asked the Minister of Aviation if he will make a statement on the progress of the Plowden Committee.

Lord Plowden's Committee of Inquiry into the aircraft industry is making good progress.Evidence is being assembled from the industry, the airlines and Government departments. In addition, a Subcommittee had discussions a few weeks ago with the French Government in Paris and will be visiting Washington shortly.As I told the House on 24th February last the hon. Member for Loughborough (Mr. John Cronin) and Mr. St. J. De H. Elstub the Chairman of Imperial Metal Industries have both accepted my invitation to serve, and Mr. Aubrey Jones, following his new appointment, has informed me of his willingness to continue as a member.

asked the Minister of Aviation what estimate he has now made of redundancy in the aircraft industry, consequent on the cancellation of the TSR2 by the Government.

Redundancies so far announced by the firms amount to about 2,000. So far as the longer terms effects are concerned I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 12th April.

asked the Minister of Aviation what steps he is taking to absorb workers on the abandoned TSR2 project into the manufacture of civil aircraft.

The Government will continue to assist promising civil aircraft projects. In addition, discussions have recently taken place with the French Government on further possible collaborative projects, both civil and military. However, the Government consider it desirable that some skilled manpower should be released by the aircaft industry in the interests of the economy as a whole.

asked the Minister of Aviation what steps he is taking to ensure that the cancellation of the TSR2 does not prejudice the placing of further orders for the VC10 and the BAC111 or the cancellation of existing orders for these aircraft.

As I said during the debate on 13th April, cancellation of the TSR2 will not damage the price competitiveness of the VCIO and the BAC111. There is no reason why orders for these aircraft should be affected.

asked the Minister of Aviation what representation he has received from the British Aircraft Corporation on the necessity for a subsidy to finance the production of the BAC111 and the VC10, following the projected cancellation of the TSR2.

I am in close touch with the British Aircraft Corporation about the consequences of the cancellation of the TSR2. As the House knows, the Government contributed £20 million to the launching of the BAC111 and the VC10 and is sharing in the proceeds of sales from these aircraft.

asked the Minister of Aviation what progress has been made in his support of an independent airline in providing an air service to Dundee.

The city authorities have received three proposals by independent airlines to operate feeder services between Dundee and Glasgow and between Dundee and Edinburgh. I discussed these proposals and related matters with the Lord Provost and other Dundee representatives on 30th April. The proposed services would involve a subsidy, which the Government cannot provide, but I am looking into some further questions raised with me concerning assistance towards airport facilities at Dundee.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether, in the public interest, he will give general directions to British European Airways and British Overseas Airways Corporation to enter into negotiations with a view to seeking membership of Air Union.

I am advised that under Section 5 of the Air Corporations Act, 1949, I have no power to give such a direction as it would not be of a general character, but the development of Air Union is of considerable interest to civil aviation in this country and I am keeping in close touch with our airlines about it.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether, bearing in mind that the civil airport at Aldergrove in County Antrim is used by the whole of Ulster and that recently there has been a continuing rapid increase in passenger traffic necessitating a £300,000 enlargement scheme, he will accept the additional, cost of £4,500 to install a one-way escalator to take passengers to the first floor in place of the proposed lift.

As a lift is required in any case for elderly or infirm people and the provision of an escalator would involve demolition of the existing stairway, the whole cost of providing and installing a two-way escalator would have to be met. This would not be less than £25,000. I do not think that this would be justified at an airport of this size.

asked the Minister of Aviation what components in existing British military and civil aircraft are of foreign design and manufacture.

It is not possible to give an exhaustive list of all foreign components installed in the complete range of British military and civil aircraft. I can say, however, that the proportion is a small one although the precise figure depends in the case of civil aircraft very much on the equipment installed to meet individual operators' particular requirements.

asked the Minister of Aviation what was the cost to Her Majesty's Government of each missile and aircraft cancellation made in the last 10 years.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Dunbarton on 14th April in answer to a similiar Question.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he intends to visit the airports in the Western Isles and other Highlands and Islands areas; and when he will make his visit.

Yes. I hope to visit these aerodromes during the early summer.

asked the Minister of Aviation in view of the fact that the noise level reached during recent sonic boom tests in Huntingdonshire is acceptable, what other tests will be carried out in the areas over which supersonic aircraft will be operating, in order that people most likely to be affected may have an opportunity of gauging the degree to which the noise is acceptable to them.

As I said in answer yesterday to a Question by the hon. Member for Meriden (Mr. Rowland), I do not consider the tests at Upwood to have been conclusive one way or the other. We and the French are considering what further tests might be carried out.

asked the Minister of Aviation how many VC10 aircraft have now been sold overseas; and what orders are in prospect.

Export orders have so far been secured for six VC10 or Super VC10 aircraft—three for Ghana and three for East African Airways. The British Aircraft Corporation is negotiating with a number of prospective customers and the details of these negotiations are commercially confidential. We are in close touch with the Corporation and are continuing to give every possible assistance to help secure overseas orders for this fine aircraft.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will make a statement on the present stage of development of the Concord project.

Good progress is being made with the design, tooling and manufacture of the first two prototype Concord aircraft and their Olympus 593 engines. The first engines to the standard required for first flight should be running later this year. Meanwhile two experimental engines have already been running since July, 1964, and have demonstrated the technical soundness of the engine concept. Numerous wind tunnel, materials and other tests are being carried out by the manufacturers and in Government Establishments. Most of the equipment and systems sub-contractors have been selected. Research work is continuing in the fields of operating economics, air traffic control, airport noise, sonic bang and radiation. Discussions are at present proceeding between the firms and the officials of both countries regarding the planning of the pre-production stage of the project.

asked the Minister of Aviation for what communication and navigational aids intended for the Concord prototypes orders have now been placed; in which countries these equipments will be manufactured; and what approximate percentage, by value, of such work will be carried out in the United Kingdom, France, the United States of America and other countries, respectively.

Subject to the negotiation of satisfactory contract terms we have agreed with our French partners to approve the placing of the following orders for the development and manufacture of communication and navigation equipment for the Concord prototypes:

asked the Minister of Aviation what orders for electronic equipment for the Concord have been placed, or will be placed, direct with United States firms and what orders have been placed, or will be placed, with British or French agents of United States firms.

Subject to the negotiation of satisfactory contract terms we have agreed with our French partners to approve the placing of orders for the radio compass and the marker beacon receiver with firms in the United States and for the A.T.C. transponder with a French firm which is associated with an American firm. These orders are for the prototype aircraft only. I am not able to anticipate further orders which will be placed for Concord equipment. Decisions will be taken under the procedures agreed between us and the French.

asked the Minister of Aviation what progress has been made in the placing of orders for British equipment for the Phantom and C130 aircraft, respectively; if he will specify the equipment concerned; and what proportion of the value of each type of aircraft, excluding the airframes and engines, will be of British manufacture.

We are in the process of deciding the equipment fit we shall require for these types of aircraft. Some of it will undoubtedly be of British design and manufacture, although I am not yet able to say what proportion of the total value this will represent in either case. We hope that in addition it will be possible to arrange for certain other items of equipment to be manufactured in this country even though they are of American design: in making such arrangements we must of course have regard to the relative costs of U.K. and U.S. manufacture and the overriding need of not stretching the time scale.

asked the Minister of Aviation to what extent British-made electronic equipment for the Phantom aircraft meets Service requirements; and to what extent it is reasonably competitive for price and time.

There are several items of electronic equipment of British design which would probably be fully acceptable in themselves, but we have to consider not only the cost and performance of the British equipment but also the effect of installing them on the cost, performance and time-scale of the aircraft as a whole. In addition to British-designed equipment there may be scope for the manufacture in the U.K. of items of American design. These matters are the subject of current discussions.

asked the Minister of Aviation how many joint projects between the United States of America and the United Kingdom for the production of armaments are now in progress; what weapons they are producing; and what is the approximate value of the output to date and proposed.

There are two joint military projects—the P1127 and the development of beryllium for use in aeroengines—now in progress in which the U.K. is participating with the U.S. They are referred to in my replies to the hon. Members for Leicester South East and Harborough on 17th March, 1965. Information on costs must necessarily remain confidential to the Governments concerned.

asked the Minister of Aviation what steps he has taken to absorb technical staff made redundant by military aircraft cancellations into the civil aircraft industry.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for Woolwich, West (Mr. Hamling) in answer to a similar Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy on fish farming in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

I have little doubt that we may expect benefits to accrue in time from farming the fish we now hunt in the sea. Farming of trout is a well developed industry in parts of Europe where conditions are suitable; and Oysters are cultivated in suitable coastal waters. We have a long way to go however before farming of most of the sea fish we now eat is a practicable proposition. Scientists of the Fisheries Departments are collaborating with the White Fish Authority and others in the research needed to determine the conditions under which marine fish farming could be carried on and to develop the techniques to be used.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what sum contained in Civil Estimates, 1965–66, Class IV, 13, Maintenance and Minor Improvements, D and E, respectively, is due to extra expenditure to be incurred through the adoption of Worboys-type traffic signs; and what is the total provision for traffic signs.

The Estimate for Roads, etc. Scotland contains the following provision for extra expenditure in 1965–66 through the adoption of Worboys-type traffic signs:

D.	Trunk Roads	£143,000
E.	Classified Roads (Grants to highway authorities)	£188,000

The remaining provision for the new installation, replacement or maintenance of traffic signs is not separately indentifiable and its amount cannot therefore be given.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state, giving the mileage in respect of each, those motorways or lengths of motorway for which no line had yet been proposed, a draft scheme had been published, a scheme had been made, tenders had been invited, a contract had been placed, which were under construction, and which were in use, respectively, as at 30th April.

The following is the information requested:

Motorways in Use	Miles
M.90—Inverkeithing-Perth Admiralty Road Flyover to Duloch	1.9
M.8—Edinburgh-Glasgow Harthill Bypass (part)	42
	6·1

Under Construction
M.8—Edinburgh-Glasgow Harthill Bypass (part)	·95
M.74—Draffen-Stonehouse (A.74)-Glasgow
Hamilton Bypass Stage I	9·0
	9·95

Contracts Placed
Nil
Tenders Invited
M.8—Edinburgh-Glasgow
Newhouse-West of Harthill	5·15
Schemes Made
M.74—Draffen - Stonehouse (A.74)-Glasgow
Hamilton Bypass Stage II	4·45
A.8(M)—Glasgow-Greenock
Renfrew Bypass (part)	3·8
	8·25

Draft Schemes Published
M.9—Edinburgh-Stirling Polmont and Falkirk Bypass	…	5·8
M.90—Inverkeithing-Perth Cowdenbeath-Kelty Bypass	…	7·23
		13·03

Line not yet Published	Miles
M.74—Draffen - Stonehouse (A.74)-Glasgow
Maryville-Carmyle	3·0
M.73—Maryville (M.74) to West of Mollinsburn (A.80)	6·3
M.8—Edinburgh-Glasgow
Whitburn-Newbridge	12·5
M.9—Edinburgh-Stirling
Newbridge-Polmont and Falkirk
Bypass	11·25
Stirling Bypass (Northern section)	3·5
Stirling Bypass (Southern section)	3·5
Polmont and Filkirk Bypass-Stirling Bypass (Southern section)	6·2
M.90—Inverkeithing-Perth
Kinross and Milnathort Bypass	6·75
Milnathort-Bridge of Earn	10·0
	63·00

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many babies were born in ambulances exclusively operating from hospitals other than maternity hospitals in each of the last five years.

I regret that information is not available about the number of babies born in ambulances. The great majority of ambulances are based at general purpose depots and serve hospitals of all kinds.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farms received payments of subsidy for hill cattle in 1963 and 1964, respectively.

For 1963, 12,632 farms have received payment and for 1964 13,376. A small number of claims have not yet been resolved.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farms have received grants under the Winter Keep Scheme in respect of the 1964 cropping year.

So far 9,290 have received grants. A further 70 are expected to qualify.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what detailed proposals he now has for improving living conditions, particularly for junior ratings, aboard H.M.S. "Ark Royal", in view of the conditions aboard ship.

We intend to make improvements in living conditions on board "Ark Royal" during her next refit, which is planned to begin next year. In particular, we plan to make extensive additions to her air-conditioning.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total attributable cost of United Kingdom Forces East of Suez in each of the years since 1959; and what was the cost across the exchanges in each year specified.

Functional costings capable of providing estimates of the costs attributable to U.K. Forces East of Suez have only recently been introduced. There are, therefore, no figures available for past years. The costs across the exchanges were as follows:

£ million
1959	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964
68	76	86	88	91	103

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the value of arms for which this country has firm contracts or options to buy from the United States of America and which have not yet been delivered; and what are the comparable figures of arms which the United States of America will buy from the United Kingdom.

The value of arms outstanding from the United States against firm contracts is about £60 million. The value of options to buy is larger, but the value of the contracts to be placed on the bases of these options will depend on the results of the Defence Review. The information requested in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction in the public interest to the Railways Board to provide footways along narrow bridges which carry heavy traffic.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport what official communications he has had with Dr. Beeching regarding the termination of his appointment.

Dr. Beeching has proposed, and I have agreed, that he should be released from his appointment as Chairman of the British Railways Board on 31st May. I have already announced the appointment of Mr. Raymond as his successor.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made in the development of liner trains.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave the lion. Members for St. Albans (Mr. Good-hew) and Torrington (Mr. Peter Mills) on 28th April.

asked the Minister of Transport what official discussions he proposes to hold with the new Chairman of the Railways Board into methods of reducing the present deficit of the Railways Board.

I expect to hold frequent discussions with Mr. Raymond, and many of the matters discussed will no doubt have some bearing on the size of the Railway's Board's revenue deficit.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the imminent completion of the South-West of Scotland Plan, he will vary the consent to the closure of the Stranraer-Dumfries railway by providing that normal services will continue until the recommendations of the plan have been considered.

No. But I will certainly take full account of progress with the plan if the Railways Board ask for my agreement to disposal of the track.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many actions have been brought in the last convenient 10-year period for the recovery of damages under the Railways Clauses Consolidation Act 1845 and the British Transport Commission Act 1949; and in how many cases damages have been awarded.

I have been asked to reply. I understand from the Railways Board that no proceedings for the recovery of damages have been brought by them, or their predecessors the British Transport Commission, under the Statutes referred to. Where proceedings of this nature have been brought by them in the past, this has been under other statutory provisions.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has given permission to the Railways Board to publish a notice of closure of the Bridport to Maiden Newton railway line.

The Railways Board have sent me particulars of their proposal. I shall be asking the regional Economic Planning Council and Board for their comments on the planning implications before I decide whether the proposal is one which ought to be deferred.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will consult the Ilford Borough Council with a view to providing gaps in the fencing which has been erected along the central reservation in Woodford Avenue, Ilford, between the Gants Hill and the Longwood Gardens roundabouts, with special reference to the needs of congregations of churches in the neighbourhood and of elderly people and mothers with small children.

As I told the hon. Member in the Answer I gave him on 26th January, it would not be in the interest of pedestrian safety to increase the number of gaps beyond the three already provided.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he proposes to take to improve lane discipline.

The lengths of carriage way markings designed to improve lane discipline are being rapidly increased both in London and the rest of the country. So that the fullest benefit can be gained from these markings, my Department plan to issue a leaflet of guidance on lane discipline.

asked the Minister of Transport if the travel and accident loss technique for quantifying road deficiencies has been applied to the A.64 trunk road between its junction with A.1 and the town of Tadcaster.

Yes. The travel and accident loss and the other factors that must be taken into account do not indicate a high priority for comprehensive improvement of this length of road.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give details of the recent traffic accident loss assessment on the A.47 approach to King's Lynn; and what order of priority is thereby indicated for the proposed second section of the King's Lynn by-pass.

The travel and accident loss figure, taken by itself, would not be an adequate measure of relative priority and to quote it would be misleading.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is satisfied with the present progress on new motorways; and if he will make a statement.

The length open to traffic in England should increase from about 300 miles at the beginning of this year to about 440 miles at the end of next year. Having regard to all the other requirements for public investment I think that this increase of almost 50 per cent. in two years is satisfactory. It is still our intention to complete 1,000 miles of motorway in England and Wales by the early 1970s, and present progress is consistent with this aim.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has for the introduction of tolls on the new motorways when they are completed.

I have no plans for introducing tolls generally on motorways. If the Severn Bridge Tolls Bill becomes law, tolls will be charged on the Severn Bridge section of the M.4 motorway. This will accord with my general policy that tolls should be charged on expensive new river crossings, from which users derive exceptional savings in cost and time.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state, giving the mileage in respect of each, those motorways or lengths of motorway for which no line had yet been proposed, a draft scheme had been published, a scheme had been made, tenders had been invited, a contract had been placed, which were under construction, and which were in use, respectively, as at 30th April.

The information requested is set out in the following Table:

Motorways in use	Miles
M.1—London-Yorkshire
Aldenham-Markfield	99¾
M.2—Medway Motor Road	25¼
M.4—London-South Wales Chiswick-Maidenhead (including Airport spur)	24½
M.5—Bristol-Birmingham
Lydiate Ash-Twyning	26
M.6—Birmingham-Preston-Carlisle
Dunston-Lancaster By-Pass	111
M.50—Ross Spur	21½
A.l(M)—Doncaster By-Pass	15½
Stevenage By-Pass	7
A.20(M)—Maidstone By-Pass	6¾
—Stretford-Eccles By-Pass (Classified motorway built by Lancashire County Council)	6
—Filton By-Pass (Classified Motorway built by Gloucestershire County Council)	2¼
	345½

Motorways under construction	Miles
M.1—London-Yorkshire
Page Street-Aldenham	8¼
Brockley Interchange	—
Markfield-Pinxton	30½
East Ardsley-Stourton	4½
Tinsley Viaduct	¾
M.4—London-South Wales
Almondsbury-Hambrook	3¼
Almondsbury Interchange	2¼
Severn Bridge and Approaches	6½
Midland Motorway Links:
M.5—Lydiate Ash-Quinton	6
M.6—Darlaston-Dunston	14¼
A. 1(M)—Darlington-Barton By-Pass (including Darlington spur)	13
A.40(M)—High Wycombe By-Pass Stokenchurch-Handy Cross	8
	97¼
Tenders invited
M.1—London-Yorkshire
Pinxton-Barlborough	14¼
Aston - Tinsley Viaduct (including part of Thurcroft Link)	6
M.4—London-South Wales
Hambrook-Tormarton	8
A.l(M)—Durham Motorway (including Bridges)
Aycliffe-Bradbury	5¼
A.1(M)—Baldock By-Pass	6¼
A.40(M)—High Wycombe By-Pass (Handy Cross-Burkes Road excluding Loudwater Viaduct)	4¾
	44½
Schemes made
M.1—London-Yorkshire
Barlborough-Doncaster By-Pass	15½
Meadowhall-East Ardsley	23½
Fiveways Corner	½
Section of Thurcroft Link	1
Midland Motorway Links:
M.5—South of Quinton-Great Barr	10
M.6—Catthorpe-Darlaston	41¾
M.6—Birmingham-Preston-Carlisle
Penrith By-Pass	8
West of Killington Reservoir-South of Hackthorpe	21
A.1 (M)—Durham Motorway:
Bradbury-Chester-le-Street	16½
A.40 (M)—High Wycombe By-Pass
Handy Cross-Burkes Road (Loud-water Viaduct only)	¼
M.5—Birmingham-Bristol
South of Strensham-East of Almondsbury	41
Cribbs Causeway-Easton-in-Gordano	6
M.62—Lancashire-Yorkshire
Worsley-Outlane	24¼
	209¼

	Miles
Draft Schemes published
M.3—London-Basingstoke	39¾
M.4—London-South Wales
Liddington-Tormarton	30
M.5—Birmingham-Bristol
Easton-in-Gordano-East Brent	20½
M.62—Lancashire Yorkshire
Outlane-Lofthouse	19½
A.40 (M)—Beaconsfield and Gerrards
Cross By-pass	7½
M.6—Birmingham-Preston-Carlisle
Carlisle By-Pass	7
M. 61—Preston-Manchester
Preston By-Pass-North of Westhoughton	13
A.20 (M)—Ditton By-Pass	6½
	143¾
Line not yet published
M.1—London-Yorkshire
Page Street-North Circular	2
M.4—London-South Wales
Maidenhead-Liddington	41½
M.6—Birmingham-Preston-Carlisle
Penrith-Carlisle	12¼
East of Carnforth-West of Killing-ton Reservoir	15
M.62—Lancashire-Yorkshire
Lofthouse-A.1	10½
M.ll—London-Bishops Stortford	32
M.23—London-Crawley	27
M.61—Preston-Manchester
North of Westhoughton-Manchester	9¼
M.56—North Cheshire Motorway	26
Sharston By-Pass	2½
A.1(M)—Birtley By-pass	2½
	180½

Construction had started in all cases where contracts had been placed.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the annual rate of expenditure from public funds on roads, including local authority roads.

The annual rate of expenditure on roads has risen considerably in recent years and will continue to rise. It is expected that expenditure from central and local government funds on roads in England in 1965–66 will be about £335 million. This includes the cost of new construction and major improvements, minor improvements, maintenance, road lighting, public car parks and administration. It does not include the cost of policing.

asked the Minister of Transport what figures he has to indicate the number of road accidents in which defective eyesight of drivers or pedestrians has been a contributory factor.

No such figures are available.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will, after each Bank Holiday, issue figures of the number of road deaths during the holiday period and the number of those seriously injured and detained in hospital during the same period, even if the assembling of these figures takes time.

The number of deaths and of those seriously injured at Bank Holidays are issued as an annex to the road accident statistics for the month in which the Bank Holiday falls.

asked the Minister of Transport how far apart he intends to divert the carriageways of the proposed M.6 extension between Killington and Hackthorpe; over what distance they will be apart; how much land will come between the carriageways; and to what purpose he intends to put the land.

The carriageways will be apart over two lengths of about 5 and 2½ miles. On the 5 mile length the maximum separation will be about 800 ft., and on the 2½ mile length about 1,000 ft. The land between the carriageways not required for motorway purposes will be about 165 and 98 acres. The bulk of this land will be returned to agriculture and access will be provided.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give his approval to the construction of an overpass for vehicular and pedestrian traffic at the Victoria Avenue junction of the Borrowash By-pass, near Derby; and when he expects construction to commence.

I will consider an overpass at this junction for inclusion in an extension of the trunk road programme. I cannot at this stage give a date for construction.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the total expenditure on improvements to the A.30 road between its junction with A.303 west of Basingstoke and Sherborne, Dorset, during the last year; and to how much per mile this amounted.

Expenditure on this classified road in 1964–65 amounted to £12,851 or £226 per mile.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the total expenditure on improvements to the A.303 road between its junction with the A.30 west of Basingstoke and Win-canton, Somerset, during the last year; and to how much per mile this amounted.

Expenditure on this trunk road in 1964–65 amounted to £97,595, or £1,719 per mile.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce legislation to empower all local authorities in Scotland to provide in publicly-owned vehicles free transport for old-age pensioners.

No. Under the Travel Concessions Act, 1964, all local authorities now have this power for their own transport undertakings. These arrangements were not extended to non-municipal undertakings for the reasons which were explained during the passage of the 1964 Act.

asked the Minister of Transport what is his policy with regard to parking-meter and other traffic engineering schemes in London, and with regard to proposals to extend them outwards from the central area; and if he will make a statement.

My policy has been to encourage meter schemes in suitable places beyond the central areas already controlled, and to apply other traffic engineering measures progressively in outer as well as inner areas. Since 1st April last, responsibility for these matters in London has been with the Greater London Council. It will be for them to consider proposals for further extensions to meter schemes and to initiate other measures where they think it appropriate.

asked the Minister of Transport what conclusions he has reached on the experiments which are being carried out in an attempt to assist rural bus operators.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 28th April to the hon. Member for Torrington (Mr. Peter Mills).

asked the Minister of Transport if he will lay down a new standard pattern to cover brightness as well as design of rear lighting and reflectorised signs, for use on all commercial vehicles, to ensure that such signs indicate the size and shape of the load.

Commercial vehicles are required to have rear lights and reflectors fitted in positions which indicate their width: an additional lamp must be carried on any load projecting more than 12 inches laterally. I am considering whether vehicles should be required to comply with higher standards for the brightness of rear lights.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce legislation to amend the Transport Act 1962 to remove the anomalies at present existing in regard to the definition of the London area.

The present definition of the London Passenger Transport Area will be among the matters considered when the results of the current transport co-ordination studies are assessed. I cannot at present say whether legislation will prove to be justified.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a direction to the Transport Holding Company to co-operate with local authorities in the introduction of concessionary fares in jointly-operated bus services.

No. I do not consider this a suitable subject for a direction.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state, for the year ended 31st March, 1965, in respect of development districts in the North-East, the number of applications for grants for improvements of basic services under Section 7 of the Local Employment Act, 1960, and the numbers and cost of those approved, rejected, and still under consideration.

During the year ended 31st March, 1965, five applications were received from north-eastern development districts for grants under the Local Employment Act for services within my responsibility. They are still under consideration. The estimated total cost of the works involved is £650,000.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will review the Regulations governing the fitting and use of reversing lights on motor vehicles.

I think the present Regulations on reversing lights are generally satisfactory, but if the hon. Member has any suggestions to make for their improvement I shall be glad to consider them.

asked the Minister of Transport how many local authorities have introduced travel concessions following the passage of the Travel Concessions Act, 1964.

This information is not available to me. Local authorities which run transport undertakings may introduce concessions under the Travel Concessions Act at their discretion.

asked the Minister of Transport what sum contained in Civil Estimates, 1965–66, Class IV, 12, Maintenance and Minor Improvements, E and F, respectively, is due to extra expenditure to be incurred through the adoption of Worboys-type traffic signs; an what is the total provision for traffic signs.

£465,000 in subhead E and £900,000 in subhead F. In addition, signs that are part of new construction or improvement schemes are included in the total cost of the works and no separate estimates are available. The funds for road maintenance also include some provision for the replacement of existing signs.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will initiate discussions with the motor industry, with a view to modifying design so as to reduce the mud and spray thrown up by the rear wheels of cars and lorries, since research showed that mud flaps are only a partial answer.

The Road Research Laboratory's report on their recent investigations into the problems of spray has been forwarded to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and to others in the industry. My Department is in touch with the Society and I hope that manufacturers will be able to improve the mudguarding of commercial vehicles in the light of the report. Cars present a more difficult problem.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will set up a committee consisting of representatives of his Department, the Docks Labour Board, trades unions and shippers to devise ways and means of avoiding delays in the docks, which are harmful to British exports.

My right hon. Friend the First Secretary of State hopes to be able to announce shortly arrangements made in association with the National Economic Development Council to study every means of speeding the movement of exports.

asked the Minister of Transport what oil terminals in Great Britain are capable of accommodating tankers of 165,000 tons deadweight; and what steps he is taking to encourage the provision of such terminals.

The terminal at Loch Finnart and, with dredging, those at Milford Haven should be able to handle tankers of 165,000 tons, but a detailed technical examination would be needed for any specific scheme. The provision of such terminals is primarily a matter for the oil companies, who would no doubt plan them in relation to the siting of their refineries.

asked the Minister of Technology what information he has about official research into making sausages out of fish products; and if he will make a statement.

Work on the processing of fish into sausages and some similar products is being undertaken at the Torry Research Station, Aberdeen. The project is staffed by the British Food Manufacturing Industries Research Association and is being paid for by the White Fish Authority. The results are promising but are not yet ready for commercial application.

asked the Minister of Technology if, in the service of cost control, he will institute a pilot scheme of applying techniques of value analysis to equipment, etc., ordered by and through his Department.

These techniques are most applicable in the design and production engineering stages of major development projects, but I am grateful for this suggestion which I will bear in mind should a suitable opportunity arise in connection with purchases of equipment by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what were the considerations which led him to give certain road improvement schemes in the County of Glamorgan higher priority than the extension of the Manor Way from Whit-church, Glamorgan, in the direction of Pontypridd.

The place of this scheme in the combined road programme for England and Wales was determined on the basis of national priorities. Many factors were taken into account including the degree of overload, the importance of direct links between industrial areas and the ports, and the state of preparation of schemes.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the current dispute in the shipbuilding industry between the Draughtsmen's Association and the shipbuilding employers.

I have been informed by the Draughtsmen's Association that their Executive Committee will recommend the members now on strike to accept my request to terminate their withdrawal of labour. The Shipbuilding Employers' Federation advised its members yesterday to withhold operation of the notices of suspension which were due to come into effect today. I have now decided to appoint a court of inquiry, the terms of reference and membership of which will be announced in due course.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if, in view of the fact that ex-Service officers and men wounded, disabled or gassed in World War I are not allowed to appeal to a tribunal when their wounds worsen with age, she will give publicity to the official facilities which are available to ameliorate their sufferings.

It is open to any ex-Service man of the 1914 War to approach the Department at any time if his disability worsens and, if he is still dissatisfied with his assessment, to discuss his case with his local War Pensions Committee. These, and other facilities available by way of welfare and treatment, have been widely publicised, and the War Pensions Committees and their voluntary workers, the ex-Service associations, the Press and, not least, hon. Members themselves all help to make them more widely known. If, however, the hon. and gallant Gentleman has any particular aspect in mind, my right hon. Friend would of course be glad to consider it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures have been taken to see that chicks imported from Denmark are not carriers of disease.

All chicks imported from Denmark have to be accompanied by a veterinary certificate signed by a veterinary officer of the Government of Denmark to the effect that the flocks of origin are free from fowl cholera, have been free from fowl pest for six months, and have not been within fifteen miles of any premises on which fowl pest has existed during that period.For chicks of domestic fowls and turkeys, a certificate must also be provided that within the previous six months the flocks of origin had been tested for bacillary white diarrhoea and fowl typhoid, with negative results, and have had no subsequent contact with untested or positive birds: the flocks must also be certified free from contagious bron- chitin, infectious laryngo-tracheitis, tuberculosis, fowl pox and fowl paralysis.I am satisfied that these conditions provide adequate safeguards against the introduction of poultry diseases from Denmark.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he approved the reduction in the surcharge by the Sugar Board in the Order dated 26th April, 1965; and whether he will make a statement as to his future policy on this matter in relation to the provisions of the Sugar Act.

As I told the hon. Member on 26th January, the present rate of surcharge includes an element designed to eliminate by June this year, the deficit incurred by the Sugar Board in 1964. This deficit is now well on the way to being extinguished and I approved the reduction in the surcharge because it appeared that the Board's current income was more than sufficient to meet its current outgoings properly chargeable to revenue account and also to recover at a reasonable rate the outstanding residue of its deficit. Once the deficit has been recovered, the Board will seek to balance its revenue account, taking one year with another, as required by Section 4 of the 1956 Sugar Act.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring up to date and circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the table on page 11 of Cmnd. 1337 of April, 1961, showing the performance of nationalised industries; and if he will add to the table a column showing the profitability target in each case.

The following brings up to date the table on page 11 of Cmnd. 1337. A list of the agreed financial objectives is shown separately: they are not included in the table as in most cases they refer to a five-year period.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) what request Her Majesty's Government has received from Working Group C of the Preparatory Committee for the Denuclearisation of Latin-America to give assurances to the effect that they will respect the legal instrument on the denuclearisation of Latin-America; and what reply has been sent;(2) what invitation Her Majesty's Government has received from Working Group A of the Preparatory Committee for the Denuclearisation of Latin-America inviting Her Majesty's Government to appoint observers to meetings of the Working Group; and what reply was sent;(3) what communications he has received from Working Group A of the Preparatory Committee for the Denuclearisation of Latin-America; and what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government in respect of those territories in the area over which Her Majesty's Government has sovereignty.

We have received no communications from the working groups that were set up at the first meeting of the Preparatory Commission for the Denuclearisation of Latin-America in March. It would be premature to decide what our reactions would be until we know precisely what requests or questions they will put to us.As a general principle, Her Majesty's Government would welcome the creation of nuclear-free zones in certain areas as useful measures towards general and complete disarmament, provided that each zone was formed freely and voluntarily by all militarily significant states, and preferably by all states, in the region, that adequate arrangements for effective international verification appropriate to the region were made and that the existing military balance was not disturbed.

asked the Minister of Health what is the average number of patients per general practitioner in the National Health Service.

2,362 per principal in England and Wales on 1st October, 1964.

asked the Minister of Health if there is a shortage of consultants on the surgical side at Bootle General Hospital; to what extent the need for such consultants is increasing by virtue of the closing of the Liverpool Stanley Hospital; and if he will make a statement.

The illness and death of a consultant have caused some difficulty at the Bootle Hospital. Cover has been provided by consultants from adjoining hospitals. The number of patients at the hospital has increased but it is not clear that this results from the closing of the Liverpool Stanley Hospital. The Regional Hospital Board are currently reviewing the needs for consultant sessions in this area.

asked the Minister of Health how many and what type of new hospital buildings are now being built and are to be built on Merseyside; when they will be completed; and if he will ensure that medical and surgical, maternity and other services given in the existing hospitals will be fully maintained until other improved provision is available to the people of Merseyside.

Details of new hospital buildings on Merseyside now under construction and their expected completion dates, are as follows:

Hospital	Type of Building	Expected completion date
Walton	Out-patient Department, accident and emergency centre, pharmacy and X-ray departments.	April, 1966
Olive Mount Children's	Villas for mentally sub-normal children.	Early 1967
Blood Transfusion Service	Regional Headquarters.	Late 1967

Until Hospital Boards have reviewed their building programmes and I have in due course considered their revised proposals, I cannot forecast what further new building is likely to be carried out, but major schemes which it is hoped will start shortly are:

Hospital	Type of Building
United Liverpool Hospital.	New Teaching Hospital.
Fazakerley	Maternity Department.
	Remainder of District General Hospital.
Walton	Theatre Block.
	Boiler House.
	Regional Neurosurgery Unit.

Services in existing hospitals will be maintained until I am satisfied that satisfactory alternative provision can be made.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the concern of general practitioners at the shortage of beds for medical cases in the North Liverpool and Bootle area; and if, in view of representations being made to him by Bootle Medical Executive Council, he will make a statement concerning the future of Bootle General Hospital.

I am aware that some concern has been expressed. I do not contemplate the closure of Bootle Hospital without full consultations with local interests and until I am satisfied that adequate alternative facilities have been provided.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, following the Delgado case, he will now take steps to ensure that visas are not refused merely on the ground that the applicant might at some earlier time have been present illegally in the United Kingdom.

Visa applications are considered on their merits in the light of all the circumstances of each individual case. A previous illegal entry into the United Kingdom would always be a factor to be taken into account in reaching a decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, following the Delgado case, he is satisfied with the procedure for considering visa applications; and if he will make a statement on the principles his department applies in granting or rejecting such applications.

The requirement—which applies only to Stateless persons and to nationals of countries with which Her Majesty's Government has not concluded a visa abolition agreement—that an alien should obtain a visa before journeying to this country is an administrative arrangement that provides an opportunity to consider in advance whether the alien can be admitted; it thus obviates many fruitless journeys. All visa applications receive careful consideration. The principles which are applied in considering them are, in general, those which are applied under the provisions of the Aliens Order, 1953, to an alien who seeks leave to land in this country; these are conveniently set out in the Home Office memorandum at page 71 of the Eleventh Report from the Estimates Committee of the Session 1962–63. I have no reason to think that these arrangements are not satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning dangerous toys sold in shops; and whether he will inquire into the report submitted to him by the hon. Member for Manchester, Blackley.

My right hon. and learned Friend has received very few representations about dangerous toys. Most toy manufacturers and importers are concerned to comply with the recommendations regarding the safe design of toys included in the appropriate British Standard (B.S. 3443 of 1961), and regulations giving statutory backing to the more important of these recommendations are now being prepared. I am writing to my hon. Friend about the report he has submitted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to lay down the circumstances under which bail must be granted to young persons, for whom securities are available, when charged with minor offences.

Year	Applications received	Applications approved			Applications rejected	Applications under consideration
	Number	Number	Approx. acreage	Approx. gross cost	Number	Number
				£
Year ending 31st March, 1964	75	40	825	741,000	19	32
Year ending 31st December,1964	44	34	330	450,000	22	8
Year ending 31st March, 1965	32	29	254	250,000	17	18

The figures for approvals etc. in each year do not necessarily relate to the number of applications made in the same year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in view of the proposed appointment by the Birmingham City Council of an officer with the duty of instituting proceedings under the Protection from Eviction Act, if he

My right hon. and learned Friend does not consider that it would be practicable to specify in a Statute the precise circumstances in which bail should or should not be granted; this is a matter which can only be decided by the courts in the light of all the circumstances of the particular case.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state, for the years ended 31st March 1964, 31st December 1964, and 31st March 1965, in respect of development districts in the North-East, the number of applications for grants for the clearance of derelict land, the number approved, giving cost and acreage, the number rejected and the number still under consideration.

The following table gives the information asked for in respect of applications made by local authorities in the North-East for grant under Section 5 of the Local Employment Act 1960 for each of the years in question:will issue a circular to local authorities urging them not to undertake action for the enforcement and institution of proceedings against landlords on offences under the Act, in order to leave these functions to local police forces.

No. In general, I think that local authorities are appropriate bodies to take proceedings for offences against the Protection from Eviction Act. I issued a circular earlier this year calling attention to their powers in this connection and suggesting that they should use them wherever this is called for.