asked the Minister of Transport what discussions he has had with local authorities in the Greater London area on the provision of additional off-street parking facilities.

My Department and I have had many discussions with local authorities in Greater London on this subject. These continue. My right hon. Friend, the Minister of Housing and Local Government, and I, intend as soon as possible to issue a Joint Planning Bulletin on Parking in Town Centres. It will include advice on off-street parking facilities.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made with research into the design of rigid mudguarding to make this more effective in preventing wheels of vehicles from throwing spray into the path of following vehicles.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South (Mr. Hocking) on 5th February.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consult commercial and industrial transport undertakings on the possibility of removing their administrative headquarters and divisional offices to centres of relatively high unemployment such as Liverpool, where this will not result in any loss of efficiency, and consult such other undertakings as are already in such areas on the advisability of remaining there.

No. I do not consider that any special consultation of the kind proposed is needed in the case of transport undertakings, who are, of course, aware of the Government's general objective to secure a more even spread of economic activity throughout the country.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has reviewed, in the light of his acceptance of the Buchanan Report, the effect upon transport facilities in the south-east corner of England of the decision to transfer Government Departments from London to that area.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement, in the light of the Buchanan Report, on the problems involved for public and private transport because of the substantial employment in offices in the south-east of England.

I would refer the hon. Members to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Kilmarnock (Mr. Ross) on 5th February.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the current annual interest charges payable in respect of capital investment in public highways and public railways, respectively, distinguishing between charges on new investment and on historic investment and showing by whom and to whom the charges are payable.

Information in the form specified is not available, but statistical returns received from local authorities in England and Wales show that in 1962–63 they paid about £5·8 million interest on loans for highway purposes. The interest payable by the British Railways Board for the year 1963 was approximately £60 million, including a provisional amount of £47·3 million payable to the Exchequer and about £12 million on railway savings bank and pension fund deposits, but these figures include charges in respect of rolling stock.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is now ready to introduce power-weight ratio regulations for commercial vehicles.

Not yet. This is a complicated problem and it is bound to take time to produce a really effective scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent the latest records show the relative importance, as contributory causes to accidents, of drink, speed, and intolerance and impatience of drivers; and whether he will seek powers to enable motorists who are seen to be driving dangerously to be given a formal and registered warning.

The accident records cannot show the relative importance of the many factors which contribute to accidents.The answer to the second part of the Question is "No". Written as well as oral warnings are already issued to motorists by the police in cases where they do not prosecute. We do not think any other system would be acceptable.

asked the Minister of Transport what action is taken to distribute copies of the Highway Code to foreign tourists arriving by car ferry in this country; and what action is taken to explain the contents of the code to them.

Each foreign tourist who arrives in this country by car is given a copy of the Highway Code by one of the motoring organisations. He can also get from them a copy of a British Travel and Holidays Association leaflet which includes an explanation, in French and German, of the more important rules.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of recent accidents involving heavily loaded lorries, if he will consider the imposition of the five-year roadworthiness test which operates for private cars.

I am considering what arrangements can best be made for the regular inspection of heavy goods vehicles which are not included in the existing scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport how many driving licences have withdrawn from road haulage contractors in respect of offences relating to vehicles driven by their employees under the provisions of the Road Traffic Act, 1962.

I regret that the information is !tat available.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has to construct, before the completion of the Channel Tunnel, adequate motorway links between the tunnel and the North of England.

In considering future extensions of my road programme, I will at the appropriate time take into account the traffic likely to be generated by the Channel Tunnel.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has for coordinating rail and road traffic using the proposed Channel Tunnel.

The tunnel will take special ferry trains for road vehicles as well as normal rail services. It is too early to say exactly how these various services will be co-ordinated; but in discussions with the French Government full consideration will be given to the need to balance the needs of different types of user.

asked the Minister of Transport on which date Her Majesty's Government decided to proceed with the plan for the construction of a Channel Tunnel and an early geological survey; and what information on this decision was conveyed to the Press.

Her Majesty's Government's decision in principle to proceed with the plan for the construction of a Channel Tunnel was taken shortly before my statement to the House on 6th February. The joint decision by Her Majesty's Government and the French Government was announced as soon as the terms of a statement were agreed between the two Governments. No information on the decision was conveyed to the Press before that announcement. It was made available in the usual way at that time.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that long-term parking by private cars and lorries in the Greater London area is increasing year by year to the detriment of the roads and streets concerned; and what proposals he has for limiting this additional hazard to road safety.

I am aware that with more vehicles on the roads the demand for long-term parking is increasing in Greater London. I am limiting the hazard this might cause by restricting waiting on busy traffic routes and, in many places, by comprehensive parking control. The increasing provision of off-street garages by local authorities and by private enterprise is also helping.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he proposes to take to keep long-distance and other forms of through traffic out of urban areas that have been provided with by-pass routes.

If a town has an adequate by pass route, and if the local authority is anxious to keep through traffic, especially heavy goods vehicles, out of the town centre, we will willingly consider what we can do to help. We have already confirmed Orders in this sense made by two Councils, and my right hon. Friend proposes himself to make Regulations prohibiting through lorries from using certain streets in the City of London during the day.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects his study of the traffic problem in London to be completed; and when recommendations in regard to particular areas in Greater London will be available to local authorities now preparing road plans and schemes of redevelopment in those areas.

The first results of the London Traffic Survey, commissioned jointly by the London County Council and my Department, will be published this spring. They will analyse existing traffic patterns. A further report later this year will examine transport needs in 1971 and 1981. More study is needed to determine the best overall transport system to meet these needs, and arrangements for this are being discussed now.The survey will not in itself produce a set of detailed recommendations for road improvement schemes in particular areas, but it will provide an invaluable basis for these to be worked out by the authorities concerned. Information from the survey can be made available to local authorities in advance of publication where this would help on specific projects and would not interfere unduly with the progress of the survey.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made on the start of the North to South Wales trunk road.

The route already exists and is being progressively improved. Improvements costing about £312,000 are in hand or have recently been completed.

asked the Minister of Transport when a pedestrian crossing will be provided on the Rayleigh Road, at Hutton, Essex; and if he will make a statement.

On present evidence we do not consider it would be right to provide a pedestrian crossing here, for reasons which have been explained fully in writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport what decision he has made in regard to the proposal for a continuation of the A.10, Cambridge, Road to link with Road B.138 at Hornsey.

No such proposal has been made to us.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) why his Department is advising local authorities that children and old people are not really equipped to use pedestrian crossings safely, in view of the fact that children are continually advised to use such crossings in leaflets published by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and other bodies;(2) what facilities he recommends should be provided to enable children and old people to cross main roads in safety, in view of his advice to local authorities that children and old people are not really equipped to use pedestrian crossings safely.

It is right that children and old people should use pedestrian crossings if they are available and if there is no better protection such as an escort. But since an escort is very much safer for these classes of pedestrians my Department advises this means of protection if possible. This is a very difficult and urgent problem and we are giving special attention to it in our review of pedestrian crossing policy as a whole.

asked the Minister of Transport when the hon. Member for Stalybridge and Hyde will be sent a reply to his letter of 9th December, 1963, about the proposed road development in Dukinfield.

A reply was sent last week.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the worsening traffic delays at Tower Bridge, London; what estimate has been made of the cost to the public and to industry of these delays; what discussions have taken place since 1st January, 1960, to deal with the situation; what has been the result; when the next discussions are to take place; and what future improvements are planned.

We are aware that with the general increase in traffic the delays caused by the opening of the Bridge for shipping are worsening. A recent estimate is that each day-time opening causes delay costing £70, totalling over £34,000 a year.There have been frequent discussions about methods of improving traffic conditions generally in the area and these continue. Many possible methods are planned or under consideration and we are sending details to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's intentions regarding proposals for a new Mersey tunnel.

Proposals for a second tunnel between north Liverpool and Wallasey have been agreed by all the Merseyside local authorities concerned except Birkenhead. There is thus a stalemate. Unless the local authorities can themselves resolve it, I shall be calling a meeting of all the local authorities and the Merseyside Members on 14th February to consider what legislation would be needed to resolve the stalemate.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a further statement following his examination of the conditions which existed on the M.1 motorway on 21st January, 1964, and the numerous accidents which arose therefrom; and if he will also consider, as a means of reducing the hazards of fog on motorways, the installation of electrically operated foghorns at suitable intervals to give audible advance warning to all drivers of the impending danger.

Until I have studied the detailed reports for which I have asked on the accidents on M.1 and other motorways on 21st January, I cannot usefully add to my replies to my hon. Friend the Member for Broms grove on Wednesday, 22nd January. As for foghorns, I am prepared to consider the possible use of any device which reduces danger in fog. But I must emphasise that no warning system, however ingenious, can relieve people of the responsibility of driving at speeds adjusted to the lmits of their visibility.

asked the Minister of Transport that length of time elapsed between the publication of the final agreed scheme and the opening of the first section of the London-Yorkshire motorway to traffic; and what will be the equivalent period of time in the case of the 39-mile extension from Crick to Lockington Junction.

Three years and four years 10 months, respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport when he proposes to start work on the Hard Ings Road bypass, Keighley.

Land acquisition has proved to be more difficult than we expected but we hope to authorise a start of construction work within the next three or four months.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the increasing number of accidents on motorways, he will publish a code of practice for the lighting of motorways, including terminals and intersections, taking into account the continental and United States experience which he has gained as a result of his investigations.

We have carefully studied foreign practice and experience: it is far from consistent. As long as our resources are limited, the large sums that would be required to light motorways can more profitably be spent on other means of reducing road accidents throughout the country.

asked the Minister of Transport what lengths of motorway he expects will be opened to traffic in 1964.

The 7½ mile length of the M.1 between Crick and Lutterworth will be opened in the Autumn. A further 8 miles between Lutterworth and Whetstone will be completed this year but will not be opened until the Spring of 1965 when the whole of the 19 miles between Lutterworth and Markfield will be open. I also expect to open the 13 mile Chiswick-Langley section of the M.4 by the Spring of 1965.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the increased number of accidents on motorways due to bad lane discipline, he has considered using reflectorised lane and edge markings on all motorways.

Lane markings on motorways are already reflectorised with catseyes. As to reflectorised edge markings a decision on extending their use to all motorways will depend on the result of the tests being carried out this winter.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the fact that a substantial increase in the number of motor vehicles will still further intensify traffic congestion in the borough of Leyton, particularly in High Road, Leytonstone, if he will make compulsory the diversion of heavy traffic from the High Road.

No. There is at present no suitable alternative road to which the heavy traffic could be diverted.

asked the Minister of Transport what reports he has received recently in respect of the emission of exhaust fumes and smoke by diesel-engined vehicles; to what extent prosecutions for this offence have increased during the past 12 months; and whether new vehicles of this type have proved to be free from this occurrence.

The report on a nationwide check of over 25,000 diesel-engined vehicles made in September, 1963, showed that the proportion emitting excessive smoke or fumes was 10 per cent. Figures for prosecutions in 1963 are not yet available, but there were two-thirds more in 1962 than in 1961. New vehicles can cause the same nuisance if their engines are not properly maintained and adjusted.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give the cost per yard of building each class of road, in the last five years, respectively; and how much in each case has been borne by the local authorities through whose areas the different classes of roads are built.

The information which the hon. Member has asked for in the first part of his Question is not readily available. My Answer to the second part can therefore be given only in terms of total annual expenditure. As it contains a number of figures, I am circulating it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

£ million
—		1962–63		1961–62		1960–61		1959–60		1958–59
		Total	Local Authority	Total	Local Authority	Total	Local Authority	Total	Local Authority	Total	Local Authority
Class I	…	10·9	3·3	8·1	2·4	6·8	1·9	8·0	1·7	8·5	2·2
Class II	…	0·8	0·3	0·8	0·5	0·6	0·2	0·6	0·3	0·4	0·2
Class III	…	0·3	0·1	0·2	0·1	0·3	0·2	0·1	0·1	0·2	0·1
These figures give expenditure on the construction of new classified road in England and Wales. Major improvement and other expenditure is excluded.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the fact that no experience has been gained in this country of the operation of the disc system of parking, he will arrange for experiments to be carried out in this system before adding further to the street furniture in London.

Parking meters are more effective than discs for central London and other heavily congested city centres. But as I have said before, discs may well be suitable in less busy areas and a disc scheme is to be tried in Cheltenham.

asked the Minister of Transport why he does not consider it necessary to provide a pedestrian crossing on trunk road A.449 at its junction with Hospital Lane in Powick.

I understand that the crossing is required for patients from the nearby Mental Hospital but we do not consider a pedestrian crossing will give adequate safeguards for them. A responsible adult escort is the safest protection in these circumstances.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the latest crash on Rumney Hill, Cardiff, resulted in injuries to four people; and if he will call for recommendations from the Cardiff Road Safety Committee to lessen the continuing stream of accidents on this hill.

We are concerned at the continuing high accident rate on this road and, as I told the hon. Member on Wednesday, 20th November, we have approved the inclusion of a scheme for the improvement of this length of road in our classified road programme. It is for the highway authority, the Cardiff City Council, in the first instance to consider any recommendations which their Road Safety Committee may wish to put forward.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will authorise the Worcestershire County Council, as his agents in the construction of the Ross Spur motorway, to offer to Mr. F. C. Dawe, the cost, up to £100, of the rectification of his water supply, the contamination of which is believed to be due to the construction of the approach road to the motorway at Pendock.

No. Mr. Dawe rejected, without explanation, an offer made in 1962. If he wishes to resume negotiations, we are prepared to consider any further representations he may make.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress he has made with his plans for the construction of the London-Brighton motorway, within the county of Surrey.

The consulting engineers have almost completed a wide ranging survey of possible routes for this road. I expect their report very shortly. This will need very careful study, but I hope to publish a draft scheme later this year.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give particulars of the 10 firms which have received, in aggregate, the greatest value of road building contracts placed by his Department in the last five years, and the total value of the contracts received by each.

On the basis of contracts over £100,000 for trunk roads and motorways the figures are as follows:

Name of Main Contractor	Total Value of Contracts Received (Tender Sums)
	£ million
1. Sir Alfred McAlpine & Son Ltd. and Leonard Fairclough Ltd. (in consortium) (a)	25·3
2. John Laing Construction Ltd	23·6
3. A. Monk & Co. Ltd.	20·0
4. George Wimpey & Co. Ltd.	16·1
5. Tarmac Civil Engineering Ltd.	14·5
6. Sir Lindsay Parkinson & Co. Ltd.	11·8
7. Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons Ltd.	11·2
8. Higgs & Hill Ltd. and Richard Costain Civil Engineering Ltd. (in consortium) (a)	10·5
9. Dowsett Engineering & Construction Ltd.	7·6
10. Associated Bridge Builders Ltd. (b)	6·1
(a) Some of the parties to these consortia have received other contracts individually.
(b) A consortium of Sir William Arrol & Co. Ltd., The Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Co. Ltd. and Dorman Long (Bridge and Engineering) Ltd. who received the contract for the supply and erection of the superstructure of the Severn Bridge.

asked the Minister of Transport how many houses owned by British Railways have been sold by them since 1st January, 1959.

The Railways Board tell me that central classified records of property sales have been kept only since the beginning of 1961, and that to distinguish house sales in earlier years from sales of other property would involve a disproportionate amount of work. Since the beginning of 1961 the Board have sold 1,662 houses.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has received the report of the Transport Users' Consultative Committee on the proposed closure of the railway to passengers between New Holland and Barton-on-Humber and New Holland and Cleethorpes; and if he will make a statement.

I have received the report. But I cannot make any statement until I have considered it and the representations made to me by local authorities and others on matters other than hardship.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will list the name or designation of each body or person objecting, through the regional transport users' consultative committee, to the proposed closures on the Inverness-Kyle and Fort William-Mallaig lines, respectively.

I understand that there are over 300 and 30 objections respectively, to these proposed closures. I will, if the hon. Member wishes, send him a full list of them when I receive the Transport Users' Consultative Committee's report.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the nature of the representations made to him recently by the Scottish Council concerning the Government's policy on rail closures in Scotland; and what reply he sent.

The Scottish Council have made their views known to the Government on several occasions, both in response to requests by the Government and independently. Their representations were mainly concerned with the importance of taking account of various aspects of regional development before decisions on closure proposals were taken. As the House knows, they amplified these representations at a meeting with the Prime Minister on 27th January.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the failure by British Railways to present alternative arrangements to alleviate hardship when proposing to close the Crook-Bishop Auckland-Darlington passenger service, and of the adjournment by the North-East Transport Users' Consultative Committee of their hearing until satisfactory alternative proposals were submitted by British Railways; and to what extent he takes into account such failures of the Railway Board to make proposals for alternative services, when reaching his decisions on railway closure proposals.

Yes. The Railways Board are, of course, not required by statute to propose additional alternative services, but it is helpful to objectors and the. Transport Users' Consultative Committee if they do so. My decisions are reached on all the facts of each case, and I would not be inhibited from requiring the provision of an alternative service, as a condition of my consent, merely because the Board had not proposed it.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet received the report of the Transport Users' Consultative Committee for London on the proposed railway closure between Watford Junction and Croxley Green.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport what is his estimate of the saving achieved by closing for normal passenger traffic the railway line between Leek and Uttoxeter; and what is his estimate of the economic and social costs of providing adequate alternative transport.

I have not yet completed my consideration of this closure proposal.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give an assurance that he will not take decisions on the Railways Board's proposals to close railways serving seaside resorts and tourist interests until after the close of the 1964 holiday season.

I recognise that many people will want to be certain of their holiday travel arrangements in advance.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will specify the areas in north-east Scotland which are to be affected by railway closures where objections, lodged and heard under section 58(8) of the Transport Act, 1962, have already been overruled by him.

I have not yet reached my decision on any of the closure proposals affecting this area.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement about the progress of development of a nuclear reactor for merchant shipping.

I am still not in a position to do so.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the average number and of British merchant ships laid up during the last six months.

The average number of British vessels laid up for lack of employment during the last six months of 1963 was 41, totalling 267,000 gross tons. At the 31st December, 1963, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 23 British vessels totalling 132,000 gross tons laid up for lack of employment.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the number and total tonnage of British merchant ships at the latest available date.

At the 31st December, 1963, there were 2,538 British vessels of 500 gross tons and over with a total gross tonnage of 20,400,000.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will seek to hold discussions with the United States Federal Maritime Commission concerning shipping documents; and whether he will make a statement.

Her Majesty's Government, in concert with other countries, has already made representations to the United States Government on 23rd December, 1963, about the demands made by the Federal Maritime Commission for the production of shipping documents.As regards the second part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the statement I made on 29th January in reply to the Question asked by the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes).

asked the Minister of Transport if he has yet completed his inquiries into the bogus flares at sea in the vicinity of Westray Firth off the Scottish coast as a result of which Scottish lifeboat men had put to sea on quests which proved fruitless; if he will now state the result of those inquiries; and what action he has taken to stop this abuse and punish the offenders.

My inquiries are not yet complete. As soon as they are I will write to the hon. and learned Member.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress he has made with his detailed investigation into those recommendations of the Rochdale Report which involve legislation before they are implemented.

As I told the hon. Member on the 18th December, the Gov- ernment's conclusions on the principal recommendations in the Rochdale Report are embodied in the Harbours Bill, which is now before this House.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the difficulties experienced last autumn in discharging timber in Cardiff Docks as well as in other timber ports; what reply he has made to the memorandum about this situation sent to him by the Timber Trades Federation regarding charges and the division of responsibility for railway operation within the docks; and if the Nationalised Transport Advisory Council will make an early investigation.

asked the Minister of Transport what reply he has sent to representations made to him by the Timber Trade Federation on the increases ranging from 120 per cent. to 670 per cent. in the railway haulage rates at leading ports; and if he will make a statement.

I have sent the right hon. Member and my hon. Friend a copy of my reply to the Federation. I have pointed out that their representations relate to matters of management. Charges, and railway haulage rates in particular, are the responsibility of the British Railways Board. But in view of the appeal made to me, I have drawn the attention of the Chairmen of the Railways Board and the Docks Board to the Federation's representations and have suggested that they might like to consider joint discussions with the Federation. I believe these problems can be tackled more satisfactorily by such discussions than through an investigation by the Nationalised Transport Advisory Council.I am aware that delays to timber ships occurred last autumn owing to the bunching of arrivals due to the late start of the Baltic season. The problems of railway operations are being considered by the two Boards.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will provide shared line telephones at greatly reduced cost to elderly people who share this service with three others.

The possibility of providing a service of this kind has been examined on several occasions in the past and again in the light of my hon. Friend's Question, but I am sorry to say that it has not so far been found feasible to devise an adequate service at a significantly lower charge.

asked the Postmaster-General what decision he has reached, following the petition of constituents of the hon. Member for The Wrekin, on the provision of a General Post Office telephone kiosk to be situated in the area of St. Peter's Way, Edgmond, Newport, Shropshire.

I hope to make arrangements which will help to meet the needs of the residents of this area and I am writing to my hon. Friend about the details.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will publish in the OFFICIAL. REPORT a list of hon. Members who have broadcast in the programmes Any Questions and The Week in Westminster during this Parliament, indicating the number of times they have broadcast.

The choice of Members to broadcast is not a matter for me but for the B.B.C. If the hon. Member would ask the Corporation for the information they would, I am sure, be glad to give it to him.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the widespread distribution through the post of lottery tickets from Malta to addresses in this country; whether his regulations permit this use of the British postal services; what steps are being taken to check it; and whether he will take steps to prevent the use of the new mass postal distributing service for such purposes.

The use of the post for the distribution of these tickets to addresses in this country is prohibited: and if they are found in the post they are stopped. I do realise that some of these tickets are getting into the country in sealed envelopes. I shall not allow the tickets in the Household Delivery Service.

asked the Postmaster-General why he will not take action to enable postage stamps to be sold below the fixed price or given away for retail purchases, in view of the extra revenue which would be received by his Department.

Because as the law stands we cannot buy back such stamps and I cannot imagine that in these circumstances the scheme would be attractive to retailers or their customers. In addition we do not think that the use of postage stamps on the lines suggested by the hon. Member would be helpful to the proper distribution of Post Office facilities.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will issue a form which householders may complete if they wish to opt out of the Household Delivery Service; and how many copies of such a form he estimates would be needed.

The answer to the first part of the Question is no; the second part does not therefore arise.

asked the Postmaster-General how many technical officer posts are at present unfilled in London and in each of the provincial regions of the Post Office.

In London 380. The other figures are:

Home Counties	138
Midland	101
North Eastern	68
Northern Ireland	7
North Western	41
Scotland	21
South Western	46
Wales and Border Counties	14

asked the Postmaster-General what percentage of the telephone equipment produced for his Department in each of the last five years was manufactured in Northern Ireland.

The value of the orders placed in Northern Ireland expressed as a percentage of all Post Office orders for telephone equipment (including cable) was as follows:

	Per cent.
1958–59	0·2
1959–60	0·4
1960–61	0·8
1961–62	0·8
1962–63	1·2

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will list the names of companies invited to tender under the recent reservation clause for telephone instruments and for receiver insets, type 4T; and which of these firms have tendered.

Invitations to tender were issued to the following companies and those marked with an asterisk tendered:

asked the Postmaster-General why he does not propose to issue special postage stamps in commemora- tion of the quatercentenary of the birth of Christopher Marlowe; and if he will reconsider this decision.

It is our policy to issue postage stamps to commemorate only Royal and postal anniversaries. My right hon. Friend regrets that he does not feel able to depart from this policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will improve the planning machinery for the new general hospital at Coatbridge, with a view to expediting the start of this project.

No. The starting date of this scheme could not be brought forward without disturbing an order of priority which was settled after full consideration of the hospital needs of each area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the observations made by Lord Cameron on 10th December last in the Court of Session relating to the operation of the law regarding the not proven verdict in Scottish courts and the growing volume of opposition to this verdict, legally and otherwise, he will take steps to dispense with this verdict.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he intends to take to expedite the preparation and publication of the plans for future economic development of regions not covered by the White Paper on Central Scotland.

This work is already being pushed ahead as rapidly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make an appointment to the Highland Transport Board of someone with recent experience of rail transport.

I am not contemplating any further appointments at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in the exercise of his powers to approve the capital plans of the Scottish Hydro-Electric Board, what information he has as to the capital cost per kilowatt of providing electric power by hydro-electric stations.

The costs vary with each case, the estimates for the four schemes at present before me ranging from £133 per kW, to £168 per kW.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that rickets have reappeared in children in Glasgow because of inadequate diet; and whether he will now abolish the charges on welfare foods for children.

I am aware that in 1962 there was an increased incidence of rickets in Glasgow; 1963 figures are not yet available. Investingation of the 1962 cases showed that most of the families concerned were eligible for free welfare foods. I do not propose to abolish the charges on welfare foods, the uptake of which is rising.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his immediate plans for ending depopulation in the North-East of Scotland.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave him on 2nd December. All aspects of the situation in the North-East will be taken into account in the Scottish Development Group's survey.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many emigrants left the North-East of Scotland in the year 1962–63.

The estimated net migration loss from the counties of Aberdeen (including Aberdeen City), Banff and Kincardine in the year 1962–63 was of the order of 2,600.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he is aware that Messrs. Short Bros. and Harland wish to put into production the Skyvan aeroplane in order to satisfy overseas customers' requirements, that they requested the necessary permission for this in August. 1963, and that so far they have not received any decision; and if he will take steps to expedite this matter.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave to Questions on this subject last Wednesday.

asked the Minister of Aviation what steps he is taking to ensure continuity of employment for his employees at the aerodromes in the Islands and the Highlands before a change of management is effected.

As I explained to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Craigton (Mr. Millan) on 5th February, the representatives of the staff concerned will be consulted before any final decisions are taken about changes in management of the Ministry aerodromes in the Western Highlands and Islands. In the meantime the present arrangements continue.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will consider an improved Rolls turbo-prop engine specification for some of the 10 Belfast strategic aircraft on order from Short Brothers and Harland.

There is no present requirement to change the engines in the Belfas aircraft on order for the R.A.F.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to British European Airways to put the cabin staff on their aircraft under the control of the captain as is done by the British Overseas Airways Corporation; and if he will make a statement.

This is a matter for the management of the Corporation, but B.E.A. inform me that their cabin staff are, like B.O.A.C.'s, under the captain's control throughout all flights.

asked the Minister of Aviation which airports used for regular civil aviation have waiting and other facilities at the town terminal provided by his Department; and which have no such facilities provided by his Department.

The Ministry of Aviation does not provide any such facilities at the town terminals of any civil airports. Town terminals are wholly the responsibility of the airline operators.

asked the Minister of Aviation what consideration he has given to the proposals made to him by Sir Giles Guthrie, the Chairman of British Overseas Airways Corporation, with regard to writing off British Overseas Airways Corporation's £80 million deficit and to closing down unprofitable routes, unless a Ministerial direction has been given, with separate entry in the British Overseas Airways Corporation's account of any loss involved.

I have not received any such proposals from the Chairman of B.O.A.C.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will now permit Sir Giles Guthrie, the new Chairman of British Overseas Airways Corporation, to read the whole of the Corbett Report on British Overseas Airways Corporation.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Govan (Mr. Rankin) on 29th January.

asked the Minister of Aviation (1) what arrangements are being made for evidence to be received by the inquiry into the Bloodhound missile contracts from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation for 1959 and 1960, at the time when the agreement was made;(2) what arrangements are being made for evidence to be received from his two predecessors by the independent inquiry into the Bloodhound contracts in regard to transactions which took place during their periods of office.

It is for Sir John Lang to decide from whom he will take evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why traffic wardens in the Metropolitan Police district carry out their duties in pairs.

Traffic wardens in the Metropolitan Police district usually work singly, except when recruits are under training, but as they work in two shifts with a period of overlap during the middle of the day there are then commonly two wardens to a beat.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that Statutory Instrument No. 1864, 1963, relating to the London Borough Council and Greater London Council Election Rules 1963, restricts the counting agents appointed by the candidates to a total of nine, irrespective of the number of officials employed to count the votes; and, in view of the fact that inadequate scrutiny by counting agents could be prejudicial to the accurate results of the poll, if he will take steps to amend this section of the regulations in closer accord with the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, Second Schedule, Rule 45.

The London Borough Council and Greater London Council Elections Rules, 1963, limit the total number of counting agents to nine or, if the number of candidates exceeds twenty, to twelve. This limitation, which has applied in the past at metropolitan borough council elections, is designed to avoid a situation in which the number of persons attending the count may be so great as to interfere with the count itself. In view, however, of representations which I have received I am giving further consideration to the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there is any variation in the measures taken by customs authorities to control scheduled poisons and dangerous drugs imported from Ireland and those applied to similar imports from other countries.

Dangerous drugs may not be imported without a licence. Importations of these drugs from the Republic of Ireland are controlled with the same vigilance as those from other countries. The importation of "scheduled poisons" is not so prohibited and they are not, therefore, subject to special customs control.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what method is used to dispose of scheduled poisons and dangerous drugs confiscated by Customs authorities.

Raw opium is sold to authorised manufacturers. Other dangerous drugs are destroyed, normally by burning.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to allow Premium Bond prizes that have not been claimed by prize-winners within 12 months to be used for purposes of medical research.

No. The amount is not enough to warrant departing from the present arrangement, which follows the practice on unclaimed Government stock and dividends.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will revise the form of application for the purchase of Premium Bonds so that an applicant can give also the name and address of his bank, or the number of his Post Office Savings Bank account, to allow any prize-money to be paid direct into his account.

No. I believe the present simple system best meets the wishes of the great majority of prize-winners.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount of money unclaimed by Premium Bond prize-winners in all draws up to and including that of December, 1963.

The total amount of money unclaimed by Premium Bond prize-winners in all draws up to and including that of December, 1963, is £73,450, roughly a thousandth part of the total prize money made available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he expects to receive the report of the Richardson Committee before the Budget.

My right hon. Friend is expecting to receive this Report in the near future.

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science if he will take steps to provide Professor Ian Bush and his team with adequate resources for their research into chemical aspects of mental illness, so that they do not have to emigrate to the United States of America.

The hon. Member is misinformed. As Professor Bush has repeatedly made clear, his intention to emigrate to the United States of America has nothing whatever to do with the adequacy of the resources for the research work referred to in the Question. Since 1958 Professor Bush has in fact been provided by the Medical Research Council and the Regional Hospital Board with all the support he has ever asked for for this purpose and he has more than once paid public tribute to the generosity of his treatment by the Medical Research Council.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what arrangements regarding the cost of warrants for travel on leave by officers and other ranks of the Royal Navy he has made with British Railways and whether there are similar arrangements with British European Airways and other air companies operating in the United Kingdom.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the second part of the reply I gave him on 7th February.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what was the retail price of milk in the immediate pre-war period; and what this price would be today if converted into present-day money value;(2) what was the wholesale producer's price of milk in the immediate pre-war period; and what this price would be today if converted into present-day money value.

The retail price of milk in 1939, and the net price received by milk producers in the United Kingdom in 1938–39, averaged about 3⅜d. a pint and 1s. a gallon, respectively. According to the index normally used to measure changes in the value of money, these sums are now equivalent to about 10½d. and 3s. 1d., respectively. However, any calculation of this sort over such a long period is subject to a wide margin of error, and is also open to misleading conclusions. For example, almost twice as much milk is being sold today compared with pre-war; it is also produced more efficiently, and the relative costs of distribution have been reduced.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that his present powers are adequate to ensure, through his inspectors at the ports, that sheep and other livestock exported to remote destinations are physically capable of enduring the journey without undergoing suffering; and when he expects to be able to announce the extension of the Exported Cattle Protected Orders to sheep.

No, but an Order is at present being prepared to extend to sheep and pigs the provisions of the Exported Cattle Protection Orders, which require that cattle for export must be rested and examined for fitness to travel.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what action he proposes to take to gain more accurate figures of emigration to the Commonwealth.

Arrangements have already been made to improve the statistics available of the number of emigrants from this country to the Commonwealth. Information is now being obtained from a sample of 7 per cent. of all passengers leaving by sea or air for destinations beyond Europe. Information about emigrants travelling to Commonwealth countries via Europe is available from the smaller sample survey of passengers travelling to Europe.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations why it takes the Overseas Migration Board 11 months to prepare its annual report.

The Oversea Migration Board's annual statistics contain figures obtained from the statistical publications of various Commonwealth countries. The Board's statistics are published as soon as possible after these publications have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards Recommendation 381, dealing with the problems raised by population trends in Europe, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 16th January 1964; and what action Her Majesty's Government has taken or intends to take upon it.

Recommendation No. 381 of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe is at present under study. Her Majesty's Government recognise the interest of the Council of Europe in this important subject but in reaching a decision on this Recommendation it will be necessary to take into account the work already being undertaken in this field by other international organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards Recommendation 383, on the institution of a European Pharmacopoeia, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 16th January 1964; and if Her Majesty's Government will participate in the establishment as soon as possible of the European Pharmacopoeia.

Her Majesty's Government have not yet taken a decision on the proposal to establish a European Pharmacopoeia, which is still under consideration by the Partial Agreement Committee of Ministers' Deputies at Strasbourg.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, but for the deaths of farm and household animals in Kent and South Wales recently, no conclusive diagnosis of the cause of death could have been made, in view of the fact that the tests available for determining acute fluoroacetate poisoning in both man and animals are limited in scope; what steps he is taking to extend and improve such tests; and if he will make a statement.

Our knowledge of the efficacy of tests which had already been worked out has improved. My right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food are anxious for more conclusive tests and are consulting my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Science.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the discovery, as a result of the recent cases at Smarden and Merthyr Tydfil, that plants are able to synthesise fluoroacetates which later prove lethal to man and animals if ingested; and if he will reconsider the policy of fluoridation of public water supplies, in view of the possibility of plants being provided with foreign fluoride elements, thus promoting this lethal synthesis.

My right hon. Friend knows of no evidence that plants growing in this country can perform this synthesis.

asked the Minister of Health how many deaths from smallpox were registered for each of the years from 1942 to the latest date available; and what were the ages at death.

The following is the Answer:

DEATHS ASSIGNED TO SMALLPOX ENGLAND AND WALES, 1942–1962
Year	Number of deaths	Ages at death (years unless otherwise stated)
1942	Nil
1943	Nil
1944	3	23; 36; 52.
1945	Nil
1946	14	4; 5; 12; 15; 17; 21; 24; 25; 31; two at 33; 37; 41; 50.
1947	15	7; 27; 49; 69; two at 70; 72; three at 75; 76; 78; two at 79; 86.
1948	Nil
1949	5	24; 34; two at 61; 68.
1950	Nil
1951	10	17; 20; 25; 37; 38; 43; 48; three at 53.
1952	Nil
1953	8	8; 16; two at 19; 44; 52; 57; 61.
1954	Nil
1955	Nil
1956	Nil
1957	2	6; 71.
1958	1	54.
1959	Nil
1960	Nil
1961	Nil
1962	26	9 months; 2; 3; 9; 23; 24; 28; 37; 40; 44; two at 49; 53; two at 58; 59; 65; 67; two at 74; 75; two at 76; 84; 86; 88.

asked the Minister of Health how many deaths from vaccination, vaccinia, post-vaccinal encephalitis, or any other results of vaccination were registered for each of the years from 1942 to the latest date available; what were the ages of the victims; and what are the numbers of primary vaccinations per cent. of births for the same years.

The following is the Answer:

DEATHS ASSIGNED TO VACCINIA, POST-VACCINAL ENCEPHALITIS, AND OTHER COMPLICATIONS OF SMALLPOX VACCINATION
ENGLAND AND WALES, 1942–1962
Year	Number of deaths	Ages at death (years unless otherwise stated)
1942	12	2 months; 4 months; 2; 6; 12; 16; 18; 19; 20; 28; two at 29.
1943	6	2 months; 5 months; 6 months; 2; 17; 20.
1944	11	4 weeks; 6 weeks; two at 3 months; two at 4 months; 5 months; 13 months; 22; two at 31.
1945	6	Two at 3 months; two at 4 months; two at 5 months.
1946	2	3 months; 26.
1947	8	1 month; 4 months; 5 months; 6 months; 7 months; 3; 14; 35.
1948	5	11 weeks; 5 months; 8 months; 9 months; 18.
1949	1	13 months.
1950	2	18; 67.
1951	5	2 months; 3 months; 6 months; 5; 20.
1952	4	3 months; 6 months; 8 months; 26.
1953	5	2 months; two at 5 months; 11 months; 42.
1954	1	3 months.
1955	1	7 months.
1956	3	Two at 3 months; 6 months.
1957	9	7 weeks; 4 months; three at 5 months; 6 months; 17 months; two at 49.
1958	7	Two at 2 months; 8 months; 9 months; 10 months; 2; 68.
1959	2	3 months; 20.
1960	5	Two at 4 months; 5 months; 10 months; 40.
1961	4	5 months; 6 months; 7 months; 14 months.
1962	10	Two at 7; 15; 19; 25; 41; 48; two at 49; 59.

The available information about primary vaccinations is as follows;

Year	Percentage of infant vaccinations to births
1942	40
1943	40
1944	40
1945	41
1946	42
1949	27
1950	24
1951	30
1952	31
1953	34
1954	35
1955	36
1956	38
1957	43
1958	45
1959	45
1960	41
1961	40
1962	49

NOTE: For the years 1942 to 1946, the percentages relate to vaccinations of infants under six months; for the years 1949 to 1962, they relate to vaccinations of infants under one year.