asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has yet reached a decision concerning the resettlement of former inhabitants on the island of Tristan da Cunha; and if he will make a statement.

The report of the officer who returned from an exploratory visit to Tristan da Cunha at the beginning of October has been received and is now being studied. I will inform the House when Her Majesty's Government have reached a decision on it.

asked the Minister of Power if he is aware that the statistical information now being given by the National Coal Board is less informative, especially with regard to costs, earnings, and area details, than their former statistics; and if he will issue a general direction to the Board requiring them to publish fuller details of their operations.

This is a matter for the National Coal Board. The Board's view is that the detailed analysis of costs, proceeds and outputs is not of enough general interest to justify its continued publication twice a year. Detailed statistics will continue to be published annually. I hope the hon. Member will agree that the new Interim Statement of Revenue Results presents the essential information more clearly than before.

asked the Minister of of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he is aware of the widespread wastage of housing accommodation caused by under-occupation of rented properties, particularly in Manchester; what statistics are available to indicate the precise extent of this wastage; and what steps are being taken, or are proposed, to deal with the problem.

I have no evidence of widespread under-occupation at Manchester or elsewhere. What constitutes under-occupation is largely a matter of opinion, but some statistics which have a bearing on the question are available in "The Rent Act, 1957—Report of Inquiry" (Cmnd. 1246) and the Rowntree Trust's Housing Study "Housing Since the Rent Act".

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether, in order to encourage the ownership of private property and as an incentive to personal savings, he will consider, in conjunction with either the building societies or alternatively with the local authorities, the granting of special loans for the purpose of house purchase to young married people with incomes of less than £2,000 per annum, such loans to cover the full value of the property, to bear interest at a fixed rate of 4 per cent., and to be repayable over a period of 30 years.

My right hon. Friend is reviewing the prospects for a continuing growth of home ownership; and until he has completed this he would prefer not to comment on particular proposals.

asked the Minister of Education what his plans are for the rebuilding of the Tetbury Church of England Primary School.

The managers and local education authority propose as a first stage to build a junior school on another site, leaving infants in possession of the existing school building. My right hon. Friend is not at present able to say when this project will be included in a building programme.

asked the Minister of Education how much has been spent on education in the Blyth Constituency during the past two years to the nearest convenient date; what was the cost of new school building during the same period; and haw many new schools and school places this has provided.

The returns made to my Department do not show separately educational expenditure in the Blyth constituency. During the past two years, work on one new secondary school for 450 children has started and had cost £123,500 up to 30th September last. Four more projects providing 2,090 new school places are due to be started shortly.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if, during the European Economic Community negotiations and in particular those with the French representatives, the subject of a European nuclear deterrent has been discussed; and what is Her Majesty's Government's policy for dealing with the problem of nuclear weapon pooling within the European Economic Community countries.

The answer to the first part of the Question is, "No". With regard to the second part, Her Majesty's Government recognise that a European point of view on defence will emerge. It will then be for the countries concerned to discuss all the aspects of this question, in the light of circumstances at the time.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what discussions he has had with the United States Government regarding the supply of missiles to Israel; and what Her Majesty's Government's policy is on the supply of arms to the Middle East in the future.

Her Majesty's Government were informed of the United States' readiness to supply defensive ground-to-air weapons to Israel before the news became public. The United States Government have stressed that this decision did not imply a change in the general policy about arms control and avoiding an arms race in the area.

Her Majesty's Government's policy on the supply of arms to the Middle East has been directed for many years to the maintenance of stability and peace in the area. While we are always ready to consider the legitimate defensive needs of the countries concerned we have no intention of stimulating an arms race. This policy remains unchanged.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if, in view of the economic difficulties of the Congo Republic, Her Majesty's Government will make financial assistance available through the United Nations.

In the light of the acceptance by the Central Government and Mr. Tshombe of the Proposal for National Reconciliation. Her Majesty's Government have decided to make a grant of 2 million dollars (about £714,000), to assist the Congo. It will be channelled through the United Nations and is designed to finance the purchase of British goods and services.

Parliament will in due course be asked to vote this amount by means of a Supplementary Estimate. In the meantime an advance will be obtained from the Civil Contingencies Fund as required.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will take steps to publish a combined classified telephone directory for the Chester and Shrewsbury districts, in view of the commercial disadvantage to those places of not possessing suet a directory.

I am sorry that I cannot agree to the hon. Member's suggestion. We issue classified directories only where the revenue from advertisements would cover the cost.

asked the Minister of Aviation when his proposed inquiry into the finances of the British Overseas Airways Corporation is to take place.

I would ask the hon. Member to await the statement which I shall be making in the debate on the Air Corporations Bill next Tuesday.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of people in the Blyth Constituency who are awaiting entry into hospital, giving the operation or treatment to be undergone and the average time of waiting for entry.

The constituency is served by several hospitals and the waiting lists are not analysed by place of residence.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now take steps to improve the visibility at the road junction opposite the Breiddon Hotel, Middletown, Montgomery, on the Shrewsbury to Dolgellau trunk road.

The improvement required is the cutting back of a hedge. I am arranging for this to be done

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of last year's fatal accident and several other accidents which have occurred in the past few years at the Rhydygroes crossroads on the A.490 road in Montgomeryshire and of the representations made to him by responsible local authorities on the matter, he will now authorise "Halt" signs to be placed there.

No, for the reasons which I gave in my letter of 31st January, 1962, to the hon. Member's predecessor. I am sending a copy of that letter to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the date for the commencement of work on the proposed East Ilsley by-pass.

I expect work to start next autumn, provided no unforeseen difficulties arise on acquisition of the land.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement on the proposed improvement of A.34 and construction of a by-pass east of Abingdon.

Survey work is still in progress and it is likely to be some months before firm proposals can be formulated for the improvement of this section of A.34. Even then, because

ACCIDENTS AND CASUALTIES ON THE A.19 BETWEEN STOCKTON AND THIRSK SINCE 1ST JANUARY, 1959 Accidents Casualties Personal injury Damage only Killed Injured Total 1959 … … 197 226 2 238 240 1960 … … 191 250 7 239 246 1961 … … 189 304 3 212 215 1962* … … 114 206 6 154 160

ACCIDENTS AND CASUALTIES ON THE A.19 BETWEEN THIRSK AND YORK SINCE 1ST JANUARY, 1959 Accidents Casualties Personal injury Damage only Killed Injured Total 1959 … … 85 66 1 120 121 1960 … … 82 79 4 111 115 1961 … … 70 70 2 103 105 1962* … … 52 56 2 63 65 * Up to 30th September, 1962.

of the probable magnitude of the scheme, it is likely to be some considerable time before a place can be found for it in my programme.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to receive a report from his divisional road engineer about traffic conditions on the Oxford Road section of the A.34 at Abingdon.

I have received the report. It recommends the installation of traffic islands on this road to assist pedestrians to cross. I am proposing to act on this recommendation. A fuller explanation is being sent to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport what were the numbers of traffic accidents and road casualties, respectively, on the A.19 road between Stockton and Thirsk and between Thirsk and York during each of the last three years for which figures are available.

The following are the figures:

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to receive a report from the Central Transport Users' Consultative Committee on the proposals to close the Abingdon-Radley branch line.

I am now considering the appointment of members to the new Central Transport Consultative Committee. I cannot say how soon after these appointments are made the Committee will be able to report to me on the Abingdon-Radley line proposals.

asked the Minister of Labour how many miners were unemployed in each division of the National Coal Board at the latest available date.

I regret that this information is not available by Coal Board divisions. If the hon. Member would like to have figures for any Ministry of Labour Region or employment exchange area I will be pleased to let him have them.