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Written Answers

Volume 599: debated on Tuesday 3 February 1959

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Written Answers To Questions

Tuesday, 3rd February, 1959

Ministry Of Works

Stonehenge

2.

asked the Minister of Works what was the total cost of the work of erecting the fallen trilithon at Stonehenge.

The cost of re-erecting the trilithon and two outer circle stones was £10,350.

Scotland

Town And Country Planning (Legislation)

20.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to take steps to consolidate Scottish town and country planning legislation.

21.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to the Report of the Faculty of Advocates on the Town and Country Planning Bill, 1958, a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

The following is a copy of a letter I have sent to the Dean of Faculty containing my observations on this report.

28th January, 1959.
On 18th December, at the request of the Faculty of Advocates, you circulated to Scottish Members of Parliament a Memorandum adopted by the Faculty on the form of the Town and Country Planning Bill at present before the House of Commons. The Memorandum explained in some detail the inconvenience that would result for Scottish legal practitioners from the absence of separate Scottish legislation on this subject.
I should be grateful if you would assure the Faculty that, in considering the best form of legislation to promote in any particular case, the Government always give the fullest consideration to the special requirements which arise out of the Scottish legal system, and invariably take into account the convenience of those who will use the resulting Act as well as of those who must debate the Bill. Account must also be taken, however, of such other factors as the need for Scottish Members of Parliament to take part in debate on matters which are common to the whole of the House of Commons, the most effective use of Parliamentary time, and the special position of the Scottish Grand and Standing Committee. The balance of advantage, as between a Great Britain Bill and a separate Scottish Bill, must therefore be a matter of judgment based on the circumstances of the particular measure under consideration, especially where parallel provisions applying in England and Scotland respectively are involved and common principles apply.
As regards the Town and Country Planning Bill, I set out at some length the weight attaching to these various factors in the course of the second reading debate in the House of Commons on 13th November last. I acknowledged that consolidation was a task to which early attention should be directed, although this could not be overtaken in time to help those who will have to operate under the Bill as soon as it becomes law. I then went on to give an assurance that the Government would certainly be willing to consider, at the appropriate time, re-enacting the Bill in Scottish form when it reached the Statute Book. That assurance of course stands, and the views of the Faculty have been carefully noted so that full weight can be given to them by the Government in reaching a decision on the question of re-enactment in Scottish form.
(Sgd.) JOHN S. MACLAY.
The Dean of Faculty,
The Advocates' Library,
Edinburgh, 1.

Agricultural Holdings (Protection Against Deer)

44.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many times his powers under Section 44 of the Agriculture (Scotland) Act, 1948, have been used to protect the unenclosed lands and woodlands of occupiers of agricultural holdings against deer.

These powers have never been used. They have been delegated to agricultural executive committees since 1950 and though committees have achieved a fair degree of co-operation, they have not found it practicable to use the compulsory powers.

Sheriff Courts (Separation Cases)

51.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has now considered the proposal made by the Glasgow Probation Committee that it should be a statutory duty laid on probation officers to attempt reconciliation in cases of separation coming before sheriff courts; and what is his decision.

I have come to the conclusion. after undertaking consultations, that this proposal does not command a sufficient measure of acceptance in Scotland for legislation to be justified.

Control Of Advertisements (Appeals)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give details of the number of appeals by advertising interests dealt with during 1958 under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (Scotland) Regulations, 1948; how many of these appeals were dealt with at public hearings and by correspondence, respectively; how many in each group referred

TotalBy hearingBy correspondence
AllowedDismissedAllowed
Posters24717
Trade signs12(2)*56(2)*1
* The figures in brackets relate to advance direction signs not on the trader's premises; they are included in the main figures.

Road Programme (Schemes)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will issue a list of schemes under the road programme, costing over £100,000 which were started

SchemeStarting dateEstimated Completion dateEstimated total cost
£
TRUNK ROADS
1. A.74—Improvement from Dalmakethar to North of Lockerbie.July, 1958Autumn, 1960518,000
2. A.830—Improvement from Glenfinnan to LochailortNovember, 1958End, 1961420,000
CLASSIFIED ROADS
3. A.884—Reconstruction of 3¼ miles of Achleck-Lochaline Pier Road.July, 1958Spring, 1960155,000
4. Forth Road Bridge—Construction of bridge and approach roads.September, 19581963–6416,000,000
In addition, the following scheme has been started since the period covered by my reply of 17th April last to my hon. and gallant Friend:—
TRUNK ROAD
A.80—Improvement from Luggie Water to west of Cumbernauld.April, 1958Spring, 1960434,000

respectively to posters, including bulletin boards but not trade signs, public information panels, and to trade signs on the premises of the occupiers concerned; and how many of each separate category were rejected or allowed.

The total number of appeals decided during 1958 was 36, in addition to 14 that were withdrawn. The appeals decided were dealt with at hearings to which the public could have had access, with one exception dealt with by correspondence at the request of the appellants. None related to public information panels. Details are as follows:in the six months ended 31st December, 1958, with estimated completion date and total cost of each.

Houses, Dundee (Rents)

52.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Scottish Special Housing Association houses in Dundee, giving the number of tenants who are now paying rent under the new rent scheme; how many applications for rent rebate there have been; and if he will analyse these to show the various rebates and to what extent tenants are now paying a lower rent than under the old scheme.

All but 26 of the 2,571 tenants of Association houses in Dundee are paying the new rents. Six hundred and six applications for rebates have been received, of which 514 have been granted, 46 refused and 46 are under consideration. The rebates granted vary in amount up to 8s. 2d. a week. At least 335 tenants are now paying less rent than before.

Landlords And Tenants

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that unreasonable charges and conditions are being imposed by landlords on their tenants who own television aerials; and if he will introduce legislation to protect the position of the tenants.

I have received a number of representations, but the matter is one which must be left for negotiation between owners and tenants in the ordinary way.

United States (English Electric Company Tender)

50.

asked the Prime Minister if he will protest to President Eisenhower, as head of the United States Government, against the rejection by the United States authorities of the bid from the English Electric Company for hydraulic turbines for the Greer's Ferry Dam in Arkansas, at a price 17 per cent. below the lowest United States bid, and ask for a reversal of this decision.

As the House will be aware, the normal channel of communication in these matters is the diplomatic one. My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary has instructed Her Majesty's Ambassador in Washington to make representations to the State Department about the rejection of the English Electric Company's bid. My right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, has also made the Government's views known to the United States Chargé d'Affaires in London. A message to the President from myself would, of course, be on a personal and confidential basis.

Trade And Comerce

British Films (Export)

54.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken by his Department to promote the sale and exhibition of British films in the countries of the Commonwealth.

The usual export services of the Board of Trade are made available to exporters of British films to the Commonwealth. On the whole, British films succeed well on their merits in Commonwealth countries.

55.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken by his Department to promote the sale and exhibition of British films in the Soviet Union, China, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Roumania, Bulgaria, and East Germany.

There are trade arrangements, formal and informal, with all these countries except the Soviet Union, China and Roumania, and in each case quotas for export of our films have been provided. In all the markets mentioned by the hon. Member, opportunities are limited by the unwillingness of State import monopolies to pay reasonable commercial prices.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken by his Department to promote the sale and exhibition of British films in the Middle East, Africa, and South America, respectively.

Conditions affecting the sale and exhibition of British films vary widely in the areas mentioned. British film exporters are helped by the usual export services of the Board of Trade, and the Board is always ready to look into any special problems that arise.

Imports And Exports (Prices)

56.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the average percentage rise or fall in the price of our imports and exports for each of the six months from January, 1950 until January, 1958, taking January, 1950 as being equal to 100.

Yes. The following are the figures which I think the hon. Member requires.

PRICE INDICES—HALF-YEAR AVERAGES
First Half, 1950=100
YearImportsU.K. Exports
1st half, 1950100100
2nd half, 1950107103
1st half, 1951137114
2nd half, 1951140125
1st half, 1952139127
2nd half, 1952131125
1st half, 1953126121
2nd half, 1953122120
1st half, 1954121119
2nd half, 1954123119
1st half, 1955126121
2nd half, 1955126123
1st half, 1956129125
2nd half, 1956129128
1st half, 1957135131
2nd half, 1957127133
1st half, 1958121132

Cotton Industry

57.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent he has had, or contemplates having, discussions with the Cotton Board regarding an agreed redundancy scheme for the cotton textile industry; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has already had several discussions with Lord Rochdale and he is keeping in close touch with the preparation of proposals for the reorganisation and re-equipment of the cotton textile industry. This work is being co-ordinated by a special Development Committee, representing the main sections and both sides of industry, which was set up by the Cotton Board in December. This Committee has prepared a preliminary survey of the likely future size of the industry and, in the light of that, the different sections are now engaged on the examination of possible causes of action. They will report to the Development Committee as soon as possible.My right hon. Friend has emphasised to Lord Rochdale the urgent need for early action and has told him that the Government is anxious to discuss the industry's proposals as soon as they are available and to hear whether direct Government help is asked for.

Granada Television Network Limited (Shares)

60 and 61.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what report he has received from the Independent Television Authority concerning the sale of deferred shares by the Granada Television Network Limited; and whether he will make a statement;(2) whether he is aware of the plans of the Granada Television Network Limited to issue 100,000 shilling deferred shares at par to Messrs. S. and C. Bernstein; and what plans he has for holding an inquiry into the details of this agreement.

I have not been approached in this matter, and Press reports suggest that the shareholders who expressed criticism are not now seeking Board of Trade intervention.

Red Griselda

62.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what conclusion he has reached with regard to the extent to which the present cost of red griselda is justified.

I have not inquired whether the cost is justified. As my hon. Friend the Minister of State has informed the hon. Member in correspondence, this seems to be one of those materials which it is much cheaper to buy in bulk than by the sack.

68.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish in HANSARD a list of the suppliers of red griselda who are responsible for its distribution throughout the United Kingdom.

Yarn Spinners (Restrictive Practices Court Judgment)

63.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the ruling of the Restrictive Trade Practices Court that the yarn spinners' price fixing arrangements shall not continue and of the consequences of that ruling upon employment in the cotton spinning towns, as anticipated by the Court, he will introduce legislation to broaden the scope of the Distribution of Industry Act, so as to hasten the introduction and development of new industries in the affected areas.

As my right hon. Friend told my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Knutsford (Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenport) on 29th January, we shall do all we can to mitigate any hardship that may result from the implementation of the Court's decision. The application of the Distribution of Industry Acts to these areas does not require legislation.

Industrial Development, Maesteg

64.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the closure of the Aberbaiden and Pentre collieries, he will take further action to secure tenants for the Government-owned factories in Maesteg which have been idle since July last; and whether he will take steps to introduce new industries in the Kenfig Hill and Pyle area.

Many of the miners at the Aberbaiden and Pentre collieries will be offered work at other collieries. As I told the hon. Member on 16th December, we are trying to find suitable tenants for the Maesteg factories, and if a suitable industry were willing to go to the area we should give it every help.

Development Areas (Factory Rents)

65.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether he will make a statement on the policy of his Department with regard to the assessment of Government factory rent charges in Development Areas.

As my right hon. Friend said last Thursday, rents are negotiated by district valuers on the basis of current market values. I am considering whether any modification of this policy is necessary in cases of particular difficulty.

Dutch Bulbs

66.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what trade negotiations with Holland, dealing with general or particular matters, have taken place recently, or are to take place in the near future; and whether arrangements may be made for a full discussion between the two countries on the present position with regard to the quota imposed by us on the imports of Dutch bulbs.

The usual annual trade talks with the Benelux countries have not yet taken place this year. When these talks are held the import of Dutch bulbs will be discussed.

Monopolies Commission (Chemical Fertilisers)

69.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the reference of chemical fertilisers to the Monopolies Commission.

My right hon. Friend expects to receive the report of the Monopolies Commission towards the middle of this year.

Industrial Development, Falkirk

70.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has for attracting new industry to Falkirk in order to alleviate the unemployment situation.

Any industrialist who wishes to set up or expand in Falkirk can do so. My right hon. Friend is not prepared to steer industry there when the need in other parts of Scotland is so much greater.

Cotton And Rayon Yarn Production

71.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will arrange for a selection of hon. Members of all parties to visit the Republic of Western Germany to study the means by which the production of cotton and rayon yarn in Western Germany has increased to a figure exceeding the pre-war production of East and West Germany combined during a period in which United Kingdom production has diminished by more than a half.

No, and I do not think that the hon. Member is being fair to Lancashire. The decline in United Kingdom production has not been as great as stated by him, and it has been mainly due to the loss of export trade for reasons outside our control. Germany's export trade was much smaller than ours before the war.

Pears (Imports)

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is satisfied that the present quota for imported pears from Western Europe and other countries which is fixed at £1,175,000 for the period from 1st July to 31st December is not detrimental in its present form to British farmers.

I have no evidence that the present arrangements have proved detrimental to British farmers. Restrictions on imports of pears were re-imposed in 1951 for balance of payments reasons. The quotas which were then established were based on the size and pattern of trade in the previous period without controls. As a result of the quotas imports into the United Kingdom have been much smaller than when there was no control.

National Finance

Purchase Tax

72.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date, and for what reasons, a limit of £500 per annum in wholesale sales of a particular enterprise was fixed for Purchase Tax exemption; what change in the value of money has taken place since that date; and, having regard to such change, what would be the current exemption level, based on present money values, to give equivalent purpose to the £500 annual exemption level when originally fixed.

The purpose of the exemption is to exclude cases where the cost of collection would, in general, not be worth while. The original exemption limit of £2,000 was reduced to £500 on 3rd November, 1941, following complaints of unfair competition. Despite the change in the value of money, I am satisfied that £500 is still the appropriate level for this exemption.

73.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many different articles were indexed by the Customs and Excise Department as being subject to Purchase Tax prior to the Finance Act of 1958; and what was the change in the number of articles so subject to the tax following the Act.

The variety of articles of commerce is such that no such detailed index exists, or could possibly be compiled.

74.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why census of distribution forms are provided at Exchequer cost free of Purchase Tax to any company having a statutory liability to complete and render them to the Board of Trade, whereas forms such as annual returns carrying a similar statutory responsibility for completion under the Companies Acts have to be purchased, and Purchase Tax paid; and whether he will now free all forms required to comply with the Statutes from such tax.

The first part of the Question is a matter for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. The answer to the second part is in the negative.

Greyhound Racing

75.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the revenue return to his Department from the 10 per cent. tax on totalisators of greyhound racing tracks since the introduction of the 1958 Budget; and what percentage tax on totalisators at both greyhound tracks and horse-racing tracks he estimates would have to be instituted to ensure the same return of revenue to Her Majesty's Treasury.

£4,753,628 for the first nine months of the current financial year. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary's reply to his Question on 27th November.

Suez Operations (Cost)

76.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the total estimated cost to Great Britain of the recent Suez War, taking into account the actual cost of military operations, the loss of the arms and equipment at the Suez Base, the loss of the Suez Canal; and, using as the basis the total revenue received by Great Britain in the year preceding the Suez War as a result of imports and exports between Great Britain and Egypt, what has been the estimated loss to British trade, to date, due to the severance of trade with Egypt.

The net extra expenditure incurred by the Service Departments on special measures taken in connection with the Suez Emergency was estimated in their Appropriation Accounts as some £25 million. The value of the Suez Base installations and the stores contained in it was estimated at some £60 million, though this was in no sense a realisable value in conditions of a forced sale. It is not possible to draw up any balance sheet of the cost of the Suez operations to the United Kingdom in the absence of knowledge of what would otherwise have happened.

Disabled Persons (Travel Allowance)

77.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the possibility of introducing an Income Tax allowance for disabled persons who are forced to incur abnormal expenses in travelling to and from work.

Bank Rate

79.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the depression prevailing throughout British industry and the rising level of unemployment, whether he will now further reduce the Bank Rate.

I am not prepared to forecast changes of Bank Rate, which will continue to be varied as circumstances require.

Leith Town Hall (War Damage Compensation)

80.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the delay in the rebuilding of Leith Town Hall, if a settlement has yet been reached in regard to war damage compensation.

Distribution Of Industry (Caernarvonshire)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications for assistance under the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958, have so far been received from Caernarvonshire; and how many have been accepted, rejected, and are still under consideration, respectively.

Four firm and eligible applications have been received from Caernarvonshire of which two have been rejected and two are still under consideration.

Economic Policy

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that ever since 1951 Her Majesty's Government have declared their policy as being to reduce the cost of living, improve the purchasing value of the £ sterling, reduce rent and rates, and generally to take steps to double the people's standard of living in the next 25 years, to what extent these objectives have been achieved.

The record of Government economic policy and of its results in recent years have been fully dealt with in Parliamentary debates on a number of occasions. I am satisfied that steady progress is continuing.

Housing

Hartlepool

85.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that there are some 248 families living in doubled-up conditions and a further 188 families with insufficient sleeping accommodation on the Hartlepool Borough Council's live housing list; and why he is restricting the Council to the building of 100 houses in 1959, when its proposed building programme provides for at least 154 houses in the year, thereby cutting the programme by some 33⅓ per cent.

I am not restricting the council. approved their full programme of 154 houses on 23rd January.

Rented Houses, London

89.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what information he now has in respect of the number of tenants who have been evicted from their homes during the past six months, the increased availability of houses for rental in the Metropolitan Police area, and the rents charged for such houses.

Council Houses

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will publish in HANSARD a list of the various types of council-built houses, giving their size and cost of construction, on 1st January, 1951, and 1st January, 1959, respectively.

I regret that this information could not be got out without a very great expenditure of time and manpower. Figures giving information for 3-bedroom houses are published in the Annual Report of the Department.

Local Government

Improvement Schemes, Newcastle-Under-Lyme

86.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what schemes and proposals for improvements in Newcastle-under-Lyme which could be quickly started and under consideration in his Department; and if, in view of the growing unemployment in the area, he will give urgent attention to them.

Three applications for loan sanction, amounting in all to about £12,000, are at present under consideration, and my right hon. Friend expects to approve them very shortly.

Litter Bins

87.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will consult the London Transport Executive with a view to their giving the necessary permission for local authorities to affix litter receptacles to omnibus stop pasts and trolley columns.

I understand that the Executive's practice is to allow litter bins, provided that they do not carry commercial advertisements. My right hon. Friend is unwilling to approach the Executive about advertising here because in his view the Executive's line is right.

Dartmoor National Park (Buckland Wood)

88.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many protests he has received from organisations and individuals, separately, against the proposal to clear-fell Buckland Wood in the Dartmoor National Park.

Letters of protest have been received from five organisations, and 180 individuals. Seven petitions, signed by 437 persons, have also been received.

Land Development (Restrictions)

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will give consideration to any restrictions on land being printed on the Ordnance Survey maps to avoid the confusion that frequently occurs when purchasers of land subsequently find its proposed development is strictly limited, or even impossible.

My right hon. Friend fears that this might do more harm than good, because people might easily be misled by an Ordnance Survey map which, in relation to planning, might be out of date. The only reliable way for a prospective purchaser of land to find out about restrictions on development is to ask the local planning authority.

Uganda

Malnutrition

91.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of the failure of the Uganda Government to deal with the problem of malnutrition, what action he now proposes to take to ensure that this problem is dealt with effectively.

The Uganda Government recognise that the problem of malnutrition is a major one and that much remains to be done to combat it. But considerable measures have been taken by that Government, and I cannot accept the suggestion that they have failed to deal with the problem effectively. These measures include the establishment of a Nutrition Unit, the appointment of a Scientific Committee on Human Nutrition, the establishment of child welfare clinics at all district hospitals, health centres and dispensaries; the widespread distribution of milk powder (which will increase to over 600 tons by 1960) and increased education in health and nutrition.

Government Services (Economies)

92.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what economies are being made in Uganda Government services; and for what reasons.

In November, 1958, the Uganda Government imposed a partial embargo on recruitment to the Government service due to the reduced yield from the export tax on cotton and coffee. Other general economy measures will be considered in the forthcoming budget.

Nyasaland

Training Centre, Limbe (Apprentices)

93.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for what reason 36 Africans attending the Government artisans training centre in Limbe, Nyasaland, have been dismissed from their course; what appeal procedure is available to them; and to what trade union they belong.

These apprentices were dismissed for repeated wilful disobedience in contravention of their indentures of apprenticeship. If an apprentice considers himself aggrieved he may commence a civil action or complain to a magistrate. At the time of their dismissal they were not members of a trade union.

Malta

Situation

94.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the growing disquiet in the Island of Malta; what is the cause of it; and what new steps are being taken to prevent it growing to unmanageable proportions.

I am aware of what is being done in Malta to stimulate and organise resistance to H.M.G.'s policy for the islands, but I have every confidence that the good sense of the Maltese people will prevent the consequences that the hon. Member fears. On the last part of this Question, I have nothing to add to what was said by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary and myself in yesterday's debate on the Second Reading of the Malta (Letters Patent) Bill.

Singapore

Citizenship Registrations (Withdrawals)

95.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many trade union officials, political party officials and teachers have had their certificate of citizenship withdrawn by the Singapore Government; and what were the chief reasons for the withdrawal.

I am informed by the Singapore Government, in whose competence this matter lies under the Singapore Citizenship Ordinance, 1957, that in all 1,220 provisional registrations have been withdrawn, but that it is not possible to say how many of these were trade union officials, political party officials or teachers. In view of this explanation, the second part of the Question does not arise.

Aden Protectorate

Federal Constitution

96.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further progress has been made in respect of federation in the Aden Protectorate; to what extent active subversion continues; and whether frontier conflicts have yet entirely ceased.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further progress has been made in regard to federation in the Aden Protectorate.

As regards federation, I am circulating below a statement on this subject which is being issued in Aden today.

After a lull in the second half of 1958, there have recently been indications of renewed subversion among the tribes of the Western Aden Protectorate. The frontier was also relatively peaceful in the second half of 1958, but there have been incidents in January.

Following is the statement:

Agreement has now been reached among six States of the Western Aden Protectorate on a constitution for the proposed Federation of Arab Amirates of the South. The States concerned are the Amirates of Beihan and Dhala, the Audhali, Fadhli and lower Yafa Sultanates, and the Upper Aulaqi Sheikhdom. Their agreement on the constitution is the culmination of several weeks' discussion in Aden by the Rulers of these States or their Representatives.
It will be recalled that on 15th July, 1958, the United Kingdom Government announced that they welcomed the establishment of a federation of these States which was proposed during the visit of certain Rulers and their representatives to London at that time.
It is expected that the constitution will be formally signed and the Federation thus inaugurated during the visit of the Secretary of State for the Colonies to Aden in the first half of February. Immediately thereafter a Treaty is expected to be signed between the United Kingdom and the Federation providing, among other things, for the military and financial assistance which, as announced last summer, the United Kingdom Government are prepared to give to the Federation.

Somaliland

Future

97.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further consultations and action have taken place in respect of the future of British Somaliland, particularly from 1960.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Govan (Mr. Rankin) and the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. J. Johnson) on 18th December last. The hon. Member will be aware, however, that I shall be visiting Somaliland from 5th to 10th of this month when I shall be having discussions with the Governor.

Detained Persons

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Somalis of the British Protectorate are in prison for political reasons.

Seychelles

Tourist Industry

98.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken by the Seychelles Government to develop the tourist attraction of that colony.

The Seychelles Government regards it as only a question of time before private investors become aware of the striking possibilities of the tourist industry in the Seychelles, and sees its own task as being to ensure that basic facilities exist to support the industry.Steps that have been taken recently include the following:

  • (a) the improvement of shipping services between Seychelles and East Africa;
  • (b) the construction of a round-the-island road on Mahe and a decision to install a new electricity supply;
  • (c) the creation of a post of a full-time Tourist Officer;
  • (d) the establishment of a fund from which loans may be made to finance local projects connected with the tourist industry.
  • I am in close touch with the Governor about other measures to promote tourism.

    Tanganyika

    Coffee Industry

    asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the approximate acreage of land suitable for coffee growing in each of the four districts of the Northern Province of Tanganyika; what acreage is occupied in each case by non-African coffee growers; what is the average acreage per grower in African and non-African hands, respectively; and what is the average yield per acre for African and non-African growers, respectively.

    I am asking the Governor for this information, and I will write to the hon. Member when I have his reply.

    Home Department

    Probation Service

    99.

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the anticipated numbers of new entrants into the Probation Service who were required to be recruited in each of the years 1954 to 1958; and what were the actual numbers accepted for training prior to appointment in each of those years.

    It has always been anticipated that the Probation Service would readily absorb all persons trained for probation work under the Home Office scheme, and the Probation Advisory and Training Board has continuously endeavoured to recruit for training as many suitable men and women as possible. With the increase of the probation case load that began late in 1955, after declining in each of the two previous years, the recruitment drive was intensified, with some measure of success, as is shown by the numbers asked for in the last part of the Question, namely: 1954, 61; 1955, 41; 1956, 76; 1957, 102; and 1958, 131.

    Disarmament

    100.

    asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has considered the latest Russian proposals for the abolition of all nuclear weapons and all military missiles, including the existing stocks of these weapons; and whether he is now in a position to make a statement.

    I presume the right hon. Gentleman is referring to the remarks made on this subject by Mr. Khrushchev in his speech at the 21st Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.Her Majesty's Government have always been prepared to consider proposals for the limitation of nuclear weapons, but only in the context of a comprehensive disarmament agreement and under effective international control. Meanwhile, we believe that the right approach to disarmament at the present time is first to get the properly controlled agreement we all want on stopping nuclear weapons tests and then to build on that.

    Television Film Programmes (Convention)

    asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which countries have, respectively, signed and ratified the European agreement on the exchange of television film programmes; and what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government in regard to such a convention.

    The Governments of the following countries have signed this Agreement without reservation in respect of ratification:

    • France; United Kingdom.
    The Governments of the following countries have signed the Agreement subject to ratification:

    • Belgium; Denmark; Greece; Italy; Luxembourg; Sweden; Turkey.

    The Agreement will enter into force thirty days after the date on which a third member Government of the Council of Europe has signed it without reservation in respect of ratification, or has ratified it.

    Her Majesty's Government, by signing without reservation in respect of ratification, have accepted the terms of the Agreement.

    Ministry Of Health

    Midwives, Wales

    asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a statement concerning the shortage of fully-qualified midwives in parts of Wales.

    The shortage of midwives in hospitals in Wales is estimated by the Welsh Regional Hospital Board to be 15 per cent. of the total numbers required. The areas in which the shortages are most serious are those of the Rhymney and Sirhowy Valleys, Merthyr and Aberdare, Pontypridd and Rhondda, and Caernarvon and Anglesey Hospital Management Committees. En the domiciliary field there are shortages in 10 of the 17 local health authority areas, notably in Carmarthenshire, Monmouthshire, Merthyr Tydfil and Swansea, but the local authorities have been able to maintain an adequate service. The measures which are being taken to remedy shortages, described by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary in the Adjournment debate on 26th January, are applicable to Wales in the same way as to England.

    Telephone Service

    Kiosk, Baildon (Tong Park Village)

    asked the Postmaster-General when he expects to be able to provide a public telephone kiosk for Tong Park Village in the urban district of Baildon.

    There is already a kiosk within a half mile radius of all the properties in this locality. This kiosk is not heavily used and in the circumstances I would not feel justified in providing another one at the present time.

    Ministry Of Supply

    Royal Ordnance Factory, Llanishen

    asked the Minister of Supply whether he will make a statement about the future of the Royal Ordnance Factory, Llanishen.

    As I told the House on 21st April, 1958 (HANSARD—Cols. 607–10), part of the factory is to be retained in operation as a Royal Ordnance Factory. The remainder has been advertised for disposal and negotiations are proceeding with interested parties.

    Railways

    Time Tables (Engineering Works)

    asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation in view of the major engineering works being carried out under the modernisation plan of British Railways, to what extent he has found it necessary to represent to the British Transport Commission that trains should be retimed.

    The arrangement of Railway time tables is within the scope of day to day management of British Railways. I have no responsibility for such day to day matters and have therefore made no representations.

    Roads

    Junction, North Circular Road (Traffic Congestion)

    asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the traffic congestion at the junction of Harrow Road and the North Circular Road, N.W.10, during the morning rush hour; and when he expects to be able to authorise the construction of an underpass at this junction.

    Yes. Work is about to start on improving this junction, but I have no plans at present for constructing an underpass.

    Employment

    Young Persons, Salford

    asked the Minister of Labour how many young people who left school at Christmas in Salford have been able to find jobs; and how many have still been unable to do so.

    251 boys and 254 girls who left school at Christmas are in employment. 37 boys and one girl are registered for employment including eight boys who have temporarily returned to school.

    Openshaw, Newton Heath And Failsworth

    asked the Minister of Labour (1) what was the number of unemployed persons registered at the local exchanges covering the districts of Openshaw, Bradford, Clayton and Newton Heath, respectively, in the city of Manchester and in Failsworth on 1st January, 1958 and 1959, respectively;(2) what was the number of persons on part-time work in the Openshaw, Bradford, Clayton and Newton Heath districts of Manchester and in Failsworth on 1st January, 1959; and how the number compares with that for 1st January, 1958.

    The Table below gives the information desired, so far as it is available.

    NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF THE OPENSHAW, NEWTON HEATH AND FAILSWORTH EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OFFICES AT THE UNDERMENTIONED DATES
    13th January, 195812th January, 1959
    Employment Exchange and Youth Employment Office*Wholly UnemployedTemporarily Stopped†Wholly UnemployedTemporarily Stopped†
    Openshaw353621,034223
    Newton Heath4322274192
    Failsworth12723282619
    * Separate figures are not available for the Bradford and Clayton Districts of Manchester as these districts are included in the area of the Openshaw Employment Exchange.
    † The "temporarily stopped" are persons on short-time or otherwise temporarily suspended who were not at work on the Monday to which the figures relate and were registering at the Employment Exchanges or Youth Employment Offices. Statistics of the numbers on part-time work are not available for local areas.