asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made with the examination of the possibility of widening the carriageways of London streets which have unnecessarily wide pavements.

The examination promised on 23rd November by the last Minister has been carried out and has shown that there are only a very limited number of sites where widening of the carriageway at the expense of existing wide pavements would assist through traffic on congested roads. The responsible highway authorities have already taken the possibilities into account in drawing up their road programmes.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation in what circumstances contractors are required by his Department to carry out road repairs by working day and night; and to what extent this increases the cost.

On trunk roads for which I am the highway authority, my Department does not require that contractors employed by my agent authorities on road repairs should work by day and night, except where the need to reduce the period of disruption of traffic to the minimum overrides other considerations. I have no power to require day and night working by contractors employed by statutory undertakers or by other highway authorities on their roads. The increase in cost due to day and night working varies, but is estimated to be from 15 to 25 per cent.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that insistence on the principle that the lowest tender must be accepted for road repairs sometimes results in contractors being appointed who are unable to complete the work in the stipulated time, causing delay and inconvenience to traffic for longer than is necessary; and if he will allow local authorities to depart from the strict application of this principle.

The principle that the lowest tender should be accepted is sound, and I am not prepared to authorise any general departure from it. But if there are special circumstances in any particular case I am always ready to consider them.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to make a statement on Government policy with regard to the canals under the control of the British Transport Commission.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer which I gave my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Nantwich (Mr. Grant-Ferris) on 1st February.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to broaden the terms of reference given to the Committee of Inquiry into the future of the country's system of inland waterways so that it may examine proposals for new waterways or a new waterways system if they so desire.

No. The construction of an entirely new waterways system would not be a practical proposition in the foreseeable future. The essential need is to make the best use of the system which we already have and the committee's terms of reference are already wide enough to allow it to recommend any measures it thinks necessary to achieve this.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made with the electrification of the Shenfield—Southend line.

The British Transport Commission tell me that electric services between Shenfield and Southend are expected to begin early next year.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is prepared to investigate the various possible ways of shortening the time between London and London Airport.

Yes. The Cromwell Road extension, work on which is already proceeding, is the first step to shorten the journey to London Airport; and the British Transport Commission are studying a possible rail service for the longer term.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what investigation has been made of the relative advantages of reaching London Airport by omnibus from a terminal in London and alternatively from a terminal at the Underground station most convenient to the airport.

No formal investigation has been made of the relative advantages of omnibus over underground for travel to London Airport, but the omnibus is clearly more attractive in speed and convenience.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the negotiations between the Governor of Cyprus Sir John Harding, and Archbishop Makarios.

Sir John Harding met Archbishop Makarios again on 27th January, and on the next day confirmed in writing his proposals for a basis for cooperation. The Archbishop's reply has been received and is being studied. I have nothing to add today, but shall make a full statement as soon as I can.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many British subjects in Cyprus have been imprisoned without trial; and whether he will take steps either to bring charges or to release these prisoners.

Detention Orders, under the Detention of Persons Law and the Emergency Regulations, have been made against 406 such persons, of whom 286 are still in detention. If, in the second part of her Question, the hon. Member implies that all these detainees should be brought before the courts of law, as distinct from having the right to bring any objection to the detention orders made against them before an Advisory Committee, I think she will know from the discussion we have had in this House that these exceptional powers are at present necessary to safeguard the normal life of the community.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Cypriots are at present detained without trial on the island under the Emergency Regulations.

On 4th February, 135 persons were detained under the Emergency Regulations. A further 151 persons were detained under the Detention of Persons Law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies upon which Vote the cost of jamming Athens radio broadcasts will be carried, including the cost of the preparatory work now in hand.

If jamming proved necessary its cost would be borne by the Cyprus Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how much of the £38 million development scheme for Cyprus will be financed directly from United Kingdom revenues; and how much money will have to be raised by the people of Cyprus.

For the five-year period up to March, 1960, a sum of £937,000 has been made available to Cyprus under the C.D. & W. Acts. As I have already informed the House Her Majesty's Government also propose, subject to the approval of Parliament, to give Cyprus financial assistance towards the cost of the Emergency, which will enable the Colony to devote more of its own resources to its development programme. We cannot yet say how long it may take to carry out that programme but, as I mentioned in the debate on 5th December, on present estimates for the next six years, some 60 per cent. of the cost should be borne from local revenue or met from local loans. In addition, the Cyprus Government will need to raise a certain amount of external loans.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to specify the nature of the appointment in Cyprus offered to Sir Harry Leonard D'Arcy Waechter, and in connection with which he was in correspondence with the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the island; and what salary and expenses attached to the appointment in question.

Sir D'Arcy Waechter is not known personally by the Governor, but is one of many people who wrote to him volunteering to help in Cyprus. As he stated that he had served with Cypriot troops during the war it was thought that he might be suitable for a post in the police force, which needed reinforcements. A reply was therefore sent by a member of the Governor's staff asking him to send his full particulars to the Colonial Office. No application was received from him and no offer of appointment has been made to him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proposals Her Majesty's Government have in mind for the future of British Somaliland; what representations he has received from the peoples concerned; and what negotiations are contemplated to resolve the question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he is taking regarding the proposed measures of further constitutional advance for the British Somaliland Protectorate.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. and learned Member for Brigg (Mr. E. L. Mallalieu) on 25th January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many British-protected persons from the Somaliland Protectorate are receiving education or training in the United Kingdom; and how many such persons sponsored by Her Majesty's Government are receiving education or training in other Commonwealth countries and in Egypt or other foreign countries.

There are twenty-three students from British Somaliland now in the United Kingdom. Thirteen sponsored by the Protectorate Government are receiving education or training in other Commonwealth countries, eight in the Sudan, one in Egypt and one in the Lebanon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why he has refused to register the Kenya National African Congress; and why it was banned from holding any further meetings.

The Kenya Government refused registration of the Kenya African National Congress because its declared aim of promoting a colony-wide organisation is contrary to the Government's policy of permitting the establishment of African associations only on a district basis at present. Since then the Congress has been permitted to hold a further meeting to consider altering its draft constitution. A revised constitution is now being examined by the Kenya Government and, if it complies with the requirements of the law, the society will be registered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to halt, or at least stop the European Agricultural Settlement Board from encouraging, the settlement of Europeans in the White Highlands in Kenya until after Her Majesty's Government have considered their attitude to the recommendations made by the East African Royal Commission on the question of land tenure.

No. The operations of the Board are designed to encourage more intensive and productive use of land in the White Highlands and the importation of capital for this purpose. These operations do not involve the extension of areas designated for European occupation in Kenya, nor do they prejudice the acceptance of the Royal Commission's recommendations on land tenure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the agricultural census taken in Kenya in 1954 revealed that 59 per cent. of the European farmers with smallholdings in the White Highlands did not depend on their farms as their main source of income; and whether he is satisfied that the present alienation ordinances operate to the benefit of the people of Kenya as a whole, and to the Africans in particular.

I am aware that 59 per cent. of those Europeans whose land holdings in the settled areas are of less than 200 acres do not depend on these holdings as their main source of income. Many of the holdings are of a few acres only and are farmed to supplement pensions or small private incomes. I shall consider the point raised in the second part of the question when I have received the comments of the Government of Kenya on the recommendations of the Royal Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why, in granting a charter to Rediffusion Limited in Malta, certain times were reserved for the Government; what times were so reserved and what use is being made of them in the present referendum campaign; and whether he will make a statement on the broadcasting times being allocated to each party during the referendum.

In accordance with normal practice, the licence obliges the licensee, Rediffusion Limited, to distribute any programme, announcement, or other matter which the Government may require, without charge and up to a limit of one half-hour per day. The Maltese Government is at present using this facility between 7 and 7.30 p.m. each day, for the reading of public announcements and the broadcasting of topical features prepared by the Maltese Central Office of Information.The broadcasting times for political parties during the referendum campaign were allocated by the management of Rediffusion Limited, which informed the parties on the 29th January of its decision to proceed with arrangements for pre-referendum broadcasts without further delay and in a manner reflecting the largest measure of agreement reached in previous discussions between them. The schedule of pre-referendum broadcasts was fixed by the Rediffusion Management as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to inform the House of the contents of the protest sent to him on 30th January by the Nationalist Party leader in Malta; and whether he will place a copy of the protest in the Library of the House, together with his reply.

The protest to which the hon. Member refers, has already been published here and in Malta. I am, however, arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House, together with a copy of the reply which I have asked the Governor to transmit on my behalf.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many prosecutions have taken place; how many convictions have resulted; and what has been the punishment, as the result of rowdy meetings in the Malta referendum campaign and, in particular, before the Governor's broadcast from London.

Arising out of incidents at a meeting of the Progressive Constitutional Party at Sliema on 15th January, three persons were prosecuted, of whom one was sentenced to five days' detention, one was fined £1 with the option of eight days' detention and one was acquitted. A fourth person charged with striking the Hon. Mabel Strickland has been convicted and sentenced to 20 days' detention, but has given notice of appeal.Arising out of incidents at a meeting of the Nationalist Party in Gozo on 29th January, four persons were prosecuted, two of whom were sentenced to seven days' detention, one to ten days' detention and one acquitted. A further case is pending.Arising out of incidents at an indoor meeting of the Nationalist Party at Mqabba on 26th January, two prosecutions are pending, and five other alleged cases are under investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if Her Majesty's Government will make it clear to all individuals and parties concerned with the future of Malta that no British Government can bind its successors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will ensure that it is made clear to everyone concerned in Malta that no assurance given by Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom can bind any Parliament of the United Kingdom, and that no Parliament of the United Kingdom can bind either itself or its successors.

I am sure that all concerned with the future of Malta are well aware of the constitutional fact that no British Parliament or Government can bind its successors. At the same time, they will not fail to conclude from the history of the last 150 years that assurances such as those given by Her Majesty's Government and the leaders of all political parties in the House on 1st February concerning paragraph 79 of the Report of the Malta Round Table Conference, having been scrupulously observed in the past, will be so honoured in the future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the amount of damage estimated to have been caused by the recent floods in Central Tanganyika; and whether road, rail and telecommunications have now been repaired.

Heavy rain at Christmas time caused a series of small washaways on the railway line in the Central Province. The main road to Morogoro was cut, other roads damaged and fifty miles of telephone line were affected. Temporary repairs were made in a few days but permanent repairs will take some months to complete.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the reasons for the sinking of the railway launch "Otter" on Lake Victoria with the loss of 18 lives; and what steps were taken to rescue survivors.

There is to be an inquiry by a magistrate into the tragic loss of this launch and as the matter is sub judice I cannot at present make any statement. I will write to my hon. Friend when the inquiry is concluded.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what action he is now taking to amend and revise the Naval Discipline Act.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Ian Harvey).

asked the Postmaster-General if he can now assess the damage to telephone installations in the north-east of England caused by the blizzard on 8th January; and if he is aware of the appreciation generally felt for the way in which the repair work has been tackled by all concerned.

In North-East England. 96 small exchanges were isolated or lost the mains power supply, over 14,000 subscribers' lines were put out of action, 5,600 poles were broken or displaced and some 7,000 miles of wires were brought down. All exchanges were in service again within four days and less than a hundred subscribers are still without service.I am grateful for the tribute to the Post Office staff concerned, and should like to express my own appreciation of their efforts and also of the valuable assistance rendered by men of the United States Air Force and of the Eastern Command.

asked the Postmaster-General the average length of delay at the Rubery Telephone Exchange, Birmingham, in replying to subscribers; and what increased staff he is planning to reduce these delays.

Regular observations are not taken, and I cannot therefore give the average speed of answer. I know, however, that recently rising traffic made it difficult to give as good a service as we should have liked. The exchange staff was increased by 26 per cent. in December.

asked the Postmaster-General his plans to meet the need for telephone kiosks on the rapidly growing Llan Rumney Estate, Cardiff.

Three kiosks are already working and the provision of three more is in hand. Others will be added as the estate grows.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give an estimate of the cost of bringing monthly magazines within the cheaper postal rate enjoyed by newspapers and weekly journals.

It is difficult to make a firm estimate, but the cost might be of the order of £1 million a year.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider, in due course, the issue of stamps to mark the holding of the Empire Games in Wales in 1958, both as a means of raising revenue and of advertising the event.

The policy of the Post Office, since stamps were first introduced, has been to limit very strictly the issue of commemorative stamps, and this policy is supported by a substantial body of philatelic opinion. While I am always prepared to examine any particular proposals carefully, I consider that there are strong arguments for maintaining our present policy.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will take steps to improve the service to the public in the General Post Office, Belfast.

We always try to give a good service, both in Belfast and elsewhere. If my hon. Friend knows of any difficulty I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Postmaster-General over what area of Wales reception of the Wenvoe Station is now satisfactory.

The B.B.C. tells me that with the present temporary aerial system the Wenvoe V.H.F. sound service is satisfactorily received in Glamorganshire, the greater part of Monmouthshire, and parts of Carmarthenshire and Brecknockshire, though in places the quality of reception may vary. In the spring of this year, when the permanent aerial system is completed, the population served will be increased from about 1½ million to nearly 2 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the dates on which three companies of the Royal Air Force Regiment were flown from Iraq to Jordan; what were the dates on which the 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry and the 1st and 3rd Battalions Parachute Regiment were flown from the United Kingdom to Cyprus; what were the types of aircraft in which they were transferred; and whether he will make a statement.

The two parachute battalions travelled in Royal Air Force Shackletons and Hastings on 12th January; the R.A.F. Regiment Wing in Royal Air Force Valettas on 12th and 13th January; and the 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry in Hermes and York charter aircraft on 23rd to 25th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Air to now make a statement about the new Bounty Scheme for members of the Royal Air Force Reserve and Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

I regret that I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for visas to visit the United Kingdom from Tunisians, Algerians, and Moroccans have been refused in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to take further steps to reinforce the credit squeeze to halt the rising cost of living.

I have nothing at present to add to the replies which I have given to Questions on this subject since Parliament reassembled.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury to state the values of the lump sums in superannuation benefits for the permanent secretary, assistant secretary, principal, and clerical officer classes of civil servants at salary maxima, and also the values if they had been taxed within the last tax year of work, assuming they had no other source of income, at the 1939, 1st July, 1955, scales, and Royal Commission on Civil Service proposed scales of salary rates, respectively.

To answer the Question it has been necessary to make certain assumptions. The calculations set out in the following table show the lump sums before and after tax in respect of service for forty years and for twenty years. Tax has been calculated on the assumption that the retiring officer is a married man without dependent children, that retirement takes place on 5th April so that the lump sum is payable in addition to a full year's salary, and that there is no other income. For the figures under the heading "1939 scale" the rates of tax applicable in 1938–39 have been used, and for the remaining columns the rates applicable in 1955–56.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount was received by his Department month by month from the licence duty paid by bookmakers on greyhound racecourses during 1955.

The monthly receipts of licence duty paid by bookmakers on greyhound racecourses during 1955 year as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for War how many helicopters, and of what types, are at present being used by the Army, other than for experimental purposes; and for how many machines by types firm orders have been placed.

Forty-nine are in use, thirty-nine of which are flown by the Royal Air Force and seven by the Royal Navy. The remaining three are flown by Army pilots in an Air Observation Post flight in this country. The types are twenty-one Whirlwinds, eighteen Sycamores, seven American S55s and three Dragonflies. Orders for all helicopters are placed at the request of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air who takes the Army's requirements into account.

asked the Secretary of State for War what progress has been made by the Joint Experimental Helicopter Unit which was formed on 1st April, 1955; what conclusions have so far been reached about the role of helicopters as Army transport vehicles and when he expects to be able to make a full statement.

The unit is being built up, and is making progress on its experimental programme. Rapid strides have been made in the training of both Army and Royal Air Force personnel in the handling of helicopters in the field. In August the unit is going to Germany for two months and will take part in exercises and trials in the field with 1st Corps. It is too early to make a full statement about the role of the helicopter in the Army, but I hope to be able to do so when we have had the opportunity of drawing lessons from these trials.