asked the Minister of Aviation what progress is being made in providing an additional runway at Turn-house Aerodrome; and what further facilities are to be provided to cope with the increase in traffic.

I have no plans to provide an additional runway at Turnhouse Aerodrome. Extensions to the terminal building have been commissioned to meet the increase in traffic; these should be completed before the end of the year.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he has had replies from the British Overseas Airways Corporation and British European Airways in reply to the representations he has made to them requesting their views on the possibility of the corporations providing seats on certain routes for candidates who have volunteered for overseas service.

Yes. Both Corporations have replied that they regret they are unable to offer fare concessions to these volunteers, but as my hon. Friend the Secretary for Technical Co-operation announced recently in the House, the Government will in effect meet 50 per cent. of transportation costs for the 1964 programme and 75 per cent. next year.

asked the Minister of Aviation what increased use of Stornoway airport for civil internal and international services is contemplated, in view of the extensive improvements to the runways and airport facilities and its year-round freedom from fog and ice; and what representations he has received from the local authorities or other bodies or individuals.

Improvements are being carried out at this aerodrome for military purposes and have no effect on its suitability for civil operations. The answer to the second part of the Question is "None".

asked the Minister of Aviation on what date the contract to purchase Westland helicopters was signed.

The contract for the supply of light helicopters for the Army was placed on 20th March, 1964.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will give instructions to suspend the use of the defective chimney at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Caerphilly Road, Cardiff, until repairs to make it serviceable have been completed.

The boiler-house chimney at Royal Ordnance Factory, Cardiff, is not unserviceable, and its continued use is necessary for important work under the defence programme. I am aware of complaints about the chimney and have called for an urgent examination of the technical problems involved. Any necessary remedial action will be taken as quickly as possible.

asked the Minister of Aviation what is the number and estimated value of Britannia aircraft proposed to be purchased by the Cuban Government from the British Overseas Airways Corporation; to what extent he is assisting in facilitating the transaction; and what other Governments have expressed an interest in these aircraft.

I understand from the British Overseas Airways Corporation that the Cuban Government have made no proposals in respect of the Britannia aircraft which the Corporation have offered for sale.Interest has been shown in them by the Governments and airlines of various other countries.

asked the Minister of Aviation what steps he has taken to improve efficiency and reduce manpower by reorganising his Department with the help of the Treasury Organisation and Methods Section; what use his Department makes of outside management consultants; and what such action he is proposing in the near future.

My Departmental O. & M. Branch includes 22 officers who are engaged in a continuing review of the organisation and the methods used in the Department. This branch makes use of specialist services provided by the Treasury Management Services Division whenever appropriate; e.g. for advice on automatic data processing projects and on office machinery, and for training of O. & M. staff. I am prepared, subject to the relevant security considerations, to call in the services of outside management consultants when the need for specialised knowledge of particular problems makes this desirable, although I have no specific instances in mind at present.

asked the Minister of Aviation how many different types of printed forms are used in his Department for internal and external use, respectively; and whether all these forms are included in the List of Standard Books, Forms, &c., for use in the Public Service published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

At present approximately 1,925 internally-used forms and some 175 externally-used forms are printed by Her Majesty's Stationery Office and used in the Ministry of Aviation. These forms are not all included in the List of Standard Books and Forms.

asked the Minister of Aviation what progress is being made in the application of vertical take off and landing to civil aircraft.

This is the subject of study and research work both at Royal Aircraft Establishment and in industry.One example is the agreement between the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany for a feasibility study of a Dornier 31 powered with Rolls-Royce R.B.162 engines.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce a standard form of report on all fatal road accidents, with a copy going automatically to the local road engineer.

Such a form is already used by the police to report to my Department details of every fatal road accident. Arrangements exist for the police to notify local highway authorities of accidents. The precise form of these arrangements is left to the parties concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport how many concrete lamp standards along the A.2 trunk road between the Black Prince, Bexley, and Watling Street, Dartford, have been knocked down since 1st January, 1960, by motor vehicles; and if he is aware of the grave danger in foggy weather to traffic caused by these grey posts within a few inches of the road, particularly where there is no kerb.

Thirty-eight. The clearance between the edge of the carriageway and the columns varies between 18 in. and 2 ft., which was normal practice when the system was installed. The main cause of the trouble is not the columns but the fact that the volume of traffic on this length of road is excessive in relation to its capacity. Most of it is to be by-passed, and the rest improved, in the near future.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to give the police more effective powers to ensure the speedy removal of derelict cars abandoned in streets.

The police and also the local authorities already have adequate powers to remove and dispose of vehicles abandoned on the roads.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will initiate a study of the effect of the West German regulations banning goods transport vehicles from the roads at week-ends, with a view to adopting a similar practice in this country.

I understand that West German traffic regulations restrict the use of goods vehicles on Sundays and public holidays. Our conditions do not, however, call for similar restrictions in this country.

asked the Minister of Transport how many road goods vehicles were involved in road accidents during the latest 12 months for which figures are available; and what was the estimated cost of these accidents.

In 1963, 76,313 goods vehicles were involved in accidents causing injury to road users. We do not have separate estimates of the cost of accidents to goods vehicles.

asked the Minister of Transport what decision he has come to regarding the proposed Axbridge bypass.

As my hon. Friend knows, we are considering two alternative lines for this road prepared by the highway authority. One would entail the use of a short section of the Cheddar Valley Branch railway line, and the Railways Board has not yet reached a final decision on the future of this line.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is now in a position to give details of the special additional roads programme for the North-East as they affect Gateshead, in view of the urgent need to finalise the central development schemes of Gateshead.

Included in this programme are links from A.1 south of Gateshead to the Tyne Tunnel southern approaches and to Scotswood Bridge, and a link from A.1 north of Newcastle to the Tyne Tunnel northern approaches. These should relieve Gateshead of some through traffic.

asked the Minister of Transport how much increased investment in the roads in the North-East is included in the £129 million provided in the Civil Estimates 1964–65 for new road construction and major improvements.

The £129 million includes £½ million for the start in 1964–65 of the special additional roads programme for the North-East announced in the Government's White Paper last November. This is over and above the normal programme for which £10·9 million is included.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce legislation to empower him to make provision for public conveniences by the side of trunk roads.

We are not contemplating such legislation. As I said in answer to the hon. Member for Morpeth (Mr. Owen) on 4th December last we are considering whether there is anything that can be done, within the scope of highway responsibilities, to counteract the abuse of lay-bys.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will, when making future announcements of road casualties, indicate the cause of the accident, whether alcohol, carelessness on the part of the motorists or pedestrians, age, fog or other ascertainable causes.

I am afraid that it would not be practicable for the statistics published each month to indicate the causes of road accidents.

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

We have not yet reached a decision.

asked the Minister of Transport when he received a letter from the Parents Committee of children attending the Newington Green Primary School, protesting against dangers to children caused by the one-way traffic scheme in Newington Green, Islington; and if, for the sake of safety, he will take immediate steps to cancel the existing traffic arrangements.

My right hon. Friend received a letter from this Committee on 16th March, 1964. The one-way traffic scheme referred to is a police experiment. It was introduced with my right hon. Friend's consent on 2nd February, 1964. Our traffic engineers are discussing urgently with the police and the Islington Borough Council what might be done to help pedestrians. My right hon. Friend will write to the hon. Member when he has their report. Meanwhile, we do not think the conditions are so serious as to warrant asking the Commissioner of Police to call off the experiment.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the traffic congestion in High Road, Leytonstone, what consideration has been given, in consultation with the local authority and the Metropolitan Police, with a view to preventing abnormally lengthy or heavy vehicles proceeding along the High Road during the day.

Abnormal loads requiring special routeing or police escort are not routed via High Road, Leytonstone, during the day. Our traffic engineers have considered the practicability of prohibiting large or heavy vehicles from using this part of the trunk road as a through route by day, but they are unable to find any more suitable route at the present time.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that congestion is often caused, especially in narrow streets, by vehicles of all kinds unnecessarily double-banking alongside parked cars when there is space by the kerb only a few yards away; and if he will take steps to discourage this practice except when the occupants are ill or crippled or have heavy baggage or goods.

This is bad practice and contrary to the Highway Code. In serious cases the police can take proceedings for obstruction.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that even in off-peak hours traffic going round Trafalgar Square, W.C.2, is brought to a standstill by the continuous stream of vehicles entering the Square from Pall Mall; and if he will arrange for traffic signals to be installed there.

Nearly all vehicles entering Trafalgar Square via Pall Mall East come from Haymarket, at the lower end of which traffic signals already break the traffic flow. We do not think signals at the junction with the Square would benefit traffic movement in the area.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to improve the standards of public transport, in view of the findings of the Buchanan Committee.

In the answer my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for St. Helens (Mr. Spriggs) on 24th January he outlined some of the steps we are taking to tackle the problem of improving standards of public transport in urban areas. I do not think that any special inquiry into the financing of public transport is at present required.

asked the Minister of Transport what estimate he has made of the proportion of staff in Government establishments and of staff and students in universities, technical colleges, and schools who will own motor-cars in 10 years time.

The full results of my Department's survey of motorists will be available later this year. This will show the present pattern of the ownership among people in different occupations. Until this information is available it would not be practicable to attempt forecasts of future car ownership among different classes of people.

asked the Minister of Transport why he is not to conduct a practical experiment in a selected rural area in Scotland to test out the right solution to the problem of rural transport.

We are keeping the representatives of local authorities and bus operators in Scotland in close touch with our proposals. We are ready to consider an experiment in Scotland if one is called for. Apart from this, bus services in the Highlands and Islands are to be reviewed by the Highland Transport Board.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the introduction of some measure of uniformity in the installation of flashing-light indicators on motor-cars would be an aid to safety; and what action he is taking in this regard.

Yes. This is a matter we have had very much in mind and Regulations designed to achieve a greater degree of standardisation were made in October, 1963.

asked the Minister of Transport what consideration is being given to providing new road and rail crossings over the Thames, east of London, in order to provide an adequate link between the north-east of Britain and the Channel Tunnel.

Our present plans should provide adequately for road traffic between the south-east and the north-east, including that generated by the Channel Tunnel.I understand that the Railways Board is satisfied that it could provide adequate rail facilities to serve the Tunnel by the selective improvement of existing lines.

asked the Minister of Transport what investigations he is making into the possible use of hovercraft as a cross-Channel link with the Continent as an alternative to a Channel tunnel.

Since Her Majesty's Government and the French Government have decided to go ahead with a Channel tunnel, the question of an alternative system no longer arises. This does not rule out the use of hovercraft as a complement to the tunnel and the cross-channel services on some cross-channel routes.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the growing concern that fares in London should be subsidised to prevent another rise, whether he will take steps to give a subsidy for this purpose to the London Board.

We have no power to give a subsidy to the London Transport Board. Under Section 18 of the Transport Act, 1962, the Board has a statutory duty to pay its way.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the recent increase in fares, if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the London Transport Board to issue cheap season tickets to all elderly people on small incomes, for use on public transport service from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

No. This is not a suitable subject for a general direction, and it is not, in the Government's view, the right way to help elderly people on small incomes.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the anomaly created when a local authority, which grants concessionary fares on trolleybuses, changes its form of transport to diesel buses, with the result that pensioners lose their rights to any concession; and if he will introduce legislation to enable concessionary fare schemes to be continued under these circumstances.

The Travel Concessions Act of 1955 has inevitably produced some anomalies, of which this is one example. Legislation as suggested by my hon. Friend would not remove them all. I cannot pledge the Government to widen the scope of the Act.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent briefs are provided to hon. Members by his Department for political broadcasts; and if he will give an assurance that no discrimination is exercised.

Information of a factual nature, including statements of published Government policy, is provided to any hon. Member who requests it, whether for broadcasting or other purposes. No discrimination is exercised.

asked the Minister of Transport how many road checks were made by his officers on commercial vehicles in Scotland in 1963; how many vehicles were examined; and how many were suspended from use as a result of these examinations.

During 1963 there were 326 road checks in Scotland. 4,069 goods vehicles were examined, of which 1,658 were prohibited from use until defects had been made good.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he has taken to improve efficiency and reduce manpower by reorganising his Department with the help of the Treasury Organisation and Methods Section; what use his Department makes of outside management consultants; and what such action he is proposing in the near future.

asked the Minister of Transport how many different types of printed form are used in his Department for internal and external use, respectively; and whether all these forms are included in the List of Standard Books, Forms, &c., for use in the Public Service published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

In addition to the forms listed in the Stationery Office publication to which my hon. Friend refers my Department uses 189 printed forms for internal use and 1,167 for external use.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet determined the commencing capital debts due to him of the five nationalised transport undertakings established under the Transport Act, 1962.

Yes. I have made an Order, with the approval of the Treasury, prescribing the amount of each debt and of the suspended debt of the British Railways Board. The debts, and the rates of interest I shall be prescribing, are as follows:

My Department has its own Organisation and Methods Branch, which is available to deal with any problems of organisation and efficiency within the Ministry as they arise. The Branch has, over the last few years, worked out several major schemes for reorganisation in the interests of efficiency, and has devised many improvements in methods to save manpower. The Branch has also assisted the administrative divisions concerned in the implementation of agreed schemes.All Ministry of Transport Organisation and Methods officers are trained by the appropriate Treasury Division, and my staff keep in close touch with the Treasury officers. The latter have taken part in five major assignments over the last two years, two of which are still continuing, and have given information and advice on numerous other occasions.Whilst my Department has not so far found any need to employ outside management consultants, it has used experts in other fields and would certainly seek management consultants for work which seemed likely to be outside the scope or experience of civil servants.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in the public interest, he will give a direction to the Railways Board to submit proposals for capital investment in the dieselisation and modernisation of branch railway lines, and to suspend the closure of passenger services on such lines pending consideration of the proposals.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in the public interest, he will give a general direction to the Railways Board not to proceed with the implementation of further closures of passenger services before 7th November, 1964.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the efficient working of the port of Goole and of the shipyards at Knottingley will be adversely affected by the proposed withdrawal of railway services; and whether he will give an assurance that he will not take a final decision on these closures until the National Ports Council has had an opportunity to consider the situation and to tender advice to him in pursuance of its functions under the Harbours Bill.

My right hon. Friend only comes into proposals to withdraw railway passenger services. The Railways Board is free to make its own decisions on freight services.Before reaching his decision on opposed passenger closure proposals affecting this area my right hon. Friend will take into account any representations made to him about the effect of the closure on the port or on industry. If these suggest that the efficient working of the port is likely to be affected my right hon. Friend would consider seeking the advice of the National Ports Council.On hardship to users he will, of course, pay close attention to what the Transport Users Consultative Committee say in its report to him.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received from the Steering Committee on Merseyside Traffic and Transport about the proposed closure of the Liverpool-Southport railway line; and if he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has received from the British Railways Board for the future of the three transport museums.

The formal scheme put to my right hon. Friend by the Board in accordance with the Transport Act, 1962, for the future of the historical transport relics, which he is considering, does not contain detailed proposals for the individual museums. The Board has, however, written to my Department seeking relief from the financial burden represented by the museums. We were not able to offer specific help from Exchequer Funds. But we made certain suggestions about courses which the Board might itself consider in order to reduce its commitment.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the estimated net annual saving expected to result from the recently announced rail closures in Scotland.

The British Railways Board inform me that the estimated net annual savings directly attributable to the ten passenger closures concerned will be about £230,000, after allowing for loss of contributory revenue. The Board also expect to make other savings as a consequence of closure. These include those on basic track and signalling maintenance where lines are subsequently closed completely. They also include savings on general administration and from increased rationalisation, which cannot easily be quantified.

asked the Minister of Transport what percentage of new merchant shipping registered in the United Kingdom in 1961 was built in United Kingdom yards.

Sixty-six per cent. of the tonnage of new merchant shipping of 500 gross tons and above registered in the United Kingdom in 1961 was built in United Kingdom yards.

asked the Minister of Defence what steps he has taken to improve efficiency and reduce manpower by reorganising his Department with the help of the Treasury Organisation and Methods Section; what use his Department makes of outside management con-

asked the Minister of Transport what percentage of merchant shipping registered in the United Kingdom was built in United Kingdom yards.

Of the total tonnage of merchant shipping of 500 gross tons and over on the United Kingdom register at the end of February 1964, 81 per cent. was built in United Kingdom yards.

asked the Minister of Defence what was the number of Regular recruits enlisted in the Royal Navy, the Army, and the Royal Air Force, respectively, from the northern region of England, during each of the years 1961, 1962, 1963, to the latest available date, together with comparable figures for other regions of England.

The figures are as follows. They relate to regular recruits enlisted in the Ministry of Labour regions shown, and, except in the case of the Royal Navy, where an unidentifiable number of boys is included are for men only:sultants; and what such action he is proposing in the near future.

The Ministry of Defence is in the middle of the largest reorganisation of the Defence Departments ever undertaken. I am using and will continue to use all the resources of my own department and the Treasury that I can conveniently make use of. I do not rule out the employment of outside consultants and I do employ outside scientific and technological advisers, but security places some limit on such possibilities.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has studied the petition from 250 residents asking that a sub-post office be provided in the Taysfield Road area of Northfield, Birmingham; and whether he will now extend the facilities in this manner.

We have studied the petition and looked into this matter again; but I am afraid we should still not be justified in providing an additional sub-post office in this area.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the time taken for the tranit of a parcel sent by parcel post from London to Kendal, and from London to the outlying villages in Westmorland, respectively; and if he is satisfied with the operation of these services.

Parcels from London are generally delivered in Kendal and outlying villages of Westmorland two days after posting. My right hon. Friend is aware that they occasionally take longer and he will not be satisfied until we give a more reliable service; we are working with British Railways in a sustained effort to achieve this.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the annual contribution by Her Majesty's Government towards postal service costs due to franking of letters and parcels.

Government Departments pay for all mails services at the same rates as the public. Post Office income in 1962–63 included £11·4 million in respect of inland mails on which postage stamps were not used and £0·7 million in respect of identifiable purchases of stamps by Government Departments.

asked the Postmaster-General what decision has been reached regarding the proposed transfer of the Post Office Savings Bank to Scotland

I would refer the hon. Member to my Answer today to the Questions of my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Kitson) and the hon. Members for Durham (Mr. Grey) and Middlesbrough, West (Dr. Bray).

asked the Postmaster-General what is the estimated loss, expressed as a sum of money, beyond which he refuses to provide a public telephone kiosk; how many kiosks exceed this loss in the seven Highlands and Islands counties; and how many throughout Scotland, Wales and England, respectively.

There is no fixed standard of profit or loss governing the provision of a new telephone kiosk, since public need and other local factors are taken into account. It is, therefore, impossible to give numbers on the basis suggested by the hon Member in the latter part of his Question. On average a telephone kiosk must take £250 a year to defray cost.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent considerations of financial loss are disregarded in respect of the provision and maintenance of public telephone kiosks in order to enable the telephone service to play its full part in implementing the policy of Her Majesty's Government of sustaining and retaining the population in the more distant Highlands and Islands areas; and why the strict rule of refusing new kiosks within two miles of existing kiosks is now being applied in the Western Isles, regardless of the special difficulties of the terrain, climate and the lack of public transport.

I try to provide telephone kiosks in accordance with public needs, and with due regard to financial considerations. I do not think the hon. Member is correct in suggesting that the two-mile rule is now being applied any differently from the way it has been applied in the past, and that full weight is not given to the special factors he mentions.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the number of applicants waiting for telephone service in Feltham and Hounslow at the latest convenient date.

On 29th February, 1964, there were 62 applicants waiting for telephone service in the area served by the Feltham Exchange and 84 in the area served by the Hounslow Exchange. The corresponding figures on 30th November, 1962, were 160 and 69. In addition, there were, respectively, 179 and 176 applications under inquiry or in course of being met. More than 1,600 telephones have been installed in these areas during the past year.

asked the Postmaster-General when work will be started on the proposed new television and very high frequency radio transmitter to cover Bute.

The B.B.C. tells me that it has found a site and that it is negotiating for its acquisition. Until these negotiations are completed work on the site cannot begin. The Corporation still hopes, however, to complete this station by about the end of the year.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement on the progress of the network of relay towers he plans throughout Great Britain, indicating the position of those towers in Scotland; and when the towers will be in full operation, particularly in Scotland.

Ninety radio relay stations are in operation or being erected in Great Britain. Planning clearance has been obtained for a further eleven and is being sought for six more. It is expected that all these stations will be in use by the end of 1966. In Scotland seventeen radio relay stations are already in service and two more will be in operation by March, 1966.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what is his policy with regard to the preservation of former naval aircraft.

Our policy is to maintain a representative holding of former naval aircraft; but we do not envisage going so far as to provide an aircraft of each type. Possible additions to our collection of former naval aircraft will, however, continue to be considered whenever an opportunity occurs.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether he will list the Fleet Air Arm aircraft which have not been preserved since the operation of the Fleet Air Arm became a responsibility of his Department prior to the war.

Of the front line naval aircraft in service with the Fleet Air Arm since May 1939, fifteen types now out of service have not been preserved. They are the Sea Gladiator, Albacore, Barracuda, Shark, Skua, Roc, Sea Otter, Sea Hurricane, Sea Fox, Kingfisher, Buffalo, Firebrand, Sea Hornet, Wyvern and Sky-raider.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many naval architects are working on the designs for No. 4 and No. 5 Polaris submarines.

Nine members of the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors are at present employed on Polaris design work and a further three on planning and production. Numbers 4 and 5 Polaris submarines will be to the same design as Numbers 1, 2 and 3.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty to what extent he will obtain specific data from the United States of America to help to overcome the material failures revealed during the final tests before criticality of the prototype nuclear submarine propulsion plant at Dounreay.

No specific data from the United States of America is required to enable the Admiralty to overcome these failures.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will give details of the loss of £443,370 stated on page 32 of the Appropriation Accounts, Navy Services, 1962–63.

The loss relates to claims raised against the Government of Burma for services and equipment provided by the Admiralty to the Burma Navy prior to Burmese independence, and on which it has not been possible to reach agreement with the Government of Burma.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what steps he has taken to improve efficiency and reduce manpower by reorganising his Department with the help of the Treasury Organisation and Methods Section; what use his Department makes of outside management consultants; and what such action he is proposing in the near future.

In recent years there have been extensive reorganisations in the Admiralty service, usually as a result of reviews by high level committees. The Admiralty maintains its own Organisation and Methods Branch, and the services of this branch have been used in the course of these examinations. Treasury Organisation and Methods Branch does not operate directly within the Admiralty service, but close contact is maintained with them. Outside consultants are regularly employed in connection with the dockyard organisation and are consulted ad hoc on industrial problems. Further measures within the framework of the overall defence reorganisation are now under consideration.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many different types of printed forms are used in his Department for internal and external use, respectively; and whether all these forms are included in the List of Standard Books, Forms, &c., for use in the Public Service published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

The total number of printed forms used by the Admiralty number about 6,800, the majority of which are used internally. About 250 of these forms are included in the List referred to in the Question. I regret that the numbers of forms in use cannot be readily subdivided between those used internally and externally.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what is the estimated cost of the current trip of the Royal Yacht "Britannia" to the West Indies.

About £6,700.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he now has for the reconstitution of the National Joint Council on Teachers' Salaries; and if he will make a statement.

I have now constituted the Scottish Joint Council for Teachers' Salaries containing, on the one hand, 12 representatives of the Association of County Councils in Scotland and the Scottish Counties of Cities Association and, on the other, 16 representatives of the Educational Institute of Scotland, two of the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association and one of the Scottish Schoolmasters Association. I have invited Mr. Harald Leslie, Sheriff Principal of Caithness, Sutherland, Orkney and Zetland and chairman of the former National Joint Council, to act as independent chairman, and am asking the five associations to let me have their nominations for membership of the Council as soon as possible. I am placing a copy of the constitution of the Council in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the new Council for Teachers' Salaries which he contemplates setting up; and when he will bring it into operation.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply today on this matter to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Shettleston (Sir M. Galpern).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make an inquiry into recent rises in farmers' rents in Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and Berwickshire

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number and the total amount of subsidies paid to farmers for clean home-bred cattle, Irish cattle and sheep, respectively, which have been exported to Europe since 1st January, 1964, to the latest available date; and what were the figures for the corresponding period in 1963.

The number and total amount of subsidies paid in respect of exported animals cannot be calculated since it is not possible to say on which of the animals subsidy was paid and the rates of guarantee payments vary week by week.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much increased investment in roads in central Scotland is included in the £15,920,000 provided in the Civil Estimates 1964–65 for new construction and the major improvements.

Almost £1 million. Of the total of £15·92 million, about £12·6 million will be spent on roads of essential importance to central Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why there has been delay in the starting of the project to pipe the Monkland Canal at Coat-bridge; if he will give a new starting date; and when he expects the project to be completed.

The contract documents are not yet ready, but meanwhile the Council are negotiating with the British Waterways Board on terms of acquisi- tion and other incidental matters. I have no firm estimate of the starting date, which is unlikely to be for at least four months yet; thereafter the project is expected to need a year to complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many different types of printed forms are used in his department for internal and external use, respectively; and whether all these forms are included in the List of Standard Books, Forms, &c., for use in the Public Service published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

The number of printed forms in use in my departments is 1,422 (476 for internal use and 946 for external use). One hundred and sixty of the forms for internal use and 23 of those for external use are included in the list of Standard Books, Forms, etc. published by H.M. Stationery Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to improve efficiency and reduce manpower by reorganising his Department with the help of the Treasury Organisation and Methods Section; what use his Department makes of outside management consultants; and what such action he is proposing in the near future.

There is a separate branch of the Treasury Organisation and Methods Division for the Scottish Departments which regularly examines organisation problems in the Scottish Office and has helped in the planning of two major reorganisations in recent years. It has not been found necessary to make use of outside management consultants.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Kirkcaldy Town Council regarding the restriction of air services from Prestwick Airport; what estimates he has made as to the effects such curtailment will have on the trading interests between Scotland and the Scandinavian countries, and on expansion in the growth areas; and what was the nature of his reply.

The Council wrote to me in support of representations made by a conference convened by Prestwick Town Council to secure the continuance and development of Prestwick Airport. I have no estimate of any effect the curtailment of S.A.S. services might have on trade between Scotland and Scandinavia. I have told the Council that I noted their views, which I was forwarding to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Aviation as the Minister primarily responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the steps which he ensures are taken by the local health authorities to decontaminate before reoccupation all houses vacated by persons who have suffered from transmissible diseases.

Under Section 47 of the Public Health (Scotland) Act, 1897, a local health authority has power to ensure the disinfection of a house or part thereof, and of any articles therein, where it appears to them that this would prevent or check the spread of infectious disease. I have no reason to suppose that local health authorities are not using this power where they think it necessary. Furthermore, Section 51 of the same Act provides for a penalty not exceeding £20 should anyone let a house in which a person has been suffering from an infectious disease, without first having the house, and any contents liable to retain infection, disinfected to the satisfaction of the Medical Officer of Health.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has now received about the implementing of the Wright Committee's proposal to alter and reduce the specialist staff available residentially at Stornoway for the obstetrics and associated services; and what has been the nature of his replies.

None, other than the hon. Member's letter of 19th March to which I have replied today.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of boy and girl school-leavers this Easter in the Western

Ross and Cromarty education authority expects 24 boys and 12 girls to leave school in the Western Isles this Easter. There is no Easter leaving date for schools in Inverness-shire.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration is being given by his Department to the more extensive use of the Gaelic language in plans to make greater use of local educational broadcasting.

The Schools Broadcasting Council for Scotland, on which my Department is represented, has discussed with the education authorities of Argyll, Inverness and Ross and Cromarty the possibilities of local education broadcasts in gaelic on V.H.F. The matter will be further considered next year, when V.H.F. coverage of the area is expected to be completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the congestion which is likely to occur on either side of the Forth Road Bridge, whether he is satisfied with the safety of the approach roads to and from the Bridge; and if he will make a statement.

The approach roads to the bridge have been designed both in layout and constructional standards for the maximum safety of all who will use them; and I do not accept the hon. Member's assumption that congestion is likely to occur on them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to provide safety for pedestrians in the vicinity of the Forth Road Bridge; and whether he intends to provide pedestrian flyovers.

The scheme does not include flyovers for pedestrians. It does, however, provide facilities at each side of the bridge to enable pedestrians to cross the main approach roads without crossing the carriageway. On the south side, there will be an east-west subway under the toll plaza. On the north side there will be steps on both sides of the approach road down to the old A.90 which passes the new road.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now give further consideration to the situation whereby the new approach road from Kirkcaldy to the north of Inverkeithing cuts off a portion of Inverkeithing from the facilities in the centre of the town, resulting in schoolchildren and elderly people having to cross a main road which is designed to carry heavy traffic at high speed to and from the Forth Road Bridge; and what steps he intends to take to reduce the danger to pedestrians where the A.90 crosses the approach road at the Burnside area of Inverkeithing.

Physical conditions at this site preclude an easy answer to the problem to which the hon. Member refers. I shall, however, be willing to

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that some civil servants and retired officers working in the War Office

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek power to require landlords to make a return to him of their incomes from farming property.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table of the grants and grants in aid withdrawn from outside bodies during the years 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, and 1964–65.

Yes. The list is as follows:have suffered a financial loss after the recent 3 per cent. pay award because they are no longer eligible for a daily travel allowance; and whether he will amend the present regulations regarding the payment of a daily travel allowance to make sure that non-industrial servants are not worse off as the result of a wage increase.

Non-industrial civil servants (including retired officer grades) whose salary exceeds £1,200 a year are not eligible to participate in assisted travel schemes. Such schemes were introduced as a war-time measure to meet special recruitment, housing and transport difficulties; some still exist at certain out-station establishments although, since the war, these difficulties have lessened considerably and there is correspondingly less justification for helping employees to meet the normal travelling expenses between home and work. The schemes were designed primarily for industrial staff. The answer to the second part of the Question is no.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to introduce a long-term comprehensive tax on profits from the sale of land for which planning permission has been given.

I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many different types of printed forms are used in his Department for internal and external use, respectively; and whether all these forms are included in the List of Standard Books, Forms, etc., for use in the Public Service published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

The Treasury uses 232 different printed forms; 135 of them are included in the List of Standard Books, Forms, etc., for use in the Public Service published by H.M. Stationery Office. Of the forms included in the List 8 are for external use, i.e. outside Government Departments; of the forms not included in the List 12 are for external use.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to improve efficiency and reduce manpower by reorganising his department with the help of the Treasury Organisation and Methods Section; what use his department makes of outside management consultants; and what such action he is proposing in the near future.

The services of the Treasury O. & M. Division are used considerably, and will continue to be used in the future, by the Department on matters concerning its organisation and the procedures for dealing effectively with its work, and for achieving more economic uses of manpower. No use is ma de of outside management consultants.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount an additional 3d. in the £ on all sections of Income Tax in 1963–64 would yield in revenue to the Exchequer; and what would be the additional yield for each band of income taxed for the period.

The estimated yields in a full year from an increase of 3d. in the lower reduced rate, the higher reduced raw and the standard rate of Income Tax for 1963–64 are £23 million, £28 million and £52 million, respectively, of which £17 million, £21 million and £52 million would have reached the Exchequer in 1963–64.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many books have been seized by Customs officers in each of the last twelve months; and how many in each month have been returned to their owners.

During 1963 the Customs seized 235,837 books. All but some 250 of these were bulk commercial imports; five books were returned to travellers. I regret that separate monthly figures are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many books are now on the list which Customs officers are directed to seize; and on what dates the list has been revised during the past twelve months.

The list at present comprises 165 books. During the past twelve months amendments to the list were authorised on 5th April, 1963, 8th November, 1963, 13th January, 1964, and 5th March, 1964.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what instructions are issued to Customs officers regarding the seizure of books.

Customs officers clearing imported merchandise are instructed that if in the course of their duties they find books which appear to be obscene they should detain them and report the matter to the Commissioners of Customs and Excise. So far as private travellers are concerned, officers are instructed not to ask passengers whether they have obscene books with them, but if any books which appear to be obscene are found in baggage such books are to be detained and reported to the Commissioners or, in the case of certain books listed in the instructions, seized locally. Any person claiming that any thing seized as liable to forfeiture is not so liable must give notice of his claim, in which case the Commissioners must take proceedings under the Customs and Excise Act, 1952, for condemnation of that thing by the court.

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science what progress the Road Research Laboratory is making into the use of anti-crash, anti-dazzle and anti-wind barriers on motorways; and if he will make a statement.

The Road Research Laboratory has recently published the results of their tests on three different types of anti-crash barrier, including a steel-beam type, and two nine-mile sections of this type of barrier are now being erected as an experiment on M.1. The accident rates on these lengths of motorway will be compared with those on suitable control sections. Full-scale tests to produce a satisfactory design of a fourth, cable-type, barrier are in progress at the Road Research track at CrowthorneTwo miles of anti-dazzle fencing has been in use on the M.1 for four years. It has improved driving conditions but analysis of the accident records does not reveal any marked change in the accident rate. The experiment is continuing.No work is in hand or contemplated on anti-wind barriers because, in the view of the Laboratory, effective protection against wind could be provided only at the risk of promoting conditions which produce the alternative hazard accumulations of snow.

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science what was the total sum paid in grants to the University of Bristol in each year from 1957 to 1963.

The following is the information for the academic financial years concerned:

asked the Lord President of the Council and Minister for Science what is the estimated cost of the new University of Bristol Students' Union building in Queens Road, Clifton; and how much of the cost will be met from public funds.

£875,000, all of which will be met from public funds.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many different types of printed forms are used in his Department for internal and external use, respectively; and whether all these forms are included in the List of Standard Books, Forms, etc., for use in the Public Service published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

The Ministry uses about 2,700 different types of forms of which some 1,650 are used only within the Ministry. The vast majority of the remainder are the particular concern of relatively small groups of farmers, manufacturers and food traders. The bulk of these forms do not appear in the List of Standard Books, Forms, etc.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what steps he has taken to improve efficiency and reduce manpower by reorganising his department with the help of the Treasury Organisation and Methods Section; what use his department makes of outside management consultants; and what such action he is proposing in the near future.

The Ministry has had its own Organisation and Methods Branch since 1945 and it is employed in improving efficiency and reducing manpower where this is compatible with efficiency. This Branch obtains advice and training, when necessary, from the Treasury Organisation and Methods Division and needs their agreement when introducing or effecting major changes in the mechanisation of office procedures. The Ministry has been an extensive user of punched card equipment since 1954 and computers since 1958, and also makes the fullest use of dictating, audio-typing, photocopying, dyeline reproduction and addressing equipment and keeps abreast of modern techniques, all of which have contributed to substantial staff savings. The Ministry has not employed outside management consultants and I see no need to do so in the future.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the estimated tonnage of refined sugar stocks in the United Kingdom which was subject to distribution payment adjustments under the Sugar Act, 1956, on each of the past 10 occasions when such adjustments were made; and what was the total financial magnitude of each such adjustment.

I regret that it is not possible to give even an approximate estimate of the amount of sugar in the pipe-line between refiner and consumer on these occasions and it is therefore impossible to calculate the financial magnitude of the changes in its market value due to adjustments in the rate of distribution payment.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what steps he has taken to improve efficiency and reduce manpower by reorganising his Department with the help of the Treasury Organisation and Methods Section; what use his Department makes of outside management consultants; and what such action he is proposing in the near future.

The Air Ministry has had for 20 years an Organisation and Methods Branch, whose staff are employed fall time in devising improvements in the organisation and methods of work of the Department. They are in close touch with the Treasury Organisation and Methods Staff. I have no plans for employing outside management consultants. The whole question of efficient use of resources is continually under review; and I would refer my hon. Friend to my speech introducing the Defence (Air) Estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many different types of printed forms are used in his Department for internal and external use, respectively; and whether all these forms are included in the List of Standard Books, Forms, etc., for use in the Public Service published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

About 4,300 forms are used in the Royal Air Force and the Air Ministry, including the Meteorological Office. Most of these are for internal use: the exact figure is not readily available. Eighty-two are included in the List of Standard Books, Forms, etc.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many different types of printed forms are used in his Department for internal and external use, respectively; and whether all these forms are included in the List of Standard Books, Forms, etc., for use in the Public Service published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

Printed forms in current use in the Foreign Office and supplied from the Foreign Office for use by Her Majesty's Representatives and Consular Officers overseas number 370 for internal use (of which 107 are included in the List of Standard Books, Forms, etc., for use in the Public Service published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office), and 92 for external use, that is, issued to or used by the general public. These figures include forms used by the Passport Office. Forms printed overseas, usually in the local language, for the local needs of particular posts, are not included.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he has taken to improve efficiency and reduce manpower by reorganising his Department with the help of the Treasury Organisation and Methods Section; what use his Department makes of outside management consultants; and what such action he is proposing in the near future.

During the past ten years, the Treasury Organisation and Methods Division have carried out twenty-one inspections for the Foreign Office. They are now being consulted closely on the planning of the new Foreign Office building, on administrative problems concerned with the setting up of the combined Administration of the new Diplomatic Service, and on the application of the Fleming Report to the future organisation of the Passport Office. Following the Plowden Committee's recommendation, it is intended eventually to establish an Organisation and Methods Section in the combined Administration of the Diplomatic Service, and a Foreign Service officer is shortly to be sent to the Organisation and Methods Division for training. No use is made of outside management consultants.

asked the Minister of Health whether his Department has investigated the suitability of the ultra-sonic aid for the blind for enabling blind persons the better to detect the presence of obstacles in their path, and thereby increase their capacity for independent movement; and whether he will make a statement concerning the availability of this equipment by prescription under the National Health Service.

I understand that this aid is still at the experimental stage.