asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to certain recruiting advertisements referring to Her Majesty's land forces as "The New Model Army"; whether he is satisfied that this title is appropriate in view of the facts that the original force of this name was largely recruited by the press gang, fought against and executed its sovereign, forcibly interfered with the privileges of Parliament, and established a military dictatorship in England; and if he will make a statement.

The phrase has been used only in advertisements for the Women's Royal Army Corps. I hope this reassures my hon. Friend that there is no ghastly plot afoot.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the Manual on the Law of War has not yet been published; and when he expects to publish it.

The work is being revised and is nearly finished. I hope to publish it in the autumn, but I cannot yet give a precise date.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement on the issues before, and the results of, the inquiry last December ordered by him into the treatment at Catterick Camp, Yorkshire, of three Ghanaian soldiers in Her Majesty's Army there.

On 20th December a newspaper reported allegations of unfair treatment of Ghanaian soldiers at Catterick. Inquiries were made by the unit and we gave facilities for a separate investigation by a Ghanaian officer from another camp. The soldier concerned has denied making some of the remarks quoted in the newspaper, and the inquiries revealed no more than a disciplinary incident which had been settled by the commanding officer. I am glad to say that I have found no evidence whatsoever of unfair treatment of the soldiers from Ghana, who are here for training and whom we welcome.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give figures showing the size of the Regular Army on 1st January in each of the last 10 years, excluding those men serving on three-year engagements.

Following is the information. I take the Regular Army for this purpose to exclude National Service officers and men. Officers on short-service engagements, Regulars retained and reservists recalled for Korea and Suez, the women's Services and boys, in addition to men not committed to serve for longer than three years, are excluded.

1st January			Officers	Other ranks
1949	…	…	15,867	122,845
1950	…	…	16,479	127,602
1951	…	…	16,898	137,513
1952	…	…	17,369	149,020
1953	…	…	17,893	125,811
1954	…	…	18,432	94,029
1955	…	…	18,729	85,256
1956	…	…	18,837	77,635
1957	…	…	18,758	73,305
1958	…	…	18,698	80,341

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give his estimates of the size of the Regular Army on 1st January in each of the next five years, based upon the current level of recruitment.

No. For reasons which I explained in my Estimates speech, it would be unsound to base a forecast for years ahead on the figures for three months' recruiting.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent the new scale of telephone charges in Scotland has led to an increase in the number of calls.

Statistics are not available, but reports suggest that, so far, the effect in Scotland broadly corresponds with that in London, as described in my reply of 5th March to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Sorensen).

asked the Postmaster-General the reasons for the closing down of the post office in Glasgow Central railway station; and what is the distance of the nearest post office from the station.

The only change has been the transfer of the Telegraph Office to another part of the station. This took place in September, 1956, when the railway booking office was reconstructed. The nearest post office is in Waterloo Street, about 100 yards from the station.

asked the Postmaster-General when a more adequate post office is to be established in the Shettleston and Tollcross districts of Glasgow; and if he is aware that discontent is expressed about these small offices in view of the considerable increase in the population.

There is no record of any complaints about congestion at these offices since 1953, when two additional sub-post offices were opened and the Shettleston office was enlarged. I understand that the increase in population has not resulted in a proportionate increase in Post Office business and that an adequate service is being given.

asked the Postmaster-General the date of the closing down of the general post office at Glasgow on Sundays for the greater part of the day and during the night; the period when it was never closed; and if he is satisfied with Glasgow being without one post office for these lengthy periods.

I cannot say when, if ever, the main post office counter was open day and night on Sunday. But records show that in 1915 for example the counter was open only from 9.0 to 10.0 a.m. and 5.0 to 6.0 p.m., except for telegrams which were accepted all day until 1951. The present hours are 9.0 to 10.0 a.m. and 2.0 to 6.0 p.m. They seem to meet requirements, bearing in mind that telegrams can be dictated from kiosks and stamps obtained from machine outside the office.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement concerning the progress made towards the provision of a modern post office at Ashington, Northumberland.

I am sorry I cannot yet add to my reply to the hon. Member of 18th December, 1957.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of officers and men in uniform and the number of civilians employed by his Department in 1937 and in 1957.

In 1937 the number of men and women serving in the Royal Air Force was 56,286, and there were 22,412 civilians, excluding those recruited overseas. In 1957 the totals were 227,936 uniformed personnel and 71,382 civilians.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many premises and what acreage of land were held by his Department on requisition at the latest convenient date and one year previously.

On 31st December, 1957, we held on requisition six buildings and 7,000 acres of land; a year earlier we held nine buildings and 12,000 acres of land.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is satisfied that the radar equipment installed at Stretton and Prestwick is as efficient as the equipment at London Airport; and if he will make a statement.

It is difficult to compare the radar equipment at Stretton with that at Prestwick and London Airport, since it performs a different function. The equipment at Stretton is for zone control: that at Prestwick and London Airport is for approach to the airport. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the various types of equipment at Stretton and Prestwick are efficient for their present purposes.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what type of radar equipment is in use at Stretton; when it was installed; and if he is satisfied that it is adequate today.

Two types of radar equipment, Admiralty Type 277T and Air Ministry Type 15, are in use at Stretton. They were installed in 1953 and have been used for air traffic control purposes since 1954. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that both types of equipment are adequate for their present purpose.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that the radar and other aircraft navigational aids in use at, and in the approaches to, Ringway Airport, Manchester, are not as modern as those used at London Airport; and when new equipment is to be provided.

The radar and other navigational aids serving Ringway and its approaches are of the same types as those in use in the London Airport area except for the surveillance radar in the Ringway area which is due to be replaced by more modern types from the end of this year.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what complaints he has received in regard to the proposed diversions and reconstruction of the Great North Road, A.1, between Ferrybridge and Fairburn, and in regard to the unnecessary destruction of houses and damage to local trade which they will cause; and whether he will hold a local inquiry before proceeding with the work.

We have recently received one complaint about the line of the Brotherton By-pass and have heard that there may be others but as the Statutory Order establishing this route has already been made, the question of a local inquiry does not arise.My right hon. Friend will in due course publish a draft Order showing our proposals for a diversion at Ferrybridge, and in the light of any representations that may be made about them we will consider whether or not to hold a local inquiry.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the number of road accidents on the Bath Road, A.4, between its junction with the Parkway and the eastern end of the Colnbrook bypass, and the number of casualties involved in 1957.

Ninety-three accidents involving 109 casualties, one fatal.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the number of road accidents in High Street, Felt-ham, for the year 1957, and the number of casualties involved.

Forty-six accidents involving forty-nine injured.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the road casualty figures issued for 1957, of 5,550 killed, 63,706 seriously injured, 204,602 slightly injured making a total number of road casualties of 273,858, an increase of 2¼per cent. compared with the road casualty figures for 1956, if he will ask the local road safety committees to organise special road safety campaigns during the year.

Local authorities are asked each year to co-operate in quarterly road safety campaigns organised by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. For 1958 they have already been asked to co-operate in a special national road safety campaign from 16th June to 30th September; in addition there will be the normal quarterly campaigns during the rest of the year and special holiday campaigns at Easter, Whitsun, August Bank Holiday and Christmas.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many accidents there have been in the last twelve months on A.343 at Poplar Corner, Abbotts Ann, between Andover and Middle Wallop.

One, in which two persons received slight injury.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the estimated cost of the proposed length of dual carriageway on the East Lancashire road at Astley; and what would be the cost of traffic lights as an alternative.

Quarter ended				Offences arising from the operation of goods vehicles
				Road Traffic Act, 1930—Section 19		Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933—Section 16
				No. of Prosecutions	No. of Convictions	No. of Prosecutions	No. of Convictions
30th September—
1956	…	…	…	810	782	1,644	1,622
1957	…	…	…	209	207	668	668
31st December—
1956	…	…	…	619	594	1,515	1,440
1957	…	…	…	648	565	1,407	1,345
Note: The figures for the quarter ended 30th September, 1957, are low because examiners were employed in rationing fuel until May, 1957, and some time is required to investigate cases and prepare them for prosecution.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he has examined the Report on Road Transport Problems in Mid-Northumberland, a copy of which has been sent to him; and what action he proposes to take to maintain public transport services in that area.

As I said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hexham (Mr. Speir) on 10th March, I am carefully studying this Report. I cannot say more at present.

The estimated cost of the proposed dual carriageways is£15,000, while to install traffic signals would cost£4,000, with an annual maintenance cost of about£100. The latter would not, however, be a satisfactory alternative.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the numbers of prosecutions and convictions, respectively, for offences under Section 19 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, and Section 16 of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, for the third and fourth quarters of 1957; and what were the comparable figures for the same periods in the previous year.

The following is the information:

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether. in view of widespread public anxiety and demand, he will use his powers to revoke the no waiting restrictions now in force in Storrington, Sussex, imposed by the West Sussex County Council and confirmed by him on 2nd December, 1957; and if he will so amend Section 33 of the Road Traffic Act, 1956, as to make it obligatory on local authorities to submit all future traffic regulation orders, in- cluding those dealing with waiting restrictions outside the London traffic area, to him for confirmation.

Following Government policy of devolving responsibility to local authorities, the power to make waiting restrictions was transferred to local authorities on 1st December, 1957. I can see no grounds for reversing this action nor for using the Minister's reserve powers to intervene in this particular decision of the West Sussex County Council.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that the Transport Commission has increased the rents for taxi-stands at Temple Meads Station, Bristol, and changed the basis of the agreement without consultation with the taxi-owners; and if he will take this fact into consideration in the course of his current inquiries.

Rentals and agreements with cab proprietors at individual stations are matters of management falling within the responsibilities of the Commission.

The Central Transport Consultative Committee is now considering the general question of the tenancy cab system at railway stations and if the hon. Member considers that a knowledge of the detailed arrangements at Temple Meads Station would help it to form a general judgment I suggest he sends them the information.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of disabled people registered as unemployed in Cardiff at the latest convenient date; and whether he will make a statement.

At 17th February, 1958, the number was 426. This is 52 less than the figure for February, 1957, although general unemployment in Cardiff has shown some increase during the same period.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of dockers for whom no work was available at Cardiff Docks on each day of February; and what percentage this represents of all the dockers employed in Cardiff.

The following statement which the National Dock Labour Board has furnished, gives the information the hon. Member has asked for:

SURPLUS LABOUR—CARDIFF
February, 1958		Average Surplus	Surplus as percentage of Workers' Register
Saturday, 1st	…	281	39·8
Monday, 3rd	…	4	0·6
Tuesday, 4th	…	101	14·3
Wednesday, 5th	…	103	14·6
Thursday, 6th	…	126	17·9
Friday, 7th	…	154	21·8
Saturday, 8th	…	130	18·4
Monday, 10th	…	109	15·5
Tuesday, 11th	…	177	25·1
Wednesday, 12th	…	210	29·8
Thursday, 13th	…	383	54·3
Friday, 14th	…	371	52·6
Saturday, 15th	…	171	24·3
Monday, 17th	…	181	25·7
Tuesday, 18th	…	198	28·2
Wednesday, 19th	…	261	37·1
Thursday, 20th	…	325	46·2
Friday, 21st	…	244	34·7
Saturday, 22nd	…	171	24·3
Monday, 24th	…	291	41·5
Tuesday, 25th	…	313	44·6
Wednesday, 26th	…	196	27·9
Thursday, 27th	…	23	3·3
Friday, 28th	…	19	2·7
Averages	…	189	26·8

asked the Minister of Labour the number of skilled ship repairing workers unemployed in Cardiff on the most convenient date in the last week of February, 1958, and the comparable figures for 1957 and 1956, respectively.

Counts of the unemployed are made only about the middle of each month. On 17th February, 1958, a total of 441 males of all occupations whose last employment was in shipbuilding or ship repairing were registered as unemployed at employment exchanges in Cardiff. The comparable figures in 1957 and 1956 were 528 and 132. Statistics about the occupations of unemployed workers are only obtained at quarterly intervals. The next count of these will relate to the middle of March and I will let the hon. Member have particulars as soon as they are available.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give an approximate estimate of those unemployed or underemployed in the exporting and domestic industries, respectively.

Very few industries produce goods solely for export or for the domestic market and it is not possible even to estimate the number of unemployed or under-employed workers who were last engaged on either of these activities.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the increase in seasonal unemployment in the north-east Suffolk area; and what plans he has to alleviate the situation.

These and other coastal areas suffer from similar seasonal employment difficulties. I am in touch with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on this subject.

asked the Minister of Labour how many shipyard workers of all categories, resident in the fifteen Tyneside local authority areas, were unemployed on 8th March; and how many vacancies were available.

The available statistics relate to Employment Exchange areas and not Local Authority areas.At 17th February the latest date for which figures are available there were 1,044 persons whose last employment was in the shipbuildings and ship repairing industry registered as unemployed at Employment Exchanges in the Tyneside area.The number of vacancies in the industry notified to those Employment Exchanges and remaining unfilled at 12th February was 75.

asked the Minister of Labour how many males and females,

NUMBERS OF WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES IN WEST FIFE AND THE NUMBERS OF NOTIFIED VACANCIES REMAINING UNFILLED
Employment Exchange		February, 1951	June, 1951	February, 1954	June, 1954	February, 1957	June, 1957	February, 1958
Numbers of wholly unemployed persons on Registers
Burntisland
Males	…	19	17	22	22	66	16	49
Females	…	39	22	46	26	23	9	36
Cowdenbeath
Males	…	217	142	170	119	156	117	178
Females	…	266	248	292	278	414	362	525
Dunfermline
Males	…	151	105	131	95	140	102	125
Females	…	270	154	196	168	340	261	404
Inverkeithing
Males	…	9	7	17	10	37	14	29
Females	…	38	33	33	22	36	43	46
Kirkcaldy
Males	…	189	104	225	132	189	150	248
Females	…	159	114	285	232	279	251	388
Leslie
Males	…	6	3	19	8	15	8	28
Females	…	6	1	16	21	68	55	109
Number of notified vacancies remaining unfilled
Burntisland
Males	…	29	25	42	9	13	18	1
Females	…	9	7	3	10	4	5	3
Cowdenbeath
Males	…	98	66	31	57	48	54	49
Females	…	11	30	4	13	12	10	10
Dunfermline
Males	…	453	526	336	422	211	224	105
Females	…	160	119	84	141	68	93	73
Inverkeithing
Males	…	169	180	82	57	44	16	4
Females	…	1	3	5	11	35	7	3
Kirkcaldy
Males	…	190	317	213	206	224	226	96
Females	…	181	249	67	179	81	105	67
Leslie
Males	…	60	40	8	16	27	32	1
Females	…	72	51	5	2	7	17	3

The following Table gives the information desired:

asked the Minister of Labour the separate number of men, women, boys, and girls registered at the Borough Employment Exchange as unemployed at the most recent date in January, 1958, and the number on the

NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF BOROUGH EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AT 14TH JANUARY, AND 17TH FEBRUARY, 1958
			Total number on registers (excluding persons included in col. (4))	Registered disabled persons unemployed
				Suitable for ordinary employment (included in (2))	Severely Disabled Persons classified as unlikely to obtain employment, other than under special conditions (excluded from col. (2))
(1)			(2)	(3)	(4)
			14th January, 1958
Men aged 18 and over	…	…	960	123	5
Boys aged under 18	…	…	79	1	—
Women aged 18 and over	…	…	138	15	—
Girls aged under 18	…	…	17	—	—
Total	…	…	1,194	139	5
			17th February, 1958
Men aged 18 and over	…	…	981	143	7
Boys aged under 18	…	…	48	—	—
Women aged 18 and over	…	…	150	22	—
Girls aged under 18	…	…	10	—	—
Total	…	…	1,189	165	7

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, in view of the closure of certain naval shore establishments and the need to provide work on the spot for those who have lost their employment, what further consideration he has now given to the possibility of commercial work being taken on by these establishments, in particular, ship-repairing work.

There is no question of the Admiralty undertaking commercial work in those naval shore

The following Table gives the information desired. The figures for 17th February, which have now become available, are also given.establishments which are to be closed. The way to replace naval by commercial work at these establishments is therefore to encourage suitable industrial concerns to take them over, and it is to this that my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, and my noble Friend, are directing their energies. We will give the fullest consideration to any and every inquiry.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty to what extent there has been a reduction in the number of anti-submarine vessels in commission, or engaged on trials and training, since the explanatory statement on this year's Navy Estimates is not clear on this point.

Most vessels have some anti-submarine capability, but I presume the Question relates to anti-submarine frigates. By comparison with 1957–58 there is, as shown in the Explanatory Statement on the Navy Estimates 195859, an increase of three anti-submarine frigates with the operational fleet and a reduction of two on trials and training, making a net increase of one anti-submarine frigate in commission.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the growing tendency among local authorities to advertise for home teachers of the blind, restricting the applications to sighted females, thus debarring properly-qualified blind home teachers, holding the necessary diplomas, from being considered for these appointments; and whether he will call the attention of local authorities to the need for enlarging the field of selection so as to include blind home teachers who are trained and qualified.

I am aware that when advertising for home teachers local authorities sometimes limit applications to sighted persons. I have from time to time drawn the attention of authorities to the desirability of their giving consideration to the employment of blind persons as home teachers where they possess the necessary qualifications and are otherwise suitable, and I do not think further action by me is required.

asked the Minister of Health what information he has now received from Russia and from New Zealand as to the effectiveness of the Russian vaccine for multiple sclerosis.

The only further information I have so far obtained is from New Zealand. I understand that no evidence is available there as to the efficacy of the vaccine. I am seeking information from Russia through the appropriate channels.

asked the Minister of Education (1) to what extent the reduction in house building in Stoke-on-Trent has affected apprenticeship courses for those employed in the building industry;(2) to what extent the slowing down in house building has affected adult trainee courses for those employed in the building industry in Stoke-on-Trent.

There has been no apparent effect. Enrolments for adult courses have increased steadily in recent years and, although there was some decline in 1957 in enrolments for student apprenticeship courses, there has been a recovery this year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what total sum of money has been paid to the Trustees of the History of Parliament since 1951 until the latest convenient date; what percentage this represents of the total estimate for the same period; and what arrangements have been made for the future of this work.

Since 1st April, 1951, the sum of£79,050 has been issued to the Trustees of the History of Parliament Trust—including the Scottish Committee —from the Exchequer as grant in aid. This sum represents 81 per cent, of the total provision made in Estimates for this purpose for the period 1st April, 1951. to 31st March, 1958.I understand that the task of the Trust is being undertaken on the basis of a number of separate periods each of which is to be covered by an eminent historian. Work is already in progress on five of these periods and it is hoped that the volumes covering the years 1588 to 1603 and 1754 to 1790 will be ready for publication during 1958–59. Provision has been made in the Civil Estimates for 1958–59—Class I, 22—to enable a grant in aid to be made to the Trustees during this period of not more than£21,170. The Trustees have, however. agreed to make every effort to restrict their demands on the Exchequer during1958–59 to the level of provision—£18,900—for 1957–58.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the approximate total annual amount before deduction of tax payable under deeds of covenant not in form of charity during the latest year for which figures are available; and what his estimate is of the annual loss of Income Tax and Surtax, respectively, by the use of such deeds.

About£25 million in 1956–57 on which the loss of Income Tax and surtax is estimated at about£6½million and£10 million respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the value of deeds of covenant in operation for Income Tax purposes during the latest year for which figures are available; how many of these deeds were in form of charity; and what was the approximate total annual amount before deduction of tax payable under such deeds.

About£37 million in 1956–57. Nearly 800,000 deeds in favour of charities accounted for about£12 million.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when he proposes to hold a local inquiry on the order he proposes to make on the subject of site development by Messrs. Watton and Grew; and how far the inquiry will include the whole question of site development to within 15 feet of the River Cole, in which four other firms are interested, at Station Road, Coleshill, Warwickshire.

A local inquiry has been provisionally arranged for 7th May. The inquiry will cover the whole question of site development on that part of the bank of the River Cole, and copies of the draft order have been sent to the other four firms interested.