asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that former employees of the West Ham, the Waltham-stow and other tramway corporations, do not receive the benefit of increase of pensions under the recent Pensions (Increase) Act; and, in view of the implied promise as to stability of pensions contained in the London Passenger Transport Act, 1933, if he will make regulations under Section 98 of the Transport Act, 1947, to increase these pensions to the corresponding level of those granted under the Pensions (Increase) Act.

I am aware that the Pensions (Increase) Acts do not apply to any former employees of the undertakings referred to in the Question who were transferred to the service of the London Passenger Transport Board under the London Passenger Transport Act, 1933.The London Passenger Transport Act, 1933, does not contain any provision under which such employees were entitled to receive pensions other than those which were payable under the rules, regulations and customary practice of the various employing authorities which obtained at the date of the transfer of those undertakings under the Act of 1933.The London Transport Executive have received requests from time to time that they should ask the Treasury to make regulations under Section 5 of the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1947, to apply the Acts to such employees. These requests have been refused on the ground that the present financial position of the undertakings of the British Transport Commission precludes the possibility of increasing pensions in the manner prescribed by those Acts. I regret that in these circumstances I should not feel justified in making regulations under Section 98 of the Transport Act, 1947, for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now make a statement on the possibility of improved pensions for railway superannuitants.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Mr. Edward Davies) on 17th November.

asked the Minister of Transport how many new bridges have been built over the Manchester Ship Canal, and their cost, during the last 60 years: and how many have been built over the Thames, giving the name and cost of each bridge.

Five railway bridges and nine road bridges were built over the 36-mile length of the Manchester Ship Canal before it was opened to traffic in May, 1894. Information as to the cost of these bridges is not available. Since 1894 two more bridges have been built over the canal, the Widnes-Runcorn Transporter Bridge in 1905 at a cost of £133,000 and the Railway Swing Bridge No. 2 (Manchester Docks) in 1944 at a cost of £108,000.Over the 139 miles of the River Thames between Tilbury and Oxford 12 new bridges have been built in the last 60 years:

asked the Minister of Transport (1) to set out a list of priorities of proposed new roads that his Department desire to start on when the capital allocation allows;(2) to give a list of priorities for proposed new bridges to be constructed when the capital allocation allows.

I cannot at this stage place the many projects for new roads and bridges in an order of priority. The priority to be given to each scheme will have to be determined in the light of the conditions prevailing and the resources available when it becomes possible to contemplate an expanded programme of road and bridge works.

asked the Minister of Transport when it is intended to make a start on the Salford-Leeds motor road, the Roe-Green, Worsley, Eccles, Trafford Park new road and the north-south motor road through Lancashire: and where it is intended to place each road in the list of priorities for construction when the capital allocation allows.

I cannot say when these schemes will be begun, nor could I at this stage attempt to determine their priority.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is now in a position to state the price to be fixed for seats in the stands to be erected by his Department along the Coronation route.

Uniform prices will be charged of £4 for uncovered seats and £6 for covered seats in Government stands erected in the Royal Parks and on Crown sites. These prices reflect the costs of providing the seats. By arrangement with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, a block of seats intended for visitors from overseas has been set aside for sale through the travel agents. The prices of these seats have been fixed with the advice of the British Travel and Holiday Association after consultation with those in the travel business.