asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether, having regard to numerous fatal accidents recently reported and the recommendations made by coroners that rear lights on bicycles are essential as a protection for the cyclist, he will now issue Regulations compelling the use of rear lights on all vehicles, including bicycles and tricycles?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given on 19th February to a question from the hon. Member for West Leicester (Mr. Hill) of which I am sending him a copy.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware of the very strong feeling of cyclist clubs on this question, on the ground that a cyclist, not having eyes in the back of his head, cannot see whether the rear light of his machine is alight or not?

More than one deputation has been received, and I think the Department is fully seized of the facts in regard to this matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport if, in view of the anticipated rush of visitors to Richmond during the coming summer, he will make representations to the District Railway to increase the service of trains to Richmond?

I have no doubt that the railway companies concerned have this question under consideration, but I am forwarding the hon. Member's question to them.

Will adequate police arrangements be made to protect the residents of Richmond?

Is there any possibility of the District Railway engaging the services of Mr. Winter of the British Empire Exhibition for this purpose?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, if he is aware that it has been reported to the Glasgow Corporation Tramway Committee that his Ministry has made it a condition of grants for road schemes that the work should be done by contracting, whereas the tramways department has hitherto supervised its own extension schemes; and will he state under what authority the Ministry has enforced this condition?

My Department have not attached any such condition to grants made from the Road Fund. Local Authorities were, however, advised that the view of the Government was that the contract system should be adopted to the utmost possible extent, in connection with works expedited for the relief of unemployment.

Will any difficulty be placed in the way of an important and efficient corporation like that of Glasgow doing its own work, if they should find it cheaper to do so, by direct labour?

My view is that contract labour is more economical.

Rubbish!

Supposing the Glasgow Corporation from their long experience think otherwise, will the hon. and gallant Gentleman put his opinion before theirs?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport why they have refused exemption to the Renfrewshire Education Authority from the annual licence of £25 for their motor ambulance attached to Ahercorn (Special) School, Paisley, seeing that this vehicle is used solely for the transport of defective children?

As I stated on 16th April, in reply to the hon. Member for the Peebles and Southern Division, the question whether or not a particular vehicle can properly be termed an "ambulance" is a matter of law to be decided on the facts of the case. The Minister of Transport has no power to grant or refuse exemption, but in order to secure uniformity of administration, it is found desirable that the Department should offer advice on cases where there is diversity of practice.

Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I give notice that I will raise this matter on the Motion for Adjournment.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the increasing congestion of the London traffic consequent principally on the repair of roadways, increase of general traffic, use of the busiest arteries by heavy horse-drawn traffic, etc.; whether he is now prepared to adopt and put into force the recommendations of the Committee on London Traffic or, alternatively, to adopt such of their recommendations as will afford immediate relief; and whether the Ministry can immediately do something to co-ordinate the programme of the repair work of the various local authorities so as to avoid parallel main arteries being blocked at the same time?

I am fully aware of the general increase in the volume of London traffic, but I am not in a position to initiate legislation for the setting up of the London traffic authority recommended in the report of the Advisory Committee on London Traffic. In answer to the last part of the question, I may say that, within the narrow limitations of my present powers and staff, I am doing all I can to promote the co-operation of local authorities with a view to mitigating the inconvenience caused by road repairs.

Do I understand the hon. and gallant Gentleman to say he can do nothing; and, in regard to the first part of the question, is he not aware that the state of London traffic is becoming increasingly difficult, and cannot he do something to carry out the recommendations of the Committee on London Traffic?

My Noble Friend must realise that legislation would be required, and that since the Report of the Committee to which he refers there has been the Report of the Committee presided over by Lord Ullswater, which not only deals with traffic, but also with town planning and drainage, and it is very difficult to disentangle these questions.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman consider the appointment of a new Committee to investigate the results of these other Committees and Commissions?