asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what adjustment he proposes to make to the working of the bacon curing industry stabilisation arrangements.

The Government have reviewed the arrangements which I announced to the House on 20th April last in the light of the market situation and of representations by the curing industry that the rate of stabilisation payments should be increased to reflect increases in the cost of curing and the higher proportions of first quality bacon pigs and bacon now being produced. The Government have concluded that in the present situation changes involving a net increase in public expenditure could not be defended and that the pressure which the present arrangements puts on curers to pay closer attention to market conditions must be maintained. There has been evidence recently that this pressure is having effect, and my right hon. Friends and I do not think precipitate action is required at this stage. We have decided, therefore, that the method of calculating stabilisation payments introduced last April shall continue unchanged for a further three months, after which we shall review the position again in the light of the evidence then available.—[Vol. 815, c. 924–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, showing the mileage in respect of each, those local authority motorways or lengths of motorway in use, under construction, motorway schemes confirmed by the Secretary of State, and those made by the local authority and submitted to the Secretary of State for confirmation as at 31st October.

There are no schemes in use, under construction or confirmed. One scheme by the County Borough of the City of Cardiff—Thornhill to east of River Taff near Tresillian Terrace—has been submitted for confirmation. The scheme covers approximately 5¾ miles.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, giving the mileage in respect of each, those trunk motorways or lengths of motorway in preparation, firmly programmed, and under construction, respectively, as at 31st October, and those motorways or lengths of motorway in use.

The information is as follows:

Motorways in Preparation	Miles
M4—Newport Bypass to St. Mellons	4·0
M4—St. Mellons to A470	7·0
M4—A470 to Pencoed	13·0
M4—Bridgend Northern Bypass	9·0
M4—Pyle Bypass	6·0
M4—Pontardulais Bypass	8·0
	47·0
Motorways firmly programmed	Nil
Motorways under construction
M4—Morriston Bypass	4·0
Motorways in use
M4—Newhouse to Tredegar Park	18·6
A48(M)—Port Talbot Bypass	4·4
	23·0

Since I answered a similar Question by my hon. Friend on 4th May the Llantrisant Radial Road has reverted to the status of a future primary distributor road.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he has received proposals for changes in postal tariffs and services.

The Post Office has informed me that it does not propose any increase in the basic first and second class rates for letters up to two ounces, and the bulk of postal users will therefore be unaffected by the tariff changes proposed. However, after consulting me, the Post Office is today sending to the Post Office Users' National Council proposals for increasing inland postal charges for parcels and heavier letters, so as to produce additional postal revenue of rather less than 5 per cent. on average, and for streamlining postal services in the longer term. The tariff increases, which are proposed for introduction in February, 1972, have been drastically pruned to conform with the policy of price restraint. All the proposals will be carefully reviewed by the Government and the Post Office before any decision is reached in the light of comments from the Users' Council. Telephone tariffs are not affected. Details of the Post Office's proposals will be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what repre- sentations he has received about taking steps to meter the deliveries in bulk of petrol and fuel oils; whether he considers such action is necessary: and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has for ensuring that with the bulk supply of fuel oil and petrol delivery is made by such means as will enable the recipient to feel confidence in the accuracy of the measure employed: and if he will make a statement.

I have been considering the problem of dealing with short measure in bulk deliveries of fuel oil to domestic consumers and to others, and of petrol to retailers, following representations from petrol retailers and local weights and measures authorities. I shall be consulting the oil industry shortly with a view to making an order under the Weights and Measures Act, 1963, specifying new measuring arrangements in this field designed to remove the possibility of wrong delivery.