asked the Secretary of State for Air what proportion of the officers in the technical, general duties and other branches, respectively, have university degrees in engineering or generally accepted professional equivalents.

The proportion, including National Service officers, is 10 per cent. in the technical branch, 7 per cent. in the education branch and 83 per cent. in the airfield construction branch. No central record is kept of the number of officers in other branches who possess these qualifications.

However one looks at these figures—and they are difficult at first sight—is the proportion not very low indeed for the technical branch? In view of this fact, what is the Secretary of State going to do to increase the proportion?

I quite agree that the Royal Air Force is becoming an increasingly technical service. It was for that reason that my predecessor instituted the technical cadet scheme, and I am glad to say that it is now going very well. I gave some account of it in the debate on the Air Estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) how many wing commanders and above, now serving in the Royal Air Force education branch, could still be serving in twelve years' time; and how many vacancies in those ranks there are likely to be available during that period for those who are now squadron leaders;

(2) how many squadron leaders in the education branch of the Royal Air Force aged between 37 and 43 years and who were recruited between 1947 and 1950 and attained the rank of squadron leader between 1950 and 1954, will have to retire at the maximum age of 53 years without further promotion;

(3) what steps are being taken to inform squadron leaders of the education branch of the Royal Air Force that they have little prospect of promotion; and what facilities are being afforded to them for early retirement to pursue their careers elsewhere.

Eighteen wing commanders and above in the Royal Air Force education branch could be serving in twelve years' time, and if establishments and other factors affecting promotion prospects remained unchanged there would be 36 wing commander vacancies during that period. Up to now we have been able to maintain a reasonable rate of promotions from squadron leader in the branch, and we are considering what can be done to preserve this position.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many of these officers with the very highest qualifications were greatly misled when they joined this Service? They were told that the prospects of promotion to wing commander were statistically 50–50, and actually greater than that. They are now greatly disappointed and very disgruntled at finding that they will be there for another eleven years without having any hope whatsoever of promotion.

I cannot accept my hon. Friend's contention that these officers were misled. He will realise that promotion to wing commander is by appointment and by no means all the officers of the Royal Air Force, or the equivalents in the other Services, reach that rank.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that he is mistaken in making that statement? These officers were misled. I have definite evidence to that effect. They were told that their prospects of promotion were very good, but they now find that they are virtually non-existent.

I shall be very happy to go into that point with my hon. Friend if he likes to see me about it.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will make changes in the Directorate of Air Intelligence to ensure that he is consulted before intelligence operations are undertaken which have political implications.

I do not consider changes to be necessary.

Since two weeks ago the Secretary of State told the House that he had not made any changes recently, and is not making them now, can we take it that the organisation of Air Intelligence is so different from that of Naval Intelligence that any incident such as we had recently is, I cannot say impossible, but very unlikely?

I am responsible for the organisation of my own Department, and upon taking over I went through all the branches, and I am confident that the organisation of the Air Ministry is good in this branch.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the reasons for the grounding of the Canberra and Valiant aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

Faults have occurred in the electrical system which controls the tailplane actuator in the Canberra, and two Marks have been grounded while modifications are made. Flying of the Valiant was suspended as a precautionary measure after one of these aircraft had crashed on 11th May. Certain modifications are being made to the electrical wiring system of the aircraft. Both Canberras and Valiants are returning to flying as they are modified. All Valiants in Bomber Command are likely to have been modified by the end of this week.

asked the Secretary of State for Air to what extent he ensures the application of the fair wages clause in relation to equipment ordered from foreign sources.

The Air Ministry does not normally order equipment direct from foreign sources, but if the necessity should arise a fair wages clause would be included in the contracts.

Is that not in direct contradiction to the information which the right hon. Gentleman gave in a letter about the contract recently awarded to a foreign firm, where there had been an invitation to tender and where the foreign firm undercut the British firm? There were absolutely no means of ensuring that the fair wages clause was observed by the foreign firm concerned.

I understand that this order was not placed direct. It was placed through a British agent. Of course, the hon. Gentleman is perfectly correct in saying that it is extremely difficult to enforce a fair wages clause in a foreign country.

What is the purpose of the fair wages clause if the onus is placed on the British firm to observe it and if it is possible for a foreign firm, whether the goods are brought in directly or indirectly by merchants, to undercut the British producer? Surely that is a point that ought to be looked into.

The hon. Gentleman is putting forward the high protectionist argument.

What is the purpose of having the fair wages clause if it is not Government policy to enforce it?

It is Government policy, and if it came to our notice that any firm had acted in flagrant breach of it, such a firm would not get another contract, but the hon. Gentleman will see that it is not an easy matter to enforce.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when he expects the first Vulcan and Victor bomber squadrons to be formed.

The Vulcan will enter R.A.F. service in the next week or so. I cannot yet give a firm date for the Victor.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how the date given and the date which he cannot give compare with the original estimate of when these machines would be in service?

All I can say is that since I took office things are more or less up to date. At the time of the Air Estimates we expected the Vulcan to get C.A. release this month, and it will get it.

From the time of ordering to the time of being in service these machines are taking three or four years longer compared with Russian and American production. Is the Minister satisfied with that?

No one is ever satisfied with the number of aeroplanes and the time in which one gets them, but I think that the hon. Gentleman's figures are grossly exaggerated.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that had these aeroplanes been ordered earlier than four years ago they might have been in the squadrons, and that the party opposite must take the blame for it?

Will the right hon. Gentleman look at the matter from the angle that some of the firms involved are far too small to have economic and efficient production?

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will discuss with the nationalised air corporations a plan by which passenger aircraft could be jointly owned by the Royal Air Force and the corporations and used for commercial carriage of passengers on schedule services during the months when passenger space is highly sought after and for air trooping of Service men and their families in the other months.

No, Sir. Trooping continues throughout the year and our programme could not be related to the seasonal demands of holiday traffic.

How does the right hon. Gentleman propose that air trooping should be arranged so that Service families are carried in modern aircraft? Unless there is some special scheme, how is that to be done and how are the operators to get the aircraft?

That is a different Question and one which was answered by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Air on the Whitsun Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will consider providing dual-carriageways at those places where it is now proposed to widen A.1 between London and Newcastle.

I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the 23 schemes on A.1 each costing over £100,000; of these, 22 provide for dual carriageways. These schemes when completed will transform A.1 into a major North-South road link designed to cope with modern traffic conditions.

While we are waiting for the motorway to be built to the North, would it not be a good thing to make the A.1 a complete dual carriageway right through?

I agree that we ought to press on and try to make, as far as we can, the A.1 a dual carriageway North-South highway. I think that if my hon. Friend looks at the details which I am circulating he will see that we are going a long way towards doing that in the present scheme.

Would the Minister put alongside each of those schemes the approximate date of starting the work?

I will certainly look into that.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made with the widening and realignment of A.12 at Gun Hill.

The necessary land has been acquired and it is hoped to carry out the work in the near future.

That may be, but is the alteration to which the Minister refers an alteration which means taking four yards off the corner, because, if so, will he look at it again, as the general result will be that the vision of drivers of vehicles will be more rather than less obscured—they will see more of the ends of the cottages and less of the bridge?

I am aware that the local authority which agreed to undertake this work as our agent has now some doubts about the matter, but I am not prepared to say what the position will be. We will certainly give consideration to the views of the local authority on the subject.

When the Minister looks at it, will he realise that the only possible constructive alternative is to take a short cut across the corner from the bottom of Gun Hill to the top, leaving out the present point, and that at the present time the bottom of the hill is almost the worst place in East Anglia? It has almost ten times as many accidents as any other place.

I do not think it would be advantageous if I pursued an argument about this site at Question Time.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps he proposes to take to prevent long streams of traffic in streets like Oxford Street and Euston Road being brought to a standstill across intersecting streets and blocking traffic in them.

This effect is unavoidable in certain traffic conditions. The police can and do help, but considerate drivers will not proceed across an intersection if they can see that they will not be able to clear it.

Can my hon. Friend say what is to happen to drivers who do not do what he suggests? Is it not a case for making a law about this as was suggested by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Northwich (Mr. J. Foster) before the Easter Recess, and will my hon. Friend look into it to see if it cannot be included in the present Road Traffic Bill?

I have gone into this matter and have written to each of the hon. Members who took part in the Adjournment debate on this subject. We entirely agree, of course, that it is a serious traffic problem, but it is not at all clear that legislation would be the best way of dealing with it. Such legislation would be extremely difficult to enforce, and it might well be that it would slow down traffic more than is the case at the present time.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what plans exist for improving the flow of traffic at Oxford Circus.

No long-term plan for the improvement of Oxford Circus is included in the development plan of the London County Council. We have, however, been considering prohibiting all right-hand turns at Oxford Circus. The Road Research Laboratory at our request has considered this proposal and has prepared a report which we have circulated to the local authorities, the police and the London Transport Executive, but their views have not all as yet been received.

While that plan will obviously do something to ease the congestion, is the Minister not aware that it does not eliminate the cross traffic? What proposal has he for achieving that, bearing in mind that there is a London Transport scheme now to reconstruct Oxford Circus station in such a way that it will be impossible in the future to put an underpass there, and will he give that serious consideration?

We are giving this matter careful consideration, and we are also considering the possibility of introducing one-way traffic there, but so far we have not been able to arrive at any proposals which are really likely to bring about any substantial improvement. I am afraid that we have to face the fact that the volume of traffic at a focal point of that kind really makes it impossible to bring about any very free movement of traffic.

Can my hon. Friend say whether he has given up the idea entirely of building an underpass at this important intersection?

I have not given up the idea because I have never had it.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many Metropolitan local authorities with roads for which a 40-miles-per-hour speed limit is proposed have agreed thereto.

I wrote to local authorities on 10th May asking for comments, but I have not yet received any.

As there is obviously lack of enthusiasm for this increased speed limit, will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that if the majority of local authorities concerned are opposed to it he will abandon this rather crazy idea?

No. On the question of any lack of enthusiasm, the local authorities were given to 30th June in which to compose their replies, and that is no doubt the reason I have not yet received them.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now approve final plans for the stretch of the Winchester-Preston trunk road A.34, which passes through the borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme, so as to enable the local authority to give decisions on the future development of sites adjacent to the road in Goose Street, Lower Street, Holborn, and Upper Green.

Because of the large increase in traffic in recent years I have asked my agent authority, the Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, to consider the possibility of providing dual carriageways on this road. Until these investigations have been completed, I am unable to reach a final decision on this matter.

Will the Minister ask his officers to treat this matter with the greatest urgency? Is he aware that this is not only a great traffic problem, but also means that a lot of important and valuable sites on either side of this road are sterilised until the plans for the trunk road are complete. and that this is a very serious matter for the borough council?

I quite agree. I will certainly do what I can with my officials, and I hope that the hon. Gentleman will also consult the members of his own local authority and impress upon them the necessity of getting on with the planning. If we can both do that, we may get a fairly quick decision.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether a decision has now been made over the rebuilding and widening of London Road railway bridge, Twickenham.

My right hon. Friend has invited the Middlesex County Council to submit a scheme for approval in the current financial year.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has yet considered the Report of the Committee on Road Safety of January, 1954, on massed-start cycle racing; whether the conditions outlined in paragraph 21 of the Report have yet been met; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend has considered this Report, and also studied the further views of the Departmental Committee on Road Safety, who considered the matter again in January last. He proposes to seek powers to deal with this matter in the Road Traffic Bill now before Parliament.

Is my hon. Friend aware that his reply will give satisfaction not only to the police but also to the responsible cycling clubs, whose only wish is to co-operate with the authorities to see that this sport may be continued in safety and without inconvenience to other road users?

I am obliged to my hon. and gallant Friend for what he has said, and I think it will be approved also by all those who have road safety at heart.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now alter lighting-up time in the summer to half-an-hour instead of one hour after sunset.

I have this matter under consideration.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that lighting-up time today is five minutes after 10 p.m. and that if he is in the Chamber at that time, as I expect he will be, and if he will look out of the window, he will see that it is dead dark? Is this not rather dangerous? Ought not lighting-up time to be brought back to half-an-hour before sunset?

I think that the suggestion contained in the Question is well worthy of serious consideration, and I am giving that consideration to it.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman ask motorists when visibility is bad even in so-called hours of daylight to switch on their lights?

I gave an answer to a similar Question a few days ago, and it is also in the Highway Code.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) in the cases of accidents involving transport vehicles, what record he keeps of cases in which drivers have been driving excessive hours beyond those permitted by law;

(2) how many accidents occur to drivers who have been driving excessive hours.

The accident records kept by my Department do not show whether the drivers involved have driven an excessive number of hours, but they do indicate whether fatigue is considered by the police to have been a factor. Of 216,681 accidents in 1955 which resulted in personal injury, the police considered that fatigue was a factor in 360, of which 65 involved commercial vehicles.

Is the Minister aware that rather grave allegations have been made that drivers have driven for so long on the road that they are often asleep at the wheel and cause great danger to other transport drivers on the same road? Would he look into the allegations made to the Scottish Trades Union Congress this year by the transport unions of some very grave charges of this kind, and would he consider keeping records of the number of hours driven, because if a person has been driving for twenty-two hours there is a fair assumption that he is fatigued, even if the police do not notice it?

If the right hon. Gentleman has any specific cases, I should like to hear of them. There is not, so far as I can find out, any general indication in my Department that this practice is widespread, and there is a penalty, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, under the Road Traffic Act if the driver of the vehicle is allowed to drive. excessive hours.

Allegations were made and substantiated some time ago that drivers may drive for eleven hours for one employer and then switch to another employer and drive for eleven hours, and, without in some way actually breaking the law, they manage to drive for twenty-two hours.

I should like to have details of any case of that kind.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made towards the ratification by other countries of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil.

The Governments of Mexico and Sweden have recently ratified the Convention, and I understand that a number of other countries have taken, or are taking, powers to enable them to do so.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied with the rate of progress in the ratifications of this Convention? He will be mindful that another conference is to be held before May of next year. Would he consider what steps should be taken now to ensure the success of that conference?

I think that the first thing to do is to get as many ratifications as we can. I am certainly not satisfied with the present rate, and I will see if there is anything I can do to speed it up, but I doubt if there is.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will introduce legislation assigning Ministerial responsibility for the general design of commercial ships and, in particular, for safeguarding them from the effects of ice on their stability.

No, Sir. I do not think it would be right for the Government to assume control over the general design of commercial ships. The problem of the effects of ice on the stability of fishing vessels is, as my hon, Friend indicated during the recent debate on this subject, best left for solution by the owners and builders in consultation with my Department as necessary.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there were two modern trawlers from the Humber lost with all hands this year; that there are means now at any rate of minimising this danger; that these means have been adopted by some foreign trawlers—some of them even built in this country—and yet our own trawler owners have not yet adopted them; and would it not be sensible to see that some Minister is made responsible for ensuring that there is a minimum standard of safety for trawlers which have to work in the Arctic?

I read very carefully the remarks of the hon. Gentleman in the Adjournment debate, and I also read very fully the reply given by my hon. Friend, who answered the general point as to whether my Ministry and the Government were doing all that they could to see that this most tragic happening of the sudden icing up of trawlers in Arctic waters is prevented as far as possible.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the statutory enforcement of the Plimsol line which prevents vessels being overloaded under the waterline is not dissimilar in principle from allowing the overloading of vessels over the waterline by encrustations of ice, and should not similar statutory action apply to them, as this endangers human life?

This is a very technical and difficult matter, and there is no simple solution. The only long-term solution is for designers and owners of these vessels to work closely with my Ministry, whose services are always available, to try slowly to improve the design against the known difficulties.

asked the Minister of Defence what arms are being supplied to Western Germany from the United Kingdom.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister informed the right hon. Gentleman on 24th April, Her Majesty's Government do not intend to depart from the normal practice of refusing to disclose details of current exports of military equipment to foreign countries.

In view of that answer, would the right hon. and learned Gentleman say whether any arms have been sent to Western Germany? Surely he can answer that. At the same time, if arms have been sent, as I suspect that they have, and as he well knows, would he tell us whether Western Germany is paying for them and if an arrangement was made for them to be sent before a financial agreement was reached about the cost of our troops in Western Germany?

That is another question. The moment one starts answering the Question one starts to deviate from the principle, and I see no advantage in that.

The right hon. and learned Gentleman surely misunderstood the point I was making. The question whether arms have been sent to foreign countries has been answered in the House. For example, an answer has been given about whether arms have been sent to Egypt. I want to know whether arms have been sent to Western Germany. Reports have appeared in the Press that the United States has sent arms to Germany, and surely he can say whether we have done the same.

The question that I have been asked to answer is "what arms?" and that is the Question that I cannot answer. If the right hon. Gentleman chooses to put down the other question, I will consider it.

On a point of order. It so happens that the Question I originally sought to address to the right hon. and learned Gentleman was framed in this fashion: "whether arms have been sent to Germany," and I was advised by the Clerk at the Table that it would be better to substitute the word "what".

I must look into that. Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will now ask Question No. 28.

asked the Minister of Defence whether, in view of the reduction in Soviet armed forces, he will now reduce the length of National Service.

asked the Minister of Defence what review of National Service is proposed following the recent pay increases in the Services and the reduction of Soviet forces; and when Her Majesty's Government will reduce the period of National Service.

I would refer to the reply which I gave to the right hon. and learned Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. A. Henderson) on 17th May. I have no further statement to make at present on National Service policy.

Surely the right hon. Gentleman recognises that that is a purely negative reply which takes us nowhere. In view of the gesture by the Soviet Union, surely it would be advisable for us to make a similar gesture, in addition to what has already been done by the contemplated cut in the Forces. Surely now is the time to say to the world at large that we are responding to this gesture by reducing the period of National Service. Is it not contemplated by the Government quite seriously that before long they will make a cut?

The answer to that is, first of all, that if we are to consider our policy on National Service, it is very desirable—indeed, the right hon. Gentleman himself drew attention to this on 20th April—that we should see what has been the effect of the increases in pay on the numbers recruited and the period for which people take on. That is one of the things at which we must look. It would be most undesirable to make a general statement of National Service policy until we are aware of the relevant factors. Unlike what may be said of other people, this country is already in the process of taking substantial steps to reduce its armed forces.

Whatever cuts the Soviet Union may or may not have made in their armed forces, is it not a fact that today they retain two years' national service for their army?

Does not the Minister recollect that on 15th February he told me that he hoped that National Service would be ended long before the next General Election and that his statement was made long before the announcement of the reduction in the Russian armed forces? Surely he is now able to say that he intends to do something about it, regardless of what the Russians do. He need not shelter behind that at all.

I am not sheltering behind hopes. I was very careful on that occasion to qualify my statement when the opportunity was given me. All I am saying now is that I am sure that this is not the moment for a pronouncement on National Service.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will release from National Service all sons of widowed mothers.

No, Sir. It would be unfair automatically to exempt men in these circumstances from National Service. I am satisfied, however, that sympathetic consideration is given to appeals for release on compassionate grounds where continuance of National Service would cause grave hardship.

Is the Minister aware that some National Service men who are the bread-winners for seven or eight young children are being refused release? Will he, on humanitarian grounds alone, consider releasing at least those men who are the mainstays of widows with one or more young children particularly, as they do in America?

Perhaps the hon. Member will send to the Ministers responsible for the Service Departments concerned the cases which he has in mind. I would only say that I still think it would be wrong to take a group, such as the sons of widowed mothers, and say that that group, where the hardship may not in all cases be as great as in some other cases, should be automatically exempted.

While appreciating the force of the Minister's argument, may I ask him to bear in mind that there is room for greater flexibility in the tribunals which test these cases of hardship, because there is a limit beyond which they are not allowed to go and cases of extreme hardship are caused by the present system?

I think we are now dealing with the situation at a later stage. We are not considering exemption from National Service, or I should not be answering the Question. We are considering the release of those who have been called up.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he is satisfied with arrangements made for the production of aircraft and in particular with the co-ordination between the Ministry of Supply and Air Ministry for the production of aircraft and guided missiles; and if he will make a statement.

The problems with which we have been faced have arisen mainly in the later stages of development. The production of aircraft has in general been proceeding satisfactorily.

The action to improve matters announced in the White Paper on Supply of Military Aircraft issued in February. 1955, and by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply in the recent Defence Debate is already beginning to bear fruit. The right hon. Gentleman will recall that during that debate I said that I was myself inquiring into these and related matters. I shall tell the House in due course what conclusions I reach; all that I would say for the moment is that I am making progress.

Development and production of guided missiles are proceeding reasonably well, though with entirely new weapons of this kind there are always liable to be unexpected hitches.

I have found that the co-ordination between the Ministry of Supply and the Air Ministry is good, and I do not think that any failure in this respect has contributed materially to our problems.

I understood the Minister to say in the early part of his reply that he was comparatively satisfied. How can he possibly say such a thing in view of the statements made in the Defence debate on 27th and 28th February? Is he not aware that the hopeless muddle and losses which have been incurred in the supply of aircraft are largely due to the inadequate arrangements in the aircraft industry itself? How does he expect units of less than 15,000 men to produce large bombers? What does he intend to do about it?

The Question asked about the production of aircraft, and particularly about administrative arrangements between the two Ministries. That was the side which was comparatively good. As to the aircraft industry itself, that is one of the matters into which I am looking, and I will inform the House when I have reached my conclusions.

Will the Minister tell me who takes the decision on major issues where there are disputes between various Services on aircraft supply? Does he do it himself or who is the responsible authority?

I am never sure how far I am allowed to go in saying what are the organs of the Government in which I serve, but the right hon. Gentleman is aware of the Committees.

In this connection will the right hon. and learned Gentleman take note of what is happening in the United States about the production of guided missiles and ballistic rockets and the disputes between the Air Force and the Army, and I also believe the Navy, in the United States? In order to avoid any similar confusion, will he effect a greater measure of co-ordination and bring the whole subject under one head?

I sympathise very much with what the right hon. Gentleman has said. I have, of course, been informed of and am in touch with difficulties which have been experienced in America, and I am sympathetic to the idea of more co-ordination and more power here.

asked the Minister of Defence what progress has been made in discussions with the West German Government on the cost of British troops in Germany.

Negotiations are progressing, but it would be premature for me to say anything more at the present moment. I will make a statement as soon as I can.

Does this mean that we can definitely count on receiving the £50 million from Germany which the Chancellor has included in his Budget this year?

It only means that before I can answer the Question I must wait, but I will answer it as soon as I get the information.

Does the Minister agree that it was rather rash to let our derequisitioning powers lapse and make other concessions of that sort before the question of the cost had been settled with the German Government?

That is a different question.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will make a statement in regard to recruiting figures since the recent pay increases in the Services.

asked the Minister of Defence what improvements in recruiting have followed the recent pay increases in the Services; and whether he will now make a statement.

The new rates of pay came into effect on 1st April and we now have firm recruiting figures for that month. They indicate a definite improvement over the corresponding period for last year but it would be premature to draw any conclusions from them at this stage. I will, with permission, circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can my right hon. and learned Friend say whether the recent increases in pay are part of an overall plan which has as its objective the ultimate abolition of National Service and the reliance on professional Regular Forces?

The object was to try to get the Regular Forces up to the appropriate strength at which they would be most efficient for our purpose, and if, as a result, we were able to dispense with National Service in whole or in part, it would be satisfactory to all sides of the House.

Will the figures indicate any improvement in the longer-term engagements, which is, after all, the vital consideration?

The right hon. Gentleman is quite right. That is a vital consideration—even more vital than the number of new recruits. It is more difficult to give precise figures, but there is an improvement, and I hope in the course of a few days to be able to give some figures.

Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman ensure that the figures, both as to recruitment and as to continuance in the Services, are made readily available to hon. Members at convenient regular intervals?

I am taking steps to do that about recruitment, but I ask to be excused from making a definite promise about the other aspect, because it is a more difficult thing to promise in advance.

—	April, 1955	April, 1956
Royal Navy	288	857
Army	2,811	3,800
Royal Air Force	1,520	1,808
	4,619	6,465

asked the Minister of Defence the estimated front-line aircraft strength of the Soviet Air Force: and the estimated reduction in aircraft following the announced reduction of three aircraft divisions.

The front-line aircraft strength of the Soviet Air Forces is estimated to be about 20,000. A reduction by three aircraft divisions might amount to about 300 aircraft.

Could the Minister state the relative front-line strength of fighters and bombers and state to what extent the proposed reduction refers to those two categories of planes?

It has never been the practice, on security grounds, to sub-divide the total by types of aircraft, and I should not like to depart from that.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) if he is aware that members of the staffs of foreign Embassies and Legations in London have made inquiries of British firms designed to discover the race and religion of their workers, managers, directors and shareholders; and whether he will inform Ambassadors and Ministers of foreign countries in London that Her Majesty's Government will take a serious view of such actions by members of their staffs;

(2) whether he is aware that British firms are liable to be boycotted by Arab countries if they invest in an Israeli concern; and what steps he proposes to take to defeat such boycotts.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that threats against firms and even limited liability companies in Great Britain the members or shareholders of which are of the Jewish faith are being intensified both directly and indirectly through other countries; and whether he will bring the position to the attention of the United Nations for action, as being contrary to its Charter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the diplomatic representatives of Her Majesty's Government are only intervening in cases of threatened or actual boycott by Arab countries of British firms trading with Israel where in the judgment of those representatives the information of the Arab Central Boycott Committee on which the boycott is based is false.

The views of Her Majesty's Government on this boycott have been frequently stated and representations have been made to the Governments concerned. I am aware that there have been new developments, and action has been taken in individual cases. I should be grateful if hon. Members would send me confidentially any further information about specific cases. I think this method may well be the more effective way of protecting British interests.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask whether he will accept my assurance that these things have been going on and that anti-semitic activities are being carried on in London by the Embassies of the Arab countries? I shall certainly give the right hon. Gentleman the information for which he has asked.

Could the right hon. Gentleman not inquire into this matter and see whether anything can be done by one of the bodies in the United Nations in order that information available can be collected? It appears to be a very serious infringement of the Charter when there is definitely a decided attack being made upon nationals, not only of our country but of other countries, to prevent them from trading and from exercising ordinary human rights?

One of the difficulties, of course, is to compel a Government to trade with someone with whom the Government does not want to trade. The best method is not too much ventilation of the matter. If I can be given information about specific cases, I am more likely to get results if I am allowed to deal with the matter in that way.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman consult the President of the Board of Trade about an answer that has been given from the Middle East Department of the Board of Trade to the effect that diplomatic representatives of Her Majesty's Government are intervening only in cases where the information of the Central Arab Boycott Committee is false? This clearly means that our representatives abroad are not intervening where the legitimate rights of British exporters are concerned. Would the right hon. Gentleman make representations to the President of the Board of Trade that stronger action than this should be taken by his Department?

My impression was that what the hon. Gentleman has said is not correct, but in view of the answer which he says he received, I will look into the matter.

Are there any cases where firms have given this information to the Embassies which inquired?

I should want to have notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make representations to the Government of the United States of America that Kamel Abdel Rahim, permanent representative of the Yemen to the United Nations, directs the Arab Boycott Committee's actions against British firms trading with Israel from the Arab Information Centre, 445, Park Avenue, New York City; and whether he will ask the United States Government to take the necessary steps to stop this anti-British activity.

I have no information to this effect. If the hon. Gentleman will send me his evidence, I will consider the matter further.

Would the Foreign Secretary not agree that this is a wholly inappropriate activity on the part of a representative of the United Nations and is his answer that this Arab information Centre has an income of 4 million dollars a year, mainly acquired from American oil companies? If he can confirm those facts, will the right hon. and learned Gentleman raise the matter with the United States Government?

If the hon. Member will send me particulars of the facts and the connection of this particular individual with what the hon. Member has said, I will certainly look into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that British shipping passing through the Suez Canal or the Strait of Tiran on the way to or from Israel is liable to be black-listed by Arab countries; that this black-listing results in such ships being denied normal port facilities, pilotage, and fresh water in Arab ports; and what steps he proposes to take to protect British shipping from such hostile action.

Several Arab countries have for some time imposed restrictions on merchant ships of all nationalities which have traded with Israel. These restrictions include the denial of normal port facilities. Her Majesty's Government have made it clear on a number of occasions that we do not accept the legality of the Arab blockade of Israel. But we believe, and have constantly maintained, that the best way to bring the restrictions to an end is to work for a general settlement of the Arab Israel dispute.

Nevertheless the boycott continues. Would it not be in the best interests of everybody concerned if Her Majesty's Government were to take the shipping lines into conference with them and say that they would support them to the hilt in opposition to this boycott? Furthermore, will the Foreign Secretary consult our Allies to see that we present a united front against this interference with the freedom of the seas?

As far as British ships are concerned, there is, in fact, not very much interference. If the hon. Member will give me particulars, I will willingly look into them. Ships of ours which go to Israel are usually dry cargo ships, which do not go through the Canal, and are therefore not affected by the blockade, but if he has any particular cases which can be brought to my attention, or if that is the view he has attributed to the shipping interests concerned, I will look into the matter again.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he anticipates the Select Committee appointed by the Bahamas House of Assembly, which has published its interim report condemning the colour bar, will have completed its deliberations.

The Select Committee did not report further on this matter. On 18th May the Committee and the House of Assembly was dissolved, and a General Election is to be held shortly. I cannot forecast what action may be taken when the new Bahamas Legislature is sitting.

Whilst accepting that Answer with my usual patience, may I ask the Colonial Secretary, now that one Colony has appointed a Select Committee on the matter of the colour bar, whether he would also propose that a Select Committee should be appointed for other parts of the Commonwealth, such as Central Africa, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland?

I think the consideration shown in the Bahamas will not be altogether lost in other parts of the world.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the arrangements for the inspection of conditions in the detention camps of Kenya; if he will state the number of the camps; the number of detainees; the number of those so far released; and the number of Government inspectors for these camps to the latest convenient date.

On 30th April, 1956, 41,772 persons were detained under Emergency Regulations in 51 detention and works camps. At that date, 27,046 detainees had been released since the beginning of the emergency. The arrangements for inspection of these camps, which are frequently visited by Ministers, heads of Departments and district commissioners, are based on inspection committees of which eight have been appointed by the Governor and another will be appointed shortly. These committees are required to visit the camp or camps in respect of which they have been constituted at least once a month and to hear any complaint, other than on the validity of a detention order, which a detainee may wish to make.

Whilst thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that Answer, may I ask if he is aware of the serious allegation made by Miss Fletcher, who is a Quaker and a former civil servant of the Kenya Government and has worked in these camps for at least twelve months? Would he confirm or deny what has been made public in well-known newspapers, and also consider appointing Her Majesty's Inspectors to investigate these camps and perhaps give us a little more light on the alleged conditions?

I read the article the moment it appeared and immediately telegraphed its contents to Kenya and asked for comments on it. I would say to all those people who are ready to make sweeping allegations that it might be more helpful if they would contact me or my Department in regard to individual incidents so that we can find out the facts in particular cases. None the less, I recognise that when charges are made it is up to me to answer them. I would also ask the House not to rush to hasty conclusions until it has heard detailed answers to detailed charges.

When did the right hon. Gentleman ask for this information from Kenya?

During the Recess when I read the article in a newspaper not unknown to the right hon. Member.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the statements that were published in that article were published some time ago?

I am very surprised if it is a fact that that particular newspaper or periodical only publishes information which has already appeared elsewhere. I took that article as being a serious statement and immediately asked for confirmation or comment on the facts in it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that public opinion is shocked by these statements and will be further shocked by the flippancy of the answers he has been giving? We are really concerned about establishing the facts here, and we are in fact postponing judgment until the facts have been confirmed, but surely has not the Department of the right hon. Gentleman been rather remiss in not knowing that these statements were made a very considerable time ago? Is not his office responsible for this delay?

The right hon. Member knows perfectly well that if at any time he or anybody with whom he is in contact has any particular statement or charges to make he has only to approach me or my right hon. Friend and immediate investigation will be made. All I ask is that comment should be reserved until there has been an opportunity to reply.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these reports first appeared in the Quaker newspaper Peace News—I do not think he is referring to that? Did the Minister make inquiries as soon as it was published, as it was published a considerable time before?

The particular complaints to which I think the questions have been related have recently appeared in adequate detail in order to be able to identify them and to know to what they refer. As soon as I have the answer I will give it. If right hon. and hon. Gentlemen are more concerned about eliciting the facts than making political points, they had better await it.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is the function of this House to elicit facts of this sort? Is he not aware that it is the duty of hon. Members of this House to educate public opinion on the facts when they are established, and is he not also aware that he is himself getting a very bad reputation in this matter?