asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what tonnage has been constructed by British yards for Commonwealth navies in the past 10 years.

Orders for warship construction for Commonwealth navies placed in British shipyards in the last 10 years amount to 46 vessels of about 90,000 tons standard displacement. This figure includes hulls transferred before completion. These orders, which I am sure have been valuable to the British shipbuilding industry, are worth about £95 million.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that, when the transfer of the naval dockyards at Malta took place, an undertaking was given by Her Majesty's Government to maintain the equivalent load of naval repair work for two years, and that this period comes to an end next month; and what steps are being taken to maintain this load and retain full employment on the island.

I am aware of the undertaking given. After that date there will inevitably be some reduction in the load, but the present prospect is that a fair amount of naval work will continue during 1961. The question of the level of employment in the dockyard and on the Island generally, are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the constitutional and procedural changes in the International Labour Organisation at Geneva consequent on the the recent increase in membership; and if he will indicate to what extent Nigeria and other members of the organisation have accepted the relevant conventions already accepted by Great Britain.

There have been no constitutional or procedural changes as a result of the recent increase in the membership of the International Labour Organisation. Nigeria has informed the Director-General of the I.L.O. that she remains bound by the obligations of the International Labour Conventions which were fully applied in Nigeria before independence. Similar declarations were made by Cyprus and Ghana when they joined the Organisation.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of unemployed persons registering at each of the Employment Exchanges in the area covered by the Kirkcaldy Burghs constituency, at the latest available date and the corresponding date in 1959.

Seventy-eight at Burnt-island, 728 at Kirkcaldy and 620 at Leven and Methil on 14th November, 1960. The figures for November, 1959, were 157, 942 and 755 respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the nature of the 20 jobs that will be created as a result of establishing the Polaris base on the Clyde.

I understand that most of the jobs are likely to be for drivers and mechanics.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will require the British Broadcasting Corporation to refrain from broadcasting programmes containing inaccurate accounts of methods of work in British coalmines, or of trade union procedure at collieries, such as were portrayed in the British Broadcasting Corporation's television film, "Pay Day", on 16th October, 1960; and if he will make a statement.

Programme content is a matter for the B.B.C. My understanding is that this purely fictional work made no pretence to be a documentary exposition of coal mining practices, but was a piece of dramatic entertainment.

asked the Postmaster-General on how many occasions he has given directions to the Independent Television Authority not to broadcast a programme on grounds that it contravened the provisions of the Television Act governing political broadcasts.

None.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to shorten the present telephone delays arising from dialling 100 on the Mayfair and Welbeck Exchanges after 6 p.m.

I am sorry about the delays at the Mayfair and Welbeck exchanges. The staff at these exchanges—and at other exchanges in Central London—is under strength. I am taking measures to improve the staffing position. These include the borrowing and recruiting of staff for London from the provinces.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) why the Oxford telephone area has the highest waiting list of telephone subscribers, as a percentage of the total number of subscribers, in any telephone area in Great Britain and Northern Ireland;(2) what steps he proposes to take to reduce the waiting list of telephone subscribers in the Oxford area, so as to give the area a better share of telephones.

As my hon. Friend knows, there has been rapid development in parts of this area, and the demand for telephones has been very high. There have also been difficulties in recruitment.I am doing my best to meet outstanding demands though my total resources are limited. During the past five years 25,000 new telephones have been provided in the Oxford area, and the net increase has been 25 per cent. compared with 18 per cent. for the rest of the country. During the next twelve months I expect to provide 6,000 telephones in the area.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will now give consideration to a planned growth of telephone expansion and usage with a view to reducing the waiting list and also bringing about a reduction in telephone rentals and rates.

Planned expansion, reduction in the waiting list, and increase in usage are amongst my policy objectives for the telephone service. The degree of achievement depends on resources and the level of demand. I am anxious to keep telephone charges to the minimum, and the hon. Member will recall that I announced a number of reductions in charges in July last.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to enable subscribers in the London area to dial direct to subscribers in Slough without the necessity of dialling 100.

Subscribers in the London Directory area can ordinarily obtain direct access to subscribers in Slough by dialling the letters SL followed by the number. I am sorry there has been some congestion of traffic between London and Slough but some extra circuits have now been put in and the service should improve.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress is being made in eliminating the shared line telephone service; and what is the present estimate of its complete termination.

There are now some 60,000 fewer shared lines than there were three years ago. My information is that some people like shared service, and I think it will remain a feature of our telephone system. At the same time I should like to withdraw the compulsory liability to share, but I cannot say when there will be sufficient plant available to enable me to take this step. This depends on our resources, and on the future demand for telephones.

asked the Postmaster-General what plans he has in mind for making the services of his Department more fully known with a view to obtaining greater usage of Post Office and telephone services.

The publicity effort of the Post Office is at present largely directed to the aim which the hon. Member has in mind; but I am planning for a considerably larger effort next year.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the present rate of recruitment of youths for specialised training on the engineering side of the Post Office.

The present rate of recruitment of engineering youths-in-training has been increased to a target of 1,330 for the financial year 1960–61 as compared with 1,092 actual recruits in 1959. 1,260 youths had been recruited by 31st October, 1960.

asked the Postmaster-General what further stops he is taking to increase the rate of recruitment on the engineering side of the Post Office in order to have available sufficient skilled personnel for the increased mechanisation of telephone and Post Office services.

The need for increased recruitment on account of mechanisation cannot be isolated. Engineering recruitment is, however, being expanded and there has been a net increase in the last six months of some 3,000 adult engineering staff. We are seeking to augment recruitment of graduate scientists and technologists by visits to universities and colleges of advanced technology; by means of our Student Apprenticeship Scheme started this year; and through bursary awards to existing Post Office staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what use is now being made of the Royal Air Force station, Mona, Anglesey.

It is being increasingly used as a relief landing ground for aircraft operating from the Royal Air Force Flying Training School at Valley.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many National Service men in the Royal Air Force are to be released before completing their two years' service; what method is used to make such selections for early release; and whether this will apply to every station in this country and abroad.

About 1,500 National Service airmen, due for release between November, 1960, and September, 1961, are being offered premature release. These airmen have been selected because there are short-term surpluses in their particular trades. In granting these releases, the principle of "first in, first out" will be preserved throughout each trade, wherever the airmen may be serving.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many Ghanaian troops, pounds of freight and pounds of mail have been transported by aircraft of Royal Air Force Transport Command from Accra to Leopoldville to enable a Ghanaian contingent to participate in the United Nations force since the emergency in the Congo began; and how many Royal Air Force aircraft have been used to dale on this airlift.

Up to 25th November, about 2,500 passengers, 300,000 lb. of freight and 6,000 lbs. of mail were moved from Ghana to the Congo. Thirteen different aircraft have been employed. Since the initial lift, not more than two aircraft have normally been employed at any one time.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the expulsion from the Congo of the entire Ghanaian Embassy staff, he will prohibit any further use of aircraft of Royal Air Force Transport Command, now providing the airlift of reinforcements and supplies to Ghanaian troops in the Congo, in operations which might involve the Royal Air Force in a Congo conflict amongst African states.

My information is that the entire staff of the Ghana Embassy in Leopoldville has not been expelled from the Congo.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to reduce intersections on clearways.

In general clearways have comparatively few intersections. It would be inconvenient to motorists to close these intersections and costly to replace them with grade-separated junctions. I should prefer for the present to spend the funds available for improvement on roads where less satisfactory conditions exist.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will adopt the continental system of road signs, in view of their superiority over the signs at present in use and in order to assist British motorists abroad and foreign motorists here.

I am at present considering whether a general review of our traffic signs is needed. The question of whether and how far we should adopt the continental system would certainly be considered as part of any such review.

asked the Minister of Transport what reply he has sent to the representations made to him by the Leicester City Council in respect of the congestion of traffic in Leicester caused by the Leicestershire portion of the London-Yorkshire road not having been completed.

I am considering these representations. I will send the hon. Member a copy of the reply which I send to the Leicester City Council.

asked the Minister of Transport when it is proposed to start the Finchley road widening scheme; when it is expected that the widening scheme will be finished; and what will be its cost.

My Department are at present discussing details of this scheme with the London County Council who are seeking Parliamentary powers. I cannot say at present when the scheme will be ready or when I can accept it for grant purposes. Construction would be likely to take about 18 months and the estimated cost of the work now proposed is £3,750,000.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the traffic blocks which arise at the Chequers Lane-Ripple Road junction, Dagenham, and whether he will give priority to the proposed construction of a larger roundabout there to be part of the new dual carriageway.

I am aware of the congestion that occurs at this junction. To enlarge the present roundabout adequately would involve extensive demolition of property and I propose, therefore, to replace it by traffic lights. The work is to be carried out as part of the scheme for constructing a second carriageway on Ripple Road which should start next Summer.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will place a plan and a model of the proposed underground car park in Hyde Park in the Library or some other convenient place in the Palace of Westminster.

Yes, when one is available. But this will not be until I have obtained the necessary powers, and a lease for the construction and operation of the garage has been awarded. The design of the garage will be a matter for the lessee.Firms who consider that they may be interested in this project may obtain on application to my Ministry information on the siting and design conditions which are likely to apply in this case.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is yet in a position to state the date on which the Canterbury City Corporation can seek tenders for the construction of the Canterbury A.2 diversion included in his Department's programme for the current financial year.

As I told the hon. Member on 9th November, we expect to be able to issue grant before the end of this financial year. The City Corporation will no doubt invite tenders soon after that.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects work to commence on the new bridge at Full-bridge, Maldon.

I understand that the Essex County Council, who are the highway authority, hope to advertise the contract next month and to start work in March.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he proposes to take to secure greater safety on Death Hill, Farningham, Kent and when this work will commence.

I am considering a revised plan for the provision of dual carriageways on this section of road.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to be able to commence road improvements on the A.20 at the Portobello Inn, West Kingsdown.

There have been difficulties over land acquisition, but I hope work will begin in January next.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish details of the cost of the five-year road improvement schemes submitted to him by Welsh highway authorities in 1959 for each highway authority; and how much he is prepared to authorise in each case.

The following table gives details of the cost of schemes over £25,000 each submitted for the years 1960–61 to 1965–66.Schemes costing £1,123,000 have already been, or will shortly be, authorised. I am at present considering all the other proposals in the light of the increased funds recently announced, and I hope to inform highway authorities of their programmes for the three years beginning 1961–62 quite soon. I intend thereafter to extend the programme by one year annually so as to maintain a three-year forecast for each authority, but I cannot say at present how much I will be prepared to authorise for these subsequent years.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the total cost of the five-year road improvement programme submitted to him by Welsh highway authorities in 1955; and what proportion of the programme he authorised up to 1959.

The total cost was £16·3 million. By the end of the financial year 1959–60 grants for almost 40 per cent. of this total had been issued.

asked the Minister of Transport as a result of altering in places the proposed vertical alignment of the 26-mile length of the Birmingham—Preston motorway, between Preston and Warrington, in order to reduce to a minimum excavation of material that would be suitable for use in embankments, how many gradients have been changed; what is the length of each; what was the original proposed gradient; and to what it has been changed.

Five gradients and eight vertical curves have been amended, the total length of which amounts to 6·45 miles. In all cases the revised gradient is well within the acceptable gradient for motorways. The following table gives the detailed information for the lengths affected.

asked the Minister of Transport what answer he has sent to the Lindsey County Council in reply to their letter to him of 8th November regarding the rapid withdrawal of public road transport facilities in the county, especially on the Horncastle to Louth route; and, in view of the fact that people living in the rural areas are vitally affected by these withdrawals, if he will make a statement.

The County Council has been informed that I have noted their representations; that any long term measures must await the report (which I expect soon) of the Committee on Rural Bus Services; that the Committee are aware of the general problem, of which Lindsey's difficulties are typical; and that I am glad to see the results of talks between the bus company and the Traffic Commissioners, which have led to continuance of a Horncastle—Louth bus service, though on a reduced basis.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has now considered the proposals put to him by the British Road Federation for substantially reducing the work of record keeping for drivers of small vehicles under C licences; and what reply he has sent to the Federation.

I am still considering these proposals, and have not yet replied to the British Road Federation.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the road proposals for London contained in the memorandum submitted by the British Road Federation have been examined by his officers and have been discussed with the London County Council; and what reply he has made to the Federation.

Yes, and it will be one of the purposes of the London Traffic Survey to enable proposals such as these to be evaluated. A full reply will then be sent to the British Road Federation.

asked the Minister of Transport what recommendations he has received with regard to the introduction or use of amber headlights to reduce dazzle when driving at night; and if he will make a statement.

No authoritative recommendation has been received advocating the use of amber headlights. Research so far shows that amber headlights have no advantage over white headlights of equal power and some disadvantage in range of visibility. The answer to the problem of dazzle lies in correct aiming of the beam. I am keeping in close touch with the latest developments, international and other, on headlamp design.

asked the Minister of Transport what further progress has been made towards carrying out the proposed overall origin and destination survey of London traffic; what staff is employed; at what cost; and when it is likely to be completed.

I am unable at present to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Brixton (Mr. Lipton) on 21st November.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will give the provisional statement of contributions in cash and kind from Governments, national committees and other sources in all participating countries for World Refugee Year to 30th September 1960; which countries gave the largest amounts per head of population; and what were their per capita contributions.

The answers to the Question are rather long and are contained in United Nations Document A/4546, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Gentleman. There is also a copy available in the Library of the House. It may, however, be of interest to hon. Members to know that the United Kingdom's contribution in cash and kind to World Refugee Year as of 30th September was approximately £7¾ million and was the largest of all national contributions at that date. In contributions per head, the United Kingdom came third after Norway and New Zealand.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what allowances are paid to Ministers and delegates who are Members of Parliament and who attend as representatives of the United Kingdom at the United Nations; and whether he is satisfied that such allowances are sufficient and suitable in such circumstances for the proper exercise of United Kingdom representatives' duties in New York.

Ministers, Members of Parliament and senior officials who serve as delegates at the General Assembly of the United Nations have the cost of their hotel suites (including service charges) met from public funds and receive in addition a subsistence allowance of 13 dollars a day. They may also recover their necessary expenditure on entertainment from special funds which are available for this purpose.I understand that Her Majesty's Treasury Representative in Washington who assesses the subsistence allowances has discretion to vary them in special circumstances. If my hon. and learned Friend has specific criticisms I shall be happy to have them looked into.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how much the Republic of Ghana has paid the British Treasury to date for the Royal Air Force Transport Command airlift which makes possible Ghanaian participation in the United Nations Organisation force in the Congo emergency.

The support which aircraft of Royal Air Force Transport Command are providing for the Ghana contingent of the United Nations force in the Congo is essentially a part of the United Nations operation there.The financing of that operation is under discussion at the United Nations and I cannot yet say how the cost of this Royal Air Force service will be met.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the latest pattern of trade of the commodities from the Colonial Territories mainly affected by the Treaty of Rome, together with the latest details of the common external tariff of the Six, similar to the reply given in answer to Question No. 55 on 17th April, 1957.

Yes. The following figures showing the pattern of trade in 1958 (the latest year for which complete statistics are available) for certain commodities of importance to United Kingdom dependent territories in respect

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what arrangements have been made to establish liaison between education departments and industry, respectively, in the United Kingdom and the other independent territories of the Commonwealth with regard to the training of students in technical, scientific and commercial subjects.

No special arrangements exist for direct liaison between education departments in the countries of the Commonwealth, but the Commonwealth Education Liaison Committee, which was set up at the end of last year as a result of a recommendation of the Commonwealth Education Conference held at Oxford in 1959 and is composed of representatives of all member countries of the Commonwealth together with a representative of the Colonies, meets regularly in London and maintains liaison in educational matters generally at Government level. In addition, there is, of course, a channel for liaison between the United Kingdom Education Departments and the Governments of Commonwealth countries overseas through United Kingdom High Commissioners.So far as the educational activities of industry itself are concerned, I know of no body solely concerned with Commonwealth liaison in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what facilities exist to co-ordinate the needs of Commonwealth territories in scientific, industrial and commercial enterprises, with the opportunities for training which exist in the United Kingdom or elsewhere.

Most of the many thousands of trainees from Commonwealth countries who receive training in United Kingdom industry every year, come to this country under private arrangements made direct with the firms concerned, or under various British and international schemes providing for such training. I do not consider that it would be desirable to attempt to centralise or co-ordinate all these arrangements.A Committee was set up early this year, to assist Commonwealth Governments to find openings in United Kingdom industry for trainees who cannot be placed under other arrangements.So far as opportunities for training in other Commonwealth countries are concerned, the Commonwealth Education Liaison Committee has been established, as recommended by the Commonwealth Education Conference held in Oxford in 1959, and provides a forum for discussion and co-ordination of arrangements to meet the needs of the Commonwealth. Numerous other nongovernmental arrangements are in existence.

asked the Minister of Defence how much money was spent in aid of recruiting for the Armed Forces in 1959 and 1960, respectively.

Figures are only available by complete financial years. From 1st April, 1959, to 31st March, 1960, total expenditure amounted to £1,167,868. Estimated expenditure for the current financial year is £1,344,200.

asked the Minister of Health when he proposes to introduce new methods of allocating finance for capital projects for regional hospital boards.

I am reviewing the whole management of the hospital capital programme, but cannot yet say when any changes will be introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will issue an up-to-date version of Table V of the White Paper on Technical Education, Command Paper No. 9703, giving full particulars of part-time day release industry by industry for the year ended May, 1960.

The attached table shows for each industry the number of young people under 18 years of age released for part-time education during session 1959–60. As figures showing the corresponding number of young people in insured employment are not yet available, it is not at present possible to provide an up-to-date-version of Table V. Following is the table:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Reid Committee on Registration of Title to Land have yet submitted their report.

I have not yet received the Committee's report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that Lieutenant-Colonel Hans Rudel, a prominent Nazi during the Hitler régime and a leader of the Neo-Nazi party in Germany, has arranged to address a meeting in London shortly; and whether, in view of the record of the Nazi Party, he will take steps to prevent Rudel coming to this country.

Lt.-Col. Rudel will not be permitted to enter the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the number of people employed in the Fighting Vehicle Inspectorate; and what is the annual cost of the department.

The number of people employed country-wide in the Fighting Vehicle Inspectorate on 31st October, 1960, was 1,540. The annual cost of the establishment is about £1·6 million.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent the scientists employed at the Microbiological Station at Porton are studying foot-and-mouth disease.

None of the staff at Porton are engaged in such a study. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 22nd November by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the men who won the Military Medal in the last war were given a gratuity while those who won it in the First World War were not; and if he will extend the same right to the men of both wars.

No. The decision that only those who have won the Military Medal since 3rd September, 1939, should receive a gratuity or addition to pension was taken by the Government of the day in 1945, and successive Administrations have maintained it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state his latest estimate of the total cost to Treasury funds of the re-equipment grants under the terms of the Cotton Industry Act, 1959.

Applications for re-equipment grants may be submitted up to July, 1962; consequently no accurate estimate of the total which may be required can be made at this stage. Applications so far received would, if fully accepted, involve Exchequer payments of about £5 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the amount of Treasury funds already paid for the scrapping of machinery under the provisions of the Cotton Industry Act, 1959; and what is his estimate of the total cost to the Treasury for the scrapping of machinery under this Act.

£8·3 million has been paid from public funds up to 25th November. The total cost to the Exchequer will depend on factors such as the outcome of the Finishing Schemes and may fall between £12 million and £13 million.