asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many orders for new tonnage to be built in North-East Coast shipyards have been cancelled since 4th June this year; and what is the total value of such orders cancelled so far this year.

Since 4th June, four licences issued to North-East Coast shipyards have been cancelled. I estimate the total value of orders cancelled in that area, so far this year, at about £3 million.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether these cancellations have a heavier impact on the smaller yards than on the larger yards?

Yes, very definitely. I think the larger yards are not unhappily placed, but I am getting rather worried about the smaller yards.

Can my right hon. Friend tell us whether these are cancellations of bookings or cancellations of orders? There is a great difference between the two.

Cancellation of orders.

Would the right hon. Gentleman also say what proportion of these cancellations is in respect of orders for oil tankers?

I am afraid I cannot give that information without notice.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I have reason to believe that there is great anxiety in the North-East shipyards because of the loss of orders for repairs and shipbuilding, which are going to continental ports because the cost is lower and the turn-round is quicker? Is not this due to the fact that their people are working harder than we are?

I cannot go into details of that kind. Foreign competition is one of the causes of these losses.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of orders placed with North-East Coast shipbuilders; and the amount of tonnage ordered so far this year as compared with the number and amount for the corresponding period last year.

Orders for 19 ships totalling 113,200 gross tons had been licensed for North-East Coast shipbuilders up to 20th October this year, as compared with 69 ships totalling 568,400 gross tons in the corresponding period of 1952.

Will the right hon. Gentleman pay serious attention to the information which he has given to the House, because when we discussed this matter 12 months ago the Civil Lord dismissed my view of the industry as being too pessimistic and short-term? Would he not agree that it was right and long-term and that the time has come when the Government must seriously consider the future of this industry?

I read with great care the answers given to the hon. Gentleman by the Civil Lord, and I can assure him that nothing I have said today is out of step with what the Civil Lord said to him before the House rose for the Recess.

Is the right hon. Gentleman taking any precautions to safeguard the position in connection with repair work on the Merseyside?

The Merseyside and all shipbuilding areas are very much in our minds at the moment.

In view of the right hon. Gentleman's reply, I shall endeavour to raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty on what date the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics offered contracts to this country for the construction of trawlers and fish factory ships; what is the approximate value; what consideration has been given to them; and what decision has been reached.

Various inquiries about the possibility of building trawlers and fish factory ships have been received from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, but I am unable at this stage to give any reliable estimate of the value of orders which may emerge. The question of building these ships is at present being considered within the broad framework of the statement of policy made by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 22nd October.

Is it not passing the buck, when this Question was put down to the President of the Board of Trade, that he should ask for it to be transferred to the First Lord of the Admiralty? Is it not about time that a decision was made? If a decision has not yet been made, under what circumstances is one likely to be made?

I do not think there is any passing of the buck at all. This is a Question for which the Admiralty is responsible. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade made a general statement the other day. I have told the hon. Gentleman in my reply today that the matter is still being considered, and my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade told the House last week that consultations are always in progress.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the first part of the Question?

Will the right hon. Gentleman keep in mind the necessity of building trawlers for our fast-decreasing trawler fleet which is as important to us as are the trawler fleets of other countries to them?

I am keeping that matter always in mind.

Will the Minister answer the first part of the Question and say on what date these contracts were offered?

I am afraid I cannot give the date. The inquiries overlapped.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty to make a statement regarding an increase of supplies of steel plate to the shipbuilding industry.

The prospects of increased plate supplies for the merchant shipbuilding industry are favourable. Deliveries of steel plates to the shipyards in September showed a welcome improvement and, except in three instances, which are receiving attention, all orders by shipbuilders for steel plate for delivery in the current quarter have been accepted by the steel industry.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that answer, may I ask him how it is possible for his Department to advise shipbuilders to approach stockists for steel plate when the House is under the impression that the Inter-Departmental Committee is the committee dealing with the allocation scheme?

Perhaps my hon. Friend had better put down that question, because it seems to be far away from the one he is asking today.

While we appreciate the work done by the Inter-Departmental Committee so far, does the Minister realise that there are still complaints that this industry, which is one with a very good record in the matter of ploughing back capital for modernising its plant, must raise its output in order to show a return on the work it has done? It is certainly embarrassed at the present time.

That, again, is another question, but I will certainly study it.

Can we take it that the supply of steel plate to the ship repairing industry is as satisfactory as to the shipbuilding industry?

I think I am right in saying that it is more so than to the shipbuilding industry.

Would it not be a good idea if my right hon. Friend came up to the North-East Coast and let us all get together to discuss this matter?

I should be delighted to come to the North-East Coast and to get together Members of all parties on this question. I hope it will not be too long before I do so.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is satisfied that new orders are coming into British shipyards at a rate necessary to replace deliveries.

In the first nine months of this year, licences were issued for the construction of 103 new merchant ships totalling 323,000 gross tons. During the same period, 165 new merchant ships with a total tonnage of 857,000 gross tons were delivered. The shipbuilding industry's current order book of 5·8 million gross tons represents more than four times the current annual rate of shipyard output.

Can the First Lord give me an assurance that there will be no transference of work from the Royal Naval Dockyard, Chatham, to private shipyards?

I am sure that our naval dockyard, Chatham, will be filled to capacity. If we cannot take on all the work that there is to do, some will have to go elsewhere, but we shall certainly consider the needs of our dockyards first.

Can the Minister give us an indication as to the number of orders that have been cancelled in the meantime?

Not without notice, I am afraid.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what decision has been made in connection with the future of the Polar exploration ship "Discovery," which has been offered to the Royal Navy by the Boy Scouts Association.

The Admiralty will be very glad to accept "Discovery" into the Naval Service as an additional drill ship for the London Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve if she can be converted and used economically. Naturally she will have to be surveyed first, and the necessary docking is being arranged with the consent of the Boy Scouts Association. I will inform my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as a final decision has been taken.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many hospital beds can be accommodated in the royal yacht "Britannia"; and what is the estimated cost of supplying and equipping these beds and ancillary medical services.

Two hundred, and approximately £12,000.

Will this ship be ready in time to take the Prime Minister to see Mr. Malenkov?

Would the right hon. Gentleman not agree that it would be more desirable to proceed with this conversion in order that the large number of men, women and children suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis could be provided with urgent hospital treatment?

That is a very different question. I think it is the wish of the country that matters relating to the royal yachts should proceed as they are proceeding now.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty for what reason the royal yacht "Britannia" is to be taken to Portsmouth and then returned to the Clyde for completion and trials.

It is not, and never has been, intended that Her Majesty's yacht "Britannia" shall return to the Clyde after she has left Portsmouth.

Thank you.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what modifications have been carried out recently in the royal yacht "Britannia"; what is the estimated increased cost; and on whose authority such modifications were carried out.

As is normal during the construction of any ship, a few modifications in the internal arrangements have been made in Her Majesty's Yacht "Britannia." These changes are all small, and, though no detailed estimates of the cost are available, the expenditure entailed does not significantly affect the cost of the ship. These modifications were authorised by the Admiralty, though there may have been a few quite infinitesimal changes approved by the Admiralty overseer within the scope of his delegated authority.

Is the Minister aware that the modifications included the stripping off of very expensive material because the colour was not suitable to the overseer, and that this led to considerable expense, considerable use of manpower and considerable waste of material?

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that there was no additional expense incurred at all. The material which was not fixed or welded is now being used for other purposes.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many barges are being supplied for the royal yacht "Britannia"; and at what cost.

Three, one of which is the barge from the royal yacht "Victoria and Albert." The total estimated cost, including the cost of repairs to the existing barge, is £27,500.

Is this in addition to the £1,800,000 that has already been spent on the yacht?

I think this probably comes within the main figure spent on the royal yacht.

Can my right hon. Friend give an assurance that he will spare no pains to meet the wishes of the whole country to make this ship absolutely suitable for the purpose for which we desire it?

I am sure that the views expressed by my hon. and gallant Friend are shared by the House and the country as a whole.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the approximate proportion of our naval effort devoted to air warfare.

I can, of course, give my hon. and gallant Friend considerable information about the Fleet Air Arm, as I have in the past; but it is not customary to split up our naval effort in this way, and any such estimate could only be extremely arbitrary.

Is it not a fact that the suggestions which have been made to the effect that the Fleet Air Arm might be transferred to the Air Ministry ignore the very considerable efforts that are being made in this direction and form the major part of our naval activities?

I think that question was answered very fully in another place. I do not think that my hon. and gallant Friend need have much fear on that score.

Can the First Lord state what proportion of the personnel of the Fleet Air Arm are shore based?

Not without notice, I am afraid.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman state this in view of the very great disquiet expressed by the Prime Minister during the time of the late Government at the large number of people whom he said were shore based and whom he thought should not be shore based?

If the hon. Gentleman will put down that question, I shall be delighted to answer it.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that he is really not doing himself justice at the moment? Would it not be possible to give some form of answer to this question, either in terms of the number of men engaged or the amount of money spent? Surely something could be done to indicate what a tremendous proportion of naval activity is devoted to the Fleet Air Arm? Would it not be possible to try to give an answer in that way?

If that question were put down, I would try to give a wider answer. I do not think that we usually tell the world what money we spend on particular sections of the Royal Navy, or on any other Service. I think such information might possibly be dangerous. But, if a further Question is put down. I will certainly try to give as much information as I can on the subject.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the purpose of recent naval exercises in the Clyde; and what was the cost.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the exercises in the Clyde which were a phase of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's exercise "Mariner" to test the defences of a large port. Each nation participating bore the direct costs of its own forces, and certain common costs will be shared internationally. The cost of the Royal Navy's participation is accepted as a normal training liability of the Fleet. It is not customary to cost individual exercises.

Is the Minister aware of an article written by Mr. Chester Wilmot which appeared in last Sunday's "Observer," in which he said we were spending far too much money on the Royal Navy and that the real danger was rockets? Can the right hon. Gentleman say how the Royal Navy in the Clyde can defend us against rockets?

I am prepared to argue that with the hon. Gentleman another time. I cannot possibly accept the view expressed by Mr. Chester Wilmot in last Sunday's "Observer."

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that we are always glad and proud to welcome the Royal Navy to the west coast of Scotland for any purpose?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether, in view of the radio interference caused by industrial, scientific and medical apparatus, he will lay down specifications as a condition of granting licences.

This type of electrical apparatus does not require a licence from the Postmaster-General. The Postmaster-General is, however, authorised under Part II of the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1949, to make regulations to reduce interference, but he can only do this after consulting the technical committees provided for in the Act. Regulations have already been made on internal combustion engines, following the report of one committee, and other committees are studying the difficult problems of small electrical motors and refrigerators. These are the three major causes of trouble. I must warn the House that prevention of interference raises very difficult problems and years may well elapse before they can be regarded as solved.

In view of the fact that the forthcoming introduction of competitive television is likely to increase the number of viewers who wish to see television, will my hon. Friend press on with this without delay?

There is no delay whatever, but this problem raises very difficult questions which are not easy to solve.

If the hon. Gentleman says there is no delay whatever, I should like to know what delay is. Surely this is a matter of great importance to the country. Can he get the Postmaster-General and the technical committees to move swiftly?

It is not a question of the Postmaster-General moving swiftly; it is the technical committees, and I am afraid we cannot hurry them more quickly than they think it is possible for them to move.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell the House why it is that for this purpose suppressors are compulsory on new cars and not on old cars?

Compulsory fitting of suppressors on old cars could only be done by engaging a lot of inspectors with the right to poke their noses under the bonnets of the cars.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what was the representation of his Department at the conference held in London this year of the International Consultative Committee (Radio); and whether he will make a statement.

Twenty. The conference studied a wide variety of technical and operational radio questions with the object of formulating common standards and practices, and making the best possible use of the radio frequency spectrum, and its results are embodied in 90 different recommendations, reports, etc., which will be published in due course by the International Telecommunication Union.

In view of the fact that the recommendations of these committees usually form the basis for international conferences and conventions, will my hon. Friend make these reports available to hon. Members?

As soon as they are published, I will certainly arrange for them to be available, or at any rate for them to be put in the Library of the House.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will permit the British Broadcasting Corporation to retain the whole of the licence revenues in order to enable reasonable progress to be made in the presentation of programmes to the public.

The whole question of B.B.C. finance is being reviewed by the Government in consultation with the Corporation.

Will the hon. Gentleman get his hon. Friends to bear in mind that, whatever might have been the policy in former years about finance, it is now obvious that it is vital that the B.B.C. should have more money to enable it to do the job it has to do?

It is not for me, but for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to decide whether he is prepared to give up the Exchequer contribution.

Will the Minister bear in mind that the B.B.C. have been described recently in the annual report of the Arts Council as the greatest devourers of the arts but not able to contribute creatively much to them because of lack of funds, and that, if their funds are increased, they will be able to contribute very appreciably to our artistic life?

I must ask hon. Members to realise that this is a contribution to the Exchequer of the country. It is not a matter of reparations to a foreign Power. This is a contribution to the Exchequer, which means that in this way less taxation is needed in other directions.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when it is expected that the British Broadcasting Corporation's television transmitter in the Isle of Wight will come into operation.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General by what date he hopes to complete the proposed Isle of Wight television station.

I regret that I cannot yet say when the permanent station for the Isle of Wight area will be in operation. The B.B.C. propose, however, to put up a temporary low-power station which will serve a limited area, and that should be working by the end of 1954.

Can my hon. Friend say whether this station will cover the Winchester and Eastleigh areas where reception is very bad and where, otherwise, many people would like to buy television sets?

The British Broadcasting Corporation estimate to serve Portsmouth and Southampton, and as far as Bognor to the East, and Bournemouth to the West, and inland as far as Winchester and Salisbury, so it should cover my hon. Friend's constituency quite satisfactorily.

Will the Minister remember that the Hampshire people have been very patient, and will he not agree that the main job of his Ministry is to see that television services are provided with a coverage for the whole of the country before going into any question of whether we should have commercial television or not?

I hope that is not the main job of my Ministry, which I thought was to deliver letters and provide telephones, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the effect of the figures I have given will be very considerably to increase the area in which television will be available.

Is my hon. Friend aware how grateful Portsmouth will be for that answer?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General, in view of the general complaint of poor radio reception in the Carlisle area, what steps are being taken to improve the service.

I regret that, in common with some other parts of the United Kingdom, the Carlisle area cannot be given improved service on the existing medium and long wavelengths. The Government have approved in principle the use of very high frequencies for sound broadcasting, and the B.B.C. will be free to make a start as soon as the system of modulation has been decided.

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that that statement is a confession of failure, that this particular region is denied the reception of the Home Service and the Third Programme, and will he give a date when this region can expect the reception which is accorded to licence holders in other parts of the country?

I hope the hon. Gentleman will not say it is a confession of failure, but merely a confession that this country, under international agreements, has not got all the wavelengths it would like to have. I do hope it will be possible to start very high frequency before too long. I think that is the only satisfactory solution to the difficulty in the Carlisle area.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether his Department or the British Broadcasting Corporation were represented at the recent demonstration of colour television in the United States; whether he will give an assurance that British developments in this medium are not being held up by reasons of economy; and whether he will make a statement on our prospects.

Representatives of the B.B.C. attended the recent demonstration in New York of a possible system for colour television. The British radio industry and the B.B.C. are carrying out researches in this field. Colour television is bound to be very expensive, especially in receiving sets, and I cannot say when it is likely to be introduced here.

Will the Minister keep in mind that this may become one of the very important exports in the future; and, whatever economies may be imposed in the extension of the service at the moment, there ought not to be false economies in research and development?

I fully agree with the right hon. Gentleman. It is a very useful possible source of export, but I must warn the House that a television set which will receive colour will probably cost anything up to £300.

Will my hon. Friend draw the moral from this Question, that the only way in which this country can retain the lead in inventiveness in television is to render the television service in this country as competitive as it is in the United States of America?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he has now withdrawn his invitation to advertising firms to apply for licences to control television stations and sponsor programmes.

No, Sir, for the simple reason that no such invitation was ever made.

How does the Minister reconcile that answer with his statement to the House on 11th March that 26 applications had been received for time on sponsored programmes?

I am asked in the Question whether we have withdrawn an invitation to firms to apply for licences, and we have made no such invitation.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that according to his last statement, 72 advertising and other firms had applied for licences to control stations and for time on sponsored programmes? I am asking whether that invitation is still open, and what has happened to the applications which have already been made?

There was no invitation whatever, but there is nothing to prevent anybody applying for a licence. The hon. Gentleman can apply for a licence for competitive television if he wishes to do so.

Are we to understand that the invitations are now terminated because the Government have undertaken to subsidise certain of those who have already applied?

If the right hon. Gentleman believes that, he will believe anything.

Is it not gratifying that so many responsible people have undertaken to apply for licences without invitation?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to increase telephone facilities for the business community in order that the continually emphasised demands made by Her Majesty's Government, that owners of businesses should spare no effort to increase their efficiency, may be complied with.

Business applicants get priority over residential applicants and, in new schemes of development, business areas over residential areas. The Post Office is, of course, limited in its development schemes by the capital investment programme authorised year by year. My hon. Friend will be pleased to learn that in the past two years the waiting list for business applicants has been reduced by approximately 60,000 or over 30 per cent., and that since the war telephones have, in fact, been installed at one and a half times the pre-war rate.

Can my hon. Friend explain what happens to members of the business community living in residential areas? Could he also explain why it is that, while there is practically no limit to capital expenditure by private businesses in the interests of the expansion of business, the Government do not seem to be able to get the additional capital expenditure to make their business more efficient?

The business applicant in a residential area is treated in the same way as business applicants anywhere. With regard to the second part of the hon. Lady's supplementary question, I would remind her that the capital investment programme for the Post Office next year is £20 million more than it was two years-ago.

Could the hon. Gentleman tell the House why, if the Post Office capital investment programme is to be larger, the Post Office have cancelled orders with the Standard Telephone Company, which action is going to cause the unemployment of 500 hands in his and my constituency.

There is another Question about that, and I shall deal with that when it comes.

Is it true?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many applications for new telephones are now outstanding in the London region; and what the corresponding figure was last year.

The number is 107,310, including 27,382 in course of provision or under investigation. I am glad to say that the total is 20,000 less than a year ago.

Is the Minister aware that, at that still inadequate rate of progress, it will be about five years before the present applicants for telephones in the London area get telephones, and is not that a rather shameful state of affairs in the world's capital city?

It does not necessarily follow that development will be continued at the present rate, but I should have thought that the hon. and gallant Gentleman would be pleased to know that the list of waiting applicants is 20,000 less than a year ago.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that 500 men will be declared redundant at the Southgate works of the Standard Telephone Company in consequence of the cancellation of orders by the General Post Office; and if he will take steps to withdraw this cancellation, in view of the need for more telephone installations.

I fear that the hon. Member has been misinformed, as there has been no cancellation of Post Office orders with this company. The exchange equipment industry has urged my noble Friend to increase Post Office purchases, but our restricted capital expenditure has to be balanced between exchange equipment and local cables and stores and buildings. It is shortage of the other plant and new buildings rather than exchange equipment which prevents us putting in telephones more rapidly than we can at present.

Is it not obvious that if these orders could continue, the equipment could be made and would then be ready when the exchanges are built. whereas now we have to wait for the exchanges to be built and then wait for the equipment to be made?

That is not so. First of all, I must correct the implication in the first part of the hon. Gentleman's Question. There has been no cancellation of Post Office orders. As to the other point he raises, we must keep a balance between the various sorts of equipment which are required as we increase the number of telephones.

Will the hon. Gentleman make representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer with a view to removing the capital investment ban on new telephone exchanges?

I do not think the Chancellor of the Exchequer would be prepared to remove the capital investment ban on any one item in particular. Actually in this present year the amount we are spending is larger than it was last year.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that instead of preserving a balance, he is going to unbalance a team who have been working together in this firm, and once the team has been dispersed there is no chance of getting them together again?

If it is a fact that this company is going to throw men off, it is not due to any cancellation of Post Office orders.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what effect the fall in the price of copper and rubber has had on the cost of telephone wire and cables.

The cost of telephone wire and cable does not, of course, depend solely on the price of copper and rubber. The cost of telephone wire has, however, fallen by about 11 per cent. in the past 12 months. It is not possible to give the average figure for cable as there are so many types and sizes, but for some commonly used types the comparable figure is 14 per cent.

Is this not further proof of the wisdom of this Government in letting our experienced traders buy our raw material instead of Government bulk buyers? May I also ask whether this fall in the price of materials will mean that he will put out of his head once for all any thoughts which he may have had about increasing our telephone and postal charges?

I think the last part of the supplementary is far too wide, as other factors besides the price of copper are involved. In reply to the first part of the supplementary, we all agree that the public benefits from a little competition.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General (1) in what place two recent letters addressed to the Communist Party offices in Bristol were opened; who authorised this and why; and why these questions could not be answered by the head postmaster in Bristol when they were addressed to him;

(2) under what authority internal letters in the United Kingdom are opened; and on how many occasions these powers have been used in the last year.

The circumstances in which postal packets in course of transmission by post may be opened, detained or delayed are referred to in the proviso to Section 58 (1) of the Post Office Act, 1953, of which I will send the hon. Member a copy. No record is available of the number of postal packets opened under these powers. With regard to the Bristol case, to which the hon. Member refers, the Post Office was acting under a warrant issued by the Home Secretary, but I am not prepared to make any further statement.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in the case mentioned in my first Question, the two letters which were opened were put back into the wrong envelopes? Is he also aware that any benefits accruing to the community as a result of these security precautions are much reduced by this sort of inefficiency and bungling which we have come to associate with the hon. Gentleman and his Government? Further, while everybody in the House recognises that these powers are necessary, they are very unpleasant powers, and would the hon. Gentleman be willing to put at the disposal of the House the number of warrants signed by the Secretary of State for the Home Department in any given year?

In reply to the first part of the supplementary, as I have said, I do not propose to make any further statement. In reply to the second part, anything the hon. Gentleman wishes to ask on that subject should be addressed to the Home Secretary.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is now in a position to give a firm date for work on the new head post office in Plymouth to be commenced.

It is expected that the building will start by March, 1955, at latest.

Will the Minister as soon as possible give a more specific reply to this Question? Is he aware that this matter has been under review by his Ministry for many months, and that it is of considerable importance to the local authorities who are planning the rebuilding of Plymouth?

Yes, but the difficulty up till now has been to plan a building which would satisfy the Corporation's wishes without costing the Post Office too much money. Up to now we have not been able to agree on what is a reasonable building for this site which would satisfy our requirements at the same time as satisfying the desires of the Corporation.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the number of accidents on the roads is fewer in those parts of the United States of America where there is a compulsory check on the mechanical condition of all road vehicles every year; and if he will give further consideration to the introduction of a similar requirement in this country.

I could not at present contemplate introducing a system of compulsory testing in this country in view of the large additional expenditure which would be involved in setting up and manning the necessary testing stations.

Is it not clear that the mechanical condition of every vehicle, especially in the matter of steering and braking, is a vital factor in this problem of road safety? Is it not also clear that drastic steps of this kind, however expensive, will have to be taken if we are to reduce the appalling road casualties.

The answer to the first part of my hon. and gallant Friend's supplementary question is that it is quite clear, but we have to have some regard to expense. I think it is better, at this stage anyhow, to rely on a voluntary arrangement, and I am pursuing that actively with the motor trade itself.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps he has taken, with a view to making motor-cycling safer, to support the Royal Automobile Club and Auto Cycling Union's training scheme; and what grants his Department has made this year towards motor-cycle learner training.

I am anxious to encourage this excellent scheme as far as we are able. I have no power to make a direct financial contribution to it, but my Department make grants at the rate of 50 per cent. to local authorities where they incur approved expenditure in publicising the scheme.

Is the Minister aware that this R.A.C. scheme is under great difficulties because of the lack of finance? Did he not promise to a deputation, on 24th March of this year, that he would do everything possible to help these schemes? Will he tell the House what practical help he has given?

At this stage this is essentially a field where the many bodies interested in road safety and the many motoring and other organisations might be prevailed upon to help. It is debatable whether the general taxpayer should pay for the training of one section of road users. I am very anxious to press this excellent scheme, and I am seriously considering whether I shall be able to accept and pass the scheme in whole or in part, instead of the official test.

Is it not possible for the Minister to make a definite statement on that subject?

Mr. Nabarro.

On a point of order. The Minister made a reply in which he indicated that he was going to accept this scheme. Am I not therefore entitled, as of right, to follow up by asking him when he is going to do it?

I cannot give a reply to the hon. and learned Gentleman, and I have no power to make the Minister give one.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made to date by the Thesiger Committee in relation to road passenger transport matters; when the Report of the Committee is expected to be completed; and in what form the Report of the Committee will be published.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he expects to make available to honourable Members the Report of the Thesiger Committee.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a statement on the Report of the Thesiger Committee.

I think that the Report should be ready within a few weeks, and I will make it available as a Stationery Office Publication.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that an hon. Member of this House has just won the Cambridgeshire? In those circumstances, will he not consult with him about increasing speed generally?

I shall be delighted.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has now completed his reconsideration of the 20 miles per hour limit applied to certain road haulage vehicles; and when he proposes to raise the limit for these vehicles to 30 miles per hour.

I regret that I am not yet in a position to reconsider the decision communicated to the House on 22nd June last.

Does that reply mean that the matter is now a closed book, or will my right hon. Friend undertake to many of us in this House and amongst the general public who are interested in the considerations involved, that he will review it again at some time in the future?

If I may use the terminology of the Cambridgeshire, I would say to my hon. Friend that he must not assume that this is indeed a closed book. It is quite the contrary.

Before accepting this suggestion, will the right hon. Gentleman consult the local authorities on this matter to satisfy himself, in particular, that this increased speed of vehicles on the public roads is in accordance with public safety?

I think the local authorities are also aware that only 6 per cent. of the people concerned are now observing the law.

Has my right hon. Friend ever seen one of these vehicles in normal circumstances travelling at anything under 30 miles per hour?

Not since I have been Minister.

In view of the possibility of an increase in the number of accidents if the speed of the vehicles is increased, will the Minister consult with the men primarily concerned, the drivers of the vehicles?

Of course I am and have been throughout in close touch with the trade unions concerned, and I pay great regard to what they say, but I have also duties to the country as a whole.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the aggregate sum still owing to road hauliers, at 30th September, 1953, or at the latest convenient date, in respect of assets nationalised under the 1947 Act; when it is proposed to pay this money; and what special arrangements will be made to allow the creditors to employ their credits as a contra when repurchasing road haulage assets from the Disposals Board within the provisions of the 1953 Act.

Compensation ascertained and outstanding at 30th September, 1953, amounted to £2·2 million. Part of this sum is the balance, after making payments on account, of agreed compensation awaiting confirmation by the Transport Arbitration Tribunal. The rest is in course of payment, subject in some cases to completion of formal agreements with the transferors.

The total amount of the Commission's outstanding liability cannot yet be stated. In some cases determination by the Transport Arbitration Tribunal of the amount payable is required; in others, final agreement between the Commission and the transferor has yet to be reached. There is no statutory provision which would enable the Commission to offset sums payable for compensation, which for the most part is payable in Transport Stock, against consideration for the sale of road haulage assets under the Transport Act, 1953.

Here is a very real difficulty in the instance of people who hold credit for assets formerly nationalised, and who wish to go into business——

Question.

The hon. Member must ask a question.

Are they not to be placed in the position of being able to repurchase their assets and use the funds that are legitimately due to them?

I think we must get this in perspective. Of this £50 million likely to be paid in a very short while, all but £4 million will have been paid.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will consider the advantages of requiring all motorists to insert an anti-glare disc in their headlamps as a means of reducing the danger to road safety of undimmed headlamps; and if he will obtain information from the countries where this device is already in use.

Many devices for reducing dazzle, including anti-glare discs used in other countries, have been examined by my Department, but I am not satisfied that any of those so far examined should be made compulsory in this country. If the hon. Member would like to give me details of the particular device he has in mind, I will gladly have it investigated.

I agree with the Minister that there may be different points of view as to which device should be used, but may I ask him if he is not aware of the very serious menace that still continues of motorists driving along quite regardless of other road users, and with fully flaring lights? If he will not adopt this device, will he tell the House what other steps he is taking to deal with this particular matter?

I am very much aware of that, as, indeed, was my predecessor in the late Government. We are in close touch with the Road Research Laboratory on this matter, but the hon. Gentleman is asking for the compulsory use of a particular device, and that is quite another matter.

Some months ago, the Minister may remember, he said he was considering the method of using polarised lighting? Can he give us any report on that matter?

We are still deep in consultation.

Could not my right hon. Friend consider having headlights standardised, so that every motor car dips either one headlight or two? Then we shall know where we are.