asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what representations have been made to his Department by the Christian Council of Kenya regarding abuses of power by the Government's servants in Kenya; and what reply has been sent to the Council's request for an all-party parliamentary delegation to visit Kenya and inquire into such abuses.

The reply to the first part of the Question is "None". On the second part of the Question, I am glad to be able to inform the House that the Kenya Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association has invited the United Kingdom Branch to send a delegation to the Colony for three weeks from mid-November for a general visit, and that this invitation has been accepted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds Mr. Leonard Chirwa, a graduate of United States and South African universities and a trained teacher, was refused permission to conduct a school in the Lenge Native Reserve, Northern Rhodesia, when there was no school in the area in which he wished to teach, and his school project was approved by the Lenge Native Authority.

Mr. Leonard Chirwa, who is not in fact a graduate of any United States or South African university, was refused permission to conduct a school in the Lenge Reserve on the grounds that the training which he had received did not fit him to do so. Approval of the project was not within the competence of the Lenge Native Authority, which did, however, recommend it to the local education authority. It was not approved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply has been sent to the petition from the residents of the township of Mukobeko, Northern Rhodesia, asking that they should not be evicted from their plots.

The petitioners were informed that I was unable to advise Her Majesty that any action should be taken on their petition.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what members of the Press have been arrested during the Emergency in Northern Rhodesia; what was the reason for their arrest; what offence they have been charged with; and if they are still detained.

One free-lance journalist, Daniel Crowley, was arrested on 14th September and released on bail on 22nd September for publishing a false report likely to prejudice the public tranquillity; charged with that offence under Regulation 8 (1) of the Emergency Powers Regulations, 1956; and convicted and sentenced on 9th October to pay a fine of £10. He is not in detention.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what decision has been reached regarding constitutional changes in the kingdom of Toro, Uganda.

No decision has been reached.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the inconvenience and loss caused to H.R. Products Limited, of Westward Ho, Grimsby, owing to errors in the Lincoln area telephone directory over the past three years; what steps he is taking to minimise the loss being caused by the error in the current volume; and when he proposes to rectify it.

My right hon. Friend regrets there should have been this trouble. The firm's name could not be included in the 1954 Lincoln Area directory because the application was received too late. It was included in the 1954 Grimsby local directory, but owing to a misunderstanding was shown as Products H. R. Ltd. This was corrected in the 1955 local directory. In the Lincoln area directory for 1956 the number of another firm was shown as being the same as that of H.R. Products. To reduce the inconvenience caused by this, the telephone manager arranged to divert calls intended for the other firm, but at the request of H.R. Products this has been discontinued. The mistake will be put right in the Lincoln directory to be published in March, 1957.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will introduce a system of approval of designs for Her Majesty's ships similar to that of the United States Navy whereunder detailed and final designs are prepared by the Bureau of Naval Construction.

The question whether any changes should be made in the present system of preparing designs for Her Majesty's ships and the extent and nature of those changes are among the matters now being studied by the Committee under Sir Barclay Nihill, of which I gave particulars in the debate on the Navy Estimates on 8th March, 1956.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the total tonnage of new shipbuilding orders placed with shipyards in the north-east.

During the first nine months of 1956, orders for 67 merchant ships of 646,000 gross tons were licensed for construction in shipyards on the north-east coast.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the total tonnage of new shipbuilding orders placed in the United Kingdom in the first nine months of 1956.

During the first nine months of 1956, orders for 189 merchant ships of 1,214,000 gross tons were licensed for construction in United Kingdom shipyards.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that the noise of Royal Air Force aeroplanes which fly from Dyce Aerodrome is still a continuing nuisance to the residents of Aberdeen; and what steps he has taken or is taking by silencers or otherwise to mitigate, prevent or discontinue this nuisance.

As I told the hon. and learned Member on 14th March, we revised the flying instructions at Dyce with a view to mitigating the disturbance. No suitable silencers are yet available to the Royal Air Force.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many science or engineering graduates, or holders of equivalent qualifications, are enrolled in the Royal Air Force and how many of these are engaged in duties which require the use of their specialised knowledge.

Counting both Regulars and National Service entrants, there are 1,244 officers with these qualifications serving in the Technical, Airfield Construction, and Educational Branches of the Royal Air Force where their specialised knowledge is of particular value. No central record is kept of the number of the officers in this category who are serving in other branches. There are also about 300 National Servicemen with these qualifications serving as airmen, largely as instructors or in the fitter trades.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of reservists recalled for service in the recent mobilisation.

No Royal Air Force reservists have been recalled.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he has now received a report setting out the circumstances in which the Royal Air Force authorities responsible for the Wahn Airport, near Cologne, caused the special aeroplane of the French Prime Minister to circle the airport for 40 minutes in bad weather whilst they completed a jet fighter exercise, when he was arriving to meet the German Chancellor on 30th September last; and if he will make a statement on the subject.

Yes. The report shows that the Royal Air Force at Wahn were wrongly informed as to the time of the arrival of the aircraft in which the French Prime Minister was flying and that the aircraft's flight plan which should have been signalled to Wahn was incorrectly addressed. When the French aircraft arrived over Wahn, therefore, the Royal Air Force authorities were not aware that the French Prime Minister was on board. At the time a large number of Royal Air Force jet aircraft were landing after having taken part in a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation exercise. For reasons of aircraft safety the jet aircraft, whose fuel reserves are limited, had to be landed without delay. The French aircraft was, however, given clearance to land at the earliest practicable moment.I much regret that this incident should have occurred, but I am satisfied that the Royal Air Force were not to blame.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is in a position to make a statement on the crash of the Vulcan aircraft at London Airport.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will make public a full detailed report of the Vulcan bomber accident at London Airport at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement on the accident to the Vulcan aircraft on 1st October.

I received yesterday the Report of the Court of Inquiry on this accident and I have discussed certain aspects of it with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation who is, of course, closely concerned. I consider, and he agrees, that there are points which call for further investigation in his Department and he is arranging for this investigation forthwith. Until my right hon. Friend has completed this investigation it would not be appropriate for me to make a statement on the accident.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement with regard to the accident to the Royal Air Force Transport Command Valetta on 24th September, 1956.

The report of the Court of Inquiry shows that the accident was caused by a defective valve in the amplifier unit of the automatic pilot. The defect was a most unusual one, but further tests are to be carried out. Meanwhile, a temporary restriction is being placed on the use of the automatic pilot in certain Valettas.I should like to express my regret that this accident should have occurred. I apologise to the hon. Members concerned for the trouble caused them.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what complaints he has received as regards the inadequacy and unsuitability of rations issued to the Royal Air Force in Germany.

There have been some complaints. The scale of rations for all three Services is now under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has now completed, in conjunction with the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, the review of safety procedures governing flight in controlled air spaces.

Yes. The findings are summarised below.Civil and military air traffic have the same fundamental interest: to fly safely and without delays. Military traffic, however, in addition to requiring freedom of movement from place to place, requires also as much freedom of manoeuvre as possible in order to enable operational and flying training to be carried out economically and efficiently. Research establishments and manufacturers also have special problems.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what action he proposes to take in regard to the finances of the British Transport Commission arising from the consultations he has held with the Commission.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to make a statement about the result of the recent review of the British Transport Commission's finances and prospects conducted in consultation between his Department and the Commission.

I propose to lay tomorrow a White Paper which will include the results of the British Transport Commission's review of their policy and prospects, and proposals by the Government for the railways.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what consideration has been given, in the interest of road safety, to deal with anomalies in respect to the procedure for obtaining a driving licence.

Conditions for the grant of driving licences are among the matters dealt with in the new Road Traffic Act. Section 16 restricts the right of those who have held a driving licence in the past to obtain a new licence without passing a driving test to those who have held a licence, or have passed a test, within the preceding ten years. This Section is already in force. Section 18 makes provision for restrictions on the grant of provisional licences to persons who fail to submit themselves for a test. This Section will be brought into force next year.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many overseas passengers have embarked from and arrived or called at London and Prestwick airports; and what was spent on alcoholic beverages in the bars behind the Customs barriers for the period between the coming into force of the Licensing (Airports) Act and the latest available date and also for the comparable periods during 1954 and 1955.

The following is the Answer:

—	Period—26th June–31st August (the latest available date)
	1954	1955	1956
Overseas Passengers
London Airport.	420,155	635,942	694,401
Prestwick	46,981	51,680	54,479

The receipts from sale of alcoholic beverages in the bars behind the Customs barriers at these airports increased during these periods by about 50 per cent. each year.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what action is being taken to extend the runways at Prestwick Airport.

The new subsidiary runway of 6,000 ft. which was opened last year is being supplemented by 500 ft. of overrun at the southern end. This should be ready for use by the spring of next year. There are no plans for further extensions at present, but airline operators have been asked to provide early information on the performance and requirements of the big new jet aircraft which they hope to introduce in a few years' time. Reliable information on this is essential to any decision on future ground requirements at Prestwick or at any other aerodrome.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has now decided to accede to the request of the British Overseas Airways Corporation for permission to buy a limited number of United States turbojet airliners.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what is the number of jet airliners that the British Overseas Airways Corporation has asked approval to purchase in the United States of America; and what is the total amount of money involved.

The Government have agreed to B.O.A.C.'s request to purchase fifteen Boeing 707 jet airliners to be powered by Rolls Royce Conway engines. The cost of the aircraft and initial spares will be about £44 million, of which £35 million is in dollars. This step is part of plans to enable B.O.A.C. to obtain a larger share of growing world passenger traffic.The purchase of American aircraft in this instance has proved necessary in order that the Corporation may hold their competitive position on the North Atlantic route from 1959–60 when the Boeings will be in service with foreign airlines. At that time no suitable new British aircraft can be available for that purpose and this purchase is therefore regarded, both by the Government and by B.O.A.C., as an exceptional measure to bridge the gap until a new British type is produced.The Corporation is urgently discussing with the de Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd. the technical details of an aircraft that will be sufficiently flexible to meet their requirements and command a ready sale in world markets. As soon as a satisfactory specification has been agreed, B.O.A.C. will place an order.The orders for the new aircraft will involve expenditure requiring an increase in B.O.A.C.'s borrowing powers and the Government intend to increase them accordingly.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what proposals have been submitted to him by the British Overseas Airways Corporation and the British European Airways Corporation for the servicing of new air routes to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and other eastern countries in the near future.

On the recommendation of the Air Transport Advisory Council I have approved an application by British European Airways for permission to operate an air service from London to Moscow through Warsaw. Introduction of the service is dependent on the agreement of the Soviet and other Governments concerned. The Airways Corporations have not as yet submitted applications to the Council for any other services to eastern European countries.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what recent representations he has received from the Guild of Air Traffic Control Officers on the problem of the safe use of air space in the United Kingdom.

None. If I do receive any formal suggestions from that body I will give them full consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he anticipates that the new Gatwick Airport will be ready; what staffs from London Airport will be moved to Gatwick; and when he anticipates such a move will take place.

Gatwick Airport is being planned to reopen in the spring of 1958. Government staff will be provided as required by my Department and the other Departments concerned, but not in particular from London Airport; I am informed that B.E.A. may find perhaps half the staff that it will require at Gatwick from London Airport. The majority of staffs will move in when the reopening takes place, but some will be required on a limited scale a few months before this.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to make a statement on the steps he now proposes to take to improve the Great North Road from London to Newcastle.

It is my intention to provide twin two-lane carriageways wherever a single two-lane carriageway exists now. At a later stage the existing sections of single three-lane carriageway will also be replaced by twin two-lane carriageways.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a further statement on the Tyne Tunnel.

I can only repeat my previous statement that no project for a crossing of the Tyne can be included in the earlier years of the road programme. In the meantime the possibilities of a bridge as an alternative to a tunnel are being studied.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is now able to decide in favour of a new bridge over, or a tunnel under, the Tyne; and if he will give an assurance that the priority has remained unaffected by the inquiries he has been making.

I am afraid it is not yet possible to decide between a tunnel and a bridge as investigations are still proceeding, but the priority remains unaffected.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what representations he has received from Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council about the Clayton road, Newcastle-under-Lyme; and what reply he has made to these representations.

The council has asked me to make grants for widening two lengths of this road and to meet its representatives to discuss the matter. I have regretfully had to reply that the demands of more urgent schemes preclude me from making these grants at present.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he expects work on the Rochester by-pass will commence.

The construction of a by-pass for the Medway towns will be started as soon as I can fit it into my road programme, but I am not yet in a position to say when this will be possible. I have yet to conclude discussions with the land interests involved.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will now arrange for the London County Council to proceed as quickly as possible with the necessary preliminaries for the flyover south of Hammersmith Broadway, so that a start on its construction can be made as soon as possible.

I am already considering this possibility, and the problems it raises, with the London County Council.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many road casualties were reported in Lincoln during the six months ended 30th June, 1956; how many of these were fatal; and how these totals compare with those during the similar periods in 1954 and 1955.

One hundred and thirty-six road casualties, including one fatality, were reported in Lincoln during the six months ended 30th June, 1956. In the same months in 1955 there were 120 casualties, of which one was fatal, and in 1954, 85 casualties, none being fatal.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the increasing number of deaths and injuries on the roads, what action he proposes to take to deal with the situation.

I regret that the number of road casualties during the first nine months of 1956 was 3 per cent. higher than in the corresponding months of 1955. There is no single solution to this problem. Many of the provisions in the new Road Traffic Act are designed to contribute to greater safety and I am bringing the various sections into force as soon as I can. It has already been announced that many of the new provisions will become operative on 1st November.I have great faith in road safety education, in which I receive valuable help from many sources. I am at present cooperating with local Road Safety Committees and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in a special three month campaign for the greater protection of children. This "Mind that Child" campaign is being well supported and preliminary results are encouraging.I have already announced that my roads programme includes the treatment of accident black spots and I want to be sure of getting the greatest possible road safety dividend from the money that can be made available. I hope that my recently appointed Road Accident Investigation Officers will be of real help to Highway Authorities in their work of identifying accident black spots and working out suitable remedial treatment.Government action alone cannot solve this problem. Every road user has a responsibility which must be discharged sensibly and skilfully if real progress is to be made.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that the economic needs and traffic problems of large cities demand the construction of urban motorways; what plans exist at the present time to carry motorways into British cities; and whether steps will now be taken by his Department to collect sufficient data to provide a general foundation upon which further urban motorways can be planned and built as necessary in the shortest possible time.

I am of course aware that urban motorways can make a contribution to the relief of traffic congestion in large cities. Plans so far approved for road improvements in this country do not include urban motorways, but the review of the national highway system now being undertaken by a special planning section of my Department will include a thorough examination of the possibilities.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that the struts on the escalators at London tube stations are spaced at a distance equivalent to the width of the heel of women's shoes and are consequently dangerous; and if he will take steps to remedy this.

The design of escalators is continually under review with due regard to safety, but it is, I am afraid, impossible to keep up with every change in fashion. Experience shows that the risk is in fact very small. The hazard seems to lie rather in the size of the heel than the spacing of the escalator treads.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission to ensure that there is adequate space available for taxi cabs and private cars in any rebuilding at main-line railway stations.

THOUSAND GROSS TONS
Year			1951	1952	1953	1954	1955	1956 (8 months)
Age Group
Under 5 years	…	…	—	1	—	25	11	6
5 to under 10 years	…	…	173	125	10	64	8	—
10 to under 15 years	…	…	63	42	34	121	180	66
15 to under 20 years	…	…	15	5	—	15	31	16
20 to under 25 years	…	…	96	71	11	5	11	11
25 years and over	…	…	71	59	9	42	54	20
TOTAL	…	…	418	303	64	272	295	119

In addition, two tramps were sold abroad while building, one of 2,616 gross

No. It is already the intention of the British Transport Commission to provide in their plans for station development as much space for taxi cabs and private cars as is practicable.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what is his policy about the sale of British tramp shipping to foreign countries.

It is the Government's policy in general to allow the sale of British tramp shipping to foreign countries subject only to the requirements of our national defence and security.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what tonnage of tramp ships has been sold abroad by shipping companies since 1950, divided into age groups and showing separately the tonnage sold while building.

The following table shows the age distribution and tonnage of tramp vessels of 500 gross tons and over transferred from the United Kingdom and Colonial Registers to other registers since the end of 1950:tons in 1953 and the other of 6,548 gross tons in 1954.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that the losses at sea of fishing vessels have been rising in number while shipping losses generally have been falling; what action he is contemplating in this regard; and whether he will make a statement.

I do not think the figures of losses of fishing vessels at sea over recent years show any significant increase, though I gladly agree that those for shipping losses generally have been falling. The number of losses of fishing vessels in the first nine months of the current year seems to indicate a positive reduction. What is even more encouraging is that not a single life has yet been lost this year as a result of the loss of a fishing vessel.In this inflatable liferafts have played an important part. They were used to rescue the crews of four vessels lost this year and without them many lives would undoubtedly have been lost. I have introduced Regulations, which came into force on 1st October, requiring the carriage of these rafts in all fishing vessels between 50 ft. and 145 ft. in length. An extension of this requirement to larger fishing vessels, most of which have already been voluntarily equipped with inflatable Liferafts, is under discussion with the industry.

asked the Minister of Defence what has been the cost of the troop movements to the Middle East in connection with the Suez Canal dispute; and what has been their cost while stationed there.

Figures are not readily available in a form which would enable me to give the precise information for which the hon. Member asks. I can, however, say that the total extra cost to 30th September of the military precautions taken in connection with the Suez Canal dispute was about £8½ million, and that of this total about £5½ million was incurred on shipping and other forms of transport.

asked the Minister of Defence whether as a result of experience in the recent mobilisation, he is satisfied with the facilities provided by the Royal Air Force to the Army for the transport by air of men and materials; and if he will make a statement.

So far as our recent military preparations are concerned, the transporting of troops by air has been carried out most expeditiously and efficiently. I think it is generally recognised that we still have a long way to go in formulating a long term policy for the transportation by air of men and materials. This presents many problems not only in the availability of suitable types of aircraft but also in the provision of money and manpower.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will arrange for all reservists called up for the Suez crisis to be sent home on indefinite leave, with liability for recall at 48 hours' notice, so as to enable these men to carry on with their civilian occupations and thus assist the country in overcoming its present economic difficulties.

We cannot do this and maintain the state of operational readiness which is still necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for War why, in drawing up the conditions for the recall of reservists under the Emergency Regulations, no provision was made for employers to appeal for the deferment of an employee, which resulted in the taking of key workers at short notice and particularly farm workers at the beginning of harvesting.

Those reservists who have been recalled are vital to the Army's plans for mobilization, and in an emergency their military duties must normally take precedence over their civil employment. For that reason they cannot expect to have their notice of recall cancelled, but on this occasion it was subsequently possible to make special arrangements for the release of some farm workers and key industrial workers. I can, however, assure the hon. Member that, in case of a general recall which included reservists of lower priority, the needs of industry would be taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men in Section B of the Regular Army Reserve and Army Emergency Reserve, Category II, have been called up; and how many of these men are specialists or skilled in certain essential tasks.

About 7 per cent. of Section B of the Regular Army Reserve have been called up and about 3 per cent. of the Army Emergency Reserve, Category IIA. All these men possessed some specialist qualification or belonged to a specialist unit or arm of the Service.

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements were made for the payment of craftsmen and specialists called up for service from the various classes of Reserve.

Recalled reservists are being paid the normal Regular Army rates for their rank, military classification and length of service. Members of the Army Emergency Reserve may, however, retain their Army Emergency Reserve rates of pay where those are higher. Until exact rates of pay had been assessed by the Army paymasters, reservists were paid at the minimum Regular Army rates for their rank and military classification; any arrears due from the date of recall were paid after assessment.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many British officers are still serving with the Arab Legion in Jordan.

Twelve.

asked the Secretary of State for War the estimated cost of the damage done by bomb throwing to the villa being built for the Commander-in-Chief, Middle East Land Forces, in Cyprus; and what is the estimated total cost of the villa to be when completed.

This villa was being built at an estimated cost of £20,000, and the cost of the recent damage is estimated at about £7,000.

asked the Secretary of State for War the terms of reference of the committee to be presided over by Lord Weeks to investigate building quarters of barracks and married quarters throughout the three Services.

The terms of reference are "to review the whole arrangements for deciding upon and carrying out Army works services at home and abroad; and to make recommendations."

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what amount of money was spent by the Devon War Agricultural Executive Committee on Hatherleigh Moor during the period of requisition, showing separately the cost of reclamation and other costs; and what was the sum received from the sale of crops and other receipts.

Precise figures cannot be given, but it is estimated that £1,200 was spent on reclamation, and £44,000 on general farming, and that £45,000 was obtained from sales of crops. These figures exclude expenditure on machinery, transport and administration and make no allowance for subsidies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement regarding the proposed Egg Marketing Scheme.

The promoters' representatives have agreed to the modifications to the draft Egg Marketing Scheme proposed by my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself. As this is a United Kingdom scheme, the next step is for the Northern Ireland Parliament, in accordance with the provisions of the Agricultural Marketing Acts, to consider the application of the Scheme to Northern Ireland.The Scheme as modified has been laid today before the Northern Ireland Parliament for this purpose. Copies are now available in the Vote Office. Subject to early consideration of the Scheme by the Northern Ireland Parliament, I hope to lay it before both Houses of the United Kingdom Parliament next month so that they may consider it before the Christmas Recess.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider altering the designation of those Ministries which have composite titles, "Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food," "Ministry of Housing and Local Government," "Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation," "Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance," "Ministry of Labour and National Service," to one word designations in each case so as to save time, space and effort in correspondence with these Departments and any others with a similar plurality of title.

I share the hon. Gentleman's dislike of these long titles and I hope that, as opportunities for change arise, we may be able to revert to shorter forms.

asked the Minister of Education how many members of the teaching profession have been called up as Army reservists; and if he will take immediate steps to secure their demobilisation in view of staff shortages in schools.

Forty-seven teachers called up as reservists have come to the notice of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War and I are in general prepared to consider applications for re-transfer to the Reserve of teachers of mathematics and science in secondary schools and of other teachers who are urgently needed in the schools. Nearly all such applications have been granted.

asked the Minister of Education why he has refused to allow the Wiltshire Education Committee to provide temporary school accommodation on the Walcot Estate at Swindon.

I considered that it should be possible, and less wasteful to build permanent schools in time. Two primary schools are under construction on the Walcot Estate and two more are in this year's building programme.

asked the Minister of Education if he will now hold a public inquiry into the question of school accommodation at Penhill, Swindon, in view of the inadequacy of present arrangements.

No. One new primary school has been opened this year, another will be ready next year and a minor project consisting of three classrooms has also been approved. In addition, a new secondary school is included in the current building programme.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he proposes to take to relieve the overcrowding in schools at Swindon.

In the building programmes for 1955–56 and 1956–57 I have approved eight primary schools, three secondary schools and two extensions to existing secondary schools in Swindon. The primary schools will provide 2,880 places and the secondary schools 990 places. These schools should meet the needs of the town up to 1960.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish, in tabular form, for each month from October, 1955, onwards, the number of police recruits, the number of resignations without pension, the number of resignations with less than 30 years' service, and those who retire on full pension, all relating to Scotland, together with figures for the corresponding months of the previous year.

The following is the information requested:

NUMBER OF RECRUITS AND RESIGNATIONS OR RETIREMENTS IN THE SCOTTISH POLICE SERVICE BETWEEN OCTOBER, 1954 AND SEPTEMBER, 1956
—		(1)				(2)				(3)				(4)
		Number of recruits				Number of officers who resigned without receiving a pension				Total number of officers who resigned with less than 30 years' service (including officers shown in column (2))				Number of officers who retirrd with full pension (i.e. two-thirds of average pensionable pay)
		Men		Women		Men		Women		Men		Women		Men		Women
		1954–55	1955–56	1954–55	1955–56	1954–55	1955–56	1954–55	1955–56	1954–55	1955–56	1954–55	1955–56	1954–55	1955–56	1954–55	1955–56
October	…	30	49	3	6	20	15	1	2	27	23	1	2	22	11	—	—
November	…	62	66	4	6	15	16	2	3	24	20	2	3	18	12	—	—
December	…	40	63	4	3	17	11	5	1	22	12	5	1	11	10	1	—
January	…	23	43	2	7	10	12	1	2	16	13	1	2	22	10	—	—
February	…	60	82	4	6	9	9	3	2	12	13	3	2	10	5	—	—
March	…	54	110	2	7	17	15	4	5	25	16	4	5	16	5	—	—
April	…	23	54	3	4	30	15	3	1	37	21	3	1	19	12	—	—
May	…	53	39	4	2	20	15	1	—	24	21	1	—	21	5	—	—
June	…	57	62	2	4	17	18	3	3	21	27	3	3	16	10	—	—
July	…	26	30	—	4	12	17	1	4	17	21	1	4	16	13	—	—
August	…	68	56	2	4	12	22	4	3	22	25	4	3	13	12	—	—
September	…	92	86	7	7	16	12	3	4	18	14	3	4	7	9	—	—
TOTALS	…	588	740	37	60	195	177	31	30	265	226	31	30	191	114	1	—

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of murders known to the police in Scotland for each month during the five years from September, 1951.

The number of cases of murder made known to the police in Scotland for each month during the five years from September, 1951, are as follows:

—	1951	1952	1953	1954	1955	1956
January	—	2	1	—	1	2
February	—	—	—	—	1	—
March	—	—	—	—	—	1
April	—	—	2	3	2	2
May	—	1	3	3	1	1
June	—	1	2	1	1	2
July	—	—	2	2	—	1
August	—	2	1	1	1	1
September	—	2	1	1	1	3
October	—	1	3	—	2	—
November	—	2	—	2	1	—
December	2	3	6	4	2	—
	2	14	21	17	13	13

The numbers of these cases originally reported as murders but later judicially determined to be cases of culpable homicide are as follows:1952—1; 1953—3; 1954—3; 1955—2.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has for increasing accommodation for prison officers serving at Her Majesty's Prison, Lincoln; and what steps have been taken to bring the rent allowance into line with the true cost of living for those officers who are not supplied with official accommodation.

The Prison Commissioners' building programme for 1957–58 has not yet been settled, but the present intention is to build 13 additional quarters for the staff of Lincoln Prison in that financial year. The maximum rates of rent allowance for prison officers were increased by 2s. a week from 1st July last, and the rate in Lincoln is now 29s. The general question of rent allowances is expected to come before the Departmental Whitley Council shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statistics are kept of gypsies charged with unlawful parking of their caravans; and what are the details in this respect since 1951 for each year up to the latest convenient date.

The particulars of criminal prosecutions submitted to me are not classified in accordance with the social group of persons charged.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he has taken to prevent an increase in the number of unemployed in Swindon as a result of redundancy at the factory of Messrs. Pressed Steel; and how many former workers at this factory are now unemployed.

I am not aware of any redundancy or prospective redundancy in Swindon that calls for any special action on my part. Of the 28 men redundant at the Pressed Steel works on 28th September, one remains unemployed.

asked the Minister of Works who are entitled to park their cars on the Horse Guards Parade; and whether it is proposed to subject this parking to control by parking meters when parking meters are generally introduced into the London area.

Horse Guards Parade is controlled as part of St. James's Park. Limited car parking facilities are provided for occupants of buildings adjoining the Parade, for visitors to those buildings and for important official functions in the neighbourhood. The Road Traffic Act, 1956, gives me power to make Regulations to charge for car parking in the Royal Parks, but I have not yet decided whether it will be necessary to do so.

asked the Minister of Health the number of mental defectives, showing children and adults separately,

Hospital Region			Under 16 years of age	Aged 16 years and over	Total
Newcastle	…	…	271	454	725
Leeds	…	…	174	155	329
Sheffield	…	…	379	631	1,010
East Anglia	…	…	135	98	233
North West Metropolitan	…	…	180	84	264
North East Metropolitan	…	…	227	150	377
South East Metropolitan	…	…	285	223	508
South West Metropolitan	…	…	310	205	515
Oxford	…	…	62	110	172
Southwestern	…	…	96	76	172
Wales	…	…	211	761	972
Birmingham	…	…	392	234	626
Manchester	…	…	341	268	609
Liverpool	…	…	252	145	397
			3,315	3,594	6,909

On 31st December, 1955, the latest date for which figures are available, the numbers of mental defectives in England and Wales reported by local health authorities as awaiting admission to hospital were: