asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many bracken officers he has appointed; what reports he has received from them on the results of the chemical spraying of bracken in 1959 and 1960; and when chemical spraying will rank for grant under the Eradication of Bracken Scheme.

I have appointed no bracken officers as such. Bracken control duties are carried out by the general agricultural inspectors of my Department. With my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, I am keeping in close touch with the trials carried out by the Agricultural Research Council and as he indicated in his reply to the hon. Member on 16th March it is not possible to say when or whether the evidence from these trials will justify grant aid for this method of bracken control.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in the improvement of the youth services consequent on the recommendations of the Albemarle Report; and whether he will make a statement.

The national youth organisations have taken up the additional funds I made available to assist development work, particularly for the teenage groups; many education authorities are working on development proposals following the review I asked them to undertake in consultation with voluntary bodies; more full-time leaders will shortly be coming from the Moray House course; and the Kilbrandon Council have initiated several encouraging developments.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he refused permission to Mr. Stahly, of Glencraig, Fife, to establish a petrol filling station in the village, although the commission of inquiry recommended that the proposal be accepted.

I upheld the decision of the county council in this case as being in accord with their Central and West Fife Development Plan, which provides specifically for the relocation of the community and the ultimate clearance of North and South Glencraig, and in the interests of road safety.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many pre-apprenticeship training schools are established in Scotland; how many students attend them; and whether he has any plans to provide for the expected increase in numbers of candidates;(2) where in Scotland pre-apprenticeship training centres are established; and what proposals there are for increase or extension.

I am sending the right hon. Gentlemen a list of the 46 further education establishments providing preemployment courses which are under education authority management and which were attended in Session 1959–60 by 5,248 students. The technical education building programme includes 21 new local colleges and 13 major extensions to existing colleges which will provide improved and extended accommodation for these courses. I recently asked education authorities to give special consideration to the provision of additional courses, and I have also asked the Scottish Technical Education Consultative Council to explore the possibility of further development of this type of education.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the anxiety of pigeon fanciers in the east of Scotland regarding the deaths of large numbers of wild pigeons and other small birds; which agricultural colleges, for which he is responsible, are carrying out research into the cause of such deaths; whether they have yet identified the cause; and in which agricultural college he intends to concentrate such research.

I have received no representations from pigeon fanciers about the deaths of wild pigeons, and the Scottish Agricultural Colleges are not investigating the deaths of wild birds. My Department, however, are in close touch with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, who are carrying out a programme of investigation, including feeding trials of the insecticides used in seed dressings.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, to encourage the production of store calves in Scotland, he will consider the re-introduction of the cow-heifer subsidy, to permit graded heifers to be calved at once.

No. Cow-heifers were excluded from the scope of the fatstock guarantees at the Annual Review, 1957, and the main reason, which was given at the time in the Annual Review White Paper, still holds good.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the practice of taking salmon by drift net is on the increase, that drift net fishers observe no weekly close time, and that this year they started fishing early in January during the annual close time fixed by Statute for the operation of salmon fisheries; and whether he will introduce legislation to prohibit drift net fishing in sea lochs or in the sea up to the limit of territorial waters.

The evidence available indicates an increase in drift net fishing for salmon near the mouth of the Tweed, but little fishing off other parts of the coast, where relatively few salmon have been taken. Drift net fishing for salmon is already prohibited within estuarial limits, which in the case of the Tweed extend beyond the three mile limit, and in this area, enforcement of the law, including the permitted methods of fishing and the weekly and annual close times, is a matter for the River Tweed Commissioners. In the circumstances it is not clear that the legislation proposed is necessary, but I shall continue to keep a close watch on the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has yet considered the letter sent to him by the Aberdeen Harbour Board, as members of the Salmon Net Fishing Association of Scotland and as a body represented on the Dee District Fishery Board, on the subject of drift net fishing for salmon; and what reply he has sent.

The letter was received on 23rd March and is receiving consideration, but no reply has yet been sent.

asked the Secretary of of State for Scotland when he expects to reply to the letter sent him by the hon. Member for Morpeth, concerning the imprisonment of Mr. J. R. Conroy.

I replied to the letter yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated cost during 1961–62 of his scheme for the training of probation officers; and how many it is expected will be trained during the year.

The estimated cost during 1961–62 of the training scheme for newly appointed officers is £18,300, of which about £12,000 represents the salaries of officers during training. It is expected that about 20 officers will be under training during the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure the provision of adequate school accommodation in the new town of East Kilbride.

The education authority is responsible in the first instance for the provision of adequate school accommodation. If the authority is in any difficulty I am, as always, ready to give whatever assistance lies in my power.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the model standards for residential and holiday caravan sites, laid down by his Department, are being interpreted rigidly by some local authorities, particularly as regards sanitary provision, and that a sufficient period is not always given for effecting improvements; and whether, in order to avoid hardship, he will give further guidance to local authorities on this matter.

The model standards are intended as a general guide to be applied with discretion and in the light of particular circumstances. They are not intended to penalise a site which is already satisfactory but to bring the bad site up to a good standard. Where additional facilities are required, it would seem to me right to give a reasonable period for carrying out the work.For holiday sites in particular the model standards apply only to those in continuous use as distinct from occasional or weekend use and I should expect that the standards for sanitary facilities would be applied with due regard to the facilities likely to be provided within the caravans themselves.I should hope that those points are appreciated by most local authorities, but the matter will be kept under review and should further experience, including the results of cases at present before the Sheriff, seem to indicate the need, I shall be prepared to issue further guidance to the local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers of mathematics and science subjects in direct grant schools do not possess university degrees.

Two. By reason of technical qualifications which require the study of mathematics or science to a standard equivalent to that of two years' study in a university degree course, they hold the teaching certificate appropriate to teaching these subjects in the first three years of a secondary course.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers of mathematics and science subjects in local authority secondary schools do not possess a university degree.

One hundred and twenty-six. By reason of technical qualifications which require the study of mathematics or science to a standard equivalent to that of two years study in a university degree course, they hold the teaching certificate appropriate to teaching these subjects in the first three years of a secondary course.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an estimate of the net wastage or net recruitment of teachers of mathematics and science subjects in direct grant schools in the period 1959–60.

There was a net increase of five.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an estimate of the net wastage or net recruitment of teachers of mathematics and science subjects in local authority schools during 1959–60.

There was a net increase of eight.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the number of teachers of mathematics and science subjects, respectively, in direct grant schools at the most convenient recent date.

At 3rd October, 1960, there were 144 teachers of mathematics and 94 teachers of science. Many of the mathematics teachers were also qualified to teach a science subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the number of teachers of mathematics and science subjects, respectively, in local authority schools at the most convenient recent date.

At 3rd October, 1960, there were 3,369 teachers of mathematics and 1,393 teachers of science. Many of the teachers of mathematics were also qualified to teach a science subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, for purposes of comparison with the pay of teachers, he will state the salaries paid in 1939 and today to doctors, dentists, architects, solicitors, accountants, and surveyors employed by local authorities in each case.

There were no national scales for these professional employees of local authorities in 1939. Their current basic scales are:

	£
Doctors	1,295–1,845
Dentists	1,240–1,950
Architects	850–1,150
Solicitors
Accountants
Surveyors

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the approved

ESTABLISHMENT OF SCOTTISH POLICE FORCES AT 28TH FEBRUARY, 1961
Force	Men			Women
	Approved establishment	Actual strength	Shortage	Approved establishment	Actual strength	Shortage
CITY AND BURGH FORCES
Aberdeen	262	259	3	10	10	—
Airdrie	46	46	—	2	2	—
Ayr	93	90	3	4	3	1
Coatbridge	83	84*	-1	4	4	—
Dundee	301	297	4	5	5	—
Edinburgh	1,003	992	11	29	25	4
Glasgow	2,563	2,348	215	74	73	1
Greenock	123	119	4	6	6	—
Hamilton	75	73	2	4	4	—
Inverness	48	47	1	2	2	—
Kilmarnock	85	84	1	4	4	—
Motherwell	109	105	4	6	6	—
Paisley	168	162	6	6	5	1
Perth	78	72	6	3	3	—
COUNTY AND COMBINED FORCES
Angus	151	136	15	6	5	1
Argy	105	102	3	4	4	—
Ayr	311	296	15	8	7	1
Berwick, Roxburgh and Selkirk	128	127	1	2	2	—
Caithness	39	38	1	1	1	—
Dumfries and Galloway	195	161	34	7	6	1
Dunbarton	304	269	35	13	12	1
Fife	493	474	19	25	25	—
Inverness	87	87	—	4	4	—
Lanark	520	460	60	23	21	2
Lothians and Peebles	351	347	4	6	6	—
Orkney	20	20	—	1	1	—
Perth and Kinross	137	132	5	—	—	—
Renfrew and Bute	280	254	26	10	10	—
Ross and Cromarty	76	76	—	—	—	—
Scottish North-Eastern Counties	302	298	4	4	4	—
Stirling and Clackmannan	345	316	29	13	13	—
Sutherland	27	26	1	—	—	—
Zetland	16	16	—	—	—	—
Grand Totals	8,924	8,413	511	286	273	13
* Temporary excess.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the aggregate revenue that will accrue establishment of each police authority in Scotland; what is the actual establishment; what is the shortage; and in what police authority areas houses are provided for retiring police officers

Information about the establishment of Scottish police forces is given in the table below. As to the last part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to him on 28th November, 1960.in a full year arising from prescription charges, charges for dental, optical and other appliances and for dental treatment on the assumption that the National Health Service Bill is enacted in its present form.

The aggregate yield in a full year is estimated at approximately £4·2 million in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the South-Eastern Regional Hospital Board has refused to give priority in the use of its resources to the Dunfermline Maternity Hospital.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his Question on the same subject on Tuesday, 28th February. I have nothing further to add to that reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now make a further statement about the system of grants from public funds to students taking courses at universities, colleges of education and other education establishments.

Yes. After considering the alternative systems of administration set out in the Report of the Anderson Committee, I have decided, with the agreement of the local authority associations that, from next October awards will be made by the Scottish Education Department to full-time university students, students training as teachers and students taking advanced full-time or sandwich courses at other establishments. Although the education authorities will no longer make the awards, they have agreed to continue to play an important part. Their local offices will assist the Department by interviewing students and by making local inquiries in any cases where questions of special difficulty arise over awards, and they will still be responsible for advising the young people in their area about the facilities available for higher education.The education authorities will continue to award bursaries to further education students apart from those which I have specified and to school pupils.I have decided that, in accordance with the principles recommended by the Anderson Committee, there should be standard maintenance allowances for the students to whom my Department will make awards and that the rate allowed should be the one fixed for the university or college which the student actually attends. As I announced on 19th December, the rates of these allowances have been fixed on an interim basis, to give some improvement over present amounts, and it is intended to undertake a comprehensive review of the rates during the coming year. The radically revised scale of parental contribution which has already been announced will apply to those awards from October, 1961.A leaflet giving details of the new arrangements will be available later this week in universities, colleges, schools and education authority offices. Copies of the leaflet have been placed in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why all floor covering attracts Purchase Tax at 12½ per cent., including carpets, rugs, and linoleum, whereas wall covering is subject to discriminatory practices, with wall paper attracting 12½ per cent. Purchase Tax and wall paint and distemper no Purchase Tax; what are the reasons for continuing these practices, which distort the pattern of consumer demand; and what remedial action he proposes.

Paint and distemper, being mainly used in industry and building, have never been liable to Purchase Tax. I do not believe that the relatively small amount of tax involved materially influences the choice of wall covering in the home.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that publicly-owned houses vested in the ownership of the National Coal Board attract Income Tax Schedule A, whereas publicly-owned council houses do not; what is the reason for this inconsistency; and, as all privately-owned dwelling houses attract Income Tax Schedule A assessments, what steps he proposes to take to establish a similar practice for every class and type of property.

As I told my hon. Friend on 25th January (HANSARD, col. 31)—houses owned by local authorities are not exempt from tax under Schedule A and are assessed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the provision through the Arts Council of earmarked funds for the Old Vic, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and for provincial theatres marks the end of the principle of allowing the Arts Council a free hand in distributing its grant.

I cannot answer this question precisely at this stage. It raises an important point which I shall have very much in mind in considering, after I have received the Arts Council's proposals, the arrangements to be made for governing future expenditure in this field. I can, however, assure the hon. Member that I shall depart as little as possible from the general principle that the Arts Council remains free to allocate as it sees fit the funds which the Government makes available to it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to receive from the Arts Council their proposals for the allocation of increased grants and contributions for existing and new theatres.

I feel sure that the Arts Council will waste no time in considering this important question, but I cannot state a definite date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will issue a report indicating to what extent monopoly conditions have in-

—	Minimum qualifying figure for Government contribution	Applications Accepted
Woven Cloth Scheme (million linear yards)	534·5	560·820
Bleaching subsection (million linear yards)	68·2	75·85
Dyeing, Raising and Finishing (only) subsection (million linear yards)	284·2	382·999
Machine printing subsection (million linear yards)	88·8	101·97
Yarn Processing Scheme (million Imperial lbs.)	25·2	30·890

My right hon. Friend knows of no statistical information on which such a report could be based. While not accepting all the implications of the latter part of the Question, if mergers lead to increased efficiency, he considers that it would be contrary to the public interest to prevent them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many advance factories have been built in Aberdeen city and county, respectively, during the last twelve months; where they are; what each produces; and what are his plans for building more advance factories there.

None; and none is at present planned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can now state whether the minimum figures prescribed for the Government contribution to the Cotton Finishing Schemes have been exceeded.

Yes. The Cotton Board have today announced that the aggregate capacity of the production units in respect of which they have accepted applications for compensation under the Cotton Finishing Woven Cloth and Yarn Processing Schemes have exceeded the minimum figures required for the Government contribution to become payable. The figures are as follows:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science whether the Atomic Energy Authority contacted the National Parks Commission, directly or indirectly, by telephone or letter about their proposal to establish seismic instrument sites in the Dartmoor National Park.

Yes. The Atomic Energy Authority, having formally consulted the National Park Committee for Dartmoor, later told the National Parks Commission by telephone of the nature of their proposal and of its approval by the Dartmoor National Park Committee.

asked the Minister of Works what steps he has taken to protect the 14 long barrows and 15 round barrows in the Imber training area, scheduled as ancient monuments.

As is the general practice in military training areas, by arrangement between the War Office and my Department, scheduled barrows are marked with special star-shaped signs, and units are regularly instructed to leave them alone.

asked the Minister of Works if he is satisfied that the public buildings under his control in England are suitably provided with flags and flagpoles for the proper display of the Union Jack and St. George's Flag on St. George's Day the 23rd April, 1961; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that suitable arrangements have been made.

asked the Minister of Works how much has been spent in the last ten years on the maintenance and running of Osborne on the Isle of Wight.

Net expenditure on Osborne during the last ten financial years was as follows:

			Net Expenditure
			£
1951–52	…	…	47,168
1952–53	…	…	50,030
1953–54	…	…	50,839
1954–55	…	…	51,873
1955–56	…	…	52,778
1956–57	…	…	49,831
1957–58	…	…	55,627
1958–59	…	…	59,898
1959–60	…	…	73,075
1960–61	…	…	68,500 (estimated)

asked the Minister of Works what has been the cost of maintenance of the Royal Palaces in each of the last ten years; and, in view of the desirability of keeping public expenditure down, what steps are being taken to ensure that this figure is kept within reasonable bounds.

The cost of maintaining the structures and services of the Royal Palaces in each of the last 10 years was

			£
1951–52	…	…	243,066
1952–53	…	…	231,417
1953–54	…	…	233,458
1954–55	…	…	243,108
1955–56	…	…	250,472
1956–57	…	…	251,608
1957–58	…	…	274,647
1958–59	…	…	281,577
1959–60	…	…	313,545
1960–61	…	…	346,550 (estimated)

This covers Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, St. James's Palace, Kensington Palace, Hampton Court Palace, Kew Palace, Marlborough House (Mews) and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Expenditure on Royal Palaces is subject to the same close scrutiny as expenditure on other buildings for which my right hon. Friend is responsible.

asked the Minister of Works what proposals he has for the provision of new office accommodation to house Government employees in Taunton.

My right hon. Friend proposes to build new Government offices on a site in Mary Street to accommodate the Divisional Office of Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and local offices of Inland Revenue, Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance and the National Assistance Board. It is hoped to complete the building by the end of 1963.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty which of Her Majesty's ships have been sold to Mr. H. G. Pounds, of Portsmouth, for scrapping since 1951, stating their class and displacement.

Since 1st January, 1959, when the Admiralty took over responsibility from the Ministry of Power for the disposal of Her Majesty's ships and vessels for scrapping, one vessel, Her Majesty's Submarine "Statesman", 715 standard displacement tons, has been sold to Mr. H. G. Pounds. No H.M. ships were sold to the firm in the period 1951 to December, 1958.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many man hours are used annually in his Department to deal with the fertiliser subsidy scheme.

Approximately 320,000, equivalent to about 140 staff.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how much fertiliser is used in this country on which no subsidy is paid.

Subsidy is not paid on three classes of fertilisers: first, potash: second, organic fertilisers: third, any fertilisers which are not used for agricul- tural purposes. The total annual usage of potash in this country is about 425,000 tons of potassium oxide. I have no figures for the annual usage of the second and third classes.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will now recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the operation of the leasehold system in Wales.

No

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he will make a statement about the decision by the National Democratic Party in Southern Rhodesia on the new constitutional proposals negotiated by him in Salisbury.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the speech I made on this subject in the House last Thursday.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will make a statement about the progress in experiments with airfield fog dispersal.

I have for some time been considering the possibilities of installing a fog dispersal system on one runway at London (Heathrow) Airport, based on an improved version of the wartime F.I.D.O. An Air Ministry requirement for a similar system at R.A.F. airfields was cancelled towards the end of 1959 because of the progress made with automatic landing for R.A.F. V-bombers and transport aircraft.It has now been decided that no useful purpose would be served in attempting to install F.I.D.O. at London Airport. The essential preliminary trials have throughout been severely delayed owing to difficulties in achieving an effective experimental installation. Allowing time for the completion of these trials, and for design and construction, it is unlikely that a London Airport system could be in operation before 1965, by which time it could have only a limited useful life in view of the progress expected in the development of automatic landing systems for civil use. Capital and operating costs would be very high, and would necessitate charges heavier than the airline operators would be prepared to pay.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he will make a statement on the new arrangements for financing the campaign for malaria eradication which were agreed by the recent World Health Assembly in New Delhi; and whether he is satisfied that these changes will not impede the eradication programme in any way;(2) whether Her Majesty's Government will now contribute to the Malaria Eradication Special Account to assist it to meet that part of the programme which has not yet been transferred to the regular budget of the World Health Organisation; and what contribution will be made in the current year.

The World Health Assembly decided to transfer to its regular budget as from 1961 the administrative and operational services costs of this programme, amounting to over $600,000 a year. It also decided to transfer the remaining costs by way of an additional $2 million in 1962, $4 million in 1963, and the whole cost in 1964. I am satisfied that these changes will not impede the programme, and that voluntary contributions by Governments outside the regular budget are not an appropriate way to finance programmes of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the difficulties which crippled and handicapped people have in using the new type of London taxicab, particularly because of the height of the floor from ground level, the absence of a step, and the curved floor; and if he will continue to require, when licensing taxicabs, that the former specifications should be followed for passenger convenience.

I understand that the Deputy-Commissioner of Police, whom I have appointed to license taxis in the Metropolitan Police District, is aware of these difficulties and will bear them in mind in considering any specifications which may be submitted by manufacturers and the trade for a new model of taxicab. Following discussions between the Deputy-Commissioner and the manufacturers, the floor of the current Austin cab is being modified to reduce the curve to negligible proportions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cab drivers' licences were granted and how many were refused by the Metropolitan Public Carriage Office during the years 1950 to 1960, inclusive.

The following are the figures:

NUMBER OF CAB DRIVERS' LICENCES
Year		Granted		Refused
		New applicants	Renewals	New applicants	Renewals
1950	…	674	2,636	34	8
1951	…	596	2,115	33	2
1952	…	313	3,707	23	8
1953	…	227	2,896	17	21
1954	…	180	2,314	18	11
1955	…	309	3,381	19	15
1956	…	369	2,872	23	19
1957	…	424	2,306	29	14
1958	…	539	3,379	34	24
1959	…	553	2,912	26	11
1960	…	649	2,463	31	14
The refusals of applications for renewals were largely for medical reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further action has been taken by the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis to abate the nuisance caused to residents of Furness Road, N.W.10, by the activities of a waste recovery factory in that area, since the reply given to the hon. Member for Willesden, West, on 7th July, 1960.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that the police have continued to give attention to the matter and have taken appropriate action when offences have been observed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports he has received from the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis regarding accidents and damage to property caused by lorries used by a waste recovery factory in the Furness Road, N.W.10, area, similar to the damage to 18, Bramston Road, N.W.10, particulars of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Willesden, West.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that the damage caused to 18, Bramston Road was not reported to the police and that he has received no complaints since the date of this incident of damage to property caused by vehicles belonging to the factory concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unfit notices were served on owners of taxis by the Metropolitan Public Carriage Office during the years 1950 to 1960, inclusive.

The following are the figures:

Year	Number of Unfit Notices
1950	2,994
1951	3,412
1952	2,839
1953	2,673
1954	2,457
1955	2,182
1956	2,412
1957	2,045
1958	2,379
1959	2,270
1960	3,308

Between 20 and 25 per cent. of these notices (525 in 1959 and 616 in 1960) related to defects of a minor nature where the cabs be allowed to remain in service subject to the faults being rectified within 48 hours.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will give urgent consideration to the proposals submitted to him by the Taunton Borough Council, the Taunton Rural District Council, and the Wellington Rural District Council for the alleviation of the serious water shortage in the areas immediately surrounding the town of Taunton.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my letter to him of 22nd March. An engineering investigation can now be arranged and will take place shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government that the proposed British Railways Board should manufacture all its own locomotives and rolling stock.

At this stage it is envisaged only that the Railways Board shall be given, like the British Transport Commission, the statutory power to manufacture. It is too soon to say how far this power will be exercised.

asked the Minister of Transport how many protests he has received against the proposed Broughton, Buckinghamshire, by-pass; and whether he will institute an independent inquiry into the scheme.

I have received one protest signed by 15 inhabitants of Broughton. I have also received three objections to the compulsory purchase order submitted to me for confirmation by the Buckinghamshire County Council, as the highway authority, in respect of part of the land they need for this by-pass. I am satisfied that the inquiry into the objections, which I shall cause to be held before an independent inspector, will enable the matter to be properly ventilated.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the present situation regarding the issue of visas for private British persons wishing to take holidays in Eastern Germany, and for citizens of Eastern Germany wishing to take holidays in Great Britain; what are the obstacles in the way of an improvement in the situation; what negotiations are taking place for such an improvement; and through what channels they are being conducted.

Private British persons wishing to take holidays in the Eastern zone of Germany are not at present generally experiencing any difficulties in obtaining permission to do so. The issue of visas to East Germans wishing to take holidays in the United Kingdom is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. There are in principle no obstacles at present in the way of bona fide private travel; and so no negotiations are taking place.