asked the Minister of Transport when work is due to commence on the proposed Horsham by-pass road.

I am at present reviewing the classified roads programme and I cannot yet say when I shall be able to include this scheme in it.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made in 'he preparation of the trunk road improvement scheme in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

The results of the origin and destination survey have now been analysed and I am hoping to publish shortly the Order for side road alterations on the section between Milehouse Lane and Liverpool Road Bridge. This will be followed as soon as possible by the side roads order for the remaining sections of the scheme. The detailed plans of the land which remains to be acquired are expected from the agent authority in the near future.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, before building any more conventionally-built motorways at approximately £1,000,000 cost per mile, he will study the lighter and cheaper form of construction by continuous concrete strip.

The motorways so far built have cost between £250,000 and £500,000 per mile according to the conditions imposed by the terrain. The standards of motorway design recently agreed between my Department and the Road Research Laboratory represent the most economical form of construction to meet future traffic needs. They provide for the use of a wide range of materials and methods. In appropriate cases tenders are invited for alternative types of materials,, including concrete. I should be glad to examine any suggestions my hon. Friend may have in mind.

asked the Minister of Transport when he proposes to commence operations on the Leicestershire portion of the London to Yorkshire motorway.

I would refer to the reply I gave to the hon. Member at Question Time today on the subject.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the source of the explosion in the R.M.S. "Capetown Castle", whether electrical, gas-bottle, or crank-case.

It appears that an explosion occurred in the starting air lines of the engine. A preliminary investigation under the Merchant Shipping Acts into the cause is proceeding.I would like to take this opportunity of expressing my sympathy with the relatives of those who lost their lives and with those who were injured.

asked the Minister of Transport what legislation he is contemplating aimed at reducing the number of road accidents caused by drunken car drivers.

The hon. Member will not expect me to anticipate what may be said in the Gracious Speech which will open the next Session of Parliament.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the danger to oncoming traffic from overhanging loads from the rear of lorries carrying tree trunks and long tubes; and if he will take steps to compel drivers of such loads to have adequate indicators of the fact.

Proposals for new Regulations, which would require projecting loads to be adequately marked, and in many cases for advance notice of them to be given to the police, were circulated for comment to interested organisations in August.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that a siren is a more efficient instrument than a bell for clearing the road for an ambulance in city traffic; what communications he has received from the Association of Municipal Corporations or local authorities on this subject; and what was the nature of the reply.

The Association of Municipal Corporations has been told that its view that ambulances should be entitled to use sirens is receiving consideration in the current review of audible warning systems for priority vehicles.

asked the Minister of Defence, in view of his statement that it is the Government's intention to maintain an independent nuclear deterrent, what British vehicle he proposes to employ for this purpose; and what estimate he will give as to the probable cost.

In the defence debate on 20th July, I explained to the House the Government's plans for an independent British contribution to the nuclear deterrent of the West, based in the main on the V-bomber element of Bomber Command. This force is of the highest quality and has a formidable supply of nuclear weapons available to it. The cost of the strategic nuclear deterrent is expected to run at about 10 per cent. of the defence budget.

asked the Minister of Defence what agreement has been entered into with the Government of the United States of America with regard to the provision of a base or bases in this country for United States submarines armed with Polaris missiles; and what terms have been agreed for the joint control of the firing of missiles from these submarines.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave today to the hon. Members for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun), Dunbartonshire, East (Mr. Bence), Greenock (Dr. Dickson Mabon), and Ashfield (Mr. Warbey).

asked the Minister of Defence when he intends to announce the result of his examination of Service retired pay and widows' pensions under consideration since last February.

I hope very shortly to communicate with the hon. Members who came to see me on this subject.

asked the Lord Privy Seal why the United Kingdom delegate voted against the admission of the Chinese People's Republic to the United Nations, at the recent meeting of the General Assembly.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Dagenham (Mr. Parker).

asked the Lord Privy Seal what report was made to the 15th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations by the Committee on South-West Africa; and if he will make a statement.

This year's Report, like the previous ones, summarises the proceedings of the Committee on South-West Africa during the past year and submits a report and observations on conditions in the Territory. Copies are available in the Library of the House.The general attitude of Her Majesty's Government on this question is well known.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how far Western Germany is being armed with nuclear and rocket weapons by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, or Governments associated with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

German forces are armed with tactical nuclear weapons in accordance with agreed North Atlantic Treaty Organisation plans, the precise details of which must remain confidential. These tactical nuclear weapons come under N.A.T.O. control, and the nuclear warheads are kept in United States custody.

asked the Lord Privy Seal, in view of the German generals' memorandum on the supply of nuclear arms to Germany and the recent discovery by German scientists of the process known as gas centrifuge, if he will make an up-to-date statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on the rearmament of Germany.

Germany's rearmament under the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is today a firm requirement of Western defence and has the full support of Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give, to the latest convenient date, the numbers of unemployed men and women; and what these figures represent as a percentage in each case.

At 10th October, 227,285 men and 83,803 women, representing 1·7 per cent. and 1·2 per cent. respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour haw many newspaper workers are at present unemployed in the London area; and what stops he is taking to find them alternative newspaper employment.

No separate figures are kept for newspaper workers. At the latest count on 10th October there were in the Greater London area 171 workers registered as unemployed in printing and publishing of newspapers and periodicals. Engagements of workers in the newspaper industry are normally arranged direct between employers and trade unions, and employers seldom notify their vacancies to employment exchanges. Special arrangements have, however been made to give information to those concerned about the facilities provided by my Department and my local offices will, give all possible help to those workers seeking other employment.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons unemployed in Sunderland at the latest available date.

There were 4,563 at 10th October, 1960.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of registered unemployed on the Isle of Sheppey at the latest convenient date; what percentage of registered workers this represents; and the corresponding figures a year ago.

Four hundred and ninety-one at 10th October, compared with 490 at 12th October, 1959, representing a percentage rate of 6·5 at both dates.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what plans he has for the future use of H.M.S. "Apollo"; and if he will make a statement.

We plan to continue with H.M.S. "Apollo" in her present rôle as fast minelayer and Home Fleet dispatch vessel for as long as possible. She is due for a refit next year.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether he will now proceed to remove the remaining obstruction south of the Sturbridge Shoal, bearing in mind that the unlit mooring buoy is on the direct path of the hourly Portsmouth-Ryde steamers, and is liable to become undetectable on the radar in rough weather at a distance of a quarter to half mile.

I assume this Question refers to the four temporary buoys—one lit—laid in the vicinity in June for the deep sinking trials of the new floating dock built for H.M.S. "Dreadnought". These buoys were all removed by 24th October. The information that this was to be done was promulgated on 13th October in a local Notice to Mariners by the Queen's Harbour Master, Portsmouth.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty the nature of the trouble with the gun-turrets and control gear of H.M.S. "Lion" and "Tiger"; how long these difficulties have been apparent to the officers and men working them; and in what year the construction of these turrets was sanctioned.

H.M.S. "Tiger" has been having difficulty in achieving sustained bursts of fire with her 6" guns. We know the cause of the trouble and have made plans to rectify it during the "Tiger's" first refit which starts in a few days' time. H.M.S. "Lion's" guns are being modified in the light of experience with the "Tiger". The 3" guns are satisfactorily delivering a very high rate of fire.

H.M.S. "Tiger's" officers and ratings have been hard at work an her gunnery problems since she first commissioned in June, 1959. I would like to acknowledge the skill of all those who have worked so well to overcome the teething troubles with the 3" armament and to find the cure for the 6" armament.

The decision to place the production order for 3" and 6" mountings was taken in:1949. It was taken in the knowledge that a great deal of development work remained to be done.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what action he proposes to take to implement the recommendations of the Report from the Select Committee on Estimates on the Admiralty Headquarters organisation.

Answers to the recommendations of the Select Committee are in the course of preparation.

asked the Secretary of State for War what percentage of orders from the Military Engineering and Bridge-Building Establishment, Christchurch, Hampshire, is placed with Royal Ordnance factories, and what proportion with private firms; and according to what principle this allocation is made.

Three per cent. of orders from Military Engineering and Bridge-Building Establishments have been placed with Royal Ordnance factories, and 97 per cent. with private firms. Whenever possible orders are placed with Royal Ordnance factories, but much of the equipment needed by the Military Engineering and Bridge-Building Establishments is specialised and not suitable for production in Royal Ordnance factories.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement about the casualties suffered by British troops during the recent exercises in Germany.

I would refer the right hon. member to the statement I made in the House yesterday on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War how long it took for a battalion of the Strategic Reserve to complete the move to Kenya from the receipt of the warning order; and what additional time was needed to bring the battalion to a state of operational readiness.

Five days. This was of course a precautionary move, and the time taken was therefore much longer than if operations had been imminent. No additional time was needed to bring the battalion to a state of operational readiness.

asked the Minister of Health what representations have been made to him with regard to salary scales of mental health visitors and social workers; and whether he will make a statement.

Representations regarding salary scales are a matter for the appropriate negotiating machinery.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is now taking to stop the damage to health resulting from diesel smoke fumes.

I am advised that there is nothing at present to suggest that diesel fumes are endangering health.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent locally quarried whinstone is to be used on the north side approach roads to the Forth Road Bridge; and what steps he intends to take to increase such use to the maximum, in the interests of maintaining full employment in the whinstone quarries.

The specifications in this contract for the road foundations, mass concrete and structural concrete are so widely drawn that there will be every opportunity for the whinstone quarries to compete for the supply of material. But it will be for the successful contractor to decide the source of his material subject to his obligation to provide a finished product which satisfies the specifications.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the recent acquisition by the National Galleries of Scotland of a painting by Claude Lorrain.

The trustees of the National Galleries of Scotland learned early in August that the Holker Estates Company was willing to sell a painting by Claude, "Landscape with Apollo, the Muses and a River God", and that an offer on behalf of a foreign buyer had been received. This picture belongs to the class of outstanding masterpieces which it is in the national interest to retain in this country, and the trustees accordingly sought Exchequer help towards its purchase.The price of the picture is £47,000. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has agreed, subject to the approval of Parliament, to make an Exchequer grant of £30,000; the National Art Collections Fund has generously contributed £5,000; and the balance is being raised by the trustees from their own resources. A Supplementary Estimate will be laid before the House in due course: in the meantime the money has been advanced from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the recent evidence of unduly high rates of interest being charged by personal credit firms, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for West Fife, whether he will now introduce legislation to limit such interest rates.

No. While I am aware that there has been some criticism of the rates of interest charged by one firm in Scotland I have no reason to believe that personal credit firms generally are charging excessive rates of interest.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the speech made in Nairobi on 28th September by Lord Mountbatten, Chief of Defence Staff, was sanctioned in advance by Her Majesty's Government.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Aviation to what extent Her Majesty's Government are sharing in the development of Skybolt; and when he now expects this project will go into production.

Her Majesty's Government are co-operating with the United States Government in the development of Skybolt to enable it to be used by the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force. The project is still in the development stage and it is too early to say when it will go into production.

asked the Minister of Aviation what were the gross weights on take-off and the wind strength and direction at the time of take-off, of the following aircraft which left London Airport on 28th May, 1960, at the times specified, namely, Comet at 09.59, 10.16, 11.16, 12.27 and 13.49, and Caravelle at 12.19.

The information is given in the following table:

Time of Departure	Aircraft		Gross weight	Wind velocity
0959	Comet	…	55,244 kgs.	350°/15 kts.
1016	Comet	…	56,610 kgs.	360°/10 kts.
1116	Comet	…	61,840 kgs.	030°/12 kts.
1219	Caravelle	…	39,877 kgs.	020°/11 kts.
1227	Comet	…	71,943 kgs.	020°/11 kts.
1349	Comet	…	56,193 kgs.	010°/15 kts.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many men from the Union of South Africa are being trained in this country as paratroopers; and if he will make a statement.

Four officers and eleven N.C.O.'s of the South African Army and Air Force are being trained at the Royal Air Force Parachute School at Abingdon. This is being done under the normal arrangements whereby the Royal Air Force, when asked to do so, helps to train Service personnel of Commonwealth countries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research projects into the problem of homosexuality are being sponsored by his Department; if he will state the names of those responsible for each project and the estimated expenditure of public funds upon each; when he expects the projects to be completed; and if the findings are to be published.

Two projects of research on homosexuality are being sponsored by the Home Office. The first is being carried out in Birkbeck College, London, mainly by Mr. Gordon Westwood under the direction of Mr. Alec Rodger. It will cost about £2,500 a year for three years and is expected to be completed by the end of 1962. The second is a study of homosexual groups in their social settings, on which a report is being made by Mr. Richard Hauser of the Institute for Group and Society Development. The cost will be £525 and the report is expected by the end of this year. Decisions about publication, in which the authors are concerned as well as the Home Office, will not be made until the reports are received.

asked the Minister of Education if he will publish a table of figures showing, for 1958, 1959, and 1960, respectively, the number of secondary modern pupils entered for the General Certificate of Education examination, the number and proportion of secondary modern schools entering candidates, the average number of subjects taken, and the average number of passes gained.

The information for 1958 and 1959 is given in the following. table. Figures for 1960 should be ready early in the New Year and I will send them to the hon. Member.

General Certificate of Education examination	1958	1959
Candidates from secondary modern schools	10,540	15,580
Secondary modern schools submitting candidates:
Number of schools	792	969
Percentage of schools	21	25
Average number of subjects per candidate from secondary modern schools:
Taken	3·9	3·9
Passed	2·0	1·9

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties experienced by owner-tenants under compulsory purchase orders; and if he will take steps to ease these difficulties by granting increased compensation for the property taken, to bring it more into accord with present-day costs.

Since the passing of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1959, compensation for property acquired compulsorily has been based on market value. It is only in the case of unfit houses acquired under slum clearance powers that the general basis of compensation is the market value of the site. But full compensation for house and site is payable to owner-occupiers of such houses who purchased them between 1939 and 1955, and for owner-occupiers who do not qualify under this arrangement, provision has been made to entitle them to a payment not less than the gross value of the property. As this was reviewed by Parliament as recently as 1959, I have not in mind any changes.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will make a statement about the new strip mill at Newport for Messrs. Richard Thomas and Baldwins, Limited; and whether he is satisfied that the loan of £70 million is, in the light of the latest estimates, still adequate to finance the company's developments.

The construction of the strip mill is still in its early stages but good progress is being made. I referred in the debate on 27th June, to the extension and acceleration of the original plans, with a consequent increase in the cost of the Newport installations. The extension of the project will also increase its requirements for working capital and its acceleration will involve additional finance in the short term to make good the reduction in the contribution which the company can make from its current revenues during the construction period. Substantial finance will also be required for the company's developments elsewhere. In so far as these additional requirements have to be met out of public funds, the company will look to the Iron and Steel Holding and Realisation Agency which is its usual source of finance for short-term requirements and normal developments.

asked the Prime Minister what changes he has to announce in the composition of the Lloyd George and Balfour Memorials Committee.

Following the appointment of my noble Friend Lord Head as High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in the Federation of Nigeria my hon. Friend, the Member for Farnham (Sir G. Nicholson) has agreed to act as Chairman of the Committee.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will make a statement on the progress of contracting out under the National Insurance Act, 1959.

Yes. As my hon. Friend knows, the Registrar's practice is to encourage employers who are thinking of contracting out to submit their pension schemes to him and to discuss with him informally any modifications which may be necessary. So far 4,767 schemes have been submitted. An "election"—that is, a formal application for a certificate—is, of course, appropriate only when any necessary modifications have been made to the scheme and due notice has been given to employees. So far, 1,953 such elections have been made, and 1,050 certificates have actually been issued covering 756,096 contributors.The number of elections made is small by comparison with the number of employers who have consulted the Registrar with a view to contracting out or who have otherwise indicated their intention so to do. I realise, of course, that discussions with employees and the modifying of schemes may take some time and that there are a great many cases where this is in progress and where the Registrar may expect to receive an election soon. Nevertheless, I would take the opportunity of reminding employers that only about five months remain before the beginning of the graduated scheme and that it is essential that those of them who want certificates in operation by next April should apply for them very soon. As I told the House on 23rd March last, employers who leave matters too late may find that a certificate cannot be issued to them before the start of the graduated scheme, in which case they will, of course, be liable for the National Insurance graduated contributions from April, 1961, until such time as the certificate is issued and takes effect.