asked the Secretary of State for Wales what further consultations he has had with the British Steel Corporation in the light of the new public spending criteria.

I maintain close contact with the corporation on all aspects of its work in Wales.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman make new and urgent representations on behalf of continued steel-making at Shotton? Will he, for instance, visit the works?

As the hon. Gentleman knows, the Government have carried out a thorough examination of the British Steel Corporation's development proposals and were satisfied that they offered the best means of securing the future for the steel industry. That remains the position.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that, although the Government were satisfied regarding tube production capacity and therefore closed the Newport works, there is now a tube shortage? Perhaps the judgment of the corporation ought to be considered by the Government.

The British Steel Corporation's strategy went into great detail and it was considered that for the long-term future of the steel industry it was the proper strategy.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what further consideration he has given to the composition of rent scrutiny boards in Wales.

This is a matter for the President of the Rent Assessment Panel for Wales.

As the Secretary of State has executive responsibility for housing in Wales, will he now exclude the professional members from the rent scrutiny boards in favour of the expertise possessed by democratically-elected people? Does he agree that there ought to be a right of appeal from the arbitrary decisions of these rubber-stamping servile bodies so as to give natural justice to 280,000 council house tenants in Wales?

It is the responsibility of the President of the Rent Assessment Panel for Wales to make appointments to rent scrutiny boards from the membership of the panel. I cannot intervene in this. The scrutiny boards are completely independent bodies and I am satisfied that appointments in Wales meet that requirement.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what effect the recently announced cuts in Government expenditure will have on the road-building programme in North Wales.

The start of work on some trunk road projects may have to be deferred. Local highway authorities are considering the measures necessary to achieve the required reduction in expenditure on other roads.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that there is real anxiety in North Wales that the already inadequate trunk road programme may be further set back as a result of the cuts in Government expenditure? Will he fight like a tiger for its young to protect this ailing programme?

My hon. Friend will appreciate that we in Wales will have to take our fair share of the cuts which are proposed. The cuts proposed for Wales are only a fair share of the total cuts. We are not being asked to take any more cuts beyond that. I assure my hon. Friend that by regulating the starting dates on schemes I shall seek to give the highest priority I can to the A55 improvement.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman be a little more specific? Does the reduction in public expenditure announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer mean that grants towards roads in North Wales and elsewhere will be down by 10 per cent. in 1974–75? The Secretary of State has accepted that the A55 in North Wales is very important. How will the improvements to the A55 and the bypass on both sides of the proposed new road span over the Menai Bridge be affected?

It is too early to say precisely which schemes will be affected, but certain schemes will clearly have to be deferred.

What about the 10 per cent. reduction?

Will the Secretary of State take note of the exceptional needs of Cardiganshire? Does he appreciate that the amount spent per mile on trunk and principal roads in Cardiganshire is very much below the average for the adjoining counties? Will he pay particular attention to the contribution which road improvements can make to strengthening the county's economy?

I agree that these matters are important for Cardiganshire, in the same way that road works are important for most parts of Wales. Local authorities will take these matters into account in assessing priorities.

In this context, can the Secretary of State indicate when he expects to make a statement on the forces in Wales with reference to road works, particularly the Queen roundabout and the Ha warden bypass?

I hope to make an announcement on the task force very soon. Many matters have to be considered afresh in relation to the task force and these matters will be considered as early as possible.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of those replies, I beg leave to give notice that I shall seek to raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will call in for public inquiry the decision of the Montgomeryshire Planning Authority to allow quarrying to proceed under certain conditions on Middletown Hill.

No, Sir. Applications can be called in only where they have not already been decided.

Surely a remedy must be available when a decision has been made which has greatly disturbed the inhabitants of this village, who live only 200 yards away from and below the site of the quarry. Is there not a means whereby the Minister can influence this decision or at least call it in for some kind of public inquiry?

I cannot call it in once the determination has been made. There are certain remedies, but they are extreme ones and it would be an extreme matter for me to override a local planning authority's judgment on a purely local matter. Having considered this matter, I have reached the conclusion that it does not have wider implications than those of local significance. For that reason I cannot intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much of the public expenditure cuts announced in December will apply to the counties of Brecon and Radnor.

It is not possible to forecast how much of the public expenditure cuts will apply to any particular part of Wales since much will depend on what schemes are put to me for approval by the authorities concerned.

Does the Secretary of State agree that there has been a cut in these counties, however much it may be, and that since his Government have been in power there has been a continuous shift of emphasis in that local authorities have been obliged to find more and more of their income? Can we expect a further announcement on cuts in public expenditure in view of today's announcement of the balance of trade figures?

Since the Government have been in power local authorities have spent very much more than at any other time in their history. As I said earlier, we in Wales must take a fair share of the proposed cuts, but I am happy to say that we are required to take only a fair share of the reduction.

What is this fair share to be? Will the Secretary of State answer my previouns question? Is there to be a cut of 10 per cent. in the overall expenditure on roads in Wales in the financial year 1974–75? Will the Secretary of State please reply?

The figures for 1974–75 on reduction of capital expenditure on roads in Wales amount to £9·8 million. On procurement of roads the reduction will be £1·8 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make a statement on the proposed Llantrisant new town.

I expect to announce my decision soon.

In view of the tragic cuts in public expenditure announced by the Government, some effects of which have been referred to in previous Questions, would it not be much better for the people of Wales if the expenditure which will be required for the starting of this proposed new town were to be allocated to local authorities to overcome some of those effects, and certainly if some of it were to be allocated to meet much-needed improvements in the valley communities?

The hon. Gentleman will not expect me to make any comment on this matter in advance of a decision being announced.

Is not the failure to make a decision on this and related matters of the sewage works and the line of the M4 becoming a public scandal? Does not the right hon. and learned Gentleman realise that sewerage facilities in the Llantrisant area are grossly inadequate to cover the amount of housing which has been built and the amount of industry which has moved into the area? Will he accelerate a decision on this matter?

I shall be announcing my decision on the proposed sewage disposal works as soon as possible. My decision will probably coincide with the decision on the Llantrisant scheme.

As the Secretary of State has used the word "soon" so many times, will he tell us how soon is "soon"? He has been sitting on this report for many months. Although he will not disclose the conclusions of the report, will he say, when the public expenditure figures for 1976 are published, what amounts of money will be included for the new town? Did he assume that it would never be built?

I assure the hon. Gentleman that by "soon" I meant soon. I hope to make an announcement within the next fortnight.

Reverting to an earlier Question, may I ask whether it is not a fact that the sorts of aid and grants available under the new town procedure are not readily made available in the same part of the country under alternative forms of grant?

My hon. Friend is, as he so often is, absolutely right. Right hon. and hon. Members opposite quite clearly have failed to appreciate exactly what finance was proposed for the setting up of the new town. A very large amount of this would be private finance.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding the effects of the cuts in public expenditure on the education service in Wales.

I received a letter on 18th January from the Rhondda Excepted District of the Glamorgan Education Authority about educational building from now until 1975.

As these cuts in public expenditure and education in Wales are a direct result of the Government's failure and are likely to have serious repercussions on the education of our children, would it not be more honest for the Government to indicate how and where these cuts may be made rather than to shield behind local authorities which are having to carry the blame for the Government?

I agree that local authorities are anxious to have the matter clarified as soon as possible. All local education authorities are at present having consultations with my Department on this very matter. The hon. Gentleman will be happy to know that, despite the deferment of the improvement programme, the range of projects to be undertaken by July 1975 still exceeds those undertaken by the previous administration.

In view of the very serious effect upon local government services in Wales of the proposed cut in expenditure, will the Secretary of State provide us with a White Paper indicating how he believes that the various services in Wales are to have cuts applied? He has given some very strange replies this afternoon, indicating that he does not know how on earth the cuts are to be applied.

I can certainly let the right hon. Gentleman know the proposed cuts in each of the services. There is a Question down today on this very subject. The right hon. Gentleman will appreciate that this Question relates solely to the education service.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will pay an official visit to the Pontypridd constituency.

Yes, Sir.

Will the Secretary of State, when visiting the Pontypridd constituency, take the trouble to visit the mines which are working in the constituency, talk to ordinary miners and go on a tour of the seams such as those working in the Cwm colliery? Having seen the conditions under which ordinary miners live and work and the rates of pay they receive, will he return and knock some sense into the block-headed Cabinet and persuade it to settle the miners' dispute?

The arrangements which I have made to go to the hon. Gentleman's constituency, and of which I will certainly give him advance notice, do not include that type of visit. One thing I do know is that the employment situation which obtained at the end of last year in the hon. Gentleman's constituency is at the moment in jeopardy by reason of the shortage of energy. I feel sure that the hon. Gentleman must have brought this matter to the notice of those who are engaged in the mining industry in his constituency.

If the Secretary of State is so concerned about the effects of the energy situation, will he tell us whether he has yet drawn it to the attention of his Cabinet colleagues that their present policy of the three-day week is costing the country about £450 million a week whereas a justifiable wage award to the miners of less than one-tenth of that amount in addition to what they have already asked for would send us back to work in a couple of days? On his experience in Pontypridd, perhaps he will bring that point of view to bear in the Cabinet.

These are matters which are being discussed continually and are being discussed today when my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister meets the leaders of the Trades Union Congress.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many officers and staffs of the existing Welsh local authorities have been appointed to posts with the new county and district councils in the Principality ; and what is his estimate of the number of Welsh local government officers and staffs who are still seeking such employment.

I regret that this information is not available. However, the staff order, now being drafted, will ensure that all staff employed by existing local authorities on 31st March 1974 will be employed by a new authority on 1st April 1974.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend able to comment on reports that some of the new county councils are finding it impossible to recruit key personnel at the top level? Second, can he comment on the allegation, which has certainly been made to me, that, whereas the redeployment of senior officials is going reasonably well, it is not quite so satisfactory at lower levels?

Specific employment is being arranged only with key officials. As my hon. Friend appreciates, 99 per cent. of people working in local government will be employed under the Act in April 1974 by a new authority. I know that these are matters of great importance to those concerned with local government, and I know also that they appreciate the work done by the staff commission.

Has the Secretary of State made revised estimates of the cost of this reform of local government, since Parkinson's Law is rife in it, and have he and his Cabinet colleagues investigated what contribution it is making to our inflationary position?

It is an important question, and I know that everyone will be anxious for the local authorities to take heed of the need to keep costs down as much as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many new school projects in Gwent will be held back as a result of the Chancellor's restrictions announced on 17th December 1973.

It is not possible to say precisely which improvement projects will be deferred until my Department has completed its consultations with local education authorities.

Does not the Secretary of State agree that, if the maximum grant is not received, there will be a savage blow at the education service in the new county of Gwent, since a great deal more money has to be spent to maintain the existing services? Further, as his Government forced through the local government reform, since they willed the ends they should now will the means by providing the necessary resources.

As the hon. Gentleman knows, it is the starts of major improvement programmes which will be deferred unless local education authorities can justify the inclusion of any particular project in the basic needs category ; and it is this sort of discussion which is now going on. Despite the deferment of the improvement programme for major school building projects, there will still be £15 million of projects eligible for starts by July 1975, and about £2 million of these are in Gwent.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman assure me that no school project envisaged or under construction in Swansea will be cancelled or scaled down? Second, will every facility be given to the construction of the Hafod school, the first major school to be built in my constituency in that part of the city since 1903?

The question refers to school building in Gwent. If the hon. Gentleman cares to put down a Question about Swansea, I shall be happy to answer it.

Has the Secretary of State any policy whatever with regard to the imposition of these cuts? Is it that 10 per cent. will be cut off the budget of every local authority, is it to be in the form of a lottery depending on the date on which schemes come in, or does he propose to delegate the whole matter to senior officials?

Again, if the hon. Gentleman will put down a Question relating to the whole country I shall answer it. Improvements will be deferred unless they can be related to basic needs. This is where the cuts will be found in the education programme, apart from procurement.

But will there be any appreciation of the differential needs of various localities, or will it be a flat-rate cut over the whole of Wales?

The cuts will be flat-rate cuts, both on capital and procurement, throughout the whole of Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has received from the Cardiff City Council to provide a new access road to Heath Hospital.

A new access road has been suggested which would connect with the roundabout at the Eastern Avenue—A470 trunk road interchange at Gabalfa.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that it is generally regarded as a major planning blunder that an adequate access was not provided for the hospital, and is he aware also that urgent consideration and approval of the current Cardiff city proposal would bring relief to a large number of residents in the area, who are growing increasingly dismayed and frustrated?

My hon. Friend knows because I have already written to him on this matter, that I am anxious to be helpful, and I have offered to contribute towards the cost of certain traffic lights. Earlier proposals put forward by the city were open to a number of objections. I am considering the city's present proposals carefully to see how far those objections are overcome.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from representatives of National Health Service staff in Wales regarding the problems arising from the reorganisation of the administrative structure of the health service ; and what replies he has sent.

I have had letters from staff interests and from hon. Members. Replies have varied according to the nature of the representations. I have at all times urged that staff should be kept fully informed and consulted on all matters that affect them.

Does the Secretary of State realise that, despite his desire to keep the staff informed, there is still considerable anxiety among them about their future rôle under the new area health authorities? Will he now give an assurance that a substantial majority of staff will know by the end of this month what their duties and responsibilities will be under the new authorities when constituted?

I appreciate that there is anxiety among the staff. The matter was referred to at some length when the hon. Gentleman wrote to my hon. Friend the Minister of State, and I do not think I can add anything to the somewhat lengthy reply which my hon. Friend gave on 10th January.

Does my right hon. and learned Friend appreciate that he has still some way to go before he allays the discontent among many practising doctors in North Wales that they are not being adequately represented on the area health authorities?

I understand that there have been complaints on this matter, but I am satisfied that the medical representation is adequate.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the morale of National Health Service employees is absolutely at rock level, thanks to the way in which he has handled the reorganisation? Will he show a greater sense of urgency in this matter in trying to restore the morale of people who want to do nothing more than give good public service?

The right hon. Gentleman does not assist by exaggerating. I do not agree that morale is at rock level. I agree that concern has been expressed, but one thing I am very happy about is that the staff commission which has been at work has met very little criticism.

What increase is there in the number of administrative personnel in the new organisation as compared with the old, what will be the increased cost, and have the Cabinet considered what effect this will have on the country's inflationary position?

With notice, I shall be happy to answer that question.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the provision of hospital services in West Monmouthshire.

I am satisfied that the Welsh Hospital Board has taken full account of the needs of West Monmouthshire in its planning.

The Secretary of State must be easily satisfied. It is not the fault of the Welsh Hospital Board that there is no district general hospital in West Monmouthshire ; it is not the fault of the board or the people of my constituency that 7,000 people in the general area of my constituency are waiting for hospital admission and that three or four times that number are waiting for out-patient treatment. The final insult has come in the form of a circular to general practitioners asking them to refer their patients to a 32-mile round trip for out-patient service at Nevill Hall, Abergavenny. Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman still satisfied?

I said I was satisfied that the Welsh Hospital Board had taken full account of the needs. After 1st April it will fall to the Gwent area health authority in the first place to consider the issues that the hon. Member has mentioned today. I have no doubt that it will take full account of what he has said.