asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that the new North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forward strategy will avoid exposing the left flank of the British forces; and if he will make a statement.

The answer to the first part of the Question is, Yes. For evident reasons of security, this is not a subject on which I can make a public statement.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that a reduction by 65 per cent. over the past five years in the amount of money allotted to production by his Department, out of the total amount voted each year by Parliament, is in the public interest; whether he is satisfied that his Department's allocation to production should now be increased to 30 per cent. of the allocation to production of all three Services, as it was five years ago, instead of 15 per cent. as it is now; and if he will make a statement.

The reduction of expenditure between 1954 and 1958 was in part due to the run-down of the Army and to a new policy on the level of reserve stocks needed.As I believe the right hon. Gentleman is aware, a comparison between the Services purely in terms of expenditure would be quite meaningless. It would take no account of the comparative cost of the various weapons, the phasing of re-equipment of each service or the level of reserves. What is important in this context is the Army's programme of re-equipment which will be pursued with the aim of completing the bulk of it in the next four years.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will issue instructions to general officers commanding that on all appropriate occasions courts of inquiry should immediately be convened when allegations are made reflecting on the corporate conduct of British troops.

No. I do not believe that such a general instruction would be appropriate. Commanders have the power to convene boards of inquiry when necessary. Each situation must be judged on its merits.

asked the Postmaster- General what was the average number of telephone calls received by the 999 Emergency Service, per month, for the period of 12 months to the latest available date; and how many of these calls proved to be the work of practical jokers or the result of malicious actions.

We do not regularly keep statistics of 999 calls, but on the basis of a sample return in 1957 they then numbered about 70,000 a month. About 10,000 a month were stopped before connection to the Emergency Services. Most of these calls wore made by children playing in kiosks.

asked the Postmaster- General what is the size of the waiting list for telephones in each telephone area in Great Britain and Northern Ireland; what proportion this bears to the total number of subscribers in each area; and when he expects to reach the position, in the respective areas, when requests for the connection of a telephone can be put in hand immediately such requests are received.

Following is a statement of the number of applications held up pending the provision of additional cables or telephone exchange equipment. Our capital resources are limited, and I cannot say when sufficient plant will be provided to enable provision of telephone service to be put in hand immediately any request is received. In addition to the figures given in the Table there are some 80,000 applications in course of being met.

asked the Postmaster-General how many public telephone kiosks are being asked for by the county and district councils responsible for the Western Isles; how many are to be provided; and when.

26 new kiosks have been asked for; but very few of these can be justified when account is taken of the high initial cost, the heavy annual loss, and the extensive provision already made. There are 162 public telephones in the Western Isles; we hope to provide 3 more during the next two years, but one of these must await the construction of a new road to the site.

asked the Postmaster-General what number of applications for telephones he has had from the Western Isles constituency area in the last three years; how many have been granted, how many refused, and how many are outstanding, respectively.

Two hundred and sixty-eight applications have been received in the past three years and 320 telephones have been provided. The latter figure includes some lines installed to meet applications made before 1956. No applications have been refused, but in some cases provision has had to be deferred because of the large amount of work involved. Eleven applications are at present held up for that reason; 40 others are under inquiry or in course of being met.

asked the Postmaster-General what additional facilities he proposes to provide at Omagh Post Office.

If, as we now expect, we can obtain a new site shortly, we hope to start building a new head post office early in 1960. This will provide for counter and office facilities, and also for the mail work which is now handled in a separate building because the present head post office is too small.

asked the Postmaster-General how many men are employed by his department on the duct and cable work at present being carried out in the Gerrards Cross and Chalfont St. Peter area of Buckinghamshire; and when that work is expected to be finished.

About 30 on average. We are pushing on as quickly as possible, but there is much work still to be done, and it is unlikely to be completed before the end of 1960.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the prospects of being able to introduce a cheap penny commercial rate for postage for circulars; and if he will consider the Post Office accepting for delivery unaddressed circulars to be delivered to every household with a letter box.

To introduce a penny rate for circulars would involve heavy financial loss, which I cannot contemplate. The point raised in the second part of the Question will be considered, but I cannot be optimistic about the outcome.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will expedite the commencement of building work on the new Post Of/ice depot at Whitleigh, Plymouth, and the telephone exchange at Exeter Street, Plymouth.

These projects, the second in particular, are at a fairly early stage of planning, and I regret that in neither case can I yet give a firm date for commencement of building.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what amount of compensation, in addition to the bare figure related to agricultural considerations awarded by the Scottish Land Court, he is now offering to the South Uist and Benbecula crofters adversely affected by the rocket range project in the Western Isles.

Section 12 of the Crofters (Scotland) Act, 1955, under which the land needed for this range was resumed, requires adequate compensation to be made to the crofters at a figure determined by the Scottish Land Court. This has been done.

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) what steps he has taken to provide a replacement for the Canberra bomber;(2) whether any decision has yet been taken on the development for the Royal Air Force of a bomber designed to operate from small improvised airfields.

It has been decided to develop a new strike/reconnaissance aircraft as a Canberra replacement. This will be capable of operating from small airfields with rudimentary surfaces, and have a very high performance at all levels.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he has noted that the average strength of university air squadrons now existing in the United Kingdom is about 30 members; that 92 students have stated their readiness to join a squadron at Cardiff University College; and if he will now authorise the formation of such a squadron.

Much as we should like to form a further university air squadron, at Cardiff, I am afraid that financial considerations make this impracticable at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what proportion of vehicles operated by his Department are fitted with direction indicators.

About 75 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will take immediate steps to release the disused airfield at Holton, Suffolk, so that it may be available for industrial purposes in view of the high incidence of unemployment in the north-east Suffolk area now scheduled under the Distribution of Industries (Financial Provisions) Act.

The sale of the airfield has already been authorised but I have received no request for its use for industrial purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will state the nature and extent of each road and other scheme, having permanent civilian utility, completed or in course of construction, the cost of which is borne by his Department, arising directly from the requirements of the Western Isles guided missiles project; and if he will state the cost, or estimated cost, of each scheme.

The following roads have been reconstructed:

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what further steps he will take to encourage local authorities to place nameplates at both sides of a street or road at intersections with a view to encouraging road safety.

We are not formally responsible for street name-plates but I am glad to take this further opportunity of commending to local authorities the practice of naming both sides of a street at intersections. This was among the measures recommended in our Department's Circular to them on this subject in 1952.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what decision has been reached on the recommendations of the Transport Consultative Committees regarding the privilege taxi ranks at railway stations.

The Consultative Committees conclude that by and large the arrangements at present in force work well and should not be changed where they satisfy the public. The Committees think that throwing open station yards to all corners would give unsatisfactory results. They also think that agreements with cabowners' associations are not suitable unless the association is comprehensive and can enforce the terms of the agreement. The British Transport Commission accept these views, and regional General Managers are seeing where such agreements can suitably be made.General Managers are also acting upon the other suggestions made by the Committees. These are

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what recent plans have been submitted to him by local authorities in regard to off-the-street parking for motor vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the progress which is being made with the provision of such places.

Since 1st April we have recommended loan sanction for 3 multi-storey car parks and 65 smaller surface schemes at a total estimated cost of £766,000.I will circulate details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when the Consultative Committee on the Lighting of Traffic Routes within the London conurbation expects to be in a position to offer guidance to local authorities in the area who are reviewing their street lighting arrangements.

I have made inquiries and understand it is likely to be some time before the Committee will have completed their preliminary considerations and be ready to offer advice.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that applicants for driving tests are frequently required to wait as long as three months before a date is available for testing; and what machinery exists to speed up cases where special hardship is caused by this delay.

Yes. There has been a substantial increase in applications for tests since July, and we are urgently recruiting additional examiners to meet the situation. In the meantime unexpected vacancies in examiners' programmes are, where possible, reallocated to candidates in the greatest need. Those who suffer special hardship through the present delay should write to the Clerk to the Traffic Commissioners for their area.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what proportion of road accidents are due to motor cars or motor cycles colliding with heavy or slow-moving lorries after dark; and if he is satisfied that the lighting of these vehicles is adequate in present-day conditions, especially in view of continental practice.

I regret that statistics are not available in the form asked for by my hon. Friend, but our records show that in 1957 101 accidents involving personal injury were attributed to inadequate lighting on heavy goods vehicles.The present obligatory front and rear lamps and rear reflectors are in our view adequate for slow-moving vehicles of normal length. We are, however, considering the introduction of Regulations to require additional lights to be carried on the sides of vehicles and combinations of vehicles which exceed a specified length.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will introduce legislation to allow independent operators to run services when these have been abandoned by the British Transport Commission in London and elsewhere.

No, I do not think that legislation of this kind is necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give some guidance to motorists about the use of side lights and head lights in fog.

The Highway Code is being revised and we propose, in the next issue, to include advice to the effect that motorists should switch on their lights whenever the natural light is poor and should use headlights in mist or fog in daytime to enable their vehicles to be seen more easily by other road users.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when it is intended to authorise the construction of the relief road to remove the dangers of Eton High Street.

The matter is now under consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will give a definite date for the commencement of the Chester Ring Road, Southern Section.

No. The route has not yet been finally established, but we hope to publish a draft Order for this purpose next year.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the cut in opencast coal mining, if he will utilise the men and equipment so released by speeding up the road building programme.

We are already pushing ahead with the road programme as fast as the country can afford. Earth-moving equipment, and the men to operate it, are not limiting factors.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what is the allocation of grants for major road works in the Bristol area during the next triennial period; and how they compare with immediate past similar period.

We shall be inviting Bristol Corporation to prepare some schemes for consideration between 1959 and 1962, but I cannot at present indicate the number we shall approve or their value.In 1956–57, 1957–58 and in the current financial year to date the total value of grants issued is just over £449,000.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when the stretch of the Bath Road, A.4, from Hungerford to Froxfield will be widened to bring it up to a proper standard for the amount of traffic carried.

I cannot yet say when we shall be able to include the widening of this part of the A.4 in our programme.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what further measures are to be taken at Woolhampton on the Bath Road, A.4, to safeguard pedestrians crossing the road.

A central refuge is to be built in the road near Station Road, and the necessary widening of the road has already started.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what schemes in connection with major road improvements in Cornwall were asked for in 1956–57, 1957–58, and 1958–59, respectively; what they were estimated to cost; and what schemes were sanctioned.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will state for each of the years 1954–55 to 1958–59, inclusive, the sums asked for by Cornwall county highway authority for maintenance and improvements, separately, for classified roads, and the sums authorised.

Grants are not made separately for maintenance and minor improvements, but it is possible to give the Answer for the two combined. Since the Answer is in the form of a table I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation why southbound traffic has been diverted from Manor Park Road, Willesden, N.W.10, instead of northbound, thus causing the two streams of traffic to cross one another twice; and how long the diversion will be necessary.

The diversion of northbound traffic would introduce a particularly awkward right hand turning movement at the very busy Jubilee Clock

As the Answer is in the form of a table I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has concluded his negotiations for the purchase of the toll rights of Selby Toll Bridge; and if he will make a statement about his plans to construct a new bridge.

Negotiations are not yet completed but we hope to be able to make an announcement by the end of next month.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is yet in a position to make a statement with regard to allowing the sale of alcohol in premises situated along the new motorways.

Not yet.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when it is proposed to authorise the extension of the dual carriageways on A.10, the Great Cambridge Road, from Halfway House, Enfield, to the end of the road at Turnford.

I hope that work will start next year on extending the dual carriageways on A.10 from Halfway House to Bullsmoor Lane, Enfield, but I cannot yet say when the dual carriageways will be extended to Turnford.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a further statement on the Tyne Tunnel.

I have nothing at present to add to the reply which was given to my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward) on 5th November.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is now in a position to announce an improvement in facilities at Turnhouse Aerodrome to allow for the arrival of delayed aircraft after the normal closing time of 10 p.m.

I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of Stale for Air as to whether any improvement is practicable but since 22nd September only one aircraft has been diverted from Turnhouse Aerodrome because facilities were not available after 10 p.m. On 11 other occasions the aerodrome remained open after 10 p.m. for late aircraft.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in view of the success of the Comet IV aircraft and the orders placed for the VC10 replacement, he will review the order placed for the Boeing 707 aircraft.

No. The Government authorised B.O.A.C. to order fifteen Boeing 707s to enable them to hold their competitive position on the North Atlantic route from 1959–60 onwards. B.O.A.C.'s main competitors on this route will soon be operating Boeing 707s or DC.8s and B.O.A.C. must have comparable equipment. The Comet IV, which is a smaller capacity aircraft of quite different, characteristics will in due course be used by B.O.A.C. mainly on the eastern and southern routes for which it was designed. The VC.10 will not be available until 1963.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will now arrange for the reconsideration, and possible re-establishment, of performance schedules for the Viking aircraft.

New safety performance regulations will come into force on 31st March, 1960. Before that date a revised and expanded performance schedule will be issued.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, before he gave permission for the Boeing 707 aircraft to land at London Airport, he satisfied himself it was fitted with a silencer; and to what extent his approval was made conditional on an improvement in the silencing method.

Before allowing the Boeing 707 to use London Airport we were satisfied not only that a silencer was fitted but that the operating techniques to which we gave approval would reduce, as far as was practicable, any disturbance which this aircraft might cause.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made with the earth banks to baffle noise at London Airport; and whether he will give an approximate date for their completion.

In No. 2 Maintenance Area the earth bank for one of the leased areas will be completed this winter and planning for others is proceeding. Negotiations with Middlesex County Council for the purchase of the land required for earth banks around the No. 1 Maintenance Area have raised certain problems and I am not yet able to say when the work will be done.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent his regulations provide for one pilot member of the crew of a high altitude pressurised aircaft continuously wearing oxygen apparatus; what representations he has had from the pilots on this question; and if he will make a statement.

There is at present no such regulation, but my right hon. Friend is reviewing the oxygen requirements for crews and passengers in pressurised aircraft and he is taking account of the views of the British Air Line Pilots' Association.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what tonnage of British shipping is at present laid up for reasons other than repair.

1,312,000 gross tons at 1st November, 1958.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps the Government are taking, through the International Labour Organisation or any other means, to initiate international action regarding line ships flying flags of convenience and thereby able to claim benefits of low taxes and evade labour laws imposed by other maritime nations, with a view to avoiding the necessity for industrial action when such ships arrive at a port where an embargo on them is in operation.

None, at present. Her Majesty's Government are considering the problem of flags of convenience but are not proposing to take any action directed specifically towards the end which the hon. Member has in view.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent problems of signalling in fog, controlled heating of trains, etc., with the possible use of new and automatic devices, have been submitted for study by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research or other official scientific research organisations; and what progress has been made.

Problems of signalling in fog are studied directly by the railway engineers concerned assisted by the Commission's own Research Organisation and their suppliers of equipment. Many other problems of applied research connected with railways are also examined by this organisation who keep in close touch with all the appropriate industrial research associations as well as with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Ministry of Supply and the Admiralty. Useful progress is being made as a result of this continuous collaboration.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what decision has been reached following consultation in regard to the construction of the Victoria line new underground railway and its financing.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer my right hon. Friend gave him on 23rd July.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what action he has taken on the recommendation of the Transport Users Consultative Committee that London Transport should reconsider certain of its proposed cuts in its Underground services

The Committee made its recommendations to the London Transport Executive who are I understand already reconsidering their proposals.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give details of the revised programme for the electrification of the London Midland main line from Euston to Liverpool and Manchester, with estimated dates if possible for the completion of each section.

The British Transport Commission are urgently examining the acceleration of this scheme but it will take some time to settle the revised schedules.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he is satisfied with the present arrangements within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation for the command of the Baltic; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Ward: I have been asked to reply.Command arrangements in the Baltic are at present being examined by S.A.C.E.U.R. and no doubt any revision of them that may be found necessary will be announced in due course.

asked the Minister of Defence to what extent the Government's policy for the development of manned fighter or bomber aircraft remains unaltered.

I have been asked to reply.The policy remains as stated in the last two Defence White Papers.

asked the Minister of Defence what British guided weapons and rockets are being displayed to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation representatives in Paris.

I have been asked to reply.The presentation was given from 10th to 12th December, and included the following ranges of British guided weapons and their developments: surface-to-air land and naval weapons, and radar for them; air-to-air weapons; anti-tank weapons; and ballistic missiles. The presentation included two Australian developments, an anti-tank guided weapon and a target aircraft.

asked the Minister of Defence what weapons are included amongst the 400 sstandardisation agreements reached by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's Standardisation Agency; and to what extent these are now in use by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's troops.

I have been asked to reply.The 3·5-inch rocket launcher and its ammunition, and the ·3-inch small arms round. I am not in a position to say which countries besides Britain use them. Most of the agreements relate to components, like couplings, supplies, like fuels, or procedures.

Davies asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the number of vacancies per 100 persons unemployed in the towns of Leek, Kidsgrove, Cheadle and Biddulph, Staffordshire.

At 17th November there were 120 notified vacancies remain. ing unfilled at the Leek Employment Exchange and Youth Employment Office for every 100 persons registered as wholly unemployed at those offices. The corresponding figures for Kidsgrove, Cheadle and Biddulph were 37, 112 and 14 respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men and women were registered as unemployed in November at the Bridgend, Maesteg, Ogmore Vale, Pontycymmer and Cymmer exchanges; and what were the comparable figures for May 1955.

Following is the reply:

asked the Minister of Labour how many boys and girls were registered as unemployed in the areas covered by the Bridgend, Maesteg, Ogmore Vale, Pontycymmer and Cymmer exchanges at the latest convenient date; and what were the comparable figures for 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1957.

Following is the reply: Separate statistics of unemployed young persons are not available for Maesteg, Ogmore Vale, Pontycymmer and Cymmer. The first three places are covered by the Bridgend Youth Employment Office and Cymmer by the Port Talbot Youth Employment Office.The total numbers of boys and girls registered as unemployed at the Bridgend and Port Talbot Youth Employment Offices at November of the years 1954 to 1958 were as follows:

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of boys of 18 years and under registered, at the latest date, as unemployed for more than 26 weeks in the London, Midlands and Scottish Ministry of Labour regions, respectively; and what percentage of the Great Britain total for such unemployed boys the figures for each of those regions represented.

On 15th September, which is the latest date for which figures are available, there were 21 boys under 18 years of age on the registers of Youth Employment Offices in the London and South-Eastern Region who had been continuously unemployed for more than 26 weeks. The corresponding figures for the Midland Region and Scotland were 7 and 134. These figures represent 4·9 per cent., 1·6 per cent., and 31·5 per cent., respectively of the corresponding total for Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of people on short-time working in Scotland in November, 1957, and at the latest available date.

The available figures relate to operatives at establishments with more than 10 employees in manufacturing industries, excluding shipbuilding and ship-repairing. The number working short-time in Scotland at the end of October, the latest date for which figures are available, was 14,940, compared with 6,540 at the end of November, 1957.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the numbers of miners in employment and unemployed in Lanarkshire, excluding Glasgow, at mid-November in 1956, 1957, and 1958, respectively.

I regret that information about the number of miners in employment in Lanarkshire is not readily available. The numbers of unemployed men and boys who last worked in the industry, but excluding those who have been found unfit for further employment in coalmining, were 42, 139 and 200 respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the total number of persons registered as unemployed in North Lanarkshire on the statistical date in November, 1958 and November, 1957; and what percentage of the insured population these figures represented.

12,332 at 17th November, 1958, compared with 4,922 at 11th November, 1957, representing 8.6 per cent. and 3·4 per cent. respectively, of the estimated total number of insured employees in the area. The figures exclude Glasgow.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the numbers of unemployed persons on the registers of employment exchanges in Lanarkshire, excluding Glasgow, classified by industry, at mid-November in 1956, 1957, and 1958, respectively.

The Table below gives the information desired. Numbers of unemployed persons on the registers of

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the incidence of industrial injury in Scotland appears to be about 80 per cent. higher than it is in the comparable sized Midlands division of England; what are the reasons for this; and what steps he proposes taking to bring the industrial injury rate in Scotland more into line with that of the Midlands.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the East Midland Division which in 1957 had 19,056 factories with mechanical power and 10,219 reported accidents, as compared with 22,253 factories and 20,707 accidents in Scotland. The incidence of industrial injury inevitably varies between Divisions according to the nature of the main industries carried on. It is my policy to take steps to reduce the accident rate throughout the country by all available means.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the latest unemployment figures for the Merthyr Tydfil area.

1,027 at 17th November.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the difficulties of his officers in areas of heavy industry in placing men who, following industrial accidents or sickness, are designated as fit for light work only; and what action he is taking to assist in the placing of these people.

Yes. My officers will continue to do their best, with the cooperation of industry, to find suitable work for these men.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the findings of the Court of Inquiry into last October's dispute at London Airport, if he has now given further consideration to the desirability of appointing a Royal Commission to inquire into the organisation and practices of the trade unions; and if he will make a statement.

The Court of Inquiry has pointed out weaknesses on the trade union side, as well as on the employers' side of the Civil Air Transport Industry, but it goes on to indicate how these can be put right by the re-establishment of the authority of the National Joint Council. I see no sufficient reason for recommending the setting up of a Royal Commission to inquire into the organisation and practices of trade unions at the present time.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were unemployed in the County of Norfolk at the latest available date, distinguishing between agricultural workers and others; and how these figures compare with numbers unemployed on the corresponding dates in 1956 and 1957.

The following Table gives the information desired.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the lack of employment for school leavers in Swansea; and if he will take steps to improve the situation, particularly in view of the large number of adults also unemployed in the county borough.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will initiate special measures to alleviate the unemployment amongst school leavers in the County Borough of Swansea.

I am aware of the difficulties in Swansea but I do not think they warrant special measures. The Youth Employment Service will continue to do all they can to place those young people in employment.

asked the Minister of Labour what has been the increase in the numbers unemployed in the Stornoway area between mid-August and mid-November; and if he will state this increase also as a percentage.

The number registered as unemployed at the Stornoway Employment Exchange showed an increase of 186, or 13·2 per cent., between 11th August and 17th November, 1958.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unfilled vacancies there are in the Stornoway area per 100 persons wholly unemployed; and how many of those are for persons fit to undertake only light employment.

At 17th November, 1958, there were 11 notified vacancies remaining unfilled at the Stornoway Employment Exchange, representing one for every 100 persons registered as wholly unemployed. Vacancies for persons who take only light employment arc not separately distinguished in the statistics.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the approximate fall in average weekly earnings between 30th August and 30th November through short-time working and unemployment in Scotland by comparison with the figures for the same period last year.

I regret that there is not sufficient information available on which to base such calculations.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the numbers registered as unemployed, classified by industry, in the area of Dumbartonshire covered by the Helensburgh, Alexandria, Dumbarton and Clydebank offices, at mid-November in 1956, 1957 and 1958, respectively.

The following table gives the information desired

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that although a summons to attend a medical examination was sent from his office on 22nd September it was not received by Mr. G. W. A. Yapp, at present employed by Mr. J. A. Kynaston, Edgebold, Shrewsbury; that therefore, although it was issued from his Department on this date, it cannot be said to have been issued to Mr. Yapp as stated in his letter to the hon. Member for Shrewsbury, dated 2nd December, as Mr. Yapp has never received such summons; and whether he will reconsider his decision to assume the summons was issued to Mr. Yapp.

The agricultural work for which Mr. Yapp was deferred came to an end on 6th September and a notification to attend medical examination was therefore issued to him. I am aware that he did not receive the notice. In view of all the circumstances of the case I have decided to regard the application for Mr. Yapp's deferment received from Mr. Kynaston as valid and it will be considered accordingly.

asked the Minister of Labour what acknowledgment of receipt is asked by his Department as proof of issue and service of a summons to attend for medical examination; and whether he will cause such summons to be posted by registered post.

No acknowledgment of receipt is requested when a man is notified to attend for medical examination under the National Service Acts. These Acts require men to notify a change of address and experience has shown that there is normally no need to send the summons by registered post.