asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the average number of accidents per mile on the Carlisle-Glasgow highway each year since the war, and the corresponding figures for the mile from the Dumfriesshire border into Lanarkshire, and for the mile embracing the village of Crawford, respectively.

I regret that figures for the years 1946–1948 are not available. The following are the figures reported by the police for the years 1949–1955:

TABLE 1
AVERAGE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS PER MILE ON THE CARLISLE-GLASGOW ROAD* (A.74)
Year	Accidents per mile		Total
	Accidents causing personal injury	Accidents not causing personal injury
1949	2·21	3·46	5·67
1950	2·50	4·95	7·45
1951	2·86	5·75	8·61
1952	2·63	5·25	7·88
1953	3·02	5·73	8·75
1954	3·41	5·96	9·37
1955	3·60	7·62	11·22
* The road distance from the Carlisle city boundary to the Glasgow city boundary is 90·5 miles.

TABLE 2
ACCIDENTS ON THE MILE OF A.74 FROM THE DUMFRIESSHIRE BORDER INTO LANARKSHIRE
Year	Accidents causing personal injury	Accidents not causing personal injury	Total
1949	2	3	5
1950	3	4	7
1951	1	2	3
1952	2	6	8
1953	1	5	6
1954	3	6	9
1955	5	8	13

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the estimated acreage of agricultural land taken in 1955 for the purpose of constructing new roads or improving existing ones.

For Trunk Roads for which I am responsible, between 70 and 75 acres. For Classified Roads I am informed that approximately 430 acres were taken.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a further statement in respect of the Eastern Avenue extension through the Borough of Leyton.

The survey which is being carried out is about half completed, but it will be several months before plans can be prepared for the purpose of a draft order under section 1 (2) of the Trunk Roads Act, 1946.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he proposes to introduce legislation to compel every driver whose licence carries a recent endorsement to display a distinguishing mark on any vehicle he drives.

I doubt if public opinion would support any such proposal.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is satisfied that the problem of the effective treatment of fumes from diesel driven omnibuses has now been solved as a result of his Department's action in 1954; and, in view of the importance of this problem due to replacement of trolley by diesel omnibuses, if he will make a further statement.

I understand that the Fuel Research Station is investigating the possibility of reducing substances which might be harmful in motor vehicle exhausts including those of diesel engines. Work on the various constituents of exhaust fumes under different running conditions is being carried out both by the Fuel Research Station and the Medical Research Council.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has considered the proposals of the Engineers' Guild Limited, prepared in January, 1953, and submitted to him, for a systematic investigation of road accidents; and whether he will make a statement.

I have studied with interest the proposals submitted to my Ministry in January, 1953, by the Engineers' Guild Limited for the systematic investigation of road accidents, and I appreciate the care and thought which the Guild have given to this problem. As my hon. Friend is aware, arrangements are being made for the appointment of road accident investigation officers in the offices of the divisional road engineers. This is in line with the central proposal of the Guild. In present circumstances the detailed and intensive investigation suggested by the Guild would not, in my judgment, yield results to justify the extensive deployment of skilled manpower which would be required.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many accidents officers have now been appointed to the offices of the divisional road engineers; how many more he proposes to appoint; and when he anticipates that such appointments will be complete.

The process of selecting suitable road accident investigation officers is proceeding.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the number of British shipowners who in 1954 and 1955, respectively, transferred their ships to foreign service where the welfare conditions for the crews are below the standards required in this country.

In 1954 63 United Kingdom registered ships of 500 gross tons and over owned by 47 owners were transferred to foreign ownership and left the British register. The corresponding figures in 1955 were 84 and 57. I regret that I am unable to say what provision is made for the welfare of crews in foreign ships.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent British ships have been affected by the United States law requiring 50 per cent. of all Government imports to be carried in United States ships; and whether he will make a statement.

The application of the United States 50 per cent. cargo preference law to strategic and other imports by the United States Government restricts the opportunities of British shipping to earn foreign currency and thus to improve our balance of payments position. It is not possible to estimate directly the losses sustained in this way but a particularly damaging effect is the example given to other countries to apply discriminatory practices to ordinary commercial cargoes.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what recent representations he has made to the United States of America concerning the 50 per cent. cargo law as it affects British ships; and whether he will make a statement.

Representations were made in 1954 when the United States Cargo Preference Act was before Congress. Since then we have lost no opportunity to remind the Americans of our views on this matter.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he is proposing to lay before Parliament regulations limiting aircrew flight times.

I am considering representations which have recently been made to me, and consequently it may be some time before I am ready to lay the regulations.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he is aware of the need for the establishment, in South Wales, of a share in the development work on atomic energy; and if he will direct the Atomic Energy Authority, in framing any future development programme, to consider locating some plant in South Wales.

In deciding on the location of a new atomic energy establishment, the Authority consider all possible sites, including those in South Wales. No special direction from my noble Friend the Lord President is therefore required. As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Barry (Mr. Gower) on 29th February last, the Lord President is not responsible for the location of nuclear power stations, which is a matter for the Minister of Fuel and Power and the Central Electricity Authority.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what official request has been made to the United States Government for a supply of enriched uranium for industrial use.

The recent offer by President Eisenhower to supply enriched uranium for industrial purposes does not apply to countries, such as the United Kingdom, which are already producing fissile material. The supply of enriched uranium for industrial purposes to this country by the United States would require an amendment of the Anglo-American agreement for co-operation on the civil uses of atomic energy, but as I told the right hon. Gentleman last week, my noble Friend the Lord President is examining the possibilities of further collaboration with the United States in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that 40 Soviet jet bombers and over 30 jet fighters have now been supplied to Egypt, and that Egyptian officers and non-commissioned officers are at present undergoing instructional courses in Poland; and whether Her Majesty's Government will now take steps to restore the balance of military power between Egypt and Israel.

Her Majesty's Government are aware that Egypt has received a quantity of Soviet fighters and bombers, and that a number of Egyptians are being trained in Poland. With regard to the second half of the Question, Her Majesty's Government will continue to supply, in accordance with the Tripartite Declaration, limited quantities of arms to Middle East States for self-defence, internal security, and the defence of the area as a whole. Deliveries are made in the light of these criteria, and of Her Majesty's Government's desire to avoid an arms race.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what assurance he has sought from the Soviet Government that, during the visit of Marshal Bulganin and Mr. Khrushchev to this country, British broadcasts to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Soviet dominated countries in Europe will not be jammed, and what reply has been received; and what facilities Marshal Bulganin and Mr. Khrushchev will be offered to broadcast to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

None. My hon. and gallant Friend's second question does not, therefore, arise. As for the third part of the Question, I have no statement to make at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further steps he has taken to secure the release by the Russians of Dr. Trushnovitch.

No reply has ever been received from the Soviet High Commissioner in Germany to the letter addressed to him by Her Majesty's Ambassador at Bonn on 3rd May, 1955. As stated by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State on 6th July, 1955, Her Majesty's Ambassador subsequently reminded the Soviet High Commissioner personally about this case, but this has not led to any result.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will recommend to the United Nations Secretary-General that the functions of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation be extended to include observation of all military preparations and concentrations of armed forces on the Israeli-Arab frontiers, and that their numbers should be increased for this purpose.

The right hon. and learned Gentleman will be aware that the Security Council has just met to discuss the situation in Palestine. It has been proposed that the Secretary-General of the United Nations should investigate the situation, arrange with the parties concerned for the adoption of measures to reduce existing tension along the armistice demarcation lines and report to the Council within one month. The terms of the resolution are wide enough to include the matters referred to in this Question. I hope that the Secretary-General will be enabled to begin this task very quickly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will list the offences for which the manacling of prisoners is authorised in each of the colonial territories; and how many persons have been manacled in each of these territories in each of the last four years for which figures are available.

Manacles are not applied as a punishment for offences by prisoners but only to restrain them in case of need. A report on the use of mechanical restraints in all Colonial Territories was placed in the Library of the House in May last year and I am sending a copy to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will list the number of persons at present held in detention without trial in each of the colonial territories to the latest convenient date.

The information required is as follows:

Territory	Date	Number of persons detained without trial
Cyprus	17th March, 1956	297
Kenya	27th February, 1956	43,513
Federation of Malaya.	1st March, 1956	683*
Seychelles	23rd March, 1956	4 (from Cyprus)
Singapore	15th March, 1956	15
* Of this total, 83 were dependants of persons awaiting repatriation and 313 were persons in rehabilitation centres due for release within six months or less.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will list the offences for which corporal punishment is the penalty in each of the Colonial Territories; and the number of persons who received this punishment in each of these territories for each of the last four years for which figures are available.

As the full reply is too long and detailed to be given orally or to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT, I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library of the House and will send a copy to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many boys and girls, respectively, completed the full course of secondary education in 1954–55 in the Colonies; and how many of these have continued their studies in the United Kingdom.

My right hon. Friend has not yet received from all territories the returns for secondary education for the period requested. He is asking Governments to supply the information and I will write to the hon. Member when their replies have been received.The number of students from the Colonial territories who arrived in the United Kingdom between August and October. 1955, to start courses in higher education institutions in this country in the present academic year was 3,000 of whom 950 were girls.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proposals have been submitted to him for the draining of land in the Kafue Reserve of Northern Rhodesia.

None, but the possibility of reclaiming other parts of the Kafue Flats, which are Crown land, is being investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what moneys from the Colonial Development and Welfare Fund he has been asked to make available for the Shire Valley Dam and Development Project in Nyasaland.

A grant of £150,000 was made from Colonial Development and Welfare Funds in February, 1954, towards a survey of the project. Shortly afterwards the project became the responsibility of the Federal Government. Since then no formal applications relating specifically to this project have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what moneys have been given to the Governments of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, respectively, by the Rhodesian Selection Trust group of companies for African development and welfare in these protectorates; and for what purposes these moneys will be spent.

The companies have agreed to lend £2 million to Northern Rhodesia and £1 million to Nyasaland on favourable terms. In both territories the money will be used to meet the capital costs of general development projects for the benefit of the African population. These projects because of their non-revenue-earning character, might otherwise have been difficult to finance. In Northern Rhodesia it will be used particularly for the development of rural areas away from the line of rail. I am sure that hon. Members will join with me in thanking the companies for their generosity in concluding these arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action has been taken in the Barri chiefdom of Sierra Leone to meet the complaints of the people regarding taxation.

The complaints are being investigated by the Administration. In addition, as the hon. Member will be aware, a Commission of Inquiry is about to investigate the causes of the disturabances which in some areas followed the announcement of increases in local taxation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply has been given to the all-party deputation to the Minister of State in Sierra Leone asking for a new constitution and self-government.

The all-party deputation which I received in Freetown on 14th March presented to me a resolution on future constitutional development with the request that I bring it to the attention of my right hon. Friend. This I have now done.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the situation in the Loko Masami chiefdom of Sierra Leone, including information regarding the number of people sentenced to imprisonment, the terms of their sentences, and the movement of population from the chiefdom.

The situation in the chiefdom has been quiet since the disturbances last January, following which twenty people were sentenced to imprisonment for terms ranging from one month to four years for offences including arson, unlawful possession of weapons and demanding money by menaces. I am not aware of any substantial exodus of population from the chiefdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the extent to which Athens broadcasts to Cyprus have been jammed; and with what results.

Jamming has been applied to Athens medium and short wave broadcasts audible in Cyprus. This action has been generally effective.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total numbers of British soldiers, British civilians, Greek Cypriots, and Turkish Cypriots, respectively, who have been murdered by terrorists in Cyprus since the outbreak of violence began, and the numbers seriously injured.

The figures are as follows:

• British soldiers: 24 killed, 107 injured.
• Police: 6 Greek Cypriot, 1 Turkish Cypriot and 1 United Kingdom member of the Force killed; 29 wounded.
• United Kingdom civilians: none killed, 12 injured.
• Greek Cypriot civilians: 23 killed, 35 injured.
• Turkish Cypriot civilians: none killed, 6 injured.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many schools in Cyprus remain closed; and what contribution this has made to restoring law and order in the island.

Four secondary schools on the Governor's instructions, and 38 secondary schools on the decision of their governing bodies. 418 elementary schools have discontinued classes. As a result of closing of schools there have been no large scale disturbances by school children comparable with those which took place when the schools were open.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many British police officers have been dismissed from the Cyprus police since the emergency was declared; and for what reasons.

None, but three men have been returned to this country as unsuitable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many officials of the Co-operative Movement in Cyprus are detained; and whether he will state in general terms the nature of their offence.

Six officials. Five because they have recently been concerned in acts prejudicial to public safety, and one because he was a member of an organisation which has been responsible for acts of violence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the Government of Kenya has yet reached a decision regarding the cancellation of the registration of the Federation of Labour.

No. But my right hon. Friend hopes to have news at a very early date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many children are now domiciled in the Children's Rehabilitation Centre in the Kiambu Reserve, Kenya; how many of these are still suffering from malnutrition; and what is the average daily ration of milk given to these children

On 24th March there were 250 children in the Dagoretti Reception Camp. Approximately three-quarters of the children admitted to this camp have in the past been found to be suffering a degree of malnutrition. They receive a full balanced diet, including three-quarters of a pint of milk daily, and do not leave the camp until their physical condition is satisfactory and the authorities are satisfied that they have homes to go to.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of the students at the new Royal Technical College at Nairobi are Europeans, Asians and Africans, respectively; how many women students there are: and whether there are separate halls of residence and dining rooms provided for the different races.

The number of students at present accepted by the Royal Technical College is as follows:

—	Men	Women
European	8	2
Asian	64	14
African	64	1

There is one hall of residence for men which can accommodate 100 students of all races; all students use the same dining room, although different diets will be provided. In due course there will be two other halls of residence for women. At present nine women have applied to come into residence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the dissatisfaction felt by the Mauritius Labour Party, the majority party in the Legislative Council, regarding his proposals for constitutional change in that Colony, especially that to introduce proportional representation; and whether he will reconsider this in particular.

My right hon. Friend is aware that the proposals do not meet in full the conflicting desires of the different sections of the community in Mauritius, but they are designed to meet the needs of a complex political, social and religious situation and should be considered as a whole. I understand that the Governor is at present discussing them with representative members of Council and that a further meeting is to be held tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the terms of the proposals submitted by the Chief Minister of Singapore for discussion at the all-party delegation conference to be held in London next month for the purpose of discussing the future constitution of the Colony.

No proposals have so far been transmitted to me by the Chief Minister of Singapore.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the threatened strike of 65,000 Government employees in Malaya next month, and that the Federal Government has refused to agree to arbitration, which the Malayan Trades Union Congress are urging them to do; and if he will use his office to bring about a satisfactory settlement of this dispute by arbitration.

The dispute has been settled. The staff side have accepted the Government's offer and have withdrawn their strike notices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Federal or State Government scholarships to universities have been awarded

SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED IN THE FEDERATION OF MALAYA
—			1951	1952	1953	1954	1955	Total
Malays, Federal	…	…	15	36	28	39	60	178
State/Settlement	…	…	29	37	38	29	35	168
GRAND TOTAL	…	…						346
Non-Malays, Federal	…	…	28	101	92	47	52	320
State/Settlement	…	…	57	70	83	87	87	394
GRAND TOTAL	…	…						704

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what funds have been provided for the building of the new Kano orthopaedic hospital; whether tenders have yet been accepted; and when building is expected to be begun.

£141,500 has been provided. A tender has been accepted. Work should begin next month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the roads of north Nigeria are inadequate for present-day needs of commerce and industry in that region; and if he will state what mileage of roads were tarred in 1953, 1954, and 1955, respectively, and what schemes are planned for 1956.

Yes. 68 miles were tarred in 1953, 162 miles in 1954 and 186 miles in 1955. It is proposed to tar 445 miles in 1956. In addition over £2 million has been provided by the Federal and Northern Regional Governments for major construction, reconstruction and improvements in the financial year 1956–57.

Following is the reply:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why the civil staff in his Department increased by 115 between 1st October, 1955, and 1st January, 1956.

This figure appeared in Command Paper No. 9701 because of the transfer of one hundred and eighty-four civilian instructors at Fleet establishments from industrial to non-industrial status. There was no actual increase in the total number of civilians employed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will make a statement about the findings of the Comptroller and Auditor-General that the Admiralty has charged less than full cost for stores and goods supplied to other Governments.

I think the House would prefer that I should not make any statement until the Public Accounts Committee has had the opportunity of examining the Comptroller and Auditor-General's Report.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1) why Mr. D. A. Gorham, who has served in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Air Division for three-and-a-half years and qualified as an artificer, has now been turned down for National Service with the Fleet Air Arm and instructed to join the Royal Air Force;(2) why Mr. D. A. Gorham was accepted for duties with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve three-and-a-half years ago when his medical category made his call-up for National Service with the Royal Navy impossible.

As I have already explained to my hon. Friend in course of correspondence, Mr. Gorham will now be accepted for National Service in the Royal Navy.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in selecting a man as suitable for training in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, consideration is given to the possibility that he may subsequently be directed to do his National Service in the Royal Air Force.

No. Pre-National Service entrants into the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve are guaranteed acceptance for National Service in the Royal Navy subject to their being medically fit when called up. If they do not then reach the appropriate naval standards of medical fitness, they cannot normally be accepted and must perform their National Service in one of the other Services.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many admirals and other officers of equivalent Flag rank are serving in the Mediterranean; and how many ships of frigate class or above are in commission in that area.

Seven officers of Flag rank are serving in British appointments on the Mediterranean Station. This figure includes the Admirals Superintendent of the Dockyards at Malta and Gibraltar, the Flag Officer, Middle East, in Cyprus, and the Surgeon Rear-Admiral. Twenty-three ships of the size of frigate and above are in commission in the Mediterranean Fleet today. The Mediterranean Fleet also includes submarines, minesweepers, the amphibious warfare squadron, and the ships of the reserve fleet. There is also a naval air station in Malta.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will now announce his decision regarding the introduction of 3½d. and 4½d. stamps.

As my right hon. Friend explained to my hon. and gallant Friend in his letter of the 22nd March, it will necessarily be some little time before he will be able to reach a decision in this matter.

asked the Postmaster-General why there was an increase of 1,991 civil staff in his Department between 1st October, 1955, and 1st January, 1956.

To handle increased business and to fill vacancies.Even so, we are still over 2 per cent. short of our full establishment overall, and even greater shortages exist in particular places and grades.

asked the Postmaster-General further details of the incidental expenses of £187,000 and medical fees of £50,000 contained in his Estimates for 1956–57.

Of the incidental expenses total, £60,000 relates to press advertisements for recruits, £19,000 is the cost of printing the Post Office Magazine and £14,000 consists of grants to small staff restaurants. The residue covers a large number of miscellaneous items such as laundry, casual hospitality and other minor expenses.The bulk (£40,000) of the medical fees are for examination of candidates for appointment.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the increasing use being made in business of the Post Office Telex Service, he will arrange for a demonstration of the service for the benefit of Members of this House.

We shall be very happy to arrange such a demonstration. I understand that the Upper Waiting Hall can be made available for the purpose during the period 10.0 a.m. to 9.0 p.m. daily from the 10th to 12th April and on Friday, 13th April, from 10.0 a.m. until the rising of the House.

asked the Postmaster-General what addition to Post Office costs will result from the prospective increase of railway freight charges.

Until the new regulations have been issued it is too early to say but if a 5 per cent. increase were made in our payments the cost would be about £¾ million.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) the number of Service men in Malaya who were surcharged for their Christmas parcel mail and whether, in view of the fact that no parcel is accepted by the Post Office without the correct postage being paid, he will explain the reasons for these surcharges;(2) the number of airmen serving at Port Swettenham, Selangor, Malaya, whose Christmas parcels were not delivered until February or March; and how many were required to pay extra postage.

Investigations on the spot have not, so far, provided any information to account for the circumstances to which the hon. Member refers. Inquiries are continuing and my right hon. Friend will write to the hon. Member as soon as they are complete.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications are outstanding for telephones in the Park ex change district in Sheffield; how many of these have been outstanding for one and two years, respectively; how many applications are outstanding for telephones in the Sheffield area and how many have been waiting for longer than one and two years, respectively.

The figures are as follows:

—	Total outstanding	Number waiting
		1–2 years	Over 2 years
Park exchange	686	226	227
Sheffield as a whole	4,085	960	607

asked the Postmaster-General how many housing estates in the Sheffield district are without public kiosk facilities; and what steps he proposes to take to improve these services.

Only the New Cleadless estate, which is still in an early stage of development; kiosks will be provided as it develops. As regards the Hackenthorpe estate, which the hon. Member may have particularly in mind, one kiosk has recently been provided and three more will be installed in the next six weeks.

asked the Postmaster-General how many new telephone subscribers have been connected in the Park Exchange district and in the Sheffield area, respectively, for each of the last three years.

The figures are:

	Park Exchange	Sheffield as a whole
1953	178	3,551
1954	202	3,418
1955	88	3,676
During the next 12 months we expect to connect 150 in the Park exchange area and 4,260 in Sheffield as a whole.

asked the Postmaster-General the contents of the Telephone Manager's Circular 8/55.

This is a classified document concerned with the protection of Government information and is therefore not suitable for general publication. I shall be pleased to give the hon. Member further information if she so desires.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications he has received for telephones in the Ashtead and Epsom areas; and at what date he estimates that all applicants who first applied in 1955 will receive a telephone.

One hundred and sixty-nine people are waiting for telephones in Ashtead, and 436 in Epsom. Over 600 telephones are expected to be installed in these two places during the current year, but I cannot say when all those who applied in 1955 will be connected.

asked the Postmaster-General when the alterations for an extension of telephone service will be completed at Low Moor Exchange, Bradford, to meet the growing demands of telephone subscribers.

We expect to bring the new automatic exchange into service towards the end of 1957 and to complete additional cables at about the same time.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of new telephones installed in the City of Bradford for 1955 and the number of applications still outstanding on 1st January, 1956, with comparative figures for 1954.

The figures are:

—	1954	1955
Numbers of telephones installed	2,097	3,309
Numbers of applications outstanding at the end of the year	1,987	1,932

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will exempt doctors from the increased charges for transferring telephone subscribers' incoming calls temporarily to another number.

I regret that we could not agree to exempt doctors from the charges for this service. If the subscribers who use this service did not themselves pay the cost it would have to fall on subscribers generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many civilians of all categories are employed at 12 Maintenance Unit, Royal Air Force, Kirbride; and what was the total cost of their wages and salaries in the last financial year.

The civilian strength of the unit is 466 and the estimated cost of salaries and wages there in the year ending 31st March, 1956, is £205,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that Mr. Jesse Blakeman, a civilian employee of his Department at Woodhead, Cheadle, Staffordshire, while using, in December, 1952, the customary aperture leading to a coke bunker, was struck by the heavy steel door which blew to and knocked him into the bunker, with the result that he was away from work for six months, and still is not fully recovered; why he did not offer light work to Mr. Blakeman; and whether he will reconsider the question of compensation for Mr. Blakeman.

I am advised that the circumstances of this accident would not render the Air Ministry liable for damages. We had no suitable light work at Cheadle for Mr. Blakeman.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why there was an increase of 305 civil staff in his Department between 1st October, 1955, and 1st January, 1956.

About three-quarters of the increase was to replace officers and airmen, and the remainder to fill some outstanding works and meteorological vacancies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the International Finance Corporation has yet begun to operate; whether Great Britain has yet contributed the $14 million promised; and what action he will take to ensure that British borrowers get their fair share of loans, and that a reasonable proportion will be used for development within the British Commonwealth.

The International Finance Corporation has not yet begun operations, and subscriptions will not become payable until it does. British interests will be looked after by the United Kingdom Director on the Executive Board of the Corporation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will sympathetically consider giving an Income Tax allowance to cover the extra costs which crippled people have to incur in going to and from their places of employment or places of vocational training.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion but I cannot anticipate my Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what legislative action it is proposed to take to implement the recommendations and proposals contained in the Government's White Paper on the Economic Implications of Full Employment; and when this new legislation is to be introduced.

The problem analysed in the White Paper on the Economic Implications of Full Employment is that to which the Government have beeen directing their various anti-inflationary measures in recent months. I cannot at present add anything about those measures to what my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said in his statement of 17th February and in his speech in the economic debate on 20th February.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what changes are proposed in the administration of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

A Bill which has recently been published provides for the replacement of the present Advisory Council by a Council which will be in executive charge of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether he will cause research to be made into the possible production of wool from slate waste, with a view to the useful disposal of the slate waste tips in Caernarvonshire and the employment of workers now unemployed in the slate quarrying areas of the county.

The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research have been asked to consider the hon. Member's suggestion, and I will let him know the result.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he is aware of the shortage of nursing staff for the Border Hospitals; and what steps are being taken to obtain recruits for the nursing services;(2) if he is aware that in the current year there are only four recruits enrolled for the Peel Hospital Nurses Training School, that only two have applied for admission to the April session, and that no applications have been received for the course commencing in October; and if he will now give wide and sustained publicity to this school and the advantages available to those who enrol.

The only hospital in this group where the admission of patients is restricted by shortage of nursing staff is Peel Hospital. This hospital aims to recruit twelve student nurses three times a year, and I am aware that four recruits only were enrolled in January. For the April intake, six candidates have now been accepted, and already a further four have been accepted for enrolment in September.The hospital authorities have taken steps in recent weeks to make the training facilities at the hospital better known throughout the Borders. The figures I have given for April and September enrolments show the improvement already achieved since my hon. and gallant Friend obtained his information, and I welcome this opportunity of drawing the attention of potential recruits in the area to the training facilities this hospital affords.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the nature of his reply to recent communications from the Scottish Art Teachers' Association about the appointment of an independent committee to examine the qualifications and training of art teachers.

In a letter of 17th March I informed the Association:

(a) that on the recommendation of the National Joint Council I proposed to appoint a Committee to consider the relationship of the various qualifications held by the different groups of technical teachers, including art teachers, to each other and to other qualifications;

(b) that their views on the composition of the Committee had been noted; and

(c) that the Association's request to submit evidence and to be heard by the Committee would be for the Committee itself to consider when it had been appointed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of outbreaks of fire affecting industrial premises and ships in the Bootle and Seaforth areas since 31st December, 1950; and the total amount of loss sustained.

I am informed that from 1st January, 1951, to 26th March, 1956, there were 356 calls to such fires, of which 76 were to ships, 97 to docks, and 183 to industrial premises. I have no means of assessing the amount of loss.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the public concern at the rate of increase in industrial fires since September, 1955, in the Merseyside area; and if he will make a statement as to the amount of loss sustained in the outbreaks from this date.

There are indications of a recent increase in such fires, but the proportion which they bear to the total number of fires in the area is not increasing. I have no means of assessing the amount of loss.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the present arrangements for cooperation in fire prevention on board ships in docks on Merseyside and in factories, timber yards, and other industrial premises in the area; and if he will consider these arrangements with a view to effecting an improvement by bringing about a closer liaison for fire prevention between dock board authorities, ship owners, industrialists, and local authorities in the area.

Under the Fire Services Act, 1947, it is the duty of the local fire authorities to secure efficient arrangements for the giving, when requested, of advice about fire prevention, and about restricting the spread of fires. I have no reason to suppose that the fire authorities in the area are not carrying out this duty efficiently, and I am advised that their arrangements for liaison with other authorities are good.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give an assurance that information in his possession about refugees in this country and their organisations will not be made available to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics security authorities in connection with the arrangements being made for the visit of the Soviet leaders.

Yes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what clause of the Anglo-Irish Trade Agreement makes it obligatory for Britain not to impose the 10 per cent. bacon duty on imports from Ireland despite the fact that Ireland has recently imposed a special levy on a large range of goods imported from this country; and whether he will consider initiating discussions for the review of the Trade Agreement in the near future with a view to obtaining fairer terms for Great Britain.

The provision about duty-free entry is in Article I of the Trade Agreement of 1938. In applying the special import levy to certain classes of United Kingdom goods the Irish Republic have paid due regard to their obligations under the Trade Agreements of 1938 and 1948.These Agreements provide valuable benefits for United Kingdom exports and, taken as a whole, have worked very fairly for both parties. In 1955 United Kingdom exports to the Irish Republic totalled £114 million, mainly in manufactured goods, of which only a very small proportion will be affected by the new levy. This compares with imports into the United Kingdom from the Irish Republic of £98 million.