asked the Minister of Defence the number of casualties to date suffered by troops under British command in the war in Oman, and of villages destroyed and non-combatants killed and injured in that country since the war started, in operations in which British troops took part.

No casualties were incurred by British troops. One Trucial Oman Scout died of wounds. As far as is known, casualties among non-combatants were very slight. No villages were destroyed.

asked the Minister of Defence the total cost to the Exchequer of transporting Service personnel to Christmas Island for the recent tests, the number of troopships and other vessels used, and the number and cost of air trooping together with a statement showing the average cost per head of all personnel transported there and back.

Excluding the personnel of operational squadrons who flew in squadron aircraft, 2,888 personnel have been sent to Christmas Island for the recent series of tests. Except for 130 who were transported in the troopship "Empire Clyde" from Honolulu to Christmas Island, all made the journey by air in Transport Command aircraft, charter aircraft or commercial civil airlines.The number carried on commercial flights was 990 to Honolulu across the Atlantic and U.S.A.So far, 802 men have returned from Christmas Island. All have travelled by air in Transport Command or chartered aircraft except for 40 who have returned by commercial aircraft.The average cost per head of air transport from the U.K. to Christmas Island is £220. The total cost of air transport was £810,000. As only a few men travelled by sea for a single stage of the journey, no average cost by sea can be assessed.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as the information is available, the recruiting figures for the three Services for October, 1957, set out in the same form as that of the monthly Press release published by his Department; and if he will give the figures for the same month in 1956, set out in the same form.

If the hon. Member will put down a Question in about a fortnight's time, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the figures he wants in the form he wants.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to make a further statement on the allegations that the Bonn Government are, contrary to the Potsdam Agreement, employing about 200 persons as judges and public prosecutors who were personally concerned as judges in the infliction of death and other heavy sentences during the Nazi régime.

I understand that the German authorities are pursuing their investigations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the order will be made for distribution of the fund obtained by the United Kingdom Government from Bulgaria under the agreement of 1955 in settlement of claims of British nationals against Bulgaria and Bulgarian nationals.

The drafting of such an Order in Council under the Foreign Compensation Act, 1950, has now reached the final stages, but I cannot forecast when it may be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is still his policy to oppose the creation of the Special United Nations Fund for Economic Development.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is his present policy in regard to the proposal for a Special United Nations Fund for Economic Development.

These matters are now under discussion in the United Nations General Assembly and I would prefer not to prejudge the outcome by making a statement at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the amount of the United Kingdom financial contribution for 1957 towards the expenses of the United Nations Emergency Force.

The exact total of the United Kingdom contribution for 1957 cannot yet be assessed, but it is likely to be in the neighbourhood of two and a half million dollars.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that a period often elapses between the day when a British Ambassador leaves the country to which he is accredited and the time when his successor arrives on the spot; that this interim period when neither the outgoing nor incoming Ambassador is available at his post is detrimental to the conduct of affairs; and what steps he proposes to take.

The gap bettwen Ambassadors is kept short where the public interest demands it. But it is neither practicable nor necessary to eliminate it altogether. During the interim the Embassy is in charge of a senior and experienced official as Chargé d'Affaires.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when and by how many he is proposing to reduce the number of civil staff employed by his Department, in view of the fact that such civil staff has increased from 10,609 in April, 1938, to 33,038 in April, 1957, whilst the strength of the Royal Navy in 1938 and 1957 was almost the same.

The number of non-industrial staff will fall by about 1,000 during this calendar year, ignoring vacancies due to difficulties of recruitment. Further reductions will be taking place over the next five years.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when he expects to receive the report by Sir Barclay Nihill's committee on the reorganisation of Her Majesty's dockyards.

Sir Barclay Nihill's Committee is concerned with the whole organisation, both inside the Admiralty and outside, for meeting the Navy's material requirements. It is also concerned with certain staffing problems of that organisation. It is not concerned with the future of individual Royal Dockyards.The Committtee has recently rendered a report covering the first part of its terms of reference, and this is now being considered; the second part of the report is expected shortly. When decisions have been reached, those of general interest will be announced to the House.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many artisans were dismissed from the Singapore Naval Base during the past three months; what were the reasons for the discharges; and what answer was given to the Singapore Federation of Services Union when it made a request that the dismissed men be given a reason for their dismissals and an opportunity to defend themselves against any complaint that might be made against them.

Forty-three industrial employees have been discharged from the Naval Base at Singapore during the past three months. Reasons for the dismissals include civil convictions, inefficiency, offences against the Regulations, services no longer required, and redundancy. The Singapore Federation

—	1954	1955	1956	1957 (to date)	1958 (estimated)
1.Married soldiers' quarters:
(a) Conversion at about £500 each	—	6	—	9	65
(b) Modernisation at about £165 each	—	—	228	6	30
2.Single soldiers' accommodation (major improvements to heating, sanitation, etc.)	—	—	600	650	1,080

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) the amount of new accommodation made available for soldiers' families in the Aldershot district during each of the years ended 31st December, 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1957 to date, respectively; and whether such accommodation has been obtained by conversion or new building in each case;(2) the amount of new accommodation made available for soldiers in the Aldershot district during each of the years ended 31st December, 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1957 to date, respectively; and whether such accommodation has been obtained by conversion or new buildings in each case;(3) the amount of new accommodation in the Aldershot district which has been authorised and will come into use for soldiers and soldiers' families, respectively, during the year ended 31st December, 1958.

I have taken the Aldershot district to include Aldershot, Cove, Crookham, Farnborough and Mytchett. The amount of accommodation there is up to scale, and no new building has taken place since 1951.The following are the details of conversion and modernisation of the existing barracks and married quarters:

asked the Postmaster-General what has been the effect upon the use of business reply-paid envelopes of the increase of the fee to 5d. for each envelope, having regard to the fact that the ordinary postage stamp for a letter is 3d.

The business-reply charge on a 3d. envelope is 1d. and not 2d., as my hon. Friend seems to think. It is too early yet to judge the effects of the recent increase in the business-reply fee from ½d. to 1d. per item; but we have no reason to think that there has been a marked decrease in the use of the service.

asked the Postmaster-General how many employees in his Department are entitled to receive payment for use of a private car on official business at authorised users' rate; what is that rate; and how much was paid under this heading by his Department during a recent convenient 12 monthly period.

There are 4,900 authorised users. The rates for journeys for which public transport is not a feasible alternative vary according to milage run from 7¾d. to 4¾d. per mile for small cars and from 9¼d. to 6¼d. a mile for cars of over 10 h.p. The total cost for a recent period of twelve months was just over £480,000.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that a post office was promised for the West Longbenton Estate, Newcastle, a year ago, and that there are no indications of its erection and that there is discontent about this matter; and if he will give a definite date for its establishment.

I share the anxiety of the residents of the estate in this matter, but I cannot open a post office until there is a shop in which to put it. As soon as we have news of the completion of the first shops, I will let the hon. Member know when the post office will be opened.

asked the Postmaster-General why scale payment sub-postmasters have not benefited from the report of the fact-finding unit regarding the minor and manipulative grades with which they are comparable.

The range of duties and the conditions of employment of scale-payment sub-postmasters and of the minor and manipulative grades differ widely, and it follows that a report confined to the latter is not applicable to the former.

asked the Postmaster-General why the normal processes of negotiation were not fully exhausted before the Post Office rejected the claim of scale payment sub-postmasters for an increase in pay corresponding to that received by postal and telegraph officers.

The normal processes of negotiation are open. When I informed the General Secretary of the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters that I could see no justification for a further increase in the pay of sub-postmasters, I said that my official were at the Federation's disposal if further discussions were desired.

asked the Postmaster-General how many subscribers in Lincolnshire have asked to have their telephones removed since the last rise in charges.

A figure for Lincolnshire is not readily available, but in the Lincoln Telephone Area, which covers most of the county, 1,088 subscribers have asked for their telephones to be withdrawn since the 18th July, when the increased tariffs were announced. Not all of these are attributed to the increased charges, as in the corresponding period prior to the announcement there were 931 cessations. Over a thousand new telephones have been installed since the 18th July.

asked the Post master-General whether he will consider reducing the rental for a telephone in view of the need for persons living in comparative isolation to be in touch with the world around them in cases of emergency, even if they cannot afford frequent telephoning.

No.

asked the Postmaster-General what will be the estimated effect on the telephone revenue of the proposed changes in telephone charges.

The proposed changes are expected to reduce income by about £8 million a year.

asked the Postmaster-General what has been the number of telephone subscribers requesting the withdrawal of their telephones for each week following the announcement of the charges which operated from 1st October.

The following is the reply:

Week ended	Number of withdrawal noitces
26th July	18,417
2nd August	13,121
9th August	10,466
16th August	9,673
23rd August	7,549
30th August	8,032
6th September	10,128
13th September	7,205
20th September	5,917
27th September	5,606
4th October	6,798
11th October	4,939
18th October	3,574
25th October	3,439
1st November	4,292
8th November	4,614

The average weekly rate prior to the announcement of the tariff increases was 3,600.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of applicants waiting for telephone service on the Feltham and Hounslow telephone exchanges; and what is the approximate length of time applicants have to wait.

Five hundred and eighty-two at Feltham and 2,077 at Hounslow on the 30th September, 1957. The period for which applicants have to wait depends on the availability of plant, and there is unfortunately a serious shortage both of exchange equipment and cables serving these districts. This is being made good, but I regret that at any rate until 1959, when a new exchange is to be opened at Isleworth, there will be delay in meeting many applications.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will make a statement on the effects of sonic booms on buildings, especially on glasshouses, windows and plaster ceilings; and how many claims for damage by the public his Department has investigated in the last three years.

Fourteen hundred and thirty-nine claims have been investigated in the last three years. The effect of sonic booms on buildings is at present being investigated by the Building Research Station of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The investigation includes the measurement of the pressures set up by a sonic boom and of the vibrations induced by it; and also the examination of buildings which are reported by the owners or tenants as having been damaged. I understand that information from the direct measurement of pressures is as yet incomplete. The following are the general conclusions so far reached from the survey of buildings.No damage to the main structure of buildings has been as yet observed. On the whole, such damage as can properly be ascribed to sonic booms has been limited almost entirely to some breakage of glass in greenhouses and windows, a few falls of small areas of old plaster-work, and, in some instances, dislodging of the plaster which has been used to repair cracks in old plasterwork.There is no reason to doubt that complaints of damage to property are made in good faith. But the actual amount of damage which on investigation can be ascribed only to a sonic boom is much less than has been claimed.Ceilings in most houses have cracked at some time. Cracks are filled and concealed on re-decorating but they generally reappear very soon after the work has been completed. The filling and the overlying distemper are loosened and are ready to fall with the slightest disturbance of the building, e.g. by slamming a door. Some booms may set up sufficient vibration to cause this material, as well as already loose patches of old ceiling to fall. But no example has yet been seen of new cracks having been caused by a sonic boom.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that married men are being sent to Sharjah, where there are no married quarters, and that the nearest point to this is Aden, where the accommodation for wives is much below requirements; and what is being done to increase the housing needed for married men in this area.

The married quarters at Aden are supplemented by hired accommodation, and new housing is being provided as quickly as funds allow.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what special allowance is given where airmen are not provided with married quarters when they are stationed abroad; and what arrangements are made to ensure that their wives are given proper accommodation in this country during the separation period.

A married airman posted overseas who is not accompanied by his family receives local overseas allowance to enable him to meet his own expenses overseas and at the same time to continue to support his family in this country. As regards the second part of the Question, it is sometimes possible to accommodate families in married quarters which are surplus, or at the Transient Families' Unit.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation which of the recommendations in the memorandum on the future of British air transport, sent to him by the Air League of the British Empire, he is proposing to implement; and how soon.

I have read the report with interest. The Committee which prepared the memorandum was an unofficial body whose recommendations do not fall to be accepted or rejected by the Government. I will, however, certainly have in mind its useful suggestions when considering future policy.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a statement of the number and nature of communications he has received during the last six months requesting him to amend the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) so as to include recent relevant inventions within the terms of the existing regulations.

Five. These concerned inflatable liferafts, radar reflectors, safety clothing, chemical de-salting apparatus and solar stills.The following are the details:

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the adverse effect upon our shipping, and particularly upon the international standards of safety and crew accommodation and conditions, of the unregulated operation of tax-free ships flying flags of convenience, many of which have no genuine link with the countries of registration; and what steps are being taken to deal with this nationally and internationally.

I am certainly aware that the rapid increase of the size of these fleets is a serious matter for our shipping, and the problem is being closely studied by the Government. In regard to the second part of the Question, the Government's action in increasing the investment allowance for United Kingdom shipping has already reduced the advantages which these fleets have over our own. Internationally, the problem as a whole is being examined by the O.E.E.C., and particular aspects are likely to be considered at the Conference on the Law of the Sea, and at the meeting of the International Labour Office to be held next Spring.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what quantity of crude oil required for our oil refineries is carried in ships flying the flags of Panama, Liberia, Honduras and Costa Rica.

It is estimated that in recent months crude petroleum was imported into the United Kingdom in ships flying the flags of Panama, Liberia, Honduras and Costa Rica at the rate of about 460 thousand tons per month.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will introduce legislation to enable him to control the chartering of ships of Panama, Liberia, Honduras and Costa Rica for the purpose of carrying imports into this country of crude oil, in view of the lack of control by these countries over the conditions under which ships flying these flags ply for charter.

No. It would not be in the best interests of British shipping to apply controls, based on the flag of the ship, to normal commercial operations such as the chartering of ships for the carriage of crude oil to this country.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether his negotiations for the purchase of the toll rights of Selby Bridge have been completed.

No, but progress should be more rapid now that a survey and report on the bridge have been completed.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) whether, having regard to the criticism which has arisen of certain traffic signs, he will ensure that persons who have expert knowledge of the design and manufacture of traffic signs, and road users' organisations, will be represented on the committee to be set up by him to give advice about new traffic signs required on motorways and roads generally; and whether he will give an assurance that consultations will take place with interested bodies before, as well as after, any new designs are evolved;(2) whether he has yet set up a committee to advise him on traffic signs required on motorways and to review road signs generally; and what is its composition.

I have decided to set up a small committee, under the Chairmanship of Sir Colin Anderson, with the following terms of reference:"To consider and advise the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what traffic signs should be provided on the new motor roads."I can assure my hon. Friend that full consultations with interested bodies will take place before any final decisions are taken.The following are the other names of the Committee:

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is now in a position to say when the road reconstruction scheme between Louth and Grimsby near Cordeaux's Corner will commence; and how long it will take to complete.

We hope work will begin next summer and that it will be finished about nine months later.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the cost of one 30 miles-per-hour speed limit repeater sign.

About 35 shillings, excluding the cost of transport and erection.

TRANSPORT USERS' CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE FOR WALES AND MONMOUTHSHIRE
A.—COMPOSITION, INTERESTS REPRESENTED AND REPRESENTATIVE BODIES CONSULTED
Name		Interest Represented	Representative Body Consulted*
Chairman:
Mr. R. G. M. Street	…	—	—
Members:
Councillor R. P. Turner	…	Agriculture	National Farmers' Union
Mr. J. T. Harries	…	Agriculture	National Farmers' Union
Capt. H. Leighton Davies, C.B.E., J.P.		Commerce	Association of British Chambers of Commerce
Mr. R. P. Roberts	…	Commerce	Association of British Chambers of Commerce
Mr. W. Hazell	…	Commerce	Co-operative Union
Mr. F. R. Graesser-Thomas, M.Sc., F.R.I.C.		Industry	Industrial Association of Wales and Monmouthshire
Mr. Edgar Davies	…	Industry	National Coal Board
Mr. O. L. Harries	…	Shipping	General Council of British Shipping
Mr. J. C. Radcliffe, O.B.E., J.P.	…	Shipping	General Council of British Shipping
Mr. D. J. Jenkins	…	Labour	Trades Union Congress
Mr. R. Parry, J.P.	…	Labour	Trades Union Congress
Mr. W. Friend, J.P.	…	Labour	Trades Union Congress
Mr. W. Hugheston-Roberts	…	Local Authorities	County Councils' Association
Ald. G. R. Davies, C.B.E.	…	Local Authorities	County Councils' Association
Councillor J. L. Davies, J.P.	…	Local Authorities	County Councils' Association
Councillor R. A. Hughes	…	Local Authorities	Association of Municipal Corporations
Mr. W. R. Stevens	…	British Transport Commission	—
Mr. W. Jeffers	…	British Transport Commission	—
Additional Members:
Prof. A. Beacham, M.A., Ph.D.	…	—	—
Mrs. M. Williams-Wynne	…	—	—
* (Under Section 6 (4) of the Transport Act, 1947, the Minister is required, in the case of members other than the Chairman, the nominees of the British Transport Commission and the two additional members, to consult such bodies representative of the interest concerned as he thinks fit, before making the appointments.)

B.—FUNCTIONS AND DUTIESThe functions and duties of the Committee are prescribed in sub-sections (7), (8) and (9) of Section 6 of the Transport Act, 1947, as amended by Section 29 of the Transport Act, 1953.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give the names of, and organisations or interests represented by, the members of the South Wales Traffic Users' Consultative Committee; what are their duties; and what public service they are called upon to fulfil.

The following is the answer.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will take steps to amend the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, in such a way as to enable better co-ordination between the roal and rail transport of perishable goods, notably fish, from the north of Scotland to the large consuming centres of the south of Scotland and of England and of the English Midlands.

I am not aware of any need to amend the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, for the reason suggested by the hon. and learned Member.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how much of the £170 million capital investment permitted the British Transport Commission for each of the years 1958 and 1959 is for British Railways; and how much for other activities of the Commission.

I gave the estimates for 1958 on 13th November in answer to a Question from the hon. Member for the Hartlepools (Mr. D. Jones). The estimates for 1959 are broadly the same.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that no reasons have been given to the affected public by the South Wales Traffic Users' Consultative Committee for their decision to support the closing of the Merthyr Tydfil-Abergavenny railway; and if he will say what those reasons were.

I understand that the Committee have sent to all objectors and to the Press a statement describing the very thorough examination which they made of this proposal and the principal reasons for their recommendation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made in recruitment to the Civil Defence Corps; and what steps he is taking to step up recruitment.

On 31st October, 1957, the strength of the Civil Defence Corps in Great Britain was 357,666. This was 4,485 more than twelve months before. During the twelve months an estimated total of nearly 51,000 recruits was obtained, but most of this increase was offset by losses due mainly to the weeding out of inactive members. Recruitment is the responsibility of the local authorities charged with raising divisions of the corps. They are given all possible assistance by my Department and the Scottish Home Department, and a national publicity and recruitment campaign has just been held.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications have been received by the Anglo-Egyptian Resettlement Board since 17th October, 1957, for financial assistance from British subjects who were dismissed by the Egyptian Government in December, 1951; how many of such cases were turned down; and what total assistance was given in the remaining cases.

I understand that the Board has received seventeen such applications since 17th October, of which seven have been refused and the remaining ten are being examined.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will list the properties presently occupied by the Ministry of Labour and National Service 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 Labour and National Service are:—

• Ebury Bridge House, S.W.1.
• 7/8, St. James's Square, S.W.1.
• 19, St. James's Square, S.W.1.
• 32–33, St. James's Square, S.W.1.
• 26/28, King Street, S.W.1.

It would not be in the public interest to give details of the leases.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now announce the names of the members of the Grassland Utilisation Committee.

The members of the Committee are as follows:

• Sir Sydney Caine, K.C.M.G. (Chairman).
• A. G. Algeo, C.B.E., J.P.
• J. R. Barron.
• R. Chapman.
• H. U. Cunningham, C.B.E., M.C.
• Professor D. S. Hendrie. B.Sc., N.D.A., N.D.D.
• H. R. Humphries, C.B.E.
• Professor H. I. Moore, M.Sc., Ph.D., N.D.A.
• J. R. Muirie, B.A., C.A.
• J. Rowsell.
• W. J. Thomas, M.Sc.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what consultations there were with the Basuto people before a commitment was reached to permit the radar stations there to be manned by South African troops; and if he will now arrange for British troops to undertake these duties in view of the protests made.

There are no radar stations in Basutoland, and Her Majesty's

UNEMPLOYMENT AND VACANCIES IN THE BRISTOL AREA IN OCTOBER, 1956 AND 1957
Date	Unemployed Persons on the Registers of Employment Exchanges					Total number unemployed expressed as percentage of total number of employees in area	Notified vacancies remaining unfilled
	Men	Boys	Women	Girls	Total
14.10.57	2,385	61	627	31	3,104	1·4	2,493
15.10.56	1,568	49	709	39	2,365	1·0	3,036
Increase (+) or Decrease (−) at 14.10.57 compared with 15.10.56 number	+817	+12	−82	−8	+739		−543
Percentage of number 15.10.56	+52·1	+24·5	−11·6	−20·5	+31·2		−17·9

Although it has increased during the past year, unemployment in Bristol remains close to the national average which was 1·3 per cent. in October, 1957. The increase in men's unemployment is

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the extent by which the number of civil servants now required would be reduced if the basic rate of Income Tax were cut.

A reduction in the standard rate of Income Tax would not necessarily make possible a reduction of staff employed in the administration of the Revenue.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the number of unemployed men, women and young people in Bristol in October last as compared with the same figures for the previous year; what increase is shown; what this represents as a percentage, and as a percentage of the total working population; how this compares with the number of unfilled vacancies for the same period; and if he will make a statement.

The table below gives the information desired.due principally to an increase from 250 to 484 in the number whose last employment was in the building and contracting group of industries. Unemployment has also increased in the distributive trades in Local Government Service and in the tobacco industry. A number of new projects are going forward in the area which will provide further opportunities for employment.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the confidence of the workers in the functions of the Whitley Councils has been undermined by the action of the Government in refusing to implement the recent award of 3 per cent. granted to the health service workers; and what steps he is taking to restore their confidence.

It has always been known that Whitley agreements in respect of salaries and wages in the Health Service take effect only with the approval of the Minister and the Secretary of State for Scotland. I see no reason why a decision properly taken in the exercise by my right hon. Friend and myself of a function placed on us by statutory regulations should undermine confidence in the system. The halting of inflation will do more than anything else to consolidate confidence among all sections of the community.