asked the Minister of Transport what is the number of diesel locomotive power units used in maintaining the scheduled passenger and freight train services and the number of such units held in reserve; what are the comparative figures for each region of British Railways; and if he will make a statement.

British Railways' main line diesel locomotive fleet at the end

The following is a list giving particulars of such inquiries authorised by my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor, and by my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary and their predecessors.of 1964 numbered 2,458. The further details requested by my hon. Friend relate to the operating responsibilities of the Railways Board.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the fact that he has authorised the complete withdrawal of rail passenger services between Birmingham, New Street, and Walsall with effect from 18th January, whether he is satisfied that adequate bus services have been made available in their place to those persons living in Aldridge who are the main sufferers from the closure and many of whom are suffering hardship therefrom; and if he will make a statement.

Passenger services have been discontinued only on the line via Penns.If we are given any specific evidence that the alternative services are not meeting the essential needs of former rail passengers we will willingly examine it.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the Railways Board to implement the recommendation made last year by the Inspector of Accidents that the red rear oil lamps on trains should be replaced by brighter flashing lights which would better serve their purpose of preventing collision.

This is not a suitable subject for such a direction; but I understand that the Board has followed up this recommendation and is carrying out experiments with improved forms of tail lamps.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will, in the public interest, give a general direction to the Railways Board to provide adequate numbers of high-capacity railway wagons to transport large steel plates from steel mills to conform with production requirements of shipyards in the North-East.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress is being made in the installation of continental gates incorporating an advanced warning system at railway level crossings; and when these will be provided at Boothferry Road, Goole.

Forty-one of these barriers are in operation and a further 87 are under consideration.I understand from the Railways Board that barriers of this type will be installed at Boothferry Road level crossing this year.

asked the Minister of Transport how many goods receiving points of British Railways and in each region of British Railways, respectively, have been closed since September, 1964, to the nearest date.

I understand from the Railways Board that the number of stations and depôts from which freight facilities were withdrawn in the period 1st October, 1964, to 8th February, 1965, was 578.I am sure that the Board will do all it can to provide any more detailed information that my hon. Friend requires in relation to particular regions.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has now received proposals from British Railways about the future of the Richmond to Broad Street line; and when he intends to remove uncertainty about the future of the passenger services by making a statement.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has now received from British Rail on the future of the Richmond-Broad Street line; and if he is aware of the need for an early decision on this matter.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Acton (Mr. Floud) on 24th February.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the estimated cost and completion date given to him by the British Railways Board in seeking his approval for sanction of capital expenditure for its Central Design Establishment at Derby.

I understand that the British Railways Board's proposals have not yet been formulated in sufficient detail for the information requested by my hon. Friend to be provided.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the British Railways Board not to combine all design establishments into a central one.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the British Railways Board that it shall not refuse consignments of goods to stations on lines which it has the ultimate intention of closing, on the grounds that there is a ban on goods going to that area, although he has not given his consent to such closing nor has the proposal yet before him.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the British Transport Commission to retain sufficient rolling stock to meet the normal demands of the holiday season traffic to seaside resorts.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport what profit was made, in the latest 12 months for which figures are available, by London Transport, by British Rail outside an 80-mile London radius, and by British Rail within that area, respectively.

The London Transport Board estimates that its balance of revenue for the year 1964 was about £1,300,000. The information sought as regards British Railways is not available, but the Railways Board estimates that it incurred an overall deficit of about £121 million in 1964.

asked the Minister of Transport what profit was made, during the latest period of 12 months for which figures are available, by British Rail in Wales; and what was the comparable figure for the previous 12 months.

The Railways Board does not keep its accounts on a basis which enables it to calculate the financial results of its operations in Wales.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish the necessary regulations for the application of Section 93 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949, dealing with traffic restriction in national parks.

My right hon. Friend would certainly consider making these regulations if there were a real need for them. So far this has not arisen. The powers to restrict traffic available to local authorities under the Road Traffic Acts seem to have been sufficient for preserving rural amenities.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in undertaking his review of rear lighting requirements for road vehicles, he will consider the possible advantages of brighter rear lights on vehicles to reduce the risk of accidents in fog.

The Road Research Laboratory is experimenting with brighter rear lights for use in fog, and we will bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made in his negotiations with the passenger road transport industry in regard to the rebate to be given to them in respect of the additional sixpence per gallon on the fuel duty imposed by the autumn Budget; and if he will make a statement.

The method of relief has been agreed by a joint working party of my Department and the operators. I will put before the House as soon as possible the necessary Measure to bring the scheme into effect. In the meantime, the operators' associations are being sent specimens of the instructions and forms for claiming relief that would be required under the proposed scheme. Supplies of these documents will shortly be issued to all operators through the traffic area offices. This action is being taken to facilitate the introduction of the scheme subject to Parliamentary approval.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will review the law in regard to the driving of two-wheeled motor vehicles.

The high accident rates for motor cycles, scooters and mopeds are a matter of particular concern, which we have under constant study. Perhaps the hon. Member will write to me if he has any particular suggestions for improving the safety record of these vehicles.

asked the Minister of Transport what information he has on the accident and fatality ratios associated with roundabouts situated within 300 yards of school buildings, and on the numbers of children of school-going age who have been seriously injured or have died as a result of such accidents.

No information is available on this particular subject on a national basis. If the hon. Member has a specific point in mind, perhaps he will write to me.

asked the Minister of Transport how many persons were injured and how many were killed in road accidents in 1963 and 1964.

In 1963 349,257 persons were injured and 6,922 were killed in road accidents. The corresponding figures for 1964 were 377,678 injured and 7,820 killed.

asked the Minister of Transport how great has been the increase in the volume of merchandise traffic using the port of Hull in the last five years; and how this increase compares with the growth of traffic in other major British ports in the same period.

The volume of traffic passing through the British Transport Docks Board facilities at Hull increased by 25 per cent. from 8·2 million tons in 1960 to 10·2 million tons in 1964.The annual report of the Port of London Authority states that in the five years ended 31st March, 1964, traffic increased by 7 per cent. from 57·1 million tons to 61·3 million tons.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will take steps to extend to all operators of public service vehicles the relief from the extra 6d. on fuel tax which he is proposing to give to bus companies operating stage carriage services.

No. I am, however, considering the case that has been made by the bus industry for the relief to be extended to certain categories of non-stage services.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is satisfied that the law relating to metal mascots and insignia protruding from the bonnets of vehicles is adequate; and if he will make a statement.

I think that the requirements of the law on this point are adequate. No mascot likely to cause injury to a person may be carried on a motor vehicle in such a position that it is likely to strike anyone with whom the vehicle may collide, and all parts and accessories of a vehicle must at all times be in such a condition that no danger is caused or is likely to be caused to any person on the vehicle or on a road.

asked the Minister of Transport what proportion of reported accidents involving motor vehicles on the roads during 1964 was due to defective eyesight of drivers.

This information is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the continuing danger on the A.38 where it is three-lane, particularly on the stretch between Elmore Lane and the Quedgeley roundabout, south of Gloucester; and whether he will now take steps to alter the lane markings so as to diminish this danger.

The conversion of three-lane roads to two reduces traffic flow and is justified only where visibility is bad and speeds are high. These criteria are not met between Elmore Lane and the Quedgeley Roundabout. Nor would such a short length of road be suitable for offset markings.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of Her Majesty's Government's plans for the expansion of Ipswich, what are his plans for the improvement of the A.12, between London and Ipswich, including the approach from the A.12 to central London; and whether he will now expedite measures to make the whole of this route dual-carriageway.

The A.12 is being comprehensively modernised by the construction of dual carriageways between the "Green Man", Leytonstone, and Woodbridge, East Suffolk. The proposed Eastern Avenue extension will connect the A.12 with an improved east-west route across central London. Some of the work has been completed or is in progress and some is programmed for the next few years. Other works will be carried out as resources allow.

asked the Minister of Transport when a spur from the A.35 road to Bideford is to be included in the roads programme.

I assume that the hon. Member has the A.38 in mind.There are no plans to build a spur. Bideford is already served by the trunk roads A.361 and A.39.

asked the Minister of Transport when work will start on the Chandlers Ford-Otterbourne bypass on the A.33.

By the end of June, if all goes well.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made with the planning of a road to link the M.5 at East Brent with the West Country; and if he will make a statement about this and about his plans for the improvement of West Country roads generally.

A survey is now in progress to determine the line of this road and the standard to which it should be designed.Our plans also include a comprehensive programme of improvements to the A.38 south of Exeter and to the A.30 in Cornwall, together with a number of schemes to help the movement of traffic on roads leading to the M.4 and the M.5.

asked the Minister of Transport what consideration he has given to the use of a red triangle, placed at a specified distance behind a vehicle stopped for repairs, for the purpose of warning oncoming traffic.

I cannot yet add to the answer which I gave on 20th January to the hon. Member for Henley (Mr. Hay).

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to announce his policy regarding A.735 through Cheltenham, to allow local plans, dependent on his decision, to be decided.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to A.435.There are no firm proposals for the future improvement of this road in Cheltenham. Nor, in any case, would the matter be considered in isolation from the proposals for the central development area as a whole.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has for the improvement of the A.38 between Exeter and Plymouth; and when work upon the new Plympton bypass will be started.

Our aim is to make the whole length of this road dual carriageway. Schemes in the current road programme will bring over 10 miles to this standard. This includes the bypass of Plympton on which work is planned to start in 1968.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is satisfied that the width in the accepted tender for the Tinsley Viaduct, which is 5 ft. less than all the designs submitted, will prove adequate; and why he accepted a design which goes outside the requirements to cater for settlements of previously accepted memoranda on this subject.

The reduction is in the width of the central reserve and not of the carriageways or hard shoulders. I am satisfied that the design complies in all respects with current standards.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has in the near future for the improvement of the A.30 between Exeter and Launceston.

Eleven improvement schemes are in hand, or planned for 1965–66, at an estimated total cost of £195,000.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he will take to ease the traffic congestion on the A.30 trunk highway through Camborne-Redruth, Cornwall.

Major improvement of the trunk road through Camborne is impracticable on the present alignment. Restrictions on waiting have been applied and I am ready to consider any further proposals for traffic management until a bypass can be built.As my hon. Friend knows, there is already a dual carriageway bypass at Redruth.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent the difference between gross receipts and net receipts by local authorities operating street parking meters can be accounted for by tax in the financial year ended 31st March 1964.

Of the difference between the totals of gross and net receipts of £1,147,920 and £327,113 shown in my Answer to my right hon. Friend the Member for Bassetlaw (Mr. Bellenger) on 15th February, the sum of £62,400 represents the total net liability for tax in the parking meter accounts of the local authorities named.

asked the Minister of Transport what information he has on the cost of providing pedestrian subways or footbridges under or over three, four and six-lane carriageways, and on how these costs compare with those of similar facilities in other countries in Europe and the Commonwealth.

The cost of providing a pedestrian subway or footbridge may vary widely according to conditions at the particular site. The width of the road is only one of the factors affecting the cost. Other factors include the cost of land for staircases and ramps, and, for subways, the extent to which public utility services may need to be diverted. The cost of a subway is normally in the range of £25,000 to £75,000, and of a footbridge £5,000 to £20,000. No information about costs in other countries is readily available, but they are likely to show a similar variation.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish details describing, in simple terms, how the travel and accident loss technique for assessing road-building priorities is operated.

A general explanation of travel and accident loss, and of its use in the planning and programming of inter-urban road schemes is given in paragraphs 65 to 69 of my predecessor's report to Parliament "Roads in England and Wales" for the year ended 31st March, 1964.

asked the Minister of Transport what decisions have been made on the report from Messrs. Scott & Wilson, Kirkpatrick and Partners, with regard to trunk road requirements between Hull and the Great North Road.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave today to my hon. Friends the Members for Kingston-upon-Hull, North (Mr. Solomons) and Kingston-upon-Hull, West (Mr. James Johnson) and to the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall).

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is satisfied at the rate of progress achieved by the National Ports Council in the carrying out of its responsibilities; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The Council has made a good start on the many and difficult responsibilities which it has to discharge. For example, it expects to have ready shortly interim proposals for co-ordinated national port development to be discussed with the port authorities and submitted to me. It has advised me on many important dock development schemes, notably on the very difficult problem of new facilities for importing iron ore into South Wales. It has made public its views on future port organisation for the most important estuaries and has done much work on the formulation of detailed proposals. It has set up a Research Committee to examine operational and technological questions affecting the docks.

asked the Minister of Aviation what arrangements he has made with the Government of the United States of America for the supply of spare parts to the aircraft which the Government propose to purchase from them, in the event of industrial strikes in the United States of America or of political embargo by the United States of America.

The arrangements for the supply of spare parts were described by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 11th February in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Dell). They are no less satisfactory than those made for the Royal Navy's Phantoms by the previous Government.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will make a statement about the results of the United States programmes for advanced light-weight engine technology which will be combined with the V/STOL experience in the combined research and development programme.

No. I cannot disclose information obtained in confidence from the United States Government.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will inquire into prices of meals and refreshments charged by concessionaires at airports and air terminals under his control; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that the prices of meals and refreshments at State-owned airports are in line with those charged in comparable establishments elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Aviation what are the main alterations that will be needed to stretch the subsonic P1127 VTOL feasibility test vehicle into an effective weapons-system for the Royal Air Force; how many years these developments will take; what their cost will be; and in what respects the final version will differ from that originally conceived as the supersonic P1154.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 1st March by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to the hon. Member for Surbiton (Mr. Fisher).

asked the Minister of Aviation whether the design teams formerly engaged on the P1154 will be dispersed; and to what extent the knowledge gained as a result of this work in supersonic VTOL technology is now to be shared with the United States of America.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 17th February to the hon. Member for Surbiton (Mr. Fisher). Arrangements exist for the exchange of general information on V/STOL projects with the U.S.A.

asked the Minister of Aviation if, in view of the increase in passenger traffic at Turnhouse Airport, Edinburgh, he will provide an alternative runway to obviate the inconvenience caused to passengers due to aircraft not landing on account of crosswinds.

I agree that a reliable air service is important for Edinburgh and for the development of the surrounding area but diversions and cancellations at Turnhouse last year due to crosswinds were fewer than 1 per cent. of all actual or planned flights. Four out of every five diversions were for other reasons, such as bad visibility, which would not be removed by the provision of an alternative runway. I am not at present convinced that expenditure on an alternative runway, which is estimated to cost £2–3 million, would be justified.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he will make a statement about the future management of the aerodromes in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

Yes. Schemes for the more economic operation of the eight aerodromes run by my Department in the Highlands and Islands were submitted by International Aeradio Limited and by my Divisional Controller for Scotland. After a careful appraisal of the two propositions I have decided to implement the one put forward by my own officials.In reaching this decision I have taken into account both the relative financial advantages of the two schemes, and their implications for employment in the area.The eight aerodromes concerned are run for the benefit of the remote communities they serve. The essence of the economies I hope to make is the more efficient use of men and of their time. I am confident that the new measures will not impair the operational efficiency of these aerodromes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement about the new process of keeping milk fresh, and its effects upon the dairy industry.

I am in consultation with the interests concerned in regard to the making of regulations to provide a special designation for milk treated by the very high temperature process. I am advised that such milk, if kept in a suitable aseptic container, will last considerably longer than milk heat-treated by the conventional methods, but I would prefer not to speculate on the commercial possibilities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what restrictions are in operation to prevent the use of nitrofurazone in the treatment of bovine mastitis in this country.

None. This product has been cleared under my Department's Veterinary Products Safety Precautions Scheme subject to a recommendation that 24 hours should elapse after completion of treatment and before drawing of milk for human consumption.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) why he has removed restrictions on the importation of potatoes from Corsica after 30th June while potatoes from the mainland of France are prohibited after that date;

Imports of new potatoes from mainland France and mainland Italy are prohibited after 30th June and 20th May respectively, because of the risk of bringing in Colorado beetle. We are satisfied that the same risk does not apply to imports from Corsica and Sardinia where Colorado beetle is not known to exist.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he refused permission to the Potato Marketing Board to enter the market in the week beginning 15th February, 1965.

I do not know what the hon. Member has in mind in his reference to 15th February. In response to an approach towards the end of January, I notified the Chairman of the Board on 3rd February that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, and I, wuold keep the position under review, but that the market situation at that time did not in our opinion justify the introduction of an Exchequer assisted support buying programme under the terms of the potato guarantee arrangements. I confirmed this conclusion when the Chairman of the Board came to see me on 8th February. In the light of developments in the next two weeks, the Secretary of State and I decided that the time had come to introduce a buying programme on the basis announced in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury and Radcliffe (Mr. Ensor) on 22nd February.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he has lifted the ban on imports of potatoes from the Azores.

We are satisfied that the Azores are free from serious diseases and pests affecting potatoes and that there are no plant health grounds for prohibiting or restricting imports of potatoes from this source.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the cost of a 15 per cent. import levy and a 10 per cent. import levy, respectively, on the cost of fertilisers, building timber and imported agricultural machinery used by farmers in this country; and whether this increase will be taken into account in the 1965 Price Review.

As regards the temporary import charge of 15 per cent., I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the right hon. Member for Bedford (Mr. Soames) on 3rd February. The reduced charge of 10 per cent. does not take effect until 27th April. All changes in the prices of goods and services purchased by farmers are being taken into account at the Annual Review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the approximate cost per annum to farmers in this country of the recently imposed increase of 6d. per gallon tax on petrol.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the replies given to the right hon. Member for Bedford (Mr. Soames) and the hon. Member for Rye (Mr. Bryant Godman Irvine) on 18th November last, and to the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) on 8th December last.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when action will be taken to treat intensive breeding houses for poultry, pigs and calves on the same basis for rating purposes as other agricultural buildings; and what guidance he will give to farmers who wish to modernise their farms and increase their efficiency by such intensive rearing, but who are uncertain as to the future rating burden resulting from such improvements.

The question of the rating of intensive livestock production buildings must await the outcome of the Government's examination of local government finance including the rating system.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will refer to his new Scientific Advisory Committee the scientific issues which will be involved in an amendment of the Artificial Sweeteners in Food Order 1953 in such a way as to permit any widespread consumption by the public of artificial sweeteners such as cyclamates.

No. As I explained in my reply to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Dodds-Parker) on 24th February, the Food Standards Committee and the Committee on the Medical and Nutritional Aspects of Food Policy have advised me on these issues after thorough consideration of the possibilities of hazard to health.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the accumulating evidence of severe side-effects associated with the use of the chemical trichlorphon as a cattle dressing against warble-fly, he will instruct the Agricultural Research Council to investigate its properties fully.

I am not aware of any accumulating evidence of severe side-effects associated with the proper use of this substance. I am, however, asking local veterinary inspectors to report any cases of illness in cattle following treatment to my veterinary investigation officers. I am not responsible for the work of the Agricultural Research Council, which is under the supervision of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science, but the Council will be informed of any results of my enquiries which may suggest that further research is desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has reached a decision to authorise East Lothian County Council to go ahead with their school-building pro- gramme at Prestonpans; and whether he will make a statement.

I shall shortly be approving the authority's proposal to start a new Roman Catholic primary school in 1965–66. The starting date of the Preston-pans new senior secondary school depends on school building allocations from 1967 onwards which I expect to settle later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether Her Majesty's Government have yet agreed the form for the negotiating machinery for the probation service for the whole of Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.

In July the then Home Secretary and Secretary of State for Scotland met representatives of the employers' sides of the separate negotiating bodies for the probation service in England and Wales and in Scotland. I understand that the English representatives indicated that they would be glad to form part of a single negotiating body, and that the Scottish representatives undertook that the Scottish local authority associations would consider the proposals further. I expect to receive their views shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now name a date for the completion of the Cockenzie Power Station.

The South of Scotland Electricity Board informs me that it expects to bring this station into operation as planned, that is, one generating set in 1966, two more in 1967, and the final set in 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to implement the Robbins Committee proposals for closer academic links between the colleges of education and the universities, whereby training college students could obtain a degree, together with a professional teacher qualification, by means of a four-year course.

The universities and the colleges of education were very quick to follow up these proposals themselves and I am glad to say that agreement on such courses leading to a new degree of Bachelor of Education has already been reached both at Aberdeen and Edinburgh. The Ordinance governing the Aberdeen degree is already before the House and that governing the Edinburgh degree is, I understand, likely to be laid shortly. Discussions on somewhat similar proposals are proceeding in Glasgow between the University and Jordanhill College of Education.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons were killed in road accidents in Scotland in each of the last five years.

The numbers killed in the years 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964 were 648, 671, 664, 712 and 754 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in the age ranges 30 to 35, 35 to 40 and 40 to 45 received teacher training grants in the years 1955, 1960, 1962 and 1964.

The numbers of persons in the age ranges 30–35, 35–40 and 40–45 in receipt of awards from public funds in 1964 for teacher training were respectively 223, 236 and 116. Information is not available in this form for earlier years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will offer a differential payment or a

The annual Price Review is proceeding at present, and I cannot anticipate its outcome.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for extending the exchange of goods and services, including tourism, between the United Kingdom and Poland.

I am always interested in ways of increasing trade in both directions between Britain and Poland; but my main concern at the moment is the serious decline in Polish purchases from the United Kingdom at a time when our purchases from Poland had increased greatly. I have emphasised to the Polish authorities my great anxiety on this point.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the percentage increase in the value of United Kingdom imports of semi-manufactures, finished manufactures and chemicals, respectively, for each of the last four months for which figures are available, compared with the corresponding months of 1963–64.

The following is the information:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a survey of the need in Scotland for a technological programme to include some of the new growth industries such as electronics and precision engineering; and if he will make a statement.

The new growth industries are already represented in Scotland. The need for greater development of these industries is recognised and we shall continue to encourage both the introduction of new firms and the expansion of those already established.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the value of the United Kingdom's imports from and exports, including re-exports, to Mexico during the last 10 years; and what percentage those figures represent of Mexico's total exports and imports.

The following is the information:

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the value of the United Kingdom's imports from and exports, including re-exports to Brazil for each year since 1950; and if he will evaluate the percentage these figures represent of Brazil's total exports and imports.

The following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now revoke the condition imposed and authorise the removal of the old air-raid shelter at Manor Way, Whitchurch, near Cardiff, in view of the fact that conditional permission for its demolition was given by his Department in March, 1964.

The main purpose of demolition was, I understand, that garages might be erected on the site occupied by the shelters. The conditions attached to demolition at the public expense were that planning permission should be obtained for erection of the garages, and that the undertakers should acquire the site. These are essential to the purpose for which demolition was sought, and it would not be right to waive them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what communication he has received from Justice, the British section of the International Commission of Jurists, with regard to their request that their representatives should be allowed to study the Machent Report on Birmingham police on behalf of the prisoners involved; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

Justice have asked that their representatives should be allowed to study this report and to meet me for a general discussion. I have told them that I welcome a discussion, but that I cannot agree to the disclosure of a police report on inquiries into possible criminal offences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current building programme for new prisons , for how many of such prisons the sites have ben selected; for how many of those selected details have been published; and what principles, in order of importance, govern the selection of sites.

Sites for 17 new establishments have been selected and announced. On these thre prisons, four remand centres and one detention centre are under construction; five prisons, two borstals and one detention centre are at the design stage; design work for a prison on the

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plant and equipment from the Royal Ordnance Factory, Woolwich, has been disposed of by public auction since January, 1964; what was the date of acquisition of the various items; what was their original cost to the taxpayer; who purchased them at the auctions; and what price was realised for them.

It is not usual practice to disclose details of the purchasers of surplus equipment and storesnor to give details of prices realised. The following is the information asked for in the first three parts of the question. Machine tools have not been included.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of his total service has been served outside the United Kingdom in the Royal Air Force by the junior technician, of whom details have been sent to his Department by the hon. Member for Lichfield and Tamworth; and whether he is satisfied that this man's married life has been fully taken into account and suitable accommodation provided accordingly.

Since joining the Royal Air Force six years ago this Airman has served a total of 2 years and 7 weeks overseas, of which one year was accompanied.The answer to the second part of the Question is "Yes".

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many underwater research vehicles are being supported by public funds.

None so far as I aware.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what support is being given by the British Oceanographic Institute to the construction or design of underwater vehicles.

The National Institute of Oceanography is not incurring expenditure on the construction or design of underwater vehicles, which are not considered an economic means of obtaining information for their purposes.

asked the Minister of Technology what steps he is taking to encourage the use of computers in the shipbuilding industry.

The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is at present providing assistance in the form of research grants to Universities and additional research work is being undertaken in Government Laboratories. The application of this research to ship production is being developed by the British Ship Research Association (which receives substantial grant aid) in conjunction with D.S.I.R.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will list the projects of research and development in the fields of computer technique and superconductivity covered by contracts or still in negotiation by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, stating in the case of each project the finance involved, the nature of the project and the name of the firm with which the contract is made or being negotiated.

The information asked for is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will hold a special inquiry into the causes of the deaths of 13 people in road accidents in Wales during the past four weeks; and whether he will publish his conclusions.

No. Detailed information is already obtained from the police for all fatal road accidents and I have no reason for thinking that the fatal accidents in Wales during the past 4 weeks presented special features justifying a special inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement about the date and composition

As regards the date of the Conference, I have at present nothing to add to the reply which I gave the right hon. Member for Streatham (Mr. Sandys) on the 24th February.With regard to the composition of the conference, it remains my wish that it should be fully representative.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the warning by the World Health Organisation that the current Asian influenza epidemic will spread westwards through Europe, he will take steps to advise people on the precautions they should take.

I am not aware of any such warning, I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's reply on 8th February to the hon. Member for The Wrekin (Mr. William Yates).

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many specially trained staff would be needed to provide regular tests for cervical cancer in the town of Swansea;(2) how many personnel specially trained in the detection of cervical cancer are currently available on the staffs of Swansea hospitals; and what increase in these specialists is envisaged in the next five years;(3) how many tests for cervical cancer the specially trained staff at Swansea hospitals could carry out in the course of one year;(4) what facilities will be available in the new Swansea Hospital building for the detection of cervical cancer;(5) how much space cervical cancer test facilities would require to provide a routine test service for Swansea.

Hospital exfoliative cytology facilities are being developed as part of the hospital pathology services, and the Welsh Hospital Board will closely watch the needs for further expansion at Swansea. Already one pathologist and one technician on the staffs of the Swansea hospitals have received special training and, under present allocations of work, can undertake between 2,500 and 3,000 examinations per annum. On the latest calculation the equivalent of between one and two whole-time technicians would be required to provide regular tests for women aged 35 and over in the town of Swansea. Additional laboratory space will be provided as necessary in existing hospitals and the needs of this service will be taken into account in the planning of the new hospital at Singleton Park.

asked the Minister of Health how many immigrants including relatives and dependants, have entered Great Britain in the ten years to the latest convenient date; and how many persons have emigrated from Great Britain during the same period.

The Registrar General estimates with the assistance of figures for Scotland, that in the ten years from mid-1954 there was a net intake of 1,183,000 people (including relatives and dependants) from all countries outside the United Kingdom into Great Britain. This figure is net because it is estimated after deducting former immigrants (and their relatives and dependants) who subsequently returned home or moved on elsewhere.In the same period there was a net outflow from Great Britain of 850,000 people (including relatives and dependants) to the world outside the United Kingdom. This figure is net because it is estimated after deducting former emigrants (and their relatives and dependants) who subsequently returned to Great Britain.Thus, in the ten years from mid-1954, movements of people across national frontiers directly caused an increase of 333,000 in the estimated population of Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research projects on sheep are being undertaken.

It is not possible to list, within the limits of a Parliamentary reply, all the research that is at present being undertaken on sheep, but I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the "Index of Agricultural Research, 1964", in which he will find details of all We work in progress under the auspices of the Agricultural Research Council. Certain research work on disease problems is carried out by the Veterinary Service of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Experimental work on sheep is also conducted at the Experimental Husbandry Farms of the National Agricultural Advisory Service and I am also sending the hon. Member a complete list of such work in progress in 1964. In addition a number of private breeders are conducting crossbreeding experiments. Important work is being undertaken in universities and agricultural colleges, supported by their own funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of nursery schools to be built in the education programme for 1965–66; and where and at what cost they will be built.

Since 1960 the establishment of new nursery schools has not been allowed. It is open to local education authorities to rebuild existing nursery schools within their minor works allocations, but I have no information about any such projects which may be planned for 1965–66.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether the criteria which will be given to the Incomes Review Division of the National Board for Prices and Incomes will take account of wage drift.