Local Authority Loans (Interest Rates)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement about the rates of interest chargeable to local authorities borrowing from the Local Loans Fund.
A Treasury Minute made today provides that loans advanced to local authorities from the Local Loans Fund on and after 9th July, 1955, until further notice, shall carry the following rates of interest: Per cent. Loans for not more than five years 3¾ Loans for more than five years but not more than fifteen years 4¼ Loans for more than fifteen years 4¼
Water Supplies (Fluorides)
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why men in the Navy are supplied with water to which fluorides have been added.
No fluorides are added to water specifically for consumption by men of the Royal Navy. I understand that small quantities may be added to certain municipal water supplies in the course of controlled demonstrations being planned by certain local authorities in conjunction with the Health Departments, and it may be that some naval establishments will draw water from municipal supplies which have been so treated.
Peas (Marketing Scheme)
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the present position is on the draft Peas Marketing Scheme.
This Scheme was submitted to the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Agriculture in 1950. A number of objections were made to it and a public inquiry was held. After considering very carefully the arguments on the Scheme, the objections made to it, the possibilities of modifying it, and the report of the Commissioner who held the inquiry, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have not felt able to recommend this particular Scheme to Parliament. We understand that the promoters are considering the submission of a new scheme which they hope shortly to discuss with the trade interests concerned. My right hon. Friend and I hope that this will result in the submission of an acceptable scheme.
Pigmeat Production
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the volume of production of pigmeat in the United Kingdom in the year ended June, 1955; the estimate for the year ending June, 1956; whether he is satisfied with the position; and whether he will make a statement.
For the year ended June, 1955, the figure is about 720,000 tons compared with 606,000 tons a year earlier. It is difficult to make an estimate at this time because the March returns of livestock are on a sample basis, and for England and Wales only. The indication however has been of a decline in the breeding herd and it is possible that production may be about 10 per cent. lower in the coming year. Having regard to our experience of consumer demand since decontrol and the cost of the guarantee on pigs, I would not regard the indicated level of production as unsatisfactory in present circumstances.
Improvement Grants
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number of improvement grants issued under the Housing Act, 1949, and amending Acts during 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, and during the first quarter of 1955.
The following grants for improvements and conversions have been approved during the periods in question: Period Total From 1/8/1949 to 31/3/51 … 589 Year ended 31/3/52 … 1,462 Year ended 31/3/53 … 1,979 Year ended 31/3/54 … 3,178 Year ended 31/3/55 … 19,702 First quarter of 1955 … 7,113
Completions (Bedroom Types)
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what proportion of houses of one, two, three,
NEW PERMANENT DWELLINGS COMPLETED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS IN ENGLAND AND WALES DURING 1954 AND 1ST QUARTER 1955 Analysis by bedroom types Period One bedroom Two bedrooms Three bedrooms Four or more bedrooms TOTAL No. Per cent. No. Per cent. No. Per cent. No. Per cent. Year 1954 Houses 5,090 3.3 45,369 29.4 100,975 65.4 2,949 1.9 154,383 Flats 11,576 25.6 25,654 56.7 7,370 16.3 621 1.4 45,221 All dwellings 16,666 8.3 71,023 35.6 108,345 54.3 3,570 1.8 199,604 1st quarter 1955 Houses 1,694 4.6 10,327 28.3 23,664 64.8 827 2.3 36,512 Flats 3,295 25.7 7,009 54.6 2,414 18.8 120 0.9 12,838 All dwellings 4,989 101 17,336 35.1 26,078 52.9 947 1.9 49,350
Demand and Supplies
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will publish a table showing for each of the next ten years estimates for the probable demand for coal, the probable supplies available from internal sources, and the consequential need for coal imports, assuming that exports are maintained at the 1954 level.
Such estimates would be too speculative to be of value.
Benefit Payments Overseas (Regulations)
asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether arrangements have yet been completed for retirement pensions under the National Insurance Act, 1946, to be paid in the Federal Republic of Germany to persons entitled to them.
four, and over, bedroom type were built in 1954 and in the first quarter of 1955.
The information required is given in the table below:
Regulations which have been laid before the House today (The National Insurance (Residence and Persons Abroad) Amendment Regulations, 1955 (S.I. 1955 No. 983)) will enable National Insurance retirement pensions and certain other benefits to be paid to beneficiaries anywhere in the world. They will come into operation on Monday, 11th July.
Expanded Programme
asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will publish a detailed list of the schemes mentioned in the monthly review of the economic situation prepared by Her Majesty's Government in connection with the spending of £158 million so far authorised on road construction in the next four years.
I cannot at present add to the statement which I made on 2nd February.