asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been drawn to Parkinson's law, particulars of which have been sent him; and if he will take steps to ensure that this law is fully understood by all Government Departments so that they may take the necessary action to counter its inflationary effect.

Yes. This new theory is clearly inconsistent with Newton's law that what goes up must come down-and if it will not, must be brought down. Thanks to the operation of this law the non-industrial Civil Service has come down by some 50,000 staff since October, 1951.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the increased amount of net income retained after deduction of Income Tax and Surtax, by a married man, whose income has been increased from £6,000 to £7,500 during the present financial year; and what is its

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider making an early payment of post-

The increase in net income is £375, which would have approximately the same purchasing power at current prices as £95 at 1914 prices. This figure is based on the Cost of Living Index for the period 1914–38 and on the Consumer Price Index from 1938 to 1954, brought up to date by the Interim Index of Retail Prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of net income retained by a married man, after payment of Income Tax and Surtax, on earnings of £1,000, £2,000, £5,000, £6,000, £7,500, £10,000, £20,000, £50,000, and £100,000, respectively, in the years 1913–14, 1938–39, 1944–45 and 1954–55; and what was the purchasing value of such net income basing the £ sterling at 20s. in 1913–14.

The table attached shows the net income after Income Tax and Surtax (or super-tax for 1913–14) retained by a married man, without children, with a gross earned income of the amount shown in the first column, and also the net income required to give the same purchasing power at 1914 prices.war credits to those people who are blind.

I regret that I cannot accept this suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider paying out post-war credits to widows who are over 50 years of age.

I regret that I cannot accept this suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he proposes to answer the letter, dated 31st October, from the hon. Member for Swindon about the post-war credit certificates of Mr. T. H. Martin, 74. Avenue Road, Swindon.

I have ascertained that a reply was sent yesterday to the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what figure the sterling balances of Ceylon in London now stand; at what rate Ceylon has drawn on those balances during the financial years 1952–53, 1953–54 and 1954–55; and what additional loans or grants have been made to Ceylon by the United Kingdom Government during these years, respectively.

It would not be proper to reveal the level or movements of the sterling balances of individual countries. No loans or grants have been made by the United Kingdom Government to Ceylon during the years in question, but the Government of Ceylon made an issue of £5 million stock on the London market in 1954.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many members of new town corporations serve on more than one corporation; and if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of such members and the corporations of which they are members.

The Answer to the first part of the Question is "Two" and to the second part "Yes." Persons serving on the corporations of more than one new town are:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government at what stage it is proposed to transfer the functions of the development corporations of new towns to local authority administration.

I have no statement to make at present on this subject.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will consider the introduction of legislation to govern the conditions on which caravan sites may be licensed by local authorities in England and Wales, with a view to ensuring reasonable security of tenure to good caravan tenants.

I have no such legislation in mind.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is prepared to publish the reports of the inspectors in regard to planning appeals against refusal of development in respect of caravan sites.

I see no grounds for treating these cases differently from other planning appeals.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what suggestions he has received from local authority associations or caravan associations with suggestions for amendments of the Public Health Act, 1936; and what was the nature of these suggestions.

The local authority associations and certain camping and caravan clubs have at various times put forward proposals for amending the provisions of the Act, which relate to the powers of local authorities to control the use of moveable dwellings. It is not possible, within the compass of this reply, to give details of the various suggestions made.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in reaching his decision not to re-appoint the former Chairman of the Cwmbran Development Corporation, he gave consideration to the service rendered by him in the Cwmbran New Town development and why he was not re-appointed for a further term.

I am glad of this opportunity to pay my tribute to the distinguished service rendered by Mr. Huxley Turner as Chairman of the New Town of Cwmbran. The good progress made owes much to his wise guidance and administration. My decision not to re-appoint him for a fourth term is, of course, no reflection upon Mr. Huxley Turner. After six years, it is not unreasonable to make a change.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he proposes to take to ensure that Mr. Bloomfield and others have a supply of pure water at Looking Stead, Highfield, Oakworth, Keighley, Yorkshire; and what action he has taken arising from his letter to the hon. Member for Keighley of 29th August, 1955.

My right hon. Friend hoped that the question of supplying pure water to Mr. Bloomfield and his neighbours would be settled in negotiation between the parties. This now seems unlikely and he is writing to the hon. Member to explain how the dispute could he brought before him for determination

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the need for a piped water supply in East Cowick; and why he has rejected the Goole Rural District Council's proposals to extend the water supply there.

My right hon. Friend has not rejected the Council's scheme for a piped water supply to East Cowick. After consultation with his hon. Friend, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, he has asked the council to postpone the scheme since on the facts before him it is not a case of exceptional need.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will take powers to pay compensation to persons such as farmers and others who suffer financial loss occasioned by dislocation or enforced liquidation of their businesses on a site where the land is acquired compulsorily for the purpose of road development, in addition to the compensation payable to the owner of the land so acquired.

My right hon. Friend is looking into this matter and will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will give consideration to the conferring of the title and dignity of mayor upon the chairmen of urban district councils.

I have no evidence that this change is generally desired.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he has taken to ascertain the views of industrialists about changes in the incidence of local rates.

None. The changes which will result from revaluation cannot be measured before the first rates have been made by reference to the new valuation lists.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now state when he expects to complete his consideration of the West Sussex County Development Plan (Southern Section), which he began on 15th February, 1952, in view of the fact that this delay causes uncertainty and embarrassment both to the local residents and local authorities in the area in question.

Within the next few months.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will announce the form of administration for the Yorkshire Dales National Parks.

Yes. As soon as a decision is reached.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will be able to make a statement about the future of local government.

After the Christmas Recess.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is to be the maximum of population to be provided for in the new town of Newton Aycliffe.

The present figure for planning purposes is 10,000. I am considering whether some increase would be justified.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that some London housing authorities are finding it difficult to get tenders put in by building contractors for their house-building work; and what steps he is taking to assist local authorities to get their house-building programmes completed.

I have seen a reference to one such case in a newspaper. But, so far, no London housing authority has approached me on this matter.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is now in a position to give a decision on Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council's application for confirmation of the Newcastle-under-Lyme (Westlands Farm) Housing Order, 1955.

I will give a decision as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what advice he has given to local housing authorities on the introduction of a differential rent scheme.

A Report of the Housing Management Sub-Committee of the Central Housing Advisory Committee—which dealt in particular with methods of fixing rents, and gave particulars of various forms of differential rent schemes—was sent to local authorities by my predecessor in November, 1953. I am considering what further advice might usefully be given on this subject.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether his estimate of 7d. per week for the annual average increase of rent due to withdrawal of subsidies and higher interest charges made any allowance for the temporary nature of the present subsidy.

I would refer the hon. Member to my speech on 17th November on the Second Reading of the Housing Subsidies Bill, in which I explained the basis of my calculation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether special rates of housing subsidy will be available for Tyneside authorities which have severe overcrowding problems still to meet.

This Question refers to matters which could more appropriately be raised during the proceedings on the Housing Subsidies Bill which is now before the House.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the delays in the building of a large block of flats in Redcliffe Ward, Bristol, because of the shortage of steel; and if he will take steps to accelerate the supply of steel needed for foundation reinforcement work so that this essential work can proceed.

I understand that the reinforcing steel needed is now available for delivery as required.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that tenants are being evicted from council houses for small offences, such as parking their own cars on the road in front of their own homes due to the scarcity of garages, or because the tenant is two or three weeks in arrears for rent; and if he will consider bringing in a Bill to curtail the power of local councils and to place them in the same position as private landlords regarding the eviction of tenants, so that council-house tenants will have as much security as tenants living in privately-owned houses.

The arrangements for parking motor cars owned by council house tenants can best be left to the local authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is satisfied that all the totally unfit dwellings throughout the country have been included in the latest returns by the local authorities; and what action he proposes to take to ensure that all such dwellings are included in the returns.

I am satisfied that local authorities generally have made the best estimates they could. In any case of doubt, I am communicating with the authority concerned.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, how many local authorities have intimated either the probability or intention of abandoning re-housing schemes other than for slum clearances; and approximately how many rental houses are covered by that intimation.

The number of authorities concerned is seventeen; and the number of houses affected is in all about 500.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will introduce amending legislation as regards the rate of interest which local authorities may charge on advances made under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts and under Section 4 of the Housing Act, 1949, in view of the change in policy which has been announced for the obtaining of credit by local authorities.

This is a complicated question which I am examining urgently.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government approximately how many houses for rental have been built in the last four years by private enterprise; how many are in process of erection; and what information or estimate he has of the number of houses for rental by working class families for which plans have been passed or are projected for building next year.

I regret that these statistics are not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what further consideration has been given to the problem of applicants on municipal housing lists, as in the Borough of Leyton, who are aware that no local accommodation can be available for them but who might be accommodated elsewhere if they were permitted to be considered by other authorities; and what information he has of any joint scheme of local authorities whereby urgent rehousing cases in one municipal area are accepted for rehousing in another area.

I am encouraging local authorities, in congested areas, to make more use of the Town Development Act, 1952; and the Bill now before the House offers higher subsidies for houses built for this purpose. Leyton Borough and other Essex authorities have a joint scheme for building houses at Brentwood and Billericay; and other sites are under discussion.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of people registered as unemployed in Shrewsbury at the latest convenient date; and how this compares with the same figure last year.

One hundred and thirty-nine at 14th November, 1955, and 155 at 15th November, 1954.

asked the Minister of Labour how many young men have been totally exempted from National Service by reason of the fact that they have served in Dominion forces.

None. My right hon. and learned Friend has no power to exempt a man from his liability under the National Service Acts. Liability for a total of 5£ years service cannot be reduced, but the amount of whole-time service which a man may be required to do may be abated by the Service Department concerned to take account of whole-time approved service performed in the armed forces of a Commonwealth country.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will confer with the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation and the Chairman of the Scottish Tourist Board for the purpose of designing a scheme for the equalisation of railway freight charges into and from Scotland to the south of Great Britain, and for eliminating the hardships caused by the present anomalies in freight charges.

Under the Transport Acts, 1947 and 1953, the British Transport Commission's railway freight charges must be governed by a charges scheme prepared by the Commission and settled by the Transport Tribunal. The Tribunal has already sat in public for 17 days to consider a draft scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the application of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Capital Punishment so far as they relate to Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Home Secretary on 10th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Wembley, South (Mr. Russell); as my right hon. Friend explained, the Answer dealt also with the position in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the anticipated growth of the population of Glenrothes over the next 10 years.

This will depend primarily on the extent to which miners transfer from other areas to the East Fife coalfield and, in particular, to the Rothes group of pits.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the estimated saving in expenditure in the new town of Glenrothes consequent on the recent change of policy.

There has been no change of policy. All that is involved is a slowing down of the building programme which is at present running considerably in advance of the movement of miners into the area. I hope that the need for this slow-down will prove to be only a temporary one and I have made it clear to the Development Corporation and the County Council of Fife that there has been no departure in any way from the original conception and purpose of the new town.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is now taking to improve the industrial position of Aberdeen and the north-east of Scotland.

This area depends primarily on agriculture and the fishing industry, which is assisted by the white fish subsidy, the herring oil and meal scheme, grants and loans for the construction and engining of fishing boats and other measures. In the Buckie-Peterhead area there are in addition the special arrangements for the financing of factory building from the Development fund. One such factory has been provided, another is under construction and a third has been approved.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total quantity of milk supplied to schoolchildren; how much is supplied as a result of competitive tender; and how the price compares with normal retail prices.

The total quantity of milk supplied under the Milk-in-Schools Scheme to school children during the month of June, 1955, the latest period for which information is available, was 638,357 gallons. Tenders were invited for all supplies except those for a few isolated schools. Fifty per cent. of the total supply was provided at a discount which varied from less than 1 per cent. to about 14 per cent. of the maximum retail prices.

asked the Minister of Works if he has now reached a decision as to whether the Westminster Hospital site shall be made available as a car park.

I hope to be able to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Minister of Works when the plaque to commemorate the Lying-in-State of Her late Majesty Queen Mary will be installed in Westminster Hall.

I hope to have the plaque fixed by the end of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will raise to the level of the National Assistance scale the marriage allowance of an Army National Service man, below the rank of corporal, who is married and has one child.

No. Marriage allowance is only part of the emoluments of the married soldier; it is supplemented from the soldier's pay and is not intended by itself to cover the full maintenance of his family.

asked the Secretary of State for War how much money has been spent by his Department on helicopter development annually since 1945.

The development of helicopters is carried out on behalf of my Department by the Ministry of Supply and is not chargeable to Army Votes.

asked the Secretary of State for War the usual time taken for mail posted in the United Kingdom to reach the Service men now stationed in Cyprus; and what complaints he has received from parents of National Service men now serving in the Royal Norfolk Regiment concerning delays in the receipt of letters and parcels by their sons.

Three to four days for airmail letters, about three weeks for surface mail and three to five weeks for parcels. Two complaints have reached me about delay to mail for the Royal Norfolk Regiment. In each case the delay was due to letters being sent at the surface instead of the airmail rate.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many civilian waiters are to be displaced by Service personnel in the officers' mess at Masefield Intelligence Camp, Sussex: and if he will give the reason for such changes.

Three civilian posts have recently been reduced, but the matter is still under review.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is the normal practice to provide soldier batmen for members of Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps.

Women servants are normally provided, except in areas of active operations. It is, however, occasionally necessary to provide a soldier batman in areas where it is difficult to employ women civilians or an isolated female other rank.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that broadcast communiqués announcing casualties have omitted the words "next-of-kin have been informed," and that this is causing grave anxiety to relatives of troops in the area; and whether he will ensure that all information of this nature given by his Department to the British Broadcasting Corporation contains this phrase.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) if he will ensure that in all cases before the announcement of casualties the next-of-kin are informed; and that all such announcements released to the Press and the British Broadcasting Corporation contain the statement that "next-of-kin have been so informed";(2) whether he is aware that distress has been caused to relatives of serving soldiers by the issue by his Department of inaccurate reports of casualties where no names are given; and whether he will take immediate steps to prevent these occurrences.

I much regret the distress that is caused by these Press announcements, but the Government have no power in peace to prevent them. Notifications to next-of-kin are normally sent within twenty-four hours, and the official communication to the Press is then made and contains the statement that "the next-of-kin have been informed." I would like to appeal to the Press to save relations anxiety by waiting for these official communications.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the Regular Army reservists pay remains at 1s. or 1s. 6d. per day for privates, according to section of Reserve, 1s. 3d. or 1s. 9d. a day for corporals, 1s. 6d. or 2s. a day for serjeants and above; and, in view of the fact that these rates lag behind present-day money values, whether he will consider having them increased.

Reserve pay is a retainer, given in recognition of a reservist's liability to be called out for service. Reservists are not at present called upon to fulfil any training liability.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the numbers employed in the War Office have risen steeply, while the Army has declined in numbers; and what steps are being taken to reduce War Office staffs.

The number of soldiers and civilians employed in the War Office has declined from some 12,000 in 1947 to under 7,000 this year, and it is my intention to make further reductions.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give details of the £25 million capital expenditure that is likely to be incurred for military buildings and installations in Cyprus.

About £20 million is being spent on the two large cantonments for the long term garrison at Episkopi and Dhekelia. The rest is for smaller camps and buildings elsewhere.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to ensure that the importation of coal at its present rate will not prejudice the supply of iron ore and scrap from abroad to the steel industry.

This matter has been considered in conjunction with the National Coal Board and the Iron and Steel Board. The conclusion was reached that coal imports at the present level, whilst increasing freight rates, would not seriously prejudice the supply of iron ore and scrap to the steel industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what principles are at present applied by him with regard to the issue of licences for the importation into this country of horses for slaughtering.

So far as licences issued by the Board of Trade are concerned, the position is as follows. Live horses may be imported from the Sterling Area, Western Europe and certain other countries under the open general licence. Imports from the Dollar Area and the other countries to which the open general licence does not apply are restricted for balance of payments reasons and are therefore subject to specific licensing. The import of live horses from most countries is also subject to veterinary regulations of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Questions relating to the health and welfare of imported horses after they have arrived in the United Kingdom are for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and questions about cruelty are for my right hon. and gallant Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has now considered a letter dated 29th November from the British Pottery Manufacturers' Federation on the subject of the probable effects of Purchase Tax on pottery exports; and what reply he will make.

My right hon. Friend is considering this letter and will reply shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that imports of pottery from Western Germany to Britain in 1955 reached £500,000 in value by the end of September, whereas British exports to Western Germany are restricted by quota to £65,000 for the whole year; and what representations he has made to obtain the revision of the quota.

Yes. All imports of domestic pottery from Western Germany to the United Kingdom are free from import restrictions. Western Germany retains a quota on the import of earthenware tableware from the United Kingdom; other pottery imports from the United Kingdom are free from restriction.We shall endeavour to secure better treatment for our exports in the negotiations for quotas for 1956 which are just beginning.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is satisfied that after the decontrol of newsprint there will be sufficient supplies adequately to meet the needs of all journals and newspapers.

It was announced in August that the users of newsprint will, in effect, be allowed to import all the newsprint that at present seems likely to be available and that the Government proposed to end in the spring of 1956 the Government control on the number of pages newspapers may publish. The Board of Trade stated at the time that the Government would require to be assured that adequate provision is made for those newspapers whose individual requirements are relatively small. I have at present nothing to add to that statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will refer the activities of the Tobacco Trades Association to the Monopolies Commission.

No. As I said on 22nd November in answer to the hon. Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie (Mrs. Mann) and the hon. Member for Bristol, Central (Mr. Awbery), my right hon. Friend does not propose to make further references in the immediate future.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he is taking in Scotland to reduce the number of fatal accidents in the home attributed to coal-gas poisoning.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given him yesterday to his similar Question on England and Wales. The report by the Gas Council covers the whole of Great Britain and my right hon., Friend's present examination of the problem includes any special considerations which may apply in Scotland.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if widows and next-of-kin of soldiers killed in Cyprus, before the state of emergency was declared, will receive the same compensation as those who may be killed subsequent to the declaration.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will make a retrospective order so that widows of soldiers killed in Cyprus in the present emergency before troops were put on an active service basis will receive the same treatment as if their husbands had been killed on active service.

The Royal Warrant which my right hon. Friend administers provides for the award of pensions to widows and dependants of all members of the military forces who die in consequence of service after 2nd September, 1939. As regards soldiers killed in Cyprus, the provisions are the same whether a soldier was killed before or after the state of emergency was declared.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if, in view of the fact that extra benefits are inappropriate under the National Insurance Scheme, he will, in order to impart some Christmas spirit, take steps to make a grant to all old-age pensioners during the week before Christmas, through the National Assistance Board, of an extra voucher equivalent to the weekly amount they now receive from the Insurance Fund.

No. The powers of the National Assistance Board to grant allowances are governed by regulations approved by Parliament and these regulations contain no power to make extra payments of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the falling returns in many of our cinemas, he will consider the abolition of the Sunday Charity Levy.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave on 1st December to a Question by my hon. Friend, the Member for Cheadle (Mr. Shepherd).

asked the Minister of Defence the approximate amount spent annually on wages, salaries, and allowances of men and women in the Forces and their dependants

It is estimated that for the financial year 1955–56 the pay and allowances of the Armed Forces will amount to about £272 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to state in table form the cost of the expatriate portion of pay

The following are the best available figures:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the capital cost incurred, since 1945, of universities, university colleges, and technical colleges in each of the dependent territories; and the amount borne in each country by Her Majesty's Government and by the Colony concerned.

The contributions made by Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom from 1945 to the 31st March, 1955, towards the capital cost of universities, university colleges and colleges of arts, science and technology in the Colonial Territories are approximately as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the recurrent expenditure borne by Her Majesty's Government and by each Colonial Government in respect of universities, university colleges, and technical colleges in the dependent territories.

Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom do not normally make grants to Colonial institutions of higher education in respect of their recurrent costs. There have, however, been some small exceptions, the main ones in 1954–55 being as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total educational budget for the current year for the West Indies, Gold Coast, Nigeria, East and Central Africa, Malaya, and Singapore.

The statement below gives figures for education, taken from the current annual estimates of expenditure for the central governments of the territories concerned, including development estimates. They do not include:

asked the Minister of Supply what redundant military stores and equipment have been sold to private dealers in this country during the past year; and to what extent he has any check upon its ultimate resale.

Surplus Army stores and equipment of practically all kinds have been sold during the past year. Firearms and ammunition are sold to licensed dealers only and for some articles scrapping is made a condition of sale. The principal items of military equipment are subject to export licensing control.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the desirability of leaving the brewery industry to make such experiments in their own interests, he will take steps to see that no further public money is spent on experiments to produce a satisfactory concentrated beer.

The present experiments on beer, which have almost been completed, were made to establish the practicability of the concentration techniques. It is hoped that the results will be of sufficient interest to warrant further development by the brewing industry, in which case further Government expenditure would not be required.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has yet devised a scheme for the purpose of providing cheap cartridges for the shooting of wood pigeons that will meet the objections raised by retailers to the present scheme.

Yes. New arrangements will apply after 1st January next. Approved lone shots and persons taking part in organised shoots of wood pigeons or other harmful birds after that date will purchase their cartridges through the retail trade and may apply to the county agricultural execdtive committee for a refund of half the cost of the cartridges, subject to a maximum of 24s. per 100. The applicant will be required to certify that the cartridges have been used at an approved shoot of harmful birds.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the present membership of the Transport Tribunal; and how many times has it met in the past two years.

The permanent Members are His Honour Hubert Hull, C.B.E. (President), Mr. J. C. Poole, C.B.E., M.C. and Mr. A. E. Sewell, M. Inst. T. During the two years ended 30th November. 1955. the Tribunal sat on 107 days.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give the cost per mile of constructing the proposed St. Albans by-pass excluding the cost of acquiring land.

Approximately £300,000.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how much of the total estimated cost of the St. Albans by-pass represents the cost of acquiring the land, of the materials used in constructing the road, and of the labour employed, respectively.

So far as can at present be estimated land and accommodation works will cost about £500,000 and the roadworks about £4,600,000, of which about 35 per cent. will represent the cost of materials and 30 per cent. the cost of labour. The balance is the cost of plant, overheads, insurance. etc.