asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the dissatisfaction that is felt in Exeter regarding the poor standard of television reception; and what steps he is taking to secure an improvement.

I understand that in certain propagation conditions there is occasional interference with television reception in Exeter from continental television stations. Apart from this, the British Broadcasting Corporation tells me that reception should be generally satisfactory.

Exeter is beyond range of the Independent Television Authority's service at present. It hopes to extend its coverage to the South-West during the winter of 1960–61.

Can my hon. Friend say whether he has made any representations to his right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in order that negotiations may take place with the French Government to see whether this interference can be cut out?

The problem arises from the necessity to share television frequencies both among various stations in this country and between stations in this country and the Continent. It is only in certain propagation conditions that the trouble arises, and we are in constant touch with the other authorities.

asked the Post master-General to what extent prospects for better television viewing in the Swindon area have improved since he received the deputation introduced to him by the hon. Member for Swindon.

The British Broadcasting Corporation tells me that it hopes to provide a satellite television station for the Swindon area in a later stage of its development plan. The I.T.A. cannot proceed with plans for Swindon and other areas of poor reception until it has completed its main network.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary give any indication of what he means by "at a later stage"—even a rough estimate—because, as he knows very well, many thousands of people in my constituency and neighbouring areas feel very strongly indeed about this matter and are looking forward to an improvement?

We have taken note of the representations which have been made to us on behalf of the hon. Gentleman's constituents. My right hon. Friend announced the first stage of the B.B.C. plan a few days ago and when that has been worked out we shall have some idea of the later time-table, but not until.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress has been made in the work to improve the telephone service in the area of Gerrards Cross, Chalfont St. Peter and Chalfont St. Giles, Buckinghamshire.

The position is greatly improved. At Gerrards Cross a 1,000-line extension of the exchange was completed in May. At Chalfont St. Giles we are negotiating for a site to enable us to extend the capacity of the exchange. Some new cables have been laid, and we expect that a comprehensive redevelopment scheme will be substantially completed by the spring of next year. In the past twelve months, 429 telephones have been provided; waiting applicants are given service as each section of the new cables is completed and we hope to install over 800 telephones during the present financial year.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that progress, may I ask him to remember that this developing area of South Buckinghamshire has had many gaps in its telephone service in past years, and may we hope that there will be a much improved service in the future?

We will continue to do our best.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will indicate the size of the present waiting list for telephones; and, approximately, what proportion of this present waiting list will be supplied with telephones after a further two years from now.

Altogether, 58,100 applications are on the waiting list at present and another 82,600 are under inquiry or in course of being met.

The composition of the waiting list is changing all the time. We now hope to provide about 390,000 new telephones this year, and again next year, and these will include, as new plant becomes available, most of the applications at present on the waiting list, as well as new applications. I am sorry I cannot be more specific in reply to the second part of the hon. Member's Question.

Will the hon. Member do what he can to extend the supply of these telephones, as many people on the waiting list are suffering considerable hardship?

As my reply indicated, we are doing a great deal. I should like to stress that in the second quarter of this year, ending 30th June, we supplied nearly 101,000 telephones. This rate has been exceeded only once in the last decade.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will now give further information about the reaction of telephone users in Bristol to the new trunk dialling system.

We have now analysed the 1,700 replies which we received from Bristol subscribers to our questionnaire inviting their comments on subscriber trunk dialling. I am glad to find that an overwhelming majority express a preference for the new system. They like it because it is quicker and cheaper. Altogether, 90 per cent. say they are taking advantage of the new tariff for short calls, 30 per cent. say they are making more calls, and over 70 per cent. approve the timing of local calls in conjunction with the decrease in the charge from 3d. to 2d.

Altogether I think this is a most encouraging reception for the first installation of this new system and I congratulate the Bristol subscribers on the success with which they are using it.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that encouraging reply, the contents of which I can confirm from my own experience, may I ask whether he can tell the House what financial advantage it has brought to the Post Office and how the increased income is to be spent?

Curiously, there is no very great financial advantage to the Post Office so far. The number of trunk calls on this exchange has increased by about 40 per cent. but as a result of subscribers using their own judgment in limiting the time of their calls, our revenue has been just about maintained.

Has any percentage of the subscribers expressed a wish to have the Post Office denationalised?

That was one of the questions which we did not put to them.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the telephone pole placed in the front garden of 32, Wing-field Road, Coleshill, Birmingham, without the tenant's permission, has now been removed to another site.

Yes, Sir. An alternative site has just been settled with the rural district council. The pole was moved this morning. I am sorry that it has all taken so long to arrange.

I am obliged to the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will now consider the issue of low-value pictorial stamps.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider breaking away from the traditional form of low-value postage stamps and issue them with pictorial designs.

I have gone into this matter very thoroughly. I believe most people are well satisfied with our policy of maintaining the present size of our low-value stamps and giving predominance on them to the portrait of the Queen. I do not propose to change it.

As the old practice has been breached in the case of the high-value stamps, surely there is a case for meeting the general interest which is shown by the young people of this country by giving an opportunity to buy low-value stamps which carry pictorial descriptions? Is the hon. Member aware that in another place examples of stamps were submitted which did not interfere with the tradition of having the Queen's head on the stamp and did not increase the size of the stamp? In view of that fact, does it not appear that his case falls to the ground?

I have before me examples of the stamps to which the right hon. Gentleman refers. The main considerations which we have to take into account are, first, that it would be highly inconvenient to both business users and the Post Office to alter the size of the stamps; and, secondly, that having decided to maintain the present size of the low-value stamps, it does not seem to us to be possible to have a pictorial design together with a proper representation of the portrait of the Queen.

Is the Minister aware that I do not think that there is anything at all in the last argument? Is it not quite practicable to do anything we like with stamps provided that we have the right ideas about them? Is it not correct that the Postmaster-General, like myself, had the opportunity to see that excellent and indeed very profitable stamp department in Washington? Why are we trailing behind other countries in our stamp issue? Will the Minister ask his right hon. Friend to ask the advisory committee to look at some of these examples to see whether they cannot be less conservative than some hon. Members who have been hailing the Minister this afternoon?

We have considered these various matters, including the experience of other authorities. While there may be some advantages in making changes, there are real disadvantages, and we do not want to take those over from the American or other authorities.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that many people do not want these changes, nor do they want the tradition broken? Am I right in saying that we are the only country in the world which has the Sovereign's head so clearly portrayed that it does not include the name of the country on the stamp?

My right hon. Friend is perfectly correct. Our position in that respect arises from the fact that we were the first people to use stamps and that we are not required to put on the stamp the name of the country. We do not want to lose that position.

Is not the Minister aware that the specimen stamps exhibited in the other place interfered neither with the size of the stamp nor with the position, nor did they leave the Queen's head off the stamps? Is he aware that in that way tradition is preserved and we meet the needs of modern society?

That is one opinion with which I cannot agree.

asked the Postmaster-General whether patent rights have been taken out by the Post Office on the new channel equipment.

Patent applications have been filed but are still pending.

I take it that the producers will pay some fee to the Post Office for the use of these rights? I am concerned about whether the Post Office, in introducing this type of equipment for a third party, will be able to recoup itself for some of the investment made in the development.

The right hon. Gentleman knows that we work very closely with the industry in developing and using these various new designs and ideas. I can assure him that the interests of the Post Office and the public interest generally are very well protected.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what plans he has for increasing the use of air-freight for transporting the heavy luggage of service families trooped by air to the Far East.

We are at present examining, with the other two Services, the possibility of sending as air freight, some of the luggage which cannot accompany the families.

Is it not rather silly to take the families out to the Far East very quickly when they have to wait for weeks and sometimes months for their baggage to catch up with them? Surely in the Minister's examination he should consider using slow air freight for some of the heavy baggage?

Families travelling by air are already allowed to take with them rather more than one can take as a first-class passenger on a civil air line. I nevertheless agree with the hon. Member that we should examine—and we are examining—whether more cannot be done in the way of freight.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the seating capacity in the recruits' mess at the Royal Air Force, Cardington; and the weekly intake of recruits.

The seating capacity is 360 at any one time, which should be sufficient for an intake of 600. The average weekly intake during June was 550.

Is the Minister aware that in the same week that these Questions were put down the seating capacity was increased by about sixty, six officers were sent into the mess to organise seating and eating arrangements and a bigger supply of better quality food was supplied? I can tell the right hon. Gentleman exactly what the foods were.

Order. The hon. Member should ask a question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to ensure that the best possible facilities are supplied to National Service men and others who may be stationed at Cardington? Will he also say whether there are canteens at Cardington which are not used?

The recruits do not all arrive at the dining hall together. They enter at intervals. There is ample capacity already provided for the peak number which we are ever likely to get during the week. There are always officers and senior N.C.O.s in the dining hall to help the recruits to find places at the tables. There is nothing new about that. The food is always of good quality.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what facilities exist at the Royal Air Force, Cardington, for drying and ironing airmen's personal clothing.

There are eight drying rooms. Electric irons are available in the barrack blocks housing permanent staff. They would not normally be needed by recruits, whose stay at the reception unit is very short.

Are not there some recruits at Cardington who stay there for four or five weeks, who may have had previous training and who find that instructions received in their previous training, especially training on a cadet's course, cannot be carried out at Cardington through lack of these facilities?

It is very unusal for recruits to stay at Cardington for more than a few days.

My information is five weeks.

That must be an exception. I should like to look at it. It is very unusual. The average time is inside a week. We used to provide electric irons in the recruits' barrack block, but these were very seldom used, and when they were used the appearance of the uniforms was not always improved.

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) the cost to public funds to date of facilities provided for participants in the Daily Mail Air Race;

The Royal Air Force has entered its own team for this race, and has taken part with the Army in two joint entries, as part of Service training. Incidental costs have amounted to about £800. The airfields at Biggin Hill and Northolt have been made available to other competitors, and aircraft used by Marine and Army teams have been serviced, without extra cost to Air Votes.

Will the Secretary of State convey the congratulations of the House to the men who have been successfully engaged in this adventure? However, as there has been quite a lot of public money involved in helping to advertise the Daily Mail, what does the Secretary of State intend to do with the prize money?

I am delighted to inform the hon. Gentleman that only a few hours ago the Royal Air Force once again took first place in the race with a time of 40 minutes, 44 seconds, but as we have not yet won the race—it goes on until tomorrow night—I am afraid that it is a purely hypothetical question to ask what we would do with the money if we won it.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the whole country except a few acidulated spoil-sports will welcome the attitude taken by his Department?

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. It would be very difficult to devise a better exercise for the Services.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what requirement he has stated for a nuclear-powered aircraft for use in bombing, reconnaissance or transport operations.

We are keenly interested in possibilities in the field of nuclear propulsion for aircraft, and we are closely in touch with the work being done in research establishments in this country and in America. But it is too early yet to state a requirement for a specific type of aircraft.

Can the Secretary of State say what his Ministry is doing in connection with the discussions for the development of such aircraft, which I understand are now going on with the United States?

I think the hon. Gentleman would agree that there is still a lot of research to be done. As I say, we are watching the position very closely.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in order to improve efficiency and reduce waiting time at airports, he will try to obtain the agreement of the airline companies to include the airport charges in the passenger fare.

I assume my hon. and gallant Friend refers to the passenger service charge levied on the airlines.

We strongly favour the suggestion that the airlines should absorb this charge in the fare, but the International Air Transport Association has so far been unable to accept this proposal. As an alternative method of avoiding delay and irritation to passengers, we encourage airlines and travel agents to collect the service charge in advance, along with the charge for the passenger fare.

Is my hon. Friend aware that that reply will give much satisfaction? Will he continue to press the I.A.T.A. to include this charge in the ticket?

British airlines have pressed this point at I.A.T.A. meetings and I am advised that they intend to do so again this autumn.

What authority has the Minister over this matter? If the airlines were approached individually, surely there is no reason why they could not accept? Have they been so approached?

No, Sir. I think that the right hon. Gentleman misunderstands the situation. The passenger service charge is levied on the airlines and not on the passengers. It is an alternative to an increase in landing charges. It is important to realise that it is a charge on the airline in that sense and we are therefore obliged to continue to charge it.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will now state when the reviewing body, with Mr. Fay as chairman, expects to start taking evidence.

I understand that the reviewing body had a preliminary meeting on 16th July with Captain Thain and his advisers, and it was decided to begin the hearing on 28th September.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has yet been informed by the German Government of their intentions in regard to reopening the inquiry into the Munich air crash.

No, Sir. But I know that they are at the moment considering the additional evidence put forward by Captain Thain.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) on what date he revised procedures for the testing of pilots to implement the recommendation regarding the six-months' check embodied in the report of the court investigation of the accident to Viking G-AJBO on 1st May, 1957;

(2) what steps have been taken to avoid the duplication of proceedings, the delay, and other disadvantages in the investigation of aircraft accidents due to the inadequate communications made by his Department to the coroners charged with the responsibility of inquiring into deaths caused by such accidents.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation why he submitted no evidence against the former directors of Independent Air Travel Limited, in respect of the Southall crash, in view of the fact that sufficient evidence to justify a prosecution was available between the conclusion of the inquest on 29th January and the expiry of the time for instituting proceedings for offences against the Air Navigation Order and Regulations on 2nd March, particulars of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Govan.

With permission I will answer this Question and Questions Nos. 47 and 52 together.

I would refer hon. Members to the very full statement I gave in the House during the debate on Monday last, 20th July.

On a point of Order. Is there any precedent for this procedure, Mr. Speaker? Here are two Questions of mine, dealing with entirely different matters. While it is true that the Minister made reference to the subject of my Question No. 46 during the debate on Monday, he gave completely inadequate and evasive replies. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Should not we be entitled to have these Questions answered separately?

If the hon. Gentleman thinks the Minister's Answer does not cover both his Questions, the is entitled to ask supplementary questions.

May I therefore ask the Minister, on Question No. 46, whether it is not true that the right hon. Gentleman evaded the point in the debate on Monday—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—certainly.

The hon. Gentleman is not entitled to make statements. He may ask his supplementary question.

I was not making irrelevant statements, Mr. Speaker, but putting a supplementary question following upon the reply given to my Question No. 46. This matter was mentioned in that debate and the Minister said that the regulations were a matter for the operating companies. What I want to ask the Minister now, if he will answer the question, is this: is not the fact that this was left entirely to the operating companies precisely what Mr. Justice Phillimore was complaining about in the original Report on the accident of 1st May, 1957? As there have been two further accidents since 1st May, 1957, is it not time that the Minister himself took more responsibility for enforcing those regulations?

I am always available to try to give the House the facts. It was within my recollection, and I think that of the hon. Gentleman, that both I and the Parliamentary Secretary dealt at very great length with this matter as recently as Monday night. The answer to the hon. Gentleman, as shortly as I can give it now, is that the six-monthly check for pilots is not a statutory requirement. That is well known and has existed for quite a long time, as my hon. Friend made plain in the debate. What Mr. Justice Phillimore said in his earlier Report was that we should make better arrangements to see that these checks are carried out, and that we did, as I explained in the debate on Monday.

May I remind the Minister of what Mr. Justice Phillimore also said, which is that it was "too optimistic"—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order."]

Order. The hon. Gentleman must ask a question.

Is the Minister aware that Mr. Justice Phillimore said that it was "too optimistic" to leave these matters to the operating companies themselves? Further, as to my second Question, No. 47, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that he told the House on Monday night that the inquest had been adjourned and that any subsequent adjournment was a matter for the coroner, but that the coroner in fact said on 28th January—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order."] Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the coroner said on 28th January:

"When I opened the inquest on 5th September I adjourned it at the request of the M.T.C.A. until after the proposed public inquiry."

How are we to reconcile those two statements? To which are we to turn, the coroner or the Minister, for the facts in this case?

I have very great sympathy with the hon. Gentleman. I agreed with him on Monday that half a day—which incidentally was asked for by his side of the House and not by mine—was inadequate to debate the large number of issues that arose. I do not think it is right to try to reopen the whole debate at Question Time.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that on Monday he did not specifically refute the statement by Dr. Gorsky? Surely, the coroner spoke with some authority when he said that there was the time and the evidence to take further action if the Minister so desired—evidence which I have forwarded to the Minister? Does the Minister regard that as an irresponsible statement?

I answered that quite clearly, in my somewhat lengthy remarks on Monday. What I said was that there were some outstanding minor charges and I very clearly gave the reason why we did not bring them. If we had brought them the company could, by a technical, legal device, have delayed the hearing of a public inquiry almost indefinitely. I thought I had made that very clear.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is yet in a position to make a statement about increasing the speed limit for cars towing light trailers.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will now make a statement about an increase in the speed limit for light goods vehicles.

I circulated to representative organisations proposals to increase from 30 m.p.h. to 40 m.p.h., outside built-up areas, the speed limits of the larger public service vehicles and of light goods vehicles having an unladen weight not exceeding 30 cwt. Replies from these organisations raised a number of considerable difficulties and showed no unanimity. I have, therefore, decided that I should not, at present, proceed with either of the proposals. So long as light goods vehicles continue to be restricted to 30 m.p.h. I have also come to the conclusion that no change should be made in the existing speed limit for motor cars drawing light trailers.

Will my right hon. Friend give this matter further consideration because, with the modern roads being built today, and modern engineering methods, surely the 30 m.p.h. speed limit is archaic for light trailers such as those used for carrying dinghies? If my right hon. Friend ever had to tow a dinghy on the A.1 road from here to York he would see how frustrating it can be.

I understand my hon. Friend's difficulties. Quite frankly, I should like to make a move on this, but we must get larger agreement than we have on the matter. I will certainly keep it under study.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether his attention has been drawn to the production of a motor car, in the medium price range, advertised as being capable of achieving a speed of 100 miles-per-hour in 31 seconds; and what estimate he has made of the impact on road safety of such vehicles in the hands of persons without experience of high-powered cars.

Yes, Sir. I hope that my hon. and gallant Friend's Question will serve to emphasise the vital importance of a driver having complete control of his vehicle, whatever its potentialities may be.

May we take it from that reply that my hon. Friend agrees that this is a matter on which we should keep a watchful eye?

We have to keep a very fast eye open to see this one. Most of these vehicles are to be exported, so per-haps that will relieve my hon. and gallant Friend's mind.

Will the hon. Gentleman say on what roads in this small island it is either possible or desirable that we should have vehicles capable of doing 100 m.p.h.?

I think that these vehicles might well do that speed in certain circumstances on the new motorways. We should not see this thing out of perspective. The braking power of these vehicles is just as good as the acceleration. That is an aspect of safety that we should bear in mind.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) what consultations were held with the Road Research Laboratory, and what assistance was obtained from it, before the Report on the sample survey of the transport of goods by road was prepared and published;

(2) if he will provide the Road Research Laboratory with the replies to the questionnaires received in connection with the sample survey of the transport of goods by road, and request it to prepare an objective analysis of them for presentation to Parliament.

There was no need to consult the Road Research Laboratory in the preparation of this Report. It contains an objective analysis of the material obtained during the survey, made by qualified statisticians of my Department.

Does not the Minister think that it would have been better if these facts and figures had been given to the Road Research Laboratory to analyse, as it has a world-wide reputation for objective analysis in its researches? Does not he agree with the opinion of The Times that the conclusions reached in this Report are partial, and that the figures are insufficient to allow any conclusions to be reached upon the efficiency of the relative sections of the road haulage industry?

All I can say is that these figures and facts were obtained by qualified statisticians of my Department, who received no instructions as to how they should be prepared or analysed. They did the job as professional assessors, and I believe that they have done it as accurately as they possibly could.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that it is quite plain that that supplementary question came from someone who had made a wrong guess, and who is very disappointed at the authoritative answer that he received?

As it is the main responsibility of the Road Research Laboratory to give advice on planning future roads, and problems of transport, would it not obviously have been much better to consult the Laboratory before the survey was undertaken, so that information which the Laboratory required could also have been gathered by the statisticians?

I think that this survey was done in exactly the same way as were previous ones. These results are open to the Laboratory, and no doubt it will make very good use of them, as it does of all this work. The Question implies that in some way these statistics were not fairly presented, and I have said they were fairly and impartially presented.

In reply to my second Question, will the Minister now hand over the results of the survey and questionnaires to the Laboratory and ask it to make an objective report? In spite of what the right hon. Gentleman says, the Press has taken the view that this is a blatant misuse of Government information.

That is a very wide generalisation. The Press has all sorts of views on all sorts of things. All I wish to say is that this survey is open to the Laboratory if it wishes to make any use of it. It is fully available to the Laboratory. I am not prepared to go further than that.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the long waiting list for driving tests in Cleveland, on Tees-side, and in the North Riding generally; and what action he proposes to take.

Yes, Sir. We are at present recruiting additional examiners.

Is the hon. Member aware that the delays are quite intolerable, and also that there is no driving test centre in the whole of the important Cleveland constituency? Would not it improve the administration if a driving test centre could be situated at Guisborough or Redcar?

I will consider that point when we have completed the present round of recruitment. We are now recruiting an additional 200 examiners and have authority to recruit a further 100, which I think we shall get out of the present competition. I agree that the present delay is far too long. We are doing everything possible to increase the strength of the examiners in order to bring the delay under control.

Some six months ago when a Question on this subject was put to the hon. Gentleman, we got the Answer that the Ministry was seeking to recruit additional examiners. Can the hon. Gentleman tell us what success has been achieved in the last six months, because the waiting time for tests does not seem to be less today than it was six or seven months ago?

I accept that. We have been confronted with a continually increasing number of applications month by month, and although new examiners have gradually come into the service—so far forty-eight have started—we have not been able to hold our own against the increasing number of applications. The Civil Service Commission has a pretty lengthy process for recruitment—these people are established civil servants—and there is no way of speeding up that process. In the meantime, we have arranged for the present examiners to do overtime service and everything possible to deal with the backlog, but at present we are defeated by the huge number of applications. My right hon. Friend and I are determined to bring this backlog under control, and I hope that in the coming months we shall progressively do so.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he has considered a letter from the Clerk to the Horncastle Rural District Council reporting a conference on rural transport at which sixteen local authorities including the county council were represented and many other local organisations; what were the recommendations contained in it; and what reply he has sent.

Yes, Sir. The letter made various detailed suggestions for the improvement of rural transport and asked me to bring them to the attention of the Committee on rural bus services. This I readily agreed to do.

Does not the unanimity of this very large number of local authorities show the importance attached by people who live in the country to the improvement of rural transport? Will my right hon. Friend ensure that the Government really will make an effort to help in this matter?

I agree with my hon. and gallant Friend. I hope we shall soon be able to announce the date when this important Committee on rural transport will start work. It certainly has a most important job to do, and I hope that it will do it very quickly.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of his decision that volume of traffic and its concentration are more significant in connection with the future planning of roads than the total number of vehicles registered, what estimate has been made by his Department as to how the volume and density of traffic in 1969 will compare with that today, in the light of the estimate that 12,500,000 road vehicles will be registered in this country by 1969.

The basis for estimating future traffic volumes is under review. If present trends continue, it is possible that by 1969 volumes would, in general, increase by about 60 per cent. over present volumes.

In view of that contemplated increase of 60 per cent., is the Minister still satisfied that the present programme, which is based on an increase of far less, is satisfactory? Why is he so cagey about giving information to the House concerning his road programme when he is so outspoken outside the House?

As the hon. Gentleman knows, full information on the road programme has been given to the House whenever it has been asked for. I should have thought that the Answer I have given showed above all the necessity to press on with the programme as hard as ever we can for the sake of the motorist.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation why official driving tests in Northern Ireland are not accepted by him as being a true test of competence to drive a motor vehicle in the remainder of the United Kingdom.

To give effect to my hon. Friend's suggestion would require legislation. As I said in reply to a Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Down, South (Captain Orr) on 25th February, we will consider this favourably when an opportunity for traffic legislation offers.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will consider introducing further legislation to abate the nuisance caused by excessive noise from motor cars, motor cycles, and motor scooters.

The existing regulations require that all motor vehicles be fitted with efficient silencers which must be maintained in good condition at all times. Enforcement of the law is a matter for the police. Our Department and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research are at present studying the best means of measuring noise, including ambient noise, caused by motor vehicles. When this study is complete and suitable instruments are available to measure this noise, we shall be in a position to amend the regulations if this proves necessary.

While thanking the Parliamentary Secretary for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that incessant noise has a very bad effect on people suffering from nervous disorders and mental disabilities and whether he will do all in his power as quickly as possible to abate as much noise as possible?

Yes, Sir. We are well aware that the problem of noise on the roads is growing and we are making every effort to find a better means of controlling it.

When the Minister is considering amending the present regulations will he consider whether anything can be done to prevent large numbers of young motorists from going up and down certain roads in order to amuse themselves and show off, much to the annoyance of everybody in the neighbourhood?

That is probably largely a matter for the police. If the right hon. Gentleman will tell me of any instance I will be glad, and I will see that the information is passed on.

If members of the public send the registration numbers of these motor bicycles to the police, have the police power to inspect the machines at the homes of the owners and to test them for noise?

I believe so, but that question could be more properly put to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he expects to bring in regulations for the testing of ten-year-old cars, as provided in the Road Traffic Act, 1956.

I have now circulated draft regulations to bodies representing vehicle users, municipalities, the motor trade and other interests. When any comments have been received and considered I shall be able to announce the date on which the regulations will come into effect.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman be a little more specific? He told us at the beginning of the year that the regulations would be introduced in the middle of this summer and now he is going to delay them further. What is the cause of this? Does the Minister fear that he may offend motoring organisations just in advance of a General Election? Is that one of the reasons why he is not introducing them now?

The hon. Gentleman knows that the causes lie in purely technical reasons. Let me give an example. There has been the greatest possible difficulty in legally defining whether a motor is properly fitted with headlamps or not, in the sense of a definition. Until these things were cleared up there would have been loopholes in the regulations which would have frustrated the whole inspection procedure.

How can the right hon. Gentleman justify three-and-a-half years' delay in bringing these regulations in? What he has just said will mean a further delay of many months. How many additional lives are to be lost before these inspections can begin?

There will not be a delay of many more months. I recognise that the right hon. Gentleman has a great interest in this matter. We have tried to get forward as quickly as we could, but to start inspections with a lot of loopholes in the regulations which would have enabled cars to escape inspection altogether would have been the worst possible course to take.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a statement on his plans for widening and making safer that portion of Leek Road which lies between Stoke and Milton; how long the plans have been in existence; and what is the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents that have occurred during these years.

Plans for this road are a matter for the Stoke-on-Trent City Council as highway authority.

We have made grants totalling £40,000 during the past two years towards the cost of improvements to the road, and we hope to be able to contribute another £10,000 or so next year towards a widening scheme at the Milton end. This will complete the last stage of a plan which the council has been carrying out as circumstances allowed since 1938.

Since that date there have been 15 fatalities, 74 persons seriously injured, and 343 slightly injured on this 3½ mile length of road.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary agree that the figures that he has given of injuries sustained on this short stretch of road prove how important it is to widen and extend the road right through to the village of Milton? Will he give an assurance that under no circumstances will there be any further delay so far as he is concerned?

As I told the House, we intend to make a grant which will enable this widening to be completed next year.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what reply he has sent to the resolution sent to him by the Order of the Sons of Temperance noting with regret his decision to allow applications to be made for the sale of intoxicating liquor on premises situated on the Preston motorway.

The reply explained that the only catering establishments on motorways will be in designated service areas, and that there is no service area on the Preston motorway. At service areas on other motorways, no bars or licensed premises will be permitted, but alcoholic drinks will be available with meals, if a table licence is granted by the licensing justices.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that police tests have shown that the consumption of even one alcoholic drink can have a marked effect in slowing down the reactions of a motorist? In view of the fact that these motorways are intended for vehicles travelling at very high speeds, even up to 100 m.p.h., when any impairment of reaction may be fatal, does not the Minister think that it is the responsibility of the Government to stress to motorists the fact that they should not drink in any circumstances while at the wheel on these roads?

I agree with the hon. Lady as to the anxiety which many people rightly feel about the influence of alcohol on road accidents. We went into this matter very carefully, and for the reasons she has given we decided, as I have said, that no bars or licensed premises would be permitted. After most careful thought, however, we came to the conclusion that if the licensing justices saw fit to allow a man to have an alcoholic drink with a meal, that was not an unreasonable service to offer.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent he contemplates continuing increases in the amount and size of the road programme.

Expenditure on new construction and major improvements in the road programme will rise to about £65 million next year and will be planned thereafter on a basis of not less than £60 million per annum.

In view of the rather odd Report which recently made its appearance, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether he is satisfied that the road programme has been adequately planned? Is he satisfied that anything like enough money is being spent on the programme, because, though a great start has been made, it remains the fact that we shall have to step it up considerably more if we are to keep pace with Continental competitors?

As my hon. Friend has asked me a supplementary question on a rather topical subject, I should like to take this opportunity to say that I am very sorry indeed if the Select Committee thought me guilty of the slightest intentional discourtesy in what I said yesterday.

The answer to my hon. Friend's supplementary question is that the road programme is progressing on a plan which gives this country the quickest possible work on motorways. I agree that any Minister of Transport would say that we should spend a good deal more money on it and I hope that in due course we shall be enabled to do so.

Since the Minister is so satisfied over his road programme can he publicise in HANSARD, or place in the Library, a copy of the national road programme which, with characteristic modesty, he talked about yesterday?

In the various debates in (his House I have given a very clear idea of the national plan which is based on what my Ministry calls its five main projects. If the hon. Gentleman wishes me to give further publicity to them, I shall be very happy to do so.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what consideration has been given by his Department to imposing a speed limit upon Court Road, Orpington; and whether he will give an analysis of motor vehicle accidents there during the past year, observing in particular the total number, the number in which speeds in excess of 30 miles-per-hour are considered to have been the cause or a contributory factor, and the number involving personal injury.

The number of accidents on Court Road involving personal injury during the twelve months ending 1st July of this year, was twenty-four. These resulted in 1 fatality, 7 serious and 25 slight injuries. I have no details of the speed of vehicles involved. We consider that this accident record is disturbing, and we have therefore decided to refer the question of a 40 m.p.h. speed limit to the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee for its advice.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what date has been fixed for work to proceed on the proposed Stanway by-pass on the London—Colchester north-east Essex road.

No date has yet been fixed, but essential preparatory work is proceeding.

Is my hon. Friend aware that it is urgently necessary to press on with this project as soon as possible? Can he, or a representative from his Ministry, come to examine the position on the approaching Bank Holiday, as there is a feeling locally that his Ministry is not aware of the urgency of pressing on with this project as quickly as possible?

We know that this project is urgent. Indeed, we have already done a good deal on this road, but I am afraid that work on this particular part of it will have to take its turn.

May I reinforce the representations which have been made—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—and may I ask my hon. Friend to pay double attention to what has been said by my hon. Friend the Member for Harwich (Mr. Ridsdale)? I have a vested interest in this section of the road in that my farm office is twelve feet from it, and may I ask my hon. Friend whether he appreciates that, unless something is done urgently, there will be a by-election at Maldon and there will be a number of other accidents on this part of the road?

I take note of my hon. Friend's supplementary question.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he intends to impose a 40-miles-an-hour speed limit on the stretch of the Ashbourne Road, Derby, between Kings-way and the borough boundary.

Under the 1956 Road Traffic Act we cannot consider extending the 40 m.p.h. limit to roads outside London until we are able to report to Parliament the advice of the Committee on Road Safety on the London experiment. We hope to be able to do so later in the year.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that it is now eighteen months since the Minister himself proposed the 40 mile-an-hour limit? As this road is dangerous, and uses far too much energy of the police force in controlling its traffic, may we hope that the Minister will do something in this matter before he leaves office?

There will be plenty of time for that, but we must await this report.

If the Minister cannot impose a 40 m.p.h. limit as he proposed, will he impose the 30 m.p.h. limit which the local authority, the chief constable and the road safety committee all unanimously demand?

The right hon. Gentleman knows that we have looked at this matter very carefully, but I am afraid that I cannot give him an answer in the affirmative.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what information he has concerning the safe gap which should be maintained between a vehicle and a following vehicle at various speeds.

Many professional drivers make a practice of staying at least twenty feet, or about one car's length, behind the car in front for each ten miles of the driver's speed. I believe this practice to be basically sound.

Has my hon. Friend any statistics to support the recommendations, which I think emanated from his Department, to keep one car's length behind for every ten miles per hour speed? Is this really sufficient, or ought not the safety gap to be much more according to the reports from the Road Research Laboratory?

I do not think so, but we are not officially recommending it. I am saying only that it is a common practice, and I think it is quite a good one.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has now received the report of the London Travel Committee which has been examining the proposed Victoria line.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is now in a position to announce when a start will be made with the construction of the proposed new underground railway from Victoria through North-East London.

As I told the hon. Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 1st July, the London Travel Committee has not yet completed its study. My right hon. Friend will reach a decision as soon as possible after receiving the Committee's report.

As the facts about the need for this line have been known for several years, does not the Minister think that it is time that the Committee came to a conclusion and the Minister made up his mind?

What the Committee has been doing is to try to take an expert view of whether this large sum of money, £50 million to £60 million, could be better spent on improving other aspects of communication in London. The Committee has had fifteen meetings on the matter and I believe that it is nearing the end of its deliberations, but it has lost no time over it.

Is it not a fact that the London Transport Executive is very anxious to make a start with this? Is it not also a fact that no better alternative method has ever been suggested for alleviating the appalling traffic conditions in North-East London.

The London Transport Executive is certainly anxious to start on this proposal. The Committee is taking an expert view on whether £50 million to £60 million would be best spent on this project for relieving traffic problems in London.

Is not the Minister aware that his replies to this question are becoming a matter of boring repetition? We have had the same answer for at least twelve months. Is he aware that this is the only way in which traffic in London can be relieved satisfactorily, and that if his predecessor had taken this attitude fifty years ago London would be in an impossible situation today?

The hon. Member is quite wrong. The same question has been asked a number of times, but until the report has been made it is inevitable that the answer will be roughly the same. A decision will be taken as soon as possible, but we want to have a well-balanced and expert report.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in view of the subsidy on agricultural limestone, he will consider making regulations to confine its coastal carriage to British ships.

No, Sir. The Government is opposed to flag discrimination of all kinds.

I accept that view, but does my hon. Friend appreciate the effect that this undercutting by Dutch coasters is having on the British coastal trade, and how particularly frustrating it is that it concerns goods which carry up to a 70 per cent. subsidy?

I understand what my hon. Friend means but, like this country, the Netherlands do not reserve their coastal trade to their own ships. My information is that in 1958 Dutch vessels represented only about 3 per cent. of the total number of ships operating in the coastal trade and only about 1 per cent. of the deadweight tonnage. We must keep this matter in perspective.

Is not that an astonishing reply, in view of the detrimental effect on British shipping of flags of convenience and flags of discrimination by other countries? Are we to undersand that the Government have now made up their mind that we are never to take retaliatory action in order to protect British shipping?

I do not think that the right hon. Gentleman was listening. I said that we were not prepared to take the same kind of flag discrimination action as we complain of when it is taken by other countries.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the present wages, allowances, pensions and conditions of service of men in the British Coastguard Service, indicating what improvements in them have been made during the last ten years.

As the information about pay and allowances, pensions and conditions of service, is rather lengthy, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Pensions and conditions of service are broadly the same as those referred to in my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. and learned Member on 10th April, 1957. The only conditions of service which have changed significantly in the last ten years are leave allowances and hours of work.

Is the Minister in a position to compare or contrast the conditions of service and wages of these men with those of the men who render equally dangerous and useful service as members of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution? Is he aware that there is a great disparity between them? Cannot he do something to help members of the latter Institution?

The hon. and learned Member should remember that the lifeboat service is a voluntary one, and we are not responsible for making payments to it.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will make a statement as to the present rights of Her Majesty's Coastguards to compensation for personal injury and loss of clothing and other loss in course of duty.

The rights of Her Majesty's Coastguards to compensation for injury, loss of clothing and other loss sustained in the course of duty are contained in the Superannuation Acts, 1834 to 1957, and in the Injury Warrant, 1952. These rights, and other entitlements, vary according to the circumstances of each case. I should be glad to send the hon. and learned Member fuller information if he would let me have details of any particular case he has in mind.

I thank the Minister for the last sentence of his reply, but is he aware that there is a great disparity of compensation as between the members of the Coastguard Service and members of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution? Can he do something to see that members of the latter noble service receive fair treatment?

I am afraid the answer must be the same as that given to the previous, supplementary question. We are not responsible for the lifeboat service, in that we make no payments to it on our Votes, as I am advised, but I would not want to detract in any way from the opinion which the hon. and learned Member has expressed as to the very valuable service which lifeboatmen render to mariners in distress at sea.