asked the Minister of Transport what are the plans of Her Majesty's Government regarding assistance for the Cunard Line in their replacement of the Queens by a smaller vessel or vessels; and to what extent these plans include provision for ensuring that consideration is given to the northeast shipyards in order to alleviate the present high level of unemployment.

On the first part of the Question I have nothing to add to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey) on 27th February. The second part of the Question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he has taken, in consultation with the other Departments concerned, to give assistance to shipbuilding and ship-repairing yards in the South of England by way of Government contracts for ships and heavy engineering work.

Wherever appropriate, Government contracts, including those for ships and heavy engineering, are put out to competitive tender to suitable shipyards in the South as well as in other parts of the country. In view of the excess capacity in the heavy engineering industry no special arrangements are made to invite shipyards to tender in this field, but it is open to any shipyard to apply to the Department concerned to be placed on the tender list.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is satisfied as to the reliability of the reactors at present being developed for marine nuclear propulsion; and if he will make a statement.

We are satisfied that all those concerned with this work are having a proper regard for reliability. More information about it will be coming forward as development proceeds.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to announce his decision on the reactor for use in an experimental nuclear-powered ship; and if he will give an assurance that the finance for the hull will be forthcoming from his Department.

I am advised that if all continues to go well with the research programme it should be possible on technical grounds to choose by the end of this year the type of reactor which would be installed in a prototype nuclear ship.The Government have taken no decisions about financing a ship. We want to see what propositions shipowners and shipbuilders put forward, and that is why we have begun discussions with them in good time.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he proposes to take in view of the fact that British shipbuilding output has fallen to 13 per cent. of the world total.

The reasons for this fall are complex and there is no single and simple remedy. Our principal aims must be to maintain and improve the competitiveness of the shipbuilding industry and the prosperity of British shipowners, who are its principal customers. There is no lack of vigour in the way in which both industries and the Government are tackling this.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the total tonnage of merchant shipping built in British shipyards for registration abroad and the tonnage of shipping built abroad for registration in this country, in 1962.

In 1962, 188,000 gross tons of merchant shipping were completed in the United Kingdom for registration abroad. I have no official information on merchant shipping built abroad but I understand that nearly 800,000 gross tons of merchant shipping were completed for registration in the United Kingdom.Both these figures relate, of course, to orders placed some time ago.

asked the Minister of Transport what has been the value of ships ordered from United Kingdom shipyards by oil companies marketing oil in the United Kingdom since 1946.

I regret the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of delays in obtaining information about train services when telephone calls are made to information departments at British railway stations; and whether he will give a general direction to the Railways Board to speed up answers on the telephones at these centres.

This is a matter of management for which the Railways Board is entirely responsible.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give general directions to the Railways Board and the London Board not to discontinue services unless they provide alternative means of transport for the passengers concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give a general direction to the Railways Board and the London Board not to discontinue late night services unless they provide alternative means of transport for the passengers concerned.

No. This is a matter for the judgment of the Boards.

asked the Minister of Transport what machinery exists for ensuring that the development of properties owned by British Railways takes place in accordance with the needs of urban, regional and transport planning.

The development of railway property is subject to the normal machinery of the Town and Country Planning Acts, and to special provisions, notably Sections 11 and 87, in the Transport Act, 1962.To meet the needs of urban, regional and transport planning close contacts exist, or are introduced as necessary, between my Ministry, other Departments—especially the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and the Scottish Office—local planning authorities and British Railways.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has recently received from Scottish individuals and organisations concerning the future of the railways in particular and transport in general; and what has been the nature of his replies.

My right hon. Friend has received a number of communications on this subject, the majority being postcards printed in identical terms. He has replied on the same lines as the letters which I sent to the hon. Member on 6th February last.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what information he sought, in considering the application for his sanction of expenditure, regarding the cost of converting Lots Road Power station from coal to oil-firing equipment; whether he enquired whether the London Transport Executive had invited tenders for modem coal-firing equipment; and whether estimates of running costs of modern coal-firing and oil-firing equipment were examined before he sanctioned the conversion;(2) why he gave his approval to the conversion of Lots Road electricity power station from coal to oil fuel.

In May, 1962, my right hon. Friend approved in principle an investment proposal from the British Transport Commission for the modernisation of Lots Road power station. In conveying this approval, our officers asked to be kept informed of the further development of London Transport's plans, including those for the firing of the new boilers. The London Transport Executive, after taking the advice of consultants, informed us on 22nd October that the heavy balance of technical advantage lay in favour of oil firing at Lots Road and that the Executive had therefore decided to adopt this method. They considered, from their assessment of relative costs, that the balance of financial advantage also was likely to lie with oil firing.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the inadequate transport facilities now available, particularly in rural areas, he will give a general direction to the Railways Board that railway lines from which services have recently been withdrawn should be offered on lease to any private individual, firm or society prepared to run a regular daily diesel car service.

No. It is open to interested parties to negotiate with the Railways Board to acquire lines which have been closed.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction to the Railways Board to extend the use of light diesel trains in country districts so as to reduce the number of branch line closures.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that expenditure on roads, expressed in percentages of gross national product, is 2·2 in Germany and 1·2 in France; and whether, in view of the serious unemployment position and the need for improved road services for commercial and private purposes, he will increase the 0·8 per cent. of such expenditure at present prevailing in Great Britain.

We do not think that any particular percentage of the gross national product should be used as a criterion of what should be spent on roads in this or any other country. Many factors must be taken into account. The important thing is that our road programme is already large and is rapidly expanding.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will begin discussions with the local authorities and other interests about the line of the Lancashire-Yorkshire motorway, particularly where it passes through the urban areas of the county of Lancashire.

Yes. My right hon. Friend has asked the County Councils of Lancashire and the West Riding of Yorkshire which, as his agent authorities, have been making a preliminary survey for a line of route for this motorway, to undertake these discussions on his behalf.

asked the Minister of Transport what improvements are to be undertaken this year on the trunk road A.19 between Stockton and Thirsk.

Several small improvements, including maintenance work, totalling £80,000 have been approved for the current financial year. There will be further small improvements in 1963–64 but details are still being worked out with the North Riding County Council. In 1964–65, major improvements totalling £150,000 are planned for A.19 in Stockton-on-Tees and south of Trenholme in the North Riding.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has now reached a decision in relation to the request from the Darfield Urban District Council for the reinstallation of a "halt" sign at the junction of the B.6273 and A.635 roadways at Darfield.

No. As my right hon. Friend informed the hon. Member on 30th January, we are proposing to review the position at the end of March.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the number of miles of motorways in this country at the latest available date; and what additional length is scheduled to be built for the year 1973.

199 miles of motorway are now in use; subject to the satisfactory completion of statutory processes and the availability of funds, we hope to complete a further 800 miles by the early 1970s.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he now has for the Louth traffic plan, since both the county council and the local council have rejected the direct road proposal; and if he will make a statement.

In the light of the proposals for the future traffic arrangements in Louth recently sent to me by the Lindsey County Council, my right hon. Friend is prepared to abandon the proposal for the widening and realignment of trunk road A.16 in the town. He agrees with the council that an outer by-pass will be required. The next stage is for the council to propose its inclusion in the County Development Plan.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the dangers resulting from the movement of traffic and pedestrians from de main entrance to Messrs. Vickers Armstrong Limited, in Portland Road, Weymouth; and what steps he will take to reduce the dangers, particularly at the beginning and the end of the working day.

The responsibility for safety measures on this road rests with the local highway authority. It has made no representations to us about any special dangers at this site.

asked the Minister of Transport what trials of reflectorised material are being undertaken for edges of carriageways.

Experiments to determine the most satisfactory marking for the edge of carriageways include trials with reflectorised material on the A.23 at Gatwick, on the Oxton by-pass, and on the Stretford-Eccles motorway. It is proposed to undertake further trials on a length of the M.6 in Lancashire.

asked the Minister of Transport what has been the comparative accident rate on the A.5 between Ensdon House and Rodderfern Lane, Shropshire, before and after the widening operations carried out.

No accidents have been reported to the police during the two months since the widening was completed nor were any reported during the two months prior to the start of work. Six accidents occurred while work was in progress.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects the survey of the route for M.3 and the subsequent technical and statutory processes to be completed.

We expect to receive the report on the survey within the next three months and hope to be able to publish a draft Scheme early in 1964. Until this has been done and we have seen what objections are made we shall not be in a position to judge when the later processes might be completed.

asked the Minister of Transport what consideration he is giving to increasing expenditure on road development in Lancashire, in view of the benefit to be derived from making the area more likely to attract industrialists to settle permanently there, and so beneficially affect the employment rate.

Lancashire's share of the road programme must continue to be determined by national priorities. It is already a large share and with the expansion of the programme year by year it will continue to be substantial.To help employment in Lancashire, particularly on Merseyside, in the short term my right hon. Friend has recently authorised additional road works there to the value of almost £2 million over and above the normal road programme. This is on top of the additional schemes to the value of almost £1 million which he referred to in his reply to the hon. Member on 14th November.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that the total of grants for road schemes in county boroughs in Lancashire for the three years ending 1963–64 will amount to only £4 million, he will increase future grants to the level considered necessary by the South-East Lancashire and North-East Cheshire Technical Committee in its recently published report.

The total grant allocation for road schemes in the county boroughs in Lancashire for the three years referred to is in fact over £10 million. The future road programmes for the county boroughs in South-East Lancashire and on Merseyside will be reviewed in the course of the discussions we will be having with the two conurbation committees after we have received their recommendations.

asked the Minister of Transport what instructions are given to contractors carrying out maintenance work on motorways with regard to the placing of warning lights during the hours of darkness.

Contractors are required to comply with the traffic safety code for works on motorways. This requires that all warning signs shall be reflective, so that they can be clearly seen in vehicle headlights. The code does not call for the use of warning lights although some contractors use them to supplement the signs.

asked the Minister of Transport why, in view of the fact that adequate road lighting results in a reduction in the accident rate during the hours of darkness, his grant for the installation of lighting is limited to 50 per cent. on trunk roads and no grant is made towards the lighting of other roads.

The primary responsibility for street lighting rests with local lighting authorities. My right hon. Friend's powers to contribute towards the cost of street lighting are confined to trunk roads, where he is prepared to pay 50 per cent. of the cost of approved lighting systems if the lighting authorities agree to install and maintain them. Lighting authorities have represented that this is not enough, and we are now considering their representations.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the total grant made by him during each of the last three years and during the current financial year towards the lighting of roads.

Under agreements with local lighting authorities, I have contributed the following amounts towards the installation, maintenance and operation of approved lighting systems on trunk roads:

asked the Minister of Transport what lessons it is intended to apply on motorways after the demonstration made by Associated Electrical Industries—General Railway Signals on the application of motor-racing circuit systems to the motorways; and if he will install the system on motorways and invite representatives from all over the world to see it.

My technical officers are at present considering the relative merits, including the cost, of this system and of others at present under development, for the remotely controlled emergency warning signs, which are to be installed on the M.5 motorway.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) if he has considered the proposals for new bridges made in the report on road traffic congestion in Trafford Park, a copy of which has been sent to him, with special reference to improving the links between Trafford Park and the surrounding industrialised area with a great density of population; whether it is intended to construct a high-level bridge near Trafford Bridge and another which would serve Salford, Eccles and other parts; and what plans he has for the widening of the road and the bridge over the Bridgewater Canal at the Barton end of Trafford Park;(2) what action he intends to take to improve the traffic situation at Trafford Park, Manchester, where men and women working on export orders are subjected to considerable delays and loss of working hours owing to severe traffic congestion.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given today about roads in this area.

asked the Minister of Transport what recommendation he has received that an experiment with remotely controlled illuminated warning signs should be conducted on the M.1; and to what extent the expense of installation would be reduced by arranging for the cable-laying operations to coincide with General Post Office work on existing telephone cables.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to him and my hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Mr. Gresham Cooke) earlier today.

asked the Minister of Transport when he made the draft Order authorising the necessary alterations to side roads and footpaths affected by the Swanley By-pass; and when he intends to make the Order.

The draft Order was published on 16th January, 1962. Substantial objections to it by certain local authorities raised issues which were the subject of a planning inquiry on 14th January, 1963. These are being considered by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government, and I hope shortly to be able to announce my decision about the Order.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the proposal to construct a barrage across the River Clyde at Greenock and Ardmore; and whether his Department will assist in making the necessary technical assessment in conjunction with the river authorities concerned.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer my right hon. Friend gave on 29th January to a Question on this subject by the hon. Member for Dunbartonshire, East (Mr. Bence).

asked the Minister of Transport what reactions from the interested organisations he has now had to his new proposals for increasing the size of road vehicles.

As the proposals were only circulated on 31st January, and the organisations have been given until 31st March to submit their considered comments, it is too early to say what their reactions are.

asked the Minister of Transport when the Report of the inter-governmental committee, set up by the French and British Governments to consider a cross-Channel link, will be available to him; if he will publish the report or a précis of it soon after its submission to him; and whether, in view of the need to provide major improvements in cross-Channel communications, he will treat the matter with urgency.

I regret that I can add nothing at this stage to the Answers given to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Sir W. Teeling) on 23rd January and 6th February. The joint official study is being carried out as quickly as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the need for an early decision on the Channel tunnel so that British Railways shall not be left with a run-down fleet of cross-Channel vessels and underdeveloped port facilities, and be thus unable to cope with the increasing demands of international trade and tourism, whether he will now expedite the submission to him of the Departmental report about the Channel tunnel, with a view to reaching an early decision.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Costain) earlier today.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has now completed consideration of the question of whether the examining and issuing of certificates of fitness shall be required in respect of heavy commercial vehicles, and of whether such vehicles should be subjected to annual inspection by vehicle examiners of his Department; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply on 27th February to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Box).

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents involving one or more vehicles over 30 cwt. resulted in fatal injuries and serious injuries, respectively, in 1959, 1960, 1961 and 1962.

The number of accidents is not readily available. However, for years later than 1959 the numbers of goods vehicles involved in fatal accidents and in serious accidents were as follows:

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the wider use of mud-flaps on motor vehicles in the light of his undertaking to consider whether the present requirement can be improved.

Work is still proceeding on this matter.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he is taking, on behalf of the British shipping industry, in relation to the flag discrimination presently being practised by Uruguay.

Representations have been made to the Uruguayan Government about the harmful effects of their flag discrimination. We are considering with the General Council of British Shipping what further steps can be taken, and we are consulting with the European maritime countries and the United States.

asked the Minister of Labour how many people from Oswaldtwistle and Church are having to travel to Accrington to register at the employment exchange.

On 14th February, 1963, 216 people from Oswaldtwistle and 88 from Church were registered at the Accrington Employment Exchange.

asked the Minister of Labour what consideration he has given to a resolution adopted by Accrington Employment Committee calling for a sub-office to be opened to deal with growing unemployment insurance claims in Oswaldtwistle; and what reply he has sent.

I have considered the resolution and a reply has been sent to the Accrington Local Employment Committee. I do not feel justified in opening a sub-office at Oswaldtwistle in present circumstances and the reply is to this effect.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the number of youths under 21 years of age in Cardiff who have been registered as unemployed for a period of three months or longer.

On 14th January, the latest date for which figures are available, 49 youths and 5 girls under the age of 20 had been registered for 13 weeks or more. Separate statistics are not collected for those aged 20.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the relative labour costs in Fife, the Midlands, London, and the South-East, respectively, in respect of engineering, chemicals, cotton and wool textiles, clothing, building and construction, food industry, and general manufacturing, respectively.

As the reply consists of a table of figures I will with permission circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The information cannot be supplied precisely in the form asked for. The table relates to hourly earnings of workers and not to labour costs and figures cannot be provided for Fife. Instead I have included figures for Scotland.Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Labour if the increased unemployment in the Leyton employment exchange area is characteristic of all London and Greater London localities; what are the main causes of such unemployment other than the estimated 50 per cent. due to severe weather conditions; and if he is satisfied that persons unemployed owing to the permanent decline in their customary trade or who are semi-skilled are fully aware of facilities for retraining.

The increase in unemployment in the Leyton area over the past twelve months has been somewhat higher than the increase in the Greater London area. Apart from construction the main increase has been in the furniture and upholstery industry. The local officers of my Department are responsible for bringing the training facilities to the notice of suitable unemployed persons and I am satisfied that this is done.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the numbers unemployed at the employment exchanges in Fife in the mining and quarrying. chemicals and allied trades, clothing, building and contracting, insurance, banking and finance, transport and communications, and the metal manufactures groups, respectively, in June, 1957, June, 1961, June, 1962, and at the latest date for which figures are available.

The following table gives the information required:

asked the Minister of Labour what has been the increase in unemployment in the county of Fife between June, 1957 and June, 1962; what is this figure expressed as a percentage; and what are the comparable figures at the latest convenient date.

Between June, 1957 and June, 1962, the number registered as unemployed increased by 2,576 or 132·3 per cent. From June, 1962 to February, 1963 the increase was 4,205 or 93·0 per cent.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were regis-

asked the Minister of Labour what were the percentages of unemployed persons in each of the

asked the Minister of Labour what is his estimate of the proportion of current unemployment caused in the North-East by the weather and the season, respectively.

I cannot make any precise estimate, but it is clear that the effects of the recent severe weather have aggravated the increase in unemployment which normally occurs during the winter months. More than one-third of all those registered as unemployed in the North-East on 11th February were last employed in construction or other industries liable to be affected by the weather. These industries also

As the reply consists of a table of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.south-western counties in each of the last four monthly counts.

Following is the information required:accounted for about two-thirds of the increase in unemployment between December, 1962 and February, 1963.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many British missionaries have been expelled from the Sudan in the last two years; and what action he has taken to protest about these expulsions.

As the House was informed on 11th February, seven British missionaries have bad their residence permits withdrawn and have therefore had to leave the Sudan in the last two years. No protest has been made.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he is aware that more than 60 English language publications owned, controlled or influenced by the Russian or Chinese Communist Governments, are regularly and freely available in this country; and what success has attended his efforts to make British publications in Russian and Chinese freely available in Russia and China.

Yes. As a result of an agreement reached with the Soviet Government in January, 1961, Her Majesty's Government distribute in the Soviet Union an illustrated quarterly magazine Anglia with a circulation of 50,000 copies. It is non-political. Its aim is to illustrate Britain and the British way of life. No approach has been made to the Chinese Government for similar facilities.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will seek to have placed on the agenda of the next meeting of the European Free Trade Association the possibility of inviting Spain to join it.

The Spanish Government has not applied for membership of the European Free Trade Association. In the absence of such an approach, it would not be appropriate for this matter to be raised in the European Free Trade Association Council.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a further statement on the recent talks with the Danish Government about fishing-limits around the Faroes Islands, and on the result of the consideration given by the Governments concerned to the outcome of the talks.

I have nothing to add at this stage, to the reply which I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on 25th February.

asked the Minister of Defence what is the duration of the visit of the mission of good will to Latin America led by the Chief of the Defence Staff; what is the composition of his party; and what is the estimated cost to the Exchequer.

The duration of the visit is just over three weeks. The party is composed of the appropriate staff officers and Service staff, together with a small party to cover the publicity side of the visit. The estimated cost of the visit is in the region of £15,000, of which £13,700 is the Air Ministry estimate for 61 flying hours of a Transport Command Comet.

asked the Minister of Defence in how many cases the Service Departments have been informed that the advisory committee on Service men's candidatures for Parliament is satisfied of the bona fides of applicants interviewed so far; and whether these men are being released forthwith.

One, who has been released.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty why H.M.S. "Blake" is to go into reserve.

As my noble Friend said in another place on Monday, H.M.S. "Blake" is going into reserve because there are temporary manpower shortages in various categories. The run-down in Malta has gone much more slowly than was anticipated; H.M.S. "Albion" is in commission in addition to the planned Fleet but on the same number of men as for the planned Fleet; some of the new construction ships have come forward more quickly than we had expected; and we have temporary shortages in the electrical branch.A number of measures are in hand to overcome the shortages, but they will take some time to be effective. It is intended that H.M.S. "Blake's" period in reserve shall be temporary.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what steps he is taking to ensure that sufficient personnel are available to man ships which, after extensive refits, are having to be placed in reserve.

I assume that the hon. Member has H.M.S. "Blake" in mind.The ship would have had her normal refit even if originally it had been planned to reduce her to reserve. This is normal practice to ensure that ships in reserve can be brought forward swiftly and effectively when required. H.M.S. "Blake" is going into reserve because there are temporary manpower shortages in various categories particularly in the electrical skills. A number of measures have already been put in hand.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty why he authorised the refitting of H.M.S. "Blake" when insufficient personnel were available to man the ship on completion of the refit.

As stated in my reply to the hon. Member's previous Question, the ship would have had her normal refit even if she had originally been planned to go into reserve. The temporary manpower shortages which now prevent her return to operational service, as had been intended, have been occasioned by a slower run-down in Malta than had been expected; some of the new construction ships have come forward more quickly than we had expected; and commissioning of H.M.S. "Albion" in addition to the planned Fleet but on the same numbers as for the planned Fleet. As my noble Friend has already stated it is intended that H.M.S. "Blake"'s period in reserve shall be temporary.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty to which shipyards the building of the Polaris submarines will be allocated.

I hope to be able to make a statement shortly.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what steps he is taking to allocate contracts for the construction of new frigates to dockyards other than Royal Dockyards in order that the skilled staff of privately-owned dockyards may keep abreast of the latest techniques in relation to warships.

Apart from the few warships which are built in the Royal Dockyards all our frigate new construction is placed with commercial shipbuilders as a result of competitive tendering. This is the fairest and most satisfactory way of placing the contracts available and ensures that each of the warship builders is given the opportunity to seek orders.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what progress has been made in the disposal of surplus Admiralty land at Pembroke Dockyard.

Subject to contract and to the settlement of some minor matters of detail, agreement has been reached for the sale of all the surplus land at Pembroke Dockyard to City Wall Properties Limited. It is understood that the firm intend to develop the land for light industrial use.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the concern felt by the 300 people employed at Barlow Ordnance Depot on account of the uncertainty of its future, and its possible removal to Catterick; and if he will make a statement on his plans for the depot's future.

As announced to the staff in September, 1962, most of the functions of the Ordnance Sub-Depot at Barlow will eventually be transferred to a new depot which is to be built at Catterick and which should be completed by 1966. This will enable us to concentrate in one place the tasks now being carried out in several depots, and will lead to increased efficiency and economy.I expect up to 300 employees to become redundant at Barlow in due course. Some of these will be found employment in my Department at Catterick and elsewhere, and every effort will be made, in consultation with the Ministry of Labour, to find other work for such temporary staff as we cannot absorb ourselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make 100 per cent. grants under the Local Employment Act, 1960, to local authorities who initiate schemes for the improvement of derelict land or of basic services in response to the appeal made by Her Majesty's Government that such schemes costing up to £15,000 each should be introduced as a means of alleviating unemployment.

In consultation with my right hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minister of Housing and Local Government, I am reviewing the rate of grant for clearance of derelict sites. I have no reason to think that the rates of grant for the improvement of basic services are inadequate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applicants for homes in the county of Sutherland are still on the council's housing lists; and how many are living in condemned houses or in houses which are not weatherproof or which are otherwise unsuitable for human habitation.

I understand from Sutherland County Council that there are 296 applicants on their housing waiting list, but that not all are accepted as having needs which should be met by subsidised housing. Excluding croft houses, there are some 170 unfit houses in occupation, about half of which cannot be made fit at reasonable cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the 28 two-roomed houses, tenders for which were approved on 21st September, 1962, have been erected in the county of Sutherland; what is their precise location; and when they will be ready for occupation.

Of the 22 two-apartment houses for which tenders were approved on 21st September, 1962, six are at Bonar Bridge, 12 at Golspie, two at Helmsdale and two at Lochinver. Tenders for four two-apartment houses at Dornoch were approved on 16th October, 1962. My information is that all these houses are under construction, and County officials estimate that they should be completed between July and October of this year. A site for two more houses at Helmsdale has only recently been acquired.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he received representations from Fife County Council requesting authority for an immediate start on the Kelty-Cowdenbeath by-pass, in view of the present unemployment problem in the county, and the necessity of improving the road system from the Forth Road Bridge to Perth and the north; and what was the nature of his reply.

Fife County Council wrote to me on 25th February. The council, as my agents, have just completed their investigation of the line for this by-pass. Before I can authorise the scheme, which is included in the present five-year programme, an order establishing the line must be made, after which I shall invite the council to prepare the plans and contract documents.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the growing unemployment problem in Fife, he will immediately authorise the Kelty-Cowdenbeath by-pass as a major road improvement scheme.

Fife County Council, as my agents, have just completed their investigation of the line for this by-pass. Before I can authorise the scheme, which is included in the present five-year programme, an order establishing the line must be made, after which I shall invite the council to prepare the plans and contract documents.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what action he intends to take to implement the recommendations of the report on bronchitis of the sub-committee of the Scottish Standing Medical Advisory Committee; and if he will make a statement;(2) whether he will consult the Scottish teaching hospitals to secure their cooperation in the quick and effective adoption of the recommendations of the report on bronchitis of the sub-committee of the Scottish Standing Medical Advisory Committee.

I have commended the report to the attention of hospital authorities, executive councils and local authorities, and have arranged for wide publicity to be given to its recommendations. I have stressed that the greatest contribution to reducing the incidence of bronchitis will come from a reduction in cigarette smoking and the promotion of clean air. It is for regional hospital boards to consider with the teaching hospital authorities how to implement the more detailed recommendations that concern these hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of National Health Service expenditure on the purchase of drugs and appliances was spent on drugs and appliances manufactured in Scotland in each of the last three years.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of National Health Service expenditure on the purchase of X-ray and other electro-medical equipment in each of the last three years was spent on equipment manufactured in Scotland.

The expenditure incurred by Scottish hospitals on the purchase of X-ray and other electro-medical equipment manufactured in Scotland was, in 1959–60, 4 per cent. and, in 1960–61, 9 per cent. of their total expenditure on such equipment. Comparable figures are not available for 1961–62.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of National Health Service expenditure on the purchase of ambulances and ambulance equipment in each of the last three years was spent on vehicles and equipment from Scotland.

In 1959–60 and 1960–61 only a very small proportion of the total expenditure on ambulances and equipment incurred by the Scottish Ambulance Service was spent on vehicles and equipment manufactured in Scotland. In 1961–62 the proportion was over 30 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what amenity standards are laid down for premises used for the conduct for civil marriages; and what steps are taken to ensure that these are maintained.

Standards of amenities in these premises are a matter for the local authority providing them except where the registrar carries out his duties in his own premises.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what capital schemes likely to employ more labour have now been submitted for his approval by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board; and whether he will authorise these schemes.

The North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board have submitted the Nevis and Laidon schemes: they are now under discussion with the Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is yet in a position to state when the Scottish Further Education Building Programme will begin its operations in the city of Aberdeen on the new Commercial College, plans for which were announced on 6th June, 1962; and when he expects the building to be completed.

The education authority now expects building to start in the autumn and to be completed, as originally planned, in time for the college to be brought into use at the beginning of session 1965–66.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many estates in Caithness and Sutherland are owned and administered by him or the Crown; where they are located; what are their respective acreages and the number of tenants; and to what use they are put.

In Caithness and Sutherland there are 15 land settlement estates and ten forestry estates owned by the Secretary of State and three agricultural estates owned by the Crown Estate Commissioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether a decision has yet been reached on the payment of hill sheep subsidy in the current year.

I shall lay before the House shortly a Statutory Instrument authorising the payment of hill sheep subsidy at the rate of 10s. per breeding ewe which will be calculated on the number of eligible sheep in the flock at 4th December, 1962. My right hon. Friend, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, is taking parallel action for England and Wales and for Northern Ireland in which countries 10s. will be the standard rate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the need to open up that part of Inverness to the Highland tourist industry, he will authorise at an early date the construction of the Kinlochmordart new road.

Yes. I am aware of the importance of this new road to the local people and to the tourist industry and 1 am glad to inform my hon. Friend that I have now offered to Inverness County Council a grant of 75 per cent. of the estimated cost of £841,500. I hope that this will enable work to start at the beginning of next month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why cars belonging to members of the National Economic Development Council were allowed by the Metropolitan Police to park outside No. 1 Bridge Street, during a council meeting held on Monday 18th February, 1963, when traffic conditions were not quiet, whilst at the same time Members of Parliament, their secretaries and others engaged on parliamentary work were compelled to move their cars from this site.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that no special permission was given for cars to park outside the building in which the National Economic Development Council was meeting on 18th February. Some cars called towards the end of the meeting and waited to pick up passengers, but left before police action became necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Service men have now been interviewed by the Advisory Committee on Service men's candidatures for Parliament; in how many cases the Committee has advised that the candidatures are bona fide; in the light of this advice, what action has been taken by the Service Departments concerned; if he will state the name, rank, unit and trade of each applicant of whose bona fides the committee is satisfied; and if he will release for publication, or place in the Library of the House for the information of honourable Members, the full transcript of the interviews.

The Advisory Committee on Service Candidates has so far interviewed 23 applicants. Of these, the Committee decided that one application—that of Sergeant M. J. Ellingham, a control equipment mechanic in R.E.M.E.—was bona fide. I understand that he was discharged yesterday. The Committee meet in private, and applicants are assured that anything they say will be regarded as strictly confidential to the Committee; it would be inconsistent with this to publish or place in the Library particulars of the proceedings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the names of any further persons who have been, or are to be, added to the Advisory Committee on Servicemen's candidatures for Parliament; on how many occasions this Committee has so far met; and what is the average time devoted to each interview with an applicant and the subsequent discussion of his bona fides.

I am glad to say that further invitations to serve on the Advisory Committee have been accepted by Viscount Tenby and Lord Taylor, both of them former Members of this House. This brings the total membership to eight. On present showing I do not think it will be necessary to make further appointments.The Committee has held five sessions. The individual cases, and the amount of consideration they call for, vary so much that an average would be misleading. I am informed that the time devoted to cases has ranged from a minimum of 15 minutes to a maximum of 50 minutes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will consider the payment of a small reward for the proved shooting of wood pigeons.

No. We already pay half the cost of cartridges supplied by rabbit clearance societies. There is now no limit on the amount of grant which the societies can earn in this way.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent, in connection with the official experiments on control of wood pigeons by narcotics, the effects of cumulative doses of alphachloralose on human beings, animals and birds of prey which may happen to consume other birds that have assimilated this chemical, have been considered; and whether he will give the findings on this matter.

The advisory committee on poisonous substances used in agriculture and food storage agreed in November last to the use of alphachloralose in the official experiments for a period of two years. As alphachloralose is a readily metabolised and excreted chemical, not accumulated in the animal body, the Committee accepted that there would be no danger to human life from these experiments. They are being carefully supervised, so that it is unlikely that stupefied birds would be picked up by predatory birds or mammals.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many licences for the use of poison bait have been granted in each of the past three years.

Since 1960 only one licence for the use of poisoned baits has been issued under Section 10 of the Protection of Birds Act, 1954, and this was in 1961 to one of our scientific staff engaged in experimental laboratory work. In the same period we granted 38 licences to use stupefying bait.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of the use of poison bait were reported in each of the past three years; and how many prosecutions followed.

If my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to cases involving the illegal use of poisoned bait I would refer him to the reply I have given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Dorset, North (Sir Richard Glyn).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many prosecutions there have been against persons using poison bait without a licence.

I have no knowledge of any such prosecutions, but I understand that a summons, issued in 1960, for an alleged use of stupefying bait was subsequently withdrawn.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why he is maintaining part of the V-bomber force on continuous patrol in view of the fact that V-bombers do not carry hydrogen bombs in round-the-clock patrols.

No continuous airborne patrol is undertaken by the V-bomber force.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he proposes to load hydrogen bombs into continuously airborne V-bombers by temporarily returning the planes to a base for loading.

No.

asked the Minister of Education what steps are being taken to ascertain the number of school places which will be necessary to meet the requirements of families which are being transferred into the Don Valley as a consequence of the National Coal Board scheme for the redeployment of labour; what extensions to existing schools are planned to meet this need; what additional new schools will be required; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the authority is still considering what new schools and extensions to existing schools will be needed in the light of decisions being taken about the location of new housing. I shall consider carefully any proposals put to me to provide for this increase in population.

asked the Minister of Education what is the cost of training a woman teacher; and what is the average length of service after training given by her up to the age of 25 years and between 25 and 30 years, respectively.

A three-year course for a woman student at a teachers' training college at present costs about £2,000.On the evidence of the wastage figures for 1960–1, the last year for which a detailed analysis is available, the average length of service to be expected from a two-year trained non-graduate woman teacher entering a school at the age of 21 would be 3·2 years by the age of 25, with a further 1·8 years between the ages of 25 and 30.From next September, the great majority of new women teachers will be aged 22, having trained for three years. Thus, while at present it is reckoned that 57 out of each 100 women will still be teaching after four years' service and 21 after nine years, the corresponding figures for later in the decade show a reduction to 47 after four years' service and 19 after nine years.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is the number of non-industrial and industrial employees in his Department, respectively; and what will be the increase resulting from the transfer of responsibility to him for building and maintenance work for the Services at home and overseas.

Yesterday in answer to a supplementary Question I said that the number of staff in my Ministry will rise from 23,300 to 61,000 or thereabouts. I should have said rise by 61,000, i.e., to a total of approximately 84,300. The details of these changes are approximately as follows:

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephones are still outstanding; and how many have been outstanding for six months or more.

At the beginning of the year a total of 44,793 applications were outstanding. In addition, 103,970 were under inquiry or in course of being met.I am sorry that records of the number outstanding for six months or more are not kept and I doubt whether this information would really be helpful.

asked the Postmaster-General how many telephone exchanges cannot accept a new customer because of a lack of exchange equipment.

The connection of new customers is restricted by shortage of exchange equipment at only 404 exchanges out of a total of 6,331.