asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the increase in the Metropolitan Water Board domestic rate.

No. My right hon. Friend has no evidence to suggest that the board has disregarded the criteria for price increases.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that there is a material error in the Answer given to Question 5 on page 4 of his Department's official publication, "The Land Commission Act, 1967"—a guide for builders and developers on betterment levy; and when he proposes to issue an official correction.

I am aware of this, and each copy of the guide issued since July, 1968, has been provided with a corrigendum slip.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what will be the cost of the Land Commission in 1969–70 as a result of the Budget proposals; how much money will be saved in the year; what staff reductions will be effected; what will be the economies with offices and otherwise; and whether he will now make a statement on the extent of the activities of the Commission.

Although it will take a little time to work out in full detail the effect of the changes on staffing, offices and organisation, the modifications in betterment levy should lead directly to a reduction of some 150–200 in the staff of the Land Commission showing an annual saving of about £300,000 in staff costs. There will be reductions in charges for services provided for the Commission by other Departments. Only a proportion of the full annual saving will be achieved in 1969–70.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government by what authority the Land Commission has required a company, which in June 1968 transferred land purchased in April 1966 to an associated company for a consideration showing no profit to the transferor company, to pay a levy of £800.

The Land Commission derives its authority for making assessment to levy from Part III of the Land Commission Act, 1967.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to ensure that the land under urban motorway viaducts through residential areas is used for community purposes and to enhance the amenities of the neighbourhood.

My right hon. Friend and his right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport agree that the best possible use should be made of such land and I am sure that this view is shared by the local authorities concerned. The Departments are always ready to assist the authorities so far as they can in discussion of proposals.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in the drafting of the Finance Bill, he will arrange for the modifications in betterment levy set out in Command Paper No. 4001 to be back-dated to 6th April, 1967.

I would refer the hon. Member to what I said in the debate on betterment levy on 28th April.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in the drafting of the Finance Bill, he will take into account the high land values in Greater London and the South-East and make appropriate adjustments in the betterment levy exemption limit.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in forthcoming legislation, he will provide for the exemption of mineral deposits from the operation of the betterment levy.

No; the working of minerals receives favourable treatment under the Mineral Regulations and my right hon. Friend will shortly lay a further set of Regulations aimed at removing difficulties over the grant of mining leases.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has made of the cost of repayment of betterment levies already made and of the legal fees incurred by individuals in circumstances in which the new terms of the Government's policy would exempt the development from betterment levy.

If all the changes announced in Command Paper No. 4001 had been made retrospective the amount of levy to be repaid, or not collected, would be of the order of £3½-£4 million. The other figure requested is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he accepts recommendation 34(a) and 43(A) of the Report of the Joint Review Body on Local Authority Purchasing that the Government should give priority to introducing legislation on local government purchasing; and when such legislation will be introduced by the Government.

The Government accept that legislation is desirable and a Bill will be introduced as soon as time can be found for it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he has taken, and what results have ensued, on recommendation 43(c) of the Report of the Joint Review Body on Local Authority Purchasing, which called on him to encourage local authorities to make further use of existing powers or to combine together in order to obtain better and more efficient local government purchasing.

Since the recommendations in paragraph 43(c) of the Report are addressed to both the Government Departments concerned and the local authority associations, my right hon. Friend wants first to discuss them with the associations, but I understand they are not quite ready for this.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, whether he will seek to amend section 92(1)(b) of the Public Health Act 1936, which provides that a statutory nuisance shall include any animal kept in such a place or manner as to be prejudicial to health or a nuisance, so that the keeping of dangerous wild animals will be treated as a nuisance under this section.

No. I could not accept that the keeping of dangerous wild animals must necessarily constitute a statutory public nuisance.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state the acreage of originally-scheduled green belt land which has been surrendered for development purposes since October, 1964; and if he will give an estimate of the green belt land which will be converted for similar purposes in the next two years from the current date.

I regret that the information asked for is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, since between 1960 and 1968 the use of home-produced wood chipboard increased from 24,500 tons to 123,200 tons and imports rose from 20,200 tons to 165,000 tons, what steps he has taken or proposes to take to ensure that in the specification of materials for use in the construction of buildings for which his Department is responsible, wood chipboard of United Kingdom manufacture is specified, subject to satisfactory price and quality.

Home production of chipboard, which is running at a high level in relation to capacity, amounted in 1968 to 179,500 tons.I hope that where indigenous building materials are satisfactory in price and quality the local authorities and other house building authorities will make full use of them without directions from my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many prosecutions for statutory nuisance in respect of noise have taken place in England and Wales during the last 12-month period for which figures are available.

I regret that this information is not centrally available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the basis on which grants have been made to local authorities in connection with flood relief measures taken as a result of the floods in Kent in September, 1968.

Grants have been offered where the net cost of repairing flood-damaged services and of first-aid relief measures in the private sector, after allowing for any specific grants which the expenditure might attract, represents an undue rate burden. In this context my right hon. Friend considered that local authorities could reasonably be expected to bear the equivalent of a net 2d. rate without special assistance. Where the net expenditure exceeded this level, the excess attracted a 75 per cent. grant.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when the desk study of the feasibility of a Wash Barrage is expected to be completed.

About the end of this year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will arrange for an independent examination of the cost estimates contained in the consultant's report on the Oxford inner relief road.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the public concern, he will call for a public inquiry into the proposed Oxford road proposals.

The city council will be submitting its proposals to my right hon. Friend for planning approval. He will then arrange for a public inquiry.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will issue a circular to local authorities advising them to require that tenders for council building contracts should show the fees proposed to professional consultants as a separate item.

Design fees are dealt with in paragraphs 6 and 7 of Appendix I to Circular 79/67 of which I have sent the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government by what authority Birmingham City Council have sought compulsory purchase powers from him in respect of land on the southwestern periphery of the city in advance of a public local inquiry being held into the city council's application for planning permission.

No compulsory purchase orders have yet been submitted to my right hon. Friend. I understand, however, that it is the intention of the Council to make such orders. To save time, the case for and against these and the planning application is likely to be heard at the same inquiry.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made in the investigation into schemes for the underground storage of water as recommended by the Water Resources Board; and whether he will make a statement.

The Water Resources Board is investigating the hydro-geology of the London basin in order to assess the practicability of artificial recharge: it is carrying out pilot schemes as part of the Trent Study: and it is grant aiding a pilot scheme by the Sussex River Authority.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government which of the 31 local authorities referred to in paragraph 479 of the Hunt Report in relation to steps taken to deal with the smoke-control problem are to be found in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region.

Eleven.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why, after 18 months of negotiations, his Department has rescinded loan sanction to Ashford Urban District Council in respect of the proposed clinic for the Stanhope estate.

Proposals for a surgery and clinic have changed since loan sanction was promised in 1967, and the right hon. Member will now have received an explanation of the difficulties from my noble Friend the Minister of State, Department of Health and Social Security.The Ministry will be very ready to join in any consideration of alternative arrangements.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to announce the commencement of the experimental communal facilities for the Bedworth Urban District Council.

My right hon. Friend has made a statement about this today and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government which local authorities in England and Wales have granted permission to caravan sites to increase the permitted number of tourist caravans during the summer season; and if he will send a circular to local authorities advising those who have not yet granted permission to do so.

I regret that I do not have the information requested. I think that this is something which local authorities must decide for each site, and that it would be wrong for me to send general advice which ignored the difference in circumstances at different sites.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is satisfied with the rate of progress being made in securing greater public access to open country; and if he will make a statement.

There is an urgent need for more access and I shall give all the help I can to local planning authorities and to the Countryside Commission to secure this. If negotiations for agreements fail, I shall be prepared to use my powers to make or confirm access orders in suitable cases.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what recent guidance he has issued to what local authorities on dealing with oil pollution of beaches; and whether he will make a statement;(2) if he will take steps to provide that oil slicks at sea can be dispersed before they reach the shore and cause damage.

The most recent guidance, which went to all local authorities around the coast, including county councils, was contained in a circular issued on 8th July, 1968. This was accompanied by comprehensive technical guidance provided by the Warren Spring Laboratory of the Ministry of Technology, and arrangements are being made for beach cleaning demonstrations to be given this summer. The circular asked the councils of all coastal counties and county boroughs to draw up schemes of organisation under which the local authorities would deal with oil pollution; and it provided for grant at 50 per cent. It urged the authorities to plan on the assumption that they should themselves be ready to deal with oil floating off-shore. This will not invariably be the right thing to do because in some places the use of chemicals or sinking agents may endanger the fisheries or the interests of nature conservancy.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in the light of the Hunt Committee Report, he will now hold discussions with all interested bodies with a view to setting up a national derelict land reclamation agency.

No. The Government have gone a long way towards accepting the Hunt Committee's recommendations for an enlarged programme for clearing derelict land and for increased grant. Local authorities already use the services of the Opencast Executive of the National Coal Board, but there seems to be no sufficient case for removing responsibility from local government to a central agency.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now introduce legislation to enable him to take over responsibility for the running and administration of all local authority housing in England and Wales.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the estimated increase in the number of option mortgages as a result of tax changes in the Budget.

Tax changes in the Budget will take 1,100,000 people out of tax altogether and significantly reduce the tax liability of another 600,000. Many of these, if they become owner-occupiers, can benefit from the option mortgage scheme but I cannot give a precise number.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) if he has now received the Notting Hill Housing Service Initial Housing Survey; and whether he is satisfied that the Housing Bill presently before Parliament takes account of the proposals in the survey;(2) if he will follow his grant of £300 in 1967 to the Notting Hill Housing Service Initial Housing Survey, with a more substantial grant to enable them to carry out further research into housing, social services and the problems of race relations.

The survey was received in the Ministry only yesterday.The first responsibility for housing in the area rests on the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. I am inviting its comments. In the meantime I should like to take this opportunity of thanking all those concerned in the preparation of the report.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will refuse his consent to the application for demolition of serviceable dwelling houses, in the interests of amenity, in the area of the Wyche, on the Malvern Hills, partly in Worcestershire and partly in Herefordshire.

If my right hon. Friend is asked to confirm an order for this purpose he will certainly take all objections into account before giving his decision. But no such order has yet been submitted to him.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the second decision of the Lands Tribunal under the Leasehold Reform Act, he will now introduce amending legislation to remove anomalies in the working of the Act.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the recent decisions of the Lands Tribunal, he will introduce legislation to clarify the basis of determination of the charges for enfranchisement under the Leasehold Reform Act.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now announce his decision to introduce an amendment of the Leasehold Reform Act to ensure that the freehold shall be valued on the basis of a sale to a sitting tenant.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now seek powers to simplify the formula which determines the price at which freeholds are sold to leaseholders under the Leasehold Reform Act, 1967.

The Government are considering the various problems reported to them and the suggestions put forward for amending the Leasehold Reform Act. They have not yet concluded their study of these matters; my right hon. Friend will inform the House as soon as they have.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek powers to acquire unoccupied office blocks for housing purposes.

In general, the design and siting of new office blocks make them unsuitable for use for family housing even after expensive conversion. I would rather urge local authorities in areas of housing need to press on faster with building new houses and flats designed for the purpose.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total value of rate rebates granted in the borough of Hartlepool during the past year; how many single and married claimants, respectively, benefited; what was the rebate worth on average to each type of claimant; and what was the total value of rate relief to all ratepayers granted by Her Majesty's Government for the same period.

In 1968–69 rebates amounting to £15,780 were afforded in Hartlepool. The number of recipients was 1,163 in the first half year and 1,394 in the second. The average amount of rebate for the year was £12 8s. 0d.We do not collect separate figures for married and single applicants.The 75 per cent. Government grant towards the cost of rebates amounted to £11,835.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many new houses have been built by the borough of Hartlepool during the past five years; and how this figure compares with the five-year period between 1958 and 1963.

In the five years ended 31st December, 1968, 1,930 new dwellings were built by the County Borough of Hartlepool and its predecessors, compared with 1,820 in the previous five years.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what approximate proportion of the cost of an average three-bedroom house he estimates is taken up by foreign materials; and what steps he has taken to reduce this cost in the past 12 months.

Between 8 and 10 per cent., mostly due to timber and copper. Local authorities are free to specify the materials which they wish to use having regard to cost performance and availability. My right hon. Friend has given no advice on this topic in the last 12 months.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is his estimate of the number of controlled tenancies which will be brought into the fair rent system by the Housing Bill 1969; and what are his proposals for dealing with the tenancies which are not brought into such system.

It has been tentatively estimated that some 400,000 controlled tenancies might be brought into the fair rent system by the Bill. About 200,000 are thought to be already in the required state and the rest to be capable of being brought up to the required state at a reasonable cost.My right hon. Friend has no plans for bringing into the fair rent system those controlled tenancies which are neither in nor capable of being brought up to the required state, but the Bill allows some flexibility in grant-aiding partial improvement, enables local authorities to acquire properties, extends their power to deal with properties requiring substantial repairs, and improves the payments they can make for unfit property to be cleared away.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will send a further circular to local authorities giving guidance as to the most appropriate method of dealing with the problems of families whose homes are the subject of clearance; and if he will make a statement.

The subcommittee of the Central Housing Advisory Committee which is reviewing advice on rehousing from clearance areas will be making its report to the main Committee in the near future. My right hon. Friend will consider what guidance to give to local authorities in the light of any views expressed by the Committee.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much money has been raised from rates levied on unoccupied property during the last 12 months.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many private houses have been built during the past four years; and what was the figure for the previous four-year period.

Between 1st April, 1965 and 31st March, 1969, 833,700 dwellings completed in the private sector in Great Britain compared with 755,600 between 1st April, 1961 and 31st March, 1965.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what consideration he has given to the memorandum submitted by the National Council for the Unmarried Mother and her Child to the Central Housing Advisory Committee, on the housing difficulties and needs of the unmarried mother in the field of council housing; and if he will make a statement.

This memorandum was submitted to the Housing Management Subcommittee of the Central Housing Advisory Council, as the Subcommittee was asked to review the practice of housing authorities in allocating tenancies and rehousing. We must await and consider its report before any question arises of making a statement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how he estimates that the total of completed houses in 1969 will compare with the number of houses completed in 1963 and 1964.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave today in answer to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun) and the hon. Members for Hove (Mr. Maddan), Crosby, (Mr. Graham Page), and Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Costain).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses under construction are being built to Parker Morris Standards; and if he will make a statement on standards in the private and public sector.

I estimate that in the public sector about 92 per cent. of the houses being built today comply with the Parker Morris recommendations for space and heating, and that about 70 per cent. are to full Parker Morris standards. I have no comparable information for the private sector, but this year the scheme of the National House Builders Registration Council, which covers about 95 per cent. of houses being built for sale, introduces a number of Parker Morris recommendations into its specification.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state, giving the mileage in respect of each, those motorways or lengths of motorways for which no line had yet been proposed, a draft scheme had been published, a scheme had been made, tenders had been invited or a contract had been placed, which were under construction and which were in use, respectively, as at 30th April.

This information was given in the Answer to a Question on the 25th March by the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Gwynfor Evans). The position was unchanged at the 30th April except that I have announced that the target date for beginning work on the M4 extension including the length from Llaniltern to Pencoed is 1972–73.—[Vol. 780, c. 291.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when it is intended to establish a chronic sick unit at Welsh-pool by extending the existing Victoria Memorial Hospital where adequate land is available and in the possession of the Welsh Hospital Board.

This scheme is not in the Welsh Hospital Board's immediate building programme, but the Board is considering such a proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what approvals he has recently given for the provision of new kitchens in the Mid-Wales hospitals; and what is the estimated cost in each case.

The Welsh Hospital Board has authorised a scheme to convert the former out-patient department at Towyn and District War Memorial Hospital into a kitchen. Work is due to start on 12th May, 1969, and will take about six months. The estimated cost is £11,187.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if the Welsh Hospital Board has now given approval for the provision of an extra bathroom at Llanidloes Hospital; and what is the approved estimate for the provision of this bathroom.

Work on providing three geriatric bathrooms commenced on 10th March, 1969, and will take about three months. The estimated cost is £5,585.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales in how many planning cases brought to him for final decision he has overruled the findings of his inspectors; and what percentage of the total this number represents.

In the past twelve months my decisions have differed from my inspectors' recommendations in 15 instances, constituting some 4 per cent. of the total number of planning appeals and applications brought to me for decision and put to public inquiry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the present burden on the Inland Revenue and of the benefit of making tax payments promptly, he will, in drafting the Finance Bill, provide for allowing as deductible expenses the cost of employing a recognised tax accountant.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures of valuations made in the past year of the same properties for betterment levy and for estate duty, where the former has been low and led to high levy and the latter high and led to high duty; and if he will take steps to check the activities of valuers employed by public authorities.

The information is not available but there is no inconsistency. Estate duty is based on the full market value of the property and betterment levy on only the proportion of that value which represents development value.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average deduction of income tax from the pay of nurses and student nurses; and approximately how many of these will be required to pay less income tax, or none, under the proposals in his Budget.

I am afraid that there is not sufficient information to make the estimates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent, during discussions with representatives of the International Monetary Fund, the question of industrial disputes and Government policy towards trade unions have been discussed, and with what results.

Details of consultations with the International Monetary Fund are confidential.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an assurance that retailers holding stocks of furnishing materials, who will have to register with the Customs and Excise when purchase tax is extended to soft furnishings, will not have to pay purchase tax on materials which they already hold in their shops, but which have not yet been made up or sold.

Purchase tax will not be payable on stocks of materials in retail ownership before 27th May which are sold without making up; but tax will, in general, be payable from that date on goods which are made up from such stocks.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total sums owed by the Inland Revenue by way of repayment of tax to taxpayers on 1st January, 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969; by what length of time such repayments were overdue; and what benefit he estimates accrued to the revenue as a result.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money to date has been paid in respect of post-war credits; how much is still outstanding; and when the last payment will be made.

At 31st March, 1969, about £567 million had been repaid, with an additional £19½ million for interest, and it is estimated that about £172 million remained outstanding. I cannot forecast when the last repayment will be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will arrange for the Government to discuss anti-strike legislation with the Trades Union Congress.

The consultations with the T.U.C. on which the Government have already embarked will cover all the proposals for legislation in the White Paper "In Place of Strife".

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity to what extent under the prices and incomes policy an increase in tied cottage rent is taken into account in assessing the acceptability of a wage increase.

An increase in rent, whether of a tied cottage or otherwise, would not normally be taken into account in considering a proposed pay increase. It could however be appropriate to take account of an increase in the rent of a tied cottage if it was clear that the provision of accommodation at an artificially low rent had formed part of the conditions of service, and that the increase was designed to reduce or eliminate this element in the conditions of service rather than solely to meet a rise in costs. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind, perhaps he would write to the appropriate Minister about it.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make available the services of Royal Air Force and Royal Navy aircraft for fishery protection duties where appropriate including the Royal Navy helicopters stationed at the Royal Naval Air Station, Brawdy.

In our experience fishery protection duties are adequately carried out by ships but we would be prepared to consider supplementing the present effort in other ways should the need arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the cost of assistance from the armed forces to local authorities in the flood disaster in Kent in September 1968 is to be charged to the local authorities concerned.

It is normal for the Ministry of Defence to be reimbursed for expenditure on this kind of service.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present strength of the Territorial Army and Volunteer Reserve; what is the recruiting target; and how long it will take to reach that target if the present trend continues.

Strength at 31st March, 1969 was 43,215; we would like to achieve 100 per cent. recruitment of the establishment, which is 61,600; we hope for at least 80 per cent.; it is too early to assess the trend of recruitment following the recent measures.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Territorial Army and Volunteer Reserve, Category III, have transferred to the Territorial Army and Volunteer Reserve, Category II, and latterly to the Territorial Army and Volunteer Reserve since the announcement on 16th January, 1968, that the Territorial Army and Volunteer Reserve, Category III, was to be abolished.

The figure of transfers is being obtained and I will write to the hon. Member when the information is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures showing the strength, recruiting and wastage of the Territorial Army and Volunteer Reserve, Category II, for each month from August, 1968, until the Territorial Army and Volunteer Reserve, Category III, was abolished, and the subsequent strength of the Territorial Army and Volunteer Reserve each month to the latest available date.

As regards the first part of the Question, the information is as follows:

TAVAR II
	Intake	Outflow	Strength at end of month
1968
August	538	737	35,456
September	830	671	35,615
October	1,124	852	35,887
November	1,040	940	35,987
December	889	836	36,040
1969
January*	—†	—†	37,294
February*	2,575	1,481	38,388
March*	3,043	1,434	39,997
* Includes TAVR I.
† Figures doubtful.

As regards the second part of the question, TAVR III was disbanded on 31st March, 1969 and no later figures are available yet.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how long his Department has been involved in negotiations for the sale of the former Territorial Army Drill Hall in Walton Road, Woking, to the local authority; and, in view of the fact that the continuing delay in settling this matter is impeding the authority's plans to convert the premises for use as a youth centre, whether he will hasten a decision.

Negotiations began in January 1968. The local authority has been in occupation since March 1968. The legal formalities of the sale are particularly complicated, but will be completed as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of those species of British wildlife which are protected; on what dates such protection was granted; and upon what criteria protection is granted by his regulations.

The number of species protected is very large, but I am publishing in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the Acts under which protection is provided. My hon. Friend will find the lists of species in the Schedules attached to the Acts. There are several reasons for the protection afforded by these Acts, including prevention of poaching, conservation of the species, prevention of cruelty and protection of revenue. None of these Acts is within my right hon. Friend's responsibility and he does not make regulations for the protection of wildlife. Because of his responsibility for research councils, he does provide scientific advice where needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools in Wales have ordered the first year's course of film strips and tapes of the four-year audio-visual course for teaching Welsh as a second language in junior schools, prepared at the National Language Unit at Treforest.

This course is prepared by the National Language Unit which is administered by Glamorgan local education authority on behalf of the Welsh Joint Education Committee. I understand that, up to the present, 586 first-year courses in Welsh have been ordered by local education authorities for schools in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he now expects to receive the Dainton Report on the National Library Services.

I am now considering the report, which will probably be published about the end of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list the actual projects, the sum granted in aid, and the Department making the grant to each research project given Government assistance on subjects of management and their related problems.

I cannot add to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State to the Treasury in reply to a similar Question by the hon. Member on 15th April.—[Vol. 781, c. 236.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many football pitches controlled by Nottinghamshire County Council Education Committee are now being shared by other non-school teams; and how many are in the Worksop and Retford local authorities' areas.

This information is not available. I am writing to my hon. Friend about the use of school sports facilities in Nottinghamshire and particularly in the Worksop and Retford areas.

asked the Paymaster-General if she will recommend that a Royal Commission be set up to consider the possibility of extending public participation in decision making.

No. I do not think that this is necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the estimated additional revenue from the hotel and catering industry by the rise in selective employment tax will cost that industry approximately £8 million per annum and that this cancels the £8 million per annum benefits to the industry under the Development of Tourism Bill, he will authorise a revised scale of grants to the industry for an additional sum of not less than £8 million.

No. The reasons for the increase in S.E.T. on all services, including the hotel and catering industry, were explained in my right hon. Friend's Budget speech and have no connection with the provisions of Part II of the Development of Tourism Bill which we believe will still provide a very effective incentive to hotel building.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the further exchanges between himself and Mr. Smith.

I have nothing to add to my reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Louth (Sir C. Osborne) on 29th April.—[Vol. 782, c. 1152–4.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will now initiate discussions with the Russian Government with a view to seeking agreement in the Security Council on a general international embargo on the supply of arms to all the warring parties in Nigeria.

I would refer my hon. Friend to a reply by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Brentford and Chiswick (Mr. Barnes) on 28th April.—[Vol. 782, c. 926–7.]

asked the Prime Minister to what extent chairmen of State or Government boards who receive salaries are allowed to hold private employment as salaried chairmen of public companies.

The principle is that the private employment should not take up time required for the efficient discharge of the individual's public duties, or involve any conflict of interest.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech on Government policies at the May Day Festival of Labour at the Festival Hall on 4th May, 1969.

I have done so today.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date the Seychelles airport was commenced; what is the date or estimated date of its completion; and what is the cost.

Land clearance on the airport site began in January this year. The estimated date of completion of the airport is January, 1971, and the estimated cost is £5·25 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Soviet nationals were attached to the Soviet Embassy and the Soviet Consulate in London at the time of the ratification of the Anglo-Soviet Convention; and how many were accredited at 1st April, 1969.

At the time of the ratification of the Anglo-Soviet Con- sular Convention on 23rd August, 1968, the number of Soviet nationals notified to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs as members of the Soviet Embassy (including the Consular Section, which is an integral pan of the Soviet Embassy) was 135. On 1st April, 1969, the number was 136.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent by his Department on health education during the last full year before responsibility for this work was transferred to the Health Education Council.

In the year ended 31st March, 1968 the Home Office made a contribution of £10,000 to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents for its home safety work and spent an additional £1,200 on home safety publicity of its own. None of the Home Office's responsibilities in this field has been transferred to the Health Education Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give an undertaking that he will not introduce legislation to amend the present Licensing Laws, as recommended in the Report of the Monopolies Commission.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the further statement about the Commission's report which my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, as he indicated in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Wellbeloved) on 28th April, will be making shortly.—[Vol. 781, c. 183.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the increase or decrease in numbers and as a percentage in offences against the person committed in Shropshire since 1960.

Following is the information. As a result of the amalgamation of the Shropshire police force

OFFENCES KNOWN TO THE POLICE—SHROPSHIRE
					1960	1967	Increase or decrease	Percentage variation
Violence against the person			…	…	99	71	-28	-28·3
Sexual offences	…	…	…	…	123	76	-47	-38·2
All offences against the person				…	222	147	-75	-33·8

OFFENCES KNOWN TO THE POLICE—WEST MERCIA
						1967/1960		1968/1960
			1960	1967	1968	Increase or decrease	Percentage variation	Increase or decrease	Percentage variation
Violence against the person	…	…	342	384	402	+42	+12·3	+60	+17·5
Sexual offences		…	395	410	396	+15	+3·8	+ 1	+0·3
All offences against the person	…	…	737	794	798	+57	+7·7	+61	+8·3

asked the Minister of Overseas Development (1) what sum has been spent by the United Kingdom on its United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation commitment in each of the last five years;(2) if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the occasions on which the United Kingdom acted as host country for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation projects, the place where each was held and the cost to public funds of each project.

Total sums spent by the United Kingdom on its U.N.E.S.C.O. commitment are as follows:

	£
1964–65	493,854
1965–66	577,975
1966–67	587,309
1967–68	740,722
1968–69	861,604

These sums include our contribution to U.N.E.S.C.O.'s Regular Budget, the cost of the United Kingdom Delegation Office in Paris, the cost of representation at conferences and meetings, the expenses of the United Kingdom National Commission for U.N.E.S.C.O. and expenses incurred in host country activities.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will make a statement on Lord Melchett's reappointment as Chairman of the Steel Board; and to what extent the negotiations for his reappointment included discussions about an increase in his salary.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Cambridge (Mr. Lane) and others on 29th April.—[Vol. 782, c. 1128.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the present level of average net earnings for general dental practitioners who undertake National Health Service dentistry in Scotland, after meeting practice expenses.

The Dental Rates Study Group advises me that the changes to the scale of fees which came into effect on 1st April, 1969, should be sufficient to produce with effect from 1st January the target average net income for Great Britain of £3,590 per annum recommended by the Review Body on doctors' and dentists' remuneration.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average weekly cost of keeping a patient in the Central Hospital, Warwick.

£12 19s. 2d. in 1967–68.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will arrange to display paintings by patients in mental hospitals in the Upper Waiting Hall.

An exhibition has been arranged for 9th to 14th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether in view of the language difficulties, he will provide special assistance to those doctors in parts of Bedford and elsewhere who have to treat a very high ratio of Commonwealth immigrants.

Measures taken by the Bedfordshire and Luton Executive Council, the National Health Service authority concerned with family doctor services in this area, have included the issue of notices in appropriate languages to explain to Commonwealth immigrants the proper use of these services, including ways in which they can help their doctors. The Council have been glad to have the help of local representatives of immigrants in handling individual problems. Similar arrangements have been made, where necessary, in other areas.

asked the Minister of Technology, in view of the fact that only some 25 per cent. of the persons employed in garages are fully skilled and trained, he will refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the repair prices charged by garages to their customers to ensure that a fair rate for the job is made.

Costs and charges in the motor repairing and servicing industry have already been investigated by the National Board for Prices and Incomes who reported in August, 1967 (Report No. 37: Cmnd. 3368). The Board's report did not comment adversely on the effect which the proportion of skilled workers employed in garages on repairs and servicing has on the rates charged.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) if he is aware that pedestrian use of the public footpath at Calver Hill Quarry, Sapcote, has recently been made impossible; and if he will now arrange to have this restored;(2) by whose authority the public footpath at Calver Hill Quarry, Sapcote, has been blocked.

I am aware that one of the routes that this footpath is claimed to follow has been obstructed without authority. Leicestershire County Council is the highway authority for the footpath. Any restoration that may be necessary on determination by the county council of the correct route would be a matter for the Blaby Rural District Council or, in default, by the county council.

asked the Minister of Transport what inquiries he has now received from the Nuneaton Borough Council about the administration of retirement pensioners' concessionary fares; on what date he received them; and what reply he has sent.

I have received no inquiry from the council since my reply to my hon. Friend's previous Question on 3rd April.—[Vol. 781, c. 168.]

asked the Minister of Transport what action he proposes to take to prevent cattle straying from Epping Forest on to the North Circular Road between Wadham Bridge and the junction of Forest Road, Walthamstow and on to Woodford New Road between the Whipp's Cross roundabout and the junction of Forest Road.

The trunk road between Wadham Bridge and Forest Road is now being diverted. Cattle will be prevented from entering the new route by means of cattle grids and fencing. Woodford New Road, between Whipp's Cross and Forest Road, is a metropolitan road for which the Greater London Council is the highway authority. I understand that the Council has no plans at present for preventing cattle straying from Epping Forest on to the road.

asked the Minister of Transport how many road accidents took place outside built-up areas during the hours of darkness in 1968; and how many of these involved lorries or other commercial vehicles.

In 1968 there were 8,840 fatal and serious accidents during hours of darkness in non-built-up areas. The Answer to the second part of the Question is not readily available, but I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Transport what are his conclusions as to the relative skid resistance between the blacktop and concrete sections of motorways as a result of the recent report, LR 245, made to his Department.

It would be inappropriate for me to draw general conclusions on the relative skid resistance of motorways of different forms of construction from a report on the condition of M4 West of London, the most densely trafficked motorway in Europe.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) whether he will now authorise a grant for the Canvey Island approach road so that construction can begin;(2) when construction will begin on the Canvey Island approach road; and when he expects the work to be finished.

We intend to authorise grant as soon as engineering details have been settled with the Essex County Council and a formal application has been submitted and considered. Work can start as soon thereafter as the council can let a contract. It is expected that the work will take two years to complete.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that British Railways is now operating the Newport—Cheltenham local services on the basis of direct costs of £70,200; and whether it was on these costs or on the earlier estimate of £96,000 that he based his decision not to give grant aid to this service.