asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the frequent hardships caused to members of the public through non-insured motorists being unable to pay damages awarded against them by a court order arising from an accident and/or through an insurance company repudiating liability on account of a misrepresentation on the proposal form by the assured; and whether he will consider appointing a departmental committee to advise him in what manner the present legislation can be strengthened and amended in order to safeguard the public in these circumstances?

The recommendations on this subject of the recent Committee on Compulsory Insurance are at present under consideration by the Departments concerned.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration that where a person has made a false statement upon an application for insurance there shall be no liability on the insurance company?

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is now in a position to state an approximate date when the electrification of the London and North Eastern Railway Company's line to Barnet, and its linking up with the tube system, will be completed?

The company expect that electrified services will be running between High Barnet and the City via the High-gate Tube by the summer of 1939, and hope that such services may be running between East Finchley and the West End: and City respectively some months earlier. They also expect that electrified services will be in operation between High Barnet and Finsbury Park early in 1940.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will arrange with the Southern Railway Company that no extension of electrification will take place in rural areas before the undertaking they have given him as to fencing and protection has been implemented?

The Southern Railway Company inform me that their programme of works for 1938 provides for the erection of over 50 miles of the improved types of fencing. This covers all places where trespassing has been reported as being prevalent or likely to occur, both in the areas already electrified and those in process of being electrified.

Will my right hon. Friend suggest to the Southern Railway that they should notify people when they are proposing to electrify a line, and might I recall the accident which happened last Monday owing to the fact that no one in the neighbourhood knew that the line was electrified?

Yes, I will consider that suggestion.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is in a position to make a statement regarding trunk-road development in Scotland generally and in the County of Linlithgow in particular; and whether in such development he will take into account the eventual erection of a road-bridge over the Forth at Queensfeny?

A survey is being made of all trunk roads in Scotland in order to determine what works are necessary and the priority of their execution. The hon. Member may be assured that all relevant factors will be taken into consideration.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the alternative recently suggested in the County of Linlithgow that the trunk road should go by way of the coast, and is that one of the points which are under consideration?

If it has been brought to my notice it is certainly one of the matters under consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport what further proposals he has to make with a view to reducing the great number of accidents still occurring daily on the roads?

The problem of the best manner in which to reduce the number of accidents on the roads is one which is constantly before me. At the moment I am concentrating upon steady and continuous attack upon the problem from every known angle rather than pinning my hopes to the discovery of some novel panacea. I am always glad to receive suggestions.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider regulating the movements of pedestrians on the roadways in the same way as the movements of vehicles are already regulated by law?

That matter has not escaped my attention. I am hoping to have very shortly a report from an advisory committee dealing with the whole question of pedestrian traffic.

Would the right hon. Gentleman also consent to look into the question whether it is better to limit the horse power of engines and their speed capacity?

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that during the month of October, 1937, there were three fatal accidents within the county borough of West Ham, and road accidents which occasioned injury to 108 persons during the same period; and whether, therefore, he will take steps, in consultation with the local authority, to expedite highways improvements?

Yes, Sir. I will gladly consider any proposals for highway improvements which the local authority may think desirable.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that schemes of road improvements sanctioned and started years ago are still incomplete, and that bottlenecks still prevail, causing danger to the lives of the public; and will he do something, in collaboration with the local authority, to expedite these improvements?

In view of the information that has been given, I will communicate with the highway authority.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, having received a deputation from each of the two groups for and against the construction of a bridge over the Severn River, he intends to make a statement in addition to the reply he made to each of the deputations; and, if so, when?

Yes, Sir. I am at present considering the representations made to me by the promoters and the opponents of the proposed Severn Bridge. I will make a statement on this matter as soon as possible.

Can the right hon. Gentleman indicate when that statement may be expected?

It is a matter of considerable importance, and it is a little difficult to prophesy as to time, but I am aware of the importance of the matter, and there will be no undue delay.

Will a statement be made also on the subject of the proposed Forth road bridge?

(for Mr. McGovern) asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make inquiries regarding the use of a device on the Great Western Railway which prevents a train passing a signal at danger; and will he urge or compel installation on other railways?

I am fully informed about the system of automatic train control which is installed throughout the greater part of the running lines of the Great Western Railway and operates in connection with the distant signal. Trials have been in progress for some time on the London, Midland and Scottish Railway with an alternative system which performs similar functions. This company, and the London and North Eastern and Southern Railway Companies, have felt it necessary to await the outcome of these experiments before adopting either system. While I have no power to compel the use of automatic train control equipment, I am anxious to encourage its wider use with due regard to the reliability of the apparatus.

Is it not a fact that the London Midland and Scottish, the London and North Eastern and the Southern Railways have a much worse accident rate than the Great Western?

I would not like to express an opinion on the relative accident levels without a question being put on the Paper.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will arrange for a provision to be inserted in the contract for the construction of the shell-filling factory near Usk, Monmouth-shire, that the men to be employed shall be recruited at the Employment Exchanges nearest to the site of the works?

I have been asked to reply. It is not practicable to insist that the contractor shall be debarred from engaging labour otherwise than through the Employment Exchange system. It will be a condition of the contract, however, that the contractor shall notify to the appropriate Employment Exchange all vacancies for labour required on the works, with the object of affording an opportunity of employment to any suitably qualified men available in the surrounding district.

Is it possible to insert into the terms of the contract that local labour only shall be employed, and may I add that there are 5,000 unemployed workers in this area?

I think the answer which I have given meets the hon. Gentleman on that point.

Is it not a fact in works of a similar kind in South Wales that while the labour employed has been drawn from local Employment Exchanges, people outside have oftentimes been brought m, registered at the local exchange and then employed on the works, excluding local labour?

I will convey the question to my right hon. Friend.

Will he also convey to his right hon. Friend that there is very great inconvenience in bringing people to rural areas where there is no lodging accommodation, while people living in the areas cannot get employment?

Certainly.