asked the Minister of Transport what recommendations he has received from the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee in regard to the traffic congestion in central London; and what steps he proposes taking to rectify the present confusion.

asked the Minister of Transport when, and to what extent, he proposes to implement the findings of the Traffic Advisory Committee on traffic congestion in London.

I am most grateful to the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee for their valuable and far-reaching report, which was recently published. Their recommendations can be divided into four main categories: (1) those which would require new regulations and, in some instances, legislation; (2) those which can be dealt with by administrative action; (3) the problem of parking; and (4) recommendations about street improvements.

I am giving this report close personal consideration, and I hope to make a statement about it in the near future.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the enormous increase in traffic which can be expected as a result of the Festival of Britain, and make his plans accordingly?

I am only too well aware of that. Apart from the Festival, I recognise that this is a permanent problem which must be dealt with.

While I am glad to hear the Minister say that, might I ask whether he will consider carrying out as quickly as possible those recommendations which do not involve the expenditure of large sums of money?

Yes. That is why, I have provided for various forms of treatment.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the results of his inquiries on the proposal to make the sounding of a motor-horn in built-up areas illegal; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

I do not see any reason to extend the existing restrictions on the use of motor-horns.

Is the mind of the Minister permanently closed against this method, which has been tried out in Sweden and found successful in averting road accidents as well as making the life of the people much more tolerable?

I assure the hon. Gentleman that my mind is not permanently closed on the subject of any traffic improvement. I am not convinced that this would be an improvement.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that it is the experience of every motorist—probably it has been his own experience—that he drives much more carefully when the horn happens to be out of action?

There is some truth in that but, on the other hand, the warning given by the sounding of a horn often avoids an accident.

Not when a careful driver is driving. The Minister may have found that that is his experience.

No. I consider that the Minister is a very careful driver.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that instances occur on metalled roads of public rights of way being maintained by owners of the land which they traverse though joined to highway authority roads at each end; and if he will introduce legislation compelling highway authorities to maintain such roads where, after public inquiry, general usage of such road can be proved.

I am aware of such cases. Some of these can be dealt with under existing statutes, but they arise in different ways and cannot all be treated alike. This is one of a number of features of highway law which could usefully be considered as part of a general consolidation and revision, but I do not think that the matter is so urgent or important as to justify special legislation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of these cases arise from the ancestor of the owner having made, at his own expense, a road where there was before an unmetalled road, thereby saving the then authority— the parish authority—much money. Does he not agree that it is rather hard on the successor that he should have to keep up the road? Will the right hon. Gentleman allow me to send him details of one or two cases where real hardship has arisen in this connection?

Certainly. I have indicated that there are a variety of experiences in this direction. I should welcome any information of that kind.

Where any road is maintained by a public authority, will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that it will be taken over completely by that authority?

I should not like to commit myself too far in that direction yet.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make arrangements to improve the method of signposting in and out of London with a view to these improvements being completed before the Festival of Britain.

A temporary scheme for signposting the major routes in and out of London has been put in hand by the Royal Automobile Club and the Automobile Association in consultation with my Department and the local authorities concerned. This scheme will be completed before the Festival

Will the right hon. Gentleman make quite certain that the scheme is ample enough to give real guidance, not only on direct main roads, but also on parallel roads which are so frequently used, because, if the signposting around London remains as at present, there will be many lost sheep among the visitors to the Festival of Britain?

I think we are all indebted to these two motoring associations for this voluntary task, which they undertake at their own expense. They have co-operated with my Department considerably. On the basis of experience, we hope progressively to develop a permanent system of signposting in London, but I would not like to commit myself at the moment as to how far it can be dealt with on the circular plan.

Will my right hon. Friend also consider the question of making clear the road names in London, so that people will know exactly where they are?

I would remind hon. Members that I have to depend on the co-operation of a great many authorities in operating these schemes.

Is the Minister aware that many signposts are too small and far too high? Will he say what he has done, or will do, as distinct from the motoring organisations, to signpost important roads, and apart from what he has done on the way to Dover?

What we are concentrating on, departmentally and in an experimental way, is to get the three main port roads signposted: the London— Dover, London—Harwich and London— Southampton routes.

asked the Minister of Transport why, after an appeal by Messrs. G. W. Castle, Limited, to be granted an additional picking up point in Holmfirth had been allowed by his inspector on 16th September, 1949, and after his inspector had decided that the appellants be not required to pay the Minister's costs, he turned down the appeal in full and made an order for the payment of costs amounting to £31 17s.

The decision in appeals of this kind rests with me. In this case, as I explained at the time to my right hon. Friend the Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Glenvil Hall), who wrote to me on behalf of his constituent, I did not accept the inspector's recommendation because, as stated in the letter of 19th November, 1949, conveying my decision, there were not, in my opinion, sufficient grounds to justify my reversing the decision reached by the licensing authority after a public hearing. Costs were recovered from Messrs. Castle, as unsuccessful appellants, in accordance with the usual practice.

Would the right hon. Gentleman agree that to act as his own court of appeal, to reverse the decision of his own inspector, and, contrary to the inspector's advice, make an order for costs in his own favour, is a palpable and rather contemptible form of injustice?

I entirely disagree with that. Hon. Members should not jump to conclusions. This represented a difference between the inspector and the licensing authority, and the licensing authority is one to whose views I should give very serious consideration in matters of this kind.

rose——

I beg to give notice that, owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I shall raise the matter on the Motion for the Adjournment.

May I ask my right hon. Friend——

No.

One ruling that I gave recently was that, when the hon. Member who asked the Question rose and said that he would raise the matter on the Motion for the Adjournment, that closed the matter. I gave no ruling so far as other Adjournments are concerned.

In this particular case, and with very great respect, Mr. Speaker, had you not already called my right hon. Friend the Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Glenvil Hall)?

Actually, I had called the next questioner, and then, as I thought that the matter affected the constituency of the right hon. Gentleman, and seeing that he rose, I called him; but, of course, the discussion was stopped quite definitely by the hon. Member for Monmouth (Mr. P. Thorneycroft) giving notice to raise the matter again on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Transport how many omnibus, tram or trolley-bus stops in the area served by the London Transport Executive are sited within 25 yards of traffic lights.

I regret that this information is not available. Bus stops are appointed and revised by the Stopping Places Advisory Committee on which the licensing authority, the police, the London Transport Executive and the Transport and General Workers' Union are represented. This Committee reports to the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee.

I asked the Minister this Question before, and I put it down in this way so that he could get the information. It is a very serious matter. In present circumstances of traffic congestion, does the Minister appreciate that if he would look into this matter again it would very probably ease the congestion considerably and avoid possible loss of life at these stops?

I have no doubt that the Stopping Places Advisory Committee will note what the hon. and gallant Member has said, and, in any case, I will draw their attention to it.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us how many members of this distinguished Committee drive vehicles themselves, and what is the value of their advice?

asked the Minister of Transport on what date the surfacing of the carriageway between Hyde Park Corner and Marble Arch was completed; what was the cost; and why the new surface has deteriorated so rapidly.

I assume that the hon. and gallant Member refers to the carriageway of Park Lane. This work was carried out by the Westminster City Council in July, 1950, and cost approximately £17,500. I understand that some small areas, mostly near bus stops, are not satisfactory and that the Council are investigating the reason for this.

Is the Minister aware that I was referring to the carriageway inside the Park? As it appears from his reply that the Park Lane surface is equally bad, I shall have to put this Question down to the Minister of Works?

I think that that is a most unfair allegation. The Westminster City Council maintains a very high standard of highways work and, because a limited part of some extensive work has been found to be faulty, I do not think one can blame the Council for that.

Is the Minister aware that, as it is only a little of the granite binding—the chippings—that have worked loose, and, as this is a new though very satisfactory anti-skid surface, the Westminster City Council may be forgiven if the process is still in its experimental stage?

I would suggest to the hon. Gentleman that the process of education should start on his own side of the House.

Is the Minister aware that this surface was so extraordinarily satisfactory from the beginning that half the motorists in London went that way to see how good it was?

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of local representations, he will reconsider his refusal to confirm the Hertfordshire County Council traffic regulation for the institution of one-way traffic in Bear Lane, Ashwell.

I have reconsidered this case very recently. I do not consider that the traffic conditions justify my confirming the county council's order. The volume of traffic is very small and the order would involve an inconvenient detour, especially for cyclists.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that this is a very narrow lane, with no footpath and with a high wall on both sides, and also that the people of this village, the local parish council and the Hertfordshire County Council all demand a one-way scheme?. In those circumstances, why should a Whitehall official with no knowledge of the local conditions be allowed to overrule all other opinions?

I do not agree that a Whitehall official determines this matter. We have to take into consideration the claims of all those who use a highway of this description.

asked the Minister of Transport what grants-in-aid have been made by his Department during the past 10 years to restore damage to surface transport facilities between Manchester and Crewe which have suffered as a result of subsidence of land in that region due to brine pumping; and whether he proposes to give any further assistance in this matter, in view of the increase of such subsidence recently.

I do not make any grants specifically for this purpose. County councils receive each year grants from the Road Fund towards the cost of maintaining their classified roads which would include any expenditure falling on the Council in respect of such roads as a result of subsidence.

Does not the Minister expect further very heavy subsidence in view of the collapse of the main railway line between Crewe and Manchester? Who is to pay for all this damage?

If the railway is damaged, the British Transport Commission will have to meet that cost. I shall not have to meet it out of the Road Fund.

asked the Minister of Transport why there has been such a great delay in resurfacing the A4 Bristol trunk road between Bath and Keynsham; and why the residents in this particular area should be made to suffer inconveniences through the experiment.

The volume and character of the traffic on this length of road made it suitable, when it was due for resurfacing in the ordinary course, for experimental work on the economies to be secured through using various mixtures of local materials in surfacing roads. With experimental work of this kind some of the lengths are bound to fail and have to be replaced. Replacement of some sections which failed recently has been delayed by unfavourable weather.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that while these experiments may be highly valuable, they cause tremendous inconvenience to those who have to use the road every day? When he carries out the next experiment, will he see that it does not take six months to clear up the mess?

I will certainly bear it in mind.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the recent deterioration of the state of the roads in the Isle of Skye; and what steps he proposes to take to mitigate the bad effects of a complete breakdown in road communications.

I am aware that roads in Skye have recently suffered from alternate frost and thaw. The responsibility for the maintenance of these roads rests with the Inverness County Council and I understand that they are endeavouring to restore the roads as quickly as conditions permit. The County Council receive assistance from the Road Fund towards the maintenance of their classified roads.

Is the Minister aware that most of the roads in Skye are 40 or 50 years old and were not designed to carry some of the heavy traffic which they have to carry today? Unless something is done to improve the roads, the island will be reduced to packhorses for transport? Furthermore, in view of the importance of the tourist industry, will he consider taking over the main road from the Kyle of Lochalsh to the north of Skye as a trunk road, and see that it is constructed and maintained up to that standard?

The Ministry have taken over many roads in Scotland in recent years, and made them trunk roads. I will certainly look into the specific point raised by the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Minister of Transport why he has decided to make an order imposing vehicle waiting restrictions in Bridport, Dorset, without holding a public inquiry, having regard to the opposition locally to this proposal; and whether he is prepared to reconsider the matter.

I gave careful consideration to the objections made to the orders after advertisement and made certain modifications in the original proposals as a result. In the circumstances I did not think it necessary to hold a public inquiry. I expect the orders to work satisfactorily, but if they do not I should be quite prepared to consider further representations after a sufficient time has elapsed to give them a fair trial.

Is the Minister aware that the local Chamber of Commerce, for example, is most dissatisfied?

On the other hand, I understand that the local authority is satisfied. If, after a time, the hon. Member finds that this dissatisfaction still remains, I shall be prepared to reconsider the matter.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a direction to the British Transport Commission to continue all existing road haulier permits until the Transport (Amendment) Bill has been reported from the Standing Committee.

No, Sir. The only powers under the Transport Act which would conceivably enable me to issue such a direction are those contained in Section 4, and these I am not empowered to exercise unless it appears to me to be in the national interest to do so.

How can the right hon. Gentleman possibly justify the right of the Commission to go on running these men out of business, contrary to the expressed view of the majority of the House of Commons?

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that when the House gives a Second Reading to a Bill it approves the principle of that Bill, and that the principle of this Bill was that the granting or revocation of permits should be referred to the licensing authorities? Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that when both Houses of Parliament have approved of a principle the national interest demands some effort to give effect to the will of the people?

The right hon. and learned Gentleman apparently is overlooking the fact that this is an amending Bill to an Act of Parliament which is already on the Statute Book. The Bill still has to go through certain procedure in the House, and until it has gone through that procedure it does not override the obligations imposed by statute upon the Minister.

Is the right hon. Gentleman really telling us that when the House has given approval to a principle the administration of His Majesty's Government is not going to give effect to that approval?

May I again remind the right hon. and learned Gentleman that I am empowered under the Transport Act to give a direction to the Transport Commission only if it is in the national interest. I fail to see that it is in the national interest that the Second Reading of this Bill should over-ride a statutory obligation imposed upon myself.

Are we now to understand from the questions put by the Opposition that once a Bill has been carried on Second Reading they will never oppose the Third Reading of that Bill?

Does the Minister not recall that when the House, at the Committee stage, abolished capital punishment the Home Secretary suspended hangings, which certainly could not be considered to be in the public interest?

asked the Minister of Transport what traffic alterations are contemplated on Victoria Embankment as a result of the abolition of the tramways; and whether he will consider using a portion of the space which will become available as a car park.

Trams will probably continue to run on the Victoria Embankment until the autumn of 1952. No decision has yet been reached as to what alterations in the layout of the road will then be made, but the matter is under consideration by the Westminster City Council as highway authority.

Will the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that an opportunity will not be lost of making a great improvement there when the trams disappear?

I think the hon. Member can rest content that we shall keep in touch with the Westminster City Council on this matter.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that a considerable mileage of roads in Kent are in a corrugated and unsafe condition; that permitted expenditure is insufficient to enable the Kent County Council to undertake the necessary re-surfacing; and if he will look into the matter.

I am aware that the funds available for road maintenance during recent years have not been sufficient to keep up the high standards we should all like to see; and this applies not only to Kent, but generally throughout the country. Every care is taken to ensure that the limited funds available to me for grants towards the cost of road maintenance are distributed among the various highway authorities in the most equitable manner.

Is the Minister aware that roads in Kent had exceptionally heavy wear during the war and that that ought to be borne in mind when he is distributing what money there is available?

We shall certainly keep that in mind when the Road Fund moneys are being allocated.

asked the Minister of Transport when the new jetty at Kyle of Lochalsh will be completed.

No acceptable tenders as regards either cost or time of completion were received for the construction of a new slipway according to the original plans. In order to secure the improvement of the ferry service this summer it was accordingly found necessary to prepare an amended scheme for an extension of the existing slipway to enable the ferry to be used at low tide. Every effort will be made to have the extension usable for Skye week. Further work will be done later to make the slipway more convenient.

Is the Minister aware that a Railway Executive official recently stated in a letter that this slipway would be completed this spring, and that if he is to get it ready by this summer he will have to get a move on?

That is too much to expect.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps, following the report of the inquiry on 20th October into Glasgow omnibus accidents, he proposes to take to reduce the risk of such accidents in the future.

My consideration of the report of this inquiry has not revealed any feature common to these accidents or special to any one of them on which specific remedial steps could usefully be based.

Am I then to understand that the committee made no recommendations at all which might have helped to avoid such accidents in future? Second, can my right hon. Friend say why the reports of this committee are secret and are not being published, as happens in the case of railway and air accidents?

It is not customary to publish reports of this type of inquiry, but I can assure my hon. Friend I have read all these reports very carefully and there is no feature common to them. They concerned a series of different accidents and, therefore, there is nothing upon which I could base a policy.

Do I understand, then, that the committee failed to make any recommendations which would afford guidance on how these accidents might be avoided?

I can only repeat there was nothing common to the accidents upon which they could base any recommendations.

asked the Minister of Transport how many persons were killed and how many injured, in 1950, while passengers on public service vehicles.

I regret that the information is not available.

Is there no way in which my right hon. Friend could obtain this very important information?

I have already broken down many of the causes in these accident records, and there is no evidence that public service vehicles contribute to them to any large extent.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress is being made in the mechanisation of the handling of goods in British ports with a view to a quicker turn round of shipping and the economy of labour.

The Report of the Working Party on Increased Mechanisation in U.K. Ports was published in May, 1950, and copies were sent to the national organisations directly concerned. Reports I have received from time to time from dock and harbour authorities show that progress is being made in the mechanisation of cargo handling in the ports. The introduction of mechanical aids is related to the question of manning scales; this is an industrial matter which is under continuous review by the local joint committees of the National Joint Council for the Port Transport Industry.

In view of the extreme importance of getting an ever quicker turn-round, is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that there are no restrictive practices and will he say whether he is satisfied with the rate of progress which is necessary?

I should not like to say that I am satisfied with the rate of progress, because it is uneven in the different ports throughout the country. Anyone connected with shipping will realise how vital it is today that the turn-round should be as quick as possible. My purpose is to maintain continuous pressure, though one cannot always exercise a direct influence. The hon. Gentleman knows that the port and harbour authorities are largely autonomous.

Is the Minister aware that the rate of loading and discharging in many of our ports compares unfavourably with the rates at many Continental ports?

Does my right hon. Friend realise that charges of slow discharging and loading have been made before without any substantiation? Is he aware that many of the restrictive practices come from the employers' side as well as from the men's side; that there is a great fear of redundancy among the men, and that this must be broken down before the new machinery can be employed?

In reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Barkston Ash (Colonel Ropner), I always regret these general allegations that the ports of other countries are more efficient than those of this country, because my general experience of shipping does not substantiate that. I would not say for a moment that there are no examples that, perhaps, are more efficient, but, generally, I do not think that British ports suffer by comparison. On the point raised by my hon. Friend, it does not really matter where the restrictions operate; it is in the general interest to get rid of them.

asked the Minister of Transport what arrangement exists for co-ordinating the demands for shipping by the various Government Departments; and what advice he is giving to avoid further dislocation in the world freight market.

The policy of the importing Departments in chartering ships is to make the fullest use of the normal market facilities of the Baltic Exchange. I maintain close contact both with the importing Departments and with the Baltic Exchange and I am confident that every effort is being made by all concerned to avoid unnecessary competition and dislocation of the freight market.

In view of the enormous demands made by Government Departments on shipping space and the apparently unpredictable nature of His Majesty's Government in nautical matters, is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that he has got the situation in hand?

I would point out to the hon. and gallant Gentleman that it is not only British demands that have affected the freight market. I suppose he knows that there is something going on in Korea and in many other directions with regard to large bulk buying, not only here, but from abroad, which has had an effect on the freight markets.

Has the right hon. Gentleman taken the trouble to read the report of the Chamber of Shipping, which lays the blame frankly on the shoulders of the Government and says that such action on the part of private ship-owners and others would be regarded as inconceivable?

I am certainly familiar with that report, and I emphasise the reply I gave to the supplementary question, that it is not entirely the demands from this coutnry, but a general demand, which have hardened freights throughout the world.

Will the Minister state whether, at the time the Ministry of Fuel and Power made the heavy demands on tonnage in order to import coal, the Ministry of Transport had any knowledge of the import programmes sponsored by the Ministry of Supply's Timber Control and the Ministry of Food?

Yes, certainly. We were generally aware of the programmes of that kind, but no one can help the impact of any large import programme on the freight market of the world. As the hon. Gentleman knows, the hardening of the market commenced before that time.

Although it may not be possible to co-ordinate world-wide demands, is it not possible for the right hon. Gentleman to do something to prevent the unseemly scramble between the Ministry of Food and the National Coal Board?

I do not agree that there was an unseemly scramble, and while I am denying the implications of these questions, I would, on the other hand, like publicly to acknowledge the assistance I have received from the British shipping industry. It has helped considerably to keep the rising freight markets of the world under some form of control.

In return, might not the Government Departments do something to help the shipping industry?

We have done that repeatedly. I resist the implication that we have been inconsiderate towards the shipping industry of this country.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that a number of shipping companies are desirous of selling old ships in order to replace them by modern tonnage, he will lift the ban on the sale of ships to foreign nationals.

Control over the sales of ships to overseas buyers must continue in the interests of national defence and security. But, within wide limits, I permit the maximum freedom of sale to enable shipping companies to build up funds for replacement.

Does the right hon. Gentleman really think that it is in the national interest to compel ship-owners to keep old ships while allowing foreigners to buy modern efficient tonnage in this country?

They are not compelled to keep old ships. At certain ages of ships there is a free sale and in the next age category owners are permitted to sell provided funds are blocked for replacement.

Why does the Minister keep this control on at all?

As I pointed out, in the interest of national defence and security.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that the supply of qualified radio officers for the British merchant service is increased in order to meet the present shortage.

This is primarily a matter for the shipping industry, but I understand that while there is a tendency for radio officers, after some years at sea, to settle down in employment ashore, there has been no shortage of new entrants. The recent National Maritime Board agreements are designed to encourage officers in all departments in the Merchant Navy to make the sea their permanent career.

asked the Minister of Transport what process of selection was used in appointing members to the East Anglia Transport Consultative Committee.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the basis on which members were selected for appointment to the East Anglia Transport Consultative Committee.

As required by the Transport Act, I consulted bodies representing agriculture, commerce, industry, shipping, labour and local authorities. From the names submitted by these bodies and by the British Transport Commission I chose the persons who appeared to be most suitable with due regard to keeping a proper balance within the Committee as a whole and a reasonable distribution of membership throughout the area of the Committee. I have also appointed two additional members.

Is the Minister aware that this method of selection has entirely debarred from representation any of those who are day-to-day passengers on the railway? Is he further aware that 20,000 people who use the Southend—Fenchurch Street line are debarred from any representation? Will he appoint one of them as a member?

As there is a season ticket holder in every town and city and it would be impossible to secure the representations of all of them. As a matter of fact, there is a season ticket holder, if not from this area from another, on this Committee, but the authority in which the hon. Member is interested has a direct representative put on by the municipal authority.

Not at all.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will add to the Transport Users Consultative Committee for East Anglia a representative from the travelling public using the Fenchurch Street—Shoeburyness line.

No, Sir. It would not be practicable to add to these committees representatives of particular local interests of this kind.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the intense dissatisfaction of thousands of travellers in South Essex with the unreliable services and dirty conditions under which they have to travel? Bearing in mind that the railways belong to the public, will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his answer and give representation to the unfortunate people who use this line, so that their grievances and remedies may be considered?

I have already pointed out that the Southend local authority has a representative, and I see no reason why bodies of citizens should not make their views felt through, for instance, the representation of the Southend municipal authority.

Do I understand from the Minister's answer that people on the Committee never travel?

Are we to take it from this Question and answer that this Committee, despite its somewhat misleading name, does, in fact, cover Essex as well as East Anglia?

Certainly.

It is not part of it.

Was the Minister choosing his words carefully when he described the travelling public using an important London terminus as "particular local interests"? I would like an answer to that.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the cost of building Faslane docks and harbour; on what date they were sold; to what firm and at what price; and to what extent the contract provided for the possibility of the return of this undertaking in the event of national emergency.

The military port of Faslane was built and equipped by the War Office during the war at a cost of approximately £3 million. The port has not been sold but has been leased to Metal Industries, Ltd., for a period of 20 years from 15th August, 1946, at a yearly rental of £12,500. The lease provides that the lessees will keep in repair the main structures of the port, and it has been agreed with Metal Industries, Ltd., that in the event of national emergency the Government would have the right of immediate re-occupation.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the inequitable distribution of the emergency cuts in rail and steamer traffic due to the coal shortage; and if he will make a statement on the directions he will issue to the British Transport Commission to ensure that cuts in services are equally distributed on all the routes affected.

The Railway Executive have sought to cause the least inconvenience to travellers by cutting their most lightly-loaded services. Cuts have been made where the, most effective savings in coal could be obtained without undue interference with essential services. In the circumstances, the question of direction does not arise.

Is the Minister aware that one cross-Channel steamer service, that between Belfast and Heysham, has been cut since the coal shortage, whereas the other cross-Channel services belonging to British Railways have not been cut? Has the right hon. Gentleman now abandoned the policy of fair shares for all?

No, Sir. I do not think that that issue arises. Some of the ships are oil burning. In the case to which the hon. Member referred the cut represented a direct saving in coal consumption. It was not a very heavily loaded service, and it was temporarily suspended.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that great inconvenience is caused on some of the rural branch lines on which the Sunday services have been entirely suspended—for example, on the Southminster branch—and where there is no alternative transport, no Sunday buses?

Yes, I am quite aware of that. Inconvenience has been caused by these cuts, but they are unavoidable.

Is it not a fact that, as in the case of the shipping industry, railways have been much embarrassed by the suddenness of the Government's demands about coal; and, as all these plans had to be put into effect so quickly by the railways, ought not the matter to be reconsidered in order to even out these cuts?

As I said some time ago, the railways have had to bear more or less the same proportion of cuts as industry in general, but on passenger services the effects are experienced more directly.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the great inconvenience caused by practically abolishing the railway service between Swindon and Trowbridge?

Does the right hon. Gentleman not realise that cutting down the Heysham service from six days in the week to three seriously affects the export of raw materials to Northern Ireland for the shipbuilding yards and also for the aircraft factory, which produce what is so necessary at present for our defence?

No; I do not think that the cargo services will be inconvenienced to the same extent as the passenger services.

On a point of order. Although, in view of your recent Ruling, Mr. Speaker, I should obviously not be in order in giving notice that I intend to raise this matter on the Adjournment, since it arises out of a Question on the Paper in the name of another hon. Member, nevertheless may I take it that I should be in order in advising my right hon. Friend that I have, in fact, been balloting daily for weeks on this subject, and that if I am not lucky in the ballot soon I shall ask you for some time on the Easter Adjournment?

The hon. Member is in order in saying that he will raise the matter on the Adjournment, but it does not stop Questions as far as I am concerned. He makes his protest in that way, and that is why I allow it.

asked the Minister of Transport when it is proposed to publish the Annual Report of the British Transport Commission for 1950.

The Commission hope that the Report will be available in the early part of July.

Can we not break this bad habit of getting the Report only when it is months out of date? Should we not have it available now?

I think that this represents a considerable improvement on our experience of last year. They are very formidable accounts.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recall the scandalous delay which took place last year in the publication of this Report? Does he appreciate that the affairs of the Transport Commission are now deteriorating so fast and that the delay in the publication of the Report is so long that the House of Commons frequently finds itself debating something which is months and months out of date? Will the right hon. Gentleman send a sharp note to Lord Hurcomb?

I do not think that any problem is solved by exaggerated statements of that kind.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement as to his present intentions with regard to the levels of railway rates and fares.

asked the Minister of Transport what increases he proposes to authorise in railway passenger fares and freight charges; and whether he will give an assurance that none of these increases shall come into effect until this House has had an opportunity to consider them.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in considering applications by the railways for permission to raise freights, he will bear in mind the hardship this causes to remote areas in the Highlands and Islands; and whether he will take steps to introduce some form of rebate on long hauls.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement on this subject.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that when the Government intervened in the recent wage negotiations he must have advised his colleagues at that time about the effect that that settlement would probably have on freights and fares? In those circumstances, what is the cause of the delay?

The hon. Member ought to appreciate that I should require a submission from the Transport Commission. That submission has now been received and will be given full and adequate consideration.

Do we understand from that reply that the Transport Commission have now made their representations and recommendations to the right hon. Gentleman?

Yes.

In that case, how soon can we expect the right hon. Gentleman to give them consideration?

I suggest that, for the moment, the hon. Member waits and sees.

Why is the right hon. Gentleman not able to answer the second part of Question No. 23? In view both of the importance to the economy of this country and the fact that the situation has been aggravated by the direct intervention of the right hon. Gentleman and his right hon. Friend, cannot he give an assurance that no steps will be taken until the House is consulted?

It is not for me to determine the business of the House. When issues are being determined the hon. Member knows the course of procedure to follow if the matter is to be debated here.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that railway workers are no longer going to be considered the Cinderellas of industry, whatever decisions are taken?

asked the Minister of Transport why he refused to approve the capital expenditure necessary to complete the electrification of the line from Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace; and what was the amount of money involved.

I have not withheld approval for this scheme, the estimated cost of which is £4 million. While the Commission's total capital investment is limited, within that limitation the Commission apportion capital investment for their Executives in accordance with their views as to priorities.

As it would not cost very much, relatively, to finish off this job, which has been in progress since before the war, would the right hon. Gentleman consider giving the necessary authorisation to do it?

I have not withheld approval, but the Commission must have the responsibility for allocating what capital they have for investment.

Has the right hon. Gentleman reminded the Commission that there is not a single yard of overland electric railway in Scotland?

asked the Minister of Supply what orders he has given or contemplates giving to Scottish Aviation, Limited, in connection with the programme of re-armament.

May I take it that the right hon. Gentleman is not going to pursue the vendetta against Scotland and that he will allow this private enterprise company an opportunity of playing its part in the future of civil aviation?

asked the Minister of Supply what information he has about the progress which has been made in the standardisation of parts in the motor industry.

My Ministry has been active in impressing on the engineering industry the need for greater standardisation and has met with a ready response. The application of the principles of standardisation is a matter for each industry. Although I have no detailed information of the progress which the motor industry has made, I am satisfied that it is giving close and energetic attention to the problem.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has yet reached any decision about the issue of a medal and ribbon for the campaign in Korea.

No, Sir. It is not customary to come to a decision on a matter of this kind at so early a stage in a campaign, but it will be considered in due course.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that at this stage of the campaign it would be a great encouragement to the British soldiers fighting in Korea if an award of this kind were now made?

Awards for gallantry, and so on, are made, but it has never been the custom to decide on a general campaign medal at so early a stage. I think it is better left a little sort can be weighed with other campaigns.

It has been going on for nearly nine months.

Is the Prime Minister aware, when he says that awards for gallantry are made, that only two awards have been made to other ranks?

We are dealing with medals and not awards.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will recommend to the United Nations organisation that all troops fighting for the United Nations should get equal pay and disability allowances and equal compensation for widows.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will recommend to the United Nations organisation that all troops, sailors and airmen fighting under the United Nations Command should get equal pay.

No, Sir. Forces sent to Korea by member States in response to the Security Council recommendation of 27th June, 1950, are paid and maintained by their Governments on the scales appropriate to the Armed Forces of each country involved. Any attempt to produce uniformity in these matters throughout all the national contingents serving in this operation would, even if it were desirable, involve very great administrative and financial difficulties.

Does the Minister not appreciate that our Service personnel are fighting not for Great Britain but for the United Nations, and will he forget the administrative difficulties and try to give these men equal pay, equal disability allowances, and equal pensions?

I should have thought that the hon. and gallant Gentleman, with his Service experience, would realise the very serious difficulties that would be involved if certain of our Forces serving abroad were operating under one system and certain under another.

Ought not this matter to be looked at again, from the point of view of the men themselves? After all, we have overcome the enormous difficulties involved in building up an integrated international force, and surely we can now overcome what ought to be the lesser difficulty of dealing fairly with the men in this matter.

I think it will be very difficult to do anything of this kind unless we had reached a point of having Forces directly employed and paid from a common budget under the United Nations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the defeat inflicted in the last few days on the enemy in Korea, and the consequent advance of the United Nations Forces, he can now make a statement on the strategic policy of the United Nations with regard to the limits of their advance.

The objectives of the United Nations in Korea were set out in the Resolutions of the Security Council of 27th June and of the General Assembly of 7th October, and still stand. As regards the limits of the advance of United Nations Forces, we are in continuous consultation with the United States Government who are responsible under the Resolution of the Security Council of 7th July for providing the Unified Command.

As my hon. Friend said on 26th February, we have reached a very large measure of agreement with the United States Government on this issue. Since fighting is at present in progress it would clearly not be in the interest of United Nations Forces to make any public statement about future operations.

Would the hon. Gentleman agree that this is not entirely a matter between ourselves and the United States, but is one for the United Nations and the world to know? Does he not agree that this policy of dither and uncertainty will result in our getting the worst of both worlds?

The hon. Gentleman must not assume that there is dither and uncertainty merely because we prefer not to make a statement which would be of definite assistance to the commanders in the field opposed to our Forces.

Could my hon. Friend elucidate the phrase a "measure of agreement"? It seems to me a simple question of whether or not we should advance beyond a certain point. How can there be a "measure of agreement" on such a question?

I was going to put the same point. Nobody wishes to press for tactical information, but what we should like, and be content with, is an assurance on this point—are the Governments concerned agreed?

Yes, Sir, and the right hon. Gentleman will remember that there was an undertaking, which I think was mentioned by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State, given to us on behalf of the United States Government that there would be very full consultation before there was any question of a large-scale strategic crossing of the Parallel.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that anxiety is growing in the country that the war is proceeding in Korea without sufficient emphasis by His Majesty's Government on its, political and moral content and purpose? Is it not now time that His Majesty's Government reintroduced a new resolution in the United Nations' Assembly defining our war aims?

It is, of course, quite possible for any member State to introduce a new resolution if they thought the aims of the United Nations, as set out in the previous Resolution, required alteration, but His Majesty's Government do not feel that they require any alteration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what duties the British Red Cross are performing in Korea.

The British Red Cross Society's welfare team was due to leave Japan on 1st March for Korea where it will assist under the Unified Command in welfare and public health work among the local inhabitants. In addition, British Red Cross and St. John naval V.A.D.s are employed on a hospital ship in Korean waters and the Society have made grants to the International Red Cross Committee for relief work in Korea. British Red Cross and St. John personnel and stores are being used to help Service casualties in hospitals in Japan.

Would my hon. Friend tell us something about the ban which General MacArthur placed on the Red Cross? Why was this ban placed on the Red Cross? Is it not an example of extraordinary inhumanity, seeing that the work of the Red Cross has been very effective?

I am glad to say that the difficulties which arose about the emblems which should be worn by Red Cross personnel have been solved.