asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) when he received the communication dated 12th April, from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, together with a Press cutting from the Stratford Express concerning the Stratford, East London, Redevelopment Scheme; what reply he has sent; and whether he will make a statement;(2) when the first steps were taken in connection with the proposed Stratford, East London, Redevelopment Scheme; when the Scheme is likely to commence; and whether he will make a statement.

The Stratford Broadway proposals, on which an inquiry was held towards the end of 1962, raised policy issues of wide significance. In particular, the amount of office space and the line of a new docks relief road could not be settled without consultation with the Government Departments and the other local authorities concerned. I understand that agreement has now been reached between the Greater London Council and the London Borough of Newham on a new route for the road. As I told my hon. Friend when I wrote to him last week, I am now in a position to consult the local authorities on my proposed modifications to the plan, and the remaining statutory procedures leading up to a decision will be taken as quickly as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will state for the year ended 31st March, 1966, in respect of development districts in the North-East, the number of applications for grants for the clearance of derelict land; the number approved, giving cost and acreage; the number rejected; and the number under consideration.

In the year ended 31st March, 1966, 17 applications were made for grant. During the same period approval was given to 18 schemes covering 475 acres at an estimated cost of …294,400; two further proposals covering 122 acres are likely to be acceptable if suitable schemes are submitted; 6 schemes have been rejected and 10 are under consideration.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will issue a circular to local authorities in the Greater London Council area setting out the Government's policy in respect of homeless families.

Guidance about measures for homeless families was given in a joint Circular from my Department and the Ministry of Health in 1959, and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. London Boroughs are being asked to provide more comprehensive information about homeless families. Whether further guidance is necessary is now under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking to test opinion in Gibraltar about the economic future of that country, and to be kept informed of Gibraltarian views on the coming Anglo-Spanish talks on Gibraltar; and to what extent Gibraltar will be represented at these talks by Gibraltarians.

I have invited the Chief Minister of Gibraltar and his Deputy to London on 5th and 6th May and I look forward to hearing their views.As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made clear yesterday, Her Majesty's Government are responsible for the external affairs of Gibraltar and it would not be in accordance with the constitutional position for the territory to be a party to the talks with Spain.

asked the Prime Minister if he will introduce legislation to ban Gallup polls or public betting on the chances of political parties during an election period.

No.

asked the Prime Minister, following the breakdown of the South Vietnamese Government and the extension of bombing in the North by B57 heavy bombers, what representations the British Government are making to the United States Government with a view to securing a peaceful settlement in Vietnam.

We are in close touch with the United States Government on all aspects of the situation in Vietnam, but as my hon. Friend knows the key to peace lies not in Washington but in Hanoi.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards the Vietnam situation.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Willesden, East (Mr. Freeson).

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement concerning the request made by the Prime Minister of New Zealand to Her Majesty's Government for a frigate for the New Zealand Navy.

As announced on 30th March, we have aranged to hire H.M.S. "Blackpool" to the Royal New Zealand Navy for four or five years. We plan to hand her over at Chatham on 7th June. She is similar to ships already in service in the Royal New Zealand Navy, and will enable them to maintain their valuable contribution to Commonwealth naval strength in the Far East.

asked the Prime Minister what steps are being taken to prevent the flow of oil into Rhodesia through South Africa; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the speech I made in the Debate on the Address on the 21st of April.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about his future policy in regard to sanctions, the United Nations and Rhodesia.

I have, as yet, nothing to add to the Statements I have already made to the House, notably on 25th January and 21st April this year.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the recent official discussions he has had with the British Broadcasting Corporation.

I have had no recent official discussions with the B.B.C.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he has taken to obtain from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of Eire information on the nature, cause and extent of the salmon disease in certain Irish rivers; and what instructions have been issued to river authorities and others in the United Kingdom for notification of any diseased salmon appearing in British rivers.

My Department has been in close touch with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for the Republic of Ireland.The disease has appeared sporadically in certain rivers in the south and south-west of Ireland since 1965, but in spite of intensive investigations it has not yet been possible to identify the organism which causes it. In some cases it is difficult to distinguish the disease from the fungus infection which can appear on any damaged fish.The Irish authorities have given instructions that all fish found affected with fungus are to be destroyed, and in addition are greatly strengthening inspection arrangements to ensure that no infected fish are exported.We are arranging for river authorities and other appropriate bodies to be informed of the symptoms of the disease so that any appearance of it in this country will be immediately reported.We shall continue to keep in close touch with the investigations which are still proceeding in Ireland.

asked the Prime Minister what steps he proposes to take to obtain further improvements in official statistics required for economic planning purposes.

A number of improvements in official statistics are already in hand. In addition, Mr. E. F. Jackson, Director of the Oxford Institute of Economics and Statistics, Fellow of St. Antony's College, Oxford, has been invited to advise what improvements in official statistics are needed in connection with the implementation of the National Plan, with particular reference to its regional aspects.

asked the Lord President of the Council by what authority British Broadcasting Corporation television cameramen were allowed to be present in the House of Commons Chamber for the purposes of televising the Opening of Parliament.

By the authority of Mr. Speaker on the advice of the Select Committee on House of Commons (Services).

asked the Postmaster-General why the expected date for relief of the Byfleet telephone exchange has been postponed from spring 1966 to autumn 1966.

Owing to manufacturing difficulties, installation of the extension of the Byfleet Exchange started four months later than planned, and this will delay completion by a corresponding period.

asked the Postmaster-General what consultations he proposes to have with other Western European countries about the proposed operation of two new pirate radio stations, Radio England and Britain Radio, on transmitters with a joint power of 110,000 watts.

This country has already taken part in discussions with the other member nations of the Council of Europe about the best method of preventing broadcasting from the high seas. These discussions resulted in the European Agreement which the United Kingdom signed last year. Further consultations are not in prospect.

asked the Minister of Power what estimate he has made of the price for North Sea gas when supplied to Midlands industry.

This will depend on a number of factors which cannot yet be quantified.

asked the Minister of Power what consultation he had with the Chairman of the National Coal Board before the announcement of the differential price rises in Scotland.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Members for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro) and Dumfries (Mr. Monro) today.

asked the Minister of Power what representations he has received concerning the recently increased price differential for Scottish coal; and whether, in view of the additional threat to the future of the coal industry, he will direct the National Coal Board not to proceed with such differential price increases.

A small number of representations has been made, but I believe it is right for the Board to proceed with the increases.

asked the Minister of Power if, in framing legislation to take the steel industry into public ownership, he will take steps to ensure the development of industrial democracy by workers' participation in management and industrial planning.

The Government believe that public ownership will provide new opportunities to increase co-operation between management and workers in the steel industry. The Steel Bill will include provisions to encourage this.

asked the Minister of Power how many breakdowns of electricity supply took place in the south-western area in April.

During the first three weeks of April, there was one serious breakdown in Plymouth which affected 24,000 consumers for an average of two hours, and 107 other instances of breakdowns, most of which affected only a small number or even a single consumer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reply he has sent to the letter from the British Cycle and Motor Cycle Industries Association of 14th April requesting consultations to reduce taxation on their products.

I have replied that I have noted these representations, and will bear them in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will initiate international discussions to find a substitute for gold in the world monetary system.

The United Kingdom is already taking an active part in existing discussions seeking ways of creating an international asset to supplement gold and reserve currencies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the rules governing the buying and selling of gold coins.

With effect from tomorrow further restrictions are being placed on the buying, selling and holding of gold coins and on the release of gold for manufacturing purposes. Details of the measures are being announced by the Treasury. At the same time my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is taking action to prohibit, with certain exceptions, the importation of gold coins, medallions and similar pieces.