asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is yet in a position to state the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the draft European Social Charter agreed by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Not yet.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the European Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees; and whether it is proposed to sign the Agreement.

This matter is still under consideration by Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Minister of Transport what consultations he has had with a view to the introduction of a road driving simulator, similar in principle to the flight simulator used in aviation, for the testing of the degree of control of a car by a motorist alleged to be drunk, and for instructions to learner-drivers in emergency action which would be dangerous to practice on the road; and if he will make a statement.

So far as I am aware there is no immediate prospect of such devices becoming available in a suitable form, but if my hon. Friend has any information bearing on this subject I shall be glad to examine it.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state, for the latest convenient stated period, the annual interest rate charges paid by British Road Services since the date of nationalisation, and the annual profit or loss; and what capital repayments have been made.

It is not possible to provide the information in the form required. The capital liability of British Road Services represented by British Transport Stock cannot be distinguished from the total issues of British Transport Stock. The average working surplus before allocating any share of the central charges of the Commission—interest and redemption of British Transport Stock and central administration expenses—during the years 1948 to 1958 was £3,200,000.No capital repayments have been made at 31st December, 1958.

asked the Minister of Transport the approximate value, at current market prices, of all land now owned or held on long lease by the British Transport Commission; and for what total sum the Commission has sold land since it took over.

I have no figure for the current market value of land now owned or held by the British Transport Commission. This could be obtained only after very considerable work of survey and valuation. As regards the second part of the Question, the Commission has realised over £10 million from property sold since it took over.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider introducing legislation to permit the refund of unexpired portions of driving licences to the personal representatives of those who have died since taking out a three-year licence.

I have noted this matter for consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of his invitation to the hon. Members for Bristol, South-East, and Bermondsey, to discuss with him matters relating to future transport policy, whether he will further discuss such matters with other hon. Members with knowledge and experience of the industry.

I am always ready to discuss with hon. Members the views they may have about future transport policy.

asked the Minister of Transport on how many occasions since 1st January, 1960, up to the latest convenient date, the Tower Bridge was raised.

The Corporation of London, which is the bridge authority, tells me that from 1st January to 10th February the bridge was raised 229 times.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the dismay in South Wales at his decision that the new Heads of the Valleys road which will link South and West Wales with the Midlands shall be a three-lane road only; and whether, in view of the statistical proof that three-lane roads are less safe, he will reconsider this decision.

asked the Minister of Transport under what circumstances it is his policy to perpetuate the three-lane type of road when constructing new roads; for what reasons he has decided to do so in the case of the new Heads of the Valleys road in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that, within the traffic capacity for which it is designed, a single carriageway road with two traffic lanes and an additional passing lane is a safe and economical form of construction. I am not aware of any statistical proof to the contrary. It is my policy to provide a single 33-foot carriageway with three lanes on new trunk roads where the estimated future traffic does not exceed the capacity for that design. The traffic on the new Heads of the Valleys Road is not likely to reach that capacity for many years.

asked the Minister of Transport what date is envisaged for the completion of the Tops of the Valleys Road in South Wales.

Work on the first stage between Abergavenny and Brynmawr started last month, and we hope to complete it by the summer of 1962. The second and third stages will follow on as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of fatal accidents in South Wales during the past twelve months; and what number were directly due to drunkenness.

During the twelve months ending 31st December, 1959, there were 195 fatal accidents in South Wales. The number of drivers involved in these accidents reported as being under the influence of drink was two.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is now able to state when work will commence on the new Severn Bridge.

No, but I hope that it will be possible to make a start on the foundations of the bridge before very long. Meanwhile, preliminary work, including land acquisition, is continuing, and on 29th January my right hon. Friend published a draft Order dealing with the side roads and accesses affected by the approaches to the Severn Bridge.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will reconsider representations made to him for a speed restriction on the main Cardiff to Swansea road in the village of Bonvilston, Glamorgan; and if he will make a statement.

I have looked at this matter again in the light of my hon. Friend's representations, but I can find no reasons which would justify reversal of the decision conveyed to him a year ago that a 30 m.p.h. speed limit on the Cardiff-Swansea trunk road where it passes through Bonvilston would not be in the interests of road safety.

asked the Minister of Transport what technical lessons are to be learned from the effects of the snowfall on M.1 last week.

We have not yet received complete reports on the conditions experienced. When we have them they will be carefully studied. Preliminary reports indicate that the special arrangements made for clearing snow from the carriageways worked satisfactorily, but that many motorists ran into difficulties through travelling too fast under what were inevitably unfavourable conditions.

asked the Minister of Transport what percentage of the total road accidents in 1959 took place between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. and between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., respectively.

In 1959, 63·6 per cent. of the total road casualties took place between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. and 36·4 per cent. between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the frequency in past years with which stormy seas in December have prevented reliefs and stores reaching lighthouses, thus compelling keepers to depend on food such as bully beef on Christmas Day, whether he will consider making the necessary arrangements to ensure that in future, whatever the weather conditions, keepers on duty on Christmas Day will be able to enjoy a traditional Christmas dinner.

This is a matter for the general lighthouse authorities, who are responsible for the administration of the lighthouse services.

asked the Minister of Transport on how many occasions the Shipbuilding Advisory Committee has met during the past twelve months; and what proposals the Committee has made to him during that time.

Four times. After the decision to transfer responsibility for the shipbuilding industry to my Department, I met the Committee on 29th October and asked for its views and recommendations on the problems of the industry. These are still under consideration by the Committee.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will give his estimate of Soviet and East German army formations now stationed in East Germany.

Twenty-seven line divisions.

asked the Minister of Defence how the total of defence expenditure proposed for 1960–61 compares in real terms with that for 1952–53.

At 1952 prices, 1960–61 Defence Estimates of £1,617·83 million would be about £1,380 million. Actual net expenditure on defence in 1952–53 was £1,392 million.

asked the Minister of Defence what percentage of the gross national product is now, in 1959–60, absorbed by defence; and how this compares with 1952–53.

The percentage of gross national product expected to be absorbed by expenditure on defence in 1959–60 is 7·2 per cent.In 1952–53, the comparable figure was 9·95 per cent.

asked the Minister of Defence whether the sum of approximately £13 million recoverable during the current financial year by British Railways from the Defence Vote represents a total of charges for the carriage of Service passengers and freight arrived at by applying the normal rates charged to other passengers and goods.

Except for a few agency services of which the full cost is paid, this represents the cost of normal rates or of rates under agreements negotiated in the normal way, as between British Railways and a large-scale user.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will enter into negotiations with the Polish Government with a view to reaching a commercial agreement regarding the terms under which coal is exported by the United Kingdom and Poland to Scandinavia.

No. I do not think such an agreement would be practicable or desirable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will enter into negotiations with the French Government with a view to reaching an agreement for the free importation of British coal into France.

No. Imports of coal into France are in the hands of a State monopoly, which negotiates commercially with suppliers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what percentages of the machinery to be scrapped, namely, spinning spindles, doubling spindles and looms, under the Cotton Industry Act, 1959, were already stopped or out of production at the latest convenient date; and, in respect of each category of those already stopped what are the percentages of discount, standard, or premium rate compensation;(2) what percentages of spinning spindles, doubling spindles and looms to be scrapped under the provisions of the Cotton Industry Act, 1959, were still operating at the latest convenient date;(3) his estimate of the percentages of spinning spindles, doubling spindles and looms still running, but to be scrapped under the provisions of the Cotton Industry Act, 1959, which will attract compensation at the standard or premium rates.

I understand that, at 12th February, the Cotton Board had received scrapping certificates in respect of 39 per cent. of the spindles, 41 per cent. of the doubling spindles, and 30 per cent. of the looms to be scrapped under the respective reorganisation schemes. They do not know to what extent the other machinery in respect of which compensation has been applied for is still running or the proportions which will qualify for compensation at the various rates.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total value of imports into this country, and the average price, of maize starch, for the years 1956, 1957, 1958 and 1959.

Following is the information:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he contemplates taking, under the Anti-Dumping Act, on maize starch.

The Board of Trade received an application in 1958 for an anti-dumping duty on maize starch imported from the Netherlands, and announced on 6th February, 1959, that a case for such a duty had not been made out. No subsequent application for an anti-dumping duty has been received in respect of maize starch imports from any source.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what savings in manpower and money have been effected by the work study teams now operating throughout naval establishments.

The savings in expenditure that have so far resulted from the activities of work study teams in the Fleet and Fleet shore establishments have been worth about £76,000 a year. Manpower savings are not directly reflected in Vote A—which has been coming down for other reasons—but have made it possible to move men from tasks which can be cut out or simplified to work of high priority, and for material to be more effectively used. The numbers thus redeployed as a result of work study have been 5 officers, 250 ratings and 64 civilians. In addition, many thousands of hours of men's time have been released for other useful work. Many studies have also led to improvements of an important though uncostable nature, such as increased operational availability, increased morale, improved designs of buildings and equipment and reduced maintenance efforts.Work study teams also operate in some Admiralty civil establishments. Savings—broadly commensurate with those in Fleet establishments—have been and are being achieved through the efforts of these teams, but collective details of the savings in terms of manpower and money are not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the low prices which growers are now receiving for their potatoes, what action he proposes to take.

I agree that, in spite of the strenuous efforts of the Potato Marketing Board to maintain prices to growers at a reasonable level, the market is unduly low having regard to the supply and demand position. The Board has now decided to support the market further by undertaking an extensive programme of purchasing potatoes dressed to the prescribed standards. To enable the Board to carry this programme to a successful conclusion, the Government have agreed to bear a substantial share of any losses which may be incurred by the Board on these trading operations. The Board is making an immediate announcement of its purchasing and other arrangements for strengthening the market.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many houses owned by his Department have been treated as decontrolled for rental purposes since 6th July, 1957, on account of changes in tenancy; what increases in rent have been charged in the case of these houses; and to what extent the tenant's

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will list the occasions and places where the Royal Air Force ceremonial unit provided guards of honour, escorts, ceremonial demonstrations and display parties in January, 1958, December, 1958, December, 1959, and January, 1960; and if he will give the number of officers, non-commissioned officers and airmen on duty at each ceremony.

The information is set out in the following table:income is taken into account in assessing the amount of the increase to be charged.

No central returns are kept of the number of houses so regarded. Rents have been revised to bring them broadly into line with what a private landlord would charge for similar accommodation. No account is taken of a tenant's income.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many Royal Air Force aerodrome hospitals give medical assistance to the civil inhabitants in the locality; and, in view of the benefits which accrue to these people who live in many cases long distances from a large hospital, if he will take steps to extend this service.

All the seven Royal Air Force hospitals in the United Kingdom take National Health Service inpatients if there are beds to spare, and the number of these patients treated has been rising steadily. We shall continue to help as much as we can in this way.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the shortage of maternity beds in the City of Bristol, that a large number of cases come from outside, and that mothers are sent home a few days after confinement; and what steps are being taken to enable the local health committee to provide adequate accommodation for this purpose.

My right hon. and learned Friend is aware that there is some shortage of ante-natal beds in Bristol, but the rate of institutional confinement is high and he has no evidence to show that in general mothers are sent home too soon after confinement. The future scale of provision of maternity beds is a matter for the regional hospital board in consultation with the board of governors of the teaching hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that three Metropolitan police officers were reprimanded recently by Scotland Yard for assisting an elderly vicar, when his car tyre punctured, on the grounds that their action might create friction with trades unions; whether it was on his authority that the reprimand was made; and if he will ensure that similar reprimands are not made in future.

There is no foundation for the allegation in the first part of this Question. A newspaper which published a report that officers had been reprimanded in these circumstances has now stated that it accepts that the report was inaccurate and has expressed its apologies to the Commissioner.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of university building in the year ended 31st July, 1959, was devoted to student residential accommodation, student social and athletic activities, and libraries.

Of the major university building work to be financed by grants from the Exchequer and started in the calendar year 1959, just under 29 per cent. in terms of value is to be devoted to student residential accommodation, student social and athletic activities and libraries—mostly to student residential accommodation and refectories.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the loss to the Exchequer if all people of retirement age were excused taxation on the first £400, the first £450 and the first £500 of their income, respectively.

To give a special personal allowance for all males over 65 and single females over 60, so that they begin to pay tax at £400, would cost £24 million in a full year. The corresponding figures for £450 and £500 are £30 million and £34 million.

asked the Postmaster-General why work has not yet started on the post office at Knightswood Cross for which a site was acquired between Baldwin Avenue and Fulton Street some years ago.

Other priorities have so far prevented us from building a new Crown post office in this district. We now plan to provide one within the next two years though on a different site from that mentioned by the hon. Member. I am writing to him about this.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will take steps to make it a legal obligation on an employer to compensate a man who has been in his employ for twenty-five years or more

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Heston and Isleworth (Mr. R. Harris) on 14th December last.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the figures of unemployment in the City of Plymouth for men, women, girls and boys for the years 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958 and 1959.

The following table gives the information desired.