asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation by how much it is estimated the interest charge on modernisation borrowing, as given in Command Paper No. 9880, will increase as a result of higher interest rates and the increase in cost of the programme from £1,200 million to £1,500 million; by how much revenue will fall short of estimates as a result of these higher charges and the restriction on investment; and what consequent steps the Commission is taking to ensure fulfilment of the estimate that it will be in balance by 1961 or 1962.

It is not possible to forecast future interest rates. The British Transport Commission has reviewed the estimates in the Command Paper in the light of the best information at present available on all the factors affecting revenue—including the increased cost of the modernisation programme and the restriction on capital investment. They see no reason to depart from the conclusion in the Command Paper.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what amount it is anticipated will be spent by the British Transport Commission in 1958, in connection with their modernisation programme, and what amount on other capital works, excluding the modernisation programme.

In 1958 the British Transport Commission propose to invest in railways about £145 million, and in their other activities about £25 million. It is not possible to distinguish between replacements and modernisation since most capital investment on the railways includes some modernisation.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps have been taken to give effect to the recommendations contained in the Report on the Purchasing Procedure of the British Transport Commission, Command Paper No. 262.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many of the recommendations of the Sir Harold Howitt Report have been put into effect by the British Transport Commission; and when it is expected they will be able to operate the remaining recommendations.

The British Transport Commission's new directive on purchasing procedure, the principles of which were endorsed by Sir Harold Howitt, is already being followed by all concerned. The other steps to give effect to the recommendations of the report are fully described by the Chairman of the Commission in a letter to me of 16th September published with the report. The only outstanding recommendation therefore concerns the policy and organisation for production in the railway workshops; this is still being studied by the Commission.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation by what amount the interest payable by the British Transport Commission on the deficit will increase in the present financial year in consequence of the increase in the Bank Rate.

Payment of interest in the current financial year will not be affected.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether his attention has been drawn to the use by the London County Council of their powers under the Metropolitan Paving Act, 1817, to acquire land compulsorily for road improvement schemes without inquiry or right of appeal; and whether he will arrest this procedure by-withholding grants or otherwise.

Until the London County Council obtains the new powers of acquisition mentioned in my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Housing and Local Government's reply, yesterday, I shall, before issuing grant for a road scheme that includes expenditure for acquisition under the 1817 Act, consider whether the London County Council's lack of powers available to other authorities necessitates recourse to that Act.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what investigations into estimated traffic flows, including those at the projected roundabouts and through the underpass, were undertaken before he decided to proceed with the Hyde Park—Park Lane scheme; and whether he will publish the results.

The estimates of traffic were based on surveys by the Road Research Laboratory at Hyde Park Corner and Marble Arch and at Grosvenor and Stanhope Gates in Park Lane, as well as on traffic counts made by the Metropolitan Police in 1954 and 1956. The calculations on the various traffic schemes considered are not in a convenient form for publication.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, how many 30 miles per hour speed limit repeater signs have been erected to date; at what cost; and to what purpose.

The purpose is to give a clear indication of the existence of a speed limit. I cannot say how many repeater signs have yet been erected.

asked the Minister of Defence, what steps have been taken to make good the shortage of military air transport.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made on this subject in the defence debate last Thursday.

asked the Minister of Defence, to what extent officers declared redundant, but whose releases are deferred beyond the miximum age of retirement laid down in their respective ranks are likely to suffer any loss of the special capital payment on retirement.

Compensation is payable only to officers who are retired under the scheme before the normal retiring age for their rank. However, those who retire after reaching the retiring age will receive the special resettlement grant.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will make a statement about the defence implications for the United Kingdom of the successful launching by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics of an earth satellite.

I have nothing to add to the statement I made in the House last Thursday.

asked the Minister of Defence when he intends to increase officers' widows' pensions.

I have no statement to make on this subject.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will make available cheap postal facilities for Christmas parcels sent by relatives to Service personnel serving overseas.

No. The concession applied last year only to our forces in Korea, and these have now been withdrawn.

asked the Minister of Defence to what extent he anticipates that the estimates annexed, Annex 11, to the Defence Statement of 1957–58 will be fully spent and what items will be under-spent.

No reliable forecast can be made at this stage in the financial year.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will bring up to date the statement on Defence Expenditure and Estimates published in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 27th April, 1956, and publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the relevant figures for 1955–56, 1956–57 and 1957–58.

The information is given below. The figures are shown in the form used in the table at Annex 11 of

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the outcome of his negotiations with the Chinese Government in regard to the compensation to be paid in respect of pensioners of the Shanghai Waterworks Company.

As a result of representations made by Her Majesty's Charge d'Affaires at Peking, the Chinese

asked the Minister of Labour what changes he has made in his six-monthly inquiries into industrial earnings.

I have written to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is delaying the immediate cessation of thermo-nuclear tests; and what extent of effective international control is being sought by Her Majesty's Government.

The proposals for a Partial Disarmament Agreement, put forward by Her Majesty's Government and the Governments of Canada, France and the United States, which provide for nuclear tests to be suspended immediately upon the entry into force of the Agreement, have been rejected by the Soviet Government. Her Majesty's Government have repeatedly made it clear that they cannot accept an unconditional suspension of tests in advance of a Partial Disarmament Agreement containing balanced and inter-related provisions for conventional and nuclear disarmament, and particularly for the cessation of production of fissile material for weapons.Her Majesty's Government consider that international control of the suspension of nuclear tests, to be effective, should include arrangements for inspection posts with scientific instruments to be located within the territories of the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States, the area of the Pacific Ocean and at such other places that may be necessary. The Soviet Government have accepted this principle, but have refused to agree that experts should meet to work out the practical problems of designing an inspection system.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is still the policy of the Government that a carrier task force including only a single carrier is adequate.

Yes, as a matter of general organisation; though, of course, if the situation demanded it, a particular task group would be reinforced.

asked the Secretary of State for War when it is anticipated that issue of open-necked tunics and collars and ties will be made to the War Department Police.

Members of the rank of sub-inspector and above have already received the new uniform. Issue to sergeants and constables will begin soon and will be completed gradually as stocks of the old pattern are used up.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) if he will consider the introduction of brigade shoulder flashes and at the same time retain regimental cap badges:(2) if he will reconsider the decision to abolish regimental cap badges and replace them with brigade cap badges.

The adoption of brigade cap badges was the subject of an Adjournment debate on 29th October. For reasons which were then explained, and which I regard as compelling, I am not prepared to alter the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will arrange for a public inquiry into his Department's proposals for extended use of the Redesdale range for military training; in view of the effect of such proposals upon public enjoyment of the Northumberland National Park.

The extended use of this range is necessary in order to release other areas. I hope, however, that this will have little effect on the public enjoyment of the National Park. We are already consulting the local authorities and other interested bodies. Until these discussions are complete, we shall not know whether a public local inquiry will be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men enlisted in the various Scottish regiments in August, September, and October this year, as compared with the same period in 1956.

The following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will ask for a report from The Guards Training Battalion, Brookwood, Surrey, about the alleged harsh treatment of the men and unnecessary disciplinary methods, as stated by Guardsmen Bell and Crowther, details of which have been sent to him.

Yes. I have called for a report, and I will write to the hon. Member when I have received it.

asked the Postmaster-General when the telephone exchange at Loughton, Essex, will be made automatic.

More equipment is being installed in the present exchange building to provide for growth expected in the next few years, and I cannot yet say when the exchange will be made automatic.

asked the Postmaster-General the estimated loss of revenue to the Post Office owing to the decision of 97,000 private telephone sub scribers to be disconnected after the introduction of the increased charges; and how far this was anticipated in the fixing of the new rates.

Making broad allowances for disconnections due to causes other than higher charges, for transfers to new subscribers and for the probability that in most cases the telephone was used less than average, the temporary loss of revenue might be put at between £500,000 and £1 million per annum. This is well within our estimate.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the accountants' report on the Post Office commercial accounts now placed in the Library, and issued under the date 3rd October by the firm of accountants, is the report which he announced, on 31st July, as having been received by him that week.

The document my right hon. Friend mentioned last July contained preliminary observations. The report of 3rd October gave the firm's definitive recommendations. The two are not substantially different.

asked the Postmaster-General on what grounds the Post Office has raised objections to a scheme adumbrated by a group of business men in Wolverhampton to provide a central point at which they can exchange communications and packages by messenger in order to eliminate the delays and expense that occur if they use the Post Office services.

The Post Office provides postal services throughout the United Kingdom for a uniform rate of postage. Its costs per letter handled, and its charges to the public, would be increased by schemes such as that to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, which would keep out of the post letters which are cheaper to deal with and leave to the Post Office those which are costly. The Post Office Act is intended to protect the revenue of the Post Office to prevent this happening.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will re open the question of reciprocal postage rate reductions between Great Britain and the United States of America in view of the desirability of promoting understanding and co-operation between the two countries.

No. Whilst I share my hon. and gallant Friend's interest in promoting understanding and co-operation with the U.S.A., I do not think the surface-letter rate is a serious barrier to it. The cost of reintroducing the Commonwealth rate, which would fall on other users of the postal services in this country, would be heavy. There is no reason to think that the United States Post Office, for its part, would wish to incur again the financial liability of the concessionary rate on letters from the United States to this country, which was withdrawn more than twenty-five years ago.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will make a statement as to the complaints about lost letters of which he has received details from the honourable Member for Clapbam.

Presumably the hon. Member has in mind the two complaints he sent to my right hon. Friend in July. We have had no further complaints of loss of letters sent to the Rotherham address since he replied to the hon. Member on 23rd July. In the other case it has been established that the letters went astray after they had been delivered. I have written to the hon. Member about this today.

asked the Postmaster- General why money order facilities are not available to personnel serving with the Forces overseas, and remittances confined to postal orders of all amounts not exceeding £2 on any one day; whether he is aware that in order to remit the sum required in some cases eight or more postings on separate days have to be made; and if he will amend this arrangement.

The transfer of money outside the sterling area requires exchange control permission but, as a concession, postal orders of up to £2 at any one time may be sent without permit to members of the Forces. Within the sterling area, postal orders (which are substantially cheaper than overseas money orders) may be sent to members of the Forces without limit. If the hon. Member has some special case in mind, I should be glad to look into it.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the playing of "God Save the Queen" after Sunday morning service has been forbidden on certain British ships of the Union Castle Line which carry Her Majesty's mails; and if he will therefore consider terminating or not renewing the mail contract with the Union Castle Line until such prohibition is ended.

There is no formal mail contract between the United Kingdom Post Office and the Union Castle Line. We must, of course, use the best shipping outlets for the mails.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress is being made towards providing a new post office in Morley, Yorkshire; and when it is expected that the new premises will be ready for use.

At present, I cannot add to my reply to the hon. Member on 31st July last.

asked the Postmaster-General what economies have been achieved in the running of the Post Office during the last convenient period.

In 1956–57 nearly £3 million of new economies were achieved. As my right hon. Friend announced in the House last July, we intend to make further economies of about £3 million per annum during the current year. Economies in prospect in the future include those from Group Charging described in the White Paper published today.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether it is still the policy of Her Majesty's Government not to allow the nationalised air corporations to tender for air trooping contracts and thus to restrict this field of choice to private firms only.

There has been no change in the air trooping policy outlined in my speech on the Air Estimates on 9th May, 1957.

asked the Secretary of State for Air under what circumstances his Department meets the expense involved in an airman's fiancée travelling from this country to the Far East to be married; whether this service is available to all airmen serving overseas; how many- have used the available facilities since 1st January, 1950; and in what way air men are made aware of the details of the scheme.

The fiancée of a Regular airman serving overseas may join him at public expense provided a free passage would be admissible if she were already his wife, and provided also that they marry within a month of her arrival. The scheme is set out in Queen's Regulations and Air Council Instructions.

asked the Secretary of State for Air in what circum stances civil aircraft are permitted to land at Service airfields.

Most Service airfields in the United Kingdom are available to British charter and private aircraft for landing during normal duty hours, provided the commanding officer's permission is obtained before the flight. A few are also used by scheduled services and flying clubs under arrangements made with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation. In emergency, any British civil aircraft may land at any Service airfield.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the prevailing uncertainty among Royal Air Force Auxiliary personnel about the future of the remaining Auxiliary units; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. As I explained to the House earlier this year, the Control and Reporting System is in process of being re-equipped and reorganised. This process is producing economies both in units and in establishments, and for that reason we were unable to justify at the beginning of this year the retention of more than twenty-one of the original total of thirty Fighter Control and Radar Reporting Units.In the nature of things, there can never be complete certainty about the long-term requirement for these Auxiliary units, and it is now clear that there is no longer any requirement to justify the retention of three of these twenty-one units. We have, in consequence, no option but to disband them. The future of a further five units is in doubt, but, so far as we can foresee, we shall have a continuing requirement for the remaining thirteen. Particulars of the units falling into each category are appended.I should like to express our sincere thanks to the public-spirited men and women of the three units which are to be disbanded. The date of disbandment will be the 1st February, 1958, but all training will cease forthwith. Bounties will be paid on the same basis as for the earlier disbandment, i.e. personnel who transfer to the R.Aux.A.F. Reserve as an alternative to discharge will be paid bounty apportioned to the date of disbandment and, in addition, one year's bounty, or proportionate bounty to the end of their current engagement if it ceases in the year.I would like to make a special appeal to the personnel of the units at Brighton. Bristol, Stockton-on-Tees, Edinburgh and Glasgow, the future of which is in doubt, to continue to give their voluntary service. They can rest assured that their units will not be disbanded unless changes in our operational requirements made this inevitable.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in deciding the future use of the Hendon airfield, he will have due regard to local interests; and whether he will make a statement in this connection.

Yes. We shall at the appropriate stage consult local authorities, including the Hendon Borough Council, about the interim uses of the airfield which would be consistent with its possible future flying use for aircraft such as helicopters, short take-off and landing and vertical take-off aircraft.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of a number of cases of landlords using the Rent Act, 1957, to take unfair advantage of their tenants, and that many old-age pensioners, including at least one who is 99 years of age, have been threatened with and given notice of eviction in 1958, with no alternatives; and what action he proposes to take to safeguard these tenants.

Notice to quit does not necessarily mean that the tenant will have to move. It may be only a preliminary step to the negotiation of a new tenancy. A tenant who is given notice but who wants to stay should tell his landlord of his wishes and should offer to negotiate a new tenancy. If the hon. Member is referring to the old lady mentioned by him in Monday's debate, I would refer him to the reply I gave him on that occasion.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action is being taken to limit the discomfort caused by the burning spoil heaps in the town of Ashington, Northumberland.

Under Section 18 of the Clean Air Act, 1956, the owner of a colliery spoilbank is required to use all practicable means for preventing combustion, and for preventing or minimising the emission of smoke and fumes. It is the responsibility of the local authority to ensure that this requirement is complied with, but my Alkali Inspectors are available for consultation if desired.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in any review of retirement pensions to compensate for rising prices, he will ensure that retired postal servants have similar appropriate increases.

No distinction is made for superannuation and pensions increase purposes between postal and other retired civil servants.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will take steps to inform the public that the Stamp Act, 1891, remains in force notwithstanding the coming into force of the Cheques Act, 1957; and that a person who pays a sum of £2 or over by cheque or otherwise retains his right under the Stamp Act to a duly stamped receipt, and that a payee who refuses a request for such a receipt is liable to a fine of £10 under Section 103 of that Act.

The position is as slated by the hon. Member. No doubt this Question and Answer, and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's replies on 12th November to my hon. Friends the Members for Berwick and East Lothian (Sir W. Anstruther-Gray) and for South Angus (Sir J. Duncan) will draw attention to the facts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount collected for Schedule A Income Tax from owner-occupiers of houses in the year ended April, 1952; and what is the estimate of cost in the same year in collecting such tax.

The net yield of Income Tax on owner-occupied houses in the financial year 1951–52 is estimated at about £25 million. The cost of collecting this tax is part of the general cost of administering the Revenue and cannot be separately estimated.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, when he expects to receive a report upon the work of the Road Research Laboratory team which for some time past has been making on the spot investigation of road accidents occurring within a six miles radius of Langley, Buckinghamshire; and whether he will make a statement.

My noble Friend has not yet received any report upon this investigation, which is still proceeding, and regrets that he is not yet able to give a date when a comprehensive report will be available. However, he hopes that a note on the investigation can be included in "Road Research" for 1957.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will list the properties presently occupied by the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation in central London together with the period left for the leases to run.

The principal leased properties in central London occupied as headquarters offices by the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation are Berkeley Square House, W.1., and 19–29, Woburn Place, W.C.1. It would not be in the public interest to give details of the leases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of American vice-consuls in Cyprus.

There are four officers of the rank of consul stationed at the United States consulate in Cyprus, but none of the rank of vice-consul.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consult the British Broadcasting Corporation with a view to the broadcasting of a weekly bulletin of ten minutes to a quarter of an hour at breakfast-time from the end of March to the end of July to let farmers of each region have up to date information regarding the right date to spray the various crops and the best type of spray to use.

Variations in climatic conditions would make it difficult to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion. I am satisfied, however, that farmers generally are well informed on spraying problems and that adequate advice is available to them from the trade and the National Agricultural Advisory Service.

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what was the amount spent in the latest convenient year on research into the causes of mental illness in general and the disease of schizophrenia in particular.

Expenditure by the Medical Research Council during the year 1956–57 on research into causes of mental illness in general was £58,000. Expenditure on research into schizophrenia was approximately half of the total figure. Additional research into mental illness in general, including schizophrenia, was supported within the National Health Service and by universities, medical schools and private funds such as the Mental Health Research Fund. Details of the sums spent on this additional research are not available.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement concerning the quantity of radioactive fall-out in the County of Northumberland, especially in the area of the Cheviot Hills.

No specific measurements of radioactive fall-out have been made in Northumberland, but measurements for the neighbouring County of Durham, with a similar soil and rainfall, have been published in the Atomic Energy Research Establishment's Report A.E.R.E. HP/R.2353, which is in the Library. Following the Windscale accident, monitoring was carried out in Cumberland, near the Northumberland border and just south of the Cheviots, and it was found that the pattern of radio-activity had not changed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to replace the right hon. Thomas Johnston, aged 75, Sir Hugh Mackenzie, aged 69, Sir George McGlashan, aged 72, and Mr. G. R. McIntosh, aged 69, respectively, chairman, deputy chairman and members of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board, with younger men.

I have reappointed Mr. Johnston to serve as chairman of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board for a further period until 31st December, 1958, and Sir Hugh Mackenzie and Sir George McGlashan to serve in their present capacities until 31st December, 1959. I have also appointed Mr. John Jardine to be a member of the Board until 31st December, 1960, in place of Mr. G. R. McIntosh, whose present appointment ends on 31st December, 1957.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what dollar allocation was approved for the 1956–57 season, under the United States Mutual Security Act, for the purchase of United States canned fruits; what these imports amounted to in volume; and if he is satisfied that such imports are not in direct conflict with the object of encouraging Commonwealth producers.

$6·57 million were allocated under the United States Mutual Security Act for imports of canned fruit between July, 1956, and June, 1957; of this $1 million was for canned grapefruit and the remainder for deciduous fruit. Imports under the programme amounted to 3,400 tons of canned grapefruit and 19,100 tons of canned deciduous fruit. It is our practice to take into account the views of Commonwealth Governments before accepting canned fruit under programmes of this kind.