asked the Lord Advocate (1) what action has been taken regarding, the 5th Report of the Scottish Law Reform Committee dealing with enforcement of orders in Scotland for maintenance;(2) what action has been taken regarding the 7th Report of the Scottish Law Reform Committee dealing with actions in Sheriff Courts for payment of aliment.

I have been asked to reply, and, with permission, I shall answer Questions 33 and 34 together. The Reports of the Scottish Law Reform Committee to which the hon. Member refers have, of course, been considered, but my right hon. Friend is unable to say when it will be possible to introduce legislation on these subjects.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a list of the sentences, fines or imprisonment passed on United States sailors at the Polaris base, specifying the various offences committed.

Since 3rd March, 1961, proceedings against 71 United States sailors have resulted in convictions of 61 road traffic offences and 31 other offences. The offences, which are shown below, were dealt with as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has consulted Scottish motoring associations and motoring clubs on the question of tolls to be levied on the Forth Road Bridge.

No. It would be inappropriate for me to enter into such consultations as the Forth Road Bridge Order, 1958, provides that the schedule of tolls proposed by the Joint Board should be advertised for objections after it has been submitted to me for approval. To comply with the terms of the Order I expect the Joint Board to do this about the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the progress of the discussions for a constitution for Swaziland.

As I informed the hon. Member on 19th April, the public of Swaziland had until the end of June to consider any constitutional proposals. Many submissions have been made by persons of all shades of opinion and these are now being studied by the Resident Commissioner

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when elections are to be held for the newly constituted Advisory Council of St. Helena.

A date has not yet been fixed. The constitutional instruments required are being prepared.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will place in the Library of the House of Commons a copy of the agreement between the colony of Aden and the Federation of South Arabia, signed on 17th May, 1962, which is to be the subject of the constitutional conference in London on 22nd July, 1962.

I shall be meeting Ministers of the Federation and of Aden to discuss informally the constitutional proposals on which they have provisionally agreed. One of the matters to be discussed will be the manner and time of publication of their proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the progress achieved at the Uganda Constitutional Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the results of the Uganda Constitutional Conference.

Following is a summary of the conclusions reached at the Conference:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give details of the arrangements for the central administration of the two lost countries of Bunyoro agreed at the Uganda Constitutional Conference, particularly in respect to the provision of police and the appointment of chiefs.

The Governor is working out these details in consultation with the Uganda Government and the other authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how far the promise of Her Majesty's Government on 25th March, 1958, to give a grant of £25 million to Malta in five years has been implemented; and what is today the position concerning this grant

This offer to which my hon. Friend refers was part of a proposed settlement which the Maltese Government at the time did not see fit to accept. Nevertheless, the British Government did subsequently undertake to provide £29¼ million in capital assistance over the period 1959 to 1964. It is estimated that at 31st March this year about £16¾ million of the total allocation remained available for expenditure in the remaining two years of the current development period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what measures he is now taking to prepare Kenya for independence; and what new proposals he intends to put to the political leaders in Kenya.

The Kenya Council of Ministers are working out the details of the new constitution for Kenya on the basis of the framework agreed at the 1962 Lancaster House Conference. I have no new proposals to put before the political leaders in Kenya but my visit to Kenya will give me the opportunity to review matters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a decision has yet been reached about the date of the British Guiana Constitutional Conference.

The Commission appointed to inquire into the disturbances in February in British Guiana expect to submit their report in August. As I told the Government of British Guiana in mid-June, when urging the immediate submission by all parties of papers embodying proposals for consideration at the conference, which I had proposed to hold in July, I consider it essential that Report of the Commission should be available to the Conference before it starts. I regret, therefore, that it will be necessary to postpone the Conference. I now propose to hold it as soon as practicable after the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference in September.

asked the Postmaster-General how much pensionable service in the Post Office has been lost by Alderman Charles Smith as a result of his year of office as chief citizen of the City of Bristol; and what changes in Post Office rules he will make in order to remedy this and similar situations.

Alderman Smith lost 338 days in consequence of his Lord Mayoralty. This does not necessarily mean, however, that there will be any resulting loss of pension if Alderman Smith retires either at or after the earliest normal retiring age of 60. The matter is not one which could be dealt with by a change of Post Office rules: it is governed by the Superannuation Acts.

asked the Postmaster-General what proposals he has for improving the telephone service from London to the West country.

My right hon. Friend is not aware of any general dissatisfaction with service to the West country. Traffic is increasing, and more circuits are being provided. If the hon. Member has particular difficulties in mind and will let him know details, my right hon. Friend will gladly make inquiries.

asked the Postmaster-General what is his programme for making the Hainault and Loughton telephone exchanges fully automatic.

I am hoping to convert both these exchanges to automatic working in 1965.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will state the names of the technical advisers who were appointed to advise the Pilkington Committee on Broadcasting.

No technical advisers were so appointed, but, of course, the Committee membership included Dr. Smith Rose, a radio scientist. The Committee had before them the Television Advisory Committee Report, 1960. They also had papers on technical matters, supplemented by oral evidence, from amongst others, the B.B.C. and I.T.A., the Post Office, and the radio industry. They were, of course, able to seek advice where they wished.

asked the Postmaster-General when he proposes to publish the White Paper on Broadcasting.

The Government propose to publish the White Paper on Wednesday of this week. Copies will be available in the Vote Office.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is yet in a position to give the Worcestershire County Council details of the modifications which he proposes to make to their Green Belt proposals.

I have sent the County Council details of my proposed modifications to their Green Belt proposals following my Inspector's report. At the same time I have drawn attention to the recent studies showing that the number of families who may have to move from Birmingham will be much larger than was believed when Worcestershire drew up their proposals and said that after carefully considering the problem I concluded that it would be premature to give a final decision upon any Green Belt proposals in this area until the full implications of the situation as now seen have been explored. I hope however that all possible progress will be made between Birmingham and the counties towards agreement on town development programmes on the basis of the existing Green Belt proposals with the modifications which I propose.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the amounts spent in interest charges by the County Borough Council of West Ham, for each of the years 1951–61.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the construction of an aircraft factory on civil airport land involves a departure from the provisions of the town map, he will now direct the West Sussex County Council to revoke planning permission in respect of the Beagle Aircraft Company's plans to develop Shoreham Airport and to manufacture aircraft there; and if he will order a public inquiry to be held forthwith, bearing in mind the fact that ample aircraft factory space can be found in non-residential areas elsewhere.

No. The West Sussex County Council referred two applications to my right hon. Friend in October, 1961; they were for the erection of factory and office buildings and an extension to the technical and drawing offices at Shoreham Airport. The County Council, in agreement with the Worthing Rural District Council, had decided to give approval after considering the objections which they had received as a result of Press publicity. The Council referred the matter to my right hon. Friend as a departure from the development plan was involved and he was able to consider the objections which they had received. There was a history of industrial use in buildings on the airport and he considered that as the proposal had been publicised, as objections had been made known, and as the local planning authority had taken these into account in reaching their decision he had sufficient information before him on which to authorise the Council to give permissions in accordance with their decisions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the total value of contracts placed with Imperial Chemical Industries on Government account in the last five years.

I regret that the information is not readily available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will now make a statement about the work of the Ministerial Working Group on ancient monuments and historic buildings which has been sitting under his chairmanship.

The Working Group set up following my announcement in the Adjournment Debate on 24th May, 1960, with the terms of reference outlined by my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on 22nd November, 1960, has now concluded its inquiries and its main conclusions have been endorsed by the Government.It took evidence from a number of quarters and was greatly helped by the examination of some of the problems which had already been undertaken by the Select Committee on Estimates (Fifth Report 1959–60).The Working Group found that there was little overlapping of effort between the various official bodies engaged in some degree in the task of identifying and recording ancient monuments, sites or buildings of historical or architectural importance. These are the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, the three Royal Commissions on Ancient and Historical Monuments, the Ordnance Survey and the National Buildings Record. The Group seriously considered the suggestion that a single centralised organisation should be created to cover the whole of the Government's effort in this field, but concluded that such an arrangement was neither necessary nor practicable, though a greater degree of formal co-ordination of effort and certain organisational and functional adjustments were desirable.The main proposals arising from the work of the Group are as follows:—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can now announce the Government's decision on the National Theatre and Sadler's Wells.

Yes. The Arts Council reported favourably on the proposals published by the Joint Council of the National Theatre on 17th April. After consulting the London County Council, the Government have decided to accept the Joint Council's scheme in principle, and to arrange in conjunction with the London County Council for its implementation to begin. The first step must be the appointment of a National Theatre Board which will be responsible for creating and running the National Theatre Company. With the agreement of the London County Council I have invited Lord Chandos to be the first Chairman of this Board, and I am happy to inform the House that he has accepted the invitation. I also propose to appoint in consultation with the London County Council a South Bank Theatre and Opera House Board, to be responsible—under the Government and the London County Council—for building the national Theatre and also the new Opera House on the South Bank as a replacement for Sadler's Wells, and for advising on the allocation of the capital funds available. I am glad to say that Lord Cottesloe, as Chairman of the Arts Council, has accepted an invitation to preside over this body, which will include representatives of both the National Theatre Board and Sadler's Wells. I shall announce the full composition of the National Theatre Board and of the South Bank Theatre and Opera House Board as soon as possible.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the current disturbed situation in the Straits of Taiwan, he will renew the declaration of Her Majesty's Government in 1955 that the off-shore islands of Quemoy and the Matsus undoubtedly form part of the territory of the People's Republic of China.

On 4th February, 1955, my noble Friend Lord Avon told the House that:

"The Nationalist-held islands in close proximity to the coast of China are in a different category from Formosa and the Pescadores, since they undoubtedly form part of the territory of the People's Republic of China."

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that certain National Service men now serving in the Far East and due for release in November have recently been told that they are to be in Germany by October; and if such men will be required to do an extra six months' service, which was stated to have been limited to men already serving in the British Army of the Rhine or Who were due to move there.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 27th November, 1961, during the Second Reading of the Army Reserve Act, in columns 47 and 48 of the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware that the Chadderton ex-soldier who has been refused payment of pension increment after 24 years' service on the ground that his declared age on attestation was given as 18-plus instead of 19-plus did correctly state his date of birth as shown in his paybook and the error was one of computation by the officer filling in the attestation form; and what action he proposes to take in this particular case;(2) whether he is aware that a Chadderton ex-soldier, whose name has been supplied to him, has been refused payment of pension increment on reaching age of 60 on the ground that a higher authority has ruled that his age must be computed by reference to his attestation form, and not his birth certificate; who is the higher authority referred to; and what action he proposes to take in respect of this general ruling.

I am consider this case further and will write to the hon. Member very shortly.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will make a further statement on the establishment of a European youth centre.

At its meeting last month the Council for Cultural Cooperation of the Council of Europe reiterated its interest in the establishment of the centre, which it regards as the most important and urgent proposal in the Council of Europe's youth programme. It considered that such a centre could also be an effective instrument for furthering the aims of cultural co-operation. This favourable recommendation was transmitted to the committee of Ministers who have begun, but have not yet completed, their examination of the financial and administrative aspects.

asked the Minister of Education how many pupils at technical colleges were taking London external degree courses at the latest available date.

In the educational year 1961–62, 9,484 students were enrolled in courses leading to a university first degree and 1,255 in higher degree courses (including postgraduate studies and research). Most of these were at London University but it is not known how many were external students.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what authority the police obtained the fingerprints and photographs of arrested persons following the Committee of 100 demonstration at Greenham Common on Saturday, 23rd June.

This is a matter which falls within the responsibility of the Chief Constable of Berkshire, to whose notice I have brought the hon. Member's Question.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will direct the British Transport Commission to publish the figures for wages and salaries in 1961, giving the figures for British Railways separately, and showing in each case how much was charged to revenue account.

I do not propose to give such a direction in what is probably the last year of the Commission's existence, but I intend to pursue the question of publication with the British Railways Board. Meanwhile, I am sending the hon. Member the figures in which he is interested.

asked the Minister of Transport how many miles of the A.25 road have a continuous double white line, and what percentage of the total length of the road this represents.

2·8 miles, or 6·6 per cent.

asked the Minister of Transport how many miles of the A.25 road have a continuous white line with a dotted white line alongside it, and what percentage of the total length of the road this represents.

4·67 miles, or 11 per cent.

asked the Minister of Transport when a traffic survey was last carried out on the A.25 road.

A comprehensive census was taken at points along the length of this road in both Kent and Surrey in 1954. Since then the Kent County Council has made same counts and now has a continuous automatic count in operation at a point 2 miles east of Sevenoaks.The most recent counts by the Surrey County Council were single day traffic counts in 1959 and 1961 at various points.

asked the Minister al Transport how many heavy transport vehicles of all types are estimated to use the A.25 road on an ordinary working day.

The estimated number per day of heavy transport vehicles using the A.25 road is set out in the table below for various points along the road.

asked the Minister of Transport how many lorries carrying heavy loads of bricks, tiles and other goods for the building industry are estimated to use the A.25 road on an ordinary working day.

I regret no information is available at present about the loads carried by vehicles on this road. The London Traffic Survey when completed will provide some data about vehicles using this road and entering or leaving the Survey area.

asked the Minister of Transport how many private cars are estimated to use the A.25 road daily in the winter, and how many in the summer.

The estimated daily average number of private cars at various points along the A.25 road this summer are set out in the table below. These estimates are based on census figures which are not available for the lesser winter traffic flows on this road.