asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what naval construction it is proposed to lay down in the current quarter; and how much of this will go to the Clyde yards.

During the quarter ending 31st December, 1960, we hope to have laid down two frigates and one submarine totalling about 6,000 tons for the Royal Navy and one frigate of 2,200 tons for the South African Navy. Two frigates totalling 4,400 tons are allocated to the Clyde.

asked the Secretary of State for War when it is anticipated that Sandhurst cadets, who are going to Portugal for a period of training, will take part in a military parade together with Portuguese troops in Lisbon.

Officer cadets from the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, paraded with officer cadets of the Portuguese Military Academy in Lisbon on the morning of Saturday, 3rd December, and took part in a march past.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) the essential minimum strength of a regiment of the Royal Horse Artillery, Royal Artillery, and Royal Armoured Corps; and how many regiments are up to, above, or below minimum strength;(2) how many infantry battalions are up to the essential minimum strength of 800; and how many are above and how many below that strength.

The essential minimum requirement for a regiment varies according to its rôle. It would not be proper for me to disclose detailed figures, but I can say that as regards the Infantry, only five battalions are more than 10 per cent. below establishment, and as regards the other arms, only two regiments.

asked the Secretary of State for War the essential minimum total strength of the Royal Corps of Signals, Royal Army Service Corps, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, and the whole of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers; and what is the shortfall in each case.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my Answer to his Questions No. 22 and No. 23 today. There is no shortage in these corps.

asked the Postmaster-General what consultations he has had with the British Transport Commission with a view to preventing thefts of mail on the railways.

I have been collaborating with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and with the British Transport Commission. We are working urgently on a number of ideas designed to make things more difficult for thieves. Bolts and chains have been fitted on certain trains to protect the guards and mails. Other measures are being taken.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will restore the mid-day postal delivery on Saturdays.

No.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will ensure that threepenny mail has priority over the unsealed twopenny mail in the Christmas deliveries.

Wherever possible preference is given to threepenny and other fully-paid business mail at Christmas time. The enormous amount of mail to be dealt with at Christmas time, however, makes this task particularly difficult.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he will consider the installation in post offices of an overhead photographic device which will secretly and silently photograph collectively all persons within the post office in the event of an attempt to hold-up the premises, so that members of the staff may be enabled to identify the culprits;(2) whether, for the greater protection of post office staffs, particularly in the more isolated sub-offices, for the greater protection of public funds and as a deterrent to criminals, he will consider the installation of secret and silent alarm systems linking each post office with the nearest police station.

I am considering urgently a number of further measures designed to protect Post Office staff and funds from attacks by criminals; and I will certainly keep in mind the hon. Member's suggestions, for which I am grateful.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is now able to make a statement on the progress made during the past year with the postal code system; to what extent the public have co-operated in the experiment; and when this system will be ready for universal application.

At Norwich, where people have been asked to use postal codes as part of their ordinary address, the response has been good and the number of letters bearing a code is steadily increasing. A complementary experiment in automatic letter sorting began at Luton this year. At a later stage the results of the Norwich and Luton experiments will have to be brought together. Only then shall we be able to decide whether the use of postal codes should be extended.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to make known the advantages and applications of mechanised units for postal services with a view to encouraging orders from abroad.

Information about postal machinery now in use and under development in the United Kingdom has been supplied to practically every country in the world. Many countries have sent representatives to see our equipment whilst others have written about it and been supplied with full information, including names of manufacturers.

asked the Postmaster-General what type of postal machines have been sold abroad; to which countries; and what the Post Office has earned during the past five years on exports, giving the figures for each year.

The British Post Office does not itself manufacture postal machinery for export but we know that letter facing, sorting, conveying and other types of equipment have been ordered from British manufacturers by a number of countries abroad including Canada, Switzerland, Russia and Egypt. Some royalty payments will be due in respect of machines incorporating Post Office inventions or designs: but these have yet to mature, all the orders being of comparatively recent date.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will ask the Pilkington Committee now investigating the future of television to submit an interim report on the lineage problem.

The question of definition standards for television is one of many far-reaching and largely inter-locking problems that the Pilkington Committee is currently considering. I am sure it will report to me just as soon as it can.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress he has made in eliminating traffic signals on the Great West Road; and what steps he has taken, or is proposing To take, to eliminate turning movements, in order to secure a better flow of traffic.

The London Traffic Management Unit has surveyed this road with the following preliminary results. No traffic signals can yet be eliminated, but their efficiency will be improved. As to turning movements, the volume of cross traffic is so great that the prohibiting of right-hand turns at some junctions would merely aggravate congestion at the others. However, an improvement in the layout of the junctions is being studied.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress he has made in the last year in widening the A.30, over long stretches of which overtaking is unsafe.

Dual carriageways were provided for lengths of about 1 mile to the East of Hatch and of about 1 mile to the West of the Hawley Cross Roads. Work was started on the dualling of a length of about half a mile between Moor Hill and Hartford Bridge.Preparations were made for seven other schemes covering a total distance of over 4 miles on which work will be started soon.

asked the Minister of Transport when he proposes to start work on the Crick-Doncaster section of the M.1.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply which I gave on 26th October to the hon. Members for Leicester, North-West (Mr. James) and Huddersfield, West (Mr. Wade).

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the recent increase in the accident rate on the A.23 north of Merstham; and whether he will arrange for double white lines to be placed in the centre of the bends in order to minimise the risk of accidents.

Yes. Double white lines will be put down as soon as weather permits on the two bends near the junction with B.2031.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the repair of the Midland-Owen road in the area of the Darlaston and Willenhall urban district councils; and if he will give the reasons for the delay.

This road is partly an unclassified public highway and partly a private street. Responsibility for repair rests either with the local authorities or the frontagers. I understand that consultations are still taking place between them about the making up of the unadopted part of the road. The position has recently been complicated by proposals for using the road as part of an improved road link between Darlaston and Willenhall. At this stage there is, I am afraid, nothing we can do to help.

asked the Minister of Transport his plans for the section of the North Circular Road between Western Avenue and Popes Lane.

Our plans are to construct dual 3-lane carriageways on this section of the North Circular Road. I cannot say when it will be possible to include this scheme in our programme, but as an interim improvement we hope to authorise the widening of all four approaches to the signal-controlled junction with A.4020 during the present financial year.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the extent to which some types of vehicle throw up mud on to the windscreens of following vehicles, particularly on the M.1; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with the problem, in view of his decision not to make wheel spats compulsory as is done elsewhere.

Recent investigations by the Road Research Laboratory suggest that it may be possible to reduce the amount of mud and water thrown out sideways or under the mudguards if coarse textured road surfaces are provided. We are exploring this and also ways of improving the drainage on motorways. At present the best way for motorists to deal with the mud problem is to fit windscreen washers.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will take steps to ensure that all operators of public service vehicles carry a properly maintained first-aid box to ensure that there is no delay in securing medical attention after an accident has taken place.

At present first-aid boxes have to be carried on express and contract buses and coaches, but not on ordinary stage services. While I am satisfied that they are not needed on all buses, I propose to look at the matter again to see whether the present distinction is the right one.

asked the Minister of Transport what discussions he has had with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders about the fitting of safety belts in motor cars; and what official research has taken place in the United Kingdom to ensure that the correct design of belt is suited to a particular design of car.

My Department has been in close touch with the Society over the last few months over this matter. The design of belts and of anchorage points in cars needs to be studied in relation to individual vehicle models and harnesses; this is in the first instance a matter for the manufacturers of vehicles and of safety harness.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now give the result of the latest traffic census at King's Lynn, Norfolk.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for King's Lynn (Mr. Bullard) on November 9th.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the policy of the London Transport Executive in raising fares while not providing an improving service, he will set up a committee to review the structure and working of the Executive.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Brixton (Mr. Lipton) on 5th December.

asked the Minister of Transport how many local authorities grant concessionary fares to old-age pensioners; and if he will give details of the conditions under which such concessions are granted.

Thirty-three. The conditions under which these concessions are granted vary from one authority to another, but they are all given in accordance with the provisions of the Public Service Vehicles (Travel Concessions) Act, 1955.

asked the Lord Privy Seal from which countries at the present time citizens may gain visa-free entry to the United Kingdom; and which of these countries still require British citizens to secure visas for visits.

The countries whose citizens may come to the United Kingdom without first obtaining a visa are:

Austria.	Mexico.
Belgium.	Monaco.
Bolivia.	Morocco.
Cuba.	Netherlands.
Denmark.	Norway.
Finland.	Portugal.
France.	San Marino.
German Federal Republic.	Spain.
	Sweden.
Greece.	Switzerland.
Iceland.	Turkey.
Italy.	United States of America.
Liechtenstein.
Luxembourg.

In return a United Kingdom citizen may enter all these countries without obtaining a visa except in the case of the United States where the United Kingdom citizen is granted a visa

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will instruct his representative at the United Nations to press for the setting up of a committee to inquire into the acts of violence committed in the Congo by United Nations troops.

Our delegation in New York is in constant communication with the United Nations authorities there about all activities in the Congo. The United Nations force in the Congo is faced with an extremely difficult task in attempting to maintain order. Where specific allegations of misconduct are made, we understand that they are investigated by the United Nations authorities themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will assist the plans for establishing a Commonwealth gliding centre at Lasham airfield.

I have already offered to sell this airfield to the Lasham Gliding Society. Whilst I have every sympathy with the kind of project referred to in the Question, it is not a matter which is within my Ministry's powers. I am at present discussing the matter with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Aviation.

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN THE UNDERMENTIONED INDUSTRIES REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN GREAT BRITAIN AT 16TH NOVEMBER, 1959 AND 14TH NOVEMBER, 1960
—				Aircraft Manufacturing and Repairing			Radio and other Electrical Apparatus
				Wholly unemployed	Temporarily stopped	Total	Wholly unemployed	Temporarily Stopped	Total
16th November, 1959:
Males	…	…	…	1,656	24	1,680	844	4	848
Females		…	…	450	—	450	1,053	1	1,054
Total			…	2,106	24	2,130	1,897	5	1,902
14th November, 1960:
Males	…	…	…	916	289	1,205	1,014	50	1,064
Females		…	…	277	7	284	1,310	78	1,388
Total			…	1,193	296	1,489	2,324	128	2,452

MOTOR VEHICLE MANUFACTURING
—				Wholly unemployed	Temporarily stopped	Total
16th November, 1959:
Males	…	…	…	1,673	226	1,899
Females	…	…	…	368	1	369
Total		…	…	2,041	227	2,268
14th November, 1960:
Males	…	…	…	1,878	10,730	12,608
Females	…	…	…	445	906	1,351
Total		…	…	2,323	11,636	13,959

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has studied the recent survey of backstage conditions made by Equity, a copy of which has been sent to him, showing how lacking some

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of unemployed registered at employment exchanges in the aircraft, radio and motor-car industries, respectively, at the latest convenient date; and what are the comparative figures for the same period in 1959.

As the reply includes a table of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.The table below gives the information desired:theatres are in washing facilities and lavatory accommodation; and what action he will take to change these conditions so that they are in keeping with those imposed upon factories, shops, and offices.

The report of this survey, which was received recently is being examined and no conclusions have yet been reached.

asked the Minister of Education the estimated difference between the cost of his proposed modification of the parental means test for university and other students and the cost of total abolition, assuming that Income Tax allowances remain as at present and that these allowances are no longer made, respectively.

About £12½ million and £8 million respectively.

asked the Minister of Education the estimated administrative cost of computing parental means and assessing students' grants in relation thereto.

Such information as the Anderson Committee was able to collect suggested that the cost of administering the parental means test was small, probably averaging not more than about £1 per award.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many instances his Department has disbursed subsidies and deficiency payments for calves and wheat, respectively, produced on the same farm, in the years 1957, 1958, and 1959.

Precise information on this matter is not readily available. Farm accounts available to my Department, however, suggest that, of a total of approximately 5,000 annual recipients of wheat deficiency payment, about one half may draw calf subsidy as well.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the number of applications for grant under the provisions of the Coast Protection Act, 1949; the amount of each applica-; tion and the percentage of grant paid in each case.

Forty-nine proposals to carry out coast protection work have been submitted, of which 44 have been approved and 5 are under consideration. The estimated cost ranges from £300 to £440,000, the average being £24,000. Grant is payable on 25 of the approved proposals at an average rate of 50 per cent., the actual rate in each case—apart from an exceptional case where grant was allowed at 100 per cent. for a scheme designed to protect a trunk road—varying from 30 per cent. to 80 per cent. according to the burden on local rates and the financial resources of the authority concerned. If the hon. Member wishes to have detailed information about any particular proposals, I should be grateful if he would let me know.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that Mr. L. Schwartz, an alien who served in the British Army during the Second World War and is now seeking naturalisation, has been detained for some weeks in Brixton Prison, though no charge has been preferred against him; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that Mr. Schwartz arrived in the United Kingdom on 22nd November with a German passport which did not refer to him and which he has since disposed of. On the same day he reported himself as being illegally in this country and has since been detained in pursuance of Articles 8 (4) and 9 (1) (a) of the Aliens Order, 1953. He has made several statements which have been fully considered but do not afford grounds for permitting him to remain in this country. He is not eligible to apply for naturalisation. Directions under Article 8 (1) of the Order are accordingly being given for his return to France forthwith.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reply he has sent to the representations made to him concerning the Licensing Bill by the Swindon Free Church Federal Council; and if he will make a statement.

The Council has been informed that the contents of the letter have been noted and will be carefully considered.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) the estimated total of annual grants from the central Government towards housing expenses by way of subsidies under superseded legislation for England, Wales, Scotland, and Great Britain, respectively, for the year 1960–61;

—			England	Wales	Scotland	Great Britain
			£	£	£	£
Under superseded legislation		…	49,899,280	2,823,650	14,038,930	66,761,860
Under current legislation	…	…	12,831,560	819,320	2,274,610	15,925,490

The estimated amounts payable from the Exchequer in 1960–61 as improve-

—				England and Wales	Scotland
				£	£
Improvement grants:
Discretionary	…	…	…	2,600,000	435,000
Standard	…	…	…	280,000	500
New towns	…	…	…	2,358,000	673,200

I regret that information concerning the allotment of subsidy between the other purposes is not available in central records.Figures in reply to Questions about Scotland are the concern of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, but are included herewith in agreement with him.

asked the Minister of Works for what purpose his Department has bought the premises of the St. Stephen's Club.

The information desired by my hon. Friend about Exchequer subsidies payable under superseded and current legislation respectively in the year 1960–61 is as follows: ment grants and to new towns—included in the figures above—are:

As I informed the House during the debate on Members' accommodation on 31st March, 1960, the Government have applied for the designation for Government development of the whole of the Bridge Street—Parliament Street—Embankment site. The Committee of the St. Stephen's Club asked whether I would be prepared to acquire immediately the freehold of its premises and, as it proved possible to reach agreement on price, the premises are being purchased with vacant possession on 1st January, 1961. A Supplementary Estimate to cover expenditure during the current financial year will be presented in due course.