asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware that the 100 per cent, war disability

I have nothing to add to the answers I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Wimbledon (Mr. Black) and Norfolk, Central (Sir F. Medlicott) on 6th February.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will give a list of the Members of Parliament who have been appointed Recorders during the last 10 years, the appointments held, the salaries and expenses received in each case, and the amount of time that has to be expended in carrying out the duties connected with these appointments.

Below is a table giving the names of Members of Parliament who have been appointed Recorders during the last ten years, the appointments held and the latest salaries received in each case. The table does not contain any figures of expenses, which are the concern solely of the local authorities, or any information about the amount of time expended in carrying out the duties; this information is not readily available and I do not think that the work involved in obtaining it could be justified.The Table is as follows:pension of 40s., in 1938, would require, today, a figure in excess of 103s. to restore the same purchasing value at present-day prices; and what steps he proposes to take to improve the present pension rates.

While I have noted the hon. Gentleman's calculations, he will no doubt be aware that pensions newly awarded in 1938 were in fact paid at a rate of 32s. 6d. in respect of 100 per cent. disability. But on the second part of his Question, I am sending him a copy of the letter which I recently sent to the British Legion, which deals more fully with this subject than is possible within the compass of a reply to a Parliamentary Question.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what reply he has made to the representations of the British Legion for a 90s. basic minimum pension for a 100 per cent. war disability pension; what would be the total cost of increasing these pensions to this figure; and whether he will accede to this demand.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his Oral Question today. An increase to 90s. a week in the 100 per cent. rate would cost for war pensions alone about £20 million in a full year.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will now bring forward proposals to improve the position of partially incapacitated men in receipt of workmen's compensation.

I have no such proposals in mind.

asked the Minister of Supply how many teleprinter ribbons were sold at the Government surplus auction sale at Woolwich on 26th April; and how much they realised.

All the 28,900 teleprinter ribbons on offer were sold as one lot and realised £10.

asked the Minister of Supply whether a production order has now been placed for the P.1. aircraft; and when he expects this aircraft to be in squadron service with the Royal Air Force.

asked the Minister of Supply what orders have so far been placed for P.1. aircraft for use by the Naval Air Arm.

A limited production order was placed in October and November, 1955, to cover jigging and tooling to meet the estimated requirements of the Royal Air Force and long-dated materials to cover the initial requirement. A further order will be placed as soon as this is desirable. I am not prepared at this stage to say when the aircraft will be in squadron service with the Royal Air Force. The Admiralty has no requirement for this aircraft.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will now make a statement on the development of his policy to reduce the number of projects supported by his Department in the aircraft industry.

Including the cancellations I mentioned in the defence debate, work has been stopped on over a dozen projects in the past year and the scale of other projects has been reduced. I shall continue to keep a close watch on the whole programme, and to secure any further reliefs which may be possible. When new projects are proposed particular care is taken to see that they are within the capacity of the industry.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will make available the reports submitted to him by Mr. Robert Donaldson, a former Scotland Yard superintendent, who investigated matters connected with a former deputy director of the Ministry of Supply, of whom he has been informed, when Mr. Donaldson was Deputy Inspector-General in the British zone of Germany.

No such report has been submitted to me. I presume the hon. Lady is referring to matters which arose in 1946 and 1947. In any case, police reports are confidential documents which are not published.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) the total 1955 tonnage of issued concession coal;(2) how many persons in the mining industry are in receipt of concession coal.

Some 630,000 employees of the Board are entitled to free or concessionary coal. The tonnage issued in 1955 was 5·1 million tons.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what costings investigations, estimated to cost £65,000, will be conducted by his Department during the financial year 1956–57.

The costings investigations, estimated at £65,000 during 1956–57, are mainly in respect of milk distributors and the production and distribution of National bread.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent the hills of East Denbighshire are included in the future plans for afforestation; and for what special reasons more use has not been made of these uplands hitherto.

I assume the hon. Member refers to afforestation by the Forestry Commission and not by private owners. The Commission plans to plant about 950 acres in East Denbighshire in the next two or three years and is actively negotiating for the acquisition of about 1,000 acres. The Commission's officers are continually searching for suitable land in this and other areas, and there is reason to hope that the area under plantations will increase substantially. Expansion may be limited by the importance for food production of much of the area and the existence of common rights on otherwise suitable land.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plantations are operated in Cornwall by the Forestry Commission; and the acreages of each.

The Forestry Commission's forests in Cornwall, with the approximate area under plantations at each are:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many private woodlands in Cornwall come under the dedication scheme of the Forestry Commission; what are the acreages of each; and how many owners are concerned.

The owners of two estates in Cornwall have entered into covenants under the dedication scheme; the areas dedicated are 49 acres and 151 acres.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the delays in the delivery of nitrogenous fertilisers ordered by many farmers in Kent; and if he will take steps to hasten these deliveries.

Yes. The exceptionally high demand has increased the local difficulties which always occur in obtaining supplies during the peak period in the spring, particularly in meeting late orders. The manufacturers are making every effort to hasten deliveries.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether sufficient nitrogenous fertiliser is being made in this country to meet normal demands; and what quantity of this fertiliser is being exported.

Home production of nitrogenous fertilisers is sufficient to meet requirements over the season as a whole and to provide a small margin for export. Exports have virtually ceased during the present period of peak demand at home, but during the season July, 1955—June, 1956, are expected to amount to 26,000 tons (nitrogen content).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give consideration to issuing a warning with regard to the danger of overcropping with peas, which might lead to further outbreaks of potato root eelworm.

I am advised that there is a real danger that frequent cropping with peas will lead to the spread of pea root eelworm and I hope to arrange consultations with the industry in the near future.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made in the research on a possible vaccine against fowl pest.

Considerable work has been done here and elsewhere to develop a satisfactory vaccine. Several vaccines have been developed but none is free from some disadvantage.

asked the Minister of Health what instructions have been given to our delegates to the World Health Congress regarding the size of the regular budget of the World Health Organisation for 1957.

It is not the practice of Her Majesty's Government to reveal the instructions given to their delegates to current international conferences.

asked the Minister of Health (1) the amount of money standing to the credit of hospitals in the south-west region at the time of the taking over of these services by the State; what is the amount today; and what he proposes to do with regard to the future use of these funds;(2) to arrange to hand over endowment funds to the committees of the hospitals to which they were originally donated, as the local people know the requirements, in order that the wishes of the donors should be fully considered; and if he will ensure that such funds are used for the purposes for which they were originally given, especially where the need for rebuilding or extension is great.

The information required by the first two parts of Question No. 59 is not available. I have no power to hand over to hospital committees the endowment funds which were transferred to the Hospital Endowments Fund in 1948 in accordance with Section 7 of the National Health Service Act, 1946. This Section laid down generally the purposes for which and the manner in which such funds might be used.

asked the Minister of Health what headings he has suggested for discussions between his Department and the British Medical Association with a view to assessing the practicability of enabling private patients to obtain drugs through the National Health Service.

I had a general discussion on this subject with a deputation from the Association on 18th April. They then undertook to consider the matter in more detail. I have not yet heard again from them.

asked the Minister of Health what evidence he has that convalescent vaccinia serum is no longer of use in cases of generalised vaccinia associated with severe toxaemia; and whether it is no longer available from the Public Health Laboratory Service.

I am informed that recovery from generalised vaccinia after treatment with convalescent serum has been reported occasionally. Recently gamma globulin, the concentrated active fraction from this serum, has been used and is now available from the Public Health Laboratory Service in place of whole convalescent serum.

asked the Minister of Health the value, for the year 1955, of the drugs and pharmaceuticals prescribed under the National Health Service, which are manufactured in the United Kingdom under private licences issued by American patent holders.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what relation has been established between the taking of snuff and lung cancer.

A statistical inquiry undertaken in this country has failed to show any relation between the taking of snuff and lung cancer.

asked the Minister of Defence what effects the new pay codes had on recruiting.

I have been asked to reply.The new rates of pay have only been in effect for six weeks. This is too short a period to enable us to estimate the effect of the new pay code on Regular recruiting. I can say, however, that the results so far represent a definite upward trend in all three Services.

asked the Minister of Labour the reasons for the substantial increase in the number of pottery workers who have been found to be suffering from pneumoconiosis and pneumoconiosis accompanied by tuberculosis in 1955 as compared with 1950; and if he will make a statement on the steps being taken to protect the workers in this industry.

I am advised that this increase is attributable to growing numbers of pottery workers presenting themselves for medical examination, rather than to an increase in the number now contracting this disease. Revised Regulations under the Factories Acts were made in 1947 and 1950 and conditions in the potteries are steadily improving. A pilot survey which will examine the current standard of compliance with the Regulations will be started by my Department within the next week or so.

asked the Minister of Labour to give the number of registered unemployed for the Harlow, Essex, area, specifying the numbers in the furniture, cabinet-making and wood-working trades.

At 16th April there were 133 unemployed persons on the registers of the Harlow employment exchange, nine of whom were last employed in the furniture and upholstery industry, which includes cabinet making.

asked the Secretary of State for War the reasons given for the poor condition of 1,090 items of pantees and vests which were offered for sale at the Government surplus sale at Ruddington on 1st May; how many were sold; and how the amount realised compares with the cost to his Department.

These were very old stocks packed in war-time utility packs. They had become shop-soiled in store. They were all sold for £80. There is no record of the price originally paid for them, but the present cost of replacement would be about £240.

asked the Secretary of State for War why 8,700 brake linings are to be offered for sale at the Government surplus auction sales at Bicester on 8th May; for what purpose they were purchased; when they were taken into stock; the total cost; what further orders have been made or are contemplated for a similar type of brake lining; and what action has been taken for their use by other Government Departments.

These are surplus to all future requirements. They were bought during the war, some for use with a gun which is now obsolete and some with certain types of tank. Their original cost is not known, but replacement would cost about £3,900. No further orders are intended. The brake linings were not offered to other Government Departments as they have only a specialised use with no civilian counterpart.

asked the Secretary of State for War why 38,000 dust excluders are being offered for sale at the Government surplus auction sale at Bicester on 8th May; why and when they were purchased; the cost price; and how they have been used.

These were purchased during the war for fitting to the driving sprocket of tracked carriers. Their original cost is not known but to replace them would cost about £29,500. They are being disposed of because they are surplus to all foreseeable requirements. None of them have been used.

asked the Secretary of State for War the reason for the purchase of leather knee pads and the decision to offer 1,300 for sale at the Government surplus auction sale at Bicester on 8th May; how far they have been used; the purchase price; and what further stocks will be ordered.

Leather knee pads were last purchased in January, 1944, at a cost of 1s. 8d. each, for use by Royal Signals linesmen. None of the pads offered for sale had been used and the stocks retained are such that no further purchases will need to be made for many years to come.

asked the Secretary of State for War why 1,400 dry batteries and 3,000 dry cells are to be disposed of at the Government surplus auction sale at Bicester on 8th May; when they were taken into stock; the total cost; why other Government Departments have not arranged to make use of these surplus batteries and cells; and what further stocks are being ordered.

These batteries and cells, which were taken into stock in 1952, had become unserviceable and were not, therefore, offered to other Government Departments. Their cost was £752 10s. The last orders for these items were for 23,000 dry batteries and 60,000 dry cells and were placed during the financial year 1955–56.

asked the Secretary of State for War the reasons for offering 8,900 rolls of insulating tape at the Government surplus auction sale at Bicester; why the tape has not been taken over by some other Government Department: and what further stocks will be ordered.

This tape, which was part of large stocks purchased during the last war, has become unserviceable and is therefore useless to other Government Departments. No further stocks will be ordered before the financial year 1957–58.

asked the Secretary of State for War why 19,800 electric lamps which were offered for sale at the Government surplus auction sale at Bicester on 8th May; what types of lamps are involved; how far they are similar to electric lamps used in other Government Departments; what action was taken to acquaint other Departments of the surplus lamps; and what further orders have been made or are contemplated in respect of the purchase of similar lamps.

These lamps, which are similar to a battery operated bicycle lamp, are surplus to foreseeable future requirements. None of this type has been bought since 1943 and no further orders will be placed. They are not listed as required by other Government Departments and were not, therefore, specially offered to them. As the hon. Member knows, catalogues of sales are sent to all departments and the lamps could have been withdrawn from the sale if a belated requirement had arisen.

asked the Secretary of State for War the reason for offering 51,000 corks for sale at the Government surplus auction sale at Bicester on 8th May; and what further stocks of a similar type will be ordered in the near future.

These were purchased during the war and are for use on the water jacket of the Vickers medium machine-gun. They are surplus to all foreseeable requirements and it is not intended to buy any more.

asked the Secretary of State for War why 11,000 folding chairs are being offered for sale at the Government surplus auction sale at Barlow on 14th and 15th May; why they were found to be of no further use by his Department; what further orders for this type of chair will be placed; and the total cost of these chairs.

They are beyond economical repair and the cost of replacing them would be about £7,300. Orders for necessary replacements of unserviceable chairs are placed annually.

asked the Secretary of State for War why 2,043 clothes and polishing brushes to be offered for sale at the Government surplus auction sale at Barlow on 14th and 15th May could not be used by his Department in the future.

These brushes are badly worn and could reasonably have been destroyed as unsuitable for further use. Instead they are being put up for sale.

asked the Secretary of State for War why 1,550 wood tables are to be offered for sale at Barlow on 14th and 15th May when Government surplus stocks are to be disposed of; and what action was taken to find further use for them by Government Departments before a decision was taken to offer them at a public auction sale.

These tables are beyond economical repair and were not, therefore, offered to other Government Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for War why 87 pickaxe heads are to be offered at the Government surplus auction sale at Barlow on 14th and 15th May; and why further service could not be found for them by his Department.

These pickaxe heads are blunted or bent. As they are not of standard weight and pattern and as sufficient stocks of the standard item are held for the Army's needs, it is more economical to dispose of them than to repair them.

asked the Secretary of State for War to make a statement in respect of the decision to offer 23¼ tons of blanket pieces at the Government surplus auction sale at Barlow on 14th and 15th May giving details of how this substantial quantity of blanket pieces accumulated.

These blanket pieces are either unserviceable blankets for which no further use can be found or small pieces cut from blankets which have shrunk below the acceptable size and weight for normal use but are suitable as under-blankets. The pieces are accumulated at Ordnance Depots and periodically offered for sale by auction. So far as possible they are used as substitutes for expensive packing materials, but supplies exceed the requirement for this purpose.Blankets have to be cleaned and, if necessary, reconditioned after withdrawal from one man and reissue to another. This process is very frequent in the case of blankets supplied for soldiers doing annual training, and wear is therefore much heavier than in the normal home

asked the Secretary of State for War to make a statement in respect of the offering at the Government surplus auction sale at Barlow on 14th and 15th May of 850 adjustable chairs. 150 adjustable armchairs, 185 upholstered armchairs, 1,050 Suffolk chairs. 30 upholstered fireside chairs, 100 wood armchairs, 130 fireside chairs, 100 upholstered dining chairs, 1,330 miscellaneous chairs and 33 upholstered settees.

This furniture is in poor condition and beyond economical repair.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the concern that has arisen when, as unused machines, the 28 air compressor machines purchased by his Department for £8,260 only realised £596 at the Government surplus sale at Manchester on 31st January; and why they were never used for the purpose for which they were bought of inflating tactical deception equipment.

These compressors were unused because they had been stored for mobilisation purposes. They were disposed of after lengthy experiments in the field with five machines of this type showed them to be unsatisfactory, even with major modifications.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what reply has been given to the representations made by leading members of the Bamangwato tribe in twenty towns and villages of Bechuanaland that concessions of mineral rights should not be given to a mining company in the Union of South Africa without the consent of Seretse and Tshekedi Kbama.

No representations have been received other than those which the hon. Member has forwarded to me. I have asked the High Commissioner for a report and will write to the hon. Member when it is received.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in the provision of additional rolling capacity to increase the supplies of steel plate.

The Iron and Steel Board expects that production of steel plate this year will be about 150,000 tons more than in 1955. As my hon. Friend the Civil Lord of the Admiralty said in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. P. Williams) on 16th April, the Iron and Steel Board is reviewing with steel makers the provision of further capacity for plate production.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to ensure the better distribution of steel plate.

I am not aware that plate supplies are being distributed inequitably.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the main political parties in British Guiana, in particular, those led by Mr. Burnham and Dr. Jagan, have now indicated their willingness to take part in elections on the terms laid down by Her Majesty's Government.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave her on 9th May to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how his proposals for limited elections in British Guiana have been received by the leaders of the main political parties there.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave her on 9th May, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what has been the result of his inquiry into the circumstances under which the rehabilitation officer of a detention camp in Kenya asked a friend of a detainee to urge him to confess to Mau Mau associations in the interests of his impoverished family; and what action has been taken.

The inquiry has shown that a letter to a friend of a detainee suggesting that the detainee be urged to confess to associations with Mau Mau was prepared by a rehabilitation officer entirely on his own initiative. Owing to a clerical error the letter, which was under submission to a senior officer, was not so submitted but despatched without authority to the addressee. The rehabilitation officer, whose proposal was contrary to the policy of the Kenya Government, has been transferred to duties elsewhere, and instructions have been issued to prisons and detention camps staff that they are not to correspond with relatives or friends of detainees.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent Archbishop Makarios is permitted to send and receive letters and telegrams; and whether his correspondence is subject to censorship.

He is permitted to send and receive both letters and telegrams, subject to control to ensure that he does not make propaganda or issue instructions on political and security matters to his followers. The answer to the second part of the Question is "Yes".

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is now in a position to make a statement on the findings of the Royal Air Force court of inquiry convened to investigate the accident on 27th March, when a Royal Air Force Vampire aircraft nearly collided with an Elizabethan aircraft of British European Airways Corporation.

The court of inquiry established that a near-collision occurred between a British European Airways Elizabethan G-ALZR and a Royal Air Force Vampire training aircraft at about 1006 hours on 27th March some twelve miles south of Daventry, within Airway Amber 1 which runs from the London Control Zone to the Manchester Control Zone. The Elizabethan was flying on an instrument flight plan and was descending in accordance with an air traffic control clearance. At the time of the incident, this aircraft was passing through 9,500 feet still descending.The visibility was agreed as being at least equal to 3 n. m. Both aircraft were flying in visual flight rules weather conditions, and when flying in such weather conditions, it is the responsibility of the person in command of an aircraft to avoid collision with other aircraft notwithstanding that the flight is being conducted on an air traffic clearance. There is no evidence that the sun or any other external cause adversely affected the visibility, or that the crew of either aircraft was affected by fatigue or strain.The Elizabethan was flying towards London on an approximately southeasterly course. The Vampire crossed the path of the Elizabethan at right angles from north-east to south-west, having just completed a left-hand turn from a point some miles ahead of the Elizabethan, and on its port bow.When the aircraft were three nautical miles apart, the closing speed was such that 26 seconds would have elapsed before the courses of the aircraft intersected. Each pilot saw the other aircraft only when a collision seemed inevitable and sought to avoid it; the Vampire pilot by climbing and the Elizabethan by diving. There is no evidence that the aircraft touched one another but injury was caused to some of those travelling in the Elizabethan because of the sudden change of altitude.Under the Rules of the Air, the paths of approach of the two aircraft were such that the Elizabethan had the right of way. This meant that the pilot of the Vampire had to give way and that the pilot of the Elizabethan had to maintain his course and speed whilst, at the same time, being prepared to take such action as would best aid to avert collision.The Vampire was a dual control aircraft, which at the time was being flown by a pilot under training to become a flying instructor. This pilot had over 900 hours flying experience, of which over 400 hours were on Vampire aircraft. The instructor was engaged in navigation.The Elizabethan carried its normal crew complement of three—captain, first officer and radio officer. The radio officer's position is such that it is impossible for him to see out of the aircraft. The actual look-out from the aircraft therefore rests with the captain and the first officer, the latter also being responsible for the navigation of the aircraft. At the time of the incident, the captain was the only crew member free to maintain a look-out; the first officer was studying his charts. The captain had some 9,000 flying hours, of which over 2,500 hours were on Elizabethan aircraft.From the evidence given to the court of inquiry, I conclude that both aircraft were entitled to be in the airway, but that whilst each pilot at the last moment succeeded in taking action which averted a collision, a situation of some danger had developed before either pilot became aware of it. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation concurs in this conclusion.In view of this occurrence, the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation and I have decided to institute a review of procedures governing flight in controlled airspaces to see whether the rules now in existence should be altered with the object of further reducing the chances of incident.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why he has abolished British rates of pay and allowances for Maltese Service men training in the United Kingdom.

Maltese entered on Regular Royal Navy engagements who are under training in this country continue to receive the pay and allowances laid down in the United Kingdom pay code for naval personnel.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty on what basis he has fixed the recent increases in pay of Maltese Service men; and if he will reconsider the matter, in view of the discontent that has been caused.

The new pay rates for personnel of the Royal Navy serving on local engagements in Malta are based on the prevailing level of local wages. Higher rates have been introduced for Maltese employed in the supply branch to take account of their greater liability to disturbance. The naval authorities in Malta have not reported that the increases have caused discontent.

asked the Postmaster-General when Mr. H. B. Ingamells, of 19, Blankney Crescent, Ermine Estate, Lincoln, who is a senior clerk in St. George's Hospital, Lincoln, will have the

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to publish, in tabular form, for each month from October, 1955, onwards, the number of police recruits, the number of resignations without pension, the number of resignations with less than thirty years' service, and those who retire on full pension, together with figures for the corresponding months of the previous year, showing the Metropolitan Police Force separately.

The available information is contained in the following table:telephone for which he made application in May, 1954.

I am glad to say that this telephone was installed on 12th May. It would have been installed a little sooner but for the work that had to be done to repair damage caused by the snowstorm in Lincolnshire a few months ago.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which are the dozen points on the road system within the County of Lanark which have the worst accident record.

I am afraid that it would not be possible to answer this Question without a detailed inquiry into the circumstances of accidents occurring at many places throughout Lanarkshire, but I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible giving such information as it is possible to provide.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when work will start on straightening the road and rebuilding the bridge at Kirkfieldbank, Lanark.

I could not name a date, but I understand that tenders for this work have to be submitted to Lanarkshire County Council by 7th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of road accidents leading to injuries and fatal injuries, respectively, on the roads within the County of Lanark in 1954, 1955 and to the latest convenient date in 1956, respectively; and whether they show any particular pattern such that the mounting number of such accidents can be ascribed to any cause or set of causes.

The following are the figures:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the cause of the uneven road surface on the Carlisle-Stirling road, near Burnwood Camp, Carluke, has yet been ascertained and eliminated.

Investigations are continuing, but I cannot yet add to the reply given to my hon. Friend by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation on 23rd March.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many accidents, and how many fatal accidents, respectively, have occurred at Harelaw crossroads, in the County of Lanark since the war; and whether he will consider building a roundabout at this dangerspot.

No figures are available for the years 1945 to 1950. From the beginning of 1951 up to the end of April of this year there were twenty accidents at Harelaw crossroads, none of them fatal. I am asking Lanarkshire County Council, which is the highway authority for the two roads which intersect at Harelaw, to consider whether a roundabout should be constructed and, if so, when it should be fitted into its programme of works on classified roads.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) the distance from Charing Cross to the nearest point in the grounds which form London Airport;(2) the distance from Charing Cross to the nearest building in London Airport.

Thirteen and a half miles by road and 12¾as the crow flies.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to make a statement on the progress of work in Brentford and Chiswick on the Cromwell Road Extension; whether this is up to schedule; and whether he is satisfied that the development of this road is progressing as fast in the Middlesex County Council's area of responsibility as on the London County Council's side of the boundary.

; Work is in progress between Duke's Avenue and the railway bridge east of Wellesley Road. A contract is about to be let for work between the L.C.C. boundary and Chiswick Lane and between Devonshire Road and Bennett Street. On the remaining sections preparations are being pressed forward with all urgency. Considering the many difficulties, the programme is up to schedule and progress in Middlesex is not falling behind in relation to work in the L.C.C. area.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a statement on. the scheme to link the western end of the Cromwell Road Extension with the Great West Road in Brentford and Chiswick; and whether, under the plan, Wellesley Road, W.4, will remain open to through traffic.

The Cromwell Road Extension will be connected to the Great West Road by a flyover for motor vehicles only. Slip roads will provide for traffic interchange between the flyover and an enlarged surface roundabout at the junction of Gunnersbury Avenue and Chiswick High Road.Wellesley Road will be bridged over and will remain open to traffic.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury up to what amount the Government are prepared to finance the National Coal Board out of public funds in the next two years.

Issues from the Consolidated Fund to the Minister of Fuel and Power for advances to the National Coal Board are estimated at £70 million for 1956–57. On present expectations the corresponding amount for 1957–58 is likely to be of about the same magnitude.