asked the Minister of Labour if, for the sake of greater accuracy and clarity, he will discontinue the practice of including replacement vacancies under the National Service Acts in the general total of vacancies notified at the employment exchanges.

No, Sir. I have, however, arranged for the number of these vacancies to be recorded separately in the statistics issued by my Department.

Is the Minister aware that I am grateful for that answer because these are fake vacancies which are distorting the very important ratio as between unemployment and vacancies? Is he further aware that in Scotland the number of National Service vacancies runs at about 12 per cent. of the total number and alters the ratio of unemployment to vacancies from about 15 to 1 to 18 to 1?

I would not say that this was faking the vacancies. Men would be released for National Service if workers could be engaged. I agree with the hon. Member to the extent that I am making this change in future when the distinction between the two will be shown by a footnote.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the change in average weekly earnings due to short time and unemployment in the last six months and twelve months, respectively.

I regret there is not sufficient information available to make calculations of this kind.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the change in weekly earnings in the engineering, building, textile, and mining industries in the last six months.

I regret that the information is not yet available.

Is it not the fact that in certain industries, thanks to short time and unemployment, the average earnings have actually gone down—notably in cotton, coal, docks, metal manufacture and shipbuilding—in some cases up to £1 a week according to the Ministry of Labour Gazette figures for the twelve months ending last October?

That may be so in selected industries. But in spite of the changes in the average weekly earnings to which the hon. Member drew attention, the average weekly earnings of all the workers rose by 1½ per cent. between April and October, 1958.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the numbers and the percentage of insured male and female unemployed persons in each of the three counties of Roxburghshire, Selkirkshire and Peeblesshire at the latest convenient date; and if he will give similar figures for the same period of 1958.

As the answer consists of a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

While I shall study the figures with interest, is my right hon. Friend aware that the incidence of unemployment and under-employment in my three Border counties is due in the main to the imposition of American wool tariffs? Will he consult his right hon. Friends to try to create conditions in which the effect of these tariffs will

asked the Minister of Labour what decisions have been reached for the representation of employing organisations of Communist countries in the committees of the International Labour Office.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to representation on Committees of the International Labour Conference. It is for the Conference to decide this question. Proposals by the Governing Body of the International Labour Office adopted at its session last March will be before the Conference when it meets in June.

Is it the case that the representative of the Government has made certain proposals and that these have been supported by the workers' representatives but opposed by the British employers' representatives? In view of the importance of the representation of publicly-owned bodies, will the right hon. Gentleman do his utmost to secure the acceptance of these proposals?

I think it would be a sad day if the Government started be ameliorated and, as I hope, the tariffs eventually abolished?

I will take note of that and discuss it with my right hon. Friend.

Is it not the fact that the whole principle of tri-partisanism is at stake in this issue? Is my right hon. Friend aware that his statement that the employers have a right to be consulted and to express opinions on this issue will be warmly welcomed?

asked the Minister of Labour (1) what reductions in number of contents took place within boxes of non-food commodities sold to the public within the past year and selected for sampling in calculating the Index of Retail Prices; what fluctuations have taken place within the same period in contents of food and non-food commodities sold in tubes without stated weight and similarly selected; and how far these fluctuations in weight or number were reflected in the price, as ascertained in calculating the Index of Retail Prices;

(2) what fluctuations in weight took place in food and non-food commodities sold in cellophane wraps without stated weight within the past year; and how far these weight changes affected the value of the items selected in compiling the Index of Retail Prices;

(3) how many weight changes have occurred in packet goods within the past year; and how far weight reductions lowered or increased the value of the packets and were reflected in the Index of Retail Prices, as ascertained through the selections made for the purpose of calculating and constructing the Index.

As regards those items used as price indicators for the Index of Retail Prices, most of the changes in contents or weight of this type take place in respect of food items for which quotations are obtained by weight even if the commodity is not sold by weight. Any such weight changes are therefore automatically taken into account.

As regards those items on which information about changes in net weight or contents is obtained from the manufacturers, it is not my practice to disclose details of the price changes of individual commodities.

Neither I nor my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade have the other information for which the hon. Lady asks.

I am deprived of three supplementary questions by the right hon. Gentleman answering these three Questions together. I should like to ask him if it is still a practice of his Department to write to certain firms asking whether they have made changes. If so, is it not rather like the policeman asking the burglar how many cribs he has cracked? Further, is it not the case that the weights and measures inspectors now find their occupation gone because in a pre-packed age everything is sold by the packet and not by weight?

As far as the hon. Lady's first question is concerned, we still make this sort of inquiry from manufacturers, and, of course, we check when we can the replies which we get. The main point I would make in answer to the hon. Lady is that weight is taken into account, because even when commodities are not sold by weight we obtain quotations for weight. I know that this is an enormously complicated matter, and I am very anxious to make the Index of Retail Prices as efficient as I possibly can. If the hon. Lady would like to discuss the matter with my Director of Statistics, I am sure that he will he very pleased to meet her.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the importance of the work of youth employment officers employed by local education authorities and the necessity for them being properly remunerated for suitable qualifications, whether a statement has yet been prepared as to the qualifications required.

I understand that this statement is still under consideration by the local authority associations concerned in England and Wales.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary happy about the present situation in regard to youth employment officers employed by the local education authorities, for whom his Department pays 75 per cent. of their salaries, who receive much lower salaries than those employed direct by the Ministry of Labour? As many of these people have very high qualifications and the work done is very important, does he not think that something ought to be done about it?

The purpose of the two Answers which I gave the hon. Gentleman in March and this month was to draw attention to the discussions that are going on now on the basis of what the hon. Gentleman means, and I hope that the result of those discussions will give satisfaction in the direction which he suggests.

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled persons who require sheltered employment are registered as unemployed in Scotland.

423 on 16th March, 1959.

Can the Minister give me any information as to what steps his Department has been taking in order to ensure that these workers can be placed?

There are a number of workers in Section 2—those who need sheltered employment—who are already in employment. The figure which I have given to the hon. Lady is very similar to the figure last year, which compares extremely well with the increase in unemployment both among able-bodied and Section 1 disabled. As regards these 423 who are unemployed, 300 of them, I am informed, live in areas that are served by Remploy factories, and the other 100 are in remote parts of Scotland and it will be very difficult to fit them into employment. We are hoping that a number of the 300 who are situated near Remploy factories could be found work if Remploy production was increased.

Is it the case, then, that there is a possibility that the existing Remploy factories can provide work for these 300?

I do not think they could all be placed in Remploy factories, but there are other workshops, both for the sighted disabled worker and the blind, in Scotland which might be able to absorb a number of the 300 who are within the field.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons who have suffered from tuberculosis and are able to work only in sheltered employment are registered as unemployed in Scotland; and if he will make a statement on the provision of a Remploy factory to provide work for these disabled men and women.

The answer to the first part of the Question is 27. Remploy's trading position does not yet permit the building of additional factories, but when it does the needs of Scotland will certainly be kept in mind.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that a very similar reply was given to me by the Minister a number of years ago? Surely, the Minister must be aware that those people who suffer from tuberculosis have very great difficulty indeed in being placed anywhere? Is he aware that it seems to me that, since every Minister on the Government side of the House says how prosperous we now are in this country under the present Government, one of the first things they should have attempted to do was to provide the Remploy factory promised for Scotland a number of years ago?

That is true, and the hon. Lady is right in drawing my attention to the statement by my predecessor on this matter. I am glad to be able to tell the hon. Lady that since that statement was made the methods of treatment of tuberculosis have improved so much that in many parts of the country the sheltered workshops which exist for the tuberculous are finding it very difficult to get enough people to fill the space. That being so, I still agree with the hon. Lady that there are a number of tuberculous in Scotland who would like sheltered employment, but I am afraid that I cannot at the moment add to the statement which my predecessor made. I hope that when it is possible for Remploy to expand the needs of the tuberculous in Scotland will be taken into account.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the present employment position, he will now introduce legislation to establish a 40-hour week as the normal working week in this country.

No, Sir.

Would the Minister concede that such legislation would not necessarily need to be framed so rigidly as to prevent expansion to use the full opportunities of production when they come while at the same time helping to reduce unemployment in the present situation?

No. I think everybody takes the view that this is and must remain a matter for industry, and indeed for discussion industry by industry.

While understanding very well the point which the right hon. Gentleman makes about legislation, could he say whether he is aware that much of the apprehension in industry now, and one of the reasons for asking for a 40-hour week, is due to the fear of the consequences of the coming of automation and that kind of thing? Could he say whether any work is being done in his Department to try to ascertain the industrial and social implications arising from new methods and modernisation?

I am quite certain that we should all unite in saying that there is nothing to fear, in this country or indeed in any other, from the coming of automation or the introduction of new forms of technological change. Change there must be, and in the end I think we are bound to benefit from it. On the question of automation, a good deal of work has been done, and it is a matter which has been brought under close study, particularly by the N.J.A.C.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the redundant workers of Smith and McLean, Gartcosh, are still unemployed; and what are the prospects of early future employment.

Of those declared redundant since 1st January, 1958, 106 are still registered as unemployed. My local officers are doing everything possible to place them in other work, but I regret to say that the immediate prospects are not very good.

Is the Minister aware that 106 who are still unemployed have been unemployed for a considerable time? Is he also aware that over 50 per cent. of the workers at Messrs. Smith and McLean have become redundant, and that those who are working are working only a 4-day week? Surely, there must be some steps which the Minister could take that would bring hope to this area, which, if nothing is done by his Department, will be without hope for the future?

I do not think that is so. As the hon. Lady knows, this particular part of Lanarkshire is regarded as one of the very highest priority. It is in that area, for example, that we are building the advance factory in Scotland, and, as the hon. Lady knows well, we are also going ahead with the plans for the new steel mill. Part of the trouble arises from this immediate problem, to which she has directed her question—that this was an old-fashioned hand mill unable to compete with modern methods. We must do everything we can to attract more modern industry to that area.

asked the Minister of Labour how many people are registered as unemployed at the Brixton Employment Exchange; and what were the corresponding figures in 1951 and 1958.

There were 2,863 on 13th April, 1959, compared with 1,147 on 16th April, 1951, and 2,457 on 14th April, 1958.

Do those figures in the Minister's opinion show that Conservative freedom works?

Conservative freedom certainly works. The figures in Brixton are, of course, dropping.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has yet received the report of Her Majesty's Factory Inspector upon the accident on 19th February on the new high level Barton Bridge; and if he will make a statement thereon.

Yes. Sir. I have now received a report on this accident from the Factory Inspectorate, and I am sure the House will join me in expressing deep sympathy with the relatives of those who were killed.

I understand that the bridge partially collapsed when four steel girders forming part of the approaches to it were being installed on concrete piers. The more important reasons for the collapse appear to have been the faulty design and construction of temporary scaffolding towers erected to support the girders.

The towers were erected by a firm of scaffolders for Messrs. Samuel Butler and Co., Ltd., the contractors responsible for the construction of the steel work of the bridge. The Inspectorate have been in touch with the contractors, who will themselves erect the new support towers for the girders to a design by a firm of qualified consulting engineers, who will examine them before they are loaded. The Chief Inspector is arranging a meeting with representatives of the scaffolding firm responsible for the original construction.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, which will do a lot to restore confidence amongst the workers on the bridge, may I ask if he can give any information about the stoppage of work that has arisen as a result of this accident; and whether he will use his good offices to secure a resumption of work as early as possible?

I will make further inquiries about the matter that my hon. Friend raises and will certainly bend my efforts in the direction he suggests.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this stoppage has arisen because the Constructional Engineering Union workers employed there feel a lack of confidence in the supervising staff and are insisting on expert people who have had training in the job and are members of their own union?

My hon. Friend the Member for Stretford (Mr. Storey) has asked about the accident. If the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Allaun) likes to put a Question about the stoppage of work, I will certainly answer it.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total number unemployed in the Wednesbury constituency on the latest available date, and the number unemployed for six months or longer.

There were 1,314 on 13th April, including 323 temporarily stopped. On 9th March, 182 persons had been unemployed for over six months.

May I ask the Minister why in a Written Answer last week he stated that he did not regard the unemployment situation in Wednesbury as serious? As unemployment there is now five times as great as it was in 1951 and is of very grave concern to my constituents, what does he intend to do about it?

I think that in 1951 the figure was one-fifth of 1 per cent., so the two statements are not necessarily contradictory. But I will say that the trend in this area has moved contrary to the way one would expect, and contrary to the way the other exchanges seem to be moving. I would like to look especially into this matter and write to the hon. Member about it.

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of unemployed people in the county of Ayr and in the Ayr constituency, respectively, now and at the same date last year; and what percentage the present figures bear to the number of employable people in the two areas.

The figures for 13th April will soon be available and I will then write to my hon. Friend.

While being deeply ignorant of what the figures will be, might I ask my right hon. Friend whether he has any plan to increase the number of people who are at present employed in the county and in my constituency?

There are certain parts that are available for D.A.T.A.C. assistance and, with the assistance of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, we try to help in those areas.

Surely the Minister has some figures available. There is a seriously complex problem in Ayr itself. Is the Minister aware that a special conference is being called on Friday by the county council and local Members of Parliament and that he has given his hon. Friend the Member for Ayr (Sir T. Moore) very meagre food to take to that conference?

That is simply because the figures for 13th April will be available in a day or two. From my hon. Friend's Question I thought that he wanted the latest figures, and I will send those to him as soon as I can.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the concern among foundry workers over the delay in implementing the report of the Joint Standing Committee on conditions in non-ferrous foundries by the issue of appropriate regulations; and when he expects to take action.

Work is proceeding on a draft Code of Regulations. This will be published and interested organisations will be asked for their comments.

Yes, Sir— but when? As it is now no less than five and a half years since the Joint Committee was set up, and eighteen months since the Minister was asked about the delays in implementing its Report, has not the Amalgamated Union of Foundry Workers and others interested serious ground for complaint? As the existing iron and steel foundries Regulations would provide a helpful basis, should it not be easier to produce this quickly?

I agree that it has taken a long time, but I do not think that the union has cause for complaint, because the Report of the Joint Committee was very long and complicated and an immense amount of consultation and discussion was necessary. We will try to speed this up as much as we can, but it is bound to take a very long time.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is satisfied with the way in which medical boards are operating in respect of National Service men, in view of the case of 23604106 ex-Rifleman T. Williams; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, Sir. I have the fullest confidence in the skill and judgment of medical boards set up under the National Service Acts. The boards consult specialists in cases of doubt, and any man who thinks he has been wrongly graded may appeal. I have already given in reply to the hon. Member on 18th February an account of Mr. Williams' examination by National Service medical boards.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that this sort of case causes great public interest and that the public will not be able to see the logic of a situation in which a man is found fit for service on one day and fit for discharge on the next? In view of these cases and of other cases that appear to be arising, will not the Minister look at the system again?

I will look at the methods, but I must say that I find nothing surprising in the fact that medical men differ—that is very commonly known. The ordinary composition of the board is a chairman and four doctors, who call in consultant advice. In this case, they called in and considered the advice of two consultants. It was quite a long time later, and in quite different circumstances, that other doctors came to a different conclusion.

In view of the immense public interest in this case, will my right hon. Friend make it quite clear that he and others of his right hon. Friends are entirely dependent upon expert advice in such matters, and that it would be quite wrong for him, on political or any other grounds, to interfere with the experts' conclusions?

Of course, that is so. Equally, I do not disclose—except, in this case, the fact that consultant opinion was obtained—the details of the medical examination.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the imminent completion of Admiralty work on H.M.S. "Albrighton" at the Victoria Dock, Birkenhead, on H.M.S. "Tughril", at the Clarence Dock, Liverpool, at the end of April, and on H.M.S. "Tippu Sultan", at the Morpeth Dock, Liverpool, at the end of June, will result, respectively, in approximately 300, 500 and 500 men of all trades becoming unemployed; and what steps he is taking to provide alternative employment for the 1,300 men at present employed in these yards.

Yes, Sir. The amount of naval work now available for allocation to commercial yards is very small, but the claims of all areas are considered when allocations are made.

Cannot the Civil Lord be more explicit about the position? These 1,300 men will be completely out of work by the end of June and have had no indication at all as to what is to happen in regard to Admiralty work to take up the numbers who are and will be unemployed.

I quite understand the hon. Lady's point, but she must realise that when the size of the Fleet has been declining the number of ships available to be put out to contract in private yards is also bound to decline.

Can the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that he will not divert work from the Admiralty yards in order to provide employment elsewhere?

The policy of the Admiralty in this matter, as I have told the hon. Gentleman many times, is to repair naval vessels in the Royal dockyards up to their capacity.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many persons are being made redundant at the Royal Naval motor transport depot at Clayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme; and what assistance will be given to them in respect of alternative employment, travelling expenses, and housing.

This depot, with its five satellites, now employs a staff of 75, of whom 21 are established. It is expected that the established staff will be offered transfer to Admiralty employment elsewhere, and the unestablished staff will become redundant; but it is too early yet for staff moves to have been planned in detail. For those who are transferred, there is a wide range of allowances towards additional expenses.

As there are 1,000 workers unemployed in this area, will the Civil Lord make special efforts to see that all those being made redundant in this area are offered some kind of alternative employment? Further, as a number of these men have had to move house several times in recent years, will he see what assistance can be given to them to go to other parts of the country and continue their employment?

I will certainly bear those points in mind.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what payment was made to the Egyptian authorities for the recent passage of the "Britannia" through the Suez Canal; and what was the time taken.

The payment was £647. Her Majesty's Yacht "Britannia" sailed through the Suez Canal in 16 hours 40 minutes.

Is the Parliamentary and Financial Secretary satisfied that the shortage of pilots has been overcome? At the time of the Suez crisis we were told that if the Suez Canal were nationalised and put into the hands of the Egyptians they would not have enough pilots? Was the pilot in this case a Russian or an Egyptian? How does it come about that the First Lord of the Admiralty let this expensive ship go through in this way?

I do not think that that arises from the Question on the Order Paper.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1) how many coamings on H.M.S. "Eagle" have been cut away; on which decks they are situated; and how high these coamings are above sea level;

(2) an whose instructions coamings were cut away on H.M.S. "Eagle"; and to what extent it is intended to replace them.

Ten coamings or sills have been cut down or removed from Nos. 2, 3 and 4 decks in H.M.S. "Eagle." These decks are from 20–40 feet above the normal waterline. This action was taken on the instructions of the Captain of H.M.S. "Eagle," and is approved by the Board of Admiralty. The need for replacement of these sills will be reviewed in the course of the ship's modernisation.

Does not the Parliamentary and Financial Secretary agree that if these watertight doors are put in in order to ensure safety they should not be so readily removed? Has not someone been over-zealous?

There has been absolutely no jeopardy to the safety of the ship as a result of this action.

Does my hon. Friend agree that if this action has been suggested by officers serving at sea, notably the commanding officer, it is hardly right for us to query the action of someone with that experience?

I agree with that remark of my hon. Friend.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the large contracts between the Admiralty and the Coventry Gauge and Tool Company, amounting to more than £1 million, he will make it a condition of contracts that a substantial part of the work shall be carried out in their factories in Brechin and Arbroath, where there is a much higher rate of unemployment than in the Coventry area.

No, Sir. In placing contracts with a firm the Admiralty cannot interfere with the firm's internal organisation by dictating at which of its factories the work should be done. I understand, however, that it is the firm's intention gradually to transfer the work on Admiralty contracts at Coventry to their factory at Brechin.

While appreciating that it would not be right for the Government to direct this firm, will my hon. Friend nevertheless ask them to do so, because it would be in line with Government policy that the work should be done in areas of heavy unemployment rather than areas like Coventry where unemployment is very low?

It would be completely in line with Government policy, but no intervention from me is necessary because this is being done by the firm.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what provision exists for the transport of Army personnel and equipment oversea by the Royal Navy to places where their presence is, or may be, required for operations.

The Royal Navy's responsibilities are confined to the provision of ships for the assault lift and to the escorting and protection of the transports used in seaborne troop movements.

Does my hon. Friend consider that the two tank landing ships which he has in the operational fleet are adequate for the execution of his responsibility? Does he not consider that the Navy should take on considerably more of these ships in order to make an adequate contribution to combined operations?

I think that the two tank landing ships are enough for an assault landing. Whilst I have defined the Navy's responsibilities, I would remind my hon. Friend that other Ministries have responsibilities in this sphere. For instance, the M.T.C.A. and the War Office have responsibilities at sea. The Royal Air Force, in the case of an air-lift, use Transport Command, Coastal Command, independent airlines and the Corporations.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the medical category of No. 23604106 Rifleman T. Williams at the time of his enlistment on 22nd January, 1959; and on what medical grounds he was discharged from the Army as unfit for military service two months later.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the medical grading of 23604106 ex-Rifleman T. Williams, Green Jackets Brigade, now discharged from the Army and returned to civil life and professionally known as Terry Dene, on first attestation into the Army; how long elapsed between his medical examination on first entry into the ranks and his reporting sick and being admitted into an Army or other hospital; and what was the total cost to public funds of the sojourn of this soldier in the service from the day of first attestation to the day of final discharge, including all hospital costs, both military and civil, as paid from Army funds and within the Army Vote.

Rifleman Williams reported for duty on 22nd January, having been placed in Grade I at his pre-service medical examination. When his Army examination took place on the 23rd January the unit medical officer found no reason to disagree with this grading. Williams reported sick on the following day and was admitted to hospital.

The total cost of Rifleman Williams to Army Votes was about £100, his treatment in a civil hospital being provided by the National Health Service.

With regard to the medical grounds for discharge, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my Answer on 15th April.

Will my hon. Friend agree that the rejection or immediate release from the Forces on medical grounds of these people earning big money—whether they be T.V. stars, racing car drivers or first-class cricketers who score centuries for their counties a week after being released on medical grounds—causes great resentment among the ordinary young men of this country who are prepared to do their duty by their country despite the loss of money and interruption of their career which it entails? Will my hon. Friend further agree that, as a result of these cases, they and their parents are now losing faith, not merely in the efficiency, but in some cases the integrity, of the medical boards concerned?

There is absolutely no question about the integrity of the medical boards concerned. I must say that I somewhat resent that slur on the medical board. These cases are few, and when they fall on famous figures immediately there is immense publicity attached to them. In this case we are perfectly satisfied that what was done was done correctly.

Does the Under-Secretary of State admit that the series of coincidences is past credence and that there has been now a series of prominent men released from the Services in this way? At the end of the period of National Service, when it is very important that men who have to be called up should retain their belief in the integrity of the Services, the Under-Secretary ought to provide great safeguards to ensure that this sort of thing does not happen again.

That is precisely what we did. That was precisely why Rifleman Williams was sent not merely to a military hospital but to a civilian mental hospital. The reports from that civilian mental hospital and our own medical reports showed that he was unfit.

Will my hon. Friend recognise that not only is there great public concern about this case arising from the enormous earnings of this man in civil life, but also the fact that hon. Members on both sides of the House are gravely concerned about it? Is he not aware that this man did one day's soldiering, after having been found completely fit for the Army? Then, after several weeks he was discharged, and, to add insult to injury, within hours of his discharge he was "rocking and rolling" on television programmes and again earning very big money? Is my hon. Friend aware that this case merits further scrutiny and should not be laughed off by the War Office or by the Ministry of Labour?

There is no question of laughing this case off. I have been into it most thoroughly. Like many hon. Members of the House, I was naturally distressed by this event. I repeat that this man was not fit for military service.

No hon. Member wants to cast slurs on the medical profession, but how does it come about that these men are able to pass the necessary medical examinations to get into the Services and then within a very short period are found to be unfit for service?

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour replied to that in an earlier Answer.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many days 23604106 ex-Rifleman T. Williams, Green Jackets Brigade, now discharged from the Army and returned to civil life and professionally known as Terry Dene, served in the ranks; how many days he was under medical care and attention; and how many days elapsed between the date of first attestation into the ranks and the date of passing under the care of the Army medical authorities.

The numbers of days are 94, 62 and one, respectively.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the whole series of answers today from the Treasury Bench will create the impression in the minds of the general public that there is one law relating to National Service for all normal young men and another law for persons who are television artistes or otherwise earning large sums of money in civil life?

I completely deny that. My hon. Friend has drawn precisely the wrong conclusions from the answer which I have given. It is precisely because Williams was treated as other men that he has had this twenty-eight days' leave which we give to all persons discharged on medical grounds.

Is the hon. Gentleman conscious of the fact that there is strong apprehension and feeling not only on both sides of the House but among the public outside that somehow favouritism has been shown to this young man? In view of the fact that he is a "rock and roll" expert, has the War Office consulted the Admiralty as to whether he would be suitable for sea service?

I know the right hon. Gentleman has vocal attributes, but I personally am not going to be rocked or rolled by him.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this man is making his first stage appearance at the Majestic Cinema, Chaddesden, near Derby on Sunday, since the termination of his short Army career? In view of this fact, how far does my hon. Friend reconcile the expert opinion of the Army medical authorities with this man's apparent quick recovery?

I must point out that it is not merely the opinion of the Army medical authorities which is involved in this case, but the opinion of the civilian hospital to which Rifleman Williams was sent. On this point both are unanimous.

The hon. Gentleman has never dealt with the point raised by my hon. Friend that what causes public anxiety in the main is that these men are all passed as fit to serve by one set of medical authorities, and then sometimes within a very short period are found unfit by the other set of medical authorities. How does the Under-Secretary account for this?

I account for it by the fact that if it is a psychiatric case, as this proved to be, the circumstances change very swiftly, and the final evidence which we have from the civil and military doctors is to the effect that this man is unfit to be a soldier. Let me say that it is to the credit of hundreds of thousands of young men that they are medically fit to be soldiers.

Has the hon. Gentleman not heard of another good example of this sort of case concerning the "pop" singer, Marty Wilde, who, because of corns, was exempted from service, while I have made representations on behalf of men requesting exemption on the grounds that they are following an academic career, and exemption has been refused?

That is an entirely different question and one which has not come to the military authorities' attention.

Does all this mean that there is room on the stage, the music-hall and television for psychiatric cases?

While the House has expressed its feelings, may I ask whether it would not be a fair comparison to give the figures of normal young men not in the public eye who have been discharged in similar circumstances, and let us keep the matter in perspective?

I will obtain those figures if my hon. and gallant Friend will put down a Question.

I would have smartened-up Terry Dene's parade for him.

asked the Secretary of State for War when he expects to be in a position to announce a decision on the future of Eaton Hall.

As I explained in answer to Questions on 8th April, we are dealing with this as urgently as possible; but it is a complex matter and I cannot say when it will be possible to make an announcement.

Will the Under-Secertary of State agree that the House has been very patient? Eaton Hall has been empty now for about a year. I agree about the difficulty of a decision, but the Under-Secretary ought to give us at any rate some prospect that a decision will be arrived at fairly soon, because there is a good deal of legitimate public concern about this.

We will come to a decision as soon as we can, but as I explained on 8th April, we do not want to make the wrong decision.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the tank and vehicle depot near Selby has now been cleared; and what is to be its future use.

The depôt, which was originally an airfield, has been cleared and is being returned to the Air Ministry. I understand that it will be put up for disposal.

Have all the tanks and vehicles which were regarded as obsolete on this site been sold or have they been transferred to some other depôt, and if so, where?

They have been disposed of by the Ministry of Supply. There are 8,000 vehicles concerned; they have been sold, in some cases for scrap, and others have been disposed of elsewhere. On the more general question of the disposal of stores, I am glad to be able to inform the right hon. Gentleman that in the last two years thirty-nine ordnance depôts have been closed and we are closing twelve more this year.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Association are evicting their tenant, the widow of a former employee, from the flat at 13, Northbourne Road, Clapham, and that the Secretary of the Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Association refuses to allow more time to enable this lady to find other accommodation, on the ground that the flat is wanted for married quarters, although there is a flat in the same house unoccupied for many months; and whether he will make enquiries into this matter and arrange that this widow shall be allowed to stay in the flat until she is able to find other accommodation.

Mrs. Metcalfe has lived rent-free in this flat since February, 1957. Now that the other apartment is vacant, the whole house is to be handed over to the Regular Army for use as married quarters. The legal process to obtain possession will, therefore, begin after 30th April, but my right hon. Friend is prepared to delay enforcement until September when I understand that the local housing authorities will consider the application which Mrs. Metcalfe has already made. I must make it clear that there can be no extension beyond that.

While expressing appreciation of the last part of that reply, may I ask, if in September the local borough council is unable to provide accommodation, as it has already indicated it may not be able, whether the hon. Gentleman will see that this lady, who is not in the least responsible for the situation which has been created, is given more time, if necessary, to find other accommodation? She is prepared to take other accommodation if she can find it.

I am afraid I cannot give the indefinite undertaking for which the hon. Gentleman asks. We have already given an extension and, as the hon. Gentleman is aware, this lady has been living rent-free for more than two years.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now announce his decision concerning the sentence of ex-Corporal Munday of the Royal Hampshire Regiment in regard to the original sentence of three years' imprisonment, taking specially into account the extenuating circumstances arising in this case.

The original sentence was reduced by six months in October last year. My right hon. Friend has now reviewed it again and made a further reduction to two years' imprisonment.

Does my hon. Friend agree that after remission for good conduct, this man will eventualy serve a period of sixteen months imprisonment only, compared with the original court-martial sentence of three years? Having regard to the quite extenuating circumstances of the case and the disgraceful muddle made by the War Office as to whether he ought to be court-martialled in this country or in Cyprus, might it not have shown more mature judgment on the part of the officers sitting on the court-martial if they had given him a lighter sentence in the first place?

These were very grave offences and, as my hon. Friend knows, the soldier broke from arrest and fired a rifle at those who tried to recapture him. There were mitigating circumstances and they account for the review of the sentence.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement on the future supply of bearskins for use by the British army.

The Brigade of Guards require about 300 bearskin caps a year. I understand that there may be difficulty in future in obtaining sufficient pelts of suitable quality, and this problem is being investigated by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply.

Recently, the Brigade of Guards received an offer from the Mayor of Timmins, Ontario, to organise a hunt which would produce a large number of bearskins. The Brigade expressed their gratitude for the offer which has been conveyed to the Minister of Supply.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is considerable concern that the Army appears to be encouraging the organised massacre of these small Canadian bears when they ought to be exploring means of finding a substitute? Can he say whether the letter from the Brigade of Guards to this Canadian township, which appears to approve proposals being made for a large-scale hunt, was written with the authority of the Secretary of State for War?

No, Sir. The offer was made direct to the Brigade of Guards and we have now properly passed it to the Ministry of Supply. I should make it clear, on the other point, that this offer is a very friendly one which we have no intention of refusing. At the same time, we think that the Canadians ought to be told exactly what type and quality of pelts are wanted so that there is no needless and wasteful killing. The Ministry of Supply is making arrangements along these lines.

asked the Postmaster-General when he will provide a telephone kiosk to serve the developing Hardwick Estate at Stockton-on-Tees.

A site for a kiosk is under consideration and, if all goes well, it should be provided within a month or two.

Does that mean that the difficulties of where the overhead or underground lines should be have been overcome?

I think so.

asked the Postmaster-General when he will give instructions in the interests of road safety for the removal of the obsolete telephone poles on the York-Boroughbridge Road.

Discussion is in progress with the county council on the method to be employed in removing these poles. As soon as this is agreed, the work will be put in hand.

asked the Postmaster-General what proportion of public telephone kiosks pay their way; and to what extent the remainder is subsidised by the general revenue of the telephone service.

It is estimated broadly that rather less than one-third of all telephone call offices pay their way. The net loss on all call offices is currently about £3 million per annum.

Is the Minister aware that his Department recently refused a telephone kiosk in a working-class district of Camborne, Cornwall, on the grounds that the general telephone service would probably not pay its way? Is he also aware that this is a working-class area with few private telephones, and will he look into this matter again?

We try to reconcile commercial prospects, as it were, with the public need and the fact that, on balance, we meet the public need is shown by the £3 million loss made on call offices. So generally we are looking after the public need. I will look into this particular case again and write to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent the lack of adequate financial resources is hampering the development of the telephone service; and when he expects the service to be free from financial difficulties.

Naturally I wish that more investment could be allowed for development of the telephone service, but the reduction of the waiting list from 230,000 to 60,000 during the past three years shows that at any rate we are getting on. The answer to the second part of the hon. Member's Question depends on Government decisions about future investment, which I cannot anticipate.

Can we have an assurance from the Postmaster-General that the financial difficulties of which the Parliamentary Secretary wrote to me exist within the Government and not with the Chancellor of the Exchequer in dealing with the financial state of the country?

Our job in the Post Office is to get the best value for the money which we are allowed to receive for capital investment. We would all like to get more—railways, schools and hospitals—but the fact that the waiting list has gone down so dramatically shows that we are getting our share.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he takes to safeguard the mails while being carried by British Railways.

I am sure my hon. Friend will not expect me to give details of the precautions taken for the safety of mails, which would be of great interest to thieves. We are naturally getting our share of attention in the present crime wave, but I can assure my hon. Friend that, with British Railways, we are constantly reviewing and adapting our security arrangements with a view to deterring and catching the thieves. The number of mailbags lost is today very much less that it was some years ago, but this is not to say that we are satisfied with the position.

Is the Postmaster-General aware of the anxiety and apprehension felt by the public at these continual robberies, and does his assurance, which I take to refer to traffic being conveyed over the railways, apply to other spheres of his activities?

It applies to all spheres in the Post Office. Losses to date have been less than they have been for some considerable time. This year, mailbag losses are only 55 per cent. of what they were in 1951–52 and 1952–53. It would be absolutely stupid if I were to give details of the precautions we take and publicise them.

In view of the excellent work of the investigating branch of the Post Office in regard to mailbag robberies some years ago and the very successful results that accrued, would the right hon. Gentleman consider increasing the numbers of the investigating branch?

We do not want to increase the numbers of the investigating branch. We want to increase co-operation between the Post Office and the police in general and Scotland Yard in particular, and that is what we are doing.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will consult the Dean and Chapter of Ely Cathedral with a view to the replacing of a light warning low-flying aircraft, based on Mildenhall, of the position of the West Tower of the Cathedral

We no longer need this light now that the airfield at Witch-ford has closed. Aircraft from Mildenhall, which is some nine miles from the Cathedral, are routed well above the height of the tower.

Is my hon. Friend aware that many of the local inhabitants of Ely have been somewhat disturbed in recent months by extremely low-flying aircraft, particularly during the hours of darkness? While it is appreciated that the United States Air Force using Mildenhall may not be fully aware of the geography of this country, and as the cloud base over the Fens is often very low. would it not be better to have a light put on the tower?

As my hon. and gallant Friend says, there is this question of aircraft coming over Ely, but Ely is not now in an approach area. Our rule for lights outside approach areas is to put them on buildings higher than 500 feet.

If there is any question about this, why should there be a problem? Many other cathedrals and spires have lights on them, and if there is even the faintest possibility of danger why should not the Air Ministry bring this point to the attention of the Dean and Chapter?

I will certainly do that. As Ely is no longer in an approach area, I do not think I ought to commit myself at this stage, but I will bring that point to their attention.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what steps are being taken to dispose of the buildings and plant at Stoke Heath.

We are finding out whether there is any other Government use for the site. If there is not we shall try to sell it.

In view of the need for more employment in this area, which, as the hon. Gentleman knows, has a comparatively high level of unemployment, will a special effort be made by his Department to try to dispose of the buildings in such a way as to create new employment in the area?

We will certainly try to sell the site for industrial purposes if we can.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many established and unestablished men made redundant at Stoke Heath have been offered alternative employment; why some of them have been offered posts at stations due to be closed shortly; and to what extent the trade unions have been consulted about the problems arising from the closure of this station.

44 established and 62 un-established employees have been offered other work. Another six will be offered it shortly. One job for a temporary labourer was offered at a unit due to close at the end of the year. Redundancy arrangements are agreed centrally with the trades unions concerned.

As the hon. Gentleman knows, I have raised this question before. Would he try to ensure that there is some effective consultation with the trade unions on these matters? Is he aware that in my constituency there is no really effective consultation and, as a result, the men have a long catalogue of grievances? Cannot something be done to consult the trade union officers and go through all these redundancy questions?

My information is that redundancy agreements are discussed with the trade unions concerned. If the hon. Gentleman is right in saying that they are not, I am most concerned about it, and I should like to have details from him.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what further tests and modifications are required before the United States Thor missiles in this country will be regarded as operational.

The development programme, including tests, is a continuous process and the extent of the modifications which may be required cannot be decided in advance.

In view of the widespread doubts expressed on technical grounds, not only in the United States but on the Continent and in this country, about the value of these particular missiles, is it not time that the Air Ministry cut the losses imposed on it by the Ministry of Defence and scrapped these missiles?

I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman at all. We have repeatedly stressed that missiles in this country will not become operational until proving tests have been satisfactorily completed. Last week's firing was part of the training programme, and I think that we should await the results of the tests

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the extent to which the risk of accidents on the road is increased through the varying arrangements for the suspension of street lighting during fog; and if he will take such steps as are necessary to bring about uniformity in the arrangements between the various local authorities.

My right hon. Friend's responsibility for street lighting is confined to assisting lighting authorities to light trunk roads and as far as these are concerned we try to ensure that the standards adopted are those likely to be most helpful to traffic, whether in foggy conditions or otherwise. I have no doubt that lighting authorities generally are fully aware of the importance of this.

Is my hon. Friend aware that with the increasing volume and importance of through traffic it is rather disconcerting for motorists to have to experience so many different types of lighting, and is it not the aim of his Ministry ultimately to achieve a real measure of uniformity of lighting for all our main roads?

We have taken steps recently to achieve co-operation between adjacent lighting authorities and I am hopeful that that will bear fruit.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the unsatisfactory nature of the present arrangements under which learner drivers receive tuition; and if he will introduce regulations which will ensure that learner drivers are always accompanied by a competent driver sitting alongside, and that motor cars used for tuition on the highway shall be fitted with dual-control equipment, so as to enable the accompanying driver to act effectively in an emergency.

It is already the law that a learner driver may not drive a motor car unless he is accompanied by someone holding a substantive licence to drive that type of vehicle. I do not think my hon. Friend's suggestion that all motor cars used for tuition on the highway should be fitted with dual-control equipment is practicable.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when it is proposed to publish the results of the survey of road goods transport conducted a year ago; and what has caused the delay.

The analysis of the returns and preparation of the report has involved a good deal of work, but we hope to publish it in the course of the next month or so.

I appreciate the work involved, but can the Parliamentary Secretary assure the House that there is no ulterior motive in holding back these returns, as in certain quarters of the Press there are suggestions that because they are unfavourable to C-licence holders they are not being published?

I have not seen them myself, so I cannot say. Certainly there is no ulterior motive in holding them back, and I hope that they will be published next month.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will introduce legislation to amend the Road Traffic Acts to provide that persons convicted on a second offence under Section 19 of the 1930 Act in regard to drivers' working hours, or under Section 16 of the 1933 Act in regard to the keeping of records, shall have their licence suspended and that on a subsequent conviction shall have it revoked.

No, Sir. The suspension and revocation of carriers' licences are best dealt with under the statutory discretion exercised by Licensing Authorities, which can thus take into account the varying circumstances of individual cases.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in nearly all cases of prosecution a very large number of violations have been revealed and it is frequently the same operators who are found guilty of committing these offences? Would it not be better that there should be this deterrent, this threat of the withdrawal of the licence, rather than the imposition of small fines which is now the custom?

The licensing authorities have power to levy such a penalty where they think it right. I think that it is best to leave it to their discretion. I should be sorry to leave the impression that we are harrying the commercial carrying trade.