asked the Secretary of State for Air what action he is taking to prevent quarrying and carting gravel at Bocking and through Finchingfield during the hours of darkness in connection with the extensions to Wethersfield Airfield.

The use of the pit at Bocking will cease with effect from next Sunday, 2nd June. I regret that the need to keep Wethersfield Airfield open for flying during part of the day and the operational need to complete the extension of the runway without delay so that new types of aircraft can be deployed, make it essential for night work to continue, but I am investigating the possibility of selecting routes for the contractors' lorries which will minimise disturbance.

In view of the intolerable situation which has arisen at Bocking, would my right hon. Friend consider a meeting on the site between representatives of the U.S. Air Force, the contractors, the local authorities, and possibly myself to discuss the re-routing and re-scheduling of these lorries?

Yes, Sir. I will gladly consider that.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps he proposes to take in order to relieve traffic congestion by Storey's Gate. S.W.1.

Congestion has already been considerably relieved by the prohibition of the right turn into Storey's Gate and by the removal of the gates at the entrance of St. James's Park. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Works also proposes to set back the gate pillars from the edge of the carriageway, and this, by providing more space and better visibility, should help the flow of traffic still further.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that it is still possible to be held up there for up to 20 minutes in the morning? Would he consider prohibiting traffic turning right into the Horse Guards approach and stopping cars parking in the narrow part of Great George Street?

I will certainly consider my hon. Friend's suggestions. There is a very considerable volume of traffic wanting to turn right into the Horse Guards approach. I should need to think twice before stopping that. At that hour of the day there is very little parking in Great George Street which is interfering with the flow of traffic.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary point to any single practical achievement during recent months by way of reducing London's traffic congestion, apart from the rationing of petrol and the towing away of a few cars? Is not the Minister of Transport himself becoming London's biggest traffic jam?

If the hon. Member will study the Answer I gave to this Question, he will see that we have made a considerable improvement here.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made to provide a motor road feeder from the West Riding to the Great North Road.

The provisional line of the road is included in the county development plan and is, by this means, protected from other forms of development.

Does the Minister realise that the West Riding is one of the largest industrial areas in the country and that it is receiving very scant attention indeed? Does he propose at least to put something concrete before the West Riding County Council in the very near future?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will await the answer to his next Question.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he estimates that the A.1 road will be so far completed as to provide a first-class road link between the north and south.

The improvement of A1 between London and Newcastle will on present estimates cost about £40 million. It is one of the first priorities but must obviously be phased over a number of years. Since January, 1955, thirty-three schemes have been authorised at a total cost of £7 million, and of these four have been completed and a further fifteen are in progress.

Can the Minister give any idea when the complete section will have been fully covered?

The answer to that question is that A.1 takes priority over the northern section of the London to Yorkshire motorway, and we shall get on with the complete improvement of A.1 as quickly as we can.

What is the use of enabling motorists to fly more quickly to London, or to 20 miles outside, if they are to be held up for hours when they get there?

I agree with the hon. Member. That is why I attach such great importance to the clearance of bottlenecks.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what plans he has for constructing underpasses to relieve traffic congestion in the central London area.

In the central area itself the Knightsbridge-Piccadilly underpass at Hyde Park Corner has been agreed. Fly-overs or fly-unders planned for outside this area will, of course, affect traffic conditions within it.

Has my right hon. Friend considered the Thames Embankment at the end of some of the bridges, particularly in the Chelsea-Vauxhall area? Does he not consider it wide enough for underpasses, and will he do everything possible to see whether they cannot be built there?

That is a very helpful suggestion. I know that the London County Council is looking into the possibility of constructing fly-overs or fly-unders at the ends of some of the Thames Bridges, and I will draw my hon. Friend's point to the Council's attention.

Is the Minister aware of the figures published this morning by the London police showing that there has been a 20 per cent. increase in the traffic using London in the last two years? Would he agree that if this goes on for, say, another four years, unless something far more drastic is done than has been done in the past by means of underpasses and other methods, London will reach a completely chaotic state and traffic will be at a complete standstill?

My own view and the view of some of the experts is that traffic in London at the moment is moving rather more freely than before rationing. [Interruption.] Yes, that is so. I quite agree with the right hon. Gentleman that there is this enormous annual increase in traffic in London, which I think he is right in saying will probably continue. That is why I propose to bring forward these very large schemes like, for example, the Hyde Park scheme, which cost very large sums of money.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress is being made in widening the carriageways of the roads in the Central London area listed in his Answer to a Question on 28th February, 1956.

One scheme has been completed; grants have been made for three more; and I understand that a further one is likely to be carried out in the near future.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that answer, may I ask him to press on with this matter as fast as he can? Would he not agree that a large number of unnecessarily wide pavements could be narrowed for the benefit of the carriageway?

Yes, I quite agree.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) how many objections have been made to the Doncaster by-pass road; and when these objections are likely to be dealt with;

(2) when the preliminary arrangements for the Doncaster by-pass road will be completed; and when he expects physical work to start.

Objections to the draft Scheme for the Doncaster by-pass have been received from seven sources. I have considered them all and have decided that the making of the Scheme should proceed. As soon as the Scheme has been made, I shall give a formal invitation to the agent authorities concerned to prepare the necessary detailed land plans, engineering drawings, and contract documents.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how far this Scheme is behind the original schedule?

To my understanding, it is not behind schedule. As I have just told the right hon. Gentleman, we have, in effect, shortened the procedure, because I have overruled some of the objections which have been made.

While welcoming what the Minister has just said, may I ask whether he is not aware that the best North-West road in the world will be useless unless and until this by-pass of the bottleneck of Doncaster is ultimately completed?

I quite agree. I want to by-pass Doncaster just as much as the right hon. Gentleman.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that of 102 road schemes listed by him on 30th May, 11 July and 31st October, 1956, for commencement at some specific date, no less than thirty-seven have not been started according to schedule: and whether he will undertake an intensive review of the causes which lead to these delays, with a view to their removal.

While I accept that some schemes have not started exactly on schedule for the reason that I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackley (Mr. E. Johnson) on 10th April, I do not agree that the figures quoted in the Question correctly reflect the present position.

If not thirty-seven, how many are there? What does the Minister propose to do to expedite action? As he knows, the position is very serious.

Yes, but the facts of the case, as I and my predecessors have explained, are that we are faced with a very difficult position. We either have to give full rein to the views of local authorities, private interests and all the other people concerned, in which case we may find that we do not always keep up to schedule, or we must overrule those people and not give them a fair chance to put their case. I have said, quite plainly, that I am not prepared to accept the second course.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that this procedure is as speedy as it could be? Would he undertake to review the whole process of procedure and see whether it cannot be speeded up?

I have already dealt with this matter twice. I am satisfied that we have already made a slight improvement, and we cannot do any more unless we are to override the rights of individuals.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has yet appointed an independent inspector to hold a public inquiry into the Westminster City Council parking scheme.

No, Sir. As soon as I am able to appoint an inspector I will make an announcement.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate the need for speed in this case? Is it not a fact that, after an inquiry has been held, an Order has to be laid before the House subject to negative procedure? Will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to speed this matter up so that the House can have an opportunity of considering it before the Summer Recess? Is he aware that it would not be desirable that the scheme should be carried out before the House has an opportunity of discussing it, and that if we cannot discuss it before the Summer Recess it will be held up until late autumn?

That may be, but the House should realise that this is the first parking meter scheme in the country. There are bound to be difficulties in getting it going, and I think that on the whole we should go reasonably slowly and try and get it right.

Surely there is no difficulty about finding someone to hold a public inquiry?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman had better find the right man.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in view of the introduction of parking meters in Westminster, he will consider the formation of a corps of traffic wardens in order to release the many members of the Metropolitan Police at present engaged in these duties.

The Road Traffic Act, 1956, lays on local authorities the responsibility of providing staff to supervise parking meters. I hope we shall gain some useful experience in this way.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that the situation is becoming quite ridiculous? We have police standing by traffic lights because traffic does not obey the lights, and we have mobile police directing traffic. Men who are highly trained in crime detection are being used for this stupid and senseless duty which could easily be done by people trained for the purpose. Could we not recruit for these duties men coming out of the Services, like ex-petty officers, and so on, who would be perfectly able to do this work?

What my hon. Friend has said carries great force to the extent that when we have parking meters we shall certainly have to have a new force of men to look after them and their associated problems, and I think that the type of man my hon. Friend has mentioned would be very suitable for that purpose.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what proposals he has for relieving traffic congestion at Victoria Gate and Alexandra Gate, Hyde Park.

I am discussing with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works ways of relieving traffic congestion at these gates, and I hope to make an announcement in the near future.

Whilst appreciating that my right hon. Friend has been doing and is doing a good deal to relieve traffic congestion in London, may I ask whether he would not agree that traffic is again seizing up, particularly in these two places? Will he do what he can to inject a sense of urgency into consideration of this problem?

I certainly will, but the facts are that we are dealing with land there which is for the use of the London public as an open space, and my right hon. Friend and I are naturally very reluctant to take large areas of it until we are really satisfied that it is the right suggestion.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the volume of traffic in these places, the configuration of the ground and the space available, indicate underpasses, which are now being pursued in France and Belgium? Is he aware that the volume of traffic in some places we have seen recently is well below what exists in these places and yet abroad people are doing these things with their limited accommodation?

It is also being pursued at Hyde Park Corner at a cost to me of £1 million.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a statement on that part of the Economic Survey of Europe produced by the Economic Commission of the United Nations which deals with British roads.

The Commission's comments were somewhat out of date, being based on the period up to 1955. Since then the rate of expenditure on major road works in this country has increased three times.

Would my right hon. Friend not agree it is intolerable that we should have the worst traffic problem in Europe, according to this Survey, and yet spend the least amount of money of any European country? Even when the present programme is at its peak only the same amount of work will be done as was done before the war?

Perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will take note of what I said before. This Commission's comments were based on a period up to 1955, when the present programme had not even been stated, and I do not therefore consider its commends in any way representative.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Commission said that the amount spent in this country on new roads is less than one-ninth of that spent in most major European countries, taking a proportion on the national income? Is he aware that even if we have improved the amount spent on major roads by three times we are still well below most European countries in proportion to our national income?

I do not disagree. We must get on and build more roads, and that is what I propose to do.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the fatal accident which recently occurred at the cross-roads in Fernhurst. Sussex; and what steps he proposes to take to avert similar accidents in the future.

I have heard of this fatal accident with great regret. The West Sussex County Council are the highway authority, and any steps to improve the cross-roads would be primarily a matter for them. On the information before me, however, it does not appear that the accident was caused by a defect in the layout or condition of the roads.

Whilst thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him if he realises that the main road through the village goes into a bottleneck there, and that consequently there is very little that can be done in that respect? However, would he consider putting up more notices warning motorists that the road suddenly comes into a bottleneck?

I know the crossroads well, and I agree with my hon. Friend that it presents a difficult traffic problem. I will certainly look into his suggestion and see if we can do anything on those lines to help him.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what was the original estimated cost of the Tyne Tunnel and the estimated cost today.

The latest estimate for the road tunnel, including its approach roads, is about £12 million. The original estimated cost pre-war for a somewhat smaller tunnel was £2½ million.

In view of the fact that the estimate has increased since before the war, when the controversy as to tunnel and bridge was under consideration, will my right hon. Friend get into action with the building of the tunnel straight away in order that he may save money and improve our communications? Can he, therefore, give me a starting date and save the revenue?

That is a fascinating suggestion, and it shows why I was so anxious, if I could, to have a bridge instead of a tunnel, since it would cost a great deal less money.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will ensure that the Tyne Tunnel retains the original priority it had, namely, following the completion of the Dartford Tunnel.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, now that he has made the decision to link the two banks of the Tyne by a tunnel, if he will give the approximate date when work on the project will commence.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) when it is expected that work will commence on the construction of the Tyne Tunnel;

(2) why he has decided to consider the construction of the Tyne Tunnel in an order of priority related to other tunnel projects.

My predecessors gave an undertaking that the Tyne Tunnel would be the next to be authorised after the Dartford-Purfleet Tunnel, and I shall do my best to honour that undertaking. It will be a very costly scheme, however, and I cannot say yet when it will be possible to include it in the road programme.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that when that pledge was given the suggestion was that we could not start on the Tyne Tunnel until the machinery was available from the Dartford Tunnel? Can he let us know when the machinery will be available so that we may have an idea when we may exercise our pressure to get on with the job?

I will write to my hon. Friend and will let her know when it will be available.

Will the right hon. Gentleman look at this again? Does he not agree that the cost of the shields is a relatively minor part of the total cost, and that there is really no reason why the priority of one tunnel project should depend upon another?

That is not quite so, because we are now committed in this country to a very large programme of bridge and tunnel building— very much larger than the detractors of the road programme are prepared to accept— and I cannot overload the economy with too many of these large schemes at any one time.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that the equivocation by himself and previous Ministers of Transport as to when the Tyne Tunnel shall be commenced is breeding cynicism bordering on despair in the North-East, and will he not give a firm date and make it possible for the local authorities to get on with the work in which they will be involved as and when this project is to be started?

There has been no equivocation, so I do not think I need say any more in answer to that supplementary question.

Has it occurred to the right hon. Gentleman that his hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward) ought to be more grateful to him for the forthcoming way in which he has handled the matter in comparison with the not so forthcoming way in which he has dealt with the Humber Bridge project, with which I have some association, and have had in the past, a project which will also have to be considered in due course? Ought not the hon. Lady to be more appreciative of the generous way in which her right hon. Friend has met her?

That is a fair point by the right hon. Gentleman, because he made very powerful representations to me in respect of the Humber crossing, and I had to tell him that I could not see any prospect in the foreseeable future of constructing it.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Might I ask whether a Privy Councillor has any precedence over an ordinary back bench Member in matters of this sort?

In accordance with the practice of the House, when a right hon. Gentleman rises I always call him if I can and if I think he can contribute something to the discussion.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he proposes to introduce legislation to effect the necessary improvements for traffic at Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner, and along Park Lane.

I am doing all I can to have this legislation prepared as quickly as possible, but I cannot say exactly when it will be possible to introduce it.

Will my right hon. Friend at least say that it will be this year?

That is not in my hands, because the agent authority for the work is the London County Council, and it is the London County Council which has to do all the preliminary work for introducing the Measure.

That is so, of course, but can the Minister give us any idea how long it will take, once the necessary Parliamentary authority is granted, to complete the scheme? Also, will all the preparatory plans be made meanwhile in order to speed up the completion of the scheme as much as possible?

With regard to the second part of the right hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, all the preparatory work that can be done is being done in advance of the Bill. As to how long the scheme will take after the plans are passed, perhaps he will table a Question on that point.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what recommendations he has received from the Norfolk County Council regarding the construction of a new bridge over the River Great Ouse at Downham Market to carry the road A.1122; and what recent reply he has sent to them.

We have received no formal representations from the county council about this scheme since October, 1954. Our divisional road engineer explained then that no funds could be made available towards the cost of a new bridge.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the old bridge was condemned nearly twenty-five years ago, that a temporary bridge was erected in its place, and that it is now necessary to use the old bridge again while the temporary one is repaired? Is he aware that a fund for the purpose exists, which is no doubt invested in stocks which are deteriorating, and that it is possible for the firm now constructing many bridges in the area in connection with the flood precautions scheme to build a bridge cheaper than it could be done probably at any other time? Will he look into the matter?

I am afraid I can give the hon. Gentleman no immediate prospect of a new bridge being built there. The wooden bridge to which he refers, which is now being repaired, will continue to give useful service for many years to come. In the meantime, the old bridge which is being used temporarily during the repairs is safe to use.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what is the condition of the Brandon Creek bridge which carries the trunk road A.10 over the River Little Ouse; what steps are being taken to keep the bridge from falling into the river and to regulate traffic over it; what representations he has received from the Norfolk County Council and the Downham Market Rural District Council regarding this bridge; and what replies he has sent to them.

Brandon Creek Bridge is structurally sound apart from some corrosion of the main girders. We have received from the local authorities representations about the immediate need for a new bridge on an improved road alignment and our divisional road engineer is discussing the matter with the county council.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a lot of piles are being put in the middle of the river to hold the bridge up and prevent it from falling into the river, and that that may be a danger from the flood point of view? Why it is necessary to spend all this money on propping up a very old, very narrow and very imperfect bridge when money will some time have to be spent to build a new one in its place?

The work in hand is to put an additional pier in the middle of the existing bridge—

A wooden one?

— which will make it perfectly sound. If the hon. Gentleman is so apprehensive about his safety when crossing the bridge, I suggest that he holds his breath next time he is crossing it, which would be a novel experience for him.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that the bridge is of considerable importance not only to South-West Norfolk but to the Isle of Ely? With regard to one holding one's breath when going over the bridge, will he bear in mind that the bridge is highly dangerous, and the sooner it is re-aligned the better?

When the present consultations have been completed we shall consider what place we can give the bridge in our road programme, but it will have to take its turn.

While I am aware that the hon. Gentleman was trying to give a whimsical answer to the supplementary question put by my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, South-West (Mr. Dye), this is a very serious matter, and the hon. Gentleman really should not answer a matter affecting—[HON. MEMBERS: "Question."] Might I put it like this? That sort of answer is resented— [HON. MEMBERS: "Order."] Is the Minister aware that the answer which he gave to my hon. Friend's supplementary question will be resented not only in the locality but in a large part of the House?

I do not think so. In view of the supplementary question which was being put to me, I think it was a perfectly fair answer.

In view of the atrociously stupid reply of the Minister, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible opportunity.

Order. If the hon. Member wishes to give notice that he desires to raise a matter on the Adjournment, he should confine his adjectives to "unsatisfactory".

But, Mr. Speaker, you will recall that the hon. Gentleman spoke of the action that I might have to take if I crossed the bridge, when he has put traffic lights there to stop me crossing it when others are coming in the opposite direction.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Avition how many fly-over or fly-under road junctions, for which his authority is required, are being constructed or are planned; and what is their cost.

Two fly-overs on trunk roads are in course of construction and two more are authorised. On classified roads I have made grants towards the cost of constructing five flyovers. The cost will range from between £150,000 for the very simplest form of fly-over to £2 million or more in the Metropolitan area. My plans for the next few years on both trunk and classified roads include many more fly-over junctions. In addition, hundreds of bridges will be built to carry new motorways and by-passes over or under existing highways.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that answer, will he not agree that intersecting traffic is the main cause of congestion and that, therefore, the more fly-overs and underpasses he can build in different parts of the country the sooner we shall solve our traffic problems?

I agree that fly-overs must gradually supersede roundabouts, and I think that my hon. Friend is entirely right.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what representations have been made to him by the Government of France with regard to air tourist services into France: what planned air services have, in consequence. been cut; what action he proposes to take about this new policy introduced by the Government of France; and if he will make a statement.

I have received no representations from the Government of France with regard to air tourist services into France. The French Government have continued to be generous in granting permission for a very large number of such services by British airlines. This year they have refused permission only for one proposed service and have placed conditions on their permission for another. I am not aware of the introduction of any new policy on this question by the French Government.

Is it not a fact that three companies were affected by a recent decision of the French Government? Is the Minister satisfied that his Department is sufficiently active or sufficiently forceful in pressing the traffic rights of this country? In view of the sort of things that happen when senior Ministers go from Holland, does the right hon. Gentleman not think that we could do rather more to protect our rights in this sort of case?

I do not see where Holland comes into this. The facts are that British airlines want to make much greater use of French airfields than French airlines, on the whole, want to make of British airfields. Therefore, the force of our representations, which have been very vigorously made, is somewhat limited by the fact that we do not offer France the number of facilities that we want to get from that country. Indeed, I think that the French Government have been quite reasonable in their attitude.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation on what date Dyce Airport and the interests of E. L. Gandar Dower, Allied Airways (Gandar Dower), Limited, Aberdeen Flying School, Limited, Aberdeen Flying Club, Limited, and Aberdeen Aerodrome Fuel Supplies, Limited, were requisitioned; and if he is aware that no provision has been made for compensation for loss of profit, loss of goodwill and amortisation of leases.

These requisitions took place on 13th October, 1939. If Mr. Gandar Dower considers that he is entitled to compensation under these or any other heads my Department will, of course, consider any representations he may make. So far, in spite of pressure from my Department, he has failed to state a detailed claim.

Does my hon. Friend appreciate that what he has just said means that his Ministry is continuing to hold, under harsh wartime regulation terms, private property for the benefit of his Ministry and to the detriment of the private individual concerned?

This has been a long and complicated negotiation. I would suggest that if my hon. Friend would bring Mr. Gandar Dower along to discuss this with the Ministry, I am very hopeful that we could come to a settlement.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that compensation is being paid to companies requisitioned at Dyce Airport, under the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939; and what machinery exists for relating such compensation to the purchasing of the £ sterling at current date compared with the £ sterling in 1939.

Yes, Sir. The compensation rentals being paid to these companies were awarded by the general claims tribunal under the provisions of the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939. There is no statutory provision for the continuous re-assessment of compensation rentals in relation to the purchasing power of the £ sterling.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that Mr. E. L. Gandar Dower and the directors of Allied Airways (Gandar Dower), Limited, Aberdeen Flying School, Limited, Aberdeen Flying Club, Limited, and Aberdeen Aerodrome Fuel Supplies, Limited, were invited by his Department to discuss problems at St. Andrew's, Scotland, in August, 1949; that a full questionnaire was submitted and answers requested; that no replies have been received; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gandar Dower has been in touch with my Department fairly continuously over the past ten years. As far as I know, all Mr. Gandar Dower's questions have been answered during that period.

My right hon. Friend and his predecessors have been ready for a very long time to acquire Mr. Gandar Dower's interests at Dyce. If only he will either submit a claim himself or appoint agents to negotiate on his behalf, I see no reason why this should not be concluded soon.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the failure on this occasion to reach any finality was due to the Minister's failure to reply to a questionnaire which was prepared on agreed terms of reference? I have seen the letter of invitation and the terms of reference and the questionnaire. Will the Minister now consider looking at the questionnaire and sending a full answer?

I have certainly seen the questionnaire. My understanding is that all those matters have been answered in the interviews that Mr. Gandar Dower has had with my Department. I would suggest, however, that if he were prepared to come along and have a further discussion, there is a good chance of a settlement.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now make a statement about the purchase of new British jet aircraft by the British Overseas Airways Corporation and the British European Airways Corporation.

As regards British Overseas Airways Corporation, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 22nd May to the hon. Members for Govan (Mr. Rankin) and Sunderland, South (Mr. P. Williams). British European Airways have not yet completed their examination of the possibilities.

Would the right hon. Gentleman not agree that the placing of these orders will be in large part settle the pattern of the British aircraft manufacturing industry for the future? Could he give any indication of the procedure followed in this matter of ordering these aircraft and what principles are considered, apart from the straight commercial deal between the firm and the operator?

As the hon. Gentleman knows from his expert knowledge, what has been happening, and the House has been told this several times, is that both Corporations have been engaged in talks with all British aircraft manufacturers with aircraft to offer which seem likely to meet their needs. The talks in the case of B.O.A.C. are concluded and an order has been placed. The B.E.A.C. talks have not been concluded and, therefore, no order has been placed.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I was concerned not so much with what the Corporations did as with how the Government come into the question, which will be a most important one to the aircraft manufacturing industry? What is happening to the Transport Aircraft Requirements Committee? Is that functioning, and who answers for it in the House?

T.A.R.C. is still functioning and gives its advice. I might remind the hon. Gentleman that I said in an Answer last week that no Government money is involved in the order that has been placed. This is a private venture on the part of the firm concerned, and the Corporation has every right to pick the aircraft which it thinks best meets its needs.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what proposals have been put to him by the air Corporations for the possible future operation of air trooping; and if he will make a statement.

No such proposals have been put to me.

I am not quite sure how far back the right hon. Gentleman is going. If he goes back further than the last few weeks, would his answer not be in the affirmative? Would he confirm that the Corporations are ready to undertake air trooping if given the opportunity?

No, Sir. What I would confirm is that it is my view, as it was the view of my predecessors, that the Corporations should stick to their main field, which is the operation of scheduled services, and should leave trooping to independent operators.

Are the Service Departments free and unfettered in making requests to the State airlines to carry troops?

The right hon. Gentleman must put that question to the relevant Service Department.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what protest he has received about the recent agreement between British Overseas Airways Corporation and Central African Airways regarding the use of certain air routes; and what new applications have been made to the Air Transport Advisory Council in this regard.

I have received no direct protests about the recent agreement between British Overseas Airways Corporation and the Central African Airways regarding the use of certain air routes, but representatives of Hunting Clan Air Holdings Ltd. have asked to see me on this subject and I shall be meeting them later today. The agreement raises no question which calls for any application to the Air Transport Advisory Council.

Does my right hon. Friend really consider that this is a sound economic policy for public corporations to pursue? Does he not think it might be a dangerous precedent, which would enable foreign companies in future to get a commanding position in Commonwealth airlines simply by guaranteeing the profits of local companies?

My hon. Friend might await my Answer to the next Question; but the fact is that this was the decision of a sovereign Government and had nothing to do with Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a statement on the recent negotiations between Central African Airways and British Overseas Airways Corporation regarding air routes.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a statement as to the terms on which he has approved the take-over by British Overseas Airways Corporation of the Central African Airways Service from London to Rhodesia for ten years under which a guaranteed profit of £175,000 a year has to be given to Central African Airways; if he is aware that this arrangement will operate to the detriment of independent airlines; and if he will take action to give better protection to these airlines in future against competition from the nationalised corporations.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what consultations British Overseas Airways Corporation had with him in regard to the take-over of Central African Airways: and if he will make a statement.

The negotiations between Central African Airways and B.O.A.C. were initiated by Central African Airways on a purely commercial basis. Therefore B.O.A.C. did not need to seek my approval for the agreement into which they have entered; no expenditure from public funds is involved. I was, of course, informed by the Chairman of B.O.A.C, that negotiations had been opened by Central African Airways.

The services of C.A.A. between the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland and the United Kingdom have for some years been operated in pool with B.O.A.C. I understand that, under the new agreement, B.O.A.C. will operate on behalf of C.A.A. the latter's share of the pooled services under financial arrangements which will yield to C.A.A. over the 10-year period of the agreement a total revenue of £.1·75 million. B.O.A.C. have assured me that in their commercial judgment this sum is within the earning capacity of the pooled operation of the route.

I understand that the civil aviation authorities in the Federation considered both the proposal put to them by C.A.A. for this arrangement with B.O.A.C. and the alternative scheme proposed to them by Hunting Clan Air Holdings Ltd. The choice between them was entirely a matter for the Federal Government, and not in any way for the United Kingdom Government. For reasons which have been stated by the Federal Government they preferred the arrangement between C.A.A. and B.O.A.C.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is considerable uneasiness in the way this deal has been brought about? Is he further aware that it is very questionable, under Sections 3 and 8 of the Act, whether the Corporation is within its right in conducting such a deal? Would my right hon. Friend, in order to elucidate the matter, publish a White Paper or at least full details concerning the deal?

I am grateful to my hon. and gallant Friend for putting down this Question. It has enabled me to make a clear statement of the position which, I think, when he has studied it, will show that this is not a matter of concern to the Government in the United Kingdom. It is the decision of a Sovereign Government in Africa, one which they are entitled to take, and one which does not concern me.

Would the Minister not agree that the terms which have been agreed to by B.O.A.C. are somewhat over-generous in view of the fact that this firm was not in a very happy state?

No, Sir, I understand that the terms agreed to are a very small proportion of the total revenue which B.O.A.C. will secure by this deal and, as I said in my Answer, in their commercial judgment show them a good profit.

In view of the public reaction to this, would my right hon. Friend kindly indicate to the House whether there has been a change of attitude or not in his Department to the private enterprise contractors?

I am glad to answer that question. There has been no change of attitude on my part or on that of my Department to private enterprise airlines. Indeed, I hope before long to bring to this House proposals which, I think, will be of value to the private enterprise airlines.

Is it not a strange thing that the criticism of this deal comes from precisely those people who have been criticising the Corporation for not expanding its share of the world traffic? Secondly, ought not this deal to give some satisfaction in that there is to be assurance of continued co-operation between the developing part of Africa and the United Kingdom?

May I say—because I think that in this I shall carry both sides of the House with me—that air transport is the travel of the future, and that this country has to lead in it as we have led at sea. This means that in my job I must try to keep a fair balance between the Corporations and private enterprise, and that is what I propose to do.

Is it not rather extraordinary that a company which has been making a loss of £350,000 a year should now be guaranteed a profit over ten years of £175,000 a year, and will this not represent a loss to someone of some £500,000 a year?

I do not think my hon. and gallant Friend has quite realised that this deal between B.O.A.C. and C.A.A. is not a take-over of the latter. It is merely that C.A.A. have leased their rights to run international services to the Corporation. The rest of their operations remain in the full control of C.A.A. The price which B.O.A.C. have paid, they tell me, on their best commercial judgment is a favourable one to B.O.A.C.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that erosion of the banks of the Severn, between Gloucester and Tewkesbury, continues to the detriment of good agricultural land; and whether, following the conference held at Worcester on 9th February, 1956, he will again consult the British Transport Commission with a view to ensuring that action is taken by that body to prevent this damage by repairing the banks and reducing the speed of barge traffic.

Consultations between the British Transport Commission and the Severn River Board are continuing.

Will the Minister impress upon the Transport Commission the great need to regulate the traffic on the Severn as being probably one of the most important causes of erosion of the banks?

The Transport Commission is well aware of this complaint, which has been going on for some time. I recollect it from a different position when I was at the Ministry of Agriculture. It is a difficult question to settle, but from the point of view of the River Board, the Transport Commission, the Ministry of Agriculture and my Department. efforts are being made to settle it. Any impetus that I can give personally to reaching a settlement I will certainly give.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the erosion of the River Severn is not confined to that portion of the river south of Tewkesbury, and that I have been waiting a long time for the announcement by his right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture of a solution of the problem which will lead to remedial action being taken about the erosion?

The question is a very difficult one.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation on what date he anticipates meeting a delegation from the British Cycle and Motor-Cycle Industries Association to discuss a change in the legislation about light motor-cycles which fulfil the definition given for Moped in Annex 1 to the 1949 Convention; and when he expects to make a statement arising from these discussions.

I met a deputation from the Association this morning; a further statement will be made as soon as possible.

With regard to "as soon as possible", will the Minister say whether if I table a Question for next week he will be able to make a statement by then?

No, Sir; I am afraid that it will not be possible to make a statement as soon as that. Before making a statement, we must receive a Report from the Departmental Committee on Road Safety and consider that alongside the representations made to me this morning. However, I realise the urgency of the matter, and we will certainly make a statement as soon as we can.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that ships carrying flags of convenience are not conforming to international standards of safety and crew agreements and, as a consequence, are causing industrial workers to bring pressure to bear on the owners of such ships to compel them to conform to international regulations, thereby leading to industrial trouble in the ports of this country; and if he will take steps to see that all vessels entering our ports conform to the regulations.

So far as I am aware, these ships in general conform to international standards of safety, and I would certainly use my powers to prevent unsafe ships, whatever their flag, from sailing from ports of this country. I have, however, no powers in connection with the crew agreements of foreign ships.

Is the Minister aware that most of these shipowners adopt a flag of advantage in order to avoid their obligations under the I.L.O. and that there appear to be no legal powers that can prevent them from evading these obligations? Is it his intention to allow the industrial workers to use action in order to force these people to carry out their obligations under the I.L.O.?

I have set out my powers in the Answer. Of course, further action can be taken through the I.L.O. itself.

Does my right hon. Friend really mean to give the impression, which he did to me, that the Government do not view this position seriously? Does this not only result in a loss of revenue but a great loss of prestige? Does it not also depress the standards of the merchant seamen? Could he, at any rate, leave me with the impression that he takes the matter seriously?

If my hon. Friend studies the relations between my Department and the shipping industry, I think he will see that this question of flags of convenience is not only a very grave matter but, one which is under discussion most of the time. What I was asked to do in the Question was to set out my legal powers, and that I have done.

Whilst appreciating that the right hon. Gentleman has no power in relation to foreign vessels, does he not realise that it frequently occurs that British vessels registered in the United Kingdom are being transferred to foreign owners and are sailing from foreign ports to this country, and cannot he use his powers in that connection?

I will take careful note of what the right hon. Gentleman has said, because there is no disagreement in the House that we ought to do what we can to limit flags of convenience; but it is a very difficult legal problem.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now state when the proposed electrification of the line through Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace will be completed.

This line has been closed to passenger traffic since 1954, and there is no proposal for electrifying it.

is the Minister aware that some scheme is urgently necessary to deal with the increasing traffic congestion in North London?

That is a little wide of this point. The answer to the hon. Gentleman's Question is that the line has been closed for some time and that there is no such proposal. There is a proposal to electrify the main line up to Alexandra Park, not Alexandra Palace, and that is in the Commission's programme for 1962.

asked the Minister of Defence what was the cost in dollars of the residence acquired for the chief of the British Joint Services Mission in the United States of America.

An offer of $115,000, equivalent to about £40,000, has been made subject to survey and contract.

Does not the Minister realise that this figure has given cause for some concern in the Press and elsewhere? Does he not agree, in view of the functions of this individual, that it is rather extravagant?

As far as I know, this is the first time that the figure has been announced.

asked the Minister of Defence (1) in view of the change in defence policy, what changes he proposes in his policy in respect to frequent postings of officers and men having children of school-age; and whether he will establish standards so that no one be required to move more than, say, five times during the educational life of any of their children:

(2) whether, in so far as factors of essential mobility of officers and men in the Armed Forces having children of school age will make it impossible for the established standard to be achieved, he will offer to provide the money for boarding school education and not require the local education authority to defray the expense of what is properly a national and not a local burden.

We shall do our best to reduce the frequency of movements to the minimum; but it would not be possible to introduce rigid standards of the kind my hon. Friend suggests. I do not think it would be appropriate to relieve local education authorities of their responsibilities towards children whose parents live in or are connected with the area.

Is it possible to have some bogey at which the Ministry should aim as the number of postings affecting these poor children? Is not the Minister aware that for certain local authorities, for instance, Bath, which has a large naval population which is frequently posted, it is a very shameful burden and one which ought to be borne by the national purse?

The financial question— whether the Exchequer or the local authority should bear the cost—is a different matter, but I am very keenly aware of the importance, in the interests of the well-being of Service families, of reducing the frequency of these movements as far as possible.

Will not the Minister agree that experience has shown that something on the lines of the suggestion of the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Pitman) must be done? The cost of this education is not borne by public authorities in many cases, but is one of the great disincentives to Service life. Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider bearing the cost centrally?

I am looking not so much into that aspect but into the whole question as part of the task of seeing how we can make conditions in the Services more attractive.

As the present change-over in the defence system will obviously make a lot of movement inevitable in the next few years, will the right hon. Gentleman also consider trying to provide more hoarding school facilities with help from central funds? Would not that make a tremendous difference to the number of people staying in the Forces?

asked the Minister of Defence how far the joint requirements of the three Services are met by research, development and repair work of the Admiralty Compass Observatory and the experimental stations at Ditton Park.

The Admiralty Compass Observatory meets most of the requirements of the Royal Navy for the design, development, inspection, testing and repair of compasses and certain other instruments. It also meets those requirements of the other Services that it can suitably undertake. The Radio Research Station of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research at Ditton Park provides basic information in this field.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that valuable information, in view of the plea in the Defence White Paper that there should be co-ordination for the Services, will he oppose any proposal that the Admiralty Compass Observatory should be closed?

I do not quite understand the connection between those remarks. There is no present intention to close the establishment.

Thank you.