asked the Minister of Transport what progress is being made to introduce reflectorised advance warning signs for the indication of temporary obstructions.

Draft regulations have been circulated to the appropriate organisations and their comments are now being considered. As soon as practicable, I intend to authorize the use of red triangle signs by drivers to indicate temporary obstructions.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will describe the procedure for consulting local authorities and others affected before deciding the route of a motorway.

The procedure is lengthy and complicated. I will send the hon. Member a schedule of the principal stages.The basic information has, however, been published in Appendix IV of the Roads Report for 1963 and Chapter 8 of that for 1964.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now overhaul the administrative machinery for selecting the sites for pedestrian crossings.

A comprehensive review of pedestrian crossing policy will take place during this year. We shall make an announcement about this as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport what study he has made of the hazard warning device, particulars of which have been sent him, which can be triggered off by telephone on motorways.

I have written to the hon. Member about this warning device.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any power lines exist on motorways which can be used for warning devices.

No. Where, as on M5, power is needed for operating warning signs, it is brought specially to the particular site.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has for a bypass at Axbridge.

I understand that the Somerset County Council, as highway authority, has prepared a revised scheme which follows part of the line of the Cheddar Valley Railway. When details are received, the scheme will be considered for grant assistance.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will authorise the establishment of a pedestrian crossing on the A.423 road at the top of Rose Hill, Oxford.

No. The reasons were explained to the hon. Member by letter last October.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has for bypassing the Selby Toll Bridge; and when these plans will be implemented.

I cannot announce any decision about this until we have completed our study of the report of the consulting engineers who recently carried out a survey of the trunk road needs of the area.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make an immediate grant of £100,000 towards the duplication of Rochester Bridge as soon as the Court of Wardens have received the authority of Parliament to proceed with the construction, provided the Wardens are prepared to advance any further sums required and which would be repaid by his Department at a later agreed date.

No. If the Court of Wardens received the authority of Parliament to build the new bridge, the contribution from public funds will consist in the provision of approach roads to it.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made with the development of the A.19 road; and what further schemes are contemplated to improve road facilities in the region of the new town of Peterlee in County Durham.

Construction of the Shotton and Sheraton diversions is well under way. Work on the improvement of the five mile section between Wolviston and Sheraton should start next month.Schemes for the improvement of the rest of the A.19 north of the Tees, including the section to which Peterlee has access, are being prepared with all possible speed.

asked the Minister of Transport when the footbridge across the A.63 at Walton, which has already been approved, will be built.

A draft Order under Section 9 of the Highways Act, 1959, has been advertised and if no objection is received the Order should be made by March.Competitive estimates for the supply of bridge material are being sought and it is expected that the work of erecting the bridge will begin in the early summer.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) whether a decision has yet been taken concerning the exact position of the third pedestrian crossing on the A.20 in the Mailing district; and if it will be at or near the Bull at Larkfield or at the Addington crossroads;(2) what steps he proposes to take to improve the pedestrian crossing on the A.20 at the new Hythe lane junction at Larkfield.

My engineers expect to be ready to discuss their proposals with the county council and the rural district council shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the full review of rear lighting requirements for vehicles recently undertaken has resulted in recommendations for improved rear lighting; and what steps he will take to implement them.

The review is still proceeding. As soon as I am satisfied that changes ought to be made amending regulations will be prepared.

asked the Minister of Transport how many concrete lamp standards have been knocked down between the Black Prince, Bexley, and Watling Street, Dartford, since 1st January, 1960; what is the total cost of replacements; and why, when there are ample grass verges, they are erected within a few inches of the roadway where in places there is no kerb, thereby increasing hazards.

Forty-seven. The cost of replacement is about £50 per column. This lighting was installed between six and eight years ago and the siting of the columns, which I understand varies between 18 inches and 2 feet from the edge of the carriageway, was in accordance with the practice at that time.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the increasing concern at the lack of public conveniences at lay-bys on trunk roads, and with the health menace that this presents, how long his Department has been considering this matter; with what result; and what organisations have made representations to him on this problem.

It is nine months since the Department received the County Councils Association's comprehensive report on conditions at trunk road lay-bys.There have also been representations from other local authority associations, motoring organisations and farming interests.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will install an experimental system of sound warning by hooter on motorways when there is fog.

No. Audible warnings could dangerously startle some drivers and might not be heard by others in closed vehicles with heavy engine noises. They would disturb the locality without being of reliable benefit to traffic.

asked Minister of Transport if he proposes to extend the experiment of the Box junction system, now being tried out in London, to other parts of the country.

Not at present. I am extending the experiment on 25th January to a further 16 junctions in London to gain experience of a wider variety of conditions. I shall need to study the results there before deciding about its application elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will hold a public inquiry into the plan he has approved for an underpass at the Tolworth junction on the Kingston Bypass.

The need to hold a public inquiry will depend upon the nature of any objections which may be received to the draft Order under Section 9 of the Highways Act 1959, published on 6th November, 1964.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of increasing traffic congestion in Rochford, he will now authorise the necessary grant so that an early start may be made on the construction of a bypass road.

I have asked the Essex County Council for a revised application for grant giving an up-to-date estimate of cost. I will consider the question of grant when I have received the application.

asked the Minister of Transport when present contracts for widening and improving the East Lancashire Road, A.580, will be completed.

Next month, apart from the reconstruction of Windle Hall Bridge, St. Helens, which is due to be completed this autumn.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he proposes to make a "No Waiting" Order on the A.40 road at Bridge Street, Witney; and if he will make a statement.

I have already announced my intention of making such an Order. The Order has not, however, yet been implemented, as explained by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary in his letter to the hon. Member of 13th January.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to publish the route of the South Orbital Road.

This route in Kent from Dartford as far as the A.20 at Swanley has already been published. Further sections of the route in Kent and Surrey will be published as and when the necessary surveys and Order plans have been completed.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give the specification of roads built to urban motorway standards.

I hope to complete shortly my consideration of the standards appropriate for the layout of urban motorways. I am taking into account the special problems of congested urban areas and the need to make the best use of urban land. I hope to issue later this year, as a planning bulletin, recommended standards for the layout of urban roads including motorways.The material specification is covered by "Specification for Road and Bridge Works" issued in 1963.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a further statement concerning the Lancashire-Yorkshire motorway, in so far as it affects the village of Outlane, in Huddersfield; and whether he has now decided to hold a public inquiry.

I have decided that a public inquiry must be held concerning the draft Outlane-Lofthouse Special Road Scheme. I will give the statutory six weeks' notice to the objectors to that scheme as soon as the necessary preparations are made.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, he is aware that to an increasing extent the highway in urban areas is used for the abandonment of unwanted vehicles, and that these are frequently left in a condition potentially dangerous to children and other road users; and what further steps he proposes to take to deal with this situation.

I am well aware of this problem. Local authorities have adequate powers to remove immediately and after six weeks to dispose of vehicles abandoned on the highway. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government will shortly be issuing a circular to local authorities on the general problem of abandoned cars. This will refer to existing powers and will also deal with dangers to children.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names and owners of all the toll bridges in Great Britain, the income from which is exempt from all forms of taxation by ancient statute; and what he intends to do to modernise this element in the transport system.

The following are the names and owners of the toll bridges in England which I know to be tax-free. Apart from Selby, which is the subject of another question, responsibility for them lies with the county councils concerned.

TOLL BRIDGES WITH INCOME STATUTORILY EXEMPT FROM TAXATION
Bridges	Owners
Trunk Road
A.19 Selby Toll Bridge, East and West Ridings	Selby Bridge Company
Classified Road
Aldwark Bridge, Yorks. Class III road	Mr. H. V. Evans
	Mr. H. D. Swales
Swinford Bridge, Berks. A.4141	Elizabeth, Countess of Abingdon
Whitchurch Bridge, Berks./Oxon. B.471	Whitchurch Toll Bridge Company
Whitney Bridge, Herefordshire A.438	Whitney Bridge Trust

asked the Minister of Transport what improvements he is proposing for road A.305 from Twickenham to Sunbury Cross to allow the residents of Twickenham to gain quick and easy access to the proposed new M.3 motorway going westward from Sunbury Cross.

I am considering plans for the improvement to a high standard of A.305 between Sunbury Cross and the junction with the Great Chertsey Road. These have been prepared, at my request, by Middlesex County Council as highway authority because this section of A.305 is part of the main route between M.3 and central London. Improvements to A.305 further east are for the local highway authority to initiate.

asked the Minister of Transport whether a date has yet been fixed to complete the new road from the Dartford Tunnel towards Croydon, in order to by-pass villages such as Otford and Shoreham.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the South Orbital Road and the Farnborough to Croydon Link Road.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is still to be consulted before any part of the line is removed and not replaced between Witham and Maldon.

My right hon. Friend's general arrangement with the Railways Board is that they will not enter into any new commitments for the disposal of track without his agreement. This applies to the Maldon-Witham branch, which is still in use for freight.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will reject the proposed withdrawal of the passenger train service between Lincoln Central and Barnetby because of the lack of alternative bus services, the inadequate roads in the area and the large number of people without their own forms of transport.

I am awaiting a report on this proposal from the Area Transport Users Consultative Committee. Until I have examined it, along with the other factors, I cannot say what my decision will be.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will defer his decision on all rail closures in the Glasgow area until the findings of the Greater Glasgow Transportation Study have been considered.

No. I shall consider closure proposals here, as elsewhere, in accordance with the policy I announced on 4th November.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will issue a general direction, in the public interest, to the British Railways Board to stop demolishing stations and halts on lines recently closed, but which may be reopened.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his Question on 10th December.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has received from the Railways Board particulars of the proposed major closure of the passenger service on the Ipswich and Lowestoft line; and whether he will refuse consent.

I have received no particulars of a proposal to close passenger services on this line. The view I would take of such a proposal would depend on what it involved.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has, in considering legislation to enable British Railways to compete for exports, to include the manufacture of locomotives.

I can add nothing yet to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster (Mr. Harold Walker) on 23rd December.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to ensure that the light warning signs at the railway crossing in Ingram Road, Gillingham, and wherever similar signs exist, are changed to a type that will be easily understood by motorists.

The twin flashing red light signals which are used at this and other level crossings have been prescribed as traffic signs for five years and their use is set out in the Highway Code.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the proposed closure of the railway line between Boston and Grimsby.

I am still considering the Railways Board's proposal and am not yet able to say what my decision will be.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the specially adverse effects upon the North of Scotland of the announced increases in railway fares, together with the earlier increase in fuel duty for road transport; and if he will seek powers to alleviate these effects in Scotland.

Under the Transport Act, 1962, the British Railways Board became responsible for fixing its own fares outside London. I could not justify legislation to alter this situation for particular parts of the country. Scottish bus operators will share in the full relief from the extra fuel duty which is proposed for stage carriage services.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is satisfied that the condition laid down by his predecessor for the closure of the Birmingham-Walsall via Penns line, namely, an adequate early morning bus service, has been fulfilled; and if he will make a statement.

The conditions of consent to this closure required the revision of bus services between Aldridge and Walsall so as to provide a journey from Aldridge to connect with the 6.54 a.m. train from Walsall to Birmingham. This requirement has been fulfilled by a retiming which came into effect on the date of closure.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the need to modernise British docks and ports, he will seek to establish one or two new publicly-owned ports in which the advantages to be derived from the use of modern equipment and methods could be demonstrated.

I think we shall do better by devoting our resources to the modernisation and development of our existing major ports.

asked the Minister of Transport what form of study group he proposes to appoint to consider the coordination of the transport services; and if he will make a statement.

I am making good progress with the arrangements for this study and I hope to be ready to make a statement soon.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the large number of wireless sets that are now installed in motor vehicles, he will request the British Broadcasting Corporation, under section 14(3) of the Licence and Agreement, to include an item on road accidents in every major news broadcast.

No. It is for the B.B.C. to exercise its editorial judgment in deciding what to include in its news bulletins. The Corporation is, in fact, most helpful in broadcasting road safety items and advice on sound radio.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give further relief to bus operators in respect of fuel tax.

I have no proposals to make for this at present.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the consensus of public opinion in the locality, he will now abandon the plans for diverting traffic from the Great West Road at the Sutton Court roundabout, Chiswick, via the residential Barrowgate Road.

No. I have to take into account the interests of road users as well as the views of those affected locally by traffic measures. I think it right to go ahead with this scheme as an experiment to find out what effects it actually has.

asked the Minister of Transport in view of the continued deterioration in its services and unrest among its staff, if he will take steps to reorganise London Transport.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents have taken place in each of the last five years involving one-seater invalid cars.

The figures for which my hon. Friend asks are not available because only the main classes of vehicles are distinguished in the national accident statistics.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to receive from the Road Research Laboratory its report about the causes of accidents during the Christmas period 1964; and whether, in view of the reduction in the number of accidents during that period, he proposes to continue with a similar publicity scheme next Christmas.

The process of collecting all the information required for a comprehensive analysis necessarily takes time, and the Report of the Road Research Laboratory will not be completed until after Easter. I shall decide what future measures to adopt when I have considered the information I receive from the Laboratory.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to secure safer design and general safety precautions in the construction of vehicles by motor manufacturers.

My Department is constantly in touch with the users and manufacturers of road vehicles with a view to bringing up to date the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations and incorporating new technical developments in agreed codes of practice.

asked the Minister of Transport what changes he proposes to make in the regulations for parking unlit vehicles in towns at night, especially on bus routes, following the consideration of this problem by his predecessor as announced on 28th July, 1964.

My Department is considering this problem. I cannot yet say what changes in the regulations may be required.

asked the Minister of Transport what restrictions he has removed on the manufacturing activities of the Transport Holding Company.

I have informed the Chairman of the Transport Holding Company that, subject to my normal control over investment and borrowing, the manufacturing capacity and output of their subsidiaries may be expanded where they consider this to be advantageous in the normal course of the business permitted to them, and that to this end I have revoked the direction given to the company by my predecessor on 20th December, 1962, which bears on this matter. This required the Holding Company to exercise control over their manufacturing subsidiaries so as to ensure that the productive capacity of any of those companies, i.e. Star Bodies (B.T.C.) Limited, Bristol Commercial Vehicles Limited, and Eastern Coach Works Limited, should not exceed the productive capacity of that company as at 1st January, 1963.

asked the Lord President of the Council if, in view of the fact that no Questions to him for oral answer have been reached on either of the two Wednesdays on which they have been tabled since the beginning of the Session, he will seek to arrange for Questions to him to be answered not later than 3.15 p.m., or not later than No. 30.

The suggestion made by the hon. Member is one which could be looked at by the Select Committee on Procedure.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will move for a Select Committee to consider the desirability of erecting in an appropriate part of the Palace of Wesminster a fitting memorial to Sir Thomas More, sometime Member of Parliament and Speaker of this House, and later Lord High Chancellor of England.

No. I am sensitive to the historical importance of Sir Thomas More but there would be difficulty in choosing one great man against other great men. I think there would need to be very general support in the House for this.

asked the Minister of Aviation what steps he intends to take to maintain employment in Short Brothers and Harland at its present level until 1970.

The steps must depend upon the outcome of the current defence review and the report of the Plowden Committee of Inquiry into the Aircraft Industry.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will study the suitability of the Skyvan light freighter aircraft to meet the short-range freighting requirements of the Armed Services.

The potentialities of the Skyvan as a light military freighter are well known in the Service Ministries and in my own Department. The Sky-van will receive full consideration if a requirement should emerge for this type of aircraft.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will make a statement giving details of the countries visited by his Parliamentary Secretary since his appointment; what were the reasons for these visits; what were the costs; and what new export orders have resulted from these visits.

During the Christmas Recess my hon. Friend visited Brazil, Argentina and Chile on his first official journey overseas since his appointment. The object of the journey was twofold: to obtain realisation of our full traffic rights for British United Airways in Brazil and Argentina and to promote the sale of British aircraft in South America.After his discussions with the Brazilian Foreign Minister about the B.U.A. service, it was announced that one commercial flight would be allowed weekly. The first commercial flights into Rio de Janeiro by B.U.A. commenced within three days. We are still pressing for freedom to exercise our full rights on a second service weekly. Progress was also made towards resolving some remaining impediments to the exercise of B.U.A.'s rights in Argentina.My hon. Friend obtained much valuable information about the excellent long-term prospects for the sale of British aircraft in the important South American market. As far as current orders are concerned, Handley Page has just announced delivery of two Heralds worth £½ million to Brazil and the prospects of selling four VC.10s, worth £10 million to Aero-Lineas Argentinas, have improved. The total cost of the journey, including the costs of two supporting officials, was around £1,900. Having received a full report from my hon. Friend, I am sure that his visit was most valuable.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will give an assurance that no final decision will be made about the cancellation of British aircraft projects, such as the TSR2, until he has received the Report of the Plowden Committee, recently appointed to examine the future place of the aircraft industry in the British economy.

No. As I stated in answer to a question on 9th December, 1964, there can be no question of postponing decisions on projects until the Plowden Committee has reported.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he is aware that the SC5/15B strategic transport has a substantially larger payload than the United States C130E and that in consequence three Belfast aircraft would be capable of doing the work of five American Hercules aircraft; and whether he will adopt the policy of exclusively buying British aircraft for the services.

I am aware that the Belfast SC5/15B transport has a substantially larger carrying capacity than the United States C130E and that under certain conditions the Belfast aircraft could carry some two-thirds greater payload. There are, however, many other factors which have to be taken into account in evaluating the two aircraft. On the second part of the Question, it is the Government's policy to buy British equipment for the Services, subject to price, time scale and suitability and to the need by co-operation with our allies in research, development and production to economise in financial and other national resources.

asked the Minister of Aviation what discussions he has had with the trade union representatives of the aircraft workers employed on the construction of the military aircraft TSR2.

On Thursday, 14th January, my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary and I met a deputation from the plants involved in the manufacture of the TSR2 and other workers in the aircraft industry.This afternoon I shall be meeting representatives of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions, and tomorrow I shall be having talks with the Trades Union Congress.

asked the Minister of Aviation what consultations he has had with the manufacturers of the military aircraft TSR2 concerning its efficiency and capabilities in comparison with the United States military aircraft TFX.

I am closely informed as a result of numerous discussions of the views of the manufacturers about the capabilities of the TSR2 but for comparison of British and foreign aircraft my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence and I rely primarily on the military and technical assessment of our Departments.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make a statement regarding the 1960 potato deficiency payment to registered growers in Northern Ireland.

We have not yet completed our study of this complex and long-standing question, but we shall reach a decision as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps to ensure that no manufacturer is allowed to sell agricultural machinery which at the time of sale is not equipped with proper guards or fencing to comply with the requirements of the Agriculture Safety Regulations.

Since 1st July, 1964, it has been an offence to sell new field machines for use in agriculture in Great Britain which do not comply with the Agriculture (Field Machinery) Regulations 1962. The sale of stationary farm machinery is not at present so controlled, and this is a matter we have under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have been made to him by the Rural District Councils Association requesting stricter control over the use of pest killing chemicals; and if he will make a statement.

None. The Rural District Councils Association's recently published memorandum of evidence was in response to a questionnaire sent to it in August, 1964, by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and Other Toxic Chemicals. As announced by my predecessor on 24th March last year, this Committee is reviewing the whole of the present arrangements for the safe use of pesticides in agriculture and food storage and we must await its report.The primary responsibility for the Committee now belongs to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he intends to take to deal with rising food prices.

I have had a series of meetings with representatives of certain food trades to discuss with them the increases in both their prices and their costs. These trades were the food manufacturers, the grocers, the bakers and the brewers. The meetings explored the reasons for such price increases as have occurred in recent months, and gave me the opportunity of expressing the Government's concern over any increases that could not be fully justified. I was assured that the trades will do all they can to absorb any future cost increases and avoid further price increases.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the heavy increase in traffic on the Fife roads leading from the Forth Road Bridge to the north and east of the county; what are his plans for improving the road system in the county; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 18th November to the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton). The April traffic survey will help to reveal the new pattern of traffic movements north of the Forth Road Bridge. Meanwhile the line of the Cowdenbeath-Kelty Bypass is to be altered slightly to meet objections, and provided that no more are received I should be able to make the statutory Special Road Scheme shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the final report of the Hunter Committee on Salmon and Trout Fisheries (Scotland).

I understand that the Committee hopes to present its final report by about May of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table for each of the last five years showing how many possible attendances each member of the local authority side of the Scottish Joint Council for Teachers' Salaries had; and on how many occasions each member actually recorded attendance at the meeting.

Any question on attendance is primarily a matter for the Council and for the bodies nominating members. Neither the present Council nor its predecessor, the National Joint Council, has published information of this kind. It would not be normal practice for a body of this kind to do so, and I do not think that I would be justified in requiring a change of practice in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress he has made in his investigations into the Cadco affair.

My hon. Friend, the Under-Secretary of State, has had two meetings with the Development Corporation and plans to visit Glenrothes again on 29th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why a naval air station used for training purposes was recently put at the disposal of a foreign civilian freight contractor for the dispatch in small quantities of surplus small arms sold from Army stores.

A Service air station was chosen because it had facilities for the secure storage of arms and ammunition.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will arrange for the recruitment and training of additional traffic wardens, including West Indians, and more women wardens, to deal with minor traffic offences and so release the police for more important work.

Traffic wardens already deal with a number of minor offences, and police authorities responsible for recruiting and training traffic wardens are encouraged to employ them wherever this would release police officers for other duties. Women are already being employed as traffic wardens on an increasing scale. West Indians are eligible for appointment, but I have no information about the number appointed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the total number of criminal offences known to the police in which firearms were used during the month of December, 1964, in the area of the Metropolitan Police, and in the rest of England, Scotland and Wales, respectively; and whether he will give the equivalent figures for the month of December, 1963.

The number of indictable offences in which firearms—including shot guns and air guns—were used, known to the police in the Metropolitan Police District in December, 1964, was 37; the corresponding figure for December, 1963, was 3.I regret that this information is not available for the rest of England, Scotland or Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that inconvenience is being caused by the continued delay in determining the number of county electoral divisions within the Frimley and Camberley urban district; and whether he will now announce his decision.

My right hon. Friend has decided to allot three electoral divisions to the Urban District of Frimley and Camberley. Otherwise he has accepted the proposals of the Surrey County Council in their entirety. These decisions were communicated to the Clerk of the County Council on 15th January.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he took to ensure that surplus small arms recently sold under licence to Saudi Arabia remained in that country after arriving at Jedda via Brussels by air freight in small quantities.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it a condition of the loan to Cunard for the Q4 that the tenders for the propulsion machinery shall be assessed by the Yarrow Admiralty Research Department.

The terms of the loan were agreed in October, 1963, and did not include this provision. The question posed by my hon. Friend therefore does not arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the value of the total output of the printing industry, and the average numbers employed in it during each of the years 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, and 1964.

The estimated numbers of employees in employment in Great Britain in the printing and publishing industry in June, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964 were 372,700; 377,100; 387,600; 386,300; and 387,100 respectively. The value of the output of the industry was last measured at the quinquennial Census of Production taken in respect of 1963 but the results are not yet available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with the Association of British Travel Agents on means to prevent holiday travellers being stranded through the administrative or financial failures of travel firms with slender or inadequate resources.

The Association of British Travel Agents has told me that under its new Accounts Rules, adopted on 8th October, 1964, its members will be required in future to present independent accountants' statements at annual intervals for scrutiny by its Council. It also proposes to establish a fund to be available in certain circumstances to assist tourists in the event of financial default by a member of the Association.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give details of the proposed catchment area of the planned senior Felixstowe comprehensive school, and an estimate based on the present attendance of the numbers who will attend as of right and those whose admission will be subject to some form of examination or interview; and if he will specify the form envisaged for the latter.

I understand that the catchment area of the proposed middle and high schools in Felixstowe will comprise:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will circulate details in the OFFICIAL REPORT of the numbers of children at present at direct grant schools who are there with the financial support of the local authority, and otherwise, respectively; and if he will give details in respect of each such school;(2) if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT details for all direct grant schools, indicating what proportion of their gross income is derived separately from grants and local authority eleven-plus entrants.

The following table indicates in respect of each direct grant grammar school:

1. the number of pupils whose fees are paid by a local education authority;

2. the number of other pupils;

3. the total income in the tuition account;

4. the income from capitation and sixth form grants;

5. the income from tuition fees paid by local education authorities.

The figures in the first two columns relate to January, 1964. Those in columns 3–5 relate to the financial year 1963–64.In the case of a few schools current figures are not available and the latest available figures have been used.