asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to have new electoral registers prepared in British Guiana.

The Special Revisal Ordinance, 1956, enacted in February, made provision for bringing electoral registers up to date and the necessary action is proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has now approved the development programme for British Guiana; what is the amount of expenditure envisaged; and from what sources it will be financed.

The plan which is being put to the Legislative Council for approval provides in my view a satisfactory basis for development in the Colony. It envisages expenditure of nearly £20 million in the period 1956 to 1960 and will be financed from loans, Colonial Development and Welfare grants and revenue contributions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds a meeting arranged to oppose the policy of the Noel Marrier d'Unienville in Port Louis, Mauritius, was prohibited by order of the Governor after the police had been notified of the intention to hold the meeting and no objection had been made.

The object of this meeting, as announced in the local Press three days after notification to the Police of the intention to hold it, was to ask the Governor to suspend the publication of a certain newspaper and to deport its Director, Mr. D'Unienville. The promoter of the meeting has been in prison in the past for breaches of the peace and the Governor was advised that there was good reason to expect a disturbance of public order if it were held.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what decision was reached by the Trusteeship Council on the proposal that target dates should be fixed for constitutional advance in Tanganyika; and how the delegations, including the British delegation, voted.

On 2nd April the Trusteeship Council adopted a recommendation that Her Majesty's Government, as the administering authority, should indicate such successive intermediate targets and dates in the political, economic, social and educational fields in Tanganyika as would create conditions for the attainment of self-government or independence. Eight delegations voted for the recommendation; five, including the United Kingdom, voted against. One abstained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of persons detained in Kenya under emergency powers who have exercised their right of appeal to the Advisory Committee; what are the numbers who have been released after appeal; and what is the number of persons in whose cases the Kenya Government has not yet acted on the advice of the Advisory Committee.

2,246 detained persons have appealed, of whom 398 have been released on the advice of the Advisory Committees. In addition, 152 have been released before the hearing of their appeals. In 269 cases the Committees' advice is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of persons now detained in Kenya under emergency powers on the Governor's detention orders and on the District Officers' orders, respectively.

On 26th March, 2,459 persons were detained on Governor's detention orders and 39,776 on orders issued by Provincial and District Commissioners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of persons still detained in Kenya after having been acquitted in the courts.

I assume that this Question refers to persons acquitted of Mau Mau offences. I am asking the Governor if the information can be made available and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply he has now sent to the Kenya Federation of Labour's request that he should convene a conference, representative of all groups in Kenya, to discuss constitutional matters such as the composition of the Legislative Council and the Council of Ministers with a view to making them more representative of the people of Kenya.

None. On the reconstruction of the Kenya Government in April, 1954, Her Majesty's Government undertook not to initiate changes in the composition of Legislative Council or the Council of Ministers before 1960.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many death sentences have been imposed, and how many have been carried out, as the result of new trials in criminal cases ordered by the East African Court of Appeal in appeals from Kenya.

My right hon. Friend has asked for this information and will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as it is received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what Colonial Governments have passed legislation, or have proposed legislation, whose object is to make illegal discrimination on account of race, colour, or creed.

There are examples of legislation against particular discriminatory practices, but, so far as I am aware, no general legislation of the kind described.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the grant for social research in the Colonies is to be reduced; when this cut will take place; and if he will make a statement.

I am assuming that the hon. Member is referring to the allocation made between various fields of research of a sum of £8 million made available under the Colonial Development and Welfare Acts. A sum of £525,000 of the total has been set aside for the period ending 31st March, 1960, to assist social research in the Colonial Territories. There is no intention of reducing this allocation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the value of the damage done in the village of Phrenaros in Cyprus on the night of 27th-28th March by British troops; and what compensation arrangements are being made.

Investigations are not yet completed into damage alleged to have been caused by security forces in Phreneros village following the murder of a British Army officer and his driver in an ambush there. The value of damage is estimated by the Cyprus Government at £1,100 (mostly in respect of a coffee shop adjacent to the scene of the ambush destroyed by a fire for which responsibility has not been established. If the police investigations show that there was any instance of wanton damage by the security forces, then compensation will be paid.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what communications he has received from the Governor of Aden regarding constitutional changes in the Protectorate; and whether he will make a statement.

The hon. Member is no doubt alluding to the conversations which the Governor of Aden has recently had with the Protectorate Rulers about their future. No immediate constitutional changes are proposed. I am circulating below copies of the statement issued by the Governor after his meeting with the Rulers and of the statement which was subsequently made spontaneously by the Rulers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many labourers in the Seychelles have been sent to prison for six months or less for broken contracts of service within the last two years.

None. In Seychelles there is no provision in law for penal sanctions for breach of contract.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) the number of postage stamps sold by the Crown Agents through their bureau in Washington to dealers in the United States of America for America for 1955 and the total amount received from such sales;(2) the number of postage stamps sold by the Crown Agents for the Colonies to dealers in England during 1955 and the total amount received from such sales.

The total number of stamps sold by the Crown Agents to dealers in this country and through their Bureau in Washington during the year 1955 was 18,042,061.Separate figures are not available to show how many of these were sold to dealers in the United Kingdom or through the Bureau in Washington, but the total amount received in respect of these sales was £371,295 11s. 4d., of which sum £252,433 1s. 4d. was paid by dealers in this country and £118,862 10s. by dealers in North America.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the position regarding the Colonial Development Corporation's housing loans to the Governments of Kenya and Southern Rhodesia, and works contracts schemes elsewhere.

I have been advised that the Colonial Development Corporation's loans to the Governments of Kenya and Southern Rhodesia for housing schemes, the Federal and Colonial Building Society in Malaya and certain West African works contracts are ultra vires as not being within the scope of the Corporation's powers as defined by the Overseas Resources Development Act, 1948. Though the Corporation takes the view that the Act does permit it to undertake these and similar projects, I am satisfied that the matter must be put beyond all doubt. The Government have therefore decided to introduce legislation in the current Session to do this and to validate these schemes, and are considering a suitable amendment to redefine the powers of the Corporation.2. Meanwhile, no further advances can be made under the Act from public funds in respect of these projects and the Corporation has been requested to suspend negotiations on any new similar projects.3. Such steps as may be necessary will be taken to avoid the Governments concerned having to delay essential housing development pending the enactment of the legislation.4. While I regret the situation that has arisen, I must make it clear that the Corporation has proceeded with these projects in all good faith that they were entirely within the Corporation's competence.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will make a statement on progress made with the new development of oxygen-blown basic converter steel for ship-building purposes.

Oxygen-blown basic converter steel is not produced in this country as yet, but British steel makers are in touch with the development of the process and experiments are being carried out.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the total number of Admiralty motor vehicles in use at Bath; and how this compares with the number at the same date four years ago.

Twenty-three, compared with 31 four years ago.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the position with regard to the proposal to allocate oil bunkerage space from Government installations in Gibraltar for commercial purposes.

Negotiations with the commercial interests concerned are continuing, and I hope that they will be completed in the near future.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if H.M.S. "Squirrel" and other fishery protection vessels have adequate speed to overhaul foreign fishing vessels found poaching in British territorial waters; and if the radar equipment on H.M.S. "Squirrel" was working properly on 8th and 9th April.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes," except for the "Squirrel" herself, and she is due to be replaced as soon as possible by a faster vessel. The answer to the second part is also "Yes."

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why only one rating was provided from H.M.S. "Squirrel" to go aboard a Belgian fishing vessel on 8th and/or 9th April; and if he will take steps to ensure that at least two ratings will be provided in future from each fishery protection vessel.

On learning that some foreign vessels were poaching in United Kingdom territorial waters, H.M.S. "Squirrel" put to sea with all speed; since she had been off duty, she had a crew of only one officer and seven ratings. She could therefore spare only one rating as escort on board the arrested Belgian trawler. There has been no change in normal policy, which is to put at least two ratings on board arrested vessels provided that weather conditions permit.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the latest estimated strength of submarines available to the Soviet Navy.

The Soviet Navy has approximately four hundred and seventy-five submarines in service.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will now make an announcement with regard to political broadcasts by small parties.

asked the Postmaster-General what new decision he has reached in respect of political broadcasts by small parties; and if he will make a statement.

I am not in a position to make any announcement on this subject.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the Olympic Games organising committee in Melbourne has decided to consider the alternatives of selling television rights to the highest bidder or of appointing a firm to film the Games on behalf of the committee; that tenders for these alternatives close on 21st April next; and if he will make a further statement concerning acquisition of rights by the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority under Section 7 of the Television Act.

Yes; but I am informed that no tender will be made by the B.B.C., the I.T.A. programme companies or the newsreel companies.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will have an investigation made into the possibility of receiving broadcasts from the new very high frequency station at Meldrum in Dundee and district with a view to advising listeners whether technical modifications of their sets or aerials would enable them to enjoy improved reception.

The V.H.F. broadcasts from Meldrum will not effectively reach Dundee, but the B.B.C. plan to serve the area from a V.H.F. station at Kirk o' Shotts. New sets, or adaptors to medium wave sets, are needed to receive V.H.F. transmissions.

asked the Postmaster-General on what date the Independent Television Authority's new station to serve Manchester and the north of England will be opened.

The Independent Television Authority informs me that its Lancashire station is to be opened early in May, and that the exact date will be announced shortly.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the reception in the Hastings area of television and radio still falls below an average standard of quality in spite of the starting-up of the new transmitter in the Crystal Palace; and what steps he is taking to ensure that subscribers in this area receive improved reception.

The Crystal Palace television transmitter will not be on full power until the end of 1957; Hastings should then come within the range of good service. The present standard of service will be improved in the meantime, because the power at Crystal Palace is to be doubled this summer. Reception in Hastings of all three sound programmes should be good on V.H.F.; the Home Service on medium waves (206 metres) gives good reception, and the Light Programme on long waves (1,500 metres) should be generally satisfactory.

asked the Postmaster-General what charge he makes for sending from the United Kingdom to a soldier serving in Cyprus a letter, weighing not more than one and a half ounces, by first-class air mail.

6d. A letter written on one of the lightweight Forces Letter Forms obtainable at any Post Office can, however, be sent for 2½d.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there is a desire that postmasters appointed in predominantly Welsh speaking towns should be conversant with the Welsh language; and whether he will give an assurance that such appointments will be made in future.

Yes; this is already the general practice. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind I shall be glad to examine it.

asked the Postmaster-General the estimated increases in income which will result in the current year and in a full year from each of the recent changes in postal and telephone charges.

The estimated increases in income are:

asked the Postmaster-General what additional financial burdens were placed on Post Office revenues by additional contributions to the Treasury, on account of the liability for pensions and additional liability for depreciation, in each of the last five years.

I assume that the hon. Member wishes to know what provisions have been made in the Post Office Commercial Accounts—

I would point out that these are not to be regarded as contributions to the Treasury, but represent proper expenses of the Post Office in accordance with commercial practice.

asked the Postmaster-General what increases of Post Office charges were imposed in 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955 and 1956; and what additional revenue was obtained by these charges in each of those years.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) how many increases have taken place in Post Office charges since January, 1952; what is the total annual effect of the increases in terms of revenue; and what annual surplus he is budgeting for by the proposed increase in charges;(2) what amount of the revenue from increased charges made for Post Office services have been directed to meeting the increased cost of materials and the in creased cost of wages, respectively, for each of the last five years.

I am budgeting for a surplus of £3 million for the present year. The following are the details:

asked the Postmaster-General how many telephone kiosks have been erected in Anglesey in the last five years; and what is the policy towards erecting these kiosks in the more remote rural areas of the country.

Twenty-nine. The importance of kiosks in remote areas is fully recognised. Special financial quotas for their provision in each county are agreed each year with the Rural District Councils' Association, who also decide the priorities among individual localities. We plan to spend £1,000 on the provision of new rural kiosks in Anglesey this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that the dehydrated potato strips issued to Royal Air Force units are so unpalatable that they are unable to be made edible; which firm supplies them; and if he will take steps to see that emergency stocks are tested as to their edibility at regular intervals.

Our stocks of dehydrated potatoes come from several firms. Frequent tests of quality are made during storage, and I have no evidence that it is unsatisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the total number of civilians of all categories employed at No. 22 Maintenance Unit, Royal Air Force, Silloth; and what was the total cost of their wages and salaries in the last financial year.

The civilian strength of the unit is 527 and the estimated cost of salaries and wages there in the year ending 31st March, 1956, is £252,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many aircraft are to be supplied from Transport Command for the re-equipment of the Queen's Flight; and if he make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will make a statement on the Queen's Flight.

The Queen's Flight at present consists of three Vikings and one Heron. Helicopters are borrowed from Service units as required. These arrangements have been under review and it has been decided that the Vikings should be replaced by two Herons, making a total of three Herons. It is also proposed to add two helicopters. With these aircraft the Queen's Flight will be equipped to undertake the short range flights required. For longer flights aircraft will continue to be provided by the Air Corporations. Her Majesty The Queen has been graciously pleased to approve these proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the composition and terms of reference of the committee which has been appointed to report on the structure of the Queen's Flight.

No. It is not the general practice to disclose the detailed arrangements for Departmental consultation.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how far United States military aircraft are required to observe the same rules, when flying in the vicinity of civil aircraft corridors in the United Kingdom as British military aircraft.

The rules are identical.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what action he proposes to take in regard to the Railway Merchandise Charges Scheme submitted to the Transport Tribunal in 1955 in view of his consultations with them in regard to the more recent application of the British Transport Commission for increased freight charges.

None. The responsibility for the settlement of the Railway Merchandise Charges Scheme is under the Transport Act, 1947, placed on the Transport Tribunal, acting as an independent judicial body, who will give their decision on the draft now before them in due course. My recent consultation with the permanent members of the Tribunal, acting as a consultative committee, was carried out as required under the transitional provisions of Section 82 of the Transport Act, 1947, which leaves with me the responsibility of authorising increases in charges in respect of those services and facilities provided by the Commission which are regulated by Statute but are not the subject of any charges scheme in force.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that British Railways do not supplement the pay of employees who are members of the Territorial Army when they are called to annual camp; and if he will give a general direction, in the national interest, to the British Transport Commission to bring their practice in this respect into line with the majority of other employers.

I understand that the British Transport Commission do, for one week a year, make up the pay of any employee attending annual camp as a volunteer member of the Territorial Army whose service pay is less than his basic civilian pay.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made, as a result of negotiations in which representatives of his Department participated, towards the proper repair and adoption as a public highway of the road from Silverdale in Newcastle-under-Lyme via Crackley Gates to Scot Hay in the county of Staffordshire, which was last repaired at Government expense 13 years ago.

I understand that the borough council are having difficulty over obtaining dedication of all the land as a public highway, but that they are ready to start the repairs as soon as dedication is completed.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what proportion of British-owned ocean-going ships is represented by liners and trampers, respectively.

In terms of the total tonnage of vessels of 1,600 gross tons and over the proportions of the United Kingdom ocean-going merchant fleet represented by liners and tramps at 1st January, 1956, were 51 per cent. and 20 per cent., respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that the British Transport Commission is actively recruiting staff in the West Indies; and if he will give a general direction for this practice to cease in view of the danger of unemployment amongst West Indian immigrants already in this country.

Recruitment is a function of management in which I would not wish to interfere with the British Transport Commission's discretion, but I would remind my hon. Friend that British Railways have also launched a large-scale recruiting drive in this country. It is essential in the national interest that the railways secure the extra manpower which they so badly need.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what conclusion he has now reached about restrictions on the use of the roads by towed caravans.

Many mobile canteens are caravans. The county councils' association have recently suggested that steps should be taken to ensure that there should be adequate powers to control them and remove from roadsides those that are objectionable. This problem is under consideration. There is no proposal to restrict the towing of caravans as such.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in view of the confusion and annoyance caused by rear lamps of enormous size incorporated in some makes of cars, he will consider making regulations limiting the dimensions of these lamps to reasonable proportions.

The difficulties arise from the intensity, rather than the size, of the rear lamps in question. I have taken up this matter with the organisation representing motor manufacturers and they are proposing to draw up a code of practice for manufacturers to follow.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give figures at the latest convenient date of the number of vacancies for veterinary surgeons remaining unfilled.

The number of vacancies for veterinary surgeons notified to the Technical and Scientific Register and remaining unfilled on the 16th April, 1956, was 13.

asked the Minister of Labour the average number of men at the Cardiff and Barry docks, respectively, who have proved attendance during each day in the past six weeks but who have not been given employment.

In the six-week period ending 7th April, 1956, the average daily numbers of dock workers who have proved attendance as surplus to requirements were 233 at Cardiff and 153 at Barry, representing 26·5 per cent. and 45·9 per cent., respectively, of the labour force.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men in Cardiff and Barry docks, respectively, who proved attendance during the period 1st March to 26th March, inclusive, but who were not granted employment.

During the period 1st to 26th March, inclusive, the average daily numbers of dock workers who have proved attendance as surplus to requirements were 239 at Cardiff and 152 at Barry, representing 27·2 per cent. and 45·6 per cent., respectively, of the labour force.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered an application to work in this country from Mr. Pandelis Christos Lemos; and what decision was reached.

An application for permission to employ Mr. Pandelis Christos Lemos has been refused after full consideration of the circumstances of the proposed employment.

asked the Secretary of State for War what reduction there has been in the number of troops stationed in British Guiana.

The garrison has been reduced from an infantry battalion to a company, and corresponding reductions are being made in administrative troops.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what approaches have been made to him by the Government of Ceylon for an ending of the defence agreement under which Britain has an air base at Negombo and a naval base at Trincomalee; and what was the nature of his reply.

None.

asked the Minister of Health the total cost of the National Health Service for 1955; and what was the expenditure in respect of the mental health service during the same period or for the latest convenient year.

For 1954–55 the net cost to the Exchequer of the Service in England and Wales was nearly £389 million. About £51 million was spent in that year on mental and mental deficiency hospitals (including those administered by the Board of Control) and Exchequer grant of about £1 million was made towards the expenses of local health authorities on mental health. The proportion of the cost of other services which may have been incurred in respect of persons suffering from mental illness or mental deficiency is not separately known.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give a list of host factors which he is advised may predispose to poliomyelitis.

I am advised that there is little by way of direct evidence as to the host-factors predisposing to poliomyelitis but that, if infection with poliomyelitis exists or shortly follows, excessive muscular exertion or such local injury as tonsillectomy or certain injections may slightly increase the risk of paralysis.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of established civil servants of the executive and administrative classes below and above the age of 60 years, respectively, now retired and receiving pensions.

It would not be possible to get out the precise numbers without a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour, but, with minor exceptions, the only civil servants who draw pension before reaching the age of 60 are those retired on grounds of ill-health.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will make a statement on his recent discussions with the West German Government on the question of that Government's financial contribution to the cost of troops in West Germany.

I have been asked to reply.I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave today to the hon. Members for Battersea, North (Mr. Jay) and Ashfield (Mr. Warbey), and the hon. and gallant Member for Brixton (Lieut. Colonel Lipton).

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will amend the law to improve the position of divorced women who were insured persons before they were married in order that they may take advantage of those contributions when they become again contributors on the dissolution of their marriage.

The insurance contributions paid by a woman before her marriage are already counted in determining her entitlement to retirement pension on her own insurance. No amendment of the law is therefore necessary to achieve what I understand my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what notice is given in advance when individuals serving on committees appointed by him are not to be reappointed; and what means are used to thank them for their services.

There is no general rule as to notice. With regard to the second part of the Question, a letter of thanks is usually sent.

asked the Minister of Works if he will give an indication of what land will be acquired by his Department at an estimated cost of £150,000 in 1956–57.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the figure included in Subhead F.8 of the 1956–57 Estimates for Public Buildings, etc., United Kingdom. This provides for the acquisition of requisitioned land so as to preserve for the Crown the value of any war works created thereon.

asked the Minister of Works how many houses or flats no longer required for Departmental purposes are being held pending disposal and for how long; and how much of the £319,645 under Subhead F4 of his Estimates for 1956–57 is for expenses in connection with these properties.

The number of houses no longer required for Departmental purposes and held pending disposal is 1,600, comprising ten estates. Of these I hope to sell to local authorities two estates (200 houses) this year, and to dispose of a further five estates (1,250 houses) by the end of 1957. The disposal of the remaining three estates is proving more difficult and may remain a problem. Expenses in connection with these properties are estimated at £67,500 in 1956–57.