asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what steps are being taken to secure franchise rights for persons from Basutoland who pay direct taxes but who may be absent from the territory at the time of an election.

Plans are under consideration to enable persons absent from Basutoland to vote at the next elections in the territory, provided that they maintain a regular home in the territory, and are otherwise qualified for the franchise. I understand that Basuto working in the Union of South Africa are now being informed of the procedure proposed for their registration as electors.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what acreage of land has been planted by the Forestry Commission to date in the Leek Parliamentary Division; what acreage of planting is envisaged in the five year period 1959 to 1963; and where these acreages are situated.

The area of land planted to date is 312 acres. The Forestry Commission expect, if enough land can be acquired, to plant about 350 acres in the next five years. All the land planted and to be planted lies in the Churnet valley North-West of Alton.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why currency control on journeys and holidays in certain foreign countries is still in force.

All expenditure on travel outside the sterling area represents a charge on our foreign currency resources.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the Anglo-Danish trade discussions.

At meetings between United Kingdom and Danish Ministers in London on 22nd and 23rd June there was a detailed exchange of views on the problems of expanding trade in agricultural products between members of the proposed Free Trade Association of the Seven countries who attended the discussions in Stockholm from 1st-13th June. It was agreed that a further meeting should be held on 6th July to continue examination of these matters.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to be the total Income Tax yield from the inclusion of retirement pensions as income for tax purposes.

The Income Tax charged on retirement pensions is estimated at about £60 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the imminent closure of the Cardiff Foundry & Engineering Company Limited (1947) factory; and what steps he is taking to induce new industries to establish themselves in Cardiff.

Yes. The Board of Trade will continue to bring the facilities available in Cardiff to the attention of suitable firms.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider including in the reprint of the leaflet entitled, "Industry on the Move", a reference to the availability of grants from the Development Fund for areas outside the areas covered by the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958.

The leaflet referred to by the hon. Member is concerned solely with the facilities available under the 1958 Act. I am, however, discussing with my colleagues the best way of making more widely known the facilities available under other powers. Questions about the Development Fund are for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will reconsider the question of granting long-term credits to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for orders placed in Great Britain, in view of facilities offered in West Germany in connection with shipbuilding orders placed there.

No; the Anglo-Soviet Trade Agreement was based on the clear understanding that normal E.C.G.D. facilities would be adequate for the expansion of trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the quota restrictions on the importation of Dutch bulbs into this country have been maintained on balance of payments grounds and that the April trade figures show a good surplus in the balance of payments, he will remove this handicap to Anglo-Dutch trade relations before the autumn.

No. As I have explained before, these and other restrictions will be removed as soon as circumstances permit. I cannot forecast when the restrictions on particular commodities are likely to be relaxed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he expects to be able to announce the new development plan for the Seychelles.

I hope that the Seychelles Government will shortly be able to publish their new development programme, though I am afraid I cannot yet give an exact date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why West Indian farmers were not encouraged to plant orange trees and to install plant and equipment for the production of orange concentrate for the Government Welfare Scheme; and what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to safeguard the industry.

Shortly after the war, a source of supply for concentrated orange juice was sought in the West Indies. As a result, contracts were made between the Ministry of Food and producers in Jamaica and British Honduras for specified maximum quantities during the ten years beginning with the 1950–51 crop.In reply to the second part of the Question, discussions are at present taking place with a delegation from the West Indies on the existing price assistance schemes for the industry and related matters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the names of the detainees who were transferred to Hola from Tarkwa before 3rd March, 1959, the date or dates of such transfers, and the length of time for which each man has been detained.

I am asking the Acting Governor for this information. It may take some time to assemble the facts, but I will arrange for a further reply to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state, for each of the individual years from 1952 until and including 1958, the number of detainees in Kenya who have appealed to the Advisory Committee, the number of such appeals where the committee have recommended release, and the number of cases in which the Governor has declined to act on such recommendation.

I am circulating below such information as I have readily available. I am asking the Acting Governor of Kenya if he is able to supply the details which I have not at present got, and will circulate a further Answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

STATISTICS RELATING TO WORK OF ADVISORY COMMITTEES ON DETAINEES IN KENYA
Year	Appeals made	Recommendations for release
1952	Nil	Nil
1953	342	8
1954	540	6
1955	1,198	111
1956	486	933
1957 (to 5th Dec.)
1957(6th Dec.)	5	30
1958
1959 (to 6th June)
Total	2,571	1,088

None of the Committees recommendations have been rejected by the Governor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet arranged for the wife of Achieng Oneku to join her husband, who is still kept in house detention at Marsabis, Kenya.

Yes. Arrangements have been made for Mr. Oneko's wife to join him at Marsabit on 27th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the names of all persons detained under the Nyasaland Emergency Regulations whose release has been recommended by the Advisory Committee; and in which cases the Governor has refused to act on such recommendation.

I am consulting the Governor and I will circulate a reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the nature of the charge originally preferred against the former porter in the medical department, British Guiana, whose name was supplied to him by the hon. Member for Openshaw.

He was originally charged with misconduct in that he used obscene language to a dispenser.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent Her Majesty's Government estimate that the Republic of Cyprus will require external financial assistance during the next few years; and what assistance Her Majesty's Government are prepared to give.

Her Majesty's Government, like the Greek and Turkish Governments, consider that the Republic of Cyprus will require some external financial assistance towards its initial development programme, and they are discussing this with the Greek and Turkish Governments. Meanwhile I can state that Her Majesty's Government will be prepared to contribute to the Republic's development programme during the next few years. They are now ready to offer a grant for the construction of a new civil air terminal at Nicosia Airport, on the understanding that satisfactory arrangements for the joint use of the airfield will soon be completed; and a loan for the expansion of the service provided by the Electricity Authority, as part of the long-term arrangements for the supply and distribution of electricity throughout the island.In addition, they are prepared to consider a loan towards the cost of the scheme for the extension of Famagusta Port, to enable this to be put in hand.Her Majesty's Government make this announcement now in the confident expectation that the negotiations leading to the establishment of the Republic will be speedily brought to a satisfactory conclusion and as an earnest of their goodwill towards the Republic.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on how many occasions the Aden Senior Civil Service Association has made representations about the undue number of ex-Sudan officers holding higher posts in Aden Colony service thereby blocking promotion for regular colonial servants; what reply he has made; and if he will make a statement.

The Aden Senior Civil Service Association has made representations on three occasions about senior posts being filled by officers from outside Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service. The Association has been informed that vacancies in senior posts are wherever possible filled from within the Service, and that the claims of any suitably qualified serving officers are fully considered before a candidate is selected from outside the Service. This remains the policy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what percentage of the super-scale posts in Aden Colony is held by ex-Sudan officers.

The percentage of super-scale posts in Aden Colony held by ex-Sudan officers is 4·8.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in the interests of justice, he will make it an established practice that, provided his unsuitability for Government service was not already clear, an officer on probation in the Colonial Service shall be employed for a reasonable period on the duties for which he was recruited before being rejected as unsuitable for confirmation.

The course suggested in the Question would normally be followed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what rules govern the sending by prisoners of parcels to their friends and relatives.

At present, this is a matter which is left to the discretion of the Governor. I am, however, reviewing the position and I shall write to the hon. Member about it in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy with regard to reduction of life sentences, with particular reference to the factors he takes into account and the average period of time elapsing before he considers such a reduction; and how many prisoners so sentenced have served, or are serving, for a period of over 20 years.

I have power under Section 27 of the Prison Act, 1952, to release a person sentenced to life imprisonment on licence at any time. Life sentences for homicide are reviewed after the first year and all life sentences after the fourth year and thereafter at intervals of not less than four years.A person sentenced to life imprisonment may in an extreme case—where, for example, it is necessary for the protection of the public—be kept in prison until he dies. Each case is considered on its merits. The factors taken into account include the circumstances of the offence, the age and character of the offender, the likelihood of his being a danger to the public if he is discharged, and, in the case of non-mandatory life sentences, the level of determinate sentences being imposed by the courts for similar offences. Since 1920 six prisoners serving life sentences have been discharged after serving for 20 years; none has been detained longer. The average period has hitherto been nine years; but this will not necessarily be so in future because prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment will include murderers who, before the Homicide Act, would have been hanged and whose cases present no mitigating features.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the anxiety felt in Blackpool about the proposal by the Prison Commissioners to establish an open prison on the site of the Royal Air Force station at Kirkham, what consideration has been given to the danger entailed in having such an open prison near to the temptations offered by a holiday resort, and to the danger of an escaped prisoner becoming lost in the holiday crowds; and whether he will make a statement.

Arrangements have been made for a meeting between representatives of the Prison Commissioners and of the Lancashire County Council and other local authorities in the neighbourhood at which these matters will no doubt be fully discussed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have retired since the introduction of the commutation arrangements; how many have asked to commute their pensions; how many have been allowed to do so in the counties, boroughs and Metropolitan force, respectively, divided into chief constables and superintendents on the one hand, and the federated ranks on the other.

My records are limited to the Metropolitan Police, for which the figures are shown in the following table:

RETIREMENTS BETWEEN 14TH APRIL, 1958, AND 13TH APRIL, 1959
—	Superintendents and above	Federated ranks
(i) Number of police officers who retired	48	553
(ii) Number of retiring police officers who were eligible to commute	43	226
(iii) Number who asked to commute	42	193
(iv) Number who were allowed to commute	41	180

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the circumstances in which Mr. V. Bradic, a Yugoslav national, has been refused political asylum in this country.

I explained to the House in debate on 6th March, 1958, the conditions governing the grant of political asylum. In the case of Mr. Bradic, I reached the conclusion that they were not fulfilled. I am now considering some further representations which have since been brought to my notice, and I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health what percentage of schoolchildren in Stoke-onTrent are found on examination to be negative reactors to tuberculosis; and how this figure compares with any earlier year when skin testing was first instituted.

Eighty per cent. in 1958, 77 per cent. in 1957 and 72 per cent. in 1956.

asked the Minister of Health how many schoolchildren received mass X-ray examination and vaccination by B.C.G. in Stoke-on-Trent in 1958; and what evidence of tuberculosis or other defects was discovered.

2,222 children were mass X-rayed; 1,682 were vaccinated with B.C.G.; no children were found to be suffering from tuberculosis; and 14 were found to have other defects.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when an early decision can be expected on the future of the Royal Naval Aircraft Repair Yard at Donibristle, Fife.

Negotiations are proceeding with a number of interested parties, but of course I cannot forecast how soon I may be in a position to close with an acceptable bid.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, in view of the increasing number of serious accidents occuring at the junction of Halliford Street and Elizabeth Avenue, Islington, he will, as a matter of urgency, approve proposals for appropriate warning signs to be placed at these crossroads.

The Islington Borough Council is now laying certain warning lines at this junction and will decide shortly whether to add "Slow—Major Road Ahead" signs on the side roads. None of these measures requires my approval.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that the East Sussex County Council is anxious to start work immediately in order to improve safety at Chailey crossroads, where many serious road accidents have occurred; what is the waiting period he has stipulated in this case before work can begin; and if he will waive this so that work can start forthwith.

I have not stipulated any waiting period. I made a grant towards the cost of the work in November, 1957. Since then the county council found it necessary to make a compulsory purchase order in respect of the land required. At the beginning of last month an application to confirm the order was made to my Department. It has just been confirmed and, as soon as it has been published and the land has been acquired, work can start.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, with a view to ensuring the success of the remedial measures towards which provision is being made under the Land Drainage Act, 1930, to arrest erosion by the River Severn, he will institute negotiations with the responsible authorities concerned with the speed of vessels in the river, so as to reduce the permitted speed substantially below 10 miles an hour.

The British Transport Commission, which is the navigation authority for the River Severn, already has the matter in hand. The Commission is preparing new draft byelaws for the navigation, in which it will propose to modify the speed limit, and it hopes to be in a position to consult interested parties shortly. Meanwhile the Commission is doing all in its power to ensure that barges comply with speed limits and navigational requirements generally.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will state, on the basis of information supplied to him by the International Air Transport Association, the passenger-miles flown by the scheduled airlines of the world for each year from 1949 to 1958; and, of this, what has been the percentage flown by British airlines.

The following are the figures which are derived from the publications of the International Civil Aviation Organisation:

PASSENGER-MILES ON SCHEDULED SERVICES
—			All airlines*	United Kingdom airlines' share
			(millions)	(per cent.)
1949	…	…	15,000	4·1
1950	…	…	17,500	4·5
1951	…	…	22,000	4·8
1952	…	…	25,000	5·0
1953	…	…	29,000	4·9
1954	…	…	33,000	4·6
1955	…	…	38,500	4·7
1956	…	…	44,000	4·8
1957	…	…	51,000	4·8
1958	…	…	53,500	4·8
* Excluding airlines of U.S.S.R. and the Peoples Republic of China.

The above table includes domestic as well as international traffic and the United States domestic traffic, which is not of course available to United Kingdom airlines, forms a large part of the total. On international services, the share of United Kingdom airlines was about 12 per cent. of the passenger-miles flown in 1958.

asked the Minister of Education what is the latest available number of secondary school pupils staying on at school beyond the statutory school-leaving age in the county of Warwick; and how this compares with previous years.

In January, 1958, the number was 3,017. Previous years' figures were:—

1953	…	…	…	…	1,819
1954	…	…	…	…	1,921
1955	…	…	…	…	2,022
1956	…	…	…	…	2,152
1957	…	…	…	…	2,403

asked the Minister of Education what is the latest available number of secondary school pupils voluntarily staying on at school beyond the statutory school-leaving age; and how this number compares with previous years.

In January, 1958, the number was 290,603. Previous years' figures were:

1953	…	…	…	218,177
1954	…	…	…	228,476
1955	…	…	…	238,643
1956	…	…	…	245,810
1957	…	…	…	258,101

asked the Minister of Education to what extent selective secondary intake varies among local education authorities in respect of total selective intake and of grammar intake only.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of List 69 for 1958.

asked the Minister of Education what grants he has agreed to pay towards the construction of a new Methodist men's teachers' training college at Oxford to replace the one at Westminster; what remains to be found by the Methodist Church; and what number of places will be made available in the new college after the introduction of a three-year course in 1960.

The total cost of the site and buildings will be of the order of £800,000. The precise amount of grant cannot yet be calculated but is likely to amount to rather more than £250,000. Of the remainder of the cost, the Methodist Education Committee will find more than £350,000 from the sale of the old premises of the college and the rest from voluntary funds. Two hundred and twenty places will be ready in September, 1959, and an additional 180 places (of which about 130 will be for women) by September, 1962.

asked the Minister of Education what he estimates to be the annual cost to the Church of England and Roman Catholic communities of maintaining their denominational schools.

I estimate the present annual cost to voluntary bodies of the provision, alteration and repair of aided and special agreement schools to be:

		£
Church of England schools	…	850,000
Roman Catholic schools	…	1,900,000

These estimates include the cost of work on buildings designed to replace existing schools, i.e., for transferred and substituted schools and schools for displaced pupils. They exclude the cost of work designed to increase the total number of denominational school places. They represent the net cost to voluntary bodies, after taking into account my grants and the cost of work borne by local education authorities.

asked the Minister of Education how many children of school age are awaiting admission for special schools in Wales and how many children are now catered for in schools outside the Principality.

In January, 1959, 1,260 children of school age were awaiting admission to special schools in Wales compared with 1,794 in January, 1958. 605 new special school places will be provided in Wales by building schemes already started or included in building programmes up to 1961–62. In January, 1958, the latest date for which information is available, some 260 Welsh pupils were receiving special educational treatment in special and independent schools in England.

asked the Minister of Education what are the extent of the school-building programmes for Cornwall for 1960–61 and 1961–62, respectively; and if he will make a statement.

The total value of the two programmes is £436,000 for 1960–61 and £376,000 for 1961–62. With one exception, the first consists of projects for the reorganisation of all-age schools and the second of projects to replace unsatisfactory premises.

asked the Minister of Labour how many school leavers have been enrolled as trainees in the mining industry during the year 1959, to the nearest convenient date.

1,833 up to 31st March, the latest date for which a separate figure for school leavers is available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many school leavers in Northumberland and Cumberland have been enrolled as trainees in the mining industry during the year 1959, to the nearest convenient date.

Up to 31st March, the latest date for which a separate figure for school leavers is available, 23 in Northumberland and none in Cumberland.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what was the amount paid in family allowances in Scotland in each of the last three years; and the estimate for the current year.

The amounts were, for 1956–57, £13,800,000; for 1957–58, £14,800,000; and for 1958–59, £15,300,000 (provisional). The estimated amount for 1959–60 is £15,300,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated number of farms in Scotland; and what increase or decrease the figure is on the 1955 total.

The numbers of holdings for which Agricultural Returns were made at June, 1958, and June, 1955, were, respectively, 67,732 and 74,990. These figures include part-time units, crafts, seasonal grazings, etc., as well as full-time farms. The reduction in numbers since 1955 was primarily due to occupiers incorporating in one Return pieces of land forming part of one agricultural unit which were formerly shown on separate Returns.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses, bungalows and farmhouses at or near Fieldhead or Shiels, in the parish of Auldhouse, in the county of Lanark, have no gravitational water supply and depend upon open wells; whether he is satisfied with the sanitary standards prevailing; and when he expects an up-to-date system to be installed.

I understand that some 35 houses and farms and about 50 "weekend bungalows" in the Auldhouse area depend upon private water supplies; the number dependent on open wells is not at present available. A new public water supply scheme is shortly to be started and is expected to reach the area in some two years' time. While no previous complaints about sanitary conditions had been made to me, I understand that the county sanitary inspector is already investigating conditions in this area and I have asked for a copy of his report.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, if he will make a statement on United Kingdom participation in the new North Atlantic Treaty Organisation scheme for advanced study institutes.

The North Atlantic Council has established a fund to promote international gatherings for the advanced study of special scientific topics. The fund will provide financial assistance to selected institutes which offer intensive courses of study, usually at postdoctoral to professorial levels, in branches of the natural sciences and technology. To be eligible for support, an advanced study institute must be located in a N.A.T.O. country, although participating lecturers and students may be from any country.The United Kingdom contribution to the fund will be about £7,000 in the first year; and will be borne on the Vote of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The funds will mostly be used for contributions to the teaching and administrative expenses of selected courses; assistance may also be given towards the travelling and subsistence expenses of participants from N.A.T.O. countries.