asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will make a statement on the future of Invergordon naval base.

The decision to reduce the naval base at Invergordon was taken with reluctance in the interests of economy. This is only one of a number of similar reductions which have been or are to be made throughout our organisation in an effort to streamline the shore support of the Navy. Apart from the Oil Fuelling Depot, which will be kept in active use, the facilities at Invergordon will either be disposed of or put into care and maintenance. I can assure my hon. Friend that we know how serious this decision is to the people of Invergordon, and I promise him that we will do all we can to help them.

I should like first of all to congratulate my hon. Friend on his appointment and wish him every success. Does he realise that the burgh of Invergordon feels that there is a moral obligation on the Admiralty to do all it can to lighten this blow to the area, to see that those who will become unemployed get employment in other work, to ensure that there will not be any stagnation of buildings but that they will be let for industrial development wherever possible, and also to see that the central pier will be handed back in the condition in which it was taken over, as it is now in very bad repair indeed?

We are well aware of the considerations which have prompted my hon. Friend to raise this matter. As I stated, we will do everything we possibly can to limit the effects of the with drawal of naval facilities from Invergordon.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what information has been collected by the Admiralty survey vessel H.M.S. "Owen" on the feasibility of loading oil tankers by sea-loading submarine line off the coast of the eastern delta of the River Niger; what quantities of oil have been found at Olvitiri or in other areas of Nigeria; and to what extent the Government of Nigeria are participating in these operations.

Information about the depth of water, the nature of the sea bed, tides and weather has been made available to Shell Tankers Ltd. on whose behalf H.M.S. "Owen" undertook the survey. It is for this firm to assess whether the project is feasible.

I understand from my right hon. Friend the Colonial Secretary that oil has been found at Oloibiri, but it is not possible to say in what quantities until the results of the production tests are known which are to be undertaken later this year. Oil has also been found at Afam, where preliminary drilling continues.

Vessels of the Federal Government of Nigeria assisted H.M.S. "Owen" with the surveying work, but neither the Federal Government nor the Eastern Regional Government in Nigeria participated in the mining operations.

In welcoming the Minister to his post, may I ask him whether he will, in conjunction with the Secretary of State for the Colonies, very seriously consider this development of oil in West Africa in order to avoid the conditions which have arisen in the Middle East, and will he particularly look at the possibilities of extending the association of the local government and of the co-operative movement with these enterprises?

The Admiralty rôle has been limited to the survey of the area, and I know that the Colonial Office has very much in mind what the hon. Gentleman has said.

In view of the fact that Nigeria is the largest British Colony in Africa, with over 30 million people. and is well on the way towards self-government, is it not desirable now, as my hon. Friend has said, that the Government and people of Nigeria should be associated closely with this work, and ought not the Minister to give consideration to that?

That is a question for the Colonial Office.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the position with regard to the claim by oil companies for compensation for oil stocks that disappeared in the closing stages of the war in the Far East in 1945; and if he will name the oil companies concerned.

It was decided on legal advice not to appeal to the Privy Council against the judgment referred to in the Answer given to the hon. Gentleman on 4th June, 1956. That claim has, therefore, been met. The names of the claimants were N.V. de Bataafsche Petrloeum Maatschappij and N.V. Nederlandsindische Aardolie Maatschappij and N.V. Standard-Vacuum Petroleum Maatschappij.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there are many people in this country who feel that the oil companies have had far too much money already from the British people? Can he tell us how much money has been paid over in this case?

The sum involved is £724,000. Although the hon. Gentleman feels as he does, the fact remains that this was a legal decision by which we are bound to abide.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what decisions have been reached in the discussions in respect of the allocation of oil bunkerage space from Government installations in Gibraltar for commercial purposes.

One of the oil companies primarily concerned in these discussions has recently informed my Department that it is not in a position at present to join in the scheme for commercial sharing of the Admiralty oil bunkering facilities in Gibraltar. The situation arising from this development is being studied in conjunction with the Government of Gibraltar, the Colonial Office and other Departments concerned.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that these discussions were going on three years ago? Will he tell us what has held them up all this time? Is it not a fact that the matter is important to Gibraltar to enable it to compete with the neighbouring Spanish ports?

The hon. Gentleman is incorrectly informed. The negotiations actually started on 18th January, 1956.

I said that discussions were taking place three years ago.

Negotiations on a commercial basis were begun on 18th January, 1956. As the hon. Gentleman will appreciate, the condition of the oil industry has recently been disturbed by the international situation, and that is what is causing the delay.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the number of naval and civilian men and women employed in Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport, in 1956 and 1957; how many vacancies there are; and in which departments.

As the Answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him to bear in mind that Devonport and Plymouth are areas which have unemployment over and above the average? Will he employ as many people as possible in the dockyard, anyhow during the next three months while petrol rationing exists?

Certainly, Sir.

Will the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that he will take into consideration the needs of all the Royal Dockyards and not merely the requirements in a certain district?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, in the planning and construction of the new workshops in the Devonport Dockyard, what consideration has been given to placing them so that they could be used for other industries if they became redundant should there be a cut in the armament programme.

Our plan for Devon-port Dockyard has been drawn up with the object of achieving maximum productivity in meeting the needs of the Royal Navy. Other considerations have been, and must be, subordinated to that primary aim.

I thank my hon. Friend for his reply. Several of the new workshops are now outside the present dockyard wall. Will my hon. Friend consider leaving them outside the wall so that if they become redundant to the dockyard they may be in a position to be used by other industries? Should they once come within the dockyard wall we may be told that it is impossible to use them in that manner.

I will certainly consider that suggestion.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what are the conditions of service and pay of the men working with the United Kingdom Salvage Unit at Suez.

The United Kingdom Salvage Unit consisted of Admiralty ships, manned by officers and men of the Royal Navy and by Admiralty civilian employees of the grades normally employed on such craft, and two chartered vessels.

Naval personnel received naval pay and allowances, including hard lying money, and an allowance for work of an objectionable nature. Admiralty civilian crews received the pay and the allowances appropriate to them when on foreign service, plus a special allowance to compensate for the exceptional conditions associated with their employment. I have no information about the conditions of the crews of the chartered vessels.

I thank my hon. Friend for that Answer. Will he agree with me that these men have done an excellent job under very difficult circumstances? When they return to this country, will he consider allowing them some extra pay and extra leave, in particular those who have not been on shore for nearly five months?

These men have certainly done a most magnificent job. I will certainly bear in mind what my hon. Friend says.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what arrangements have been agreed with the Government of Malta regarding the future of Admiralty House.

None, Sir. The matter is still under consideration.

Can my hon. Friend say when he expects to arrive at a solution of this problem?

No.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he still proposes to continue with the large-scale expansion of Portsmouth Dockyard.

Any idea of a large-scale expansion of the dockyard was abandoned several years ago. The city council was made aware in August last of the current plan, which involves the acquisition of only some nine acres of extra land.

Are there not already far too many acres outside the Dockyard for the number of ships they have to serve?

Answer.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty to what extent British warships co-operate with United States warships in Eastern Mediterranean waters.

Quite a lot.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether the two fleets cooperated quite a lot during the recent trouble in Suez and whether at any time the British Fleet was threatened by the American Sixth Fleet, as stated by the latest Ministerial arrival at the War Office?

During the Suez operations, of course, the two fleets had two different rôles. Within the limits prescribed by those circumstances relations were courteous and cordial.

Was the consent of Mr. Dulles obtained in order to ensure cooperation between the American Fleet and the British Fleet in the Mediterranean?

I think that that would probably be a question for the Foreign Secretary.

Which fleet represented "rock" and which represented "roll"?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what buildings and properties in London his Department still holds or occupies, other than the Admiralty block in Whitehall; and what are the conditions of his tenure of Queen Anne's Mansions.

I have arranged for the list of properties to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I understand that the Ministry of Works holds Queen Anne's Mansions on a 21-year lease dating from 1947.

Is this mighty place owned on behalf of the Admiralty entirely?

Queen Anne's Mansions? I think it is, but I should like to confirm that.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will publish a list of the buildings and properties at present occupied or held by his Department in Hampshire, other than those in the dockyard port of Portsmouth and the Borough of Gosport.

Yes, Sir, the list will be published in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is it not a fact that there are a great many more stone frigates than steel ones in Hampshire?

There are more buildings in Hampshire because Portsmouth is our principal naval port and naturally. therefore, the number of outlying buildings there is larger than it is in other parts of the country.

Is there not room for many of them to be now inside the Dockyard?

Answer.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state the number of employees who will be affected by the closure of the Admiralty depot at Risley.

There are at present some 2,700 Admiralty employees at Risley. The tasks of this depot are due to be reduced gradually over the next eight years or so. Over this long period, normal wastage will make a large contribution to the necessary reduction in numbers, so that it is not possible at this stage to say how many of the staff will be individually affected.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary consult the President of the Board of Trade with a view to bringing other industry into this area so as to offset the serious industrial loss which otherwise will occur?

I will do that.

On a point of order. I should like your guidance, Mr. Speaker. This depot happens to be in my constituency, and at the beginning of this year I wrote to the then First Lord asking for information on this issue. On 11th January he wrote back to say that he would give an answer to my letter when he had assembled the information that he thought would be useful. What protection has an hon. Member when an answer is given in the House by another Minister and when a former Minister has promised another lion. Member an answer at the earliest possible time, and when that reply has not yet come?

Further to that point of order, I fancy that my hon. Friend is raising this matter in no way critical of me. It so happens that I supply the labour and he draws the rates.

I cannot help the hon. Member. Sometimes Ministers do not act quite up to the expectations of hon. Members. [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] I have seen that happen many a time in the past twenty-five years. I can only advise the hon. Member to keep on trying.

I will look into that matter to see if I can do anything.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many National Service men are now serving with the Royal Navy; and how many of them reported for duty in the last call-up.

About 10,100 National Service men were serving in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines on 1st January, 1957. Few, if any, of the men from the last registration on 17th November were called up by then. During the last three months of 1956 approximately 1,000 men from earlier registrations were called up for full-time service in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

Is the Minister aware that he has rather wrapped up the figures to make them incomprehensible? Has not the stage now been reached when the solemn powers of calling up people for the Navy under the National Service Act should be abandoned in view of the tiny handful of men who are now being asked to report for duty out of the present numbers that are called up?

I am sorry that the hon. Member did not understand what I thought were comparatively simple figures. The Royal Navy and the Royal Marines need 10,000 National Service men, which involves a call-up of 1,200 a quarter, and in the last quarter of last year about 1,000 men were called up.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1) to what extent clearance of the Suez Canal has been further delayed by Egyptian obstruction;

(2) how many salvage ships were assembled by the Admiralty in the Suez Canal area; and how many have been used under the United Nations in clearing the Canal.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will estimate the extent of the delay in clearing the Suez Canal of serious obstruction to navigation attributable to the failure of the United Nations Organisation to make the fullest use of the Anglo-French Salvage Fleet.

By mid-December, the Anglo-French Salvage Fleet at Port Said consisted of 19 ships, and another 21 were being held in readiness to go to Port Said or Suez. To the best of our knowledge, the United Nations have assembled 17 salvage ships. None of these figures includes tugs.

If the Anglo-French Salvage Fleet had been allowed to proceed with the clearance beyond El Cap from November onwards, the Canal would probably have been cleared for shipping by the middle of this month, certainly by the end of this week.

Our Salvage Fleet has, however, cleared two channels for the largest shipping at Port Said with remarkable speed and efficiency in the face of considerable difficulties. I am sure that all hon. Members will wish to join me in paying a tribute to the magnificent efforts of our salvage forces.

Would my hon. Friend agree that all these facts show how much better it would have been for the whole world if the United Nations and the United States had supported this country and France not only in stopping the war but also in securing a guaranteed settlement for the Canal? Can he say in present circumstances whether there are hopeful prospects of getting the Canal open soon?

As far as we know, there are no technical reasons why General Wheeler's timetable for getting a channel clear through the whole length of the Canal by the end of March should not be adhered to.

Whilst joining in the tributes to the men engaged in the salvage service and wishing them all well, may I ask whether the Minister is not aware that, due to the hostility created in the area, the probability is that British salvage ships could not have been used without hostilities bringing them to a stop ultimately and, therefore, his forecast would have been wrong?

We have no evidence to show that.

Quite apart from the difference of opinion on our intervention in Egypt, does not a heavy responsibility rest on those at the United Nations who have refused to make the fullest use of this splendid fleet in the interests of international shipping?

Certainly it is a great pity that our ships have not been used, because the Canal would have been cleared earlier.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1) whether he will make a statement regarding the progress of atomic propulsion for merchant vessels;

(2) whether he will make a statement about the progress of the construction of a British atomic-powered submarine.

As was stated in First Lord's Explanatory Statement on Navy Estimates last year (Command 9697), scientists and naval officers serving at the Atomic Energy Establishment at Harwell have for some years been collecting the knowledge necessary for the application of nuclear power to marine propulsion.

Detailed work on the design of a prototype submarine nuclear powered installation, which is shore based, is now well advanced, and some orders for the prototype machinery have been placed. It is planned to construct a basically similar plant for installation and extensive trials in a sea-going submarine. Experimental work on shielding problems is also proceeding at Harwell.

The wider question for further application of nuclear power to ships for both the Royal and Merchant Navies is being carefully studied, and encouraging progress has been made with feasibility studies.

The Admiralty, which has in the past successfully pioneered other forms of ship propulsion, is fully alive to the commercial opportunities opened by these new developments.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that comprehensive reply, may I ask him whether, if the American Navy is already operating nuclear powered submarines which can use guided missiles, he will agree that it seems probable that the atomic powered submarine, as it is developed, may attain a submerged speed which may enable it to outstrip all surface vessels and that, in view of this, it may supplant all our normal types of warship? Will he, therefore, press ahead as hard as possible to ensure that we have one of these submarines operating as soon as possible?

I think my hon. and gallant Friend had better table another Question about the American submarines. As I stated, we are pressing ahead as hard as we can with our own nuclear propulsion research.

While I appreciate that all the research work which is being carried out at Harwell is towards a common objective, can the hon. Gentleman assure us that in regard to research in respect of merchant shipping and research in respect of ships for the Royal Navy there is the fullest co-operation in order to obtain the best results?

Yes, Sir, I can give that assurance.

Has there been any co-operation with the United States of America in regard to either of these projects?

I should like notice of that question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he has considered the representations of shipbuilders that the disappointing launch output of 1956 was due to a shortage of materials; that the whole tempo of production would be increased by an adequate supply of steel coming into the yards in proper sequence; and what steps he proposes taking to meet the needs of the ship. builders.

I am aware from discussions which my right hon. and noble Friend's predecessor had with the shipbuilding industry that there is capacity for greater output given more steel. I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave last week to Questions put down by the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. P. Williams) and others and to the Answer I am giving today to questions by the hon. Members for Sunderland, South and Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey).

Does the Minister realise that the total shipbuilding orders in hand, the new orders for 1957, and the production of steel, are better than they have been for a long while? Will he not realise that the fault lies with his Department in that it is failing to ensure that steel is delivered to the yards at the proper time and in proper sequence, and that, consequently, it contributed towards the lower production last year?

I cannot for one moment accept that it is the fault of my Department.

It is.

I cannot accept that. We are doing everything we can to increase the amount of steel which is going to the shipyards. We have been doing that. and shall continue to do it.

As my hon. Friend's Department has been trying to do this for five or ten years, what signs are there of any success being achieved in the next five or ten years?

I think my hon. Friend will find that this year there will be improvements compared with last year.

While I do not share the pessimism of the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. P. Williams), is the Minister aware that steel supplies improve every time we raise the subject in the House, and that what we want is a continuation of the improved supplies and not sporadic improvement followed by relaxation?

I am very well aware of the problem. As I have said, the Admiralty has already been doing, and is continuing to do, everything it possibly can to get the steel industry to supply more steel for the shipbuilding industry.

Will the hon. Gentleman have a word with his right hon. Friends with a view to bringing before the House, probably in reply to a sponsored Question, an answer about the allocation of steel to the shipbuilding industry? We really cannot go on year after year having read out official briefs which always give the same reply. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the position is now complicated because the tankers now proposed to be built are of increased tonnage, and, therefore, the demand for steel plate is increased?

Yes, sir.

Is my hon. Friend aware that deliveries are likely to be greatly accelerated now that the steel industry has got rid of the bugbear of nationalisation?

I beg to give notice, having had second thoughts, that I shall raise on the Adjournment the matters pertaining to my Question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the discussions with the shipyard industries about steel supplies have now been completed; and if he will make a further statement.

I have nothing to add to the answers I gave on 23rd January to Questions put down by the hon. Member and other hon. Members, but I would refer him to the reply given by the Paymaster-General on Monday to a Question put down by the hon. Member for Dunbartonshire, East (Mr. Bence).

Can the Civil Lord say how far the resort to physical controls has been successful and whether that is helping? Can he also assure the House that this year the British shipbuilding industry will reach an output of 1¾ million tons?

Very woolly, Willey; very woolly.

As I said in reply to the Question last week, the discussions initiated as a result of the meetings between the First Lord and the President of the Board of Trade are still in progress.

Is it not the fact that the Admiralty assume the responsibility for this but have no powers in the matter at all, and that if the steelmasters decide that they do not intend to supply the shipyards with steel there is no power on earth, in the Admiralty or outside, to compel them to do so?

Unless we renationalise steel.

Will the hon. Gentleman say how far the system of the licensing of exports is proving successful in helping the shipbuilding industry? Or does he not know?

He does not know.

There has been a reduction in exports of 50,000 tons, and that is obviously helping.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what steps he has recently taken to improve the delivery of steel to shipyards in correct sequence.

Deliveries in better sequence would be made easier by ample supplies, and my right hon. and noble Friend is doing his best to secure them.

Will the hon. Gentleman pay particular attention to ship repair work, which makes comparatively little demand on steel, in view of the allegations which are being made that British ships are going to continental ports to be repaired there with British steel?

I understand that, so far as the repair of the tanker fleet is concerned, the position is quite satisfactory.

As I could not get an answer to my last supplementary question, may I now ask the hon. Gentleman to tell us, if the powers of oral persuasion fail, what other recourse he has, what remedies he has, to ensure that the shipyards get the steel they want?

I think it a good idea to wait and see what the powers are.

Will my hon. Friend continue to co-operate with the steel mills and the shipbuilding industry of this country to keep the supplies of steel plates going to the shipyards, which is the most important thing we all in this House want?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what are the practical difficulties which make it impossible to eliminate altogether incorrect sequence of deliveries of steel to the shipyards.

The steel makers find difficulty in aligning the programme of their rolling mills with the requirements of individual customers. This difficulty is made worse in times of general shortage like the present, but it should be reduced to very small proportions once steel for the shipyards is in ample supply.

Whilst recognising the difficulties of the makers of the steel, and whilst recognising the need, of which my hon. Friend spoke just now, to increase the production of steel as much as possible, may I ask my hon. Friend whether he would not agree that one of the difficulties over long-range planning in the steel mills is the threat of nationalisation?

What does the Parliamentary Secretary mean by talking about "this time of shortage"? Is there not a record production of steel?

I understand that in spite of the record production demand is still greater than supply.

Will the hon. Gentleman say why he continues to answer Questions about the allocation of steel when it is assumed he has no powers?

He has no powers.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applicants for telephones linked to the Dartford Exchange have yet to be provided with a service; and how long he anticipates it will be before this list can be cleared.

Four hundred and eighty-two.

New cables are being provided and the exchange equipment is being extended to use the full capacity of the building. Most of the present applicants will be given service this year. But there is a steady new demand, so I cannot say when the waiting list will finally be cleared. The building needs to be extended, and this is planned to start next June.

asked the Postmaster-General what representations he has made to the telephone companies operating radio-telephone circuits with Argentina and Brazil with a view to improving the telephone service with these countries and with what result.

Repeated proposals have been made to the telephone companies for longer services at more convenient times of the day. So far the companies have unfortunately not been able to arrange this, because their equipment has to be used for other services also. Further negotiations on possible measures to meet the need for improvement are now going on.

Whilst appreciating that the Postmaster-General has been taking steps to improve these services, does he fully appreciate at what inconvenient hours they are available, at great inconvenience to a large number of business men?

I realise that, Sir. although there have been no complaints from the Government Departments concerned—that is, the Board of Trade and the Foreign Office—we have asked the companies for two hours' longer service to both Argentina and Brazil. They have offered twenty-five minutes to Brazil only. We are pressing for more, and I am hoping to see them.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it is time that serious consideration was given to the laying of a submarine cable in the same way as has been done between New York and Great Britain and between Plymouth and South Africa in view of the developing traffic?

I will look into that, but there are negotiations going on now, both with the United States and Canada, in connection with the laying of further trans-oceanic submarine cables.

asked the Postmaster-General if in view of the circumstances surrounding the recent sale of 240 unperforated 2d. stamps in the Post Office at Dartford, he will now arrange to issue a limited but undisclosed number of further unperforated sheets of the same denomination.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will have printed a sufficient number of sheets of unperforated 2d. stamps to reduce to a reasonable level the value to collectors of the sheet issued recently by a London Post Office.

The answer is, "No, Sir."

Is the Postmaster-General aware that in 1934, in somewhat similar circumstances, the American Postmaster General adopted this expedient and made a very handsome revenue for the Post Office as a result?

I went carefully into the precedent set by Mr. Farley, the United States Postmaster General. I will not comment upon it, but I should like to read what I found in "The United States Postage Stamps of the Twentieth Century," Volume IV, which states:

"Postmaster General Farley, who handed about one million dollars' worth of rare postage stamps to his friends and thereby made enemies of all other stamps collectors, today tried to square himself with all concerned. Mr. Farley paid the Government 3 cents. each for his gift stamps, but they became worth 2,500 dollars a piece to collectors because of their scarcity, and almost caused a Congressional investigation."

I am sure that my hon. Friend would not wish me to follow the same method as Mr. Farley.

Whilst this was a particularly shabby and objectionable case, is the Postmaster-General aware that it is by no means an isolated instance? There are twelve unperforated stamps of the last reign in existence and stamp collectors all over the world are beginning to doubt the genuineness of British stamps. Would he not look into the matter further to see whether he can restore the reputation of British stamps in the philatelic world?

I disagree. I think that this is an isolated instance. I have been into the flatter very carefully, and I think that the reputation of British stamps in the world is pretty high.

On a point of order. In view of the precedent set by the Minister, will we also be permitted to read from books at Question Time?

It has always been permitted, within limits, to read quotations.

Has the Postmaster-General not heard of the Prime Minister's call for greater production, and will he not answer the call?

I think the Prime Minister was referring to other matters where there will be, of course, greater production.

asked the Postmaster-General at the time at which the sheet of imperforate 2d. stamps recently sold at Dartford escaped perforation, how many other similar sheets also escaped perforation.

None so far as is known.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he has taken to see that the events leading recently to the sale of imperforate stamps from the Dartford Post Office do not recur.

Mistakes which are due to human failures cannot be entirely avoided, but the checking arrangements at the printing works have been further strengthened and the staff at local post offices reminded of the importance of withdrawing any imperfect stamps.

Would the Postmaster-General agree that it is not in the public interest that individuals should make huge gains in this way? [HON. MEMBERS: "Why not?" I Would he examine the law to see whether the title of the gentleman concerned is a good one? Would the right hon. Gentleman agree that the action of his Department contributed in some way to the intolerable burden of Press pressure on this 16-year-old girl by placing her under a pledge of secrecy, under which she behaved very well indeed?

The question of the ownership of the stamps would have to be decided in a court of law, and it is thought inadvisable to pursue that course. Contractual responsibility rests with the stamp printers to see that only perfect stamps and material are supplied to the Post Office. The best that the Post Office can do is to overhaul the inspection arrangements to ensure that this does not happen again.

Will my right hon. Friend not take this too heavily? Does he not agree that this would be a drab and dreary world if these romantic things did not happen occasionally?

Will the right hon. Gentleman decline the request to encourage these romantic things happening inside the Post Office? In view of the fact that this is the only occasion on which it has happened in 25 years, does he not agree that it reflects great credit on the Post Office?

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for that remark. There has been a question about the girl. She has been reprimanded—[HON. MEMBERS: "Why?"1—but the profit that she has made she has handed to charity. She was reprimanded because she disobeyed Post Office instructions.

A scapegoat.

Does not the Postmaster-General think that we are making very heavy weather of this matter?

I agree, Sir. In my view this is an isolated incident, and the sooner it is forgotten the better.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make arrangements for airmail letters insufficiently prepaid with the sender's name on the envelope to be returned to the sender rather than sent by ordinary mail to their destination.

I do not think the public would welcome the arrangement suggested. At present comparatively few under-paid airmail letters with the sender's name and address on the envelope are sent on by surface route. The great majority of such letters are already forwarded by air: the Post Office makes up the postage and asks the sender to refund the money.

Whilst thanking the Postmaster-General for that reply, may I ask whether he can have instructions sent round to post offices that when they send these letters by ordinary mail they will advise the sender? Is he aware that I know of cases where manufacturers have lost export orders through the mistake of their clerical staff in not putting the right amount of postage on the envelopes?

That would probably mean an addition to manpower which might not be justified, but I will look into the matter. If at least 75 per cent. of the airmail fee, that is, the difference between surface and airmail postage, is paid the letter is sent by airmail.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement on the future of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadrons.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why it was not possible to convert flights of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force fighter squadrons into reserve flights attached to regular fighter squadrons, and thus make use of the enthusiasm and efficiency of these Auxiliary units.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what consideration he has given to the proposal that members of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force should be integrated with regular fighter squadrons and that Auxiliary pilots should do their week-end training on regular squadron aircraft; if he is aware that economies could by this means still be effected whilst retaining the skill and enthusiasm of most of the members of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force; and if he will make a statement.

For the reasons which I gave last week to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport, North (Sir N. Hulbert), the Government have decided, with the greatest possible regret, that it is necessary to disband all squadrons of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force except twenty Fighter Control Units and one Radar Reporting Unit.

In many cases it has been possible to offer Auxiliary officers and airmen opportunities of further service on the ground, either in those Fighter Control Units which are being retained or in Reserve flights at R.A.F. stations near their homes. I am glad to say that the indications are that many of them will continue to serve in this way.

Had it been possible I should, of course, have welcomed a scheme under which Auxiliary pilots and ground personnel could have been associated as squadrons or flights with regular fighter squadrons. But examination has shown that any such scheme would be very costly and it would involve a heavy commitment in regular manpower. Certain other suggestions have been put to me but they are all unacceptable for either operational, administrative or financial reasons. I am therefore going ahead with the present decision to retain the services of Auxiliary officers and airmen only where we can accept them for specific vacancies in the war establishment.

I should like to make it clear that the decision in no way reflects on the enthusiasm or flying ability of Auxiliary pilots. They could only be retained however by standing down fully trained regular pilots.

is my right hon. Friend aware that many of us feel sorry for him, as a former Auxiliary pilot, at having to implement this unfortunate decision? Is my right hon. Friend further aware that, whether the decision is right or wrong, we feel that the case has been dealt with in a most ham-handed way, and that by throwing away this valuable asset of tremendous voluntary effort Britain may be a great loser? Will my right hon. Friend give an undertaking that he will not close the door until further propositions are put to him which may cost the Government very little money indeed?

No, Sir. I think it would be most unfair to these people to offer them any hope of reprieve. This morning I have received the Advisory Committee of the Territorial and Air Forces Association and also the Air League of the British Empire. They put forward several alternative schemes, and I think I was able to convince them that, although some of them were attractive, none is, in fact, possible.

Is the Secretary of State for Air aware that there are really valuable assets in the skill and enthusiasm of these volunteers, and that it does appear as if they have been thrown away without great consideration? Surely the Government can look at this again to see if some system cannot be devised to make use of the skill of these volunteers, and thus make real, instead of superficial, economies?

This is not a decision which has been taken in a hurry. It has been under consideration for a very long time, and every aspect of it has been carefully considered. The voluntary spirit will remain. The door is still open to it in the remaining Fighter Control Units and the R.R.U.s, and also in the reserve flights of the Volunteer Reserve. I am sure that many auxiliaries will show their voluntary spirit by joining those units.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it was in some ways an insulting gesture to these men to offer them a job on the ground in the way that was done? Secondly, can the right hon.

Gentleman give some figures as to the amount of extra regular personnel that would be used if the idea of a reserve flight was taken up, because no satisfactory figures have been given. Thirdly, if it is economies the Government are after, would it not have been much better to have looked at the entire question of the need for a fighter command and then to have settled the position of the Auxiliary squadrons in the context of that decision?

I cannot, without notice, give the exact number that would be required, but I can say that in order to keep the airfields open at weekends for Auxiliary flying it would be necessary to bring each one up to the establishment of a master diversion airfield, thereby having to duplicate flying control, ambulance, fire service, cooks and everything else, and it would be a very costly business indeed.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the estimated cost of the proposed reconstruction of the wartime airfield in the Maldive Islands and of the land to be used for the erection of aerials on Hittadu Island and, annually, of the maintenance of British forces on the islands.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what steps have been taken to reactivate the air base in the Maldive Islands; and what is the estimated cost of such reactivation.

The airfield is to be rebuilt for use as a Royal Air Force staging post. It would be contrary to established Government practice to disclose the estimated cost of reconstruction. The rent for the land, including that for the radio station, will be £2,000 a year. The annual cost of manning the staging post will depend upon the establishment, but is likely to be of the order of £100,000.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say how long this agreement will last, and whether, in the consideration of defence cuts, the question of establishing airfields for defence purposes is being considered to save us from going through what has happened in Cyprus and, it may be, in Aden?

This is not, strictly speaking, for a defence purpose. It is a staging post which will, of course, be used by both military and civil aircraft, and it will be extremely valuable to us in staging either to Australia or the Far East.

Does not the Minister agree that, to a certain degree at any rate, the reactivation of this post is part of the price we are having to pay for the Suez fiasco?

No, I disagree entirely. This was under consideration long before the Suez affair blew up.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many National Service men were trained as aircrew in the Royal Air Force last year; and how many are undergoing training at the present time.

The numbers of National Service aircrew who successfully completed training to wings standard in 1956 were 184 pilots and one navigator. The numbers under training at 1st January, 1957, were 296 pilots and 109 navigators.

How does my right hon. Friend reconcile these figures with the decision to close down the Auxiliary Air Force squadrons? Surely, the Auxiliary pilots are practically in the front line of defence, whereas the National Service man at the completion of his service is almost a lost asset. Many of us are not happy concerning the future if training is to continue for National Service men while the Auxiliary squadrons are to be disbanded.

The figures I have given are apt to be slightly misleading owing to the form of the Question. The first figures relate to the output for 1956 and the second figures to the input, not only for 1956, but for 1957 also. What has happened is that in October we reduced the annual quota for pilots from 300 to 150 a year.

What will happen to these National Service pilots after they leave the Service if there are no Auxiliary squadrons? What will they do?

They will not be able to fly, I quite agree, but I hope that many of them will join the remaining units and play their part on the ground.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what acreage of land is contained in between the carriageways of the new London—Oxford road just south of Oxford; and what is the distance between the carriageways at the widest point.

About 12½ acres. In order to use the existing carriageway as much as possible, the width of the central reserve had to be increased from 26 ft. to 125 ft. at a few points.

Would my right hon. Friend agree that, broadly speaking, this is a serious wastage of agricultural land? In the case of future long-distance roads like this, will he ensure that there is the minimum of wastage? Even in Germany, where the autobahn is probably the most elaborate system of its kind in the world, there is only 11 ft. between the two carriageways.

I take the point made by my hon. Friend. In building new roads as quickly as possible, however, where we can use the existing carriageway for one part of the dual carriageway we can make much quicker progress.

Will my right hon. Friend look at the second point, that even the second figure he mentioned, which is normal, is probably excessively wide, because it can be done with much less use of land?

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps have been taken to create a visual barrier between traffic on roads and civil airports.

Screens have been erected at a few of the airports managed by my Department where car parking or sightseers on adjacent roads have caused congestion or risk of accident on these roads. If my hon. Friend will let me know whether he has any particular aerodrome in mind. I shall be glad to make inquiries.

May I tell my right hon. Friend that I have no such particular case in mind, but that as a general principle I wish to draw his attention to the fact that it can be dangerous and has proved dangerous on many occasions?

I quite agree and am grateful to my hon. Friend, because the number of sightseers now being attracted to all aerodromes is such that more care has to be exercised.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he expects to be in a position to approve the scheme for widening Clayton Road, A.519, in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

I am afraid I cannot say at the moment. As the hon. Member is aware, I am not able in present circumstances to give priority to the scheme for widening this road.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Newcastle Council continues to regard this as a very urgent necessity owing to the unfortunate fact that accidents continue to occur on this road? Will he, therefore, continue to bear this matter in mind?

I will do my best to give it as favourable consideration as I can, but I have said that I am afraid I cannot fit it in at the moment.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what recommendation he has made to the Minister of Housing and Local Government about the application for loan sanction by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council for the repair of the road from Silverdale via Crackley Gates to Scot Hay.

Loan sanction was issued to the borough council on 19th December.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what action has been taken in regard to the staggering of hours of work to relieve traffic congestion since the introduction of petrol rationing.

The Committee for the Staggering of Working Hours in Central London has written to 2,000 larger employers asking for information about starting and finishing times of work and numbers of staff involved, and is now working out detailed plans based on the replies. I should like to thank some 30 firms, employing 6,000 staff, which have answered the appeal I made last November by adopting staggered hours in advance of action by the Committee.

Outside Central London the London Transport Executive and the South Eastern Regional Board for Industry have approached industrial employers to seek further support for staggered hours and have received a satisfactory response.

As a result of the discussion forecast by my right hon. Friend the then Minister of Education in his reply of 13th December, the London Transport Executive is considering further with individual education authorities possible adjustments in school hours and transport services.