asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the heavy volume of traffic on the trunk road A.49, which passes through the centre of Shrewsbury with a carriageway width at places of only 14 feet and a total street width of only 24 feet; and what steps he has taken to improve road widths or junctions on this trunk road when rebuilding schemes have taken place.

Sight lines were improved when Barclays Bank was re-built on the corner of Castle Street and St. Mary's Street and the trunk road will be widened in connection with the proposed reconstruction of the General Post Office on the opposite corner. Opportunities for such improvements are infrequent, but we take advantage of them wherever they are justifiable and practicable.

asked the Minister of Transport, when he expects to complete his investigations into the effects of alcoholic liquors on road accidents; and if he will make a statement.

I shall not be in a position to make a further statement on this matter until the report of the official team which is to visit Scandinavia in mid-June had been received and considered.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give the figures for all road accidents, including fatal ones, in which heavy commercial vehicles were involved, for the 12 months to the nearest convenient date.

The information asked for is not available for 1959. From January to March, 1960, goods vehicles of over 3 tons unladen weight were involved in 3,087 accidents. Of these 201 were fatal.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the success of the experimental regulations in Putney High Street in speeding up the traffic, he will consider imposing similar regulations on all omnibus routes in the Greater London area.

The composite experiment in Putney High Street was designed to help traffic flow generally at the peak morning and evening periods on this difficult stretch of road. A full analysis will be necessary before it can be decided which features are suitable for application in local circumstances elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Transport when it is expected to start work on the Dunstan to Preston by-pass section of the Birmingham to Preston motorway; when it will be finished and opened; and if modern lighting will be introduced.

The major viaducts and rail bridges on this motorway are already under construction. Tenders have been invited for the road works on three sections of the motorway. I cannot at present forecast the date by which the whole motorway will be finished and opened. It is not my intention at present to light the motorway, apart from the terminal roundabouts, since there is not sufficient evidence to show that lighting is necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport when it is expected to start work on the Worsley, Manchester to Selby section of the Lancashire to Yorkshire motorway; when it will be finished and opened; what will be the mileage; and if he will consider the need for providing for pedestrians and cyclists, and the introduction of modern lighting from Stretford via Barton and Worsley to Selby.

I cannot say yet when work will start on this project which on present plans will terminate at its eastern end on A.1 near Ledsham. It will be about 50 miles long. Pedestrians and cyclists are not permitted to use motorways, which are designed for the exclusive use of specified classes of motor vehicle. Part of this motorway will be trunk road and part will be a classified road. Whether the trunk road portion will be lighted will depend on experience gained from other motorways. The highway authority for the classified part are Lancashire County Council and any question of lighting that part is a matter between them and the lighting authorities concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the congestion of eastbound traffic in Great George Street, Birdcage Walk and Horse Guards Approach Road in the morning peak hours, and the comparatively few vehicles travelling in the opposite direction, he will experiment by making Great George Street and Birdcage Walk into one-way streets for eastbound traffic during this period and diverting westbound traffic via Tothill Street and Queen Anne's Gate.

The congestion at this point arises mainly from traffic saturation at peak periods in Parliament Square and the Bridge Street-Victoria Embankment junction. My hon. Friend's proposal would have too little effect on this to justify the difficulties which would be caused by routeing westbound traffic on the inadequate complementary route. A greater contribution to the free flow of traffic in the area will be made by the widening of Great George Street now in progress.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the reasons for the continued delay in commencing the foundation work for the new road bridge across the Severn.

Work on the foundations of the bridge cannot begin until the preliminary statutory processes have been completed and the necessary funds are available.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give details of his present schemes for major road improvements and ring roads in and around Manchester; what work is being done on these schemes at the present time; when he expects that they will be completed; and when further work will be started.

On trunk road A.56 dual carriageways are being constructed between Sale and Stretford. This scheme should be completed in the late summer. There are also under construction the Stretford-Eccles By-pass, which is the first section of the Manchester Outer Ring Road and the widening of Corporation Street, Manchester. The Lancashire County Council expects to complete the former in July; the Manchester Corporation expects to complete the latter in the autumn.Further trunk road proposals are under consideration. A line for the extension of the Princess Parkway is now being surveyed and we are investigating the possibility of reconstructing A.56 and A.6 on new alignments to the north of Manchester. It is too early to say when these schemes will be undertaken.

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents involving lorries carrying shale to the Spencer steelworks, Llanwern, have taken place up to the last available date; and how much longer this type of transportation is likely to continue.

I am informed that 307 accidents have occurred from the time the work started on a large scale in January until the end of last April. Of these, 252 caused no personal injury. How long the work will continue is a matter for the contractors.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce legislation to make the provision of safety belts compulsory in all new passenger cars, in view of the saving of life and injury which would result from their more general use.

I propose to discuss this question with the Road Research Laboratory and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the tests carried out of methods of measuring the noise of motor cycles; and what measurement it is proposed to adopt.

Officers of my Department, with the full co-operation of the Motor Industry Research Association, the National Physical Laboratory and the manufacturers of motor cycles, have been engaged on tests on the lines of the draft International Standards Organisation proposals for methods of measuring noise emitted by vehicles. A meter indicating the sound level in decibels is being used. As the tests are still proceeding, I cannot yet say what sound levels will be regarded as permissible for different classes of vehicles.

asked the Minister of Defence if, following exercise Starlight, he is satisfied that the strategic reserve has the air mobility it requires; and if he will make a statement.

Recent exercises have shown that the air mobility of the strategic reserve is already high. Further increases are taking place.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will give an undertaking that no financial commitments or contracts for work on the base in Cyprus will be entered into until negotiations relating to that base have been completed.

Present work is in fulfilment of commitments already entered into.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the widespread criticism of the inadequacy of the contribution of £200,000 by Her Majesty's Government to the World Refugee Fund, if he will state the amount of the final contribution.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what additional contribution to World Refugee Year is to be made by Her Majesty's Government.

As announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister at the World Refugee Year finale at the Albert Hall on 30th May, Her Majesty's Government propose, subject to Parliamentary approval, to make a final contribution of £200,000 to the United Kingdom Committee for the Year. This brings the total contribution of Her Majesty's Government up to £400,000, or four times their original contribution.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the number of subjects of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics resident in this country enjoying diplomatic immunity.

Two hundred and thirty-one, including one hundred and two wives but no children.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the number of British subjects in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics enjoying diplomatic immunity.

One hundred and twenty-one, including thirty-eight wives but no children.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give an undertaking that, in the event of the United Kingdom ceasing to use the Cypriot base areas for military purposes, the areas will be handed over to the Government of Cyprus.

Her Majesty's Government do not contemplate leaving the Sovereign Base Areas. The London Agreement of February, 1959, provided that these areas should be retained by the United Kingdom without a time limit.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the fact that no negotiations are currently taking place between the Cypriot leaders and Her Majesty's Government, if he will make a statement on the progress made during the recent adjournment.

I have nothing to add to the answer given by my right hon. Friend yesterday to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. F. Noel-Baker) and the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps the Government are taking to summon the Security Council to consider the aggressive action of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, namely, spying in the Eastern Mediterranean by ship and spying over the United Kingdom and over Pakistan by aeroplane.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the recent evidence in the case of Commander Crabb, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for The Hartlepools, and the consequent doubt regarding the disappearance of Commander Crabb in June, 1957, if he will institute further inquiries into the matter.

I am aware of no fresh evidence which would justify further inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of the United States of America with regard to the proposed deportation to the United Kingdom of Mrs. Hazel Anna Wolf, a British subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make representations to the United States Government on behalf of Mrs. Hazel Anna Wolf, a British citizen who has resided in the United States of America since 1922, who is threatened with deportation to the United Kingdom, and about whom details have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme.

When the United States authorities informed Her Majesty's Embassy at Washington of their desire to deport Mrs. Wolf to the United Kingdom they gave the fullest information as to the circumstances. In the light of this information it was considered that no useful purpose would be served by making representations. It has now been learned that Mrs. Wolf suffers from tuberculosis and that a drastic change in her environment could cause serious repercussions. Her Majesty's Ambassador has therefore been instructed to represent to the State Department that the United States authorities should reconsider this case.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the United States Government intend to deport to the United Kingdom on 15th June Mr. Williams, of Dearborn, Michigan, United States of America, a citizen of the United Kingdom; and, as Mr. Williams is now 54 years of age, has lived in the United States of America since he was nine months old, and has no relations in Great Britain, if he will instruct the British Ambassador to the United States of America to refuse to issue a travel document to Mr. Williams.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now make a statement concerning the result of his promised representations in the case of Mr. Fred Williams, a citizen of the United Kingdom, whose deportation from the United States of America has been decided upon, and about whom he has been in correspondence with the hon. Member for Nelson and Colne.

Representations were made on Mr. Williams' behalf on 29th February by our Embassy in Washington, but have unfortunately been rejected by the United States Government. There was therefore no longer any reason to delay the issue of a travel document, nor is any useful purpose served by refusing to issue a travel document to a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies since he is entitled to enter the United Kingdom without such a document. The document does, however, simplify the procedure at the point of entry into the United Kingdom. It is understood that Mr. Williams is to be deported on or shortly after the 15th of June.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to provide sheltered employment in Wales under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts, 1944 to 1958.

There are 13 Remploy factories in Wales, two sheltered workshops run by voluntary organisations, and seven workshops for the blind run by local authorities or voluntary organisations on their behalf, four of which now admit sighted disabled persons also. All receive financial assistance under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts.

asked the Minister of Labour what representations he has received from the Welsh ex-Service Association about the need to provide sheltered employment for seriously disabled ex-Service persons; and what reply he has made.

A letter from the Welsh ex-Services Association was received on Wednesday last 25th May. My reply gives details both of the present facilities, and of the action contemplated by local authorities.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the shortage of skilled labour in the machine tool industry; and what action he is taking to assist the industry to overcome it.

There is a shortage in some areas of engineering craftsmen who are normally employed in the machine tool industry. Every effort will be made to fill vacancies notified to the Local Offices of my Department, including the submission of suitable workers from outside the areas of shortage.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent his Department was used by W. H. Dorman and Company, Limited, in making arrangements for 65 persons to travel from Glasgow to Stafford for jobs which did not fulfil the conditions described; and if he will inquire into this matter and make a statement.

The Manager of Glasgow Central Employment Exchange gave representatives of the firm concerned facilities to interview prospective employees on the Exchange premises. The Press advertising and the interviews were carried out by the firm which was entirely responsible for giving information about wage rates and conditions of employment and for travel arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether, at the trial of Lieut.-Colonel H. R. Sandford by general court-martial at Quetta, India, in 1934, the Convening Officer cancelled an adjournment which had been granted by the court at the request of counsel for the accused officer; and by what specific provision of military law, in force at the time of the trial, this action was authorised;(2) whether Lieut.-Colonel H. R. Sandford was serving under the command of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, India, on 3rd November, 1933, on which date this officer requested the civil police at Quetta to register a case against him under the Indian Penal Code; and whether the accused officer was informed of this action by the military authorities, while being detained under arrest by them.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave him on 11th November, 1959.

asked the Secretary of State for War why his Department's notices have been erected on Budby Common, near Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, telling the public to keep out.

This is private land, used by the Army for training. Under the terms of a lease which have been agreed with the owners the War Department is required to put up notices warning against trespass. There are public rights of way over the area which are in process of definition under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949. When these paths have been defined notice boards will show members of the public where they may walk without trespass.In the meantime, I am considering whether the wording of the present notices needs to be revised, and I will write to the hon. Member when this has been settled.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that United States Congressmen visited Thor missile sites on Royal Air Force stations in this country before Members of Parliament were invited to do so, and that Russian observers have witnessed missile firings at South Uist; and whether he will now invite Members of Parliament to visit South Uist to see the firings there.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes", and to the second "No". As regards the third part of the Question, safety precautions demand good weather for firing and it is difficult, therefore, to arrange a visit with any certainty that a missile will be fired. Subject to this condition, however, I should be glad for hon. Members to visit the range and will make arrangements for early in July. Details will be made known through the usual channels.

asked the Postmaster-General what action he intends to take under Section 9 (2) of the Television Act to prevent the illustration of techniques of crime as was illustrated in a play, particulars of which have been sent to him.

The Authority, in giving me information about the play, assures me that nothing in the illustration mentioned in the hon. Member's letter was capable of aiding or improving the technique of a would-be criminal. I see no need to intervene.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that certain countries are refusing to accept letters bearing a 6d. stamp and franked "World Refugee Year", and that this is causing inconvenience to senders, apart from the loss of the postage involved; if he will arrange that persons presenting such letter to the Post Office will have the cost of postage refunded to them; and if he will consider restricting the use of this franking to letters addressed to countries who are participating in this effort.

A number of letters postmarked "World Refugee Year" have been returned to this country by Roumania. I am very sorry that the senders should have been inconvenienced in this way and I have made special arrangements to ensure that they will not be out of pocket on the postage. In the case of letters returned to the senders before these special arrangements were made, postage will be refunded if the covers are taken or sent to any main post office. The postmark in question was a temporary one only and it was withdrawn according to plan on the 4th May.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make fresh representations to the football pools promoters with a view to obtaining a more even weekly distribution of pools coupons dispatched through the post and thereby effecting a more efficient working method in the postal sorting offices.

Posting arrangements for pool coupons must have regard to the needs both of the promoters and the Post Office, and the present arrangements, evolved after full consultation, take these into account. I do not, therefore, consider fresh representations necessary at the present time.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent he has given consideration to the introduction of a postal cheque system in the British Post Office; and if he will make a statement.

I am not yet able to make any statement, but I hope to be ready soon after the Recess.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is yet in a position to say when the overseas letter telegram service will be restored.

I am glad to say that the service will be restored on Monday next, 6th June. I very much regret the inconvenience caused by its suspension. Although there is still a serious shortage of staff, I know that every effort will be made to give good service. Measures are in hand, including pay increases at the recruiting level, agreed with the union, which will, I hope, result in a progressive improvement.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he has taken to publicise the tourist information service provided by his Department.

This service has been advertised in the Press and in Post Offices and, with the co-operation of the British Travel and Holiday Association and the Scottish Tourist Board, in hotels in London, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Commencing 1st July it will be advertised in trains on the London Underground. The service will also be featured in the London telephone directory on reprinting.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement on the progress being made with the intro- duction of a new public telephone kiosk; and whether he is yet able to say which design will be accepted.

The choice of a new design by Mr. Neville Conder was announced in the House on 17th December, 1958. I have recently approved a prototype and an order has been placed for six of these kiosks for practical trials by the public. Some points have still to be settled before manufacture can proceed, but I hope these will be resolved quickly.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will consider the possibilities of having small light bulbs fixed to each of a group of office telephones so that users may quickly ascertain which telephone is ringing.

I can arrange for separate lamp signals to be specially provided in association with any office telephone, and this meets most needs. The development of a lamp on the telephone instrument itself is under way.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is satisfied that sufficient qualified teachers will be available for the teaching of the children at Aden when the new school programme is completed.

It is not easy to recruit teachers for Aden; but we are doing all we can to get more, and we have a number of applications in hand at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Air to what extent the Royal Air Force co-operated with the United States Air Forces stationed in this country in the execution of the combat readiness alert order issued on 15th May by the United States Defence Secretary.

This exercise was limited to United States procedures, and the question of Royal Air Force cooperation therefore did not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases there were during 1959 when, upon conviction for being drunk in charge of a car, the driver's licence was suspended for at least twelve months; and what percentage these suspensions formed of the total convictions for this offence.

In 1959 there were 4,635 convictions in the magistrates' courts in England and Wales for the offences of driving or being in charge of a vehicle while under the influence of drink or a drug. In 987 or 21·3 per cent. of the cases the persons concerned were disqualified for driving for periods of over twelve months; in another 2,727 or 58.8 per cent, of the cases the persons concerned were disqualified for driving for periods of over six months and up to twelve months. No figures are available in respect of cases dealt with by the higher courts.

asked the Minister of Health what would have been the cost to public funds of providing an invalid carriage, insurance, maintenance and petrol allowance over the last seven years in case No. H.69521; what financial assistance has been given towards the purchase and running expenses of the motor vehicle purchased by this individual; and what additional assistance he will provide.

If a power propelled tricycle had been issued to this patient in 1953 and it were still in use the capital and maintenance cost would have been about £370; a contribution of £50 was made in 1953 towards the conversion of the controls of a private car and he has been told that my right hon. and learned Friend would be prepared to consider giving renewed assistance for this purpose; but he has no power to make grants under Part II of the National Health Service Act towards the maintenance of private cars.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will break down the other net invisibles, in tables 1 to 7 of the United Kingdom Balance of Payments, 1957 to 1959, White Paper, into debits and credits, respectively; and if, in future issues, he will give these details in all the tables.

The "Other (net)" invisibles item in the Balance of Payments White Paper covers a large number of different categories of transactions, on which the amount of available information is very variable and does not permit reliable estimates of debits and credits. I therefore regret that the information at our disposal does not allow an analysis of the kind requested to be given. New sources are now being developed for use in the balance of payments estimates, and I hope that it may in time be possible to increase the amount of detail published.

asked the Minister of Works when the reconstruction of Clevedon Court, Somerset, will be completed; at what approximate cost; and when the building will be open to the public.

I understand from the owner that repairs and adaptations at Clevedon Court are due to be completed in September, 1960, at a revised estimated cost of £29,000. On the recommendation of the Historic Buildings Council for England my predecessor in March, 1959, approved a grant of £19,130 towards the full cost of repairs; an application for an increased grant towards the cost of additional repairs is at present under consideration. On completion the building is to be handed over to the National Trust, who hope to open it to the public at Easter, 1961.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the 1960–61 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade Conference.

Her Majesty's Government welcomed the initiative of the United States Government which led to the calling of the forthcoming G.A.T.T. Tariff Conference. They hope that negotiations at the Conference will lead to substantial reductions in tariff barriers. The United Kingdom will enter into negotiations with the United States and the European Economic Community, and will be ready to exchange important tariff reductions over a wide range of our imports for comparable reductions in tariffs against our exports. In the negotiations, we shall keep in close touch with our partners in the Commonwealth and in the E.F.T.A.