asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give an assurance that the last two year Service pay award under the Grigg formula is unaffected by the incomes standstill and the following period of severe incomes restraint.

The rates announced in the White Paper on Service Pay and Pensions (Command 2903) are not affected. In cases where the new rate had not been announced before 20th July, the provisions of the White Paper on Prices and Incomes Standstill (Command 3073) apply.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what special arrangements he is making to assist with the family housing problems of troops returning to this country.

This is being dealt with as a matter of urgency. The building of married quarters in the current programme is being hastened and the programme extended; more accommodation will be rented, and other short-term measures adopted where necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he has made for the housing of Service families now in Aden when they return to Great Britain next year.

Planning is in hand. I would refer the hon. Member to my earlier Answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Southall (Mr. Bidwell).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Anglo-French swing-wing aircraft he is proposing to order for the Royal Air Force.

Substantial numbers of this aircraft are envisaged.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he proposes to confirm that the agreement with France to build a variable geometry ground strike aircraft will go ahead; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer to the reply I gave on 9th November to the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall).—[Vol. 735, c. 289.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects the first delivery of F111A aircraft to be made to the Royal Air Force; and how many aircraft this will comprise.

The first F111 for the R.A.F. is scheduled for delivery at the end of 1968. The remainder of the first order for 10 aircraft are due to be delivered in the immediately following months.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he agreed with the United States Defence Department on the costs of the F111A aircraft; and to what extent this agreement provides for the postponement of the contract during times when the British Government has financial difficulties.

February 1966. As regards the second part of the Question, the credit arrangements ensure that the burden on the British economy is kept low in the next few years.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will stop any further cuts in Service establishments in Gibraltar.

It was made clear when the withdrawal of the Maritime Reconnaissance squadron was announced in July that no further cuts in our forces in Gibraltar were contemplated. That is still the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what assurances he has sought and received from the French Government that the production schedules of the Anglo-French Jaguar strike-trainer jet aircraft will be maintained, in view of recent attempts to delay it in the interests of French budgetary stringency.

Following the meeting of British and French Ministers on 7th November production plans are now being drawn up. Meanwhile the development programme is proceeding as planned.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many British Service men are now in Thailand; what are their duties; and what plans he has to increase the numbers of the armed forces serving in Thailand.

About 500 British Service men are now in Thailand. Some 450 of them are engaged on the construction of the airfield at Loeng Nok Tha. There are also a signals team and a few individuals on attached duty. We have no plans for any increase.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what disciplinary action or proceeding is intended to be taken in respect of the recent skirmish between British troops and German Panzer troops in Wales; what inquiry is being conducted into the incident; what action is being taken to prevent further such incidents; whether the German troops involved are claiming to be outside the jurisdiction of British courts by virtue of the Visiting Forces Act; and whether he will make a statement.

This was an isolated disturbance in a cafe on 26th October. The police found no evidence against the German soldiers, so the question of jurisdiction does not arise. Disciplinary action against some of the British soldiers has been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is intended that accommodation in Wales now occupied and utilised by Germany panzer troops should be used in the future for British troops to be brought home from Germany.

Until the extent of any withdrawal is known, I cannot say what accommodation may be required.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been paid in compensation for cancelled military contracts from October, 1964, to the present time.

I have written to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will reduce the period of service which a young man who has joined the Royal Navy at the age of 16 years has to complete before he can obtain his discharge by purchase by allowing the period between the ages of 16 and 18 years to count towards the total period which he is obliged to serve.

As I said during the debate on the Committee stage of the Armed Forces Bill, I have asked my Department to consider allowing time served before the age of 18 to count towards completion of the first engagement. If this change is made, such time will also count as part of the period of service which a rating must complete before he can obtain his discharge by purchase.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will order the planting of trees and shrubs to screen the unsightly nissen huts at the Kinnegar, Holywood, County Down, from the main roadway and from houses overlooking the Kinnegar.

Since the hon. Gentleman's Question to me on 27th April, I have had the camp site tidied and some painting done. I do not think that further measures of this kind would be practicable.—[Vol. 727, c. 675.]

asked the Secretary of Defence if he will make a statement about plans for a chain of island bases in the Indian Ocean.

We have none.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when defence facilities will be constructed by Her Majesty's Government on British Indian Ocean territory.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has now agreed the terms and conditions of service in the future of the officers and men of the Brigade of Gurkhas; and if he will make a statement.

Not yet.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what instruction he has given to the Meteorological Office for the issue of warnings to Press, radio and television, in the event of dangerous weather occurring, which was not necessarily forecast.

Warnings of exceptional weather are included in the routine forecasts issued through the Press, radio and television, which are brought up to date throughout the day. Special warnings may also be broadcast by arrangement with the B.B.C.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the costs of repairs and maintenance to the Polaris submarines between 1966 to 1970.

About £15 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the relative strength of the troops garrisoning Gibraltar and Hong Kong, respectively; and what plans he has for altering these dispositions.

The relative strength is about one to ten and the relative population about one to one hundred. I am not prepared, at this stage, to divulge any plans for altering the garrison.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the Admiralty ceased to have any interest in the widow of a naval rating, whose name has been forwarded to him by the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Hull, East, and whose husband died while serving in Malaya, after she was flown home with her three infant children and seen on the train for her home town; and why no naval welfare officer has visited this widow during the two months since she returned to this country.

A naval welfare worker met this lady at the airport, arranged for her to be specially cleared through Customs, took her across London, travelled with her to Hull and then took her to her parents home.The welfare worker visited her again next day when she had had a chance to get some rest and asked her what further help she needed. The lady replied that so far as she could see the naval authorities in Singapore had already done everything that was necessary.In case some unforseen need should arise, however, the welfare worker wrote down the address of the naval welfare people and urged the lady to write at once if she found she did need help. She has not done so.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence for what period the Admiralty will continue to pay the full allotment of the widow of a naval rating, whose name has been forwarded to him by the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Hull, East, and whose husband died while serving in Malaya; and whether the widow will be entitled to a widow's pension and children's allowances for her three infant children from Greenwich Hospital funds.

A temporary allowance for widows is payable by my Ministry for the 13 weeks following the death of the husband, after which she becomes eligible for widow's benefit from the Ministry of Social Security. In this case, for the first two weeks while the widow remained in Singapore, the allowance was equal to the full overseas allotment which the husband was making at the time of his death. For the remaining 11 weeks, the allowance excludes those elements of the full overseas allotment which are appropriate only to service abroad.On the second part of the Question, Greenwich Hospital pensions are normally awarded to widows over the age of 65. In the case of a younger widow with children of or below school age, it is more usual to award allowances in respect of the children and I understand that this will be done.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now state the causes of the cracks which have been found in nuclear submarines; and what progress is being made in eliminating them.

As I explained on 18th October, we are still investigating these defects, but it is already clear that a fundamental factor affecting the extent and propagation of the cracks is the presence of non-metallic inclusions in the high strength steel used in building these boats, which was first ordered in 1957. We are taking steps to deal with the cracks by buying a quantity of one of the latest types of American steel. Two British firms are also beginning to produce steel-plate to the standards which we now know to be necessary, and this will be used for our purposes as soon as it can be fully tested. These cracks are so small that they are only discernible by the most modern techniques of ultra-sonic testing. They represent an additional maintenance task, but they do not involve the crews of the boats in any degree of risk.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the British nuclear submarine programme.

The precise rate at which we shall go on building nuclear-powered fleet submarines has not yet been settled, but we plan to order a sixth boat early in the New Year.

Bruce-Gardyne asked the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations he has had with the United States Government regarding the foreign exchange cost to the United States Treasury of United States troops in Great Britain.

None, recently. I suggested to the United States Government last January that expenditure by the United States forces in this country should be regarded, for balance of payments purposes, as generally offsetting the dollar cost to the United Kingdom of weapons already ordered, such as Polaris, the C 130 and the Phantom. They accepted this.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many military hospitals there are in the country; how many beds there are therein; what is the average cost per bed per patient per week; what is the percentage of the beds in use on a weekly basis; and how the rates of nursing and professional staff compare with those in hospitals under the National Health Service.

Following is the information:

Number of hospitals—17.

Number of beds—3,570.

Average cost per bed—£60 per patient per week.

Beds in use—About 65 per cent. per week.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the cost of maintaining British forces in Brunei is borne by the Government of the Sultan of Brunei and how much by Her Majesty's Government.

The total cost of British forces stationed in Brunei is about £1·2 million a year. The Brunei Government contributes some £450,000 a year in cash and free supplies and in addition it has paid for works services to the value of about £1·4 million over the past three years.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what directives he has given that purchases by his Department should be made as far as possible in areas of high unemployment.

In common with other Government Departments, my Department follows the approved procedure which allows some preference to firms in development areas to enable them to obtain a fair share of orders placed. This procedure is now being applied to the new development areas introduced by the Development Areas Order 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts and/ or sales have so far been initiated by the Government Arms Salesman.

As I told the House on 25th May, in answer to a Question by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Powell), I intend to include a report on the activities of the defence sales unit in the annual Statement on the Defence Estimates. A progress report now would be both inappropriate and premature.—[Vol. 729, c. 98.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why he has not developed a hydrofoil craft for operation with the Royal Navy as is being done in foreign navies at the present time.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, North (Earl of Dalkeith) on 4th July.—[Vol. 731, c. 22.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what considerations he takes into account in deciding his policy about the supply of weapons and equipment to the South African Navy.

The policy is as announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 17th November, 1964.—[Vol. 702, c. 199.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give instructions for the next British nuclear submarine to be built in Chatham Dockyard, in view of its record in submarine construction and the need for keeping the construction team in operation.

No, for the reasons given to the hon. Member on 27th October last year [Vol. 718, c. 59], and on 27th April [Vol. 727, c. 683–4], and 22nd June this year.—[Vol. 730, c. 63.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what meteorological facilities are made available by the Government at Bristol Airport.

At present the Bristol Corporation airport at Lulsgate has no meteorological office of its own, although air traffic control staff employed at the airport have been trained by the Meteorological Office as meteorological observers. Weather forecasts and warnings of hazardous conditions for aircraft using Bristol (Lulsgate) Airport are provided by the Meteorological Office, acting as agent to the Board of Trade, through the meteorological office at Glamorgan (Rhoose) Airport. The latter operates under the administrative and technical control of the main meteorological office at Gloucester, which provides these services during the hours of the night when forecasters are not on duty at Rhoose.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for running recruiting campaigns in any Commonwealth country.

I have no plans for running recruiting campaigns in any Commonwealth country. All Services, however, consider applicacations from Commonwealth citizens who first come to this country. In addition, individuals may apply to enlist into the Army through British units stationed in their countries; and the Royal Navy recruit in Malta for general service. Candidates from the Commonwealth may be accepted for officer cadetships or certain apprenticeships in all three Services.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has made to the United States Government against their refusal to allow United Kingdom shipyards to bid for the building of four minesweepers for the United States Navy.

I would refer to the answer I gave on 9th November to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten).—Vol. 735, c. 290.]

asked the Minister of Transport if she will take steps to implement a national policy on concessionary fares for all schoolchildren, in view of the older school-leaving age.

These concessions are a matter for the transport undertakings concerned. Local authorities have however power to contribute towards the cost of travel concessions on municipal transport and have been asked for their views on the extension of these powers.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will now make a further statement on the question of travel concessions for non-municipal bus operators.

The details given below for which my hon. Friend asks show that Members of Parliament have not been appointed to Recorder-ships shortly after election to Parliament. Recorders, including those who are Members of Parliament, are of course appointed on merit and membership of this House should be no disqualification. I myself do not appoint Recorders. A Member of Parliament would not be appointed Recorder of a borough any part of which was within his constituency.

asked the Minister of Transport when she will make an announcement with regard to the extension of concessionary fares for pensioners and others.

I would refer to the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. Ellis) on 9th November.—[Vol. 735, c. 296.]

asked the Minister of Transport what was the cost to public funds of the officials and party that accompanied her on her recent visit to the United States of America; and whether she will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) and to the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 2nd November, 1966.—[Vol. 735, c. 117.]

asked the Minister of Transport if she will now introduce legislation to require a motor vehicle to display a current insurance certificate in the manner now required for a motor vehicle licence.

No. There are wide variations in the conditions under which insurance is effective. Display of a simple certificate would be no guarantee that the vehicle was properly insured for the use to which it was put at any given time.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will ensure that any hoverports, like the one planned at Pegwell Bay, Kent, that may be built for international routes allow all operators to use the facilities on equal terms, or at least that any British operator is not at a disadvantage.

The Government are at present examining what controls are required in respect of the siting and operation of hoverports and hovercraft services.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent she will recognise priorities between different sections of the community in her plans to control private car traffic in Central London.

I know of no plans, for London or elsewhere, for control other than by existing traffic management methods, though the practicability of other methods is being studied. In London specific traffic management and parking schemes are matters for the Greater London Council, the boroughs or the City as appropriate. It is for them, when devising schemes, to take account of the matters referred to in my hon. Friend's Question.

asked the Minister of Transport how many persons under the age of 20 years were killed whilst riding motor cycles in the year 1965; and if she will give separate figures for the different engine capacities of motor cycles.

598 (including 116 passengers). The accident reports do not record engine capacities, but the total comprised five on mopeds, 100 on motor scooters and 493 on motor cycles.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the cost to public funds of the official visit abroad of the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to her Department, the hon. Member for New-castle-under-Lyme, on 25th and 26th October.

£93 19s. 10d.

asked the Minister of Transport in view of the concern in the Brentwood area arising from her recent statement, if she will now visit the area to assess the traffic flow.

No. A short personal visit would be no substitute for the thorough traffic survey my right hon. Friend has announced.

asked the Minister of Transport what estimates she has of the number of cars written-off as a total loss by insurance companies which subsequently find their way back on to the road; and if she will take steps to prevent such cars being cannibalised and then offered for resale without an indication being given of the fact that they have been involved in a serious accident.

I am unable to give an estimate and have no evidence at present that the number of such vehicles is substantial.The insurance companies have agreed in principle to send to the taxation offices the registration book of any seriously damaged vehicle sold as scrap for which they have settled a claim on the basis of total loss so that the book may be over-stamped to that effect. The many practical difficulties involved are still the subject of discussion.

asked the Minister of Transport how many private persons, companies and other public bodies have been sent circulars requesting their views on the inland waterways section of the Transport Policy White Paper, Command Paper No. 3057; how many have replied; and on what dates the circulars were sent out.

Over the last month, letters have been sent to 281 local authorities, 16 national bodies and other representative organisations and 50 boat clubs; replies are being received daily. Consultations will shortly take place with the Economic Planning Councils and the Regional Sports Councils are being approached through the Department of Education and Science. A few other bodies will be approached in the very near future.In her Press Statement of 18th October my right hon. Friend invited individuals or organisations to write to the Ministry of Transport before the end of the year. At 15th November, 66 replies had been received in response to this general invitation.

asked the Minister of Transport how many bus services have ceased to function or have been curtailed in Wales since 1964; and how many new services have commenced.

Between 1st January, 1964, and 31st October, 1966, 226 stage bus services were withdrawn in Wales and Monmouthshire and 117 new ones were introduced. Figures for curtailed services are not readily available and could not be provided except at disproportionate cost to public funds.

asked the Minister of Transport when she will publish the report by the Working Pary appointed in 1963 to make recommendations for expansion of the Royal Automobile Club-Auto Cycle Union training scheme for learner motor cyclists.

It is my intention to publish this report. It has substantial financial implications which need to be studied in the light of the present economic situation and in the context of the new long-term plan for reducing road accidents which, as stated in the White Paper on Transport Policy, I am now formulating.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will now announce the membership of the committee which will advise on the continuing exercise of her powers for regulating motor events on the public highway.

My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales and I have appointed the following persons to serve on this committee under the chairmanship of my noble Friend Lord Lindgren:Mr. G. Bowden, Rural District Councils Association.Mr. F. A. Butters, M.I.P.R., A.M.I.P.A., County Councils Association.Mr. D. M. G. Chidson, M.C., Caravan Club.Mr. J. A. H. Gott, G.M., M.B.E., B.A., Chief Constable, Northamptonshire.The Rt. Hon. the Earl Howe, C.B.E., D.L., J.P., Royal Automobile Club.Mr. D. Johns.Mr. T. McCallum, Chief Constable, Berwick, Roxburgh & Selkirk.Mr. J. McNulty, Auto Cycle Union.Mr. R. C. Monteath, C.B.E., Association of County Councils in Scotland.Alderman O. J. Norris, Association of Municipal Corporations.Mr. M. V. Osmond, M.A., Council for the Preservation of Rural England.Mr. D. Paling.Major R. Tennant-Reid, M.C., Royal Scottish Automobile Club.Mr. R. G. V. Venables.Mr. L. Williams, F.C.C.S., Urban District Councils Association.Mr. J. R. B. Ferguson, National Parks Commission (Assessor).Mr. P. J. Hosegood, Welsh Office (Assessor).Mr. L. Jobson, Scottish Development Department (Assessor).Mr. T. G. Usborne, Ministry of Transport (Assessor).Miss J. E. Chamberlain, M.B.E., Ministry of Transport (Secretary).

asked the Minister of Transport what she is doing to encourage the trailing of regional planning staff.

Regional planning of transport involves co-operation between people with different professional skills, including highway engineers. Some central training courses have been arranged on the purely regional aspects of planning.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will express the loss in revenue of evasion of paying road fund licence duty in terms of the extra weekly cost to those who do make payment for their licences.

No. There is no direct relationship between the two.

asked the Minister of Transport when work will start on the footbridge at Darrington over trunk Road A1, the new bridge at Rawcliffe, and the improvements to the swing bridge on the A614 at Thorne; and what are the reasons for the delays.

There have been difficulties in obtaining the land for the footbridge at Darrington. My right hon. Friend intends to publish a compulsory purchase order shortly. I cannot at this stage forecast when work will start.The new bridge at Rawcliffe is a West Riding County Council scheme. Questions of design and the amount of grant payable have caused some delay, but are now settled, and work is expected to begin early in the New Year.At Thorne a series of difficulties over design and tenders has delayed conversion of the swing-bridge gates to power operation. Until they are resolved, I cannot say when work will begin.

asked the Minister of Transport whether detailed maps are now available showing the route of the Thorne by-pass and the link with Humberside.

No. My right hon. Friend has still to decide on the line of these routes.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will define the purpose of the school entrance box markings on roads outside certain schools.

The object of the "School Entrance" marking as defined in the Traffic Signs Regulations 1964, is to indicate to drivers the part of the carriageway outside a school entrance which should be kept clear of stationary vehicles.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she is aware of the dangerous character of the Great North Road at Little Paxton where there have been a number of serious accidents in recent months; and what steps she proposes to take in the interest of road safety on this stretch of road pending the building of dual carriageway.

Yes, but the considerable reduction in the number of accidents occurring this year compared with 1965 suggests that the measures already taken are being effective.

asked the Minister of Transport what is being done by her Department to hasten the statutory procedures required of Gloucestershire County Council and Bristol City Council before building of the Bristol Parkway can commence.

This is a Classified Road Motorway.The Department is advising the Councils on the most expeditious way to present the necessary Orders for my right hon. Friend's confirmation. Until they have been advertised and the objection period has expired there is little further we can do.

asked the Minister of Transport when the road improvements, comprised in the Curzon Street, Calne, Diversion Order 1966 will be completed.

I hope work will start next spring. It should take six months to complete.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she is aware of the serious traffic conditions of the B4039 which have developed since the opening of the Severn Bridge; and what steps she is taking to remedy the position.

Yes. My right hon. Friend has arranged for the earliest possible completion of the section of M4 eastwards to Tormarton and it should be in use by mid-December. This, coupled with route signs on A46 and A420, should reduce the amount of motorway traffic now using B4039.

asked the Minister of Transport if she is aware that the new traffic islands and lights have resulted in a slowing up of the flow of traffic at the Meole Broce Oteley Island; and what action she proposes to take.

No. Inquiries show that the new system has improved traffic flow. But we are having a careful study made to see if it can be improved still further.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will make a statement about the future of the Rock Ferry by-pass, Birkenhead.

In view of the recent planning decision, the possibility of an alternative line for the road is being examined by the highway authority.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will estimate what percentage of the traffic through Ton-bridge High Street is likely to be diverted from Tonbridge once the Tonbridge bypass is completed.

About 30 per cent.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made with the planning for a suspension footbridge on the A650 over the river adjacent to Cottingley Bar Bridge in the urban district of Bingley; when it is expected that the work will be commenced; and upon what date completion can be expected.

Plans for the footbridge are being prepared, but we cannot yet say when work will commence or be completed. I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Transport what consideration she has given to the representations of the Bishop's Stortford Urban District Council in regard to the M11; when it is proposed to start work on this motorway; and whether such work will start at the northern end, in order to provide by-pass facilities for Bishop's Stortford at the earliest possible date.

My right hon. Friend hopes to publish this year a draft scheme for the M11 which takes account of the representations of the Bishop's Stortford Urban District Council that the motorway should be extended northwards to Stump Cross. The start of work and the construction programme will depend on the progress made with the statutory processes, including acquisition of land.

asked the Minister of Transport if the proposals for revision of the United Nations Protocol on Road Signs and Signals includes recommendation for reflectorisation of road markings; and whether she will propose amendments to bring them into accord with the regulations in force in this country.

The new draft Convention on Road Signs and Signals, which, if accepted, will replace the 1949 Protocol, contains general provisions for the use of reflecting materials for all types of road signs. However, in the chapter on road markings there is no specific reference to the need for reflectorised lines and an amendment to this effect will be proposed.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made on the revision of the United Nations Convention of Road Traffic and the Protocol on Road Signs and Signals signed at Geneva in 1949.

New draft conventions on Road Traffic and on Road Signs and Signals, which, if accepted, will replace the 1949 Convention on Road Traffic and Protocol on Road Signs and Signals, are at present under consideration by the United Nations regional economic commissions who have been asked to submit their reports by the end of this year.An international conference will be held in Vienna in March 1968 in order to consider the new draft conventions in the light of comments by regional economic commissions.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made by the European Conference of Ministers of Transport on the preparation of a European Highway Code.

The Conference proposes to reconsider the question of the drafting of a European Highway Code. But, in our view, this would be best done after the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations has concluded its current studies of a possible new World Convention on Road Traffic.

asked the Minister of Transport what consideration she has given the circumstances of the incident on 7th October 1966 on the Thelwell Viaduct on the M6 at Warrington, Lancashire, when a 17-year-old Coventry youth lost his life; and what proposals she has to prevent a recurrence of such an incident.

In this incident the youth left a northbound coach which had stopped on the deceleration lane to the A57 following a collision, and walked back on to the viaduct, which has a 3 ft. 9 in. steel parapet protected by a separate 2 ft. 3 in. safety fence. The youth stepped over the parapet, fell into the River Mersey and was drowned. In present designs the parapet and safety fence are combined in one barrier. Un-climbable parapets would be costly and unsightly; a substantial steel parapet should be sufficient warning and we have no proposals at present for amending the design.

asked the Minister of Transport when the report from the Road Research Laboratory on the results of its two-year tests on the reflective safety plate will be published.

The report is expected to be published early next year.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will introduce legislation to amend the Transport Act 1962 to give her the same powers with regard to the closure of British Railways freight depots as she has over the closure of passenger stations, in order to halt the curtailment of public service that is taking place in the field of freight deliveries.

I have no evidence to suggest that in general the freight rationalisation policy of the Railways Board has led to unjustifiable curtailment of the freight services available to the public.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give a general direction, in the public interest, to British Railways not to grant any further licences for the sale of newspapers, periodicals and books to particular organisations on their property, until an inquiry has been conducted into the arbitrary censorship conducted by these organisations.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will issue a general direction, in the public interest, to British Railways, to reduce charges attributable to the Selective Employment Tax in the hotels under their control.

No. As I said in my Answer on 3rd November to a previous Question by my right hon. Friend, the overall yield of the surcharge is within the acceptable limits of Government policy.British Transport Hotels tell us that they are keeping their charges under review.—[Vol. 735, c.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans the British Railways Board have to electrify lines in Wales; and what sanction she has given for capital investment for this purpose.

None.

asked the Minister of Aviation when orders were received from the United States Defence Department for the two items of aircraft electronic equipment for which bids were under examination in July.

Of the two bids mentioned by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence in reply to Questions by the hon. Members for Cheltenham (Mr. Dodds-Parker) and Beckenham (Mr. Goodhart) on 3rd August last, one has been decided in favour of the British contractor and the contract placed. The other is still being evaluated by the U.S. Authorities.—[Vol. 733, c. 446–8.]

asked the Minister of Aviation what effect the decision of the Dutch defence ministry not to purchase the Anglo-French Jaguar strike-trainer jet will have on that aircraft's price and future production; and whether he will make a statement.

The provisional Dutch decision will not affect production plans for the aircraft, nor the price we expect to pay.But, of course, export orders for the Jaguar will be very welcome.

asked the Minister of Aviation which countries have made inquiries about the purchase of Seacat missiles; and to which countries these are being supplied.

Seacat has been purchased by seven overseas navies. There are good prospects of further exports being achieved and a large number of countries have made inquiries on a confidential basis about the purchase of Seacat.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will seek power to transfer the telephone service, or parts of it, to private or municipal enterprise.

I already have such powers, but I do not think that the separation of parts of the service into a number of independent authorities would be conducive to a satisfactory or economic service.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will institute a "Buy British" postmark.

No. But the Government welcome all efforts by industry to promote sales of British products where they are in competition with foreign imports.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that books of stamps are being sold at some post offices without the amendment slip containing the new postage rates which came into operation on 3rd October; and if he will issue instructions to remedy this omission.

I am aware that some books of stamps containing out-of-date information about postage rates have been sold, but this is no longer happening. Posters and leaflets currently on display in all our post offices draw attention to the new rates. There can be no question of not applying the new rates which came into force on 3rd October.

asked the Postmaster-General if, in view of the fact that books of stamps are being sold at some post offices without the slips containing the new postal charges, he will refrain from collecting from the recipient a charge of twice the deficiency, especially in the case of letters whose destination is abroad.

I am aware that some books of stamps containing out-of-date information about postage rates have been sold, but this is no longer happening. Posters and leaflets currently on display in all our post offices draw attention to the new rates. There can be no question of not applying the new rates which came into force on 3rd October.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will cause to be exhibited in each post office in Wales a notice giving a list of Post Office forms of which Welsh translations are available therein.

The only form in the Welsh language held at post offices in Wales is the Ministry of Transport form used for making application for the renewal of a motor vehicle licence. This form is available to the public at those post offices in Wales where the English version is held and I do not think that further action is necessary to bring it to notice.

asked the Postmaster-General how many stamp issues relating to Wales have been made since 1945; and if he will give particulars.

Five stamp issues, comprising 10 stamps, relating to Wales have been made since 1945. They are as follows:

asked the Postmaster-General if any stamp in the Welsh language has been issued by his Department since 1939.

No.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will cause to be issued in October 1967 a stamp in the Welsh language commemorating the 400th anniversary of the translation of the New Testament into Welsh.

No. I had over 60 suggestions for subjects for next year's special stamp issues and, inevitably, many worthy ones, including one to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the translation of the New Testament into Welsh, had to be omitted.

asked the Postmaster-General how many of the 47 special stamp issues comprising 139 stamps have commemorated outstanding Welsh features.

Two. In addition three stamps commemorating the VI British Empire and Commonwealth Games issued in July, 1958 featured the Welsh Dragon. Of the remaining 134 stamps 119 were not specific to one country.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any proportion of a television or radio licence is refunded if the holder surrenders the licence before its period has expired because he no longer intends or is no longer able to use a television or radio; and whether such refunds are made in the case of car radio licences.

No, sir. With 16 million licences in force it would add substantially to the cost of collection if I were to vary the fee according to the extent to which the licence was used. The increased cost and the loss of revenue would have to be made good by an increase in licence fees.

asked the Postmaster-General what action he proposes to take to secure payment of television and wireless licences.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he has taken to ensure that all purchasers of television sets have a licence.

I am tightening my Department's procedures for enforcing the licensing of broadcast receiving sets. But these measures will not be enough, and I am therefore discussing with the various trade associations concerned ways of enlisting their members' help. I am also considering a sharp increase in the maximum fines which the Courts may impose.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will take steps to improve television reception in the Charmouth area of Dorset.

Measures to improve the reception and extend the coverage of the television services are primarily the responsibility of the broadcasting authorities themselves. I am sure that both the B.B.C. and the I.T.A. will be glad to let the hon. Member know why satisfactory reception in this area of their services is difficult; and what, if any, steps they can take to improve it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what legislative action he proposes to take to provide the

I am considering whether it is necessary to make any special provision for this in legislation dealing with the countryside in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether work on the segregation unit at Inverness Prison is proceeding; and if he will make a statement.

The first stage of alterations providing 20 places in a segregation unit at Inverness Prison has been completed. A second stage to give accommodation for a further 20 prisoners, together with extended workshops and recreational space, should be completed early in 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reports he has had of overfishing in the Beauly Firth to the extent of endangering the man and ships so employed; and if he will make a statement.

I have had no such reports.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of all grants and subsidies available to farmers, and the sums paid under each for the years 1960 to 1965, inclusive.

The information is as follows: