asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether he has completed his study of the desirability of building a barrage across The Wash to turn it into a large freshwater reservoir to serve the dry counties of the East Midlands and of East Anglia; and whether he will make a statement.

Not yet, Sir. The Water Resources Board has been asked to consider the Wash scheme in the context of its South-East studies as a whole and to give its advice as soon as possible. Until my right hon. Friends have received that advice it would be wrong to take a decision one way or the other about a feasibility study. The Board's study is making good progress.

Will the Minister do all he can to see that there is no avoidable delay because, although we have a lot of lovely rain, this area—Anglia and the East Midlands—at any time can suffer from a severe shortage of water?

My right hon. Friend is very well aware of the urgency about the position on this scheme, particularly in East Anglia.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources if he will now publish the White Paper on the future of National Parks and the Countryside.

The White Paper was published on 28th February, 1966.

Will the Minister, while considering the future of our National Parks, bear in mind the very real need of certain areas, such as Okehampton on the fringe of Dartmoor, which are seeking to explore for tin which would be of great benefit to the area, but which are frustrated at every stage?

If the hon. Member would care to let me have details—or the Minister of Housing and Local Government where this comes into his sphere—we should, I am sure, be glad to investigate the matter.

While congratulating my right hon. Friend on the White Paper Leisure in the Countryside, may I ask if he will give particular support to the campaign referred to by the Civic Trust to remove eyesores from the countryside? In particular, apart from securing the support of voluntary organisations and local authorities, will he secure the support of the Ministry of Defence in removing some of the barbed wire and concrete obstructions which spoil some of the coastline, particularly the Channel coast?

My hon. Friend will notice that in the White Paper we pay particular attention to the part played by the Civic Trust and also to clearing those areas. My right hon. Friend is having discussions with all the Departments concerned.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether he is aware that nature reserves, nature rides and nature walks can be made out of abandoned railway tracks after the rails and sleepers have been removed; and if he will seek power to encourage the acquisition of tracks for such purposes.

My right hon. Friend is aware that in some cases abandoned railway tracks are well suited to the purposes mentioned, but is satisfied that adequate powers already exist under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949, the Local Government Act, 1933, and the Open Spaces Act, 1906. The Nature Conservancy and local authorities have power to make agreements for the use of any land as nature reserves and to acquire the land if necessary. Local authorities have power to create rights of way on foot or on horseback without acquiring the land.

As so many public bodies have these powers, may I ask the Minister to do everything he can to encourage them to use them?

This will be one of the ways in which we think the Countryside Commission can take a part in stimulating activity.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources if he will estimate how much Dorset people will have to pay by way of development charges in the coming year on the assumption that the value of developments carried out is as in 1964.

I have no estimate of the value of developments carried out in Dorset in 1964. So I regret that I cannot help the hon. Member, beyond reminding him that no levy will be payable until after the appointed day.

If this figure were to be estimated, would it not simply represent an additional tax on Dorset people who seek to build their own houses, and would not this add to their difficulties and inconvenience?

No. On the contrary, the people of Dorset, like people in other parts of the country, will have the advantage of the operations of the betterment levy and the Land Commission.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources when the registration of common land will begin; and if he will make available to intending applicants a simple explanation of the Commons Registration Act.

Registration is expected to start in January, 1967. My Department has prepared an explanatory booklet which will be obtainable free next month, on application to any council office or clerk of a parish council or any main post office.

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that reply. I hope he will ensure that the widest possible publicity is given to the issue of the booklet.

My hon. Friend can rest assured that the widest publicity will be given to the booklet.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether he will take steps to promote research into recreational needs and the resources available to meet them without waiting for the establishment of the Countryside Commission.

I hope that local authorities will now review their recreational needs and will evolve proposals for meeting them. Certain qualitative research is already being carried out by my right hon. Friend's Department, with the help of the Advisory Committee on Natural Resources.

While welcoming my hon. Friend's Answer, may I ask him if he will follow this matter up, possibly through the newly established Council for Social Research and, indeed, through the Sports Council? We know extraordinarily little about this.

Yes. One of the difficulties facing us in this work, as in other work, was the almost complete absence of data. In addition to the studies I have mentioned by the Advisory Committee, investigations into certain aspects are being made by the Department of Economic Affairs, by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, and by the tourist associations. We shall be in contact with all these bodies and shall try to assist wherever possible.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether he will initiate regional and local discussions between user and resource interests in land-and water-based recreation in the countryside to help overcome conflicting claims and to establish major needs.

There will certainly need to be extensive discussions at all levels and between different interests in working out the proposals which were announced in the recent White Paper on Leisure, in the Countryside. The initiative for local discussions will primarily lie with the interests concerned, but my right hon. Friend will be ready to assist in arranging them with the help of the Countryside Commission, if this appears to be necessary.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the White Paper proposals are welcomed very warmly? In order to give effect to them, many of us are very anxious that these discussions should start straight away. There should not be any hold-up. If my hon. Friend's Department could help to initiate discussions, we would welcome this very much.

My right hon. Friend is very gratified at the reception of the proposals in the White Paper. As the White Paper itself stresses, there are a great many things which can be done, even at this stage, without waiting for legislation which has to follow in certain instances. We will bear my hon. Friend's point very much in mind.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what steps he has taken to recruit extra staff for the Ordnance Survey to bring up to date the backlog of large scale mapping.

There has been a net increase of about 100 in the staff of the Ordnance Survey during the last six months and the Department is aiming to recruit a further substantial number later in the year. My objective is to increase the staff by about 20 per cent. over the next 10 years or so to complete the re-survey of the country by about 1980.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what facilities will normally be provided in the country parks outlined in Command Paper No. 2928.

In all country parks there will be an agreeable area to walk or sit in, and space for parking cars. The extent to which these basic facilities are supplemented by others, of which there should certainly be a wide range, will depend on local circumstances and on demand and this must be left largely to the discretion of the Countryside Commission and the authorities planning and creating country parks. Paragraph 20 of the White Paper gives examples of facilities which might be provided, including restaurants, boating lakes and paddling pools, ornamental water and space for organised sports.

I am very grateful to the Minister for that lengthy reply. Will the area known as the Norfolk Broadland area be included in such a scheme?

Discussions are still going on in relation to this, but it is thought unlikely that the whole of this area would be a country park. Discussions are going on with the various local authorities at present about its future and a decision about the area is much more likely to be the result of discussions between the local authorities.

Will the Minister bear in mind that what is also needed in National Parks is toilet and washing facilities and particularly very large bins or receptacles for waste paper and rubbish?

Yes, I entirely agree. These seem to be elementary requirements, but it is surprising how often they have not been provided, largely, I suppose, because it has not been anybody's statutory duty until now to do so. We hope that the whole emphasis now contained in the White Paper will result in a very considerable improvement.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what further steps he will take to provide better access to open country for walkers and holiday-makers.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the recent White Paper on Leisure in the Countryside, which announced the Government's intention to ask all local planning authorities to submit revised plans, based on the vigorous use of their powers, for securing public access to open country. The White Paper also announces the decision to pay Exchequer grant at the rate of 75 per cent. throughout the countryside towards expenditure on the purchase of land for access, on compensation and on a warden service.

Is my hon. Friend aware that those proposals are extremely welcome? Will he indicate whether steps are being taken to give special attention to the surrounding areas of the big industrial towns and cities, because there the need is greater than anywhere else?

One important aspect of the policy announced in the White Paper is the provision of country parks fairly near to the great urban centres in order that these facilities shall be available without long and tiring journeys by car or in any other way.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether he is satisfied that the proposals contained in Leisure in the Countryside will lead to a speedy increase in the number of access agreements, and the enlargement and strengthening of public rights in regard to footpaths and bridleways; and if he will make a statement.

I am confident that the local authorities will make energetic use of their powers to secure access to open country, especially with the help of the 75 per cent. grants which we propose to make payable throughout the countryside.

My hon. Friend will know that we propose some simplification of procedure in respect of footpaths, and this alone should make for more rapid progress in ensuring that footpaths and bridleways continue to be available to all who want to use them.

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Is he aware that there are large areas of open country, including areas of outstanding natural beauty like Abbeystead Moors and the Forest of Bowland, where public access is still strictly prohibited? Will he give an assurance that no large-scale attempt will be made to close footpaths, on the ground that they are falling into disuse, without consultation with people who use them?

My hon. Friend will know, because he himself has been closely concerned in this, that there has been a long struggle to get access to areas even when they have been preserved from the wrong kinds of development. This is what we have very much in mind in the countryside proposals in the White Paper. With regard to the closure of footpaths, we thought it wise to make provision for the abolition of footpaths which are not necessary; but our own view is that increasingly nearly all footpaths will become necessary with the growth of motor traffic.

On the question of access, will my hon. Friend take steps to ensure that authorities concerned do not sell to private interests disused railway railway track which could be made use of in this connection?

My hon. Friend may have noticed that in my Answer to an earlier Question I pointed out that these tracks would often be very suitable, either for access or for other purposes, and that powers under three Statutes are available for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether, in view of the abandonment of this Session's Land Commission Bill, and in order not to incur nugatory expenditure for which he has no Parliamentary authority, he will suspend preparations for the setting up of a Land Commission.

No, Sir.

In view of the abandonment of this Bill, can the right hon. Gentleman say what statutory authority there is for this expenditure?

Yes. It is provided for in the Appropriation Bill which will shortly, I imagine receive Parliamentary approval.

Surely it is without precedent when expenditure has been started under a Bill which has subsequently been abandoned simply to seek authority under the Appropriation Bill? Can the right hon. Gentleman cite any precedent for this?

Of course. Meanwhile it is covered by the Estimates.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources if he will state the size of the proposed Countryside Commission; what bodies he proposes to consult before appointing its members; whether its members will be full-time or part-time; and when he will announce the name of the Chairman of the Commission.

Although I have no statement to make at present, I expect to be able to make one before long.

In view of the extra duties and responsibilities which are being placed upon the new Countryside Commission, does not my right hon. Friend think it desirable that in this case there should be a number of full-time members on it? Secondly, as it is essential that the Commission should from the start enjoy the confidence of all people interested in it, will he at least informally consult the open air and amenity bodies as well as those who live and work in the countryside?

I assure my hon. Friend that I will certainly consider what he has said. For myself, at the moment I think it is more likely to be a part-time body, but certainly I would not rule out the possibility of its being full time. In making appointments to the Commission we will bear in mind the different interests concerned in the countryside.

Walker asked the Minister of Public Building and Works on what date he expects the machinery for building licence applications to be in operation.

I hope to make a statement about building control tomorrow.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there has been considerable frustration amongst business men who have been trying to apply for building licences and have been told that there is no machinery by which they can do so? Will the right hon. Gentleman ensure that in his statement there is reference to some facility for making application?

The hon. Gentleman should be aware that I made a statement on 1st November and there can have been no dubiety about the situation since then. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] I have already this morning had this out with somebody who felt the same as the hon. Gentleman does, and who is very interested in this matter. People have either had a definite negative or an affirmative. One could not be straighter than that.

Why could not we have had the statement today? Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the situation to which the statement of 1st November related is not the same as the situation today, because alterations have been taken out of the Bill? Does not the right hon. Gentlemant remember telling us that it was so vital that the Bill would be the first to be introduced in the Parliamentary Session? It then started 21st in the race and now, owing to the Minister's humiliation by his colleagues, it has been scratched altogether?

I cannot imagine what sort of people would humiliate me. I am not the sort of Minister who takes humiliation, anyway. I can only tell the hon. Gentleman that what is dimly apparent to him has always been daylight clear to me.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will now make a statement about the position arising from the abandonment of the Building Control Bill.

Yes Sir. I hope to make a statement tomorrow.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we look forward to the daylight which he will throw on the subject?

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works on what grounds a substantial grant has been given for the preservation of Blenheim Palace.

I have a duty to safeguard the nation's architectural heritage. In the furtherance of this and on the advice of the Historic Buildings Council for England, I offered this grant. Blenheim is in need of very extensive major structural repairs.

That may well be, but has my right hon. Friend any evidence that the owners of this palace are in one of the pockets of newly-found poverty in this country? Cannot he apply the principle of a means test to applications for these grants? Has my right hon. Friend any assurance from the owners that public access to the palace will be greater now that the need for the half crowns from taxpayers is less?

The answer is that all these people have to submit to a pretty stringent means test. It has happened in this case. As a matter of fact, in all such cases it is the practice for the Council to examine the financial position of the applicants. In this case, to make doubly sure, and probably in anticipation of my hon. Friend's Question, we had the assistance of a firm of chartered accountants.

Is it not a fact that the owner of this property put up an amount equal to the grant? Also is it not a fact that the British people will expect the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill to be maintained?

The hon. Gentleman will understand that I am bound not to disclose all the financial arrangements and those sort of things. It is equally true that I cannot bandy words across the Chamber about the financial settlements which are made. Of course, the owner has paid very considerable sums towards the repairs.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that this is a great national monument built for the nation and that it gives great pleasure to a great number of people regardless of party politics? Therefore, we must not let it fall into decay as is implied by those who hold by the political opinions of the hon. Member who put down the Question.

The hon. Gentleman must not imagine that sensitivity to our architectural heritage or to the history of this country is the prerogative of hon. Members on the other side of the House.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what are the facilities for public access to Blenheim Palace; and what was the estimated total number of visitors to Blenheim for the last five years.

Blenheim Palace is advertised as being open to the public on four afternoons a week from Easter to July, and in October; and on six afternoons a week in August and September. The total number of visitors during the last five years was 672,729.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make sure that the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton), who detests the place so much, knows about it, so that he may perhaps be encouraged to visit it?

My hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) does not detest historic buildings. He is concerned with their economical use and ensuring that there are proper proportionate payments My hon. Friend exercises the scrutiny of public expenditure proper to the Chairman of the Estimates Committee.

Has my right hon. Friend had an assurance from the owners, as a result of this public expenditure, that public access to the building will be increased?

I think that public access is good enough, but I will write to my hon. Friend and tell him of the pros and cons of Blenheim Palace. Then perhaps he will be able to return to the subject with greater knowledge on some future occasion.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many cubic yards of lightweight aggregate for concrete, excluding clinker, have been used in his Department's contracts during the past four years; and what steps he is taking to encourage the more extensive use of artificial aggregates in the construction industries.

The first part of the Answer would take too many cubic yards of HANSARD at too great a public cost.

The Government are encouraging the more extensive use of lightweight concrete by publishing information and technical guidance on its use.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is at the moment a dichotomy between the production and use of lightweight aggregate materials, in that we are now producing more than we are using and the Building Regulations do not help in this respect? In three to five years' time there may be a shortage of these materials. Therefore, will my right hon. Friend take steps to encourage builders to use them so that manufacturers are encouraged to produce more?

Yes. No doubt, my hon. Friend will reply to the letter which I have already written to her on the subject. Any information and help that we can give will be given.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what principles of Government policy govern the grant of assistance from public funds towards the preservation of historic houses.

Grants can be made only for buildings of outstanding historic or architectural interest.

Should not these buildings of historic importance which are receiving grants from public funds become public property?

There may or may not be a case for that, but I am proceeding under my powers to see that we do the best we possibly can for them and that both the State and the owner make a just contribution.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House how much it would cost the taxpayer if the Duke of Marlborough gave Blenheim Palace back to the nation?

The hon. Gentleman can work out his own sums for himself.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what was the total sum expended by his Department on historic buildings in his charge in each of the years from 1960 to 1965.

£1·2 million, £1·4 million, £1·5 million, £1·6 million and £1·9 million respectively in round figures.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether these figures represent an increase in real terms, divorced from the general fall in the value of money, and whether the sums spent have been matched each year by an increasing number of the public making use of the facilities accorded as a condition of the grants?

Yes, Sir. For 1965–66 the provision is even better. It is £2·1 million. The revenue from admissions has also gone up—from £250,000 in 1960–61 to nearly £500,000 in 1964–65.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what public events are planned to take place at historic buildings in his charge during 1966.

Thirty have been agreed and two are being considered.

Could the hon. Gentleman give a little more detail of what is included in these 30? Although it is a very long list, one would like a little more information about it.

I will write to the hon. and learned Gentleman. The list ranges from an exhibition in the Abbey Chapter House to a single performance by a madrigal society at St. Andrews Castle, Scotland, and includes celebration of 1066 and all that.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what new facilities for public access to historic buildings in his charge will be available in 1966.

Improved parking, better sign posting, earlier seasonal opening, better approaches—as for example at the Tower of London, to mention only a few improvements.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what sum was expended on office equipment for the Paymaster-General's Department for 1963–64, 1964–65 and 1965–66.

The work of the Paymaster-General's Department covers banking and pension services. The expenditure figures on office equipment and furnishing in this context are £27,117 in 1963–64, £37,213 in 1964–65, and £31,302 in 1965–66 so far.

Are we to understand that there is another context? Has there been any significant increase in the expenditure on tape recorders and listening devices—

Order. The Minister cannot answer for the other context.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works why the Explanatory Memorandum on Fire Stairs Space and a General Index, necessary to the understanding of the Building Regulations, 1965, was published only one day before the regulations became operative.

These explanatory memoranda are an aid and not a necessity for the understanding of the Building Regulations. It was necessary to give first priority to work on the Regulations themselves and the general introductory guide, which were published in July.

Is it not a fact that architects have found extreme difficulty in interpreting the Building Regulations without this memorandum? Would it not have been better to have published the memorandum some considerable time before the Regulations came into effect, even if it meant postponing the introduction of the Regulations, in order to ensure that they are properly understood?

In reply to the first part of the question, the answer is, no. The preparation of the technical memorandum required as much care as the Regulations, and accuracy could not be sacrificed for speed.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he is satisfied that all the statutory consultations required before making any building regulations were fully carried out in the case of the Building (First Amendment) Regulations, 1965; and if he will make a statement.

As I said on 21st February and again on 24th February in this House—Yes, Sir.

Does not the hon. Gentleman think it a little curious that these Regulations have attached to them the statement that they were made after consultation with the Building Regulations Advisory Committee when, as the hon. Gentleman said earlier, they were not?

The first amending Regulations consisted of corrections of errors detracting from the intended effect of the proposals endorsed by the Committee and embodied in the main Regulations. No new points of substance were contained in the amended Regulations and my right hon. Friend was given legal advice that there was no need for him to have fresh consultations to comply with the Statute.

Is not this a serious matter? The Act with authorises the regulations requires the Minister to consult the Building Advisory Committee before making any Regulations. Has it not now been admitted that he made no such consultations? Are not the Regulations ultra vires, therefore?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what was the value of work obtained by the building and construction industries overseas during 1965.

£198 million for the year ending 31st March, 1965.

Would not the hon. Gentleman concede, therefore, that the building industry make a very important export contribution not only in this way but in building for manufacturing industries on whose competitiveness we depend? Is it not rather unfortunate when we are trying to encourage exports that the building and construction industries should be excluded from the Government's new investment incentives?

The answer to the first part of the supplementary question is, yes, Sir. But without belittling the efforts of the export side of the building industry I must point out that not all the money that the industry earns is a net export, because a lot of the money is spent abroad. However, I agree that one should encourage exports, and the builders in that year have done very well.

Since the new investment grants apply to manufacturing industry and not to construction, how is the industrial building section of the construction industry going to be treated?

That was announced in the White Paper.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works (1) what was the stock of bricks at the latest convenient date; and what it was 12 months before that date;

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will make a statement about the brick situation.

Fewer bricks were put into stock in January than in December. Brick stocks at the end of January, 1966, were 709 million, about one month's normal usage compared with only five to six days' stock in January, 1965—140 million. Production figures for each of the last five quarters ending with December, 1965, were 2,058, 1,991, 2,032, 1,940 and 1,905 million.

Is not that a disgraceful situation? Why did the right hon. Gentleman stimulate the brick industry to work so much harder with the result that bricks are now accumulating in such numbers because of the shortfall in demand?

I stimulated the brick industry—if that is the right word—in order to meet demands over the next four years, and the stocks are not astronomical. In 1963, they were very much higher but were down to normal by June. I imagine that the same sort of thing will take place again this year.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that until very recently these figures were always available on the 23rd or 24th of the following month? Why is he holding them up? Does not he want to throw daylight on this situation? Surely he is also wrong in his statement about the winter of 1962–63. Is not he always taking refuge in that alibi, despite the fact that that was a terrible winter when building activity stopped for three months?

The hon. Gentleman's supplementary question carries the innuendo that I have concealed something. A similar charge was made by his hon. Friend the Member for Southend, West (Mr. Channon) during the Second Reading of the Building Control Bill. The hon. Member for Southend, West had to withdraw it.

Is not this muddle the direct result of Socialist planning?

There is no muddle. If the hon. Gentleman had been in on this argument before, he would know that when I came to office there was no more than a two to three days' supply of bricks and that bricklayers were idle. The building industry could not escape the measures which have affected the whole economy. However, we have good reason for optimism because no fewer than 444,000 houses were under construction in 1965 and new housing starts both in the public and the private sectors are showing a good upturn at the present time.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that my reason for making the allegation on the Second Reading of the Building Control Bill was due to the incompetence of his Press Office, which could not give me the figures?

That is not true. If the hon. Gentleman had known his way about the House of Commons he would have known that the figures were in the Library at the time.

rose—

Order. We must get on.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many contracts have been let by his Department, or by other statutory bodies or Ministries which work under the aegis of his Department, which involved the use of Portland stone products in 1964 and in 1965, respectively.

I regret that the information is not available and that the cost of obtaining it would be more than would be justified.

Will the hon. Gentleman see that it is the task of someone in the Department to make the figures available? Does not the hon. Gentleman understand that the whole prosperity of Portland depends on them? Is it not a fact that, when the Government stopped office building in London, they did so without even considering the effect—which has been powerful—that it would have no Portland?

The implication of the supplementary question is that the Ministry discourages the use of Portland stone. That is not so. The stone is used in a great many buildings when architecturally desirable.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many square feet of office space is occupied in the City of Westminster by Government and other official bodies for which Her Majesty's Government have responsibility; and what is the average rent per square foot paid for such of this space as is rented.

A total of about 6 million sq. ft. of office space. The average rent for the leased accommodation is about 23s. sq. ft. The Post Office is excluded from these figures.

Would it not be better for both the taxpayer and the ratepayer if some of these bodies could be moved out of central London and the premises put to economic use?

I happen to believe that Government offices are put to economic use. It is usually very much better to use Crown offices than to use leased accommodation, which is much more expensive. If one takes into account the number of civil servants, one can see that we are better off doing it this way.

Is it not Government policy to move Government Departments out of London wherever possible? Has not this been the continuing policy? Does it not remain so?

I so much agree with the hon. Gentleman that I do not have to contradict him.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what public buildings in London will be floodlit during 1966 additional to those lit during 1965.

The Victoria Tower of the Palace of Westminster, so far as this Ministry is concerned.

Is that enough? In view of the great value of the tourist industry as a dollar earner, should we not do more floodlighting, which adds greatly to the attractions of public buildings?

Another thirteen buildings which are the responsibility of the Ministry are floodlit as well as other buildings which are not our responsibility.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what steps he proposes to take to clean the exterior of the Palace of Westminster.

I have already considered this and rejected it. I am writing to the hon. Gentleman, telling him all the considerations.

Ought not the right hon. Gentleman to think again about this? Has he been too busy throwing whitewash in other directions? Will he now tell the House why he rejected the idea?

If I listed all of the considerations that brought me to this decision I should be in a great deal of peril from you, Mr. Speaker. The hon. Gentleman had better wait for the letter, when he will be able to ask his questions with knowledge rather than with a degree of ignorance.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many season tickets to ancient monuments and historic buildings were sold in 1965; and what consideration has been given to making available a ticket which will admit overseas visitors to National Trust properties as well as to those in his own care.

Over 7,000 more than in 1964—27,655. From 1st April a new ticket will be on sale to visitors from abroad which will admit to all Ministry sites and to the properties of the National Trust and the National Trust for Scotland. It will cost 21s., be valid for one year, and will give entry to nearly 400 places.

Can the Minister say why such tickets are not being made more readily available to foreign visitors, in the interests of education and world peace?

This ticket is being issued for foreign tourists.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether these tickets are well advertised in this country? My information is that the Americans know more about them than do the British people.

They are for foreign tourists and they are being extensively advertised by the B.T.H.A., by tourist agencies and so on. When the scheme is fully under way I am quite sure that a great many people will take advantage of them.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is the cost of the alterations to the Government buildings adjoining Admiralty House; and to what purpose the buildings will be put when the work is completed.

£230,000. The accommodation will provide offices for the Parliamentary Counsel to the Treasury and some other staff.

Will there be any living accommodation for Ministers in these buildings?

That is not contemplated.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she will consider adding to the benefits under National Insurance an allowance to men with young children where the wives are permanently disabled or incapacitated.

I can assure my hon. Friend that the needs of all permanently disabled people, including those of permanently disabled wives and mothers, are receiving the Government's close attention.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him to take into consideration the extreme difficulty in which this type of person is placed and the expense to which he is put? Will he try to bring about a speedy remedy?

All these considerations are being taken into account by the Government.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she will seek to increase the National Assistance allowance paid to mentally handicapped young people who are receiving industrial or other training.

I have no reason to think that the provision made by the existing National Assistance rates which, as my hon. Friend will appreciate, are at present higher in real terms than ever before, is in any way deficient in such cases. But if my hon. Friend has an individual case in mind, I will gladly look into it.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that Answer, and for his sympathy, may I ask him to reconsider this matter in the light of the fact that handicapped children and adults have the problem of extra cleaning and breakages, which are a burden upon the parents and the individual? Would he please reconsider this?

Yes. If there are special needs arising out of the industrial occupation of the mentally handicapped, then the National Assistance Board would either make a special addition to the weekly grant or it would make a lump sum grant to cover the additional cost.

Is the Minister aware that there is a special zone containing a number of children who scarcely fall within his orbit, yet very nearly do so? Will he make special steps to liaise with the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State for Education and Science about this handful of cases, because only National Assistance can provide for them? Will he go out of his way to see that the normal National Assistance disregards do not apply in the case of these mentally handicapped young people?

Yes, Sir. We are looking into all these matters.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that hospital departments of medical physics and regional radiotherapy departments are adequately staffed; what representations he has received about rates of wastage and levels of payment for hospital physics technicians who work in such departments; and whether he will make a statement.

Numbers have continued to increase, but hospital boards need more technicians for this expanding service. One centre has recently reported a net loss, but mostly to other hospitals. On 28th February I met at their request, representatives of the staff side of the Whitley Council who were concerned about the progress of pay negotiations. I understand that negotiations are being resumed at once on a proposal for a current pay increase and that the comprehensive review of the salary and grading structure already in hand and the subsequent pay negotiations will be pursued as expeditiously as possible.

In view of the fact that, as the Minister told me last week, there are vacancies amounting to about 30 per cent. at the radiotherapy units in the Liverpool, Newcastle and Birmingham Regional Hospital Boards, and in view of the fact that the pay scales for these important people working on the new frontiers of mental science have lagged behind those of comparable medical technicians, can the Minister assure the House that the negotiations which he has mentioned will be pressed forward with the utmost speed to prevent any further shortfall in the number of these people?

Yes, Sir. I can certainly give that assurance, which was contained in my original reply. I should tell the hon. and learned Gentleman that the numbers have increased by about 10 per cent. a year over the last five years.

asked the Minister of Health on what date the final plans and costings for Boston Hospital will be ready, so that a decision may be given to begin building.

Progress is being made, but I cannot yet give a date.

Is the Minister aware that we are not getting very far, because last year the hon. Gentleman said in answer to a Question of mine that he was getting out these figures as soon as he could, and that the moment would arrive when the hospital building could begin? We do not seem to have got any further. Cannot he hasten matters a little?

I am aware that there has been a long and difficult history about this hospital, through 1957 and other years during the last Administration. There is difficulty now. The hon. Member knows that under the original plan the hospital was to cost £2 million plus. It is now at the figure of £5 million plus, and my right hon. Friend is considering the costing of it at the moment.

asked the Minister of Health what reply he has sent to the Patients' Association's request for the formulation of a national policy on preventive medicine.

I have confirmed the policy described in previous correspondence between the Patients' Association and my Department, and have pointed out that my Department and the Medical Research Council are taking the leading rôle in initiating and financing research to establish the value of particular screening procedures. I have sent my hon. Friend a copy of my letter to the Association.

In view of the large amount of hitherto unsuspected illness which has been uncovered by the limited screening campaign so far undertaken and the consequent benefit to the health of the nation by increasing these campaigns, as well as the saving on the National Health Service, would my right hon. Friend speed up this examination, with a view to introducing a much more comprehensive preventive health service?

I intend to encourage presymptomatic preventive screening only for conditions in which research has shown that there is a valid test capable of detecting true disease at an early stage, and for which there is an effective treatment. Screening which does not fulfil these conditions could be wasteful of resources and could well do harm.

Is the Minister aware that we will thoroughly support any extension of the use of reliable screening techniques? Will he tell the House whether the Government are going to increase the allocation of money to march hand in hand with the practicability of increased checking techniques such as he has been discussing?

We are increasing the allocation of money generally to hospital authorities; but if the right hon. Gentleman means, are we going to make special allocations, then he knows very well that this has not been the practice in financing the hospital services, under this Government or previous ones.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to send a circular to local authorities in regard to the establishment of cervical cancer screening clinics.

Many local health authorities have already started a screening service in areas where the hospital laboratory can support routine screening for cervical cancer. I am considering the issue of a general circular of guidance.

As a number of local authorities are awaiting some guidance from the Minister on this, would he consider sending out the circular very soon? It is a matter of great concern to women throughout the country that this service should be started in their areas as soon as possible.

I will certainly consider what my hon. Friend has said. Perhaps I should tell her that 78 local health authorities have so far taken powers under Section 28 of the 1946 National Health Service Act to participate in smear taking.

asked the Minister of Health what further progress has been made in the provision of facilities for the treatment of chronic renal failure by intermittent dialysis.

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many kidney machines are in use in hospitals; and what steps are being taken to increase their number;

Within the past year the use of kidney machines for treatment of chronic renal failure has emerged from the research stage to become recognised as a form of treatment which the Health Service ought to provide. Ninety-five patients are now being treated through 33 machines in hospitals and nine in homes in England and Wales. I hope to provide facilities for not less than 100 additional patients within the next 12 months. I will, with permission, circulate a more detailed statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

I thank my right hon. Friend for his encouraging reply. Will he press on with developments in this respect? How does this country compare with other countries in this field of medicine?

I do not think that any country has made more progress in providing this treatment than we have—certainly not the United States.

Can the Minister say what is the cost of these machines in hospitals, and whether modifications to them are being considered to make it possible to use them outside hospitals?

Some patients are already using these machines in their own homes. I should not like to answer the right hon. Gentleman's question about cost without notice. There are indications that the cost is coming down and I am not sure what the latest figure is. Perhaps he will be interested to know that I have sanctioned the extension or establishment of renal dialysis units at 10 hospitals since 1st January this year, and a further six are under consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour what discussions have been undertaken by his Department with the appropriate bodies regarding the continuing employment of labour-only subcontractors for house building purposes; and what has been the outcome.

My right hon. Friend's National Joint Advisory Council agreed at its last meeting in January that our Ministry should make inquiries into labour-only sub-contracting. Discussions have been held with representatives of trade unions and employers' associations in the construction industry and of the Construction Industry Training Board. A report will be submitted in due course to the Council.

I thank my hon. Friend for his reply. Would he try to speed up the discussions which are taking place? Also, would he agree that as this system operates largely in house building it is not in the best interests either of the industry or of the consumer? Can he give an assurance of speedier action in this regard?

We certainly pay close attention to this matter. As soon as the report is made, my right hon. Friend will decide what action it may be necessary to take.