asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement on the Post Office facilities provided and to be provided in the Northwood and Westvale areas of the Kirkby Housing Estate, Lancashire.

We have provided eight posting boxes and four telephone kiosks in these areas, and in Westvale there is a sub-post office. Two more telephone kiosks will be put up shortly in Westvale, and as each area grows other kiosks and posting boxes will be provided. We hope to provide Crown Post Offices to serve each area in temporary premises by March. 1958.

asked the Postmaster-General why it took him fifty-four days to provide the information which he undertook to give to the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland or the outcome of a meeting between his officials and North of Scotland Hydro-Board officials held in Wick on 30th May which concerned a number of citizens who have been waiting for years for an electricity supply.

This was a complicated matter involving the Post Office and the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation as well as the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board. I regret that, following the technical discussion, we were responsible for delay while the question of defraying the cost of putting the cables concerned underground was considered.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give his estimate of the increased value, as a result of increased charges, of all paid and unpaid services rendered by his Department for other Government Departments.

Government Departments are billed for telephones like any other customer and the Post Office keeps no central records from which it could estimate the effect on them. In a full year the Post Office would expect to gain about £1·2 million under Posts and £10,000 under Telegraphs.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state his estimates of the total operating profit of the Post Office for 1956–57 and 1957–58, as compared with that for 1955–56.

The following is the answer:

asked the Postmaster-General the total amount owed to all services of the Post Office by sundry debtors at the most recent available date.

About £50 million at 31st March. 1957.

asked the Postmaster-General what sums have been spent in each of the last five years on the provision of rural telephone kiosks in Cornwall; and how many have been provided in each year.

The information is as follows:

asked the Postmaster-General what sum has been allocated for the provision of rural telephone kiosks in Cornwall in 1957–58; and how many will be provided.

£4,500. I expect that about 18 kiosks will be provided.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will give the number of telephone subscribers in Wales who have to pay increased charges because they live three miles or more from a telephone exchange; and what are the charges.

About 350. For exclusive lines the present extra charge is 7s. 6d. for each furlong beyond 3 miles from the exchange; for shared lines the rate is 3s. 9d. per furlong.

asked the Postmaster-General how many subscribers have given notice to disconnect their telephones since the increased charges were announced.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to today's Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Wembley, South (Mr. Russell).

asked the Postmaster-General what plans he has for the application of electronic techniques to telephone switching.

Electronic directors for routing calls within the London telephone system have been working successfully at the Richmond exchange for five years, and improved electronic equipment of this kind will shortly be in use at Lee Green. When the Bristol subscribers have their own trunk dialling facilities in 1959, the equipment which controls the routing of the calls and the charges, will be electronic.Like ourselves, other countries are working hard on the development of a fully electronic public telephone exchange. I am happy to announce that, as the result of joint research and development by the Post Office and the telecommunications industry of this country, we shall have one here in the spring of 1960. Plans are made, and work will soon begin, to provide at Highgate Wood in London a prototype electronic exchange, giving service to over 1,000 subscribers.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many accidents and how many casualties have occurred on the Newcastle-Sunderland road in first six months of 1957.

There were thirty-nine accidents involving personal injury. Forty-six persons were injured, four of them fatally.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the survey he is having made of week-end road traffic from London to seaside resorts can be extended to include routes from Manchester to resorts on the west coast of Lancashire.

I think we had first better see how we get on with the current inquiry.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a statement on the progress made with temporary measures to deal with week-end congestion on roads from London to seaside resorts.

I think excellent progress has been made. With the collaboration of local authorities, the police and the motoring associations, Mr. Samuels has made suggestions for improving some of the worst week-end traffic bottlenecks in Kent, Surrey and Sussex. I hope that several of these will be in operation for August Bank Holiday.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what conditions the Great Ouse River Board attached to their consent to the supports being placed in the centre of the river under the Brandon Creek Bridge on the A10 trunk road at the boundary between the Isle of Ely and Norfolk.

The conditions were that the matter would be reviewed again early next year, that lighting would be provided if necessary, that satisfactory fenders would be provided and that the Board would be indemnified against any claims or expense that might arise out of the execution of the work or the presence of the supports in the river.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a statement upon the expenditure incurred under his auspices during any convenient period upon the application of non-skid substances to road surfaces, the reduction in accidents which have resulted, and the estimated economic loss which the accidents thus avoided would have caused; and whether he will give a comparison of that expenditure with expenditure upon other road improvements in terms of accident reduction and economic saving.

The provision of a non-skid surface is an integral part of most road improvements, and it is not possible to isolate its cost or effects.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a statement showing the mileages of road for which each county council highway authority is responsible; the costs of schemes submitted for grant approval in 1956–57; and the amounts approved.

The answer to parts one and three of the Question is given below. The figures for the second part of the Question are not readily available, and, as my right hon. Friend said in answer to a similar Question on 24th July by the hon. Member for Bristol. Central (Mr. Awbery), they would in any case be of little significance.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many police man-hours per week are consumed in the manual operation of the traffic lights at the junction of Savoy Street and the Embankment; for how long these lights have been manually operated; and when he proposes to instal a mechanical system.

These lights have been manually operated since May, 1939. This takes 84 man-hours per week. The Westminster City Council, who are the highway authority, decided earlier this year to replace these lights as soon as possible by permanent traffic signals, and we have made a grant towards their cost.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the estimated authorisations and expenditure, respectively, under the roads programme in each of the years 1958–59 to 1961–62.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, having regard to his estimate that the cost of the road improvement works which he proposes to put in hand for the four years, 1958–59 to 1961–62, will ultimately cost the Exchequer about £240 million, that in 1958–59 authorisations will total substantially more than £65 million, what will be the average amount of authorisations for each of the three following years; and to what extent he anticipates that in any of those years they will exceed or fall below the 1958–59 level.

In the four years 1958–59 to 1961–62 I propose to authorise road improvements in England and Wales which will cost the Exchequer about £240 million, compared with the current four years' programme in which authorisations total about £138 million for England and Wales. This programme will be advanced as quickly as possible. In the interests of flexibility in planning, I do not propose to announce detailed lists of schemes some years in advance. My policy will be rather to press forward actual construction works with all possible speed.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of projected works under the next four years roads programme not included in the list published in the OFFICIAL REPORT of 22nd February, 1955.

Experience has shown the desirability of keeping the programme as flexible as possible, and therefore, as I informed the House on 22nd July, apart from the major priorities which I have announced, I do not propose to issue lists of specific schemes long in advance of the time when work on them can start.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will permit a loan to be floated, if acceptable to the north-east for the purpose of proceeding with the speedy provision of the Tyne tunnel.

The Tyne Tunnel Acts, 1946 and 1956, specifically empower the Durham and Northumberland County Councils to borrow certain sums for the construction of the tunnel.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation approximately when work will begin on the widening of Theobalds Road, Holborn; and when vacant possession of properties due for demolition will be required.

We have invited the London County Council to submit an application for grant for this scheme. The date when vacant possession of properties will be required rests with the London County Council.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is now able to give starting, dates for the east-west and north-south by-pass roads at Newbury.

No. A compulsory purchase Order is required for some of the land for the cast-west by-pass, and the line for the north-south by-pass has yet to be established.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation by what dates he estimates that the section of the Cromwell Road extension between Hammersmith and the Great West Road, that round Hammersmith Broadway, and the Talgarth Road section, respectively, will be completed.

The section between Hammersmith and the Great West Road should be completed by the late summer of 1959. One way working should be operating at Hammersmith Broadway by the autumn of 1958 and the Talgarth Road section should be completed by the end of 1959.

asked the Minister of Transport of Civil Aviation what steps are being taken to widen and improve road A.30 between Chard and Exeter.

Since 1951 five improvement schemes have been completed on this section of the London-Penzance Trunk Road at a cost of about £40,000. During the present year three further schemes estimated to cost £38,500 are expected to start and we hope to authorise one further scheme costing about £47,000.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what further progress has been made in respect of the extension of the Eastern Avenue through the borough of Leyton.

We have now reached agreement on the treatment to be proposed for the western junction of this road with the existing highways. The problem at the eastern end is more complex and we are still considering it. We hope, however, to reach a decision soon, after which the draft Statutory Orders can be prepared for publication.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the hardship suffered by individual householders whose property is threatened by the possible construction of the D-ring road through Middlesex, and the fact that this number of affected householders has almost doubled since an alternative route for the road was put forward, if he is now able to state when this road project is to be carried out and the precise route which it will follow.

It seems to me, after most careful consideration of the difficulties of any alternative route, that the best available line for that part of the ring road in Middlesex for which the line has not yet been defined will be via roads A4090 and A312, and I propose to proceed accordingly. I cannot say at present when the improvement of these roads can proceed and no doubt the timing will have to be related to future plans for the North Orbital Road.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when it is proposed to make a start on the Derbyshire section of the London-Yorkshire motorway.

I hope to advertise the draft scheme for this section of the motorway before the end of the year, but cannot yet say when the work will start.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what is his estimate of the cost of his plans for improving road A.5 between St. Albans and the junction between A.5 and A.38; and by what date he anticipates these plans will have been carried out.

I hope to start the construction of the London-Birmingham motorway this year. This should relieve A.5 of much of its traffic. I am planning to widen A.5 progressively beyond Rugby as funds permit and also to improve it between Rugby and London.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in view of frequent traffic hold-ups in Red Lion Street, Holborn, he will consider making this narrow thoroughfare a one-way street.

One-way working has been tried, but proved unsuitable, as there is no convenient complementary street between High Holborn and Theobalds Road. Many new buildings have been erected here on a wider building line, and the Holborn Metropolitan Borough Council propose to widen the carriageway in about six months' time.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, since Section 6 of the Administration of Justice Act, 1956, in certain circumstances deprives a British subject of his right to recover damages in an action in personam under the Fatal Accidents Acts from another British subject, he will consider introducing legislation to restore the rights in existence before 1st January, 1957.

No. My hon. Friend's Question is based on assumptions regarding the action which the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs would take under Section 6 of the Administration of Justice Act, 1956, in particular circumstances. I could not anticipate the action which the Secretary of State might take in such circumstances.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give an estimate of the average economic loss, in terms of the present value of money, resulting from a road accident causing the death of a child, the death of an adult, serious personal injury, slight personal injury and damage to property, respectively; and the total annual economic loss due to road accidents.

The Road Research Laboratory estimate that the figures are approximately £4,000, £2,400, £700, £50 and £40. It is estimated that in 1956 the total economic cost of road accidents amounted to about £110 million. These figures take no account of the human suffering involved.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1)whether he will arrange that his promised inquiry into purchases and contracts by the British Transport Commisson shall be held in public;(2)whether the procedure of the inquiry into certain activities of the British Transport Commission will conform with the recommendations of the Franks Committee, Command Paper No. 218.

I have nothing to add to my answer to my hon. Friend's supplementary question on 24th July. The Franks Committee was not concerned with this sort of investigation.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what plans he has to provide for the travel to and from work of the office population of Central London, which will be doubled as a result of new office building already sanctioned.

I am advised that present building plans will not double the office population. In fact, London Transport estimate that the increase in the total traffic load is unlikely to exceed one-sixth. Even this would put a heavy load on transport, and the B.T.C., who are working closely with the planning authorities, are considering how best they can carry it.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many driving and traffic examiners are employed by his Department; and how many are engaged full time on enforcement of Part 1 of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933.

859 driving and traffic examiners are employed in my Department. Of these, 101 are at present engaged full-time on enforcement of the Road Traffic Acts—in particular, Part 1 of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps he is taking to regulate the growing nuisance caused, particularly at night, by noisy motor-cycles and other vehicles.

We have arranged, in conjunction with the manufacturers, for the noise level of several types of machine to be measured and compared to see whether improvements can be made in the design of exhaust systems.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the number of convictions for offences committed under Part 1 of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, during the twelve months ended 30th September, 1956; and the average number of enforcement officers employed in his Department for the same period.

Fourteen thousand, one hundred and thirty-one; and eighty.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation in view of the fact there is to be no underground station under the new British European Airways' terminal building at Cromwell Road, what steps are being taken to ensure an easy and direct access to this new building from the west-end of Gloucester Road Station.

The question of providing direct access at the west end of Gloucester Road Station is a matter for the London Transport Executive. It would involve them in heavy expenditure which they would consider only if it became clear that there was a real need for the facility.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a further statement on the facilities that are to be offered to air passengers joining or leaving British European Airways coaches at the new terminal in Cromwell Road.

If the hon. Member is referring to transport between Gloucester Road Station and the Air Terminal, a distance of about 400 yards, I understand that the London Transport Executive and Air Terminals Limited are considering various means of assisting passengers in transit if any substantial demand arises.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what reasons have led to the failure of his negotiations to establish an air-link between this country and Russia.

No recent negotiations have taken place on the establishment of air services to the Soviet Union. An invitation to visit this country for this purpose was extended to the Soviet authorities last summer, but the visit has not yet taken place.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what decision he has taken with regard to the future use of Croydon Airport; and what plans he has made with regard to the provision of an aerodrome for the use of light aircraft within the London area, in the event of the closure of Croydon.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what are his plans for the future of Croydon Aerodrome.

It is my right hon. Friend's policy to begin the closing down of Croydon Aerodrome as soon as Gatwick is open for traffic in the spring of 1958. At all times we shall act in consultation with the local authorities. My right hon. Friend is still consulting the Secretary of State for Air about suitable aerodromes for the light aircraft now based at Croydon.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what assurance he has given to the British Overseas Airways Corporation about the restriction of rights to private companies to operate T.34 services in parallel with the Corporation's services.

I have assured the Corporation that it is not my intention to extend these rights toany new routes on which Colonial Coach services are not at present operating.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made in alterations to the Queen's Building, London Airport, to make the office accommodation suitable for the workers concerned; what the total cost will be, and by whom it will be borne; and if he will make a statement.

I have no evidence which suggests that the office and other accommodation in the Queen's Building at London Airport is not fit for occupation. Much of it has, in fact, been occupied. As however B.E.A. have asked for and are prepared to meat the cost of certain modifications, these will be carried out as quickly as possible. The estimated cost is £40,000.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a statement on the future development of London Airport.

My predecessor set up a committee under the chairmanship of Sir Eric Millbourn to make recommendations for the next phase of development at London Airport. I have now received the Committee's report and, as it is of considerable public interest, it is being published. Copies will be available in the Vote Office tomorrow and will be on sale to the public at the Stationery Office the following day.The Committee's proposals are detailed and far-reaching, and I am sure all those concerned with civil aviation will wish to study them closely. The economic implications of the recommendations are being carefully considered. Meanwhile, publication of the report does not bind the Government to accept its recommendations.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is prepared to authorise the provision of a feeder air service between Mutts Corner, Belfast Airfield, and St. Angelo, Enniskillen, by an independent operator.

It is open to any operator to apply to the Air Transport Advisory Council for permission to operate a service on this route, but it is, of course, for the air companies themselves to decide whether the traffic potential is sufficent to justify the operation of such a service.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made with the construction of an electric line from the London— Tilbury line near Ford's factory, Dagenham, to link with the Upminster—Southend and Liverpool Street—Shenfield lines.

There is no proposal to construct a new line giving these links, but the London—Tilbury line, on which the preliminary work for electrification is in hand, will give Dagenham workers a connection with the Upminster—Southend line at Barking.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has now completed the consultations which he was holding with the parties interested in the draft convention prepared by the International Maritime Committee; and if he will instruct the representatives of Her Majesty's Government at the International Conference of Limitation of Liability of Sea-going Vessels, in Brussels, to support the adoption of such draft convention.

These consultations are still in progress and I therefore cannot say what instructions will be given to the representatives of Her Majesty's Government at the forthcoming conference in Brussels.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the reorganisation and integration of the three Services.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 23rd July.

asked the Minister of Defence when he expects to make a statement on the new pattern of our defence forces; and to what extent the coordination of the three Services and the Ministry of Supply has been effected.

I have no further statements to make at present on this subject.

asked the Minister of Defence what new proposals he proposes to make for improvements in Service pay and general conditions in order to stimulate recruiting.

The Service Ministers and I are studying various measures designed to stimulate recruitment. But I am not yet ready to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will now state the Government's intentions regarding the establishment of a military base in Kenya.

I have nothing to add to my reply on 10th July to right hon. Member for Belper (Mr. G. Brown).

asked the Minister of Defence what steps he has taken to prevent waste and duplication between the newly constituted Army Air Corps and the Royal Air Force.

I do not believe that the arrangements for setting up the Army Air Corps will involve avoidable waste or duplication.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can now state when amended or new Dock Regulations are to be introduced.

No. I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 18th April, 1957, save that consultations with the interested organisations are proceeding.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on the redundancy among workers at the Daimler works, Coventry.

Of 94 workers who were discharged on 24th July, 43 have registered for other employment with my local office. It is understood that the remainder already have other jobs in view. Four of those registering had obtained other employment within 48 hours after their discharge and a number of others are under submission to employers. The prospects of finding other work for those who have sought our help are good.

asked the Minister of Labour when he intends to present to Parliament details of the expenditure pattern of income groups excluded from consideration when calculating the new Index of Retail Prices.

This material is included in the Report on the Household Expenditure Inquiry, 1953–54, which is at present in course of being printed. I am inquiring as to the date when the Report will be available for publication, and I will write to the right hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he takes to find employment and training for employment for those who escape from the Iron Curtain countries and take refuge in the United Kingdom, and especially in the case of the Roumanian Olympic runner, Ion Opris.

The services of my Department are available to assist persons admitted to this country as refugees to obtain suitable employment. Mr. Opris has applied for a training course and his application is now being considered.

asked the Minister of Labour the reasons which prevent the Government from ratifying the International Labour Organisation Convention of 1938 establishing a 40-hour week.

Ratification of the Convention which the hon. Member has in mind would be contrary to the policy whereby the determination of hours of work is left to joint negotiation between employers and workers free from State intervention.

asked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the dissatisfaction and inconvenience caused to the organised workers in Bristol by the closing of the Eastville Employment Exchange, he will consider reopening it.

The Eastville Employment Exchange has not yet been closed. I have, however, decided to close it in the near future. The local employment committee, who, as the hon. Member is aware, was consulted about my proposal to close this office, approved it by a majority.

asked the Minister of Labour the present position of the National Institute of Houseworkers.

Yes. The Government have decided to continue a small grant aid after the end of the current financial year. It will be of the order of £15,000 a year payable over a period of some years.The purpose of this grant is to assist the general work of the Institute directed to the establishment of appropriate conditions of employment in domestic work and, in particular, to enable the Institute to become self-supporting as an examining body setting standards for those who wish to take domestic employment.No part of the new grant will be available for maintaining the Institute's own courses of training in domestic work which, if continued, must be paid for out of the grants and bursaries made available by local education authorities and other organisations. So far as the Institute's present training centres are concerned, I understand that the local education authorities in Wales are already the main support of the Welsh centre, and that as a result of support from English Authorities the Institute intends to retain the English centre on a similar basis. In Scotland, the independent centre run by the Scottish Association for Homecraft Training will go on, and its students will continue to be eligible for the Institute diploma.The Government recognise that the level of the future grant will of itself enable the Institute to operate only on a very limited scale. They appreciate the value of the Institute's work and hope that other organisations interested in improving the standards of domestic employment will be encouraged by the Government's example to contribute towards the funds of the Institute.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will take immediate action to obtain statistics concerning employment and unemployment of persons registered as disabled under the Disabled Persons (Employment)Act, by ascertaining the numbers of registered disabled persons who are still in the employment field and either employed or registered as unemployed, and the numbers of persons whose registration under the Act has lapsed or not been renewed and who still count in employers' quotas of disabled persons employed.

My Department already collects very full statistics about the employment and unemployment of registered disabled persons, and I think these are generally sufficient for the purpose. I will, however, consider the suggestion made in the latter part of the question about lapsed registrations.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will refer the dispute existing between the television writers and the programme contractors for commercial television to the Industrial Court for settlement under the provisions of Section 17 (1)of the Television Act, 1954.

I have not been informed of a dispute, but I understand that negotiations between the parties have been concerned with fees for authors' works. I am advised that Section 17 (1)of the Television Act would not apply in this matter as its provisions cover only wages and conditions of persons employed by programme contractors.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is satisfied that the employment exchange accommodation available in the new town areas is adequate for the volume of business developing in these areas; and if he will make a statement.

In most new town areas, the existing employment exchange accommodation is adequate for present needs and anticipated developments. At Aycliffe and Harlow, however, the existing accommodation is hardly adequate. At the former additional space is likely to be available this year, and at Harlow a site for a new building has been obtained and the Ministry of Works hope to begin work on the building some time next year.In addition, as stated by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works yesterday, work on a new Crown building at Crawley which will include accommodation for an employment exchange is in hand, and the current building programme also includes proposals for meeting employment exchange needs in new Government buildings to be erected in new town areas at Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead and Stevenage.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the percentage of unemployed workers in each of the new town areas in Great Britain, indicating those areas in which the unemployed rate is below the national average.

The following is the table:

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a further statement on the dispute at Covent Garden and other London fruit and vegetable markets.

My officers have been in close touch with both sides during the past few days with a view to promoting a comprehensive settlement which would include the matters already settled by arbitration and all other outstanding issues. It has not so far proved possible, however, to find a mutually acceptable basis for joint discussions.

asked the Minister of Labour how many people in Edinburgh were registered as unemployed at the end of June, 1957; how many vacancies there were on the Edinburgh Employment Exchange books at that date; and what were the respective figures at the end of June, 1956.

At 15th July there were 2,680 persons registered as unemployed at the Edinburgh Employment Exchange and Youth Employment Office, compared with 2,260 at 16th July, 1956. The number of vacancies notified to those offices and remaining unfilled at 10th July was 2,803 compared with 2,701 at 25th July, 1956.

asked the Minister of Labour at what date, and by what amounts, the wages of employees of provincial omnibus companies have been increased in the last year.

Operating staff employed by company-owned undertakings received a 5s. per week increase in November, 1956, following agreement on the National Council for the Omnibus Industry. I understand that a further 3s. per week has been paid by the employers since June, 1957. On 25th July, 1957, the Industrial Disputes Tribunal awarded an increase of 11s. per week over the rates agreed in November, 1956, and a settlement has been reached on this basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what date the United Nations was informed of the percentage of the supplementary 6½ million dollars for the United Nations Emergency Force costs which Her Majesty's Government would contribute.

Our contribution was, in fact, made in cash and kind by the end of March. A formal announcement of the extent of our contribution to the supplementary 6½ million dollars was made on 1st July as part of a general operation to clear up our accounts with the United Nations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will instruct his representatives at the United Nations to propose that steps be taken to co-ordinate the work of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, the International Red Cross, and other bodies dealing with relief measures.

The twice-yearly meetings of the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees are attended by observers from such bodies as the International Labour Organisation, the Council of Europe and the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration. Many voluntary bodies are also represented, including the League of Red Cross Societies. There is in addition a great deal of consultation between the Office of the High Commissioner and other agencies when the Committee is in Session, and at other times. In these circumstances, I do not think any further co-ordination is required.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will make a statement about the future of coastal forces.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave on 24th July in reply to the hon. and learned Member for Northampton (Mr. Paget), and the right hon. Member for Rochester and Chatham (Mr. Bottomley).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many men are now employed at the Admiralty Establishment at Holton Heath compared with a year ago; and whether he has any statement to make on the factory's future.

246 industrials are at present employed at the Royal Naval Cordite Factory compared with 587 a year ago.The future of this establishment is receiving consideration in the light of the changing needs of defence, and I regret I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why, when the Atomic Energy Authority is prepared to employ professional officers from his Department at a higher level than his Department is prepared to employ them, his Department refuses the consent that would allow these officers, on transfer to the Atomic Energy Authority, to carry their superannuation rights with them.

Consent has been refused only in a few exceptional cases, where the individuals could not be spared from important work in the Admiralty.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what consideration he has given to the Royal Dockyard, Chatham, as a yard suitable for building the first nuclear-powered propelled ship.

Until decisions are taken on the size and type of ships to be built it would be premature to give consideration to any individual building yard.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the widowed mother of the National Service man to whom he refused compassionate release on 17th July was confined to bed for four days last week with arthritis, where she was dependent on her neighbours' help; that the release has been recommended both by the conscript's colonel and by the Soldiers', Sailors', and Airmen's Families Association; and if he will reconsider his decision.

I am advised after further inquiry that there has been no marked change in this lady's arthritic condition, and that she was confined to bed for a few days with a minor ailment. I regret to say that there are no grounds on which my right hon. Friend could authorise the soldier's release from National Service.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names and the regiments of the cavalry officers who were members of the committee which made the recommendations for the regimental amalgamation contained in Command Paper No. 230.

No. It is not customary to disclose the source of advice given to Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for War, in view of the clear basis on which the infantry regiments were selected for amalgamation, what basis was used in the selection of the cavalry regiments.

It was decided to keep as entities the Dragoons and Dragoon Guards; the Lancers; and the Hussars. Within these categories, regiments were selected by eliminating from amalgamation the ones with the best claim to remain independent. First were those regiments which had already been amalgamated when the Cavalry was reduced in 1922, and the two regiments which had been mechanised nearly ten years ahead of the remainder. Recruiting was also a factor in the selection.

asked the Secretary of State for War what distinguishing regimental badges may in future be worn by different regiments in the same brigade who will be expected to wear a common cap badge.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given yesterday to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Gloucestershire, South (Captain Corfield).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the widespread resentment among soldiers whose regimental cap badges are to be replaced by a brigade cap badge; whether he will enable regimental cap badges to be retained wherever practicable; and whether he will prescribe a shoulder flash to mark membership of a brigade instead of a new brigade cap badge.

No. This decision was made after very careful thought and consultation. Regiments will be linked more closely together in the new brigades. The wearing of a common badge will be a symbol of mutual loyalty. Insignia other than cap badges will remain as regimental emblems, and the new arrangements will strengthen brigades without detracting from regimental tradition.

asked the Secretary of State for War for what purpose he is proposing to purchase compulsorily land belonging to the Trustees of J. M. Routh, at Tilehurst, Reading.

The land is part of Ranikhet Camp and has been occupied under requisition since 1939. It will be required permanently to provide office and living accommodation for the Royal Signals Regimental Pay Office.

asked the Secretary of State for War under what authority he is proposing to issue Notice to Treat for the compulsory purchase of land at Tilehurst, Reading, belonging to the Trustees of J. M. Routh, before the issue of a compulsory purchase notice.

The authority is that of the Defence Acts, 1842–1935. Under these Acts there is no provision for the issue of a compulsory purchase notice, but as a matter of courtesy my Department notifies its intentions to owners before the service of a Notice to Treat, and this was done in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Franks Committee has recommended that where Service Departments exercise powers of compulsory purchase they should hold a public inquiry as is done by other Departments; and whether he will hold such an inquiry before proceeding to the compulsory purchase of land belonging to the Trustees of J. M. Routh, at Tilehurst, Reading.

The Government are considering the Franks Committee report which was published on 18th July. By the policy which has been followed since 1947 under Cmd. 7278, public inquiries are held only where purchase is objected to on grounds of public interest. This does not apply to the land at Tilehurst.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that the conditions and emoluments of permanent staff instructors to the Territorial Army are proving sufficient to induce adequate numbers of suitable noncommissioned officers to undertake this work; and if he will make a statement.

The majority of permanent staff instructors for the Territorial Army are found from warrant officers and non-commissioned officers who are posted to this work as part of their normal duties. The balance is found from men with former service who have been enlisted on special short service engagements for this specific employment.

asked the Secretary of State for War in view of the coming reductions in the British Army, what is his policy in regard to a reduction in the number of established industrial employees in Army workshops, and what scheme for compensation will be announced for them.

Although some unestablished staff may have to be discharged, no reduction is contemplated in our total complement of established industrial employees. The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give details of the proposed reduction in the Royal Regiment of Artillery.

The principles on which the reductions will be based have been agreed. The details will be settled shortly, and I shall then write to my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what date the Medical Research Committee, from whom lie awaits a report on the relationship of alcohol to motor driving, has indicated to him for the publication of the report; and whether he will press the Committee for early publication or for an interim statement.

Experimental work on the effect of small doses of alcohol on the performance of tasks relevant to motor driving is still in progress but a report on part of the work is in preparation with a view to publication by the Medical Research Council. It is not possible to forecast a date for publication but the report is being prepared as quickly as possible.

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Lord President of the Council, the nature of the investigations being carried out under the auspices of the Medical Research Council, which have so far provided no evidence to support the suggestion that diesel fumes are a cause of cancer; and whether he will arrange for the intensification of those investigations.

The Medical Research Council is supporting research on the nature of the constituents of diesel exhaust fumes under different conditions both experimentally and in the field, with particular reference to the presence of cancer-producing substances; research is also in progress on the morbidity and mortality experience of groups of persons especially exposed to such fumes. My noble Friend is advised that adequate attention is being given to this problem.