asked the Secretary of State for Air whether any decision has yet been taken on the future equipment of Royal Air Force Transport Command and, in particular, on the replacements for the Beverley.

We plan to equip Transport Command with the types of aircraft named in the Defence White Paper and the Memorandum accompanying the Air Estimates; the question of long-term replacements is now being studied.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the amount paid to private firms for air trooping in each of the last three financial years.

Payments to charter firms for Service movements amounted to £6·36 million in 1954–55; £5·52 million in 1955–56; and £7·87 million in 1956–57.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation why he has failed to keep the Jarrow-Howden Ferry in proper repair; why no arrangements were made to provide suitable alternative ferry transport while repairs were being carried out; and if he will give an undertaking that he will pay more attention to the needs of Tyneside in the field of communications in the future.

This ferry is the joint responsibility of the Northumberland and Durham County Councils.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what consideration he has given to the prohibition of parking immediately in front of and immediately behind marked omnibus stops, the prohibited area to be marked by studs as is now the case with pedestrian crossings.

My right hon. Friend has no power to impose a general prohibition of this kind, but local authorities may make traffic regulation orders prohibiting parking at bus stops, if they so wish.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will arrange for the publication of a cheaper edition of the Highway Code so as to stimulate a wider circulation.

Approximately 13 million copies of the present edition of the Highway Code have been distributed free to schools, drivers and others, and free distribution continues to persons taking out a provisional driving licence for the first time, and drivers from overseas. I am not prepared in present circumstances to reduce the price of the Code or to provide a cheaper edition.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now amend his plan for openings in the central reservation of the proposed dual carriageway on the A.34 road in the vicinity of Beasley Garage, Chesterton, on the lines suggested by the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme in his letter of 1st October to the Parliamentary Secretary.

No. I am satisfied that the openings in the central reservation as at present proposed are in the most suitable positions for the safety and convenience of traffic.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will make a statement on his recent discussions with General Speidel.

General Speidel's recent visit to this country was one of a series of courtesy calls which he has made to various European countries since taking up his present appointment. During his stay here he had meetings with me, the Minister of Defence, with the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff and with the Chief of the Imperial General Staff.

asked the Minister of Defence if he is now able to give a full and complete estimate of the cost of the recent war against Egypt.

The additional military expenditure incurred in connection with the Suez operation was about £30 million.

asked the Minister of Defence to what extent the United Kingdom is to have sovereign rights over her bases in Malaya; and what provision has been made for atomic weapons and guided missiles to be maintained in those bases.

The bases in Malaya are leased from the Federation. The Defence Agreement which governs our relationship with the Federation in those matters contains no provisions specifically relating to the weapons mentioned in the second part of the Question.

asked the Minister of Labour what further progress he has made in the revision of the safety regulations in the shipbuilding and ship-repairing industries.

Since the reply to the hon. Member on 2nd August my officers have had further meetings with representatives of the trade unions and of the Shipbuilding Employers' Federation. These are continuing and good progress is being made.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent it remains the Government's policy to guarantee full employment.

The Government's policy is to maintain the economic basis of full employment by restraining inflation.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has granted a permit for Mr. Pepinotremenos, 55, Woodbrook Road, Abbey Wood, S.E.2, to work on British Railways.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he will make a statement on the policy of the Government in relation to negotiations by the employers' side in each of the nationalised industries for the conclusion of agreements with the trade unions;(2) whether he will make a statement on the Government's policy in relation to wage advances in the nationalised industries.

I would ask the hon. Member to await my right hon. Friend's statements in the debate on the economic situation.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of Hungarians accepted for training for work in the mines; how many of these completed their training; how many have been found work in the mines; what is the cost up to date of the training; and what is the cost of maintaining those who have not found employment.

I am informed by the National Coal Board that 4,186 Hungarians were accepted for training for work in the mines. Of this total, 891 have completed their training and 482 have been placed in work in the mines.The last two parts of the Question are a matter for the National Coal Board.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the fact that 7,829,000 working days were lost in the first seven months of 1957 on account of strikes, he will now introduce compulsory strike ballot legislation forthwith.

No.

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers unemployed in the Kirkcaldy, Leslie, Dunfermline and Cowdenbeath areas, respectively; how these

NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF THE KIRKCALDY, LESLIE, DUNFERMLINE AND COWDENBEATH EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES AND THE NUMBERS OF VACANCIES NOTIFIED TO THOSE EXCHANGES AND REMAINING UNFILLED
—		Kirkcaldy		Leslie		Dunfermline		Cowdenbeath
		Numbers registered as unemployed	Numbers of notified vacancies remaining unfilled	Numbers registered as unemployed	Numbers of notified vacancies remaining unfilled	Numbers registered as unemployed	Numbers of notified vacancies remaining unfilled	Numbers registered as unemployed	Numbers of notified vacancies remaining unfilled
October, 1951	…	257	424	6	69	314	601	373	57
1952	…	461	244	27	38	260	626	450	51
1953	…	433	672	17	42	273	457	410	45
1954	…	376	336	27	24	292	529	375	61
1955	…	341	385	29	40	283	600	400	63
1956	…	437	436	44	38	408	419	467	91
1957	…	483	207	59	16	372	321	448	88

asked the Minister of Labour when information will be made available about the best obtainable eye protection against the hazards of molten metal in foundries; and how far such information shows that better protection can be provided against eye injury from cold metal chippings in the fettling shop as well as from molten metal splash.

In April, 1956, the Joint Advisory Committee on Foundry Goggles, advised H.M. Chief Inspector of Factories that goggles with lenses made of laminated or toughened glass were preferable as a means of protection against molten metal to those with lenses made of plastics. The Chief Inspector wrote to the principal associations in the foundry industry informing them accordingly. The Committee has now reported that as a result of further experiments and information on new developments, it has revised the opinion previously given on this aspect of the matter and advises that plastic material gives better protection than laminated or toughtened glass. The Chief Inspector has written to the associations informing them of this revised advice. Other questions than

The following Table gives the information desired:whether glass or plastics provide the best protection are dealt with in the report recently received which is being studied.Information is also available, as a result of the work of the Committee, on the matter referred to in the second part of the Question and this is being studied.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress is being made regarding non-ferrous foundry regulations, based on the White Paper Report of the Joint Standing Committee on conditions in non-ferrous foundries.

Consideration is being given to this matter in the light of the Report.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement about the measures taken to give relief to British subjects dismissed from the service of the Egyptian Government in December. 1951.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is now being done to assist the British subjects who, in December, 1951, were dismissed from the service of the Egyptian Government as a reprisal against British military measures in the Canal zone, when the village of Kafrel Abdu was destroyed; and, as they are still without redress, what consideration has been given to putting them on a similar basis to those who were directly affected by the Suez adventure of 1956 to enable ex-gratia loans to be made to meet immediate needs.

My right hon. and learned Friend has great sympathy with this group of officials. Hon. Members will remember that when they were dismissed in 1951, Her Majesty's Embassy in Cairo succeeded, through repeated interventions with the Egyptian authorities, in obtaining for them payments amounting in most cases to three months' salary and allowances in lieu of notice. The Embassy also assisted many of the former officials to find fresh employment; and to complete the many necessary formalities if they wished to leave Egypt quickly. Those who wished to institute legal proceedings in the Egyptian courts were assisted to do so. Subsequently, Her Majesty's Government advanced legal expenses to the officials' Association for the preparation of their cases against the Egyptian Government for further compensation.During the negotiations for the Canal Base Agreement of 1954, Her Majesty's Government obtained an undertaking that the Egyptian Government would set up a commission to assess the reparation due to the ex-officials. The commission was set up and studied the claims, but its findings have not been announced and no payment has yet been made. The United Kingdom Delegation to the Anglo-Egyptian financial talks this year have again place these claims on record.Meanwhile, arrangements were made for the Anglo-Egyptian Resettlement Board to make maintenance payments in cases of hardship.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress is being made in the attempt to secure the release of the two British subjects presently being held prisoners in Egypt.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to secure the release of the two British subjects imprisoned by the Egyptian Government at the time of the Suez crisis.

Her Majesty's Government have pressed, and will continue to press, the Egyptian Government through the Swiss authorities for the release of Mr. Zarb and Mr. Swinburn.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what results have been achieved by the Cultural Convention with the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

The achievements can be summarised as follows:—

(i) One scholarship for post-graduate study in the United Kingdom is ear-marked each year by the British Council for candidates from Luxembourg (either as a single award, or for conversion into a number of shorter bursaries).

(ii) A member of the Ministry of Education has lectured to Luxembourg teachers of English on secondary education and this was followed up by a short intensive course held in Luxembourg for teachers of English and organised by the British Council.

(iii) A successful link has been establised between one Luxembourg school and an English school, and it is hoped to form others.

(iv) Links have also been established between professional associations by means of an exchange of publications (e.g. the Association of Luxembourg Engineers and its British counterpart).

(v) Close collaboration has been established between the British Luxembourg Society and the British Council for British lecturers to speak in Luxembourg and for the supply of films and minor exhibitions.

(vi) The nucleus of an English library has been presented to the Anglo-Luxembourg Society but its future development is dependent on suitable premises being found by the Society to house it.

(vii) Regular presentations of British periodicals are made to Luxembourg schools by the British Council and it has been agreed to present annually a number of book prizes to the best scholars of English in the schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will arrange for copies of the Treaties establishing the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community, which were signed at Rome on 25th March last, to be made available to hon. Members in English.

Authorised English editions of both Treaties and of the connected documents have been published by the Secretariat of the Interim Committee for the Common Market and EURATOM in Brussels. Copies are available in the Vote Office for hon. Members requiring them. They are also on sale through Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the retiring age for British ambassadors; and how many have been doyen of the diplomatic corps in foreign capitals in recent years.

The normal retiring age for ambassadors is sixty. Twenty-nine British ambassadors have been doyens of the diplomatic corps in various capitals since 1945.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's actions to effect a settlement of the Suez Canal dispute with Egypt and a reconciliation with that country.

The Suez Canal dispute with Egypt is not the concern of Her Majesty's Government alone but of the United Nations. The Security Council, which on 13th October, 1956, unanimously established six requirements for a satisfactory solution of the dispute, remains seized of the problem. Some progress has been made towards a solution and Her Majesty's Government have naturally played their full part at the United Nations in achieving this result. We shall continue to press for arrangements fully consistent with the six principles of the October resolution.There are a number of other unresolved questions between the United Kingdom and Egypt; in particular, we wish to see the repeal of restrictive Egyptian legislation against British subjects and property, and the return of the property or payment of adequate compensation. Talks to this end have been taking place with Egyptian representatives.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent decision to prevent certain officials of the Embassy of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics from attending the Harrogate Film Festival.

Permission to an official of the Soviet Embassy to make this journey was refused because shortly before the Soviet Government had prevented a journey by members of Her Majesty's Embassy in Moscow to an area in the Soviet Union normally open to foreigners.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty by what percentage the numbers of officers and ratings will be reduced during the next five years; and by what percentage civil servants serving his Department will be reduced during the same period.

Reductions will be taking place during the next five years on the basis that was outlined in the House by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Defence, on 16th April.My hon. Friend will appreciate that it is quite impossible to talk in terms of precise figures, either of uniformed or of civilian personnel, for so long as five years ahead. But we intend, as I said in the debate on the Navy Estimates, to bring the numbers of civilian staffs into proper relation to the size of the Fleet.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many flag officers were serving in 1902, 1914, 1939, and 1957; what was the

—	1902	1914	1939	1957
Number of Flag Officers	77	110	84	100
Total Tonnage	1,430,700	2,330,400	1,560,100	1,459,500

With regard to the third part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the right hon. Member for Rochester and Chatham (Mr. Bottomley) on 10th July, 1957.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that there is concern in Malta about the diminution in employment in the Admiralty shipyards there; and if he will make a comprehensive statement as to his plans for the future of the shipyards and as to the maintenance and extension of full employment there.

I am well aware of the concern that exists in Malta about the possibility of reductions in Service expenditure there. In reply to the second part of the Question, I cannot add to the statement made by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Colonial Office on 25th July.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why it was not possible for the Royal Observatory at Hurstmonceaux to observe the path of the Russian satellite when it was first launched on 5th October.

Scientific interest in the satellite is not astronomical but geophysical. The equipment at the Royal Observatory is designed for the observation of natural celestial bodies, and it cannot be used for following objects moving at the speed of the satellite.Nevertheless, the Observatory did calculate the satellite's orbit, and subsequently the rocket has been observed

The number of flag officers serving in April of each of these years and the figures for total tonnages of H.M. Ships in the same years were as follows:from there with the naked eye on a number of occasions since 10th October.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, if he will make a statement about the building of the first destroyer to use guided missiles.

These ships depend, of course, on the development of their main weapon. Trials of the weapon are proceeding satisfactorily and orders for building four guided missile destroyers have accordingly been placed

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will make a statement about the visit by the First Lord of the Admiralty to Canada for talks with the Canadian Defence Minister.

My noble Friend visited Canada, at the invitation of the Canadian Government in order to see at first hand something of the activities of the Royal Canadian Navy. He naturally took the opportunity of discussing with the Minister of Defence in Canada and with the Canadian Naval Board a number of matters of current concern to both the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Navy.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty under what circumstances it is permitted to carry on private trade on board Her Majesty's ships.

With the Captain's permission tradesmen are allowed to sell their goods or obtain orders on board; but permission is usually only given if it is necessary to prevent inconvenience to the ship's company. Sailors are not allowed to trade among themselves.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, as a result of the Civil Lord's visit to the North-East, he will give any further assurances about increased supplies of steel to the shipyards.

Supplies of steel to the shipyards on the North-East Coast during the first nine months of this year show an increase of 6·7 per cent. over the supplies during the corresponding period last year. I hope this improvement will continue.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the British Forces Educational Service School, Antwerp, contains amenities and facilities necessary for the children; and if he is satisfied with it.

The school is well staffed and properly supplied with books and equipment. An increase in the number of pupils, however, during the last year has caused some overcrowding despite the building of an extra classroom. I am seeing what can be done to help.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will now reconsider his decision not to publish the report of the chartered accountants on Post Office finances; and if he will make a further statement.

asked the Postmaster-General if, in view of the public interest in the financing of the Post Office services, he will reconsider his decision not to publish the recent report which has been made by a firm of chartered accountants.

I would refer the right hon. Member and my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Wembley, South (Mr. Russell) yesterday.

asked the Postmaster-General the surplus earned by the Post Office after calculating depreciation on the basis of replacement cost; and how does this figure compare if depreciation were allowed on the principles applied to commercial and industrial firms by Inland Revenue rules for the years 1956–57, 1957–58 and 1958–59, respectively.

In answer to the first part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 31st July to the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun). The Answer to the second part is that if depreciation provision had remained on an historic basis the estimated results would have been better by £15·7 million, £16·9 million and £16·5 million, respectively.

asked the Postmaster-General on what date he instructed the firm of chartered accountants to examine the Post Office accounts; and on what date he received the report.

They were instructed on 28th March last. They submitted preliminary observations during the summer and a final report on 3rd October.

asked the Postmaster-General if, as a result of the chartered accountants' report into Post Office accounts, he is now prepared to adopt a system of accountancy which reflects accurately and in greater detail the services of the Post Office to other State Departments.

The present system provides fully for bringing to account as income either the cash received from other Departments or (in so far as cash is not received) the computed value of all services rendered to them. This is explained in the text accompanying the accounts. Since the Accountants' recommendations are generally in favour of greater simplicity, I should be reluctant to show details on the face of the accounts themselves. If, however, the hon. Member feels when he sees the next accounts that more could be done to promote understanding on this point, I shall welcome his suggestions.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to improve postal services in Dagenham.

Postal services in Dagenham are comparable to those in other similar towns and no changes are contemplated at present. If the hon. Member has any particular point in mind and will let me have details I will gladly look into it.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will increase the regulation size of postcards to that of continental size in view of the increased cost of postage.

The maximum size of postcards accepted for the post in this country—5⅞" x 4⅛"—is the same as in continental countries. This size is recommended by the Universal Postal Union.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the grievance felt by many firms at the increase in the Post Office box number charge from £5 to £10 per annum; why this 100 per cent. increase was imposed since it has been said that the principal cost was that of delivery to customers' doors; and whether he will reconsider the position, in view of the fact that the keeping of these boxes by firms is of direct help to the Post Office.

I am sorry that the increased charges for Post Office boxes are felt to be a grievance; but the charges had been unchanged since 1919, and even at the new level the service is still running at a loss. The work which has to be done in post offices to provide this service more than outweighs any savings in postmen's delivery time and I cannot agree to reduce the charges for it.

asked the Postmaster-General the latest time of day that telegrams can be dictated over the telephone in London with the certainty that they will be delivered to their distination in England that same evening.

For hand delivery the time varies betwen 5.0 p.m. for telegrams addressed to more remote areas to 7.0 p.m. for telegrams for the larger towns. Telegrams for delivery by telephone will normally get through the same day if they are dictated by 10.0 p.m.

asked the Postmaster-General how many telephone subscribers have asked for the withdrawal of the telephone; and how many applications on the waiting list have been withdrawn between the end of July and the latest convenient date.

Since the increased tariffs were announced in July 111,000 requests have been received for withdrawal of the telephone and 15,700 orders have been cancelled. By no means all of these have been due to the tariff changes, as is shown by the fact that in the corresponding period prior to the announcement there were 47,000 withdrawal notices and 14,300 cancellation of orders. Since the tariff announcement 85,000 new telephones have been installed.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of persons who have withdrawn their application for telephones and the number of telephone subscribers who have asked for telephones to be removed since the announcement of the increases in charges and rentals.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply of today's date to the right hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Ness Edwards).

asked the Postmaster-General how many private telephone subscribers have had their telephones disconnected since the announcement of the increased telephone charges.

Since the increased tariffs announced in July, 97,000 private telephone subscribers have asked for their telephones to be disconnected. In the corresponding period prior to the announcement, 25,000 such requests were received. In the past three months. 53,000 new private subscribers have been connected,.

asked the Postmaster-General how many residential telephone subscribers have shared telephone services in the London area, and elsewhere in England and Wales, respectively; and how many in each case have an exclusive service.

There are approximately 272,000 shared residential telephones in London and 638,000 elsewhere in England and Wales. The corresponding figures for exclusive lines are 600,000 and 800,000 respectively.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of new radio and television licences which have been issued since 1st January, 1957; and what is the total number of television licences in issue to date.

There is no separate record of the number of new licences issued. Between 1st January, 1957, and 30th September, 1957, sound licences decreased by 594,774 and combined television and sound licences increased by 828,088. The total number of combined television and sound licences in force on 30th September, 1957, was 7,398,185.

asked the Postmaster-General how many viewers are not obtaining full value for their licence fee by reason of being outside the range of Independent Television programmes.

There is no record of the number of television licence-holders who are outside the range of Independent Television programmes, but a very rough figure puts it at 2.2 million. Payment of a broadcast receiving licence fee is not related, however, to the number of programmes received.

asked the Postmaster-General how the atomic energy programme will be affected by Government policy to restrict public investment.

As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer informed the House yesterday the re-phasing of the nuclear power programme may involve the postponement by one year of the date by which we complete our programme of 5,000 to 6,000 megawatts of nuclear capacity.

asked the Pay master-General if he will make a statement on his recent consultations with European countries over the Free Trade Area.

Yes. Meetings of O.E.E.C. Ministers, presided over by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, took place in Paris on 16th-18th October and the text of the resolutions passed by the Council on 17th October was published in the OFFICIAL REPORT of 29th October.These meetings were not expected to solve in detail the many complex problems which arise, but rather to give a new political impulse to the Free Trade Area as an essential complement to the European Economic Community and to devise machinery of the kind most likely to bring the negotiations to a successful conclusion.These objectives were fully achieved.The Ministers of all the 17 countries represented, meeting as the Council of O.E.E.C., unanimously declared in terms more forthright than they have used hitherto their determination to secure the establishment of a European Free Trade Area. They also for the first time placed on record the importance which they attached to the Free Trade Area taking effect parallel with the Treaty of Rome.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that in future changes in the Bank Rate will be announced only when the Stock Exchange is closed.

The level of Bank Rate is decided upon by the Court of the Bank of England normally at its weekly meeting on Thursday morning and there seems nothing to be gained—rather the reverse —in delaying the announcement of that decision until after the Stock Exchange is closed.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what basic retirement pension would be needed today to be equivalent to the purchasing power of the 26s. basic retirement pension granted in 1946; and what would be needed if that pension had increased proportionately with average earnings since that date.

On the basis of the Cost of Living Index for the period up to June, 1947, and the Retail Prices Index thereafter, 42s. 4d. would give the same purchasing power now as 26s. in October, 1946. There are no comprehensive statistics of average earnings and the figures derived from the Ministry of Labour's half-yearly inquiry relate to less than half the working population; those figures would suggest that 52s. 8d. would give an increase in the pension corresponding to the increase in average earnings. The Index of Rates of Wages is more comprehensive but even so is limited to manual workers; that index would suggest that 45s. 11d. would give an increase in the pension corresponding to the increase in wage rates.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what reports have been submitted to him by the Road Research Laboratory on accidents to motor cyclists wearing or not wearing crash helmets.

A report based on a survey of accidents in the London Metropolitan Police area by the Road Research Laboratory on the effectiveness of present-day crash helmets for motor cyclists was published in June, 1957, in the Operational Research Quarterly Review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the calorific content of the food ration valued at 4d. a day allotted to agricultural labourers in Nyasaland; and what is the number of industrial firms who provide a free midday meal without a deduction from pay.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 2nd August, 1957; Vol. 574, c. 281], supplied the following information:—As employers of agricultural labourers in Nyasaland do not now exercise their option to supply "proper and sufficient food" under the statutory regulations they do not, in fact, make a deduction of 4d. a day from their labourers' wages. The question of the calorific content of such a food ration valued at 4d. a day therefore does not arise. In the circumstances prevailing since the increase in minimum wages on 1st July, 1957, only one industrial firm provides a free midday meal without deduction from pay.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many civil servants have become redundant in his Department since 1950 as a result of granting independence to those areas of the Commonwealth which were formerly under the care of the Colonial Office; and what action was taken in this connection in view of their redundancy.

With the granting of independence this year to Ghana and the Federation of Malaya ten of the eleven officers who dealt solely with these territories became redundant. Five transferred to the Commonwealth Relations Office and the rest were posted to sections in the Colonial Office where there were vacancies. The remaining officer will shortly be reposted. The other territorial, or geographical, departments were unaffected by the changes, and in the twenty-two departments which deal functionally with nearly forty administrations the "graduation" of two territories has made little difference. Nevertheless, five posts in these Departments have also been abolished and the officers have been posted to under-staffed sections. Further economies will be made when the diminution in work becomes more marked.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proportion of public expenditure on health services in Kenya other than hospital services, is contributed by district, county and town councils, respectively.

I am asking the Governor for this information and will write to the hon. Member when I receive his reply.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Comonwealth Relations what arrangements exist between the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of Ghana, in the social field, affirming the general principle that nationals of one of the two countries should, as far as possible, receive, under the social security legislation of the other, equal treatment with the nationals of the latter.

There are no arrangements between the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of Ghana of the kind contemplated by my hon. Friend, but citizens of Ghana who are in the United Kingdom are eligible for the benefits of our schemes of social security subject to the same conditions as those which apply to the people of this country and to those of other Commonwealth countries with which reciprocal arrangements have not been made.