asked the Minister of Labour what measures he is taking to deal with the serious unemployment situation in the Wednesbury constituency.

As the unemployment rate in this area on 9th March was under 2 per cent., I cannot accept the hon. Member's view that the situation is serious. My local officers will, of course, continue to submit those without jobs to vacancies notified to them.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the number registered as unemployed and on short time at the employment exchanges in the Wednesbury constituency on the latest available date, and the corresponding date in 1951.

1,021 on 9th March, 1959, and 106 on 12th March, 1951. Of these, 295 and 13, respectively, were registered as temporarily stopped.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the average level of unemployment during the years 1945 to 1951 and 1952 to 1958 in Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield, and Hertford, respectively.

The following table gives the information desired, so far as it is available:

asked the Minister of Labour if he has now given consideration to the suggestion that the recalling of discharged Service men for one day to be placed in the Reserve should end and be replaced by the ex-Service man completing an appropriate transfer form; and if he will make a statement.

I have now looked into this suggestion and arrangements are being made to make it unnecessary to recall men to the Armed Forces for one day to be placed in the appropriate Reserve.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware of the anxiety in Coventry at the falling off of orders for naval equipment in the naval sections at Coventry Gauge and Tool; and if he will make a statement on his plans for the provision of alternative orders.

No; while it is true that there has been a progressive decline in Admiralty contracts with this firm in recent years, the value of work in hand for completion over the next three years for the Admiralty is well over £1 million.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether a decision has yet been made about the proposal to establish a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation base at Stornoway; and if he will make a statement.

The results of the survey to which I referred in my reply of 10th December last are being considered.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty from whom, other than the hon. Member for the Western Isles and the Free Church in the Isle of Lewis, he has received representations about the proposed North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's base at Stornoway.

A letter has been received from a Lewis District Councillor, who supports the project.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many National Service men have been released earlier than the statutory period of two years since January, 1958, with separate figures for compassionate releases.

670 have been released early. In addition, there have been 66 compassionate releases and 76 discharged mainly for medical and disciplinary reasons.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many civilians were employed in the Royal Naval Armament Depot, at Charlesfield, Roxburghshire, in March, 1958; how many are now employed; and when the run-down of this establishment will be completed.

160 on 31st March, 1958, and 89 on 31st March, 1959. The run-down is expected to be completed by 1st October, 1959.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will make a statement on the recent fires in H.M.S. "Ark Royal" and H.M.S. "Eagle" at Devonport dockyard.

During "Ark Royal's" refit on 9th April, fire broke out in one boiler room thought to have been caused by sparks from oxyacetylene burning. The fire spread to adjacent compartments and was extinguished about four hours later with the assistance of the Plymouth City Fire Brigade, for whose efforts we are very grateful. I am glad to say that although eight dockyard workers were overcome by smoke there was no loss of life or serious injury.A board of inquiry is sitting to establish the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage, and I cannot make any further statement until the reports have been studied. It is believed, however, that the damage is less serious than was first reported in the Press.On the 11th April, three very small fires broke out in "Eagle" and were quickly extinguished without doing any damage. Inquiries are continuing, but it has already been established that there is no evidence of malicious intent.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what decisions have been taken on the future of the Naval Ordnance Design and Inspection Pool following upon the Report of the Nihill Committee.

This matter is still under active examination, but I hope that it will be possible to make an announcement about the future of the Pool within the next month.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now state the contents of the medical report he received upon 23604106 ex-Rifleman T. Williams, Green Jackets Brigade, now discharged from the Army and returned to civil life, and professionally known as Terry Dene; for what precise reasons he was discharged from the Army; and whether he will make a full statement.

Medical reports are confidential and it is not the normal practice to disclose their contents. I can say, however, that the report of the civil mental hospital in which Rifleman Williams was an Army patient for seven weeks left us in no doubt that he was unfit for military service and should be invalided out. This view was confirmed by an Army medical board.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) what further representations he has received from the Suez Contractors' Employees' Association, or individuals formerly employed by the Suez contractors, about the compensation and treatment they have received since their expulsion from Egypt;(2) what further inquiry he has made into the present condition of former employees of the Suez contractors.

I am corresponding with hon. Members and others about these matters. On 9th April I discussed them with the hon. Member for Dudley (Mr. Wigg) and representatives of the Suez Contractors' Employees' Association who have also written to the Prime Minister. Settlement with the employees was in general effected during 1957 and 1958 on terms which we considered fair to all concerned. The Association is now pressing for more generous treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement about the case of Captain Farrow, Royal Army Service Corps, whose sentence by court-martial in Cyprus was recently quashed by order of the Army Council.

Captain Farrow was tried by a general court-martial held in Cyprus in October, 1958, on a charge of fraudulently misapplying Service funds. He was convicted and sentenced to be cashiered. In March, 1959, the Army Council, on consideration of an appeal petition submitted by Captain Farrow, quashed the conviction and directed that he be relieved of the consequences of his trial. He is being posted to a unit and has received the bulk of his accrued pay and allowances.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now reconsider the cost of travel imposed on Craftsman Hancock who _raveled from Cyprus to attend his father's funeral; and whether he will make a statement.

Members of the forces serving overseas are not entitled to travel at public expense to attend a funeral unless in special circumstances their presence is essential. Craftsman Hancock was aware of this. He was granted privilege leave and it was found possible to provide him free with a seat on an aircraft to the United Kingdom. A free seat for the return journey was not available and he booked and paid for his return flight before he left Cyprus.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement regarding barrack rebuilding in the London District, showing how many projects have been delayed and the reasons for postponement.

Ten major projects are envisaged for London District. Six of them had to be delayed because of the reorganisation and redeployment of the Army. The new work on Wellington Barracks has also been held back in order to avoid having more than one barracks occupied by Her Majesty's Household troops out of use at the same time.

asked the Postmaster-General when work will commence on the construction of a new general post office at Stockton-on-Tees; and what is the estimated time of completion.

The new Head Post Office will be built in two stages. Work on the public office in the High Street should start early next month and be finished fairly early in 1961. A sorting office and garage behind the public office will be added later.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will use his powers under Section 15 (4) of the Licence and Agreement and Section 9 (2) of the Television Act, 1953, to require the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority to refrain from sending any broadcasts containing bad language or scenes of violence and cruelty or promiscuous drinking; and what representations he has received from the Sheffield Methodist Mission on this matter.

No. The content of programmes is a matter for the British Broadcasting Corporation and Independent Television Authority, and I see no reason to intervene as suggested. As to the last part of the Question, I have not been able to trace that the Sheffield Methodist Mission has written to me.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that recent by-election arrangements have disclosed deficiencies in the British Broadcasting Corporation's equipment in Scotland; and whether he is prepared to revise the agreement with the British Broadcasting Corporation to leave it with sufficient cash to have not less than equal broadcasting resources to those of independent networks.

The British Broadcasting Corporation informs me that it is not aware of any such equipment deficiencies.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many National Service men have been released earlier than the statutory period of two years since January, 1958, with separate figures for compassionate releases.

Up to the end of last month, 2,844. Of these 635 were released on compassionate grounds, and just over 1,800 as medically unfit or otherwise unsuitable, or for disciplinary reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what are the regulations governing the noise made by aeroplanes going through the sound barrier in that it may cause a nuisance to private citizens.

Unless specially _uthorized by the Air Ministry, R.A.F. pilots are permitted to fly supersonically in the United Kingdom only when their aircraft are under radar control, are at least three miles out to sea and are pointing away from land. Aircraft of the Royal Navy and the U.S.A.F. in the United Kingdom follow similar procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what proposals he has for the disposal of the Royal Air Force station at Pucklechurch; and if, in the light of employment trends in the area, he will bear in mind the need to utilise the buildings available for industrial purposes.

The station is not likely to close for some months. If there is no other Government use for the site we shall then sell it. Subject to the views of the local planning authority, we should certainly be prepared to consider selling it to an industrial firm.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what alterations are proposed in the arrangements for air travel at public expense by members of the Royal Family.

The arrangements remain generally as stated by my predecessor in reply to the hon. Members for Govan (Mr. Rankin) and Watford (Mr. FareyJones) on 18th April, 1956. Aircraft of The Queen's Flight are used for short journeys while the Air Corporations normally provide aircraft for longer flights. Now that Transport Command have had long and very satisfactory experience with the Comet 2, however, occasions may arise when it will be appropriate for these aircraft, and later the Britannias which will be coming into service in the Command. to he used for some of the longer journeys on public duty by members of the Royal Family. Her Majesty The Queen has been graciously pleased to approve that, when such an occasion arises, Transport Command may have the honour of undertaking the flight.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he has yet received from the British Transport Commission the results of its inquiry, instigated at his request, into the modernisation programme; in what form it is proposed to publish it; and when it will be available to hon. Members.

The British Transport Commission, hopes to let me have its report on the re-appraisal of its modernisation programme during May. I have it in mind to publish the report as soon as possible after that.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what difficulties have arisen in connection with the operation of British Overseas Airways Corporation's service from San Francisco to Tokyo and Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement on the action he has taken in this matter.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a statement on the reasons which have led to the postponement of the British Overseas Airways Corporation's inaugural round the world service.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a statement about the action of the United States authorities in preventing the British Overseas Airways Corporation completing its round-the-world flight. and the representations he has made in this regard.

B.O.A.C., after making two pre-inaugural flights at the beginning of this month, postponed the introduction of their round the world service because they had not received the operating permit from the United States Civil Aeronautics Board required under United States law.The right to operate the route was granted by the United States Government under their Air Services Agreement with the United Kingdom, which also provides that the operating permit shall be issued without undue delay. B.O.A.C. applied to the American Civil Aeronautics Board for the permit on 23rd October of last year but, notwithstanding the terms of the Agreement and assurances that the matter would be expedited, the Board have been unable to overcome the procedural delays that have arisen. It now seems unlikely that the permit will be issued until early next month. Repeated representations have been made to the American Authorities who have been left in no doubt about our great dissatisfaction at the way B.O.A.C. have been prevented from exercising rights which are granted under the Agreement. In addition to these representations H.M. Ambassador in Washington has now formally placed on record with the State Department our views on this matter.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what special safety measures were necessary to enable a Boeing 707 aircraft, which had lost an engine over France, to land at London Airport recently; and if he will make a statement.

No special safety measures were necessary. Before the damaged aircraft was permitted to land at London Airport, the Airport staff satisfied themselves that it was behaving in its unladen, state in such a way that it would be able to make a normal approach on three engines.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has now given permission to Pan-American Airways to begin night flying by the Boeing 707 jet airliner at London Airport.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has now authorised Pan-American Airways to start night flying at London Airport by the Boeing 707 aircraft.

Pan-American Airways have notified me of its wish to start a night service but no permission for a service of this kind has been given by my Ministry.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent he is prepared to give financial grants to local authorities for the provision of helicopter stations.

I am glad to say many local authorities are showing interest in providing these stations, but it should be possible for them to do so without Government grants.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will now give the approximate date for the completion of the earth walls at London Airport to abate the ground noise from aircraft.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is now in a position to give the approximate date for the completion of the earth walls at London Airport to abate ground noise from aircraft.

In No. 2 Maintenance Area the Air India earthbank will be finished in about two week's time. Plans for the Hunting-Clan and Pan-American Airways barriers have recently been modified to meet the revised plans for their bases, and work will begin this summer. The construction of the southern part of the B.O.A.C. earthbank in the No. I Maintenance Area will also start very soon.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what will be the extra cost of constructing the south and east Oxford by-pass as a result of starting work before purchase of the necessary land was completed.

There have been unexpected difficulties in acquiring all the land required for the Oxford western bypass, as a result of which the contractors may lodge a claim. If they so decide, the claim will be considered on its merits at the appropriate time.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now give a more exact date for completion of the Cromwell Road improvements and the Great West Road fly-over.

I hope that, with the exception of the fly-over at Hammersmith and the completion of some of the subways at Hammersmith, all the work will be finished by the end of October this year.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware of the necessity for the imposition of a 40 miles per hour speed limit on the whole of the Great West Road, and that part of the Bath Road which is a trunk road; and whether he has yet asked the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee to review the present 40 miles per hour speed limit on that part of the Great West Road which lies in the borough of Heston and Isleworth.

The London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee has at our request recently reviewed the position on this stretch of road but it does not recommend adding to the 3½ miles now subject to a 40 miles per hour speed limit. The Committee has coupled its recommendation with suggestions for improving the position near Osterley Station. My right hon. Friend is accepting this recommendation pending a further review when the results of the experiment in the London area as a whole have been considered later this year.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will reconsider his decision with regard to the amount of grant to the Gloucestershire County Council in respect of minor road improvements.

I am satisfied that the funds available have been fairly allocated, and I am glad to say that every county, including Gloucestershire, will be getting a higher grant this year for maintenance and minor road improvements than they did last year.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what arrangements he is making for the provision of fuel, catering and other facilities on the London to Birmingham motorway.

Invitations to tender are being sent on Friday, 17th April, to all those persons and organisations that have expressed an interest in developing these facilities. Copies of the tender documents will be available on that date for any other firms that apply.I propose for the present to develop fully two service areas, at Newport Pagnell, and at Watford Gap in Northamptonshire. Each area will contain petrol filling stations, emergency breakdown and repair facilities, catering services for commercial drivers and private motorists, toilets, telephones, and parking space. It is not my intention at this stage to permit overnight sleeping accommodation. Licensed premises will not be allowed, although the successful tenderers may apply if they wish to the licensing justices for a table licence.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) if he will state, for the eastern region, the number of prosecutions and conviction, respectively, for infringements of statutory regulations in the Road Traffic Acts relating to the keeping of time records and hours of work in each of the years 1956, 1957 and 1958; and if he will state, for each of these years, the number of convictions in which the penalty imposed exceeded three guineas;(2) what is the number of goods vehicles and public service vehicles registered in the eastern region for each of the years 1956. 1957 and 1958.

The following is the information:

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what is the number of officers employed, full time, by his Department in the eastern region in enforcement of provisions of the Road Traffic Acts relating to goods vehicles and public service vehicles; and how far the number falls short of establishment.

Seven examiners are employed full-time on enforcement in the Eastern Traffic Area. There are no vacancies in the approved full-time establishment.

Harris asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether any conclusions have yet been reached in the inter-departmental discussions on the need to give local authorities additional powers to deal with the problem of abandoned cars in local authority car parks.

This matter is still under examination. It seems probable that an effective solution will require new legislation.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give an assurance that in any discussions of financial support for the replacement of the "Queens" he will enter into no arrangement which does not ensure that the two ships are built on separate rivers, such as the Tyne and the Clyde, thus ensuring a spread of employment in the shipyards.

The Government are at present awaiting the detailed proposals of the Cunard Company, but my hon. Friend's point will be borne in mind.

asked the Minister of Defence what percentage of the working population is now either in the Services or supporting them; and how this compares with two years ago.

The percentage of the working population now in the Services or supporting them is estimated at 5·4 per cent. This represents a reduction of about 20 per cent. During the past two years.

asked the Minister of Defence what proportion of the output of the metal-using industries is now devoted to defence; and how this compares with two years ago.

About one-ninth of the output of the metal-using industries is now devoted to defence, which is about 11 per cent. less than two years ago.

asked the Minister of Defence if he is now in a position to make a statement about the results of the investigation into the treatment of British civilians in military hospitals abroad.

Civilian employees of Service Departments posted abroad, and the wives and children of Service men and civilian employees whose presence at the overseas station is officially recognized, are already admitted free of charge to Service hospitals overseas. It has now been decided that, provided there is room in the hospitals, this arrangement shall be extended to wives and children whose presence is not officially recognized and to relatives or dependants who are not officially recognized as part of a Service man's family but who are living with him or visiting him, such as parents, close relations, nurses or governesses.

asked the Minister of Defence which officers and other ranks of Her Majesty's forces and the forces of the Sultan of Muscat and Oman have received British decorations, or have been mentioned in British despatches, or otherwise specially recognised, for services during recent successful and difficult operations in the area of the Jebel Akhdar.

The recommendations of the Commander are awaited.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the amounts paid in grants and loans for conversion and building of inshore and near and middle water fishing vessels, respectively, since the inauguration of the loans and grant schemes; and how this money has been distributed as between the main fishing ports in these categories.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what considerations guide him in determining whether to concede an oral inquiry under Section 2 of the Police Appeals Act, 1927, to a police officer who has been disciplined.

The Police (Appeals) Act, 1927, requires me, unless it appears to me that the case is of such a nature that it can properly be determined without taking oral evidence, to appoint one or more persons to hold an inquiry and report to me.

Grants and loans made to the 31st March, 1959, under the White Fish and Herring Industries Acts, 1953 and 1957, for the conversion and building of inshore and near and middle water fishing vessels are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many appeals have been made under Section 1 of the Police Appeals Act, 1927; in how many cases an oral inquiry has been asked for under Section 2 Of the Act; in how many cases he has conceded such an oral inquiry; how many appeals were successful where oral inquiries took place; and how many succeeded where no oral inquiry was held, in the year 1953 to 1958.

In the years 1953 to 1958 fifty-six appeals under the Police (Appeals) Acts were decided. An inquiry under Section 2 of the Police (Appeals) Act, 1927, was held in seven cases. In two of these the appeal was dismissed, in two others the punishment was increased and in three it was reduced. Of the appeals in which an inquiry was not held, one was allowed and the punishment was reduced in twelve cases (including one case in which the appeal was allowed on one of the several charges involved).There is no provision in the Acts or in the Police (Appeals) Rules, 1943, under which either the appellant or the respondent can ask the Secretary of State to set up an inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when the road diversion past Birkwood Bridge on the A.74 highway will be completed;(2) when construction of the Blackwood bypass road, Lanarkshire, is to begin; and when it will be finished.

Consulting engineers are preparing a scheme for the reconstruction of trunk road A.74 between Lemahagow and Canderdyke, including the diversions at Birkwood Bridge and Blackwood.Because of the condition of the existing bridge the diversion at Birkwood Bridge has been brought forward and I hope shortly to accept a tender for the work The contract period will be four months.I am awaiting the recommendation of the consultants about a change in the line of the Blackwood diversion. This will require an amending trunk road Order and until it has been made I cannot forecast when the remainder of the scheme will be carried out.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to the representations made to him by the hon. Member for Inverness about the weight restriction on the Fort William to Mallaig trunk road; and if he will make a statement.

Following an examination of the road, I have concluded that the condition of two bridges at Drumsallie and Morar, respectively, is such that I would not be justified in proposing to raise the existing weight restriction of three tons on this road. I propose that both bridges should be strengthened as a matter of urgency and, when this has been done, I shall give notice of my intention to make an order raising the weight limit to 14 tons, the legal maximum weight limit for four-wheeled vehicles.