asked the Minister of Transport whether she intends that the Charnel Tunnel should be financed by private investment or from Government funds.

The agreement between the British and French Governments is that the Tunnel will be built with finance from private sources if this can be secured on terms acceptable to the two Governments: but participation from public funds in the risk capital is not excluded, and the operation of the tunnel will be entrusted to an Anglo-French public authority.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the recent devaluation of sterling, what are her present plans for the commencement of work on the Channel Tunnel.

We do not expect the timing of the Channel Tunnel project to be affected by the recent devaluation of sterling.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans she has for constructing an east-west motorway joining South Wales to East Anglia with links to the MI in the Luton-Northampton region.

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

asked the Minister of Transport what plans she has for developing and extending urban motorways in London; and if she will make a statement.

We have various plans for bringing the national motorways into outer London. The Greater London Council are responsible for planning metropolitan roads, including the primary network further in. My right hon. Friend is at present considering proposals they have put to her.

asked the Minister of Transport when a final decision will be taken regarding the line of the motorway provisionally proposed by the Greater London Council to cross Barnes Common and the village of Barnes; when work is scheduled to commence; and if she will require the local authority to reconsider their plan to include this proposed road link in the London motorway box scheme.

The scheme is still under investigation by the Greater London Council. We have not seen any detailed proposals which might affect Barnes, but a link between the Southern "C" Ring at Wandsworth, and the Northern C "Ring at Chiswick is an important part of the primary road network planned for London.

asked the Minister of Transport when the Government intends to publish the report on road track costs on which the new licensing proposals are based.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Tavistock (Mr. Michael Heseltine) on 18th December.—[Vol. 756, c. 305.]

asked the Minister of Transport when she will publish the survey of track costs.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Tavistock (Mr. Michael Heseltine) on 18th December, 1967.—[Vol. 756, c. 305.]

asked the Minister of Transport whether the proceeds from the wear-and-tear tax, which will reflect the extra costs imposed on the roads by heavy-goods vehicles, will be allocated specifically to road construction and maintenance.

No. But as stated in the White Paper on the Transport of Freight, the proposal must be viewed against the background that the Government is committed to a continuing programme of heavy expenditure on roads.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals she has for bringing the M23 motorway through Wandsworth; how many houses will be affected; and how many families will require rehousing.

None. Our plans are for the M23 to terminate in Streatham Vale at a junction with the proposed "C" Ring Road. Any future extension of the motorway northwards would be for the Greater London Council to undertake.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in order to prevent persons committing offences under the Road Safety Act, 1967, she will take steps to enable publicans to stock and sell safe breathalysers so that customers may know in advance when they are in danger of committing an offence.

No. Although we have taken no powers to control the sale of these devices, we are anxious that they should not he used to encourage motorists to drink right up to the limit. Many people are impaired well below that point.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to enable the Greater London Council to compensate householders living near the line of a road and whose property will be affected by the proposed London motorway box system even if the property is not liable to demolition due to construction work.

No. We do not consider that compensation of this kind arising from new roads in Greater London should be paid on a different basis from that applying outside London or in respect of other forms of development.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she is now able to announce the date for the inclusion in the preparation pool of the Preston northerly by-pass link with the M6 motorway.

I have nothing to add to the Answer given to the hon. Member on 25th October.—[Vol. 751, c. 490.]

asked the Minister of Transport if she will make a statement on the setting up of publicly-owned petrol filling and service stations on motorways in competition with those owned by the oil companies.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will issue regulations to make mandatory the marking of yellow lines on roads within meter zones in the Greater London area to indicate that parking is banned, in accordance with the general practice elsewhere.

We are considering whether it is necessary to make regulations as suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend. It is now the practice of highway authorities in Greater London to lay down yellow lines wherever waiting is prohibited within parking meter zones. It can happen, however, that yellow lines are temporarily obliterated during the carrying out of road works.

asked the Minister of Transport what action she proposes to take to Prevent the large number of car windscreens being shattered daily by improperly sealed chippings on roads.

None. Provided drivers take proper heed of the warning signs and reduce speed accordingly the danger of broken windscreens from this cause should be minimal.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the fact that the rate at which the motorway network is constructed is determined by the availability of resources, she will take steps to reduce costs by introducing a toll system similar to that used by the Italians on their autostrada, details of which are in her possession.

The real resources available for constructing motorways in this county could not be increased by adopting the methods by which they are financed in Italy. On the contrary, tolls on new lengths of motorway would increase their costs while reducing the use likely to be made of them.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will make a statement about the progress of the Beverley ring road or by-pass.

Preparation of preliminary plans and estimates for the Beverley By-pass and the related diversion of the Hull-Beverley trunk road is nearing completion. Provided these are satisfactory, detailed work will continue to the stage at which the scheme can be considered for a place in the firm programme.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the cost of buying 13 snow ploughs of foreign manufacture; and whether she will make a statement on the buying policy of her Department in view of the balance of payments.

Approximately £93,000.There were no ploughs of British manufacture available which would meet the requirements. In these circumstances the purchase of equipment of foreign manufacture is unavoidable but in general, having regard to the balance of payments situation, the closest consideration will be paid to the possibility of determining our requirements so as to enable the maximum use to be made of equipment of British manufacture.

asked the Minister of Transport what is her programme for discussions between her Department and the Chigwell Urban District Council and the Epping and Ongar Rural District Council, respectively, on the route of the M11; and what arrangements have been made for local public inquiries into objections.

Discussions with officials of Epping and Ongar Rural District Council were held on 13th December, and similar meetings with Chigwell Urban District Council and other local authorities are under consideration. Meanwhile the need for a public inquiry remains an open question.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give the figures of accidents on the roads in Sunderland county borough, involving fatal, serious and slight injury for each of the months of October and November, 1967, and the comparable figures for October and November, 1966.

The numbers of casualties in road accidents were as follows:

asked the Minister of Transport on how many occasions traffic has had to be restricted on the Severn Bridge due of high winds during the last 12 months; and what action can be taken to reduce this inconvenience.

Since 1st January, 1967, vehicles at risk, e.g. lightly loaded pantechnicons or cars towing two-wheeled caravans, have been temporarily prevented from entering the bridge for their own safety on 22 occasions. The decision on this must be left to the police on duty.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the total public spending on roads in the period 1960 to 1965, compared with the actual and estimated expenditure on roads in 1965 to 1970.

Total public expenditure on roads in Great Britain during the five financial years 1960–61 to 1964–65 amounted to £1,527 million. This compares with total public expenditure and estimated total public expenditure on roads during the five financial years 1965–66 to 1969–70 of £2,700 million.

asked the Minister of Transport what she estimates will be the cost of setting up and maintaining the National Freight Corporation.

There will be a net saving, not a cost, as a result of the setting up of the N.F.C., since one of its principal functions will be to eliminate the inherited loss on sundries traffic, which forms part of the Railway Board deficit now met by the Exchequer.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans she has for further electrification of railways in the United Kingdom; how much money has been set aside for electrification in each of the next five years, respectively; and whether she will consider a substantial yearly extension of railway electrification.

It is for the Railways Board to plan their investment. My right hon. Friend has at present no proposals from them for further electrification but she will consider any on their merits and in relation to the resources available. Money is not specifically set aside in advance for any particular form of investment.

asked the Minister of Transport when she will authorise the British Railways Board to complete a detailed programme for the further introduction of electrification over the next five years.

I have no doubt that the Railways Board will, when planning their forward investment programme, consider the priority to be given to further electrification.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will announce her decision on the proposal to close the stations at Denton and Reddish South and to withdraw the local railway passenger services between Stalybridge and Stockport, Edgeley; and if she will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has decided that the stations at Denton and Reddish South should not be closed. This means that local passenger services will still be provided between Stalybridge and Stockport.

asked the Minister of Transport what cuts in the railway investment programme are expected following the devaluation of sterling.

£5 million in 1968 and £11 million in 1969.In particular my right hon. Friend has told the Railways Board that there can now be no question of a decision before the end of 1969 to proceed with the extension of the London-Midland Electrification to Glasgow.

asked the Minister of Transport what pension Sir Stanley Raymond, the former Chairman of British Railways, will now receive.

£2,218 16s. 8d. a year.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will explain the nature of the new powers she is seeking to give specific directions to the National Freight Corporation and the British Railways Board.

The powers of direction described in paragraph 33 of Cmnd. 3470, to which I assume the hon. Member refers, are now defined in Clause 6(1) of the Transport Bill. They would enable my right hon. Friend to take action on the recommendations made to her by the Freight Integration Council in pursuance of its duties as set out in that Clause and described in more detail in paragraph 32 of Cmnd. 3470.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the estimated loss for each the next three years for British Railways sundries service.

The Transport Bill, now before the House, provides for the National Freight Corporation to take over the railways sundries services. Much will depend on the Corporation's success in reducing the losses on the service, which are currently running at an annual rate of something under £25 million, but which are already being reduced by the rationalisation measures put in hand by the Railways Board.

asked the Minister of Transport in which grades the 200,000 railway workers are now employed who will be made redundant; and whether the railway unions have notified their acceptance of this further reduction of jobs in this industry.

There neither is nor could be a proposal to declare redundant 200,000 railway workers (nearly 60 per cent. of total staff). But some ordered and gradual decline in railway manpower over the next few years is inevitable. The various aspects of this will, of course, continue to be kept under constant review by the Board with the unions concerned.

asked the Minister of Transport what advice she received from the former Chairman of British Railways, Sir Stanley Raymond, on her freightliner proposals.

It is not customary to disclose views expressed in confidential discussions between Ministers and the heads of the Boards of nationalised industries.

asked the Minister of Transport what criteria she will employ to judge whether the freightliner services have developed sufficiently to justify the introduction of quantity licensing; and to what extent the number of days lost in strikes at freightliner depots or on the railway will influence her decisions in this matter.

The test will include the efficiency, reliability and extent of the freightliner services. The hon. Member may be assured that all relevant factors will be taken into account in making this decision.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will instruct the British Railways Board to expedite their report to her on the feasibility of mainline electrification between Warrington and Motherwell so that hundreds of electric traction workers in Preston, to be declared redundant in January, will have work.

No. The deferment of this project is among the cuts which have been made, following devaluation, in the investment programme of the nationalised industries. I understand, however, that this decision is unlikely to have any direct effect on employment in Preston early in the New Year.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the increase in the number of passengers who travelled on the railway line between Edinburgh and Corstorphine during November, 1966 and November, 1967, respectively, she will reconsider her decision to approve the closure of the line.

No; my right hon. Friend's decision was a final one but, in any case, I understand the increase was a purely temporary one due to special difficulties with the bus services.

asked the Minister of Transport what tonnage was accounted for by British Railways freight liner traffic, by the sundries service, and by that part of freight traffic which, under the new proposals, will remain under British Railways control, for the year 1966.

226,000 tons, 2·2 millions tons, and 211 million tons respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport what salary is to be offered to the Chairman of the Freight Liner Company.

This is a matter to be decided by the Chairman of the National Freight Corporation in consultation with the Chairman of the British Railways Board at the appropriate time.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give a general direction to the Railways Board that no further closures are to be made at the railway workshops, in view of the anxiety among the workers.

It would not be appropriate to issue such a direction. The future of particular workshops is a matter for the Railways Board, who keep in close touch with the Government when major changes seem likely.

asked the Minister of Transport what percentage of lines and stations scheduled for closure in the Beeching Report have actually been closed; and how many more lines and stations are authorised for closure.

84 per cent. of the passenger service withdrawals and 48 per cent. of the service modifications listed in the Reshaping Report have been implemented or partly implemented. 72 per cent. of the stations and halts (including those forming part of service withdrawals and modifications) have been closed.

asked the Minister of Transport how many stations and lines not scheduled in the Beeching Report have been closed since the last Transport Act came into force.

20 passenger services not listed in the Report have been withdrawn and 90 stations and halts (including those forming part of the service withdrawals) have been closed.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of representations from the Dorset County Council, Swanage Urban District Council, the Rural District Council and other associations in Swanage, a resolution passed by a public meeting attended by 400 people, a copy of which has been sent to her, and the representations made by the hon. Member for South Dorset, she will now withdraw the advance notice of closure of the Wareham and Swanage branch railway line.

Statutory notices of the discontinuance of railway passenger services under Section 54 and 56 of the Transport Act 1962, are given by the British Railways Board, and my right hon. Friend has no power to withdraw them. She will carefully consider all relevant matters before reaching a decision on the closure proposal.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will issue a general directive to London Transport not to withhold heating from trains on cold nights.

No. This is a matter for management.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will agree to the holding of a full public inquiry into the proposed closure of the Polegate-Hailsham line since the powers of the Transport Users Consultative Council are limited.

No. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the present procedure shows that she has all the information needed to make a decision.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will ask the appropriate transport users' consultative committee to examine the feasibility of the British Railways', Southern Region, timetable in the light of the grave inconvenience caused to passengers by the failure of the management to operate it.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will instruct the Transport Users' Consultative Committee to hold a special inquiry into the management and operation of British Railways', Soutern Region, passenger services, in view of the disorganisation that has occurred since July.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will refer to the Transport Users' Consultative Committee the poor standard of service provided by British Railways on their Southern Region arising from the continued late-running of trains and other failures; and if she will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend does not think it appropriate for her to refer these matters to the Transport Users' Consultative Committee. I understand that the London Area Committee are considering representations they have received on the subject, but no recommendation has been made to my right hon. Friend as a result.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will direct the Inspector of Accidents to hold a special inquiry into the safety standards and maintenance of British Railways, Southern Region, with particular reference to the cumulative effect of signal failures, points failures, fractured rails, broken fishplates and broken wagon and carriage couplings.

The responsibility for the safety and efficiency of railway operations rests with the Railways Board.

asked the Minister of Transport what would be the cost of completing the electrification of the main railway line between Crewe and Glasgow; and whether she will now sanction this expenditure.

The Railways Board have put no formal proposal to my right hon. Friend, but I understand that electrification (which has been deferred following devaluation) would cost over £20 million in addition to the associated re-signalling and track rationalisation.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, as negotiations over the disposal of abandoned railway tracks often proceed so slowly, she will give a general direction that horses shall be provided for those charged with the supervision of the tracks, where this is rendered necessary by the growth of weeds.

This is not an appropriate subject for a general direction.

asked the Minister of Transport what percentage reduction in the total number of vehicles on the roads she estimates will be achieved as the result of her proposals to limit the number of lorries on the roads by a quantity control.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to his supplementary Question on this subject on 15th November.—[Vol. 754, c. 411–12.]

asked the Minister of Transport what recent progress has been made by her Department in discussing with car manufacturers the need to improve the safety factors in car design.

At my right hon. Friend's request the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders are preparing an assessment of safety features for application to the whole range of passenger cars. The Society is keeping us informed about their progress so that we can take their views into account in the development of the vehicle safety programme.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will take further steps to ensure that driving licences are not issued to persons with visual defects likely to impair driving ability.

We have no evidence to suggest that any change in existing requirements is necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she is satisfied as to the effectiveness of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations. 1964; and if she will make a statement.

We are generally satisfied as to their effectiveness. But we have now completed a comprehensive review of these Regulations. As a result my right hon. Friend is proposing a series of changes and additions to improve the standard of vehicle lighting.

asked the Minister of Transport what amount of compensation she estimates for road hauliers towards writing off vehicle fleets and ancilliary equipment under her licensing proposals.

Operators who fail to get quantity licences when their existing carrier licences expire, will not be entitled to compensation. When quantity licensing is introduced it may be necessary to call in some existing licences before their normal dates of expiry. If this happens licensing authorities will be able to take possible financial hardship to the operator into account when deciding whether to issue a quantity licence.

asked the Minister of Transport what is her policy regarding the future of the private road haulier in Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the recent White Paper on the Transport of Freight. We believe that road transport will continue to be an expanding industry offering increasing opportunities to the private haulier both in Scotland and alsewhere.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations she has received from road hauliers concerning the proposed taxes on road hauliers which represent an increase of 6 per cent. in the cost of conveying exports to the ports; and what reply she has sent.

A number of road hauliers have written about the proposals for the new charges on road haulage. In replying we have drawn their attention to the reasons for the charges which are given in the White Paper on the Transport of Freight.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will take the necessary steps to provide a heavy goods vehicle testing station in Dundee.

No. My hon. Friend explained the reasons for placing the heavy goods vehicle testing station at Perth in the Adjournment debate on 15th December. This station is intended to cover vehicles from Dundee.—[Col. 756, Vol. 876.]

asked the Minister of Transport on what statistics she based her estimates that drink played a part it nearly 30,000 accidents a year and that it leads to about 13,000 fatal and serious casualties every year; whether these statistics were drawn from British or foreign sources; and what age brackets the statistics included.

The estimates of the increased accident risk of a driver who has been drinking are based on the work of Professor Borkenstein in the United States. This involves a comparison of the blood alcohol levels of a large sample of drivers of all age groups who had been involved in accidents with those of a sample of drivers who had not been involved in, accidents but who were driving at a time and place at which accidents had occurred. The figures quoted in the question were obtained by applying these results to the latest British accident figures. They are consistent with the findings of smaller surveys carried out in this country by the Road Research Laboratory.

asked the Minister of Transport what special factors will be taken into account when the new carrier licensing authority is examining the criteria of speed; and whether this will be strictly on a door-to-door basis.

Licensing authorities will assess the importance of speed by reference to the needs of the person for whom the goods in question are to be carried and the nature of these goods. Comparisons with rail will be on a door-to-door basis.

asked the Minister of Transport how many people have visited the Transport Museum at Clapham in each of the last three years; and what estimate she has made of the number of visitors expected annually after the removal of the museum to a new site in York.

In 1965, 125,000 people; in 1966, 153,000 people; in1967, 165,000 people (estimated). In 1966, 199,000 people visited the present York Museum and it is of course expected that the number of visitors to the new Museum will show a substantial increase over this figure.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the estimated annual revenue from the proposed road haulage charge.

About £30 million.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of her policy that implementation of the enabling legislation on drivers' hours is to depend on increased productivity on both sides of the transport industry, how she proposes to achieve this; and how long she estimates this process will take.

The date for introducing these requirements will be a matter for discussion with representatives of employers and workers, taking into account all the factors involved. We are hoping for rapid progress.

asked the Minister of Transport what information she sought with regard to traffic densities on the Swanage—Wareham road, the degree of use of Swanage Railway Station and the degree of economic loss sustained by British Railways prior to issuing advance notice of the proposed closure of the Swanage line.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his Questions on 5th December.—[Vol, 755, c. 271.]

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in the interests of road safety, she will make an order that all lorries carrying sand, gravel, coal, lime or any substance which could shatter car windscreens or otherwise be dangerous to motorists should be so constructed and loaded that no leakage of the contents can occur, and be properly sheeted so that none of such substances can be dropped on the highway.

Regulation 75 of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, 1966, already provides that the load carried by a motor vehicle or trailer shall at all times be so secured or in such position that danger is not likely to be caused by part of the load falling off the vehicle.Present evidence does not suggest that additional legal provisions are necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will now make an order that all articulated lorries shall fit approved safety devices to prevent jackknifing.

No. Anti-jack-knifing devices need to be tested much more extensively under a wide range of operating conditions before their efficiency on all types of articulated vehicle is established.Trials are in progress and we are seeking to extend their scope.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will introduce legislation requiring articulated lorries to have special warning lights on cab roofs.

No. However, we are considering proposals which will require larger goods vehicles and trailers to be marked with a distinctive pattern at the back and extend the present requirements for the side marking of long vehicles.Most articulated vehicles would be covered by these proposals.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he proposes to take to prevent vehicles driving on potentially dangerous tyres.

In addition to the Regulations on tyre condition laid before the House on 5th December, the proposals include tyre inspections in the annual tests and spot checks of good vehicles and private cars; a provision in the "plating" Regulations requiring goods vehicles to be fitted with tyres designed and maintained adequately to support the relevant maximum axle weights; and educational publicity.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will refer the recent decision made by the city council to increase bus fares in the city of Liverpool to the National Board for Prices and Incomes; and if she will make a statement.

The fares of individual bus undertakings are controlled under the statutory procedures referred to in my reply of 19th December to my hon. Friend. The fares increases recently proposed by Liverpool City Council have been approved by the Traffic Commissioners, whose decision carries certain rights of appeal to my right hon. Friend.—[Vol. 756, c. 375.]

asked the Minister of Transport if she will introduce a coordinated transport system for the North-East of Scotland.

Not in isolation, but the existing arrangements for co-ordination of transport in Scotland as a whole will be strengthened by the provisions included in the Transport Bill now before the House.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will report on the progress made with the Victoria Line, with particular reference to sections between Metropolitan Essex and Central London.

I understand from the London Transport Board that all tunnelling work between Victoria and Waltham-stow Central has been completed. Installing the track and equipping the stations are proceeding satisfactorily. The Board intend to open the line between the autumn of 1968 and the spring of 1969 in three stages, beginning at the Walthamstow end.

asked the Minister of Transport where the Government intends buying the petrol for the petrol stations run by the nationalised transport authorities and their subsidiaries.

This will be a matter for the authorities and subsidiaries themselves and not for the Government.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in order to encourage professional motorists who continue to have safe driving and accident free records, and as a measure to encourage road safety, she will consider the issue to them by her Department of an appropriate certificate for a 10, 15, or 20 years' record.

No. We do not think this would have any significant effect on road safety.

asked the Minister of Transport if she has completed the check on standards maintained by garages operating the car testing scheme mentioned in the White Paper Road Safety —a Fresh Approach; what were the results; and if she will make a statement.

The special random sample check involving some 500 garages has been completed. Only 40 per cent. of the tests were carried out fully satisfactorily while 15 per cent. were completely unsatisfactory.I am very seriously concerned at these results. It is essential for road safety that all owners should keen their vehicles properly maintained and mechanically safe. When they take them to a garage for testing they must be assured that the job will always be done completely and efficiently to the standards that are clearly laid down. I am therefore taking immediate steps to enforce the standards of the testing scheme.As from today no new application to join the scheme will be considered for a period of at least one year. This will allow the existing backlog of applications to be cleared and enforcement staff to concentrate on the standards of garages now in the scheme by regular inspection checks and incognito visits. The authorisation of any garage, or individual tester, failing fully to meet responsibilities under the scheme will be withdrawn immediately; applications for reinstatement of a garage's authorisation will not normally be considered until 5 years have elapsed. The minimum requirements for equipment, facilities and staff for garages in the scheme will be raised; garages failing to meet the higher standards must leave the scheme. A garage's responsibilities under the testing scheme will be written into a contract.These measures have been discussed with the associations representative of the garade trade and have their full support. I want to make it quite clear that I will take the strongest possible action against any garage that fails to do its job properly. I hope they will all co-operate to make the existing scheme a success. But I am also considering alternative plans that I could adopt if further checks should show that garages continue to operate the existing scheme unsatisfactorily.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the fact that the proposal to penalise heavy loads up to an amount of £15 a mile will have a detrimental effect on developing industry in the North-East of England, if she will give further consideration to this proposal.

Slow-moving heavy lorries cause congestion and impose costs on other road users including industrial traffic, in all parts of the country. We see no reason to exempt particular areas from the charges.

asked the Minister of Transport what estimates have been made by her Department of the proportion of the mileage charge for the carriage of abnormal loads which will fall upon journeys involving the carriage of goods for exports; and what proportion will fall upon journeys to and from development areas.

The abnormal loads charges reflect the costs of congestion caused by large slow-moving lorries. These costs arise in all parts of the country. Separate figures of estimated revenues from particular kinds of journey are not available.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the expected revenue per annum of the proposed abnormal loads charge.

About £3 million.

asked the Minister of Transport what cuts are expected in the port investment programme following the devaluation of sterling.

Investment is expected to be £3 million less in 1968 and f24 million less in 1969, out of an estimated total of £95 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many industrial development certificates have been refused in the Yorkshire and Humberside region during the past two years.

One.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will ensure that locally based industries in the City of Norwich, wishing to expand within the area, receive prompt granting of industrial development certificates in order to ease considerable local unemployment problems.

Subject to the needs of the Development Areas, applications for industrial development certificates for expansion in Norwich by local firms are already treated sympathetically, and I am not aware of any delay in dealing with them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total value of imports from New Zealand; and what evidence he has of price reductions on these products as a result of devaluation.

Imports from New Zealand in 1966 were worth £187 million. It is too early to say what the consequences of devaluation will be for the prices of the principal products imported from New Zealand.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has secured a tenant for the advance factory in Dundee which is due to be completed this month, and for his Department's two other factories in Dundee which are being renovated, in order to provide employment for those who are presently unemployed in this city.

The advance factory has been allocated. I cannot yet disclose the name of the firm concerned. We are doing our best to find tenants for the two factories at present under repair.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a further statement on the advance factory in Sunderland at present unoccupied.

The advance factory of 50,000 sq. ft. in Sunderland has not yet been taken. We will continue to make every effort to find a suitable occupant.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many Government-owned factories in the development areas are now empty; and what was the date of completion of each of these factories.

The following are the numbers of advance factories authorised in programmes announced since October, 1964, which have been completed but have not yet been occupied:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made towards a decision to site an aluminium smelter works in the Northern Region.

The Board of Trade have received proposals from a number of companies interested in establishing aluminium smelters in various locations in development areas. These proposals are being urgently evaluated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the White Paper on Investment Incentives, Command Paper No. 2874, still represents Government policy as regards financial incentives in industry; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The main purposes of the investment grants scheme are to give priority to increasing investment in those sectors of the economy which can do most to strengthen the balance of payments and to encourage investment in the development areas. Those objectives remain of primary importance at the present time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the amount of investment grants to be paid out in 1967.

£200 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy with regard to the forthcoming United Nations Commission on Trade and Development Conference on trade and development; and if he will make a statement.

The policy of Her Majesty's Government will be to do whatever we can, in concert with other developed countries, to promote the development and trade of the developing countries as far as possible, having regard to her own economic circumstances.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many of the 12 loans which have been offered to the hotel industry to a total value of £.1·75 million have now been accepted; and what objections have been raised by the hotel enterprises concerned to the conditions attached.

Six offers have now been accepted, and two rejected. I cannot give any information about the terms and conditions offered to individual applicants or their comments on these.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the number of vacancies remaining unfilled in the Northern Region at November, 1967, compared with other regions in Great Britain, together with the relatively high figures of unemployment, if he will make a statement on the further steps being taken by the Government to bring employment opportunities to the Northern Region.

New industrial estates are being established at Cramlington, Brandon and Workington, and consideration is being given to acquiring further land for development in Sunderland. The development area incentives which are available throughout the Northern Region, already higher than ever before, have been further reinforced by retaining the S.E.T. premium for manufacturing industry in development areas. All these measures will encourage the creation of further employment opportunities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that imports of knitwear from Portugal for the first eight months it 1967 were 160 per cent. more than for the whole of 1966; and since Portuguese exports to Great Britain are free of all restrictions and duties, whereas British exports to Portugal are subject to a 60 per cent. duty, if he will now take steps to achieve a balance between these imports and exports.

As regards imports, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 22nd November.The E.F.T.A. Convention provides for the gradual elimination of Portuguese duties, which vary widely, with accelerated reductions for products of which there are substantial exports. This should lead to increased opportunities for our exports of knitwear to Portugal. It is also relevant that Portugal did not devalue when the pound was recently devalued.—[Vol. 754, c. 1308–9]

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many firm commitments have been made by industrialists to develop in central West Fife, and Scotland as a whole, respectively, in the last 12 months; and how many male jobs he estimates will be likely to accrue.

Of the 15 industrial development certificates issued for central West Fife since 1st December, 1966, one is unlikely to be proceeded with and 3 are for advance factories not yet allocated. The remainder are expected to provide 1,560 jobs for men. In Scotland as a whole 253 industrial development certificates have been issued in the same period for projects estimated to provide 10,900 jobs for men.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what changes he proposes to make in the permitted level of charges for inclusive tour charter holidays for the summer of 1968, arising out of the recent increase in charges for scheduled air services caused by devaluation, and arising out of Provision I of air service licences.

I am considering this matter and expect to announce my decision in the near future.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to prevent rises in export prices which would lose the advantage of devaluation.

Export prices are essentially a matter for the commercial judgment of exporters. They will wish in their own, and the country's interest, to secure the largest earnings from sales abroad consistent with building up their volume of sales in relation to their capacity to supply and deliver goods as well as to their competitive position, their goodwill and other relevant factors in overseas markets.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what efforts are now being made by his Department to provide alternative employment in the Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley area in view of the decision to close Mosley Common Colliery at which 2,000 men are employed, on 10th February.

The Board of Trade is operating a liberal industrial development certificate policy in the Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley area. Applications for expansions by firms already in the area are viewed sympathetically as are applications from new firms with projects suited to the needs and resources of the area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will describe the methods used for investigating whether or not dumping has taken or is taking place; what action is taken against firms or countries proved to be responsible for dumping; and if he will make a statement;(2) if, in view of the widespread concern on this matter, he will take steps to provide more effective penalties for those responsible for the dumping of goods in this country; and if he will make a statement;(3) by what date it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to seek to have enacted the anti-dumping legislation; if he will publish in advance an outline of the main provisions of the Bill; and if he will make a statement.

When an application is made under the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act, 1957, the applicants are asked to provide prima facie evidence that dumping is taking place and the Board's officials then investigate in detail the prices of the suppliers' shipments to this market, their domestic prices and other relevant factors in order to establish whether dumping is occurring within the meaning of the Act and the margin of dumping. If necessary, they visit the suppliers overseas so as to examine their records on the spot. I have sent my hon. Friend a copy of the notes which the Board issue to applicants and which give further particulars.The Act does not make dumping an offence or provide for penalties but in accordance with Article VI of the G.A.T.T. it enables the Board to impose anti-dumping duties when they are satisfied that the dumping is causing or threatening material injury to a British industry and that it is in the national interest to do so. Duties may be imposed by Order on imports from the firms concerned up to the margin of dumping that has been found to exist. The Board may, instead of imposing an anti-dumping duty, accept satisfactory undertakings by the overseas suppliers that dumping will stop. I am satisfied that these procedures provide effective remedies.The main provision of the Bill to amend the Act of 1957 will give the Board powers to take provisional antidumping action in appropriate cases where a preliminary examination shows sufficient evidence of dumping and of material injury, even though the necessary full investigation has not been completed. Another provision will give the Board additional powers to determine comparable domestic prices for the purpose of dumping investigations in the case of goods from countries with a state-trading economy. It is proposed to introduce the Bill as soon as possible in the present Session.These powers and procedures are fully in accord with Article VI of the G.A.T.T. and with the Anti-Dumping Code agreed in the Kennedy Round, which provide valuable safeguards for our own exporters against unjustified anti-dumping action by other countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of Associated Electrical Industries' excellent export record and in considering the merger what assurance he has received from General Electric Company that this high export level will be maintained; and if he will make a statement.

It would have been impracticable to seek an assurance about the maintenance of export sales at any particular level. Nevertheless, I am confident that the merger will not result in any reduction in the overseas selling effort which has gained for both G.E.C. and A.E.I. the recognition of the Queen's Award to Industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will direct public and semi-public organisations for which he is responsible not to accept excessive contingency or alleged contingency increases in medium- or long-term contracts.

I do not know of any such excessive increases. If my hon. Friend has particular cases in mind I am prepared to look into them though, in the case of the nationalised industries, it is not Government policy to intervene in detailed commercial matters of this sort.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what percentage of the published trade deficit of November, 1967 he estimates is to be attributed to the dock strikes during that month;(2) what estimate he has made of the value of perishable goods lost to the consumer during the month of November, 1967 as a consequence of the dock strike at London and Liverpool docks, respectively;(3) what estimate he has made of the loss incurred by manufacturers during the month of November, 1967 as a consequence of being unable to deliver on time exports, due to strikes at London and Liverpool docks;

It is not possible to put an exact figure on the several effects of the strikes of dockers at London and Liverpool. But there is no doubt that the strikes were a major factor in the large trade deficit recorded for November and that on account of the strikes significant losses have been suffered by consumers, manufacturers, importers and shippers. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the Press notice which was issued with the November trade figures and which describes the various ways in which they were affected by the strikes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give details of the increases in rent in factories on Welsh industrial estates and/or individual factories built by Government finance; and if he will give the average percentage of increase.

Rent increases affecting Board of Trade factories in Wales in 1967 have ranged from 8d. to 3s. 7d. per sq. ft. The average percentage increase is 108 per cent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from firms which will have to close down because of the increases in rents announced recently on Welsh industrial trading estates; and if he will make a statement.

No firms on Board of Trade industrial estates in Wales have informed me that they will have to close down because of an increase in rent.

asked the President of he Board of Trade what was the profit made by the Welsh Industrial Estates Corporation for the year 1967; and what is the estimated profit for 1968.

The operating surplus of the Welsh Industrial Estates Corporation for the year to 31st March, 1967, as shown by the audited accounts, was £584,175 but, after allowing for interest on capital employed and administration expenses, this was converted to an estimated deficit of £123,226. I am unable to forecast the estimated surplus or deficit for the year ended 31st March, 1968.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many people are employed in the Enemy Property Branch of his Department; what is the nature of their duties; and if he will state the total annual cost of this branch.

The staff of the Enemy Property Branch is 40. Their duties concern the administration of enemy property under the Trading with the Enemy Act, 1939, the Orders made under the Treaties of Peace (Italy, Roumania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Finland) Act, 1947, and under the Japanese Treaty of Peace Act. 1951. The Custodian of Enemy Property for England, Scotland and Northern Ireland also carries out his duties within this Branch.The total annual cost of the Branch for the financial year 1967–68 is estimated at £76,057.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that F. & W. Ingham are increasing certain charges, details of which have been sent to him, for air fares for winter holidays booked before devaluation in contravention of Government policy; and if he will refer the matter to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

I am aware that in some cases the charge for winter holidays has increased to meet increased costs overseas. Many of them were already priced above the minimum charge prescribed in the air service licence. In providing that the minimum price should be at the pre-devaluation level the Board of Trade did not preclude a travel agent from charging more to meet increased costs. Since such increases relate to expenditure overseas, it is not appropriate to refer them to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate of the amount of foreign currency to be saved by manufacturing electric guitars in this country instead of importing them.

I regret that the information is not available: electric guitars are not separately distinguished in the statistics of overseas trade or of production.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the exemption of banking and discount companies from some of the accounting provisions of the Companies Acts.

Certain banking and discount companies are exempted under paragraph 23 of the Eighth Schedule to the Companies Act, 1948, from many of the requirements of that Schedule as amended by the Companies Act, 1967, as to disclosure of information in accounts. This exemption was reviewed by the Jenkins Committee in their report.A majority of the Committee accepted the case for continuing the exemption on the grounds that banks were subject to very large fluctuations in the value of their investments and to periodical losses on lending which could be out of all proportion to the profits of a single year and that full disclosure of these fluctuations and losses in the annual accounts might lead to loss of confidence on the part of depositors and the general public.A minority of the Jenkins Committee were not satisfied that many of the exemptions were necessary except, perhaps, for banks operating mainly overseas. The minority suggested that the banks and discount houses should be invited to submit their full accounts for the last ten or twenty years to the Board of Trade to show how much they had used the exemptions; in the light of these accounts the Board could decide how far the exemptions needed to be continued.H.M. Government decided to adopt this suggestion and with the cooperation of the various banking associations the accounts of selected members of each association were examined by Government accountants. The whole question of the exemptions was then thoroughly discussed with interested banks and with the Bank of England.H.M. Government have come to the conclusion that an overriding consideration must be the avoidance of steps which run the risk of damaging the banking system or of weakening monetary controls. They are fully aware that our banking and monetary systems depend for their efficiency on close co-operation between the authorities and the banks. They also recognise that the competitive position of our banks in relation to banks in other countries needs to be safeguarded.H.M. Government, therefore, believe that it is necessary to move with care on the question of the exemptions. They do not think that they are yet in a position, in the light of the evidence so far available, to take a decision in favour of removing the exemptions. More time is needed to study the full accounts of the banks over a period in order to assess the consequences of full public disclosure.H.M. Government are, however, requiring, as a condition of continued exemption, those exempt banks and discount companies which are incorporated in Great Britain to provide the Bank of England with full information about their profits and inner reserves. The principal banking associations have been informed of the intention of H.M. Government and have raised no objection to the arrangements proposed.The information supplied to the Bank of England will be passed to the Board of Trade so that H.M. Government will be able to review after a period of time the need for continuing the exemptions in the light of up-to-date information on movements in the banks' full profits and reserves. The information supplied will be treated as strictly confidential.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the sum in dollars received from the sale of the "Queen Mary".

I understand that Cunard announced at the time of the sale that the price received was $3,450,000.