asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what improvements he intends to make in 1963–64 to trunk roads in the county of Angus; and what grants he will make for classified roads, specifying the stretches of these roads to be improved.

No major improvement of trunk roads in the county is in view for 1963–64, but a programme of smaller improvements is being worked out. On classified roads my right hon. Friend intends to authorise grant which will let the council begin their proposed bypass of Glamis village on A.94.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement on the effects of the long period of hard weather on the farming industry in Scotland, particularly in relation to the prospects for lambing on hill farms.

It is too early to make an overall assessment of the effects of the adverse weather conditions on Scottish farming. Reports do not indicate abnormally high stock losses to date except in a few isolated cases, but hill ewes in those parts of the country worst hit by frost and snow are losing condition and unless the weather improves in the next week or two lambing on hill farms in these areas will be seriously affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what authorities and public bodies other than local authorities have been invited to initiate additional work under Circular 33/62.

The circular was addressed to local authorities, joint boards and committees, and harbour authorities. In addition, the South of Scotland Electricity Board are putting in hand work amounting to £650,000, and my right hon. Friend has authorised work totalling some £400,000 on services financed by the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what services he proposes to develop for the North-East of Scotland with regard to the employment and population problems of the area.

The initiative rests mainly with the local authorities and Boards, but my right hon. Friend regards the provision of roads, houses, water, electricity, educational facilities, and certain aspects of town and country planning as services that have an important part to play in this connection.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many geriatric chairs are in use in Scottish mental hospitals.

Several types of chairs specially designed for older patients are in use. Information as to the total number of such chairs is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total expenditure on bed linen by hospitals during 1961–62; and what proportion of this expenditure was incurred on linen from outside Scotland.

Expenditure by hospitals on bed linen only is not available. In 1961–62 the expenditure on bedding, linen, napery and patients' clothing amounted to approximately £500,000. No record is kept of the place of manufacture of items purchased.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations have been made from the coal industry concerning the prospects facing that industry in the event of the proposed new electricity generating station not being coal-fired; and whether, in arriving at his decision in this matter, he will take into account factors other than purely commercial ones.

Representations have been received on the subject from the National Coal Board, the Scottish Area of the National Union of Mineworkers and the Scottish Branch of the British Association of Colliery Management. The commercial factors must obviously be given full weight because the cost of electricity is of great importance to the Scottish economy. My right hon. Friend will, however, give full weight to all other relevant factors.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many flood prevention and coast protection schemes have been submitted to his Department and not yet approved.

My right hon. Friend's Department has been consulted about several schemes, but there is at present only one scheme before him in respect of which no further statutory procedure is necessary before approval can be given.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total amount spent by local education authorities last year on machine tools; and what proportion of this expenditure was incurred in purchases from Scottish firms.

The statutory requirements as to the accounts of education authorities do not require expenditure on machine tools to be distinguished from other expenditure on materials and apparatus for instructional purposes. I would not feel justified in asking the authorities to undertake the considerable task of attempting to extract this information.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total cost of drugs used within the health service in 1961–62; and what proportion of this expenditure was incurred on drugs manufactured in Scotland.

The cost of drugs used in the family doctor service and the hospital service in Scotland in 1961–62 was approximately £7½ million; information as to the proportion spent on drugs manufactured in Scotland is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the drugs dexedrine and drimonil in the form of pills are being peddled among young people in Glasgow; and if he will take steps to deal with this practice.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to the hon. Member for Dunbartonshire, East (Mr. Bence).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many cases grants have been approved for the amalgamation of agricultural holdings in Scotland; and what is the total acreage covered.

None; there have been no applications.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many paid appointments to posts outside the Civil Service he has in his patronage; what is the nature of each appointment; and what salary is payable in each case.

The paid posts outside the Civil Service to which I make appointments are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent in 1961–62 and 1962–63, respectively, on the clearance of derelict sites in Scotland; and how much he estimates will be spent on this in the coming year.

I cannot state the precise amounts spent in 1961–62 and 1962–63 until the local authorities submit their claims for grant under the Local Employment Act. The estimated expenditure for these years is £11,600 and £60,000, respectively. Approximately £180,000 remains to be spent on schemes already approved. I expect the bulk of this expenditure to take place in the corning year along with an amount which cannot yet be estimated on schemes not yet submitted to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his plans for the continuation and extension of the fishery training and fleet modernisation scheme in the Hebrides.

This scheme was designed to operate for three years from December, 1959, and aimed at providing 12 boats for the outer islands and the training of their crews. The scheme will be wound up in the next few months when the 12th boat will have been delivered and the training of its crew completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the acknowledged success of the regional crime squad operating in a limited part of Scotland, he will now consult chief constables with a view to its extension in size and availability; and if he will make a statement.

I am sure that chief constables are fully aware of the crime squad arrangements in the west of Scotland and of other forms of co-operation. I have no statement to make meanwhile.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much electricity has been supplied from the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board to the south since the recent cold spell started.

Between 24th December last and the 10th of this month, the North Board exported 56·6 million units, mainly at peak hours, and imported 66 million units, mainly at off-peak hours.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement regarding the outcome of the meeting which the Minister of State had with Glasgow Corporation on 13th February about unemployment.

My noble Friend discussed with the Lord Provost and members of the corporation how best to expedite certain major projects which the corporation are anxious to undertake. He is personally supervising further meetings between officials to settle details, the first of which took place on 15th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which public bodies have made representations in the last three months against the proposed levying of tolls on the Forth Road Bridge; and whether he will now accede to the request that no such tolls should be levied in view of the deteriorating economic situation in areas on either side of the bridge.

In the last three months I have received representations from one county council, the Scottish Tourist Board, the Scottish Committee of the Federation of British Industries, the Scottish Trade Union Congress and two local co-operative societies. As I explained last week to representatives of the local authorities concerned with the bridge, the Government's policy is that tolls are an appropriate method of financing projects like the Forth Bridge.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why delay has occurred in the sale of Chalgrove airfield; and whether it has now been sold.

The sale of Chalgrove airfield has not yet been completed because the Martin Baker Company wish to wait until my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport has made orders closing certain roads and footpaths.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will publish the terms of the written undertaking given to him by Martin Baker Aircraft Limited that they will offer the land at Chalgrove airfield back to the former owners for agricultural purposes at the market price then ruling when their present use of the land comes to an end.

This undertaking was not sought with a view to publication and I cannot add to the answer which I gave my hon. Friend on 5th December, 1962.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when it is expected that the lifts, installed over 18 months ago, in the Service flats at Galleywood House. Maala Mile, Aden, and six other blocks will be able to be used by the Royal Air Force personnel, as promised in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Exchange, on 1st August, 1962.

Since August the lifts in two of these blocks have come into use. The remaining five, including Galleywood House, are expected to have lifts operating shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what plans he has for co-operating with the United States of America to establish a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation meteorological satellite system.

The United States of America already have a meteorological satellite system. We have made no plans to co-operate with them in establishing one for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why the demonstration by the Royal Air Force Vulcan bomber of the new Blue Steel stand-off bomb was described as Destination Leningrad.

Neither Bomber Command nor the Air Ministry so described the demonstration.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what special precautions are taken to prevent accidents to the civilian population and to mitigate their consequences during overflights of aircraft carrying nuclear explosives.

The design of nuclear weapons and the way they are carried in aircraft limit the dangers from an accident to an aircraft carrying nuclear explosives over this country. There is no danger of a nuclear explosion if the aircraft crashes; the risk from radiation, if any, would be small; contamination of the ground, if it existed at all, would be limited to the immediate vicinity of the crash. Royal Air Force special safety teams working with the civil police and fire services would arrive quickly to deal with any such accident.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what were the reasons for the conflicting statements made by his Department regarding the penetration of American air defences by British V-bombers in a mock attack.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Barnsley (Mr. Mason) on 23rd January, 1963.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many Service families have been evicted from Royal Air Force married quarters during the past year because the Serviceman is abroad and the family decline to move to another part of Great Britain until the family is re-united; and whether he will make a statement.

None. Two families moved into private accommodation before court orders were obtained.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the unemployment caused in Aberdeen shipyards by the recent reduction in orders for shipbuilding, ship-repairing and engineering; and what steps he has taken during the last four months, and now plans to take, to solve this problem.

Shipyards in the Aberdeen area are facing the same difficulties as those in the rest of the country, and I have no special measures in mind for them. The orders which they have recently obtained should improve prospects for employment in the coming months.

asked the Minister of Transport what further collective action has been taken concerning the exercise by the United States Government of their regulating powers affecting international shipping.

Discussions with our European colleagues about the United States unilateral shipping regulations are continuing. A good deal of ground has been covered, but I cannot anticipate what further collective action will be agreed.

asked the Minister of Transport on how many occasions the Shipping Advisory Panel has met; and what advice it has given to him.

The work of the Panel is proceeding steadily and satisfactorily. Otherwise I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on 28th November, 1962.

asked the Minister of Transport what will be the effect on the British shipping trade of the action of the United States authorities in banning certain cargoes from ships that have carried goods to Cuba since 1st January; and whether he will make a statement.

The prohibition applies to United States Government financed cargo. The few British ships left in the Cuban trade could hardly have carried much of this. Its transport has been largely confined to United States' vessels for many years now.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will seek power to increase the amount of shipping between Aberdeen and London with a view to stimulating exports, industry and employment, and relieving the roads and railways of some of the traffic now on them.

No. Anyone who wishes can operate ships between Aberdeen and London without any exercise of powers on my part.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will put the scientific and technological resources of the Atomic Energy Authority at the service of the Cunard Steamship Company with a view to investigating the possibilities of using nuclear propulsion for a future passenger liner.

It is open to the Cunard Company, or any other shipowner who is interested, to seek advice direct from the Atomic Energy Authority. The Authority's Nuclear Ship Project Team includes marine engineers and naval architects seconded from the British Ship Research Association.

asked the Minister of Transport what study he is making of the problem of deciding the correct balance between road and rail transport; and if he will give an assurance that, in pursuance of his powers under the Transport Act, 1962, he will withhold his consent to the closure of branch lines until adequate alternative transport is available for the towns and villages which they serve.

A large proportion of the work of my Department relates to the general problem to which my hon. Friend refers. In each individual case of an opposed rail passenger closure, where it is a question of giving (or withholding) my consent, I shall consider carefully, in the light of the Transport Users' Consultative Committee's report, the adequacy of alternative services and whether they require supplementation.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent, when approving plans for the Victoria tube line, he required provision to be made for car parks at all new and reconstructed stations on the line.

It would not have been reasonable for me, at the time I approved the construction of the Line, to impose specific requirements as to car parks. Precisely what can be done at each station will not be known until detailed site plans have been prepared. But British Railways and London Transport are fully aware of the importance of making proper provision for parking and I am sure that they will do so to the fullest practicable extent.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has had representations from highway authorities for an extra grant towards snow clearance on classified and unclassified roads; what inquiries he has made as to expenditure over and above the estimates for such work during the abnormal weather conditions; and whether he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) if he will state the additional expenditure incurred so far by various local authorities on works made necessary by the cold weather;(2) what steps he has taken to inform local authorities of his readiness to consider applications by them for additional financial assistance to take account of their unusually heavy expenditure this winter on snow clearance; how many local authorities have applied for such assistance; and what is the extent and form of the assistance he proposes to make.

I am confident that highway authorities in county areas will have read the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen (Dr. King) on 29th January, and that they will make their case to me for any necessary additional maintenance grants when they are ready to do so. The maintenance of unclassified roads is solely the responsibility of the local highway authorities.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) if he will extend the speed restriction limit from its present point on the Leeds-Otley trunk road at Adel, Leeds, to a point at least 300 yards to the north nearer the Leeds boundary so as to cover all the built-up area;(2) when he proposes to initiate a scheme for the improvement and widening of the Leeds-Otley trunk road from the end of the double track road at Lawns-wood in Leeds north-westerly to the Leeds boundary at Bramhope, to incorporate safe crossings for pedestrians at suitable points, and to provide adequate arrangements for effective lighting.

There are many more urgent road improvement schemes than this one awaiting a place in my trunk road programme and I am afraid it is unlikely to be included for some time. I have had counts taken of persons crossing the road, but these do not indicate that pedestrian crossings are required. If the Leeds City Council ask me to approve a grant towards the cost of improving the street lighting, I will consider it. I am reexamining the case for extending the speed limit on this road and I will write to my hon. Friend about it.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what steps he is now taking with regard to putting in hand the preliminary legal survey work for new motorways in Lancashire in order that construction and expenditure can be undertaken at a higher level each year for the next few years;(2) what new motorways he proposes to start to construct in Lancashire in the years 1963–64, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1966–67 and 1967–68, respectively.

If preparation goes according to schedule, I hope to start work on the motorway from Lancaster to Penrith in 1966–67. The line for the Lancashire-Yorkshire motorway is now being investigated. Other proposals for motorways in Lancashire are unlikely to be realised during the next few years.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give an assurance that expenditure on roads will be increased to not less than 2·2 per cent. of the gross national product.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport how many multiple accidents have occurred on the M.1 motorway in the most recent six-monthly period for which figures are available; how many vehicles were involved; what are believed to have been the chief and contributory causes in each case; and what methods were adopted by the police, upon arrival on the scene, to prevent further collisions.

in the last six months of 1962 there were 30 accidents in which three or more vehicles were involved. In each case, however, it appears that the vehicles were involved more or less at the same time and so far as is known there was no case of a vehicle running into an earlier accident. I understand that the usual procedure adopted by the Police is to put out warning signs in accordance with a written code of practice, but the action of the Police in any particular accident is a question for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

asked the Minister of Transport when it will be possible for a motorist to drive from Edinburgh to London and Glasgow to London direct on roads of not less than dual carriageway standard.

asked the Minister of Transport what arrangements his department has now made with the City of London Corporation and the Verderers of Epping Forest for the provision of lay-bys on the Epping New Road; to what extent the sanitary problem has delayed a decision; and whether he will make a statement.

The City authorities were reluctant to accept my original proposals for lay-bys on Epping New Road, since they feared that they might give rise to sanitary problems. They informed me last week that they accepted in principle revised proposals for sites where water and drainage facilities would be reasonably accessible. I am now consulting the local authorities who would be concerned with the provision of public lavatories.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to collect statistics with regard to the use of safety belts in motor cars.

The form used by the police to report accidents to my Ministry is currently being reviewed and this is one of the items whose addition is being considered. Since July last year, questions on the fitting and use of safety belts have been included in a motoring survey conducted quarterly by the Central Office of Information on my behalf.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the regulation requiring an applicant for a 1963 vehicle licence to produce his 1962 licence may operate inconveniently in bad weather for those in ill health; and if he will alter the regulation to make production of the receipt for insurance sufficient to entitle the applicant to be given his 1963 licence.

An applicant for a new licence who is unable to apply personally may make a postal application to his local taxation office. There is no requirement for the old licence to be sent in such a case.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the further redundancy at the Furness Shipyard, Haverton Hill; and what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to offer alternative employment for the workers concerned.

Yes. There is to be a further redundancy this month. My local officers will continue to do everything possible to try to find alternative employment for those who seek our assistance.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed are registered at the Woolwich Employment Exchange; and what were the corresponding figures for 1962 and 1961.

1,381 at 11th February, 1963, compared with 823 in February, 1962 and 598 in February, 1961.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the present number of registered unemployed in the urban district of Chadderton; and how many have been unemployed for eight consecutive weeks.

I regret that separate figures for the urban district of Chadderton are not available. In the area covered by the Oldham and Chadderton employment exchange, in which the urban district of Chadderton is mainly situated, there were 1,960 people registered as unemployed on 11th February, 1963, of whom 948 had been wholly unemployed for more than eight weeks.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will appoint a small committee to inquire into employment opportunities for school leavers in Scotland and to examine means for alleviating the current economic difficulties of this category of workers.

The employment situation amongst young people in Scotland is kept under regular review by my Department in consultation with the others concerned and by the Scottish Advisory Committee of my National Youth Employment Council. I do not think that a further committee would be helpful.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the national average wage for the industrial worker in England and Wales; and what is the local average in Plymouth.

In the industries covered by the Ministry's half-yearly earnings inquiries the average weekly earnings of adult male manual workers in England and Wales for the latest available date, April, 1962, were 317s. Figures are produced for regions but not for smaller areas: the corresponding figure for South Western Region was 291s. 6d.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons, male and female, respectively, were registered as unemployed at the February, 1963, count in the Gateshead employment area; what was the percentage unemployed in the area; and what was the percentage rate for male and female, respectively.

The following is the information required:

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of registered unemployed in Cardiff at the latest convenient date; and what was the comparable number for 1962.

5,107 at 11th February, compared with 2,697 in February, 1962.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what his plans are for the future of the National Stud; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have decided that the responsibility for the National Stud should he transferred from my Ministry to the Horserace Betting Levy Board with effect from 1st April next. The responsibility is within, and appropriate to, the Board's statutory powers, and in this, as in other matters, the Board's activities will be subject to the general approval of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department. The Board will assume complete financial responsibility for the future operation of the Stud without assistance from the Exchequer. The Board has given assurances to my right hon. Friend that it will operate the Stud consistently with the purpose of the original deed of gift to the nation and with the traditions that have been built up.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many civilians are directly employed by the Admiralty now, compared with 10 years ago; and what proportion of these are occupied in office duties.

143,100 civilians are currently employed by the Admiralty compared with 182,500 ten years ago. Excluding scientific, professional and technical grades outside Headquarters, and the Admiralty Constabulary, the percentage of non-industrial staff is 11½ per cent. Ten years ago it was 10 per cent. The total number has declined in that period from 18,137 to 16,368.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many non-industrial and industrial workers, respectively, are employed by the Admiralty in all its establishments in the city of Plymouth; and what is his estimate of the numbers to be employed in 1963, 1964 and 1965.

The number of civilians borne in Admiralty establishments inside the Plymouth City limits on the 1st January, 1963, was 18,288 industrials and 2,764 non-industrials. These figures are not expected to vary significantly during the financial year 1963/64. It is not possible to give a firm forecast for 1964/65.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement about the future level of work at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Woolwich.

The orders on which the Royal Ordnance Factory, Woolwich, is currently engaged are insufficient fully and economically to occupy the factory as it is now organised. The future level of work for the factory cannot be settled in isolation. As I have explained in a recent letter to the hon. Gentleman. it is clear that the total amount of general engineering capacity now available in the group of factories to which Woolwich belongs is in excess of that required to meet our long-term needs; and I am currently reviewing the scale of capacity required and its disposition between the factories concerned.

asked the Minister of Education how many schools under his control, situated in or near the coalfields, are heated by imported oil; how many are at the planning stage: and at how many of these solid fuel heating could still be installed if it were found advantageous.

The information is not available.

asked the Minister of Education how many paid appointments to posts outside the Civil Service he has in his patronage; what is the nature of each appointment; and what salary is payable in each case.

The present director of the Commonwealth Institute was appointed in 1952 by the then Minister under Section 5 of the Imperial Institute Act, 1925, as varied by the Transfer of Functions (Imperial Institute) Order, 1949. His salary is now £3,415. Under the trust deeds of the National Foundry College and of the National College of Rubber Technology, the appointment of the Principal rests with me in consultation with the Governors: the salary scales of these posts are fixed by my Department in the light of current salaries for comparable posts in Colleges of Further Education maintained by local education authorities and at present are £2.170-£2,410 and £2,660£2,910, respectively.

asked the Minister of Health how many hospitals and institutions under his control, situated in or near the coalfields, are heated by imported oil; how many are at the planning stage; and at how many of these solid fuel heating could still be installed if it were found advantageous.

I regret that this information is not available. The choice of fuel depends on availability, price and quality.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will call in the application by Easton and Sons, Joinery, Limited for the extension of their works at Winnersh, near Wokingham, in view of the importance of their application to employment in Darlington.

No. But I understand that the local planning authority will be issuing its decision on this application very shortly and if the firm should be dissatisfied with it there would be a right of appeal to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what consultations in regard to planning he had with Berkshire County Council on the application by Easton and Sons, Joinery, Limited for the extension of their works at Winnersh, near Wokingham.

None. This application has not come before my right hon. Friend, but could do so if the firm are dissatisfied with any decision given by the local planning authority and wish to exercise their right of appeal.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what steps he has taken in reprinting leaflet N.I. 16 to avoid misleading people who retire from work before retirement pension age about their entitlement to sickness benefit.

Leaflet N.I. 16 will be reprinted in the course of the next few months to take account of the proposed improvements in National Insurance benefits. The opportunity will then be taken to remove the possibility of a misunderstanding about the contribution conditions for receiving the benefit to which my hon. Friend has drawn attention.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many offices and other buildings for which his

Taking as a rough criterion buildings within the normal range of deliveries by lorry, 178 buildings plus 52 at the planning stage. Oil heating is only adopted where this can be shown to be economically advantageous, and to this end each case is discussed with the National Coal Board before a decision is made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will itemise the cost of contracts placed by each Government Department in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years and express such amounts as a percentage of the net total value of contracts placed by each department.