asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what restrictions he has placed upon the public collection of funds in Cyprus by the Ethnarchy.

Street collections are governed by the Street and House to House Collections Law (Cap. 164), which is general in its application and would apply to any such collection organised by Ethnarchy. No restrictions are placed on other public collections.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to make a statement on the progress of Lord Radcliffe's mission in Cyprus.

Lord Radcliffe has travelled widely in Cyprus and met individuals of all communities. His visit has proved, as was intended, a useful means of getting the measure of the problems surrounding constitutional progress in Cyprus.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Greek-Cypriot schoolchildren are entitled to education provided by the Government of Cyprus; and how many of these were actually attending schools at the latest date for which figures can be compiled.

62,070, at the beginning of the last school year, of whom 39,900 were attending school on the last day of the school year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many schoolboys under the age of 18 years have been interrogated in Cyprus since the deportation of Archbishop Makarios; by whom these interrogations are carried out and where; and whether he will publish the texts of these interrogations.

The Answer to the first part of the Question is not available, interrogations are carried out by the police and by other members of the security forces in police stations and in the field during operations. It would not be in the public interest to disclose the texts of interrogations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many members of E.O.K.A. are now at liberty in Cyprus.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Walthamstow, West (Mr. Redhead) on 25th July, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what answer he will give to a communication from the hon. Member for Swindon, dated 26th July, regarding the Archbishop of Cyprus.

As the Prime Minister has already made clear, if Archbishop Makarios were to denounce violence a new situation would arise. But in the present situation I cannot agree to the hon. Member being allowed to visit Archbishop Makarios at his place of detention in Seychelles.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will, in view of the need for a national wage negotiating machine in the Malayan tin-mining industry, take steps to avoid the formation of company or splinter unions and urge the Mining Employers' Association to negotiate with and settle the grievances of this industry with the Malayan Mining Employees' Union.

The Malayan Mining Employers' Association agreed in principle some months ago with the Malayan Mining Employees' Union to the establishment of a joint wage negotiating council for the industry. This agreement has not been implemented because of an unresolved dispute which has led the union to sever relations with the association. Two members of the association have recently negotiated an agreement with a union other than the Malayan Mining Employees' Union, but I have no evidence of the formation of company or splinter unions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action Her Majesty's Government propose to take, following the results of the recent general election, to realise the independence of the Gold Coast.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave on 25th July to the hon. Members for Leyton (Mr. Sorensen) and Rugby (Mr. J. Johnson) and to the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement upon the findings of the Jibowu Commission of Inquiry upon the activities of the Gold Coast Cocoa Purchasing Company; and what action he contemplates in the matter.

The Commission was appointed by the Gold Coast Government and has made its Report to them. I hope that the Report will be published in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to make a statement concerning his proposed visit to the Protectorates of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

I still hope that either I or my right hon. Friend the Minister of State will visit these territories before the end of the year but final plans have not yet been made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in how many of the cases tried by the Chief Justice of the Seychelles, Mr. M. D. Lyon, since the beginning of the year his judgment was upheld on appeal; and in how many it was quashed.

There have been three appeals against judgments given by Mr. Lyon during 1956. None of them has yet been decided.

asked the Secretary of for the Colonies whether he has any further statement to make with regard to the financial discussions with the Government of Malta.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now announce the final arrangements and the terms of reference for the Commission to study the economic problems of Malta.

I am unable to add to the reply on this subject which I made to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Mr. Teeling) on 25th July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to give the full membership and terms of reference of the Commission of Inquiry into banking affairs in Eastern Nigeria.

The following have agreed to serve:

Sir Stafford Foster-Sutton, Chief Justice of the Federation of Nigeria (Chairman);

Sir Maxime de Comarmond, Chief Justice of the High Courts of Lagos and the Southern Cameroons;

Mr. V. A. Savage, a Chief Magistrate in the Eastern Region of Nigeria;

Mr. G. F. Saunders, a Senior Partner of Harmood, Banner, Lewis and Mounsey (Chartered Accountants).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what consultations the Governor of British Guiana has had with the leaders of political parties in the territory concerning the nature of the constitution to be established under the provisions of the British Guiana (Electoral Provisions) Order, 1956; and what conclusions he has reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) if he will invite the leaders of the main political parties in British Guiana to confer with him in London, with a view to reaching more generally acceptable terms for the new constitution and at the same time giving Members of Parliament an opportunity of meeting those concerned and hearing their views at first hand;(2) if he is aware of the widespread disapproval in British Guiana of his proposals for a new constitution; and whether he will reconsider the more unpopular features of his proposals.

Ever since he arrived in the Colony the Governor has had discussions about constitutional advance with everybody who has expressed a wish to talk to him on the subject. Last Saturday he received a deputation which included Dr. Jagan and other political leaders. I am awaiting the Governor's report on his discussions with this deputation, and I am not able to say anything more on the subject until I have studied it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies by how much he expects in this financial year to increase the amount available to the Colonial Development Corporation for financing overseas projects.

The Corporation estimate their requirements for approved schemes at about £7 million for the current financial year. I cannot forecast how much they will require for new schemes which may be approved between now and the end of the financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will seek international agreement to transfer to the authority of the Trusteeship Council of the United Nations Organisation under Article 77 all Colonial Territories which have not been granted freedom and self-determination by 1st January, 1958.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in which of Her Majesty's territories for which he is responsible there are regulations limiting the practice of experiments on living animals to those licensed by the government of the territory concerned.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 29th May, 1956; Vol. 553, c. 7], supplied the following information:(1)

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will arrange for a list of all Colonial Government publications to be placed regularly in the Library of the House.

A monthly list of Colonial Government publications, prepared in the Colonial Office Library, has been furnished to the Library of the House since 1948.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies by what means the money was raised from which £13,000 has been voted for approved schools in Kiambu, Kenya.

The Kiambu African District Council are considering a proposal to spend £13,000 on youth institutes for the care and education of youths who lack adequate parental control. The council propose that the money should be drawn from its emergency fund which consists largely of finest imposed on Mau Mau offenders by African courts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the balance in the Agricultural Betterment Fund in Kenya.

£748,129 at 1st January, 1956.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how the three African representatives recently co-opted to the Coffee Marketing Board in Kenya were chosen; whether they are Co-operators; and whether they are full members of the Board.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 17th May, 1956; Vol. 552, c. 195], supplied the following information:The three African representatives were chosen by the Provincial Commissioners on the advice of the Agricultural Department and Local Authorities. They are all members of Co-operative Societies.Under existing legislation co-opted members of the Board are not entitled to vote and are not counted to form a quorum. I understand, however, that amending legislation to provide for the full representation of African producers on the Board will be introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies by whom the sentences of solitary confinement imposed upon the twenty-one female prisoners referred to in the letter addressed to Miss Fletcher by the Commandant of Kamiti Prison on 12th May, 1955, were imposed; whether they were recorded as aggravated, as more serious, or as repeated offences; and what evidence was brought and what consideration prompted the person hearing the case to deal with it under Section 86 of the Prison Ordinance rather than under Section 85.

I am asking the Governor for this information and I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many days solitary confinement were imposed and what were the dates on which the twenty-one female prisoners referred to in the letter addressed to Miss Fletcher by the Commandant of Kamiti Prison on 12th May, 1955, were undergoing solitary confinement; and whether he is satisfied that the provisions of Section 86 of the Prison Ordinance were carried out.

I am asking the Governor for this information and I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the sentences of solitary confinement imposed upon the twenty-one female prisoners referred to in the letter addressed to Miss Fletcher by the Commandant of Kamiti Prison on 12th May, 1955, were served with or without penal diet; and, if served with penal diet, what were the dates on which penal diet was imposed.

I am asking the Governor for this information and I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when work is likely to begin on the conversion of the aircraft maintenance carrier H.M.S. "Perseus" which was sent to Belfast last June; and if he is aware of the feeling among many shipyard workers that the delay in putting the work in hand may be the cause of redundancy in the finishing trades in the Belfast shipyards.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when the order is likely to be given for the refitting of H.M.S. "Perseus" at Messrs. Harland and Wolffs, Belfast.

Her Majesty's Ship "Perseus" was sent to Harland and Wolff Limited for survey and for an assessment of the work and cost involved if she were converted to a submarine depot ship. This information is now available, and I hope that a decision will be possible very soon.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty to remove the few disused and unsightly small buildings at Boscawen Road, Falmouth, which belong to his Department and which are an eyesore spoiling a fine view of Falmouth Bay.

The site of these buildings is no longer under Admiralty control It was derequisitioned in July, 1955. As explained in the statement made to the House by the Minister of Works on 30th January, 1953, the restoration of such sites cannot be undertaken by the Government.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what has been the total amount spent in modifications, alterations, and additions to the Royal Yacht "Britannia" in the course of the last two years; and what additional cost is contemplated in the next 12 months.

The cost of the modfications, alterations and additions made to the Royal Yacht during the last two years was £19,000. It is not possible to forecast the cost of such work as may be authorised and carried out during the next twelve months, but it is not expected to be large.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the complement of H.M. Yacht "Britannia"; how many other people come under the control of the Flag Officer, Royal Yachts; and to what extent that officer is in effective command of the Royal Yacht when she is sea-going.

The sea-going complement of Her Majesty's Yacht "Britannia" is 22 officers and 257 ratings and other ranks. When in harbour for a prolonged period the complement is reduced to 17 officers and 175 ratings and other ranks. Apart from his responsibilities in connection with escorting warships during Royal cruises, the only persons whom the Flag Officer Royal Yachts has under his control are the ship's company of Her Majesty's Yacht "Britannia," of which he is in full personal command at all times.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, when making adjustments in naval establishments, he will bear in mind, among other considerations, local unemployment conditions.

I can assure my hon. Friend that in making economies in naval establishments the existence of unemployment locally will be taken fully into account. Other considerations may, however, be of overriding importance.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what further deployed ships he is sending to Londonderry for de-equipping.

Ships which have been de-equipped at Londonderry have not been sent there expressly for this purpose, but as part of a policy for deployment. There are no plans at present for de-equipping more ships at Londonderry.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many Service men have been discharged on security grounds since 1951.

Figures are available only for the period since January, 1953. During that period, eight men have been discharged on security grounds.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what proportion of boys at Holbrook School are drawn from the three ports of Portsmouth, Devonport and Chatham, and from the area of the London County Council.

Of the present pupils about 20 per cent. come from Portsmouth, 2½ per cent. from Devonport, 7 per cent. from Chatham and Sheerness and 6 per cent. from the London County Council area.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty to make a further statement on the steps taken to ensure improved steel supplies to British shipyards.

The hon. Member will be aware that the total demand for certain types of steel continues to exceed supply, but British shipyards have received considerably more steel so far in 1956 than in the same period in 1955. My noble Friend and the President of the Board of Trade are watching the position and will continue to do all they can to ensure that the needs of the shipyards are met so far as is possible from the steel available.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will include the Parliament Buildings of Northern Ireland in the designs of the new regional postage stamps.

As I have already stated, the head of Her Majesty will continue to be the dominant feature on the new stamps, and only the border will bear symbols of the area concerned. Subject to this I prefer to await the suggestions of the Committees representative of cultural and artistic interests which I have invited to advise me about the detailed designs for these stamps.

asked the Postmaster-General what provisions exist in Head Postmasters Manual C.1 specifying in respect of town sub-offices the minimum distance from an existing office at which new town sub-offices may be established.

In general the instructions are that a town sub-office should not ordinarily be established less than a mile from an existing office. But modifications to this general arrangement are made where circumstances justify them.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will re-examine the position at Longbenton Estate, Newcastle, with a view to establishing a post office on this large and developing district.

I am having further inquiry made and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General when a very high frequency broadcasting station will be established on the Isle of Wight.

The B.B.C. is now preparing to start on Stage II of its V.H.F. development plan. This will include a station at Rowridge, together with five other stations—at Kirk o' Shotts, at Sandale near Carlisle, a permanent station in Anglesey to replace the present temporary station at Penmon, at Corwen (North Wales) and at Rosemarkie (Inverness). The B.B.C. plans to bring these stations into service during 1957 and 1958.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has yet replied to the request by the Independent Television Authority for a grant under Section 11 of the Television Act; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. I have informed the Independent Television Authority that because of the general economic situation and the need for economy in Government expenditure no grant can be made under Section 11 of the Television Act, 1954, in the current financial year.

asked the Postmaster-General on whose authority telephones at the London office of the Ethnarchy of Cyprus are being tapped.

In appropriate circumstances action such as that suggested in the hon. Member's question is taken under the express authority of a warrant signed by a Secretary of State. It has never been the practice of Her Majesty's Government to indicate whether or not such action has been taken in a given case and it would not be in the public interest to vary the procedure.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the telephone cricket scores service can be extended for the fifth Test Match at the Oval beginning on 23rd August.

Yes. For the Manchester match this service was available in London, Birmingham, Bradford, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Nottingham. For the Oval match it will also be available in 18 other places, as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Air why no settlement of the claims for damage resulting from the supersonic bang at about 1.40 p.m. on 25th April last caused by a Royal Air Force aircraft over the Chichester area has yet been made; and when settlement can be expected.

One claim has been met and a second has been agreed and will be settled in the near future. Further evidence is awaited from the other two claimants.

asked the Secretary of State for Air as a result of the closing down of No. 29 Maintenance Unit, High Ercall, how many employees are to be dismissed; how many transferred as established employees; what percentage of those who are to be transferred are ex-Service men; and what percentage of those who are to be dismissed are ex-Service men.

The total number of civilians now employed at No. 29 Maintenance Unit is 448. Of these 206 are established and 242 unestablished. 107 established and 138 unestablished employees are ex-Service men. In accordance with the terms of their employment, all established employees will be offered transfer to other posts. It is not possible at this stage to give the number of unestablished employees who may have to be dismissed.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many Service men have been discharged on security grounds since 1951.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why he proposes to close down No. 4 Maintenance Unit, Ruislip; when this closure will have effect; and what consultation he has had with the trades unions whose members are affected.

The unit is being closed because the volume of M.T. repair work, which has been its main task, has fallen considerably. It will begin to run down in October and will close early in 1957. The trade union side of the Air Ministry Industrial Whitley Council has been informed of the decision in accordance with well-recognised procedure.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how much he estimates the new Air Ministry Meteorological Officea at Bracknell will cost to complete.

The buildings have not yet been designed.

asked the Secretary of Stat for Air what annual saving he estimates he will achieve by centralising the various departments of the Meteorological Office, at present established elsewhere, at Bracknell.

A saving in staff should be possible but it is too early to make a reliable estimate.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now state the terms of the new Anglo-Irish Agreement upon civil aviation.

I had hoped to be able to make a statement about this Agreement before the House rose for the summer Recess. Unfortunately it has not yet proved possible for the final text of the Agreement to be signed in Dublin. Thus, I regret, I am not yet in a position to state the terms of the new Agreement. I can say, however, that there is no outstanding difference of principle between our two countries and I will ensure that a public announcement is made as soon as practicable.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many companies or individuals have been invited to negotiate for the tenancy of the proposed petrol filling station in the central terminal area at London Airport; how they were selected; and what will be the basis of the tenancy.

One. I consider that the most efficient and economical way of operating the petrol filling station which my Department proposes to erect will be to combine the contract for installing pumps and selling petrol with the existing car park concession, the holder of which already employs staff in a car park directly adjoining the site of the proposed filling station. If negotiations fail to reach a satisfactory conclusion my Department will consider inviting tenders from such other firms as seem best qualified to perform the work. In either case, the concessionnaire will be asked to pay a proportion of his gross takings during the currency of the concession.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many of the Britannia aircraft ordered by the British Overseas Airways Corporation he has approved for use on the United Kingdom—South America service; and when he expects that this will be operating again.

No specific number of Britannia aircraft has been ordered for the United Kingdom—South America services but I understand that the 18 long-range Britannias which British Overseas Airways Corporation have on order are intended to provide for these and other services. No date is being fixed for resumption of the South American service until more is known about aircraft delivery dates.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has now amended the regulation which requires combine harvesters to give prior notice to the police before travelling along public roads so that such notice will be unnecessary; and from what date this amendment will take effect.

An Amending Order is being drafted and will come into effect before the end of this month.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make it compulsory that any appliances fixed to the end of the exhaust pipe of a car or lorry must be either welded or pinned in place.

Regulation 73 of the Construction and Use Regulations requires all parts of every motor vehicle to be in such condition that no danger is likely to be caused to any person on a road. If my hon. Friend has in mind any particular fitting which he regards as dangerous, and will let me have details. I will gladly have investigations made.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a statement about the Report on Child Cyclists, submitted to him by the Committee on Road Safety.

Yes. I should like to express to the Committee my appreciation of the work it has done on this important and difficult problem.I agree with the Committee that we must expand as far as possible schemes for training and testing child cyclists. I do not think, however, that it would be desirable to form a corps of paid instructors and testers. I propose, as the Committee recommends, to appoint a small working party to prepare a practical scheme, and I shall consider what further action I can take in this matter when they have completed their work.I also agree that child cyclists should not be subject to any legal restrictions on the classes of road that they can use, but I am convinced of the need to direct suitable propaganda to other road users and to parents with the object of reducing child cyclists' casualties. I propose therefore to collaborate with local road safety committees and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in a three-month campaign this autumn for the safety of children generally on the roads, in which much of the effort will be directed towards the safety of child cyclists.Below is a statement on the other recommendations of the Committee.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is in agreement with these conclusions and proposals so far as Scotland is concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what sums have been paid out of moneys provided by Parliament to salvors of life under the provisions of Section 544 (3) of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, during the past 20 years.

During the past 20 years the following sums have been paid: £13 10s. 0d. in 1939 and £250 in 1951.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will state the number of occasions during the past 20 years on which vessels, cargo and apparel or wreck, respectively, have been detained in the United Kingdom by receivers of wreck under the powers conferred by Section 552 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894.

I regret that this information is not available for the years before 1944–45. Since then there has been no instance of wreck being detained Vessels and cargo or apparel have been detained on 28 occasions.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when it is expected that the work in connection with the Gateshead—Felling by-pass will be commenced.

I hope that it may be possible to start work on this by-pass some time during the next financial year, but this will depend on how long it takes to complete all the necessary arrangements.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT an up-to-date list of the important schemes of road construction or improvement on which work has actually started or is expected to start soon.

Work has already started or is expected to start before the end of the present financial year on the following schemes. The lists include only those schemes which are expected to cost at least £100,000 each. There are, of course, a large number of smaller schemes under £100,000 on which work is proceeding.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the estimated cost of building an alternative road if the proposal to close the one running through Binbrook Royal Air Force Station is accepted; and, in view of the need for rigid economy in Government expenditure, if he is satisfied the change is necessary.

The estimated cost of constructing an alternative road is £70,000. The County Council of Lincoln, Parts of Lindsey, have suggested that instead of constructing a new road, two existing roads around the airfield should be improved and this suggestion is being examined. I shall, of course, consider what will be the most appropriate arrangement. A suitable alternative is required if the existing road is now to be permanently closed.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what action he proposes to take to ensure the safety of road users in the vicinity of Rubber Improvements Limited, London Road, Wellingborough, in view of the development now proceeding in close proximity to the works.

This is a matter for the Wellingborough Urban District Council, which is the highway authority. The council has painted the word "SLOW" on both sides of the carriageway at this point and has removed two trees to improve visibility. I understand that it has further plans for improving visibility here.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what was the purpose of the questionnaire he submitted to the Petroleum Industry Advisory Council regarding the siting of petrol-filling stations on new motor roads; and what action he proposes to take on the recommendations made to him.

The United Kingdom Petroleum Industry Advisory Committee and many other trade and motoring organisations have been asked for their views on the provision of ancillary services, including petrol filling stations, to serve traffic on the new motorways. The brief questionnaire distributed indicated some of the problems to be resolved and asked for comments. The replies will be taken into account in determining what arrangements should be made.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what was the rateable value of the four and a half acres of land, purchased for £95,000, for the Blackwall Tunnel North Approach Road underpass at East India Dock Road.

£4,550.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will state the amount included in the estimate of £5,500,000 for the purchase of the 20 to 25 acres of land required for the two fly-overs on the St. Albans bypass at North Orbital Road and the junction of the London—Holyhead Road.

About 400 acres of land will be required for the whole by-pass and the amount included in the estimate for this land is £80,000. It is not possible to be more precise or to allocate this sum as between different parcels of land until detailed negotiations are started.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, in view of the number of accidents which have occurred at the Spondon Level Crossing, Derbyshire, he will consider the installation of a traffic light on the nearby canal bridge which will stop vehicles at that point when the crossing gates are closed, or some other device which will lessen the risk of accidents at that crossing.

In the last four years there have been four accidents in which lorries have been unable to stop before reaching the level crossing gates. All four seem to have been due to poor brakes or inattention as, in spite of the gradient, there should be room for any vehicle to pull up after the gates are in sight. There is a well-sighted advance warning sign of the level crossing, but I am asking my divisional road engineer to discuss with the highway authority whether any additional safeguard such as that suggested is desirable.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when it is expected to begin work on that section of the South Wales radial road which is to be constructed in Brentford.

I hope to publish in the spring of next year a draft Scheme under the Special Roads Act, 1949, indicating the proposed line of this road. To complete the statutory procedure is likely to take a considerable time, and I cannot say when constructional work will be started.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the length of the Preston by-pass; and how long he expects it will take to complete.

The Preston by-pass is about 8¼ miles long and the work, which started in June this year, should take about two years to complete.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation why designs of bridges for the proposed St Albans—Dunchurch motorway include a centre pier, when experience abroad shows that its inclusion is not in the interests of road safety; and whether, since a common practice abroad is now to exclude such a pier, and no structural difficulties are involved, steps can be taken to avoid its use in this country.

All the bridges over the proposed St. Albans—Dunchurch motorway involve skew spans, which may be as great as 250 ft. To construct them as single span bridges would require a much greater constructional depth and would result in a considerable increase in cost; it would also double the steel requirements. The central piers will consist of circular columns 4 ft. 6 in. in diameter, 20 ft. apart, on the central reserve, and I am satisfied that they will not be a source of danger.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what representations he has received from the Federation of British Railways' Superannuitants with particular respect to Clause 1 of the April, 1956, Scheme of Supplementation for Superannuitants of the British Transport Commission; and what has been the effect of those representations.

I have received representations from a number of organisations, including the British Railways Superannuitants Federation, about Clause 1 of the British Transport Commission's 1956 scheme of pension supplements because it excludes from the benefits persons who are entitled to National Insurance pension as a result of voluntary contributions.The Commission is fully aware of these representations.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission to consider the possibility of installing automatic cut-out of electric current on an accident happening on the third-rail electric railway system.

No. As was stated in the report of the Chief Inspecting Officer of Railways on the accident at Barnes on 2nd December, 1955, the complete modernisation of the power supply arrangements in the London area of the Southern Region's third rail electric system is actively in hand, and should be completed by the end of 1957. The new equipment includes circuit breakers, i.e. automatic cut-out devices, of the most modern type and I am satisfied that all practicable steps are being taken to meet the conditions which my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when it is hoped to establish modern colour light signalling and continuous track circuiting on the railway between Clapham Junction and Richmond as recommended in the chief inspecting officer's report on the Barnes railway accident.

I am informed by the British Transport Commission that the completion of this work is planned for the end of 1958.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviaition whether he has considered the Reports of his inspectors, which have recently been published, on the railway accidents which occurred in close succession towards the end of 1955, including the report on the serious collision at Barnes on 2nd December; and how far there is any indication of a common cause.

Yes. In view of the very natural concern about railway safety at the end of last year I said that I would consider the desirability of a special review of the Reports to determine whether there were any features common to all these accidents. This review has been carried out by the Inspecting Officers of Railways. It confirms what was fairly clear at the time that the outstanding common feature was failure in varying degrees of the human element, as indeed it is in the great majority of railway accidents.I have discussed this aspect very thoroughly with the British Transport Commission and the trade unions. I am satisfied that all concerned are co-operating very closely in the matter of safety, as was clear from the public statement which was made in January by the British Transport Joint Consultative Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will take steps to tighten up the regulations governing the transport of corrosive acids, particularly those conveyed by means or carboys;(2) if he will consider banning the transport of dangerous carbonic acids on British roads during day-time, and introduce legislation to compel such acids to be transported at night or, alternatively, by rail;(3) if he will inquire into the question of public safety, as it relates to the transport of acids on British roads, with a view to finding out the extent to which they should be conveyed in lorries specially fitted for this purpose.

There are no regulations governing the transport of acids by road. The question whether regulations for the transport by road of any dangerous substance should be made is considered frequently, and Her Majesty's Government have for some time been associated with other Governments in international discussions on the subject. If the hon. Member has any information about a particular acid and its hazards, I would be glad to consider it.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement concerning the fitting of artificial eyes under the National Health Service in order to clarify the position.

Artificial eyes, including moveable eyes and prosthetic shells, are supplied and fitted free of charge through National Health Service hospitals and the eye-fitting service of my Department, which has a number of centres throughout the country. Patients should be referred in the first instance by their own doctor to a hospital ophthalmologist.

asked the Minister of Health the average annual payment to individual general medical practitioners in the National Health Service in each of the four years 1952 to 1955.

The average gross annual earnings of individual general medical practitioners in Great Britain providing unrestricted general medical services in the National Health Service were as follows:

asked the Minister of Health how many doctors and how many nurses are employed in hospitals in the Borough of Swindon.

At 31st March, 1956, there were 47 doctors, and 171 full-time and 211 part-time nursing staff.

asked the Minister of Health (1) the number of patients in mental hospitals in England and Wales at the latest convenient date;(2) how many patients were admitted to, and how many were discharged from, mental hospitals in England and Wales during 12 months up to the latest convenient date;(3) the percentages of voluntary temporary, and certified patients in mental hospitals in England and Wales.

Following are the figures for all mental hospitals in England and Wales, including those not vested in the Minister.At 31st December, 1955, there were 150,804 patients, of whom 26·6 per cent. were voluntary, 0·3 per cent. were temporary and 73·1 per cent. were certified. During 1955, 83,289 patients were admitted and 70,845 were discharged.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take steps to ensure that war service during the Second World War undertaken by an established mental or mental-deficiency nurse under the Asylums Officers Superannuation Acts will rank as mental health officer service for all purposes under the National Health Service Superannuation Regulations, 1955.

I would refer to my reply of 30th July to the hon. Member for Bristol, Central (Mr. Awbery).

asked the Minister of Education when the new edition of the pamphlet on health education will be published.

My right hon. Friend hopes that the new edition of the handbook will be published before the end of the year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of grants and loans respectively made by the United Kingdom Government to Commonwealth countries, including the Colonies, each year since the end of the war.

The amounts of loans and grants by the United Kingdom Government to the Governments of other Commonwealth countries including the Colonies each year since the end of the war are shown in the following table:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance he has given to the Capital Issues Committee about proposals for capital investment in Northern Ireland.

I have written the following letter to the Chairman of the Capital Issues Committee:DEAR LORD KENNET,I have lately been considering the need for more capital investment in Northern Ireland. There, in contrast to the rest of the U.K. are unused resources which might be developed for the benefit of our economy as a whole. I am therefore writing to let you know that the Treasury will be ready in principle to consent to proposals to raise money exclusively for investment in Northern Ireland, provided that the proposals are otherwise acceptable to the Capital Issues Committee and that the raising of such money does not allow the applicants existing resources to be used for a purpose for which the Committee would not recommend consent.Yours sincerely,(Sgd.) HAROLD MACMILLAN.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now take steps to bring within the purview of the Capital Issues Committee issues of securities made in consideration of the transfer of property.

An Order has been made today making it unlawful for a company in Great Britain without the consent of the Treasury to issue securities in consideration of the transfer of any property except where the property consists either of the assets of an undertaking being sold to the company or of the securities of another company. The Order will come into operation tomorrow. Copies of it are available in the Vote Office today.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is now in a position to announce the result of the public inquiry, held on 1st May last, into the question of the cemetery at Beddgelert, Caernarvonshire.

A letter conveying my decision is being sent today to the local authorities concerned.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what arrangements have finally been made for the management of the Nottingham General Cemetery, following the liquidation of the cemetery company.

As the result of discussions which have taken place between the Nottingham City Council, the Commissioners of Crown Lands and my Department, the city council has now decided to acquire the cemetery under the provisions of the Open Spaces Act, 1906. Outstanding burial rights will be respected. I should like to express my appreciation of the council's public-spirited action in voluntarily assuming responsibility for the management of the cemetery in this way.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) if his attention has been drawn to the resolution passed and sent to him by the Association of Municipal Corporations on 26th July condemning the financial policy of Her Majesty's Government and its effects upon local government; and what action he will take;(2) what consultations he has had recently with representatives of local authority associations on the subject of the restrictions on capital expenditure; and if he will initiate such consultations in the near future.

I discussed these matters with the associations of local authorities on 30th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will give instructions to the Ministers responsible for nationalised industries to answer Questions about a nationalised industry when such an industry has lost money for three consecutive years and so has become a charge upon the Exchequer.

I would not favour any change in the rules governing Parliamentary Questions on the nationalised industries in this particular context.

asked the Secretary of State for War what further casualties have been suffered by the Wiltshire Regiment in Cyprus.

None since my Answer to a similar Question by the hon. Member on 5th June.