asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government in view of the increasing pressure for gravel extraction in the Thames Valley, what steps he is taking to ensure that damage to the beauty of the area is minimised.

The richest deposits of sand and gravel in South East England occur in the Thames Valley but their exploitation is subject to planning control. The Department is arranging meetings between groups of planning authorities and the industry to consider the planning aspects in the light of the rising demand and the important amenity interests.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress is being made in compiling lists of historical buildings; what are the numbers involved in the various grades; and what areas have still to be surveyed.

All the 1,308 local authority areas in England have now been surveyed and the statutory lists for the nine areas outstanding will be formally issued in the next few months. Revision of the original lists began in 1966 and so far 90 areas (including several with the heaviest concentration of listed buildings) have been re-surveyed. The statutory list now includes 112,397 buildings of which 4,227 are in Grade I and 108,170 in Grade II.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to what extent the acquisition by the Land Commission of building land has reduced the price; and whether he will make a statement.

This cannot be quantified; but by helping to make more land available for development where the pressure is greatest the Land Commission should help to moderate increases in land prices.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has made of the acreage of land to be acquired by the Land Commission by 1975.

The Commission have authorised the acquisition of some 5,600 acres and the possible acquisition of a further 22,500 acres is under consideration. I cannot give a reliable estimate of the acreage which may be acquired by 1975 since this depends upon a number of factors, some of which are outside the Commission's control.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many civil servants at present employed by the Land Commission have applied for transfer.

The total number of applicants is not readily available as some staff apply for more than one post, but 272 transfers have been arranged since 1st January, 1968.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many acres of derelict land in England was acquired by the Land Commission in 1968.

None.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will recognise the Standing Committee for the Countryside in 1970 Conference as the official body responsible for the organisation of events in connection with European Conservation Year 1970.

Yes. The Standing Committee has already voluntarily undertaken considerable preparatory work, and I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to its efforts which have played a large part in initiating the idea of a Conservation Year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement about the proposal for a national agency to speed up the reclamation of derelict sites in view of the recommendation of the Hunt Committee.

I do not think it would be useful or appropriate to set up a national agency to take over the functions of local authorities in this respect but, as local authorities know, the technical assistance of the Opencast Executive of the National Coal Board has been available to them in appropriate cases since 1967 and I hope they will make increasing use of them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total value of rate rebate granted in Blaydon urban district, Ryton urban district and Whickham urban district, respectively, during the past year; how many claimants benefited; what was the rebate worth on average to each claimant; and what was the total value of rate relief to all ratepayers granted by Her Majesty's Government over the same period.

The figures are as follows:—

1968–69	Blaydon U.D.	Ryton U.D.	Whickham U.D.
Total amount of rebate	£4,784	£2,443	£4,163
Number of recipients:
1st half year	536	315	314
2nd half year	574	340	391
Average rebate for full year	£8 12s.	£7 9s.	£11 16s.

The 75 per cent. Government grant towards the cost of rebates amounted to:

Blaydon U.D.	£3,588
Ryton U.D.	£1,832
Whickham U.D.	£3,122

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce regulations to ensure that farmers using intensive methods of stock rearing obtain planning approval to ensure that adequate arrangements for the disposal of farm effluents are made.

Most buildings for intensive stock rearing require planning permission because of their size. Arrangements for the disposal of effluents can be a material consideration in deciding planning applications for such buildings. I am considering in consultation with my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether any further steps could usefully be taken.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to stabilise the increase in water rates.

Water charges are determined by the cost of supply in each area. Charges cannot be kept down if costs rise beyond the capacity of the water undertakers to absorb them. Where my right hon. Friend has a statutory function in a particular case, he must consider the case on its merits.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he plans to take action on the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Local Government.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made in the House on 11th June by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.—[Vol. 784, c. 1460–75.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to encourage economy in use of the country's water supplies.

Water undertakings already take steps to detect and prevent leakage and waste. The chief ways of securing greater economy are to provide more storage for winter surpluses, to reuse river water more times, which implies more control of discharges, and to make more use of recycling in industrial processes. All these are being actively pursued.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what financial assistance he now proposes to grant to the local authorities concerned to deal with the damage caused by the recent oil pollution of beaches in Essex.

As I said in the Answer I gave on 9th June to Questions by the hon. Member for Southend, West and my hon. Friend the Member for Billericay (Mr. Moonman), approval in principle has been given to the payment of 50 per cent. Exchequer grant on the cost incurred by the Southend Corporation on cleaning up recent oil pollution. Any other local authority would be eligible for grant at the same rate on expenditure reasonably incurred for the same purpose.—[Vol. 784, col. 197.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total number of planning applications received by all local authorities during the last convenient 12 months, and in 1964 and 1954, respectively.

The number of planning applications decided by local authorities in England and Wales was 461,715 in 1964 and 422,553 in 1967. National records of applications were not kept in 1954.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has approved the arrangements being made by the Central Electricity Generating Board for the disposal of pulverised fuel ash from Drax power station; and what reply he has sent to the representation by Thorne Rural District Council objecting to the dumping of ash in its area.

No. The Board originally made application for planning permission to dispose of the ash at Burn Airfield. My right hon. Friend postponed a decision on that application because he wished the Board to investigate the suitability of alternative sites mentioned at the public inquiry. He is awaiting the results of that investigation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will send a circular to rural and urban district councils advising them to give advance notice to parish councils before they make decisions to develop those parishes, and to inform the parish councils fully of the exact proposals.

My right hon. Friend intends to give general support for voluntary schemes of consultation with parish councils in a circular he will be sending to local authorities on the whole subject of publicity for planning applications.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement on the chairmanship of the Countryside Commission.

The reappointment of Lady Wootton of Abinger as Chairman of the Countryside Commission for a further term of one year from 19th June was announced recently. I understand, and regret, that she may decide for personal reasons to resign before the end of the full year, but I have not yet received her formal intimation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why, following the setting up of the South Norfolk Water Board by his order of 15th January, 1969, varying increases of up to 300 per cent. in the price of water to domestic and commercial users have been proposed; and whether he will refer such increases to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

Increases in particular charges vary considerably because burdens have been redistributed between areas and between classes of consumer. Over all, the majority of undertakings comprising the new board have been operating at a loss, expenses have risen, and local authorities in the area have stopped subsidising the water rate from the general rate. I shall be writing to the hon. Member shortly about the related matters he has raised in correspondence but I have no evidence which would justify a reference to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when the Thorpe Committee on allotments will report.

The Committee's report has just been received and when it has been printed will be published. It will then have to be studied by all concerned.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that no access agreements have yet been made over large areas of the country; and whether he will use his compulsory powers.

I am aware of the need for additional access in certain parts of the country and I hope that local planning authorities who are already negotiating agreements with landowners will be able to secure this. If such negotiations fail, my right hon. Friend will, as has already been said, be prepared to confirm compulsory orders where appropriate.

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

In 1968–69 rebates amounting to £9,715 were afforded in the borough of Eccles. The number of recipients was 596 in the first half year and 685 in the second. The average amount of rebate for the year was £15 3s. The 75 per cent. Government grant towards the the cost of rebates amounted to £7,286.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total value of rate rebates granted to the borough of Swinton and Pendlebury during the past year; how many claimants benefited; what was the rebate worth on average for each claimant; and what was the total value of rate relief granted by Her Majesty's Government for the same period.

In 1968–69 rebates amounting to £13,418 were afforded in the borough of Swinton and Pendlebury. The number of recipients was 847 in the first half year and 1,005 in the second. The average amount of rebate for the year was £14 10s. The 75 per cent. Government grant towards the cost of rebates amounted to £10,064.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make an order under the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act, 1960, adding the boards of new towns to the schedule of bodies to which this Act applies.

No. I do not think this would be appropriate in view of the confidential nature of many of the financial, commercial and property matters with which Development Corporations have to deal.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will seek to obtain from local authorities the estimated costs of their planning staffs for the last financial year.

Staff costs in 1968–69 for town and country planning are estimated at £16 million, based on returns from a sample of authorities. Fuller information will be available in the autumn.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps in order to encourage local housing authorities and other developers to co-operate with electricity boards in their efforts to install externally read meters in new houses.

The Department is already encouraging the use of externally read meters where practicable.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what representations he has received from private housebuilders about the availability of bank credit to finance construction; and what reply he has sent.

My right hon. Friend has had very few representations from individual builders; but their associations have stressed in the course of recent consultations that some of them are having difficulty in obtaining bank credit.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total value of the standard improvement grant, and the discretionary grant,

			Faversham Borough	Queenborough in-Sheppey Borough	Sittingbourne and Milton Urban District	Swale Rural District
			£	£	£	£
1960	…	…	5,175	12,299	8,223	16,413
1961	…	…	7,516	8,861	5,085	22,231
1962	…	…	9,621	6,436	6,597	20,126
1963	…	…	15,895	13,071	7,793	18,114
1964	…	…	8,737	12,442	11,371	12,263
1965	…	…	12,918	14,169	9,069	17,926
1966	…	…	15,169	10,351	7,536	15,509
1967	…	…	14,074	6,525	11,539	12,717
1968	…	…	12,200	4,607	10,126	11,811
			101,305	88,761	77,339	147,110

The figures for Queenborough-in-Sheppey Borough includes those for Queenborough Borough, Sheerness Urban District and Sheppey Rural District prior to 1st April, 1968.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total value of the standard improvement grant and discretionary grant paid over the past four years to the borough of Swinton and Pendlebury.

During the four years up to the end of 1968 the Council gave a total of £26,382 in grants to private

During the four years up to the end of 1968 the Blaydon, Ryton and Whickham urban district councils made grams to private owners amounting to totals of £33,200, £29,500 and £11,200 respectively for standard grants to £2,700, £9,900 and £11,000 respectively for discretionary grants.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT the annual sums of money spent on improvement grants in the borough of Faversham, the borough of Queenborough-in-Sheppey or its predecessors, the urban district of Sittingbourne and Milton and the rural district of Swale, respectively, for the financial years 1960–61 to 1968–69.

Details of the total amounts of discretionary and standard grants given to private owners are set out below:—owners. Of that total the Government's share of three-quarters amounted to some £19,800, payably on loan charges over a period of 20 years.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total value of the standard improvement grant and discretionary grant paid over the past four years to the borough of Eccles.

During the four years up to the end of 1968 the Council gave a total of £32,903 in grants to private owners. The Government contribution to the Council covers three-quarters of the annual loan charges over a period of twenty years relative to that amount. During the same period improvements to council houses were approved providing for an annual Government contribution for twenty years of £483.

asked the Minister of Mousing and Local Government to what extent it is still the Government's policy to give priority to the provision of housing.

The Government will continue to give priority to housing by encouraging a high level of new house-building and of public investment in housing with increasing emphasis on the improvement of older houses.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to what extent his Department assists local authorities in carrying out surveys on local authority housing to determine the most suitable design features, the needs of tenants and the extent to which houses, when built, meet these needs; and if he will give details in the OFFICIAL REPORT of the extent of the use being made by local authorities of such surveys.

The Ministry have a continuous programme of technical and social studies, the results of which are published in design bulletins and form the basis of advice to local authorities. Authorities have to certify that their housing schemes will be constructed in accordance with the relevant departmental circulars and bulletins when they apply for subsidy, but wider use of this work is probably made in the informal contacts between officers of the Department and local authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what recommendations he has made to local authorities concerning the need for building specialised accommodation for the disabled; and what subsidies are available for this purpose.

The Ministry drew the attention of local authorities to the housing requirements of the disabled in a circular issued in 1964. Authorities receive a higher subsidy if they have to incur extra costs in providing specially designed housing for them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many leases have been enfranchised in the Borough of Reading since the enactment of the Leasehold Enfranchisement Act; and what is the total value of the property so enfranchised.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that the rates of interest on loans to local authorities as specified in circular 47/69 make it impossible for them to keep rents and rates stable while proceeding with necessary building and development; and what financial relief he proposes to grant them.

Local authorities already receive very substantial help towards meeting interest charges through the rate support grants, the Housing Subsidies Act 1967, and various specific grants.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will exempt local housing authorities from the necessity of strengthening blocks of flats which are no higher than eight storeys and were industrially built in cases where no gas supply has been laid on.

No. Last November my right hon. Friend passed on to local authorities the best available advice on the structural standards applicable to system built blocks over six storeys which the Inquiry Tribunal had recommended for particular attention. As the owners of these blocks the authorities have a responsibility towards their tenants from which it would be difficult for my right hon. Friend to relieve them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what study he has made of the practice of the purchase of houses through private mortgage systems where no conveyance is made until all instalments are paid.

My right hon. Friend has had this practice examined. It is a simple method of transferring houses which on balance has certain advantages, particularly in a time when there is a shortage of funds to lend for house purchase. But it is important that the terms of a transaction should be clearly stated and adequately recorded.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total cost of preparing and publishing the full-page official Press advertisement which appeared in the Evening News on 17th June, 1969, giving photographs and addresses of 36 local rent officers in England, most of them being at places where that newspaper has a minimal circulation.

It is not possible to identify the cost of preparing this single advertisement since its production formed part of the preliminaries for a major advertising campaign in selected national Sunday and daily papers and other journals. However, the cost of placing the advertisement in the Evening News was £3,250.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what has been the average increase in the cost of building a three-bedroom council house since 1st January, 1965; what proportion of this increase is attributable to the increases in the cost of imported materials resulting from devaluation, and the incidence of selective employment tax; and what has been the effect on economic rents of the increase in interest rates for the years ended 31st December, 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968.

£646, from £2,354 in the last quarter of 1964 to £3,000 in the third quarter of 1968, of this increase about £40 is due to the effect of devaluation on the cost of imported materials and £90 to S.E.T. The remainder is accounted for by the adoption of higher standards and various increases in the cost of labour and materials. The effect of the Housing Subsidies Act, 1967, is to mitigate the consequences to housing authorities of rising interest rates in respect of new houses.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities have, over the last 18 months, had to increase their council house rents as a result of increases in loan charges; and how many of these councils have had to do so on more than one occasion.

Since 1st April, 1968. 664 authorities have increased their rents; 155 of them more than once. To analyse these cases for instances in which increased loan charges appeared to be the cause would be unreasonably expensive of effort and money.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state, for each county borough with a population of over 150,000, the number of units of housing accommodation completed by those housing authorities in 1967 and 1968, and their estimated completions for 1969 and 1970.

The information for 1967 and 1968 has been published in Local Housing Statistics, Nos. 5 and 9. I am not in a position to give forecasts for 1969 and 1970 in respect of individual authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what effect the increase in mortgage interest rate to 8½ per cent. has had on the amounts borrowed by building societies in March, April and May, 1969; and what effect it has had on the amounts loaned by building societies in the equivalent months.

There has been a sharp improvement in net inflows to the building societies since the rates were raised. This should help sustain the private housing market, but despite the higher rates, demand for mortgages continues to outstrip supply.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what has been the effect on the level of home building in the private sector following the decision to raise the mortgage interest rate to 8½ per cent.

Despite the higher rates, demand for mortgages continues to outstrip supply. There has been a sharp improvement in net inflows to the building societies since the rates were raised, and these should be reflected in better private housebuilding performance.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what consideration he has given to the evidence in the Notting Hill survey concerning the practice of creating furnished tenancies by landlords who install a bare minimum of furniture; and if he will now introduce legislation to assimilate the provisions of the Rent Acts regarding security of tenure and control of rents in respect of furnished and unfurnished tenancies.

Any tenant who considers that the furniture provided is insufficient for a furnished tenancy may apply to the County Court for a determination that he has an unfurnished protected tenancy.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.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many new homes were constructed for Liverpool Corporation in 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, and on the basis of programmes approved by his Department, how many he estimates will be provided in 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972.

Figures of housing completed by the Corporation in the years 1964 to 1968 are as follows:

1964	3,007
1965	2,733
1966	3,399
1967	2,790
1968	3,216

As to the period 1969 to 1972 there is, as I told my hon. Friend earlier today, no question of keeping the Corporation below what they can achieve; I gather that at present they contemplate approving tenders for about 17,000 dwellings during the period.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the volume of timber harvested by Forestry Commission labour, and the amount sold standing to merchants for the last forest year; and what are the forecasts for the current year.

In Wales during the year ended 31st March, 1969, 2·3 million hoppus feet were felled by Forestry Commission labour and 2·7 million hoppus feet were sold standing. It is estimated that the corresponding figures for the year ending 31st March, 1970, will be 2·6 million and 3·3 million hoppus feet respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) whether he will cause inquiries to be made into the hazards to public health which may exist at Nantgarw owing to air pollution caused by the operations of the National Coal Board at Nantgarw Colliery;(2) whether he will publish the reports of the Alkali Inspectorate on the degree of air pollution at Nantgarw caused by the operations of the National Coal Board at Nantgarw Colliery; and whether he will make a statement on the reports;(3) what powers are conferred on the Alkali Inspectorate under his regulations to compel the National Coal Board to abate the degree of air pollution caused by the operations of the Board at Nantgarw Colliery.

The powers conferred on the Alkali Inspectorate are designed to ensure that works registered under the Alkali etc., Works Regulation Act, 1906, use the best practical means for preventing the discharge of noxious and offensive gases to the atmosphere and render such gases, where discharged, inoffensive. Individual reports by district alkali inspectors are confidential to the chief alkali inspector and to Ministers. The chief alkali inspector makes a report annually to the Minister of Housing and Local Government, and to me, of the action taken by himself and his staff under the Act. This report is laid before both Houses of Parliament and is subsequently published. Arrangements are being made for the Alkali Inspectorate, together with my officials, to discuss the problem at Nantgarw with representaives of Caerphilly Urban District Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what publicity is being given to the Forestry Commission's Croeso 1969 jubilee celebrations in Wales so that organised parties may visit the Forests of Gwydyr, Dovey and Margam.

The Forestry Commission's jubilee celebrations and its contribution to Croeso 1969 have been publicised in the Press, and on radio and television. Full details have been sent to local education authorities, youth and other organisations, who have been specially invited to send organised parties to visit the forests. The response has been very encouraging.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money is being spent from public funds annually on the London Business School, the London and Cambridge Economic Service, and the National Institute for Economic and Social Research, respectively; and, in view of the fact that their forecasts vary and are inaccurate, if he will cease to subsidise them.

In the current financial year the provision from public funds for the London Business School, which is mainly concerned with postgraduate work in management education and receives substantial support also for this purpose from private industry, is £441,000. The corresponding figure for the National Institute is £116,000. The London and Cambridge Economic Service is not assisted from public funds. Forecasting is not the only activity of these last two bodies, but it is one that the Government considers to be specially valuable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are employed in the National Institute for Economic and Social Research; what is its total annual expenditure; and, in view of the fact that its forecasts have proved inaccurate if he will stop payment of grant to this body.

The National Institute is an independent non-profit making body whose funds are derived from other sources besides the Exchequer. Its affairs are confidential except to the extent that it chooses to disclose them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of exempting from selective employment tax all those who are registered as disabled persons at employment exchanges.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent South (Mr. Ashley) on 20th May, 1969—[Vol. 784, c. 45.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking with a view to improving the co-ordination and presentation of figures of invisible earnings.

Co-ordination of the estimates of invisible earnings, which are based on information collected from many different sources, is the responsibility of the Central Statistical Office. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that this function is properly carried out. He is still considering some aspects of the presentation of the figures as part of the general review of published balance of payments statistics.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the errors in the recorded figures of exports will be corrected in the United Kingdom Balance of Payments Book to published later this year.

I am considering the possibility of including estimates of the past under-recording of exports in the forthcoming Balance of Payments Pink Book.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the effect on the yield of the income tax and corporation tax which will result in the year 1970–71 from the adoption of the proposals for duty on gaming machines in the Finance Bill.

Probably negligible.

asked the Chancellor of of the Exchequer (1) what is his estimate of the total net cost in a full year of selective employment tax after application of the increases contained in the 1969 Budget, on the service industries, the building and construction industries, and the agricultural industries, respectively, in Scotland;(2) what is his latest estimate of the total amount paid in Scotland in a full year in regional employment premiums;(3) what is his latest estimate of the total amount of selective employment tax premium payments in a full year in Scotland, after implementing the increases announced in the 1969 Budget;(4) what is his latest estimate of the total amount of selective employment tax refunds, excluding premiums, in a full year in Scotland after implementing the increases announced in the 1969 Budget;(5) what is his latest estimate of the gross yield of selective employment tax in a full year in Scotland after implementing the increases announced in the 1969 Budget.

The latest estimates are set out below:

	Full year after 1969 Budget changes
	£ million
Scotland
Gross yield of S.E.T.	189
Refunds of S.E.T.	131
Cost to building and construction	23
Cost to other tax-bearing industries*	35
Additional element in S.E.T. premium payments†	10
Regional Employment Premium payments	40
* Apart from construction the main indusstries which bear the tax are the distributive trades, miscellaneous services, insurance and banking, and certain professional and scientific services. Agricultural employers are generally entitled to refund of the tax.
† Additional payments made to manufacturers over and above refund of the tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer of he will make a statement on the Letter of Intent to the International Monetary Fund.

I would refer the hon. Member to my statement in the House after Questions yesterday.—[Vol. 785, c. 1001–1010.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to enable councils for community relations to be registered as charities.

I have been asked to reply.Those community relations councils which have adopted the model constitution recommended by the Community Relations Commission are eligible for registration as charities, and a number of them have been so registered.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many representations he has received from building firms about shortage of bricks; if he is satisfied with the present supply position; and if he will make a further statement.

None in England and Wales. The Scottish National Federation of Building Trades Employers have told me that some of their Members in the central belt cannot obtain all the supplies they need from their normal suppliers. While I could wish that supply and demand in Scotland were in better balance, I believe that the present shortage will not be prolonged and that any deficit can be made good from Northern England.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many deer were killed in Richmond Park during the period 1st April to 21st June 1969; how this figure compares with those for a similar period in 1968 and with the average for that time of year over the past seven years; and how many of the deaths were caused by car accidents.

Two, both as a result of car accidents; this compares with one in 1968, and an average of between three and four over the last seven years.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what action he is proposing to take to prevent the slaughter of deer during the period 1st

Year		Office		Furniture and Furnishings	Works
				£	£
1964–65	…	Lord President of the Council	…	150	—
1966	…	Minister of State, Commonwealth Relations Office	…	660	—
1966	…	Minister of Health	…	2,000	—
1966	…	Minister of Housing and Local Government	…	—	80
1966 and 1967	…	Secretary of State for the Home Department	…	1,500	875
1967	…	Secretary of State for Economic Affairs	…	175	300
1967	…	Secretary of State for Education and Science	…	—	575
1967	…	Minister of Public Building and Works	…	—	430 (double windows)
1967	…	Minister of Social Security	…	120	50
1967	…	Chancellor of the Exchequer	…	800	300
1968	…	Secretary of State for Education and Science	…	210	—
1968	…	Chancellor of the Exchequer	…	—	400 (double windows)
1968	…	Secretary of State for Social Services	…	550	—
1969	…	Paymaster-General	…	490	390
1969	…	Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity	…	1,000	500

As I indicated in my answer to the hon. Member on 12th June, it has not yet been possible to establish the cause of the sudden increase in deer casualties in the first three months of this year. There was also a sharp increase in deaths from natural causes over this period. I am continuing to investigate this matter with the object of identifying measures to reduce the mortality rate.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT as detailed a statement as is readily available of the costs and work involved in altering and redecorating Ministerial offices for the longest convenient stated period since October, 1964.

Information about routine redecoration is not readily available as it will usually have been carried out as part of a scheme for a building as a whole.Following is a list of special schemes of alteration or redecoration carried out in Ministerial offices during the past five years.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works when the furnishings and furniture in the room of the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity were changed at a cost of £1,000; when the then existing furnishings and furniture had first been installed and at what cost; when the £140 carpet and underlay was fitted; when the previous carpet had been fitted and at what cost; over what period of time the £2,140 was spent on these improvements and over what period; and at what cost in total the previous refurnishings and redecorations took place.

The refurnishing and the other recent improvements to the room of the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity were carried out during the two weeks commencing 22nd May. The ventilation system in the waiting room was installed last summer. Information is not available about the previous furnishing of the room, but generally the furniture and furnishings had been in the room for at least ten years, and the furniture itself was made just before the last war.

asked the Minister of Power how much additional coal, gas or oil will be used to make up the planned energy requirements as a consequence of the delay in nuclear power station construction.

A broad estimate by the C.E.G.B., published in the N.B.P.I.'s Report Cmnd. 3575, was that the cost in 1968–69 of delays in the commissioning of power stations of all types was some £60 million. As mentioned in earlier replies, the C.E.G.B. inform me that changes in the pattern of fuel usage and the financial consequences of these delays cannot readily be broken down to individual stations or types of station.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what recent steps his Department has taken in order to prevent the pollution of beaches by oil; and if he will make a statement.

As part of its continuing participation in the work of the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation the Board of Trade recently sponsored important amendments to the oil pollution convention, aimed at reducing coastal pollution. As the House was informed on 16th June, we are also extending the arrangements for detecting and clearing spillages round our coasts before they can pollute beaches.—[Vol. 785, c. 37.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals Her Majesty's Government has for further action in relation to Southern Rhodesia.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the statement which my right hon. Friend will be making later today.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the names of the 19 Member States of the United Nations who voted in favour of a resolution on 10th June expressing concern at the failure of sanctions against Rhodesia.

The names of the Member States who voted in favour of the resolution in the Committee of 24 are as follows:Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mali, Poland, Sierra Leone, Syria, Tunisia, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Honduras, India.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a White Paper setting out the grounds of Her Majesty's Government's reservations on the United Nations General Assembly's decision to terminate the mandate over South-West Africa, which was carried by 113 votes to two.

No; these reservations were fully explained by my right hon. and noble Friend Lord Caradon in his statements to the Assembly before and after the adoption of the Resolution in question (General Assembly Resolution No. 2145, 27th October, 1966). Copies of those statements are available in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development why the Central Office of Information did not arrange during their visit to the United Kingdom for Dr. Ortiz Mendes and Dr. Cardona from Colombia either to meet Dr. G. R. Dickson, the author of the Report on the Agriculture of the Andean Chain, who had originally suggested that this invitation to visit the United Kingdom should be extended to these gentlemen, or the British Agricultural Export Council who were in part responsible for Dr. Dickson's journey to South America.

The programme for the visit was drawn up by my Department and the arrangements were made by the Central Office of Information.The Colombians' stay in the United Kingdom was much shorter than originally planned. Consequently there was not time to fit in all they wanted to do and the visits had to be confined to those people and places, mostly outside London, in which they had expressed the greatest interest, especially agricultural research institutions.

asked the Prime Minister if he will transfer responsibility for the crafts from the Board of Trade to the Department of Education and Science.

This matter was examined in 1966 at the time when a grant was introduced for the Crafts Council of Great Britain and grants were revived for the Crafts Centre of Great Britain and for the Scottish Craft Centre. It was felt then that responsibility should stay with the Board of Trade, and, while such matters are kept under continuous review, I see no case for a transfer at present.

asked the Prime Minister what recent exchanges he has had with the illegal régime in Rhodesia.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary to Questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Hampstead (Mr. Whitaker) and Eton and Slough (Miss Lestor) and the hon. Members for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) and Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison).

asked the Prime Minister what recent exchanges he has had with the illegal régime in Rhodesia.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich, West (Mr. Hamling) earlier today.

asked the Prime Minister when he will pay an official visit to South-East Asia.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Faversham (Mr. Boston) earlier today.

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on Great Britain's European Policy, on 2nd May in London represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech on Government training at Runcorn on 18th April.

I did so, on 6th June.

asked the Prime Minister whether the fall of about 500 in the number of non-industrial civil servants between 1st April, 1968, and 1st April, 1969, includes the replacement of 1,363 of Department's directly employed staff by contract cleaners during 1968–69.

The difference in the in-post figures between 1st April, 1968, and 1st April, 1969, reflected a complex series of increases and decreases in the staffing of Departments, including the reduction in the number of cleaners arising from a greater measure of contract cleaning, where economic considerations justified this. A policy of transfer from direct to contract cleaning in these circumstances has been in force for some 10 years and any consequential reductions in the size of the direct cleaning force have always been taken into account in the published manpower figures.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will ensure that a notice is displayed in every Government public office advising members of the public where suggestions and complaints should be made.

I understand that my hon. Friend has particularly in mind the local offices of Government Departments. I have sympathy with his objective and I should like to consider his suggestion further in consultation with my right hon. Friends who are directly responsible for the management of offices of their Departments. I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he proposes to introduce the further Assisted House Purchase Scheme referred to in paragraph 275 of the National Board for Prices and Incomes Report on the Pay of the Armed Forces.

A new scheme, designed to help Service personnel to buy a house shortly before their return to civilian life, has recently been approved and will come into effect on 1st July.From this date, personnel of all three Services who are on long service commissions or pensionable engagements will be eligible for an interest-free loan towards the purchase of a house during their last twelve months of service. Personnel made redundant will similarly be eligible for a loan. The loan may be up to a maximum of £1,250 for officers and £775 for ratings and other ranks. It will not exceed 90 per cent. of the capital benefits due at the earliest expected date of retirement or discharge.No repayment will be made during the recipient's service, but on his retirement or discharge a sum equivalent to the loan will be deducted from his terminal benefits.I am confident that the introduction of this scheme will help to ease the transition from Service to civilian life by giving long service personnel and those made redundant a better chance than they have at present to secure a firm base for their families by the time they leave the Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, in view of the economic potential of the mineral resources of this country, what steps the Government propose to assist mineral operators to obtain access to minerals.

It has been pointed out to the Government on a number of occasions that exploration and exploitation of minerals can be frustrated by difficulties in acquiring mineral rights. The Government are considering legislation to remedy this by a scheme under which, subject to normal planning procedures, mineral operators would be authorised to explore for minerals under licence and, where exploitation would otherwise be impracticable, to apply for a Minerals Acquisition Order to enable them to work the minerals. The legislation would also provide an opportunity of facilitating the work of the Institute of Geological Sciences. The views of the major interested parties are being sought. I am arranging for a copy of the proposals to be made available in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what amount of public funds devoted to education arises from grants to individuals; and how this figure divides between universal benefits and those given after some selective tests.

I estimate total expenditure on grants to persons in 1969–70 by my Department, the research councils and local education authorities in England and Wales at £235 million. Of this about £144 million comprises the cost of benefits provided after an assessment of incomes: the remainder relates to benefits available without regard to means.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will publish the alternative seasonally-adjusted unemployment figures for May.

Methods of seasonally adjusting the unemployment series are still under review and I have nothing to add to the Answer which I gave to the hon. Member on 2nd May.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many disputes there have been in the Merseyside docks during the past twelve months; and how many wage settlements and what average percentage increases in rates, earnings, and productivity have arisen from these settlements.

The Liverpool port employers inform me that there were 173 strikes in the docks at Liverpool and Birkenhead during the twelve months ending 20th June, 1969. There was no general wage settlement for dock workers in the port during that period. I would not expect to have details of the very large number of day-to-day settlements relating to particular cargoes.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the estimated percentage increase in rates, earnings and productivity arising from the recent settlement negotiated by Fred Olsen Lines and dockworkers employed by them; what representations she has received from other port employers in this regard; and what answers were given.

Details of these proposals have only recently been received and are under consideration. Representations have been made by other port employers about the possible repercussions of the proposals. These representations are also being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many people were refused unemployment benefit in 1968 because they had been dismissed for industrial misconduct.

In 1968, 180,468 claimants were disqualified for receiving unemployment benefit on the ground that they had lost their employment through misconduct. The period of disqualification may vary from one day to six weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what were the figures of male unemployed in each of the special development areas at April, 1964, April, 1966, November, 1967, and April, 1969.

MALES REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN THE SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS
		April, 1964	April, 1966	November, 1967	April, 1969
Scotland
Girvan	…	123	125	216	220
Lesmahagow	…	141	105	188	287
Leven and Methil	…	627	465	840	992
Sanquhar	…	114	87	126	351
Shotts	…	228	114	181	220
Wales
Abertillery	…	191	236	379	338
Ammanford	…	54	164	186	218
Bargoed	…	247	290	554	537
Blackwood	…	174	232	499	489
Brynmawr	…	79	101	206	189
Cymmer	…	87	127	190	121
Ebbw Vale	…	74	101	258	279
Ferndale	…	123	154	261	279
Garnant	…	68	121	108	114
Maesteg	…	155	236	341	298
Neath	…	297	1,168*	492	485
Newbridge	…	77	110	278	328
Pontardawe	…	105	82	109	101
Pontlottyn	…	65	96	198	217
Resolven	…	38	97	175	123
Tonypandy	…	393	520	801	870
Tredegar	…	131	150	335	270
Treorchy	…	222	346	466	423
Ystalyfera	…	111	188	260	244
Ystrad Mynach	…	109	134	237	310
Northern Region
Ashington	…	388	366	769	1,417
Aspatria	…	48	40	59	63
Bedlington	…	264	296	389	868
Birtley	…	162	98	180	291
Bishop Auckland	…	718	538	864	950
Blyth	…	335	360	804	900
Chester-le-Street	…	507	427	735	912
Cleator Moor	…	370	269	427	633
Cockermouth	…	73	50	117	141
Consett	…	330	424	614	670
Crook	…	512	438	687	633
Durham	…	712	583	1,071	1,334
Haltwhistle	…	48	37	51	48
Houghton-le-Spring	…	638	476	619	741
Lanchester	…	134	115	119	131
Maryport	…	283	208	345	346
Seaton Delaval	…	175	93	191	338
Shildon	…	154	113	208	262
Spennymoor	…	631	472	775	1,212
Stanley	…	606	492	722	1,163
Whitehaven	…	496	425	612	708
Workington	…	296	489*	531	559
Millom	…	51	38	114	256
* The numbers of persons who were temporarily stopped, included in the figures, were substantial in April, 1966 at Neath (698) and Workington (216).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many regional medical officers are engaged, full-time or part-time, and at what salaries, in visiting

The following is the information relating to those areas currently defined as special development areas:general practitioners to discuss their prescribing costs.

Fifty-two regional medical officers spend part of their time visiting general practitioners to discuss prescribing costs. Two are paid a salary of £4,950 a year and 50 are on a salary scale of £3,635 to £4,280.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many centres of population have organised emergency week-end services for dental treatment.

I regret that this information is not available. General dental practitioners are remunerated on an item-of-service basis, and the rates are not designed to cover the cost of keeping surgery and staff available outside normal hours against the possibility of an emergency, I could not justify the cost of special payments for these purposes. I share the view arrived at by the Estimates Committee a few years ago that it would not be appropriate to use public funds for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now proposes to activate Section 4 of the Justices of the Peace Act, 1968, whereby magistrates will receive compensation for loss of earnings due to serving on the local bench.

I regret that I cannot yet say when this provision will be brought into force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the owner of the satin-bronze Jaguar 326 EYV of 50 Frobisher Road, London, N.8, was first reported by the police for failing to have a road fund licence; when he was first prosecuted and with what results; on how many occasions he was subsequently reported, and prosecuted; and whether the police constable who was requested to make a report on Monday, 16th June, did so and with what result.

I understand that my hon. Friend has been informed by the prosecuting authority that the first alleged offence was reported as having occurred on 21st October, 1968, and resulted in a prosecution on 11th April, 1969, when the defendant was fined £10 and ordered to pay one guinea costs together with excise duty for the period March to October, 1968, inclusive.Since then, four further police reports have been submitted to the licensing authority, resulting in two successful prosecutions to date. The fourth report was made at Hornsey police station on 17th June, 1969, and was received by the Greater London Council on 19th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the arrangements for ensuring that all qualified people are included on the roll of jurors; and if he will make a statement.

Apart from one recent complaint which is still under investigation, I have no evidence that the present law is not being administered satisfactorily.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many female Commonwealth citizens have sought entry into the United Kingdom in the last five years claiming to be the second, third or fourth wife of an immigrant already resident in this country; and how many women claiming such polygamous marital status have been admitted to this country during that period.

Separate records are not kept for wives by polygamous marriage. The number admitted is small.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many male Commonwealth citizens have so far this year applied to come to the United Kingdom to join their wives or fiancées; what number have been given permission to enter; and if he will state the figures for 1968 and 1969 of female Commonwealth citizens who came to Great Britain to join husbands or fiancés or who were given permission to do so.

During the first five months of 1969, 217 men have been admitted for marriage. In 1968, 1,916 women were admitted for marriage, and in the first five months of this year 858. I regret that the other information asked for is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will call for reports from chief constables in Wales about the congestion of lay-bys in holiday areas by touring caravans using them as camping sites; and if he will make a statement.

My information does not suggest that this is a general problem; but if my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of the complaints that have led to his Question, I will gladly make inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his present plans for the future of the Hill Hall Site, at Theydon Mount, Essex.

Hill Hall is a building of considerable architectural importance and my right hon. Friend is anxious that it should be preserved and put to an appropriate use by the prison service. He is in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works about how this may be achieved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered the circular advertising the publication "Passport to Pleasure", a copy of which has been sent to him; whether he will institute proceedings for obscenity against those responsible for its publication; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has no authority to institute proceedings in a case of this kind, but he has sent a copy of the circular to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who is considering it.

asked the Postmaster-General how many tons of wastepaper were sold by the Post Office in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what steps are taken to ensure that no mail is disposed of with this wastepaper.

Local managers are responsible for disposing of wastepaper and no central record is kept of the quantity sold. Wastepaper is conveyed in special sacks and standing instructions provide for it to be examined carefully before disposal to ensure that no mail or article of value is included. Despite these precautions I regret that there are occasional failures.

asked the Postmaster-General how many complaints were received by the Post Office in the most recent annual period for which figures are available regarding letters and packages going astray in the post; and how many of these packages or letters were subsequently traced.