asked the Secretary of State for War what action was taken to ensure that the accommodation at Foiling Boston, Germany, was made habitable for the 13/18 Royal Hussars from British Field Post Office 30, who were moved there recently; and, in view of the details about the accommodation which have been sent to him, if he will have the matter investigated at once.

This accommodation is due for extensive improvement next year. The barracks as a whole was redecorated internally two years ago, and externally last year. Redecoration of the Junior Ranks Club has just been completed; a new garrison cinema is under construction and due to be finished in August. I have written to the hon. Lady replying at greater length to the points of detail she raised with me.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many tons of unserviceable and time-expired ammunition was dumped at sea by his Department from Cairnryan military port in 1958.

8,500 tons.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the estimated amount of time-expired and unserviceable ammunition at present held by his Department.

75,000 tons; of this about 60,000 tons will be broken down for recovery of ferrous and nonferrous metals, and the rest will be destroyed by demolition or burning.

asked the Secretary of State for War what industry other than ship-breaking Mr. H. G. Pounds intended to start at Cairnryan military port which would employ 300 men.

As I indicated to my hon. Friend in my reply of 21st February, the detailed information given by the tenderers for Cairnryan Port was confidential and I am not at liberty to disclose it, but I can say that Messrs. Pounds expressed their intention of operating Cairnryan principally as a port for the transit of goods.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the closure of H.M.S. "Harrier", Kete, Pembrokeshire, he will either let or sell the disused married quarters that belonged to this unit.

We held these quarters pending a decision about the use of the Barracks at Pembroke Dock for a Royal Marine Commando. We are now considering their use for personnel from the Royal Naval Air Station, Brawdy which, as I have announced, will be expanded.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will make a statement regarding the extended transfer scheme for men transferred from Sheerness Dockyard.

In view of the present employment situation in the Isle of Sheppey we have decided to extend the special transfer arrangements for another year. This means that established men transferred from Sheerness to Chatham will have until 31st March. 1962, to decide whether to transfer permanently to Admiralty service in Chatham, or to resign with a termination of establishment grant.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the number of flag appointments; and if he will list them with their particular duties.

Seventy-seven at present, excluding those on committee work, waiting to take up appointments or on terminal leave. As I explained in my speech on the Navy Estimates, this number will be reduced still further in the course of the next two or three years. The Navy List gives all flag officers and their current appointments.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what invitation he has received from the United States Government to co-operate in developing a weather prediction programme.

We have received no direct invitation but we noted with interest the general invitation to all nations contained in President Kennedy's State of the Union message.

—	Warrant Officers (including Master Aircrew and Master Technicians)			Flight Sergeants
	Born before 1931	Born 1931 or later	Total	Born before 1931	Born 1931 or later	Total
Advanced tradesmen and aircrew	3,336	3	3,339	3,354	94	3,448
Skilled tradesmen	848	—	848	1,115	1	1,116
Total	4,184	3	4,187	4,469	95	4,564

Royal Air Force warrant officers and N.C.O.s, apart from aircrew, are mustered in advanced or skilled trades; the term first-class tradesmen is not used.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the danger to the public arising from unmanned railway level crossings; and what steps are being taken to install automatic safety devices and warning signals at such places.

There are two types of unmanned railway level crossing, namely public and private. At public level crossings, which are mainly on light railways, the evidence is that, generally speaking, there is little danger.At some private crossings the risks have increased in recent years mainly because of an increase of road traffic. I have no powers to order the installation of additional protection at such crossings, but the British Transport Commission by agreement with the users has provided warning arrangements at some of them.

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) if he will state the number of warrant officers and flight sergeants, respectively, who were under 30 years of age on 1st January, 1961, and the number in each category who were first-class tradesmen;(2) if he will state the number of warrant officers and flight sergeants, respectively, on 1st January, 1961, the numbers in each category who were first-class tradesmen, and the numbers with no trade.

The numbers are as stated below:

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission not to grant wayleaves for the construction of pipelines by or on behalf of private interests without Parliamentary approval.

No. The construction of pilelines by or on behalf of private interests will be dealt with in the legislation referred to by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Power in his Answer to the hon. Member on 6th March.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will authorise the Roard Research Laboratory to undertake a pilot scheme on the lighting of motorways in this country.

No. I see little practical advantage in having a pilot scheme since it is not my present intention to light rural motorways while heavily trafficked all-purpose roads, where the hazards from pedestrians, cyclists, general traffic movement and obstructions are greater, remain unlighted.

asked the Minister of Transport to what use it is intended to put the stand on which porters might rest their loads, formerly erected on the pavement of Piccadilly opposite No. 127 Piccadilly, which has been pulled down as a result of the Hyde Park Corner Improvement Scheme and is now lying in the new roadway.

The porters' stand will be re-erected as close to the original site as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that a motorist was recently fined because he left his car in a parking space while he obtained change for the parking meter from a taxi driver; and whether he will arrange in future for meters to take shillings, sixpences and threepenny pieces.

No. I do not think it unreasonable to expect persons who intend to use parking meters to carry the appropriate change.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a further statement on the interim Report of the sub-committee of the Shipbuilding Advisory Committee.

I expect to receive this Report very shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will set up a committee to examine the tenders for the new Cunard liner; and whether he will make the tenders public.

My Ministry will be associated with the Cunard Steam-Ship Company in its consideration of the tenders, which will be dealt with in accordance with normal commercial practice.

asked the Minister of Education if he will publish the names of the fifty-four projects submitted by Staffordshire Education Authority for the building year 1962–63, indicating the twenty projects which he has approved.

Following is a list of the projects submitted. Approved projects are starred:

asked the Minister of Education what are his latest figures about the number of oversized classes in the schools in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

In January, 1960, forty junior classes (18·6 per cent. of all junior classes) in Newcastle-under-Lyme had more than forty pupils each. Ninety-nine senior classes (44·6 per cent. of all senior classes) had more than thirty pupils each.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much Income Tax was refunded in respect of seven-year deeds of covenant in the last complete financial year; and whether he will state the amount refunded in respect of covenants made in favour of religious bodies.

The amount of Income Tax repaid in respect of deeds of covenant during the year to 31st March, 1960, is estimated at about £13 million of which about one-tenth was to religious bodies.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many houses are now let by local authorities in England and Wales; and what average rent is charged for them.

Housing authorities in England and Wales own more than 3¼ million houses for letting.Complete figures are not available, but for the 2,950,000 or so dwellings covered by "Housing Statistics, 1959–60", the average rent during that year, exclusive of rates, was just over 20s. a week.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many local authorities in England and Wales charge a sliding scale of rents according to the tenants' individual or household income, with an economic rent as the highest figure; and what proportion these represent of the total.

According to "Housing Statistics, 1959–60", which is published by the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants, out of the 1,053 housing authorities in England and Wales making a return, 96, or just over 9 per cent., were, a year ago, operating a rent rebate or differential rent scheme in which the maximum rent was fully unsubsidised. A further 264 authorities were then, operating differential schemes on some other basis.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to receive the Report of the Working Party on the Special Hospitals; and when it will be publish.

I have received the Report, which I hope will be published next month.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent hospital management committees and regional hospital boards have received delegated authority from him enabling them to act under the provisions of Section 46 of the Patents Act, 1949, without any further reference to him.

I am advised that the question of such authorisation does not arise.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the average wages and earnings in England and Wales, and Scotland, respectively, in 1951, 1956, and at the latest available date.

I regret that separate information for England and Wales, and Scotland, is not available.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what is the annual sum involved in the nonpayment of increases since 1946 in retirement pensions to pensioners abroad; how many single men and women will receive 26s., 30s. and 50s., respectively, instead of 57s. 6d. in April; and how many married couples will receive less than 92s. in April.

I am afraid that the detailed information asked for is not available and could not be obtained without an undue expenditure of time and money.But I estimate that, as from the beginning of April, the total cost of raising all pensions paid abroad to the new levels to be paid in this country and in countries where reciprocal agreements so provide would be of the order of £2 million.

asked the Postmaster-General why lawyers are not given priority in the supply of home telephones, whereas such priority is given to Members of Parliament, doctors and others.

My reply of 22nd February to my hon. Friend referred to the principles governing priority in the supply of home telephones.It is obviously necessary to limit the number of priority cases; broadly speaking, we give priority to those who may be concerned with matters of "life and death", e.g. doctors, nurses and ministers of religion. In addition, some telephones are needed in the national interest, for example for Members of Parliament, and to meet the special needs of the sick or disabled and for those dependent on a home telephone for their livelihood. It is not practicable to cover all cases of special need by rules, and discretion is, therefore, given to telephone managers. I am sure that the position of lawyers is given due weight. If my hon. Friend has a case of particular hardship in mind I shall be very happy to look into it.

asked the Postmaster-General how many new telephone kiosks were installed in Wales and in Glamorgan, respectively, during the past twelve months; and how many will be installed during the next year.

127 and 30 respectively in 1960. The first figure relates to Wales and the Border Counties, as information for Wales alone is not available. I expect the numbers for 1961 to be about the same.

asked the Postmaster-General what increase he proposes during the next three years in the provision of telephones to business subscribers in Wales to meet the expanding industrial and commercial needs of the Principality.

Separate figures for Wales are not readily available, but for Wales and the Border Counties I expect to provide about 34,000 telephones for business subscribers during the next three years. This compares with 27,000 during the last three years.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will announce details of the special stamps it is proposed to issue in 1961.

Yes. The Post Office Savings Bank centenary issue will be made on 28th August and consist of 2½d., 3d. and ls. 6d. stamps.On 18th September I propose to issue 2d., 4d., and 10d. stamps to mark the second anniversary of the Conference of European Postal and Telecommunications Administrations, which this year is being held in this country.Finally, on 25th September I propose to issue special 6d. and 1s. 3d. stamps to mark the opening in this country of the Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses are now let by local authorities in Scotland; and what average rent is charged for them.

At 28th November, 1960, Scottish local authorities owned 551,850 permanent houses which they let at an average rent of 9s. 1d. per week, and 29,929 temporary houses let at an average of 8s. 4d. per week. These rents are before deduction of rebates, which are granted to about 2 per cent. of tenants.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities in Scotland charge a sliding scale of rents according to the tenants' individual or household income, with an economic rent as the highest figure; and what proportion these represent of the total.

At 28th November, 1960, 55 Scottish local authorities out of 231 operated some form of rent rebate scheme, but under no scheme was the maximum rent payable fully economic.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many deaf children there are in Scotland, up to and including the age of 15 years; and how many receive regular training from speech therapists.

Five hundred and seventy-four children were attending special schools or classes for children who are defective in hearing in Scotland at 15th January, 1960, the latest date for which complete figures are available. All children in schools or classes for the deaf receive regular instruction by teachers whose training includes teaching the mechanics of speech. About twenty specially selected cases are receiving training from speech therapists.