asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will say what policies or plans exist for the preservation of National Park rambling facilities in the environment surrounding towns in the Cotswold area.

Facilities for public access and public rights of way are matters for local authorities to consider, and they are encouraged to ensure that adequate facilities are available. Powers exist for the making of access agreements and the creation of new public rights of way. Existing rights of way can be extinguished only under the statutory procedures laid down. The Countryside Commission have under consideration a proposal to make a long-distance route under the National Park and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 to be known as the Cotswold Way.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in view of pending local government reorganisation and the recent announcement for the setting up of a National Parks authority with overall powers, they will conduct an inquiry into the planting of trees on an open area used by climbers, ramblers and walkers on Leckhampton Hill at Cheltenham.

Recent announcements on National Parks have been in terms of a separate authority for each National Park. Cheltenham Borough Council have recently had a meeting with interested bodies to discuss the future of Leckhampton Hill, including facilities for open-air recreation and proposals for planting trees. A general study of the future possibilities for this area, which is not within a National Park but is within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is to be carried out by the Gloucestershire College of Art and Design. A further opportunity will be given for interested persons and bodies to comment on the proposals put forward. These are matters which Her Majesty's Government consider should continue to be dealt with locally.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

My Lords, demand for new telephones is more than 30 per cent. up on last year. The Post Office have greatly increased the rate of installation but, with exchange capacity limited by the availability of equipment ordered in the past, the waiting list is growing. My right honourable friend the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications has encouraged the Post Office to increase investment mainly in exchange equipment to the limit they can achieve and he has recently approved a total addition to their investment of £100 million. Of this, £60 million will be spent in the next three years, the major part in development areas.

The Post Office believe that some increase in tariffs is also necessary if they are to continue to find some 50 per cent. of their rising investment out of revenue and are to deal with rapidly growing demand. They propose to increase the rentals and connection charges, which do not now cover costs, the former by 50p a quarter and the latter from £25 to £35 at the maximum. This would raise users' costs on average by 3 per cent., against the C.B.I.'s 5 per cent. limit. The proposals have been referred to the Users' Council, and meanwhile the Government reserves its position on them.House adjourned at six minutes before seven o'clock.