asked the Secretary of State for War on what date the two surface to surface guided weapon regiments at present under training will join the British Army of the Rhine.

The first regiment will move to B.A.O.R. in the autumn of this year. It is too soon to announce a date for the move of the second regiment.

Would the hon. Gentleman be good enough to tell the House what the deployment on this date will be? Can we take it that those regiments will then have the capability of firing a warhead of approximately one ton of T.N.T. and that its nuclear capability will depend only upon the availability of atomic warheads as and when the American authorities care to make them available?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put down a further Question on that point.

asked the Secretary of State for War what progress has been made in the production of the F.N. rifle; and to what extent our troops have been equipped with this weapon.

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the Answer given on 7th May to the hon. Members for Dudley (Mr. Wigg) and Bermondsey (Mr. Mellish).

I saw that, and that is why I regard the matter as most unsatisfactory. May I ask whether our troops in the Aden Protectorate engaged in activities on the Yemen frontier have an issue of the F.N. rifle, or whether they are now using a rifle which, by modern standards, is regarded as obsolescent? If they have not got the F.N. rifle, why not?

I think last week I gave figures of the number of F.N. rifles that have been put into the Army. A further 36,000 or probably more—it may well be a higher figure—will be put into the Army this year. I cannot say for certain what proportion of the troops in Aden have F.N. rifles, but I will certainly look into the question.

Will the hon. Gentleman look into the matter, because we must safeguard the interests of our men in the field? Whatever may be the merits of the policy which takes them there, at any rate they must be issued with the most modern weapon.

I will look into the matter as the right hon. Gentleman asks.

Is not it a fact that the Yemeni are supposed to be equipped with automatic rifles? Is not it a deplorable fact that the British Army is not equipped with the best possible weapons available?

It would be a mistake to think that all the Yemeni are equipped with automatic rifles.

Would not the hon. Gentleman agree that the real deficiency is not in the rate of production this year but that the production of these rifles did not start until this year? Why was there the six years' delay, since the decision to make this rifle was taken the very first time that the present Government came into office after the war? That is the extraordinary delay which has never been explained.

The right hon. Gentleman knows better than I do the difficulties of production and the introduction of a new family of weapons into the Service. What is of encouragement to all of us is that production this year will be in excess of what was estimated.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In the light of an Answer which was given last week by the War Office, the hon. Gentleman has given a piece of incorrect information. May I respectfully point out that I was informed by the Secretary of State that none of the troops in Aden have got F.N. rifles?

That is not a point of order.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has investigated the circumstances in which 23403701 Trooper A. C. Corstorphine, National Service man, was killed in Germany on 14th March; what training this National Service man had received before being allowed to drive a motor vehicle; whether he was accompanied by a driving instructor at the time of the accident; and if he will make a statement.

Trooper Corstorphine was a learner driver with about 35 hours' experience. On 14th March he was authorised to carry out practice driving in a scout car carrying "L" plates. He was accompanied by a qualified driver acting as his instructor. In approaching a corner his car left the road and overturned. The instructor was thrown clear, but Trooper Corstorphine was fatally injured.

Does the Minister realise that very great distress has been caused by the knowledge—which seems to be somewhat different from what the Minister said—that the vehicle the man was driving was a heavier one, and further that the length of time he had been driving was not very long and that it is customary to be accompanied by a learner-driver, not a driver? That is why very great distress has been caused.

As I said, Trooper Corstorphine was by no means a beginner. He had 35 hours' driving experience. This was a practice run on which he was accompanied by an experienced driver.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has examined the file copy of the letter addressed to Mr. Corstorphine, 256, Great King Street, Hockley, Birmingham, by Royal Armoured Corps Records, dated 15th March, 1958, confirming the death of his son, Trooper A. C. Corstorphine, in Germany; and whether he will consider introducing a more appropriate letter of sympathy on such occasions.

The letter was sent on a Saturday, when the Records Office was closed except for two members of the staff on duty. To avoid delay at weekends, it had been arranged that the duty staff should confirm casualty telegrams if the need arose by sending a standard, duplicated letter with the details completed in manuscript. Although this was done with the good intention of reducing delay, these makeshift form letters are quite unsuitable.

I thank the Minister for that Answer, which I am sure will give some comfort to the people, especially those with relatives in the Forces, in case such tragedies happen in future. A letter which is partly typed and partly written in ink is calculated to give deep distress. I much appreciate the Minister's decision to make this change.

I have explained the circumstances, and I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement in respect of the criticism by the Comptroller and Auditor-General, in his report on the Army Appropriation Accounts, 1956–57, on the ordering of 1,250,000 pairs of boots and 1,000,000 half soles; how much they cost; what it is proposed to do with them; and what action has been taken or contemplated against those responsible.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given on 3rd April by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

Does the hon. Gentleman appreciate that the answer was not given on 3rd April? Will he now answer the Question? How much did these boots and half soles cost, and what is proposed to be done with them? Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that this was a colossal blunder which cost a lot of public money? Why does he continue to dodge the issue and say that the Answer was given on 3rd April when it was not?

As the hon. Gentleman knows, this report is being examined by the Public Accounts Committee. It would be wholly improper for me to comment on its findings before they are published.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement on the welfare and accommodation arrangements of the 1st Battalion, The Buffs, the 1st Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry, and the 1st Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment, at present serving in Aden.

The 1st Battalion the York and Lancaster Regiment is in a tented camp. The other two battalions are divided between hutted camps and a number of air-conditioned huts which have been loaned to the Army by the British Petroleum oil refinery. These are temporary arrangements to provide for the reinforced garrison.

Will the hon. Gentleman, first of all, tell the House whether these troops have enough water to drink or to wash, and sufficient water for cooking and sanitary purposes? When it has been clear for a considerable time that it might be necessary to reinforce the Aden garrison in an emergency, how comes it that the Government intend to leave a battalion in this climate under tents for the whole of the coming summer?

I have received no complaints about the water supplies, but I shall certainly look into what the hon. Gentleman has said. The existing accommodation for the garrison battalion was, in our view, inadequate, and that is why special steps have been taken to provide permanent accommodation and more married quarters. Naturally, the fact that the garrison needed to be reinforced made the position less easy.

If, as seems probable, it is necessary to keep something like this number of troops there for a prolonged period, should not the Under-Secretary of State consider air conditioning and a thorough job for the battalion or battalions that may be kept there?

As I say, we have been fortunate in having air-conditioned accommodation loaned to us by the oil companies, but it is a little early yet to say whether there will be any need for a permanent reinforcement of the garrison.

In view of the fact that the King's Shropshire Light Infantry were on their way back from East Africa, would it be right to say that they do not at present have their personal baggage and belongings with them? If so, how long will it be before they are in possession of them?

The advance party of the K.S.L.I. are already back in this country and we expect the rest of the unit to follow quite shortly. No doubt there will be certain shortages in their equipment, but I understand that these at the moment are not too serious.

Are the York and Lan-casters to stay under canvas all the summer?

asked the Secretary of State for War on what date his attention was drawn by the Officers' Pensions Society to the amended rule about the rate of pension on voluntary retirement which had been put into operation by the other Services; and why he did not make a similar amendment to his rules at the same time as the Admiralty and the Air Ministry.

The first request was received in October, 1956.

In thanking the Under-Secretary of State for that additional piece of information, may I ask him whether he has reconsidered the decision last week to back-date this concession only to 1st January this year, in the light of what I said in my last supplementary question?

Yes, Sir. Our general rule, as I explained last week, is that there can be no back-dating in changes of this kind. I recognise, however, because of the burden of work which the reorganisation of the Army imposed on the War Office last year, that there was some delay in dealing with the request from the Officers' Pensions Society. We do not wish the pensioners to suffer from this delay, and in the circumstances we have decided that the new rates will be back-dated to October, 1956, when the request was first made.

May I thank my hon. Friend for that Answer? It will give great satisfaction to know that a little bit of humanity has come into the administration of the War Office.

asked the Secretary of State for War what progress has been made towards the amalgamation of the Somerset Light Infantry and the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.

This amalgamation is not due to take place until the last quarter of 1959. Arrangements are being made accordingly.

Does not my hon. Friend agree that the arrangements which are being planned at this moment reflect great credit on all ranks? Will he join with those concerned in this matter in expressing the hope that the new single regiment may have traditions as fine and glorious as the two ancient regiments?

I am very glad to agree with every word said by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that a warrant officer of 909 Company, Royal Army Service Corps, is being asked to refund £334 10s. from his wages for lodging allowance paid to him over a previous period; and, as this error was not the fault of the soldier, if he will cancel this charge.

I am afraid that in the time available my right hon. Friend has not been able to consider all aspects of this rather complicated case; but I will write to the hon. Lady as soon as I can.

Does not the hon. Gentleman think that it is shock enough to the Service man to have the lodging allowance discontinued without being asked to pay £334 for the last two or three years? Surely it can all be written off. Is not he aware that this warrant officer is receiving only £1 a week just now, and that his hire-purchase commitments present a particular problem? Will he consider remitting the entire amount?

I agree with the hon. Lady that in this case the over-issue arose through no fault of the soldier. That is why I have said we shall write off at least a substantial part of the debt. I do not wish to go beyond that at this stage, but I will write to the hon. Lady in due course.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will now say when the proposed new post office will be open for public service at Ashington, Northumberland.

I regret that the negotiations mentioned in my right hon. Friend's reply of 18th December, 1957, did not result in a solution. I hope, however, that following a meeting with the landlord yesterday, it will be possible to proceed on a new basis. I will keep the hon. Member informed of developments.

asked the Postmaster-General what reply he sent to the telegram he received from the Chairman of the Shop Stewards Committee at the Automatic Telephone Company, Liverpool, with reference to the result of an extra 400 men and women employees being discharged due to the cut in capital estimates by his Department.

A reply has been sent in similar terms to that given to the right hon. Member for Huyton (Mr. H. Wilson) in the House on 30th April.

In view of this very serious situation in the Automatic Telephone Company, can the hon. Gentleman say on what date a reply to the telegram was sent and how long it took to acknowledge?

The reply was sent by my right hon. Friend on 12th May.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that delays in the receipt and delivery of mails are frequently occurring in London, E.C.1, E.C.2 and E.2 postal districts; and what are his proposals for restoring a normal service.

I regret that there have been delays to the mails in London, but the delivery services in these areas are now much better and in the past few days they have been made at normal times. We are doing all we can to overcome the remaining difficulties.

Whilst welcoming the Minister's Answer, may I ask whether he is aware that the trouble arose because in some offices minor concessional reliefs were mistakenly regarded as having been cancelled by the package deal? Will the bon. Gentleman take all possible steps to clear away any misunderstanding that still exists? Is he aware that the Union of Post Office Workers has called on its members, in the most explicit terms, to honour the agreement and to assist to the full in the restoration of postal services to their full efficiency?

Yes. We have had the fullest co-operation from the Union of Post Office Workers in this matter and we are working hard to get any remaining difficulties removed.

Is not this an occasion when the hon. Gentleman might pay tribute to the General Secretary of the Union of Post Office Workers for the very strong stand he has taken for the adherence of the employees to the terms of the agreement?

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for repeating what I said.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what this trouble was about? Perhaps I have missed something, but I have not noticed any explanation of how the difficulty arose and what it is all about. Is not it time that the House was told, if it has not already been told?

I will gladly give the House information on the subject. There is nothing secret or mysterious about it. As a result of the new conditions of service and the new wage rates that were negotiated some time ago, certain changes were made in the schedules of duties of a lot of the postal staffs all over the country. The agreement has been honoured in the letter and the spirit extremely well throughout the country, with the exception of two or three London offices, where there have been difficulties because some of the employees felt that they were at a disadvantage as a result of the change. We are dealing with their viewpoints as they arise.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the delays in the delivery of mail owing to an unofficial go-slow in certain post offices in London are still continuing; what action he proposes to take to avoid similar dislocation of services in future; and if he will make a statement.

I am glad there has been an improvement and deliveries are now going out at normal hours. A special air service has been introduced between London Airport and Birmingham to reduce the delay caused by the re-routing to Birmingham of some letters from overseas.

Will not my hon. Friend agree that this severe public dislocation has been caused in spite of both the extremely fair attitude adopted by the G.P.O. and the responsible attitude adopted by the trade union concerned? Will my hon. Friend therefore say whether this dislocation has been the work of just a few agitators and, if so, whether he proposes to retain them in the postal service?

It is our job on the side of administration to see that we abide by our part of the bargain that was negotiated, and we expect the employees to abide by their side of the bargain in the spirit and in the letter.

asked the Postmaster-General when he intends to set up a sub-post office on the Cranes Park Estate, Sheldon, Birmingham.

I am having fresh inquiries made and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that the nearest post office to this estate is about a mile away and that a great many of the citizens who live on the estate have been petitioning for a long time for a sub-post office somewhere in the district?

As the hon. Member knows, we have had this matter under review; the hon. Member himself has brought it to our attention. We are having another look at it to see whether there is any good ground for installing a new sub-office.

asked the Postmaster-General at what intervals telephone instruments in call-boxes at London main line railway termini are inspected for faults.

A full inspection of these boxes is carried out on alternate days and test calls are frequently passed on other days by Post Office officials.

Will my hon. Friend, and, perhaps, his right hon. Friend, make one of their famous tours by walking round and picking up the telephone instruments in the London railway termini, where I think it will be found that about one in every three is out of order at any one time? Is my hon. Friend aware that the general public possibly do not report these faults and, therefore, they do not get picked up by the Post Office?

If my hon. Friend has examples of where the telephones are not working, we will certainly look into them. We do, however, maintain the closest possible watch on them.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will consider installing automatic slot machines to provide change for use in public telephone boxes; and whether he will make a statement.

No, Sir. These machines would add further to the already high costs of the boxes and their equipment, and restrict the space available.

If my hon. Friend does not feel that he could take action on the lines suggested at the present time, will he consider makim!, some arrangement with London Transport for the convenience of the public in the London area so that change could be provided at Underground booking offices for the telephone boxes?

I will bear my hon. Friend's suggestion in mind, but I am not sure that it would be readily accepted by London Transport.

Has the Minister ever considered the desirability of introducing the token system, which is applied in many Continental countries, which can be used irrespective of any changes in the charges for telephone calls and which avoids the difficulty of carrying masses of coppers in one's pocket?

We have to bear in mind that tokens of that kind are easily forged and we have to keep a close watch on the kind of coins that go through our boxes.

asked the Postmaster-General when he expects to introduce a new design of telephone; and what charge he proposes to make for it.

I am glad to say that with the co-operation of the manufacturers and the Council of Industrial Design, we have completed the design of a new telephone instrument. It will have an improved technical performance and will be made in a new and extended range of colours. First supplies are expected in the spring of next year.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the statement he has just made will give general satisfaction, and that the improved technique both in manufacture and also in operating performance, is a tribute both to the industry and to the engineers at Dollis Hill? May I ask my hon. Friend how soon he anticipates that existing stocks will be liquidated, and also when the new telephone will be in general manufacture? Is it proposed to discontinue—[An HON. MEMBER: "Ring him up."]—with the new telephone we could do it more efficiently—is it proposed to discontinue any of the additional charge as and when the new telephone becomes a source of general manufacture of the standard instrument? Also is my hon. Friend aware——

Order. I think that is enough.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend, as I am sure the House is, for his tribute to the technicians—both the manufacturers and our own engineers at Dollis Hill—for the work they have done on this new telephone. We have large stocks of the present one still to work off, but as soon as we can get the flow of new instruments coming forward, we will try to phase the two processes in together.

Is the Assistant Postmaster-General aware that a much more important job is to introduce a new design of Postmaster-General, and that we are proposing to introduce one of a different colour next year?

That will be one of the few innovations for which the party opposite will be able to claim any credit.

asked the Postmaster-General what complaints he has received alleging political bias in recent television programmes; and what action he is taking.

There have been recent articles in the Press mentioning allegations of political bias in two television programmes. Complaints have also been made to me. One was the B.B.C. "Panorama" programme of 28th April. The other was an I.T.A. programme "Polio 1958" on the same night. I have read the script made from a recording of the Panorama programme, but as I did not see it I cannot comment on its effect on viewers generally although there were a couple of passages which, taken alone, might suggest bias in presentation. I would remind the House that it is the Governors' responsibility to ensure the impartiality of their programmes and I think that in general they are successful. Nevertheless, I have taken steps to have the Corporation's attention drawn to my reservations about this particular programme.

Is it not a fact that by and large the people responsible for the television programmes present a reasonably impartial account of whatever they are dealing with? Will the Government make it quite clear that it is not their intention to interfere with these programmes, even if they do sometimes reflect, deservedly, upon the conduct and efficiency of the present Administration?

It is my right hon. Friend's duty to see that the B.B.C. abides by the terms of the Charter and Licence, and that the I.T.A. obeys the terms of the Television Act. That he will do.

Is not it time that the Postmaster-General saw the Chairman of the I.T.A., in view of the continuous breaches of the Act which take place and for which, when they are brought to notice, an apology is made? Would not it be to the Minister's advantage to have a heart-to-heart talk on the matter to prevent these notorious breaches of the Act?

Whenever any alleged or suggested breach is brought to my right hon. Friend's notice, he takes appropriate steps.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is widespread feeling that the television programmes are strongly biased on the Socialist side?

That is in Poole.

Will the Assistant Postmaster-General bear in mind that the B.B.C. television authorities complain that to present the somewhat vague, tenuous and unstable views of Her Majesty's present advisers as intelligible and intelligent, it is almost essential that they should use euphemistic words and flattering terms?

The longer this exchange goes on, the clearer it becomes that bias lieth in the eye of the beholder.

asked the Postmaster-General what consultations he has had with the Director General of the British Broadcasting Corporation about complaints of political bias in a recent television programme; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has had no such consultations, but I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to my reply to the hon. Member for Brixton (Mr. Lipton).

In view of the fact that the hon. Gentleman has said that representations have been made by the Postmaster-General to the B.B.C. and to the I.T.A. about two programmes—the Panorama and vaccine programmes—may we take it that only when the Conservative Central Office makes representations to him does he make representations to the B.B.C.?

I have already assured the House that whenever either of the companies is alleged to be in breach, my right hon. Friend considers the position and takes what steps he thinks practical.

Could the hon. Gentleman inquire into an apparent element of bias, which may be political or not? Could he inquire why it is that the B.B.C. assumes that nobody without a university education has any brains, and that normally nobody without a university education can appear on the Brains Trust? Will he try to stop this snobbish bias against people, like many of us on this side of the House, who have only had an elementary education and are proud of it?

Speaking as one with a similar education, may I say that I have no doubt that the attention of the B.B.C. will be drawn to what the right hon. Gentleman has said.

asked the Postmaster-General how many Conservative, Labour, Liberal and Independent Members of Parliament broadcast in the ordinary British Broadcasting Corporation's television and Independent Television Authority's programmes, respectively, and in how many broadcasts they appeared, listed by party affiliation, for each of the last 24 months for which figures are available; how many Members of Parliament of each party appeared in the British Broadcasting Corporation's television and Independent Television Authority's news programmes, and in how many such programmes they appeared, listed by part-affiliation, over the same period; and if he will furnish these figures to the Library of the House of Commons regularly, together with corresponding figurer for the British Broadcasting Corporation's sound programmes divided as between the Home and Overseas services.

As a number of figures are involved I will, with permission, circulate such figures as are available regarding the appearance of Members in ordinary television programmes, in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The figures regarding the appearance of Members in television news programmes could not be obtained without a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour. I am assured that such appearances are governed entirely by news interest.

While thanking the Assistant Postmaster-General for that reply, may I ask him to recognise that a matter of public interest is involved in this, particularly in the appearance of Ministers in news programmes, as it is questioned whether the present number of Ministerial appearances is justified by the value of the present Administration's activities?

We find ourselves in danger of repeating ourselves. The choice of news items is entirely a matter for the companies themselves and we must leave it to them.

Will the Assistant Postmaster-General give us the names so that, without having even the appearance of sour grapes, we could see which of

I am not sure whether that information can be made easily available, but I will look into the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how much money has been expended on Kemble aerodrome since 1948; and what he estimates would be the approximate cost of extending the present runway for half a mile in the direction away from Kemble village.

Since April, 1948, about £400,000 has been spent on the maintenance of the airfield and buildings, and about £176,000 on new work. The cost of extending the runway for half a mile in the direction away from Kemble village is provisionally estimated at about £500,000.

Is my right hon. Friend of the opinion that the extension of this runway in the opposite direction, so that the runway is not used close to the village, would be of considerable help to the inhabitants of the village, who are undergoing this intolerable nuisance?

There are two things one can do. One is to extend the existing runway so as to use only the far end of it, and the other is to swing the runway round a little. Both would be equally expensive and neither would entirely solve the problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what compensation is to be paid to 1,800 civilians from Manchester, Salford and neighbouring areas who will be made redundant when the Royal Air Force establishment is closed down in Wilmslow.

The unestablished civil servants at the maintenance unit we are closing at Handforth, near Wilmslow, will be paid such gratuity as they may have earned under the Superannuation Acts. For established civil servants, the arrangements will be those announced by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 28th April in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Llewellyn).

Will the Minister bear in mind that it is extremely difficult for elderly or low-paid workers to go to jobs at the other end of the country, even if these are available? Will he, therefore, consider ensuring that the new regulations announced on 28th April are interpreted sympathetically, particularly in view of the growing unemployment in that area?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what study he is making of the cost of maintaining transport aircraft which have been in Royal Air Force Squadron service for 5, 10 and 15 years, respectively.

We keep a close watch on maintenance costs for different types of aircraft.

Did not the Minister of Supply tell me on Monday that there were four aircraft—the Hastings, the Valetta, the Viking and the Dakota—which had been in service for ten years or more? Is it not a fact that it is becoming very uneconomical to maintain these aircraft? When will the Air Council state a requirement for replacements which will be far more economical?

I did not include the Dakota because strictly it is not within the scope of the Question. The Valetta, of course, is on its way out and will be disappearing by the middle of 1959.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the Royal Air Force conference, "Prospect II," which took place on 6th May, was held with his authority; and whether he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Air to what extent the recent speeches of Sir Dermot Boyle and other Royal Air Force officers at the Royal Empire Society's Hall represent Government policy on the future of the Royal Air Force; whether he will make a statement about the future of the Royal Air Force, particularly regarding the possibilities of the supersonic bomber and another supersonic fighter to follow the English Electric P.1; and to what extent the Royal Air Force is making plans for space flying.

The conference was held with the authority of the Minister of Defence and myself. Nothing said at the conference should be interpreted as indicating any divergence from the Government's policy for the Royal Air Force, as set out in recent Defence White Papers and statements to Parliament.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether he and the Minister of Defence concur in the view expressed by Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Tedder, when he said that if there was not another V-bomber on the drawing board at the moment, it was unlikely that there would be one in ten years' time? Further, is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the evidence given at the inquiry in the United States into the satellites and missile programme, where it was stated on the highest authority that there will be a requirement for a manned bomber and interceptor for at least fifteen years, and is not that statement in contradiction with the policy announced in the last two White Papers?

I really do not think that arises out of the Question, which asks me whether the conference was held with my authority.

Would the right hon. Gentleman give a reply to the second half of my original Question about the future of the supersonic bomber and fighter and the interest of the Royal Air Force in space flight? Secondly, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that most of us, on this side of the House anyway, think they obviously flouted official defence policy at the "Prospect" conference, and is not this a dangerous trend? Further, does not the right hon. Gentleman himself regret the fact that it is apt to bring into the open the battle which has been taking place behind the scenes between himself and the Minister of Defence about the future of R.A.F. policy, and should not he himself regret bringing into the open public statements of Marshals of the Royal Air Force to help him in his task?

The policy regarding the aircraft which the hon. Gentleman has mentioned is clearly laid down in the White Papers dealing with Defence and the Air Estimates Memorandum. Anything else that was mentioned, as the Prime Minister made clear yesterday, dealt with a speculative field many years ahead. Finally, I can assure the hon. Gentleman that there is no divergence of opinion whatever between my right hon. Friend and myself.

Is not it a fact that the indignation which has been somewhat belatedly whipped up about this conference was made possible only by the synthesising of a whole lot of replies at a sort of question time, replies to questions generally directed to the usefulness or otherwise of any weapon, the questions coming one after another? Have not all these been put together in order to generate a case which is very tenuous?

As there seems to be some confusion about this matter, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Air Marshals, including the Chief of Air Staff, were in favour of the production of a manned supersonic bomber for several years to come? In order to clear up the matter to the satisfaction of hon. and right hon. Gentlemen, and if there were an all-party demand for a meeting in one of the Committee Rooms upstairs, say Room 14, would there be any objection to the Royal Air Force Marshals coming to address hon. and right hon. Gentlemen on the subject?

Let me make it clear that the Chief of the Air Staff and also the rest of the Air Staff are, completely and absolutely, loyal supporters of the Government's defence policy. They have in no way disagreed with that policy as laid down. The important thing to remember is the time scale in this matter and the special circumstances which the Prime Minister made clear yesterday.

Do the Government intend to order another manned bomber?

We have already announced to the House that industry is now making a study of a possible replacement for the Canberra.

In view of the Prime Minister's statement yesterday, that all of the statements made at the conference were based on the hypothesis that ballistic missiles would find some means of defence, and his further statement, that there is at present no such defence and that no one expects that in the near future there will be, was not the whole of this adventure rather an enterprise in the realm of science fiction? Therefore, was its expense justified?

Certainly it was not an adventure in the realm of science fiction. It is our duty constantly to peer ahead, and some way ahead, and to try to see what changed circumstances might arise in the far future.

On a point of order. I beg to give notice that, owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the right hon. Gentleman's reply, I shall seek an opportunity of raising this matter on the Adjournment, not to impugn the honour of distinguished officers, whom I certainly respect, but to impugn the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the names of the persons authorised by him to write the sketches presented to the Royal Air Force conference held on Tuesday, 6th May, 1958.

The sketches were prepared within the Air Ministry.

In view of the excellent Press which these sketches have enjoyed and the widespread public interest which they have aroused, will the right hon. Gentleman make arrangements for the authors and actors to present these sketches in, say, Westminster Hall, so that hon. Members may be able better to appreciate whether the reflections made upon them were true?

No, I am afraid that this is not a twice-nightly performance.

Will my right hon. Friend convey to those concerned the congratulations of many hon. Members on the skill of the writing of the sketches and upon their performance?

asked the Secretary of State for Air the purpose of the Royal Air Force conference held on Tuesday, 6th May; and how much it cost.

The purpose was explained yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. Extra expenditure was about £260.

In view of the hullabaloo which has followed the conference, does the right hon. Gentleman think that the expenditure was justified, and can he say whether his right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence shares that opinion?

Judging by the number of appreciative opinions which I have received, I should have thought that it was cheap at the price.

Can the Secretary of State explain how almost the entire Press of this country received the impression that the purpose of the conference was to press the view that another generation of manned aircraft should immediately be developed? Is not that view in distinct contradiction to that given us by the Minister of Defence and other Government spokesmen? If this was not the case, can the right hon. Gentleman take steps to get this widespread misapprehension cleared up?

The Press is free, and I hope always will be free, to place any interpretation it wishes on what is said in public. I have been trying, and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister tried yesterday, to explain the correct interpretation to the House. I ask hon. Members to remember that it was not easy to condense into one day a conference which had taken three days at Cranwell.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will arrange for conferences similar to "Prospect II" to be held annually.

No, Sir. I do not think it would necessarily be desirable to hold such conferences at regular annual intervals.

In view of the controversy which has arisen over this conference, will the right hon. Gentleman consider inviting all hon. Members to attend future conferences? In order to clear up the present controversy, will he consider putting a verbatim report of this year's conference in the Library, so that hon. Members who were not present can judge for themselves?

I am very glad that the hon. Gentleman enjoyed the conference, but I do not think that it is something which one wants to do every year? The actual verbatim record of the conference will take some time to compile, but what I can do, and will be prepared to do fairly quickly, is to put in the Library the scripts of the various presentations.

If the recent conference served a useful purpose, and that is the opinion of the Government, why not have an annual conference, or a biennial conference or a six-monthly conference, and open it to everybody in the House, instead of confining it to a few people who attended because of the patronage of the Whips on both sides?

On a point of order. In view of the fact that the paper floating round the House is causing a great deal of discussion on the back benches and has been referred to by one of my right hon. Friends, would not it be wise to lay it on the Table, so that we can all see it?

I do not understand the hon. Member's point of order.

A great deal of discussion is taking place on the back benches because of a document which has been referred to by my right hon. Friend the Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell), who has since handed it to the Government Chief Whip. Would not it be wise and sensible at this stage, in view of the controversy that it is causing, for it to be laid on the Table so that we can all be made aware of its contents?

I do not know what the document is. I could not give a direction about an unknown piece of paper like that.

Further to that point of order——

There is no point of order.

Further to that point of order——

There is no point of order. The hon. Member was proposing to speak further to a non-existent point of order. He cannot do that.

On a point of order. May I ask your guidance, Mr. Speaker? How is it possible to judge my point of order before it is heard?

The hon. Member did not say that. He said it was "further to the point of order". I had just ruled that there was no point of order. The hon. Member cannot speak further to something that does not exist.

This is a new point of order. May we ask that the document which is now here, in the hands of the Chief Patronage Secretary, should be laid with the other papers which are to be laid by the Secretary of State for Air——

Order. There is no point of order in that. The hon. Member ought to know that.

On a point of order. The document referred to is a private letter addressed to me. While I have no objection to its being tabled, I think that my right hon. Friend the Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell), who borrowed it, might have consulted me.

It is an unknown piece of paper as far as I am concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what progress has been made with the carrying into effect of the agreement with the United States of America on the supply of ballistic missiles to the United Kingdom.

The first group of R.A.F. officers and airmen to be trained to operate the missiles leaves for the United States this week. Some American technicians have already arrived in this country.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that this agreement was accepted by many of us only on the understanding that the McMahon Act would be revised? Would not he agree that the implementation of this agreement, which suggests that British as opposed to American personnel are not to be trusted with the custody of the warheads, should proceed in step with the revision of the McMahon Act?

That is not a matter for me. We are working in close collaboration with the Americans under our joint agreement.

Surely the point about the McMahon Act is the whole basis of the agreement and the planning. Surely the right hon. Gentleman can deal with that, since it must be something to do with him. After all, it is his Service which will operate it?

We have reached an agreement with the Americans and we are working under that agreement. Any new agreement to be signed is not a matter for me.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the latest recruiting figures show that the trades in which there is the greatest need for recruits are those particularly suitable for women; and what special steps he is taking to stimulate recruiting for radar-operating and administrative trades in the Women's Royal Air Force.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State to Questions on this subject last week.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, from his records of road accidents, he will state the comparative risk of accident to a pedestrian using a pedestrian crossing and a pedestrian who crosses the road within fifty yards, or other recorded distance, from the crossing.

Figures are not available for the country as a whole, but a survey undertaken on a limited scale three years ago in London by the Road Research Laboratory indicated that pedestrians were twice as safe on zebra crossings as on the road within fifty yards of them.

Does my hon. Friend think that the value of the crossings might be increased by a greater use of the guard rails canalising pedestrians to the crossings?

Those are used where they are appropriate, but in many places it would not be appropriate to fix guard rails.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will provide figures to show whether a light-controlled pedestrian crossing has a greater or lesser effect than an uncontrolled pedestrian crossing in canalising pedestrians on to the crossing and preventing indiscriminate crossing elsewhere in the road.

A small-scale inquiry by the Road Research Laboratory during the Slough experiment showed that in the special circumstances of Slough High Street when a zebra crossing was replaced by a light-controlled crossing the use of the crossing by pedestrians increased. I do not think it is possible to draw from these results conclusions which would be generally applicable.

Why does my hon. Friend think that there are special circumstances here? Is not it clear that where there are light-controlled crossings pedestrians use them to a greater extent than they use the ordinary crossings?

No, not always. Light-controlled crossings have the disadvantage that there is an interval of time before a pedestrian can cross and before the traffic is held up. Often pedestrians Lind a gap in the traffic before the lights have gone red against it and they nip across at that point. Then the traffic light goes red and holds up the traffic for nothing.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation in view of the fact that it takes several years between the decision to build a new road or double track an existing one, when he proposes to announce a further major programme of road construction.

We are at present engaged on a very substantial road programme and I cannot yet say when I shall be able to announce any extension of it. Preparatory work is, however, going ahead.

Does my right hon. Friend agree with the statement made by the British Road Federation that the present road traffic and congestion is growing quicker than the relief being given by the present road programme? Can he confirm or deny that?

The answer is that different people hold different views. I certainly do not accept that statement. We now have the largest road programme that this country has ever had, and we had better go on with it.

Is not it a fact that the present road programme is for a four-year term, and that when it expires, unless there is adequate provision now, there will be a slow-down? The indications are that inadequate preparation is being made and that there will be a slow-down because there is not sufficient work in the pipeline to ensure the programme continuing at its present tempo.

That is not so. I said in my original Answer that preparatory work is going on. We have established a new principle of having a reserved list of schemes, on which preparatory work is being done. The position for the future is much healthier than it has ever been.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made with the by-passing of Darlington from the A.1 road; and when it is expected to commence the new road to link up with road A.19 to Sunderland from the A.1 north of Darlington.

My right hon. Friend has made a scheme under the Special Roads Act, 1949, to establish the line of the Darlington by-pass. The Durham County Council is proceeding with the detailed preparatory work now. I am not aware of a proposal for a new road specifically designed to link the trunk roads A.1 and A.19 north of Darlington, but I expect work to start shortly on the Gateshead-Felling by-pass, which will facilitate the movement of traffic between these two roads.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he expects to publish his draft proposals for the London to Yorkshire motorway.

The proposed line for the road through Leicestershire is still not decided, and we are awaiting the further views of the County Council. I cannot at present say when it will be possible to publish our draft proposals.

I thank the Minister for that reply. When does he expect to publish his proposals to bring the motor road into the West Riding of Yorkshire?

First we have to decide the line.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the decrease in the demand for British cargo shipping; to what causes he attributes the decrease; and what action he proposes to take to remedy it.

Yes Sir. The decline during the past year in dry cargo freight rates has affected shipping throughout the world. It is not the Government's policy to interfere in the commercial operation of shipping, but I am watching the position very closely.

Is the Minister aware that influential people in my constituency have been suggesting that imports by the Coal Board should be restricted to British shipping? Would not this be a bad principle to adopt, not only for the Coal Board but for the nation's general shipping?