asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many civilians are employed by the Admiralty at Crossgar, County Down.

On 1st October, 1961, there were 110 civilians at the Royal Naval Armament Depot at Crossgar.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what plans he has to improve ventilation and air-conditioning arrangements in Her Majesty's ships in commission and in future construction, as a result of the lessons learnt from the Kuwait operation.

It is already Admiralty policy to fit air conditioning arrangements in all new construction warships and Royal Fleet Auxiliaries likely to serve in the tropics. Air conditioning is also fitted retrospectively in existing ships when this is practicable and justified by their future life and employment. The Kuwait operation proved that the air conditioning systems installed in H.M.S. "Bulwark" and the ships stationed in the Persian Gulf was invaluable.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will take steps to have the Whirlwind helicopter of H.M.S. "Bulwark", which can only carry six passengers, replaced by Wessex or Vertol helicopters which can carry 16 and 22 passengers, respectively.

It will be necessary to make a number of electrical and structural changes when the "Bulwark" is re-equipped with the Wessex. These alterations would have considerably lengthened her normal refit which took place at Singapore immediately after Kuwait. Such a procedure was obviously undesirable while we had only a single commando carrier. H.M.S. "Bulwark" is to be equipped with Wessex helicopters after her next refit.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what steps he is taking finally to eradicate piracy off the coast of Borneo.

Eradication of piracy off the coast of Borneo is not, of course, a matter for the Navy alone and we are in close touch here and locally with other Departments and authorities concerned. The Navy's part consists in continuing frequent but irregular patrols by H.M. ships which are achieving successful results in terms of arrests of suspects.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many education authorities continue to promote pupils from primary to secondary education on the results of qualifying examinations or calibration tests, and how many have dispensed with such tests.

According to my information formal attainment tests as part of the assessment procedure have been discontinued in two of the 35 education authority areas namely Glasgow and Midlothian, and also in parts of Stirling-shire.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what oral or written evidence was given to the Toothill Committee by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland; and if he will make it available to Members of Parliament.

The assistance given to the Toothill Committee by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland included certain written and oral evidence, informal discussion and replies to specific requests for information. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to him on 6th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will ask local authorities and hospital boards in Scotland to introduce rubber dustbins in order to alleviate the noise nuisance.

I have no reason to believed that local authorities are not aware of the possibility of using these dustbins, but it is a matter within their discretion. In a general memorandum which I have sent to hospital authorities on control of noise, their attention has been drawn to the suitability from this point of view of rubber or rubber fitted bins.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what amounts of cod liver oil and orange juice were distributed by the Health Department in Glasgow for the 12 weeks starting 4th July, 1960, and a similar period starting 3rd July, 1961; and what was the percentage decrease in each welfare food.

During the twelve weeks from 4th July, 1960, Glasgow Corporation distributed 14,520 bottles of cod liver oil and 86,930 bottles of orange juice. During the twelve weeks from 3rd July, 1961, the distribution was 6,300 bottle of cod liver oil and 24,560 bottles of orange juice, representing decreases of 57 per cent. and 72 per cent. respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport what information he has received from the Central Consultative Committee regarding the numbers of branch railway lines that have been closed in the county of Northumberland, the numbers that are still open, and the transport services that now exist in the areas where branch lines have been closed.

Since 1948 four branch lines have been closed completely and passenger services withdrawn on two others. Six branch lines are at present open to all traffic and a further six to freight only. The Consultative Committees considered the availability of alternative services when the closures took place, but I have had no recent report from them on this matter.

asked the Minister of Transport why he permitted the hard shoulders on some 2½ miles of the Doncaster by-pass to be surfaced with materials different from those of the other 12½ miles.

On both sections the materials used comply with the standard specification for hard shoulders. Since this ensures a satisfactory contrast in appearance with the carriageways, there was no need, as between the two contracts, to insist on complete uniformity.

asked the Minister of Transport why, in view of the congestion in central London and the need for more car parks, he does not consider it essential to use the National Gallery site, Pall Mall East, as a Christmas car park.

Because I expect the nearby Christmas parks on Horse Guards Parade and The Mall to have enough space to meet the special Christmas demand, as they have so far.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to reach a decision on the line of the South Wales motorway, M.4, through Berkshire; and if he will keep in mind particularly the urgent need for a new route to take traffic past Reading.

Several possible routes for this section of the South Wales Motorway have been surveyed recently. These are now being considered but it will be some time yet before firm proposals for the line can be made. I have very much in mind the need for a new route to take traffic past Reading.

asked the Minister of Transport why he refused the request of the Carmarthenshire County Council for a pedestrian crossing at the junction of Sandy Road and Denham Avenue, Llanelly; and whether, in view of the representations of the local road safety committee, he will reconsider his decision.

Because the volumes of vehicular and pedestrian traffic were insufficient to justify the provision of a crossing. I see no reason to depart from this decision.

asked the Minister of Transport what would be the estimated cost of extinguishing the toll on each of the 30 toll bridges in England and Wales.

I regret this information is not available, but the total cost would certainly be considerable. I will write to my hon. Friend about this matter.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in consultation with the French Government, he will arrange to set a target date for a decision to be reached on the main principles regarding the construction of a Channel link.

I regret that I cannot add to the Answer which I have given today to the hon. Members for Solihull (Mr. Lindsay) and Brighton, Pavilion (Mr. Teeling).

asked the Lord Privy Seal how the United Kingdom delegate voted on the resolution considered by the Security Council on 13th December on the proposal to establish a seven-member committee to visit South-West Africa and to arrange with the Republic of South Africa the early independence of that country; and which delegations voted for the resolution, which against, and which abstained.

There has been no discussion of such a resolution in the Security Council.

asked the Lord Privy Seal, in view of the Soviet Notes to Western Governments concerning the employment by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation of General Adolf Heusinger, what investigations he is making into the allegations made; and if he will publish the results of his inquiries.

asked the Lord Privy Seal on what date he received a Note from the Soviet Government about General Adolf Heusinger's position at North Atlantic Treaty Organisation headquarters; what were the contents of the Note; what action was requested on the part of Her Majesty's Government; and what reply he intends to make.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what consultations he has had with the United States Government and the Governments of other member-states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation concerning the notes addressed to the Western Governments by the Soviet Government about General Heusinger; and if he will make a further statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the appointment of generals who served the Hitler régime to posts in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

The Soviet Government have drawn the attention of Her Majesty's Government to the contents of a Note about General Heusinger delivered to the United States Government on 12th December. Her Majesty's Government have taken no action about this Soviet Note which the United States Government have, I understand, returned.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what further steps he proposes to take following the rejection by the Acting Secretary-General of the United Nations of Her Majesty's Government's request for an immediate cease-fire in Katanga.

Since Mr. Tshombe left Elisabethville on 18th December, on his way to his meeting with Mr. Adoula, hostilities have in fact been suspended in Katanga for the duration of the talks at Kitona. Her Majesty's Government welcome this development.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what reply he has made, as co-chairman of the Geneva Conference, to the complaint sent to him by the International Commission for Vietnam that the United States of America and South Vietnam authorities have refused to accept control of the landing in South Vietnam of United States helicopters and accompanying military personnel.

The International Control Commission have made no such complaint.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will offer technical assistance, including civil engineering equipment, to the Chinese Government to help to deal with the recent flood disasters in China.

The flood disasters to which the hon. Gentleman refers took place some time ago. The Chinese Government have not asked us for technical assistance to deal with them. I have no reason to suppose that an unsolicited offer of help would be accepted.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what agreements are at present in force between the Governments of the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, concerning the trial and punishment of war criminals.

There is only one Agreement, that signed in London on the 8th of August, 1945, and published as Treaty Series No. 27 (1946), Command 6903. Whilst this Agreement has not been terminated in accordance with Article 7, it would require Four-Power agreement to reconstitute the International Military Tribunal.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the average number of registered dock workers for whom no work has been available since 1st October, 1961, for the country as a whole, and separately for each of the ports at which the National Dock Labour Board operates.

The following information has been supplied by the National Dock Labour Board:

asked the Minister of Labour if he has now received a report of the first residential course for shop stewards at Missenden Abbey, designed by Mr. Graham Thomas of the Slough College of Further Education, and initiated by his Department; and if he will encourage the establishment of such courses throughout the country.

Yes. We have had a preliminary report on this course which is one of a number of courses for shop stewards and trade union officers. I think these courses can be most useful and we seek to encourage them. As my right hon. Friend explained in reply to the right hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths) on 4th December, he intends to discuss with both sides of industry what more can be done in this field.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the numbers of reported accidents and the number of fatalities in factories and other premises under the Factories Acts in the last 10 years in respect of Wales.

Separate figures for Wales are available only from 1952. The information is given in the following table:

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement about the annual report of his Department.

Yes. I have decided that an Annual Report is no longer justified and its publication is to cease. Reports and statistical surveys on the Department's work are already published in the Ministry of Labour Gazette and I propose to develop this practice further. As the Gazette appears monthly, this has considerable advantages over an Annual Report. The Reports of the Chief Inspector of Factories will continue to be presented annually to Parliament and from time to time I propose to present reports on industrial relations in accordance with the responsibilities laid on me by Section 5 of the Conciliation Act, 1896, and Section 13 of the Industrial Courts Act, 1919.

asked the Minister of Defence if nuclear warheads, though not under German control, are allocated to German formations in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as to British formations.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement on the extent of the Royal Air Force's aid to British Honduras following the recent hurricane damage, and to Kenya and Somalia following the famine resulting from floods.

At the end of October six Britannias of Transport Command flew out urgently needed troops and stores to British Honduras. Six Coastal Command Shackletons and two Transport Command Hastings were also sent to operate locally between Jamaica and British Honduras because the airfield at Belize could not be used by large aircraft. Five hundred passengers and about 35 tons of stores were taken out from this country. Over 1,000 passengers and nearly 300 tons of stores were moved, mainly by Shackleton aircraft, between Jamaica and British Honduras. Valiants of Bomber Command are currently making a photographic reconnaissance of the Colony to facilitate the work of long-term reconstruction.As early as September, Twin Pioneers from Air Forces, Middle East began to drop food and supplies to the population of the flooded coastal area of Kenya. The flooding worsened and on 15th November, an urgent request was received from the Governor for further aircraft to drop food and supplies. Beverleys from Air Forces, Middle East went there immediately and within 24 hours, four Beverleys had left the United Kingdom for Kenya, each carrying a Sycamore helicopter.Shortly afterwards, an urgent request for help was received from Somalia, where flooding had also created a serious situation. A Shackleton from Aden surveyed the flooded areas and two Valettas were provided by Air Forces, Middle East to drop food supplies. Two Sycamores were also diverted from Kenya.So far, over 2,000 tons of supplies have been dropped from the air in the course of relief operations by the Royal Air Force in Kenya and Somalia; these relief operations are continuing.

asked the Ministry of Aviation how many landings and takeoffs respectively took place from London Airport Central between midnight on 3rd December, 1961, and midnight on 10th December; how many took place direct from airport exits; and on how many occasions it was necessary for passengers to move from airport exits to aircraft either by coach or long walk.

During this period there were 939 landings and 966 takeoffs of passenger aircraft at London Airport Central. On 340 occasions the aircraft were positioned on stands adjacent to the exits from the relative terminal buildings. On 24 occasions passengers were required to walk up to 1,000 feet in the open air and on 1,541 occasions they were conveyed by coach.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish an annual analysis of the economy with quarterly supplements, giving a comparative measurement of the contributions made towards the economy, with the first issue based on a comparison of the situation in 1924, 1954 and on the last date, showing the rate of investment in each industry and services, output per man hour, output per man, average hours worked, wages and earnings, amount of holidays each year, amounts received per man for each week unemployed, sick or on holiday, the percentage contributed by each industry towards the total volume of exports, and comparisons as far as information is officially available with similar industrial countries.

Statistical information bearing on most of the matters listed in the question is currently being published at regular intervals (mostly monthly or quarterly) depending on the arrangements which have been made for the collection of the data. The Government also try to provide in the annual Economic Survey, in the monthly Economic Trends, in articles in the Treasury Bulletin for Industry, and in other published material such syntheses of, and comments on, these data as seem likely to be of most general interest. I cannot, I am afraid, undertake to provide a regular survey on the lines suggested by the hon. Member, but he would find most of the elements of it available in the material already published, which is, of course, being continually developed and improved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many traffic wardens have been discharged or formally reprimanded or had other disciplinary action taken against them for misconduct in carrying out their duties since the inception of the scheme.

Since the inception of the scheme in the Metropolitan Police District, the Commissioner of Police has terminated the services of one traffic warden because of unsatisfactory performance of his duties. A number of wardens have been given advice by their supervising officers as to their conduct when dealing with the public.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) what is the percentage of wages paid as National Insurance contributions, including juveniles up to the £9 wage level, by insured persons; and what is the percentage paid by the employers;(2) what is the percentage of wages contributed, in total, by the group whose earnings are above £9 and up to £15 as contributions to National Insurance and to graduated pensions; and what percentages of wages are contributed by the employers.

Neither the total amounts paid by way of contributions in respect of persons with earnings at particular levels, nor their total earnings, is known and the information requested is therefore not available.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the appointment of a commission of Privy Councillors to advise on the lost counties problem in Uganda.

I have appointed my noble Friend the Lord Molson to be Chairman and the noble Lord the Earl of Listowel and my noble Friend the Viscount Ward of Witley to be members of the Commission, which is expected to begin its inquiry in the second week of January next year. The terms of reference are:"Having regard to the paramount need for the people of Uganda, including Buganda, to move together into independence in conditions which will ensure them peace and contentment, to investigate allegations of discrimination of the kind contained in the Omukama of Bunyoro's petition and the grievances referred to in the Munster Report concerning the areas in Buganda which are named below, to receive representations from those concerned and to advise whether any, and if so what, measures should be taken to deal with the situation. The areas are the countries of Buyaga, Bugangadzi, Buwekula, Buruli and Bugerere and portions of the counties of Singo and Bulemezi."

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what plans the Government had for developing research in the field of radio-astronomy in the United Kingdom.

My noble Friend has recently appointed a committee under the chairmanship of Lord Fleck, with the following terms of reference:"To consider and advise on the nature and extent of the participation of Her Majesty's Government in research in radio-astronomy; in particular to consider the programmes, facilities, funds and organisation required to support the United Kingdom interest in research in radio-astronomy both nationally and internationally."The membership of the Committee is:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science whether a decision has yet been taken in respect of the five major research projects approved in principle by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Council, subject to availability of funds.

I am glad to say that the D.S.I.R. have decided to offer three of these grants, namely, a nuclear reactor for the Scottish Universities, and two projects in radio astronomy—one for Professor Ryle of Cambridge University, and the other for Professor Sir Bernard Lovell of Manchester University.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will set out in tabular from the value of exports

asked the President of the Board of Trade what recent representations he has made to the Chinese Government towards increasing trade between China and the United Kingdom.

No formal representatations have been necessary, but my officials are in constant touch with the Chinese authorities both in London and in Peking with this aim in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take

The following is the information:steps to encourage a suitable industry to come to Portsmouth to take over the factory being vacated by the de Havilland Aircraft Company.

The sale of this factory is a commercial matter, but I understand that the de Havilland Aircraft Company are already receiving inquiries. I am, of course, keeping under review the effect of this closure, but my first responsibility is to encourage industry to set up in the development districts.