asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) when he replied to the communication from the Cardiff City Council concerning the banning of heavy traffic from the Taff Mead Embankment, Cardiff; and whether he will make a statement;(2) why he refused the application of the Cardiff Transport Committee for an order to restrict heavy vehicles from using Taff Mead Embankment, Cardiff; and whether, in view of the superior knowledge of the local authority in this matter, he will now reverse his decision.

On 2nd April the Cardiff City Council sought the preliminary views of the divisional road engineer on a draft order prohibiting the use of Taff Mead Embankment by heavy vehicles. The proposal has since been the subject of correspondence between the council and the divisional road engineer, who has not yet received from the council all the information he needs in order to advise us. The city council has not yet applied for confirmation of an order.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation on what date his survey of future traffic demands on the Woolwich Free Ferry was begun; and when he expects it to be completed.

This survey is being prepared by the London County Council. I understand that it was begun in April this year and that it will shortly be in our hands.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many applications have been received by the South Wales Licensing Authority for the reduction of omnibus services in rural districts; how many were allowed; how many services have been cancelled; and whether he will indicate the number of new services which have been authorised during the last two years.

In the period 1st September, 1957, to 30th June, 1959, 46 applications for reductions of bus services in rural areas were received, of which 45 were granted. Sixteen services were withdrawn and eight new services were put on.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many committees are now appointed to deal with traffic problems in the London area; and whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of these committees, with their addresses, terms of reference and date of appointment.

Apart from various ad hoc bodies and working groups, there are three committees dealing with traffic problems in the London area; they are the London & Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee, the Transport Users' Consultative Committee for London and the London Travel Committee. The following is a note on the terms of reference, addresses and date of first appointment of these committees:

The London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee

The London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee was first constituted under the London Traffic Act, 1924. Its constitution and duties have been amended by the London Passenger Transport Act, 1933, and the Road Traffic Act. 1956.

Its principal duties are to advise the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation on any matters relating to traffic within the London Traffic Area and in particular to advise on proposals for traffic regulations and orders in that Area referred to them by the Minister in pursuance of his statutory duties.

The address of the Secretary of the Committee is 21–37 Hereford Road, London, W.2.

The London Travel Committee

The London Travel Committee was appointed by the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation on 26th November, 1958. Its terms of reference, which were published fully in the Official Report on that day, give the Committee powers amongst other things to consider and set in train where practicable further measures to relieve congestion at the peak periods on roads within and leading into and out of central London and services to and from central London provided by London Transport and British Railways.

The address of the Joint Secretaries of the Committee is Berkeley Square House, London, W.1.

Transport Users Consultative Committee for the London Area

The Transport Users' Consultative Committee for the London Area was first constituted on 22nd February, 1950 under Section 6 (4) of the Transport Act, 1947. Its duties are amongst other things to consider and, where it appears to the Committee to be necessary, make recommendations in regard to any matter affecting the services and facilities provided by the British Transport Commission which has been the subject of representations made to the Committee by users of those services or facilities, or which appears to be a matter to which consideration ought to be given, or which the Minister or the Commission may refer to them for consideration.

The address of the Secretary of the Committee is 22, Palace Chambers, Bridge Street, London. S.W.1.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many persons are now awaiting a driving test; and what the corresponding figure was last year.

The Answer is 322,662, compared with 193,744 a year ago.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if his attention has been called to the traffic congestion in the West Country during last week end; and if he will take steps to ensure that an adequate share of a large road programme is given to the south west.

I am aware of the traffic congestion last weekend in the West Country. I shall continue to allocate to the improvement of road communications in that area as much of the available funds as I consider justified, but I must maintain my general policy of determining priorities nationwide mainly on the needs of industrial traffic.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will now announce the composition and terms of reference of the indepen- dent committee relating to the position of pilots in connection with the investigation of air accidents.

I propose that the terms of reference of the Committee should be—

"To inquire into the regulations and practice—

(a) governing investigations of accidents occurring in the United Kingdom to civil aircraft and elsewhere to civil aircraft registered in the United Kingdom; and

(b) governing the conditions under which licences granted by the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to persons to act as members of the flight crew of an aircraft or as aircraft maintenance engineers or radio maintenance engineers, or any privilege conferred by such a licence, may be cancelled, suspended or varied and the conditions under which a person who is medically and technically qualified to hold or exercise such a licence or privilege may be refused a grant or renewal thereof

and to make recommendations."

I am glad to announce that Sir David Scott-Cairns, Q.C., has accepted my invitation to be Chairman of this Committee.Pending a full examination by an independent committee I intend to clarify the rights of persons under the present regulations and procedures. I will with permission arrange for these clarifications to be circulated with the OFFICIAL REPORT.The following are the clarifications—CLARIFICATION OF THE RIGHTS OF BLAMEWORTHY PERSONS ETC. UNDER THE CIVIL AVIATION (INVESTIGATION OF ACCIDENTS) REGULATIONS, 1951

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the number of emergency landings at London Airport by the Boeing 707 since the service of that aircraft was started.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the number of emergency landings at London Airport by the Boeing 707 during June and July of this year, and the total number since 1st January, 1959.

Since services by this aircraft first started in January last, there has been only one emergency landing, on 25th February. "Full emergencies" have been ordered at the airport in respect of it on six occasions, including one this month and two in June. "Local standbys" were ordered on five occasions, two being in June.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the complaints received from residents around London Airport of the low flying by the Boeing 707 on a number of occasions, if he will make representations to Pan American Airways of the concern this causes them.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation in view of the complaints of residents around London Airport on the low flying on a number of occasions by the Boeing 707, if he will draw the attention of Pan American Airways to the concern this is causing.

I am not aware of the cases of abnormal low-flying by Pan American's Boeing 707 aircraft to which the Questions refer, but I will investigate any cases of which the hon. Members can provide the necessary details.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a statement on the inter-Departmental arrangements for co-ordinating air traffic control policy.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air and I have reviewed the present arrangements for the formulation of air traffic control policy in consultation with the other Ministers concerned in the light of technical advances in aviation, the need for closer co-ordination of civil and military requirements, and the increasing importance of the international aspects of air traffic control.We have decided to set up an Air Traffic Control Board under an independent chairman with wide terms of reference including responsibility for formulating air traffic control policy for the United Kingdom and for co-ordinating the work of all authorities in the United Kingdom concerned with air traffic control matters. The Board will consist of senior representatives of the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, the Air Ministry, the Admiralty and the Ministry of Supply, and will be assisted by an Air Traffic Control Executive. The Board will be responsible jointly to the Secretary of State for Air and myself.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation from what date Independent Air Transport was precluded from operating Inclusive Tour associate scheduled services; at what date this suspension was removed; and how many passengers were illegally carried during this period of suspension.

The company was informed on 27th October, 1958, that I was not prepared to approve the operation of scheduled associate services by it pending a satisfactory report on its operational standards.I have not yet reinstated the company for such operations.Investigations into the carriage of passengers by the company on flights operated since that date are proceeding.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT his answers and comments and the answers and comments of the Boards of the British Overseas Airways Corporation and the British European Airways Corporation to the recommendations, conclusions and other points made in the Report from the Select Committee on Nationalised Industries (Report and Accounts) on the Air Corporations.

Yes. I have read the Select Committee's Report with great attention and the greatest of interest. I should like to take this opportunity of complimenting the Committee upon a Reports of quite exceptional thoroughness and value.The views and recommendations of the Committee are now being studied in detail and with the greatest care by my Department and by the Corporations. I am not in a position as yet to give the views of the Corporations upon them, but meanwhile it may be helpful to my hon. Friend if I set out briefly my own views on the principal points on which the Committee expressed concern.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the average cost of earth-moving per ton in connection with new road construction; and how that figure compares with the cost before the war.

The cost naturally depends on the character and location of the scheme and on soil conditions generally, but an average figure for recent contracts is 2s. 6d. per cu. yd. This is about the same rate as for comparable work immediately before the war.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will ensure that the cats-eyes are completely restored on the Bath Road, A.4, from Reading to Newbury, before the autumn when fog patches can make travelling on this stretch of road hazardous without this aid.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the total cost on land acquisition, including easements, compensation for disturbance, etc., of the London to Birmingham motorway, the cost this represents per mile of road, and the percentage which such costs bear to the total estimated cost of the motorway.

Final figures are not available, but the cost of land acquisition is likely to be about £540,000, which is some £7,400 per mile or about 2 per cent. of the total cost of the motorway.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, before the new London-Birmingham motorway is completed, he will take steps to ensure that adequate arrangements are made to ensure that it will be open to traffic in all weather conditions; and if he is satisfied in that connection that the arrangements which have been made to ensure the speedy removal of snow are adequate.

Yes. Five maintenance compounds are being provided adjacent to the London-Birmingham motorway in which there will be adequate snow-clearing and gritting equipment. This equipment will be purchased by my Department and will be operated under the normal trunk road maintenance agreements by the appropriate county councils.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation by what date it is intended to complete the Leicester Inner Ring Road.

I understand that the Leicester Corporation hopes to complete the sections between Church Gate and Great Central Street and between Belgrave Gate and Abbey Street by the beginning of 1961. It is not possible at present to give a date for the completion of the whole scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what consideration has been given to alternative schemes submitted to his Department in respect of the projected extension of Eastern Avenue through the Borough of Leyton; and what possibility there now is of one of those alternative schemes being adopted.

The investigation of an alternative to the advertised line for the Eastern Avenue extension is still proceeding, but a final decision on the route to be adopted cannot be made until a public inquiry has been held.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether the final stage of the Eastern Avenue extension beyond Wanstead station has now been decided upon; and if he will place the plans in the Library.

I regret that the plans for this extension are not yet sufficiently definite to enable me to make them public.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will revise the road schemes proposed in the development of trunk route A.30 and A.303 to conform to the new basis for estimating future traffic when decided

When the new basis has been decided, we shall review our proposals for the improvement of this trunk route.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, in view of the fact that the basis for estimating future traffic volumes in rural areas laid down in Circular 727 is at present under review, he will undertake to revise all road schemes not yet carried out to conform to the new basis when decided.

When a decision has been reached on the new basis, the schemes in preparation or at the planning stage will be looked at afresh to see what modifications may be required. It is likely that in many cases the layout will not require revision.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in view of the continual increase in traffic, he will agree to the provision of dual carriageways on the proposed Worcester Northern Link Road.

The estimate of the traffic likely to use this new road does not indicate that dual carriageways will be required.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that there is considerable anxiety in Leicester, and in the vicinity of Leicester, at the proposals arising from Command Paper No. 813 to close, or partly close, some thirty railway stations in that area; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent this action.

The British Transport Commission will refer proposals for closing stations to the Transport Users' Consultative Committees in the usual way. The recommendations of the Central Consultative Committee would come before me later.

asked the Minister of Defence what consideration is given by his Department, in drawing up the annual Defence White Paper, to the strength of the Merchant Navy, together with other problems of sea communication.

Due consideration is given to all factors affecting our defence, including of course those relating to sea communications.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will issue a White Paper covering the operations over the last four years in the Arabian Peninsula of the aircraft of the Royal Air Force and of the ground forces under Royal Air Force command.

During these four years, operations of many different kinds have had to be undertaken, at a variety of places, for the defence of the Aden Protectorates and to assist other friendly States in the Arabian Peninsula.Since many of these operations were unconnected with one another, it would not be appropriate to catalogue them together in a White Paper.Statements have been made to the House from time to time about the more important actions and I should be glad to consider giving the hon. Member any further information on any particular operation in which he may be interested.

asked the Minister of Defence whether a decision has yet been reached in regard to the choice between the Prestwich Pegasus and the Canadian Beaver for the Army Air Corps; and what considerations influenced the decision.

The provision for the Army of a light fixed-wing aircraft for liaison duties is under consideration but no final decision has yet been taken.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many incidents involving the unauthorised discharge of firearms by Royal Naval personnel serving in Northern Ireland have come to his attention during each of the last five years; and how many of the incidents have involved fatal, and how many lesser, injuries to persons.

The following are the figures:

1954–56—No incidents were reported.

1957–Two incidents, of which one resulted in serious wounding.

1958–One fatal accident and one minor wounding.

1959–One incident involving serious wounding.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will make a statement about the decision of his committee on the provision of nuclear reactors for Her Majesty's or merchant ships.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he now has any statement to make on progress with nuclear power for marine propulsion.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the technical sub-committee on nuclear propulsion units for surface tankers has yet reported; and what prospects there are of early action.

I am sorry that I cannot add to the Answer I gave to the House on 8th July. There are still some aspects of the matter which require further consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the principal difficulties in the way of the setting up of a committee of naval architects, industrialists and others on the subject of nuclear submarines for commercial purposes; and how he expects these difficulties to be resolved in the absence of any such body.

A similar committee is already at work on the problem of nuclear propulsion for surface ships and my noble Friend is satisfied that this is a development which should be given priority.Meanwhile the possibilities of developing nuclear submarines for commercial purposes are being watched but I cannot at present see sufficient commercial prospects in the idea to warrant the setting up of yet another committee.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what progress has been made in the improvements to the Admiralty houses at Crombie in Fife; and what the estimated total cost will be when the work is completed.

Work has already begun on modernising these houses. The total cost has not yet been assessed. It will depend on discussions now proceeding with the tenants to find the most convenient way of carrying out the work.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many incidents involving the unauthorised discharge of firearms by British Army personnel serving in Northern Ireland have come to his attention in each of the last five years; and how many of these incidents have involved fatal, and how many lesser, injuries to persons.

The numbers up to the middle of July, 1959, are:

—	Death	Slight Injury	No Injury	Total Incidents
1955	0	0	0	0
1956	1	3	0	4
1957	1	4	4	9
1958	1	3	15	19
1959	0	2	1	3

asked the Secretary of State for War what special arrangements he is making in 1960 for the celebration of the hundredth anniversary of the formation of the Army Cadet Force.

To mark the centenary year, a banner will be presented to the Army Cadet Force by its Colonel-in-Chief, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The ceremony will take place in January and other events are being planned for later in the year.

asked the Postmaster-General what area is expected to benefit by the low-power satellite television station to be provided by the British Broadcasting Corporation at Skegness.

The B.B.C. tells me that it cannot give precise information about the coverage of any of its planned satellite stations until sites have been chosen and technical details worked out, but it says that the Skegness station is expected primarily to serve the town itself.

asked the Postmaster-General what instructions are issued by the London Regional Director to postmen who are prevented by strike pickets from making deliveries to industrial premises in the London area.

Postmen have been instructed to continue to carry out to the best of their ability their normal work of delivering and collecting mail, and to report to their controlling officer immediately any incident of the kind to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the traffic congestion in Dean Ryle Street, Westminster, owing to the parking of cars opposite the entrance to Westminster Hospital; and what steps he will take to stop the obstruction to ambulances and vehicles picking up and putting down patients, and to others visiting the hospital.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that no complaints have been received about traffic congestion or parking in Dean Ryle Street and that he does not consider that any special police action is necessary to facilitate access to the hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been for the twelve months ending the last convenient period in respect of commercial vehicles emitting noxious diesel exhaust fumes to an unnecessary degree due to faulty maintenance.

I regret that this information is not available. In the twelve months ended 31st March, 1959, there were sixty-four prosecutions in the Metropolitan Police District under the Regulation which makes it an offence in certain circumstances to use a motor vehicle which emits smoke. No record is kept of the types of vehicles concerned.

asked the Minister of Supply, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether he will make a statement about the recent visit of Professor Massey's team on space research to the United States of America.

Yes. In accordance with the Prime Minister's announcement on 12th May, 1959, Professor Massey and a small team of experts visited the United States recently to discuss co-operation with the United States in the field of scientific research in space using earth satellites.My noble Friend is glad to report that Professor Massey's team had most valuable and fruitful discussions with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (N.A.S.A.).As a result, it is proposed that British scientists will prepare instruments for satellites to be placed in orbit by the use of the "Scout" vehicle, which NA.S.A. is developing for use in connection with civil scientific research. Thus, British science will be able to play its own part in the advancement of scientific knowledge of our planet and its environment. Several vehicles might be involved over a period of three to four years. Her Majesty's Government have considered and approved these proposals, subject to the conclusion of formal arrangements.Information concerning these programmes and their results will be made available to the international scientific community.Both the British and the American groups regard this project as a valuable development in scientific co-operation, and in endorsing this view on behalf of Her Majesty's Government my noble Friend and I would like to congratulate both sides on the successful outcome of their discussions.Meantime, the arrangements for design studies of British launchers, which were announced in the Prime Minister's statement, remain unaffected.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the impending closure of a large number of coal mines in Northumberland and Durham, with the consequent threat of unemployment in mining areas and the fact that under the terms of the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958, it is impossible to take into account threatened, as distinct from actual, unemployment, the Government will consider the early introduction of amending legislation so as to encourage the establishment of new industries in such areas before unemployment develops there.

Naturally we examine constantly the working of the Distribution of Industry Acts and consider whether and how they might be improved.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for assisting the United Kingdom paper-making industry during the 10-year transitional period of mutual tariff reductions by the Outer Seven, as envisaged by the outline plan recently agreed.

The British paper industry should be able to adjust itself to the new conditions without undue difficulty during the ten-year transitional period, especially if, as we hope, the European Free Trade Association is followed by the establishment of a wider Free Trade Area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what changes he is making in the arrangements for the production of Target.

Since 1953, this monthly bulletin has been prepared by the Central Office of Information as a means of drawing attention to examples of the benefits of higher productivity. The Board of Trade and the Ministry of Labour and National Service have been responsible for the bulletin's policy. An offer by the British Productivity Council to take over the publication as from the beginning of next year has, however, been accepted, on the understanding that its character shall be broadly the same and a substantial free circulation maintained. Parliamentary approval will be sought in due course for an additional grant to the Council to aid publication in the early years.

asked the Minister of Supply what orders have been placed in pursuance of the decision of the Minister of Defence to order a British long-range freighter aircraft.

As my right hon. Friend said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Belfast, East (Mr. McMaster) on 23rd July, no contract for the Britannic aircraft has yet been placed, but the process of translating broad design proposals into the detailed specification required for contract purposes is nearing completion.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, as representing the Lord President of the Council, if he will state the nation-wide average strontium 90 content of milk in Great Britain in March and December, 1958; and what similar figures he has for 1959.

The variation in the country-wide average content of strontium 90 per litre of milk during 1958 is shown in Figure 5 of the Report "Strontium 90 in Human Diet in the United Kingdom 1958", published earlier this month by the Agricultural Research Council's Radiobiological Laboratory. Copies of the Report have been placed in the Library of the House.The results for 1959 will be published in due course.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps to ensure that all foreign-produced bacon and ham is marked by its country of origin so that the grocer and the housewife are not deceived into buying foreign bacon and ham cured in Great Britain under the supposition that it is British produced.

The Merchandise Marks (Imported Goods) No. 3 Order, 1934, already makes it obligatory for any bacon or ham imported into the United Kingdom to bear an indication of origin. The Order also requires that on sale or exposure for sale each ham or side of imported bacon, or each separate portion of a ham or side of bacon, shall bear an indication of origin. The requirement of marking any separate portion does not however apply to any piece of bacon or ham with the rind on it which does not bear an indication of origin owing to the manner in which the piece was cut from the joint. The National Farmers' Union has recently requested that an indication of origin should be required by means of a ticket or label for all bacon cut into slices or rashers whether or not it has the rind on it. A reference on this point is being made to the Standing Committee set up under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to prevent bacon curers from selling imported Polish bacon which has been cured in Great Britain under the pretext that it has been produced in Great Britain and marking the product accordingly.

The Merchandise Marks (Imported Goods) No. 3 Order, 1934, makes it obligatory for any Polish bacon imported into the United Kingdom to bear an indication of origin.An offence may be committed under existing legislation if this bacon is sold subsequently described as bacon produced in Great Britain. If my hon. Friend has a specific case in mind and will give me details, I will look into it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that the long delays of up to four or five months that sometimes take place between the application for a calf subsidy and the date of inspection of the animal often result in the loss of the grant to the farmer because the first incisor tooth has been cut by the date of the inspection; and if he will take some action to put this matter right.

I am aware that in a very few cases recently, delay in inspection of calves has resulted in the animals having cut their first incisor teeth when inspected. Every effort is being made to avoid such exceptional delays. In any case where I am satisfied that delay on the part of the Ministry's officers is the sole reason for loss of subsidy, I am willing to consider whether payment can be made exceptionally.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications have been made in each of the counties of Wales under the Agriculture (Small Farmers) Act, 1959; and how many have been allowed.

The following tables give details of applications in Wales under the Small Farmer Scheme and the Supplementary Scheme to I7th July, 1959:

SMALL FARMER SCHEME
County	Applications received	Applications rejected	Farm Business Plans approved for Grant
Anglesey	522	54	174
Brecon	168	22	61
Caernarvon	448	44	138
Cardigan	658	59	74
Carmarthen	1,257	57	175
Denbigh	582	57	193
Flint	257	26	122
Glamorgan	369	69	124
Merioneth	155	42	32
Monmouth	233	20	128
Montgomery	256	19	74
Pembroke	647	36	78
Radnor	170	14	80
Total	5,722	519	1,453*
*NOTE:—3,044 other applicants have been informed that their farm businesses are prima facie eligible.

SUPPLEMENTARY SCHEME
County	Applications for Registration for Supplementary Grants	Applications rejected	Registrations made for Supplementary Grants (including Applications transferred from the Small Farmer Scheme)
Anglesey	34	4	43
Brecon	5	—	2
Caernarvon	36	3	80
Cardigan	184	22	105
Carmarthen	26	1	74
Denbigh	51	15	47
Flint	9	3	3
Glamorgan	36	11	5
Merioneth	28	1	20
Monmouth	20	6	10
Montgomery	26	3	19
Pembroke	111	11	24
Radnor	12	—	9
Total	578	80	441

asked the Secretary of State for Air what proportion of the seats in Royal Air Force transport aircraft face the rear.

Virtually all passenger seats in Royal Air Force transport aircraft face the rear.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many incidents involving the unauthorised discharge of firearms by Royal Air Force personnel serving in Northern Ireland have come to his attention during each of the last five years; and how many of these incidents have involved fatal, and how many lesser, injuries to persons.

There was one fatal accident in 1956; one fatality and three woundings in 1957; and one fatality earlier this year. One incident in 1958 did not result in death or injury. There were no incidents in 1955.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the aggregate number who at all times have been detained in Hola, Kenya; the number of these who have refused to work on tasks allocated to them; and how many are now refusing such tasks.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 11th June, 1959; Vol. 606, c. 112], supplied the following information:Altogether 1,648 detainees have been detained at Hola. No records have been kept of the number of detainees who have refused to work on tasks allocated to them. All the seventeen detainees now at Hola refuse to do other than camp chores.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Africans, held in prison or detention camps in Kenya, died as a result of the use of illegal violence against them by members of the prison or camp staffs, in each of the years 1952–58.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 29th June, 1959: Vol. 608, c. 20]. supplied the following additional information:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for what reasons the Government of Tanganyika have refused the request of the native local authorities who wish to raise a 1s. levy for education.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 14th May, 1959; Vol. 605, c. 164], supplied the following information:It is open to the native authorities in Tanganyika to increase their general rates, provided other services are safeguarded, in order to cover additional expenditure on education. Requests to raise such levies have, however, in the past in general been accompanied by proposals for the abolition of school fees in primary and middle schools. The Tanganyika Government, which bears more than 70 per cent. of the total recurrent cost of these schools, has for financial reasons been unable to accept such proposals.I would add that a levy of 1s. would be quite inadequate even to cover that part of the recurrent costs of education falling on native authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what number and what percentage of African children in Tanganyika are now in primary and secondary schools; how many are undergoing technical education, other than secondary; and what the estimated numbers of children in the three categories are expected to be at the end of the next 5 and 10 years, respectively.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 13th July, 1959; Vol. 609, c. 11], supplied the following information:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what methods are employed for the provision of school textbooks to pupils and teachers in Government schools in Tanganyika.

Provision is made in the territorial budget for the purchase of textbooks and other classroom equipment. Textbooks are recommended to the Director of Education or are chosen by Syllabus Committees and by the Teacher Training Advisory Board. The Department of Education inspectorate regularly reviews the textbooks in use.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the recent constitutional changes in Singapore, he will state what arrangements exist for the relief and repatriation of distressed citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies and Brtish protected persons in Singapore who wish to return to their own countries.

Hitherto such cases have been dealt with by the Government of Singapore, but responsibility in these matters has now been taken over by the United Kingdom Commission. It will be necessary to make financial provision for this service in the Colonial Services Vote. A Supplementary for this purpose will be presented at the earliest opportunity and meanwhile an advance will be sought from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Minister of Education what were the local education authority's proposals for the 1960 to 1962 building programmes for the Welwyn and Hatfield new towns; and what are the approved programmes.

For the school-building programmes for 1960–2 the Hertfordshire local education authority's proposals for Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield comprised a secondary modern school and four primary schools, and extensions to the grammar school at Welwyn. My right hon. Friend has included all these projects in the authority's approved programmes for these two years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he has taken to implement the report of the Pay Research Unit for Technical Classes of the Civil Service which reported in part in July, 1958, and in full in October, 1958; why he has not made proposals arising from these reports; and if he is aware of the disquiet in the Service over the delay that has taken place.

The Treasury's analysis of this lengthy Report has now been completed, and proposals based on it are about to be put to the Staff Association concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of firms from outside Hull intending to build new factories, and the number of local firms intending to enlarge or rebuild existing factories in the city, which, this year, have applied for financial aid under the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958, and the result of the applications.

Nine firm and eligible applications for assistance under this Act have been received by the Development Areas Treasury Advisory Committee. Three of these have been rejected, and the other six are still under consideration. As all applications are made in confidence I am unable to give details of the individual applications received.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the dates of starting and completion of the first new factory in Hull, as the result of Treasury financial assistance under the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945, and the number of unemployed men and women who will be employed.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 16th March, in which I explained that as Hull is not a Development Area scheduled under the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945, the Treasury has no power under that Act to give financial assistance to industrial undertakings there.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider granting financial aid under the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958, to private development companies, to build and lease new factories in Hull, to absorb some of the large number of unemployed in the City and the East Riding of Yorkshire.

The Treasury is able to give assistance under this Act only if, among other things, the Board of Trade is satisfied that the purpose for which the assistance is required is likely to reduce or to contribute to the reduction of the rate of unemployment in a place of high and persistent unemployment. An application by a private development company for assistance to build and lease new factories is unlikely to meet this requirement of the Act.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what loans and grants have been made to organisations and firms in Wales from the Development Fund since August. 1958.

Since the end of August, 1958, the Treasury, on the recommendation of the Development Commissioners, has approved grants amounting to £41,065 and loans amounting to £23,888 to organisations in Wales. The following are the details:

GRANTS SANCTIONED FOR ORGANISATIONS IN WALES FROM 1ST SEPTEMBER, 1958
Name of Organisation	Amount
	£
Rural Community Councils
Anglesey
General Community work	1,599
Rural Industries work	1,700
Breconshire
General Community work	1,550
Caernarvonshire
General Community work	1,609
Rural Industries work	1,957
Cardiganshire
General Community work	1,570
Carmarthenshire
General Community work	1,550
Rural Industries work	1,816
Denbighshire
General Community work	1,817
Rural Industries work	1,943
Merionethshire
General Community work	1,815
Rural Industries work	82
Monmouthshire
General Community work	1,657
Rural Industries work	2,221
Montgomeryshire
General Community work	188
Rural Industries work	2,205
Pembrokeshire
General Community work	1,932
Rural Industries work	1,926
Radnorshire
Rural Industries work	1,079
Council of Social Service for Wales and Monmouthshire
General Community work in rural areas of Wales and Monmouthshire	4,702
University College of Swansea
Supplementary grant towards staff costs of survey of Littoral Fauna of Milford Haven and Shores affected by oil pollution	100
Ffestiniog Urban District Council
Deficiency grant on loan repayment for Haygarth Park Factory	1,071
Welsh Agriculture and Industries Limited Grant to cover consultant's etc. fees on Cableform Factory	3,663
Grant towards administrative expenses on factory projects	563
Welsh Woollen Manufacturers' Association Ltd.
Grant in aid of the Association's work	750
Total Grants	£ 41,065

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the nature and the amount of grants made by the Development Commission to organisations in Wales for the last financial year; and what grants have been paid since.

In the financial year ended 31st March, 1959, my Department, on the recommendation of the Development Commissioners, approved grants amounting to £45,078 and loans amounting to £14,863, to organisations in Wales. Further grants amounting to £30,108 and loans amounting to £22,525 have been approved since. Details of all these grants and loans are given below.The figures exclude assistance given from the Development Fund to various organisations which operate both in England and Wales, since it is not always possible to identify the specifically Welsh element in such expenditure.

GRANTS, FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH, 1959
Name of organisation	Amount
	£
Rural Community Councils Anglesey
General Community work	1,580
Rural Industries work	1,591
Breconshire
General Community work	1,533
Caernarvonshire
General Community work	1,582
Rural Industries work	1,496
Cardiganshire
General Community work	1,550
Carmarthenshire
General Community work	1,530
Rural Industries work	1,716
Denbighshire
General Community work	1,797
Rural Industries work	2,140

asked the Paymaster-General to what extent the tariff reductions which it is proposed to make for countries comprising the Outer Seven Group will apply to Portuguese wine imported into this country from Portugal.

I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.Wine is defined as an agricultural product, to which the general rules for tariff elimination do not apply.

asked the Minister of Health (1) if he will take the necessary steps to postpone the closing of the casualty department of the Eccles and Patricroft Hospital, pending further consideration of the matter;(2) if he will ask the Manchester Hospital Board to consult further with the representatives of interested parties, including the Eccles Borough Council before proceeding with the proposed closure of the casualty department of the Eccles and Patricroft Hospital.

The continued need for these services is in the first instance a matter for the Manchester Regional Hospital Board, and I am bringing to its notice the points raised by the hon. Member. I understand the Board has already had some consultation with the Eccles Borough Council.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the operations for which there are long delays in Hull, in view of the fact that many patients have to consider going to stay with relations in Leeds and Bradford, and elsewhere in the Leeds region, in order to gain admission to hospitals where the delays are less.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the Answer given on 27th July to his Question about surgical waiting lists.

asked the Minister of Health the period during which the surgical ward at Sutton Annexe Hospital, Hull, closed on 28th March, was empty; to what extent this ward is to continue to be used for surgical cases; and for what purpose it is to be used.

This ward is still closed; the intention is to use it for surgical cases when the staffing position allows it to be re-opened.

asked the Minister of Health the date on which his Department gave approval to the Leeds Regional Hospital Board to rebuild the bombed-out block of Hedon Road Maternity Hospital, Hull; what was the sum approved; to what other purpose this sum was diverted by the Board; and what is the date on which the sixteen missing beds are to be replaced.

I assume the hon. and gallant Member is referring to the building scheme referred to in the Answers given to him on 26th March and 17th June. This scheme, for which sketch plans were approved on 26th February, 1958, has been started and the estimated total cost is about £140,000. When completed it will more than make good the accommodation lost through bombing, and so far as I am aware there is no question of the money needed to complete it being diverted to another purpose.

asked the Minister of Health why admissions to the Townend Maternity Home, Hull, are limited to patients who can pay 11s. a day; and why, in 1958, the 315 patients were not taken from mothers in slum clearance property who were unable to pay, in view of the fact that this Home vests in him and is operated as part of the National Health Service.

The ten beds at Townend Maternity Home have been approved as amenity beds under Section 4 of the National Health Service Act, 1946 and a fee of 12s. a day is therefore statutorily payable. There are seventy-four maternity beds elsewhere in Hull for which no fee is payable.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he has now considered the representations he has received as to the appropriate level of rateable value to be fixed for the purpose of Section 39 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1959; and what decision he has reached.

I have considered these representations and, after carefully studying them, have decided to adhere to the figure of £250 net annual value, which I believe will bring the great majority of small business owner-occupiers within the terms of the Act. I am laying an Order today accordingly. I propose to ask local authorities, in a circular to be issued shortly, to exercise discretion beyond this figure where there is genuine hardship; I already have an assurance from the local authority associations that cases of hardship can be met, provided the authorities are allowed to purchase at discretion in advance of requirements. I intend to watch the position carefully.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is in a position to make a statement on the revision of subsistence allowances payable to members of local authorities