asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give a general direction to the British Waterways Board to present its annual accounts in a manner which makes it possible to ascertain whether the Board's various operations have been conducted at a profit or at a loss.

My right hon. Friend is discussing with the Waterways Board a revision of the Direction given it under Section 24 of the Transport Act, 1962, on the form of its annual accounts which we intend will show the results of its activities to a degree which is consistent with good commercial practice.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has received for the development of a Transportation Centre at Victoria; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the sponsors are not yet ready to make firm proposals.

asked the Minister of Transport what discussions he has had with car manufacturers in regard to the increasing requirements of overseas countries for the fitting of anti-pollution equipment to British cars for export and the growing demand for such devices to be fitted to cars for the home market; and if he will make a statement.

The Department keeps in touch with the motor industry about the various anti-pollution requirements for certain export markets and the discussions between Governments about international standards.The industry is aware of our view that research has not so far shown need for further regulations in the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Transport when he plans to hold the next meeting of the Transport Co ordination Council for London.

No date has been set for the next meeting of the Council.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will send a circular to local authorities advising them of the various methods under the Transport Act in which concessionary fares on public bus services can be made available to retirement pensioners.

A circular has been sent to the local authority associations. I have forwarded a copy to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport how many children were drowned during the last three years in canals within the control of the Waterways Board.

According to the Board's records, 90 children under 15 years of age.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received from the St. Helens County Borough Council about the inclusion or exclusion of the urban district of Prescot and the parishes of Whiston and Rain-hill from the Merseyside Passenger Transport Area; to what extent he has taken into account in his consideration of this matter the existing pattern of services provided by the St. Helens Transport Department; and if he will make a statement.

We have included these places in the Merseyside Passenger Transport Area because in our view the pattern of travel and development in the area justified it and the local authorities for the areas have accepted the case for it. We have not, therefore, been able to accept the representations of St. Helens that these places should be excluded, but we are satisfied that the services provided by its Transport Department can be fully safeguarded.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will hold a public inquiry to evaluate the economic need for the construction of a Channel Tunnel.

No. A full economic reassessment of the Tunnel project will be made as part of the final phase of Anglo-French studies. The results will be published before a decision to begin construction is taken.

asked the Minister of Transport what requests he has received from British Railways for authorisation of capital expenditure for the rebuilding of Oxford Station.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give an assurance that he will refuse his consent to publication of proposals to close the passenger service to and from Northallerton.

A closure proposal has to be published only when it relates to the discontinuance of all passenger services on any line or from any station. We are aware of no such proposal for services to and from Northallerton.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction prohibiting British Rail from imposing a surcharge on all fares on Saturdays between June and September, 1969.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given in reply to a Question from the hon. Member for Totnes (Mr. Mawby) on 20th January.—[Vol. 776, c. 20.]

asked the Minister of Transport if he will issue a general direction to British Railways that no original engineering drawings of historic interest, at present in its possession, shall be sent for sale by public auction until all appropriate British museums, institutions and educational establishments have been given an opportunity to acquire them for their collections.

No. We are satisfied that the provisions of Section 144 of the Transport Act, 1968, are adequate. Where items are not covered by these provisions, such as the drawings it is proposed to sell in the near future, the Railways Board tells us it will consider sympathetically any request from appropriate museums and the like for specific documents.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress is being made re garding the operation of British Railways' proposed advanced passenger train; what modifications are necessary to track and signalling; and whether such fast pas senger traffic will be required to be separated from all other rail traffic.

British Railways is pushing on with development work. The advanced passenger train should be able to operate at up to 125 m.p.h. without major modifications to track and signalling. For higher speeds, some easing of curves and other modifications may eventually be worth while. Improved control and signalling systems would also then be needed. Segregation from other rail traffic will not be necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals have been submitted to him by British Railways for the development of fully automatic computer- controlled freight trains; and what investigations he is making in this matter.

British Railways has suggested that computer-controlled self-powered wagons could be developed. But the project is not in its current programme.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent the need for financial approval by his Department is holding up the construction of the railway line between Heathrow and Victoria, authorised in the British Railways Act 1967, in view of the need for the railway to match the arrival of jumbo jets and to ease the congestion on the M4 to and from the Airport.

asked the Minis-of Transport when he expects to give his decision about a rail link between Heathrow and Victoria via Feltham.

No scheme has yet been put to us for approval and there is no question of finance having been withheld.

asked the Minister of Transport what reply he has sent to the letter of 12th December from the Aberdeen Trade Council about the implications of the proposed closure of Inverurie Railway Workshops; and if he will make a statement.

A reply sent by the Department on 20th December referred to the Adjournment debate on 18th December, when the implications of closure were fully discussed, and to the Railways Board's intention to consult the trade unions before coming to a decision.I understand that the Board informed the unions on 22nd January that in its view closure was unavoidable. Before a final decision is taken by the Board there will be full consultation at a further meeting, when the Board will explain the position to the unions and hear their views.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he plans to reprieve the railway line from Llanelly to Shrewsbury on social grounds; and whether he had now made a final decision.

I am not yet able to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 9th December.—[Vol. 775, c. 12.]

asked the Minister of Transport whether, before approving the proposal to close the Treherbert-Bridgend line, he will obtain a report showing the dates over the preceding 10 years on which maintenance and repair works were carried out on the Blaenrhondda Railway Tunnel before its collapse and showing detailed specifications of the work done on each occasion.

No. My right hon Friend's eventual decision on the closure proposal will take account of all relevant financial, social and economic factors, but past treatment of the tunnel is irrelevant.

asked the Minister of Transport what requests he has received from British Railways for authorisation of capital expenditure on new track and rolling stock on the Portsmouth to London line; and what reply he has sent.

The Railways Board has sought consent for investment in 836 electric multiple unit vehicles for the longer Southern Region routes. Four hundred have been approved and we hope to give a decision on the remainder shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport why he is paying grants under section 39(1) of the Transport Act 1968, individually in respect of London commuter services of the Eastern, London Midland and Western Regions of British Railways, but has treated the Southern Region's commuter network as an entity; and if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the calculation in respect of Southern Region.

The three Railway Regions operating North of the Thames were able to identify and separately cost their loss-making commuter services. Because of the density and operational interworking of the Southern Region's commuter services, it is not possible to identify the deficit for each individual

		GROUP 1	GROUP 2	GROUP 3	GROUP 4
	S.E. Area Total £000's	S.W. Suburban £000's	Central Suburban £000's	S.E. Suburban £000's	Portsmouth Direct £000's
Movement Costs	24,856	3,495	3,388	4,794	2,049
Terminals	9,444	1,799	1,542	2,033	664
Track and Signalling	19,031	3,022	2,106	3,077	1,636
Interest and Administration	11,102	1,683	1,488	2,127	942
TOTAL COSTS	64,433	9,999	8,524	12,031	5,291
EARNINGS	55,597	7,771	5,864	9,133	6,761
Difference between costs and earnings	-8,836	-2,228	-2,660	-2,898	+ 1,470

		GROUP 5	GROUP 6	GROUP 7	GROUP 8
	S.E. Area Total £000's	Waterloo Bournemouth Salisbury £000's	London South Coast £000's	Kent Coast M/L £000's	Waterloo and City £000's
Movement Costs	24,856	2,080	4,570	4,372	108
Terminals	9,444	600	1,199	1,558	49
Track and Signalling	19,031	1,627	3,299	4,220	44
Interest and Administration	11,102	866	1,971	1,983	42
TOTAL COSTS	64,433	5,173	11,039	12,133	243
EARNINGS	55,597	5,857	9,868	10,160	183
Difference between costs and earnings	-8,836	+ 684	-1,171	-1,973	-60

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give the figure for the last year available of the direct saving per mile of railway line closed in that year; how this compares with the expected saving per mile as given in the official document, Reshaping of British Railways; and what estimate he has made of the cost per mile of a social subsidy to keep the lines open.

Figures relating to the average direct saving per mile of railway line closed in any one year or to the average cost per mile of grant needed to keep such lines open are not available and would in any event be of no significance.

asked the Minister of Transport what estimates he has made of the hours of travelling time saved by

None. There are over 2,000 route miles of electrified track in the railway system, and a comparison with alternative necessarily hypothetical circumstances would be of little value.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give details of the manner in which track and signalling costs and management costs respectively, are estimated for social grants for keeping railways open; and what consideration he has given to the report on this matter, details of which have been sent to him, concerning the criteria on which these figures are assessed.

For grant purposes track and signalling costs are calculated on the basis of the estimated annual amount required to cover operating costs and to maintain the facilities in perpetuity. Where a grant-aided service shares facilities with other services, these costs are normally allocated pro rata on the basis of ton/miles in the case of track costs and the number of trains in the case of signalling costs. Management costs are assessed on the basis of a fixed percentage of the direct costs of a service. These procedures are in accord with the recommendations of the Joint Steering Group as set out in the White Paper on Railway Policy of November, 1967 (Cmnd. 3439).I understand that the report to which my hon. Friend refers is the article by Mr. Gerard Fiennes in the January issue of the

asked the Minister of Transport if he will bring up to date the list relating to railway closure proposals published in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 28th February, 1966, column 202.

The joint publication by the Ministry and the Railways Board of the British Railways Network for Development Map in March, 1967, gave the Board freedom to publish closure proposals under Section 56 of the Transport Act, 1962, in respect of passenger services running on lines shown as grey and thin black on that map without seeking further Ministerial agreement. Section 39 of the Transport Act, 1968, has also necessarily involved some changes in the procedures for non-statutory prior consultation. It is, therefore, not possible to bring the 1966 information up to date in its original form, but I will write to the hon. Member more fully on the subject.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what information he obtained about the total passenger loads at Sunderland and Hartlepool on the Sunderland-Hartlepool-King's Cross through service for each of the past five years before reaching his decision to approve closure of these lines;(2) what information he obtained about the revenue to British Railways from the Sunderland-Hartlepool-King's Cross through service for the morning and evening journeys, respectively, for each of the past five years, before approving the closure of these lines.

The Railways Board have not proposed these lines for closure, and there is, therefore, no question of my giving my approval.

asked the Minister of Transport what sum will be available to British Railways for capital investment in 1969; and what were the actual figures of capital investment for the years 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1967, respectively.

Up to £85m. for 1969. The actual investment in 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1967, including that in respect of activities now part of the National Freight Corporation and the Scottish Transport Group, was £108m., £121m., £106m. and £96m. respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now introduce illuminated variable speed limit signs on motorways in order that speed limits may be reduced to provide greater safety in conditions of fog, ice, or through any other hazard.

Yes. I am already doing so. The first is in operation on the Severn Bridge, and the second at the London end of M.4, will soon be working; other lengths of motorways will follow in order of need.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will strengthen the regulations governing rear lighting on lorries.

In general, present lighting equipment properly maintained is satisfactory. But we are considering proposals to make the rear of larger commercial vehicles more conspicuous.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what additional resources will be made available for urgent improvements to roads in Somerset this year, in view of the latest accident figures.(2) what steps he is taking to improve road safety on roads for which he is responsible in Somerset, in view of the accident figures for last year.

Injury accidents in Somerset have tended to fall over the last four years. A detailed analysis is being made to see whether special safety measures are justified on the roads for which my right hon. Friend is the highway authority or for which he gives grant.

asked the Minister of Transport what study he has made of the evidence from the Automobile Association, details of which have been sent to him, on the subject of drugs and driving; and what plans he has for research into this subject.

asked the Minister of Transport what study he has made of the evidence advanced by a motoring organisation, a copy of which has been sent to him, on the danger on the roads from drugged drivers; what action he proposes to take; and whether he will make a statement.

On present evidence it appears that the number of road accidents in this country which can be attributed to drugs is very small. However, we are examining this further to see whether increased research effort would be justified.

asked the Minister of Transport what information he has re ceived from the proprietors of the Selby Toll Bridge about their intention to re place the bridge during 1969; and what consultations he proposes to have in order to minimise consequential traffic disruption.

We have been informed by the bridge proprietors of the need to replace the bridge, and our officials are in close touch with their consultant engineers on the details of the work involved. Consultations with the object of minimising disturbance to traffic are already in progress with both the consultants and the local authorities; the police and the motoring organisations will also be consulted on the implementation of the necessary arrangements.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the Government's policy concerning the siting of service areas on motorways, and what distance apart these are required to be.

There are many and complex considerations involved in locating service area sites. I will write fully to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Minister of Transport why he has ordered an inquiry into the question of the erection of safety barriers on motorways and major trunk roads.

I have not ordered an inquiry. However, as stated in answer to the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington (Mr. Dudley Smith) on 22nd January, we are now developing criteria to indicate more precisely those lengths of road where barriers might be justified. —[Vol. 776, c. 129.]

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of recent increases in accidents on motorways, he will now build crash barriers, where they are lacking, on existing motorways.

I do not think that the recent highly publicised motorway accidents provide good reason for altering my general policy on the use of crash barriers. However, I am reviewing the present criteria and this may result in further lengths being authorised.

asked the Minister of Transport what replies he has made, and what action he is taking, on the representations he has received regarding the section of the M11 motorway linking the A406 interchange with the proposed motorway box at Hackney, for which no proposals have yet been published and which will involve taking the line through or near the densely populated area of Wanstead.

Representations about the proposed extension of M11 from South Woodford to Hackney Wick, possibilities for which are still under investigation, will be taken into account in forming proposals. In accordance with normal practice the relevant local authorities will be consulted before publication—probably in 1970.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent the Government are planning to give financial help to local authorities for parking schemes in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Under the new scheme of grants towards capital expenditure for public transport, grant of up to 50 per cent. will now be available towards the cost of car parks at railway stations handling substantial volumes of commuter traffic.Exchequer help towards the revenue expenditure of local authorities on parking schemes is given through the medium of the Rate Support Grants, which meet over half the total revenue expenditure of local authorities in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that there is an increase in fatal and serious accidents on the M1 motorway between 5 p.m. on Fridays and 11 p.m. on Sundays, as compared with the rest of the week; and if he will take steps to counter this trend.

The following are the figures of fatal and serious casualties in accidents on the M1 during the first eleven months of 1968, with comparable figures for 1967.

	1967	1968
5 p.m. Friday-11p.m. Sunday	130	189
All other hours	176	219
TOTAL	306	408

The figures for the two years are not comparable since the mileage of the M1 in use increased from 126 at 1st January, 1967, to 194 at 30th November, 1968. The figures do not take account of changes in traffic volumes, so it does not necessarily follow that the accident rate per vehicle mile is higher at weekends than at other times.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will show in table form the density of vehicles per road mile in the United Kingdom and as many other countries for which statistics are available to him from international sources.

Following is the information:

Country	Year	Number of motor vehicles (excluding agricultural tractors) per mile of road||
United Kingdom	1967	64
Australia*	1966	8
Austria*	1966	14
Belgium*	1965	35
Canada*†	1966	21
Denmark*	1966	42
Finland*	1966	22
France	1966	39
German Federal Republic	1966	53
Greece†§	1966	13
Irish Republic	1965	7
Italy	1966	66
Luxembourg†	1966	31
Netherlands†	1966	32
New Zealand*	1966	17
Norway	1966	20
Poland†	1966	11
Portugal†	1966	23
Spain†	1966	33
South Africa*	1965	7
Sweden†	1966	20
Switzerland	1966	46
Turkey‡	1965	5
United States	1965	25
Yugoslavia†	1966	8
* Excluding haulage tractors.
† Excluding mopeds.
‡ Excluding motor cycles, scooters and mopeds.
§ Excluding "communal roads".
││ These figures are affected by variations in the definition of a road.

asked the Minister of Transport why adequate fog warning signs are not provided on all major roads; and if he will seek to provide them.

Highway authorities can provide triangular warning signs at sites especially liable to fog but generally it is up to drivers to notice fog and adjust their driving accordingly.Present motorway warning signals will be progressively replaced by new signals able to indicate speeds related to a variety of hazards. When we have experience of them on the motorway network we may need to consider their application to selected other roads.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will provide skid pans between the carriageways of all motorways.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has approved the proposed north-south road through the Stamshaw area of Portsmouth.

The Portsmouth City Council's proposals for the North South road are still being examined. No decision has yet been made on the acceptance of this revised scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take action in order to improve the route from Heathrow to West London Air Terminal, by eliminating all right-hand turns and making the clearway permanent between the Chiswick Flyover and West London Air Terminal.

Complete elimination of the few remaining right turns on this route cannot be justified, although the arrangements at certain junctions are under review. The problems will be alleviated by programmed improvements at Sutton Court Read, Hogarth Roundabout and on West Cromwell Road from Earls Court Road to Warwick Road.Permanent clearway restrictions are already in force between the Chiswick Flyover and the West London Air Terminal.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take action to provide a non-stop route from Heathrow to West London Air Terminal by replacing traffic signals by over or under passes between Chiswick Flyover and West London Air Terminal.

Grade separation is planned at Sutton Court Road and the Hogarth Roundabout on the trunk road length of this route. The Greater London Council, as highway authority for the remainder, intends providing grade separation at the intersection with the proposed West Cross Route near Warwick Road. The Council is also examining possible further improvements.

asked the Minister of Transport when the order under the new Transport Act will be introduced to enable the provision of "resident only" parking in no parking areas; and if he will make a statement.

Before the wider traffic control powers in Part IX of the Transport Act can take effect new procedure regulations have to be made by myself and by my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales. These new regulations will lay down the procedures to be followed by local authorities in exercising their new powers, which will include power to regulate "resident only" parking.We have carried out extensive consultations with interested bodies and are now considering their comments. We are aiming to bring the regulations and Part IX of the Act into operation in April.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) if he will ensure that contractors building motorways and other major roads are compelled to reduce to an absolute minimum the inconvenience and suffering caused to residents by heavy vehicles causing damage and distress; and if he will make a statement;(2) what action he takes to prevent motorway contractors from damaging roads and causing inconvenience to pedestrians by mud, loose stones and water on roads approaching new motorways; and if he will make a statement;(3) what action is taken to protect the occupants of houses in privately-owned public roads from mud, road damage, house damage and inconvenience caused by motorway and trunk road contractors' vehicles using such roads; and if he will make a statement;(4) what action is taken to protect the occupants of houses in public roads from mud, road damage, house damage and inconvenience caused by motorway and trunk road contractors' vehicles using such roads; and if he will make a statement.

Any contractor executing roadworks on our behalf is required by the terms of his contract:

(i) to conform with all Acts of Parliament, Regulations, and Byelaws of any local or other statutory authority which may be applicable;

(ii) not to interfere unnecessarily or improperly with the public convenience or the access to use and occupaton of public or private roads or to or of properties; and

(iii) to keep existing highways, including private roads affected by the works, free from mud and all things deposited thereon by vehicles, labour or plant which might either constitute a nuisance or interfere with the public use of such highways or private roads.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has for improving the warning lights system on the M1 motorway; and if he will make a statement.

Permanent remotely-controlled traffic signals will be installed later this year on 62 miles of M1, M18 and A1(M) in the West Riding of Yorkshire as part of the programme announced by my predecessor.We expect to invite tenders for signal systems for about 20 miles of M1 and M10 in the Metropolitan Police District and Hertfordshire in the spring; the signal systems should be in use next year.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the series of multiple accidents which occurred on the M1 motorway in fog conditions on 9th January; and what proposals he has for improving safety on motorways as a result of accidents which took place on that day.

I would refer to my hon. Friend's speech on the Motion for the Adjournment on 21st January.—[Vol. 776, c. 440–52.]

asked the Minister of Transport what, under his regulations, are the dimensions, including length, breadth, height and weight, to which a commercial vehicle must conform before it is permitted to operate on British roads; and whether those dimensions comprehend a trailer.

The principal size and weight maxima are as follows:

Rigid lorries may be 11 metres long and up to 28 tons laden weight;

Articulated lorries (inclusive of semitrailer) 15 metres long and up to 32 tons laden weight;

Draw bar trailers up to 12 metres long and 28 tons laden weight;

Rigid vehicle/trailer combination up to 18 metres long and 32 tons laden weight. The width limit is generally 2½ metres but no height limits are specified.

In some cases design and other factors attract lower limits and there are also arrangements for authorising special vehicles or special uses above the stated maxima.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give details of the capital plans submitted to him relating to the ports of Wales, under the control of the Docks Board of the British Transport Commission, for roll-on/roll-off facilities in the near future.

My predecessor authorised a roll-on/roll-off berth for Swansea at an estimated cost of about £600,000. Work started in February, 1968, and I understand that the berth is expected to be in service by May of this year.

asked the Minister of Transport what percentage of the capital projects approved by him in respect of the Docks Board of the British Transport Commission in Wales on ports in the last two years has been invested in Barry, Cardiff, Newport, Port Talbot and Swansea, respectively.

Following is the information:

BRITISH TRANSPORT DOCKS BOARD— CAPITAL EXPENDITURE IN WELSH PORTS
	1967		1968
	Expenditure £000)	Percentage of total expenditure	Expenditure £000)	Percentage of total expenditure
Barry	114	1·9	121	1·7
Cardiff*	1,239	20·8	420	5·9
Newport	1,329	22·3	207	2·9
Port Talbot	2,959	49·6	5,477	77·5
Swansea	323	5·4	845	12·0
Total	5,964	100·0	7,070	100·0
* Includes dredger, floating crane and minor works for the South Wales group of British Transport Docks Board docks.

asked the Minister of Transport what compensation he estimates will be paid to the owners of port facilities in Bristol under the proposal in Command Paper No. 3903.

The National Ports Authority will make payments to the Corporation of Bristol to cover the servicing of loans outstanding in relation to the harbour undertaking. Compensation will be paid as appropriate in respect of the severance of the harbour undertaking from the Corporation's other activities. The amount of loans outstanding is understood to be about £10m. Compensation for severance will be determined in the light of all the facts at the appropriate time.No estimate of the compensation that might be paid in respect of the acquisition of port facilities in Bristol not owned by the Corporation can be given in advance of schemes to be prepared by the National Ports Authority.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service, whether he will report on the progress of the Standing Treasury Committee with the specific task of reviewing methods of control of public expenditure and costing among the 250,000 workers in Government service which was announced on 21st March, 1966.

The Committee has prompted the constituent Departments to review many aspects of their industrial activities, not only in respect of the control of expenditure. At present the Committee stands adjourned pending the report of the Committee under Sir John Mallabar announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Wythenshawe on 19th December, 1968.Measures taken by Departments and approved by the Committee include a review of the whole range of management information in the Navy Department; the extension of automatic data processing systems to costing systems in the Dockyards, refit planning, analysis of machine tool usage, production control etc.; the introduction of new storage systems to secure greater efficiency in the issue of stores and reductions in the numbers of stores staff; the introduction by consultants, of costing and budgetary control systems in REME workshops and RAOC depots; a review of the incentive bonus schemes in use not only in the departments represented on the Committee but also in other departments; a review by the Treasury of the use of work study in a number of Departments.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will identify the Government Departments incurring expenditure on their votes by reason of measures taken in regard to, or arising out of, the demonstration in London on Sunday 12th January. 1969.

No Government Departments incurred expenditure on such measures.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Common wealth Affairs how many letters he has received since 11th November, 1965, from inhabitants of Rhodesia reaffirming allegiance to the Crown.

This information is not readily available and, in any case, I do not think any conclusions could be drawn from it. Very many Rhodesians have of course demonstrate their loyalty to the Crown through the Governor, who is Her Majesty's representative in Rhodesia and to whom expressions of loyalty are appropriately addressed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state his plans for Great Britain's relations with Rhodesia as a result of the debates at the recent Commonwealth Conference.

I have nothing to add to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to the hon. Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro) on 21st January.—[Vol. 776. c. 245.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he pro poses to take about the illegal hoisting of the rebel flag of Rhodesia on Rhodesia House in Trafalgar Square, London, during the Christmas Recess.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the Minister Without Portfolio gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 20th January.—[Vol. 776, c. 24.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Common wealth Affairs why the Minister of State's visit to the Middle East included visits, to Egypt, Sudan and Morocco and not Israel; and whether he will arrange for the Minister of State to visit Israel on his return from the present schedule visit to the Middle East.

Israel is one of a number of countries in the Middle East for which my right hon. Friend the Minister of State has particular responsibility but which he has not yet visited. They could not all have been included in his present tour. There are no plans yet for another tour, but I take note of my hon. Friend's view.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding acceptance of Article 48 of the Treaty of Rome, which provides for persons seeking and obtaining employment to move freely and remain permanently in any of the member States.

As was explained in the debates which preceded our application to join the European Economic Community in May, 1967, we do not anticipate undue difficulties in accepting Article 48 of the Treaty of Rome.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of the Vatican's increasing activity in international affairs, he will now reconsider his policy of having only a Minister accredited to the Holy See.

As I told the hon. Gentleman on 8th July, 1968, this matter is being kept under review, but we are not convinced that this is the right time to seek any change in existing arrangements. —[Vol. 768, c. 31–3.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further steps he is taking to get British ships and their crews imprisoned in the Canal Zone released, following the recent official visit to Cairo of the Minister of State.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of State raised the subject of the blocked ships with President Nasser and with the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Republic. We shall continue to work for the early release of the blocked ships. The skeleton crews are, of course, not imprisoned; they are replaced at regular intervals.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold consultations with the Governments of the United States of America, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, France and the Federal Republic of Germany, with a view to making a joint request to the Governments of Brazil and Paraguay to return for trial those Nazi war criminals, known to be living in those two countries.

No. This is a matter for the Governments of the countries whose courts would have jurisdiction to try the suspected War Criminals and the Governments of the countries in which they are now residing.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what steps she is taking, by legislation or otherwise, to strengthen the port loading regulations so as to prevent the possible danger to dock workers arising from overloading which results from the practice known as cube-cutting.

Preliminary enquiries do not indicate that "cube-cutting" leads to increased danger to dock workers, but I am having further investigations made, and when they are complete I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she is aware that recently in the London Docks four men were hurt, two seriously, when a derrick collapsed after being overloaded; and whether she will obtain from the dock safety inspector details of how many accidents have been caused due to false descriptions and false details of weights of loads and on the extent to which the practice known as cube-cutting was a factor in these accidents.

My Department has received no report in recent months of an accident corresponding precisely with the circumstances described by the hon. Member, but I am aware of an accident in London Docks in October, 1968, in which a ship's derrick fell, injuring two men. I understand that the accident was caused by a faulty span wire and that there was no evidence of overloading or incorrect weight marking. I am investigating the possibility of obtaining the details requested in the second part of the Question and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she has given consideration to the request made to her Department to endorse the £500 per annum retainer fees paid to police surgeons; whether this is in accord with the Government's policy on productivity, prices and incomes; and whether she will make a statement.

The incomes policy aspects of the proposed settlement are under consideration by the Government: it would be inappropriate for me to make a statement. I understand that the maximum retainer fee is considerably less than that quoted by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity was was the total number of registered factory premises on 31st December, 1968.

The total number of registered factory premises on 31st December, 1968, was 206,389.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will state the average figure of unemployed for each of the last six years.

Following is the information:

Average numbers registered as unemployed in Great Britain
Averages for the 12 months of each year			Registered Unemployed (000's)
1963	…	…	573·2
1964	…	…	380·6
1965	…	…	328·8
1966	…	…	359·7
1967	…	…	559·5
1968	…	…	564·1

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1) what has been the average earnings of outside steel erectors for 1966, 1967, and 1968, respectively; what has been the annual percentage change in productivity of these workers; and what measurements are used to calculate such changes in productivity;(2) what is the percentage increase in the minimum earnings level of outside steel erectors recently agreed between the employers' federations and relevant unions; and whether such an increase is consistent with the incomes policy;(3) what is the expected percentage increase in earnings expected to derive from the combined effect of the increase in hourly rates and alteration of the minimum earnings level for outside steel erectors announced in mid-December; and whether such an increase conforms with the incomes policy.

Under the terms of the relevant agreement the rates of wages of outside steel erectors rise or fall nationally with those of workers in the general engineering industry, where there was a general increase of 6s. per week and an increase of 36s. 4d. per week in the minimum earnings level from 16th December, 1968, which was consolidated in the minimum time rate from 20th January, 1969. Under the terms of the agreement those whose earnings are equal to or above the new minimum rates are not entitled to any increase to maintain differentials. I am satisfied that the general effect for this group of workers is not dissimilar from the effect of the main engineering agreement. The other information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1) how many people have been employed in the paper and board making industry in Scotland in each year from 1958 to the latest convenient date;(2) how many people have been employed in the paper and board making industry in the United Kingdom in each year from 1958 to the latest convenient date.

Following is the information:

ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT IN SCOTLAND AND IN THE UNITED KINGDOM IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER AND BOARD, MINIMUM LIST HEADINGS 481 AND 483 OF THE 1958 EDITION OF THE STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION (MLH'S 180 AND 183 OF THE 1948 EDITION)
	Scotland	(Thousands) United Kingdom
June, 1958	20·1	154·1
June, 1959 (a)	20·8	156·8
(b)	20·5	153·5
June, 1960	21·3	160·4
June, 1961	22·0	168·9
June, 1962	21·6	165·4
June, 1963	21·6	167·9
June, 1964 (a)	22·1	167·5
(b)	22·2	168·0
June, 1965	23·0	171·1
June, 1966 (a)	22·3	172·0
(b)	22·2	170·9
June, 1967	22·0	167·3
June, 1968 (provisional)	—	166·8
November, 1968 (provisional)	—	168·0

The estimates for 1958 and 1959(

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what action she proposes as the result of the publication of the Report on the Training of Systems Analysts.

The Report "The Training of Systems Analysts (Commercial)" has been sent to all industrial training boards for use in preparing recommendations for such training in their industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity when the report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on the clearing bank pay settlement will be published.

Early in March.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1) whether she will take steps to call for a return to be made either through the Registrar of Companies or the Confederation of British Industry to ascertain to what extent company directors in receipt of £5,000 per annum or more have been receiving salary increases contrary to the Government's prices and incomes policy; and whether she will publish these details in the OFFICIAL REPORT;(2) whether she is aware of the growing practice of company directors and higher paid executives with salaries in the £5,000 per annum to £50,000 per annum range increasing these salaries by amounts ranging from 5 per cent. to 10 per cent. in consecutive years; and what action she has taken since 1st January, 1969, to investigate these matters to see to what extent they contravene the Government's policy on wages, prices and incomes;(3) when she first requested the National Board for Prices and Incomes to investigate the question of higher salaries; when she expects to receive the Board's report on these matters; and whether she will make a statement;(4) whether, in view of the new evidence submitted by the hon. Member for West Ham, North, she will now change the Government's policy on salary increases paid to company directors and higher paid executives in the £5,000 per annum to £50,000 per annum category who have increased their salaries by amounts varying between 5 per cent. and 10 per cent.

The question of top salaries in the private sector and nationalised industries was referred to the Board on 1st July, 1968. The report is now expected to be published in mid-March. The Government will consider what action, if any, is needed in this field in the light of that report.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many live cats and how many live dogs have been used for research in each of the last five years by establishments within the National Health Service; and what has been the average price paid per cat and per dog acquired from sources outside the National Health Service in each year.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in what circumstances students in the Brighton area received priority in the injection of Asian influenza vaccine over other categories of persons, particularly elderly people.

I have written to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why influenza injections have been made available for football teams; and why a doctor in the Rotherham area cannot get it for his sick patients.

I made arrangements in November with the suppliers for Hong Kong influenza vaccine to be made available first for certain people at special risk. Supplies of this vaccine are not yet meeting demand but increasing quantities are being distributed throughout the country to meet doctors' prescriptions. The vaccination of football teams would not be in accordance with the advice given by my Department and I would not expect them to have secured supplies of the new vaccine since November. No restrictions have been placed on vaccine containing older strains of the influenza virus.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied that the basis of assessment of the degree of impairment used in the Overseas Service Pensions Scheme pro vides an adequate basis for a general disability pension scheme; and if he will make a statement.

No. Our recently published White Paper explains in paragraphs 88 to 91 our proposals for long-term sick and severely disabled people and I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations objecting to his new pensions plan he has received from insurance companies.

None, so far.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will amend the National Insurance (Classification) Regulations to ensure that where a person hires out a cab to another person for a fixed hiring charge and receives no other payment, apart from that charge, the person who hires the cab is treated as a self-employed person for the purposes of the National Insurance Acts and not as at present an employed person; and if he will make a statement.

I had no such amendment immediately in mind, though I should be glad to consider any points the hon. Member may wish to put to me in support of a change. Under our proposals in the White Paper on "National Superannuation and Social Insurance", however, all contributions for employed persons will be collected through P.A.Y.E.; and I shall be examining specially the implications of this change for those, including taxi-drivers, who are at present treated as employed persons for National Insurance purposes but do not come within the P.A.Y.E. Income Tax system.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from the British Legion, Scotland, about the special position of disabled ex-Servicemen; and what reply he has sent.

A copy of the War Pensions Resolutions of the British Legion, Scotland 1968 Conference was sent to the then Minister of Social Security and subsequently I received a copy of a supporting memorandum. In my reply to both these documents, I gave an assurance that the special debt which is owed to war pensioners will not be forgotten, but I was unable to accept the Legion's proposal for reviewing the present system of pensions and allowances.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many working days were lost in 1968 because of bronchitis and similar chest complaints.

My information relates only to days of sickness notified for National Insurance purposes. From June, 1966, to June, 1967, the latest period for which figures are available, 35 million days of sickness were attributed to bronchitis, and 30 million days to all other diseases of the respiratory system.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the loss of revenue to his Department due to the employment of uninsured workers in the building and catering industries.

No reliable estimate can be made, but the results of investigations at building sites and catering establishments suggest that the loss is small in relation to the number of persons employed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to announce future plans for industrial injuries benefits as envisaged in paragraph 93 of Command Paper No. 3883.

In the course of the next few months.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to announce the details of the proposed attendance allowance referred to in paragraph 91 of Command Paper No. 3883.

							£ million
		1962–63	1963–64	1964–65	1965–66	1966–67	1967–68
Non-contributory benefits*	…	200	217	224	246	298	386
Other social security benefits	…	1,445	1,674	1,738	2,077	2,158	2,404
Total	…	1,645	1,891	1,962	2,323	2,456	2,790
* National Assistance and non-contributory old age pensions before 28th November. 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further steps he is taking to implement the recommendation of the Platt Report on the Welfare of Children in Hospital that children should be nursed in children's units and not in adult wards.

In accordance with advice from the Standing Medical Advisory Committee and the Central Health Services Council my right hon. Friend is requesting hospital authorities to review their arrangements for the care of children and adolescents in non-psychiatric

As paragraph 91 of the White Paper says, we need the facts now being gathered by the Government Social Survey before we can decided the details.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the further study of the circumstances of families with children anounced in paragraph 42 of Command Paper No. 3883, to be set up; who will undertake the study; and when he expects to receive the report.

Preparatory work is already in progress, but it is too early to say who, apart from my own research staff, will be concerned in carrying out the study, or how soon results will become available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the total amounts paid out by way of social security benefits or National Assistance during each of the last six years.

The amounts are as follows:hospitals and, where necessary, to draw up programmes, in consultation with the medical and nursing staff, with the object of ensuring that by 1971 children are nursed only in children's wards and departments and not in adult wards.A census taken in 1965 showed that 18 per cent of the children under 12 years of age in these hospitals were then being nursed in adult wards. My right hon. Friend considers that much can be done within the limits of the accommodation available to achieve the aim of grouping all children in wards and departments adapted to the special needs of children.Hospital authorities are also being advised that adolescents should, where practicable, be accommodated together and neither with children nor with adults.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much has been spent on new medical and other facilities at the Bearsted Memorial Hospital, Hampton Court, in the last three years.

£8,230.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development on what basis he assesses the increase payable to the members of the Overseas Service Pensions Scheme who have suffered some permanent impairment of their capacity to contribute to their own support.

No cases have so far occurred, but I would have to assess in consultation with my Medical Adviser how far the disability affected the officer's earning capacity.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what he estimates will be the value of footwear exports to the Soviet Union in 1969 compared with 1968.

I know that British footwear manufacturers have made special efforts to expand their exports to the Soviet Union in recent years, but I am not in a position to say how much the Soviet Union will buy in 1969.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take urgent steps to implement the recommendations of the Pearson Committee in order to improve the conditions of merchant seamen by introducing a new Merchant Shipping Act for that purpose.

As I told my hon. Friend the Member for South Shields (Mr. Blenkinsop) on 11th December, it is hoped to do this as soon as possible.—[Vol. 775, c. 147.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the concern of industry at the increased costs to exporters, the loss of income to dockworkers, and the danger to dockworkers involved in the practice known as cube-cutting, he will cause an investigation to be made into this practice with a view to amending the law so as to end the abuses.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to him by my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General on 30th January.— [Vol. 776, c. 378.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to make a special foreign travel allowance available to members of organised parties wishing to visit Normandy on 6th June, to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of D-Day.

Favourable consideration will be given to applications covering members of Service and related organisations and their families. The organisations should apply to the Bank of England.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether foreign exporters who deposit the 50 per cent. import deposit are granted by his regulations an absolute right to the refunding of these deposits in six months' time.

The Customs (Import Deposits) Act, 1968, requires that the deposit shall be repaid to the person named on the Customs entry as having paid it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the occasions on which the deferment provision in the financial agreement of 6th March, 1957. regarding the post-war dollar loans have been invoked to date, and state the number of further waivers yet available; and if he will make a statement on his plans to seek additional waivers by agreement with the United States and Canadian Governments.

The right to defer annual instalments of interest and principal on these loans was exercised in 1957, 1964, 1965 and 1968. There are three further opportunities. I have no plans to seek additional waivers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total of the subsidy given in each of the last 10 years to the Rural Industries Loan Fund.

The annual payments from the Development Fund into the Rural Industries Loan Fund have been as follows:

				£s
1959–60	…	…	…	22,295
1960–61	…	…	…	7,625
1961–62	…	…	…	10,657
1962–63	…	…	…	46,068
1963–64	…	…	…	9,121
1964–65	…	…	…	78,370
1965–66	…	…	…	162,750
1966–67	…	…	…	195,260
1967–68	…	…	…	246,053

The Rural Industries Loan Fund was wound up at 31st March, 1968, and its assets and duties were taken over by the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas, which has broader functions, towards which a payment of £595,000 was made from the Development Fund in 1968–69.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce a requirement for Government contracts to include a non-discrimination clause; and if he will make a statement.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) to what extent, over the four year period 1965 to 1968, new credits in the Exchange Equalisation Account, established by the creation of Treasury bills as collateral for new liabilities in foreign currency and automatically transferred to the Exchequer's account at the Bank of England, provided newly created money and helped finance the Exchequer's domestic financial deficit;(2) what new credits were established, over the four year period 1965 to 1968, in the Exchequer's account at the Bank of England through the additions, in this period, to the notes and coins in circulation;(3) by what amount any money or credit, created both by the operation of the Exchange Equalisation Account and by additions to the notes and corns in circulation, exceeded the Exchequer's borrowing requirements in the four year period 1965 to 1968;(4) what was the amount of Government debt sold during the four year period 1965 to 1968, in total and by the banks and the non-banking section of the private sector, respectively.

Firm figures are not yet available for the fourth quarter of 1968. However, during the preceding three and three-quarter years, between the beginning of 1965 and the end of the third quarter of 1968, the central Government borrowing requirement amounted to £2,588 million; external transactions (including aid bills) contributed £1,881 million; public holdings of notes and coin increased by £382 million; the non-bank private sector took up £14 million of Government debt and the banks £311 million. Further details are in Financial Statistics.When external transactions reduce the Government's domestic borrowing requirement, as they did in this period, they are a factor leading to a reduction in the money supply.