asked the Postmaster-General when he expects to start work on the new sub-post office in King Oswy Drive, Hartlepool, recently approved by his Department.

I hope the new sub-post office will be open within the next month; but I should explain to my hon. and gallant Friend that we expect the office to go in one of the local shops and that there is no question of putting up a new building.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for speeding up the work on this post office, which is long overdue and is something which my constituents, especially the old folk, very much need and deserve.

asked the Postmaster-General what plans he is making to deliver the 220,000 sacks of mail which are at present carried each year by rail between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh, in view of the fact that that line has recommended for closure to passenger services.

We cannot make firm plans until we know what alternative transport services will be available if the line is closed; but we have reviewed the position generaly and expect, in any event, to be able largely to maintain the present standards of postal services in this area.

Does my hon. Friend realise that 220,000 sacks of mail per annum are, if one excludes the Sabbath day for delivery, the equivalent of roughly 700 sacks per day? Can he say how many lorries would be required to carry this quantity on road transport, and has he considered the state of the roads in the district to carry the traffic?

I cannot make that calculation at this moment. We have taken into account that it will, obviously, require additional road vehicles, and we are bearing in mind the points which my hon. Friend makes.

Have the Government made a general appraisal of the effects of the Beeching proposals? If the Postmaster-General has done it for Scotland, has he done it for the rest of the country and determined what the effect will be on the postal and parcel services?

We are in process of making a general review of the effects, but, as the hon. Gentleman knows, we have already, prior to Beeching, been making a number of inquiries. The East Anglian experiment is one designed to take account of changed conditions, and this was instituted before the Beeching Report was published.

Can my hon. Friend say what sum of money is paid by the Post Office to the railway in this region of Scotland?

Not without notice.

Quite apart from any experiment in East Anglia, an area which, I understand, has the advantage of some roads, what particular consideration has the Minister given to what will happen in Scotland? What will be the cost, what will be the number of lorries involved, and will there be the regular service which is available now?

We do not expect the costs to be any higher for us in transporting by alternative methods.

What about the capital cost of providing roads?

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that a Christmas card, sent from London by air-mail to an address in Nassau in December, 1959, was returned to the sender on 25th April, 1963, the envelope being marked unclaimed and bearing three Nassau postmarks dated, respectively, 6th January, 1960, 12th January, 1960, and 27th April, 1963; if, in view of the fact that, after a delay of more than three years, this communication was returned to the sender in London two days before the date of the latest Nassau postmark, he will obtain from the Bahamian postal authorities an explanation of these phenomena; and if he will make a statement.

I am informed by the Bahamas postal authorities that this Christmas card was twice delivered to the club to which it was addressed but each time it was unclaimed by the person for whom it was intended and returned to the Nassau Post Office. This would account for the 1960 postmarks. There was no obligation on the Bahamas postal authorities then to return the card to the sender in this country, and I regret that, without further information—which I am seeking and on which I will write to the hon. Member—I cannot explain why they decided to do so and why they took so long. I understand that the postmark of 27th April, 1963, was due to an error in setting the date-stamp in the Nassau Post Office.

While thanking the Assistant Postmaster-General for having investigated what may seem to be a relatively trivial matter, may I ask him whether he would agree that it would not be so trivial if this kind of thing happened often? Can the hon. Gentleman say whether there are many delays and errors in the Nassau Post Office? Is there general chaos there?

As I said, I have looked into this and I cannot see any evidence that this is a general happening. The probable result of the hon. Gentleman's Question is that even this sort of isolated incident will not happen again.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he proposes to take to ensure an adequate Post Office service in the towns of Shipley and Bingley.

I understand that my hon. Friend is concerned about the recent reduction in the hours of business at the main post offices in Shipley and Bingley. The change was made because the relatively small amount of business transacted in the first and last half-hours of the day did not justify the expense of keeping open the offices. I feel sure that a few months' experience of the new arrangements will show that they are causing no real inconvenience.

We know all that, but is my hon. Friend aware that people who are working normal working hours should have facilities at any post office between 5.30 and 6.30 p.m., and will my hon. Friend communicate to his right hon. Friend that he ought to seek to ensure that the Post Office gives an adequate public service? It is in that regard that it is failing.

I can understand my hon. Friend's point of view, but it is important to point out that in these hours it has been noticed that the amount of business done has borne no relation to the cost of keeping the offices open. At present there are already arrangements whereby a number of people, for instance, with meter franked items and private boxes, have an arrangement by which they can hand in up to 6 o'clock at the sorting offices, and there are also stamp machines at both of the offices. I would, therefore, ask my hon. Friend to give it a few months to find out whether in fact we cannot continue to give a service without trying to provide services which in the main are not paying their way.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement on the effect which railway station closures recommended by the Beeching Report will have on postal services in north-east Scotland, particularly Aberdeen.

It is too early to say what the precise effects of the railway changes would be on mail services in north-east Scotland, but we believe that we should be able largely to maintain the present standard of service.

That Answer shows that it is always too early or too late for the Government to redeem the promises that were made to Scotland to develop trade, industry and commerce there, much of which depends upon the proper co-ordination not only of the Post Office services but also of the transport services. Will the right hon. Gentleman, therefore, consult the President of the Board of Trade and the Secretary of State for Scotland in order to ensure that that proper co-ordination is achieved and that the trade, industry and commerce and employment of the north of Scotland is developed as the Government promised?

As the hon. and learned Gentleman already knows, my right hon. Friends are not remote from one another and discussions go on regularly, particularly with regard to these problems. The question that the hon. and learned Gentleman asked me does in fact impinge upon our future prospects as a Post Office in performing our service, and I have tried to give him the answer which best suits the question.

Does not the Answer to this and the previous Question on the Kyle of Lochalsh show that there was no consultation at all between his Ministry and the Ministry of Transport, and will he say, if there was consultation, what consultation there was?

The normal consultation, of course, is the answer. In this matter, as one must see it, this is a proposal put forward by the chairman of a nationalised board and it is a matter in which a number of consultations will obviously have to take place and are, indeed, taking place. The question relates to our future supplying of a service.

Would the hon. Gentleman give a straight reply to the question that has been asked. What assessment has taken place, arising from discussions between his right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General, the Minister of Transport and the Secretary of State for Scotland? Are they convinced that in these areas where rail closures are to take place they will get the mails through during certain winter months, and are the roads suitable for road delivery and conveyance to replace the present rail conveyance?

So far as we are concerned, we are satisfied that our services will in the main be as reliable—[HON. MEMBERS: "In the main?"]—in the future as in the past. There have been in the past very few occasions on which mails could be carried by rail and not by road.

asked the Postmaster-General why the request of Dumbarton Town Council to his Department to install cables during the construction of the new road at the same time as the other services are being provided for the new housing scheme at Glenside, Dumbarton, has been turned down.

I am sorry that the advance provision of telephone cables for the Glenside housing scheme has unfortunately had to be postponed in favour of more urgent work.

Surely we have converted the Government to planning. Is it not much better to install these cables at the same time as the other services are being provided and thus avoid the unsightly holes and lines which will have to go up later?

I entirely agree with the hon. Member that on grounds of economy that would be the right way to do it. Unfortunately, it was necessary for the local people to recast their programmes because a greater proportion of their moneys had to be devoted to the expanding trunk services and to meet demands which were already on hand.

Will the Postmaster-General look at these services again in view of the need for them to be done at the right time? The added cost incurred here will not be a waste. There will be a saving later.

I am not prepared to promise the hon. Member anything at this date, but I will look at the matter again.

asked the Postmaster-General how many pillar boxes in the Metropolitan area, the City of London and Leicester are fitted with 7-inch openings; and, in view of the impossibility of posting larger packages in these boxes, which necessitates having to go to the nearest post office, if he will have all such boxes fitted with larger openings.

The precise figures for which the hon. Member asks are not available. Approximate numbers of street posting boxes with openings of 8 inches or less are 1,000 in the London postal area, including about half-a-dozen in the City of London, and about a dozen in Leicester. I do not think that the replacement of all these boxes would be justified, but if the hon. Member will let me know of any particular case of difficulty I will gladly look into it.

Surely it is not a question of individual cases. Will not the Postmaster-General make some inquiry into this difficulty in general arising from the fact that people cannot get parcels through the letter slots? Cannot he make an inquiry into the whole situation to see whether some other kind of pillar box or letter box can be provided, with larger slots, for example, as in the United States?

We have the present standard sizes for wall and pillar boxes of 10 inches by 1¾ inches and for lamp letter boxes of 8 inches by 1¾ inches. For any replacement, obviously the new size of aperture is followed, but with over 100,000 posting boxes in Great Britain it is difficult suddenly to undertake the replacement of all of them. What we try to do is to make certain that, where there are obvious difficulties, these are the places where replacements are made. If the hon. Member has a particular example in mind, we will look at it.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give the year when all the vans in his Department will possess heaters.

Under present arrangements we would expect one vehicle in two to have a heater within two years from now and that by 1970 practically all vehicles will have been equipped. I regret that I cannot be more precise than this.

Does the hon. Member think that there will be no more winters until 1970? Is he not aware that in very cold weather men who are driving these vans and who do service and repairs will be far more capable of doing a job if they are working in warm vans or travelling in them? Will he do something for the benefit of the employees?

All our new vehicles are fitted with heaters. We are in the process of fitting heaters to vehicles which still have a good length of active life ahead of them, particularly in cases where they undertake long journeys or are used by staff who would normally have to work through the night. That is the line that we are taking. We hope that we can work as fast as possible in the interests of the comfort of the staff.

Will the hon. Member tell the House why the old vans were not originally built with heaters?

I was not there at the time.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement about the future of the post office at Rednal, near Birmingham.

We propose to take advantage of the sub-postmaster's resignation to replace the Rednal Post Office by one in Parsonage Drive, Cofton Hackett. With this change, I think the disposition of sub-offices in the area will be more convenient for the majority of the local residents.

I know that my hon. Friend is aware that a Petition has been produced with 300 signatories from Rednal on this question. Is he aware that this office is near a bus stop, that there are a large number of old-age pensioners living in this part of the world who have to go to the office to collect their old-age pensions and that this decision will cause great hardship? Will he please reconsider the question?

I am always prepared to reconsider anything, but it is important to remember that the original office is in an old cottage which is not part of a recognised shopping centre, whereas the new office will serve an estate of about 300 houses with four shops and a large café. On the surface it looks as though the move may be more convenient for the majority of local residents, but I will look again at the matter affecting my hon. Friend's constituency.

On a point of order. I give notice that I hope to raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Postmaster-General when he expects to make a decision on the siting of the communications tower in the Wootton-under-Edge area of Gloucestershire.

I understand that my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Housing and Local Government, is at present studying his Inspector's report on the public inquiry, and a decision will be announced soon.

asked the Postmaster-General what effect the communications tower to be built in the Wootton-under-Edge area of Gloucestershire will have upon radio and television receivers in the immediate vicinity and upon the behaviour of homing pigeons.

This tower will not affect sound broadcasting or television reception in the vicinity, either by its own transmissions or by reflections from its structure. I am sorry I am unable to say what effect the station will have on the behaviour of homing pigeons. The Post Office has many radio stations operating in a manner similar to that proposed for Wootton-under-Edge, and no reports have been received that they adversely affect the homing instinct of those birds.

Those who are interested in homing pigeons will be gratified by what my hon. Friend said. But is he quite sure of this, because Fylingdales has had a most unfortunate effect on homing pigeons, which fly round it in ever-decreasing circles? Can he assure us that that will not happen in this case, as I live very close to this machine?

From all my information—and I particularly made special inquiries about this—I am reasonably sure that the emissions from the tower should not affect these birds, and I trust that the reverse will be equally true.

asked the Postmaster-General what decision he has reached on the starting date for the Crown post office at Shotts.

We have recently reviewed our building programme, and I hope that it may be possible to make a start on the building in about a year's time.

Is it not at all possible to start on the building this year? Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the provision of such a post office might do something to attract new industry to an area desperately in need of it?

I take the hon. Lady's point. It was following her last Question to me that we made this review. I am trying to bring this forward as much as I possibly can. We are doing everything we can to bring forward minor works which can provide employment.

asked the Postmaster-General when a sub-post office will be provided to serve the needs of Saltaire village, Shipley.

There are two sub-post offices in the vicinity of Saltaire village; and I am sorry that we should not be justified in opening another one.

Is my hon. Friend aware that "in the vicinity of" is not in Saltaire village? Is he also aware that two unsatisfactory Answers from the Post Office in one day is too much? Will he kindly give more attention to this matter?

asked the Postmaster-General what progress is being made with the introduction of quarterly billing of telephone accounts.

I am glad to say that about three-quarters of telephone subscribers are now receiving quarterly bills, and I expect the change-over from six-monthly accounts to be completed before the end of 1964.

asked the Postmaster-General what proportion of telephone subscribers in Scotland is able to make use of subscriber trunk dialling.

Twenty-seven per cent. of telephone subscribers in Scotland have the S.T.D. facility. I expect this proportion to be doubled in the next two years.

Can my right hon. Friend give me the equivalent proportion for England and Wales?

The present figure for the United Kingdom as a whole is 32 per cent. I think that the figure for England and Wales is probably about 30 per cent.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is satisfied that the new telephone is sufficiently robust for general working conditions; and if he will indicate the rate of damage suffered by new instruments as compared with the old.

Damage to telephones is quite small, but the rate of damage for the new type has been about double that for others because, being lighter, it is less stable. Rubber feet of a new kind have now been developed to give a better grip on polished surfaces, and a lighter and more flexible cord is being used. We are also trying out new types of plastic which may prove more robust than those previously available.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the new phone is defective, too, in the sense that the cord coming across the receiver rest will cut off a subscriber when he does not want to be cut off?

I am aware of that defect, and we are in process of putting it right now.

asked the Postmaster-General how many residents in the Borough of Acton have applied for and are still awaiting telephones; and what is the average waiting time for telephone installation in the area.

About 50 Acton residents are awaiting telephones. This figure excludes orders under inquiry or being met. Where plant and equipment are available orders are usually met in two to three months.

Does my right hon. Friend recall that on 25th November, 1959, he advised me in the House that the average waiting time was two or three months but that there should be an improvement when a new cable was put down in January, 1960? Is he satisfied that the cable capacity is adequate to the needs? If so, what other difficulties are there and what does my right hen. Friend propose to do about them?

There are about 30,000 telephone lines in Acton and the waiting list accounts for about ·6 per cent. of the total. In 1959, the year to which my hon. Friend refers, about 130 people had been waiting for more than three months. That figure is now down to 50 and we are hoping to make the waiting period shorter still by the provision of new cables in the district.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will change his policy whereby he refuses telephones to would-be subscribers if it entails erecting further telephone wires.

It is certainly not Post Office policy to refuse telephones because they entail erecting further wires. But my limited resources must be used to the greatest advantage of would-be subscribers generally, and this means that the provision of service to individuals, when expensive new construction work is required, is sometimes delayed.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that his hon. Friend wrote to me about one of my constituents, saying that he could not have a telephone because it would entail erecting more wires, and that if his predecessors had taken that point of view nobody would have a telephone? Will he see that my constituent gets a telephone immediately?

With respect to my hon. Friend, I think that he has ripped a phrase out of my hon. Friend's letter. My hon. Friend said that in this case the wiring would run to about 4,000 yards. May I say to my hon. Friend that the cost over and above the normal cost of providing a telephone would have been about £150. In spite of that, I have a good deal of sympathy with my hon. Friend and I will see what I can do.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applicants are now waiting for telephone service in Mid-Ulster; and how many telephones were installed in 1962.

There are at present 35 outstanding applications, excluding those under inquiry or being met. Three hundred and sixty-five telephones were installed in 1962.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that residents on the Highlands Estate, Bucklebury, including elderly people in ill-health, have been told that they will have to wait two years before they can have a telephone service; to what extent telephone development plans in the Reading area are still conditioned by restricted funds for capital investment; and what increased provision is being made in the current year so that arrears can be made good and the demand for telephones met promptly.

The pace of telephone development in the Reading area, as elsewhere, is dependent on the resources available. This year's capital programme for the area is 5 per cent. higher than last year's: but, in view of the volume of urgent work, I am sorry that some delays in providing service, as in the case of the Highlands Estate, are difficult to avoid.

Is my right hon. Friend as dissatisfied as I am that there should be a delay of two years in installing a telephone? Will he have another look to see what is the real hold-up in the Reading area? Is it lack of money? If so, surely the Chancellor of the Exchequer would be helpful? If it is lack of skilled manpower, could not that be recruited? He must have another look at this matter.

The number of people who have to wait a period of that sort are very few, but Reading is a special case where there has been an increase of about 100 per cent. in the number of subscribers in the past 10 years. However, I am trying to secure some additional capital which should be able to help with the Reading problem.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a member of his Department told me that the increase in demand in the Reading area in ratio to the population was greater than anywhere else in the United Kingdom? Will he, therefore, take special methods—[Interruption.]

Mr. Speaker, at the risk of being out of order, I think that the whole House would wish me to welcome most warmly my right hon. Friend the Member for Woodford (Sir W. Churchill) on his return to the House of Commons after his accident and to say how glad we are to welcome our most distinguished Member.

Further to that point and equally out of order. May I say on behalf of my right hon. and hon. Friends how much we welcome the sight of the right hon. Gentleman for Woodford (Sir W. Churchill) coming into this Chamber again after his accident? We are glad to see him so fully restored that he can do this again, and the whole House will join with the right hon. Gentleman the Prime Minister in giving him the happiest possible welcome.

May I say that the Liberal Party would like to be associated with those sentiments?

Now for the hon. Member for Reading, in order.

Never have I been so delighted to hear the House out of order so much.

I will willingly consider any additional measures which could be usefully taken.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the British Broadcasting Corporation has yet completed its survey of radio reception in Northern Ireland on 224 metres; and what have been its findings.

Yes, Sir. The B.B.C. tells me that there has been some increase in fading at night in the outer parts of the service area. To remedy this, the B.B.C. proposes to make an adjustment to the mast at Lisnagarvey. As this will take some weeks to do and meanwhile service would have to be maintained from a temporary aerial, the B.B.C. proposes to do the job in the summer when listening after dark is at a minimum.

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Does not he agree that it is rather a cart-before-the-horse principle to give us a service and then suddenly to decide that an adjustment of the masts is needed? Apart from that consideration, will my right hon. Friend make certain that, if these adjustments to the mast are not successful when the B.B.C. goes into the fourth stage satellite relay scheme, Northern Ireland will get its fair share so that we have a decent service throughout the country and not just round Belfast?

It is true that the change in the wavelength has enabled Northern Ireland services to benefit the great majority of listeners in Northern Ireland. When the adjustment to the mast takes place, reception in certain areas will be better than it is at present. On my hon. Friend's last point, the B.B.C. plans to open low power V.H.F. sound stations at Lame and Newry where reception is indifferent at present.

asked the Postmaster-General what proportion of broadcasting time has been devoted to purely North-East programmes, following the separation of the North-East wavelength from Northern Ireland.

This is a matter for the B.B.C., but it tells me that, since the North-East area has had its own wavelength, the Newcastle studios have been putting out about three hours and twenty minutes weekly of regular programmes of special interest to the area. This is about 3 per cent. of the time occupied by the Home Service.

Is the Postmaster-General aware that these figures are a little discouraging and that Manchester is not the beginning of the North but merely the end of the South? We in Northumberland were a kindom when London was a grass park. Will the right hon. Gentleman use what influence he has to ensure that these percentages are greatly increased?

The North-East has done a little better since this change was made. As the hon. Gentleman knows, more time is devoted to local North-East news and to the programme known, I believe, as the "Voice of the People" However, I appreciate what the hon. Gentleman has said and I will gladly convey his views to the B.B.C.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that, if the north of England does not want to use the wavelength, the north of Ireland would be very glad to have it back again?

That is not my understanding of what the hon. Member for Blyth (Mr. Milne) had in mind.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will seek to establish a television viewers council which will consult viewers with the object of advising him on the suitability, desirability and attractiveness of television shows, and the maintenance of acceptable standards.

No, Sir. Standards and content of programmes are the responsibility of the Chairman and Governors of the B.B.C. and of the Chairman and Members of the I.T.A.

Is not the Postmaster-General aware that there is grave concern at the growing number of sex and psychic performances which are appearing on television networks? Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that there is a tendency to glorify thuggery on these television shows, with its harmful influences to teen-age viewers? Does not he think that those who pay the piper, the viewers, are entitled to have some say in this matter and that one of the best mediums of achieving this would be to form a viewers' council?

There is the Television Bill before Parliament which has something to do with the principal questions which the hon. Gentleman has just put to me, but the Question on the Order Paper suggests that there ought to be appointed a council of television viewers to advise the Postmaster-General about what is good and what is bad television. I could not for one moment accept this because if I did it would lead to interference with the independence of the B.B.C. and the I.T.A.

Will my right hon. Friend resist these requests for more and more control of television by way of viewers' councils? The public of this country are not old women like hon. Members opposite, and do not want such additional controls.

Leaving hon. Members opposite out of the picture, I think that there is a good deal in what my hon. Friend says.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take this matter a little more seriously than the hon. Member for Croydon, North-West (Mr. F. Harris)—as I am sure he does—and explain what he means by his statement that audience research will be expanded? Does he mean that the T.A.M. sample will be increased further? Does the right hon. Gentleman regard that sample as adequate without a considerably greater qualitative survey?

As I think the hon. Gentleman knows, audience research is at present carried out by the B.B.C. on a quite extensive scale. It is not carried out in any large way by the Independent Television Authority, but, T.A.M. aside, there is specific provision in the Television Bill for audience research to be carried out by the Authority.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will introduce legislation to ensure that the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority avoid the continued coincidence of similar programmes on the two channels.

asked the Postmaster-General what further action he intends to take to implement the Government's proposals as outlined in paragraph 40 of the second White Paper on the Report of the Committee on Broadcasting, Command 1893, which deals with the presentation by the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority of similar programmes at similar times.

I would refer the hon. Members to the Answer I gave on 7th May to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire (Mr. Woodburn). The broadcasting authorities know the Government's views, and I do not think there is a need for further Government action.

Is the Postmaster-General aware that a viewer who wants to escape from, let us say, "Juke Box Jury"—[HON. MEMBERS: "Why?"]—is confronted with an identical programme, "Thank Your Lucky Stars" at the identical time?

He can switch off.

If, on the other hand, he is the kind of viewer who goes in for this kind of programme he is bound to miss one of them unless he can watch two sets at once. This is applicable to Westerns, thrillers, crime stories, religious and all other programmes. Would the Postmaster-General draw the attention of both authorities to the widespread resentment of viewers that, instead of providing an alternative programme, they are virtually denying it?

As my hon. Friend has suggested, the viewing of television is not yet compulsory in this country. There is, indeed, at times a good deal to be said for genuine competition between B.B.C. and I.T.A. for audiences. I would ask the hon. Gentleman to bear in mind that when the second B.B.C. programme is transmitted there are bound to be in the nature of the case complementary programmes and a greater range of choice.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say to what extent he has got agreement on paragraph 40 of the White Paper in question, where the programmes are not in conflict with each other? Has he got the B.B.C. and the I.T.A. to agree?

There have been discussions between the B.B.C. and the I.T.A. on these minority programmes, educational, religious and so forth, and I am quite satisfied that it is ticking along all right.

Will my right hon. Friend remember that the whole point of television competition was that viewers should have a choice and there can be no choice if there are similar programmes on both channels at the same time?

That is one reason why the Government have authorised the second B.B.C. programme and have not ruled out the possibility of a second independent television programme.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will use his powers under Section 15(4) of the Licence and Agreement to ensure that the British Broadcasting Corporation refrain from broadcasting plays detrimental to recruiting for the Armed Forces.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Chelsea (Captain Litchfield) on Tuesday last.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that this play, "A Little Bit of Gold said Jump", broadcast by the B.B.C., was a disgraceful misrepresentation of the Services and was anti-recruiting propanganda? It suggested that recruiting posters in the Royal Navy were useless and was an extreme insult to the communications branch of the Royal Navy. Will he do something about it?

I told my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Chelsea (Capt. Litchfield) last Tuesday that I would ask for a script of this play. I have read it, and personally I found it rather boring. I agree that the play was not exactly an encouragement to Service recruiting. But my power to interfere is a reserve power, and I think that censorship in television is a very dangerous game. I am sure that the B.B.C. will use its good sense to take note of what has been said.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the concern in the borders of Scotland regarding the poor television reception of the British Broadcasting Corporation; and, in view of the erection of the new station mast at Ashkirk Hill, near Selkirk, some months ago, when improved services may be expected in the greater border area.

Yes, Sir. The B.B.C. hopes to open its Ashkirk television and VHF sound station next month. I am glad to say that the new station will bring B.B.C. television to 70,000 new viewers, and will improve reception for another 30,000 people.

I thank my right hon. Friend for that Answer. Without wishing to appear ungracious and while I am very grateful to him, may I ask him whether he is not aware that this matter has been constantly raised since 1951 when my right hon. Friend the Member for Luton (Dr. Hill) was Postmaster-General, that it has been causing increasing concern in my three counties and counties adjacent thereto, and that is is heart-warming that the Government have done something to improve matters, especially as they are worried about the possible closure of railway services?

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of current public feeling, he will consider advising the cancellation or postponement of the proposed visit to Britain of the Greek Royal Family.

asked the Prime Minister what representations he has had from the Government of Greece about the postponement of the visit to this country of King Paul and Queen Frederika.

With permission, I will answer Question No. Q1 and Question No. Q3 together.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that all royal visits, either to or from this country, have a political content, a fact which he emphasised when he recently cancelled a visit to Paris? If this visit is to take place, will the Government at least take the opportunity of impressing upon our guests the very great concern among large numbers of people in this country about the prolonged political incarceration of people who are in prison for political and not for any other kind of offence?

As I have said in my Answer, it is hoped that this visit will be of the greatest value to our ancient and traditional friendship with Greece and it is the outward and visible sign of that fact. With regard to the other part of the hon. Member's supplementary question, I hope that nobody will be misled by any misunderstanding of what the two Communist revolutions in Greece meant, both in 1944, when I had personal knowledge of the horrible things done, and in 1949. This campaign of the Communists has been well described as a shocking example of mendacity and hypocrisy.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recollect that in the alliance between Greece and Britain to which he referred each country bound itself to preserve, maintain and extend the principles of democracy within its own territory? Would he not agree that it would be a wonderful occasion if with the arrival of the royal couple in this country the Greek Government were to grant political amnesty to the hundreds of political prisoners now lying in Greek gaols? Could not the right hon. Gentleman in some appropriate way, as he would certainly do, put that point to the proper authorities at the proper time?

This is a matter entirely for the Greek Government. We ought to be careful not to regard as political crimes the murder and mutilation which I saw with my own eyes on a terrible scale.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the great majority of hon. Members will warmly welcome his reply to these Questions? Would he be kind enough to clear up a small doubt in the minds of some people and say whether when Queen Frederika was here on a private visit she was actually touched on the shoulders during the incident?

It is not unnatural that there should be some uncertainty as to precisely what happened in an incident of this kind. Her Majesty's Government have naturally accepted the statement of Queen Frederika. When my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary was explaining to the House on 9th May, on such information as was available to him immediately after the incident, when the Home Office spokesman made his statement, it was then believed that Queen Frederika was not actually touched although inconvenienced and molested. Of course, we must and do accept her view of what happened and I deeply regret this incident.

Would not the Prime Minister agree that in my supplementary question I referred to politcal prisoners and did not in any way include that small section to whom he referred? Will he at least think of trying to act along the lines which I have suggested, and when this royal couple come to the land of political liberty will he at least strike a blow for political freedom?

I appreciate any genuine motives of a humanitarian kind, but these are matters for the Greek Government. When their liberty was first recovered and the Germans left Greece, that was the first occasion on which the Communists tried to seize Greece. It was defended by the British Government and British troops and the most terrible things took place, which I saw myself. On the second occasion, in 1949, worse things took place and the Greek people feel that they have defended themselves against a form of Communist aggression of the most terrible kind.

I beg to give notice that on Wednesday, 29th May, I shall call attention to the need for greater control of imports of foreign food, and move a Resolution.

I beg to give notice that on Wednesday, 29th May, I shall call attention to the problem of rating, and move a Resolution.

I beg to give notice that on Wednesday, 29th May, I shall call attention to the need for greater public control of nursing homes and other private residential provision for the aged and infirm, and move a Resolution.