asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what consideration is being given to a Commonwealth Scheme for cocoa on the lines of the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has stated, we are anxious to explore possible longterm arrangements for Commonwealth exports of primary produce. The United Kingdom is, however, a less important market for Commonwealth exports of cocoa than of sugar. The best hope for Commonwealth cocoa producers seems to lie in international arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will propose a meeting between the Commonwealth and the European Free Trade Association countries to discuss mutual problems in relation to the Common Market.

The only problems at present which are common to Commonwealth and E.F.T.A. countries as a whole in relation to the E.E.C. are the general ones of access to the E.E.C. markets for agricultural and industrial goods. These problems vary in degree between Commonwealth and E.F.T.A. countries, and there are of course already forums, notably the G.A.T.T., where they are discussed. The Government do not believe that there would be advantage at this juncture in calling a meeting of the kind proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on the situation in Cyprus.

The situation in Cyprus continues to be tense. However, there have been no major outbreaks of violence in recent weeks, and the United Nations peace-keeping force has undoubtedly played a most valuable part in preventing them. On 19th March, the Security Council decided unanimously to renew the mandate of the force for a further period of 3 months, and I am glad to say that Her Majesty's Government not only fully supported this but have also agreed to continue to contribute a contingent of about 1,000 men as well as logistic support, and to make a further payment of $1 million towards the costs.A political solution has still to be found, and Her Majesty's Government therefore fully support the efforts of the United Nations Mediator in his search for one which will be acceptable to all concerned. I understand that the Report will be available to us soon. Meanwhile we are doing what we can to persuade all concerned to exercise restraint in order to create a favourable atmosphere for the consideration of the Mediator's Report.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give general directions to the area electricity and gas boards that when they fix and publish maximum prices for the resale of electricity and gas they should also issue gummed labels for displaying on all private meters stating this maximum; and that the proper display of this label should be a condition of supply of electricity and gas by the area boards.

It is for the boards to decide how adequate publicity can be given to maximum resale prices, but I am advised that they have no power to make the display of labels a condition of supply.

asked the Minister of Technology (1) what share of the total output of the United Kingdom telecommunications industry, at the most recent convenient date, was accounted for by central Government purchases, local authority purchases, and purchases by the nationalised industries, respectively;(2) what share of the total output of the United Kingdom computer industry, at the most recent convenient date, was accounted for by central Government purchases, local authority purchases, and purchases by the nationalised industries, respectively.

Statistics of public sector purchases are not at present collected in the detail asked for. I am examining whether, without a disproportionate expenditure of effort, it would be practicable to do so in future.

asked the Minister of Technology if he is aware that the prices of British-made hearing aids are beyond the reach of many people who need them, and that these prices compare unfavourably with those of imported aids; and if he will take steps to reduce the price of British-made hearing aids.

No. The Medresco aid is supplied free under the National Health Service and meets the needs of the great majority of deaf people in this country. As regards other types of hearing aid, the prices of British-made instruments are broadly in line with those of comparable types of imported ones.

asked the Minister of Technology what share of total output of the United Kingdom machine tool industry, at the most recent convenient date, was accounted for by central Government purchases, local authority purchases, and purchases by the nationalised industries, respectively.

asked the Minister of Technology what share of total output of the United Kingdom electronics industry, excluding computers and telecommunications, at the most recent convenient date, was accounted for by central Government purchases, local authority purchases and purchases by the nationalised industries, respectively.

Statistics of public sector purchases are not at present collected in the detail asked for. I am examining whether, without a disproportionate expenditure of effort, it would be practicable to do so in future.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will list all computer installations at universities and at Government establishments showing the manufacturer, model, and date of installation.

Questions about computers installed at universities are for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science. As regards computers at Government establishments I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my hon Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Charles Morrison) on 2nd and 17th March, which give the information required.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to amend the Income Tax law in order that persons not legally married may be recognised as husband and wife when living together as such.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will increase the personal tax allowance where the individual is over 65 years of age and is a householder.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion, but I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, under his regulations, allowances paid to Service personnel to obtain accommodation privately where no suitable Service accommodation is available, are assessed to taxation in full or in part; and whether similar allowances payable to master mariners delegated to stand by a ship that is being built in a yard away from their own home towns are assessed to taxation in full or in part.

Allowances paid to Service personnel in lieu of free quarters are in general liable to Income Tax in full; they are fixed at levels which take into account the fact that they are subject to tax.If the hon. Member will send me full particulars of the arrangements he has in mind in the second part of his Question I will let him have a ruling on the taxation treatment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will ensure that the rates paid to the Civil Service typing and secretarial grades are not in excess of those paid by private industry in respect of similar or higher qualifications.

Yes. Civil Service rates are determined on the basis of fair comparison with rates paid in outside employment for comparable work.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what replies he has given, and on what dates, to the National Staff Side of the Whitley Council letters of 14th January, 1965, and 3rd March, 1965, which asked for discussions to be authorised for the purpose of preparing a scheme for the implementation of the full reckoning for pension purposes of un-established service which is followed by established service.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Gateshead, West (Mr. Randall) on 23rd March.

asked the Postmaster-General what changes he has made in separating information and statistics about the work of his Department in Wales from similar information and statistics about England since the creation of the office of Secretary of State for Wales; and what administrative or other changes he contemplates in view of this change.

No changes have so far been made but the position will be reviewed if the situation warrants it.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will now make a statement on the introduction of a four-penny stamp rate on letters.

I would refer the hon. Member to my statement of 25th March, 1965.

asked the Postmaster-General for how long the 3d. postal rate lasted; how long he estimates the 4d. rate will last, in the light of the continued rising wages in industry; and if he will make a statement.

The minimum rate for letters was raised from 2½d. to 3d. in 1957. I cannot say how long the 4d. rate will last. One of the objects of the present inquiry by consultants is to undertake a fundamental review of costs, services and charges; the outcome of which I cannot anticipate.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has studied the designs for a new definitive set of British postage stamps prepared by Mr. Jock Kinneir, F.S.I.A.; and whether he will make a statement.

I was interested to see the designs referred to by the hon. Member but I cannot at present add to the statement I made about postage stamp design in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Hobden) on 24th March.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the amounts spent on the construction of new postal buildings in Wales in the years 1963, 1964 and 1965, and their location, and the number, cost and location of new postal buildings to be constructed in Wales in the years 1966, 1967 and 1968, respectively.

The information is not readily available in the form required. The postal buildings, with their cost, which were started in Wales and Monmouthshire in 1962–63, 1963–64 and 1964–65 are as follows:

1962–63	£
Carmarthen Sorting Office	43,500
Whitchurch Branch Office (Cardiff)	16,000
Neath Head Post Office	81,800
1963–64
High St. Branch Office (Swansea)	30,000
Swansea Head Post Office/Telephone Manager's Office	415,600
1964–65
Llanelly Head Post Office	41,000

The programme for 1965–66 and the tentative programmes for 1966–67 and 1967–68 with estimated costs are:

1965–66	£
Abergavenny Head Post Office and Telephone Exchange	140,000
Llanidloes Branch Office	27,600
Tenby Head Post Office	34,000
Newport (Mon) Sorting Office	350,000
Kingsway Branch Office (Swansea)	76,000
1966–67
Wrexham Head Post Office	52,000
1967–68
Milford Haven Head Post Office	52,000

In addition it is hoped to be able to start building new Postmen's Delivery Offices at Caldicot, Bettws, Pyle, Cardiff (Western) and Swansea (Morriston) in 1966–67 or 1967–68.

asked the Postmaster-General when the selection of the Churchill stamps is to be made; what denominations are to be struck; how many of each denomination will be printed; and which will be the first day of sale.

Designs for the stamps have now been selected. The denominations will be 4d. and ls. 3d. and the numbers to be printed are 154 million and 9 million stamps respectively. The stamps will be put on sale on Commonwealth Day, 24th May.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the number and location of additional machines installed for the speedier handling of mail in Wales in the years 1963 and 1964, and the number and location of such machines to be installed in the years 1965 and 1966.

The information for Wales and Monmouthshire is as follows:

Type of machine	Number installed	Locations
1963–64
Stamp cancelling machines	3	Bethesda, Betws-Y-Coed and Corwen
Chain conveyor installation	1	Carmarthen
1964–65
Stamp cancelling machines	1	Usk, Mon.
Mobile loading conveyor	1	Newport, Mon.
Mechanised facing table	1	Wrexham
Chain conveyor installations	2	Cardiff (Hayes Branch Post Office), Neath
1965–66
Mobile loading conveyor	1	Cardiff
1966–67
Bag folding/tying machines and feed conveyors	1	Cardiff
Chain conveyor: sorting office to station	1	Newport, Mon.
Internal chain conveyor installations	2	Newport and Swansea
Mechanised bag opening table	2	Newport and Swansea
Tilted belt parcel sorting machine	1	Newport
Posting box conveyor	1	Swansea
Letter and packet segregating machine	1	Swansea
Automatic letter facing machine	1	Swansea

asked the Postmaster-General if he will explain the circumstances in which a Post Office telephones van came to be involved in an accident on 5th November at the junction of Grove Road and Eastern Road, Farlington; how a Post Office employee came to be on an unauthorised journey during normal working hours; and why his Department has refused to accept any liability for damages arising from this accident.

At about 12.30 a.m. on 5th November, an unestablished garage assistant employed at the Telephone Exchange Centre Garage, Cosham, left his duty without permission and drove away a Post Office van on an unauthorised journey towards his home at Milton. On the way, at the junction of Grove Road and Eastern Road, Farlington, the van was in collision with a saloon car. Fortunately neither driver was seriously injured, but both vehicles were extensively damaged. The employment of the garage assistant has since been terminated by notice.The Post Office has not refused to accept all liability for damages arising from this accident. On the facts of the matter the Post Office contends that it is under no legal liability whatsoever since the vehicle was being driven without authority. However, in accordance with the normal practice of Government Departments in such cases we have agreed to meet the claim for personal injuries.The claim for the damage to Mr. Baker's car, other than the excess under his insurance policy, is, I understand, being dealt with by his insurers under a mutual forbearance and sharing agreement with the Treasury. With regard to any remaining items of damage, it is of course open to Mr. Baker to pursue his

1961 CENSUS
		Houses without
		Fixed bath	Running water	Unfit Houses since demolished or closed	Baths since installed with aid of Standard Improvement Grant
Heywood Borough	…	3,382	47	391	198
Royton U.D.	…	1,860	10	331	166
Crompton U.D.	…	1,888	12	118	162
Milnrow U.D.	…	1,136	25	58	194
Wardle U.D.	…	510	10	60	29
Littleborough U.D	…	1,694	19	29	104
Whitworth U.D.	…	1,472	15	173	64

It is not known how many baths have been installed without grant.The Census Returns do not show how many houses are without an inside toilet and the figure is not otherwise available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is satisfied that full account will be taken of the requirements of disabled drivers in the planning and development of town centres.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give an estimate of the number of houses in the Borough of Heywood which do not have baths, inside toilets or running water; and what are the figures for the urban districts of Royton, Crompton, Milnrow, Wardle, Littleborough, and Whitworth.

The latest complete information is derived from the 1961 Census Returns. Since then a number of unfit houses have been demolished or closed, most of which will have lacked baths, and baths have been installed in a number of other houses with the aid of standard improvement grants. The figures are:

The detailed layout of redeveloped town centres is a local authority matter. My right hon. Friend is sure they will consider sympathetically any suggestions made to them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he has considered the changes of local government boundaries within Shropshire proposed by the county council; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received the report of the inspector who conducted the local inquiry into objections. The county council's proposals are now being considered in the light of that report but he has reached no decision yet.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, in view of the fact that the cost of living has risen by 1½ per cent. or at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum since the last General Election, what new steps Her Majesty's Government propose to take to prevent a further and more rapid rise in prices, which would take from the old-age pensioners much of the real advantage of their prospective pension increases; and if he will make a statement.

The annual rate quoted by the hon. Member is misleading. The Index of Retail Prices for February in fact remained steady at its January level.It would seem best to allow the action we have already taken to have its full effect before considering whether new measures are required.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is satisfied with the progress of the earth-moving equipment industry in the country; and if he will make a statement on his policy in the matter.

Between 1961 and 1964 manufacturers' deliveries of civil engineering contractors plant to the home market increased by 45 per cent. In the same period, deliveries for export increased by 24 per cent. and I fully expect this increase to continue.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the proposed export of the portrait of the son of Rembrandt; what action he will take; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given yesterday to the hon. Member for Southend, West (Mr. Channon).

asked the Minister of Health what is the annual cost to his Department of doctors' superannuation, calculated in the appropriate groups.

The estimated total Exchequer contribution for superannuation of general medical practitioners in 1964–65 is £4,613,000. The annual cost of the Exchequer contribution for the superannuation of doctors employed in hospitals is not known exactly but is currently about £5 million.

asked the Minister of Health how many doctors have retired since the introduction of the National Health Service; and what is the annual cost to his Department of their superannuation, shown in the appropriate groups.

Information about numbers of doctors who have retired on pension and about aggregate payments made each year to different groups of pensioner is not separately available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what developments have taken place in respect of Her Majesty's Government's participation in international research on cancer.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for The Hartle-pools (Mr. Leadbitter) on 4th February.The preparatory discussions to which I referred in that reply are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will promote research to investigate possible links between pneumoconiosis and lung cancer.

Research into both pneumoconiosis and lung cancer is being supported by public funds, and includes work undertaken by Medical Research Council Units. At least one investigation has been carried out into the causes of death in coal miners with known amounts of pneumoconiosis and this has shown that the death rates for lung cancer in coal miners with advanced pneumoconiosis is no greater than the average for the general population; for coal miners with less advanced pneumoconiosis this rate is below the national average. However, no clear relationship between pneumoconiosis of coal workers and lung cancer has been established.In Great Britain the death rate of coal miners from lung cancer is appreciably lower than the national rate for men of comparable age.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how the uniform marking of O-level examination papers is ensured; and, in particular, whether model answers are available for the markers.

Individual examiners are given detailed instructions and marking schemes, and their marking is carefully supervised. If there is a doubt about the soundness of the marking of any script it is re-marked, and scripts on the borderline between pass and fail are specially examined.Model answers are generally regarded as undesirable but the instructions and marking schemes are usually very detailed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is, for deciles of the farmer population classified according to value of output of individual farmers and for the most convenient and recent period of 12 months, the average output for farmers in each decile per unit of labour, and per £1,000 of capital employed, respectively;(2) what is Her Majesty's Government's estimate of how the total value of agricultural production, in the most convenient and recent period of 12 months, is attributable to deciles of the farmer population classified according to value of output of individual farmers;(3) what is Her Majesty's Government's estimate of how the value of subsidies to the agricultural industry, including direct subsidies and indirect or concealed subsidies, such as rating or tax reliefs not given to industry in general, may be attributed to deciles of the farmer population classified according to value of output of individual farmers.

I regret that this information is not available and could not be obtained without a disproportionate amount of work.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is Her Majesty's Government's estimate, for the most convenient and recent period of 12 months, of the total value of subsidies to the agricultural industry, including direct subsidies, and indirect or concealed subsidies such as rating or tax reliefs not given to industry in general.

In 1963–64, the total cost of the direct subsidies to the agricultural industry, including the grants for horticulture and for market development, was about £295 million. No reliable estimate is available of the value of rating and tax reliefs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the average amount of subsidy both direct and indirect received by farmers.

I regret that this information is not available and could not be obtained without a disproportionate amount of work.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the value, for the most convenient and recent period of 12 months, of agricultural imports and exports.

In 1964, the value of agricultural imports was just over £1,640 million. This figure includes imports of raw agricultural produce, and those processed agricultural products where the processing element does not form the major part, by value, of the finished product. The figure includes a considerable amount for imports of tropical produce. The value of canned products, some processed foods, and alcoholic beverages is excluded.The value of exports of agricultural products, similarly defined, was £107 million in 1964. Of this, £70 million related to products primarily of United Kingdom agricultural origin.

the Secretary of State for Defence what are the names of the warships that are due to be scrapped during 1964–65.

I assume that the hon. Member wants a breakdown of the information I gave in reply to the hon. Member for Woolwich, West (Mr. Hamling) on the ships which have been approved for scrapping during 1964–65. The actual scrapping follows as quickly as possible after the approval but not necessarily in the same financial year. The names are:

1 Cruiser—H.M.S. "Gambia".

7 Destroyers—H.M. Ships "Dunkirk", "Armada", "Barfleur" "Finisterre", "Lagos", "Chequers" and "Chevron".

8 Frigates—H.M. Ships "Rocket", "Undine", "Venus", "Orwell", "Tumult", "Roebuck", "Tuscan" and "Petard".

1 Dispatch Vessel—H.M.S. "Surprise".

7 Ocean Minesweepers—H.M. Ships "Espiegle", "Mutine", "Pluto", "Circe", "Niger", "Recruit" and "Waterwitch".

8 Inshore Minesweepers—H.M. Ships "Cobham", "Damerham", "Darsham", "Davenham", "Glentham", "Hovingham", "Brinkley" and "Brenchley".

1 Fleet Maintenance Ship—H.M.S. "Ausonia".

1 Minesweeper Support Ship—H.M.S. "Woodbridge Haven".

1 Landing Ship, Tank—H.M.S. "Ben Nevis".

3 Landing Craft, Tank—H.M. Ships "Buttress", "Sallyport", "Redoubt".

3 Survey Ships—H.M. Ships "Shackleton", "Cook" and "Scott".

2 Submarines—H.M. Ships "Excalibur" and "Aurochs".

1 Submarine Tender—H.M.S. "Minstrel".

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proposals he has for increasing prisoners' earnings.

My right hon. and learned Friend is reviewing prisoners' earnings generally. Meanwhile, since the present rates were fixed some years ago, increases will be introduced on 1st April varying from 6d. to 1s. 3d. per week for prisoners, and 6d. to 1s. Od. for inmates of borstals and detention centres. Prisoners' earnings will now range from 3s. 6d. to 11s. 3d. a week; those of borstal inmates from 1s. 6d. to 8s. Od.; and those of detention centre inmates from 1s. 3d. to 2s. 6d.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of indictable offences known to the police in each of the years 1961 to 1964 in which firearms were involved, giving separate information in respect of shot guns, in the Metropolitan Police district, in the areas of county

INDICTABLE OFFENCES KNOWN TO THE POLICE IN WHICH FIREARMS WERE INVOLVED ENGLAND AND WALES
—			Metropolitan Police District	Country Forces	City and County Borough Forces	Total
1961	…	…	127 (14)	352 (84)	73 (9)	552 (107)
1962	…	…	118 (7)	385 (101)	85 (14)	588 (122)
1963	…	…	103 (7)	378 (117)	97 (20)	578 (144)
1964	…	…	172 (45)	439 (136)	120 (34)	731 (215)
Note: The figures in brackets indicate the number of offences in which the firearms were shot guns.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether his proposed legislation against racial discrimination and incitement will render illegal printed material of the type supplied to him by the hon. Member for Manchester, Blackley;(2) whether his proposed legislation against racial discrimination and incitement will cover printed material containing words which, if spoken, would constitute conduct likely to provoke a breach of the peace:(3) whether he is aware that the material supplied to him by the hon. Member for Manchester, Blackley, was posted in Jersey; and whether he will ensure that material posted abroad is covered in the proposed anti-discrimination and incitement Bill.

My right hon. and learned Friend is bearing in mind the use of printed material to incite to racial hatred in connection with the Bill which he intends shortly to introduce.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons suffering from pneumoconiosis died from lung cancer in the last five years.

The information is not readily obtainable over the last five years. In 1964, 67 persons out of 1,506, whose

The following is the information:death certificates recorded the presence of pneumoconiosis—other than asbestosis— had a lung cancer.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what new assistance she plans to give as a means of reassuring the European farmers in Kenya with regard to their future.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 23rd February to a supplementary question by the right hon. Gentleman, the Member for Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton), when I said that I would rather await the Stamp Report and see how far it covers the whole problem in Kenya before making any further commitment.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance by what percentage the cost of living has increased between the announcement in November of the increase in retirement pensions and the payment of these increases on 29th March.

Between November and February, the latest date for which figures are available, the Retail Prices Index rose by 0·6 per cent.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he is aware that unoccupied prefabricated houses, details of which have been sent to him, still remain in the Victoria Avenue East area, Moston; and what action he will take to secure their speedy demolition.

Of the 58 houses still remaining in the Victoria Avenue East 38 are now unoccupied. 31 of these houses have been sold, but the purchasers have not so far removed their property. We are taking urgent steps to ensure that the contractors fulfil their obligations. Tenders have been invited for the purchase of the remaining seven houses, and arrangements for more frequent inspection of this site by the Ministry have been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of cases of persons tried for capital murder offences which were found not proven in each year since 1945.

There was one such case in each of the years 1949, 1951, 1957, 1961 and 1962.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the unsatisfactory ceiling levels of higher school bursaries, when he proposes to increase these bursaries; and if he will make a statement.

The maximum annual rates of higher school bursaries were increased at the beginning of Session 1963–64 from £45 to £70 for pupils in the fourth year and from £60 to £100 for pupils in the fifth or a later year of a secondary course. The rates and other aspects of the bursaries scheme are being kept under review.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will consider, now that the railway line in the Wharfe Valley from Arthington to Ilkley has been closed, using the land that has now become available for a road so that Poole in Wharfedale, Otley and Burley in Wharfedale can be by-passed.

The line between Arthington and the junction with the Leeds-Ilkley line has been closed to passenger services but is still open to freight services. I understand that the Board plans to withdraw these later this year.If the Board wishes to dispose of the track thereafter it will first have to seek my agreement so that I can consider whether or not it should be retained on planning grounds. The question of using the land for specific purposes does not therefore arise at present.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will announce the membership of the National Road Safety Advisory Council.

Yes. With my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales, I am glad to announce that the Council has been constituted as follows:

• Sir Alfred Owen (Chairman).
• Mr. Wilfrid Andrews.
• Mr. Norman Capener, F.R.C.S.
• Lord Chesham, P.C., J.P.
• Mr. Jim Clark, O.B.E.
• Mr. Alec Durie.
• Lady Janner, J.P.
• Sir Herbert Manzoni, C.B.E.
• Mrs. Marie Patterson.
• Sir Howard Roberts, C.B.E., D.L., J.P.
• Sir Alex Samuels, C.B.E.
• Mr. Tom Steele, M.P.
• Mr. Howard Thomas.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will seek power to disqualify automatically for some period motorists and motor cyclists found guilty of careless driving in cases involving the death of a pedestrian or pedal cyclist.

No. The courts are already required to disqualify for at least 12 months—unless there are special reasons—a driver convicted of causing death by driving in a manner which is dangerous to the public. If a driver is convicted of driving which was careless but not dangerous, he can be disqualified for as lone, as the court thinks fit in all the circumstances of the case.

asked the Minister of Transport what consideration he has given to the proposals he has received from the City of London, St. Marylebone and Westminster councils for increasing charges at some parking meters in central London; and what action he proposes to take.

I have considered the applications and the objections made to them and have decided to make Orders giving effect to them, subject to some minor amendments of detail. I intend to make the Orders before the end of the month to bring the new charges into operation in May.Owing to the length of the Order for St. Marylebone and Westminster it will be some weeks before it can be laid.

asked the Minister of Transport which of the outstanding applications for controlled parking schemes submitted to him by local authorities in the London traffic area he has approved.

I have approved, with some minor modifications, the applications submitted by the City of London, the Metropolitan Borough of Stepney and the County Borough of Croydon. I intend to make Orders accordingly before the end of the month.