asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he proposes to make a decision on the Green Belt around Birmingham and thus secure the countryside immediately around Birmingham from any further urban encroachment.

The West Midlands Planning Conference have recently decided to make a study of the long-term pattern of development around the conurbation. My right hon. Friend intends to await the result.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will reverse his previous decision to refuse an application by Southend Borough Council to lengthen one of the runways at Southend Airport.

My right hon. Friend has no power to reverse a decision given on a planning appeal.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will introduce legislation to permit local authorities outside development areas to qualify for 85 per cent. grants towards the expense of rehabilitating derelict land.

No. The two other rates of grant, which are 75 per cent. in national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty and 50 per cent. elsewhere, provide a substantial measure of Government help.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the number of schemes for the removal of derelict sites in the county of Durham; and what is the estimated State expenditure involved.

Final approval has been given to 50 schemes in Durham covering 616 acres of derelict land and involving Exchequer grant of approxi mately £676,000. A further 26 schemes covering 736 acres have received outline approval and, on present information, carry an Exchequer commitment estimated at £660,000. In addition seven schemes, covering about 234 acres, are being considered. Exchequer grant could amount to about £250,000 if these schemes are approved.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to come to a decision concerning the city of St. Albans Central Area Plan proposals for road improvements, consequent upon the public inquiry held in April.

The Inspector's report dealing with the large number of objections to these proposals is still being considered and if modifications are proposed consultation with the local planning authority will be required.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will set up an inquiry into the difficulties of valuation officers who are the employees of local authorities when they are required to make valuations of private property subject to compulsory purchase by their employers

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement on the progress of the development of Piccadilly Circus.

I understand that the Greater London Council and the Westminster City Council have met private developers to seek agreement to a joint development brief and a further meeting is expected early in the New Year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he intends to give permission for the Devizes Rural District Council's main drainage scheme for the villages of All Cannings and Bishops Cannings to start.

I cannot say, for the council have not yet replied to a letter from the Department of 15th August asking for detailed information to show the urgency of the need for the scheme.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will issue further advice to local authorities on the employment of labour-only subcontractors.

My right hon. Friend is awaiting the report of the Phelps Brown Committee before deciding what further advice is needed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what amenity projects are included in the improvement plan for the new town of Peterlee; and what is the cause of delay in proceeding with the necessary construction.

A swimming bath, a municipal hall, an arts centre, and a third social centre are being planned. Two additional large public recreational areas will soon be available. As my right hon. Friend knows there have been problems in the past about local authority participation but I am glad to say that there is every prospect of these being resolved.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much land has been acquired by the Land Commission on its own account; and how much it has acquired on behalf of local authorities.

The Land Commission is in process of acquiring some 600 acres of which about 80 are for local authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now announce his decision about the proposal that the Higher Drive area of the London Borough of Sutton should be transferred to Surrey.

My right hon. Friend expects to announce his decision shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the policy of his Department towards supplementing the contribution from central funds to a local rating authority, in circumstances where expenditure has been incurred through illegal actions outside the boundaries and beyond the control of that authority.

The purposes for which Exchequer grants may be paid are defined by statute. Extra-statutory assistance is given only in exceptional circumstances.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a special grant to the City of Liverpool to compensate for the £25,000 cost of repairing the water pipeline sabotaged in Wales.

No. I have no statutory power to do this, and while I deplore the damage done, I do not consider that the circumstances justify an extra-statutory payment.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that Regulation B 3 of the Building Regulations, 1965, does not permit the use of any painted timber other than impregnated timber for external walls or buildings, although painted timber weatherboard walls have been used satisfactorily for traditional buildings in Kent and other parts of England for centuries; why only a few permitted woods are allowed to be used for external cladding under those Regulations; and why the painting of the wood is not taken into account as an adequate preservative.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the Questions by the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Gresham Cooke) on 21st November.—[Vol. 754, c. 301–2.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek to amend the law in so far as it obliges him to confine the purposes of building regulations to health and safety so as to provide himself with power to make building regulations which also take into account basic economic considerations of national importance.

My right hon. Friend will see that this suggestion is noted for consideration in connection with any proposals for wider legislation on the regulation of building, but he cannot go further than this at present.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what criteria he uses when deciding appeals to him under Section 207 of the Highways Act, 1959.

In deciding an appeal under Section 207 of the Highways Act. 1959, my right hon. Friend is required to make such decision as to him seems equitable. His criterion for decision is therefore what is fair and reasonable in all the circumstances of the case as put to him by the appellant and the street works authority.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why his Department does not carry out research into the disposal of farm wastes, in view of the effect of these wastes on local sewerage problems.

The Department has no research establishment but some work has been done on this subject by the Water Pollution Research Laboratory of the Ministry of Technology. I am advised that the most fruitful area for further research into methods of disposing of wastes is at the farm itself.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of all local authorities who have not taken any part or made any contribution to the Keep Britain Tidy campaign; and if he will make a statement.

No. The Government welcome the campaign, which they support financially and in other ways, but think that local authorities should be left free to decide for themselves what part to play in it. I hope that more will become regular subscribers to the Keep Britain Tidy Group.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if it is the policy of the Government to refer substantial increases in local rates arising from the devaluation measures to the National Board for Prices and Incomes, as well as substantial increases in municipal rents; and if he will make a statement.

No. Rates are a tax and are necessary to finance the whole range of local government services. Local authorities are democratically elected bodies and the Government will look to them to exercise all possible economy and to hold back less essential projects which can reasonably be deferred.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will place in the Library copies of the interim recommendations of the Gosling Committee on Footpaths.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now initiate discussions with local authority associations about co-ordinating the promotion of building activities.

If the hon. Member has in mind the need to co-ordinate local authority investment programmes to facilitate urban development schemes, my right hon. Friend hopes to receive shortly a report by a study group including representatives of two major local authorities. Discussion with the local authority associations will follow in due course.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is satisfied about flood defences in London during the coming winter; and if he will make a statement.

I am advised that the present defences are adequate to protect London against a flood of the level reached in 1953, which is the highest ever recorded. A great deal of investigation has been carried out into the possibility of protection against even higher levels, and I will make a statement about this as soon as practicable.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a grant for the repair of the sea wall at the easterly end of Second Avenue, Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk.

Before a grant for such work can be considered, a scheme would have to be submitted by the local coast protection authority. My information is that the council do not consider that works are at present justified.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he co-ordinates the timing of public inquiries into major planning proposals with regional economic planning councils, where the latter are in course of examining the district concerned.

Each situation has to be considered on its own merits. In the case which the hon. Member has in mind, I am aware of the study recently initiated by the Regional Economic Planning Council; but I think it best to proceed with the inquiry already arranged.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) how many applications for rate rebate have been received by Bristol Corporation in each of the half-year periods since the scheme was introduced; how many were allowed; and what is the total monetary value for each period;(2) how many applications for rate rebate have been received by Mangotsfield Urban District Council in each of the half-year periods since the scheme was introduced; how many were allowed; and what is the total monetary value for each period.

In Bristol there were 10,600 rebates in the first half of 1966–67 and 12,300 in the second; the amounts involved were £74,500 and £88,500 respectively.In Mangotsfield there were 561 rebates in the first half of 1966–67 and 502 in the second; the amounts involved were £4,868 and £4,330 respectively.I have no information about the number of applications made. But a local authority has no discretion in the granting of rebates; every application which satisfies the criteria laid down by Parliament must be granted.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, as a result of the economic measures announced on 18th November, he has ordered the postponement of some local authority spending programmes; and what estimate he has made of the amounts involved in such postponements.

I am not yet ready to make a statement. But some reduction in local authority expenditure will be called for.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will give his decision in respect to the Review of the Essex Development Plan submitted to him in 1965.

I regret that I cannot say when a decision will be given, but the work is being done as quickly as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what answer has been given by his Department to the Rochford Rural District Council's request for an early meeting to discuss urgent problems affecting the district's sewerage and surface water drainage.

The Department said that they felt that a meeting would not be worth while at the present stage, commented briefly on some of the main points raised and asked the Council to say more particularly what matters they wished to discuss. On receipt of this information the Department will gladly consider the matter further.I shall shortly be replying to the letter the hon. Member has sent me.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will take steps to ensure that those who purchase new houses built by firms outside the National House Builders' Registration Scheme shall not qualify for relief under the option mortgage scheme.

Recommendations were made last year to building societies and local authorities to restrict mortgage advances on new houses to those built by registered housebuilders (save where the construction was supervised by an architect employed by the purchaser). These recommendations would now apply to option mortgages as well as to other mortgages. We are now inquiring how far these recommendations are being followed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is his policy regarding local authority house-building for sale; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply to the Question by the hon. Member for Northants, South (Mr. Arthur Jones) on 14th November.—[Vol. 754, c. 71–2.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is now in a position to state the Government's plans for introducing legislation for the leasehold enfranchisement of flats and maisonettes.

The Government has no present intention to introduce legislation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is satisfied that the provisions of the Rent Acts are sufficiently effective in securing the independence of rent tribunals in making their assessments; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, I am satisfied that both the furnished rent tribunals and also the rent officers and rent assessment committees have the independence which Parliament intended in deciding the cases which come before them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government in view of his advice to tenants to go for protection to rent officers, why he is terminating the employment of many such officers and consequently reducing the number available to tenants.

The need to have enough rent officers available to tenants—or landlords—who need their help will be borne in mind in the review of the organisation now being undertaken.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, instead of making a reduction in the number of rent officers, he will exercise his powers under the Rent Act, 1965, to bring controlled tenancies into the fair rent system of regulated tenancies.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made to carry out his Department's policy of fixing fair rents for controlled properties.

As my right hon. Friend told the hon. Member for Hertfordshire, South-West (Mr. Longden) in reply to his Question of 25th July, he thinks we need much more experience of the functioning of the rent registration system before its effects can be fully evaluated. Until then he does not propose to enlarge its scope. My right hon. Friend is concentrating instead on improving the system, in part by redeploying the rent officer organisation to adapt it to the expected load and distribution of work.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek power to require local authorities selling council houses to make a covenant in perpetuity that such houses shall first be offered to the council when being resold.

A condition limiting the resale of a council house to the local authority selling it can be imposed under existing statutory powers for a period not exceeding five years. I require its imposition where the sale is at less than market value.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what proposals he has to require local authorities to notify his Department of intended increases in council house rents.

I am considering this in the light of the proposed reference of certain local authority rents to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT statistics illustrating changing costs of building council houses in the last three years; and whether he will indicate what part of the costs are represented by labour charges and the cost of land.

Tables on the average cost of construction of council houses are published quarterly by the Ministry in "Housing Statistics". Labour charges represent about one-third of erection costs. Information relating the cost of land to dwellings erected in particular periods is not available: however on average the cost of land probably represents about one tenth of the total costs of local authority dwellings. A large part of the increase in average costs in the last three years is attributable to improvements in the standards of new dwellings.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when the Government intend to refer the projected 50 per cent. increase in council house rents in Coventry to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

The formal terms of reference to the Board are being worked out and will be announced shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to control the multiple occupation of houses on the lines of the private legislation now operating in Birmingham and Hull, details of which are in his possession.

The question whether powers similar to those contained in these local Acts should be made more generally available is under consideration as part of the Government's current review of the legislation affecting older houses and houses in multiple occupation. My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make any announcement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now make a statement on his study of various systems of industrialised housing.

Approximately 40 per cent. of local authority houses and flats are being built by industrialised methods. In high rise building the systems in use are efficient and often cheaper than traditional. There are, at present, too many low rise systems and this dispersion of effort reduces the advantages of industrialisation for this form of housing. The operation of our recently published cost limits and normal competition should ensure that a limited number of the more efficient systems will capture most of the market and receive the benefits of large programmes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) if he is aware that residents of Coverdale Road, Barking, are suffering extreme hardship, and that in one of these houses five children, one of whom is tuberculous, are sleeping in the parents' room because of serious damp and the presence of rats and mice in other rooms, and that this is due, in part, to his department's long delay in holding a public inquiry; and if he will cause this to be held at once;(2) if he is aware that residents in slum houses in and near Coverdale Road, Barking, could have been rehoused by the local authority by or soon after the end of 1967 if there had not been so long a delay in holding the necessary public local inquiry; and why this inquiry cannot be held before January, 1968.

As I told my hon. Friend when I wrote to him in October, I appreciate the position of the occupiers of some of these properties, and I have already taken steps to fix the earliest possible inquiry date. So far as urgent rehousing is concerned, the Council are not restricted in any way by the existence of the Compulsory Purchase Order.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to ensure meeting the housing needs projected for 1981 in the First Report of the West Midlands Economic Planning Council.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave on 27th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby (Mr. William Price).—[Vol. 755, c. 27.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he is proposing to take to ensure that elderly landlords with small fixed incomes are enabled to charge at least a rent for controlled property which will enable them to carry out reasonable maintenance.

The whole problem of maintaining and improving older housing property is now under review in the Department.

Giles asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what changes in British commitments in the Far East are contemplated during 1968.

Assuming "commitments" to mean our treaty obligations and our responsibilities towards dependent territories, the Answer is "None."

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs to what extent the comprehensive trade agreements for India, Pakistan and certain other Commonwealth countries in Asia offered by the European Economic Community during negotiations in 1962 remain adequate to safeguard the interests of those countries now; if the Commonwealth Governments concerned have been consulted on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

The provisional agreement of 1962 with the member Governments of the European Economic Community envisaged together with certain changes in the common external tariff of the Community, and other trade arrangements, that the enlarged Community would declare its readiness to start negotiating with India and Pakistan, and also Ceylon (if that Government desired), comprehensive trade agreements the objectives of which would be to develop mutual trade for the purpose of maintaining and, as much as possible, increasing the level of their foreign currency receipts, and in general of facilitating their development plans. Following consultation with the Commonwealth Governments concerned it has been proposed to the six that this provisional agreement should be revived. Arrangements on these lines appear to offer the best prospects of safeguarding the essential interests of the three countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what further action will be taken as a result of Sir R. Bacon's report into certain events in the Bahamas.

The report of the Commission of Inquiry into the operation of the business of casinos in Freeport and in Nassau was submitted to the Government of the Bahamas. They have said that they will give the recommendations the careful study they deserve and that they propose to prepare a policy statement ready for presentation to the Bahamas legislature before the end of the present session.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs why the announcement that talks were to be resumed between the United Kingdom and Spa in was sent to the Governor of Gibraltar in Gibraltar when the Governor was in London; why the protest of the Gibraltar Minister for Public Relations was not sent at once to the Commonwealth Office; and why, up to 15th November, the protest made by the responsible Minister in the Gibraltar Government had not been acknowledged.

The text of the announcement was telegraphed to the Governor's Deputy in Gibraltar who acts for the Governor in his absence. The representations by the Gibraltar Minister for Public Relations to the Permanent Secretary to the Government of Gibraltar dated Saturday, 21st October, were reported to the Commonwealth Office on Monday, 23rd October. The matter has been dealt with locally in Gibraltar and no further acknowledgement was necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will support the people of Gibraltar in their determination, shown in the recent referendum, voluntarily to retain their link with the United Kingdom, with democratic local institutions and with the United Kingdom retaining its present responsibilities; and if he will make this clear both in the forthcoming discussions in the United Nations and in the bilateral talks with Spain now to be resumed.

Her Majesty's Government will give full weight to the result of the referendum in accordance with the statement made in the House by my right hon. Friend the former Minister of State for Commonwealth Affairs (Mrs. Hart) on 14th June announcing our intention to hold the referendum.—[Vol. 748, c. 563–72.]

asked the Minister of Power what estimate he has made of the total output of Roomheat smokeless fuel for the year 1967; and what part of this is expected to be sold on the domestic market.

This is a matter for the National Coal Board. I have asked the Chairman to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Power what is the average rate of interest he is paying on the £600 million loan in the steel industry, in addition to the £600 million 6½per cent. compensation stock issued on nationalisation; and, in view of the official forecast that the nationalised steel industry will make a loss of £30 million in 1967, from what funds the interest is to be paid.

I have not yet determined the rate of interest to be paid on the British Steel Corporation's commencing capital debt, which will form the larger part of its liabilities.

asked the Minister of Power if, when the statement on fuel policy is reviewed, he will consider the effect upon the fuel economy of creating a central body to co-ordinate the capital investment and commercial policies of the gas, electricity and coal industries.

I am considering the recommendation of the Select Committee on Science and Technology on this subject but I do not consider the existence of any such body would significantly affect the likely patterns of energy supply and demand on which our fuel policy is based.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will issue general directions, in the public interest, to the gas and electricity boards, that electricity and gas meters should be read simultaneously by the same official.

My right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, announced on 7th September that the possibility of further economies by the nationalised industries, through the reduction of duplication of services, was to be further examined. This is one of the matters that is being studied.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to release the 54,000 extra civil servants recruited over the last three years for work in productive industry.

No. Civil Service staff numbers are kept to the minimum necessary for the work which has to be done.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the average value per head of office accommodation, machinery and equipment provided for non-industrial civil servants.

For costing purposes £135 is at present included in basic staff cost for postage, use of telephones, stationery and small office machines. For accommodation costs 17 per cent. of average salary is added in the case of Inner London staff, 16 per cent. for Outer London and 12½ per cent. elsewhere.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposed cuts in the spending plans of local authorities are included in the economic measures announced on 18th November: how much those cuts will amount to; and where they will fall.

A statement will be made in due course.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the effect which he estimates devaluation will have on the industries, trade and employment of Scotland.

Devaluation is expected to benefit, through increased exports and profits, the industry and trade of the country as a whole; unemployment, after a possible initial small rise during the adjustment period, is expected to fall in the course of 1968. There is every reason to believe that Scotland will share fully in these benefits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total of Income Tax, Pay As You Earn, Surtax, Corporation Tax and Selective Employment Tax which the solicitors for Government Departments are now trying to collect from taxpayers.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he intends to take with regard to the Selective Employment Tax.

I have advised the House, it is proposed to end entitlement to the additional sum in the Selective Employment Premium outside Development Areas as from the week beginning 1st April, 1968. The necessary legislation will be introduced shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, under his regulations, a widow of a civil servant who remarries and is again bereaved is either granted the restoration of her pension in full or not at all.

On a second bereavement, the widow's pension may be restored in full, in part or not at all.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchaquer whether he will seek to secure international agreement to a rise in the price of gold.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what figure was the average output per employee engaged in productive industry valued during the most recent year for which figures are available.

For the year 1966 output per person employed in the industries included in the index of industrial production is estimated at about £1,290. This estimate is based on the contribution of these industries to the gross national product as shown in Table II of the National Income Blue Book, divided by an estimate of the average numbers employed during the year, including working proprietors as well as employees.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the discontinuance of the export rebate, how many of the staff of the Customs and Excise formerly engaged on this work will now be released.

Export rebate work falls mainly to Officers of Customs and Excise, who have a wide range of other duties. As eligibility for rebate will not cease until 31st March next, so that claims for the first quarter of 1968 will still be being accepted and paid as usual during subsequent months, it is too early to assess the effect of the eventual disappearance of this work on the staffing of the Department, but it will be reflected in the 1968–69 Estimates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the numbers of persons who availed themselves of the offer of freedom from prosecution and confessed in the fixed period of three months, which ended on 30th September, 1967, to making false Income Tax claims for personal allowances, and the estimated saving to the Revenue in the next financial year likely to accrue from these confessions.

1,409; I regret that I cannot estimate the consequential saving to the Revenue next year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his proposed transfer of £500 mil lion for overseas resources from the home market to exports is solely to correct the balance of payments; and what further transfer of resources is needed to repay the foreign debts as they become due.

An improvement of at least £500 million will swing the balance of payments into substantial and continuing surplus; and this will be available for the repayment of foreign debt over the years ahead.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much he estimates exports will require to increase in the coming year in order that the $3,000 million international banking support which has been secured will not be needed.

The hon. Member presupposes in his Question an arithmetical relationship which does not exist.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many full-time and part-time staff were employed by the Inland Revenue in the years 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1967, respectively; what was the approximate global cost of their salaries; what other administrative costs for offices, paper, printing and similar items arose out of their tax collecting duties; and what, in round terms, is the total annual cost of collecting taxes of all kinds in this country.

The staff in post in the Inland Revenue was:—

At 1st April	Full-time staff	Part-time staff
1964	56,528	2,987
1965	56,303	2,810
1966	58,196	2,612
1967	61,470	2,461

The approximate global costs of salaries of all Inland Revenue staff were:—

1963–64	£53·4 million
1964–65	£56·1 million
1965–66	£64·4 million
1966–67	£67·1 million

Other administrative costs arising out of tax collecting duties were:—

1963–64	£15·6 million
1964–65	£16·6 million
1965–66	£18·4 million
1966–67	£21·1 million

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the additional cost to public funds consequent upon the reissuing of the Erskine Bridge Tolls Bill as a result of incorrect spelling on the cover.

£51 9s. 0d.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has obtained the consent of the International Monetary Fund to the £50 travel allowance for the travel years 1966–67 and 1967–68.

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, since wage claims submitted since the standstill of July, 1966 have averaged 15 per cent., and settlements averaged 7 per cent., and industrial production has remained stationary, what new steps he is taking to prevent this from increasing the cost of living and causing further inflation.

It is the Government's policy to restrain the rate of increase in money incomes in order to achieve greater price stability.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost of repaying in sterling at 2·40 the United States loan of 1945 of $3,750 million borrowed at 4·03 of which $3,089 million remains to be repaid, and the Canadian loan of 1946 of $1,185 million at 4·03 of which $976 million is still outstanding; how much interest has accrued and remains to be repaid; and if he proposes to repay any interest and principal this year.

For the cost of repaying the outstanding United States and Canadian lines of credit at the new rates of exchange I would refer my hon. Friend to the first part of the table in the Answer given to a Question by the hon. Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. J. E. B. Hill) on 27th November.Accrued interest to be repaid amounts to U.S.$263 million and Can.$83 million equivalent at the new rate of exchange, to £110 million and £32 million respectively.As to the last part of the Question I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) on 14th November.—[Vol. 754, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what progress is being made by discussions with industry and through little Neddies to reduce imports of manufactured goods which British industry is capable of producing.

The scope for import saving is under constant study by Government and in the Little Neddies. Action extends all the way from planning aluminium smelters to identifying from the study of import information the opportunities for making and selling particular types of machinery.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will call a conference of the regional economic planning boards to discuss economic and industrial development throughout the country in order to reduce the time spent on attracting new industries to the various development districts.

No. There are regular meetings of the Economic Planning Board Chairmen at the D.E.A. and the problems of economic and industrial development are among those discussed. In fact, the Government have already introduced a wide range of measures which will speed up the process of attracting new industry to the Development Areas.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will seek powers to enable him to offer to local authorities imposing a ban on smoking as a condition of licensing cinemas, theatres, and other public places of entertainment, a guarantee against the costs of any subsequent litigation by the interests affected.

No. I understand that it is doubtful whether such a ban could properly be imposed as a condition of licence.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement about the changes in the runways at Aldergrove Airport in County Antrim; and if such changes will affect the use of civilian aircraft.

Some engineering works are to be undertaken on the subsidiary runway early next year to make it suitable for the testing of the Phantom aircraft which the Ministry of Defence plan to maintain at the R.A.F. maintenance base. The work will necessitate closing the runway for a period of about four months. The Board are examining with the airlines the effect which closure will have on their operations and will take whatever steps are practicable to minimise the inconvenience caused to them for their passengers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he will take to ensure there will be no increase in the fares of the two nationalised airlines, British Overseas Airways Corporation and British European Airways.

I am considering urgently the changes in air fares agreed last week by the emergency conference of the International Air Transport Association. It seems to me that as a consequence of devaluation substantial increases in the sterling expression of international air fares and cargo rates can hardly be avoided.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of tourist advertising abroad by the British Overseas Airways Corporation and British European Airways, respectively, is devoted, to Scotland and Wales respectively.

While this is a matter for he managements of the two Corporations I understand that their advertising campaigns abroad are directed to attracting tourists to the United Kingdom as a whole and it is difficult to disentangle just what proportion of the advertising relates to any particular part.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total cost in United States dollars of the non-military aircraft he anticipates importing from the United States of America during the calendar year 1968; and whether he will make a statement indicating the various categories of aircraft being imported and the approximate dollar total for each category.

The Board of Trade does not expect to import any aircraft from the United States in 1968 nor does B.E.A. The Government have agreed to the importation in 1968 by BO.A.C. of one freight aircraft valued at about $10 million and by the College of Air Training at Hamble of 12 Trainers at a total cost of about $1 million. I do not know what aircraft will be imported by other operators.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will classify the extraction of timber as a manufacturing process, and make available grants for tractors and other extractive machinery.

No. Plant and machinery used for the processing of timber qualifies for investment grants. Grants are available from the Forestry Commission for the development of forestry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the weight of the gold deposited by the Central Banks of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with the Bank of England and now vested in the Custodian of Enemy Property, showing each country separately; and what is its present value.

The details of the transactions with the individual banks are confidential, but the total weight of gold placed with the Bank of England by these banks, and later vested in the Custodian of Enemy Property, was approximately 460,220 fine ounces. The gold was sold earlier this year and the proceeds invested.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the timber and processed timber consumed in the United Kingdom is currently being imported; what is its annual cost; what percentage of it comes from countries with whom Great Britain has an adverse trade balance; and what steps he will take to raise incentives to home-grown timber producers in such a manner as to increase production and make the best possible use of what is produced.

Imports as a proportion of the quantity consumed in the United Kingdom in the first nine months of 1967 are estimated as follows: softwood (including pulpwood) four-fifths; hardwood (including pulpwood), two-thirds; plywood, over 95 per cent.; wood chipboard, two-fifths. Imports of timber in 1966 amounted to £242 million c.i.f. Information is not available for the close estimation of the balance of trade with individual countries. The question of incentives for private forestry is one which is kept under review by my right hon. Friends, the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received the report of the Monopolies Commission on the supply of fiat glass; and when it will be available to Parliament.

I received the Monopolies Commission's report on the supply of flat glass on 22nd November. It will be laid before Parliament and published as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether there is still a military requirement for a staging post in the West Indian Ocean; and what steps he is taking to find an alternative site to Aldabra.

As to the first part of the Question I would refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to the reply I gave him yesterday. On the second part the Answer is "None".—[Vol. 755, c. 29.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking fully to offset the effects of devaluation on Servicemen serving overseas; and what will be the estimated annual cost to the taxpayers.

The Local Overseas Allowance of Servicemen serving overseas will be suitably adjusted. It is not yet possible to give an estimate of the total cost of this increase.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why a member of the Armed Forces, who has earned an entitlement to a pension for his widow as a result of his service, loses that entitlement if he marries after he has retired.

This is the normal practice in occupational schemes in the public sector, but I shall be glad to hear from the hon. Member about any particular case of hardship.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what he estimates to be the additional foreign exchange cost, in the calendar year 1968, of the recent decision to devalue sterling in respect of the various categories of defence equipment he proposes to acquire from the United States of America, including military and naval aircraft, and of the British Army of the Rhine, respectively; and whether he will make a statement.

I cannot at present add to the full analysis of the foreign exchange situation which I presented in yesterday's Adjournment debate.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the Government's present policy in connection with Polaris submarines and the Polaris programme.

When completed, the force of four Polaris submarines will take the place of the V-Bombers as our contribution to the collective Western strategic nuclear deterrent.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will give an undertaking that he will allow sufficient time between moving the stages of Bills of which the Minister of Housing and Local Government is in charge to enable Members to give proper consideration to the issues involved.

I always try to meet the convenience of the House as far as possible in these matters. If the hon. Member has any particular Bill in mind perhaps he would get in touch with me.

asked the Lord President of the Council why oeuf en gelée is not available in the Members' Dining Room.

I have been asked to reply.The demand for

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ban imports of fresh meat from the Argentine unless it is imperative that such meat should be imported after next week to safeguard Great Britain's food supply; and if he will ensure that all future shipments of such meat undergo a cooking process to make it virus-free.

I am examining the question of imports of meat in relation to foot-and-mouth disease and will make a statement as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has tendered to the organisers of the Smithfield Show with regard to cancelling the event completely, in view of the risk of spreading foot-and-mouth disease to further parts of the country.

The organisers have told me that, with the cancellation of the livestock and carcase exhibits, the show this year is primarily a machinery show for overseas buyers. I consider that it would be unnecessary and undesirable to cancel completely a show which results in large export orders. I join with the President of the National Farmers' Union in calling on farmers throughout the country and all persons from the infected areas to stay away from the show.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to operate a scheme of vaccination of all cloven footed animals and disinfection of infecting agents in a broad swathe around the infected districts so as to operate a cordon sanitaire in seeking to prevent a further spreading of foot-and-mouth disease.

It is my intention to eradicate the disease by slaughter. I have arranged for a supply of vaccine to be available for a vaccination programme as a second line of defence should this become inevitable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set up a working party to examine the possibility of cancelling all further imports of beef from the Argentine or any other country which is not generally free from foot-and-mouth disease.

I am examining the question of imports of meat in relation to foot-and-mouth disease and will make a statement as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he has not made arrangements for the supply of vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease.

I have, in fact, arranged for a sufficient supply of vaccine to be acquired and stored in this country to enable a vaccination programme to be adopted as a second line of defence should this become inevitable. I have taken this step purely as a precaution. I am still convinced on the basis of the advice of my professional staff—the best in the world—that the slaughter policy is in the best interests of the country and we shall do everything possible to eradicate the present epidemic by this means. There is no question, at present, of any change in policy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will specify the branches of agriculture which are expected to increase production under Her Majesty's Government's new policy; and what steps are being taken to encourage such increases.

I would refer to my reply to the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, West (Mr. James Davidson) on 23rd November.—[Vol. 754, c. 423.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will extend research into the disposal of farm wastes.

Our technical services are continuing to extend their experimental and investigational work in this field.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of officers of various grades of his Department who have rights of entry to farm land and buildings, together with the statutory authority under which they act.

The information for which the hon. Member asks is as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a list in the OFFICIAL REPORT Of the statutory bodies whose officials have rights of entry to farm land and buildings.

The list of bodies set up under schemes that require my approval, whose officials may exercise rights of entry to farm land or buildings, is as follows:

• British Egg Marketing Board.
• Hops Marketing Board.
• Milk Marketing Board.
• Potato Marketing Board.
• British Wool Marketing Board.

River Authorities and Internal Drainage Boards, for the establishment of which I share or have a responsibility, also have rights of entry for their officials.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will, in view of changed conditions brought about by devaluation, consider holding a fresh Price Review prior to 31st December of this year.

I cannot add to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, West (Mr. James Davidson) on 23rd November.—[Vol 754, c. 423.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the fact that timber and processed timber form the third largest single item of imports to this country, he will take immediate steps to stimulate the home forestry industry.

As the Prime Minister announced on 19th October, the Government have authorised the Forestry Commission to increase their planting in Scotland to 50,000 acres a year by 1976 compared with about 32,000 acres a year at present. Grants are also available to assist private forestry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has yet received the final report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on the remuneration of milk distributors; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have received the final report, and it has been published today. The Departments concerned will examine the Board's recommendations urgently, in consultation with the organisations affected.

The report recommends some improvement of the remuneration of Scottish distributors and also of the London trade, but does not imply that the milk trade as a whole is over or under-remunerated.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will transfer the functions of the Minister of Public Building and Works within Scotland to the Secretary of State for Scotland.

No, the present arrangements already allow for full account to be taken of Scottish interests.

asked the Prime Minister if he will appoint a Minister from this House to take new initiatives for trade and tariff arrangements with countries outside the European Economic Community.

No, I do not think this would be helpful.