asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement on the proposed rebuilding of Knightsbridge Barracks; and how soon he expects this work to be put in hand.

Knightsbridge Barracks is to be demolished and replaced by a new barracks, with some married quarters, for the Household Cavalry. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works will be responsible for this redevelopment. Although considerable preliminary work has already been done, this is a complex and important project, requiring full discussion with the planning authorities, and rebuilding cannot start before 1965.

Has my right hon. Friend seriously considered the possibility of resiting these barracks on the site now occupied by the old Magazine in Hyde Park? Has he borne in mind the immense value of the present site of the barracks and that it might be more helpful to the Exchequer, apart from anybody else, if the present site were sold and new barracks erected at a place not quite so expensive?

I have carefully considered these and other alternative projects and sites, but I am satisfied that this is the best and right site for this project. At all events, the Knightsbridge site is part of the Royal Parks and its sale for purposes of other development would be precluded by Statute.

asked the Secretary of State for War how much retired pay is received by a major who retired on the 1945 code and is now 59 years of age, and by a major who retired yesterday, assuming that both completed maximum service; and how much terminal grant each officer would have received on retirement.

£475 and £930 per year; none and £2,790.

Is it not apparent from that Answer and from other Answers to similar Questions that the older retired members of the Armed Services of all ranks and their widows are getting a very bad deal compared with those who retire today? Will my hon. Friend take note of the very strong feeling about this matter on both sides of the House, and will he do something about it?

I will certainly take note of what my hon. Friend has said, but I should remind him and the House of two points. When the first major in his example reaches the age of 60, he will get the benefit of pension increases bringing his retired pay to £689 a year. Having retired, as he must have done, at 47 or sooner, such a man could reasonably be expected to supplement his retired pay by having some form of paid employment. That is one of the reasons why 60 has been made the effective age for pensions increases.

Does that not equally apply to the man who retires today? Is not this grossly unjust? Are we not at some time to adopt the principle of the same pension for the same service and not penalise these men because the Government have depreciated the currency?

The hon. and learned Member is always lecturing me about honest money. I do not believe that his own side's record stands up too well in this connection. If he goes on doing so, some rather firmer support for an incomes policy from his side of the House would be welcome.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now discontinue the use of troops for the Bank of England picquet.

asked the Secretary of State for War what action he will now take to relieve the Guards and other regiments of duties such as the Bank of England picquet and sentry-go at Royal Palaces during periods when members of the Royal Family are not in residence.

I am satisfied that the security requirement at the Bank of England can best be met by a military guard.

Dealing with the Bank of England picquet only, can my right hon. Friend say, if this is the best method of defending the Bank of England, why it has not been extended to the Royal Mint, for example, where it would also, if this is, be the most effective way of defending such a building, which I very much doubt? Can he say how much is being subscribed by the Bank of England? Would he not agree that this is not the type of service for which the soldiers were either recruited or trained?

Nonsense.

Finally, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the amount which this picquet costs represents almost exactly the amount which the Government felt unable to provide for kidney research?

The Bank of England is in a somewhat different position from other organisations which my hon. Friend might have in mind. There has always been a military guard at the Bank of England. To take away the military guard at this stage would be wrong. I have had a considerable discussion both with the G.O.C., London District, and the Governor of the Bank of England, and I can answer my hon. Friend by saying that the payment which is now to be paid to my Vote will completely cover the cost of the guard.

Is the right hon. Gentleman really being serious about this? It is difficult to believe. Does he realise that the Bank picquet involves 114,000 man-hours a year wasted on a meaningless bit of ceremonial? Does it really matter whether the Bank pays a subvention or not? Has not the time come to dispense with these meaningless duties and burdens which are imposed on highly trained manpower which is supposed to be part of our strategic reserve?

As is frequently the case, the hon. Member is not entirely accurate. I do not accept his figures about the man-hours per year. Secondly, I have just told the House that there has been a reappraisal of the duties, and I am absolutely satisfied that the duties of the guard as a tactical guard are right and proper for a military organisation. London District soldiers have always combined their training as some of the best soldiers in the world with a lot of ceremonial and other public duties. The ceremonial side of this picquet has been cut out altogether. It is now a tactical guard and, as I say, I do not believe that it should be done by any other method.

Arising from the Secretary of State's original Answer, in which he said that he was satisfied that this was the best security arrangement for the Bank of England, would he agree that this is well up to the Government's genera} standards of security arrangements?

I certainly do. I should like to see the right hon. Gentleman try to break into the Bank of England and see what happens. I give him good warning that, although he has been a Secretary of State himself and at that time never suggested moving the Bank of England guard, he will get very short shrift if he tries to get in.

Is it not obvious that the reason the right hon. Gentleman retains a military picquet is his concern for a nationalised concern?

I agree that a private undertaking might be able to look after itself. However, I am convinced that this is the right thing to do and that it is in the national interest.

asked the Secretary of State for War if, in view of the special factors in the case, he will now recommend the early release of Private Walter Drinkwater, of Salford, from Wormwood Scrubs, where he is serving a three years' sentence by court-martial after an incident at Hilden Camp, Germany.

No, Sir.

In the light of the Pirbright affair, how can the Minister justify this savage sentence on a soldier with a first-class record for what was clearly an unpremeditated clash with a drunken sergeant in the N.A.F.F.I.? Is the Minister aware that Drinkwater's counsel, Brigadier Morrison, said that this was the worst case of man-management that he had seen in 32 years' Army service? Will the Minister use his power to intervene?

I am unable to accept what the hon. Gentleman said, including his comparison with the Pirbright affair, which involved a different set of circumstances. The hon. Gentleman and my right hon. Friend have exchanged several letters about this, and I assure him that all the points he has raised, including some that he raised this afternoon, have been taken into account either by the court or at subsequent reviews and reconsideration of the finding and sentence.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement on the proposed bye-laws for the Okehampton Range in the Dartmoor National Park.

I have nothing to add to the answer my right hon. Friend gave my hon. Friend the Member for Tavistock (Sir H. Studholme) on 8th April.

May I ask the Minister whether these proposed byelaws give the Army the power of arrest of ordinary citizens walking through a National Park for the first time, and are the ancient rights of hundreds of venville commoners to be overridden without their consent? Will the hon. Gentleman ask his right hon. Friend to arrange for a public inquiry to take place before he reaches any decision?

In reply to the last part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, I do not think that there is any need for a public inquiry. We shall answer all the objections that we have received. With regard to the power of arrest, there is such a power, but it will be used only against persistent trespassers. The idea of this power is to safeguard members of the public who might stray into places where dangerous firing is going on.

Does not the fact that these byelaws are to be issued show that the area is now really too restricted for modern Army training, and would not it therefore be wise to accede to the request that has been pressed on my hon. Friend for an inquiry into the matter?

I welcome the opportunity of clearing this up. The area that we propose to use for training and firing is no greater than it has been in the past, notwithstanding the new proposals for byelaws. The byelaws will cover a wider area, but this is to improve arrangements for public safety. It does not involve the wider use of Dartmoor by the Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will institute a control system at Larkhill which will enable the Army to ascertain in future what happens to shells which miss the target area.

To prevent shells landing outside the target area we already take stringent precautions in the loading and laying of the guns. There have recently been two revisions of the standing orders for the range, and I hope that the new orders, which are most comprehensive, will prevent further accidents.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I am not complaining of his dropping a shell on a neighbouring town? Accidents can happen in the best regulated circles. What I am complaining of is the right hon. Gentleman's incapacity to discover where the shell came from. That seems to argue indifferent range control.

I would agree with the hon. and learned Gentleman if he were not learned. If he has read the case—and I shall show it to him if he has not—he will know that there was a conflict of evidence and, although the Army thought it knew where the shell came from, the man who watched the shell land gave evidence which was wholly in conflict and we had to believe his evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many additional men have to be mobilised to bring the British Army of the Rhine up to war establishment; how long this would take; and what training these men undergo.

It would not be in the public interest to disclose the mobilisation strength of the British Army of the Rhine, but I can say that the necessary reinforcement will take place within days. All the reinforcements will be trained men.

Without going into details, where there is a legitimate security interest in keeping them secret, is it not the case that to be fully effective operationally B.A.O.R. would have to call up almost as many men as are already serving in Germany, that most of them would have had no training, and that it would take more than a week to get them there? Is this really a satisfactory situation for an Army whose main function is to be able to react immediately to a local thrust by an enemy without recourse to nuclear weapons?

I told the hon. Gentleman that I was not prepared to go into facts and details of how many days and hours it may take, or how many people were required, and I am sure that he will respect this, but our treaty obligations are to maintain in Germany an Army of 55,000 and there has been no suggestion that our plans for reinforcement up to war strength are unsatisfactory, and I maintain that they are satisfactory.

Have not we certain obligations to our own commanders and men serving in Germany? Is it fair on these men to expect them to be ready to engage in operations when they know that they are short of desperately needed specialist and other personnel whom it will take more than a week to get there and who will not be trained when they arrive?

I cannot accept that they will take more than a week to get there. The point is that when the B.A.O.R. is at a strength of 55,000, that is the full peace-time strength. The number of people who would go from this country as reinforcements would be only one-quarter of the people sent there and would in fact initially go to teeth arm units and take their places in formations which would be comprised mainly of Regulars.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement on the progress of the Chieftain tank.

The trials my right hon. Friend referred to in the debate on Army Estimates on 14th March have been completed and the results are at present being evaluated. Once this has been done, my right hon. Friend hopes that the way will be clear for production to begin.

Has not the time come to accelerate the development of this tank? Does not the Parliamentary Secretary realise that the statements made each year by his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State are brilliant exercises in padding? We were told in March of last year that this tank was in the final stage of its proving and use trials. We were then told, in a memorandum published this year, that they would take place within a few weeks. When will this tank be available to the units that need it?

I do not accept what the hon. Gentleman has said. With a complex piece of equipment such as this, it would be a mistake to be in a bad hurry. There are bound to be teething difficulties and snags, and time spent now in clearing them up will certainly make production easier, and avoid difficulties later on.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement on recruiting to the Regular Army and to the Ever-readies.

I dealt very extensively with recruiting to both the Regular Army and the Territorial Army Emergency Reserve in my speech in the Army Estimates debate on 14th March, and I have nothing to add to what I said then.

Can we be told what the present target of the Minister is for the Ever-readies? He had wide authority from this House for a ceiling of 15,000 men. Then we were told, in his last speech, that he would not have to go anywhere near that target. What does he want now?

The need for the Ever-readies will vary from year to year. I am not prepared to lay down a ceiling, because it is difficult to say what it should be. At present the strength is just over 4,500. My whole organisation is geared to try to recruit as many more Ever-readies as possible. When we get near to what we regard as a practical ceiling for the time being, I shall reduce recruiting. I am hoping that the exercise now going on in the Far East may bring some realism into the requirement for the Ever-readies, and even stimulate their recruiting.

asked the Secretary of State for War when Mr. J. W. Sayer of 39 Gordon Road, Beckenham, Kent, who was recommended for the Meritorious Service Medal during World War I and received it in 1952, may expect to receive the gratuity attached to this medal.

Mr. Sayer is on the roll of Meritorious Service Medal annuitants, and he will receive the £10 annuity in his turn. We are at the moment making awards to men born in 1885, and I would therefore expect Mr. Sayer to receive his in about four years' time.

Cannot my hon. Friend be a little more generous in this matter? Surely it should now be possible to pay this £10 gratuity to all people who were recommended for this medal in the First World War—forty years ago.

There is some misunderstanding here. The medal is normally awarded to N.C.O.s in recognition of long and meritorious service, and anyone who was recommended for an annuity on these grounds before the end of the First World War would be receiving it by now. According to my information, Mr. Sayer was not recommended for the Meritorious Service Medal until 1937; it was the Military Medal and Bar which he received in the First World War.

Is not this a case for a good rather than a bad heart?

The present policy was devised in 1950 by the hon. and learned Member's Government, and it has stood up fairly well since.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will take steps to expedite the procedure of appeals to the Courts-Martial Appeals Court.

asked the Secretary of State for War what compensation he will pay to the officer who completed his sentence by court martial nine months before his innocence was recently established on appeal; and, arising from this case, what action he will now take to improve court martial procedures.

My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor and I have already instituted together a searching inquiry into every aspect of the case of Major Cory, including the procedure governing appeals to the Courts-Martial Appeal Court, which at present depends partly on statute and partly on rules of court.

Was it not a shocking travesty of justice that it took seventeen months before Major Cory's case came to appeal, when he was exonerated? Up to that time he had served eight months in gaol and had been out of work for a long time. Is the Minister aware that, similarly, it took eight months before the requests of my constituent, Private Drinkwater, were refused by the Courts-Martial Appeal Court, during which time he had been in Wormwood Scrubs? Can the Minister ensure that soldiers, like civilians, will have the right to bail pending appeal?

I could not institute that without fresh legislation. If the hon. Member looks up the debates which took place in this House on the Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act, he will find that it was decided that before asking for leave to appeal to the appeal court an objection should be filed with the Secretary of State for War. It was recognised when the Bill was going through the House that it would be possible under the procedure for the presentation of objection to take place at such a late date that the appeal might not be determined before the appellant had served his sentence. I cannot hold out any hope of bail without fresh legislation. We try to do everything within our power to expedite this procedure.

In regard to the first issue raised in connection with this unfortunate case, will the Secretary of State give an undertaking, here and now, that the most substantial recompense, in addition to the restoration of pay and allowances, will be made to this unfortunate victim of what has obviously been a miscarriage of justice? Will he also bear in mind that, in order to avoid the possibility of similar tragedies occurring in future, the House would be quite willing to give him whatever legislative powers are necessary?

I am not sure that I wholly agree that the House would be prepared to grant any powers to avoid this, because it was only in 1956 that the House exhaustively debated the matter and it then expressly denied the granting of these powers. But we shall have a searching examination of the matter. As for the first part of the supplementary question, I cannot give an absolute undertaking at this stage. I have said that I will look into the question of compensation. If the hon. Member will read column 1619 of the OFFICIAL REPORT for 29th March, 1954—which deals with a similar case—he will appreciate why it is impossible for me to give a categoric undertaking at this stage.

It may be the opinion of the House that what has come out of the question of the appeal of this officer is the fact that the court martial was conducted over a long period and in a very unsatisfactory manner. What we would like in future is for my right hon. Friend or some member of the Army Council to be able to call for papers in cases where it is thought that a court martial is not being properly conducted, or has taken too long, as in this case.

I sympathise with my horn, and gallant Friend and other hon. Members in their feelings about this matter. I hope that the House will not press me too far at this stage, because these are just the sorts of things in respect of which my noble and learned Friend and I have called for a thorough and exhaustive examination. The Army Council calls for papers, and we rely on the Judge Advocate General and his advice when we are looking into these cases. In this case there were about 1,400 pages of typescript in the appeal that came to the Army Council.

Will the right hon. Gentleman accept from me that his statement that there will be a full inquiry into this matter, and that he will make a statement to the House about this astonishing case, as described by the court of appeal, will be regarded as very satisfactory. In addition, however, will he place the transcript of this trial in the Library of the House? This case lasted for 43 days and the accused was in the witness box for more than a week. There are many instances to show that this was a very unsatisfactory trial. Will the right hon. Gentleman have a full inquiry into the matter, and will he also state the reason why the whole of the evidence was taken down in longhand when shorthand writers were available?

I once more give an undertaking that a really exhaustive inquiry will be made into this matter. As for putting a typescript in the Library, I hope that the hon. Member will allow me to wait until we have completed the inquiry, because the report may take the form of some kind of paper. It has not yet been decided whether it will be for my noble and learned Friend or for me to deal with the matter, but we want to get going with the inquiry. It will take some time. Perhaps we can consider this matter afterwards.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement on the recent absence of a number of Coldstream Guards from Chelsea Barracks.

Some 400 men of the 2nd Battalion, the Coldstream Guards were given leave at Easter. At 8 a.m. on Easter Tuesday the roll call showed that 26 men were missing. During the course of the day most of these men returned from leave or else reported themselves sick at home, and by the evening only 10 were actually absent without leave. On Friday of last week only 5 men were absent, of whom 3 were missing before Easter. Those men who returned late without good reason have been dealt with by their commanding officer.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether this is normal or abnormal at Easter compared with previous years? Would he not agree that there is increasing evidence that soldiers—in my view rightly—are objecting more and more strongly to the inordinate amount of "bull" insisted on by commanding officers? Will he set up an all-party committee from this House to go round asking private soldiers what they think about this—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—hon. Members are not willing because they know there will be no result from commanding officers—and ask the commanding officers to use a bit more common sense instead of asking the men to do these quite stupid things?

Order. I must once again remind hon. Members of the un-desirability of long supplementary questions.

And, Mr. Speaker, of the undesirability of wild supplementary questions. If I may answer the first part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, the numbers involved in this case were not exceptional. They amounted to 2 per cent. of the whole battalion being absent after a block issue of leave. With regard to some other accusations made by the hon. Gentleman—

Compared with other Easters?

The House will forgive me, I have not the details of other Easters. But block leave given over a holiday period of this sort is what matters, and I hope that Easter itself had nothing to do with this.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the infant mortality rate in Scotland is higher than in many other Western European countries, including England and Wales and the Netherlands; and whether he will conduct investigations into this state of affairs.

The Scottish rate is higher than in some Western European countries. It is highest in the industrial areas of the West of Scotland; and Glasgow Corporation is conducting a special analysis, in which my officers are assisting, of the circumstances attending every birth to Glasgow mothers. I will consider sympathetically any further proposals for research into this subject for which my assistance may be required.

Will the right hon. Gentleman circulate in the Official Report the figures for Scotland, England, Wales, the Netherlands and other Western European countries in order that we may see the comparisons here? Will he be able to make a further statement at the time of the debate on the Estimates regarding health in Scotland to show what progress is being made in the efforts to find the reasons for the discrepancy?

I will circulate the figures in the Official Report. It is unlikely that by the time of the Estimates debates I shall be able to give any results from the inquiry. We shall have to wait for about a year to see how the results come in and what the picture shows.

Have not there been numerous inquiries over the last twenty or thiryt years into the cause of the high infant mortality rate in Scotland, and have not the inquiries shown the cause to be the dreadful housing conditions in that part of Scotland to which the Minister referred, coupled with the inadequacy of the facilities for hospital confinements?

Certainly, both those factors have had an obvious influence on the results. I think that what we want to do is to get a little further than just making a general statement. We are doing our best to improve housing and to increase the number of maternity beds.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many letters he has received about his proposal to close the demonstration school and other schools in Aberdeen; and what replies he has sent.

I have received letters from two groups protesting against the decision by the Governors of Aberdeen College of Education to discontinue the demonstration school, and in reply I have explained why I approved the decision. I have also had some 260 letters of protest against Aberdeen Education Committee's proposal to discontinue the primary departments at Aberdeen Grammar School and Aberdeen High School for Girls, a proposal on which I have as yet reached no decision. The letters of protest have been acknowledged.

Would not the Secretary of State agree that these letters represent a large and widespread expression of reasoned opposition to the closure of the demonstration school particularly on the ground that during its long history it has done very good work; is doing very good work; has attracted good teachers has produced distinguished alumni, and that no adequate reason has been given for the closure of this very distinguished school? Will he, therefore, reconsider his decision to close the demonstration school?

I cannot reconsider my decision about the demonstration school. I am convinced that, from the educational point of view, no one in Aberdeen will suffer.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now make a comprehensive statement on the recent Government Aid plan for Scotland of £20 million, giving in detail the allocations to be made to each area and the conditions to be complied with in each case.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the high cost of diabetic foods, he will bring them within the National Health Service, with a view to supplying such foods to diabetics at reduced prices.

I have no power to arrange for the supply of foodstuffs under the National Health Service.

Could not the Secretary of State decide to take such powers in

As the Answer contains a number of figures, I shall, with permission, circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will not the Minister tell the House the principles on which he Acts? How does he select the industries which deserve, and are to get, some of these grants? Does he realise that in Aberdeen, and in the north of Scotland generally, there are many industries which offer to produce goods for export and to absorb some of the many unemployed in that region? Will he give the House some indication of his principles?

As the hon. and learned Gentleman knows, if it is a question of industries, it is a question for the Board of Trade. The principle behind most of the road works has been to improve roads where they are most needed and where unemployment at the time was worst.

The hon. Gentleman will realise that to alter the National Health Service in this respect would be to go very much wider than dealing with the problem of diabetics. I realise that there are hardship cases, and the National Assistance Board is most ready to try to help where this is needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that retirement pensioners who are diabetics and who require insulin, hypodermic needles, surgical spirits and cotton wool, pay eight shillings prescription charges; and if he will abolish these charges.

Yes, Sir, but I have asked the doctors to prescribe for all diabetic patients in as large quantities as possible so that these charges have to be met less frequently.

Is the Minister aware that in some cases as many as seven items are prescribed, at a cost to the pensioner of 14s.? Is not that an extortionate proportion to take from the retirement pension of an old soul? Will he bear in mind that the National Assistance Board assists only in marginal cases and not in the millions of cases involving people above the marginal line, and will he please do something about it?

As I explained in my Answer, we are encouraging doctors to help to solve this problem by prescribing in as large quantities as possible. This provides significant help. I cannot consider abolishing these charges as the hon. Gentleman desires.

Is the Secretary of State aware that pharmaceutical chemists report that there are a large number of people who have to do without certain items on prescriptions given to them by doctors, because they cannot afford to pay for all the items? Is he aware that they ask chemists what items they can do without in order to cut the cost of the prescription to fit their purse instead of to fit their illness? Is not this a disgraceful way to treat people?

I think that this is entirely wrong. If it were necessary, as I am sure the right hon. Gentleman knows, people in cases of this sort could bring the matter to his attention, or to my attention, and it could be taken up by the proper authority.

Is it not a wasteful practice to ask people to prescribe and others to purchase more than they immediately require in order to save a few shillings? Would it not be far better to wipe this out altogether?

I think the hon. Member has got it wrong. In cases concerning diabetics it is possible for the doctor to foretell with considerable accuracy the amount they are likely to need. By prescribing in larger quantities he is giving a very positive benefit in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects work on the new senior secondary school at Helensburgh to start; and what is the estimated date of completion.

Dunbarton Education Authority had hoped to start work on this school in September this year and to complete it by December, 1965. Competing demands of more urgent projects have occasioned some delay, but the project will be authorised as soon as practicable.

Is the Secretary of State aware that, according to my information, this school is not to start in September, 1963, on the instructions of the Secretary of State for Scotland? Is he aware of the long postponement over thirty years in providing this new school? Is he also aware that at the moment this school is unhygienic, primitive and overcrowded and that teaching is going on in ten separate premises scattered about half a mile from the main building? Will he look at the matter again and assure the education department that the starting date will be September, 1963?

I have to bear in mind the priorities which local authorities themselves want for schools. If I had "enough money to enable every education department to start all the work it wanted to do immediately, this would be a different problem.

On a point of order. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that an almost totally blind woman from Castletown, Caithness, has been sent to the Royal Infirmary, Inverness, for an operation and treatment on two occasions, and subsequently to Golspie, Sutherland, for out-patient treatment, without transport being provided for her; if he is aware that Castletown is six miles from the nearest railway station and journeys have to be made from the stations to the hospitals; and if he will take steps to authorise transport by road from door to door for incapacitated persons, free of cost to the patient.

In general, where a patient's doctor considers that ambulance facilities are required, the whole cost is met by the Scottish ambulance service. Patients travel by road or rail, whichever is the more suitable. In this case, the medical advice was that the patient did not need ambulance facilities on the earlier journeys. For her last visit to Golspie they were required and a rail journey with an escort and ambulances to link with the train at each end was arranged.

Is the Secretary of State aware that the information he has given to the House is completely at variance with the facts given to me, which I have confirmed in two trunk calls to Castletown in recent days? Is he aware that there is no public transport service from Castletown to connect with a train from Thurso to take the patient to Inverness? Is it not wrong that a woman in the state in which this lady is should be treated in this way? In addition to being partially blind, she is sick and weighs only 5 or 6 stone. This kind of thing will not do. It is making a masquerade of the National Health Service?

The hon. Gentleman may well have information which I have not got. On the question of the ambulance services, often the best thing is to have a car to a station for the rail journey and an ambulance from the railhead to the hospital. This is often easier when long rail journeys are concerned, and this we try to do. I am sorry for the mistake about the rail fare.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he now expects to reach a decision on the Report of the Mackenzie Committee; and if he will expedite this decision to avoid further disruption of new hydro-electricity development in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will make a statement on the Mackenzie Report, with particular reference to island supplies.

I have nothing to add at present to the replies given to the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond) on 13th March and the hon. Member for Glasgow, Craigton (Mr. Millan) on 10th April.

Is it not high time that the Secretary of State had something to add to the replies then given? Is he not aware that since he has responsibility for stopping the schemes, he also has responsibility for holding up development by both boards because of the uncertainty, or does this mean that he is abdicating his authority to the Aims of Industry organisation?

Certainly not. I appreciate the need for urgency, and I am doing my best to get the right answer as quickly as I can.

Will my right hon. Friend assure the House that it is not his intention, or the Treasury's intention, to strangle the authority of the Hydro-Electric Board by not permitting these schemes to go forward, for that is what will happen if he does not allow this important development? Surely he can convince the Treasury that this is a very stupid short-term view which is sacrificing the long-term advantages of these schemes?

The important long-term view must be to get electricity at the right price for Scotland as a whole. I cannot accept the implications of what my hon. Friend says about the Treasury's view and my own.

What is holding this up other than the shilly-shallying of the Secretary of State? Is he aware that there are now about sixteen schemes held up awaiting his authority and the next step rests with him to initiate a public inquiry, if that is necessary? Does he realise that he is making the position of the Hydro-Electric Board quite intolerable and that what the position of supply will be in a few years goodness knows? Does he want the board to go ahead, as was suggested even by the Mackenzie Committee Report in relation to these schemes? Will he take action now?

I am perfectly prepared to take action as soon as the correct information and full information is available, but not before.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that children attending school beyond the statutory age limit are eligible for bursaries, whereas children attending special schools to the age of 16 years are not so eligible; and if he will now seek to amend Section 32(4) of the Education (Scotland) Act so as to rectify this anomaly.

I appreciate that older children attending special schools are not eligible for higher school bursaries, and this question will be looked at when there is a suitable opportunity for amending legislation.

If the Government have difficulty in finding time for this, may I have the assurance of the Secretary of State that he will facilitate a Private Member's Bill to end an injustice which has gone on for perhaps too long?

The problem is that this would have to be dealt with on a United Kingdom basis and not on a Scottish basis. [HON. MEMBERS: "Why? "] Because the problem is exactly the same in both countries. I think it would be resented and would be unfair to England if we legislated on a separate basis.

Why can we not deal with this in the Scottish Education Bill which is at present going through this House? Could we not insert something in that Bill?

We cannot do that for the reason I have stated. This is exactly the same problem in both countries and the law is exactly the same in both countries. It would be unfair if we were to legislate only for Scotland.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the maximum amount that a sheriff's court may order a convicted person to pay in restitution of malicious damage to private property; and if he will make a statement.

There are no general statutory provisions which bear directly on the ordering of restitution of damage additionally to any penalties which the court may impose on conviction. This is in accordance with the view generally accepted in Scotland that restitution is a civil matter.

Has my right hon. Friend seen the articles which appeared recently in the Scotsman, which showed that vandalism is costing about £1 million in Scotland? Is he satisfied that the sheriff courts have sufficient powers to deter people who commit this malicious damage?

I have seen the articles to which my hon. Friend has referred, but the increase in senseless vandalism in recent years has not been peculiar to Scotland. I agree that it must be a matter of concern, but I doubt whether it would be useful to examine it from the point of view of changes in the law in isolation from other aspects of delinquency. The law of Scotland relating to juvenile delinquency is at present being reviewed by a committee under the chairmanship of Lord Kilbrandon.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will issue a revised memorandum to local authorities on the clearance of derelict sites, in view of the recent change in Government policy.

This was done on 5th April. I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

Since I have already seen a copy of this memorandum, which was published after I had put down a Question, may I direct the Secretary of State's attention to section 5 of this very unsuitable memorandum, which obscures the main point and holds up the clearance of derelict sites—namely, the definition of "derelict"? Is he aware that in Scottish law it is impossible to declare that a site is abandoned or ownerless and that as a consequence local authority applications to him in fact fail? May I direct attention to subsection (j) of section 5 of the memorandum, which asks a hypothetical question which is quite difficult to answer and which, again, might be the cause of applications to him failing. Would he look at the whole thing again in view of the essential importance to industrial development in Scotland?

I will look at any problem which a local authority brings to me and which seems to hold up these very necessary schemes.

Did the Secretary of State send a copy of the memorandum to the Board of Trade? He will recollect that under the Local Employment Act the Board of Trade has the right to deal with derelict sites if nobody else does so.

I expect that the Board of Trade got a copy, too.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reply he has sent to the Edinburgh Local Medical Committee's request for more funds to enable them to solve the immediate geriatric problem in their area.

They have been informed of the regional hospital board's plans to provide about 150 additional geriatric beds in existing hospitals over the next few months and to build new accommodation providing a further 360 beds at the Liberton and Royal Victoria Hospitals.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the local committee has expressed complete dissatisfaction with the Secretary of State's reply? Is it not a fact that some beds which he proposes to give to the geriatrics he has taken from the general patients in hospitals in the area? In other words, he is worsening their position to try to meet this need. In view of the tremendous need for beds of this kind, cannot the right hon. Gentleman allocate more funds for this purpose without impinging on the already small number of beds which are available for general medical patients?

I am afraid that I cannot do that. The south-eastern region has had a fair share of the programme, which has to be related to other building programmes in the public sector and to the capacity of the building industry to get through the work.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received respecting the granting of planning permission to erect blocks of multi-storey flats in the burgh of Bearsden; and what steps he is taking to consider these representations.

Representations were received in February from the hon. Member, Bearsden Town Council and the Mosshead Association. My hon. Friend, the Joint Under-Secretary of State, replied to the hon. Member on 4th March explaining that it would be inappropriate for me to intervene in the matter, and similar replies to the other representations were sent on my behalf on the same day.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is considerable discontent in this area? These people in Moss-head have paid fantastic prices for their land and houses because they were given verbal pledges that this was the type and style of amenity which they would enjoy. Planning permission has been given for multi-storey flats right up against them. The landscaping is on the other side of the flats, away from the bungalows. This is a shocking piece of development and a shocking piece of undemocratic procedure by the county planning authority and by the right hon. Gentleman in not intervening to stop the building of these flats. Will he do something about it?

I think that the hon. Member knows that the responsibility in this matter rests with the local planning authority, not with me. It may be that if there is an appeal it wilt come to me as the final arbiter. That has not yet happened.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to revise the Hospital Plan for Scotland, Command Paper No. 1602, in view of recent population reports and professional representations to him.

In considering further extensions of the Hospital Plan for Scotland, I will take these matters into account.

May we assume from that reply that since there is concern about geriatric, maternity and mental beds, the Secretary of State proposes to take a leaf out of the Minister of Health's book and to publish a revised Hospital Plan in the very near future?

I cannot give a promise about the timing of this, but these things are certainly being considered.

Is the Secretary of State aware that there are serious doubts in medical and other opinion about the wisdom of reconstructing the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh as proposed in the Hospital Plan and that a great many well-advised people consider that it would be much better to build a completely new hospital and to use the present Royal Infirmary for geriatric beds and thus satisfy both needs at much less expense?

I will certainly bear what the right hon. Gentleman said in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a full statement, giving chronological detail, regarding the action he has so far taken towards reaching a decision concerning the improvement of the canal and railway bridges in Preston Road, Linlithgow, which were the subject of a public inquiry in July, 1962.

An amendment to the West Lothian County Development Plan proposing additional sites for housing to the south of Linlithgow was submitted in November, 1961. Objections were made, and a public local inquiry was held in July, 1962. I received the report on the inquiry towards the end of January this year and the decision was issued yesterday. I am sending a copy of the letter to the hon. Member.

Why has it taken nine months?

The questions which the reporter had to decide were complicated questions. I obviously cannot answer for his problems in this field.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I will attempt to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what computers and other equipment are being used or installed in the Meteorological Office for the preparation and issue of 30-day weather forecasts.

The methods of long-range forecasting now being studied by the Meteorological Office do not involve elaborate calculations or the use of special equipment, but an electronic computer is used to expedite the examination of relevant data.

Does the Meteorological Office intend to publish 30-day forecasts? The Americans' 30-day weather forecasts for these islands have been "bang-on" recently. Further, is the machinery of the Meteorological Office adequate to issue such forecasts?

So far we have been against publishing the Meteorological Office's forecasts because we did not think them reliable enough, though they are at least equal to the American forecasts. However, the matter is being given further study and I hope to make a decision fairly soon. The replacement of the present Meteorological Office computer by a faster machine is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport how many bus stops without Jay-bys there are on the stretch of clear way on the trunk road from a point out side the Vicars Cross Golf Club to the point where this clearway meets the Chester cuter ring road.

Eight, Sir—four on each side of the road.

Does not my hon. Friend think that this stopping on the highway by public service vehicles destroys the the whole concept of a clearway?

Not necessarily. Public service vehicles have to stop on clearways as well as on other roads where clearway conditions are not in operation. We try to ensure that where there is a need for buses to stop on a clearway and they cannot do it without obstruction, if possible they pull off the road.

asked the Minister of Transport on what date he commenced his consultations with the Cheshire County Council with regard to the imposition of a 40 miles per hour speed limit on the clearway between the Vicars Cross Golf Club and the termination of this clearway close to the boundary of the city of Chester; and if he will make a statement regarding the present position of the consultations.

On 26th February. They are now prepared to await the results of six months' operation of the clearway before expressing a view on the 40 m.p.h. limit proposal. We shall be willing to consider the matter then.

Is it not now perfectly clear that all local opinion is in favour of a 40 m.p.h. speed limit in order to increase the safety factor on this very dangerous stretch of highway?

A number of views have been expressed to us at different times and sometimes those views have differed from the views which have been expressed previously. I think that we had better wait for another couple of months and let the experiment finish, and then we can look at the whole thing again.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the total of claims by local authorities for additional expenditure on roads, owing to the severe weather this winter; and what payments he has approved.

We have not yet heard from all the local authorities concerned about their additional expenditure on classified roads. But in the year ending 31st March, 1963, expenditure of about £1 million over and above the original Estimate provision was met from the Exchequer for snow clearance from trunk roads and motorways.

Can my hon. Friend give some indication of the number of claims which he has turned down and the number which he intends to allow?

No, Sir. My hon. Friend should not be too pessimistic. We are now awaiting the information. We hope to get it all by the middle of May on classified roads. When we get that information we can decide.

Has any research been undertaken to find out why this damage happens on some roads and not on others?

We know why the damage happens. What we do not know is why the atmospheric conditions which caused the damage were as they were.

asked the Minister of Transport why after a delay of five months he is not able to receive a deputation of seven Members of Parliament and their constituents to discuss a highways programme for Tees-side.

My right hon. Friend was asked just before Christmas to receive this deputation. He suggested that we should await the outcome of another meeting, about the problems of Tees-side generally, which a similar deputation was shortly to have with my noble Friend the Lord President of the Council and representatives of departments, including the Ministry of Transport. Later my right hon. Friend was again asked to receive a deputation. As he has explained to the right hon. Member, it is not practicable for him to receive it. He has asked my noble Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to do so, and I understand this is now being arranged.

Will the Minister ask his right hon. Friend when he thinks it important enough for him to receive a deputation? Is he aware that in addition to aldermen, there were councillors, seven M.P.S, town clerks and borough engineers? Surely the Minister himself ought to receive a deputation of this kind?

I think that the House as a whole will acquit my right hon. Friend of being idle. He is one of the most active of Ministers, as I know only too well. He has a great many deputations to see and a great many things to do. He replied in detail to the right hon. Gentleman on this point. I should have thought that, in all the circumstances of the great consideration which is being given to the problems of the North-East, the deputation would have been quite happy to see my noble Friend the Parliamentary Secretary.