asked the Secretary of State for War what progress has been made with the preparation of the guided-missiles project in South Uist; the total expenditure to date; how many civilian workers are at present employed; and when the range will be fully operational for the firing of the Corporal or other missiles.

Progress is up to schedule and the range will be fully operational early in the summer, although construction work will go on for a time after that. Expenditure on works services so far in South Uist totals £106,000. There are about 170 men employed in the island.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman two questions? First, has the civilian employment now reached its peak and how many men will be retained permanently at the range? Secondly, can the right hon. Gentleman reassure the local people that this is a purely training project and that atomic or nuclear warheads will not be either stored or employed at the range?

As to the second part of the supplementary question, I can certainly give the hon. Gentleman the assurance he seeks. In reply to the first part, we are rather beyond the peak. More men were employed earlier than are being employed today. Once the constructional work ends, there will not be the same possibilities for the employment of large numbers of civilians.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers and other ranks in the Army have been dismissed from the Service, demoted or sentenced to imprisonment for offences committed during their service in Cyprus.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of British Army personnel who have been subjected to disciplinary action as a result of their activities during operations in Cyprus.

No central record is kept of summary convictions. So far as courts-martial are concerned, there have been 57 officers and 1,340 other ranks convicted in Cyprus since the emergency began in November, 1955.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the strong feeling which has been expressed on both sides of the House about the continued detention of some of these officers and men? In view of the action of the Governor of Cyprus in referring to Colonel Grivas and his friends and accomplices as if they were heroes, and of Archbishop Makarios in pinning a medal on Colonel Grivas, does the right hon. Gentleman consider it reasonable that our men should be retained in detention?

This is an inter-Service problem and the right hon. Gentleman has a later Question on the specific point to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence.

Is the Secretary of State aware that as I was afraid that the Question, being No. 71, would not be reached, I took no chances and had it deferred until next Wednesday? Will the right hon. Gentleman, therefore, give me the Answer which his right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence would have given?

The Minister of Defence has asked my permission to answer the right hon. Gentleman's Question, if it is not reached, at the end of Questions. I thought I had better tell the right hon. Gentleman, because he will get an answer whether his Question is reached in the ordinary course or not.

That is only pouring coals of fire on my head.

While recognising the right hon. Gentleman's desire to retain the disciplinary code in the Army, he will nevertheless understand that this is a matter which surely warrants investigation of each individual case to see what can be done in view of the strong feelings which exist here, although we recognise the difficulties involved. Will the right hon. Gentleman comment on this?

This is an inter-Service problem in which not only the Army is involved. This very Question is being answered later.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent the Vickers machine gun, with which the Army is still equipped, will be modified to take ·300 ammunition.

The Vickers gun will not be modified. It will be replaced in due course by a sustained fire machine gun now under trial. This gun will fire the standard N.A.T.O. round.

Is it quite out of the question to use the ·300 ammunition on the present gun?

indicated assent.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the overturning of a tank in recent tests of a new gun; and, in view of the risks involved for soldiers taking part in such tests, what consultations he has had with the Minister of Supply in order to avoid further risk of this kind.

I cannot trace any such recent incident. The new 105 mm. gun is safe to fire and there is no unusual risk to the crew of a tank armed with it.

While I am glad to be assured that a recoil system has now been developed, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is a fact that when the gun was tested on completion at Solway Firth, Dumfriesshire, it recoiled violently for twenty yards? Luckily nobody was hurt, but I should like to know what happened to the crew on that occasion. Is not it ridiculous that a test should take place in this fashion without any scientific analysis having been made beforehand to determine what the recoil would be?

I assure the hon. Member that there is no foundation whatsoever to that report.

If I obtain details of this incident, will the right hon. Gentleman look into it?

Certainly I will, but the hon. Member will not find them.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many different main types of three-ton trucks are now being provided for the Army; what are the major differences in main components, such as engine, gear-box and transmission; and for how many different types of instruments and accessories spares have to be held in Army supply units.

We are providing one standard three-ton chassis on which can be built eight different bodies according to need. This keeps the range of spares to a minimum. There are no additional instruments or accessories.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps he is taking to segregate National Service men into separate units.

None, Sir. The proportion of Regulars to National Service men varies from unit to unit. The proportion of Regulars increases as recruitment improves and as the number of National Service men called up is reduced.

Is it not a fact that the right hon. Gentleman said that in the re-equipping of the Regular Army we were to have new weapons, new equipment and new uniforms? As I gather that these will go only to the Regulars, will not the Army be a ramshackle affair, with a proportion of the men having new equipment and the poor, wretched National Service men using the old? Surely it is intended to do something about that?

I am surprised at the hon. Member getting hold of the wrong end of the stick to such an extent. As the equipment goes out and is issued to units, it goes to all men in those units, including National Service men.

Including uniforms?

They are not out yet.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent he is considering the possibility of releasing National Service men before the completion of their two years' period of service where the Army can no longer provide them with useful employment.

The number of men being called for National Service is being progressively reduced as the Army gets smaller. Those already serving will complete the period of two years.

But that does not answer the Question, does it? I was asking whether, when the Army can no longer provide them with useful employment, the right hon. Gentleman proposes to keep these men kicking their heels.

That is not so. I was asked whether I was considering releasing National Service men before completion of their two years' service and I said that those already serving will continue for the two years.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many of the new streamlined divisional headquarters are located with the British Army of the Rhine.

Three, Sir.

If the right hon. Gentleman will not tell us the number of brigade groups in Germany, out of exaggerated deference to security, as I should have thought, can he say whether these three divisional headquarters now control brigade groups which he considers equal to the four divisions that we are pledged to maintain in Germany?

There has been considerable reorganisation and new thinking not only in tie British Army but in the armies of all our Western Allies on the size and scope of divisions and, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, the Army in Germany is organised in terms of brigade groups now.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many candidates for commission have come forward from the junior leader and apprentice schools, and over what period; how many have been successful; and what proportion of the total intake this figure represents.

In the time available I have not been able to obtain figures in the form set out in the Question. I will send them to the right hon. Member. There are at present about 1,500 officers in the Army who entered the Service as boys or apprentices.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we should like to have these figures, because the Under-Secretary spoke of the remarkable number of young officers who have passed through these schools? I very much hope that that is the ease. It is an important and good development if it is so. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I should like to have the real figures not only in private but on the Floor of the House?

The Question was tabled on Monday and I am afraid that I have not been able to complete my inquiries. I will send the figures to the right hon. Gentleman or answer a Question later—whichever he wants.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the sum allocated to National Service grants for 1959–60 is so much greater than the estimate for 1958–59.

As hon. Members know, the age of call-up for National Service is being allowed to rise. Because the recruits are older more of them are married and in general they have in civil life heavier obligations than was previously the case. We are making allowance for this by providing for more and larger National Service grants in the coming financial year.

But has there been any improvement in the actual scale of the National Service grants? If so, can they be made retrospective to apply to those already made?

No, Sir. Each National Service grant is considered on its merits. We have to take account of the fact that over the past three years the number of grants has risen from 7,000 to 9,600 and the average annual amount of individual grants from £80 to £105.

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements are being made to ensure that British Service personnel will not suffer financial loss as a result of being withdrawn from Cyprus.

Large-scale movements of troops out of a country at the end of an emergency always bring their special problems. I have asked the Commander-in-Chief to inform me of the scope and size of the problem in Cyprus.

I shall be glad to hear that information, but is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we all feel that British Service personnel ought to receive very special consideration, because this is entirely different from an ordinary posting? It is the result of a dramatic change in the Government's own policy—a change in their mind—which could not have been anticipated by the personnel. I should have thought that there was a strong case for special treatment of these men.

I cannot accept it when the right hon. Gentleman says that there has been a change of policy. It is the successful fruition of the Government's policy.

What is the purpose behind this inquiry by the Commander-in-Chief? Is it to find out whether circumstances warrant help to troops who may be penalised because of withdrawal from Cyprus?

Large-scale withdrawals, such as from Kenya and Korea, in the past have brought their problems and I am anxious to know their scope.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that, during the screening of the play, "Hot Summer Night", recently on Independent Television, an artificial break was made in the play for advertisements, the action being stopped at a climax with a character talking from the top of some stairs and being resumed with the character again talking and descending the stairs; and, as this is a breach of the Television Act, what action he is taking against the Independent Television Authority.

The Authority does not regard this break as natural and instructed the programme company the following day that breaks of this kind, though perhaps suitable in the theatre, could not be allowed in its transmission under the Act's "natural break" rule. It has emphasised this to all the companies.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I am glad that one of these practices is condemned by him? Has he seen the Gallup Poll which shows that viewers in a proportion of three to one dislike the intrusion of advertisements into programmes in unnatural breaks? How long are these gentlemen to get away with it? If the right hon. Gentleman wants an all-party agreement on the extent of the intrusion of advertisements into programmes, would not it be a good idea to direct the I.T.A. to go some way to meet our point of view?

In this case, the I.T.A. has condemned the mistake without reservation. It has cautioned the particular company and it has informed other companies. I doubt whether we shall ever have complete all-party agreement on commercial television.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the pleasure it has given us that a Daniel has at last come to judgment?

Not a bit of it. This really shows that the Authority is doing its job.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that at 6.15 p.m., approximately, on Saturday, 14th February, a singer on Independent Television was apparently faded out before the end of his song in order to insert advertisements; and, as this is a breach of the Television Act, what action he is taking against the Independent Television Authority.

The Authority tells me that the hon. Member is mistaken in thinking that the singer was faded out to make room for advertisements. The presentation technique for this particular song allowed for the final words to die away deliberately as they are repeated several times. I understand that the same technique is employed in a gramophone record of the song in question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is just another example of the way in which these programmes are being manipulated so as best to allow the intrusion of advertisements in the middle of them? Would not it be a good thing, in view of the extent of public opinion, as shown in the Gallup Poll, to instruct the I.T.A. to go at least some way to meet these criticisms that there are too many unnatural breaks in the programmes?

That supplementary question is based on the assumption that it was an unnatural break at that point. I have listened to the gramophone record which has gone on sale. I have it downstairs in my room with a gramophone. I am quite prepared for the hon. Member or any other hon. Member to listen to it, because the treatment of the song on television was precisely the same as its treatment on the gramophone record. The song is called, "Real Wild Child". It was sung by a man called Ivan and it fades away with "Wild child, wild child, wild child." I have listened to the gramophone record, which is more than the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Chapman) has done.

In order to get some sense of proportion on this matter, may I ask whether my Tight hon. Friend has seen the letter which appeared in today's Times, written by a gentleman who has made some researches into this matter? The conclusions he has reached are that the complaints come almost entirely either from people who have no television sets or those who have sets which will receive only the B.B.C. programmes?

I have read the letter with great interest, especially as the gentleman has made some scientific investigations.

If we avail ourselves of the invitation extended by the right hon. Gentleman to come to his room to hear this gramophone record, will he put on a little liquid refreshment?

The Post Office does not finance those things.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that, contrary to the rules laid down by the Independent Television Authority about the use of statistics in advertisements, claims are being made that a particular bread is exactly eight times more good for the viewer than any other bread, that a particular sweetmeat is seven times less fattening than ordinary chocolate, and that a particular oil reduces engine wear by exactly 80 per cent.; and whether he will issue regulations under Section 4 (4) of the Television Act to make sure that the Independent Television Authority enforces rules about this misleading use of figures.

It is a matter for the Authority to ensure compliance with its "Principles for Television Advertising". In general advertisements in which there is doubt are referred to the Authority by the programme companies. If the Authority is in doubt it refers them to its Advertising Advisory Committee. These advertisements were not so referred, and in view of the hon. Member's allegation I have asked the Authority to obtain the opinion of the Committee.

I am much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman. We are making progress. He is being kind in asking for this matter to be investigated. May I draw his attention to the fact that when an ordinary citizen wrote to the advertiser about the claim in regard to engine wear, and asked him to substantiate the claim, in reply the advertiser evaded the question about substantiating the figure of 80 per cent. That figure, of course, meant that an engine would last five times as long as any other engine which was not using his oil. Does not the Minister agree that, if that kind of thing happens, it ought to be stopped as soon as possible?

I have no doubt that the Advertising Advisory Committee will read HANSARD in respect of the Answer to this and also the previous Question.

Has the attention of my right hon. Friend been drawn to an advertisement which exaggerated a great deal by pretending that Labour could meet Britain's needs in the future?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his reply to the Question presupposes the fact that the advertisements are not submitted by the programme companies to the I.T.A.? Indeed, he admits that.

That is not so. I will read my reply again so that the hon. Gentleman gets it right. In general, advertisements in which there is doubt are referred to the Authority by the programme companies. In this case the programme company did not think there was doubt, but as an hon. Member of this House has said to the Postmaster-General that there is doubt, I have taken his allegation at its face value and I have tried to meet his point by referring it to the Committee, which I thought was reasonable.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of complaints by professional bodies and individuals that advertisers are making extravagant claims for their products on Independent Television, he will make regulations under Sections 4 (4) and 4 (5) of the Television Act that any such claim must be capable of proof and demonstration before an independent committee.

One of the functions of the Authority's Advertising Advisory Committee is to give advice to the Authority and programme contractors with a view to the exclusion of misleading advertisements. Such advice has been given and acted upon. I see no need therefore for regulations by me under Section 4 (4) or directions under Section 4 (5).

Is the Postmaster-General aware that when his predecessor announced the setting up of the Advertising Advisory Committee, he allayed the fears of a large number of hon. Members as to whether exaggerated claims would be made. Now, demonstrably, exaggerated claims are being made, so will he now look at the constitution of the Advertising Advisory Committee to see whether it is advisable to have representatives of advertising agents on it?

I am satisfied with the composition of the Advertising Advisory Committee, which is a responsible body of experts drawn from all spheres of life. The B.M.A., the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, the Ministry of Health and the veterinary surgeons, all are represented on this body. I am certain that they are expert and efficient. If the hon. Gentleman has any specific exaggerations in mind, I will do what I did for the hon. Gentleman the Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Chapman), and refer them to the Advertising Advisory Committee.

The right hon. Gentleman has referred to the advice of medical experts. In the case of the engineering claim that a particular oil saves 80 per cent. in the wear of an engine, surely medical people are not the best to advise him on that point?

No, Sir, but we cannot have a representative from every profession and industry in the country on that Committee. It would be a very unwieldy body if we did that. However, the Committee can always seek advice from outside experts, and I am sure it will do that.

asked the Postmaster-General what consultations have taken place under Section 4 (5) of the Television Act, 1954, between the Independent Television Authority and himself relating to advertisements; and how many directions he has given to the Authority as provided for in Section 4 (5).

On 22nd June, 1955, my predecessor told the House that he had approved the "Principles for Television Advertising" in so far as they related to matters falling within his jurisdiction under Section 4 (5) of the Act. Since then the Authority has consulted me formally about the advertising of four different items. In each case I was m agreement with the Authority's proposals and therefore no need for directions from me arose.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there have been conflicts over the Floor of this House about his powers in this matter? Does not he recognise that he has power to issue directions to the Independent Television Authority, in any case in which he thinks fit, under Section 4 (5) of the Act, and may we have it clearly stated now that the right hon. Gentleman accepts some responsibility in this matter?

The Television Act seems to be capable of infinite interpretation by different hon. Members. Section 4 (5) relates to consultation on admissible classes of goods and services. In those cases where the Independent Television Authority has consulted me, I have done my best to look at the point dispassionately, and in the last two years we have taken out four items which were inadmissible.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is a matter of great consequence? Will be consult subsection (5) again, which lays down specifically both the type of goods and the methods of advertising in respect of which he has power to give directions?

Section 4 (5) calls for consultation with the Postmaster-General as to the classes and description of goods and services which must not be advertised and the methods of advertising which must not be employed, and calls on the Authority to carry out any directions he may give in those respects. I am quite satisfied that at the moment the Authority is carrying out its duty of consulting me on any possibly inadmissible case.

asked the Postmaster-General on what date the Independent Television Authority decided that certain toothpaste advertisements offended against the rules approved by him; and on what date those advertisements ceased to be transmitted.

The Authority tells me that one advertiser on being asked to substantiate his claims, or to revise his script, withdrew his advertising as from 1st January this year. Another asked to amend his script on 27th January is revising his advertisement. The present advertisement will not appear after the end of this week.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that in December the Advisory Committee decided that these advertisements ought to be withdrawn? Why was it that the I.T.A. gave the advertisers a few weeks in which to withdraw their advertisements?

That is another question. Personally, I am of the opinion that it was too long a time and in that I agree with the right hon. Gentleman. However, I must ask the House to remember that this discrimination refers only to television advertising and that the same advertisements have been carried by newspapers of all descriptions. The same advertisement has appeared in a variety of newspapers, including the Daily Mirror and the People. The Television Authority is more scrupulous about its advertisements than any other body I know.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he is not responsible for newspapers but is responsible for television advertising?

I do not know who is responsible for the newspapers I have mentioned.

Are we right in assuming that the toothpastes to which the right hon. Gentleman refers are Colgate and Gleam? Why is it that the objections to these advertisements were brought to his attention and to that of the House on 21st November when evidence was given in the debate of that day of the grave apprehensions of the dental profession, and that nothing was done about the matter until January?

The Advertising Advisory Committee discussed this matter on 20th October. It was called to the Committee's attention by a member of the British Dental Association who is on the Committee. The Committee considered it before it was mentioned in the House. I do not think that it is right and proper to mention individual firms in the House.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the Independent Television Authority permits eight minutes and more of advertising an hour when serious programmes are broadcast and if he will make regulations under Section 4 and Schedule 2 to the Television Act to limit the amount of advertising time.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend gave the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Chapman) on 4th March.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that reply gave the impression that the reason why more than six minutes' advertising was allowed was the nature and length of the programmes, whereas in fact it depends on whether or not the programme is shown at peak hours or off-peak hours? Will he correct that impression, since the true reason for excessive advertising is that the programme contractors find it more profitable to advertise at peak hours?

A lot depends on the nature of the programme being transmitted. At present the transmitted programmes average between 60 and 65 hours, and between January and February on up to eight occasions there were six advertisements lasting for eight minutes, there was one lasting eight and a half minutes, and on two occasions at the most they lasted more than nine minutes, all depending on the nature of the programme.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are far more breaks at peak times than during low viewing times? How does it come about that it is a regular occurrence for more breaks and more time devoted to advertisements to come in peak periods rather than at any other time?

The curious thing is that there is no complaint from the general public. Where people can view I.T.A. and B.B.C., of the time spent in viewing twice as much is spent watching I.T.A. as B.B.C. If people object, they can switch to the station where there is no advertising.

But that is no excuse for breaking the law.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a Gallup Poll on Tuesday showed that 81 per cent. of I.T.A. viewers were annoyed by the breaks and that the vast majority of I.T.A. viewers pronounced themselves in favour of the Bill which I am presenting to the House? Would he agree that it would be a shame if that Bill were killed without the House being given an opportunity to discuss it?

I should hate to see any Bill of the hon. Gentleman's killed. In reply to this reference to the Gallup Pall, there is a letter in The Times today from Mr. Geoffrey Gorer, who carried out 2,000 scientific investigations and who found that the people he interviewed did not really mind about advertisements.

Does the Postmaster-General mean that the results of the Gallup Poll are not worthy of consideration and that the poll is unreliable? Is he repudiating it altogether? All of us have doubts about the Gallup Polls from time to time, especially when they are not favourable to us, but surely the Gallup Poll has sufficient reputation not to be treated in the contemptuous manner which the Postmaster-General has shown.

I have not treated it in a contemptuous manner. I said that there was another poll which gave different results, and I have to balance the one against the other.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent he has received specific complaints from the general public about the rules relating to natural breaks in Independent Television Authority programmes.

I have seen the News Chronicle Gallup Poll based on specific questions. As regards spontaneous complaints from the general public I have received since 1st December, 1958, four letters of criticism about the insertion of advertisements in natural breaks. For two years prior to that date I received none.

Would my right hon. Friend infer from that information that there is no strong public agitation? Is not it confined to right hon. and hon. Gentlemen opposite?

I think that that is the right conclusion.

Can the right hon. Gentleman confirm that the replies to protests from viewers about natural breaks are now sent out by I.T.A. in duplicated letters?

I shall have to have notice of that supplementary question. I do not know the answer myself.

asked the Postmaster-General what evidence he has that viewers are dissatisfied with the way in which, under the rules contained in the Second Schedule to the Television Act, 1954, advertisements are inserted in Independent Television Authority programmes.

I have received in the last six months four letters only from the general public. They have all come in since 1st December. The Authority itself has had five letters from the public. It tells me that its audiences are as large as ever, and that at least two-thirds of the time spent viewing television in homes with a choice is given to the Independent Television programmes.

Does my right hon. Friend, therefore, agree that there is no case for amending legislation further to restrict the programme contractors as to the places where they insert advertisements into their programmes?

I think that the introduction of Independent Television has had a beneficial effect on television as a whole.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we are not asking for new legislation; we are asking that the provisions of the present legislation shall be faithfully carried out?

The right hon. Gentleman was against the present legislation at the beginning, and has been ever since. I am satisfied that its provisions have been carried out efficiently and well.

asked the Postmaster-General when he intends to authorise the expenditure by the British Broadcasting Corporation of the money necessary to provide television and very high frequency services for the Western isles and north-west Highland coastal areas.

The matter is under consideration.

In view of the fact that this has been the Answer for quite a long time past, will the Postmaster-General say something a little more practical and sympathetic and announce a target date for a service in this area?

I cannot give a target date at the moment.

Is the Minister aware that the B.B.C. is extremely anxious to get on with this job, that there is no difficulty as far as it is concerned, and that it is purely a matter of authorising it to spend the money? What is the delay now?

There are quite a number of problems to be solved.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the present stage of research into the practicability of colour television; whether any more economical system has yet been devised; and whether the Television Advisory Committee has yet reported to him on the matter.

The technical problems of colour television systems are being considered by the Television Advisory Committee whose report I still await.

asked the Postmaster-General what decision has been made to increase the line system of television to harmonise Great Britain with other countries.

None, Sir. Such a decision must be preceded by consideration of a report on the matter by my Television Advisory Committee which I still await.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that there will be consideration by this House before he takes a decision?

I promised the House that as soon as I received the report I would place a copy in the Library, so obviously hon. Members will have a chance to study it.

asked the Postmaster-General when he proposes to change the members of the Independent Television Authority.

As and when existing appointments expire it will be my responsibility to consider how vacancies can best be filled.

In view of the repeated breaches of the Television Act with unnatural breaks and the advertising of quack medicines, does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that the present membership of the Advisory Committee should be reviewed, since the members are not safeguarding the interests of the public?

I do not accept the assumptions on which that supplementary question is based.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will move to appoint a Select Committee to inquire into the Independent Television Authority and the programme companies.

No, Sir.

Again, in view of the breaches of the Act which are constantly made by the programme companies and condoned by the I.T.A., and the repeated criticisms of hon. Members on both sides of the House, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that we should have a Select Committee, with power to send for papers and persons, to discover the real relationship between the I.T.A. and the programme companies?

I cannot accept those assumptions, particularly the suggestion of criticisms from both sides of the House.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a director of one of these companies has publicly said that he regards this attitude as permission to print pound notes—the profits being so exorbitant in television? Should not some of this money go back to the public to develop television services?

A great deal of it does go back to the public by way of taxation.

asked the Postmaster-General if he has yet ascertained who was the author of the transcription of the programme, "This Week", on 1st January, sent by the Assistant Postmaster-General to the hon. Member for East Woolwich.

The Authority tells me that the transcript was provided by Associated Rediffusion.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that no serious check on the working of the Television Act is possible unless the monitoring and transcribing of the programmes is done not by the programme contractors themselves, but by I.T.A. officials? Is he aware that when I made a complaint against Associated Rediffusion, all that happened was that the Minister asked I.T.A. to ask Associated Rediffusion for the evidence? Is he aware that when I made that complaint, the Assistant Postmaster-General sent me a document, typed on Ministry paper, which referred to the employees of Associated Rediffusion by their Christian names and which was inaccurate and slovenly in all respects?

I believe that the hon. Gentleman has written to my hon. Friend the Assistant Postmaster-General, who is to answer that letter, and we had better wait until the hon. Gentleman has had that answer.

asked the Postmaster-General when the Report of the Television Advisory Committee appointed by him will be made available to hon. Members.

I am not yet able to say. I have not yet received the Report, but I repeat my promise to lay a copy in the Library as soon as I receive it.

Can the right hon. Gentleman inform the House whether the question of a third television channel has been referred to the Television Advisory Committee?

Without notice, I am not sure what its terms of reference are, but generally speaking it is going into the problem of line definition, including colour, and the necessary measures required to carry that out.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) what plans he has for reducing the charges for telephone calls from the United Kingdom to Commonwealth countries, especially as many of the charges are the same irrespective of distance;

Although anxious that our rates should be as low as possible, the present financial results of the overseas telephone services as a whole would not allow me to make any general reductions. The existing scales of charges—which have remained unchanged since the war—are, I believe, generally accepted as fair. The uniformity of our charges for Commonwealth services reflects the fact that, apart from the important Canadian link, these services are provided by radio, so that costs are largely independent of distance.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his Answer, may I ask whether he can say why there are so few night rates, except to Canada, and when will it be possible to have more, particularly in countries in roughly the same longitude?

I should like notice of that question.

asked the Postmaster-General how many cases have been reported to him of omissions or inaccuracies in the new issue of the Edinburgh telephone directory; and what steps he is taking to recompense subscribers who suffer financial loss in consequence of these errors on the part of the Post Office.

Of the 60,000 amendments which were made to this directory, 68 major errors and 30 minor ones have been reported. I am very sorry that these mistakes have been made and the inconvenience they have caused.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his helpful reply, may I ask him to take steps to avoid a repetition of these unfortunate mistakes in the future, because they cause serious financial hardship to those affected?

We shall certainly take all possible steps to do so, and I have myself asked for a report.

May we be told the cost to the Post Office?

Six hundred pounds.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will now reconsider his decision not to authorise a new sub-post office on the Hutton Lane Estate, Guisborough, in view of the further representations made by the local authority and residents.

I have considered this matter again very carefully but I am sorry I should not be justified in authorising an office.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman sometimes boast that the Post Office has not been the same since he took over? In those circumstances, could not he show a little more flexibility of mind in the provision of sub-post offices?

If the hon. Gentleman has any further evidence to submit to me, I will look at it again; but, in the light of evidence already submitted, I would say that there are other places which would deserve a sub-post office before the place in question.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what steps he is taking to provide adequate amenities and recreational facilities at the Royal Air Force Station, El Adem.

We shall be making a start on a building programme at El Adem very soon. The programme includes, among other things, the extension of three messes, a new airmen's club, and a swimming pool. Meanwhile, existing club rooms are being improved and augmented.

I thank my right hon. Friend for that very satisfactory reply. Will he look particularly into the question of amenities for warrant officers and senior N.C.O.s, which I understand are very sub-standard?

Yes, that is part of our programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will make a statement on the official reports received at the Air Ministry about the pale yellow disc which recently hovered in the sky over London Airport for 20 minutes; and what observations were made of it on the radar screens.

A pale yellow light was seen by officials at London Airport above one of the runways from 7.25 to 7.45 on the evening of 25th February. There was no corresponding response on the airport radars or on air defence radars. The light was not identified.

Should not the Secretary of State's Department have pointed out that there were natural conditions which could quite easily have led to this apparition, and not have given, by implication, the idea that there was some Martian saucer hovering and waiting for permission to land?

The hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. Stonehouse).

There was insufficient evidence to determine what the cause of this light could have been.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the total and the average amount of compensation payable to crofters in respect of loss of land and other adverse effects resulting from the establishment of the South Uist Rocket Range.

The amount awarded to South Uist crofters by the Scottish Land Court was £1,889. Reductions of rent were also granted amounting to £127 a year. Awards of £461 and £652 were made to crofters on North Uist and Benbecula. As the details are somewhat lengthy I will, with permission, circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these awards of compensation are regarded as about the most miserable and conservative ever awarded by the Scottish Land Court in respect of loss of land and part-loss of livelihood? Will the Air Ministry itself, in the interests of good public relations and justice, consider making some supplementary award to the crofters affected, who are affected for the rest of their lives by this intrusion?

No, Sir. It has all along been understood and agreed by all concerned that claims arising from the resumption of land would be referred to the Scottish Land Court. This has been done and the Court has issued its award.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what grade of civilian Air Ministry employees are employed as couriers to carry top secret documents by train.

Top secret documents are not normally sent by train, but where this is unavoidable they are carried by Air Ministry messengers.

Is not it a fact that Air Ministry messengers are men of the industrial grade, who have to travel second class? Would not it be a good idea for the Ministry to follow the example of the War Office and upgrade these men and allow them to travel in better conditions?

These men belong to a non-industrial grade, and no cases are on record in the past ten years of top secret documents being lost by the messenger service.

That is not the point. Is it not a fact that in the ordinary course of duty messengers who are paid and graded as industrial have to carry top secret documents when, in the other Services, similar men are given the status, pay and conditions of non-industrial grades?

I shall look into that point, but we have had no difficulty about this matter.

Is second class less respectable than first class?

Is the Secretary of State aware that that is a most nonsensical remark? This has nothing to do with whether first class is more respectable or not; it is merely the fact that first class carriages are usually less crowded than second class carriages, and if men are dealing with top secret documents it is right that they should have that status.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the British Transport Commission's inquiry into the possibility of the sale of such of its land as is not at present used for purposes of its undertaking, what further consideration he has given to proposals for the disposal of the whole of the Commission's railway undertaking, other than the permanent way itself, thus assimilating rail transport with trunk-road road transport.

It has always been the Commission's policy to dispose of land not likely to be required for the purposes of its undertaking, and it has therefore made no special inquiry.

Is my hon. Friend aware of the growing public dissatisfaction with the operation of the railways as a nationalised undertaking? Is he also aware that there can scarcely be more dissatisfaction among the employees, who are threatening to strike because they are convinced that they are 20 per cent. underpaid? Is my hon. Friend further aware that if rail transport were relieved of the upkeep of the permanent way, in the same way as road transport is relieved of the upkeep of the roads, it could be run as an efficient service under public enterprise?

I do not think that shifting the cost of maintaining the permanent way would be a solution. There are bound to be complaints until the modernisation process has been completed, but the upward trend of passenger traffics over recent months seems to give some indication contrary to what my hon. Friend suggests.

Would the Minister point out to his hon. Friend that the difficulties with which the railways are confronted are due entirely to Government policy? Secondly, is not it regrettable that his hon. Friend has only now come round to the point of view that the integration of road and rail transport is necessary? Will the Minister ask his hon. Friend whether he voted against the denationalisation of the road haulage industry, which is responsible for the limitation of integration?

As the Government are responsible for financing the modernisation of OUT railways, I think that the hon. Members' supplementary question is out of place.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give the average number of cars passing through Bridge Street, Andover, A.303, per hour, during daylight last August, or such other figures as any traffic census during the summer may have yielded.

No census of traffic has been taken in Bridge Street, Andover. A census was, however, taken as part of the 1958 census at a point some 5½ miles east of the centre of Andover. An average number of 2,506 cars per day of sixteen hours was recorded.

Does my hon. Friend agree that the number of cars passing through this very busy thoroughfare on their way to the West, particularly at weekends, is causing increasing dislocation and congestion in the main street of Andover, especially as, following the introduction of diesel trains on the Andover-Romsey line, the level crossing gates are now closed for far longer periods than ever before?

Naturally, as more traffic passes through Andover there is greater congestion there. I am well aware of the difficulty at the level crossing, but I do not understand why diesel trains should cause greater difficulty.

The service is more frequent.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation his intentions, in connection with compulsory testing of vehicles, with regard to the authorisation of brake-testing on public roads; and if he will make a statement.

An applicant for appointment as authorised examiner has to state what public roads, if any, he intends to use for vehicle testing. No appointments will be made unless our technical officers are satisfied that the roads proposed, or others nearby, can be used for testing without danger or undue inconvenience to the public and to other traffic.

Does not it involve grave danger and inconvenience to traffic if brake testing takes place on public roads? Is there any shortage of brake-testing instruments within the testing garages?

Brake testing is already carried out as a normal practice on many roads. Provided the road is carefully selected the danger will not be serious.

In view of the delay of nearly three years in the introduction of the general testing of vehicles under the 1956 Act, which is likely to be further postponed, will the Minister ask his right hon. Friend to write up in large letters, in his room, a notice to the effect that for every week that this road testing is postponed ten additional lives are unnecessarily lost on our roads?

The right hon. Gentleman knows that we do not accept that there has been any unreasonable delay. We have gone ahead with this scheme with all speed. It is a most complicated scheme. We have already inspected over 10,000 garages, and we are well ahead with the programme. We are hoping to have this scheme started in the summer.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation in view of the increase in road accidents in 1958, if he will give details of road safety campaigns arranged for 1959 to promote safety on the roads.

Yes, Sir. Our Ministry and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, in collaboration, are making arrangements for a major road safety campaign on the theme "Be a Better Driver". The campaign will be launched by the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of London, for whose valuable help we are most grateful, at a meeting in the Guildhall on 20th April, and it will be directed initially to the development and encouragement of the techniques of safer driving. During the summer months special emphasis will be given to the safety of children on the roads. I am glad to say that we are receiving substantial help and co-operation from a number of national organisations in this campaign, and we will welcome and make use of any offers of help which come to us from whatever quarter.

While thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask whether local authorities will be invited to take part in this campaign?

Very much so. The Lord Mayor's meeting is primarily to invite the lord mayors and mayors of boroughs throughout the country, and the chairmen of county councils as well. My right hon. Friend will be writing to the chairmen of other local authorities. We certainly shall count upon the thousands of road safety committees in the country to take a very active part in this campaign.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will advance the date for the authorisation of the Severn Bridge project, including the approach roads.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is now in a position to authorise the building of the Severn Bridge; and on what date he expects work thereon, and on the approach roads thereto, to commence.

For technical reasons the building of the bridges across the Forth and the Severn is planned as a single co-ordinated operation. The date for beginning work on the Severn Bridge is linked, therefore, with progress of work on the Forth Bridge. Construction of the approach roads cannot be begun until an Order under Section 3 of the Special Roads Act, 1949, dealing with roads and accesses affected by the approach roads has been made and the land needed has been acquired. We hope to publish the draft Order this year.

May I say that I hope my hon. Friend is not suggesting that because the two bridge building operations are related, nothing can be done to speed the construction of the approach roads and that I hope he will give an assurance that this will be done much more quickly than has yet been envisaged?

It cannot be done more quickly than I have indicated. We have the plans of the consulting engineers for these roads almost ready, as my right hon. Friend told the House on 12th February. As soon as the Order is published the statutory procedure has to be gone through which might involve objections from property owners, local author ties and other interests concerned. Naturally, we must deal with these in a proper democratic way.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind the employment situation in the Bristol area, and also that this is one of the types of work which could relieve that situation without in any way affecting parts of the country where the actual figures for unemployment happen to be higher?

We certainly have that consideration very much in mind with regard to our road programmes and, indeed, in relation to this area. Nevertheless, the statutory procedure for laying down the line of this road and acquiring the necessary property must be gone through in the ordinary way.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that on a stretch of the Al road there are single, double and triple dotted lines, single, double and triple continuous lines, a dotted line between two continuous lines, a continuous line between two dotted lines, a continuous line alongside a dotted line, and a dot-dash line; whether he will explain their significance and their respective contributions to road safety; and what consideration he has given to the need to standardise road markings.

Some local authorities have laid down double white line markings which are not standard practice. We have given instructions for putting right these markings. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend hope to lay before Parliament in the near future regulations which will standardise markings on the new system, and full publicity will be given to the meaning of each part of the system.