asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what official information he has received from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics with regard to her present policy as regards the Yemen.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will propose to the Government of the Yemen that Her Majesty's Government and the Yemen Government should hold joint negotiations based on the Treaty of 1934 and the subsequent Agreement of 1951 for the settlement of outstanding disputes.

As I informed the hon. Members for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) and Rugby (Mr. J. Johnson) on 27th February, a Note had been received from the Yemeni Chargé d'Affaires on the previous day about talks which have been proposed between representatives of the two Governments. On 4th March a reply was handed to the Yemeni Chargé d'Affaires. Her Majesty's Government hope that these talks will soon take place.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how the British delegation on the Fourth Committee of the United Nations voted on the Resolution inviting the British and French administrations in the Cameroons to grant travel documents to petitioners invited to appear before the proper organs of the United Nations; and what was the vote on the Resolution.

The United Kingdom Representative on the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly of the United Nations opposed the Resolution; it was adopted by 37 votes in favour to 13 against, with nine abstentions. The text of the Resolution is given on page 10 of United Nations document A/3554, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will publish as a White Paper the evidence on terrorism in Cyprus given to the United Nations during the recent debates on Cyprus.

My right hon. and learned Friend will consider the hon. Member's suggestion. In the meantime, a copy of the memoranda on this subject which were submitted by our Delegation to the United Nations at the recent debate on Cyprus has been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government now propose taking to ensure the freedom of movement of ships of all nations through the Suez Canal when it is cleared.

Her Majesty's Government will continue to work for the principle of free passage of ships of all nations which is contained in the 1888 Convention, and which has been adopted by the United Nations as its declared aim. Confidential discussions on interim arrangements to take effect when the Canal is reopened are in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if Mr. Katzin has completed his examination on behalf of the United Nations of the progress of operations for clearing the Suez Canal; what reason he has given for the delay in removing the tug "Edgar Bonnet"; and what other wrecks have yet to be removed.

Yes. Mr. Katzin has now returned to New York, but so far as I am aware no report on his visit to Cairo has been issued by the United Nations. The "Edgar Bonnet" and the "Aboukir" are now the only obstacles to the passage of normal traffic through the Canal. But considerable clearing up work will naturally remain to be done after the main channel has been opened.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the continuation of nuclear tests will be discussed at the forthcoming disarmament conference in London.

Yes, in one form or another this subject will be discussed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will cause an inquiry to be made into the source of, and the responsibility for, the many attacks on British ships in the China seas by armed forces based on Formosa, in view of the fact that the United States Taiwan defence command and the Kuomintang armed forces are under the unified control of the United States of America.

No. There has been a considerable and welcome decrease during the past two years in the number of attacks on British ships in the China seas. In no ease has there been difficulty in determining responsibility and an inquiry would serve no useful purpose. The hon. Gentleman appears to be misinformed about the Chinese Nationalist forces; they are not under the unified control of the United States of America.

asked the Paymaster-General as representing the Lord President of the Council, if he will arrange for the publication of the most recent information available concerning the amount of radioactivity in the atmosphere consequent on the explosion of nuclear weapons.

Since the publication last June of the Medical Research Council Report on "The Hazards to Man of Nuclear and Allied Radiations" the Atomic Energy Authority has published two Reports which include measurements and calculations concerning the amount of radioactivity in the atmosphere. I am arranging for copies of these Reports to be placed in the library. The Authority will issue further reports as additional information warrants publication.

asked the Paymaster-General, as representing the Lord President of the Council, if he is aware of the ineffectiveness of the security measures at Calder Hall, Cumberland, which was demonstrated publicly and without damage last week by students of Manchester College of Science and Technology; and what action he proposes to take to achieve the necessary tightening up of security measures at all atomic, nuclear and other establishments involving national security.

As a result of the students' operation the general security system at Calder Hall has been reviewed and certain adjustments made. It should, however, be stressed that entrance was gained to a constructional site where there was no secret information or material. The perimeter fence which was forced is primarily intended for demarcation. Security measures on an operational site are much more stringent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Malayan Federation's request for a loan was rejected; and whether he will make a statement.

If the hon. Member is referring to the suggestion of an Exchequer loan, the Malayan delegation to the recent talks in London were informed (and they accepted the position), that Her Majesty's Government do not contribute by that means to the development of independent Commonwealth countries. Our contribution is made through the facilities extended to them to raise open market loans in London, through direct investment by United Kingdom private enterprise and through the United Kingdom's membership of the Colombo Plan and various agencies of the United Nations which provide development finance. An independent Federation of Malaya will be able to make use of these facilities, in addition to receiving assistance from the Exchequer for other purposes on the lines described by my right honourable Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland on 23rd January in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Bristol, Central (Mr. Awbery).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the killing of four Indian labourers in the Tampin district of Negri Sembilan as they were hunting wild boar; and what steps he has taken to compensate the families of the dead men.

On 12th February the leading scout of a security forces detachment, patrolling deep jungle tracks suspected to be used by terrorists, sighted a group of figures dressed in khaki. The scout opened fire and killed four men who were later found to be Indian labourers on a boar hunt. The incident occurred in an area to which entry was prohibited without permit, as surrounding inhabitants had been repeatedly told. No entry permits had been issued and the security forces were therefore expecting to encounter only terrorists. The question of compensation will be decided after the inquest. The Government join with the Government of the Federation in expressing regret at this accident of the war against terrorism.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement regarding the proposals in the Reid Report for the constitutional changes in Malaya.

The proposals in the Report are now being studied by Their Highnesses the Rulers, the Government of the Federation, and Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what will be the basis of the consultations between the United Kingdom Government and the Singapore and Malayan Governments which will take place before the issuing of further licences for the importation of synthetic rubber.

The Governments of Singapore and the Federation of Malaya were consulted before a decision was taken on the import programme for synthetic rubber for 1957. It is expected that similar consultations will take place in respect of the programme for 1958.These consultations, however, relate to the size of the year's programme and not to individual import licence applications.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what requests the Malayan Government have made to the United Nations Technical Board to make a man-power survey with a view to determining the manpower requirements that will arise after the granting of independence, particularly with reference to the training of staffs for schools, training institutions, civil service and the private sector of economy.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has a further statement to make in respect of constitutional developments in Malaya and in Singapore, respectively; and what further progress he can report in respect of the suppression of Communist insurgence.

I have no statement to make at present about constitutional developments in the Federation of Malaya or in Singapore.As regards the second part of the Question, I am glad to say that the active strength of the Communist terrorists in Malaya is estimated to have been reduced by about one-third in the course of the last year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what representations he has made in the interests of detective inspector Brian Haylett, a British subject resident in Kenya and not a South African citizen, who was beaten up by the police and arrested for taking a film outside the Johannesburg court on the occasion of the trial of 153 persons for treason.

None. Mr. Haylett was neither beaten up nor arrested by the South African police. He has no complaint to make.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the purpose of the African Industrial Estates Development Committee in Kenya; how many members comprise the Committee; how many are Africans; and to what extent it is proposed that Africans should participate in the development of industry in African areas.

The Committee will encourage and assist industrial, commercial and allied development in the African land units, with the help of a £25,000 revolving fund which will be used to carry out the surveys and install the services needed to make areas suitable for occupation by industry. There will be ten members of the Committee, of whom three will be Africans, the others being Government officials concerned with industrial problems. The development of industry in the land units will provide opportunities for work and training among Africans who at present have to go to large urban centres for such employment. The operations of the Committee will further the policy of the Kenya Government to encourage and facilitate the participation of Africans in industry in African areas to the maximum possible extent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of names entered on the initial register of African electors in Kenya; and the number of African electors who were qualified to register their names.

126,508 Africans have been registered as electors. In the absence of an up-to-date census it is difficult to assess the number qualified for registration but they are thought to have been between 350,000 and 450,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what increase there has been of imports into Nigeria of English language books published in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics during the last six months.

There has been, I am glad to say, a progressive decrease.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the registration of the Hong Kong branch of the Society of Technical Civil Servants, which was approved by the Registrar of Trade Unions in Hong Kong on 30th May, 1956, was withdrawn on 1st June, 1956; and why the branch has had no reply to a request for an explanation.

Registration could not be confirmed because it is illegal for a registered trade union in Hong Kong to place itself under the control of a trade union outside the Colony without the consent of the Governor-in-Council. The position was fully explained to the local branch on 23rd July, the branch made formal application to regularise its position on 31st August, and the consent of the Governor-in-Council has now been given.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what success has attended the expulsion of strangers from the mining areas of Sierra Leone.

The operation was outstandingly successful. At least 45,000 so-called native foreigners have left the Kono area, removing the growing threat to health and security there. It should now be possible to complete the licensing of mining by Sierra Leoneans and to begin the necessary economic and social development of the diamond areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what has been done to compensate expatriate civil servants for the heavy increase in the cost of living in Sierra Leone.

In 1955, salaries were increased by from 7 per cent. to 10 per cent. and certain allowances were increased. The Sierra Leone Government recognises that there has been a further increase in the cost of living since then and is considering whether a Commission of Inquiry into the salaries and conditions of service of public servants should be appointed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a further statement on the situation on the Aden-Yemen border.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a further statement on the situation on the borders of Aden.

Statements on the situation on the Aden-Yemen border were last made by my right hon. Friend the present Secretary of State for Scotland on 22nd and 23rd January. Since then there has been a further succession of incidents of the same kind in the Dhala and Beihan areas of the Western Aden Protectorate. In particular, there was a heavy attack by Yemeni regulars and others in the Dhala area towards the end of January, in which Yemeni field guns fired across the frontier against Protectorate troops; it is estimated that between 50 or 60 of the invaders were killed or wounded, including about 25 Yemeni regulars. On two occasions in the second half of February, two Yemeni field guns fired on a Government Guard post a few miles south of Beihan. Vigorous protests have been made to the Yemeni Government about these attacks. There have also been Yemeni attacks in the Audhali State, and no area of the Western Aden Protectorate has been free from Yemeni interference or attempted subversion in the past two months. Her Majesty's Government have continued, and will continue, to support the State rulers concerned both against external aggression and against internal subversion fomented by the Yemen.There were recently reliable reports of a Yemeni plan for a large-scale attack on Dhala in the near future, using dynamite and mines and aiming to cut the road between Dhala and Aden, but owing no doubt to the prompt action taken to deal with the threat, this plan has not developed.Meanwhile there have been further exchanges of Notes about the proposal that British and Yemeni officers should meet on the frontier to discuss the situation. A note was handed to the Yemeni Chargé d'Affaires in London on 4th March in reply to the Note of 26th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the approximate tonnage of goods embarked and disembarked in the port of Mombasa-Kilindini in 1954, 1955, and 1956; and what is the extent of port development in hand and projected.

The figures are given below. I should, however, like to assure my hon. Friend that the exertions of the East African Railways and Harbour Administration, for which they are to be commended, have brought the effective capacity of the port of Mombasa into line with current demand. Their development programme is designed to keep ahead of future requirements.Approximate tonnages were:

Imports, including hulk oil:
1954	…	…	…	1,880,000
1955	…	…	…	2,150,000
1956	…	…	…	2,130,000
Exports:
1954	…	…	…	930,000
1955	…	…	…	990,000
1956	…	…	…	1,050,000

Port developments in hand include the completion of one deep water berth, and of shore facilities for the adjoining berth, and the construction of quay walls for four additional deep water berths. Plans for future development include the completion of shore facilities for one of the four new berths and facilities for open-berth operating at another; the construction of a passenger berth and terminal; and the reconstruction of some transit sheds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the resolution on Tanganyika passed by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 27th February.

Two resolutions affecting Tanganyika were adopted by the General Assembly on 26th February. Both were utterly unrealistic and unhelpful. In opposing these resolutions my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs reasserted our intention to continue to administer the territory in accordance with the terms of the Trusteeship Agreement and to promote the harmonious advance of all communities towards self-government. He stated that we could not accept a demand that we adopt arbitrary timetables for successive stages of this advance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many boys and girls, respectively, in Northern Rhodesia passed their Standard VI tests in 1955–56; and how many of these were able to get places in the secondary schools.

The Northern Rhodesia Government informs me that the following figures are for Africans only. 2,425 boys and 323 girls plus 52 male and 3 female candidates who took the examination externally passed the tests. 399 boys and 95 girls gained admission to secondary schools.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement upon the disturbances in the sugar plantations at Skeldon Estate, British Guiana, when police opened fire on the strikers.

A Commission of Inquiry has been appointed by the Governor of British Guiana and is now investigating the disturbances. I should prefer not to make a statement until I have received the Commission's report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements are being made for the future operations of British Guiana Airways.

The British Guiana Government have appointed British West Indian Airways to act as their managing agents and advisers in the operation and development of the air services in the Colony. Owing to delay in the conclusion of the agreement with B.W.I.A. for this purpose that company has not yet assumed responsibility for the management of British Guiana Airways but is expected to do so in the near future. It will be required to make recommendations for the future operation and development of the air services of the Colony after it has had a year's experience of their operation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the statutory minimum wages in British Guiana.

I am in touch with the Government of British Guiana and will circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what restrictions apply in the provision of housing for the employees of the Demarara Bauxite Company estates in British Guiana.

I am not sure what the hon. Member means by restrictions. The company has two housing areas at Mackenzie, one used for senior staff and the other for junior staff. The only distinction relates to the grade of the individual.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps still remain to be taken before the West Indies Federation becomes effective.

I am happy to be able to report that since the passing of the British Caribbean Federation Act in August, 1956, much progress has been made towards bringing the Federation into being.2. The Standing Federation Committee set up by the London Conference of February, 1956, has already got through an important amount of business and is continuing to meet as occasion arises. Having decided on Trinidad for the location of the Federal Capital it will, at its next meeting in April, go on to consider the report of a Sub-Committee on the choice of site within the Colony and on plans for temporary accommodation.A budget for preliminary federal expenditure will also be considered by the Committee at its next meeting. The Committee has decided on the main structure of the Federal Civil Service. A Pre-federal Secretariat was established in Barbados last autumn and a number of key officials are already in post. Further appointments will be made to secure the existence from the outset of machinery for the conduct of Federal business.3. The Standing Federation Committee has also studied proposals for a draft Order in Council, to be made under Section 1 of the British Caribbean Federation Act, which will embody the Federal constitution and which I expect to be laid in draft before Parliament for affirmative Resolutions in both Houses within the next few months.4. When the Governor-General has been appointed and has taken up office in the latter part of 1957 the Interim Federal Government will come into being. At this initial stage the Governor-General will be advised by the Standing Federation Committee, but among the first tasks of the Interim Government will be preparation for Federal Elections in the first quarter of 1958. With the opening of the first sessions of the two Houses of the Federal Legislature, and the appointment of a Prime Minister and a Council of State, the Federal Constitution will come fully into operation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of non-Europeans employed in administrative positions in the bauxite industry in British Guiana and Jamaica, respectively; and what are the qualifications necessary for such employment.

As all the companies operating in British Guiana and Jamaica are North American, most senior staff are either American, Canadian or of local origin. The number of those who are European is only small, but precise figures are not available. Appointments are based solely on the skill and ability of the individual.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what official arrangements were made for the reception of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh in Gibraltar.

His Royal Highness' visit to Gibraltar was unofficial but he was pleased to accept an invitation to a dinner and reception given by the Governor on 7th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies with whom he proposes to conduct negotiations to enable a new constitution for Cyprus to be brought into existence.

Her Majesty's Government are considering all the implications of the United Nations resolution which, while calling for a resumption of negotiations, also stressed as a requirement of a solution an atmosphere of peace and freedom of expression.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what liaison now exists between his Department and Colonial Governments in respect of assistance to their students in this country; how many Colonial Governments have now become responsible for their students compared with 1946; and approximately how many sponsored and unsponsored students and student nurses, respectively, have received their training in this country during the past 10 years.

Within the last three years the Governments of Cyprus. Hong Kong, Kenya, Nigeria, Malaya and Singapore, Sierra Leone and the Gambia, Tanganyika, Uganda, and the West Indies have established their own students units in London, and similar arrangements for Mauritius and Zanzibar are about complete. Liaison with these Governments on student affairs is through the heads of their students units, who meet members of my Department and of the British Council regularly on a co-ordinating committee. A liaison officer attached to my students branch sees to the personal welfare of students from the remaining smaller territories.Since 1946 about 11,000 scholars and 22,500 private students have arrived in this country to take courses of full-time study. About 500 of the scholars were student nurses. I cannot say how many have come privately for nursing training but the number may well be of the order of five or six thousand.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what assistance has been given by the United Nations Technical Board to Commonwealth and Colonial Territories to make manpower surveys, with particular reference to the training and education of persons to qualify for the staffing of the civil service and the private sector of the economy of the respective territories during the next decade.

A mission provided by the United Nations Technical Assistance Board is at present carrying out a manpower survey in Ghana.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement in respect of the recent conference on the future constitution of Mauritius.

I am glad to say that the conference under the chairmanship of my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State reached final agreement on the points outstanding except for the system of voting to be used under the new constitutional arrangements. On this it was agreed that a commission should be appointed to examine two possible systems.I hope to be able to make a full statement in a day or two.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now make a statement about his talks with the Prime Minister of Malta.

The talks with the Prime Minister of Malta were adjourned on 27th February, to enable him to return to Malta to introduce his budget for 1957–58. They will be resumed later this month, after which I will make a statement.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what steps he proposes, taking to provide a graving dock on the Clyde to accommodate the large tankers now building on the Clyde.

The provision of a graving dock for commercial purposes is primarily a matter for the shipbuilding, shiprepairing and port interests on the Clyde with which my right hon. and noble Friend is in touch.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is now in a position to make a further statement about a permanent improvement in the supply of steel to the shipyards.

Steel supplies to the shipyards improved in the last few months of 1956, making that year's deliveries better than either of the two previous years. My noble Friend has had discussions with his noble Friend the Minister of Power and I now hope that if the recent higher rate of deliveries can be maintained and increased, the position of shipbuilding will be substantially improved.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when the Civil Lord proposes to visit the shipyards on the north-east coast.

I intend to visit these shipyards in due course

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what ships he intends to send to Londonderry for repairing or de-equipping in the near future.

A minesweeping vessel and a rescue launch will shortly be refitted at Londonderry. There are no plans for de-equipping vessels there in the near future.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty for how many years land has been requisitioned for extensions to Her Majesty's Dockyard; and when the proposed extensions are likely to commence.

The nine acres of land now required for the Dockyard extension were earmarked for this purpose in the Portsmouth Town Plan under the Town and Country Planning Acts in 1948. About six of these nine acres, consisting of blitzed sites, had been requisitioned during the war and have since been in continuous use by the Admiralty. Some three acres of the six originally requisitioned have already been bought and the rest are in process of purchase. Further development of the extension scheme will take place as funds permit.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will consider building in Her Majesty's Dockyard, Portsmouth, ships for Her Majesty's Navy propelled by nuclear reactors.

As my hon. and gallant Friend is no doubt aware, representatives of the Portsmouth City Council visited the Admiralty recently to discuss, amongst other matters, the suggestion contained in this Question. I informed the Lord Mayor and his colleagues that the suggestion they had made would be carefully considered. I regret that I cannot go further than this today.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many buildings and properties are held by his Department in Bath; and why.

The Admiralty occupy three main office sites in Bath, comprising a total of 14 blocks of single storey buildings. These together with two other buildings and rooms elsewhere are held by the Ministry of Works as offices for Admiralty Headquarters staff. Three other small properties are held directly by the Admiralty. One is a garage for Admiralty vehicles and the others are used as offices. In addition, approximately 80 flats and houses are rented furnished under the Admiralty furnished hiring scheme to provide married quarters for Naval staff serving in Bath at H.M.S. "Royal Arthur."

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will publish a list of the buildings and properties held by his Department within the City of Portsmouth, together with the uses to which they are being put.

Yes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty in what respects naval rates of pay and allowances are framed to take account of the incidence of sea and shore service.

The Royal Navy is of course a sea-going service and rates of naval pay are established on the broad principle of making allowance for the disturbance and separation inevitable in such a service over the whole period of a normal career. Allowances are intended to provide for specific additional expenses incurred, or special discomforts borne, in particular circumstances. For example ration and lodging allowances are granted to personnel ashore who are not housed and fed by the Royal Navy, as they invariably are at sea. Hard lying money—which is paid only to seagoers—is intended to compensate for special circumstances of discomfort in small ships.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the telephone kiosk near Whitehill Lane, Northfield, Birmingham, is no longer adequate for this developing district; and whether he will provide one in the Green-meadow Road area to relieve the situation and provide a service for the new houses.

Yes. I propose to install two new kiosks in this area, one in Green Meadow Road and another in Spiceland Road, as soon as possible after consents are obtained for sites and wayleaves.

asked the Postmaster-General what has been the average delay in the transmission of mail from the United States of America to this country during the last three months; and what information he has as to the outlook for the future.

The transit time of mail from the U.S.A. to this country varies considerably: apart from exceptional features such as the recent dock strike in American ports, typical transit times vary from six to sixteen days. I cannot make any firm statement about the future since the responsibility for the routing of these mails rests with the United States Post Office; but if my hon. Friend would let me have details of any cases of delay, apart from those arising from the recent dock strike, I shall be glad to look into them and, if necessary, take them up with the U.S. Administration.

asked the Postmaster-General why there are no facilities in King's Cross Railway Station, London, whereby persons can purchase and write Post Office letter cards and postal orders; and if he will take immediate steps to make available in that station for travellers and others all the ordinary postal as well as telegraph services.

I am looking into the matter and will write to the hon. and learned Member.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the number of licences for television issued for houses in the development area of the new town of Harlow.

Figures for the development area of the new town of Harlow are not available, but in the Harlow Post Office district, which includes the new town, there were 8,577 television licences in force on the 31st December, 1956.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he has now been able to release the remaining 47 acres which his Department held on requisition after the derequisition of 10 airfields in the area of Lincolnshire administered by the Lindsey County Council.

We hope to derequisition the rest of the land at Grimsby this month. At Sandtoft, about 19 acres will be de-requisitioned as soon as the site has been cleared. The disposal of the remaining area is now being discussed with the owner.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when he expects the United States Air Force to resume the use of the base at Greenham Common for the deployment of bomber squadrons.

Probably not before the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what charges were imposed on a corporal of the Royal Air Force, Germany, No. 1924215, for the treatment given to his wife at the British Service Hospital, Hamburg; and whether he will make a statement.

No charge is being raised pending the outcome of the review to which I referred in the answer I gave the hon. Member on 20th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how much money was collected by his Department from airmen whose wives were treated in a British service hospital in Germany during 1956.

No charges were made in 1956 against airmen whose wives were treated in R.A.F. hospitals in Germany.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if the acceptance of the principle of tolls is now a basic condition for determining the priority of the proposed Severn bridge.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will state what considerations led to the Severn bridge project, which formerly enjoyed the highest priority, being placed in a lower category of importance and urgency than other schemes, including the Forth river bridge and the Tyne crossing; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation on what grounds he gave a higher priority to the Firth of Forth bridge than to the Severn bridge, having regard to the urgent need for the latter.

I have not altered the priority of the Severn bridge, which I consider to be a scheme of great importance. The Forth bridge is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, and the announcement that work is to be started on it does not affect my intention to authorise the Severn bridge as soon as economic and financial circumstances permit. It is reasonable in my view that the very high cost of major bridge projects of this type should be recouped by the imposition of tolls, and this policy will apply to the Severn bridge as it has been decided it shall apply to the Forth bridge.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent shortages of essential materials prevent him from announcing a date for the commencement of work on the proposed Severn bridge.

Shortage of raw materials is not the main factor in this issue.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what is his estimate of the quantities of steel required in the erection of the proposed Severn bridge.

50,000 tons.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what was the original estimated capital cost of the proposed Severn bridge; and to what figure it has been reduced as a result of consultation between his technical advisers and those of the local authorities concerned.

The estimated capital cost of the proposed Severn bridge and its immediate approach roads in 1953 was about £12½ million. The estimate has not been affected by consultation with local authorities, but a more up-to-date figure is about £15½ million. Larger estimates which have been announced from time to time include the cost of ancillary roads, the construction of which is necessary to get full value from the bridge.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent the industrial developments at Milford Haven have been taken into account in his consideration of the proposal to erect a bridge over the Severn at English Stones.

I have taken fully into account the general industrial development of South Wales in considering the proposed Severn bridge.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what negotiations he has had with the local authorities concerned regarding the proposed Severn bridge; and what undertakings he has given them.

I saw a deputation from the conference of local authorities, commercial, industrial and other interests on 13th April last year. I have given no undertaking except to let them know, when I could, my decision about the priority of the Severn bridge among a number of other major projects to which I attach high importance.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what estimates of financial savings have been submitted to him as a consequence of the erection of the proposed Severn bridge.

As part of the economic justification for building a Severn bridge the Welsh and South Western Regional Boards for Industry and the conference of the interested local authorities have given me a good deal of information on what they estimate the savings to individual road users will be when a bridge is built.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many accidents, fatal and otherwise, took place on road A6 between Penrith and Carlisle during the 12 months ended 31st December, 1956; and how these figures compare with those for the same period in 1955.

During the year 1956, 160 accidents were reported by the police. Of these 10 were fatal, 58 involved nonfatal injuries and 92 damage to property only. The corresponding figures for 1955 were 217, 4, 69 and 144.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether an official invitation has now been received from the Belgian Government for Her Majesty's Government to take part in an international conference to consider the 1955 draft convention relating to the limitation of liability of seagoing vessels; what is the date of the conference; whether the invitation has been accepted by Her Majesty's Government; and what preparations have been made by Her Majesty's Government to take part in such a conference.

No invitation has yet been received from the Belgian Government.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent the television mast at Wenvoe has interfered with the flying at Rhoose Airport; and how much extra flying-time is necessary as a precautionary measure by an aircraft approaching the airport.

As far as I am aware, none of the services using Rhoose Airport have been interfered with. The answer to the second part of the Question is, "None."

asked the Paymaster-General whether he will now make arrangements to provide more adequate supplies of petrol to motor driving schools under the rationing schemes.

The matter is being discussed with representatives of the driving schools.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware of the pleasure felt by the British people at the decision of the independent State of Ghana to become a member of the Commonwealth; and what special celebrations are being arranged by Her Majesty's Government on 6th March to celebrate the occasion.

, pursuant to his reply—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 5th March, 1957; Vol. 566, c. 181.]—circulated the message, as follows:10, Downing Street,Whitehall.1st March, 1957.My dear Prime Minister,I am very happy to be able, through the Home Secretary and Lord Privy Seal, who is leading the United Kingdom Delegation, to send you a message welcoming Ghana on this auspicious day to Independence and to Membership of the Commonwealth.He carries with him the good wishes of the Government and people of the United Kingdom for the future happiness and prosperity of your country.Ghana's emergence as a Independent Member country of the Commonwealth is a striking proof of all that we have been jointly striving for over the past years. May March the 6th long be remembered in your history and in ours as a significant and happy day in the continuing development of this great Commonwealth of Nations.Yours very sincerely.HAROLD MACMILLAN.The Hon. Dr. Kwane Nkrumah.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will send a circular to local authorities advising that it should be made a condition of licence for livestock marketing authorities to take steps to prevent more people being inside the auction ring than is absolutely necessary to show the animal in order to avoid the suffering caused by the beating so often inflicted to get the animal to enter a crowded ring and the poking and beating with sticks once it has got there.

The auctioneer is responsible for the manner in which the market is held and if he is not satisfied with the conditions in the ring at the time of sale it is within his competence to stop the sale until these improve. I am satisfied that generally speaking the auctioneers do not permit the conditions described in the Question and, therefore, I do not feel that any general directive is necessary at this time. If the hon. Member knows of any particular market where cruelty and over-crowding occur, I will have the matter examined immediately.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he has refused to sanction a grading scheme for certified strawberry plants.

Careful consideration has been given to a request by the N.F.U. that a grading scheme for strawberry runners should be introduced, but such a scheme does not seem practicable. It would seem impossible to enforce grading standards even if they could be satisfactorily determined. All appropriate opportunities are being taken to impress on the growers of strawberry runners the need to supply only good plants of even quality.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education whether he will state for the last convenient year the total amount of the main grant to local authorities in England and Wales; how much of it represents a capitation payment; how much a percentage grant; and what deduction is made in respect of rate product.

Provisional figures for 1956–57 are as follows:

		£
1.	Total Main Grant	253,543,000
2.	Capitation payment included in (1)	40,371,000
3.	Percentage grant included in (1)	258,820,000
4.	Deduction for product of 17·85d. rate made in arriving at (1)	45,648,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why a 10 per cent. Pool Betting Duty is charged on bets with greyhound racetrack totalisators and yet no tax is charged on similar bets on totalisators on horse racecourses; and whether in his forthcoming Budget he will take steps to alter this discrimination by placing greyhound racing on the same basis as horse racing for tax purposes.

This question appears to be of a budgetary character unsuitable for answer at the present time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much he estimates the present 10 per cent. tax on totalisators at greyhound race tracks could be reduced if instead a flat rate tax on all bets on totalisators at greyhound tracks and horse race tracks were introduced, to ensure the same return in revenue to the Treasury as that received in the last financial year from the present 10 per cent. duty on totalisators at greyhound race tracks; and whether he will consider adopting this suggestion in his forthcoming Budget.

I cannot give such an estimate since it is not possible to say how far a duty on totalisator bets at horse racecourses would result in a switch to betting with bookmakers, but the reduction would clearly be small. As to the second part of the Question, I cannot anticipate my Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the date when salaries were first paid to Members of Parliament; the amount then paid; the dates when these payments were amended, and by what amounts; taking the £ as having a purchasing value of 20s., what was the relative purchasing value of these amounts of payment on each date, in comparison with the original first payment, after allowing for the depreciation of the purchasing value of the £; and what is the present value of this salary on this basis.

The following table gives the information:

Date	Salary	Purchasing power of salary, taking the £ as having a purchasing power of 20s. in 1911
	£	£
1st April, 1911	400	400
1st July, 1937	600	378*
1st April, 1946	1,000	367*
January, 1957	1,000	228†
* Free travel facilities (introduced in 1924) disregarded.
† Free travel facilities and sessional allowance (introduced in 1954) disregarded.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what amount salaries of Members of Parliament would have to be increased to enable them to receive the same percentage increase as that received by the average worker in industry since May, 1954; and whether he will consider introducing the necessary legislation to enable Members of Parliament to receive the same treatment as the average worker in industry, so far as salary is concerned, excluding the arrears of any such payments.

£170, disregarding sessional allowance. Legislation is not required to increase Members' salaries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take the necessary action to restore the present purchasing value of a Member of Parliament's salary to the purchasing value of the £400 per annum received by Members of Parliament in 1911.

I will note the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will so amend his regulations as to permit the limit of the annual value of properties for which a private brewer's licence may be held to rise from the £15 per annum. as at present, to £100 per annum.

The upper limit of £15 annual value to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers relates to the private brewing of beer which is not charged with beer duty. Any proposal to raise this figure would require legislation and would have to take account of the considerable increase in the beer duty since the figure was fixed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any statement to make concerning a revision of the United States and Canadian Line of Credit Agreements of December, 1945, and March, 1946, respectively.

Yes. Agreement has now been reached with both Governments. The provisions of the 1945 and 1946 Agreements enabled Her Majesty's Government, if certain conditions were satisfied in any year, to obtain a waiver of interest on the loans. The interpretation of these Agreements has given rise to considerable difficulties. The new Agreements by which they are to be modified give Her Majesty's Government the option, if it finds that a deferment is necessary in view of the present and prospective conditions of international exchange and the level of its gold and foreign exchange reserves, to defer the payment of up to seven annuities until the end of the present schedule of payments. In addition the interest for 1956 forming the subject of the waiver claim will be deferred, on the same terms as those which govern the seven deferments, until all existing and deferred annuities have been paid. These new Agreements are subject to the approval of the United States Congress and the Canadian Parliament.Her Majesty's Government have given an assurance that it is not its intention to avail itself of the major part of the potential deferments in the years immediately succeeding the date of the Agreements.In the view of Her Majesty's Government these Agreements fulfil in a satisfactory manner the aim that appropriate modifications of the language of the existing Agreements should be made to carry out the spirit of their original intention.Under the new arrangements Her Majesty's Government will pay all the annuities in full and with interest, even if it claims any deferments. No question can therefore arise of any default on our obligations. Furthermore, a potential source of misunderstanding between the Canadian and United States Governments and Her Majesty's Government is removed. While Her Majesty's Government have the right to defer any annuity within the limits stated, it is its responsibility to satisfy itself before doing so that such a deferment is necessary in the light of the conditions.The texts of the Agreements are as follows:

asked the Minister of Health how many of the 100 cases of diphtheria investigated in 1954 occurred more than five years after immunisation; and how many of the fatal cases of diphtheria in 1955 occurred more than five years after immunisation.

Sixteen and two, respectively.

asked the Minister of Supply how much money was spent on civil defence by his Department in the financial years 1952–53, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1955–56, and 1956–57, respectively.

On the salaries of Civil Defence Training Officers in my Department, expenditure has amounted to:

			£
1952–53	…	…	19,370
1953–54	…	…	21,888
1954–55	…	…	24,784
1955–56	…	…	27,009
1956–57 (estimated)	…	…	33,731

Certain work in the programme of military research and development has applications in civil defence, but it is not practicable to apportion the costs.

asked the Minister of Works if he will give an estimate of the total amount spent by the nation, in the latest 12 months for which the facts are available, on building work and works of civil engineering, including roads, docks, coastal protection, etc., and including all expenditure by Government Departments, local authorities and others, either separately or collectively in England, Scotland and Wales.

It is estimated that £2,070 million of building and civil engineering work was carried out in Great Britain in 1956.