asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will make a statement on the future of the Naval Ordnance Design and Inspection Pool in the light of the Report of Sir Berkeley Nihill's Committee.

The recommendations of Sir Barclay Nihill's Committee are being examined. I regret that I am not yet able to make a statement.

asked the Minister of of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the flood damage caused this summer in Lincoln and Lincolnshire; and what steps he proposes to take to render such flooding less likely in future.

Yes. Proposals to alleviate further flooding are under urgent consideration by the drainage authorities concerned and by my Ministry.

*REVISIONARY POWERS OF COURTS IN COLONIAL AND PROTECTED TERRITORIES

(1) In Criminal Proceedings

Territory

Court possessing revisionary powers

Courts over which power extends

Powers exercised—(a) of Court's own motion, (b) automatically, (c) at instance of party to proceedings, (d) otherwise

Fees payable

Aden

…

…

Supreme Court

…

Magistrates Courts

…

(a) (c)

…

…

10s.

Bahamas

…

Supreme Court

…

Magistrates Courts

…

(a)

…

…

…

None

Basutoland

…

High Court

…

…

All subordinate Courts.

(a) (c)

…

…

None

Bechuanaland Protectorate.

High Court

…

…

All inferior Courts, including African Courts.

(a) (b) (c) according to type of review.

Automatic review—Nil, Summons fee £1, Service fee 5s.

British Guiana

…

Supreme Court

…

Magistrates Courts

…

(d) on application by Attorney-General.

—

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will introduce legislation to implement the recommendation made in paragraph 94 of the Heneage Report.

I am taking the opportunity of the present consultations with the organisations concerned on the main recommendations of the Heneage Committee to seek their views on the paragraph referred to by the hon. Member on the subject of drainage rating.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in which colonial and protected territories the Supreme Court, or its equivalent, has the right to review the decisions of inferior colonial courts and native courts, respectively, stating in respect of each territory if such revision is automatic, or can be claimed by prosecution and/or defence, and what fees are payable.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 13th February, 1958; Vol. 582, c. 76] supplied the following further information:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonics under what conditions of unrest the Ordinance No. 49 to amend the penal code was passed by the Legislature of Tanganyika in November, 1955; and what charges have been

—					Section 63A (incitement to violence)	Section 63B (raising discontent and ill-will for unlawful purposes)	Section 89 (2) (threatening violence)
1955 (November-December)				…	Nil	Nil	4 (1 discharged, 3 convicted).
1956	…	…	…	…	Nil	Nil	30 (13 discharged, 17 convicted).
1957	…	…	…	…	1 (discharged)	Nil	11 (3 discharged, 8 convicted).
1958 (January-May)			…	…	Nil	2* (both convicted)	7 (all convicted)
* The case relating to these charges was brought after 31st May, 1958.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the racial and party composition of the Legislative Council and Executive Council of Tanganyika following the recent elections.

The Tanganyika Legislative Council consists, in addition to the Speaker, of 67 members, 34 on the Government side and 33 on the Representative side. On the Government side there are 13 European officials and 21 unofficials comprising 13 Africans, 3 Asians and 5 Europeans. These unofficials are nominated by the Governor as individuals and without reference to any party affiliations which they may have and which are in most cases unknown. On the Representative side there are 11 Africans, 11 Asians and 11 Europeans. At present 15 of the 33 Representative members are elected, 5 Africans, 5 Asians and 5 Europeans. Of these only 4 stood as members of a political party, the Tanganyika African National Union; they are Africans. The remaining 18 Representative members are at present all nominated and, like the unofficial members on the Government side, are chosen without reference to party affiliations. Polling in the remaining 5 constituencies will take place in February. 1959.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 17th July, 1958; Vol. 591, c. 123], supplied the following information:The following charges have been made under the Tanganyika Penal Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 1955 (Ordinance No. 49 of 1955):The Executive Council, of which the Governor

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what decisions were reached in the discussions with the delegation from Sierra Leone regarding financial provisions for the Colony.

It was agreed that on present forecasts the Government of Sierra Leone would need to raise an external loan of some £3 million during 1959–60 and that development should proceed on that assumption. In view of the prevailing uncertainties and the impossibility of looking very far ahead, discussions will be resumed next year. The Sierra Leone Government agreed in principle to assume control of military forces on the 1st January, 1959. Her Majesty's Government agreed, subject to Parliamentary approval, to provide financial assistance on a tapering basis; the precise details are still being worked out.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the financial contribution of Her Majesty's Government for the defence and internal security of Sierra Leone in 1957–58; what it will be in 1958–59; and what percentage these figures are of the total cost.

The United Kingdom contribution towards the cost of the Sierra Leone military forces in 1957–58 was £741,000, or approximately 85 per cent. of the total cost. I am awaiting revised costs of the forces for 1958–59, in the light of which the size of the United Kingdom contribution for the present year will be determined. Other charges for internal security, such as the cost of the police force are borne wholly by the Sierra Leone Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action the Governments of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland have taken to secure the registration of Africans and Asians in the special roll for the federal elections; and how many of each race have registered in the two territories, respectively.

I am finding out if there is any information which can properly be given by me, having regard to

TABLE
PRIMARY CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES MARKETING COFFEE IN KENYA
Year		(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)		(5)	(6)	(7)	(8)
		Number of Societies	Number of Members	Turnover by value	Turnover by volume Tons		Reserves	Deposits	Share Capital	Borrowed Capital
					Shs.	Clean Mbuni		Shs.	Shs.	Shs.	Shs.
1950	…	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—
1951	…	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—
1952	…	28	8,859	349,714	—		—	—	—	—
1953	…	39	11,962	2,576,063	—		258,339	—	171,311	165,432
1954	…	50	18,411	5,579,880	—		894,692	81,676	333,425	320,694
1955	…	62	24,520	7,308,568	656	401	1,414,231	425,541	592,736	534,821
1956	…	68	43,386	8,188,690	768	355	1,408,118	242,104	822,720	553,085
1957	…	86	56,082	16,076,076	1,497	625	1,372,050	171,699	1,385,537	568,504
NOTE: The figures in respect of the years 1950 to 1954 which are not provided are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of primary co-operative societies in Kenya, Tanganyika and Uganda, respectively, marketing coffee, the total number of members and details of turnover of coffee in value and volume, in the various grades, and the total reserves, deposits, shares and borrowings, respectively, in each territory for each of the years 1950 to 1957, inclusive.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 1st July, 1958; Vol. 590, c. 77], supplied the following information:I am circulating in the table below information about the primary co-operative societies marketing coffee in Kenya, Tanganyika and Uganda. It is not possible to provide all the information requested for Kenya and Uganda without a detailed examination of the records of all primary societies marketing coffee in those territories. This would involve a diversion of staff from normal duties which the Governments would be reluctant to order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what decisions he has reached regarding constitutional changes in Northern Rhodesia.

I would refer the hon. Member to the despatch to the Governor of Northern Rhodesia which is reproduced in Appendix I of the White Paper (Cmnd. 530) published on the 17th September, 1958.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will report on the discussions between the Government of Aden and the Aden Trades Union Congress on questions of immigration policy.

There have so far been no discussions between the Government of Aden and the Aden Trades Union Congress on questions of immigration policy; an offer made some time ago by the Government to meet representatives of the A.T.U.C. to exchange views on the subject has not yet been accepted. There has, however, been correspondence, arising from the Memorial presented by the A.T.U.C. to the Governor in connection with the 24-hours general strike on 25th April to which I referred in reply to a question put by the hon. Member on 15th May. It is the policy of the Government of Aden to provide opportunities for Adenese to acquire the necessary qualifications, standards and skills to enable them to undertake all forms of employment which are available in the Colony; but until such time as sufficient skilled local people are available for employment, certain essential posts must continue to be filled by people from outside the Colony, who will be permitted to enter under the present carefully controlled system of Entry Permits. With this policy in mind the Governor informed the Aden T.U.C. that he was unable to agree that the repeal of the Immigration Ordinance would resolve the difference in opinion existing between the Government and the A.T.U.C, over the question of the limited number of entry permits which are in fact issued, and that he was not prepared to prejudice the prosperity of the Colony by refusing the admission of skilled specialists who cannot yet be found amongst the local population. In a further letter the A.T.U.C. proposed the setting up of a Commission of Inquiry to scrutinise all entry permits issued during the last five years and urged the early extension of training facilities for locally born people so that expatriates could rapidly be replaced. This proposal is receiving the Governor's attention and will be considered in connection with the report of a committee set up to examine the training of Adenese for the kinds of employment available; this report is expected shortly. I should make it clear that no evidence exists that there is danger of a massive influx of expatriates into the Colony. On the contrary the immigration statistics published monthly in the Government Gazette show over the past nine months an excess of departures over arrivals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what improvements in educational and training facilities for the Adenese have taken place in the last six years; and what plans he has to see that the demands for skilled work in the Colony can be met by the local people.

There has been an increase in the number of people receiving a full-time education in Government and grant-in-aid schools from approximately 5,030 in 1951–52 to approximately 9,060 in 1957–58. A number of commercial firms have established apprenticeship or training schemes. The Governor is making every effort to ensure that local people are trained so that the demand for skilled workers in Aden can be met by local labour; a Committee set up by the Aden Government on which both the Aden Trade Union Congress and the employers are represented is at present considering this problem.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the Government of Aden intend to introduce a social insurance scheme in Aden; and if he will make a statement.

The Governor of Aden does not intend at present to introduce a social insurance scheme in the Colony, in view of the high cost, and of difficulties caused by the high proportion of migrant labour. Existing social services include a free medical and hospital service. There is also a Workman's Compensation Ordinance and most of the leading employers in the Colony have pension or provident fund schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in Aden towards the establishment of employment bureaux; and whether he will agree to the work of such bureaux being supplemented by an advisory committee.

The Governor has considered with great care proposals for the establishment of an employment bureau in Aden; but has decided that in existing circumstances the present arrangements under which labour seeking employment is registered by the Commissioner of Labour is sufficient without the establishment of a separate employment bureau. The second part of the question does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the Emergency (Publications) Regulations, 1958, promulgated by the Governor of Aden, conformed to the standard practice; whether they were drafted locally or in London; and if he will have them revised, in view of their effect on normal political activity.

These Regulations do not conform to any standard practice, and were drafted locally. No revision is contemplated but they will naturally not be kept in force longer than is considered essential. The Regulations were in no way designed to suppress legitimate political activity and have not, so far as I am aware, had that effect.

asked the Minister of Education the latest figures of the numbers of classes in primary and secondary schools of over 40, and over 30, children, respectively; and what proportions of the classes in primary and secondary schools are oversized.

In January, 1957, the latest date for which I have complete figures, 31,907 junior classes had more than 40 pupils, and 41,136 senior classes more than 30. About a quarter of the junior and half of the senior classes were oversized. I hope to have the figures for January, 1958, in about three weeks.

asked the Minister of Education, in view of increasing unemployment in the building trade and the inadequacy of existing premises, if he will now enlarge the school building programme in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

I have recently approved one additional school building project in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, with regard to the International Convention relating to the Limitation of Liability of Owners of Sea-Going Ships, signed at Brussels in October, 1957, he will state the names of the countries which have so far signed such convention and those which have ratified such convention together with the dates of ratification.

The following countries have signed the International Convention Relating to the Limitation of Liability of Owners of Sea-going Ships, 1957, on the dates shown against each:

• October 10, 1957—Belgium, France, German Federal Republic, India, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican City, Yugoslavia.
• October 11, 1957—Canada.
• October 15, 1957—Brazil.
• January 8, 1958—United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

According to the Belgian Government, who are the depository power to the Convention, no Government has yet ratified the Convention. The preparation of the United Kingdom Instrument of Ratification is now in hand and will be deposited with the Belgian Government as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the fact that the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Czechoslovakia have published a collection of official documents relating to the statements, correspondence and telegrams which passed between the British, French, Czechoslovak and the Soviet Governments from March to September, 1938, up to and including the Munich conference, whether he will arrange for the publication of similar documents from the archives of his Department.

A large collection of official documents from the archives of the Foreign Office concerning British foreign policy from March to September, 1938, up to and including the Munich conference, was published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in 1949–50 in Volumes I-III of the Third Series of Documents on British Foreign Policy, 1919–39.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what decisions were made at the emergency meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations on the Middle East, and on their implementation.

The decisions made at the emergency meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations were embodied in the Resolution presented by ten Arab States and unanimously endorsed by the General Assembly on the night of 21st-22nd August. A copy of this Resolution has been placed in the Library of the House. Its essential features were a call for good-neighbourliness among all member States (and more specifically among the sponsors of the Resolution); and a request to the Secretary-General to make such practical arrangements as would help to give effect to this aim in relation to the Lebanon and Jordan and thereby facilitate the early withdrawal of United States and British troops respectively from the two countries. The Secretary-General was also asked to continue his investigations into the possibility of helping an Arab Development Institution designed to further economic growth in the Arab countries of the Near East.In consequence of this Resolution, Mr. Hammarskjold visited the area and had discussions with the Arab Governments concerned. He subsequently presented to the General Assembly a Report, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) what progress has been made in the discussions between the technical authorities in British East Africa and the Sudan on the subject of the Nile waters to which he referred on 27th May, 1957; and if he will make a statement;(2) what action he suggested to the Governments of Uganda and Tanganyika following the suggestion of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on 8th April, 1957, that an initiative might come from them on the subject of the Nile waters;(3) if he has any statement to make on the prospects of a conference to discuss the Nile waters; and what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to promote negotiations.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no statement to make on the technical exchanges which took place last year between East African territories and the Sudan. But he does not expect that any conflict of interest will arise.On the question of a Conference to discuss Nile waters, I have nothing to add to my right hon. and learned Friend's reply to a similar Question on 27th May, 1957. Her Majesty's Government favour holding a Conference at an appropriate time. The East African Governments would of course have an important part to play in such a Conference, and they have informed my right hon. Friend the Colonial Secretary that they would expect to send representatives to any suitable meeting. But Her Majesty's Government consider that in present circumstances the initiative would more properly come from the major users of the Nile waters or from some accepted international authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made by the Committee of Experts on the draft convention relating to the liability of innkeepers, which was approved by the Assembly of the Council of Europe and sent to the Committee of Ministers.

The Committee of Experts at its meeting last year provisionally adopted a number of draft articles which will be further examined at a resumed meeting in December.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made in implementing Resolution 125, relating to atomic energy, which was passed by the Assembly of the Council of Europe on 3rd May. 1957.

The Consultative Assembly were informed by the Council of Ministers in May, 1957, that

"Governments had noted Resolution 125 with interest and would bear it in mind as far as possible when the matters dealt with therein were discussed in the various international institutions"

Since that date the European Nuclear Energy Agency (E.N.E.A.) of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation and the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) have both come into existence and arrangements have been made for close co-operation between them. These include participation by representatives of the EURATOM Commission as well as of EURATOM's member states in the work of E.N.E.A. and in certain joint projects being sponsored by it and a joint working party on Basic Health Standards. I understand that as recommended in Resolution 125 arrangements are being made for a joint meeting next January of the Consultative Assembly and of the Six Nation European Parliamentary Assembly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider recommending to the defence authorities that young men who wish to join the police force should, if they are accepted, be exempt from National Service, in view of the shortage of police.

There is no power to grant exemption from call-up under the National Service Acts. Men reaching the age of 19 in 1959 have been told that they need not expect to be called up, and in these circumstances I should not feel justified in asking for any general grant of indefinite deferment to recruits to the police service Men who have trained as cadets and who are subsequently attested as constables may, however, have their call-up indefinitely deferred so long as they remain in a police force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds permission was refused to Dr. Linus Pauling, the American scientist and Nobel prizeman, to stay in Great Britain beyond 16th September.

When Dr. Linus Pauling arrived here on 31st August he was granted leave to stay until 16th September when he intended to leave for a visit to Austria. On 2nd September he inquired whether, on return from Austria, he would be re-admitted to this country in order to give a public address on 22nd September. On 8th September he was advised that there was no reason to suppose that leave to land would not be granted for that purpose. Dr. Pauling left for Austria on 16th September and returned here on 22nd September, when he was granted leave to land for seven days. He departed for the United States on 25th September.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of prisoners who have escaped during each of the last five years, and the number who are still at large; how far the escapes are due to lack of staff or help from outside; and whether, in view of public anxiety and the waste of money involved, he will take more effective steps to prevent such escapes.

I regret that detailed information for 1954 is not readily available, but the total number of escapes in that year was 73. From 1st January, 1955 to 30th September, 1958, the number of escapes was as follows:

—	1955	1956	1957	1958 (to 30.9)
Closed prisons:
from security	11	22	15	36
from outside*	41	25	57	45
Medium security prisons	17	23	17	8
Open prisons	18	46	76	50
* i.e. from working parties, outside hospitals, in transit, parole, etc.

The number of prisoners unlawfully at large on a recent date was 13.In general I do not think that escapes can be said to be due to lack of staff. Outside help is known to have been given in a very small number of cases; to what extent it was available in others it is impossible to say.I have put in train measures designed to improve security.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware that 72 families living in caravans on a site at Chertsey Lane, Egham, Surrey, are threatened with immediate eviction; and what steps he proposes to take to encourage the local authority concerned to provide suitable alternative accommodation for these families.

I am aware of the position, and following yesterday's court proceedings I am asking representatives of the Egham Urban District Council and the Surrey County Council to come and confer with me further about it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if, in view of rising unemployment, he will consider immediate measures to assist local authorities to enlarge their housing programmes.

This is a factor which is always borne in mind in considering proposals from any local authority.

1. NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES IN GREAT BRITAIN AT THE UNDERMENTIONED DATES
—			Males		Females		Total
			Wholly Unemployed	Temporarily Stopped	Wholly Unemployed	Temporarily Stopped
16th September, 1957	…	…	180,201	3,767	80,066	3,372	267,406
11th August, 1958	…	…	289,583	21,324	113,050	21,646	445,603
15th September, 1958	…	…	296,195	35,556	119,731	24,504	475,986

2. NUMBERS OF OPERATIVES ON SHORT-TIME OR OVERTIME IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES (EXCLUDING SHIPBUILDING AND SHIP REPAIRING) IN GREAT BRITAIN AT THE UNDERMENTIONED DATES
—			Number of Operatives on
			Short-time	Overtime
31st August, 1957	…	…	38,600	1,534,900
23rd August, 1958	…	…	160,400	1,196,500

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the latest figure of workers in the ship repairing industry; and how this figure compares with twelve months ago.

At the end of August, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of employees in employment in the shipbuilding and ship repairing industry in Great Britain was 201,200, compared with 213,800 at the end of August, 1957. Separate figures for ship repairing are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the latest number of registered unemployed; how this figure compares with September, 1958 and 1957; the number of workers on short-time at the latest convenient date; how this figure compares with a year ago; how many workers were on overtime at the latest stated date; and how this figure compares with a similar date in 1957.

As the latest unemployment figures available relate to 15th September, 1958, figures are also given for August, 1958.The following Tables give the information desired:

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that during July, 4,000 car and cycle workers were unemployed and 10,000 on short-time; and what action he proposes to take to improve this position.

I am aware of the figures. The number unemployed in July represented 1·2 per cent. of those employed in the industry. My local offices will continue to assist those unemployed to find other work.

asked the Minister of Labour the percentage of unemployment in Newcastle-under-Lyme; how it compares with the national average; and the number of unfilled vacancies.

At 15th September the percentage rate of unemployment at employment exchanges in the Newcastle-under-Lyme area was 3·6 compared with 2·2 for Great Britain as a whole. The number of vacancies notified to these offices and remaining unfilled at 8th October was 113.

asked the Paymaster-General whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the total steel production at the latest convenient stated date; how this compares with twelve months ago; and to what extent the steel industry is working under full capacity.

14,775,000 ingot tons of steel was produced in the first 9 months of 1958 compared with 16,202,000 tons in the first 9 months of 1957. It is estimated that in September crude steel production was running at about 75 per cent. of full capacity.

asked the Postmaster-General if, in the light of representations that have been made to him, he will provide the facilities of a sub-Post Office at the eastern end of the Harraby Estate, Carlisle.

Yes, if a suitable applicant for a sub-postmastership can be found.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give an assurance that postcards sent to addresses in this country by airmail from Commonwealth or foreign countries where the airmail postal rate is the same for postcards as for letters are delivered in the United Kingdom as speedily as letters.

Air mail postcards are due to receive the same treatment in this country as airmail letters. If my hon. Friend has in mind a case of delay to an airmail postcard and will let me have details I shall be glad to have inquiry made.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will arrange to make a tour of the factories, workshops, mines, and mills of this country and the industrial areas generally to explain, on a non-political basis, the achievements of British industry during the past few years.

I am sure that industry at all levels is already well aware and rightly proud of the products and achievements of British management and labour.

asked the Prime Minister, following the appointment of a diplomatic representative to Euratom, what agreement has been reached between the United Kingdom and Euratom on the pacific use of nuclear energy.

Discussions between Her Majesty's Government and the Euratom Commission have made good progress, and I hope that an agreement will be ready for signature before the end of the year.

asked the Prime Minister how many nuclear test explosions have been detected by the experts advising Her Majesty's Government in the last six months.

I cannot add to the information which is published on this matter from time to time.

asked the Prime Minister to what extent, in his talks with the German Chancellor about the proposed European Free Trade area, he took account of the known views of the Commonwealth countries; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the agreed communiqué which was issued after my talks with Dr. Adenauer.We have, of course, kept in close touch with Commonwealth Governments throughout.

asked the Minister of Supply (1) whether his Department has now fully assessed the military and civilian possibilities of the Swallow aircraft; and if he will make a statement;(2) to what extent agreement has now been reached to jointly produce the Swallow aircraft with the United States of America; and what preliminary discussions have taken place.

Since I made my statement to the House on 22nd May last detailed discussions have been held with the American authorities and certain proposals are now being considered. The project is still in the research stages and further research work remains to be done before its potentialities can be fully assessed.

asked the Minister of Supply what progress has been made in the discussions about the disposal of the Royal Ordnance factory and site at Swynnerton.

These discussions are still continuing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any statement to make on his Department's recent direction to the Registrar of Restrictive Trading Agreements under the Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1956, as to the order of bringing registered agreements before the Restrictive Practices Court.

On 3rd October the Board of Trade gave a direction to the Registrar which had the effect of enabling him to start proceedings on agreements not covered by the previous directions without having to wait until proceedings had been instituted in respect of all those so covered.This new direction marks the completion of another stage in the operation of the Act. Before the Office of the Registrar was fully established and had gained experience, the Board of Trade, from the knowledge which it possessed, gave directions to ensure that a high proportion of significant and representative cases came before the Restrictive Practices Court at an early stage. The Board of Trade consider that no further directions are needed, and that the Registrar should now exercise his full responsibility under the Act for bringing cases before the court. The final direction was necessary in order to release him from obligations which limited his discretion in this matter, and which would have required the court to examine a large number of agreements on a range of goods defined in the earlier directions before hearing any cases whatever relating to other industries.The direction was given at the beginning of October so that the permanent responsibilities of the Registrar would be established before the court started its sittings on 6th October.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement explaining his policy in regard to the plans announced by the Rank Organisation for changes in their cinema circuits.

Yes. The Rank Organisation informed me in general terms of these plans before they made any public announcement. After careful consideration I thought that the plans should go forward. The decline in cinema attendances has created major problems for the Rank Organisation, as for other exhibitors, to solve which they should be allowed to exercise their commercial judgment. I have reminded them of the powers under Section 5(5) of the Cinematograph Films Act, 1948, to refuse licences to circuits in excess of 200 cinemas, and I have made it clear that the Board of Trade would be free to use these powers if at any future date it was felt to be in the public interest to do so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the improvement in the balance of payments position, especially with Benelux, he will now remove the quota on the importation of flower bulbs.

No. There is nothing which I can add at present to my reply to Questions on this subject on 29th July.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the need to use every method to help to overcome the parking problem in London, what further encouragement he is giving to the provision of multi-storey garages.

The provision of off-street parking facilities, including multi-storey garages, is essential to the ultimate solution of the London parking problem and I can assure my hon. Friend that I am giving every help and encouragement within my powers to local authorities and private enterprise, on whom responsibility rests, to provide additional accommodation.Until controlled parking schemes such as the one now operating in north-west Mayfair spread throughout central London, however, motorists will continue to prefer to park free of charge for long periods at the kerbside rather than use off-street parking facilities for which they would have to pay a reasonable charge. My hon. Friend will no doubt be glad to learn that already the north-west May-fair scheme has stimulated considerably the interest of private developers in the provision of multi-storey garages.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now authorise the painting of double white lines on roads all over the country.

Draft regulations on this subject have been sent to representative organisations for their comments. When these have been received and examined my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I will be in a position to come to final decisions on the form the regulations should take.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, in view of rising unemployment, he will now reconsider the question of proceeding with the trunk road improvement scheme from London Road to Milehouse Lane, Newcastle-under-Lyme.

This scheme is already in my Roads Programme and will be started as soon as it is fully prepared and funds are available for its authorisation. The Borough Council of Newcastle-under-Lyme has the preparatory work in hand as my agents.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation which Commonwealth and foreign countries recognise British driving licences; which recognise International Driving Permits; which recognise neither of these documents; and which recognise one while not accepting the other.

1. British driving licences are recognised, subject to the limitations indicated below, in the following, but this list may not be exhaustive:

• Alderney.
• Austria.
• Belgium.
• For tourist vehicles only.
• Canada (some Provinces, but not all).
• While in transit and for differing limited periods.
• Czechoslovakia.
• For one month from date of entry of holder and for tourist vehicles only.
• Denmark.
• Finland.
• For tourist vehicles only.
• France.
• Germany, Federal Republic of.
• If accompanied by a translation into German provided by specified authorities.
• Guernsey.
• Ireland, Republic of.
• Isle of Man.
• Italy.
• Jersey.
• Luxembourg.
• Netherlands.
• Norway.
• For tourist vehicles only.
• Portugal.
• South Africa, Union of (Cape Province and Natal only).
• Spain.
• Sweden.
• Switzerland.
• U.S.A.
• For tourist vehicles only.
• Yugoslavia.

2. International Driving Permits are recognised in the following:

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the number of driving tests taken at Leeds and Wakefield centres during the first six months of 1958 and the last six months of 1957, respectively; how many drivers failed to pass their tests the first time; and what is the proportion of failures from Leeds and Wakefield compared with those for the rest of the country.

The number of driving tests taken at Leeds during the first six months of 1958 was 6,189, and during the previous six months 7,710; the corresponding figures for Wakefield are 4,113 and 4,167. My Department does not keep a special record of the number of candidates who succeed at the first attempt. The proportion of all tests failed during the first six months of 1958, and during the previous six months, was at Leeds, in each case, 61 per cent., and at Wakefield 58 per cent. and 57 per cent. respectively; corresponding figures for the whole of Great Britain are 46 per cent. and 47 per cent. respectively.

asked the Prime Minister the number of Government servants who have appeared in British Broadcasting Corporation or Independent Television Authority television programmes on economic affairs and other subjects, respectively, since 1st January, 1958, and the dates of these appearances; and on how many occasions facilities have been given to Members of the Opposition to give the non-Government point of view on issues the interpretation of which is a matter for controversy.

I have been asked to reply.I regret that this information is not readily available for the whole of the period to which the right hon. Gentleman refers. A survey was, however, made of applications received during a recent period of three months for permission for Civil Servants to appear in television programmes. Apart from the regular weather forecasts given by Civil Servants on B.B.C. television, these applications led to 13 appearances by Civil Servants on B.B.C. television and 15 on I.T.V. Of the I.T.V. appearances seven were by officers of the Treasury on economic matters.Facilities for members of the Opposition to give the non-Government point of view on issues whose interpretation is a matter for controversy are provided in the arrangements for party political broadcasts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now make earlier repayments of post-war credits to parents who prove that they urgently require the use of their money exclusively for the education of their children.

I regret that I cannot accept this suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that last year import prices fell on average by 2s. in the £, that during this period the cost of living rose by 9d. in the £, and that since spring of last year imports have become much cheaper, yet in the first half of 1958 the retail price index was higher than in the same period of 1957; and what action he proposes to take to ensure that these falling prices are passed on to the consumer.

I am of course fully aware of the movement of the various indices to which the hon. Member refers. The adjustment of indices of consumer prices to changes in costs cannot be expected to be immediate, and in considering their movement in recent months it has to be remembered that wage and salary costs, which play a much larger part in the make-up of prices than import costs, have been rising throughout the last two years. It may be that lower import prices have not yet had their full effect on retail prices, but the much greater stability of the retail prices index in recent months is in my view a not unsatisfactory result. I consider it best to rely on normal competitive prices to ensure that lower import prices get passed on to the consumer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details in the OFFICIAL REPORT of the change in the cost of our imports and exports during the past two years; and to what extent there has been an improvement in our balance of payments due to lower import costs and higher payments for our exports.

The latest balance of payments estimates, presented in Cmnd. 540, are for the period up to June, 1958. Import prices (c.i.f.) were 10 per cent. lower in the first half of 1958 than in the first half of 1957. There was no change in export prices between these two half years.In the first half of 1958 the balance of visible trade showed a surplus of £137 million in place of the usual deficit. This improvement was due to the reduced import prices. There are no estimates of volumes of imports and exports as recorded in the balance of payments, but volume figures based on Trade and Navigation Accounts show that, compared with the first half of 1957, imports were little changed while exports fell slightly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that unemployment in the building industry has doubled to 54,000, since 1956, that 40,000 men have left the industry, house building is down by 12 per cent. and industrial building orders fell by £40 million: and what action he proposes to take to arrest this growth in unemployment in the building industry.

I should expect activity in many industries, including building, to benefit from the successive steps which the Government has taken in recent months to encourage investment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the overall national production is down by 6 per cent. on last year; and what action he proposes to take to improve our national production.

According to my information, the gross domestic product at constant prices in the second quarter of 1958—the latest period for which figures are available—is provisionally estimated as having been 2 per cent. less than in the same quarter of 1957. The level and trend of production is constantly under review by the Government, and the hon. Member will be aware that a series of measures designed to stimulate economic activity have been taken in the last six months.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now permit the sending of cash gifts to persons abroad.

Yes. Bona fide cash gifts are already allowed to persons in the sterling area and in Scandinavia. Arrangements are now being made by the banks and the Post Office to enable anyone to make such gifts to persons resident elsewhere, up to a total of £10 in each calendar year. These facilities will be available from 10th November next, and the full allowance for 1958 can be utilised between then and the end of December.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans are under consideration in his Department for the restoration of full employment in Great Britain's economy.

Without accepting the implications of the hon. Member's Question, I would draw his attention to the succession of measures which I have announced in recent months to encourage the highest possible level of employment consonant with the safety of the foundations on which employment itself rests.