asked the Postmaster-General how many people residing in the County Borough of West Ham have had the telephone service installed during each of the last five years; and how many are still awaiting this service.

The numbers of telephones installed during each of the past five years are:

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the success of the telephone cricket score service in London during the Test match at Lords, he will provide a similar service for telephone users for the remaining Test matches.

Yes. For the Test match starting in Leeds tomorrow the Post Office will provide the scores in London, Manchester and Liverpool as well as Leeds. At the request of the Hull Corporation, the service is being made available to its subscribers. For the Test match starting in Manchester on 26th July the scores will be available in London, Leeds, Liverpool and Birmingham as well as in Manchester. For the Test match starting in London on 23rd August details will be announced in due course.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, as a means of assisting old-age pensioners in their present financial difficulties, he will take the necessary action to enable them to receive radio and television licences at half price, on production of their pension order books.

No.

asked the Postmaster-General if he has any further information to give in regard to the granting of a second television channel to the British Broadcasting Corporation.

No. I have nothing to add to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Freeth) on 22nd February, 1956.

asked the Postmaster-General how many parcels and letters were opened in 1954–55 and 1955–56 in obedience to the express warrant in writing of a Secretary of State acting on behalf of the President of the Board of Trade as permitted under Section 58, subsection (1) of the Post Office Act, 1953.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in the last five years, the number of private letters opened under instructions by the Home Office has increased or decreased, and by how much per cent.

To give the information sought would not be in the public interest.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the proposed new post office at Hillwood Road, Bangham Pit, Birmingham, will in no sense serve the residents of the main Weoley Castle Estate, Birmingham, 29, as it is over a mile from the shopping centre and on another estate; what increased staff and counter space he proposes to to make available at the Weoley Castle sub-post office in order to reduce delays and complaints; and when he proposes to build a separate post office to serve this area.

The new sub-office is expected to attract a number of people who at present use the Weoley Castle sub-office and so reduce the pressure there; in addition, the counter space at the Weoley Castle office is being increased by 2ft. 6in. Yet another post office in the area would not be justified at present.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the difficulty of deciphering signatures written across the dark brown 2d. stamps, he will arrange to modify their colour.

. Yes. I am arranging for 2d. stamps to be printed in a lighter shade of brown. The new stamps will be put on sale in the autumn.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, to meet the convenience of the public, he will introduce postal orders for sums larger than £2.

Yes. I propose to introduce postal orders of the values of £3, £4 and £5 on which the poundage payable will be 6d.—that is no more than on the present £2 order. I hope that they will be on sale before the end of October.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many personnel were employed in his Department at the latest date compared with the previous year.

The Service and civilian staff of the Air Ministry was 8,245 on 1st June, 1956, compared with 8,228 on 1st June, 1955.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will stop the recalling for annual training of category three men, in view of similar action being taken by the Secretary of State for War.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how long it is likely to be before the widening of the bridge over the River Don at Doncaster is completed.

Tenders have been received and are being considered. Subject to the acceptance of a satisfactory tender, work will begin this summer, and it is estimated that it will take about three years to complete.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the present estimate of his Department as to the approximate amount of steel required for the construction of an average mile of new motor road; and whether he is now satisfied that the recent increase in the production of ferro-concrete bars and rods has to a large extent disposed of any delays in bridge construction previously anticipated by him.

For bridge work an average of 300 tons of steel is required per mile of motorway. The amount required for carriageway work depends on the type of construction, but if it were of reinforced concrete a further 300 tons of steel would be necessary. Any improvement in the production of ferroconcrete bars and rods has not as yet been reflected in delivery dates.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many schemes of road or bridge development he has rejected or deferred in the last six months.

The make-up of my road programme is a continuing process in consultation with all the highway authorities concerned. I have made no major changes in its general scope but if the hon. Member has any particular schemes in mind, I shall be glad to let him know what is the position of them.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is now in a position to give fuller information on the extension of Eastern Avenue through the Borough of Leyton; how far and when this will affect householders and tenants in property likely to be demolished in consequence of the extension; and, in view of the anxiety affecting many such householders and tenants, if he will now state what property adjacent to the proposed extension will definitely not be demolished.

We hope that the survey for this road will be completed by the end of this year. My right hon. Friend will then be able to take the necessary steps to make an Order under the Trunk Roads Act procedure, but until then I cannot say which properties will be affected.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent Government grants for the improvement of roads running through the Borough of Leyton have been suspended or curtailed; and how this has affected urgently needed schemes particularly that affecting the Lea Bridge Road by Forest Drive.

Not at all. I have invited the Essex County Council to apply for grant for the Lea Bridge Road scheme in this financial year.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when the alterations and improvements of the roadway and bridge in Ruckholt Road, Leyton, and the operations in the Lea Bridge Road are likely to be completed.

We are not directly concerned with the works on Ruckholt Bridge or in Lea Bridge Road, but I am informed that these works are expected to be completed by March, 1957, and October, 1956, respectively. The Leyton Borough Council expect to complete the improvement of the eastern approach to Ruckholt Bridge, for which my right hon. Friend has made a grant, by March or April, 1957.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many children under the age of 14 years have been drowned in canals in England during the past five years.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a statement on the utility, cost and development of the radio position-finding device to be used in conjunction with land-based transmitting stations, a demonstration of which in and off the coast of Aberdeen took place on 26th June, 1956, and in particular its relevance and cost to fishing vessels and to safety of life at sea.

The Decca Navigator System is a valuable medium-range aid to navigation. Since 1947 four chains of stations have been installed in the United Kingdom giving complete coverage of the sea areas around our coasts. The latest of them, the North Scottish Chain, to which the hon. and learned Member refers, should be particularly useful to fishing vessels, more than 300 of which are already equipped to use the service. Three other chains have been installed in Europe, and I understand that further extensions are planned.The Decca Navigator Company provides and maintains the transmitting stations in the United Kingdom and make hire maintenance charges for the receivers used on board ship. I understand that the charge varies from £275 to £395 a year according to the service the user requires.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will state the percentage of applicants who pass the driving test at the Middlesbrough Centre at the first attempt, the second attempt and subsequent attempts as compared with the centre at Newcastle-on-Tyne and the national average.

We do not keep comprehensive records showing the number of driving test candidates who pass at the first or second attempt, or subsequently. A sample check taken in 1954, however, indicated that, over the whole country, 55 per cent. passed at their first attempt. The corresponding figure for the Northern area, which includes both Newcastle and Middlesbrough, was 50·3 per cent. Figures are not available for individual test centres.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many traffic accidents have occurred on the public roads in the Darras Hale Estate at Ponteland, Northumberland, during each of the past three years to the nearest convenient date.

Eight in 1953, 11 in 1954, 10 in 1955, and 5 in the first half of 1956.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when the new Britannia air liners will be in service by the British Overseas Airways Corporation.

B.O.A.C. will introduce the Britannia aircraft into service as soon as the engine difficulties which came to light during the recent proving flights in Africa have been completely remedied by the manufacturers. This is not expected to take long, but until the necessary modifications have been tested in flight under tropical conditions the Corporation cannot give a firm date.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the dangerous traffic conditions and the accidents which have taken place on the Bath Road, Cranford, Middlesex, if he will agree to the request of the Borough Council of Heston and Isleworth for a deputation to be received on this matter.

My right hon. Friend has arranged to receive a deputation on 24th July.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, in the interest of safety on the roads, he will make regulations prohibiting parking on main rural roads which are equipped with lay-bys especially at any bend where full sight is not available for a considerable distance ahead, or on the approach to dips or inclines where on-coming vehicles cannot be seen until they are within 100 yards.

I have no power to make general regulations of the kind contemplated. Orders imposing restrictions on waiting can be made in respect of specified lengths of road only.Paragraph 65 of the Highway Code advises drivers of the circumstances in which a vehicle should not be left standing in the carriageway and, as I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Blackley (Mr. E. Johnson) on 4th July, the Road Traffic Bill now before Parliament will enable me to use a wider range of road markings than at present to control traffic on stretches of road where visibility is limited.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the total cost to date of the salaries and expenses of the Road Haulage Disposal Board; and its estimated total cost to its proposed termination on 28th August, 1956.

The total cost of the salaries and expenses of the Board to 30th June last is £56,227, and its estimated cost to 28th August, 1956, is approximately £60,000.

asked the Minister of Defence the nature of the economies of £6 million which have recently been made in the cost of the British forces in Germany; and to what extent they result from the reduction of the strength of these forces.

The economy measures we have recently decided upon in Germany have been brought about by changes in the organisation and administration of the forces and do not result from any reduction in their effective strength.

asked the Minister of Defence to what extent the defence Departments have underspent on their Estimates in the first quarter of the current financial year.

Estimates are prepared on an annual basis and no reliable indications of the possible out-turn of expenditure are available at this early stage in the financial year.

asked the Minister of Defence what conversations he has recently had with General Gruenther on the question of our contributions in manpower to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, and on the military implications of a reduction in the term of National Service.

General Gruenther called on me when he was in this country a few days ago. We had a general discussion on matters of common interest.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will make a statement showing the number of recruits for each of the three Services since the introduction of the new rates of pay to 30th June or other convenient date; and if he will give the figures for each of the Services in the corresponding period of 1955.

Following the introduction of the new rates of pay on 1st April last, Regular recruiting figures for April and May, compared with the corresponding period in 1955, were given in answer to Questions by the hon. Member for Norfolk, Central (Sir F. Medlicott) and the hon. Member for Penrith and the Border (Mr. Whitelaw) respectively on 30th May and 29th June last. Figures for the complete quarter will be available at the end of this month and will be included in the quarterly statement of recruiting, prolongations of service and forces structure, which is placed in the Vote Office.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will make arrangements for the Regular recruiting figures for the three Services to be published on a fixed date each month.

The figures for April and May were made available at the end of the month following period to which they refer. I hope to be able to continue this arrangement but I would prefer not to be committed to a fixed date each month.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why he authorised the supply of Royal Air Force helicopters to the French Government for use in Algeria; and if he will make a statement.

It is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to supply, within the limits imposed by our own requirements and production, such items of military equipment as the French Government may request.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proportion of the cost of the recent journey of the Chairman of the British Transport Commission to Cairo, as his personal representative during the Egyptian celebrations marking the withdrawal of the last British troops from Egypt fell upon public funds in this country; and what proportion was borne by the Chairman of the British Transport Commission at his own expense.

Although, as my noble Friend the Joint Under-Secretary, made clear in reply to a Question by the right hon. and gallant Member for Leicester, South-East (Captain Waterhouse) on 18th June, Sir Brian Robertson travelled to Egypt with my right hon. and learned Friend's approval, he did not go as his personal representative. He went as the guest of the Egyptian Government, who paid the cost of his journey. The Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what investigation he has carried out into the recent forest fires in Cyprus.

As stated by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for War, in reply to questions by the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on 25th June, an inquiry is being held. The result is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the progress he has made in payments of compensation by Her Majesty's Government to the owners of orange trees felled in the Famagusta area.

Offers of compensation have been made by the Cyprus Government to more than 150 owners, representing over 90 per cent. of the total. 17 of these offers have so far been accepted, one provisionally, and six have been refused.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will suspend the collection of collective fines in Cyprus pending the outcome of any litigation in the courts.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the future of Cyprus.

I would refer the hon. Lady to my reply to her Questions of 27th June, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many children in Cyprus are now not receiving education because their schools have been closed.

I cannot supplement the information which I gave in reply to the hon. Lady's Question on 13th June, because all the schools are now closed for the summer holidays.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply he has given to the petition from the citizens of Dominica asking that Dr. William Steiner shall be allowed to practise privately on the island.

I have not received such a petition.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many practising doctors there are on the island of Dominica; and the population of the island.

There are at present six practising doctors in Dominica in addition to the Senior Medical Officer and the Resident Medical Officer, who are both allowed consultative practice. The estimated population at the end of 1954, was 61,398.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the rank of the naval member of the Board of Management of Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes; and how much time he spends on the business of that organisation.

The naval member of the Board of Management of Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes is a captain, and while holding this appointment he spends all his time on the business of this organisation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will give an assurance that he will continue to repair naval ships in Cardiff.

Only a limited number of warships will be repaired by contract in the near future, owing to the need for economy. Such contracts as are placed are only likely to go to those firms which on cost or other grounds are particularly efficient at warship work. I cannot, therefore, give an assurance that work will be allotted to firms at any particular place.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many personnel were employed in the Admiralty at the latest date compared with the previous year.

There were 10,789 naval and civilian staff employed in the Admiralty headquarters (London and Bath) on 1st April, 1955, and 10,720 on 1st April, 1956.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty to make a statement on the proposal to establish a peace-time naval base in Sierra Leone.

No proposal to establish a peace-time naval base in Sierra Leone is under consideration at the Admiralty. Certain naval installations already exist at Freetown. Some expansion is to be undertaken to replace rented storage capacity in the Union of South Africa.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what plans he has to establish a naval base at Mombasa; and whether he will make a statement.

The Answer to the first part of the Question is "None": the second part does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many admirals there are in the Royal Navy; and by how many the number will be reduced as a consequence of the abandonment of bases in Scapa Flow, Egypt, South Africa, Ceylon, and elsewhere.

Discounting officers about to retire and those on loan to Commonwealth Navies, there are 98 officers of flag rank today. None is appointed solely to command the bases to which the hon. Member refers and consequently no reductions, following the change of status of these bases, can be expected.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the Court of Session, by a majority, recently decided that a wife who is deserted by her husband is not protected under the Rent Restriction Acts; and, in view of the fact that there are thousands of Scottish wives in a similar position, if he will introduce legislation forthwith to protect them in this regard.

I have seen a newspaper report of the case. As there is still the possibility of an appeal to the House of Lords, it would be premature to consider the question of amending legislation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, if he will give details of the future programme of the research ship "Sir William Hardy" with special relation to the testing of new methods of handling, storing and processing freshly caught fish.

The ship will make trips ranging from the North Sea to Iceland, Greenland and the Faroes, during which experiments will be carried out on methods and the effects of washing fish at sea, on the use of boxes for fish stowage as compared with stowage in bulk on shelves, on the use of antibiotics in ice and in the freezing of fish at sea.