asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of skilled craftsmen unemployed in Cardiff at the most recent convenient date, and the comparable number for 1957 and 1956, respectively.

On 17th March, 1958, 92 men in the principal building, shipbuilding and engineering crafts were registered as wholly unemployed in Cardiff compared with 96 on 11th March, 1957, and 48 on 12th March, 1956.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a further statement on the preparation of new shipbuilding and ship-repairing regulations.

A substantial number of changes have been made to the original draft to take account of points raised by many interested organisations and of recent developments in the industry. My right hon. Friend proposes to publish very shortly a revised version so that those concerned in the industry may have the opportunity to submit further comments before a statutory draft is published later in the year.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that there is growing unemployment in the building, civil engineering, and ancillary industries in Airdrie and Coatbridge, and that in addition a four-day week is in operation in Stewart and Lloyds, Baird and Scottish, Victoria, Waverley, and other industries throughout the constituency; and what steps he is taking to deal with this situation.

I am aware that, as in the country as a whole, there has been some increase in unemployment in building and civil engineering and their ancillary industries. There is also some short-time working in the metal industries in these towns. My local officers are doing all that is possible to submit unemployed workers to vacancies.

asked the Minister of Labour what plans are in progress to provide skilled apprenticeship openings for school leavers in Lanarkshire, particularly over the bulge years.

The provision by industry of increased training opportunities is one of the basic recommendations made by the Report "Training for Skill". This Report has been brought to the attention of all the industries concerned. I understand that some Youth Employment Committees in the County of Lanarkshire are already arranging to undertake certain inquiries about future apprentice requirements in their area.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the percentage rate of unemployment in the Burgh of Falkirk for the latest convenient date.

The percentage rate of unemployment can be computed only for the Falkirk, Grangemouth and Bonnybridge area as a whole. At 17th March, the rate for this area was 3·9 per cent.

asked the Minister of Labour what are now the percentage figures of unemployment in North Staffordshire and in Newcastle-under-Lyme, respectively.

2·3 per cent. in North Staffordshire and 3·5 per cent. in Newcastle-under-Lyme at 17th March.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the continuing failure of Municipal Mutual Insurance Limited to accord full, normal recognition to the Guild of Insurance Officials; and what further steps he proposes to take in the matter.

Since I answered the hon. Member's Question on 21st February, 1957, my Department has not been approached about this matter either by the Guild or the Company. The services of the officers of my Department are, of course, always available to the parties, if desired, in efforts to secure a settlement.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that 2·4 per cent. of the workers in the south-west region are unemployed, and that this is ·4 per cent. above the national average; and what steps are being taken to deal with the position, particularly in the ship-repairing, aircraft and building industries in this region.

Yes, but the regional rate of unemployment conceals wide variations between areas with unemployment well below the national average and those with high unemployment, much of it seasonal, particularly in coastal resorts. In the three industries to which the hon. Member refers unemployment is not higher than in the country as a whole, with the exception of ship-repairing at Falmouth. I am in touch with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on the needs of those areas which suffer from heavy unemployment.

asked the Minister of Labour how many man days were lost in 1957 by industrial accidents; and what steps are being taken to deal with this problem.

Figures of the man days lost in 1957 because of industrial accidents are not yet available. The latest figures are those for the year ending June, 1956, which show that about 17 million man days were lost on account of industrial accidents.It is not possible in a short statement to cover all aspects of the work done by my Department to prevent accidents and promote industrial safety. It includes the general activities of the Factory Inspectorate in securing observance of the safety provisions of the Factories Acts and related legislation, review and revision of this legislation to take account of industrial developments affecting safety, advisory leaflets and booklets, investigation into special problems, advice to employers and workers, development of safety training and other matters. In addition to the work done by my Department many employers give much attention to promoting safety in their works and organisations at national and district level in many industries assist employers and workers to secure improved standards of safety.A detailed account of the work is presented annually to Parliament in the Reports of the Chief Inspector of Factories.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many times H.M.S. "Vanguard" has put to sea in the last six months; how many men are employed on the vessel; how many tons of oil have been burned in this period; and what is the future rôle of this ship.

"Vanguard's" future is being reconsidered now. At present she is maintained in Reserve, which requires a crew of six officers and 130 ratings. She also provides accommodation for about 1,000 Reserve Fleet personnel, together with a variety of training facilities, which unless "Vanguard" were available would have to be provided ashore. About 3,000 tons of oil were consumed during the period in question. There has been no occasion for "Vanguard" to put to sea, but she is at short notice to do so.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that the loss in income to the Rugby Rural District Council will be in the neighbourhood of £19,000 due to the disuse of Bramcote Air Station by his Department; whether he will make a further statement about the future use of these premises; and on what date the Royal Naval Air Service will vacate the station.

I realise that the Rugby Rural District Council will lose income when the Air Station at Bramcote closes, early in 1959. I cannot yet make a further statement about the future use of the station.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what assistance is being given by the Government to the development of the sea transport cargo by submersible means in view of the possibility of higher speeds, greater scope for automatic control and greater safety from aerial attack.

I understand that some industrial concerns in this country and elsewhere are interesting themselves in this possibility. My Committee, however, which is studying the problem of getting nuclear propulsion into a merchant ship, is concentrating at present on application to a surface ship which, in my view, is more susceptible of early achievement.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1) to what extent the agreement entered into with the United States of America for the exchange of information on nuclear submarines also includes the intermediate range missile Polaris;(2) what arrangements have been made with the United States of America for the supply of the intermediate range missile Polaris.

The agreement for the exchange of information on nuclear submarines does not cover the weapons they will carry. We have, in fact, received a good deal of information on this American development, but there have been no discussions with the United States Government regarding the possibility of the supply of the missile to the Royal Navy.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is possible to purchase the United States Polaris missile as a result of the agreement on interdependence reached in Washington last year.

The possible purchase of Polaris by the United Kingdom was not raised during the Washington talks referred to, nor has it been raised since.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what steps have now been taken to offer any of the dockyards or repair yards which are no longer required by the Admiralty to industrial or commercial concerns; and with what results.

We have made known the fact that Her Majesty's Dockyard, Sheerness, and the Royal Naval Aircraft Yard, Donibristle, are available for disposal by inquiries addressed to industrial and commercial concerns and by advertisements in the Press. A number of inquiries have been received about these establishments and about Her Majesty's Dockyard, Portland, where fewer facilities will become redundant.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many apprentices are at present undergoing training at the Royal Naval Aircraft Yard, at Donibristle; and what steps are being taken to safeguard the future of these boys.

One hundred and twenty-six apprentices are borne at the Royal Naval Aircraft Yard, Donibristle. All of these will be enabled to complete their training. Forty-eight will do this at Donibristle. Thirty-five have chosen to be transferred to Rosyth and 32 to Fleetlands. Three have asked for their indentures to be cancelled and eight have not yet made up their minds.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many British and Gurkha troops are engaged in the war in the Federation of Malaya; and how many British battalions and Gurkha battalions are at present engaged in this war.

As stated in my right hon. Friend's Memorandum on the Army Estimates, there is one Gurkha Division and one Commonwealth Brigade Group. It would not be in the public interest to give more information.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will discontinue the use of the gun site at Blakeman's Law and derequisition the property.

No. The gun site is an essential part of Redesdale Range.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a decision has yet been reached on any new type of Army boot.

No. We have recently completed extensive trials of a new type of boot with a rubber composition sole. The reports are being examined.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware of the unrest and resentment of the men of the 63rd Field Squadron. Royal Air Force Regiment, Ayios Nicalaos, British Forces Post Office, 53, arising from their continued stay in Cyprus which is contrary to the arrangements initially stated, details of which have been sent to him; and what action he intends to take to ease their position.

The deployment of any unit must naturally depend on operational considerations. The six months for which No. 63 Field Squadron was originally expected to remain in Cyprus have not yet expired, but if we have to keep it there as a long-term measure we shall do our best to relieve those men who before leaving for Cyprus had recently completed an overseas tour.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many Greek Cypriots and how many Turkish Cypriots and how many other British subjects not of United Kingdom domicile are still employed within the perimeter of the Royal Air Force station at Nicosia.

About 1,300 Greek Cypriots, 450 Turkish Cypriots and 70 other British subjects not of United Kingdom domicile. The figures, which include the employees of civilian contractors, vary from time to time.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what representations have been made to his Department about paragraphs 50, 51, 52 and 87 of Air Publication No. 826, Regulations for Civilian Employees at Air Ministry Establishments, alleging that some or all of these paragraphs reserve to his Department the right to make deductions from employees' wages, and asking for these paragraphs to be amended so that no right is reserved to the Air Ministry the exercise of which would be a breach of the Truck Acts; and what action he has taken.

Representations have been made by the Aeronautical Engineers' Association. My right hon. Friend sees no reason to make any change.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the financial and editorial connection between the "Royal Air Force Flying Review" and the Air Council.

The "Royal Air Force Flying Review" is a commercial publication which operates under an agreement made with the Air Ministry in January, 1951. Its object is to provide information about the R.A.F. in popular form.No direct cash subsidy is paid, but the Air Ministry helps the publishers in various ways, mainly by making available information which can be released for publication. Increases in the price of the journal to serving members of the Royal Air Force may be made only in agreement with the Air Ministry. The publishers pay a rebate on sales within the service to unit funds.The Air Ministry exercises no direct editorial supervision, but the publishers are required to ensure that the character and standards of the journal are maintained and improved upon as far as possible. The usual security arrangements of course apply.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will state in detail his plans for the development of the airports at Aberdeen and for the provision of direct passenger services to and from them to London Airport.

The facilities at Dyce Aerodrome are adequate for the traffic which may be expected there in the next few years. The provision of air services is a matter for the commercial judgment of airlines.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the increase in traffic to and from Aberdeen caused by the developments at Dounreay; and if he will state his plans for providing passenger and freight planes to and from Dounreay through Aberdeen to cope with this traffic.

Yes; the Dounreay developments have certainly increased traffic through Aberdeen to Wick which is the aerodrome serving Dounreay. For the last two years B.E.A. have provided extra services to deal with this traffic. The frequency of the services to Wick is, of course, a matter for the commercial judgment of airlines.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether it was with his approval that the British Overseas Airways Corporation suspended operations from Nicosia.

No. Although B.O.A.C informed me and the Cyprus authorities of its intention, the decision to suspend operations in April, 1956, was a commercial one taken by B.O.A.C. on its own responsibility. It did not require my approval.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what further information he has about the financial results of the British Overseas Airways Corporation for the year 1957–58.

During the Civil Aviation debate on 27th January, I warned the House that B.O.A.C. would not have a good financial year in 1957–58. The loss for the year is now estimated at about £2¾ million. The main cause of this loss is that revenue has not come up to expectations, which B.O.A.C. attribute to the late delivery of new aircraft and partly to the recession in North America. B.O.A.C.'s finances are seriously affected by the level of engineering costs which have been shown to be much higher than those of comparable foreign airlines.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will publish the proposed White Paper on vehicle testing under the Road Traffic Act, 1956, before the draft regulations, so that the views of hon. Members can be taken into account before the regulations are laid before Parliament.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what action he proposes to take on the street loading restrictions which were the subject of a recent official inquiry; and if he will make a statement.

I have now received the report of the public inquiry held by the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee into proposals for a ban on loading and unloading during morning peak hours at 23 sites in London. Its principal recommendation, which I accept, is that I should not impose such a ban on these sites at present and, in any case, not before we know the effect of extending normal "No Waiting" restrictions to cover the morning peak traffic period.The report states, nevertheless, that such restrictions may eventually be desirable and recommends that any further proposals should be based on a more detailed comparative study of all factors affecting traffic congestion at the sites concerned. The Advisory Committee is itself undertaking this study, and I shall consider the long-term issue in the light of its further report.I am making copies of the report of the public inquiry available to interested individuals and organisations and placing copies in the Library of this House and of another place.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that in Staines road repairs are being carried out in four different areas; to what extent his Department is consulted before such action is taken in a critical road bottleneck; and what hours are being worked on these repairs.

We were informed that these road works on A.30 were to be carried out. The arrangements for traffic during their progress have been approved by the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis. On three sites work will be completed before the summer peak traffic starts, while on Thames Bridge work will be suspended between June and September. Normal hours are being worked.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what consideration he has given to the dislocation of traffic that will arise due to reconstruction work in connection with the Howdon Loop Bridge; if he is aware that the work is only possible between 11 p.m. on Saturdays and 4.20 a.m. on Mondays; and what temporary measures he proposes, whether by instituting single line traffic or otherwise, during the period of reconstruction.

Our Divisional Road Engineer is discussing with the local authority, with whom the responsibility rests, how the dislocation of traffic resulting from this reconstruction can best be mitigated.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will make a statement on the progress made in the negotiations with the other Western European Union countries to achieve co-operation and co-ordination in the production of weapons.

The meeting of the North Atlantic Council, which I attended in Paris last week, reached full agreement on measures to achieve closer co-operation on military research, development and production within the framework of Western European Union. The North Atlantic Council will be kept fully informed, so that other member countries may participate in these activities.

asked the Minister of Defence when he expects to be in a position to make a statement about the progress made with the reorganisation and integration of the defence services.

I have nothing to add to the answer given to the right honourable Gentleman on this subject last Wednesday.

asked the Minister of Works if he will make a statement on the nature and extent of the recent finds, reported to him, of a prehistoric chamber in Orkney.

I assume that the hon. and learned Member is referring to the underground chamber at South Unigarth on the mainland of Orkney which was recently discovered by accident. I have arranged for the site to be investigated by my Inspector of Ancient Monuments in Scotland as soon as possible, after which I should be in a position to give definite information about the nature and extent of the contents.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now reconsider the possibility of allowing individual producers to obtain supplies of crystal violet vaccine.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave my hon. Friend on 31st January.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider the possibility of requiring all stray dogs to be rounded up during outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, to prevent the spread of infection.

The Dogs Act, 1906, empowers the police to seize and detain stray dogs, and the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Infected Areas Restrictions) Order, 1938, empowers local authorities and the police to deal similarly with dogs not kept under control as required by the Order. During outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease my veterinary officers maintain close touch with local authorities and the police on these and all other necessary precautions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the number of policemen injured on duty in Scotland in all year 1938, 1939 and 1945 to date, and a similar table showing the number of crimes in which violence was used.

The following is the information requested:

asked the Paymaster-General whether he is aware of the shortage of household coal in the Stockton-on-Tees area; and if he will arrange for additional supplies to be delivered.

I am making inquiries and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what action he proposes to take on the recommendation of a sub-committee of the Central Advisory Water Committee that the period during which a river board is required to obtain his consent before instituting proceedings should be extended for a further three years.

Subsection (2) of Section 8 of the Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Act, 1951, prohibits the institution of proceedings by river boards in respect of certain offences under the Act unless the consent of the Minister of Housing and Local Government is first obtained. This subsection is due to expire on 31st July next (that is, seven years after the passing of the Act) unless it is extended under subsection (3) for a further period in pursuance of Addresses to Her Majesty by both Houses of Parliament. The Trade Effluents Sub-Committee of the Central Advisory Water Committee recently submitted a report, which has been published, recommending that the original 7-year period should be extended for a further three years. This recommendation has been approved by the Central Advisory Water Committee. I consider that the Committee's advice should be accepted, and a Motion for an Address to extend the period accordingly has been placed on the Order paper.