asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether he will make a statement on his Department's future policy for the development of nuclear marine propulsion.

My noble Friend's Explanatory Statement indicated that we are putting a substantial effort into research and development on propulsion machinery for nuclear submarines; and the shore-based prototype test reactor at Dounreay will provide essential facilities for the development of British submarine reactor equipments. Studies are also being made of possible applications of nuclear power to surface warships. The Admiralty continues to take an interest in the studies of nuclear propulsion systems for merchant ships which are now being made under the sponsorship of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport.

Would not my hon. Friend agree that nuclear propulsion will eventually replace steam as inevitably as steam replaced sail? Will he ensure that research into these possibilities has the very highest priority in the Admiralty?

I will certainly bear in mind what my hon. Friend has said and draw the attention of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport to his remarks.

May I have an assurance that all this knowledge which is to be developed by the Admiralty will be widely spread all over the country and not concentrated in one area?

There is no desire within the Admiralty to have a closed shop on nuclear knowledge. The more widely it is spread, the more competition will exist, and I think that that will be better for the industry and for the Admiralty as well.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether the Admiralty is in consultation with the Chamber of Shipping? As he is well aware, ship-owners are concerned about the possibility of adapting nuclear propulsion to merchant ships.

No, Sir. We are in touch with the Ministry of Transport, and I have no doubt that the Minister of Transport is in touch with the Chamber of Shipping.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty the principle on which he acts in allocating shipbuilding and ship-repairing and other orders by his Department to Scottish and English shipyards respectively; what regard he has to the state of unemployment in these yards; and how many such orders, together with the value in money and tonnage, have been allocated to Scottish and English shipyards respectively during each of the last ten years.

Contracts for building and repairing warships are placed with the shipyards best able to give timely and economical completion. The employment position and economy are among the factors considered.

Full details of shipbuilding and ship-repairing orders as between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not available. For shipbuilding, the total United Kingdom orders during the last ten years have been 417 ships, totalling 325,000 tons valued at £444 million. Of these, orders for 27 per cent. of the ships, 34 per cent. of the tonnage and 32 per cent. of the value went to Scottish yards.

As a matter of principle, is not it unwise, in these days of possible bomb warfare, to concentrate these orders in the south of England and the south of Scotland, as is being done? Is not that a very good reason for sending some of these orders to Aberdeen—

And Dundee.

—and Dundee and the Moray Firth, but particularly to Aberdeen, which is a good port whose workers, who are unemployed, have a good technique and fine traditions in shipbuilding? Will the Minister consider the points that I have put to him with a view to ameliorating the unemployment situation in Aberdeen?

I do not think that 33 per cent. is a bad share of the amount of orders which are going, which is what Scotland has enjoyed. If one refers to Aberdeen alone, as the hon. and learned Gentleman did, one notices that, of the two shipbuilding and ship-repairing firms concerned, employment in Alexander Hall's of Aberdeen, as compared with June, 1951, is exactly the same in January, 1960, while employment at Hall Russell's of Aberdeen is exactly double what it was in June, 1951. So I do not think that the hon. and learned Gentleman has suffered as a result of our administration.

Will the hon. Gentleman consider Dundee fully on a level with Aberdeen?

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if, when disposing of surplus ships, he will give priority to dismantling firms operating or intending to operate in areas of unemployment listed under the Local Employment Bill, such as Cairnryan, near Stranraer.

No, Sir. The current policy is for Government ships to be disposed of for scrapping through the British Iron and Steel Corporation (Salvage) Ltd. These arrangements are, however, at present being reviewed.

Is my hon. Friend aware that his Department could make a very considerable contribution here to curing local unemployment? Will he try to bring his policy into line with other Government Departments?

I am well aware of the point which my hon. Friend has made, but I think that we have to look after the taxpayers' interest at the same time. It is a combination of factors.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will make a statement about the proposed establishment of a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation base in the Isle of Lewis.

It has been proposed to make a substantial development of Stornoway airfield as a charge to the N.A.T.O. infrastructure programme, so that in the event of war it could be used by N.A.T.O. aircraft. No decision has yet been reached.

We are aware of objections from local residents and, for this and other reasons, we are anxious to be sure that the choice of Stornoway is essential before we embark on any development.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, quite apart from my personal views on this, the main anxieties are about the very large influx of personnel, possibly including Spaniards and West Germans nowadays—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—into this area, and the threat to the whole character and way of life of a small community of the islands, and secondly—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech."]—the proximity of the base to the only concentration of population in that part of the north Highlands, and finally, the inability of the Minister of Defence to say that there will not be stockpiling of nuclear weapons in that area? Those are the main objections and anxieties. [HON. MEMBERS: "Speech."] Will the hon. Gentleman keep them in mind?

I will bear in mind the points the hon. Member has made, but I think it right to say that the construction of such a base, if it should be possible to go ahead with it, would not be done by people from overseas but by British people, and that it would give valuable employment.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty the estimated breakup value of H.M.S. "Vanguard".

I cannot give a precise statement because we are considering disposal of the ship following competitive tendering. Any opinion of her value expressed publicly at this stage might prejudice the tenders.

While I appreciate the point the hon. Gentleman has made and agree with what he said, may I ask whether we can be assured that when the time comes when the tenders are considered and the contract is fixed the House will be informed of what the Admiralty have received as a result of the break-up of this vessel?

My noble Friend has no desire to keep these matters secret—

Why should he?

—but the nearest measure we have of what sum may be realised is what is being realised for the King George V, the last battleship to be broken up.

How much?

Although it is not exactly comparable because the prices of scrap steel have changed enormously during the period, she realised about £500,000.

And was of more value as scrap.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that the continued absence of 18198 Marine W. Groves from home is causing anxiety to his parents at Great Russell Street, Birmingham; and, in view of the fact that application for compassionate discharge was made over five months ago and that medical evidence in support of the application was submitted nearly three months ago, if he will now consider discharging the man without further delay.

An officer or rating is given immediate compassionate release when release is the only remedy for serious hardship at home. Marine Groves' parents have four other grown-up children. Marine Groves' application was therefore rejected as it did not match up to the criterion.

My noble Friend is considering whether the home circumstances have changed so as to warrant discharge.

I appreciate that, but I have been communicating with the hon. Gentleman's noble Friend for over five months. The man said he had not made another application. He has been to his commandant, and I have a letter from him, which I will pass on to the hon. Gentleman, in which he believes that it is only his presence at home which can save his mother. Both his mother and his father are very seriously affected by their health. [Laughter.] I do not know how this is a laughing matter. [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] These parents are seriously ill with blood pressure, both of them.

Would the hon. Gentleman resume his supplementary question, because this is the time for Questions?

My question to the Civil Lord is, will he consider the doctor's evidence on this, and the fact that there are no children at home who can take care of the father and mother, and that the boy himself believes, to use his own words, that it is only his presence which can save their health, especially his mother's health?

My noble Friend is looking at this again, but I would prefer always the application or re-application to come from the Service man rather than from his parents or Members of Parliament. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] We have to be certain that on balance the young boy also wants to leave a career where he is doing extremely well. I will certainly bear in mind what the hon. Gentleman said. Perhaps I could have that letter which he has received, to give to my noble Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) how many of the 1,250,000 pairs of surplus Army boots were allowed to be sold to the public in this country; what was the average price per pair obtained for them; and how this compares with the average price per pair sold for export;

(2) how much has been realised by the sale of 1,250,000 pairs of surplus Army boots; and how this compares with the cost of the boots to his Department.

The whole of this surplus, amounting to 1,043,000 pairs has now been disposed of. They fetched £576,000, an average of 11s. a pair. There was a fairly wide range of prices, according to condition, between 6s. and 15s. The original cost of the boots was about £1·6 million.

About 5,000 damaged pairs were permitted to be sold in this country and another 43,000 were sold here without permission. The average price of all these was 10s. a pair.

I must add that I have disclosed these prices because of the interest which has been focused on this particular case. The disclosure should not be taken to prejudice the well-established custom whereby prices obtained in the sale of Government surplus stores are not normally made public.

But why does the Secretary of State for War say it is £1·6 million when in reply to Question after Question for months it has been given as £2 million? Is not a scandalous state of affairs revealed by the Public Accounts Committee, that most of the boots should never have been ordered? Does it not reveal that more than £1 million—£1½ million—have been lost through blunders? I am now asking, who has been sacked or reprimanded for this terrible blunder, and a loss of an amount which is six or seven times the amount the Government are giving for World Refugee Year?

As to the first part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, it is not the full 1,250,000 which were surplus. Use has been found for a number of them. That accounts for the figure of £1·6 million. As to the second part of the supplementary question, the hon. Gentleman has been told before that more than 1 million pairs became surplus not because of any over-ordering but because of a deliberate decision to reduce mobilisation stocks as the size of the Army was reduced.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will reconsider his decision to move the Boat Stores from Barry to the Portsmouth area; and if he will make a statement.

No, Sir. The reasons for the move, which have been given in detail to my hon. Friend, derive from the need to concentrate in one place the units of the Water Transport Group, R.A.S.C.

Is not this decision somewhat at variance with the general trend of the Government's policy, which is to retain industry and employing agencies in areas where they are most needed? On that account will my right hon. Friend possibly give this some fresh attention?

No, I fear I cannot, inasmuch as we feel that it is necessary for efficiency to concentrate this group together, and the only place where the group can be concentrated is at Portsmouth. As for the question of employment, about 80 people will be redundant, but posts have been found elsewhere for the great majority of those not due to retire, and I believe that only a very few indeed—I hope, not more than 10—will in fact have to be discharged.

asked the Secretary of State for War the amount paid by the Government towards the funeral expenses of soldiers who die in the course of their duties; when that sum was fixed; and what arrangements are made to review it.

The Government pay the whole cost of military funerals conducted by the Services. If the family of a deceased soldier prefer to arrange for a private funeral they receive a grant of £10, or £5 if a coffin is provided by the Service authorities. Within the United Kingdom the Army also bears the cost of returning the body home. The grants were fixed in 1943. It is not intended to review them, but an additional grant of £25 has since become payable under the National Insurance Acts.

In view of the fact that the cost of living has changed since 1943, will the Secretary of State please take steps to have a quick review of this? He knows of the case I recently referred to him of a constituent of mine, and that in that case the sum of £5 was given. Will the right hon. Gentleman please have another look at this question in view of the changed circumstances?

No, because the National Insurance Act payment is, of course, made, as it is to civilians, and above that there is a payment from the Army.

Will the right hon. Gentleman recollect that the National Insurance death benefit is a benefit for which the contributor himself contracts and pays, and that it is not given by the State?

What I am saying is that the soldier's family, over and above what a civilian gets, get a small extra payment if they choose to have a private funeral.

asked the Secretary of State for War when he will publish the report of the Hutchinson Committee on the future of Woolwich Arsenal; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the Woolwich Review Committee expects to present its report to me very soon. I shall be glad to give what information I can as soon as the Committee's recommendations have been considered. I do not expect to publish the report itself.

What procedure does the Minister envisage, when the report comes out, for consultation with all concerned?

I should like to see the report first and think about it. I have not seen the report yet, but we have a precedent to follow in the Perrott Report which came out in 1953.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the reopening of the sergeants mess at midnight, and the consequent drunkenness there, at the camp in Hampshire, referred to in a case which was tried in the Winchester Assizes last July; what inquiry has been held in respect of the position; and what steps have been taken to avoid a recurrence of such incidents.

An inquiry was held by the commanding officer last August. As a result, two sergeants were posted away from the unit; one of them was reduced in rank.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many parents are very deeply disturbed about this incident, among others—an incident in which there was a drunken orgy and a girl aged 16 was badly beaten up? What steps is the right hon. Gentleman taking to ensure that this kind of thing shall not occur anywhere else? Is he aware that it is extremely serious from the point of view of young people going into National Service?

I do not want to underestimate what happened here. It was a breach of discipline, and disciplinary action has been taken. At the same time, I should not like to exaggerate it. The total takings in the sergeants' mess that night were £3 10s., so I do not think it was a drunken orgy.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he was satisfied with the success of all the 1959 Corporal missile firing exercises at the Uist rocket range; what firing programme is planned for 1960; what other operational use is to be made of the range area apart from this disposal of stocks of obsolete missiles; and if he will state the total sum spent to date on the construction and development of the range and on the associated works and activities.

Yes, Sir. Last year's training programme was successful and another will take place this year. The Corporal missile is not obsolete. The sum spent on the range over the years has been £1½ million.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman recall that the Corporal firing in which he took part was a damp squib? Apart from that, is he aware that the civilian compensation by way of employment and development, which was promised very definitely by the Minister of Defence at the time when the project was started, has not materialised and that the employment is next to nothing at all? Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that this is a costly scheme which is producing no result? Surely that is generally acknowledged?

I have not in mind any promise made, but if the hon. Member makes the information available to me, I will certainly have a look at it.

asked the Secretary of State for War how long the Territorial Centre in King's Avenue, S.W.4, has been vacant; and when it will be reoccupied.

The centre has been vacant for four years. It is to be reoccupied this year.

Is not this a deplorable example of Government waste and bungling? Is the Minister aware that, according to a letter which I have had from the War Office, the centre might not be needed for another year or two? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these premises could have been leased or let for some quite useful purpose, instead of their being allowed to stand idle for such a long time?

It is a question of the size of the Territorial Army, which has been built up over the years. We did not need the centre some years back but we knew that it would be needed. We could not tell the exact year, but this is the year in which it will be occupied.

asked the Secretary of State for War the length of the military road to the top of Yes Tor in the Dartmoor National Park; how many tons of stone, broken concrete and gravel were used in its construction; and the cost of the operation.

I would refer the hon. Member to my Answer of 27th January. The track is about 1,500 yards long. Between 40 and 50 tons of broken stone from local quarries were used in its repair, at a cost of about £50. The work was done by War Department staff.

Is the Minister aware that in two previous Answers given in the House recently it was said that the road was not metalled but now he admits that it is? Has he seen the photograph in the Western Morning News of 21st December, 1959, which shows a motor car at the top of the road and near to the top of the Tor which is the highest hill in the south of England and the West Country? What does the right hon. Gentleman intend to do about it?

I am afraid that I have not had the advantage enjoyed by the hon. Member of seeing the photograph on 21st December, 1959. I am informed that if the road had been metalled, not 50 tons but 750 tons of stone would have been necessary. What has happened to the track is that the sides have been shored up and the holes filled in to make it traversable by a Land Rover.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to bear in mind that this is in the middle of a National Park and that the road scars the hill-side?

This track has always been in existence. We have improved it so that we can get the Land Rover up it, and the object is to lower the flag at the top of the Tor as soon as possible after firing has ceased.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the inadequate postal facilities in the Northfield, Mastrick and Cairncry districts of Aberdeen, that these districts are extensive, hilly and thickly populated, and that these conditions make difficult, especially in winter, business and social life for the residents there, especially the aged; if he has yet completed his inquiries into these conditions; and if he will now have them remedied before winter advances further.

I have carefully considered all the points mentioned by the hon. and learned Member; but I still believe that, with the opening of a new sub-office on 4th January on the south west border of the Mastrick area, postal facilities in the districts in question are adequate.

Is the hon. Lady aware that this matter has been hanging fire for a long time and that when I put a similar Question some time ago it was suggested that the urgent need then, which is still an urgent need now, could be met by the provision of a mobile post office? Will the hon. Lady consider that now as a temporary alleviation?

We are considering all these questions at the present time.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that letters posted to and from the Brentford area frequently take longer than twenty-four hours in transmission; and if he will inquire into the cause of such delays.

From time to time complaints have been received of delay to letters posted to and from the Brentford area. It has not always been possible to find out precisely the reason for the delay but there have been cases of missending to a wrong office. My inquiries do not suggest that the service generally in the Brentford area is inferior to that given elsewhere. I am looking into the specific examples which I received from my hon. Friend this morning.

In thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask her to consult the representatives of Brentford Chamber of Commerce, who have taken up this matter over a period of months, and may I also ask her whether there is any possibility of an improvement in the service as a whole?

asked the Postmaster-General when he will be in a position to open the new Brentford post office; and if he proposes to use it as a major sorting office for that area of Middlesex.

The new office should be open by November at the latest. It will be used to handle correspondence and parcels for delivery in the Brentford area, but not for other areas.

May I ask my hon. Friend if she will reconsider this matter, because we feel that it is linked up very much with the question of the alleged delays in mails in the Brentford area?

Correspondence for delivery in Brentford is received at Brentford in direct mails. On the other hand, correspondence posted in Brentford is taken to Hounslow for sorting and dispatch. This arrangement causes no delay in forwarding and I can assure my hon. Friend that it gives the greatest and the most efficient service at the present time.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will issue a special postage stamp in celebration of the centenary of Sir J. M. Barrie.

No, Sir.

Does the hon. Lady realise that if Barrie had been a American, a German or a Russian there would have been a special postage stamp? How long is the British Post Office to remain the most reactionary and retrogressive in the world in refusing to adopt a stamp policy which would give an opportunity to stamp collectors and bring additional revenue to the Post Office?

I think the hon. Gentleman knows what is our stamp policy. He probably agrees with Barrie, if I may quote from his rectorial address on courage to the students of St. Andrews, that you should never ascribe to your opponent motives meaner than your own. [Laughter.]

Order. This is a jovial Wednesday, but we really must have a little more quiet. Mr. Emrys Hughes.

asked the Postmaster-General how he proposes to celebrate the tercentenary of the establishment of post offices in Great Britain and the appointment of a Postmaster-General.

We propose to celebrate the tercentenary of the Charles II Act of 1660 establishing the "General Letter Office" by the issue in the summer of special 3d. and 1s. 3d. stamps and by the display of a series of posters showing how the mail was delivered at various times during the 300 years. These scenes will be painted by famous artists and the theme will be the need for a correct address in order that mail can be delivered quickly.

In addition, we have a stand at the Ideal Home Exhibition featuring the historical development of the postal services over the past 300 years.

The celebrations are not intended to mark the appointment of a Postmaster-General.

But is the Minister aware that I listened with great patience to her very long Answer in the hope of hearing at the end that the Post Office would issue a stamp of Robert Burns? Does this mean that we are likely to have a postage stamp of the Postmaster-General, and if so, will she let the Postmaster-General have it for England and give us Burns for Scotland?

May I ask the hon. Lady to realise that the old-age pensioners at Mowmacre Hill, Leicester, will not participate in any celebrations about the tercentenary of the establishment of a post office until they have a post office of their own?

One of our difficulties is that the Post Office services to the community are always developing. Three hundred years ago the Post Office was not paying pensions and allowances to people in the country as a whole. At the present time we are doing everything we can to meet the growing demands of the community.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will consider, in conjunction with the appropriate Defence Minister, the institution of emergency helicopter services to ensure essential postal services for towns and villages cut off by snowstorms in north-east Scotland.

Arrangements already exist for all emergency transport provided in such circumstances to be used where appropriate for conveyance of mails, but emergency helicopter services could not be justified solely for mail purposes.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the tremendous efforts of her staff in those very difficult circumstances are much appreciated, and will she give an assurance that she will use every possible scientific device to help them in their work?

Yes, Sir. We do our best, but we believe that in severe conditions helicopters may be required for matters of life and death, and it would be wrong as well as expensive to try to use them to overcome relatively short delays to mail traffic.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that in some parts of Islington the morning post is not delivered until after 9 o'clock; and if he will arrange for postal deliveries to be made earlier than this.

I am sorry that some of the deliveries in Islington have been running late. I am looking into this and will write to the hon. Member.

Would the Minister think it might be a convenient part of the celebrations of the tercentenary of the Post Office to make arrangements in the Metropolis for all letters to be delivered at a reasonable hour in the morning?

It is our general aim to deliver all letters by 9 o'clock. While in general this is achieved, I realise that there are places in Islington where we are not doing that. As I have said, we are looking into the matter and we hope we shall do better.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will expedite his plans for installing low-power satellite transmitters in areas remote from main transmitters in order to improve television reception.

The B.B.C. is pressing on as fast as it can with the fourteen television satellite stations announced on 24th June, 1959. It is also preparing its plans for the next stage of its scheme.

The I.T.A. is still busy completing its main network stations which include stations to serve South West England. The I.T.A. tells me that it is not yet in a position to propose plans for smaller stations in areas not adequately served at present.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that we pay exactly the same price for our television licences as do those in other parts of the country but that reception in our area is extremely bad? Is he aware that, to say the least, it is extremely frustrating particularly when one wants to watch such a show as the "Television Toppers"? Would my right hon. Friend please try to expedite the provision of this satellite station?

Yes, Sir, but so far I have not had proposals from the B.B.C. affecting that area. I realise that reception is bad.

Can the Postmaster-General say how many stations which were mentioned last June are already in operation?

To the best of my knowledge, I do not think that any have been completed. They take 12 to 18 months to put up.

May I ask the Postmaster-General again—

Oh.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware—

Oh.

These exclamations of enthusiasm do not assist progress with Questions.

On a point of order.

The hon. Member for Brecon and Radnor (Mr. Watkins) is in the middle of asking a question.

I hope, Mr. Speaker, that I am not one of those who are too enthusiastic in that sense, but is it not right that I should be allowed to ask a question of the Postmaster-General and inquire whether my constituents can see the right hon. Gentleman in the House some time?

I wish that the hon. Member would get on with the question.

On a point of order. It is extremely difficult to ask supplementary questions because of the bad behaviour of hon. Members on the third bench opposite.

Do not let us have competition in bad behaviour. Let us progress.

Could not the Postmaster-General get the B.B.C. to expedite the provision of some of these stations about which an announcement was made last June? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a satellite station in my constituency was mentioned then but no work has been started on it?

The announcement was made by my predecessor in the middle of 1959, but the B.B.C. is getting on with this as quickly as it can.

asked the Postmaster-General what direction he has given to the British Broadcasting Corporation under Article 15 (4) of the Licence and Agreement to refrain from broadcasting programmes which project, by television and sound radio, the taking of alcoholic drinks in plays, films and variety shows, in view of the increasing tendency to include such matter in there entertainments.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the increasing frequency of scenes of drinking and constant invitations to drink, in the programmes broadcast by both the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority; and, in view of this emphasis, which is detrimental to the moral fibre of the younger generation, if he will use his powers under Section 15 (4) of the Licence and Agreement and Section 9 (2) of the Television Act, 1954, to require the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority to refrain from broadcasting programmes including such matters.

Programme content is a matter for the broadcasting organizations. No directions on the subject raised by the hon. Members have been issued by me and I see no reason to intervene.

Notwithstanding the fact that it is well known that the liquor used at the B.B.C. is nothing more harmless than cold tea, does not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that it is bad continually to project into every home the practice of inviting a guest or a visitor to have a drink, sometimes before they leave to drive a car?

No, Sir. I disagree entirely with the hon. Gentleman. This is a matter for the B.B.C. and for the I.T.A. Both organisations assure me that they watch the alcoholic content, such as it is, of their programmes very carefully.

Why will not the Minister use the powers he has under the 1954 Act to protect the public and the younger generation against these continuing unfortunate scenes? Furthermore, may I ask if he will act in this case, because I have received fifty-four complaints from all parts of the country against the recurrent drinking scenes shown by the B.B.C. and the I.T.A.?

No, Sir. I do not seriously believe that the moral fibre of the younger generation is in any way weakened when they see an actor on television taking a drink of cold tea or coloured water.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give a direction under Section 9 (2) of the Television Act, 1954, requiring the authority to refrain from broadcasting programmes which create enmity towards other nations with which the United Kingdom is trying to secure peace, such as "The Invisible Man" series.

No, Sir.

Is the Minister aware that the I.T.A. has now admitted that six of the films in this series have some kind of cold war theme? Is it right that under the guise of entertainment this vicious propaganda, which is produced and slanted with an eye to the sale of films to American T.V. corporations, should be transmitted week after week to millions of unsuspecting homes?

The hon. Gentleman's Question suggests that "The Invisible Man" series creates enmity towards other nations. I have myself asked a considerable number of people if this series has that effect on them and they have all looked at me in bewilderment. The fact is that this is a series of spy stories. They are pure fiction, and how anyone who sees a series featuring an invisible man can regard it as other than fiction, I do not pretend to know.

asked the Postmaster-General the terms of reference and membership of the proposed commission of inquiry into the future of broadcasting.

If and when the Government decide upon such a course, the House would, of course, be informed. No such decision has been made.

But will not the Minister agree that it is essential to have a committee of inquiry before the new licences for television broadcasting are issued?

Yes, Sir, that is one of possibilities which are being looked at.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that it is now estimated that there are 500,000 colour television sets in use in the United States of America; and what are the factors still stopping the supply of adequate colour television service in Great Britain.

Yes, Sir, but there are more than 50 million monochrome receivers in the United States. Our main problem—and it is a universal problem—is the production of a colour receiver at an economic price. We also have to determine the colour system and the definition standards to be used.

Is the right hon. Gentleman saying that we are not as far advanced in these matters as America? Is he not prepared to do something about expeditition in this direction?

Indeed, yes, but I was pointing out that only about 1 per cent. of the households in the United States have colour television. The whole matter of line definition and colour is currently being examined by the Television Advisory Committee, whose report I expect to receive quite soon and which will be placed in the Library.

asked the Postmaster-General when the British Broadcasting Corporation expects to be able to provide the new television and very high frequency transmitter for west Cornwall.

The B.B.C. has chosen a site and hopes to start work shortly. It estimates that it will then take about eighteen months to complete the station.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I inquire whether he will ask the B.B.C. to do all it can to expedite the provision of this transmitter, because reception in places in west Cornwall is very bad.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will exempt the local telephone calls of general practitioners to hospitals from the revision of rates, which proposes that such calls will be on a timed basis for charging purposes.

The hon. Member no doubt has in mind the subscriber trunk dialling tariff under which all calls will be charged for in units of 2d., the amount of time so bought depending on the distance. With this system, many local calls will be charged 2d. instead of 3d. I am afraid it is technically impossible to exempt, from timing, local calls from or to particular installations.

Will the right hon. Gentleman have another look at the technical difficulties involved, in view of the fact that already we have established a precedent in that other emergency calls, under 999, are exempt from payment altogether? Does he realise the terrific burden this will place on general practitioners in trying to place people urgently in local hospitals? It is impossible for a general practitioner to ask a hospital to ring back, and he often needs to ring three or four hospitals. Until he has his first answer it is impossible to carry the inquiry further. Will the right hon. Gentleman please see if he can overcome the technical difficulties, which I am quite sure can be adjusted on the accounting system even if these calls are originally timed?

I appreciate the peculiar position of doctors under this new system, but I am advised that the technical difficulties of making this differentiation are insuperable. I am, however, willing to have a look at this again, if the hon. Member will leave it with me.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that doctors are not the only people who use their telephones for purposes of social services calls? If he is to look at this matter again, will he also consider it from the point of view of other people, such as M.P.s, trade union officials and others who have to use the telephone for social services?

The case of doctors is a very special one in so far as they often have to wait for connections with wards in hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when he expects the deliveries of the Vulcan Mark II and Victor Mark II to be completed.

I cannot at present add to the information on Vulcan II and Victor II deliveries contained in my Estimates Memorandum.

In view of the importance of these aircraft in the structure of the Royal Air Force, what steps is my right hon. Friend taking to speed up their delivery?

That is very largely a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Aviation, with whom I am in close touch.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, when he speaks tomorrow in the Air Estimates debate, try to say something on this point, which is very important?

I shall certainly deal with the V-bombers.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what length of warning will be given by the Fylingdales Moor early warning station of intermediate range ballistic missiles launched at distances of respectively 750, 1,000 and 1,500 miles from Nottingham.

Over a range of 1,500 miles the warning time would be about 11 minutes. Over shorter distances it could theoretically be anything from about 4 to about 15 minutes, according to the speed and trajectory of the missile.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the heart of industrial England is only 900 miles from Soviet territory in former East Prussia? Will he now admit that the amount of warning of a missile attack that we would be likely to get would be entirely inadequate for this country to be able to do anything effective in defence of its people?

I have already made it clear more than once that the primary task of this station is not to warn the public but to make our deterrent more effective.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is now the estimated value of the automatic gun parts sold at the Royal Air Force Station, Hartlebury, to Mr. Abraham Solomons; and how much money was received for them.

The only value of which the Air Ministry is aware for these parts is their scrap value, estimated now at £50. Their corresponding value in 1957 was £26 and they were sold for this sum.

Can the Secretary of State assure the House that there is absolutely no truth in newspaper reports that these parts are worth many thousands of pounds, and that officers of his Department have visited this man to try and get him to sell them back

I was, naturally, quoting the scrap value of these parts; they were sold, as the hon. Member knows, as scrap. I am not concerned with the real value but with the scrap value, which is what we sold them for. When we heard that the police were objecting to these goods being sold as firearms we recognised that it would have been better if we had mutilated them before selling them as scrap, which is what we do nowadays. Therefore, it seemed right to offer to take them back. It is quite wrong to suggest that we have any use for them.

asked the Minister of Transport when he will improve the procedure of his Department for advising county councils as to forthcoming grants for major road improvements on classified roads which, at present, makes it impossible for these councils to work to definite plans, and compels them to base their estimates of expenditure on guesswork; and if he will give special reconsideration to the difficulties of the Wiltshire County Council in this respect.

Grants are authorised within the total amounts voted annually by Parliament. But I fully realise the importance of advance planning and my Department gives highway authorities the best indication possible of the likely scale of grant for some years ahead. In 1958 all highway authorities were given such an indication up to 1961. I am now considering those lists of schemes covering the next five years submitted by highway authorities at my request.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for the personal interest which he has taken in this matter, and for the letter which he wrote to me yesterday on this subject, may I ask whether he is aware that in Wiltshire, in particular, very many county councillors—most of whom are his supporters rather than ours—are very unhappy indeed about this matter? The chairman of the committee concerned says that this has been a constant headache for a long time and that it is high time that the Minister got down to the question and revised his methods. Will he look at this sympathetically with a view to satisfying these people?

In view of their excellent political sagacity, I will do my best to satisfy them. But the basis of a highway programme must be what a local authority itself would like to do within its area. I will look at any case, if the hon. Member will send the details to me.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will expedite the improvements in road communications between South Wales and the Midlands; and if he will make a statement.

Work will start this spring on the first twenty-eight miles of the Bristol to Birmingham motorway, which will join the Ross Spur motorway now under construction and due for completion before the end of the year. Between Ross and Newport the existing trunk road will be provided throughout with dual carriageways and we hope to start the first schemes in this comprehensive improvement during the next financial year. Preparatory work on the Newport by-pass is now actively in hand. Construction started in January last on the first stage of the Heads of the Valleys road and this will be followed by other schemes to complete the improvement of the trunk route between Raglan and Neath.

In view of the efforts now being made in South Wales ports to find other trades to take the place of the coal exports, will my hon. Friend appreciate the very great urgency of this question of improving road communications with the Midlands?

Yes, we are well aware of this. This set of projects constitutes one of the five major projects which my right hon. Friend's predecessor announced as long ago as 1956.

asked the Minister of Transport the capital cost and maintenance cost per mile of highway fencing on the M.1 road; and whether, in formulating his proposals for financial assistance to the railways, which now bear the total cost of track fencing, he will consider making a comparable grant.

The capital cost of fencing the M.1 road was £3,100 for each mile of highway, and the average annual maintenance cost will be about £40 a mile, but I do not think that this is very relevant to the present financial problem of the railways.

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that reply. Will he bear in mind that the British Transport Commission operates nearly 19,000 track miles? Can he assure us that this example, and other comparable forms of track costs and track signalling costs, of road and rail will be borne in mind in preparing the statement to the House on the B.T.C.'s finances?

Every fact will be borne in mind before that statement is made.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will call for a report about the fatal accident which occurred in Derby on 8th January, 1960, at the junction of Derby Road and Kenilworth Avenue; and whether he will consider the recommendations put forward by the jury at the inquest on the pedestrian who was killed.

Yes, Sir. I will write to the right hon. Member when our inquiries are complete.

Did not the jury say that this was a very dangerous place? Will the hon. Gentleman consider instructing the divisional road engineer to meet local representatives with a view to providing the pedestrian crossing for which the local authority has asked?

The position is, as the right hon. Gentleman has said, that the jury made such an observation. Our divisional road engineer visited the site recently and discussions are now proceeding locally. That is involved in the report for which I have called. As soon as we get that report, I will write to the right hon. Gentleman about it.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that Rogart railway station is to be kept open for goods traffic but closed to passenger traffic to the inconvenience of the local people, over 2,000 of whom travelled to and from Rogart last year, and that the four daily passenger trains need to stop for only one minute to put down and pick up passengers; and if he will refer the proposed closure of part of Rogart railway station to the appropriate Transport Users' Consultative Committee.

This matter has already been fully considered by the Transport Users' Consultative Committee for Scotland.

Since when did it become more important for goods to have precedence over passengers? Surely passengers should have the prior right over goods? If services are kept open for goods, then why not for passengers also?

This question has been fully considered, but I looked into it myself, knowing my hon. Friend's tenacity in supplementary questions. People make 2,000 journeys in a year—arrivals and departures—which works out at five or six passenger journeys per day on a total of seven trains per day. That means fewer than one passenger per train—to be exact, ·85 of a passenger per train—which makes it difficult to run it at a profit.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the future financial and administrative organisation of the British Transport Commission.

I am not in a position to make a statement.

In view of the very grave apprehensions throughout the country about the affairs of the British Transport Commission, can my right hon. Friend give any indication of when he will be able to make such a statement?

It will be fairly quickly, but I prefer that the statement should be accurate and comprehensive rather than that it should be made too soon.

Does not the fact that the Guillebaud Report will be out today or tomorrow necessitate an early statement, and is not a debate on the whole subject now becoming very urgent?

I have already given an assurance that I will make a statement at the earliest possible moment. I realise that the Guillebaud Report will be out this week. A debate is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House.

May I appeal to my right hon. Friend—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—in the presence of the Leader of the House—[HON. MEMBERS: "Question."]—is he aware—

Order. It is very difficult to conduct Questions. I know what fun shouting is, but sometimes we have to refrain from indulging ourselves.

I am very grateful for your protection, Sir. Is it not a fact that the finances of the British Transport Commission in their present condition have very grave implications in the context of the Budget? Cannot hon. Members on this side of the House, as well as hon. Members opposite, be assured that there will be a debate well before the Budget so that the advance in railwaymen's wages is not used as an excuse for failing to reduce taxation in the Budget?

I am grateful for those preliminary views of my hon. Friend, but the question of a debate is for my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House.

Of course, but I have said it in his presence.

No doubt he will attach to it the same weight which he always gives to observations from my hon. Friend.

Will the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that he will not allow his hon. Friend the Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro) to bully him into any further inactivity?

I do not think that I shall allow my hon. Friend to bully me, although at times his appearance is somewhat formidable.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement about the consideration given by his Department to the Report of the London Travel Committee on the proposed Victoria line.

I have at present nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 3rd February.

As it is more than a month since my right hon. Friend said that he hoped to make a statement soon, may we be told how soon is soon?

My hon. Friend must remember that the whole of the railway system, both underground and over-ground, is now being examined and it is better to treat it altogether.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the patience of London's travelling public is beginning to wear a little thin? Will he bear in mind that he has promised to make so many early statements that we would like an assurance that he will place this at the head of the long queue of early statements which he has promised to make?

I do not think that I have promised to make many early statements, but this will be made early. The travelling public would be very inconvenienced if we adopted the hon. Gentleman's suggestion of not allowing motor cars in the centre of London.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is now able to announce the revision of the basis for estimating future traffic volumes laid down in Circular 727 of 30th April, 1956.

The revised basis for estimating future traffic volumes will be incorporated in a general circular to highway authorities about the design of roads in rural areas. I hope shortly to consult the associations of local authorities about this circular and I will issue it as soon as possible afterwards.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now ask representative organisations for their recommendations on increasing from 30 miles-an-hour to 40 miles-an-hour, outside built-up areas, the speed limits of public service and goods vehicles.

A similar proposal was circulated in December, 1958, and I have the views which the representative organisations gave last year. We will bear my hon. Friend's suggestion in mind if we decide to seek the views of these organisations again.

Does not my hon. Friend realise that many of these vehicles already travel at 40 miles-an-hour. That being so, would it not be better if it were made legal?

There was a good deal of lack of unanimity among the representative organisations on these matters when we considered them last year. I would not like to accept without qualification or challenge what my hon. Friend has said.

The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that men's livelihoods are affected by any decision about raising the speed limit from 30 miles-an-hour to 40 miles-an-hour. Will he assure the House that before such a decision is taken, the trade unions concerned will be consulted?

I think that they were consulted—

Are they to be consulted now?

They were consulted last year and would certainly be consulted again.

asked the Minister of Defence if, in view of the imminence of international discussions on the problems of disarmament and world peace, and the desirability of reducing tension in order to create a favourable atmosphere for these discussions, he will instruct the Service Departments and the other authorities concerned to postpone the construction of a ballistic missile early warning station in the United Kingdom, at least until after these discussions have taken place.

No, Sir.