asked the Minister of Transport if he has now agreed with the Berkshire County Council and Newbury Borough Council the details of the north-south inner relief road through Newbury; and when construction will begin.

The design of the relief road is now being settled, but all the details have not yet been agreed. We shall fit the scheme into the programme as soon as we can.

asked the Minister of Transport what will be the estimated annual national saving by reason of the construction of the present section of the M.1 after the expiration of the eight-year period in which it will have paid for its construction.

I cannot usefully add to the information given in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Mr. Gresham Cooke) on 25th January. The economic benefits of the M.1 will, of course, continue for many years, but it is too early to attempt to estimate their value beyond the period to which I then referred.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the period for which he has budgeted for motorway construction; and what are the annual amounts to be spent on motorway construction during that period.

If the £164 million estimated Government expenditure on the Road Programme in England and Wales in 1961–62 and 1962–63, rather less than a half is earmarked for motorway construction. In succeeding years, expenditure on the motorways will be phased so as to secure the substantial completion of the Five Major Projects and at least the start of the Yorkshire Motorway over the next five years.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state his decision upon the application made by the Bristol City Council in December, 1960, for loan sanction and Exchequer grant in respect of the construction of the proposed inner circuit road from St. James Barton to Wellington Road.

We hope to announce our decision shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents, fatal and otherwise, have taken place in the last five years at the junction of Bennetts Castle Lane and Becontree Avenue, Dagenham; and whether he will authorise the erection of traffic signals there.

Accident figures are available for the last four years only. During that period there have been one fatal accident and 23 involving injury. Traffic is too light to justify traffic signals. We have suggested to the highway authority an alteration of the junction which should reduce the risk of accidents.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his Department have completed their scheme for lay-bys on Epping New Road, Buckhurst Hill.

It has proved difficult to find sites acceptable to all the authorities interested in these lay-bys; but I hope that agreement may soon be reached.

asked the Minister of Transport what further progress has been made in plans for the extension of Eastern Avenue, particularly as affecting the borough of Leyton.

We hope to reach a decision shortly on the line of the proposed Eastern Avenue Extension through Leyton.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he proposes to take to lessen the traffic dangers when the whole of the new M.5 motorway traffic is funnelled through Rubery village's narrow shopping street.

I have the danger of trunk road traffic to the inhabitants of Rubery very much in mind and we intend to build a by-pass with dual carriageways which will take all the through traffic out of New Road. A draft Order for the necessary side road alterations will be published in March and my Divisional Road Engineer is asking the Local Authority, concurrently with the publication of the Order, to arrange a public meeting at Which the scheme can be explained to all concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the traffic congestion at the junction of Victoria Street, Grosvenor Gardens and Vauxhall Bridge Road and the difficulties of pedestrians crossing over to the main Victoria Station; what are his future plans for this junction; and whether, in connection with them, he will consider building a tunnel under the road to eliminate the waiting of the pedestrians who use this crossing continuously during the day.

I am aware of the traffic congestion at this junction. I hope to approve for grant this year a scheme to be submitted by the London County Council to construct a new link road for south-bound traffic between Buckingham Palace Road and Victoria Street. A further link for northbound traffic between Vauxhall Bridge Road and Wilton Road is also proposed. The London County Council has discussed the provision of pedestrian subways with my Department, but their siting is difficult because of the comparatively shallow underground railways. Where subways are impracticable light-controlled surface crossings will be provided.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission not to increase their expenditure on advertising without his prior approval.

No. I regard this as a matter for the Commission's commercial judgment.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will publish the report of the fact-finding team he sent to Scandinavian countries to investigate the methods and value of blood tests for drivers suspected of being under the influence of drink.

Reports of this kind are not normally published, and I see no reason to depart front current practice in this instance.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the increasing number of accidents during the hours of darkness; and whether he will seek the co-operation of motoring organisations in impressing upon their members the importance of Section 49 of the Highway Code which states that at night drivers should always drive well within the limits of their lights.

Yes. I agree that this is a growing problem, and propose to seek the co-operation of the motoring organisations, and other. in giving advice to drivers.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is yet in a position to propose regulations prescribing permissible noise levels for vehicles of various classes.

No. The British Standard on methods of measuring vehicle noise is however now in draft, and the results of tests undertaken to establish both the noise made by existing vehicles and the effect of certain sound levels on bystanders are being analysed.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has yet considered the petition presented by a group of London busmen calling for a public inquiry into the deteriorating omnibus services in London; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now state what reply he has made to the petition by London busmen calling for a public inquiry into the omnibus services provided by the London Transport Executive.

As my hon. Friend told the hon. and learned Member for West Ham, South (Mr. Elwyn Jones) on 25th January, we have this petition at present under consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider instituting compulsory bicycle tests for all children before they are allowed on roads unaccompanied.

We prefer to rely on voluntary participation in the National Child Cyclist Proficiency Scheme, and also on the good sense of parents not to allow their children to ride alone on busy roads before they are competent cyclists.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he now proposes to make regulations to prohibit the fitting of anti-dazzle rims to headlights, which can be dangerous in a collision.

No. I understand that modern rims of this kind are so designed as not to be dangerous, but if my hon. Friend will let me have details of any particular type which he considers dangerous, I will gladly have inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet approved the capital expenditure proposed by the British Transport Commission for its new research laboratories at Derby.

No. By agreement between the Chairman of the British Transport Commission and myself, discussions are proceeding between the Commission, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and my Department about this proposal and its relation to other research activities.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has for allowing a refund on surrendered motor driving licences, the validity of which has not yet expired.

This proposal was considered but not adopted during the passage through Parliament of the Road Traffic Act, 1956. I see no good reason for revising that decision.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to implement the proposal of the Select Committee on the Nationalised Industries that the uneconomic services of British Railways be financed out of public funds.

I would refer the hon. Member to paragraph 50 of the recent White Paper on the Reorganisation of the Nationalised Transport Undertakings.

asked the Minister of Transport in what way the British Railways Board proposed in Command Paper No. 1248 will differ from the former railway executive abolished in 1953; how he proposes to ensure close co-operation between that Board and the other nationalised transport undertakings and what control it is proposed to give to Parliament over its work.

The proposed British Railways Board, unlike the former Railway Executive, will be an independent statutory Board vested with its own assets and responsible for its capital debt and with its own statutory duties and powers. Further, there are to be regional boards, each with a representative on the Railways Board. Co-ordination between the British Railways Board and the other nationalised transport undertakings will be on the lines indicated in paragraphs 20 and 27–30 of the White Paper. Broadly speaking, the British Railways Board will be accountable to Parliament on lines similar to other nationalised industries at present.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the erection of the new British Motor Corporation factory at Bathgate with its employment prospects for North Lanarkshire, he will authorise capital expenditure for the extension of the electrification of the railway from Airdrie to Bathgate.

The British Transport Commission have made no proposal to me for such an extension of the Glasgow suburban electric services.

asked the Minister of Transport how effective Oilsink trials have been in reducing the oil pollution menace to beaches; and if he will make a statement.

The results of the public demonstration of Oilsink and of subsequent laboratory tests have not yet been fully evaluated. Oil pollution on the beaches of the United Kingdom continues to give concern, and my noble Friend the Minister for Science has arranged for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to carry out a research programme to help to solve the problem.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the danger and expense to coastal rescue services caused by inexperienced amateurs, he will introduce a seamanship test for boat-owners.

This is a useful suggestion which we will gladly consider. We will consult the bodies interested in yachting and small boat sailing and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents upon it.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make further representations to the United States Administration regarding the pursuit, in common with the United Kingdom, of a policy aimed at discouraging flag discrimination in world shipping.

Flag discrimination is already the main topic at the meetings to discuss shipping policy which are being held periodically in Washington between officials of the Government of the United States and of ten European Governments including the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Defence if he is yet able to submit his observations on Recommendation (4) of the Fourth Report of the Select Committee on Estimates in Session 1957–58.

This Question involves certain technical questions which my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and I are having examined in greater detail.

asked the Minister of Defence what proposals he has for reducing defence expenditure.

I see no prospect of significantly reducing defence expenditure until there is an international agreement on disarmament or a real lowering of international tension.

asked the Minister of Defence what are his plans for the defence bases in Kenya; and what discussions he has had with representatives of Kenya opinion about them.

Her Majesty's Government's plans remain as I have explained in previous replies to the hon. Member. I have had no recent discussions myself with representatives of Kenya opinion, but I am kept fully informed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will state the date on which the White Paper on Defence will be published.

I hope to publish the Defence White Paper on Tuesday, 14th February.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he has now accepted the proposals made by General Norstad for unified control over allied forces.

I am not sure what the right hon. Gentleman has in mind.General Norstad already exercises supreme command over allied forces assigned to N.A.T.O. in Allied Command Europe.

asked the Minister of Defence whether, in view of the shortage of training areas in Germany for West German troops, he will consider bringing back British contingents to the United Kingdom to make available more training space for German forces in Germany.

The presence of the British forces in Germany is required of us by the terms of the revised Brussels Treaty, Article 6, Protocol II. This obligation is not affected by any question on training areas.

asked the Postmaster-General why lawyers have not been exempted from sharing their home telephone numbers; and what discussions he has had upon this matter with the Law Society.

Since 1948 there has been an obligation on residential subscribers to share their lines if asked to do so. Many business and professional people are sharing their home telephones, and I am afraid I should not be justified in treating lawyers differently. The matter has been the subject of discussion and correspondence with the Law Society on a number of occasions in the past, the last being at the end of 1959.

asked the Postmaster-General why there are continued and lengthy delays in supplying equipment to the Lichfield Telephone Exchange, and in the laying of additional cable; and whether he will give instructions for this additional provision of telephone facilities to be expedited.

The pace of development here is dependent on the resources at my disposal, and I am sorry that it has not been possible to meet the need at Lichfield more quickly. Additional cables are now being laid and a temporary relief exchange will be ready by July. The new automatic exchange will be opened early next year.

asked the Postmaster-General how many people in Great Britain are still waiting for a telephone; what is the number of subscribers now sharing a line; and what steps he is taking to improve on this situation.

50,264 people were on the waiting list at the 31st December last and 1,100,000 were sharing their lines. The telephone system is being expanded as fast as my resources allow. Last year, more than 453,000 telephones were installed, and I hope the number will be higher still this year.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to end the delays experienced by many telephone users, particularly in the provinces.

I am sorry about these difficulties. There has been an exceptionally heavy increase in telephone traffic, and in some places there are staff and equipment shortages. I am doing all I can to put things right, and, in particular, I hope that improvements in pay and conditions which are now being introduced will help the recruitment of telephone operators.

asked the Postmaster-General how many protests he has received either direct from members of the public or through Members of Parliament regarding proposed extensions of the system of timed local calls.

So far, I have received about 190 letters on this subject. They have been mainly from people who are not yet on the new system. Although this is not the universal view, opinion in the areas with STD is generally favourable. However, I realise that some elderly and disabled people fear that it will involve hardship, and I am considering whether the time allowed for 2d. in the evening and on Sundays could be extended.

asked the Postmaster-General whether there is a limit to the quantity of mail put in mail bags; what instructions are given to Post Office staff responsible for loading out; and whether loaded mail bags are checked for weight, in view of the danger to postal and railway staff who handle this traffic in transit.

In the inland service the specified upper limit of weight for a mail bag containing letters is 60 lb. and for a parcel bag 50 1b. The comparable limits in the overseas service are fixed by international agreement at 66 1b. and 80 lb., respectively. Post Office staff have instructions to apply these limits, but in practice the average weights of mail bags fall well below the permitted maxima. As a general rule it is only bags conveyed by air which are regularly weighed before despatch, but there are facilities for weighing other bags in case of need.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to ensure that the increasing height of buildings in the Greater London area will not hamper or prevent his long-term plans for the development of the trunk telephone network and television links.

Future development of the trunk telephone network and lone-distance television links for the B.B.C. and I.T.A. depends to an ever-increasing extent on the use of radio techniques. The increase in the height of new London buildings presents a new problem since it is essential that the visual path for these radio services to and from the switching centre of the Post Office net- work at the Museum Telephone Exchange at Howland Street is not obstructed. The only way to ensure this is to lift the aerials to a sufficient height. I am considering a proposal to put them in a tower about 500 feet high.The tower would be an important addi- to the London skyline, and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works and I are most anxious that the most suitable design should be produced. Our ideas include the provision of an observation room at the top of the tower, with access for the public by express lift. The Ministry of Works design has been accepted in outline by the Royal Fine Art Commission, and the L.C.C. has accepted the project in principle.I am arranging for a model of the scheme to be placed in the Library later today.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the unsatisfactory postal delivery service in Whitefield, Lancashire, since the introduction of the new Prestwich Post Office; and what action he is taking to improve it.

I am looking into this matter and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that British Broadcasting Corporation television from Kirk O'Shotts cannot be received in many parts of the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright; and when he expects to be able to improve the service.

Yes. Parts of the area are screened by high ground from the Kirk O'Shotts transmitter and receive their transmissions from Sandale in Cumberland. For technical reasons, this station cannot at present relay a Scottish programme from Kirk O'Shotts unless it is carried by the national network: but a new vision link, which I hope will be completed by mid-1962, will make it possible for Sandale to relay some additional Scottish programmes.

asked the Minister of Labour how many training development officers have now been appointed by the Industrial Training Council.

Ten posts have been established and six appointments made.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty why he has decided that information gained from the monitoring team at Holy Loch cannot be given at regular intervals to the local safety committee.

It is the intention to explain to the Local Liaison Committee the significance of the results of the limited monitoring arrangements which are considered advisable.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what instructions were issued in the Admiralty Intelligence Circular of November, 1960, regarding the exclusion of coloured personnel from the crews of naval vessels visiting ports in the Union of South Africa.

No such circular has been issued. The Admiralty's last instruction on this subject was issued to Naval Authorities in a letter dated April, 1960 I explained to the House on the 30th January the effect of those instructions and the Admiralty's reasons for issuing them.

asked the Secretary of State for War why National Service men are having their service shortened by up to three months; and whether this concession applies to the Brigade of Guards.

The reasons for the premature release of certain categories of National Service men were given in my hon. Friend's Answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Erith and Cray-ford (Mr. Dodds) on 25th January, 1961. No National Service men now serving in the Brigade of Guards are affected.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the shortage in the British Army of the Rhine of equipment for conventional war; and what steps he intends to take to deal with the problem.

As my right hon. Friend has already explained to the hon. Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Mayhew), the British Army of the Rhine, is equipped for both conventional and nuclear war. As a policy, weapons and equipment are always being replaced as part of a continuous process of re-equipment, but there is no general shortage of conventional equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement about the action of the Royal Air Force Security Branch in taking possession of two electric motors from a Reading shop, which were purchased at an auction sale of Government surplus stock; and what compensation is to be paid to the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper, Mr. M. J. Milne, allowed Royal Air Force police to take possession of these motors after we had received a report which suggested that equipment with a restricted security classification was on sale. The motors proved to have no classification of this kind and have been handed back. The question of payment does not therefore arise, but we are grateful to Mr. Milne for his co-operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will give a list of the members of the Aerological Commission of the World Meteorological Organisation which will meet in Rome later this year, indicating the officers.

The President of the Commission is Dr. R. C. Sutcliffe, O.B.E., F.R.S., of the United Kingdom, and the Vice President is Dr. W. L. Godson, of Canada. Fifty-nine member countries of the World Meteorological Organisation have appointed technical experts. I am sending my hon. Friend details.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what are the earliest meteorological records for this country still available to the Meteorological Office; and when official meteorological observations were first commenced.

Summaries are available of rainfall observations made at Towneley, Burnley, Lancashire, in 1677. The earliest known instrumental observations of temperature for this country were made at Upminster, Essex, in 1699. Records of these are still held by the Royal Society. Official meteorological records were first collected in 1849. They began to be maintained systematically in 1860.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many owner-occupiers of new dwelling-houses came into assessment for Income Tax Schedule A for the first time in 1960; what is the cumulative number of Schedule A assessments for owner-occupiers at 1st January, 1961; and what Schedule A revenue in total, respectively before and after accounting maintenance relief Schedule A, he now anticipates in the year 1960–61 ending 5th April next as a result of last year's houses newly owner-occupied.

No estimate has been made of the number of new owner-occupied houses assessed during 1960. For the total number of owner-occupied houses I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the estimate I gave him on 30th January (HANSARD, 30th January, Written Answers, col. 87). There is not enough evidence on which to estimate the revenue from new houses in 1960–61.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the cost of replacing a solid fuel fire grate or stove is admitted by inspectors of taxes within a maintenance relief claim in respect of Income Tax Schedule A, whereas the cost of replacement of an electric fire or a water heater is not so admitted; what is the reason for the exclusion of electrical appliances from relief; and what steps he proposes to take to put all domestic heating fixtures on a similar basis in this context.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to claims made by owner-occupiers. To be admissible in a maintenance claim the expenditure must be incurred by the claimant in his capacity as owner of the property. The repair or replacement of a movable electric fire or a movable water heater is an occupier's expense and not admissible; on the other hand, the cost of repairing or replacing an electric fire permanently built into the wall or an immersion heater inserted into a fixed hot-water tank is admissible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take to investigate the effects upon the nation's export trade of the present rates of Surtax on earned incomes; and what advice he has received from representative industrial organisations in this connection.

A number of representative bodies have written to me putting forward the view that a reduction of Surtax would encourage harder work in promoting exports and in business generally. I shall give careful consideration to this matter, along with many other suggestions for changes in the taxation system, before the Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons are assessed for Surtax in the current year 1960–61; what is his revised estimate of the aggregate yield taking into account all movements in money incomes in the current year; and how many of the total persons assessed for Surtax are so assessed in respect of unearned incomes.

It is not yet known how many taxpayers will be assessed to Surtax in 1960–61; the Budget estimate of the yield of Surtax in 1960–61 is £190 million, and it is not the practice to revise Budget Estimates during the course of the current year; as regards the last part of the Question, the latest available information is contained in Table 77 of the 103rd Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what contribution the United Kingdom is making to the World Seed Campaign.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations has designated 1961 as International Seed Year and has invited member countries to participate in a world-wide campaign to promote the use of better quality seed. By encouraging increased returns from the land in this way, particularly in the developing countries, the campaign will contribute to the Organisation's wider campaign against world hunger.The aims of the World Seed Campaign have the full support of Her Majesty's Government and our contribution will be twofold. We shall provide instruction in seed testing, multiplication and certification for representatives from the developing countries, thus enabling them to promote the production and use of quality seed in their own countries. In addition, the attention of all seed users at home will be drawn to the value and importance of high-quality seed by means of a special drive organised by our advisory services with the cooperation of the seed trade and farming organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how frequently the Governor's Special Committee, to deal with bribery and corruption in Hong Kong, has met since 12th July, 1960.

The Committee met six times between the 12th July and the end of September, 1960. It was then reconstituted and is now known as the Advisory Committee on Corruption. This reconstituted Committee has so far met six times.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress had been made during 1960 by the Hong Kong Government to get the direct recruitment of seamen extended under Part III of Section 114 of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1953.

The Hong Kong Government have continued their efforts to encourage shipowners to recruit seamen direct and informal talks have been held with representatives of the seamen. The support both of shipowners and of seamen is essential for any changes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state in table form for each £100 of basic pension from £100 per annum to £1,200 per annum how each Government of the Colonies and ex-Colonies has increased the pension to ex-civil servants; and how these increases compare with those given by the Pensions Increase Act, 1959, to civil servants of the United Kingdom, showing those that fall below the United Kingdom scale in a different kind of type.

I am circulating a table in respect of the overseas Governments with Which I am concerned. As I stated at the conclusion of the debate on the Second Reading of the Overseas Service Bill—OFFICIAL REPORT, 24th January, 1961—further improvements are expected in a number of territories where the present rates of increases are generally inferior to those currently payable to United Kingdom civil service pensioners. The question of increases paid by Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland and by the Governments of former dependent territories is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations or, in the case of the former Somaliland Protectorate, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been drawn to an error in one of the figures contained in Appendix D to the Report on Corporal Punishment recently submitted by his Advisory Council on the Treatment of Offenders; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The number of persons found guilty in 1959 of robbery or assault with intent to rob was 1,031, and not 886 as shown in the Report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the cost of the 100 projects of extensions and improvements to approved schools will be borne by public funds, and what proportion by voluntary bodies.

Approved school managers sometimes use private funds for the provision of additional amenities or facilities at a school but in general the whole cost of the approved school service, including enlargements and improvements, is borne on public funds, the cost being shared equally between the Exchequer and local authorities.

asked the Minister of Education what steps have been taken to circulate to secondary schools the official publication entitled Schools and the Commonwealth."

Copies of "Schools and the Commonwealth" have been sent to each local education authority in England and Wales as well as to examining bodies of the G.C.E. In addition, a synopsis has been sent to all independent and direct grant schools, to teacher training colleges, teachers' associations, and the educational bodies. Arrangements to supply copies to the schools are made by the authorities responsible.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the names and populations, respectively, of each of the towns in Leicestershire which either have a maternity unit now or will acquire one as a result of approval already given by his department.

The following is the information for existing maternity units: my right hon. Friend has not approved any others.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will arrange for the circulation to Scottish secondary schools of the new Ministry of Education publication entitled "Schools and the Commonwealth".

I am sending to the hon. Member a copy of a memorandum issued by the Scottish Education Department on 27th January under cover of which copies of the pamphlet were circulated to education authorities in Scotland and information given about other sources of material for the study of the Common wealth. Managers of other educational establishments were given similar particulars.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Government's hospital building programme in Scotland.

Some time ago I invited regional hospital boards to indicate to me the major hospital projects they considered they ought to be able to undertake, first up to 1965 and then up to 1970. As a result, it has been possible to agree with the boards a provisional selection of the major projects that should, if possible, be started during the next ten years. The regional boards are now devoting a large part of their effort, in consultation with the boards of management concerned, to the heavy task of filling in the outlines of these large projects and working out their precise content so that they can bring each of them forward for my approval in principle.The formulation of this ten-year programme is a major step forward, but I must emphasise that it must be provisional in certain respects. Some of the needs may change and ideas will change as to the best methods of meeting a particular need or as to its relative priority. Moreover, it is completely out of the question to take final decisions now and to determine so long ahead what the feasible rate of investment on new hospital building may be, having regard to other demands on resources.Expenditure on hospital building in 1962–63, subject to the economic situation and the voting by Parliament of the necessary money, will rise to a provisional figure of £4,800,000.I have made regulations raising from £30,000 to £60,000 the maximum cost of building projects which hospital boards can undertake without my prior authority.My Department is giving close attention to the best ways of planning and controlling the considerable hospital building programme which is ahead of us. The objective is to create a framework in which this programme can be achieved with maximum acceptability to all concerned in the new hospitals and yet with speed and the efficient spending of the funds provided by the Exchequer. Research studies are being undertaken into matters affecting the planning and building of new hospitals and the results will be made available to hospital authorities. The first of a series of planning notes has already been issued.I have announced most of the major schemes which are due to start up to 1964–65, these being as follows: