asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what facilities exist for technical education in Dumbarton.

Day and evening facilities are available at Lennox Technical Centre; and evening facilities at the Dumbarton Technical and Commercial and the Dumbarton St. Patrick's Further Education Centres.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to remove the danger to which unarmed policemen are exposed when escorting armed bank attendants, in view of the fact that the attendants are armed and the police are not.

Chief constables are responsible for the safety of their men and also for the issue of firearm certificates to civilians. In 1945 they were advised that firearms cannot be regarded as a suitable means of protection in this country and may be a source of danger: and that only in very exceptional cases should it be allowable for a firearm to be used for protection purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many one-apartment houses there were in Scotland and how many houses there were without baths, at the recent census.

These figures will appear, county by county, in a series of reports which will be published between mid-1962 and mid-1963. Figures for the whole of Scotland will not be available until the last of these reports has been prepared.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what improvements have been made to the section of the main north road A.9 running through Ross and Cromarty in the last 15 years.

The following improvements have been made to trunk road A.9 in Ross and Cromarty:Provision of Bailey Bridge, Conon Bridge,Improvements of level crossing, Craig Road, Dingwall.Minor improvements have been carried out as required under the trunk road maintenance and minor improvements programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the three main roads radiating from east of the county of Ross and Cromarty to the west, that is, from Garve to Ullapool, Garve to Gairloch, and Achna-sheen to Kyle of Lochalsh, are still almost wholly single track with passing places; and if he will improve all trunk and class I roads in Ross and Cromarty to a width of 18 feet as a matter of urgency.

I realise that some roads, trunk as well as classified, in the western part of the county have single-lane carriageways, with passing places. It is my general intention to provide the remaining single-lane trunk roads with 18 feet carriageways as funds allow—for example one scheme has been completed and another is starting on the Invergarry-Kyle of Lochalsh road west of Cluanie—but the standard to be adopted for the reconstruction of classified roads, much of which is planned under the crofter counties programme, will depend on the present and foreseeable volume of traffic.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what share of major road improvement grants was received during the latter part of the post-war period by the county of Ross and Cromarty compared with the amounts allocated to the six other Crofter Counties.

The amount of exchequer funds authorised in the last three financial years for new construction and major improvements schemes on trunk and classified roads in the seven Crofter Counties was as set out in the table below:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the saving in teaching staff, if the age of the children entering primary schools was raised from five to six years.

The saving might be of the order of 2,500 teachers, but against this might have to be set the staffing needs of any alternative provision that had to be made, e.g., in nursery schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reply has been sent to the representations from the Scottish Union of Students regarding the need for a fifth university in Scotland.

These representations have been brought to the notice of my right hon. Friend, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, who is responsible for matters relating to universities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many verdicts of not proven or guilty in capital and non-capital murder cases, respectively, have been reached in Scottish criminal trials since 1st January, 1961, to the nearest convenient date.

Following is the information requested for the period from 1st January, 1961, to 31st March, 1962:—

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will report the results of his talk with Somerset County Council on measures to increase safety at the crossing of the A.38 road between Lulsgate and Potters Hill.

We have agreed with the county council that we will provide a pedestrian footbridge across A.38 at Lulsgate Bottom. Work will be started as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport when the experiment with remotely controlled illuminated signs will be started; and on which length of motorway it will be carried out.

The details of the experiment are still being planned. Until that has been done, I cannot yet say precisely when or where it will be carried out, but we hope to start trials next winter. I will write to my hon. Friend when a decision has been made.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the increasing nuisance and distress being caused to the inhabitants of Islington and elsewhere through the excessive overnight parking of heavy lorries in residential streets and squares; what progress has been made by the working party he appointed to study this problem; and if he will make a statement.

We are aware of the situation in Islington. There, as elsewhere, the problems of overnight parking of lorries are not easy to solve. But I hope that the results of the study by my right hon. Friend's Department of the problem in Bermondsey and Lambeth will be available before long. They should serve as a guide to action elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Transport when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Brixton, dated 14th February last, complaining of the nuisance caused to inhabitants of Brixton by the overnight parking of heavy lorries in residential streets.

My right hon. Friend replied on 29th March.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the present near-stagnation of traffic at peak periods at the junction of North Road and Western Avenue. Cardiff; and why the proposed Eastern Avenue of the inner bypass is not included in his programme for construction in the next five years.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will reconsider his decision not to include the Eastern Avenue of the Cardiff inner bypass in his construction programme for the next five years.

We are aware that there are delays at this junction at peak periods. But the inner bypass is a very costly project, which we were unable to include in our five year programme because of the needs of even more urgent schemes, including many in Wales. We are, however, prepared to consider, in consultation with the local highway authority, Cardiff City Council, the possibility of a smaller scheme to improve traffic flow at the junction pending the main scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport what reply he has made to the request sent to him by the Slough Borough Council for a pedestrian crossing to be positioned at the shopping centre in Trelawney Avenue, Langley.

I have received no such request so far. I understand the council expects to make one shortly. If it does, I shall of course consider it carefully.

asked the Minister of Transport what roundabouts have been and are proposed to be replaced by two-level intersections.

Six roundabouts have been replaced or are in process of being replaced by two-level intersections. They are:

A.3/A.243—Kingston By-pass-Hook Road.

A.4/A.406—Chiswick Flyover.

A.4—Hammersmith Viaduct.

Hyde Park Corner Underpass.

A.34/A.41—Camp Hill, Birmingham.

A.38/M.50—Brockeridge Common, Glos.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the total tonnage of British-owned passenger liners; what tonnage has been scrapped or sold in the last year or is about to be scrapped or sold; and what new tonnage has been added to the merchant fleet during the same period.

The total tonnage of U.K. registered passenger vessels at 31st December, 1961, was 2,702,000 gross tons. During 1961 168 thousand gross tons of passenger ships were scrapped or sold abroad. In the same year 126 thousand gross tons of new vessels, together with 39 thousand gross tons of second-hand vessels purchased from abroad, were added to the passenger fleet. I have no official information on ships which may be scrapped or sold in the future.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will take steps to make it obligatory for private car hire firms who hire drive-yourself cars to provide insurance policies covering passengers as well as drivers.

Under existing law third party motor insurance is not required to cover liabilities to passengers, apart from passengers carried for hire or reward or in pursuance of a contract of employment. We should not feel justified in asking Parliament to modify the law in this matter in the particular case of hire cars.

asked the Minis ter of Transport whether, in view of the fact that under certain conditions of load and acceleration, diesel engines, operating within his recent regulations, may still emit fumes that can damage the human lung, he will appoint a small committee to examine the possibility of legislation to extend control over this threat to health.

The investigations being carried out by the Medical Research Council have hitherto failed to find any evidence of danger to health from diesel fumes in the concentrations to be found in our streets. What is needed in this field is a more practical way of enforcing the existing law. This is currently under investigation.

asked the Minister of Transport what estimate he has made of the congestion caused on the roads by large vehicles carrying coal, particularly in the Midlands.

We have no precise estimate of the volume of coal carried by road, but coal-carrying vehicles still form a very small proportion of the traffic on roads.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he proposes to take on the considerations raised in the Annual Report of the Central Transport Consultative Committee.

My right hon. Friend will, as always, pay the fullest regard to the points made by the Committee, including those which relate to the withdrawal of railway services.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission to prohibit all smoking in single-decker buses and limit smoking to the upper deck of double-decker public transport buses which are owned and controlled by them.

No. This is a question within the discretion of the Commission, as it is within the discretion of any other bus operator. As my right hon. Friend said recently in answer to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Louth (Sir C. Osborne), we understand that the Commission keeps its practice on this matter constantly under review.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the recent report on smoking and lung cancer, he will give an assurance that he will not over-rule future decisions of the traffic commissioners to restrict smoking to the upper decks of public service vehicles.

While I appreciate the reason for the hon. Member's Question, I do not feel that it would be right for me to give the assurance he seeks, since I have to decide statutory appeals against the decisions of the Traffic Commissioners on the evidence and arguments before me in each case.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the. damage to the human lung which may be caused by diesel fumes, he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission to secure a reduction in the emission of such fumes on railway trains, which frequently cause discomfort and distress to railway employees and passengers.

No; this is a matter of railway management for which the British Transport Commission is responsible. The Commission tells me that its standard instructions to maintenance staff are designed to ensure that smoke and smell from diesel locomotives and diesel multiple-unit trains are reduced to the minimum.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to find jobs for young people in the village of Rossington, near Doneaster, who are now having to travel long distances to work.

Most young people not employed in Rossington travel to Don-caster, about five miles away. A few girls travel to Bradford, about 30 miles away. The Youth Employment Service is making every effort to find jobs nearer horns for those who want them.

asked the Minister of Labour how many full-time and part-time posts, respectively, at the King George V Sanatorium at Liphook have been filled through his local employment exchanges in the past 12 months.

None. Ten vacancies for nursing staff have been notified to the Portsmouth Employment Exchange during the past twelve months and six people were put forward to fill them, but the only person engaged afterwards withdrew.

asked the Minister of Defence whether will make a statement on his meeting with the Australian and New Zealand Defence Ministers at Singapore.

I am very grateful to the Australian and New Zealand Ministers of Defence for meeting me in Singapore, as I could not at this time accept their invitation to visit them in their own countries. We had full and frank discussions which covered a wide range of subjects of mutual defence interests. These included the setting up of a unified command in the Far East, defence questions which would arise if Greater Malaysia is formed, the future of the Singapore base, and also world-wide problems. We were all agreed that these personal contacts were extremely valuable, and we propose to continue them.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will place in the Library copies of the agreements entered into with the Governments of Malaya and Ceylon concerning the use of the naval bases of Singapore and Trincomalee, respectively, together with a statement of the circumstances in which the latter agreement was abrogated, for the convenience of hon. Members.

The information required is contained in Command Papers Nos. 1563 of 1961, 7257 of 1947 and 197 of 1957, copies of which are, of course available in the Library.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will allow a rebate on landing fees for flights between Gatwick and Heathrow for maintenance or positioning purposes, as recommended by the Select Committee on Estimates.

Yes. I have decided to waive the payment of landing fees on flights between Heathrow and Gatwick for maintenance or positioning purposes between one scheduled flight and another in order to help airlines which are operating scheduled services from both airports.

asked the Minister of Education (1) if he will state the number of children in maintained and assisted secondary schools being educated in accommodation built before 1902, from 1902 to 1918, from 1918 to 1945, and since 1945, respectively;(2) what is the number of children in maintained and assisted primary schools being educated in accommodation built before 1902, from 1902 to 1918, from 1918 to 1945, and since 1945, respectively.

Information about the dates of school buildings for the years before 1945 is not available centrally. In January, 1961, there were 4,100,000 pupils in all primary schools and 2,800,000 pupils in all secondary schools and in each category about 1½ million pupils were in places provided since 1945.

asked the Minister of Education what steps the new Curriculum Study Group in his Department is taking to improve the teaching of science and mathematics.

The Nuffield Foundation has decided to make available £250,000 towards the cost of a long-term development programme to improve teaching in these subjects. This is an excellent and most generous action for which I am very grateful. The programme will be supervised by the Director of the Foundation, Dr. Leslie Farrer-Brown, in association with the Curriculum Study Group of my Ministry, and with the help of advisory committees, but the detailed work will be carried out by practising teachers under the guidance of specially appointed full-time Nuffield Fellows. A full account of the project is being issued today. I am sure the House will wish to join in thanking the Nuffield Foundation for this timely and substantial help towards the study of one of the most urgent problems of the school curriculum.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the purchasing value of the sovereign for each year from 1951–52 to 1961–62, taking 1951–52 at the basic value of 20s.

Since U.K. residents are prohibited from possessing sovereigns, except for special purposes, it is unrealistic to attach a purchasing value to them within the United Kingdom. The following table, based on the consumer price index adjusted from calendar to financial years by the index of retail prices, shows changes in the purchasing value of the £ since 1951–52:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he now has for bringing the Act into operation after the Commonwealth Immigrants Bill becomes law.

I cannot at present add to my reply to a Quesion asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Louth (Sir C. Osborne) on 29th March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the continuance of accidents involving oil heaters, when he proposes to implement the Consumer Protection Act, 1961.

I hope to make Regulations on oil heaters next week.

asked the Minister of Health how many people suffered from a cerebral thrombosis between the ages of 40 and 50, 50 and 60 and over 60 years, respectively, in each of the last 10 years; how many of these died from this cause; and how many in each group followed a sedentary occupation.

The following are the figures for the deaths assigned to cerebral embolism and thrombosis in England and Wales from 1952 to 1961. Separate figures for cerebral thrombosis are not available: nor is the rest of the information for which the hon. Member asks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful prosecutions there were in England and Wales during 1961 for causing or permitting vehicles to emit an unnecessary or excessive amount of noxious or offensive gases.

Provisional figures show that in England and Wales during 1961 there were 1,672 prosecutions under Regulation 79 of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, 1955, for the unlawful emission of smoke, etc. It is not known how many of these were successful.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that, following the results of polls held in Wales last year, whilst drinks may now be served to non-residents during permitted hours in licensed premises on Sundays in five counties of Wales, no such service can be provided in the remaining eight counties, and that this situation is inconvenient from the point of view of tourists; and whether, in view of the growing importance of the tourist industry to the economy, he will consider new steps to provide better treatment for tourists throughout Wales on Sunday.

Parliament decided in the Licensing Act, 1961, that the question of the sale of intoxicating liquor to non-residents on Sundays should be determined in each county and county borough in Wales by a poll of the local government electorate in that area. I should not feel justified in introducing fresh legislation to overrule or modify the decisions which have now been taken accordingly,

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of men and the number of women, respectively, who were called for jury service during each of the past 10 years.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the new one-way traffic routes brought into operation on 26th March in High Holborn have caused a bottle-neck at Bloomsbury Way, Blooms-bury Square and Vernon Place, while Southampton Place is now virtually completely free of traffic, and that some roads and portions of roads are entirely cut off from use by traffic; and if he will take steps to ensure that those preparing one-way traffic schemes prepare them in such a way that the traffic can flow more quickly than before and traffic blocks in bottle-necks can be avoided.

These one-way traffic routes were introduced by regulations made by the Commissioner of Police in order to avoid congestion which would otherwise have resulted from the construction of a subway under Theobalds Road and other work on the London County Council's improvement scheme for this area. The Commissioner is watching the situation, but it is too early to say whether any modification of the arrangements is necessary.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will take steps to ensure that all water undertakings will in 1963–64 increase their charges to meter users on a comparable basis with that borne by domestic users, consequent upon the recently announced increase in rateable values.

Water undertakers normally keep their charges to different classes of consumer broadly in line, and I would expect them to continue to do this after revaluation. In any case revaluation need not result in an increase in the amounts paid by domestic consumers, as rate poundages will be adjusted in the light of the new valuations.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether, having regard to the information contained in the 1962 White Paper on Revaluation, he will take steps to ensure that there is a proportionate reduction in all existing maximum charges of water undertakings to domestic users, as distinct from meter users.

A sub-committee of my Central Advisory Water Committee is examining the whole question of maximum water charges. In the light of their report, which I expect to receive during the summer, I shall consider what action to take.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the average time taken in Wales in the last year from the notification of an intended planning appeal to the time of the hearing and from the hearing of a planning appeal to the adjudication; how many adjudications of appeals are outstanding which have been heard in Wales more than three months ago; and what steps are being taken to expedite their adjudication.

24 weeks: 9 weeks: 12 cases. The time taken to clear cases has increased in the last few months due to staff shortages, but I am taking steps which I hope will shortly bring the figures down again.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will give the estimated totals of rateable value on which are based the percentage figures given in the table on page 4 of Command Paper No. 1663 showing the expected change in the rate burden after the revaluation for rates in 1963.

The figures are as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the figures for exports to West Germany, quoted in the Trade and Navigation Accounts for the 12 months ending 31st December for the years 1959, 1960 and 1961, respectively, include purchases of military material, and any other purchases directly related to the presence of British forces in West Germany.

Exports of military material for British forces abroad are not included in the Trade and Navigation Accounts. United Kingdom exports and re-exports to the N.A.A.F.I. and estimated exports by parcel post to the British forces in West Germany, both of which are included in the Accounts, were as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many jobs in Scotland, the Highlands and Islands, and in Inverness-shire, respectively, have become, or it is estimated will become, available as a result of loans or grants authorised under the Local Employment Act.

It is estimated by the firms concerned that 27,000 jobs have arisen or will arise from projects in Scotland for which financial assistance has been offered under the Local Employment Act. Of these, some 470 are in the Highlands and Islands, including 100 for Inverness-shire.