Written Answers To Questions
Tuesday, 25th April, 1967
Housing
New Towns (Rents)
7.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the current rents payable in new towns for each type of house; and if he will state his policy on rents over the next five years in these towns.
Last year the average rents charged for a three-bedroom, two-storey house in the English new towns ranged from 37s. 8d. a week to 54s. 3d.Corporations are normally required to produce a total rent income sufficient (with subsidies and grants) to cover all relevant outgoings. Rents are pooled and my right hon. Friend has told Development Corporations that he wants them all to operate rent rebate schemes.
Vacant Dwellings (Rural Areas)
35.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the total number of houses in rural authority areas in England and Wales that are empty, the number of these that are farm service houses, and the total numbers in each category that have been vacant for over three months.
Comprehensive data on vacant dwellings were last collected through the 1966 Sample Census of Population and Housing, but figures for all rural districts in England and Wales are not yet available. Figures are available for some counties. For example, in all rural districts in Norfolk some 6,700 dwellings, or under 6 per cent. of the total, were vacant in April, 1966.I am afraid we have no information about vacant farm service houses or about the duration of such vacancies.
Housing Stock (Subsidies)
38.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give an estimate of the percentage of the country's total housing stock upon which direct subsidies or other forms of financial aid, such as tax reliefs, are being given.
About 27 per cent. of the total housing stock is assisted by direct Government subsidies for house-building. I cannot make any worthwhile estimate of the total percentage of the housing stock in respect of which assistance is given in this and various other ways.
Council Houses
44.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will set up an inquiry into increasing rents for council houses and the operation of differential rent schemes and rent rebate schemes by local authorities.
I shall be discussing these points in the course of the talks which we are having with the local authority associations on rent rebates.
57.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he intends to make Parker-Morris standards compulsory for all municipal houses.
I have today sent a circular to local authorities explaining exactly how housing standards are to be defined. I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend.
60.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in view of the exceptionally high rents charged by some local authorities in London, he will seek to amend the Housing Act, 1965 to include local authorities in the rent assessment procedure.
Local authorities have been given the responsibility by Parliament to determine reasonable rents, and they are required to review rents from time to time and to make such changes as circumstances may require. They have also a legal duty to keep their housing accounts in balance; if this balance cannot be attained from rents and Exchequer subsidies the deficit has to be met from the rates. Authorities are under a legal duty to hold a fair balance between tenants and ratepayers and are answerable to the electorate for the way in which they exercise these responsibilities. It would not therefore be appropriate to bring local authority rents within the rent regulation procedure.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authority dwellings have been sold during the current year; and, in view of the determination of many local authority tenants to buy their houses, what steps he is taking to encourage such sales by local authorities which do not at present give such opportunities to their tenants.
In the first quarter of this year 1,148 local authority dwellings were sold in England and Wales, 787 of these by Birmingham. I am sending the right hon. Gentleman a copy of the circular which was issued to local authorities last month giving fresh guidance on this matter.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why he has decided to alter the council house-building standards from those proposed by the Parker-Morris Committee; how much he estimates this will save; and if he will make a statement.
I have today sent a circular to local authorities explaining exactly how housing standards are to be defined. I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend.
Rent Act, 1965 (Review)
51.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects the review of the 1965 Rent Act to be completed.
This is a continuous review involving both a study of results and discussions with those concerned in operating the Act, and not a review to be completed on a given date.
Private Housebuilding
47.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he is taking to stimulate the building of houses and flats through means other than the local authorities.
I have made it clear that I want to see more houses built by private builders and by housing associations. I have had several discussions with the builders and building societies about measures needed to stimulate private housebuilding. The Department is in close touch with the Housing Corporation about the development of cost-rent and co-ownership housing.
Housing Contracts (Financial Standing Of Firms)
53.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps are taken by his Department to ascertain the financial stability of firms tendering for local authority housing contracts.
The Department has advised local authorities of the need to check the financial standing of firms invited to tender. My right hon. Friend intends to bring this matter again to the attention of all local authorities.
National Building Agency
58.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement on the future of the National Building Agency.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Reading (Mr. John Lee) on 19th April.—[Vol. 745, c. 119.]
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what changes he proposes to make in the responsibilities vested in the National Building Agency.
I have no changes to propose at the present time.
Local Authority Mortgages
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will set out a table of the amounts of money sanctioned for lending for house mortgages in each local housing authority in Lancashire in 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1966; and how much he is prepared to sanction for each authority for that purpose in 1967.
The table below sets out the amounts which the authorities were authorised to borrow for the purpose of lending for house mortgages. They do not necessarily agree with the amount actually advanced each year.For the financial year 1967–68 lending will, in general, be restricted to the
| LOAN SANCTIONS ISSUED ENABLING LOANS TO BE RAISED FOR LENDING FOR HOUSE MORTGAGES | |||||||
| Authority | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | |||
| County Boroughs | £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| Barrow-in-Furness | … | … | … | 120,000 | — | 60,000 | 40,000 |
| Blackburn | … | … | … | — | 200,000 | 2,090 | 126,534 |
| Blackpool | … | … | … | 300,000 | 500,000 | 500,000 | — |
| Bolton | … | … | … | 250,000 | 600,000 | 413,000 | 150,000 |
| Bootle | … | … | … | 5,000 | — | — | — |
| Burnley | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Bury | … | … | … | 100,000 | — | 200,000 | — |
| Liverpool | … | … | … | 500,000 | 500,000 | 1,425,000 | 500,000 |
| Manchester | … | … | … | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 3,450,000 | 500,000 |
| Oldham | … | … | … | — | 150,000 | 127,300 | 50,000 |
| Preston | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Rochdale | … | … | … | 5,000 | 100,000 | 200,000 | 238,000 |
| St. Helens | … | … | … | 150,000 | 200,000 | 194,000 | — |
| Salford | … | … | … | 5,000 | 15,000 | 500,000 | — |
| Southport | … | … | … | 300,000 | 600,000 | 511,000 | 100,000 |
| Warrington | … | … | … | 125,000 | 10,000 | 123,000 | 25,788 |
| Wigan | … | … | … | 80,000 | 330,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 |
| Non-county boroughs | |||||||
| Accrington | … | … | … | 40,000 | 40,000 | 100,000 | — |
| Ashton-under-Lyne | … | … | … | 105,000 | 110,000 | 100,000 | 58,767 |
| Bacup | … | … | … | — | 50,000 | 91,000 | 6,181 |
| Chorley | … | … | … | 40,000 | 40,000 | 50,000 | 60,000 |
| Clitheroe | … | … | … | — | 20,000 | 4,200 | 25,000 |
| Colne | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Crosby | … | … | … | — | — | 50,000 | 30,000 |
| Darwen | … | … | … | — | 150,000 | — | 95,000 |
| Eccles | … | … | … | — | 100,000 | 117,255 | 150,000 |
| Farnworth | … | … | … | 15,000 | — | 20,000 | 25,000 |
| Fleetwood | … | … | … | — | 300,000 | 60,000 | — |
| Haslingden | … | … | … | — | 20,000 | 11,000 | 20,000 |
| Heywood | … | … | … | 100,000 | 110,000 | 100,000 | 40,000 |
| Lancaster | … | … | … | 410,000 | 10,000 | 117,000 | 62,260 |
| Leigh | … | … | … | 5,000 | 55,000 | 75,000 | 30,000 |
| Lytham St. Annes | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Middleton | … | … | … | — | — | 28,000 | 75,000 |
| Morecambe and Heysham | … | … | … | 100,000 | 500,000 | 260,000 | 50,000 |
| Mossley | … | … | … | 20,000 | 20,000 | 60,000 | 35,375 |
| Nelson | … | … | … | — | 50,000 | 66,000 | — |
| Prestwich | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Radcliffe | … | … | … | — | — | 50,000 | — |
| Rawtenstall | … | … | … | — | 100,000 | — | 35,000 |
| Stretford | … | … | … | — | 400,000 | 290,000 | 70,000 |
| Swinton and Pendlebury | … | … | … | — | — | 130,500 | 20,000 |
| Widnes | … | … | … | 225,000 | 200,000 | 167,685 | — |
| Urban districts | |||||||
| Abram | … | … | … | 20,000 | — | — | — |
| Adlington | … | … | … | 40,000 | — | 15,000 | 25,000 |
| Ashton-in-Makerfield | … | … | … | 200,000 | — | — | — |
| Aspull | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Atherton | … | … | … | 400,000 | — | 200,000 | — |
| Audenshaw | … | … | … | 50,000 | 30,000 | 20,000 | 10,000 |
| Barrowford | … | … | … | — | 4,190 | — | 4,243 |
| Billinge and Winstanley | … | … | … | — | — | 50,000 | — |
| Blackrod | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Brierfield | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Carnforth | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Chadderton | … | … | … | 220,000 | — | — | — |
| Church | … | … | … | 5,000 | — | — | 15,000 |
| Clayton-le-Moors | … | … | … | 20,000 | 20,000 | — | — |
| Crompton | … | … | … | — | — | 60,000 | — |
average of the three years ended 31st March, 1965. Local authorities have been given an initial quota of 90 per cent. of that figure and the remaining 10 per cent. is being held in reserve to meet claims for special treatment.
Authority
| 1963
| 1964
| 1965
| 1966
| ||||
Urban districts (continued) | £
| £
| £
| £
| ||||
| Dalton-in-Furness | … | … | … | … | — | 20,000 | 85,000 | — |
| Denton. | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Droylsden | … | … | … | … | 50,000 | 50,000 | 100,000 | 50,000 |
| Failsworth | … | … | … | … | 110,000 | 100,000 | — | — |
| Formby | … | … | … | … | — | — | 50,000 | — |
| Fulwood | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Golbourne | … | … | … | … | — | 105,000 | 90,460 | — |
| Grange | … | … | … | … | 5,000 | — | — | — |
| Great Harwood | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Haydock | … | … | … | … | 10,000 | — | — | — |
| Hindley | … | … | … | … | 30,000 | 30,000 | 30,000 | — |
| Horwich | … | … | … | … | 30,000 | — | 15,500 | 20,000 |
| Huyton-with-Roby | … | … | … | … | — | — | 150,000 | — |
| Ince-in-Makerfield | … | … | … | … | — | 14,484 | 8,167 | 6,270 |
| Irlam | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | 5,000 |
| Kearsley | … | … | … | … | 50,000 | 50,000 | 100,000 | — |
| Kirkby | … | … | … | … | — | — | 250,000 | 50,000 |
| Kirkham | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Lees | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Leyland | … | … | … | … | — | 100,000 | 208,000 | 40,000 |
| Litherland | … | … | … | … | — | 20,000 | — | — |
| Littleborough | … | … | … | … | 10,000 | 40,000 | 23,000 | 16,255 |
| Little Lever | … | … | … | … | — | 30,000 | — | 50,000 |
| Longridge | … | … | … | … | — | 40,000 | 70,000 | — |
| Milnrow | … | … | … | … | 10,000 | 10,000 | 20,000 | — |
| Newton-le-Willows | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Ormskirk | … | … | … | … | 50,000 | 50,000 | 100,000 | 30,000 |
| Orrell | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Oswaldtwistle | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Padiham | … | … | … | … | 5,000 | 24,000 | 10,000 | 2,000 |
| Poulton-le-Fylde | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Preesall | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Prescot | … | … | … | … | 22,800 | 50,000 | — | — |
| Rainford | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Ramsbottom | … | … | … | … | — | 80,000 | 74,000 | 30,000 |
| Rishton | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Royton | … | … | … | … | 30,000 | — | — | — |
| Skelmersdale | … | … | … | … | — | — | 31,000 | — |
| Standish-with-Langtree | … | … | … | … | 50,000 | — | — | — |
| Thornton Cleveleys | … | … | … | … | 50,000 | — | 15,000 | 15,000 |
| Tottington | … | … | … | … | 40,000 | — | — | 35,000 |
| Trawden | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Turton | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Tyldesley | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Ulverston | … | … | … | … | — | — | 50,000 | — |
| Upholland | … | … | … | … | — | 200,000 | — | — |
| Urmston | … | … | … | … | — | — | 250,000 | 30,000 |
| Walton-le-Dale | … | … | … | … | 20,000 | — | 22,706 | 4,800 |
| Wardle | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | 5,000 |
| Westhoughton | … | … | … | … | 20,000 | 20,000 | 50,000 | 45,000 |
| Whitefield | … | … | … | … | — | — | 2,000 | — |
| Whitworth | … | … | … | … | — | — | 53,600 | 15,776 |
| Withnell | … | … | … | … | — | — | 10,000 | — |
| Worsley | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | 35,125 |
Rural districts
| ||||||||
| Blackburn | … | … | … | … | — | 30,000 | — | — |
| Burnley | … | … | … | … | —. | 25,000 | 100,000 | — |
| Chorley | … | … | … | … | 50,000 | 100,000 | 55,000 | 60,000 |
| Clitheroe | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Fylde | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Garstang | … | … | … | … | — | 10,000 | 6,000 | — |
| Lancaster | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Lunesdale | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| North Lonsdale | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | 20,000 |
| Preston. | … | … | … | … | 30,000 | — | 13,800 | — |
| Warrington | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| West Lancashire | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
| Whiston | … | … | … | … | 221,000 | — | 50,000 | 20,000 |
| Wigan | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — |
Private Landlords (Conversion Grants)
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek additional powers to enable him to make grants to encourage private landlords to convert old, but structurally sound, houses in the twilight areas of main city centres into flats of acceptable standards.
Private landlords may already obtain grants from local authorities of up to £500 for each flat provided by conversion, and authorities may make loans to cover the balance of the cost. My right hon. Friend is looking at the whole of present legislation affecting older houses to see whether any additional powers are needed.
Twilight Areas
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what special financial help he is making available to housing associations dealing with the special problems of housing in the twilight areas of the main city centres.
The Housing Subsidies Bill at present before Parliament includes new provision for grants towards the cost incurred by housing associations in acquiring older property for conversion, in addition to the grants at present payable towards the cost of conversion and improvement. The grant will be three-eighths of the loan charges for a period of 20 years on the cost of acquisition, conversion and improvement.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what grants he proposes to authorise for the conversion into flats of acceptable standards of structurally sound houses in the twilight areas of the main city centres compulsorily acquired by local authorities.
Local authorities already receive Exchequer assistance when they provide flats by converting older properties. Payment is made over 20 years equivalent to three-eighths of the authority's loan charges on the cost of the works, subject to a normal maximum cost of £1,000. The existing provisions governing these payments are included in the Government's review of legislation affecting older houses.
Housing Consortia
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many housing consortia have so far been established by local authorities; and if he will name them and indicate the actual cost reduction achieved as a result of combination.
In England the following 28 consortia have been formed. There is evidence that consortia are able to obtain keen prices but it is not possible to quantify for each consortium the savings on what the authorities might have had to pay acting individually:
- London Boroughs—North Group.
- London Boroughs—South Group.
- London Boroughs—West Group.
- East Anglian Development Group.
- East Sussex Housing Consortium.
- Southern Housing Consortium.
- Surrey Housing Consortium.
- South Bucks and Berkshire Housing Group.
- Hertfordshire Housing Group.
- North Kent Housing Consortium.
- North Wessex Housing Group.
- South Western Housing Group.
- Gloucester and Herefordshire Housing Group.
- Midlands Housing Consortium.
- Midlands Housing Consortium—Northern Group.
- South East Midlands Local Authorities Consortium.
- South Warwickshire Group of Housing Authorities.
- Yorkshire Development Group.
- Worcestershire Housing Group.
- West Yorkshire Housing Authorities.
- North Tyneside Housing Consortium.
- North and Central Durham Housing Consortium.
- Major Authorities Housing Group.
- East Durham Housing Consortium.
- Teeside Housing Consortium.
- West Pennine Group.
- Cheshire and West Lancashire Group.
- Central Lancashire Group.
Well-Maintained Payments (Woolwich)
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what decision he has made on the application of the Greenwich Borough Council for permission to make ex-gratia payments to certain residents in the Glyndon area of Woolwich in respect of houses on which well-maintained payments are claimed.
My right hon. Friend has considered the Council's application and in the circumstances he has given his consent under Section 228 of the Local Government Act 1933.
Building Costs
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state the average cost per super foot of housing provided by use of industrialised building systems and traditional methods.
The Comparative costs vary with the storey height of buildings and I would therefore refer my hon. Friend to the Table published on page 29 of Housing Statistics No. 4 where this information is analysed at length and in great detail.
National Housebuilders' Registration Council (Inspectors)
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state the number of building inspectors currently employed by the National Housebuilders' Registration Council; what are the respective regional figures; and what has been the rate of recruitment in 1965–66.
The Council at present has 5 regional managers, 20 supervisors, 92 inspectors and 14 field officers employed as follows:
| Northern region | … | … | 32 |
| Eastern region | … | … | 27 |
| Western region | … | … | 27 |
| South-eastern region | … | … | 18 |
| South-western region | … | … | 27 |
Industrialised Building Systems
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many industrialised building systems are currently in use in the United Kingdom; how many of these are approved by the National Building Agency; and what action is being taken to compile a small register of such systems for the guidance of local authorities.
Some 130 systems are in use in England, most of them for low rise building. These include 52 low rise systems for which appraisal certificates have been issued by the National Building Agency. The Agency have not appraised any high rise systems. The Agency maintains a list of appraised systems which is available to local authorities on request.
Local Government
Article 4 Direction (Berkshire County Council)
34.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will confirm an Article 4 direction made by the Berkshire County Council which would require the Southern Gas Board to obtain planning consent before erecting a gasholder 128 feet high in the centre of Abingdon.
Yes. The direction has been confirmed.
North Sea Gas (Inquiry)
36.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects the inquiry into the matter of North Sea gas being brought ashore at Bacton, Norfolk, to be resumed, bearing in mind the need for laying undersea pipes during the summer months.
The Inquiry will reopen on 9th May.
Water Supplies
25.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress is being made in the development of underground storage of water as recommended by the Water Resources Board in its report on water supplies for South-East England.
The Board recommend, in outline, two pilot schemes. One, in the Lambourn Valley, is in progress. The other, near Thetford, comprises two stages. Proposals for the first stage have been worked out by the river authority and approved by the Board, and the work is already in hand.
42.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to ensure an adequate supply of water in North Devon.
Yes, when necessary. As the hon. Member knows, the proposed reservoir at Meldon has my right hon. Friend's support. He will give the North Devon Water Board all the help he can if they have to come to him for any interim emergency powers.
46.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he has taken to ensure the continuity of water supplies to rural areas.
It is the Government's policy to continue the process of extending piped water supplies to rural areas and to this end in 1965 we took powers to increase the amount of money available for grants under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Acts. Nevertheless cases occur in which the cost of providing a mains supply is very high, and which therefore need special consideration. Certain cases which the hon. Member may have in mind in his constituency are in that category.
Tunnel Portland Cement Co (Expansion)
37.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why he refused to call in the recent application by the Tunnel Portland Cement Company to expand their works at Pitstone, Buckinghamshire; whether he is aware of the serious nuisance to local residents caused by these works; and whether he intends that there should be a limit fixed to the expansion of these works.
My right hon. Friend was satisfied that Buckingham County Council were handling this case with the necessary care and had no reason to take it out of their hands.New equipment for dust arrestment should, when fitted, substantially reduce the nuisance. Any proposal for further expansion will be considered in the light of the circumstances then prevailing.
Direct Labour (District Auditors' Society Study)
39.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has now considered the District Auditors' Society's study of direct labour in local authorities; and whether he will make a statement.
The District Auditors' Society, acting on their own initiative, have written an interesting and valuable paper for the benefit of the Society's members, on cost control in local authority building departments. The Society have kindly made it available to the Department, and with their consent I have placed a copy in the Library. My right hon. Friend is in consultation with local authorities about the implications of the paper, with special reference to cost control.
Thomas Chatterton Monument
40.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will schedule the public memorial to the poet Thomas Chatterton, at Redcliffe, Bristol, for preservation.
I understand that a Faculty for the removal of the monument has been granted by the Consistory Court, and that the figure of the poet is to be offered to the Bristol Museum. My right hon. Friend does not think this is a case in which he would be justified in making a Building Preservation Order.
Building Regulations (New Materials)
41.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will amend the Building Regulations so as to ensure that a new material which is awarded an agreement certificate is automatically in conformity with them.
I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the circular which has been issued to local authorities on this subject; my right hon. Friend does not think it would be proper or desirable to go further than this at present.
Dam, Meldon Okehampton
43.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why the proposed new dam at Meldon Okehampton, Devonshire, is being delayed.
My right hon. Friend had laid before Parliament an Order authorising this dam but, because of procedural problems over the position of amenity societies wishing to oppose such Orders, he withdrew it. These problems are being studied separately and the Order will be relaid very soon.
Grainthorpe Parish Council (Playing Field)
48.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why he has refused to allow the Grainthorpe Parish Council to sell £700 of its own 3 per cent. savings bonds, in order to help pay for a playing field project that is badly needed in the village, and which is to be run by a voluntary organisation, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Louth.
Grainthorpe Parish Council has made no further request since the hon. Member raised this question on 6th December last year. If the Council can advance good reasons for acquiring the field now, my right hon. Friend will reconsider the decision.
Local Authority Membership (Teachers)
49.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that a teacher cannot serve on the local authority which employs him; and if he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to remove this disqualification.
The general principle underlying the disqualification of teachers and other local authority employees from membership of the authority employing them is that an elected member ought not to be in a position where there may be conflict, or even the appearance of conflict, between his private interest and his public duty. I believe this is an important principle from which it would be unwise to depart.
Planning Bulletin No 7 (Public Car Parks)
50.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the correct interpretation of the Planning Bulletin No. 7 respecting the voluntary payment of money in lieu of car parking accommodation, which is in dispute between the Town Clerk of Grimsby and the Grimsby Cleethorpes and District Building Trades Employees Association, correspondence on which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Louth.
My right hon. Friend will shortly issue further guidance to local authorities which will reiterate the principle that no payment of money or other consideration can be required as a condition of granting planning permission. I will write to the hon. Member about the particular matter raised.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will reissue the advice given in Planning Bulletin No. 7 about contributions by developers towards the cost of parking spaces, in a modified and less equivocal form at an early date; and whether he will ensure, if contributions are still to be made, that these spaces are reasonably close to the premises which are being developed.
My right hon. Friend will be issuing further guidance to local authorities shortly. If a contribution towards the cost of public car parking is appropriate in a particular case, he would expect local authorities to take into account all relevant considerations, including the distance between the development and the public car park.
Historic Buildings (Water Tables)
52.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what studies he is making into the effects of lowered water tables on the foundation of historic buildings.
The effect of fluctuations of the water table on the level of the ground and on buildings in general is continuously under study at the Building Research Station and elsewhere. We are at present considering the evidence available to us about its effect on historic buildings in particular. My right hon. Friend will then decide whether any special studies are necessary.
British Leather Federation (Trade Effluents)
55.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, what representations he has received from the British Leather Federation regarding the problem of discharge of trade effluent and charges arising therefrom; what Government grants are made towards the cost of sewage schemes; and if he will make a statement.
The Federation has explained its difficulties over trade effluents, and my right hon. Friend is considering the issue of further guidance to sewerage authorities and river authorities on the administration of the relevant legislation. Sewage disposal schemes benefit from rate support grant but do not qualify for specific grant except under certain conditions in Development Areas and areas of town development.
Coal Distribution Depot, Farnham (Inquiry)
56.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the opposition to the project of all the local institutions, organisations and individuals affected, he will institute an immediate public inquiry into the proposal of the National Coal Board to establish a coal distribution depot at Farnham, Surrey.
I understand that an application for planning permission is to be made in due course. It would be inappropriate for me to order a public inquiry before such an application had been considered by the local planning authority.
Royal Ordnance Factory, Swynnerton
59.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now permit a limited development for afforestation and industry at the abandoned Royal Ordnance Factory site at Swynnerton in Staffordshire.
The future of this site has been under consideration for some time. My right hon. Friend hopes to write to the local auihorities and the Regional Economic Planning Council about it in the near future.
Rating (Vacant Hereditaments)
61.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, how many local authorities have decided not to exercise their power to rate vacant hereditaments.
Of the 1,381 rating authorities 55 only have decided so far to rate vacant hereditaments. But I know that many authorities, who have not yet decided to do so, intend to consider the matter further.
Hedgerow And Farm Timber Committee (Report)
62.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps have been taken to implement the recommendations of the Report of the Committee on Hedgerow and Farm Timber, 1955.
This was a wide-ranging report with a large number of recommendations which were brought to the attention of public authorities concerned at the time. A working party was set up in 1966 to review the report and to see what further action could be taken in the light of decisions already reached in the White Paper on the Countryside. I think there is now a much more general recognition of the need to preserve and replant timber, which should be encouraged by the Government's proposals for the countryside. My right hon. Friend is in touch with his right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and other colleagues and I will keep my hon. Friend informed.
Tree Work (British Standard 3998, 1966)
63.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to ensure that tree work conforms to British Standard 3998, 1966.
My right hon. Friend is bringing this specification to the notice of local planning authorities.
Wailes Dove (Bitumastic) Ltd (Pipe Processing Plant)
64.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to ensure the discontinuance of the use of the pipe processing plant at the factory of Wailes Dove (Bitumastic) Limited, Pelaw-on-Tyne, because of the nuisance being caused to surrounding residential property.
No. I understand that the new equipment which I mentioned to my hon. Friend when he came to see me in the House on 23rd February has been installed and will be tried out this week. This is expected to improve conditions. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as the Department's Alkali Inspector has been able to assess the results.
Teachers' Salaries (Expenditure)
65.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the rateborne cost of teachers salaries for the year 1966–67; and what is the estimated cost for the year 1967–68.
The total expenditure on teachers' salaries by local authorities in England and Wales is estimated at £605 million for 1966–67 and £627 million for 1967–68. Exchequer assistance towards local education expenditure is not given by way of specific grant and it is not therefore possible to give corresponding figures for the net cost borne by ratepayers. But in 1966–67 the general and rate-deficiency grants between them met about 60 per cent. of the cost of the services in respect of which general grant was payable, of which education was the largest; and under the new arrangements which came into force this year the total of Exchequer assistance to local authorities in 1967–68 is likely to be about £40 million more than it would have been under the old system.
Local Government Employees (Cost)
66.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the estimated cost to rate expenditure for the increase of 160,000 local government employees since 1964 and in the year 1966–67; and what is the estimated expenditure for the year 1967–68.
The comparable figure for England and Wales is 147,000, including about 77,000 workers in education, 27,000 health service workers, and 5,000 extra police. My right hon. Friend does not have sufficient information available to estimate the cost either since 1964 or in 1966–67 or 1967–68.
Historic Towns (Pilot Studies)
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the purpose of the new survey of historic towns; and if he will list those to be included.
The pilot studies of historic towns announced in May 1966 by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council when Minister of Housing and Local Government are intended to discover the implications of a conservation policy and the practical, economic and other problems involved in the enhancement of the historic character of the area and the maintenance of its life and economic buoyancy. Pilot studies are being made of defined historic areas in Bath, York, Chester and Chichester.
Town Centres (Redevelopment Schemes)
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish the list of town centre redevelopment schemes completed during the last few years, the names of the firms involved, and the price of each scheme.
I regret that information is not available in precisely the form requested. But I am writing to my hon. Friend giving him the information in my possession which will, I believe, help him.
Loan Sanction
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the total sum he intends to allocate by way of loan sanction for the purposes covered in his Department's Circular 50/66; and what proportion of this total will be allocated to local authorities in each of the planning regions of the United Kingdom.
I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to his Oral Question this afternoon.
Commonwealth Affairs
Sierra Leone
67.
asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government recognise de facto or de jure the present administration in Sierra Leone.
72.
asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether there has been any interruption of Her Majesty's Government's recognition of the Sierra Leone Government; and what is Sierra Leone's present status in the Commonwealth.
76.
asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about British recognition of the constitutional position in Sierra Leone.
77.
asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs to whom the British High Commissioner in Sierra Leone is now accredited.
As there has been no change in the Head of State of Sierra Leone, no formal act of recognition by Her Majesty's Government of the new Government of Sierra Leone is necessary. Sierra Leone remains an independent member of the Commonwealth.
European Economic Community
68.
asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to him by Commonwealth countries concerning the possibility of Great Britain joining the European Economic Community.
We are in close touch with other Commonwealth Governments and are taking full account of the views which they have expressed to us, but these are necessarily confidential.
Rhodesia
69.
asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what is the total cost of compensation paid to Lonrho Limited, owners of the Beira-Umtali pipe-line so far; and what the annual rate of compensation will be in the future pending a return to legality by Rhodesia.
As my hon. Friend said in the course of the debate on the Southern Rhodesia (Prohibited Trade and Dealings) (Amendment) Order on 18th April, no compensation has been paid, and it is not intended that any will be paid in the future.—[Vol. 745, c. 441–90.]
71.
asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether, following the latest Zambia-Rhodesia negotiations, he will make a statement on the future of Rhodesia Railways.
H.M.G. are considering a communication received from the Zambian Government on the subject of Rhodesian railways and I should prefer not to make a statement at present.
75.
asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs how many passports of Rhodesian citizens have been impounded in this country and abroad, respectively.
216 passports of Rhodesian citizens have been impounded in this country.No figures are available in respect of other countries but numbers are certain to be small. Replacement documents are normally issued.
asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken to prevent Lonrho from selling the Beira-Umtali pipeline; and with what effect.
I have nothing to add to what was said by my hon. Friend on this subject in the debate on the Southern Rhodesia (Prohibited Trade and Dealings) (Amendment) Order, 1967 on 18th April.
India (Hyderabad Reading Room)
74.
asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the establishment of a British Council reading room in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.
I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 13th December, 1966. I then said that the British Council will not overlook the strong claims of Hyderabad when further funds become available.—[Vol. 738, c. 230.]
British Honduras
asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for stimulating industrial and agricultural development in British Honduras; and whether he will establish a National Development Bank there.
Industrial and agricultural development in British Honduras are primarily matters for the local Government. For the 3-year period April, 1965-March, 1968 the British Government is providing £2·2 million in Colonial Development and Welfare grants within which a number of schemes relating to agricultural development have been approved. The British Honduras Government have given a very high priority to the construction of a new Capital: as my right hon. Friend announced yesterday H.M.G. has agreed to find a further £500,000 towards the cost. There is already a Development Finance Corporation in being in British Honduras which the local Government hope to strengthen and expand into a full Development Bank. Since 1960 the British Honduras Government has been offering generous tax and import duty concessions of from 11 to 15 years for approved new investment in agricultural and industrial projects. Some 48 projects have so far received concessions under this scheme.
asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement defining the constitutional position of civil servants in British Honduras with regard to party politics.
Civil servants in British Honduras are expected broadly to follow the same conventions as apply to civil servants in the United Kingdom. They may not for example, stand for election to the National Assembly unless they have first resigned from the Civil Service, nor may they become actively involved in party political activities. The constitution also provides, in accordance with normal principles, for the insulation of the Civil Service from political influence and control.
Eastern Caribbean (Mission)
asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs why a mission from the United Nations Special Committee on Colonialism is expected to visit the East Caribbean dependencies, in view of the fact that Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla and St. Lucia already are no longer colonies but retain their association with Great Britain solely by their own free choice.
No such mission is expected to visit the Associated States of the Eastern Caribbean.
Malta (Joint Mission)
asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs when he proposes to nominate the British representatives on the Anglo-Maltese Mission; and if he will make a statement.
I would refer the Hon. Member to my reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 18th April, 1967. I hope to make a further announcement very soon.—[Vol. 745, c. 61.]
Coal
National Coal Board (Brickworks)
78.
asked the Minister of Power what consultations he has had, in carrying out his responsibility for approving the lines of investment, with the Chairman of the National Coal Board concerning the capital investment in the Desford brick works; and, in particular, what profit and loss the brickworks is currently making and how this differs from the forecast made when the investment was first made.
In the months since it opened this reconstructed brickworks has operated below capacity and made a loss. As the management of individual brickworks is a matter for the National Coal Board I have asked the Chairman to write to the hon. Member.
Coal Industry, Scotland (Employment)
79.
asked the Minister of Power (1) how many miners under 25 years of age are engaged in the mining industry in Scotland;(2) how many tradesmen are engaged in the mining industry in Scotland under 25 years of age.
I have asked the Chairman of the National Coal Board to write to my hon. Friend giving him the information requested.
Redundant Miners (Redeployment)
85.
asked the Minister of Power what are his estimates for the total cost of redeploying redundant miners up to 1970, and up to 1975.
asked the Minister of Power what proportion of the cost of redeploying redundant miners will be borne by the National Coal Board up to 1970, and up to 1975.
It is not possible to give a useful estimate of the cost of redeploying redundant miners. It will depend on a combination of such factors as redundancy payments, which vary with length of service, the extent to which men are redeployed to Advance Factories, accept retraining at Government Training Centres and Rehabilitation Units, or transfer under Ministry of Labour schemes.
National Coal Board (Brickworks)
92.
asked the Minister of Power what proportion of the total energy needs of the National Coal Board Brickworks Executive is supplied by coal; and what increase or saving in costs he estimates would be obtained by using oil instead of coal in the Brickworks Executive's operations.
The choice of fuel to be used at its own brickworks is a matter for the commercial judgment of the National Coal Board.
Exports
109.
asked the Minister of Power what estimates for the scale of coal exports for 1970 were made for National Plan purposes by the Government; what revisions have now been made by the Government; and what estimates exist for 1975.
119.
asked the Minister of Power what estimates he received from the National Coal Board for the scale of coal exports for 1970 for National Plan Purposes; what revisions have now been made by the National Coal Board; and what estimates the National Coal Board have made for 1975.
The National Plan assumed a coal export in 1970 of 5 million tons.The future level of exports will be governed by the degree of competition overseas, the trading policy of importing countries, production costs in this country and the availability of suitable coal. It is too uncertain for me to be able to provide reliable estimates.
110.
asked the Minister of Power what representations have been made to him by the National Coal Board to facilitate the export of coal.
118.
asked the Minister of Power what steps his Department has taken to facilitate coal exports.
Exports are the commercial concern of the National Coal Board who follow up any inquiries likely to result in business at economic prices. Both the President of the Board of Trade and my right hon. Friend are ready to help where the National Coal Board thinks this would be useful.
124.
asked the Minister of Power at what price he estimates coal could be exported to Europe in competition with supplies from the United States of America and Poland.
The National Coal Board's main exports consist of steam-raising coal for industry whilst United States exports to Western Europe are largely coking coals for steel manufacture. For steam-raising coals the Board can compete with United States prices. Polish prices are at such low levels that the Board could compete only if they disregarded commercial considerations.
Productivity
105 and 106.
asked the Minister of Power (1) whether he has obtained from the National Coal Board its estimate of the annual percentage increase in productivity per man shift in the coal industry up to 1970;(2) what is his estimate of the annual percentage increase in productivity per man shift in the coal industry up to 1970.
114.
asked the Minister of Power what estimate he has received from the National Coal Board of the annual percentage increase in productivity per man shift in the coal industry up to 1970.
The National Coal Board has advised me that it expects a major increase in productivity during this period, partly through the concentration of output upon the better collieries and partly through the use of more advanced techniques in colliery operation. I agree with the Board that substantial advances from these developments can be expected.
Pithead Cost
127.
asked the Minister of Power what is his estimate of the average pithead cost per ton of the coal mined by the National Coal Board.
Before charging interest, about £5 a ton during the year 1966–67.
Coal Distribution Depots
128.
asked the Minister of Power whether he will issue a general direction, in the public interest, to the National Coal Board to go through the normal procedure to seek the planning permission it would require were it not a statutory body before proceeding further with proposals to establish coal distribution depots.
I understand it is the normal practice of the National Coal Board to seek planning permission for coal distribution depots when these are to be operated by them or on their behalf, even though this may not be statutorily necessary in all cases.
Disused Collieries
129.
asked the Minister of Power whether he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board to clear up the sites of collieries which have been closed.
No. A general direction would not be appropriate; but if my hon. Friend has any particular site in mind I will ask the Chairman of the National Coal Board to look into the matter and to write to him.
Selective Prices (Scotland)
asked the Minister of Power if he will make an official visit to Scotland to find out at firsthand the impact selective coal prices has on the coal industry there.
No. I am aware of the position.
Sales To Public Bodies
asked the Minister of Power what is his estimate, to the latest date available, of the effect of the measures announced on 12th April, 1965, on the number of tons of coal bought by Government Departments and public buildings under their control, by local authorities, by the Central Electricity Generating Board and by the Gas Council and the area gas boards.
In the year 1966–67 the additional amount of coal taken as the result of these measures is estimated at about 4¼ million tons.
Gas
Irish Sea Supplies
81.
asked the Minister of Power what further progress has been made in drilling for natural gas in the Irish Sea.
No decision to drill can be taken until the licensee has completed the further surveys referred to in the reply given to the hon. Member on 12th August, 1966.—[Vol. 733, c. 478.]
North Sea Supplies
96.
asked the Minister of Power what he estimates to be the overall cost of the pipeline required to lay the trunk grid for North Sea gas distribution; and how much of this overall cost will be in foreign exchange.
The Gas Council's preliminary estimate for the main transmission system is about £110 million but this will need to be revised as planning proceeds. Some of the pipe will have to be imported but it is not yet possible to say how much.
asked the Minister of Power what is his latest estimate, in thousands of millions of cubic feet a day, of the probable offtake of North Sea gas by 1970, and by 1975.
The gas industry is planning to take some 2,000 million cubic feet a day by 1970, or soon after, dependent, of course, on the satisfactory conclusion of the current negotiations with the producing companies. I cannot at present give an estimate for 1975.
100.
asked the Minister of Power what is his latest estimate, in thousands of millions of cubic feet a day, of the probable amount of gas available from the North Sea fields by 1970, and by 1975.
I estimate that at least 2,000 million cubic feet a day could be produced from the North Sea by 1970 or soon after. It is too early to estimate how much could be produced by 1975, since this will depend on the results of further exploration.
Space-Heating Load (Cost)
113.
asked the Minister of Power what would the cost of supplying the space-heating load by gas on long-range marginal costing.
There are too many uncertainties at present for meaningful estimates to be made.
Oil-Based Plant
120.
asked the Minister of Power what is the capacity, in millions of cubic feet a day, of oil-based town gas plant in operation or under consideration by the gas industry; how much of this plant will remain in operation in 1970 and 1975; and how much, by capacity and by value, will have to be written off, other than in the course of normal depreciation, by 1975, assuming that by then all gas requirements will be supplied from natural gas.
The daily capacity of oil-based plant in operation, under construction, or planned is about 6,500 million cubic feet a day, of which over 6,000 millions will still be in use in 1970. I cannot say how much will be needed in 1975. The residual book value in 1975 of all oil-based plant will be about £200 million.
asked the Minister of Power how many oil-based plants will not now be built by the gas industry because of the discovery of North Sea gas; and what would have been the combined capacity of those plants.
50 plants planned last year will not now be built. Their capacity would have been 2,500 million cubic feet a day.
Electricity
Power Stations (Fuels)
82.
asked the Minister of Power what estimate he has received from the Central Electricity Generating Board of the price per therm at which coal could compete with oil in electricity generation, assuming the removal of the duty on fuel oil.
93.
asked the Minister of Power at what price per therm he estimates coal could compete with oil in electricity generation, assuming the removal of the duty on fuel oil.
About 2½d. or less, delivered.
98.
asked the Minister of Power what is his latest estimate of the average cost per therm of electricity generation by coal, by oil, by the first generation of nuclear power stations, and by the second generation of nuclear power stations; and what estimates exist for 1970 and 1975.
The total generation costs in pence per kilowatt hour at new coal or oil-fired stations are 0·5d.-0·7d. according to fuel cost and location, and for first generation nuclear stations 0·7d.; there are no second generation nuclear power stations in operation.The estimated costs for 1970 for conventional stations are about 0·5–0·6 pence per kilowatt-hour, according to fuel cost and location, and for nuclear about 0·5d.In the period 1970 to 1975 it is expected that costs will fall more in nuclear than in conventional generation.
Nuclear Power Programmes (Coal Requirements)
97.
asked the Minister of Power what is his estimate of the effect of the nuclear power programme on the electricity industry's coal requirements up to 1970, and up to 1975.
Under the nuclear power programmes already announced, it is estimated that nuclear power will account for the equivalent of 15 million tons of coal a year by 1970 and 35 million tons a year by 1975. I cannot say how much of this generating capacity would have been coal-fired in the absence of nuclear power.
Prices
86.
asked the Minister of Power what proposals have been made to him by area electricity boards for price increases since July, 1966; and what steps he has taken as a result of these requests.
Two area electricity boards have made such proposals and they were asked to defer price increases at least until the end of the period of severe restraint.I have yet to complete the discussions with the Electricity Council referred to in my reply of 11th April to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Kershaw).—[Vol. 744, c. 160.]
Drax And Hinkley Point "B" (Capital Cost)
87.
asked the Minister of Power what is the capital cost per kilowatt of Drax and Hinkley Point "B"; at what load factor in each case the calculation is made; and what rate of interest during consumption is charged to capital in each case.
The capital cost of Drax is estimated as £53 per kilowatt and of Hinkley point "B" as £71 per kilowatt. The cost and output of emergency gas turbines is included in both cases, but interest during construction is excluded as is the initial fuel charge at Hinkley Point "B".Load factor does not affect calculation of capital cost.
Generating Plant
99.
asked the Minister of Power what average proportion of generating plant was unavailable in 1964–65, 1965–66 and 1966–67 winters, respectively, due to breakdown; and what estimate is made of the probable breakdown percentage in the winters of 1970–71 and 1971–72.
The reduction of capacity due to breakdown, averaged over the months of December and January in each of the winters 1964–65, 1965–66 and 1966–67, was 8·8 per cent., 12·2 per cent. and 11·3 per cent. respectively.For the winters of 1970–71 and 1971–72 a breakdown percentage of about 10 per cent. has been allowed for.
126.
asked the Minister of Power what allowances have been made in planning for 1970 and 1971, res- pectively, for electricity generating plant falling behind the commissioning programme.
In planning for 1970 and 1971 the Central Electricity Generating Board has allowed for a delay of up to 12 months in commissioning two generating sets.
Sales (Iron And Steel Industry)
111.
asked the Minister of Power what information he has received as to the growth rates of iron and steel production, which were assumed in forecasts of industrial sales of electricity, made by the Electricity Council in May, 1963, and subsequently in May, 1966; to what extent differences in these growth rates have affected his estimate of the balance between estimated growth rates of electricity sales to domestic and industrial consumers, respectively, up to 1970.
For its forecast in 1963 the Electricity Council took into account the N.E.D.C. target growth for iron and steel of 5·5 per cent. per annum in 1966 and for their 1966 forecast the National Plan's figure of 3·2 per cent. per annum in 1970.A reduction of this order in the growth rate of the iron and steel industry would in itself result in a reduction of less than ½ per cent. per annum in sales of electricity to industry, but there are many other factors affecting the balance between industrial and domestic consumption.
Space-Heating Load (Cost)
112.
asked the Minister of Power what is the estimated cost per kilowatt hour of meeting the unrestricted space-heating load at today's prices on accepted accounting principles, and on principles of long-range marginal costing, respectively.
There is no single accepted accounting principle for expressing the cost of a part of the electricity load. The estimate of the long-range marginal cost of the unrestricted space-heating load made by a Working Party of the Electricity Council in 1964 was 1·65 pence a unit, subject to a number of qualifications. There are too many uncertainties for a meaningful recalculation to be made at the present time.
Off-Peak Tariffs (Sales)
116.
asked the Minister of Power how many units have been sold by area electricity boards on off-peak tariff for domestic consumers, farms, commercial consumers, combined domestic and commercial consumers and industrial consumers, respectively, for each year since such tariffs were first instituted.
The information available is as follows:—
| SALES OF ELECTRICITY ON OFF-PEAK TARIFFS ENGLAND AND WALES | |||
| (million kWh) | |||
| 1963–64 | 1964–65 | 1965–66 | |
| Domestic | 950 | 1,855 | 2,850 |
| Farm | 120 | 127 | 196 |
| Commercial | 1,194 | 1,464 | 1,754 |
| Combined domestic and commercial | 55 | 76 | 97 |
| Industrial | 314 | 375 | 403 |
| Total | 2,633 | 3,897 | 5,300 |
| 1962–63 | … | … | … | 1,983 |
| 1961–62 | … | … | … | 1,331 |
| 1960–61 | … | … | … | 1,016 |
| 1959–60 | … | … | … | 718 |
| 1958–59 | … | … | … | 552 |
| 1957–58 | … | … | … | 378 |
Load Factor
117.
asked the Minister of Power what is his estimate of the likely average load factor of electricity generating plant for each year to 1970, and for 1975.
The Central Electricity Generating Board's present average load factor is about 46 per cent.; this is expected to fall to about 42 per cent. over the next few years as plant margins improve.In planning its plant margins for the early 1970s, the C.E.G.B. assumes an average load factor of 45 per cent.
Electricity Council's Utilisation Research Reports
121.
asked the Minister of Power how many issues of the Electricity Council's Utilisation Research Reports have been published; what was the date of the last such publication; how many such reports have been made since that date; why these have not been published; and when it is proposed to publish them.
Thirteen of the Electricity Council's Utilisation Research Reports have been published, the most recent in January, 1967. Since then six reports have been produced and circulated within the electricity supply industry. The question of which of their Utilisation Research Reports is published is entirely a matter for the Council, having regard to the industry's commercial and other interests.
Privately Generated Electricity (Industrial Consumption)
123.
asked the Minister of Power what is the proportion of the industrial consumption of electricity at present privately generated; what estimates of changes in this proportion have been made for 1970, and for 1975; and how the provisions as to grants for capital investment under the Industrial Development Act affect these estimates.
It is estimated that rather less than one-fifth of the total industrial consumption of electricity is at present privately generated. No estimates have been made on the proportion in future years, but the effect of investment grants will be kept under review.
Generating Programmes (Capital Cost)
125.
asked the Minister of Power what is the capital cost per kilowatt of the generating programmes for a comparable current period per million industrial workers in the United Kingdom and Germany, respectively, based on information from international organisations.
The following ratios in $ per kW have been calculated from information published by O.E.C.D. by dividing planned investment over the six-year period 1964–69 by the increase in maximum output capacity over the same period.
| United Kingdom | West Germany | ||
| Conventional plant | … | 154 | 147/201 |
| Nuclear plant | … | 271 | 445 |
| Hydro-electric plant | … | 170 | 365/380 |
The figures for the United Kingdom exclude the capacity and investment of auto-producers. It is not known whether the investment estimates for Germany include auto-producers; the first figure shown assumes that they do and the second that they do not.
Investment expenditure in a given period is not exactly related to the amount of plant installed in that period and no allowance is made for plant withdrawn from service. The comparisons may therefore be unreliable.
The number of industrial workers, according to I.L.O. statistics for mid-1965 was just under 12 million in the United Kingdom and just over 12 million in Western Germany.
Peak Loads
asked the Minister of Power what estimates he has made of the proportion of the peak summer electricity load to the peak winter load, for each year to 1970 and for 1975; and what are these estimates.
None.
Power
Fuel Policy (Estimates)
83.
asked the Minister of Power what estimate he has received from the National Coal Board of the total manpower it requires in each year to 1970, and in 1975, and of the total manpower it is likely to obtain in each year to 1970, and in 1975.
84.
asked the Minister of Power what national growth assumptions, and relevant regional employment assumptions have been taken into account in assessing future trends in recruitment and wastage in coalmining manpower in the years 1970, and up to 1975.
89.
asked the Minister of Power whether he will tabulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT his Department's latest estimate of the total demand for coal, for each year to 1970 and for 1975 and his Department's estimates of the coal requirements of power stations, gasworks, coke, industry, domestic consumers, mines and collieries, railways, and other uses, in every case for each year to 1970, and for 1975.
95.
asked the Minister of Power what is his latest estimate, in coal equivalent tons, of the increase in the total inland demand for energy represented by increased domestic demand by 1970, and by 1975.
103 and 104.
asked the Minister of Power (1) whether he has obtained from the National Coal Board its estimate of the total manpower which it requires for each year to 1970, and for 1975, and of the total manpower it is likely to obtain in each year to 1970 and in 1975;(2) what is his latest estimate of the total manpower required by the National Coal Board for each year to 1970, and for 1975; and what is his estimate of the total manpower which the National Coal Board is likely to obtain in each year to 1970, and in 1975.
107.
asked the Minister of Power what are his latest estimates for the total inland demand for energy for each year to 1970, and for 1975.
asked the Minister of Power whether he will tabulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT his latest estimates of the growth of electricity consumption in average cold spell conditions for each year to 1970, and for 1975, by domestic consumers, and by industrial consumers.
asked the Minister of Power (1) whether he has obtained from the National Coal Board their latest estimate of the total demand for coal for each year to 1970, and for 1975, and of the coal requirements of power stations, gasworks, coke, industry, domestic consumers, mines and collieries, railways and other uses, in every case for each year to 1970, and for 1975;(2) whether he will tabulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the National Coal Board's latest estimate of the total demand for coal in each year to 1970, and for 1975, and their latest estimates of the coal requirements of power stations, gasworks, coke, industry, domestic consumers, mines and collieries, railways and other uses, in every case for each year to 1970, and for 1975.
I am unable to disclose the estimates on which I am working in the course of the fuel policy review.
Energy Demand (Coal Equivalent)
90 and 91.
asked the Minister of Power (1) what are his esimates, in coal equivalent tons, of the increase in total inland demand for energy resulting from greater automation in industry by 1970, and by 1975;(2) what are his estimates, in coal equivalent tons, of the reduction in the increase in total inland demand for energy resulting from more efficient energy use by industry by 1970, and by 1975.
There are no generally accepted standards of measurement which would permit of separate assessments being made of the effect of changes in either of these factors on energy demand, but their importance is not overlooked when forward projections are made.
102.
asked the Minister of Power whether he will quantify, in millions of coal equivalent tons, the effect of the Government's decision that the National Plan's growth target is no longer available on the estimates of total inland demand in 1970.
No. Estimates of energy demand depend on other factors besides the national growth rate.
Energy Co-Efficient
94.
asked the Minister of Power whether he will tabulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the energy co-efficient for the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.
The energy co-efficient for the United Kingdom in each of the last five years was:—
| Unadjusted | Adjusted for temperature differences | ||||
| 1962 | … | … | … | 3·48 | 0·51 |
| 1963 | … | … | … | 0·93 | 0·83 |
| 1964 | … | … | … | 0·13 | 0·47 |
| 1965 | … | … | … | 1·52 | 1·15 |
| 1966 | … | … | … | 0·17 | 0·63 |
108.
asked the Minister of Power to what extent he expects the energy co-efficient for the United Kingdom to change in the next five-year period from the figure of 0·56 per cent. for the period 1960–64.
This ratio fluctuates markedly, as answers to other questions will indicate, and I cannot make a close estimate of what it will be.
122.
asked the Minister of Power whether he will tabulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the information in his possession from international organisations as to the energy co-efficient for the United States of America, France, Germany and Italy in each of the last five years.
Energy co-efficients for the U.S.A., France, Germany and Italy in each of the latest five years for which published statistics are available are as follows:
| U.S.A. | France | Germany F.R. | Italy | ||
| 1961 | … | 0·89 | 0·73 | 0·20 | 1·05 |
| 1962 | … | 0·71 | 0·88 | 1·79 | 2·24 |
| 1963 | … | 1·05 | 2·40 | 2·38 | 2·49 |
| 1964 | … | 0·88 | 0·59 | 0·24 | 1·56 |
| 1965 | … | 0·92 | 0·94 | 0·60 | 2·21 |
Nationalised Fuel Industries (Investment Return)
88.
asked the Minister of Power what rate of return he expects from new capital investment projects by each of the nationalised fuel industries, stating separately the expected rate for diversification projects and for other projects.
The Government regards 8 per cent. before allowing for risk as a suitable minimum rate of discount for use by the nationalised industries. This basic minimum rate applies to all types of investment though different allowances for risk would apply to different types of project, including for instance new ventures and diversification projects. It is for each Board to interpret this general criterion in the light of its own circumstances.
Estimates
101.
asked the Minister of Power whether his latest estimates have taken into account the Government's decision that the National Plan's growth target is no longer available.
Yes.
Fuel Policy
115.
asked the Minister of Power when he intends to publish a revised version of the White Paper on Fuel Policy, Command Paper No. 2798.
I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Chesterfield (Mr. Varley) and Mansfield (Mr. Concannon) on 24th January—[Vol. 739, c. 233.]—and my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Mr. Kelley) on 11th April.—[Vol. 744, c. 159.]
River Severn (Barrage)
asked the Minister of Power if he will now set up a study group to study the feasibility of a barrage across the River Severn in order to use the tidal flow for the generation of hydroelectricity.
No. On the evidence of schemes so far submitted, the cost of a barrage would exceed that which would be economically justified for the generation of electricity.
Oil (Lancashire Fells)
asked the Minister of Power what reports he has received of the search for oil on the Lancashire fells.
A well was completed recently at Whitmore and the licensees have announced that neither oil nor gas was found in commercial quantities. The detailed information supplied under the terms of the licence is confidential.
Technology
Aircraft Industry (Public Ownership)
130.
asked the Minister of Technology if he will now announce plans for taking the aircraft industry into public ownership, in view of recent events and evidence of gross overcharging on Government contracts.
No. Government policy on the aircraft industry cannot be decided on the basis of one or two cases of this kind.
Government Contract (Investigation)
131.
asked the Minister of Technology if he will state the name of the firm that is currently under investigation by his Department in connection with a possible repayment to Her Majesty's Government.
I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend on 18th April, 1967.—[Vol. 745, c. 64.]
Bristol Siddeley Engines Ltd (Inquiry)
132.
asked the Minister of Technology if he will give more information on the terms of reference and course of proceedings of the committee of inquiry he proposes to set up with regard to the repayment of £3·96 million by Bristol Siddeley Engines Limited to Her Majesty's Government.
I would refer my hon. Friend to the Statement which I made in the House yesterday.—[Vol. 745, c. 1160–65.]
Uranium
asked the Minister of Technology what view his Department have formed about supply and price prospects for natural uranium which will be needed to support the increased use of nuclear power in this country; and if he will make a statement.
The Atomic Energy Authority's forward contracts assure sufficient supplies to meet the basic requirements of the nuclear power programme well into the 1970s. The outlook beyond that seems promising.
Breeder Reactors
asked the Minister of Technology when he expects the breeder reactor process will be able to end this country's dependence on imported natural uranium for nuclear power generation; and how long he expects one such reactor will take to produce enough fuel to run a second reactor.
It will be many years before uranium imports can be reduced as the result of the use of breeder reactors.One breeder reactor of present design parameters will produce enough fuel to run a second reactor in about 15 years.
Minister's Visit To The Ussr
asked the Minister of Technology whether he will make a statement on his recent visit to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
I visited the Soviet Union from 17th-21st April at the invitation of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Council of Ministers of the U.S.S.R., and Chairman of the State Committee of the U.S.S.R. Council of Ministers for Science and Technology, Academician V. A. Kirillin.The talks we had followed the discussions between Mr. Kosygin, and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister last February. They centred around our mutual desire to achieve closer technological co-operation between the U.S.S.R. and the United Kingdom.We identified three areas in which this co-operation might be developed first by the exchange of information namely technological research and development for the longer term, industrial technology, and long-term industrial development. The organisational framework needed for such a programme of collaboration was also discussed.Mr. Kirillin and I agreed to make proposals to our respective Governments on how scientific and technological co-operation might be further developed.During my stay in the Soviet Union I visited scientific and research organisations and industrial undertakings in Moscow and Kiev where I had talks with Soviet specialists on economic development, the organisation of management, computer technology, automation and other questions.
Altogether I found the visit a most useful one. Mr. Kirillin and I found that we were thinking on the same lines on the questions discussed and we greatly enjoyed our talks.
National Finance
Customs Duty (Cameras)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that some members of the public, who have imported cameras into this country, have been misled into supposing that the Commissioners of Customs and Excise were meeting all claims for repayment of duty overcharged, provided they were supported by reasonable evidence; and if he will make clear that claims more than six years old are excluded by section 11(4) of the Customs and Excise Act, 1952.
The limitation of repayment of duty to claims made and established within six years is clearly stated in the Customs law. While some members of the public may not have been aware of it, I cannot accept that they have been misled. The limitation is explained to them in reply to their applications. There are not many such cases and I do not think that further clarification is needed.
Reserve Bank Of Rhodesia (Governor And Trustee)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to indemnify the Governor and Trustee of the Reserve Bank of Rhodesia against personal liabilities which might be incurred by him in discharge of his duties; and whether he will make a statement.
I do not foresee any circumstances in which such personal liabilities might arise, but I have thought it right to authorise the issue to Sir Sydney Caine, the Governor and Trustee of the Reserve Bank, and to any successor who may be appointed under the Reserve Bank of Rhodesia Orders 1965 and 1967 Governor and Trustee of the Reserve Bank, and also to any Alternate who may be so appointed, of a letter saying that, subject to the approval of Parliament, the Treasury will indemnify him against any personal liability incurred by him in consequence of any act or neglect on his part in the course of discharging in good faith his duties in pursuance of this appointment.
Alluvial Minerals (Prospecting Licences)
134.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what off-shore licences have been granted on the coast of Devonshire and Cornwall to prospect for alluvial minerals; what are the names and nationalities of the companies who have taken up concessions; what concessions are still available; and if he will publish a map.
The Crown Estate Commissioners have granted a prospecting licence to search for alluvial tin off the coast of Cornwall to an American Company, and a licence to dredge for tin in St. Ives Bay to a British Company. The areas still available are shown on the map which I will place in the Library.
People's Republic Of China
136.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps have been taken during the last year by Her Majesty's Government to secure the admission to the United Nations of the People's Republic of China, and with what result; and if he will make a statement on his proposals for future action in this matter.
In the General Assembly last year we voted in favour of the Resolution calling for the seating of the People's Republic of China. As my hon. Friend knows, that Resolution was defeated. I remain convinced, however, that the seating of China in the United Nations is of great importance and we shall continue to work for this.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give details of the representations which have been made to Her Majesty's Government by the Government of the United States of America on the question of the sale of computers by International Computers and Tabulators to the Republic of China.
No. Discussions between Governments of such matters are, by agreement, confidential.
British Honduras And Guatemala
137.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the reason for continued delay in the publication of the mediator's recommendations in respect of the dispute between British Honduras and Guatemala; and when he now expects that this will be made public.
I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Surbiton (Mr. Fisher) on 17th April. It is entirely for the Mediator to decide when he is ready to publish his proposals.—[Vol. 745, c. 10.]
British Citizens (Passports)
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) how many British citizens have had their passports impounded during each of the last three years; and if he will give the number, in each main category, of reasons for this action;(2) if he will cease the practice of impounding the passports of British citizens who have received loans from Her Majesty's Government's representatives abroad, arising from circumstances over which they had no control.
The exact number of passports impounded in the last three years is not known. The main categories are (1) those held by persons who have been repatriated at the expense of Her Majesty's Government, and (2) those issued by the illegal régime in Rhodesia or held by persons known to be active supporters of that regime.With regard to the first of these categories, the number of repatriation cases (some of which involve whole families and therefore more than one passport) in each of the last three financial years was:
| 1964–65 | … | … | … | 2,990 |
| 1965–66 | … | … | … | 2,188 |
| 1966–67 | … | … | … | 2,463 |
The cost of these repatriations in 1964–65 was £77,000 and in 1965–66 £55,547. The figure for 1966–67 is not yet available, but it is expected to be more than £60,000. While the cost to the British taxpayer of the repatriation of British subjects remains at this level, I would not normally feel justified in giving facilities for further travel abroad to persons whose debt to Her Majesty's Government is still outstanding. Special consideration is, of course, given to compassionate cases.
The number of cases in the second category is approximately 200.
Home Department
Jurors (Interference)
138.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases in which people serving as jurors have been approached either for the purpose of intimidation or bribery have come to the notice of the Home Office in each of the years 1963, 1964, 1965, and 1966, in the Central Criminal Court and in other criminal courts in England and Wales, respectively.
I would refer the hon. Member to the information which I gave in Standing Committee A during the debate on the Criminal Justice Bill on 7th February, 1967.—[c. 294–5.]
Child Murders (Beenham)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will call for a report from the chief constable regarding the establishment of a link between the deaths of the two children whose bodies have been found near Beenham in Berkshire, and the death of Yolande Waddington last October; whether he will obtain a further report on the extent to which protection is being given to the residents of the area to safeguard against another such tragedy; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable on the investigations now being carried out into the circumstances of the deaths of the two children whose bodies have been found at Beenham in Berkshire; and if he will make a statement.
I have received a report from the chief constable of Berkshire on the case of Yolande Waddington and full particulars of the extensive investigations into the deaths of two children near Beenham which are at present being carried out with the assistance of the Metropolitan police, neighbouring forces, and the regional crime squad. The chief constable tells me that it would be premature to conclude that there is a link between the events of last October and this month. The police are fully alive to the importance of doing all they can to prevent any further tragedy, and police manpower and equipment are being made available on a large scale. I would like to take this opportunity of expressing sympathy with the families and with the anxieties of parents and others living in the neighbourhood.
Firearms (Indictable Offences)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of offences known to the police in England and Wales involving the use of firearms in 1964, 1965 and 1966.
The figures for indictable offences in these three years were 731; 1,140; and 1,511.
Prisoners (Punishment)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of days of solitary confinement, of loss of remission, of bread and water and of loss of privileges, respectively, which have been imposed in the last two years upon the prisoner whose name has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Hampstead.
This prisoner has been found guilty of offences against prison discipline on fourteen separate occasions in the last two years. As a consequence he has forfeited the total of 346 days remission to which he might have been entitled, and has been awarded 68 days' cellular confinement, 52 days' restricted diet and 299 days' of loss of some or all privileges.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the highest total number of days of solitary confinement, of loss of remission and of loss of privileges, respectively, which have been awarded against a prisoner in the last five years.
I regret that this information is not available, and could not be obtained without a disproportionate expenditure of time and effort.
Vietnam
Q5.
asked the Prime Minister if he will invite the Prime Minister of South Vietnam to visit Great Britain.
I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to invite the Prime Minister of South Vietnam to this country.
European Economic Community
Q8.
asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied that there is adequate information available within Government Departments to enable him to assess the extent of safeguards needed in the event of an application by Great Britain to join the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.
I have been asked to reply.Yes, my right hon. Friend is satisfied that the information is adequate.
Agriculture, Fisheries And Food
Forestry Commission (Westmorland)
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received concerning the opportunity being provided for the Forestry Commission to extend its activities in Westmorland; and if he will make a statement.
No representations have been made to my right hon. Friend directly. He is, however, aware of the Northern Economic Planning Council's recommendations and he will consider them.
Agricultural Industry (Price Review Award)
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will give an estimate of the amount of money which will be available to farmers for reinvestment in agriculture as a result of the recent Price Review Award.
The Review award added £25 million to the total value of the guarantees. This not only recouped the industry fully for the assessed cost increases of £15; million, but also left it the benefit of the whole of its increase in productivity and a further £10 million. In recent years, the annual rate of capital investment in agriculture (including increases in working capital) has been about £200 million to £220 million. The capital injection at this year's Review provides a substantial sum for additional investment, but no precise estimate can be made since farm income in the coming year will be affected by other factors besides the Review determination.
Hake (Size Regulations)
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will consult with the Secretary of State for Scotland, with a view to introducing regulations to increase the legal size of catchable hake fish.
I have consulted my right hon. Friend and we are arranging for a scientific assessment of the hake stocks to be made on the basis of the information at present available. We are also drawing the attention of the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission to the problem with a view to obtaining better information from other countries.We will consider in the light of this assessment whether the present regulations should be changed.
Ministry Of Defence
Armed Forces (Servicemen And Civilians)
asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of men in the Armed Forces, and the number of civilians employed in support, in each of the last five years.
Following is the information: —
| Armed Forces* | Civilians | ||
| (Figures in Thousands) | |||
| 1st April, 1963 | … | 412·6† | 415·5 |
| 1st April, 1964 | … | 407·0 | 401·4 |
| 1st April, 1965 | … | 408·0 | 378·5 |
| 1st April, 1966 | … | 402·9 | 373·7 |
| 1st January, 1967 | … | 402·0 | 372·0 |
| * Figures include juniors and apprentices but not members of the Women's Services. | |||
| † Includes 2·6 thousand National Servicemen. | |||
Defence Establishments (Corporal Punishment)
asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in view of the recommendations of the Plowden Committee and other recent evidence, he will end corporal punishment in all Defence establishments.
My right hon. Friend is considering this matter.
Economic Affairs
River Severn (Barrage)
asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will set up a group to study the contribution to industrial development in the South-West which would be made by the construction of a barrage across the River Severn for the purpose of generating hydro-electricity.
A barrage across the Severn for the purpose of electrical generation has not yet been shown to be viable economically. It would, therefore, be premature to consider a study of its effect on industrial development.
Short Brothers And Harland
asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what further progress has been made in diversifying the activities of Short Brothers and Harland.
I am glad to say that, following negotiations with which we and the Northern Ireland Government have been associated, the American Machine and Foundry Company have decided to establish a plant in Belfast for the manufacture of large pressure vessels. Production is expected to begin in mid-1968. Initially the new plant will employ some 250 people and the Company's intention is to build up the labour force to about 1,200 as sales increase.
Education And Science
Malnutrition (Educational Attainment)
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what evidence he has that malnutrition leads to poor educational attainment.
I know of none relevant to conditions in this country. In countries where malnutrition is endemic, there appears to be some link with educational attainment.
Ministry Of Health
Cold Drink Vending Machines
asked the Minister of Health what study he has made of the evidence sent him by the hon. Member for Westmorland about sickness, believed to be caused by excessive copper contained in drinks served by cold drink vending machines; and whether he will make a study of these machines to assess the extent of this danger.
The responsibility for investigating particular incidents of this nature rests with the local authority. The circumstances have been fully explained in an article to which the hon. Member has drawn my attention in the April, 1967, issue of the "Public Health Inspector", a journal which is available to the staff of all local authorities. The first firm concerned has withdrawn the type of water conditioner which seemed to be involved and the second firm has investigated the circumstances of the contamination. No further investigation on my part appears necessary.The position generally is that the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations, 1960, require that food shall not be exposed to contamination; and a Code of Practice dealing with hygiene in the operation of coin operated food vending machines will be issued shortly.
Hospitals
Property (Disposal)
asked the Minister of Health what plans he has to dispose of the property known as Oldway, the Ridgeway, Pyrford, which is surplus to the requirements of the South-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board.
I am considering a proposal from the Regional Hospital Board that this property should be sold.
Ministry Of Labour
Equal Pay
asked the Minister of Labour what approximate proportion of working women in the United Kingdom are receiving the same rate of remuneration as a man would for the same job.
The employment statistics do not distinguish types of employment performed by men and women in a way which allows the proportions asked for to be calculated but broadly speaking equal pay is mainly found in non-manual employment in the public sector.
Lancashire (Migration Of Workers)
asked the Minister of Labour how many workers left Lancashire in the years 1965 and 1966.
I regret the information is not available.
Textile Industries (Lancashire And Cheshire)
asked the Minister of Labour how many textile workers in Lancashire and Cheshire are now unemployed.
At 13th March, 1967, there were in Lancashire and Cheshire 4,059 persons registered as wholly unemployed who last worked in the textile industries (Order X of the Standard Industrial Classification). In addition, 5,879 were temporarily stopped.
asked the Minister of Labour how many vacancies exist for textile workers in Lancashire and Cheshire.
At 8th March, 1967, there were in Lancashire and Cheshire 1,948 notified vacancies remaining unfilled in the textiles industries (Order X of the Standard Industrial Classification). Employers are, however, under no obligation to notify their vacancies and therefore the unfilled vacancies figures do not purport to measure the total demand for labour.
Textile Workers (Refraining)
asked the Minister of Labour how many textile workers are now being retrained for jobs in other industries.
This information is not available.
Overseas Development
British Honduras (New Capital)
asked the Minister of Overseas Development what financial help he is giving to British Honduras to build a new capital.
Subject to Parliamentary approval, it has been agreed that a further grant of £500,000 should be provided towards the cost of the new capital which is to be built in British Honduras over the next three years. This brings to £4·125 million the total of British aid pledged for this project.
Telephone Service
New Exchanges, Cornwall
asked the Postmaster-General how many new exchanges scheduled for Cornwall in 1967 have been deferred until 1968.
None.
Post Office
Giro (Payment Of Wages)
asked the Postmaster-General what plans the Post Office has for a wide-scale payment of wages through the Giro system; and what assessment has been made of the strain this would place on counter services.
The Post Office has always envisaged that Giro would be an attractive service for the payment of wages but employers are being encouraged to plan their use of the service in such a way as to avoid overburdening Post Office counters. It is estimated that the net increase in counter work as a result of Giro will be less than 5 per cent. It is not possible to say how much of this increase will be the effect of using Giro to pay wages.
Wireless And Television
Bbc2 (Mid-Wales)
asked the Postmaster-General if he will outline his plans for improving reception of the B.B.C.2 television service in mid-Wales within the next 12 months.
The extension of the coverage attained by B.B.C.2 is primarily the responsibility of the B.B.C. who tell me that the development of the network of ultra high frequency stations and inter-connecting links has not yet reached the stage when they could plan for a station in mid-Wales.
Local Radio Broadcasts (Political Balance)
asked the Postmaster-General what steps he has taken to ensure the maintenance of political balance and the proper representation of minority opinion in programmes broadcast by the new local radio stations; who will be responsible for monitoring and otherwise supervising such programmes; and to whom complaints should be addressed.
The service is to be provided by the B.B.C. who are under a general duty to ensure that programmes maintain a high general standard in all respects, and proper balance and wide range in their subject matter; and to treat controversial subjects with due impartiality. The Corporation's station manager will be responsible, with the general guidance and support of the local Broadcasting Council, for the supervision of the programmes transmitted from the station under his management. Complaints about them should be referred to him.
Scotland
Highland Transport Board (Report)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will publish the report of the Highland Transport Board.
In about three weeks.
Timber Output (South-West Scotland)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state the amount of timber likely to be available in the south-west area of Scotland in 1970, 1975, 1980 and 1985.
The Forestry Commission estimates the potential output from south-west Scotland as follows:
| Million hoppus feel | ||||
| 1970 | … | … | … | 5·1 |
| 1975 | … | … | … | 7·2 |
| 1980 | … | … | … | 9·8 |
| 1985 | … | … | … | 12·6 |
Hospitals (Geriatric Beds, Ayrshire)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects that the currently accepted optimum figure of two beds per 1,000 of population for geriatric treatment will be achieved in Ayrshire.
The current target ratio in Scotland for the provision of geriatric beds in hospital is 15 per 1,000 of population over 65, which is the equivalent on present distribution of 1·7 per 1,000 of all population. This figure should be reached in Ayrshire by the end of this year.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now give an estimate as to when, in the next five years, the additional geriatric beds proposed for Ayrshire will be available.
Forty additional geriatric beds at Ballochmyle Hospital and 16 at Ayrshire Central Hospital are expected to become available at about the end of this year, and the provisional date for commissioning the proposed 60-bed extension at Biggart Home is 1971. After the Biggart extension is commissioned, the number of beds at Ayr Welfare Home will be reduced and some beds at Ballochmyle may be changed over to other specialties, leaving a planned net addition in Ayrshire of 80 geriatric beds.
Board Of Trade
Commercial Aviation (Pilots)
asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated numbers of trained pilots required for commercial aviation in the United Kingdom during each of the years 1967 to 1972 inclusive.
In the light of information from existing employers of professional pilots in the U.K., the estimated numbers are:
| 1967 | … | 4320 |
| 1968 | … | 4750 |
| 1969 | … | 5000 |
| 1970 | … | 5060 |
| 1971 | … | 5160 |
| 1972 | … | No figures available |
asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated numbers of trained pilots likely to be in service in commercial aviation in the United Kingdom during each of the years 1967 to 1972 inclusive.
| 1967 | … | … | … | 4150 |
| 1968 | … | … | … | 4550 |
| 1969 | … | … | … | 5000 |
Building And Construction Industry
asked the President of the Board of Trade how many bankruptcies have occurred in the construction industry in each year since 1960; what is the number to the latest date in 1967; how many of these failures involved housing contracts; what was the capital value of such contracts in each year, and how many housing units were affected; what was the gross value of liabilities incurred in each year; and if he will make a statement.
Figures of bankruptcies in the building and construction industry are given below.I regret that information about the number of failures involving housing contracts is not available.The numbers of Receiving Orders and Orders of Administration (under Section 130 of the Bankruptcy Act, 1914) made in England and Wales in respect of firms and sole traders in the building and construction industry—including builders and timber merchants—from 1960 to 31st December, 1966 (the last date to which figures are available), and the total of unsecured liabilities as estimated by the debtors in their statements of affairs are as follows:—
| Numbers of Orders | Liabilities | |||
| £ | ||||
| 1960 | … | … | 411 | 1,048,171 |
| 1961 | … | … | 536 | 1,278,058 |
| 1962 | … | … | 655 | 1,886,921 |
| 1963 | … | … | 738 | 1,793,469 |
| 1964 | … | … | 619 | 1,793,367 |
| 1965 | … | … | 663 | 1,891,274 |
| 1966 | … | … | 807 | 2,401,270 |
Textile Mills, Lancashire And Cheshire (Closures)
asked the President of the Board of Trade how many cotton or textile mills in Lancashire and Cheshire have closed in 1967.
17 mills producing cotton and man-made fibre textiles are known to have closed since 1st January, 1967.
Roads
Severn Bridge (Vehicle Capacity)
asked the Minister of Transport what is the capacity of the new Severn bridge in terms of vehicles per hour; how long this bridge will be adequate to meet the demands of increased traffic; and what plans her Department has to add further capacity.
We expect the peak capacity of the bridge to be not less than 2,500 vehicles per hour in each direction. The date by which capacity of this order will be required regularly depends upon various factors, including development in the region. On the information so far available it is unlikely to be before 1980. There are at present no plans to add further capacity.
Leatherhead By-Pass
asked the Minister of Transport when it is anticipated that work will begin upon section 3 of the Leatherhead by-pass, and the bridge over the River Mole.
This is a classified road for which the Surrey County Council are the responsible highway authority. No proposals have been made for its improvement. It will be relieved by the South Orbital Road.
Ports
Bristol Channel Ports Authority
asked the Minister of Transport if she will now establish a single Bristol Channel Ports Authority serving both Bristol and the South Wales ports.
I am not yet in a position to add anything to the reply given to my hon. Friend on 12th August last.—[Vol. 733, c. 472.]