asked the Minister of Power how much loan capital, and at what average rate of interest, has now been raised from overseas sources by the nationalised industries for which he is responsible.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his Question on 10th June, 1969.—[Vol 784, c. 224.]

asked the Minister of Power how much steel scrap was imported by the British Steel Corporation during the first five months of 1969; at what cost to the balance of payments; and how much he estimates will be imported during the remainder of the year in order to maintain the present level of steel production.

asked the Minister of Power (1) whether he will issue a direction to the British Steel Corporation to review the arrangements of scrap supplies to steelworks, with a view to overcoming the present shortage without resorting to large imports and to avoid future shortages;(2) if he is satisfied that the quantities of scrap steel at present being imported from the United States of America are required to maintain steel production; what are the import and home prices for scrap; and if he will make a statement.

The May statistics are not yet available, but in the first four months of 1969 ferrous scrap imports amounted to 11·1 thousand tons valued at £340,000 c.i.f. but none was imported by the corporation. Home scrap arisings are not sufficient to meet the increased demand due to the high level of steel production, and the gap can only be bridged by imports. I have already put in hand a study of long-term supply and demand of ferrous scrap for the iron and steel industry, but prices are a commercial matter.

asked the Minister of Power how much steel was imported during the first five months of 1969; and at what cost to the balance of payments.

The figures for May are not yet available. In the first four months 715,000 tons, valued at £40·7 million c.i.f.

asked the Minister of Power if he has completed his examination of the proposal for a National Hydrocarbons Corporation; and whether he will make a statement.

Not yet.

asked the Minister of Power if he will issue a general direction to the National Coal Board that it shall not take steps to secure possession of houses occupied by former miners and their families who have left the mining industry by reason of its run-down in any case where there is no definite requirement for possession of the house for a miner to be employed in the industry.

This is already the board's policy.

asked the Minister of Power what steps he is taking to enable the National Coal Board to undertake responsibilities for the reclamation of derelict areas of land, as recommended by the Report of the Hunt Committee.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for South Shields (Mr. Blenkinsop) on 10th June.—[Vol. 784, c. 1221.]

asked the Minister of Power whether he will cease to require the gas and electricity industries to publish the average actual prices, by fuel and by region, which they charge to industry; and if he will require them to supply him with representative prices in confidence, as is the practice of the oil industry.

No.

asked the Minister of Power what action he is taking to ensure that the Acts and regulations referring to blasting operations are being observed in the blasting currently going on at Sandford Stirling Brae, near Boddam, in Aberdeenshire.

The Inspectors of Mines and Quarries use the powers conferred on them by the Mines and Quarries Act, 1954, in relation to the use of explosives at the Stirling Brae quarry.

asked the Minister of Power if he will direct the board of the nationalised steel industry to deliver orders on time.

No. Delivery dates are a commercial matter, but if the hon. Lady has any particular case in mind I am sure that if she writes to the Chairman of the British Steel Corporation, Lord Melchett will look into it.

asked the Minister of Power what check his Department makes that the representative prices of oil and oil derivatives sold to industry and supplied to his Department by the oil industry are representative.

By ensuring that information obtained covers a cross section of oil use.

asked the Minister of Power if details of the British Steel Corporation's proposed product divisions have now been submitted to him for approval; and if he will make a statement.

The Corporation has announced its conclusion that product divisions would be feasible, and it has named four individuals, to take part in further studies, who would be appointed as managing directors of product divisions if, in the event, these are set up. At this stage, however, the corporation has reached no final view about this, and my statutory consent would be needed before any organisational change of this sort could take place. My decision on any proposals made by the B.S.C. would have regard to all the factors involved, including regional ones.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will introduce legislation to amend the powers of the electricity boards to cut off supply to consumers to provide more adequate safeguards in the event of a dispute over charges.

No. The Electric Lighting Act 1909 already virtually forbids disconnection in a "bona fide dispute", and the boards have established special procedures to ensure that normal accountancy measures do not lead to disconnection when such dispute arises. Following discussions with the National Council of Social Services, they have also recently appointed officers to advise on cases where consumers have financial or welfare problems.

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement on progress made in the development and production of high-speed gas.

I presume my hon. Friend is referring to North Sea Gas.Four major gas fields have been found, and 61 production wells had been drilled at the end of May, Ten fixed production platforms have been erected and four undersea pipelines laid. Gas is coming ashore from the West Sole and Leman Bank fields, and supplies from the Hewett field are expected to start next month.

asked the Minister of Power what progress has been made in the development, production and installation of facilities for North Sea Gas in Scotland.

The natural gas trunk line should be extended into Scotland by spring, 1970, the Glasgow area being reached in the autumn. Provision is also being made for liquid natural gas storage.

asked the Minister of Power what estimate he has made of the amount of coal to be exported this year; and how this compares with the last five years.

About 3¼ million tons this year, which is high compared with recent years but about the average of the past five years.

asked the Minister of Power if he will make an official visit to the Lancashire coalfield.

It is my policy to visit the coalfields as often as I can, and I hope I shall be able to visit Lancashire fairly soon.

asked the Minister of Power what proposals he has received from the National Coal Board about further pit closures in the North-East.

Colliery closures are a matter for the board. I understand that Mill colliery, Northumberland, will close on 11th July and Harton colliery, North Durham, on 1st August. The futures of Metal Bridge and Thornley collieries in South Durham are in jeopardy.

asked the Minister of Power how much coal he estimates will be imported from the United States of America in the next five years.

At present none.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many acres of land have now been sold for housing by the Land Commission; and what is the average price per acre.

140 acres; £1,453 per acre.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that 50 per cent. of the houses in Huddersfield are over 50 years old, that only 23 per cent. of the housing stock has been built since 1945, and that 23·6 per cent. of all households have no fixed bath; and if he will indicate the extent of the help his Department is prepared to give to alleviate the position.

I have read with interest the recent report of the study of the Huddersfield and Colne Valley area undertaken by the Yorkshire and Humberside Economic Planning Council and Board, in which this information appears. The report acknowledges that the proposals in the Government's White Paper "Old Houses into New Homes" (Cmnd. 3602) will be of great assistance to places like the study area with a high proportion of sub-standard housing. These proposals are included in the current Housing Bill. The Ministry's Yorkshire and Humberside regional office is available to discuss with the local authorities concerned any proposals for the improvement of either individual houses or areas along the lines foreshadowed in the Housing Bill.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will show the number of houses built by the local authority and by private builders, respectively, in the county borough of Huddersfield in each year since 1961 to 1968.

The numbers of dwellings completed in the county borough of Huddersfield by the local authority and by private builders in each year since 1961 were:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what requests have been made to him by the Huddersfield local authority for assistance with its house building programme.

My right hon. Friend has received no special requests for assistance from Huddersfield. He would be very happy to consider a larger house building programme or to give any other assistance in his power should the council desire it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is now able to state the Government's plans for meeting the costs involved as a result of the Ronan Point disaster; and whether he will give an assurance that neither the Newham Council nor the local ratepayers will have to meet any of the costs of the disaster or of remedying any defects in existing tower blocks.

On 6th June my right hon. Friend made an offer to the local authority associations of Government assistance at the rate of 40 per cent. of their net expenditure on strengthening of high blocks and other incidental expenditure. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the letter in which the basis of this offer was explained.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that due to clearing slums and dealing with war damage the London Borough of Newham has incurred debts of £87 million, that the interest on these loans is large and that his decision arising from the Ronan Point disaster will add to this financial burden; and whether he will give special consideration to assisting this council in its present economic difficulties.

No. I agree that Newham's debt is large but, as my right hon. Friend has explained, there are sound reasons for the scale of assistance he offered in his recent letter to the local authority associations. He has also offered to discuss with the associations a method of distribution which will favour the authorities with the heaviest financial burdens.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government on what authority he decided that the London Borough of Newham and other councils should have to pay 60 per cent. towards the cost of strengthening tower blocks to his prescribed safety levels; and by what authority he proposes to enforce these instructions.

It is not for my right hon. Friend to give formal instructions to local authorities on the exercise of their responsibilities as owners of these buildings. He has advised them to have the buildings appraised in the light of the report of the tribunal of inquiry and to undertake such strengthening as is shown to be necessary; and he has offered grants equal to 40 per cent. of the approved net cost.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in view of the fact that following the issue of grant to meet the costs of the Ronan Point disaster, Newham Borough Council and the Greater London Council will need to raise the equivalent of a rate poundage of 1s. 6d. and 0·8d., respectively, to meet the 60 per cent. differential; and if he will make a further grant to Newham Borough Council so as to relieve it of the necessity of making an increase in its rate poundage of this magnitude.

I think my hon. Friend may be misinformed. I do not believe that rate increases of this order will be necessary.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps, through local authorities and others, to assist the provision of more caravan sites.

Local authorities and others already have power to provide caravan sites, and I am not aware that additional action is needed from me. I will, however, gladly look at any cases the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now review the right to compensate those seriously disturbed by new motorways and other developments who are not at present able to claim any compensation.

Yes, I am doing so.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now introduce legisla-

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was

No. The adoption of these limits was fully considered, and thoroughly debated, when the Leasehold Reform Act was before Parliament, and I do not believe that the relevant circumstances have changed since then.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total amount of financial aid given to the urban district of Sittingbourne and Milton from Government sources in the financial years 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68 and 1968–69; what is the estimated equivalent amount that will be made available for the year 1969–70; what these grants represent in terms of the product of a 1d. rate for the district; and if he will publish the details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The total amount of Exchequer grants to the urban district of Sittingbourne and Milton, including housing subsidies, for the years 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68 and 1968–69, the product of a 1d. rate for each year and the rate equivalents of the amounts of grants are as follows:the total amount of financial aid given to the rural district of Swale from Government sources in the financial years 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68 and 1968–69; what is the estimated equivalent amount that will be made available for the year 1969–70; what these grants represent in terms of the product of a 1d. rate for the district; and if he will publish the details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The total amount of Exchequer grants to the rural district of Swale, including housing subsidies, for the years 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68 and 1968–69, the product of a 1d. rate for each year and the rate equivalents of the amounts of grants are as follows:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total amount of financial aid given to the borough of Queenborough-in-Sheppey

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was

The total amounts of Exchequer grants to the borough of Queenborough - in - Sheppey, including housing subsidies and capital grants for the year 1968–69 and the total of those grants payable to its predecessors for the years 1965–66, 1966–67 and 1967–68, the corresponding product of a 1d. rate for each year and the rate equivalents of the amounts of grants are as follows:the total amount of financial aid given to the borough of Faversham from Government sources in the financial years 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68 and 1968–69; what is the estimated equivalent amount that will be made available for the year 1969–70; what these grants represent in terms of the product of a 1d. rate for the borough; and if he will publish the details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The total amounts of Exchequer grants to the borough of Faversham, including housing subsidies, for the years 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68 and 1968–69, the product of a 1d. rate for each year and the rate equivalents of the amounts of grants are as follows:Source: Epitomes of Accounts and Departmental records.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that up to 300 complaints per week of price increases are being referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes by the public who are being advised that such complaints should be referred to the appropriate Ministry; how many of such complaints have been referred to him; and what action he has taken or intends taking to advertise that complaints should be made to his Department.

I understand that so far this year complaints to the National Board for Prices and Incomes about price increases have averaged 116 a week. Of these, not more than 20 a week are referred to the Department. I do not think any action by my right hon. Friend is called for.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he will make a further statement on the location of the Inland Revenue computer centre in the North-East.

My right hon. Friend hopes that it will be possible to announce the location of this computer centre very soon.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now convene an international conference of foreign Ministers of Finance, with a view to international agreement for the reduction of rates of interest.

My right hon. Friend is not convinced that any useful purpose would be served by convening such a conference at the present time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people pay surtax at the highest rate.

This is estimated at about 10,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average length of time those currently paying surtax at the highest rates have been so doing.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he now expects to publish his letter of intent to the International Monetary Fund; and if he will make a statement.

Next week.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action is being taken by Departments to reduce the level of unemployment; and what figure of unemployment it is now intended to maintain in order to carry out the Government's economic policy.

Departments are acting variously to reduce unemployment by seeking to strengthen the balance of payments through assistance to export and import-saving industries and by promoting expansion in the Development Areas. As to the second part of the hon. Gentleman's Question, it is the Government's policy to maintain a high level of employment consistent with the overriding need to achieve a substantial balance of payments surplus as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will seek to ensure the use of Portland stone in the construction of future administration buildings to be erected at Westminster.

My Ministry will certainly be considering the use of stone, and in particular Portland stone, for the new Government office building on part of the site between Bridge Street and Richmond Terrace. Those who enter the competition for the new Parliamentary building will be given information about the material used for other buildings around Parliament Square, which is mainly Portland stone, but it will be for each competitor to choose the finish for his own design.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in transferring Aldergrove Civil Airport in County Antrim to the authorities in Ulster; when the transfer will be completed; and if he will make a statement.

Terms of transfer are under discussion with the Northern Ireland authorities but I am unable at present to say when the transfer is likely to take place.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to provide that tenants who are housed in accommodation where other tenants use oil heaters and paraffin stoves shall have the right to insure themselves in respect of fire risks.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Wembley, South (Sir R. Russell) on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the special circumstances pertaining to the electoral system in Northern Ireland, he will now implement the proposals of the Boundary Commission on Westminster constituencies in Northern Ireland.

I shall bring my conclusions before the House shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if, in view of the public concern arising out of the police inquiry in connection with the cinema crime at Preston, he is satisfied with the operation of his regula- tions for police discipline, under which senior officers adjudicate and decide upon matters of internal discipline; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he is satisfied with the operation of that part of his regulations for police discipline under which matters are referred to an outside chief constable for adjudication and are then returned to the police authority where the incident took place for final scrutiny and judgment; and if he will make a statement.

The normal arrangement is for a police discipline charge against a police officer in a provincial force to be heard by the chief constable of that force. Although it may sometimes be appropriate for him to remit the case to some other chief constable for hearing, he still retains the final decision. These arrangements are in line with the principles recommended by the Royal Commission on the Police in 1962. I keep under review the working of the procedures for handling complaints against the police.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a further statement on his exchanges with Mr. Smith on Rhodesia.

I have nothing to add to my reply to Questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy) and Croydon, South (Mr. Winnick) and the hon. Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 10th June.—[Vol. 784, c. 1227–31.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech to the Council of Europe Ministers' meeting in London on Monday, 5th May.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to my speech at the Ceremony held at the Banqueting House on 5th May to mark the Twentieth Anniversary of the signature of the Statute of the Council of Europe. A copy of the speech was placed in the Library on 6th May.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will seek the agreement of the Cabinet to the publication of the names of the members of the Inner Cabinet as originally constituted, and of the present members.

I would refer the hon. Member to my replies to questions by my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) and the hon. Member for Wycombe (Mr. John Hall) on the 20th May, 1969.—[Vol. 783, c. 65.]

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now request the President of the United States of America to arrange a meeting with him before the end of the current year with a view to implementing the Government's policy of re-negotiating the Nassau Agreement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to a supplementary question by the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 30th January.—[Vol. 776, c. 1520–21.]

asked the Prime Minister whether the television prompting machines which he uses during his Ministerial television broadcasts are publicly owned.

Whenever such a machine has been used during my Ministerial television broadcasts it has been provided along with the rest of the equipment for the broadcast by the television authorities.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Prime Minister of Israel is due to visit Great Britain and whether he will extend to her an official invitation to talks on international matters of common concern.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs gave to a Question by him yesterday. Since then, I have had two further talks with Mrs. Meir. She will be leaving for Israel later today.—[Vol. 785, c. 3.]

asked the Prime Minister whether he will publish in HANSARD a detailed statement giving particulars of the action he has taken to reduce the costs of Ministerial Departments and Government expenditure in administration; and what savings have been made to date since 1964 due to such action.

As I said in answer to a similar Question from my hon. Friend on 6th April, 1967, economy in administration must be measured in relation to the job which Parliament has decided must be done. Savings in some areas have to compensate to some extent for inevitable increases in others, and it would not be possible without disproportionate expense to give a detailed statement. I would however refer my hon. Friend to my statement on 26th February on Civil Service manpower, in which I drew attention to the standstill on non-industrial staff numbers during 1968–69 and the inquiries which are being carried out by Sir Robert Bellinger.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has considered the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, dated 11th June, concerning the danger of an accidental outbreak of a nuclear war resulting in the destruction of Great Britain; what steps he proposes to take; and whether he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to what my hon. Friend the Minister of Defence for Equipment said in the debate on the Motion for the Adjournment on 12th June.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now take steps to extend the Parliamentary Commissioner's powers to cover appeals against police investigations into alleged malpractices upon the part of the police, including cases where chief constables refuse to implement reports prepared by investigating committees under fellow police officers.

No. Any disciplinary charge against a member of a police force is dealt with in accordance with the Police (Discipline) Regulations, 1965, made under the Police Act, 1964.

asked the Prime Minister what changes he has made in the composition of the United Kingdom Delegation to the Council of Europe.

My hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, North (Mr. Maurice Edelman) previously a substitute member of the United Kingdom delegation to the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe has been appointed a member of the delegation in place of my hon. Friend the Member for Halifax (Dr. Shirley Summerskill), who becomes a substitute member.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will undertake a chemical analysis of the pesticides, details of which have been sent to him, used in the growing of that part of the Greek tobacco crop which it is proposed to export to the United Kingdom; and whether he will refuse to sanction any import which contains substances which his Advisory Committee on Poisonous Substances used in Agriculture and Food Storage have found to be injurious.

No. My right hon. Friend has no powers to refuse to sanction any import of Greek tobacco.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the annual pensions now being drawn by Post Office technical officers who retired after 40 years' service, whose pension is based on an average of the last three years' service at maximum national rates of pay, in September, 1951, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1965, 1967 and 1969, including the benefits of pension increase Acts as appropriate.

asked the Postmaster-General, in the light of up-to-date research and advice available to him, what estimate he has made of the number of low-power radio stations on medium wavelength which could be operative in the United Kingdom.

The number would depend upon the location and power and frequencies of the stations, and upon the time of day at which they were to operate.

asked the Postmaster-General what recent survey he has carried out to determine whether paragraph 32 of the 1966 White Paper on Broadcasting, Command Paper No. 3169, is still operative; and if he will make a statement.

I hope to announce the Government's policy on local radio next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers in teaching posts in each local education authority area have re-registered and failed to re-register, respectively, with the General Teaching Council.

I have nothing to add to my reply of 16th June to the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne).—[Vol. 785, c. 22–23.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers currently employed in schools in the county of Angus have failed to re-register since 1st April with the General Teaching Council; and if he will give an assurance that no action will be taken against these teachers for failure to reregister.

Seventy-six at 9th June. As to the second part of the Question, the answer is "No".

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the draft regulations on unemployment benefit and contribution credits for occupational pensioners will be published.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Maidstone on 19th May. Preliminary draft regulations were published on 27th August last.—[Vol. 784, c. 6–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what estimate he has made of the cost of increasing family allowances to 35s. for the second and subsequent children, and of the amount of the cost recoverable in income tax in 1970–71 and from a reduction in per- sonal allowances leaving the standard rate taxpayer with the same net income;(2) what estimate he has made of the cost of increasing family allowances to 35s. including the first and subsequent children, and of the amount of the cost recoverable in income tax in 1970–71 and from a reduction in personal allowances leaving the standard rate taxpayer with the same net income.

The figures for a full year, on the basis of current numbers of families and children, income tax rates as announced in the 1969 Budget, and the levels of earnings estimated for this year would be of the following order:—

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to combine and rationalise the means tests for various welfare benefits and to provide an appeal against refusal.

This is a very complicated subject, but as a first step a study is being made of the possibility of devising a common method of ascertaining the resources and circumstances of applicants for the various statutory means-tested benefits.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what estimated figures have been included in the total figures for the increase in outgo of the National Insurance Fund in Table Three of the Government Actuary's Report, Command Paper No. 4074, to cover the cost in 1967–70, 1970–71 and 1971–72 of the increases in the scales of earnings-related benefits which will become payable in consequence of the in-ceases in earnings-related contributions envisaged in the National Insurance (No. 2) Bill;(2) what estimate he has made of the increase in the commitments of the National Insurance Fund after 1971–72 in consequence of the increases in earnings-related contributions proposed in the National Insurance (No. 2) Bill.

No changes are proposed in the scales of earnings related short term benefits. Additional expenditure on graduated retirement pensions will rise to rather over £1 million in 1971–72. By 20 years after the commencement of the new scheme it is expected to rise to something of the order of £25 million a year, before taking account of the Government's proposal to revalue graduated pensions.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish the findings of the inquiry into the ammunition train explosion in the Carlisle area, in view of the concern of the people living in Cumberland.

I regret that I cannot publish the findings of the inquiry into this explosion since is was a domestic inquiry held by the London Midland Region of British Railways. I understand that a technical investigation is being conducted also by the Ministry of Defence.Full information about the circumstances of the explosion was supplied to the Ministry of Transport by London Midland Region and I did not consider that its railway aspects were such as to warrant an inquiry by one of the inspecting officers of railways.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the amounts now deductible in respect of a marginal £ sterling of earned income by way of income tax employers' and employees' graduated and flat rate National Insurance contributions for married men contracted in, and with two children under 11 years of age at a spread of earned income levels from £10 to £40 a week; and what the figures will become under the proposals in the National Insurance (No. 2) Bill.

The additional amounts deductible in respect of income tax and National Insurance contributions from extra earned income of £1 at weekly income rates of £10, £15, £20, £25, £30 and £40 are shown in the table below.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the average age of the members of the panel of inspectors appointed by the Minister of Transport to hold public inquiries into traffic regulation orders; what are the ages of the youngest and the oldest members of the panel, respectively; and what provision exists for the removal of members from the panel on grounds of age or incapacity.

Most of the inspectors are between 67 and 72 years of age, the average age being about 70. The youngest is 65 and the oldest 85.There is no hard and fast rule on age grounds for removal from the panel, but the capacity of persons appointed and the overall composition of the panel by age are the subject of continuous review. If change is needed on either score it can be made.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give the statistics of the age groups that have the heaviest casualty and death rate on the roads due

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he now expects to receive the report from the consultants on the line of the route of the Llantrisant radial road from Cardiff; and whether he will publish that report.

Within the next month. The report itself will not be published but, when I have studied it, I shall publish my proposals, with my reasons, for the route of the road.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what action he proposes to take following the report, details of which are in his possession, by Dr. Delfun Lewis, Deputy Superintendent of the Psychiatric Hospital, Cardiff, that there are 156 patients who could leave the hospital if Cardiff Corporation made alternative accommodation available.

Discussions are in progress between the Welsh Hospital Board and Cardiff County Borough Council. It has not been agreed that 156 patients are suitable for discharge from hospital to local authority accommodation.The authorities have been asked to list those who are suitable for discharge from hospital; and those who are at present in the community who should be in hospital; indicating the criteria on which they have based their assessment.

The age group 15 to 19 has the heaviest serious casualty rate and the group aged 80 and over the heaviest fatality rate. The statistics are as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the number of patients in psychiatric wards of hospitals in Wales who could leave hospital provided that alternative accommodation was provided by local authorities.

Consultant psychiatrists have estimated that about 1,400 patients in psychiatric hospitals in Wales could leave if suitable alternative accommodation was available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in Wales requiring psychiatric treatment are at present waiting for a hospital bed.

There are at present 240, 114 mentally ill and 126 subnormal, patients awaiting admission to psychiatric hospitals in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will authorise the additional expenditure requested to improve fire precaution facilities at St. Cadoc Hospital, Caerleon.

This has already been authorised.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now state when work will commence on the proposed link road from the Heads of the Valleys road to the river bridge at Abergavenny.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the proposed link road at Llanfoist which will enable eastbound traffic to filter northwards off the A465 Heads of the Valleys Road and join the Llanfoist-Abergavenny (A4143) route.I expect work on this scheme to start in the spring of 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales which highway authorities in Wales received additional grants for maintenance and improvements for the winter programme 1968–69; and what was the amount spent, showing separately the financial assistance allowed.

The exact amounts spent are not yet known but they will approximately equal the expenditure approved, the whole cost of which will be met by my Department. My hon. Friend received details of this expenditure in reply to his Question on 6th December, 1968. Since that date the expenditure approved for some authorities has been varied. These changes are as follows:

Glamorgan: Expenditure on the improvement of principal roads increased from £113,330 to £115,330.

Denbighshire: Expenditure on the maintenance of non-principal roads increased from £9,000 to £11,250.

Merthyr Tydfil C.B.C.: Expenditure on the improvement of principal roads increased from £40,000 to £47,300.

Swansea C.B.C.: Expenditure on the improvement of principal roads increased from £66,500 to £102,200 and on the improvement of non-principal roads reduced from £7,000 to £6,000.—[Vol. 774, c. 598.]