asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what effect the new economic measures will have on the house building programme.

Housing is not affected by the reductions in public expenditure announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 17th December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many trial boreholes for oil and natural gas are being drilled in areas designated as of outstanding natural beauty ; and what part his Department has played in the granting of planning permission.

Two trial boreholes in the Dorset area of outstanding natural beauty have recently been completed, and I understand that a third was expected to be started this month. In each case planning permission has been granted by the local planning authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to limit public expenditure by local authorities.

I am withholding loan sanctions and grant approvals for some key sector expenditure and have reduced the previously contemplated allocations for the locally determined sector for 1974–75. I have also reduced the estimate of relevant expenditure for that year acceptable for rate support grant, as compared with that anticipated prior to the statement by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 17th December 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will pay an official visit to the Easington constituency.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many times the joint advisory committee of Ministers and building society leaders on mortgage policy has met since its formation.

The joint advisory committee has so far held three meetings.

asked the Seretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the text of the memorandum of agreement on mortgage finance entered into by the Government with the Council of the Building Societies Association.

Following is the text of the memorandum:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the fuel shortage and the increasing price of petrol, he will direct British Railways to re-examine, as a matter of urgency, the reintroducing of commuter passenger services on all those railway lines which he has allowed them to close for passenger services but to retain for freight services.

No. The Government and the nationalised transport industries are already studying the implications of the oil situation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what steps he is taking to speed up the electrification programme in respect of British Rail in the light of the oil and fuel crisis ;(2) what steps he is taking to ensure the maximum use of the railway system for the purpose of carrying freight and passengers in the light of the fuel crisis and the need to conserve oil.

I am looking closely at all the implications for the railways of the energy situation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, now that Wandsworth Borough Council has made compulsory purchase orders in respect of a number of privately-owned properties in the borough which have been unoccupied for more than a year, if he will confirm these forthwith so that similar orders may be issued in respect of more than 1,000 empty properties in the borough for occupation by the homeless and those on the council's housing list ; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that Wandsworth Borough Council has recently resolved to make three such orders, the first of which will be submitted to the Department shortly. While all proposals for compulsory purchase must be considered on their individual merits, my right hon. and learned Friend will consider very carefully any cases where owners refuse to bring much needed empty housing accommodation into use.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authority houses were completed in 1973 ; and how this figure compares with 1970.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today to similar Questions from the hon. Members for Wandsworth, Central (Mr. Thomas Cox), Leicester, North-West (Mr. Greville Janner), Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun), Gateshead, West (Mr. Horam), Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) and Southampton, Itchen (Mr. R. C. Mitchell).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authority houses were completed during the three years before, and the three years after, June 1970.

In the earlier period, 507,000 dwellings were completed by local authorities and Government contributions were approved for the improvement of 124,000 older council dwellings, a total of 631,000. In the later period the corresponding figures were 363,000 and 341,000, a total of 704,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what positive results have been achieved by the liaison committee, which was set up by him, in reducing the obnoxious odour and the atmospheric pollution emitted from the coalite and chemical plant operating in the village of Rossington.

The Rossington Liaison Committee has achieved a full exchange of information between the company concerned and local residents. In liaison with the committee the Alkali Inspectorate has secured the best practicable means of minimising emissions but is continuing to monitor the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the effect of the Government's economy measures on the construction programme for the Kielder reservoir.

The new water authorities will take up their responsibilities on 1st April 1974 and they have been given financial allocations within which they would be expected to decide the priority schemes for their own areas. Meanwhile any application by the Northumbrian River Authority to place contracts as an exceptional case will be treated sympathetically.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the order relating to the building of the Kielder dam will be presented to Parliament.

Considerable progress has been made towards finalising the provisions of the order. There are still, however, some outstanding issues including protective provisions for statutory undertakers. Their parliamentary agents are discussing these with the undertakers concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the revision of the terms of fixed price contracts for public authority building tenders.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Epping (Mr. Tebbit) on 20th December 1973.—[Vol. 866, c. 390.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many chief officers and officials of other grades in local government have indicated their decision to accept terms for early retirement under the Local Government Act 1973 ; what capital payments are involved ; and what are the financial consequences for local authority pension funds.

The decision of any officer to take early retirement under the Local Government Act 1972 is a matter between him and his employing authority. Detailed figures as to the numbers who have done so and the capital payments involved are not available. But information reaching the Staff Commission for England last autumn suggested that up to that time about a thousand officers had opted for early retirement. The cost of these benefits will fall upon the rate funds of the new authorities and will not be borne by local government superannuation funds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average cost of a new house in the Warley area and the monthly repayment necessary to purchase it over 25 years on a 90 per cent. mortgage ; and what were the equivalent figures for June 1970.

The average price of new houses in the West Midlands region mortgaged with building societies was £6,269 in 1972 compared with £4,624 in 1970. Monthly repayments on a 90 per cent. mortgage for 25 years would have been £44·04 and £33·89 gross respectively, or net of relief of tax at the standard rate on earned income in the first year, £32·71 and £24·43. On the actual average advances for such houses the repayment figures over 25 years would have been £37·71 gross and £28·05 net in 1972 and £29·48 gross and £21·25 net in 1970.House price data are not available for areas smaller than economic planning regions ; and figures for 1973 have not yet been produced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the figures for the taking up of road fund licences in London and the rest of the country during the weeks when petrol rationing coupons were allocated.

The Greater London Council issued 132,656 vehicle licences between 26th November and 14th December 1973. I will write to the hon. Member when the number of licences issued in the rest of the country and by post offices in Greater London in November and December is available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what have been the number of deaths and injuries arising from road accidents since the imposition of the 50 miles per hour speed limit ; and how this compares with the cores-ponding period for the preceding three years.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given earlier today to similar Questions from my hon. Friends the Members for Birmingham, Handsworth (Mr. Sydney Chapman) and Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) and the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Sillars).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will lift the 50 m.p.h. speed limit for motorways until such time as the railways resume a full service.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what restrictions are required by the Government in capital expenditure by local authorities and the Greater London Council which are working together on approved town expansion schemes, with particular reference to proposed expenditure on roads, sewers and factories.

Capital expenditure on town expansion schemes, other than housing expenditure, is included within the public expenditure which is to be reduced by 20 per cent. There may therefore be some postponement of schemes in expanded towns but it is too early as yet to say what these will be. Much will depend on whether authorities decide to give schemes for expanded towns preference within their locally determined sector allocations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to introduce legislation to allow local authorities to control the times at which garden bonfires may be lit.

No. Local authorities already have powers under Part III of the Public Health Act 1936 and under Section 16 of the Clean Air Act 1956 where smoke from bonfires amounts to a statutory nuisance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent he insists on adequate insulation of municipally built housing when local authorities apply for loan sanction.

All new local authority housing must comply with the minimum standards of thermal insulation laid down in the Building Regulations 1972. It is open to local authorities to incorporate higher standards and many do.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any estimate of the national saving of fuel which would accrue from various forms of insulation of buildings.

I take it that my hon. Friend has in mind estimates of national saving of fuel which would accrue in buildings of all types, existing as well as new, from, for example, specified additional insulation of roofs or of walls or of windows. I regret that an estimate of this kind is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to encourage local authorities to ensure the adequate insulation of public buildings with a view to fuel conservation.

Adequate thermal insulation is only one of the measures that can help to save fuel used in public buildings, and I trust that local authorities and others concerned are considering this and other ways of doing so. The Government intend to seek new enabling powers in the Health and Safety at Work Bill to be introduced this Session and subsequently will amend the building regulations to make insulation compulsory in new buildings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is now in a position to make a statement on his consultative document on thermal insulation.

Following consultations with the local authority associations, two housing development notes on thermal insulation in housing were issued by my Department last month. I have sent copies to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the increase in bus fares since the half-fare age was fixed at 14 years, he will now extend this concession to young people up to the compulsory school leaving age ; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the road projects in the Kettering parliamentary constituency which were planned for 1974 and 1975 and which will now be cancelled or deferred.

It is too early to say.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) which road schemes, urban aid projects and measures for the protection of the environment within the borough of Widnes will be deferred by the Chancellor's announcement of public spending cuts ;(2) which road schemes, urban aid projects and measures for the protection of the environment within the rural district of Whiston will be deferred by the Chancellor's announcement of public spending cuts ;(3) if the proposed widening of the Widnes-Runcorn road bridge will now proceed as a result of the Chancellor's announcement of public spending cuts.

The detailed implications of the measures announced on 17th December are still being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in the interests of fuel economy during the summer holiday season of 1974, he will attempt to increase on a temporary basis the number of suitable places at which caravans can be parked for short periods to eliminate wasted miles travelled in search of a site.

No. Such temporary sites would lack the necessary basic amenities and could well conflict with environmental and other planning considerations. I am not in any case satisfied that fuel savings would in fact be achieved by this means.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will ensure that economies in Government contracts do not result in a complete cessation of amenity works, and that planned planting of the slower growing trees is not interrupted.

It is not my right hon. and learned Friend's intention to economise on contracts within his responsibility by excluding from them works or tree planting schemes which are needed for amenity reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on progress made towards harmonisation of symbols used on dashboard controls on motor vehicles.

The Economic Commission for Europe and the International Standards Organisation are considering international standards for the arrangement and marking of motor vehicle controls. It is too soon to estimate when the discussions will be concluded, but I hope some firm recommendations will emerge later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, with a view to introducing amending legislation, he will examine methods for the more effectual enforcement by the police and traffic wardens of the law against excessive noise of motor vehicles and other vehicles which have no silencers attached to them.

I am considering ways of improving the enforcement of the law on vehicle noise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the result of the Government's consideration of the rate support grant for the new Welsh counties ; and if he will make a statement.

A White Paper setting out details of the rate support grant settlement will be published shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the reductions in expenditure on all projects for which his Department is responsible in the Northern Region arising from the Chancellor of the Exchequer's latest Budget Statement ; and if he will list, separately, the reductions arising from the cuts in public expenditure announced earlier in 1973.

The effect of the cuts in public expenditure will largely be to postpone projects which might have started in 1974–75. Most of such projects in the sphere with which I am concerned are the responsibility of local authorities, the new regional water authorities or publicly-owned transport undertakings. The only projects for which I have direct responsibility are roads, and it is too soon to determine the detailed implications for individual schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will reconsider the Piccadilly-Victoria line proposals in Manchester in the light of the fuel crisis and the need to cut down on oil consumption.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have indicated to his Department their rate estimates for 1974 ; and what is the highest and lowest percentage rate increases forecast.

Authorities have not yet been informed of their grant entitlements for 1974–75 and are not therefore in a position to make meaningful rate estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what acreage of land is taken up by city and urban development, motorways, trunk roads, bypasses, railways, and navigable waterways and canals, respectively ; and if he will express each as a percentage of the total acreage of land in the British Isles and England, respectively.

Not all the figures for which my hon. Friend asks are available and the figures that are available are approximations of varying reliabilities. No figures are available for the British Isles. Land which had been developed for non-agricultural purposes by 1971 was about 4 million acres, or about 12½ per cent. of total area, in England and about 5 million acres or 3½ per cent. in Great Britain. Of this, motorways and trunk roads occupied roughly 45,000 acres or about 0·14 per cent. in England and roughly 60,000 acres and 0·1 per cent. in Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the interim report by Mr. George Dobry QC on development control.

Mr. Dobry submitted his report on 31st December to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and myself. It is being published today and a copy is available in the Library. My right hon. and learned Friend and I are most grateful to Mr. Dobry for this very prompt report and to the members of the group who have advised him.This interim report, which recognises the necessity for and great merits of our planning system, nevertheless identifies a number of weaknesses and delays ; and puts forward many ideas for simplifying, improving and accelerating the handling of planning applications and appeals. Mr. Dobry's final report will take account of comments on these interim conclusions, but my right hon. and learned Friend and I are considering urgently what action can be taken without awaiting the final report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals have been made for identifying land for possible housing development in the metropolitan green belt ; how this affects his green belt policy generally ; and whether he will make a statement.

In April, I asked the Standing Conference on London and South East Planning, representing the local planning authorities for the area, to seek some 2,000 acres out of the 610,000 acres of metropolitan green belt now to be increased to 700,000 acres which could, without detriment to the green belt policy, be made quickly available for housing. I await the result of its studies. My general policy is to extend and strengthen green belts. The release of small areas which are no longer contributing to green belt purposes will enable me to pursue even more vigorously the policy of preserving and extending effective areas of green belt.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for extending green belts in England.

At present nearly 2,100 square miles of land in England has the status of approved green belt. A further 3,500 square miles either has been given interim protection or has been proposed by local planning authorities for inclusion in green belts. The total of approved green belt includes the addition of 170 square miles to the metropolitan green belt in Surrey on which my decision was given very recently. Further approvals will be announced soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what decisions he has made about the proposals for expansion of Stevenage and Harlow new towns put forward by their respective development corporations in April and August 1973 after detailed studies and public consultations.

I have decided not to proceed with the present proposals for major expansion of Harlow and Stevenage. I shall, however, be discussing urgently with the corporations the case for expansion on a lesser scale to meet local needs in these two towns. Bearing in mind that the studies for a similar expansion of Bracknell are not yet completed I am indicating to the development corporation that I envisage a similar limitation in this case also.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the total amount for Scotland of the public expenditure cut announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, together with the detailed amounts to be met by the health service and the individual local authority services.

I cannot yet add to the answer I gave on 21st December to my hon. Friend the Member for Oswestry (Mr. Biffen).—[Vol. 866, c. 469.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can now announce his planning decision about the ORSI and Chevron applications before him in respect of development at Hunterston.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now seek to amend the planning Acts to allow wider consideration to be taken into account at planning inquiries and to allow of a wider geographical area being considered.

Any relevant evidence which is available can be taken into account at a planning inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the sinking of a Spanish ship in the Firth of Forth with 850 tons of nitric acid.

I have been asked to reply.The Spanish mv "Metanol", of 803 gross registered tons, sank in the Firth of Forth on 5th January. All her crew were saved. My Department had been informed that the vessel was anchored and listing and the necessary steps to warn shipping, including buoying, were taken. The cause of the casualty is not known for certain but the vessel was loaded with 831 tonnes of nitric acid and fumes bad been emitting from the vent pipes before the vessel was abandoned.It is believed that some 91 tonnes of acid has escaped but frequent monitoring of the acid level in surrounding water has shown no significant increase. The remainder of the cargo is contained in stainless steel tanks and not expected to leak. The vessel is being surveyed with a view to salvage.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the extent of the increase in the capitalised value of property company assets in the last three years.

The net assets at book value of large property companies both quoted and unquoted included in my Department's analysis of company accounts increased by 17 per cent. in 1970, and 19 per cent. in 1971. Figures so far available for 1972 show an increase of 30 per cent., but these relate to less than half the companies covered.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new jobs were created in Hartlepool in 1971, 1972 and 1973 ; and how these figures compare with redundancies in the same years.

This information is not available. Although during this period there were reported redundancies of nearly 3,000, unemployment decreased substantially in Hartlepool as the following table shows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new jobs arising from firm and accepted inquiries have been estimated for the Hartlepool employment exchange area for 1974–75.

It is not possible to forecast the number of new jobs which may come forward in 1974–75.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the present output levels of steel in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States of America, and any information available from Community or international sources as to the planned outputs of these countries by 1975, and the percentage increases these represent in each case.

The figures below show steel output in the latest available 12-month period. The only recent official forecast, published in the " Forward Programme for Steel " by the European Commission, is that the output for the Community as a whole in 1974 will be 156·2 million metric tons.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the latest available 12-monthly production figure for steel in the Common Market ; and what is the figure for the same period in the United Kingdom.

As follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new projects have been started in the United Kingdom by firms registered in the other Common Market countries ; how many actual new jobs have been created ; and what is the total value of the projects in terms of actual investment.

Information in the form requested is not available. We are aware of decisions taken last year by over 140 companies with parent companies in other countries, including about 40 in EEC countries, which could eventually provide about 25,000 new jobs. The corresponding figure for companies of EEC origin is about 5,000 jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many employees in the British Steel Corporation have qualified for removal expenses and disturbance allowances since January 1971 to the latest available date ; what is the average distance on removals between locations ; and what is the total cost to the British Steel Corporation.

This is a day-today matter relating to the administration of the British Steel Corporation's employment and incomes security agreement. I am accordingly asking the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will introduce legislation to make it obligatory that any estate agent or other person acting on behalf of a client approaching a person with a view to purchasing property informs the potential vendor of any development proposals affecting the area known to the agent and/or his client ;(2) if he will introduce legislation to ensure that any estate agent or other person acting on behalf of a client discloses the name of the client to any person who is approached with a view to selling property.

I am not satisfied that there is a need for legislation to deal with these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the level of capital investment in manufacturing plant and machinery per employee in the United Kingdom, United States of America, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Japan and Sweden for each year since 1950.

International comparisons of investment per employee would be misleading. This is because the definitions used for employment statistics differ between countries, and because it would not be satisfactory to convert investment figures for different countries to a common currency through market exchange rates.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what safety precautions are being introduced at British airports, other than Heathrow.

It is not the Government's policy to list details of security measures but security precautions, which are related to the threat and kept continuously under review, are taken at all the major airports in the United Kingdom. The Government's aviation security advisers have carried out comprehensive security surveys of all these airports.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what trade agreements the British Government have entered into with Iran and Saudi Arabia ; and what were the terms of the agreements reached.

We have no formal trade agreements with the Governments of

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what reports he has received of a shortage of Valium ; and what action he is taking to maintain supplies to patients dependent on it.

I first heard of shortages of this medicine in November. These appear to be in the form of local temporary shortages caused by the late fulfilment of wholesalers' orders and the situation is now improving.The manufacturers explain that there are three main reasons for the shortages, namely, difficulties in obtaining supplies of raw material, a shortage of packaging materials and paper, and the fact that they are in the process of moving production into a new building. In addition the volume of demand for this medicine has increased.I have agreed with the chemists' representatives that where there is difficulty in meeting a prescription the form may be endorsed to show that an alternative medicine has been supplied where this is agreed by the prescribing doctor.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the number of bankruptcies for each week since 1st December 1973 ; and what were the equivalent figures for the same period in each of the last three years.

The numbers of receiving orders and orders of administration, under Section 130 of the Bankruptcy Act 1914, made in England and Wales for the relevant periods are as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement giving details of the number of workers on short time, and the amounts of benefits paid in social security in the last month.

For details of the numbers of workers on short time I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him yesterday—[Vol. 867, c. 11–13]—by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Employment. Up to 11th January 1974, the latest date for which figures are available, about £1½ million had been paid in unemployment benefit on claims from those working short time because of the present electricity restrictions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list all the denominations of national insurance stamps which have been in use at any time during the last 10 years, together with the length of validity of each denomination and the reason for all changes made ; and whether he will publish a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

There are 35 denominations of national insurance stamps and a

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons are currently stamping their insurance cards at the employed rate, how

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services: (1) which projects within Divisions 1 to 3 of Lancashire County Council Social Services Department will be deferred by the Chancellor's

The numbers of insured persons in the categories mentioned are estimated as follows:announcement of public spending cuts ; and if he will list these in the OFFICIAL REPORT;(2) which projects within Divisional Health Area No. 9 of Lancashire County Council will be deferred by the Chancellor's announcement of public spending cuts ; and if he will list these in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

I am reviewing the local authority health and social services building programme for England and will communicate with the authorities concerned as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which projects within the area of the Liverpool Regional Hospital Board will be deferred by the Chancellor's announcement of public spending cuts ; and if he will list these in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

My Department will be discussing this matter with the regional authorities in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many retirement pensioners received the £10 Christmas bonus.

In all about 8,100,000 payments were made and of these about 7,800,000 were to retirement pensioners.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement about the latest situation regarding the preservation of whales.

The International Whaling Commission controls 94 per cent. of the world's whaling. Under the commission's regulations, only sei, fin, minke and sperm whales are commercially exploited ; all other kinds previously hunted are under indefinite moratorium. The four species still hunted are protected by such measures as catch quotas, closed season, closed areas and size limits. Of these species only the fin whale is below the optimum population level recommended by scientific advice. A proposal which involved phasing out the catching of fin whales by 1976 was carried at the commission's 1973 meeting, but Japan subsequently objected to the phase-out, although the quotas for fin whales for 1973–74 are binding on her. Japan and USSR have also objected to the commission's minke whale quota.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give his estimate of the increase in production costs in relation to price review products since the 1973 price review.

The estimate of the full year effect of changes in production costs will be announced as part of the conclusions of this year's annual review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what restrictions membership of the Common Market imposes upon him in relation to any changes which might be made in guaranteed prices in the 1974 price review.

Article 54 of the Act of Accession and EEC Regulation 749 of 1973 prescribe the method of calculating the maximum levels of increase.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations he has received requesting compulsory dipping against sheep scab ; and if he will make a statement.

One representation requesting compulsory dipping against sheep scab has been received. The matter has also been discussed at recent meetings of the Hill Farming Advisory Committee and its sub-committee for Wales.My right hon. Friend's powers to require sheep in specified areas to be dipped against sheep scab were exercised during summer and autumn 1973 as a precaution against spread of the disease from the outbreaks which occurred in January 1973 on the Yorks.-Lanes, border, where sheep were on the open fell.In the current series of outbreaks, totalling 15 from 20th September 1973 up to 10th January 1974 in Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Montgomeryshire, Shropshire, Flintshire and Devon, all the sheep were on enclosed farms. Compulsory dipping of affected sheep and all their contacts has been enforced, but it is not at present considered necessary to require area dipping.The disease situation is being kept under close review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much cane sugar will be imported in 1974 from Commonwealth countries ; and how much beet sugar from the EEC.

Under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement the Commonwealth is required to send us 1·7 million tons of cane sugar during 1974. Only relatively small quantities are expected to be imported from Community sources.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will collect evidence of the possible effects upon the transport and marketing of West Country agricultural products of the absence of a railhead in the new Covent Garden Market situated either side of the Weymouth-Waterloo main line.

As my right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport Industries said in his reply to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd) on 16th October 1973—[Vol. 861. c. 63]—the provision of a railhead in the new Covent Garden Market is a matter for the Covent Garden Market Authority with British Rail. They are considering with the Greater London Council and the Government Departments concerned all the relevant factors. I shall be glad to ensure that any additional relevant evidence which is sent to me is included in this consideration.

asked the Minister for Energy if, in view of the oil shortage, he will initiate departmental research into alternative means of vehicle propulsion, including methane gas.

The action open to the Government to alleviate the difficulties and costs of oil supply is being vigorously reviewed. The review includes the possibility of using natural gas in the transport field and the research and development needs to which that usage might give rise.

asked the Minister for Energy what is Government policy in relation to barrage construction for power generation and other users.

I have nothing to add to the full statement I made in the Adjournment debate last week.

asked the Minister for Energy whether he will now reconsider the need for the Morecambe Bay barrage in the light of the energy crisis and the need to provide alternative sources of energy.

The Morecambe Bay has, in recent years, been the subject of detailed examination for freshwater storage and such a use would largely preclude its use for tidal power generation. The prospects for tidal power generation at more favourable sites in the United Kingdom are being kept under review.

asked the Minister for Energy whether he will introduce a system of grants and subsidies to enable domestic, industrial and commercial consumers to change from oil to gas-fired central heating.

asked the Minister for Energy whether, in view of the energy shortage, he will consider introducing a system of subsidies for firms and private individuals who convert their heating systems from oil-burning to coal or gas-fired systems.

No.

asked the Minister for Energy when he expects to reply to the letter of 28th December from the right hon. Member for Kettering about representations made to him by clothing factories in his constituency concerning the problems created by Saturday working in female-intensive industry.

A reply was sent on 14th January.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will make arrangements to permit local authorities to reallocate their oil supplies for heating in accordance with their chosen priority rather than impose a similar cut in delivery at all their establishments.

Such arrangements have already been agreed in principle by the oil industry for large organisations having a number of establishments in different places. A local authority wishing to take advantage of this scheme should contact the head office of its regular oil supplier, who will consider the extent to which it is possible to meet the authority's preferred pattern of distribution to its various premises within the total amount of the overall allocation.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will make a statement on his latest discussions with Dr. Lorne Gray and Atomic Energy of Canada on the proposal for a joint British/Canadian nuclear programme based on CANDU and SGHW reactors.

No discussions have taken place with Dr. Gray since the meeting on 26th November 1973, to which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry referred in his reply to an earlier Question by the hon. Member on 3rd December, 1973.—[Vol. 865, c. 259.] My hon. Friend the then Minister for Industry met the Minister for Energy of Ontario Province on 18th December, 1973 and was told of the province's future plans for CANDU reactors but no specific proposals for collaboration were discussed.

asked the Minister for Energy how it occurred that statistics relating to petroleum products delivered for inland consumption and recently published in the official journal of the Department of Trade and Industry were incorrect.

The errors arose in transcribing a row of numbers from the data source into the form in which they were being prepared for publication, and from which deliveries of certain non-fuel petroleum products were inadvertently omitted. The data source itself, which is used for internal policy purposes, was correct. Correct figures were published in Trade and Industry for 10th January, 1974. The Department much regrets the error.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she hopes to receive and publish the report of the Bullock Committee.

Sir Alan Bullock expects to submit his report early in the summer. It is my intention to publish the report as soon as practicable after that.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what major and minor school projects within the city and county of Bristol will be delayed in view of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's announcement of public spending cuts.

The Department's Circular 15/73 announced that of major school building projects only those to meet basic needs for additional places would be eligible for approval between 1st January 1974 and 30th June 1975. Six major projects to replace or improve old primary schools in the Bristol local education authority area will therefore be delayed until after June 1975, as follows: Whitehall Junior School, Greenbank Infants School, Pro-Cathedral RC Primary School, Colston Primary School, Whitehall Infants School, St. John's CE Primary School. The local education authority is responsible for deciding which minor projects should be carried out within its minor works allocations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what effect the cuts in public spending will have upon the Hampshire County Council education plans, both on capital and revenue account.

As regards capital, between January 1974 and 30th June 1974 major projects to meet basic need for essential additional places in primary and secondary schools will be eligible for approval. The building programme for special schools will be allowed to proceed and authorities will receive an allocation for minor works. The 1974–75 nursery allocation already announced will remain valid but will run from 1st July 1974 to 30th June 1975. From 1st July 1974 to 30th June 1975 a limited programme of higher and further education projects, to be announced in due course, will also be eligible for approval.There will be no formal system of allocating cost limits to individual projects. Instead, the total value of work started in the country as a whole will have to be contained within a total cash limit. In this situation it is not possible to forecast the projects that will eventually be started for any given authority.Following the Chancellor's statement, the rate support grant settlement for 1974–75 has been reviewed. It will be for each authority to decide how the reduced resources available to it will be allocated between the different services.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why she did not consult the Advisory Council on Teacher Training before deciding that mathematics and science graduates should be exempt from the requirement that from 1st January 1974 all new graduate teachers must have undergone professional training.

This matter was raised orally by one of the Department's assessors at the meeting of the Advisory Council on the Supply and Training of Teachers on 9th October.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice and representations she has received from teachers' organisations and local authorities about her decision permitting mathematics and science graduates exemption from professional teacher training courses.

Two teachers' associations and the Advisory Committee on the Supply and Training of Teachers, most of the members of which are nominated by local authorities' and teachers' associations, have expressed regret that provision was made for exemptions from the extension of the professional training requirement for secondary school teachers who acquired their degree or other "special qualification" after 1st January 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what reply she is sending to the letter from the Bristol District Council city clerk dated 4th January 1974 regarding the Local Government Act 1972, Agency Arrangements, Library Service ;(2) if she is satisfied that Avon County is acting in accordance with Circular No. 5/73;(3) if, bearing in mind that the city and county of Bristol is a university, business and commercial centre and has a library tradition dating back to 1613, she will grant an agency arrangement to the new Bristol District Council to administer the library service.

As my right hon. Friend has received from the Bristol District Council a formal application for a determination under Section 110 of the Local Government Act 1972, I cannot comment on the matter at this stage. My right hon. Friend will announce her decision within the statutory period.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether promotions in teaching or non-teaching posts in further education are permitted under phase 3.

The arrangements for promotions during stage 3 are covered by paragraph 151 of the Counter-Inflation (Price and Pay Code) (No. 2) Order 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals she has submitted to the Working Party on Teachers' Superannuation further to her acceptance of a 6 per cent. contribution and war service recognition.

The working party is to meet on 21st January, when my right hon. Friend will be putting to it papers containing comprehensive proposals on both points.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if his Department will intervene to help resolve the dispute at the Gainsborough Fish Restaurant in Hull ; and if he will make a statement.