asked the Postmaster-General if he will state, for the latest convenient date in July, the number of times the night mail train from London arrived in Dundee in time to ensure first delivery that morning.

Up to 29th July, 19 occasions out of 25.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state, for the month of July, the number of Saturday mornings on which the night mail train from London arrived in Dundee in time to ensure delivery in the city that morning.

Three occasions out of four.

Would the Minister agree before we go into Recess that it is eminently reasonable that my constituents should expect that if they post letters in London on the afternoon of a weekday those letters should be delivered by the first delivery the following morning, and that if they post letters on the afternoon of a Friday they should be delivered before the first delivery on Monday morning?

Yes, those are perfectly reasonable propositions from which we do not dissent. One of the troubles is that Dundee is a long way from London, and there is some difficulty sometimes because trains are late. As I think the hon. Gentleman knows, we are having discussions with the Transport Commission to try to improve this record, and we will do our best.

Will the hon. Gentleman not only look into the question of Dundee, but also that of West Yorkshire? I have had occasion to give him envelopes which prove that letters posted at 7 o'clock on Friday have been delivered in London at half-past four on the following Monday. While the hon. Gentleman is taking up the matter with the Transport Commission with regard to Dundee, will he also take up with it the question of the west and central routes down to London?

I should not like the whole of the blame for that matter to which the hon. Gentleman refers to rest on the Transport Commission. We will always look into the causes of failures and do our best to avoid repeating them.

asked the Postmaster-General if he has now considered the Report of the Committee he appointed in December, 1957, to advise him on the future telegraph service; and if he will publish the report, and make a statement on the matter.

Yes, Sir. In its Report, the Committee endorses the continuance of a nation-wide inland telegraph service. It regards it as an essential, although shrinking, part of our communication facilities, while recognising that a substantial deficit is unavoidable. It makes certain suggestions about future policy, including possible ways of reducing the deficit.

My right hon. Friend welcomes this opportunity of thanking Sir Leonard Sinclair and the members of his Committee for undertaking this inquiry. The Committee's Report is most valuable, and its recommendations are being carefully considered by my right hon. Friend. Meantime, I propose to arrange for the Report to be published.

While thanking the Assistant Postmaster-General for that reply, may I ask him whether he can tell us if he has any forecast of increased charges as a result of this Report?

I should not like the House to think that we are about to increase telegraph charges as a result of anything that is said in this Report. There are a number of recommendations made by the Committee, and we intend to consider them, but I do not think the House need be alarmed that there is any immediate prospect of increased telegraph charges.

When the hon. Gentleman says that he will publish the Report, does that mean that it will be a Parliamentary Paper or that he will merely place it in the Library?

No; we shall publish it as a Parliamentary Paper, and I hope the hon. Gentleman will obtain a copy.

Do I understand from the hon. Gentleman's reply to the original Question that he has considered the Report? If so, why is he so reluctant to tell us about the conclusions which the Postmaster-General has come to in relation to the future of telegraph charges?

I thought it would be for the convenience of the House and perhaps for the information of all Members of the House if they were to read the Report first.

May we have an undertaking from the hon. Gentleman that no action will be taken on the Report until the House has had a chance of discussing it?

That would be going altogether too far, and is perhaps unreasonable. There may be some recommendations in the Report which we could take up immediately, without running into danger of offending any hon. Members.

As the telegraph system is run on the basis of Statutory Orders, may we take it that no action will be taken without the authority of Parliament?

That is an entirely different matter from the right hon. Gentleman's first supplementary question.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will arrange that one of the additional members appointed by him to the Independent Television Authority, under the powers conferred on him by Section 1 (2) of the Television Act, shall look after the special interests of East Anglia.

No, Sir.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is considerable disquiet in many quarters about the manner in which the Independent Television Authority is choosing the companies to which these licences are granted? Is he aware that, in the case of East Anglia, it looks as though the Authority has formed a set pattern and that none of the applicants which do not conform to that pattern are allowed to become holders of these licences? Will he have discussions with the Authority so that we may find out what procedure the Authority is working upon in this matter, and whether it wants all the television programme companies to conform to a certain set pattern?

The hon. Gentleman's Question relates to the appointment of an additional member to look after some special interests in East Anglia. On the question to which he has now directed the attention of the House, I must say that this is a matter which the Independent Television Authority must resolve for itself. It does set certain standards in regard to the competence, financial integrity and representative character of the people whom it appoints to contract. As far as I have been able to discover, it adheres to them very carefully.

On a point of order. A very serious question arises here, Mr. Speaker. I had to put the Question down in this form because, apparently, under the terms of the Act, we cannot ask questions about the manner in which the Independent Television Authority arranges its affairs. During the course of the passage of the Bill through the House, we were told that there would be Parliamentary approval of these matters, and I wonder if you, Sir, would look into the situation to see what our rights are in this matter.

The hon. Member asks me to look into the situation. I must say that, at the moment, I am not versed in it, but, as he has asked me to look into it, I will certainly do so.

May I ask you, very respectfully, Mr. Speaker, whether you will look into this aspect of the matter? Under the Television Act, as my hon. Friend says, it is extremely difficult to table Questions on this issue; and, from a decision of the House recently on matters appertaining to Privilege, it is equally difficult to write letters to the Postmaster-General about the behaviour of the Independent Television Authority in granting these programme contracts. Hon. Members are concerned about it, as they believe that they are representing a general public concern in finding themselves completely paralysed from taking any action about it.

That is not my fault, but, in any case, if the hon. Member wants me to look into it, I will do so. At the moment, I am not at all up in the question.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to improve the quality of service given by the Willenhall manual telephone exchange; and when an automatic exchange will be provided.

I regret that because of staff and equipment shortages the service at this exchange is not as good as we should wish. Some additional operators have been appointed and more are being recruited. A mobile automatic exchange has recently been installed in the area, and this will help to relieve congestion at the exchange. Work on a new exchange building is expected to begin in November, and this should be opened for service in 1961.

While acknowledging that the Minister's reply admits that there is a bad service at this exchange, may I ask him if he realises that it is a serious inconvenience to many of my constituents when they have to take three or four times as long in making calls on this manual exchange as they would on an automatic exchange? Why is it that an automatic exchange cannot be provided before 1961?

The latter part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question is much easier to answer than the implications inherent in the first part. We have to build the buildings, build the equipment and install it. That takes a long time, but we are doing the best we can.

asked the Postmaster-General how many telephone exchanges in England, Wales, and Scotland, respectively, are to be converted from manual to automatic systems during the next twelve months; and if he will make a statement.

Thirty-five in England, 15 in Wales, and 47 in Scotland—97 in all. The Scottish list includes a high proportion of small exchanges. While conversion to automatic working is general policy, the time-table in individual cases must depend on practical considerations such as the need to increase the size of the exchange and the condition of the existing equipment.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephones were outstanding in the Borough of Barry at the latest convenient date; how many were outstanding a year ago; and how many such applications were first made more than two years ago.

At the beginning of this month, 108 applications were outstanding, of which 40 were in course of being met. A year ago, there were 180 applications outstanding. In that period 150 telephones have been installed. Twenty applications were over two years old, but all these should be cleared shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what proportion of the wives of Royal Air Force Service men living with their husbands abroad are registered as Service voters.

Approximately 40 per cent.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is a very low proportion, and that my information is that quite a number of wives of officers and men do not get the forms? Will he see if something can be done so that these unfortunate people are not deprived of their civic rights?

Every year an Air Ministry order and a notice board information leaflet are issued drawing attention to the date by which people should apply if they want to be included in the register for the following year, and the leaflet includes a paragraph relating specifically to what wives should do.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will investigate the complaints from Cleethorpes of the disturbance and dangers of low-flying aircraft over that area, details of which have been sent to him; and if he will take steps as far as practicable to end this nuisance.

I am having the complaints investigated and will write to my hon. Friend.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for the action he is taking, may I ask him if he would be good enough to bear in mind that my constituents, while recognising that low-flying practice must take place, wonder if it could not take place from aerodromes in Scotland or Wales away from populated areas, where it would not cause so much nuisance?

As there is no obvious cause for this complaint, I have not anything which I can send to Wales or Scotland.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that my constituents will be very much happier if this flying takes place over the eastern part of the constituency of the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Osborne), rather than in the area which I represent?

asked the Secretary of State for Air what action is being taken to ascertain the identity of unidentified flying objects which have not been recognised as meteors, balloons, aircraft or satellites.

We investigate all reports of unidentified flying objects as fully as the details allow, but I am afraid there will always be some which remain unexplained because the reports are not sufficiently precise.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a number of scientific societies are conducting research to try to establish the existence of flying saucers? Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether his Department has any information which would back up this claim and, if so, whether he would be prepared to give it to these societies?

As the hon. Member knows, the bulk of these reports are explained. Only a very small proportion are not explained, and we think that the reason why these are not explained, too, is that the data we have about them is not sufficient.

Is there any evidence to back up the claims that there are flying saucers?

asked the Secretary of State for Air what progress has been made in discussions with the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation regarding the provision of facilities for private and commercial flying at Biggin Hill when Croydon Aerodrome is closed.

My right hon. Friend and I are doing our best to work out arrangements which will allow an approach to the civil firms and clubs affected by the closure of Croydon, but it is not at present possible to announce a detailed scheme.

I am obliged to my right hon. Friend for that reply, but I feel sure that he will agree that it does not take us very much further. Is he aware that there is a suspicion of an idea that the Royal Air Force is being a little dog-in-the-manger in its attitude regarding the use of Biggin Hill by civilian aircraft operators? Will he therefore keep at the subject so that we may look forward to an announcement which will remove this long-continuing doubt and uncertainty?

I can assure my hon. Friend that we are not being the least dog-in-the manger about it. We are very keen to help these people. I am in close touch with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport on the matter, but there are some practical difficulties, which we shall try to overcome as soon as possible.

In the course of his discussions with his right hon. Friend, will the Minister still be considering the possibility of using Hendon for light civil aircraft?

No, Sir. Hendon has great disadvantages, as the hon. Member knows. It is completely surrounded by houses, and it is in the airways passage.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what military requirement there is for a variable geometry aircraft on the lines of that proposed by Dr. Barnes Wallis.

asked the Secretary of State for Air to what extent his Department has considered the practical applications of the Swallow aircraft for use in the Royal Air Force; and if he will now make a statement on its military possibilities.

The variable geometry concept is at present being considered as a research project by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply. Until more is known of the possibility of applying the principle it would be premature for the Air Ministry to say whether there will be a military requirement for an aircraft embodying it.

In view of the staggering possibilities of this aircraft, not only in the military field—especially for military reconnaissance—but also in the commercial field, and in view of the quite remarkable estimate given by the designer as to the modest amount of money required for the next stage of development, will the Minister consider the matter again, together with the Minister of Supply and his other colleagues, in order to see if this next stage of development should be encouraged?

The Royal Air Force is deeply interested in research projects of this kind. As the House already knows, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply is very well aware of the possibilities of the aircraft which the hon. Member has mentioned.

What action is the right hon. Gentleman taking, as Secretary of State for Air, to find out the military possibilities of this aircraft? Secondly, to what extent have the Government now agreed that this is to be a joint project with the United States of America? Can the right hon. Gentleman state whether any preliminary discussion has already taken place with the Americans?

The second part of that supplementary question is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply. As regards the first part, I am keeping in close touch with my right hon. Friend, and I have no doubt that when he is fully aware of the possibilities of this aircraft no time will be lost in letting me know about it.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that the beauty of the principle that Dr. Wallis has expounded lies in the fact that if it can be shown that a manned aircraft involving this principle can be flown it can be applied to practically every brand, type and size of aircraft of which one can conceive? That being the case, will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that he, the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation and the Minister of Supply are all taking an active interest in this matter?

I can gladly give that assurance. We are all extremely interested in this design, which is a very remarkable one.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has yet calculated the average number of hours each day that a skilled airman on a missile base will have no maintenance work to carry out; and how it is proposed to occupy the spare time of these airmen on isolated sites.

No, Sir. Although provisional personnel establishments have been laid down for certain of the earlier missiles, until we have practical experience of the servicing schedules it is impossible to say what spare working time, if any, skilled airmen will have when their maintenance and training tasks are done.

Does not even the most preliminary study of this question indicate that the type of organisation evolved in the Royal Air Force for the maintenance and operation of aircraft which constantly move to and from a station is quite unsuitable to the static maintenance of something which could be operated only on one occasion?

For that reason we have not based our provisional establishments estimates on those for flying stations. But we have to lay down some establishments in order to get the units working, and they are related to the best estimates that we can make. It is not until we have some experience with this that we can hope to get the establishment right.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the minimum period of uncompleted service under his rules which a National Service man must have before he can be posted to the Far East.

We should not normally post an airman overseas unless he had at least twelve months still to serve. Exceptionally, airmen in their last year of service may be posted overseas to fill temporary vacancies which cannot be filled locally.

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) if he is aware of the desirability that trooping contracts should be carried out by British aircraft; and what steps he is taking to safeguard the interests of British aircraft in contracts shortly to be awarded;

(2) if he will take steps to assist the British aircraft manufacturers by refusing to award trooping contracts to operators of foreign-built aircraft.

Most air trooping is done by British-built aircraft. Tenders for trooping contracts must however be considered on their merits, and it would be wrong to impose a ban on the use of foreign-built aircraft.

That is all very well, but is my right hon. Friend aware that in normal times there is a spare capacity of British-built aircraft available? If it is his intention to built up a good reserve of transport aircraft for times of emergency like the present, he must give these people encouragement. Further, is he aware that in America today there is a surplus of second-hand aircraft, and that the Americans are prepared to sell, loan or charter them to any country in the world on almost ridiculous terms? Will my right hon. Friend discourage this type of purchase of aircraft by giving contracts so as not to undermine our own British transport aircraft system?

I do not think that there is any question of undermining our own British transport aircraft system. Eighty-eight per cent. of trooping is done by British-built aircraft. But it would be quite wrong to close the door entirely to foreign-built aircraft. I have a duty to the taxpayers as well as to the aircraft industry.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that in view of the contemplated drastic reduction in the size of our ground forces it will become essential to provide more British transport aircraft for trooping purposes? Have the right hon. Gentleman and his colleagues got that point seriously in mind?

Yes, but I think that the House is already aware that towards the end of the current financial year we shall be taking delivery of three Britannias, which will be used for trooping.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a statement on the progress of the Dartford-Purfleet Tunnel; and what consideration is being given to the problem of toll charges.

Half of the under-river part of the tunnel has been driven, and the remaining works are proceeding satisfactorily. As I told the hon. Member on 29th January, the actual tolls will not be fixed until shortly before the tunnel is completed.

I thank the Minister for that statement, but is he aware that there have been many conflicting Press reports about this tunnel, which have given some concern to industry and the local public? Is it not now possible, with the progress that has been made, to give a hard date for the likely opening of the tunnel to the public and to industry?

The estimated date of completion of the whole project is 1962, and despite the inevitable difficulties which arise in a major work of this kind there is no reason to expect that that schedule will not be kept to.

Is the right hon. Gentleman committed to charging tolls through this tunnel? Is not it a fact that no tolls are charged for the use of the Rotherhithe and Blackwall Tunnels, or the Woolwich Free Ferry? Why should they be charged for the use of this tunnel?

The Act that authorises the building of the tunnel also authorises the charging of tolls, and sets up the procedure by which tolls shall be charged. They have to be advertised, and objections can be considered.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is now prepared to restrict the speed of vehicles to 40 miles per hour on the Bath Road, A4, west of Harlington High Street, for that part of the trunk road which passes beside the airport.

The initial experiment with 40 miles an hour speed limits only began on 15th March, and I think it is too soon to consider altering the lengths then decided on.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary bear in mind that his Department has had two petitions from my constituents who work in factories along this road and have great difficulty in getting to and from work? In December, 1956, the Minister wrote me a letter in which he admitted that this was a dangerous road, as was indicated by the number of times the bollards were knocked down. This road runs alongside the airport where aircraft are continually landing and taking off and, as Hayes and Harlington Council has pointed out, that tends to divert the attention of drivers on this stretch of dangerous road.

I quite agree that this is a dangerous bit of road and of course the accident record is bad, but we feel it would be unwise to make a very long length of 40 mile per hour limit in the initial experimental stage. We shall certainly watch very carefully to see the result of the experiment and to see whether in the light of that experience it is possible to extend the 40 mile per hour limit along that road.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what action he proposes to take on the case presented to him by the major highway authorities of the West Riding of Yorkshire for the reinstatement in the national road programme of the Sheffield-Leeds section of the London-Yorkshire motorway.

The Sheffield-Leeds motorway remains in the long-term programme and its line has been protected, but at present there are other more urgent schemes which must take precedence. I will, however, keep in mind the case for this motorway.

Does the Minister realise that the position is most acute in Yorkshire? Is there any possibility of this scheme being expedited?

I think not at the moment, but I shall look at it again when we are looking ahead for the next part of the roads programme.

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that while the Doncaster bypass will help those who wish to use that route, it will not solve the very serious problem of traffic passing through the West Riding, which is becoming increasingly urgent?

That is because the Doncaster by-pass is part of my plan for the Great North Road, which is one of my five main priority projects and I regret to say that Sheffield-Leeds motorway is not.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether his negotiations for the purchase of the toll rights of Selby Bridge have yet been completed; and whether he will make a statement.

Not yet, Sir; but following agreement with the proprietors on an engineering report on the structure of the bridge, the district valuer was able to meet them on Monday of this week, to discuss compensation for the toll rights. The report of this meeting is not yet available, but as soon as we have had an opportunity to study it I will write to my hon. and gallant Friend.

Is my hon. Friend aware that negotiations for the freeing of this toll bridge have been in operation for nearly half a century, that they were nearly completed in 1939 and, to the best of my belief, the Department has been pursuing them urgently now for months, or years? Could he now give an indication of the date upon which these negotiations will finally be concluded?

I am afraid I cannot do that and I think past history indicates how difficult that is, but I think when we have this report we shall find a basis for acquiring the rights in the toll bridge. I shall be writing to my hon. and gallant Friend very shortly about it.

Has a census ever been taken of traffic using this toll bridge? If so, when was it, and, if not, will the Minister take one, because, as the hon. and gallant Member for Barkston Ash (Sir L. Ropner) knows, in his constituency the amount of traffic held up at this bridge is fantastic and the amount which motorists have to pay is really outrageous for this type of thing?

I do not doubt that we have undertaken such a count. I have not the figures with me, but the basis of compensation for the toll rights would in part depend on the amount of traffic going over the bridge. I shall gladly write to the hon. Member and give him the details.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how the experiment with linked traffic signals on the Bath Road west of Slough is progressing; and whether he will consider introducing this system on other suitable roads, especially in the London area.

The installation has had the effect of keeping traffic on this road at an even but reduced speed. I am glad to say, that there has also been some reduction in accidents, but it is not possible to compute to what extent that is due to the traffic signals or to the extensive improvements which have been made to the road itself. Variations in signal timings are now being tried and, when sufficient technical information has been accumulated, we will consider if the system is suitable for use elsewhere.

Will my hon. Friend consider trying this system on other roads where there is a succession of traffic lights—such as Harley Street and Wimpole Street—where one is apt to get held up two or three times late at night when there is little traffic?

We should like to see the end of this experiment first. There are arguments both in favour and against. It makes for a certain rigidity in traffic movement. We should like more experience before we try this experiment elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what progress has been made with the consideration by local authorities of the sites for car parks in central London chosen by the British Transport Commission.

All the sites were offered to the local authorities concerned, but unfortunately most of them were considered to be unsuitable for car parking, for reasons of position or of cost. One has, however, been leased as a car park to a private operator, and three more are still under consideration.

Will my hon. Friend do everything possible to speed up consideration of this problem? Would not he agree that it is complementary to any extension of the system of parking meters which seems to me to be most successful in that part of the West End where it has been applied?

We do what we can to encourage local authorities to develop off-street car parking.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what further parking schemes involving the installation of parking meters have been submitted to him; and what action he proposes to take in regard to them.

The only further scheme which has been submitted to me is that of the St. Marylebone Borough Council, which has been the subject of a public inquiry. I have sent the inspector's report to the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee, whose advice I hope to receive later this year.

In view of the success of the scheme in Westminster, will the Minister do all he can to encourage the submission of further schemes in adjoining areas? Whereas in the area of the scheme the traffic is now flowing much more freely, is not it a fact that there is increased congestion in the neighbouring areas, and that until there is an extension throughout central London, the main advantage of this first parking scheme will not be achieved?

I could not agree more with the hon. Gentleman. I am very anxious to extend these schemes, and I hope that the London and Home Counties Advisory Committee will give me its advice fairly soon.

I can only take it that my hon. Friend does not live in Westminster, as he has referred to this scheme as a success. Will the Minister bear in mind that it would be difficult to find a resident in Westminster who does not find the scheme a perfect nuisance?

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the traffic congestion in Wood Lane, Hammersmith, each side of the junction with Westway, especially in peak hours; and if he will prohibit right-hand turns from Du Cane Road into Wood Lane and from Wood Lane into Westway as an experiment.

We have consulted the Commissioner of Police, who is not in favour of an experiment which would encourage more traffic past the school and hospital in Du Cane Road, Conditions at the junction have recently been improved by adjustments to the signals and island.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when it is proposed to start construction of the Norwich radial road.

This is a long-term project and I cannot yet say when it will be possible to include it in the roads programme.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary appreciate that existing roads between London, Harlow and the North and North-East are becoming increasingly inadequate as Harlow New Town develops, and that this radial road is urgently necessary to cope with the new traffic and to relieve traffic congestion in Tottenham and other built-up areas?

I accept that traffic is very heavy on this road, but it still has to take its turn. I can give the hon. Lady some consolation, which is that the construction of the by-pass of Harlow and Potter Street, at an estimated cost of £700,000, is to start this autumn. I hope that that will effect an improvement.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he expects to receive the Report of the Committee on Road Signs; and if he will make a statement.

I expect shortly to receive an interim Report dealing with signs for the Preston bypass. The Committee propose to reserve its final Report until some experience has been gained of these signs.

Will not the Minister agree, in view of the inadequate signpost system that we have in many parts of the country, that the time has now arrived when we ought to have a standard signpost which will give proper direction to people who are using the roads, and especially to those hon. Members who are seriously thinking of taking a drive?

The answer is that the Committee is working at the moment on signs for motor roads. It is that particular aspect to which I have referred in my Answer.

Will my right hon. Friend see that some mileages are included? Is he aware that one can travel a very long way without discovering how many miles it is that one has to go on some of our roads?

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the present position concerning the construction of the proposed Rochester bypass road.

A draft scheme under the Special Roads Act, 1949, to determine the line of the Medway Motor Road was advertised in November, 1957. I am now considering objections to the scheme.

Is it possible for the Minister to speed up the construction of this road? Is he aware of the appalling traffic conditions in Rochester where sometimes the delay is as long as three or four hours? Will he look into this matter as most urgent?

If the objections are received, I am hopeful of overcoming them. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, one cannot and should not drive roughshod over the quite proper objections put forward by local authorities and other people. If the right hon. Gentleman can do anything to help in his own area I shall be grateful, because I am anxious to build this road as soon as possible.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a Rochester bypass road has been under consideration for about thirty years? Is not that long to wait? If there are objections to be overcome, I will help the right hon. Gentleman.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what procedure he intends to follow in the selection of sites for the new experimental pedestrian-controlled crossings.

We have asked our divisional road engineers to propose possible sites for experiments aimed at enabling us to assess the value of the new crossings under a variety of traffic conditions. The final choice of sites would depend on the results of the experiment.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary consider selecting some of the sites where local authorities have previously asked for pedestrian crossings and which were not approved because pedestrian traffic was confined to certain special periods of the day? They would seem to be eminently suitable for an experiment of this kind.

I can carry out fully observed experiments on a limited number of sites only, we hope about thirty. If the hon. Lady has any particular local authorities in mind and if she will let me know the sites, I will glady see whether we can include them.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when it is expected that the dual carriageway section of the Cromwell Road Extension at Mawson Lane will be open for use; and whether he will arrange for this to be brought forward.

Both carriageways on this section of the Cromwell Road extension will be brought into use as soon as possible. I expect this to be before the end of August.

is my hon. Friend aware that his reply will be very much appreciated, because a single carriageway at this point in a double carriageway system is very dangerous?

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what action he is considering to prevent financial loss to house owners whose property has fallen in value because of forthcoming demolition as a result of the building of the South Wales radial road and who find it impossible to dispose of their houses in the meantime.

I cannot, I am afraid, help houseowners at this stage, as I can only acquire land for the construction of the road after a scheme has been made under the Special Roads Act. Compensation will then be payable on the basis prescribed by Statute.

In view of my right hon. Friend's Answer, may I ask whether he will be able in due course to give an affirmative answer to the request of the borough council, which has written to him to know whether he can reimburse the sum of £2,850 which it is willing to pay to a resident of Winchester Avenue who has to dispose of his house in the very near future because he is moving from the district on business?

I understand that the particular case is being discussed both with the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and with my own Ministry. The best way to help people on the line of this road is to get the line settled as quickly as I can. I hope that objectors will agree to facilitate this process.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what consideration he has given to authorising the proposal for constructing, for the convenience of air travellers, a London underground station at the West London air terminal, through which three lines run, namely, the Piccadilly, Circle and District lines.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond) on 8th July.

I have no knowledge of what that reply was, but, in case it was that the terminal might not be permanent, does not my hon. Friend consider that a covered travelator on which passengers could stand with their luggage, running from the boundary of the air terminal to the western end of Gloucester Road Station—which would be a much shorter route than going round by road—would serve the purpose equally well? Does he agree that a travelator would cost much less?

I am afraid a travelator would be a costly installation. The purport of the reply which I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland was that we could not undertake any costly installation at this point until final decisions had been taken by my right hon. Friend about the future travel arrangements between London Airport and central London.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the present arrangement under which passengers are decanted mid-way between the two tube stations is quite unsatisfactory? In lieu of that, could not he devise some more permanent and better solution of this problem and at any rate make provision for buses coming from the airport to discharge their pas- sengers outside one or other of the two tube stations? Since I understand the difficulty is simply a question of traffic lights, will he see if something can be done about that?

I think London Transport has done its best in the matter, but I shall certainly have another look at it and see if we can meet the convenience of passengers in a better way.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what agreement he has come to with the Secretary of State for Air regarding the facilities for private and commercial air operators which will be available at Biggin Hill when Croydon is closed.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Air, earlier this afternoon.

Surely my hon. Friend will realise that, now that it is certain that Croydon is to be closed within a month or two, it is imperative that those operating civilian services should know what are their prospects at Biggin Hill or elsewhere? Will he pursue this matter with a little more vigour? Can he give a specific undertaking that a further statement will be made in the autumn?

I can say that both my right hon. Friend and the Secretary of State for Air, and all those concerned with this very difficult problem, appreciate its urgency, and we hope to make a statement quite soon.

Are we to understand that the Joint Parliamentary Secretary accepts the opinion expressed earlier by the Secretary of State for Air that the use of Hendon for light civil aircraft is quite ruled out?

I do not think that I have anything to add to that. It is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what proposals he is now considering for the transport of passengers from Central London to London Airport; and when he expects to make a decision regarding them.

I am already improving the road transport of passengers by means of the Cromwell Road extension, together with the construction of the Chiswick flyover and widening the Bath Road. A draft scheme for the construction of the new motor road from the Chiswick flyover to the airport entrance tunnel was published earlier this month and will be pressed forward as quickly as possible. I await detailed proposals from the promoters of monorail and other systems and will then compare these with the scheme for a conventional rail link.

Does not the Minister agree that the real solution to this problem is the provision of a rail link? Are we to understand that this is still under consideration, and when does the right hon. Gentleman expect to make a decision about it?

I am not prepared to accept that statement. A monorail may be a better and rather more modern way of doing it. But as soon as I get the report on that, which I expect shortly, I will come to a conclusion.

Is my right hon. Friend able to say what would be the cost either of a rail link or a monorail?

No, Sir; that is what I am waiting for.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he has yet received a copy of the report on the Munich air accident; and when he will publish it.

The commission of inquiry issued a Press statement at the end of its proceedings but its report is, I understand, not likely to be available for some weeks. My right hon. Friend will publish the report as soon as practicable.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will appoint a special committee of inquiry into the present system of motor car insurance, with a view to halting increasing charges, reducing premiums to the careful driver, and bringing about greater safety on the roads.

No, Sir. The manner in which motor insurance is conducted, the premiums charged and any allowances given are matters within the discretion of the insurance market, and I see no reason for the appointment of a committee of inquiry into these matters.

Would not the Minister agree that with the vast growth in the extent of motor traffic this is now a matter of some public concern? Is he aware that there is a widespread feeling among the public that the majority of careful drivers have to pay far too much to subsidise the minority of people who should not be on the roads at all?

Possibly that is so, but I do not think it makes a case for a public inquiry.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what further steps he proposes to take to ensure that the inhabitants of rural areas are provided with adequate road transport facilities.

The Public Service Vehicle (Conditions of Fitness) Regulations were amended in April to make it easier for small buses with twelve seats to be used on stage services in rural areas. The Traffic Commissioners are always ready to help and to advise people who may be thinking of applying for the necessary road service licences.

I am studying the effect of these steps with great care, to see whether any further progress can be made along these lines.

Does the Minister appreciate that for people living in rural areas the clock has been put back fifty years, and that it is most difficult for some aged people who need facilities when they go to receive their pensions or to do their weekly shopping?

This is a very serious problem, but one of the difficulties is that it arises from the great growth in the number of motor cars, mopeds, and scooters. A solution is not easy, but I shall look most carefully at any proposal which anyone brings forward, and the Department is trying to see whether we can make any better progress in providing better rural transport.

Will the Minister see how much these smaller buses are being employed? Is not it a fact that it has been said by the larger operators that they are not of great economic value? Also, will the Minister state what steps he is taking to prevent the elimination of alternative routes when railway branch lines are closed? Is it a fact that in three cases recently where buses were put on the road to cope with traffic which would come on the roads through the closing of branch lines those buses were subsequently withdrawn?

As to the first part of that supplementary question, I understand that some companies are considering the use of these small buses, some of which have merit not only in rural areas. As to the second part, if the hon. Gentleman can give me specific cases I will look into them.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when the Bowes Committee Report will be published.

The Report was published on Monday. I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the Answer given on 25th July to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Nantwich (Mr. Grant-Ferris) for my preliminary view upon it.

I left the Question on the Order Paper so that I should have an opportunity to ask the right hon. Gentleman when he thinks he may be able to make his final decision on the matter and report back to Parliament?

It is part of my holiday homework, and I hope that I shall do it properly.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a statement about his future policy under the Ships and Aircraft (Transfer Restriction) Act, 1939.

Hitherto my approval under the Ships and Aircraft (Transfer Restriction) Act, 1939, has been required for all transfers or mortgages of United Kingdom and colonial ships abroad. I have decided to give in the near future a general sanction under that Act permitting, with certain exceptions, the free transfer or mortgage of ships to all countries abroad. The exceptions relate to the sale of certain categories of ships to countries in the Soviet bloc and China and also to the sale of former naval craft to any foreign country.

It has also been decided, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Power, to discontinue the procedure whereby the sale of ships abroad for scrap will be permitted only if the British Iron and Steel Corporation (Salvage) Limited is not prepared to match the foreign price.

Will not it be easier to transfer ships outside this country, that is, to Commonwealth or to foreign ownership, and how will this affect the British shipping industry?

My hon. Friend is quite right. This is something asked for by the shipping industry as an easement of its trading position, and I hope that it will be of some help.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many people are awaiting driving tests at the Middlesbrough centre; what is the average waiting time; how many examiners there are; what action he is taking to increase the number; and how the position on Tees-side compares with other areas.

About 2,400 people are waiting to be tested, and the waiting period is ten weeks compared with eight to nine in the Northern Traffic Area generally. Four examiners are permanently stationed at Middlesbrough, and assistance is being given from other centres pending the appointment of two new examiners.

Is there any real difficulty in getting these further examiners?

I hope not. We are intending to engage an additional seventy examiners this summer and I shall be able to see the result in the course of the next couple of months.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission to include among the members of the boards of management, which have in effect replaced the executives provided for under the Transport Act, 1947, those who have had experience in the organisation of workers.

No, Sir. The appointment of members to boards throughout its undertaking is the responsibility of the Commission. It is clear from the appointments which it has made in recent years that it fully appreciates the value of a trade union background, among other forms of experience. For example, each of the area boards of British Railways includes one member with this qualification.

Is it a fact that there is a danger of nullifying the provisions of the 1947 Act, for the appointment of persons with executive experience of organising workers? Can the Minister state whether there is a representative of the trade unions on the management board of British Road Services in view of the fact that Mr. Harold Clay is no longer a part-time member?

The answer to that is that the Commission is charged with the task of finding the best people to manage these undertakings. That means that the Commission will find some candidate from the trade union movement as from elsewhere. I think that we had better leave it to the Commission to pick the best.

Would not the Minister agree that in the case of British Road Services it is desirable that there should be a representative with experience in the organisation of workers, and is it a fact that there is not one at present?

I will look into that, but it is still the responsibility of the Commission.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission to submit to the Transport Users Consultative Committees any proposals made by the London Transport Executive or other undertakings in which they have an interest for the cessation of omnibus services.

No, Sir. The transport users consultative committees already have the power to consider the Commission's bus services.

Is it a fact that in the case of the closure of branch lines there is an understanding between the Commission and the Minister that reference is made to these Committees? Is there any reason why the same provision should not apply regarding the withdrawal of bus services?

I have not looked at that. I think the difference is that a bus service is much more flexible and can be taken off or put back as required, whereas the closure of a branch line is a much more permanent undertaking.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when the provisions of the Road Traffic Act, 1956, with regard to the period of holding provisional driving licences will be brought into force.

Section 18 (1) of the Act will be brought into force as soon as we are satisfied that the increase which it seems likely to cause in the number of applications for a driving test will not unduly lengthen the period drivers have to wait for a test appointment. Section 18 (2), which increases the period of validity of a provisional licence to six months and its cost to 10s. 0d., came into force on 1st March this year.

Will my hon. Friend try to bring it into force as soon as possible, because it is two years since we brought this Act in? The fact that a provisional licence can go on and on is causing disquiet in road-safety circles.

Yes, Sir, I appreciate that. My right hon. Friend and I are anxious to bring it into force as soon as we practicably can.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, in order to assist in the development of general cargo traffic through the South Wales ports, he will further expedite the improvement of road and rail communications between South Wales and the Midlands; if he will treat with urgency the removal of bottlenecks at Chepstow and Newport; and if he will make a statement.

An adequate road link between the South Wales ports and the Midlands is one of our five major road projects. The whole project will include the northern section of the Bristol—Birmingham motorway, the Ross Spur motorway, the new Heads-of-the-Valleys road and the improvement of existing trunk roads to Newport, Cardiff and Swansea. Traffic congestion at Chepstow should be relieved as a result of these works and we are at present considering the best solution for Newport.

The British Transport Commission has in hand works at Stratford-on-Avon, Fenny Compton, Honeybourne and the marshalling yard at Port Talbot to improve freight facilities between South Wales and the Midlands and work is expected to start next year on a freight scheme at Severn Tunnel Junction.

Does my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary appreciate that a lot of the schemes that have been announced will be of little value to the ports of Cardiff, Barry and Newport unless something is done to bypass the bottleneck at Newport? Can he say something about the second crossing of the River Usk which was promised by his Department a long time ago?

I will be pleased to look into this matter for my hon. Friend. With regard to the problem of Newport, I did mention that we were already considering it. My right hon. Friend and I have appointed a consulting engineer to give us a report on it. We are most anxious to find the best solution as soon as possible.

In view of the developments at Milford Haven, do the hon. Gentleman and his right hon. Friend realise how important it is to connect South-West Wales and Milford Haven with the rest of the country?

We certainly do.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what recommendations have been made by the Transport Users' Consultative Committees on the proposal, supported by the Home Office Working Committee on Hackney Carriages, the National Taxi-cab Owners' Association, and the Transport and General Workers Union, that the privilege ranks at railway stations should be open, by rota, to all licensed taxi-drivers.

I have now received the report from the Consultative Committees. I will place a copy in the Library and will send copies to those members who have expressed an interest in this question.

Yes, but is not the right hon. Gentleman able to inform the House of the recommendations of these consultative committees? Is he not aware that a large number of hon. Members on both sides of the House have been urging that this intolerable privilege should be ended? When a Home Office committee, employers and trade unions all demand this reform, why should it be held up any longer?

It is a very long and complicated reform and not one that can possibly be dealt with by means of a Parliamentary Answer. I am sending a copy of the Committee's findings to the hon. Gentleman. They have to be considered by the Commissioners because they require the Commission to do certain things.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give a list of those maritime countries which have not yet ratified the International Convention for the Prevention of the Pollution of the Sea by Oil; and if he will consult with the Governments of those countries in order to secure their support for this Convention.

With permission I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the countries which sent delegates to the International Conference held in London in 1954 but which have not so far ratified the Convention. Action has already been taken to try to secure further ratifications.

May I ask whether my hon. Friend will do his utmost to persuade those most unhelpful countries to stop encouraging these filthy habits on the high seas? May I ask whether he agrees that the fact that none of the flags-of-convenience countries have so far ratified this Convention justifies a great deal of the harsh things which have been said about them? Does not he think it odd that the United States, with her maritime position, should ask other countries to fulfil the terms of a Convention in her territorial waters which she has not signed herself?