asked the Minister of Defence whether he has now considered the recommendations of the Committee on the Management and Control of Research and Development, submitted to the Minister for Science on 5th July, 1961, so far as they relate to defence research and development; which of them he accepts; what steps are being taken to implement them; and whether he will make a statement.

I accept the main recommendations of the Committee as regards defence research and development. In particular the procedures of the Defence Research Policy Committee for controlling the defence research and development programme have been revised in the light of the Report. Some of the more detailed recommendations are still under discussion with the interested Departments.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether it is still the custom to appoint foreigners to be honorary admirals and lieutenants in the Royal Navy; and how many people now occupy such posts.

Yes, but the award is made sparingly. There are seven such honorary officers in Her Majesty's Fleet. The names are given in the Navy List.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what have been the results of his Departmental inquiry into the need for the maintenance by his Department of over 1,000 moorings.

The review is not yet complete, but we have reduced the number of moorings by 100 and we expect a total reduction of over 200. We have also introduced a modified standard of maintaining moorings, and it is estimated that this will reduce costs by about another 10 per cent.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many flag officers are now serving; and how the total compares with a year ago.

There are at present seventy-five flag officers serving, compared with eighty-three a year ago.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will make a statement regarding the future of the Royal Naval Armaments Depôt at Newton Noyes, Pembrokeshire.

The matter is under discussion and it would be premature to make any statement.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what action he is taking to make security arrangements at Barrow shipyard more effective as a result of the recent incident in which unauthorised persons entered the shipyard and daubed with paint H.M. submarine "Dreadnought".

The security arrangements are aimed primarily at protecting the classified equipment in the "Dreadnought". For this purpose they were, and are, satisfactory. The Admiralty has recently discussed these arrangements with the builders, who are responsible for security in their yard, and they are providing some additional deterrents against this sort of prank.

asked the Secretary of State for War how the National Service Grant scheme will apply to retained National Service men.

Retained National Service men will be eligible for National Service Grants which are paid by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance on my behalf. It will be necessary to review these grants in the light of the increased rates of pay and marriage allowance drawn by retained National Service men. I have accordingly invited my right hon. Friend to adjust these grants in the light of the soldier's new position when he goes on to Regular rates of pay and allowances. Although it has been possible to make the rules governing these grants somewhat more generous than they were, it will none the less normally be necessary, where they are in payment to a man retained in service, to make some reduction in them, and in some cases to extinguish them altogether; but every family will benefit overall. I am arranging for the position to be explained to the men concerned so as to prevent any misunderstanding, and my right hon. Friend will be writing similarly to their wives and families.

asked the Secretary of State for War who is to be responsible for the training of French paratroops in this country.

The training would be carried out under arrangements made by Commander 16 Parachute Brigade.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will state the number of officers serving in the Royal Air Force who are under the age of 25 years; how many of them are married; and what is the number of such married officers who at the present time are stationed abroad.

The figures are 1,938, 452 and 79.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what research has been carried out into the effect of sun-spots on weather; and whether the recently observed large sun-spots are expected to influence weather conditions adversely in the near future.

There has been considerable research over many years into a possible connection between sun-spots and the weather.

asked the Secretary of State for Air which aircraft were used to carry troops to British Guiana; and what was the number of men and weight of freight carried.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what transport facilities were provided for the recent airlift of British troops to British Guiana.

Three Britannias and two Hastings of the Royal Air Force and four chartered civil aircraft flew 543 men and over 25 tons of freight from the United Kingdom to British Guiana. 169 men were flown from Jamaica to British Guiana in three civil aircraft chartered locally by the Commander, Caribbean Area. In addition three Royal Air Force Shackletons have gone to Jamaica where they are providing a daily air transport service from Jamaica to British Guiana in support of the British troops there.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how long it takes to convert the Royal Air Force Canberra bombers in Germany from the nuclear to the conventional role.

The operation is not particularly difficult and can be carried out in a short time. I am sure the hon. Member will understand if I do not give him a more detailed reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the widespread objections to his proposal to establish a rocket base near the village of Ayias Napas in Cyprus; and whether he will reconsider the matter.

I have made no such proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities in Scotland have applied for grants under the terms of the Local Employment Act for the clearing of derelict sites; how many applications have been approved to date; and what is the total estimated cost involved.

Eight local authorities in Scotland have applied for grant for eighteen schemes. Nine schemes have been approved, three rejected and six are under consideration. The grant promised for the approved schemes amounts to £71,475, and their total gross cost will be about £143,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state, together with the names of each local authority, the number of houses of each authority approved for subsidy purposes since 1st November, 1961, to the latest available date; and if he will state the number of houses which it is estimated will qualify for the £12 and £32 subsidies, respectively.

TOLL BRIDGES ON TRUNK AND CLASSIFIED ROADS IN SCOTLAND
—	Owners	Charges
		Pedestrians	Pedal Cyclists	Motor cars and lorries
Connel Ferry Bridge, Argyll, Trunk Road A.828.	British Transport Commission	2d	4d	4s to 6s.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children who appeared in Scottish juvenile courts, in the latest year for which figures are available, were remanded for thorough medical examination; and what proportion this number represented of all children appearing in the courts in the year.

I regret that I do not have this information and that it could be obtained only by extensive local inquiries.

Between 1st November, 1961, and 28th February, 1962, proposals for the provision of 6,223 houses by sixty-seven authorities were approved for subsidy purposes. I am sending the hon. Member the details. Of the total, 1,304 houses rank for subsidy under existing legislation as having been submitted before 1st November. I cannot at this stage estimate how many of the other 4,919 would qualify for £12 and £32 subsidy under the Bill now before the House, as an estimate made now would involve forecasting the local authority's financial position and in some cases its future rate of output, a calculation which it is more practicable for an individual authority to make in its own case.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of all toll bridges and roads, on both trunk and classified roads, together with the names of the owners and the charges made.

My Department's records show that there is only one such bridge in Scotland; there are no trunk or classified toll roads. Particulars of the bridge are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many probation officers are employed in Scotland; and what is their average case-load.

The number of persons in whole-time service as probation officers in Scotland at 31st December, 1961, was 164, of whom 29 were women. The average case-load of such officers in December, 1960, was 55 for men and 44 for women; I shall write to the hon. Member when the comparable figures for December, 1961, are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many of the 136,000 Commonwealth immigrants who arrived in 1961 have settled in Scotland; and what steps he is taking with regard to both jobs and houses for Scotland's proportion of the 400,000 that are likely to come in 1962, so as to spread more widely and to integrate more easily these immigrants.

No separate information for Scotland is available, nor is the forecast of 400,000 for 1962 based on official figures. No special Scottish measures as regards jobs or houses for Commonwealth immigrants are contemplated.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new schools, opened within the last five years, have been provided with a dental chair and kindred facilities.

This information is not available. School dentists work sometimes in schools, sometimes in clinics, and sometimes in mobile units.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the level of compensation for loss of earnings and allowances to members of local authorities has remained stationary since 1957 and 1959, respectively, in spite of the substantial increase in the cost of living; and if he will take action to increase these rates.

I am aware that these allowances have not been changed since the dates mentioned. I am not at present proposing any increase.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Probation Service.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department and I hope that the Committee's Report will be submitted to Parliament and published during the course of next week. The Report will deal with all matters included in the Committee's terms of reference, except the approved probation hostel system, which the Committee is considering separately.

asked the Minister of Transport what are his plans for the improvement of communications between North and South Wales; and if he will make a statement.

We have plans for a substantial number of major improvement schemes on both the main trunk route and also on other roads connecting North and South Wales. The total value of such schemes in Wales now in hand or to be committed within the next three years is of the order of £1 million.

asked the Minister of Transport what reports he has had during the last three months from the Departmental Road Safety Committee and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents directed to the prevention of accidents on British roads; and what are his plans directed to the same purposes.

My right hon. Friend has received no reports within this period from the Departmental Road Safety Committee. From the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents he has received advice on priorities at junctions and the development of road safety activities. We are considering these matters.My right hon. Friend and I told the House about our plans for the improving of road safety during the debate on the Second Reading of the Road Traffic Bill.

asked the Minister of Transport when the question of the preservation or the replacement of Marlow Bridge was first raised with his Department; and on what date the two-tons limit was placed on the bridge.

Discussions about the future of the bridge first took place with my right hon. Friend's Department between 1925 and 1930. The question was revived in 1958.The present weight limit of two tons was imposed in 1958.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations have been made to him about the future of Marlow Bridge by the local authorities concerned, by the local trade organisations and by other local societies in Marlow; and what further local and other interests he intends to consult.

The Buckinghamshire and Berkshire County Councils, which are the highway authorities for the bridge, have applied for a grant towards the cost of reconstructing the present bridge to a weight limit of fifteen tons.Some local organisations have pressed for a by-pass of Marlow and Bisham, to be carried over the River Thames about one mile downstream, and for the present bridge to be strengthened to five or eight tons.

ACCIDENTS AND CASUALTIES ON ROCHESTER WAY IN THE BOROUGH OF WOOLWICH IN 1960 AND 1961
Year			Personal injury accidents	Casualties
				Killed	Seriously injured	Slightly injured	Total
1960	…	…	69	1	9	73	83
1961	…	…	65	1	10	71	82

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made with the scheme for the London-Basingstoke motorway.

The County Councils of Hampshire, Surrey and Middlesex have accepted my invitation to undertake a preliminary survey of the line of this motorway. This work may take as long as eighteen months. The three councils will produce a joint report, and a draft scheme will be published as soon as this has been fully considered.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the roundabout at the junction of Crom-

asked the Minister of Transport when he hopes to start his consultations with local and other interests on the future of Marlow Bridge.

Within the next few weeks.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the number of accidents on the Rochester Way in the Borough of Woolwich for the years 1960 and 1961, respectively.

The following are the figures:well Road Extension and the Great Chertsey Road becomes heavily overloaded; what proposals he has for providing a two-level intersection; and when it is proposed to implement them.

No. But I appreciate that grade separation will be necessary in time, and a preliminary investigation into the best method is now being made. I cannot say when it will be possible to carry out such a scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state the amount of special Exchequer contribution to the Devon County Council for improving alternative holiday routes in the years 1959, 1960 and 1961; and if he will give estimates of such contribution for the next three years.

During the past three years grants totalling £73,000 have been given towards improvements made by the Devon County Council on the alternative holiday routes.It is not possible to say how much will be contributed during the next three years since the classified road programme has not yet been settled except for major schemes.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that Finland, Germany, France, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and Italy prevent by legislation British shipping from participating in their coastal trade; and what representations Her Majesty's Government have made or planned to enable British ships to participate in that coastal trade.

We are aware that these countries have legislation generally reserving their coastal trade to their own ships. My right hon. Friend would be prepared to consider whether representations could usefully be made to the Governments concerned if British shipowners were to tell him that a modification of this legislation would be of real benefit to them.

asked the Minister of Transport, what progress has been made with Her Majesty's Government's plan to form a consortium of shipowners to arrange for the ownership and operation of the first British nuclear-powered ship; whether that consortium has yet been formed; who are its members; and what is its programme of work.

As I explained to the House on 8th November, the Government have decided that building a nuclear ship at the present time would not be justified, and have authorised a vigorous programme of research instead.In these circumstances, no useful purpose would be served by forming at this stage a consortium of shipowners.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission to ensure that wherever closures of branch railway lines are proposed in Wales, bus services under the control of the British Transport Commission in the affected areas are at least maintained or improved.

No. The Transport Users Consultative Committee for Wales and Monmouthshire, when examining proposals for closures, takes into account all alternative transport facilities which will be available. My right hon. Friend also takes account of them when considering the Committee's recommendations.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how much money has been pledged by the United Kingdom for the Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance and the United Nations Special Fund in 1962; and what were the comparable sums for 1961.

For 1962, Her Majesty's Government have pledged £1,071,000 ($3 million) to the Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance and £1,786,000 ($5 million) to the Special Fund. These are the same amounts as in 1961.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if, following the deputation to his Department from the local authorities concerned in December last, he is yet in a position to authorise the Kirkby Urban District Council to proceed with the formalities necessary to begin building houses for the growing number of applicants, at present living in overcrowded conditions, who are on its housing list.

I have now granted planning permission on the application by Kirkby Urban District Council, and have sent a copy of my decision letter to the right hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what further experiments have been made with hovercraft; what is the size of the largest craft now under construction; and when it is likely to be put into commercial use.

I understand that the National Research Development Corporation and the commercial firms collaborating with it are now experimenting with various forms of transport using the hovercraft principle. The largest under construction is a 27-ton craft. I understand also that some new hovercraft are likely to be tried out for commercial use in the near future.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the serious handicap to British exports of polyvinyl acetate emulsions and associated products arising from the high price of home-produced vinyl acetate monomer, and of the threat to the home market from these emulsions as shown by the recent developments in Eire in consequence of the much lower price of foreign-manufactured monomer, he will consider the early abolition of the present high protective import duty on vinyl monomer.

The Board of Trade announced on 14th December last that it was considering an application from representatives of users for the removal of this duty. The inquiry is still at an early stage and I cannot forecast what the decision will be or when it will be announced.

asked the Minister of Education how many new schools, opened in the last five years, have been provided with a dental chair and kindred facilities.

I know of none. Dental treatment is normally given in local clinics; in remote areas, mobile clinics may visit the schools.

asked the Minister of Education what he estimates will be the total number of places in training colleges in 1962–63.

It is too early to give a firm estimate, but on present information the total number of students in the general, housecraft and physical education colleges may exceed 47,500 in 1962–63, compared with about 36,200 this year.

asked the Minister of Education how many children of 11 and over were attending all-age schools on the latest available date.

In February, 1961, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 97,924 pupils aged 11 and over in all-age schools compared with 117,311 in the previous year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why no statistics are compiled of the amounts of interest payments on which tax relief is claimed by persons and by corporations.

Because their collection would involve a disproportionate expenditure of time and money.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to deal with redundancies arising from the railway reorganisation and closures in South Wales.

My local officers will do everything possible to help any workers seeking alternative employment, and I understand that there are good prospects of work being found.

asked the Minister of Power whether he is aware of the proposal of the Gas Council to store 10,000 million cubic feet of gas in bulk under high pressure in an area of 4,000 acres beneath the City of Winchester and the adjoining countryside; and, in view of the fact that the cap rock retaining the gas might be disturbed by enemy action, thus releasing six months' winter supply of gas for the area boards, what advice he has received as to the strategic implications of the scheme.

The strategic considerations that apply would be in favour of a large fuel reserve deep underground.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what was the date of the report tendered by the Geological Survey to the Gas Council which makes important stipulations as to the precautions necessary to avoid risks of fire, contamination and subsidence in the event of gas being stored underground beneath the City of Winchester and the adjoining countryside.

When approached by the Gas Council in October, 1961, the Geological Survey advised the Council that supplementary boreholes and further geological work should be undertaken. After these boreholes and some of the other work had been completed, the Geological Survey transmitted a memorandum, dated 9th February, 1962, which was received by the Minister for Science on 13th February, 1962, for the guidance of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Power; this included references to various precautions which the Survey recommended.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what was the cubic capacity smaller than that proposed by the Gas Council which the Geological Survey advised to be the maximum not to be exceeded if the danger of fire contamination or subsidence is to be avoided in connection with the proposal to store gas underground beneath the City of Winchester and the adjacent countryside.

The proposal was to store gas in the Lower Greensand, in the geological anticlinal arch which has its centre below the neighbourhood of Chilcomb. The Geological Survey advised that gas might be stored in this formation, at the pressures originally proposed by the Gas Council, down to a depth at which the upper surface of the Lower Greensand was not under 500 feet below sea level. The Survey advised that, if this were done, and various precautions were taken, it would be possible to confine the gas to the Chilcomb anticline. Before recommending agreement to the storage of additional gas, in that part of the Lower Greensand which has its upper surface between 500 and 555 feet below sea level—the depth limit originally proposed by the Gas Council—the Geological Survey advised that further exploratory boreholes, at the extremities of the anticlinal structure, would be necessary. Other precautions recommended by the Survey were listed in my supplementary reply to my hon. Friend on 27th February.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science whether the Government have now considered the views expressed by the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy as to the need to overhaul the present organisation for dealing with civil science.

The Government have decided to review the existing organisation for the promotion of civil science by Government agencies. This review, which will be concerned mainly with issues of administrative organisation and the machinery of government, will take full account of the views expressed by the Advisory Council; and advice will also be sought from scientists both inside and outside the public service.

asked the Minister of Works how many accidents involving motor vehicles have been reported since the speed limit in Richmond Park was raised to 30 miles per hour; and how many of them occurred after lighting-up time.

Twenty-one, in the seventeen months to the end of December, 1961, of which six occurred after lighting-up time.

asked the Minister of Works how many deer were killed or injured by motor vehicles on the roads in Richmond Park in 1959, 1960, and 1961; and how many such incidents have occurred since the speed limit was raised to 30 miles per hour.

No figures are available for the period before 4th August, 1960, when the speed limit was raised. In the nineteen months since that date, forty-seven deer have been injured or killed.

asked the Minister of Works how many cases of exceeding the speed limit in Richmond Park were the subject of Court proceedings in 1959, 1960, and 1961; and in how many cases were convictions recorded.

The figures are:

—		1959	1960	1961
Prosecutions	…	6	47	132
Convictions	…	6	45	130

In 1960 and 1961 the regulations have been very much more strictly enforced than previously.

asked the Minister of Works what is the establishment of keepers in Richmond Park; how many are now in employment; and if he is satisfied that the number is sufficient to enforce the law so far as the speed limit for motor vehicles is concerned.

The establishment is thirty-one and there are twenty-five in post. The four men engaged on mobile patrols enforce the speed limit very effectively but I shall introduce another patrol if I can recruit the staff.

asked the Minister of Works how many accidents involving motor cars, motor cycles, and motor scooters were reported as having occurred in Richmond Park during 1959, 1960 and 1961.

The figures are:

—	1959	1960	1961
Collisions between two or more moving vehicles	3	3	6
Collision with stationary vehicle	nil	nil	1
Accidents involving one vehicle (no pedestrian)	2	4	7
Accidents between vehicle and pedestrian	nil	1	4
TOTALS	5	8	18

In only tour of the eighteen accidents reported in 1961 was speed or careless driving considered to be a contributory factor and three prosecutions resulted.

asked the Minister of Works how many persons were killed or injured in incidents involving motor vehicles in Richmond Park in 1959, 1960, 1961; and what have been the figures since the speed limit was raised to 30 miles per hour.

There have been no fatalities.The numbers of persons injured are as follows (the figures in brackets show the numbers of pedestrians included in the totals):

1959	1960	1961
6 (0)	9 (2)	20 (3)

During the seventeen months from 4th August, 1960, when the speed limit was raised, to the end of 1961, twenty-four people were injured, including four pedestrians.