asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that road accidents are notifiable, if he will take steps to require home accidents, which bear a much higher death rate, to be notifiable as well.

I appreciate that, if this information could be assembled, it would provide valuable evidence regarding the causes of home accidents. But there are substantial difficulties in the way of adopting the hon. Lady's proposal, and on balance the Government do not think that the introduction of legislation for this purpose would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why previous members of the Royal Irish Constabulary who subsequently joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary are denied the compensation grants provided under the Act of 1920.

Compensation allowances were awarded to members of the Royal Irish Constabulary on disbandment for loss of employment and pension prospects. Those who transferred to the Royal Ulster Constabulary were able to continue their police careers and suffered no such loss. Compensation allowances are paid to them on retirement but their pensions, which are calculated on total service in both forces, are abated by the Government of Northern Ireland by an equivalent sum.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the substantial proportionate increase of abscondings relative to average population in approved schools in 1956 compared with 1952, if he will make inquiries to ascertain the cause of this.

The amount of absconding from individual schools is kept under close review by inspectors of the Children's Department, and inquiry is made, and any appropriate action taken, where the number of abscondings from a particular school is exceptionally high. My right hon. Friend has no reason to think that any more general inquiry is called for at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will permit the Staffordshire County Council to authorise the demolition of the two air raid shelters at Rugeley, Staffordshire, at Brook Square and Elmore Lane, in view of the great need for parking facilities in this congested commercial area.

I am making inquiries in this case and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of his staff have not received an increase in their salaries or wages, since the date on which Members of Parliament last had their salaries increased.

None.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education how many local education authorities have decided to discontinue the late transfer of pupils to secondary technical or secondary grammar schools; and why.

I know of none.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education how many local education authorities have protested against the centralisation of certain courses in schools of art; and what has been his reply.

Ninety local education authorities were affected by the review of full-time art courses. Thirty-nine of these accepted the proposals made to them in time for them to take effect last autumn. My noble Friend is still discussing with the remainder of the authorities concerned some or all of the proposals which affect them.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education what proposals he has received from local education authorities to organise comprehensive secondary education for pupils from 11 to 15 years of age, with county colleges for those pupils who continue their education beyond 15 years of age.

None.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education if his attention has been drawn to the case of the Oxford student oarsman who was drowned in the Thames on 8th February because he could not

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education (1) what estimate he has made of the effect on school building as a result of the new grant formula;(2) what estimate he has made of the effect on local education committee expenditure as a result of the new grant system.

My noble Friend very much regrets this tragic accident. He wrote to the hon. and learned Member on 14th February about his plan, and will reply shortly to his further letter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education whether he will publish in HANSARD figures of the number of university awards, per 1,000 of the school population, given by the 12 local education authorities which give the most awards and the 12 which give the fewest number of awards.

Following is the Answer:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education (1) if he will make a statement as to the effect of the new grant formula on the school building programme in the County of Norfolk;(2) if he will make a statement as to the effect of the new grant formula on local education committee expenditure in the County of Norfolk.

I am not in a position to give any estimates of this kind.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education whether local government expenditure on technical education will be treated on a different financial basis from that proposed in the new grant formula for other local government expenditure.

Until discussions have taken place with representatives of the local authorities, I cannot add to the Answers which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government gave to the hon. Member and others on 19th February.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education how many additional places at secondary schools in Berkshire were provided in 1956; and what further progress will be made in 1957 and 1958 towards the provision of full educational facilities for all children in the rural areas of the County.

Major projects completed in Berkshire in 1956 provided about 700 secondary school places. 840 places in rural areas are likely to be provided in 1957 and the same in 1958. Similar projects to be started this summer will provide a further 840 places.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education if, in the letter he despatched to local education authorities on 15th February inviting them to submit to him their proposals for building programmes for 1958, he laid down any date by which these programmes should be submitted.

The end of March.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education to what extent the concessions he has granted to the Essex County Council Education Committee will ease its problem of increasing accommodation this year for the school child population; approximately how many children of five to six years are awaiting school places; and to what extent a shortage of male teachers exists in that area.

The concession referred to by the hon. Member will have no effect on accommodation this year, but I understand that only a handful of children are out of school in Essex for lack of school places. All these will be admitted to school at the beginning of the term after they reach the age of five. Essex is one of the areas which my noble Friend hopes will benefit as a result of the recently announced scheme for the redistribution of teachers. The scheme makes no distinction between men and women teachers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education how many students will be admitted to teachers' training colleges this year; and how many applications have been received for those places.

About 14,000 students are expected to be admitted to training colleges this autumn and in January. I regret that I have not the information necessary to answer the second part of the Question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education what sections of the Festival of Women, due at Wembley, 7th June to 29th June, have been sponsored by his Department.

None. But my noble Friend is considering whether the Festival provides a useful occasion for publicising the opportunities available for the training of girls.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education if he will give an estimate of the cost of providing payment of fees to young people entering universities without a means test.

The cost this year of paying tuition and other fees, excluding residence charges, for United Kingdom students at universities in England and Wales would be about £3½ million. About £800,000 of this is already met by my Department under the arrangements for State Scholarships, and I estimate that something of the order of £2 million is met by local education authorities under their arrangements for university awards.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education which local education authorities decline to give major awards to students studying for the dentistry diploma, the L.D.S.; and, in view of the shortage of dentists, what action he proposes to take to get them to change their policy.

I regret that information necessary to answer the first part of the Question is not available, but if any such case were brought to the notice of my noble Friend he would be prepared to take it up with the authority concerned.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education how many students have resigned from classes at evening institutes in consequence of the increase of fees.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education the total number of enrolments, of men and women, respectively, for non-vocational courses at evening institutes in September, 1956, and September, 1955.

Enrolments at evening institutes fell from 722,000 in September, 1955, to 664,000 in September, 1956. Separate figures are not available for men and women, or for non-vocational as distinct from vocational classes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education whether he will explain the first sentence of paragraph 3 of Circular No. 20 of the Welsh Department, dated 26th February, 1957.

The meaning is clear from the Welsh version of the Circular. I regret that the English version was not quite accurately printed and should read:

"Primary schools and, possibly, junior forms of secondary schools, frequently do not mark the day with special services. In much the same way as they celebrate Christmas with carols and suitable plays, so, too, they celebrate St. David's Day with hymns and drama."

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education if he is aware that the Hertfordshire County Education Authority is now refusing awards for advanced sandwich courses in electrical engineering on the grounds that qualified students can be sponsored by industry; and whether he will make a statement.

No. My inquiries indicate that there has been some misunderstanding in the case which I think the hon. Member has in mind. I suggest that the student should get into touch with the authority again.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education what appeals or requests have been made either by his Department or by local education authorities to publishing houses, advertising agencies, or the Press, about refusing publication of advertisements offering coaching for the 11-plus selection examination.

None by my Department. I cannot answer for local education authorities.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education what proposals he has received for building a technical college at Baddesley Ensor, in the County of Warwick.

None.

asked the Prime Minister if he wil make a statement indicating what steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government suitably to celebrate the forthcoming independence of the State of Ghana and its accession as a realm to membership of the Commonwealth of Nations.

I would refer the hon. and learned Gentleman to the statements I made on Tuesday and on 21st February.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if the memorandum of the Paramount Chief of the Swazi nation on the reversion of lapsed mineral concessions together with the High Commissioner's recommendations has yet been received; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

A memorandum from the Paramount Chief on this subject has been received, but not the High Commissioner's recommedations. As the memorandum is regarded by the Paramount Chief as a confidential communication to the High Commissioner, it would not be proper to place a copy in the Library.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will offer the services of his Department to the proposed formation of a Commonwealth Aluminium Corporation.

I understand that a private company, called the Commonwealth Aluminium Corporation, was recently formed in Australia to investigate a deposit of bauxite which has been discovered in the Cape York peninsula of Queensland. My Department is of course always ready to give whatever help it properly can in the development of Commonwealth resources.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what steps he is taking to encourage visits to this country by journalists from other Commonwealth countries.

My noble Friend is always anxious to encourage Commonwealth journalists to visit this country. During the current financial year, ten journalists from other Commonwealth countries have been invited here at United Kingdom expense and suitable programmes of tours and visits have been arranged for them. Plans are now in hand to bring over further parties in the coming financial year. In addition, Commonwealth journalists visiting the United Kingdom under their own arrangements are given such help as they may require in fixing their programmes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement regarding his discussions with the engineering industry about the standardisation of screw threads in the United Kingdom with those of the United States of America.

I have had no special discussions recently with the engineering industry about this. Unified screw threads are usually specified in defence orders and are also being used commercially in a number of industries. I hope that their use will increase as demand and conditions in industry warrant.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action the Government propose to take arising out of the Report of the Monopolies Commission on the Supply and Export of Electrical and Allied Machinery and Plant.

I have invited the industry's comments on the conclusions in the Report and I will decide what action to take after I have received them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the terms of the Treasury minutes or orders defining and sanctioning payment of subsistence allowances to civil servants; and the scales on which such payments are made.

Subsistence allowances are granted to meet the extra cost

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will give a Departmental list of those civil servants who were, on 28th February, 1957, in receipt of salaries in excess of those received by their Minister, Parliamentary Secretary, or the equivalent Ministerial rank; and whether he will also give the salaries paid to these civil servants.

I would ask the hon. Member to await the publication later this month of the Civil Estimates and Estimates for the Revenue Departments. These will show the salaries of Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries and the civil servants in their Departments.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures showing, for the various Government Departments, the average percentage increase in the wage

I would ask the hon. Member to refer to the Estimates for 1911–12, which are in the Library, and to compare the wage and salary scales shown therein with those in the Civil Estimates and the Estimates for the Revenue Departments which are to be published this month.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that the principle of recommending the appointment of a Royal Commission to determine remuneration which has been adopted for doctors and dentists will not be extended to resolve questions of increases in the salary and wage scales of civil servants.

The Government's policy in determining the pay of civil servants accords with the principles recommended by the Roy al Commission on the Civil Service, which reported in 1955.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now relax his predecessor's previous requests and allow the banks to ease the credit squeeze and to grant increased credit accommodation to small businesses, especially those requiring seasonal trade overdrafts when heavy stocks have to be carried on which Purchase Tax must be paid; and if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards these small traders who fear bankruptcy unless the credit squeeze is eased.

The Answer to the first part of the Question is "No"; the banks have shown that they are aware of the seasonal needs of their customers. As for the second part of the Question, my right hon. Friend recognises the great importance of small businesses to our economy, but he feels he would not be justified in asking that they should be specially relieved of restrictions that affect all who seek credit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many old-age pensioners are entitled to duty-free cigarettes; how many of these avail themselves of this facility; what this costs in loss of revenue; and what would be the additional cost if this privilege were extended to every male person over the age of 70.

None of the old-age pensioners are eligible to duty-free cigarettes. But there are about 4¾ million pensioners who would be eligible, if all were smokers, to receive weekly tobacco tokens, each worth 2s. 4d. Nearly 2¾ million claim and get these tobacco tokens, at a cost to the Revenue of just over £16 million this year. It would probably cost an extra £1½ million to give tokens to all male smokers over 70.

asked the Minister of Labour whether there is now available an adequate pool of qualified interpreters for the Hungarian refugee camps.

Yes. Much progress has been made and I can now say that a satisfactory service of qualified interpreters has been established.

asked the Minister of Labour whether there is a central registry of Hungarian refugees, to ensure that skilled and semi-skilled refugees are placed in employment suitable to their qualifications.

Hungarian refugees with scientific or technological qualifications are dealt with centrally by the Technical and Scientific Register. The placing of other refugees is carried out by the employment exchanges whose system of circulating vacancies is designed to ensure that the best use is made of qualifications and experience. Thus vacancies suitable for Hungarians which cannot be filled locally are circulated to other exchanges in the same region and to other regions.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent the personnel formerly working at Holton Heath have been placed in other industries; and what prospect of work there is for the further 115 who will shortly become redundant.

More than half of the employees concerned have been transferred to other Government establishments; most of the others obtained employment in other factories or in the building industry; five of them are registered as unemployed at my local offices. I do not expect any difficulty in placing the skilled workers amongst those to be discharged this month but it may take a little time to find fresh employment for the unskilled.

asked the Minister of Defence the number of armed forces from the United States of America to be stationed on British soil and the number of strategic bases agreed upon under the recent agreement with the United States of America.

There has been no new agreement with the United States on this subject.

asked the Minister of Defence if, in the light of the latest information available, he will make a further

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will instruct Her Majesty's representative on the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to press for the implementation of Recommendation 100 of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, namely, that a committee of experts be appointed to examine the draft European convention on compulsory motor insurance as approved by the Assembly and that the Governments of

The information is given in the following table. This brings up-to-date table 1 of the Answer I gave to the hon. Member on 18th February, and also corrects an error in lines 4, 5 and 6 of the column headed 1955–56 in that table, for which I express regret.member States should proceed to the signature of the convention at an early date.

Effect has already been given to this Recommendation. A Committee of experts nominated by the Governments of Austria, Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, the Irish Republic, Italy, The Netherlands and Sweden met at Strasbourg from 21st to 25th January to examine the draft European Convention on Compulsory Motor Insurance, and will meet again on 25th March to continue this work.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many salvage vessels and tugs were included in the Anglo-French salvage organisation at Port Said in December, 1956; how many British vessels remained in service with the United Nations salvage organisation and for how long; and how many other salvage vessels and tugs have been working under General Wheeler's command in the United Nations salvage organisation.

Nineteen salvage vessels and ten tugs were included in the Anglo-French salvage organisation at Port Said in December, 1956. After the Anglo-French forces withdrew, ten British salvage vessels remained with five supporting craft; the last of these ships left on 24th January. According to United Nations information nineteen other salvage vessels and eleven tugs have been working under General Wheeler's command.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now print as a Command Paper the records of the meetings of the United Nations Disarmament Sub-Committee, held between 19th March and 4th May, 1956, and of the meetings of the United Nations Disarmament Commission held between 3rd and 16th July, 1956.

No. As my noble Friend, the then Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary, explained on 6th June last, in his reply to the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Beswick), Her Majesty's Government had decided not to print the records of the Disarmament Sub-Committee. The same considerations apply to the records of the Disarmament Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement concerning the discussion between the Jordanian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Her Majesty's Ambassador in Amman about the extent to which the Tripartite Declaration commits Britain to defend Jordan.

There has been no discussion between the Jordan Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Her Majesty's Ambassador at Amman on Britain's commitment to defend Jordan under the Tripartite Declaration.

asked the Paymaster-General why the Regional Petroleum Officer at Kew has taken so long to deal with the application for supplementary petrol coupons made on 16th January by the Norton Garage, Hove; and why he ignored a reminder by letter on 5th February and a further reminder by telephone on 21st February.

I have written to my hon. and learned Friend about this case.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will now make a statement about the future of Admiralty House in Malta.

No. The matter is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what facilities there are for the landing of seaplanes off any of the Seychelle islands; and when such facilities were last used.

There is a slipway for Amphibians at Port Victoria which was used by the R.A.F. during the war, but there are no landing facilities, other than the sea itself, nor any servicing arrangements or trained ground staff. In 1953 a flight to Seychelles was made by a Catalina from Mombasa but no aircraft have visited the islands since then.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many members of the French armed forces are still stationed in Cyprus; how much longer they will remain; and for what purpose they are there.

About 1,100 members of the French armed services (a considerable number being administrative) were still in Cyprus on 9th February. An early reduction in this number, to the skeleton force required to operate and guard the French military equipment still on the island, is under discussion with the French Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many children were of elementary school age in Cyprus on 1st January, 1956; and how many on 1st February, 1957.

Approximately 93,400 on 1st January, 1956, and 95,900 on 1st February, 1957.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the reading matter which the Archbishop of Cyprus is permitted to receive includes newspapers from Cyprus and copies of the OFFICIAL REPORT of debates in Parliament; and if he will list those Cypriot publications which the Archbishop is not permitted to receive and the reasons for this prohibition.

The answer to the first part of the Question is, Yes. No Cypriot publications have been specifically prohibited.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies by what authority the Ten Commandments were printed on the back cover of a recent propaganda pamphlet published by the Government of Cyprus; and whether he will give instructions that such use of Holy Scripture shall not be repeated.

The pamphlet "The Church and Terrorism in Cyprus" was published, as indicated by the imprint on the cover, under the authority of the Cyprus Government. The form of the back cover, to which the hon. Member refers, appeared on a limited number of copies, but most of the copies distributed were printed with a plain cover. I do not think that any general instruction in the matter is called for.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many members of the Bar of Cyprus have been detained; and for what reasons.

Three; because, the Governor made an order in accordance with the terms of Section 2 (1) of the Detention of Persons Law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the estimated cost of the new deep water harbour to be built in Cyprus; where this harbour will be located; and what will be its purpose.

£2½ million, excluding the cost of new equipment, the purchase of land and the building of access roads. The purpose of the new works, which will extend the harbour at Famagusta, is to meet the need for more deep-water berths.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why a passport was refused but was later granted to Mr. I. Hopwood, of Kingston, Jamaica; and what were the grounds for the initial refusal.

The Governor of Jamaica has been unable to find any record of this case from the particulars given, but if further details can be supplied I will ask him to look into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that Ferdinand Smith, who has been refused a passport to leave Jamaica, is over 60 years of age, is in very poor health and has been told by his doctor that he must live in a cold climate if he is to survive; if he will state what security considerations there are in Jamaica involving this case; and whether he will reconsider this refusal of a passport.

Mr. Ferdinand Smith has made no application for travel facilities on grounds of health. A passport was refused by the Governor, with whom the decision rests, on the advice of his Executive Council, for security reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies approximately how many hospital patients in Jamaica had to sleep two or three to a bed in 1956; and what steps are being taken to provide more hospital accommodation.

The Government of Jamaica tell me that no statistics are available on this, though overcrowding exists in many hospitals, particularly in children's wards. In the past five years three new hospitals providing another 424 beds have been built, and work will be started this year to replace two obsolete hospitals. The question of extending the University College Hospital is under consideration. The Jamaican Govern-are also concentrating on improvement of existing hospitals, and on a programme to build 100 health centres in the next five years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what provision has been made for the construction of workers' houses in Lagos since the publication of Professor Hanbury's Report on 8th December, 1955, Government Notice No. 2552.

The Federal Government have made provision for an expenditure of £1 million on a Lagos housing scheme. It is planned to erect by November of this year 1,300 houses for persons with incomes of less than £300 a year. 400 houses have already been completed and a further 160 are nearing completion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colones what provision is being made by the Government of Kenya for the training of teachers for primary school teaching; and the number of teachers who are now receiving training.

There are now 2,951 African primary school teachers training at 42 centres which have a capacity of 3,175 places. It is planned to add 13 new classes with 325 places every year until 1960, when the total places will be 4,150. This will be done by expanding existing centres and building one new centre.There are 215 Asians training at three centres with a capacity of 240 places. These places will be increased to 350 by 1960. Two small Arab centres holding 25 trainees in all will also be opened soon.All European primary school teachers are either recruited or trained in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many African farmers in Northern Rhodesia are growing Virginia flue-cured tobacco; and the acreage cultivated, and the total value of the tobacco marketed.

So far as I am aware flue-cured tobacco is still not grown by Africans in Northern Rhodesia, but I am asking the Governor whether there has been any change in the position since the replies given to the hon. Member for Bristol, South-East (Mr. Benn) on 8th March and 11th April, 1956, and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies under what Government Department or voluntary organisation the community development schemes in each Colonial and Trusteeship Territory are operated; from what sources the funds for such schemes are made available in each territory; and the amounts of such funds.

Community development in any territory draws support from many Governmental and voluntary sources. In some territories, e.g. Kenya and Uganda, there are Community Development Departments under African Ministers. In others, the responsibility rests with the Social Welfare Department, as in Cyprus and Hong Kong, or the Social Development Department, as in British Honduras and Tanganyika. In Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland community development is the direct responsibility of the Provincial Administration. In all cases, non-Governmental agencies and voluntary effort are mobilised in support.The history, objectives and organisation of community development are described in a Colonial Office publication (Miscellaneous No. 523) entitled "Social Development in the British Colonial Territories". I am sending the hon. Member a copy.To attempt to give figures for the total financial resources available for community development schemes in any territory would be misleading: the Government appropriation to the relevant Ministry or Department, or direct grants for specific schemes, form only a part, and a variable part, of the resources which are drawn upon for this purpose. Community development appeals essentially to the initiative of the community and the response of the community may be in cash or in kind to an extent which cannot be accurately computed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent Recommendation No. 101 of the 39th Session of the General Conference of the International Labour Organisation concerning vocational training in agriculture, in particular with reference to the availability of vocational agricultural education for agricultural wage earners on the same conditions as other persons engaged in agriculture, has been implemented in Kenya, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, respectively.

The United Kingdom's acceptance of the Recommendation is at present under consideration. The question of giving effect to any of its provisions in the territories mentioned does not arise until the United Kingdom has accepted the Recommendation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number of houses constructed in the new town of Harlow together with the number of garages occupied or having tenants waiting for them.

At 28th February, 1957, 8,614 dwellings had been built by the Harlow Development Corporation or by private builders on land sold or leased by the corporation. 1,856 garages had been occupied and 573 applicants were waiting for garages.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the fact that an agreement has now been reached between the Inverness County Council and the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board's joint interests in the water rights affected by the scheme for supplying water to Portree and the surrounding area from Storr Springs, when it can be expected that the work will be continued.

Before the work can proceed, the Board and the council must obtain the statutory authority required to give effect to the agreement, the former by a constructional scheme now in preparation, the latter by an Order giving it the necessary water rights.

asked the Secretary of State for War why his Department has refused to sell or lease 27 acres on Winklands Down in the Westbury White Horse area to the Wiltshire County Council; and what steps he will take to keep this site open to the public.

This land, which adjoins the firing area of the Imber Ranges, is part of the Salisbury Plain training area, all of which is still needed for Army training. My Department has, however, for some years been willing to enter into an agreement with the Wiltshire County Council giving rights of public access to the northern part of the land which amounts to about 18 acres. Subject to continued military use this offer still remains open.