Written Answers
Transport
Road Improvements (Cost)
asked the Minister of Transport whether he will state the cost per mile of making the best known type of two-way road; the cost of a modern fly-way crossing for same; and the average cost of land purchased for road improvement in the last 10 years?
As the answer to these questions depends so completely on circumstances I hope the hon. Gentleman will realise that it would be misleading for me to attempt to give any figures.
Motor Vehicles (Safety Glass)
asked the Minister of Transport the result of his investigations into the question whether certain forms of safety glass used in motor-cars turn opaque when cracked or broken by stones thrown up by passing vehicles?
Yes, Sir. I have consulted the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. It is found that on the comparatively rare occasions when glass of this type is cracked without collapsing, the obscuration is not complete and the cracked glass can easily be pushed out. In these circumstances I see no reason for prohibiting its use.
Palestine (Police)
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the pension conditions applicable to the Palestine police are, in some respects, inferior to those applicable to soldiers, as, for example, in the case of allowances paid for the children of policemen killed in action on military duty; and whether he can hold out any hope of an improvement in these conditions?
Legislation to provide for increased awards to the dependants of members of the Palestine police force who are killed in the execution of their duty is now under consideration.
Defence (Oil From Coal)
asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether he is yet in a position to give the names of the persons invited to serve on the sub- committee to inquire into the production of oil from coal?
As I stated in my reply on 28th April in connection with the Committee appointed to consider schemes for the production of Calcium Carbide, the established practice is not to make public particulars of Committees of the Committee of Imperial Defence. The Committee on Oil from Coal, however, appears to be another special case, and one in which the public interest is best served by an announcement.The Committee consists of—
- Viscount Falmouth as Chairman, Sir Amos L. Ayre, O.B.E., J.P., Chairman of the Shipbuilding Conference,
- Mr. Arthur E. Cutforth, C.B.E., Deloitte Plender Griffiths and Co., Accountants, and
- Professor A. C. G. Egerton, F.R.S., Professor of Fuel Technology of the Imperial College of Science and Technology.
Joint Secretaries are provided by the Mines Department and the Committee of Imperial Defence.
Royal Air Force (German Officers' Visit)
asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether, in connection with the recent visit of distinguished German staff officers, he can assure the House that no information of a secret or semi-secret nature was divulged?
The Royal Air Force was very glad to have the opportunity afforded by Field Marshal von Blomberg's visit of reciprocating the hospitality and facilities accorded to officers of the Service on a recent visit to Germany. My hon. Friend can be assured that due regard was given to the consideration to which this question refers.