asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will now propose that African States should establish their own machinery to boycott trade with companies known to be supplying oil and manufactured goods to Rhodesia.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs to the hon. Member for Hampstead (Mr. Whitaker) on 11th December, 1967.—[Vol. 756, c. 21.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take in order to make possible United Kingdom trade with Rhodesia; and if he will now seek a settlement on sanctions.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 18th January to his Question and that of the hon. Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison).—[Vol. 756, c. 1950.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the value of the gold reserves held by Rhodesia at the latest convenient date and at the time of the unilateral declaration of independence.

The latest available figures for Rhodesian gold reserves are those published in Salisbury on 3rd December, 1965. They were then stated to be worth £3,680,152.At the time of the illegal declaration of independence Rhodesia's gold reserves were worth £3,502,091.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress made towards determining the future constitutional status of British Honduras.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Mem- ber for Londonderry (Mr. Chichester-Clark) on 5th December, 1967.—[Vol. 755, c. 268.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what are the criteria which determined Her Majesty's Government to grant independence to those countries which have become independent in the last two years.

I would refer the hon. Lady to the answer my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Sir C. Taylor) on 15th December, 1966.—[Vol. 738, c. 151.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements he has made to convene a conference of the Governments of Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Her Majesty's Government to consider new defence arrangements for South-East Asia, in view of the Government's decision to withdraw from this area by 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to call together a conference of Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore to discuss the security of members of the Commonwealth in South-East Asia.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply to a similar Question given to the hon. Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Roebuck) on 24th January.—[Vol. 757, c. 143.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement about the future independence of Nauru.

It has been agreed between the Nauruan leaders and the Governments of Australia, New Zealand and Britain that Nauru should become independent on 31st January, 1968. The United Nations General Assembly unanimously resolved in December, 1967, that the Trusteeship Agreement for Nauru should terminate from that date.I would also refer to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the right hon. Member for Bexley (Mr. Heath) on 29th January.—[Vol. 757, c.

asked the Secretary of Stale for Commonwealth Affairs whether the People's Republic of South Yemen has applied for membership of the Commonwealth.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the future constitution of Gibraltar.

My noble Friend Lord Shepherd will be visiting Gibraltar next week to begin the process of constitutional discussions. He will have preliminary talks with leaders there on constitutional matters and will take stock generally in advance of the more formal discussions on the constitution which will follow.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what action he will now take in order to help reduce Zambia's economic dependence upon Rhodesia and South Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will increase aid to Zambia in the light of continuing sanctions against Rhodesia.

The agreement of February, 1967, with the Zambian Government for grants of up to £1385 million for expenditure on certain projects up to 30th June, 1967, to assist Zambia in the development of alternative supply routes and her own fuel and power resources contained provision for a joint review of the situation. This has now taken place and the proceedings are being studied. In regard to development aid, which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Overseas Development, I have nothing to add to his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Yarmouth (Dr. Gray) on 21st December last.—[Vol. 756, c. 467.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to establish a Commonwealth Economic Committee designed to investigate the establishment of closer trading links leading to a common market with Great Britain and Europe.

If my hon. Friend has in mind a Committee representing all Commonwealth Governments, that would be a matter for them collectively and not for the British Government alone. For my part, I doubt if his aim is practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the effect of the Beira blockade in preventing the flow of oil to Rhodesia; and if he will make a statement.

All of the reports which we have received about the Beira Patrol confirm the reply given on 8th November by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd) and the hon. Member for St. Albans (Mr. Goodhew).—[Vol. 753, c. 1019–20.]

asked the Minister of Power in what years he plans to reintroduce in the investment programmes of the National Coal Board, the Central Electricity Generating Board, the gas industry and the electricity authorities, any of the capital projects that have had to be cut or deleted due to devaluation or the Government's policy for public expenditure in 1967 to 1970.

asked the Minister of Power (1) what are the plans for reinstating the major capital projects of the National Coal Board deferred because of the cuts in its programme for 1968–69 and 1969–70; and what will be the approximate length of deferment in each case;(2) what are the plans for reinstating the major capital projects of the Gas Council deferred because of the cuts in its programme for 1968–69 and 1969–70; and what will be the approximate length of deferment in each case.

asked the Minister of Power (1) what his plans are for reinstating the major capital projects of the Central Electricity Generating Board deferred as a result of the cuts in the capital expenditure programme for 1968–69 and 1969–70, indicating the length of deferment in each case;(2) what are his plans for reinstating the major capital projects of the British Steel Corporation deferred as a result of the cuts in the capital expenditure programme for 1968–69 and 1969–70 indicating the length of deferment in each case.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the hon. Member for Worthing (Mr. Higgins) on 17th January.—[Vol. 756, c. 649.]

asked the Minister of Power if he will list the estimated reductions in capital projects covered by the announcement in November for the nationalised coal, gas and electricity and steel industries; and if he will list individual schemes affected where the amount totals £1,000,000 or more.

asked the Minister of Power (1) if he will list, stating the cost in each case, those major capital projects which the National Coal Board has had to defer because of the cuts in its planned expenditure during 1968–69 and 1969–70;(2) if he will list, stating the cost in each case, those major capital projects which the Gas Council has had to defer because of the cuts in its planned expenditure during 1968–69 and 1969–70.

asked the Minister of Power (1) if he will list, stating the value in each case, those major capital projects which the Central Electricity Generating Board have had to defer as a result of the cuts in their planned expenditure during the years 1968–69 and 1969–70;(2) if he will now list, stating the value in each case, those major capital projects which the British Steel Corporation have had to defer as a result of the cuts in their planned expenditure during the years 1968–69 and 1969–70.

I have nothing to add to the Answers given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, Central (Mr. Palmer) on 21st December, and by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the hon. Member for Worthing (Mr. Higgins) on 17th January.—[Vol. 756, c. 488; c. 649.]

asked the Minister of Power what consultations he has had with the National Coal Board about the proposed cuts in its capital expenditure programme during 1968–69 and 1969–70.

asked the Minister of Power what discussions he has had with the Central Electricity Generating Board about proposed cuts in its capital expenditure programme in 1968–69 and 1969–70.

asked the Minister of Power what plans are being made by his Department to replan the investment policies of the National Coal Board, the Central Electricity Generating Board, the Gas Boards and the electricity authorities to meet the need for economies in Government spending.

asked the Minister of Power what consultations he has had with the Gas Council about the proposed cuts in its capital expenditure programme during 1968–69 and 1969–70.

asked the Minister of Power what consultations he has had with the British Steel Corporation about proposed cuts in their capital expenditure programmes in 1968–69 and 1969–70.

The reductions were discussed with the Chairman of the industries.I review the long-term investment programmes of the nationalised industries annually, and full account will be taken in the coming review of the need for exceptional economies in public expenditure.

asked the Minister of Power what was the total spent by the coal, gas, and electricity industries, respectively, last year on the purchase of foreign manufactures; and what steps he is taking to ensure that, in the national; interest, they purchase more British-made equipment.

I am informed by the National Coal Board and the Electricity and Gas Councils that the expenditure of their industries last year on the purchase of foreign manufactures was approximately as follows:

Coal: £3 million (about 1½per cent. of the industry's total purchases of manufactures).

Gas: £10 million (4 per cent.).

Electricity: Negligible.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a general direction to the boards of the nationalised industries for which he is responsible that they should make a cut in their administrative and clerical staff during 1967–68.

The nationalised industries are already aware of the need for strict economy in staffing as in other fields.

asked the Minister of Power (1) if he will state the capital expenditure now expected to be incurred by the National Coal Board in 1968–69 and 1969–70, respectively, listing the major new projects, with their estimated cost, to be started in each year;(2) if he will state the capital expenditure now expected to be incurred by the Gas Council in 1968–69 and 1969–70, respectively, listing the major new projects, with their estimated cost, to be started in each year.

asked the Minister of Power (1) if he will state the estimated cost of the expenditure on capital projects by the Central Electricity Generating Board row scheduled for 1968–69 and 1969–70, listing the major new capital projects to be started in each year, and the estimated cost of each, respectively;(2) if he will state the estimated costs of expenditure on capital projects by the British Steel Corporation now scheduled for 1968–69 and 1969–70, listing the major new capital projects to be started in each year and the estimated cost of each, respectively.

The capital expenditure of the N.C.B. in 1968–69 is expected to be £83 million; the figure for the Gas Council and Area Gas Boards is £299 million the figure for the Central Electricity Generating Board is £385 million, though further reductions are being considered. The British Steel Corporation expect to submit their programme for 1968–69 very shortly.The programmes of the fuel and power industries for 1969–70 are the subject of this year's annual investment review. The British Steel Corporation's programme for 1969–70 will be considered early in 1969.Under the Acts, my approval is related to the industries' general programmes of capital development and not to individual projects.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will publish a White Paper estimating the social costs involved in the Government's fuel policy.

Precise quantification of the social costs under different policies is impossible. Contraction of the coal industry is inevitable, but the measures described in the White Paper on Fuel Policy show the Government's determination that it shall take place at a rate which will avoid unnecessary hardship and social waste.

asked the Minister of Power what return was earned on capital in 1966–67 by the steel companies now vested in the British Steel Corporation.

Most of the steel companies now vested in the British Steel Corporation have not yet finalised their accounts for their financial years ending in 1967.

asked the Minister of Power when the first profit and loss statement for the steel industry will be published.

The first consolidated accounts of the British Steel Corporation and publicly-owned companies should be published sometime in 1969.

the Minister of Power if he will take steps to make it mandatory that all new installations which would normally be inspected by the area electricity boards shall conform to current Institute of Electrical Engineering regulations.

I have nothing to add to the statement I made on 14th December last.—{Vol. 756, c. 776.]

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement on the Government's policy with regard to the different means of supplying power to the new aluminium smelters to be established in development areas.

The aluminium companies have been told that proposals may be based either on power supplied under appropriate terms by the Generating Boards, or on generation by themselves. Proposals using both methods are under consideration.

asked the Minister of Power what is now the average generating cost per unit of electricity, as produced at the power station, and the average selling price per unit of electricity to the user whether domestic or industrial; and if he will give an undertaking not to approve any increased tariffs submitted by area boards for the next three years.

The average cost of electricity sold by the Central Electricity Generating Board to Area Electricity Boards in 1966–67 was 1·28d. per unit of which about an eighth was accounted for by the cost of transmission and C.E.G.B. overheads. The average cost to final consumers was 1·.78d. per unit. It is not possible to forecast how long it will be possible to maintain the present prices but I do not expect a further increase for some time to come.

asked the Minister of Power (1) on the basis that the average pit head cost per ton of coal of the 14 most efficient collieries is 56s. 4d.. what estimate he has made of the pit head cost per ton of coal suitable for use by the Central Electricity Generating Board from those collieries; and, on the basis that this coal is supplied to a power station sited near the pit head and that generating costs are for the most advanced coal-fired power stations, what estimate he has made of the generating cost per unit from such a coal-fired power station;(2) on the basis that the average pit head cost per ton of coal of the 107 collieries producing coal between 3d. to 4d. per therm is 79s. 5d., what estimate he has made of the pit head cost per ton of coal suitable for use by the Central Electricity Generating Board from these collieries; and, on the basis that this coal is supplied to a power station sited near the pit head and that generating costs are for the most advanced coal-fired power stations, what estimate he has made of the generating cost per unit from such a coal-fired power station;(3) on the basis that the average pit head cost per ton of coal from the 81 collieries producing coal between 4d. to 4½d. per therm is 94s. ld., what estimate he has made if the pit head cost per ton of coal suitable for use by the Central Electricity Generating Board from these colleries; and, on the basis that this coal is supplied to a power station sited near the pit head and that generating costs are for the most advanced coal-fired power stations, what estimate he has made of the generating cost per unit from such a coal-fired power station.

The different grades of coal are joint products and the National Coal Board does not make a formal allocation of costs to them. If the average pit head costs of power station coal were 56s. 4d., 79s. 5d., and 94s. 1d. per ton, I am advised by the C.E.G.B. that the estimated base load generation cost per kWh of the most advanced coal-fired power station would be 0·52d., 0·62d. and 0·68d., respectively.

asked the Minister of Power what was the total cost to the electricity supply industry of meter reading, including supervisory staff, in each of the last 10 years; and what proposals he has received for setting up a system of combined load control and automatic remote meter reading using telephone or pilot wires.

As regards the first part of the Question the figures are as follows:

asked the Minister of Power if he will arrange for his inspectors, accompanied in each case by an independent consulting electrical engineer, to carry out in each South-Eastern Electricity Board district a sample investigation, similar to the one recently carried out by his Department in the Board's Guildford and Dorking districts, of the Board's installations in consumers' premises.

The South Eastern Electricity Board are themselves carrying out a sample investigation in each of their districts, and the Ministry's inspectors are keeping in close touch.

asked the Minister of Power what was the South Eastern Electricity Board's expenditure in each of the last 10 years on replacements of apparatus on consumers' premises that did not conform to accepted standards of safety; and what estimate he has made of the expenditure which is still needed.

I regret that it is not practicable to separate costs of replacing incoming cable and Board's apparatus within consumers' premises, or to distinguish between costs of replacement for safety and for other reasons.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a general direction to the electricity supply industry that further training should be given to meter readers to enable them to report irregularities in area boards' or consumers' installations.

No. The Electricity Council have the matter under consideration so far as the Area Boards' installations are concerned. The Boards are not responsible for consumers' installations.

asked the Minister of Power how much liquefied natural gas the Gas Council have purchased over each of the past four years; what estimate he has made of the amounts the Council will he allowed to import, other than North Sea gas, over the next four years; and what is the landing cost per therm.

Imports in the past four years have been approximately 40 million, 260 million, 250 million and 310 million therms. The terms of the contract provide for about 360 million therms a year to be imported during the next four years. The current landed cost is about 7½d. per therm.

asked the Minister of Power when he estimates that consumers of gas in Bedford will have their appliances converted for North Sea gas.

This will be announced by the Eastern Gas Board as soon as plans for conversion of this part of its area are sufficiently firm.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the number of patients per family doctor in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region for each of the past six years; and what were the national figures over the same period.

Following are the figures:

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the number of vacancies existing for family doctors in the South Yorkshire area; and if he will make a statement on the action he is taking to remedy the situation.

There is no fixed complement of general practitioners in this or any other area. I regret that the first part of the Question cannot, therefore, be answered in the terms requested. Initial practice allowances are available to doc tors starting to practise in the areas of greatest shortage, several of which are in South Yorkshire. I hope that these allowances, and others available for general practitioners in such areas, will increasingly attract more doctors to practise there.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made in providing facilities for the treatment of heroin addicts in the London area.

Out-patient treatment facilities are now provided at 15 hospitals and in-patient facilities at 11 hospitals. Further expansion is planned for the near future.Regular out-patient treatment facilities for heroin addicts are at present available at the following hospitals in the London area:

asked the Minister of Health what instructions are given to hospitals regarding the discharge of patients to establish continuous and reliable supervision where the patient is immobile, is diagnosed as in need of long-term hospitalisation, and care of the patient by an only relative is in doubt.

When discharge is decided upon hospitals have been advised to notify the general practitioner and, where appropriate, to consult the local health authorities (and if necessary the Ministry of Labour Resettlement Officer) at an early stage, finally notifying them of impending discharge 48 hours before hand. Where satisfactory arrangements for after-care cannot be made, discharge should not normally take place.

asked the Minister of Health how many patients were registered in each of the hospitals in the Hartlepool group of hospitals on 13th January, 1968; and how many bed places there are in each hospital.

The number of beds available and occupied on 13th January, 1968, was as follows:

asked the Minister of Health how many patients are registered on the urgent waiting list for admission to hospital immediately a bed is available in the Hartlepool group of hospitals; how many have been on this list for periods of one month, two months, three months, and more than three months, respectively; and how many of these have been discharged from hospital to be placed on the urgent waiting list automatically.

The total number of patients on the waiting list was 685 on 30th November, 1967, which is the latest date for which waiting times are available; of these 224 had been waiting for less than one month, 120 from one to two months, 140 from two to four months, and 203 for more than four months. Urgent cases are admitted without delay. No patients have been discharged from hospital and automatically placed on the waiting list.

asked the Minister of Health what was the estimated revenue from private beds in the last year for which figures are available over the whole country; and what fall in revenue is expected in the forthcoming financial year as a result of the proposed reductions in the number of private beds.

As regards the first part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Reading (Mr. John Lee) on 19th January. As regards the second part, the reduced number of pay beds should be adequate to meet the present demand, and I expect no significant change in revenue as a result of the reductions. [Vol. 756, c. 699.]

asked the Minister of Health which National Health Service hospitals provide facilities for outpatient private consultations; which hospitals that are being planned or being built will provide such facilities; and what is the extent of the provision for these facilities.

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available centrally. Where private out-patients are treated in National Health Service hospitals they generally make use of the normal outpatient accommodation at times when it is not being used for non-paying patients, and there are no plans to provide facilities exclusively for their use.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will reconsider his decision to restrict local authority home loans in 1968–69 to £130 million.

No. Local authority lending for this purpose has to be contained as part of the overall control of public expenditure.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in the housing figures which are periodically issued by his Department, he will distinguish between the figures for houses built for civilian occupation and those built for members of the Armed Services.

No. To provide this information would require new statistical returns including details of private purchases by members of the Armed Services. My right hon. Friend is, however, considering the occasional publication of such information, as is available; this covers dwellings built by Government Departments for families of the Armed Services and houses purchased by the Defence Departments for service use.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the reference to the National Board for Prices and Incomes of local authority rents, he will authorise a similar reference of controlled rents.

No. I do not propose to extend the present reference in this way.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what advice he has given to rent officers on cases where service charges have been added to rents only since the passing of the Rent Act, 1965.

My right hon. Friend has drawn rent officers' attention to Section 28 of the Act, which provides that payments by tenants for services by landlords shall be included in the registered rent and that, where a tenancy agreement provides for payment for services to vary with their cost to the landlord, the rent officer may if he thinks the terms of variation reasonable register as variable that part of the registered rent that relates to service charges.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what the total cost is of a council flat, costing £2,600 to build, after charging interest payment at the current rate of 9 per cent. for 60 years; what is its economic rent, excluding rates and subsidy; what proportion of this rent is required to pay interest charges; and why interest rates have not been kept down to 2½per cent. or 3 per cent.

As regards the first three parts of this Question, local authorities do not normally raise loans for 60 years, nor at interest rates as high as 9 per cent. As regards the last part, the Housing Subsidies Act, 1967 in effect enables local authorities to provide new housing at a fixed interest rate of 4 per cent.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what were the levels of public investment for housing in the Northern Region for the three-year periods preceding and following 1964.

Public investment in new dwellings exclusive of land costs, in the Northern Region in the three financial years 1962–63 to 1964–65 together amounted to £61.5 million. Figures for the next three-year period are not yet available, but the figure for the last available year, 1965–66 was £27.5 million.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what improvements in housing standards have been established in the Northern Region arising from any relevant increase in public expenditure; and if he will make a statement.

With the help of the new subsidies 83·3 per cent. of dwellings approved in the Region were to Parker Morris space and heating standards by the middle of last year, as against 58·4 per cent. in 1965.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the number of houses, private and public, completed in the Northern Region for the three-year periods preceding and following 1964.

In the three years 1962 to 1964, 27,706 private dwellings and 30,330 public dwellings were completed in the Northern Region. For the period 1965 to 1967 the figures were 28,120 and 34.536, respectively.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the estimated reduction in the housing programme for 1968–69 and 1969–70 in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region as a result of Command Paper No. 3515.

As I stated in reply to Questions by the hon. Member for West-morland (Mr. Jopling) and the hon. Member for North Fylde (Mr. Clegg) on 29th January, it is hoped to settle by discussion with the main housebuilding authorities, as part of the normal review of forward programmes, what it would be practicable for them to build over the next two or three years in the light of the priority to be given to slum clearance, to meeting shortages of rented accommodation in conurbations and especially to the priority areas, where there are the highest concentration of these problems; I am not yet able to give figures for any particular authority, area or region.—[Vol. 757, c. 240]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities in England and Wales are offering council houses for sale.

Last year 198 local authorities out of 1,382 in England and Wales sold one or more council houses but only 33 sold more than 10. It is not known how many other authorities are offering houses for sale but did not sell any in 1967.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he has taken as a result of the reports of inspectors in his Department on the subject of sewage disposal in certain areas.

Generally where there was pollution of the beaches the sewerage authority already had remedial measures in hand or planned. In three instances where this was not so, I am continuing discussions with the local authorities about the measures required.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take powers to require local authorities dealing with applications for planning permission to affix a notice regarding such applications on the sites in question.

No. I hardly think it would be practicable to require every planning application to be publicised in this way. But planning authorities are already able, and indeed expected, to advertise any proposals which they feel should be brought to the attention of the public.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in publishing the Civil Estimates for 1968–69 he will indicate against each item the amount, if any, by which the estimate has been reduced as a result of the proposals set out in Command Paper No. 3515.

I am considering the possibility of publishing a table to illustrate the effects of the public expenditure cuts on 1968–69 Estimates when the Vote on Account is published in February. This would be a more convenient way of bringing the information to the House's attention than the method proposed by the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he had with bodies representative of local government, and with individual local authorities, prior to framing the proposals for cuts in public expenditure set out in Command Paper No. 3515.

It would not have been appropriate to consult local authorities about the public expenditure cuts

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the same form as the table on page 15 of Command Paper No. 3515 a table showing the proposed reductions in expenditure on each item listed in the Treasury analysis of public expenditure on pages 129–131 of National Income and Expenditure, 1967.

I am considering the possibility of preparing and publishing in the OFFICIAL REPORT a Table which will provide the hon. Member with the information for which he asks.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the outturn for the main programmes of public expenditure and their total, as defined in table 18·1 on page 178 of the National Plan, for each of the years 1964–65, 1965–66 and 1966–67 in the current prices of each year, recalculated on 1965 prices, and recalculated on any other convenient constant price basis.

Below is a table in the form requested showing outturn figures for the years in question expressed in current prices. As my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ashfield (Mr. Marquand) on 24th January, the conceptual difficulties of expressing statistics of public expenditure (including transfer payments) for past years in terms of constant prices are such that I do not feel able to publish these figures revalued in terms of constant prices.—[Vol. 757, c.134–51

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the main public expenditure programmes and their total, as defined in table 18·.1 on page 178 of the National Plan for each of the years 1967–68, 1968–69, and 1969–70 in the current prices of each year, recalculated in 1965 survey prices, and recalculated on any convenient constant price basis for which there are available comparable figures for earlier years

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to control the growth in public expenditure in line with the Government's plans and whether he is satisfied that the official statistics available to him are adequate for this task.

The methods I am using are those which have been developed over recent years and are being continuously improved—a regular and comprehensive review of forward plans. The Answer to the second part of the Question is "Yes", but our statistical methods are under continuous development.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of public expenditure on a national income accounting basis for public authorities' current expenditure on goods and services, public authorities' gross domestic fixed capital

Below is a table showing the estimates at 1965 Survey prices. As my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary said in reply to the hon. Member for Worthing (Mr. Higgins) on 17th January, it is not customary to publish any forecast of pay and price adjustments such as current price estimates would disclose. The only available comparable figures for earlier years are those given in the National Plan, and these are on the 1965 Survey price basis.—[Vol. 756, c.648ߝ9]formation, respectively, at 1958 constant prices for 1967, 1968 and 1969, before and after the cuts announced by the Government on 16th January consistent with and implied by the figures given in Command Paper No. 3515.

The information in respect of 1967, which was not affected by the cuts, will be published in March in the usual White Paper giving preliminary estimates of the national income. I am not prepared to give estimates for 1968 and 1969.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made of public expenditure, as defined in the table at the end of Command Paper No. 3515, Public Expenditure in 1968–69 and 1969–70, for 1964–65, 1965–66, and 1966–67 at the current prices for each year, recalculated on the basis of 1967 survey prices, and recalculated on a consistent basis in any other convenient constant prices, respectively.

As regards the first part of the question, total public expenditure (excluding debt interest and the capital expenditure of the nationalised industries, etc.) at current prices (as shown in the Treasury Analysis of Public Expenditure in the National Income and Expenditure Blue Book, 1967) was as follows in the years in question:—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in table form his estimates for the main public expenditure programmes, as defined in table 18·1 on page 178 of the National Plan, for the years 1964–65, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, and 1969–70, before and after the 1966 Budget, the 1966 July measures, the 1967 Budget, the 1967 Devaluation package, and the January 1968 public expenditure cuts, respectively, in the current prices of each year, recalculated on the basis of 1965 survey prices, and recalculated on any other convenient constant price basis for which he can supply comparable figures throughout.

The compilation of such a table, which would in any case raise some serious conceptual difficulties, would involve a disproportionate expenditure of staff, time and effort.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give figures showing how the figures in column 1 of the Appendix of Command Paper No. 3515 appeared before allowance was made for the £400 million reduction in public expenditure announced on 18th December, 1967.

I assume the hon. Member refers to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary's statement on 18th November. The measures he then announced to curtail public expenditure did not affect 1967–68 and so would not affect column 1 of the Table attached to Cmnd. 3515. Column 2 of the Table (for 1968–69) takes account of the reduction in defence expenditure (£100 million), in S.E.T. additional payments (£100 million) and in the investment of nationalised industries, etc. (£68 million—excluding £3 million for the Atomic Energy Authority) announced on 18th November and 21st October. The abolition of export rebate is classified as an increase in revenue and so does not affect the Cmnd. 3515 figures.—[Vol. 754, c. 951-2; Vol. 756, c. 488]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order to facilitate informed discussion of his forthcoming budget, he will publish as White Papers in advance of Budget day, the full official pre-budget forecasts of the national income and expenditure at constant and at current prices, and of the balance of payments, and on Budget day itself, the fully revised official forecasts to take account of the effects, as then estimated, of budget measures.

I am still considering this and I hope to announce my decision shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to facilitate the consideration by the Government of the full effects of Budget measures on the balance of payments and domestic economy before the Budget is announced and to facilitate their subsequent consideration by Parliament.

I shall do my best to ensure that the effects of any measures I announce in my Budget have been fully assessed when decisions are being taken and are adequately expounded when I present the Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value of net sterling liabilities to overseas sterling area countries, as a percentage of the global total net sterling liabilities, at the end of September in 1964 and in 1967.

Overseas Sterling Area countries' holdings of sterling, as a proportion of all countries' holdings, in September, 1964 and 1967 were 78 per cent. and 72 per cent. respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will, from the sources available to him, estimate the percentage of sterling holdings in overseas sterling area countries' gold and foreign exchange reserves at the end of September in 1964 and in 1967.

My best estimate from published sources is that the proportion of sterling held in the reserves of Overseas Sterling Area countries at the end of September, 1967 was about two-thirds, compared with about three-quarters at the end of 1964. These figures include the holdings of South Africa, whose reserves are traditionally held mainly in gold.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what increase in the staff of Government Departments and in local government service was planned for 1968–69 before the decision to arrest the growth in the number of people employed in public service with the estimated savings of £15 million at both central and local Government level was announced on 16th January, 1968.

The increase during 1968–69 sought by Government Departments was 11,360. Local Government staff numbers are not subject to central Government control but my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government is determined to encourage an economical use of staff by local authorities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will lay down that each Government Department must reduce the absolute level of its expenditure by 1 per cent. in 1969–70 and cut its staff by a like amount.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is his estimate of the net balance of all transactions in the balance of payment; accounts for 1966 involving oil;(2) what is his estimate of the foreign exchange cost of each £1 worth of oil imports into this country.

I would refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 51 and 52 of the Fuel Policy White Paper (Cmnd. 3438) which gives the latest information which can be made available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to he the value of resources, at 1958 constant prices, which will be made available to assist the balance of payments due to the fact that public expenditure in 1968–69 is now expected to increase by 3¾per cent. while the gross national product is forecast to rise by 4 per cent.; and what contribution this makes, as a percentage, towards the target £1,000 million shift in resources to the balance of payments.

The reductions in public expenditure will make a substantial contribution to the required shift of resources, but this needs to be looked at in conjunction with all the other factors affecting demand and resources, and I am not at present prepared to suggest an estimate for this factor alone.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the loss to the Exchequer, and to the gold and foreign exchange reserves, resulting from the settlement after 18th November, 1967 of forward contracts, negotiated before that day on the basis of an exchange rate of $2.80 to the £1, by the Bank of England in its management of the Exchange Equalisation Account.

I am not satisfied that it would be in the public interest to publish this figure at the present time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what total sum is due for repayment of post-war credits; and what is his estimate of the amount due to be paid as a result of lowering to 50 years the age at which they become payable.

The estimated amount outstanding is £230 million including £40 million accrued interest. if the qualifying age were reduced to 50 for both men and women it would cost about £100 million including £10 million interest.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the total amount of tax reliefs allowed, in the years 1964–65, 1965–66, and 1966–67, in respect of life assurance and endowment policies entered into by taxpayers to cover the cost of school fees; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer of tax relief on interest paid on loans made by banks and insurance companies for the same purpose.

I regret that information on which to base the desired estimates is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates will be the savings in foreign exchange in 1968–69 resulting from the cuts in public expenditure announced on 16th January, 1968.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the total public sector deficit on current account incurred by Great Britain in overseas transactions in the years 1951 to 1967, inclusive; and how much of this was incurred on account of military expenditure;(2) what was the total public sector deficit on current account incurred by Great Britain in overseas transactions in 1967; and how much of this was incurred in respect of military expenditure.

Following is the available information from the balance of payments statistics

There will be no savings in 1968–69 in foreign exchange from the decisions announced on 16th January relating to defence and overseas aid. Considerable reductions will accrue subsequently on defence as the measures take effect. On aid, the maintained tar get figure of £205 million will absorb extra costs arising from devaluation, but acceleration of the withdrawal from the Far East will mean additional aid for Singapore and Malaysia.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount of tax to be obtained, in each group, in a full financial year on the basis that a tax on personal wealth is introduced at rates of½per cent. on all personal wealth from £20,000 to £50,000, 1 per cent. from £50,000 to £100,000, 2 per cent. from £100,000 to £200,000, 3 per cent. from £200,000 to £300,000, and 4 per cent. on over £300,000, respectively..

Assuming that the different rates would apply to successive slices of total wealth the total yield for a full year is estimated at about £200 million. The amounts derived from persons with total wealth within the ranges given would be approximately as follows: £20 million, £30 million, £40 million, £20 million and £90 million respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the present restrictions on overseas investment are impairing the establishment of overseas sales organisations which are urgently needed by British exporters; and whether he will take action to remedy this.

In present circumstances we cannot afford any general relaxation of the stringent controls of overseas investment financed from U.K. resources. But as part of the export drive I am authorising a change which will allow access within limits to official exchange up to £50,000 or 50 per cent. of the total investment (whichever is more) for projects outside the Sterling Area which are directly concerned with promoting exports of goods or services, provided.that the prospective benefits to the United Kingdom balance of payments will equal or exceed the total cost of the investment within eighteen months and will continue thereafter. This will help exporters and the cost to the reserves should quickly be recouped in additional export earnings.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what cuts in expenditure on nationalisation, rationalisation, or other participation in industrial activity, will now be made by the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation as a result of the cuts in expenditure announced by the Government.

The purpose of the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation is to promote structural change which will improve the efficiency and profitability of British industry. Its operations can thus make an important contribution to the object of the recent cuts in Government expenditure, which is to shift substantial resources into exports, import replacement and productive investment, and no reduction is planned in the expenditure that the Corporation may consider necessary to carry out its functions.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs how many reports and investigations have now been carried out by the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation at the request of the Government; if he will list these; and what action has now been taken in each case.

The Government invited the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation to examine the structure of the telecommunications industry and its relationship with the Post Office. They also asked the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation to undertake a full evaluation of the proposals received from a number of aluminium companies on the basis of the special electricity arrangements for establishing aluminium smelting facilities in Britain. Both these reports have been received and are being examined.The Government also sought and received helpful advice from the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation in respect of the Cunard Steamship Company's request for an additional loan towards the cost of the Queen Elizabeth II.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs how much money has now been committed on industrial activities or mergers by the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation since it was set up; if he will list each investment, and in those cases where this takes the form of a loan give the date when this was made, date of first interest payment and rate of interest in case, indicating the extent to which these varied from current interest rates, respectively.

Since it was established the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation has committed just under £18·8 million. Nearly £3·2 million is committed to Rootes Motors Ltd., in the context of the arrangements announced to the House by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology on the 17th January, 1967. Another £15 million has been lent to the enterprise resulting from the merger of English Electric and Elliott Automation, on terms which provide for an interest rate of 8 per cent. a year to be charged after the first two years of the loan and which also give the Corporation certain conversion rights into Ordinary Shares of English Electric. The other £600,000 has been made available to facilitate the merger of the nucleonic instrument interests of E.M.I., Elliott Automation and Nuclear Enterprises (GB) Ltd. The Corporation expects to receive a commercial rate of return in all three cases.The foregoing information about these individual transactions has already been made public and it is for the Corporation to decide, in consultation with the companies concerned, whether it wishes to release further information about them. The Corporation's annual report will contain some of the other information sought by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what action he is taking on the report of the South-East Economic Council.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 18th January to my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd).—[Vol. 756, c. 1939–40.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what Government assistance has been given to development areas in the most recent year for which figures are available by means of local employment acts, building grants, investment grants, regional employment premiums, refunds of selective employment tax, and retraining and other measures, compared with 1964.

The information required is given in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek to increase the grant to the National Maritime Museum to enable it to purchase from the present United States owners the wreck of the iron steamship, the "Great Britain", or part of it, in order to preserve for historical purposes this unique example of Victorian engineering skill.

No.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give an undertaking that future proposals by the Post Office to increase telephone and other charges will be referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my right hon. Friend's reply on 25th January to Questions from the hon. Members for Howden (Mr. Bryan) and Peterborough (Sir Harmar Nicholls).—[Vol. 757, c. 568–69.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses were begun and completed in Scotland in the month of December, 1967; and of these how many were Scottish Special Housing Association houses, how many local authority houses, and how many private houses.

The figures were:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the effect on the hospital building programme revised forecast rates of expenditure for individual projects.

Though the Scottish hospital building programme has not been affected by the series of measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 16th January, I had already found it necessary last year to review the programme because of increases in the estimated annual expenditure on the schemes included in it compared with the forecast financial requirements on which the Review of the Hospital Plan for Scotland published in February, 1966, was based. The 1966 Review assumed an expenditure of about £60 million in the quinquennium to 31st March, 1971: the revalued figure now assumed for the same period is over £66 million. The financial programme is, therefore, being fully maintained; and the rephasing of starting dates that is necessary arises because of the operation of other factors. The final outcome of this review had to be held up, pending the recent comprehensive review of Government expenditure, but I have now communicated to regional hospital boards the rephasing of the programme which I propose, and have asked them for their comments.It had been hoped in the period to 31st March, 1971, covered by the 1966 Review to start thirty-three major schemes; and it has always been understood that particular starting dates within that period were provisional. The revised programme which I am preparing provides for thirty of the thirty-three schemes to start in the same period, but for three to be deferred into 1971–72.Within the period to 31st March, 1971, the rephased programme involves the postponement of the start of a number of major schemes beyond their starting dates, as previously estimated, by periods ranging from three months to a year at the maximum. The main deferments will come among the schemes that have hitherto been provisionally planned for start in 1968–69 and 1969–70.The main factors which have made rephasing necessary have been increases in the estimated cost of a number of schemes; expectations of faster progress on some schemes; and the addition to the programme of the complete rebuilding, costing £4·2 million, of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow, which has had to be demolished because its structure had become dangerous.I am discussing with the regional hospital boards new arrangements for the control of the hospital building programme, mainly by reference to the total value of work started in each financial year; and I have also emphasised again to the regional boards that I look to them to exercise the fullest measure of cost control consistent with the maintenance of reasonable standards for new hospital buildings.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the cost per therm of coal supplied to the South of Scotland Electricity Board and to the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board.

I am informed by the Scottish Electricity Boards that since 1st April, 1967, the average price of coal (excluding slurry) delivered to Scottish power stations has been:

• South of Scotland Electricity Board—5·7d. per therm.
• North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board—6·4d. per therm.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money from public funds will be made available for Scottish local authorities to carry out repairs to hurricane damage; and if he will give an assurance that the amount available will not be affected by the recent cuts in Government expenditure.

I have nothing to add to the statement I made on 25th January, which was made, of course, after the Government's decisions on reductions in public expenditure had been announced.—[Vol. 757, c. 608–19.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the plans for improving and increasing the supplies of electric power to the city of Aberdeen, and on what terms.

I am assured by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board that its existing arrangements for meeting the demand for electricity in Aberdeen are adequate. The standard tariffs will continue to apply.