asked the Minister of Defence when aircraft, armoured cars and small arms were last exported to South Africa.

On the assumption that the hon. and learned Member's Question refers to military aircraft, 1958, 1957 and 1959, respectively.

asked the Minister of Defence (1) what has been the total cost to date of planning and developing the hydrogen bomb-carrying Blue Streak rocket; and when he intends to take a final decision, on financial grounds, on the future of this proposed independent British deterrent;(2) whether he has yet obtained permission from the United States Government for Great Britain to be allowed to arm Polaris and Skybolt rockets with British hydrogen bomb warheads, when these United States alternatives to an independent British Blue Streak deterrent are finally made available to Great Britain by the United States of America.(3) when he expects the United States submarine-launched Polaris and bomber-launched Skybolt rockets to be made freely available to Great Britain, with or without United States hydrogen bomb warheads, in place of an independent British Blue Streak deterrent; and if he will make a statement.

It would not be in the public interest to disclose the cost to date of developing Blue Streak. For the present, I have nothing to add to the information about the future British contribution to the nuclear deterrent which I gave the House on 29th February during the defence debate. I undertook to report as soon as the Government have reached final conclusions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs under which Article of the United Nations Charter the investigation into the Hungarian uprising of 1956 was instituted.

An item regarding the situation in Hungary created by the action of foreign military forces was placed on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council on the 28th October, 1956, in accordance with the provisions of Article 34 of the Charter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government to make available a further contribution towards the expenses of the European Free Trade Association.

The amount of Her Majesty's Government's contribution to the European Free Trade Association for the six months from the middle of February, 1960, is now estimated at £2,000. Of this sum, £500 provided in the Supplementary Estimate to the Foreign Office Grants and Services Vote presented on the 2nd of February has been paid. The balance of £1,500 will be paid soon after the 1st of April.Token provision has been made in the 1960–61 Foreign Office Grants and Services Estimate and Parliament will be asked in due course to vote the additional money by means of a Supplementary Estimate. In the meantime, the necessary advance is being obtained from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the unemployment percentages in Camelford and Wadebridge at the latest available date.

6·5 per cent. For Camelford and 4·2 per cent. for the combined area of Wadebridge and Bodmin at 14th March.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to ensure that those employed on the Forth road bridge project are drawn, as far as possible, from the local supplies of labour, particularly in view of the heavy unemployment in the Central West Fife area.

The local employment exchange maintains regular contact with the contractors concerned and all vacancies notified are filled as far as possible by local workers. Since the beginning of 1959, 55 workers have been placed on the North Bank site, the great majority being from the Central West Fife area.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the employment and unemployment figures for England and Wales, respectively, at the latest convenient date.

There were 18,478,000 employees in employment in England and 919,000 in Wales at mid-1959, the latest date for which there are separate figures. On 14th March, 1960, unemployment in England totalled 292,553 and in Wales, 28,768. The percentage rates of unemployment were 15 and 3·0, respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of handicapped people registered as unemployed in Cardiff, and the number who have been unemployed for six months or more; and what special measures are being taken to provide employment for these people.

On 4th April, 493 registered disabled persons were unemployed, of whom 245 had been unemployed for six months or more. The recent improvement in the local employment situation, which I hope will continue, should assist my disablement resettlement officers to find suitable jobs for them.

asked the Minister of Labour how many boys entered apprenticeship schemes in the year 1959; what percentage of the total numbers entering employment this represents; and whether he will make a statement.

No separate figures are available about boys who were apprenticed under national joint training schemes, but the total number of boys entering apprenticeships or learnerships in 1959 was 98,701, representing 33·6 per cent. of all boys entering employment.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many moorings are held by his Department; what is the total annual cost of maintaining and repairing them; and what is the total average annual cost per mooring.

We hold 1,410 moorings, of all types, for national use at home and abroad, and the total annual cost of maintaining them is about £1 million. The average annual cost per mooring varies from £3,500 for a first class mooring down to £350 for a sixth class mooring and £50 for a small buoy.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what was the number of flag officers and the strength of Vote A on 31st March, 1960; and how this compares with the figures for 31st March, 1935.

On 31st March, 1960, the strength of Vote A was 100,800; the number of flag officers and officers of relative flag rank was four in international appointments and 86 in national appointments. In 1935 there were also 86 flag officers but the Vote A was nearly 8,000 smaller at 93,000.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether, when inviting tenders from United Kingdom shipyards, he will circulate all firms capable of building the types of ships concerned, in order to encourage employment and ensure the best price and delivery date for his Department.

While it would be impracticable to invite every shipbuilding firm to tender for every naval order, I assure my hon. Friend that as many as reasonably can will be invited in each case. Employment prospects will be among the factors taken into account in inviting tenders.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the low work load and uneven spread of work in certain Departments of the Royal Ordnance Factory, Woolwich; and if he will make a statement on the future level of employment in the Royal Ordnance Factory.

By their nature Royal Ordnance Factories are seldom in full production in peacetime. The order book at Woolwich is made up of short-term jobs such as experimental and development work and batch production. This makes it hard to forecast the level of activity more than for a few months ahead.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Saracen armoured vehicles there are surplus to United Kingdom requirements; and what he intends to do with them.

There are none surplus.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the conclusions of the expert committee which has considered and reported to him on the hazards associated with radio-radiation from high-powered very high frequency transmitters, including forward scatter and radar stations.

The committee has now recommended certain precautions to be taken at establishments where such radiation may be generated. I am arranging for the recommendations to be published in booklet form by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Copies will be placed in the Library.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress has been made towards the provision of a new post office in Ashington, Northumberland; and whether he will make a statement.

We hope shortly to conclude negotiations for the purchase of our present leasehold premises in Ashington. We shall then have them enlarged and modernised as quickly as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will reconsider the decision made on 13th June, 1956, concerning Durham County Council's request for a publicity booklet, which the county medical officer had prepared containing particulars of the public services in the county, to be displayed in post offices; and if he will give instruction to all head postmasters in the county of Durham to allow such information to be displayed.

This booklet, which contains 92 pages of information about Durham County public health services, is not suitable for display in busy post offices. The address of the National Health Service Executive Council is, however, displayed in all Crown post offices and is given in the appropriate telephone directories.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) what percentage of letters are delivered in the morning and afternoon deliveries, respectively, in county boroughs;(2) what percentage of letters are delivered in the morning and afternoon deliveries, respectively, in municipal boroughs;(3) what percentage of letters are delivered in the morning and afternoon deliveries, respectively in urban districts;(4) what percentage of letters are delivered in the morning and afternoon deliveries, respectively, in rural districts.

I regret that the information is not available and cannot be obtained because postal boundaries do not necessarily conform with those of local authorities. For the country as a whole, with the exception of London, it is estimated that about 85 per cent. of all correspondence is included in the first delivery.

asked the Postmaster-General what action he is taking to lessen interference by foreign broadcasting stations to the British Broadcasting Corporation's medium wave transmissions.

Representations are made to the authorities concerned, sometimes with good effect. But mutual inter-casting stations is a general problem ference between medium wave broad- throughout Europe: and it is largely for this reason that the B.B.C. has built up the very high frequency sound service, which is relatively immune from such interference. The V.H.F. sound service is already available to about 97 per cent. of the population.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will exercise his powers under Section 9 (2) of the Television Act, 1954, to require the Independent Television Authority not to broadcast any programme which depicts violence or horror.

No. I am not prepared to impose this requirement on the Authority. Even if I were, I do not know how the Authority could comply with it. The Authority tells me, however, that all programmes likely to contain violence are previewed and that its Children's Advisory Committee has begun to study afresh the general question of violence on television. The Authority also expects to receive quite soon the report of the joint B.B.C./I.T.A. Committee on the Nuffield Report on Children and Television.

asked the Postmaster-General what communications he has sent to the Independent Television Authority under Article 9 (2) of the Television Act, 1954, requiring the Authority to refrain from broadcasting scenes of violence and brutality.

None. I have not felt it right to impose such a requirement on the Authority. Even if I did so, I do not know how the Authority could comply with it. The Authority tells me, however, that all programmes likely to contain violence are previewed and that its Children's Advisory Committee has begun to study afresh the general question of violence on television. The Authority also expects to receive, quite soon, the report of the joint B.B.C./ I.T.A. Committee on the Nuffield Report on Children and Television.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the number of telephone kiosks which have been pro- vided for rural areas in each of the counties of Wales since 1st April, 1948.

The figures are as follows:—

—	Provided under the Rural Allocation Scheme	Others	Total
Anglesey	41	11	52
Brecknock	59	32	91
Cardigan	64	15	79
Caernarvon	56	28	84
Carmarthen	92	35	127
Denbigh	66	53	119
Flint	38	20	58
Glamorgan	82	67	149
Merioneth	66	15	81
Montgomery	60	26	86
Pembroke	69	10	79
Radnor	50	11	61
Totals	743	323	1,066

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the quota of telephone kiosks, together with the quotas of expenditure, which are to be provided in the rural areas in each of the counties of Wales for the twelve months beginning on 1st April, 1960.

The information is as follows:

—		Kiosks	Expenditure
			£
Anglesey	…	2	350
Brecknock	…	3	650
Cardigan	…	2	525
Caernarvon	…	2	350
Carmarthen	…	3	750
Denbigh	…	3	450
Flint	…	2	275
Glamorgan	…	3	450
Merioneth	…	3	525
Montgomery	…	3	650
Pembroke	…	2	500
Radnor	…	2	500
Totals	…	30	£5,975

asked the Secretary of State for Air what arrangements are being made for a public inquiry at which objectors to the Fylingdales project can be heard.

None. Such an inquiry would mean disclosing the detailed criteria which determined the siting, and this would not be in the national interest. The layout and appearance of the station have, however, been fully discussed with the planning and amenity bodies concerned, and agreement has been reached with the local planning authority on all major points.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will consider attaching to "No Parking" notices the address of the nearest garage.

The "Garage Parking" sign, which is already prescribed in regulations and may be put up by highway authorities where need for direction exists, should be sufficient to achieve what my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now announce his plans for the use of Kingsway Tunnel.

The London County Council proposes to adapt the southern part of the tunnel as an underpass for light traffic between Waterloo Bridge and Kingsway. It is expected that the greatest advantage will be obtained by making the underpass one-way from south to north. I hope to include the scheme in the road programme at an early date.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress he has made since 1st December, 1959, in his discussions with the highways authorities associations upon liability for non-feasance in respect of highways.

I hope to receive a report on these discussions very shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state the estimated total cost of, and Ministry grant for, and the estimated life of, the proposed new Fullbridge at Maldon, Essex.

The estimated cost is £54,000 and the grant £32,000. The bridge will be built to modern standards and is expected to last indefinitely.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state the width of road and pavements, respectively, of the old Fullbridge at Maldon, Essex, and the respective widths of the proposed new bridge.

The widths of the carriageway and footways of the old bridge are 19 feet and 3½ feet each, respectively. Those of the new bridge will be 24 feet and 8½ feet each, respectively.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what representations he has received concerning a request for a public inquiry into the proposed removal of sand dunes in the vicinity of New Road, Porthcawl; and whether he will make a statement.

I have received representations from eight residents of New Road. They relate to the levelling of land behind New Road for caravan camping and car parking. I have looked into the matter, but can find nothing which would justify my intervention.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what response he has received in answer to Circular No. 26/59, relating to colliery spoil heaps, from local authorities in the county of Northumberland; what assistance he proposes to offer local authorities to deal with the problem; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has not so far had any response from Northumberland, but he will soon be asking all local authorities for a progress report.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations, in view of the threat to peace in the adjoining area, what steps he has taken to provide adequate armed forces to protect the British protectorates of Swaziland, Bechuanaland and Basutoland.

I am not aware of any threat to the security of the High Commission Territories of Basutoland, Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the flooding of the approaches to the old Fullbridge at Maldon, Essex, is likely to be decreased, or increased, by the proposed new bridge.

I am advised by the Essex River Board that the proposed new bridge will not have any effects on the flooding of the approaches to the Fullbridge at Maldon.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether, in view of the fact that recent British military exercises in North Africa have proved that this country lacks military transport aircraft, he will place an order with Bristol aircraft for a military transport version of the Bristol Britannia for trooping purposes.

No. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence does not see a need at present for any addition to the number of Britannias already delivered or on order for military transport purposes.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he is aware that a Lightning jet fighter broke the sound barrier over Liverpool at 11.30 a.m. on 29th March, 1960, doing damage and frightening many Liverpool citizens; and if he will cause a full inquiry to be made, and compensate for any damage occasioned.

The supersonic boom at Liverpool on 29th March was caused by a Lightning aircraft on a development test flight from Warton airfield. The supersonic part of the flight was planned to be carried out entirely over the Irish Sea, but owing to technical difficulties affecting the radar control, the acceleration to supersonic speed took place before the aircraft had crossed the coast. I very much regret any distress or damage that may have been caused. In the event of there being a claim for damage ascribed to supersonic booms, this should be addressed to the Air Ministry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the value, annually, of the financial contributions made to the Royal Technical College, Nairobi, respectively, from the United Kingdom, the Governments of Kenya, Tanganyika, Uganda, and Zanzibar, the local ratepayers, and any other source.

I am consulting the Governors of Kenya, Tanganyika and Uganda and will circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the cost of a single place at the Royal Technical College, Nairobi, with full residential accommodation and without accommodation, respectively; and how many students at the college, in the present academic year, come from Kenya, Tanganyika, Zanzibar, and Uganda, respectively.

I am consulting the Governors of Kenya, Tanganyika and Uganda on the first part of the Question and will circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT. At the beginning of the present academic year there were 175 students from Kenya at the Royal Technical College, 27 from Tanganyika, eight from Zanzibar and 80 from Uganda.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what Federal Nigerian Public Works Department plant and equipment have been withdrawn from the Southern Cameroons; and what effect this will have on the Kumba-Mamfe road.

The following Federal Nigerian Public Works Department plant was withdrawn from the Southern Cameroons in the period August, 1959, to January, 1960:

1	Pneumatic wheel roller.
1	Front loading shovel.
1	motor grader.
4	Stone crushers.
3	Stone granulators.
18	Bedford tipping lorries.

No recent instructions have been given for further plant to be withdrawn. All funds allocated to this road in the 1959–60 Budget had been spent by the 30th November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what were the results of the conference on constitutional advance and economic development in British Guiana.

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply given on 5th April to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what facilities are provided by the Government of British Honduras for scientific and technical training in schools or other educational establishments.

The Government of British Honduras have provided a central laboratory at Belize Technical College for secondary school science teaching up to advanced G.C.E. level. The College also provides technical training by both day and evening classes to City and Guilds level. This central laboratory is staffed by qualified Government teachers. At both of the existing teacher training institutions—the St. George's Training College and the St. John's Training College—science and handicraft are taught. Manual training centres have been opened outside Belize, and handicraft has been introduced in all schools.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many senior officials are employed in the administration of British Honduras; and how many of them are citizens of British Honduras.

If the term "senior officials" is defined for the purpose of this Question as meaning heads of departments, and the posts next to heads of departments, and including the Financial Secretary and the principal assistant secretaries, the answer is fifty-four, of whom thirty are citizens of British Honduras.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that Her Majesty's Government have a financial holding in Kodak Limited, what control the Government exercise over the company's policy; and if he will make representations to the board of directors in favour of the recognition of trade unions.

The Government have no financial holding in Kodak Limited. The question of the recognition of trade unions is one for the company to decide for itself.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what further relaxations of restriction on imports have been made with the Sino-Soviet bloc since the beginning of this year.

The quotas for some imports from China, Eastern Germany, Hungary and Bulgaria have been increased. The list of goods subject to licensing control remains unchanged.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) why he has placed China in a less favourable position than Formosa as regards control of imports into the United Kingdom;(2) what recent changes have been made in the treatment of China for import licences; and why these changes have been made.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Merton and Morden (Mr. Atkins) on 27th January.