asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what are the weight limits across the bridges over

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will direct the South Eastern Area Transport Users' Consultative Committee to consider the proposal by the British Transport Commission to close down the Newhaven—Dieppe Cross-Channel passenger service from 4th November, 1958, to 19th March, 1959, and in subsequent winters.

The proposal has already been referred by the British Transport Commission to this Committee, who will consider it at their meeting on 16th July.

The figures are given in the table below. The fixing of relevant traffic signs is, in each case, a matter for the highway authority.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission, in view of the inter-relation of all cross-Channel services, that they should forthwith publish all their proposals for reductions in any such service.

No. The British Transport Commission informs me that except for the Newhaven—Dieppe service no proposals for reductions have yet been formulated. If any material reductions are proposed on any other cross-Channel service, they will be made known at once and referred to the appropriate Consultative Committee.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what consultations he has had with the British Transport Commission and representatives of the employees of British Railways on the subject of redundancy arising from the introduction of economies agreed on with him by the British Transport; Commission; and if he will make a statement.

The British Transport Commission are responsible for consultation with their employees on this question, and I am satisfied that they are dealing with it through the established negotiating machinery and within the framework of the existing redundancy agreements where these apply.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what percentage of employees engaged in the production of steam locomotives for British Railways will become redundant as a consequence of the reduction in, or cessation of production of, steam locomotives.

This is a matter for the British Transport Commission, who inform me that very little redundancy is expected, as in general men employed on the production of steam locomotives will be transferred, as some have already been, to work on diesel locomotives.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that, where dual three-lane carriageways have been provided on Watford Way, one carriageway is reduced to two lanes on the bridge over the Northern Line; and if, in order to reduce the hazard caused to traffic thereby and to permit a smooth flow of traffic, he will take steps to secure the widening of the carriageway to three lanes at this point.

The widening of Bunns Lane Bridge is an integral part of the scheme for providing dual carriageways on Watford Way; work on the bridge started on 28th last month.

asked the Minister of Defence what military and naval preparations he has made to meet the attack on Cyprus of the Turkish Liberation Army now being formed.

That is one of the least of my preoccupations in that area.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) what communications he has had from the Faroese, Danish and Norwegian Governments about extensions of the territorial fishing limits;(2) whether he will make a statement about the proposed extension of the Icelandic fishing limits from four to 12 miles.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the negotiations with the Icelandic and Danish Governments on the proposals to extend the fishing limits to 12 miles round the coasts of Iceland and the Faroes.

In an aide memoire delivered in London on 27th June, 1957, the Danish Government asked for the revision of the Anglo-Danish Agreement of 22nd April, 1955, about the Faroese fishery limits. On 19th September, 1957, Her Majesty's Government asked the Danish Government to agree to defer any question of the revision of the Agreement until after the Geneva Conference on the Law of the Sea. The Danish Government agreed to this.In a communiqué issued yesterday after discussions with the Faroese authorities, the Danish Government supported the Faroese wish to establish a 12-mile fishery limit. The communiqué added that the Danish Government would be approaching Her Majesty's Government about this. No such approach has yet been made. When it is, Her Majesty's Government will consider it.My right hon. and learned Friend has received no communication from the Norwegian Government about extensions of their fishery limits. As regards Iceland, Her Majesty's Government are maintaining their efforts to persuade the Icelandic Government that the problem should be solved by negotiation and not by unilateral action.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further incidents have occurred recently along the Yemen frontier; and if he will make a statement.

Since my hon. Friend's reply to the right hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell) on 19th May minor frontier incidents have continued but there have been no significant developments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present position in Oman.

As the hon. Member will be aware, Oman is part of the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman, which is an independent sovereign state and Her Majesty's Government have accordingly no responsibility for the internal affairs of the territory which are the concern of the Sultan of Muscat and Oman.I understand, however, that since the uprising of last summer was put down, almost all of Oman has been quiet and the Sultan's administration is functioning normally.In the Jebel Akhdar, which is an inaccessible mountain area, however, three of the rebel leaders of last autumn are still at large together with a few of their followers. The Sultan's armed forces are encircling the mountain and conducting limited operations designed to bring about the surrender of the fugitives.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make representations to Turkey regarding the Turkish Government's policy of incitement in Cyprus.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has made to the Turkish Government regarding its incitement of the Turks of Cyprus to violence and civil war.

As my right hon. Friend the Colonial Secretary informed the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. F. Noel-Baker) yesterday, Her Majesty's Government have recently made strong representations to the Turkish Government about recent broadcasts and newspaper articles. They have urged the Turkish Government to use their influence on the side of moderation and restraint and to prevent inflammatory statements.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) if he will instruct the British delegate at the United Nations to raise in the Security Council the threat to peace caused by Turkish intervention in Cyprus;(2) if he will consult the Government of the United States of America with a view to joint action in the face of Turkish intervention in Cyprus.

The answer to the first Question is "No." Her Majesty's Government are keeping in close touch with the United States Government over the Cyprus question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made on the simplification of frontier formalities; and whether he will make a statement with regard to Recommendation 165, passed by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 3rd May, 1958.

Major progress in simplifying frontier formalities has been made since the war and Her Majesty's Government keep the possibility of further simplification continually under review. The Organisation for European Economic Co-operation Tourism Committee, the Council of Europe, the Economic Commission for Europe, and other European and international organisations, all give much attention to this subject.Council of Europe Recommendation 165 is in two parts. The first concerns only those member countries of the Council of Europe who subscribe to the "European Agreement on Regulations Governing the Movement of Persons between Member States of the Council of Europe". This Agreement can only be of assistance to those countries who unlike the United Kingdom issue identity cards. On this point I would refer to the reply given by my hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Morpeth on the 20th of December, 1957.The second part of the Recommendation calls for consideration of the possibility of standardising national motor vehicle registration papers and of abolishing Customs documents for coaches and lorries. Her Majesty's Government do not at present see advantage in dispensing with the established system of internationally agreed Customs documentation for motor vehicles temporarily imported into the United Kingdom. But they will watch developments with interest and in particular are willing to consider any proposals on this subject which may be put forward, provided that they do not jeopardise our fiscal and vehicle identification requirements.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of

On 12th May, 1958, 24,391 persons were registered as unemployed in the Merseyside Development Area. In May, 1955, the number was 13,325 and in May, 1957, 20,809.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress has been made in establishing negotiating machinery between the banking institutions and the National Union of Bank Employees.

I take it that the hon. Member is referring to the position in England and Wales. I am afraid I cannot add to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the right hon. Member for Blyth (Mr. Robens) on 6th June, 1957, and I am sending the hon. Member a copy of it.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of persons registered as unemployed in the principal industries in Cardiff during April, 1958, 1957, and 1950, respectively.

The table below gives the information desired.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the percentage of dock labour at Cardiff which has been unemployed in each of the last 12 months.

The following is a statement which the National Dock Labour Board has furnished, giving the information the hon. Member has asked for.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the figures of unemployed and vacancies in the North Western Region at the latest convenient date; and what were those for the comparable period of 1957.

There were 60,692 people wholly unemployed and 18,043 temporarily stopped on the registers of employment exchanges in the North Western Region at 12th May, 1958. These compare with 47,398 and 2,158, respectively, at 13th May, 1957. The number of vacancies notified to employment exchanges in the Region and remaining unfilled on 7th May, 1958, was 24,665, compared with 35,678 at 8th May, 1957.

asked the Minister of Labour, if he is aware that the number of unemployed registering at Coatbridge Employment Exchange totalled 1,757, being an increase of 950 over the same period last year, and that at Airdrie there was an increase over the same period of 368; what percentage these figures represent of unemployment in this constituency; and what steps he is taking to reduce it.

Yes. As the hon. Member recognises in her next Question, most of the increase between May, 1957, and May, 1958, was due to a rise in the members registered as temporarily stopped. It is not possible to compute percentage rates of unemployment for these areas separately. For the North Lanarkshire area as a whole, excluding Glasgow, the percentage unemployed at 12th May was 6·5.My local officers are doing all they can to help those who need it to obtain other employment and my right hon. Friend is in close touch with the President of the Board of Trade and the Secretary of State for Scotland on the employment needs of the area.

asked the Minister of Labour, if he is aware that temporarily stopped men registering at Coatbridge and Airdrie employment exchanges have increased from 18 in May, 1957, to 929 in May of this year, and that men on a four-day week get no unemployment benefit; if he will explain how this arises under his regulations; and if he will state the prospects for these men returning to a full working week.

Yes. I am aware of the increase. I understand that the majority of those on short-time are receiving unemployment benefit. The rules governing the payment of unemployment benefit, are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance. As to the last part of the Question, I am not able to say how long the short-time working is likely to last.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government that sections of the Admiralty should be permanently stationed at Bath.

For some time the Admiralty has been examining all shore establishments to ensure their most efficient and economic use. In line with this general policy, the idea put forward in the debate on the Navy Estimates that inland establishments, including Bath, should move to coastal areas is being examined. Although there are obvious advantages and disadvantages in any such move many complex factors are involved, especially at Bath.I am grateful to my hon. Friend for having discussed this matter with me. I can assure him that the Admiralty are fully aware that the disadvantages associated with a move away from Bath would be formidable and that my noble Friend will give full consideration to this aspect.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the estimated duration and cost of the repairs being carried out at present to the submarine H.M.S. "Turpin"; and why such extensive and costly repairs are necessary to a submarine which only completed an eighteen months' refit in the autumn of 1957.

During the 1958 Home Fleet Spring Cruise to the West Indies "Turpin" developed structural engine defects which have necessitated the replacement of her engines. As this will take nine months it was decided to bring forward her next refit which was due in September, 1959. On completion "Turpin" will have a full two years' commission which would not otherwise have been possible. The cost of these repairs is, at this stage not separately identifiable from the cost of the refit.

asked the Secretary of State for War why Lieutenant, Acting Captain, N. R. Carmichael, Royal Signals, Territorial Army, was reduced to the rank of lieutenant when he arrived at camp for his two weeks' service, and a few hours before his birthday which would have entitled him to the substantive rank of captain.

Until 19th May, 1958, this officer was a lieutenant holding the acting rank of captain. It is provided by Regulations for the Territorial Army that acting rank may be withdrawn on the grounds of inefficiency or misconduct.This regulation was applied to Lieutenant Carmichael following his conviction by court-martial for an offence under Section 69 of the Army Act, 1955. He has appealed against his conviction. His acting rank was withdrawn because of matters which were disclosed at the trial and which were not disputed by the accused. If his appeal is successful, I shall review the withdrawal of acting rank; but in the meantime Lieutenant Carmichael could not be allowed to continue as a captain, which rank would automatically have become substantive if held after the officer's 27th birthday.

asked the Secretary of State for War when he expects to announce the details of the amalgamation of regiments of the Royal Armoured Corps foreshadowed in his last White Paper.

Details have been announced about the amalgamations which will take place this year. The 4th and 8th Hussars will amalgamate on the 24th of October as The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars. The 3rd and 7th Hussars will become The Queen's Own Hussars on 3rd of November.Four more regiments will amalgamate in the first half of next year and details will be made public as soon as they are settled. To complete Phase I there will then remain a further four regiments to be amalgamated by the end of 1959.As to Phase II, I have as yet nothing to add to what was set out in the White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will issue instructions to the various commands always to give as much advance information as is possible when military exercises are to be carried out in agricultural areas.

It is the established practice to give as much notice as possible of exercises which might cause damage or inconvenience in agricultural areas. If my hon. Friend knows of any incident where inadequate notice caused inconvenience, I shall be glad to investigate it.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what tonnage is presently being built in Clydeside shipyards for registration abroad; and what tonnage of foreign orders in these shipyards has been cancelled this year.

Just over 300,000 gross registered tons of new merchant shipping are at present on order or under construction in Clydeside shipyards for foreign ownership. Over one-third of this tonnage is actually under construction. No foreign orders in these yards have been cancelled this year.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make arrangements in post offices, where public telephone boxes are installed, for the provision of change at the service counter, on request, for use in such boxes.

Counter clerks at post offices have instructions to give change whenever they can spare it and to try always to hold enough change to meet demands.

asked the Postmaster-General why his Department's new system of subscriber trunk dialling, which will come into operation in Ayr, Dundee and Greenock by the end of 1960, will not extend to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Motherwell, and Stirling until the end of 1961; and if he will take steps to remove this disparity and give equality of opportunity to all those places.

A big programme like this must naturally be phased. The only way in which I could satisfy the requirement in the latter part of the Question would be by withholding the facility where it had been provided. This would not be a very sensible arrangement.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will make a statement on the field trials the British Broadcasting Corporation has made of the prototype of a low-power unattended transmitter.

These trials have not yet taken place. They are expected to start in the very near future.

asked the Postmaster-General when he is proposing to issue 4½d. stamps.

As I informed the House on 7th May, I hope to issue the 4½d. stamps in the autumn. The precise date has not yet been decided, but I will announce it as soon as I can.

asked the Postmaster-General what proposals he has in mind for reducing charges for international Telex calls.

I am pleased to tell the House that it will be possible to reduce some of the charges as the result of negotiations with the other administrations concerned. The reductions will take effect from 20th June. Details are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will make a statement on the two fatal accidents occurring within a few hours last week, involving aircraft of the United States Air Force flying from Royal Air Force Station, Alconbury.

Shortly after midnight last Thursday, a T.33 training aircraft of the U.S.A.F. operating from Alconbury collided in mid-air with a R.A.F. Canberra which was preparing to land at Wyton after a training flight. The crews of both aircraft were killed. A committee of investigation comprising both R.A.F. and U.S.A.F. officers has been convened.Shortly after this accident, a U.S.A.F. technician took off, without authority, from the U.S.A.F. base at Alconbury in a B.45 bomber which had been withdrawn from squadron service and was awaiting disposal. The aircraft crashed almost immediately after take off and the airman was killed. The accident is being investigated by the U.S.A.F.There were no civilian casualties.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations took place with his Department or with the Essex Agricultural Executive Committee and the Brentwood Urban District Council about their proposal to use nearly 40 acres of agricultural land at South Weald, Brentwood, as a rubbish dump for neighbouring local authorities.

My Department was consulted by the local planning authority in October, 1957, about an application by the Brentwood Urban District Council for planning permission for the use of a site of some 37 acres in this area for the controlled tipping of refuse.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the 20 agricultural tenancies created on the Marchwiel Estate, Denbighshire, have now been taken up by tenants; whether Cae Bryner, the new farmstead completed in 1954, is among those which have become tenanted; and if he will make a statement.

In view of the decision to sell the Estate, the reorganisation proposals of the Welsh Agricultural Land Sub-Commission have not been carried through. Of the total of 1,574 acres, 117 acres have so far been sold, 987 acres are let on annual tenancies and 470 acres, including 141 acres previously intended for the Cae Bryner tenancy, on short-term lettings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he has taken upon the communication received by him in March, 1958, from the Tanganyika National Farmers' Union concerning desertions by African labourers, who desert after receiving many free benefits in food, housing, blankets, medical attention, etc., and recoupment of transport costs.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 15th April, 1958; Vol. 586, c. 10–11], supplied the following information:I have studied this question in the light of the Governor's comments on the representations made by the Tanganyika National Farmers Union, and I understand there is little evidence to show that desertion of African labour in Tanganyika has increased substantially since the 1st February, 1957, when the Employment Ordinance became effective. Both the Governor and I deplore the extent of desertion of labour in the Northern Province, but I accept his view that the situation cannot properly be remedied by penal sanctions for desertions or compulsory registration as has been suggested. I have informed the President of the Tanganyika National Farmers Union accordingly.

asked the Minister of Education if he will list the colleges so far approved as colleges of advanced technology and regional technical colleges and indicate which of them have provided individual work rooms for senior staff and which have provided staff common rooms.

Following is the list:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement concerning the Report of the Select Committee on Obscene Publications.

I am sure the House would wish me to express our thanks to the Committee for their valuable Report. I am not at present in a position to say more than that I am considering it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what figures he has relevant to the extent of the current increase in housebreaking in London.

During the first four months of this year there were 3,975 cases of housebreaking or burglary in the Metropolitan Police District, an increase of 36 per cent. over the comparable period of last year and of nearly 50 per cent. over the same period of 1956.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many square feet of new office accommodation has been sanctioned or built in Birmingham in each year since the war; and what his estimate is of the number of people that will be employed in this accommodation.

I have asked the Birmingham City Council for this information and when it is available I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how the costs per kilowatt installed of the Strathfarrar and Kilmorack scheme compare with earlier schemes; and for what area of Scotland it is expected to provide electricity.

The estimated cost is £140 per kilowatt installed compared with an average of £137 per kilowatt installed for all the schemes hitherto completed by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board. The scheme is an integral part of the Boards programme which is designed to meet the steadily growing load in their own district and to give peak supplies of power to the South of Scotland.