asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will define the respective positions of an established dilutee metal-working craftsman employee of his Department and an unestablished non-dilutee employee in this category, having particular regard to considerations of redundancy, transfers and promotion.

Established dilutees include men who have been promoted from semi-skilled work and men who were registered as dilutees on entry. On redundancy those promoted revert and, if necessary, transfer elsewhere in a non-skilled grade. Those registered on entry as dilutees are, where practicable, offered transfer to other units in which skilled vacancies exist or can be created by the discharge of unestablished dilutees. On transfer they are eligible for lodging allowance or grants towards removal expenses. Unestablished craftsmen have no right to transfer at public expense but otherwise receive preference over dilutees for retention and promotion.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why certain employees of his Department, who were employed prior to 1st September, 1939, as skilled metalworking craftsmen, were subsequently registered as dilutees under the Relaxation of Customs Agreement of 21st October, 1939, since nothing in the text of that Agreement calls either for retrospective registration or registration of this particular class of employee.

The Agreement of the 21st October, 1939, was applied to those men who at the time it was signed were employed on work coming within its terms and whose industrial history did not entitle them to recognition as skilled craftsmen.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he expects to be able to publish the report of the Bowes Committee on Inland Waterways.

I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave on 7th May to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Nantwich (Mr. Grant-Ferris).

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether his negotiations for the purchase of the toll rights of Selby Bridge have yet been completed; and the cause of these negotiations being protracted.

Not yet. The settlement of the points affecting the valuation of the toll rights has proved a lengthy business.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a grant to improve the road bridge on A12 between Kelvedon and Feering, near the Railway Tavern, so as to assist the flow of traffic and reduce the risks to pedestrians.

The best solution for Kelvedon's traffic problems is a by-pass, and we are considering this for inclusion in our future road programme. In these circumstances we are not planning improvements to the bridge at the present time.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation why his sanction has not yet been given to the Cordeaux Corner road improvements between Louth and Grimsby; and when he expects work to commence on it.

I have authorised this improvement and expect work to start in July.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what request he has received from the British Transport Commission on the question of increasing passenger fares or freight rates to meet the cost of the recent offer of a wage increase; and what has been the nature of his reply.

The Commission intends to meet by far the greater part of the cost of the wage increase by reductions in working expenses. The Chairman told me in his letter of 2nd May that the Commission does not propose to make any general increase in fares or charges but it will continue to adjust freight rates for selected traffics within its existing charging powers. It also intends to apply to the Transport Tribunal for fresh powers which are necessary if it is to be able to make limited increases on certain passenger services from time to time.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has yet made a decision regarding the development of the north runway at Gatwick Airport.

No. I am studying this question, but I do not intend to make a decision until I have seen the airport in operation for a time.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in the course of his current consultations with both sides of the shipping industry concerning the shortage of radio officers, he will draw the attention of the shipping authorities to the fact that John Eyre, a native of British Guiana, who passed his examinations as a radio officer at Southampton, has been unable to secure a seagoing appointment for the past four months.

The shipping industry is aware that Mr. Eyre is available for employment. The selection of persons for employment in the shipping industry is a purely industrial matter in which it would not be proper for me to intervene in any way.

asked the Minister of Defence if he is aware that nuclear armed bomber patrols are still taking place over this country; and to what extent, under the understanding with the United States Government, Her Majesty's Government are entitled to request that these patrols be grounded in the immediate future.

asked the Minister of Defence if he is aware that United States aircraft are still carrying out practice patrols over Great Britain armed with hydrogen bombs; and what action he proposes to take.

No. As the Prime Minister said in reply to Questions on 18th March, there are no standing or routine patrols by these aircraft.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of registered unemployed in the radio and aircraft industry in April.

At 14th April, 1958, the total numbers registered as unemployed were 2,732 in the wireless apparatus and gramophone industry, 419 in the wireless valves and electric lamps industry, and 2,011 in the aircraft industry.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of registered unemployed at the Feltham and Hounslow Employment Exchanges in April.

At 14th April, 1958, there were 114 men and 37 women registered as unemployed at Feltham Employment Exchange and 278 men and 152 women at Hounslow Employment Exchange.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed and part-time workers registering at the Maltby Employment Exchange on 1st January, 1958; and the latest figures.

At 13th January there were 128 unemployed persons on the registers of Maltby Employment Exchange and Youth Employment Office, all of whom were wholly unemployed. At 12th May, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 256 persons registered as wholly unemployed and 74 who were temporarily stopped from work on the day of the count.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he has taken to ascertain whether employers and trade unions in the engineering and shipbuilding industries are proposing to set up a National Joint Council in their industries as recommended by the Courts of Inquiry in their Reports of April, 1957; and whether he will make a statement.

Soon after the Reports were published I asked the organisations concerned whether they had reached any conclusions on the desirability of setting up a Joint Council. In respect of the engineering industry the Engineering Employers' Federation replied that after very careful consideration it had reached the conclusion that the suggested National Joint Council for the engineering industry would not achieve the result desired by the Court of Inquiry. It was of the opinion that the existing procedure for the avoidance of disputes works satisfactorily. The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions repeated the statement made at the Court of Inquiry that it considered that the setting up of such a body with wide terms of reference would be advantageous to the industry.In respect of the shipbuilding industry the Shipbuilding Employers' Federation says that in present circumstances it does not wish to pursue with the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions the question of setting up a Joint Council for the industry. The Confederation says it cannot agree to the proposals in the Report and that the existing arrangements within the industry should continue to operate.While I regret that the suggestion made originally by the Court of Inquiry in 1954 for the engineering industry and reinforced by the Courts of Inquiry in 1957 for both industries has been rejected it is, of course, for the organisations themselves to agree upon machinery for the discussion of wages and other conditions of employment, as well as other matters of joint interest affecting the productive efficiency of the industry.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that a B.Sc. graduate of King's College, Newcastle, who has been teaching mathematics in a County Durham school for almost a year, has been called up for National Service, but, being a registered conscientious objector, has been employed as a porter in Newcastle Hospital; and, in view of this man's wish to continue teaching for the National Service period of two years pending his entrance to a theological college, if he will arrange to reinstate him as a teacher.

I am aware of the circumstances of this case. The young man's application for registration as a conscientious objector was allowed by the Tribunal on condition that for two years and sixty days he undertook full-time civilian work on the land, in forestry or in hospital. The Tribunal's decision is final and I have no power to alter it.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider revising his regulations in relation to conscientious objectors, so as to make special provision for teachers engaged in science instruction at school and persons in other important occupations where there is a shortage of experienced instructors or labour.

No. Applications for registration as a conscientious objector are determined by Conscientious Objector Tribunals which are independent statutory bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he has now considered the complaints of civilian teachers in his employ in Singapore concerning the hardships endured in travelling on inter-tour leave to and from the United Kingdom; and whether he will make a statement;(2) whether he will charter British Overseas Airways Corporation's aircraft for the homeward and return passages of civilian teachers employed by his Department in Singapore; and whether he will make a statement;(3) whether he is aware that his Department's civilian educational staff travelling to and from the United Kingdom and Singapore are dissatisfied with the conditions on the chartered aircraft; and what steps he is taking to ensure reasonable comfort for those obliged to undertake this journey.

The regular air trooping flights between London and Singapore are used by Service men and their families and by civilian employees, including teachers. They have been operated successfully for a number of years.At the beginning of this year teachers in Singapore complained about conditions on the journey. Careful inquiries were made and two of the main difficulties have been met, first by improvements following rebuilding at Karachi, and secondly by arrangements for teachers to be met on arrival in this country. A reply giving the results of our inquiries was sent to Singapore on 10th March.Very few complaints about these flights are received. The only ones from Army families in the past twelve months were concerned with minor troubles which have been dealt with. On that evidence, which is supported by inspectors' reports, I believe that there would be no justification for altering the present arrangements.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps he is taking to encourage the development of a safe and economic passenger-carrying helicopter.

My right hon. Friend has been giving direct or indirect support to the development of three helicopters, which may serve to carry passengers safely and economically. (1) The Fairey Rotodyne, which is intended to carry 40 passengers over a range of about 200 miles, and its Napier Eland engines. Most of the cost of development of the airframe and the engine has been borne by the Ministry of Supply and we propose to continue to support their further development if the companies concerned show their faith in the project by an adequate measure of private investment. We are awaiting their proposals. (2) The Westland Westminster, which is being developed as a private venture to carry a similar number of passengers over a slightly shorter range, makes use of another version of the same Napier Eland engine. (3) The Bristol 192 helicopter, which we are developing and producing for the Royal Air Force, could also be developed for civil purposes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1) the annual cost of maintaining Her Majesty's ships "Alert" and "Surprise" in the Far East and Mediterranean, respectively;(2) if he will consider paying off Her Majesty's ships "Alert" and "Surprise" and replacing them with more effective vessels, possibly anti-submarine frigates, which would also be able to fulfil the duties of dispatch vessels and yachts for the Commanders-in-Chief.

On average "Alert" and "Surprise" cost respectively £204,000 and £163,000 a year to run. These two dispatch vessels are frigates which have been specially adapted to meet Command requirements economically. When the future of these two ships is next under review I will bear my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion in mind.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty which of Her Majesty's ships will visit Welsh ports during this Festival of Wales year; and if he will make a statement incorporating particulars of these ships.

Subject to operational requirements, arrangements have so far been made for sixteen of Her Majesty's ships to visit four Welsh ports at various times during the year, details of which are given below. It is hoped that it may prove possible to include one or two visits to other ports in the autumn. Apart from normal visits by Her

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish the names of the separate constituencies in the Bahamas Legislative Assembly, showing opposite each the number of electors entitled to record their votes before the constitutional changes now proposed and the anticipated number after the changes have been brought into operation.

I have asked the officer administering the Government of

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of vacation courses and lectures that have been given in 1957 by the Department of Extra-Mural Studies of Makerere College, in Uganda, Kenya, Tanganyika and Zanzibar; and how many lecturers are employed at the present time in those Territories.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, in view of the need to make the best use of scarce resources of scientific manpower, whether he will arrange for an investigation into the employment of research scientists by Government Departments.

My noble Friend, in respect of his general responsibility for scientific research, has decided to set up a Committee with the following terms of reference:

"To inquire into the techniques employed by Government Departments, and other bodies wholly financed by the Exchequer, for the management and control of research and development carried out by them or on their behalf and to make recommendations."

• Sir Claude Gibb, K.B.E., D.Sc., F.R.S., Chairman and Managing Director, C. A. Parsons & Co. Ltd. (Chairman).
• Dr. Willis Jackson, F.R.S., Director of Research, Metropolitan Vickers Ltd.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 15th April, 1958; Vol. 586, c. 2–3], provided the following further information supplied by the College authorities in respect of the calender year, 1957:

• Dr. R. P. Linstead, C.B.E., F.R.S., Rector, Imperial College of Science and Technology.
• Mr. A. A. Part, M.B.E., Under Secretary, Ministry of Education.
• Sir Solly Zuckerman, C.B., F.R.S., Professor of Anatomy, University of Birmingham.
• Mr. D. Neville Jones, Office of the Lord President of the Council (Secretary).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the answers given on 25th March, 14th August, 1957, and 13th January, 1958, in the Bundestag to questions relating to the attitude of the representative of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe; and if, in consequence, he will reconsider his decision not to reveal the instructions given to the United Kingdom representative.

My right hon. and learned Friend's attention has been drawn to the answers given in the Bundestag, but they do not alter the fact that the meetings of the Committee of Ministers are intended to be private. The answer to the last part of the Question is therefore, "No."