asked the Secretary of State for War when the committee under the chairmanship of General Sir Richard Goodbody, which is examining possible solutions to the present shortage of entrants to the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, will report.

I expect to have an interim report in July and the final report in the autumn.

In view of the urgency and importance of this question, can my right hon. Friend say what the present position is at Sandhurst in regard to the shortage of entrants, and, in particular, whether he hopes to make the report available to hon. Members?

We are short of entrants to Sandhurst and we hope that this report will throw some new light on the problem. As to making the report available, I do not expect that it will be published, but I do expect the recommendations to be of such importance that I will welcome an opportunity to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for War when it is proposed to close the Garrison at Sheerness; and what plans exist for its future.

We shall not require Sheerness Barracks after this year and they will be put up for disposal.

Is not the Minister aware that, following the closure of the Sheppey dockyard, this inflicts a still further blow on the Isle of Sheppey? Will the Minister consult the local authorities about the disposal of the buildings and land?

Certainly. At the appropriate moment we shall.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many soldiers are now serving sentences of imprisonment or detention in the military detention centre at Shepton Mallet; and how many of these men will be released from the Army at the end of their sentence.

One hundred and fortyone, all of whom have been or will be discharged from the Army.

As all these men will be of no further use to the Army in any way, will my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State consider making strenuous efforts to close this prison and see that all prisoners who are sentenced to be dishonourably discharged in future serve their sentences in civilian prisons?

There is a Question on the Order Paper on that specific point.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers and non-commissioned officers are employed on the permanent staff at the military detention centre, Shepton Mallet.

asked the Secretary of State for War from what sources the Shepton Mallet military prison is staffed; what are the qualifications of the staff; and to what extent they are subject to inspection by independent outside bodies.

Apart from those employed in administration, the permanent staff consists of six officers, together with 47 warrant officers and N.C.O.s of the Military Provost Staff Corps and seven N.C.O.s of the Royal Air Force.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I recently visited this prison and met many of the staff who are doing a very difficult job in very depressing surround ings?

I am indeed aware that my hon. Friend visited the prison and I am most grateful to him for the report that he wrote upon his visit. I am glad to hear his confirmation of how he thinks the prison is run.

Would the Minister assert that the staff of this prison are not strong-arm men, because the photographs in the Press of some of them were not exactly reassuring? Has the right hon. Gentleman said in his reply that the usual visits which are made to civilian prisons by the prison visitors are also made to Shepton Mallet?

The staff of the prison are certainly not strong-arm men in the sense in which the hon. Member refers, but they are also not weak-arm men.

Would not the Minister agree that there is a great deal of evidence —probably through no fault of the staff there—that the conditions in the prison are an anachronism, to say the least of it? Is the right hon. Gentleman not going to tell us what his longer-term policy is, whether it is to abolish this prison physically altogether, and, if so, whether we are to have another military prison or are to rely entirely on civilian prisons?

There are a number of Questions on the Order Paper, and that is one of them.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement upon the prison break by thirteen soldiers at Shepton Mallet, Samerset; what modernisation has been carried out to this prison since it was built in Napoleonic times; whether he is aware that the prison buildings were condemned for use as a civil prison nearly forty years ago; what steps he has taken to establish the causes of the prison break referred to and the legitimacy of grievances expressed by the prisoners and others; and what further steps he now proposes to take in the matter.

The prison at Shepton Mallet was leased to the Army by the Home Office in 1939. Since it came into our hands we have improved the heating, lighting, water and drainage systems. Various other works services have also been carried out.

Without condoning in any way the mutinous conduct of this soldiery at Shepton Mallet, may I ask my right hon. Friend if he would not agree that it is quite reprehensible that these buildings, which were condemned forty years ago for use as a civil prison, should now be kept in use as a military prison? Will he take early steps to endeavour to destroy this glasshouse and remove the prisoners to more amenable and humane surroundings?

This is a very old prison. We took it over on lease from the Home Office in 1939. We have made certain improvements to bring it into line with modern standards. There is nothing that could be done short of razing it to the ground and building it again as a modern prison, but a lot of prisons, unfortunately, are very old. The lease runs out in 1960 and we shall have to find other accommodation when we hand Shepton Mallet back to the Home Office. Shortly after that, we shall have to find other accommodation for the prisoners.

Is it not true that, in addition to improvements, the place has recently been white-washed? Is the Minister going to do it again?

It is kept as clean as possible.

Would not the Secretary of State agree that there are two questions here? One is on the subject of the sentences, and surely we may hope that before confirmation there will be some reduction in the sentences. Secondly, there are the conditions in the prison. There has been a great deal of evidence furnished in the public Press that they are profoundly unsatisfactory. Cannot the Minister give some assurance that in one way or another, either by the use of civil prisons or by building another military prison, the use of this prison will be discontinued?

The right hon. Member has raised two points. One is that of using civil prisons. At the moment we send all prisoners with terms of more than two years imprisonment to Home Office civil prisons, but, owing to the overcrowding of those prisons, the Home Office cannot take prisoners who are going to be discharged from the Army and are serving less than two years. Shepton Mallet is the only place available to us. The lease is running out and the premises will be handed back to the Home Office. In the meantime, we shall have to find other accommodation.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that those who live in the district and know about the running of these detention barracks recognise that the present commandant and his staff have done a great deal to improve the conditions and discipline in this prison in the face of most difficult material conditions in an old building? Is it common practice in detention barracks to allow the prisoners to watch television provided out of staff amenity funds?

That is too severe a punishment.

I am grateful to my hon. and gallant Friend for the first part of his supplementary question, with which I entirely agree. I am afraid I should need notice before answering the second part.

When the Minister is inquiring into the whole of this matter, will he make inquiries as to whether any complaints were made by the men before and whether there was any question that letters of complaint were stopped from being sent out by the men concerned? If that had been attended to, this difficulty might not have arisen, as people would have had an opportunity of knowing what happened inside.

There has been a full board of inquiry, but I shall, of course, take note of what the hon. Lady has said.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) what changes have been made in the structure, amenities, discipline, and routine at the Shepton Mallet prison since it was taken over as a military prison;

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the military prison at Shepton Mallet is run purely as a punishment establishment for soldiers, that many of the soldiers sent there have ceased to be of use to Her Majesty's Forces, and that the routine of the prison is not up to the standard demanded by civil prisons; and if he will order an inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for War why soldiers who are dismissed from the Army and sentenced to imprisonment serve their sentences in a military rather than a civil prison.

In the United Kingdom there is one military prison, at Shepton Mallet, and one Corrective Training Centre at Colchester. Convicted soldiers who are to stay in the Army undergo detention at Colchester where the routine and training are designed to prepare them for return to their units. Soldiers who are to be discharged, including all those sentenced to terms of up to two years' imprisonment, go to Shepton Mallet where they learn civilian trades and live in conditions very similar to those of a civil prison. Terms of imprisonment over two years are served in civil prisons, but by keeping Shepton Mallet in being we avoid adding the whole burden of military offenders to the responsibilities of the Prison Commission.

Is it not true that until recently the prison was used by the United States Army? Are any of the American practices still carried out at present, or has it reverted to the British Army because, as I understand, some of the practices are un-British in their application? Does not the Minister think that the demeanour of the staff and the conditions of the prison itself were contributory factors to the trouble there, and should not something be done before these men are severely punished by taking into consideration the horrible, intolerable and rotten conditions under which they were housed in the Shepton Mallet hellhole?

I certainly could not comment now on what the hon. Gentleman thinks may or may not have been contributory factors in a matter which is still sub judice.

Can the Minister say if he has ever seen this place himself? Is he aware that the Church of Scotland chaplain, who acted as chaplain for three years, has recently said that this place was a blot on the Army and a blot on the conscience of this country, that the conditions are so bad that prisoners are prepared to commit other crimes and get additional sentences in order to be sent to another prison, that the food is abominable, and that all human dignity is destroyed in this prison within a very short time? Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to say that this chaplain, who is a very respected member of the Church of Scotland, is not telling the truth?

It is not a question of telling the truth. He was giving his own impression. I am not denying that this is a very old prison, which, from the point of view of the buildings, leaves a great deal to he desired. Where rations are concerned, the men draw prison rations, the same as those drawn in civil prisons.

Can the Minister say at which stage a man becomes a civilian —at the beginning of his sentence or at the end? Can he also say if there have been any requests from any of the prisoners to be transferred to local prisons so that they may have visits from their relatives?

The discharge happens at some time during the course of their imprisonment, but military law provides that, even after a man has been discharged, he still remains under military law during the period of his sentence. As to applications for transfers to other prisons, I could not answer that without notice.

Since it is not denied that this prison is quite unsuitable and out-of-date, what is the objection to announcing that a new prison will be built or acquired, which is surely what we want?

I have told the right hon. Gentleman that by the early 1960s we shall have to leave this prison. We have given an assurance to the Home Office, but there is a shortage of prison accommodation throughout the whole country.

Is there no "stately home" that might be acquired in the meantime?

asked the Secretary of State for War the total weekly cost of running the military detention prison at Shepton Mallet; and the cost per head, per week, of keeping a prisoner there.

The approximate figures are £2,300 and £11 respectively.

Does not the Secretary of State agree that this money could have been better spent in many ways? If we take various reports, including the report of the minister from Argyll, do they not indicate that it is time that this place was closed down and demolished?

The hon. Lady says that the money could have been spent in better ways, but we must have a prison.

asked the Secretary of State for War what liaison there is between the War Department and the British Broadcasting Corporation.

It is the duty of an officer in our public relations department to maintain a liaison with the B.B.C. and the I.T.A. programme contractors.

Will my right hon. Friend say why Rifleman Terry Dene, who I understand is not fit for the Army, should be paid £400 a week out of public funds to shake his chassis on the B.B.C. and to appear perfectly fit to the British public?

To begin with, the supplementary question is a long way wide of the Question; secondly, I do not regard the payment as public funds, and, thirdly, the qualifications necessary to appear on television are not the same as those to serve in the Army.

Can the Minister say what the qualifications are for a liaison officer with the B.B.C. and the I.T.A.?

To be good at the job.

Which job?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will reduce the number of Army barracks in Central London.

No, Sir.

Does the hon. Gentleman still think it necessary to have so many Army barracks occupying valuable sites in the West End? Is it not possible to dispense with that horrible eyesore in Knightsbridge without detriment to military needs?

No, Sir. Barracks are provided for troops on ceremonial and other duties in Central London, which we regard as an extremely important function which is accepted by the public.

asked the Secretary of State for War why married soldiers under the age of 21 years are not eligible for married quarters.

In general, we do not encourage very young soldiers to take up family responsibilities. We like them to settle down first in a career and way of life which is very different from that of a civilian. Young soldiers are free to marry if they wish, in the knowledge of that policy. They then receive marriage allowance, but not accommodation.

Why is there this discrimination with regard to married quarters between married soldiers of over 21 and those under 21? Is it not a fact that a soldier may be married before he joins the Army and is this not a disincentive to certain people joining up?

We do not carry this to a point where, except in exceptional circumstances, it would create hardship. The condition is known to all joining any of the Services. Prior to the war, the age at which married quarters were available was 26. Now that has been reduced to 21 and young married Service men get marriage allowance and ration allowance.

Is not this a remnant of the old War Office policy of discouraging early marriage? It has now given in over the question of marriage allowance. Is it not rather illogical to keep this discrimination about quarters?

I do not think so; I really do not.

In view of the completely unsatisfactory nature of the Answer, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for War why military police were sent to a cinema at Chaddesden, Derby, on the evening of Sunday, 26th April, 1959; to what extent they took part in searching parcels and bags of persons entering the cinema; and whether he will make a statement.

A sergeant and four men attended the cinema at the request of the civil police. They did not search any bags or parcels.

Why were red-caps sent there at all? Is my right hon. Friend aware that this created the impression that some sort of military protection is now being provided for the man referred to professionally as Terry Dene? As he was Grade A.1 medically at his pre-Service medical examination, Grade A.1 on first Army attestation and then discharged as totally unfit, would my right hon. Friend confirm that there cannot be any question of meeting the suggestion of the man's family that there should be a pension for his Army service?

As to the question of what my hon. Friend chooses to call protection, what happened here was that the civil police asked the military police as a precautionary measure to accompany them to this cinema, but in the event, so far as I know, there were no incidents, certainly none involving the military police.

As I represent a local constituency, may I ask the right hon. Member if he is aware that there is a great deal of thankfulness locally that this action was taken and that it probably prevented incidents happening?

asked the Secretary of State for War the latest number of persons, civilians and military, respectively, employed at Ranikhet Camp, Reading.

There are 122 civilian staff and 174 military. An overflow of 99 soldiers from the battalion at Brock Barracks is also living temporarily in Ranikhet Camp.

Is my hon. Friend aware that, in order to accommodate this handful of men, his Department is holding 34 acres of my constituent's land, which is valuable building land, worth at least £5,000 an acre? Can he not arrange to evacuate this land so that it may be developed at an early date?

As I have explained to my hon. Friend before, we will evacuate this land when the works services at Brock Barracks nearby have been completed, but that, I am afraid, will not be until towards the end of 1960.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of letters of protest at the discharge of Terry Dene he has received from Members of Parliament and the general public.

Since this man was discharged, we have received six letters from hon. Members and fourteen from the general public.

Is the Minister aware that almost everybody in the country is completely incensed about the treatment of this case? Can he explain why this man was not kept in long enough to see whether he would recover his standard of fitness, which he has quite remarkably recovered immediately on his discharge? Will the Minister examine the whole Service to see whether any other serving soldier has had any less favourable treatment than this man?

I think the hon. Gentleman has certainly misapprehended my reply. This man was examined by doctors and psychiatrists, both military and civil, and the report they made to me was quite unanimous. In their opinion, he was unfit for service. In these circumstances, as I am not a doctor myself, I had no alternative whatever but to accept the medical advice, in which have the fullest confidence.

asked the Secretary of State for War what disciplinary action has been taken against high-ranking officers at the War Office following the discovery of a state of military unpreparedness at the time of Suez.

I do not accept the premise of the Question, and the answer is "None, Sir".

Is the Minister aware that the premise is not mine, but that of his own brother-in-law, Mr. Randolph Churchill? If he does not live on the same premises, cannot he at least accept them? Is he aware that this statement was made that we have been in a state of military unpreparedness, which was staggering and humiliating, and, while we are not anxious to send anybody in the War Office to Shepton Mallet for five years, does he not agree that it should have been looked into?

No, I do not.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many National Service men during the last ten years have been exempted, for the duration of their service in the Army, from wearing ammunition boots on account of foot ailments; and how many National Service men are serving today, though exempted from wearing ammunition boots

Nobody is accepted for service in the Army if he is incapable of wearing boots. It sometimes happens that after he has been trained a soldier develops a moderate degree of foot trouble and is allowed to stay on; but the number of National Service men in this category is very small. No statistical record is kept.

Has it not been the practice for many years past that National Service men, in respect of minor foot ailments, are permitted not to wear ammunition boots, but to wear plimsolls, for example? Would not my right hon. Friend be prepared to confirm that corns and callouses, for example, are very mild forms of foot ailments which should not deter a man from undertaking National Service?

There are very many degrees of foot troubles, and I would not like to go into them.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) how many National Service men with a wife and child, or children, went absent without obtaining leave in the last two years;

This information is not available.

Is the Minister aware that I know of nine such cases in Salford, and, no doubt, there are many others in that city, that there must be large numbers of men throughout the country who have gone home for this reason, and that some of these men have been punished up to six times for doing so? Does he realise that all that I am asking is for the addition of these two categories to the five listed by the Minister of Defence as qualifying, prima facie, for exemption from service or compassionate discharge?

No, Sir. We discussed this in Questions at this time last week, and I said then that we cannot take the fact that the man is the son of a widow as being necessarily a reason for his discharge, but where there is hardship therefrom and a compassionate case arises, he can be discharged on compassionate grounds.

Would not the Minister consider the suggestion of giving a new directive, or getting the appropriate Department to do so, to ease the conditions either for call-up or for compassionate discharge in these respects, in view of the fact that there is now no shortage of men?

It is obviously one's endeavour to ensure that the grounds for compassionate discharge are as easy as they might be where there is hardship, consonant with the requirements of the Service, and certainly we will continue to aim at that.

asked the Postmaster-General what is now holding up plans for the modernisation of the post office at Ashington, Northumberland; and whether he will make a statement.

This is still unfortunately held up because it has not been possible to reach agreement with the landlord on the terms on which reconstruction of the premises should proceed. Everything possible is being done to conclude an agreement and to avoid further delay. I will continue to keep the hon. Member in touch with developments.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will issue a special postage stamp to mark the bicentenary of Kew Gardens.

No. Sir. Our policy is to limit the issue of special stamps to mark current events of outstanding national or international importance, and royal or postal anniversaries. I understand that some special celebrations have been arranged to mark the bi-centenary of the Kew Gardens.

Is the Minister aware that more people visit Kew Gardens than do even the shrines of Robert Burns? As so many people visit Kew, does he not think that he would sell a very large number of postage stamps, and that it would be a good way of honouring an institution that is very popular in this country and which was founded by the mother of King George the Third—with good Hanoverian blood?

I am aware of the popularity of Kew Gardens, but that does not affect our policy.

asked the Postmaster-General how many private telephones exist at Douglas and Douglas, West, in the County of Lanark; and how many subscribers own shops or businesses.

On the Douglas exchange, which serves both Douglas and Douglas, West, there are 28 residence telephones and 81 business telephones.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that since December some 70 families have now left this village, and that some 70 houses now stand empty—50 of them subsidised? Can he say whether any telephone subscriptions have been given up during this period, and whether any telephone equipment is not now being used in the exchange?

I would need notice to answer the detail of that supplementary question. I do not know that the equipment we have available in the exchange is adequate for all the demands being made on it.

Is it more than adequate?

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to increase the number of cables from the Sunderland telephone exchange.

A new cable is needed to serve the Seaburn Dene Estate. This scheme is in hand and is expected to be completed early next year. Otherwise, the cable network appears to be adequate for the traffic.

asked the Postmaster-General what plans he has for the extension of the telephone service in Sunderland.

The telephone service in Sunderland is generally satisfactory. We expect to provide about 700 telephones during the next twelve months in the Sunderland and Bishopwearmouth exchange areas.

While welcoming that statement, may I ask the hon. Gentleman to keep in touch with the President of the Board of Trade? As he recognises, the Sunderland area is one of exceptional unemployment, and it is up to the various Government Departments to see what they can do to reduce the level of unemployment.

We shall certainly do all we can to see that the telephone service facilities there are adequate.

asked the Postmaster-General when he is going to change the personnel of the Independent Television Authority.

Under paragraph 7 (1) of the First Schedule of the Television Act this is entirely a matter for the Independent Television Authority.

In view of the many criticisms made inside and outside the House of the operation of the Act by the Independent Television Authority. and the complete disregard of the Act by the programme companies, does not the hon. Gentleman think it about time something was done? If he does not intend to change the personnel of the Authority, what does he intend to do to get the Act complied with?

The personnel of the Authority has nothing whatever to do with my right hon. Friend. That is a matter for the Authority itself.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the continuing dissatisfaction with the application of the rules relating to advertising contained in the Second Schedule to the Television Act, 1954, he will consult with the Independent Television Authority with a view to introducing amending legislation to transfer from the Authority to himself the responsibility for securing compliance with the rules.

No, Sir. I do not accept the assumption on which the Question is based.

Again, is not this a case in which there is a responsibility on the Postmaster-General to see that the Television Act is complied with, and that the Independent Television Authority does not carry out its functions in complete disregard of that Act? After all, the Authority holds its position at the Postmaster-General's pleasure, and something must be done about it.

I do not accept the assumption on which the hon. Member's Question is based but, in fact, the observation of the Television Act is an obligation placed on the Authority by this House.

asked the Postmaster-General what action has been taken by his Department concerning recent unauthorised sound broadcasts in Wales, made on behalf of a political party; and if he will make a statement.

Investigations are constantly being made by my Department into illicit transmissions and other forms of interference with authorised radio services. I cannot give details of the action taken in any particular case.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the most unauthorised voice of Wales is that of the hon. Member for Barry (Mr. Gower), who asked the Question? [HON. MEMBERS: "Order"] At the same time, may I impress upon the Assistant Postmaster-General the need to extend to all the parties existing in Wales the same privileges as are now enjoyed by the hon. Member?

I do not think that the House needs to be reminded that my hon. Friend comes here with precisely the same authority as does the hon. Member for Merioneth (Mr. T. W. Jones). The Question relates to illicit transmissions, and not to those that the hon. Gentleman has in mind.

asked the Postmaster-General, with a view to diminishing unauthorised broadcasts on behalf of political minorities in Wales, if he will take steps to introduce new regulations, substituting for the present rule that only political parties who contest fifty United Kingdom constituencies may qualify for official political broadcasts, a new rule that a political party in Wales may so qualify if it contests twelve constituencies in the Principality.

I would draw my hon. Friend's attention to the joint statement issued by the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority on 18th March, after joint consultation with the Government and the two Opposition parties. A copy of that statement is in the Library.

While it may be true that this rule is fair and reasonable for the whole country, does not my hon. Friend think that it is somewhat unreasonable, and somewhat absurd, in its application to the thirty-six counties in Wales? Would it not be wise to reconsider the advice of the B.B.C. Welsh Advisory Council which recommended that the rule should be changed?

If my hon. Friend will refer to the statement I have mentioned, he will see that under the proposals, the B.B.C. regional programmes during the General Election may make it possible for small parties to participate. according to qualifications to be announced later.

Can the Assistant Postmaster-General make it quite clear that minorities will not be gagged in the General Election on the regional programmes?

If the right hon. Gentleman, too, will read the statement, he will see that this point is carefully covered.

asked the Postmaster-General how often during the past five years he has required the British Broadcasting Corporation not to broadcast a particular programme.

Not at all, Sir.

In view of the B.B.C.'s panicky abandonment of a recent programme on the truculent demand of the Northern Ireland Government—and without arguing the merits of any particular individual—will the hon. Gentleman ask the Northern Ireland Government to follow the much better tradition, in these matters, of the British Government?

I think that the House will agree that the Northern Ireland Government are quite entitled to hold, and to express, an opinion. I would ask the hon. Gentleman to be good enough to read a letter on this subject which appeared in this morning's Daily Herald, written by the Leader of the Labour Opposition of Northern Ireland.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. As the Northern Ireland Government have been mentioned, and the subject of a B.B.C. programme has been raised, is it not proper that an hon. Member who is a member of the Unionist Party in Northern Ireland should be permitted to ask a supplementary question?

We have passed that Question now. I failed to observe the hon. Member for Belfast, South (Sir D. Campbel).

asked the Secretary of State for Air what proposals he has as to the future of the Directorate of Work Study.

We intend to develop our Work Study organisation as fully as we can. We are applying work study techniques very widely throughout the R.A.F., and are always on the lookout for possibilities of improving the organisation to meet changing requirements.

That may be so, but it does not answer my Question. What is to be the the future of the Directorate of Work Study? Is the responsibility for work study to be handed to Commands and Departments, or is it to remain with the Directorate itself?

As I have said, we are keeping the present work study organisation under review to see what improvements car be made. We are shortly to have a report on the whole subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is satisfied that all the conditions attached to the sale of buildings on the dispersed housing sites of Sandtoff Aerodrome in the Isle of Axholm have been properly carried out; and if he will make a statement.

Three of the buildings were bought by the landowner. Others were sold for scrap. For these, the conditions of sale required the buyer to demolish the building to the ground floor and to clear the site. This was for the most part done. A number of buildings were, however, only partly demolished.

Will my hon. Friend ensure that these conditions are immediately enforced on the remainder of the buyers? Will he also find out who was responsible for seeing that the conditions of sale were carried out after the sale in the first instance? Will he also satisfy himself that no member of his Department has been dilatory or inefficient in dealing with the problem?

I have inquired into this case. The difficulty about future action is that the land has now been derequisitioned. Before handing it back, we did press the buyers of the buildings to carry out the conditions of sale, and this was largely done. We were reluctant to take legal action at the time because it would have delayed the derequisitioning, and we cannot do so now.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many of the United States Thor missiles in this country are operational; and how many are expected to be operational by mid-summer.

The position remains as I described it in reply to a supplementary question from the hon. Member on 22nd April.

Is the Under-Secretary of State aware that, as a result of the terms of the agreement which the Minister of Defence made with the United States Government and which my hon. Friends and I opposed at the time, the efficiency of the Royal Air Force is now being called into question in the party battles in the United States, with contradictory statements by Ministers, senators and generals? Is it not very unsettling to the Royal Air Force units who have to work this ridiculous agreement that there should be all these statements? Can nothing be done to clear up the position once and for all?

With regard to statements which have been recently made in the United States, I think that I should tell the House that the Secretary of the United States Air Force has recently been in this country. He visited the first Thor sites last week and expressed satisfaction and congratulations on the progress which had been made. I have repeatedly said to the House that we must await the results of the present trials of this weapon.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what protest was made by the Royal Air Force officer commanding the Second Tactical Air Force in Germany against allegations officially made by the German authorities that Royal Air Force aircraft recently bombed the island of Knechtsand, North Germany.

No official complaints have been made by the German authorities to Headquarters, R.A.F., Germany. Both R.A.F., Germany and Headquarters, 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force have issued statements to the Press denying that R.A.F. aircraft dropped bombs in the Knechtsand area on 21st April. No formal protest has been made but at the request of the R.A.F. representations will be made to the Mayor of Hamburg who alleged that the R.A.F. was responsible.

If the Under-Secretary of State says that representations will be made, surely that is admitting a most terrible delay. This happened some time ago. Why were not representation's made immediately to the Mayor of Hamburg as soon as he had made this wild statement?

I have no doubt that various inquiries had to be made, and the matter is now in the hands of General Norstad, who is conducting a full inquiry into the whole of this mysterious episode. I can only say that the matter is now in the hands of the consular authorities, and I have personally asked that these representations should be brought to the Mayor's notice.

As this island was undoubtedly bombed and as the propaganda against the Royal Air Force has been steadily growing for more than a week, can some public statement be made about who was responsible for the bombing?

Certainly no Royal Air Force or any Allied aircraft were responsible for this incident. The visibility at the time was poor and local accounts differ a great deal about what actually happened. I think that we must await the result of General Norstad's inquiry.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware of the need to provide adequate facilities for the training ab initio of civil pilots; what steps he is taking to provide such facilities; and whether he will make a statement.

I agree that unless special steps are taken very soon a shortage of younger pilots will occur after 1961. In co-operation with the Minister of Education and the airlines, my right hon. Friend has devised a scheme for the setting up of a College of Air Training at Hamble next year, and the Government have undertaken to pay a substantial grant towards the cost of running this new college. I will, with permission, circulate details of the scheme in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

While thanking my hon. Friend for this very satisfactory outcome to our somewhat prolonged negotiations over the future of air service training, may I ask him to indicate what effect the creation of this new college will have on employment in this district?

I am grateful for what my hon. Friend has said. I am sorry that this has perhaps taken rather longer to bring to fruition than we had hoped, but I am sure that the House as a whole will wish this new "University of the Air" every success in the future. With regard to the second part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, I cannot say precisely what the effect will be on employment in the Hamble district, but we certainly hope that the existing facilities will be given very careful consideration in the new arrangement which will be made.

I am sure that everybody wi11 be pleased that a decision has been taken in this matter, and my hon. Friends and I hope that it will be a satisfactory and permanent solution to a problem which has been with us for some time. We shall have to study what has been said. I was not clear about how the capital is to be provided.

Very briefly, although the full details are in the statement which I propose to circulate, the position is that British Overseas Airways Corporation and British European Airways will form, or have formed, a subsidiary company to which they will make joint contributions, and the money so provided will be used for the purchase of Air Service Training's establishment already in existence at Hamble. I think that the hon. Gentleman had better look at the details. They are somewhat complicated, especially on the financial side.

Arising out of the original reply, may I ask my hon. Friend to bear in mind that there is an admirable school for training pilots at Perth in Scotland? Will my hon. Friend give an assurance that this new school will not interfere with the good work done at Perth?

Yes. I am well aware of the school at Perth. We regard it as an excellent school indeed. We are very satisfied with the standard of training there. The purpose of the new college at Hamble will be the training of pilots from the United Kingdom. The school at Perth trains a large number of pilots who come to the United Kingdom from other parts of the Commonwealth. I cannot guarantee that the situation will remain indefinitely unchanged, but our expectation is that the school at Perth still has a good future before it.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what was the reason which has been officially reported to him for the cancellation of the inaugural British Overseas Airways Corporation round-the-world jet flight; what representations he has since made to the United States authorities; and if he will make a statement.

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Reading (Mr. Mikardo) on 15th April.

While thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that there is still some confusion in the matter, especially when a comparison is made between this problem and the action of the United Kingdom Government in refusing further landing rights to K.L.M. in Singapore? Will he taken an early opportunity to clarify the position? Further, is it the case that the Pan-American operations from Tokyo to Hong Kong are carried out under the rights conceded in the Bermuda Agreement? How can the Minister say that the B.O.A.C. application to operate to Tokyo can be refused if Pan-American continue to operate into Hong Kong?

Perhaps I should clear up those two points. First, dealing with the relationship between the B.O.A.C. position with the Americans and the K.L.M. position with Her Majesty's Government, I would point out that K.L.M. finished these negotiations with one terminating service to Singapore, which was a great gain for K.L.M. and something to which they were technically not entitled under their Air Services Agreement. What I have said this afternoon is that if the B.O.A.C. rights were refused the bilateral agreement negotiated between Her Majesty's Government and the United States Government would have been breached. The Pan-American position also falls under the agreement. If the agreement is breached, we shall naturally have to reconsider the whole position.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what request he had from the British Air Line Pilots' Association to see a copy, or relevant sections of the copy, of his inspector's report on the Prestwick accident to the Viscount aircraft so that they could more usefully advise the captain of the aircraft how best his interests could be safeguarded; what was the date of this request; and what reply he gave.

On 9th January, 1959, the Secretary of B.A.L.P.A. wrote to the Chief Inspector of Accidents asking if the Association could be permitted to see the Accident Report. It has never been the practice for the Chief Inspector to show anyone a draft of the Report, which under the Regulations he is required to make to me. He was, therefore, quite right to refuse to comply with this request. I would remind the House that in accordance with Regulation 7 (5) of the Civil Aviation (Investigation of Accidents) Regulations, 1951, the Chief Inspector had already given notice on 20th October, 1958, to Captain Hankin of the terms in which he proposed to attribute responsibility to him so as to enable him to exercise his rights under these Regulations. The British Air Line Pilots' Association was informed that this had been done.

While the Minister made it quite clear during the Adjournment debate that both Captain Nankin and B.A.L.P.A. knew of the pilot's rights in this matter, is it not quite clear that the rights were not adequate to safeguard the pilot's proper interests? How can he safeguard his own position and justify his own action unless he is allowed to see the evidence which has been tendered against him? In the review which he is making on accident procedure, will the Minister ensure that provision is made in the procedure which will look after the pilot's position in this regard?

I do not necessarily disagree with that at all, as I said in the Adjournment debate. This is a matter which needs looking at again. We have been looking at it for some time to try to see that we give pilots every opportunity to defend themselves, particularly where their jobs and their livelihoods may he involved. I would add that it is my responsibility and that of my Ministry to see to the safety of every passenger who travels in the air, and that is also a responsibility which I must fulfil.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Report contains criticisms of the pilot which had not been indicated to him in the letter which has been referred to?

We debated this matter fully some time ago. I then told my right hon. and learned Friend that I was quite satisfied that we had carefully fulfilled the Regulations, and I remain of that opinion. On the wider issue, I have already explained that we are looking at the matter.

The Minister has made the point that he is responsible for the safety of the passengers. Will he bear in mind that the safety and the best interest of the pilots are identical with those of the passengers? There is nothing of a conflict here at all. Secondly, is the right hon. Gentleman going to make a statement about these new inquiry regulations before he lays them before the House?

I undertook to bring this matter to the House when I have made up my mind what will be the best way to handle the matter.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has noted that the causes of deaths in motor vehicle accidents in 1955 were head injuries as to nearly 66 per cent. in the case of pedestrians, over 77 per cent. in the case of pedal cyclists, 80 per cent. in the case of riders or passengers of motor cycles, and over 52 per cent. in the case of riders or passengers of other vehicles; and what steps he will take, within his existing statutory powers, to encourage the wearing of crash helmets, the cushioning of cars, and the wearing of protective hats and caps.

I am aware of the head injury figures quoted by the hon. Member.

Has the Joint Parliamentary Secretary seen cars with cushions? Has he ridden in cars which are cushioned? Do not they provide a method of preventing head injuries in road accidents? Has the hon. Gentleman seen a protective cap? Does he realise how important these would be for motorists in particular and perhaps for cyclists—not motor cyclists, but cyclists—in preventing head injuries? Will he say a word about safety belts?

With regard to the safety felt hats, we are relying on the Road Research Laboratory to guide us, and its opinion is that the research work has not yet gone sufficiently far for us to be able to give any advice generally. With regard to the cushioning of dashboards, the Road Research Laboratory and the motor manufacturers are now proceeding with research work to see what design would be most beneficial. Until we have had the result of that work, once again I think that we are unable to give any general advice.

In view of the very startling and tragic figures of head injuries to motor cyclists, why does my hon. Friend's Department still adhere to the principle of not making compulsory the wearing of crash helmets by motor cyclists? Surely a large number of very valuable young lives could be saved. Is my hon. Friend further aware that the arguments of his Department all along have been very unconvincing?

No, Sir. I do not agree with my hon. Friend. The voluntary campaigns which we have instituted for the wearing of protective helmets have been very effective and more than 50 per cent. of motor-cyclists now wear them. We have made regulations establishing a minimum standard for these safety helmets. I think that our propaganda and our education has been entirely effective in getting them very generally worn.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many vessels over 100,000 tons registered are now in commission or on the stocks; and what steps are being taken to modernise United Kingdom ports so that they will be able to accommodate both in wet and dry docks the large vessels now under construction.

There is only one ship over 100,000 tons deadweight in commission and none is at present on the stocks. There is already a berth for tankers of this size in the Clyde and four more are being built at Milford Haven. Port authorities, ship repairers and others concerned are well aware of the requirements of very large ships for which a number of projects for both wet berths and dry docks are under consideration or are being formulated.

Is the Minister aware of the report that there are six of these ships under construction in Japan but that in this country, the greatest maritime nation of the world, we have no ports which will accommodate any of these ships when they are taken off the stocks? Will he take steps to see that our ports are modernised so that they can take these ships when they are afloat?

The hon. Member is misinformed. As I said in the Answer, there is already one ship over 100,000 tons deadweight. There are three tankers of this size on order, one in Japan and two in the United States, but there is none yet building. As for the facilities in this country, I made it clear in my Answer that there is a berth for tankers of this size in the Clyde and there will be four at Milford Haven. There is one drydock in this country at Southampton which is capable of taking this size of ship and the building of another at Greenock is under consideration.

Is not the most urgent necessity that of providing a graving dock in the Clyde as early as possible?

We will take note of that.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many prosecutions have taken place during the past twelve months arising out of the overloading of oil tankers; what was the total amount paid in fines; and what was the value of the extra cargo carried.

Four. Total fines were £1,175. The estimated increased profit earned by two of the ships, which arrived in this country overloaded, was £3,233. In the other two instances the excess cargo was removed before the ships were allowed to sail.

Does not the Minister see how absurd it is that we should allow the captain of a ship to make a profit out of breaking the law? If a man brings in excisable goods and refuses to declare them, the goods are taken and he is fined. In this case, however, the captain is brought before the court and fined for the offence but still makes a profit out of breaking the law.

There is no doubt that these fines, which were laid down in 1932, are somewhat out of date, but I am advised that there are great difficulties in legislating to increase the levels of fines which can be inflicted by magistrates' courts, principally because to do it in this type of case would have repercussions on a number of other fines. We hope to review the whole of this matter in the light of the International Conference on the Load Line Convention fairly soon.

Is the Minister aware that this is becoming a systematic fraud against the Excise of this country in many cases, apart altogether from the profit involved? Is he aware that something should be done about this, because this kind of action is becoming notorious?

The figures do not bear out that construction. Less than 0.5 per cent. of the number of ships which we examine and inspect are found to be overloaded. Between 1953 and 1956 we inspected about 48,000 ships and only 180 of them were found to be overloaded.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what inquiries he has made about the possibilities of one of the proposed new Cunard liners being built on the River Tyne; and whether he will ensure that shipbuilding companies on the River Tyne have an opportunity to tender and that such quotations shall have reasonable consideration in accordance with price.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward) and the hon. Member for Loughborough (Mr. Cronin) on 21st April.

As I did not see that reply, will the Minister answer this questions? If a subsidy is to be given, in view of the fact that it will be public money will the Minister give the House a guarantee that all shipbuilders will have an opportunity of quoting for the ships?

If the hon. Member will look at the Answer which I gave, he will see that I said quite clearly that the Government are in no way committed to this proposition until we have further advice from the Cunard Company, which we are awaiting.

When these orders are given will the Minister bear in mind that on the River Tyne there is 6.1 per cent. unemployment in shipbuilding and ship repairing, which is higher than in any other ship-repairing area? Will he bear in mind that we have two shipyards which could build these ships and that when the transatlantic liners were required in 1907, one was built on the Clyde and one was built on the Tyne? Will he bear this in mind when these orders are allocated?