asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has made this year to the Egyptian Government for the release of Mr. Swinburn and Mr. Zarb; and with what result.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how long Mr. James Swinburn and Mr. James Zarb have now been confined in an Egyptian prison; what are their prospects of release; and, in view of widespread concern that little has been done on their behalf, what efforts are still being made to secure their release.

Mr. Swinburn was arrested on 27th August and Mr. Zarb on 28th August, 1956.

Would my right hon. Friend agree that it is high time that these sentences were reviewed and that if, in fact, the Egyptian Government do want to resume friendly negotiations with Her Majesty's Government, this would be a very acceptable preliminary to such resumption?

I very much agree with what my hon. Friend says.

Will the right hon. Gentleman call the attention of his right hon. Friend the Colonial Secretary to the possibility of representations being made by Her Majesty's Government to other Governments when they mistreat our subjects abroad?

That is a very different question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman explain why there has been so little activity in these cases when there is feverish activity in other cases? As there are so many guilty men with regard to Suez sitting on the Government Front Bench, why is not more being done? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many citizens feel that it all depends who one is as to what sort of justice one receives as far as our Foreign Office is concerned? Surely the right hon. Gentleman will tell us much more than he has so far.

I do not accept any of what the hon. Member has said. I can assure him that very active steps are continually being taken to see that these men are released.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British individuals have now been de-sequestrated by the Egyptian Government.

The latest information given by the British Property Commission in Cairo is that the de-sequestration authorities have received applications from 514 individuals and 116 firms. Of these, 47 individuals and 19 firms have already signed release agreements.

Will my right hon. Friend say whether the numbers he has quoted are reasonably satisfactory in view of the time which has elapsed?

I think that they are, because desequestration is a fairly complicated process and I do not think that it can be hurried to any great extent. They are making reasonably good progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what official status Mr. Colin Crowe now occupies in Cairo.

Mr. Crowe is head of the British Property Commission in Cairo which was set up to deal with work arising from the Anglo-Egyptian Financial Agreement.

Has Mr. Crowe sufficient accommodation, staff and facilities to perform his duties satisfactorily?

Yes. The staff is working effectively at present, but we have repeatedly said that we should like to have fuller diplomatic representation in Cairo, and that is still the aim of Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what percentage the sum of money which Her Majesty's Government have contributed in 1959 to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund is of the total sum contributed by all nations to the Fund; and what proposals Her Majesty's Government have made for an increase in their contribution to the Fund in 1960.

The United Kingdom contribution to the United Nations Children's Fund—U.N.I.C.E.F.—for 1959 represents 3 per cent. of the estimated total of contributions to the Fund for the year. No decision has yet been made regarding the size of our contribution in 1960.

In view of the very great importance of the work U.N.I.C.E.F. is doing in the underdeveloped countries, and the great amount of work that it does in British Commonwealth Territories, is it not most regrettable that we should have contributed only 3 per cent.—less than the contributions of Costa Rica, Brunei and other countries—and could we not do better next year?

I think that our contributions to the United Nations organisations as a whole will stand up to any examination. We certainly pull our weight in all these organisations. With regard to what we might do in this next year, I am afraid that I have no statement to make.

Can my right hon. Friend say how much money we spend on the children in Commonwealth territories, quite apart from U.N.I.C.E.F.?

I will try to find out from my right hon. Friend.

Is not a great deal of work done by U.N.I.C.E.F. in Commonwealth territories, and is it not most regrettable that we cannot now promise that in October, when the pledging takes place, we shall give a better percentage than we did last year?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what sum of money Her Majesty's Government have contributed towards the Special Fund of $100 million for large-scale technical assistance projects established by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 14th October, 1958.

As my hon. Friend informed the House on 23rd February, Her Majesty's Government have pledged the sterling equivalent of $1 million to the Special Fund for the calendar year 1959. The right hon. Gentleman is under a misapprehension when he states that the General Assembly established a Special Fund of $100 million. In fact, the General Assembly thought that the resources available for the combined technical assistance and the development programmes of the United Nations would be unlikely to exceed $100 million. In fact, the Special Fund will probably receive $26 million in the current year which, with the Expanded Technical Assistance Programme of $32 million, makes a total of $58 million.

But was it not the intention of the Assembly that the joint fund for technical assistance, and the Special Fund, should reach 100 million dollars, and that it was hoped and expected that members would contribute in accordance with their contributions to the United Nations budget, which would have meant 8 per cent. from us instead of the miserable 3 per cent. we have given?

No. I think that what the General Assembly had in mind was that the assistance given under both these budgets should, in time, reach a figure of 100 million dollars, but if we are taking the whole figure together, the right hon. Gentleman would, of course, have to take into account the 2¼ million dollars which we paid to the Expanded Technical Assistance Programme.

Is it not the fact that the resources of the United Kingdom are limited, and that it is the first duty of Her Majesty's Government' to try to satisfy the considerable needs of other Commonwealth countries for technical assistance?

I think that that is perfectly true. I would like to add that it might be as well if, occasionally, the right hon. Gentleman put down a Question that would show that in respect of the Arab refugees we pay something over 16 per cent. of the budget.

Nobody has ever denied that we have a very special responsibility in respect of the Arab refugees, but is it not unfortunate that our joint contribution to these two funds amounts to 3 per cent. of the total; and that, as we fall short by 5 million dollars, a large American contribution will not be made, as it was offered on a matching basis?

I should like to look into that but, in fact, our contribution to the Expanded Assistance Programme is 8 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in which of the channels of the United Nations the question of freedom of passage for shipping through the Suez Canal is now being discussed.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations is himself actively engaged in dealing with this problem, as he has made clear in public statements.

But is not this an exceedingly unsatisfactory situation? Did not the Security Council declare that Egypt had no business, either in peace or war, to obstruct the passage of ships through the Canal? Ought not we to take up the matter with very much more urgency, rather than see this interference with Israeli shipping all the time? We might, of course, be able to make a rather better contribution to the passage of ships through the Canal than we did by encouraging the blocking of the Canal by war.

The important thing is to carry out those procedures that are most likely to bring about a result. The Israeli Government have taken up the matter at the United Nations, The Secretary-General himself is taking an interest in it, and is shortly leaving for Cairo. I think that we had better see what happens.

Is the Minister of State aware that we on this side are very delighted with the rebuke that he has given to his own Government and to his hon. Friends, because their way was extremely unlikely to open the Canal? However, is not this a very slow-moving business? Over and over again we have incidents of this sort declared to be illegal by the Security Council, yet apparently we are unable to bring any pressure at all on Egypt?

As I say, the Secretary-General is leaving very shortly for Cairo, and I really think that it would be better to see what result he gets with the U.A.R. Government.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise how very unsatisfactory the position is? Is it not one of the Government's great difficulties in doing anything effective now that long before the Suez adventure, which weakened our moral authority, they had failed to make any adequate representations during seven years of closure of the Canal to Israeli shipping? In view of the Government's misconduct in the past, are the Egyptians likely to take them very seriously now?

I do not know about that. I should not think that that necessarily follows. In any case, we are not taking unilateral action at the present time—the Secretary-General is.

Has not my right hon. Friend noticed that, although we all know that action by the United Nations is apt to be slow, hon. Gentlemen opposite are now asking us to act as individuals, and not to wait to act in common with the United Nations?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proposals have been made to date through the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation for the supply of information on nuclear weapons to West Germany.

None, Sir.

Is it not a fact that details are proposed to be given to the West German military authorities of a nuclear projectile, not just a rocket to which a nuclear warhead could be fitted, but an actual self-propelled nuclear bomb, which means automatically giving them knowledge of a most advanced type of nuclear weapon?

I am afraid the hon. Member is misinformed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations have been made to Her Majesty's Government with regard to the desirability, or otherwise, of holding the forthcoming German Presidential elections in Berlin.

None, Sir. This is a question for the Federal German authorities to decide for themselves.

asked the Minister of Labour what arrangements will be made to enable persons called up under the Navy, Army and Air Force Reserves Act, 1959, who claim a conscientious objection after having completed their National Service liability to go before a civil tribunal without first being sentenced by a court martial to not less than three months' imprisonment.

There is no present intention of altering the existing arrangements for dealing with reservists who have completed their National Service liabilities and who claim a conscientious objection.

Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider this matter? Would it not be fairer to the men, and a much more convenient arrangement, if these men could go before a civil tribunal instead of being taken into the Forces, resisting, being court-martialled, resisting again and being court-martialled again with all the upset that that causes?

I will certainly look into that point, but I am advised that in 1953 during the Third Reading of the Bill an undertaking was given that administrative arrangements would be made so that such reservists should appear before a conscientious objector tribunal without first having been sentenced. I understand that to be the position, but I will confirm it.

asked the Minister of Labour what arrangements are being made to enable Regular or National Service men to come before a civilian tribunal after termination of call-up in 1960, when they have committed offences claimed to be on grounds of conscientious objection.

These matters are under consideration and I shall, as promised, write to the hon. Member in due course.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask whether he is not aware that it is some weeks since I wrote to him on this matter and, in view of the fact that when the National Service Act comes to an end the tribunals will disappear, will he consider other arrangements by which these men may appeal?

Yes, certainly. We are considering that matter now. We have, as the hon. Member knows, a little time, and this is a matter to discuss with other Departments, but we are well aware of the date limit in front of us and I will write in quite a short time to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered as employed and unemployed, respectively, at the Lesmahagow Employment Exchange, Lanarkshire, at the last convenient date; and his estimate of the number of workpeople who have left the Douglas area since the beginning of the year.

Figures of employment are not available for any date later than May, 1958, when the estimated total number of employees in employment in the area of the Lesmahagow Employment Exchange was 3,830. At 15th June, 1959, there were 126 unemployed persons on the registers of that employment exchange. I have no information which enables me to estimate the number of workpeople who have left the area.

Has my right hon. Friend no official information that about seventy families have had to pack up their things and go elsewhere to find work? Has he any knowledge of the likelihood of the next phase of closure of this colliery which may affect another 40 or 50 families and drive them away?

One cannot estimate the number of workpeople who have left the area, because the figures may include people who have got jobs in other areas for other reasons. The figures of employment that I have given are only 50 less than in 1957 and 150 less than in 1958, although I am well aware that some families have left.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of those who left school in Newcastle-upon-Tyne at the end of the last two school terms remain unemployed at the latest available date.

Out of 922 Christmas school leavers and 693 Easter school leavers, one boy is unemployed.

While welcoming this encouraging trend, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that there are reports of numbers of school leavers coming down from the North and from Scotland who are not finding it at all easy to obtain places?

These figures are indeed extremely encouraging, and so are the general figures of school leavers all over the country. Naturally it is true that some areas—not, I am happy to say, Newcastle—have special difficulties and that is why we intend to pursue the matter. It is important to pursue it in good times as well as bad, for it is not a short-term problem. It is going to be with us for some years ahead.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a further statement regarding new safety regulations in the shipbuilding and ship repairing industry.

A statutory draft of regulations was published in April. Comments have been received from interested organisations. These are being given urgent consideration and an amended statutory draft will be published as soon as possible.

As I am sure the right hon. Gentleman appreciates that there has been a long delay in this matter, can he assure the House that an order will be laid before the summer Recess?

I hope very much that it will be. I am bound by the terms of the 1937 Act, and every time regulations are made I have to go through this procedure. Discussions are to be held early next week and we will get ahead as quickly as we can.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of registered unemployed in Ayrshire.

The number was 5,862 on 11th May.

Does the potential Prime Minister think that this figure is encouraging?

No, I should like to see the figure lower, of course. This is a figure of 4·4 per cent., and it conceals very great divergencies indeed in the county. I hope the June figures will be better. They are for most areas in the country. I will have them in a day or so and will send them to the hon. Member.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I am afraid that the Questions seem to have been answered so rapidly that we missed Question No. 43. Would it be possible for the Minister to answer that Question now?

I am afraid not. I did call the hon. Member but he did not respond. It is a very simple Question and, no doubt, he will get an Answer in writing.

asked the Minister of Labour on how many occasions the Scottish Advisory Committee on Youth Employment met during the year 1958.

Three times.

While appreciating this improvement over 1947, may I ask the Minister whether he agrees that, in view of the increasing numbers of unemployed and the declining number of apprenticeships, this Committee ought to be advised or asked to meet more often?

It is not necessarily the number of times that the Committee meets, but what it does at its meetings, which is important. This Committee, which is a strong one, exists to advise the National Youth Employment Council. The number of times it meets is for its members to decide, but no doubt they will see what has been said in the House this afternoon.

Does the Minister agree that the problems with which the Committee is confronted will increase and become more onerous? Will he ensure that this Committee and other comparable committees are apprised of the position which may well develop?

I do not agree that the problems will get more difficult. There are more children coming out of school, but there are also greater opportunities being created all the time for them. I am certain that these facts are before the Scottish Advisory Committee.

asked the Minister of Labour (1), if he will now make available training allowances to young people who are deaf and dumb and in need of such training either for open or sheltered employment;

These allowances, which are payable to trainees both for open and sheltered employment, were revised just over a year ago. The increases then introduced apply, subject to adjustments for age, to disabled young persons who may be accepted for training, including the deaf and dumb. I am writing to the hon. Member on this subject in greater detail.

Is the Minister aware that some allowances are available only to young people who suffer from multiple hardships or handicaps, and that, therefore, those who suffer from being dumb or indeed blind are not eligible for the grants? Moreover, is he aware that the interpretation of the word "disabled" is restricting the number of people who are eligible for the grants?

I do not think that all the points which the hon. Member has raised are valid. I think that perhaps the hon. Member is basing himself on the Montgomerie Report, with which he is probably familiar. That Report relates to 1956, and the improvements that I announced to the House both in May and December of last year are later than that. Therefore, they cover some of the points that have been raised.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the decision of Imperial Chemical Industries to close down the Sabulite explosive factory at Haswell, County Durham; and what are the prospects of alternative employment for workers in the factory who lose their employment.

Yes, Sir. The labour force at this factory has fallen by nearly 100, including 13 men who were discharged early this month. My local officers are doing everything possible to submit those affected to other employment and only 4 men and 15 women who last worked at this factory are now registered as unemployed at Haswell.

As there is a prospect of further unemployment in the area, will the right hon. Gentleman prod his colleague the President of the Board of Trade—I do not want to enter into competition with other hon. Members in order to secure factories and all the rest of it—so that some attention is paid to this constituency?

There is certainly a problem here, and in view of the particular circumstances of this factory, it may be a developing problem. Certainly, I will keep in touch with my right hon. Friend.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many boys from public schools were interviewed at preliminary boards for Royal Naval scholarships in January, after passing the written examination; how many of these were awarded scholarships; how many boys from State secondary schools were interviewed; and how many of these were awarded scholarships.

From independent schools, including nautical schools. 81 boys were interviewed at preliminary boards, and 22 were awarded scholarships to begin in January, 1959; from schools partly or wholly supported by the State 82 were interviewed and 3 were awarded scholarships.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the last First Lord of the Admiralty shared the view of hon. Members on this side of the House that all the qualities which make a good officer are to be found in outstanding boys in all social classes? What other factors is the Admiralty insisting upon which exclude children who come from the majority of schools?

Last month, a director of education of a county borough in the North himself served as a member of the Admiralty Interviewing Board, and perhaps I could quote to the House what he wrote, since I have his permission to quote it.

"My own Committee were particularly concerned on the question of the selection of boys from normal schools who might be handicapped by a weakness in accent and behaviour."

"The President of the Board and all the members were in all cases very generous in their treatment of such boys."—[Interruption.]

"I saw no case in which any boy was put at a disadvantage, and indeed every possible positive quality was brought to the surface by some member of the Board."

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that he cannot pass this to any individual hon. Member of this House? What does he think was meant by "weakness in accent"? Would he say whether the Government themselves accept that as a disqualification of young men for training to be officers? Does he not think that the figures themselves disclose such an outrageous situation that the Government themselves should inquire into this matter and do something about it?

Of course, I do not accept that accent should in any way be a quality. This man reported that he had anxiety and that his education committee had anxiety, and that is why he sat in as a full member of the board. Perhaps in response to the second supplementary question, I may give another quotation from his report:

"I see now that boys from Northern schools of the right type do not apply in sufficient numbers, and no doubt much of this is due to Head Teachers and parents not encouraging such applications."

Is the Minister aware that the reason why many very promising boys from the North, and from Lancashire especially, do not apply is that their experience of the past has been that it is no use them applying? Is he also aware that even after I made representations to the Admiralty, some excellent boys in my own experience have still been unable to get commissions in the Royal Navy? Is it surprising, therefore, that they are not trying when they know that the result will be against them from the very beginning?

There is another Question on this subject which deals with wider aspects, and not just with scholarship boys. I was answering on scholarship boys.

Ought not the Government to condemn outright this piece of snobbery?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many public school boys were interviewed by the last Selection Board for direct entry to Dartmouth; how many of these were admitted; and what are the comparable figures for boys from State secondary schools.

From independent schools, including nautical schools, 22 were interviewed in April, 1959, and 17 were accepted; from schools partly or wholly supported by the State 10 were interviewed and 4 accepted; this includes one from a secondary modern school, who was interviewed and accepted.

While the whole House will share the delight that a secondary modern school has managed to get a cadet into the Royal Navy, may I call the attention of the Parliamentary Secretary to the figures given by his colleague—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]

Order. I think the interruption was due to the fact that the hon. Member should ask a question and not seek to call attention to something.

May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary to consider the simple fact that, from an Answer which his colleague the Secretary of State for Air gave me last week, it appears that of the last 38 cadetships awarded in the R.A.F., 19 went to boys from public schools and 19 to boys from ordinary schools? May I ask him what social factor has come into the Royal Navy, as distinct from the Royal Air Force?

No social factors. We want the best boys of character and intellectual quality, and if anything can be done to encourage them to come forward, we shall be delighted.

Will the hon. Gentleman add to quality and character a strong accent?

Is it not the case that in the first category of boys are included boys from nautical schools, and does not my hon. Friend agree that those who have had their first education in nautical schools generally have the best chance of entering the Royal Navy?

That certainly helps.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what further drafts of trainees from the Royal Navy will be sent to the United States of America for instruction in nuclear propulsion and of how many men will each consist.

It is anticipated that parties of about twelve trainees will be sent at six-monthly intervals until approximately mid-1961.

May we take it from that Answer that these men are being trained not only for the "Dreadnought" but for subsequent nuclear-propelled vessels as well?

No. I am afraid the hon. and learned Gentleman cannot take that from that Answer. These men are being trained for "Dreadnought".

Will the Minister make quite certain that if they go to the United States, they do not come back with the wrong accent?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the plans for the construction of further nuclear-propelled vessels now that the work on "Dreadnought" has begun.

The matter is receiving consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the policy of Her Majesty's Government about escort vessels not of the latest and most effective classes.

The Royal Navy is retaining those ships of war-time construction which have been modernised. No ship is discarded while she remains capable of useful service. At the same time, the main effort is devoted to new construction and to keeping up-to-date ships of post-war construction.

While appreciating that it is necessary to have the latest vessels, may I ask if the hon. Gentleman can assure the House that the experience with the American escort vessels in the early 'forties will not be forgotten, and that no vessel capable of being used for escort purposes will be scrapped?

I can confirm that no vessel will be discarded while she still has a useful life and part to play.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will consider leasing the Royal Naval Aircraft Repair Yard at Donibristle to a suitable applicant.

My noble Friend would prefer to dispose of the establishment by sale, but he is prepared to consider offers to lease the Aircraft Repair Yard, provided it were a long lease.

I think that that represents an advance in the point of view of the Admiralty. Will the Civil Lord make an interim statement on the developments which have possibly taken place during the last week or fortnight?

No, I am afraid that I have nothing to add to that. We have had several inquiries which we are looking into at the moment.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will make a statement on his recent visit to the Royal Navy establishment at Crombie, Fife.

As I said to the hon. Gentleman in this House on 29th April, I try to visit all Admiralty establishments in this way, in order to get an on-the-spot impression of their problems.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that we might differ about the intensiveness of his visit on that occasion? Can he be more specific about the plans for house improvements in the area in view of the fact that the situation in regard to Admiralty houses figures probably among the worst housing conditions in Scotland?

I would not necessarily agree with the latter part of that supplementary question. Certainly some of the houses are not very good. The hon. Gentleman will be glad to hear that I hope we shall be able to make a start on improvements within the next few weeks.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty to what extent he has discussed with the shipbuilding industry the prospects of securing orders from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and the credit facilities that might be offered for this purpose.

Discussions took place between Her Majesty's Government and the Shipbuilding Conference immediately prior to the dispatch of the recent trade mission to Moscow. The mission was aware of the United Kingdom industry's present ability to undertake orders for the union of Soviet Socialist Republics subject to agreement of suitable conditions of contract. The question of credit facilities by United Kingdom firms is a matter for the industry concerned and its bankers and other financial institutions.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the very large orders recently placed with West German yards on extended credit facilities? Is it not highly desirable that some further inquiries should be made about the desirability of extending similar facilities to British shipbuilders?

I certainly have not had any representations along those lines. I think that British shipbuilders would not wish to enter into a credit race with other countries.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of entrants to Sandhurst this year from public schools and from State secondary schools, respectively.

There are two entries to Sandhurst each year, in January and September. Of the 136 cadets who entered last January, 85 came from independent schools and 46 from schools wholly or partly maintained by local education authorities. The other five were educated overseas.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these figures, at any rate, reveal a more satisfactory state of affairs in selection for Sandhurst than his hon. Friend's figures have shown in regard to the Royal Navy? Does he realise that most Members of the House want the best young lads to be officers in the three Armed Forces, whatever their social origin and whoever their parents may be, and that today's figures have revealed a disquieting state of affairs?

I do not think that anyone in the House would differ from what the hon. Gentleman said in the first part of his supplementary question.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the holder of the Victoria Cross, who is an old-age pensioner and whose total income from all sources for his wife and himself is £5 4s., cannot receive the £75 annuity provided in the Pay Warrant of 1950.

The terms of the Royal Warrant provide that the sum of a Victoria Cross annuity and any other non-contributory pensions received from public funds should not exceed £75 a year. I am aware of the case put forward by the right hon. Gentleman and will send him further details. The annuity is reduced in this instance by the amount of a disability pension which is being paid.

Is not this a shocking state of affairs, that the holder of the Victoria Cross is, so far as I am aware—subject to any correction the right hon. Gentleman may make—forced to live, with his wife, on a total income of £5 4s. a week, which includes a disability pension? Is it not possible to modify the regulation so as to enable this man to receive the £75 annuity?

No, Sir, not under the Royal Warrant as brought in in 1950 and as it stands today. The Royal Warrant states that it cannot amount to more than £75 including other non-contributory pensions. It has been suggested more than once in the past that the annuity should be increased, but it has been held that it is a hopeless task to try to assess awards for gallantry of this character in financial terms.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that this man has been informed that, because of the difference between the total amount he receives at present and the amount of the annuity, namely, £75, all he is entitled to receive is £4 per annum? Is it not disgraceful that this man should be expected to rely upon this amount?

No, Sir. It is £4 over and above what he receives to make it up to £75.

As the House has been more generous in its treatment generally of disabled persons, especially those who have won the Victoria Cross, in the intervening years since 1950, will my right hon. Friend think again on this matter? Since 1950, we have raised the general standard of allowances, and we are, indeed, doing it today. Is it not time to look at the matter again?

Yes; the Prime Minister referred to this very point in answer to a Question on 14th November, 1957.

asked the Postmaster-General how many rural telephone kiosks were provided in Berkshire last year; and how many requests are outstanding.

Twelve kiosks were provided. Two requests approved under last year's rural allocation programme are still outstanding, but these kiosks will be completed within a few weeks.

asked the Postmaster-General how many subscribers have given up their telephones, to the most recent available date, since the increase in telephone charges operated.

During the period 1st October, 1957, to 30th April, 1959, 450,000 telephones were give up.

Does not this indicate that the present charges are really taking the telephone away from people in the lower income groups, to whom the telephone usually was a great convenience? Will the hon. Gentleman ask his right hon. Friend to consider the whole position so that the market for telephones could be increased?

Of course, we have to keep telephone rentals at an economic level. I will remind the right hon. Gentleman of two factors. There are many reasons for giving up the telephone, apart from its cost, and we are installing new telephones at the rate of about 1,000 every day of the week.

Is the Minister aware that the increase in telephones existing in this country this year will be at the rate of only 3,000? Is this not lower than in any other country of Europe?

The right hon. Gentleman devotes far too much time to reading ex parte statements.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent, in view of the cut in the Post Office capital investment programme, he has had to revise his estimate of the progress of telephone automation; and what is his revised estimate of the date when automation may be completed.

The right hon. Member will be glad to know that for subscriber trunk dialling we are still working to the timetable set out in Cmnd. 436, and that we hope to replace the remaining manual exchanges by 1970.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will exercise his powers under Article 15 (4) of the Licence and Agreement with the British Broadcasting Corporation and under Section 9 (3) of the Television Act, 1954, regarding the Independent Television Authority, and direct them to arrange their respective programmes so as to prevent the same type of programme being shown at the same time and so provide viewers with a real alternative programme.

I have no powers to act as the right hon. Member suggests. Programme arrangements are matters for the B.B.C. and I.T.A. themselves.