possible, without a wholly disproportionate expenditure of effort in examining the records of individuals, to state the proportions for men completing their engagements in particular years. The proportion of male ratings serving afloat at present is 47 per cent., in 1950 it was 49 per cent. The Fleet Air Arm, which is stationed largely ashore, has accounted for 11 per cent. of the total naval strength in recent years. In 1938, 61 per cent. of male ratings were serving afloat.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if chief petty officers at the Royal Naval Air Station, Abbotsinch, will continue to keep their privilege of running their own bar when the new building block is completed.

The completion of this building will not affect the continuance of this privilege, which is enjoyed by senior ratings at many naval shore establishments.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the less exacting demands on Service manpower, he will arrange that the call-up of men engaged in export industries be granted deferment in suitable cases.

No. Two years' deferment of call-up is already granted to ex-apprentices employed on certain highly skilled engineering and shipbuilding work of particular importance to exports, and I cannot see my way to extend this arrangement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of opinion in Wales that the National Library of Wales, the National Museum of Wales and the Welsh Folk Museum, St. Fagan's, Glamorgan, should each be afforded the status appropriate to national institutions; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

I am well aware of the prestige and quality of these institutions, and of the high esteem in which they are held throughout Great Britain. I would like to refer to my right hon. Friend's reply to a Question about the National Library of Wales on 3rd November, and to repeat that at no time has any proposition been made which in any way affects the national status of either the National Library of Wales or the National Museum of Wales. It was merely proposed that staff recruited by them in future should be paid on the same basis as civil servants in the same localities. This would give to the staff in Cardiff the rates which would be appropriate in Edinburgh and to the staff in Aberystwyth the rates which would be appropriate in Oxford or Cambridge.As my right hon. Friend explained, civil servants are paid "London," "Intermediate" or "Provincial" rates, according to where they work, but this implies no differentiation in status, either of the staff or of the establishment in which they are employed. The staff of other institutions in Great Britain which enjoy national status are not, if on civil service rates of pay, given the special rates which apply in London. Those rates exist for reasons which have no connection with status but are purely economic.Letters from the authorities of the National Library and the National Museum have been sent to the Treasury asking that the proposals should be reconsidered. Meanwhile I have taken note of the position and would ask the hon. Member to await the outcome of these requests by the authorities.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of estates dealt with by the Estate Duty Office during the financial year 1954–55.

The number of duty-paying estates dealt with for the first time in 1954–55 by the Estate Duty Office was 69,539; the number of small estates on which no duty was payable was over 150,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many types of notices have been erected or put out restricting the parking of motor vehicles in the Metropolitan area; and what is the wording of such notices.

Notices of the following types are in use in the Metropolitan Police District:1. NO WAITING

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the urgent need in the Dalkeith area in Midlothian for a general hospital; and what steps he will take to remedy the situation.

This area is served by hospitals in Edinburgh where a full range of treatment facilities is available, and I am afraid that I cannot hold out any prospect of the provision of a hospital in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in which technical colleges sandwich courses in engineering and technology are now in operation.

Sandwich courses in engineering and technology are in operation in the Royal Technical College, Glasgow, Heriot-Watt College, Edinburgh and Paisley Technical College. I shall send the hon. Member a list detailing the courses available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement on the recent strike in the fishing industry at Aberdeen.

An unofficial strike of Aberdeen trawler crews started on 5th September in support of a demand for a registration scheme, with priority of engagement for union labour. Other workers later stopped work in sympathy. Following discussions between officials of the Transport and General Workers' Union and the Owners' Association it was announced on 29th September that vessels would resume sailing and negotiations on a registration scheme would take place. The fleet actually resumed sailing on 1st October.

asked the Minister of Supply if, in view of the fact that a large part of the promotional advertising by the aircraft industry is included in the costs of new aircraft to his Department, he will take steps to ensure that when entering into new contracts for the purchase of new aircraft the cost no longer includes that element created by the present newspaper advertising of operational aircraft.

The cost of newspaper promotional advertising by the aircraft industry is not allowed in the prices of aircraft bought by the Ministry of Supply. Reasonable expenditure on advertising in trade journals alone is allowed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that the Wealdstone Brook still overflows, flooding the gardens of residents in Brook Avenue, Wembley, and threatening their houses, despite past efforts to prevent this; and if he will take steps to assist the local authority to have the brook cleared of obstructions.

I have been in touch with the local authorities concerned about this matter. I understand that the Highways Committee of the Middlesex County Council will be considering, in a few weeks' time, an improvement scheme which has been prepared at their direction.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state, for each of the last four years, the total

The figures are given in the following tables. The sources of these statistics and the cautions to be applied in using them are described in an article in the Board of Trade Journal dated 20th August. 1955.

asked the Minister of Works to what extent, at Harwell, Sellafield, and other active atomic power stations, the full permitted dose of radiation is still regarded as safe; and if he will make a full statement indicating the dangers inherent in this type of work.

The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, in deciding the maximum permissible level of radiation for their staff, follow the recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection, which are designed to ensure that workers exposed to radiation will not suffer in health. The precautions taken at Harwell and Sellafield in fact reduce the average radiation exposure of employees at those establishments to considerably less than one-tenth of the maximum permissible level.