asked the Secretary of State for War how many soldiers are engaged in the summer months of 1960, and how many it is proposed will be engaged in 1961, in servicing and attending to the needs of Territorial Army annual camps, Women's Royal Army Corps camps, Army Cadet and Combined Cadet Force camps.

The following are the details.

asked the Secretary of State for War how much land is now held by the War Office in Wales; and, in view of the contraction of the number of soldiers, whether he will make a statement as to the future needs of the War Office for these lands.

The War Office at present holds about 48,000 acres in Wales, 9,000 acres of which are being given up. We must keep the remainder for the long-term needs of the Army.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how much money the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund has collected in donations from official sources.

Although I have no formal responsibility for the work of the Royal Air. Force Benevolent Fund my Department naturally keeps in close touch with it. I understand that at present between 80 per cent. and 90 per cent. of officers and airmen contribute to the Fund and that the sums received from this and other Service sources in 1960 amounted to about£175,000. No contribution is made from Air Votes. I have arranged for my hon. Friend to be provided with copies of the Fund's annual reports for the last five years.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what progress he has made regarding the disposal of the Usworth airfield.

The Sunderland Corporation may be interested in buying this airfield for civil flying and my Department is in touch with them.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he is now considering for the improvement and development of the canals and inland waterways of the country; and what capital he has authorised for this purpose.

Since 1956 the British Transport Commission have been carrying out a programme of improvement of inland waterways. This is estimated to cost£6 million and to be completed by 1963. A sum of£1 million is included for this purpose in the Commission's 1961 investment programme. No other proposals for improvement or development have yet been put to me by the Commission.

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents to children of school age were caused by mobile shops during the last three years.

I regret that the information asked for is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now make a statement on the steps the Government propose to take to implement the recommendations of the Jack Committee on Rural Transport.

The Committee's Report is being published today by the Stationery Office. The Committee has given special attention to the limited but difficult problem of uneconomic rural bus services. On this they have made recommendations which the Government will carefully consider. It may be necessary in this consideration to have regard also to general policy on commercially unprofitable activities in nationalised industries. Further examination is needed before firm decisions can be taken. I should like to take this opportunity of thanking Professor Jack and the members of his Committee for the time and thought they have given to the difficult problems on which they were asked to advise.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received from Bristol Corporation with reference to the fitting of sirens to city ambulances; and what was his reply.

The Corporation has written to me three times since last September urging that the fitting of sirens to ambulances be made legal. It has been told that the question of audible warning devices is under consideration on the basis of the experiments conducted by the Joint Fire Research Organisation, and in reply to its letter of 7th March I have suggested that it might discuss the matter with officials of my Department.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress he has made in his review of audible warning systems for priority vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

Following experiments carried out by the Joint Fire Research Organisation, I am considering the possibility of making the two-tone horn the recognised warning signal for police, fire and ambulance vehicles, as it is more effective in attracting attention than either the siren or the bell. Before I can come to final decisions I must consult the British Transport Commission, as British Railways use the two-tone horn as a warning device on diesel and some electric trains. This I am doing.

asked the Minister of Transport when the Annual Summary of the Licensing Authorities' Report for the year ended September 1959 will be published.

The Summary will be published on Thursday, 16th March. I am sorry it is late. There have been more pressing things to do in my Department. I have decided in future to go back to pre-war custom and to publish in full these Reports and those of the Traffic Commissioners. The Reports should therefore be out much sooner after the end of the year to which they belong.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the nature of the research undertaken by the Yarrow Admiralty Research Department, at a cost of£8,100; and what steps he proposes to take to reduce this cost.

With the agreement of my noble Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty, the Yarrow Admiralty Research Department have been retained as consultants to my Ministry for some aspects of the replacement of the "Queen Mary". The sum quoted is the estimated cost of the work to be done in the current financial year.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the severe reduction in the numbers and tonnage of the United Kingdom coastal fleet; and what steps he is taking to assist in maintaining this service.

I am well aware of the problems of the coasting industry. I am still considering these problems.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the importance of complete impartiality in the awarding of the order for the new "Queen" liner, he will now announce his further plans for proceeding in the matter after the receipt of tenders.

I have already told the House that my Ministry will be associated with the Cunard Steam-Ship Company in their consideration of the tenders, which will be dealt with in accordance with normal commercial practice, and that the shipyard which submits the best proposition will receive the order.

asked the Minister of Transport what have been the findings of the inquiry into the collision on 13th May last between the British Railways motor-ship "Brading" and an Admiralty Yard craft in Portsmouth harbour which resulted in a fatal casualty; and, in particular, what has been the allocation of responsibility.

The inquiry into the collision was a preliminary inquiry under Section 465 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894. The findings of this type of inquiry are not made public. I understand, however, that the Admiralty and the British Transport Commission have agreed to share between them the costs arising out of the casualty.

asked the Minister of Transport what further improvements are planned for the road B.4267 between Barry and Penarth via Sully and Lavernock.

The Glamorgan County Council as highway authority plan to widen the road from Lavernock to Sully Village and to make certain smaller improvements. We hope to issue grant on these schemes when funds become available, but I cannot say precisely when that will be.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has any plans for the building of another bridge across the Tyne at Newcastle.

The only crossing contemplated in the immediate future is the Tyne Tunnel for which tenders have now been invited. In addition, the local authorities are considering a scheme for the replacement of Scotswood Bridge.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will agree to the recommendation of Castle Ward Rural District Council that a 40 miles-per-hour speed limit should be imposed on the A.1 road at North Gosforth, between Hazlerigg Road end and the city boundary of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

We are awaiting the views of the Northumberland County Council and the Gosforth Urban District Council before deciding whether a 40 miles-perhour limit is appropriate on this road.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent main road development through the borough of Leyton and the county of Essex will be delayed pending the decision of Her Majesty's Government in respect of local government reforms in the London area.

Consideration of the proposals of the Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London will not in any way delay road schemes in Leyton or elsewhere within the review area.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has for the relief of traffic congestion on the King's Road, Putney Bridge and Putney High Street.

I do not think there is any problem of congestion on Putney Bridge itself. On the Putney side, we are considering making permanent, with minor adjustments, the experimental traffic measures introduced in the High Street and its vicinity in February, 1960. We are also investigating the possibilities of improving traffic flow on the roads on the Fulham side, including New King's Road.

asked the Minister of Transport what improvements are planned between Barry and Llantwit Major via Rhoose, Glamorgan.

The Glamorgan County Council as highway authority has a plan for a by-pass of Llantwit Major and Boverton. This will cost some£400,000, and I cannot say when we shall be able to authorise a grant.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the development of the Victoria-Walthamstow line is among the plans submitted to him by the British Transport Commission in connection with his study of their railway modernisation proposals.

No. This project was submitted to me separately.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made in Her Majesty's Government's consideration of uneconomic railway services.

This question—the complexity of which should not be underrated—is being studied in the context of paragraph 50 of the White Paper on the Re-organisation of the Nationalised Transport Undertakings. I have no statement to make at present.

asked the Minister of Defence what proportion of the output of the metal-using industries is now devoted to defence; and how this compares with two years ago.

About one-tenth now, compared with one-ninth two years ago.

asked the Postmaster-General how many post offices and sub-post offices there are in the borough of Solihull; how this compares with the average borough of 100,000 inhabitants; and when he expects that Solihull will get a new and larger head post office.

Solihull has two Crown post offices and twenty-one sub-post offices, which compares not unfavourably with other boroughs of this size. We shall this year increase the size of the counter at the main office in Solihull, and we are hoping to replace this office altogether, by a new and larger one, by the end of 1964.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider providing automatic machines outside post offices and elsewhere to sell Savings stamps.

Both the National Savings Committee and my right hon. Friend have considered this, but their view is that the use of such machines would not justify the expense.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he proposes to take to improve television reception in parts of the Northampton area.

The Northampton area is on the fringe of the service area of the B.B.C.'s station at Sutton Coldfield and outside the service area of the I.T.A.'s Litchfield station. The I.T.A. is proposing to increase the power and the height of the mast of its Litchfield station within the next few months, and this should improve reception in the Northampton area. No other immediate steps are contemplated, but my right hon. Friend is assured that the B.B.C. and the I.T.A. will have regard to the claims of this area in planning their satellite station schemes.

asked the PostmasterGener41 when he proposes to install a fully automatic telephone exchange in Bury St. Edmunds.

My right hon. Friend is planning to start the building for a new automatic exchange early in 1962 and to have the exchange ready for service in 1964.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the quotas for telephone kiosks, with allocation of quotas of expenditure, which are provided in rural areas in each of the counties in Wales and Monmouthshire for the twelve months beginning on 1st April, 1961.

The programme of rural kiosks for the next financial year is still under consideration, but I will let the hon. Gentleman have the information as soon as the programme is settled.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of unemployed registered at the Feltham and

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to ascertain the differential rates of domestic taxation on motor cars between Great Britain and her principal exporting competitors, mainly, Western Germany, France, Italy, and the United States of America; and what estimate he has now made, in view of the decline in exports of British cars, of the influence of the 50 per cent. Purchase Tax rate upon the sale of British cars overseas.

I am aware of the levels of domestic taxation on cars in the prin

On 13th February the numbers were 161 at Feltham and 218 at Hounslow, compared with 169 and 308, respectively, on 15th February, 1960.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of unemployed registered in the radio and aircraft industries at the latest convenient date; and what are the comparative figures for the same period in 1960.

The table below gives the information desired:cipal exporting countries. As to the second part of the Question, sales of cars overseas have been affected by many factors and it is not possible to isolate the effect of Purchase Tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the exports of British commercial road vehicles have substantially increased since the abolition of Purchase Tax there-on; and whether he will now publish an analysis, including statistics, showing the outcome of Purchase Tax abolition on commercial vehicles' sales oversea, with a view to the reduction of Purchase Tax on non-commercial vehicles, in order to stimulate sales oversea.

I am aware of the export figures for commercial vehicles, but I cannot say to what extent they were affected by the removal of Purchase Tax from road vehicle chassis, nor can I anticipate my Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the damage clone to the export trade of the industries concerned, he will give an undertaking to make special investigations into the effect of the 50 per cent. rate of Purchase Tax applicable to motor cars, radio, television, and cosmetics, before his next Budget.

I do not accept the implication of the first part of the Question. Purchase Tax, in common with all other taxes, is included in the normal pre-Budgetary review of taxation when all relevant factors are taken into account. No special investigations are therefore necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present annual yield of Purchase Tax on motor cars, compared with 1951; and what will be the approximate yield in each of the next five years if no reduction in Purchase Tax on cars is made and the car population of the United Kingdom increases at the speed forecast by Her Majesty's Government.

The Purchase Tax receipts for motor cars in 1951 and 1960 were approximately£30 million and£185 million respectively. The forward estimates requested by my hon. Friend are not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will now confirm the Knutton Road, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme (Area No. 137), Clearance Order, 1960; and if he will state the reason for the delay in confirming this Order, which was submitted by Newcastle-under-Lyme Council on 6th September, 1960, and subject to a minor verbal amendment, at his Department's request, on 30th November, 1960.

The Knutton Road, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme (Area No. 133) Clearance Order, 1960, which I think must be the order the hon. Member has in mind, was confirmed on 14th March. The delay was due to a procedural error in my Department, for which I offer my apologies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, due to the Exchange Control Act passed by the Federal Government of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, the Crown Agents have not paid in March the usual monthly allotments to the families of Her Majesty's overseas Civil Service officers serving the Governments of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland; and, in view of the Exchange Control Act, what plans he has for the leave, pay and family allotments of these officers in the future.

There has been no interruption in the normal payment of allotments or leave salaries in the case of Northern Rhodesia, or of leave salaries in the case of Nyasaland. Nyasaland allotments for February were paid on the 3rd March instead of the 23rd February, but this was due to administrative reasons originating in Nyasaland itself and not to the new Federal exchange control regulations. Nevertheless, I am asking the Governors of the two territories whether the new Federal regulations are likely to affect such payments in this country in the future.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many Press representatives accepted the Admiralty's invitation to attend the arrival of the U.S.S. "Proteus" in the Holy Loch; how many canoe demonstrators were taken from the water by the Royal Navy; and what information he was able to obtain regarding their origins.

One hundred and sixty Press representatives accepted the invitation. The Royal Navy gave assistance to the civil police, who arrested six demonstrators in small boats. I know nothing about their origins beyond the fact that they all gave addresses in England.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will arrange for an inquiry into conditions at the physiotherapy department of the West Fife Hospital, with reference to the safety of the electrical system, and the general standard of accommodation.

The board of management is aware of the deficiencies and will deal with them when their resources allow. There is therefore no need for an inquiry. Tenders are already being taken for re-wiring the electrical system.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many restaurants applied for a licence to sell intoxicants in England and Wales, respectively, in 1951, 1958, and 1959, respectively; how many were granted; and how many were refused.

Separate figures are not available for restaurants, nor is information available about applications for licences which were refused or were not confirmed by the confirming authority. The numbers of previously unlicensed hotels or restaurants for which licences were granted and confirmed were:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to a proposal to operate in the Metropolitan police area mini-cabs, without a licence from the Commissioner of Police, by drivers similarly not licensed, using a procedure under which a customer would hail a passing mini-cab, whose driver would communicate with his headquarters by radio before accepting the hiring; and whether he will introduce legislation to make the proposed method of operation unlawful.

The Commissioner of Police, whom I have consulted, is advised that the procedure in question may constitute plying for hire within the meaning of the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act, 1869, and accordingly, if evidence is gathered by the Metropolitan Police that vehicles not licensed under that Act are operating the procedure described, the police will have to consider initiating a prosecution for breach of the law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will introduce the Police Pensions Regulations.

The Select Committee on Statutory Instruments raised a point of some importance on the draft Scottish Regulations. This calls for careful consideration, which is bound to take some time. Although the Select Committee had previously reported that they found nothing in the draft English Regulations to which the special attention of the House required to be drawn, the point they raised on the Scottish Regulations affected the English Regulations also; and in these circumstances it was clearly inappropriate to proceed with the consideration of either set of Regulations.The point raised by the Select Committee appears to relate only to Part I of each of the two sets of Regulations. Parts II, III and IV of the draft Regulations relate to increases in certain widows' pensions and children's allowances; and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I are anxious that, if possible, these increases should come into operation on 3rd April next so that they may take effect at the same time as the corresponding increases in National Insurance benefits.In view of the urgency of the matter, and to allow time for the proper consideration of the question raised by the Select Committee on Part 1, my right hon. Friend and I are proposing to lay before Parliament new draft Regulations containing only the amendments contained in Parts 11, III and IV of the original drafts. I hope that resolutions approving these Regulations can be taken as soon as the Select Committee have had an opportunity of considering the revised drafts.