Mr David Gammans: asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to make a statement on the recent disturbances in Hong Kong.
Mr David Gammans: Some of my hon. Friends and I have a similar Amendment on the Order Paper—in page 8, line 27, at end insert : (8) The person who makes a reproduction to which the last preceding subsection applies shall, as soon as practicable, give notice to the person who (in relation to the making of the reproduction) is the owner of the copyright of the date on which such reproduction was made and of...
Mr David Gammans: asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation his estimate of the saving in time for passengers travelling by road to London Airport when the Cromwell Road extension is finished; and what would be the additional saving of time if the fly-over junction at Hammersmith were put in hand.
Mr David Gammans: Can my right hon. Friend say what the saving would be if there were a fly-over junction? As, in the very nature of things, there is bound to be a vast increase in the traffic to London Airport, does not he think that a fly-over ought to be constructed?
Mr David Gammans: asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what courtesies in connection with the granting of visas are extended to members of Congress visiting this country as private individuals as compared with British Members of Parliament visiting the United States of America privately.
Mr David Gammans: Does my right hon. and learned Friend think that it would be possible to persuade the American Government that on grounds of security it is not necessary for Members of Parliament to have their fingerprints taken and also to be vaccinated, in view of the fact that we do not require such qualifications from American Congressmen coming here?
Mr David Gammans: I should like to endorse entirely what the hon. Lady the Member for Wood Green (Mrs. Butler) has said. She and I represent two constituencies which are very much affected by what has happened and our constituents are very angry and upset about it. Perhaps I can best summarise their views by asking two or three questions. Before the war, when this railway was owned by a public company, it was...
Mr David Gammans: Will my hon. Friend allow me to intervene?
Mr David Gammans: asked the Secretary of State for Air how many Ceylonese are employed directly or indirectly at the Royal Air Force installations in Ceylon; and the estimated annual cost to the British taxpayer of maintaining these installations.
Mr David Gammans: Can my hon. Friend say whether any arrangements have been made to give financial help to any men who may lose their employment as a result of these new arrangements?
Mr David Gammans: The hon. Member suggests that bread will go up in price to 11d. or 1s. a loaf, without, so far as I can see, any proof of what he is saying, but would he not agree that in any case this matter is self-regulatory, because if some of the biggest bakers in this country, the co-operative societies, which are not out to make a profit, can produce bread cheaper, they will do so and corner all the trade?
Mr David Gammans: I should like to pay my tribute to the temporate way in which the Leader of the Opposition opened the debate. He has set a standard which we should all try to follow during the debate. In this matter, I find myself in the same sort of dilemma as many hon. Members on both sides of the House. For example, I entirely agree with the Prime Minister that this moment is not the right time for us to...
Mr David Gammans: A large part of it is. The greater part of the daily Press and a large part of vocal public opinion—I am not talking about the non-vocal part—is hostile to any increase in pay to Members of Parliament. Two things always strike me about the matter. First, a large percentage of our colleagues in the House—although we may differ in politics, we are, nevertheless collagues—are never seen...
Mr David Gammans: I do not think it is as simple as that. As the Prime Minister pointed out, in a matter of this sort, which concerns our own salaries, it is no good the House ignoring public opinion and saying that it does not matter.
Mr David Gammans: Or over-rating it; but it is no good under-rating it. The advantage of what the Leader of the Opposition suggested, that we should have a body of men, not hon. Members, to make recommendations, is that the public would more readily accept that than if the recommendations were made by hon. Members. The only thing about which I am anxious is that this matter should be settled in such a way that...
Mr David Gammans: asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement concerning the failure of the Comet aircraft in Moscow.
Mr David Gammans: Can my right hon. Friend say that he is satisfied with the general maintenance arrangements of this aeroplane, in view of the very unfortunate effect that this failure had at a time when he was trying to rehabilitate the reputation of the Comet?
Mr David Gammans: asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can give an assurance that the money contributed by Great Britain towards the cost of the Assuan dam will be drawn from the blocked sterling account and will not affect the amount of capital which this country can expend on Commonwealth development.
Mr David Gammans: Is my right hon. and learned Friend satisfied that this is a justifiable investment for this country in view of our present limited resources?
Mr David Gammans: asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what sum of money is being spent on broadcasting in Arabic to the countries of the Middle East; how this sum compares with the amount spent two years ago; and which countries can pick up these broadcasts on medium wave receivers.
