asked the Minister of Works whether he will circulate another questionnaire among hon. Members to find out how many of them require a desk for their own exclusive use, regardless of whether or not they at present have a desk for their secretary.

My right hon. Friend the Leader of the House, on 31st March, 1960, stated that there would be discussions with Mr. Speaker, and also through the usual channels, to decide which would be the best method for the House to express its view on short-term proposals for improving the facilities and accommodation available to hon. Members. I understand that the discussions through the usual channels have been opened.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many assaults there were on prison officers in England and Wales in 1947, 1957, 1958, and 1959, respectively; and in how many cases corporal punishment was recommended, and in how many cases it was confirmed in the respective years.

Corporal punishment can only be awarded for a serious assault which leads to a charge of gross personal violence. In 1947, there was 12 such awards of which nine were confirmed. In 1957, there were nine, of which six were confirmed. In 1958, there were four, of which none was confirmed, and, in 1959, 10, of which two were confirmed.The total number of offences charged as assaults, many of which might be trivial, were, for the years 1957–59, 156, 142 and 213. Comparable information for 1947 is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he has considered the desirability of uniform standards among planning authorities in requiring the provision of garages, or garage space, for new dwellings and commercial properties; and whether he will make a statement.

I have nothing at present to add to the replies which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham on 9th February, and 22nd March.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he has now considered Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council's application for loan sanction for the purchase of the Bakery Site, Shaw Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme; and if he will now approve it.

This application, received on 11th April, is now under consideration.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what public announcement was made regarding the courts-martial of the captain and officer of the watch in H.M.S. "Hogue" at the time of the collision between that ship and I.N.S. "Mysore".

A public announcement of these courts martial was made in the usual manner. At least two days before each trial copies of the signals ordering the trials were posted on the notice boards which are outside the three entrances to the naval base at Singapore.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what were the sentences of the courts martial passed on the captain and officer of the watch of H.M.S. "Hogue" in consequence of the collision between that ship and I.N.S. "Mysore".

The commanding officer and the officer of the watch of H.M.S. "Hogue" were adjudged by the court respectively to be reprimanded and to be severely reprimanded.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what facilities were made available to newspaper representatives to attend the courts-martial of the captain and officer of the watch of H.M.S. "Hogue" after that ship's collision with I.N.S. "Mysore".

A naval court-martial is a public trial and the Press and public are admitted. The usual facilities for attendance were made available on this occasion, but no representatives of the Press attended either court.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of Hong Kong have decided to implement the main recommendation of the Electricity Supply Companies Commission to nationalise the Hong Kong Electric Company Limited, and the China Light and Power Company Limited; and what advice or instruction he has given to the Governor in connection therewith.

The Colonial Secretary, Hong Kong, announced in the Legislative Council on 23rd March that, following the publication of the Commission's Report, the two electricity supply companies made an informal approach to the Hong Kong Government. With Government consent they are now exploring all possibilities to find a formula which might cover most of the recommendations of the Commission short of nationalisation, the aim being to ensure that Government is given the maximum degree of control consistent with retention by the companies of incentives to efficiency and expansion.The Hong Kong Government have indicated that any such formula must be presented against a background of the ultimate amalgamation of the two companies and integration of their generating capacity. I have given the Governor no advice or instruction.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations how many citizens of the Union of South Africa are employed as officers in the public service in Bechuanaland, Basutoland, and Swaziland, respectively; and how many Europeans, Asians, and Africans are so employed, respectively.

The following approximate figures are the best that are immediately available.In Basutoland, 156 South African citizens are employed in the public service; in Bechuanaland Protectorate, 263; in Swaziland, 435, including 137 Africans.In Basutoland, there are approximately 260 Europeans in the public service and 2,285 Africans; in the Bechuanaland Protectorate, there are 470 Europeans and 1,537 Africans; in Swaziland, there are 480 Europeans and 1,280 Africans.No Asians are employed in the public services of the territories.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state, separately, how many official and unofficial strikes have taken place during the months of January, February and March, 1960; how many days have been lost in each case; and how many further days were lost by other workers either in the factory affected, or in other factories that had to close down as a result of shortage of material.

Accurate figures are not available owing to difficulties of definition. Of the 794 stoppages—involving 604,000 working days lost—known to have been brought to a conclusion in the three months January to March, 1960, about 25 stoppages, involving a loss of roughly 100,000 working days, were definitely stated to be official.I regret that the other information asked for is not available in any form.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children attending schools under his control can and cannot swim, respectively; and what steps he is taking to provide tuition in swimming for the latter.

The particulars asked for in the first part of the Question are not available.Provision of tuition in swimming is a matter for the education authorities but the Scottish Education Department has emphasised to them in a pamphlet on physical education the importance of swimming and made suggestions on methods of instruction and ways of fostering pupils' interest. I understand that the numbers receiving swimming instruction have increased greatly in recent years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the fact that capital authorisations for new road schemes in Scotland for the four years ending 1961–62 amount to only £40 million according to the Government's announcement in July, 1957, and that, in the light of the latest Civil Estimates, some £36,500,000 of this sum will have been authorised by 1961, leaving only some £3,500,000 for the fourth and final year of the present programme, how soon he will be able to make an announcement with regard to the scope of the road construction programme for the next few years.

By the end of this financial year I shall have authorised £33·69 million out of the £40 million programme, to which £1·25 million has been added to cover the increased expenditure on Highland roads announced in the White Paper (Cmnd. 785). The balance remaining to be authorised in 1961–62 is, therefore, £7·55 million. Thereafter, the programme is being planned on the basis of annual authorisations of about £8 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the number of applications for assistance under the Development Areas Treasury Advisory Committee Scheme received from the seven crofter counties, and Inverness-shire, respectively; and how many of such applications have been granted to date.

Up to 31st March, 1960, 95 firm and eligible applications were received from the seven crofter counties, of which 29 were granted in whole or part. From Inverness-shire, 27 applications were received, of which 3 were granted. Thirty-seven and 14 respectively are still under investigation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state, for each region, the number of cases of fanning losses of individuals dealt with under Section 341 of the Income Tax Act, 1952, and the estimated loss involved.

The estimated figures for the year to September, 1959, are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of farmers claiming relief for losses of Surtax payers; and what is the estimated loss of Surtax revenue resulting therefrom.

About 70 per cent. of individuals given relief for farming losses under Section 341 of the Income Tax Act, 1952, during the year to September, 1959, were Surtax payers. The amount of extra Surtax that would have been assessed had these reliefs not been given is not known.