asked the Minister of Aviation what further projects he has in mind for the design and production of aircraft jointly with France and other European countries.

It is Government policy to explore all possibilities for joint aircraft projects with France and other allies in Europe. Consideration has been given to various projects of this kind, but I am not in a position to make any statement.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will state the dates on which Messrs. Ferranti Limited were made aware by his Department that the Comptroller and Auditor General was inquiring into the prices fixed for the supply of Bloodhound missiles, that the Comptroller and Auditor General was of the opinion that the prices fixed were excessive, and that the sum total of the amounts included for direct labour and overheads in the agreed prices, relating to production up to 31st March 1961, exceeded by 70 per cent., or £2·7 millions, the total direct labour and overhead cost for that period as finished by his department's accountants; and by whom the information was supplied in each case.

Messrs. Ferranti Limited were first told orally of the nature of the audit query on 29th August, 1963. An official letter was sent to the Company on 15th October.

asked the Minister of Aviation what measures were taken by his Department to check the payments made to Messrs. Ferranti Ltd. in respect of the Bloodhound missiles contract.

Prices under the contract with Messrs. Ferranti were agreed after investigation and report by the Ministry's technical costs officers on the prime costs of labour and materials, and by the Ministry' accountants on overhead rates. Payments were made in accordance with the contract.

asked the Minister of Aviation why contracts in 1962–63 for the supply of electronic valves were placed by his Department with firms who neither provided competitive tenders nor allowed cost investigations.

Competitive tenders are sought for electronic valves, as for other equipment, wherever practicable. When requirements are for valves which are proprietary to an individual firm or which, for some other reason, are obtainable only from one firm, there is no option but to purchase from that firm. Only one firm has refused cost investigation facilities.

asked the Minister of Aviation what is the amount to be expended in the current year's Estimates, and the proposed expenditure in 1964–65, in respect of the P1154, the engine for the AW681 freighter, the American helicopter to be built under licence by Short Harland and the TSR2 aircraft, over and above the order for 20 aircraft already announced; and if he will state the dates on which firm orders for the foregoing were placed.

It is not the practice to reveal the provision in Estimates for individual military projects. Orders for full development of the P1154 and its engine have not yet been placed, but work continues under holding contracts. An order for the engine for the HS681 aircraft will be placed in good time if it is decided to continue with the project. An order for 30 TSR2 aircraft was placed in October, 1963 and the contract is under negotiation. A decision about the Army's requirement for a light helicopter has not yet been taken.

asked the Minister of Aviation what production orders have now been signed for the supply of TSR2 aircraft to Her Majesty's Government; and on what date they were signed.

Orders for 9 development batch aircraft were placed in October, 1960. A preliminary order for 11 pre-production aircraft was placed in June, 1962 and a full order for these aircraft in June, 1963. An order for an initial batch of 30 aircraft for Service use was placed in October, 1963. The contract for these is still under negotiation but the purchase of the necessary long-dated materials has already been authorised.

asked the Minister of Aviation what arrangements he has made with the French authorities in the allocation of work in building the Concord aircraft to ensure that British firms are given an opportunity of providing a portion of the aircraft's electronic equipment.

Important sub-contracts for electronic and other equipment for the Concord require the prior approval of both the French and the British authorities. The purpose of this procedure is to permit the choice of the best equipment whilst taking proper account of the interests of the industries concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction in the public interest, to the British Railways Board that railway police be given instruction in modern parking techniques and courtesy to motorists comparable with that given to members of other police forces.

This would not be a suitable subject for a general direction. Also, the British Railways Board tells me that the training in road traffic law and police procedure given to British Transport police is precisely the same as that given to members of other police forces.

asked the Minister of Transport how many bridges carrying roads or footpaths have been built over railway lines in England, Scotland and Wales since 31st October, 1959; what is the total length of these bridges, in yards; and how many railway level crossing have been abolished as the result of the building of these bridges.

One hundred and eighty-five with a combined length of about 7,200 yards. Thirty-six level crossings have been abolished, but I cannot say how many of these were eliminated by bridge building.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the now accepted danger of contracting lung cancer through smoking, he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the British Railways Board to provide more non-smoking compartments; and if he will make a statement.

No. The proportion of non-smoking compartments in trains is a matter for the British Railways Board to decide.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to take a decision under subsection (11) of Section 56 of the Transport Act, 1962, now that the report of the transport users' consultative committee has been considered dealing with the proposed discontinuance of railway set vices in North Staffordshire and between the Wedgwood Halt station, Trentham, Barlaston, Longton, Blurton, Fenton and the city of Stoke-on-Trent.

I gave my consents to the withdrawal of the railway passenger services from the Stoke Loop line and the Silverdale-Stoke-on-Trent line on 10th January and 13th January, respectively. I consented to the closure of Trentham station on 15th January.I have made it a condition of my consent to the Silverdale-Stoke-on-Trent closure that it must not take place until additional bus services are available for workers travelling between Silverdale and Wedgwood. For Trentham station I have required an adjustment of bus time-tables to suit those who have been using the trains.I sent a copy of my decision letter in each case to the hon. Member. If he has not received them I shall be glad to let him have further copies.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent the study group on traffic problems in London may affect the plans for the construction of the Victoria Line extension and the programming of the Manor House-Walthamstow section.

Plans for new extensions of the London Underground railway system will be drawn up in the light of the results of the London Traffic Survey, with which the London Transport Board are closely associated, and of other current studies of traffic demands. The survey will not affect the programming of work on any section of the line from Victoria to Walthamstow for which the Government's approval was announced on 20th August, 1962.

asked the Minister of Transport why he gave consent to the Railways Board's proposals to withdraw passenger train services from the Aberdare-Abercynon and the Neath-Aberdare-Pontypool lines.

After very careful consideration I was satisfied that most of the hardship which might arise from closure would be alleviated by the maintenance of existing alternative bus services, already used by the vast majority of travellers, and the provision of certain new ones. My consent is subject to these conditions.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will, in the public interest, issue a general direction to the British Railways and London Transport Boards that information respecting the passenger usage of particular stations shall be supplied to Members of Parliament on request, together with any other relevant information needed by Members to enable them more accurately to assess the transport needs of their constituents and the effect of curtailments or closures.

When the statutory notice is given of a passenger closure proposal, the Railways Board, through the Transport Users' Consultative Committee, give particulars of the numbers joining and alighting from each train affected by the proposal. The Board have also agreed to supply such information, where available, to hon. Members on request in advance of notice of closure. I have no doubt that arrangements will be made to provide similar information if and when the London Transport Board propose closures.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce legislation to enable him to refund the travelling expenses of objectors to railway closures wishing to appear before transport users' consultative committees.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will announce his decision on the recommendations of the Transport Users' Consultative Committee of August 1962 on the future of the Porthcawl-Pyle railway in summer.

I have informed the Railways Board that, after considering the recommendation of the Transport Users' Consultative Committee and the other factors involved in providing a service in the summer months only, I agree to the closure of this service.As the hon. Member knows, the winter service ceased, with my agreement, last year.

asked the Minister of Transport, in connection with his conditional consent to the withdrawal of passenger train services between Barry and Bridgend, what is his estimate of the net saving to the Railways Board, after allowing for loss of contributory revenue and parcels traffic; and what is his estimate of the economic and social costs to which the closure will give rise.

The British Railways Board estimate that the net savings, after allowing for loss of contributory revenue, will be of the order of £36,000 per annum. This figure does not allow for any savings consequential upon the closure. Little or no loss in revenue from parcels traffic is expected. The Board are arranging for alternative methods for collection and delivery of parcels. The cost of the alternative bus services that are required is insignificant both in itself and in comparison with the savings from closure. Other economic and social costs of this closure, if in fact they exist at all, are too minute to be measured.

asked the Minister of Transport what percentage of railway passengers pay the full fare; what percentage travel on warrants issued by Government Departments and local authorities; and what percentage travel on concession vouchers.

I am informed by the British Railways Board that the nearest available figures, based on an analysis of passenger journeys in 1962, are as follows:

Fare Category	Passenger Journeys (percentage)
Full Fares*	25·9
Reduced fares (day returns, excursions, etc.)	38·4
Season Tickets†	32·9
Government Warrants for H.M. Forces	·3
Concession vouchers‡	2·5
	100·0
* Includes journeys on warrants exchanged by traders, local authorities and some Government Departments under the Warrant Travel scheme for travel at full fares. Separate figures are not available.
† Journeys computed on the basis of 600 per annum per season ticket.
‡ Concession vouchers relate to travel not available generally to the public, e.g. boy scout tickets, commercial traveller tickets, railway staff privilege tickets, etc.

asked the Minister of Transport in giving his conditional assent to the closure, what was his estimate, allowing for the loss of contributory earnings, of the saving to be achieved by closing the railway service between Silverdale, Newcastle-under-Lyme, and Stoke-on-Trent; and what was his estimate of the economic and social costs of providing adequate alternative transport services.

The British Railways Board tell me that the net savings, after allowing for loss of contributory earnings, will be of the order of £4,000–£5,000 per annum. This figure does not allow for consequential savings elsewhere which usually flow from a closure and can be considerable. No specific extra costs can be attributed to the bus services required as a condition of the closure, and I am satisfied that the closure will not give rise to measurable economic or social costs.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce legislation to require motorists convicted of an offence whilst driving to be issued with a temporary licence and required to pass a further driving test before regaining their full licence.

The court already has power to order driving tests for drivers convicted of the more serious driving offences (listed in Parts I and II of Schedule 1 to Road Traffic Act 1962). I think this is adequate.

asked the Minister of Transport how many letters from Members of Parliament he has received in the last 12 months conveying complaints about the way in which driving tests are conducted.

Twenty-two.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will have early consultations with Newbury Borough Council to agree terms for a pilot scheme of urban redevelopment based on the proposals for Newbury in the Buchanan Report on Traffic in Towns and the similar proposals put forward by the Berkshire planning authority.

I am considering with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government what case studies of the techniques of urban redevelopment should be undertaken with selected local authorities. I will bear my hon. Friend's suggestion in mind.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that on certain occasions police evidence in the courts invalidates vehicle test certificates; what action he takes on such occasions to satisfy himself that the certificates were properly issued; and if he will make a statement.

Whenever there is reason to suspect that a test certificate may have been improperly issued an investigation is made by technical officers at the garage which issued it. Following this an individual tester can be disqualified or the garage can lose its authorisation.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he proposes to take to ensure that ambulances on their way to hospital are given priority by other traffic on the roads.

Ambulances are authorised to use special light and sound signals. I do not think that I can add to the priority which they are generally given.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects additional bus services between Silverdale in Newcastle-under-Lyme and the Wedgwood factory to be authorised and provided; and on what date his consent, which is to be conditional on the provision of those bus services, to the closure of railway services between Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, and Silverdale will become operative.

My consent made it clear that the rail services are not to be withdrawn until the additional bus services are available. The Railways Board cannot fix a firm date until the Traffic Commissioners have heard the bus operator's application for the necessary road service licence. I will let the hon. Member know the Commissioners' decision.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce legislation to require the provision on public transport of cheap fares to old-age pensioners, in view of the hardship at present suffered by them.

No, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave him on 15th January.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will cause an inquiry to be made into the conditions under which the commuting public of South-East London travel to work, with particular reference to the exacerbation of these problems which will be caused by the increase in the population of the area contemplated in the present housing policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Studies are already in hand which will help the forward planning of transport facilities in relation to new housing and other developments, notably the South-East Regional Study and the London Traffic Survey. The British Railways and London Transport Boards, who are responsible for providing passenger transport facilities in London, are fully associated with these studies.

asked the Minister of Transport what further consideration he has given to the improvement of lighting on motor vehicles, particularly in respect of preventing the excessively radiant glare of rear indicator lights and of the necessity of heavy lorries and similar vehicles having small non-glare lights at their upper carriers.

At my request a new British Standards Specification has been prepared for motor vehicle lighting and signalling equipment. Part I of this specification, which has now been published, sets both minimum and maximum limits for the luminous intensity of side and rear lamps. To limit glare from stop lights and direction indicators, the specification sets lower intensities for use in darkness than in daylight. I am considering the introduction of Regulations making it compulsory for lamps on new vehicles to conform to this specification. I am also reviewing the Regulations controlling front and rear lighting generally.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce regulations to make it compulsory for mud flaps to be fitted to all vehicles.

I understand that the work of the Road Research Laboratory on the problems of spray may lead to useful results, particularly for heavy vehicles. Practical experiments are continuing. The Laboratory's studies include rigid mudguards and flaps. When conclusions have been reached, I will consider whether new Regulations should be made.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce legislation to give himself power to control the activities of transport users' consultative committees.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the number of fatal accidents caused by heavy vehicles being parked without rear lights on roads, he will introduce legislation making it compulsory for all heavy vehicles to carry independent warning lights in case of a vehicle having to be so parked.

It is an offence to leave a heavy vehicle unlit on the road in darkness. To deal with temporary obstructions I propose shortly to make regulations authorising the use of special warning signs. When there has been some experience of their use in this country, I will consider whether legislation should be introduced making it compulsory to carry these signs.

asked the Minister of Transport what effect the continued concentration of office building in the southeast of England is having on transport problems in the area.

As stated in Cmnd. Paper 1952, a detailed analysis of related housing, employment and transport problems in the whole area is being made as part of the South-East Study. The growth of office employment is an important element in the Study. Because of the transport implications, my Department has been closely associated with work on it. The conclusions of the Buchanan Report will, of course, be taken into account in our future planning for this and other regions.

asked the Minister of Transport how many persons were killed or injured on roads in Britain in 1962 and in 1963; and whether the primary cause of these accidents was the machine, the individual or the environment.

In 1962, 341,696 persons were killed or injured in road accidents in Great Britain. In the first eleven months of 1963 the figure was 324,054, an increase of 4 per cent. over the corresponding period of 1962. While improved road behaviour, better vehicle design and maintenance and better roads all play an important part in reducing accidents, it is not possible to classify causes of accidents according to these general categories.

asked the Minister of Transport if the number of accidents has increased on streets with sufficient width for at least four lanes of traffic after they have been made one-way streets.

In some major one-way schemes in London, the number of accidents involving personal injury in streets four or more lanes wide has fallen after the introduction of one-way working; in others it has risen. The average over the 3⅓ miles of road concerned shows a decrease, but it is too slight to be statistically significant.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of concern and danger to road users caused by temporary road signs and warnings being left in position long after their purpose has been served; what are the instructions of his Department to contractors and road authorities on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

I am well aware of the danger. That is why I have on a number of occasions brought to the attention of local highway authorities, statutory undertakers and contractors the importance of removing signs as soon as they have served their purpose. I have also recommended to them that compliance with the Traffic Safety Codes for Road Works and other Emergencies should be made a condition of contract. I shall draw their attention again to these matters when the new traffic signs Regulations are made, and the Manual and combined Traffic Safety Code are published.

asked the Minister of Transport what road improvements he contemplates at the junction of A.660 and A.65 at Burley in Wharfedale; and if he will consult the Ilkley Urban District Council before he arrives at a final decision.

A scheme for widening the approaches to this junction with a series of islands to guide traffic has been approved, in conjunction with the West Riding County Council, who are the local highway authority. I understand the county council has consulted the Ilkley Urban District Council about adjustments that will be necessary to the lighting system. The scheme has been included in the programme in the next financial year.

asked the Minister of Transport how many bridges carrying roads or footpaths have been built over motorways or dual-carriageway roads in England, Scotland and Wales since 31st October, 1959; and what is the total length in yards of these bridges.

448. Their total length is about 17,300 yards.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement on the progress of the construction of the M.1 road; and how many miles of the road he proposes to open for use this year.

Thirty-nine miles of the extension of this motorway are under construction. About 7½ miles are expected to come into use this year. Tenders for further sections are being invited as the statutory processes and engineering preparations are completed.

asked the Minister of Transport when it is intended to provide telephones on the Doncaster bypass having regard to the fact that the much shorter Stevenage bypass has an emergency telephone on each side of the road.

Emergency telephones will be provided at one mile intervals on the Doncaster bypass when it is linked to the extension of M.1. The two telephones on Stevenage bypass were provided by the police.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will put cats eyes on motorways to assist drivers in fog and darkness.

It is standard practice to provide these reflecting road studs on all motorways.

asked the Minister of Transport what minimum 24-hour traffic count he requires before authorising a pedestrian crossing at any point; and whether he will modify this requirement to take account of dangerous road-crossings where there is a peak of traffic and pedestrians at particular times falling short of the 24-hour minimum.

A census of pedestrians and vehicles at the site of a proposed crossing is only one of the factors to consider before deciding if a crossing is justified. There are no minimum figures; in differing circumstances the numbers of vehicles and pedestrians would be given different weight and prevent a decision being taken on the basis of traffic flows alone.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the increasing danger to the public, nuisance from noise and fumes, obstruction, interference with privacy, lowering of amenity standards and general annoyance to residents caused by the over-night parking of heavy lorries in Islington and other residential areas in London; and if he will take steps to provide proper lorry parks outside the London traffic area, and to prohibit the parking of lorries in London except for loading and unloading.

I am aware of the situation in Islington. In the absence of adequate off-street parking space for lorries necessarily entering London it would be wrong to prohibit all on-street parking there by lorries but action by the police and the opening in 1962 of a lorry park in Baynes Street have led to an improvement in conditions. We need more lorry parks. Their provision is a responsibility of local authorities and a field for private enterprise.

asked the Minister of Transport what further studies and experiments are being undertaken on alternative systems of road pricing and their effects on different classes of users, in the light of the views of the Crowther Steering Group to the Buchanan Committee that heavy taxation would limit driving in cities to the rich or the privileged.

Restraint of traffic by charging moving vehicles for the use of congested road space has far-reaching economic, social and administrative implications. I am at present considering what studies of these may be desirable.

asked the Minister of Transport which design he has selected for the Calder Bridge, near Wakefield.

No decision has yet been made.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he intends to take in the light of the view of the Buchanan Committee that travel by public transport could be the key to the problem of congestion in towns caused by private cars provided that public transport was made relatively cheap by means of a different financial policy.

There is no simple way of making urban public transport more attractive. It will need a concerted attack by Government, local authorities and transport operators. In my Answer to the hon. Member for St. Helens (Mr. G. R. Howard) on 24th January I outlined some of the steps we are taking to tackle this problem.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he proposes to hold further open competitions with large money prizes for bridge designs; and to what extent he proposes to use his own consulting engineers for this work.

I do not intend to hold regular competitions, though occasionally it may be desirable to follow this method to stimulate interest and new ideas. The design of structures on roads for which I am responsible will continue to be undertaken to my approval either by the Highway Authority acting as my agent or by such consulting engineer as I appoint.

asked the Minister of Transport when work will start on building a second carriageway to the A.2 from Strood westwards.

I expect the scheme to be started this Spring.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now take steps to ban, in the interests of road safety, lorries from using the third or fast lane in three-lane motorways.

Not at present, as I said in my reply to my hon. Friend on 10th December last and to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Charles A. Howell) on 29th January.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will initiate an inquiry into the advisability of varying the existing speed limit of 30 miles per hour, and of introducing a system of variable speed limits in its place.

The validity of the existing general urban 30 m.p.h. limit has been re-examined from time to time and I see no need at present for a new inquiry.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects the work in connection with the Penarth Road bridge to be completed; and whether it is up to schedule.

Work on the bridge over the River Ely is on schedule and should be completed by the end of August.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will arrange for a pedestrian crossing to be provided on trunk road A.449 at its junction with Hospital Lane in Powick.

No, I do not consider a pedestrian crossing is justified here.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the mileage of trunk roads in the counties of Brecon and Radnor, respectively; what modern snow clearing equipment is now available; what new equipment is to be made available under his plan; and whether he is satisfied that the trunk roads, where alternative bus services are expected to run due to closure of rail services, are sufficiently catered for.

There are 107 miles of trunk road in Brecon and 45 miles in Radnor. I am sending the hon. Member particulars of the snow clearing equipment available there. I am satisfied that it is reasonably adequate in the light of the amount of traffic. Last winter trunk roads in these counties, including lengths used for substitute bus services, were kept open except for brief periods.

asked the Minister of Transport how many local authorities have adopted the disc system of parking; and what have been the results.

None. But Cheltenham are preparing a disc scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport when Her Majesty's Government will take a decision on the development of a British nuclear-propelled merchant ship.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps are taken to ensure that distress flares are not used for purposes other than safety at sea.

Under the International Collision Regulations vessels are prohibited from using distress flares, except in cases of distress, and from using any signals which may be confused with distress flares.

asked the Minister of Transport what sanction of capital developments he has given to secure the re-equipment of the principal iron ore handling ports to take ships of an economic size, in view of the urgency attached to this by the Rochdale Committee.

There are two Bills now before Parliament seeking authority for the construction of new major ore terminals in South Wales and I understand that the normal hearings will start fairly soon.

asked the Minister of Defence what decision he has now taken on aircraft to replace the Hunter and the Sea Vixen.

asked the Minister of Defence what consideration he has given to the design studies he has received for the P1154 aircraft; and when he now expects to place orders for this aircraft.

I have nothing to add at present to what I said on this subject on 11th December last.

asked the Minister of Defence whether, taking January 1952, as being 100, he will give the annual percentage rise or fall to date in expenditure on national defence.

Taking fiscal year 1952–3 as being 100 the figures are:

Year		At current prices	At constant prices
1952/53	…	100	100
1953/54	…	97	95
1954/55	…	104	99
1955/56	…	101	92
1956/57	…	109	91
1957/58	…	103	81
1958/59	…	105	78
1959/60	…	106	76
1960/61	…	115	82
1961/62	…	121	84
1962/63	…	126	86
1963/64	…	131 (Estimated)	85 (Estimated)

asked the Minister of Defence what financial assistance Her Majesty's Government are giving and propose to give to the various Polish organisations in this country set up for the purposes of helping those Poles who fought on the allied side in the last war and who remain in this country.

£50,000 has been provided in the current financial year. It is proposed to increase this to £75,000 next year.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will take such action as may be necessary to enable postage stamps to be sold below the fixed price or given away with retail purchases.

No.

asked the Postmaster-General in what circumstances the mailbags lost between Birmingham and Bedford in early January were found; on what date this occurred; and why the loss of those mailbags was not reported for several days.

These bags were despatched from Sutton Coldfield and intended for Bedford. As the van containing them was found at Stockport on 30th Janunary it was obviously attached to the wrong train by the railways. If the disappearance had been reported sooner there is no guarantee that the van would have been found sooner. Nevertheless there was a delay and when I have finished my inquiries I shall consider taking disciplinary action.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the unaddressed mail delivery service will extend to letters from France and other European countries.

No. Items intended for delivery by the Post Office Household Delivery Service must be posted in this country.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will give the annual percentage rise or fall since October, 1951 in the charges made to the general public for all services and items supplies by the General Post Office, taking 100 as the basis for the cost of each unit or service in October 1951.

I estimate that Post Office charges as a whole rose in the twelve years beginning October 1951 by an average of about 4 per cent. net per annum.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the full text of the bulk supply agreements.

The full text of the bulk supply agreements for telephone apparatus and exchange equipment is too lengthy for inclusion in the OFFICIAL REPORT, but I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library. It would be contrary to practice to make public the prices at which contracts are placed and these copies will not, therefore, include the price schedules.

asked the Postmaster-General what sums have been paid in each year since 1957 to concerns outside the Post Office for telegraph and telephone apparatus, as defined in Part 58 of the Census of Production 1958, the installation of telegraph and telephone apparatus, and the repair and maintenance of telegraph and telephone apparatus, respectively.

The information will take some time to compile. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is ready.

asked the Postmaster-General how many amplified telephone handsets for deaf people have been installed during the last year to the latest convenient date; and what was the estimated additional revenue received for their installation and rental.

Our records do not give this information in detail. Approximately 5,000 amplifying telephone handsets were, however, issued from central stocks in the year ending September 1963. The present rental is 15s. a quarter, but as indicated in my reply to another Question by the hon. Member, I am reviewing the possibility of reducing this. No charge is made for fitting on a new installation, but the normal change-of-instrument charge of 30s. is payable when a special visit is necessary.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will provide partially deaf people with amplified telephone handsets on the same terms as those not amplified.

I have every sympathy with the special problems of the deaf, and I am glad to be able to help them in some way with the amplifying telephone handset. But I have to keep in mind the finances of the Post Office and ensure that our charges are economically sound. I am anxious to keep these charges as low as possible, and am reviewing the possibility of reducing the present rental of 15s. a quarter for an amplified telephone handset. I hope to be able to write to the hon. Member shortly.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of Members of Parliament who appeared on British Broadcasting Corporation sound and television programmes during the months of October, November, and December 1963.

This is not a matter for me but for the B.B.C. Although they do not I understand produce generalised lists of this sort, they are willing to produce the information for particular programmes, whenever this can be done without undue work or expense.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that plans are being made to broadcast commercial radio programmes to Britain from a ship moored off Harwich; and what action he proposes to take.

Yes, I am aware of these plans. Such broadcasting would contravene International Regulations and endanger international agreements on the sharing of radio frequencies. It would almost certainly cause serious interference to radio-communications in this and other countries. The Council of Europe has under consideration a Convention aimed at preventing broadcasting from ships on the high seas. This may point to the need for new legislation in due course. Meanwhile I am glad to say that I have had very encouraging indications that responsible interests in this country have no intention of supporting any such venture. I am keeping a close watch on the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much of the additional £30 million public investment expenditure in the current year in Central Scotland is in respect of housing.

£13 million; bringing the total public investment in housing for Central Scotland in 1963–64 to £58 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average weekly cost of food for male and female prisoners, respectively, in Scottish prisons in the most recent available period; and how much of this was in respect of fresh meat, fresh fruit, and vegetables, respectively.

For the year ending in March, 1963 the average weekly cost of food for prisoners and borstal inmates was 15s. 6d. The only difference in diet between males and females is that women and girls get less dried vegetables and bread. Both figures include 2s. 3d. for meat, 3s. for fresh vegetables and 4d. for fresh fruit. They do not include the

—		Place of Residence		Experience in Transport Services
Mr. R. H. W. Bruce (Chairman)	…	Shetland	…	Rail transport from 1930 to 1946.
Mr. J. Amos, C.B.E.	…	Peebles-shire	…	Road passenger transport from1919 to 1963.
Mr. B. Boxall	…	Surrey	…	Civil aviation and rail transport in United Kingdom and Ireland.
Mr. D. Currie, O. B. E., J.P.	…	Glasgow	…	Trade Union experience concerned with civil air transport.
Mr. I. R. Hilleary	…	Skye	…	Rural bus services.
Mr. J. A. Keyden	…	Renfrewshire	…	Manufacture of transport equipment for rail and aircraft services.
Mr. J. C. Robertson	…	Dunbartonshire	…	Coastal shipping Services.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has asked the Highland Transport Board to consider the proposed closure of the line between Inverness and Wick.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Air, if the sale of Chalgrove Airfield to the Martin Baker Aircraft Company has now been completed on the basis that if and when the company decides, to dispose of the property it would be offered back to the original owners at the then ruling agricultural land price; or whether, as an alternative to sale, the property will be leased and not sold to the company.

The Martin Baker Company has accepted in principle the idea of a long lease, as an alternative to outright purchase of the airfield. The detailed work of drawing up a lease has begun and when the negotiations as to the terms of the lease have been concluded I shall be ready to make a further statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of members of the Highland Transport Board, together with details of their place of residence and experience in transport services.

Yes. The following are the details:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what conditions Her Majesty's Government imposed on the use of arms, aircraft and other military supplies exported to Iraq.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the sum reserved for loans to under-developed countries to purchase capital goods from under-employed British industries has been taken up; what burden he estimates this has placed on imports; and whether he will take further action to use capacity still under-employed.

I originally estimated that an additional £10 million worth of aid to developing countries might be provided from the products of industries with spare capacity. In fact, loan agreements with overseas Governments for a sum considerably in excess of this have been signed, and one or two further proposals are still the subject of negotiations. It is not possible to estimate the import content of this additional aid. We shall continue to take spare industrial capacity into account both in planning our aid programme and in considering particular proposals.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to prevent an increase in the interest rate for loans for housing from the Public Works Loan Board in the event of a rise in Bank Rate.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of money made available for distribution as prizes for Premium Bond holders in 1963; and what amount of that money was not claimed by prizewinners.

The total amount of money made available as Premium Bond prizes in 1963 was £17,242,900. Of this sum, £54,625 had not been claimed by 31st January, 1964.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, taking the year 1951 as being 100, he will give the annual percentage rise or fall in the rates of Surtax.

There has been no change in the rates of Surtax since 1951–52.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications have been received by the Treasury for the export of capital by persons who wish to buy or build a house for their own use in the non-sterling area; and how many of these applications have been approved.

In general exports of capital by persons for this purpose are not permitted. No record is kept of the number of enquiries. Exceptionally, official exchange is allowed, subject to appropriate conditions, to applicants who establish a strong and urgent case for residence abroad on grounds of ill-health. During 1963 526 applications of this type were made, of which 337 were approved. About 600 applications were approved in 1963 for the use for the purchase of houses of funds resulting from the sale of properties outside the Sterling Area already owned by United Kingdom residents; these transactions did not involve a fresh export of capital.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the present state of the law governing arrangements for the recovery by the police of bodies from the sea and the extent to which other organisations co-operate in this task; and if he will make a statement.

I am not aware of any legal provisions on this matter. The police usually undertake the task in waters adjacent to their areas, and I am assured that they normally receive generous co-operation from other organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the terms in which the up-to-date views of interested organisations are being sought as to the need for further legislation on shops; and if he will give a list of the organisations to whom the inquiry has been addressed.

Yes. My Department has today issued a letter to a number of national organisations in the following terms:Home Office,Whitehall,London, S.W.1.5th February, 1964.Dear Sir,

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals have been made by the Horserace Betting Levy Board for a change of policy in regard to the National Stud; and if he will make a statement.

The Board have sought my approval of a proposal to discontinue the keeping of brood mares at the Stud and to concentrate on top class stallions.The purpose of the Stud, as recommended by the Loraine Committee and accepted by the Government, is to help to maintain the high standard of the English thoroughbred horse which has gained it a worldwide reputation. The Committee recommended the keeping of mares in order to ensure continuity in breeding of the highest quality. Since they did so, conditions in the private breeding industry have changed, and all the great blood lines of mares are now well represented in it. After full investigation and consideration, and after consulting the industry, the Levy Board have concluded that the danger of these lines ceasing to be preserved in private studs is remote; and that the right policy is to concentrate the Stud's resources on keeping stallions. The Board will purchase, or acquire shares in, high class stallions in order to prevent their export and to make their services available to British breeders.I have approved the Board's proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what reply he has made to the letter addressed to him by the hon. Members for Eton and Slough and for Ashfield about military forces in Cyprus.

The hon. Members should by now have received my reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether he is in a position to make a statement about the progress of the discussions on Cyprus.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies which I gave to the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough, East (Mr. Bottomley) and the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) on 30th January.

asked the Attorney-General what profit or loss the office of the Public Trustee has made in each of the last 10 years from the fees, charges and costs incurred by managing funds in its care.

The financial results of the Public Trustee's administration during the last 10 years were as follows.

Year 31st March			Deficit	Surplus
			£	£
1954	…	…	70,398	—
1955	…	…	973	—
1956	…	…	—	679
1957	…	…	—	19,201
1958	…	…	—	4,424
1959	…	…	—	12,065
1960	…	…	51,962	—
1961	…	…	22,234	—
1962	…	…	22,832	—
1963	…	…	6,014	—
			(Provisional)

asked the Attorney-General what steps are being taken to consolidate the rules relating to juvenile courts.

The drafting of consolidating rules is in hand, and my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor hopes to be able, after consultation with the Rule Committee, to make the rules in the course of this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the national average cost per acre for sugar beet production in 1953 and 1963.

No estimates are made of the national average costs per acre for sugar beet production. However, a sample survey on 150 farms in Eastern England showed that the average net cost of producing the 1954 sugar beet crop was £53 10s. per acre. In a similar sample survey of the 1962 crop on 60 farms in Eastern England, the average net cost of production was £61 7s. per acre.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what factor is allowed in the Annual Price Review for changes in the rating of agricultural cottages; and whether he is aware that in the Lionfield and Tamworth Area rates for an identical cottage serving identical purposes have risen since 1957 by £10 10s. 4d. per annum.

Changes in rates are taken into account at Annual Review in respect of those farm cottages which are occupied by agricultural workers. My right hon. Friend is aware that rates on these, as on other properties, have increased since 1957.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the estimated increase in the cost of repairs and maintenance of a diesel tractor used on farms in England since 1953.

Aggregate expenditure by farmers on machinery repairs in the United Kingdom is estimated to have increased by about 40 per cent., between the farm years 1952–53 and 1962–63. Changes in repair expenses for particular types of machinery cannot be accurately identified.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the national average cost of production per score of Grade A pigs in 1957 and 1963.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many milk producers have gone out of business in Staffordshire since 1957; and whether he is aware of the hardship caused to milk producers in general, and farmers with holdings of 50 acres and less in particular, owing to the lack of profitability in milk; and what action he proposes to take;(2) if he is aware that the cost of milk production on a 50 acre holding in Staffordshire since 1959 has increased by 3d. per bushel for wet feeding grain, 35 per cent. for electricity, and 10 per cent. for water supply; and what policy he proposes to enable such farmers to make a living.

The number of farmers in Staffordshire registered as wholesale milk producers with the Milk Marketing Board fell from 5,140 in 1957 to 4,200 in 1963. But over the same period the number of cows in the county increased by about 4 per cent. and the quantity of milk produced for sale by 11 per cent. Prices of feedingstuffs, electricity and water supplies have increased since 1959; the precise charges on a particular farm would depend on the individual circumstances.The level of dairy incomes will of course be taken into account at this year's annual review, although naturally cannot anticipate the Government's decisions. Meanwhile, the Small Farmer Scheme is helping many small farmers to improve their incomes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much the price of liquid milk in the last Price Review exceeded the average price received by all milk producers in each calendar month since the publication of the review.

The guaranteed price to the Milk Marketing Board for England and Wales, as determined at the last review, is 38·40d. a gallon related to a standard quantity of 1742·5 million gallons. This is an annual figure and it is left to the Board to determine how it should be applied to producers' prices over the year. The average monthly prices provisionally announced by the Board at the beginning of the year and as finally determined up to the end of January, after deduction for ex-farm transport averaging about 1·1d. a gallon, are as follows (figures in pence per gallon):

—		Provisional	Final
1963
April	…	32·79	33·37
May	…	24·11	24·62
June	…	24·06	24·30
July	…	28·24	29·03
August	…	32·98	32·98
September	…	35·81	36·51
October	…	36·48	37·25
November	…	36·89	39·35
December	…	37·29	40·24
1964
January	…	37·42	40·54
February	…	36·92
March	…	36·16

It is expected that over the whole of the year the producers' price will average about 34·75d. a gallon, an increase of about 1¾ per gallon compared with 1962–63.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning the return on capital, including land, buildings, equipment and stock in respect of farms of 100 to 150 acres in the West Midlands.

The Ministry does not collect information about the return on total farm capital, including land and buildings. The return will, of course, vary substantially from farm to farm according to individual circumstances.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will make a statement on post-graduate awards and, in particular, rates and scales to be applied, conditions of eligibility and qualifications, and the system of allocation.

My right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council announced in this House on 27th January, 1964, increases in the number of post-graduate Studentships both in the Sciences and in the Arts and Social Studies.The number of State Studentships in the Arts and Social Studies for England and Wales, which are my concern, will be 900—compared with 417 in 1963. This total allows for the extension of the State Studentship scheme, which has been mainly concerned with advanced research courses, to include advanced courses of an instructional character. Up to 200 of the 900 awards will be available for this purpose.State Studentships are awarded on advice tendered to me by a Selection Committee, composed of University vice-chancellors and professors. They cover the cost of fees and a maintenance grant of £450 a year—£340 for those who live at home—but additional allowances are payable in certain cases. I am sending the hon. Member a memorandum which sets out in detail the conditions affecting these awards, which are in almost every respect the same as for D.S.I.R. Studentships and for State Studentships in Scotland.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, taking October, 1951, as being 100, what has been the annual percentage rise or fall in the cost of building a local authority three-bedroom council house to date, assuming an identical cubic capacity in each case.

Figures based on cubic capacity are not available but the following table shows the changes in the average cost of a local authority 2-storey 3-bedroomed house for the last quarter of each year since 1951. The figures are based on tender prices, excluding land and services and have been adjusted to a standard area of 900 square feet.

4th Quarter 1951 = 100
4th Quarter 1952	…	…	…	105
4th Quarter 1953	…	…	…	106
4th Quarter 1954	…	…	…	107
4th Quarter 1955	…	…	…	110
4th Quarter 1956	…	…	…	115
4th Quarter 1957	…	…	…	115
4th Quarter 1958	…	…	…	114
4th Quarter 1959	…	…	…	121
4th Quarter 1960	…	…	…	128
4th Quarter 1961	…	…	…	142
4th Quarter 1962	…	…	…	153
4th Quarter 1963	…	…	…	172

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will give an assurance that the anomalies which have arisen as a result of recent decisions on the rateability of buildings connected with new developments in agriculture such as intensive poultry breeding will be considered when the review proposed by the Government for the rating system is undertaken.

As I indicated in my reply on 29th November to my hon. and gallan Friend the Member for Knutsford (Sir W. Bromley-Davenport) the rateability of such buildings will be considered as part of the review.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what was the average price of sugar beet farm production machinery in 1957 and 1963.