asked the Minister of Aviation what airports have reported acts of vandalism to public rooms; and what is the estimated cost of the damage so far.

Acts of vandalism at Heathrow, Gatwick and Prestwick occur from time to time. They are mostly of a fairly trivial nature. The total cost of the damage caused at all three airports during 1965 amounted to about £400.

asked the Minister of Aviation, in pursuance of his wish to develop international services from Elmdon, what are the obstacles he has found to increasing Midlands exports by air freight direct from Elmdon to Continental airports; and what steps are being taken to remove them.

I would like to see more British air services from Birmingham to the Continent, but their development is, subject to licensing, primarily a matter for the commercial judgment of airlines. Given the services, and the traffic demand, I know of no other obstacles.

asked the Minister of Aviation what steps have been taken to ascertain the potential air passenger traffic between the Midlands and the Continent; and with what result.

My Department has carried out a survey of the origin and destination in the U.K. of passengers on routes between London and the Continent, and the results of this, which are now being analysed, will help operators to judge the potential air passenger traffic.

asked the Minister of Aviation, in view of the cross-Channel services expected to start this year, if he will introduce legislation to clarify the legal position of Hovercraft, particularly as to liability of operators to passengers and third parties, and to define under what international conventions such services will operate.

The problems involved in this proposal are currently being considered.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to British European Airways to provide an adequate supply of defreezing points at airports, with a view to avoiding inconvenience and delay to travellers.

No. I have no reason to think that B.E.A.'s provision of de-icing equipment is inadequate.

asked the Minister of Aviation, in view of the fact that Messrs. Ferranti have declared increased profits and increased dividend payments, if he will now seek to revise the agreement under which their £4 million debt to the Government is being repaid.

No.

asked the Minister of Aviation whether he has decided to make the further study of the methods employed in the United States of America and France for initiating, assessing and launching new projects, recommended in the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the Aircraft Industry, Command Paper No. 2853.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Aviation what decisions have been made concerning the 10 British Aircraft Corporation Super VC 10's which were originally ordered by British Overseas Airways Corporation but the building of which was suspended in 1964.

This matter is still under consideration.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will give a general direction to British Overseas Airways Corporation to use United Kingdom rather than foreign airports for crew training.

No. I regard this as a matter to be decided by the Corporation.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will make a statement about existing proposals for the joint Anglo-German manufacture of missiles.

Following my predecessor's visit to Germany in December, the scope for collaboration with Germany in the development and production of missiles has been jointly reviewed with the German authorities. Several possibilities emerged and are being further examined.

asked the Minister of Aviation what consideration he is giving to the requirements of the British electronics industry in the current negotiations concerning a replacement for the Royal Air Force Canberra.

The cost, operational effectiveness and availability of British electronic equipment is being taken fully into account in our consideration of proposals for a Canberra replacement.

asked the Minister of Aviation what design studies he has commissioned for a strategic jet transport aircraft for the Royal Air Force; and what is the date on which it is required to come into service.

None. The need for such an aircraft has yet to be established. This will be considered further in the light of the outcome of the present Defence Review.

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will state the number of professional scientific staff employed in his Department's research establishments on 1st December 1963, 1964 and 1965.

The numbers in the Scientific Officer Class at the research establishments at 1st December, 1963, 1964 and 1965 were nine hundred and ninety-seven (997), one thousand and twenty-two (1022), and one thousand and thirty-seven (1,037) respectively.

asked the Minister of Aviation what has been the total value of British military aerospace and electronic equipment sold to the United States of America in each of the past 10 financial years; and what is the value to the latest convenient date in the current financial year.

It is not the practice to disclose detailed information concerning military equipment supplied to other countries.Total military and civil aerospace and electronic equipment exports to the United States over the past 10 calendar years have been:

asked the Minister of Aviation if he will make a statement about the site of the proposed third airport for London.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Wellbeloved) in answer to a similar Question.

asked the Minister of Aviation when he will announce his decision on the future of Short Brothers and Harland, Belfast, following the Report of the Plowden Committee.

I cannot yet give a date, but I fully recognise the need for early decisions.

asked the Minister of Aviation how much Great Britain is to contribute to the European Launcher Development Organisation and the European Space Research Organisation in 1966; and if he will make a statement on Great Britain's future participation in the European space programme.

Provision in the 1965–66 Estimates for the United Kingdom contribution to the European Launcher Development Organisation is £11·75 million. For the contribution to the European Space Research Organisation in the same period and further contributions to these Organisations in 1966, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science to the Question by the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on the 25th January.Government policy on future participation in European space programmes is to continue to take part in worthwhile ventures to the extent that our resources permit.

asked the Postmaster-General what has been the extent of wilful damage to public telephones in the borough of Redbridge; and what has been the cost of repair.

There were about 650 cases of wilful damage to the 280 kiosks in the borough of Redbridge last year. It is estimated that the cost of repair to date, excluding overheads and loss of revenue amount to some £1,000.

asked the Postmaster-General having regard to the damage which has been done to call-boxes in Putney and Roehampton, if he will require the provision of all call-box facilities within the premises of all sub-post offices; and if he will examine the possibility of providing call-boxes within the premises of other public buildings which are open most of the time, and where the call-box facilities can be under supervision.

No. My right hon. Friend would not like to impose this as a requirement on Sub-Postmasters who are often short of space for their post office and private business. In any case they close by 6 p.m. As regards public call-boxes within premises generally I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Hertford (Lord Balniel) on 31st January.

asked the Postmaster-General what change of policy there has been in his Department concerning the provision of potentially uneconomic telephone kiosks and the payments sought from local authorities in this respect; and when such a change of policy took place.

There has been no change of policy.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the allocations for rural kiosks in each of the counties in Wales and Monmouthshire for the period 1965 to 1968; and how many were erected in the first of these years.

The fixed allocation for the period from October, 1965, to March, 1968, which is the current allocation period, is shown below. In addition, we have promised to consider cases of special need. I shall be glad to let my hon. Friend have figures for the first year at a later date.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress he is making with his review of broadcasting services; and if he will make a statement.

The Government's review is proceeding. I must ask my hon. Friend to await the outcome.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has completed his comprehensive review of broadcasting policy; and when he will make a statement on the introduction of colour television.

The Government's review of broadcasting is continuing. On the second part of the Question, I cannot usefully add to the reply I gave on 2nd February to my hon. Friend the Member for Morpeth (Mr. Owen).

asked the Postmaster-General if he will issue directions, under the appropriate provisions, to the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority to ensure that the reports of traffic and other fatal accidents are not broadcast, either on television or sound, in such a way that the victims can be identified, before the next of kin have been notified.

The broadcasting authorities are, of course, independent of the Government in matters of programme content; but I am sure they will consider the point to which the hon. Member has drawn attention.

asked the Postmaster- General what is the policy of the Post Office regarding the employment of people over 55 years of age to deal with Christmas mail.

There is no upper age limit. Ability to do the job is the deciding factor.

asked the Post master-General if he will issue a special stamp at Christmastime each year for the sending of Christmas cards at a cheaper rate than is now the case.

I am afraid that any scheme for allowing Christmas cards to be sent at a cheaper rate would be prohibitively costly and administratively impracticable.

asked the Postmaster- General what percentage of mail from Rhodesia is being examined by the General Post Office; and how many staff are employed on these duties.

asked the Postmaster-General how many persons at Mount Pleasant are employed in the censorship of mail to and from Rhodesia; by whom such persons are employed; and at what cost.

There is no censorship in this country of mail to and from Rhodesia, but, in common with overseas mail generally, mail from Rhodesia is liable to be examined for Customs purposes and also to ensure that the proper postage has been paid. We keep no record of the proportion actually examined or of the staff time spent.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will publicise the fact that there is no censorship of mail going from the United Kingdom to Rhodesia or of mail arriving in the United Kingdom from Rhodesia.

It is a fact that mail leaving the United Kingdom for Rhodesia or arriving in the United Kingdom from Rhodesia is not subject to any form of censorship in this country. Any statements or rumours to the contrary are completely without foundation. I am arranging for copies of this Answer to be sent to the Press and I hope it will receive wide publicity.

asked the Post master-General whether he will now institute an investigation into the reasons for the deterioration of the postal services between London and East Scotland.

The situation has not changed since the hon. Gentleman asked a Question on the 15th December. As I then said, there is no general delay in delivery to this part of Scotland, and the service is the same as it was a year ago. The hon. Gentleman has given no details of particular delays, as I invited him to do, and there has been no local complaint to suggest that the service has deteriorated.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will reconsider his decision not to issue a special stamp to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the National Savings movement.

I have gone into this very carefully but am still unable to meet my hon. Friend's wishes.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the experience of the last few weeks has justified his forecast of improved postal service in Berwickshire, particularly in the Duns and Coldstream areas.

I am glad to say that the postal service in Berwickshire is satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that there is an increasing demand for honey in this country; what percentage of the demand is met by the production of honey in Great Britain; and whether he will take steps to improve bee-keeping standards by making available to beekeepers advice and education on a permanent basis through his Department's officers.

I cannot estimate the demand for honey, but I can give figures for total supplies, including estimates of the home crop, which varies greatly from year to year according to the weather. In 1961, for example, which was a good year, home-produced honey accounted for 7,200 tons of a total supply of 17,600 tons; in 1965—a bad year for the home producer—it was only 900 tons out of 13,600. Educational work amongst beekeepers is the responsibility of local education authorities, but the bee advisory officers of my Department will give specialist advice where needed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in the public interest and pursuant to his powers under the Agricultural Marketing Acts, he will take steps to ensure that the committee of investigation, shortly to investigate the manner in which contracts for the breaking out of second quality eggs were exclusively awarded to 12 firms in the United Kingdom, should hold all its inquiries in public.

No. The Committee, which is entirely independent, has authority under statutory regulations governing its procedure to decide to meet in private or in public.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that the penalties now applicable will be effective in preventing the sale of milk containing antibiotics; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has closely participated with the Milk Marketing Board and the dairy trade in this matter. The arrangements made comprise the testing of milk for antibiotics at the dairies and a scheme of penalties on producers. The test arrangements are already operating on an experimental basis, and the scheme of penalties is expected to come into force on 1st April. Under this scheme there will be a price deduction of 1s. per gallon on any offending milk.I trust that these arrangements will eliminate the possibility of unacceptable residues in the milk supply.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what criteria he will decide that housewives are preferring home-produced to imported bacon and thus enable him to increase the United Kingdom share of the bacon market; and what factors he will take into account in reaching this conclusion.

Within the terms of the Bacon Market Sharing Understanding, we can claim a larger share only by producing clear evidence of a significant change in market conditions in favour of United Kingdom bacon compared with imported supplies. Account would have to be taken of the industry's performance relative to our current share, and of the prices distributors were prepared to pay for supplies of bacon from various sources.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will publish the Report of the Wise Committee on Smallholdings.

I received the Committee's interim Report yesterday, and have arranged for its immediate printing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes have taken place in retail grocery prices since October, 1964; and how these relate to changes in import and wholesale prices.

There is no separate index of retail grocery prices but the official index of retail food prices generally showed an increase of 4·9 per cent. between October, 1964 and December, 1965. This figure was, however, affected by normal seasonal variations in price; the increase between October, 1964 and October, 1965, was only 3·1 per cent. The index of average unit value of all imported food and feed fell by 1½ per cent. between October, 1964 and December 1965, mainly because of lower sugar and cocoa prices. The wholesale index for the food manufacturing industries (including the animal feed industry) rose by 1·3 per cent. over this period. The coverage and method of calculating these indices differ, however, from those for the retail food index.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether tests for leptospirosis were carried out on the Charolais cattle, which have been recently imported, whilst the cattle were in quarantine in France.

No. Tests were carried out before entry into quarantine in France and none of the cattle admitted showed reactions, The conditions for any further importation are at present being reviewed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates he has made of the profitability of farming, by categories of size of farm, over this last year.

Information for 1965 is not available, but the first part of the year will be covered by figures which we are arranging to publish with the results of the Annual Review now in progress.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will give an assurance that, when large-scale development of agricultural land takes place, adequate compensation is given to the tenants;(2) what progress he has made in his discussions with the National Farmers' Union on the problem of compensation to tenant farmers who find themselves without a livelihood as a result of land development.

As I told the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. George Y. Mackie) on 9th February, we are considering possible methods of improving the compensation payable to tenant farmers who are dispossessed so that their land may be developed. The farming and landowning organisations have also been studying this difficult problem, and we are taking into account their ideas for possible solutions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide school children under his education authorities with professional ski instruction, in conjunction with the Scottish National Ski Council or otherwise.

The employment of instructors is a matter for the education authorities themselves. I welcome the development of ski-ing as a school activity, however, and my Department's inspectors are always ready to advise on training and staffing generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if it is still his policy to raise the school leaving age in 1970.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the dissatisfaction at the state of the hospital services in West Fife; and whether he will include in the revised hospital building programme the provision of a new general hospital for the area.

I am aware of local dissatisfaction. I regret it has not been possible to include a new general hospital for West Fife in the programme for 1966–71 announced in the review of the hospital plan. Considerable improvements and extensions are being made to the existing Dunfermline hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why no appreciation of the present and future rôles of the Waverley-Carlisle railway line in the Border economy was made in the White Paper on the Scottish Economy.

The significance of this railway line to the Borders was considered in the Borders Study. This has formed the basis of the advice given by the Scottish Economic Planning Council to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport who, under the Transport Act, ultimately has the statutory responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Scottish milk boards concerning the increasing rents of tenant dairy farmers; and what action he proposes to take to curb the exploitation of these farmers.

The boards, in recent talks with my officials on the general state of the dairy industry, mentioned among other matters a reference in their recently published booklet to increases averaging 68 per cent. in some dairy farm rents during the year ended May, 1965. The boards recognise elsewhere in the booklet that this is part of a "backlog" of rent increases. Rents are freely negotiated between landlords and new tenants. If dispute arises over revision of rent in the case of sitting tenants the matter is resolved in accordance with the provisions of the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 1949.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to set up his consultative group for the Borders.

This matter was considered at a meeting of the Scottish Economic Planning Council on Friday, 11th February, and on the basis of their advice consultations with Border interests are being undertaken forthwith with a view to the formation of a consultative group for the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given in relation to prospecting for oil in the North Sea, to the possible damage of fishing boats dragging up unexploded explosives in their nets; whether any such cases have yet occurred; and what action he will take to minimise this risk.

Operators of survey vessels are requested by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to inform my Department amongst others, as well as any vessels in the area, in any instance where a charge fails to explode. My Department would pass the information to fishermen operating in the area but, so far, I have received no such reports nor any reports of fishermen finding such charges off Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the £12 million cut in the national road-building programme for 1966–67 he expects to result from the postponement of road-building in Scotland.

The figure of £12 million relates to England and Wales. The comparable figure for Scotland is £300,000, out of planned expenditure for 1966–67 of £24,300,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian aircraft have been chartered by the Government for the oil airlift to Zambia; and on what terms.

Nine: five Britannias and four DC4/Carvairs. These have been hired at fixed daily rates and payment is also being made for each hour flown.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the installations of H.M.S. "Sea Eagle" are in a condition for use for other purposes; and what offer was made of them to the Government of Northern Ireland for use in connection with the proposed university building for Derry.

Yes, but the location of the university is a matter for the Government of Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why British soldiers at Knightsbridge Barracks and elsewhere, who have been in Rhodesia or have family ties there, have recently been subjected to special interrogation by Army officers.

Knightsbridge barracks are being demolished and have been empty for some months, but I know of no such interrogation at any station.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he proposes to place a firm order with the Hawker-Siddeley Company, Kingston- upon-Thames, for P1127 aircraft.

At the appropriate time. As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Royal Air Force indicated on 2nd February in reply to the hon. Member for St. Albans (Mr. Goodhew) the development programme is proceeding at the required rate and the firm already has authority for work on tooling.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will investigate the circumstances in which parts of the electronic equipment of a Mark I Bloodhound Missile, sold to Lind-Air Electronics Limited are being reassembled by their sub-contractors, in view of the fact that the electronic system of this missile is still on the secret list;(2) in what circumstances and at what price the electronics system of a Bloodhound Mark I missile was sold to Lind-Air Electronics Limited.

We take great care to ensure that no classified material is among the surplus equipment which is offered for disposal to the public. Inquiries have shown that no equipment on the secret list is in the possession of this firm. The equipment referred to in these questions was disposed of by auction. It is not the practice to disclose prices obtained on disposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many new Leander frigates were authorised in 1965; and how many of them are under construction now.

Two, but they have not yet been ordered as the tenders are still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present strength of the Territorial Army in Cornwall, both officers and other ranks.

Thirty-six officers and 653 other ranks.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many drill halls and similar accommodation are owned and used by Territorial Army associations in Cornwall.

The Cornwall Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Association uses 19 drill halls for the Territorial Army, and 4 drill halls and 16 huts for the Army Cadet Force. It owns 21 of the drill halls and 11 of the huts.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, when Her Majesty's Government agreed to assist with the construction of military air fields and strips in Thailand, guarantees were obtained that these installations would not be used other than for individual or collective self-defence against armed attack on that country, in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.

Her Majesty's Government have not agreed to assist with the construction of military airfields and strips in Thailand. We are building one airfield in Thailand, as a gift to that country. There are no strings attached to the gift, and the Government of Thailand will be free to use the airfield for military or civil purposes as they require.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he will announce the decision of Her Majesty's Government on the F111 option.

In the Statement on Defence Estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the arrangements he is now discussing with the United States administration concerning the provision of spares for the military aircraft recently purchased from them, and for any others for which negotiations are in progress.

The spares likely to be needed to support the Hercules and Phantom aircraft are now being identified in collaboration with the American Services. Orders will be placed progressively, and will be met from American Service stocks or ordered by the Americans on our behalf as necessary. The prices paid will be equivalent to those paid by the American Services, plus a small agency charge for handling our requirements after the initial provisioning stage. The same procedure will probably be followed if orders are placed for other American military aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from the French Government concerning the effect that the further purchase of United States aircraft for the Royal Air Force would have on Anglo-French aerospace co-operation; and what reply he made.

The French Minister of the Armed Forces raised this question with me recently. I stressed to him the importance which Her Majesty's Government attaches to Anglo-French co-operation in this field and assured him that we firmly intend to continue joint development of both the Jaguar and the variable geometry aircraft.

aked the Secretary of State for Defence what official study has been made of the fighting in Vietnam and of the experiences of the United States Airborne Cavalry Division; what conclusions have been reached; and in what ways it is intended to make the helicopter more widely and more readily available to the armed forces.

The lessons to be learned from the fighting in Vietnam in all military fields are, of course, being studied as information is obtained. Further deliveries

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received in favour of scrapping the aircraft carrier programme; and what replies he has made.

I think that the hon. Gentleman will be aware, from questions and debates on defence in this House, that more than one view is held about the need for aircraft carriers. As I have previously indicated, this is an extremely complex subject, to which considerable study has been devoted in the course of the defence review. The results of this study will be published very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the number and types of military helicopters ordered since October 1964, the dates on which production orders in each case were finally placed, and the dates when the negotiations to purchase had commenced or when the definition of the operational requirement had originally been made.

The information is set out in the following table.of helicopters are due this year; Army aviation in particular is expanding rapidly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the reasons for his estimate that the proposed Army Volunteer Reserve is only likely to achieve a recruited strength of 80 per cent. of its establishment.

The estimate is based on the recruiting experience of Category I of the Army Emergency Reserve which has approximately the same call-out liability, and the same bounty, as are proposed for the Army Volunteer Reserve.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the comparative costs of the Territorial Army and the proposed Army Emergency Reserve at their present strength, with similar costs for the Army Volunteer Reserve in 1969–70 to show the saving that can be expected if the Army Volunteer Reserve is recruited to full establishment.

The cost of the Territorial Army and the Army Emergency Reserve for 1965–66 was expected to be about £33 million excluding the cost of Regular Army personnel. However, savings have arisen in the course of the year as a consequence of the proposals for reorganising the Army Reserves.The cost of the Army Volunteer Reserve in 1969–70, on the assumption that all units were recruited up to 100 per cent. of establishment, would be £16·7 million as against the £14·8 million given in my written answer of 25th January to the hon. and gallant Member for Arundel and Shoreham.The calculation of savings should logically be made by comparing the estimated cost of the Army Volunteer Reserve in 1969–70 with that of the existing volunteer Reserves in that year and not in 1965–66.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, on a Service basis, the items of equipment now in use or scheduled for use which have been purchased from or are on order with the United States of America.

The main items or categories of item are:

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals have now been submitted to her regarding the provision of an experimental monorail transport project in Great Britain.

No firm proposal for a monorail project has been put to my right hon. Friend. However, Manchester City Council has asked for our co-operation in carrying out a feasibility study on a monorail system in Manchester. We are considering this.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she has now set up an inquiry into the fire on the 8.07 a.m. train from Harpenden to St. Pancras and all similar incidents since the introduction of this type of rolling stock; and when she expects to publish a report.

One of our Inspecting officers of Railways will hold a formal inquiry on 24th February. His report, which will take account of similar fires on this type of stock, will be published as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport what decision she intends to take on the proposal put to her for the establishment of a liner train goods depot in Oxford; and where precisely it is proposed that such a depot would be established.

The Railways Board has not submitted to my right hon. Friend any proposal for a liner train depot at Oxford.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will give an assurance that the withdrawal of services on the Bude-Okehampton branch line will be deferred until October 1966, in view of her policy on deferring the implementation of closures which might affect holiday traffic.

No. The answer given to the hon. Member for Tiverton (Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop) on 1st February referred to decisions which I might take after 1st February. My predecessor's decision was given on 22nd December, and I think this was early enough not to affect holiday arrangements.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will make a statement on the progress that has been made on the scheme for the Lancashire and Yorkshire motorway; and in what year the first 30 miles will be completed.

The route from Worsley in Lancashire to Lofthouse in Yorkshire has been fixed. Proposals for a route from Lofthouse to the A1, south of Ferrybridge, have been published and objections are under consideration.Until the statutory procedures, including the side road connections and land acquisition, are completed, no firm dates can be set but I expect the whole of the motorway to be constructed by the early 1970's.

asked the Minister of Transport when a start will be made on the construction of the Lancashire-Yorkshire motorway, M.62.

Later this year.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals she has for the imposition of a 30 miles per hour speed limit on the Weatherhill Road—Plough Road, C66, Chapel Road—Redehall Road, C67, at Smallfield, and other roads in the vicinity.

Surrey County Council has proposed that several roads at Smallfield (including these) should have a speed limit of 30 miles per hour. Their proposals are now under consideration and my right hon. Friend expects to be able to give a decision soon.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will expedite the construction of the South Orbital Road in view of the need for better East-West access from Thames Side and of the increased traffic coming from the Dartford-Purfleet Tunnel, which is currently discharged into roads inadequate for the load.

The complex planning and preparation required will be pressed ahead as quickly as possible. Stretches of the South Orbital road in Kent and Surrey should be started in the next financial year and in 1968–69, and my right hon. Friend hopes to state her plans for the whole route by Easter.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she is aware that, as a result of road construction work being carried out on her behalf on the Back Road at Instow, North Devon, Mr. H. J. Chapman of Chalet, Instow, details of whose case have been sent her by the hon. Member for Devon, North, can now no longer reach his house by vehicular transport; and what proposals she has for solving this problem.

I have made arrangements to discuss this difficult matter with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Transport how many miles of motorway were started in 1964 and 1965, respectively.

57¼ and 64½. The former figure includes 18¼ miles in Wales, which are now the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

asked the Minister of Transport how many miles of motorway are planned with three lanes in each direction, and how many with two.

About 800 and 200 respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will take steps to prevent hauliers, or any other holders of goods licences, from sitting on bodies responsible for the issuing of licences to other applicants.

Steps are already taken to see that the licensing authorities for road goods transport have no transport interests that might conflict with their office.

asked the Minister of Transport how many car simulators the Road Research Laboratory has so far tested; of what makes; and from which countries they came.

The Laboratory's main function is research and it does not undertake the routine testing of apparatus. Simulators have been used by the Laboratory only as a research tool. It has recently commenced research on methods of driver training, but has not, as yet, investigated the value of simulators for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will list the questions put to motorists to ascertain their views on the 70 miles per hour hour speed limit, the answers to which formed the basis of her Department's advertisements in which it was stated that 60 per cent. of all motorists were in favour of the limit.

I am told that the one question asked by the National Opinion Poll was, "Do you approve or disapprove of the 70 m.p.h speed limit on all roads?".

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will implement the Buchanan Report on Traffic in Towns; and when she proposes to commence doing so.

The principles of the Buchanan Report are already being applied. They are reflected in my encouragement of integrated land use and transport planning, in my selection of urban schemes for the road programme, and in the revision by local authorities of their development plans.

asked the Minister of Transport what action she has taken to deal with the traffic conditions at the entrance to the Whitley Bay Grammar School and Valley Gar dens School.

This is a matter for the local authorities concerned. I understand that they are considering measures to improve conditions.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will introduce legislation to control exhaust gas from motor cars.

Studies are now being carried out to see whether conditions in this country make further control necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport when she received a letter from the Chairman of the Port of Bristol Authority setting out in detail arguments and figures in favour of the development of Portbury as a major contribution to British port facilities for the export trade; what reply she has sent; and whether she will make a statement, in view of the representations being made to her on behalf of South Wales port interests.

I received this letter on 8th February and replied thanking the Chairman of the Authority for setting out these important points.On the last part of the Question, I have nothing to add at this stage to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Robert Cooke) on 9th February.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will take steps to undertake a survey of the origin and destination of goods, method of carriage and classification of goods passing through the Port of London.

Such a survey is already being undertaken by the Port of London Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what steps he has taken to give financial aid to West Samoa following the hurricane which caused damage estimated at £500,000.

I have asked our High Commission in Wellington for his assessment and recommendations. He is at present awaiting a detailed account of damage and help required which is being prepared by the New Zealand Red Cross Commissioner who has flown to Western Samoa. As soon as his report is received we shall consider it carefully.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received about the dumping of ducks and poultry in the British market by the Danes at prices below the cost of production; and what action he has taken.

Applications have been made under Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act by the Duck Producers Association and the National Association of Poultry Packers in association with the National Farmers Unions for action against imports of Danish chickens and ducks. The decision on the former will be announced shortly. The application on ducks was made and accepted in December and, as the applicants know, the investigation of the case is proceeding as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will now announce his decision on the allocation for academic purposes of computer time on the Atlas at London University; and what financial arrangements he proposes to make.

The allocation of academic time on a university computer is a matter for the university concerned; as to the second part of the Question, no proposals are at present before me, and I should wish for the advice of the University Grants Committee on any that may be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he proposes to accept Recommendation XV of the Fifth Report from the Estimates Committee, Session 1964–65, that exceptionally close scrutiny should be given to all projects part of whose cost it is intended to recover from communal utilisation and that such projects should not normally qualify for any substantial assistance from public funds.

I accept the spirit of the recommendation referred to, but consider that any such projects should be examined in the light of their individual merits.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many handicapped children in each Welsh local education authority area, who are

The following tables give the information required:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will publish in the Official Report a table which sets out the statutes whose enforcement or operation falls within the responsibility of his Department or of local or other public authorities under the guidance or surveillance of his Department and which provide for the licensing, registration or inspection of persons, premises or institutions of a particular kind, identifying in each case the authorities or persons by whom such licensing, registration or inspection is to be effected, and stating in each case the extent to which he is satisfied that the processes of licensing, registration and inspection are being completely and effectively carried out.

The following is the information requested:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when it is intended to commence building the replacement for the St. Luke's and the Duke of Norfolk's Primary Schools in Glossop.

The Derbyshire Development Plan provides for a new primary school in Glossop to replace the St. Luke's and Duke of Norfolk's schools. The pressure of more urgent work has as yet prevented the Derbyshire local education authority from proposing the inclusion of the project in a school building programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will deal with the salaries claim submitted by the Association of University Teachers; and whether he will make a statement.

The Government have been considering the Association's claim for a revision of salaries and for new machinery to determine the salaries of university teachers in the future. Following a first round of meetings with the main parties concerned I have concluded that some adjustment of salaries ought not to await a decision on future machinery.The Government believe that university teachers, other than clinical medical staff who are being considered separately, should now be given an increase consistent with the prices and incomes policy. I have therefore informed the University Grants Committee that the current salary scales and ranges for such staff should be increased by 5 per cent. as from 1st April, 1966, and that this increase should last for a minimum period of one year. Provision will be made for supplementary recurrent grant of the order of £3¼ millions for this purpose in the coming year. The Government are unable to accept the Association's claim for a revaluation dating back to April, 1964, and for a further adjustment from April, 1965. They consider that the April, 1964 settlement, granting an average 14 per cent. salary increase as recommended by the National Incomes Commission, should be allowed to run unchanged for a full two years.Detailed arrangements for the application of the latest increases will be worked out by the University Grants Committee.I intend to continue the recent discussions about how the salaries of university teachers should be settled in future. Meanwhile the existing arrangements will continue to be available to the interested parties until they are replaced by new machinery.