asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what request he has received from the Greater London Council, under the Rent (Control of Increases) Act, 1969, for permission to increase council house rents in 1971 by an average of more than 7s. 6d. per week.

The Greater London Council do not require my right hon. Friend's agreement under the Act to the rent increases they propose to make in 1971.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Greater London Council recently announced increases averaging a total of 30s. over the next three years, which works out at an average of 10s. during 1971? How can he reconcile his refusal to act with the Prime Minister's clear pledge before the last General Election to act directly to reduce public sector prices?

It is all very well for the hon. Member to say that. I say to him what I said in my original answer, that under the Act which was passed by the Labour Government the Greater London Council do not require to have my right hon. Friend's agreement to rent increases which they propose to make this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of sites which had been acquired by the London Borough of Brent for building housing accommodation still available for building starts on 1st January, 1967, the number of units envisaged, the number of sites which have since been sold or offered for sale, and the number of units which will now not be built.

The hon. Member should apply for this information direct to the London Borough of Brent who have the precise details of the date on which they acquired sites and their plans relating to them.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is a tremendous shortfall in the housing programme because of such sites being sold? I am grateful to him for twisting the borough's arm in getting the rent rebate scheme put back in the area. Is he aware that in my constituency there are 9,800 people without fixed baths, 21,000 families who share baths, and 19,000 who share lavatories? Could he do something about the appalling conditions in the Borough of Brent by using his political influence on that borough?

I do not accept the implications of that supplementary question. We are all worried about housing conditions not only in Brent but in other parts of the country. I am delighted to see that the Borough of Brent propose to put to tender so many dwellings next year.

Could the hon. Gentleman reconsider the last part of his reply and reserve his delight for a future occasion when this local authority increases its building programme? Is he not aware that there has been a cut of over 4,000 housing starts in the housing programme in 1969–72 by the present Conservative administration in the Borough of Brent?

What the House will be pleased to learn is that the council propose to put to tender nearly 2,000 dwellings this year and over 1,000 in 1972 and 1973. I hope that that will be considered to be a worth-while programme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations have been made to him, in the light of the rapid breakdown of rural transport services, to provide alternative transport services in co-operation with the General Post Office.

Without accepting all the implications of the Question, I can say that I have received a number of general representations on this subject.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Post Office make at least one collection per day from most of the rural areas which are at the moment without any form of public transport? Would he not, in conjunction with his right hon. Friend the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, carry out an investigation into the possibility of having a combined postal/transport service for these areas, on similar lines to those which operate so successfully in other countries and in some parts of this country?

Yes, Sir. I understand the anxieties that lie behind the Question. Discussions of the kind to which my hon. Friend referred are taking place between my Department and the Post Office.

Would the hon. Gentleman not persuade his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment that the only adequate solution to this problem is to publish a White Paper enshrining the proposals of the Maud Commission on Local Government so that the city regions of this country could introduce a systematic solution to the problem of rural transport?

The hon. Gentleman is a good deal more trusting in the efficacy of White Papers than I am.

Is the Minister aware that, in fact, rural bus services have already broken down and that in Dorset there will be an estimated loss of £300,000 in the coming year, that services have been withdrawn on a wholesale scale and fares have been raised to a degree which cannot be paid by low-income earners? Would he treat this as a matter of great urgency?

I assure my hon. Friend that I am in no way ignoring the gravity of this problem. He referred to its particular impact on Dorset. I assure him that Somerset is going through the same experience. But underlying it is the fact that the operation of buses, particularly in country areas, recently has become very unprofitable.

Would the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that there are many people in rural areas who are still dependent on public transport? Would he take the initiative, following his circular, by calling together local authorities and bus companies so that the position could be examined and some relief given to this desperate problem?

I assure the House and the hon. Gentleman that the matter is being thoroughly examined, but I should be deceiving the House if I were to suggest that there was some hope of a very easy and painless solution to be obtained by merely calling people together.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the policy of the Government with regard to expanded towns; and if he will make a statement.

As my hon. Friend will know, the Town Development Act, 1952 was introduced by a Conservative Government to enable local authorities to provide houses for families from the congested areas. Our belief that this is a sensible policy is unchanged and we intend to see that it is used to the best advantage.

In view of that answer, would my hon. Friend please see, where projects are awaiting decision by the Minister, that action is taken quickly? I have in mind one case in which the Greater London Council, as the exporting authority, held a public inquiry last January, which is 12 months ago, and in which there has still been no answer from the Minister.

If my hon. Friend would like to write to me giving specific details, I will try to reply to her. We have to take into account a large number of factors but, compatible with the situation, we try to move with all reasonable speed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the long-term policy of the Government in respect of new town corporations and the New Towns Commission; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to give control of the assets and property of new town corporations to local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy with regard to the retention of the Commission for New Towns.

I fully expect that developments under the New Towns Act will continue as an element in national and regional strategies, but I shall look for greater participation by private capital and a much higher level of owner-occupation. I have no plans to legislate for the transfer of new town assets to local authorities. The Commission have an important continuing task and I envisage the future transfer to them of other new towns as development corporations complete their tasks.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the House will welcome the Government's interest in giving an opportunity to private enterprise to take part in the development of new towns? Will he also bear in mind the importance at the planning stage of taking account of the interests of local residents?

Yes, certainly. I agree with everything my hon. Friend says and I take note of the points he makes.

I thank the Minister for his encouraging reply. In the interim could he make houses in development areas available on preferential terms on the same basis as occurs in Skelmersdale?

Perhaps I could look at the specific case and at the point about Skelmersdale.

In view of the anxiety of the local authorities to take over the assets of the New Towns Commission, is my hon. Friend satisfied that the assets are properly valued? If they are valued at book value they become a very attractive proposition, but if they are valued at current market value they are not quite so attractive.

My hon. Friend puts his finger on an important point. If there were any question of a transfer to the local authorities the valuation of these assets would be an extremely difficult and complicated matter.

Is the Minister aware that there will be great anxieties about the implications of what he said about the future of the new towns and their relationship to local authorities? Many of us are concerned that there should be proper democratic control in some of these cases. Would he not agree there is a need for some debate about this matter?

It is certainly a very important matter on which hon. Members will wish to express views. But I do not think there is any doubt that there has been some prolonged uncertainty, and my right hon. Friend and I wish to see the New Towns Commission retained.

Is my hon. Friend aware that his reply will give great comfort to those of us who feel that the local councils have special qualities and structures which suit them for local government, but that they are not factors which suit them to run such major business enterprises as new towns?

I appreciate what my hon. Friend says and I should like to say how much I enjoyed the visit to Harlow New Town which I had the pleasure of making recently.

Can we not get the record clear? May we be clearly told whether this is a continuing decision or a provisional decision—as to whether this is a retention of these assets in the New Towns Commission, or whether there is an intention to review the matter and pursue it with the possibility of passing over assets to local authorities in future?

My right hon. Friends have decided that the New Towns Commission should remain and we envisage that future transfer to it of other towns would be done as the development corporations complete their task.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he proposes to ensure that the private sector of housing plays a substantial part in overspill schemes in general, and at Daventry in particular.

New Town development corporations and the local authorities in expanding towns are already encouraged to make land available for private sector housing. In Daventry since 1966 about one-quarter of the new houses have been privately built. Private development is pending on 22½ acres, and a further 24 acres are likely to be released for private housing in the next 12 months.

I note what my hon. Friend said in reply to an earlier Question about the level of rented accommodation and owner-occupation in the new towns. Without exception, both in the new towns and in town development schemes, these are out of balance very substantially. In view of the commitment into which the previous Administration entered, with a 50–50 break, how does my hon. Friend see this becoming a reality?

There is every prospect in the New Towns Commission of being able to progress towards these targets at a reasonably early date. I hope that it will also be possible in the expanding towns. But there are difficult problems in many areas. I should very much welcome constructive suggestions and should like to discuss the matter with my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what contact his Department maintains with the National Association of Waste Disposal Contractors; and what advice concerning the development of total destruction complexes that body has tendered.

The Association gave evidence to the Working Party on Refuse Disposal and representatives of the Association met officials of the Department in December, 1970, for an informal discussion of waste disposal problems. No advice has been tendered by the Association concerning the development of total destruction complexes.

My right hon. Friend will be aware of the increasing lack of dumping facilities for refuse. Does he not agree that these destruction schemes will become a necessary part of refuse disposal and will he encourage such schemes?

The Government will encourage such schemes and I hope that suitable reform of local government will enable this matter to be put on a more rational basis.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at a recent meeting of the Science and Technology Committee representatives of the industry thought that his Department could be more positive in this matter?

We received a report on this matter only a few weeks ago, and we are currently asking local authorities to tackle the matter in a more efficient manner than has occurred in the past. I hope that our arrangements on the future construction of local government will substantially assist.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what terms of reference have been given to Mr. Lewis Gilmour Whyte on his appointment as Chairman of the Transport Holding Company.

I am discussing with Mr. Whyte the future of the Transport Holding Company and its subsidiaries, and I hope to make a statement shortly.

Is the Minister aware that there is great concern throughout the nationalised industries about the proposal to hive off profitable sectors, which includes Thomas Cook and Sons? Is he further aware that there is considerable suspicion among working people in the nationalised industries, following the dismissal of Lord Hall and the refusal by Lord Robens to serve further on the National Coal Board, that chairmen will be appointed who are prepared to do the Government's bidding in getting rid of concerns over which they are put in control?

I am not aware of any of the proposals to which the hon. Gentleman refers. I would comment that, if there is anxiety in any of these concerns, I cannot believe that it will be allayed by the sort of allegations the hon. Gentleman has made.