asked the Postmaster-General the number of receiving sets capable of receiving very-high-frequency and medium-wave broadcast programmes, respectively, which are located in North-Eastern England.

It is not possible to give accurate figures for any part of the country. Taking the whole of the United Kingdom I understand that there are some 17 million medium-wave receivers and an additional 1½ million receivers capable of receiving V.H.F.

asked the Postmaster-General when Northern Ireland will be given a separate wavelength for broadcasting.

It is not possible to allocate a medium wavelength for the exclusive use of Northern Ireland. It already has a separate wavelength in the Divis V.H.F. service which covers the greater part of Northern Ireland.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will initiate discussions with a view to securing an additional medium wavelength for the British Broadcasting Corporation.

No. It is highly improbable that international discussion would lead to the allocation to this country of an additional medium wavelength.

asked the Postmaster-General why he refuses to receive a deputation of representatives of the Burns Society.

There is nothing that I can add to my right hon. Friend's reply of 4th December to the hon. Member for Kilmarnock (Mr. Ross) on this subject.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent the advisory committee set up to advise him about new issues of postage stamps, greeting telegraphs and other matters relating to posts and telegrams will consider problems of design and format; if he will state its precise terms of reference; and when it is likely to report.

There is no Advisory Committee to advise my right hon. Friend what new issues of postage stamps should be made.The Advisory Committee on the Inland Telegraph Service is hoping to be able to report within the next six weeks. Its terms of reference are:

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many airmen holders of the Victoria Cross there are; how many are drawing the basic minimum annuity of £10; how many are drawing the conditional increase of annuity up to £75; and the total annual aggregate of money drawn by both categories.

Nine officers and one airman. The airman receives an annuity of £10.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in view of the potential danger from the discharge of untreated sewage in public places, and the solution of this problem achieved as regards air travel, he will set up a special committee to inquire into improvements in lavatory services in long distance trains.

No. This is a matter for the British Transport Commission which has recently had the whole question of track pollution investigated by a committee of experts. The Commission is now considering certain modifications in existing methods which the committee recommended.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now say when the British Overseas Airways Corporation's service to South America will be restarted; and what will be the frequency of flights.

British Overseas Airways Corporation accepts the recent Survey Party's main conclusion that there is likely to be sufficient traffic in future to justify resumption of operations to Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile, although losses will initially be incurred.Therefore, subject to its overall financial situation at the time, the Corporation intends to reopen the route to these countries as soon as sufficient aircraft capacity becomes available. This is not likely to be before some time next year.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will take steps to amend Section 24 of the Air Corporations Act, 1949, in such a way as to reduce the restrictions on independent operators of services between the United Kingdom and countries abroad.

I cannot promise early legislation on this matter.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of Government authorisation of the capital expenditure on the Britannia aircraft by the British Overseas Airways Corporation, what reports he has received on its profitability during the period it has been in service.

British Overseas Airways Corporation informs me that on the Australian and South African routes where the Britannia has operated for a full year the Corporation's profits have substantially increased. On routes to the East, where the Britannia has more recently been introduced, there has, at the same time, been an unconnected general falling off in traffic, and it is too early to measure the success of the aircraft on these routes.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation why he refused his permission for an air service from Yeadon to Amsterdam.

My right hon. Friend accepted the recommendation of the Air Transport Advisory Council.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many persons were killed and injured, respectively, on pedestrian crossings during the year 1957; and what were the corresponding figures for the year 1956.

Ninety-three persons were killed and 814 seriously injured on uncontrolled pedestrian crossings during the year 1957: the corresponding figures for the previous years were 100 and 875. Figures for those slightly injured are not available.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation in how many accidents involving personal injury vehicles of over three tons unladen weight have been involved since 1st May, 1957, up to a convenient date; the figures of killed, seriously injured and slightly injured, respectively, in such accidents; and the figures for such accidents and those killed and injured thereby for a corresponding period of 1956.

Information derived from police reports indicates that from 1st May to 31st December, 1957, 7,500 goods vehicles over 3 tons unladen weight were involved in accidents causing personal injury. The corresponding total for the same period of 1956 was 6,922.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation why traffic signals are being re-erected at Elstree crossroads, on the Middlesex-Hertfordshire border, when some were erected there only about a year ago and soon afterwards removed as a failure; and if he will state the cost of each of these operations of erection, removal and re-erection.

Last year's installation was a temporary one to see if traffic signals could save police control at this awkward junction. The experiment showed that with some alteration in the road layout and modern signal equipment, the change would be satisfactory. This work is now going ahead.I am obtaining the information asked for in the second part of the Question and will send it on to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will alter the conditions attached to ordinary motor driving licences, in a way that will enable holders of such licences to ride a power-assisted bicycle, as distinct from a motor cycle, without further tests or examinations.

No, the technique required to handle a power-assisted cycle on the roads safely is quite different from that needed for driving a motor car.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will exempt from vehicle tests vehicles which are used solely for rallies and exhibitions organised by such bodies as the Veteran Car Club and the Vintage Motor Cycle Club.

We shall make regulations for vehicle tests which will enable veteran type cars and motor cycles to be used on the roads for properly organised exhibitions and rallies.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps Her Majesty's Government's representatives at the Geneva Conference on the Laws of the Sea will take to press for a closer association between a merchant ship and her country of register so as to minimise the threat to all maritime nations by shipping using flags of convenience.

The United Kingdom delegation has already suggested that the Conference should endorse the principle of a genuine link between states and ships and should refer the problem for detailed examination by other appropriate international bodies.

asked the Minister of Defence what particular steps he has taken, following assurances given some time ago, to see that all Service Departments attend immediately to the issue of a death certificate to relatives of men dying on active service; and why there has again been delay in a case about which he has received details.

I have been asked to reply.I have already written to the hon. Member explaining why there was delay in the particular case to which he referred. He has also had a letter from my noble Friend, the Minister without Portfolio, explaining the general arrangements, regarding the issue of death certificates, in peace and in war.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he is aware that a system has been successfully employed at the Indian National Defence Academy at Poona whereby cadets from all three Services study and mess together; and whether, in the interests of understanding between the three Services, he will consider instituting a similar system in this country.

I have been asked to reply.I understand that cadets of all three Services in India attend the National Defence Academy from 16 to 18 for a general education. Their subsequent Service training however is in separate colleges. My hon. Friend's suggestion has been recently examined again and I am satisfied that the very heavy cost of such a change would not be justified. Understanding between the Services is aided at various stages in an officer's career by numerous joint Service staff and specialist courses.

asked the Minister of Defence in which North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries motor vehicle fuel is consumed by British forces exempt from all local taxation.

I have been asked to reply.In all N.A.T.O. countries where British forces are stationed.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will further consult the United States military authorities on the risks of accidents involving the dropping

I have been asked to reply.I have nothing to add to the statement made yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what consultation took place with Her Majesty's Government before General Norstad made his speech on the West German television service advocating the arming of West German forces with atomic tactical weapons.

None.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of engineers, joiners, and building trade workers unemployed in Newcastle-upon-Tyne as at the latest available date; and how this compares with the figures twelve months previously.

The following table gives the information desired.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men and women, respectively, are unemployed and how many are on short time in the

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed registered in the film industry at the latest convenient date.

At 17th February there were 278 persons on the registers of employment exchanges in Great Britain whose last employment was in the production and printing of cinematograph films industry.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were registered as unemployed at Bideford, Devon, at the latest convenient date; and how many had been unemployed for more than three months.

At 17th February there were 457 unemployed persons on the registers of the Bideford Employment Exchange. An analysis according to duration of unemployment is not available for any date later than 9th December, 1957. The total number on the registers of the Bideford Employment Exchange at that date was 377, of whom 82 had been unemployed for more than three months.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number unemployed

The table below gives the information desired.in Salford at the latest date; the numbers unemployed in the docks, engineering, clothing, building and other main industries in Salford; and the corresponding figures three months ago.

Following is the reply:

asked the Minister of Labour the number of workers employed in the spinning and weaving sections of the cotton industry on 30th September, 1951, and on the last date for which figures are available.

The estimated numbers of employees in employment in Great Britain at the end of September, 1951, were 186,000 in the cotton spinning, doubling, etc., industry and 135,800 in the cotton weaving, etc., industry. The corresponding figures for the end of January, 1958, were 145,700 and 101,000 respectively.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, in view of the closing of naval shore facilities, if he will take steps to introduce these to commercial undertakings and provide them with some incentive to convert them to a commercial use in order to obviate the necessity of removing large populations to other areas which do not provide the same amenities.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 12th March, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many naval holders of the Victoria Cross there are; how many are drawing the basic minimum annuity of £10; how many are drawing the conditional increase of annuity up to £75; and the total annual aggregate of money drawn by both categories.

There are 29 naval holders of the Victoria Cross now living. Three ratings and one Royal Marine receive the £10 annuities, but these are increased by additions under the pensions increase schemes where applicable; and sixpence a day is added to the Service pension of the one pensioner rating whose award was made after 3rd September, 1939. No holders are drawing the conditional increase of annuity up to £75.The total annual sum involved is £70.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Army holders of the Victoria Cross there are; how many are drawing the basic minimum annuity of £10; how many are drawing the conditional increase of annuity up to £75; and the total annual aggregate of money drawn by both categories.

We believe that there are about 290 Army holders of the Victoria Cross, 180 of them from the British Army. The records are not precise because we are not always notified when a holder dies. The pensions of some Commonwealth V.C.s are paid by their own Governments and the following information applies only to payments from Army Votes. Officers are not eligible for the annuity of £10, but 127 other ranks are now drawing it. In all but ten cases the basic £10 annuity has been increased—on average, nearly doubled—under the pensions increase schemes. One officer and 11 other ranks are drawing special annuities at a higher rate. The special annuities cost £880 a year and the ordinary ones about £2,400.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of officers who have been requested to retire compulsorily under Article 196 of the Army Pay Warrant, 1950, in each of the years ended 15th March, 1951 to 1958; and to what extent such officers who have been requested to retire since July, 1957, are entitled to compensation for premature retirement, as outlined in Command Paper No. 231.

The numbers are 42, 36, 53, 58, 54, 65, 59 and 66. These retirements were not caused by the run-down of the Army and the officers concerned are not, therefore, entitled to compensation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what British dependencies in the past five years have received from any international agency

My Department's records indicate that the position for the period 1953 to 1957 inclusive is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been or are being taken to prepare alternative employment and training for the dockyard workers of Hong Kong who will be dismissed when the British Naval Base closes down next year.

To make it easier for dockyard workers to find other jobs they are being discharged gradually over two years. An Employment Advisory Committee and an Employment Liaison Office have been set up. On these bodies the civil and service authorities and local employers are co-operating admirably and of the 396 workers so far discharged only 15 below normal retiring age are now unemployed.The question of training arises only for apprentices and trade boys. These

asked the Minister of Education what inquiry he is making into the proportions of passes and failures in national certificate courses.

The Central Advisory Council for Education (England) has, at my Department's request, extended a survey of some 9,000 National Certificate students which was conducted in 1956 to cover the subsequent performance of these students and so to ascertain the extent and nature of wastage during National Certificate courses.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the statement made by spokesmen of the workers in television and the cinema regarding the increasing amount of violence depicted, a copy of which has been sent to him; and what action he proposes to take to protect the mental health of the public, liable to be endangered by the exhibition of scenes of violence.

I have seen Press reports about this. I do not think that any action is called for on my part, but I will watch the position.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Anglo-Egyptian refugees have been found work in this country; how many have been helped to emigrate; the total sum, up to 1st January, 1958, spent on helping these refugees; and how much has been advanced in loans.

By 31st January, 1958, the Ministry of Labour and National Service had found work for 1,129 Anglo-Egyptian refugees. Many more have secured employment through their own efforts or with the help of voluntary societies or their former employers, but the precise number is not known.So far, 1,347 refugees have been helped to emigrate.Up to 1st January, 1958, approximately £4,823,000 had been spent on helping

refugees. This includes approximately £2,903,000 advanced under the scheme of

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the fatal accident to a child of four in Hamilton Place, East Kilbride, on 4th March, he is satisfied with the safety precautions there; and if he will make a statement.

Hamilton Place, East Kilbride, is a cul-de-sac about 50 yards long recently constructed for housing purposes and is an unclassified road for which Lanarkshire County Council is the responsible Highway authority. I understand that the circumstances of the accident are being investigated by the criminal authorities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement about further arrangements for the import of canned foodstuffs from North America.

The quota for canned salmon from the dollar area in the forthcoming season will be increased by £1 million to £4·5 million. I have also authorised the import of canned apples to the value of $250,000 during the current season. Notice to importers giving the details will be issued as soon as possible.