asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the percentage of men in the Royal Navy who are now shore-based

Some 30 per cent. of the officers and men in the Royal Navy are engaged on Fleet Air Arm duties ashore or are under training or employed in training establishments and consequently have, in the nature of their duties, to serve ashore. Of the remainder, almost two-thirds are at sea and just over one-third are shore-based.

I am afraid it is rather difficult to follow those figures straight away. Can we be told the total percentage on Vote A who are shore-based?

I am afraid I have not the total figures on Vote A. All I can tell the right hon. Gentleman is that there has been some improvement and that I hope for greater improvement still. I hope for better things, for the position does not yet satisfy me. There has been an improvement over the past two years.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when the first volume of the "Official History of the War at Sea" will be published

I understand that the first volume will be published in May this year.

Has there not been rather a long delay in its production? Could my right hon. Friend say when the manuscript was completed?

The promise was that the first volume should appear during 1953. It is ready now and I think it is therefore only a few weeks later than originally intended. There were reasons of sickness to account for that delay.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty (1) what considerations guided him in deciding to close Her Majesty's dockyards for two weeks

I will, with permission, answer Questions Nos. 7, 8 and 9 together.

May I have separate answers to these three Questions as they are quite different?

If my hon. and gallant Friend will listen to my reply, which I am afraid is rather long, I think he will find that it takes in all the points of the three Questions.

Was your permission, Mr. Speaker, given to the right hon. Gentleman?

I rule that in this case the Questions ought to be answered together as the Minister proposes. Then we will consider whether the Questions have been properly answered.

The most economical and efficient method of giving annual leave in Her Majesty's dockyards, and most other Admiralty industrial establishments, is to have a closed period. This was done before the last war, and the granting of an additional week's leave to industrial workers generally in 1953 made it highly desirable to return to the pre-war system. The re-introduction of a closed period will enable large savings to be made in several ways, as experience with staggered holidays in 1953 has shown. For example, yard services can be dispensed with during the closed period, and a more balanced labour force can be maintained during the working weeks of the year. The closed period also provides a valuable opportunity for the maintenance and repair of machinery, plant, roads and buildings.

Was consideration given to the fact that the majority of the dockyard workers have wives and daughters working in industry—canteens, restaurants, laundries and similar places—who will all want to go on holiday at the height of the Portsmouth holiday season, which is most inconvenient to the city, and that it is extremely inconvenient for all dockyard workers to be forced to take their holiday at a time decided by the Minister? I understand that the Whitley Council have never been given an opportunity of saying what date they require except within a special period of one month. The dockyard workers prefer to take their holidays when they want them.

As regards the last part of my hon. and gallant Friend's supplementary question, there was no limit put on dates so far as the trade union side was concerned. I fully realise that difficulties will arise, especially for workers whose wives are working in other indus- tries, but we have all that under consideration and we have, in the interests of economy and efficiency, decided to re establish this closed holiday.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell me whether this proposal was made with the concurrence of the trade union side of the Admiralty Industrial Council, or whether it was forced upon them? Will he also tell me how he is going to make an economy by having a closed shop—having the dockyards closed for two weeks in one year—when they have been having staggered holidays for the last 13 years, with much more efficiency than will be the case if the dockyards are closed down for two weeks? Will he also say if this decision to close the dockyards down was not at the request of the Naval staff of the Admiralty in order to have Naval weeks for Naval charities?

The hon. Gentleman has asked me so many supplementary questions that I hope I can remember them all. So far as the trade union side of the Admiralty Industrial Council was concerned, the decision was noted under protest. There is to be a review in a year's time. Meanwhile, they have promised to carry out the decision of the Admiralty. The hon. Gentleman also asked me what we saved by this decision. Roughly we have saved an extra week's work. I cannot go into the figure in terms of money, but roughly it works out that we have saved a whole week's work. The hon. Gentleman said that staggered holidays had been in practice for a long time. That is true, but the extra week's holiday was introduced only last year. It is the extra week's holiday that has caused the lack of efficiency and lack of economy.

Will the right hon. Gentleman understand that there is very strong feeling against the Admiralty's decision in all dockyard towns, and will he give an undertaking that even if he will not change the decision for this year he will go into the whole matter in the fullest possible manner for next year to see if we can revert to the system which has prevailed for so many years?

As I have said, this matter will be reviewed next year and, of course, representations from all dockyard towns and areas will be taken into consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that there is danger of a fall in British ship construction in 1954, as compared with 1953, and as compared with foreign shipyard construction; and what steps he is taking to maintain and extend the British shipbuilding industry at and beyond its present standards

It seems at present improbable that the output of merchant shipping from British shipyards in 1954 should fall below the 1953 level. All possible steps are being taken to increase the supply of steel plate to the shipyards, and the output in 1954 should therefore be greater than in 1953. It would be premature to attempt a comparison between British and foreign shipyard output in 1954.

Is the Minister aware that Lloyds, the Shipbuilding Conference and other great authorities are complaining eloquently about the dearth of forthcoming orders and expressing the fear that there may be great unemployment in the shipyards unless something is done? What are the Government doing to forestall that?

I do not wish the hon. and learned Member to think for a moment that I or the Admiralty are complacent about the future of the shipbuilding industry, but I have told him that I hope for better results in 1954 than those of 1953. That was the Question which he asked. I trust that something near one-and-a-half million gross tons will be completed during 1954 if the steel plate supplies come along all right, and we are doing our very best to see that they do.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that there will be better deliveries of steel plates during this year?

That is not under my control. There is reason to believe that there will be.

Has there been any evidence of cancellation of shipbuilding orders because of the shortage of steel plates and the delivery dates?

Yes, there have been a few cancellations for that reason, but I very much hope that the position will improve.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is yet in a position to state when the contracts for 30 trawlers and fish factory ships, ordered by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics from British shipbuilders, will be signed; what is the extent of the orders in terms of money and kind; with which British shipyards they are being placed; and, in particular, how many contracts in money and in kind are being placed with Aberdeen shipyards

No, Sir. I am informed that negotiations are still in progress in Moscow. The second and third parts of the Question do not, therefore, arise.

Does the Minister remember my asking him a somewhat similar Question some months ago, when he gave a very hopeful answer? Has he abandoned that hope and is he not taking any steps to see that these orders can be accepted?

I certainly have not abandoned that hope, but it is not in my hands. Negotiations are going on between these private firms and Soviet Russia in Moscow at the moment. I am afraid the matter is out of my control, but I hope it will not take much longer.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will now grant licences for the building and export of dredgers to countries of the Soviet bloc

Yes, Sir, so far as is consistent with security considerations. I have not yet received any applications for licences to construct dredgers for the Soviet bloc. Any such applications will have to be considered individually on their merits.

Is not the Minister aware that his answer is most unsatisfactory? Is he not aware that three dredgers are now being built in Dutch shipyards for the Soviet Union and Poland about which inquiries were made with dredger-building firms in this country, but that when the firms inquired from the Board of Trade they were told that they would not get licences and that there was no point in applying? Is he not aware that those orders were therefore diverted to Holland? Will he make it categorically clear to the dredger-building firms that they can get further orders?

What the hon. Gentleman suggests is not the case about licences at present, within the security regulations, although I realise that these ships have been built in Holland. The fact remains that the Admiralty have no applications for permission to accept orders for dredgers for the Russian bloc.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will make a statement on his recent visit to North-East shipyards

Yes, Sir. I was very glad to have this opportunity of visiting shipbuilding and ship repairing yards on the North-East Coast and of meeting representatives of both sides of the industry. I can assure hon. Members that I am well aware of the problems confronting the industry and that I am anxious that every shipbuilding area, including the North-East Coast, shall receive fair treatment.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his visit to the North-East shipyards was very much appreciated by the shipbuilding interests and we hope that it will be followed by serious consideration of very difficult problems facing the future of the industry? Is he further aware that in Sunderland, in particular, we regret that the Mayor of Sunderland was not given the opportunity of formally welcoming him to the town, and the trade union spokesmen in Sunderland regret that, although the right hon. Gentleman met the trade union leaders in Newcastle, he did not meet the trade union leaders in Sunderland?

I did not want in the course of my very full tour to put the municipal leaders in the various towns and cities through which I passed to the bother of actually coming out to welcome me. It is true that I called upon the Lord Mayor of Newcastle, but that was because I was staying in Newcastle for the night.

Because he was a Conservative.

He was a Liberal Member of Parliament in this House in days gone by. So far as the trade union representatives are concerned, I extended through the Chairman of the Northern Regional Board of Industry, Sir Mark Hodgson, an invitation to representatives of the trade unionists of the North-East shipbuilding industry to meet me, and the choice was theirs. I was very glad indeed to meet their representatives who came to Newcastle to see me and to entertain them.

While the right hon. Gentleman was there, did he receive representations with regard particularly to the delivery of boiler plate for shipyards?

I did receive them and I have taken note of them.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General (1) if work has actually started on the construction and assembly of the equipment for the East Anglian television station

I am glad to inform my hon. and gallant Friend that authority has now been given to the B.B.C. to set up a station to serve East Anglia, and also five other stations not covered by the present programme, i.e., at Dover, Inverness, Londonderry, Towyn and Carlisle. The Corporation intends to acquire a site for the East Anglia station some 10 miles south-west of Norwich, and hopes to provide a temporary transmitter within 12 months to serve Norwich and its immediate surroundings. The permanent transmitter which will be set up later is expected to serve most of East Anglia not covered by the London station.

While thanking my hon. Friend for this much better news than we have had for some time, may I ask him whether the B.B.C. will bear in mind the difficulties of sound reception in this area and whether this also can be improved by that time, if not sooner?

Yes, Sir. The B.B.C. will certainly do that; but that aspect was not covered by the Question.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what safeguards are proposed to ensure that the proposed television corporation will be under an obligation to provide television coverage in rural areas, in view of the present situation whereby a large proportion of television facilities are concentrated in urban areas which already enjoy a disproportionate share of other amenities

I would draw the attention of my hon. and gallant Friend to paragraphs 15 and 17 of the White Paper (Cmd. 9005) which refer to the Government's experimental approach to the question of competitive television. It is too early to talk about putting the corporation under obligation to provide national coverage.

Is the Minister aware that owing to the almost entire absence of television reception in East Anglia, many people there do not even know what Mr. Gilbert Harding looks like? Is my hon. Friend aware of the great feeling of resentment which will arise in East Anglia if there is any suggestion that other parts of the country should be given alternative television programmes before East Anglia has even one programme?

Is it the position that whereas the B.B.C. is expected to give a national coverage, the commercial stations cover only what are from their point of view profitable areas? Is this what is known as free and fair competition?

As I said in my original answer, the Government's White Paper merely envisaged an experimental approach towards this whole question.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the proposed strength and coverage of the new television stations in London, Birmingham and Manchester

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General (1) the frequencies, siting and power of the transmitters to serve the proposed competitive television stations

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that in order that there shall be no delay in the introduction of competitive television the radio industry requires immediate technical informaton, he will now announce the frequencies to be used for this service

The location, power and coverage of the new television stations are matters for discussion between my noble Friend and the new corporation when it is set up. It seems probable that the permanent stations will have a range of 30 or 40 miles, but it may be decided to start with temporary stations of lower power. The two channels in Band III to be allocated initially to television are 186–191 Mc/s and 191–196 Mc/s, and I will refer to these as Channels 8 and 9. Channel 9 will be assigned to London; and if stations are established in the Midlands and South Lancashire, Channel 8 will be assigned to the Midlands and Channel 9 to South Lancashire.

Can my hon. Friend say definitely whether these stations will be of high or low power? It is important that there should be an early decision on this matter.

This matter has to be discussed between my noble Friend and the corporation when the corporation is set up.

Can my hon. Friend say whether the second corporation, when set up, will have power to rent the masts of the first corporation? Can he give any reason why the industry should have to wait nine months for this information?

The first point which my hon. Friend raises is under consideration at this moment.

Is the Minister aware that it would be utterly inappropriate for the Post Office to answer Questions from questioners who have material interests in the matter?

Is my hon. Friend aware that the latest and best technical information would show that television transmitters operating in Channel 8, and probably Channel 9 also, are likely to interfere immediately and seriously with other users in Band III? How does he reconcile this with his statement that it may take seven years to clear Band III? Does my hon. Friend anticipate that we may have to wait seven years before we get competitive television?

If my hon. and gallant Friend reads my original answer to the Questions, he will see that that point is adequately covered.

Would it not be helpful to the Minister if the vested interests concerned disguised their impatience and dissembled their greed rather more effectively?

rose—

I have already ruled on this matter of questions by hon. Members. These criticisms are contrary to the spirit of my Ruling, and I deprecate them.

Is that to say that it is inappropriate for Members to make comments about certain persons putting questions, in the answers to which they have certain material interests? Do I understand that that is improper?

I was asked some time ago to give a considered Ruling on this matter and I told the House, after consulting all the precedents, that there was nothing improper in an hon. Member putting down a Question for answer, even if he had a private interest in the matter. I gave that Ruling and that has been the Ruling of the House for a long time. Therefore, it seems to me undesirable for hon. Members to make comments challenging it. Either it is right or it is wrong. I think it is right, and past Speakers have said so too. It does not conduce to friendly debate in the House that these accusations should be made.

Does that mean that under the rules of order it is improper for hon. Members of this House to make comments on Questions which they regard as improper, although you, Mr. Speaker, regard them as proper?

It is not only I who regard these questions as proper, but all my predecessors, and I would deprecate unnecessary heat in these matters, which does not serve any useful purpose.

There may be no obligation on hon. Members to declare their interests, but is it not perfectly open to them voluntarily to do so?

If on every separate Question an hon. Member declared his interest it would be very difficult to carry on.

Is not this continual slur upon the honour of hon. Members really a device to cover up weakness in argument?

That is not a point of order.

With all due respect to your Ruling, Mr. Speaker, are not Questions in a different category where they seek to obtain from the Minister replying on behalf of Her Majesty's Government the exact wavelengths and frequencies of these stations which are calculated to make profit?

It seems to me that the answers of the Minister are public property, and I cannot see anything wrong in that.

Is it not most undesirable for Members of Parliament, whose election expenses are paid by coal miners, to ask Questions of self-interest about coalmining?

I hope the House will bear with me. My sole desire is to prevent the introduction into our discussions of matters which are unnecessary and which may give rise to heat.

I think it is only right to point out that I suggested that hon. Members were not being helpful to the Government and not that they were guilty of any improper Parliamentary conduct. If any hon. Member is affronted by what I said and can give the House an assurance that he or she has no financial interest in this matter, I will, of course, gladly withdraw.

I think we ought to pass from this topic.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that measures so far taken to restore the former quality and clarity of reception of the British Broadcasting Corporation's Third Programme in Cardiff and its environs have not yet proved effective; and whether he will now take further steps to deal with this problem

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is now satisfied that the Third Programme of the British Broadcasting Corporation will be heard clearly in Cardiff

Full power has now been restored to the Daventry transmitter and I understand that satisfactory reception of the Third Programme on 464 metres can again be obtained in Cardiff. The B.B.C. are, however, trying to make further improvements to the transmitter.

While thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that while, apparently, the power has been largely restored, the tone is somewhat distorted and not of similar quality to what it was prior to the recent reduction in power?

The power has only recently been restored. I do not know whether my hon. Friend made his remarks in the light of that knowledge.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why frequencies for inland mobile radio are allocated by the Overseas Telecommunication Department of the Post Office

Because that Department deals with the assignment of all individual frequencies. This is a specialised task which covers not only inland mobile radio services, but many other services, both mobile and point to point, many of which affect overseas administrations.

In view of the fact that it would seem that the Post Office regard the allocating of civil licences at home as a somewhat irksome appendage to their tasks, would it not be better to hand this over to the Ministry of Transport?

I assure my hon. and gallant Friend that we do not in any way regard this as an irksome appendage.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether, as local authorities are now required to find out if a motor vehicle containing a wireless set possesses a valid wireless licence, he will now authorise local authorities to issue vehicle wireless licences

No, Sir. Wireless licences are already issued at about 20,000 post offices and I should not feel justified in asking local authorities to do the work as well.

Is there any need, therefore, for local authorities to have to do the Postmaster-General's work for him by inquiring into the question of vehicle radio licences?

That is an entirely different question.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what manual telephone exchanges within the county of Glamorgan will be replaced by automatic exchanges in the next 12 months; in what areas such work will first be started;and if he will make a statement

The manual exchanges at Crynant, Kenfig Hill, Llanishen, Gowerton and Glyn Neath are to be replaced by automatic exchanges in the next 12 months. Work on the first three has already started. In 1954 we hope to begin conversion to automatic working at Bargoed, Hengoed and Llandaff, and the new exchanges should be completed the following year.

May I thank the Minister for the interest he has taken in the most important part of the British Isles?

Will the Assistant Postmaster-General consider getting advice from his right hon. and learned Friend on the pronunciation of these names?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how far the delay in the provision of telephones is due to difficulty in obtaining adequate supplies of telephone cables

There is no difficulty in obtaining supplies of telephone cable from the manufacturers. Delay in expanding the local cable system arises from restrictions on capital investment; but as the position gets easier, we are gradually increasing the allotment for local cables.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there has been a report in the technical Press which rather suggested that it was the fault of the manufacturers? Is my hon. Friend further aware there is no shortage whatsoever of cable and that the manufacturers of telephone cables are working much less than full capacity?

I am aware of that, but the trouble now is shortage of capital investment. I must point out to the House, however, that in the past year we have reduced the waiting list for telephones by 65,000.

asked the Under-secretary of State for Air when he pro poses to close the remaining Reserve flying schools

The Air Council have now completed their review of the policy for providing and training the aircrew Reserve which would be required to reinforce the Royal Air Force in war. We propose to concentrate on training a smaller number of aircrew reservists to a higher standard of efficiency on the types of aircraft which they would be required to fly in an emergency. This implies training at Service units, and as there will be no further requirement for civil schools, we shall be reluctantly compelled to close the remaining Reserve flying schools within the next five months. The detailed arrangements and dates are being discussed with the firms concerned.

Will my hon. Friend use all his influence with the Ministry of Labour to secure the reconstitution of the training scheme, which was so successful last time for these displaced pilots, so that they may qualify for airline work?

Yes, Sir, that has already been ensured.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how far the experimental work that is being carried out at Tarrant Rushton has proved satisfactory

No. 210 Advanced Flying School, Tarrant Rushton, is at present engaged on giving jet refresher and conversion courses to regular officers, a task which it is performing very efficiently.

Is my hon. Friend aware-that his answer will be received with great satisfaction in the area in which this work is being carried out?

Can the Minister say whether the altitude of this airfield has been successfully determined?

Yes, Sir, I understand that it is 300 and not 301 feet above sea level.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) whether he will now grant his authority to improvements in the Queensferry passage ferry facilities, in order that these may come into operation in time for the summer traffic

I regret that all three Members of the Panel have been ill and this has delayed their report. I will, however, ask the British Transport Commission to proceed forthwith with the preparatory work for the improvement of the ferry. It would in any case take at least 18 months to complete these improvements, after the plan has been approved.

May we not look forward to some improvement, at any rate this summer, in the ferry service, and, so far as the report of the Committee is concerned, would my right hon. Friend ask for an interim report as soon as these three gentlemen are restored to health so that we may know whether there is any possibility of any good coming out of it, or whether it is really prejudicing further action on the new Forth Road Bridge?

I hope to get an interim report very quickly. I am conscious that if the report is favourable to Sir Bruce White's proposals then the work on the ferry to that extent will be wasted. Anyhow, it will be a negligible expense in the preparatory stages. If the report is unfavourable, then this work will accelerate the completion of the task on the ferry, but I am afraid there can be no hope that the ferry work can improve the situation in the coming summer. I would make this plea, that the more there is talk about a Forth Bridge the less likelihood there is of getting on with something that is really possible within the next few years.

Is that last remark indicative of the fact that the Minister has now closed his mind to the possibility of a Forth Road Bridge and that we must concentrate on getting a ferry? Is he saying, in effect, that if we do not want the ferry we will not get the bridge, and if we agitate for the bridge there is not going to be any better ferry? Can he say what the answer to all this is?

It has been repeatedly pointed out in the House that the Commission cannot be asked to make large expenditure on the ferry if a bridge is to be built very soon, and all I am concerned about is that there should be an improvement as soon as possible in the transport facilities. That is why my answer took the form it did.

Are we to understand that the Minister is now saying to people who are so perturbed about this, "You must stop talking about a Forth Road Bridge or you will not get a ferry"? Is that a threat?

Certainly not; I do not make threats. I am anxious that we should concentrate on immediate realities.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what new roads to be included in the programme which he announced on 8th December will be scheduled as motorways; and what will be the approximate mileage of new roads so scheduled

The road programme which my right hon. Friend announced on 8th December includes, in its first few years, the following new roads which will be motorways:

Is the Minister not aware that it is highly important to have as much mileage as possible over these motorways in consequence of the fact that they are of economic value as well as for the purposes of road safety? Does he think he can extend the mileage further than he has already decided to do?

No, Sir, not at the present time.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the present estimated cost of the Severn Bridge Scheme; to what extent the approach roads included in the £40 million scheme are regarded as indispensable; and what is the estimated period over which construction would be spread

As the answer is rather long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether a person sustaining injuries as a result of falling off a stationary bus is included in the total of road accident casualties

Yes, Sir, but the figures do not show whether the bus is moving or stationary.

Is it fair to use figures of accidents when the bus is stationary to swell still further the figures of road casualties, and thus give an impression that road traffic is more dangerous than it really is?

I should like to assure my hon. Friend that the last thing in the world I want to do is to swell the unfortunately large figures of road accidents, but I do not think it would be reasonable to attempt to draw a distinction between accidents which happen when a bus is stationary and when it is moving.

How can anyone fall off a bus that is not moving?

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what action he is proposing to take as a result of the report of one of his inspectors about the danger of weak bridges over railways

I propose to give effect as rapidly as possible to the recommendations made in this report. The particular bridges to which it refers will be reconstructed as soon as possible except one, which will be by-passed by an alternative route for heavy loads. In general, the reconstruction of weak bridges over railways will be given high priority in the road programme. My divisional road engineers have been asked to report cases where hauliers ignore official warnings of the weakness of bridges and I would appeal to all concerned to respect such warnings.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many of these bridges are involved and how many years the work will take?

The hon. Gentleman's Question relates to the report of my inspector, which deals with five bridges. We propose to reconstruct four and to by-pass in the case of the other.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is now satisfied with the experimental use of the flashing traffic beacons; and whether he will consider altering their design and colour

I am satisfied that the flashing beacons are effective and I do not contemplate at present any alteration in their design or colour.

Does my right hon. Friend not realise that both the colour and the action of these lights are confusing to the motorist, and tend to obscure the crossing rather than to define it?

Neither I nor my Department have received any hostile representations from responsible bodies—[HON MEMBERS: "Oh."] With all respect to my hon. Friend, he is a body, but not in that sense. I think that the recent foggy and dark weather in the day time has confirmed the view that they play a useful part, not least in the day time. In regard to the colour, as all who follow this closely know, we were forced to avoid the red and blue ends of the spectrum and to choose the centre—yellow—in this case.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that with the aid of these flashing beacons the number of pedestrians who are knocked down on zebra crossings is going up steadily?

That is a gross distortion of fact, and if the hon. and gallant Gentleman cares to pursue that with me afterwards, I will give him proof to the contrary.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now make a statement on the Government's intentions in regard to the recommendations contained in the The siger Report

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware of the effect on Blackpool and other seaside resorts of the recent interpretation of what constitutes a special occasion for the purposes of Section 61 of the Road Traffic Act, 1933; when he anticipates that the Report of the Thesiger Committee on this and allied matters will be available; and whether he will consider the desirability of introducing some emergency legislation to deal with the position which will arise in connection with the hire of motor coaches to take parties from outlying rural districts into provincial centres for such special occasions

I am afraid the answer is rather long, and I will therefore, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the Minister at least tell the House whether he has accepted the implication in the Thesiger Report that there shall be no interference with the road passenger services of the British Transport Commission, as the right hon. Gentleman said he would await the Report before deciding whether he would denationalise the road passenger services of the British Transport Commission?

The hon. Gentleman will find a clue to my ideas if he waits for the answer.

Cannot he tell the House now?

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will re-examine the whole question of the carrying of heavy loads by road with the abject of ensuring the maximum freedom of movement with the minimum risk to public safety

Yes, Sir. The subject is under review, but the Motor Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) General Order, 1952,already aims at precisely the objects to which the hon. Member refers.

Would not the Minister agree that this serious problem shows the need for fully integrating and co-ordinating the transport system?

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that this matter is under careful examination at the present time. We are hoping to take a further step in the direction which he desires.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary say whether he is trying to integrate and co-ordinate the transport system by breaking up British Road Services?

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a statement on the application made by the British Transport Commission for a 10 per cent. increase in freight charges; and if the members of the Transport Tribunal acting as a consultative committee have yet made their recommendation to him

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what action he proposes to take regarding the British Transport Commission's request for a 10 per cent, increase in freight charges

On 31st December, as required by the Transport Act, 1947,I referred the application to the Permanent Members of the Transport Tribunal, acting as a Consultative Committee, and asked that their advice be tendered to me as soon as possible. I hope to receive their report by the end of this week or early next week. I will consider any representations made to me before I reach a decision.

While I am sure that everyone would accept the necessity to increase charges in order that fair wages shall be paid, is it not folly on the part of the Government to pursue their road transport policy and to deprive the Transport Commission of £8 million surplus at this time and, as a consequence, to drive up freight charges?

I could not accept that conclusion and all those considerations were argued in the last Session at great length.

Before my right hon. Friend makes a decision, would he bear in mind that a limit has really been reached for passing on rising costs to the public and to industry, and will he consider what action can be taken to improve both efficiency and economy?

I am deeply anxious about improved efficiency and I welcomed the assurances given by the union leaders in their talks with the Commission that they would also pursue the same end. In regard to the problem in Scotland, I understand that the associations in the constituency of the hon. Lady are in touch with British Railways in regard to particular local problems.

Will not the Minister admit that if road transport had not been denationalised the Commission would be better off to the extent of £8 million?

It is the view of Parliament, as expressed in the last Session—[HON MEMBERS: "Answer."]—that the efficiency of British transport as a whole, and therefore its net revenue, will gain by the action taken.

No.

Could the Minister say whether any action will be taken on the Cameron Report which dealt with this problem as far as the Highlands of Scotland are concerned because, if this increase comes, it will be an intolerable burden?

The representations in the Cameron Report are a proper subject for discussion between the Highland authorities and British Railways, who are the operators in this field.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation by what authority application forms for a road fund licence inquire whether a vehicle is fitted with a radio set

The authority for this is Section 9 (1) of the Vehicles (Excise) Act, 1949.

Will the Minister carry this suggestion a little further, as has already been proposed to him, and embody in the road licence an indication whether the vehicle is fitted with a wireless set and that it has been licensed?

I will certainly consider that point.

Could the Minister not arrange for a combined licence to be issued and so relieve the purchaser of additional trouble?

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that many car licences for 1954 were recently issued for the year ended 31st December, 1953,by the Post Office in Newport; how many were so printed; and what steps are being taken to prevent a re-occurrence of such an incident

I presume the hon. Member refers to 850,000 licences which were originally printed with the date 1953 and were overprinted 1954 before issue. This was done to save wasting licences printed in 1952 to meet circumstances in connection with the Transport Levy which did not arise. By this expedient, a loss of £300 was avoided.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a statement on the grounding of the Comets

I would ask the hon. Member to await the statement I am to make shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give early instructions for the removal of the derelict huts on Heathfield airfield at Ayr

My Department is taking over responsibility for the area of the former Heathfield Aerodrome still held under requisition because part of it will be required for the new runway to be constructed at Prestwick Airport. The question of the disposal of the land and buildings at Heathfield is being examined, and I will communicate with my hon. Friend.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that these huts have now lost all purpose, useful or otherwise, and are merely an eyesore on the countryside?

I will bear that in mind certainly, but I also hope that my hon. Friend will not regret any action which is necessary to increase the value of Prestwick.

Hear, hear.