asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will introduce a world-wide form of engagement for Maltese ratings in addition to the existing local engagement.

My noble Friend has under consideration a scheme whereby Maltese young men may be entered in Malta, as Maltese boys are now, for a long-service engagement. This would involve the same obligations and advantages as an engagement entered into in the United Kingdom.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that he will have my support—and that is worth a lot—in any such move? Further, may I ask him whether this means that the Maltese ratings will get the same rates of pay if they enter on the same engagement?

Yes, it does.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that a mechanician I and engine room artificer 3 both rank as chief petty officers and have similar periods of experience as engineers, he will increase the basic pay of the engine room artificer 3 to that of the mechanician I.

No, Sir. The basic pay of the artificer 3rd class, with trade pay in addition, is the same as the basic pay of the mechanician 1st class, who is not eligible for trade pay until he acquires comparable skill with the artificer. It normally takes about three years for the mechanician to obtain the full trade pay of 1s. 6d. a day which is automatically payable to all engine room artificers 3rd class.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the percentage of chief petty officers with nine years' seniority to other ranks in the Royal Navy.

The percentage of chief petty officers with nine or more years' service as such, to the total number of male ratings in the Royal Navy is at present 2·9.

In view of the fact that the figure is only 2·9 per cent., and as the hon. Gentleman, in reply to a Question by me on 9th May, gave the fact that only 3 per cent. were warrant officers in the Army as the reason he could not give chief petty officers in the Navy the same status and pay as warrant officers in the Army, will the hon. Gentleman look at the matter again?

On that occasion I was talking about all chief petty officers, not only those with nine years or more in the rank. That is what makes the figure different. As the hon. Gentleman knows, the pay codes are not the same at every point. If one concentrates on any particular point in a man's career one has to look at the swings as well as the round-abouts. Taking the career of a chief petty officer as a whole, I am satisfied that those in that rank compare very favourably with their opposite numbers in the other Services.

Will not the hon. Gentleman look at the matter again and give the chief petty officer with nine years' service what I asked for before, the pay of the warrant officer in the Army?

May I suggest this? As the hon. Gentleman knows, this is a very complicated matter. If he would like to go over all the figures with me, I shall he very glad to do so, and I think that I can satisfy him on the point.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what other naval bases he proposes to close down in addition to that of Scapa Flow.

I have nothing to add, at present, to the reply which I gave to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Cardiff, South-East (Mr. Callaghan) on 20th June.

If Scapa Flow is not safe, can the Minister tell us what is safe in this country; and can he say whether he proposes to base the Navy in the next war on Miami, Florida, St. Helena or the Seychelles?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the strategical reasons for abandoning the naval base at Scapa Flow.

I can only repeat the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Cardiff, South-East (Mr. Callaghan) on 20th June, that we no longer see sufficient use for most of the naval installations in the Orkneys, either in peace or in war, to justify the expense of their retention.

Would the hon. Gentleman tell us if we are justified in spending over £400 million on the Navy if it cannot even defend Scapa Flow?

The hon. Gentleman is constantly asking for reductions in defence expenditure. When we make one he must not complain.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will ensure the closest co-ordination with other Departments over possible uses of the base installations at Lyness or Scapa Flow, and the maintenance of various services, such as ferries and water supply.

Yes, Sir. I am in consultation with the Scottish Office and the other Departments concerned on these matters.

While I know that the Admiralty is well aware of the difficulties which the islands will have to face, may I ask the hon. Gentleman if it will give us as long notice as it can of the actual run-down of personnel, as it comes to the Admiralty's attention?

Certainly we shall give as long notice as we can. The plan is being worked out. As soon as it is decided on we shall give as long notice as possible to the men concerned.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is now prepared to authorise the establishment of a sub-post office at Watcombe Estate, Torquay.

Not, Sir, on the information available to me at present. If my hon. Friend has any further considerations to advance perhaps he will let me know.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this matter has been pursued by both my predecessor and myself, over a period not of months only but of years, and that we have given very full information about it? Is he further aware, if he has not visited the locality, that Torquay, like Rome, is built on seven hills, and that the distances which the Department has fixed to be those between the post offices established there have no bearing on local considerations? Is he further aware that savings are being lost day by day because elderly people living in that area cannot climb up and down the hills to get to and from any of the post offices?

There are two post offices, each about half a mile away from the estate, and both of them at present give a satisfactory service. There is a good public transport service available between the estate and the post offices concerned.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I intend to raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will now give an undertaking that there will be no increase in postal or telephone charges for at least twelve months.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, to assist the campaign to stabilise prices, he will give an assurance that postal charges will not be further increased during the next twelve months.

I would refer to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave last Wednesday to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Lewis).

Although that reply, of which I am aware, is all to the good, would my hon. Friend not consider going further than the undertaking of six months and give an undertaking that there will not be any increase in postal charges for twelve months?

It has been and still is the policy of my right hon. Friend to ensure that the Post Office pays its way on the basis of contemporary costs, while trying at the same time to achieve maximum efficiency and economy, and that will continue to be the principal dominating my right hon. Friend's policy in future.

Cannot the Assistant Postmaster-General go one stage further and give a twelve months' undertaking instead of a six months' undertaking, which sounds all the more suspicious, in view of the alleged success of the Government's economy policy? Cannot he extend the undertaking?

If the hon. and gallant Member could forecast what the level of wages during the next twelve months will be, perhaps one would be able to give a different answer.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that the increase before the last one was imposed by the Postmaster-General due to manipulation by the Treasury, and can he give an undertaking that there will not be manipulation by the Treasury?

I cannot accept the right hon. Gentleman's interpretation of those events. It is not true, as he, from his own experience, should know.

asked the Postmaster-General how many individuals, or bodies, had their mail opened, under instructions from the Home Office, during the last twelve months.

asked the Postmaster-General what authority exists for the interception of letters addressed to persons regarded as doubtful security risks; how far such authority extends to the families and associates of such persons; and on what occasions these powers have been recently exercised.

Mail is opened only under the authority of an express warrant in writing signed by a Secretary of State. In the public interest it is not the practice to disclose information about such warrants.

While fully appreciating that it may be held not to be in the public interest to disclose details of particular cases, may I ask whether we really ought not to be told how often this very alarming power is exercised during a year? What possible harm could there be in giving the number of cases?

It is not the practice under this Government, as it was not under any previous Government, to give details of this sort.

Is it not important that the volume of this sort of work should be known to the House, even if not individual cases? Here is an alarming exercise of power over which the House has no control at all. Ought not the Postmaster-General himself to seek authority from his colleagues to publish the volume of cases in which this power is used?

When the right hon. Gentleman was Postmaster-General he would not, I am sure, in any circumstances have given the information for which he is now asking.

Can the Minister say whether there is any truth in the rumour that letters addressed to Mrs. Lang, the wife of the gentleman who was recently dismissed from his employment, under Government instructions, were opened? If so, what was the reason for it?

No particular case is included in the Question on the Order Paper.

Did the Minister's first reply mean that letters may be opened on the authority, or "signed warrant" as he calls it, of any Secretary of State? Does it mean that any Secretary of State of the Government can demand that a letter shall be opened?

On a point of order. Is it not contrary to Standing Orders for secret matters to be discussed by the House?

It is in order to ask questions about them, but it is also in order to refuse information about them.

The position is set out quite clearly in Section 58 (1) of the Post Office Act, 1953, which reproduces the similar provisions of previous Acts stretching back a considerable period of time.

Would I not be right if I asserted that there has been no material change in practice since the great days of the Liberal Government of 1906?

The right hon. Gentleman is perfectly correct in saying that the same provision was included in the Post Office Act, 1908.

Will the Minister be a little more courteous, instead of hiding behind the mumbo-jumbo in the reply which he gave me? Will he tell me whether in fact this means that any Secretary of State can demand that letters shall be opened?

The right hon. Gentleman will see the situation set out perfectly clearly in the Answer which I gave to the original Question.

Is it not a fact that there is only one Secretary of State?

That seems to be a legal question.

asked the Postmaster-General how many of his staff are employed in the Palace of Westminster; and how many of these have to meet the cost of their postage, secretarial and other expenses wholly and necessarily incurred in carrying out their duties on behalf of his Department, from their post office wage or salary.

The answer to the first part of the Question is 66 and to the second part none.

Is the Minister aware that I am very pleased to see that he has not treated his staff of 66 here in the same deplorable manner as the Chancellor of the Exchequer has treated Members of Parliament?

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the interference being experienced to television reception in the vicinity of Kingston Blount, Oxfordshire, as a consequence of transmissions by the United States radio beam station at Kingston Hill; and what action is being taken to put this matter right.

Yes, Sir. Post Office engineers are visiting the viewers affected, and in most cases have been able to cure the trouble. The more difficult cases are being further investigated in co-operation with the radio industry.

Is my hon. Friend aware that when this station was first set up categorical assurances were given by the American technicians concerned that no interference with television would be caused? Will he do his utmost to see that remedial steps are taken at the transmitter itself, rather than at the various receivers, because it covers a very wide area of the country and is affecting a great many people?

We realise that interference does take place, and we have had the full co-operation of the United States' authorities in attempting to deal with this problem, but I would remind my hon. Friend that the transmitter uses a radio technique which is new to this country and has, therefore, produced results which, I think, were unforeseen in those circumstances.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will include a station in southern Hampshire in the second programme of new frequency modulation stations.

I hope that a station at Rowridge will be included in the next stage of the V.H.F. broadcasting programme, which my right hon. Friend is now discussing with the B.B.C.

While thanking the Assistant Postmaster-General for that Answer, may I ask him whether he is aware that that part of England was about the last to get television coverage, and that ordinary broadcasting reception is very unsatisfactory, especially on the medium-wave band, and that anything he can do to speed up this new kind of broadcasting will be much appreciated by the people of Hampshire?

We are aware that there has been considerable interference from foreign stations on the medium-wave band. We have made representations to the Spanish and Rumanian authorities recently, and they have improved the situation, but the hon. Member can be assured that the need for further improvement is well understood and will be borne in mind by my right hon. Friend.

Can the hon. Gentleman say when all such areas will be covered by very high frequency transmitters?

Not without notice, but I can assure the hon. Member that during the next year, 1957–58, we hope to make considerable progress.

asked the Postmaster-General what improvement will be provided in the reception of the British Broadcasting Corporation's programmes in west Somerset by the coming into full operation of the very high frequency stations at North Hessary Tor and Wenvoe; and how soon this will be achieved.

The Wenvoe V.H.F. station, which already broadcasts the Welsh Home Service, is expected to broadcast the West of England Home Service and the Light Programme later in the summer. The station will give good service to west Somerset on all these programmes. The North Hessary Tor V.H.F. station is intended to, serve Devon and Cornwall and not Somerset

While thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him whether he will bear in mind that those of us who are concerned with Somerset feel sometimes that Wales gets a little more attention than Somerset does and that we shall very much appreciate and be very grateful indeed for anything he can do to improve reception in that area?

asked the Postmaster-General how many miles of telephone cable in Northumberland are carried by poles or pylons employed jointly for the distribution of electricity.

About 29 miles carried on 410 poles.

Does my hon. Friend not consider that to be a rather disappointing total? Is it not quite feasible to carry both electricity cables and telephone cabes on the same pylons or the same poles? Will he, therefore, get his engineers in the Northumberland area to consult the Electricity Board about it, because too large numbers of people in rural areas are still waiting for both telephone and electricity services?

We are in process of negotiating a new agreement with electricity boards in all parts of the country about the sharing of poles and pylons. During the year which ended 31st May, 1955, that policy was carried out in 6,000 new cases involving joint use of 15,000 new poles. However, I would remind my hon. Friend that in certain circumstances, for reasons of danger and interference with the telephone service, it is not possible to carry out joint user of the type that he envisages.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps are taken by his Department to consult local opinion before siting new rural telephone kiosks.

The programme for the provision of rural kiosks is drawn up in consultation with the Rural District Councils' Association, and local officials of my Department keep in close touch with local interests regarding the location of individual kiosks. If my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind and will let me have particulars, I shall be glad to make inquiry.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him if he is aware that there is a feeling, certainly in Wales, that his Department does not pay sufficient heed to the views and knowledge of parish councils and parish meetings and associations of parish councils, with their superior local knowledge?

My right hon. Friend hopes that, with the expansion of the Post Office advisory committees, which will represent local interests of various sorts, consultation of this sort may be improved in the future.

While supporting in principle what the hon. Member for Barry (Mr. Gower) has said, may I ask the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there is a tendency towards wastage, where new housing estates are completed, by contractors' lines being sealed up although it is planned by his Department to install kiosks. Could not one job follow the other? If I send him particulars of a rather bad case in my own constituency, at Mile Oak, will he please look into it?

I hope that if the hon. Member has an example he will bring it to our attention immediately.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will make available to British civil airways landing rights on Royal Air Force aerodromes in the east of Scotland similar to those available at other service stations where civilian aeroplanes are accommodated.

Most of the airfields from which the Royal Air Force operates in this area are already available to civil aircraft.

I did not quite catch the first word of the reply. Do I understand that the Leuchars aerodrome is available for civil aircraft?

I understand that it is available as a diversion airport.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he has now reviewed the procedure governing flight in controlled air spaces; and whether, and to what extent, the existing rules have been altered.

The review is not yet complete. Meanwhile, as the hon. Member knows, we have increased the visibility and cloud clearance governing visual flight rules and have prohibited any manoeuvre within the airways which would seriously restrict the pilot's view.

When the review is completed, will the Minister ensure that all aircraft using controlled air spaces will in future fly only under air traffic control clearances so that, whatever the flying conditions may be, there will be no chance of two aircraft seeking to occupy the same spot at the same time?

Naturally, when the review is completed I will inform the House of the decisions.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement on his recent official visit to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for the purposes of witnessing the Soviet Union's air display.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Moscow.

I visited Russia from 23rd to 29th June, accompanied by a party of senior Royal Air Force officers. We attended the Soviet Air Day Display and paid visits to an operational airfield, the Zhukovsky Air Engineering Academy and to two factories. We were able to see something of the aircraft of the Soviet Air Force; of its personnel and of the technical and engineering training which they receive, and their industrial methods of production. We were entertained with traditional Russian hospitality.

In view of the very regrettable incident which occurred affecting the batteries of the Comet, will the right hon. Gentleman not give some explanation or some information on that subject? Can we be assured that he took no batteries with him?

There is another Question on the Order Paper about the Comet.

Can my right hon. Friend say which were the two factories he visited?

We visited two aircraft factories in Moscow, one making piston-engined transport aircraft and another a development of the Nene engine.

Was it on the right hon. Gentleman's instructions that the Comet returned to Moscow? Is it true that a Russian pilot piloted the Comet, and will the right hon. Gentleman extend this practice so that Russian pilots fly all our aircraft and our pilots fly all Russian aircraft, because that would solve all our problems?

In view of the great hospitality received in Moscow, will the right hon. Gentleman use his influence to see whether Soviet Ministers can be invited to Farnborough in September? If they are, will he take them for a row on the Serpentine?

It is the intention to ask a party of Russian officers and industrialists over to this country at the time of the S.B.A.C. show, and I understand that the S.B.A.C. is willing and anxious for them to go to the Farnborough display.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what restrictions were placed upon him and his staff when they visited Soviet Air Force installations and aircraft factories.

The visits were in the nature of conducted tours. The restrictions placed upon us were not unreasonable.

Since that is so, will the Secretary of State consult his right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply to see if there cannot be a better adjustment of security restrictions on visits to airfields so far as Members of Parliament are concerned? Does he realise that journalists and foreign officers are allowed into aircraft access to which is forbidden to Members of Parliament?

I am very sorry to hear it. However, I understand that the hon. Gentleman had a satisfactory visit to a Javelin station the other day.

I did indeed. I was not complaining about that, but about the case, which the right hon. Gentleman knows well, of one of my hon. Friends.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement concerning the failure of the Comet aircraft in Moscow.

A connection inside one of the batteries fused and this resulted in there being insufficient power to start the engines. It was an unusual fault and one which could not have been detected during normal routine servicing. The fault was traced and rectified within one hour, but by that time there had been a deterioration in the weather and it was decided to abandon the flight.

Can my right hon. Friend say that he is satisfied with the general maintenance arrangements of this aeroplane, in view of the very unfortunate effect that this failure had at a time when he was trying to rehabilitate the reputation of the Comet?

It certainly was unfortunate, but I am satisfied that it was long odds against the chance and, as the hon. Gentleman knows, these things happen occasionally.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will make sure that the fantastic performance of the Comet yesterday receives wide publicity?

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for giving it.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the Gloster Aircraft Company have developed a detuner which reduces considerably the sound of jet engines being ground tested; and whether he will investigate the possibility of producing a version suitable for use on Royal Air Force stations at which jet aircraft are ground tested.

I understand that this detuner is similar in principle to others already in use. Research and development in the reduction of aircraft noise is the concern of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply, and we shall of course keep in touch with what progress is made.

Although that is the concern of the Minister of Supply, is it not a fact that it is R.A.F. airfields about which the public complain from time to time? Will the right hon. Gentleman do everything he can to speed up this research so that the R.A.F. will not be blamed for these noises in the countryside?

We shall be as quiet as we can.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will make a statement on the siting of the proposed new married quarters at St. Mawgan Airfield, Cornwall.

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

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that it is now over two years since his officers first met the county planning authority for Cornwall? Does he not consider that the hesitation and delay justifies the county council in feeling that the married quarters ought to be sited at St. Columb Minor?

I am aware of the point which the hon. Member has in mind, but the future of the units at the station is not yet decided.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will state the aircraft projects which are to be cancelled included in the item of £4,620,000 in the Government's economy programme.

No cancellations of aircraft projects are included in the £4,620,000.

Can the Minister say what proportion of this money is represented by works started and abandoned and therefore a total loss, and whether any part of it represents an addition to the already considerable losses on the Comet aircraft?

No, I do not think so. It includes the reduction in requirements for guns, motor transport, clothing, accommodation, stores and various other things like that.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will give an assurance that, before agreement is concluded with the Iraqi Government regarding Royal Air Force personnel to be stationed at Habbaniya, he will take steps to ensure that adequate and suitable living quarters, including married quarters, are provided.

There is ample single accommodation and the availability of married quarters is expected to be as good as in the rest of the Middle East.

In what time does the Minister expect that to take place? When will the married quarters, in particular, be ready?

They are available already. In fact, owing to the reduction of Royal Air Force personnel there, the proportion of R.A.F. personnel who will get married quarters will actually increase.

asked the Secretary of State for Air on what date, and for what purpose, his Department acquired the land at Kingston Blount on which the United States Air Force has established a terminal of the new transatlantic ionosphere-scatter communication system.

This land was leased with effect from 28th February, 1955, for the purpose described in the hon. Member's Question.

Can the right hon. Gentleman help us in this matter? When it was known that there was the possibility of very great radio and television interference from this station, why was it set up on that spot, instead of in an isolated area?

It was set up on that spot because it was the only site from which it could operate. It has to have a very considerable space of flat land in a particular direction, and this was the only site that could be found.

Is the right hon. Gentleman sure that this is the only possible site? Will he not look at the matter again, and consider whether a great mistake has not been made?

Having regard to the Question which I put to the Assistant Postmaster-General on television reception, and since it is said that transmissions at the moment are in an experimental stage only, will the right hon. Gentleman not ask the United States authorities to close this station down until the matter is put right?

I think that all are doing their best. I realise the difficulty of putting this matter right but I do not despair of a solution being found.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, if he will take powers to require motor car owners to attach suppressors to their vehicles in the interest of television users; and if he will utilise the annual issue of the Excise licence to ensure that suppressors have been fitted.

My right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General already has powers to require motor car owners to fit suppressors to their vehicles, and new motor vehicles must be so fitted. My right hon. Friend has no power to make the issue of an Excise licence conditional on the fitting of a suppressor.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, in view of the large and growing number of television viewers and the serious interference from which they suffer where they are near highways such as the Western Road through Slough, where motor cars are so frequent, whether he could not take powers to enable him to use the annual licence to see that these suppressors are attached to cars?

No, Sir, I do not think that it would be a proper thing to do, to take power, by a side wind, to enforce something of that kind.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are large numbers of new motor-assisted bicycles which interfere not only with television sets, but with ordinary radio sets? Can he say whether the Regulation just mentioned applies to those, because if so, it is being contravened.

I think it applies to all motor vehicles, but I will certainly look into that point and let my hon. Friend know.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what traffic has precedence, under his regulations, at a roundabout where two main roads intersect; and if he will arrange for appropriate signs to indicate this.

In accordance with the advice of the Departmental Committee on Road Safety, no rule of precedence has been laid down for traffic at roundabouts. The existence of roundabouts is clearly indicated by traffic signs, and drivers must exercise proper judgment when approaching and using them.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the usual practice at roundabouts seems to be a system of "devil take the hindmost," and would it not be helpful if signs were put up to mark quite clearly which line of traffic has precedence?

I am afraid that that would be impracticable. The only form it could take would be to indicate which road was to have priority, and that would not be practicable, because drivers approaching the roundabout would be unable to recognise which vehicles were entitled to that priority.

Is the Minister not aware that in other countries this matter is easily settled simply by saying that a driver gives way to the car on his right or his left? It would be a great help if such a rule were applied, because in this country the driver who gives way every time does so because it looks as if he is "going to get it." Why cannot we have the practice which works well in other countries?

I think that the right hon. Gentleman is referring to the general rule that vehicles coming up on the right are to have priority. We have considered that, and we have come to the conclusion that it does not make for safety. A great many people are of the opinion that where that rule obtains, as in France, it adds to difficulty and danger and not to safety.

But has the right hon. Gentleman considered that it operates in Kenya, where I saw it myself, apart from other countries, and that there is not the slightest doubt that it makes for the safety and convenience of the motorist?

We have considered this matter; we even have some figures on the subject, and we are of the opinion that it would not be wise to adopt a rule for giving preference to vehicles coming up on a particular side.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what action he proposes to take concerning railway fares and charges following the consultations he has had with the British Transport Commission concerning its financial position.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will now make a statement about the progress of the re-assessment by the British Transport Commission of its financial position, made as a result of the Government's intervention in March this year.

The right hon. and hon. Members will have noted the undertaking given by the Chairman of the Commission on Wednesday last that during 1956 there will be no general increase in passenger fares by British Railways or London Transport and, subject to the reservation made by the Chairman, no increase in freight charges on British Railways. Meanwhile my consultations with the Commission about plans to improve its financial position are making good progress, and I will acquaint the House with the results as soon as possible.

Does the Minister realise the urgency of this, in view of the Report and Accounts just published by the Commission, showing a deficit of some £70 million? Does he appreciate that the deficit is likely to rise to over £100 million by the end of the year? Would he not agree that it is incumbent upon the Government to take some action in the matter and declare their policy, as the difficulties of the Commission are, at least in considerable part, due to the Government's policy?

No, Sir; that is not so at all. The Commission and I have three objectives. The first is to give a lead in stabilising costs and prices. I think the country should be grateful to the Commission for being the first nationalised industry to do this. The second objective is to avoid the kind of general increase in charges which will drive still more business off the railways on to the roads at a time when the railways want to carry more and not less. The third objective is to show that the railways can quite well pay their way as the modernisation plans speed up. Those are the three objectives. They are of great importance to the Commission. As I have just said, we are making good progress with them, and I will acquaint the House of the final details as soon as I have them ready.

As half the six-month period of reassessment has now passed, is the right hon. Gentleman still hopeful that at the end of a further three months there will emerge some remarkable new way of running the railways at substantially lower costs? Also, as it is an undoubted fact that a substantial part of the increase in the deficit will be due to direct Government policy—I am not arguing whether it is good or bad—does the right hon. Gentleman realise that he should be able to announce some plan or proposal for dealing with the deficit as it develops?

Yes, Sir; I quite agree. I am very hopeful that by applying the ordinary principles of enlightened private enterprise to the railways we shall show how they will make a profit.

When discussing with the Chairman of the Commission ways and means of raising revenue, will the right hon. Gentleman tell the Chairman that a silly way to do it is to charge people 6d. for leaving their bicycles and 1s. for leaving their cars while they are buying tickets to travel on the railways?

Will the Minister give an undertaking that before we adjourn for the long Summer Recess he will make a statement about Government policy in the matter? It would be unfair to the House if he came out with a statement that a subsidy was necessary while we were in Recess and had no opportunity to debate the matter.

No, Sir. The undertaking that I gave was that a six-month period would be devoted to a radical, far-reaching and detailed review of the Commission's future operations and economic prospects. I ought to express my appreciation of the great co-operation I am receiving from the Chairman of the Commission and his colleagues in a most difficult and complex task. The six-month period will not be up until the end of September. As soon as it is up, as I have said, no doubt our plans will be ready. If it is the wish of the hon. Gentleman to delay matters still further until the House returns, I will consider it.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that most hon. Members on this side of the House, and certainly many members of the public, are grateful to him and the Commission for making a real effort to stabilise prices and improve transport services?

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many motor cyclists were killed in accidents during 1955; and in how many cases death was due to head injuries to motor cyclists who were not wearing crash helmets.

One thousand one hundred and forty-six motor cyclists were killed in road accidents in 1955. Of these 747 were reported not to have been wearing crash helmets. It is not known how many of these died from head injuries.

Does not the Minister think that it is about time he got figures of this sort? Does he not think it is about time that he took the obvious step, in view of these figures, of making the wearing of crash helmets compulsory? Can he not do anything to lay down adequate minimum standards for the construction of crash helmets, some of which are at present not really worth wearing?

I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman was present recently when the matter was very fully debated during consideration of the Road Traffic Bill. The general opinion on both sides of the House was strongly against the use of compulsory powers. I am glad to say that there has been a very great increase in the use of crash helmets in the last two or three years. Indeed, the Road Research Laboratory estimates that one in three motor cyclists use crash helmets. We think it is largely because of that that there has been a reduction in the proportion of deaths from accidents to motor cyclists. My right hon. Friend is considering whether he can take any further steps to encourage the purchase of crash helmets which comply with the British Standards Institution specification.

Has any progress been made since our discussions on the Road Traffic Bill about getting helmets which are really safe and which do not turn out to be shoddy? In view of the large number of accidents which still occur to motor cyclists who are not wearing crash helmets, will the right hon. Gentleman consider undertaking considerable national education in this matter?

As regards the right hon. Gentleman's first question, we are investigating the matter, as we undertook to do. As regards the second, the development is going extremely satisfactorily at present. We take every opportunity of urging motor cyclists to use crash helmets, and although we should like to have 100 per cent of them doing so, the position is not unsatisfactory.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the position regarding the improvements to be made on A.12 at Gallows Corner; and when they will be completed.

Work will start in September and is expected to be completed by March, 1957.

Would it be possible, in view of the fact that there is such tremendous congestion on the A.12 and Southend roads, for the Minister or one of his representatives to view it from the air, possibly by helicopter? It would bring home to my right hon. Friend the desirability of speed in this case, and it is quite impossible to view it from the ground. If necessary, I would be willing to accompany him in the helicopter.

Attractive as I should find that helicopter journey with my hon. Friend, there is really no need to bring home to us how heavy is the traffic on those roads. The work could have been begun before September, but because of the large amount of traffic which is likely to be on them in August, we decided to postpone it until September.

Is the Minister aware, in view of the speech of the hon. Gentleman the Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Lagden) on the Death Penalty (Abolition) Bill, that he is an expert on the question of gallows?

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will amend the regulations so as to compel the appropriate highway authorities to make use of the system of road marking used in Belgium and consisting of a combination of solid and intermittent white lines where the view ahead is restricted on three-line highways.

As I told the hon. and gallant Member for Gloucestershire, South (Captain Corfield) on 22nd February, I hope to make experiments with a wider range of road markings to control overtaking, and am taking into account European and American experience. The powers to enable me to conduct these experiments are contained in Clause 28 of the Road Traffic Bill now before Parliament.

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that roads with three lines of traffic are especially dangerous where they go over hills or round corners, and that the number of accidents would be reduced if he had powers to enforce observance on the lines I have indicated?

Yes, I agree with my hon. Friend, and I want to make a great deal more use of road markings, but until this Bill is passed I have no legal powers of enforcement.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that many of the road signs in use in this country are too small and in the case of those indicating dangerous curves are often too close to the curve to give adequate warning of the danger; and if he will consult the highway authorities and motoring organisations to see what improvements can be made.

I have already consulted representative bodies on this subject, and the Traffic Signs (Size, Colour and Type) Regulations, now in course of revision, will provide in many cases for larger signs. As regards curves, the Regulations will require the use of standard bend signs; the siting is a matter for the highway authority.

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that very often these signs are much too near the danger of which they are intended to give warning? When he is considering this matter, perhaps he would bear in mind the Continental practice of sometimes putting up two signs, one some way back and one much nearer the danger, particularly at curves?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Regulations which he has drawn up, and which are now in proof form, allow for lettering of 2 in. or 3 in. high, and also of the fact that this, coupled with the application for a driving licence, which only stipulates as a visual standard that the applicant is required to read 3 in. lettering at 25 yards, is more likely to cause confusion and danger than the opposite?

Yes, but the Regulations also double the size of many of the road signs, and that is an important thing to do. I will consider also the point made by my hon. Friend the Member for Blackley (Mr. E. Johnson) about their siting.

Could I ask the Minister how soon the Regulations are likely to be put into effect, as there is general agreement that the present road signs are most ridiculously small, and a source of real danger?

I agree. It has been necessary to clear the Regulations with the various authorities concerned, but I am most anxious to get them into operation as quickly as possible.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that months ago I called the attention of one of his predecessors to the utterly inadequate and confusing signposting between Lewisham and Purley on the road to Brighton? Will he look into that? There is nothing easier than to get lost on that road. If I may say so without any temperance significance whatever, it is worse coming back than it is going, on that road.

I will certainly look into the right hon. Gentleman's difficulties, but I think he will find that our new signposting in inner London which is now going up is a great improvement.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when it is proposed to start work on construction of a dual carriageway on the Great Cambridge Road between Bury Street, Edmonton, and Carterhatch Road, Enfield; when it is anticipated the work will be completed; and whether he will then proceed with the extension of the dual carriageway to the Hertfordshire border.

I expect that work will start in August and be completed by the early spring of 1958. I am unable to say when the dual carriageway will be extended to the Hertfordshire border.

While welcoming the fact that the work is to start soon, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he recalls that his predecessor stated that the work was to start early in the last financial year? Why cannot the work proceed on the whole length of the dual carriageway? This will be the first stage. The waste involved is considerable, because all the equipment has to be moved away and then brought back when the next stage is continued.

We are doing the most urgent job first. We have kept exactly to the promises which were made in the previous Answer by my right hon. Friend to which the hon. Gentleman referred.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what further discussions have taken place with a view to establishing a direct London—Moscow airline service through British European Airways and the Soviet airline Aeroflot.

There have been no discussions since last November but, at the beginning of last month, an invitation was issued to the Soviet authorities to resume discussions on the establishment of a through air service between London and Moscow.

Despite the Minister's statement, is it not the case that last December Lord Douglas of Kirtleside, Chairman of B.E.A., and the Chairman of Aeroflot made a provisional agreement by which there should be a link-up in Berlin, and by which also B.E.A. should have monopoly rights in the Moscow—London air traffic? Is it not further the case that since then, as a result of intervention by the Foreign Office, the agreement has been abandoned and four Continental air lines have now taken over the traffic between London and Moscow?

The hon. Gentleman asked me about a direct service from London to Moscow, and I answered him by saying that I hope the Soviet authorities will accept our invitation, and, if so, discussions can proceed forthwith.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the supplementary question? Will he say whether or not there has been any Foreign Office interference with the provisional agreement which was made between B.E.A. and Moscow in regard to a service between London and Moscow?

If the hon. Gentleman wants me to answer that, perhaps he will be kind enough to put a Question on the Order Paper.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he has yet made any decision on the request of British Overseas Airways Corporation to purchase Boeing aircraft.

I have at present nothing to add to the reply I gave on 29th June to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Macclesfield (Air Commodore Harvey). We must await the results of the technical discussions now proceeding with aircraft manufacturers in this country and America.

Can we assume that the Minister has hopes that in the near future the British aircraft industry will be able to provide a machine which will meet the needs of B.O.A.C. for this purpose?

What we can assume is that the new Chairman of B.O.A.C., with my support, is conducting, as is his right and duty, the most urgent technical discussions with anybody who can offer him the kind of aircraft which will maintain the future prosperity of B.O.A.C. As soon as these discussions have taken place and any conclusions have been reached, I shall be in a position to go further into the matter with him.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether it was on Government instructions or with Government approval that the Atomic Energy Authority recently sent a questionnaire to atomic workers requiring from them information about the persons to whom they are married or whom they might be intending to marry; and whether he will make a statement.

The Atomic Energy Authority requires its staff to inform the Authority if they marry or remarry; and it requires any woman officer to give notice if she intends to marry an alien or if her husband intends to become naturalised in another country. These regulations were not issued on my noble Friend's instructions, but he has authorised me to say that they have his approval. It is necessary for the Authority to have this information for both establishment and security reasons.

In view of the statement of the right hon. and gallant Gentleman the Home Secretary in the general debate on security procedure that nothing new was being introduced, can the Lord Privy Seal say whether that statement covered this position, or is it an innovation? Secondly, can he say whether the employees of the Atomic Energy Authority are the only persons to whom this applies, or is it applied to everybody who handles top secret information, no matter what their status, including, for instance, chiefs of staff and others of that sort of standing?

I think that the best thing I can do is to refer the right hon. Gentleman to the Command Paper, Statement on the Findings of the Conference of Privy Councillors on Security, which in paragraph 15 used the following words:

"They"—

"recommend that an individual who is living with a wife or husband who is a Communist or a Communist sympathiser may for that reason alone have to be moved from secret work."

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I am not challenging that statement in the White Paper? I asked him whether persons subjected to this particular procedure are selected entirely because of the type of material which they handle and, if so, whether it applies to all other ons, irrespective of their status, who similar material.

I can reply only for the Atomic Energy Authority. If the right hon. Gentleman wishes to extend the scope of his Question, I shall be glad to answer it, if he puts it down.

Is not this an innovation in the Atomic Energy Authority? Is it not a new administrative practice?

This was issued on 11th May, 1956. It is, to that extent, new.

Is not this going a bit too far? What happens if the Atomic Energy Authority decides that a person should not be permitted to marry somebody? What happens in consequence? Are they to be allowed to live together, but not to marry? Are not the Government and the Atomic Energy Authority now conniving at sin?

There are limitations to the moral hegemony of the Atomic Energy Authority, and I do not think that it will attempt to lay down a moral definition of the marital or non-marital state. It is interested not so much in the ethics of the situation but two considerations to which I have referred. One is for establishment reasons, because, as the House will be aware, the Authority has to know about the marital status of its employees as that affects superannuation benefits. That is the administrative side. The other aspect relates to security, to which I have referred, so that there are those two considerations in the mind of the Authority in laying down these rules.

Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider this matter? Are we not making a laughing stock of ourselves? If he insists on going ahead with this, will he apply it to members of the Government? Are they to get away with it and marry anybody they like?

The right hon. Gentleman must differentiate between general views on ethics, which anybody is allowed to hold, and the view on security which must be held by the Atomic Energy Authority. The Government are satisfied about their own security precautions.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what representations he has received asking for an atomic energy establishment to be set up by the Atomic Energy Authority on a suitable site in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

The Atomic Energy Authority has in the last few months received a number of suggestions and inquiries about the possibility of siting atomic energy establishments in various parts of Wales. There is, however, at present nothing to add to the information about the Authority's plans which I gave the hon. Member in reply to his Question on 29th February last.

As there are to be establishments of this kind in England and in Scotland and, indeed, in Northern Ireland, will my right hon. Friend at least say that his mind is not closed to the possibility of one establishment in Wales in the future?

My mind is never closed, but I do not like to give false promises.

asked the Lord Privy Seal to what extent research into the possible peaceful uses of energy derived from hydrogen fusion is impeded by delay in the explosion of a hydrogen bomb.

Research into the peaceful uses of energy derived from thermo-nuclear reactions is not dependent on the explosion of hydrogen bombs; but any such explosion could be expected to yield valuable scientific information.

In view of the first part of the reply, will the right hon. Gentleman call the attention of the Prime Minister to that very important information, and make it clear that there is now no real excuse for not stopping the explosion of the hydrogen bomb?

I think that the hon. Gentleman, who is usually very clear in his statements, is somewhat confused. There is a difference between testing a nuclear bomb and proceeding with the peaceful development of nuclear energy. The two are not necessarily related.

As everybody is anxious about the whole position of further nuclear explosions, may we expect a statement from the Government on their future policy about these explosions in the very near future, and in any event before the debate on defence, which is expected quite shortly?