asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the decisions of the Fourteenth Congress of the Universal Postal Union to provide increased facilities for the transit of books by post; and what steps he is taking towards implementing these decisions, particularly in relation to increasing the maximum weight for transport of books at printed paper rates.

Yes. These decisions do not take effect until April of next year, but we shall naturally comply with any new requirements: in particular, the normal maximum weight on books posted for abroad at the printed paper rate will go up from 6½ lb. to 11 lb.

asked the Postmaster-General what action he has taken to ensure that the spending of his Department is kept down so that there will be no increase in the estimates of his Department for the financial year 1958–59.

I must ask the hon. Member to await the presentation to Parliament of the Post Office's Estimates for 1958–59. He will, however, appreciate that as a commercial organisation the Post Office is in a special position as defined in the White Paper on Post Office Development and Finance presented in October, 1955.

asked the Postmaster-General what explanation he has to make in respect of the complaints of the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford of parcels handed in at Lewisham taking seven days by express post, and 21 days by ordinary parcel post, to be delivered a few miles away in Erith; and what action he has taken to ensure that this state of affairs ends forthwith.

My right hon. Friend's written reply to the letters the hon. Member sent to him explains all that can be discovered about these two parcels and the action that has been taken. I deeply regret the trouble caused by these inexcusable delays.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he will take to alleviate the severe television interference in the Swindon area.

As mentioned in an Answer I gave the hon. Member yesterday, the Post Office is always willing to investigate when complaints are made of electrical interference to television. The number of complaints in the Swindon area does not indicate widespread interference.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what action he has taken during the present financial year to ensure that the spending of his Department in the financial year 1958–59 will not exceed that for the current financial year.

We are looking for economies all the time. For the results which we expect in the next financial year, I must ask the hon. Member to await the publication of the Defence White Paper and the Air Estimates.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what action he has taken during the present financial year to ensure that the spending of his Department in the financial year 1958–59 will not exceed that for the current financial year.

I must ask the hon. Member to await the submission of the Estimates to Parliament.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what is the number of deaths due to head injuries to motor cyclists during the two last comparable periods; and in how many cases safety helmets were not being worn.

The information for which the hon. Lady asks is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that efficient rear lights are not readily available to the owners of pedal bicycles; and if he will consult with manufacturing and other interests concerned in order to ensure more plentiful supplies.

My inquiries show that there is no general shortage of efficient rear lights for pedal bicycles. I will, however, gladly investigate any particular case of difficulty if the hon. Member will send me details.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what is the result of the publicity given by his Department, and of the work of the zone committees, for the staggering of working hours in central London.

The campaign is making steady progress. A full report of the first year's work of the Committee con-

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how far the staggering of working hours in central London has been accepted by the interests concerned and has led to a reduction of over-crowding on the Central Line of London Transport.

The information available shows that in the first year of the campaign being conducted by the Committee appointed for this task at least 21,000 people have changed their working hours. Following a recommendation of the Transport Users' Consultative Committee for London special attention is being given to the Central Line, but it is too early to assess the result.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will issue a list of schemes under the road programme costing over£100,000 which were started in the six months ended 31st December, 1957, with estimated completion date and total cost of each.

The schemes are:—

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many fatal accidents have occurred on the Western Region of British Railways in the last three years; and whether the automatic warning system used in this Region is used on any other lines in Great Britain.

In 1955, 1956 and 1957, there were five fatal train accidents in the Western Region. They comprised a serious derailment at Milton, near Didcot, on 20th November, 1955, in which 11 passengers were killed, and four collisions at accommodation (private) level crossings in which occupants of road vehicles were killed. In the accident at Didcot the engine driver failed to respond to a warning by the automatic train control equipment.The British Transport Commission has not adopted the Western Region type of automatic warning control for the rest of the railways because it is not suitable for electrified lines, and it is not in use in any of the other Regions. On the Tilbury line in the Eastern Region a different system of warning control is in use. The Commission has developed a new British Railway system, which combines the best features of the other two, and this has been installed on the East Coast main line between King's Cross and Grantham. The new system has proved its reliability, and I approved it at the end of 1956. Active measures are in hand for its extension to all the main routes of British Railways.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, as it is now a scientific possibility, and not unduly expensive, to give a radar or electronic warning of danger of possible collision to an engine driver, and even actually to apply the brakes if necessary, to what extent such a system is being considered at this time to avoid future accidents on the railways of Great Britain.

The possibility of using radar to prevent railway collisions has been considered by the railway engineers of the British Transport Commission from time to time in consultation with scientists who have specialised in radar, and the general conclusion they have reached is that radar, in its present state of development, is not applicable to railway conditions, despite its proved success at sea and in the air One of the main difficulties, apart from questions of reliability, is that radar works in straight lines; there is, of course, much curvature on the railways, and this would make for confusion between vehicles which were on the same line of rails as the approaching train and those on adjacent lines or sidings.With my full support, the Commission is at present concentrating on the extension of automatic warning control. I refer to this more fully in answer to another Question from my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Defence to what extent it is proposed to disperse the siting of rocket launching bases within Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Defence what consideration he has given to the proposal for establishing rocket bases in Scotland.

The location of rocket sites will be determined in accordance with operational considerations. No decisions have yet been taken.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will defer the provision of bases in Great Britain for United States ballistic missiles pending negotiations with Russia regarding disarmament and the neutralisation of a central European zone, including Germany, and of the Middle East.

No.

asked the Minister of Defence what provision he has made or is making with a view to finding appointments in Her Majesty's administrative or other service of the officers recently retired or to be retired from Her Majesty's forces; how many applications for such appointments he has received; how many such appointments have been made; to which services; and what educational and other tests are made of the fitness of such retired officers for appointments in other branches of Her Majesty's service.

The answer is as follows:There are long-standing arrangements for the entry of ex-Regulars, both officers and other ranks, into the Civil Service. For almost all posts which are filled through Civil Service Commission competitions the ex-Regular can deduct his period of Regular service from his actual age so as to bring himself within the prescribed age limits. For some Civil Service grades a proportion of vacancies filled by examination is reserved for ex-Regulars, and in the clerical and executive classes they can take a special examination designed to test general intelligence rather than academic knowledge.In the administrative and special departmental classes, besides an age concession, formal educational qualifications may be waived in the case of ex-Regulars who are recommended by their Service authority as warranting consideration by reason of their record, education, intelligence and personal qualities.In the executive class a number (at present approximately 150) of the vacancies are allotted to ex-Regulars provided a sufficient number reach the required standard. Within this reservation there is a special quota for those with more than twelve years' service.In the clerical class about 450 posts (10 per cent. of the annual vacancies in the class) may be filled from a special competition held each year for ex-Regulars. There is no age limit and there are separate quotas for those with less and those with more than twelve years' service.Out of some 4,300 ex-Regular applicants for the administrative, executive and clerical grades of the Civil Service and corres5onding grades of the Foreign Service, 1,328 have been successful. It is not possible to say how many of these were officers.There are age concessions and special reservations for ex-Regulars in competitions for appointment as telecommunication traffic superintendents (15 per cent.), Post Office assistant engineers (10 per cent.) and assistant preventive officers in the Customs and Excise (10 per cent.).

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will now make a further statement about improved pay and conditions for the Armed Services.

A statement on this subject will be made shortly.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will state the last date upon which he imparted official information to his part-time personal assistant. Colonel Kenneth Graham Post. C.B.E.; and what was the nature of the official information so imparted to him.

The last occasion on which I imparted official information to him was this morning. The nature of the information was a draft of the reply which I am now giving to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what initiative Her Majesty's Government are taking to promote consideration of an international agency to assume responsibility for the development of Middle East oil supplies and applying an agreed proportion of the financial proceeds of such development to the benefit of the inhabitants of the area as a whole.

Responsibility for the development of Middle East oil supplies rests with the countries which own the oil and the oil companies to which they have granted concessions. Any initiative to promote consideration of an international agency for oil development in these countries should, therefore, come from the countries themselves who exercise sovereign rights over their natural resources of oil.Profits from the production of oil in the Middle East are divided equally between the Governments owning the oil and the oil companies producing it. It is a matter for the Governments concerned how they apply their portions of the profits, and in particular whether they apply a proportion to the benefit of the inhabitants of the area outside their own countries. However, my hon. Friend is no doubt aware that some of the Governments concerned allocate a considerable percentage of their income from oil to economic development programmes for the benefit of their peoples. In the case of Iraq this amounts to 70 per cent. of the oil revenues. Such a policy naturally has the full support of Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of Egypt's proclaimed intentions concerning Israel, what action he is taking in the United Nations to the end that the United Nations Force should remain in the Middle East for so long as is necessary to prevent further conflict.

On 22nd November last the United Kingdom Delegation to the United Nations General Assembly supported a Resolution to ensure the continuance of the United Nations Emergency Force and provide means for its financing. This Resolution was adopted by a large majority. During the debate my right hon. and gallant Friend announced our special contribution of U.S. $1,000,000 towards the costs of the Force, to which I referred in my reply to the hon Member for Uxbridge on 27th November This is in addition to the sums which we are paying on the normal assessment basis as our share of the costs of maintaining the Force in being, which for the period up to the end of 1957 are expected to amount to about U.S. $1·3 million. We shall continue to bear our share of the costs of the Force.It is an important part of Her Majesty's Government's policy for the Middle East that the United Nations Emergency Force should riot leave the area until its mission has been completely fulfilled. In general it is their view that the effective authority of the United Nations in this troubled area should be strengthened.

asked the Minister of Labour by what percentage it is estimated the cost-of-living index would rise if railway passenger fares were raised by 5 per cent. and 10 per cent.

Increases of 5 per cent. and 10 per cent. in railway passenger fares, including London Transport railway fares, would cause the Index of Retail Prices to rise by nearly one twentieth and nearly one tenth of 1 per cent., respectively. This is the direct effect only; no estimate can be made of the indirect effects.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress he has made in preparing new shipbuilding and ship-repairing regulations.

Since the reply to the hon. Member on 30th October, 1957, my officers have had further discussions with the Shipbuilding Employers' Federation and other interested organisations who have commented on the preliminary draft regulations. The draft is now being re-examined in the light of the comments received and the discussions, and I hope a revised version will be ready in the near future.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is satisfied that those displaced as a result of changes in defence policy can be absorbed into other industries; and whether he will make a statement.

In the twelve months ending 30th November, 1957, the number of workers employed in the main industries concerned with defence production, i.e., ordnance and small arms, explosives and aircraft, fell by over 18,000. The number of workers registered as unemployed whose last employment was in these industries increased by only 541 during the same period. While there are difficulties in some localities, it is clear that the majority of the workers discharged as a result of changes in defence policy are succeeding in obtaining other employment, and I have no reason to think that this process of re-absorption will not continue.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement outlining the employment position and future prospects in the aircraft industry throughout the United Kingdom.

In spite of the considerable reduction in defence work in the aircraft industry in the past year, employment in the industry as a whole remains high. At the end of November the labour force, at nearly 270,000, was still larger than at any time before July, 1956, and was only 3½thousand smaller than a year previously. The number of aircraft workers unemployed in December was only 164 more than at the beginning of the year and represented 0·5 per cent. of the total labour force.As to the future prospects of the industry, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply made in answer to Questions on 2nd December, 1957.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the closing of the foundry at the Daimler Company Limited at Coventry and the consequent dismissal of 150 workers; and whether, in view of the anxiety in the city concerning the future prospects of employment of the firm's remaining 1,800 employees, he will make a statement as to the consultations which he has had with the company in order to ensure that employment is maintained at the Daimler works and suitable reemployment found for the 150 men made redundant.

My local office has been in touch with the firm to arrange for the advance registration of the redundant foundry workers in order to help them to obtain other employment, but I understand that the workers have been informed that they will not now become redundant for at least six weeks.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he is aware of the increasing anxiety in the West Fife area consequent on the closing of yet another factory in the last few weeks; and to what extent the redundant female workers have been reabsorbed into other forms of employment;(2) if he is aware that the De La Rue factory, near Leslie, Fife, is contemplating closure in March; that this will be the fourth factory to close in Fife within the last six months; that such closures have caused hardship and will cause increasing hardship especially among women who will find it difficult to obtain alternative employment; and whether he will make a statement on the future employment prospects in the county.

I am aware that three factories have closed since last September and that another is expected to close at the end of March. Employment opportunities for women and girls are limited in West Fife, but although nearly 600 have left the employment of the three closed factories, only 140, most of whom were discharged on 27th December last, were still registered as unemployed a week ago.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the figures of unemployed at the latest convenient date, and the comparable figures for 1956 and 1957.

At 9th December, 1957, the latest date for which figures are at present available, the total number of unemployed persons on the registers of employment exchanges in Great Britain was 335,469, compared with 296,947 at 10th December, 1956, and 215,650 at 12th December, 1955.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the redundancy at machine-tool firms in the Coventry area; and what action he is taking to maintain full employment in this nationally important industry.

Yes. 198 men have been discharged as redundant by machine tool firms in Coventry in the last four months. Most of them have obtained other employment, and the remaindar have good prospects of doing so. The level of employment in the industry must depend on its ability to obtain orders.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he proposes taking to reduce unemployment in Scotland.

The Government will continue their efforts to foster in Scotland a healthy economy on which the level of employment must depend. My right hon. Friend's particular responsibility is to provide through the employment exchanges an efficient service for those who are looking for work and for employers who have employment to offer.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will decide against the call-up of 75,000 men born in 1939 who are at present in doubt as to whether they will be conscripted.

My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make a further statement on the question of the call-up of young men born in the third quarter of 1939, to whom the hon. Member is no doubt referring, but he will do so as soon as he can.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how far he expects deliveries of steel to the shipyards to meet requirements during 1958.

I am advised that the demand by competing users of plate and heavy sections may slacken in 1958 and that production will improve. The shipbuilders' prospects this year may, therefore, be considered brighter—although owing to the increasing demands of the shipyards I would not yet regard the future as fully assured.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what conference he has had with representatives of the Oldham Corporation, the Chadderton Urban District Council and other local authorities with reference to the proposal of the Ashton-under-Lyne Corporation to construct a reservoir in the Chew Valley, a well-known local beauty spot.

The proposals the hon. Member no doubt has in mind are embodied in a Private Bill which was presented in November. The only conference which has taken place was with the Joint Committee promoting the Bill, and this was to discuss procedure.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the purpose of the meeeting with the National Association of Local Authorities in England and Wales and the British section of the International Union of Local Authorities on 17th September last; and what discussion took place at that meeting in connection with Recommendation No. 138 of the Consultative Assembly meeting, of April-May, 1957.

The meeting was arranged at the request of the local authority associations and of the British Section of the International Union of Local Authorities to discuss the manner and extent of British participation in any future conference of local authorities arranged through the Council of Europe.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government under what enactments, to which local authorities, and for what respective amounts have grants been made in each of the last three financial years to local authorities

The following table gives the information in respect of grants specifically for open space. Schemes of general redevelopment for an area may also make provision for open space, but the grant in respect of this is not distinguishable. The grants are payable under Sections 93 and 94 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, as amended by the Act of 1954 in respect of land acquired under any enactment for use as public open space.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what progress is being made for the sale or lease of the airfield at Wardle, near Nantwich;(2) what steps are being taken for the disposal of the buildings, hangars and other erections on the Wardle airfield.

Negotiations are in progress, and my right hon. Friend hopes soon to reach a settlement agreeable to all concerned. He has written to my hon. Friend giving him details.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will appoint a special independent committee to examine all matters relating to the construction of a supersonic airliner.

No. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to his Question on 18th December last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state, for the 12 months to the most recent convenient date, the average weekly wage paid to adult male and female prisoners engaged in prison work.

In 1957, the average weekly earnings of men prisoners was 2s. 6d. and of women prisoners 1s. 11d.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state, for the most recent convenient date, the normal prison accommodation for adult prisoners and the actual number of prisoners accommodated showing the number accommodated at three or more in a cell.

In prisons of all types the total normal accommodation amounts to 17,098 places for men and 1,217 for women. On 14th January, 1958, there were 18,470 men and 676 women. In the local cellular prisons for men there are 10,803 places and on 14th January, there were in those prisons 13,179 men of whom 3,774 were lodged three in a cell. No women are lodged three in a cell.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of prisoners in prison for the last 12 months to the most recent convenient date in default of payment of fine, showing the number who were not allowed time in which to pay the fine imposed.

In 1956, of 4,796 persons received into prison for failure to pay fines, 2,426 had not been given time to pay.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, taking the internal purchasing value of the£sterling at 20s. in October, 1951, it had declined to 18s. 5d. by December, 1953, and 16s. 9d. by December, 1955; and what was the comparable figure for December, 1957.

Yes: 15s. 6d.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, assuming the£sterling to be worth 20s. in 1920, what was the value of£2,000 in 1939, 1949, 1954, and at the present time.

:£3,100,£1,600.£1,300 and£1,150.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many people, men and women, respectively, were employed in the factories in Sunderland, administered by the North Eastern Trading Estates Limited, on the latest available date.

At November, 1957, 2,269 men and boys and 2,874 women and girls, making a total of 5,143, were employed in these factories.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many people, men and women, respectively, were employed in the factories, administered by the North Eastern Trading Estates Limited, on the latest available date.

At November, 1957, 22,906 men and boys and 30,234 women and girls, making a total of 53,140, were employed in these factories.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the total sum paid to civilian medical practitioners for treatment provided for Army personnel when on leave, for the year 1st April, 1955, to 31st March, 1956.

The amount is not recorded separately. It is included among payments made to civilian doctors for a variety of services to the Army. The majority of soldiers sick on leave are treated by Service medical officers or doctors paid by the National Health Service, and the only payments made direct from Army Votes are in respect of those soldiers on leave who are obliged to consult private medical practitioners.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the statement made by Field Marshal Lord Montgomery regarding the action to be taken with respect to Major-General Hakewill-Smith and Major-General Urquhart, formerly Colonels-in-Chief of the Highland Light Infantry and the Royal Scots Fusiliers, was made with his authority.

No. Lord Montgomery was expressing a personal opinion on a matter of topical Army interest to an audience of ex-Service men

asked the Secretary of State for War how many recruits volunteered for service in the Royal Scots Fusiliers and the Highland Light Infantry, respectively, during November and December, 1957.

In November there were five recruits to the Royal Scots Fusiliers and three to the Highland Light Infantry. In December there were two and four, respectively.