asked the Postmaster-General what representations have been made to him during the last twelve months concerning the reduction of the charges made for telephone services beyond three miles from an exchange; what consideration he has given to them; and whether he will refer this matter to his advisory committee for its consideration and report.

I have received many representations on this subject from hon. Members and from organisations during the past twelve months. I have also discussed the matter with my advisory council. I am sorry, however, that, after careful consideration, I have not so far felt able to reduce the charges.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) how many telephone kiosks are without any form of lighting;(2) how many unlit telephone kiosks there are in the North Riding.

Just under 4,000. The number is being steadily reduced: it is 2,000 less than it was five years ago.There are forty-eight unlit kiosks in the North Riding.

asked the Postmaster-General why the Pilkington Committee on broadcasting does not contain a musician among its members.

Members of the Broadcasting Committee were not chosen as representatives of particular interests. If the profession to which my hon. Friend refers wishes to express its views on broadcasting I hope it will put them to the Committee.

asked the Postmaster-General, in view of the need to modernise methods of dealing with mail bags on the railways, when he intends to install electrically operated conveyors from the outside of stations direct to the platforms.

Electrically operated conveyors connecting sorting offices with railway station platforms will be provided where circumstances are favourable and an economic scheme can be devised. Their introduction at a number of places is now being considered.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will state the number of political refugees that have sought refuge in British territories from the Sudan; how many have been returned to the Sudan from British territories; and for what reasons their return has been allowed.

Within the past year there have been seven of these refugees. The position of six of them was described by my right hon. Friend the Colonial Secretary in his reply of 7th February. Since that date we have heard of a seventh man who has crossed into Kenya. None of these men has been returned to the Sudan.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what changes are being made in Her Majesty's Government's relations with the Ruler of Kuwait.

As my right hon. Friend indicated in a reply to the hon. Member for Bosworth (Mr. Wyatt) of 24th January, relations between Her Majesty's Government and the Gulf Rulers are subject to continual development, and relations with Kuwait over the last two years afford clear illustration of this process. Kuwait has assumed full responsibility for her own international relations, and has for instance adhered to or joined various international conventions or organisations, including specialised agencies of the United Nations, as a full member. We have now almost completed the transfer of jurisdiction described in my right hon. and learned Friend the then Foreign Secretary's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for York (Mr. Longbottom) a year ago today.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether a reply has now been received from the Soviet Government to the proposal of Her Majesty's Government that a meeting of the International Commission for Laos be convened.

No official reply has yet been received from the Soviet Government.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether his Department has received, or asked for, a report from Her Majesty's representatives in Angola or Lisbon regarding the circumstances in which Ernest Charles Brown, a British subject, recently came to be wounded in or near Luanda and regarding the expulsion from Angola of four British newspaper correspondents; and whether he will make a statement.

A communique issued in Luanda on 9th February stated that a person later identified as Mr. Brown had been shot at and wounded after being challenged by an Army officer who saw him in his garden. Her Majesty's Consul has reported on the incident, which is still under investigation by the police, and has visited Mr. Brown in hospital. He will be reporting further as soon as more information is available.On 10th February, the Governor-General published a statement to the effect that four foreign journalists who sought further information about the Incident were told that this could only be obtained from the police, whereupon they behaved insultingly so that the Governor-General had no option but to order their expulsion. These four journalists, three of whom were British and one South African, were temporary visitors to Luanda. They left for Brazzaville on the morning of 10th February. So far as I know, they expressed no wish to communicate with Her Majesty's Consul before they left nor have they subsequently been in touch with any of Her Majesty's representatives in the area.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what action he took in reply to the request of the hon. Member for Eton and Slough on 8th February to make inquiries regarding United Nations inquiries into the death of Patrice Lumumba whilst in custody in Katanga.

The day following the receipt of the hon. Gentleman's request the authorities in Katanga announced that Mr. Lumumba had escaped from imprisonment and later stated that he had been killed by tribesmen. Her Majesty's Government naturally deplore this event. It seems likely to complicate still further the problems of the Congo.As the hon. Gentleman will also be aware, the Secretary-General of the United Nations has suggested in the Security Council that the United Nations should hold an inquiry into this matter. This suggestion will no doubt be discussed at the meeting of the Security Council which is still in session.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has yet considered the report on the strike of tally clerks, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. and learned Member for Darwen.

Yes. This report emphasises the importance of the issues involved in the strike. It supplements the Report of the Committee which I appointed under the Chairmanship of Mr. Lloyd-Williams. The Lloyd-Williams Committee made recommendations to assist in preventing a recurrence of the recent troubles and to improve the efficiency of the port. The National Dock Labour Board and others concerned are giving urgent consideration to these recommendations.

asked the Minister of Labour what is his estimate of the number of workers employed under wage agreements which link wages with the Index of Retail Prices; and what addition to the total weekly wages of those workers is brought about, on average, by an increase of one point on the index.

Nearly 2 million workers are affected. Some of these agreements relate to a particular level

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what percentage of officers commissioned during 1960 won their promotion from the lower deck.

In 1960, approximately 32 per cent. of officers entered into the Royal Navy and Royal Marines were promoted naval ratings or other ranks Royal Marines. This figure excludes medical and dental officers and chaplains.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what progress has been made in the preparation of the mirror for the Isaac Newton telescope.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will supply an occupational analysis of the unemployed in Glasgow at the latest available date.

Following is the answer:

The mirror blank presented to us by a charitable trust in the United States of America has been ground and polished to spherical form. This has established that the glass disc is suitable for use in constructing a mirror for the Isaac Newton telescope. Final figuring to parabolic form will be carried out when the mirror can be stood in its mounting which is expected to be ready next month.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what were the considerations which decided his Department to site the Isaac Newton telescope at Herstmonceux.

The Royal Society proposed and the Admiralty agreed that this telescope should be situated at the Royal Greenwich Observatory at Herstmonceux.The observing conditions at Herstmonceux are considered to be the equal of any in this country. Night observations were carried out there on 260 nights in 1959 and on 207 nights in 1960.As the telescope will be the property of Her Majesty's Government, we considered it would be in the public interest to associate it with the country's principal observatory, with its administration vested in the Astronomer Royal.Although the telescope is intended for general use by United Kingdom astronomers it is expected that the Royal Greenwich Observatory would itself be the principal user.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what is the present rate of re-engagement for ratings; and in which branches this rate is lowest.

Sixty-five per cent. at the 12-year point. The branches with the lowest rates are radio electrical artificer (general service) at 42 per cent., engineering mechanics at 45 per cent., and electrical mechanics (general service) at 51 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for War what will be the future use of the ordnance depot at Thatcham.

No decision has yet been taken on the use of Thatcham after April, 1964, but I am considering the possibility of using it as a command ordnance depot after it ceases to be required in its present rô le. I will keep my hon. Friend informed of developments, and I can assure him that adequate notice will be given to the employees.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men have been prematurely released from the Army in the past six months; and on what grounds they were released.

8,770. The following table shows the breakdown of this figure:

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the protests made by the International Chamber of Shipping on 22nd October, 1959, against flag discrimination against British shipping, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North; if he will particularise the steps taken by Her Majesty's Government since then to collaborate with the shipping industry and with other countries in opposition to flag discrimination; and what has been the result.

Yes. Our collaboration with the shipping industry and with other Governments in fighting flag discrimination is close and continuous. It would not be in the public interest to give details of the steps taken by Her Majesty's Government or the results obtained. The most effective means are used in each case. They include informal discussions, formal protests through diplomatic channels and the negotiation of shipping clauses in commercial treaties and trade agreements. In many cases action is taken jointly with other Governments.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the proposed resale of Cairnryan Port, Wigtownshire; and whether he will take action to prevent this valuable national asset being dismantled.

I am informed that the owner has not offered the port for sale. The second part of the Question therefore does not arise.

asked the Minister of Transport how far the capital development plans for the electrification of British Railways in Scotland have been developed and extended during the last six months; and if he will specify the districts affected.

During the past six months I have received no proposals from the British Transport Commission involving the development or extension of its plans for capital expenditure on railway electrification in Scotland. The Commission informs me that it has no such changes in mind at present.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made with the electrification of the Fenchurch Street-Tilbury-Southend line.

The British Transport Commission has informed me that this scheme has made good progress and that it hopes to start the new electric services before the end of this year.

asked the Minister of Transport when the reconstruction of Barking Station is likely to be completed.

The British Transport Commission has informed me that the reconstruction of Barking Station is likely to be completed this summer.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that right-hand turns by eastbound traffic into Exhibition Road from the main Kensington-Piccadilly road frequently result in holding up traffic while the signals change several times; and if he will stop these turns at that junction.

Traffic studies show that little would be gained by prohibiting the right-hand turn into Exhibition Road. Other solutions of the traffic problems at this junction are being investigated.

asked the Minister of Transport how many bus and train accidents occurred in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

There were 1,205 train accidents in 1957, 1,186 in 1958 and 1,154 in 1959. I regret that comparable figures for bus accidents are not available, but the numbers of public service vehicles involved in accidents in which someone was killed or injured were 23,742, 23,099 and 23,556 respectively for the three years in question.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the rising number of accidents involving serious head injuries, he will introduce legislation to make it compulsory for motor cyclists and their pillion passengers to wear approved standard protective headgear.

I do not think it necessary at this stage to introduce legislation on this matter. The steadily increasing number of motor cyclists wearing protective headgear leads me to think that this is a matter better dealt with by propaganda and education than by legislation.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent it is permitted, within the car testing scheme, for a garage to state in an advertisement for the sale of second-hand cars, that there is a Ministry of Transport certificate with all cars, and for the garage that sells the car to issue the test certificate; and if he will reconsider the operation of the scheme in this respect.

There is no reason why second-hand vehicles for sale should not be advertised as complying with the requirements of the test if, in fact, that is the case. Nothing in the Regulations prevents an authorised examiner appointed to operate a testing station available to the public from testing and issuing certificates for his own vehicles, and I have no evidence which would justify amendment of the Regulations to disallow such a practice. I can however, and certainly should, withdraw authorisation from any examiner who was shown to have abused his appointment.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, before he approves the plans of the Surrey County Council for widening the A.25 road in Blechingley, he will arrange for his officials to consult the Blechingley and Nutfield Parish Councils which have alternative proposals to put forward.

I assume that the parish councils will in the first instance make known their views to the county council which is the highway authority. No plans have yet been submitted to me.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the number of highway authorities which have submitted lists of the schemes they would like to start during the next four years; and what is the estimated total cost of the schemes which have been submitted to him.

Lists were submitted by 166 highway authorities but many smaller authorities included their schemes in the lists of county councils. The estimated total cost of all the schemes submitted for the four years is about £375 million which would attract grants of about £260 million. The three-year programme which I hope to announce shortly, involving grants of about £100 million, will include the most urgent of these schemes.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has for the re-routing of through road traffic between Lancashire and Yorkshire away from the congested roads in the Oldham area; and if he will make a statement.

The County Borough Council of Oldham plans to construct a southern internal relief road, to relieve the town centre of the through traffic between Lancashire and Yorkshire on the A.62. I hope to find a place for this scheme in the classified road programme soon. My Department will contribute 75 per cent. of the cost by way of grant.Oldham will also benefit, at a later date, by the construction of the Lancashire-Yorkshire motorway.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the proportion of £7,000,000, being the cost to the Revenue of reducing the top rates of Surtax in such a fashion that no person is assessed upon income at a higher rate than 15s. in the £, which would return to the Treasury an additional yield from indireot taxation.

Revenue from indirect taxation is affected by a great variety of factors and it would not be possible to isolate the effect of the change to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a table showing the professional occupation of Surtax payers, including Members of Parliament, appropriately arranged to show the allocation to each of the ten Surtax rate brackets.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue he would lose in a full year by eliminating the Surtax brackets of 2s. in the £ sterling, from £2,000 to £2,500 of income annually, and 2s. 6d. in the £ sterling, from £2,500 to £3,000 of income annually, the higher rates of surtax then to be reduced commensurately; how many Surtax payers would then be eliminated; and how many would remain.

To raise the Surtax starting point to £3,000 leave the chargeable slices of income above £3,000 as they are and reduce all the rates now due on them by 2s. 6d. would cost £103 million in a full year. As for the last part of the Question, the latest year for which figures are available is 1958–59 when it is estimated that 196,000 Surtax payers would have been eliminated and 192,000 left.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to be the cost in the year 1960–61 of earned income allowance at two-ninths up to £4,000 of income annually, and thence one-ninth up to £10,000 of income annually, as provided in the Finance Act, 1957; and what would be the cost in a full year of altering this allowance to provide two-ninths up to £10,000 of income annually, and thence one-ninth up to £15,000 of income annually.

The cost of the two-ninths earned income relief up to £4,005 earnings and one-ninth thereafter up to £9,945 is over £1,000 million. The alteration suggested would cost about £5 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, having regard to the particulars issued in the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance leaflet, N.l. 116, November, 1960, entitled "Employer's Guide to Graduated National Insurance Contributions", all employers' and employees' graduated contributions being chargeable for relief to Income Tax and Surtax, in the case of the individual, and Income Tax and Profits Tax, in the case of the corporation, what aggregation of loss of revenue he estimates will occur on that account during the first full year; and what is his assessment of costs to the Revenue of such tax relief in each ensuing year to 1965.

The total tax relief for employees' National Insurance Contributions for 1961–62 is estimated at about £70 million. It is not possible to divide this figure between graduated and flat-rate contributions; and no estimate has been made for later years. As regards employers' contributions, in general these rank as an ordinary business expense which it is inappropriate to regard as giving rise to a loss of revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will initiate consultations with other member Governments with a view to accepting the full provisions of Article VIII of the Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund.

Discussions on this subject have already taken place, and the United Kingdom is today notifying the International Monetary Fund that it accepts the provisions of Article VIII of tht Agreement as from today. Similar notifications are being made by Belgium, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Irish Republic, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands. Peru and Sweden.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is now in a position to make a further statement to that made by the Prime Minister on 13th March, 1958, concerning the use of Royal Air Force helicopters for civil rescue service off the coast of Sussex.

We hope to be able to re-establish a helicopter unit at Thorney Island during the summer. Its main purpose will be the rescue of aircrew but it will be available to help the civil rescue organisations. I cannot, however, say whether we shall require helicopters at Thorney Island permanently.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies who is responsible for the custody of recordings of intercepted telephone messages and conversations made by the authority of the governor of Hong Kong under Section 4 of the Telecommunications Ordinance of 1936.

I have nothing to add to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member on 8th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether in view of the high cost to the owner of purchasing a taxi which will comply with the regulations imposed by the Metropolitan Police under the Public Carriage Act, 1869, he will now relax these regulations.

As my right hon. Friend, the Minister of State, said in his reply to the Adjournment debate on 9th November, 1960, the Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, the licensing authority for hackney cabs under the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act, 1869, would be willing to consider any proposals put forward by manufacturers and the trade for modification of the present conditions of fitness, but no such proposals have been made.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will state, for the years 1946, 1957 and 1958 and for an adult male employee, the percentage relationship between the average weekly earnings and the total National Insurance contributions established by the Acts of those years; how these compare with a similar ratio for 1961 taking the proposed increased contributions for an employee contracted out of the graduated scheme; and whether he will state similar ratios for the health contribution taken separately.

The proportions of men's average earnings represented by the total contributions for National Insurance, including industrial injuries insurance, paid jointly by an employer and an adult male employee at the time the rates were laid down in the relevant Acts of Parliament are shown below, and, separately, the corresponding proportions represented by the contribution to the National Health Service: