asked the Postmaster-General what plans he has to extend the inadequate public accommodation at the main post office in Howardsgate, Welwyn Garden City, in view of the rapid growth of the numbers using it.

We intend to extend the public office as soon as possible but, to make room for the extension, the sorting office must be moved into a new building which we are going to build in Bessemer Street. All this will take three or four years to complete, and I am considering whether there are any short term measures we can take to improve matters meantime.

asked the Postmaster-General whether Her Majesty's Government have yet reached a decision on plans for a third television network.

No. Important questions of public policy are involved, as well as technical problems upon which my right hon. Friend has already sought advice. My right hon. Friend will advise the House as soon as a decision has been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) what has been the total expenditure to date upon the Western Isles guided missile scheme; and what is the most up-to-date estimate of the total cost of the scheme, when completed and operational;(2) what was the highest number of people employed on the Western Isles guided missiles scheme; what is the present number employed; and how many it is intended to employ through the winter months.

About £435,000 has been spent on the scheme so far. The total cost is expected to be about £1·8 million. The highest number of people employed was 667, of which 183 were civilians. The figure has now fallen to 266 which includes six civilians. A contract is about to be let for work on South Uist, and during the coming winter the labour force will probably be upwards of 300, all of whom will be civilians.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will now make a statement about the future of the Auxiliary Fighter Control Units.

Yes. I explained to the House last November that the Control and Reporting System is in process of being re-equipped and re-organised, that there could never be complete certainty about the long-term requirement for the Auxiliary Fighter Control Units, and that, so far as we could see, out of the remaining eighteen units there were five with an uncertain future.We have now concluded with great regret that four out of the five units which I named last November as being in doubt, must be disbanded. These units are:—

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what representations he has received about the inadequacy of the present law relating to omnibus travel concessions for old-age pensioners, particularly in new areas not served by omnibus routes operating in November 1954; and whether he will now introduce legislation to remove anomalies and hardship.

None but those made by the right hon. Member himself. I do not consider fresh legislation would be justified.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that a large number of old-age pensioners now living on the Kirkby Housing Estate, near Liverpool, who were in possession of free omnibus passes when living within Liverpool, are now denied these concessions as they live on or near omnibus routes where no omnibus service was operating in November 1954; and, in view of the hardship involved, if he will institute an immediate survey of the problem in Kirkby and similar areas.

The right hon. Member wrote to me some while ago about this matter. I am not satisfied that a survey would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what discussions he has recently had with the motor-cycle industry about standards for restricting noise levels of silencers of mopeds, scooters and motor-cycles; and with what result.

Proposals for conditions of test and recommended limits of noise for new motor-cycles (including mopeds and scooters) have been discussed between my technical officers and representatives of the British Cycle and Motor Cycle Industries Association, and have now been agreed and will be recommended by the Association to the motorcycle manufacturing industry. I shall keep a close watch on developments. I am glad to acknowledge the co-operation given by the Association and by the Motor Industry Research Association.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware of the increasing shortage of civil pilots for British aviation and of the consequential need to provide an ab initio training scheme for civil pilots on a national scale; and whether he will make a statement.

I am aware that in future years releases of pilots from the Services are not expected to meet the demands of civil aviation. In consultation with my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Education, the Corporations and independent operators, I have been considering what kind of scheme may be necessary to train the pilots required. These discussions are not yet complete, but I hope that we may agree upon a scheme in the near future.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the nuisance created by noise over a wide area around Ringway Airport by aeroplanes using the airport at night; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the regulations governing low flying over urban areas are being observed.

A certain amount of noise is unfortunately inevitable in the neighbourhood of important aerodromes like Ringway, but there is no evidence to show that pilots in general fail to observe the regulations governing low flying over urban areas.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that a large number of boat owners will use the new Preston bypass; and whether he will exempt cars towing boats from the special speed restrictions relating to trailer-drawing vehicles.

For the reasons which I gave the House yesterday in the debate on the Regulations governing the speed of vehicles on motorways, I am unable to agree to the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what is the estimated time during which the Burgh level-crossing gates are closed between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m.

Recent observations by the British Transport Commission showed that the gates are closed against road traffic for an average of 4 minutes per train. On this basis the gates would be closed for a total of about 3¼ hours on a weekday and 1¾ hours on a Sunday over the 16 hour period mentioned in the question.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what number of vehicles per hour use the Lincoln-Spilsby-Skegness road in the vicinity of Burgh Station in daylight during peak periods in summer.

The last census, taken in August, 1954, showed that during the peak traffic hours on Saturdays and Sundays, the average number of vehicles per hour using the crossing were 618 and 723, respectively. Actual traffic volumes are much affected by weather conditions, and may sometimes reach as much as double the census figures.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what special steps he is taking to maintain road safety at the Burgh Station level crossing, and to prevent accidents due to the alternate hold up and release of heavy holiday traffic caused by this obstruction.

Conditions have been under observation at holiday times for some years, but neither the county surveyor nor the chief constable consider that additional or special measures are necessary. In view of my hon. and gallant Friend's representations, however, I have asked our Divisional Road Engineer to go into the matter again, and I will write to him as soon as I have the D.R.E.'s report.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what plans he has for eventually incorporating a flyover in the new road to extend Kingsway, Manchester, over the Mersey and the railway and by-p Ass Cheadle, rejoining the A.34 near the Cheadle Royal Hospital; and what steps, in general, are being taken to avoid level intersections on this bypass, so that it may best be able to fulfil its function in facilitating traffic in and out of Manchester from the Wilmslow and Alderley area.

On present traffic estimates the provision of a flyover at the junction with the Stockport—Altrincham trunk road (A.560) is not justified. If traffic ever increases so much as to make one worth while I will then consider the matter with the Cheshire County Council, who are the highway authority for the new road. The other intersections will form T-junctions with minor access roads, on which traffic is expected to be light. No separation of levels will, therefore, be necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when it is expected that the proposed diesel-electric passenger service, under the capital development programme approved by him, between Aviemore, Rothes, and Elgin, will come into operation; and if he will make a statement.

While I approve the general lines of the Commission's capital development programme, it is for the Commission to put it into effect, and I have therefore asked the Chairman of the Commission if he will let my hon. Friend know the position as regards this particular service.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will extend to those National Service reservists who are called up for part-time training the right, already given to those liable to recall under the Navy, Army, and Air Force Reserve Act, 1954, to appeal to a tribunal when they claim to have developed conscientious objection to military service.

I see no reason to change the present procedure.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will expedite the replacement programme of naval vessels.

The naval construction programme will be carried out in conformity with the Government's defence policy and as fast as circumstances allow.

asked the Minister of Defence what discussions have been held with United States Army leaders regarding the use of atomic weapons in the Middle East.

None.

asked the Minister of Defence whether permission is now to be sought of the Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation to make a further reduction in British forces in Germany to meet the emergency in the Middle East.

I do not at present foresee the need for such further reductions.

asked the Minister of Defence what further consideration he has given to the implications of his long-term policy of abandoning the manned bomber in favour of the strategic missile with its inherent operational inflexibility; and whether he will make a statement.

I have no further statement to make on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have now given further consideration to the terms of the reservation, notified to the Secretary-General of the United Nations on 18th April, 1957, whereby they withdrew from the sphere of compulsory jurisdiction disputes relating to any question which, in the opinion of the Government of the United Kingdom, affects the national security of the United Kingdom or any of its dependent territories; and whether he will make a statement on this matter.

This matter is still being considered. I regret, therefore, that I cannot at present add to what my right hon. and learned Friend said on this subject on 19th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now propose that the People's Republic of China should be admitted to the United Nations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will raise at the earliest opportunity in the United Nations the question of according the Chinese seat in the United Nations to representatives of the Government of Pekin.

Her Majesty's Government's policy on the question of Chinese representation in the United Nations has not changed, and I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Feltham (Mr. Hunter) on 3rd March.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the deteriorating condition of Mr. Topham, particulars of which have been sent by the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion, he will make further efforts to expedite a settlement of his claim with the Cuban Government.

Yes. My right hon. and learned Friend will not relax his efforts to secure a settlement. I am sorry to say that progress has been most disappointingly slow. On 4th July, however, Her Majesty's Ambassador received a written assurance from the Cuban Minister of State that Mr. Topham's case is receiving his special attention and that he is working for a speedy decision, but the date of the trial has still not been fixed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now make a statement on the outcome of the discussions of the Consultative Group on the strategic controls on trade.

As the House is probably aware, the Consultative Group met in Paris on the 18th and 19th July to consider the recommendations made by its Co-ordinating Committee on the review of the strategic controls which has been in progress since February. The conclusions of the Consultative Group have since been reported to member Governments.I am glad to be able to tell the House that agreement was reached on a substantial relaxation of the Embargo List. The list is not yet available in final form, as certain technical details concerning a number of items are still being worked out in the Co-ordinating Committee. It is however already clear that Her Majesty's Government's objective of confining the list to items of real strategic significance has been substantially achieved.The work on technical details which is still going on will be completed very shortly, and the new Embargo List will be published on 15th August and will be effective from that date.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a further statement on the regulations regarding visits of British diplomats to certain towns in China, including Tientsin, Shanghai, and Canton.

I am grateful for this opportunity of correcting a misleading impression, for which I apologise, which may have been given by my reply to my hon. Friend's Question on this subject on 21st July. The position is that the regulations announced on 30th June in fact made no change in the procedure governing visits to the places in question by members of the United Kingdom and other diplomatic missions. That is to say, even before 30th June intended visits had merely to be notified 48 hours in advance. Nevertheless, the Chinese authorities have on occasion refused to allow visits to the places in question.

asked the Minister of Labour how many young people who left school at the end of June are still registered as unemployed.

The precise number of school-leavers on the registers is not known, but only the numbers of boys and girls under 18 years of age who are registered as unemployed. As soon as the July figures are available I will send them to the hon. Member, together with the figures for the previous month.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a major obstacle to the recruitment of an adequate number of apprentices is the small firm employing no apprentices; and what steps he proposes to take, through his consultative advisory machinery, to overcome this difficulty.

I am aware that there are firms employing skilled workers which do not train apprentices, and I understand that the Industrial Training Council is to consider how they may be encouraged to do so.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he has taken, or will take, to ensure full co-operation with the National Apprenticeship Council in accordance with the Report of the Carr Committee, Training for Skill.

My right hon. Friend has gladly accepted the invitation of the Industrial Training Council to appoint a representative to participate in its work.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were registered as unemployed at the employment exchanges in Caernarvon, Penygroes, Portmadoc, Llanberis and Pwllheli, respectively, on the latest available count.

671 at Caernarvon, which includes Llanberis, 226 at Penygroes, 74 at Portmadoc, and 274 at Pwllheli at 14th July.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed men and women, respectively, were registered at the Bridgend, Maesteg, Cymmer, Ponty-

NUMBERS OF PERSONS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN WALES AND IN FLINTSHIRE AT 16TH JUNE, 1958 TOGETHER WITH THE PERCENTAGES THE NUMBERS REPRESENT OF THE ESTIMATED TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN THOSE AREAS
—				Wales		Flintshire
				Number Unemployed	Percentages	Number Unemployed	Percentages*
Men aged 18 and over		…	…	24,450	3·7	939	2·9
Boys under 18	…	…	…	918	2·8	46
Women aged 18 and over		…	…	8,438	3·5	391	3·5
Girls under 18	…	…	…	1,138	3·8	35
TOTAL			…	34,944	3·7	1,411	3·0
* Percentage rates of unemployment for Flintshire are only available for males and females.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unfilled vacancies in Wales and in Flintshire there were for men, women and juveniles, respectively, at the latest convenient date, with cor-

The following is the Table:

NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF THE UNDERMENTIONED EMPLOYMENT EXCANGES AT 11TH JULY, 1955 AND 14TH JULY, 1958
Employment Exchange	11th July, 1955		14th July, 1958
	Males	Females	Males	Females
Bridgend	34	35	143	181
Maesteg	16	49	125	85
Cymmer	13	20	62	72
Pontycymmer	14	19	32	42
Ogmore Vale	19	24	20	57

asked the Minister of Labour how many men, women, boys and girls in Wales were registered for employment at the latest convenient date; and what proportion these figures represent of the insured population in each category, with the corresponding figures for the employment exchange areas in Flintshire.

The following is the reply:responding figures for 1955, 1956 and 1957.

The following is the reply:

NUMBERS OF VACANCIES NOTIFIED TO EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES IN WALES AND IN FLINTSHIRE REMAINING UNFILLED AT THE UNDERMENTIONED DATES
—					Men aged 18 and over	Women aged 18 and over	Young Persons under 18	Total
WALES:
29th June, 1955	…	…	…	…	7,995	2,781	3,072	13,848
27th June, 1956	…	…	…	…	7,678	3,002	3,107	13,787
12th June, 1957	…	…	…	…	6,035	2,964	2,069	11,068
11th June, 1958	…	…	…	…	4,582	2,252	1,297	8,131
FLINTSHIRE:
29th June, 1955	…	…	…	…	391	265	126	782
27th June, 1956	…	…	…	…	307	528	126	961
12th June, 1957	…	…	…	…	136	329	96	561
11th June, 1958	…	…	…	…	106	203	77	386

asked the Minister of Labour how many men, women, boys and girls in Wales and in Flintshire, respect-

NUMBERS OF WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES IN WALES AND IN FLINTSHIRE AT 16TH JUNE, 1958 WHO, AT THAT DATE HAD BEEN CONTINUOUSLY UNEMPLOYED FOR MORE THAN THREE MONTHS
Duration of Unemployment in Weeks				Men aged 18 and over	Women aged 18 and over	Boys under 18	Girls under 18	Total
WALES
Over 13 and up to 26			…	3,730	1,686	97	161	5,674
Over 26	…	…	…	6,725	2,312	46	46	9,129
Total			…	10,455	3,998	143	207	14,803
FLINTSHIRE
Over 13 and up to 26			…	135	89	3	4	231
Over 26	…	…	…	229	102	2	4	337
Total			…	364	191	5	8	568

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the publication of the Third Interim Report on Dust in Card Rooms may give the impression that measures to control dust given off during the stripping process are now of less importance; and if he will take steps to remove any such misapprehension.

The Third Interim Report on Dust in Card Rooms dealt with dust emitted during the carding process, and what is said in it should not be taken as detracting from the importance which attaches to the removal of dust emitted during the stripping process. If as the hon. Member says, there has been misapprehension on this matter, I hope that this statement will remove it.

The following is the reply:

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consult the hotel and catering industry itself, before deciding upon the terms of the legislation under which the Catering Wages Boards will be converted into wages councils.

I informed the House on 9th July that I was putting a more detailed account of the Government's intentions in this matter to the National Joint Advisory Council on 23rd July. The Council has expressed its general concurrence with what is proposed, and I am now taking the same action with the organisations especially concerned with the catering industry.

asked the Minister of Labour what has been the percentage price alteration in all retail commodities during the last twelve months, taking the figure at the starting date as 100; and in which direction.

At 17th June, 1958, the latest date for which information is available, the following percentage changes had taken place in the items included in the Index of Retail Prices since 18th June, 1957:

—	Percentage Change (Increase + Decrease -)
Food	+3·9
Alcoholic Drink	+1·6
Tobacco	+2·4
Housing	+11·4
Fuel and Light	+7·4
Durable household goods	-0·3
Clothing and Footwear	+1·0
Transport and Vehicles	+4·5
Miscellaneous goods	+5·8
Services	+6·1
All above items	+4·3

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the fact that 8,412,000 working days were lost in 1957 through strikes, most of them unofficial, and since this is the worst record since 1926, what fresh steps he proposes to take to reduce industrial friction and prevent this waste of productive efficiency.

Although, as my hon. Friend says, most of the strikes occurring in 1957 were unofficial, three major official strikes, in engineering, shipbuilding and provincial buses, accounted for nearly 7 million of the working days lost and involved 900,000 of the 1,360,000 workers taking part in strikes in that year. While the total working days lost in the one year was so much increased by these three strikes, I do not think they point to any general deterioration in industrial relations.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were registered as unemployed at the employment exchange, Wigan, for the months of January, February, March, April, May, and June, 1958.

The following table gives the information desired:

NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF THE WIGAN EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OFFICE AT THE UNDERMENTIONED DATES
Date	Wholly unemployed	Temporarily Stopped
13th January, 1958	717	22
17th February, 1958	693	68
17th March, 1958	756	186
14th April, 1958	870	182
12th May, 1958	907	938
16th June, 1958	938	487

asked the Minister of Labour how many textile workers were registered as unemployed at the employment exchange, Wigan, for the months of January, February, March, April, May, and June, 1958.

The following table gives the information desired:

NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED TEXTILE WORKERS ON THE REGISTERS OF THE WIGAN EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OFFICE AT THE UNDERMENTIONED DATES
Date	Wholly unemployed	Temporarily stopped
13th January, 1958	63	8
17th February, 1958	77	39
17th March, 1958	94	97
14th April, 1958	130	95
12th May, 1958	141	829
16th June, 1958	173	312

asked the Minister of Labour what is the present amount of unemployment in the County of Dorset as a whole, and in the Bridport area; and how it compares with the national average.

At 14th July, there were 1,535 unemployed persons on the registers of employment exchanges in the County of Dorset, 118 of whom were registering at the Bridport Employment Exchange. The unemployment percentage rates at that date were 1·8 for the County of Dorset and 1·9 for the Bridport Employment Exchange area. The figures for Great Britain for 14th July are not yet available. At 16th June the percentage rate of unemployment was 1·9 for both the County of Dorset as a whole and for the Bridport Employment Exchange area compared with 2·0 for Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of unemployed registering in Motherwell and Wishaw at the latest date and at the comparable date in 1957; and how many of present unemployed are from the steel industry.

2,709 at 14th July, 1958, compared with 1,155 al 15th July, 1957. The total of 2,709 at 14th July, 1958, included 649 persons whose last employment was in the iron and steel melting, rolling, etc., industry.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give an analysis of the unemployment figures for Dundee at the most recent convenient date in July, according to the lengths of time insured workers have been unemployed.

The table below gives the information desired.

NUMBERS OF WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF THE DUNDEE EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AT 14TH JULY, 1958
Duration of Unemployment	Males	Females	Total
Up to 2 weeks	376	194	570
More than 2 weeks and up to 8 weeks	576	384	960
More than 8 weeks	1,672	958	2,630
Total	2,624	1,536	4,160

NOTES:(1) A more detailed analysis according to duration of unemployment is obtained once a quarter (in March, June, September and December).(2) The Table above excludes persons registered as temporarily stopped. The number in that category in Dundee at 14th July, was 885.

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

For the Dundee and Broughty Ferry areas combined, the percentage of unemployment at 14th July, 1958, was 5·7. At that date there were about nine unfilled notified vacancies in this area for every 100 persons registered as wholly unemployed.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were registered at employment exchanges in Dundee as being jute workers and building trade workers, respectively, at the most recent convenient date in July; and what percentages of them were unemployed.

At 14th July, 1958 1,858 workers in the jute industry and 234 in the building industry were registered as unemployed in Dundee and Broughty Ferry. The respective percentages were 11·9 and 4·8.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that it is not the practice of the Dock Labour Board to allow the staff of food importers to remove food from a dock area during a strike of dockers; and if he will now introduce amending legislation so that the practice of the Dock Labour Board be altered in this respect.

Under the provisions of the Dock Labour Scheme, only registered dock workers may be employed on dock work, and I am aware that the National Dock Labour Board was unable to provide labour to move food from the docks during the recent unofficial strike in the Port of London. My officials are discussing this problem with representatives of the industry in the course of their examination of the provisions of the Scheme in the light of the recommendations in the Devlin Report. Any amendments to the Scheme that may be decided upon will be made under the procedure laid down in the Dock Workers (Regulation of Employment) Act, 1946.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement about employment trends in England and in Wales, respectively; and what is his estimate of prospects for the next twelve months.

Up-to-date estimates of the numbers in employment are not available for England and Wales separately. Between January and June unemployment in England rose by 27,600 and in Wales by 1,150; these were increases of about a tenth and a thirtieth respectively. On future prospects in both countries I cannot add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Dodds) on 9th July.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will reconsider the decision to call up apprentices in the printing trades after five years as apprentices instead of the normal six years, in view of the fact that in most cases this places the apprentices in a disadvantageous position when taking final and City and Guilds Examinations.

The arrangement under which apprentices in the printing trades are granted deferment of call-up to complete five years' actual craft training is in accordance with the apprenticeship training agreements made between the various employers' organisations and trade unions concerned. Where at the end of five years' craft training a young man has reached an advanced stage in his studies and is shortly due to take an approved examination such as that referred to, further deferment may be allowed to take the examination.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when the Admiralty jetty at Kissy in Sierra Leone will be repaired.

Discussions are at present taking place with the commercial and other interests concerned regarding the replacement of a dolphin that has recently collapsed, and the loss of which is restricting the use of the jetty. I cannot, of course, anticipate the outcome of the discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many British soldiers are now stationed in the Middle East; and where they are located.

For reasons of security I cannot give figures for particular theatres, beyond what is published in the annual Memorandum on the Army Estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps he is taking for the disposal of Churchill Barracks, Ayr.

Churchill Barracks are the depot of the Royal Scots Fusiliers and also house three units of the Territorial Army. Even if they are not eventually required, I shall not be able to dispose of these barracks until the regiment has been moved elsewhere on amalgamation and other accommodation has been provided for the T.A. units.

asked the Secretary for War whether compensation is paid, and at what rate, in respect of civilians injured accidentally by vehicles of Army units stationed in Cyprus and other overseas territories.

Claims by civilians who are injured by Service vehicles in Cyprus and other overseas territories are dealt with by the Claims Commission and proper compensation is paid where appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will now state whether travel warrants for Army personnel between Great Britain and Northern Ireland can be made available for travel by air.

I am afraid that this proposal is rather more complicated than it seems. It is still under consideration, and I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the present size of the strategic reserve held in Great Britain and Germany, respectively.

For reasons of security, details of the strength of the strategic reserve or of the forces available generally for operations may not be disclosed.

asked the Secretary of State for War when he expects the Western Isles guided missiles range to be in operational use; what are his plans for firing the Corporal missile; and when this is to be done.

We expect to begin practice firing of Corporal missiles on the Hebrides range next summer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what major projects utilising structural steel, for which the authorisation of the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation is required, are now so advanced in preparation that they could quickly be undertaken in the event of a further decline in commercial demand for steel.

I refer to my replies to similar Questions from the right hon. Member on 14th July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to have been the effect of the exercise of Treasury consent under the Exchange Control Act, 1947, on the establishment in the United Kingdom of undertakings owned by non-residents.

The exercise of Treasury consent under the Exchange Control Act has in the past tended to deter some kinds of foreign investment in this country. Permission under this Act will in future be given for the establishment of any new enterprise here by non-residents. I would like to take this opportunity of emphasising the welcome we extend to the non-resident investor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the growing unemployment in Mauritius, he will consider recruitment of Mauritians with the King's African Rifles.

The King's African Rifles are raised under the legislation of the three East African territories of Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika, and are administered and financed by these territories. It is therefore for those Governments to decide whether to recruit Mauritians into their forces.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the plans for irrigating the eastern coastlands of Mauritius with a view to future land settlement.

The hon. Member will find the irrigation plans of the Mauritius Government set out on pages 33, 34, 72 and 73 of "A Plan for Mauritius", copies of which are in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he hopes to make a further statement upon the Northern Rhodesian constitutional proposals.

I have nothing to add to the reply my right hon. Friend gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. Stonehouse) and my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the population of the Seychelles at the latest date for which figures are available; how many and what proportion of the adult population are entitled to vote for members of the Legislative Council; and what are the qualifications for voting.

The population of Seychelles was estimated at 42,000 in June, 1958, of whom about 25,000 were adults. There are at present 2,554 registered voters, which is just over 10 per cent. of the adult population. This is only a small proportion of those qualified to register. The qualifications for registration are set out in Section 9 of Cap. 32 of the Seychelles Laws, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent practical co-operation has been established between the executive staff of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund and the ministries and medical and other departments concerned in Kenya, Tanganyika and Uganda, respectively; and what activities have been undertaken as a result of such co-operation.

Co-operation began in 1954, and has developed satisfactorily since then, being materially assisted by the setting up in the autumn of 1956 of a U.N.I.C.E.F. Area Office for East Africa. The following projects have been undertaken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what amounts of dried milk have been requested for the year 1958–59 from the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund by the Governments of Kenya, Tanganyika and Uganda, respectively; and what encouragement has been given by Her Majesty's Government for the fullest use to be made of United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund dried milk for the eradication of malnutrition among children in these territories.

At the request of the Governments concerned, the Executive Board of U.N.I.C.E.F. at its session held in September, 1957, approved the allocation of the following quantities of dried milk for use during 1958 and 1959 by mothers and infants:—

Kenya	770,000 lb.
Uganda	72,000 lb.
Tanganyika	448,000 lb.

Colonial Governments have all been told of the assistance available to them through the United Nations Children's Fund, including supplies of milk for the nutrition of expectant and nursing mothers and of children. Direct contact is maintained between the Governments of terriories concerned and the Area Office of the Fund at Entebbe.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what practical steps are being taken by the Governments of Kenya, Tanganyika and Uganda to utilise the facilities available under the United Nations specialised agencies or other organisations to eradicate malaria; and to what extent these have proved to be successful.

Since the latter part of 1954 a World Health Organisation team has been working at the East African Institute of Malaria and Vector-borne Diseases at Amani in Tanganyika under the supervision of its Director. The team is engaged in laboratory entomological work, chemical tests and analyses, the training of auxiliary personnel, and health propaganda. It has also assisted in a malaria control project on the border between Kenya and Tanganyika, the first testing area of the Institute. The United Nations Children's Fund has provided transport, equipment, and insecticides to the value of $51,400.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what study has been made of the activities, undertaken by the Standing Advisory Committee for Medical Research in the British Caribbean to eradicate malnutrition, for guidance and application in the East African territories under United Kingdom administration.

The Standing Advisory Committee for Medical Research in the British Caribbean is charged with the task of advising on the needs for medical research in the British Caribbean and on the means for ensuring that the results of research are applied in practice; and is required to keep under review the facilities for inter-territorial collaboration in medical research. The Secretary of State for the Colonies is represented on the Committee by two members of the Colonial Medical Research Committee and by the Director of Colonial Medical Research. The British Caribbean Committee is closely linked with the Colonial Medical Research Committee whose terms of reference are, inter alia, to advise the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Medical Research Council on all matters of medical research in and for the benefit of the Colonies, and to serve as a focus and clearing house of information.Research into malnutrition in the Caribbean is being undertaken by the Tropical Metabolism Research Unit working with the Applied Nutrition Research Unit in Jamaica, and at the Faculty of Physiology at the University College of the West Indies. The work at the Tropical Metabolism Research Unit is being carried out under the direction of a member of the staff of the Medical Research Council, the Secretary of which is the Chairman of the Colonial Medical Research Committee.In East Africa, research work is being done on this problem at the Physiological and Nutritional Research Unit of the East African Medical Research Institute, and at the Medical Research Council's Infantile Malnutrition Research Unit in Uganda, and by the Faculty of Medicine, Makerere College, Uganda.As in the Caribbean, research in East Africa is conducted under the aegis of a specialist committee, in this case the East African Council for Medical Research, and again, as in the Caribbean, representatives from the Colonial Medical Research Committee attend the annual meetings of this Council, and its Standing Advisory Committee at which the annual progress reports of all research units are presented personally by their Directors and discussed. In addition, the Director of Colonial Medical Research attends these important meetings.Reports of all medical research activities are carefully considered by the Colonial Medical Research Committee and these reports are condensed and appear annually in

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Greek Cypriots have been charged with possessing and carrying arms since the beginning of the emergency; what the sentences have been; and how many were granted bail, with or without guarantors.

The answer to the first and second parts of the Question is 181, resulting in the death penalty in nine cases, life imprisonment in 45, from five to 15 years' imprisonment in 60, from one day to three years' imprisonment in 23 and a fine or binding over in 11 cases. The remaining 33 cases are either pending or ended in an acquittal or nolle prosequi. The answer to the third part of the Question is four on their own surety and one with a guarantor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what decision has been reached by the Kenya Government with regard to the request from African elected members of the Kenya Legislative Council to be allowed to visit prisons and detention camps, including Lokitaung Prison, in Northern Frontier District.

I would refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) on 3rd July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent Government control is exercised over the administration and activities of the Kilimanjaro, Bukoba and Ngonimatengo native co-operative unions and over the Victoria Federation of Co-operative Unions in Tanganyika.

The extent of control is limited to the statutory powers of the Registrar under the Co-operative Societies Ordinance, copies of which, with the rules made under it, I have placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many local branches of the Tanganyika African National Union have been banned; and which of these are in constituencies where elections for Legislative Council will be held this year.

I would refer to my reply of 29th April. The Iringa and Korogwe branches, which have been declared unlawful, are in the Southern Highlands and Tanga constituencies respectively. The Lushoto branch, which was refused permission to register last year, is also in the Tanga constituency. The activities of the Morogoro District branch in the Eastern Province constituency are now restricted only in two-sub-Chiefdoms. There are no restraints on electioneering within these areas where elections are to be held this year by representatives from other registered branches of the union.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the amount of milk produced in the first six months of 1958 and the amount consumed as liquid milk, compares with the amounts in the same period of 1957.

Milk production in the United Kingdom in the first six months of 1958 was 1,155 million gallons compared with 1,149 million in the same period in 1957. Liquid milk consumption in the first six months of 1958–756 million gallons—was nearly 7 million gallons more than in the same period last year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that there has been further flooding in the Wickford, Essex, area since the end of June; and what steps the Essex River Board is going to take to prevent further flooding in the future.

The Essex River Board informs me it is fully aware of the problem created by the situation of Wickford in the natural flood plain of the River Crouch. The board is investigating the possibilities of a long term solution and, in the meantime, will consider what temporary alleviation is practicable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what use is being made of the provision for payment of grant on standard costs under the farm improvement scheme.

This provision was only introduced at the end of April, but already, during June, 20 per cent. of the applications approved in England and Wales were wholly or partly in respect of standard costs; and standard costs accounted for over 10 per cent. of the total cost of approvals. These early figures make it clear, as we hoped, that the provision made is proving helpful to applicants for grant under the farm improvement scheme.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the difficulties in the London area, especially in winter, of getting hospital beds for acutely ill people who are also elderly; why the Emergency Bed Service always asks the age of a patient; and whether he will circularise regional boards and governors of teaching hospitals to remind them that age should not, of itself, be a deterrent to the admission of acutely ill people.

I am aware that there are sometimes periods in the winter when owing to a high incidence of sickness there is difficulty in finding hospital beds for acutely ill patients requiring treatment in medical wards and that at these times the number of these patients who are elderly is likely to be high. A patient's age is simply one essential part of the medical information required.Hospitals have been asked, in times of pressure indicated by a warning system, to make available additional accommodation for medical emergencies and the general arrangements for emergency admissions in the London area are kept under close review. I do not think that further action is required.

asked the Minister of Health what undertakings he has received from the Manchester Regional Hospital Board, with reference to his letter of 9th July, 1958, calling their attention to their moral obligation to render the greatest possible assistance to Mr. A. H. Barber to enable him to obtain work as a gynæcological consultant in another hospital.

The board has told me that in January it made a declaration that Should Mr. Barber apply for a consultant post within its region he would receive equal and unbiassed consideration along with all other applicants. I am not satisfied that this fully meets the position, and I am taking the matter up with the board.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now prepared to exercise his powers under Section 16 of the Terms and Conditions of Service of Hospital, Medical and Dental Staff, to place the case of Mr. A. H. Barber before a professional committee.

No. The terms of paragraph 16 give me no jurisdiction to consider a case after the termination of employment.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he has yet had consultations within the scope of the American Mutal Aid programme to discuss the future military application of the Swallow aircraft; what is its estimated cost of production; and whether it is to be developed here or in the United States of America.

Discussions with the responsible American authorities are proceeding. There is no suggestion that the development work would be undertaken outside this country. I would, however, remind the hon. Member that the project is a research project and it is too early to predict to what aircraft requirements the principles might be applied.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in view of probable redundancy in the aircraft industry in certain parts of the country, he will take steps to induce aircraft firms to co-operate more in the spreading of orders and in design and research.

As I have said on several occasions, it is my policy to encourage co-operation between aircraft firms in all aspects of their aeronautical activities in the hope that the industry will reshape itself into stronger units. Only in this way will a healthy industry emerge from the present difficult circumstances and employment at a high level be secured. The sharing of orders, on the other hand, would not of itself necessarily make for the efficiency and prosperity of the industry, and a gradual but appreciable reduction in the numbers employed seems likely. Diversification of work will, of course, help to mitigate the effects of a decline in aircraft orders.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation in view of the urgency of the report from the Medical Research Council on the relation of alcohol to road accidents, whether he will be able to publish it before the summer adjournment of the House.

I have been asked to reply, on behalf of my noble Friend the Lord President of the Council.I cannot at present add to what I said about the date of publication in answer to the hon. Gentlemen, the Members for Norfolk, Central (Sir F. Medlicott) and Barking (Mr. Hastings) on 14th July. My noble Friend has not yet received the report in its final form but will arrange for its publication as soon as it is in his hands.

asked the Minister of Education if he will advise all technical colleges, institutes and schools now having courses in architecture, civil engineering and/or building, that they should consider including in their curricula for final year pupils instruction in producing a proper time and progress schedule for all constructional operations, with a view to avoiding the present wastage of time in the actual construction of many buildings.

The study of time and progress schedules is now commonly introduced in the more advanced stages of courses in architecture. It is included in a few civil engineering courses and in the only building course so far recognised as leading to the Diploma in Technology and is touched on in many National Diploma and Higher National Certificate courses in building. I welcome these developments and will take appropriate opportunities to encourage the study of this and other methods designed to improve organisation on the site.

asked the Minister of Education if he will recommend to those responsible for arranging the final year's programme for students in educational establishments in architecture, civil engineering and building construction, that modular co-ordinated planning should be most carefully investigated and instruction provided in this science, which has proved successful where applied in other countries.

I cannot usefully add to the reply given by my predecessor to an earlier Question by my hon. Friend on this subject in February, 1956.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many murders were known to the police in England and Wales during the months of May and June.

The number of murders recorded as known to the police in May and June were, respectively, 17 and 16.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes are proposed in the arrangements for the supply of uniforms to members of the Women's Voluntary Services belonging to the Welfare Section of the Civil Defence Corps.

Arrangements are being made for the Women's Voluntary Services to take over as from 1st October, 1958, the supply of uniforms for issue to their members who belong to the Welfare Section of the Civil Defence Corps. For this purpose it is proposed to make an advance of £80,000 to provide working capital and to enable them to take over stocks held by the Home Office. This advance will be recoverable from grants payable on the issues of uniforms. A Supplementary Estimate will be presented to Parliament in due course.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many retirement pensioners living in Brentwood, Billericay, Basildon, Pitsea and Vange were in receipt of supplementary assistance at the earliest convenient date, and at the corresponding date in each of the succeeding years; and if he will state, year by year, the national growth in the number of retirement pensioners throughout this period.

The National Assistance Board informs me that the Board's office at Brentwood which at present serves an area corresponding roughly with the places mentioned was not opened until March, 1955, and that figures relating to that area when previously it was part of larger areas served by other offices are not available. The number of weekly assistance grants paid to retirement pensioners by the Brentwood office was 1,680 at the end of March, 1955, and 1,616, 1,727 and 1,650 respectively at corresponding dates in the succeeding three years. Some of the grants provided for the requirements of a household with more than one pensioner. Between those dates the number of retirement pensioners in Great Britain grew from 4,450,000 in 1955 to 4,550,000 in 1956, 4,670,000 in 1957 and 4,780,000 in 1958.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers in Scotland have retired at 65 years of age or earlier since the new regulations about teachers' retirement pensions came into force; and how many teachers have continued in service after 65 years of age during the same period.

Up to 31st March, 1958, the number of teachers who retired at 65 years of age or earlier was 647 and the estimated number of teachers who continued in service was 570. Later figures are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he will take in the case of William Jordan, who was originally charged with capital murder but, in whose case, a plea of culpable homicide was accepted by the Crown on the grounds of diminished responsibility, to ensure that he is no longer a danger to the public when he is due for release at the end of his sentence.

The prison authorities keep under regular supervision the mental and physical condition of all prisoners in their charge; and if at any time during his sentence William Jordan were found to be certifiably insane he could be ordered to be detained in an appropriate institution, if necessary beyond the term of his sentence.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he has taken in response to the application made to him substantially to increase the import duty on lettuce.

I announced on 12th February that we had received an application for an increase in the import duty on lettuce and endive during the period 1st March to 31st May. Numerous representations have been made in response to this announcement, and these are being considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the industrial congestion in certain parts of the country, and of the need for new industry in others, he will take steps to deal with the situation.

As the House is aware, it is not the practice of my Department to issue industrial development certificates—save in the most exceptional circumstances—for firms wishing to set up new factories in the more congested parts of the country. The certificates issued in those places are almost entirely for extensions or efficiency projects which it would be uneconomic to separate from the existing buildings.I propose in future to examine all such applications, both for new buildings and for extensions, even more critically than in the past and to extend the practice at present applied in the Greater London and Greater Birmingham areas to other parts of the country where unemployment is low. I recognise that this may mean refusal to allow a project to go forward in some particular place even though the labour could be found. But there are other places where the need for new industry is much greater, and it is these in particular that I should hope to benefit from this decision.I realise that the location of a new development in one of these places may result in a firm having to bear increased costs both in building the new factory and in connection with the movement of its plant or its key workers, or in the marketing of its products. It is to help to meet such problems that the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act has been passed. Enterprises already located in these places may also be eligible for assistance under this Act. For the benefit of firms wishing to take advantage of its facilities, I am appending to this statement a list of the places concerned. They cover 7 per cent. of the total of insured employees in Great Britain, but on the latest figures account for 17 per cent. of the total unemployed. Applications for assistance for projects in other areas will not necessarily be ruled out if they would relieve unemployment in the places listed. From time to time we shall issue a revision of this list.These new arrangements mean that in such localities Government assistance for new projects will be given by the Treasury acting on the advice of the Development Areas Treasury Advisory Committee. Although the Development Fund will not therefore operate for the alleviation of unemployment, it will have a rôle to play in rural areas, particularly in Scotland and Wales, where the prevention of depopulation is the main problem.LIST OF PLACES WHERE GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE UNDER THE DISTRIBUTION OF INDUSTRY (INDUSTRIAL FINANCE ACT), 1958, WILL BE AVAILABLEENGLAND