asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for the installation of telephones are outstanding in Aberdeenshire; how many are in burghs and how many in landward areas; and the total numbers that have been outstanding for over two years.

As the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Postmaster-General how many new subscribers have been connected to the telephone system in Aberdeenshire during the past twelve months; and how this compares, on a percentage of population, with the rest of Scotland.

One thousand, seven hundred and twenty-two; installation was held up somewhat by storm damage. The figure represented 5·2 per cent. of the telephones supplied in Scotland during the year, whereas Aberdeenshire has 6·4 per cent. of the population of Scotland.

Can my right hon. Friend say if he expects an increase in the rate of installation of telephones in Aberdeenshire in the near future?

In the next two years it is hoped to introduce new equipment in twenty-four exchanges and to carry out twelve new projects of cable laying.

Will my right hon. Friend ensure that no preference is given to Aberdeenshire over the rest of Scotland?

No preference is revealed by these figures.

asked the Postmaster-General what provision he is making for old age-pensioners to draw their pensions in the parish of Elsing since the closing of Elsing Post Office, in view of the fact that some dozen old-age pensioners are 80 years of age and have a journey of six miles to the nearest post office, there being no public transport service.

Beginning this week, temporary post office counter services, including the payment of pensions, will be provided in Elsing for a few hours each Friday until a new sub-office can be opened.

Whilst thanking the right hon. Gentleman for the speed with which he has dealt with this matter since the Question was put on the Order Paper, may I ask that in future, whenever post offices are closed in villages where a big proportion of the population is of old-age pensioners, some immediate steps should be taken to meet their needs?

In this case immediate steps have been taken because on 1st June the service had to end and since then we have been searching for someone to take over —indeed we are still searching—and we made these arrangements in the interim.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that during the railway strike his Department refused parcels over eight ounces for export; that from 13th June parcels for export were accepted for all countries excepting the United States of America, Canada, South Africa and the Gold Coast; that parcels for those countries had to be handed in at Southampton and Liverpool, causing expense and inconvenience to firms carrying on the export trade; and whether he will ensure that in any emergency in the future every facility shall be given for the transmission of parcels and letters in connection with our export trade, particularly for those destined to the dollar countries.

Facilities for sending parcels and heavier letter packets overseas by air were restored on 4th June. On 9th June arrangements were made for limited acceptance of overseas surface parcels. Then, the weight limit for all kinds of letter packets, including overseas, was increased to 1 lb. I can assure the hon. Member that in any future emergency the Post Office will continue to follow the policy of providing the best service which the resources available permit, with particular regard to the needs of the export trade.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that his certainly was not the best arrangement? It was a great disservice from the export point of view, for example, that a parcel which normally would cost about 17s. would actually cost f12 2s. to send to America by air mail. Why has the right hon. Gentleman made the condition that parcels must be delivered at Southampton and Liverpool? Did he expect a courier service to be run by a firm from John O' Groats to Southampton in order that it could have parcels delivered for export purposes?

I sought at the earliest moment to make the dispatch of overseas parcels possible. On 4th June the air parcels service was established completely, from 9th June the overseas surface parcels service was re-established. It was necessary to require at the outset that the parcels should be delivered to five main ports. May I add that the statement in the Question that posting to the countries named was not possible is not accurate, for it was possible from 4th June.

Bearing in mind the harmful effect on our vital export trade, could the Postmaster-General tell us what representations, if any, were made to him by the President of the Board of Trade?

I should require notice of that question.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the general public and the great bulk of the business community viewed with approbation and enthusiasm the emergency arrangements which his Department made?

asked the Postmaster-General under what circumstances a sub-postmaster who is to be interrogated as a possible offender by an officer of the Investigation Branch is allowed, under his regulations, to have his solicitor present when such interrogation takes place.

The rules for sub-postmasters do not provide for the presence of a solicitor at interrogations. I am examining the present procedure.

While welcoming the undertaking to look into this matter, which, I hope, will lead to some much-needed reform, may I ask the Postmaster-General to note that I am nevertheless raising the case of Mr. Turvey in Friday's Adjournment debate, in which this will be only one of the many serious issues involved?

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make available to hon. Members a copy of the rules under paragraph 3 of the Second Schedule to the Television Act, 1954, relating to periods of advertising in commercial television programmes.

The rules under paragraph 3 of the Second Schedule relate to intervals between periods of advertising and not to the duration or number of advertising periods—the latter are proper to be settled under paragraph 2 of the Schedule. Paragraph 3 also deals with classes of broadcasts from which advertisements are barred. I have placed in the Library copies of the arrangements and rules made under both paragraphs.

asked the Postmaster-General whether advertising documentaries and shoppers' guides are excluded from the times allowed for advertising in the rules authorised by him for commercial television.

asked the Postmaster-General why he has approved the exceeding of the limit of 10 per cent. of the total time allocated for advertising in commercial television programmes; and to what extent his regulations will allow this time limit to be exceeded by additional items described as advertising magazines and advertising features.

The I.T.A. has arranged that the amount of time given to advertising will not exceed six minutes an hour, averaged over the whole day's programmes, excluding shoppers' guides and advertising documentaries from the calculation. These arrangements do not fall within the scope of any rules I have to make under the Second Schedule.

Is the Postmaster-General not aware that there is no provision whatever in the Act whereby advertising documentaries shall be excluded from the description of "advertisement"? Is he also aware that one of the companies today has announced that it will have a shopping documentary at 4 o'clock on Saturdays and another at 5.15? If one adds to this the six minutes also, it means that half the time will be taken up with advertising. How does the right hon. Gentleman justify that, in view of the assurances which he has given?

In the second paragraph of the Second Schedule, to which the right hon. Member has referred, the responsibility is put upon the Authority to secure that the amount of time given to advertising in the programmes shall not be so great as to detract from the value of the programmes as a medium of entertainment, instruction and information. As matters stand, it seems that the Authority, conscious of its responsibilities, is doing its best to carry them out, and I suggest that until there is reason to suppose that the Authority is not carrying out its duty, we should give it our full confidence and allow it to continue its work.

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered my question. Is he not aware that in the Act there is no provision for excluding advertisement documentaries from the description of advertising matter? Is he not aware of that, or is he conniving, as, apparently, the Assistant Postmaster-General said in the Adjournment debate, with the advertisers in breaking the Act of Parliament?

I am aware of the definition of "advertisement." There is no conniving. The present position was forecast by my hon. Friend in the debate in June last year, and it was given in an answer to a Question on 23rd March by the Economic Secretary.

Is the Postmaster-General aware that both the House and the public outside have been completely hoodwinked and misled by the Government into believing that 10 per cent. was to be the maximum time allowed for advertising, whereas, in fact, it is a minimum and the maximum might be anything. Even the right hon. Gentleman does not know what the maximum is.

It has been clearly explained to this House what the maximum is, and that, in that calculation, shoppers' guides and documentaries are excluded. There has been no doubt about the fact that this House has approved the Act and that the country has endorsed that decision.

There is no need for the right hon. Gentleman to lose his temper. Is it not the fact that the Act does not provide for excluding this form of advertisement? Why has he agreed to it?

There is nothing in the Act which prevents the inclusion of shoppers' guides and documentaries in the programmes to be provided. I suggest that the right hon. Gentleman's indignation is leading him into inaccuracies.

asked the Postmaster-General why, having regard to Section 3 (3) of the Television Act, 1954, he has approved paragraph 9 of the Principles for Television Advertising.

Paragraph 9 of the "Principles" is specifically limited to competitions allowable under Section 3 (3) of the Act, and I see no conflict between them.

In view of the fact that the Act provides that no prizes or gifts of significant value may be offered on commercial television, is it with the knowledge of the Postmaster-General that the Associated Rediffusion company today advertises that it will provide big prizes? Has the right hon. Gentleman given any direction or advice as to what is the measure of "significant value"?

The right hon. Gentleman's Question relates to paragraph 9 of the Principles, which have been published. He will appreciate that paragraph 9 refers to advertisements allowable under Section 3 (3) of the Act. If the right hon. Gentleman knows of particular instances suggesting that the Act or this arrangement is to be broken, I shall be very glad to look into them.

The right hon. Gentleman persists in misunderstanding me. Has he given any advice as to what is a prize or gift of significant value, as referred to in the Act? If not, perhaps he will tell us why one of the companies advertises that it is going to give big prizes.

The Independent Television Authority is the responsible body, which I am content to trust in this direction until there is reason to the contrary.

If the right hon. Gentleman is content to leave it to the Authority, why did he put up the Assistant Postmaster-General last week to defend it and to speak on its behalf in this House?

Because it is customary for the Assistant Postmaster-General to reply to Adjournment debates on behalf of the Post Office.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what arrangements have now been made by the Meteorological Office for studying the problem of weather modification.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will consider carrying out the rain-making experiments which the Meteorological Office propose to undertake this summer off the coast, so that, if successful, the clouds will precipitate their rain over the sea instead of over the land, thus giving more hours of sunshine on the land.

I hope that field trials will begin in the near future. Early results cannot be expected since careful measurements over a long period will be necessary to detect any increase in rainfall over that which would have occurred naturally. We cannot make these tests off the coast because we could not arrange for the necessary measurements of rainfall to be made. Indeed, there is at present no reliable method of measuring rainfall at sea.

Where are these experiments to take place? Can the Minister give an assurance that they will in no way destroy any hope of our getting a little sun this summer?

I have already announced that these experiments will be made on Salisbury Plain. As regards the last part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, of course there is no question of turning fine weather into rainy weather, but merely of increasing rain which probably would have fallen anyway.

Since these experiments may succeed, has consideration been given to the legal implications of a deluge which is created in circumstances in which the Meteorological Office claims that in law it is not an act of God?

We are watching the legal position very carefully.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what he has done to bring to the notice of farmers the Meteorological Office's Special Service No. 6 under which, in return for a small fee, farmers can be notified of the likelihood of fine or drying weather to enable them to plan their work.

The service is brought to the notice of farmers through the National Agricultural Advisory Service and in farming publications. It has also been referred to in broadcasts about farming, and pamphlets giving details of this and of other meteorological services of special interest to farmers are distributed at the main agricultural shows. I am grateful to the hon. Member for this opportunity to add to the publicity.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air, in view of the recent discharge of a sportsman, details of which have been sent to him, if he will discharge 2731286 A.C.2 Thaine, S.G., now serving in Iraq, who as the result of an accident on 18th July, 1954, when two toes were broken, is now handicapped by a big toe centre joint being devoid of movement and walks with a limp and in recent weeks has been twice in hospital.

This airman has recently been found temporarily unfit for service, and is being returned to the United Kingdom. I understand that the reasons are unconnected with the slight disability of one foot, but I am looking into the case further and will write to the hon. Member as soon as my inquiries are Complete.

I would like to thank the Minister for taking action in this case. Is he aware that lots of action has been taken before in the hope that this man would be discharged from the Royal Air Force but that until now it does not seem as though any sympathy whatever has been given to the case?

As I said, this man is on his way home. When he gets here, he will go before another medical board. I should prefer to reserve my judgment until that happens.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (1) why the Royal Air Force has rejected the services of a man, of details of whose case he has been informed, because of a foot disability, and has accepted another man, of whom he has also been informed, who is more seriously disabled;

The airman who is being discharged suffers from a disability which is considered likely to be aggravated by the normal conditions of Service life.

The other airman referred to by the hon. Member entered the Royal Air Force on 18th October, 1954. He completed the first half of the recruits' training course and the less strenuous parts of the second half. During the past two months he has been training as an instrument mechanic. From early December until mid-February he was at a medical rehabilitation unit. He was given seven days' convalescent leave and has since had fourteen days' sick leave. He was excused wearing boots almost since entry, and parades since the beginning of December.

This airman is being retained in the Royal Air Force because his disability is considered likely to respond to treatment. If it does not so respond in a reasonable period we shall review his case again.

Is the Under-Secretary of State aware that before this man went into the Forces the medical board refused to grade him because of his disability, that he had to undergo a special examination, that he was grade A 4/G 2 permanently, that he has not been able to wear boots during the whole time he has been in the Forces, that he has been excused all parades, all drills, all P.T. and every other type of activity, and that his feet are getting worse, notwithstanding that he has had special insoles supplied to him? Does the hon. Gentleman not feel that this man, particularly when the medical experts have said that his feet are getting worse, should be discharged, as others have been?

No, Sir. He has not received his special insoles yet. The sorbo-rubber ones which he is wearing at the moment are only temporary, until the special ones are ready. I do think that before we come to a decision we should ascertain whether the insoles improve his condition.

On a point of order. Is it right for the Under-Secretary of State to make a statement definitely not in accordance with the facts? I spoke to this man yesterday, and he tells me he has been compelled to wear insoles, which the medical experts admit are making his feet worse. What is this man to do?

I cannot deal with a point of order like that.

The facts are simply these, that he was issued with some sorbo-rubber insoles—

Making his feet worse.

—pending the production of the special ones. He did not like wearing the temporary ones, and asked the medical officer if he need go on wearing them, and he was given permission not to wear them.

Is the Royal Air Force so hard up for men that it requires to keep a man of this sort? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is undoubtedly some disquiet amongst hon. Members and in the country about the discrimination exercised by the Royal Air Force, whereby one man is accepted and another man rejected?

I do realise that, of course, but I think it is most important to look at each case carefully on its own merits. The moment we try to lay down rules we shall find ourselves being very unfair to many people. I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that I shall continue to examine each case carefully on its merits, and if I feel that it is not doing a man any good to stay in the Air Force, and if his condition is likely to deteriorate because of Service life, I shall release him.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when it is proposed to discharge 2739651 Aircraftman, Second Class, John Albert Letman, who has been continuously ill since childhood, has undergone two major operations, suffers from a damaged hip that gives pain and, despite having been in the Royal Air Force for eight months, has done no basic training, has been excused many duties and is grade 4.

Although this airman has been assessed as medically fit for the trade in which he is now training he is undoubtedly a borderline case, and after careful consideration I have decided that the balance of advantage lies in discharging him from the Air Force.

Why on earth do we have to have rows in this House to get justice as between man and man? Does not the Under-Secretary of State appreciate that Members on this side of the House agreed to National Service on the ground that there would be fair play? It is certainly not taking place today.

I am certainly not afraid of what the hon. Member may say when I come to a conclusion about the discharge of a man from the Royal Air Force. He can say exactly what he likes about it. I shall continue to examine each of these cases carefully, and when I feel that a man ought to be discharged I shall discharge him.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many National Service men have been accepted into the Royal Air Force in each of the last three years; how many were discharged in each year for physical defects; and how many applications for such discharge were made and rejected.

As the reply to the first two parts of the Question is a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. There are standing arrangements for the discharge of any man who is assessed below the medical standard for retention in the Royal Air Force, or whose medical condition makes retention inadvisable. Applications by or on behalf of the man are not necessary, and no central record is kept of any which may be made.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman for an assurance that if an operation is called for, in the case of a man who has physical defects, and the operation proves successful, such a man will be recalled to the Service, if his physical condition is so improved?

I really do not think it would be right to lay down any hard-and-fast rules in these matters. Each case is different, and each one must be considered on its merits.

Can the hon. Gentleman give any instance of a man having been recalled after an operation has improved his condition to that extent?

I should like to have notice of that question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many flying hours were carried out by the Royal Air Force during the recent strike in connection with the carrying of mails and freight on behalf of public services.

Two hundred and nineteen.

Will my hon. Friend express the thanks of many of us who are indebted for the valuable work carried out during the recent emergency?

Yes. I am very glad to associate myself with the tribute which my hon. and gallant Friend has paid.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, when the railway dispute is over, he will fix a date to visit the site of the proposed Tyne tunnel.

Gladly, Sir.

May I ask my right hon. Friend if we can correspond on fixing the date?

I am bound to say that I had not realised that my hon. Friend found any difficulty in corresponding with me.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a statement on the Forth road crossing; and, in particular, on the progress made in the technical examination of the tube proposal.

The investigation which I referred to in my reply to the hon. Member for Leith (Mr. Hoy) on 14th June is now in progress. It will inevitably take some time.

Has my right hon. Friend any idea how long it is likely to take? Does he expect it to conclude before the Summer Recess or before Christmas? Will he stress the need for urgency in this matter?

I am sure that the extremely experienced men who are undertaking this examination realise the anxiety of my hon. and gallant Friend and the House that they should do their work as quickly as is consistent with doing it properly.

Whilst appreciating the need for care in this matter, may I ask if the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the congestion on the Forth ferry is becoming worse and worse, and that it is becoming extremely difficult to get cars over by means of these boats? Would the right hon. Gentleman look into the question whether a further improvement can be made in the interregnum?

Speaking from memory, either I or my right hon. Friend the present Colonial Secretary answered a Question a little time ago indicating that the British Transport Commission is proposing to improve the ferry facilities over the Firth of Forth.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is satisfied that the proposed improvement to the trunk road at Gun Hill, near Dedham, will increase its safety; and whether he will consider substituting for this scheme a road by-passing Stratford St. Mary's.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir". The by-pass is an expensive long-term project which is a great deal more than a substitute for the present proposal.

What is the estimated cost of the improvement which is now proposed? Is my right hon. Friend aware that the county council which is also interested in this matter is not convinced that the improvement which he intends to undertake will produce the additional safety which is so urgently necessary on this part of the road.

The improvement mentioned in the Question involves the widening and realignment of this road and the addition of footways. I think that it will make some improvement, at a cost of £8,500 compared with £300,000 for the by-pass.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps are taken to ensure that reflecting advertisements are kept away from corners and dangerous parts of roads in cases where these might distract the attention of drivers at critical moments.

Local planning authorities control the display of advertisements in the interests of amenity and public safety. As regards safety, they are required to consult me in respect of trunk roads, for which I am the highway authority, and it is their practice to consult the local highway authority in respect of other roads.

Would the right hon. Gentleman look into this question and see whether, if an advertiser is given the right to erect a sign immediately facing a sharp turning, it is possible to make that right conditional upon the advertisement also giving guidance to the driver that there is a sharp turning and not distract his attention when he ought TO be looking at the road?

I should be rather doubtful about incorporating traffic directions in advertising, since it might add to confusion. The right hon. Gentleman can be assured that, in exercising the authority to which I referred in my main answer, I take the greatest care to ensure that advertisements are not erected where they will seriously distract drivers.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware of the hardship and inconvenience caused to motorists and pedestrians using the Dunham Bridge on the A57 road from Nottinghamshire to Lincolnshire by the imposition of tolls; and whether he will meet the wishes of the Nottingham County Council by abolishing these tolls.

I am aware of the existence of this toll bridge, about which the Nottinghamshire County Council has been good enough to write to me. I am at present, however, concentrating on physical improvements in our highway system, and have no funds available for the redemption of tolls.

Does not this Question and the next Question on the Order Paper in the name of the hon. and gallant Member for Barkston Ash (Sir L. Ropner) show the irritation which exists among the motoring and pedestrian public at the continued imposition, in this modern age, of tolls which may have served a good purpose in the past? Will the right hon. Gentleman not take steps immediately to get rid of this anachronism while he can do it cheaply?

As I said in my main answer, I am concentrating on actual road construction all the funds that are available. The right hon. Gentleman may recall that a decision to do that was taken by the Administration in 1949, of which I think he was an ornament.

Is it not a fact that vehicles have to slow down at this bridge in order that tolls can be collected and that that adds very greatly to the traffic congestion?

That may well be so, but as the hon. Member knows well, there is a great deal of work to be done on our highways system, and I think that I must concentrate the funds that are available on the construction of roads in preference to redeeming tolls.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether his Department will negotiate for the purchase of the toll rights of Selby toll bridge.

I will go into the question of these rights when I am able to provide for the inclusion of a new bridge here in the programme.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that as long ago as 1939 negotiations for the purchase of these rights were far advanced? Does he not share the view that the problem of this toll bridge is at least as urgent now as it was in 1939?

I understand, and I am well aware, of my hon. and gallant Friend's very proper concern about the situation in connection with this bridge but, as I said in reply to a previous Question, I really must concentrate on the construction of the most needed highways and, as I said in my main answer, when that point is reached in respect of this bridge I will go into the matter of the tolls.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the condition of this bridge is an absolute disgrace, and has been for many years? Is he aware that if this bridge were free the road would be used as an alternative route between Leeds and the West Riding and the coast, and would help to relieve the appalling congestion which the right hon. Gentleman knows exists at Malton? Can he also say whether or not it is his responsibility or that of his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to have any check on the amount of money which is collected at that toll bridge? When I go over it, I invariably get no receipt of any kind.

I would rather not answer, without notice, the question of whether the hon. Lady has been overcharged.

No, not overcharged.

I agree that the condition of the bridge leaves much to be desired. but I had better not reflect too much at this Box on what is, after all, somebody else's property.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will now make a statement with regard to the progress which is being made in the negotiations between his Department and the Transport Commission for the purpose of reaching a settlement concerning the responsibility for the maintenance of road bridges over railways.

Yes, Sir. I recently sent to the seven associations representing the local authorities concerned some firm proposals made by the British Transport Commission after consultation with my Department. They are now considering them.

Does my right hon. Friend recall that these negotiations have now been going on for more than two years? Will he give me an assurance that energetic action will be taken to bring the negotiations to a termination?

Naturally, I should like to see them speedily concluded, but my hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate that where it is a case of negotiation with seven local authority associations, over which I have no control, I can give no guarantee that the negotiations will be concluded at a particular date, but I should like to see them concluded as quickly as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the additional sums of money he will permit to he spent on road improvements in Dorset during the next twelve months.

Government expenditure of £26,042 on major road improvements was authorised in 1954–55. In the present financial year the corresponding figure will be £55,040.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that we are very modest in our county, and the requests we make to him are small? Is he aware that a considerable sum is required to straighten and widen the A30 road, part of which passes through our county?

I appreciate the desire of Dorset to make further improvements in its roads, but I do not think that it has done too badly this year.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he expects to publish draft orders under the Trunk Roads Act, 1946, preliminary to the construction of the two relief roads in Newbury.

In August.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many accidents occurred and how many persons were killed and injured in 1954 or in the latest year for which figures are available on the roads A40 from the outskirts of Ross to Abergavenny, A465 from Abergavenny to Hirwaun, A470 from Cardiff to Merthyr Tydvil, and on A48 and A4067 from the western boundary of Newport, Monmouthshire, to the northern boundary of Swansea, respectively.

The information requested by the hon. Member will take some time to collect. I will send it to him as soon as I can.

Is it not a fact that these figures will indicate that there are many more accidents, as well as deaths and injuries, on these main roads than there are on an average on main roads throughout the country? If so, what steps is the right hon. Gentleman taking to make an immediate and steady improvement of these main roads in South Wales?

Perhaps the hon. Member will await the figures, which I will send him as soon as I can, before he draws any deductions from them.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made with the Cromwell Road extension scheme, and with the proposed fly-over junction at Hammersmith; and, in view of the importance of this route between the centre of London and both London Airport and the west of England, what steps he will take to ensure that the scheme is completed in the near future.

Work has started on the London County Council's part of this scheme, and work on the Middlesex part of the scheme is expected to start in September. The L.C.C. and the Middlesex County Council are pressing on with the work as quickly as possible. As I explained in reply to earlier Questions, the fly-over will not be included initially.

Will the Minister say why the fly-over is not to be included, and will he give us some indication when the scheme as at present proposed is likely to be completed?

I have twice already told the House that the reason the fly-over will not be included initially is that the London County Council, which is the promoting authority, does not wish to include it.

When will the scheme be completed?

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what plans he has for speeding up tests for would-be drivers.

Recruitment of additional examiners is being pressed forward. At the beginning of this month the Civil Service Commission announced that another thirty-one candidates had passed their competition for these posts. A further list of successful candidates is expected in a few weeks' time. The starting pay of examiners is being increased by about £45 a year, and this will, of course, apply also to new entrants from the next competition, which will shortly be advertised.

How many people are waiting for these tests, and are the plans which my right hon. Friend has at present for widening roads and building new roads sufficient for the number of cars coming on to the roads?

I do not think the second part of my hon. and gallant Friend's supplementary question arises out of his Question. His first supplementary question related to the number of applicants awaiting tests. The nearest figure I can give him is about 135,000.

Is that figure of 135,000 going up or is it going down; and how many of those 135,000 are in the London area?

Perhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman would put down the second part of his supplementary question. The answer to the first part is "Both, Sir"—that is, it would go up during the summer and down during the autumn.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation why Mr. W. E. Barnaby, of 97, Greenfield Crescent, Brighton, who has been accepted for employment as a driving and traffic examiner under the Ministry of Transport is to be employed in Coventry when there is a similar vacancy in Hove; and why the vacancy in Hove is to be filled by a man being brought down from Manchester.

Because the post at Hove has since March been promised to the examiner stationed at Manchester, whose home is in Brighton. There were no vacancies at or near Hove which could have been offered to Mr. Barnaby when he was accepted for appointment earlier this month.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission instructing them to take steps to offer canals for sale to private enterprise undertakings when they are no longer required for use by the Commission instead of allowing them to fall into desuetude.

No, Sir. I am informed by the British Transport Commission that it is always ready to consider offers for the purchase of waterways no longer required for commercial transport, but that disposals of this kind are complicated by the fact that the Commission's ownership carries with it a wide variety of statutory and other obligations and liabilities.

In view of the announcement by the Commission that it proposes to withdraw from service several hundreds of miles of inland waterways, would my right hon. Friend initiate a change in procedure, if necessary through this House, in order to prevent a very workable and economic form of inland transport passing out of use altogether?

As I said in reply to a Question last week, no formal submission on this matter has been made to me by the British Transport Commission. As I have said in the Answer which I have just read out, the Commission is always ready to consider offers for the purchase of the waterways in question.

Although it may require legislation to do so, would not the best solution for the uneconomic canals be to pass them to the jurisdiction of the river boards and away from the Transport Commission?

That suggestion has already been made and is not without its merits, but the financial consequences would require a great deal of exploring.

Does the Minister recollect that the canals first began to fall into ruin when they were sold to the railways, which were then part of the private enterprise system of Britain?

I do not know what moral, political or otherwise, the hon. Gentleman seeks to draw from that in connection with a nationalised railway system.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will introduce legislation to remove control of the canals from the British Transport Commission and create full scale rivalry and competition between railways and canals.

No, Sir.

Is it not a fact that under the present arrangements the railway interests dominate the British Transport Commission, and for seven years have been busily engaged in strangling the canal interests? Does not my right hon. Friend agree that unless we can get some form of rivalry and competition between these alternative forms of transport, inevitably the canals will be said by the Commission to be totally uneconomic eventually, and will thereby entirely pass out of use?

I do not accept my hon. Friend's assumptions. He may be interested to know that work to improve and recondition certain canals which, in the view of the Commission, have important transport interests, is in process of being approved.

Is it not true that the process of making the British Transport Commission a predominantly railway concern is the result of legislation by this Government? Is it not also true that the process of what the hon. Member described as strangling the canals started many years ago, when the private railway companies acquired the canals in order to close them?

As I told my hon. Friend, I do not accept that there is at present a process of strangling the canals. I should be happy to go into historical reminiscences with the right hon. Gentleman.

Can my right hon. Friend say how we can possibly get competition between the railways and canals, which is what we want, so long as both of them are owned and managed by the same body? Unless there are different bodies running them in competition, how is it possible to get efficiency?

That is for too big a question to consider by Question and Answer at Question Time.

Would the Minister not agree that to have an economic transport system in Britain we must have co-ordination of all three forms of transport?

That is also far to big a question with which to deal at Question Time.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he expects to receive the Report on the result of the investigation by the Road Research Laboratory into the confusion caused by flashing indicators on motor vehicles.

I hope to receive a Report on flashing indicators before the end of October.

May I ask my right hon. Friend, who has great knowledge and considerable ability, why it has taken so long for a report on these blinking, winking lights, in view of the increasing body of public opinion that they are dangerous? Some are red, some amber and some white.

I liked the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, but as regards the second part, this matter is being examined by the Road Research Laboratory, which is a highly competent body, and I think that it would be sensible to await its Report before coming to decisions.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a statement about the steps he proposes to take in connection with universal head-lamp dipping.

As international agreement on head-lamp standardisation is bound to take time, I propose to call an early meeting of all the interests concerned in this country to work out what practical steps can be taken in the meantime to reduce the danger caused by ill-adjusted headlights.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how long it will be before some action is taken on this matter? It is now more than four years since the attention of his Department was called to it. He told me in November last year that the matter was receiving active consideration. How much longer shall we have to wait before some action is taken?

What I told the hon. Member in November, on the contrary, was that this matter was under international discussion over the timetable of which, as the hon. Gentleman knows, I have no control. I am anxious to make progress with this difficult matter, but I shall not be rushed into doing silly things for the sake of doing them.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the headlamps of many modern cars are almost as dazzling when dipped as when not dipped? Can he not consult the automobile industry on the possibility of remedying this for the benefit of both pedestrians and motorists?

I am in touch with the industry over that, and I think that most modern cars, as originally designed, have the headlamps properly aligned. The difficulty arises very often owing to the headlamps getting out of alignment, either as the result of time and wear or sometimes as a result of the loading of the vehicle. That is the essence of it.

Is there any sense in waiting for this international report? Does not the Minister know that we drive on the left and everybody else on the right?

I thought that the right hon. Gentleman and his hon. Friends favoured international action.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made towards the carrying out of the proposals for the establishment of Errol as an airport for the Perth-Dundee area.

I have had no proposals from operators who wish to use this airport.

But does my right hon. Friend realise that the Government of the day, as long ago as 1946, made proposals themselves to this end, and that nothing has happened since? Is he aware that locally we are coming to feel that this state of affairs has now become a permanency, and that there will be no aerodrome for that area of Scotland at all?

As my hon. and gallant Friend knows, the aerodrome is there and is available but, as he equally well knows, I have no power to compel either British European Airways or independent operators to operate a service if they do not think it worth while.

Does the fact that the right hon. Gentleman has been loth to grant Customs facilities to aerodromes which are already in existence preclude private operators from making any attempt to operate the aerodrome?

There is nothing about Customs facilities in this Question.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what consideration he is giving to the need for bringing into operation a civil aerodrome to serve as a port of call between Edinburgh and Aberdeen, in view of the increase in demand for air transport in the east of Scotland.

I am afraid that I have had no indication from any operators of aircraft that such an airport as is suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend is required.

But in view of the fact that there is considerable potential demand on the part of passengers, could my right hon. Friend not use his good offices to encourage some airline to take an interest in this profitable service, if the aerodrome is available?

As I said in answer to the previous Question, I have no power to direct operators to operate services if they do not think that they will be remunerative, but I am always anxious to invite their attention to the desirability of having as many services as possible, including, needless to say, in Scotland.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when we on this side of the House were in office there was a great clamour for private enterprise to be allowed these facilities? Is he raising any objection to private enterprise providing these services?

I am raising no objection whatsoever, and I am glad to say that under the civil aviation policy initiated by my right hon. Friend the present Colonial Secretary there has been a great expansion.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the cost of, and labour involved in, the survey concerning backward-facing seats in aircraft being carried out by his Department; and when this will be completed.

Very small, Sir. I hope it will be completed by the end of July.

Is the Minister aware that this survey is a complete waste of time and money? Is he further aware that this problem has been dragging on for ages, and that in Australia, for example, it has been decided to install rearward-facing seats in aircraft? When does the right hon. Gentleman intend to reach a decision on this matter?

I do not agree that the reaction of passengers to rearward-facing seats is a waste of time. It is important for the whole future of civil aviation, and before coming to any decision in this matter it is very proper indeed to obtain the reaction of passengers, particularly in view of the fact that restrictions might apply only to British and not to foreign aircraft.

Is the Minister aware how very uncomfortable it is riding backward, and that if one is properly strapped in there is no advantage in riding backward at all? It is really a lot of nonsense.

The right hon. Gentleman's supplementary question brings out what I was about to say in reply to his hon. Friend, that there is no substantial body of agreement on this very difficult subject.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps he is taking to regulate the broadcasting of advertisements from low-flying aero-planes.

In connection with the possibility of a revision of the Air Navigation Order I have recently consulted the local authority associations on this subject. I am now considering their views. At present control of aircraft engaged in advertising is confined to the normal safety rules, except that leaflets may not be dropped.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a potential danger to other road traffic when this constant and disconcerting human voice, immensely amplified, appears to fill the whole of the air and exposes road users to certain actions which may cause danger to life?

I have realised for some months the possibility of difficulties of that sort. That is why I initiated discussions with the local authorities some little time ago, because I think that they must come into this matter.

asked the Prime Minister if he will take steps to appoint a junior Minister under the Minister of Fuel and Power to deal exclusively with coal production and to provide more co-ordination between the Ministry and the National Coal Board.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power and my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary already maintain close contact with the National Coal Board. In these circumstances I do not consider that there is a need for the change the hon. Gentleman proposes.

Does the Prime Minister realise that such a Minister might have prevented the loss of 2 million tons of coal in Yorkshire recently? Does he also realise that the loss on imported coal of £5 million has to be borne entirely by the National Coal Board, and that the loss in 1955 will be far greater?

I think we all share the hon. Member's view about the serious consequence to which he has referred, but, as he will know, the responsibility under Statute for producing the coal rests with the National Coal Board. I would hesitate before suggesting taking any step which would result in altering the Minister's relations with the National Coal Board, which does not mean he has other than close and intimate relationships, as the hon. Gentleman knows.

Without desiring in any way to alter the relations between the Minister and the Coal Board, may I ask the Prime Minister to consider my hon. Friend's suggestion? Will he also consider that it is urgently necessary for the Government to work with the Coal Board in increasing manpower in the pits, that with investment being pushed up to £100 million a year many men are being taken off production and put to development work, and that the shortage of 15,000 or 20,000 men in the pits is the real fundamental cause of the present position?

I am not disputing the shortage of manpower. I think the whole House will agree with the right hon. Gentleman, and the Minister is in constant touch with the Coal Board about this, but Parliament did by Statute quite definitely lay down that the responsibility for producing coal rests with the National Coal Board. The House would have to ponder very carefully before spreading that responsibility in any way to Ministers.

Whatever may be the Prime Minister's decision, might I ask him, as an interested party in this matter, whether he will take steps to ensure that the co-operation between the Ministry and the National Coal Board is such, particularly in regard to opencast working, that they will come to their decisions in time to enable those who make heavy machinery in this country to supply it, and so avoid having to purchase it in America?

I will certainly draw the right hon. Gentleman's question to the attention of my right hon. Friend the Minister.

Can the Prime Minister say whether we are to have an opportunity in the near future to debate the very disturbing, and indeed alarming, report of the National Coal Board.

That is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will associate Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom with the programme recently officially announced by President Eisenhower to assist other nations to obtain atomic research and power reactors, with a view to furthering the peaceful use of atomic energy.

Her Majesty's Government have repeatedly indicated their willingness to co-operate with other countries in promoting the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. The right hon. and learned Gentleman will recall that we have taken a leading part in sponsoring the proposed International Atomic Energy Agency, whose purpose is to assist under-developed regions to share in the benefits of the peaceful uses of atomic energy, and we have offered to contribute twenty kilograms of fissile material.

I should prefer not to say more about the specific proposals made by President Eisenhower in his speech at the Pennsylvania State University until there has been more time to study them.

Does the Prime Minister agree that the policy of bilateral agreements may lead to a dangerous situation? It will not solve the special problem of Germany nor will it meet the needs of many of the under-developed countries in Asia and Africa; and does he not consider it is vital to the development of the peaceful use of atomic energy that it should be organised on an international or regional basis? In these circumstances would he not agree that this is a matter which should certainly be discussed at the forthcoming conference in Geneva?

The right hon. and learned Gentleman probably knows that we have a series of bilateral agreements about atomic energy, with a number of countries, and we certainly do not exclude the possibility of multilateral agreements. For the moment the Atomic Energy Agency is the body which is helping the under-developed countries and is the body which we support.

asked the Prime Minister when, and where, the British hydrogen bomb is to be exploded.

It would not be in the public interest for me to answer this Question.

Will the Prime Minister tell us why the Government are being so "cagey" about this? Is it because the Government know that there is nowhere where we can explode this bomb without endangering the people of other countries by the extensive effects of the fall-out of the bomb? That being so, will we not at least take the lead in trying to get international agreement to abolish these tests?

The question was whether I could give any information about our intention and the answer is that I cannot, and the hon. Lady's Question will not lead me to do so.

Would it be in the public interest for the right hon. Gentleman to tell the House what the experiment is costing the country in money?

The party opposite did not tell us in 1950.