asked the Minister of Power if he will publish details of the manner in which the North Sea and the seas adjacent to Great Britain were prospected for natural gas; and why he estimates that within a few years the quantity will be increased to about three times its present output.

Information about the search for natural gas on the British Continental Shelf is published in the recent 'White Paper on Fuel Policy (Cmnd. 3438), in the Ministry of Power Statistical 'Digest for 1966 and in my Annual Reports under the Continental Shelf Act, 1964.84 wells have been drilled and four important fields already located.As stated in the White Paper the recoverable reserves of natural gas in the fields already licensed in the North Sea are enough to build up a production rate of some 3,000 million cubic feet a day within five or six years, which is equal to nearly three times our present consumption of town gas.

asked the Minister of Power if he will state the cost to date of his model of the fuel economy, the numbers of staff now employed and their total salaries; and whether he proposes to maintain the organisation as a permanent part of his Department.

Twelve staff, with annual salaries of about £20,000, are now employed on this work for which the total cost to date to the Ministry has been approximately £31,000. Development will continue over several years, during which time the model is expected to become increasingly integrated into the Department's planning machinery.

asked the Minister of Power what effect the measures proposed in the Coal Industry Bill will have on the 24 per cent. addi- tional cost of gas in Scotland compared with the average price level in England and Wales.

The Bill provides for reimbursement of any additional costs incurred by Gas Boards in using extra coal to help the coal industry instead of other feedstocks. The effect, in Scotland as elsewhere, will be that the Boards' total costs will be no higher than if they had adopted the most economic methods of production.

asked the Minister of Power what he estimates to be the yearly added cost to the balance of payments of the growth of fuel oil consumption envisaged in the Fuel Policy White Paper and the likely extra cost arising from devaluation.

It is not the practice to publish forecasts of balance of payments costs. I hope to make a statement shortly on the effects of devaluation.

asked the Minister of Power when he will now give a decision about building a tin mill and galvanising plant at Gartcosh, Lanarkshire.

The British Steel Corporation will submit for my right hon. Friends' approval an annual investment programme in accordance with the arrangements described in the White Paper "Nationalised Industries—A Review of Economic and Financial Objectives" (Cmnd. 3437, para. 39). It is, however, in the first instance for the Corporation to decide what projects to include in this programme.

asked the Minister of Power whether he has reached a conclusion in his discussions with the Electricity Council and the Gas Board about initial connection charges for electricity installations in new housing projects where gas is also supplied.

No. My right hon. Friend has received a report dealing with connection charges, in relation to both industries, which he is now discussing with them.

asked the Minister of Power what rise he estimates will occur in the price of shipbuilding steel.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my right hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey) today.

asked the Minister of Power what consultations he had with the British Steel Corporation, and when, before the decision to close the Phoenix Works, Rutherglen, of Stewarts and Lloyds; and what assurances he obtained as to the number of employees who would be offered alternative employment by the Corporation, and as to where the work at present being done there would be done in future.

I was informed several weeks ago that closure of the Phoenix Works was under consideration by the British Steel Corporation. I have the Corporation's assurance that everything possible will be done to provide alternative employment.

asked the Minister of Power if the proposed cuts in the capital investment programme of the nationalised industries are being taken into account in his revision of the Fuel Policy White Paper.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ince (Mr. McGuire) yesterday.—[Vol. 756, c. 57.]

asked the Minister of Power what application has been received by his Department for the extension of opencast coal mining in the area of Chevington Drift. Morpeth, Northumberland; and what decision he has taken.

None.

asked the Minister of Power what is the annual production of Phurnacite fuel now, as compared with the years 1960 and 1965; and how many plants are producing this fuel.

Production in 1960 and 1965 was 640,000 tons and 814,000 tons respectively. Current production and details of plant, are matters for the National Coal Board and I have asked the Chairman to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Power what assessment he has made of the contribution which coal can make in district heating schemes for large housing developments.

Coal is already contributing. I have myself visited the scheme at Billingham where the entire heating needs of a new town centre, with shops, municipal offices, blocks of flats, factory buildings and an indoor sports and entertainment forum are being provided for by piped hot water from a single boiler house served by solid fuel. Some 30 district heating schemes using coal are in operation, under construction or in the final stages of design.

asked the Minister of Power (1) if he will refer the increased charges proposed by the Northern Gas Board in regard to their gas central heating service scheme to the National Board for Prices and Incomes;(2) what consultations took place, in the light of Her Majesty's Government's directive to the nationalised industries about notification of price increases, with the Northern Gas Board regarding increased prices for their service scheme for gas central heating appliances, particularly the increase from 30s. to £8 for the comprehensive maintenance scheme; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Power whether, in view of the policy of Her Majesty's Government on prices, he will refer the increased price for servicing for gas central heating by the Northern Gas Board to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

Increases in consumer service charges by Gas Boards are not subject to the early warning system, but the Northern Gas Board informed the Government of their proposals on this occasion. The Government decided that there were insufficient grounds for referring these increases to the National Board for Prices and Incomes, and have confined the present reference to gas and coke.

asked the Minister of Power what is the latest estimate of the capital cost of the Coventry plant for the production of Homefire smokeless fuel, for which he has sanctioned expenditure; and when full production from the plant will be reached.

The latest estimate of the capital cost is £12 million. I am informed by the Board that there is no regular marketable production at present because of technical problems, and that until these problems are overcome it is not possible to say how long it will be until full production is reached. The Board expect however that part of the plant will be in regular production by March, 1968.

asked the Minister of Power how many of the men now employed at Mosley Common Colliery will receive benefit under the Coal Industry Redundancy Scheme when the colliery closes in February next.

There are at present 379 men over 55 at Mosley Common Colliery and the numbers who will receive benefit under the Coal Industry Redundancy Scheme, when the colliery closes will depend on how many of these men are able to take up jobs at other collieries.

asked the Minister of Power to what extent the curtailment of pit closures recently announced by Her Majesty's Government has affected the working life of collieries in Bassetlaw.

None of the 16 deferred pit closures recently announced by the Government affects Bassetlaw.

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement on the total amount of electrical generating capacity likely to be available in practice in relation to maximum possible demand under severe conditions in the coming winter months of December, January and February.

The C.E.G.B. estimate that their plant capacity available this winter will be 37,000 MW, and that maximum demand in average cold spells will be 36,000 MW.

asked the Minister of Power if he will state the costs of disposing of radioactive waste from nuclear power stations, and describe the methods used; and whether the costs are charged against the stations concerned.

The costs of dealing with radioactive waste at power stations are included in the capital and operating costs of the stations concerned and are not readily separable. I understand that the costs of processing wastes in irradiated fuel elements are allowed for by the Atomic Energy Authority in the price paid to the Generating Boards for the re-purchase of such fuel. For information about the disposal of solid and gaseous waste I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Bebington (Mr. Brooks) on 7th November.—[Vol. 753, c. 806.]

asked the Minister of Power what effect he estimates devaluation will have on the operating cost of the advanced gas-cooled reactor nuclear power stations, Dungeness B and Hinkley Point B; and what effect it will have on the operating costs of the coal-fired stations at Cottam and Drax.

It is too early to estimate but a significant difference appears to be unlikely.

asked the Minister of Power when it is expected that the advanced gas-cooled reactor nuclear power stations Dungeness B and Hinkley Point B will be in operation; and when he estimates that the coal-fired station at Cottam will be in operation.

1970, 1972 and 1968 respectively.

asked the Minister of Power what he estimates to be the effect on the average price paid for electricity by domestic and industrial consumers throughout Great Britain of achieving the forecast savings of cost expected from building advance gas-cooled reactor nuclear power stations with a total capacity of 8,000 megawatts, over a programme of coal-fired stations, assuming that all other factors remain unchanged.

At the present average cost of coal to the Central Electricity Generating Board, the annual savings would be more than £30 million or about 0·03d. a unit in the mid 1970s. It is not possible to predict the effect on the price of electricity to particular classes of consumer.

asked the Minister of Power what saving of manpower has been made by area electricity boards, the Central Electricity Generating Board and the Electricity Council as a result of the Selective Employment Tax.

The electricity supply industry is treated neutrally for purposes of the Selective Employment Tax, but the industry is aware of the great importance of further improving productivity.

asked the Minister of Power by how much the receipts of the electricity industry have had to be raised recently due to increases in rates payable by the industry.

Local authority rates in England and Wales are expected to cost the industry about £8 million more in 1967–68 than in 1965–66 when the last round of electricity price increases was completed.

asked the Minister of Power by how much the coal price increases of April, 1966, caused the electricity industry to put up its charges.

The increase in coal prices added about £30 million a year to the electricity industry's costs of which about half was automatically recovered at the time from consumers whose tariffs included a fuel cost adjustment clause.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will publish the source of the statistics available to his Department comparing productivity in Great Britain with other major industrial countries in terms of the number of men required in each country to achieve the same results.

There are no official statistics of international labour productivity comparisons of this sort available to the Department. Certain studies on productivity have been prepared by N.E.D.O. for individual industries which have some bearing on this matter and I am sending them to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Technology what are the consequences of devaluation on the proposed British share of development costs of the Concorde aircraft project.

The sterling cost of the work to be done in Britain will increase slightly owing to the higher costs of certain materials and equipment that have to be imported from third countries.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on the proposed legislation dealing with the expansion of industry.

The White Paper on the Government's proposals will be published shortly and as my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House explained on 7th December, the Bill will be introduced after the Recess.—[Vol. 755, c. 1669.]

asked the Minister of Technology when the Industrial Expansion Bill be published.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my earlier reply to the hon. Member for Billericay (Mr. Moonman).

asked the Minister of Technology what effect he estimates that devaluation will have upon European co-operation in advanced technology.

The financial effects on current collaborative projects will depend en the terms of the relevant agreements. Generally devaluation should add to the attraction of the U.K. as a partner in collaborative endeavours.

asked the Minister of Technology what grant is given to Short Brothers and Harland of Belfast for the Purpose of running pilotless, radio-controlled target operations at Woomera.

No grant is given by the Ministry of Technology. The Australian Department of Supply, as the range operator. have a contract with Short Brother3 and Harland which covers this work.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will specify work outside the atomic field currently being undertaken by the Atomic Energy Authority, showing the expenditure of public money involved in the current financial year of each major area of activity.

I tabulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT of 9th May, 1967, a list of the major areas of research outside the atomic field being undertaken by the Atomic Energy Authority. Major projects started since then are Atmospheric Pollution, which will cost about £50,000 in the current year, Tribology, Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow, and Computer Software and Applications (Linesman Mediator), on which smaller amounts will be spent this year.—[Vol. 746, c. 185.]

asked the Minister of Technology if he will state the total costs of the past work done by the Atomic Energy Authority for the advanced gas-cooled reactor series of nuclear stations; and why those costs are not being fully recovered in royalties.

The Authority's expenditure to 31st March, 1967, on the development of the Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor system amounted to £89 million. Whether a royalty of 0·014d. per unit will recover these costs in full depends on how many such stations are built and how much electricity they generate.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will make a statement about the development of, the Government's assistance to, and the export possibilities of, the hydrofoil.

On 1st November my right hon. Friend announced the establishment of a Working Party on Hydrofoils who will let him have their interim report as soon as possible. He should then be able to assess British prospects in this field.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he has considered the proposal of the Camlab Company, details of which have been sent to him, to increase its prices as a result of devaluation based not on the cost of the imported items but on the previous selling price thus increasing profits; and if he will refer this matter to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

My Department is investigating this case. I will let my hon. Friend know the result of my inquiries as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Technology to which governments sales have been made of the Canberra, Lightning, Jet Provost Family and B.A.C. guided weapons, respectively.

It is not Her Majesty's Government's policy to disclose details of sales of military equipment to overseas Governments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the total estimated annual cost to the taxpayer of the 122 additional public relations and Press officers appointed to Government Departments, excluding the Post Office, since September, 1964, on the criteria laid down in reply to a Question on 7th March, 1966, and of their subsidiary staff, including the cost of pay, pensions, gratuities and National Insurance, likely expense claims, and accommodation and ancillary services;(2) if he will give the approximate cost in 1968 of the 122 additional public relations and Press officers appointed in Government Departments, excluding the Post Office, since September, 1964, showing separately, pay, likely expense claims. pensions, gratuities and National Insurance, and accommodation and ancillary services.

The figure 122 quoted is for all Information Officer Staff and equivalents in Departments' Information Branches. Twenty-two of them are in the Post Office.Pay of the 122 staff is estimated at £250,000; that of subsidiary staff at £103,000; total pensions gratuities and national insurance costs at £97,000; and the cost of accommodation and ancillary services at £103,000. The total cost is estimated at £553,00; if the Post Office staff are excluded, £466,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the dispersal of Government Departments and their adjuncts to the regions and development areas of the United Kingdom.

Yes. Since the Flemming Report in May, 1963, over 9,000 Government jobs have been moved from London and the South-East, and a further 18,000 will be moved over the next few years. Of these 27,000, 13,000 will go to Scotland, Wales and the English Development Areas. The same policy is applied to offices required for new Government work and over the last two and the next few years this will have produced some 15,000 additional jobs in Scotland, Wales and the English Development Areas.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the total usage by Government Departments of non-wool textiles is represented by imports as against domestic production.

About 12½ per cent. of the non-wool fabrics purchased in 1966 by Government Departments consisted of cloth woven abroad.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will establish co-ordinating machinery for supplies and purchases for each Government Department with a view to ensuring variety and quality control.

The Government appreciates the importance of co-operation betwen Departments in order to concentrate their purchasing on a limited range of good quality products. Much has been done in this direction already, but we are constantly seeking further improvement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which new Government offices or agencies have been sited in Scotland since October 1964, the decisions for which to establish them in Scotland were made prior to October 1964; and how many jobs were involved.

Of the projects considered in the context of dispersal and regional development policies, the Post Office Savings Bank at Glasgow which will build up from its present employment of 1,100 to a total of 5,500 by 1976 and the Inland Revenue Schedule E centre at East Kilbride which will begin to operate next year and will employ 1,300 people by 1970.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Chief Secretary's negotiations with the Confederation of British Industry on the question of the need for Government Departments to obtain equality of information with contractors.

I have nothing to add to the Prime Minister's reply given today to my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the extent to which the advantage to be gained by exporters from devaluation has been reduced by the qualifications introduced in the measures relating to fiscal policy recently announced by Her Majesty's Government.

The average effect on exporters' costs of withdrawing the export rebate and the additional sum in the S.E.T. premium is estimated at about 2½ per cent. The effect of the 2½ per cent. increase in Corporation Tax on unit profits cannot be precisely estimated but will be small.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the increase of 8 per cent. in the n umber of overseas visitors during the first nine months of 1967, and the effect of the devaluation of the £ sterling on Great Britain's invisible earnings, he will seek to exempt the tourist industry from

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will support applications for foreign exchange in order to assist British groups offering legal aid and other assistance to American citizens who break the law of the United States of America my draft dodging.

Applications for foreign exchange will be approved only to the extent that they conform to the rules generally applicable to gifts and donations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish the letters of intent or similar communications sent to the international banking community by Government representatives between October, 1964 and November, 1967;

No. The tourist industry should benefit from the fact that devaluation will make holidays in Great Britain more attractive for visitors from most overseas countries. The changes proposed would be incompatible with the purposes of the Selective Employment Tax and the Regional Employment Premium.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the position of the Exchange Equalisation Account on 21st November or on the last convenient date; and if he will give the corresponding figures for six months before, 12 months before and 24 months before.

Figures relating to the Exchange Equalisation Account are published only at the end of each month. The gold and convertible currencies held in the Account at the relevant periods have been:(2) if he will publish the letters of intent or similar communications sent to the international banking community by Government representatives between 1951 and October, 1964.

Since October, 1964, the only letter of intent besides that of 23rd November this year was one sent in connection with the I.M.F. drawing of May, 1965. On this I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 6th December to the hon. Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Dickens). The question of publishing the letters of intent sent by the previous Government is not a matter for me.—[Vol. 755, c. 353.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any part of the $1,400 million standby credit is to be allocated to the repayment of the central bank swaps; and whether the International Monetary Fund's vetting procedures will continue to apply until this part of the standby is reconstituted.

There are existing undertakings to the effect that within certain limits drawing rights in the Fund will either be maintained to match drawings under some of our earlier Central Bank facilities or, if necessary, used to repay them. Whether those drawing rights will in fact have to be used for this purpose can only be decided later. Our commitments to consult with the International Monetary Fund were contained in the Letter of Intent of 23rd November which has been published.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied with the practice of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in charging duty and Purchase Tax on imported goods paid for before devaluation at post-devaluation rates of exchange; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. This practice is in accordance with the law and I am satisfied that no change is called for.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make it the normal practice in future to introduce a separate Budget and Finance Bill for Scotland, so that full account may be taken of her need for expansionist policies at those times when restrictionist and deflationary policies may be desirable in England.

No. In general, as a matter of practicality and in the absence of any control at the Border, the Government's fiscal policies have to apply uniformly throughout Great Britain. Our regional policies are already designed to improve the position in the development areas, including most of Scotland, in relation to the rest of the country.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will advance the date of the Budget to January, or as soon as possible thereafter, so as to take maximum advantage of any opportunities provided by devaluation of the £ sterling by means of fiscal incentives to greater national effort, and to put an end to speculation about further devaluation.

No. There is no basis for such speculation. The measures which it was advisable to take at once have been taken already. We need a clearer view of the prospect for demand before the next steps in fiscal policy are decided.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what total sums loans from the Export-Import Bank have been arranged for the purchase by the United Kingdom of military equipment; over what period, and in what instalments, these loans will be repaid; and how these transactions will be recorded in the official balance of payments statistics.

There are four credit Agreements with the Export-Import Bank, for a total of $847 million, under our arrangements with the United States Government for the purchase of United States military aircraft. Each Agreement provides for repayment in fourteen half-yearly instalments. A detailed explanation of how the transactions will be recorded in the official balance of payments statistics was given in "Economic Trends" of June, 1967.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state in terms of £ sterling per head of population the balance of payments between taxation paid and identifiable expenditure in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England, respectively.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Mr. Mackintosh) on 20th November. Some figures are available for taxation and expenditure in Scotland, and England and Wales, and these have been given in reply to recent Questions. However, for the reasons given in reply to a Question from the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mr. G. Campbell) on 9th November, the available figures are not comparable.—[Vol. 754, c. 283; Vol. 753, c. 159–70.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) for how long Stamp Duty has been charged on all ship mortgage finance; what is the additional cost of this proposal to the shipping industry; and what representations have been made to him to waive the charge;(2) whether he is aware of the increasing anxiety caused to industry by the levying of new charges, such as Stamp Duty on all ship mortgages; and what consultations he has held with the shipping industry on this subject.

As from 1st August, 1967, loan capital duty at the rate of 10s. per £100 is chargeable on loan capital raised by companies unless the loan is repayable within five years or at the creditor's option on not more than twelve months' notice. A mortgage deed in respect of a ship is itself exempt from Stamp Duty. I have received no representations from the shipping industry as to the effect on them of the charge to loan capital duty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will continue to pay export rebates on export contracts based on sterling and obtained before devaluation, regardless of delivery dates.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave on 8th December to Questions by the hon. Members for Cleveland (Mr. Tinn) and Liverpool, Wavertree (Mr. Tilney).—[Vol. 755, c. 411–2.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons are employed in district valuers' departments wholly or mainly on Land Commission work.

The valuation work for the Land Commission is integrated with the other duties of the Valuation Office. Apart from three officers who perform liaison duties, it is not possible to distinguish any members of the staff as engaged wholly or mainly on Land Commission work.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present cost of that proportion of wages and salaries paid to employees of the Inland Revenue in respect of work performed on behalf of the Land Commission.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount paid in rates on all properties occupied by the Land Commission in 1967–68.

Properties occupied by the Land Commission are exempt from rates but, in accordance with the practice in respect of properties occupied by the Crown, a contribution in lieu of rates is paid by the Treasury; this is estimated at £75,000 for Land Commission properties in 1967–68.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that deaths from lung cancer in 1966 numbered 30,483, and that there are 70,000 chronic alcoholics and 200,000 in the earlier stages of deterioration, what steps he proposes to take to moderate the national alcohol bill of £1,517,000,000, and tobacco bill of £1,504,000,000, and so help the nation live within its income.

More than half of this expenditure is absorbed by indirect taxation, any changes in the level of which would, of course, be a Budgetary matter.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) why additional provisions were added to the Building Regulations 1965, which prevented the use of painting and other surface treatments being taken into account in assessing the working life of a material, contrary to the information given on this subject in the British Standards Institute Code of Practice on the painting of buildings;(2) what steps are taken by his department to ensure that the provisions of Regulation B 3 of the Building Regulations, 965 do not inhibit the development of new external cladding materials; and what are the present provisions with regard to the testing of such materials before their use can be permitted under this Regulation.

The provisions of Regulation B 3 (3) of the building regulations were intended to clarify, not to vary, the position which had obtained under the byelaws. My right hon. Friend is always prepared to consider, along with other proposed amendments of the Regulations, any proposals for altering the list of materials in Regulation B 3, and in relation to any particular material would take account of all available test evidence.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will schedule the village of Barnes as a conservation area under the terms of the Civic Amenities Act 1967.

The Hon. Member should put his proposal to the Greater London Council and the Richmond Borough Council in the first instance, as the local authorities are primarily responsible for designating conservation areas.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government which counties have complied with the requirement of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 to complete the survey of footpaths, bridleways and old tracks; which counties have not yet complied; and what action he is taking to enforce compliance.

Definitive maps cannot be published until all disputes have been resolved, but recent progress towards completion of the survey has been good. Every effort is being made to expedite matters and my right hon. Friend has directed one county (York- shire East Riding) to publish its definitive map by the end of the year.Following is the available information:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what study he has made of the effect on the proposed Lea Valley Regional Park of a major international airport at Stansted.

The realignment of the runways at Stansted is now being considered and the effect on the Lea Valley Regional Park is one of the considerations which will be taken into account.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 has been used to permit alienation of certain of Great Britain's foreshores in such a way as to prevent their free use by bathers and other citizens; and if he will take steps by legislation or otherwise to amend that Act and to prevent these abuses.

No. The powers conferred by the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949 have been used to facilitate access to the foreshore, not to deny it. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind perhaps he would care to write to me about it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what plans he has to introduce legislation compelling local authorities to comply with the recommendations of the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

We must await the National Board for Prices and Incomes report before deciding what action may be needed in respect of any recommendations the Board may make.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many persons are now employed by the Land Commission; and if he will give an estimate of the number who will be employed at the end of March, 1968.

Present total staff 1,468. Estimated number at the end of March, 1968, not more than 1,520.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the amount raised, in the form of levy, by the Land Commission to the latest convenient date; and what estimate he has made of the amount which would have been raised on the relevant transactions by Capital Gains Tax.

The amount assessed up to 1st December, 1967, was £226,500. No estimate has been made of the amount which would have been raised on these transactions by Capital Gains Tax.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state the approximate annual cost of all wages and salaries at present paid in respect of employees of the Land Commission.

£1,844,000.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish a list of schemes for the removal of derelict sites in the county of Durham indicating those so far completed and the dates when the remainder are to be completed.

Information in this form is not available. Local authorities are responsible for the timing of schemes after approval for Exchequer grant which may be paid on completion of the work or by instalments as work proceeds. Details of schemes approved in Durham are as follows:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will seek power to compel a local authority to repair and maintain a building of great architectural or historic value in its area.

Local authorities already have power to contribute towards the cost of repairing historic buildings or to acquire compulsorily those which are neglected. I would ask my hon. Friend to await the proposals shortly to be published in the Town and Country Planning Bill which will strengthen their hands in certain respects.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now make a statement about his talks with the building societies concerning 100 per cent. mortgages.

It is too early yet to make any statement. In the meantime we are working out the precise details of the scheme so that it will be ready when the time comes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give the names of those local authorities whose recent rent increases he intends to refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 11th December to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Roebuck): that reply gave the names of the local authorities concerned.—[Vol. 756, c. 41–2.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to what extent rent assessment committees in making their decisions have given con- sideration to complaints by landlords that rents are inadequate to enable them to maintain their property in good condition.

Section 27(1) of the Rent Act, 1965, requires rent assessment committees, like rent officers, to have regard in determining a fair rent to all circumstances except personal circumstances, and especially to the age, character and locality of the dwelling and its state of repair.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what guidance he has given to the chairmen of rent assessment committees or rent tribunals during the last 12 months as to the level at which rents should be fixed.

Rent assessment committees and rent tribunals operate independently under statute and my right hon. Friend has no power to issue guidance on the levels of rent they should fix.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many council houses have been provided at Lowestoft in each of the last three years; and what is the estimated number for 1968.

The numbers of local authority dwellings completed in Lowestoft in the last three years, and the first ten months of 1967, are shown below. Most of the dwellings now under construction are in one large scheme which, if completed in 1968, would itself provide more dwellings than have been completed in any of the last three years.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will confirm the 1965 Compulsory Purchase Order for Marlborough Terrace/Pryme Street/Wright Street, Hull, the public inquiry for which was held on 23rd November, 1966.

My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to issue his decision on the Order by the end of this month.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many applications for determination of a fair rent have been made to the rent officer in Gateshead; how many are outstanding; and what is the average time taken for the hearing to be held and a decision given.

Up to 24th November, 1967, 304 applications had been received, of which 34 were subsequently withdrawn; 131 of the applications were received in the week ending 17th November, and there are 138 applications outstanding. Up to now, applications have been decided on average four weeks after receipt.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he is aware that incentives offered in development areas fail to attract industry to many isolated localities of high unemployment; and if he will consider using the powers under Section 2(1)(b) of the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation Act, 1966, to establish industrial enterprises owned and sponsored by the State in these areas.

The massive inducements now available to industries to set up in the Development Areas have not yet exerted their full effect. With the coming upswing in the economy much more industry will be setting up in all parts of the Development Areas, including the more isolated localities. If, however, a case arises wheres the I.R.C. may be able to help in particular circumstances my right hon. Friend will not hesitate to ask them.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will seek powers to deter manufacturers from basing necessary devaluation price increases on previous selling price rather than on cost price, thus increasing profits, and to provide that, in future, Government requests on such matters shall not be ignored.

Manufacturers are being advised by the Government Departments concerned that increases in prices due to devaluation should be no greater than is justified by the increase in overall costs. The Government will make full use of their existing powers in all appropriate cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards a special relationship between Great Britain and Italy.

Her Majesty's Government have always attached great importance to this country's traditional friendship with Italy. The Italian Gov-

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will seek an international agreement with the United States of America, France and Belgium on the import of vicuna skins.

If my hon. Friend would care to write and describe the sort of international agreement he has in mind, I would be happy to have the Question looked into.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proportion of the entrants to the Foreign Service has been recruited from provincial universities, as opposed to Oxford and Cambridge, in each of the last five years.

The total number of direct entrants to the Administrative Grades of the Diplomatic Service by Open Competition from Oxford and Cambridge since 1962 is 136. During the same period 31 entered from other universities, while 3 were non-graduates. A breakdown of these figures is shown below. There is also some graduate entry into the Executive Grades of the Service, although the bulk of recruitment is from non-graduates. The figures for Executive Grade entry are also included in the table.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the progress achieved in securing an agreed draft for a non-proliferation treaty.

The negotiations have continued, but the position is still substantially as described to the House on 2nd November. Her Majesty's Government trust that their offer on safeguards which I announced to the House on 4th December, will assist in bringing these negotiations to a speedy and successful conclusion.—[Vol. 753, c. 462; Vol. 755, c 963.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will transfer responsibility for the school medical service from the Department of Education and Science to the Ministry of Health.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave on 2nd March, 1967, to a similar Question by him.—[Vol. 742, c. 150.]

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied that sufficient consultations take place between the National Coal Board, regional planning councils, the Board of Trade- and the Department of Economic Affairs, pending pit closures, in order that adequate preparation can be made for the provision of alternative employment for men not reabsorbed in coalmining; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. My hon. Friend will be aware of the announcement made on this question on 29th September, 1967. It is my belief that these arrangements are working effectively.

asked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to Her Majesty's Government's present economic policy, he will propose temporary reductions in the salaries of Ministers and Members of Parliament.

No.

asked the Prime Minister at what hour on which day during discussions with Rediffusion Television his office, acting on his instructions, objected to the inclusion of Mr. Peter Jay on the programme, "This Week", on 23rd November.

Mr. Jay's name was mentioned as a potential interviewer and the suggestion was made, during the late afternoon of Tuesday, 21st November, that a better balance might be achieved by introducing a journalist with experience of prices and incomes, and industrial matters.

asked the Prime Minister what instructions he has given to Ministers about the need to establish equality of information with contractors when undertaking public purchasing; and if he will make a statement.