asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the components of the Amphibious Warfare Squadron available for service in the Mediterranean and contiguous waters, and the number of troops and the type of equipment it is capable of transporting and landing in this area.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply which I gave him on 7th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the numbers of officers and men

The numbers are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Air the various trades and categories of advanced and skilled tradesmen, and the number of each category, serving on 1st January, 1961, as warrant officers and flight sergeants, respectively.

The information is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) on what basis the 40 per cent. investment allowance for shipbuilding is calculated; and what relation it bears to capital investment;(2) to what extent it is his practice to base the 40 per cent. investment allowance on the construction of a ship on the capital value of the ship; and to what extent this assessment is dependent on the profit made on the construction.

The 40 per cent. investment allowance does not apply to shipbuilding concerns; the allowance is given to a shipowner on the amount of capital expenditure incurred by him on the provision of a new (but not a second-hand) ship and is deducted from the profits assessed before arriving at the amount chargeable to tax. It does not depend in any way on the profits made by the shipbuilder.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to furnish to persons responsible for imposing sentences on convicted persons general information about the nature and forms of punishment, as recommended by Paragraph 299 of the Streatfeild Committee on the Business of the Courts; and on what date sentencers can expect to receive the standing booklet, which would include not only information as to the forms of punishment but also information about national trends in crime, as recommended in Paragraphs 299 and 300 of the Report of the Streatfeild Committee.

Consideration is being given to the preparation of a booklet for sentencers as recommended by the Committee, but I am not yet in a position to say when it will be ready for issue.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received regarding the new Australian tariff rates on flax canvas imported from the United Kingdom; and what replies he has sent.

I have received representations from the Flax Spinners' and Manufacturers' Association of Great Britain about the incidence of these duties on flax canvas weighing over 20 oz. per sq. yd. I am considering, in the light of further information which I have received from the Association, whether any action would be appropriate.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs on what date, for what purpose, and by what authority, he granted his consent to the compulsory acquisition by the Plymouth City Council of the land known as Hendwell Farm, Roborough, Devon, the property of Mr. Thomas Worden Bickle.

The City of Plymouth (Southway Lane) Compulsory Purchase Order, 1953, which contained part of Hendwell Farm, was confirmed by my predecessor on 16th February, 1954, under the powers of Part V of the Housing Act, 1936.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs when, and for what purposes, the Plymouth Corporation asked for his consent to dispose of any part of the lands known as Hendwell Farm or Langley Farm, Roborough, Devon; and when, by what authority, and for what purpose, he consented to such disposal.

The following lands, formerly part of Hendwell and Langley Farms, have been the subject of application for disposal. In each case consent has been given under the powers and for the use indicated below.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will instruct the District Auditor to the Plymouth City Council to furnish details of any income or capital funds that have accrued to the credit of the Plymouth City Council since 1954 from the sale, lease or disposition of the land known as Hendwell Farm, Roborough, Devon, the subject of a compulsory purchase order in 1954; and whether he will make such information available to hon. Members.

I have no power to instruct a district auditor in the manner suggested. The information asked for is that under a lease to which I gave my consent on 24th November, 1960, the Plymouth Corporation will receive a yearly rent of £1,323 for the industrial use of 7·68 acres of land at Southway, approximately one-half of which was formerly part of the Hendwell Farm land acquired from Mr. Bickle. This rent takes account of the expenditure which the Corporation are incurring in providing roads and services.

asked the Secretary of State for War on what date the Oldham Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers craftsman, whose name has been supplied to him, joined Her Majesty's forces; what was the date of the medical examination; by whom it was conducted; and whether he will supply the hon. Member for Oldham, West, with a copy of the findings.

This soldier enlisted in the Regular army on the 26th July, 1957. He had a medical examination on 24th June before he joined, and another on 2nd August. Both found him perfectly fit except for a slight degree of colour blindness, and he was assessed as Grade I. I cannot, without a great deal of research. say whether these examinations were conducted by a Ministry of Labour recruiting board or by a recruiting medical officer. The proceedings of these examinations are confidential, and I cannot supply a copy of them.

asked the Secretary of State for War on what date the Oldham Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers craftsman, whose name has been supplied to him, was ordered for service in Cyprus; how long he served there; and what was the nature of his conduct report.

The soldier emplaned for service in Cyprus on the 26th June, 1958, and served there for just under eight months. During this time he was twice convicted for disobeying orders whilst on active service.

asked the Secretary of State for War on what date the Oldham Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers craftsman, whose name has been supplied to him, first applied far a discharge by purchase; when he was told how much money would be necessary for purchase of discharge; and what was the amount.

The soldier applied for discharge by purchase on 26th April, 1961, certifying that no previous application had been made. He was told at the time that the price would be £200.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Oldham Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers craftsman, whose name has been supplied to him, was absent from duty without leave, following the failure to raise the money required to purchase his discharge, and that the craftsman, on the advice of his mother, voluntarily returned to duty; and whether he has now received a report from the local army welfare officer on this matter.

I am aware of the circumstances of this soldier's absence from duty, and his surrender to the military power. I have seen a report from the Soldiers, Sailors and Air Force Association on this case.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will supply to the hon. Member for Oldham, West, a full list of the charges upon which the Oldham Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers craftsman, whose name has been supplied to him, was court martialled; how many charges were proceeded with; in respect of what charge he was finally convicted; and how the other charges were disposed of.

This soldier was charged with desertion. He pleaded not guilty to this charge but guilty of absence without leave.The court accepted his plea and found him guilty of absence from 25th July, 1960, to 22nd March, 1961.

asked the Secretary of State for War on what date he informed the hon. Member for Oldham, West, that he would keep him informed of the court martial proceedings against the Oldham Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers craftsman, whose name has been supplied; how long a period elapsed after the court martial before he was informed of the result; and when he informed the hon. Member for Oldham, West.

My hon. Friend undertook that we would keep the hon. Member in touch in his letter of 5th April. I wrote to him myself on 20th May and 6th July. My hon. Friend also wrote to him on 30th May. In my letter of 20th April I informed the hon. Gentleman that the soldier was to be tried by court martial; this was held on 5th May, and the findings were promulgated on 17th May. My hon. Friend informed the hon. Member of the outcome in his letter to him of 30th May; and I wrote a further letter to him on 6th July.

asked the Secretary of State for War, in how many cases in the last twelve months to the most recent convenient date a sentence of nine months' imprisonment has been imposed for absence without leave.

Four—imprisonment and detention.

asked the Secretary of State for War by what higher authorities the sentence, imposed upon an Oldham Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer craftsman, whose name has been submitted to him, was considered, following the court martial proceedings; and with what result.

By the Judge Advocate General, who intimated that they were legally in order and that the findings and sentence could be confirmed. They were, in consequence, confirmed by the Commander, Dorset Sub-District, and have since been reviewed by the General Officer Commanding, Aldershot District.

asked the Secretary of State for War on what date the Oldham Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers craftsman, whose name has been submitted to him, applied for legal aid for his defence at the trial by court martial; when, and by whom, the application was refused; and on what grounds.

On 26th April, 1961. The application was refused by the Director of Army Legal Services on 1st May, 1961, because it is not customary to give legal aid to cases of this type.

asked the Secretary of State for War on how many occasions in the last twelve months, to the most recent convenient date for computation, a sentence exceeding six months' imprisonment has been imposed upon a soldier who has been refused legal aid.

Eleven—imprisonment and detention.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Oldham Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers craftsman, whose name has been supplied to him, was recently transferred to hospital for some days during which treatment was prescribed for his bladder condition; and on what grounds, and by whose order, this treatment was countermanded on his return from hospital.

I am investigating the facts of this case.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will authorise the hon. Member for Oldham, West, to visit the Oldham Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers craftsman, whose name has been supplied to him, at the hospital where he is at present under treatment.

The soldier has now been discharged from hospital, but I shall of course be happy for the hon. Member to visit him at any convenient time.

asked the Secretary of State for War why it was decided not to inform the hon. Member for Oldham, West, that his constituent, on whose behalf he had been in constant touch with his Department and who is a Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers craftsman, whose name has been supplied, had been refused legal aid.

Because there was nothing abnormal about this procedure.

asked the Secretary of State for War when it was first ascertained that the Oldham Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers craftsman, whose name has been supplied to him, was suffering from enuresis.

This soldier first reported sick complaining of enuresis on the 2nd June, 1961.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the report of a competent psychiatrist was first obtained in relation to an Oldham Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers craftsman, whose name has been supplied to him; what was the nature of his conclusions; and what action has been taken.

The soldier has not yet been examined by a psychiatrist.

asked the Secretary of State for War in what circumstances, and by what authority, an order to detail soldiers to wake up a patient suffering from enuresis each hour throughout the night is given; and whether there is any limit to the number of consecutive nights upon which such an order can be enforced.

I am investigating these circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement on the proposed concentration of military establishments in the Woolwich area.

Woolwich will remain the long-term home of the Royal Artillery. In addition to the depot, a training regiment and one other regiment of the Royal Artillery will be stationed there, together with numerous minor units of other arms. The date at which concentration of all these units can be effected depends on the speed of building new barracks, which will take some years to complete.

asked the Minister of Education how many teachers joined schemes covered by the Teachers' Superannuation Acts during the school years 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60, and 1960–61; and how many of them had previously been members of such superannuation schemes.

Such information as I have is given below and is available only in respect of the financial years 1957–58 and 1958–59. I am writing to the hon. Member to explain the difficulties involved.

asked the Minister of Education what were the numbers of entrants to comprehensive schools for the years 1958, 1959, and 1960; and what are the estimated figures for 1961 and 1962.

The numbers of entrants to comprehensive schools were 42,200 in 1958 and 39,500 in 1959. Figures for 1960 are not yet available. Figures for future years will depend on the policies of individual local education authorities and school governors, and it is not possible to give accurate forward estimates.

asked the Minister of Education if he will state the number of full-time teachers appointed during the latest 12-month period for the first time to maintained primary and secondary schools who were untrained, and the number re-entering who were untrained, respectively.

Of the 24,273 new recruits to teaching in the year 1960–61, 15,399 from training colleges and university departments of education in England and Wales, 892 non-graduates from outside England and Wales and a small, but unknown number of graduates from outside England and Wales, have taken a course of teacher training. Of the 2,648 re-entrant teachers, most of the 2,334 non-graduates and some of the 314 graduates had been trained, but exact figures for these categories are not available.