asked the Minister of Transport what is the estimated deficit of the London Transport Board for the year ending 31st December, 1967.

About £5½ million.

asked the Minister of Transport how much of the money collected from parking meters has been used for off-street car parking facilities.

Up to 31st March, 1965, local authorities had spent on off-street car parks £564,734 of the revenue from parking meters. This is about 14 per cent. of the gross revenue or about 55 per cent. of the net revenue.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will take steps to vary the objects of the Transport Holding Company so that bus undertakings owned by the Company are no longer required to make a profit after they have provided for their costs and replacement of vehicles.

No. This would provide no lasting relief to fares and would be inconsistent with the normal requirement that nationalised industries should produce a reasonable return on their capital.

asked the Minister of Transport what publicity she gives to the membership and proceedings of the central and area transport users' consultative committees, apart from publicity connected with the discontinuance or reduction of transport services.

When my right hon. Friend makes appointments to the committees she issues notices to the Press giving the details.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will make it a condition of the appointment of a proportion of members of area transport users' consultative committees that they should be regular holders of second-class season tickets on the railways.

No, but as part of the review my right hon. Friend announced yesterday in Answer to a Question by my hon. Friend, the Member for Willesden, West (Mr. Pavitt), she will consider whether the representation on the committees of the interests of regular railway passengers ought to be improved.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans she has to introduce legislation to make the training of learner-drivers for motorcycles compulsory; and if she will make a statement.

Proper training for learner motorcyclists is most important, and we would like to see more of it. But compulsory training is impracticable without a very considerable expansion of training facilities. A report on how the existing voluntary training schemes could be expanded is being prepared and an announcement will be made about this as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport at what point she intends that road traffic between Yorkshire and Humberside and the proposed Channel Tunnel shall cross the Thames, wide of London.

Traffic between the north-east and the south-east would be most likely to use the Dartford Tunnel.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps she is taking to abate the nuisance caused by noise from vehicle exhausts.

The Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations require all motor vehicles to have an exhaust silencer, and also prohibit excessive noise. But my right hon. Friend hopes to strengthen these by making it an offence for various classes of motor vehicles to exceed prescribed maximum noise levels.

asked the Minister of Transport when negotiations between her Department and the French Ministry of Transport were initiated to secure a reciprocal treaty governing commercial vehicle licensing and taxation; what progress there has been to date; when a reciprocal treaty will be signed with France; and if she will make a statement.

The first exploratory conversations took place on 21st May, 1965. Negotiations are proceeding. Both sides are anxious to reach agreement quickly, but it is too early to say when a formal bilateral agreement will be concluded.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress she has made in her consultations with manufacturers in promoting safety of motor vehicle design.

Our officials have continuing contact with manufacturers on this matter and good progress has been made recently, particularly with braking systems on goods vehicles, seat belts, and the ability of passenger car structures to provide safer packaging for their occupants by absorbing the impact in a collision.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans she has to introduce regulations to make motor cars safer.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to his Question on 15th June. The Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations were laid last week and other amending regulations are being circulated in draft form when they are ready.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will introduce an official advanced driving test.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will make a statement on the consideration she has given to the proposal that local authorities be empowered to ensure more speedy removal of abandoned vehicles from the highway.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich, West (Mr. Hamling) on 28th April last.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what conclusions she has reached from the first hand study which her Department has made of the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District;(2) what conclusions she has reached from the first hand study which her Department has made of the new installations at Pittsburgh.

We are watching the development of these and other systems to assess the possible scope for their use in this country.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will introduce legislation to enable payment in controlled motor vehicle parking schemes to be made on a weekly or longer periodical basis.

My right hon. Friend is considering a provision on these lines for legislation at the earliest suitable opportunity.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the firm of Ruddock and Meighan Limited of Wealdstone, Middlesex, are still on the approved list of tenderers compiled by her Department; and whether any contracts are at present in existence.

The firm are not now invited to tender for Ministry contracts. Two contracts let by my Department to them have been completed, except for minor details.

asked the Minister of Transport in view of the public concern over the recent increases in bus fares, if she will refer all new applications by bus companies for increases to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

No. Bus fares are controlled by the independent Traffic Commissioners. Local authorities have rights of appeal to my right hon. Friend if they are not satisfied with the Commissioners' decisions. She and my right hon. Friend the First Secretary of State consider that these existing statutory procedures ensure that the national interest is taken into account and that references to the National Board for Prices and Incomes at this stage would not be appropriate.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will seek powers to require pedal cyclists to wear safety helmets.

A case can be made for pedal cyclists wearing safety helmets but it is not so strong as to justify making it an offence not to wear one.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the intention of the United States of America to introduce regulations limiting the quantities of noxious substances which may be emitted from engines of all vehicles sold in the United States of America after 1968, including British-made vehicles, she is considering the introduction of similar regulations.

Climatic and other conditions in parts of the United States, particularly California, make the exhaust gases from vehicles extremely obnoxious. Although climatic conditions are different in this country we are, together with other European Countries, considering this problem and the measures, if any, required to deal with it. Our motor manufacturers are working on means to reduce harmful emissions from motor vehicles to meet probable European developments as well as to comply with the American requirements.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will instruct her expert representatives to press for international agreement on measures to eliminate the dangers of air pollution from motor car exhausts when they take part in discussions in the European Working Party on Motor Vehicles in July.

The first need is to decide whether there is a material danger in Europe and, if so, upon its extent and nature, because measures needed where there are special climatic and driving conditions may be unnecessary in this country.If studies now being carried out by the Air Pollution Research Unit and in other places here and abroad show that there is a material danger, we will press for international agreement on methods of dealing with it. The motor industry are already working to reduce potentially dangerous emissions.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the British Waterways Board to decrease their charges for pleasure craft in suitable cases.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport if she is aware that the morning and evening congestion on British roads in and around cities is largely caused by motor cars containing only one motorist going to and from business, and that this congestion could be reduced by such motorists each carrying one or more passengers; and if she will introduce legislation to bring this about.

It would not be practicable to deal with this problem by legislation. The real answer lies in the improvement of public transport.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps she is taking to encourage the use of electric vehicles as a means of reducing noise and air pollution on the roads.

Our officials are continually in touch with developments in the design of electric vehicles. I understand that the prospects for their greater use depend on advances in technology, to improve their present short range and other limitations.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will set up an independent committee to investigate the operations of the cab trade, and, in particular, to examine the operations of mini-cab operators who are exempt from effective public control, with a view to legislation.

My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Minister of Transport are considering whether this would be desirable.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will seek to make advertising on motor vehicles or the displaying of window stickers or slogan-bearing plaques conditional upon the approval of the police or other authority.

Advertising on the bodywork of motor vehicles is no more distracting than by the roadside. The Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1963 already require the driver to have a clear view through all windows of a motor vehicle. Enforcement is a matter for the police.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will lake steps to ban or regulate the growing practice of dis- playing on motor vehicles window stickers and plaques bearing slogans, as a contribution to greater road safety.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to him to-day.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in the public interest she will give a general direction to the nationalised transport undertakings to end sex discrimination in their sick pay schemes.

No. The undertakings' attention has been drawn to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour on 2nd May, 1965. Their sick pay schemes are, of course, a matter for negotiation between them and the appropriate trade unions.

asked the Minister of Transport when she will announce her decision relating to the wages, conditions of employment and pay scale of law enforcement officers working for her Department.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make proposals for a new salary scale for traffic examiners soon.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she is aware that a widow, Mrs. J. D. Till of Pershore, Worcestershire, who recently lost her husband, has been unable to secure refund of sums paid on her husband's driving licence in respect of two years unexpired, 1967–68; why no such refund is available to Mrs. Till; whether she will introduce legislation to make it obligatory for county licensing authorities to refund, pro rata, one year or more of an unexpired driving licence, at five shillings per annum, of a three-year licence; and whether she will make a statement on the Till case.

The hon. Member has given my right hon. Friend details of this sad case. A licensing authority has, however, no power to make refunds on the unexpired portion of surrendered driving licences. The possibility of making such refunds was considered during the Parliamentary proceedings on the Road Traffic Act, 1956 and not adopted because it would have defeated the object of having three-year licences by increasing the work of the licensing authorities.

asked the Minister of Transport what directions she has given to the British Road Services in respect of freight charges in the light of increased costs.

None. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the Transport Holding Company encourages all its road haulage subsidiaries to make all possible improvements in productivity and efficiency, to have a proper knowledge and control of their costs and to maintain their charges at levels appropriate to efficient undertakings.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals she has received regarding extensions to underground railways in London.

London Transport have formally submitted proposals for extending the Victoria Line to Brixton and the Holborn-Aldwych line to Waterloo. Other possible developments are under consideration in the London Trasportation Study.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will issue a general direction, in the public interest, to the London Transport Board to install change machines in all underground stations.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give details of the roadside testing which has to take place before she will take action to reduce excessive noise made by vehicles on the road; and if she will make a statement.

The testing will consist of roadside checks on passing vehicles. This testing is necessary in order that my right hon. Friend can be satisfied that the proposed method of making checks and the proposed maximum noise levels are enforceable and fair in the various different conditions in which the checks are likely to take place.

asked the Minister of Transport what survey of traffic conditions was made in the Metropolitan area by her Department on 14th June, 1966; what effect the absence of taxi cabs had upon traffic congestion; and if she will make a statement.

These are matters for the Greater London Council as traffic authority for the area.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the number of road accidents caused after darkness by stationary or slow-moving heavy vehicles with poor or defective rear lights, she will consider amending the Road Traffic Acts to require all heavy vehicles to be fitted with reflective registration plates.

My right hon. Friend's Working Party on the lighting of vehicles is considering all means of improving the visibility of heavy goods vehicles from the rear. She will consider whether we need to amend the Road Transport Lighting Act in this way when she receives the Working Party's views.

asked the Minister of Transport if those people who, while overseas, have passed the Royal Air Force driving test, Class B, on vehicles up to three tons capacity, including cars, qualify for the issue of a civilian driving licence when they return to this country; and if the same rules apply to the Army driving test.

No. To qualify for a British civilian driving licence a person must pass the test prescribed in the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations. This test is conducted overseas only for members of the Army and the Navy.

asked the Minister of Transport what policy she has for making developing centres of recreation, such as water resorts and mountain areas, more accessible to motor traffic.

This is primarily a matter for the local authorities concerned but my right hon. Friend is considering, in conjunction with the National Parks Commission, what advice and guidance we can give.

asked the Minister of Transport what estimate she has made of the cost of closing down all canals in Great Britain; and what estimate she has made of the cost of developing canals for recreational and sporting purposes.

The best available figures are those given by the British Waterways Board, who control most of the canal and river navigations in Great Britain; only a small part of this system is now of any significance for commercial transport. In their report, "The Facts about the Waterways", the Board have estimated that the inescapable minimum cost of dealing with the rest of the system is of the order of £600,000 per annum at present prices. This would involve reducing the canals to water channels, or eliminating them completely, whichever was found to be cheaper, in each case. Water channels would continue to provide such amenities as angling, and towpath rambling and could be used by light unpowered craft such as canoes. The additional cost of keeping open, for use by powered pleasure craft, those waterways that are available for this purpose at present, is estimated at £340,000 per annum at present prices.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she is satisfied that the present speed limit of 20 miles per hour on invalid tricycles is still necessary; and if she will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the present speed limit for invalid carriages, as defined in the Road Traffic Act, 1960, is necessary because they are exempt from certain requirements of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations.

asked the Minister of Transport when she proposes to bring in compulsory testing for cars under five years old.

My right hon. Friend proposes very soon to seek Parliament's approval of an Order reducing to three years the age of vehicles required to undergo annual testing.

asked the Minister of Transport when she proposes to bring in regulations requiring motorists in London to use dipped or dimmed headlights instead of relying as at present on side lights only.

Draft regulations to control the fitting of headlamps on motor vehicles have been circulated to interested organisations for comment. My right hon. Friend hopes to make them later this year. The circumstances in which headlamps should be used during darkness are being considered by her Working Party on vehicle lighting.

asked the Minister of Transport what consultations she has had about the likely effect of the payroll tax on rural bus services; and what representations have been made to her.

We have had no representations on this point. The Selective Employment Payments Bill provides for bus operators to have this tax refunded.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps she proposes to take to exercise her powers under the Transport Finance Act 1966 to make grants to the London Transport Board in respect of deficits arising on the Board's revenue account.

A Summer Supplementary Estimate seeking provision for payments to the Board in Exchequer Financial Year 1966–67 will be presented to the House soon. I propose to make on 1st July a first payment of about £2 million in respect of deficit accrued since the 1st January, 1966. This will be financed from the Civil Contingencies Fund pending the availability of Supply.Grants in respect of revenue deficits for each of the years 1967 and 1968 will be paid under normal Supply procedures.In all cases, payments will be made to the Board only after compliance with procedure similar to those which have applied to deficit grant payments to the Railways Board and Waterways Board since 1963.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the Government will report to Parliament any of the conclusions of Lord Hinton's studies in her Department.

The Government have always made it plain that Lord Hinton's advice would not be made public. In developing her policies my right hon. Friend has taken account of his studies.

asked the Minister of Transport what reports she has received on the increase in bunching on motorways and main roads as a result of the 70 miles per hour speed limit.

My right hon. Friend has received no reports of bunching on ordinary main roads. The motorways sub-committee of Chief Constables expressed the view that during the first four months of this year, bunching increased during peak traffic hours on some parts of M1 and M6. But this matter is difficult to assess objectively and is still being studied.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will seek to establish a State motor insurance scheme.

The establishment of a State motor insurance scheme would have far reaching implications. A careful study of the relative costs and benefits would be needed. My right hon. Friend has no such proposal in mind at present.

asked the Minister of Transport what action she intends to take following the receipt by her of a memorandum from the National Board for Prices and Incomes concerning the intention of the Road Haulage Association to recommend a general increase in road haulage rates.

My right hon. Friend has seen representatives of the Association and made it clear to them that the Government deplore their recommendation.

asked the Minister of Transport how much of the railway deficit anticipated for 1966 is accounted for by rail closure proposals to which consent has been refused since 15th October, 1964.

According to the Railway Board's estimate, about £1½ million.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the Railways Board not to alter the timing of services so that trains formerly timed to connect with other services no longer make such connections.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Mr. Ron Lewis) on 23rd May, 1966.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will seek to amend the Transport Act, 1962, to prevent the British Railways Board from being able to cut off freight services and therefore all future for particular railway lines without recourse to Parliament.

No. As my right hon. Friend announced in the House on 15th June, the withdrawal of railway services does not prejudice the safeguarding of a route against future requirements.

asked the Minister of Transport how far she estimates that the liner train service will increase or reduce the railway deficit during the current year.

It would not be in the Board's commercial interest to give this information.

asked the Minister of Transport when private road hauliers will be able to obtain open access to liner train terminals.

As soon as this can be negotiated.

asked the Minister of Transport when there will be free acess to liner train terminals.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor) today.

asked the Minister of Transport what return on capital will be required before further investment is made in liner trains.

My right hon. Friend would normally expect to judge proposals for such further investment against the criterion of an 8 per cent. financial return before interest.

asked the Minister of Transport how many route miles of railway she intends to retain in Scotland; and how this figure compares with that recommended in the 1961 Beeching Report.

The future of the railway network as a whole will depend on the results of the current review of transport policy to be announced in my right hon. Friend's forthcoming White Paper.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent she will take into consideration, in giving her decision on the proposed closure of the Grimsby-Louth-Peterborough line, the annual loss on the line, the saving if passenger services were discontinued and the social consequences in this sparsely populated, food-producing area; and if she will make a statement.

The Railways Board has revised its proposals for closing passenger services in East Lincolnshire and will be announcing these soon. The East Midland Transport Users Consultative Committee will consider any fresh representations users may wish to make before reporting to my right hon. Friend on hardship. She will also be consulting the regional Economic Planning Councils. In considering her decision she will be taking full account of all the factors mentioned by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the British Railways Board to second its personnel for a tour in overseas countries of the Commonwealth and to ensure that those volunteering do not lose promotion in their home-based jobs.

No. British Railways are aware of the Government's policies on service abroad and co-operate to the fullest possible extent where they can reasonably do so.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will issue a general direction, in the public interest, to the British Railways Board not to place contracts with firms which refuse to recognise or negotiate with trade unions.

No. The Railways Board tells us it already includes in all its contracts a "Fair Wages" Clause which deals with wages, conditions and trade unions. I am sure the Chairman of the Board would be ready to help my hon. Friend with any specific cases if they were put to him.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the British Railways Board requiring them to improve the standards of the rolling stock for passengers.

No. The Board is improving its present coaching stock, and new stock under construction will provide greatly increased passenger amenities.

asked the Minister of Transport what further consultations she has had with the National Union of Railwaymen to secure their agreement on unrestricted access of private road hauliers to liner train terminals.

My right hon. Friend has been in frequent touch with representatives of the Railwaymen's Unions about various matters including freight-liner services; she last met the full Executive Council of the N.U.R. on 10th May.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will refer the 40 per cent. increase in certain rail freight charges between Aberdeenshire and London, which has taken place since January, to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

No. I understand from the Railways Board that these specially negotiated charges apply to a limited group of customers and that, even at the new rate, they are still below normal.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will publish the names of the railway stations that have been closed in South Yorkshire during each of the past four years; and how many stations are scheduled to be closed during the next four years.

The following is the information:

asked the Minister of Transport, if she will refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the recent increases in rail fares, which in some cases are as much as 50 per cent. and 30 per cent.; and if she will make a statement.

These increases in certain rail fares in the Scottish Region of the Railways Board included the raising of some sub-standard weekly season ticket rates in the Glasgow area by from 10 per cent. to 50 per cent. to bring them up to the level in force elsewhere. At the same time, however, 5-day season tickets were introduced at lower prices than the old sub-standard weekly ones. My right hon. Friend sees no case here for a reference to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will now issue a general direction to British Railways, in the public interest, to refrain from indecent advertising, evidence of which has been supplied by the hon. Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie; and if she will make a statement.

Advertising in trains operated by the nationalised transport undertakings is a matter for the Board concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations she has had from the Western Region of the Railways Board to close the Exeter to Okehampton line and the Exeter to Barnstaple line; and if she will make a statement.

The passenger services on these lines were listed for modification in the Railways Board's Reshaping Report. In March last year my right hon. Friend's predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Hamilton, refused a request from the Board to allow publication of proposals for the complete withdrawal of these services. The Board has recently notified us of its intention to give advance notice under Section 54 of the Transport Act, 1962, of their plans now to modify the services between Exeter and Barnstaple by the closure of intermediate stations. If it does so and later asks for my right hon. Friend's permission to publish a formal proposal under Section 56 of the Act she will consider whether there are any planning implications which would make the proposal obviously unacceptable from the outset. In doing so she will have the benefit of the views of the Economic Planning Council for the South West.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the estimated deficit of British Railways in 1966; and whether she will make a further statement on the figure she has given to the House.

The Vote Estimate was based on a deficit of £115 million. Since it was prepared improvements in wages and working conditions have increased costs, and gross receipts are less than expected. It is too early to give a firm estimate of the probable deficit for the year, but it may well be as much as £120 million.

asked the Minister of Transport if she is satisfied that the proposals submitted to her for capital sanction by British Railways to deal with the extra requirements for public transport that will result from the development of the Woolwich/Erith marsh area for the housing of 60,000 people are adequate; and if she will make a statement.

The Board has not yet submitted proposals for investment specifically related to this development. But my right hon. Friend is satisfied that the machinery which has been devised to bring together all concerned with this scheme, is well suited to deal with its consequences for public transport.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will make a statement about the proposed Humber Bridge.

On 15th June my right hon. Friend met representatives of the Humber Bridge Board, the East Riding County Council and other local authorities in Humberside. They asked her to modify the announced proposals for a trunk road network east of the Great North Road to Hull and Humberside so as to include the Humber Bridge. The detailed and technical arguments in support of that request are being examined by her officials in consultation with the bodies concerned. When that is complete she will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Transport why abnormal loads are being directed through the centre of Lancaster rather than along the M6 motorway; what is the definition of an abnormal load for this purpose; and for how long the diversion is likely to continue.

The diversion is necessary to maintain a reasonable flow of traffic on the Lancaster by-pass motorway while the third lanes are being built. The loads in question are those over nine feet six inches wide, or fifty feet long or seventy-five tons. The diversion is likely to continue until December, 1966.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans she has for widening A6 trunk road over the River Lune in Lancaster.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport what instructions or guidance are currently being given by her Department to local authorities to encourage the construction of more pedestrian subways and bridges to facilitate safe road crossing in built-up areas and to discourage the making of further pedestrian crossings.

The manual "Roads in Urban Areas", which has recently been circulated to local authorities, recommends the segregation of motor vehicles from pedestrians in urban areas where practicable and gives advice on the design of facilities for this purpose. In addition, the advice of my right hon. Friend's Divisional Road Engineers is always available to local authorities.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will increase the grant on the urban motorway of Newcastle-upon-Tyne from 75 per cent. to 95 per cent., in view of the fact that the present system of grants was designed on a different pattern of road requirements.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport if, where a local authority, by acquiring properties for highway purposes in advance of a comprehensive development authority or compulsory purchase order at advantageous prices and by agreement, thereby reducing compensation payments for disturbance, reduces the ultimate expenditure of her Department, she will pay the grant in advance on such acquisitions.

My right hon. Friend is prepared to pay grant towards the cost of advance acquisition of land and property needed for classified road schemes as soon as they are included in the approved programme.

asked the Minister of Transport why she refused the Chigwell Urban District Council's application for a stop sign to replace the give way sign at the junction of Pyrles Lane, Chester Lane and Hillyfields, Loughton.

On the evidence we have, visibility at the junction of Chester Road and Pyrles Lane is not so restricted as to justify a "stop" sign. However, we are making further inquiries about the accidents here and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the number of road accidents reported in the Greater London area on Tuesday, 14th June, the first day of the June, 1966, Ascot race meeting; and what was the number of road accidents reported in the same area for the equivalent day in 1965 and in 1964.

This information could be obtained only by a special and lengthy analysis. If the hon. and gallant Member has a particular point in mind perhaps he would write to me.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will now announce her plans for safeguarding the free flow of all traffic over the River Torridge.

As soon as the road signs are ready, my right hon. Friend proposes to make an Order restricting waiting on sections of the A39 trunk road in Bideford. The widening of the carriageway on the bridge would only marginally improve traffic flow, and the expensive reconstruction work would not be justified by the small benefit.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans her Department has made for a new bridge over the River Torridge; and if she will make a statement.

A new bridge would no doubt be required as part of a by-pass of the trunk road at Bideford. We are unable to forecast when such a by-pass would be built.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give adequate notice to residents and businesses affected by any plan to close gaps in the central reservations of dual carriageways.

Arrangements axe being made so that where possible those directly affected will be informed in advance of such closures on trunk roads.

asked the Minister of Transport what is now the estimated date of completion of the first eight miles of the High Wycombe by-pass; and when it will be open to traffic.

My right hon. Friend cannot give definite dates now. There were delays due to bad weather in 1965 and an extension of the contract time is being considered.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will introduce legislation to amend Section 135 of the Highways Act, 1959, to increase the penalty which may be imposed upon the owner of a straying horse.

Legislation to amend this penalty, with other small fines, is being considered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Home Affairs.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made in modernising the A25 trunk road in the past 12 months; and what steps are planned in the coming 12 months.

During the financial year 1965–66 improvement schemes costing about £50,000 were put in hand by the responsible highway authorities. Their plans for 1966–67 includes schemes costing over £350,000.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will now publish the Humberside Report prepared by consulting engineers.

No. But copies have been made available confidentially to the highway authorities concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give the total value of urban road schemes on which forward planning and preparation could start in the near future which have been submitted by local authorities following the request by her Department.

Approximately £1,095 million.

asked the Minister of Transport how many men are employed in the reconstruction of the A19 road in County Durham; and when the road will be completed.

The number of men employed on actual construction work, on the two stages of the improvement of the A19 in County Durham now being carried out, is at present about 130. It is estimated that the general improvement of the road will be completed by 1970–71.

asked the Minister of Transport what plan is in preparation for the reconstruction of the open space at Easington Village, County Durham, where seven roads converge; and whether, as an interim measure, she will instruct the highway authority to provide traffic lights at a suitable spot.

Trunk road traffic will be removed from the centre of the village by the A19 by-pass now being prepared.Because of the complexity of the junction, we do not consider that traffic signals would be appropriate as an interim measure.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, during the construction of flyovers in places like Ferrybridge, she will construct temporary bridges to carry light traffic.

Yes, where it is practicable and economically justified.

asked the Minister of Transport what factors are taken into account in deciding whether to approve the installation of pedestrian crossings on trunk roads; and if she will give weight in these cases to the number of pedestrians crossing per vehicle passing, on the ground that a small number of pedestrians crossing a busy road may be as dangerous as a large number crossing a less busy road.

The present policy is that zebra crossings should be in general use by vehicles and pedestrians throughout the day. But other factors have also to be taken into consideration such as width of road, the existence of central refuges, the proximity of other crossings and the attraction of the site as a natural crossing point.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will authorise the erection of factory entrance warning signs on the A45 trunk road at the approaches to Marshalls Airport and Engineering Works, Cambridge, where an apprentice was recently killed.

We very much regret this accident, but my right hon. Friend shares the view of the County Surveyor and the police that special signs are unnecessary since visibility along the road is good and the presence of the works and the airfield is obvious to drivers.

asked the Minister of Transport what delays occurred to traffic approaching King's Lynn due to obstruction of the cut bridge over the River Ouse during Whit weekend and Tuesday 31st May; and whether such incidents will be taken into account in deciding the date for construction of a new bridge.

Traffic was delayed for 1½ hours on 28th May when a lorry struck a bridge upright. The breakdown of a tractor on the bridge on 31st May delayed traffic for ½ hour. All relevant information on traffic congestion and delays is taken into account when schemes are selected for the programme.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she is satisfied that the M1 south of Coventry will be able to carry satisfactorily the additional load of traffic which it will receive when the northern extension into Yorkshire is completed; and if she will make a statement.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she is aware that complete blockages of traffic are still occurring on the north and south-bound carriageways of the M1; and if she will give fresh instructions that repairs be carried out with better regard for an even flow of traffic.

Everything possible is done to keep traffic moving freely. When necessary, my right hon. Friend will continue to give fresh instructions to her Agent Authorities, but day to day control must be left to those on the spot.Recent blockages have resulted from incidents beyond our control—a cloudburst and the spilling of a lorry load of steel.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will take steps to make the main motorways into toll roads in order to get them constructed more quickly than can be done under the present system.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will give an assurance that it is not her policy to impose tolls on any motorways in this country.

We have no plans to impose tolls on motorways save in special circumstances such as the Severn Bridge.

asked the Minister of Transport what additional traffic controls will be required on the Bridgwater to Taunton section of the A38 now that the Bridgwater rail freight depot is closed.

It is unlikely that road traffic will increase by more than 1 per cent. No special measures are called for.

asked the Minister of Transport, when the panda crossing which has been removed from Elmers End Road, Beckenham, will be replaced by a pedestrian crossing.

My right hon. Friend has told the Greater London Council and the police that, if they and the Borough Council agree, consent will be given to the installation of pedestrian control signals at this site.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what results have been obtained from experiments with the amber warning lights on motorways; and how these compare with the results on the M.5 motorway;(2) what plans are being made to produce a more permanent and satisfactory remote-controlled warning light system for motorways.

The temporary amber flashing warning lights and the M5 warnings signs have both helped to reduce speeds at hazards on motorways. The M5 signs are more comprehensive than the temporary amber lights and can indicate three different messages—"Accident" "Skid risk" and "Fog", accompanied by "Slow". My right hon. Friend is considering the provision of a permanent signalling system for all motorways and will announce her decision as soon as she can.

asked the Minister of Transport how many road accidents have been reported during 1966 on the A62 at Saddleworth between the Star Inn and Scouthead Garage; and what action she is taking to reduce the dangers of this stretch of road.

Up to 31st May there have been 13 road accidents. My right hon. Friend has recently authorised the West Riding County Council, to provide "slow" markings on the carriageway and new Worboys type "Bend" signs at the bend near the Scouthead Garage, where most of the accidents happened. She will be keeping the effectiveness of these improvements under review.

asked the Minister of Transport what action the Government proposes on the Smeed Report on road pricing.

My right hon. Friend is taking the findings of the Smeed Panel into account in considering ways of dealing with the problem of traffic congestion in towns.

asked the Minister of Transport how many miles of the A30 road have been converted to dual carriageway in the last year; and what has been the total expenditure on major improvements to this road.

1· 19 miles. Schemes costing about £¾ million were completed last year, and other schemes estimated at £1½ million are in progress.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made in planning the extension of the Basingstoke motorway to Dorset.

What will be done to improve this route, and when, depends upon the outcome of my right hon. Friend's plans for the development of the inter-urban road system as a whole in the 1970s.

asked the Minister of Transport what she estimates will be the impact on the A38 traffic conditions between Bridgwater and Taunton when freight from the now closed Bridgwater rail freight depot is placed upon the road.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to him today.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will now impose a minimum speed limit on all motorways and trunk roads to run with the extension of the 70 miles per hour experimental maximum speed limit.

No. My right hon. Friend recently considered this, but decided that it would be impracticable to introduce it in current traffic conditions.

asked the Minister of Transport when a decision on the Port-bury Dock Scheme will be made; and if she will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of concern over the implementation of the Portbury Dock Scheme, she will announce a decision or give an indication when a decision will be made.

asked the Minister of Transport if she is now able to approve the Portbury Dock Scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will now announce her decision upon the Portbury Dock Scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will now authorise the start of the Portbury Dock Scheme.

The further studies announced in Answers given on 4th May, are nearing completion. The results will then be considered by the Government and their decision announced as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport what new aspects of port organisation are now being studied by the National Ports Council in exploring alternatives to the Portbury Scheme.