asked the Minister of Labour what factors have caused the increase of 955 in the number of unemployed persons in Sunderland compared with the number a year ago.

More than half of the increase was due to the decline in ship-building and shiprepairing; other factors included reduced activity in distribution and in furniture manufacture, and colliery reorganisations.

asked the Minister of Labour to what cause he attributes the increase in unemployment in Scotland from 92,311 at 7th December, 1959, to 98,214 at 11th January, 1960.

This increase, which was smaller than usual for the time of year, was caused partly by seasonal increases in unemployment in construction, and distribution; and partly by the registration of that proportion of Christmas school leavers which had not yet taken up employment.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the danger to health caused by exhaust fumes from diesel driven mechanical aids in the sheds at the West India and other docks of the Port of London; and if he will take urgent steps, in consultation with the dock authorities and the appropriate trade unions, to remove this danger.

I am having further inquiries made and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the hardship caused by the call-up from two Cardiff firms of the key man responsible for training apprentices; and whether, in view of the scarcity of proper apprenticeship schemes in Cardiff, he will make a statement on his policy in such cases.

I am not aware of the cases to which the hon. Member refers. There are no specific arrangements for deferment for men engaged in training apprentices, but when call-up would lead to exceptional hardship a man may apply for postponement.

asked the Minister of Labour why men who wish to join the regular police force are refused deferment unless they enrol before the age of 19; and whether, in view of the urgent need to increase police recruitment, he will review this provision.

I have recently reviewed the position together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department. As well as those men who enrolled as cadets under the age of 19 years, men born after 30th June, 1939, who joined regular police forces as constables after they had reached the age of 19 years and before 1st December last year, are not being called up. As the hon. Member knows, men born after September, 1939, are not called up.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether he has considered the recent statement, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Tynemouth, of the President of the North-East Coast Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders regarding naval shipbuilding; and if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's present naval shipbuilding programme.

I have read the statement referred to with considerable interest. Details of the ships under construction for the Royal Navy will be found in the Navy Estimates and in my noble Friend's Explanatory Statement, which will be published shortly. In the current financial year some £50 million will be spent on contract built warships for the Royal Navy and, on repayment, for Commonwealth governments.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what is the present position with regard to the firm of Messrs. S. G. Brown, Limited, of Watford; and if he will make a statement.

Action is proceeding to dispose of S. G. Brown, Limited, in accordance with the Government's intention made known to the House on 8th June, 1959, and a number of firms and individuals have been invited to, submit an offer.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many artificer apprentices have passed the Upper Yardman Scheme and been placed on the General List as acting sub-lieutenant.

Since the General List was instituted on 1st January, 1957, eleven artificer apprentices have passed the Upper Yardman Scheme.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many artificers have been promoted to the Special Duties List during each of the past four years.

The Special Duties List came into being on 1st January, 1957. The artificers promoted to this List during each of the past three years numbered 50 in 1957, 53 in 1958 and 44 in 1959.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many Seamew aircraft are surplus; how many hours they have flown since they were new; and to what use these aircraft are to be put.

We have nineteen Seamew aircraft surplus. They have not flown in the naval service. The makers and the Admiralty have tried to sell them for further use but without success, and the aircraft are to be scrapped.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what decision has been reached on the disposal of aircraft carriers H.M.S. "Ocean", H.M.S. "Theseus", H.M.S. "Magnificent" and H.M.S. "Glory", and the cruisers H.M.S. "Superb", H.M.S. "Kenya" and H.M.S. "Jamaica", in view of the deterioration which these ships will suffer, and have already suffered, over several years in their present unpreserved and non-maintained condition.

All these ships could be refitted if they were required for further service. It has, however, been decided that three of them—H.M. Ships "Ocean", "Theseus" and "Jamaica"—are surplus to requirements, and steps are being taken to dispose of these.

asked the Secretary of State for War what action is taken to ensure that the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers Command Workshops employing civilian labour comply with the Factory Acts regarding the safety of machines being used, for example, the guarding of dangerous fan blades, to prevent, as far as is possible, accidents to employees, as in similar civilian workshops.

All R.E.M.E. static workshops in the United Kingdom employing civilian labour are visited regularly by Her Majesty's Inspectors of Factories, and their observations are acted upon promptly. In addition, each workshop has a safety committee of employees whose trades cover the bulk of the workshop activity, and a safety officer who is appointed to ensure that the regulations are complied with.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has yet made a decision with regard to the future of Eaton Hall, near Chester.

After examining all possibilities it became evident that neither the War Department nor other Departments could make any good and economical use of Eaton Hall in the future. So negotiations were entered into with the Grosvenor Estate to agree a figure for the surrender of the lease. This lease was arranged in 1946 for 99 years with a break at 50 years, so there was a further 36 years yet to run with a rent and maintenance bill of around £27,000 a year.In addition, the Estate had a heavy claim for war-time and post-war dilapidations. Agreement has been reached with the Estate to terminate the lease from the 31st March, 1960, subject to a payment by the War Office of £200,000, covering all claims.

asked the Postmaster-General at which post offices in Edinburgh it is possible to purchase the adhesive stamps by which accounts due to the Accountant of the Court of Session are paid.

The stamps can be purchased at the Edinburgh Head Post Office and at the following branch offices:

• Parliament House.
• Hope Street.
• Frederick Street.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will list the numbers of people awaiting the installation of telephones

12 months ended:					Applications on waiting list	Applications under enquiry or in course of being met	Number of telephones in use	Number of telephones installed during 12 months
March, 1945	…	…	…	…	209,000	41,000	2,231,000	151,000
March, 1946	…	…	…	…	317,000	43,000	2,339,000	250,000
March, 1947	…	…	…	…	373,000	75,000	2,644,000	434,000
March, 1948	…	…	…	…	402,000	86,000	2,868,000	326,000
March, 1949	…	…	…	…	460,000	100,000	3,019,000	261,000
March, 1950	…	…	…	…	446,000	106,000	3,140,000	312,000
March, 1951	…	…	…	…	418,000	115,000	3,291,000	319,000
March, 1952	…	…	…	…	389,000	93,000	3,463,000	350,000
March, 1953	…	…	…	…	324,000	103,000	3,591,000	315,000
March, 1954	…	…	…	…	265,000	111,000	3,770,000	379,000
March, 1955	…	…	…	…	252,000	120,000	4,007,000	410,000
March, 1956	…	…	…	…	232,000	112,000	4,265,000	427,000
March, 1957	…	…	…	…	160,000	86,000	4,474,000	408,000
March, 1958	…	…	…	…	91,000	80,000	4,500,000	341,000
March, 1959	…	…	…	…	60,000	85,000	4,606,000	356,000
December, 1959		…	…	…	48,000	85,000	4,727,000	400,000

asked the Postmaster-General how many telephone subscribers are at the moment having to share a line; and what are the figures for each year since 1945.

On the 31st December, 1959, 1,129,000 subscribers had shared lines. The figures for each year since 1945 (as at 31st March) were as follows:

1945	3,000
1946	5,000
1947	15,000
1948	63,000
1949	132,000
1950	214,000
1951	324,000
1952	463,000
1953	591,000
1954	742,000
1955	917,000
1956	1,088,000
1957	1,187,000
1958	1,153,000
1959	1,142,000

asked the Postmaster-General if he will list the number of telephone instruments returned to the Post Office from subscribers during each year

The figures are as follows:since 1945, and specify the reasons for any noticeable large returns.

I regret that figures of the instruments returned are not available, but the number of lines given up is as follows:

12 months ended	Number of lines given up
March, 1945	101,000
March, 1946	142,000
March, 1947	129,000
March, 1948	102,000
March, 1949	119,000
March, 1950	211,000
March, 1951	167,000
March, 1952	178,000
March, 1953	287,000
March, 1954	200,000
March, 1955	173,000
March, 1956	169,000
March, 1957	200,000
March, 1958	315,000
March, 1959	249,000
December, 1959	242,000

The figures include lines given up for various reasons, including removals. The figures naturally tend to increase as the size of the system grows, but marked variations are usually attributable to changes of tariffs.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress is being made in reducing the stocks of 1,555,000 telephone instruments held in reserve by the Factories Department of the Post Office.

The figure mentioned by the hon. Member represents the total stock of telephones held as at 1st April, 1958. By the end of next month this will be reduced to 669,000, which I regard as a reasonable holding.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent he visualises a rundown in activity and work of the Factories Department of the Post Office; and what consideration he is giving to the abolition of this separate administration by merging it with another department.

The Post Office Factories Department is mainly engaged on repairs which are closely related to the activity of the Post Office generally. I know of no reason for expecting any further rundown in its work. It employs nearly 3,000 people and I am satisfied that the work it does is best handled by a separate department.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that Royal Air Force personnel recently rendered assistance to many people in Tamworth and to the civic authority by helping to dry out flooded houses with service equipment; if he is further aware of the sense of appreciation of all concerned for this action; and whether, when considering what charge is to be made for such assistance, he will have regard to expenses already incurred by the local authority, and payable from rates, as a result of the flooding.

The Royal Air Force is always glad to give what help it can in emergencies like this. I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman's expression of appreciation; but I am afraid we have no alternative but to recover the cost of our services.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will list the occasions and places where the Royal Air Force ceremonial unit provided guards of honour, escorts, ceremonial demonstrations and display parties in January 1959; and if he will give the number of officers, non-commissioned officers and airmen on duty at each ceremony.

January, 1959, was the quietest month in the unit's history; there was only one engagement, a demonstration at Halton in which one officer, one N.C.O. and 24 airmen took part. The unit was thus able to prepare for the very heavy programme of over 100 engagements which it fulfilled with much credit during the remainder of the year.

asked the Minister of Transport when he now expects to complete the flyover on the Bayswater Road by Lancaster Gate to enable a free flow of east to west traffic, and to relieve the excessive traffic congestion now taking place at the Victoria Gate entrance to Hyde Park.

The recent widening of the carriageway at Victoria Gate has helped the traffic flow considerably, and an experimental scheme to improve it further, which includes abolishing the right turn from Bayswater Road into the Park, is now being considered by the Paddington Borough Council. We know of no proposal for a flyover at this point.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that an experiment to improve the traffic congestion at Marylebone Road, by Park Crescent, by the introduction of one-way traffic working in Park Crescent and Park Square, east and west, had to be abandoned because of opposition from the Crown Estate Paving Commission; and what steps he is proposing to take to enable this experiment to be carried out.

An experiment has been formulated to relieve congestion in this part of the Marylebone Road by prohibiting a number of right hand turns. It has the agreement of the Crown Estate Paving Commission, and my right hon. Friend hopes shortly to be in a position to consent to police regulations so that it may be started next month.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement regarding the proposed southern internal by-pass for Oldham, which is held up waiting decision of the Divisional Road Engineer.

My right hon. Friend has the claims of this by-pass well in mind. It has not so far been included in the programme because other schemes elsewhere have a greater claim on the funds available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is satisfied that the different kinds and colours of street lighting are not confusing to motorists; and whether he will consider introducing legislation imposing a uniform pattern and colour.

Provided the lighting is in accordance with the British Standard Codes of Practice, which do not specify colour or type of lamp, there is no evidence to show that confusion is caused by differences in colour or design. As local authorities installing new lighting systems usually follow these Standard Codes of Practice, I do not think there is any need for legislation imposing uniformity.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the number of road accidents and casualties in 1959.

In 1959 there were 261,216 accidents involving death or personal injury; they resulted in 333,453 casualties.

asked the Minister of Transport how many deaths, serious accidents and other accidents there were on the roads last year; by what percentage these figures exceeded those for 1958; and to what extent traffic increased in volume over 1958.

In 1959 6,520 persons were killed, 80,672 seriously injured and 246,261 slightly injured in road accidents. Compared with 1958 the increases were 9¼ per cent., 16¾ per cent. and 9½ per cent., respectively. The Road Research Laboratory estimate that in 1959 motor traffic increased by 12 per cent. compared with 1958.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress is being made for the provision of a large roundabout and two bridges at White Mere Pool incorporating dual carriageway links both to the trunk road, A.184, and the new Tyne Tunnel approach road from Black Fell.

Preliminary drawings for the reconstruction of the junction at White Mere Pool and for dual carriageways on the trunk road A.184 from the eastern end of the Gateshead—Felling by-pass are being examined. Durham County Council, which is the highway authority for the road between White Mere Pool and the tunnel approach road, is at present reconstructing part of it so as to provide a suitable link with the tunnel. I understand that the council has it in mind to provide dual carriageways ultimately if the traffic warrants it.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement on his plans for improving the A.5, Watling Street, Warwickshire, between Witherley and Fazeley; and, in particular, what is being done to speed-up the construction of the Atherstone by-pass to prevent accidents at the danger spots, and to complete the modernisation of the street lighting on this trunk road.

In the near future constructional work will start on the widening of A.5 between Atherstone and the Isolation Hospital and the contract for a new roundabout at Grendon will be advertised. These are the first of a series of schemes for the comprehensive improvement of the trunk road between Witherley and Fazeley, but I cannot say yet when the Atherstone by-pass can be included in my programme. Improved lighting to traffic route standards is already provided through Dordon and will be installed at the new roundabout in Grendon. No application has been made by the lighting authority for improved lighting on the remainder of this length of A.5.

asked the Minister of Transport what action is contemplated in dealing with the increasing congestion of road traffic on the A.470 main road between Cardiff and Abercynon.

I am considering design proposals for a new dual carriageway trunk road along the Taff Vale which would utilise some lengths of abandoned railway.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will prepare and promulgate emergency regulations for the control of road traffic in the London area in the event of railway strikes.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is in a position to publicise his plans to accommodate a large increase of private motor cars in the event of a national railway strike.

Her Majesty's Ministers hive this matter in mind, but it would be premature to make a statement today.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce legislation in the interests of road safety requiring the maximum speed of which a passenger vehicle is capable to be related to its weight.

Though weights may be one factor to be taken into account, speed limits which vary with weight would not be readily enforceable. Past experience has shown that such speed limits are not necessarily in the interests of road safety.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce legislation to amend Section 48 of the Road Traffic Act, 1956, in order to permit the refund of unexpired portions of driving licences to persons who have become physically unfit for driving since taking out a three-year licence.

My right hon. Friend has noted this matter for consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that London Transport Executives' omnibuses are scheduled to run at 8¼ miles per hour because of traffic congestion; and, in view of the financial saving which would result if omnibuses were scheduled to run at 10 miles per hour, what steps he is taking to relieve the congestion.

I am fully aware of the need, in the joint interests of economy and efficiency, to relieve traffic congestion. As I informed the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond) on 3rd February, I hope to announce my plans in the near future.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state the total sum paid to former stock holders in the railways of the United Kingdom, now nationalised, up to the latest convenient date since nationalisation, and the sum which was drawn by stock holders for the same railways for an equivalent period ending in the year 1939, for which individual valuations of securities were assessed under the Fourth Schedule of the Transport Act, 1947.

Interest paid in the years 1948 to 1958 on British Transport Stock issued in exchange for the securities of the former railway companies, now nationalised, totalled £308 million. Interest and dividends received by the railway stock holders in the years 1929 to 1939 was £389 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what special commercial qualifications are required by trade commissioners before appointment.

Posts of Trade Commissioner are normally filled by selecting from the members of the Administrative and Executive classes in the Board of Trade those who by personality, character and experience are judged to be best suited for Trade Commission work.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the number of limited companies engaged in hire purchase business now, as compared with 1950 and 1955; and the number of hire purchase companies with a paid-up capital of £1,000 or less.

The information is not available. About 1,530 finance houses, the great majority of which were limited companies, were traced in the Census of Distribution for 1957.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the technical or professional qualifications of the members of the sub-committee set up to consider the report by Professor Melman on the European Machine Tool Industry.

The Chairman, Sir Steuart Mitchell, has spent five years as Chief Engineer of the Armament Design Department, three years as Controller of Royal Ordnance Factories and five years as Controller of Guided Weapons and Electronics.Mr. R. W. Asquith, Colonel C. W. Clark and Mr. R. D. G. Ryder, representing machine tool makers, all have a lifetime's experience in the industry and an extensive knowledge of the problems involved in the design, manufacture and sale of machine tools.Mr. R. C. Giggins from the General Electric Company, Mr. J. G. Lloyd from Vickers Armstrong (Engineers) Ltd., and Mr. A. Siddall from Joseph Lucas Ltd. represent machine tool users and have long experience of the requirements for machine tools in the industries with which they have been associated.Mr. W. J. Carron, the Trades Union representative, is President of the Amalgamated Engineering Union, Engineering Chairman of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions and a Member of the General Council of the Trades Union Congress. He is the Chairman and Managing Director of the British Productivity Council.Mr. E. T. Grainger is head of the Technical Section of the Engineering Industries Division of the Board of Trade, of which Mr. J. B. L. Munro is in charge.The Chairman and Mr. Siddall are members of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Mr. Asquith, Mr. Lloyd and Mr. Ryder are members of the Institution of Production Engineers.

asked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, what are the functions of the Road Research Laboratory.

The functions of the Road Research Laboratory, which is a Research Station operated by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, are to conduct research into, and advise on, any aspect of roads, road users and vehicles that can contribute to making the national road system efficient, economical, durable and safe. The scope of its activities is indicated in detail in the published Annual Reports of the Road Research Board.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is prepared to increase appreciably the amount of money now being made available to local education authorities for minor capital works.

No. The current allocations are already higher in total than ever before.

asked the Minister of Education what are the space allowances for students and for staff in new buildings or extensions in universities and colleges of advanced technology, respectively.

The standards for colleges of advanced technology are related broadly to those recommended in my Department's Building Bulletin No. 5, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member. It is recognised, however, that owing to the special nature of their work these colleges will often require accommodation which in one respect or another is rather more generous than that recommended for technical colleges as a whole. I have asked my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to let the hon. Member have particulars so far as the universities are concerned.

asked the Minister of Education, in order that the recommendations of the Crowther Report may reach a larger public than is likely to buy and read the whole report, if he will publish the summary with graphs and statistics at a nominal price.

I sympathise with the purpose the hon. Member has in mind, but I hope it is largely met by the very wide and continuing Press publicity for the Report's main recommendations and by the extensive sales (almost 17,000) of the Report itself. The Report is very closely argued and might lose much by condensation. If however there were a specific demand for off-prints of certain parts of the Report this would certainly be considered.

asked the Minister of Defence what arrangements he has made with the French Government to avoid overlapping in research development and supply of equipment for use by the Royal Air Force.

For some years regular discussions and exchanges of information have taken place between the French Government and Her Majesty's Government through the appropriate technical and military channels as part of the policy of promoting interdependence within N.A.T.O. In furtherance of this policy, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Aviation recently had discussions with M. Blancard, the French Ministerial Delegate for Air Matters. Other meetings are being arranged between the appropriate defence authorities.

asked the Minister of Defence what he estimates was the percentage of the gross national product devoted to defence in the year 1959.

I estimate that defence expenditure in 1959–60 will absorb about 7·2 per cent. of the gross national product.

asked the Minister of Defence on what grounds it is the practice to ask chaplains in the Royal Air Force and the other Services to resign their appointments.

These are matters which clearly fall within the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Service Ministers and Questions should, therefore, be put down to them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will undertake to make a statement on the precise status and ownership of Coetivy Island in the Seychelles when the research now being conducted is completed.

I will write to the hon. Member when I learn from the Governor the results of the research at present being made. I will also then consider the desirability of a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has given his approval to the introduction of the Preservation of Public Security Ordinance Bill by the Government of Northern Rhodesia.

I have nothing to add to what I said in reply to Question by the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on 9th February.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when it is expected that the Annual Report on Government Action in Wales will be made available.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave yesterday to a Question by the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnor (Mr. Watkins).

asked the Minister of Health what is the total number of deaths during the last 20 years from smallpox and from smallpox vaccination, respectively, in Great Britain; and what is the percentage of deaths from smallpox vaccination of the vaccinated and the percentage of deaths from smallpox of the unvaccinated.

There were in Great Britain 89 deaths from smallpox in the period 1939–58, inclusive. During this period 151 deaths were attributed to complications following smallpox vaccination. I regret that information about the number of persons vaccinated in this period is incomplete.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total number of deaths during the last 20 years from smallpox and from smallpox vaccination, respectively, of children up to the age of five years; and what is the percentage of deaths from smallpox vaccination of the vaccinated and the percentage of deaths from smallpox of the unvaccinated among these children.

There were in Great Britain in the period 1939–58 three deaths from smallpox of children up to the age of five years. During this period 103 deaths were attributed to complications following vaccination. I regret that information is incomplete about the number of children under five vaccinated during the whole of this period.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what improvement there has been in the state of pollution of the River Trent at Burton-on-Trent, as compared with the amount of pollution in 1955.

There has been a slight but noticeable improvement. Further and larger schemes are now in hand for extending and improving sewerage and sewage disposal works which when completed will substantially reduce pollution.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs why, after lengthy negotiations, the urban district council of Woodhall Spa has been required to appoint an independent architect or engineer to prepare or approve plans and specifications for an extension to the swimming pool in Jubilee Park, when plans and specifications have already been prepared by a firm of independent contractors; and if he is aware that this requirement makes it impossible for the council to carry out and complete the work before the coming season.

The reconstruction of this swimming pool poses difficult technical problems, and it was for that reason that representatives of the council were recently advised by the Department's officers that the Council should obtain independent technical advice before proceeding with their latest proposals, which were submitted to my right hon. Friend on 15th January. I regret that it will not now be possible to carry out the work before the coming season, but it is important to ensure that the design is sound.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether his attention has been called to the recent regulation made by the Middlesex County Council to ensure that adequate garage space will be provided in connection with all construction of new houses and flats; whether he will provide a list setting out the present requirements with regard to garage accommodation for new buildings by each planning authority in England and Wales; and whether in the near future he will advise local authorities to raise their standards in this respect.

I have seen the standards for garage and parking space in residential areas recently adopted by the Middlesex County Council. Other planning authorities have also adopted standards, but I cannot state the present requirements of each planning authority in England and Wales. I am considering whether to issue advice to planning authorities on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of widespread doubt about the legality of Sunday trading by mobile shops at times when ordinary shops are not permitted to trade; and whether he will introduce legislation to clarify the situation.

I am aware of this point, but I cannot undertake to introduce legislation on this subject at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the concern of the parents of children at present attending Moray House School for secondary education, following intimation by the governors that this section of the school is to be closed; and whether, in view of the present shortage of secondary school places, he will rescind the governor's decision.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Members for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Willis) and Leith (Mr. Hoy) yesterday.