asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what study he is currently making of condensation and dampness in houses less than five years old; and if he will make a statement.

An inter-departmental Working Party on condensation in houses has studied the whole field and has produced a leaflet for occupants and a film showing how condensation problems can be avoided. The Working Party is now preparing a technical handbook for designers which should be published early in the New Year.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what consultations he has had with the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough on ways in which the Royal Aircraft Establishment can help the civil building industry; and if he will make a statement.

Discussions with the Royal Aircraft Establishment have identified several subjects where their experience and equipment might be applied to the benefit of the construction industry, and consultations are proceeding.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what action he proposes to take on the recommendation of the Phelps Brown Report regarding firmer advance commitments on the construction programme of the public sector; and whether he will make a statement.

The Government were already considering this question before the Report was published. It would be extremely difficult to review the whole field of public sector construction in one exercise, and we are therefore concentrating initially on the Government's office building programme.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will now make a statement on his decision to set up a Committee of the National Consultative Council to investigate the registration of builders.

The decision to arrange for an independent inquiry into the Registration of Builders was taken by the National Consultative Council of the Building and Civil Engineering Industries, of which I am Chairman.Mr. H. H. V. Forbes, Q.C., has accepted the Chairmanship, and I hope to name the remaining members shortly. They will be chosen from outside the construction industry.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works (1) why his Department has sited an experimental office building at Ruskin Avenue, Kew, only 25 feet from the river tow path, in view of the fact that 60 or 80 feet was agreed with Richmond-on Thames Borough Engineer; if he is aware of the harm this has caused to the view of the river bank; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will remove the experimental office building erected in the wrong position at Ruskin Avenue, Kew, immediately it has served the purpose for which it was erected; when it is estimated that this experimental task will be completed; and why this breach of agreed regulations took place.

This building is within a few feet of the position indicated in relation to existing buildings on the plan referred to the local authority. Its main facade is about 38 feet from the towpath at the nearest point, and some 60 feet from the top of the riverside embankment. At no time was a distance from the towpath or river specified by the Borough Engineer. There has been no breach of agreed procedures or regulations by my Ministry. The building is well designed and of permanent construction, and I cannot agree to remove it.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how frequently surveys are made of the Clock Tower; and what conclusions about its stability have been drawn from these surveys.

Annually; there is no sign of abnormal movement or potential instability in the Tower or its foundations.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works in what respects he dissents from the statements contained in the report of the Ronan Point tribunal relating to matters covered by his Department.

There are certain matters on which I wish to qualify my general acceptance of the Tribunal's findings. The Report suggests that the Building Research Station failed to translate and make available to those concerned a warning by the Committe European du Beton of the dangers of progressive collapse of large panel structures. In fact, a senior member of the staff of the Station served on this Committee, and copies of its Report, which was issued to members in July, 1967, were circulated a few weeks later to the British Standards Institution Committee engaged in revising the relevant Code of Practice. Members of the Committee, having shared the task of translating the Report into English, made use of it in their work without delay. The Building Regulations lean heavily on British Standards Codes of Practice, and it was right that the Building Research Station should refer the Report directly to the Committee which was engaged in revising the relevant Code of Practice so that they could consider its relevance to British conditions.The Report also suggests that the Building Research Station took no steps to follow up the structural problems of system building. The Station has carried out experiments on joints in pre cast concrete structures, with particular emphasis (following the 1966 Symposium mentioned in the Report) on large-panel structures, and has given advice to designers of such structures as well as participating in the work of national and international bodies in this field.Finally, I share the reservation expressed by my right hon. Friend to the effect that in formulating their views on wind loadings, the Tribunal were not able to take full account of the work of the Building Research Station and the National Physical Laboratory. The results of this work have now been published, and the information derived from these studies may show that the risk of collapse from high wind loading is small compared with that from explosion.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what advice he is issuing to the building industry as a result of the report of the Ronan Point tribunal.

The Building Research Station has prepared two digests giving practical rules for estimating wind pressures on buildings. The first was published on 1st November. The second will be published on 1st January, but in order that there shall be no delay in making this information available to designers, the Building Research Station has prepared and issued a combined document containing the technical data included in both Digests.The information in these Digests is vital to the revision of the Code of Practice on loading recommended in the Report.Experts of my Ministry and the Building Research Station have also taken part in the preparation of the technical advice on the structural appraisal of existing buildings and the revision of structural details for those now at the design stage which is included in the Ministry of Housing and Local Government's circular of 15th November to local authorities.My Ministry and the Building Research Station are continuing to give expert advice and support to the British Standards Institution in its examination and revision of the relevant Codes of Practice.

asked the Minister of Power what is the estimated loss of coal production in the Durham coalfield after 1971 because of the decision to base the Seaton Carew electricity station on nuclear energy.

The station will not be in full service until 1975, so cannot affect coal production until the late 1970's. Production in Durham will depend on the competitiveness of Durham coal in relation to other coalfields and fuels.

asked the Minister of Power how many coal concentration depots are now in operation in the United Kingdom; how many more are projected and how many of the old depots they will replace; and if he will make a statement.

There are now 462 and a further 61 are projected.There were approximately 5,000 stations open to domestic coal traffic at the time of the Beeching Report (1963), and when the concentration programme has been completed there will be about 600, including concentration depots.

asked the Minister of Power what is the average annual cost to the domestic consumer of the cost of the conversion to North Sea gas.

There will be no direct cost to the consumer for conversion. The cost to the gas industry will average about £30 per domestic consumer, which will be offset by cost savings from the introduction of North Sea gas.

asked the Minister of Power why gas prices in Scotland, which were 13 per cent. above the average for England and Wales in 1964–65, are now about 27 per cent. above the average for England and Wales.

In 1964–65 the Scottish Gas Board were selling gas at a loss while the industry as a whole made a surplus. In 1967–68, to which the figure of 27 per cent. relates, the position was reversed.It is estimated that the average revenue per them in Scotland this year, following the revisions in gas tariffs made by all Boards in late March or early April, will be about 16 per cent. above the estimated average for England and Wales, This reflects the expected difference in costs.

asked the Minister of Power, what steps he is taking to reduce the substantial differences in the prices charged for gas by the various gas boards.

Differing costs of supply are reflected in current differences in price, in which the Government do not propose to intervene.

asked the Minister of Power what plans for investment in the Scottish steel industry have been submitted to him by the British Steel Corporation; and if he will make a statement.

As regards 1968–69, I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Hamilton (Mrs. Ewing) on 15th October. [Vol. 770, c. 77.] My right hon. Friend has not yet received proposals for any later period.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in his review of the steps which should be taken to render system built flats safe in the face of all possible dangers, he took into account the effects on such buildings of minor earth tremors; and if he will. make a statement.

I am advised that in this country the risk of damage to a building because of earth tremors is less than the risk of damage from high winds. Provided a building is strong enough to resist the maximum wind loading it may experience, it will be able to resist such earth tremors as may be expected to occur.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government which local authorities have reduced their proposed rent increases since 15th November, 1968, as a result of action by Her Majesty's Government under the Prices and Incomes Act, 1968, and by how much; what are the numbers of houses involved in the 59 authorities affected prior to 15th November, 1968; and what

					Original Figures				Final Figures
					Average		Maximum		Average		Maximum
					s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
COUNTY BOROUGHS
Coventry	…	…	…	…	15	10	25	7	7	6	10	0
Sunderland	…	…	…	…	10	6	29	6	8	6	24	0
Walsall	…	…	…	…	13	7	14	5	8	6	9	7
URBAN DISTRICTS
Horbury	…	…	…	…	4	10	24	1	4	4	10	0
RURAL DISTRICTS
Dunmow	…	…	…	…	7	3	11	10	7	3	10	0
Peterborough	…	…	…	…	6	6	11	0	6	3	7	6

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to clarify the position of owner-occupiers and tenants with the responsibility for the collection and payment of collective ground rents; and if he will make a statement.

It is usually possible for my right hon. Friend to make an order apportioning these rents and end the burden of collection. The procedure is simple and is explained in a leaflet which has been sent to local officers of the Citizens Advice Bureaux with stocks of application forms. It is also mentioned in our booklet on leasehold reform.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress he has made in the adoption of the proposals of Circular 46/67, relating to rent rebate schemes; and whether the provisions of paragraph 3 still represent the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

The following is a list of reductions in rent increases made or to be made in response to directions by my right hon. Friend and approved between 15th November and 29th November, 1968.These reductions affected 90,000 houses: reductions were made before 15th November by 46 authorities and these affected a further 480,000 houses. The 59 authorities which at 15th November had had proposals for rent increases or further rent increases rejected and had not submitted further proposals or resubmitted their original proposals have a total housing stock of 322,000.

The introduction of rent rebate schemes is by law within the discretion of each local housing authority. According to the statistical supplement to the N.B.P.I. Report on "Increases in Rents of Local Authority Housing", an N.B.P.I. survey covering the majority of local housing authorities in Great Britain indicated that the number of council tenants receiving rebates would rise from 361,000 (9·06 per cent. of all tenants) in 1966–67 to an estimated 455,000 (10.63 per cent. of all tenants) in 1968–69. Paragraph 3 of circular 46/67 continues to represent Government policy on rent rebates.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why it is his policy to advise new town development corporations to charge fair rents in terms of present-day values, leading to increases up to 17½ per cent. in Crawley; and why it is his policy to prevent similar action in local authority housing under Section 10 of the Prices and Incomes Act, 1968; and if he will make a statement.

No such advice has been given. Although Section 10 of the Act does not extend to New Towns, current policy on local authority rent increases applies equally to New Town housing. Under this policy rent increases must be limited in amount and be restricted to meet only unavoidable increases in housing costs or the cost of introducing or extending rent rebate schemes. Last year's rent increase at Crawley was made before current policy became applicable.

FINANCIAL YEAR 1967–68
Location	Type and Size	Cost
		£
Askern	82' 6" × 30' pool with ancillary facilities	157,400
Basingstoke*	82' 6" × 42' main pool, teaching pool, double court sports hall with ancillary facilities	272,500
Bingham†	82' 6" × 42' main pool, teaching pool, single court sports hall with ancillary facilities	129,886
Blaydon	82' 6" × 30' main pool, teaching pool and ancillary facilities	128,800
Chesterfield	110' × 42' main pool with ancillary facilities	223,300
Croydon	82' 6" × 42' main pool, teaching pool and ancillary facilities	340,934
Ellesmere Port	110' × 42' main pool, teaching pool and ancillary facilities	376,716
Eston	Double court sports hall, squash courts and ancillary facilities	255,600
Hindley	82' 6" × 42' main pool, teaching pool and ancillary facilities	208,545
Horwich	82' 6" × 42' main pool, teaching pool and ancillary facilities	210,199
Kirkby	110' × 42' main pool, teaching pool, diving pit and ancillary facilities	370,849
Knottingley	82' 6" × 42' pool with ancillary facilities	144,000
Leicester	Changing accommodation and other facilities at sports stadium	106,811
Middlesbrough	160' × 45' main pool, teaching pool and ancillary facilities	539,144
Minsthorpe	110' × 42' main pool, teaching pool and teaching facilities	242,772
Newburn	110' × 42' main pool, teaching pool and teaching facilities	312,920
Nottingham	110' × 42' main pool, teaching pool and ancillary facilities	490,091
Padiham	110' × 42' main pool, teaching pool, diving pit and ancillary facilities	183,524
Radcliffe	82' 6" × 35' pool with ancillary facilities	209,838
Royston	82' 6" × 42' main pool, teaching pool and ancillary facilities	157,856
Southend on Sea	82' 6" × 30' pool with ancillary facilities	423,500
Tower Hamlets	110' × 49' main pool, teaching pool, diving pit and ancillary facilities	539,260
Wallsend	Single court sports hall, squash courts and pavilion	105,850
Waltham Forest	Purchase of drill hall for sport and recreation	99,050
York	82' 6" × 42' main pool, teaching pool and ancillary facilities	186,651
FINANCIAL YEAR 1968–69 (TO 29TH November, 1968)
Bolton	Purchase of drill hall for sport and recreation	66,105
Bromley	Golf club house	59,881
Burntwood	82' 6" × 42' pool with ancillary facilities	120,000
Canterbury	33½ metre × 12·5 metre main pool, teaching pool and ancillary facilities	318,000
Cheltenham	33⅓ metre × 12·5 metre main pool, teaching pool, driving pit and ancillary facilities	596,189
Eccles	Sports pavilion and changing accommodation for outside activities	93,000
Hazel Grove and Bromhall	82' 6" × 42' main pool, teaching pool and ancillary facilities	160,056
Hetton	82' 6" × 42' main pool, teaching pool and ancillary facilities	160,000
Madeley†	Two 66' × 30' pools and sports hall with ancillary facilities	70,000
Morpeth	82' 6" × 30' pool with ancillary facilities	110,640
Stocksbridge	82' 6" × 42' main pool and teaching pool	280,192
Wellingborough	82' 6" × 42' main pool, teaching pool and ancillary facilities	256,823
Workingtont	82' 6" × 42' main pool, teaching pool and ancillary facilities	135,753
Workingtont	82' 6" x 42' main pool, teaching pool, with ancillary facilities	135,753
* Contribution by local authority to a local sports trust towards the provision of sports facilities.
† Joint provision by local authorities and local education authority to provide sports facilities for use both by school and public.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will list, giving site, size and cost, the swimming pools and other sports projects for which local authorities have been given loan sanction in the financial year 1967–68, and to date in the current year.

Loan sanction was given in respect of the following schemes to the amount of £50,000 or more.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in view of the closure of Firbeck Colliery, Nottinghamshire, on 31st December, if he will take steps to make a rate deficiency grant to offset the annual loss in rate income to Workshop Rural District Council.

Any reduction in the rate income of Worksop Rural District Council due to the closure of the colliery will be taken into account in the calculation of the resources element of rate support grant and will increase the amount otherwise payable.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is now in the position to make a statement on his consultations with the local authority associations and the Greater London Council about the level of grants for 1969–70.

I have today laid before the House the Rate Support Grant Order, 1968, which is the outcome of those consultations, and a report of the considerations leading to the provisions of the Order.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, over any convenient period of 12 months ending in 1968. he will indicate the total national expenditure on plant and machinery and how much of this is imported from abroad.

In the twelve months ending June, 1968, national capital expenditure on plant and machinery was £2,750 million. Estimates of the amount of this expenditure which was on imported goods are not available, but over the same period imports of machinery, instruments and other mainly capital goods, the nearest comparable categories, amounted to £846 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to eliminating the preferential treatment now given to owners of agricultural property with regard to Estate Duty.

This and other tax reliefs are constantly under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what methods are used by his Department to ensure that there is no illegal speculation in British currency by British nationals.

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to speculation involving foreign exchange. The prime method is prevention and this is effected by drawing the exchange control rules as tightly as possible. If infringements of the rules are suspected, the Treasury has extensive powers of investigation but it would not be advisable to disclose details of the methods used.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to bring within the scope of exchange control all movements abroad of capital by major industrial firms.

The powers already available under the Exchange Control Act, 1947 are fully adequate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value of imports for which a Treasury licence for duty-free entry was granted in 1967; what percentage they formed of the total; and what he estimates as the approximate annual cost of exempting them from the proposed 50 per cent. deposit.

The value of imports admitted duty-free under Treasury licence in the year ended 30th June, 1968 was about £59½ million, which represented about 0·8 per cent. of the total value of imports during that period. As the new import deposits are repayable after six months the exemptions do not involve any annual cost.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in his next Budget, he will consider making contributions to institutions of higher education tax free, and treating contributions from companies as a distribution of profits.

Contributions by a trader to an approved institution of higher education for the purposes of technical education related to his trade are allowable expenses in computing the trader's profits. I am not prepared to go further than that,

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the capital debt of the nationalised industries has been written-off in the last five years, including the proposed writing-off of 90 per cent. of such debt owed by London Transport.

Following is the information:

	£ million
British Overseas Airways Corporation	110·0†
National Coal Board	415·0
British Railways Board	1262·1*
British Waterways Board	15·5
London Transport Board	243·01‡
	2045·6
* Including £705 million suspended debt under the 1962 Transport Act, finally written off under the 1968 Transport Act.
† Including £30 million reconstituted as a reserve, of which £15 million has since been recapitalised.
‡ Estimate. (90 per cent. of an estimated debt to the Minister of £270 million at vesting day, subject to passage of the Transport (London) Bill).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will alter the policy so that when land and buildings become surplus to Government departmental requirements where the land and buildings may have an industrial use it will be offered, in the national interest, for sale on the open market with an industrial development certificate, before being offered to other Government Departments.

No. I consider it right that before a Government Department disposes of land and buildings which are surplus to requirements, consideration should first be given to possible alternative Government use.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans there are for the International Monetary Fund Team to visit the Treasury again to investigate the progress of Great Britain's economic affairs.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 29th November to a similar question by the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce Gardyne).—[Vol. 774, c. 201.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average annual growth in production in the last four years.

Between the year ending with the second quarter of 1964 and that ending with the second quarter of 1968 (the latest date available) the average annual growth in gross domestic product at constant prices was about 21 per cent. In the industries covered by the index of production the rate of growth for the same period was just over 2 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will arrange for the work which will fall on the Civil Service in connection with the Import Deposit Scheme to be done in the Fylde area.

No, this is not practicable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what relationship he bases his estimates of tax revenue and national income when estimating the revenue yield before Budget changes.

My estimates are based on past experience of the relationship between the components of the revenue and National Income. The hon. Gentleman might like to refer to the article entitled "Short-Term Economic Forecasting in the United Kingdom", published in Economic Trends for August, 1964, and the article on "The Short-term Effects of Tax Changes" contributed by economists in the Treasury to the November Issue of the National Institute's Economic Review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total loan borrowed in 1947 from Canada and the United States of America in terms of sterling; how much interest and capital has been repaid; on what occasions the United Kingdom has defaulted; and how much still remains to be repaid after the devaluation of 1949 from 4·03 to 2·80, and the devaluation of 1968 from 2·80 to 2·40.

£812 million. Only part of the loans in question were borrowed in 1947, but for the total outstanding and repaid I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Harwich (Mr. Ridsdale) on 27th February. There has been no default.—[Vol. 759, c. 287–8]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made of the relief given on Corporation Tax in respect of initial allowances on capital investment in the financial years 1967–68 and 1968–69.

The reduction of Corporation Tax for 1967–68 and 196869 on account of initial allowances is estimated to be of the order of £100 million in each year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many investigations customs officers have made for Rhodesian stamps from recognised stamp dealers and from amateur collectors respectively; and with what result.

There have been six cases in which Customs investigations have resulted in the seizure from stamp dealers of Rhodesian stamps illegally imported. No inquiries have been made of amateur stamp collectors.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total Exchequer subsidy to local authorities in Scotland in 1967–68.

Payments by central Government to local authorities in Scotland in the form of current and capital grants and housing subsidies totalled £215 million in 1967–68.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the fall in employment likely to result from each £1 million decrease in consumption.

The size of the fall would depend on a number of factors, including the composition of the decrease in personal consumptions, and the extent to which resources released were reabsorbed elsewhere, for example, in export production.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing a breakdown of personal saving in total and per head of the population at constant 1958 prices for 1946 to 1967, inclusive, among the countries of Scotland, Wales and England, respectively.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the latest figures to date of the total cost of the regional employment premium specifying each region separately.

Total payments of Regional Employment Premium from the inception of the scheme on 4th September, 1967 to the end of October this year were £84·7 million.It is estimated that the amount paid in each region was:

			£ million
Scotland	…	…	34·0
Northern Region	…	…	22·3
North Western Region	…	…	16·0
Wales	…	…	10·7
South Western Region	…	…	1·7

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the cost of the regional employment premium is paid in firms established in the regions for a period of 20 years or more.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving particulars of the representations made to his Department during the past four years by corporate bodies relating to cuts in Government expenditure.

I regret that the information requested could be made available only after a disproportionate expenditure of time and money. If however, my hon. Friend has a particular point in mind, I should be glad to consider it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in the light of the further credit restrictions and fiscal policies proposed on 22nd November, he will now take steps to stop banks and other organisations sending out unsolicited appeals to persons, and advertising to the public in general, to apply for unrestricted credit.

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary and my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary on 19th and 26th November respectively. —[Vol. 773, c. 242; Vol. 774, c. 77.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that petrol tax increases announced on 22nd November were illegally charged to motorists on old and existing stocks of petrol still in the reserve tanks of these garages; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that retailers do not charge as taxes to motorists moneys which are not passed on to the Treasury.

It would not have been practicable to control the price of stocks of petrol duty paid at the old rate, on the lines that my hon. Friend seems to have in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present rule regarding residential qualifications for taxation purposes; and what plans he has for changing this rule.

It is impossible to summarise the code of practice applying to residence status for tax purposes in a few sentences. If the hon. Gentleman has a particular difficulty, perhaps he could write to me about it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the growing practice of wealthy people avoiding taxation by claiming that they are not resident in Great Britain; and what action the Inland Revenue take to check on questions affecting residential qualifications.

The Inland Revenue make all necessary enquiries to ensure that they have full and accurate information relevant to taxpayers' residence status. They have no evidence that people are falsely claiming to be not resident in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what action she proposes to take in respect of labour-only sub-contracting in the light of the report of the Phelps Brown Committee of Inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will now make a statement on her policy regarding the Report of the Phelps Brown Committee.

I have nothing to add to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend on 25th November to the hon. Gentlemen the Members for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley) and Nelson and Colne (Mr. Waddington).

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what percentage of the total number of employed persons in Wales are disabled persons.

This information is not available, but at 15th April, 1968, a number of persons equivalent to 3.8 per cent. of the estimated total civilian labour force in Wales were registered as disabled persons under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether the recent agreement to increase the pay of workers in the bacon curing industry conforms with the Government's incomes policy.

Consultations with the parties about the justification for this settlement are still in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether, in including Fleetwood and Thornton Cleveleys in a travel to work area, she took into account the closing of the passenger services between Kirkham and Fleetwood.

No. My Department announced the revised travel-to work areas in July but it was not until November that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport tentatively concluded that the Kirkham-Fleetwood line should not be grant-aided and British Railways subsequently gave advance notice of their intention to publish a proposal for the withdrawal of the passenger service. In deciding whether he should give consent to a closure proposal the Minister of Transport will, of course, take into account the journeys being made to and from work and will need to be satisfied inter alia, that, alternative public transport would be available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many workers she estimates will be made redundant by the closure of the passenger service between Kirkham and Fleetwood; and what steps she is taking to find jobs for those made redundant.

The Railways Board will shortly be publishing a statutory proposal to withdraw the passenger service between Kirkham and Fleetwood. It is not possible at this stage to say whether or not any workers will be made redundant if, after the usual detailed consideration which he gives to rail closure proposals, the Minister of Transport should decide to give his consent to the withdrawal of this service. My local officers would, as usual, take all possible steps to find alternative work for any workers displaced.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the total cost to public funds of the Royal Commission on Trades Unions and Employers' Associations to the last most convenient date.

The total costs were about £100,000. This figure includes an estimate of the expenditure by the Government Social Survey Department on behalf of the Royal Commission and excludes any profit or loss which the Stationery Office may make as a result of its publications for the Royal Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many of the 964 productivity agreements approved by her Department since April, 1968 have been allied to pay increases; how many have necessitated follow-up action; how many have not been monitored; and if she will make a statement.

Productivity agreements are subject to early-warning arrangements only if they involve increases in pay, or other significant improvements. A decision regarding follow-up action is taken at the time when the Department's approval is given but a statistical record of these decisions is not maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will make a statement setting out the procedures employed by her Department for ensuring that productivity agreements are kept.

Where follow-up is considered necessary, industries and firms who do not inform the Department about progress of their own accord are contacted after a suitable time, which varies between cases according to their circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to rationalise the situation whereby responsibility for planning and preparation for wartime emergencies rests upon the Secretary of State for the Home Department, and local authorities for which the Minister of Housing and Local Government is the responsible Minister, and responsibility for peacetime emergencies rests upon the Minister of Housing and Local Government and upon the police forces for whom the Secretary of State for the Home Department has a statutory responsibility.

There is no need to make the proposed changes. Ministers are responsible for the plans and preparations required to deal with commitments for which their Departments would be responsible in any emergency in peace or war; I am responsible for co-ordinating such plans and preparations where this is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further estimates he has made of the backlog of dependants of immigrants wishing to enter the United Kingdom; and when this backlog is expected to be absorbed or substantially reduced.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to Commonwealth immigrants. The time-lag in the arrival of dependants to join heads of families, and the possible impact of economic and other factors, makes forecasting of the future rate of entry difficult. But the marked reduction in numbers of employment voucher holders admitted since 1965 is bound to lead to a decline in numbers of dependants arriving.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now introduce legislation to implement the recommendations of the Littlewood Committee on experiments on animals.

I have nothing to add to the reply given on 7th November to a Question on this subject by the hon. Member for Bodmin (Mr. Bessell).—[Vol. 772, c. 138.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the conduct of take-over bids.

I am in touch with the Governor of the Bank of England about plans for strengthening the City Code and the Panel and the possible reinforcement of these measures by the Board of Trade. I have no statement to make at this stage.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to reduce or stop altogether the import of plant and machinery which can be made in Great Britain.

No. The import deposit scheme is designed to secure some immediate reduction in imports of these and other products.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many service industry projects providing 50 or more additional jobs have received loans or grants under the Local Employment Acts in Scotland in the year to date, broken down into counties.

Offers were made to 13 such projects in the seven months to 31st October, 1968. It is not our practice to break down assistance under the Local Employment Acts as between counties.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what progress is being made in transferring Government offices at present located in London to the development areas.

Since the Fleming Report in May, 1963, some 3,400 jobs have been moved from London to the Development Areas and plans have been announced to move a further 7,600 jobs. (The latter figure is increased to about 11,000 if Cardiff and Edinburgh, which border Development Areas, are included).

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will undertake to introduce his proposed Pensions Increase Bill not later than 1st January, 1969.

I would refer the hon. Member to my Answer to the Questions put by the hon. Members for Liverpool, Wavertree (Mr. Tilney) and Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on 27th November, 1968.—[Vol. 774, c. 117.]

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether, in drafting the forthcoming pensions increase legislation, he will provide for railway super-annuitants.

No. The nationalised industries already have the necessary powers to pay and, when necessary, to increase pensions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent the provisions in the Public Health Act, 1968, enabling local authorities to provide centres for family planning advice have been implemented.

Section 15 of the Health Services and Public Health Act, 1968, has not yet been brought into effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the Government have decided to set up the Scottish Transport Group with a deficit of £800,000; and if he will give details of the steps he is taking to assist the Group to eliminate this deficit.

The Scottish Transport Group has not been set up with a deficit. There is provision in the Highlands and Islands Shipping Services Act, 1960 and the Transport Act, 1968 for grants to be given in respect of certain of the services to be provided by the Group.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons were released on detention centre, Borstal, and young offenders institution after care licences in Scotland in 1967; how many of these were recalled to their respective institutions for failing to comply with the terms and conditions of their licences; and how many were recalled to their respective institutions by order of the courts consequent upon their conviction for a further offence or offences.

1,904 young persons were released on after care licences in Scotland in 1967 as follows:—

From detention centre	708
From borstal institutions	759 (including 46 females)
From young offenders institutions).	437 (including five females)
Total	1,904

of these, 102 have been recalled to date—(i) by the Secretary of State for failing to comply with the terms and conditions of their licences:—

Detention centre inmates	2
Borstal inmates	8
Inmates of young offenders institutions	2 (including — one female)
	12

(ii) by order of the courts consequent upon their conviction for a further offence or offences:—

Borstal inmates	87 (including three females)
Inmates of young offenders institutions	3
	90

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ensure that the General Teaching Council takes into account the availability in Scotland of teachers with qualifications obtained furth of Scotland who are willing to teach if their qualifications are given recognition.

The General Teaching Council is prepared to consider applications for exceptional recognition from teachers who did not receive their training in Scotland. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the "Statement of Principles for Exceptional Admission to the Register of Teachers" that the Council published in March, 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in the establishment of smoke control areas during the past year; and if he will make a statement.

Since 1st December, 1967, 19 orders have been made, covering 31,000 houses, and have come into operation. Thirteen orders, covering 30,000 houses, have been confirmed but the six month period, which under statute must elapse before they can come into operation, has not yet expired.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications have been received from, and granted to, crofters who have applied for grants and loans to improve or extend their croft houses; and what is the average time between notification that the grant is to be made and payment of the money.

From the start of the Crofters Budding Grants Scheme in 1949 to the end of September, 1968, 5,955 applications have been received for assistance by way of grant and/or loan towards improvements to croft houses. Of these 2,175 were subsequently withdrawn or found to be ineligible and 3,364 were approved. The duration of building work varies very much from case to case and the average time taken to make payment of the grant is not readily available. The practice is, however, to make payment without delay once the work is completed and in certain circumstances instalments of grant are paid as the work proceeds.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average rate burden per head of population in Hamilton Burgh and the county of Lanark in the latest period for which figures are available.

According to provisional information for the current year, about £29 2s. per head in Hamilton and £27 15s. per head in Lanark County.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police man-hours were spent in court on waiting time and on giving evidence by members of the Glasgow Police Force while acting as Crown witnesses during the last year.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent consultations he has had with the appropriate authorities in respect of the Greater Glasgow Transportation Plan; what progress is being made; and if he will make a statement.

I have written to all the participating bodies indicating what I think the main lines of future action should be, suggesting further consultations, and offering a Government contribution to the cost of an immediate programme of follow up work. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of this letter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of lambs and sheep killed or injured by foxes in Scotland each year.

It is difficult to estimate accurately the number of stock killed annually by foxes. Attacks are rarely witnessed. In remote areas loss due to other causes may be attributed to foxes, and instances of predation by foxes may go undetected. In 1965–66 the farming and land owning organisations co-operated in a survey, of methods used in control of foxes and stock losses, which showed that during the year ended July, 1966, 2,187 lambs and 140 sheep were reported by farmers to have been killed by foxes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the outcome of his talks with MacBraynes about the change in the steamer connection between Stornoway to the mainland from Kyle of Lochalsh to Ullapool.

I have received no formal proposal for such a change from MacBraynes, and there has therefore been no cause for me to have substantive discussions with the company. I understand that the company is considering the merits of an Ullapool terminal, but

	General Grant (remanet)	Exchequer Equalisation Grant (remanet)	Rate Support Grant	Total Grants
	£	£	£	£
1967–68*
Hamilton Burgh	22,265	43,129	1,227,866	1,293,260
Lanark County (Landward Area excluding District Councils)	-31,666	244,902	8,115,946	8,329,182
Lanark Fourth District Council	—	-1,182	33,136	31,954
Lanark Eighth District Council	—	-1,014	31,957	30,943
Glasgow	131,105	1,239,773	25,048,175	26,419,053
1968–69†
Hamilton	—	-22,416	1,303,875	1,281,459
Lanark County (Landward Area excluding District Councils)	—	-25,295	9,191,633	9,166,338
Lanark Fourth District Council	—	5,926	36,953	42,879
Lanark Eighth District Council	—	-8,265	32,331	24,066
Glasgow	—	990,616	28,486,403	29,477,019
* Actual.
† Estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications he has received under the Farm Amalgamation Scheme; how many have been approved; and what is the average period between submission of application and payment of grant.

By 31st October, 1968, I had received 401 applications for approval of amalgamation proposals. Of

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to set up a Scottish Roads Board on the lines proposed to him by the Scottish Trades Union Congress.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the rate support grants, or their equivalent, paid to any council serving the constituency of Hamilton and to the Glasgow Corporation, respectively, for the latest available years.

The information is as follows: these, 56 had been rejected or withdrawn and 134 approved in principle including seven formally approved. As regards the last part of the Question no claims for grant by amalgamators had been received by 31st October.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to improve the roads and bridges in the Highlands which serve the paper industry of Scotland so as to reduce the costs of the timber required.

A special programme of road improvements, costing £1·7 million and designed in co-operation with Scottish Pulp (Development) Limited to serve the needs of the Corpach mill, has been virtually completed. In addition, as part of our ordinary programme, the Government are spending more than £4 million a year on road and bridge works in the Highlands, much of which benefits timber traffic.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many deaths in Scotland in each of the last six years were attributed to alcoholism; and what considerations is given to this matter in drawing up the medical education syllabus at teaching hospitals.

The numbers of deaths registered in Scotland attributed to alcoholism in the years 1962 to 1967 were 17, 18, 19, 23, 16 and 27. The structure of the undergraduate medical curriculum is the responsibility of each university acting under the guidance of the General Medical Council.

asked the Minister of Transport what is his latest estimate of the extent of national funds to be spent on the proposed Channel Tunnel and/or Bridge; and if he will now stop this expenditure and so save national funds.

The bulk of the finance needed to build the Channel Tunnel would be raised in the private sector here and abroad. The exact proportions would depend upon the outcome of the financial talks now in progress and the state of the money markets at the time it was raised. Major expenditure would not be incurred before 1970–71.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in order to protect the public, he will take steps to require motor in surance companies to examine Ministry of Transport test certificates before renewing motor policies in the same way as licensing authorities require these certificates before renewing licences.

No. The requirements of this aspect of road safety are sufficiently met by the checks when vehicle licences are renewed. But I have asked motor insurers to consider the possibility of including in the renewal notices sent to their policy holders a reminder about the importance of proper vehicle maintenance.

asked the Minister of Transport what change in priorities he has made in his road programme since the issue of the report, Strategy II, by the North West Economic Development Council.

None is necessary. My assessment of priorities accords very closely with the proposals made by the Planning Council.

asked the Minister of Transport what road improvements are planned for the Al22/All junction just north of Epping; and when he estimates that these will be commenced.

Proposals to improve the Al22/A1 1 junction by provision of a gyratory system were published in the form of draft Orders in September, 1967. Objections have been received and the possibility of amending the proposal is under consideration. As revised Orders may be necessary it is not yet possible to say when work will start.

asked the Minister of Transport what segments of the proposed D-ring road in the North outer-metropolitan London area will be constructed by 31st December, 1970; and what are his plans for the completion of the whole D-ring project.

None. Schemes in preparation or programmed cover about a quarter of a complete ring. Each segment has to be justified for the road President-elect will depend to some extent programme on its own merits, and it may on the timing of the meeting, but I shall be many years before the whole ring is bear my hon. Friend's suggestion in mind. completed.

asked the Minister of Transport why he disregarded the representations of the Transport Users' Consultative Committee that the closure of the Darlington to Richmond railway line would cause hardship to displaced rail users.

My right hon. Friend gave due weight to the report of the Transport Users' Consultative Committee but he concluded that any hardship resulting from the closure would be substantially alleviated by the existing and proposed additional bus services.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now make a further statement on the Falkland Islands. following the visit of the Minister of State.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the position of the Falkland Islands, arising from the Minister of State's visit.

I would refer my hon. Friends to the statement which I made earlier today.