asked the Minister of Transport (1) whether, in considering the proposals for railway closures put to him, he is satisfied that all financial and other information made available to him by the Railways Board in connection with the closures has been made available to the appropriate transport users' consultative committees; and if he will make a statement;(2) whether he will issue a general direction, in the national interest, to the Railways Board that the financial statements they provide to transport users' consultative committees in connection with railway closures contain details of the total receipts from the lines in question.

The information the committees receive from the Board was agreed between them. The number of passengers carried and the alternative

MILEAGE AT 1ST JANUARY, 1963 OF RAILWAY ROUTES NOT USED FOR NORMAL DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS
—			Eastern Region	London Midland Region	North Eastern Region	Scottish Region	Southern Region	Western Region
Total	…	…	303¼	162½	292	328¼	161½	561½

Note: The above figures relate to closures since 1st January, 1948.
Closed for more than:			Eastern Region	London Midland Region	North Eastern Region	Scottish Region	Southern Region	Western Region
2 years	…	…	285¾	95¾	233	271¾	129¾	293¾
4 years	…	…	95	94¼	181½	191½	129¾	223¼
6 years	…	…	82¾	94¼	81½	168	112½	187¾
8 years	…	…	67½	89¾	80	134½	78½	156¼

asked the Minister of Transport what is the average cost per mile per annum of the upkeep, including fencing, tunnels and bridges, of all disused railway routes.

We are informed by the British Railways Board that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is

asked the Minister of Transport what was the mileage of disused railway routes in each region at 1st January, 1963;and, of that mileage, what proportion has not been in use for operational running purposes for more than two, four, six and eight years, respectively.

The British Railways Board have supplied the following figures:aware that even after 40 years' service railwaymen are today retiring on pensions of only 10s. per week; and whether he will, in the public interest, give a general direction to the Railways Board that they should set up an inquiry to consider the whole question of railway pensions.

:Railway pension schemes are contributory, with benefits in accordance with the number of years of contributory membership, not ser- vice. Railwaymen have been contributing to their current pension scheme since its introduction nine years ago.My right hon. Friend does not think it would be appropriate for him to give a direction as suggested by my hon. Friend in matters which are primarily the management responsibility of the Board in consultation, in the established way, with representatives of their employees.

asked the Minister of Transport why the line of the proposed Victoria Tube has been diverted round the grounds of Buckingham Palace; and what is the approximate extra cost involved.

:The line of the proposed Victoria Tube has not been diverted, but follows the alignment approved by Parliament in the British Transport Commission Act, 1955. This alignment was selected as the most suitable on technical grounds; the second part of the Question, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the strong objection felt by the residents in Islington to the proposal to erect a shaft through the gardens of Gibson Square in connection with the proposed Victoria Line, he will alter the line to avoid this.

The line of the proposed Victoria Line was fixed by Parliament in the British Transport Commission Act, 1955, and my right hon. Friend has no power to alter it.

asked the Minister of Transport whether in the light of the report of the Transport

NOTE:—These include stopping services on lines from which through services are not being withdrawn.
Service	Area T.U.C.C. Concerned
Widnes Loop	North Western
St. Helens Shaw Street—Warrington Bank Quay I
Manchester Piccadilly—Buxton
Buxton—Miller's Dale

:As I said in my reply to my hon. Friend's Question on 31st July, this closure raises difficult issues. But I hope to be able to reach a decision shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will approve the proposal made to him by the Railways Board to electrify the Glasgow-Gourock-Wemyss Bay line.

:The British Railways Board have not yet put to us any proposals for electrifying this line.

asked the Minister of Transport how many transport users' consultative committees have since 20th July, 1963 received objections to proposed closures of branch lines and stations of the Railways Board, of which formal notice has been given; which committees they are; and which branch lines and stations are the subject of such objections.

All eleven transport users' consultative committees have received objections to proposed closures since the date named. The list of services and stations is given below.The list relates to all objections received up to 30th November. It comprises all proposals of which the British Railways Board have given notice and to which objections have been received other than those given in the answer to the Question asked by the hon. Member on 24th July.The following is the information:

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in considering proposals for rail closures to which objections have been lodged, he will bear in mind the transport needs of developing industrial estates before he authorises any further closure of railways.

Wherever the transport needs of industrial estates are a factor in individual closure proposals, I shall certainly take them into account before giving my decision.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has received from the Railways Board for the electrification of the Airdrie-Bathgate-Edinburgh railway line, which would enable them to provide a blue train service.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport by what amount the Ilford Borough Council's minor improvement programme for classified roads was underspent in the year 1962–63 owing to the severe weather; and what amount of additional grant has been made available in respect of the council's area during the current year.

I understand that last year Ilford underspent a net sum of some £16,000 on maintenance and minor improvement, and that this year they have been allocated £4,767 from the additional grant given to the Essex County Council for frost damage repairs.

asked the Minister of Transport what reply he has sent to the Cardiff City Council in connection with their recent correspondence concerning Eastern Avenue, Cardiff.

They have been told that the scheme has been included in the trunk road programme for 1967–68, and that the details will be finally approved when we know the results of the Origin and Destination Survey recently made by the City Council. The preparatory work will be pressed ahead, but with a scheme of this magnitude there is no prospect of construction being started before the summer of 1967.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the public anxiety in Cardiff concerning the danger to children who have to walk along Pwllmelin Road, Llandaff, in order to get to the Bishop of Llandaff Church in Wales School; and whether he will now sanction the Pwllmelin Road improvement scheme suggested by the Cardiff City Council.

:We are well aware of the conditions on this road, and have advised the City Council, who are the highway authority, that if they will submit their proposals we will consider whether a grant can be made towards the cost.

asked the Minister of Transport what research has been done, or sponsored, by his Department into crosswind hazards on motorways.

:The Road Research Laboratory have made some observations on the effect of weather conditions, including wind, on motorway traffic behaviour, and have studied German work on this problem. Crosswinds can be a hazard on motorways and other high speed roads in open country. We must rely on the driver to adjust his technique to the prevailing conditions.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received on the danger of crosswinds on the M.1 motorway.

None within the last twelve months.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement on central barriers which are being provided on motorways; and whether he proposes to provide bushes of the rose, Rosa multiflora japonica, as divisions on any of the motorways.

Our policy on central reserve barriers on motorways was stated in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bromsgrove (Mr. Dance) on Wednesday, 27th November. The present width of motorway central reserves would not permit the effective use of Rosa multiflora japonica.

asked the Minister of Transport what reply he has sent to the Northumberland branch of the Rural District Councils Association following their representation about the provision of financial aid for public conveniences at lay-bys in their area; and whether he will make a statement.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the reply which I am sending to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. McKay). We are not satisfied that the provision of public conveniences is a proper use of highway funds, on which there are so many demands for works which directly concern the safety and economic efficiency of the road system. However, we are considering whether there is anything that can be done, within the proper scope of highway responsibilities, to counteract the abuse of lay-bys.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he intends to put a footbridge over the by-pass at Witham, to enable the Stepfield footpath to be kept safe.

The cost would be high and I understand that few people would be likely to use it. But the Witham Urban District Council's views have been invited before a final decision is reached.

asked the Minister of Transport what further action he intends to take to improve east-west road communications in the North-East.

The roads programme for the North-East, expanded as proposed in the recent White Paper, includes a number of substantial improvements of east-west routes in the area.The following is the information:The roads to be improved or provided are:—The Newcastle-Tynemouth Coast Road.A parallel route south of the River Tyne from Gateshead to South Shields comprising trunk road A. 184 from Gateshead to White Mare Pool and thence Leam Lane (A. 1055) and the new John Reid Road to South Shields where it will join trunk road A. 19 to Sunderland.Connecting to this road at White Mare Pool will be a new link road from Blackfell on the Great North Road.

asked the Minister of Transport when he will announce the proposed route of the Croydon-Crawley motorway through the site of the former Croydon Airport.

:We expect to publish a Draft Scheme line for the London-Crawley Motorway by about the middle of 1964. It is too early to say whether this will affect the Croydon Airport site.

asked the Minister of Transport what special arrangements for road safety are to be made in the village of Kelvedon, following the completion of the dual-carriageway from Hatfield Peverel.

We have no reason to expect that special safety measures will be necessary. But we will watch the situation carefully.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans are included in the proposals for the modernisation of the road junction at East Acton Circus to allow pedestrians to cross in safety at this busy and dangerous shopping centre.

Consulting engineers are being appointed for the proposed flyover. They will be required to take pedestrians' needs into account when they formulate their proposals.

asked the Minister of Transport when work on the Brentwood by-pass is to begin.

Early next year, we hope. I understand that Essex County Council have now invited tenders for the work.

asked the Minister of Transport in view of the increasing congestion of traffic in High Road, Leytonstone, what steps have been taken in co-operation with the Borough of Leyton and contiguous local authorities to determine alternative routes for through-traffic proceeding to or from points in the County of Essex beyond Leyton and neighbouring urban areas, and thus encourage traffic diversion from High Road, Leytonstone.

The Eastern Avenue extension will provide an effective bypass for through traffic in due course. Meanwhile, we are considering what scope there is for traffic management measures.

asked the Minister of Transport when work is to start on the widening of Rainham Road, North Dagenham, between Bull Lane and Wantz Corner.

I understand the highway authority expect work to start almost immediately.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in his programme for the widening of the A.23 through the Borough of Reigate, he will give priority to the proposals submitted and approved by the borough council for making the Frenches Road/Linkfield Lane junction in Redhill safer.

We are taking steps to acquire the necessary land. Work will then be started as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that, as a result of recent damage to Selby Toll

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given today to similar questions by him and the hon. Member for Goole (Mr. Jeger).

asked the Minister of Transport whether the line of the Kelvedon by-pass is fixed; and when he intends that work should commence.

Yes. I expect work to be started next summer.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce legislation to alter the present procedure at public hearings of the transport users' consultative committees to enable consideration to be given to economic development, as stated in paragraph 74 of Command Paper No. 2188.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce legislation to widen the powers of transport users' consultative committees in considering railway closures to allow them to take account of considerations other than hardship, for example the prospective economic development of the area affected by the closures.

No, Sir. Each transport users' consultative committee is appointed after consultation with user interests, and the assessment of hardship is entirely appropriate to such a body. But the wider effects of closures on, for example, economic development can only be judged by the Government. I consult my colleagues wherever their responsibilities are involved. My decision is taken on an overall assessment of the merits of each case.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is satisfied that the existing powers and duties of the central transport consultative committee and the area transport users' consultative

The Transport Users' Consultative Committee have the duty of considering matters affecting the services of the four Transport Boards. In particular the area committees are responsible for considering objections from users to railway passenger closure proposals and for reporting to me on hardship. I am satisfied that their powers are right for their functions.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce regulations under the Road Traffic Acts to prohibit road tankers carrying dangerous gases, explosives or spirits from travelling in convoy.

:No. The transport of dangerous goods of this kind is regulated under other Acts which are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that a lorry carrying a red-hot steel ingot travelled from Sheffield to Halesowen on 11th November, 1963, and that it was escorted all the way by fire engines dousing the lorry with water until the floor boards eventually burst into flames; and whether he will take steps to prevent the carriage of such dangerous goods by road.

We have received reports of the incident which indicate that the sequence of events was somewhat less alarming than the account contained in the Question.I believe it to have been an isolated occurrence and see no need to take any steps to prevent the carriage of such goods by road. Provided proper precautions are taken there should be no danger to other road users.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement on the results of the 50 m.p.h. limit during the summer.

I will do so as soon as the study of the results is complete.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement on the latest statistics regarding the effect of car seat belts in road accidents.

The latest analysis of a sample of road accidents which has been madeby the Road Research Laboratory suggests that when the driver and front seat passenger in a car which becomes involved in an accident are wearing safety belts their risk of serious injury is reduced by 79 per cent, and of slight injury by 38 per cent.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has yet decided on a revision of the speed limits affecting all roads in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

I decided more than two years ago that a review of speed limits on roads was necessary. Since then speed limits on trunk roads have been brought up to date, as hon. Members may see from my annual report on roads in England and Wales. A good deal of progress has been made with other roads, but some local authorities have still to complete their review.

asked the Minister of Transport what studies his department has made of the public travel-to-work facilities available to workpeople living in South-West and West Durham who, because of Command Paper No. 2206, will be required to travel to East Durham or Teeside to work.

My Department was closely associated with the preparation of the proposals for the North East. I am satisfied that public transport will be able to meet any new needs for travel to work which may develop.

asked the Minister of Transport what is his policy regarding the use of the monorail in this country.

There can be no useful conclusions about monorails with- out detailed evidence of the potentialities. I have not so far received proposals in sufficient detail to justify a study of the specific possibilities of this form of transport.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will commission technological studies of new ways and means of moving people and goods in urban areas.

First priority must be to improve existing forms of transport. A great deal more can be done to plan for them and use them in new ways. But I will do all I can to encourage any radically new ideas that seem promising.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the growing practice by which holders of provisional driving licences drive vehicles without L plates and unaccompanied; and if he will introduce legislation to amend the Road Traffic Acts to increase the penalties for persons charged and found guilty of such offences.

The penalty was increased by the Road Traffic Act, 1962, under which this offence also counts under the "totting-up" provisions. Over the three years 1960–62 there was a decline in the number of learner driver offences brought before the Courts.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the large numbers of tankers carrying dangerous fluids such as oil, petrol and acids which crash and cause damage and loss of life following failure of the vehicles' braking systems; and whether he will make it obligatory for such vehicles to be fixed with an automatic gear box locking device which would become operative whenever the brakes fail or are below 50 per cent, efficient.

We do not consider that the device suggested should be made obligatory. The law already requires all goods vehicles, including tankers, to have two independent means of brake operation. We have no evidence that failure of the braking system has been responsible for any large number of accidents.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that there are sufficient qualified traffic engineers available to local authorities to enable them to undertake the transport studies required by the Buchanan Report.

:I believe the universities and colleges of technology offer sufficient facilities for the study of traffic engineering to meet a rising requirement and that further courses will be started when the demand exists. Meanwhile my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government and I are proposing to issue a joint bulletin giving general guidance to local authorities on urban traffic engineering techniques.

asked the Minister of Transport why he has not yet made the use of direction indicators compulsory; and whether he will do so at an early date.

:The Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1963 will restrict motor vehicles first registered after August 1965 to thenew type of direction indicators specified therein. I wish to have some experience of the working of these before making them compulsory.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he has taken to implement Section 36 of the Road Traffic Act 1962.

As my right hon. Friend said in reply to a Question on 24th July by my right hon. Friend the Member for Guildford (Sir R. Nugent), we have appointed a Committee to advise us on the regulation of motoring events on public highways under the powers of this Section. We hope to have its report early in the New Year.

asked the Minister of Transport what consultations he has had with car manufacturers with a view to taking the necessary steps to ensure that mass-produced cars either imported or made in this country shall not exceed a maximum length of ten feet other than for export or re-export and thus contribute in some measure to the easing of parking and similar problems.

:None. Any advantages to be derived from a curtailment of the length of cars in this country would have to be measured against its effects on the competitiveness of our motor industry in the export market, since different models would have to be made for home and abroad.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made during each of the last five years, under Government auspices, in England and Scotland, respectively, in the making, use, and standardisation of safety belts for motorists.

:During the last five years my Department has taken a leading part in a series of measures aimed at implementing our policy of developing the use of safety belts. The progress of this work cannot be particularised so far as England and Scotland are concerned or allocated conveniently to particular years, but successive developments have been as follows:The collection of information started in 1958 and led to the study of a specification for safety belts. Such a specification was published by the British Standards Institution in 1960 and has subsequently been amended from time to time. The next steps were to arrange for the provision of anchorage points for safety belts in new cars produced by the leading car manufacturers, and for the installation of belts in all Government owned passenger cars. In August, 1962, we circulated to appropriate organisations proposals for making the fitting of belts compulsory in certain motor vehicles. Discussion of these proposals brought out the need for a specification for anchorage points applicable to the widest possible range of cars. Work on this is now in progress.These developments have meanwhile encouraged manufacturers of belts to expand their production and to undertake extensive advertising campaigns aimed at selling their equipment. Their success is shown by the fact that the number of belts manufactured in accordance with the British Standard increased from 41,000 during the second half of 1960 to over 400,000 in a similar period in 1962.Unfortunately, a recent investigation showed that nearly one-third of the drivers of cars fitted with belts were not wearing them. Nevertheless, we do not think it would be right at present to make it compulsory for anyone to wear a belt if they do not choose to do so. We would prefer to urge drivers and passengers, and rely on their good sense, to use belts as widely as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport if the London Traffic Survey will cover the problem of cross-river traffic by tunnels, bridges and ferries; and if, in considering action as a result of the Buchanan Report and the London Traffic Survey, he will have in mind the need for a scheme to replace the Woolwich Ferry and the swing bridges over the Royal group of docks, where traffic hold-ups have been causing inconvenience for many years.

The London Traffic Survey will cover all traffic movements throughout Greater London, and will provide a basis on which London County Council, as highway improvement authority, will be able to consider what further provision there should be for cross-river traffic.They have already provided new and larger vessels for the Woolwich ferry and hope to start improvements to the approaches next year.

asked the Minister of Transport what information he has on the wear and tear on roads by heavy lorries as compared to private cars and on the average annual mileage covered by each; and whether he will review licence fees in the light of these factors.

:There is plenty of practical evidence of the wear and tear caused on roads by heavy lorries but no satisfactory comparisons have yet been made between the wear and tear attributable to heavy lorries and cars in day-to-day use of the roads. Private cars in this country at present cover an average annual mileage of 8,000; lorries over 3 tons unladen weight cover an average annual mileage of 20,000.Any review of vehicle excise licence fees would be a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer within the framework of his general responsibilities for taxation.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the long delay in securing an appointment for a driving test in the Bournemouth area; and whether he will increase the number of examiners at the Bournemouth test centre in order to reduce the waiting period.

Yes. The waiting period for a driving test in the Bournemouth area is much longer than I would wish. The driving examiner staff there is under strength but we are posting another examiner to the test centre on 30th December. Meanwhile, we have been providing examiners from other centres to help reduce the waiting period at Bournemouth.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the annoyance caused to people living in residential areas by the parking of heavy commercial vehicles in the early hours of the morning near warehouses and similar premises; and if he will introduce legislation to control such practices.

This is essentially a local problem, calling for consideration of what is desirable and practicable locally. Local authorities already have power under the Road Traffic Act, 1960. to restrict such parking on roads outside the London traffic area.

asked the Minister of Transport what response he has had from local authorities to the circular issued earlier this year recommending a higher standard in the erection of street name plates and in the numbering of houses, in view of its endorsement by the Worboys Committee.

Local authorities were asked in the circular to consider whether the street name plates and the house and other numbers in their areas were of sufficiently high standard and, if not, to take such action as was necessary to improve the standard. Though they were not invited to report back to me some comments have been received and all have been favourable. Nevertheless there is still plenty of room for improvement, particularly in house numbering.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the results of the scheme for providing finance for the placing of new orders for ships; and what long-term plans he has for the sustenance of British shipping and shipbuilding interests.

Some 800,000 gross tons of shipping will be built in United Kingdom shipyards under the Shipbuilding Credit Scheme. The £75 million allotted for the scheme has been taken up, and no new applications for loans will be accepted.As to the long term, our shipping and shipyards owe their present position to successful competition in world markets largely free from Government subsidy and protection, and Government policy will continue to be to preserve the maximum international freedom.

asked the Minister of Defence what offer was made to the Royal United Service Institution to increase the subsidy they receive for their services; and what conditions were attached to the subsidy.

The Institution was offered, and accepted, a grant of £4,000 a year for the five years 1962–63 to 1966–67 inclusive, on condition that it gave up occupancy of the Banqueting Hall.

asked the Minister of Defence what percentage of recruits for the Services are rejected on grounds of physical unfitness and illiteracy, respectively.

Figures for January-October, 1963:

Navy	…	13.7 per cent.
Army	…	11 per cent.
Air Force	…	8.8 per cent

No illiterate man would be considered as an applicant and no figures are therefore available.

asked the Minister of Defence what British units are assigned to the mobile land and air forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; and on what logistic support they rely.

We have assigned to the A.C.E. Mobile Land Force a battalion group stationed in this country, consisting at present of the 1st Innis-killings with artillery, engineer and administrative support. This is devoted exclusively to the Force, and its weapons are air-transportable. Our contribution to the A.C.E, Mobile Air Force consists of a Royal Air Force squadron stationed in Germany.

asked the Minister of Defence how many persons of British nationality on the list of reservists of United Kingdom forces or in receipt of Service pensions from United Kingdom funds are serving with the armed forces of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

The information asked for is not readily available. I am making further inquiries and when they have been completed I will, with permission, write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Defence to what extent the TSR2 flying at twice the speed of sound at tree top height will be audible from the ground.

:The aircraft will exceed the speed of sound at low level and the ground effect will be considerable. This performance will be used only over hostile territory or over deserted areas and the sea.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will publish in Hansard a table of figures giving either the actual or estimated cost involved in initiating new defence proposals since 1951, where such proposals have been discontinued for any reason.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to projects in the military research and development programme. So far as cancellations of aircraft, aero-engines and missiles since 1951 are concerned, I would refer him to the reply given on 26th November by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Aviation to the hon. Member for Dudley (Mr. Wigg). In addition expenditure by the Ministry of Aviation on electronic items initiated since 1951 and subsequently cancelled amounted to some £2.7 million, of which £1.3 million is represented by a Balloon-borne Early Warning Radar and £0.73 million by a High Resolution Reconnaisance Radar. I should add that much of the expenditure on cancelled projects represents knowledge and experience which is used in further developments.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will take steps to increase the pay, allowances and pensions of the Services.

:The biennial review of Service pay and pensions is taking place in accordance with the recommendations of the Grigg Committee. Until it is completed I am not in a position to make any further statement. Allowances are reviewed from time to time, as necessary.

asked the Postmaster-General how many complaints have been received by the Post Office of delay in delivering parcels during the latest three months in respect of which figures are available.

:We estimate that in the three months August to October, 1963, well over 50 million parcels were posted and over the same period there were 5,000 complaints or about one for every 10,000 parcels posted over that period.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that increasing delay in the delivery of parcels by post has resulted in the almost complete cessation of the purchase by post of pork pies and other perishable commodities; and what action he proposes to take to improve the position.

:I much regret the all too frequent delays in the delivery of parcels sent by post especially those containing perishable goods like pork pies. These delays occur mainly while the parcels are in transit on the railways. British Railways are very much alive to the need for an improvement in the service and are working with us in a sustained effort to secure it.

asked the Postmaster-General what alternative arrangements he is making for transport of mails when trains now carrying them are withdrawn.

:We shall use alternative rail or bus services if they are available at the right times and, failing those, either contract or our own motor vehicles.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to improve television services in the Dolgellau, Merioneth, area.

The B.B.C. are continuing to plan improvements and extensions of their television coverage by means of low-power stations, of which the first three batches are in hand. I understand that they are now preparing a fourth list of such stations, but until I receive their proposals I am sorry I cannot comment with regard to individual areas.This applies also to the I.T.A., who have also begun to plan low-power stations to improve and extend their coverage, which is not so extensive as that of the B.B.C.

asked the Postmaster-General on what grounds he does not give official recognition to the National Guild of Telephonists, as representing its female telephonist members, in view of the fact that this union has been fully recognised as representing its male members since 1929.

I went very fully into this matter in November, 1962, when I received representatives of the Guild to hear their case for recognition of the female-telephonist grade. I considered carefully what they said to me, but on balance I did not feel that it would be right to disturb the existing recognition held by the Union of Post Office Workers.

asked the Minister of Aviation how many complaints his Department has received over the past year from residents in the London area over aircraft noise; and how this figure compares with that for the previous comparable year.

Five hundred and forty-one such complaints were received at London Airport (Heathrow) during the twelve months ending 31st October, 1963, including 117 from one Richmond resident. This compares with 533 in the previous twelve months, including 105 from the same individual.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will install a moving staircase to the one in use at London Airport, in order to take passengers to the passenger exits on the upper floor of the civil airport at Aldergrove in County Antrim, and to assist those who find difficulty in mounting the various flights of stairs at present in use.

It would not be economically justifiable to install a moving staircase. The arrangements made to assist those who find difficulty in mounting stairs were explained in my reply to my hon. Friend on 18th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will authorise the provision of a dual carriageway road from the proposed Renfrew-Paisley by-pass to the Port Glasgow boundary.

:Renfrew County Council, as my agents for trunk roads in the county, are investigating schemes for the provision of dual carriageways on this section of trunk road. I hope that work will start on the first part of the Renfrew by-pass in 1965 and that it will be followed by a sequence of schemes to complete the reconstruction of the road by 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how. many geriatric beds are available in the areas of the East and West Fife hospital boards of management, respectively; and what is the number of male and female patients on the waiting lists for geriatric beds in the respective areas.

The numbers are 144 and 108 beds, respectively; 16 male and 21 female patients are on the waiting list for East Fife and ten male and 12 female patients in West Fife.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what use the South-East Regional Hospital Board intend to make of the Kirkcaldy Orthopaedic Hospital when the second extension to Victoria Hospital is completed, in view of the urgency of providing sufficient geriatric beds for the area.

The future use of this hospital is under consideration by the South-Eastern Regional Hospital Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why repairs to Reay Public School, contracted for in the spring, remain unfinished this winter, to the detriment of the health of the pupils;and why alternative accommodation has not been made available.

Caithness Education Authority expected the major part of the repairs to be completed during the summer holiday, but work has been held up mainly because materials have not been delivered on time. I am informed by the authority that the accommodation occupied by the pupils is now wind- and weather-tight. Alternative accommodation was considered, but the authority took the view that education would suffer from the move.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to abolish the death penalty in Scotland.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the discrepancy between expenditure on the road programme in the five years ending 1968–69 between the figures given on 18th November and those in Command Paper No. 2188, Central Scotland, A programme for Development and Growth, namely, trunk roads £61.4 million and classified roads £43.7 million proposed Exchequer expenditure only, and trunk roads and motorways £57 million and classified roads £44 million including contributions of highway authorities, respectively; and what is the reason for this.

The figures in Grind. 2188 are for Central Scotland and the figures in my Answer of 18th November were for Scotland as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will arrange with the Electricity Boards in Scotland for provision to be made for a maximum resale price for electricity sold by landlords to tenants.

The Electricity Boards have not so far found it possible to devise suitable ways of operating for this purpose the statutory powers available to them, but the matter is being further considered. The South of Scotland Board are prepared to advise on what they would regard as a fair charge in any particular case.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Scottish National Federation for the Welfare of the Blind regarding the need for the improvement of the arrangements for the medical examination and certification of blindness so as to prevent elderly blind persons having to travel long distances; and what reply he has sent.

I have received representations from the Federation asking for a further development of local arrangements for certification of blindness in the area of the Western Regional Hospital Board. I have replied that the matter has been taken up with the Board and that they have it under consideration at present.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what communication he has received from the London County Council regarding his rejection of Sir William Holford's plan for Piccadilly Circus.

I have received no communication from the London County Council on this subject, beyond a copy of Sir William's letter. Arrangements have been made for a very early meeting of officials of the Council, Sir William Holford and the two Departments concerned.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what was the number of free leave warrants for travel by air within the United Kingdom which have been issued for officers and other ranks, respectively, during the past 12 months or other convenient period.

None.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what progress is being made on the Tyne with the building of the Royal Fleet auxiliaries which were brought forward in order to provide employment in a period of unemployment in Tyneside shipyards.

The orders for the three fast tankers now being built on Tyneside were placed as a result of competitive tendering. Only one of these was brought forward in the programme and this was to help provide employment in the shipbuilding industry generally.The two firms involved are cooperating to produce a common design for the three ships. Construction is under way.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the general secretary of the Civil Service Union concerning the supply of light vans for coast preventive men; what reply has been sent; and whether he will make a statement.

:The letter from the Civil Service Union has only recently been received and is being considered. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as a reply has been sent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that the recent settlement in the engineering industry, which exceeded the Government's guiding light of 3 to 4 per cent., was effected in exceptional circumstances, what is his policy, in the light of this settlement, regarding other industries which do not show positive increases in productivity; and, in view of the fact that improved human relations in industry are essential for mutual confidence and increased productivity without inflation, if he will give an assurance that it remains his policy only to refer such cases for examination by outside bodies where there are exceptional circumstances.

I explained in my Budget statement that on the basis of N.E.D.C. calculations 3 to 3½ per cent, was the maximum annual average rate of increase for incomes generally which is consistent with reasonable price stability. In the Government's view those industries that are achieving rapid increases in productivity should pass on a proper share of the benefits of that productivity to the general public in the form of lower prices. Unless they do so, there will be no offset to rising prices in those industries whose productivity is increasing less rapidly and a stable level of prices will not be possible.One of the main purposes of the N.I.C. is to enable the public and other industries to judge particular settlements in relation to the national interest. It was for this purpose, and not to condemn the settlement in advance, that the Government referred the engineering settlement to the National Incomes Commission. The vast size of the engineering industry means that a settlement of this sort is likely to have a particularly important effect on the economy. Moreover, the wages structure in the industry is a complex one, and it is extremely difficult to assess the significance of the recent settlement for the country as a whole.For this reason, I am certain that an impartial study of the implications of this settlement for costs and prices, taking into account other recent settlements in the engineering field, will be extremely valuable.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury when he expects the Report of the Parry Committee on Latin-American Studies at British Universities.

Early next summer.

—		1938	1958	1959	1960	1961	1962
At ages:—
under 15	…	181	333	371	361	353	322
15 and over	…	841	2,053	2,163	2,333	2,292	2,385
All ages	…	1,022	2,386	2,534	2,694	2,645	2,707

asked the Minister of Labour why, in the Choice of Careers Series No. 92, Professional Engineers, published by Her Majesty's Government, no reference is made to traffic engineers; and whether he will make good the omission when the publication is revised.

:The booklet is intended to give young people a general picture of the main branches of engineering and examples of the work of a qualified engineer. It does not attempt to describe all specialist branches. The booklet, however, lists the principal professional engineering institutions, including the Institution of Highway Engineers and other relevant bodies; and advises young people to consult their regulations. I will keep my hon. Friend's suggestion carefully in mind when the booklet is next revised.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the numbers and percentages of boys entering Welsh industry as apprentices; what are the numbers

asked the Minister of Health how many medical officers of health of local health authorities also undertake the duties of chief welfare officer.

:Thirty-two, according to the latest available records.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of deaths from leukaemia in each of the last five years and for 1938, distinguishing so far as possible between adults and children.

Deaths from leukaemia and aleukaemia in England and Wales:of apprentices entering the basic traditional industries and the consumer durables industries, respectively; and what is the number of unemployed boys and girls under 18 years of age in Swansea at the last count.

3,847 boys (24.6%) entered apprenticeships in Wales from January to October 1963. The numbers entering apprenticeships in the basic industries were:

Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry	23
Mining and Quarrying	267
Metal Manufacture	268

Approximately 150 boys entered apprenticeships in the consumer durables industries.72 boys and 16 girls were registered as unemployed in Swansea on 11th November 1963.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have escaped from Dartmoor Prison in each of the last 15 years; how many in each year escaped from outside working parties; and how many of those who escaped from outside working parties had been convicted of crimes involving violence, including armed robbery, robbery with violence, assault, rape, inflicting bodily harm, and resisting arrest, respectively.

The information asked for in the first part of the Question is given in the table below. The information asked for in the second part is not available.

ESCAPES FROM DARTMOOR PRISON
—		From the prison	From outside parties	Total
1949	…	1	7	8
1950	…	—	—	—
1951	…	1	4	5
1952	…	4	—	4
1953	…	—	4	4
1954	…	—	8	8
1955	…	2	8	10
1956	…	—	5	5
1957	…	1	5	6
1958	…	3	2	5
1959	…	3	1	4
1960	…	—	10	10
1961	…	4	9	13
1962	…	6	—.	6
1963	…	5	4	9
		30	67	97

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take the necessary powers to require the promoters of pop and similar entertainments to issue tickets on postal application only, thus avoiding the long and unruly queues of applicants which require large numbers of police to control them.

No.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he is aware of the poor condition of the trees in Trafalgar Square; and what action he proposes to take.

A survey has shown that only four of the plane trees in the Square are in a sound condition. The others are either dead or dying, and there is a risk that they may shed branches and cause injury to passers-by. We are therefore arranging, after consultation with our Advisory Committee on Forestry, for the unhealthy trees to be removed. We are consulting the Committee about replanting.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Treasury how many requests have been made by colleges in Wales to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research for financial assistance to pursue lines of research and exploration initiated in the colleges; and what has been the response.

In the three years ended 30th September, 1963, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research received from the colleges of Wales 94 applications for research grants worth £473,000 and awarded 78 grants worth £366,000. In the same period D.S.I.R. has placed one research contract worth about £6,000 with the colleges of Wales.