asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has yet reached a decision in regard to the fee to be charged for vehicle testing under the Road Traffic Act, 1956; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I have now completed discussions with representatives of the motor trade on the question of the fee and have decided that the charge to motorists shall be:

Vehicles subject to the test, other than solo motor cycles—15s.

Solo motor cycles—10s. 6d.

In each case the charge includes a fee of 1s. which authorised examiners will pay to my Department.

Initially I propose that the tests shall be made compulsory for private motor cars with three or four wheels, motor cycles and goods vehicles not exceeding 30 cwt. unladen weight first registered ten years or more before the date on which the scheme is introduced.The main conditions governing my proposals for the appointment of authorised examiners and the manner in which testing stations will be operated by private garages have been agreed with the trade. Further discussions have still to be held with representatives of municipalities and the motoring organisations.I expect these discussions to be completed in time to enable me to announce by the end of April that I am ready to consider applications for appointment as authorised testing stations. I shall arrange for my examiners to inspect premises as quickly as possible but no applicant will be officially appointed as an authorised tester under the scheme until the necessary Regulations have been made.When I know the response to the invitations I shall be able to formulate the necessary Order and Regulations, which will be laid before Parliament as soon thereafter as possible. At the same time I propose to table a White Paper containing full details of the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for War where the infantry brigade depots, mentioned in the White Paper on the future organisation of the Army, Command Paper No. 230, are to be located.

The following locations have been settled for the new infantry brigade depots:

Brigade	Depot
Home Counties	Howe Barracks, Canterbury
Lancastrian	Fulwood Barracks, Preston
Midland	Glen Parva Barracks, Leicester
Wessex	Topsham Barracks, Exeter
Light Infantry	Copthorne Barracks, Shrewsbury
Green Jackets	Upper Barracks, Winchester
East Anglian	Bury St. Edmunds
Mercian	Whittington Barracks, Lichfield
Highland	Gordon Barracks, Aberdeen
Fusilier	Sutton Coldfield

Sutton Coldfield is an R.A.F. station which is being transferred from the Air Ministry. I hope to make a further announcement about the locations of the remaining five brigade depots in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what Royal Air Force personnel are still employed at the Royal Air Force Station, Poling, Sussex; what are their duties; and when it is his intention to close down this station completely and dispose of its remaining pylons for scrap.

We are disposing of this station. Two airmen remain on the site as guards and occupy married quarters with their families. The towers will be removed before the land is sold.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer taking the internal purchasing value of the £ sterling at 20s. in August, 1938, the comparable figures in August, 1941, and January, 1958.

Approximately 14s. 4d. and 7s. 1d.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of convictions for drunkennes in the Metropolitan Police District, and/or the County of London, and in the City of London, respectively, during the calendar year 1957; and the comparable figures for 1956.

The numbers for the County of London are not yet available. Those for the Metropolitan Police District and the City of London are as follows:

—		Metropolitan Police District		City of London
		1956	1957	1956	1957
Convictions	…	23,245	27,533	164	183

asked the Minister of Labour why no flag flew from his offices in Cardiff on St. David's Day; and how many protests he has received on this account.

I regret that this was overlooked. No protest has been received.

asked the Postmaster-General why no flag flew from the General Post Office, Cardiff, on St. David's Day; and how many protests he has received on this account.

There must be a misunderstanding. The Union flag and the Welsh flag were both flown at Cardiff Head Post Office on St. David's Day.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will receive a deputation of Members of Parliament to lay before him the arguments in favour of the issue of a special postage stamp to celebrate the bi-centenary of the birth of Robert Burns in January, 1959.

My hon. Friend the Assistant Postmaster-General received such a deputation on 19th December. I am letting the hon. and learned Member have a copy of the letter sent subsequently to this deputation.

asked the Postmaster-General if he has yet received from the Burns Federation a letter requesting him to issue one or more special postage stamps designed to commemorate the bi-centenary of Robert Burns in January, 1959; and what reply he has sent.

I have received a number of letters on this matter from the Burns Federation; I have told the Federation that I am sorry that I cannot meet its wishes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantity of canned fruit, such as apples and pears, that could be grown in this country is imported annually.

About 50,000 tons.