asked the Minister of Transport what increase or decrease took place in the volume of freight and the numbers of passenger journeys on British Railways in the first nine months of 1966 compared with the first nine months of 1965.

Decreases of 6·4 per cent. and 2·8 per cent. respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent regional economic planning councils are consulted with regard to the proposals for the closure of passenger railway stations, freight depots, and other rail services; and if she will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend seeks the views of the regional economic planning councils on all proposals put to her for the withdrawal of passenger services from any line or station. Freight depots and services fall entirely within the responsibility of the Railways Board, but the Chairman has agreed to let the Councils have general information from time to time about their plans for freight services, both nationally and within their Regions.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will give a general direction to British Railways to consult with regional economic planning councils before making proposals to withdraw rail freight services.

No. Responsibility for freight services and facilities rests with the Railways Board, but the Chairman has agreed to let the Councils have general information from time to time about its plans for freight both nationally and within their Regions.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made in the examination promised in November 1965 by her Department into all practicable measures of improvement, including the provision of additional safeguards, at accommodation railway crossings which carry fast main line traffic; and whether she is satisfied that, in view of the comparative silence and speedy approach of modern diesel engines, the precautions taken are adequate to prevent accidents to passengers and to those using the crossings.

The National Farmers' Union are now considering a review made by the Railways Board on a sample main line route. The safety record at private crossings shows no deterioration.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will state the numbers of private owners' wagons in use on British Railways, the proportion of these built before or during the war, and the proportion of railway-owned goods vehicles built before or during the war.

Of the 23,000 privately-owned railway wagons in service, slightly more than a half were built before 1946. About 15 per cent. of the Railways Board's freight stock is of a similar age.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the fact that Northallerton is now in a development area, if she will postpone the closure of the Northallerton-Ripon-Harrogate railway line for five years in order to see what development takes place during this period.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the analysis of the Marplan Survey on the effects of railway closures has been completed; and when she expects to publish the results of the Survey.

The analysis of the Survey is now complete. A summary of the results will be published shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport when she expects to be able to make an estimate of particulars of the proposed basic rail network referred to in paragraph 19 of Command Paper No. 3057.

In the early months of 1967.

asked the Minister of Transport when she expects to announce the 50 major terminals at which it is proposed to concentrate the general merchandise of the railways.

The Railways Board has not yet completed its planning and it is too early to predict when the full list of major terminals might be announced. A list of the first 15 is as follows:

London (York Way),	Already in operation.
Glasgow (Gushetfaulds),
Manchester (Longsight),
Liverpool (Garston),
Aberdeen,
London (Willesden).
Cardiff (Pengam).
Newcastle (Follingsby).
London (Stratford).
Stockton.
Sheffield.
Leeds (Stourton).
Edinburgh (Portobello).
Birmingham (Dudley).
Hull.

asked the Minister of Transport when she expects to make realistic estimates of future rail traffic which will result from the new national freight organisation.

It is too soon to forecast this.

asked the Minister of Transport what it would have cost British Railways in 1965 to meet the full genuine claims owing to loss or theft and genuine claims for damage to goods; and how much in fact was paid out by British Railways to meet these claims.

The Railways Board tell me that the information asked for in the first part of the Question is not readily available. Claims paid in 1965 in respect of goods lost or stolen totalled £1,268,861, and those for damage amounted to £799,614.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give the percentage of capacity at which each of the freight liner train services has operated during the most recent four-week period for which figures are available.

It would be contrary to established practice to provide statistics of this kind on other than a national basis. Moreover the seven two-way services are in different stages of development.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give the total capital investment to date in the freight liner train scheme.

I originally authorised £6 million and have recently agreed a further £6 million. The Railways Board has invested £5 million. It has also spent about £1 million on associated road vehicles.

asked the Minister of Transport what further progress has been made towards free access to the terminals of liner trains; and if she will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given today to the hon. Members for Worcester (Mr. Peter Walker); Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor); Bromley (Mr. Hunt); Chippenham (Mr. Awdry); Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. J. H. Osborn); Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker); and Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison).

asked the Minister of Transport whether, following the recommendations of the National Board for Prices and Incomes regarding the need for concentration depots for coal distribution, she will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the Railways Board to convert areas of railway land, now leased to small coal merchants, into car parks.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the Railways Board as a contribution to price restraint to issue cheaper season tickets valid for Mondays to Fridays only.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the bridges on the railway line between Aberystwyth and Pont Llanio, with the exception of the flood-damaged bridge at Pont Llanio itself, will be preserved in their present condition until the Welsh Economic Council reports on the future of the railway.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Transport when she expects to take her decision about the future of the Romsey-Andover railway line.

My right hon. Friend has told the Railways Board that she does not wish to raise any objection to the disposal of the formation and the surplus assets of the closed Romsey-Andover railway line.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent capital will be made available by the Government in each of the next five years to meet the needs of the railways for the replacement of obsolete rolling stock, the continued modernisation of track and signalling and other necessary investment, respectively.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Hillhead (Mr. Galbraith) on 8th November. Of the £102 million investment allocation for 1967, the Railways Board estimates that about £30 million will be spent on the renewal and modernisation of track and signalling and £43 million on other necessary investment.

asked the Minister of Transport what capital schemes in the British Railways programme of investment have been delayed as a result of the Government's economic measures.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answers given to the hon. Members for Basingstoke (Mr. David Mitchell) and Ayr (Mr. Younger) on 9th [Vol. 735, c. 295.] and 15th November respectively.—[Vol 736, c. 92.]

asked the Minister of Transport whether the inquiry into the derailment outside Sittingbourne on Wednesday, 27th July, 1966, has now been completed; and if she will make a statement.

The Inquiry has been completed and I shall send my hon. Friend a copy of the report, which is now being finalised, as soon as it is printed.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the centralisation of all passenger traffic in Lansdown Station, Cheltenham, she will now give approval for the capital expenditure required so that the proposed reconstruction of this station can be started without further delay.

The Railways Board has not put forward for my right hon. Friend's approval any proposals for capital expenditure here.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will appoint a firm of independent business consultants to advise her on the economic operation of the Edinburgh to Carlisle railway line before she accepts any recommendations for the termination of passenger services.

My right hon. Friend sees no reason for any exceptional measure in this case. The established procedures ensure that, before reaching her decision on any closure proposal, she has advice on the economics of the proposal and of possible alternatives.

asked the Minister of Transport why 10 months have elapsed since the report of the Scottish Transport Users' Consultative Committee on British Railways' proposal to withdraw passenger services from the line between Stanley Junction and Kinnaber; and when she will reach her decision.

asked the Minister of Transport when a decision may be expected on the proposed closure of the Strathmore railway line between Stanley Junction and Kinnaber Junction.

My right hon. Friend has given her consent today to the withdrawal of passenger services from this line. Before reaching her decision she considered very carefully the advice of the Scottish Economic Planning Council about the possibilities for long-term growth in the area as well as the advice of the Scottish T.U.C.C. on hardship. In giving consent she has told the Railways Board that the formation must be retained intact until the pattern of future development is much clearer. She is also insisting on the provision of additional express bus services.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will postpone a decision on the proposed merger of the British Railways' Eastern and North-Eastern Regions until the Joint Steering Group set up under Command Paper No. 3057 has reported on the suitability of the Board's management structure and procedures.

I am at present considering the Railways Board's proposals for a merger of Eastern and North-Eastern Regions. I intend to take an early decision in order to remove the present uncertainty, which is worrying many railway staff.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will announce her plans for the future of the Barmouth-Ruabon railway line.

My right hon. Friend has deferred her decision on the disposal of the formation of this line until the Welsh Economic Council have given her their views on the planning implications.

asked the Minister of Transport what application she has received from the Railways Board for the closure of the Hull to Scarborough railway line.

The Railways Board has sought my right hon. Friend's agreement to publishing a closure proposal for these passenger services under Section 56 of the Transport Act, 1962.

asked the Minister of Transport what estimate she has made of the capital value of British Railways hotels.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on 25th July, 1966.—[Vol. 732, c. 190.]

asked the Minister of Transport whether she is aware of the British Transport Docks Board proposal to raise by 33⅓ per cent. the dock dues on vessels loading coal at the port of Goole; and whether she will advise the Board in the light of the Prices and Incomes Act to cancel this increase which will add to the price of coal and adversely affect the trade of the port.

The Board has assured my right hon. Friend that it will not withdraw the concessionary rate now enjoyed by colliers at Goole while to do so would conflict with the Government's prices and incomes policy.

asked the Minister of Transport on what basis she has estimated in paragraph 27 of Reasons for the Minister's decision not to authorise the construction of a new dock at Port-bury, Bristol, that the additional haulage charge for 1·5 million tons of diverted exports referred to in paragraph 26 would amount to approximately £1 million a year.

The figure is based in general on estimates of the differences between road haulage charges to Port-bury and those from the point of origin of goods to the port used at present, based on estimated future tonnages and rates per ton for the journeys involved. I will write to the hon. Member with fuller information about the calculation.

asked the Minister of Transport on what grounds she rejected the recommendation of a steering committe of the Middlesbrough, Redcar, Thornaby and Eston local authorities that Councillor G. T. Thornton of Redcar should be appointed as a member of the

					Actual				£ million
Port		1951	1952	1953	1954	1955	1956	1957	1958
Southampton	…	·2	·2	·2	·4	·6	·5	·5	·3
Newport	…	·1	·1	—	·1	·1	·2	·2	·5
Swansea	…	—	—	·1	·2	·2	·1	·3	·6
Grangemouth	…	—	—	·1	—	·1	·2	·1	·3
Hull	…	·9	1·0	1·1	·2	·5	1·2	1·4	1·4
Immingham	…	·2	·2	·3	·1	·1	·1	·2	·3

					Actual				Latest Estimate
Port		1959	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964	1965	1966
Southampton	…	·3	·9	·4	·5	·5	1·1	1·3	2?6
Newport	…	·4	·3	·3	·2	·2	·3	·3	·8
Swansea	…	·6	·5	·4	·3	·2	·2	·2	·2
Grangemouth	…	·4	·5	·8	·5	·2	·1	·1	·3
Hull	…	1·0	2·3	2·1	2·1	·7	·6	1·8	2·3
Immingham	…	·9	·2	·2	·4	·2	·1	·4	·4

The Board are reviewing their detailed programmes for 1967 to 1970; it is expected that total investment at the above ports will be of the order of £12 million each year.

FINANCIAL YEARS
							£ million Estimated
				1963–64	1964–65	1965–66	1966–67
Port of London Authority	…	…	…	4·5	6·3	7·6	11·25
Mersey Docks and Harbour Board	…	…	…	1·0	0·9	1·9	4·0
Port of Bristol Authority	…	…	…	1·3	1·5	1·8	·75
Clyde Port Authority	…	…	…	·4	·4	0·5	2·0
Manchester Ship Canal Company	…	…	…	·8	·8	1·5	1·9
Leith Dock Commission	…	…	…	·2	·4	1·3	1·9
Tees Conservancy Commissioners	…	…	…	·5	·4	1·8	3·4
* Combined Clyde Navigation Trust and Greenock Harbour Trust figure.

The detailed programmes for future years are primarily a matter for the port authorities concerned, but it is expected

The recommendation of the steering committee was received toolate to be considered. I appointed Councillor Finegan in accordance with Sections 6(2)(f) and 6(4) of the Tees and Hartlepools Port Authority Act, 1966.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give the total capital investment in each of the 14 major ports in Great Britain for each year since 1945; and whether she will estimate the investment for each of the next five years.

For the British Transport Docks Board ports concerned, figures are available from 1951 as follows:Detailed figures for the remaining major ports from 1963–64 are as follows:—that total expenditure at the above ports will be of the order of £25 million each year.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will now announce the phased programme of selected investment in the ports which she referred to in paragraph 108 of Command Paper No. 3057.

Discussions with the National Ports Council are still proceeding.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she is aware of the danger of the staggered crossing at Kates' Cabin on the A1 at Alwalton; and when she proposes to comply with the request of the Huntingdon and Peterborough County Council that a fly-over should be built at this road junction.

I am aware that measures introduced successively have improved conditions at the junction but have not eliminated the accident risk. We will provide a fly-over when we can, but it must await its turn for a place in the road programme.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps she will take to increase safety on the A47 at Walpole Highway.

The Divisional Road Engineer is consulting with the local authority about suitable measures.

asked the Minister of Transport when she expects to complete the M4.

By 1971.

asked the Minister of Transport in view of the bankruptcies amongst contractors on the M4, if she will take steps to ensure that in future such contractors are all asked to provide surety bonds as proof of their standing; and if, in addition, she will instruct main contractors to ask their sub-contractors to provide similar bonds.

Under our selective tendering procedure we already make prior inquiry into the financial standing of firms awarded motorway contracts. The failure of one main contractor on M4 would not justify the general introduction of Bonds of Surety. The commercial relationship between the main contractor and his sub-contractors is a matter for the parties concerned, not for my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the yield from parking meters in the Greater London Area last year; and how much of this has been applied to the purposes of off-street parking facilities.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Wycombe (Mr. John Hall) on 19th October last.—[Vol. 734, c. 50.]

asked the Minister of Transport when she expects to publish the report on the various methods of controlling the use of urban roads which is referred to in paragraph 52 of the White Paper on Transport Policy, Command Paper No. 3057.

Early next year.

asked the Minister of Transport why only £1,000 has been allotted to Dorset for the installation of Worboys signs in 1966–67.

My right hon. Friend has allocated £6,800 for the installation of the new signs in Dorset for 1966–67. £5,800 of this amount is for trunk roads and £1,000 is the grant towards the cost of the signs on classified roads.In 1965–66 the County Council were finally allocated £7,000 for classified roads of which only £6,000 was spent. It is this balance of £1,000 which has so far been reallocated for this year.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans she has for declassifying the A6 trunk road between Preston and Carnforth; and whether she will make a statement.

The status of this stretch of trunk road is being considered as part of the current Highway Review, on which consultations between the Divisional Road Engineers and the local highway authorities have now been completed. We hope to announce the outcome by the end of the year.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will arrange for three-shift working on repairs to motorways in order to expedite their completion.

I am concerned that all reasonable measures should be taken to expedite completion of essential motorway repairs and improvements.Three-shift working would be employed where special circumstances warranted, but its general use would add substantially to costs; moreover it is difficult to execute certain road-repairing processes by artificial light. Nor must we overlook the increased hazard, both to motorists and to the workmen themselves, created by night work and by the special lighting required.

asked the Minister of Transport whether it is her policy that there should be flexible safety barriers and anti-dazzle screens in the central reservations of motorways.

Safety barriers are provided where the width of central reservation is less than normal. The Department is carrying out experiments to ascertain in what other circumstances the provision of barriers and screens would be beneficial, and which types would be most suitable.

asked the Minister of Transport when she expects to be able to give details of the plan for motorways in the decade from 1970.

I hope to announce before long a first list of inter-urban road schemes to be prepared for inclusion in the road programme for the early 1970's.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans she has for increasing the capacity of the M1 motorway.

I have nothing to add to the Answer given to the hon. Member on 29th July.—[Vol. 732, c. 350.]

asked the Minister of Transport when the northern extension of the M1 to Pinxton, and the southern extension to Hendon will now be opened to traffic.

Given reasonable weather I expect that these motorway extensions will be opened to traffic by late January or early February and late March respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport what percentage of the land required for the construction of the M5 has been acquired for the Bredon viaduct and for the section south of Tewkesbury to south of Gloucester, respectively.

None. But we are negotiating for some of the land and expect to open negotiations for the rest soon.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will now authorise the construction of the Trimley and Walton by-pass and the Felixstowe southern relief road.

These two schemes are being considered for inclusion in the next extension of the classified road programme, which my right hon. Friend hopes to announce soon.

asked the Minister of Transport what studies she is at present making on new methods of financing road building.

For local authority roads a new system of grants is to come into effect next year in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Bill. Otherwise my right hon. Friend has no new proposals to make.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will ensure that all the United Kingdom's share profits from the proposed Channel Tunnel will accrue to the public purse.

Agreement has been reached with the French Government that the Tunnel should be built with recourse to finance from private sources, but that this doss not exclude participation from public funds in the risk capital of the construction company. The terms negotiated with private interests must be acceptable to both Governments. During the negotiations I shall bear fully in mind the need to provide for a proper return on the project for the public purse.

asked the Minister of Transport what discussions she has had regarding the proposed motorway through Barnes; and if she will make a statement.

The Barnes link is part of the strategic network now under joint consideration by the Greater London Council and the Ministry. We have not yet had occasion to discuss specifically this particular part of the network.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) when she will give her sanction for the construction of the Humber Bridge;(2) when she will make a statement about the Yorkshire/Lincolnshire link across the Humber.

My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to make a statement soon about the A1 to Humberside trunk road network, and to deal with the Humber Bridge in the course of that statement.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will seek powers to regulate food prices charged on motorway service areas.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport on what basis concessions are granted to operators of service areas on motorways.

Service areas are let on 50 year leases to commercial developers after open competitive tender. Lessees are required to design, construct and operate petrol filling stations, catering and other facilities at their own cost on sites purchased by my right hon. Friend. They must provide certain essential services to motorway users, normally for 24 hours every day. For the concessions granted to them they pay a rent and royalty on turnover to the Exchequer.In considering which tender to accept regard is paid to design and layout, the financial offer and to catering, engineering and architectural aspects.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the annual cost to the company of the lease of the catering concession at the Aust motorway service area at the Severn Bridge.

Details of rents paid for motorway service areas are confidential between the company concerned and the Ministry.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will make a detailed investigation into the prices being charged at the Aust motorway service area.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport what special precautions are being taken against fog on the motorways; and if she will consider, in cooperation with the police and motoring organisations, introducing a convoy system when stretches of motorway become fogbound.

In the short term, the existing system of flashing amber lights and special broadcast fog warnings will remain in use. In the longer term, all motorways will be equipped with remotely controlled emergency warning signals to indicate maximum advisory speeds in bad weather.We believe these are more practical measures than a system of convoys.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will make a contribution towards the maintenance costs of the lavatories that are being provided on the A1 trunk road.

These lavatories are being provided under a pilot scheme on conditions which exclude any Ministry contribution to maintenance. The position will be reviewed when results of the pilot scheme are available.

asked the Minister of Transport what standards her Department lays down regarding the regular testing of parking meter timing mechanisation and calibrations and on acceptable margins of error.

None, but the standards set out in the Parking Meters (Description and Testing) (England and Wales) Order 1961 are generally followed.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of her decision to reduce by 13 feet the land needed for rural motorways to save an average of £22,000 a mile, if she will stop the kerbing of rural roads, and leave the safer and cheaper grass verges as they are.

No. My right hon. Friend can see no reason to change the guidance given to local highway authorities on kerbing which I explained in Answer to a Question from the hon. Member on 6th July.—[Vol. 731, c. 70.]

asked the Minister of Transport what further investigations have been made into possible reasons for the high accident rate on the Cheshire section of the M6, and particularly into the possible existence of a magnetic force which may affect the speed of vehicles and thus be a contributory factor; and if she will make a statement.

Accident figures on motorways do not indicate that the rate on the M6 in Cheshire is appreciably higher than the average; consequently no special investigation has been made. We have no evidence of a magnetic force which could affect the speed of vehicles. I will gladly examine any evidence put to me.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will now announce the results of the study of road and rail trunk route costs in relation to vehicle user.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, North-East on 4th November.—[Vol. 735, c. 186.]

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will seek to reform the law relating to dangerous driving so that a driver who is doing his incompetent best is not convicted of this criminal offence.

We are considering with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary how dangerous and careless driving may be redefined.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will introduce legislation to charge the transporters of abnormally wide loads on the roads a traffic-dislocation fee.

The question of abnormally wide or heavy loads is being examined as part of my review of road goods transport policy, and the possibility of making a special charge will be included in the review.

asked the Minister of Transport in what proportion she intends to divide between local communities and central Government the financial responsibility for passenger services retained for local reasons.

I am not at present able to add to what is stated in paragraph 27 of the White Paper on Transport Policy (Command 3057).

asked the Minister of Transport when she will introduce legislation to enable the additional fuel tax of 4d. a gallon to be refunded to transport operators.

I intend very shortly to put before the House a Bill enabling me to pay grants to bus operators, for their stage services, in relief of the 10 per cent. surcharge on motor fuel duty imposed under the regulator in July this year.

asked the Minister of Transport if she has yet decided to approve the extension of the Victoria underground to Brixton.

My right hon. Friend hopes to reach a decision early next year.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will give the names and qualifications of the special team on road pricing referred to in paragraph 53 of Command Paper No. 3057; and when she expects to publish a report on it.

It is not usual to publish the names of civil servants staffing particular units. There will not necessarily be a published report on this research work.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will make a statement on her policy of road pricing for motorists in London and her recent visit to the United States of America, setting out those matters relating to traffic control about which she received valuable information.

On road pricing and on my recent visit to the United States of America I have nothing to add to the Answers given to my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) and the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 2nd November, 1966—[Vol. 735, c. 117.]—and to the hon. Member for Bodmin (Mr. Bessell) on 9th November, 1966.—[Vol 735, c. 296.]Concerning traffic control, which was not in any case the primary purpose of my visit, I had discussions on a number of points, such as traffic signal systems and parking policies which are of particular interest to us in view of the similar techniques we are developing in this country.

asked the Minister of Transport when she intends to introduce legislation for the control by charging of traffic in city centres.

I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave on 9th November to a Question by the hon. Member for Bodmin (Mr. Bessell).—[Vol. 735, c. 296.]

asked the Minister of Transport whether she has yet decided in which conurbations she proposes to create conurbation transport authorities; and if she will list those on which she has so decided.

Final decisions have not yet been taken. I shall shortly be visiting the Greater Manchester area, Tyne-side, Merseyside and the West Midlands to discuss the possible forms that conurbation transport authorities might take.

asked the Minister of Transport when she expects to conclude her consultations with local authorities on the cost of implementing paragraph 79 of Command Paper No. 3057.

I cannot yet say. I have made detailed proposals to the local authorities' associations about the proposed scheme, including the financial arrangements, which they are now considering.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent paragraph 12 of chapter 12 of the National Plan, Command Paper No. 2764, has been superseded by Command Paper No. 3057.

As stated in Paragraph 29 of the White Paper on Transport Policy (Cmnd. Paper 3057), the Government and the Railways Board have set up joint machinery to study the financial implications of the new policies for the railways. I cannot anticipate the outcome.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress is being made in the consideration of means of allowing old age pensioners in the Greater London area to have entitlement to concessionary fares on London Transport.

I have consulted the Greater London Council and the London Boroughs Association about this as part of the general review referred to in the Answers given on 26th October [Vol. 734, c. 186] to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley) and on 9th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. Ellis).—[Vol. 735, c. 296.]

asked the Minister of Transport what complaints she has received on behalf of elderly people resident in Newburn Urban District area and Castle Ward area of Northumberland about the lack of travel concession facilities in those areas; and what replies she has sent.

I have had representations relating to the Castle Ward Rural District from the Newbiggin Hall Local Labour Party. I am sending my hon. Friend copies of the replies sent on my behalf.

asked the Minister of Transport which of those transport methods she studied in the United States of America are being examined further in her Department or elsewhere with a view to their introduction or adaptation in this country.

Exchange of knowledge between the United Kingdom and United States on transport matters is already proving of mutual benefit. Both we and they are seeking improvements in public transport, freight handling, traffic management, road safety and the programming and construction of roads; and these are amongst matters I studied in the United States. I intend particularly to keep in touch with American experience of improved methods of transporting commuters rapidly by rail and the use of containers for the through transport of freight, which gives the shipper high efficiency at low cost.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will take steps to enlist the co-operation of the Press and broadcasting services to inaugurate a sustained propaganda campaign relating to drinking and driving and other prominent causes of road accidents.

Both the Press and the broadcasting services already cooperate in publicising road safety measures, and I am sure that we can continue to count on their help. My right hon. Friend is setting up within the Department's Information Division a special Road Safety Publicity Unit which will be able to give them greater assistance.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans she has for taking into public ownership privately-operated bus services.

As explained in my recent White Paper on Transport Policy (Cmnd. 3057), my objective is to secure more effective public passenger transport services throughout the country. This will entail rationalisation of present services. But the manner of doing so must be adapted to local needs and it is too early to say what changes in the ownership of buses may be desirable.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will introduce regulations requiring car manufacturers to fit anti-pollution devices to all new models for home use as well as for export.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Leominster (Sir Clive Bossom) on 31st October.Any regulations which my right hon. Friend may decide to make will apply to vehicles for the home market.—[Vol. 735, c.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will seek to make the ages at which young people can apply for driving licences for motor cars and for motor cycles the same.

We are consulting interested organisations on a proposal to raise the minimum age for holding a motor cycle driving licence from 16 to 17 which would have this effect.

asked the Minister of Transport when she proposes to make it an offence for various classes of motor vehicles to exceed prescribed maximum noise levels.

Work is proceeding on the preparation of draft regulations, but as my hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mr. Rowland) was informed on 22nd June, it is unlikely that my right hon. Friend will be able to make regulations this year.—[Vol. 730, c. 79.]

asked the Minister of Transport when she proposes to set up her Advisory Committee on the Control of Motor Rallies' Regulations.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to my

					1961–62	1962–63	1963–64	1964–65	1965–66
Summonses	…	…	…	…	4,969	4,559	4,847	6,899	5,918
Convictions	…	…	…	…	4,468	3,953	4,532	5,990	5,220

Information on the number of summonses and convictions in goods vehicle maintenance cases as distinct from other

					1961–62	1962–63	1963–64	1964–65	1965–66
Summonses	…	…	…	…	2,514	3,474	4,086	3,506	4,406
Convictions	…	…	…	…	2,350	3,352	3,965	3,393	4,233

The numbers of cases in which licences were revoked or curtailed for safety

				1961–62	1962–63	1963–64	1964–65	1965–66
Revoked	…	…	…	1	Nil	2	3	12
Suspended or Curtailed	…	…	…	3	8	7	129	146

asked the Minister of Transport when the new safety standards for goods vehicles will become enforceable.

The higher, specified braking efficiencies laid down in the revised Construction and Use Regulations which were laid before the House on 3rd November will become effective on 1st January, 1968, but other changes permitting the use of spring brakes and split braking systems come into effect on 1st December, 1966. Improvements dependent upon plating and type approval will have to await the making of Regulations under the provisions of the Road Safety Bill now before Parliament.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will list the improvements and the responsible hon. Friend the Member for Central Ayrshire (Mr. Manuel) on 16th November last.—[Vol. 736, c. 116.]

asked the Minister of Transport how many summonses were issued for offences against the statutory requirements relating to drivers' hours and the maintenance of goods vehicles in each of the last five years; how many convictions were secured; and in how many cases licences were revoked or suspended on account of safety offences.

The numbers of summonses and convictions for drivers' hours offences were as follows:offences under Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations are not readily available. The total numbers of Construction and Use offence cases were:reasons relevant under the 14th Schedule of the Road Traffic Act 1960 were as follows:authority in each case which have been introduced to better travel conditions referred to in paragraph 65 of Command Paper No. 3057.

With the help of the Transport Co-ordinating Council for London and its constituent Groups, action has been taken or is in hand on many schemes to better travel conditions, most of them within the responsibilities of the Greater London Council, the London Transport Board or the British Railways Board. It is impossible to list them all. Examples of work done are traffic management measures introduced to give priority for the London Transport Red Arrow service; revival under Council sponsorship of Local Transport Groups intended mainly to improve travel conditions for industrial workers; and the start of work on physical improvements designed to provide by early next year a substantial increase in capacity on the busiest section of the Southern Region of British Rail.

asked the Minister of Transport what arrangements are being made for the provision of temporary car parks in the West End to cope with the Christmas shopping period.

These arrangements are a matter for the Greater London Council as traffic authority. It published details of its Christmas plans on 15th November.

asked the Minister of Transport if she has completed her review of the anomalies which have arisen from the operation of the Travel Concessions Act, 1964; and if she will make a statement on the steps she intends to take to remove the anomalies.

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 if she will introduce a seperate Bill to deal with the future of inland waterways when she brings forward legislation to implement the White Paper on transport policy.

My right hon. Friend hopes, in the next Session, to introduce a major Transport Bill, which will deal with future policy for the inland waterways among other important matters.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will introduce legislation to provide for insurance cover against personal injuries sustained by car accidents.

As my hon. Friend said in his reply of 11th July to my hon. Friend the Member for Hackney, Central (Mr. Herbert Butler) a special Committee of the National Road Safety Advisory Council is considering whether passenger insurance should be made compulsory. It would be premature to consider legislation until I have the Council's recommendations.—[Vol. 731, c. 150.]

asked the Minister of Transport what restrictions she proposes to put on the use of private motor cars in London.

Any such restrictions arising out of existing powers would be a matter for the G.L.C. as traffic authority for London. On the possibility of more general restraints on traffic, I cannot add at this stage to what is said in paragraphs 52 and 67 of the White Paper on Transport Policy (Cmnd. 3057).

asked the Minister of Transport what public transport service, rail or road exists for Llanarthnau and district, Carmarthenshire.

There are no rail passenger services. As regards bus services, I would refer the hon. Member to the operators' timetables, copies of which I am sending him.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will introduce legislation to clarify the responsibility incurred if a motor vehicle involved in a road accident is said by the police to be not roadworthy, despite the fact that the vehicle carries a test certificate from an authorised garage certifying that it has passed the road test required by her Department.

No. It is an offence to use or permit the use of a motor vehicle on the roads in unroadworthy condition and responsibility must rest with the user. In the case of proceedings it is for the courts to decide whether there are mitigating circumstances. A test certificate relates to the condition of a vehicle at the time of the test and though it is valid for twelve months as evidence that the vehicle has been submitted for test it is not a warranty of condition throughout that period.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will make regulations to make it obligatory to fit blinking trafficators to all vehicles irrespective of the date of manufacture or registration.

My Working Party on the Lighting of Vehicles will shortly consider proposed regulations to make compulsory the fitting of direction indicators on all vehicles—with certain exceptions. Any direction indicators fitted to new motor vehicles or to a trailer drawn by one must now be of the flashing amber type. The question whether there would be justification for prohibiting other types now in use on some vehicles will be considered by the Working Party.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will make a statement on the result of her investigations into the traffic jam in the Park Lane-Hyde Park Corner area on the evening of 16th November; and what steps she is taking to prevent a recurrence of such traffic congestion in Central London.

These are, of course, matters for the Greater London Council, as traffic authority, and the police. It is difficult to analyse the precise reasons for congestion. I understand that a number of comparatively small factors may have contributed to it on this occasion. The Greater London Council emphasise that in near-capacity conditions small incidents can have a major effect on the traffic situation.

asked the Minister of Transport if she is aware of the recent experiments in night delivery carried out by London supermarkets, details of which have been sent to her; and what steps she is taking to extend overnight deliveries.

Yes. The matters referred to in my hon. Friend's Question are primarily for the Greater London Council as traffic authority, but I am, of course, very interested in the results of the experiment when they are available. The Transport Co-ordinating Council, through their Freight Group, are considering ways of improving goods distribution in London.

asked the Minister of Transport what evidence she has received of the effect on the incidence of accidents of television advertising, which glorifies excessive speed and other forms of dangerous driving.

There is no evidence at present, but it seems likely that television advertising can have both good and bad effects on driving behaviour. Advertising which glorifies speed or any other form of dangerous driving must be wrong because, if it has any effects, these must be harmful.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans she has for sealing licence fees for vehicles according to the space they occupy on the road.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead (Mr. Whitaker) on 2nd November.—[Vol. 735, c. 120.]

asked the Postmaster-General (1) if he is aware that charges for insertions in the London Trades Directory for 1967 are to be increased by over 50 per cent. by the publishers, Messrs. Thomson; and if he will reduce them under the Prices and Incomes Act;(2) if he will state the main terms of the contract he has made with Messrs. Thomson for the publication of the London Trades Directory, 1967; and what are the conditions regarding charges and profits.

Under their contract Thomson Directories Limited sell advertisements and special entries in classified telephone directories on behalf of the Post Office and retain an agreed percentage of the revenue as their commission. They also have discretion to decide the rate structure. The scale of charges applicable to the 1967 London Classified Telephone Directory was announced by Thomsons in March, 1966.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in the interests of the safety of pedestrians using the narrow roadway at the side of the post office in Donoghadee, County Down, which roadway has no footpath and is used by Post Office vehicles and other traffic, he will now authorise the resiting of the Dona-ghadee Post Office.

There has been no change in the circumstances since the previous Postmaster-General wrote to the hon. Member about this matter last January: and, for the reasons then given, I should not be justified in moving the Post Office.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will now authorise the establishment of a sub-post office at the eastern end of Francis Street, Newtownards, County Down.