asked the Minister of Labour the number of men and women registering as unemployed at the latest available date in the employment exchanges of Airdrie and Coatbridge, and the percentage thereof representing the metal industries.

On 11th May, 1959, a total of 2,405 men and 1,109 women were registered as unemployed at the Airdrie and Coatbridge Employment Exchanges. 44 per cent. of the men and approximately 1 per cent. of the women were last employed in metal manufacture and 55 per cent. of the men and 16 per cent. of the women were last employed in all the metal-using industries.

asked the Minister of Labour what has been the monthly percentage alteration with figures for civil employment from November, 1958, to May, 1959.

The answer is given in the following table of figures:

Date	Estimated numbers in civil employment in Great Britain	Percentage change compared with previous month
End-November, 1958	23,043,000	—
End-December, 1958	22,871,000	-0·7
End-January, 1959	22,820,000	-0·2
End-February, 1959	22,797,000	-0·1
End-March, 1959	22,804,000	—
End-April, 1959	22,852,000	+0·2

asked the Minister of Labour what are the reasons for the increase in staff of his Department by 2,034 between 1st April, 1958, and 1st April, 1959.

About 1,500 of the increase was to deal with extra work arising from increased unemployment, and about 500 to make good under-staffing at 1st April, 1958.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is yet able to state what action he is taking with regard to the health and safety of persons using ionising radiations in laboratories and research establishments.

A Panel of experts is being set up under the Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee with the following terms of reference:—

"To consider, in relation to persons working in research laboratories and research establishments (other than hospital research establishments), the safety and health questions arising from the use of ionising radiations, and to report."

I am glad to say that Professor B. W. Windeyer has agreed to serve as Chairman of the Panel on which the various interests concerned will be represented.

asked the Minister of Labour what official requests he has received from employers or trade unions to make arrangements at shipyards for joint discussions between managements and union representatives to decide methods and allocation of work and other production questions at the commencement of building a ship.

I have not received any such requests, but I would welcome any developments which might lead to agreement between the parties concerned on a procedure for the settlement of any differences which may arise from the kind of question to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in order to prevent disputes arising in shipbuilding and engineering over matters other than wages, hours and working conditions, he will ask the employers and trade unions to appoint National Joint Industrial Councils to keep production problems and other potential causes of unrest under review and try to find agreed solutions.

My right hon. Friend made a full statement about the possibility of setting up National Joint Industrial Councils in the engineering and shipbuilding industries in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Heywood and Royton (Mr. Leavey) on 21st May, 1958. I am sending the hon. Member a copy. There have been no developments since that date.

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled persons in Sunderland have allowed their registration as disabled persons to lapse.

Two hundred and ninety-four in the year ended 31st December, 1958.

OCTOBER, 1958
Average Weekly Earnings: Manual Workers
Industry	Men (21 and over)		Youths and Boys		Women (18 and over)		Girls		All Workers
	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
Manufactures of Paper and Board not elsewhere specified	257	5	111	3	135	5	84	3	178	1
Printing and Publishing of Newspapers and Periodicals	335	6	114	4	159	2	80	4	309	4
Other Printing and Publishing, Book binding, Engraving, etc.	293	6	110	4	145	5	79	4	223	0

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many trainees from the Royal Navy are now in the United States of America for instruction in the manning of nuclear-propelled vessels.

Twelve.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what are the plans of Her Majesty's Government for the provision of further escort ships.

The number of ships in various classes that are under construction are shown on pages 224–229 of the Navy Estimates, 1959–60. Ships capable of escort duties, that are at present under construction, consist of

asked the Minister of Labour what are the average weekly earnings of the various categories of employment occupied by workers involved in the dispute in the printing industry.

Most of the workers concerned belong to the industry "Other Printing and Publishing, Bookbinding, Engraving etc.". Nearly all the remainder form part of "Printing and Publishing of Newspapers and Periodicals" with a comparative few in "Manufactures of Paper and Board not elsewhere specified".The latest available figures of average earnings for these three industries are set out below:1 aircraft carrier, 2 cruisers, 2 guided missile destroyers and 14 frigates.It is not our practice to disclose information about the future Naval building programme, but I can assure the House that other ships than these are on order.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will now state the results of his reconsideration of the Upper Yardmen Scheme.

This matter is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider allowing holders of the Meritorious Service Medal to use the initials M.S.M after their names, in order to give the same recognition to men who have given long and meritorious service in the ranks as to ex-officers who qualify for the Territorial Efficiency Decoration and the Army Emergency Reserve Decoration.

It is a well-established rule that orders and decorations entitle their holders to use the appropriate initials after their names. This privilege is not associated with military medals unless they were personal awards for gallantry or distinguished behaviour. The Meritorious Service Medal cannot be treated separately from others awarded for long service.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of applications pending for telephone installations in the county borough of Stockport at the last convenient date.

At 31st March last, there were 162 applications awaiting the provision of additional lines. In addition, 128 were under inquiry or in course of being met. During the preceding 12 months, 754 telephones were installed.

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) if he will hold an immediate investigation into the reasons for the delay in providing proper school facilities for the children of Royal Air Force parents at Khormaksar and Steamer Point. Aden, which has resulted in children being refused admittance to school, and in gross overcrowding; and if he will take appropriate disciplinary action against those responsible;(2) why the new school, promised in 1956, for the children of Royal Air Force parents at Khormaksar and Steamer Point, Aden, has not yet been built;(3) how many children of Royal Air Force parents at Khormaksar and Steamer Point, Aden, have been refused entry to school, owing to the lack of accommodation; and what steps are now being taken to ensure proper educational provision for all children.

Since 1956 the number of Service children in Aden has increased substantially. The two new schools at Khormaksar will need to provide for more than twice as many pupils as we originally contemplated, and have had to be completely redesigned. About 50 children are at present awaiting admission to school. Authority has been given for the payment of fees at private schools and we are considering what else we can do to help while the new Service schools are being built.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what are the reasons for the increase in civil staff in his Department by 598 between 1st April, 1958, and 1st April, 1959.

During this period civilians in the non-industrial grades have replaced over 2,500 officers and airmen. As the figures show, the additional civilian posts were in the main off-set by savings elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will state the number of Royal Air Force cadetships awarded this year to public school boys and State secondary school boys, respectively.

Thirty-eight Royal Air Force cadetships have been awarded to civilian candidates so far this year. Of these, 19 have gone to boys from Independent Schools and 19 to boys from schools partly or wholly maintained by the State.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a statement on the outcome of the shipping conference in Washington.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a statement on the recent international discussions on shipping matters.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a statement on his recent visit to Washington on shipping matters.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a statement on the progress made at the discussions he held in the United States of America on shipping problems.

Informal shipping talks were held last week in Washington which were attended by representatives of Belgium, Denmark, France, the Federal German Republic, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the U.S.A. The Norwegian Delegation was led by the Norwegian Minister of Commerce and Shipping and the Danish Minister of Commerce led the Danish Delegation. I myself led the United Kingdom Delegation.The Delegations discussed the effect of flag discrimination, shipping subsidies and flags of convenience on the merchant fleets of the maritime nations of Western Europe in the agreed context of the need to foster interdependence in shipping as in other matters. At the end of the Conference the delegates agreed that their full and frank exchange of views had been most helpful as a necessary first step towards establishing closer harmony between their shipping policies. It was recognised that what are a set of very difficult and technical problems would require further study. The Governments concerned, therefore, are making arrangements to set up continuing informal machinery for this task. The U.S.A. Administration has also agreed that the representations put forward by the European nations at the talks are to be considered by the Special Committee on Transport Policy which President Eisenhower has recently set up. In general, I am satisfied that we have made some useful progress in Washington and I look forward to the continuance of our task.I am circulating a copy of the

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the number of helicopter pilots' licences in current issue.

145 pilots are licensed to fly helicopters, of which only 82 may fly them for hire and reward.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he received the report of the Italian Government's inquiry into the collision at Anzio between a British European Airways Viscount and an Italian fighter; whether he will publish it; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. A copy of the Report arrived in my Department yesterday afternoon. The publication of a report by a foreign Government is a matter for agreement with that Government but I do not anticipate any difficulties in this case.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make available in the Library of the House of Commons the report of the committee set up as announced on 18th June, 1958, to consider the relative safety advantages of backward-facing seats in aircraft.

No. My hon. Friend, the Joint Parliamentary Secretary, gave the House a summary of the report on 11th May last.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what report was made to him about the emergency landing of the Boeing 707 aircraft at London Airport on Tuesday, 9th June; and if he will make a statement.

This was an incident similar to that which was the subject of a Question by the hon. Member on 13th May.The aircraft suffered an hydraulic failure, the effects of which were overcome by the use of the emergency system provided expressly for use in such an event.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will state the numbers of aircraft registered in the United Kingdom for civil use in the years 1938, 1948, and 1958, respectively, and the numbers of such aircraft in those years which were licensed to carry not more than five persons.

The numbers of aircraft are shown in the following table:

—	31st Dec., 1938	31st Dec., 1948	31st Dec., 1958
Registered in the United Kingdom for civil use	1,666	2,433	2,428
Holding current certificates of airworthiness	1,223	1,430	1,358
Of which certified to carry not more than five persons, including crew	1,001(a)	818(a)	789(a)
(a) Based on the maximum approved seating for types of aircraft.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the number of C-licensed vehicles at September, 1938, and 1959, respectively, and, on the assumption that the rate of increase continues, the number estimated to be licensed by 1969.

The number of C-licensed vehicles at 30th June, 1938, was 365,025, and at 31st March, 1959, was 1,108,532. Carrying forward this rate of increase to 1969 would give a figure of about 1·6 million.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what are the most recent figures that record the number of motor cars, coaches, lorries and similar heavy vehicles, bicycles, and motor cycles, respectively, passing Whipps Cross towards London between the hours of 7.30 and 9.30 a.m., and from London between the hours of 5.0 and 7.0 p.m.

No traffic counts have been made at Whipps Cross, but I understand that the Leyton Borough Council are taking a traffic census there this summer.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what was the number of mechanically-propelled vehicles per mile of roads at the latest available date; and if he will make available to the House the figures published by the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation comparing the figure for the United Kingdom with the United States of America, Western Germany, Belgium, and France, respectively.

The Road Research Laboratory estimate that during peak hours there are between three and four motor vehicles in use on each mile of road in this country. I have been unable to trace figures published by the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now state when it is proposed to publish the results of the survey of road goods transport undertaken by his Department last year; and in what form the information will be published.

This report will be available as a non-Parliamentary publication and we expect it to be published about the end of this month.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) how many people in the Manchester area are waiting for their driving tests; and what is the average waiting time;(2) how many additional driving test examining officers have been recruited in the Manchester area since the end of April, 1959.

In the Manchester area about 6,300 people are waiting for driving tests. The average waiting period is ten weeks. Since the end of last April three additional driving examiners have been recruited; one of them is already in post.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what was the total number of mechanically-propelled vehicles of all kinds licensed in Scotland at the latest convenient date; and how many of these were private cars.

The total number of mechanically propelled vehicles of all kinds licensed in Scotland during the September quarter of 1958 was 586,304, of which private cars numbered 332,588.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now make a further statement in respect of the present stage reached in preparation for the extension of the Eastern Avenue through the borough of Leyton.

We are investigating a possible alternative to the advertised scheme. This investigation will take some time.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation by what date it is intended to complete the Coventry inner ring road.

The first two sections of the inner ring road should, I understand, be opened to traffic about the middle of next year. It is not possible at present to give a date for the completion of the whole scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, in order to help the more rapid flow of traffic in the Harrow Road, he will arrange for the filtration of traffic at the junction of Scrubs Lane and Harrow Road, Willesden.

We have already made a grant towards the cost of providing for filtration at this junction, and I understand that the system should be in operation in about a fortnight's time.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in view of the fact that some 3,000 men, and plant valued at about £5,000,000, will shortly be released from constructional work on the London to Birmingham motorway, he can yet give an indication as to what new plans he has for continuing on an adequate scale the road construction programme.

The road programme will continue into the future as fast as the resources of the country will allow and our forward planning ensures that the preparatory work has been done to keep the pipeline full. But as I have said before we do not intend to announce detailed plans a long way ahead.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the fact that it is almost three years since the St. Neot's trunk road river bridge became dangerous, with the resultant institution of one-way traffic working, whether he will expedite the construction of the new bridge; when work will be started; and when it will be completed.

This scheme will be fitted into the programme as soon as funds will allow. A starting date cannot be given yet, but work is proceeding on the design of the bridge and on the preparation of the necessary Order under Section 6 of the Trunk Roads Act, 1946.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will state the approximate distance along the River Thames of tow-paths or walks which are accessible to the public; and what consideration has been given to the desirability of ensuring continuous public access along the banks of this river.

Complete information about the extent of public rights of way along the banks of the Thames will not be available until all the county councils concerned have completed, under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949, definitive maps of such rights. Such maps have been completed for Buckinghamshire, Middlesex and Surrey and show a total of some 34 miles in those counties. In practice, the public have access to considerable lengths not covered by rights of way.The National Parks Commission considered whether to propose a long distance route along the Thames but decided not to do so.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are being taken by his Department to eradicate liver fluke.

Eradication can only be achieved by effective drainage wherever this is practicable and my Ministry is doing all it can to encourage this work.We have also made considerable efforts to ensure that farmers likely to suffer losses are warned when and how to take measures to control the disease, by killing the snails which are the alternate host of this parasite with powdered bluestone; keeping sheep away from places where the snails have existed; and dosing sheep that may have become infested.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that since the hon. Member for Uxbridge informed him by letter of an accident at the point used by children to cross Cherry Lane, West Drayton, to Cherry Lane School, there has been a further accident, on Monday, 8th June, in which a schoolgirl was injured; and if, in the circumstances, will reconsider his refusal to agree to the several requests for a crossing patrol at this point.

The decision whether a school crossing patrol shall be stationed at a particular site in the Metropolitan Police District rests with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. I have consulted the Commissioner, who informs me that he is aware of the recent regrettable accident at Cherry Lane, West Drayton, and that in the light of it he is reviewing the need to station a patrol at this crossing I will write to the hon. Member when the Commissioner informs me of the result of his review.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent, under his regulations, the payment of maintenance grants for the upkeep of plantations is dependent upon the applicant being a member of a woodland owners' association; and what arrangements are made where no local woodland owners' association has been constituted.

I assume my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind the new forestry management grant which, subject to the formation of an effective woodland owners' association, will become payable to owners of dedicated woodlands in place of the present maintenance grant. Payment of the management grant will be made irrespective of membership of such an association.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Government's policy for the Highlands.

I am arranging for a White Paper on this subject to be presented to Parliament tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of the detainees now in Hola Detention Camp have appealed to the Advisory Committee.

I have asked the Acting Governor for this information and I will circulate a further reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of detainees in Kenya who have appealed to the Advisory Committee, the number of recommendations for release made by the Committee, and the number of such recommendations accepted by the Governor in each year since 1952.

2,571 detainees have appealed to the Advisory Committee, of whom 1,088 have been recommended for release.I am in communication with the Acting Governor on the third part of the Question and will circulate a further reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the basis for reckoning that 20 per cent. should be added to the rest of costs as administrative expenses to cover work done by Government officials in connection with any Departmental expenditure which is chargeable to the individual citizen.

With the exception of certain services to the public which are subsidised at a matter of Government policy, charges to individual citizens for work done by Government Departments or agencies are calculated to recover at least the full cost of the service as recommended by the Ramsey Committee in 1927 (Cmd. 2950). The method usually adopted is to add to the direct costs a percentage to cover administrative expenses and any other overheads. The percentage addition varies according to the relationship between the total overhead expenses for particular services and the direct costs of these services.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications for assistance under the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958, have been received, to date, from England, Wales, and Scotland, respectively; how many have been accepted and how many rejected in each country; and how many persons have obtained employment as a result in each country.

To date 175 firm and eligible applications have been received from England of which 20 have been accepted and 41 rejected. The corresponding figures for Wales are 42, 8 and 12; and for Scotland, 97, 27 and 8.It is estimated that the assistance offered will provide a maximum of 1,230 additional jobs in England, 411 in Wales, and 965 in Scotland, a total of 2,606. I have no information as to how many of these jobs have so far been filled.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications for assistance, under the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958, have been received from Caernarvonshire; how many have been accepted; how many have been rejected; and what is the estimated number of persons who have obtained employment as a result.

So far 11 firm and eligible applications have been received from Caernarvonshire for assistance under this Act. Of these 2 have been accepted and 4 rejected. The estimated maximum number of additional jobs to be provided is 55. I have no information as to the number of these jobs so far filled.

asked the Paymaster-General what would be the annual effect on the coal consumption of the Wales Gas Board of the proposal to take 15 million cubic feet of methane gas per day from 24 Welsh pits.

The arrangements between the Wales Gas Board and the National Coal Board for the use of additional quantities of methane from collieries in South Wales are not yet complete, but it is not expected that they would have a very significant effect on the Gas Board's use of coal. A large part of the methane would be used to meet new loads which cannot be served competitively by manufactured gas.

asked the Minister of Health (1) if he will state the percentage of births in hospitals and the average stay of patients after childbirth in hospitals, during the past year, in England and Wales, and in Hull, respectively; and what steps are being taken by the Leeds Regional Hospital Board to improve immediately the unsatisfactory maternity bed position in Hull;(2) why, in the last 11 years, the Leeds Regional Hospital Board has done nothing to replace the missing block at the Hedon Road Maternity Hospital, Hull, destroyed by bombing in the late war; how many beds have to be replaced as a result; and what steps he intends to take immediately to improve the shortage of maternity beds in Hull.(3) if he will state the number of births in Hull and the number of maternity beds, in the years 1939 and 1948 and last year, and the number and percentage of births in maternity beds in each of these years.

Statistics are not available in the form requested but in 1949 6,338 confinements notified to the Medical Officer of Health took place in the administrative area of Kingston-upon-Hull. Of these 2,230 (35·2 per cent.) occurred in institutions, 252 of them in private nursing homes. The corresponding figures for 1958 were 5,540, 2,839 (51·2 per cent.) and 215, and the corresponding percentage for England and Wales in 1958 was 63·2 per cent. The number of births to Hull residents which were registered in 1939 was 5,557 but it is not known how many of these took place in institutions.On 31st December, 1949 there were 74 beds in National Health Service hospitals in Hull allocated to maternity services; in addition 10 further beds designated under section 5 of the National Health Service Act, 1946 were used mainly for maternity cases. This designation has since been withdrawn and 84 beds are now devoted entirely to maternity work. In 1958 the average length of stay in these beds was 9·31 days, compared with a national average of 10·91 days.Work is now in progress on the extension to the Hedon Road Maternity Hospital referred to in the Answer given to the hon. and gallant Member on 26th March. Previously other claims on the limited resources available for hospital building, and the need to ensure that the development of maternity services fitted in with plans for hospital development in Hull generally, have delayed the making good of the deficiency of maternity accommodation in the City. I understand that accommodation for some 16 patients was lost at the Hedon Road Maternity Hospital because of bombing.

asked the Minister of Health (1) under what conditions the Townend Maternity Home, Hull, is still being run as a private nursing home, under the National Health Scheme, for a limited number of doctors and specially privileged patients; and when the Leeds Regional Hospital Board intends to integrate this home with the Hedon Road Maternity Hospital into the National Health Scheme in Hull, for the use of all doctors and patients of all social classes;(2) if he will state the priorities adopted by the Leeds Regional Hospital Board and the Hull Hospital Management Committee for the entry of maternity cases into the Hedon Road Maternity Hospital and the Townend Maternity Home, Hull; and why medical, sociological and emergency maternity cases from slum clearance house are not admitted to the Townend Maternity Home.

The Townend Maternity Hospital already vests in the Minister and is operated as part of the National Health Service. The beds there have been approved as amenity beds under Section 4 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, and are available for use by all local general practitioners. Priority for admission both to this Hospital and to the Hedon Road Maternity Hospital is accorded to patients in the following categories:

(i) those with obstetric abnormalities;

(ii) fifth and subsequent confinements;

(iii) those in urgent need of hospital confinement on social grounds.

First confinements receive priority after the needs of patients in the above categories have been met. The Hedon Road Maternity Hospital is better equipped to deal with patients requiring special medical and nursing care.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the date on which a surgical block was closed at the Sutton Annexe Hospital, Hull; what are the reasons for this closure; what further delays this closure will cause in operations; and what steps the Leeds Regional Hospital Board is taking forthwith to re-open this block and reduce the increasingly lengthy delays of operations for numerous patients.

One surgical ward was closed on 28th March because of shortage of nursing staff, which the hospital authorities are doing all they can to make good. Meanwhile patients are being diverted as far as possible to other accommodation. Any increase in waiting time will depend on the circumstances of each particular case and on the speed with which the ward at Sutton can be re-opened.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the total amount of money spent by the Leeds Regional Hospital Board on the new all purpose laundry at the Western General Hospital, Hull, the period this laundry has been in use, and the date by which it is to be demolished; and what part of the equipment is to be used in the next new combined hospitals laundry.

Improvements recently made at the laundry of the Western General Hospital are estimated to cost about £15,500. About £13,500 of this represents equipment suitable for transfer to the proposed new Group Laundry. The improved laundry has been in full operation for about a month and is likely to continue in operation for a further twelve to eighteen months.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of births which took place in Hull during last year, in slum clearance houses with no indoor sanitation or water supply; and why the Leeds Regional Hospital Board did not arrange for cases of the worst conditions to be sent to maternity hospitals elsewhere in the region, outside Hull.

Statistics relating births to housing conditions are not available but I cannot accept the implication that Hull mothers in urgent need of hospital confinement were unable to secure admission to hospital.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the total cost of the Hedon Road Maternity Hospital and the Townend Maternity Home, Hull, respectively, last year, and the number of births and the average cost per patient in each place.

The latest available information is as follows. The Townend Maternity Home is costed as one unit with the Hull Hospital for Women.

—	Hedon Road Maternity Hospital	Townend Maternity Hospital and Hull Hospital for Women
Number of births in 1958	2,339	286
Total cost in 1957–58	£99,266	£40,505
Average cost per case 1957–58	£35 19 2	£38 14 2

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, if he is aware that a diesel fuel additive has been marketed by one of the oil companies in an effort to eliminate the obnoxious odours from diesel fumes, and that a Yorkshire firm has invented a filter for extracting carbon sludge from diesel exhaust fumes which costs about £10; whether these two devices have yet been examined by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research; and what are the prospects of these devices being used on a large scale to reduce this form of atmospheric pollution.

The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research are aware that a diesel fuel additive which is claimed to reduce the obnoxious odours from diesel fumes has been marketed by an oil company. This additive has not yet been examined by the Department. The Department has received no information on the particular filter referred to by my hon. Friend. Results of experimental work on diesel engine exhausts carried out by the Motor Industry Research Association and the British Internal Combustion Engine Research Association have shown that the greater part of the smoke from such engines can be substantially reduced by proper adjustment, running and maintenance.