asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how much of the new road construction is being done on a cost-plus basis; whether he is satisfied that there is real competition for these contracts; and what checks there are for eliminating waste in this Government expenditure.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "None," and to the second part "Yes." All contracts are carefully supervised to avoid waste.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation in how many of the ten major road improvement schemes announced by his Department on 8th December, 1953, for authorisation within the financial year 1954–55, no work has as yet started upon the site.

Thirteen such schemes were announced. Work on the site has already started on all but three. Work on these will start before the end of the financial year.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now state when he expects that the Ashford by-pass will be completed.

I am in touch with the Kent County Council on this subject.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the congestion that is caused by the movement of large pieces of plant and machinery on the roads at peak periods of traffic; and what steps are being taken to prevent such movement.

Yes. Under existing regulations vehicles of unusual weight or width are subject to a considerable degree of control. I am going into the possibility of tightening this up.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if his attention has been drawn to recent inquest proceedings where loss of life was held to be due to the inferior quality of crash helmets at present on sale; and if he will take powers to ensure that all crash helmets produced and sold in this country conform to the specifications laid down by the British Standards Institution.

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 25th October to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, South (Sir J. Lucas) and the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. G. Thomas).

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that Regulations Nos. 21 and 79 of 1955 concerning the emission of smoke from motor vehicles cannot be effectively enforced; and if he will amend his regulations so as to define more clearly what constitutes an offence.

I am aware of the difficulties, and in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department I am considering whether the regulations require revision.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how far, under the accident investigation procedure laid down in paragraph 15 of the Memorandum of the Minister of Civil Aviation, dated November, 1948, Command Paper No. 7564, he is satisfied that the test of serious negligence as one of the tests on which he decides whether a public inquiry should be held into an accident to a civil aircraft has proved to be satisfactory in practice; and if he will make a statement.

I have come to the conclusion that the term "serious negligence" is ambiguous, imprecise and unsatisfactory. I have therefore, asked the Chief Inspector of Accidents in future to report whether the preliminary inquiries show evidence of either (a) a reckless disregard for lives of persons or their safety or that of their property, or (b) a high degree of carelessness. These criteria will be substituted for "serious negligence" in assisting me in coming to a conclusion whether a public inquiry is needed in the particular case.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he proposes, in normal circumstances, to appoint the chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee from each of the three Services in turn.

This appointment is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. I can, however, say that the governing consideration in the selection of an officer for this post will be his suitability and not the Service to which he belongs.

asked the Minister of Defence if, in order to save medical manpower and public money, he will consider amalgamating the medical services in the three Fighting Services and form one defence medical service.

The amalgamation of the medical services of the Armed Forces was rejected by the Government of the day early in 1948. It is one of the matters which has been examined by the Committee under Lord Waverley on the Medical and Dental Services of the Forces. Their report is now being considered. I will announce in due course the Government's decision on this.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will now make a statement with regard to free air mail facilities at Christmas for United Kingdom forces in Cyprus.

I have considered further with my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General what arrangements can be made to help over the despatch of parcels for delivery at Christmas to members of Her Majesty's Forces stationed in Cyprus. Such parcels will be accepted at Post Offices in the United Kingdom up to Tuesday, 29th November instead of today as previously announced by my right hon. Friend. They will be specially despatched by a troopship. A 3 lb. parcel sent by this means will cost the normal Service concession rate of is. 3d.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what contracts are in being for the delivery of tanks to Egypt; and what are the types, quantities and delivery dates in such contracts.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a further statement about the breaches by Ethiopia of the Anglo-Ethiopian Agreement of 1954.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Ambassador in Addis Ababa has yet met the Vice Governor of Harar Province over the working of the Anglo-Ethiopian Agreement of November, 1954; and whether he will make a statement.

Discussions are proceeding regarding the date and nature of the meeting with the Vice-Governor of the Harar Province. Her Majesty's Government have proposed that it should be held on 30th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how often, in the past, British Somalis of the Ogaden have been tried in consular courts of justice; and what was the date of the Franco-Ethiopian Treaty confirming this franchise to which the United Kingdom was a signatory.

Our Consular Courts in Ethiopia ceased to operate from the time of the Italian occupation of Ethiopia in 1936 and were formally abolished by the Ethiopia (Termination of Jurisdiction) Order in Council of 1942. As the records of these courts are stored in Addis Ababa, it would be impossible to answer the first part of the Question without undue expenditure of time and labour. As regards the second part of the Question, the Franco-Ethiopian Treaty of 10th January, 1908, established extra-territorial rights for French subjects in Ethiopia. Her Majesty's Government were not a signatory to this Treaty.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is yet in a position to state the United Kingdom's contributions to the Technical Assistance Programme for 1956.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the amount of the British contribution to the United Nations Technical Assistance Programme for 1956.

Yes. Subject to the approval of Parliament, Her Majesty's Government propose to contribute £800,000 in 1956.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what initiative has now been taken by the British Government to withdraw the United Nations' resolution placing an embargo on trade with China.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the right hon. Member for Huyton (Mr. H. Wilson) on 7th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the increasing tension along the 166-mile frontier between Israel and Egypt, he will now advocate increasing the strength and mobility of the United Nations Armistice Commission so that they may adequately watch this frontier 24 hours a day.

I have nothing to add to the replies given by my right hon. Friend on 7th November to Questions by the right hon. Gentlemen the Members for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. A. Henderson) and Grimsby (Mr. Younger). It is for General Burns to decide what additional staff is required. He knows that any request from him will have Her Majesty's Government's support.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many entrants into the higher Foreign Service in each year since 1946 were educated, respectively, at public and independent schools, grant-aided schools, and State schools.

The numbers of entrants into the senior branch of the Foreign Service (excluding the Legal Advisers) in each of the years from 1946 to 1955, who were educated respectively at independent schools, direct grant schools and maintained schools, were as follows:

Year		Independent	Direct Grant	Maintained
1946	…	72	8	16
1947	…	63	8	16
1948	…	27	3	7
1949	…	36	—	16
1950	…	30	3	11
1951	…	21	1	3
1952	…	15	2	1
1953	…	15	2	4
1954	…	22	1	6
1955	…	21	—	5

These figures do not include those who were educated outside the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many entrants into the higher Foreign Service, in each year since 1946, came, respectively, from Oxford University, Cambridge University, London University. other universities in England and Wales, and the Scottish universities.

The table below shows the number of new entrants into the senior branch of the Foreign Service in each of

Year			Oxford	Cambridge	London	Others, England and Wales	Scottish
1946	…	…	42	34	8	3	2
1947	…	…	39	31	2	1	6
1948	…	…	15	13	3	—	2
1949	…	…	30	13	3	1	4
1950	…	…	22	16	—	1	2
1951	…	…	18	4	1	—	1
1952	…	…	11	5	2	—	1
1953	…	…	14	6	—	—	—
1954	…	…	19	9	1	—	—
1955	…	…	18	5	—	1	—

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will reaffirm the British guarantee of the existing frontiers between Israel and the neighbouring Arab States, undertaken with the United States of America and France by the Tripartite Declaration of May, 1950, by declaring Her Majesty's Government's intention to take immediate action against any State which violates those frontiers by launching a major attack across them.

As has repeatedly been reaffirmed, Her Majesty's Government stand by their obligation under the Tripartite Declaration of May, 1950, to take action immediately, both within and outside the United Nations, to prevent any violation of frontiers or armistice lines by any of the States in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what recent geological surveys have been made in British Guiana.

The Government Geological Survey is carrying out basic geological mapping and systematic searches for minerals of commercial interest. Recent reconnaissances have been made in the Rupununi and N.W. Districts. In addition, private companies are conducting their own geological surveys in connection with occurrences of bauxite, manganese, columbite, gold and diamonds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why he approved the pact, announced in September of this year, under which the Chester Beatty Mining Interests, in compensation for giving up certain rights should, whilst retaining all that is important to the welfare of their business interests in the Colony, be paid £1,570,000 by the Colony of Sierra Leone; whether the Sierra Leone Legislature has yet ratified this pact; and if he will make a statement.

I approved this agreement on the basis of highly qualified and expert advice that £1,570,000 was in all the circumstances fair and reasonable compensation for the extensive and valuable rights surrendered by the company. The agreement has been approved in principal by the Sierra Leone Legislative Council but the legal documents giving effect to it have yet to be signed and ratified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what date the Employment Bill, to replace the Labour Code, in Malaya, which was referred to a Select Committee of the Malayan Legislative Assembly in 1953, is expected to come before the Assembly for approval.

This Bill was passed on 1st June. It is proposed to bring it into force in the early part of next year after further discussion with the interested parties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what methods are adopted to measure the extent of unemployment and under-employment in the Federation of Malaya and in Singapore.

In both territories, in the absence of unemployment registration, estimates are obtained from the best available sources, including employment exchanges, Labour Department Inspectors and returns of persons employed in industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the number and names of the representatives from the Federation of Malaya who are coming to London shortly to discuss constitutional reform; and the sections of the community they represent.

Four representatives of Their Highnesses the Rulers and four representatives of the Alliance will attend a series of talks in London early next year.The following will represent the Rulers:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further steps the Government of the Federation of Malaya has taken to combat tuberculosis; and why treatment allowances have been refused despite the results achieved by the scheme in Singapore.

In addition to a major campaign against tuberculosis during the past five years, the Government of the Federation of Malaya have this year given $300,000 to the Lady Templer Tuberculosis Hospital and have also improved facilities at eight Government Tuberculosis Centres. The Federation Government have been unable to adopt a country-wide scheme of treatment allowances owing to the large and scattered population and the resulting cost involved and difficulties of supervision. but a voluntary scheme of allowances is administered by the Malayan Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of the 8,000 Mauritians who were discharged from the Army two months ago after service in the Middle East have obtained permanent employment in Government service and elsewhere, respectively.

Of the 6,011 ex-members of the Mauritius Pioneer Corps discharged by mid-November, 3,304 have been placed in employment. I have asked the Governor to supply the separate figures for Government and private employment and will send them to the hon. Member in due course. Of the rest, 1,350 have reported to the Labour Department Employment Office and, though these have not been placed in employment, it does not follow that they have not obtained employment for themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider appointing a commissioner for the Government of Mauritius, who will look after the interests of the Colony in the United Kingdom.

This is a matter for the Government of Mauritius and I will draw the Governor's attention to the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that there is continuing anxiety in Mauritius over the question of land tenure, and that numbers of Metayers are being evicted every year; and whether he will introduce legislation in this matter.

I am aware that the Government of Mauritius is considering the complex problem of land tenure in the Colony and particularly the system of Metayage. The introduction of any legislation which might be considered necessary would of course be a matter for that Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies details of the number of votes and seats secured by each party in the last General Election in Mauritius.

The votes cast at the last General Election were:

• For Mauritius Labour Party Candidates, 131,468.
• For Ralliement Candidates, 80,541.
• For Independents, 80,781.

The seats won were 13, 2 and 4, respectively.I trust that these figures will remove any misunderstanding which may have arisen from my statement on 26th October that the people who had the most votes had the fewest seats. The Mauritius Labour Party had a large majority over any other one group, though the number of votes cast for candidates with other affiliations exceeded the Labour Party vote. On the other hand the number of seats won by Labour Party candidates was more than double the number won by other candidates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proposals for the future Constitution of Cyprus were put forward by Archbishop Makarios in the recent discussions with the Governor.

The discussions with the Governor were informal and confidential, but the Archbishop summarised his proposals as follows in a statement to the Press:

"(1) Recognition by the British Government of the right of the Cyprus people to self-determination constitutes the indispensable basis for the solution of the Cyprus question.

(2) After this official recognition, the Archbishop would be willing to co-operate with the British Government in framing a constitution of self-government and putting it into immediate operation.

(3) The time of the application of the principle of self-determination should constitute a subject for discussion between the British Government and the representatives of the Cyprus people, who will be elected on the basis of the constitution."

In reply the Governor explained to the Archbishop Her Majesty's Government's policy as put forward in the proposals tabled at the Tripartite Conference on 6th September. The Governor also told the Archbishop that he would always be ready to meet him again at any time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how soon it is proposed to put forward new proposals for constitutional changes in Cyprus.

A general indication of the constitutional proposals of Her Majesty's Government was given at the Tripartite Conference on 6th September and published in the White Paper Cmd. 9594. More detailed proposals will be put forward as soon as there is evidence that the leaders of opinion in Cyprus are willing to co-operate in the development of self-government. Meanwhile, the problems involved in framing a constitution are under active study in the Colonial Office in consultation with the Government of Cyprus and I have asked Professor K. G. Wheare of Oxford to assist with his advice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has any statement to make regarding the provision of financial assistance to Cyprus.

Yes. During the Governor's recent visit I took the opportunity of reviewing with him the financial needs of the Government of Cyprus in the light of the present situation. It is essential that the Government should prosecute with vigour and confidence a sound programme of economic and social development. In view of the cost of restoring law and order, this would not be practicable without some assistance from Her Majesty's Government.It is therefore our intention, subject to the approval of Parliament in due course, to make a grant to the Government of Cyprus in 1956. The precise amount of the grant required will be determined when detailed estimates of cost have been prepared and the necessary provision will be sought in the Estimates which I shall present to Parliament for the next United Kingdom financial year. This arrangement, and any similar assistance that may later prove necessary, will enable the Government of Cyprus to devote a much greater part of its resources to plans of economic and social development.I have approved proposals which the Governor submitted to me for a comprehensive programme of economic and social development estimated to cost in the region of £38 million. Certain of the projects in this programme are essentially long-term and will require much detailed planning and take several years to complete; but most can be brought to fruition much more rapidly. Most of the items for which external financial assistance will be required are projects for which loan capital will be needed. The Governor intends to publish the detailed plan as soon as possible. Meanwhile I have authorised him to proceed with the plan forthwith, in the assurance that the Government of Cyprus will have the complete support of Her Majesty's Government in securing the loan funds they will need in due course to supplement their own resources in carrying out this programme.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephones were outstanding in the area of the Hayes and Harlington Urban District Council at 1st November, 1955; and what is the average length of time before installations are made in that area.

One thousand three hundred and nine. The average waiting time cannot be given, since this depends on the availability of lines which varies from one locality to another.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will investigate the operation of the Pinner telephone exchange; and when this exchange will be put on to the automatic system.

Regular checks show that during the day the service at Pinner exchange compares favourably with that of other large London exchanges; we are trying to improve the night service which is a little below average. We plan to open in 1960 an automatic exchange serving part of the Pinner area, but cannot yet fix the date when automatic working will be available in the rest of the area.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he has taken to supply public telephone kiosks to communities in Caithness and Sutherland, which were isolated during last winter's snow-storms, and unable to communicate their plight to the relief authorities because of the lack of telephone facilities; and if he will state their locations.

Eight rural kiosks will be installed in the counties during the present financial year, in the following places nominated by the county councils:

• Altnabreac.
• Badnellan (Clyne).
• Lerin (Durness).
• Migdale Cross Roads.
• Papiegoe (Wick).
• Swiney (Lybster).
• Smerral (Latheron).
• Skirza (Freswick).

In settling this year's programme, the experiences of last winter were borne in mind, though it will not be possible to meet all requirements in this financial year.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty to what extent overtime working among lower grades employed in Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport, is to be curtailed.

There is no intention at present of curtailing the overtime worked by either the lower or the higher grades at Devonport. The amount of overtime worked will continue to depend on the nature and urgency of the work in hand.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the new extensive housing estate of Waterloo in the borough of Poole, he will arrange for a post office to be opened there to serve the residents.

I am having inquiry made and will write to my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is now arranging for experts of the British Broadcasting Corporation to meet the authorities concerned in the Soviet Zone of Germany to discuss the interference with the Welsh Regional Station of the British Broadcasting Corporation, as suggested by the Soviet High Commissioner on 11th October.

The suggestion referred to by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the reply given to the hon. Member on 7th November is still under consideration by Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Postmaster-General what regulations he has made under Section 7 of the Television Act, 1954, about exclusive contracts made by the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority relating to cricket Test Matches; and if he will make a statement.

None. In August last the Post Office invited the B.B.C. and the I.T.A. to confer together with a view to reaching a voluntary agreement on those events of national interest which, in fulfilment of the intentions of Section 7 of the Television Act, 1954, they would jointly recommend to be available for televising by both organisations. As a basis, the Post Office expressed the view that there would be general agreement that among such events of national interest would be the Derby, the Grand National, the Football Association Cup Final, the All-England Lawn Tennis Championships, the Test Matches and the Boat Race. The B.B.C. and the I.T.A. agreed to work on this basis; the talks between them arc still proceeding and I am awaiting their recommendations.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will accelerate the necessary decisions to enable Dagenham Council to acquire land belonging to his Department and required for road widening at the junction of Rainham Road and Town Planned Road 18 as already approved by his Department.

I understand that the Council has now been informed that it can acquire this land on terms to be agreed by the district valuer.

asked the Secretary of State for War why identical garages at Joint Headquarters Northern Army Group and Second Tactical Air Force are let to Army personnel at 3s. 9d. per week and to Royal Air Force personnel at 6s. 6d. per week.

I am afraid the Royal Air Force were ahead of us here. The Army rent is also going up to 6s. 6d. on 1st January next.

asked the Attorney-General if he can now give a date for the publication of the Report of the Royal Commission on Marriage and Divorce.

It is hoped to publish the Report by the end of January, but I cannot of course give an undertaking to that effect.