asked the Postmaster-General when he expects measures will be taken to improve the reception of British Broadcasting Corporation television in West Berkshire and adjoining districts.

The Corporation says that reception of its television programmes should generally be satisfactory in most parts of the area if suitable receivers and directional aerials are used. There is no immediate prospect of an increase in the signal strength of the transmissions but reception conditions in this and other similar areas are being kept under review.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the number of applications in Aberdeen city on the waiting list for telephones to the latest convenient date during each of the last 10 years; what ratio this bears to the total number of telephones in the city; what he is doing to provide the telephones wanted; and when he expects to complete that task.

Records for 1949 are not available, but the figures from 1950 onwards of applications waiting for line plant and equipment are as follows:

Year		Number waiting	Number waiting as a percentage of the total number of telephones
1950	…	1,685	12·6
1951	…	1,662	12·0
1952	…	606	4·2
1953	…	465	3·0
1954	…	779	4·8
1955	…	987	5·8
1956	…	454	2·5
1957	…	94	0·5
1958	…	42	0·2

In addition to the 42 applications on the waiting list on 31st December last there were 205 others under inquiry or in course of being met. New demand has averaged 1,400 in the past five years and is expected to be about 1,200 this year. Additional plant will be brought into service and we expect to be able to meet the demand.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will arrange for all calls for 999 from private telephones in Dagenham to be free, in view of the disconnection over a large part of the area of the fire alarm system.

No, I could not agree to treat Dagenham exceptionally in this matter.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will include in the specifications for articles used by his Department which are made of flax, such as mail bags, a condition that they should be made of Scottish spun flax.

No. The Post Office could not discriminate in favour of Scottish spun flax, to the detriment of the flax spinning industry in other parts of the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will state the results of the Kerb Space is Precious campaign in improving the flow of traffic in Wembley.

This campaign started by the Traders Road Transport Association in October, 1958, is intended to encourage the use of a voluntary code of kerbside behaviour. It has our full support. A campaign of this kind takes time to bring about measurable results, and it is too early yet to assess its effect on traffic flow in Wembley or elsewhere in London.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how soon he expects a start will be made on the north-south relief road at Newbury; and how long the construction is likely to take.

If land acquisition proceeds satisfactorily we hope to start building the northern section of the relief road during next year. Construction time should be about twelve months. Completion of the whole scheme will depend on when work can start on the southern section, for which the preparatory work and land acquisition will probably take longer.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has now re-examined the position with regard to the portions of the London-Yorkshire motorway in Liecestershire; whether he has considered the report agreed by his consulting engineers with the county surveyor; and whether he will have the work commenced without further delay.

I have nothing to add yet to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member on Monday, 23rd February.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what is his policy with regard to routing traffic from Basingstoke to Exeter via A.30 and A.303.

The choice of route from Basingstoke to Exeter is left to the individual preference of motorists as the best way of getting a reasonable division of traffic between A.30 and A.303.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what has been the cost to his Department of operating the driving test scheme since its inception; and what has been the total revenue received from fees charged during the same period.

The cost of operating the driving test from its inception in 1935 until 1940 is not readly ascertainable. From 1940 to 1946 no tests were conducted. During the 12 years ended April, 1958, costs amounted to £5,108,337, and revenue from fess was £4,226,255.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation why the United Kingdom has not acceded to the Convention on Road Traffic concluded under the auspices of the Economic Commission for Europe or at least to its protocol on Road Signs and Signals.

The conditions which have led to the development of the type of road signs in use on the Continent are in many respects not exactly comparable with conditions here. We are not at present satisfied that the considerable expense which would be involved in an immediate change-over to continental practice would be justified. However, in particular cases, for example, the experimental signs for the Preston Bypass and the double white line road markings, we are following European practice very closely, and we propose to keep the whole matter under review.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what provision he has made for local authorities in the Greater London area to be represented on the committee he has set up to consider the problems involved when the first nuclear-powered ship comes to the Port of London in 1960.

It is at present premature to assume that any nuclear-powered ship will come to the Port of London in 1960. The terms of reference to the Committee which my right hon. Friend has appointed are to advise him generally on the safety problems arising from nuclear propulsion in merchant ships, at sea and in port. We have in mind the need which will arise in due course for consultations with local authorities in relation to particular ports which may be used by these ships.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has now examined the estimates submitted to the British Overseas Airways Corporation by the group interested in acquiring and operating the Princess flying boats owned by his Department; and to what extent the operation of these flying boats as airliners is shown by these estimates to be a commercial proposition.

I have not seen these estimates. We do not propose to go into the merits of the proposals until we have received a full report on them from the Air Transport Advisory Council. This is normal procedure. The group interested in operating these flying boats, which are owned by the Minister of Supply, hope to lodge applications and supporting data with the Council soon. When my right hon. Friend has the recommendations of the Council he will consider them most carefully.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what reports were made to him by the Air Traffic Control officers about the pale yellow disc which hovered over London Airport recently for an estimated period of 20 minutes.

None.

asked the Minister of Defence (1) to what extent the buildings and installations now being constructed at the British Military Station, Dortmund, Western Germany, have been the subject of the specific planning approval of the West German authorities;(2) to what extent the prior authorisation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the Supreme Allied Command, or of the West German Government, respectively, is sought for the construction of British military installations in Western Germany.

All building in the Federal German Republic is in accordance with approved N.A.T.O. plans to which the Federal German Government are a party.

asked the Minister of Defence which European countries have been invited to co-operate with the United Kingdom in the development of Blue Streak or other thermo-nuclear missiles.

The Government have made a general offer to co-operate with N.A.T.O. countries in the joint development and production of weapons of all kinds, with the exception of nuclear warheads for bombs or projectiles.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has received from the West German Government, from the Dortmund local government authority, or from the people of Dortmund, with reference to proposals to construct a rocket station on land occupied by British Army units at Dortmund.

None. The proposed construction at Dortmund is not a rocket station but a peace-time site for units equipped with mobile weapons.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement about the progress of negotiations for a commercial treaty with Iran.

Yes. The negotiations have now been concluded and the Treaty was signed in Tehran earlier today.As the Treaty is a lengthy document, I have arranged for copies of it to be placed in the Library of the House. The text will be published shortly as a Command Paper and laid before the House in the usual way preparatory to its ratification and entry into force.

asked the Minister of Labour how many factory inspectors attached to the Divisions of the Factory Department are assigned to spend most of their time in the inspection of building sites and works of engineering construction; and, of these, how many have professional qualifications in building construction or in civil engineering.

Seven Inspectors spend most of their time on this work. None of them has professional qualifications in building construction or civil engineering.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Departmental committee appointed by him in March, 1957, to inquire into the duties, organisation and staffing of the Medical Branch of the Factory Inspectorate has yet reported; and when it is proposed that the report shall be published.

The Committee has reported. I propose to publish at an early date the results of the Committee's survey and the decisions I have reached on the points raised.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were registered as unemployed at the Eastwood Employment Exchange in February, 1957, 1958, and 1959.

47 in February, 1957. In December, 1957, Eastwood Employment Exchange was converted into a part-time office of Heanor Employment Exchange and separate statistics are no longer available. There were 106 persons registered as unemployed in the Heanor area, including Eastwood, in February, 1957, 165 in February, 1958, and 394 in February, 1959.

asked the Minister of Labour on what days and at what times his local office in Eastwood is open.

The part-time office at Eastwood is open from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the area covered by his local office at Eastwood; and what is the insured working population of this area.

The area of the local office at Eastwood covers the Eastwood Urban District and the parishes of Brinsley and Greasley; it is not possible to give the insured working population of this area as it is part of the area for which the Heanor Employment Exchange is responsible, where it is estimated that in May, 1957, there were 19,659 insured employees.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has noted the accident that occurred recently on the partly-built high-level bridge at Barton, when four men lost their lives; when special regulations for work of engineering construction were first considered; and when they are likely to be laid before Parliament.

Yes, and the accident is being investigated by the Factory Inspectorate. A preliminary draft code of special regulations for work of engineering construction was published in 1945 and a revised draft in 1951. In view of the criticisms of these two drafts, I have decided that it is not practicable to produce one comprehensive code of regulations which will cover all types of work of engineering construction and I propose, therefore, to deal with the subject part by part. In accordance with this policy, Special Regulations dealing with work in compressed air at works of engineering construction were made in 1958. Proposals for regulations covering other aspects of work in engineering construction will be issued this year.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men and women were registered as unemployed at Kenfig Hill in May 1955, January 1959 and February 1959; and what percentage of the insured population was unemployed at those dates.

214 men and 48 women at 9th February, 1959, 39 men and 44 women at 12th January 1959 and 10 men and 7 women at 16th May, 1955. It is not possible to compute a separate percentage rate of unemployment for Kenfig Hill, but for the combined Port Talbot and Kenfig Hill area, the total numbers unemployed at these three dates represented 2·5 per cent., 2·0 per cent. and 0·6 per cent. respectively of the estimated number of employees in the district.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will discuss with recognised trade union leaders the question of the powers exercised by shop stewards in unofficial strikes, with the object of securing some remedy.

No. The functions and status of shop stewards are primarily the responsibility of the trade unions and are also to some extent the subject of joint agreements between the unions and the employers concerned. Any question of misuse of shop stewards' powers would be for the appropriate union to deal with or for joint discussion between the union and the employers according to the circumstances.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the percentages of unemployment in the urban districts of Biddulph and Cheadle, respectively, at the latest date for which figures are available; and how these compare with the national average figure for unemployment.

The available statistics relate to employment exchange areas. At 9th February the percentage rates of unemployment at Biddulph and Cheadle were 4·2 and 2·1, respectively, compared with 2·8 per cent. for Great Britain as a whole.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many orders for new ships have been placed in the first two months of 1959; what is the tonnage involved for United Kingdom yards; and what are the figures for yards in the north-east.

Information of orders obtained by United Kingdom yards is reported to the Admiralty at the end of each quarter. In the latter half of April I shall have information of orders for January, February and March together but I shall not have separate information for the first two months alone.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the latest information regarding the use to which the Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham, will be put after they are relinquished by the Nore Command.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made during the debate on the Navy Estimates last Monday.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what negotiations are proceeding to ensure that the Royal Naval Hospital, Chatham, will continue to be used for the treatment of sick persons after it is relinquished by the Royal Navy.

The regional hospital board has been considering its possible use to supplement the existing hospital resources in the area when it is no longer required by the Royal Navy. My right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Health expects to receive the board's report in the near future.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what arrangements will be made to pay compensation to naval personnel, and to civilians employed in Malta Dockyard, in respect of damage to their motor cars caused by the disorders in the dockyard on 27th February.

Any properly substantiated claim will be investigated in the usual way.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1) how many small craft over 60 feet have been sold since 1st January, 1958, showing each month, separately;(2) if he will give a list of the small craft over 60 feet sold since 1st January, 1958; and if he will state the amount received for these craft.

Ninety-four small craft of between 60 and 140 feet have been sold since 1st January, 1958. It is contrary to Admiralty practice to disclose the amounts received for them. The monthly disposal figures are as follows:

1958
January	…	…	…	…	3
February	…	…	…	…	8
March	…	…	…	…	7
April	…	…	…	…	8
May	…	…	…	…	3
June	…	…	…	…	13
July	…	…	…	…	7
August	…	…	…	…	9
September	…	…	…	…	7
October	…	…	…	…	11
November	…	…	…	…	6
December	…	…	…	…	5
1959
January	…	…	…	…	6
February	…	…	…	…	1

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many small craft over 60 feet sold by his Department since 1st January, 1958, were purchased by dealers; and how many by individual purchasers.

I have no definite information on this point, but I estimate that 75 per cent. were purchased for re-sale and the remainder for the purchasers' private use.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the interests of hygiene, fuel efficiency, and the productivity of the manufacturing industry concerned, he will, before his next Budget, review the present position as regards the levying of Purchase Tax on water filters and softeners with a view to extending to all types of water filters and water softeners, whether designed for domestic or commercial use, the present exemption given to purely mechanical filters, mechanical filters employing chemical reaction for coagulation purposes, and water softeners for catering establishments.

My right hon. Friend will have the whole field of taxation under review before the Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why bird cages and bird cage fittings are chargeable to Purchase Tax at 15 per cent. whereas bird cage novelties are chargeable at 30 per cent.; how many years must elapse before bird cage novelties are regarded by the Customs and Excise authorities as normal fittings of a bird cage; and whether he will provide a list of bird cage fittings and novelties, respectively, which are now chargeable to the differential rates of 15 per cent. and 30 per cent., respectively.

Bird cages and bird cage fittings are domestic hardware; bird cage novelties are toys. Any catalogue of novelties which I might provide would quickly be outdated; but time does not alter the distinction itself.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deputations have been received from trade bodies and others in connection with Purchase Tax since the Finance Act, 1958; how many such bodies have submitted representations about Purchase Tax and have either not requested or been permitted to send deputations to supplement their written representations; and whether he will publish the names of all such bodies in the Official Parliamentary Report.

My Treasury colleagues and I, and the Customs and Excise Department, have received many representations about various aspects of the Purchase Tax since the passing of the last Finance Act. For obvious reasons most of those concerned have not desired publicity, and I shall respect their wishes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the wholesale value of goods for the purpose of charging Purchase Tax includes the cost of delivery of the goods to the buyers' premises; whether he is aware that this practice bears hardly on the industries of Northern Ireland; and if he will take this factor into account when considering changes in Purchase Tax.

This is a statutory requirement and the consensus of trade opinion favoured this arrangement when Purchase Tax was introduced in 1940. My right hon. Friend sees no sufficient reason for dissenting from the view contained in paragraph 142 of the report of the Purchase Tax (Valuation) Committee (Cmd. 8830), published in May, 1953, that the value for tax should continue to be that of the goods delivered at the buyer's place of busineses.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider making an offer to the Spanish Government of a long-term loan of about £20 millions for the purpose of improving trade between the two countries.

No. I do not think that this would be advisable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent Her Majesty's Government have been giving expert and detailed study to the proposals of Mr. St. Clare Grondona, of which official note has been taken, about commodity prices and stocking; and what is the result.

The Government have been well aware of Mr. Grondona's ideas as developed over many years and have never been able to reach the view that his plans could be put into practice.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what types of assistance he is prepared to make available under the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958; and for what purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Africans from Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland have been detained by the Southern Rhodesian Government following the recent ban on the African National Congresses.

pursuant to his hon. Friend's reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 5th March, 1959; Vol. 601, c. 619], supplied the following further information:The Governors have been informed by the Government of Southern Rhodesia that 83 African members of the Northern Rhodesian African National Congress and 105 African members of the Nyasaland African National Congress have been detained in Southern Rhodesia.I am also informed that the families of detainees from Northern Rhodesia are being repatriated by the Government of Southern Rhodesia. These arrangements are being co-ordinated by the two Governments. I await information about detainees from Nyasaland, and about assistance for their families.

asked the Minister of Supply whether his research Department has yet been able to devise more permanency in the life of television tubes, in view of the difficulty of people with small incomes bearing the cost of frequent replacements.

No. The research which the Ministry of Supply does on cathode ray tubes generally is not directly applicable to television tubes. The radio industry, in which there is severe competition, itself undertakes, with such encouragement as my right hon. Friend can give, this specialised type of research and it is putting a good deal of effort into the search for improvements to increase still further the life of television tubes and to decrease the incidence of premature failure. Present day tubes are highly efficient, but it must be recognised that they are intricate and delicate products and since they are sealed articles containing a vacuum they cannot be maintained like most ordinary pieces of household equipment. Premature failure has already become relatively rare.

asked the Minister of Education what facilities for a grammar school education are available to children in the new town area of Basildon; and if he will make a statement.

The Fryerns Secondary School at Basildon, which is a grammar-technical school, admits about 120 pupils a year. Some pupils from outside Basildon attend this school, and a few Basildon pupils attend grammar schools elsewhere in the county. Another similar school, also at Basildon, will be begun within the next year.

asked the Minister of Health what was the total expenditure incurred by the Government in connection with poliomyelitis vaccination in 1957.

Figures for the calendar year are not available. The total expenditure falling upon the Exchequer in the financial year ended the 31st March, 1958, on purchasing and testing poliomyelitis vaccine for use in Great Britain was approximately £1½ million. The additional expenditure falling upon the Exchequer during that year by way of grant to local health authorities towards the costs incurred by them on vaccination against poliomyelitis is not separately known, since these costs are merged in other expenditure of the authorities.

asked the Paymaster-General (1) to what extent the recent delivery of liquid methane into the gas system is a continuation of the experiments which he has been conducting; and if he will make a statement on the progress of the experiments and the possibility of their application;(2) to what extent it is intended to increase the importation of liquid methane for the use of the gas industry;(3) how many additional tankers are to be built or reconstructed for the trans- port of liquid methane for the British gas industry.

The delivery to which the right hon. Member refers was the first of a series of trial shipments commissioned by the Gas Council to test the possibilities of imported liquid methane as a source of town gas. Two or three more trial shipments may be necessary before it is possible to assess the results of the experiment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, as there are now more vacancies at Douglas School, Lanarkshire, than there are pupils at Douglas West School, he will consider the possibility of Douglas West children being transferred and of having the empty school adapted for conversion to factory use.

The question whether the school at Douglas West should be discontinued is, in the first instance, a matter for Lanarkshire Education Authority. If, following a visit of a Board of Trade official to the district, any proposal is made for its possible use as a factory, I am sure the Authority will be prepared to consider the position.