asked the Minister of Transport what proposals she has to channel through motorway traffic round Leeds when the M1 reaches the city in the near future.

Through traffic will be routed from the M1 via M18 to the A1(M) near Doncaster. Surveys are being made to determine whether new roads around Leeds will be needed.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals there are to demolish Skew bridge, carrying the disused railway line to Tadcaster over the A64 trunk road, in view of the hazard to road safety it represents.

A trunk road improvement scheme including the demolition of Skew bridge will be put in hand shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she is aware of the danger daily experienced by people on foot and in vehicles at the junction of Marsh Lane with the trunk road A4 at Taplow in Buckinghamshire, and of the recent fatal accidents which have occurred there; and what proposals she has to remedy this situation.

We are aware of conditions at this junction and of the recent regrettable fatal accident there. We are considering, with the Buckinghamshire County Council, the best measures to take to improve conditions there and at other nearby junctions.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will ensure that crash barriers are erected in the central reservation areas of all motorways.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Gresham Cooke) on 21st December, 1966.—[Vol. 738, c. 328–9.]

asked the Minister of Transport when she expects to announce a further year's financial programme for her roads preparation pool beyond the last one announced by her predecessor.

I have nothing to add to the Answer given to the hon. Member on 22nd February.—[Vol. 741, c. 290.]

asked the Minister of Transport what is her policy towards the comments on manpower for road construction in the second report of the working party under Mr. J. A. Lofthouse, paragraph 3(8); and to what extent the main limitation on the roads programme is due to the failure to provide adequate finance.

I have noted the comments of the Lofthouse Working Party to which the hon. Member refers but I am concerned to see that available manpower of all kinds is deployed to the best advantage. This is one reason why I am setting up the new Road Construction Units. The main factor determining the size of the road programme is the proportion of national resources, bearing in mind the main other claims upon them, which can be devoted to roads.

asked the Minister of Transport how many men are employed on the reconstruction of the A19; and when the work will be completed.

The number of men employed on actual construction work, on the four schemes on this road now being carried out in County Durham and the North Riding of Yorkshire, is at present about 110. We aim to complete the general improvement of the road by 1970–71.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will in future, when granting permission to local authorities for the making of new pedestrian crossings, specify that kerbs should be ramped for the benefit of prams, wheelchairs and the ambulant disabled; and what is the policy of her Department towards the ramping of kerbs at pedestrian crossing points in new highway developments of all other kinds.

The design and construction of footways is a matter for local authorities. But we give them guidance and for the past 20 years have recommended that where possible kerbs should be ramped down at crossing places much used by prams, wheelchairs and the disabled. A raised kerb does, however, fulfil a number of functions, and it is right that local authorities, with their local knowledge, should continue to decide whether kerbs should be ramped or not.

asked the Minister of Transport what degree of priority is given by her Department to matters of road safety under consideration by her Department's working parties; and if she is satisfied with the progress made by her Lighting Working Party's inquiries into the use of reflective number plates for motor vehicles.

Measures making a significant contribution to road safety always receive high priority in the Department.My right hon. Friend is satisfied with progress by the Lighting Working Party.

asked the Minister of Transport what consideration she has given to the possible realignment of the A259 between Kent Ditch and Camber Corner, East Guldeford; and when a decision may be expected.

Consideration is being given to the realignment of this length of road. It is hoped to authorise the necessary preliminary surveys during the current financial year.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will now undertake the extension southwards of M5, in view of the number of unemployed men in Cheltenham suitable for work on such a project.

Advance works on the Bredon Bridge and approaches are ex- petted to start in June. But outstanding statutory procedures and land acquisition prevent an early start on the main road works.

asked the Minister of Transport what request for loan sanction she has received from the Greater London Council in respect of the development of Court Road, Orpington, to dual carriageway standard, together with associated access roads and slip roads.

No such application for loan sanction has been received.

asked the Minister of Transport what is her policy towards the facing of bridges for which he is responsible, or over which she has control, with concrete or granite; and if she will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend does not consider the added cost of masking structural concrete in highway bridges within her responsibility or control is normally warranted. Her approval to the use of facings in special cases has full regard to the extra expense involved.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans her Department has for improving road communications between the port of Yarmouth and the Midlands.

The road programme provides for improvements to the A47 at Honingham, Thorpe St. Andrew and Great Yarmouth. A proposal for a southern by-pass of King's Lynn was included in the list of schemes in the preparation pool announced in February. Other improvements will be undertaken as and when funds permit.

asked the Minister of Transport what study has been made by her Department of the underground tunnel road scheme proposed by Mr. A. E. Matthews at the International Road Federation; and what conclusions have been reached on its feasibility,

A technical examination of the problems and costs of constructing, operating and maintaining a system of highways tunnels suggests that these are likely to be so formidable as to cast doubt on the feasibility of the proposals. I am writing to my hon. Friend today on this subject.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will impose a speed limit of less than 70 miles per hour throughout the A45 between the Birmingham and Coventry boundaries.

Yes. My right hon. Friend intends to impose a 60 m.p.h. speed limit on this road, except on certain stretches on which a lower limit may be appropriate.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will state the total number of ancient toll bridges remaining in private hands, and their location; what are the revenues obtained from them; and what would be the cost of redemption of such tolls.

I find that this information, so far as it is available, was given in a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead (Mr. Whitaker) on 19th October, 1966.—[Vol. 734, c. 50.]

asked the Minister of Transport what groups have now informed the British and French Governments that they are interested in forming a group to construct the Channel Tunnel.

A number of interests have come forward. From these a list will be selected by the British and French Governments for further discussion; but I do not propose to publish any names at the present stage.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will withhold from the West Riding County Council the grant for the road improvements at Blubberhouses as no steps have been taken to replace the village shop and post office, and, in view of the fact, that if the road improvement proceeds this remote village will be deprived of its only shop and devoid of a post office.

No. Steps are in fact being taken by Leeds Corporation to replace the village shop and post office.

asked the Minister of Transport when she will state her intentions in regard to plans for expansion of the existing programme for the construction of 1,200 miles of motorway; and by what date it is expected to secure the completion of 2,700 miles of motorways or expressways as recommended in a report by the County Surveyors' Society, a copy of which has been sent to her.

I have nothing to add to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Norfolk, Central (Mr. Ian Gilmour) on 8th March, 1967.—[Vol. 742, c. 271–2.]

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will reconsider her decision to prohibit the use of the Severn Bridge by learner motor cyclists because this necessitates a long detour which causes hardship.

No. The temporary disadvantage for this small group of motor cyclists has to be balanced against the danger that would be caused both to themselves and to other vehicles using the motorway across the Severn Bridge.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress is being made with the joint land use/transportation studies set up by her Department with a number of local authorities as listed in the appendix to Chapter 5 of Roads in England; and if she will make a statement.

The situation is as follows:

asked the Minister of Transport what steps she proposes to take to ensure that revenue raised from parking meters is used for the further provision of offstreet parking.

My right hon. Friend does not consider further steps on her part are necessary. Local authorities who have parking meter schemes should be well aware of their responsibilities under Section 89 of the 1960 Road Traffic Act.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give the total mileage of roads in Great Britain as at 1st April, 1966, divided into trunk, class I, II, and III, and unclassified, indicating the mileage of motorways in each category.

The mileage is:The Scottish element of the total is as at 15th May, 1966.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give the estimated road expenditure in Great Britain in 1967–68 and for each year to 1970–71.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Chippenham (Mr. Awdry) on 14th March.—[Vol. 743, c. 69.]

asked the Minister of Transport what plans she has for a cross-Britain motorway linking East Anglia to Wales and the West via the Midlands.

Estimates of future traffic demands show that such a motorway would not be justified. Schemes already programmed and others in the trunk road preparation pool will, however, improve road communications between East Anglia and the existing and planned motorway system serving Wales and the West.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will direct the National Ports Council to re-examine its projections of the size of bulk carrier which is expected to come into service in the grain trade to Europe during the next five years.

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the Council need no such direction from her.

asked the Minister of Transport whether in view of recent proposals to use very large ships in the grain trade, she will now review her decision not to give permission for the development of a grain terminal by private enterprise on the Isle of Grain.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport what consideration she has given to the adaptation of facilities at existing Royal Naval Dockyards and, in par- ticular, at Portsmouth Dockyard to modern civil container ports.

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that adequate container port facilities can be provided without resort to the use of naval ports, which are in any case still required for naval purposes.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the inconvenience caused over a wide area in Birmingham by her delay in promulgating her decision concerning the future of Snow Hill Station, she will announce her decision without further delay.

We appreciate the importance of putting an end to uncertainty, but the proposals involved are complex and important and my right hon. Friend must be sure that all the relevant factors are properly considered. She will reach a decision as soon as she has been able to do this.

asked the Minister of Transport what negotiations she and the Railways Board had with the National Union of Seamen before she gave permission to end the concessionary fares to merchant seamen not employed by the Ministry of Defence.

No such negotiations were called for.

asked the Minister of Transport what will be the effect on the deficit of the British Railways Board of establishing the basic railway network.

All the lines shown on the Network Map are already in being and its publication will have no immediate effect on the Railways Board's deficit. In the long term the stabilisation of the industry will be a factor tending to improve its financial performance.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the profit and loss on the operation of British Railways annually since nationalisation, including interest on capital; and what has been the capital sums drawn from the Exchequer annually.

The figures of surplus or deficit and of loans from the Exchequer are as follows:

		BRITISH RAILWAYS (under the British Transport Commission)	BRITISH TRANSPORT COMMISSION
		Net surplus or deficit on revenue account*	Loans from the Exchequer
	…	£ million	£ million
1948	…	8·2 (deficit)	Nil†
1949	…	23·4 (deficit)	Nil
1950	…	10·8 (deficit)	Nil
1951	…	0·7 (deficit)	Nil
1952	…	3·7 (surplus)	Nil
1953	…	2·4 (deficit)	Nil
1954	…	21·6 (deficit)	Nil
1955	…	38·2 (deficit)	Nil
1956	…	57·5 (deficit)	40‡
1957	…	68·1 (deficit)	61
1958	…	90·1 (deficit)	112
1959	…	84·0 (deficit)	112
1960	…	112·7 (deficit)	145
1961	…	135·9 (deficit)	144
1962	…	159·0 (deficit)	77

		BRITISH RAILWAYS BOARD
		British Railways Board's results on revenue account§	Loans from the Exchequer
		£ million	£ million
1963	…	133·9 (deficit)	Nil
1964	…	120·9 (deficit)	15
1965	…	132·4 (deficit)	35
* After central charges (mainly interest charges) but excluding interest charged to the special account in the years 1956 to 1962 (£158·1 million for the seven years).
† Up to 1955 the Commission borrowed by the issue of stock.
† Up to the end of 1962 British Railways were part of the British Transport Commission and separate figures of loans from the Exchequer are not available. The figures given are for loans to the British Transport Commission for all their activities from 1956 to 1962.
§ Because of the changes brought about by the Transport Act 1962 and the adoption by the British Railways Board of different accounting arrangements, figures cannot be given which are precisely comparable with those for earlier years. The figures quoted are the Board's total revenue results and include surpluses on ships, harbours, hotels, etc.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will refer to the relevant Transport Users Consultative Committee the closure of the down-side entrance to Oxford Station which is causing hardship to elderly and infirm passengers, and traffic congestion in the station approaches.

I have already referred this matter to the Area Transport Users Consultative Committee under the provisions of Section 56(4) of the Transport Act, 1962.

asked the Minister of Transport how she proposes to keep in operation railway lines which run at a loss.

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave to his Questions following my statement to the House of 15th March.—[Vol. 743, c. 405–6.]

asked the Minister of Transport what evidence she now has of the social effects of the closures of uneconomic rail services.

The evidence brought to my notice from time to time indicates that the alternative means of transport provided as a condition of consent to closure generally prove to be adequate for the needs of former rail users. I have no evidence of any other substantial social effects but I hope to publish soon the report of the analysis of a consultants' Survey dealing with three individual rail closures.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will introduce amending legislation to safeguard the position of a driver who, because he feels that it would be unsafe for him to continue driving, pulls up in such a place as will not offend against any regulations or cause any obstruction.

My right hon. Friend has done so. Under the Road Safety Bill which has had its Third Reading in this House, a person in charge of a car with more than the prescribed concentration of alcohol in his blood will not be committing an offence, if he can show that the circumstances were such that there was no likelihood of his driving so long as there was any probability of him having alcohol in his blood in excess of the prescribed limit.

asked the Minister of Transport what general direction has been issued to London Transport about the display of political advertisements.

None. This is a matter for management.

asked the Minister of Transport why the Lighting Working Party of her Department only meet at intervals of two months; and whether, in the interests of road safety, she will instruct that working party to increase their productivity.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Huddersfield, West (Mr. Lomas) on 12th April.—[Vol. 744, c. 191.]

asked the Minister of Transport if she is satisfied with the representation for East Sussex and Kent on the South-East Regional Passenger Transport Coordinating Committee; and if she will make a statement.

The members of this Committee were appointed to represent the region and not particular interests or areas. I am satisfied that they will consider the needs of all areas and public transport users within their territory.

asked the Minister of Transport what consideration is being given to the continuous integrated transport system as developed by the Battelle Institut of Geneva, details of which have been sent to her, to solve the problems of moving passengers quickly from Heathrow Airport to the centre of London.

I am looking into the Institute's proposals. Its system seems to be intended, however, for much shorter journeys than that to Heathrow.

asked the Minister of Transport what has been the total cost borne by British Railways, of the Transport Users' Consultative Committees, since they came into operation, until the nearest convenient date.

The cost borne by the British Transport Commission from December, 1948 to the end of 1962 of the Central Transport Consultative Committee and the Area Transport Users' Consultative Committees was £256,000. The corresponding cost borne by the British Railways Board from 1st January, 1963 to the end of 1966 was £264,000.

asked the Minister of Transport if she has yet considered the First Report of the Committee on Motor Insurance, as a factor in road safety on liability for passenger insurance; and if she will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has not yet completed her consideration of this report, or of the action she will take on it. She is not therefore yet able to make a statement, but will do as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will publish the First Report of the Committee on Motor Insurance as a factor in road safety.

My right hon. Friend will decide about publication of this report when she has completed her consideration of it.

asked the Minister of Transport under what Sections of Prices and Incomes Standstill: Period of Severe Restraint, Command Paper No. 3150, British Transport Advertising Limited are seeking approval of an increase from £7 16s. 0d. to £9 in charges for quad crown railway station advertisements during the period of severe restraint; and if she will make a statement.

Command Paper No. 3150 does not lay down criteria for increase in rents as it does in the case of prices. I am satisfied however that British Transport Advertising have paid full regard to the need for restraint laid down in the White Paper, and in a number of cases have deferred increases until after 30th June, 1967.

asked the Minister of Transport how many mooring buoys were maintained by her Department in the year 1962–63; what were the costs of replacement and maintenance in that year; and how the number and costs compare with 1966–67.

Moorings and buoys for 131 vessels were maintained in 1962–63; the costs of replacement and maintenance were £138,245. Comparable figures for 1966–67 are 141 and £168,666.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now revise and increase the tariffs on all forms of pig meat from Poland.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now make a statement on the outcome of his discussions with the principal household detergent manufacturers, regarding a reduction in price as recommended by the Monopolies Commission Report.

I am not yet in a position to add to my earlier statements on this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that two big groups of manufacturers control 90 per cent. of the £75 million washing powder market, and that one of these groups refuses to implement a Monopolies Commission recommendation that wholesale prices should be cut by 20 per cent. and marketing expenses by 40 per cent.; what action he proposes to take in connection with this matter; and whether he will make a statement.

As I have said in reply to previous Questions, I am still in negotiation with the principal manufacturers concerned. I shall make a further statement as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) who will compose the delegation to Stockholm in July, to discuss the Berne Convention;(2) if he will give an assurance that the British delegation to Stockholm will be fully representative of production interests such as authors, publishers, musicians, Equity, and not over-weighted with consumer interests, and that British standards will be adequately protected.

The delegation will be led by the head of the Industrial Property and Copyright Department of the Board of Trade, and will include other officials from the Board of Trade and the Foreign Office, with three representatives of the private interests most affected: that is, authors, broadcasters and film makers. It will be instructed to do its best to ensure that the rights now enjoyed by authors of literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works and by performers under the British system are fully protected.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state for the year ended 31st March, 1967, the number of loans and grants under Section 4 of the Local Employment Act, 1960, made to firms in development districts in the North-East, the number of applications rejected, and the number still under consideration.

The information is as follows:

Applications which the Board of Trade Advisory Committee have:
Approved	36
Rejected	11
Under consideration (at March 31st, 1967)	51

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many local authorities have set up consumer protection committees with advice and encouragement given by his Department.

None. This is a matter for individual local authorities to decide for themselves.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he had with the British Egg Marketing Board before allowing the import of eggs from Poland, Denmark, Finland, Israel, Rumania and Hungary, surplus to the requirements of the home market.

For many years, imports of eggs from all countries outside the Eastern Area have been on Open General Licence and eggs from the Eastern Area have been freely licensed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many advance factories he has built in Aberdeen during each of the last 10 years; and what plans he has to build more there.

The advance factories have been authorised in Aberdeen, one in 1965 and the other in 1966. The construction of the first of these will shortly be completed, and I hope that building work on the second will be finished by October next. I have no plans to build more advance factories in Aberdeen at present, but I will take account of the needs of the district when arranging further programmes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the proposals made by his Department in the autumn of 1966, to the effect that maximum flight time for British Overseas Airways Corporation aircrew should be reduced from 12 hours to 11 hours, were not implemented; how far these proposals were based on medical findings; and if he will make a statement.

Proposals involving a number of changes in the present system of limits and rest periods, which applies to aircrew of other British airlines besides B.O.A.C. were circulated to airlines and other interested bodies. Many of the criticisms received were that the proposals were too rigid. My Department is now considering a more flexible scheme. The original proposals were based on aeromedical advice, which is also being used in the scheme under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many British registered civil aircraft in current operation are equipped with approved crash recorders.

216 aircraft are equipped with approved recorders and a further 46 are carrying recorders of types which are being evaluated for approval.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will ensure that all district coastguard stations are supplied with telephone monitoring systems, as recommended by the Inspector of Wrecks at the "Darlwyne" inquiry.

The Wreck Commissioner recommended that all telephone messages relating to any inquiry about a vessel received by the coastguards should be written out on message forms specifically provided for this purpose. This is being arranged.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a further statement about the Committee of Inquiry into Shipping.

Yes. I am glad to say that Lord Rochdale has accepted my invitation to be Chairman of this Committee. The Committee will be known as the Committee of Inquiry into Shipping and its terms of reference will be as follows:

To review, in the light of current commercial and technological developments, the organisation and structure of the United Kingdom shipping industry, its methods of operation and any other factors which affect its efficiency and competitiveness; and to recommend what action should be taken by shipowners, seafarers and Government, to bring about changes which would improve the position of the industry in these respects.

The Committee is to be concerned primarily with the shipping activities of persons resident in the United Kingdom, though it may take into account, to the extent that it finds them relevant, similar activities of other persons in respect of any ship registered in the United Kingdom. The Committee is to have regard to the international character of the industry, including the effects of the actions and regulations of foreign and other Commonwealth Governments and to the nature of the relations between governments on shipping matters. The Committee should also take account of the first and subsequent Reports of Lord Pearson's Court of Inquiry into certain matters concerning the shipping industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the recent wreck of the tanker "Torrey Canyone" in relation to the sea lane course she took, what steps he plans to take to prevent a recurrence of the damage she inflicted to British beaches and to compensate the British people who suffered loss from this disaster.

Her Majesty's Government has requested an early meeting of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation (I.M.C.O.) to consider what changes are required in international maritime law and practice, including questions relating to the routing of ships. On the question of compensation, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statements by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 4th April, 1967 [Vol. 744, c. 38–54] and to the further information given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General in answer to Questions on 10th April.—[Vol. 744, c. 740–1.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will consider the creation of a new British Ocean Development Authority to deal with the growing and complex problems of the fishing industry as a whole.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to a suggestion made by Sir Roy Matthews, former chairman of W.F.A., for a British Ocean Development Authority to exploit not merely fisheries but the resources of the sea bed generally including minerals. This proposal goes beyond the scope of this Department, but I see no advantage in such a body so far as fisheries are concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will specify the nature of the indirect assistance which goes to the pigmeat industry in Denmark;(2) whether he has completed his study of the representations made to him about the effective level of support to the pig-meat industry in Denmark as compared with the United Kingdom; and what conclusions he has reached.

I cannot usefully add to my reply to the hon. Member on 15th February [Vol. 741, c. 100–1] except to say that the existence of support, including indirect support, to foreign pigmeat industries was one of the factors discussed with our own industry before the Government decided on the stabilisation arrangements which were announced on 12th April.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a White Paper setting out the differences between farm support policies in Great Britain and those in the Common Market; and what advantages and disadvantages he estimates would be incurred by domestic producers of cereals, roots, livestock and livestock products, arboricultural and horticultural products, and by consumers, if Great Britain were to accept the Common Agricultural Policy.

The differences between farm support policies in the Common Market and this country, and—so far as they can be judged—the main advantages and disadvantages to British producers and consumers of accepting the common agricultural policy as it now stands, are already described in a memorandum submitted by my Department to the Select Committee on Agriculture. This has been printed by Order of the House in the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Select Committee on 15th March, and is available to the public in that form.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the percentage drop in damage to hides due to warble fly; and to what extent this reduction is due to the increased use of systemic dressing or to other natural causes.

Figures obtained from auction returns provided by the leather trade show that the percentage of ox and heifer warbled hides fell from 16 per cent. in 1965 to 9 per cent. in 1966. The percentage of cow and bull warbled hides remained the same, namely, 5 per cent. These percentages should be regarded as minimum figures, as some apparently clear hides reveal evidence of warble infestation during processing.The use of systemic dressings in this country is only one of several factors which have helped this reduction. Other reasons for the improvement include restrictions imposed by the Eire Government, which have greatly reduced the number of warble infested animals imported from that country; conditions unfavourable to the warble fly in 1966; and changes in methods of husbandry for the fattening of cattle and the increasing tendency to slaughter cattle at an earlier age, which have meant that fewer of the animals slaughtered have been exposed to infestation with warbles.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the figures of the net annual decrease in agricultural area of England and Wales from 1939 up to the present, showing separately building and other developments.

The net average annual decrease in the area of agricultural land in England and Wales, between 1939 and 1966, was:

			'000 acres
Crops and Grass	…	…	11·7
Rough Grazing	…	…	33·0
Total	…	…	44·7

This Department does not specifically collect statistics relating to the uses of

land lost to agriculture but some information is obtained through the agricultural censuses. Estimates from this source show average changes during the period as follows:

	'000 acres
Building and general development (including mineral workings)	-29·5
Sports grounds	-2·6
Government Departments	-13·6
Forestry Commission and Private Woodlands	-19·0
Other changes	+20·0
	-44·7

These figures are affected by the large scale changes in land use that took place during and following the war. The average annual changes for the most recent five- and ten-year periods are as follows:

	5 Year Average 1961–2 to 1965–6 '000 acres	10 Year Average 1956–7 to 1965–6 '000 acres
Building and general development (including mineral workings)	-34·9	-33·7
Sports grounds	-3·2	-2·8
Government Departments	+2·5	+2·9
Forestry Commission and Private Woodlands	-14·1	+17·1
Other changes	+2·3	-2·2
	-47·4	-52·9

Annual figures for land lost from agriculture for housing and industrial development from 1945–46 to 1964–65 were given by my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary in a reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Eldon Griffiths) on 6th July, 1966.—[Vol. 731, c.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the review award will remain available to farmers after taxation.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Westmorland (Mr. Jopling) on 17th April.—[Vol. 745, c. 32.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much profits on arable farms dropped during the year 1966–67.

Profits on arable farms are not yet known for 1966–67, but present indications are that they will shown some improvement, particularly on those farms where potatoes are important.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how far his plans have progressed in Wales to eradicate brucellosis in cattle.

The first essential in Wales as elsewhere is to build up a register of brucellosis accredited herds to provide replacements for any subsequent eradication scheme. This is because some 14 per cent. of the cattle in Great Britain, including a not appreciably lower percentage in Wales, would react at present to diagnostic tests. Most of these animals are healthy and would react because of vaccination. To slaughter such animals would be a waste of national resources and would in any case be impracticable until replacements are available from herds of known status.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has from Wales on the effectiveness or otherwise of the S19 vaccine as a means of preventing the development of brucellosis in cattle.

This vaccine has done a great deal to reduce the incidence of brucellosis in cattle over the last twenty or so years from a high level to something like 2 per cent. in dairy herds.There is no evidence that the vaccine is less effective in Wales than elsewhere, but it will not necessarily stand up in every case to a heavy challenge of infection.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the evidence that the use of hormones to speed the fattening of animals for human consumption can encourage certain forms of disease especially in children and the fact that France and Switzerland prohibit imports of meat affected by such hormones, he will carry out a further review of the present situation under which hormones may still be freely used for fattening animals and poultry in this country.

No. My right hon. Friend is advised by the Medical Research Council that the proper use of synthetic oestrogens in agriculture as at present practised should carry no hazard to the consumer. On the advice of his Scientific Advisory Panel, my right hon. Friend has arranged for new preparations and changes in the use of existing preparations to be notified and considered under the Veterinary Products Safety Precautions Scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that thousands of teaching hours are lost by the absence of qualified teachers from the classroom at official teachers' committees and conferences, on subjects connected with teaching; and if he will seek to ensure that such conferences are held outwith the school day with payment for such attendances as necessary, and seek the co-operation of teachers' organisations to effect a similar situation with regard to their meetings.

I am anxious to see the loss of teaching time through attendance at committees and conferences kept to the minimum, but I should prefer to rely on the good sense of teachers and employing authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now make a statement on the housing progress made in January and February of this year as compared with the same period in each of the last five years, and on the figures for the first quarter of 1967.

In the first quarter of 1967 8,659 houses were approved for building by local authorities, new towns and the S.S.H.A.: in the public and private sectors taken together, 10,505 houses were started and 8,155 completed, and 52,900 were under construction at the end of the quarter. These figures are respectively 50 per cent., 55 per cent., 10 per cent. and 6 per cent. higher than the figures for the first quarter of 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has received from the subcommittee of the Scottish Standing Medical Advisory Committee regarding their inquiries into the treatment of epileptics in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

None so far. The subcommittee of the Standing Medical Advisory Committee set up in May, 1966, to consider this question is expected to report later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of inhabitants per doctor in Scotland; and what were the corresponding figures for the years 1960 to 1965.

The number of inhabitants per doctor employed in the National Health Service in Scotland in each of the years 1960–66 was:—

Year				Inhabitants per Doctor
1960	…	…	…	851
1961	…	…	…	837
1962	…	…	…	826
1963	…	…	…	822
1964	…	…	…	825
1965	…	…	…	791
1966	…	…	…	794

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration is being given to the scales of remuneration of school-crossing patrol employees.

The pay of school-crossing patrol employees is negotiated by the National Joint Industrial Council for Local Authority Employees (Scotland).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of school-crossing patrol employees in the years 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, and to the nearest available date in 1967.

The numbers of school-crossing patrols employed by local authorities in Scotland at 31st March each year were:—

1962	1963	1964	1965	1966
1373	1423	1531	1732	1816

I regret that the figure for 1967 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many traffic wardens are employed in Scotland at present; and where were the figures for 1962 to 1966.

The number of traffic wardens employed at 31st March, 1967 was 245; the numbers in post at 31st December in each of the years 1962 to 1966 were:—

1962	1963	1964	1965	1966
32	32	31	108	196

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for developing in North-East Scotland an industry for converting beet into sugar and for encouraging farmers to grow the relevant crops.

None. All sugar beet in Scotland is grown under contract to the British Sugar Corporation's factory at Cupar. Farmers who wish to grow the crop and consider that their land is suitable should approach the Corporation's officials at Cupar with a view to obtaining a contract.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will reconsider the policy stated in his recent letter to the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North, that only prisoners sentenced for three years and over may have radio sets in their cells; and if he will take steps to facilitate and encourage the restoration of all prisoners to constructive good citizenship.

I am always ready to consider steps to help the rehabilitation of prisoners, but I do not think that an increase in the number of radio sets held by prisoners would have the result which my hon. and learned Friend suggests.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that Scottish offenders are imprisoned in prisons near their

TRUNK ROAD SCHEMES IN PROGRESS OR PLANNED IN ABERDEEN AREA
Route		Scheme	Estimated cost (£000)	Length (miles)
		Aberdeen City (see note)
—		—	—	—
		Aberdeen County
A96	…	Diversion at Midbog (between Inverurie and Huntly)	32	⅔
A96	…	Improvement at Glasgoeogo (south of Kintore)	17	⅓
A96	…	Improvement at Port Elphinstone (Inverurie)	14	⅓
A96	…	Bishopton diversion	74	1⅛
A96	…	Provision of dual carriageway, Auchmill Road-Inverurie Road, Bucksburn.	200 (approx.)	1 (approx.)
A92	…	Small improvements between Balmedie and Ellon Kincardine County	5	¾
A92	…	Extension of dual carriageway, Limpet Mill-Cortens	139	1½
A92	…	Provision of dual carriageway, Bridge of Muchalls-Nether Mains of Muchalls.	60	¾

In the summer of last year a new classification scheme was introduced whereby all prisoners serving less than 12 months—about 94 per cent.—are retained at their local prison. The remaining prisoners pass through a classification centre at Edinburgh and are allocated to prisons according to their needs for particular types of training.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of his plans for road building and improvement in and around the City of Aberdeen.

My direct responsibility for building and improving roads in the Aberdeen area concerns trunk roads outside the City of Aberdeen. The construction and improvement of classified roads are primarily matters for the responsible local highway authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the figures of the net annual decrease in agricultural area of Scotland from 1939 up to the present, showing separately building and other developments.

Detailed information about losses of land classed as crops and grass has been collected only since 1951 and information about losses of all agricultural land only since 1960. The figures are given in the following table:

000 ACRES NET LOSS PER ANNUM
			To roads, housing, industrial development, etc.	To other uses (mainly forestry)
1951–52	…	…	3·0	Not available
1952–53	…	…	3·3	Not available
1953–54	…	…	3·4	Not available
1954–55	…	…	3·5	Not available
1955–56	…	…	3·2	Not available
1956–57	…	…	2·6	Not available
1957–58	…	…	2·9	Not available
1958–59	…	…	2·0	Not available
1959–60	…	…	2·7	Not available
1960–61	…	…	4·6	75·8
1961–62	…	…	3·5	39·2
1962–63	…	…	4·2	48·3
1963–64	…	…	5·3	34·8
1964–65	…	…	5·4	34·8
1965–66	…	…	5·2	66·3

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the actions taken and casualties incurred by units of the Royal Anglian Regiment in Aden during the recent visit of the United Nations mission.

During the recent visit by the United Nations mission to Aden the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment were engaged in operations in the Sheikh Othman area where the terrorists concentrated their efforts. Three members of the regiment were wounded.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the new floating dock for Polaris submarines, the modular repair facility, and the additional cost of spare parts, respectively.

I cannot give details of spares holdings. I would only say that the first two items will cost about £5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what delays have occurred in the Polaris construction programme at Cammell Laird's shipyard, Birkenhead, as a result of the current lock-out of members of the Draughtsmen's and Allied Technicians Association; and what is the approximate cost of such delays.

This dispute has not so far resulted in measurable delays to the Polaris programme; if it continues, the effect could become serious.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when the new pay structure for industrial employees in Government service, which includes those working at No. 23 Maintenance Unit at Royal Air Force Station Aldergrove, the operation of which has so far been postponed, will now come into force.

The National Board for Prices and Incomes, in its Report (No. 18) published last year, recommended that an entirely new pay structure should be established for all industrial employees in Government service, and that every effort should be made to bring the new structure into operation by April, 1967.It was subsequently decided that the new structure could not be introduced during the period of severe restraint, and negotiations are proceeding with the aim of bringing it into operation in July, 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the study of the proposed plan to up-grade certain skilled aircraft work at Royal Air Force Station Aldergrove, in County Antrim, to a higher rate of pay will be completed; and when will such increased rates be paid.

Examination of the case for upgrading certain skilled work at all engineering depots in Royal Air Force Maintenance Command is on the point of completion. The conclusions have now to be discussed with the trade union concerned, but in any event, the date on which any upgrading might be effected, and from which increased rates of pay might be awarded, would not precede the ending of the period of severe restraint on 30th June, 1967.This matter is not connected with the new pay structure for industrial employees.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out a table in the Official Report giving details of the qualifications by category of all staff working at the Byfleet Defence Operational Analysis Establishment.

The staff currently working at the Defence Operational Analysis Establishment, West Byfleet comprise:—

Grade	Function
Chief Scientific Officer	Director (and Chief Scientific Adviser, Operational Analysis)
Deputy Chief Scientific Officers	Senior Directing Staff
Brigadier
Senior Principal Scientific Officers	Study teams; technical and support services, programming and operation of computer
Principal Scientific Officers
Senior Scientific Officers
Scientific Officers
Scientific Assistants
Chief Experimental Officer
Senior Experimental Officers
Experimental Officers
Assistant Experimental Officers
Service Officers of all three Services
Higher Executive Officer	Administrative, financial, clerical etc. support
Librarian, Grade III
Executive Officers
Supporting clerical, typing, telephonists and miscellaneous grades
Industrial Staff