asked the Minister of Defence if he will give details of progress with standardisation achieved by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Agency.

Up to date some 400 standardisation agreements have been concluded and a further 180 drafts are under consideration. About half the agreements relate to material supplies such as the grading of fuels and to military equipments including components. The rest deal with operational and other Service procedures.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will give details of the staff of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Standardisation Agency.

It would not be proper for me to publish details of staff employed by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what contribution Her Majesty's Government propose to make to the Special Fund to assist Technical, Economic and Social Development recently established by the United Nations Assembly.

Her Majesty's Government have pledged the sterling equivalent of $1 million to the Special Fund during its first year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will announce the British Government's present policy towards the Oder-Neisse line as a permanent frontier between Germany and Poland.

Her Majesty's Government's policy remains as stated in the Answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Gorton (Mr. Zilliacus) on 10th July, 1957.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the present position in respect of British diplomatic representation in the United Arab Republic and the Yemen; and whether it is contemplated that ultimately such representation shall be made to the United Arab Republic and the Yemen separately or, in view of the federation of the Yemen to the Republic, to the Republic and the Yemen as one entity.

Her Majesty's Government are not at present in diplomatic relations with the United Arab Republic. In the Yemen, Her Majesty's Government are represented by a Charge d'Affaires.Whether joint or separate diplomatic representation should eventually be made to the Yemen and the United Arab Republic is at present hypothetical. According to the Charter of the United Arab States, each State will preserve its international personality but diplomatic and consular representation may be unified in specified cases. My right hon. and learned Friend is not aware of any case in which representation has been unified.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government propose to cormmemorate the occasion of the tenth aniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10th December this year.

Her Majesty's Government believe that it is mainly for the interested voluntary organisations to organise the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They are, however, supplementing the efforts of the voluntary organisations in an appropriate manner.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made with regard to Opinion No. 29, 1958, of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe relating to the draft European Convention on Compulsory Insurance against Civil Liability in respect of Motor Vehicles, which was referred to the Assembly by the Committee of Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

This Opinion of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe is on the Agenda of the meeting of Ministers' Deputies which opened at Strasbourg on 17th November. The outcome of the discussion is not yet known.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give an assurance that Her Majesty's Government will now agree to the cessation of nuclear tests without insisting that such agreement be dependent upon progress made on other measures of disarmament.

As the negotiations are still proceeding in Geneva, I have nothing to add to previous statements with regard to Her Majesty's Government's position at this Conference.

asked the Prime Minister what tests have recently been carried out in Wales to ascertain the incidence of strontium 90; and what were the results.

I have been asked to reply.Samples are regularly taken, and analysed, of milk and other foodstuffs over the whole of the United Kingdom. In addition, analyses are made of soil, pasture, and animal bone in certain Special areas, including Wales. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister Stated last week, a report giving the results for 1957 is to be published shortly. I am advised that these give no cause for concern from the point of view of human or animal health.

asked the Prime Minister what investigation has been undertaken by the Atomic Energy Research Establishment Or the Medical Research Council to inquire to what degree any significant difference has been found in the content of Strontium 90 in the bones Of children dying from leukemia or bone cancer compared with those dying from other causes in Great Britain; whether he will request such investigations if not already undertaken; and whether the results will be published.

In the course of a nation-wide survey of the strontium 90 content of human bone, a certain number of specimens of bones of children who died from leukemia have been examined. The results obtained from the survey so far have not demonstrated a difference between these bones and comparable specimens obtained from children dying from other causes. None of the bones examined has come from a case of bone cancer. Should any significant relationship be observed between the level of strontium 90 and the cause of death a special report would be published.

asked the Prime Minister if he will arrange for a continuous widespread series of tests in the higher altitudes of the north-west Highlands and Islands of Scotland, in order to obtain full and accurate information about the presence of strontium 90.

A comprehensive survey for the presence of strontium 90 in soil, milk, vegetation and human and animal bone covering areas representative of the whole of the British Isles is already being carried out. I am advised that there is no evidence that conditions in the Highlands and Islands differ from those in areas already covered.

asked the Minister of Labour when the survey of the Pottery Industry will be published.

The report was before the Industrial Health Advisory Committee at its last meeting on 15th October when it was agreed that copies should be sent to both sides of the industry and their comments invited. This has been done. A decision on publication will be reached as soon as possible in the light of the comments received and further consultation with the Industrial Health Advisory Committee.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the concern felt by bank employees over the proposed abolition of compulsory arbitration; and whether, if necessary, he will exempt them until adequate and satisfactory negotiations are possible through the normal relations pertaining in other employments.

I am aware of the views of the National Union a Bank Employees. I cannot consider exemptions from the Industrial Disputes (Amendment and Revocation) Order, 1958.

asked the Minister of Labour what representations he has received from the several branches of the National Union of Bank Officials about his decision to end the Industrial Disputes Tribunal and terminate compulsory arbitration; and what reply he has sent.

I have received no direct representations from the National Union of Bank Employees, but I have written to a number of hon. Members in connection with representations they have forwarded to me.

asked the Minister of Labour what proportion of school leavers in 1958 have found suitable employment; and to what extent difficulty has been experienced in particular places.

In answer to the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Huddersfield, West (Mr. Wade) on 5th November. In general it has been more difficult than it was last year to find employment for school leavers. In so far as there has been special difficulty, it has been in areas where unemployment generally is relatively high.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the number of unemployed in Bristol is higher than it has been for twenty years with the expectation that it will rise further; and if he will take steps to prepare, with the local authority, some public works schemes.

No. Although the present figure is the highest since the war—except for March, 1947—and may rise for seasonal reasons during the winter, the percentage rate is still below that for the country as a whole and I do not consider that the situation requires special local action.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will express as a percentage, the number of unemployed, male and female, for the area covered by the Crook Employment Exchange, which includes Weardale, County Durham, at the latest convenient date and that of twelve months previous.

It is not possible to compute a separate percentage rate of unemployment for the Crook Employment Exchange area, but for the combined area of the Bishop Auckland. Crook, Shildon and Spennymoor Employment Exchanges, the unemployment percentage rate at 13th October, 1958, was 4·4 for males and 2·6 for females, compared with 1·5 and 0·7 respectively for 14th October, 1957. The numbers registered as unemployed at the Crook Employment Exchange in October, 1958, were 513 males and 54 females compared with 167 males and 20 females in October, 1957.

asked the Minister of Labour the estimated number of men, of 21 years of age and over, with a basic weekly wage, exclusive of overtime, of £10 or less.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the estimated number of women, of 18 years of age and over, with average weekly earnings of £9 or less; and the estimated number of men, of 21 years of age and over, with average weekly earnings of £10 or less.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the percentage of the population registered as unemployed in Anglesey at the latest convenient date.

Ten point nine per cent. of the estimated total number of employees were registered as unemployed in Anglesey at 13th October, 1958.

asked the Minister of Labour how many civilians will lose their employment when the Fairey Aviation Company, Limited, cease operations as agents for Her Majesty's Government at the Royal Air Force, Valley, Anglesey, on 31st December. 1958.

I understand that it has not yet been decided what changes will be made on civilian employment at this Royal Air Force Station.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider allowing skilled craftsmen engaged in rural crafts ancillary to agriculture to be treated similarly to agricultural workers as far as deferment of call-up for National Service is concerned.

Deferment of call-up is allowed in exceptional cases, after consultation with the Agricultural Departments, to young men employed in remote areas in a small number of the old rural crafts. Such deferment is granted only where it can be shown that food production would be seriously impaired by the withdrawal of the man concerned. I am not prepared to make any further extension.

asked the Minister of Labour the weekly figure during October, 1958, of those dock workers employed by the National Dock Labour Board, in the London Docks area, who were unemployed; and what is the percentage of those unemployed compared to the total dock labour force in London.

The following statement which the National Dock Labour Board has furnished, gives the information the hon. Member has asked for:

asked the Minister of Labour (1) the average daily figure for the month of October, 1958, of dockers in the Royal group of London docks who were surplus to requirements; what percentage this surplus is of the total dockers on the register for these docks; and how these figures compare with those for October, 1957;(2) the average daily figure for the months of October, 1958, of dockers in the Port of London who were surplus to requirements; what percentage this sur-

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were registered as unemployed in Caernarvonshire on the last date of computation; and what percentage of the insured population of the county this figure represents.

At 13th October, 1938, there were 2,922 unemployed persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Caernarvonshire, representing 8.3 per cent. of the estimated total number of employees in the area.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will publish the number of cases referred to the Industrial Disputes Tribunal since its inception; and the results.

This information has been published each year in the Ministry's Annual Report, together with a statement showing how many awards were made. As at 3rd November, 1958, 1,287 cases had been referred to the Tribunal and the total number of awards issued by the Tribunal was 1,160. Most of the cases dealt with by the Tribunal arose out of disputes relating to wages. Other matters dealt with by the Tribunal were too varied to be classified numerically.

asked the Minister of Labour what reply he has sent to representations from the Swindon and plus is of the total dockers on the register for the port; and how these figures compare with those for October, 1957.

The following is the information asked for by the hon. Member:District Branch of the National and Local Government Officers' Association on the subject of the decision to end compulsory arbitration and to abolish the Industrial Disputes Tribunal.

No direct representations have been received, but I wrote to the hon. Member on 18th November in connection with representations he forwarded to me.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of unemployed persons registered at the employment exchanges in Kilmarnock and Newmilns at the latest available date; and the figures on corresponding date in each year since 1949.

The following table gives the information desired:

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will publish in Hansard a table of figures giving the number of registered unemployed, male, female, and juveniles, together with the number as compared with vacancies, for each of the months from October, 1951,

asked the Minister of Labour the percentage of unemployed insured workers at the Abertillery Employment Exchange at the nearest available date, and the number of insured workers who have been unemployed for more than six weeks.

For the purpose of calculating the percentage rate of unem-

Owing to the length of the period over which the statistics are required, figures for quarterly dates only have been given.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the total number of persons registered as unemployed at Ayrshire employment exchanges; and if he will tabulate these according to trades, etc.

The following table gives the information desired:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why a German submarine was permitted to arrive in Portsmouth on a training visit on Armistice Day.

All visiting ships belonging to the navies of our N.A.T.O. Allies are, as a matter of courtesy, permitted to arrive in United Kingdom ports on a date mutually most convenient for the purposes of their visit. This treatment was, naturally accorded to the German submarine "Hecht".

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider carrying an E.O.K.A. detainee in British patrol cars liable to be ambushed or mined.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many civilians are at present employed in Army camps and establishments in Cyprus; and how many of them are Greek-speaking Cypriots.

The Army employs about 8,000 locally-engaged civilians in Cyprus, of whom about 6,000 are Greek Cypriots.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider reinstating Corporal Brian Ford to his rank of corporal.

No.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent he intends to simplify the procedure under which letters franked by a stamping machine must be handed in at a post office or collected at a firm's premises.

The conditions governing the use of franking machines are under review. I hope it will be possible to make some relaxations but, until certain inquiries are complete, I cannot say what these will be.

asked the Postmaster-General what reply he has given to the representations made to him from Welsh religious and cultural bodies for the setting up of a separate Welsh television service.

I have replied noting their representations which are now under consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General how many Welsh local authorities have forwarded resolutions to him on the television service in Wales.

Seventy-five.

asked the Postmaster-General when he is proposing to issue 4½d. stamps.

Rather later than I had hoped—on 9th February, 1959. Their design will be the same as that of the present 4d. stamp, and they will be printed in an orange-brown colour.

asked the Postmaster-General what revision can be expected of the present limited capital investment programmes of the Post Office following the general relaxation of the public investment programme.

The Post Office investment ceilings were set a year ago at £95 million for 1958–59 and £90 million in 1959–60. That for 1958–59 has already been raised to £96½ million. The question of possible additions is not yet settled.

asked the Postmaster-General, in view of the fact that he has issued regional stamps for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey, each bearing pictorial designs suited to its locality, if he will now include in the regional stamp for Scotland some pictorial design commemorating Robert Burns.

No.

asked the Postmaster-General the cost of the issue of regional stamps now on sale for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey, respectively; and what extra cost would be incurred by including in a special regional stamp for Scotland some pictorial design to commemorate Robert Burns.

Very approximately, £9,000 each for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and £3,000 each for the Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey. Costs for a single special issue might well be higher hut, as the hon. and learned Member knows, the Government have decided against the issue of a special stamp to commemorate Robert Burns.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the present rate of installing telephones for waiting subscribers compared with the two last full years.

In the current financial year we expect to install 343,000 telephones as compared with 341,000 last year and 408,000 in the financial year 1956–57.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many members of the Royal Observer Corps have enrolled in the National Monitoring Service of Radioactivity; to whom they are responsible and report; how many monitoring stations have been set up; where they are situated; whether they will publish a periodical report; and if he will make a statement.

The Royal Observer Corps is itself concerned in measuring radioactivity in the event of air attack, and its members are being trained for this task. More than fifteen hundred posts throughout the United Kingdom are available as reporting centres. Reports would be passed to the Air Raid Warning Organisation.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if his attention has been called to the recent researches by Professor G. C. Drew, and others, particulars of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Barking, which indicate that, after drinking one to one-and-a-half pints of beer, driving skill may be definitely diminished; and what action he proposes to take to make these facts known to the driving public or in other ways increase the safety of our roads.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes." As regards the second, the Highway Code reminds road users that even quite small amounts of alcohol make them less safe on the roads. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has also taken steps over the past few years to emphasise to the public the dangers of drink to road users.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will remove the 30 miles-per-hour speed limit imposed on light pick-up vehicles used by farmers and other traders.

I am considering whether any change in the speed limit of light goods vehicles generally, including pick-up vehicles, is desirable and I hope in the near future to circularise representative organisations on the subject.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, in view of the Government's policy to give special age assistance to areas in Wales where unemployment is above the average for the whole of the United Kingdom, he will advance the starting date of the Severn Bridge project.

No. Because the Forth and Severn bridges are practically identical in structure and call for the same specialised skills and expensive and specialised plant they are being constructed as part of a single co-ordinated operation.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the numbers of road casualties for the period 1st January to 30th September of this year, compared with the same period for 1957.

During the first nine months of this year, 219,060 persons were killed or injured on the roads. The total for the same period of 1957 was 201,271.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the numbers of casualties at uncontrolled pedestrian crossings for the period 1st January to 30th September of this year, compared with the same period for 1957.

During the first nine months of this year, 651 persons were killed or seriously injured on zebra crossings. The total for the same period of 1957 was 580.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps are taken by his Department to protect pilots from infringing regulations when piloting crop-spraying aircraft near to the ground.

Crop-spraying pilots, like others, must plan their flights in such a way that regulations are not infringed. Crop-spraying aircraft are subject to the same regulations as others except, of course, that they are exempt, while spraying, from the rule prohibiting low flying in open country.My Department sent a letter to all operators last August asking them to ensure that all applicable air navigation regulations were strictly complied with.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a statement on the noise tests recently carried out at London Airport on the Boeing 707 aircraft.

:would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to similar Questions on 5th November which set out the present restrictions on Boeing and Comet jet aircraft.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a statement about the collision which occurred on 22nd October, 1958, between a Viscount aeroplane of British European Airways and an Italian fighter aeroplane near Anzio.

The Viscount was on a scheduled flight from London to Naples when it came into collision with the leader of a formation of four Italian military fighter aircraft. The collision occurred at a height of about 23,500 ft. and both aircraft disintegrated. The crew of 5 and the 26 passengers of the Viscount lost their lives and the pilot of the fighter was very seriously injured. The Italian Government immediately set up a Board of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances and causes of the accident, and one of my Senior Inspectors of Accidents was appointed to act as the United Kingdom accredited representative in accordance with international procedure. At the conclusion of the investigation I shall receive a copy of the report made by the Italian Board of Inquiry.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that the Chairman of the Scottish Council, Development and Industry, has declared his decision not to build a tunnel under the main runway at Prestwick Airport to be unfortunate; and what prior consultations he had with the Council before making his decision.

The Answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes". The Answer to the second part is that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has kept me informed of the views of the Scottish Council. I was aware that they favoured a tunnel but for the reasons which I gave to the hon. Member on 12th November I am satisfied that the balance of advantage is in favour of a road diversion.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the statement by the County Convenor of Ayrshire that the proposal to construct a road diversion round the north-west end of Prestwick Airport, rather than a tunnel under the main runway, would cause inconvenience to the people of Ayrshire; and what prior consultation he had with the County Council before coming to his decision.

I have not seen the statement referred to, but the Ayrshire County Council was represented at a meeting in Ayr on 1st May when the preference of all the local authorities for a tunnel was made clear. I recognise that a road diversion will cause some inconvenience, and regret that this is so, but for the reasons which I gave to the hon. Member on 12th November I am satisfied that the balance of advantage lies in favour of a road diversion.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a statement about the future of Cambrian Airways in which British European Airways is interested.

Although B.E.A. has a minority shareholding, Cambrian Airways is an independent operator, and its future is therefore for the company to decide. This winter its services have been suspended with the exception of the route Manchester—Cardiff—Bristol—Channel Islands which is being operated by Jersey Airlines as a contractor; but I understand that the company proposes to start operations again next spring with aircraft chartered from B.E.A., and that arrangements for these services are under discussion.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, in view of the Government's policy to give special assistance to areas in Wales where unemployment is above the average for the whole of the United Kingdom, he will increase the number and size of major road construction and improvement schemes in those areas in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Road works I am at present setting in hand in Wales include improvement schemes to the value of about £500,000 in areas with unemployment above the average.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that considerable congestion has occurred on the new Meriden by-pass at certain times of the day, needing at first police control and subsequently the installation of traffic signals; to what extent these arrangements are likely to be permanent; and whether he will review arrangements for the planning of future trunk road projects to ensure that such occurrences are not repeated.

Difficulties have arisen at the junction of the Meriden By-pass and Oak Lane, mainly at the closing time of the Triumph Engineering Company's factory, when large numbers of workers travel towards Coventry. As a temporary measure the police have provided traffic lights which operate only at this period. I am trying to find a more satisfactory and permanent solution.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, at an early date, he will receive a deputation from the Tamar Bridge Joint Committee which is anxious to advertise on 1st February, 1959, for tenders for the construction of piers and anchorages for which immediate approval to the borrowing of the necessary moneys is required.

I shall he replying very soon to the letters I have recently received from the Joint Committee on this subject.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give an estimate of the present ratio of road miles to the number of motor vehicles in use in the United Kingdom.

From information supplied by the Road Research Laboratory, I estimate that during peak hours there are between three and four motor vehicles in use on each mile of road.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give an estimate of the present ratio of the number of people to the number of motor vehicles in use in the United Kingdom, and the similar ratio in 1951; and what he anticipates that ratio will be in 1961, respectively.

The number of people for each motor vehicle licensed—include-ing motor-cycles—was about eleven in 1951, is now between six and seven, and if present trends continue, will be about five in 1961.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps he has taken in connection with the approach roads associated with the Severn Bridge project.

The line of the approach roads from trunk road A.38 near Almondsbury in Gloucestershire and from trunk road A.48 near Crick in Mon-mouthshire was established by Orders made in 1947 and 1948.Consulting engineers are now preparing details so that I can publish a further draft Order under the Special Roads Act showing how I propose to deal with side road and other accesses affected by the approach roads

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that at the meetings of the Transport Users Consultative Committee held recently in Monmouth on the subject of the discontinuance of the passenger service on the Wye Valley Railway the general public and the Press were excluded; and whether, in view of the feelings which this has aroused in the Forest of Dean, he will call for a report upon the reasons why the Committee acted in this manner.

I understand that all members of the public who had previously asked to be present at this meeting of the Transport Users' Consultative Committee for Wales and Monmouthshire, which was publicised in advance, were invited to attend and that afterwards a statement containing the Committee's conclusions and supporting reasons was circulated to the Press. The procedures of the Consultative Committees in this regard are clearly set out in sections 6 and 7 of their published handbook and I would refer the hon. Member to them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps his Department has taken to implement the recommendations of the Hedgerow and Farm Timber Committee, which the Government have accepted.

The Forestry Commission has brought the recommendations of the Committee to the attention of appropriate Government Departments and other interested organisations. In cooperation with my Ministry, the Commission will help to promote the increased growth and proper maintenance of hedgerow and farm timber by education and other means. My Ministry will continue to encourage and make grants, under the Hill Farming and Livestock Rearing Acts and the Farm Improvement Scheme, for the planting of shelter belts.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which local authorities factoring houses on behalf of the Scottish Special Housing Association have received notices terminating the factoring arrangements and stating the reasons why.

Since the announcement of its new rent scheme on the 20th May, 1958, the Association has given notice to one local authority, Midlothian County Council, of its intention to cease employing the Council as factors because the

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied with the road safety precautions on the Glasgow-Carlisle Road in the

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many mentally defective patients are now detained in Scotland under his authority; what are their ages and sexes; where they are; what steps are being taken by him to ensure that the condition of each is periodically reviewed with a view to release; and how many have been released.

At 30th September there were 5,732 patients under detention and 2.542 under guardianship, details of which are appended. Patients are detained on the initiative of the parents or of the local authority with the parents' consent, or by order of the Sheriff. The need for detention is subsequently reviewed by the General Board of Control. I myself have no statutory authority in these matters. In the first nine months of 1958 100 patients were discharged and 127 released on licence.region of Wellburn Bridge: and if he will state how many road accidents have occurred there since the war, and the number of fatalities.

Since 1st January, 1949, the earliest date from which records are available, there have been eight accidents at Wellburn Bridge. There were no fatalities but three of the accidents involved personal injuries. This section of the road will be improved as part of the scheme for the provision of dual carriageways from Lesmahagow to Canderside, which I hope to authorise within the next two or three years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from tenants of the new town of East Kilbride in favour of action to limit the number of mobile vans trading in the new town.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 7th November to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Central (Mr. McInnes).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many road accidents involving personal injury, with or without fatalities, have occurred in the Bloomgate, Lanark, since the war;(2) if he is satisfied with the road safety precautions in the Bloomgate, Lanark; and if he will make a statement.

Since 1st January, 1949, the earliest date from which records are available, there have been in the Bloom-gate, Lanark, six accidents involving injury, one of which was fatal, and 25 collisions not involving personal injury. The possibility of undertaking a major improvement at this point is being investigated, but I cannot say when it may be possible to put it in hand.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of road accidents, including the number of fatalities, which have occurred on the Glasgow—Carlisle road in the village of Crawford since the war; and whether the road safety precautions in that village are, in his view, satisfactory.

Since 1st January, 1949, the earliest date from which records are available, there have been 34 accidents in the village of Crawford involving three fatalities and injury to 31 persons, and 172 collisions not involving personal injury. I am satisfied that all reasonable steps have been taken to improve road conditions in the village.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when work will begin on the Crawford by-pass road to the Carlisle—Glasgow road; and when he expects completion.

The Crawford by-pass forms part of the Abington and Crawford Diversions scheme, work on which will, I hope, begin next spring and be completed in 1961.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has delayed completion of the new bridge at Kirkfieldbank, Lanark; when the bridge will be completed; and how this forecast compares with his last reply to the hon. Member for Lanark on this subject.

In a written Answer on 24th June I told my hon. Friend that Lanarkshire County Council expected the work to be completed before the end of the year. The Council now confirms that it expects that the new bridge will be open to traffic by that time; the final work to finish the scheme will be completed early in 1959.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many fatalities have occurred since the war at Fiddler's Bridge, Braidwood, Lanark-shire; and when he will cause safety improvements to be made either on the bridge itself or the approaches to it.

Since 1st January, 1949, the earliest date from which records are available, there has been one fatal injury at this bridge. Tenders for the construction of a new bridge have been obtained and are at present under consideration.