asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether, in view of the circumstances in which the contents of a letter from the hon. Member for Fife, West to Lord Hill, the Chairman of the British Broadcasting Corporation, were communicated to a national newspaper without the knowledge or consent of the hon. Member, he will dismiss Lord Hill.

No, Sir.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a very serious principle is involved? When an hon. Member writes to a public corporation and the information is disclosed to a newspaper within 24 hours of his writing, without the Member's knowledge or consent, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that that is to be deplored and that the matter should be further investigated with a view to disciplinary action being taken against the offender?

I am told by the B.B.C. that it is investigating to try to discover how the information arrived at the newspaper. But certainly I do not consider it a matter which would justify the dismissal of the chairman of the corporation.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that, while there may be many reasons for dismissing Lord Hill, the request contained in this Question is not one of them?

I agree with that last comment.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the right hon. Gentleman's reply, I beg to give notice that I shall seek an early opportunity to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether, in view of the provisions of the Licence and Agreement, his permission in writing was sought by the British Broadcasting Corporation before the transmission of announcements relating to the Time-Life part-work on the British Empire.

No, Sir. My permission was not sought.

Does the Minister accept that in view of the B.B.C. advertising a commercial undertaking, upon which none of its staff had worked and for which it received 1 per cent. of the profits, in return for financial help in the sale and marketing of B.B.C. programmes, one of which incidentally bore the title of this part-work, there is a need to look again at the definition of sponsorship in Section 12 of the Licence and Agreement and particularly at what the phrase

"money or any other valuable consideration" nowadays can mean?

I am satisfied that the B.B.C. is right to say that it did not, in the words of Section 12, receive any money or valuable consideration in respect of the sending of these announcements. I think that there is a feeling, on the part of a number of hon. Members, that there are aspects of the Time-Life arrangement about which the B.B.C. ought to think further.

Will my right hon. Friend look into one aspect which seems rather odd, namely, that the "British Empire" should have been arranged with an American publishing firm, the matter not having being discussed with a British publishing firm before the decision was made?

The situation undoubtedly is that the B.B.C. retains total editorial control over the programmes, though I am sure the corporation will take note of my hon. Friend's views.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what discussions he has held with the British Broadcasting Corporation on the subject of advertising being used as a form of revenue for the corporation; and if he will make a statement.

None, Sir. Nor has the B.B.C. put this suggestion to me.

As the B.B.C.'s range of activities is so wide and as broadcasting costs continue to rise, would it not be better for the corporation to raise some revenue from advertising rather than make another request for an increase in the licence fee?

There is no question of a request for an increase in the licence fee at this time. The view that the corporation has always taken about advertising is that if it once allowed it into any of its programmes it would, in successive years, be forced to extend advertising throughout its service. On that basis, it has always resisted the idea of introducing advertising anywhere.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telecommunications when he expects to begin consultations about a successor to the present Chairman of the British Broadcasting Corporation.

I have nothing to add to my reply on 9th February to my hon. Friend the Member for Belfast, North (Mr. Stratton Mills).—[Vol. 830, c. 1319.]

Would the Minister indicate whom he will be consulting before the appointment is finalised? Also, would he bear in mind the independence, impartiality and, indeed, importance which reasonable people on all sides of the House attach to this appointment? What thought has the Minister given to taking the nation into his confidence and publishing a list of the aspirants for the post prior to the appointment being made?

I am not sure that that is a very practical proposal, because I doubt whether a very satisfactory list of aspirants could be drawn up in public for such a post. We would do better to rely on more traditional means of filling the post.

Would my right hon. Friend accept that, after giving reasonable freedom to producers, matters of programme content must rest securely in the hands of the new chairman and his colleagues and not in the hands of free communications groups within the B.B.C. or any other self-appointed doctrinaires? In this matter may we be sure that the chairman will have the fullest support of the Minister and Her Majesty's Government?

Although the terms in which my hon. Friend described the situation might be regarded by some as slightly provocative, I think he has outlined the position absolutely correctly. Responsibility for programme content rests solely with the chairman and governors of the B.B.C.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he is now in a position to make a statement to the House as a result of his discussions with the Post Office Board arising from the rejection of the board's restructuring proposals by the Post Office Users' National Council.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what proposals he has now received from the Post Office Corporation for restructuring the postal services; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave on 27th January to my hon. Friend the Member for Belfast, North (Mr. Stratton Mills).—[Vol. 829, c. 520.]

Does the right hon. Gentleman accept that this is a matter of great concern, especially to those who work in the Post Office and not least to the consumers who use the Post Office? Surely the time has come when there should be some urgency about this matter, and should not the House know at an early date the outcome of the discussions?

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has made it clear that the Government are considering the position of all the nationalised industries following the C.B.I. initiative. A statement will be made about the Post Office, like all the other nationalised industries, in due course.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the original restructuring proposals of the Post Office Corporation envisaged the redundancy of 25,000 of the Post Office staff by 1978? In view of the fact that the Post Office Users' National Council has now rejected some of the major recommendations in the original restructuring report, what is now the position regarding the redundancy of Post Office staff?

The proposals were never based upon the belief that redundancies would be necessary. It was a matter of recruitment and natural wastage over that period. The Post Office has said that it will not now implement these major service cuts in view of the recommendations of the Post Office Users' National Council. I think that the other changes will not affect the service markedly.

Will the right hon. Gentleman recognise that there is now considerable urgency about this matter? It is not simply a question of what happens when the C.B.I. initiative comes to an end and what action the Government take generally. If we are to accept what the Chairman of the Post Office Corporation has said, there will be serious financial problems to be considered. Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that this is a matter which should be considered soon? Will he make an early statement to the House?

In part, those serious financial problems arise from the very serious situation of the Post Office in the middle of 1970. In part they arise from the terms of the C.B.I. initiative. It is in that context that the Post Office, together with the other nationalised industries, is being considered by the Government.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will give a general direction to the Post Office Corporation to put telephone wires underground in conservation areas and other built-up areas of high quality.

No, Sir; but the Post Office consults conservation bodies and obtains consents from local authorities and others as prescribed in the Telegraph Acts.

I appreciate my right hon. Friend's reluctance to give a general direction. Does he appreciate, however, that the Post Office has a much less good record than the electricity boards in this respect? Will he make representations to the Post Office that it should be at least as good as the electricity boards in putting these cables underground?

I am sure that the Post Office will take note of what my hon. Friend has said and will be willing to consider any specific instance which he may wish to bring to its attention. I am informed that the Post Office consults conservation bodies and takes its responsibilities in this direction seriously.

Is the Minister aware that it is important for the Post Office to lay cables underground not only in areas of high quality but in council estates? Is he aware that the Post Office discriminates between areas when deciding whether to erect poles or to lay cables underground?

I do not accept what the hon. Gentleman said in the second part of his question. The Post Office clearly accepts that it has a responsibility in, for example, areas of outstanding natural beauty and areas which have a particular conservation value, and it is anxious to bear in mind amenity considerations wherever they operate.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications when the City of Bradford will have a local radio service.

The frequency plan which I am considering with the B.B.C. and I.T.A. is not yet completed. It is too early to say when Bradford will be served.

Will the Minister tell us whether he has decided on the kind of radio station that Bradford is to get? Will it be B.B.C. or commercial? If commercial, is this the reason for the delay in the announcement? Is there not enough consumer exhortation being directed at our citizens without having further commercial stations, particularly in Yorkshire?

I do not take that view. The hon. Gentleman will be interested to know that the Opposition have now made it clear in Committee that they equally do not favour a B.B.C. monopoly in sound radio. It is possible that the B.B.C.'s Leeds station could in due course reach Bradford. It is also possible that Bradford will have its own I.B.A. station. However, the determination of this matter will rest upon the completion of the overall frequency plan.

Will my right hon. Friend inform me whether Southampton is to be on the list to obtain one of these few commercial radio stations?

I certainly hope so; but we cannot make an announcement about the places which will be served by commercial radio until the frequency plan, which will determine the frequencies to be used by the I.B.A. and by the B.B.C. has been completed.

Will the Minister tell us what reasons were adduced by Opposition spokesmen in Committee against the monopoly of the B.B.C. in sound radio? It is news to us.

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will want to address that question to his hon. Friends. I suspect that they must have been persuaded by the arguments which we put forward. For the time being there appears to be no inclination on the part of the Opposition either to wind up commercial television or to oppose in principle commercial radio.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, irrespective of frequency, large tracts of country are totally muted in this context? South Worcestershire has no local radio cover whatever, either commercial or B.B.C. Cannot we have some priority before these well-served areas such as Bradford get on to the list?

I am deeply disturbed at the idea of South Worcestershire being muted. I will endeavour to do what I can in the matter.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what is the estimated loss, revised and cumulative to the latest convenient date, of the Post Office Giro; whether he will publish the salient recommendations in the Cooper Brothers report on the finances of the undertaking; whether the reconstruction of Giro is yet complete; and what financial objectives have been agreed.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he has yet received proposals from the Post Office for Giro tariff increases in conformity with the recommendations of the Cooper Brothers report.

I have nothing as yet to add to the answers I gave on 19th January and on 9th February to my hon. Friends the Members for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) and Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro).—[Vol. 829, c. 433–5; Vol. 830, c. 1312–4]

As I have estimated the cumulative loss up to next March at approximately £20 million, which is a sensible estimate, may I ask my right hon. Friend to bear in mind that this is the lamest of all lame ducks among the nationalised industries? As public capital is entailed, is not the House of Commons entitled to know what the accountants recommend in their report?

Cooper Brothers' report, following a large number of past precedents, was commissioned on the basis that it should be frank about things and people. It could have been commissioned on some other basis which would have been suitable for publication, but it would have been less use for the purpose in hand. I appreciate that my hon. Friend is anxious to see the new tariff structure introduced as soon as possible in order that the Giro may move into profit, and I assure him that no time will be wasted on that.

Is the Minister aware of the great efforts being made by 3,500 of my constituents to make Giro a great success? Will he remind his hon. Friend the Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro), who knows my constituency, that he should know that any industry or commercial undertaking which has the good sense to come to Bootle is bound to fructify and blossom eventually?

It is right that there should be concern about Giro and whether it could be profitable. However, nobody was anxious, for the sake of it, to deprive the Post Office, alone among European post offices, of the opportunity of running a transmission service which could be more up-to-date than postal and money orders. We are now determined to carry through the restructuring recommended by Cooper Brothers to put Giro on a viable foundation.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will now set up independent advisory panels to enable the public to give advice prior to policy decisions of the British Broadcasting Corporation and Independent Television Authority.

No, Sir. The broadcasting authorities must judge how best to acquaint themselves with the views of the public and what advice to seek, since they have the responsibility for providing the service.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are many people who want neither Government intervention or interference with the broadcasting authorities nor the dictatorial attitude which is taken by broadcasting authorities about programme content and policy? Is it not sensible to follow the Danish system, which means that the consumer and the community have a say in the policy of the broadcasting authorities?

My hon. Friend knows that these matters have been debated in both Houses and that different views have been expressed. The Governors of the B.B.C. and the members of the I.T.A. are there to represent the public and the consumer. My doubt about my hon. Friend's proposal is whether there would be any gain from dividing responsibility for programme content between two publicly appointed authorities.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that there is never any difficulty in discovering what public opinion is, but that it is the view of the B.B.C. that it should be constantly and deliberately ignored?

I do not accept that that would be regarded as a proper interpretation of their functions by the governors of the corporation.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications when he expects subscriber trunk dialling exchanges to be in use in every town with a population of more than 25,000.

The Post Office tells me that S.T.D. facilities have now been provided for 92 per cent. of telephone customers and the remainder should have them by the end of 1974.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that my Question refers to populations in excess of 25,000 and that Brentwood, in my constituency, with a population of more than 50,000, not only does not have subscriber trunk dialling but is constantly told that it will be later and later before it gets it? Does my right hon. Friend realise that the inhabitants are getting tired of the Post Office blaming contractors and the contractors blaming the Post Office, and is there not an opportunity for the Minister to knock a few heads together?

There has been difficulty in adapting the crossbar exchange system to local needs and there has in consequence been considerable delay. I am told that S.T.D. will be provided for Brentwood in late 1973.

Will the right hon. Gentleman recognise that for the next generation of telephone equipment the policy and investment decisions which will have to be made by the Post Office, for example in relation to T.X.E.4, are matters which we on this side of the House would wish to be discussed publicly before a decision is taken? The amount of capital investment involved will be extremely large and it would be wrong if that decision were taken otherwise than in as public a way as possible.

I entirely accept that. As I have made clear in previous exchanges, the Post Office does not yet consider that it is in a position to decide which exchange system, or which combination of exchange systems, it requires for the next period. Before that happens I should need to come to the House for new borrowing powers and this would give an occasion for debating the matter.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will give a general direction to the Post Office to ensure that combinations of stamps are treated in the same way by the sorting machines as single stamps of the same total value.

I understand from the Post Office that a letter with any combination of stamps equal to the first-class rate is treated as first class.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a letter in The Times pointed out that an envelope bearing a 2½p and a ½p stamp would go by second-class mail? I have checked this with the Post Office in the House of Commons and I have been told categorically that there is a metallic substance in the 3p stamp which the processing machine can detect, whereas there is no such metallic substance in stamps of lower denominations.

I am afraid that that is not correct. I believe there was a reply from the Post Office to that letter in The Times giving the assurance that that combination of stamps would be detected by the machine as first-class mail and that the mail would be treated as such.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will give a general direction to the Post Office to increase the number of telephone kiosks installed on council house estates.

No, Sir. The siting of kiosks is a management matter for the Post Office.

Is the Minister aware of the ever-growing demand on council estates, where large communities live together, for better telephone facilities, especially in London where there is so much vandalism?

I entirely accept that that is the position. The Post Office simply has to be satisfied that there would be a sufficient volume of business to justify the expense of a kiosk. I am sure that the Post Office would look sympathetically at any particular case which the hon. Gentleman cared to raise with it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Glasgow is building houses for aged persons who have to wait a long time for telephones to be installed? Many of these people are over 70 and are totally dependent upon the telephone. Will the Minister look into this and see that telephone cables are laid as the houses are finished?

I am sure that the Post Office will take note of what the hon. Gentleman suggests. Certainly the Post Office—and I shall have more to say on this later—is anxious to move as fast as it can to meet rising demand.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that what is needed are not only more telephone kiosks on housing estates but more telephone kiosks all over the country which are in working order?

Indeed, and I have on previous occasions described some of the measures which the Post Office is taking to combat vandalism.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will make a further statement on the effect that the introduction of commercial radio in Great Britain will have on local and national newspapers.

I know of no reason to change my previous assessment which I outlined during the Second Reading debate on the Sound Broadcasting Bill on 11th November last.—[Vol. 825, c. 1263.]

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Will he make it crystal clear that any consortium bidding for a local radio commercial licence will have to show the capability and the aim of providing a good news service? Does he agree that local newspapers are in a particularly strong position to do this?

I entirely agree. I believe that local newspapers will have a very valuable contribution to make to the new service.

Does the Minister regard the late lamented Clause 7 of the Sound Broadcasting Bill as a phoenix or a lame duck?

It has been made clear during the somewhat lengthy course of the Sound Broadcasting Bill that in the absence of any worth while, substantial, positive ideas of their own, the Opposition are prepared to support any Amendments which come from the Government side.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the radio and television transmitters, and the booster stations, indicating the power, whether in operation, and, if not, when expected to be in service, and which programmes and frequencies such as B.B.C.1, B.B.C.2, or independent such as Yorkshire TV, and whether very high frequency or ultra high frequency they transmit, which are now or will be transmitting to an area of 25 miles radius from Sheffield Town Hall.

Yes. Sir.

I welcome the progress which has been made during the last 18 months, but is my right hon. Friend aware that reception is still poor in the Peak District of Derbyshire and the valleys of Hallam? Will he outline what progress has been made and make known to the people living in the area the progress which we can expect in the months to come?

Since there is a great deal of detailed information in the answer I am, as my hon. Friend suggested, circulating it in written form. As he knows, there are particular problems in getting the signal through in mountainous areas, but the B.B.C. and I.T.A. are anxious to make as fast progress as they can.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in my constituency, within 18 miles of Sheffield, it is impossible to receive Radio Sheffield but it is possible to receive Radio Humberside which is 70 miles away? Is it not ludicrous that the transmitter in Sheffield should have only one-tenth the strength of the transmitter in Humberside? Does the Minister agree that in the recent national emergency transistor radios were worth their weight in gold and that radio stations throughout the country should all have the same transmission power?

That would not make sense because local radio stations serve populations of differing sizes. I have said that I am prepared to look at the transmission strengths of B.B.C. local stations in the context of the frequency review which is now in progress.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he is aware that the transmitters now being used by the Sheffield and Leeds British Broadcasting Corporation radio stations are not sufficiently powerful to reach many of the people in their catchment areas; and if he will take immediate steps to allow these two radio stations to use the Holme Moss transmitter.

I have undertaken to consider the possibility of improving the coverage of B.B.C. Radio Leeds and B.B.C. Radio Sheffield as part of the total frequency plan for local radio.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it is time some- thing was done apart from considering? Is he waiting until the Sound Broadcasting Bill completes its passage through the House of Commons? Does he not realise that Sheffield has 160 times less power and Leeds 30 times less power than the average power of the other four stations—Derby, Teesside, Humberside and Manchester? What is wrong with these two cities? Do they not qualify for a good radio transmitting station?

These stations are broadcasting at the powers which the B.B.C. proposed when it sought the approval of my predecessor. What we have to do if we want to get the maximum coverage is to have a comprehensive frequency plan. If one gives permission in a higgledy-piggledy way to people here, there and everywhere to broadcast at different powers, one will in the end get less coverage than if one does it in a rational way.

Does not Radio Sheffield have a new and more powerful transmitter installed? Why has it not been used?

Because if a radio station broadcasts at a higher power, that may mean that less broadcasting can be received in another area. Frequency planning has therefore to be done on a comprehensive basis.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he appears to be shelving this problem? The extreme end of my constituency is only seven miles from Sheffield Town Hall, but 33,000 of my constituents who live within the Sheffield area cannot receive transmissions from the Sheffield transmitting centre. Will the right hon. Gentleman look seriously at this and make proposals to the B.B.C., if it is the B.B.C.'s responsibility, to correct the problem at the earliest possible moment?

The B.B.C. has its proposals and they are being discussed between my Ministry and the I.T.A. As soon as we can see a frequency plan which will enable broadcasting at higher powers at any of the B.B.C. stations, I shall certainly authorise it.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will issue a general direction to the Post Office to redirect mail free of charge addressed to council tenants moved out for modernisation of their houses to temporary accommodation for a period of up to three months.

No, Sir. The cost of redirection has to be met but I understand that local authorities have discretionary powers to bear the fees themselves in appropriate cases.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman acknowledge that this is an imposition on tenants who have no choice but to accept other accommodation while Blaydon Council is bringing pre-war council houses up to modern standards? Will he reconsider the matter?

No, Sir. The Post Office is performing a service which costs money and has to be paid for. The local authority has power to help where it feels that help is justified.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what is the average time taken for delivery of express inland letters.

This is a matter for the Post Office, which tells me that it is not possible to give an average figure in respect of the special delivery service.

I am sure my right hon. Friend will acknowledge that, whereas formerly it was reasonable to anticipate the arrival of all inland post at its destination the following morning, since the creation of the two-tier system at an inflated price this has become increasingly infrequent. People who wish to make certain that their post arrives have no option but the express post. On two successive occasions, with mail posted in this House—

Order. The hon. Member must not make a statement; he must ask a question.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that mail posted from the House of Commons by express mail to Ormskirk, at a surcharge of 20p, has on two successive occasions in the past month still not arrived by first post next morning?

I am sure that the Post Office would be very willing to investigate particular difficulties which may have arisen. Some 94 per cent. of first-class letters arrive the following day. The special delivery service is a supplement to that service and when no better service is provided by the special delivery service than would have been provided by the first class service, the full fee can be reclaimed.

Would the Minister accept that one of the difficulties that the Post Office is undergoing is that head postmasters are not filling vacancies as they arise because they are awaiting the restructuring proposals referred to earlier and that consequently this makes it much more difficult to deliver all items on time not only express, first-class or second-class material, but all items, including telegrams? The Post Office is having this difficulty because the vacancies are not being filled.

The Post Office has not suggested to me that any uncertainty over restructuring is hampering recruitment. The Post Office has made it clear that it accepts the verdict of the Post Office Users National Council in relation to the restructuring proposals.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what effect the national emergency has had on the postal and telephone services.

The Post Office tells me that interruptions to electricity supplies have caused some delays to both postal and telephone services; but there have been no really serious disruptions of service.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recognise that we on this side of the House, at least, appreciate very much the efficiency with which the Post Office carried out its duties in the face of considerable difficulties? Would the Minister say whether there has been any costing of the exercise and whether it has cost the Post Office money and, if so, how it is proposed to recoup it?

No significant increased costs have been incurred as a result of the dispute. I am sure that the Post Office will be grateful for what the hon. Gentleman has said.

Has my right hon. Friend's attention been drawn to front page stories in today's Daily Mirror and Daily Express in which shocking increases in charges for telephones are forecast? Would he say whether those stories are true and, if so, whether they have any relationship to the national emergency?

I hope, with permission, to answer a Written Question on this subject at the end of Question Time.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications how many employees in the postal grades have opted for the new contributory superannuation scheme and how many have decided to continue in the non-contributory scheme.

That is a matter for the Post Office.

Will the Minister accept the representations that have already been made to him about the new contributory superannuation scheme mitigating against postal workers occupying council houses in certain parts of the country because their gross earnings have increased, although their take-home pay has not increased? Will the right hon. Gentleman bring pressure to bear on his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to ensure that this practice is stopped?

The management of the pension scheme is a matter for the Post Office. There are some difficulties of the kind which the hon. Gentleman describes, of which my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Secretary of State for Social Services are aware.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications when he expects to announce plans for an inquiry into broadcasting.

I have nothing to add to the replies I gave on 19th January in answer to the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond) and my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Mr. Deedes).—[Vol. 829, c. 480–1.]

As so many things are now happening in the whole of broadcasting, over and above the Bill the tattered remnants of which the Minister must still have some hope of dragging through the Committee, is it not absolutely scandalous that these are still continuing without the faintest indication of when we are to have a full and informed inquiry into the whole of broadcasting?

What would have been scandalous would have been if we had refused to take the action that we promised at the General Election of introducing competition into radio, of putting right the finances of the B.B.C. and the I.T.A. and of taking action to derestrict hours when it would have been sensible to do so, all because a review was in preparation for 1976.

This matter has been raised time and again with the Minister since he assumed office. Why on earth has he not recognised that it is high time he appointed this inquiry? It is time that he appointed it, that it got on with its work, that it reported and that we considered its report. Is he aware that the longer he leaves it the worse the position gets?

The matter is raised so often by the hon. and learned Gentleman because every time we take the initiative on something over which he and his hon. Friends cannot make up their minds, such as whether there should be competition in radio, they say that it should be put off and a committee of inquiry set up. That is not the course that we propose to take.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what estimate he has made of losses on postal services to 31st January, 1972, and to 31st March, 1972, for the full year ending on that date; and what financing proposals including increased charges he now has to finance such losses.

As indicated in the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Manchester, Openshaw (Mr. Charles R. Morris) on 2nd February. [Vol. 830, c. 121.] I am considering these matters with the Post Office. There are no proposals for further increases in postal tariffs this year.

Will my right hon. Friend study the paradox that when the telephone service makes a large profit the tariffs go up, and when postal charges show a large loss the tariffs go up again? Can he discern any possibility that the consumer might be protected in this matter and might sometimes win?

I shall be dealing with telephone charges in due course. My hon. Friend will be aware that neither the postal services nor the telephone service can be immune from rising costs. What one must see in both respects is that the maximum is done to meet rising costs by increased productivity.

If the Post Office cannot be commercially viable while at the same time abiding by the Government's indirect request through the C.B.I. to restrict increases to 5 per cent., may I ask the right hon. Gentleman to confirm that he will, in effect, have to provide a subsidy to the Post Office?

As the hon. Gentleman knows, the results of the C.B.I. initiative affect a number of nationalised industries, and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced that they are being considered by the Government. Those considerations are in progress.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what representations he has received so far during 1972 on the need for an independent broadcasting council.

I have received from two hon. Members a resolution passed by a religious body in favour of setting up a broadcasting council, and three letters from members of the public also advocating a body of some kind to watch over the broadcasters.

Does my right hon. Friend recognise that there is great public concern over this matter? Is it not extraordinarily ironic that an organisation like the B.B.C. should be so keen to put everybody else under independent scrutiny but so unwilling to submit to the same treatment itself?

I take note of my hon. Friend's view. He will recall that when we debated this matter in the House some contrary views were expressed by hon. Members on both sides.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will give a general direction to the Post Office to publish the terms of the Industrial Relations Act to employees of the Post Office, the operation of agency agreements and the opportunities for employees to join a union other than the Union of Post Office Workers.

No, Sir. A direction would not be appropriate. This is essentially a management matter for the Post Office.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a number of telephonists in the Sheffield area and elsewhere wish to leave the Union of Post Office Workers? What arrangements are being made in this context between the Post Office and the union and what advice can personnel managers give to telephonists?

As my hon. Friend will realise, this is a management matter directly for the Post Office. These are, therefore, issues which should be addressed to the Post Office Board.

Will the Minister discourage the Post Office Corporation from encouraging members of the Post Office staff joining secessionist trade unions or associations which are now emerging under the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act? Is he aware that if this trend continues the Act will become known as the blacklegs' charter?

I would certainly not accept any of that. [Interruption.] Nor would I wish to encourage the Post Office to act in the way the hon. Gentleman suggests.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to amend the Transport Act, 1968, in order to enable British Rail to apply for social grants on railway lines, the passenger service of which was withdrawn prior to the passing of the Transport Act, 1968, thus precluding British Rail from applying for social grants therefor.

No, Sir.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that that is a disappointing answer in view of the more enlightened attitude of the Government towards rail transport? Does he appreciate that in the battle between road and rail there were many, particularly urban, lines for which British Railways would have sought a grant had they been able to do so under the 1968 Act and which they now feel might so qualify? Will my right hon. Friend look sympathetically at any such requests he might receive from British Railways?

It is very much in the interest of British Railways to be given freedom on the closure of passenger services, as was given in 1966, to be able to dispose of their resources for the better use of British Railways.

Is the Secretary of State aware that his right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport Industries is considered in my area to be a most arrogant Minister who has refused to meet local government officials and councillors to discuss the social grant, although this issue is vitally important to the people of the area? Will he have a word with his right hon. Friend about this query?

I am not aware of that. I have always found my right hon. Friend courteous and not in the slightest degree arrogant. I remind the hon. Gentleman that it was my right hon. Friend who brought in proposals which provide the most generous capital to British Railways in their history.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now designate 1973 as a national tree planting year, following discussions and correspondence between his Department and the hon. Member for Birmingham, Handsworth.

My Department has had discussions with the local authority associations and has decided to proceed with a tree planting year in 1973. We will now have consultations with the horticultural trade and the voluntary amenity bodies.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the wide welcome his answer will receive from a great section of the public? May I congratulate him on this decision? Does he agree that the whole purpose of this plan is to invite the voluntary donation of trees from all sections of the community to be planted where they are most needed, in our towns and cities?

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for those remarks. The grant is already available to improvement areas and it has enabled many areas of urban cities to be improved in this way. I hope, however, that the campaign will mean a substantial extension of these activities.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied with the present legislation governing the preservation of trees?

A great deal more activity is now taking place under legislation in this sphere, but I am always willing to heed any suggestions that the hon. Gentleman might care to put to me on this topic.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further improvements are planned for the A1 road in inner London for which the Greater London Council has applied for grant aid, and what are the detailed plans.

None, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if in his review of the law of compensation, he will consider legislation to safeguard the interests of purchasers of new houses against estate developers who erect unsightly buildings and neglect to fulfil undertakings given on the landscaping of estates.

No, Sir. Local planning authorities already possess powers to control the erection of unsightly buildings and to require by planning conditions that landscaping be carried out.

Is the Minister aware that the deft developer who is well aware of the planning regulations can, by prevarication, impede the work of county planning authorities, thereby causing ex- cessive misery to many people, basically because of the inadequacy of the existing legislation? This difficulty is faced by both county planning authorities and new house purchasers.

I believe that local authorities have adequate powers in this matter, but if the hon. Gentleman will let me have the details of any specific cases I will look at them sympathetically.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in his review of the law of compensation, he will consider legislation to oblige developers of new housing estates financially to compensate residents who suffer inconvenience arising from continuing development.

No, Sir. I am not aware of any need to introduce legislation along these lines.

Is the Minister aware, following my supplementary question on Question No. 33, that new house purchasers are the victims of profiteering house developers who are completely insulated from any representations that new purchasers may undertake? Is he aware that it would concentrate the minds of those developers on their responsibilities to purchasers if the law said that they must compensate them financially in the way suggested in the Question? The present situation is a scandal, as the hon. Gentleman must know from the cases that have arisen in his constituency.

I certainly have had no representations from my constituents. But the law, as I understand it, enables local authorities to lay down conditions, and I certainly would not accept that we should do anything but praise the people who are now building new houses on such an unprecedented scale for those who need them so urgently.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further discussions have taken place between his Department and local authorities aimed at securing land in outer London to relieve housing pressure in inner London; and what progress has been recorded.

My Department is in continuous touch with all London boroughs about their housing programmes. The Action Group on London Housing has initiated a survey of all London boroughs to identify potential housing sites and to indicate when and by whom they might be developed. Preliminary results of this survey are now being received.

Is it not rather odd that the Minister for Housing and Construction is prepared, in effect, to send a gunboat to deal with those local authorities which do not want to make a profit out of their council house tenants while on the vital question of land shortage in inner London he is not prepared to use more than a feather duster on his Tory friends in the London boroughs which have the necessary sites? When will we get action?

I accept neither of the implications of the hon. Member's remarks. I need not go into the merits of the Housing Finance Bill this afternoon, but on the question of land in London I am sure the hon. Member will be pleased to know that I have every reason to expect local authority and private approvals this year to be better than last year.

Would my hon. Friend agree that some progress might be made by the inner London boroughs if they decided to co-operate in the rehabilitation schemes and not say bluntly that they are not prepared to co-operate, like the London Borough of Camden?

I hope all London boroughs will co-operate with the improvement campaign which is shortly to be held and which will be the largest in any city in the world. It can make an enormous difference to the condition of many sub-standard houses in London.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what new policy moves he will initiate to check the rise in the price of new private houses.

The best hope for an easier market lies in increasing the sup- ply of houses for sale. In 1971 completions in the private sector were nearly 13 per cent. up and starts about 26 per cent. up on 1970.

Will the Minister make it clear to his right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction that he is a calamity and a catastrophe, at least for Cupid? Young couples are being completely priced out of the market for new houses. The forecast was made this week of the £20,000 semi-detached house, which does not seem far off now that prices are rising at about 20 per cent. a year under the present Government. Again, when are we to get action and when will the Government accept their responsibility in the matter, or do they still say that competition will deal with this?

The hon. Member is talking sheer nonsense. Private sector starts and completions are both on a rising trend and I hope to have the hon. Member's support for more private houses in London as well as elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will erect temporary noise barriers on motorways at places where noise pollution is worst, pending the result of his study of forms of noise barriers.

Research on noise barriers is being actively pursued and I am anxious not to take precipitate action which might not be in the best long-term interests of the community, taking account of all environmental factors, including the adverse effects of visual instrusion. The Urban Motorways Committee is now considering the whole question of the interaction between motorways and the urban environment and I expect it will be advising me on the problem of noise as well as other factors.

Is my hon. Friend aware of the urgency of the matter, particularly on Ml, where there is now continuous traffic roar which causes disturbance several hundred yards downwind?

I am aware of the urgency of the matter.

asked the Lord President of the Council what plans he has to change arrangements for the reception of mass lobbies, as a result of the miners' lobby on 15th February.

The Services Committee recommended in its recent report a number of improvements in the arrangements made for mass lobbies. Some of the changes proposed concern both Houses of Parliament. Consultations about the report are at present taking place and these will take into account the further experience gained on 15th February.

When are we likely to have the agreement of the other place both on the question of barriers and on the question of the pavement along Old Palace Yard?

The hon. Member will appreciate that I answered an Adjournment debate on this subject last night. I did not cover these two points. I would hope that agreement will be reached very soon. Consultations are taking place. I do not anticipate any difficulties, but obviously we will have to see how we get on.

While I understand and also observed the difficulties of that day, was it not perhaps, on reflection, unfortunate for the Leader of the House to describe the miners' lobby as a demonstration? Should it not be made clear that demonstrations at the Palace of Westminster are not lawful?

I thought I referred to it throughout as a mass lobby. If I did not, the mistake is obviously mine. Nevertheless I reiterate what I have said all along that the miners' mass lobby was of a very good-humoured nature and thanks to the efforts of a great many people a very large number came into the Palace to see their Members of Parliament. This was right and I am sure it worked satisfactorily. We have lessons to learn from it, particularly about good communications both from St. Stephen's entrance up to the Committee rooms and outside. These lessons we should learn, but I would not like anything to go out from the House other than it was a very good-humoured, extremely well-stewarded mass lobby.

I am sure the whole House will endorse the remarks of the Leader of the House. Is he aware, however, that before June, 1970, there was a body called the Housewives League which used to protest about rising food prices? Since food prices have been increasing at an annual rate of 10 per cent. that body has ceased to exist. When it was in existence, every help and assistance was given to it to lobby at the House. Can the right hon. Gentleman give the same assistance to any lobby that may take place provided it is as well conducted as that of the miners?

The Question which has been put to me concerns mass lobbies that have arrived here. That is quite enough for me without having to deal with those which have not yet decided to come.

To ask the Lord President of the Council whether he will make a statement on Government policy towards the recent report of the Services Committee on mass lobbying in relation to the rights of Members to interview their constituents.

Mr. Arthur Lewis.

I do not wish to ask this Question.

asked the Lord President of the Council what is his policy towards the proposal in Command Paper No. 4836 that widows of Members of Parliament are not to be given the option to commute any portion of their pension, and although these are payable for life, they are to cease on remarriage or cohabitation, in view of the fact that the same conditions do not apply to widowers of Members of Parliament.

The only difference so far as Members' widows and widowers specifically are concerned relates to cessation of pension on cohabitation. The Government propose to implement the recommendation of the Boyle Committee so that this difference is removed.

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Is he aware that this matter affects not only Members of Parliament but also some members of the Civil Service and the Armed Forces? Will he look into it?

I take note of what my hon. Friend says. We are putting the position straight in accordance with the Boyle Committee recommendation.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will list the powers under which Select Committees of this House will be able to send for persons, papers and records in investigating expenditure of British taxpayers' money in the European Economic Community; and if he will describe the form which Ministerial replies will take to recommendations relating to this expenditure.

Select Committees have such power to send for any persons, papers and records as the House may expressly authorise. The form of ministerial replies to recommendations made by any Select Committee must depend on the recommendations.

How can my right hon. Friend take responsibility for expenditure for which he is not responsible?

I think these are all matters which were properly considered in the various Committees we have set up to look at our future relationship with the European Community.