asked the Postmaster-General if, having regard to the greatly increased speed with which a number can be obtained by a push-button type of automatic telephone, as compared with the rotary-dial type now in use, he will consider introducing the pushbutton type of telephone into the telephone service.

The possibilities here are being studied in conjunction with the use of electronic switching in the telephone service. I agree that push buttons are quicker to operate than dials, but with the present electro-mechanical switching system, their use would not speed up the time for connecting calls, and would necessitate the provision of additional equipment at the telephone exchange, so increasing costs.

asked the Postmaster-General when it is proposed to convert the telephone exchange at Goole to automatic operation.

I cannot yet say, but it will probably be two or three years before we can make a start. I have to give priority to places where the exchange is either not in such good condition as the Goole exchange, or cannot be extended to take new subscribers.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephones are still outstanding in Cardiff; and how soon he hopes to be able to provide them.

Two hundred and eighty-five. In addition 481 are under inquiry or in course of being met. New cables are being laid and I hope that all existing waiting applicants will be given service by the spring of 1961.During the past twelve months 1,560 telephones were installed in Cardiff.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications he has received from residents within the area of the Swindon Exchange for the provision of a telephone during the last twelve months; and how many of these applications are still outstanding.

Of the 271 applications received from residents during the last twelve months, 36 are outstanding, excluding 29 which are under inquiry or are in course of being met.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the confusion caused by the fact that the Dagenham Borough and postal areas do not coincide; and whether he will assimilate them.

The reason why the Dagenham postal address does not cover all parts of the Dagenham Borough is because postal addresses must have regard to economic delivery arrangements and the lay-out of postmen's rounds. The Dagenham Post Office is well sited to serve its area and the arbitrary division of roads between different offices which would follow assimilation of postal and borough boundaries, might lead to greater confusion. Special arrangements are made to minimise delays to letters wrongfully addressed. I think the present arrangements should be maintained.

asked the Postmaster-General what changes he is making in the overseas telephone and telegraph services as a result of the conference held in Geneva last year; and when he will put them into effect.

At the Administrative Telegraph and Telephone Conference, which met in Geneva in the autumn of 1958, a number of changes in the international Telegraph and Telephone Regulations, to take effect on 1st January, 1960, were agreed. The great majority of these changes—many of which are of a minor character—apply to operating methods. The only changes affecting rates are that the minimum number of words charged for in an overseas full-rate telegram will be increased from 5 to 7, and in an overseas Press telegram from 10 to 14.I am about to lay new Regulations and publish a Gazette notice giving effect to the alterations.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the composition of the official British delegation to the International Radio Conference at Geneva; and if he will place the findings of the conference in the Library.

The official delegation is composed of representatives of the Post Office, Foreign Office, Service Departments and the Ministries of Defence, Aviation and Transport. The findings of the conference will take the form of a revised issue of the International Radio Regulations and when they are published I shall be pleased to place a copy in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will describe in detail what education facilities there are in Aden for the children of service families; and how they compare with those in Cyprus.

The following places were available in Royal Air Force children's schools in Aden on 30th September, 1959:

Infants School (Khormaksar)	202
Junior School (Steamer Point)	411
Bilateral Secondary School (Khormaksar)	282
Total	895

Since September a further 180 places have been provided in temporary classrooms at Khormaksar, bringing the total to 1,075. About 200 children attend local civilian schools. All these places are available for the use of children of parents of all three Services and of entitled civilians in Aden.The following places were available in Royal Air Force children's schools in Cyprus on 30th September, 1959:

Infants' School (Limassol)	205
Primary School (Nicosia) (i.e. infants and junior)	532
Primary School (Akrotiri)	181
Primary School (Pergamos)	39
Junior Schools (Limassol)	151
Bilateral Secondary School (Nicosia)	304
Total	1,412

One hundred and forty-three of these places are at present used by the Army. In return, 616 places are provided for R.A.F. children in Army schools in Cyprus.

asked the Secretary of State for Air at what age under his regulations an airman is permitted to pilot or be a member of a crew of a V-bomber.

A man cannot normally become first pilot of a V-bomber before he is 22½. He may be a member of the crew at about 19½.

asked the Secretary of State for Air by what authority he makes compulsory purchase orders in respect of land for the use of the military forces of our Allies.

I acquire land by means of a Notice to Treat served under the Defence Acts. The Visiting Forces Act and an Order in Council made under it enable me to use my Defence Act powers on behalf of foreign military forces visiting the United Kingdom. Land so acquired is held in the name of the Secretary of State for Air.

asked the Minister of Transport which foreign countries have, during each of the last 10 years, exercised discrimination against British ships; how many British ships have been adversely affected; what steps he has taken to ascertain and negative the reasons for this adverse discrimination against British ships; and with what results.

Her Majesty's Government have made 74 formal protests about flag discrimination to the Governments of 31 foreign countries during the last ten years and I will circulate a list in the OFFICIAL REPORT. In some other countries Her Majesty's Government have taken informal action. It would not be in the public interest to particularise. British shipping is affected directly or indirectly by every act of flag discrimination. Her Majesty's Government have take all possible steps, often in co-operation with other European Governments, to combat such discrimination. It is not always possible to judge the immediate effect of representations but in 15 cases the results could be considered satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made by the committee under the chairman- ship of Lord Chandos, in its consideration of plans to replace the R.M.S. "Queen Elizabeth" and R.M.S. "Queen Mary" by Messrs. John Brown, Clydebank, Limited, for the Cunard Company; and when it is proposed to lay the keel of the first of the vessels.

I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Morpeth (Mr. Owen) on 9th December.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now make a statement on the provision of nuclear-power propulsion for ships.

I am not yet able to make a statement, but I will do so as soon as I can.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the arrangements for transmitting gale warnings to ships at sea.

Gale warnings for shipping operating in the North Sea, the English Channel, the Irish Sea and the North Atlantic seaboard are issued by the Meteorological Office. They are broadcast from G.P.O. Coast Radio Stations by wireless telegraphy and radio telephony and by the B.B.C.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to encourage British shipowners to order from British yards, in view of the fact that during the last year British orders for foreign tonnage greatly exceeded foreign orders for new British tonnage.

British shipowners usually prefer to build in British yards unless overseas yards offer more attractive terms. Foreign competition is now very keen, but I have every confidence in the ability of our shipbuilders to meet this challenge.

asked the Minister of Transport what consideration is being given to the need for business premises and shops in busy thoroughfares to display prominently the number so as to reduce the hazards of those in vehicles searching for a particular number which often is not given in any form.

I have no formal responsibility for street numbering, but I would welcome the clearer display of street numbers. I shall shortly be consulting local authority associations about reissuing a circular of guidance on street name plates and I will take the opportunity of consulting them about street numbers.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has, in view of the increasing heavy traffic on A34, for a north-south by-pass at Whitchurch, Hampshire.

We are aware of the increasing use being made of this road, and we are watching the position. A line for a by-pass of Whitchurch is protected in the Hampshire Development Plan, but we have not been able to find a place for this scheme within the current road programme.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the difficulties of heavy road haulage vehicles arising from the soft surface of the lay-bys on the M1 motorway and the lack of facilities for fuel or eating, and that road haulage undertakings are withdrawing their vehicles from the motorway on account of these difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the steps he is taking to correct these deficiencies.

Heavy goods vehicles have caused ruts at some times on the hard shoulders of M1 and the need for remedial measures is being examined. Fuel is available at two service areas on the motorway. Catering and other facilities will be provided at both by the spring of next year. I am not aware that road haulage undertakings are ceasing to use M1 because of the matters to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will consider putting a safety barrier, along the lines of the Dahl barrier, down the middle of the central reservation on Ml at curves in the road.

I shall need a good deal more experience of the motorway before I can decide whether a central barrier is desirable and, if so, what form it should take.

asked the Minister of Transport on how many occasions during the week commencing 8th November Tower Bridge was opened to allow ships to pass; and what was the number of ships concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport what discussions have taken place, or are proposed, in an effort to deal with the heavy traffic congestion caused by the opening of Tower Bridge.

Tower Bridge was opened 1,880 times between 1st January and 23rd November, 1959. Thirty-one of these were during the week beginning on 8th November, to allow the passage of 41 ships. The Corporation of London (Tower Bridge) Act of 1885 requires that priority be given to shipping, but I propose to arrange for discussions with the various authorities and interests concerned to see whether we can reduce the number of times the bridge needs to be opened during the day.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet received any recommendations from the Consultative Committee on the Lighting of Traffic Routes within the London Conurbation.

Yes. The Committee has sent my right hon. Friend its Interim Report which contains valuable recommendations to the local lighting authorities on the improvement and co-ordination of their street lighting. We hope that the local authorities will give the most careful consideration to these recommendations.

asked the Minister of Transport when he proposes to start the dualling of A.40 from its junction with the north orbital road at Denham to the top of Red Hill.

I cannot yet say when we shall be able to start this work but it will not be for some time.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made with the dualling of A.40 over the Buckinghamshire-Middlesex border; and when he expects the work to be completed.

Tenders for the construction of the viaduct for the second carriageway have just been invited by the Middlesex County Council as our agent authority and work is expected to start early in 1960. We hope that the whole scheme will be completed by the early summer of 1961.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will consider imposing a 30 miles-per-hour speed limit for a quarter of a mile on each side of the Sutton Court roundabout of the Cromwell Road extension, Chiswick.

We are not satisfied, on the evidence available, that the reintroduction of a 30 m.p.h. limit on this stretch of road would make for greater safety. New yellow lighting and larger illuminated advance signs giving warning of a roundabout ahead are being erected. The effect of these measures on the accident record will be carefully studied.

asked the Minister of Transport what advice he has given, or intends to give, in the interests of road safety, to motorists using fast motorways regarding the types of tyres required for fast speeds and their maintenance.

The Motorway part of the Highway Code calls on the driver to make sure that his vehicle is in good condition and to drive at a steady cruising speed comfortably within the capacity of his vehicle. I do not feel that any further detailed advice from me of the kind suggested by my hon. Friend ought to be required, but I will reconsider the point when we have accumulated more experience of conditions on M.1.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of a recent non-fatal accident to young children and a fatal accident involving an elderly person in Mantle Street, Wellington, he will cause the question of the installation of a pedestrian crossing to be re-examined.

The number of pedestrians wishing to cross the road at this point is so small that a zebra crossing could not be expected to command proper respect from motorists; nor would it be calculated to prevent accidents of the kind referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport which major cities, other than London and Birmingham, in response to his request, have provided information on the schemes they would like to carry out over the next five or six years; and what is the total expenditure envisaged in each case.

I have so far received replies from nine large cities in addition to London and Birmingham. The schemes they would like to be authorised would cost about £37 million. I cannot yet say what the outcome will be.

asked the Minister of Transport whether a decision has now been reached about the line of the north-south by-pass road for Newbury; and when construction will begin.

A decision as to whether an outer by-pass or an inner relief road is the need here, must await the result of a detailed traffic survey to be made during the holiday season next summer. Thereafter, construction will be started as soon as a scheme can be prepared and funds are available.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has considered the letter from the Bristol Chamber of Commerce and Shipping with reference to the inadequacy of the road grants for the south-west of England and the traffic bottlenecks in the city of Bristol from and to the Midlands; and what was the nature of his reply.

Yes. My right hon. Friend has told the Chamber that, much as he sympathises with their views, several proposed improvement schemes in the south-west and in Bristol must continue to wait for the time being until schemes elsewhere which are even more urgent have been authorised.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made with the Hyde Park road scheme, and especially with the under-pass at Hyde Park Corner.

I understand that the preliminary works, consisting of the diversion of the complicated system of sewers, pipes and cables at Hyde Park Corner are nearly complete. The London County Council have now invited tenders for the main works, including the underpass, with the intention of starting work early in the new year.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the delays to traffic caused by the narrow toll bar bridge at Thorne on the A614 trunk road; and what proposals he has for its improvement.

Yes. My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to publish a draft Order fairly soon establishing the line of a bypass around Thorne.

asked the Minister of Transport when it is proposed to start work on the road improvements in the village of Hatfield, near Doncaster.

The improvement at Ash Hill is nearly finished. It is hoped that work will start at the Ingram Arms in about two months' time. The scheme at Leylands Corner cannot be started until negotiations for the acquisition of the necessary land have been completed.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make it clear by notices on cycle tracks that they may be used by mopeds.

My right hon. Friend proposes to consult organisations interested in the use of cycle tracks to find whether any change is desirable in the policy which provides for use of these tracks by cyclists only.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he will take, by the provision of traffic signals or in other ways, to alleviate dangers to pedestrians and motorists at the intersections of Drove Road, Groundwell Road, and Cumberland Road, Swindon.

The volume of traffic at this intersection does not warrant the installation of traffic lights, but we would be happy to authorise the re-siting of the pedestrian crossing in Drove Road at a position south of the crossroads and away from the bulk of turning traffic.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now state an approximate date when the alterations to the Bath Road, from London Airport north to Cranford Bridge, will be completed.

Yes. Early in the New Year.

asked the Minister of Transport, bearing in mind the review of Britain's roads by Her Majesty's Government, if he has yet received the plans for the Dawley by-pass in Shropshire; and if he will give his approval to the project.

County Council, who are the Highway Authority for the road in question, have not yet submitted plans to us for a by-pass round Dawley.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has yet received from the Wellington Rural District Council and the Shropshire County Council any requests that the plan for the Hadley Road improvement scheme for road safety near Messrs. Sankey's works be approved for the 1960–61 financial year; and what decision he has taken thereon.

We have not received a plan but we are aware that the Shropshire County Council would like to carry out a scheme here in the next financial year. My right hon. Friend will be glad to consider it for inclusion in his annual programme of small improvement schemes, but there will, of course, be many competitors.

asked the Minister of Transport how many schemes for new roads were submitted during the last three years; how many of such schemes were approved by his Department; and what was the total capital cost of such works, respectively.

During the period from 1st April. 1957, 72 schemes were approved each costing £100,000 or more for major improvements and new construction on Classified Roads. The total capital cost of these schemes is £52,350,000. I am unable to say without extensive research how many schemes, if any, were submitted but not approved. In the same period 84 such schemes on Trunk Roads (including Motorways) were undertaken at a cost of £79,484,953.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to a resolution sent to him by the Manchester, Salford and District Council of Churches, regarding the growing number of deaths and injuries on the roads; and what reply he proposes to make to the Council's suggestion that a Royal Commission be appointed to consider how the level of casualties can be substantially reduced.

We are greatly concerned at the number of deaths and injuries on the roads, but we are not satisfied that a Royal Commission on Road Accidents would be a suitable means of dealing with the problem at present.

asked the Minister of Transport how much money it is proposed to spend on new roads and major improvements during the next five years.

I would refer to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend on 4th November to which I have nothing to add at present.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make funds available for the purchase of sites in urban areas on which off-street car-parking facilities can be provided.

As I stated in the Debate on Traffic Congestion on 10th December, it is the Government's policy that the provision of off-street car parks is a matter for local authorities and private enterprise.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give the estimated date for commencement of the Chudleigh by-pass on the A38; and whether it will be a dual carriageway.

The Chudleigh by-pass will be constructed with dual carriageways, but I cannot yet say when work will start.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give the order of priority of the Cullompton, Plympton and Chudleigh by-passes on the A.38; and whether the original alignment of the trunk road is now to be adopted.

The order of priority of these schemes has not finally been settled, but the Cullompton by-pass, which will ultimately form part of a new road between Bristol and Exeter, will probably be constructed first. A.38 between Exeter and Plymouth is to be improved as far as possible on its existing alignment.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the inadequate public transport facilities serving many villages in Rutland and Lincolnshire due to the closure of stations by British Railways; and what future plans he has for dealing with this and similar problems in other rural areas.

The Committee on Rural Bus Services set up by the Government is inquiring into the adequacy of rural bus services. It will of course take into account the closure of rail services. I think we should await the Committee's findings.

asked the Minister of Transport how many driving examiners are employed in Scotland; and how many recruits are still needed to bring the establishment up to the requisite number to deal with the list of those waiting to take tests in that area.

The number of driving examiners employed in Scotland at the present time is 94. A further 8 examiners are being recruited to complete the revised complement.

asked the Minister of Transport when, with a view to making it obligatory for persons to submit themselves to driving tests instead of driving with provisional licences for an indefinite period, he intends to bring into force Section 18 (1) of the Road Traffic Act, 1956.

Section 18 (1) of the Act will be brought into force as soon as we are satisfied that the increase which it may well cause in the number of applications for a driving test will not considerably lengthen the waiting period for a test.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the average number of driving-test applications per month in the borough of Woolwich during 1959. and the average waiting period.

Separate figures of the number of applications received from residents of the borough of Woolwich are not available. The average number of applications for tests at the Lee Green test centre, which probably caters for the majority of applicants resident in my hon. Friend's constituency has been 1.140 per month during 1959. The average waiting period has been about 13 weeks.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make regulations to compel the use of cadmium yellow headlamp bulbs in all motor vehicles, with a view to prevention of dazzle.

No. There is no evidence to suggest that yellow headlamps giving the same seeing distance as white lamps cause less dazzle.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission to publish their accounts on a regional basis, and to ensure that they are further broken down to show separate figures for freight and passenger traffic.

The British Transport Commission already publish detailed statistics of receipts from passengers and freight originating in each region and of operating costs. They have given a good deal of thought to regional accounts but there are considerable practical and other difficulties. Unless and until these can be overcome I do not think that I could consider giving directions in this matter.

asked the Minister of Transport which organisations among those he consulted approved the proposal to increase the speed limit of light goods vehicles, and which disapproved.

There was a wide variation of opinion, and it would be misleading merely to list the organisations which in terms supported or opposed an increase. The question was not decided on a numerical basis, but by a careful appraisal of the weight and cogency of the arguments advanced for and against the proposal.

asked the Minister of Transport what general directions he has given to the British Transport Commission regarding purchase of agricultural land for industrial purposes.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will reword question B (g) (i) of Form R.F. 1A, application for renewal of a motor vehicle licence, which cannot logically be answered by the majority of applicants.

Yes, when this form is next reprinted.

asked the Minister of Transport what evidence he has that payment by results to lorry drivers is a cause of road accidents; and what action he proposes to take in regard to this.

I have no evidence to suggest that payment by results in this field is a cause of accidents.

asked the Minister of Transport what further progress has now been made in the British Transport Commission's reconsideration of its pension supplement scheme; and if he will make a statement.

The British Transport Commission keep their pension schemes constantly under review, and I am sure that any further supplementing of the prescribed rates of pension must be a matter for the Commission's financial judgment.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce legislation to compel car dealers to provide a certificate of roadworthiness with each second-hand car sold.

I am not satisfied that such a requirement, which it would be extremely difficult to enforce at all comprehensively, would materially strengthen the safeguards in the existing law against the sale of defective motor vehicles.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the official Committee on Road Users has reported that small amounts of alcohol taken by drivers of motor vehicles impel them to take greater risks than they would normally take, and make them less efficient in dealing with hazardous situations which they may consequently precipitate; and what action he proposes to take to deal with this problem in the public interest.

The hon. Member presumably refers to a Memorandum in which the Medical Research Council recently published an account of laboratory experiments bearing on the effect of small doses of alcohol on a skill resembling driving. The conclusions are the responsibility of the research team concerned and do not in our view provide a basis on which legislative proposals could be framed for presentation to Parliament. We propose to continue discussions on the general issue with the Medical Research Council.

asked the Minister of Transport if the British Standards Institution have now reached a decision regarding the necessary requirements for safety equipment for occupants of motor cars.

The special committee set up by the Institution to consider seat harness are now considering the development of suitable test methods for inclusion in the British Standard which is in course of preparation. I cannot at the moment say when a definite standard will he available.

asked the Minister of Transport how many applications have been received for each of the last three years, by each licensing authority, for the reduction of omnibus services in rural districts; how many were allowed; how many services were cancelled; what was the number of new services authorised; and if he will indicate in each case the distribution between

Traffic Area			Number of Service Withdrawn		Number of Services Reduced		Number of New Services
			1957–8	1958–9	1957–8	1958–9	1957–8	1958–9
Northern	…	…	1	3	2	9	nil	1
Yorkshire	…	…	5	1	54	nil	5	3
North Western	…	…	22	36	30	5	4	nil
West Midland	…	…	8	3	35	26	3	2
East Midland	…	…	16	14	22	44	2	1
Eastern	…	…	5	4	10	12	8	7
South Wales	…	…	11	6	19	15	7	2
Western	…	…	10	14	nil	23	2	5
South Eastern	…	…	7	7	101	68	12	12
Metropolitan	…	…	3	6	9	61	1	2
Scottish	…	…	8	7	2	2	20	24
Total	…	…	96	101	284	265	64	59
1. There are no figures readily available of services for 1956–57.
2. Where services were withdrawn, most of the routes were wholly or substantially covered by other services. The figures of new services include replacements for other services withdrawn, and services designed to meet special needs (e.g. for schoolchildren, hospitals or as substitutes for closed branch railway lines). There are no figures readily available of numbers of applications to reduce bus services in rural areas.

asked the Minister of Transport when the report of the Rural Transport Committee is likely to be received.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hexham (Mr. Speir) on 10th November.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the Rural Transport Committee has yet heard evidence from public bodies or private persons in the Epping and Ongar Rural District of Essex.

No. No one from this area has yet submitted any evidence to the Committee on Rural Bus Services.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now announce the appointment of a vice-chairman of the Committee on Rural Bus Services, in view of the anxiety existing in rural areas regarding the continuing deterioration of these services.

The information is not available in the form in which the hon. Member has asked for it. Such information as we have is given below.

I am glad to announce that Colonel A. T. Maxwell, who is already a member of the Committee, has agreed to act as Vice-Chairman.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the recent case at Lewes Asizes when one Andrews was convicted of causing the death by dangerous driving of the 15 year old son of Mr. R. J. Reed of Hove; why this man, who had several previous motoring convictions, was permitted to take out eight successive provisional driving licences when it was known that he was registered and drawing benefit as a partially blind person; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent the repeated issue of provisional licences to persons unfitted to be in charge of vehicles on the road.

Yes. I understand that the offence to which my hon. Friend refers was committed by a driver who while registered as a partially sighted person had declared when applying for a driving licence that he was able to fulfil the prescribed eyesight requirements and that he was not disqualified. At the time of the offence he did not hold any licence and had not done so for more than a year.As for the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Mr. Gresham Cooke) today.

asked the Minister of Transport when Her Majesty's Government expects to sign the European Convention on Compulsory Insurance against Civil Liability in respect of Motor Vehicles.

It is not the present intention of Her Majesty's Government to become a signatory to this Convention. To do so would involve changes in United Kingdom legislation and practice in regard to motor insurance which would not be justified on grounds of domestic need.

asked the Minister of Transport how many qualified traffic engineers are employed in his Department

TRAIN ACCIDENTS AND CASULATIES, 1948–1958
Year			Number of Accidents	Casualties
				Killed			Injured
				Passengers	Railway Servants	Other Persons (a)	Passengers	Railway Servants	Other Persons (a)
1948	…	…	1,293	39	14	21	603	100	46
1949	…	…	1,176	—	6	6	559	93	44
1950	…	…	1,156	11	8	21	448	83	40
1951	…	…	1,280	43	4	8	764	148	39
1952(b)	…	…	1,243	111	9	13	1,150	113	39
1953	…	…	1,123	22	7	19	475	91	42
1954	…	…	1,197	—	1	14	486	85	43
1955	…	…	1,156	40	8	11	759	91	66
1956	…	…	1,226	—	3	15	474	78	38
1957(c)	…	…	1,205	92	4	16	833	99	30
1958	…	…	1,186	18	5	13	1,004	118	47
(a) "Other Persons" consist mainly of persons killed or injured through collisions of trains with road vehicles a level crossings. Trespassers, suicides and attempted suicides are not included.
(b) Includes 108 passengers and 4 Railway servants killed and 333 Passengers and 7 Railway Servants Injured in double collision at Harrow and Wealdstone on 8th October, 1952.
(c) Includes 89 Passengers and 1 Railway Servant killed and 172 Passengers and 4 Railway Servants injured in the collision at St. Johns, Lewisham, on 4th December, 1957.

There are 14 engineers employed in the Headquarters of my Department in a Traffic Engineering Branch whose work includes studies of the kind referred to. They are all qualified as civil or electrical engineers by corporate membership of the recognised professional institutions.

asked the Minister of Transport when he proposes to implement the Section in the Road Traffic 1956, Act about limiting the number of provisional licences that can be held successively by one person.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Mr. Gresham Cooke).

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give the number of accidents on the railways for each of the years since nationalisation, together with the number of deaths and injuries.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission that, when a decision is taken to make drastic alterations in the timing of a train on any particular day, action should be taken to publicise this alteration through the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Press so as to prevent undue inconvenience to passengers.

No. This is a matter of day to day management for which the British Transport Commission are responsible.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission to apply the Pensions Increases Act to the railway superannuitants.

No. I must leave it to the British Transport Commission to decide the extent to which their circumstances permit them to give further supplements to railway superannuitants.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission that before major works of rnodernisation are undertaken at British Railways hotels, the plans are to be submitted to the Royal Fine Art Commission.

No. The Commission seek planning permission for new buildings in accordance with the requirements of the Town and Country Planning Act. Where it is considered desirable, having regard to the position and importance of the proposed building, either the local authority from which permission is sought would consult the Royal Fine Art Commission, or the British Transport Commission would do so themselves.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has considered proposals to erect a Bailey Bridge for pedestrians stretching from London Bridge Station to Duke Street Hill; and if he will make a statement.

This suggestion is being considered by the London Travel Committee and I expect to have their advice shortly.

asked the Minister of Defence what arrangements he has now made to examine the scripts of statements on major defence policy by senior officers of the Services before such statements are made public.

I asked the Ministers in charge of the Service Departments to arrange to consult me before authorising public statements on matters of broad defence policy by serving officers for whom they are responsible.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will make a statement on his discussions with the West German Defence Minister.

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the Answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Ashfield (Mr. Warbey) on 9th December.

asked the Minister of Defence what agreement he has entered into for the manufacture by West Germany of the Blue Water ballistic missile; what is the range of this missile; and what type of warhead it will carry.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 9th December to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler), to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Minister of Defence the nature of the statement issued by his authority on 27th November in answer to United States Press reports about United Kingdom defence policy; and why it was made.

The statement drew attention to inaccuracy in an article published in an American newspaper. It was made in answer to inquiries from the British Press.

asked the Minister of Defence to what extent Her Majesty's Government has agreed to joint systems of defence with West Germany; and if such schemes have the approval of all signatories of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation pact.

Anglo-German cooperation defence falls entirely within the scope of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

asked the Minister of Defence what facilities are being given to West German troops on British testing grounds and ranges; and why.

Equipment of interest to the German Federal Republic is being tested at the Fighting Vehicles Research and Development Establishment at Chobham. German service representatives have also attended various trials and demonstrations of United Kingdom equipment. This is in accordance with our policy of sharing defence facilities and resources with all members of the N.A.T.O. Alliance.

asked the Minister of Defence what arrangements he has made for British co-operation with West German firms, including the Heinkel and Messerschmitt companies, in the production of military aircraft.

I have nothing to add to my previous statement on this matter.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he is yet able to make a full statement about the proposal to establish a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation base at Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.

No.

asked the Minister of Defence what playing field, sports grounds, and other recreational facilities are provided for Service units in Aden.

The following is the list:Army

asked the Minister of Defence how many young men between the ages of 18 and 25 years, whose previous occupation was in the coal mining industry in Durham County, have joined Her Majesty's Forces in the years 1957, 1958, and to the latest convenient date in 1959, stating each year separately.

The numbers of men between the ages of 18 and 25 years who were identified as having been employed in the coal mining industry, and who joined the Royal Navy and the Army at recruiting offices in the County of Durham in each of the three years in question are given below. Figures are also given for the Royal Air Force—for 1958 and 1959—but, as there is no R.A.F. recruiting office in the County, the numbers are of men who had come from the County and enlisted at the two nearest offices at Middlesbrough and Newcastle. I regret that it is not practicable to produce R.A.F. figures for 1957, as the relevant returns have been destroyed.

—	Royal Navy	Army	Royal Air Force
1957	10	185	—
1958	58	294	125
1959 (to 31st October)	21	194	135

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the Government of Israel is now willing to negotiate through an intermediary a settlement of Arab refugees, apart from any re-negotiation of the armistice agreements; and if Her Majesty's Government will offer their good offices in this matter through the United Nations Organisation.

I have seen reports that the Prime Minister of Israel has recently reiterated his Government's willingness to negotiate a settlement of the Arab refugee question either direct or through an intermediary. As I said in my reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Central (Mr. Short) on 3rd June. this is a problem principally for the United Nations, and Her Majesty's Government will continue to work for any solution which offers hope of general acceptance within that organisation. The hon. Gentleman may have seen that on 9th December the General Assembly passed a resolution supported by the United Kingdom which among other things requested the Palestine Conciliation Commission to make further efforts to secure the carrying out of that part of the 1948 United Nations resolution which dealt with the refugee problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how often the United Nations has decided to discuss matters which Her Majesty's Government's representatives have claimed to be within the domestic jurisdiction of an individual nation; and on how many occasions these discussions have been concerned with British dependencies or Commonwealth countries.

The following are the principal occasions on which the United Nations General Assembly has decided to discuss items despite a contrary opinion held by the United Kingdom representative and based in varying degrees on considerations of domestic jurisdiction:

Item	General Assembly Session	Year
The treatment of persons of Indian origin in the Union of South Africa.	I—III	1946–48
	V—XIV	1950–59
Morocco	VI—X	1951–55
Tunisia	VII—IX	1952–54
Questions of race conflict in the Union of South Africa.	VII—IX	1952–59
West New Guinea	IX—XII	1954–57
Algeria	X—XIV	1955–59
Cyprus	IX—X	1954–55

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now announce the name of the leader of the British delegation to the United Nations Organisation Conference on the law of the seas.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Grimsby (Mr. Crosland) and the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on Monday last.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a further statement on the fighting between tribesmen from the Somaliland Protectorate and Ethiopian tribesmen.

Following investigations on the spot, the British Liaison Staff have reported to the Governor of the Somaliland Protectorate as follows.On 29th November members of the Arap tribe from the Protectorate attacked members of the Ethiopian Ogaden tribe near Awareh, killing one of them and looting between forty and seventy camels. An Ethiopian force went out immediately from Awareh and met seven armed Protectorate Somali Habr Awal tribesmen. Fire was exchanged and one Habr Awal was killed and one Ethiopian Police Corporal who was wounded died later. Two Habr Awal tribesmen were captured with their arms and the Ethiopian force then returned to Awareh.Next morning a force of about thirty-five Ethiopian Police and Frontier Guards left Awareh, and a fight took place with some three hundred Somali tribesmen, mainly Arap, at a point about fifteen miles north-west of Awareh. The Ethiopians have reported that four of their men were killed, three wounded and three rifles lost. Somali casualties were three killed and three wounded. Two Ethiopian vehicles and one Ethiopian wireless vehicle were damaged.On the night of 1st December and early morning of 2nd December a force of Ethiopian Frontier Guards attacked four nomadic encampments at Haabo Humeyd, about forty miles from Awareh, and four Somalis, including two women and a girl, are known to have been killed. The four encampments were looted, twenty huts burned and some stock slaughtered.During 2nd December and 3rd December a force of Ethiopian Frontier Guards attacked Lanquairta about fifty miles from Awareh and its environs, killing four men and one woman. Houses were burnt, household property and food looted and a large number of sheep and goats slaughtered.