asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will make a statement on the accident at London Airport to the Avro Vulcan.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will now make a statement on the Vulcan bomber accident at London Airport.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the Vulcan bomber accident at London Airport.

I regret that, for the reasons explained by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation last week, I cannot yet make a statement.

Is there not something wrong in this enormous delay? Is it not a strange fact that the public, whose aircraft this was and whose airfield this is, are denied information? It appears that the Government are shifting the blame from one Department to another.

There is no question of shifting blame from one Department to another. The Royal Air Force Court of Inquiry, which reported very quickly, said that certain matters needed further investigation within M.T.C.A. Those investigations are going on. I will make the fullest statement I can as soon as I can.

Will the Minister endeavour to speed up the inquiry? This unfortunate accident has caused very great concern to the large residential population around London Airport. If the crash had taken place just outside the airfield boundary, there would have been a terrible disaster. In the interests of the local population, I hope the Minister will speed up the inquiry.

I have taken every step I can to speed it up, but it is an important inquiry which cannot be speeded up faster than the Chairman can conduct it.

Is the Minister aware that the local authorities around the airport, of which there are a large number, are also very deeply concerned about what might have happened if the aircraft had crashed elsewhere than within the boundary of the airfield?

I am very well aware of that point.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the principle on which he acts in determining the incidence and amount of each local overseas allowance to British air officers serving abroad; what principle guides him in making discriminations between single officers, married accompanied officers and married unaccompanied officers; and how the assessments are arrived at in each of the overseas commands.

The aim is to enable officers to meet the extra cost of maintaining a suitable standard of living, both for themselves and their families, when they are serving in certain areas overseas. The rates are fixed accordingly.

Is it not obvious that the present system of assessment is invidious, and operates harshly in certain cases? Will the Minister look into the matter with a view to ameliorating the unfairness from which certain officers abroad are suffering?

This is a very complex business. If the hon. and learned Gentleman will draw my attention to any case in which he thinks there is unfairness, or will see me about it, I shall be happy to go into it.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in Holland the local overseas allowance is less than in Germany? Is he also aware that N.A.A.F.I. in Holland does not carry anything like the stocks carried by N.A.A.F.I. in Germany, so that officers and other ranks in Holland are forced to do a lot of their shopping in the N.A.A.F.I. in Germany, where the prices are higher, because they are based on the higher local overseas allowance in Germany?

I take it that all these matters have been taken into account in fixing the local overseas allowance, but I will certainly look into the point.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what would be the cost of doubling the overseas allowance for corporals and those below stationed in Germany when accompanied by their families.

About £35,000 a year.

Since the amount involved is so small and the number of grievances which, if doubled, it would remedy is comparatively large, can the right hon. Gentleman say why generals, brigadiers, colonels, lieutenant-colonels, majors, captains, warrant officers and those of ranks down to sergeants should get an additional allowance when accompanied by their families, while corporals and privates are denied that advantage?

Because they are personnel of higher ranks.

They may have higher ranks, but does not the Secretary of State realise that a principle is involved? We are not asking that they should have the same overseas allowance, but that there should not be this discrimination.

The hon. Member has already given notice that he will raise this matter on the Adjournment and I do not want to do anything to spoil his speech.

On a point of order. I have not given notice that I shall raise, on the Adjournment, this matter in relation to how it affects the Air Force.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why good tradesmen, with only eight weeks' service, are being sent to Cyprus; and whether, in view of the fact that this area is considered to be dangerous, he will take steps to end this practice.

No airman is sent overseas without receiving general service training which includes ground defence instruction. Tradesmen who do not require further training in their trade may be considered for overseas posting. I see no reason to change this practice.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that it is reasonable that a young man, although he is 22 years of age, after just eight weeks' training in the Air Force, should be sent to Cyprus, amidst the dangers which exist in that island at the present time? Although the man may be a good carpenter, as the Secretary of State alleged in a letter to me, does the right hon. Gentleman think that it is fair that after eight weeks' training he should be sent into that danger zone?

As the hon. Member has pointed out, this man was 22 years of age, which is not very young as these postings now go. He had received ground defence training and qualified as a marksman. He was well able to look after himself.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that that area is not really so very dangerous, but that if it were the good tradesman concerned would resent even more the policy advocated by the hon. Member for The Hartlepools (Mr. D. Jones)?

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that it is right that after eight weeks' training these men should be sent to what, after all, is an active theatre? Can he say why the Government should argue that two years' conscription is necessary before a man is completely trained?

That raises rather wider issues.

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) why he has decided to close No. 72 Maintenance Unit, Roade, Northamptonshire;

(2) the amount of capital expenditure on No. 72 Maintenance Unit since a decision was taken to build it into a single-point holding unit some three years ago;

(3) how much has been spent on road improvements approaching No. 72 Maintenance Unit.

No. 72 Maintenance Unit is being closed as part of the contraction programme for Maintenance Command. During the past three years about £18,000 have been spent on capital improvements, but much of that has been for removable equipment. I understand that there has been no substantial expenditure on the improvement of local roads for the benefit of the unit in recent years.

Is not the Secretary of State aware that a number of roads, which apparently carry no other traffic, have been improved and widened, and the turn-over to a single-point unit led people working there to imagine that it would continue for some time, so that many of them have bought houses in consequence, and that this policy will cause hardship to employees in the unit?

Closing any kind of unit of this sort is always a very unhappy and unpleasant business, and we do all we can to mitigate hardships caused by it. We are effecting very considerable and necessary economies in Maintenance Command, however, and we cannot do that without closing some units.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when he expects to make a decision on the siting of the proposed married quarters for St. Mawgan Airfield, Cornwall.

We do not plan to build these quarters now.

Why has the Secretary of State now come to this decision, when officers and men and their families are working at considerable inconvenience, and when local authorities have been considerably disorganised in their planing by their expectation that these quarters were to be built?

I am sorry that any inconvenience has been caused, but under our present planning certain redeployment is taking place which will make the building of these quarters unnecessary.

As this question relates to my constituency, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether he can confirm that certain personnel from St. Mawgan Airfield are now to be housed at St. Merryn? If so, can he indicate the number of households involved.

I cannot answer that question without notice. Perhaps my hon. Friend will come and see me, or write to me about it.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the estimated proportion of equipment now used by the Royal Air Force which has been supplied under the American off-shore purchases.

The total value of equipment so far supplied to us from American off-shore purchases amounts to £24 million. It is not possible to calculate what proportion this is of the total equipment now used by the Royal Air Force, but it is certainly small.

Is it not the fact that special conditions were attached to this equipment when it was supplied? Is any attempt made to segregate these items of equipment? If they are so segregated, does that not amount to the position that we cannot use these items for the Royal Air Force without a chit from the United States?

That is a different question, and was effectively answered by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence the other day.

Will my right hon. Friend consider returning this equipment, or at least paying for it, to enable us to be masters of our own house?

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind, before undertaking that course of action, that 515 Hunters out of 1,100, 100 Sea Hawks, all the Avengers, all the Sky Raiders and all the helicopters used in recent operations were supplied under American off-shore purchase arrangements?

I think that the hon. Member is referring mostly to naval aircraft, but his figures are extremely misleading.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the Committee appointed to consider the problems of career planning in the Royal Air Force has completed its review, especially in regard to the prospects of promotion of officers in the Education Branch of the Royal Air Force; and if he will make a statement.

The Committee my hon. Friend has in mind is a standing committee which reports from time to time to the Air Council. It has not yet completed its study of the Education Branch.

Does my right hon. Friend recall that it was as long ago as 20th January that he told me that this Committee was studying this problem; that he wrote to me on 7th August and said that he hoped that the topic of promotion to wing commander could be considered early and in isolation from the rest of the problem; and that it is now a year since I drew attention to the very real grievance of these officers?

I know that what my hon. Friend has in mind is the promotion prospects in the Education Branch. I have always told him that that is not a problem of immediate urgency. What we want is a long-term plan for that branch.

On a point of order. I beg to give notice that, in view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I shall seek an early opportunity of raising the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will give further details of the steps taken to prevent the loss of human life during the bombing operations undertaken during the recent state of armed conflict in Egypt.

Casualties to Egyptians during bombing operations were kept to a minimum by careful choice of targets, by accurate bombing and by radio warnings. The targets were selected to achieve the maximum destruction of Egyptian war material with the minimum loss of life. According to all reports and photographs the accuracy of the bombing was very high. Warnings were given by radio of attacks made by Allied Air Forces and these were repeated at frequent intervals. There is evidence that they were heeded by the Egyptian population.

Has the Secretary of State not seen some of the photographs which are appearing in the American Press of the wholesale destruction of buildings, which must have involved great loss of life? Does he really suggest that this operation was carried out with the minimum amount of destruction?

Yes. A great many untrue stories about this matter have been circulated, but what I have said is perfectly accurate.

Is it not a fact that if the attacks had been made against any country but Egypt, the risks to our own airmen would have been very much greater?

Although what evidence we have shows that the bombing was extremely accurate and that the R.A.F. deserves the greatest credit—after all, it was not its policy, it was carrying out its orders—civilians were killed in these bombing raids. Can the Secretary of State give us any idea of how many?

I cannot give a figure.

Will my right hon. Friend convey the feelings of thankfulness of the majority of the House that the Air Staff planned this operation so efficiently and aircrews carried it out so efficiently that not only were there small Egyptian casualties, but none on our side?

Certainly the operation was carried out with great skill and care.

Can the Minister tell us how soon the Government will be able to give the real figure both of Egyptian and British casualties?

Not without notice. I have not the figure here. We will give it as soon as we can.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how much petrol and oil fuel was consumed in the recent armed conflict in Egypt; and the estimated cost.

I regret that this information is not readily available.

In view of the great public interest in how petrol is consumed and how it is being wasted, does not the Minister think that he could provide this information? Is he aware that in his Memorandum on the Estimates, we are told in the first page that £38 million was received from America? Can he tell us whether any of this sum was used for supplying oil, equipment or anything for this bombing operation, and whether he expects to get another £38 million on false pretences?

I am pretty certain that I am right in saying that none of that money has been devoted to oil.

Would not it be quite easy for the Secretary of State to find out from the Command in Cyprus how much fuel was used in this operation and tell the House, in view of the great interest in the fuel situation of this country?

I hardly think that it would be an easy calculation to make. With his experience of the Air Ministry, the right hon. Gentleman should know that.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what percentage of the trunk road system of England, Scotland and Wales consists of two-lane highways; and what percentage consists of four-lane highways.

Approximately 78 per cent. of the mileage of trunk roads in England consists of two-lane carriageways and 6 per cent. of four-lane carriageways; the comparable figures for Wales are 94 per cent. and 0·5 per cent. and for Scotland 86 per cent. and 2 per cent. respectively.

The remainder of the mileage consists largely of two-lane carriageways with a passing lane, except in Scotland, where 6 per cent. of the mileage covers a single-lane carriageway.

As a four-lane highway is a good deal safer and easier for traffic than a two-lane highway, and as 76 per cent. of our trunk roads are of the two-lane variety, does not that indicate that we have a long way to go to make our trunk road system really safe? As traffic is likely to be light in the next few months, would not that period provide an opportunity to bring our road system up to date?

I only wish that I could accept my hon. Friend's view that in a short period of months I could overcome the arrears of many years.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made in the construction of the Dartford-Purfleet Tunnel and the approaches; and to give an estimate of the date of completion of the tunnel.

The contractors for the main tunnel started operations last July and are at present engaged on preliminary work on both sides of the river. It is expected that the driving of the tunnel will begin in three or four months' time. The whole scheme should be finished by about 1962.

I thank the Minister for that reply, but can he say whether it is not possible to have the tunnel and the approaches completed before 1962? Is not he aware of the intolerable traffic conditions which, of course, can be only temporarily interrupted by the shortage of petrol? Can he expedite that date?

We are fully aware of the great need for this tunnel. That is why it has been given high priority. But it is a very difficult engineering project. The question of safety is involved. We are grouting the soil, which is not safe, and I am afraid that it would not be possible to speed up the scheme any more.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent experiments have shown that a light-coloured road surface tends to decrease accidents at night.

There is no direct evidence that a light-coloured road surface without street lighting tends to decrease accidents at night. Good street lighting does reduce road accidents at night, and investigation shows that its effect is increased by a light-coloured road surface.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he can yet specify any additional immediate road development plans in addition to those already announced

So far as trunk roads are concerned, I have nothing to add at present to the statements already made, but I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of some of the larger classified road schemes now included, or proposed to be included, in the road programme, particulars of which have not been given previously.

Since, as my hon. Friend has said, we are to have a six months' interim period when traffic will not be so heavy, will my right hon. Friend at least try to accelerate the work which can be done during these few months?

Of course I will. I have already said that that is what my Department intends to do. But I must warn my hon. and gallant Friend that we are not going to see dramatic results in six months to overtake the arrears of six or seven years.

The Minister keeps publishing these ad hoc lists. Would it be possible for a comprehensive statement to be given of the road programme as it stands today?

I do not publish ad hoc lists. I merely try to respond courteously to requests from hon. Members on both sides of the House.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give for each road scheme for which he is responsible, and the total cost of which would be more than £10,000, the date when all the land had been acquired.

I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT the information requested as regards land acquired since the roads concerned became trunk roads. There are, in addition, a number of major improvement schemes on trunk roads where the land was already incorporated in the highway at the time the roads became trunk roads. I have no information about the date of acquisition in these cases.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether his statement will show the basis on which the land has

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will state which of the road schemes for which he is responsible, and the total cost of each of which would be more than

The statement will show what I was asked to give, and that is a list of the schemes. If the right hon. Gentleman is interested in costs, etc., he should put down a Question, and I will try to answer it.

I am interested in land values.

I hope to authorise something over 200 trunk road schemes costing over £10,000 each between now and April, 1959. I would rather not, however, at this stage, give a hard and fast list of the detailed schemes.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what major road schemes have been decided upon for 1957 and 1958 in Durham County; and what schemes under £100,000 will be put into operation in Durham County for 1957 and 1958.

I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the trunk road schemes, two costing more than £100,000 each and four costing less, which I hope to authorise in Durham County during the next two financial years. As regards classified roads, I am not yet able to say what schemes I shall be able to accept during the next two years.

Is the Minister aware that in Durham County the county authority has built up a direct labour force for carrying out its five-year plan, and that if something is not done whereby the Minister can bring himself into a position to give greater consideration to some of these major schemes in order to meet the leeway which has to be made up, the plan will take fifteen years?

I have given consideration to the matter and have just announced four schemes, two of which will cost over £200,000.

Yes, but could the Minister state whether the Salt Lane scheme is one of those to which he has referred, and which will be published in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

The hon. Member had better look at the list. It is dearly set out.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the condition of many of the roads in County Durham due to mining subsidence, if he will make a special grant to the highway authority towards bringing such roads into good condition.

Within the limits of the money available we already make grants to the county council for this class of work on classified roads.

I am aware that the Ministry does, but is the Minister satisfied that the amount of money that he is allocating to this one—mining subsidence is affecting the highway considerably in Durham County—will meet the position which Durham wants to have met?

I should not like to say, with regard to any part of the country, that the grants which we are able to make for maintenance and minor improvements are as much as we should like to provide, but I am satisfied that Durham is having its fair share of the money which is available.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation why the work due to begin this autumn on the Elephant and Castle road improvement scheme has been delayed; how long it will be before the programme of operations will begin; and how long it is expected to take to bring the road work to completion.

There has been no delay here, as demolition work was started in September. Road works will start in 1957 and it is estimated that the whole scheme will be completed in 1960.

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that Answer, though I cannot agree that there has been no delay. I wish to ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the delay which has taken place has caused considerable consternation among small shopkeepers in the area, who are frightened that they will be pushed into the back streets and that the multiple shops will take their place? As these shopkeepers serve such an excellent purpose in the area and are satisfactory to local residents, will the Minister see that the question of location is settled as soon as possible?

Certainly. I am not sure how much it is my responsibility and how much the responsibility of the London County Council, but I will look into the point which the right hon. Gentleman has raised.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, when land is purchased for a new road with dual carriageways, one of which will not be constructed for some years, he will arrange as far as possible for the unused land to continue under cultivation.

Yes, Sir, whenever practicable.

Will the Minister also bear in mind that there are vast quantities of land lying unproductive throughout the country because of a lack of foresight in planning in the past; and in view of the importance of using every possible bit of agricultural land, will he do all he can, in conjunction with the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to see that this sort of thing does not happen again?

My information does not entirely coincide with that of the hon. Gentleman, but I will gladly examine any case which he cares to bring forward. The chief difficulty arising about making use of any land acquired is an engineering one. When a bridge or something of that kind has to be constructed, it is often necessary that embankments and cuttings be made to the full width when the first part of the work is undertaken.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will state when the roadway repairs between Whipps Cross, Leyton, and Wanstead, are likely to commence.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the Lea Bridge Road near Forest Rise. The repair of the present road surface is a matter for the Leyton Borough Council as highway authority. My right hon. Friend hopes, however, to make a grant soon towards the borough council's scheme for constructing dual carriageways here, which it proposes to start in March, 1957.

Is the Minister aware that a great deal depends on the payment of that grant, and that it seems to have been delayed for an inordinate length of time? Is he aware, moreover, that motorists who traverse that roadway suffer a great deal of inconvenience and hardship, if not injury?

I do not think there has been any delay. As soon as the council is able to start the work the grant will be made. In point of fact, the council itself revised the plan after it had first received the approval of my Department, and the delay is due to that.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress he can now report on the projected extension of the Eastern Avenue through the Borough of Leyton; and if he is in a position to indicate how this will affect householders in Leyton.

Steady progress has been made with the survey, and it should be completed by the end of the year. After that, a draft Order to fix the line of the road will be prepared. Until that has been done the effect of the scheme upon property owners cannot be determined.

Will any plans be published so that the public may see exactly how the various householders are likely to be affected?

Before any compulsory acquisition takes place, at the time when the Order is made plans will be published which everyone affected will be able to see.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the number of accidents which take place at the crossing Cellar-head on the Stone to Leek trunk road in the Leek division; and whether he will now see that traffic signals are placed at this dangerous crossing.

The main cause of accidents at this intersection seems to be the disregard by motorists of the "Halt" signs. Additional steps have recently been taken to make this junction safer. In the conditions obtaining we are not satisfied that light signals would be appropriate here or would bring about a reduction of accidents.

Is the Minister aware that is is about time that some notice was taken of local opinion about road traffic points that are dangerous? Is not the reason that many drivers miss the "Halt" sign that it is not clear and obvious, and is not the real answer, as local opinion and users of the roads say, that traffic lights are necessary at this point to avoid further accident and death?

We do not agree that traffic lights are suitable in this case. The utmost care has been taken to deal with this matter. There were three accidents in May and June. As a result, there was a joint meeting between our divisional road engineer and the county surveyor, and they decided to extend the white line in the approaches to the A520 road and to mark "Slow" on both carriageways. Since then, there has been only one accident, which was due to a car swerving in order to avoid a pedestrian. Further improvements are in mind.

May I press the Minister on this matter? His constituency is contiguous to mine. I would welcome a visit from him to this point when he is next in his constituency, and if I cannot convince him that lights are needed, I will offer him the hospitality of the best hotel in Leek.

I shall have the greatest pleasure in accepting the hon. Gentleman's hospitality, either in the best hotel in Leek or in any other hotel.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will have erected conspicuous danger signs on both sides of the village of Whetley Rocks on the Stone to Leek trunk road in the Leek division.

No, Sir. I understand that the Staffordshire County Council, which is the responsible highway authority, has recently erected "Double Bend" signs in this village, and these should be sufficient.

Is the Minister aware that here is the same kind of centralised answer, instead of which local opinion—that of people who live in the area—should be accepted, whatever Government is in power? I know this road well and so, I believe, does the Joint Parliamentary Secretary. Clear signs are necessary. Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his Answer, at least?

No, Sir. The purpose of traffic signs is the guidance of motorists and not the guidance of local inhabitants. For that reason my Department tries to have a uniform system of traffic signs all over the country as the best way of reducing traffic accidents.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what proportion of the 400 miles of new, realigned or widened roads which he hopes to authorise this year and the following two years will have dual carriageways.

About 350 miles will have dual carriageways.

In regard to the other 50 miles, is it not ridiculous that when new roads are put down they have not all dual carriageways? Is it not wholly uneconomic to put down roads which are to be made later into dual carriageways at much greater expense, instead of putting them into that condition now? Surely this is very false economy and very foolish.

In general, I agree with the right hon. Gentleman's view that a new road, and particularly a trunk or motor road, must have a double highway with a central reservation, but in this case, among the 50 miles are certain roads where new bridges are to be built. As this work is of a temporary or semi-temporary nature, a three-line highway is justifiable there.

To make three-line highways into dual carriageways later, as is intended, will cost far more money than if the work were done now. Surely this is a great waste of public money.

Not always. The roads will form one track of the double highway.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made in preparations for utilising helicopters for inter-city travel; and, in view of the importance of making early decisions with regard to landing sites in London on or in the vicinity of the River Thames, what consideration has been given to this aspect of the matter, and with what result.

We can make little further progress without more knowledge of the operational and economic characteristics of the twin-engined helicopters now under development. My right hon. Friend is studying, with the Chairman of British European Airways, how best to obtain this.

The South Bank Air Station remains "on call" till the site is required for development, but little use has been made of it since the B.E.A. scheduled service came to an end. A design for a floating platform to accommodate single-engined helicopters has been discussed with the Port of London Authority and the London County Council, but the demand has not justified our putting this costly project in hand.

I thank the hon. Member for what he has just said, but is it not regrettable that when so much progress has been made in provincial cities there is so much dither and indecision in London, where it is vital that something should be done? Cannot the hon. Member do something to get some plans for the present instead of fine dreams for the future?

It is not a question of dreams for the future. I do not think that Her Majesty's Government would be right to expend large sums of money on a permanent air-stop for London until we really know how much space is required and what the characteristics are. I know that the House is interested in this matter, and I would point out that there does remain an "on call" site where helicopters can land in the centre of London.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what reason prevents the Prestwick Pioneer getting a certificate of airworthiness.

None, Sir. The single-engined Prestwick Pioneer has had a certificate of airworthiness since July, 1955. The twin-engined version was granted one on 16th November last. I am sorry that I was not aware, at the moment of replying to the hon. Member on this point in debate on 19th November, that the certificate had actually been issued three days before, and I am very glad to take this opportunity of correcting what I said then.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent British civil aircraft are now affected as to landing rights or passage over the territory of Middle-East countries; and to state the details of such restrictions.

B.O.A.C.'s services to the Far East are being routed through Turkey, instead of through Beirut or Cairo, whilst all services to East and Southern Africa are being routed through Libya and the Sudan. B.E.A. is still operating to Cyprus and Tel Aviv. The services of Cyprus Airways and Aden Airways have been curtailed by the prohibition on flying over Egypt and Syria. Landings in Cyprus are subject to special arrangements and overflying is banned.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary has not answered my Question at all. Will he look at this matter again and see the number of countries in the Middle East over which British operators cannot now fly and cannot land for refuelling or other purposes? Is not a good deal of traffic being lost to other than British operators? Is anything being done to remedy these difficulties or mend this damage caused by the British Government's policy?

I have answered the Question which is on the Paper, as the hon. Gentleman will see if he looks at it carefully. I give him the assurance that my right hon. Friend is in the closest touch with the Corporations to see that they suffer no inconvenience.

May I remind the Joint Parliamentary Secretary that there are operators other than the two Corporations? Has he considered the difficulties which those other operators are suffering?

We have no evidence of any discrimination.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give consideration to the restriction of the speed limit from the commencement of the Bridge House Estate, Ferryhill, to the overhead bridge on the A.1 road, Ferryhill.

We have considered this suggestion, but the length on which there is frontage development on both sides is too short to warrant the imposition of a speed limit here.

Is the right hon. Member aware that there have been petitions in the area relative to the dangerous part of the district through which this road goes? Have we to wait until something serious occurs before the Minister is prepared to accede to the request set out in th Question?

As I indicated last night, in the Adjournment debate, there are general principles which we apply when we consider whether to impose a 30 m.p.h. speed limit. In this case the conditions are not satisfied.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what effect the petrol shortage has had on British Road Services in respect of employment.

I am informed that the cuts in motor fuel have not yet made necessary any reduction in the staff of British Road Services.

Can the Minister deny that, as a consequence of this cut, many drivers employed by British Road Services have had their earnings halved, some of them having dropped to earnings of between £7 to £8 a week? Is it not a fact that people like those, who can ill afford it, have to pay a very heavy price for the foolish policy of the Government?

I am not aware of that at all. The facts as I know them are that the British Transport Commission has tried, as every other industry has been trying, to limit the amount of petrol it uses. When doing that the Commission has been most careful to see that no man has been discharged. In that it has acted very properly.

Can the Minister give an assurance that the cuts which it has been necessary to make in the use of petrol will apply equally on the same basis to British Road Services as to private road hauliers?

Yes.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation for how long it is proposed to suspend driving tests; if he is aware of the serious effect this decision has had on the business of driving schools; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will reconsider his policy of suspending driving tests, in view of the loss of livelihood of many driving instructors and of the important part they play in contributing to an improvement of road safety.

The suspension of driving tests is an inevitable consequence of the decision to introduce petrol rationing. I cannot say how long the suspension will continue but I am most anxious to resume tests as soon as circumstances permit.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that Answer, may I ask him whether, in order to alleviate the hardship that may be caused to owners of driving schools and their staffs if the suspension continues for a long time, he will consider the introduction of other schemes, such as were introduced during the war, to enable these schools to continue in business for the time being?

Yes; as I have said in my Answer, I am most anxious to resume driving tests as soon as possible, and I am perfectly prepared to examine any proposal that will help towards that end.

Will the Minister bear in mind that these driving instructors are vital to any improvement in road safety, and that if he allows this comparatively small corps of instructors to be entirely disbanded it may be very difficult to recruit them again? Will he reconsider his decision?

I quite agree with the hon. Gentleman, and if he will read carefully what I have just said in my supplementary answer, I think he will see that I have the matter in mind.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in some areas Service men coming out of the Services who were about to take up civilian employment which requires them to pass a driving test are being precluded from taking such tests? Would he be prepared to look into individual cases if they are sent to him?

No, I cannot breach the general rule that at the moment all driving tests are suspended. What I have said is that I am very anxious to find some way of starting them again as soon as possible, even on a limited basis.

Will the Minister bear in mind the serious situation that has developed in Birmingham, where 50 driving schools with waiting lists up to the end of January are likely to be put out of business, and where 250 of their drivers are suddenly facing the prospect of unemployment? Will he really do something to try to keep intact this organisation in Birmingham, in the interests of road safety?

I quite agree with the hon. Gentleman. I think that every hon. Member has similar cases in his constituency—I have in my constituency—and it is for that reason that I am so anxious to try to find a solution.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will take steps to ensure that large and slow-moving transporter vehicles are required periodically to draw into lay-bys to enable the accumulated traffic behind them to pass.

I hope that drivers of large slow-moving vehicles will make use of suitable lay-bys in the way suggested by my hon. Friend. There are obvious difficulties about framing a regulation to deal with the matter, and I prefer to rely on the good sense of drivers and of the police, who frequently escort these loads in the more congested areas.

While my right hon. Friend's answer is satisfactory so far as it goes, could he not use a little more propaganda than that in order to get this state of affairs, which he agrees is desirable, into effect?

I am sure that my hon. and gallant Friend's Question will do something to that end.

Does my right hon. Friend recognise that this is something of a problem, if not a serious nuisance, to motorists in the summer months and would he not act a little more forcefully, in the same way as the Service Ministers, who have issued explicit instructions, by contacting the main firms involved through the licensing authorities or divisional road engineers?

I will certainly look at that suggestion. It might be possible. I believe that in many cases my divisional road engineer has to be consulted before the load is moved.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will issue a general direction to the British Transport Commission, that it should proceed no further with the closure or dismantling of any railway line whilst the present shortage of oil fuel continues.

No, Sir. The Commission has assured me that in present circumstances it will have special regard to the importance of maintaining alternative facilities to road transport.

Is it not wrong that the railways, including the Transport Commission, should be tearing up rails in the Isle of Wight and elsewhere which might well be needed over the next six months or more?

So far as the Isle of Wight is concerned, I would say that where a railway is in process of being dismantled it is not possible to make it safe again for use in a reasonable time. I am sure that the British Transport Commission will not, in present circumstances, start dismantling lines of which it can make adequate use.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now name the members of the committee appointed to consider means for the staggering of working hours to relieve traffic congestion.

Yes, Sir. I have now formally appointed this Committee with the terms of reference which I circulated with the Answer I gave the hon. Member on 25th July, and it held its first meeting yesterday morning. I am circulating a list of the members in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

I am grateful that at last this Committee has been appointed, but

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether his attention has been drawn to the large number of fatal accidents attributable to stationary lorries drawn up on the highway the rear lights of which are insufficient to illuminate the vehicle although complying with the letter of the law; and whether he will consider action in the matter.

I do realise that, and I have already asked the Committee to deal with that as its first task.

Will the Minister give an undertaking that in all cases where operations are proposed which affect industrial workers, who have already suffered enough, the local trade union representatives will be consulted?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will look at the members of the Committee and see the eminent trade unionists who are serving on it.

I asked about local representatives.