asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the Worcestershire County Council and the Birmingham City Council have completed their consideration of the suggested terms of reference and area of search regarding Birmingham's housing needs; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The Worcestershire County Council has started the study and, I understand, hopes to report progress in mid-July.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why he has refused the request of the Greater London Council for the allocation of additional money to finance the council's home loans scheme.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities' home loans schemes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement on the availability of mortgages for house purchase in the Greater London area.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why he has cut the amount of money available to local authorities and the Greater London Council for their home loans schemes; and whether he will ensure that sufficient money is made available for such schemes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why he has reduced the ceiling of borrowing to finance house-purchase allowed to the Greater London Council; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will reconsider his decision to reduce the sum sanctioned by this House in the Greater London Council Money (No. 2) Bill for the Greater London Council's home loans scheme.

Arrangements have been made to enable local authorities to lend up to £130 million for house purchase in the financial year 1967–68, which is approximately equal to their average lending over the three years ended 31st March, 1965. Out of this the Greater London Council has been authorised to advance up to £30 million and the London Borough Councils up to £21 million—a total of £51 million for London. It is not possible to increase these amounts because of the need to contain local authority lending for this purpose as part of the overall control of public expenditure.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has studied the communication from the Town Clerk of the London Borough of Newham, dated 7th June 1967, concerning the Housing Standards Costs and Subsidies Circular 36/37; what were the four basic points raised in this communication; and whether he will agree to meet representatives of the London Borough of Newham together with their four Members of Parliament to give further consideration to this subject.

Yes, the letter dealt with the effect of Circular 36/37 on the timing, building-types, standards and cost of building in Newham. The Department is writing to the Town Clerk and if, after considering this letter, the council wish to meet me I shall be glad to arrange a meeting. I am sending copies of the letter to Newham Members.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that the former boroughs of East and West Ham were severely damaged during the last war and that special help and financial assistance have been promised; and whether, in view of the concern recently expressed to him by the London Borough of Newham concerning housing subsidies, he will reconsider this appeal by the Council for retrospective assistance.

I fully appreciate the housing needs of Newham but the Borough does not qualify for retrospective subsidy under the conditions announced in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun) on 20th December, 1966, and as explained when my right hon. Friend met a deputation from Newham, he does not think it right to amend those conditions.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement about the rate of housebuilding.

In the first four months of the year 158,000 houses were started in Great Britain compared with 120,000 over the same period in 1966, and 120,000 houses were completed compared with 117,000. At the end of the period 472,000 houses were under construction, compared with 447,000 a year earlier.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is his estimate of the amount which will be lent by building societies this year; and how this compares with the sum lent in 1966.

The Building Societies Association have estimated that societies are likely to advance some £1,460 million this year compared with £1,250 million in 1966.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what advice and encouragement he is offering to housing authorities in order to extend the employment of traditional skills and materials.

Our measures to stimulate house production and to increase productivity will encourage traditional skills and methods as well as industrialised techniques.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will send a circular to local authorities to prevent racial discrimination in housing, following the publication of the Report of the Race Relations Board for 1966–67.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will summon a conference with the object of stimulating effective action by local authorities in solving immigrant housing problems.

My hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary and I are tomorrow meeting representatives of some 50 local authorities, who have substantial numbers of Commonwealth immigrants in their areas. A wide range of problems will be examined, and I shall consider whether to issue any general advice in the light of the discussion.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many experiments in rationalised traditional housing have recently been conducted in the northern region; by which local authorities; and with what measure of success.

One pilot scheme sponsored by the County Boroughs of Darlington, Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Sunderland has been completed by Sunderland. Four of the authorities are proposing to build more houses to plans developed for the pilot scheme.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to enable the Housing Corporation to borrow money direct from building societies and insurance companies in order to relend it to housing associations together with its own funds.

It was the original intention that the building societies and other private sources of finance should participate directly in financing housing societies and share the risks and I do not think we should be justified in departing from that arrangement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement on the Greater London Council's housing policy.

I am having a general discussion with the G.L.C. shortly on London's housing problems and the part the council can play in their solution, and have no statement to make at the present.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why no accurate records have previously been kept in his Department of the area of agricultural land developed for housing, year by year, and county by county; and whether such records will be kept in the future.

Local planning authorities are responsible for the control of development in detail and will have such information about the amount of land taken for development as is necessary to enable them to discharge their functions. The development plans submitted to my right hon. Friend indicate in broader terms the land which it is expected will be taken in the future. It has not, however, been found necessary to analyse these sources in order to show precisely how much land in any local authority area has been taken from agriculture each year for housing. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, however, for his purposes maintains records of the amount of land in various classes of agricultural use county by county. Losses of agricultural land for development are covered by these figures but they do not show specifically how much land has been taken from agriculture for housing. My right hon. Friend, the Minister of Housing and Local Government is considering what improvements in statistics about land use are necessary.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many landlords of houses used for letting to summer guests in resort areas have been unable to obtain possession of their property in consequence of the Rent Act, 1966.

No cases have been reported to the Department since my right hon. Friend's predecessor's replies to Questions by the hon. Gentleman on this subject on 26th July, 1966.—[Vol. 732, c. 225.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government which London boroughs have failed to make the reports asked for by his Department on the establishing of residential caravan sites; how many such sites are now envisaged for the North-Eastern quarter of Greater London; when he expects them to be in service; and what further information he has about the danger to health caused by the insanitary conditions of caravans parked on the grass verges of trunk roads in Redbridge.

The London Boroughs Association has not yet been able to let my right hon. Friend have a complete report. Of the North-Eastern London boroughs only Havering have so far adopted firm proposals for a site, which will open shortly.I understand that though the number of caravans parked on the verges of roads in Redbridge fluctuates there is no general change in the position.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if the provisions and policy with regard to caravan sites outlined in Circular No. 42/60 still apply.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give an assurance that when the Post Office becomes a public corporation its properties will be rated like other properties under the general law contained in the General Rate Act, 1967, instead of being the subject of a contribution in aid of rates.

No conclusion has yet been reached on this point.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has completed his discussions with local authorities on the report from the District Auditors' Society on direct labour and if he will make a statement.

The local authority associations are still considering the report. It will then be discussed with the Department.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement on his plans following the recent Report of the National Parks Commission on the preservation of the coasts of Kent and Sussex and the multiplicity of applications to him by private persons and companies designed to get statutory authority to enclose parts of Britain's beaches and coastline and thus limit or exclude their free use by the public.

The Report in question is the first of 9, which together will cover the entire coastline of England and Wales. My right hon. Friend also expects a comprehensive report from the National Parks Commission. It would be premature to make a statement at this stage.There is no widespread application to my right hon. Friend or to local authorities for powers to enclose parts of the foreshore, and it would be for Parliament to say whether such powers should be granted.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will withhold consent to the introduction of mandatory powers to enforce the installation of dual flush cisterns by water undertakings; and if he will introduce regulations to ensure that these cisterns are only installed in association with wash-down pans.

These cisterns can save much water and my right hon. Friend would not feel justified in refusing to entertain draft byelaws to make their use mandatory. But it has been suggested that their use with syphonic pans causes difficulties, and he is considering what advice he can give to water undertakings who are preparing such byelaws.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many county councils have now published definition maps of footpaths and bridle- ways as required by the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.

Forty-four in England for the whole or part of their area.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will estimate the likely increase in land prices during the next 12 months as a result of the 40 per cent. Land Commission levy.

No. There is no sign of any increase in land prices due to the levy.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will give an assurance that, in determining his policy on standards for caravans as permanent dwellings, he will continue to use British Standard 3632 as his criterion.

My right hon. Friend agrees that this sets a desirable standard of comfort, safety and public health for residential caravans which should be observed when possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to assist local authorities in dealing with the problem of clearing beaches of such undesirable objects as growing prickly weeds, remnants of old food, and black, seaweed-covered stones.

Local authorities already have powers, under the Public Health Acts and in many cases as the owners of beaches to deal with problems of this kind. My right hon. Friend is unaware of any feeling amongst them that these powers need to be extended but he will gladly consider any evidence my hon. Friend cares to send me on this point.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what support Her Majesty's Government will give to National Anti-Litter Week; and if he will make a statement.

The organisers (the Keep Britain Tidy Group) have an annual grant from the Exchequer and are assisted annually by the production of posters and other material which are available without charge to local authorities and other organisations.My right hon. Friend is speaking at the opening of this Conference, which has the Government's best wishes for its success.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many buildings of architectural or historic interest, listed as such by his Department, and how many which are subject to building preservation orders, would have to be demolished if the proposal for the expansion of Stansted Airport were approved by Parliament; and how many of these buildings are in the area whose inhabitants, according to the report of his inspector, would be subject to grave nuisance by noise.

So far as can be foreseen, the proposed expansion of the airport would necessitate the demolition of two, or possibly three, listed buildings of architectural or historic interest, and of none subject to building preservation orders.According to the Inspector's report, there are 540 listed buildings in the area the Inspector thought would be subject to grave nuisance by noise. As the White Paper explains, however, the Government does not believe that the nuisance by noise would be as serious as the Inspector suggested.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that, consequent upon the reference to the National Board for Prices and Incomes of the salaries of chief officers in local government service, the Deputy Engineer and Surveyor of Easthampstead Rural District Council is now being paid less than his assistant; and whether he will authorise the council to increase the salary of the the council to increase the salary of the Deputy Engineer and Surveyor accordingly.

I am aware that in a number of local authorities the salaries of Chief Officers and their deputies are now out of step with those of their subordinates. The Prices and Incomes Board in its forthcoming report will no doubt take this situation into account. Meanwhile in accordance with the Government's policy on prices and incomes my right hon. Friend has asked local authorities not to make interim awards which might prejudice the Board's recommmendations.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that approximately 700 people lost their lives due to drowning on beaches in 1966; and if he will seek powers to compel all local authorities of seaside resorts to install a flag warning system.

The tragic loss of life through drowning accidents must be a matter of grave concern. My right hon. Friend and his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales have just issued a circular commending to all local authorities and river authorities the code recommended by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, which provides for a flag warning system. It is most important that the authorities concerned should play their full part both in operating this system and taking all possible steps to ensure that it is understood by the public generally and especially by children.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to receive his inspector's report on the inquiry held on 13th June and on subsequent days into the future use of the Pinewood Hospital buildings at Wokingham.

This was a long inquiry and the inspector is now preparing his report. I am sure he will complete it as quickly as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what are the latest figures of rate rebate claims in England and Wales for persons qualifying under the provisions of the Rating Act 1966.

I hope to have the final totals for 1966–67 quite soon, and shall send them to the hon. Member. They are not likely to be more than the provisional estimates already made.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the value of local authority projects for swimming baths and new local government offices which were cut back between 20th July 1966 and the latest date for which figures are available.

I am sorry that this information is not available since many of the projects deferred by local authorities because of the economic situation had not reached the stage of reference to the Department.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will consult the South-East Regional Economic Council on the planning implications for Essex of the proposed expansion of Stansted Airport.

The Council has been assured that the Government will consult it about the regional planning consequences of the decision on Stansted Airport.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many applications have been made to him by the gas industry for permission to erect radio control towers; what decisions have been made thereto; and if he will list their localities in the Official Report.

I regret I have not this information since applications are made to local planning authorities and not to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will appoint an expert committee to study air and water pollution and to recommend remedial measures.

In general, the appropriate remedial measures are known, and are being applied as far as practicable by the Alkali Inspectorate, local authorities and river authorities. The Clean Air Council advises my right hon. Friend on air pollution generally. Committees appointed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology steer the work of his research laboratories on water and air pollution, and other expert committees on particular problems are set up from time to time as necessary. My right hon. Friend does not believe therefore that an expert committee covering the whole field is needed at the present time, though he will gladly consider any evidence that my hon. Friend cares to send him.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will introduce legislation to exempt from betterment levy under the Land Commission Act, land for which planning permission has been refused in the last five years specifically because central Government proposals for development of the area were impending, which has remained in the same ownership, and where planning permission for the same or similar development has been or will be granted on any date after 6th April, 1967.

No. To grant exemption from levy in this particular set of circumstances would be unfair to other developers and create anomalies. There is a variety of reasons besides the refusal of planning permission why developers were unable to start their development before 6th April, 1967. The fact that development value which was realised before that date escaped levy is no reason for not taking levy on development value that is realised later.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what study is being made of the disposal of trade effluent; and if he will make a statement.

The Department's technical officers keep the whole subject under review; the Water Pollution Research Laboratory of the Ministry of Technology investigate particular problems in the treatment of trade effluents, from which they are often able to draw valuable general conclusions; and various branches of industry undertake their own research.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT buildings of historical importance receiving grants under the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act, 1953, their owners, the dates on which the grants were paid and the conditions governing the payments of such grants.

Grants have been paid in 1,087 cases so far, and the details requested are too voluminous for inclusion in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Particulars of the buildings and the amounts of grant paid are, however, published in the Annual Reports of the Historic Buildings Council for England. It is normally a condition of grant that the house shall be open one day a week between May and September.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) if he will introduce legislation to provide a procedure for local government measures similar to that for measures of the Church Assembly;(2) if he will seek to repeal those provisions in the law which require local authorities to establish certain committees.

Proposals on these lines were among the recommendations of the Maud Committee on the Management of Local Government and I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport (Mr. Roy Hughes) on 13th June.—[Vol. 748, 51–2]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government on how many occasions in each of the last 10 years the Ministerial veto has been exercised in regard to the appointment of chief officers by local authorities; and whether he will now seek to relinquish this power.

My right hon. Friend has no power to veto the appointment of any chief officer. The approval of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is required to the appointment of Chief Constables and Chief Fire Officers and I understand that on five occasions during the last ten years he has withheld his approval of Chief Constable appointments: twice in 1958 and once each in 1959, 1962 and 1963. There have been no occasions during this period on which he has refused to approve the appointment of a Chief Fire Officer.In the case of Children's Officers and Chief Education Officers, my right hon. Friends the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Education and Science are respectively required to approve the short list of candidates from which appointments will be made.A recommendation that appointments to principal officer posts should be entirely within the discretion of local authorities was included in the report of the Maud Committee on the Management of Local Government and I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport (Mr. Roy Hughes) on 13th June.—[Vol. 748, c. 51–2.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government on how many occasions in each of the last 10 years district auditors have imposed a surcharge on the members of local authorities; and if he will now seek to abolish this power.

The following table shows the number of surcharges imposed by district auditors on members of local authorities during each of the last 10 years.

					Number of cases
1957	…	…	…	…	1
1958	…	…	…	…	1
1959	…	…	…	…	6
1960	…	…	…	…	2
1961	…	…	…	…	4
1962	…	…	…	…	2
1963	…	…	…	…	6
1964	…	…	…	…	4
1965	…	…	…	…	3
1966	…	…	…	…	1
					30

Of the total of 30 surcharges, 23 were in respect of allowances claimed for travelling and financial loss.As regards the second part of the Question I have nothing to add to my replies to the hon. Member's earlier Questions relating to recommendations of the Maud Committee.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the value of moneys recovered by local authorities in England and Wales during 1966 as a result of the activity of district auditors; and how much of the money so recovered was recovered from members of local authorities.

Figures are not available for 1966, but during the financial year ended 31st March, 1966 the value of monies actually recovered by local authorities in England and Wales as a result of the activities of district auditors was £166,111. Of this £64 was recovered from members by way of surcharge.In addition local authorities benefited substantially as the result of suggestions made by district auditors which led to increases in income or reductions in costs.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the total value of United Kingdom quoted equity shares owned by local authorities in England and Wales; and in how many instances do the holdings of any one local authority in any one public company exceed 50 per cent. of the total number of shares quoted of that company.

Local authority superannuation funds in England and Wales held preference and ordinary shares amounting to £191 million at market value at 31st March, 1966; and holdings of equities by local authorities otherwise than as trustees of superannuation funds were estimated as below £10 million in December, 1963. It is not possible to distinguish how much of these holdings are in quoted shares.I regret that the information requested in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what recent developments there have been in relations with Rhodesia.

I have at present nothing to add to the Statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 13th June.—[Vol. 748, c. 305–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he has yet completed his investigation into the report of an exchange of textiles and tobacco between France and Rhodesia, and with what result.

I have nothing to add to the Answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead (Mr. Whitaker) on 6th February, except to say that the French Government have confirmed that any Rhodesian tobacco involved would not be allowed into France.—[Vol. 740, c. 230.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from Commonwealth countries following the United Kingdom's decision to apply for membership of the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.

We are consulting other Commonwealth Governments and are taking full account of their views. These, of course, are confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent disturbances in Hong Kong and on the steps now being taken to prevent their recurrence in association with the Government of the Colony.

Since my statement in the House on the 1st June [Vol. 747, c. 266–274] the general pattern of Communist activities in Hong Kong has been the instigation of short stoppages of work and token strikes, chiefly in Government departments and public utilities. These have not caused any serious disruption of essential services.The anti-Government propaganda campaign in the Communist Press and through the medium of inflammatory posters has continued. Steps are being taken to control the public display of posters.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in sending the Clerk's table and chairs to match the Speaker's chair in the Lesotho Parliament as a British gift to celebrate the independence of Lesotho.

It is expected that the Clerk's table and chairs will arrive in Lesotho before the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give details of the electoral roll on which the coming referendum in Gibraltar will be based including the percentage of the total population of the age of 21 years living in Gibraltar which will have the opportunity of participating.

Details of the qualifications of voters and other matters will be contained in the forthcoming Order in Council to which I referred in answering supplementary Questions after announcing the referendum on 14th June—[Vol. 748, c. 570].

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give an assurance that a majority vote by the Gibraltarians at the coming referendum to retain their link with Great Britain will preclude further talks thereafter with Spain on the Rock's political future.

Whether or not there may arise any occasion for future talks with Spain on the subject of Gibraltar will be determined by the interests of the people of Gibraltar. We have already made it abundantly clear that, as Britain's Permanent Representative said in the United Nations General Assembly, Britain can never agree that decolonisation would mean the incorporation of Gibraltar into Spain against the wishes of its people.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what action he is now taking to protect British subjects in Zambia.

Our High Commissioner in Lusaka continues to watch over the interests of United Kingdom nationals in Zambia and to make representations to the Government of Zambia in individual cases wherever appropriate.

asked the Minister of Power if he will introduce legislation to amend the Iron and Steel Act 1967 so as to make it impracticable for the industry to be returned to private ownership.

No. Legislation itself cannot make denationalisation impracticable, but the benefits derived from the reorganisation of the industry under the Iron and Steel Act 1967 will demonstrate conclusively that any attempt to return the industry to private ownership would be contrary to the national interest.

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement on his meeting with the parliamentary group of miner Members of Parliament; what assurances he gave them that no pit closures would take place until the National Union of Mineworkers had been consulted; and to what extent he will take into account their views in implementing Government policy in this matter.

I have not recently met the parliamentary group of miner Members. Individual closures are in any case a matter for the National Coal Board who keep the N.U.M. fully informed.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a general direction to the Central Electricity Generating Board not to switch the transport of coal from rivers and canals to roads, as this increases road congestion.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will site an additional Inland Revenue Pay As You Earn computer centre in Scotland, as a further measure to redress the existing regional imbalance of employment.

The locations for the Centres still undetermined are under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the present level of the Bank Rate and its level on 22nd January 1967 and if he will give comparable figures from information obtained from international organisations for France, West Germany, Italy and the United States.

The information is as follows:

	20th January, 1967 Per cent.	19th June, 1967 Per cent.
Bank of England Bank Rate	7	5½
Official rediscount rates in:
France	3½	3½
West Germany	4½	3
Italy	3½	3½
United States	4½	4

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates will be the effect in 1968 on expenditure on the Gross Domestic Product at 1958 prices of the regional employment premium payments, the recent relaxations in hire purchase controls, and the restoration of the purchasing power of pensions to their level at the time of the last increase, financed by increases in employer and employee contributions.

These measures should increase the gross domestic product in 1968 by around one-half of 1 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the change in expenditure on the Gross Domestic Product at 1958 prices and seasonally adjusted, between the first and second halves of 1961, and between the first and second halves of 1966.

The increase between the first and second halves of 1961 was just over ½ per cent. In 1966 the change was negligible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to be the normal value of the balancing item reflecting errors and omissions on the current account of the balance of payments.

Net receipts of around £50 million a year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his forecast of 3 per cent. for the growth of the economy during 1967 included the recent relaxations of hire-purchase controls.

In making my Budget assessment I had in mind that action of this kind would become appropriate during the summer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state separately the percentage change in the public and private sectors' gross domestic fixed capital formation, both revalued at 1958 prices and seasonally adjusted, between the first and second halves of 1961, and between the first and second halves of 1966.

Capital formation in the public sector increased by 4 per cent. in the first period and by about 5½ per cent. in the second. The corresponding changes in private sector capital formation were an increase of 2½ per cent. and a decrease of the same amount respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the levels of United Kingdom banks' external liabilities, in total and net of claims, in foreign currencies and in dollars at the end of March, 1963 and March, 1967; and what were the ratios between United Kingdom external liabilities in foreign currencies and in sterling on the same dates.

The information is as follows:—

	£ million
	end-March, 1963	end-March, 1967
(i) U.K. gross liabilities in non-sterling currencies	1,209	3,053
(of which U.S. dollars)	(1,028)	(2,773)
(ii) U.K. net liabilities in non sterling currencies	45	106
(of which U.S. dollars)	(80)	(286)
(iii) U.K. gross external liabilities in sterling	4,569	6,159
(iv) U.K. net external liabilities in sterling	3,666	4,918
Line (i) expressed as a per centage of line (iii)	26	50
Line (ii) expressed as a per centage of line (iv)	1	2

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last received full, official short-term forecasts of the prospects for expenditure on the Gross Domestic Product and for the United Kingdom balance of payments; when he expects to receive the results of the current official short-term forecasting exercise; and what steps he is taking to inform Parliament of these results.

As these reports are working documents prepared for internal Governmental use I have no statement to make beyond my previous undertaking that I am considering in what form information about the economic outlook can be made available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applicants to retain gold coins under Statutory Instrument 1966, No. 438, have now been given permission and refused permission, respectively.

986 applications to add to or retain existing coins have been refused. 3,578 have been granted.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now fix a time limit for the handing in of gold coins under Statutory Instrument, 1966, No. 438.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons have now been prosecuted for failing to declare their holdings of gold coins as required by Statutory Instrument, 1966, No. 438; and how many persons have been convicted, on what dates and with what sentences.

There has been two prosecutions, on 18th January 1967 and 27th January 1967 respectively. In both cases the defendant pleaded guilty. The first defendant was fined £50. The second was given a conditional discharge and ordered to offer the gold coins in question for sale to an authorised dealer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects Her Majesty's Stationery Office to have completed reprinting Choice of Careers—No. 4. Librarians; and how many other publications in this series are at present out of print.

No. 4 is under revision by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour. Thirteen other titles are temporarily out of print; revised editions are being prepared.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies are being assessed for Corporation Tax in excess of their net income in the year that assessment for Corporation Tax overlaps the year of assessment for Income Tax.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the treatment of charges such as yearly interest. Such payments, if made before 6th April, 1966, are not a deduction from profits for corporation tax purposes, although paid in a Corporation Tax accounting period, since they have already qualified for relief against Income Tax. Information as to the number of companies affected is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many more public relations officers and Press officers are employed by the Government than in September, 1964; what is the approximate annual cost in salaries; and if he will publish a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT showing the Departments and

INCREASES AND DECREASES IN NUMBERS OF INFORMATION CLASS STAFF WHOSE TIME IS MAINLY SPENT IN DEALING WITH THE PRESS SINCE SEPTEMBER 1964
Department	Above C.I.O. "A"	C.I.O. "A"	C.I.O. "B"	P.I.O.	S.I.O.	I.O.	A.I.O.	Others	Total	£ Salaries
C.O.I.	—	—	—	—	—	+7	—	—	+7	12,500
Defence (Army)	—	—	—	—	—	+1	—	+1	+2	5,537
Defence (Navy)	—	—	—	—	—	+5	—	+1	+6	10,900
Diplomatic Service	—	—	—	+1	-1	-3	+1	—	-2	-4,486
Economic Affairs	—	—	—	+1	+2	—	—	—	+3	7,370
Education and Science	—	—	—	-1	+1	+1	-1	—	—	-100
Health	—	—	—	—	+1	—	—	—	+1	1,600
Housing and Local Government	—	—	+1	—	+2	—	—	—	+3	7,750
National Board Prices and Incomes	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	+1	+1	3,500
National Economic Development Office	—	—	—	—	+1	+1	—	—	+2	3,800
Overseas Development	—	—	—	—	—	+1	+1	—	+2	2,981
Power	—	—	—	—	—	+1	—	—	+1	1,959
Public Building and Works	—	—	—	+1	+1	—	—	—	+2	4,920
Scottish Home and Health	—	—	—	—	+1	—	—	—	+1	2,400
Technology	—	—	-1	—	—	-1	—	—	-2	-5,449
Trade	—	—	—	—	+1	+1	—	—	+2	4,150
Transport	—	—	—	+1	—	—	—	—	+1	2,400
Treasury (including No. 10 Downing Street)	—	—	—	—	+1	—	—	—	+1	2,250
Totals	—	—	—	+3	+10	+14	+1	+3	+31	63,982
For new Departments account has been taken in the calculation of staff taken over with functions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the 3s. 6d. luncheon vouchers concession was first officially granted; and what is the present approximate cost, on the assumption that the voucher would otherwise be taxable, in the hands of the recipient.

The concession is for luncheon vouchers not exceeding in

, pursuant to his reply of 12th May [OFFICIAL REPORT, Vol. 746, c. 314]:Members of the Information Officer Class in the Civil Service carry out a wide variety of functions, and it is not possible to identify a category of public relations officer. The number of these officers in the Information Officer class who, for most of their time, deal with the Press has risen by 31 since September, 1964. The annual cost of their salaries is about £64,000.value 3s. for each full working day. It was announced in January, 1959, though it had been in operation for some years before that. The cost is probably at least £2½ million a year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish such details as are available of the composition of the balancing items of £154 million in, in the statement of balance of payments for the first quarter of 1967.

There was a positive balancing item in the first quarter of 1967 of £154 million. Part of this exceptionally large balancing item may well represent current and long-term capital transactions which have not yet been identified. There was also the normal reversal of end year window-dressing by foreign companies. However the bulk of it—around £100 million—is probably due to timing disturbances around the turn of the year, and a reflux of other unidentified funds, accompanying the return of confidence in sterling.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which local authorities in England and Wales do not use the district valuer but use their own employees as valuation officers to value property which they compulsorily acquire.

The information is as follows:The City of London, the Greater London Council, the Counties of Huntingdon and Peterborough, Hertfordshire and Gloucestershire, the County Boroughs of Newcastle, Sheffield, Brighton, Cardiff, Swansea, Birmingham, Stoke, Liverpool, Manchester and Salford, the London Borough of Bromley and the Boroughs of Dover, Worthing and Torquay.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give separately the percentage changes in public authorities' current expenditure and consumers' expenditure, both revalued at 1958 prices and seasonally adjusted, between the first and second halves of 1961, and between the first and second halves of 1966.

Public expenditure increased by about 1½ per cent. in the first period and by about 2 per cent. in the second. Consumers' expenditure increased very slightly in the first period and fell by about 2½ per cent. in the second.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will send a circular to local authorities encouraging them, where necessary, to construct car parks at or near busy railway stations.

Planning Bulletin No. 7 "Parking in Town Centres" published in 1965 advises local authorities to make comprehensive plans to deal with their parking problems and draws attention to the need for some car parks to be linked with public transport facilities.In the forthcoming Transport Bill my right hon. Friend will propose that local authorities should be given a duty to secure the provision of adequate parking facilities, taking into account the overall needs of public transport. In the meantime the Department will be consulting local authority Associations about the issue of new circulars on traffic and parking.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress is being made with the study into the feasibility of a monorail for Manchester and if she will make a statement.

The Manchester Rapid Transit Study is in its final stages, and we expect to receive the report later this summer.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will issue a White Paper on the transport facilities required in an area within a 40 miles radius of Manchester in order to keep fares down to a minimum so that workers travelling to and from their employment at peak periods shall not be expected to subsidise those travelling at other times.

We do not have such a White Paper in mind. We regard local transport planning as essentially a local responsibility. Passenger Transport Authorities will be responsible for the planning of public transport in their areas to meet the needs of commuters and other travellers.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will consider setting up a transport organisation to cover the area within a 40 mile radius of Manchester on a similar basis to that for London, aimed at providing the best possible services to meet the needs of this concentration of population, at reducing all overhead charges to a minimum; and at using the new roads in the best way at peak periods.

If my right hon. Friend is granted the powers she is seeking in the Transport Bill next session she expects to set up a passenger transport authority for the Greater Manchester area so as to secure the kind of public transport services my hon. Friend refers to. The size of the area will be a matter for decision at the time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of development loan assistance granted for the building, expansion or modernisation of hotels in the period from 20th July, 1966, to the latest date for which figures are available.

I would refer to the answer I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Robert Cooke).—[Vol. 748, c. 189]

asked the President of the Board of Trade what financial assistance has been given to brewery companies building new hotels in the Welsh development area under the Local Employment Act; how many grants have been made to date; and how many are now the subject of applications.

As the hon. Member was informed on 1st March and on 26th April, details of this character are not readily available and to extract them would entail a considerable amount of time and effort. —[Vol. 742, c. 103; Vol. 745, c. 295]

asked the President of the Board of Trade by what percentage United Kingdom exports increased between 1964 and 1966; and if he will give the comparable figures for Japan, Italy, Germany, Canada, France and the United States.

United Kingdom 14½ per cent., Japan 46½ per cent., Italy 35 per cent., Western Germany 24 per cent., Canada 24 per cent., France 21½ per cent., United States 14½ per cent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what numerical extent the actual value in 1966 of United Kingdom exports of manufactures other than the erratic items, ships, aircraft and aircraft engines, was greater than the value calculated on the basis of the equation given in Appendix 3, page xx of the May, 1967 issue of Economic Trends.

Sufficient information is not yet available on which to calculate an accurate value based on the equation. A preliminary estimate suggests that United Kingdom exports last year were between ½ and 1 per cent. below the estimate calculated from the equation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what evidence he has of the extent to which, in the short-run, demand conditions in overseas markets determine changes in the value of United Kingdom exports.

Evidence of the relationship, in the short run, between demand conditions in overseas markets and the value of United Kingdom exports is given in an article on "Short-term Forecasting of United Kingdom Exports" in the May issue of "Economic Trends".

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish from time to time an analysis of United Kingdom exports according to the Department of Economic Affairs region from which they were invoiced.

No. The region from which exports are invoiced is not a reliable indication of the region in which the goods were produced.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the percentage change in exports of cars, motor cycles and caravans in the nine months, August, 1965, to April, 1966, compared with the same nine months 12 months earlier, and in August, 1966, to April, 1967, compared with August, 1965, to April, 1966.

The percentages by value were: for motor cars -2 and -2; for motor cycles +48 and +53; for caravans +12 and -6.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what he estimates to have been the underlying level of imports in the first quarter of 1967 after allowing for the temporary effects of the removal of the surcharge.

A final estimate of the trend value of imports cannot be made for some months, and even when this and information about the factors influencing imports is available, an estimate of the effect of the removal of the surcharge must be subject to great uncertainty.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the change in hire-purchase debt outstanding between July 1961 and April 1962, and between July 1966 and April 1967.

Hire purchase and other instalment credit debt owed to finance houses and durable goods shops fell by £91 million between July 1961 and April 1962 and by £199 million between July 1966 and April 1967.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how close he estimates that the relationship between developments in home costs and prices and in export unit values will be in the short-term.

In the short-term, the relationship is not expected to be very close.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many industrial development certificates were issued in the North-East Lancashire area during the first five months of 1967; and how this compares with those issued during the same period of 1964.

27 compared with 7 in the same period of 1964.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement regarding the supply of infant milk foods to retailers other than chemists.

I have nothing to add to the Answer that I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Lancaster (Mr. Henig) on 15th June.—[Vol. 748, c. 126.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the percentage change, compared with the previous year, in the gross trading profits of companies reporting in the first quarter of 1963 and in the first quarter of 1967.

For quoted companies whose accounts were analysed by the Board of Trade, reductions of 3·9 and 7·4 per cent. respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will estimate the cost of provision of further automatic landing operations at Heathrow; and whether the charge will be recoverable from the operators.

The cost of additional ground facilities at Heathrow to achieve international standards for automatic landing in Category II conditions is estimated at £200,000. Further expenditure currently estimated at about £650,000 will be necessary to achieve the standards for Category III B conditions. The Categories are defined as follows:Category II—Operations to minima below 200 feet decision height and Runway Visual Range 2,600 feet and to as low as 100 feet decision height and R.V.R. 1,200 feet with a high probability of approach success.Category III B—Operations to and along the surface of the runway and taxiways with visibiilty sufficient only for visual taxying comparable to R.V.R. values in the order of 150 feet.The cost of aerodrome navigation services, including automatic landing facilities at Heathrow is fully recovered through the Navigation Service Charges.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the composition of the Welsh Advisory Committee for Civil Aviation, the qualifications of its members and the frequency of its meetings; and whether it publishes a report.

The members of the Committee and their interests are

WELSH ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL AVIATION, COMPOSITION, ETC.
Name	Notes on Previous History
CHAIRMAN
Lord Granville-West	M.P. for Pontypool 1946–1958; Parliamentary Private Secretary to Home Secretary 1950–51; Abercarn Urban District Council 1934–38; Monmouthshire County Council 1938–47; Senior Partner of D. Granville West, Chivers and Durford of Newbridge and Pontypool (Solicitors).
MEMBERS
Mr. O. G. Foulkes, J.P.	Vice-Chairman of Anglesey County Council.
Mr. N. R. L. Hayes, D.L.	Chairman and Managing Director of Milford Haven Marine Services Ltd.; Member of Pembrokeshire Youth Employment Committee.
Mr. Quinton Hazell, M.B.E., A.M.E., M.I.	Member of Council of Industrial Association of Wales and Monmouthshire; Chairman and Managing Director of Quinton Hazell Ltd., Colwyn Bay and Quinton Hazell Property Management Company.
Mr. E. H. Hickery, O.B.E., B.A.	Divisional Organiser, Iron and Steel Trades Confederation, Newport; Vice-Chairman of East Wales Productivity Committee; Member of Electricity Consultative Council.
Ald. Llewellyn Heycock, C.B.E., Order of St. John, D.L., LL.D., J.P.	Chairman of Airports Committee of Glamorgan County Council.
Mr. W. Martin-Hurst, C.Eng., A.F.R.Ae.S.	Managing Director of Rover Co. Ltd., Solihull, Warwickshire; formerly Managing Director Teddington Aircraft Controls Ltd., Merthyr.
J. A. Berry, J.P.	Managing Director, Aluminium Corporation Ltd.; Member of Welsh Economic Council.
D. J. Davies	Chairman of Wales Tourist Board; Member of Board of British Travel Association.
Mr. Vernon Lawrence, C.B.E.	Hon. Secretary Welsh Advisory Council 1959–61; County Clerk of Monmouthshire 1937–66; Hon. Secretary Welsh Counties Committee 1949–66.
Mr. R. Lloyd, F.R.I.C.	Managing Director of Groosser Salicylates Ltd., North Wales.
Mr. David J. Young	Director and Secretary of the Steel Company of Wales Ltd., Port Talbot; Chartered Accountant.
Mr. K. J. Griffin	From Cardiff; Area Secretary, Electrical Trades Union; District Secretary, Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions.
Mr. J. Allison, J.P.	Deputy Mayor of Swansea, 1966–67; Chairman, Swansea C.B.C. Airport Committee; Vice-Chairman, South-west Wales River Authority; Quarry Manager and Chairman, Cwmchydyceirw Quarries Ltd.; Chairman. Thomas Jones (Morriston) Ltd.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what measures he is taking in respect of the establishment of a common register as described in appendix four of the minutes of evidence

As I told the House during the debate on the Government Statistical Services (Reports) on 4th May, work is in hand on the first stage, the production of a common register for establishments in the field of industrial production.—[Vol. 746, c. 1815.]

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs by what percentage United Kingdom industrial production increased between 1964 and 1966; and if he will give the comparable figures for Japan, Italy, Germany, France, Canada and the United States of America.

The increases were:—

		Per cent.
United Kingdom	…	5
Japan	…	17
Italy	…	19
Germany (Federal Republic)	…	7
France	…	9
Canada	…	17
United States	…	18

The figures for Japan, Italy, Canada and the United States exclude the construction industry; the exclusion of construction would not affect the figure for the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the percentage increase in the hourly wage rate index between mid-1961 and the end of 1962; and what increase he expects between mid-1966 and the end of 1967.

In the first period the increase was 6·4 per cent. For estimates there cannot be the same certainty, but it is expected that there may be an increase of the order of 6 per cent. in the second period.

asked the Minister of Labour what increase in the

NUMBERS REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED FOR MORE THAN FOUR WEEKS AND PERCENTAGES THAT THESE FORMED OF ALL REGISTERED UNEMPLOYED
		Wales		Scotland		England
		Wholly unemployed more than four weeks	Percentage of all unemployed	Wholly unemployed more than four weeks	Percentage of all unemployed	Wholly unemployed more than four weeks	Percentage of all unemployed
8th May, 1967	…	29,446	76·4	59,668	72·0	269,294	64·1
16th May, 1966	…	17,554	73·8	38,857	70·7	125,861	62·5
17th June, 1957*	…	14,815	72·5	32,292	65·6	114,903	58·9
* Unemployment statistics for May, 1957 were not analysed in sufficient detail to show those unemployed for more than four weeks.

About 2½ per cent.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the percentage changes in employment in manufacturing industry between the second quarter of 1961 and the first quarter of 1962, and between the second 1966 quarter the first quarter of 1967.

Between April, 1961 and January, 1962, estimates of employees in employment in manufacturing industries in Great Britain increased by 0·04 per cent. It is provisionally estimated that there was a decrease of 2·27 per cent. between April, 1966 and January, 1967.