asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will instruct our representative at the United Nations to press for immediate action by the United Nations salvage ships to remove the tug "Edgar Bonnet" and any remaining obstructions to shipping in the Suez Canal, and for a report from General Wheeler as to whether he has under his jurisdiction the divers and equipment necessary to remove explosives from the tub "Edgar Bonnet" if that is necessary.

Mr. Katzin, a representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, is now in Egypt to examine the progress of operations for the clearance of the Suez Canal. The state of work on the remaining wrecks, including the "Edgar Bonnet," will be clearer when we have the report which is expected to follow. Meanwhile, it would not be appropriate to issue instructions on the lines suggested by the honourable Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if Her Majesty's Government propose to sign the Convention on the Nationality of Married Women recently approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations.

I am glad to inform my hon. Friend that the Permanent United Kingdom Representative to the United Nations signed the Convention last Wednesday, 20th February, immediately it was opened for signature.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which resolution of the United Nations forbids the United Nations Emergency Force to occupy the islands of Tiran and Sanafir in the Gulf of Aqaba, which, before the recent hostilities, were occupied by Egyptian forces.

None. Indeed, on 2nd February the General Assembly of the United Nations endorsed the Secretary-General's view that United Nations troops should take over in that area when the Israelis withdraw.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Cyprus Federation of America and its committee on the Cyprus question are giving active support to terrorist organisations in Cyprus; and what representations have been made by Her Majesty's Ambassador in Washington in this regard.

I am not aware that this organisation is giving active support to terrorist organisations in Cyprus, and no representations in regard to it have, therefore, been made by Her Majesty's Ambassador in Washington. If, however, my hon. Friend cares to make available to me any information on this subject he may have, I shall certainly examine it most carefully.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has made to the Cuban Government in respect of compensation for Mr. J. Topham, who was shot in Cuba a year ago; what reply he has received; and what action has ensued therefrom.

As the then Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary informed the hon. Member on 3rd December, Her Majesty's Embassy at Havana had at that time been instructed to revert to the question of compensation after the trial of Mr. Topham's assailant, which was then expected to take place shortly.Since that date Her Majesty's Ambassador has several times pressed for the acceleration of the trial which, he is informed, is held up while Mr. Topham's evidence is being translated into Spanish. Her Majesty's Ambassador has also urged the Cuban authorities, without success, to reconsider their view that a decision on the payment of compensation to Mr. Topham must await the outcome of the trial. Her Majesty's Ambassador will, of course, continue to do everything he can to ensure that Mr. Topham receives adequate compensation as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how often a member of the Marseilles Consulate has visited the Riviera area covered by the former Nice Consulate, since the latter's closure on 31st January; which towns in that area he has visited and for how long; what rooms there he has been able to use for British subjects and others to visit him on business; and how he has been able to inform the British community of his visits.

Five visits in all have been paid from Marseilles to the French Riviera since 31st January: two each to Nice and Monaco and one to Cannes. These visits have been made for representational purposes and with a view to establishing contacts: they have not lasted for more than a day. A firm of solicitors has kindly placed rooms at the disposal of the visiting consular officer both in Nice and Monte Carlo, and it is hoped in future to use accommodation at Cannes previously placed at the disposal of Her Majesty's Consulate-General at Nice. Close contact has been made between Her Majesty's Consulate-General at the newly-formed British Association of the Alpes Maritimes, and future business visits to the Riviera will be publicised through the British Association and by notices in the Press and in places frequented by British subjects.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a further statement to the House in respect of the Egyptian conflict and, in particular, the position in the Gaza strip; and what further information he has in respect of transport through the Suez Canal.

On the Arab-Israel dispute and the future of the Gaza strip, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made on 25th February by the Prime Minister in reply to the right hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell).On transport through the Canal, I am informed that the United Nations Secretariat still expect the Canal to be cleared according to schedule by 10th March. A representative of the Secretary-General is in Egypt at present, and a further report is expected.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which sovereign State is recognised by Her Majesty's Government as having sovereignty over the islands of Tiran and Sanafir in the Gulf of Aqaba; whether any other State has laid official claim to sovereignty over these islands; and by which other States such a claim is supported.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to which State do Her Majesty's Government recognise the islands of Tiran and Sanafir in the Gulf of Aqaba as belonging; whether any other State has laid official claim to sovereignty over these islands; and by which other states is such a claim supported.

In the view of Her Majesty's Government, the status of these islands has not yet been finally determined. They were occupied by Egypt in January, 1950. The Egyptian Government, when informing Her Majesty's Government of the occupation, stated that it had been carried out with the full agreement of the Saudi Arabian Government in order to protect the interests of the two countries. Egyptian forces were withdrawn from the islands during the recent operations and on 6th November, 1956, it was announced in Tel Aviv that Israel had annexed Tiran.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now state the intentions of Her Majesty's Government regarding the continued payment of a subsidy to the Government of Jordan.

The negotiations for the termination of the Anglo-Jordan Treaty are still in progress. A further statement on this subject would therefore be premature.

asked the Prime Minister if he will instruct the Departments concerned, as a matter of urgency, to prepare plans for the laying of an oil-carrying pipeine from Iraq to the Mediterranean through Turkey to relieve the pressure of transport in the Suez Canal, with a view to requesting the permission of the countries concerned to execute such plans.

I have been asked to reply. The planning, finance and execution of oil pipeline projects such as that referred to by my hon. Friend are a matter for the commercial interests concerned, who invariably consult with the Governments of the countries through which the pipelines must pass. Discussions have, in fact, taken place recently between the Iraq Petroleum Company and interested Governments about the possibility of a pipeline from the oilfields of Northern Iraq through Turkish territory to the Mediterranean seaboard, and arrangements have been made for Her Majesty's Government to be kept informed as to their progress.

asked the Paymaster-General, as representing the Lord President of the Council, if he is aware of the conference recently held by the United Kingdom Atomic Research Establishment. Harwell, in collaboration with the British Shipbuilding Research Association on the possibilities of applying nuclear energy to the propulsion of merchant ships and if he will take steps to issue a White Paper stating the aspects of the relevant problems which were considered, the recommendations made, and the practical steps which he proposes to take in consequence.

The Atomic Energy Authority has informed my noble Friend that the purpose of the conference was to give ship owners and ship builders an opportunity of hearing about the possibilities, as they appear at present, of applying nuclear energy to the propulsion of merchant ships. No specific recommendations were made, and my noble Friend does not think it appropriate to issue a White Paper. In reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Test (Mr. J. Howard) on 23rd January, I gave details of the work which is being done in the United Kingdom on nuclear ship propulsion.

asked the Paymaster-General, as representing the Lord President of the Council, if he will arrange either for the provision of exhibits of nuclear power equipment at the British Industries Fair or for the holding of a nuclear power exhibition simultaneously with the Fair.

I am informed that the Atomic Energy Authority will not exhibit at the Fair this year but it will stage a major exhibit at the Safety and Factory Efficiency Exhibition which is to be held at Birmingham from 14th to 21st June. The participation of manufacturers of atomic energy equipment in the British Industries Fair is a matter for them.

asked the Paymaster-General, as representing the Lord President of the Council. Whether he will make a statement upon the assistance which the United Kingdom has undertaken to give to Euratom by way of material, plant, personnel training, provision of experts and in other ways.

Euratom has not yet come into existence, and the United Kingdom has not entered into any agreement regarding the provision of assistance to it. The United Kingdom and the six countries who are negotiating to form Euratom have, however, been taking part, with other countries in Western Europe, in discussions in the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation on Western European collaboration in the field of atomic energy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the grounds advanced by the United States authorities for an extension of the defence facilities they at present enjoy in Bermuda; what views have been expressed by the Bermudan Government; and what decisions have been taken.

The U.S. Government have asked for further land on the grounds that additional facilities required cannot be sited within the area at present held by them. The Government of Bermuda are concerned at the proposal in view of the smallness of the island and its growing population. Whether the facilities can be sited within the area already occupied by the U.S. is, as my right hon. Friend explained in my reply to the hon. Member for Torquay (Mr. F. M. Bennett) on 19th December, being considered by the Governments concerned. No decisions have been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about the recent visit of, and discussions with, the Prime Minister of Malta.

The talks with the Prime Minister of Malta began on 12th February and are still in progress. My right hon. Friend will make a statement in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make arrangements for the repatriation to Bardados of three seamen, details of whom have been sent to him, in view of the fact that they are now a charge upon National Assistance and have expressed a desire to return to Barbados.

My right hon. Friend has no power to spend public money on repatriation, but I am having further inquiries made about this case and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that on 11th February the Royal Air Force dropped more than 20 tons of high-explosive bombs and fired 72 rockets on the village of Danaba in the Aden Western Protectorate; that, in this operation, all the buildings in the village were rendered uninhabitable; that this has given valuable material for propaganda to people who may be seeking to stir up unrest and subversion; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. I understand that the greater part of the village was destroyed.I do not accept the suggestion that this action gives material for propaganda to those interested in stirring up unrest in the Protectorate, because any action we take will be twisted and misconstrued by such people.The attack was carried out after the inhabitants of Danaba had repeatedly refused to comply with the order of the Amir of Dhala that they should hand over to him the Azraqi tribesmen from that village who had attacked a Government security patrol of Cameron Highlanders, murdering two and wounding six others. It was undertaken after full warning and no lives were lost. It was, in fact, both the most effective and the most humane way of ensuring that the village would not again be used by dissident tribesmen as a base for attacks on Government forces.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what developments are planned for the Chipembi Girls Secondary School of Northern Rhodesia, particularly regarding the library, domestic science block, science laboratories and electric lighting; and whether this school has been visited by the Minister for African Education.

£5,230, including a Government grant of £3,927, is being spent on additional classrooms and staff houses, and it is proposed to spend in 1957–58 £6,650, including a Government grant of £4,987, on further European staff quarters. The present small library will shortly be moved to an ordinary classroom until a large library and art rooms have been built. The Beit Trustees have made a grant of £6,400 towards a new domestic science block, which will include a science laboratory until a proper pure science block is needed. A small lighting plant is to be installed in the near future. So far as I am aware, the Member for Education and Social Services has not visited the school yet.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider making arrangements with the Crown Agents for the supply, on application and without charge, to Members of Parliament, for their Parliamentary duties, of publications issued by the Crown Agents on colonial matters.

A copy of a monthly list of Colonial Government publications is placed in the Library of the House. These publications can be consulted at the Colonial Office Library, which can sometimes lend copies to hon. Members and on occasion obtain copies for them to keep. If this arrangement is unsatisfactory, I should be glad to consider the matter further.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what would be the cost to the Government of meeting the request of the National Federation of Far Eastern Prisoner of War Clubs and Associations to send one of its members to the unveiling of the Singapore War Memorial to represent officially the comrades and relatives of those British soldiers who died on the battlefields of Malaya and in Japanese prison camps.

A return air passage from the United Kingdom to Singapore costs approximately £480 first class, or £335 tourist class.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in reaching a decision to go ahead with the Volta River Project in Ghana; to what extent the British and Ghana Governments are committed; and what private companies are participating.

The position remains as stated in my reply to the right hon. Member for Dearne Valley (Mr. Wilfred Paling) on 23rd January, and neither Governments nor private companies are committed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further consideration he has given to the need for special aid for the backward northern territories in Ghana; and what are his proposals for assuring economic and financial assistance to this territory in the future.

Certain proposals were made by the Prime Minister of the Gold Coast to my right hon. Friend when he was recently in the country. As the House will be aware, H.M.G. have already undertaken to make a general review in which will be included the role of the United Kingdom in the development of territories which have recently attained independence. This review is now under way and, when done, we hope to discuss with the Government of Ghana the general problem of her development plans.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress is being made with the establishment of a radio broadcasting station at Gibraltar.

The Gibraltar Government are about to place an order for equipment for the new station, and it is planned to start operations later in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that Dr. Jagan and Mr. Burnham of British Guiana have been invited by Prime Minister, Dr. Nkrumah, to attend the official inauguration ceremonies establishing the independence of Ghana but are having difficulty in securing United States visas; and whether he will make representations to the United States authorities with a view to overcoming these difficulties.

Dr. Jagan is now in this country on his way to Ghana. I understand that Mr. Burnham is not travelling via the United States.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the warning letters sent to The Times of Cyprus and to the Turkish language paper Halkin Sesi by the Administrative Secretary; whether he has examined the alleged offending articles; and whether he will review the regulations which restrict the working of the Press.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish the report made to him by the member of the International Committee of the Red Cross who inspected the detention camp at Kokkinotrimithia, in Cyprus.

The report was not made to my right hon. Friend but to the International Committee of the Red Cross. It can therefore be published only by or with the permission of that body.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for what reason Mr. J. D. Toon and Mr. W. A. Whitcombe were dismissed from their posts as sergeants at Kokkinotrimithia Camp in Cyprus.

These officers failed to show in their general conduct the degree of responsibility which their posts required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many members of the Cyprus police were formerly employed in operations against the Mau Mau in Kenya.

Four.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many former members of the Palestine police are now employed on security duties in Cyprus.

Twenty-six.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many civilian prisoners have been lodged in Kyrenia Castle since April, 1955; how long each prisoner was held there; what is the size of each dungeon used; and what provision was made for air, light, water, and sanitation.

Ten civilian prisoners were held in Kyrenia Castle between September and November, 1955. One hundred and five detainees were also lodged there during the same period. None was accommodated in a dungeon. The accommodation had abundant air and light, hot and cold water showers were available and sanitation was by bucket latrines.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will ask the Governor of Cyprus to hold an immediate and full inquiry into the ill-treatment during detention suffered by Charalambos Christodoulides which was revealed during his recent trial; and whether, pending the result of that inquiry, he will suspend from duty the officials responsible for the care and interrogation of this detainee.

The Governor has already held a full inquiry into these allegations and is satisfied that no ill-treatment of this person occurred. The second part of the Question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many patients are known to be suffering from tuberculosis in the Seychelles; and how many are receiving treatment in the sanatorium.

There are 98 known cases, of whom 62 are non-infectious and do not require treatment; 19 are being treated in the tuberculosis isolation wards of the Seychelles Hospital; five were being treated but have left against medical advice; and the other 12 will be admitted, if they consent, when there is accommodation for them. The sanatorium has not been opened.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will review the case of a farmer in Kenya named Kagombo who was sentenced to prison in August, 1956; and if he will make a statement.

I have asked the Governor for a report on this case and, when I have received and considered it, I will circulate a further reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Africans have been executed in Kenya since the latest revision of the emergency legislation; and on what charges.

Three. Two were executed for murder and one for unlawful possession of a firearm.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can now state what steps are being taken in Nyasaland to associate Africans with Government boards and committees at local and national level; and what decision has been reached regarding the appointment and composition of an inter-racial committee to co-ordinate land usage policy throughout the Protectorate.

My right hon. Friend informed the hon. Member in August last year of the position at that time. I will ask the Governor what changes, if any, he has since made and will write to the hon. Member when I have the Governor's reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will specify in detail with cost the capital projects benefiting the African community in Nyasaland which have been financed in the past from tariff rebate funds; what proportion of the rebate of the last two years remains unspent and what amount is funded; and what compensation Nyasaland, and in particular the African community, is to receive for this specific loss of recurrent funds.

I am consulting the Governor and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many officers and men are serving in sea-going ships; how many are in shore establishments; and how many civilians are in Admiralty employment.

On 31st December last there were 46,265 officers and men in seagoing ships, 5,154 in the Reserve Fleet and 70,506 ashore (including 3,603 women). There were approximately 183,000 civilians in Admiralty employment at home and overseas on that date.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why he employs transport contractors from Bournemouth to serve the Superintending Civil Engineer's department at Lee-on-Solent when that station's own transport vehicles of the same kind are idle.

One hired lorry is used for naval works in the Lee-on-Solent area. The hire contract with the Bournemouth firm, made before fuel rationing was introduced, was terminated in January and replaced by another with a Gosport firm. The fact that some vehicles at the station have not been used is due to the effects of fuel rationing, which is bound on occasion to result in small anomalies of this kind.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the total cost of keeping ships of the Royal Navy in reserve.

The approximate annual cost of maintaining the Reserve Fleet (including personnel costs) is £12·5 million. Pending conclusion of the current review of defence expenditure I am unable to state how much of it will be possible to devote to maintenance of the Reserve Fleet during 1957–58.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1) what acreage of land is requisitioned on the island of Portsea for purposes other than extensions to Her Majesty's Dockyard;

The Admiralty hold no land on Portsea Island on requisition. Approximately nine acres are earmarked for extension of the dockyard, and part of this area has already been purchased.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the total numbers of admirals, captains and commanders on the active list at present; and how this compares with the years 1945 and 1951.

Following is the Answer:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many admirals, vice-admirals and rear-admirals are serving on the active list of the Royal Navy; and how these numbers compare with 1951.

Following is the Answer: Excluding admirals of the fleet not holding Naval appointments the numbers of rear admirals and above serving on the active list now and on 31st March, 1951, are as follows:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the numbers of recruits for the Royal Navy for the years 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955 and 1956.

The numbers were as follows:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many officers in the Royal Navy of the equivalent rank of rear-admiral or above, were on the 1st January, 1957, employed in the Admiralty; what is the nature of their occupations; and what is the total cost per week in salaries and allowances of these officers.

Thirty-four. Seven are members of the Board of Admiralty. Seven are deputies or assistants to members of the Board. The remainder have mainly departmental responsibilities as directors or deputy directors of departments. The present rates of pay and allowances of naval officers of all ranks are printed in Cmd. 9692.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many admirals have sea commands; how many are at the Admiralty; and how many have other duties.

The Aswers to the three parts of this Question are, in order, 12, 31 and 44.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the growing dissatisfaction with present arrangements, he will see that in future men actually serving at sea and deprived of the comfort of home and family are paid at a higher rate than those able to live ashore.

No. Naval rates of pay and allowances are framed to take account of the incidence of sea service and shore service.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many serving officers and civil servants are now employed at the Admiralty; and how these numbers compare with 1951.

11,059 on the 31st December, 1951, and 10,650 on the 31st December, 1956.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the present policy in regard to Holton Heath; what is the present level of employment there; and whethr this level is to be maintained.

The Royal Naval Cordite Factory at Holton Heath is being reduced to care and maintenance, which will involve a reduction in the labour force to a figure somewhat above 200. Four hundred and fifteen workpeople are employed there at present, but this number will fall by 31st March to about 300.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will make a further statement on the discussions regarding steel supplies to the shipbuilding industry.

Discussions are still proceeding.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what consideration has been given to building nuclear reactors for marine propulsion.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice on 30th January last.

asked the Postmaster-General what principles govern the charges to the programme contractors for transmitting their programmes over Post Office telephone lines.

Programme contractors are charged for standard facilities rented by them from the Post Office at the same tariff rates as other users of similar facilities. For non-standard facilities the normal practice is followed of assessing a special rate based on the outgoings incurred by the Post Office.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress has been made in clearing Band III; and if he will state which channels have been allotted and which remain to be cleared.

Three channels in Band III are now in use for television. Plans are ready for the clearance of another three, and are well advanced for the clearance of the remaining two. The channels in use are numbers 8. 9, and 10 those not yet cleared are numbers 6, 7, 11, 12 and 13.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will set up a technical advisory committee to advise him on the possibilities of radio-telephony for adoption between the large centres of population within the United Kingdom as against the present extremely costly method of the co-axial cable.

No. The technical possibilities of radio-telephony are fully taken into account in planning the development of the trunk telephone network. Provision of circuits by co-axial cable is, in many cases, cheaper than by radio-telephony links of equivalent quality.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what costs were involved in the construction and development of the Royal Air Force bases at Amman and Mafraq.

About £4 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why the number of air marshals has increased to over 100; how many of them are on operational duties; how many are at the Air Ministry; and how many are on other duties.

The increase of three posts to which the hon. Member refers is accounted for by the establishment of the Air Secretary, and by the up-grading of two posts from air commodore to air vice-marshal.Of the one hundred and one posts currently established for air vice-marshals and above, fifty-eight are in Royal Air Force commands, and twenty-six at the Air Ministry. The remainder include posts with the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Supply; with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; and with Commonwealth Air Forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many air chief marshals. air marshals, and air commodores are on the active list with the Royal Air Force: and how the numbers compare with 1951.

Following is the establishment for these ranks as at 1st February. 1951. and 1st February, 1957:

asked the Secretary of State for Air how much flying pay was paid in 1956 to officers of the rank of squadron leader and above; and what was the number of hours flown by them in order to qualify for their flying pay.

Approximately £1,135,000. I regret that there is no central record of the total hours flown by these officers during 1956.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what sums were spent on the purchase of new bombing, fighter and training aircraft in each of the financial years 1952–51 1953–54, 1954–55, 1955–56, and 1956–57.

The cost of new bombing, fighter and training aircraft (excluding spares and supporting equipment) delivered to the Royal Air Force in these years was approximately:

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many officers in the Royal Air Force of the equivalent rank of air vice-marshal or above were, on the 1st January, 1957, employed in the Air Ministry; what is the nature of their occupations; and what is the total cost per week in salaries and allowances of these officers.

The number on the 1st January was 25, but has since been increased to 26 with the appointment of the Air Secretary. The number is made up of the five Service Members of the Air Council and the senior members of their staff. The cost in pay and allowances is approximately £2,000 a week.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many serving officers and civil servants are now employed at the Air Ministry; and how these numbers compare with 1951.

On 1st February, 1957, there were 1,189 officers and 6,968 civilians. The figures for 1st February, 1951, were 1,045 and 6,356.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will continue to permit learner drivers to drive unaccompanied by a qualified driver when driving tests are resumed.

As I said on 13th February in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Leicester, North-West (Mr. Janner), I will consider most carefully the timing of the reintroduction of the requirement that a learner must be accompanied by a qualified driver.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent the modernisation of British Railways has been affected by the fuel shortage, particularly the dieselisation of branch lines; and to what extent the diesel service planned to operate this year between Barnsley and Leeds has been affected.

The effect has been to restrict the introduction of new diesel services to urgent requirements. There is at present no scheme for diesel working between Barnsley and Leeds, but other new diesel services have been or will be introduced in the West Riding this year as planned.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he expects to start the building of the South Wales radial road; and on what approximate date the work will begin on that part of the road which will pass through Osterley and Heston.

I cannot say when work is likely to begin on any part of this road. The first step is to fix the line of the road by means of a scheme under Section 1 of the Special Roads Act, 1949. Preparatory work on a draft scheme is nearing completion, and I hope to publish it later this year.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what is to be the basis of compensation for owners of houses and tenants who lose their homes as a result of the building of the South Wales radial road.

The basis of compensation is at present laid down in Part V of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, and Part III of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1954, for owners and in the Land Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845, for tenants.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will take steps to eliminate the dangers at the bus stop opposite to the Graving Dock Tavern, North Woolwich Road, London, E.16, caused by the fact that passengers queueing for buses are obliged to queue on an excessively narrow paving.

I am asking the Stopping Places Advisory Committee to examine conditions at this stop, and will communicate with the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in view of the postponement of the Severn Bridge and the congestion of traffic at Chepstow, he will consult with the British Transport Commission with a view to converting the present railway bridge at Sharpness to enable it to take road as well as rail traffic; and whether he will also consider a by-pass road round Chepstow, crossing the Wye by a Bailey bridge.

Proposals for the conversion of the existing railway bridge at Sharpness, to enable it to carry road as well as rail traffic, were considered carefully, in consultation with the British Transport Commission, some years ago and were also examined afresh early last year. Only extremely restricted road use would be possible, which would not justify the very considerable expenditure involved.A by-pass of Chepstow would be a very expensive project, even if a Bailey bridge were used for the Wye crossing. In present circumstance, I cannot fit it into the early years of my road programme, particularly as within a few years the completion of the Ross Spur should relieve A.48, and so Chepstow, of some of its traffic.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to state for the period of twelve months to the most recent convenient date for which figures are available the number of male and female prisoners committed to Her Majesty's prisons for failure to comply with an order of a competent court for the payment of money.

During 1955, 9,838 men and 614 women were committed to prison in these circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to state for the period of twelve months to the most recent convenient date for which figures are available the number of persons committed to Her Majesty's prisons pending trial because bail had been refused or bail had not been found.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of refugees living on British registered ships, the average length of time of their sojourn there and the source of financial support for their maintenance while on board.

The records available cover only ships which have called at United Kingdom ports in the last twelve months. According to these records there are no refugees living on British registered ships other than as members of the crew. The average length of service is three years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to give the number of his staff who have not received an increase in their wages and salaries since the date when the salaries of Members of Parliament were last increased.

None.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education the number of classes in Kent primary and secondary schools in which the number of pupils exceeds 40, 45 and 50, respectively.

The figures for January, 11956, the latest available date, are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date Members of Parliament's salaries were raised to £400 per annum; and whether, taking the £ as having a purchasing value of 20s. on that date, he will state what the relative purchasing value of the salary of £1,000 per annum would be, taking into account the depreciation in the purchasing power of the £ since the first mentioned date.

A salary of £400 per annum was first paid to Members by a Resolution of the House on 10th August, 1911. Taking the purchasing power of the £ as 20s. in 1911, the relative purchasing power of the current salary of £1,000 is estimated at £228. Free travel facilities (introduced in 1924) and the sessional allowance (introduced in 1954) are disregarded.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) how many retirement pensioners have no other income except their pension; and what percentage these are of the total number of pensioners;(2) what proportion of retirement pensioners with no other source of income are single; what proportion are married couples where the wife depends on her husband's insurance for her pension; and what proportion are married couples and both insured in their own right.

As retirement pensions are paid regardless of means, I do not collect statistical data such as are requested in these Questions. On the general question, however, I would refer my hon. Friend to what my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary and I said in debate on 25th February.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to give the number of his staff who have not received an increase in their wages and salaries since the date when the salaries of Members of Parliament were last increased.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the annual rate relief given to Scottish industry in each year since 1945.

It is estimated that had there been no derating under the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1929, industrial and freight transport subjects in Scotland would have paid additional rates of the order shown in the following table:

asked the President of the Board of Trade why delay has occurred in the issue of licences for the importation of 1957 fresh-frozen salmon from Japan; and on what date these licences will be issued.

Protracted negotiations with Japan in regard to current trade were concluded only yesterday. An announcement about import arrangements for fresh-frozen salmon and the other commodities involved will be made as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many million yards of fabric were exported to the United Kingdom from India last year duty-free; and what representations in this connection he has made to the Government of India since it imposed a complete ban on the export of British fabrics to that country.

Imports from India of woven cotton fabrics of standard type amounted to 132·9 million square yards in 1956. Almost all this amount qualified for duty-free entry; imports of cloth woven from other textile materials, other than jute, were negligible. As regards the second part of the Question, there is no complete ban on the import of British fabrics into India. Representations have been made on several occasions about the level of permitted imports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the proposed free trade area, major nationalised undertakings, such as electricity, gas, and railways, will be permitted complete freedom to purchase their supplies from any country within the proposed free trade area.

As my right hon. Friend the Minister of State explained in reply to Questions on 19th February, detailed negotiations have not yet begun and I cannot at this stage forecast how the provisions of a Convention to establish the Free Trade Area may affect the existing practices in this regard of the countries that become parties to it.