asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the estimated cost of the expansion of the naval installations to replace rented storage capacity in the Union of South Africa which is to be undertaken at Freetown, Sierra Leone.

The total cost of this work is estimated to lie between three-quarters and one million pounds.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when it is proposed to undertake the provision of permanent accommodation for the artificer apprentices at Rosyth.

I am aware that there is room for improvement in the accommodation provided for the artificer apprentices at Rosyth. Regrettably there are other establishments whose accommodation needs are more pressing and, with the money available to modernise accommodation, it is not possible at the moment to put in hand the improvements that I would like to see done at Rosyth.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in view of the need to provide a more elaborate treatment at the various road junctions on Cromwell Road Extension to cater for the rapidly increasing growth of traffic, he will enter into discussions with the London County Council with a view to the early construction of the Hammersmith fly-over.

As I said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Mr. Gresham Cooke) on 24th October, 1956, I am considering this possibility, and the problems it raises, with the L.C.C.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what is the present position with regard to the negotiations for the freeing of Selby bridge from tolls; and what are the principles which he has applied in the last three cases when toll bridge rights have been acquired and the bridges freed.

Certain preliminary points have now been clarified with the owner's solicitors which should enable negotiations to proceed. I have not previously acquired toll rights in respect of any bridges on trunk routes.

asked the Minister of Defence the extent of the proposed reduction in the British forces in Malaya; and from what date the reduction will take place.

In view of the improvement in the situation in Malaya and the progress of the local forces, it is proposed in the course of the next twelve months to withdraw two or three Army units.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present position of the Suez Canal Users' Association.

The Council of the Suez Canal Users' Association meets regularly in London. Its last meeting was on 18th March, to approve the Administrator's report on changes arising from the closure of the Canal, and to discuss technical problems connected with its re-opening in the light of the latest information available. A communiqué was issued after this meeting. The Council will meet again as soon as necessary.There are also regular meetings of the Executive Group of six members, and there have been several meetings of the shipping experts who contributed to the Administrator's report.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the termination of the Jordan Treaty, what is now the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the Tripartite Declaration.

The termination of the Anglo-Jordan Treaty has in no way changed the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the Tripartite Declaration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what amount of unexpended balance was left on 6th March of the colonial development and welfare fund money allocated to Ghana.

The precise unexpended balance of the territorial allocation on 6th March will not be known until the audited accounts are completed. It is estimated to be of the order of £100,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will institute pilot schemes for the growing of Virginia flue-cured tobacco by African farmers in Northern Rhodesia; and what advice he has given to the Northern Rhodesia Government in this matter.

My right hon. Friend has put this suggestion to the Governor and will write to the hon. Member when the Governor's views have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many African and European members there are, respectively, on the Nairobi City Council; how many Africans and Europeans are employed by the Council; and what are their respective wage rates.

There are 19 European and three African members of the Council, as well as nine Asian members. 3,705 Africans and 272 Europeans are employed by the Council. The wages paid vary according to the post held. I have placed in the Library copies of the current staff and salary records of European and Asian staff, the establishment and salary record of African salaried staff and the staff establishment of African wage employees.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will support the Governor of Hong Kong's request for United Nations assistance to help in the resettlement of refugees.

Her Majesty's Government have already put Hong Kong's case to the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and it has been referred for examination to the 12th Session of the General Assembly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why three Army Service men of the Cameron Highlanders, one Royal Air Force man, one Merchant Navy man, and one Royal Air Force Service man are being required to serve prison sentences in Crater Gaol, Aden, a prison under the control of his Department for Arab prisoners and not for Europeans; if he is aware of the bad conditions in the prison; and if he will act immediately to have the six men removed elsewhere.

Two European Service men, both Cameron Highlanders, are now serving sentences in Aden Prison: three others, and one Merchant Navy seaman, have been recently released on completion of their sentences. This prison is not for Arabs alone but for all convicts sentenced by Aden Colony courts irrespective of race. My right hon. Friend has consulted the Governor, who informs him that the conditions in the prison are satisfactory, and it is therefore not proposed to remove the two Cameron Highlanders elsewhere to serve the remainder of their sentences. My right hon. Friend has, however, now received a letter from the hon. Lady which he is referring to the Governor for some detailed comments; when I have his reply, I shall write to her.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what facilities exist for training Malayans in the peaceful use of atomic power; how many students for this purpose were invited to Britain in 1956; and whether he will make a statement.

During 1956 Overseas Governments were invited to nominate officers for courses at the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Reactor and Isotope Schools. So far one medical officer from Malaya has attended a course at the Isotope School on the uses of radioactive isotopes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what approaches have been made, directly or indirectly, by the insurgents in the Malayan jungle to terminate the emergency and establish peace; and what counter-proposals were made by the Government.

Within the last year, none. The second part of the Question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he has traced the aircraft from which shell cases fell at Seaton, Devon, on 12th March, injuring a civilian; and what orders have now been given to avoid a recurrence of this dangerous incident.

I regret the occurrence of this incident. The aircraft was a Hunter operating from the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment, Boscombe Down, carrying out gun firing trials over the Lyme Bay firing range.A Board of Inquiry has been set up and, pending its findings, my right hon. Friend has given instructions that no further trials shall take place under the conditions prevailing at the time of the incident.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education how many information officers are on the strength of his Department; and how many of them have had experience as journalists on national newspapers or news agencies.

Three, of whom two have had journalistic experience.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many information officers are on the strength of his Department and subordinate departments; and how many of them have had experience as journalists on national newspapers or news agencies.

In the Treasury and subordinate departments there are eleven officers whose duties include contact with the Press. Of these, three have had experience in journalistic work for national and four for other newspapers.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if local authorities who buy prefabricated bungalows which are now on sites in public parks or open spaces will be allowed to keep them on those sites after 1965 if no alternative sites are available elsewhere.

This question will not arise, for I do not contemplate sales to local authorities of temporary houses on open spaces. The circular offering the houses for sale mentioned that those houses would have to be removed.

asked the Minister of Labour if the decision announced recently to grant deferment to science students securing a first class honours degree this year and taking up work in their scientific field, will apply equally to graduates who complete a research degree in science this year.

The scheme for the deferment of men with first class honours degrees in science and engineering which I announced in December applies to students obtaining a first class honours degree this year, and also to graduates completing a research degree this year who already hold a first class honours degree in science or engineering.