asked the Minister of Defence (1) whether he will give figures for all missile and stand-off bomb tests which have now been conducted by Her Majesty's Government;(2) to what extent it is the practice of Her Majesty's Government to issue reports of all missile launchings for both military and peaceful purposes, whether success or unsuccessful.

It is not normal practice to issue reports of missile launchings whether for civil or military purposes, and I am not prepared to give the figures requested.

asked the Minister of Defence what was the last occasion on which he reviewed the position of former members of the Polish regular army retired and now domiciled in this country; and what action he proposes to improve it.

This was done last year and the result was announced when I informed the House, in reply to a Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Arundel and Shoreham (Captain Kerby) on 28th October last that a grant of £50,000, to be reviewed annually, was being made available.

asked the Minister of Defence how long he estimates it would take to transfer any future British Polaris submarine from multilateral to exclusively British command; for how long after such transfer the Polaris deterrent would remain credible without United States maintenance communications, and logistical support; what arrangements have been made for the United States of America to resume its support after a period of independent British command; and what agreement has been reached.

I am satisfied that we shall be able to make arrangements that will ensure that the British Polaris submarine force will be immediately available to Her Majesty's Government for effective independent use at all times when and for as long as supreme national interests are at stake.

asked the Minister of Defence from what source he proposes to obtain the enriched uranium with which to fuel Polaris-carrying submarines.

This material can be found from within the resources available to us.

asked the Minister of Defence how many men from the North-East region of England joined Her Majesty's forces in 1960, 1961 and 1962, stating each year separately.

The answer is as follows:

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what considerations he has in mind when placing contracts for frigates in Government dockyards.

New construction of warships is allocated to the Royal Dockyards from time to time primarily to help keep the Dockyard staffs fully abreast of the latest ship-building techniques and to make proper use of the capital facilities available there. No order is so placed, however, unless the Dockyard concerned has put forward an estimate within the lower range of commercial prices quoted.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many of the Scots Guards have travelled from Pirbright Camp, Surrey, to Windsor Castle each day for the ceremonial Changing of the Guard during January; how often it has been possible to conduct the ceremony during this period; how many coach journeys have been made each day; and what has been the cost of hiring the coaches.

A Guard of one officer and twenty-two other ranks with twelve pipers have travelled each day during January by coach from Pirbright to Windsor. Since the 1st January, because of the weather, the Guard has not been carrying out the Mounting ceremony, but has marched straight to the Guard Room from Victoria Barracks. One coach has made the daily journey to Windsor and back, and I expect the cost for the whole of January to be about £330.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of his recently announced policy concerning future recruitment to the Army, he will now take steps to release all married men currently serving or about to serve the additional six months of National Service.

No. The changes which I have recently made in recruitment policy are directed at the future all Regular Army: their effect in terms of trained soldiers will not be felt for some months. The national service men I have retained are already trained and are required to maintain the strength and effectiveness of the British Army of the Rhine during the period of change from the conscript Army to the all Regular Army.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice is given to local authorities and new town development corporations on the fitting of attachments for fireguards to fireplaces in new homes and flats.

When the Department of Health booklet "Designing for Safety in the Home" was sent to local authorities and New Town Development Corporations in 1959, particular emphasis was placed on the recommendation that permanent fixings for fireguards should be provided in their houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new town development corporations fix attachments for fireguards to fireplaces in new housing developments.

Two.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he maintains a record of Scottish beauty spots on the lines of the historic buildings record;(2) what is the policy of the Government for the preservation of beauty spots in Scotland; and what instruments he has for doing this.

Local planning authorities have powers under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Acts to safeguard beauty spots. In June last year I invited local planning authorities to define areas of great landscape value in their development plans and to let me have a progress report by the end of December. The response has been encouraging.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated capital expenditure involved in developments and improvements to be undertaken by the Scottish Home and Health Department, excluding hospital provision, within the next three years, for which plans are already either completed or in an advanced stage.

Capital expenditure for which plans are already completed or in an advanced stage and which is expected to be carried out by the department direct during the three financial years 1963–66 is estimated to amount to rather more than £2¼ million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hospitals in Scotland which admit children permit daily visiting and unrestricted visiting respectively; and how many have accommodation for mothers of young children to stay in hospital with them.

Of the 110 hospitals which admit children 60 permit daily visiting; 35 more permit unrestricted visiting. Fourteen hospitals have accommodation specifically set aside for mothers to stay close to their children; and in most of the others special arrangements can be made to accommodate mothers if necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many private persons were invited to give oral evidence before the Mackenzie Committee; how many accepted; and who they were.

The report records that Lord Burton and the hon. Member for Kidderminster (Sir G. Nabarro) gave oral evidence to the Committee. I am informed that in addition, the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. G. M. Thomson) was invited to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why Vulcan bombers are still being converted to carry Skybolt.

They are not.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what facilities are to be retained for the Air Training Corps at the Royal Air Force Station, Chigwell, when it is disposed of by his Department.

The former guardroom is being retained and will be renovated to provide lecture rooms, and office accommodation for No. 2324 (Chigwell) Squadron of the Air Training Corps. The building will be connected to all essential services.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the United States policy of flag discrimination has an adverse effect on Anglo-American relations, trade and business; and what steps he has taken during the last six months to end it in favour of a policy more consistent with the Anglo-American Alliance.

I am concerned about many aspects of United States shipping policy and have been considering with the General Council of British Shipping how we may improve matters.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he is now taking to improve the employment situation in the shipbuilding areas.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the number of ships now under construction in the United Kingdom shipyards is the lowest since 1945, and that the orders for last year were only equal to half the full output of the yards; and what proposals he now has for safeguarding the future of shipyards and the employment of shipbuilding workers.

The Government have recently announced two measures to improve employment in the shipyards. One is the acceleration of the naval ship building programme which was announced last week; the second is the inquiry into using shipyards for building work which is now being carried out. Apart from this, I have nothing at present to add to what was said by my hon. and gallant Friend the Parliamentary Secretary when replying to the Adjournment debate on 18th December.

asked the Minister of Transport if, when considering the recommendations contained in the Rochdale Report, he will take into account the possibilities of developing the deep water facilities at Sheerness.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the successful development of a nuclear marine propulsion system by the Mitchell Engineering Company, now being offered commercially, he will consider building a ship embodying it at Government expense.

No. The Mitchell project still exists essentially as a design study. It was fully considered before our decision to concentrate further work on the Vulcain and IBR reactors was made.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now make a full statement of the Government's policy following the report of the Rochdale Committee.

I have now received the views of the national representative bodies on the Committee's main recommendations and I will make a statement as soon as I can.

asked the Minister of Transport how many merchant seamen are now unemployed; and what percentage this is of the total register.

5,560 merchant seamen aged 18 years or over were registered as wholly unemployed on 10th December, 1962, the latest date for which figures are available. This is 4·1 per cent. of the 136,923 seamen on the register of the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen at 30th November, 1962.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in the interests of road safety, he will draw the attention of local authorities to the possibility of improvements in road lighting by adopting the cut-off non-glare system; and if Her Majesty's Government will make a contribution towards the capital cost of conversions.

Lighting authorities already have authoritative technical guidance in the British Standard Code of Practice for Street Lighting on Traffic Routes, which is well known to lighting engineers and widely relied on. The Code recommends cut-off lighting in certain conditions, but other modern lanterns of the medium-angle beam type, correctly mounted and positioned, reduce glare to tolerable proportions on most lengths of road and are less expensive. I am prepared to contribute to improved lighting systems on trunk roads which are approved by my lighting engineers. I have no power to contribute to the cost of street lighting systems on other roads.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now invite proposals from the local authorities concerned for the surface heating of the main danger spots on roads.

Electrical heating equipment for road surfaces is very expensive to install, particularly on existing roads, and also to operate. On trunk roads such installations could be justified only at places such as bridges, steep gradients and dangerous intersections which are particularly vulnerable to icing and where it is especially necessary to avoid traffic congestion and accidents. We could consider applications from local highway authorities for grant towards the cost of such installations on classified roads only where similar considerations applied.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the delay in clearing main roads in the West Country after recent snow; and what steps he is taking to ensure more speedy and effective action in the future.

The time taken to clear certain main roads was due to the severe conditions and not to any delay on the part of highway authorities, who were prompt and energetic in their efforts to keep main routes open. Recurring blizzards refilled drifts behind the snow ploughs; on some stretches of road, where snow packed up in front of the ploughs, they could make no headway and digging was necessary. Some drifts were caused by the many abandoned vehicles, which greatly impeded clearing operations. It is only thanks to the efforts of the highway authorities' staff, to the temporary labour engaged for this work, to volunteers and to the Armed Services that communications were kept open as well as they were. I should like to pay tribute to all who worked so hard in such appalling conditions. I intend to see what lessons we can learn from these events, and I have already asked my divisional road engineers for reports on experience in their areas. Local highway authorities, too, are reviewing their experience.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of concern about the danger to old people crossing the road at the old people's home on the main road to Weston-super-Mare near Flax Bourton and the fact that warning signs would help to lessen this danger; and if he will consult the divisional road engineer for this area or receive a deputation from the Welfare Services Committee to discuss the matter.

For reasons that have already been explained to the Bristol Corporation, I do not regard warning signs for old people's homes as a reliable safety measure. In this particular case I think it would be best if the corporation pursued the matter with the Somerset County Council, the responsible highway authority. My divisional road engineer will give all the help he can.

asked the Minister of Transport when he received the petition from Miss Mary Chater, a conductress on the Seaton Delaval-North Shields Service, about the bad condition of the roads in the mining villages through which the buses travel; and what reply he has sent.

I received the petition on 28th January. I have asked my divisional road engineer to discuss the matter with the Northumberland County Council which is the highway authority for the road. I will write to my hon. Friend when I receive his report.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has to ease traffic congestion in Beverley by means of a ring road, an internal relief road, and improvements to existing roads.

The East Riding County Council is carrying out further traffic studies to find out the best ways of diverting through traffic away from Beverley. It is too soon to say what is the right solution, but the results so far show that an internal relief road would not be satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Transport when work on the remaining part of the Port Talbot by-pass is to be started; and what is the present estimated date of completion of this by-pass.

Tenders are due next month and I hope that work will start this spring. It should take about three years.

asked the Minister of Transport how many road accidents have occurred at the B6273 / A635 crossroads at Darfield since the "Halt" sign at the end of the road approaching from Pontefract was changed to a "Slow" sign.

Since the removal of the "Halt" sign in August 1958 there have been 38 reported accidents of which 20 involved personal injury. I will review the position at the end of March, that is six months after the new carriageway markings were put down at this junction, and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is satisfied that double white lines are reducing accidents to any substantial degree; whether he is aware of the high cost of maintaining them; and if he will make a statement.

Statistical evidence so far does not indicate that double white lines have resulted in a significant change in accidents. However, the consensus of opinion among police, county surveyors and divisional road engineers who have reported on them is that they have led drivers to take greater care and that they justify retention. They are still under systematic observation.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make regulations to prevent vehicles from loitering on roads where there are double white lines.

No. Apart from the difficulty of enforcement, I am loth to introduce regulations which might encourage people to drive at a speed greater than they consider safe at places, such as those marked with double white lines, where caution is particularly important.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in giving his approval to the proposed Walthamstow-Victoria line, he gave consideration to the consequent need for car-parking facilities; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Transport how many car parks are planned in connection with the proposed Victoria-Tottenham-Walthamstow line; what is their capacity; and where they will be situated.

I understand that the London Transport Board, in consultation with the Eastern Regional Board of British Railways, are considering the extension of the existing car parks at Tottenham (Hale) and Walthamstow (Hoe Street) stations, and the provision of a new one at Blackhorse Road. Details, including capacities, have yet to be worked out.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has consented to the operation by the Railways Board of any road goods services under the terms of Section 4 (2) of the Transport Act, 1962; and what were the terms of the consent.

I have given my consent to the operation by the Railways Board of certain road goods services, under Section 4 (2) of the Transport Act, 1962, in the following terms:

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has now completed his study of road vehicle weights and dimensions; and what steps he proposes to take to bring the present limits more into line with those in force elsewhere in Europe.

A preliminary survey has now been completed and I am circulating proposals for certain changes in the existing limits to interested organisations.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the index number of British tramp shipping freights has reached the lowest level since postwar calculations began in 1948, and that the railways are not paying in either freight or passengers and that British roads are overcrowded; and if he will state his plans to co-ordinate these three transport services with a view to improvements in transport, employment and amenity.

The Tramp Shipping freight index relates only to deep-sea shipping, and is not, therefore, relevant to matters affecting the co-ordination of inland transport. It is not possible to deal adequately with this general subject at Question Time; but my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary has sent the hon. and learned Member a copy of a speech to the Institute of Transport in which I explained broadly what we are doing to achieve co-ordination in inland transport, where this is necessary, in such a way as to meet the reasonable needs of consumers on a competitive basis and without extravagant use of the national resources.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he proposes to take to deal with the extensive dislocation of traffic on road and rail in the event of further adverse weather conditions; what research is taking place to cope with frost on roads and rails; and whether the recent experiment on a snowed-up stretch of railway line at Didcot where experts tried out a cheap de-icing compound was a success and is likely to be adopted.

I am having a review made of experience on highways in the last few weeks to see whether we can improve the arrangements for keeping open the main traffic routes. The railway authorities are responsible for action to combat the effects of adverse weather on railway operations. I understand that they are already examining the lessons of the recent cold weather with a view to further research and the introduction of additional preventive measures where they can be justified.Technical guidance was issued last autumn to local highway authorities about precautions against frost, which embodied the results of experimental work. My Department have developed and are developing equipment for the rapid and efficient spreading of salt. Experiments are being made with an electronic device for giving automatic advance warning of the imminent formation of ice on road surfaces. The Road Research Laboratory are carrying out research in the design of snow ploughs. The railways are carrying out intensive research, particularly into the methods of de-icing points. I am asking them to pay special attention to the problems of dealing with snow and ice in the proposals for future research programmes which they will put to me under the Transport Act, 1962. The experiment at Didcot has had promising results so far but trials have not yet been completed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the amount of the egg subsidy for the twelve months ended 31st December 1962, and what is the estimated amount for the twelve months ending 31st March, 1963.

The subsidy on eggs can only be stated precisely for financial years. The best estimate at the moment of subsidy on eggs marketed in the calendar year 1962 is £23 million. The published estimate for the financial year 1962/63 is £29·5 million, but it is now expected that the actual figure will be somewhat lower.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his scientific advisers are satisfied that rodent control at ports is more effectively carried out by the use of sodium fluoroacetate than by fumigation; how this poison is administered; what quantities are used; and what steps are taken to prevent the contamination of foods and beverages intended for human consumption.

Sodium fluoroacetate baits and fumigation are not simple alternatives. At the ports, the method used depends on the circumstances. On ships, where either method is possible, there has been a trend towards baits, because they are cheaper and present less risk to man.As a rodenticide, sodium fluoroacetate is usually used in liquid form at a dilution of 1 in 400. Information on total quantities used is not available.The sale and distribution of sodium fluoroacetate in England, Wales and Scotland is restricted by the Poisons Rules, which require purchasers to have an authority certificate signed by a Medical Officer of Health or by certain officers of one of the Agricultural Departments. The poison must be coloured and stored under lock and key. All containers must be labelled "Poison". Detailed precautions designed to prevent any possibility of contamination, are set out in a Ministry leaflet entitled "Use of Sodium Fluoroacetate as a Rodenticide".

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the minimum dosage of fluoroacetamide or sodium fluoroacetate recommended by his scientific advisers for the destruction of rats in sewers; whether vegetation growth on this public effluent after treatment contains fluoride in any form; what advice he has received on the cumulative danger of this chemical to browsing sheep and cattle; and, in those cases where the effluent finds it way into rivers or the sea, what effect fluoride in any form has on fish.

The recommended concentrations of sodium fluoroacetate and fluoroacetamide for use as rodenticides are one part in 400 and one part in 50 respectively.The maximum resulting concentration of fluoride in vegetation is infinitesimally small and presents no cumulative danger to cattle or sheep. Such concentrations are very much less than those sometimes occurring naturally in soils and also very much less that the smallest concentration of fluorides known to be toxic to fish.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what inquiries his Department have made into the hygienic qualities of carton-packed milk as compared with that in glass bottles; and if he will make a statement on the relative merits of using these two methods for delivering or storage of milk and other liquids.

Both cartons and bottles can serve as hygienic containers for milk. It is not for me to assess their relative merits.

asked the Minister of Aviation how many tests of Blue Steel have taken place; how many of them were successful; and how many hit the target area within two miles of the target.

It would not be in the public interest to disclose this. Trials of Blue Steel have demonstrated that the weapon is both effective and accurate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will arrange for Income Tax offices to remain open on Saturdays for the convenience of the public.

Where there is any substantial public demand for the opening of an Income Tax office on a Saturday morning, the Inland Revenue, keep it open. If the hon. Member has a particular office in mind perhaps he would let me have details and I will write to him.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the last operative rate per cent. of specific grants for services or parts of services which were incorporated for grant purposes under the Local Government Act, 1958, within the first General Grant Order.

The following are the rates at which specific grants were paid in 1958–59 in respect of expenditure on those services and parts of services now covered by general grants:

• Education: On average about 58 per cent.
• Local health: 50 per cent.
• Fire: 25 per cent.
• Child care: 50 per cent.
• Planning: Generally 50 per cent.
• Road Safety: 50 per cent.
• Road Traffic patrols: On a mileage rate basis, meeting about 50 per cent. of the cost of running and maintaining approved vehicles and radio equipment.
• Registration of electors: 50 per cent.
• Physical training and recreation. On average about 30 per cent.
• Accommodation provided under National Assistance Act, 1948: On a unit grant basis.
• School crossing patrols: 50 per cent.

asked the Minister of Power if he is satisfied that he has adequate powers to ensure that power supplies are not jeopardised by trade disputes including unofficial strike action or working to rule; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that in any national emergency arising from action of this kind powers to control essential supplies of fuel and power are available.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will authorise the additional capital investment in the electricity industry which will be necessary for it to deal with industrial expansion as planned by the National Economic Development Council.

This is a matter to be considered when the electricity boards submit their forward capital development programmes to me later in the year.

asked the Minister of Technical Co-operation what action will be taken by his Department, in co-operation with the Government of Indonesia, as a result of his recent visit to the Republic of Indonesia.

I had helpful discussions with the authorities in Djakarta when I was there, and a number of their proposals are being considered in my Department. One of my Advisers, Mr. D. C. Mandeville, will be visiting Indonesia early in March (during a tour of the Far East) for further discussions with our Embassy and the Indonesian authorities.

asked the Minister of Power if, in view of the present difficulties in road haulage, he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board that a larger proportion of coal be rail-borne and thus eliminate the possibility of fuel crisis when adequate supplies of coal are available in the producing areas.

No. Choice of transport normally rests with the buyer of coal and not with the Board. Weather affects both rail and road transport. Both have been indispensable during the cold weather.

asked the Minister of Power if he will state the number of horses and ponies employed below ground in mines at 30th June, 1962, the number

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the number of young people unemployed in Fife now stands at 929, the highest number in the history of the Youth Employment Service; and whether he will announce plans to deal with this juvenile unemployment situation.

I have been asked to reply. On 14th January, 892 young people in Fife were registered for employment. The Youth Employment Service is doing all it can to find suitable jobs for them. Much of the county is scheduled under the Local Employment Act and the

The information is as follows:Government will continue their efforts to steer new industry into the area.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that 67 members of the British Forces local employees union appeared before the Aden magistrate recently on charges of taking part in an illegal strike; and if he will call for a report on these proceedings from the Governor of Aden with a view to gathering information for new trade union legislation in this country.

I have made inquiries about the legislation under which the proceedings to which my hon. Friend refers were taken. I am satisfied that it is not appropriate to conditions in this country.

asked the Minister of Labour how many male workers were registered as wholly unemployed at employment exchanges in North Dorset

The following is the information required: