asked the Minister of Transport if, in order to expedite the loading and unloading of passengers by buses stopping at the kerbside, he will prohibit all vehicles, other than public service vehicles, from stopping within 50 feet of an authorised omnibus stop, the prohibition area to be marked by studs similar to those preceding a pedestrian crossing.

The use of the normal "Bus Stop" marking is usually sufficient to keep an adequate length of kerbside clear at bus stops. I would deprecate prohibitions which might, in most cases, prove more restrictive than is required.

asked the Minister of Transport what consultations he has had with local authorities and the Metropolitan Police in respect of parking places near suburban and outer-suburban tube stations, particularly in view of the necessity for these parking places being available in order to reduce the number of cars travelling into the Central London area.

The London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee, which includes representatives of police forces in the London Traffic Area, has consulted local authorities on the appointment of long-term street parking places sited so as to encourage commuters to use public transport rather than take their cars into Central London. I have since approved a proposal by the Committee that it should work out an experimental pilot scheme, and I expect shortly to receive detailed proposals.The capacity of car parks at suburban railway and tube stations will shortly be increased to take a total of some 9,500 cars.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is satisfied that present regulations regarding the protection of passengers and public from broken windows in public service vehicles and trolley vehicles are adequate; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. All new buses must have safety glass or other protection wherever there is any danger to passengers.The general guidance given by my Department to the builders of trolley buses is in course of revision and will include the same standard. In the meantime we ask for it to apply to all new trolley buses.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now widen the terms of reference of the Advisory Committee on Traffic Signs for Motorways to include consideration of all road signs, and not only road signs on new motorways.

I will certainly consider my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent, during his Continental tour, he studied the disc system of parking in Paris; and what consideration is being given to its possible advantages over parking meters.

My discussions with the Paris police authorities and my study of the disc system confirmed the reports of earlier detailed official studies. I have no doubt that parking meters will be more effective in Central London and other similar areas, but I should willingly consider what help I might give, if a local authority wished to experiment with disc control in less critical conditions.

asked the Minister of Transport what research he has caused to be carried out into the reaction of the human eye in different conditions to various colours; whether he is aware that railway engine drivers are unable to distinguish red after looking for long periods at a red-hot fire, and that a red light may appear green if seen through a rapidly-moving lattice; whether he is satisfied with the present safety arrangements depending upon colour on land, in the air, and at sea; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware that the human eye sometimes gives different reactions under certain conditions to various colours. The British Transport Commission is making a special investigation of the very occasional failure of railway engine drivers to observe correctly semaphore and coloured signals. The Medical Research Council is studying the problem and has appointed a Committee to advise on the research that is required.I am satisfied with the present general safety arrangements depending on colour both on land and at sea. The colours used for this purpose have provided valuable safeguards for many years and they are standardised on an international basis. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Aviation is in agreement with these views.

asked the Minister of Transport what further progress has been made in respect of the projected Eastern Avenue extension through the Borough of Leyton.

My right hon. Friend has decided that an independent public inquiry into the proposed route of this road should be held as soon as it can conveniently be arranged.

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents on the roads, and what percentage of them, where due to the person responsible being under the influence of drink, whether driver, cyclist, or pedestrian, in 1956, 1957, and 1958, respectively.

In 1956, 1957 and 1958 road accidents resulting in personal injury numbered 216,172, 218,653 and 237,265 respectively. In 0·cent., 0·91 per cent. and 0·79 per cent. respectively the influence of drink or a drug was reported as a contributory— not necessarily the only—factor. In addition to drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, passengers are included.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on recent developments regarding the proposed fly-over bridge at Old Shoreham, Sussex.

In view of the strong objections expressed by local interests against the rout originally investigated for the proposed new bridge and approach roads at Old Shoreham, various alternatives have been explored. One of these appears to be practicable from the engineering point of view, and I am now consulting the appropriate authorities about it. We shall, of course, also bear in mind the views which have been expressed by various bodies interested in preserving the amenities of Shoreham.In due course we hope to publish proposals as a draft Order under Section 7 of the Highways Act, 1959. There will then be ample opportunity for any interested parties to lodge objections or make representations and if necessary a public inquiry will be held before coming to a decision.

asked the Minister of Transport to what bodies, other than the Chandos Committee, he has referred the question of the replacement of the Cunard "Queen" liners; and what replies he has received.

None. I understand, however, that the Chandos Committee has sought the views of a number of representative bodies.

asked the Minister of Transport from which firms he has invited tenders for a reactor for installing in a prototype ship for experimental use in the marine application of nuclear power.

Invitations to tender will be sent to the following firms and consortia: AEI-John Thompson Nuclear Energy, which is now part of the Nuclear Power Group, Babcock & Wilcox, English Electric, Hawker-Siddeley Nuclear Power, and Mitchell Engineering in association with Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he has taken to elicit, pool and apply information about. the construction and effectiveness of the United States nuclear powered cargo liner "Savannah". launched in July, 1959, in order to facilitate the construction and launching of British nuclear powered ships; and if he will make a statement.

My Department is keeping in close touch with the United States authorities, having in mind particularly operational problems and questions of safety.Facilities have been given to two nominees of the British Shipbuilding Research Association, among others, to see the vessel while she is under construction.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a further statement on his proposals to the shipbuilding and shipping industries to form a consortium to consider and make recommendations to him on the subject of the application of nuclear power to merchant ships and to fishing trawlers, indicating the progress made with those proposals, and when they will result in the actual building of British nuclear powered ships.

My right hon. Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty proposed last July to the General Council of British Shipping that shipowners might consider the formation of a consortium to own and arrange for the operation of the first British nuclear-powered ship.The General Council has informed me that a committee of shipowners is now available to consider further this suggestion, and discussions will take place as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Defence, in the light of Her Majesty's Government's policy of increasing nuclear weapons in the West to counter- balance Soviet preponderance in conventional forces, what changes in defence measures he will now take in view of Mr. Khrushchev's announcement of a substantial reduction in Soviet armed forces.

The announcement does not of itself call for any changes in our defence measures.

asked the Minister of Defence how many teachers of Russian are engaged in the National Service language courses; and what steps he is taking to offer their services as teachers of Russian in schools and universities after these courses come to an end.

Facilities for teaching National Service men Russian have already been curtailed, and there are now no courses exclusively for National Service men. As the forces continue to contract, a small number of civilian teachers will become redundant. They will be given all possible help, on the lines the hon. Member suggests, to obtain other employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent the joint communiqué on foreign policy issued by the Prime Minister and Mr. Khrushchev on 3rd March remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

The communiqué still represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further reports Her Majesty's Government have received regarding the appointment of former Nazis to judicial positions in Germany.

This is a matter for the Federal German authorities who are continuing their investigations. Since my right hon. Friend's answer of 23rd March last, we have heard that three judges have been suspended in Schleswig Holstein, and that in West Berlin four judges will be compulsorily retired. In Baden-Wurttemberg proposals for a special commission to examine these allegations are to be considered by the Landtag. Elsewhere investigations are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will instruct Great Britain's representatives at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation headquarters to propose an investigation into outbreaks of anti-Semitism and Nazi activity in Germany and their spread to other parts of Europe, with a view to the adoption of joint European measures to combat these evils.

No. My right hon. and learned Friend deeply deplores any outbreaks of anti-Semitism and any resurgence of Nazi activity in Germany. He will watch developments closely. He does not, however, believe that the hon. Member's suggestion would be an appropriate way to deal with such matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have yet decided to join the Inter-Governmental Committee for European Migration; and whether he will make a statement.

The matter is still under consideration and I am afraid that I cannot yet make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the London Conference on outstanding matters concerning the independence of Cyprus, and on the subsequent negotiations concerning the British bases.

My right hon. and learned Friend is still engaged in these negotiations. I am afraid that I cannot make a statement yet.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to increase the importance of youth employment officers and the efficiency of the Youth Employment Service.

I think there is general recognition of the importance of youth employment officers, particularly over the next few years, when the number of school leavers will increase sharply. The efficiency of the Youth Employment Service is kept under constant review.

asked the Minister of Labour what directions or advice he has given to Military Service Hardship Committees, in implementation of his undertaking of 13th May, to give favourable consideration to applications from married men with children, where there were difficult home circumstances.

Applications for postponement on the grounds of exceptional hardship are considered first by my officers who have been instructed to give special consideration to these types of case where experience has shown that exceptional hardship is likely to arise. Applications which are not granted must be referred for decision to Military Service (Hardship) Committees. These Committees are independent bodies and I cannot intervene in the discharge of their functions by giving them directions or advice.

asked the Minister of Labour what estimate he has made of the reduction of employment in the United Kingdom jute industry as a result of the decision to reduce the mark-up on certain imported jute goods.

It is not possible to forecast the effect on employment of the reduction in the mark-up on imported jute cloth but I do not expect it to be serious.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on Remploy's packaging factories.

Remploy has seven factories equipped for packaging work. Owing to shortage of orders other processes are being introduced at two of these. The Company hopes 10 maintain a satisfactory load of packaging work at the remaining five factories.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a further statement regarding new safety regulations in the shipbuilding and ship repairing industry.

The revised statutory draft of the regulations is being sent for printing this week and it will he published as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed persons in Sunderland at the latest available date; and how this figure compares with the figures for the corresponding period in 1959, 1958, and 1957.

6,075 at 11th January, 1960, compared with 5,120 at 12th January, 1959, 2,558 at 13th January. 1958, and 2,562 at 14th January, 1957.

asked the Minister of Labour what percentage of teachers are women; and what percentage women represent of the non-industrial workers in the Civil Service and local government service, respectively.

On 1st October, 1959, 59·0 per cent. of teachers employed by local authorities in Great Britain were women. The corresponding figures for non-industrial workers in the Civil Service and in local government service were 32·6 per cent. and about 43 per cent. respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether arrangements have now been completed for the future use of Weybourne Camp, Norfolk; and if he will make a statement.

About 20 acres of Weybourne Camp are needed for purposes of defence. The rest has been offered to other Government Departments in accordance with the normal process of land disposal. When their needs are known I can give up the camp which is not required by the Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) if he will ensure that, in those instances when it is necessary for heavy tanks to be transported on the roads, some reasonable arrangement is made to help other users of the road to pass;(2) if, in view of the inadequacy of a large part of the United Kingdom road system. he will ensure that the use of tank transporters is confined to a minimum.

The use of tank transporters is kept to a minimum and I am anxious that they should cause the minimum obstruction. Army drivers are required by standing orders to give careful consideration to other traffic, and to pull off the road at the first opportunity if traffic accumulates behind them.Some tanks are moved by civilian carriers under contract. I have no authority over their drivers but they have the reputation of acting with courtesy and care on the roads.

asked the Secretary of State for War upon what date he obtained the consent of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under Section 194 (2) of the Law of Property Act, 1925, to the construction of a metalled road from east of West Mil Tor to the summit of Yes Tor, near Okehampton.

This is not a metalled road. An existing track, many years old, has been improved by filling in holes and applying a dressing of sand and peat. No tarmac or other metal has been used. I am advised that the Act does not apply to work of this nature.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has now received the report of the Goodbody Committee; and if he will make a statement.

The report has been received. I would refer my hon. Friend

—		Telephones provided at:		Applications on the waiting list		Applications under inquiry or in course of being met
		31.12.58	31.12.59	31.12.58	31.12.59	31.12.58	31.12.59
Business	…	1,337	1,382	34	11	15	35
Private	…	7,813	8,036	217	27	99	102
Total	…	9,150	9,418	251	38	114	137
During 1959, 117 business and 664 private telephones were installed.

asked the Postmaster-General how many business and private telephones were provided, and how many applications for business and private telephones were outstanding, in

—		Telephones provided at:		Appllications on waiting list		Applications under inquiry or in course of being met
		31.12.58	31.12.59	31.12.58	31.12.59	31.12.58	31.12.59
Business	…	1,651	1,673	46*	15	143*	30
Private	…	3,173	3,388		119		73
Total	…	4,824	5,061	46	134	143	103
*Separate figures no longer available.

During 1959, 158 business and 371 private telephones were installed. Additional exchange equipment and cables are being provided and I hope to be able to give telephone service to most of the people now waiting before the end of this year.

asked the Postmaster-General how many business and private telephones were provided, and how many applications for business and private telephones were outstanding, in the Chigwell urban district of Essex at the end of 1958 and the end of 1959.

The figures are as follows: the parishes of the Epping and Ongar rural district within the Chigwell Parliamentary constituency at the end of 1958 and the end of 1959.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Postmaster-General when he expects that new telephone cables will be provided in the Kingsbury, London, N W.9, area so that subscribers may have private individual lines.

I am sorry I cannot say. Where we have the plant individual lines are provided for people who want exclusive service but, with our present resources, I cannot withdraw the liability to share.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the purchasing power of the maximum retired pay of a lieutenant-colonel in the British Army who retires today compares with that received by an officer of the same rank when he retired on 1st April, 1935.

The maximum retired pay of a lieutenant-colonel retiring in 1935 was £543 per annum. This sum, on the basis of changes in the cost of living index between 1935 and 1938, the consumer price index between 1938 and 1958, and the index of retail prices for 1959, is equivalent to £1,675 today. The maximum retired pay of a lieutenant-colonel retiring today is £800 per annum, in addition to which a lump sum terminal grant of £2,400 is payable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in respect of the coal-burning heating systems at the seven gaols which ate to be converted to oil-burning in 1960 by Her Majesty's Prison Commissioners, what is the capital cost entailed by such conversion; what is the coal equivalent consumption entailed before arid after conversion; what economy is envisaged in fuel consumption: what assessment has been made of laboursaving; and why oil is being substituted for coal, having regard to existing, coal stocks, distributed and undistributed, of 53 million tons worth approximately £240 millions;(2) in respect of the seven coal-burning heating systems at the gaols at Aylesbury, Birmingham, Dorchester, Exeter, Gloucester, Manchester and Stafford which are to be converted to oil-burning in 1960 by Her Majesty's Prison Commissioners, what technical advice and guidance he has taken from the National Industrial Fuel Efficiency Service before deciding against the continued use of indigenous fuel, namely coal, having regard to large existing coal stocks.(3) in respect of the coal-burning heating systems at the seven gaols which are to be converted to oil-burning in 1960 by Her Majesty's Prison Commissioners, whether he will have regard to the success of the precedent established by the National Union of Mineworkers at their new headquarters in Euston Road, London, N.W.1, which planned to install oil-burners and following intervention by the hon. Member for Kidderminster switched to coal-burning; and whether he will now, having further regard to the size of stocks of coal, arrange for these seven gaols to burn coal in future, after modernisation of their coal-burning plants.

The National Industrial Fuel Efficiency Service advised that in this type of case either an oil-fired system or a coal-fired system with mechanical stoking should be adopted, and in the particular circumstances of the closed prisons where the difficulties of layout were considerable the former was chosen. Including the fuel tanks, the capital cost of each of these installations will be between £6,000 and £7,000 and running costs are about the same as for coal firing.Further modernisation schemes are under consideration and the National Coal Board is being consulted.

asked the Secretary of State for Air, in view of some of the long-term weather forecasts, of unusual reliability, made by the American Institute of Aerological Research, if he will employ the services of this Institute for weather forecasting.

I understand that the Institute to which my hon. Friend refers is one of many commercial firms engaged in weather forecasting in the United States. I have no evidence that its forecasts are of unusual reliability, and I do not intend to employ its services.

asked the Minister of Aviation what general directions he has given to British European Airways and British Overseas Airways Corporation regarding the allocation of priorities in seating in aircraft.

None. My right hon. Friend has no power to give such directions.

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will arrange to make available in the House a model and illustrations of the Commonwealth Exhibition.

A display dealing with the Commonwealth Weeks programme is

		Canada	Australia	New Zealand	South Africa	Southern Rhodesia	Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland	Total
1945	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1946	…	20	—	—	—	—	—	20
1947	…	63	10	—	8	—	—	81
1948	…	42	23	9	18	—	—	92
1949	…	37	35	9	21	6	—	108
1950	…	27	13	10	29	2	—	81
1951	…	37	30	9	10	2	—	88
1952	…	33	18	7	13	2	—	73
1953	…	40	19	8	6	1	—	75*
1954	…	43	19	8	7	—	2	79
1955	…	39	17	11	10	—	—	77
1956	…	51	12	11	13	—	1	88
1957	…	43	21	9	10	—	6	90
1958	…	41	9	10	2	—	2	64
1959	…	42	16	10	6	—	4	78
*Including one teacher who went to Cyprus on exchange.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many prisoners were accommodated in Zamba Prison, Nyasaland, in the month preceding the declaration of the state of emergency; and how many prisoners are now accommodated there.

Prisons are the responsibility of the Federal Government. now in the upper waiting hall where it will remain until 29th January.This display deals with the Commonwealth Exhibition and with the supporting activities of the Commonwealth Weeks to which other Commonwealth Governments are contributing together with a wide variety of other Commonwealth organisations and societies.The hon. Member will have seen that the Birmingham Commonwealth Weeks open on 4th February.

asked the Minister of Education what have been the numbers, in each year since 1945, of teachers from England and Wales going to Commonwealth countries on exchange.

The numbers and countries are given in the table below.

asked the Minister of Health what is his Department's policy regarding the treatment of poliomyelitis and infective hepatitis in open wards: and if he will make a statement.

I have conveyed to hospital authorities the view that patients suffering from any infectious disease should normally be nursed in isolation and recommended certain precautions to be observed when it is necessary to nurse such patients in open wards. I have suggested that special hospital units should be provided where practicable for the treatment of poliomyelitis.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the recommendations, a copy of which has been sent to him, of the independent committee sponsored by King Edward's Hospital Fund for London which carried out a pilot survey of hospital library services.

I have noted these recommendations with interest. Hospital authorities are aware of the importance I attach to a high standard of library services for patients and I rely on them to develop their services as necessary and as their resources permit.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to prepare and publish a record of the dates on which office copies of patent specifications, the printing of which has been delayed, were first available for inspection in the Public Search Room of the Patent Office on the day of demand, and such other information as may be required to enable those interested to ascertain the dates on which such specifications were published, as provided for in Section 101 of the Patents Act, 1949.

The office copies of patent specifications, the printing of which has been delayed, were available for inspection in the Public Search Room of the Patent Office from the date advertised in the Official Journal (Patents). This satisfies the requirements of Section 13 (2) of the Patents Act. If the office copy was with the printer there would have been a delay of 24 hours while it was obtained.Lists are being prepared of those specifications which were not available for sale in printed form on the dates on which the office copies were laid open for inspection, and showing the dates when printed copies of such specifications were ultimately available. These lists will appear in the Official Journal (Patents) as soon as possible and will also be made available in pamphlet form, free of charge.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the dates on which the printing of the patent specifications, of which printed copies should have been made available on 29th July, 6th August, and 12th August, 1959, respectively, will be completed: and by what periods such dates are later than the ending of the recent dispute in the printing industry.

The printing of copies of patent specifications which should have been made available on 29th July, 6th August and 12th August, 1959, was completed on 31st December, 1959, 6th January, 1960, and 12th January, 1960, respectively. The dispute in the printing industry ended on 6th August, 1959.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the Government's policy towards trade with China; and why he has reimposed quotas to restrict certain imports from China.

It is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to encourage trade and good relations generally with China. But when we took a major step last November in freeing dollar imports it became appropriate to bring our arrangements for China into line with those for other State trading countries, who cannot reciprocate our methods of allowing traders to import freely. But although this involved reimposing licensing control over certain imports from China, over three-quarters of our total imports from China are still admitted freely and quotas under the new arrangements have been fixed to allow for a substantial increase in trade. My Department will be ready to consider sympathetically with trade organisations and with the Chinese authorities any difficulties which may arise in practice.