asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent, in giving approval to the purchase of aircraft by the British Overseas Airways Corporation, he takes into account the desirability, for trade and prestige reasons, of restoring a British air service to South America at the earliest possible date; and when he expects that this service will be revived.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave him on 1st August, 1956, when I said that the 18 Long Range Britannias on order were intended to provide for the western routes including that between the U.K. and South America. B.O.A.C. are about to send representatives to South America in connection with a current re-examination of the prospects of the route.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the importance, in the national interest, of maintaining and increasing international traffic on British air services, whether he will give a general direction to the air Corporations to continue the present practice of using a replica of the Union Jack on the documents issued for the use of passengers.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will give a general direction for the restoration of the Union Jack to all timetables and other printed publications of the British European Airways Corporation, and include in such direction a requirement that all aircraft operated by the Corporation will either fly the Union Jack or have it prominently displayed on the fuselage.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will give a general direction to British European Airways Corporation that the Union Jack will always be printed on timetables, other publications of the Corporation as hitherto, and always be painted on the aircraft.

All B.E.A. aircraft display the Union Jack on the fuselage and will continue to do so. The Corporation has informed me that the use of the Union Jack on tickets and timetables was originated at a time when B.E.A. were concentrating their efforts on inducing British passengers to fly British. Publicity now is aimed at strengthening still further the Corporation's position as an international carrier.I do not consider that the design of tickets and timetables, which is all that is in question, would be a suitable matter for a general direction, but I have satisfied myself that B.E.A. will display the appropriate British flag on all suitable occasions.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will place a model of the proposed new layout of the roads at Hyde Park Corner, Park Lane and Marble Arch in the Library.

The model is on view in the Upper Waiting Hall.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he intends to include the Tyne Tunnel in the 1958–59 programme.

No. I cannot add to my present programme for 1958–59.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when the machinery in use for the Dartford—Purfleet Tunnel will be available for the Tyne Tunnel.

The Dartford—Purfleet and Tyne Tunnels will have different diameters and it will not be practicable to use, for the construction of the Tyne Tunnel, the shields now in use at Dartford.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) what agreement was entered into with the Great Ouse River Board for the under-piling of the Brandon Creek Bridge which carries the A.10 trunk road over the river Great Ouse;(2) what is the estimated cost of the work at present being undertaken to repair the Brandon Creek bridge and control the traffic over it; and when he anticipates that a new bridge will be built to replace the present one.

Strengthening works were completed under an agreement entered into between the Norfolk County Council, acting as our agent, and the Great Ouse River Board. The cost of these works, including the installation of light signals, was £1,950.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will have a note placed in the Library describing the preliminary processes required before work can be started on large-scale road improvement schemes.

Yes. I have arranged for a note on these lines to be placed in the Library.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will arrange to make available to Parliament and the public the reasons for the rejection by the Transport Users' Consultative Committee of the plan for improving rush hour conditions on the Central Line of London Transport prepared by a joint committee representative of local authorities, including the Chigwell Urban District Council and the Epping and Ongar Rural District Council.

I understand that a full report of the London Transport Users' Consultative Committee's meeting on this question has already been sent to the local authorities concerned and that the Chairman of the Committee would be glad to send a copy of this report to any Member who asks for it.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has yet received the report of the Chief Inspecting Officer of Railways into the collision at Welwyn Garden City on 7th January, and the subsequent incident involving the Aberdonian in March.

I have not yet received this report, but I understand that it is nearing completion. As I informed the House on 3rd April, the report will be published as soon as it is ready, and I will see that a copy is sent to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Defence what agreement was reached with the German Minister of Defence during his recent visit to London with regard to the use of nuclear weapons by British troops stationed in Germany.

None.

asked the Minister of Defence what compensation will be paid to Regular officers and non-commissioned officers discharged as redundant from the services.

An announcement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Defence if he is aware that there are many National Service men with a relative physically dependent on them, or who are the mainstay of an orphaned family or of a widow with a child to look after or of a widow living alone; and what steps he is taking to inform them they now have a right to compassionate release.

I have no reason to think that National Service men are not well aware of the grounds on which they may apply for compassionate release.

asked the Minister of Defence what proposals he has in regard to the rate for purchase of discharge from the Armed Forces.

New rates will be introduced on 1st August, 1957. Details are given below. The rates for officer cadets, apprentices and boys and women remain

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give an assurance to pensioners of the municipalities of Malaya that their pension and provident fund rights will be safeguarded for the future by Her Majesty's Government, with particular reference to continuation of payments, continuation of double taxation and earned income allowance, and guarantee of capital repayments of provident fund monies under the established conditions of the various provident funds.

These pension and provident fund rights are obligations of the municipalities concerned, and I have no reason to suppose that the municipalities will not honour their obligations or that the Government of the Federation will interpose difficulties. The officers concerned would be fully entitled to seek the good offices of Her Majesty's Government should any difficulty arise over the particular matters mentioned in the question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proportion of the arrears of revenue of Rs. 73,825 in the accounts of the Seychelles at 31st December, 1955, has now been written off: and by what authority.

Of the 73,825 rupees, 72,344 were collected and 1,481 written off by the authority of the Governor or the Governor-in-Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been drawn to the numerous queries raised by the principal auditor of the accounts of the Seychelles in respect of allowances erroneously claimed, deductions from salary wrongly computed, and payments made without proper authority; and if he will dispatch an independent commission of inquiry to the Seychelles for the purpose of reviewing the financial system.

In the 1955 Report, there were 20 queries on allowances erroneously claimed, involving a total of under £65 all of which has been recovered: there were four queries on deductions from salary wrongly computed, involving about £100; any amounts previously left undeducted have since been recovered: there were 13 payments without proper authority involving a total of £294; they were all made in advance of authority, which has since been obtained; no question of irregularity arose.The creation of a post of Commissioner to advise on financial and fiscal policy was announced in Seychelles on 25th January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Seychelles Government is continuing to build village settlements; and to what extent this includes adequate sanitary accommodation.

The Government of Seychelles are continuing to build village settlements. Of 74 houses in these settlements 32 have modern sanitary conveniences and work is proceeding on the modernisation of the others.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the political situation in Kenya, particularly in relation to the banning of African meetings, and the reply of the European group in the Legislature to the proposal of the African and Asian groups that African representation should be increased.

Since talks between the groups have already begun my right hon. Friend does not wish to make any statement at this stage. But I must point out that African political meetings have not been banned. It is proposed to exercise closer control in enforcing the conditions under which they are permitted to take place.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when discussions between the Governor and the elected members of the Kenya Legislative Council on the possible amendment of the Lyttelton Constitution are likely to begin.

I understand that preliminary talks between the different groups of elected members have already begun.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proposals have been made by the Government of Kenya for the year 1957–58, for the development of irrigation in rural areas; and what plans have been made for the irrigation of undeveloped land with a view to future settlement.

The development of irrigation and subsequent settlement of population is a prominent feature of Kenya's agricultural policy. The provisional figures immediately available to me show estimated expenditure of £735,522 on irrigation in the coming financial year. This will enable work to continue on the experimental sites at Mwea-Tebere, where 1,470 landless families are engaged on irrigated agriculture and at Perkerra, Hola, Lodwar, Kano, Ishiara and the Machakos Yatta.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the speeches made by Mr. Tom Mboya in the Dessai Memorial Hall, Nairobi, on 30th May and in the Kaloleni Hall, Kisumu, on 20th April, were recorded officially on tape recorders in accordance with the Kenya Government's statement of 22nd May; and if he will place a transcript in the Library.

Mr. Mboya did not address a meeting on Thursday, 30th May. His speech at Kisumu on 20th April was delivered before the announcement of the Kenya Government's new policy on the control of African political meetings and, therefore, no official tape recording was made of it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Aden students who have qualified as doctors and engineers in each of the last five years did so on Government scholarships; what is the present annual rate of scholarships given to Aden students from the Technical Institute and the Aden College; and if he is satisfied with the progress made.

In the past five years one Government scholar has qualified as an engineer, none as a doctor. In this period 25 scholarships were awarded to pupils of Aden College, including 13 in 1956. Awards to students from the Technical Institute will be considered when they have completed the course for the City and Guilds Final examination now being undertaken. The only limitation on the award of scholarships has been the number of suitably qualified candidates, but the education development programme is now beginning to show results and the number of awards can be expected to increase annually. I am satisfied with the progress made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what percentage of the voters on the register in Aden voted at the last election for the Legislative Council; how many elected members there are on that Council out of the total number; and if he will now review the position to democratise the constitution and provide for fresh elections.

46 per cent. of the voters on the register in Aden voted at the last election. Of the 18 members of the Legislative Council four are elected.As Lord Lloyd stated in Aden on 19th May, 1956, the advance made at that time needs to be fully tested before further advance can be considered, and there could be no question of any further radical change in the constitution during the life of the present Council which expires in December, 1958. The Governor and my right hon. Friend are, however, keeping the possibility of further constitutional advance under constant review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Governor of Aden has banned the newspaper Al-Baath; what reasons for this ban were made public at the time; and if he will now permit the resumption of publication.

The Governor, acting in his discretion under the Press and Registration of Books Ordinance, suspended the licence of Al-Baath in July, 1956, and informed the editor accordingly. No reasons were publicly given. I understand the Government of Aden are considering an application for renewal of the licence alongside applications for licences for new newspapers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the outcome of the trial of Nicos Samson, he will now institute a judicial inquiry into the many allegations of ill-treatment of prisoners that have been made against the police and security forces in Cyprus.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the statements made by Mr. Justice Shaw in the case of Nicos Samson; and what disciplinary action he is taking against the members of the Cyprus police force who are concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) if he will order an investigation into all cases of the ill-treatment of prisoners and detainees in Cyprus in view of recent findings by courts of law; if he will suspend from duty all police officers, interrogators, and other officials in Cyprus whose conduct towards prisoners has been criticised by judges, pending a full investigation of each case.

I am aware of the statements made by Mr. Justice Shaw in the case of Nicos Sampson. The judge has stated in court that the manner in which Sampson was made to travel from the place where he was arrested, and the failure to provide him with dry clothes and medical attention on arrival at Nicosia, amounted to treatment which should not have been given to any person. But all other allegations of ill-treatment and torture were found untrue. Mr. Justice Shaw also made a further statement on the 31st May, a copy of which I am circulating in the OFFICIAL. REPORT. My right hon. Friend has been in communication with the Governor on this matter, and he does not consider that the facts established in any of the cases which have come to notice indicate any need for disciplinary action.At the same time Sir John Harding is naturally concerned to clear, beyond all reasonable doubt or suspicion, the good name of the Cyprus police force and the security forces, and has informed my right hon. Friend that he is giving consideration to how this might best be done. My right hon. Friend proposes to await the Governor's report, when he will be ready to make a further statement. In the meantime, I do not think there is any case for suspending any officials from duty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many complaints have been received by the Cyprus Government alleging misconduct by the Cyprus police force; and what answers have been given.

There has been a general campaign in Cyprus of vilification of the police and security forces, both in letters and in E.O.K.A. leaflets, and it is impossible to specify a particular number of complaints. But all serious complaints arc scrupulously investigated by the Cyprus authorities and answers sent accordingly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the 24-hour strike called by E.O.K.A. for 25th May was successful.

The Governor informs my right hon. Friend that the response to the strike call was only partial and, in general, very lukewarm.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will order an investigation into interferences with cables between London and Nicosia.

No. I know of no such interference. If the hon. Member refers to a report in a Sunday newspaper, the correspondent concerned has since made it clear that the delay in receipt of a telegram from the London Office was in no way the result of interference by the Cyprus Government. The message was not received owing to the fact that the correspondent's teleprinter was disconnected at the time of its transmission by the Cable Company.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the estimated number of children of school age in the Mbale District of Uganda and the proportion regularly attending school; and to what extent the numbers attending school will be increased during the next twelve months.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to develop the export of ortaniques from Jamaica to the United Kingdom.

The Government of Jamaica have distributed some 33,500 seedlings to growers since 1954, with a further 15,000 to become available this year. Exports to the United Kingdom rose from 4,646 half-boxes in 1955–56 to about 9,548 half-boxes in 1956–57, and are expected to increase further as young plants start bearing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to encourage the canning of ackees, on a cottage industry basis, in Jamaica and whether it is proving possible to develop an export market to the United States of America

The Government of Jamaica have distributed seedlings free, have established arrangements for the training of canners and assist local producers to obtain overseas customers. In 1956, 52,300 lb. of ackees, valued at £3,070 were exported to the U.S.A.. and the market is expanding.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how much of the £17 million, which has been set aside for research under the Colonial Development and Welfare Acts, has been allocated to the West Indian Colonies, British Guiana, and British Honduras, respectively; and how such allocation compares with that made to the other Colonial Territories.

Research funds are not allocated territorially, but within the general allocation approximately £2 million have been provided for research undertaken in the British Caribbean region. Of this sum, about £1·5 million has been devoted to regional schemes designed to benefit the West Indian Colonies, British Guiana and British Honduras generally, while the remainder has been provided under grants totalling about £128,000 to British Guiana, £38,000 to British Honduras and £334,000 to the West Indian Colonies, for specific research projects.The amount made available for research in the British Caribbean region represents about 11 per cent. of the total allocation for research as compared with 38 per cent. for the East African region, 17 per cent. for the West African region, 9 per cent. for the South East Asia territories and Hong Kong, and 5 per cent. for Central Africa. The remaining 20 per cent. is devoted to other Colonies and to schemes operated for the benefit of all Colonial Territories.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what percentage of the people of Hong Kong are suffering from tuberculosis; and what steps are being taken to provide the necessary treatment for these sufferers and to deal with the chief cause of this disease, which is overcrowding.

The exact percentage is not known. 12,000 cases were notified in 1956 and it is believed that rather more than this number were treated privately without official notification. Examinations of employed adults show that roughly 2 per cent. have the disease actively. Treatment of cases during 1956 included 456,000 attendances at Government clinics. With the opening of a new hospital on 6th June there will be 1,440 beds for tubercular patients. 29,000 persons received B.C.G. vaccination in 1956. 131,000 persons were rehoused in 1956 and it is estimated that nearly 110,000 more will be rehoused this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the annual value of exports from Hong Kong to China before the embargo on strategic materials was imposed; what is the annual value for the latest period for which figures are available; and what estimate he has made of the increase expected as a result of the embargo being removed.

The value of exports from Hong Kong to China in the year ended 31st March, 1951, was £116 million. The corresponding figure for the year ended 31st March, 1957, was £9 million. It is not at present possible to give an estimate of the likely effect on this trade of the statement made by my right hon. and learned Friend on 30th May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the Customs records in Hong Kong show a recent increase in the imports of goods from the United States which are re-exported to the mainland of China.

Returns of Hong Kong's overseas trade do not show any significant recent increase in the value of imports from the U.S.A. Figures for the first four months of 1957 were only slightly above those for the last four months of 1956.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that European farmers on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro are rain-making by means of balloon bomb experiments; that this is inconveniencing some neighbouring farmers; and what advice the Meteorological Department of the East African High Commission is giving to these amateur rainmakers.

I am not aware of the experiments referred to in this Question. I am consulting the Governor of Tanganyika and the Administrator of the East African High Commission on the subject and will circulate a further reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Information on experiments conducted by the East African Meteorological Department was given in my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member on 31st May last year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the sugar cane grinding factory in British Honduras was about four weeks late in commencing to process the sugar cane; what was the maximum amount ground in any one day in the first month; and what was the maximum subsequently reached.

The company was promised delivery of new plant in October, 1956, but deliveries did not in fact commence until November and were not completed until January and the processing of cane was in consequence delayed. In the first month the maximum amount ground on any one day was 513 tons. The maximum daily amount subsequently reached was 708 tons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the amount, per day, the factory management of the sugar cane grinding industry undertook to attain in British Honduras.

The company's undertaking to Government has been that the factory's capacity shall be kept in excess of the total cane production until the target figure of 28,000 tons of sugar, comprising exports and local consumption, has been reached. This undertaking is not expressed in terms of daily grinding performance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to improve the cane grinding facilities in the sugar industry in British Honduras.

No major additions to factory facilities are planned for the next year's crop because the present capacity is considered to be more than adequate for the estimated crop. The company have undertaken thereafter to ensure that the factory capacity is always ahead of the requirements of the total cane production, and in the meanwhile they have recently strengthened their engineering staff to ensure uninterrupted operation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what representative of the African population of East Africa was invited to attend the African Defence Committee which met in Nairobi during the week of 9th-16th May to discuss the East African land forces.

The East African Defence Committee met on the 7th May; there were no meetings during the week of the 9th-16th May. No representatives of the African population were invited to attend. The Committee is an official body consisting of the Governors of the three East African territories, the British Resident, Zanzibar, and representatives of the Services. It is designed to maintain contact between the Governments and the Services and it would be inappropriate for representatives drawn from any section of the public to attend its discussions.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1) upon what basis the Official Side of the Admiralty asked for an assurance from the trade union side for their co-operation; what restrictions on efficiency exist; and what action has been taken on the many suggestions made by the trade union side;(2) what consultations took place prior to the settlement of the general pay claim made in May, 1957, with the trade unions who have members employed in Her Majesty's dockyards;(3) when negotiations were authorised to be conducted upon the basis that they were in May, 1957, between representatives of the Admiralty and the Shipbuilding Trades Joint Council; what was the offer made to the trade unions; what was the settlement made and the conditions agreed upon; and what was the result of the voting for the motion which was accepted.

The Shipbuilding Trades Joint Council has, since 1920, been the body responsible for negotiating wages of Admiralty industrial employees. A claim for a substantial increase in wages was made by the Trades Union Side of the Council on the 24th October, 1956, and was discussed at several Council meetings.On the 17th May, 1957 the Official Side offered increases of 1ls. weekly for skilled men, 9s. 6d. for semi-skilled and 8s. for ordinary labourers, with effect from the pay week containing 7th May. The offer was subject to conditions; firstly, that no further application for a general increase in wages would be made within twelve months; secondly, that the Trade Union Side would give an assurance of continued co-operation in the removal of any restricting practices which existed and, thirdly, that they would agree to the establishment of a sub-committee of the Council to consider certain questions of joint interest, including prospective schemes of re-organisation and improvements in efficiency.After discussion the offer was amended to provide increases of 10s. and 9s. weekly for semi-skilled and unskilled male employees, and was then accepted by the Trade Union Side.There is no evidence of serious restrictive practices in the Admiralty service, but there is a considerable field in which greater efficiency could be obtained. Any suggestions made by the Trade Union Side can be, and are, considered under existing machinery.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the inquiry into the matériel organisation of the Admiralty by the Committee under the chairmanship of Sir Berkeley Nihill has been completed; and if he will now make a statement on the future of the Naval Ordnance Design and Inspection Pool.

The Committee under the chairmanship of Sir Berkeley Nihill has not yet submitted its recommendations. I regret that I am therefore unable to make a statement on the future of the Naval Ordnance Design and Inspection Pool.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty for what reason a fortnight's notice is being given to twenty painters, seven carpenters, eight masons, two plumbers between the ages of 25–29 years, and to four carpenters, five painters, one mason, two plumbers, and one blacksmith over the age of 65 years in Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport.

These discharges, which represent about 2½ per cent. of the total labour force in the Civil Engineering Department at Devonport, have been necessitated by a reduction in repair and maintenance work.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether it was with his authority that the Admiral Superintendent of Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport, in a statement of 28th May, expressed confidence that, if and when redundancy arose in the dockyard, there would be no dismissals but that it would be met by normal wastage.

As the public accounts of the Admiral Superintendent's remarks make clear, he was careful to emphasise that he was expressing no more than his personal opinion.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that his Department is employing a Nottingham firm to build new married quarters in Plymouth and employing Nottingham painters, etc., when he is giving this type of worker already in the Admiralty service a fortnight's notice; and if he will take steps to prevent in the future the employment of outside labour when local labour is available.

The contract for building the married quarters to which my honourable Friend refers is a large one awarded as long ago as March, 1956, to a Birmingham firm after fully competitive tender. A Nottingham firm is employed by the main contractor as subcontractor for the painting work. Selection of labour is of course a matter for the contractor and sub-contractor themselves, but in fact all the painters employed have been recruited locally. Indeed, I am informed that the whole of the labour force employed has been drawn from Ply mouth. Devonport, and neighbouring towns.It is the usual Admiralty practice to employ direct labour on repair and maintenance work and on certain minor works services, and the contraction of Navy Votes has made it necessary to reduce the expenditure on such work. In the event of redundancy it is our aim to transfer the labour to other services if this is possible, and I very much regret that in the present instance it was not practicable to do so.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what consideration he has given to the construction of floating dry docks to accommodate large oil tankers in order to save time on cleaning, painting and repairs.

The use of floating docks would not save time on cleaning, painting and repairs. Floating docks would require steel which otherwise could be used in the construction of ships. Mobility, which is their principal asset, is restricted by the small number of deep water estuaries in this country.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, in view of the fact that there are only two dry docks in this country capable of taking 100,000 ton oil tankers, and in view of the urgency of this problem, if he will hasten the completion of the report he is preparing on the scheme relating to this matter, which was sent to him last year.

I understand that this question concerns a scheme for harbour developments in Milford Haven which was sent to certain Government Departments. Private Bills are now before Parliament for new facilities in the Haven, which include the construction of two new large dry docks capable of taking the largest oil tankers.

asked the Postmaster-General how many would-be subscribers are waiting for telephones in Penarth, Glamorgan; and when he expects to be able to meet the demand.

Two hundred and fifty-two. A new automatic exchange and additional cables are being provided. All applications at present outstanding are expected to be met in the course of the next twelve months.

asked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been called to the unpleasant conditions of telephone kiosks after they have been used for a long conversation by heavy smokers; and whether he will have a notice displayed in all kiosks asking users not to smoke.

I have had little public complaint about smoking in telephone kiosks. I doubt if a notice asking people not to smoke would be effective.

asked the Postmaster General how many applications for telephones at Whitchurch, and Rhiwlina, Glamorgan, respectively, have been outstanding for twelve months or more; and when he expects that all these applications will be satisfied.

The figures are 34 and 69 respectively. Some of these are at present in course of being met and new cables are being provided to serve others. but I cannot yet say when all existing applications will be met.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephones in Sully, Glamorgan, have been outstanding for twelve months or more: and when he expects that all these applications will be satisfied.

Twenty-six applications have been outstanding for more than twelve months. I hope that all these will be satisfied in about three months' time.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephones at Peterston-super-Ely, Pendoylan, St. Nicholas, and Bonvilston in the county of Glamorgan, respectively, are now outstanding; and when he anticipates that all the applications in each of these areas will be satisfied.

Sixteen applications are outstanding on the Peterston-super-Ely exchange, which also serves Pendoylan and St. Nicholas, and two are outstanding at Bonvilston. Eleven of these applications will be met shortly. Additional cables are required, and I cannot yet say when the other applications will be met.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephones at Radyr, Glamorgan, are now outstanding; and when he expects that all these applications will be satisfied.

One, and this is in course of being met.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephones at Rhoose, Glamorgan, are now outstanding; and when he anticipates that all these applications will be satisfied.

Nineteen. Of these, ten are under inquiry or in course of being met. I cannot say when all will be cleared.

asked the Postmaster-General what action he proposes to take to prevent dissemination through the mails of unsolicited pamphlets about birth control.

Provided they are not couched in terms which are indecent or obscene. I have no power to prevent such pamphlets being sent by post.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider making representations to the Government of India to ensure that Britain is not discriminated against on the question of air mail postage payable on letters from India to the United Kingdom.

All the available information indicates that the air mail postage rates from India to this country are the same as for other European countries. I am, however, writing to the Indian administration, in case the recent change of currency there may have led to misunderstandings.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what action he proposes to take with the Iraqi Government to secure married quarters for the 74 officers, non-commissioned officers and airmen on the waiting list at A Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Habbaniya.

The allocation of married quarters a: Habbaniya, between the Royal Air Force and the Royal Iraqi Air Force, which leaves all but a small number for R.A.F. use. has already been agreed.

asked the Minister of Health what steps are being taken by his Department and by the public health authorities generally to deal with the possibility that the new form of influenza which is now raging in the Far East may spread to Europe and reach Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.

The outbreaks of influenza in the East are being caused by a new variant of the virus, but all reports are that the illness is clinically mild in character. There are standing arrangements for information to be supplied about outbreaks of influenza in this country through general practitioners, industrial medical officers and others, and port medical officers report epidemic influenza among persons arriving in this country. As a precaution, practitioners are now being reminded of these arrangements. The characteristics of this new strain of virus are being investigated at the World Influenza Centre and in other research departments.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases were awaiting accommodation in mental deficiency institutions at the latest convenient date.

6,247 on 31st December, 1956, in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Health if he will issue instructions that the hospitals needs of the city of Stoke-on-Trent shall be given super priority in regard to the amount of capital allocated, and of extensions, modernisation, and equipment required.

I am not satisfied that i should be justified in doing this.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many British tourists visited the United States of America in the last twelve months for reasons other than business or officially sponsored purposes: and how this figure compares with the number of United States tourists who visited Great Britain.

A total of 16,000 residents of the United Kingdom visited the United States of America by sea during 1956. Comparable figures for air travel are not available, nor is it possible to distinguish between business visitors and tourists. 271,000 residents of the United States of America visited the United Kingdom during 1956, of whom approximately 227,000 were tourists.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent the Forestry Commission is financially assisting local authorities to select and plant suitable trees on old colliery spoil heaps; and to what further extent local authorities can call upon the services and advice of the Forestry Commission in this connection.

The Forestry Commission do not give special financial aid for planting colliery spoil heaps, but it is open to local authorities to apply for grants under the Commission's normal planting grant schemes. The Commission's technical advice will always be readily available to local authorities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the wheat deficiency payment will be for the period from 1st March to 30th April. 1957; and when it will be paid.

The ascertained average price for about 7 million cwt. of millable wheat despatched on delivery in the United Kingdom during the Fourth Accounting Period (1st March to 30th April, 1957) of the cereal year 1956–57 is 22s. 6·8d. per cwt.The standard price for the period is 32s. ld. per cwt. and the deficiency payment will. therefore, be 9s. 6·2d. per cwt. (£9 10s. 4d. per ton). In addition, approximately 195,000 cwt. of wheat brought up to millable standard after sale will be included in the payment.Except for a few certificates which are under query, the total payment of £3·42 million to about 24,000 growers will begin at once and will be completed by the end of June.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the National Budget Poster for 1957–58 will not be available until July.

The details of the Budget Poster cannot be settled until the Finance Bill has passed this House.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will take action to assist persons who have difficulty in becoming house owners through unwillingness on the part of building societies to advance loans for

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give an assurance that, in spite of the proposed reductions in the officer corps of the Army, there will be a requirement for house purchase unless the borrower is earning more than £10 a week.

I have made inquiries of the Building Societies' Association, and am assured that building societies do not refuse to advance loans for house purchase because a man is not earning more than £10 a week or any other particular sum. Building societies may, however, in the interest of the borrower discourage an application for an advance which is too large in relation to the applicant's capacity to repay; but many older houses can be purchased for sums within the capacity of people earning £10 or less a week, and I am informed that there are large numbers of building society borrowers with wages of less than £10 a week, and that they are satisfactory borrowers. In these circumstances. I do not think that further action on my part is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state, for Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow, respectively, the total number of boys released from school for potato-harvesting in 1956 from junior secondary, senior secondary, local authority fee-paying and private fee-paying schools, giving separate figures for each type of school.

The number of boys exempted from attendance at school for work in the 1956 potato harvest in the undernoted areas were:Welbeck College to continue at full capacity in the future.

Yes. Even with the smaller Army, Sandhurst will most certainly continue to need its present quota of cadets from Welbeck College in order to provide the number of Regular officers we need for technical corps.