asked the Minister of Transport if he will now take steps to require road traffic to use the right-hand side of roads to conform with practice in the great majority of other countries.

The possibility of such a change is under consideration, but the necessary studies are not yet completed.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the proposal to link up by a road the Mill Lane Estate, Branford, Suffolk, with the council estate; whether he is satisfied that this proposal takes sufficient account of considerations of road safety; and if he will make a statement.

Provision of the road is a local matter. We have no reason to doubt its contribution to road safety by relieving Bramford Street of traffic between the two estates. It should not add materially to the traffic within the estates.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement about the removal of the "Give Way" signs from the Barley Lane roundabout in Eastern Avenue.

These signs were erected as part of an experiment in priority at roundabouts which is being carried out in London and elsewhere. At the Barley Lane roundabout, where there is at times heavy cross traffic from minor roads, there were serious delays to traffic on the main road during peak periods after the signs were erected. They were, therefore, removed.

asked the Minister of Transport what conditions he imposes with regard to prices on catering concessionaires of sites on the M.1 and other motorways, respectively.

We impose no specific conditions. But all service area operators must, under the terms of their leases, supply meals and refreshments of good quality at reasonable prices.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to authorise the start of the work of fencing the A.30 road over Bodmin Moor.

As the hon. Member knows, the scheme involves the acquisition of common land. Work will commence as soon as the statutory processes have been completed.

asked the Minister of Transport how many county councils have agreed to test areas for the purposes of building public conveniences on trunk roads; and in how many counties building has actually commenced.

Oxfordshire and Somerset County Councils have agreed to take part in the pilot scheme I announced on 29th April. No building has yet started, but preparatory planning and the survey of sites are going ahead. The other two County Councils invited to take part—Hertfordshire and Kent—have yet to take final decisions.

asked the Minister of Transport when it is proposed to make further progress towards the building of a bypass for Huntingdon; and when the work is likely to begin.

Survey work in preparation for the publication of a draft Order under Section 7 of the Highways Act, 1959, is now in progress. The construction of the bypass will begin as soon as the necessary preparatory work has been completed.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in the public interest, he will give a general direction to British Railways that freight consignments for despatch shall be delivered to consignees within seven days of receipt from consignors.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport what decision he has reached about improved east-west road communications on both sides of the River Humber and the construction of a Humber Bridge.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet made a decision regarding the building of the Humber Bridge, incorporating this with a road network for Humberside, following his consultations with the local authorities concerned and the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Economic Planning Council.

asked the Minister of Transport when a start will be made on the construction of the Humber Bridge.

We have just received the advice of the Yorkshire and Humberside Economic Planning Council. We are now considering this along with the views of the local authorities and Humber Bridge Board. We intend to make an announcement as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has considered the details of the public inquiry into the proposals for the flyover at Queens Drive—Rice Lane, Walton, Liverpool; and if he will now give his decision.

My right hon. Friend is considering the matter in the light of further representations received after the inquiry from one of the objectors, on which he needs the corporation's comments. He cannot, therefore, give a decision yet.

asked the Minister of Transport what accidents have occurred in the last three years on the Harwich-Colchester road; and what is the percentage increase in these accidents to date.

Sixty-six accidents were recorded in 1962, seventy-four in 1963 and one hundred in 1964. In the first four months of this year about 70 per cent. more accidents were recorded than in the comparable period in 1964.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make an up-to-date progress report on the plans for the Lancashire-Yorkshire motorway.

The route through Lancashire and across the Pennines has been fixed. The adjacent length eastwards between Outlane and Lofthouse in Yorkshire has been the subject of a public inquiry. I have received the inspector's report and shall be announcing my decision shortly. Plans are not yet finalised for the remainder of the route eastwards to the A.1.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now announce his legislative proposals for traffic priority at major roundabouts, following his examination of the "Give Way to the Right" experiment.

I cannot make a statement at present, since the experiment will not be finished until the autumn.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the fact that surrounding streets and squares are subject to parking restrictions, why there are no such restrictions in Belgrave Square.

This is a matter for the Westminster City Council and the Greater London Council.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has now considered the Report of the Working Party on Traffic appointed by the Incorporated Society of Architects and Surveyors, a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement on his progress in finding a solution to the traffic problems of London and other large towns.

Yes. A wide range of measures is needed to tackle these problems. I am pressing on with those for which I am responsible.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now introduce a regulation, rather than a recommendation, requiring that trolley poles and lamp standards be sited as far as possible away from the kerbside.

The siting of trolley bus poles and lamp standards depends on a number of factors peculiar to the stretch of road concerned, such as the camber of the carriageway surface and the location of main services. I do not think, therefore, that regulations could be made which local authorities could apply in all circumstances.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he will take to prevent pedestrians from jay walking across main roads; and if he will take steps to control pedestrians going over zebra crossings.

Where appropriate, guard rails are provided to encourage pedestrians to use crossings. I am carrying out an experiment in pedestrian control in London, but it has not yet produced sufficient evidence to enable any firm conclusions to be drawn. The Pedestrian Crossings Regulations already make it an offence for pedestrians to loiter on zebra crossings.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will assist London Transport to halt the further deterioration in their bus schedules by rapidly extending the peak hour clearway system throughout the principal approaches to London.

Traffic management in London is now the responsibility of the Greater London Council. Following recent talks I had with them, they and the London Transport Board are to consider, with the Metropolitan Police, how public transport can be further helped by this means. Additional urban clearways will be among the possibilities considered.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the heavy and increasing traffic along residential roads of Leyton, he will provide, at least until the projected relief roads are constructed, additional pedestrian crossings at certain key points.

The responsibility for initiating proposals for any additional pedestrian crossings in Leyton now lies with the London Borough of Waltham Forest. I am always prepared to examine any proposals they may make.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received from the Kent County Council following his exclusion of the proposed Sandwich bypass from the five-year road programme until 1969; and whether he will now consider granting authority for one lane to be built to relieve the mounting congestion in the town.

The Council asked me on 22nd July to consider this bypass as the next major classified road scheme to be authorised in Kent, or alternatively to authorise one carriageway now for duplication later. I will write to my hon. Friend when I have considered the supporting case which the council has promised.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will investigate the delay in introducing diversion measures at the junction of the A.5 and A.38 on Saturday afternoon, 10th July, when roadworks caused considerable delay to thousands of motorists, especially southbound travellers.

I regret the delay, but there was no suitable diversionary route except for some northbound traffic on A.5.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that prismatic reflectors would be of superior performance and of greater safety value than those which are now being specified for verge post reflectors; and whether he will now grant the Leicester firm the permission for which they have applied to carry out tests with such reflectors on a mile or more of motorway, preferably the M.1, to demonstrate the efficiency of these reflectors with a view to authorising their use in the interest of public safety.

Marker posts on motorway verges are at least twelve feet from the nearside lane, and are not intended to serve as carriageway markings, but to indicate the direction of the nearest emergency telephone and to act as a reference point. The reflective material at present in use is adequate for these purposes and I do not think that safety would be increased by use of the reflectors referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received from the Leicester City Council regarding the control of pedestrian crossings in Belgrave Road, Leicester; and whether he will now agree to the installation of pedestrian control lights linked with existing traffic signals.

The council wrote to my Department on 21st June, 1965, and called attention to two recent fatal accidents. My divisional road engineer has discussed the matter with the city engineer. A survey is to be made of pedestrian and vehicle flows and comprehensive proposals will be submitted for dealing with the problems on this road.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he proposes to take in order to avoid traffic congestion now caused by the level crossing at Wareham.

The Dorset County Council have a scheme to construct a bridge over the railway line at Wareham. I cannot say when it is likely to be included in the classified road programme in the face of the many schemes more urgently needed elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the total sum collected from parking meters up to the latest date for which figures are available; what was the cost of installation, maintenance and administration during that period; how much of the net sum available has been used to increase off-street parking; and whether he will make a statement on the financial implications of the parking meter system.

Up to 31st March, 1964, the total sum collected from parking meters was £2,753,584, of which £2,286,888 was collected in Greater London; local authorities' expenses, including tax, amounted to £2,050,626; just under half of the balance had by then been expended in the provision of off-street parking facilities. But such an aggregation of receipts and expenses on parking meters in all local authority areas, including Greater London, has little significance. Circumstances vary widely between areas. I would emphasise also that the primary object of meter schemes is not to maximise net revenue but to ensure that in areas of high demand for parking the available space is used fairly and effectively.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give an assurance that financial provision has been made for the building of the Tonbridge bypass in the year 1966, and that no delay with this starting date is contemplated by his Department.

This scheme was included in the classified road programme for 1964–65 at an estimated cost of £2·16 million (grant) and financial provision has been made accordingly. I now understand that the estimated cost has considerably increased. I shall, therefore, have to review its place in the programme, in the light of the availability of funds, when the Kent County Council have provided me with information about the reasons for the increase and the continued justification for the scheme at its higher cost.

asked the Minister of Transport for what reason he has instructed the North Riding County Council to change the background colour of the signs on the A.1 advertising service centres.

I have given no such instructions. The advertisers have applied to the Council, as the local planning authority, for permission to change the background colour. My Divisional Road Engineer has been consulted and is considering the suggestions made by the advertisers.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made in making preparations for the construction of the eastern arm of the Malton bypass; and when the work will begin.

Preparation of the detailed drawings of the road and bridge works is well advanced. The starting date is being reviewed in the light of the statement made yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has now changed his policy of refusing to permit the development of new motor service stations on the Great North Road A.1 where there are already existing stations on the road within 12 miles of the proposed site.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12th July to the hon. Member for Richmond, Yorkshire (Mr. Kitson).

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has now designated a second town for the proposed experiment on zebra crossings.

Not yet, but I am writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport what proportion of the national revenue was spent on road construction for the years 1961 to 1964, respectively; what is the estimated percentage for 1965; and what information he has about comparable figures for the European Economic Community and European Free Trade Association countries.

The proportion of the national revenue spent on major improvements and new construction of roads in Great Britain in 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, and 1964–65 was 1·2 per cent., 1·5 per cent., 1·8 per cent. and 1·9 per cent. respectively. The estimated proportion for 1965–66 is 2·0 per cent. Directly comparable information is not available for other countries.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to reach a decision on the request that a pedestrian footpath be allowed from London Road Nurseries, Cheltenham, to the London Road.

My hon. Friend has replied today to the letter from the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Transport, if he will tabulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT, full details of all experimental and temporary speed limits and restrictions which his Department have issued at holiday periods in the last four years; what were the dates, duration, mileage and class of road on which these restrictions were applied in each case; what measures were taken to publicise these restrictions; what was the cost of the signs, advertising, and publicity required on each occasion; and what was the number of successful prosecutions, as against total prosecutions, for each holiday period for which there were restrictions.

I am writing to the hon. Member giving him the information I have available on the points he has raised. The hon. Member will be aware that enforcement is a matter for the police.

asked the Minister of Transport what additional measures and speed limit restrictions he proposes to take to reduce accidents on the roads over the summer holiday period; what further plans he has to impose temporary speed limits; if he will publish details of these in the OFFICIAL REPORT; and if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the length of roads on which there are speed limits of 50 miles per hour and above, stating each specific section of road which is so affected, and which lengths have permanent, and which have temporary signs.

During the coming months we shall be emphasising the importance of personal responsibility, and giving special attention to the need for care when overtaking.I have no immediate plans for temporary speed limits, but I propose introducing a permanent limit of 50 m.p.h. on about 200 miles of classified roads before the end of August. This will be in addition to the limit recently announced on some 300 miles of trunk roads. Details of the latter were published in the

asked the Minister of Transport what short-term action he proposes, and what long-term plans he has to relieve the traffic congestion in the High Road, Leytonstone, between the Green Man public house and Maryland Station.

I hope that by the end of this financial year the improved roundabout at the Green Man will be completed. This, together with certain associated road works and traffic management measures which the Greater London Council expect to introduce, should considerably ease traffic congestion in the shorter term. The construction of the Eastern Avenue Extension, which I have not yet been able to include in my trunk road programme, will provide some longterm relief for the High Road.

asked the Minister of Transport what short-term action he proposes, and what long-term plans he has to relieve traffic congestion in the area round St. John's Church, Stratford, E.15.

Any short-term traffic management measures would be the responsibility of the Greater London Council as Traffic Authority. The possibility of longer-term road improvements affecting this area will be considered as part of the general review by the Greater London Council and my Department of London's highway needs.

asked the Minister of Transport what estimate he made of the cost of providing a temporary road bridge over the River Ouse at King's Lynn.

A temporary bridge to carry a single line of traffic would cost about £60,000. Approach roads would add a further £20,000.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he proposes to take to ensure that motorways now under construction and to be constructed will not involve the high cost of maintenance and repairs of the M.1.

The standard specification now in use is considerably more exacting than that used for the first section of M.1. Motorways built to the current standards are expected to have a long, trouble-free life, but they are much more costly.

asked the Minister of Transport what criteria are applied when deciding whether a 50 miles per hour speed limit should be imposed on a particular length of road.

The object of this measure is to reduce accidents; and all the lengths selected have an accident record above the national average for rural roads. Additionally all are single-carriageway main roads and in general, except where they are between stretches of road to which a 30 or 40 m.p.h. speed limit applies, each length is more than 3 miles.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he proposes to take to improve conditions on the 500 miles of roads which are at present so unsatisfactory as to make a special 50 miles per hour speed limit necessary.

The programme already includes improvements to certain of these roads. Others will be considered for inclusion in further extension of the programme on the basis of their accident records and all other relevant factors.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the statistics of the accident rate during the last convenient period on the 500 miles of roads in this country on which the special 50 miles per hour speed limit has recently been imposed.

The 50 miles per hour speed limit has been applied to some 300 miles of trunk roads. On these roads the fatal and serious casualty rate has averaged 3·2 per mile per year in the past three years. This is two or three times higher than the rate on all trunk and class 1 roads in rural areas.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce legislation to enable him to compile figures of the number of people in the last five years who have opened a driving instruction school within two years of passing their driving test.

Good driving tuition is certainly important, but this information would not necessarily be a measure of the quality of tuition given by any such people. It would not, therefore, be sufficiently useful to justify legislation.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to regularise the opening-up and operation of driving schools.

I am seeking to improve the standard of driving instruction by my Register of Approved Driving Instructors. To establish standards for driving schools would require legislation, and I do not think that I would be justified in proposing this at present.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the Road Research Laboratory has completed its investigation of the advantages of mud flaps on motor vehicles; and when its report will be published.

The Road Research Laboratory's main investigation ended with the report which has been published as a laboratory note and forwarded to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and others in the industry. I am sending a copy to the hon. Member and arranging for one to be placed in the Library.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the present average delay between applications for driving tests and the time of testing.

About 14 weeks.

asked the Minister of Transport how many people were waiting for driving tests at 30th June, 1965.

562,000.

asked the Minister of Transport how many weeks delay is involved for applicants for driving tests in Winchester at the present time; and what is the average throughout the country.

Just under 17 weeks as against about 14 weeks throughout the country. Arrangements are being made to try to reduce the waiting period in Winchester.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the fact that there is now a backlog of some 500,000 applications for driving tests, what steps he proposes to take in the near future to effect a reduction in that number.

The pace of recruitment is being stepped up to fill both current vacancies and additional posts. About 300 new examiners will commence testing during 1965.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the continued high rate of fatal and serious road accidents, if he will introduce measures to make the driving test a better examination of an applicant's suitability for a driving licence.

The driving test measures ability to drive safely in normal traffic conditions and includes those situations in which accidents most frequently occur. I know of no evidence to suggest that accidents attributable to drivers' errors are due to anything other than a failure subsequently to apply the standards of safe driving required in the test. But research is going on into the reasons for drivers' errors, and if it shows good reasons for changing the test, I will act upon it.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that delay is inflicted on applicants for driving licences and that many holidays are being frustrated thereby; and if he will take steps to rectify this.

I presume my hon. and learned Friend is referring to waiting periods for driving tests because, except in London, where there have been temporary difficulties, there are no significant delays in issuing driving licences. As regards driving tests, waiting periods generally are longer than I would like. I am doing all I can by intensive recruitment of more examiners, to reduce delays.

asked the Minister of Transport why he failed to consult the responsible trades union leaders before he agreed to increase the speed limit for road haulage vehicles from 30 to 40 miles per hour; and since they have refused to co-operate with the industry because of their belief that it has endangered safety, if he will now consult them and so help to increase national efficiency; and if he will make a statement.

The views of the trade unions, as well as of other interested organisations, were obtained and considered before the speed limit for goods vehicles was increased to 40 m.p.h in 1963. The Unions' view that the limit should not be increased, however, was not accepted at the time. On the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to him on 26th July by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has to enable disabled car drivers who are unable to walk to be exempt from normal parking regulations and to be enabled to park outside their homes.

I have already ensured that disabled drivers are exempted from charges and time limits in parking meter zones. But it would be impracticable to grant them general exemption from parking regulations. The police everywhere exercise discretion in favour of drivers displaying the special badge issued under the scheme sponsored by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the period of time that applicants require to wait for driving test examinations in Scotland, he will introduce part-time driving examiners with a view to reducing the waiting period; and if he will make a statement.

Driving examiners have to be selected with care and then suitably trained to maintain a uniform standard of test. There could be little saving in time by recruiting and training part-time examiners. During 1965 the driving test organisation will be augmented by about 300 new examiners, and further recruits should become available next year. This should result in the waiting periods being substantially reduced.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will institute a special survey of transport and parking facilities in the Crystal Palace area in view of the decision to build a national industrial exhibition centre there.

No. These matters will be included in the studies which the Greater London Council are undertaking, as my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade informed the House on 23rd June.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce a regulation to enable the police to charge drivers of motor vehicles who do not position themselves correctly in order to make a righthand turn at a crossroads, in view of the inconvenience and danger caused by this malpractice.

This is one of the many aspects of driving which it is impracticable to stipulate in terms sufficiently precise for a regulation to be enforceable. But the police can already act, where it would be appropriate, under the provisions of the Road Traffic Acts related to driving dangerously or without reasonable consideration for other road users. Beyond that I regard the matter as a subject for advice and education of drivers through the Highway Code and other propaganda material.

asked the Minister of Transport how much land, and in what situations held by his Department, in The Hartlepools is available for sale for industrial development or for other uses; for what periods any of the local authorities have been negotiating with his Department for any of this land; and what steps he is taking to meet the authorities' requirements.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport what conclusions he has drawn from area studies of rural bus service problems; and what steps he intends to take to assist rural communities in these areas and in the Highlands and Islands.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to an earlier Question today by the hon. Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Mitchell) about the results of the local enquiries and experiments in England and Wales. Transport questions in the Highlands and Islands are also specifically considered by the Highland Transport Board.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that in 1939 approximately 47,000 new motor cycles were registered in this country and in 1964 approximately 215,000; and what are the approximate corresponding figures for Northamptonshire, excluding Northampton.

No figure is available for 1939, but the number for 1938 was 163 compared with 45,239 for Great Britain, and that for 1964 was 1,540.

asked the Minister of Transport, as the result of the application of the travel and accident loss assessment method, what trunk roads have been found to be in most urgent need of being supplemented by motorways.

The results of my Department's studies of travel and accident loss on trunk roads are being taken into account in the preparation of my plans for the improvement of inter-urban routes in the 1970s. Whether new or improved roads should be motorways or all-purpose trunk roads will need to be decided in each case in the light of all the relevent factors, the most important of which are the nature and anticipated volumes of traffic and the relative costs of construction.

asked the Minister of Transport what stage the transport survey in the Greater Manchester area has reached; who is taking part; which local authorities are involved; if he will consult the managements and works committees of the works at Trafford Park; and what study he has made of the proposals made by the Lancashire Federation of Trades Councils on this subject.

The transportation study in question is controlled by a Steering Committee comprising representatives of local authorities, central government and others. Consultants have been appointed to design the study and their preliminary proposals are being considered. The study will not involve specific consultation with firms or workers' organisations in Trafford Park, except in so far as their co-operation may be needed in the course of survey work: the study will, however, take full account of the transport needs of this area.I know of no proposals on this subject by the Lancashire Federation of Trades Councils.The following is the list of bodies whose representatives form the Steering Committee:The Lancashire, Cheshire, and Derbyshire County Councils; Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Bolton, Oldham, Rochdale, and Bury County Boroughs; Ashton-under-Lyne Municipal Borough; the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., Ribble Motor Services Ltd., Lancashire United Transport Co., Ltd., and the Stalybridge, Hyde, Moseley and Dukinfield Joint Board; British Railways; the Ministry of Transport, and the Ministry of Housing and Local Government.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will initiate a transport survey in North Staffordshire and initiate consultations with local authorities concerned; and if he will ensure that the report of the survey is published.

I am ready to consider any proposals put to me by the local authorities concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport if his studies into the problems of rural transport are now completed; and what act ton he intends to take to alleviate some of the difficulties in the North Riding of Yorkshire owing to the curtailment of several bus services.

On the general question of rural transport, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given today to the hon. Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Mitchell). I am aware that there have been certain withdrawals or reductions of bus services in the North Riding. The Trzffie Commissioners have done their best to encourage the provision of alternative services and in some cases these are available though not necessarily on the same scale as in the past.

asked the Minister of Transport what further steps he intends to take to see that a fund is set up under Section 2(6) of the Merchant Shipping (Liability of Shipowners and Others) Act, 1958, in order that Section 2(2)(a) of that Act may be brought into force.

I have asked those concerned whether they will take part in further discussions to see if an acceptable basis for setting up the fund can be found.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now announce his decision on the Port-bury Dock proposals.

I have at present nothing to add to the Answer I gave on 16th June to the hon. Member and my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, Central (Mr. Palmer).

asked the Minister of Transport why Her Majesty's Government's undertaking that the recommendations of the National Ports Council on Iron Ore Ports in South Wales would be debated in the House of Commons before the Government came to a decision was not carried out.

The recommendations of the National Ports Council in respect of iron ore terminals in South Wales were the subject of full debate in the Welsh Grand Committee on the 14th July, when the Government's conclusions on the Council's report were stated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent the growing practice of ex-ship and ex-quay selling of meat is affecting the turnround of refrigerated vessels; and what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to increase the speed of turnround.

I have no evidence that this practice is developing to the detriment of speedy discharge of vessels at the main ports. I have authorised the construction by the Port of London Authority of a new fully-mechanised meat-handling installation; this is expected to be completed next summer. A similar installation is expected to be completed at Liverpool by the end of 1966.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on Government assistance to the hovercraft industry, with a view to increased freight and passenger traffic between Great Britain and Europe; and what discussions he had, before granting this assistance, on the possibility of hovercraft communications between North-East Scotland, Scandinavia, Belgium, Germany and Holland.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reference to support of the hovercraft industry made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology in the debate in Committee of Supply on 14th July. I have not thought it necessary at this stage to embark on discussions about possible hovercraft links between North-East Scotland and European countries.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to British Railways regarding the proper relationship to be observed between the cost price and selling price of foodstuffs sold in British Railways catering establishments.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport when he received a copy of the report of the Liverpool City Council's Planning Officer which proposes a rail loop; and what support he will give it.

Copies of this report were received in my Department at the beginning of June. As the report makes clear, more work is needed to show the contribution an outer rail loop would make to the overall transport system on Merseyside. This assessment will be made in the conurbation transportation study now beginning on Merseyside, which has my full support and assistance.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now make a statement on the future of the Somerset and Dorset railway line.

I expect to be able to reach a decision very shortly on the proposal for closure of passenger services on this line. I will write to the hon. and gallant Member as soon as I have done so.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has now considered British Railways' outline proposals for the withdrawal of passenger services from stations between Stanley junction and Kinnaber; whether he has referred them to the Scottish Planning Board; and whether he has yet given or withheld consent to the Railways Board's proceeding with these proposals.

Yes. After considering the views of the Scottish Economic Planning Council and Board, I have agreed to formal publication of this proposal. It will now go through the statutory machinery and be considered in accordance with the policy set out in my statements of 4th November and 31st March.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has received with regard to the future of Snow Hill, Birmingham, Railway Station.

In April last year the Railways Board gave advance notice of their intention to close this station. They have not yet sent me details of their proposals.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to British Railways to halt the deterioration of commuter services to London from the South-East, in view of his policy that commuters should be encouraged to travel by train instead of in cars.

No. A general direction would be neither appropriate nor helpful in this case.

asked the Minister of Transport what decision has been reached on the extension of the Midland Region main line railway electrification scheme to Glasgow.

No final decisions have yet been reached on this project.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the British Railways Board to ensure that parcels despatched by passenger train service are delivered promptly.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport what advice he has received from the West Midland Regional Economic Planning Council on the planning implications of the proposed withdrawal of passenger train services between Birmingham New Street and Redditch and Birmingham New Street and Worcester; and if he will make a statement.

I have received the comments of the Council on the economic planning implications of these proposals. I shall take these into account in reaching my decision, which I hope to do shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has yet come to his decisions on the Report of the South-West Transport Users' Consultative Committee on rail closure proposals between Seaton and Seaton Junction, Sid-mouth and Sidmouth Junction, and Tipton St. John to Exmouth; and if he will give an assurance that any decision to permit such closures will be so timed as to allow discussion in Parliament before such decisions are implemented.

I am anxious to reach decisions on these and related proposals as soon as possible. I cannot, however, undertake to require the Board to maintain services which I agree may be withdawn until the decisions have been debated.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement on the recent goods train derailments at Cullompton and Hungerford on the line to the South-West; and whether he is satisfied that the speed regulations are adequate.

Derailments of goods trains at Hungerford on 30th June and at Cullompton on 16th July have been reported by British Railways, Western Region. In each case one wagon only was derailed and no personal injuries resulted, but there were delays to other trains whilst the damage caused to the track was being repaired. Railway inquiries into the causes are still proceeding, but no conclusions are yet available. I do not intend to order a formal inquiry into either of these cases. The fixing of speed limits for various classes of train is a matter for the British Railways Board, but in neither of these cases do first indications point to excessive speed as the cause.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of recent goods train derailments, he is satisfied with the maintenance of the goods trucks in use by British Railways, in view of the need for maximum safety on the railways; and if he will make a statement.

The maintenance of goods wagons in use by British Railways is the responsibility of the British Railways Board. The position is, however, being watched closely by my Chief Inspecting Officer of Railways, who reports that one of the chief causes of derailments is the unsuitability of some of the older designs of goods wagons for current operating conditions with modern forms of traction, and that the situation should improve as the wagons concerned are withdrawn are replaced by stock of more modern design.

asked the Attorney-General (1) what study he is making of the need to re-locate the Patents Appeal Tribunal concurrently with the study to re-locate the Patent Office outside London; and what conclusions he has reached;(2) to what extent Her Majesty's Government's plans for the re-location of the Patent Office will involve taking steps to appoint an additional judge to hear patent cases in the Chancery Division.

It is unlikely that the location of the Patents Appeal Tribunal will have to be moved from the Law Courts. My noble friend the Lord Chancellor sees no need for an additional judge to hear patent cases.

asked the Attorney-General if he will give the total cost to the Exchequer for any convenient stated period of the claims for allowances made by Her Majesty's judges for expenses as laid down in the appropriate Statutes.

The total annual cost of the judges' allowances and the travelling expenses of the judges and their clerks throughout the United Kingdom is about £47,000.

asked the Minister of Aviation what plans he has for promoting the development of a large, highseating-capacity transport aircraft by the British aircraft industry capable of offering substantially reduced fares to tourist passengers.

As announced in our communiqué of 17th May, M. Jacquet, the French Minister of Transport, and I have agreed to appoint a joint working party of officials to study the technical, financial and commercial aspects of the subsonic aerobus proposal. These studies are now in hand.

asked the Minister of Aviation what his plans are for placing further orders for aircraft design and construction work, respectively, with Short Brothers and Harland in Belfast; and if he will make a statement.

I have no announcement to make at present, but I keep the interests of Short Brothers and Harland closely in mind.

asked the Minister of Aviation by what authority police dogs are being used for crowd control at London Airport; whether he was consulted before their use; and whether he will give instructions for their use to be discontined forthwith.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will prevent dogs being used to control crowds at London Airport.

Police dogs are not used for crowd control at London Airport, and there is no intention that they should be so used.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will state the number of passengers and the amount of freight which British charter air carriers carried in respect of traffic originating in foreign countries during the year 1964.

479,000 passengers and 4,100 short tons of cargo were carried from places abroad to the United Kingdom in British aircraft on commercial charter during 1964. It is not known how many of the passengers originated overseas.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will make a statement on his policy regarding the extension and improvement of airfields and associated services in the Highlands and Islands, and an estimate of the expenditure required.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement, but I recognise the urgency of the problem and hope to do so as soon as possible.The expenditure likely to be involved is about £1 million.

asked the Minister of Aviation on what date he received the appeal of B.K.S. Air Transport Limited concerning the refusal of the Air Transport Licensing Board to permit the operation of a freight service between Belfast, Liverpool and Prestwick; and if he will make a statement on the arrangements for hearing the appeal.

I received the company's appeals on 20th July. Arrangements have been made for the case to be heard on 18th August at 6, Burlington Gardens, London, W.1, starting at 10.30 a.m. I have appointed Sir John Lang, G.C.B., as the Commissioner to hear the appeals and report to me on them.

asked the Postmaster-General what action he proposes to take to prevent a pirate television service starting up.

As I have already announced, legislation against pirate broadcasting will be introduced as soon as practicable. This will deal with all pirate broadcasting including television.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress has been made in negotiating reciprocal agreements with other countries for licensed radio amateurs to operate outside their own countries; and if he will make a statement.

Arrangements are in hand for negotiating a reciprocal agreement with the United States and I have so far invited 15 other countries to enter into such agreements with us.

asked the Postmaster-General if he has yet completed his review of broadcasting and television services; what evidence he took to enable him to do so; by what principles he was guided; and if he will now make a statement on his policy regarding the moral and intellectual and other standards which he plans for future radio and television.

The review has not yet been completed and I cannot usefully add to the reply I gave my hon. and learned Friend on 30th June.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the anomalies which make it impractical to grant concessions on the £5 television licences which press harshly on people of bad hearing, especially old deaf people.

Among the main considerations are these. It would give preference to only one out of a number of categories of viewers; within that category it would not necessarily help those in greatest need; it would confer an advantage on some viewers for whom it was not intended; and it would make the ownership of a television set a condition of obtaining a measure of social benefit.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to expedite the delivery of letters in Belfast.

I am not aware of any general delay in the delivery of letters in Belfast. If my hon. Friend would let me have details of any delays which have come to his notice, I will gladly look into the matter.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he will issue a distinctive Scottish fourpenny stamp similar to the threepenny stamps in circulation at the moment in Scotland;(2) whether he will issue a distinctive Scottish fourpenny stamp for sale in Scotland; and if he will cause such issue to be sold in books of 18 stamps retailing at six shillings per book.

I intend to issue a fourpenny stamp in the Scottish as well as in each of the other regional series of stamps, as soon as this can conveniently be arranged. I will also give sympathetic consideration to my hon. Friend's request that the new Scottish 4d. stamp should be included in a stamp book.

asked the Postmaster-General what estimate he has made of the comparative cost of a private subscriber telephone in Shrewsbury before and since the introduction of subscriber trunk dialling; and on what basis he makes this estimate.

As I told the hon. Member on 23rd June in reply to a similar Question, the bills rendered to subscribers in the Shrewsbury exchange area prior to the introduction of STD in 1961 are no longer available so that the comparison for which he asks cannot be made. We estimate, however, that throughout the country as a whole subscribers with STD saved about £13 million last year compared with what they would have paid for the same calls under the old system.

asked the Postmaster-General how many extra public telephone kiosks will be provided in the borough of Barry during each of the next three years.

There are already 51 kiosks in the borough of Barry. I cannot estimate future provision with any certainty but the position will be kept under review.

asked the Postmaster-General how many extra public telephone kiosks will be provided in the parishes of Lisvane, Llanedeyrn, Rudry, and Van, all in the county of Glamorgan, in each of the next three years.

There are already 7 kiosks in these areas. I cannot estimate future provision with any certainty, but the position will be kept under review.

asked the Postmaster-General how many extra public telephone kiosks will be provided in the parishes of Llancarfan, Welsh-St.-Donats, Llantrithyd, Pendoylan, St. Fagans, St. George's-super-Ely and St. Brides-super-Ely, all in the county of Glamorgan, respectively, in each of the next three years.

There are already 14 kiosks in these areas. I cannot estimate future provision with any certainty, but the position will be kept under review.

asked the Postmaster-General how many extra public telephone kiosks will be provided in the parishes of Whitchurch, Radyr, Pentyrch, Peterston-super-Ely, St. Nicholas, and Bonvilston, all in the county of Glamorgan, respectively, during each of the next three years.

There are already 25 kiosks in Whitchurch, and 13 in the other areas listed. I cannot estimate future provision with any certainty but the position will be kept under review.

asked the Postmaster-General how many extra public telephone kiosks will be provided in the parishes of Sully, St. Andrews, Dinas-Powis, Pen-mark, Porthkerry and Wenvoe, all in the county of Glamorgan, repectively, during each of the next three years.

There are already 16 kiosks in these areas. I cannot estimate future provision with any certainty but the position will be kept under review.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the isolation and lack of public transport during most of the day and night of the residents of the Scadabay township, Isle of Harris, and the special difficulties, in medical or other emergency, of summoning aid by telephone, he will now provide a public telephone kiosk at a point convenient to most of the people.

I have considered my hon. Friend's request sympathetically but, having regard to the heavy annual loss of £4½ million on public telephones and to the fact that there are already 2 kiosks within 1–2 miles, I am sorry that I cannot agree to provide one at Scadabay.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has now received the Final Report of the Pharmacology Sub-Committee of the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee following its review of all the evidence on the use of cyclamates; and what action he intends to take thereon.

The Pharmacology Sub-Committee are still reviewing the available evidence and I cannot at this stage add to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend on 19th May.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that over 20 per cent. of the pea crop from 9,300 acres in North Lincolnshire has been lost or damaged by wood pigeons and rooks at an estimated cost of £30,000 to the local farmers; when his investigations into the possible use of narcotics will be completed; in view of the fact that they are used with success on the Continent, if he will allow their use in the United Kingdom under his Department's supervision; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware that bird damage to pea crops can be very heavy but I am advised that the scale of the losses in North Lincolnshire is likely to be much less than the hon. Member states.Experiments with stupefying baits against wood pigeons are continuing, but we have not yet evolved a baiting technique which is both effective and without risk to protected species and game birds. It is therefore too early for my right hon. Friend to consider allowing the general use of stupefying baits under licence against either wood pigeons or rooks.I have no knowledge that stupefying substances are used on the Continent against wood pigeons. I understand that in places in France they are used in severe winter conditions to take rooks but not to protect individual crops.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that the present regulations give him power adequately to control factory farms and to ensure that they are conducted humanely, and that the food produced by these intensive methods does not contain traces of drugs which could eventually prove harmful; and whether he will make a statement.

The question of whether standards ought to be set to safeguard the welfare of intensively kept farm livestock is being examined by the technical Committee under the chairmanship of Professor F. W. Rogers Brambell. We expect to receive the Committee's report in the autumn.As far as drugs are concerned, the Netherthorpe Committee reported in 1962 that no hazard to human health arose from the use of antibiotics in feeding stuffs; other uses of antibiotics in animal husbandry are subject to veterinary prescription. Other drugs used in intensive husbandry, whether as additives to feeding stuffs or otherwise, are submitted for clearance under the Veterinary Products Safety Precautions Scheme and instructions given by the Committee which scrutinises each drug as to any precautions necessary in the interests of human health.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in view of difficulties caused by the present out-of-date food labelling regulations, when new regulations will be introduced.

In considering new labelling regulations, it has been necessary to study the large number of comments received on the Food Standards Committee's Report on Food Labelling. We hope to issue proposals for new regulations in the autumn, but I cannot at present say when the regulations themselves will be made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consult organised consumers and national women's organisations when he prepares new food-labelling regulations.