asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he is taking, in view of the increasing quantities of household waste, to encourage local authorities to install modern waste disposal plants.

Whether plant is needed, and if so, what kind, must depend largely on local circumstances. Local Authorities know that they can discuss their problems with the Department's advisers and they often do so. In due course recommendations will be made by the working party on refuse disposal which my right hon. Friend is setting up.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made by local authorities in the collection and dismantling of derelict motor vehicles and the recovery of scrap, as suggested in his Departments Circular No. 8/65.

Progress has been considerable. Many councils remove abandoned cars and accept unwanted ones from residents. A few councils dismantle the cars but most have disposal arrangements with local scrap merchants or car breakers. The Greater London Council are considering tenders from firms willing to set up plant to scrap all derelict cars in Greater London.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will send a circular to local authorities suggesting that they should keep an up-to-date list of architects and other professional men in their area who would be willing to be considered for commissions.

No. Professional directories and classified telephone directories are available at public libraries, and Citizens' Advice Bureaux can usually supply lists of local members of those professions that are chiefly in demand.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what advice he has given to local authorities in development areas about the rate of interest to be charged on loans for industrial development; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend hopes to issue guidance on this matter within a few weeks, and I will send the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will introduce legislation to ensure the public's right to the freedom of the foreshore.

No. Powers already exist in the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949, under which local planning authorities may acquire foreshore or make access orders or agreements for the purpose of providing public access.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will permit more accurate interim estimates of population to be accepted for the purpose of calculating the Rate Deficiency Grant, than the latest estimate of population provided by the Registrar-General.

It is a statutory requirement that the population figures used be based on estimates by the Registrar-General. I have no reason to doubt their accuracy.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will issue a circular encouraging local planning authorities to provide simple car park and picnic facilities for motorists and others within easy reach of towns.

My right hon. Friend would prefer to wait until the wider powers envisaged in the White Paper are available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will confirm the building preservation order on Highcliffe Castle, Hampshire.

Before my right hon. Friend reaches a decision on the Order he must consider the report of the local inquiry held on 9th March.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many communications he has received protesting against the proposed demolition of Highcliffe Castle, Hampshire.

Four letters making representations against the proposed demolition have reached my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what traffic management studies have taken place on existing local access roads to Highcliffe Castle, Hampshire.

None.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why he has not published in full the report of the Barnsbury Environmental Study commissioned by his predecessor.

The report on the main study has not yet been prepared. The officials have submitted an interim report concentrating on traffic management measures and this report has been circulated in full to interested associations in the area. A copy has been placed in the library of the House.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the collapse of a derelict building on to a boy in New Bridge Street, Leicester, and that such derelict buildings are a constant danger to the public; and what steps he will take with developers and local authorities to ensure that any remains of derelict buildings are left in a safe condition or be completely demolished.

This accident was caused by the collapse of a wall which had been left, in the opinion of the local authority, in a safe condition, as a buttress to an adjoining occupied building. Local authorities have powers to deal with dangerous structures, and if my hon. Friend has any evidence to suggest that these powers are not being exercised when they should be, I should be grateful if he would send me particulars.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what is the total area of land in the region of the West Midlands Economic Planning Council now designated as green belt; and what was the area so designated at the beginning of the years 1963, 1964, 1965, and 1966, respectively;(2) what is the total area of land in the region of the West Midlands Economic Planning Council which is allocated for residential development and is not at present developed residentially.

Information in the form asked for is not readily available and the labour involved in obtaining it would not be justified.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what area of land in the region of the West Midlands Economic Planning Council passed from agricultural to urban use in the years 1963, 1964, 1965, and 1966, respectively;(2) what is the total area of urban land in the region of the West Midlands Economic Planning Council previously used for other purposes which was developed for residential building in the years 1963, 1964, 1965, and 1966, respectively.

I regret that this information is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in view of the damaging effect delay is having on local government on Tyneside, if he will expedite his decision on the future pattern of local government within the Tyneside Review area.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Wallsend (Mr. Garrett) yesterday.—[Vol. 743, c. 19.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will consider sending out a circular to encourage local authorities to allow reporters and public into major committee proceedings of councils.

My right hon. Friend thinks it is most important that local authorities should make their work fully known to the Press and public, and he hopes that they will never hold their committee meetings in private without good reason. A circular which dealt fully with this subject was sent to local authorities in 1961 and my right hon. Friend sees no need for another one now.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in view of the adverse effect on the superannuation entitlement of local government officers due to the implementation of a salary award being postponed from 1st August, 1966, to 1st February, 1967, he will take steps to safeguard the interests of the officers concerned.

The Government's prices and incomes policy is designed to stabilise prices and this should assist in maintaining the real value of local government pensions.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many copies of the planning proposals for the Redditch new town are being distributed gratis; and what is the cost.

Three hundred and fifty copies of the Report on Planning Proposals for Redditch new town are being distributed free; the cost of printing these is £437 10s. 0d.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities have taken advantage of the power granted them by the Local Government Act of 13th December, 1966, to levy half rates on houses empty after a period of three months; how many houses have so far been levied in this way; and, as many empty houses rapidly become derelict and thus their rateable values fall so low as to yield almost no rates, if he will amend the Act to levy full rates on all houses at their occupied value and so help to stop more houses becoming uninhabitable.

At 8th March 23 authorities had sent my right hon. Friend copies of their resolutions adopting these provisions. No liability to pay half rates can arise before 1st July. My right hon. Friend has at present no proposals for amending the Act.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what communications he has received from local councils in Cornwall about water board rate precepts; and if he will make a statement.

Three complaints about precepts by the North and Mid-Cornwall Board, with one suggestion for a change in the order constituting the board to allow an increase in water rate instead of precepting. The order was made with the general concurrence of the constituent authorities only two years ago, but any of them can apply to my right hon. Friend for an amending order if they think fit.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what salaries he is paying to the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, full-time and part-time members, respectively, of the Land Commission; whether the Chairmanship and Deputy Chairmanship are full-time appointments; for what terms they have been appointed; what provision is made for compensation on termination of appointment; and what pension rights are given.

£7,500 to the Chairman; £2,500 to the Deputy Chairman; £6,300 to one full-time Member, the Secretary; and £1,000 a year to part-time Members, except that one part-time Member, who will be giving more time to the work of the Commission, will receive £1,500, and another has declined remuneration. The Chairmanship and Deputy Chairmanship are part-time appointments, and all Members have been appointed for a three-year period. Provision for the other matters raised in the Question has been made in Schedule 1 of the Land Commission Act.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many buildings in Hampshire are of Grade I value in the List of Buildings of Architectural or Historic Interest.

Eighty-six.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Govern ment whether he will circularise local authorities recommending that they should urgently consider the extent to which they can encourage the greater use of home-produced wood chipboard for flooring applications in new houses with a view to reducing the demand for imported solid timber from foreign countries.

My right hon. Friend welcomes the use of new materials, particularly if they save imports, but chipboard floors are at present liable to be more expensive.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Govern ment if he will circulate local authorities asking them to produce a programme for building houses to rent with a minimum target of clearing their present housing lists by 1970.

No. Waiting lists are not by themselves reliable indicators of housing need. The bulk of the increasing resources made available for local authority housing goes to authorities with the greatest need, i.e. broadly those with the worst slums, serious shortages and overcrowding. These authorities were given programmes for three years ahead, and these are now being extended to 1970.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what action he now proposes to take to prevent council house rent increases during a wage standstill;(2) whether he will now refer the question of council house rents to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to prevent or reduce rises in rents by local authorities during the period of severe incomes and prices restraint.

I would refer my hon. Friends to paragraph 20 of the White Paper "Prices and Incomes Standstill: Period of Severe Restraint" (Cmnd. 3150) and to the reply to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby (Mr. William Price) on 9th March.—[Vol. 742, c. 346.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities have raised the rents of their council house tenancies since the Prices and Incomes Act became law; and what action he took to discourage them from doing so.

Comprehensive information is not available. On the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to paragraph 12 of the White Paper "Prices and Incomes Standstill" (Cmnd. 3073); to paragraph 20 of the White Paper "Prices and Incomes Standstill: Period of Severe Restraint "(Cmnd. 3150); and to Ministry of Housing and Local Government Circular No. 41/66 of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the proposal of the Long Eaton Urban District Council to raise the rents of the tenants of local authority houses in the area.

No. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby (Mr. William Price) on 9th March.—[Vol. 742, c. 346.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what communication he has received from the Long Eaton Urban District Council about its intention to raise the rents of the tenants of its houses; and what reply he has sent, in the context of the prices and incomes policy.

I am sending copies of the correspondence to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he is taking to prevent increases in the rents of local authority houses during the period of severe restraint.

I would refer my hon. Friend to paragraph 20 of the White Paper "Prices and Incomes Standstill: Period of Severe Restraint" (Cmnd. 3150).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he is taking to make certain that tenants understand the protection available to them when they bring cases before the rent officer for the determination of a fair rent.

The leaflet given to all applicants explains this protection and rent officers can supplement this if necessary. My right hon. Friend has recently given fresh publicity to the rent officer service.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that of the rents determined by rent officers in the constituency of the hon. Member for Wandsworth, Putney, the majority have been increased or fixed at the existing rent; and to what extent this is in accordance with Her Majesty's Government's policy in this matter.

Up to 4th March, 1967, rent officers in the London Borough of Wandsworth had determined 506 applications for registration of rent. The previous rent was reduced in 137 cases, unchanged in 153 and increased in 216. I understand that in most of the increases the previous rent was fixed many years ago and the new rent is lower than it would have been in an open market. The Government's policy, in the Rent Act, 1965, was to establish fair rents which eliminate the effects of scarcity. I have no reason to believe that these decisions are inconsistent with it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) when he proposes to carry out his intention to issue fresh guidance to local authorities on rent rebate schemes;(2) when the working party with the local authority associations on rent rebate schemes will report; and if it is his intention to publicise the results of this review.

The Working Party has reported and I am arranging to consult the local authority associations on a draft circular.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the average income of the tenants of new council houses.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to provide mortgages to help the purchase of council houses by council tenants who desire to become owner-occupiers.

None are necessary since local authorities may if they think fit agree to the price or any premium being paid by instalments or to payment of part thereof being secured by a mortgage of the premises. These are the normal methods adopted by local authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what are the total costs from initiation to 31st January, 1967, of the rent assessment committees and all rent officers for their respective areas.

Up to 31st January, 1967, the expenditure incurred in respect of rent assessment panels and committees was £560,000. The estimated cost of the rent officer service in the same period is about £900,000. I regret that a breakdown of these figures by areas is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to improve Indian-British relations.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. R. Lewis) on 5th December.—[Vol. 737, c. 220.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the conclusions he has reached as a result of his visit to Hobart; if he is satisfied that Her Majesty's Government has made an adequate contribution to the Governor of Tasmania's Relief Fund; and if he will make a statement.

While in Hobart I was able to see something of the extent of the damage done by this disastrous fire. The losses were severe but Australia is a robust country and I have nothing but admiration for the speed with which the ravages of the disaster are already being repaired. Our contribution of £20,000 ($A.50,000) to the Governor of Tasmania's Disaster Fund has been most warmly received. The Premier of Tasmania in writing to me his own thanks, called our contribution "a magnificent gesture". I discussed with Tasmanian Ministers the question whether there was any special assistance which they might wish to ask from us. This would, of course, be willingly given.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he has made any progress in negotiations with the Jamaican Government since his letter of 20th January, 1967, concerning the case of a constituent of the hon. Member for Windsor, details of which have been sent to him.

The position remains as stated in the Parliamentary Under-Secretary's letter of 2nd March to the hon. Member.I will, of course, let him know as soon as a further report on this case has been received from our High Commission in Jamaica.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on Malta.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister without Portfolio on 13th March, to which I have nothing to add.—[Vol. 743, c. 52–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he has sought and obtained an estimate of the total cost of sanctions against Rhodesia, including the effects of higher copper prices, on the British balance of payments and level of activity in 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what he estimates to have been the total cost of sanctions against Rhodesia, including the effects of higher copper prices, on the British balance of payments and level of activity in 1966.

I have nothing to add to the Answers given to Questions on this subject by the Prime Minister on 21st February [Vol. 741, c. 1433–8] and the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 7th March—[Vol. 742, c. 1232–4].

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the proposal to establish a University of the South Pacific in Fiji.

The Government have had under consideration the recommendation of the Mission under the chairmanship of Sir Charles (now Lord) Morris that a comprehensive university institution to serve the needs of the English-speaking territories in the South Pacific area should be established at Laucala Bay in Fiji. In this consideration the British Government has had available also a report by Sir Norman Alexander.After consulting my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development, I have informed the Government of Fiji that in view of the general desire that a university on the lines recommended by the Morris Mission should be established in Fiji and bearing in mind the generous offer of the New Zealand Government to make available free of charge to the proposed university the installations of the R.N.Z.A.F. base at Laucala Bay, the British Government would be prepared to offer, subject to the approval of Parliament (including approval of any necessary legislation) £1,250,000 sterling to be made available over a period of some five years towards the initial costs of the university, including related institutes, of which up to £500,000 could if necessary be devoted to recurrent costs. In addition the British Government would be prepared to consider negotiation of an agreement under the British Expatriates' Supplementation Scheme by which they would for a time meet pare of the expatriate cost of employing British staff in the university.The provision of assistance is subject to a firm decision by the Fiji Government after such consultation as it may find necessary with other Governments in the region to proceed with the establishment of the university and to assume responsibility for securing its costs.

asked the Minister of Power if he is aware that where electricity cables are stretched due to mining subsidence and a variation in voltages arises with consequential damage to electrical appliances, no liability falls on the National Coal Board; and if he wil introduce legislation to provide compensation for damage of this kind.

The National Coal Board is liable for damage to the cables but not for consequential damage to electrical appliances.I do not think that amending legislation to cover consequential damage of this nature is justified.

asked the Minister of Power (1) what is the average cost per ton of transporting coal from the pit to the Central Electricity Board power stations; and what percentage of the average total price per ton this represents;(2) what is the average cost per ton of transporting coal from the pit to the customer; and what percentage of the total average price per ton this represents.

I understand that the average transport cost of coal for C.E.G.B. power stations is 13s. 9d. per ton which represents 14·3 per cent, of the average total cost per ton. I regret that precise figures are not available for other customers but an indication of transport costs can be obtained from Table 2 of the National Board for Prices and Incomes Report No. 21 (Coal distribution costs—Cmnd. 3094).

asked the Minister of Technology what was the estimated total cost of the Concord project at March, 1963, October, 1963, March,1964, October, 1964, March, 1965, October, 1965, March, 1966, October, 1966, and what he estimates it will be in March, 1967.

In November, 1962 the development cost was estimated as £15O-£170 million. This was revised in July, 1964 to £280 million. The present estimate is £450 million, which includes an allowance for work after Certification of Air-worthiness, plus an overall contingency of £50 million, making a total of £500 million.These figures do not, of course, include intramural expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the high labour costs in the laundry industry compared with turnover and as the law of diminishing returns is beginning to apply, whether he will reconsider the imposition of the Selective Employment Tax on laundries.

No; this is a tax payable by service industries in general.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he sought and obtained estimates of the effect of the compulsory standstill on wage rates in the second half of 1966 on the basis of the relationship described on page 477, The Fourth Report from the Estimates Committee, Session 1966–67, Government Statistical Services.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he sought and obtained estimates of the effect of the compulsory standstill on retail prices in the second half of 1966, on the basis of the method referred to on page 477, The Fourth Report from the Estimates Committee, Session 1966–67, Government Statistical Services.

The relationship referred to is essentially a generalisation of past experience over a period when there was no compulsory standstill. It is not, by its nature, adapted to providing an estimate of the effects of the standstill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to have been the effect of the compulsory standstill on wage rates in the second half of 1966.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to have been the effect of the compulsory standstill on retail prices in the second half of 1966.

The standstill brought to a halt the rise in wage-rates and substantially moderated the rise in prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has sought and obtained an estimate of the effect of the standstill on the current balance of payments in the second half of 1966.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to have been the effect of the standstill on the current balance of payments in the second half of 1966.

The success of the Government's incomes policy has been a major factor in reducing the pressure of demand in the economy, releasing resources for exports and restraining the demand for imports. The effectiveness of the Government's incomes policy will be reflected in the outturn for the balance of payments in the fourth quarter of 1966, to be published very shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he forecasts will be the effect on the United Kingdom current account in 1967 of purchases of United States military aircraft.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what receipts he forecasts on the capital account of the balance of payments in 1967 as a result of purchases of United States military aircraft.

I cannot give precise figures since payments will depend on the progress of work done in the United States. Net payments which will be very largely offset by credits made available by the United States may approach £175 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has sought and obtained a forecast of the effect on United Kingdom interest, profit and dividend earnings from abroad and on United Kingdom exports in 1967, resulting from the measures taken in 1965 and 1966 to restrict long-term capital investment abroad.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he forecasts will be the effect on United Kingdom interest, profit and dividend earnings from abroad and on United Kingdom exports in 1967, resulting from the measures taken in 1965 and 1966 to restrict long-term capital investment abroad.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has sought and obtained forecasts of the likely growth in public authorities' current expenditure on goods and services at 1958 prices and seasonally adjusted quarterly to the first quarter of 1968.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what he forecasts will be the likely growth in public authorities' current expenditure on goods and services at 1958 prices and seasonally adjusted quarterly to the first quarter of 1968;(2) whether he has sought and obtained a forecast of public sector investment, including and excluding dwellings, at 1958 prices and seasonally adjusted quarterly to the first quarter of 1968.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he forecasts will be public sector investment, including and excluding dwellings, at 1958 prices and seasonally adjusted quarterly to the first quarter of 1968.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has sought and obtained forecasts of real personal disposable income and consumers' expenditure at 1958 prices in 1967.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he forecasts will be real personal disposable income and consumers' expenditure at 1958 prices in 1967.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he forecasts will be private expenditure on dwellings at 1958 prices in 1967.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has sought and obtained forecasts of the number of wholly unemployed, seasonally adjusted, for the period to the end of 1967, on the basis of present policies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he forecasts will be the number of wholly unemployed, seasonally adjusted, for the period to the end of 1967 on the basis of present policies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has sought and obtained forecasts of private expenditure on dwellings at 1958 prices in 1967.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why it is Government policy to reveal fewer details of the official economic forecasts to Members of Parliament and the country than to international organisations.

It has not been the practice of Governments to give this information. The individual elements in the forecasts are necessarily uncertain and need to be set in context with other relevant information. My predecessors and I have followed the practice of explaining to the House the essential elements in the forecasts in presenting our Budgets. But I am considering whether the House could be given fuller and more regular information.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchquer whether, in view of the fact that the pressure on sterling has eased, he will now give details of the amounts of assistance received or repaid in each month of 1966 and in the first two months of 1967 in the form of Central Bank Credits and drawing under swap agreements.

It is not my intention to publish monthly figures, but in March we reconstituted our swap facilities with the United States authorities, to whom we have repaid the whole £205 million outstanding at the end of September, 1966.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that the pressure on sterling has eased, he will now give details of the extent in each month of 1966 and the first two months of 1967, of the Bank of England's forward sales of foreign currencies and short forward position in foreign currencies.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has sought and obtained an estimate of the effect on the British and Rhodesian balance of payments of British and Rhodesian exchange controls resulting from the policy of sanctions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to have been the effect on the British and Rhodesian balance of payments of British and Rhodesian exchange controls resulting from the policy of sanctions.

As to the effect on the United Kingdom I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Wandsworth, Streatham, on 21st February.As to the effect on Rhodesia, this is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs.—[Vol. 741, c. 1433–8.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has sought and obtained estimates of the extent to which imports have been reduced solely as the result of growth slower than the growth in potential output.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to have been the reduction in imports due solely to growth slower than the growth in potential output.

The growth of the economy is governed not only by physical capacity but by the ability of the country to pay for the imports needed to support such growth. The Government's policies will ensure that economic growth is resumed on a sound and sustainable basis.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates it would cost to increase the Income Tax allowance for blind persons to take into account the change in values since the present allowance was fixed.

About £50,000 a year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in order to stimulate Lancashire textile industry, he will instruct that all Government orders be sent to Lancashire mills during the present time of recession.

I appreciate the difficulties of the Lancashire textile industry and although Government orders are not large in volume they will wherever possible be placed to help the textile industry, subject of course to our international obligations and to questions of price and delivery.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of Income Tax and Surtax allowances for children in the latest complete year for which figures are available.

The estimated full year cost for 1966–67 is £575 million Income Tax ond £5 million Surtax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount of capital gains and capital losses so far agreed between taxpayers and the Inland Revenue for the year 1965–66.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the cost of net Government expenditure

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the annual publications of Her Majesty's Stationery Office currently priced at over 10s. which have been published between 1st January and 1st March, 1967, showing in each case the price of the 1966 edition and the 1967 edition together with the percentage change in price between the two years, respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his intention to agree to the foreign exchange across the exchanges on current account as a percentage of the gross domestic product for the average of the years 1935 to 1938, 1950 and 1965, respectively.

The information is given in the following table:

The following table gives the prices of such publications and the price of their previous editions.The standard scales on which the majority of the Stationery Office publications are priced have not been increased since April, 1966, when an increase averaging about 15 per cent, was made. Other price increases are due to increases in the number of pages and the incidence of steps in the pricing scales.cost of British troops in Germany after the expiry of the current Anglo-German Agreement being offset in whole or in part by a German commitment to hold United Kingdom Government securities in its reserves.

Short-term borrowing abroad is no substitute for the elimination of these foreign exchange costs which remains the Government's objective.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of revenue was obtained from stamp duties on conveyances of land for a consideration between £4,500 and £6,000 for each of the last five years; and how many transactions were involved for each of these years.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the loss of revenue resulting from raising the exemption limits on the sale of property from £4,500 to £6,000, £6,500 and £7,000, respectively.

About £3 million, £5 million and £6 million respectively, assuming that the rate of duty would be 1 per cent, above the new limit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of revenue he obtained during each of the last five years from Stamp Duty on mortgages.

The figures published in table 170 of the 109th Report of the Board of Inland Revenue under the heading "Stamp Duties: Mortgages etc." are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assist persons endeavouring to buy their own homes by exempting from Stamp Duty mortgages of less than £7,000.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated loss of revenue resulting from an exemption from Stamp Duty on mortgages of less than £4,500, £6,000 and £7,000, respectively.

No reliable estimates can be given.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many letters were examined under the authority of the Exchange Control Act, 1947, in the years 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, and 1966.

No records are kept on this point.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make an official tour of the textile areas of Lancashire.

No. My hon. Friend the Minister of State, who has special responsibility for the textile industry, has just completed a two-day visit to Lancashire and has kept me fully informed of what transpired.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has sought and obtained estimates of the extent to which imports of surchargeable goods were held up in anticipation of its removal at the end of November, 1966.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what he estimates to have been the extent to which imports of surchargeable goods were held up in anticipation of its removal at the end of November, 1966.

It is not possible to make precise estimates. Nevertheless, it seems clear from the run of figures before and after the removal of the charge that the holding up of imports of goods subject to the charge took place on a considerable scale.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has sought and obtained estimates of the likely temporary after-effect of the removal of the import surcharge on stocks of imported goods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what he estimates to be the likely temporary after-effect of the removal of the import surcharge on stocks of imported goods.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has sought and obtained estimates of the likely permanent effect on United Kingdom imports of the temporary import surcharge.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what he estimates to be the likely permanent effect on United Kingdom imports of the temporary import surcharge.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimates he has made of the share of United Kingdom exports of manufactures at constant prices in world trade in 1966.

At current prices, the United Kingdom's share of exports of manufactures by the main manufacturing countries in 1966 is provisionally estimated to have been about 13 per cent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the share of United Kingdom exports of manufactures at constant prices in world trade in manufactures declined by less in 1966 than an estimate based on past experience of the behaviour of the United Kingdom share in relation to the rate of growth of world trade and the domestic pressure of demand.

It is provisionally estimated that the United Kingdom's share of exports, at current prices, of manufactures from the main manufacturing countries fell by about one-half of one percentage point last year to around 13 per cent. Many complex factors, besides the rate of growth of world trade and the domestic pressure of demand, determine our share of world exports of manufactures.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has sought and obtained estimates of the temporary and permanent effects of the seamen's strike on United Kingdom exports, imports and invisible earnings.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what he estimates to have been the temporary and permanent effects of the seamen's strike on United Kingdom exports, imports and invisible earnings.

No reliable estimates can be made of the permanent effects. With regard to the temporary effects, it is likely that some of the exports held up by the strike were not made good in the second half of last year; but it is not possible to assess how much. The disruption to imports was on a smaller scale and the fall during the strike appears broadly to have been made good. I estimate the loss to our invisible earnings on shipping to be about £25 million during 1966.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has sought and obtained forecasts of private investment in manufacturing and distribution at 1958 prices in 1967, after allowing for the effects of the improved investment grants.

No, but there will be a further inquiry into investment intentions in May.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what he forecasts will be the level of private investment in manufacturing and distribution at 1958 prices in 1967.

The information requested was published in the Board of Trade Journal of 27th January, 1967.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will extend the Queen's Award to Industry to include service industries.

If the hon. Member wishes to make out a case for changing the scope or conditions of this Award I would suggest that he writes to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister who is responsible for advising Her Majesty on this as on other aspects of the Honours System.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what is the total number of applications to the Board

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the average period of time which elapsed between the making of applications by industrialists in Wales during 1966 and the communication of the decisions to the applicant.

The information in respect of Local Employment Acts assistance is not readily available, and its compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time and expenditure.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any decision has yet been made on the application made on behalf of car hire firms with substantial foreign currency earnings, for some relaxation in the hire-purchase restrictions.

Yes. In view of the importance of the tourist trade as an earner of foreign currency the Board of Trade is prepared to consider applications from car hire firms to buy cars on hire purchase with a minimum deposit of 25 per of Trade Advisory Committee for Government assistance made by industrialists seeking to establish businesses in Wales in each of the years 1963, 1964, 1965, and 1966;(2) how many applications to the Board of Trade Advisory Committee made by industrialists seeking to establish businesses in Wales were allowed in each of the years 1963, 1964, 1965, and 1966.

The information requested is as follows:cent, and a maximum repayment period of 30 months. Licences will normally only be granted to car hire firms who can show that not less than 33⅓ per cent. of their turnover is in foreign currency.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he has sought and obtained estimates of the underlying growth of productivity and productive potential during 1966.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what he estimates to have been the underlying growth of productivity and productive potential during 1966.

This will be considered in the Economic Report on 1966, which will be published shortly.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he has sought and obtained an estimate of the effect to date of the productivity, prices and incomes policy on the underlying growth of productivity, the growth of out put and the pressure of demand.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what he estimates to have been the effect to date of the productivity, prices and incomes policy on the underlying growth of productivity, the growth of output and the pressure of demand.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what he forecasts will be the effect of a successful prices and incomes policy on the underlying growth of productivity, the growth of output and the pressure of demand in 1967.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he has sought and obtained forecasts of the effects of a successful prices and incomes policy on the underlying growth of productivity, the growth of output and the pressure of demand in 1967.

It is not possible to quantify these effects separately from those of other factors.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he has projected any relationship he may have obtained between regional and national unemployment for the period before 1965; and whether he has compared such projection with the actual behaviour of regional unemployment in 1965 and 1966.

Some analysis of this nature has been undertaken.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs in which regions and to what extent unemployment has been less in the last two years compared with estimates based on past trends and relationships with national unemployment.

The broad indications are that there has been some relative improvement in Scotland and the northern and north-west regions in England.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (1) whether he has prepared forecasts of regional unemployment for the next year on the basis of forecasts of national unemployment and the forecast pattern of demand;(2) what he forecasts will be the regional pattern of unemployment over the next year on the basis of forecasts of national unemployment and the forecast pattern of demand.

Forecasting of regional unemployment is very difficult owing to the uncertain relationship with past trends and the impact of recent changes in policy to help the Development Areas. Tentative estimates are however made as part of the Government's economic forecasting system, but it is not the practice to publish the results.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he has sought and obtained an estimate of the permissible growth in output consistent with meeting United Kingdom balance of payments obligations on the basis of present policies in each year to 1970.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what he estimates will be the permissible growth in output consistent with meeting United Kingdom balance of payments obligations on the basis of present policies in each year to 1970.

All the factors involved in estimating future growth are being considered, in consultation with the National Economic Development Council, in the Planning operation which my right hon. Friend announced in a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bebington (Mr. Brooks) on 10th November, 1966. We cannot yet give an estimate.—[Vol. 735, c. 341–2.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the total area of the region of the West Midlands Economic Planning Council.