asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many applications have been received from employers to contract out of the graduated pensions scheme, at the nearest convenient date; and how many certificates have been issued by the Registrar.

Up to 17th February 15,759 such applications have been received from employers. 12,500 certificates have been issued by the Registrar, covering 2,910,000 employees.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what was the number and amount of National Health Service prescription charges refunded by the National Assistance Board in Glasgow to persons not in receipt of National Assistance supplementation during each of the past three years.

As I have already explained, figures can be given only for 1959 and 1960. They are, for an area approximating to the City of Glasgow, respectively £580 and £450, representing 11,600 and 9,000 prescription items.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what was the number and amount of National Health Service prescription charges refunded by the National Assistance Board in Midlothian to persons not in receipt of National Assistance supplementation during each of the past three

As I have already explained, figures can be given only for 1959 and 1960. They are, for an area approximating to Midlothian, respectively £360 and £320, representing 7,200 and 6,400 prescription items.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what was the number and amount of National Health Service prescription charges refunded by the National Assistance Board in Bradford to persons not in receipt of National Assistance supplementation during each of the past three years.

As I have already explained, figures can be given only for 1959 and 1960. They are, for an area approximating to the City of Bradford, respectively, £160 and £140, representing 3,200 and 2,800 prescription items.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what was the number and amount of National Health Service prescription charges refunded by the National Assistance Board in Lanarkshire to persons not in receipt of National Assistance supplementation during each of the past three years.

As I have already explained, figures can be given only for 1959 and 1960. They are, for an area approximating to Lanarkshire, respectively £160 and £70, representing 3,200 and 1,400 prescription items.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, what number of applications to the National Assistance Board in Fife over each of the past four years for refund of National Health Service charges for prescriptions was refused.

In an area approximating to the County of Fifeshire, 42, 25, 22 and 20 respectively.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what number of applications to the National Assistance Board in Edinburgh and Glasgow respectively, over each year since 1955 for the refund of National Health Service prescription charges was refused and how many were accepted.

It is not possible to give figures of the number of refunds made in particular localities, as complete records are not kept by locality for the refunds made at post offices, which are the very great majority.The numbers of unsuccessful applications for refunds of prescription charges in areas approximating to the Cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow in the past six years were as follows:

Irving asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many people in the Dartford area not in receipt of National Assistance were given refunds of prescription charges in each of the last three years.

The records available do not indicate the number of persons, not already receiving regular weekly National Assistance grants, to whom refunds of prescription charges have been made. It is, however, possible to give for this area the total amounts paid to such persons in the last three years. They are respectively £40, £40 and £10, representing respectively 800. 800 and 200 prescription items.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, what precise test is applied for the refund of prescription charges in cases where application for refund is made on grounds of hardship by persons not currently in receipt of a National Assistance allowance.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance who will be entitled to National Assistance refunds of prescription charges, apart from those already in receipt of National Assistance.

Apart from war pensioners who, whatever their resources, can obtain a refund in respect of medicines, etc. prescribed for their accepted war disabilities, a person to be eligible for refund of prescription charges has to satisfy the Board that after paying the charge or any part of it he would be left with insufficient resources to maintain himself and his dependants on the standards laid down by the National Assistance Regulations.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what consultations he has had with the Minister of Health on devising methods whereby an insured person in receipt of sickness benefit is enabled to obtain National Health Service prescriptions free of charge and without means test.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave at Question Time today to the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Sydney Irving) and to the hon. Member for Dunbartonshire, East (Mr. Bence)

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what proportion of applications in Scotland to the National Assistance Board for refund of National Health Service prescription charges over each of the past three years was refused.

As my right hon. Friend explained in answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Craigton (Mr. Millan), it is not possible to give this information precisely in the form in which it is asked. But I can state that the total amounts refunded by the National Assistance Board in Scotland were £63,000 representing about 11 million prescription items in 1958, £68,000 representing approximately the same number in 1959, and £79,000 representing over 11 million in 1960 The numbers of applications rejected were respectively 209. 171 and 138.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance for the most recent convenient period in respect of the City of Dundee, how many applications to the National Assistance Board for refund of National Health Service prescriptions were granted; and how many of these were in respect of those already in receipt of National Assistance grants.

As I made clear in my answer today to the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. W. Hamilton), it is not possible to give these figures in respect of any particular area.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware that the pensioners, who are not now receiving the full pension because they have not sufficient stamps on their cards, are to be precluded from receiving the full increases; and if he will take steps to enable all pensioners to receive the full increase.

In a contributory scheme, it is right that people who satisfy the contribution conditions only in part should get reduced rates of benefit. But, as with all past increases in national insurance benefits, such reduced rates are being raised in April in the same proportion as the standard rates.

asked the Minister of Power whether he is aware that the National Coal Board recently purchased a large supply of sawn hardwood mining timber from France, paying a higher price than would have been required for equivalent home-grown timber; and whether he will give a general direction to the Board to consult the Forestry Commission as to the availability of home-grown supplies on every occasion before placing large orders for imported timber.

My right hon. Friend understands that it is already the practice of the National Coal Board to consult the Forestry Commission before placing orders for the import of this sort of timber.

asked the Minister of of Power what representations he has made to encourage improved studies in coal technology and in the utilisation of coal at universities and colleges of advanced technology.

I am consulting the various parties concerned and am considering what more needs to be done, having regard to the arrangements which already exist for supporting research at universities and colleges of advanced technology.

asked the Minister of Power what information he has on the progress being made towards the substitution of oil fuels for coke in blast furnaces; and what developments his Department and the National Coal Board expect to be able to make to meet this new competition, whether by the use of pulverised coal or otherwise.

Oil injection is being used as a means of reducing coke requirements in blast furnaces at a number of works abroad, and an experiment is now going on at one works in the United Kingdom. A second experiment will start shortly, and plans are being made for others. Coal is also being injected experimentally at one plant in the United States, which was recently visited by representatives of the National Coal Board and of the Iron and Steel Board. The National Coal Board believes that the use of specially prepared coal in this way will prove competitive. It is discussing with iron and steel companies arrangements for an experimental programme in the United Kingdom. The Iron and Steel Board is giving every assistance and I am keeping in touch with developments.

asked the Minister of Power if he will take powers to control the extent of blasting at quarries, and the hours at which such blasting can take place.

My right hon. Friend already exercises control over the extent and hours of blasting at quarries in the discharge of his statutory responsibility for the safety of people employed there.

asked the Minister of Power to what extent he estimates that the increasing use of oil for the production of gas will lead to redundancy of manpower in the gas industry.

I do not think there will be serious problems of unemployment.

asked the Minister of Power when he expects to make a statement about his inquiry into the need for public general legislation on pipelines.

asked the Minister of Power if he will now state the Government's policy on future pipeline development and on appropriate legislative action.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply given by my hon. Friend on 6th February to the hon. Member for Ashfield (Mr. Warbey) and the hon. Member for Willesden, East (Mr. Skeet).

asked the Minister of Power if he will state what is the present estimate of his Department as to what will be the United Kingdom inland energy demand in each of the next ten years; and in what proportion this will be supplied by coal, oil, hydro, and nuclear power, respectively.

I would refer the hon. Member 10 the second part of my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Ashfield (Mr. Warbey) on 6th February.

asked the Minister of Aviation what practical results have been achieved from his visit to Bonn.

During the course of the visit the Anglo-French proposals for European co-operation in the development of a satellite launcher were explained to Ministers and officials of the Departments concerned. Great interest was expressed in this project and the Federal German Republic were subsequently represented at the Strasbourg Conference the results of which they are now studying. It was agreed that the two countries would start negotiations for the joint development of a VTOL strike aircraft based on the Hawker P.1127. The Federal German Republic will purchase Seacat naval surface-air guided weapons for trials purposes. An encouraging dgeree of agreement was reached with the West German authorities on the kind of weapons needed for defence against low-;flying aircraft: and a basis has been agreed on which Britain will join in the joint work being done in this field by France, Italy and Germany.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will make a statement on the Government's policy with regard to helicopters for civil aviation.

My right hon. Friend is considering an arrangement for assisting in the proving of a helicopter based on the Belvedere which would be suitable for city centre to city centre passenger services. Such a helicopter would be suitable for services to and from London. This might be the first step towards the introduction of regular helicopter passenger services in this country. The evolution of an economic passenger helicopter is not easy and it would be some time before such services could pay their way.

asked the Minister of Aviation what further plans he has for the development of multi-jet vertical take-off aircraft in the United Kingdom.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Sir A. V. Harvey) on 14th November last. The S.C.1 research programme is continuing with the object of solving various problems of flight control and ground handling. I have discussed with the firm the possibility of collaboration with other European countries on projects using this system.

asked the Minister of Aviation, following his visit to Belfast, whether he is fully satisfied that the firm of Short Brothers and Harland is receiving sufficient Government financial assistance towards its research and development programme; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Aviation, if, following his visit to Short Brothers and Harland in Northern Ireland, he is satisfied with the progress and expansion of research and development being carried on there; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will make a statement on his recent visit to Short Brothers and Harland.

I am satisfied with the progress of the research and development work which the company is undertaking on behalf of my Department. The quality of the work reflects favourably on the company. The future of the company's research and development programme, as well as its production programme, must depend in large measure upon its success in the export market. We shall, of course, give the company all the help we can.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he is yet in a position to announce the new permanent chairman for Short Brothers and Harland.

I hope to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will make available to the House a report of the technical committee ordered by the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation in July, 1959, or such part of it relating to the location of heliports in London; and if he will make a statement on the establishment of commercial heliports in London and in other large cities in the United Kingdom.

The Committee came to the conclusion that three sites in central London, namely: Nine Elms Goods Depot, Cannon Street Station and St. Katherine Dock, would be operationally possible for regular services with large helicopters. My right hon. Friend has asked the Committee to examine certain aspects in more detail and has authorised further technical studies.The local authorities in other cities have been invited to earmark sites for heliports, and we are always ready to advise those that have not yet done so.

asked the Minister of Aviation when he expects to be in a position to announce the name of the new chairman of the Air Transport Licensing Board.

I cannot say but I intend that there shall be no needless delay.

asked the Minister of Aviation when he expects the Air Transport Licensing Board to start considering applications for air service licences.

I understand that the Board has already started to consider applications for air service licences, and expects to hold its first hearings during March.4

asked the Minister of Aviation if Skybolt production is progressing as planned; and when he estimates the Royal Air Force will receive its first allocation of Skybolt missiles.

Skybolt is still in the development stage and progress is satisfactory; on the second part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the reply given on 12th December to the hon. Member for Brixton (Mr. Lipton).

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many illegitimate children were born to immigrant mothers in Great Britain in 1959; and what was the average cost to the National Health Service of these cases;(2) how many illegitimate children were born to immigrant mothers from Eire, West Indies, Europe and other countries, respectively, in 1959; and what was the total cost to the National Health Service.

The country of origin of the mother is not recorded when a birth is registered.

asked the Minister of Health which medical associations he consulted before raising the prescription charge by Is. per item; and what advice he received.

None.

asked the Minister of Health what extra amount he expects to receive from Wales as a result of the extra 1s. per item prescription charge.

About £725,000 in a full year.

asked the Minister of Health what is his estimate of the prescription charge which will be paid by old-age pensioners for prescriptions in any one week; and what percentage of their pension is thus absorbed by prescription charges.

No estimate is possible as I have no means of ascertaining how many prescriptions are dispensed weekly for old-age pensioners.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of his policy of planning hospital programmes on a 10-year basis, he will now consult with the General Medical Services Committee with a view to making a 10-year plan for general practice; if he will form a planning department in his Department for this purpose; and if he will make a statement.

I do not consider that a plan covering a stated period of years is appropriate to this branch of the National Health Service.

asked the Minister of Health how many capital schemes for the provision of welfare accommodation for elderly people have been authorised; how many have been rejected since 1956; if he will give the reasons for rejection; and what is the number of applications still awaiting consent.

Since 1st January, 1956, loan sanction has been given or promised for 930 schemes in England and Wales excluding the County of London—where this procedure does not apply. Some were modified before sanction but none, so far as I have ascertained, rejected. There are 119 under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health how many doctors in the National Health Service dispense for their own patients; and how many items were so dispensed in each of the last three years.

About 2,500 in England and Wales. The number of items probably exceeds 10 million.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of persons vaccinated under the National Health Service against influenza last year or in any recent period for which figures are available.

Returns of vaccination against influenza are not made.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent the increased expenditure on the National Health Service in the last ten years has been due to increased salaries and wages, and increased costs, respectively.

This information is only available for the hospital service, as follows:

asked the Minister of of Health what discussions have taken place between the North-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board, the hospital management committee and the local general medical practitioners as to the part which the latter can play in staffing the new Welwyn Garden City Hospital; and what decision has been reached.

In discussions last October it was agreed that general practitioners would be allotted ten beds to treat their own patients and that clinical assistantships both honorary and paid would be available to them.

asked the Minister of Health what consultations have taken place with local interests as to the future use of the smaller hospitals in the Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield district on the completion of the new Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield Hospital; and what decisions have been reached.

The work of the present Welwyn Garden City Hospital, the Maternity Hospital and the Physiotherapy Clinic at Hatfield will be moved into the new hospital. Decisions on their future use have still to be taken.

asked the Minister of Health which are the receiving hospitals for gynaecological cases, other than pregnancies, in Durham County; and how many such cases are awaiting admission.

Following is the Answer:

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a further statement about the failure to provide hospital accommodation for Peter David Hastings, a mentally sick man who was subsequently sentenced to five years' imprisonment.

I have every reason to think that suitable hospital accommodation was available if the doctor responsible had made due inquiry. The proper procedure is such cases is generally known.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider making a contribution, under the National Health Service, to the travel expenses of patients.

Assistance is already given where payment of travelling expenses by hospital patients would involve hardship.

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many new hospitals have been built in the area of the South-Eastern Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board since 1951;(2) how many new hospitals are in course of construction in the area of the South-Eastern Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board.

Following are the new hospital schemes of over £100,000 in this region completed since 1951 and under construction:

Completed

Guy's: surgical block

Hellingly: neurosis unit

Lewisham: out-patients department

Royal East Sussex, Hastings: out-patients department

Royal Sussex County, Brighton: radiotherapy department

St. Francis, Haywards Heath: admission unit.

Under construction

Buckland, Dover: reconstruction.

asked the Minister of Health what extra staff have been especially recruited at Glanely Hospital, Cardiff, to cope with the extra work involved in caring for geriatric cases; and whether he will make a statement.

None yet, but no difficulty is expected in recruiting the additional junior nursing staff which will be necessary.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the need for extensive alterations and improvements in Glanely Hospital, Cardiff, before tie allocation of a further twenty-eight beds for geriatric cases; and whether he will call for a special report on alterations necessary to the hospital's bathing and toilet facilities in particular.

The scheme for the additional geriatric ward of twenty-eight beds will provide adequate accommodation for patients, including bathing and toilet facilities. Improvements in other wards already in use for geriatric patients are under consideration

asked the Lord Privy Seal, in view of the fact that, under Article III (6) of the financial agreement made between Her Majesty's Government and the United Arab Republic, an interim payment was made to the British officials dismissed by the Egyptian Government in 1951, and that the balance has not yet been paid, if he will reconsider his decision not to grant a temporary loan to these people

My right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal explained the present position in his reply to the hon. Member for Solihull (Mr. Lindsay) on 8th February.Sir George Rendel, the Head of the British Property in Egypt Section of the Foreign Office, has today flown to Cairo to see what can be done to hasten a settlement of the various questions outstanding under the Anglo-Egyptian Financial Agreement, including the claims of the 1951 officials.In these circumstances I regret I cannot reconsider the grant of loans

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the British delegate's participation in the United Nations' debate on the Congo.

The debate in the Security Council is still continuing.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will give details of the plans made by the Central Office of Information for the production of the Russian-language magazine for distribution in the Soviet Union.

There is little I can usefully add to what I said in reply to a similar question by the hon. Gentleman on 6th February. The Central Office of Information is recruiting editorial staff, commissioning material for the first number and making arrangements for translation.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the total number of unemployed persons, giving adults and juveniles separately, in the County of Durham at the last available date; and how many of these have been unemployed for three months, six months, one year or more, respectively.

At 16th January, the number unemployed was 20,562 consisting of 18,936 adults and 1,626 young persons. The latest analysis of unemployment by duration is that for 12th December, 1960, when 2,967 had been unemployed for over three and up to six months, 2,197 for over six months and up to one year. and 4.107 for over one year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will consider reintroducing the 2s. payment for grey squirrels' tails, in view of the amount of damage which they cause to agriculture.

The grey squirrel does only minor damage to agriculture but does cause damage to woodlands in some parts of the country. I am considering whether an incentive, of which my hon. Friend's suggestion is only one possibility. would be likely to lead to a substantial reduction in the grey squirrel population

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the findings of the Bledisloe Committee are likely to be published.

I understand that this Committee will report next month. I hope its report will be published before the end of April.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the number of acres of land which the Welsh Agricultural Land Sub-Commission has held and managed since its inception; how many acres have been sold since; what was the total amount of moneys spent on capital improvements and repairs separately on such land; and what was the average price per acre received for the land sold.

The acreages of land managed by the Welsh Agricultural Land Sub-Commission at 31st March each year since the Sub-Commission's inception have been:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost in the current year, 1960–61, of capital allowances as an aggregation of initial and investment allowances for taxation purposes.

About £185 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement concerning Treasury financial support for the recently formed Export Council for Europe; and to what extent the Economic Secretary to the Treasury is responsible for liaison between this body and other export promotion bodies of the Federation of British Industries, the National Union of Manufacturers, the Association of British Chambers of Commerce, the Institute of Directors, and others.

Grants in aid of the expenses of the Export Council for Europe, which will be conditional on an equivalent contribution from industry and commerce to the Council, are met from the Board of Trade Vote. The amount of the grant in aid of the Council's expenses in the current financial year will be £5,000. Proposals will shortly be laid before the House seeking approval for a grant of £20,000 in 1961–62. The Council is itself responsible for liaison with other bodies concerned with the promotion of exports.

asked the Minister of Defence why the net expenditure of the Atomic Energy Authority on research, development and production of weapons-grade fissile material and nuclear weapons has not been included in the total Defence Estimates for 1961–62.

As in previous years, the Defence Budget for 1961–62 provides for payments to the Atomic Energy Authority for fissile material and other nuclear components of weapons for delivery to the Services and for research and development undertaken for the Ministry of Aviation to meet Service requirements.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will state the gross amount spent on defence in the last ten years, and the proportions in this period devoted to nuclear weapons and forces and to conventional weapons and forces.

The total amount that will have been spent on defence in the ten years from 1st April, 1951, to 31st March, 1961, is estimated to be £14,2385 million. It is not possible to provide the analysis of this figure for which the hon. Member asks because many weapons and forces can be used in both nuclear and conventional roles.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now make a statement on the decisions of the constitutional conference on Northern Rhodesia.

I propose to make a statement tomorrow.

It is estimated that about £650,000 from Government sources will have been spent on cancer research

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the activities of the Departmental Committee considering the Probation Service.

I understand that the Committee is meeting frequently and making good progress with its inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average length of the term served by those released from prison during 1960 who had been sentenced for burglary and housebreaking.

I regret that the information requested is not available, but I append a table setting out the lengths of sentences of imprisonment imposed in 1959 by courts of assize and quarter sessions on persons convicted of burglary and persons convicted of housebreaking.by the Medical Research Council in the financial year 1960–61. Research is also carried out in the National Health Service in the course of treating patients but it is impossible to estimate the expenditure on this separately.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what investigations are now being made into the association of diesel and solid fuel fumes with the incidence of lung cancer; and if he will make a statement.

The Medical Research Council is continuing its wide programme of research on the relation of air pollution, including that from diesel and solid fuel fumes, to diseases such as lung cancer. Investigations suggest that air pollution in general is associated with lung cancer, but a causal relationship has not been established.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will state the number of acres of land which have been released for building or other development from the green belt area in the Leek Parliamentary constituency, listing therewith the local authority areas where land has been so released.

This green belt is still only in the sketch plan stage. I do not know what permissions may have been given to develop land intended to be included in the belt, as this is a matter for planning authorities. They do not have to inform me.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware of the danger to health caused in the East Preston area of Sussex and adjoining areas by the overloading of the sewage and drainage system due to indiscriminate building development in that area; and if he will use his planning powers to arrest this development.

My right hon. Friend does not think development has been indiscriminate or that there is any reason for alarm, but he is keeping closely in touch with the position and a current application will be referred to him before any permission is given.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs why there has been such a long delay in revising the figures for the transitional receipts under the Local Government Act, 1958, applicable to the years 1959–60 and 1960–61; and what protests he has received from those local authorities whose finances will be adversely affected by this revision.

There has been no delay. The figures upon which the second provisional calculation was based were not available until late last year. The protests related particularly to the effect on the rates in 1961–62 of the original proposal to make three years' adjustments in that year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what will be the financial cost to the County Borough of East Ham arising from his revision of the transitional receipts under the Local Government Act, 1958, for the years 1959–60, 1960–61, and 1961–62.

On the first provisional calculation, the council's transitional receipts were £53,946 for 1959–60 and £48,551 for 1960–61. On the second provisional calculation, based on more up-to-date information, its revised receipts are £14,315 for 1959–60 and £12,884 for 1960–61. Its receipt for 1961–62 will be £11,452.

asked the Minister of Housing, and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will take steps to meet from public funds the losses incurred by a number of local authorities as a result of his revision of the transitional receipts under the Local Government Act, 1958, in respect of the years 1959–60 and 1960–61.

No. The contributions and receipts of local authorities must be based on the best information available. There is no justification, nor indeed statutory provision, for Exchequer assistance to those authorities which have hitherto received too much.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the total amount of compensation paid under the Town and Country Planning Acts of 1954 up to the end of 1960; and what proportion of this compensation ranked as income of the recipient for the purposes of the Income Tax Act, 1952.

The total compensation paid under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1954, up to 31st December, 1960, was £109,999,506, of which £14,560,457 was interest paid, subject to deduction of tax. I understand that the corresponding figures for Scotland are £2.123,541 and £391,981 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the improvements to the Kyle car-ferry slipways will be completed.

The work at Kyle of Lochalsh is complete, and the new slipway which can take two boats at a time is now in use. The similar improvement

asked the Minister of Transport how many vehicles broke down on M.1 during the twelve months after its opening.

The motoring organisations estimate that during the twelve months November, 1959, to October, 1960, their road patrols have attended

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state the number of passengers and drivers killed on the section of the A.5 and A.45 which M.1 was intended to relieve, during the twelve months prior to the opening of the M.1, and the numbers killed and injured on M.1, A.5, and A.45, during the twelve months following the opening of M.1.

The following are the figures:18,000 breakdowns on the M.1, M.10 and M.45. There may have been additional breakdowns which were repaired without coming to the notice of the patrols.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the extension of numbered postal districts in the Bristol area.

As my hon. Friend knows; this matter is already under consideration and I hope to b able to write to him about it very shortly.