asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions for the year 1958 were instituted by the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis respecting drivers who parked their vehicles on footpaths.

I regret that this information is not available, since cases of vehicles parked on the footway are not recorded separately from other cases of obstruction. My right hon. Friend is informed by the Commissioner of Police, however, that he estimates that during the last quarter of 1958 there were more than 250 prosecutions for parking on the footway in central London and that written warnings were sent to offenders in about another 350 cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his negotiations with the Commonwealth Governments regarding the repatriation of criminals irrespective of race, colour or creed, from the United Kingdom; and when he now proposes to introduce legislation for this purpose and fulfil his promises on this matter.

This matter has been receiving the active consideration of Her Majesty's Government, and consulations in regard to it will continue. Legislation in the present Session is not, however, in contemplation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the British Board of Film Censors, which is not responsible to Ministerial control, has power to prevent Her Majesty's subjects viewing films because of their political and controversial nature; and whether he will therefore take the necessary action to bring this board of censorship under Parliamentary control.

No. The decision whether a film may be shown to the public rests in the last resort with the local licensing authorities, and the function of the British Board of Film Censors is purely advisory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that Sir Gerald Dobson, Recorder of the Central Criminal Court, recently regretted that a few strokes of the birch could not be given to two boys to bring them to their senses, and that other steps would have to be taken more costly to the country and less effective; and if he will make a further statement on corporal punishment for men and boys.

The evidence collected by the Departmental Committee on Corporal Punishment does not indicate that when flogging and birching were available as judicial penalties they had an especially effective influence as deterrents. Some of the more constructive methods of dealing with offenders which are now being developed are indicated in the recent White Paper on Penal Policy in a Changing Society.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which of the industries liable to Purchase Tax at 30 per cent. or 60 per cent. for which he is at present responsible, have made known to him that these rates of Purchase Tax are interfering with their efficiency of production and their export trade; and what steps he has taken in each case to verify these claims.

I cannot give the information requested as it is confidential in a number of cases. But I can assure my hon. Friend that the representations, which have not been numerous, have been referred to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the recent conversations between Her Majesty's Government and the Govern- ment of Egypt, if he is yet in a position to announce that the Export Credits Guarantee Department has resumed cover business with Aberdeen firms having contracts with Egyptian firms or the Government of Egypt.

The position remains as stated in my reply to the hon. and learned Member's Question of 22nd January.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will specify the nature and number of the export services of his Department available to the exporters of British films to the Commonwealth and to foreign countries, respectively, indicating which foreign countries.

The services available to British exporters are described in my Department's booklet "A Guide to Government Services for Exporters", a copy of which I am sending to the hon. arid learned Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that representatives of certain foreign Governments, of which he has been informed, are in Great Britain seeking to place large orders, amounting to several million pounds cash, for new ships with British shipyards, but are prevented from having such orders accepted and implemented owing to the limitations imposed by Export Credits Guarantee restrictions, and that this contributes to national unemployment and deprives Great Britain of foreign currency; and if he will take steps to have these limitations removed.

If the hon. and learned Member is thinking of Indonesia I would refer him to the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Inverness (Mr. N. McLean) on 10th February. I am not aware of orders for ships for any other country in respect of which general limitations in Export Credits Guarantee Department cover are a factor.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the reopening of negotiations for a trade agreement between the United Kingdom and Roumania.

We should like to reopen discussions with the Roumanian Government on the related questions of trade and a settlement of our financial claims. Despite reminders we have had no reply to proposals we put forward more than two years ago.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total amount of subsidy paid to cotton spinning firms under the Cotton Spinning (Re-equipment Subsidy) Act, 1948.

Two million eight hundred thousand pounds.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what efforts are being made to increase the continental markets for herring.

The Herring Industry Board is continuing to make every effort to increase exports of herring to all continental markets. Restrictions on imports of herring have been lifted in most Western European countries and, as regards Eastern Europe, everything possible is being done, by negotiating quotas and other special arrangements, to promote this trade.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many students from Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland are at present receiving university education within the Union of South Africa.

Nine students from Basutoland, three from the Bechuanaland Protectorate of whom two are European, and two from Swaziland, are at present receiving university education within the Union of South Africa.

asked the Minister of Education what instructions he has given to local education authorities to ensure that, when selecting pupils for secondary education, the same opportunities for transfer are given to all children in their area, including those from independent primary schools.

My right hon. Friend has given no instructions of this kind, but he is not aware of any discrimination against pupils from independent schools.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, since 18th November last, he has given further consideration to the question of abolishing the 60 per cent. rate of Purchase Tax; and what representations have been made to him since that date by the motor, radio, gramophone and cosmetic industries which are now the only industries affected by that high rate.

My right hon. Friend is considering representations made by these industries, but I cannot anticipate his Budget decisions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consult with the Minister of Power with a view to requesting the Clean Air Council and the Advisory Committee on Smoke Abatement to consider what assistance could be given to the advancement of effective smoke abatement and cleaner air in Great Britain by the abolition of Purchase Tax on all domestic gas and electrical heating equipment; and whether he will require that a report be made available to the Government before the Easter Recess.

No. Any assessment of the effects on smoke abatement of removal of this tax would involve so many assumptions that my right hon. Friend does not think it worth while to make such an inquiry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer taking the £ sterling as having a purchasing value of 20s. in October, 1951, what was its latest purchasing value, taking the cost of living as equalling 100 in October, 1951; what was the percentage rise or fall since then to the latest stated date; and what has been the percentage rise or fall in unemployment since October, 1951.

The answers to the first two questions are 15s. 2d., and a fall of 24 per cent. The number of unemployed rose from 1·3 per cent, in October, 1951, to 2·8 per cent. in January, 1959. There is always a seasonal increase between October and January. Comparing January, 1952, with January, 1959, the increase was from 1·8 per cent. to 2·8 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will consider an alternative method of disposing of watches seized by the Customs and Excise in place of the present practice which is being abused;(2) how many watches, with their estimated value, seized by the Customs and Excise, were sold at auctions during the last two years; and whether he will consider using some other method than that employed at present to prevent persons using invoices and official receipts obtained at sales to cover sales to the public of watches obtained direct from smugglers.

Seized watches, and other Customs forfeitures, are sold by the Customs by competitive tender for the benefit of the Exchequer. The number of watches so disposed of in the last two years was 35,615 and the proceeds, exclusive of Purchase Tax, amounted to £97,989. There is no evidence that the malpractices to which the hon. Member refers are extensive. Customs sales represent a small part of the total of watches marketed, and the risk of misuse of purchase invoices is not confined to them. The abandonment of the present method of disposing of the seizures would not be justified, or materially reduce the risk.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to receive the third report of the Council on Prices, Productivity and Incomes; and whether this will be published.

Since the Council reports to the public, the reports which it makes will naturally be published, but it is for the Council itself to decide when to make them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the fishing limits agreement reached for Faroese waters.

My hon. Friend will have seen the reply given by my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on 24th February to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (Commander Donaldson). The proposed agreement has since been endorsed by the Faroese Lagting.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were registered as unemployed in the villages of Douglas and Douglas West, in the County of Lanark, at the last convenient date, in January, 1959, and in December and November, 1958, respectively; and the total number of the working population at each date, respectively.

Of those registered as unemployed at the Lesmahagow Employment Exchange on the dates mentioned, the numbers who can be identified as residents of Douglas and Douglas West are given below. Separate figures of the working population of the villages are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed in Hull, in January, 1952, and January, 1959, respectively; the causes of the recent increase; and what steps the Government intend to take forthwith to reduce unemployment in the city.

At 12th January, 1959, there were 6,602 persons on the registers of the Employment Exchanges and the Youth Employment Office in Hull and Hessle, compared with 4,067 at 14th January, 1952. The main causes of the increase were the decline in world trade and a reduced demand for goods and services at home, aggravated by an increase between December and January in the numbers unemployed from building and contracting largely due to severe weather in January. The Government are taking all possible measures to stimulate trade, and have included Hull and the neighbouring areas amongst those eligible for Government assistance to suitable projects likely to reduce the level of unemployment.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of disabled men and women who are unemployed in Hull; how many could be entered by the Remploy factory for training and rehabilitation; and what steps are being taken to increase the number being trained and rehabilitated.

On 16th February, 1959, 786 registered disabled persons were unemployed in Hull. Of these, 46 were classified as needing employment under sheltered conditions in a Remploy factory or elsewhere. It is not the main purpose of Remploy to provide training or rehabilitation. These services are available at Government training centres, industrial rehabilitation units and other establishments, and my disablement resettle-

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed men in Hull who have been out of work for over 12 months, six months, and three months, respectively.

A detailed analysis according to duration of unemployment is only available quarterly, the latest available figures being for 8th December, 1958.The following Table gives the information desired.

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of registered unemployed and of notified vacancies at the Dartford Employment Exchange in each of the last six months; and how this compares with the same months a year ago.

The following Table gives the information desired:

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of unemployed in the urban districts of Biddulph and Cheadle, Staffordshire, at the latest date for which figures are available, and the comparable figures for the corresponding date 12 months ago.

The available statistics relate to employment exchange areas. At 9th February, 1959, there were 181 persons registered as unemployed at the Biddulph Employment Exchange and Youth Employment Office, and 124 at the Cheadle Employment Exchange and Youth Employment Office, compared with 98 and 113 respectively at 17th February, 1958.

asked the Minister of Labour the percentage of unemployment in the municipal Borough of Todmorden; and how this compares with the figures for the past six months.

The available statistics relate to employment exchange areas. The following table gives the information desired:

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the imminent closure of R. and J. Holroyd, Limited, cotton spinners and doublers, of Springwood Mills, Holywell Green, Elland, what steps he is taking to provide employment for those who will lose their jobs.

I understand that half the workers employed at this mill have already been offered alternative jobs. The closure will not be completed for another two or three months, and in the meantime my local officers will continue efforts to submit to other vacancies all who need help in finding other employment.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent apprentices now receive their training in apprenticeship works schools and in joint training centres, in accordance with the suggestions made in paragraph 40 of the Report of the Carr Committee, "Training For Skill."

While no figures are available it is known that a number of firms have their own apprenticeship works schools. So far as I am aware, little use is at present being made of joint training centres.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children have left the Douglas and Douglas West schools, respectively, in the County of Lanark, since 1st December, 1958; and how many remain at each of these schools now.

Fifty-nine and 15 respectively. The numbers remaining are 434 and 45 respectively.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will briefly state the Royal Society's recommendations made to him concerning the advantages to be gained from an earth space satellite programme.

The views of the group of Fellows of the Royal Society, whom my right hon. Friend consulted informally, drew attention to the many advantages of research with artificial satellites to physical, astronomical and meteorological science, but could not, of course, cover the question of priorities as between such research and other claims on Government expenditure.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is now in a position to make a further statement about the disposal of the Royal Ordnance factory at Swynnerton.

The factory site has been offered to the Staffordshire County Council and proposals for its future use are still under consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty to what extent research is being conducted into the detection of underwater vessels or submarine missiles approaching the coastline of the United Kingdom; and what defence is contemplated against this type of threat.

Great importance has always been, and is attached to ways of detecting underwater vessels. Equipment and weapon systems for this purpose are under continuous development and satisfactory advances have been made in this field. There has been a comprehensive exchange of information on research and development with our N.A.T.O. Allies.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will now state when dispatch vessels, H.M.S. "Surprise" and "Alert" will be paid off, and replaced by effective anti-submarine frigates.

These two converted frigates performs the role of flagship more economically than any other suitable vessel could. They cost little more than half as much to run as a normal frigate, they need fewer men and they can be used as escorts. We intend to operate them as long as we can.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will give the dates of final completion and final reduction to reserve of the following vessels of the Dark Class fast patrol boats, H.M.S. "Dark Antagonist", "Dark Avenger", "Dark Biter", "Dark Buccaneer", "Dark Clipper", "Dark Hunter", "Dark Killer", and "Dark Rover".

"Dark Antagonist" was in commission for nearly three years: the rest for between six and eighteen months. The decision to reduce our coastal forces was inescapable and whenever it had been taken there were bound to be some recently completed boats made redundant. We hope to get back some of our outlay on these by selling them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the number of medical officers in Uganda and the number of other qualified medical practitioners practising in the Protectorate.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 17th February, 1959; Vol. 600, c. 37], supplied the following further information:The total number of medical officers in Uganda is 174, of whom 11 are licensed practitioners and 20 are other qualified staff (pathologists, entomologists, dental surgeons and pharmacists). Other qualified medical practitioners number 281, of whom 41 are licensed and the remainder registered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will explain the changes in the situation with regard to Cyprus which have persuaded Her Majesty's Government to accept the proposals contained in the Zurich agreement as the basis for talks with Archbishop Makarios for a resolving of the Cyprus situation.

I have nothing to add to the Prime Minister's statement in the House on 19th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the latest situation in Cyprus, with particular reference to the proposed Cyprus Agreement negotiated at Zurich; and to what extent he accepts this proposed agreement.

The hon. Member will have seen the two White Papers (Cmnd. 679 and 680) regarding the agreements reached at the London Conference last week. In Cyprus all detainees have now been released; a number of emergency regulations have been withdrawn; and the deportation orders against Archbishop Makarios and the three other principal exiles have been revoked.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give a full and detailed account of all items of expenditure incurred by Her Majesty's Government in connection with Cyprus, since October, 1951, such details to include cost of civil, military and judiciary expenditure and the estimated loss of trade between Great Britain and Cyprus during this period.

The information requested in the first part of the Question cannot be supplied without a great deal of research. As regards the second part, imports into Cyprus from the United Kingdom in 1951 were £7·4 million, and in 1957, £20·9 million. Exports from Cyprus to the United Kingdom in 1951 were £2·7 million, and in 1957, £5·3 million.

asked the Paymaster-General whether he is aware that the charges for electricity wayleaves vary from district to district; and if he will take steps, if necessary by legislation, to secure uniformity in this respect.

The national scales of payment, which have been agreed between the Electricity Authorities, the National Farmers' Union and the Country Landowners' Association, do not vary from district to district. The agreed payments vary, however, according to the size and type of construction and to whether the land is arable or cultivated grassland. I understand that some individual payments, made under long-standing agreements may not conform to these scales. If a landowner or occupier considers that the payments under such agreements ought to be revised, his proper course would be to approach the Electricity Board concerned. I think that any necessary adjustments can be better made by negotiation, in this way.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many tree preservation orders were made during the last 12 months to the most convenient date.

A tree preservation order does not take effect until confirmed by my right hon. Friend. In the 12 months ended 31st January, 1959, he confirmed 342 orders.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give a direction under Section 9 (2) of the Television Act, 1954, requiring the Authority to refrain from broadcasting in programmes of fictional drama passages purporting to be news announcements, in order to avoid panic among the lieges.

The Authority is very much aware of the dangers of simulated news announcements of the kind made on 20th February and has already made arrangements with the programme companies that they shall not be used in future.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how much of the maximum and minimum National Insurance contributions proposed in the National Insurance Bill for an employed person is attributable to benefits other than those for old age, industrial injuries, and the National Health Service.

As I explained during the discussions on the Bill, the contributions embodied in it are arrived at on the assessment principle, and consequently seek to provide an annual income adequate to meet annual expenditure in respect of all the benefits of the scheme. The contribution has, therefore, not been compiled from elements specifically attributed to particular benefits.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will give for the Stoke-on-Trent area the total numbers since the National Insurance Act became operative who received death benefit awards and whose claims for such awards were rejected, respectively, and who suffered, respectively, from pneumoconiosis, bronchitis and emphysema, being engaged, respectively, in coal mining, the potteries and the foundries; and if he will give the same numbers per thousand employed and the national figures per thousand employed.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress is being made in connection with the proposed traffic control signals at the junction of A.23 and Manor Royal, Crawley; and what was the reason for the delay of nearly four months in replying to a letter on this subject dated 27th October, 1958, from the Secretary of the Crawley Industrial Group to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation's divisional road engineer, south-eastern.

Various proposals for signal control at this difficult junction have been considered. A scheme which appeared suitable in principle was found when developed in detail to be too elaborate and expensive. The Divisional Road Engineer has recently suggested a much cheaper and simpler scheme, which the County Surveyor and the Engineer to the Crawley Development Corporation and the Crawley Urban District Council are now considering.When the letter of 27th October, 1958, from the Secretary of the Crawley Industrial Group was received, detailed proposals for the more elaborate scheme had not yet been received from the Divisional Road Engineer; hence only an acknowledgement was sent. Full details were, in fact, received on 28th January, 1959, and a reply was sent to the Secretary of the Industrial Group on 9th February.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will investigate whether civil aeroplanes equipped with mechanical controls which warn of the approach of other aeroplanes on obstructive dangers to flying, should be required to keep these controls continuously alive, and not only at times of poor visibility.

I understand that it is already normal practice for pilots to do as the hon. Member suggests.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in view of the issue by the Air Registration Board of Notice No. 54 about 3-point altimeters, he will make a statement about the modifications required by this Notice, and about his proposals for the possible future changes in the design of altimeters.

My Department and the Air Registration Board have been studying the problems of clearer and easier recognition of altimeter readings for some time as have been other aviation authorities including the United States. As a result of these studies my Department and the Air Registration Board have required interim modifications to the dials of existing altimeters on Britannia, Comet, Viscount and all other aircraft which operate above 20,000 ft. to be carried out by 30th September, 1959. Photographs showing the modifications are displayed in the Library.In order to advance with the greatest effectiveness the studies already undertaken, I have also decided to set up a

Committee under the chairmanship of my Department with the following terms of reference:

asked the Secretary of State for War how many of the 100,000 soldiers who have been, or are being, employed on non-operational duties will be replaced by civilians; how many will be replaced by labour-saving machinery; and what number will be saved by a reduced training commitment.

This is our prospective saving of non-operational manpower by 1963. The factors set out in the Question are part of a general reorganisation of the Army from which savings in manpower will emerge, but there are others. Replacement by civilians will save about 11,000 soldiers and the number of permanent staff and trainees in the training organisation will be 38,000 less.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that the frames designed to display pictures of waterfowl in St. James's Park have been in disrepair for a long time; what will be the cost of repair; when he expects the work to be completed; and whether he will hasten completion because of the interest in the waterfowl shown by the visitors who watch them.

The frames were maliciously damaged in December and the cost of repair was put at £33. Instructions were given at once for the repairs, but some delay has been experienced in obtaining the special metal channelling required. My right hon. Friend is aware of the considerable interest shown in the waterfowl by visitors and he hopes to have the picture frames restored within a month.