asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what guidance he has given to local authorities about the application of cuts in expenditure on official transport.

No specific guidance has been given about expenditure on official transport but the Report on the Rate Support Grant Order, 1968, expressed the Government's hopes that local authorities would examine rigorously the possibility of savings on general administration costs.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what percentage of people served with demands for betterment levy have signified that they are unable to pay.

Some degree of hardship has been claimed in less than 3 per cent. of all assessments issued.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many chargeable events for payment of betterment levy have so far been reported to the Land Commission; and how much money has been collected therefrom.

Chargeable events arise at the rate of about 1·1 million a year but only a small proportion of these incur a liability to betterment levy. Up to 19th March, 1969, 18,548 assessments of levy had been made for a total amount of £16,147,000, of which £8,311,000 had been collected. The greater part of the balance is not yet due for payment.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek to amend the law so as to exempt from betterment levy those persons who had not foreseen the levy and who are unable to pay it.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will arrange to waive development levy when a property is purchased compulsorily from a levy payer.

No. A vendor realises development value when his land is purchased compulsorily just as he does when it is sold by agreement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will send a circular to local authorities drawing their attention to the desirability of advising their citizens of the need to insure against flood damage.

No. I fully agree, however, as I said in reply to the hon. Members for Southend, West (Mr. Channon) and Horsham (Mr. Hordern) on 17th December, that it is most desirable that citizens should be advised of the need to insure against flood damage and, if a suitable occasion arises, I will consider advising local authorities to draw the attention of their own tenants to this.—[Vol. 775, c. 313–14.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in view of the increasing financial liabilities placed on local authorities, he is satisfied that the methods of raising local revenue by way of the rating system are equally shared among tax-paying members of the community; and if he will make a statement.

No close correspondence between the incidence of rates and that of other taxes is to be expected because they are levied on a different basis. But more than half the net expenditure of local authorities is met by the Government out of general taxation, and this proportion is increasing. The needs and resources elements of the rate support grant ensure that Government help is distributed according to local circumstances, and the domestic element has reduced the impact of the rise in rates on householders. Those with low incomes have had their rates substantially reduced by rebates.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now publish details of investigations carried out by the Land Commission into the availability of land for housebuilding.

No. These details are contained in internal working documents not intended for publication.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to whom the first seven acres of land purchased by the Land Commission were disposed.

It is not the practice a divulge information about individual transactions.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what has been the overall cost of the Land Commission to date; and how much land it has purchased.

The total cost of the Land Commission, including costs incurred by other Government Departments, for the period 6th April, 1967, to 31st March, 1969, is expected to be about £6·5 million, of which some £2 million is attributable to Lands activities. The total area of land so far acquired is 557 acres.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will introduce legislation to exempt transactions involving single plots of land worth less than £2,000 from the operations of the Land Commission.

No. But I am keeping the operation of the levy under review.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has made of the rise in land prices attributable to the betterment levy during the past 12 months.

I do not accept that the betterment levy has been responsible for any general increase in land prices.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what proportion of the Land Commission's income so far he estimates has come from transactions involving single plots of land.

This information is not available and could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether there will be available for public inspection a register of declarations of interest made by members of the Land Commission.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many planning appeals were made in England during 1968.

9,563 planning appeals were made in England in 1968—a reduction of 5 per cent. compared with 1967.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made with the listing of buildings of architectural and historic importance.

All the 1,308 areas in England have now been surveyed and the 17 statutory lists outstanding will be formally issued in the next few months.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now make a statement on the progress of his talks with the National Farmers Unions on the rating of agricultural buildings.

I have nothing yet to add to previous replies on this matter.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will amend the law relating to the provision of amusement arcades so as to strengthen the powers of local authorities.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Alfred Morris) on 6th March.—[Vol. 779, c. 179–180.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities operate zoos at the present time.

Only one local authority operates a full-scale zoo although a number have exhibits of animals or birds in their public parks.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement on the report by Lord Esher on York, initiated by his Department.

This important and well-presented report, which the York City Council and I commissioned jointly, is now being considered by them. I shall be considering it in the light of their views, and also the three similar reports on Bath, Chichester and Chester. In this I shall be assisted by the Preservation Policy Group, which is chaired by my noble Friend Lord Kennet.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he has taken to implement the recommendations of paragraph 48 of the White Paper, Leisure in the Countryside, respecting the establishment of long-distance routes.

The staff of the Commission engaged on this work has been increased and, in collaboration with the local authorities, is taking a more direct part in the detailed work of securing footpath agreements and orders so as to reduce the time taken to complete the chain of rights of way along approved routes. The importance the Commission attach to this work is stressed in paragraph 57 of their first Report.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what proposals he has for introducing a national policy to control the exploitation of the national reserves of sand and gravel.

The exploitation of sand and gravel is subject to normal planning control. Both my right hon. Friend and the local planning authorities have continuously under review the planning aspects of sand and gravel extraction in the light of the rising demand. He expects shortly to arrange meetings between groups of local planning authorities and the industry in South-East England, where the problems are most acute.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made by the Water Resources Board in assessing future demand and supply in different parts of the country.

Having published a report on its study of the South East and an interim report about the North, the Board is currently engaged on completing the latter study and on a study of Wales and the Midlands. In the South West they published last year a report on water for Plymouth. When the current studies are completed the Board will have carried out a broad, initial review of the position over most of England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now seek to amend the Leasehold Reform Act, 1968, so that the price of the freehold will not include the element of tenant's overbid arising from a merger of interests.

I cannot at present add to the reply I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend, the Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Mayhew) on 18th March.—[Vol. 780, c. 55.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many non-conforming industrial firms have premises in each of the following areas, namely Willesden Green, Harlesden, Stonebridge, Kensal Rise and Kensal Green and Church End; and what estimate he has made of the availability of vacant factory premises in the industrial areas of Park Royal and Alperton.

Details of nonconforming industrial firms are not available for these areas. I understand that at the end of last month there was 332,000 sq. ft. of vacant industrial floor space at Park Royal. A separate figure for Alperton is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will set up a public inquiry into the proposed 875-foot extension to the eastern end of the Gatwick runway in view of local concern.

The British Airports Authority has made an application to the Dorking and Horley Rural District Council for planning permission for this extension. My right hon. Friend sees no reason, at this stage, to intervene.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what advice he has given to local authorities whose applications for increases in council house rents have been approved as to the period of time that should elapse before another application for a rent increase is considered.

My right hon. Friend has made it clear to local authorities that no rent increase will be allowed unless it is justified by increased costs and that in any case he would not expect to agree to increases averaging more than 7s. 6d. a week in any 12-month period.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to ensure equality of treatment as between river authorities in their imposition of charges for water abstraction by country millers using water power who do not diminish the river flow or change the composition of the water used.

None. Milling abstractions are not equally significant uses of water in all areas. The justification for making a charge in some cases is that a licence to abstract puts an obligation on the river authority to maintain a given flow of water.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that a television transmission mast collapsed recently at Emley Moor, causing damage to occupied houses and to the occupied Methodist Chapel; and if he will issue a circular to local planning authorities advising them on the safety factors involved in the siting of television masts.

An independent commission of inquiry has been set up to establish the facts of this accident, and when the results are available I will consider the need for further technical guidance.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the growing number of vehicles left on the roads in the Metropolitan Police area to become derelict and of the danger that these vehicles become to human life; and whether he will take steps to provide that the police and local authorities should deal with these vehicles as dangerous litter.

The police and London borough councils and county district councils in the Metropolitan Police area already have powers to remove abandoned motor vehicles.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what changes have been made in his policy regarding a planned intake of population into South Hampshire and the development of South Hampshire as one of a series of counter-magnets to London; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government in what respects his Department's policy on the South Hampshire Study as outlined on 10th July, 1968, has now been modified.

None. The possibility of a planned intake of population is one of the matters now being studied by the joint team set up by the three planning authorities, but my right hon. Friend's statement of 10th July, 1968, made it clear that the main administrative task would be to shape and control the growth which is likely to occur in the normal course of events.—[Vol. 768, c. 109–10.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek powers to remove the necessity for planning consent and the imposition of a betterment charge in the case where a man uses a part of his home as his office.

No. Planning permission is required wherever a material change of use takes place and I can see no grounds for exempting this particular class of development from any liability to levy which might arise.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will seek power to prohibit the Land Commission from imposing a betterment levy on an owner-occupier who has built a single dwelling.

No. An owner-occupier who paid the full market value for the land with its development potential will not normally have any liability for levy.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the nuisance caused to residents in and around Janson Road, E.15, a residential area, due to the nuisance from Mattessons' sausage factory; and if he will give an assurance that he will accede to a request for loan sanction from the local authority to acquire the premises, with a view to the factory being moved elsewhere.

I understand that the firm is already building new premises elsewhere. As to loan sanction, there is a continuing need for restraint in public expenditure, but my right hon. Friend would consider any proposal put to him.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is satisfied with the operation of the principle of minimum acceptable flows laid down in the Water Resources Act, 1963; when he proposes a review of these procedures; and if he will make a statement.

The underlying principle of a minimum acceptable flow is a sound one, but its application in appropriate cases is being impeded by the problem that the relevant sections of the Act appear to preclude the fixing of flows which vary with the time of the year in the light of seasonal requirements. My right hon. Friend is at present considering suggestions for amending legislation on these and other matters; any resulting proposals will be the subject of consultation with interested bodies.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many minimum acceptable flows for rivers in England and Wales have been specified under the Water Resources Act, 1963.

No such flows have yet been formally determined.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many house improvement grants in the areas of those authorities comprised in. the North-East Lancashire Conference of Local Authorities have been approved since the end of 1964.

Between the end of 1964 and the end of 1968, 9,534 house improvement grants were approved in the areas of the local authorities to which the Question refers.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses have been placed in contract by new town development corporations and the Commission for New Towns in England in each of the last three years.

5,480 in 1966; 7,379 in 1967; and 11,203 in 1968.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what he estimates will be the effect upon the housing programme of a Bank Rate of 8 per cent.

The direct effect of Bank Rate on new house construction is small.As to the parallel increases in market rates, authorities building in the public sector will be protected in considerable measure by the provisions of the Housing Subsidies Act, 1967. The effect of increased mortgage rates on the private sector was explained in debate on 19th March by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary and myself.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what the total cost is of a council flat, costing £2,600 to build, after charging interest payment at the current rate of 8 per cent. for 60 years; what is its economic rent; excluding rates and subsidy; what proportion of this rent is required to pay interest charges; and what steps he is taking to relieve the increase in council rents, and building society interest charges that result from these high interest charges.

As regards the first three parts of this question, local authorities do not normally raise external loans for 60 years, and therefore calculations on this basis are not meaningful. As for the last two parts, the Housing Subsidies Act, 1967, enables local authorities in effect to provide new housing at 4 per cent.; and house buyers can offset mortgage interest payments against tax liability or participate in the Government's option mortgage scheme.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities have notified him that they are taking steps to control the spread of multiple occupation.

Five local authorities have obtained powers by local Act to regulate the conditions in which multiple occupation may be established or to prevent it. Provision is made in the Housing Bill to give similar powers to other local authorities who may need them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to prevent solicitors, estate agents and others from charging six guineas or more for the National House Builders Registration Council's certificate for which the proper charge is 1s.; and if he will make a statement.

The Council's rules enable them to deal effectively with the few cases of this sort brought to their notice which involve builders and those acting for them. My right hon. Friend does not consider, therefore, that any steps on his part are necessary, but the Council knows that it has his support in this matter.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that high charges for the resale price of electricity by landlords are rendering ineffective the provisions of the Rent Act designed to secure a fair and reasonable rent; and what steps he proposes to take to control this practice.

My right hon. Friend would be very ready to consider any concrete evidence on this point and to pass it to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Power who is studying the problems associated with enforcing the maximum resale prices of electricity, and is in touch with him about this.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement on the effects of the recent reduction of Government lending to local authorities for the purpose of home loans of £65 million for this year on last year's total of £95 million.

The total effect will not be great on the housing market which is financed to a very large extent by building societies and insurance companies. The reduction in local authority quotas will make it more important than ever for authorities to concentrate on helping people who cannot get a loan from elsewhere, or council tenants moving out to a house of their own.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps by legislation or otherwise to make advertisers of furnished or unfurnished accommodation declare whether or not they are agents for the landlord and what fee is payable.

Such a requirement could be imposed only by legislation, and rendered enforceable only by establishing penalties for non-compliance. I have made a note of my hon. Friend's suggestion, but as the information can always be asked for by these interested, I am not satisfied that it would be justifiable to create a new offence in order to secure its publication.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is his estimate of the import saving per year of timber, arising from all public authorities specifying metal or plastic windows instead of wooden windows in their housing programmes.

The import saving would be about £15 worth of timber per house. I cannot estimate the total saving since the number of houses built with wooden windows is not recorded.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will review design, methods of construction, maintenance, capital cost and performance through the Building Research Station, or other Government organisations, of the various types of window available for house construction, including those made in ferrous-aluminium and non-ferrous materials or wood.

The various types of window available are being examined by the Department for their use in housing and by other Departments for use in other buildings. The Building Research Station is associated with these examinations as are local authority and other interests.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what annual rate of housebuilding will be required during each of the next five years in order to avoid having the one million surplus of houses over households expected for 1973.

In view of all the factors, including the number of unfit houses in the total stock, the need for flexibility in the housing market and the need for mobility of labour, the prospective statistical margin of about one million houses over households in 1973 is not something to be avoided.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will seek to amend the Mortgage Option Scheme other than by provisions for opting out, in the light of changed taxation provisions following the increase in family allowances.

No. Changes in family allowances or other taxation provisions can render an option mortgage less favourable or more so as can changes in personal circumstances. But to amend the scheme whenever such changes occur would add greatly to the difficulties of working it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek powers to enable him to resolve the conflicting claims relating to the release of land for house building which exist between local planning authorities and the Land Commission.

If by conflicting claims the hon. Member means possible disputes between the Commission and local planning authorities about the granting of planning permission, the appeal machinery of the Town and Country Planning Act gives my right hon. Friend power to resolve them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek to amend the Rent Act, 1968, to provide protection against harassment to leaseholders seeking to exercise their options under the terms of the Leasehold Reform Act, 1967; and if he will make a statement.

There is no need for an amendment to the 1968 Rent Act. Section 30 of the Rent Act, 1965, already makes it an offence unlawfully to evict or harass the residential occupier of any premises with intent to make him refrain from exercising any right in respect of the premises. This would appear to cover leaseholders seeking to exercise their rights under the Leasehold Reform Act. Any leaseholders who feel they are being harassed should therefore consult their local authorities, who have power to prosecute for this offence.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT for each of the last three years and for each of the 15 rent assessment panels the cost of the rent regulation and registration service.

The approximate total cost of the rent officer service in England for the financial years 1966–67, 1967–68 and 1968–69, as measured by reimbursements to local authorities during those years, was £469,700, £1,010,500 and £1,043,900 respectively. These figures, which include accommodation and all other overheads, are tabulated below by panel area. The current level at which costs are running gives an annual figure of about £950,000.The cost of the rent assessment panel service cannot be given separately from the cost of the rent tribunal service, which deals with furnished lettings, but their combined cost in England, for the same three years, but excluding the cost of accommodation, is £520,000, £650,000 and £545,000 respectively. No analysis of these costs by rent assessment panel area is available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities built houses by direct labour in 1968.

In September, 1968, 162 local authorities in England and Wales were building houses by direct labour.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what criteria he uses for assessing the competitiveness and economy of direct labour estimates for housebuilding submitted to him for loan sanction.

In considering applications for loan sanction for housing schemes to be built by direct labour the Department applies the same cost yardsticks as for schemes from contractors, and also takes into account the past performance of the direct labour organisation and its present capacity for the work. Competitive tendering is required when direct labour estimates appear to be out of line with the costs of comparable schemes within the region and also from time to time as a check on the competitiveness of the direct labour organisation. My right hon. Friend welcomes the contribution which this form of municipal enterprise can and does make to the housing programme.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of council houses sold in 1968; and what are the comparable figures for 1967 and 1966.

According to the latest figures available, 8,728 council houses were sold in England and Wales in 1968; the comparable figures for 1966 and 1967 were 3,793 and 3,200. As the hon. Member will know my right hon. Friend in a Circular of 30th July, 1968, limited sales by authorities within the four conurbations of Greater London, Merseyside, South-East Lancashire and the West Midlands to ¼ per cent. of their total housing stock.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what amount has been available for local authority mortgages in 1968–69 and in each of the last five years; what amount he estimates will be available in 1969–70; and whether he will make a statement.

The amounts advanced by authorities in England and Wales in the last five complete financial years were as follows:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how the average floor-space of a three-bedroom council house in 1968 compares with that in 1964.

The average floor area of a three-bedroom two-storey house completed in England and Wales during 1968 was 947 sq. ft. compared with 908 sq. ft. in 1964.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many cases of hardship to owners of private dwellings as a result of the land levy have been drawn to his attention; and if he will make an order under Section 63 of the Land Commission Act, 1967, exempting small transactions from payment of the levy.

About 100 cases since the debate on home ownership and the Land Commission on 6th February. I am keeping the provisions of the Act under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the loss to the Revenue of allowing the cost to a blind person of keeping a guide dog as an expense against that person's earned income.

The cost to the Revenue would be small.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to reduce the composite rate of tax paid by building societies in view of the fact that it is a hindrance to greater deposits.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion, but I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much was paid by building societies in Income Tax during the last 12 months for which figures are available;(2) how much was paid by building societies in Corporation Tax during the last 12 months for which figures are available.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my replies to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Oakes) on 20th March.—[Vol. 780, c. 139.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the Bank Rates from 1949 to date.

Following is the information:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the internal purchasing power of the £ sterling today as compared with 20s. in 1919.

Taking the internal purchasing power of the £ sterling as 20s. in 1919, its value in February, 1969, the latest date for which information is available, is estimated at 7s. 2d. This estimate is based on movements in the cost of living index up to 1938, in the consumer price index from 1938 to 1967 and the index of retail prices from 1967 to February, 1969.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in 1968–69 the actual aggregate net income of the farming industry fell short of that to be expected in normal weather conditions by £32 million; and what steps he is taking to ensure that bank credit available to the farming industry is adjusted to take account of abnormally bad weather conditions.

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury told the hon. Member in the House on 15th October, 1968.—[Vol. 770, c. 192–3.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of stamp duty collected on legal charges during the last financial year; and what was the amount of duty collected from legal charges on dwelling-houses where the amount of loan was less than £3,000.

About £4 million and about £1 million respectively in 1967–68.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will exempt from stamp duty mortgages on dwelling-houses of less than £3,000.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts were written off by the Inland Revenue in connection with unpaid Income Tax, Surtax, Corporation Tax, and Capital Gains Tax in the year ended 5th April, 1968, showing separately figures for England, Wales and Scotland by references to the taxpayer's address as shown in their tax return forms.

The latest figures available are those for income tax, Corporation tax and capital gains tax for the year of account to September, 1967, and surtax for the year to June, 1968. No separate figures are available for Wales, and the only surtax figure is that for the whole of the United Kingdom. The division between countries is made by reference to the places in which the assessments are made or, in the case of P.A.Y.E., the liabilities are dealt with; figures based on the addresses of taxpayers as shown on their return forms are not available. The figures, which include interest, are:—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the rise in public expenditure and national income, respectively, since October, 1964, both in terms of percentage and actual figures.

Figures for the period 1964–65 to 1967–68 for gross national product at factor cost and public expenditure are contained, respectively in Table B of "Economic Trends" for

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all loans raised by the nationalised industries since 1948, excluding those from the Treasury, showing the date, source and terms of the loans.

I would refer the hon. Member to the published accounts of the nationalised industries, to the National Loans Fund White Paper (Cmnd. 3565) and to the reply being given today to the hon. Member for Louth (Sir C. Osborne).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give in column form the total borrowings of each nationalised industry annually since nationalisation; and how much each industry has written off in losses, respectively.

With permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the information which is readily available.Following is the information:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now announce his plans for publishing information relevant to the Budget.

Yes. The White Paper on Preliminary Estimates of National Income and Balance of Payments 1963 to 1968 will be published on Wednesday 9th April and the White Paper on Loans from the National Loans Fund on Budget Day as last year. There will be some changes in the arrangement and appearance of the Financial Statement which will be restyled "Financial Statement and Budget Report" and will include a survey of the progress of the economy during the previous year. In view of this, I propose to discontinue the annual Economic Report which has

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what assistance is currently being given by his Department to the Banaban people of Rambi Island.

No request for further technical assistance for the Banabans has been received by my Ministry since two advisers who were sent to advise on the future development of Rambi Island reported in December, 1967, and no such assistance is therefore currently being given. I am willing to consider the provision of further technical assistance if this proves necessary.

asked the Minister of Power what is the present position regarding the granite quarries at Boddam, near Peterhead.

Action has been taken to ensure that the provisions of the Mines and Quarries Act, 1954, are fully complied with.

asked the Minister of Power (1) what scheme has now been submitted to him for approval following negotiations between the British Steel Corporation and the Clyde Port Authority for the constructing and operating of a deep-water iron ore discharging and trans-shipment terminal at Hunterston, Ayrshire; when he expects to make a decision in this matter; and if he will make a statement.(2) whether, before reaching a decision on the proposal for a deep-water iron ore terminal at Hunterston, he will take into account the inadequate size of the existing Central Terminus Quay, Glasgow, the small tonnage of ore that can currently be handled 3t the terminus and the dates

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what sums were written off by way of waiver of loans granted to foreign or Commonwealth countries in the last 10 years to a convenient date.

The following information in respect of economic aid is as recorded in the Appropriation Account for each of the years concerned:when existing ore-handling contracts there are due to expire.

I am aware that the Clyde Port Authority has submitted a scheme to the British Steel Corporation for a deep-water iron ore terminal at Hunterston. The corporation is considering this scheme together with other possibilities for iron ore terminals in the context of its long-term planning. When I receive the corporation's proposals, they will be considered in the light of all relevant information.

asked the Minister of Power why he has agreed to a change in the depreciation period for nuclear power stations from 20 to 25 years; and on what technical evidence he bases this decision for the advanced gas-cooled reactors.

Nuclear stations are designed for a 30-year life. Until recently, the C.E.G.B. worked on a 20-year life for purposes of cost comparisons of A.G.R. and conventional stations. It now regards this as unduly cautious and conservative in view of the experience accumulated in the design and engineering of A.G.R.s., and has accordingly changed to 25 years.

asked the Minister of Power what capital investment has been submitted for his approval for the steelworks controlled by the British Steel Corporation in Sheffield for the years 1968 to 1973.

Detailed allocation of capital expenditure within the general lines of the programes I approve is a matter for the corporation, but I can tell my hon. Friend that it will be undertaking continued development in the Sheffield area.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the charges being made by the Midlands Electricity Board for oven door catches.

No.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give estimates of the costs of electricity sent out from Dungeness B, Hinckley Point B and Hunterston B nuclear power stations on the basis of a 20-year depreciation period, with interest during construction at 8 per cent. and including royalties payable to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.

The Central Electricity Generating Board's estimates of the costs at Dungeness "B" and Hinkley "B" on the basis of a 25-year life, with interest at 8 per cent. and including the royalty payable to the Atomic Energy Authority on AGR stations of 0014d. per unit, were given in the reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Bassetlaw on 13th March.—[Vol. 779, c. 355.] They are 0·56d. and 0·52d. per unit respectively. The Board no longer considers it appropriate to assume a 20-year life for AGR stations in comparing generating costs. The effect of assuming a 25-year life for the stations has been to reduce the cost per unit by about 0·03d. Questions relating to Hunterston "B" are for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the reduction in Government grants to local authorities is causing them to refrain from repairing local authority road surfaces; and, in view of the hazard to road safety, if he will now increase the grants payable.

Expenditure on maintenance of local authority roads is not eligible for specific grant; it ranks as relevant expenditure for the determination of rate support grant. Local highway authorities were requested in January, 1968, to reduce their planned expenditure on roads by 15 per cent. during 1968–69 and 1969–70 and this cut was reflected in the levels of expenditure envisaged in the Rate Support Grant Order, 1968. The detailed implementation of the cut in such a way as to minimise hazards is a matter for local authorities' judgment, but in the Government's view no serious risk is involved in continuing for the time being to impose severe restriction on maintenance expenditure on minor roads.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will issue a circular to all local authorities advising them on the action to be taken in relation to the removal of snow from footpaths and pavements.

No. Although the Department has given general advice to all highway authorities for keeping roads clear of snow and ice it would be difficult to advise generally on the action which should be taken for clearing footpaths and pavements. Such action is best decided in the light of local conditions.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now announce the date of publication of his Green Paper on future highway strategy.

The Green Paper entitled "Roads for the future—A new Inter-Urban Plan" will be published tomorrow and copies will be available in the Vote Office.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the present administrative cost of issuing a road fund licence.

The administrative cost of vehicle registration and licensing and of driver licensing in 1967–68, was £8·4 million. The three functions are closely integrated and it is not feasible to assess the cost of issuing road fund licences separately.

asked the Minister of Transport how many road fund licences were issued for a period of a whole year and how many in four-monthly instalments in 1968.

9,247,000 annual and 13,838,000 four-monthly licences were issued in 1968. No information is available on the extent to which three four-monthly licences are purchased instead of one annual licence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he is making in Northern Ireland to assess the effects of the introduction of British Standard Time.

This is a responsibility of the Northern Ireland Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received from Northern Ireland residents regarding the introduction of British Standard Time to the latest convenient date.