asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement on supplies of natural gas which are now becoming available for use as a chemical feedstock.

Agreements are being completed for the supply of large quantities of natural gas by the Gas Council to Imperial Chemical Industries and Shellstar. Total supplies will build up to about 1,000 million therms a year by 1972.

asked the Minister of Power when plans will be announced for North Sea gas to be available for sale in Devon and Cornwall.

I am informed that work on plans is now proceeding which could result in natural gas becoming available in parts of Devon in the year 1971–72, extending as far as Plymouth by not earlier than 1973–74. The date cannot be given at present for supplies further west.

asked the Minister of Power when North Sea gas will be available to consumers in the South Wales area.

Supplies of natural gas are planned to reach South Wales by Spring, 1970.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will revise his original estimate of the cost of converting gas appliances in Great Britain to use natural gas.

I have no reason, at this stage, to revise the original estimate that the whole operation would cost about £400 million at 1966 cost levels. The present average of £34–£35 is higher than the 1966 estimate of £30 per consumer over the full ten-year period, but it was always expected that initially costs would be high and would fall in real terms with experience and economies of scale.

asked the Minister of Power what quantities of natural gas, in millions of therms, he estimates will be used in the years 1968–69 and 1969–70, respectively; and if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table giving a breakdown of the total according to source.

The Gas council estimate that a total of about 1,400 million therms of gas from the North Sea and Algeria will be used in 1968–69 and about 3,350 million therms in 1969–70.

asked the Minister of Power if he is satisfied with the ratio between the production costs and the distribution costs of the coal industry; and what proposals he has to increase the efficiency, cost-effectiveness and organisation of the private sector of the coal distribution industry.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the National Board for Prices and Incomes Report No. 21: Coal Distribution Costs (Cmnd. 3094) published in July, 1966. With the active encouragement of my Department, the coal trade and the N.C.B. are implementing the recommendations of this Report.

asked the Minister of Power, in view of the increasing demand for solid fuels for central heating, how many kinds of natural and manufactured fuels are now produced; and what tonnage of stocks there are in reserve of each type of fuel.

Most solid fuels can be used for central heating, but hard coke, gas coke, anthracite and boiler fuel, are mainly used. At the end of December, 1968, merchants' stocks of these categories were about 110,000, 150,000 and 270,000 tons respectively, giving a total much the same as at December, 1967. In addition there were about ½m. tons of suitable gas coke at gas works.

asked the Minister of Power what number of pits will be closed in the Northern region before 1975; and how many mineworkers he estimates will be displaced.

Closures are a matter for the Board and are decided in the light of production requirements, the performance of individual collieries and other factors. I am not able to say how many collieries will close or how many men will be affected.

asked the Minister of Power what were the undistributed stocks of coal at the most recent date for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures for 1968, 1967 and 1966.

On 25th January, 1969, 26·8 million tons. At comparable dates, in 1968 they were also 26·8 million tons, in 1967 17·8 million tons, and in 1966, 205 million tons.

asked the Minister of Power what progress has been made in establishing local committees to examine disputed applications for benefit under the Redundant Mine-workers (Payments) Scheme, 1968.

Local Committees are now in operation and my right hon. Friend has agreed with his right hon. Friend, the First Secretary, that the services of personnel of Industrial Tribunals may be called upon if there are disputes not resolved by the local committees.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will hold consultations with the Minister of Housing and Local Government in order to ensure a balanced use of alternate fuels in local authority housing projects with particular reference to the type of fuel employed in district heating projects.

My Department is already in consultation with the Ministry of Housing and Local Government on the subject of district heating policy.

asked the Minister of Power when he will announce plans for further applications for exploration licences for gas and hydrocarbons in the North Sea, in the Irish Sea and in the English Channel.

Applications for exploration licences may be made at any time, but applications for production licences, which I think the hon. Member may have in mind, may be made only at my right hon. Friend's invitation. No decision has yet been made about inviting further applications for production licences.

asked the Minister of Power how much condensate or hydrocarbon product of an oil nature, as opposed to North Sea gas, has so far been found in the Continental Shelf.

Only one discovery of crude oil has been made, and this has not proved commercial. About 10,000 tons of condensate, found with natural gas, had been produced up to the end of 1968.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will give a direction to the British Steel Corporation, in the national interest, to implement the recommendations of the Geddes Report on the supply of steel for shipbuilding.

asked the Minister of Power what action he is taking to prevent a rise in the price of steel requirements for the shipbuilding industry.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will issue a direction to the British Steel Corporation to withdraw its proposed increases in the cost of steel to British shipbuilders.

I am awaiting the report of the N.B.P.I. on the British Steel Corporation's price proposals. On the particular question of the Geddes Committee's recommendations, I would refer to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor) on 10th December last.—[Vol. 775. c. 193.]

asked the Minister of Power what proposals he has to merge the brick making activities of the British Steel Corporation and the National Coal Board.

None; but the two industries will not overlook any possibilities there may be for improving efficiency by rationalisation.

asked the Minister of Power whether, in view of the delays in the construction of the Dungeness B nuclear power station and the consequent effect on costs, he will now set up an independent inquiry into nuclear power costs.

The Chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board assures me that, as explained in an earlier reply today to my hon. Friend, the recent mechanical engineering difficulties at Dungeness B are specific to that station and have no implications for the other advanced gas-cooled reactor stations. Consequently, the difficulties there do not provide any new reason for an outside inquiry into generating costs generally, on which I gave my views in my letter to the Chairman of the Select Committee on Science and Technology, published in December as House of Commons paper No. 40.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will refuse to authorise the construction of any more nuclear power stations until the B station at West Burton has been built on the site adjoining the existing coal-fired station.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Mr. Kelley) on 4th February.—[Vol. 777, c. 55.]

asked the Minister of Power what estimate he has made of the contribution per kilowatt accruing to the construction cost of Drax No. 2 arising from facilities already provided and which are able to be shared with Drax No. 1.

Detailed estimates of the cost of a power station under construction are a matter for the Central Electricity Generating Board.

asked the Minister of Power who will bear the extra costs of the Dungeness B nuclear power station arising from the delays in its construction.

This is a matter for the Central Electricity Generating Board and its contractors.

asked the Minister of Power if he will seek powers to negotiate the ending of regional variations in petrol prices throughout the United Kingdom.

I do not think that is necessary.

asked the Minister of Power what instructions he has now given the Inspectorate of Mines regarding the inspection of tailing lagoons and settling ponds of quarries in the interests of safety.

H.M. Inspectors of Mines and Quarries are now inspecting the tailings lagoons and settling ponds of quarries as though the Mines and Quarries (Tips) Bill were already law.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board that it should sell its houses to tenants at market value in cases where the tenant wishes, and is able, to buy.

No; but I understand that this is already the policy of the N.C.B. where it no longer requires the houses and first offers for sale have been turned down by local authorities.

asked the Minister of Power if he will take steps to ensure that full-scale tests are carried out to safeguard life and property wherever old pit shafts are discovered; and if he will make a statement.

Power to deal with abandoned or disused mine shafts rests with local authorities under Section 151 of the Mines and Quarries Act, 1954. A shaft which is not adequately enclosed or provided with a properly maintained device to prevent persons accidently falling down the shaft or from accidently entering the outlet is deemed to be a statutory nuisance and the local authority can require a remedy using the powers available under the Public Health Act. 1936.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to fulfil the Government's undertaking to circulate planning and highway authorities with guidance designed to ensure that new urban highway developments do not result in the increased flooding of neighbouring farm land.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and I are convening a meeting of representatives of the authorities concerned to discuss the: scope for improving present arrangements for liaison on land drainage and planning. We shall decide after this whether to issue a circular dealing with the particular problem mentioned by the hon. Member or to include it in more comprehensive guidance on the general issue.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to publish the report of the inquiry into the proposed expansion of Ipswich; and when he will announce his decision on this matter.

My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to announce his decision shortly. The Inspector's report will be published at the same time.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will send a circular to local authorities advising them to take out insurance policies to cover potential liability for defamatory statements made by their members and officers; and if he will make a statement.

No. Members and officers of local authorities are entitled to claim qualified privilege and this should meet all reasonable circumstances.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make the reports of the Royal Commission on Local Government available to local authority associations in the same way as they are made available to Government Departments and regional planning councils in advance of availability to the public.

Reports of Royal Commissions become available after they have been presented to Her Majesty and then, by her Command, laid before Parliament. I do not think it would be desirable to vary this procedure.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has now received the Report of the Royal Commission on Local Government; and when he expects to be able to place it before the House.

No. I understand that the Royal Commission is on the point of completing its Report. Printing will go forward as quickly as possible but may take two or three months. When it has been printed, the Commission will submit its report to Her Majesty, by whose command it would be laid before Parliament.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many acres of land have been acquired by the Land Commission through its Bristol office up to the present time; and how many acres have been sold for development; and what is the nature of that development.

So far, the only land bought is a small parcel which has been sold to a private builder to enable him to round off a housing development near the centre of Bath. Further sites totalling 235 acres are at various stages of acquisition.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish a table giving the grade, responsibilities, qualifications and

LAND COMMISSION SOUTH WESTERN REGIONAL OFFICE
Information at 3rd February. 1969
Grade and Salary Scale	Total Number	Collection of Betterment Levy	Responsibilities Acquisition Management and Disposal of Lands	Finance, Personnel and Commons Services
Controller £3,640–£4,405	1	—	—	1
Assistant Controllers (Chief Executive Officer) £2,860–£3,400	2	1	1	—
Senior Executive Officers £2,220–£2,720	5	2	2	1
Higher Executive Officers £1,740–£2,100	14	6	6	2
Executive Officers £650–£1,610	32	22	6	4
Personal Secretary £798–£l.082	1	—	—	1
Clerical Officers £400–£ 1,100	20	10	4	6
Clerical Assistants £5 14s. 0d. to £15 18s. 0d. per week	6	2	1	3
Superintendent of Typists £400–£1,100 plus allowances	1	—	—	1
Typing Staff £5 13s. 6d. to £16 7s. 6d. per week plus allowances	7	—	—	7
Higher Grade Cartographic Draughtsman £1,250–£1,489	1	—	—	1
Cartographic Draughtsman £391–£1,250	2	—	—	2
Estates Officer £l,989–£2,636	1	—	1	—
Paperkeeper £13 15s. 6d. to £14 13s. 0d. per week	1	—	—	1
Messengers £12 17s. 0d. to £13 5s. 0d. per week	2	—	—	2
Cleaner £10 8s. 0d. to £12 4s. 0d. per week	4	—	—	4
	100	43	21	36

Staff costs for the period 1st April, 1968, to 31st January, 1969, were £134,000.Estimated costs for the full year 1968–69 are £160,000.Other costs attributable to the South Western Region are not readily available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state the total amount of money that the London Borough of Croydon received in grants and other forms of financial assistance for all services in 1963–64, 1965–66, 1966–67 and 1967–68; and what is expected to be given to Croydon for 1969.

The total amounts of the grants to the London Borough of Croydon for 1965–66, 1966–67 and 1967–68 were £5,459,291, £6,163,991 and salary of each person based upon the Bristol offices or the Land Commission at the present time, together with the total administrative costs of the Bristol office for the year 1968.

Yes. Following is the table:£7,554,599 respectively. The latest estimate of the rate support grant for 1968–69 is £7,760,221. Particulars of other grants for 1968–69 are not yet available.Comparable figures for 1963–64 for the area now comprising the London Borough of Croydon are not available. A substantial part of the total grant was then payable to the Surrey County Council.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government on what date an increase of £547,000 in the rate support grant received by Warwickshire was announced by his Department; and on what date this information was communicated to the Clerk of the Council.

The latest estimates of the rate support grant for Warwickshire County Council were notified to the Clerk of the Council on 3rd January, 1969. The estimate for 1969–70 showed an increase of £1,361,675 over 1968–69. The estimate of the needs element of rate support grant for 1969–70 was £587,081 higher than the provisional estimate given in the Report on the Rate Support Grant Order, 1968, which was based on earlier data.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now make a statement on the Kingston upon Hull, Raywell Street—Wright Street and King Street Compulsory Purchase Order.

The amendment to the Development Plan, upon which this Compulsory Purchase Order depends, will be approved this month and I hope that it will be possible to issue a decision on the Order in April.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will list as at the latest convenient date those local authorities which have decided to rate unoccupied property.

The following lists show, respectively, those authorities which are already rating unoccupied property and those which had notified my right hon. Friend by 10th February, 1969, that they had resolved to do so from 1st April, 1969.

AUTHORITIES ALREADY RATING EMPTY PROPERTY
The county borough councils of:
Bournemouth.	Exeter.
Coventry.	Southport.
Eastbourne.	West Bromwich.
The London borough councils of:
Barnet.	Havering.
Bexley.	Hounslow.
Brent.	Lambeth.
Camden.	Newham.
Croydon.	Red bridge.
Ealing.	Southwark.
Greenwich.	Waltham Forest.
Hackney.	Wandsworth.
Hammersmith.	Westminster.
Haringey.

The non-county borough and urban district councils of:
Alsager.	Neath.
Ashby de la Zouch.	Newbiggin-by-the Sea.
Beaumaris.
Bishop's Stortford.	Newbury.
Cannock.	Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Carmarthen.
Chepstow.	New Sarum
Clay Cross.	Petersfield.
Coalville.	Portland.
Crawley.	Potters Bar.
Eccles.	Ramsgate.
Gelligaer.	Royston (Herts).
Halstead.	St. Albans.
Heanor.	Shoreham-by-Sea.
Hereford.	Skelton and Brotton.
Hitchin.
Hornsea.	Stevenage.
Horsham.	Tamworth.
Keighley.	Taunton.
Leamington Spa.	Todmorden.
Letchworth.	Tonbridge,
Llandovery.	Tring.
Llanidloes.	Tunbridge Wells.
Loughborough.	Watford.
Maesteg.	Wellington (Somerset).
Maidstone.
Melksham.	Wimborne Minster.
Melton Mowbray.	Wisbech.
The rural district councils of:
Ashby de la Zouch.	Wantage.
Cannock.	Warminster and
Long Ashton.	Westbury.
Sedgefield.	Warmley.
South Cambridge shire.	Watford.
	West Dean.
South Kesteven.	Wycombe.
Vaynor and Penderyn.	Isles of Scilly.

AUTHORITIES WHICH HAVE RESOLVED TO RATE UNOCCUPIED PROPERTY FROM 1ST APRIL, 1969.
The London borough councils of:
Barking.	Hillingdon.
Islington.

The urban district council of:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many individual rate rebates have been paid to ratepayers in the borough of Morpeth, the urban district council of Ashington, and Newbiggin-by-the-Sea in the county of Northumberland, under the Rating Act, 1965, in each of the last three years; and what was the average benefit.

The average numbers of recipients of rate rebates under the Rating Act, 1966, and the average rebate, for the years 1966–67 and 1967–68, are as follows:

	Average number of recipients
	1966–67	1967–68
Morpeth B.	273	221
Ashington U.D.	723	385
Newbiggin-by-the-Sea U.D.	209	205

	Average rebate
	1966–67			1967–68
	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
Morpeth B.	13	10	0	14	13	0
Ashington U.D.	9	2	0	12	3	0
Newbiggin-by-the-Sea U.D.	11	15	0	11	11	0

The figures for 1968–69 are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the average benefit per head to ratepayers in the borough of Morpeth, the urban district council of Ashington and New biggin in the county of Northumberland, in each of the last four years under the provisions of the Rating (Interim Relief) Act, 1964.

Grant paid by the Government under Section 1 of the Act (which provides for grants to rating authorities of areas with relatively high proportions of old people) was as follows:

	1964–65	1965–66	1966–67
	£	£	£
Morpeth B.	985	975	975
Ashington U.D.	2,000	2,360	2,670
Newbiggin-by-the-Sea U.D.	30	150	190

No grant was paid in 1967–68.The grants under Section 1 benefited all ratepayers as follows:

	Reduction in rate poundage
	1964–65	1965–66	1966–67
	d.	d.	d
Morpeth B.	½	½	½
Ashington U.D.	⅔	1	1
Newbiggin-by-the-Sea U.D.	1/20	1/5	¼

	Average relief per ratepayer
	1964–65		1965–66		1966–67
	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
Morpeth B.	4	3	4	0	3	10
Ashington U.D.	3	9	4	6	5	0
Newbiggin-by-the-Sea U.D.	0	2	0	9	1	0

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what was the annual total of public funds allocated to the Port of Bristol Authority by Bristol Corporation from 1945 onwards;(2) what are the annual totals from 1945 to date of money provided from the Port of Bristol Authority for general use by the Bristol Corporation.

During the period from 1960–61 to 1967–68 there were no transfers from the rate funds of Bristol Corporation to the Port of Bristol Authority and no transfers from the Authority in aid of the revenues of the Corporation. I regret that information for earlier years is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what has been the Rate Support Grant to South Shields for the past three years, including 1968–69; and what percentage of this is intended for primary and secondary education.(2) what percentage of the Rate Support Grant has the South Shields Authority spent on primary and secondary education over the past three years; and what is the corresponding national average percentage.

The latest estimates of the rate support grants for the County Borough of South Shields for 1967–68 and 1968–69 are £3,576,032 and £3,750,906. Corresponding grants for 1966–67 amounted to £3,067,727.The amounts spent by the county borough council on primary and secondary education were £1,772,000 for 1966–67 and £1,911,000 for 1967–68 and the amount for 1968–69 is estimated to be £2,023,000.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he intends to publish his White Paper concerning controlled rented property; and whether he will make a statement.

I know of no such proposal. The Government's latest proposals for controlled rented property are contained in Part III of the new Housing Bill. They are based on suggestions made in the While Paper Old Houses into New Homes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will list the places in which pilot schemes are to be carried out under the policy outlined in the White Paper, Old Houses into New Homes.

Places where pilot schemes are in progress now or in prospect include the county boroughs of Coventry, Exeter, Leeds, Newcastle upon Tyne and Nottingham, and the urban district of Whitworth.Many other local authorities are considering what parts of their districts might be General Improvement Areas on the passing of the legislation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give details about the pilot scheme to be carried out in association with his Department at Sittingbourne, Kent, under the policy outlined in the White Paper, Old Houses into New Homes, including the timing 01: the scheme; when it it likely to start; how long it is expected to take; and if he will give details about the consultations which will take place.

The Sittingbourne and Milton Urban District Council is studying housing conditions in the Frederick Street/Arthur Street/Gibson Street neighbourhood in the light of the White Paper and the Housing Bill. If a general improvement area is declared, this will follow the passage of the Bill.The duration of the work will depend largely on the outcome of more detailed studies which are about to be started. The Council has written to owners and occupiers and hopes to arrange for public discussion of the proposals.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the approved house building programme of Luton County Borough Council as from May, 1969.

A programme for the calendar year 1969 has not yet been settled. At least eight schemes totalling 775 dwellings are likely to be included.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many house building projects from Luton County Borough Council he has before him awaiting approval; how many houses are involved; how long they have been under consideration; and when approval is to be expected.

Two schemes involving 470 dwellings. One, intended for development in stages, was submitted in July, 1967; the first stage has been approved and the next stage, timed to start this year, is under consideration. The second project was submitted in August, 1968, and approval is expected during this year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what instructions he has issued to the Coventry City Council in connection with reductions in rent increases and rent rebates; and what interpretation the Council has given to these instructions in their application.

The Council had increased standard rents by an average of 15s. 10d. and a maximum of 25s. 7d. a week on 1st January 1968. On 26th November, 1968, my right hon. Friend accepted proposals, which the Council had submitted as a result of a direction made by him under the Prices and Incomes Act, 1968, to reduce these increases in standard rent to an average of 7s. 6d. and a maximum of 10s. a week. The reductions came into effect last month. My right hon. Friend has no power to determine the methods which the Council select to finance these reductions but he has expressed to it his extreme regret that it has chosen to worsen its rent rebate scheme in preference to adopting the alternative methods that were open to it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what special factors made it necessary for the Bank Rate for 1968 to be kept at a rate which averaged 7·47 per cent. the highest for over 100 years; and whether those factors will be removed in the next six months.

High interest rates have been necessary in recent months both on domestic grounds and to protect the reserves. As the balance of payments moves into surplus, external pressures may be expected to abate, but my right hon. Friend has no intention of relaxing the squeeze.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement about the undertaking which he has given to the representatives of the International Monetary Fund as to public expenditure.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has given no such undertaking. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary's Letter of Intent of 23rd November, 1967 stated the Government's intention to keep the borrowing requirement under £1,000 million. It will, in fact, be very considerably less than that figure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are taken to ensure that goods in respect of which the Commissioners of Customs and Excise remit import deposit under paragraph 3(1)(a) of Schedule 2 to the Customs (Import Deposits) Act, 1968, are in fact re-exported or are incorporated with goods which are exported or are used in the manufacture or production of goods which are exported.

The precise steps taken vary according to the circumstances, including the past pattern of trade, evidence of export orders produced, and the local Customs and Excise officer's knowledge of the firm concerned.If the hon. Member has any particular point in mind, I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount collected in import deposits at the most recent date for which the information is available.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 5th February to the hon. Member for Leicester, South-West (Mr. T. Boardman).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the total amount collected in import deposits to date falls short of his original estimate; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the shortfall.

It is too soon to judge whether amounts collected in import deposits will fall significantly short of the order of magnitude given in my right hon. Friend's statement on 22nd November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what arrangements the Commissioners of Customs and Excise remit the import deposit to an importer who can show that he has only a reasonable expectation that goods which he is importing will be used in other goods intended for export.

Where there is a reasonably consistent past pattern of export trade, remission of import deposit is allowed on the appropriate proportion of importation. Where there is no such pattern, and remission for a particular importation is sought, the local Customs officer has to be satisfied that, as far as can be foreseen the exportation will take place. If he is not satisfied, the deposit must be paid; it is refunded at the expiry of 180 days or upon re-exportation of the goods, if that is earlier.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he now estimates will be the total amount collected in import deposits.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 27th January to the hon. Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount of import deposits to date paid in foreign currency.

None. All payments of deposit are made in sterling.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what request has recently been made to the banks on his instructions to tighten up credit; what has been the response; and what action he proposes to enforce the Government's policy regarding this matter.

In a published exchange of letters on 31st January, the Bank of England re-emphasised the importance which the authorities attached to achievement of the bank lending target set for next March, and the London clearing banks, while fully accepting their responsibilities in carrying out the official policies, noted the difficulties which achievement of the target would involve.I know that the clearing banks will do their very best to overcome these difficulties. I do not think that any further action is needed at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the banks had exceeded, on the most recent date for which information is available, the most recent lending target he had asked them to meet.

On the most recent date for which information is available, the banking system as a whole (including the discount houses) was about £250 million (3½ per cent.) above the ceiling within which the authorities have asked for lending to the private sector to be contained by mid-March this year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on consumption of each £100 million that the banks exceed the lending target set by him.

The precise figure would depend on the categories of borrowing affected. I believe that a large part of consumer borrowing at the margin is immediately reflected in consumer spending.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the increase of Income Tax, Corporation Tax or Purchase Tax required to achieve the same objective that he estimated would result from a reducation of £100 million in bank lending.

A simple comparison is not possible, mainly because a reduction in bank lending has once-for-all effects on demand whereas an increase in taxation has lasting effects.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will arrange for control over Central Office of Information films in Scotland to be transferred to the Scottish Office.

Distribution of official and officially acquired films in Scotland is arranged through the Scottish Central Film Library, which is controlled by a Committee acting for the Scottish Film Council.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchaquer whether, in view of the increases in bank profits for 1968, he will take steps to require banks to disclose in future the full extent of their profits including the sums allocated to reserve; and whether he will take steps to compulsorily restrict credit for those seeking it for any enterprise which does not contribute to the advantage of the community.

The first part of this Question is a matter for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.On the second part, I do not think that compulsory restriction of credit extended to particular borrowers would be either practicable or desirable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated revenue to be obtained from the tax on fuel used by motor vehicles in the year ending 31st March, 1970 at the current rate of the tax; and by how much this exceeds the estimated revenue from this source during the year ending 31st March, 1969.

Estimates of revenue for the year ending 31st March, 1970, will be published at the time of the Budget, based on figures of out-turn for the current financial year which are not at present available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount of an increase in the tax on motor spirit needed to raise a sum equal to the revenue derived from the taxation of motor vehicles.

To produce extra revenue equal to the yield of the motor vehicle Excise licence duties, the rate of duty on petrol and heavy oil used in road vehicles would need to be increased by at least 1s. 8d. a gallon.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he now expects to receive the Report of the Reddaway inquiry into the effects of the Selective Employment Tax.

I expect to have the initial findings towards the end of the year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what economic forecasts he will be publishing in the Financial Statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Worthing (Mr. Higgins) on 28th January.—[Vol. 776, c. 277–8.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the amount of tax levied on inventors in Great Britain who are paid, £50,000, £100,000, £150,000 and £200,000, respectively, for the ownership of an invention compares with that levied on similar sums in Canada, Australia. New Zealand, South Africa, the United States of America, Japan, and the countries of the European Economic Community and the European Free Trade Association, from information available to him from international sources.

Such a comparison would not be meaningful without taking into account the tax code of each country as it affects both payer and payee, since the tax treatment of both is likely to affect the amount of the payment. The hon. Member will be aware that our tax code provides for receipts of this kind to be taxed as if they were spread over a number of years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider increasing the maximum permitted holding of the twelfth issue of National Savings Certificates.

I am currently reviewing all possibilities for increasing savings.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimate of revenue lost annually as a result of the duty-free concession on spirits and tobacco.

It is not possible to form any reliable estimate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the estimated yield of £44 million from Capital Gains Tax for the financial year 1968–69 is expected to be collected from the corporate sector, and how much from the personal sector.

The £44 million is the estimated yield from persons other than companies. Capital gains of companies are chargeable to Corporation Tax and not to Capital Gains Tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the case of nationalised industries, in which an appreciable proportion of their running costs is provided out of moneys provided by Parliament, he will direct the Ministers concerned to reconsider their decisions not to answer Parliamentary Questions relating to the standard of service given by the industries to the public.

No. But in those cases where specific grants are paid to support individual services, Ministers will be prepared to answer Questions on the standard of service provided insofar as this depends on the level of Government grant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the book value of net assets representing investment by overseas manufacturing industry, institutions, and private portfolios, respectively, in Great Britain, and in total as at 31st December, 1968; what has been the outflow by way of interest, dividend and royalty;

Item	Type	Period	Publication
Private long-term overseas assets and liabilities	Direct, portfolio and other	End of year, annual, to 1967	(1)
Interest, Profits and Dividends, paid and received	Direct, portfolio and other	Quarterly, to third quarter of 1968	(2)
Royalties, paid and received	On records or books, on manufacturing rights, etc.	Annual, to 1966	(3)
Flows of investment, Inward and Outward:
World-wide	Direct, portfolio and other	Quarterly, to third quarter of 1968	(2)
By country	Direct	Annual, to 1966	(4)

(1) United Kingdom Balance of Payments 1968, page 36.(2) Economic Trends December, 1968, Appendix, Tables 7 and 8.(3) Board of Trade Journal, 23rd August, 1968, page 548.(4) Board of Trade Journal, 19th July, 1968, inset, pages i-xxiv.The figures all relate to the United Kingdom, not to Great Britain.The published figures on direct and portfolio investment flows include financial institutions. The following table brings together the available figures for financial institutions separately, which relate to total overseas portfolio investments by U.K. financial institutions.

The available information has been published as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the increase in revenue, on the basis of the latest returns, from increasing all road vehicle licences by £10 per annum.

£139 million in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he has taken or plans to take to expedite replies by his Department to letters from Members of Parliament, in view of the fact that it is now taking between five and 10 weeks for replies to be given to correspondence compared with two to three weeks a few years ago.

I am satisfied that hon. Members' letters are answered as promptly as can be consistent with a proper examination of the matters raised in the letters. This is bound to take time when the letters relate to an individual's tax affairs.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the increase in revenue to the Exchequer of a 5 per cent. tax placed on all prizes won by racehorse owners, using as the basis the prizes actually paid last year and those envisaged in the current year.

About £200,000 in 1968, and very slightly more in the current year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what items are included in expenditure on military defence other than expenditure on the defence budget which are not included in Annex 7 of the Defence Statistics 1967–68 covering related expenditure not included in the defence budget.

In addition to the items listed in Parts II and III of Annex J of Defence Statistics, progress payments on U.S. military aircraft, expenditure on the construction of married quarters met from loan funds and various minor adjustments are included in expenditure on military defence other than expenditure on the defence budget. Estimated provision in 1967–68 for these items was £186 million, £13 million and £1 million (net) respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set up an inquiry into the traffic between National Health Service establishments and receivers of and dealers in stolen domestic cats and dogs.

No. We have no evidence to suggest that National Health Service establishments purchase their animals from other than reputable sources.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive the report of his Chief Medical Officer's Committee on the Medical Aspects of Nutrition; and whether he proposes to publish the report.

I assume my hon. Friend has in mind investigations into the nutrition of schoolchildren. The full programme of studies will not be complete until September 1970; and I would expect a report to be published in 1971. A first study is, however, under way, and earlier publication of its results will be considered in consultation with the research worker who is doing it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the figures of Government assistance to the National Health Service in Carlisle and Cumberland for each year since 1960.

I regret that the amount cannot be separately identified.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what estimate he has made of the cost of increasing family allowances to 30s. per child, including the first child in the family, and of the amount of the cost recoverable in income tax in 1969–70 from a reduction in personal allowances leaving the standard rate taxpayer with the same net income;(2) what estimate he has made of the cost of increasing family allowances by 5s., 10s. and 15s. per child, respectively, and of the amount of the cost recoverable in income tax in 1969–70 from a reduction in personal allowances leaving the standard rate taxpayer with the same net income.

The figures for a full year on the oasis of current earnings and tax rates would be of the following order:—

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the number of families at present on National Assistance, showing also the numbers receiving assistance of under £5 per week, £5 to £10, £10 to £15, and over £15, respectively, and indicating the total amount being paid out in National Assistance per week at the present time.

Information about the ranges of supplementary benefit in payment is obtained from an annual sample inquiry, and the results of the November 1968 inquiry will be available in the spring. Meantime the most recent relevant information relates to November, 1967 and is as follows:

Payment			No. of families*
£5 per week or less	…	…	2,182,000
£5 1s. to £10	…	…	310,000
£10 1s. to £12 10s.	…	…	52,000
More than £12 10s.	…	…	15,000
Total	…	…	2,559,000
* Each claimant counting as a family unit, whether or not with dependants.

The total average weekly expenditure on supplementary benefits is at present about £8¾ million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what restrictions have been placed on the obstetric services provided by the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Welwyn Garden City; what are the reasons for the restrictions; and what effect will this have on patients in the locality.

Because of shortage of midwifery staff, the acceptance of bookings and emergency admissions is restricted until April, 1969, to patients resident in the Mid Herts. Group Hospital Management Committee area.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services for how long the Bramfield Ward in the Queen Elizabeth 11 Hospital, Welwyn Garden City, has been closed; what is the reasons for the closure; how many beds are affected; and when it is expected to reopen the ward.

Since May. 1968; shortage of nursing staff; 29; April, 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware that 58 out of 63 of the members of the various hospital management committees in the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board's area have been reappointed; and if he will advise regional hospital boards to ensure that in making appointments to hospital management committees they should nominate a higher proportion of persons who have not previously served on the committees.

The figures are 59 out of 64 members appointed to those hospital management committees which are not being regrouped at 1st April. The total membership of these committees is being reduced by 19 and this leaves less scope than usual for bringing in new members.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when information concerning the Welsh Hospital Board's Joint Planning Group proposals will be made available to those local authorities whose areas will be affected by the proposals.

The Welsh Hospital Board has not yet completed its consideration of tentative proposals prepared by the Joint Planning Group of the Welsh Hospital Board, Board of Governors of United Cardiff Hospitals, Welsh National School of Medicine and the Welsh Board of Health for the reorganisation of the hospital services in the Cardiff area consequent upon the completion of the University Hospital of Wales. Consultation with the local authorities in the area cannot take place until the Welsh Hospital Board itself has either accepted the Joint Planning Group's proposals or prepared alternative ones as a basis on which consultation with local authorities and other interested organisations can be undertaken.

asked the Minister of Technology what he estimates to be the increase in the delivered price of a British built oil tanker of 240,000 tons using British steel due to the proposed price increases of steel.

A recent case study indicated that a tanker of 250,000 tons dwt. ordered now would cost over £220,000 more than one ordered last year as a result of the proposed increased prices of steel purchased for the ship. Another study suggested a rather lower figure. This estimate makes no allowance for any increase attributable to the steel content of the engine and equipment.

asked the Minister of Technology what structural changes are to be made to the airframe, engines and systems of Concorde; whether he will list them separately with their approximate new development costs; what effects these changes will have on the first flights of 001 and 002 and subsequent pre-production aircraft; and whether he will make a statement.

The manufacturers have proposed certain design changes aimed at improving the performance of the production aircraft. These changes include alterations to the shape of the wing leading edges, wing tips and the extreme end of the fuselage in order to reduce drag; some relatively small increase in fuel tankage; and modifications to the design of the engine. None of these changes affects the two prototypes: the manufacturers propose to introduce; some on the two pre-production aircraft and others early in the production line. The planned in-service date of 1973 allowed for this.Some modifications may also be necessary to the flying control system. These would be incorporated in the prototype aircraft during the flight test programme; they will not delay the first flight of either prototype.The costs of these changes are included in the review to which I referred in my reply to Questions from hon. Members on 29th January.—[Vol. 776, c. 1299–303.]

asked the Minister of Technology if he will give the net profit or loss of the National Research and Development Corporation for each year since it was set up; and if he will state the total net cost to public funds of the Corporation to date.

The information in the following table is taken from the National Research Development Corporation's published Annual Accounts:

EXCESS OF EXPENDITURE OVER INCOME
				£
1949–50	…	…	…	16,839
1950–51	…	…	…	60,159
1951–52	…	…	…	57,880
1952–53	…	…	…	97,457
1953–54	…	…	…	130,918
1954–55	…	…	…	100,964
1955–56	…	…	…	352,677
1956–57	…	…	…	231,016
1957–58	…	…	…	456,420
1958–59	…	…	…	382,722
1959–60	…	…	…	415,122
1960–61	…	…	…	770,725
1961–62	…	…	…	1,074,202
1962–63	…	…	…	720,578
1963–64	…	…	…	589,192
1964–65	…	…	…	866,524
1965–66	…	…	…	672,793
1966–67	…	…	…	934,948
1967–68	…	…	…	600,681

asked the Minister of Technology if he will list the qualified staff, showing their qualifications and Civil Service rank, of the Programme Analysis Unit at Harwell; and if he will list the projects which they have so far analysed.

There are 23 qualified staff, engaged in the Programmes Analysis Unit as at 6th February, 1969. Their equivalent Civil Service grades are:

Chief Scientific Officer	…	1
Assistant Secretary	…	1
Senior Principal Scientific Officer	…	3
A/D Engineer	…	1
Principal Scientific Officer	…	7
Chemist 1	…	2
Engineer 1	…	1
Chief Executive Officer	…	2
Senior Experimental Officer	…	1
Senior Executive Officer	…	1
Experimental Officer	…	2
Executive Officer	…	1

A high proportion of these staff have been drawn from the U.K.A.E.A. and about one-third have substantial previous experience in industry.These staff hold qualifications at first degree or higher level in the following disciplines:

Mathematics	…	…	3
Physics	…	…	3
Chemistry	…	…	6
Chemical Engineering	…	…	2
Electrical Engineering	…	…	1
Mechanical Engineering	…	…	3
Economics	…	…	1
Law	…	…	1
Other Arts Subjects	…	…	1

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the increased percentage in average prices since devaluation in imports and exports, respectively, to the latest convenient date.

Between October 1967 and December 1968 the unit value indices for imports and exports increased by 12 and 9 per cent., respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish in the Monthly Press Release and monthly in the Board of Trade Journal a table showing the monthly net total of receipts and payments of the Government current account overseas, a monthly average of the net private invisibles account, including interest profits and dividends, based on the previous available quarter's seasonally adjusted figures, an estimate of the net invisible earnings, and an estimate of the total current payments balance.

The monthly Press notice and Journal article refer to recent figures of net invisible earnings, including those for the last available quarter, expressed at a monthly rate. It would be inappropriate to expand the report on our visible trade into such a statement on the balance of payments.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in view of the fact that South African advertisements appearing in British papers stating that all tourists to South Africa are sure of a welcome wherever they go are misleading and false in the light of the position of coloured British citizens under the South African apartheid laws, if he will take proceedings against those responsible for an offence under the Trade Descriptions Act.

I understand that a complaint concerning these advertisements is under consideration by one of the local weights and measures authorities which are under a duty to enforce the Trade Descriptions Act. It would be premature to consider the possibility of action by the Board before the local authority has decided what course to take.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds the licence fee for the storage of petroleum spirit was increased by 400 per cent. under the Miscellaneous Fees Variation Order, 1968; and whether this increase was referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes before it was implemented.

The fee was increased to cover higher administration costs and the fall in the value of money since it was originally fixed 40 years ago. It is not a charge for goods or the performance of a service within the terms of the Prices and Incomes Act, 1966.