asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what British territories in Africa are to be visited by the party of United States Foreign Service Officers led by Mr. Fred L. Hadsel, First Secretary in the United States Embassy in London; what is the purpose of their journey; and what official arrangements are being made for their reception.

I understand that at present plans for this party include visits to Uganda, Kenya and the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. The officers are attending a course of stury organised by the Foreign Service Institute of the United States State Department with the object of giving them a broader understanding of the problems and people of Africa south of the Sahara. The programmes of talks have been arranged by educational and research institutions in the territories in consultation with representatives of the Governments concerned and the course will be addressed by Government officials among others.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of the signed statements sent to him as to irregularities in the Government Trade Centre at Bukuru, Nigeria, if he will now order a public inquiry at which the complainants can adduce evidence and, if necessary, be professionally represented; who is now principal at that trade centre; and where the officer now is who was principal there at the time when the events complained of occurred.

No. The Governor of the Northern Region, Nigeria, does not consider that a public inquiry would serve any useful purpose, and I see no reason to intervene. Mr. O. Sadler, a substantive Senior Education Officer (Technical), is at present Acting Principal. The former Principal is in Nigeria awaiting passage to the U.K. on the termination of his appointment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons are now imprisoned at Lokitaung in the Northern Province of Kenya; how many of such persons are serving prison sentences and how many are detained under emergency powers; and whether he has any statement to make regarding recent complaints of brutality, inadequate diet and shortage of water at this prison.

There are six convicts serving prison sentences and one detainee at Lokitaung. On the last part of the Question, I would refer the hon. and learned Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 11th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what were Her Majesty's Government's reasons for interfering with and prohibiting Chinese residents in Hong Kong from flying the Chinese national flag and singing the Chinese national anthem on International Labour Day, 1st May.

No general prohibition was imposed. The Hong Kong Government refused permission to five schools to fly the flag because in the circumstances of Hong Kong it was thought that that might involve the children in political controversy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in respect of closer association of Sarawak, Brunei and British North Borneo.

Since I replied to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) on 28th April the Council Negri of Sarawak have discussed the matter, but they have not reached a conclusion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what evidence there is of subversive propaganda and activities in British North Borneo, Brunei and Sarawak; what is its nature; what ordinances have been introduced recently to deal with subversion; and what are the provisions of those ordinances relative to the entry of British and Malayan publications into those territories.

The most serious subversive threat to Sarawak arises from the increasing importation of propagandist literature from Communist China. The Sarawak Sedition (Amendment) Ordinance was therefore enacted on 9th May, 1958, to prohibit the import without permit of literature in Chinese and some other languages. English and Malay are not included. Subversive propaganda and activities do not at present constitute so serious a problem in North Borneo and Brunei and no recent legislation has been necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether he has given his approval to the principle laid down by the Government of Uganda in a recent memorandum that chiefs and their subordinates are civil servants who should be insulated from politics.

Yes. In Uganda, Chiefs are not traditional authorities but appointed officials.

asked the Prime Minister if he will now take steps to appoint a Minister of Culture, Science and Art, to be charged with the duties of maintaining and developing Great Britain's prestige and progress as a patron and exponent of culture, science and the arts.

No. I do not believe that the appointment of a Minister would necessarily serve the cause the hon. and learned Gentleman has at heart.

asked the Minister of Works what arrangements he is making for Son et Lumière displays to be put on this summer at historic buildings under his control.

I am pleased to say that "Son et Lumière" will take place again at Greenwich this Summer, from 31st July to approximately 11th October, every evening except Sundays. With the consent of my noble Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty and of the Trustees of the National Maritime Musem, the display will again centre on the Queen's House and the Royal Naval College; the script, lighting and sound effects will be largely new.The show will be presented on behalf of my Department by Atlas Lighting Ltd., a subsidiary of Thorn Electrical Industries, who have generously undertaken to see that there is no risk to public funds. The direction will be by Harold Holt Ltd. If any profits are made they will accrue to the Exchequer, and I should propose to devote an equivalent sum to carrying out improvements in the Royal Parks and at the National Maritime Museum. In due course a token Supplementary Estimate will be presented to the House to give formal sanction to the financial arrangements.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether the Scientific Attaché to be appointed in Moscow will be of the same grading as the Scientific Attaché in Washington.

Applications for the post of Scientific Attaché in Moscow have been invited in the grade of Principal Scientific Officer but Her Majesty's Government recognise the importance of the post and will review the grading if necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reply he has sent or intends to send to the Scottish Amateur Swimming Association in answer to their letter advocating the construction in Scotland of a new indoor swimming pool suitable for international fixtures and world records comparable with the championship 55 yards swimming pools in England and Wales; and if he will make a detailed statement of his plans to authorise the construction in Scotland of such a swimming pool.

The Association has sent me a copy of a letter it has written to the town clerks of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee asking that one of the four corporations should build such a swimming pool, and has expressed the hope that I will sanction the project when it is submitted to me. The letter did not call for a reply. If any such scheme is submitted, I will consider it most carefully in the light of the economic circumstances prevailing at the time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the new labour room, side rooms, ancillary offices and central heating system proposed for the Lockhart Hospital, Lanark, will be installed.

The Board of Management is being authorised to undertake this scheme in the current financial year. It is expected that tenders will be invited very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the mileage of dual carriageway at present on the A.74 road from the border to Uddingston.

About 4½ miles. Ten miles are under construction and a contract is about to be let for five more.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date the four schemes on the A.74 road, announced by the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation on 2nd February, 1955, will be completed.

The estimated dates of completion are as follows:

• Abington and Crawford Diversions (including intervening lengths)—Spring, 1961.
• Newfield Inn to 1·7 miles south of Millbank—Spring, 1960.
• Johnstone Bridge to Beattock—Early 1960.
• Dalmakethar to north of Lockerbie—Summer, 1960.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what land has still to be acquired to enable him to complete A.74 as a dual carriageway from the border to Uddingston.

Land is available for the first three big schemes on this road and negotiations to acquire land for the Abington and Crawford divisions will start shortly. The acquisition of land for subsequent schemes will be put in hand as soon as engineering plans are sufficiently advanced to allow an accurate determination of the plots which will be required.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that Messrs. Garvie and Sons, of Aberdeen, are handicapped in fulfilling a large foreign order for threshing machines because the Exports Credits Guarantee Department of the Board of Trade refuse coverage as hitherto, and that this increases unemployment and deprives Great Britain of much-needed foreign currency; and if he will take steps to rectify this.

I understand that the hon. and learned Member is referring to an order from Egypt. There is nothing to prevent payment being made on cash terms as is being done in other instances. There is at present, however, no satisfactory general basis for trade and payments between the two countries and in present circumstances credit insurance cover is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what consultations he has had with the British Transport Commission and local authorities as to the site of the proposed new marshalling yard near Gloucester; and whether he will make a statement.

There has been no occasion for my right hon. Friend to consult the British Transport Commission or local authorities about any proposal for the siting of a new marshalling yard near Gloucester. I understand that the Commission has as yet no firm proposals and has made only an informal approach to the Gloucestershire County Council. Any application for planning permission would be for the county council to deal with in the first instance.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what representations he has received as to the future use of Moreton Valence aerodrome; and whether he will make a statement.

Under the Building Restrictions (War-Time) Contraventions Act, 1946, the Gloucestershire County Council gave a determination which would allow the use of the airfield for testing aircraft to continue. A local resident appealed against this determination, mainly because of the disturbance due to noise. One of my right hon. Friend's inspectors has heard representations at a public local inquiry from the appellant and other local residents, from the Council, and also from the Gloster Aircraft Company and the National Farmers' Union. My right hon. Friend expects to issue his decision very soon and I will send a copy to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will encourage local authorities to purchase and promote cinemas for the purpose of providing entertainment for the people under municipal auspices.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that many landlords who have not remedied defects within six months of their giving the statutory undertaking under the Rent Act, 1957, are continuing to collect the increase of rent that would be recoverable only if such defects had been remedied; and if he will introduce legislation to put an end to this practice and enable those who have paid such unwarranted increases to recover the same in addition to the increases paid during the six monthly period as provided for by the Act.

I would refer my hon. Friend to paragraphs 7 and 8 of the First Schedule to the Rent Act, 1957. These provisions enable the tenant to stop paying the rent increase in such circumstances and to recover any increase he may already have paid.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is the total sum paid out to date in National Assistance to unofficial strikers in the London docks.

The National Assistance Board informs me that separate figures for the dock strike are not available, but information about this strike and the one at Smithfield Market can be given together. Up to 10th June, when these strikes had continued, respectively, for about four weeks and seven weeks, involving, it is understood, some 20,000 and 5,000 workers, £25,632 had been paid in assistance, all but £81 of which was paid in respect of the family and not the man himself.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is the total sum paid out to date in National Assistance to strikers in the London omnibus strike.

Up to 10th June, when this strike, involving, it is understood, some 48,000 workers, had been continuing for rather more than five weeks, the National Assistance Board informs me that £10,952 had been paid in assistance to strikers, all but £3 6s. 6d. of which was paid in respect of the family and not of the man himself.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how much money has been paid out in National Assistance to the wives and children of men on unofficial strikes during the last six weeks.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I have given today to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Arundel and Shoreham (Captain Kerby). The figures given represent the total sum paid in respect of unofficial strikes during the period mentioned, apart from a sum of £3 paid in connection with another dispute.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how much money has been paid out in National Assistance to wives and children of men on unofficial strikes during the periods August, 1945, to August, 1951, and August, 1951, to the present date, respectively.

The National Assistance Board informs me that this information is not available. They were not responsible for assistance during trade disputes until 5th July, 1948, and as their statutory duty in relation to assistance for the families of those involved draws no distinction between "official" and "unofficial" strikes, no separate figures are kept.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how much money has been paid out in National Assistance to the wives and children of men on official strikes during the last six weeks.

£13,871 up to 10th June. This includes the figure for the London bus strike given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Arundel and Shoreham (Captain Kerby) in reply to his Question today.

asked the Minister of Supply to what extent Her Majesty's Government are co-operating in the lunar rocket project of the United States Government.

Her Majesty's Government are taking no direct part in this project.

asked the Minister of Supply for what purposes Moreton Valence aerodrome is used by his Department; and when he expects to be able to dispense with its use.

Moreton Valence airfield is used by the Gloster Aircraft Company for the production testing and repair of military aircraft, principally the Javelin. I am unable to say when we shall be able to dispense with it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what requests for technical assistance the Government has received from the Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa during the periods 1956–57 and 1957–58, respectively; and what has been the Government's response.

None. The Foundation for Mutual Assistance in Africa South of the Sahara, which has been established under the aegis of the Commission for Technical Co-operation to handle technical assistance, was only set up four months ago, that is towards the end of the two years mentioned in the Question. Her Majesty's Government played a leading part in its creation. No formal requests have yet been put to Her Majesty's Government, either through the Secretariat of the Foundation or direct from the countries concerned. But several informal requests have been mentioned to us, and we hope that some of these will soon be submitted formally.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why 13 frigates of the "Castle" Class are to be disposed of, in view of the sale of four ships of this class to the Air Ministry for further duties as ocean weather ships; and why their anti-submarine and close range weapons are to be retained on board these four ships, in view of the obsolescence of other units of this class which have, in some cases, seen less active service than those sold to the Air Ministry.

One "Castle" Class Frigate has been transferred to the Air Ministry as a weather ship and a further three are being held in reserve for the same purpose. The thirteen "Castle" Class Frigates referred to are being disposed of because they are surplus to requirements. Weapons are being retained in those converted to weather ships to meet wartime requirements.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what future employment is envisaged for the maintenance ships H.M.S.s "Mull of Kintyre", "Hartland Point" and "Rame Head", and the submarine depot ship H.M.S. "Maidstone" on completion of their major refits; and to what extent they will be used for operational service, in view of the abandonment of the formation of task forces, with accompanying support ships, which had previously been foreshadowed in the Statement on Defence for the financial year, 1957–58.

These support ships, which are being modernised, are essential to the flexible deployment of the Fleet. H.M. Ships "Hartland Point" and "Maidstone" will serve with the active Fleet, and H.M. Ships "Mull of Kintyre" and "Rame Head" will be placed in operational reserve.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many British troops have been killed or injured in the recent riots in Cyprus.

Two soldiers were killed on 4th May. There have been no other British Army casualties this year.

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied that Chinese white and yolk of egg, as at present imported into the United Kingdom, are fit for human consumption, in view of analytical reports to the contrary.

Bulked egg products from any source are liable to contain pathogenic organisms and, for this reason, they are sampled by port health and other local authorities for bacteriological examination. I do not think that special action in relation to Chinese egg products is required at present. The trade have arranged for dried crystalline albumen to be heat-treated before distribution.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state in statistical comparison the range of salaries of the posts of mental health tutor, matron and chief male nurse, employed in mental hospitals.

The range of salaries for these grades is as follows:

Grade		From	To
		£	£
Tutors	…	672–777	746–877
Matrons	…	704–788	1,150–1,355
Chief Male Nurses	…	704–788	1,150–1,355

The actual salary of any particular officer depends on certain factors, e.g., in the case of matrons, on the number of beds and the status of the hospital in relation to nurse training.

asked the Minister of Health on what date the two persons found to be suffering from smallpox were vaccinated as contacts with an earlier case at New Ferry.

One person was successfully vaccinated on 15th April, but the vaccination attempted on the second person on 16th April was unsuccessful.

asked the Minister of Health what assistance he gave to the National Association of Local Government Officers in supplying facts and figures to enable them to publish in their journal Public Service the supplement dealing with the National Health Service, "10 Years of Triumph"; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 16th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the total cost of training a recruit to the police service at a police training centre in 1957.

For the year ending 31st March, 1957, the latest year for which final figures are available, the average cost for each recruit for the thirteen weeks initial course was £100.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will show in tabular form the number of constables in the police forces of England and Wales, including the Metropolitan, who resigned in their first two years of service, between two and five years' service, and between five and ten years' service in the years 1955, 1956 and 1957.

The figures for the Metropolitan Police Force are given in the following table:

—		Resignations of men with less than two years service	Resignations of men with between two and five years service	Resignations of men with between five and ten years service
1955	…	248	142	131
1956	…	268	77	76
1957	…	294	109	106

For other forces in England and Wales the available information is limited to the numbers of men

asked the Minister of Labour how many and what proportion of wage and salary earners approximately are estimated to receive basic pay from their employers during periods of sickness not exceeding seven days and 14 days, respectively, in length.

I regret the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour approximately how many wage earners are covered by a severance pay agreement with their employers; and what proportion they represent of total wage earners.

While it is known that a number of individual firms and some industries, including nationalised industries, have agreements or policies which provide for the payment of severance pay in certain circumstances, it is not possible to give an estimate of the number of wage-earners covered by such arrangements.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the percentage of unemployment in Swindon at the most convenient recent date; and what was the ratio of unemployed to unfilled vacancies.

1·1 per cent. at 12th May, 1958. At that date there were about 136 unfilled notified vacancies for every 100 persons registered as wholly unemployed at Swindon Employment Exchange.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men, women and young persons were unemployed in Swindon at the most recent date for which figures are available.

At 12th May, 1958, there were 314 men, 189 women, 27 boys and 30 girls on the registers of the Swindon Employment Exchange.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the separate number of men, women, boys and girls registered at the Borough Employment Exchange at the most recent date in May, 1958, and the number on the disabled register at the same time, whether

NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF BOROUGH EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AT 12TH MAY, 1958
—	Total number on registers (excluding persons included in col. (4))	Registered disabled persons unemployed
		Suitable for ordinary employment (included in col. (2))	Severely Disabled Persons classified as unlikely to obtain employment, other than under special conditions (excluded from col. (2))
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
Men aged 18 and over	926	148	4
Boys aged under 18	42	1	—
Women aged 18 and over	170	32	—
Girls aged under 18	6	—	—
Total	1,144	181	4

asked the Minister of Labour how the number of unemployed in the new town of East Kilbride compares with the number a year ago.

At the employment exchange in East Kilbride, which covers a wider area than the new town, there were on 12th May, 1958, 83 men and women registered as unemployed compared with 66 in May, 1957.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of work people of Leadhills, Lanark, who are unemployed; and how the present figure compares with that one year ago.

Residents of Leadhills register at the employment exchange at Lanark where, on 12th May. 1958, 193 people were registered as unemployed compared with 127 in May 1957. I regret that it is not possible, without a disproportionate expenditure of labour, to ascertain how many of these came from Leadhills.

asked the Minister of Labour what measures he proposes to take to ensure that the 140

The following table gives the information desired:workers at the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Workshops, Lanark, who are threatened with redundancy by the end of the year, will be found comparable employment in the neighbourhood.

Before the first discharges become due in about three months' time, those needing other employment will be invited to register by my local office, which will, if necessary, make special approaches to firms in the area to ascertain whether they have requirements not already notified to my Department.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the recent increase in unemployment in the city and county of Aberdeen; and if he will now state to the latest convenient date the number of men and women now unemployed there as compared with the corresponding period during each of the last five years, with details of the respective trades and industries affected.

The following table gives the figures for the beginning and end of the period referred to. In view of the large amount of work involved in extracting the figures, I have given figures for May, 1954, and May, 1958, only.

asked the Paymaster-General what percentage of sulphur compounds are contained in average samples of petrol, paraffin used for burning and diesel oil, respectively; and what changes take place in these sulphur compounds on complete combustion.

The percentages of sulphur are approximately 0·05, 0·05 and 0·5, respectively. Complete combustion converts the sulphur almost entirely into sulphur dioxide.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government that no plans for road extensions will interfere with the security of Hadrian's Wall and that full consultation will take place on any proposals with the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Monuments; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Works and I are fully alive to the importance of preserving Hadrian's Wall, which is scheduled as an ancient monument. I can assure my hon. Friend that any proposals made to me at any time by the highway authorities responsible for road improvements which might affect the Wall and its associated works will not be approved without the most careful consideration of the views of all the bodies concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he expects to announce the line of the Birmingham—Bristol motorway between Gloucester and Bristol.

I cannot yet say when I shall be able to publish a draft line for this motorway.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in addition to the information about occupational pension schemes just published by the Government Actuary, he will consider requiring, as recommended by the Phillips Committee, returns giving certain minimum statistics and information about such pension schemes and publishing them.

The Government Actuary was asked to undertake the survey the results of which were published recently in pursuance to the recommendation of the Phillips Committee. I do not envisage further returns being required for the time being.