asked the Minister of Transport if he will give consideration to, and seek advice on, the better designing of the new road fund licence disc.

No. We are satisfied with the advice given and the design achieved by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state the number of times the penalty of withdrawal of the licence has been enforced in cases of excessive hours being worked by haulage firms, in 1959 and 1960.

Six times in the twelve months ending 30th September, 1959, ten times in the next twelve months.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the outcome of the meeting with the trade unions representing lorry drivers in relation to the long hours expected to be worked by some haulage firms.

I have promised to consider representations received from the trade unions that more enforcement staff should be employed to deal with the working of excessive hours of drivers of commercial vehicles.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the danger to road users of men falling asleep while driving; and what steps he takes to enforce the law in cases of drivers exceeding the permitted daily number of hours' driving time.

Yes. Enforcement of the law is a matter for the police, and for the licensing authorities, who employ some 150 special staff for the purpose. They warn or prosecute offenders. The courts can fine or imprison, and the licensing authorities can suspend or revoke the carrier's licence.

asked the Minister of Transport what decision he has reached on the appeal made to him against increases and alterations in bus fares by the Durham District Services Company, including the proposal to substitute single for return fares on some of their routes.

I have received no appeal against the decision of the Traffic Commissioners for the Northern Traffic Area to allow these increases and alterations.

asked the Minister of Transport whether plans for a nuclear-powered merchant ship have now been postponed; and if he will make a statement.

I will make a statement as soon as I can.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will define the functions of his Department in the consideration of tenders for the new Cunard liner.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will lay on the Table of the House all the tenders received by the Cunard Company for the new liner.

The tenders will be dealt with in accordance with normal commercial practice. My Department will be associated with the Cunard Company in their consideration of the tenders so that the Government may be satisfied that the best proposition is accepted.

asked the Minister of Transport if the work done by the Yarrow/Admiralty Research Department on the new Queen liner will be paid for out of moneys provided under the legislation which he proposes to introduce.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport what are his plans to give railways power to operate pipelines on their property as indicated in paragraph 59 of the White Paper Cmnd. 1248.

I plan to include provisions for this purpose in the Bill which is to be introduced next Session to give effect to the proposals in the White Paper.

asked the Minister of Transport what expense allowance will be available for the new Chairman of the Railways Board; and whether the post will be pensionable.

The British Transport Commission's present procedure in making expence allowances will apply to Dr. Beeching whilst he is a member and, later, Chairman of the Commission. In considering the appropriate provision under forthcoming legislation, I shall take account of existing procedure. I shall also have to consider making the appropriate provision for pensions for the Chairman and full-time members of the new Railways Board. Dr. Beeching's pension provision will, in the special circumstances of his appointment, remain the responsibility of Imperial Chemical Industries Limited.

asked the Minister of Transport what consequential arrangements will be made for the salaries of other members of the Railways Board to preserve a reasonable relationship with the salary of the new Chairman.

The salary of the new Chairman will be an exceptional salary payable to a particular person for a special task. I do not therefore envisage any consequential effects on the general level of salaries.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is yet in a position to make a statement as to the date of starting the construction of the Wall bypass, near Lichfield.

We have still to make a side roads order and to acquire the necessary land, but we hope to authorise a start of work within the next two or three years.

asked the Minister of Transport what reports he has received recently in respect of the growth of traffic converging on High Road. Leytonstone; to what extent fatal and non-fatal car accidents, respectively, have increased in that thoroughfare during the past 12 months; and what long-term proposals he has considered for main road improvements in and adjoining the borough of Leyton other than the extension of the Eastern Avenue through the borough.

We are aware of the heavy traffic on this route. There were two fatal accidents in the last 12 months, and two in the preceding 12 months, but personal injuries increased from 114 to 121 in the corresponding periods. A roundabout is to be constructed at the junction of A.11 and A.12 at The Green Man. Long-term road improvements include the Norwich Radial and Docks relief road in the Lea Valley, and the extension of the North Circular Road to A.13, besides various classified road schemes.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of its accident record, he will impose a 40 miles per hour speed limit, and provide improved warning signs, on the stretch of the A.316, Chertsey Road, at The Avenue, St. Margarets, Twickenham.

We have decided to impose a 40 m.p.h. speed limit on a 1¾-mile length of A.316 including The Avenue, St. Margarets. We are looking into the need for improved warning signs.

asked the Minister of Transport what are his plans for controlling traffic at the Marble Arch so as to avoid confusion on the roundabout system in peak hours.

When the scheme is completed, the roundabout system, which provides for complete pedestrian segregation, is designed to operate without control. Police control is, however, necessary during construction, while interruptions to the free flow are caused by roadworks and pedestrian movements.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that eastbound traffic is often delayed for 20 minutes or more in Birdcage Walk during peak hours; and what plans he has for speeding up the flow in Parliament Square.

Lengthy delays in Birdcage Walk occur only over very short periods in the morning and evening. The off-peak disadvantages of remedies so far examined for congestion in Parliament Square outweigh the peak period benefits. Our engineers are continuing to study the problem.

asked the Minister of Transport approximately how many miles of the Great North Road in Lincolnshire now have two tracks and one track, respectively; and when he expects the whole of the Lincolnshire section to have two tracks.

Dual carriageways are open to traffic on 5¾ miles of the Great North Road in Lincolnshire. Work is now in hand on the construction of a further 11¾ miles of dual carriageway, one mile of which should be completed by the summer and the remainder during the first half of 1962. The remaining 5¼ miles within the county consists mainly of 3-lane single carriageway, and the dualling of these sections will be undertaken as funds permit.

asked the Minister of Transport how soon the hon. Member for Barking may expect an answer to his letter of 20th February concerning the hole in the road at the corner of Gower Street and Store Street, Bloomsbury; if he is aware that this hole now stretches for some distance along these streets and is an increasing nuisance and danger to walkers and motorists; what is the purpose of the hole; how long it has been open; and when it will be closed.

My right hon. Friend has written to the hon. Member today.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the fact that his Department's Press notice No. 273 of 26th August, 1959, referred to steps being taken so that a draft scheme showing the line of the proposed Hendon urban motorway could be published early in 1960, why 18 months elapsed before publication; and what action he proposes to take to reduce delays in all stages of road improvement and construction schemes to ensure that progress of the road programme conforms more closely to the urgent needs of present traffic and the requirements of the increased traffic of the future.

The draft scheme was published on 2nd March, 1961, a little under 12 months later than forecast. The extra time was taken up in consultations with the interested authorities. These took longer than expected partly because the addition of the Stirling Corner link to the motorway proposals led to a detailed reconsideration of the whole route by the local authorities affected.

asked the Minister of Defence whether Polaris missile submarines carrying out exercises in the Firth of Clyde will have Polaris missiles on board during such movements.

I have been asked to reply. Yes.

asked the Postmaster-General how many telephone exchanges in Wales have bilingual telephone operators available when needed.

The arrangements at all exchanges in Wales provide that bilingual operators are readily available. There are bilingual operators on the staff of 45 out of a total of 57 exchanges. At the remaining twelve, calls made in Welsh are extended to nearby exchanges where bilingual operators are available. If the hon. Member has any particular difficulty in mind, I will gladly make inquiry.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that his Department recently sent to the hon. Member for Windsor a number of booklets recommending the usefulness of the telephone service, both for business and other purposes, and that the receipt of these booklets followed shortly upon an appeal by the General Post Office to his constituents in the Maidenhead area not to use the telephone more than is necessary between the hours of 9.30 and 11.30 in the mornings until 1962, owing to shortage of staff and other technical difficulties; and what steps he is taking to make it possible for the hon. Member to telephone to his constituency or for his constituents to telephone to each other without delays owing to the few lines that are available being permanently occupied.

Yes. I regret the standard of the telephone service at Maidenhead. This is mainly due to difficulty of getting staff to handle the rapidly rising traffic. The exchange will be converted to automatic working, with subscriber trunk dialling, towards the end of 1962. Meanwhile, I am doing all I can to improve the position, and the capacity of the London route is being increased.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will state the number of telephones in service in the United Kingdom at the latest date for which figures are available; what number he estimates will be in service by 31st March, 1961; and what net growth in percentage terms this will represent compared with the figure for 31st March, 1960.

On the 30th September, 1960, there were 8 million telephones in service in the United Kingdom. I estimate that the number in service by the 31st March, 1961, will be 8,300,000. This represents a net growth of 5½ per cent. over the number of telephones in service at the 31st March, 1960.

asked the Postmaster-General why the Dulverton Post Office is to be downgraded; and what alteration in service this will entail.

The business done at the Dulverton Post Office does not justify the expense of keeping it as a Crown Office. I should like to assure my hon. Friend that, apart from a small reduction in the hours of business, there will be no change in counter facilities or postal services.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will publish in HANSARD a detailed financial statement showing the saving estimated to result to his Department from the proposed downgrading of the Dulverton Post Office.

Yes. The following is the statement:

asked the Postmaster-General how many automatic machines have been installed outside post offices to enable the general public to purchase threepenny stamps; and what is the approximate number he will install this year for that purpose.

About 600 machines selling 3d. stamps have now been supplied to post offices and 150 more are on their way. I expect to have a total of 1,800 machines outside post offices by the end of this year.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what instructions were given to the British Government's representative on the United Nations Security Council about the recent proposed inquiry into the affairs of Angola.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my answers to Questions on 20th March.

asked the Minister of Labour what action he intends taking to provide industrial training for the increased numbers of school leavers in Scotland in the next two years as a result of the conference he attended in Glasgow last week.

Government policy has been successful in improving employment prospects in Scotland. I made clear at the conference last week that Scottish industry should now expand industrial training substantially. My Department

asked the Secretary of State for War, since of every thousand who joined the Army last year 137 bought themselves out, 51 were discharged on medical grounds and 26 were discharged for other reasons, so that one-fifth of the recruits were out within three months of joining, what are the reasons for this rejection rate; what steps he is taking to rectify the position; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of disabled persons registered for employment at his Department's employment exchanges at the latest convenient date; and what were the comparative figures for the same period in 1960.

50,346 on 20th February, compared with 59,127 on 15th February, 1959.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons are signing on at the employment exchanges at Ashington and Morpeth, giving the figures for men, women, boys, and girls, in March, 1961; and how this compares with the position in March, 1960.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 14th March, 1961; Vol. 636, c. 112], supplied the following statement:

As I informed the House on 2nd February, I have called for a comprehensive study of this question, and I expect an interim report in the autumn. At present I have nothing to add to what I said on this subject during the debate on the Army Estimates on 7th March and to the suggestion I made then.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will now arrange a compassionate home posting for the private soldier about whom he received representations from the hon. Member for Swindon on 31st January.

My hon. Friend has written to the hon. Gentleman and explained that a posting on these grounds is not justified. I have nothing to add to his letter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he still imposes Purchase Tax at the rate of 50 per cent. on certain barrier creams despite the fact that these are substantially used in factories for prevention of occupational dermatitis.

That is the rate to which these creams, if perfumed, are liable in law, and my hon. Friend will not expect me to anticipate my right hon. and learned Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he has so far been unable to agree to the elimination of Purchase Tax on musical instruments.

Because of its contribution to the revenue.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what are the obligations of travel agencies in stamping the cards of the guide lecturers they employ, both full-time and seasonally; and whether he will take steps to make these better known.

When a guide lecturer is gainfully employed under a contract of service for more than 8 hours in a week by a travel agency, the agency is normally liable to pay a weekly Class 1 (employed person) contribution in respect of him, whether the employment is full-time or only for a season. Leaflets are already available at all local offices of my Ministry which explain this obligation, and I have no information of any general misunderstanding by travel agencies.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) how many wives of ex-naval officers who retired before 1939 are in receipt of National Assistance;(2) how many ex-naval officers who retired before 1939 are in receipt of National Assistance.

I regret that the information asked for is not available.

asked the Minister of Education if he will make a grant to the Royal School of Needlework and its workroom, in view of the fact that it is of historic interest and one of the few remaining links with the ancient guild system.

The Ministry of Education has made annual grants to the Royal School of Needlework in respect of its educational activities since 1947. The amount has recently been increased. I understand that in spite of this assistance the School as a whole has run at a considerable loss for a number of years and the Council now see no alternative but to close it. They have issued a statement, a copy of which I am sending the hon. Member. I am glad to say that the future of the existing students has been safeguarded and I have good reason to hope that we shall find other ways of developing the teaching of embroidery design and the technical skills of embroidery at the highest level.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the public libraries to which Command Paper No. 9081 and its confidential appendix No. II, describing certain Mau Mau Oaths and ceremonies, have been distributed to date.

In 1954 copies of Appendix II to Command 9081 were distributed to over 500 public and university libraries. I will place a list of the libraries concerned in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects a start to be made in rebuilding Hillingdon Hospital, Middlesex.

In 1962. Detailed planning has taken longer than originally expected because of the complexity of this important project, and the improvements introduced as planning proceeded.

asked the Minister of Health when the Joint Working Party's report on the medical staffing structure in the hospital service will be published.

Tomorrow. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have sent copies to the Joint Consultants Committee and the British Medical Association and expect to make a statement as soon as we know their views.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many graduate teachers, men and women, respectively, left the profession in each of the last three years for reasons other than marriage and retirement.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Commissioner of Police has under consideration for approval a new vehicle of a lighter type for use as a London taxicab; and when his decision may be expected.

The Deputy Commissioner has no such proposal under consideration at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many off-licences and on-licences have been granted, and how many refused, since the 1945 Brewster Sessions, in the North Riding of Yorkshire.

In the North Riding of Yorkshire in the years 1945–60, 67 applications for off-licences were granted and 24 refused. 123 applications for on-licences were granted, but two of these were not confirmed; 29 applications were refused.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for assistance under the Local Employment Act, 1960, have been received by the Board of Trade Advisory Committee from Caernarvonshire; how many have been granted; how many have been rejected; and how many are under consideration.

Nine applications have been received, either by the Advisory Committee or by the Department. Of these, one has been offered assistance, three have been rejected and five are still under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health why his divisional medical office at Manchester sent Form RM3 to sick people receiving National Insurance sickness benefit; if he is aware of the undesirable wording of this form, which implies that the person to whom it is sent is malingering; and how many such forms have been sent out from the Manchester office in each of the last three years.

This form tells the recipient that the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance have asked for a second medical opinion. It carries no implication such as the hon. Member mentions. The numbers were 122,874 in 1958, 123,396 in 1959 and 126,940 in 1960.