Mr James Dance: asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to introduce legislation to make it compulsory for lorries over a specified length, and particularly articulated lorries, to have reflective strips along the sides.
Mr James Dance: Is my hon. Friend aware that on country roads at night long lorries, particularly articulated lorries, turning off the main road present an impossible problem? One cannot see any lights at all. Will my hon. Friend reconsider this matter?
Mr James Dance: asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to make it compulsory for pedal bicycles to have reflective strips over the entire length of their rear mudguards.
Mr James Dance: I wish that my hon. Friend would think again about this matter. I have in mind bicyclists generally and road safety as a whole. Bicycles on country roads frequently have a very small red light which is sometimes obscured by dirt. It would be a good idea if reflective strips were fitted. The cost of such strips is negligible—under a shilling, I am told.
Mr James Dance: asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce his decision on Birmingham's applications for development on the city boundary.
Mr James Dance: Is my hon. Friend aware how grateful many people will be that we are at least getting a decision? Is he aware that there is great anxiety in the minds of many people in the West Midlands about their future?
Mr James Dance: asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to provide remand facilities for women in the Midlands.
Mr James Dance: Does my hon. Friend realise that this is an urgent matter? It is costing a great deal of money to escort these unfortunate women and they are being caused much disquiet and discomfort.
Mr James Dance: Is the Leader of the House prepared to refer to the Select Committee on Procedure the issues raised about the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Lambton) in Motion No. 5?
Mr James Dance: asked the Minister of Transport when he expects work will start on the proposed Alvechurch bypass in Worcestershire; and when he expects the bypass to be completed.
Mr James Dance: Will my hon. Friend bear in mind the great congestion which is caused there, particularly by transporters going to and from the British Leyland works in Birmingham?
Mr James Dance: asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give an assurance that the M6-M1 link will be completed not later than the end of 1971.
Mr James Dance: I am most grateful to my hon. Friend for that reply. For so long when the party opposite was in power we had so much indecision. This will certainly cause a great deal of pleasure to many people.
Mr James Dance: asked the Minister of Technology what steps he will take to encourage industry to Redditch New Town.
Mr James Dance: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that reply. Is he aware how unsatisfactory and expensive it is for people to commute from new towns into big conurbations? Will he pursue the matter as hard as he can to ensure that i.d.c.s are granted in all new towns, and particularly in Redditch?
Mr James Dance: Mr. Deputy Speaker, I am very grateful to the hon. Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Leslie Huckfield) for having clarified the way in which we should address you; he told us that he had looked it up and that you should be addressed as "Mr. Deputy Speaker". I, too, congratulate you on the great job that you have taken on. I know that with your usual charm you will steer the House through many...
Mr James Dance: I am sure that the hon. Member for The Hartle-pools (Mr. Leadbitter) will forgive me if I do not bore the House by going through his two speeches. I do not really know which one to refer to in any case, but I think that the House would have been happier had he finished when he made his first speech. I do not want to be controversial. 1 am seeking information and hoping to put forward a...
Mr James Dance: That covers the 999 call but not the " lonely " calls of someone who wants to hear from his family at the weekend. This is very important. I have spoken to a lot of elderly people about this, and they feel strongly that they should not be cut off from the rest of the world. I turn now to wrong numbers. There is no question that there are a lot of them. My number is Sloane 1343 and Peter...
Mr James Dance: That may be, but why should they pay for it? I rang up my secretary in the House during the recess from Warwickshire, and I was told to put 4s. 6d. in the box, and to push button A, but when I did so the line went dead, and there was no way of getting back the money. It often happens that I dial a number correctly, but all I hear is a " plonk " and the telephone goes dead. We all agree that...
Mr James Dance: I can quite believe that. if one pays for caviare one does not expect to be served herring roe. I pay tribute to the telephone manager in the West Midlands, who does all he can under difficult conditions to look after his customers. I am in no way criticising the staff in the Post Office. I merely criticise the system. As in so many nationalised industries, little thought is given to the...