asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action his Department intends to take on the recent report on housing in Notting Hill.

Responsibility for action on the issues with which the Report deals rests in the first instance with the Council of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea as primary housing authority.

I am grateful for that answer. Is my right hon. Friend aware that throughout the country Notting Hill is associated with slums, rent racketeering and borough council indifference? If the council refuses to take any action, would the Ministry step in and take direct housing powers in view of this notorious London scandal?

I have had constructive discussions with the Royal Borough and with the G.L.C. It is being a little pessimistic to assume that failure will attend the activities of the council; but I shall certainly bear my hon. Friend's remarks in mind.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the number of housing starts for 1969 at the latest convenient date; what percentage change this represents from the corresponding period for 1968; and if he will make a statement.

139,400 dwellings were started in Great Britain during the first five months of 1969, 17 per cent. fewer than in the corresponding period of 1968. Public starts reflect the relatively low rate of tender approvals until the last quarter of 1968, and private starts the shortage of mortgage funds during the winter. Abnormally bad weather also depressed both private and public sectors.

In view of the restraints on domestic credit which have now been quantified in the Letter of Intent, could the right hon. Gentleman say what he thinks will be the starts and completions for housing during the calendar year 1969?

I think the hon. Gentleman is wrong in saying that they are quantified, but that is a point which no doubt he will be anxious to bring out in the debate tomorrow if he is fortunate to catch Mr. Speaker's eye. Clearly, our performance in the social field must to a very large extent reflect the strength of the country's economy. As I have said on previous occasions, it is too early in the year to give precise figures for the final out-turn for the year. That is still the position.

Does my right hon. Friend recollect that a few days ago he gave me a list of housing authorities which have reduced the number of housing starts? Does he not think that to get the number of housing completions to where the country needs them he should look at the suggestion of starting some kind of national building agency to supplement the building by local authorities, both those which will not build and those which cannot build?

The housing figures must depend to a very large extent upon maintaining the momentum of local authority building. Some local authorities are maintaining figures; others, I am sorry to say, are dragging their feet and falling behind. But in the suggestion that my hon. Friend has made she is leaping a little too far ahead.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether this disappointing decrease of 17 per cent. is a matter of policy and whether he would wish to see it made up during the year, or whether it is a matter of keeping down to this figure?

Certainly I wish to make up the shortfall during the year. I have said that I want to maintain and produce the highest figure of house building which the economy of the country allows. The shortfall so far reflects the two conditions to which I referred in my original answer.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in view of the Notting Hill Housing Survey, he will now extend the Rent Act, 1965 to give tenants of furnished dwellings in multi-occupied premises the full security of tenure provided by that Act.

The Rent Act, 1965, considerably improved the position of tenants of furnished dwellings. A further extension of the law on the lines suggested would have far-reaching consequences, not all of them necessarily favourable to tenants generally, but we are keeping the possibility in mind.

Is there not clear evidence that many landlords are circumventing the Rent Act by putting in a few sticks of furniture, and when the tenant appeals for a fair rent, they evict him? Can my hon. Friend extend the Act to furnished houses which are not partly occupied by landlords?

In reply to the first question, the courts have intervened categorically to stop the abuse of the "sticks of furniture" in cases brought to their notice; so I do not think it fair to say that nothing is done. In reply to the second point, this particular problem is confined to one or two areas where it is very bad indeed.

Does the hon. Gentleman recall that in discussions in Committee on the Rent Act I warned him that landlords would put in the bare minimum of furniture and so escape the controls of the 1965 Act? Does he appreciate that in the light of the Notting Hill survey this is an extremely serious problem in some parts of London? Will he look at it as a matter of urgency and introduce follow-up legislation?

I think furnished lettings introduce two separate things which are difficult to combine. They provide a base for a mobile population to enable them to move quickly from areas where they do not want to stay, but in areas of bad housing stress they provide homes for people in desperate need.

Regarding Notting Hill, was it not disturbing that it was left to independent bodies to bring to light an appalling situation which existed for years only a few miles from where we are sitting? Is it not a fact that the Kensington Council, one of the richest in the country, has done virtually nothing for low-income housing?

On the first point, it is well known that in this area there was a serious housing problem. The report added enormously to the information and aroused the interest of people, but that there was an awful problem to be dealt with was well known.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why he again refused the request of the Greater London Council that he should not interfere with their proposal to increase the rents of those of their tenants who could afford such increase.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will reconsider his decision to refuse the latest application from the Greater London Council for an increase in the rents of its council properties.

When I met the council on 15th May, I explained that the proposals submitted on 6th March were not acceptable because rent increases could be avoided by charging to loan more of the capital expenditure met from revenue. The statutory position is that these proposals stand rejected and cannot be reconsidered.

Is not this also a case in which the decision of an elected local authority was overthrown by a bureaucrat? Why did the Minister ask the G.L.C. to borrow to pay the salaries of some of its housing staffs at a time when interest rates were at a record level and when the Government were priding themselves on having reduced their borrowing commitment to nil?

No, Sir. The reasons why the proposals were rejected were clearly set out in the orginal letter. They were reiterated at my meeting with the representatives of the council. The procedure that we recommended that the council might follow is one which is followed by all other housing authorities and is in no way unreasonable. It was merely asking the council to conduct its affairs in the same way as other councils.

Is it not true that under the G.L.C.'s rent rebate scheme the full increase would have been paid only by tenants well able to afford it? Can the Minister suggest what I am now to tell people living in my constituency, often in far less affluent conditions than some of the council tenants, when they are faced with a rate increase to recoup at least £2 million this year and £4 million in a full year as a direct result of the Minister's arbitrary and indefensible action?

I have already explained to the House on more than one occasion, as I explained to the representatives of the Greater London Council when they came to see me, that there is no need whatever for the rate to be increased. I suggest that the hon. Gentleman reads what I said and tells that to his constituents.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state the average percentage increase in rents fixed by the rent assessment committees in London, Birmingham, Southampton and each of the London boroughs respectively, and that for the rest of the country and for the whole country to the latest convenient date, compared with the previous controlled rents of these dwellings.

As I told my hon. Friend in reply to his Questions on 19th June, this information is not available since the statistical material on tenancies for which rents have been registered under the rent regulation machinery does not indicate whether a tenancy was previously controlled.

Since certain rent assessment committees are clearly influenced by the high current rents caused by the housing shortage, will my hon. Friend draw their attention to the fact that they are not conforming with the letter or the intention of the Rent Act?

My right hon. Friend is aware of some of the problems which arise and keeps them in the front of his mind, but a general indication of that sort would not be justified by the evidence.

Will the Minister also bear in mind that private landlords of controlled premises have had a very unfair deal over the past 20 years and have not been able to bring property up to date as they would have wished? Is he aware that in some foreign countries there are automatic rent increases by law right across the board for public and private landlords?

It is true that on both the landlords' and the tenants' side there are hard cases. The great advantage of the 1965 Act was that it took a lot of the bitterness out of landlord and tenant relationships.

Will my hon. Friend have another look at the possibility of providing legal aid for tenants appearing before rent assessment committees?

My right hon. Friend is at present discussing the pilot surveyors' aid scheme which was introduced in London to see what lessons it has for the rest of the country.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what limitations he has placed on the construction of new homes by the Corporation of Liverpool; and if he will make a statement.

None, Sir, nor does my right hon. Friend contemplate doing so.

Although the Labour Government have provided massive aid for the city of Liverpool in its housing programme and removed almost all restrictions on future building programmes, is my hon. Friend aware that the city council has undertaken an extensive and lengthy review of housing which has resulted in a diminution in the number of houses to be built in the future, a great slowing-down of the programme in spite of the fact that we have 27,000 families on the waiting list in Liverpool—[HON. MEMBERS: "Too long."]—which is also too long?

The last figure I have is that the council was contemplating approving tenders for about 17,000 dwellings over the next four years. If it achieves that, it is not an unreasonable target.

Is it not true that Liverpool, despite high interest rates, has as good a housing record as almost any other corporation?

Liverpool has had a very good record over the years, and I am anxious that it should maintain that record in the future.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the rate of house building in Liverpool has definitely slowed down since the Conservative Party took over control, and that it is an absolute disgrace and scandal when one considers that the housing subsidies have gone up from £1,333,000 to over £2,400,000 between 1964 and 1968? Is it not time the Conservative Council in Liverpool was told to get on with the job and help our people to get some decent houses?

I am sure that my hon. Friend will be able to convey that to the Lverpool City Council as effectively as anyone can. We have maintained a 5 per cent. differential in the yardstick between Liverpool and the rest of the North-West, and therefore it is being given a great incentive to maintain its programme.

But has not Liverpool been faced with the increased interest rates? Has it not put in hand as many houses as the subsidy will allow? Is it not keeping up to the programme set by the Ministry?

Instead of being anchored to a rigid subsidy which never changes whatever changes there are in cost, it has had a guaranteed 4 per cent. interest rate for new buildings.

asked the Minister of of Housing and Local Government if he will seek powers to ensure that housing associations consult him before putting into effect decisons to evict their tenants.

No, Sir. Under the Rent Act 1965 a housing association may not obtain possession without a court order, and I have no reason to suppose that housing associations would in general act unreasonably in seeking to evict a tenant. If my hon. Friend has in mind a particular case about which he recently wrote to my right hon. Friend, I will, with his permission, willingly pursue inquiries on his behalf.

But does not the specific case illustrate the danger of arguing from the general case? It is surely anomalous that tenants of housing associations who build on the basis of loans from the central Government should apparently be less protected than the ordinary tenant in private property?

A housing association, if it is properly administered, is administered without regard to profit and so as to do an important housing job, which my right hon. Friend wants to see encouraged.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the proportion of builders now registered with the National House Builders' Registration Council; and what proportion of the total number of houses are built by them.

Nearly 13,000 house-builders are registered with the council. The proportion this represents of all housebuilding firms is not known, but it is very high. They are building about 95 per cent. of all private houses under construction.

Can anything more be done to publicise this excellent N.H.B.R.C. scheme? Many potential purchasers have never heard of it.

The council is conducting a publicity campaign, with, I believe, great effect, and I take the opportunity to pay tribute to what it is doing and advise everyone who is contemplating buying a house not to do so without buying one built by a builder registered with the council.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that one of my constituents who bought such a house has had two and a half years of heavy expense in trying to get justice for himself? While the matter has at last been settled, it still established the fact that the standards set out have not been maintained.

That is an exceptional case and all of us must have come across the occasional such case. But the council itself dealt with it as expeditiously as was consistent with doing justice to the individual builder concerned, and I believe that it is performing a most useful service extremely efficiently and effectively.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will take steps to provide that where a tenant persistently refuses to attend a hearing of a rent tribunal the determination of the rent shall be decided in his absence.

This does not appear necessary. The Rent Act, 1968, requires that, when both landlord and tenant have been given an opportunity of being heard or—if they prefer—of submitting representations in writing, the rent tribunal should reach a decision on the reference. Thus, neither landlord nor tenant can frustrate in this way the reaching of a decision.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that I have a constituent who has been unable to have a rent determined because of the absence of a tenant? Is it right that his application should have been described as frivolous just because there is no tenant available to give evidence before the tribunal?

The tribunals are independent and not answerable to my right hon. Friend. Whatever the tribunal referred to thought it wise to say is a matter for it and for the courts and not for us.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is a real case not against tenants but against landlords who are dilatory in their response to rent tribunals? Will he undertake to consider introducing legislation to make rent reductions retrospective to the date of the application so that we can deal with dilatory landlords?

That is something which can be looked at in any review of landlord and tenant legislation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has reached a decision on the proposed amendments to the Greater London initial development plan relating to Brentford.

Not yet, but I assure my hon. Friend that everything is being done to reach a decision quickly.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the great potential of the Brent-for riverside area not only for the people of Brentford but for the surrounding area? In view of the length of time that talk about redeveloping Brentford has been going on, will he do everything possible to enable it to go ahead as quickly as possible?

I assure my hon. Friend that I recognise the desirability of reaching an early decision. However, the proposals have given rise to some very tricky issues which need careful consideration.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what new

The information derives from 13 Acts, and, as it is lengthy, I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the reply to both parts of the Question.

That will make interesting reading. Would the hon. Gentleman at least give me the grand total of expenditure by local authorities in the current financial year as a result of this legislation?

That must be a somewhat detailed and elaborate calculation but, as the hon. Gentleman has specifically asked for the figure, I will get it for him, although I cannot give it to him now.

Along with that information, will my hon. Friend publish the details of the grant increases made in the form of support grants to local authorities in the same year?

I will see that that information is conveyed at the same time. One of the great benefits which this Administration have been able to afford to local authorities is the maintenance of the amount of the central contribution for all this additional expenditure.

Will there be an interim Order to meet this contribution from the Exchequer towards this expenditure, or will it be left to the ratepayers?

If the Government consider the former to be desirable, it will be done.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will estimate the additional cost to be incurred by local authorities in the year 1969–70 resulting from the laying of an Order on 1st June implementing Part II of the Caravan Sites Act 1968; and what proportion of total spending in the year this figure represents.

I can make no precise estimate. I am anxious to make progress, but I do not think it would be wise to make an Order bringing this Part of the Act into force until I am satisfied that to do so will not impose an undue burden on local authorities at a time when they are subject to stringent economies in staff and finance.

How can the Minister possibly give me such an answer when the Joint Parliamentary Secretary said a moment ago that under 13 Acts passed in the 1967–68 Session of Parliament additional duties costing millions of £s have been laid on local authorities? What consideration has the right hon. Gentleman given to the figures which I have submitted to his Department, to Lord Kennet, showing the vast amounts of unproductive expenditure now being incurred by local authorities throughout England and Wales?

In replying to an earlier supplementary question from the hon. Gentleman, my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary emphasised the difficulty of providing the figures for which he asked. I have been examining the figures of expenditure which the hon. Gentleman has supplied to my noble Friend but, frankly, I do not think that they provide a very reliable guide on which comparisons can be made.

When my right hon. Friend says that to implement this part of the Act would impose a burden on local authorities, will he bear in mind that his failure to bring in this part of the Act is imposing a burden on those local authorities which must take action to provide sites?

I appreciate that that is one of the factors which operate at the present time. However, I remind hon. Members of what I have said in the past, which is that when local authorities wish to apply for loan sanction in this way we treat applications very sympathetically indeed.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's answer, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what further steps his Department is taking to alleviate the problems of flooding.

In consultation with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, I shall shortly issue a new circular giving advice to local authorities about the various problems that they are likely to have to deal with when there are floods, the kind of help that they can give to the public and the kind of help Government Departments can give.

Is the Minister satisfied that when local planning authorities approve planning applications they bring into balance the question of the enormous amount of building with concrete and the fact that this increases the dangers of flooding? Will the right hon. Gentleman bring out this point in the memorandum which he is to send round?

I am obliged to the hon. Gentleman. The circular will include advice to local authorities on this point. I am considering whether additional advice is necessary in consultation with local authorities, drainage boards and river authorities.

While I am grateful to my hon. Friend for issuing this circular, which is most necessary, will he bear in mind that many local authorities are not very helpful in providing flood relief funds and assistance when damage is suffered and that, although local authorities have insured, insurance companies will not pay on claims made to them for flooding because local authorities will not accept liability?

I shall be glad to look into evidence which my hon. Friend can give in support of the last point he made. Certainly my experience is that local authorities in general are exceedingly sympathetic and helpful when there are flooding disasters, but if my hon. Friend has evidence to the contrary I shall gladly look into it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will undertake a survey of the amount of originally-scheduled Green Belt land which has been converted for housing or industrial purposes in the past five years.

No, Sir. The work involved would be very considerable, and difficult to justify.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that this information is absolutely essential if we are not finally to have a great jungle between here and Birmingham and Manchester? In view of the provisions of the Redcliffe-Maude Report, does he not think it important that this information should be readily forthcoming?

The Department has information about the number but not the acreage of planning permissions given by local planning authorities in approved green belts, and similar information about planning appeals in approved green belts, but it is the job of the planning authorities strictly to control development in green belts. I agree that they should have the information, but it is not so important that it should be held centrally.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when the report of the Countryside Commission concerning the policy for the coastline of England and Wales will be issued.

The Countryside Commission is actively working on this report, but its publication cannot be expected for some months.

Does not my hon. Friend agree that the conservation of the coastline on amenity, and indeed economic, grounds should have very high priority by the Minister? Will he try to get a sense of urgency into this study?

I assure my hon. Friend that the threat to the coastline is very fully appreciated by the Department and by the Countryside Commission. There were nine reports which went into considerable detail. I hope that as a result of the deliberations 800 or 900 miles of coastline will be fully preserved.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress is being made in dealing with derelict land; and if he will give figures.

Local authorities are steadily building up their programmes of grant-aided schemes, and with the higher grants that will be available in the intermediate areas a faster rate of clearance should be achieved. I will, with permission, circulate total figures for the last two years in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

I welcome my right hon. Friend's assurance that there is some progress at local authority level, but is he absolutely satisfied that all local authorities with serious problems of this kind are dealing with the matter as a high priority, because it should have very high priority in circumstances of economic development in certain key areas of the country?

I cannot say that I am entirely satisfied with the progress so far. That is why we are drawing up a new national programme and increasing the grant. The grant last year was nearly 80 per cent. up on the year before.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many proposals by categories for loan sanction for the provision of sports facilities he has approved in the last 12 months.

In the year ending 31st March, 1969, my right hon. Friend approved one multi-purpose sports complex, 12 swimming pools, two sports halls, five dual provision schemes for use by schools and the general public, and 153 minor schemes involving the lay-out of playing fields, provision of sports pavilions, changing accommodation, etc.

I thank my hon. Friend for that very satisfactory answer. Will he give special consideration to granting loan sanction to local authorities which wish to purchase ex-Army drill halls for conversion into indoor sports centres or similar things?

This is a consideration that we have very much in mind.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many planning appeals have been transferred to inspectors for decision under the provisions of Part III of the Town and Country Planning Act 1968.

Up to 16th June, 878 planning appeals had been transferred to inspectors for decision.

Does not every one of these transfers mean that a decision by democratically elected local councillors is subject to overthrow by a bureaucrat? Is not this a melancholy feature of an otherwise excellent Act? Can the Minister ensure that the only appeals so transferred are those where the original decision was delegated by councillors to their officers, which they are empowered by the Act to do, though I hope that they do not delegate any decisions?

During all the stages of the Town and Country Planning Bill we had lengthy discussions about this procedure. I thought that this system had been generally welcomed as providing both speed and an independent arbitrator in a case where a citizen was displeased. It is early to judge yet, but so far we have no reason to believe that this scheme is either undemocratic or in any way unfair. The Minister always has the right to recall any appeals if he believes that there is some outstanding issue which should be determined by a higher authority.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has made of future demands for new offices, and of surplus or deficiency in the supply already planned.

None, Sir. Any estimate on a national scale would largely depend on factors which are difficult to predict.

Is there not a great need for such an estimate in view of the excess supply of office blocks in so many towns—Birmingham, Liverpool, and even Plymouth; and The Guardian today has a note about Newcastle-upon-Tyne? In view of the waste of national resources, should not such an estimate be made and any surplus be devoted to the housing programme?

This is primarily a matter for local planning authorities. The Government's policy is to seek a wider distribution of office employment throughout the country. If my hon. Friend has a particular place in mind where he thinks there is an excess of office accommodation, perhaps he will let me know.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has made of future demands for new retail business premises, and of surplus or deficiency in the supply already planned.

No estimate has been made for planning purposes of future demands on a national basis, but local planning authorities have been given guidance on how to estimate retail floor space requirements to suit particular local circumstances. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

Is there not an even greater need in this instance for an estimate? In view of the greater concentration of shopping in supermarkets and mail order firms, taken with the greater mobility of the customer, is there not a danger that we may become a nation of keepers of empty shops?

Here again, I do not think that there is any point in trying to make a national estimate in planning terms. It would have to be broken down into local units. I do not think that it necessarily follows that the fact that there are shops unlet is the result of over-provision. It can be caused by a number of factors—economic circumstances, and the like.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that one of the main architectural features of town centres nowadays is empty shopping centres? If the new developments are not empty, they often cripple existing shopping centres. As local authorities do not seem to be applying the criteria issued by my right hon. Friend to local authorities in his valuable booklet on methods of estimating retail floor space requirements, will he issue a further circular emphasising that these are strict criteria to be observed in all cases?

The circular stressed that in our view over-estimating of shopping space is the danger most to be avoided. We shall have to see the effect that the circular has before considering whether further guidance is needed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek powers to stimulate tree planting in urban areas, especially where redevelopment is taking place.

Local councils have extensive powers and, I am glad to say, are using them increasingly for the purposes mentioned. Section 12 of the Civil Amenities Act requires them in appropriate cases to make the grant of planning permission conditional on the planting or preservation of tree cover.

That is good as far as it goes. Will not my hon. Friend regard this as being urgent in order to prevent the further spread of deserts of bricks and mortar? Is there not a need for legislation, and even for financial incentives for those authorities that co-operate?

There will be financial incentives under the Housing Bill when enacted in regard to improving environmental conditions in improvement areas. Elsewhere, the number of new tree preservation orders, which is increasing at a very rapid rate, leads us to believe that this aspect is being satisfactorily catered for. We are always anxious to do better.

In encouraging local authorities to plant more trees, will the Minister ensure that they take good advice on the species selected and, if necessary, go to the Forestry Commission, which is the expert in this field and gives good advice?

We are in continual touch with the Forestry Commission and other agencies on this matter. Authorities have found our publication "Trees in Towns" very useful. This year we hope to publish a further booklet in relation to tree planting in both town and country.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the average sum paid in rates by domestic ratepayers in England and Wales.

The average amount per dwelling paid in rates in 1968–69 by domestic ratepayers in England and Wales is estimated to have been £41 19s. This takes into account domestic rate relief, which amounted to an average of £2 19s. 2d.

As the comparable figure in 1964–65 was £32, are the Government really satisfied that they can go on milking the domestic ratepayer as they are doing? Would not the Minister think quickly, now that he has read the Royal Commission Report, about a refinancing of local government?

This is a matter that is very much in the Government's mind, particularly as a result of the Royal Commission's Report. But my right hon. Friend has said that the massive contribution which has been made by central Government Departments has meant that until last year many authorities actually reduced their rates instead of increasing them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what proposals he has to give statutory protection to the West Cheshire Green Belt, in the light of the anticipated housing need in Wirral forecast by the Merseyside Transportation and Land Use Study.

The study to which my hon. Friend refers has only just been completed and will have to be considered by all the Government Departments and local authorities concerned. I intend to await the result of this before considering further action.

In view of the enormous pressures now clearly forecast for an already congested peninsula, does not my right hon. Friend agree that it is urgent to define just what areas should be safeguarded as open places in the future? Does he agree that it is particularly urgent now to establish the future likelihood of a Dee crossing, which might make available parkland and recreational areas in large parts of North-East Wales for Merseyside?

I accept that it is an important study, but it was presented only yesterday to the steering committee. I can assure my hon. Friend that green belts are safeguarded by day-to-day planning control.

Is the Minister aware that green belts all over the country, and particularly the London Green Belt, are threatened not only by the building of houses but by runways and motorways? Will he look at the whole question of green belts all over the country?

The whole question of green belts is under continuous review, and I think that the hon. Gentleman's fears are exaggerated.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the estimated additional amount of levy under the Land Commission Act to be remitted on the basis that the concessions announced in the Budget are applied to acts or events prior to 5th April 1969; and how much levy already collected in respect of such acts or events would have to be repaid.

If all the concessions had been made fully retrospective, about £2m. and £1·5m. respectively.

Would not that have been a very small forgoing of revenue in order to prevent very real feelings of injustice on the part of people who pay purely because of the accident of a particular date, liabilities which people who came along a little later or a bit earlier were excused?

I do not think that £3½ million is by any means a trivial sum. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, the general principles have been debated widely and at length in the House.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will seek to amend the Clean Air Act 1956 to cover the emission of diesel fumes.

Emissions from vehicle exhausts are already dealt with under the Road Traffic Acts, under which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport has appropriate powers and duties, and I do not think that any amendment of the Clean Air Act in this respect is appropriate.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that diesel fumes, particularly from heavy vehicles, represent a growing hazard to life? Is he aware in particular that residents living near Bromley bus garage are being subjected to intolerable nuisance from the emission of these fumes and have been told that they have no redress in law against the negligence and indifference of London Transport in this matter? Can he do nothing to help?

I will look into that case, if the hon. Gentleman will let me have the information, and pass it to my right hon. Friend who would more appropriately deal with it. The Clean Air Council discussed this with the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport in February and made no recommendation about legislation following that discussion.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has had this problem before it for eight years and has not brought forward any constructive recommendation for its solution? Is he further aware that the very great increase in the number of motor vehicles on our roads and the emission from exhausts are negativing practically the whole benefit derived from the original Clean Air Act?

Characteristically, the hon. Gentleman has highlighted one of the difficulties in this matter, and that is the absence of absolutely conclusive evidence.

How many prosecutions have there been under the Act? Does not my right hon. Friend agree that much needs to be done in the enforcement of the Act? Will he confer with the Home Secretary with a view to doing this?

I think that is probably a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary but I will do my best to see that my hon. Friend gets the information he asks for.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the fact that imports of foreign marble into this country amount to approximately £2 million per annum, and the need to reduce imports, he will send a circular to local authorities urging that its use for building purposes should be discouraged.

No, Sir. I do not know of imported marble being used in local authority housing or other buildings to any significant extent. Local authorities are aware of the need to use indigenous materials where these are satisfactory in price and quality.

Does not the hon. Gentleman agree that, while the bill for foreign marble is not very large compared with the huge adverse balance of payments, there are a number of British products which can be substituted for things like marble and, therefore, should be used wherever possible?

I am sure that local authorities would always want to look at a British product if it were cheaper and of good quality.