asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, what action has been taken by his Department, and by local authorities, as a result of the Report of the Working Party on Refuse Collection, and with what results; if he is satisfied that the maximum penalties for infringing the anti-litter laws are now adequate; and if he will make a statement.

Most of the 127 recommendations in the Report relate to ways in which local authorities can improve their refuse collection services but their adoption must depend, among other things, on the economic situation and other calls upon local authorities' resources. Nevertheless, a number of authorities are experimenting with pilot schemes, or planning improvements to be put into operation when economic circumstances permit.Two of the recommendations which called for changes in the law have been dealt with in the Civic Amenities Act, 1967.Penalties for dropping litter are adequate. The problem is detection.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is satisfied that the laws relating to the dumping of derelict cars and other jettisoned junk are now adequate to deal with offenders and as to the extent to which the methods of preventing and curing these offences are being utilised by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on this potential menace to road safety and rural amenity.

The Civic Amenities Act, 1967 provides for severe penalties for dumping unwanted vehicles and other rubbish and gives local authorities wide powers to arrange for removal and disposal, and to provide dumping sites. These provisions are complementary but the powers relating to abandoned vehicles did not become available to local authori- ties until 27th January this year, and they do not come under a duty to exercise them or to provide refuse dumps until next July.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, when he advises local authorities on economies proposed under paragraph 51 of Command Paper No. 3515, he will suggest to them that economies should be effected in many cases in their departments of Town and Country Planning.

No. As Circular 9/68 made clear, it must be for individual authorities to judge in the light of local needs and present standards of service where the required economies can best be made.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what percentage of the black areas of heavy pollution are covered by Smoke Control Orders under the Clean Air Act; if he is satisfied with the extent to which local authorities are implementing the provisions of the Act; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will take action in respect of smoke abatement to encourage local authorities to expedite their programme and consult with those authorities currently reducing their planned programmes, with a view to minimising the consequent damage to public health.

At the beginning of this year, 43 per cent. of premises in black areas were covered by smoke control orders. There has been fair progress in the last two years. As the House is aware, I have recently asked local authorities to effect a sharp reduction in the growth of their current and capital expenditure. In these circumstances it would not be appropriate for me at this time to press local authorities to expedite schemes, although I hope they will continue to have regard to the importance of clean air.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the estimated aggregate additional financial burden per month on local authority expenditure in England and Wales created by a 1 per cent. increase in bank rate.

Local authority borrowing rates are not linked to Bank Rate. But if all interest rates rose by 1 per cent. the gross cost to local authorities in the first year would average about£2 million a month. But this would not be a net increase; part of this would be met by increased subsidies and grants.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what are the latest figures for the Northern Region of people qualifying for rate relief; what is the average amount of benefit per head and the total amount; and if he will make a statement for the period 1967–68.

In 1966–67, about 62,500 people in the Northern Region got rate rebates averaging£12 4s. 0d. for the year and totalling£762,000. The figures for 1967–68 will be collected after the year has ended.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why tenants of unsubsidised houses of the New Towns Commission at Hemel Hempstead are required to pay an increase in rent to subsidise council house tenants.

Subsidy is paid on the houses to which the hon. Member refers and there is no reason why they, like all other houses in the Commission's rent pool, should not share the cost of the Commission's contribution to the borough council's housing expenditure.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether rent of houses and flats owned by Liver-pool Corporation to the National Board for Prices and Incomes; and if he will make a statement.

As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Huddersfield, West (Mr. Lomas) on 25th January, the reference to the Board is of the reasons for, and phasing of, increases in rents of local authority housing, with particular reference to certain authorities. The Board are not precluded from examining increases by authorities not specifically named in the reference, but it is not proposed to add further authorities to that list.—[Vol. 757 c.178]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many appeals have so far been heard by the Southampton Area Rent Assessment Committee; in what proportion of these cases the rent originally proposed by the rent officer has been increased; and in how many cases the tenants have been professionally represented.

In the Southern Rent Assessment Panel Area rent assessment committees had dealt with 110 cases up to 2nd February, 1968. The rent determined by the rent officer was increased in 51 of these cases—slightly over 46 per cent. of the total. The rent officer's determination was confirmed in 48 cases and reduced in 11.Tenants were represented by a solicitor in 13 per cent. of cases, by a surveyor in 5 per cent., and by some other person in 7 per cent. In 4 per cent. of cases surveyors appeared as expert witnesses for tenants. In some cases a party was represented by more than one person, and so there is some overlap in the figures I have given.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, whether, in view of the danger from fire, he will revise the Building Regulations, 1965, so as to bring under the control of the planning authorities ladders used

This would require legislation and my right hon. Friend has noted the point for consideration in that connection.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, if he will introduce legislation to enable local authorities to purchase rent-controlled houses voluntarily for an annuity.

I appreciate what my hon. Friend has in mind, but local housing authorities already have wide powers of purchase; the problem is rather one of concentrating their resources on the most urgent housing needs.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, what is the total number of cases dealt with by the London Rent Assessment Panel under the Rent Act, 1965, in the two years ended 31st December, 1967; and of this total in how many cases have the rent officers' decisions been confirmed, reduced or increased.

In the two years ended 31st December. 1967 rent assessment committees in the London Rent Assessment Panel area dealt with 3,268 cases. The rent determined by the rent officer was reduced in 534 cases, unchanged in 1,220 and increased in 1,514, but the original rent payable at the time of application was reduced by these decisions in 2,277 cases, left unchanged in 105 and increased in 886 cases.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make inquiries about the number of complaints about noise and smell nuisances to occupiers of dwellings above launderettes in Greater London; and whether he will amend the use classes order under the Town and Country Planning Act to regulate the location of launderettes.

My right hon. Friend already has a good deal of information on this subject. It is one of the matters which he proposes to consider when he reviews the Use Classes Order later this year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he intends to introduce legislation giving himself power to restrict the rights of local authorities to fix the rents of residential properties owned by them.

I have no announcement to make on this subject pending the report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what advice he has given to local authorities regarding the disclosure of confidential information concerning individuals on health and housing matters.

In a circular issued last June about rent rebate schemes I advised local authorities to assure tenants that all information supplied in connection with rent rebate applications would be treated as confidential.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what consideration is being given to the revision of the compensation rules for those whose properties are affected by the construction of motorways; and when a statement may be expected.

As I said during the Second Reading of the Town and Country Planning Bill, my right hon. Friend has received certain representations about compensation which will need further study.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the Government's policy not to increase rate support grants, he will take special measures to ensure that any road improvements undertaken by Farnham Urban District Council, consequent upon the proposed development within their boundaries of 510 houses and five shops by Aldershot Borough Council, do not propose any additional cost, by way of capital or current expenditure, on the ratepayers of Farnham urban district.

No, the Government's decision has no direct bearing on this matter. The urban district council do not qualify for either the needs element or the resources element of the rate support grant and the domestic element is not affected.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the difficulties arising because of the building regulations based on Section 53 of the Public Health Act, 1936, which allow insufficient adaptability in application; and whether he will seek to make arrangements whereby regulations relating to such items as external cladding materials could be handled on the lines of the Scottish building regulations.

This would require legislation, but my right hon. Friend is always prepared to consider specific suggestions within the ambit of the present law.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will give further consideration to the representation of industry on the boards of river authorities.

No. I have no reason to think that the experience and knowledge of industry among members of river authorities are inadequate.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, whether, in view of the advantages to be derived from a system under which trade effluents are discharged into sewers and treated at the local authorities' works, he will take steps to ensure that the same in- vestment grant should be made available to the local authority as to the industrialist treating his own effluent.

Investment grants, which are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, are payable to productive businesses; treatment plant on industrial premises qualifies only if it is used for a process incidental to a productive process. Sewerage authorities are not engaged in productive business and it would not be appropriate to pay investment grant to them. My right hon. Friend has, however, undertaken to consider other suggestions put forward with a similar general objective in view.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will take steps to co-ordinate the town planning proposals of the South-East Economic Planning Council and the Greater London Council.

The Greater London Council's development plan is due to be submitted for my right hon. Friend's approval at the end of this year. It will be considered by my right hon. Friend in the light of the South-East Economic Planning Council's report.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, if, in view of the expense incurred by owners of property on which a compulsory purchase order has been withdrawn, he will take steps to make possible the reimbursement of legal and other costs involved.

My right hon. Friend has power to make awards of costs if an inquiry has been held before a compulsory purchase order is withdrawn. If no inquiry has been held, it is for the local authority to consider their powers of reimbursing costs.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, what plans he has for introducing legislation to enable him to give financial aid to local authorities to build factories on their own industrial estates to be let on easy terms, in order to reduce the difference between development area and non-development area inducements.

None. I do not think it would be right to formulate any such plans in advance of the Hunt Committee's report.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, if he will give details of unclassified research work being done for his Department by the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough.

No such research is being done for the Department by the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in view of the official forecast made in December, 1965 that London rents would go down and the fact that they have since then gone up in Putney and elsewhere in London, if he will introduce further legislation with a view to correcting this tendency.

On average, London rents have been reduced in houses of less than£75 G.V., flats of less than£100 G.V. and rooms where G.V. was less than£200; in some 15 per cent. of cases rents have been reduced by amounts ranging from 30 per cent. to over 50 per cent. This accords with the position shown by the Milner Holland report which said that scarcity was being exploited not by the average landlord but by a small minority. My right hon. Friend has no proposals for altering the general provisions for determining a fair rent.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, whether the conditions of appointment of part-time members of a new town development corporation in England require them to abstain from making political speeches or from other political activity on matters affecting the work of that corporation; and what steps are taken to ensure that such requirements are complied with.

Every member of a new town corporation in England receives, with his instrument of appointment, a memorandum of guidance on political activities which includes a provision that, on matters affecting the work of his corporation, a member should not normally make political speeches nor engage in other political activities.Members are invited to consult me if they are in any doubt about the application of the rules to their particular circumstances.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, when he will introduce legislation to amend the law relating to housing revenue accounts.

I shall consider whether any changes are needed as regards practice or powers when the Working Party on Housing Revenue Accounts has reported.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, what is his estimate of the capital expenditure to be incurred by industry and by local authorities in the treatment and disposal of trade effluent to give effect to the Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Acts, 1951 and 1961 and the Public Health Act, 1961.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to Questions by the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall), Bolton, East (Mr. Robert Howarth) and Yeovil (Mr. Peyton).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, whether he will make a comprehensive review of the financial burdens imposed on industry for the discharge of trade effluent by the Public Health Act, 1961, and of the variations in the charges levied in different areas of the United Kingdom.

No. I have no evidence that undue burdens are being placed on industry generally. Given the basis of charge prescribed in the Act, charges are bound to vary in different areas.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, how many persons in Huddersfield have benefited by the Rate Rebate Scheme since its inception to the latest available date.

In 1966–67, 3,514 rate rebates were granted in Huddersfield for the first half-year and 3,771 for the second.My right hon. Friend will be collecting and publishing figures for 1967–68 when the year has ended.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, what is the latest number and value of rebates granted to Gateshead ratepayers under the Rating Act, 1966; how this compares with the rate relief granted under the Rating (Interim Relief) Act, 1964; whether the number and value of rebates granted under the Rating Act, 1966 indicates that not all eligible ratepayers are claiming the rebate; and if he will make a statement.

In 1966–67, 1,666 rate rebates were granted in Gateshead for the first half-year and 1,839 for the second. The total amount of rebate for the year was£22,368. My right hon. Friend will be collecting and publishing figures for 1967–68 when the year has ended.No relief has been granted in this area in any year under the 1964 Act.The proportion of householders in Gateshead who got rebate in 1966–67 was slightly below the national average. I cannot estimate how many persons who were eligible failed to claim, but there is probably scope here, as elsewhere, for more effort within the local community to bring the scheme to the attention of all those who might benefit from it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, if he will show, in table form, the total amount granted to the Huddersfield local authority for each financial year from 1965–66 to 1967–68; and how this compares with the previous three years.

The information is as follows:

			£
1962–63	…	…	2,338,819
1963–64	…	…	3,032,901
1964–65	…	…	3,416,895
1965–66	…	…	3,728,079
1966–67	…	…	4,250,888

Figures for 1967–68 are not yet available.Source: Epitomes of Accounts and Departmental records.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, if he will detail the amounts granted to the Huddersfield local authority for each financial year from 1965–66 to 1967–68.

The information is as follows:

	1965–66	1966–62
	£	£
Capital Grants:
Highways	69,735	150,746
Police	—	30,550
Administration of Justice	—	45,428
Civil Defence	57,243	14,235
Revenue Grants:
Education	214,194	226,133
Air Pollution	16,151	23,124
National Assistance	4,233	3,972
Protection of Children	1,621	1,771
Improvement Grants	13,891	15,368
Highways	5,779	3,599
Police	207,318	251,860
Administration of Justice	19,866	27,062
Civil Defence	24,316	14,236
Miscellaneous	565	1,108
Housing Subsidies and other Housing	153,501	162,652
General Grant	1,821,881	2,031,270
Rate Deficiency Grant	1,099,350	1,207,402
Rating (Interim Relief) Act1964 (Section 1)	18,435	19,720
Rating Act 1966 (Rate Rebates)	—	20,652
TOTAL	3,728,079	4,250,888

Complete figures for 1967–68 are not yet available, but the rate support grant amounts to£3,994,903.Source: Epitomes of Accounts and Departmental Records.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, what progress has been made in investigating the desirability of constructing a barrier against a tidal surge in the Thames.

Detailed engineering studies have been made of a movable barrier in Long Reach which, when withdrawn, would provide a clear opening 1,400 ft. wide for shipping. Such a barrier at this site would raise great technical difficulties and be extremely expensive. The possibilities of a movable barrier (which might have a substantially narrower opening), or a fixed barrage, further upstream, with strengthening of the riverside defences below it, should be studied. The Greater London Council have undertaken to investigate, in consultation with the Port of London Authority and the navigation interests, the relative advantages of these two types of structure and the most suitable site. I shall also be consulting the South East Economic Planning Council on the wider implications of these projects.I am placing in the Library a report on this subject by Professor H. Bondi, F.R.S.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, if, in reviewing local authority housing proposals, he will seek to ensure that cuts are fairly distributed as between rural and urban areas and, in particular, that full account will be taken of the need for small dwellings for elderly people in country areas.

Yes. In all the discussions with authorities regard will be had to relative housing need.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to ensure that those local authorities with the most serious housing problems are not unduly affected by the recently announced cuts in the number of housing approvals.

Priority will continue to be given to slum clearance, to meet- ing shortages of rented accommodation and especially to areas with the biggest concentrations of these problems. We shall be discussing with the main house-building authorities what it is practicable for them to build over the next year or two. In these discussions we shall stress that we want to see the existing programmes for 1968 for Greater London and for the other priority areas fulfilled.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will take action to ensure that cuts in housing starts do not adversely affect slum clearance programmes; and whether he will consult with those authorities currently reducing their programmes with a view to restoring previous housing targets.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave today in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bethnal Green (Mr. Hilton).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what publicity his Department has now arranged to ensure that leaseholders are aware of their rights under the Leasehold Reform Act.

A free booklet is available from local authorities and Citizens' Advice Bureaux. Press Advertisements appeared in November and December and my right hon. Friend broadcast on 1st January on both television and radio.The forms of notice prescribed under the Landlord and Tenant Act, 1954, have been altered to ensure as far as possible that a leaseholder entitled to enfranchisement or an extension of the lease does not lose his right through ignorance.The Leasehold Reform Act also extends the Rent Act, 1965, to certain long leases and certain statutory tenancies; a free leaflet explaining this is available from local authorities, rent officers and Citizens' Advice Bureaux. A new edition of the booklet "Houses held on Ground Lease", is on sale.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many leaseholders he now estimates will benefit from the Leasehold Reform Act.

I estimate very roughly that up to 1¼ million houses in England and Wales come within the scope of the Act and I hope that all leaseholders who are entitled to do so will benefit from its provisions.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in the light of the cuts imposed on council house building, he will circularise local planning authorities urging them to be less restrictive and negative in their attitude to applications for planning consent in the private sector, particularly in rural areas.

No. We recognise that there may be a developing problem of land shortage in certain areas and we propose to discuss with local planning authorities how to ensure that an adequate supply is made available in planning terms for private house building. But development in rural areas must be treated with great care.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will extend the last date under which application can be made under the Government's Mortgage Option Scheme.

No. I am satisfied that existing borrowers as a whole had sufficient time in which to make up their minds.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further action he is taking to recover the estimated£28 million overall loss of tax during the past four years, arising from false claims to personal reliefs from Income Tax.

This matter is under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the cost of living has increased in the first two months since devaluation.

The increase in the cost of living between mid-November 1967 and mid-January 1968, as measured by the Index of Retail Prices, was about one per cent. Seasonal factors and the disruption of normal meat supplies played a large part in the increase.

		Retirements at 31st December
Grade		1954	1957	1961	1963	1965	1967
		£	£	£	£	£	£
Postman	…	300	324	311	322	356	393
Clerical Officer	…	414	429	434	452	484	520
Executive Officer	…	568	600	615	629	692	748
Principal	…	1,080	1,145	1,277	1,319	1,453	1,569

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest figure for the average cost of answering respectively an oral and a written Parliamentary question.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which my hon. Friend, the Financial Secretary gave on 14th February to my hon. Friend, the Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Mr. Sheldon)—[Vol. 758. c.383–4]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the annual tax yield in Scotland for mechanical lighter duties, Gaming Licence Duty, Gaming Machine Licence

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the next regular meeting of the Board of the International Monetary Fund will take place.

The Board of Governors of the I.M.F. will meet on 30th September. The Executive Directors are in regular session.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the maximum pensions for 40 years' pensionable service, based on London pay scales up to 1959 and on outer London scales thereafter, and including all increases allowable under the relevant Pensions (Increase) Acts at present payable to civil servants who retired from the grades of postman, clerical officer, executive officer and principal on 31st December, in the years 1954, 1957, 1961, 1963, 1965 and 1967.

The pensions are shown in the following table:Duty, and Excise Licence duties, respectively.

The revenue collected in Scotland for 1966–67 from these duties was as follows:

		£
Mechanical Lighter duties	…	Negligible
Gaming Licence duty	…	105,775
Gaming Machine Licence duty	…	159,496
Excise Licence duties	…	71,118

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an approximate estimate of the total wealth of Great Britain, and an estimate of the amount owned by private persons, by local authorities, by other public bodies such as the Church Commissioners, the Trades Union Council, the nationalised industries, &c., respectively, and by the State, to include the value of defence installations and weapons.

There are no official estimates of the total wealth of Great Britain and of the amounts owned by all the different sectors of the economy. The Inland Revenue estimate the total wealth of individuals at about£75,000 million in 1966. This estimate, which is described in the Annual Report of the Inland Revenue, is incomplete as well as subject to error. Comprehensive estimates for all sectors of the economy have been compiled by Mr. J. Revell and published in his book "The Wealth of the Nation", Cambridge University Press, 1967.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the number of months since October, 1964, in which the Bank Rate has been at 7 per cent. or higher; and what is the last previous period of equivalent length in which the Bank Rate was at 7 per cent. or higher for the same number of months or more.

Since October, 1964, Bank Rate has stood at 7 per cent. or above for a total of almost 16 months. The last previous period during which a Bank Rate of 7 per cent. or higher existed for a greater number of months occurred between December, 1863, and August, 1866, when Bank Rate was between 7 and 10 per cent. for almost 18 months.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the Command Paper which gave the last separate financial statistics for Scotland is out of print; and if he will take steps to have more copies printed and available through Her Majesty's Stationery Office offices.

I presume that the hon. Member is referring to Command 9051 which was published in 1954 and went out of print in November, 1967. Only 2,000 copies were printed and since November, 1956, only 31 copies had been sold or issued. I do not, therefore, consider that there is sufficient demand to justify a reprint, but photocopies can be made available through Her Majesty's Stationery Office on request at ls. per page.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to enlarge the scope of the terms of reference of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.

The Commissioner has been at work for less than a year, and the Select Committee has not yet made a report to the House. It would therefore be premature to consider extending his powers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what statistics he collects on the balance of invisible earnings between the United Kingdom and individual foreign countries;(2) what information he has on the balance of invisible earnings between the United Kingdom and Argentina and Uruguay, respectively.

We do not collect detailed information on all types of invisible transactions between the United Kingdom and individual countries, and figures for net balances of earnings are unreliable. Information on certain classes of earnings is published in the Board of Trade Journal, giving an area and (for the principal countries) a country breakdown of income and expenditure, on direct investment (30th June, 1967), royalties, etc. (21st July, 1967) and travel (29th September, 1967).The general pattern of transactions between the United Kingdom and Argentina and Uruguay is that United Kingdom imports much exceed exports and that this deficit is partly offset by a surplus on invisibles.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to establish a Civil Service Commission in Cardiff charged with the responsibility of recruiting civil servants within Wales for the Welsh Office and Government Department in Wales.

No. The Commission's recruiting arrangements already provide for most candidates to be examined or interviewed locally and in all cases the Commission do their best to meet the needs of the Welsh Office and other Departments in Wales when posting successful candidates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give in column form the internal purchasing power of the £ sterling for every year since 1945, taking 20s. as the basis for the period most convenient nearest to 1945.

As the answer is in the form of a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.The table below shows the internal purchasing power of the £ sterling in the years 1946 to 1967 taking its value as 20s. in 1946, the nearest convenient date to 1945. The estimates are based on movements in the consumer price index from 1946 to 1966, with a provisional figure for 1967 based on the index of retail prices.

		s.	d			s.	d
1946	…	20	0	1957	…	12	5
1947	…	18	9	1958	…	12	1
1948	…	17	5	1959	…	12	0
1949	…	17	0	1960	…	11	11
1950	…	16	6	1961	…	11	7
1951	…	15	2	1962	…	11	2
1952	…	14	3	1963	…	11	0
1953	…	14	1	1964	…	10	8
1954	…	13	10	1965	…	10	3
1955	…	13	4	1966	…	9	10
1956	…	12	9	1967	…	9	7

asked the Minister of Power, what estimates he has made of the marginal cost of coal and the marginal cost of nuclear energy over the next 25 years.

As there are a number of issues involved. I am writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Power if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the authorities he consulted before deciding upon a change of policy in the future siting of nuclear power stations.

In addition to other Government Departments and my own professional advisers, I consulted the Nuclear Safety Advisory Committee. The members of this independent committee are highly qualified and experienced men representing both sides of industry, insurance, Government research establishments and inspectorates, the academic world, and interests in the field of nuclear design, construction and operation.

asked the Minister of Power, whether, in his coming review of the investment programme of the British Steel Corporation, he will provide for the future development and provision of additional mills and plant at Colvilles.

My discussions with the Corporation about their capital investment programme will cover future investment at Colvilles as elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Power, how many collieries in production in this country have a lower output per man than 44·8 cwts.; and how many such collieries make a profit.

This information is not readily available and I have asked the Chairman of the National Coal Board to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will cause a survey to be made of old slate quarry mines to assess their suitability for the storage of North Sea gas.

I am advised that gas storage in old slate quarry mines is unlikely to be practicable, even if they could be found in suitable locations, because of the difficulty of ensuring gas tightness.

asked the Minister of Health what sum was authorised for capital expenditure by the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board in 1967–68, and what was the comparable figure for the year 1963–64.

£4·65 million in 1967–68 and£4·24 in 1963–64. Substantially more new work was, however, started in the current year than in the earlier year.

asked the Minister of Health what consideration he has given to the proposal made to him that all hearing aid clinics should be housed in centres for the deaf rather than in hospitals, in view of the advantages this would have both in the treatment of deaf and in the alleviation of the shortage of space and staff in hospitals.

I am not aware of such a proposal.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on the closing of the Mill Hill Hospital, Huddersfield, for the treatment of infectious diseases; and what is the maximum distance patients suffering from infectious diseases, and visiting friends and relatives, will have to travel to the Leeds Road Hospital, Bradford.

The Leeds Regional Hospital Board have decided that infectious disease in this part of their area should be treated at one hospital where medical and nursing staff and equipment can be concentrated to provide a more effective and economical service. I support such better use of hospital resources even though I realise it increases travel for some patients and visitors. The maximum distance could be 20 miles but the bulk of the population served live very much closer to the hospital. Mill Hill Hospital is not being closed, but will be used entirely for geriatric patients.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the problem concerning availability of hospital treatment in Wales, whether he will consider appointing additional general practitioners in areas where cottage hospital facilities exist, charged with developing and maintaining an emergency surgical service.

No. Accident and emergency services are best developed at hospitals where consultants and full supporting services are available.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state, for the last convenient 12-month period, the amount of voluntary cash donations to the hospitals in the National Health Service and the estimated cash saving due to voluntary service and gifts in kind, to such hospitals during the same period.

Hospitals in England and Wales received donations and legacies amounting to£.3·8 million in the year ended 31st March, 1967. I regret that the other information requested is not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the plans for the new Freeman's Hospital, Newcastle-on-Tyne, are defective, particularly in that the mortuary is situated adjacent to the dining room; and what action he proposes to take.

No plans for this hospital have yet been submitted to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the recent tragedy on Dartmoor and at sea, whether he will take steps to publicise the knowledge and correct methods of survival, especially to those in hazardous occupations who may have to deal with exposure at any moment.

In so far as education of the general public is concerned this would be a matter for consideration in the first instance by the Health Education Council. I will bring the hon. Member's suggestion to the Council's attention.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he is satisfied with the present method of disposal of the specially equipped four-wheeled cars issued to certain handicapped persons and returned to his Department when no longer required by the individuals concerned; and if he will make a statement;(2) whether he is aware that it is the practice of those who buy at auction the specially equipped four-wheeled cars, returned to his Department after use by one handicapped person in each case, to remove the special controls and resell the cars to non-handicapped persons; and whether he will take action to ensure that such cars with their special equipment are retained for the use of the handicapped.

Yes. A Ministry car no longer required by one disabled person is reconditioned and re-issued to another eligible disabled person unless this is uneconomical; in which case it is sold by public auction in accordance with normal policy for the disposal of surplus Government equipment.I do not consider that it would be appropriate for me to seek to influence the use of the vehicle after it is sold.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs how members of the Greater London Council on the South-East Economic Planning Council are selected.

The members, who are appointed as individuals and not as representatives, are normally selected from names submitted by the Greater London Council. As stated in my reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Bromley (Mr. Hunt) on 16th November, it is proposed to appoint an additional member and the Greater London Council have been invited to submit further nominations.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will ensure that Government purchasing agencies give every possible opportunity for industrialists within development areas to tender for Government contracts.

Yes. This has been Government practice for some years. Furthermore, the Government's Contract Preference Scheme assists firms in Development Areas to obtain Government orders.

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech by the Lord President of the Council at Birmingham on 28th January, 1968, about devaluation represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech of the Lord President of the Council in Birmingham on 28th January on devaluation represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech made by the Lord President of the Council at Birmingham on the 28th January about devaluation represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech on devaluation made by the Lord President of the Council at Birmingham on 28th January represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the Government's policy of relinquishing British overseas bases, he will discuss with President Johnson the question of British aid for the United States in Vietnam.

As I have repeatedly made clear, there is no question of a British military commitment in Vietnam. The House will be aware, however, of the civil aid we are giving, in increased measure, to relieve the civilian suffering caused by the recent intensified fighting.

asked the Prime Minister what reply he has sent to the Chairman of the Northern Region Economic Planning Council in response to his letter of 5th January regarding the clearance of derelict land and following his request when he visited the Northern Region last October for proposals to be submitted to him.

I would refer the hon. Lady to the Answer I gave on 2nd February to Questions by my hon. Friends the Members for The Hartle-pools (Mr. Leadbitter) and Darlington (Mr. Ted Fletcher).[Vol. 757, cc. 441–2.]

asked the Prime Minister what was the cost to public funds of compiling the figures giving the cost of alternative measures to those announced by the Government on 16th January, details of which have been sent to him.

The hon. Member will know that estimation of the cost of answering Parliamentary Questions is an imprecise art. On the basis of staff costs, however, the reply to the Question he has in mind cost about£35. The hon. Member may also know that the average staff cost of replying to an oral Question, including his present one to me, is calculated at something over£10.

asked the Prime Minister when he proposes to publish Mr. Speaker's report to him of his Conference of Electoral Reform.

I hope that the report will be published on Tuesday. 27th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his discussions with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland on 14th February.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement issued after the discussions, a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the fact that many European countries enjoy a larger number of public holidays than the United Kingdom, he will take steps to have the first Monday in May proclaimed as an additional public holiday.

No.

asked the Prime Minister if he will recommend the establishment of a Royal Commission to consider the respective future constitutional position and development of Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

No.

asked the Prime Minister if he will send, on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, a message of congratulation to the captain and crew of Her Majesty's submarine "Resolution" and to the scientists and technicians involved in the successful firing of a Polaris missile on 15th February.

In accordance with the normal practice the Admiralty Board did so on 15th February.

asked the Prime Minister, what steps he is taking to co-ordinate the functions of Ministers concerned with defence and with housing, labour and development, in view of the proposed withdrawals from the Far East and the Persian Gulf.

These matters are dealt with through the normal machinery of inter-departmental consultation.

asked the Prime Minister, what answer he has sent to the representations he received from the lady cleaners employed in Government Departments.

The hon. Lady will know that it is not the practice to reply to Valentines but I have brought them to the attention of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what study he has made of the survey into the price of food published on 28th January last, details of which have been sent to him; and whether he will make a statement.

This survey is one of a number of similar "shopping basket" surveys appearing in the press. I was interested to see that the survey indicated that during December and January, there had been little or no increase in the total retail price of the goods covered, and that this was in fact lower than in May, 1967. I agree with the conclusions that competition in the retail food trade helps to keep prices down and that consumers can help by careful shopping.Such Press surveys, if soundly based, can do much to help inform the consumer of prices actually being charged in shops. Nevertheless, the results must always be treated with care, since inevitably they must be based on a selective list of goods bought in a limited number of shops. The most comprehensive "shopping basket" for foodstuffs is the food component of the Ministry of Labour's Retail Prices Index, which is calculated from over 100,000 food prices each month.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will now give an assurance not to lift the ban upon the import of meat and meat products from countries where foot-and-mouth disease is endemic until a full inquiry into the origin of the 1967 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak has been completed.

I have nothing to add to the statement I gave to the House on 15th February.—[Vol. 758, c. 1589–99.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, from how many countries, other than the Argentine, who follow a policy of immunisation against foot-and-mouth disease Great Britain imports meat, meat products and livestock.

Some countries which follow a slaughter policy also vaccinate, but, of the countries from which we import meat, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay, in addition to the Argentine, rely on vaccination alone to control foot-and-mouth disease. This also applies to certain areas in certain African countries but if they were to have foot-and-mouth disease in those areas from which supplies come, we would prohibit imports until they had had six months freedom from disease.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, if he will state the sums which have been spent in the last convenient period of 12 months in the British Solomon Islands Protectorate on roads, housing agriculture, airport facilities, air services, technical training and community centres, respectively.

The following are the figures for expenditure by Central Government during the calendar year 1966; expenditure by local councils is not included:

		$ A	£ Stg (equivalent)
Roads	…	136,000*	54,400
Housing	…	473,013	189,205
Agriculture	…	424,049	169,620
Airport Facilities	…	6,746	2,698
Air Services	…	35,229	14,092
Technical Training	…	17,000*	6,800
Community Centres	…	—	—
		1,092,037	436,815
* Approximate.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what assistance has been given by Her Majesty's Consulate in Zambia to Mrs. Desmond Francis; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.The British High Commission in Lusaka are in touch with Mrs. Francis and will do anything they can to help her. If she wishes to apply for repatriation to this country the High Commission will be glad to deal with her application in the normal way.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to facilitate the sale of Saladin armoured cars to Saudi Arabia.

As the hon. Member knows, it is not the practice to disclose information about arms sales or negotiations with individual countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how the figure of£110 million, described in paragraph 24 of Command Paper No. 3515 as the cut, at 1964 prices, in the anticipated defence budget in 1969–70 of£1,970 million, at 1964 prices, which is to result from the cuts then announced, is reconciled with the figure of£110 million at 1967 survey prices, shown under the corresponding heading in the statistical appendix to Command Paper No. 3515.

As the hon. Member knows, there are inevitable statistical difficulties in expressing changes in current programmes at past price levels and these difficulties increase the further away one moves from the base year and as specifications change. It is therefore necessary to adopt statistical conventions for such calculations. The conventions used in Command 3515 gave the results set out in that document.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what is the cost to the Exchequer of the additional supplements to students grants enjoyed by students at London, Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

The estimated public expenditure in the current year is between£900,000 and£950,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the increase in the number of cases of ill health reported to Student Health Services in Scottish universities in the last two years to the most convenient date.

This information is not available in my Department. Universities are responsible for the organisation of their own student health services.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the highest level of radioactivity detected in meat and dairy produce samples submitted for examination in Scotland.

The investigation of dietary contamination with radioactivity from fall-out is now confined to milk as this has been proved to be an adequate index of contamination in the total food intake in Great Britain. Samples of milk from representative depots throughout Scotland are taken every two weeks and combined for analysis at quarterly intervals. The highest level of Strontium 90 in milk from Scotland was 55 picocuries per gramme of calcium, recorded in the summer of 1963. By mid-1967 the level in Scotland had fallen to 13·6 pCi Strontium 90/g. calcium and the downward trend continues.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of his policy to curtail the Surrey Education Authority's new school building programme, he will ensure that additional special provision is made to provide the extra primary school places that will be required as a result of the proposed building by the Aldershot Borough Council of 510 houses and five shops within the boundaries of the Farnham urban district.

This is not our policy. The housing development proposed in Farnham by the Aldershot Borough Council was taken into account in formulating the Surrey school building programme for 1969/70 announced last year. The programme includes two projects providing between them 400 primary school places in Farnham and is larger than it would have been had this housing development been planned to take place outside the county. Following the withdrawal of the allocations for the years 1968/69 and 1969/70 for raising the school leaving age, my right hon. Friend has had to ask all local authorities to review their proposals for starting projects in those years and until he has received and considered their replies, I cannot say how individual projects will be affected. It will be several months before we shall be able to reach decisions on the projects which can be started in 1969/70.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, whether, in view of the Government's policy not to increase the rate support grant, he will take special steps to ensure that the provision of extra school places arising from the proposed housing development by Aldershot Borough Council within the boundaries of the Farnham urban district does not impose any extra cost on the ratepayers of Surrey.

No special steps are necessary. The total of rate support grant already fixed for 1968–69 takes account of expected increases in school population in the country as a whole, and each local authority's share of the needs element of the grant takes account of increases in its population and the number of pupils in its schools in the year in question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representation the United Kingdom has on the ad hoc committee set up by the United Nations to study the peaceful uses of the seabed; and what was the date of the appointment of the United Kingdom representative or representatives.

The United Kingdom is a member of this Committee. We shall be represented at the first meeting next month by a member of our permanent Mission to the United Nations. The question of appointment does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what were the circumstances in which Her Majesty's Government dissociated themselves from the acts of the United States Government in Vietnam.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 29th June, 1966 in which he told the House that Her Majesty's Government had felt bound to dissociate themselves from attacks by United States aircraft on targets touching on the populated areas of Hanoi and Haiphong.—[Vol. 730, c. 1796–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the absence of a police committee for London, he will set up a joint committee of police and public for the Metropolitan area in order to improve relations between the police and the public in London.

I am glad to say that relations between the police and the public in London are good and are tending to improve. I doubt whether the establishment of a committee would greatly help.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to set up a council composed of members of the public and the police service, to review important complaints by members of the public where they are not satisfied with internal police investigation.

The Royal Commission on the Police which reported in 1962 proposed the substance of the system for dealing with complaints which is embodied in the Police Act, 1964. The working of the procedures is being kept under close review; but my right hon. Friend has at present no proposals for amending legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the condition of admission with which Mr. Vishnu Ramsarran failed to comply and which resulted in his being deported on 27th December, 1967.

Mr. Ramsarran was admitted on 19th January, 1966 on condition that he did not remain in the United Kingdom longer than 12 months. He committed an offence under Section 4 of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1962 by failing to leave within that period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offices there are of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; where these are situated; and how many employees there are at each office.

The Board's one office is in London. The majority of cases are disposed of in correspondence by acceptance of decisions by single members, but where necessary hearings are held at centres in England, Wales and Scotland. The Board has at present 43 staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of the police area amalgamation proposals in the North-West area.