asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Northern Ireland civil servants have resigned since 24th March, 1972.

Ninety persons in non-industrial grades resigned between 24th March and 28th April, 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to bind over or otherwise seek to ensure that internees released in Northern Ireland will take no further part in illegal Republican activities.

My right hon. Friend pays particular attention to the likelihood of the person involved taking part in further IRA activities when reviewing cases of internees.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what number of prisoners interned at the time of his appointment have now been released; and what number remains interned at the latest date.

129 persons have been released from internment since 30th March; 598 persons remain interned. A further 23 persons are due to be released today.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) whether he will consider removing social security offices from the no-go areas;(2) how much was paid out in social welfare payments in the social security offices in the Bogside and Creggan districts of Londonderry during the past 12 months and the previous 12 months.

There are no social security offices in the Creggan and Bog-side areas in Londonderry. Social security payments to people in those areas amount to about £2½million per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will endeavour to form a peace council as outlined to him by the hon. Member for Ealing, North.

Though my right hon. Friend would welcome a coming together of representatives of different faiths and of all sections of the community in Northern Ireland to discuss the problems of the province, he thinks the initiative would better come from those who would take part.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will now make a statement on the Government's proposals regarding the action to be taken on the various Bills before the Stormont Parliament prior to its suspension; whether these will be introduced at Westminster; and when he expects to take this action.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the Questions by my hon. Friends for Belfast, South (Mr. Pounder) and Belfast, North (Mr. Stratton Mills) on 1st May.— [Vol. 835, c. 48–50.]

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he is now able to announce the date when he will set up the Northern Ireland Finance Corporation.

As soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements are being made for the collection of money from gas and electricity meters on housing estates not under normal civil control.

There has been no difficulty in operating normal arrangements in all but a few areas of Belfast where incidents of robbery and intimidation present a risk to collectors from gas meters. The Ministry of Commerce, together with other appropriate bodies, is actively seeking ways of resolving this difficulty.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has for the reorganisation of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are his plans for the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

I have no plans for any major reorganisation of the Royal Ulster Constabulary to whose steadfast devotion to duty in times of great peril and stress I should like to pay tribute. My purpose is that they should be able to resume fully their primary responsibility for the preservation of law and order.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the Government's policy with respect to parades in Northern Ireland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for St. Pancras, North (Mr. Stallard) on 2nd May.—[Vol. 836, c. 127.]

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the holding of parades in Northern Ireland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for St. Pancras, North (Mr. Stallard) on 2nd May.—[Vol. 836, c. 127.]

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will consider the possibility of allowing families from every or any part of Northern Ireland to place their names on the housing lists of any housing authority in England, Wales or Scotland for active consideration for their housing; if he will arrange a reciprocal arrangement to implement such action; and if he will make a statement.

Subject to certain statutory requirements, and in Northern Ireland to the rules of the Allocation Schemes, it is for individual housing authorities to decide on the eligibility of people for inclusion in their housing lists.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many houses in Northern Ireland have been built since 1950, and what percentage of the total this represents.

191,403 houses have been built in Northern Ireland since 1950. This number represents approximately 42 per cent. of the present housing stock.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the Second Report of the Commissioner for Complaints for Northern Ireland.

The Commissioner records in his second Annual Report that he found a generally satisfactory standard of administration in most of the offices which were the subject of investigation. Where he found maladministration it was mostly of a minor nature and not due to improper motives. Copies of the Report have been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he now plans to take to stop the damage being caused in Northern Ireland by the Republican terrorists.

The best way to undermine the terrorists is to remove their support in Northern Ireland. This political strategy must be, and is, combined with continued firm action by the security forces to hunt down the killers and bring them to justice.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will prepare a scheme to give relief from rates to those businesses in the centre of Belfast whose turnover and profitability have been seriously affected by the current security situation.

As my right hon. Friend announced yesterday he has decided to introduce a scheme to assist the payment of rates by commercial concerns not only in the centre of Belfast but also in the main commercial areas of Londonderry and Newry. Basically the scheme will consist of a 75 per cent. grant of a year's rates to businesses, other than wholesalers, banks and offices, provided they can show that their turnover and profitability have been seriously affected by the current situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress made in reducing the number of people who are wholly unemployed in Northern Ireland; if he will give the latest up to date figures; and how these figures compare with the same period last year.

There were 43,269 persons wholly unemployed (excluding school leavers) on 10th April, an increase of 5,387 over the same period last year.The recent economic initiatives specially designed to relieve Northern Ireland's chronic unemployment problem have not yet had the time to take effect. My right hon. Friend is considering urgently what further steps should be taken. The restoration of stable conditions in the Province will affect the success of all these measures.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultations he has had with local authorities in Northern Ireland about the Order, dated 31st March, 1972, transferring local authority functions to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

My right hon. Friend was not personally involved in consultations with local authorities about this Order. The Housing Executive Act (Northern Ireland), 1971 provides that the housing functions of local authorities should be transferred to the Housing Executive and the Order was made in accordance with the provisions of that Act. I understand that local authorities were fully consulted before the passing of the Housing Executive Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will undertake a development programme for the areas west of the River Bann with special emphasis on industry, railways and the siting of a university; and what plans are in hand concerning these.

The Northern Ireland Development Programme 1970–75 is already under way and it covers the prospects for industry and the future of the railways. It paid special attention to the problems of the area west of the Bann including Londonderry and made specific proposals for development which are being energetically implemented. In addition, Area Plans have been or are being prepared covering most of this area.There are no plans for a third university in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the local government elections will take place as planned in Northern Ireland in October of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will confirm dates for elections to the new district councils.

Yes. These elections will be held as planned.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many tenants of public authority dwellings in the constituency of North Down are currently withholding rent; what is the total arrears including rates; and what is the average per household.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of an explosion which occurred at the premises of John Wood, Lisglynn, Madden, Armagh, on Monday, 24th April, the extent of the damage caused, the amount of gelignite used and the number of casualties.

At 12.55 a.m. on Monday, 24th April a small explosion followed by a fire occurred at the grocery and hardware store of John Francis Woods, Lisglynn, County Armagh. A small charge of explosive and an incendiary type device were used and the premises were completely destroyed. No casualties resulted from the explosion and fire, but Mr. Woods was shot in the leg by one of the gunmen responsible for the explosion.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Russian television teams, and teams from other Communist countries, respectively, are operating in Northern Ireland; and what is his policy in the matter.

There are no Soviet or Eastern European Television teams operating regularly in Northern Ireland, and visits have been infrequent. Such teams are subject to the usual visa requirements for entry into the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the incident in Belfast on Monday, 17th April at 8.45 p.m. when a crowd assembled at Broadway and a burst of gunfire was aimed at the rear of the Royal Victoria Hospital.

We have no knowledge of a crowd gathering in the Broadway area at the time in question but there was an unconfirmed report of gunfire at the rear of the Royal Victoria Hospital, which is nearby. The Army also reported four shots fired at an Army observation post in Broadway from Iveagh Street at 8.51 p.m.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the incident in Belfast on Monday, 17th April at 9.05 p.m. when shots were fired at police headquarters, Knock.

Police on duty at police headquarters, Knock, reported hearing a number of shots believed to have been fired from the direction of an old railway embankment nearby. A search of the immediate area was carried out by police using tracker dogs but nothing was found to indicate from where the shots were fired. No damage was caused to the police headquarters.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the incident in Belfast on Monday, 17th April, at 9.20 p.m., when shots were fired in Oldpark Road.

We have no knowledge of shots having been fired there at this time.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of religious discrimination have been established during the last two years in Northern Ireland by the Commissioner of Complaints.

One.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will investigate allegations of discrimination on public boards, the judiciary and industry in Northern Ireland, and in particular at Harland and Wolff.

Allegations of discrimination by public boards in providing equality of employment opportunity are investigated by the Northern Ireland Parliamentary Commissioner for Complaints.Appointments to the Supreme Court have always been a reserved matter for my right hon. noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor. As respects other judicial appointments it would not be appropriate for me to comment on appointments made in the past.As regards allegations of discrimination in private industry, discussions are taking place with both sides of industry as to the best method of tackling the problem. These include the situation at Harland and Wolff.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many men, wanted by the police in Northern Ireland for questioning about acts of violence, murders and other offences in the province, are now known to be in Eire; what action has been taken to bring them to justice; and if he will make a statement.

Approximately 155 persons wanted by the police in Northern Ireland for questioning in connection with murder, acts of violence and other offences in the province are known to be in the Republic of Ireland. A number of warrants for extradition are in the possession of the Civic Guards for execution.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the complete cost of Mr. Justice Scarman's Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into violence and civil disturbances in Northern Ireland in 1969.

The total estimated cost of the preparation of the Report, as given in the Report, was £460,250.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether compensation will be paid to all civilians and their dependants killed in Northern Ireland when not involved in any activity involving the carrying of arms or explosives.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to Questions by the hon. Members for Bootle (Mr. Simon Mahon) and Down. North (Mr. Kilfedder).

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will grant an amnesty to all persons in Northern Ireland sentenced to or serving terms of imprisonment of one year or less as a consequence of civil disturbances.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will present to Parliament a plan for the repeal of specific sections or the total of the Special Powers Act and the Flags and Emblems Act.

My right hon. Friend made clear during the proceedings on the Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1972 that he intends to review the Special Powers Act and the regulations made under it. This review has begun, but it is too early to present any conclusions to the House. There are no plans at present for reviewing the Flags and Emblems Act, 1954.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) whether he will now seek to initiate talks with representative sections of the community with a view to strengthening his advisory committee and vesting it with legislative powers in limited matters of a local government nature;(2) whether he will now announce the compositon of his Advisory Committee; and whether he will ensure the representation upon it of trade unionists of all denominations within Notrhern Ireland.

I am in the process et considering appointments to the Northern Ireland Commission. The functions of that Commission are set out in the Schedule of the Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1972 and I do not think that it would be appropriate to extend them to include legislative powers.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will seek to initiate joint industrial and communications and power projects with the Republic of Ireland and the full reopening of borders.

There are already important practical examples of co-operation in the fields suggested and it is my right hon. Friend's wish that the prospects for developing further economic links should be examined.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average wage, number or unemployed, number of homeless, and number of unfit houses in Northern Ireland as compared with the rest of the United Kingdom.

The average wage for male manual workers in Northern Ireland in October, 1971, was £27·48 compared with £30·98 in the United Kingdom; the number of unemployed in April, 1972, was 47,490 in Northern Ireland compared with 957,654 in Great Britain; the number of homeless families in temporary accommodation provided by social services departments is negligible in Northern Ireland compared with approximately 5,500 in England; and the number of unfit houses was, in 1967, approximately 100,000 in Northern Ireland compared with 1,800,000 in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking towards increased capital works and industrial development in the regions of Strabane and Derry.

The Londonderry Area Plan enviages a continuing programme of heavy public investment in Londonderry. My right hon. Friend has recently caused this programme to be accelerated, with particular reference to the second river crossing, costing £8 million.The West Tyrone Area Plan is under preparation. This will include plans for substantial public investment in the Strabane area.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will introduce legislation to provide that the training in technical colleges of apprentices takes place only before 6 p.m.

No. The time-tabling of training provided by technical colleges is properly a matter to be settled by the college in the light of local circumstances and in consultation with the interests concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish a Green Paper setting out her educational priorities for the next three years, and the consideration on which the priorities were based.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what improvements to be made to the Sir John Offiey School, Madeley, near Crewe, have been approved for each of the next three years.

None. I understand that the Staffordshire authority has already carried out substantial improvements at the school under its allocation for minor capital works.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to how many agricultural research stations she has made an official visit.

One.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what extent she requires her staff to work on their normal rest days and to work overtime; and whether such staff are able to refuse to work overtime and on their normal rest days without disciplinary action being taken against them.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to his similar Question on 27th April.—[Vol. 835, c. 361.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations and communications, respectively, with the boards of trustees of the national museums and galleries occurred between 30th October, 1970, and the publication in May, 1971, in Command Paper No. 4676 of the details of the scheme for the implementation of admission charges at the national museums and galleries.

During this period the considered views of the museums and galleries about a scheme of charges and methods of collection were received and discussions were held with each institution about the practical problems involved in the collection of charges.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether any communications or consultations took place with the boards of trustees of the national museums and galleries before the announcement of the imposition of admission charges was made on 27th October, 1970.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration she has given, or will give, to permitting local education authorities to exceed cost limits on new school building by an agreed tolerance, on a basis similar to that operated by the Department of the Environment in respect of housing yardsticks.

The comparison between school cost limits and housing yardsticks is not a valid one and my right hon. Friend does not propose to introduce a system of cost tolerances for school building.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the new directive which has been issued to the security forces in Northern Ireland, and in which respects this directive varies from the one which it has replaced.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave on 20th April to my hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow, East (Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson).—[Vol. 835, c. 125.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence how much land is held by the Ministry of Defence in Wales; what decisions he has taken on the release of land in Wales for housing development; and how many acres have been agreed for release under the terms of the announcement of the Secretary of State for the Environment on 27th April, 1972.

The Ministry of Defence holds 50,058 acres of freehold land and 1,602 acres of leasehold land in Wales. One thousand, one hundred and sixty-four acres of Ministry of Defence land and 59 vacant houses are at present in course of disposal in Wales; it is not possible for the Ministry of Defence to say how much of this land may be used for housing.The disposal of this land is not directly the result of my right hon. Friend's announcement on 27th April, 1972, but the Ministry of Defence will continue to dispose of land as soon as it becomes surplus to defence requirements.—[Vol. 835, c. 1804.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence on how many occasions during the last 10 years a French warship has entered a British port without the permission of British authorities; and in what circumstances.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply on 20th April. No visit by a French warship has been made to ports in the United Kingdom without special permission when such permission has been necessary.—[Vol. 835, c. 738–9.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the full circumstances leading to the death of Joseph McCann.

Joseph McCann was shot on 15th April, 1972, in Joy Street, Belfast by the security forces. The normal procedure is that all cases of fatal shooting are reported to the civil authorities in Northern Ireland; and, since this case is still under consideration by them, it would be improper for me to comment in more detail.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to obtain from Lord Widgery the number of witnesses who were wounded and in hospital whose evidence was not taken by him, and the reasons why such witnesses were not seen; and whether he will seek to obtain statements from these persons.

Six of the known wounded did not give evidence before the Tribunal. Decisions about the calling of witnesses were made by the Tribunal in the light of their availability, the contributions they could make to the Inquiry, and the desirability of conducting the proceedings expeditiously. It is not intended to obtain further statements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the complete cost of Lord Widgery's Report of the Tribunal appointed to inquire into the events on Sunday, 30th January, 1972, which led to the loss of life in connection with the procession in Londonderry on that day.

About £50,000, including the printing and publication of the report. Final figures are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Rochester Row Prisoners' Reception Centre to be transferred to its proposed new accommodation in Lambeth.

About May, 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider extending the visas of qualified nurses once they have completed their training so that they may continue to serve for one or two years at the particular hospital at which they have trained.

Nurses from overseas who seek to stay on in this country when qualified are normally allowed to do so if they propose to make full use of the qualifications they have acquired. But it is not the practice to restrict employment to particular hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what date the elections for the new county councils have been postponed.

I hope to be able to announce the new date shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current number of stipendiary magistrates; and what plans he has to increase the number.

Outside London, there are 11 stipendiary magistrates. My right hon. Friend has no power to increase their number, except on a petition from the local authority concerned. Any increase in the number of metropolitan stipendiary magistrates, of whom there are now 38, is a matter for consideration by my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will circularise all courts of summary jurisdiction with information on the latest position with regard to the granting of legal aid.

My right hon. Friend is considering whether there is further information that he can usefully give the courts on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now able to make a statement on the result of the current investigation by the Metropolitan Police into the case of Thomas Appleby, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Blaydon.

I understand that the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis recently arranged for a senior officer to see a film said to be relevant to this matter, but the office observed nothing to justify any further investigation of the original complaint against the police. The Commissioner has so informed Mr. Appleby's father.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce legislation to amend or re-enact the Emergency Powers Act.

I have no plans further to amend the Emergency Powers Act. 1920.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now able to give the salary to be received by the Lord Mancroft as part-time chairman of the Totalisator Board; and whether the amount of work involved is formally specified in the terms of his appointment.

The answer to the first part of the Question is. "Not yet ", as I must await the Board's recommendation; and, to the second, "No ".

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Jaguar car, involved in a smash and a car chase by the police in North London and Regents Park on Wednesday, 19th April, was properly taxed and insured.

Five cars, including two Jaguars, were involved in an incident on 18th 1 April. If this is the incident the hon. Member has in mind, one of the Jaguars had been stolen. It was not currently taxed, and the driver was not insured.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases concerning the possession of drugs legal aid was applied for during 1971; and in how many cases it was granted.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to introduce legislation to provide for the possession of prohibited substances with intent to sell during the current parliamentary session in order to distinguish between possession for use and possession for sale to others.

No. Section 5(3) of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1971, creates the offence of having possession of a controlled substance with intent to supply it unlawfully to another person.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to lay down firm and strict guidelines with regard to the stopping and searching of persons suspected of carrying cannabis for their own personal use other than for sale to others.

No. I see no occasion to introduce fresh legislation to alter provisions approved by Parliament only last year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest estimated figure for casual and regular smokers of cannabis in the United Kingdom; and whether he will undertake research to discover the full extent of this practice.

No reliable estimate of the number of cannabis users in this country is available. I have no current plans for research on this subject, which would present great difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in his studies on drug taking, he will seek evidence from the United States and Canada concerning the smoking of cannabis and official views on legislation or penalties for possession.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, to whom I look for advice in this field, will be concerned to keep in touch with relevant developments in other countries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now publish his Department's study on cannabis.

I am not yet in a position to add anything to the reply which was given to a Question by the hon. Member on 10th March.—[Vol. 832, c. 411.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to amend the Race Relations Acts to cover social and other clubs which purport to be open to the general public for membership.

A case that bears on the application of the Race Relations Act, 1968, to clubs is at present subject to an appeal. I would prefer not to comment meanwhile.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to consult employers and trade unions and consumer and tourist organisations with a view to liberalising the Shops Acts and licensing laws in areas of tourist interest.

My right hon. Friend will consider the desirability of consultations on the Shops Acts. The licensing laws are already being reviewed by the Erroll Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what encouragement he is giving to industrial training boards to encourage fire prevention in the syllabus of training courses.

It is the normal practice of training boards to treat safety training, including fire prevention aspects, as a part of all industrial training. Nominated inspectors of my Department's Factory Inspectorate are available to advise boards on all aspects of safety training and they cover fire prevention requirements in their examination of training recommendations, manuals and course syllabuses.My Department will be giving further considerations to safety training when the Committee on Safety and Health at Work makes its report.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the proposed National Training Agency is intended to carry out research into future manpower needs.

The proposal for a National Training Agency and its powers and functions are under consideration but no decisions will be taken until all comments on the consultative document "Training for the Future" have been considered. These have been asked for by the end of May.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of redundancies in the footwear industry for each of the five years to 31st December, 1971.

Figures are available, to the extent that redundancies have been notified, only for the past three years, as follows: 1,060 in 1969: 2,000 in 1970, and 650 in 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancy notices in Wales, with the number of people involved, have been notified to his Department for the first four months of 1972; and what are the monthly figures.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to publish his survey into the causes and nature of unemployment.

I am afraid that I am not yet in a position to say when it will be possible to publish the results of my right hon. Friend's survey.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, when he next takes the Chair at the National Economic Development Council, he will bring forward new proposals to assist low-paid workers.

The Government's policies have already brought substantial benefit to the low-paid. For our future proposals, I would ask the hon. Member to await the publication of the Green Paper on the Tax Credit Scheme.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the value added tax on admission charges into national museums and galleries compares with such charges in the European Economic Community; whether he will publish details in the OFFICIAL REPORT; and to what extent the situation will change on Great Britain's entry into the Community.

My information is that in the EEC countries with a VAT admissions to museums and galleries are in principle chargeable at the standard rate of tax, except in France where the reduced rate of 17·6 per cent. applies, but there are exemptions in the case of certain State-run or non-profit-making museums and galleries in EEC countries. The situation will not change on the United Kingdom's entry into the EEC. No decisions have yet been taken about harmonisation in the EEC of rates and coverage of VAT.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the cost of minting, including metal content, 20 five new penny pieces and 10 ten new penny pieces, respectively;(2) what is the cost of printing, including paper content, a £1 note, £5 note and £10 note, respectively;

I am obtaining the information and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to make it compulsory for dogs to be kept on leads in urban areas throughout the country.

No. Local authorities already have power under the Road Traffic Acts to designate roads on which the use of leads is compulsory. This is a matter best dealt with according to local circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authority houses and how many private houses were built in the Leek rural district in each of the past 10 years.

Dwellings completed in Leek RD in each of the years 1966 to 1970 inclusive, appear in Local Housing Statistics No. 1, 5, 9, 13 and 17; copies of which are in the Library. Figures for the other years are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the increase on the average price of new private houses in the North-West Region since June, 1970, to the latest available date.

The average price of new private houses in the three northern regions of England mortgaged with building societies is estimated to have been £4,669 in 1971, compared with £4,257 in 1970, an increase of 10 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will

Following is the information: