asked the Postmaster-General what plans he has for taking steps to help the British Broadcasting Corporation in its present financial difficulties.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Statement I made to the House on 14th April.

asked the Postmaster-General if 5s. of the proposed increase of £1 in the combined television and radio licence will be allocated to the British Broadcasting Corporation's domestic radio services.

The B.B.C. is left free to spend, according to its own judgment in forwarding its approved objects, the income granted to it. Hitherto, the Corporation has credited to the Home sound services the net income attributable to the sound component of the combined sound and television licence fee.

asked the Postmaster-General when he expects reception of British Broadcasting Corporation Scottish television services to be improved in Galloway.

The B.B.C. tells me that, when its new Band III station at Sandale opens later this summer, it expects its Scottish television service to become available to about half the population of Galloway.

asked the Postmaster-General what further consideration he has given to the future of the pay-television experiment, in view of the fact that all the licensed companies except one have now declared their intention not to proceed.

Pay-television is one of the subjects under consideration in the Government's review of broadcasting policy; and, as I have already said, this review is proceeding. The recent decision by two of the companies to withdraw from the experiment will, of course, be a factor for consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will now make arrangements to save old-age pensioners from the increase in the charges for radio and television licences.

I have carefully considered this possibility but am satisfied that the anomalies created and the disadvantages involved would outweigh its obvious benefits.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the employment of children under the age of 12 is at present illegal; and if he will amend the Second Schedule to the Television Act, 1954, so as to forbid the transmission of commercial advertising films employing such children.

Questions about the law relating to the employment of children are a matter in the first place for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Home Department. The answer to the second part of the Question is: no; the content of television advertisements is primarily the responsibility of the Independent Television Authority.

asked the Postmaster-General what percentage of the total television showings in Great Britain during the year 1964 were transmitted to any other European country, or originated in any foreign European programme, respectively.

The exchange of programmes with other countries is a matter for the broadcasting organisations; and I am therefore referring the hon. Member's request to the B.B.C. and the I.T.A.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is satisfied that adequate supplies of books containing 4d. stamps will be available at post offices before the increased postal charges come into force; and whether automatic vending machines will also be stocked with 4d. stamps.

Books containing 4d. stamps will be available next month. I am reviewing the range of stamps sold through machines, and in the meantime 4d. stamps will not be included. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as the review is completed.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is satisfied that the increase in postal rates for letters conforms with the Government's policy for prices and incomes; and whether this increase will be referred to the Prices and Incomes Board.

The Government themselves examined this increase rigorously and see no reason to refer it to the Board.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that many letters posted in the Greater London area are being delivered at addresses often less than 20 miles away after a delay of two or three days; and what action he proposes to take to remedy this situation.

My inquiries do not suggest that fully paid letters are being delayed to the extent suggested by the hon. Gentleman; but if he would like to let me have details of any specific cases of delay which have come to his notice we shall be glad to look into the matter.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent he took into consideration the possible inflationary effects of his action before granting a pay increase to postal workers.

This was one of many factors that were fully taken into account.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he proposes to take to avoid postal delays in the Minety area in Wiltshire.

My right hon. Friend much regrets the delays which have occurred. We are keeping a close watch on the postal services in the Minety area and are doing all we can to find and remove the causes of delay.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will now give a decision on the proposed transfer of the Post Office Training School at Yarnfield, Eccleshall, Staffordshire.

I have not yet completed my review of the proposal to move the Post Office Central Engineering Training School. Other Government Departments and many operational and staff problems are involved but I hope to be able to make an announcement before very long.

asked the Postmaster-General why telegrams sent from Bristol at 3.30 p.m. on 9th April did not arrive at St. Issey in Cornwall until 10.15 a.m. on 10th April.

We are sorry for this delay which was caused by the handing in at Bristol of over 3,000 telegrams at 3 p.m. on 9th April. This exceptional load is more than six times the amount of traffic normally accepted there in a day and put a heavy strain on the services throughout South-West England. We are overhauling the arrangements for handling large batches of telegrams with a view to avoiding similar difficulties in the future.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will base the remuneration of sub-postmasters in rural areas on their service to the community rather than on the amount of business done.

The most practicable way of measuring a sub-postmaster's services is by the amount of Post Office business transacted, but the system of remuneration provides for certain minimum payments however little work is done. I am currently reviewing the remuneration in conjunction with the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters.

asked the Postmaster-General what fee he has agreed with the firm of American consultants who are to inquire into Post Office matters; what will be the duration of the inquiry; and whether he will publish their report.

I do not think it would be proper to make public information about fees paid for professional services of this nature. I understand the consultants aim to finish round about the turn of the year. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House yesterday we shall look at the Report when it is ready to see whether it would be appropriate to publish it.

asked the Postmaster-General what plans he has for the issue of stamps which do not bear the portrait of Her Majesty the Queen and whether such stamps will by some other means identify themselves as being of Great Britain.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made on 24th March in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Hobden); I have at present nothing to add to what I said on that occasion.

asked the Postmaster-General what revenue accrues to the Post Office from the practice followed by many village sub-postmasters of sending out morning newspapers with the local postman at the appropriate postal charge, soon to be increased; and what is the additional cost to the Post Office arising from this service, which is needed by people living in remote areas.

I regret that the information for which the hon. Member asks is not available and could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate expense.

asked the Postmaster-General what representations have been made to him to reduce the cost of printed matter circulated by charitable organisations, particularly those catering for handicapped persons.

Since I informed the House last November that I would shortly be making a statement about postal finances, I have had representations of the kind the hon. Member mentions from seven hon. Members and from one other source.

asked the Postmaster-General by what criteria he determines the longest acceptable time for a subscriber to wait before he can obtain an answer from the exchange in order to put through a trunk call.

We aim to answer all calls to the operators with minimum delay and, in normal conditions, most are answered within 10 seconds.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that the construction of telephone kiosks in remote areas is subject to a two-mile limitation, he will cancel the excess connection charge for private telephones introduced in 1961.

No. The provision of kiosks in remote areas is not so definitely based as the hon. Member suggests, but in any event the excess connection charge for private telephones arises only if special construction is needed beyond three miles from the subscriber's exchange.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the average telephone account of private subscribers to the telephone service in the Shrewsbury area before and after the introduction of the subscriber trunk dialling system.

I am sorry that particulars of Shrewsbury subscribers' bills before and after the introduction of subscriber trunk dialling, which took place four years ago, are no longer available.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the present ratio of public telephone callboxes to total population in the United Kingdom and in the Portsmouth postal area, respectively; what proportion of such callboxes is generally out of order at any one time in the United Kingdom and in the Portsmouth postal area; what is the average period of delay between the time when a callbox is first reported as being out of order and the completion of repairs in the United Kingdom and in the Portsmouth postal area; and what steps his Department proposes to take to increase the availability of callboxes in the United Kingdom and in the Portsmouth postal area.

	U.K.	Portsmouth
Ratio of public telephones to total population	1:700	1:1,000
Average proportion of public telephones out of order at any one time	1·9%	1·4%
Average time public telephones out of order (kiosk structure excluded)	Same day except in areas where vandalism rife	2 hours

The above figures are broadly estimated.The need for additional public telephones is, and will be, kept under continual review from the viewpoint of both social need and a reasonable return. In addition, unremunerative kiosks are provided in consultation with the Rural District Councils' Association under a special allocation scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will review the price guarantee system, with a view to assisting the growth of the fishing industry.

There is no price guarantee system for fish but proposals for a minimum price scheme are under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to enable him to make special grants for the development of fish canning and processing factories, and so assist the revival of the fishing industry.

No. Loans are already available for the construction of processing plants and I have no reason to think that grants are needed in addition.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the purpose of his recent visit to Eire; and if he will make a statement.

My visit to Northern Ireland and to the Irish Republic from 20th to 25th April, 1965, was at the invitation of the Minister of Agriculture in Northern Ireland and the Minister of Agriculture in the Irish Republic. The purpose of the visit was to enable me to meet these Ministers and to see something of the agricultural industry in both countries.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the Government's long-term policy for egg production; and what is the outcome of the tripartite discussion between himself, the National Farmers' Union, and the Egg Marketing Board.

Our long-term aim is to have a sound and efficient egg industry with production at a level which will secure a proper balance between supply and demand. I am not yet in a position to make a statement about the discussions with the National Farmers' Unions and the Egg Marketing Board.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has that meat exports to the Continent are resulting in increased meat prices in Midland markets.

I have no evidence to this effect. Although exports of cattle are estimated to have been higher in April than in any of the previous three months, average prices for English beef on the Birmingham wholesale market were lower.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will re-introduce the cow-heifer subsidy.

We considered this fully at the Annual Review but decided against it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he intends to have with the Danish Minister of Agriculture; what is the purpose of his visit to Denmark; and if he will make a statement.

I am going to Denmark to meet the Danish Minister of Agriculture, at his kind invitation, and to see something of the agricultural industry in that country. Our conversations will doubtless touch on various topics currently of mutual interest.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now take action with regard to early potatoes imported from Cyprus, the sale of which further depresses the living standards of English potato growers.

No. It would be contrary to our international obligations to restrict imports of new potatoes, most of which in any case arrive before the home crop reaches the market in any quantity.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what payment a producer received for a top grade bacon pig, weighing 8 score 5 lb. in 1959 and in 1964 respectively.

The return on particular pigs depends on the commercial value put on them by the buyer; but for bacon pigs generally the average return, including guarantee payment, was 43s. 7d. per score in 1959–160 and 42s. 1d. per score (provisional) in 1964–65 (April to March years). Government quality premiums were also paid in both years on pigs graded AA+ or AA. In 1959–60 the eligible weight range for quality premiums was 7 score to 8 score 5 1b., but in 1963, in accordance with a suggestion made by the industry, the top weight was reduced to 8 score.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that two out of every five broiler birds and chickens killed last year were immersed alive in scalding tanks, details of which practices have been sent to him; and if he will take steps to end such practices.

I am aware that some aspects of poultry slaughter are causing concern. Detailed proposals for legislation are being drawn up.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about prospects for pig production in the coming year.

The latest forecast of pig certifications under the guarantee scheme for the year from this April to March, 1966, has just been made. It lies near the middle of the band 13·6 m. to 14 m. and is substantially above the comparable forecast made in February for the calendar year 1965. As a result, under the flexible guarantee arrangements, there will be an automatic reduction of 9d. per score in the standard price for pigs from next week. The purpose of the flexible guarantee arrangements is to influence future pig production to help to keep it in line with market requirements. This principle is generally accepted.In 1964–65 the number of pigs certified was 12·6 m., on which the average rate of deficiency payment was just under 7s. a score. Total deficiency payments on pigs that year amounted to nearly £30 m.Following this year's Annual Review, we raised the top of the middle band of the flexible guarantee system—the point beyond which automatic reductions are made—from 11·75 m. to 12·8 m. Even so, the latest forecast indicates a level of certifications of almost 1 m. pigs above this new level.The effect of production in excess of market needs is of course to lower the market price and increase the cost of the subsidy. Last month, when certifications were running at an annual rate of about 13·2 m. pigs, the deficiency payments rose to over 11s. per score. It is clear that continued expansion at the present rate would soon lead to a very weak market and very heavy Exchequer cost; and I hope that the price reduction now called for will have the moderating influence intended.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation giving effect to the recommendations of the Second Report of the Guest Committee on Scottish Licensing Laws relating to the abolition of the existing courts of appeal and that certificates in suspense be extinguished.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answers which I gave to the hon. Members for Glasgow, Provan (Mr. Hugh D. Brown) and Glasgow, Shettleston (Sir M. Galpern) on 16th December and 17th March last.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of houses in Scotland without bathrooms, hot water supplies or internal lavatory systems; and what proportion this is of the total supply of houses.

There are about 1,684,000 houses in Scotland. The 1961 Census showed that the following numbers lacked the specified facilities;

Houses without a fixed bath	434,000
Houses without a hot water tap	337,000
Houses without water-closets	43,000

In addition about 238,000 households shared the use of water-closets within buildings.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses in Glasgow qualify for improvement grants; and what is the annual rate of applications for such grants.

The numbers of approved applications for improvement grants in Glasgow were 102 in 1964 and 351 in the five-year period 1960–64. It is not at present possible to estimate how many houses might qualify for grants.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the average loan charge, the average interest charge and the average rent all stated in weekly terms for a council house in 1951 and 1964 for the City of Glasgow.

The weekly figures are as follows:

	Local authority year ended May
	1951			1964
	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
Average loan charge		10	8	1	6	6
Average interest charge (included in loan charge)		7	4	1	1	1
Average rent (excluding rates)		6	—		12	2

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the English text of the leaflets distributed by United Kingdom representatives among people in the jungles of Borneo.

From time to time the security forces in Eastern Malaysia assist the civil authorities by distributing leaflets as part of a joint campaign to warn the local population against Indonesian infiltration tactics. These leaflets are couched in simple local terms, often pictorial, and I do not consider there is any advantage in laying translations before the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of the villa erected for the General of the United Kingdom forces in Borneo.

No villa has been erected for the Director of Borneo Operations, but the Sultan of Brunei has kindly lent him one of his.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made in the number of military officers holding senior positions in the Ministry of Defence, Army, as a result of the recommendations of the Nye Committee; and whether these changes have fulfilled the recommendations contained in the Eighth Report of the Estimates Committee 1961–62 that more senior positions should be opened to civilian as well as military officers.

Decisions of the Army Board on the proposals made by the Committee resulted in the creation of four new military posts of brigadier or above and at the same time 20 military posts of brigadier or major-general's grading were transferred to other establishments. The number of senior civilian posts was reduced by one. Of five posts previously open to either soldiers or civilians, three were abolished, and two, which had normally been filled by military officers, although technically open to civilians, were re-classified as military. Half the senior posts in the Department are at present occupied by civilians; this proportion will be kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence for what type of aircraft Defence Requirement 583 was intended as a replacement; if the design put forward by the aviation industry incorporated the variable geometry principle; and when the project was cancelled.

I assume that the hon. and gallant Member for Harrow, East is referring to a preliminary study which was suggested by the British aviation industry as a possible replacement for the Royal Navy's Sea Vixen. The study was based upon the variable geometry principle but the concept of the aircraft was not considered suitable and was not taken up.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the improvements he intends to make in living conditions in H.M.S. "Ark Royal"; and if he is satisfied with the condition of the boilers and the safety conditions of the men in the boiler room.

We have not yet worked out in detail the improvements to living conditions to be made during "Ark Royal's" next refit, but these will certainly include extensive additions to the air-conditioning. The boilers, like all those in H.M. ships, are regularly tested and examined to ensure that they are sound and that the men in the boiler room are not in danger.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the cost of the road repairs on the A.1 between Barton and the River Tees; and when it is hoped that this work will be completed.

The repairs, which cost £21,500, were completed on 31st March last.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will ensure continuity of contracts for road construction, so as to reduce costs.

The present system of inviting tenders for contracts as they arise provides opportunities for firms to secure continuity of contracts. Methods of contracting and other aspects of ensuring a steady flow of work to the industry are constantly under scrutiny by my Department; but the aim must be to retain at least as effective a restraint on prices as that provided by the competition which is a feature of the present system.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now have a traffic signal control system installed at the Thorne swing bridge on A.614, in view of the continual delays there.

A recent investigation has shown that the installation of traffic signals would not improve the flow of traffic at present; but the position is being kept under review. We have decided that power-operated gates will help to reduce delays, and the design work is in hand.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that motorists using the fast lanes on motorways drive

	Motorways in Use	Date of Completion	Cost £m. (including land)
M1	London—Yorkshire
	Aldenham—Crick	November, 1959	32·3
	Crick—Markfield	October, 1964 & January, 1965	12·5
			(Main works only)*
M2	Medway Motor Road	May, July & September, 1963	16·0
M4	London—South Wales
	Slough By-Pass	April, 1963	4·9
	Maidenhead By-Pass	June, 1961	3·0
	Chiswick—Langley	November, 1964 & March, 1965	19·0
M5	Bristol—Birmingham
	Lydiate Ash—Twyning	July, 1962	9·4
M6	Birmingham—Preston—Carlisle
	Dunston—Preston	August, 1962—November, 1963	56·13
	Preston By-Pass	December, 1958	5·12
	Preston—Lancaster	January, 1965	11·10
	Lancaster By-Pass	April, 1960	4·7
M50	Ross Spur	November, 1960	6·17
A1(M)	Doncaster By-Pass	July, 1961	6·15
	Stevenage By-Pass	July, 1962	2·2
A20(M)	Maidstone By-Pass	June and December, 1960	2·6
	Stretford—Eccles By-Pass (Classified motor way built by Lancashire County Council)	October, 1960	5·6
	Filton By-Pass (Classified motorway built by Gloucestershire County Council)	May, 1963	·74

I do not consider that a general speed limit on motorways is justified at present, but it will be necessary to review the position as traffic intensity increases.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will list the actual or estimated completion date and the actual or estimated cost, wherever possible, of each section of motorway, in use, under construction, or proposed.

The information requested is set out in the attached table. Similar information is not at present available for the rest of the motorway programme.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will arrange for the building of a wall not less than 8 feet in height alongside the M.4 motorway where it passes through Heston, adjacent to Durham Avenue and Winchester Avenue, in order to protect the privacy of local residents, to lessen the noise from vehicles, and to prevent children from straying onto the motorway.

No. I think that the measures already taken are adequate for these purposes.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will order the erection of signposts reading, To West Drayton, on the M.4 motorway around London Airport.

Because of the need to name other places on the signs on M.4 at the London Airport interchange roundabout, it has not been possible to include West Drayton. We are, however, considering adding the name on the signs at the Cherry Lane roundabout.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the concern caused to residents by the uncertainty over the proposed route of the M.4 motorway through Berkshire; and when he will publish his proposals.

Yes, but I cannot publish my proposals until I have received the views of the local authorities concerned. I expect to receive them soon.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the Road Research Laboratory has now had an opportunity of evaluating the crash barriers developed by the Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory; and what advice he has received on the suitability of this and other American crash barriers for the M.1 and other motorways.

These barriers, among others, are still the subject of experiments which the Road Research Laboratory is continuing to follow closely, but neither these experiments, nor those being carried out by the Road Research Laboratory itself, are sufficiently far advanced for any firm advice to be offered.

asked the Minister of Transport what advice is offered by his Department to local authorities with regard to the safety aspects of new road programmes; and what steps he takes to ensure that such advice is observed.

Road safety has been a major consideration in the formulation of my Department's design standards, with which highway improvement schemes submitted by local authorities are required to comply in order to qualify for grant. The contribution that individual schemes can make to the improvement of road safety is an important element in the choice of the classified road programme.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has to replace the level crossing at Ash, Surrey, by a bridge over the railway; and when he expects that work will start.

This scheme will be the responsibility of the Surrey County Council as highway authority. I cannot say when it is likely to find a place in the classified road programme. This will depend in the first place on the priority assigned to it by the county council.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has for improving the road junction of the A.6 at Addington Road, Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, by the construction of a roundabout.

I have no such plans at present.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will authorise the building of a road from Station Road to the Addington Estate at Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire.

I have not been consulted by the Northamptonshire County Council about the construction of such a road; it is unlikely that my approval would be needed.

asked the Minister of Transport what form of access he intends to make to the two areas of land of 165 acres and 98 acres between the divided carriageways on the proposed M.6 in Westmorland.

The 165-acre area will be crossed by three roads and a bridleway, and the 98-acre area by two roads, from all of which access will be available. In addition, agricultural overpasses or under-passes and creeps for sheep will be provided.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of his revised plans for the Yorkshire section of the A.66, he will now make improvements to the Westmorland section of the A.66, particularly to the east of Brough.

I intend to carry out the improvements which I outlined in the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 2nd March. The question of improving the A.66 to the east of Brough is being considered.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now make a statement about the Esher by-pass, as the prolonged period of uncertainty is causing local anxiety.

As the hon. Member knows, plans are being prepared for a by-pass to the south and east of Esher.I appreciate the need to avoid unnecessary anxiety, and that is why I must be sure that the detailed proposals represent the best overall solution before they are put to the test of public scrutiny. I hope to be able to publish a draft line for the road by the autumn.

asked the Minister of Transport why grants allocated for improvements on the trunk roads per mile in 1965–66 are less for the county of Dorset than for any other of the four neighbouring counties.

Funds for trunk road improvements are allocated to individual schemes on the basis of national

					Passenger car units per 16-hour day
Greater London and/the South East
A.13	Ripple Road, Barking Stage III	…	…	…	47,729
—	"D" Ring Road (South Mimms By-Pass-A.10)	…	…	…	A.1081 14,734 (1954 Census)
					A.1005 4,031 (1954 Census)
A.1	Archway Road Widening, Hornsey	…	…	…	35,268
A.40	Western Circus and Gipsy Corner Flyover	…	…	…	45,801
A.406-A.404	Harrow Road Junction	…	…	…	39,994
A.406	Neasden Lane	…	…		39,994
A.406-A.105	Green Lanes Junction	…	…	…	32,881
A.406	Silver Street Diversion, Edmonton	…	…	…	33,765
A.406-A.1010	Fore Street Junction	…	…	…	33,765
A.406	Waterworks Corner Staee	…	…	…	29,895
A.23	Bolney Cross Roads	…	…	…	15,994
A.27	Fareham Station Bridge	…	…	…	22,212
A.27	Adur Bridge and Shoreham By-Pass	…	…	…	9,026
A.27	Widening in Southwick	…	…	…	16,949
A.27	Widening in Portslade	…	…	…	16,949

asked the Minister of Transport if he is now in a position to publish the provisional line for the proposed Helsby-Frodsham By-pass under Section 11 of the Highways Act 1959; and if he will make a statement.

No. Consultations with local authorities and other public bodies are now taking place. I hope to publish a draft line for the By-pass before the end of this year.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a list of all major road works projects included in the forward programme for the years 1966–67 and 1967–68, and in each case state the most recent traffic census figures for each of the existing roads proposed to be improved or by-passed under the forward programme.

Announcements were made on 14th February, 1962, and 28th October, 1963, of major trunk road schemes costing over £100,000 programmed for the years 1963 to 1968. Those on which work is now expected to start in 1966–67 or 1967–68 are listed below, together with the latest relevant traffic census information, i.e. as at August, 1961 except where otherwise indicated.The following is the information:

		Passenger car units for 16-hour day
A.3	Pains Hill—Ockham Road	22,665
A.3	Guildford By-Pass	24,351
A.3	Burnt Common—Proposed Ripley By-Pass	27,892
A.13	Tilbury Docks Approach Road	8,736
A 40	Oxford Northern By-Pass	22,206
A.40	Waterstock Cross Roads to South of Postcombe	19,322
South West
A.3O3	Amesbury By-Pass	6,064
A.40	Overbridge and By-Pass (River Severn)	26,832
A.38	Plympton By-Pass	24,208
Midlands and East Anglia
A.38	Lichfield By-Pass	15,514
A.53	Potteries "D" Road (Etruria-Talke)	20,624
A.11	Thetford Inner Relief Road	6,180
A.46	Syston Western By-Pas	15,510
A. 127	Dunton Wayletts Junction	31,823
A.1	Eaton Socon By-Pass	17,800
A.12	Lowestoft Swing Bridge	8,274
A.38/A.516	Mickleover Link and By-Pass and widening of A.516 to Derby Ring Road	15,177 (A.38) 21,948 (A.38/A.516)
The North East
A.614	Thorne By-Pass	12,369
A.1	Scotch Corner	15,630
A.650	Wakefield—M.1 Junction	19,881
The North East
A.41	Widening at Backford	20,805
A.56	Barton Road-Derbyshire Lane	46,620
A.57	Hyde Internal Relief Road	19,615
A.590	Levens Bridge Diversion	6,859
A.74	North of Moss Band-Scottish Border	3,473

asked the Minister of Transport what was the date of the most recent Ministry census of traffic using the stretch of the A.56 through Helsby and Frodsham; and what were the figures of traffic disclosed by the census.

The most recent official census of traffic using the A56 through Helsby and Frodsham was taken in 1962. It showed 27,032 passenger car units per 16 hour day passing a census point between the two towns.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that a further fatal accident has occurred at Cumnor Hill, near Oxford; and when he expects to make a statement about the future place of the by-pass scheme in a road programme.

I learned with regret of this accident.A scheme to by-pass Cumnor Hill will be considered with other road proposals in Berkshire when the programme is extended. Whether it will be possible to include it will depend on the resources available and the priority it commands in comparison with the many other urgent schemes elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has now completed his survey of the Automobile Association Report on lighting defects on vehicles; and what action he proposes to take.

I have examined the Automobile Association's Report and it confirms our belief that far too many drivers do not pay sufficient attention to the lighting of their vehicles. The regulations already provide that lamps should be maintained in a proper condition, but I shall have the question of maintenance looked at specially in the review of lighting which my Department is carrying out.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that some garages refuse to test motor vehicles for the issue of a Ministry of Transport test certificate unless the necesary repairs are done by them, and that there is some confusion concerning the responsibilities and obligations of his appointed test agents; what action he will take; and if he will make a statement.

An authorised examiner can refuse to test a vehicle of a class falling within his authorisation only for a limited number of reasons and this is not one of them. If my hon. Friend has evidence of garages refusing to test vehicles for this reason, or of any other irregularities, I shall be pleased to investigate it.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to British Road Services not to close further British Road Services depots until he has received the views of those directly employed in such depots.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now report on the results obtained from the experiments carried out under the auspices of his Ministry with rural bus services in the Lincolnshire area, north of Horn-castle.

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

asked the Minister of Transport what information he received, in settling the lines of the Railways Board's reorganisation, as to what railway goods depots it is proposed to close in the Greater London area; and what number of staff will be made redundant.

Freight rationalisation measures are a matter for the Railways Board, who discuss any redundancy problems with the unions involved. I understand that consultations concerning the closure of certain goods depots in the Greater London area are in progress.

asked the Minister of Transport under what statutory provisions actions have been brought by the Railways Board or the British Transport Commission for the recovery of damages in the last convenient 10-year period; how many such actions there have been; and in how many cases damages have been awarded.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to cases involving malicious damage.The Railways Board informs me that proceedings for the recovery of damages in such cases have been taken by it, or previously by the British Transport Commission, under the Malicious Damage Act, 1861, and the Criminal Justice Administration Act, 1914, as amended by the Malicious Damage Act 1964. I understand from the Board that detailed information in respect of the number of cases in which restitution for dama

asked the Minister of Transport when he proposes to publish the White Paper on the port development proposals of the National Ports Council.

I hope to receive the Council's interim proposals in a few weeks' time, when I will make a statement. I understand the Council is considering publication of an outline of its proposals.

asked the Minister of Aviation what steps are being taken to improve the condition of the surface on the ground floor of the civil air terminal building at Aldergrove, in County Antrim.

The surface has been treated with polyurethane sealer to prevent powdering, and that treatment will be repeated as necessary.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he is continuing to monitor aircraft height on the glide path over Richmond and Barnes; and if he will make a statement on the results over the past four weeks.

The height monitoring arrangements are continuing, but the checks have never extended as far as Barnes.In the four-week period ended 29th April, 1965, 511 aircraft approaching over Richmond were monitored. Two only were below the glide path. In neither case did the infringement occur over Richmond.

asked the Minister of Aviation what is the planned reduction in strength of his Department, especially in the research and development establishments, consequent upon the Government's plans for the major reduction in size of the British aircraft industry.

The Government's plans for the future of the aircraft industry will depend largely on the report of the Committee under Lord Plowden which is now sitting. That Committee is also considering the future rôle of the research and development establishments in relation to the industry. In any case the size of the Ministry and its establishments does not depend so much on the size of the British industry as on the future requirements, including long-term requirements, of the Defence programme and in the civil field.The strength of the Ministry and its establishments is constantly under review in the light of the future load of work. Some areas of the Department, for example, the Contracts and Technical Costs Directorates and some civil aviation branches, are seriously undermanned and efforts are being made to increase the strengths in these areas.

asked the Minister of Aviation what efforts were made to interest the United States Government in the purchase of TSR2 aircraft for the United States Air Force, before development of that aircraft was cancelled.

I am satisfied that there was no chance of persuading the U.S. Government to abandon the F.111A project and adopt the TSR2, particularly in view of the cost increases and delays which we were suffering on the TSR2. The time for British salesmanship on TSR2 was before the U.S. Government decided upon the TFX in 1962, at which stage full presentations were made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek substantially to increase the fines which can be imposed under Section 55 of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, on parents and guardians, in view of the increase in crime of young persons, particularly in sabotage on railways.

The general maximum limits on such fines imposed by the Magistrates Courts Act, 1952, were raised by Section 8 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1961.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) why he prevents removal from the jurisdiction of a child in respect of whom a custody order has been made in a different manner, according to the nature of the court by which the order was made; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that his power to prevent removal of a child in such circumstances should be the same in all cases as it is in cases where the custody order was made by the High Court of Justice;(2) by what authority, to what extent and in what class of case he is prepared to take action to prevent removal from the jurisdiction of a child the custody of which is in dispute between its parents or the custody of which has been granted to one of its parents by order of the High Court of Justice, a County Court and a Court of Summary Jurisdiction.

Immigration officers give such assistance as is in their power if there is good reason to believe that an attempt is to be made to remove from the jurisdiction without the leave of the court an infant who is a ward of court, or subject to a requirement included in an order for custody or care or control that he may not be taken out of the jurisdiction, or the subject of an injunction restraining anyone from so removing him. So far as I am aware, a court of summary jurisdiction has, unlike the High Court or a county court, no power to support a custody order in any one of these ways.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will announce his decision on the Oxford development plan.

It is too soon to tell since my right hon. Friend has not yet received the Inspector's report on this long inquiry.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) whether he will initiate legislation to provide rate relief on ground of hardship for those ineligible for National Assistance solely because of full-time employment;(2) whether he will initiate legislation to give English and Welsh rating authorities power to remit rates on the ground of inability to pay;(3) whether he will initiate legislation to provide rate relief on ground of hardship for those whose incomes are below National Assistance level but who are ineligible solely because their capital assets exceed £600.

I must ask the hon. Gentleman to await the outcome of the Government's examination of local government finance, including the rating system.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will, as a regular routine, place in the Library a copy of any public speech which he makes either in this country or overseas.

No, because, among other reasons, many of my speeches are prepared ex tempore or from notes and no complete text exists. I will, however, continue to meet specific requests from hon. Members when I can.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the minimum acreage needed for new premises for the Welsh College of Advanced Technology;(2) which local authorities have offered specific sites for the Welsh College of Advanced Technology;(3) which sites have been offered for the new building for the Welsh College of Advanced Technology;(4) how long it will take to complete new premises for the Welsh College of Advanced Technology after a site has been found;(5) how many places will be available at the Welsh College of Advanced Technology when it has new premises;(6) how many places are available at the Welsh College of Advanced Technology within its present buildings.

No proposals for a new site or premises have yet been put forward and I cannot at present add to the statement which I made on 22nd February in reply to questions by my hon. Friend. It is not practicable to lay down minimum acreages for university institutions. Plans must be considered on their merits in the light of the facts. In November, 1964, there were 1,037 full-time and sandwich course students and 1,256 part-time and evening students enrolled at the college.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will institute an impartial investigation into the most suitable relationships between all colleges offering university-level education in Wales.

This cannot be appropriately considered until the outcome of the current discussions in the Council of the University of Wales is known.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about the relationship of the Welsh College of Advanced Technology to the University of Wales.

I am not aware of any representations on this particular matter, but the future of the college has been referred to in communications I have seen concerning the general future of higher education in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many university places are expected to be available in Wales and how many in Scotland by 1968; and what proportion these figures represent of the numbers of population of university age in Wales and in Scotland at that date.

Of the Robbins student target for the academic year 1967–68, for which the Government is planning, some 31,500 students are expected in Scottish university institutions and nearly 13,000 in Welsh university institutions. I am writing to my hon. Friend to explain why I cannot answer the second part of his Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present strength of the Foreign Service; and what was the strength in 1955.

On 1st April, 1955, the strength of the Foreign Service was 4,735. On 1st January, 1965, the Foreign Service amalgamated with the Commonwealth Service and the Trade Commission staff of the Board of Trade to form the Diplomatic Service. On 1st April this year the strength of the former Foreign Service element within the Diplomatic Service was 4,375 out of the total Diplomatic Service strength of 6,400.

asked the Minister of Health how many additional midwives have been recruited by Crumpsall Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital, Manchester, since 1st November, 1964; and how many have left the service.

The following are the figures for the period since 1st November, 1964:

		Recruited	Left
Midwives
Crumpsall	…	10 whole-time	6 whole-time
		2 part-time	1 part-time
St. Mary's	…	17 whole-time	12 whole-time
		3 part-time	1 part-time
Pupils
Crumpsall	…	51	7(a)
St. Mary's	…	65	21(b)

(

asked the Minister of Health if he has inquired into allegations of violence at Rampton Hospital towards Mr. Shepherd of Brighton, particulars of which have been sent to him; and whether he will now hold a public inquiry to ascertain how Mr. Shepherd's injuries were received.

As my hon. Friend has been informed, these allegations have been investigated. I see no reason to hold a public inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what authorities Her Majesty's Government recognise as the Government of the Dominican Republic.

I have received communications from both of the self-proclaimed Governments in the Dominican Republic. The Government previously recognised by Her Majesty's Government disintegrated and neither of the present claimants meets our usual criteria for recognition at this time.