asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will make a statement as to State-aided insurance schemes available to pilots of the Royal Air Force.

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

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will make a statement upon the use which the Royal Air Force proposes to make of the Sennybridge Artillery Range; and what opposition was offered to the change of use by the local authorities.

I assume the hon. Member has in mind air support demonstrations. It is not at present proposed to carry out any of these this year. I understand that, after a meeting with representatives of the War Office, the local authorities gave their agreement to the range being used for this purpose.

Will the hon. Gentleman convey that information to the Secretary of State for War who, I understand, has taken advantage of there being no opposition to that project and is taking compulsorily land for the Sennybridge Range?

Perhaps the h on. Gentleman will address a Question on that subject to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the total annual amount of an airman's clothing allowance; and whether he will give a representative sample list of articles of Air Force clothing which could be bought for that sum.

As the reply consists of tables of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

While thanking the hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask whether experience shows that an airman can keep himself properly in clothing throughout the year on the total amount of the clothing allowance?

Yes, Sir. Those figures will be included with the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will investigate the efficacy of the protective clothing issued to airmen engaged on dirty work.

The one-piece denim overalls now in general use were introduced in 1950 after extensive trials. I have no evidence that they are not effective.

Is this clothing effective in the opinion of the men who have to use it?

The new type of overalls was approved by the Air Ministry Working and Protective Clothing Committee, after consultation with commands and after trying them out at Air Force stations.

Can the Minister give a definition of what exactly is meant by "dirty work" in the Royal Air Force?

Work that does not take place at the cross-roads.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what standard textbook on aviation medicine has been adopted for the use of medical officers of the Royal Air Force.

Armstrong's "Principles and Practice of Aviation Medicine."

Is the Minister satisfied that that book is up-to-date in its contents; and, as there is a very good book written by a British author which is recommended for use in the Air Forces of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, India and Pakistan, why is this book not recommended for use in the Royal Air Force? It is Dr. Bergin's "Aviation Medicine."

Mr. Armstrong is an American author whose book was published in this country in 1952 by Balliere, Tindall and Cox, and it is, I think, generally accepted to be the best reference work on the subject so far produced. Of course, Dr. Bergin's book is also available in command libraries.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that his statement that the American work is generally accepted is not within the experience of many people and that it is not generally accepted by many Dominion Air Forces and many authorities in this country? Can he therefore say why no reference has been made to the work of Dr. Bergin?

We are guided in these matters by the Institute of Aviation Medicine, and it was on their advice that we adopted Mr. Armstrong's book as our textbook.

Is it not correct that since then another book has been published by a British author? Has the matter been looked at again since the publication of this book?

Dr. Bergin's book was published in 1949 and Mr. Armstrong's book in 1952.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that greatcoats and ground-sheets are in various respects unsatisfactory wet-weather wear; and if he will consider making raincoats a standard issue to all ranks in the Royal Air Force.

Yes, Sir. We are looking at this matter closely to see whether any changes can be made.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when he expects the Hunter aircraft in the Royal Air Force to be modified to prevent the engines stalling in certain circumstances when the guns are fired.

It is not possible to give a precise forecast. Plans must be translated into engineering details and parts produced and fitted. These processes are being pursued with all possible speed.

Will the Under-Secretary promise us that the Air Ministry will tolerate no delay at the manufacturers or Ministry of Supply now that they know in general what is wrong and that it can be cured? Will they press on with it?

Yes, I can assure the hon. Gentleman that we are just as keen to get these modifications introduced as he is.

Does that apply to both the Avon and Sapphire jets, or only to the Avon?

It applies to a lesser extent to the Sapphire.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether arrangements have now been made so that in future the operational commands of the Royal Air Force will be in closer touch with the designers and manufacturers of new aircraft than they were in the case of the Hunter.

There was no lack of cooperation between Fighter Command and Hawkers during the development of the Hunter. As already announced, we are now ordering larger numbers of pre-production aircraft, and this will give squadron pilots better opportunities to fly new aircraft during their development than has been possible with the few prototypes hitherto available.

Apart from the prototypes, is the Under-Secretary satisfied that the machinery by which the operational command is kept in touch with the manufacturers over design and development is adequate, and will be so in the future?

Yes, one of the steps we have taken recently is to appoint a liaison officer from the operational command complete with a crew in the case of multi-seater aircraft. They are appointed to the firm and they are kept closely in touch with the work at all its stages.

Is the Under-Secretary aware that, in the Air Estimates debate last year, he said:

"More than half our regular day fighter force will consist of British swept-wing fighters by this time next year."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 4th March, 1954; Vol. 524, c. 1365.]

The whole of this matter will be dealt with, as the lion. Gentleman knows, in a White Paper which will be produced shortly. I ask the hon. Gentleman to wait until that comes out and then study it closely.

Would my hon. Friend say whether, if more prototypes had been ordered when the new sweptwing fighters were ordered, these teething troubles would not have been brought to light much sooner, and therefore the aircraft would have been in operational use much sooner, and does not the responsibility for the small number of prototypes rest with the previous Government?

There again, I ask my hon. Friend to wait for the White Paper, where he will find all these matters fully dealt with.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he now proposes to authorise the purchase of Swift aircraft for use in the Royal Air Force; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when he expects the Swift fighter to be in service with the Royal Air Force and 100 per cent. operationally reliable.

I think this is a matter which could be better dealt with in the context of the White Paper on Aircraft Supply.

Will the hon. Gentleman be good enough not to deceive the House any longer?

Oh.

Order, order. The hon. Member should not suggest that another hon. Member of this House is deceiving anyone.

Withdraw.

I did not say that the hon. Gentleman was wilfully deceiving the House. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] I will withdraw nothing. The hon. Gentleman, through no fault—[Interruption.] I have no intention whatever of asserting that the hon. Gentleman is wilfully deceiving the House, but I do say that he is deceiving the House. The House is being deceived on this issue. This aircraft is completely unsatisfactory.

Order, order. That is not good enough. The hon. Member ought to know that to charge another hon. Member with deceit carries with it the implication that it has been done wilfully.

I am very anxious, Mr. Speaker, to meet your Ruling, but unless you order me to withdraw, I will not withdraw.

Withdraw.

Order. The hon. Member really ought to withdraw that expression. Perhaps he did not realise when he was using the word what its implication was, but I have to keep order in this House.

I am willing, and I accept your Ruling, Sir, in so far as I cast any aspersion on the hon. Gentleman, but I assert that in fact the House and the country are being deceived on this issue, and I ask the hon. Gentleman to tell us—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] The hon. Gentleman can settle it himself. He knows perfectly well that this aircraft is unsatisfactory and is to be withdrawn. Why does he not say so?

I can assure the hon. Gentleman—and I think the House knows me well enough by now to realise it—that I am not deceiving the House in any way. All I ask the House to accept is my statement that at this point I am not in a position to make an announcement on this subject, but that the White Paper is being produced within the next few days and there will then be ample opposition—[Laughter.]—ample opportunity to study the White Paper and discuss it fully.

Is the Minister aware that in the Air Estimates debate in 1953, two years ago, he said:

"We intend to form our first squadrons of Swifts towards the end of the year …"—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 12th March, 1953; Vol. 512, c. 1515.]

I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on the thoroughness of his homework, but he knows perfectly well that there is a squadron of Swifts.

In operation?

In service with the Royal Air Force, and there was when that statement was made.

Yes, but in operation?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the date on which it was decided to fit externally-hung link and cartridge baskets to Hunter Hawker aircraft; and the percentage of these aircraft in use by the Royal Air Force which have been so modified.

The containers to which the hon. Member presumably refers are designed to collect spent links. It was decided in November, 1954, that these devices should be incorporated. They will be fitted as they become available. They eliminate any risk that the aircraft will be damaged by spent links in flight and have been so designed that they will not materially affect the performance of the aircraft.

How many of these aircraft have so far been fitted with these baskets? Have any been fitted?

I covered that point in my original answer. I said that they would be fitted when they became available.

I did not ask when; I asked how many?

May I ask my hon. Friend if he will point out to the hon. Gentleman that the aircraft in which he is taking such a sudden interest is not the Hunter Hawker and not the headline hunter, but the Hawker Hunter?

I am quite willing to take note of that information if the Under-Secretary will tell us how many Hunter Hawkers or Hawker Hunters are fitted with this basket.

I was trying to make it clear that none of these devices was so far available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the date on which it was decided that the tail of the Hunter Hawker must be redesigned; and the percentage of these aircraft at present in use by the Royal Air Force which have been so modified.

There has been no decision to redesign the tail of the Hunter. We are considering whether an all-moving tail might be an advantage on the later developments of the Hunter, but this does not affect aircraft in use or at present being delivered.

Are we now to understand that the Hunter's guns do not fire, that it is not fitted with a basket to collect the links and that the tail is not satisfactory, but that the aircraft is in operation?

No, I must correct all that. The guns are perfectly capable of firing, but under certain flight conditions and at certain heights the engine is apt to get surge when the guns are kept firing for a long time. They are perfectly able to fire now. This modification is necessary to avoid damage to the aircraft, but, at the worst, it only makes a few dents in it and it can still be flown perfectly easily. As to the point about the baskets, I think I have already dealt with that in my answer.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when he expects the Victor, Valiant, and Vulcan bombers to be in service with the Royal Air Force and capable of operational flight.

The first operational squadron in the Royal Air Force is at the moment being re-equipped with Valiants. We hope that next year we shall have Victors and Vulcans in service as well.

Is not the Minister aware that he said in the debate on the last Air Estimates that the Valiant will be in squadron service in 1954, and it is now 1955? Is it not the case that we have as much delay and inefficiency in the production of bombers as we have in the production of fighter aircraft?

My recollection, although I am prepared to be corrected if I am wrong, is that I said "in the coming financial year." The financial year is not yet over.

The hon. Gentleman said 1954.

The financial year is not yet over and Valiants are being delivered now. If the hon. Gentleman checks my speech, he will find that I said "in the coming financial year."

Is it not a fact that the hon. Gentleman had a Question down from me, which he has carefully passed on to the Ministry of Supply, in which I asked him to say what was wrong with the Valiant's wings and ailerons? Am I to take it that those are all right?

I passed the Question to the Minister of Supply because it is a Ministry of Supply matter. I am not aware of any redesign of the wings.

Or the ailerons?

I know of some modification to the ailerons, and that is being carried out at the present time.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what types of long-range bomber, capable of operational flight, are in service with the Royal Air Force; and in what numbers.

Apart from the squadron of Valiants now forming, our bomber squadrons are at the moment equipped with Lincolns and Canberras. It would not be in the public interest for me to give numbers.

Is it not the case that we now have no modern fighter aircraft to defend us and we have only one squadron of Valiants as medium bombers with which to launch an attack?

As I have said, the Valiants are coming in now and we hope to have Victors and Vulcans next year. Meanwhile, we have excellent aeroplanes in the Lincoln and the Canberra.

Will my hon. Friend not agree that if the party opposite had not lost their heads when the Korean war started and ordered so many Canberra bombers, half of which I believe had to be cancelled, many of these other types would now be in use?

Whether the Opposition lost their heads or not has nothing to do with the fact that the tail dropped off a Victor last year.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the rates of pay payable to civilian waiters at the Seaton Snook Radar Station; and how these rates of pay and conditions of service compare with rates paid by good employers in the district.

I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a comparison between the conditions of service of a civilian waiter at Seaton Snook and the provisions for a waiter in a licensed restaurant laid down in the Order made under the Catering Wages Act. I think that, when he has studied them, the hon. Member will agree that our conditions compare very well with what is done outside.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there are civilian waiters in this R.A.F. station who, after paying their travelling expenses, have less than £5 10s. a week on which to live and maintain a family, and does he think that is reasonable in present circumstances?

I can only ask the hon. Gentleman to compare these rates with the minimum laid down for waiters in the area. May I ask the hon. Gentleman to read the figures first and then, if he is not satisfied, I shall be happy to go into the matter further.

Could the hon. Gentleman say whether the wages of these

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why, after only some eight months in use, it became necessary at considerable public expense to make extensive alterations to the bar in the officers' mess at Seaton Snook Radar Station; and what was the total cost to public funds of the alterations.

The only alteration made was quite a small one; and it was not made at public expense.

Will the hon. Gentleman tell the House who paid for taking out the old installations, for putting in a false ceiling, for panelling the entire room, and who paid the wages of the two joiners employed by the Air Ministry who spent five weeks in doing this job?

I have been into this matter and my information is that the only work civilian waiters were subjected to the recent cut of £1 a week imposed on waiters elsewhere?

I should like to have notice of that question; I am afraid I do not know.

Is not the Air Ministry bound also by the Catering Wages Act, and is there any obligation on these waiters to serve snook?

Our rates are fixed administratively, bearing in mind the wishes of the Grading Committee of the Miscellaneous Trades Joint Council.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement on the use which is proposed to be made of his Department's property at Christmas Common, near Watlington, Oxford.

The hon. and gallant Member will by now have received the letter I wrote to him on 7th February about this case.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the contents of that letter, which have not so far been made public, indicate that it is not intended to proceed with the ambitious scheme which was first promulgated? Will he bear in mind that my constituents and many others are very grateful for this change?

I apologise to the House. I am afraid that I read the wrong reply.

No wonder there are no aircraft.

The correct answer is:

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why a corporal, of whom details were sent to him on 11th January last, continues to be detained in a mental ward at the Royal Air Force Hospital, Halton, Buckinghamshire; whether the serious charges he made against his former commanding officer while serving in the Canal Zone have yet been investigated; and when he will be released.

The hon. and gallant Member will by now have received the letter I wrote to him on 7th February about this case.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that his letter of 7th February is not very satisfactory? Will he arrange either for this constituent to be released forthwith or to be examined by a specialist not connected with the Royal Air Force, because this man has had a very long and exemplary service both during the war and since? Will the hon. Gentleman try to remove the serious sense of injustice felt by this airman?

As the hon. and gallant Gentleman knows, this airman has already been examined by the senior specialist in neuro-psychiatry at Halton, a specialist in whom I have the greatest possible confidence. I am quite sure that it is in the man's own interests that he should stay where he is for the time being.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a statement indicating what decision has been reached in the consideration given to the regulations related to property found by members of the public on public transport.

Yes, Sir. I have decided that a review is called for of this and other aspects of the regulations that have been brought to my attention. It will be necessary to consult various interested organisations, and I hope to begin these discussions shortly.

While welcoming that reply, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he can give some indication of how long he expects it will be before he can at least make some announcement of intention to give some sort of reward and recompense for honesty in matters of this sort?

It will take quite a time. The number of different regulations, administrative orders and statutory provisions which cover this subject is quite appalling when one goes into the matter.

In view of the wide national interest in a matter of this sort, will my right hon. Friend consider letting Parliament consider any proposed changes before they are made absolute?

I will consider that suggestion. It depends very much upon the form in which any necessary change has to be made.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation why applicants for foreign touring documents are asked to state their age, instead of merely that they are over 21 years of age; and why applicants for international driving permits are asked to provide a photograph and to state the exact date of their birth, although these particulars are contained in every passport.

Because the International Conventions of 1926 and 1949 provide that international driving permits must contain a photograph and specify the date of birth of the holder. For other international documents I understand that the issuing associations are satisfied with a declaration that the applicant is or is not over 21 years of age.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that all holders of international driving permits and car documents have to have a passport which also contains these particulars? Is not this a case of unnecessary duplication?

Possibly there is something to be said for that point of view, but we are bound by the Conventions to which I have referred.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what general directions he has given to the nationalised industries for which he is responsible instructing them to comply with the recommendations affecting the retirement age contained in the paragraphs 50–52 and 65–67 of the First Report of the National Advisory Committee on the Employment of Older Men and Women.

None, Sir. As announced on 25th January by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and National Service, the boards of the nationalised industries have said that they will give effect to the recommendations in the Report as far as is practicable.

Is the Minister watching the progress in the industries for which he is responsible? Is he satisfied with it?

Yes, Sir, and I have been in touch with all three chairmen concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the evidence of worsening working conditions of former British Road Services drivers consequent upon the sale of then-vehicles, and the unsatisfactory service to the public, if he will now repeal the transport Act, 1953.

I do not accept the accuracy of the allegations contained in the first part of the Question. The second part does not, therefore, arise.

Is the Minister aware that the trade union movement can give him all the evidence he requires? Is he aware that in my constituency depots which belonged to the B.R.S. and which were a financial gain to the community have now been closed and that some drivers have found employment in private enterprise, where their wages have gone down and their conditions of service are worse? If all he requires for the repeal of this Act is evidence, I will give him miles of it.

I should be surprised, in a state of full employment and with strong trade unions in the industry, that such worsening of conditions as the hon. Member suggests could take place.

Does not the Minister think it time that he inquired from his own examiners and inspectors about the amount of illicit and illegal overtime which is being worked by drivers employed by private services, because evidence is coming into the trade unions on this matter? Does he not also think that he might call for a report from his examiners about the deteriorating mechanical conditions of these vehicles once they pass out of public hands?

On the first part of the hon. Member's supplementary, if there is any suggestion of a breach of the law I shall be happy to have any particular case investigated. I do not accept the suggestion in the second part of his question.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the number of officers employed by his Department full-time on enforcement work in connection with the licensing procedure laid down by the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933; and the comparable number so employed in 1938.

Fifty-seven officers of my Department are engaged full-time on enforcement duties in connection with the licensing procedure laid down by the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933. During the week ended 29th January, 1955, there were also 13 driving and traffic examiners engaged on these duties. On 30th September, 1938, the number of enforcement staff was 75.

In view of the fact that the number of full-time staff has decreased since 1938 and evasion is known to have increased in recent months since denationalisation, is the Minister satisfied that there are sufficient full-time officers to cope with the large amount of evasion which takes place?

Without necessarily accepting the implication in that question, I propose to arrange that as the larger number of driving examiners, whose recruitment has already been announced, comes in, some of them will be employed from time to time on these duties.

How does the Minister reconcile his earlier statement that he was not aware of an increase in evasion with the admission of the need to increase the number of enforcement officers?

I am certainly not admitting that there is an increase in evasion but am paying this deference to the hon. Member's supplementary question: that the inspectorate should be maintained at an adequate level.

Is the Minister aware that some of us who are associated with service on petty sessional courts are alarmed at the increase in the number of cases arising from evasion which come before those courts, and that these cases arise from accidents? Is it not time that we dealt with the evasions prior to accidents, so that we can deal with the question of road safety?

I have already indicated that I shall be happy to consider the details of any case that the hon. Member or anybody else cares to send me.

Would the Minister, who seems to be in some doubt about the matter of evasion, be prepared to take evidence from senior officers of British Road Services, who can give him plenty of information on this question?

If a breach of the law is suggested, there are perfectly normal ways of bringing that matter to the attention of the police.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether the Convention on Damage Caused by Foreign Aircraft to Third Parties on the Surface agreed at Rome in October, 1952, Command Paper No. 8886, has yet been ratified by the United Kingdom Government; by how many governments of those countries whose aircraft use British airports it has been ratified; and which of those countries who have not ratified the Agreement are still allowed to send aircraft to British airports.

This Convention has not yet been ratified by Her Majesty's Government, nor by any country whose aircraft use United Kingdom airports. Rights to fly to this country are governed by bilateral agreements exchanging traffic rights and could not be made subject to adherence to this Convention.

Does this mean that the Convention will never come into operation?

I do not think so.

Does not the Minister feel that the delay in ratification is becoming unreasonable? I had to explain that some complicated matters were involved, but ought those not to have been cleared up by now?

This is a matter for a number of countries. In the meanwhile, as I know the hon. Member is aware, operators of aircraft flying over the United Kingdom are already liable in law for any damage they cause, without proof of negligence.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the number of days on which traffic in each airport in the United Kingdom was held up or delayed through fog during the last six months.

As the answer is very detailed and contains a large number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is now in a position to make a statement in regard to the fatal accident which occurred to a Stratocruiser aircraft at Prestwick Airport on Christmas morning, which resulted in the loss of 28 lives.

Yes, Sir. A B.O.A.C. Stratocruiser, on a flight from London to New York, crashed on landing at Prestwick on the morning of 25th December, 1954. Of the 25 passengers and crew of 11, 24 passengers and four crew members were killed and one passenger and seven crew injured. I have decided that a public inquiry should be held in Scotland into the accident and the Lord President of the Court of Session has appointed Mr. C. W. Guest, Q.C. as Commissioner. I am sure the House will join me in expressing our deepest sympathy with the relatives and friends of those who lost their lives and with those injured in this tragic accident.

I thank my right hon. Friend for the welcome action which he has taken and for his offer of sympathy. He will appreciate, I hope, that that sympathy is deeply shared in Ayrshire, especially among the workers and management at the airport itself.

I am sure that that is so.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when the United Kingdom will ratify the Convention on the International Recognition of Rights in Aircraft.

A Committee appointed by my predecessor, with the Hon. Mr. Justice McNair as chairman, is looking into the problems involved. Until I have its report, I cannot say anything about ratification.

Can the Minister give an idea when he expects the Report and, as legislation will have to be introduced, what hope there is of having the legislation this Session?

I am afraid I do not know when I shall receive this Report. I am bound to say, in defence of the Committee, that extremely difficult problems of law appear to arise. Until I have the Report, I am afraid I cannot answer the latter part of my noble Friend's Question.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many local authorities have sought his advice and asked for information on the establishment of inter-city air travel stations in view of the rapid development of the helicopter; and what advice and information he has given them.

Sixty-seven local authorities have sought advice or information about the establishment of helicopter stations. They have been given such general guidance as the present state of knowledge of the performance and other characteristics of this type of machine permits.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is now half a century since buses started carrying passengers and that only today are many of our large cities establishing bus stations? Is the right hon. Gentleman to take 50 years before he establishes a station for helicopters?

I sincerely hope not, but it is necessary for both local authorities and my Department, in deciding what they want to do in this direction, to be quite clear what will be the weight of the aircraft using the stations, what clearance will be required and many other technical problems.

Will the Minister encourage the establishment of stations for helicopters?

I am all for the enterprise of local authorities to assist in the provision of stations of this kind.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if a decision has yet been made with regard to the future use of the Comet I aircraft now owned by the British Overseas Airways Corporation.

A decision, which is of course primarily for B.O.A.C., will be taken in the light of the findings of the Court of Inquiry into the Comet accidents.

If we have to wait for the findings of the Inquiry into the Comet accidents, why has the decision been taken that eight or nine Comet IIs should be taken over by the Royal Air Force? In view of the fact that large sums from public funds are involved, can the Minister give an assurance that there will be a full statement about the settlement in this matter after the Inquiry's Report has been published?

This Question, as the hon. Member will appreciate, refers to the Comet I aircraft in the possession of B.O.A.C.; but I have little doubt that if, after publication of the Report, a Question is put down to the appropriate Minister, we will probably be able to clear up any points that are bothering the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is now in possession of a copy of the Report of the Rusholme Committee on Canals; and whether he will state the policy of the Government on this matter.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he has now considered the Rusholme Report on inland waterways; and if he is now able to state the policy of the Government in relation to the future of inland waterways in this country.

I have received a copy of the Report of the Rusholme Committee on Canals and am considering it. I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

Will the right hon. Gentleman procure further copies of the Report and make them available to hon. Members in the Library so that we can all have an opportunity of considering the potentialities of the canals alongside the plans for the modernisation of other forms of transport?

This is a Report to the British Transport Commission. I understand from the Commission that it contemplates publishing it when it can be printed, and I think there will be no difficulty in hon. Members obtaining copies. Whether strictly I can place it in the Library, as it is not an official document, I am not sure.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he has now received the proposals of the British Transport Commission for abandoning the Kennet and Avon Canal.

No, Sir.

Does my right hon. Friend not find it a little odd that notice of abandonment was at least given to my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd) as long ago as 14th December? When this information finally reaches my right hon. Friend and he considers it, will he bear in mind two factors: first, that large sums of money have already been spent in rehabilitating this canal in the last year or two and, secondly, that at a recent meeting between hon. Members of all parties and senior officers of the Transport Commission exactly contrary assurances to abandonment were given to us?

When the matter comes before me, I will certainly bear in mind what my hon. Friend has said. There are only two ways in which it would be open to the Commission to abandon its statutory obligations in respect of this waterway. One is by a warrant and order of abandonment under the Railway and Canal Water Act, 1888, as amended, and the other by Private Bill proceeding.

Does any reference to this Bill occur in the Rusholme Report?

There is some reference to it. The right hon. Member will forgive me for not being too precise without notice, but my recollection is that it refers to parts of it in different ways.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the approximate length of the A40 road, Brecon to Llandovery, over which he has given clearance for the firing by heavy artillery from the proposed Trecastle gunsite to the Sennybridge Range; how many vehicles used this road at the last traffic census; and to what extent it was then used by children either walking or conveyed to school.

About 2,600 yards and, according to the census taken in August, 1954, about 1,500 vehicles a day. Ten children usually walk along the road to school and eight are conveyed.

What precautions will the right hon. Gentleman take through his agents, the Breconshire County Council, to safeguard children going along this road and visitors going from London to West Wales from the effect of this firing over the trunk road?

The safety precautions to be taken are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War, to whom I think that question should be put.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many accidents have been reported at points within 400 yards of the site of the proposed traffic signals at the junction of A1 with Kingsley Way, N.W.11, since November, 1953.

Sixty-six accidents were reported to the police between November, 1953, and December, 1954, and in these, two people were killed and 27 injured.

As the Parliamentary Secretary promised in November, 1953, that these lights would be erected very quickly, is it not an extraordinary case of delay, particularly as 66 accidents have been reported since then?

I think the right hon. Gentleman's next Question relates specifically to the lights.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he expects that the traffic signals on the A1 highway at Kingsley Way, N.W.11, promised by him in November, 1953, will be erected.

I hope the signals will be erected before the end of March.