asked the Postmaster-General the numbers of people in the City of Aberdeen who, during each of the last 10 years, were awaiting telephones; how many new applications for telephones are made each year; what

—	1951	1952	1953	1954	1955
Outstanding applications (at end of year)	2,088	1,905	1,235	1,404	1,653
New applications (during the year)	1,257	1,127	1,560	1,694	1,657

The outstanding applications include those under survey or in course of being met: there were 312 of these at the end of 1955.Our resources have not been adequate to keep pace with the continuing high demand. This has meant delay in overtaking arrears, but we expect to supply 1,650 telephones this year. New cables will be laid this year and next, and the North exchange will be extended this year.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that local telegraph exchanges have informed callers, at the request of the subscriber during cold weather, that the lines of coal merchants were out of order when such was not the case; and by what authority this practice is allowed.

Regulation 28 of the Telephone Regulations, 1954, provides that telephone service may be temporarily disconnected at the subscriber's request. Such requests are accepted without inquiry by the Post Office into the reasons in any individual case.

asked the Postmaster-General what procedure is followed when a telephone subscriber proves that he has not made a trunk call that has been charged to his account.

Figures for the past 10 years are not available, but for the past five years they are:

When a subscriber shows that a trunk call charged to his account has not been made from his telephone, the charge is withdrawn.

asked the Postmaster-General how many Post Office employees have been convicted for offences, involving thieving in the course of duty, during each of the past 10 years.

Following is the Answer:

Number of Post Office servants convicted for theft in the course of official duty (including theft from counter drawers and theft of private and Post Office property)
Year	No.
1946	347
1947	354
1948	475*
1948–49	508*
1949–50	445
1950–51	471
1951–52	468
1952–53	386
1953–54	316
1954–55	320†
Notes:
* In 1948, the time basis of the records was changed from calendar to financial years.
† The figure for 1954–55 includes 15 persons convicted of minor categories of theft which were not previously recorded separately, and are not included in the figures for the previous years.

asked the Postmaster-General the total number of registered postal packets lost in 1938 and 1955, respectively.

The precise information required is not available for 1938, but in the financial year 1938–39, when 544 million inland registered postal packets, including parcels, were posted, the number of accepted claims for loss was 1,267; in 1954–55, when the traffic was 120 million, it was 4,422.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he has taken to draw the attention of the public to the fact that valuables sent by registered post should be insured, if full cover is required in the event of loss.

The facilities for obtaining cover above the minimum scale of compensation are fully described in the Post Office Guide, and they are also referred to on the back of certificates of posting, on registered envelopes, on a notice exhibited in post offices. In addition, special Press and broadcast notices are issued from time to time as reminders.

asked the Postmaster-General the total sum paid to senders of registered postal packets lost in 1938 and 1955, respectively.

The precise information required is not available for 1938, but in the financial year 1938–39, when 54½million inland registered postal packets, including parcels, were posted, the amount paid for loss was £5,300; in 1954–55, when the traffic was 120 million, it was £41,500.

asked the Postmaster-General, what steps are being taken to speed up delivery of telegrams at Congleton.

The new arrangements for delivery by motor cycle from Macclesfield of telegrams for the Congleton area should normally give an efficient service, but we are looking into an individual instance of delay, of which my hon. Friend has sent particulars.

asked the Postmaster-General what inquiries are made concerning the bona fides of persons opening Post Office Savings Bank accounts.

None, though as a precaution the book is posted to the address given in the application. Nearly 1½ million accounts are opened each year and resultant fraud is exceedingly small.

asked the Postmaster-General how many Post Office Savings Bank accounts have been found, in the course of criminal proceedings, to have been used for depositing crossed cheques made out to persons other than the depositor.

Exact figures are not available but the number of cases is thought to be between 10 and 20 a year.

asked the Postmaster-General what proportion of postal packets lost were insured in the year 1955.

The number of ordinary postal packets lost in the post is not known, and a proportion cannot therefore be given. There is no insurance service in the inland post but in the overseas service, in the financial year 1954–55, compensation was paid in respect of 4,279 uninsured parcels sent both to and from the United Kingdom and 281 insured parcels.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that the noise of Royal Air Force aeroplanes, which fly from Dyce Aerodrome, is still a continuing nuisance to the residents of Aberdeen; and if he has yet arranged for the use of silencers which will prevent and discontinue this nuisance.

Flying instructions at Dyce have recently been revised with a view to mitigating the disturbance. The development of silencers for jet aircraft has not yet reached a stage where they can be brought into use.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many surplus tyres and inner tubes his Department has purchased from the Ministry of Supply surplus stocks since 1st January, 1954; and how many tyres and inner tubes have been ordered from other sources during this period by his Department.

All our tyres and inner tubes are obtained through the Ministry of Supply. Since 1st January, 1954, we have placed orders for 94,656 tyres and 49,706 inner utbes. Of these, 126 tyres and 50 inner tubes have come from Ministry of Supply stocks.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether the objections by the water undertaking and others to the draft order for the restoration of the road between Fareham and Lee-on-Solent have now been met or withdrawn; and what progress has been made since December last.

I am glad to say that the objection from a local resident to which I referred in my Answer to my hon. Friend of 21st December has been withdrawn. I am informed that the negotiations between the Admiralty and the statutory undertakers are nearing finality.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he will be able to announce the grants to be made to highway authorities in respect of classified roads in 1956–57.

This has already been done in the case of grants for the maintenance and minor improvement of classified roads, and in a few weeks time I hope to be able to tell highway authorities which major improvement schemes I am ready to consider for grant.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made in connection with reconstruction of the dock area inner relief road at Southampton since its authorisation in April, 1955; and when he estimates the work will be finished.

I understand that the Southampton County Borough Council expect to accept a tender soon. Work should start shortly thereafter and is expected to take about eighteen months to complete.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when work is to begin on the construction of the dual carriageway on the Great Cambridge Road from Bury Street, Edmonton, to Carterhatch Lane, Enfield.

It is hoped to start work in the next few months.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that the roundabout at the junction of A1 and A41 at Mill Hill is too small to cope with peak hour traffic without the help of police officers; and if he will consider replacing it by traffic lights.

I understand that although it was found necessary for police officers to help drivers here during the recent icy weather, the police do not normally need to control traffic at this roundabout, which, up to the present, has worked satisfactorily. Some alteration to the layout may eventually be necessary if the traffic at this junction continues to grow, but I do not think that traffic light signals would be an improvement.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made with preliminary work on the Liverpool—Aintree Road Improvement Scheme which was authorised on the 17th March, 1955.

Work started on 9th January on the length northwards from the Old Roan Canal Bridge. The diversion of cables and mains on this section is proceeding in conjunction with the road works. The reconstruction of the canal bridge started on 20th February and work is in progress on the laying of a surface water drain and the depositing of material for embankments.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether the panel of experts examining the Forth tube crossing have yet indicated to him when their report will be completed and what general line it will take; and if he will now make a statement.

I hope to receive the panel's interim report about the end of this month. I cannot forecast its contents.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he can state what is the approximate time table envisaged for construction of the Borrow-ash By-Pass Road Scheme which was authorised on the 4th November last year.

It is hoped to start work on this scheme in May, 1956, and to complete it by the end of 1957.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many persons were injured in accidents, and how many were killed, involving motor vehicles subject to a general maximum speed limit of 20 miles per hour for the last 12 months for which figures are available, and, of these, how many were children; and, in view of the fact that many local authorities are against increasing this speed limit, if he will give an assurance that he will consult them before permitting an increase.

The figures asked for by the hon. Member are not available, but the total number of accidents involving personal injury, wholly or partly attributed by the police to the actions of drivers of goods vehicles of over 3 tons unladen weight, was 3,357 in 1955.As regards the last part of the Question, in view of the consultations which were undertaken some years ago and the continued public attention paid to this matter I do not think that there is any need for further consultation.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what consultations he has had with both sides of the road transport industry to extend the provisions of Section 93 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, to contract carriages; and with what result.

Consultations have taken place with the National Associations representing operators, with the British Transport Commission, and with the unions. The conclusion I have reached after reviewing the problem in the light of these consultations is that there are substantial objections to extending Section 93 as suggested. My right hon. Friend, the Minister of Labour and National Service, agrees with me in this.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, as an administrative economy and convenience, he will make driving licences optionally available for two or more years.

I am seeking in the Road Traffic Bill, power to extend the validity of driving licences from one to three years.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has yet received the Report of the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee on the operation of the 30 miles-per-hour speed limit in built-up areas as applied to roads of traffic importance in the London traffic area: and if he will make a statement.

I have now received this Report and am arranging for it to be published. The Committee recommends that the existing speed limit of 30 m.p.h. should be retained in built-up areas. It also recommended that a new differential speed limit of 40 m.p.h. should be introduced on some lengths of main traffic routes where the 30 m.p.h. speed limit is considered unduly restrictive but where excessive speeds would be dangerous. Four members are opposed to a differential speed limit but think that in view of the conflict of opinion an experiment should be made with a speed limit of 45 m.p.h. The Committee also makes some other recommendations bearing on the question of speed which cannot conveniently be summarised here. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing my warm thanks to Mr. Samuels, the Chairman of the Committee, and to his colleagues for their comprehensive and lucid Report.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what proposals have been agreed to for building new hangars at London Airport.

Agreement has been reached with B.O.A.C. for the construction of a new wing hangar to the south of their headquarters building in No. 1 Maintenance Area.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is now able to make a statement on the result of his discussions with the British Transport Commission on the question of further financial assistance to railway superannuitants and pensioners.

I cannot yet add to the Answers I gave last Wednesday to my hon. Friend the Member for Watford (Mr. Farey-Jones) and the hon. Members for Eton and Slough (Mr. Fenner Brockway) and Accrington (Mr. H. Hynd).

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether in his examination of priorities, he will exempt, from the curtailment of capital expenditure, the expenditure on new parcels vans for British Railways.

It is for the British Transport Commission to decide on the detailed application of the reductions in capital expenditure.

asked the Lord Privy Seal the price paid for steam locomotive engine No. 2072 R4 by the Atomic Energy Commission in 1948; and for what price it was sold on Tuesday, 6th March, 1956, at Measham, Burton-on-Trent.

This is a matter of day-to-day administration by the Atomic Energy Authority. My noble Friend is in general required by the Atomic Energy Authority Act, 1954, not to regard it as his duty to intervene in such matters.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he is aware of agreements reached between the United States and British firms to build nuclear power plants in Commonwealth countries; and to what extent assistance has, and is being, rendered by the Government and the Atomic Energy Authoriy.

I have seen reports in the Press of one agreement between an American and a British company to build nuclear power plants abroad, not only in Commonwealth countries. It is reported that the American company will design and supply the nuclear reactors, and the British company the remainder of the plants. Neither the Government nor the Atomic Energy Authority has been asked to give any assistance in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how much land is expected to be drained by the new pumping station at Annandale, British Guiana; and what use will be made of the land so reclaimed.

The new pumping station, which has been installed by the Enmore Sugar Estates Limited, will provide improved drainage for 7,700 acres of sugar and rice cultivation at Plantation Lusignan and will greatly reduce the risk of flooding of housing sites in the area. No new lands will be reclaimed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the House of Assembly in Nassau has passed unanimously a resolution condemning the colour bar; and what steps he proposes to take to implement this resolution by legislation for the Colony of Bahamas.

The resolution to which the hon. Member refers was the result of an Interim Report by a Select Committee appointed by the Bahamas House of Assembly to study the matter. As the Select Committee is continuing its deliberations I am unable to say whether or not legislation on this subject will be introduced into the Bahamas Legislature.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of damage, by floods, to the farms and their crops in the Ruvuma and Rufiji valleys of Tanganyika; and if he will state the extent of the damage and what relief steps are being taken.

During the height of the floods in the Ruvuma Valley food was dropped by R.A.F. aircraft to isolated villages, and food supplies are now adequate. The investigation of individual losses is now proceeding but they are not believed to be severe. Replanting is taking place and the authorities are making seed available where required.In the Rufiji Valley it will not be possible to determine the extent of loss until the annual floods in April and May recede; at present it is estimated that the rice harvest may be less than half the bumper crop of 1955.If any shortage of food develops relief measures will be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made with the plans for a dam across the upper Nile near its source at Jinja on Lake Victoria.

The Owen Falls Dam near Jinja was opened by Her Majesty The Queen during her visit to Uganda in April, 1954. Owing to the increasing demand for hydro-electric power in Uganda and Kenya, a second dam will probably be needed by the early 1960's. Consulting engineers are, therefore, at present engaged in examining a possible site.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the policy of the Kenya Government in regard to multi-racial hospitals and schools in Kenya; and what progress has been made in introducing such institutions.

With two exceptions, the hospitals financed entirely by the Kenya Government are open to people of all races. Because of the differing backgrounds and languages of the three major communities the educational system in Kenya has hitherto been developed in three separate channels which converge in multi-racial higher education. There is now, however, an inter-racial primary school in Nairobi which is supported by the Kenya Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Federation of Malaya Government refused to refer the claim of their employees for a minimum daily wage rate of $4 or 9s. 4d. a day, to arbitration, before stating that their final offer was $3 or 7s. a day; and what negotiations have since taken place.

In the opinion of the Federation Government the offer of a minimum daily wage rate of $3 is the limit to which Federal revenues can be committed, having regard to the present economic position of the territory. The Government therefore refused arbitration on the grounds of public interest.The reasons for this decision have been fully explained to the staff side. The Chief Minister, who has had three meetings with a staff side delegation, has stated that although he can see no reason for raising the minimum offer above $3 a day, he is prepared to recommend an increase of 20 cents. a day to employees in the higher pay range. The staff side reply to this offer is awaited.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the appointment of an independent commission to make recommendations for a form of constitution for a fully self-governing and independent Federation of Malaya within the Commonwealth.

The approval of Her Majesty' The Queen and the Conference of Rulers has now been signified to the recommendations of the London Constitutional Conference regarding the appointment of an independent commission to make recommendations for a form of constitution for a fully self-governing and independent Federation of Malaya within the Commonwealth.This Constitutional Commission is to be a small body selected in agreement with the Conference of Rulers and the Alliance Ministers. It will have a United Kingdom Chairman and one other member from the United Kingdom: Canada, Australia, India and Pakistan will each also be invited to provide a member. Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are already informally in touch with the Governments of the Commonwealth countries concerned regarding these appointments.The Constitutional Commission will be appointed in the names of Her Majesty The Queen and Their Highnesses the Rulers.The terms of reference of the Commission are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the agreement made in London recently with the Chief Minister of Malaya for the granting of independence to the Federation by the 31st August, 1957, contained a provision that this date should be adhered to if possible; that this restrictive provision has created some confusion; and if he will therefore clarify what is meant by it.

There is no such confusion. Paragraph 75 of the agreed Report of the Federation of Malaya Constitutional Conference makes it clear that a constitution providing for full self-government and independence within the Commonwealth will be introduced at the earliest possible date consistent with the importance of the task before the proposed Constitutional Commission, and that every effort will be made by Her Majesty's Government and the Federation Government to achieve this by August, 1957.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on constitutional changes in Mauritius.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday to a similar question by the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. J. Johnson).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what safeguards and precautions were taken to guard civil aircraft at Nicosia Airport up to and including Sunday, 4th March, 1956.

The R.A.F. area at Nicosia Airport, which contains the civil airport, had been declared a protected area and was under military guard. Admittance to this area was by special pass and the civil airport, within the protected area, was under its own military guard and had its own pass system. There were also controls operated by the Customs and Immigration authorities. All baggage and persons entering the terminal buildings and aircraft parking area were subject to rigorous examination and search.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what date he was first informed, by the Governor of Cyprus, of allegations of Archbishop Makarios' complicity in terrorist crimes; and on what date he decided to order the arrest and deportation of the Archbishop.

The information about the Archbishop's activities and associations was cumulative over a considerable period, and both the present Governor and his predecessor kept me informed. As regards the second part of the Question, I would ask the hon. Member to await the debate today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the widespread concern about the growing practice in British Colonial Territories of detaining persons without trial, he will give instructions for Archbishop Makarios to be brought to trial in Cyprus forthwith on the charges alleged in the statement issued by the Governor of Cyprus.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many doctors are among the political detainees in Cyprus.

Three.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many officials of the Communist and of the non-Communist trade unions are being detained without trial in Cyprus.

Sixteen Communist trade union officials and three officials of non-Communist trade unions are detained under the Emergency Regulations and under the Detention of Persons Law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the request of the three seamen's unions of Singapore, for the assistance of Mr. T. A. White, the Colony's Asian adviser, to act as their technical adviser in their recent wage negotiations, was refused, as such assistance would have been invaluable to the unions in arriving at a satisfactory settlement.

The unions were not deprived of the technical advice of Mr. T. A. White, the Seamen's Welfare Officer, on the occasion in question. They were informed that, in accordance with normal practice, Mr. White, who is a Government official, would not be permitted to participate in negotiations on their behalf at the meeting with employers, but that he would be made available at any time for advice provided that it was not in the meeting.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government in how many cases he has refused loan sanction to local authorities for private street works in the last six months; and which local authorities were concerned.

About fifty.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give a date for the introduction of legislation regulating the disposal of radioactive waste from factories and laboratories.

I am not aware that new legislation is needed. The disposal of radioactive waste from establishments of the Atomic Energy Authority is covered by the Atomic Energy Authority Act, 1954. Other factories and laboratories are subject to the general public health legislation with regard to the discharge of waste, and there is also power in Section 5 of the Radioactive Substances Act,1948, to make regulations to secure that radioactive waste is safely disposed of. The question whether regulations are needed is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he can give an assurance that the extension of rural water supplies and sewerage schemes subject to grant by his Department will continue notwithstanding current economies in the capital programme.

For the time being, authorisation of new schemes will have to be drastically curtailed except where risk to health, safety or other vital interests renders it impracticable to do so.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that owners of certain blocks of flats are evading the Housing Repairs and Rents Act by making it compulsory to include a garage in the tenancy, thereby obtaining a substantially increased rent; and whether he will introduce legislation to prohibit this practice.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the case about which he wrote to me on 20th January. As the hon. Member has already been informed, this raises complex issues of law which the courts alone can determine, and anyone in doubt about his position should seek legal advice. I am, however, advised that a tenant protected under the Rent Acts cannot be compelled to rent a garage and pay an increased rent. If a reletting of what have been rent-controlled premises with a garage added amounts to a change in the identity of the rent-controlled premises, this will result in a new standard rent, which can be referred to a Rent Tribunal under Section 1 of the Landlord and Tenant (Rent Control) Act, 1949.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what directions he has given to the Cwmbran Development Corporation regarding house-rent policy;(2) why the Cwmbran Development Corporation recently decided to increase the rents of their housing tenants by amounts ranging from 2s. 6d. to 3s. 11d. per week; and what will be the yearly additional revenue accruing to the corporation as a result of their decision;(3) what increased expenditure has been incurred by the Cwmbran Development Corporation in respect of their existing tenanted houses to cause the rise in rents recently announced; and what is the balance standing in the corporation's housing repairs account.

All new town corporations are required to obtain house rents which are self-supporting after account has been taken of the normal housing subsidies and of additional grants from the Exchequer equal to the contribution payable from the rates in respect of local authority housing.I am informed that the Cwmbran Development Corporation have recently decided to increase the rents of many of their houses in order to make more equitable use of the subsidy available to them, and to ensure that the income from rents is sufficient to balance outgoings.For information about the balance on the housing repairs account I would refer the hon. Member to the annual accounts of the Development Corporation. Accounts for the current year will be published as soon as possible after 31st March.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many applications for improvement grants have been granted by local authorities during 1954 and 1955; how many councils make such grants and how many are unable to do so; and if he is satisfied that the scheme is working satisfactorily.

During 1954 grants for 12,774 dwellings were approved by local authorities and in 1955 the number increased to 34,450.1,257 local authorities have now made these grants leaving only 210 who have not yet done so.I am reasonably satisfied with the way the grants scheme is working though I would like to see it used still more widely.

asked the Minister of Labour what evidence he has of restrictive practices by trade unions; and if he will make a statement of Government policy ragarding them.

My Department does not collect evidence of restrictive practices by trade unions. As I stated on 16th February, I intend to discuss the general question with the National Joint Advisory Council.

asked the Minister of Supply what complaints he has had of supersonic explosions over Portsmouth last week and on Monday, 5th March; and if he will make a statement.

One complaint for the week ended 3rd March and one on 5th March. The preparations for the recent speed record flights were no doubt in part responsible, but the rules which my right hon. Friend announced on 11th July in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone (Sir A. Bossom) were carefully observed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the decision to extend the 10 per cent. ad valorem duty to imports of foreign bacon and pork, whilst continuing duty-free entries from Commonwealth countries, has also provided for duty-free entries for supplies from the Irish Republic; what provision is made with regard to preferential duties for the Irish Republic under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; and whether, in return for giving this concession to the Irish Republic, he will request a compensating benefit, such as the reduction of Irish duties on imports of canned foods from Great Britain.

Supplies of bacon and pork from the Irish Republic enjoyed quantitative preference over foreign supplies under our pre-war quota arrangements. Moreover, we are bound under the terms of the Anglo-Irish Trade Agreement of 1938 to continue duty-free entry for Irish bacon and pork. In these circumstances no question arose of discontinuing duty-free entry from the Irish Republic or requesting compensating benefits.Under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade the same provision is made for preferences in favour of the Irish Republic as for preferences in favour of the Commonwealth.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the United Kingdom Government's participation in the building of a steel plant in India.

Yes. I am glad to be able to inform the House that broad agreement has been reached between the Government of India and a consortium of leading British manufacturers—the Indian Steel Construction Company Ltd.—for the erection of a million ton steel plant at Durgapur in India. Final specifications and tenders are to be submitted by May and it is hoped that the contract will be signed by July, 1956.It is estimated that the external cost of the project will be about £50 million. Her Majesty's Government have agreed to make a loan of £15 million to the Government of India under the Export Guarantees Act. A group of United Kingdom banks have also agreed to give credits totalling £11½million. The loan by Her Majesty's Government will be at the interest rate at which Her Majesty's Government can at the time of drawing borrow for comparable periods in the market, plus a small element to cover administrative charges. Details have still to be discussed with the Government of India.It is a source of satisfaction to Her Majesty's Government that the United Kingdom should have a prominent part in what will clearly be a major element in India's industrial development over the next five years.