asked the Minister of Power what consultations he has had with the Gas Council, in the light of paragraphs 57 to 60 of the National Board for Prices and Incomes Report No. 102, to ensure that the bulk supply tariff for natural gas does not rise sharply in two or three years; and if he will—make a statement.

The Gas Council has assured me that the bulk supply tariff is already based on a longer-term estimate of costs and that there is no reason to expect an increase of the kind postulated by the N.B.P.I.

asked the Minister of Power what study has been made of the possibility of supplying natural gas to industry on an interruptible basis; and if he will make a statement.

The first three such sales have already been negotiated, and several others are close to completion. Interruptible supplies can help to meet the natural gas demand peaks associated with severe winter temperatures.

asked the Minister of Power what directions he has given to gas boards about the supply of gas to high blocks of flats built by industrial methods.

None.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will list the operations now carried on by the National Coal Board outside its principal business of coal and open-cast coal working.

This information is published in the Board's Annual Report and Accounts.

asked the Minister of Power to what extent there has been a change in the rate of increase in deliveries of petrol this year.

Provisional figures for the first five months of 1969 show that deliveries rose by 3 per cent. compared with the corresponding period in 1968. In the year 1968 there was a 6 per cent. increase, and the annual increase in the previous five years averaged 7 per cent.

asked the Minister of Power if he will now make a statement about the siting of a further nuclear power station in the South-West.

I have nothing to add to my replies to my hon. Friend on 11th February and 16th April.—[Vol. 777, c. 1097; Vol. 781, c. 271.]

asked the Minister of Power whether, with a view to improving the quality of the water in the River Thames and local atmospheric pollution which would result from the abandonment of the washing of the gases at Battersea Power Station, he will now amend the requirement now imposed on the Station on the subject of the washing of these gases.

The operation of power stations is a day-to-day responsibility of the C.E.G.B. It is currently discussing with interested parties whether the suspension of gas washing on part of the Battersea plant for an experimental period would be desirable.

asked the Minister of Power by what authority he has authorised the nationalised industries to raise a capital loan in Europe; how much is involved; and if he will make a statement.

I authorised the Gas Council to borrow in Germany under my powers in Section 4 of the Gas and Electricity Act, 1968. I consented to borrowing by the United Steel Companies under my powers in Section 19(3) of the Iron and Steel Act, 1967. Details of these loans were given in my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. J. H. Osborn) on 10th June. —[Vol. 784, c. 224.] I have since consented, also under my powers in Section 19(3), to a borrowing by B.I.S.C. (Ore) Ltd. in Portuguese escudos amounting to about £30,000.

asked the Minister of Power if, in view of the official proposal for an iron ore terminal in the area, he will make a statement on development proposals and capital investment by the British Steel Corporation in Hartlepool and Teesside.

As regards the ore terminal, I cannot add to my reply to my right hon. Friend the Member for Middlesbrough, East (Mr. Bottomley) on 11th July.—[Vol. 786, c. 337.] The corporation is still considering the extent and nature of further development in the area.

asked the Minister of Power if he will now give equality of treatment between the gas and electricity industries in the matter of the return expected of capital invested.

Both industries are expected to observe the test discount rate of 8 per cent. for new capital invested. The new financial objectives have not yet been settled.

asked the Minister of Power whether any commercially exploitable quantities of natural gas or oil have been discovered through research explorations off the coast of Wales; and if he will make a statement.

None as yet, but exploration is proceeding. The Institute of Geological Sciences continues its borehole at Mochras, and a geophysical survey in the Southern Irish Sea is in progress. Gulf Oil Company, with the National Coal Board, is shortly to start drilling in the Northern Irish Sea.

asked the Minister of Power whether the administrative headquarters of the Tube Division of the British Steel Corporation will be set up in Corby, Northamptonshire.

As I stated in answer to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Bothwell (Mr. James Hamilton) on 17th June, the corporation has not yet reached a final view about its reorganisation, which would in any case require my statutory consent.—[Vol. 785, c. 67.]

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a general direction to the British Steel Corporation to ensure that all deliveries of tin-plate to United Kingdom firms should be up to schedule.

No; delivery dates are for the British Steel Corporation, and I have asked the chairman to look into the case about which the hon. Member has written to the Department.

asked the Minister of Power what discussions he has held with the respective chairmen of the nationalised energy industries into capital charges and their relation to differential pricing policies; and if he will make a statement.

The relationship between costs, including capital charges, and prices is the subject of regular discussions between my Department and the industries.

asked the Minister of Power if he will set up an inquiry into ways of bringing about equitable treatment of gas and electricity boards who do not pay selective employment tax in respect of show rooms and those companies in the private sector, with whom in this regard they are in direct competition and who pay the tax.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Doig) by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 17th July.—[Vol. 787, c. 183.]

asked the Minister of Power how many persons are employed in the retail outlets of each of the nationalised industries for which he is responsible; how many service and retail establishments serve each industry; how many of these persons are subject to selective employment tax without rebate; how many are entitled to rebate granted to manufacturers; and what is the sum involved per month and each year at old rates of selective employment tax and at new rates.

I do not have such detailed information.

asked the Minister of Power, what plans he has in 1969 to authorise the construction of additional electricity generating capacity.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply earlier this afternoon to a similar Question from the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. J. H. Osborn).

asked the Minister of Power what consultations he has had with the industrial and domestic coal consumers' councils on the price increase proposals of the National Coal Board.

The councils have considered the proposals, and I shall take their views into account before I give my decision.

asked the Minister of Power what is the estimated tonnage and proportion of total output in 1968 made available by the National Coal Board to persons without charge.

These figures are not available.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will now make a statement about the price increase proposals of the National Coal Board.

They are still under consideration by the N.B.P.I.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give the figures of recruitment and voluntary wastage for the coal mining industry in the first six months of 1969 compared with the corresponding period of 1967 and 1968.

Recruitment in the first six months of 1969 was 12,060. The corresponding figures for 1968 and 1967 were 5,700 and 14,900, voluntary wastage in these three periods was 12,080, 14,600 and 13,400.

asked the Minister of Power what consultations he has had regarding the issue of production licences under the Continental Shelf Act, 1964. in respect of areas for which licences were granted in 1964 and 1965.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to similar Questions earlier this afternoon from the hon. Members for Sudbury and Woodbridge (Mr. Stainton) and Barkston Ash (Mr. Alison).

asked the Minister of Power how many farm houses and farm cottages in the five rural counties of Mid-Wales, namely, Montgomery, Brecon, Radnor, Merioneth and Cardigan, still do not have mains electricity service; and what steps he intends to take to remedy the situation.

No figures for farm cottages are available, but information collected for March 1967 showed that about 1,200 farms were not connected to the mains supply. The boards tell me that all of them have been or are being offered terms for connection.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has made of the cost of implementing his recommendation to the Greater London Council that capital expenditure for housing should be charged to loan rather than met from revenue.

If the Council follows my right hon. Friend's recommendation it could during the current financial year reduce the expenditure on the Housing Revenue Account by about £2 million. The subsequent cost would depend on the period for which the expenditure was met from loan and the rate of interest throughout that period.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities in England and Wales are now imposing rating in respect of unoccupied premises; what is the total value to date of the rating of such property; and if he will make a statement.

Rent Assessment Panel Area				Rent Officers' rent compared with Rent Assessment Committees' rent			Total number of determinations by RAC's
				Reduced	Unchanged	Increased
Northern	…	…	…	4	11	13	28
Manchester	…	…	…	4	20	7	31
Yorkshire	…	…	…	101	143	99	343
Liverpool	…	…	…	5	8	3	16
W. Midland	…	…	…	15	14	4	33
F. Midland	…	…	…	—	37	22	59
Bristol	…	…	…	3	6	4	13
Thames Valley	…	…	…	2	3	5	10
Luton	…	…	…	10	2	4	16
Eastern	…	…	…	4	7	8	19
Devon and Cornwall	…	…	…	2	8	4	14
Southern	…	…	…	2	—	8	10
Surrey and Sussex	…	…	…	2	9	8	19
Kent	…	…	…	—	2	5	7
London	…	…	…	115	216	314	645
Total	…	…	…	269	486	508	1,263

Ninety-seven rating authorities in England and Wales are now rating empty property. No information about the extra rates collected or the extra costs of collection has been sought from local authorities because the main purpose of this provision is to discourage owners from leaving property empty rather than to increase revenue.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to assist the Macclesfield Borough Council with the repairs to the 12M Jespersen flats.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now reply to the request for assistance by the Stockport County Borough, in respect of adjustments to the 12M Jesperson flats in the town.

I shall be sending a reply to both councils in the next few days.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many decisions of the rent assessment committees have confirmed, increased or reduced the rent registered by the rent officer in each rent assessment committee area during the six months ended 31st May, 1969.

The figures requested are set out in the following table:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will give an assurance that his powers to reject council house rent proposals will be allowed automatically to lapse at the end of this year and that he will not seek any further powers enabling him to interfere in this aspect of local authority affairs.

I have at present nothing to add to what was said on this subject by my right hon. Friend the First Secretary of State in the debate on 16th April.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what danger to tower blocks, built on principles different to those of Ronan Point, have to be considered if the flats are serviced by gas.

The danger to be considered is susceptibility to progressive collapse, whether or not a gas supply is provided or whether the principle on which the blocks are constructed resembles or differs from that of Ronan Point.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the fact that his offer of 40 per cent. towards the costs of strengthening the tower blocks has been rejected by the Association of Municipal Corporations and the London Boroughs Association, he will hold further discussions with these associations with a view to reaching an agreed settlement of these costs.

My right hon. Friend hopes to arrange another meeting with the associations when they have all replied to the letter sent to them on 6th June.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT for each of the past 10 years the monthly mortgage repayments required for a 90 per cent. mortgage taken out for a new average-priced house in each year, allow- ing for the changes in mortgage interest rates during this period.

The monthly payments, at the time the mortgage was taken out, on a 25-year mortgage for 90 per cent. of the purchase price of a new house whose price was equal to the average for new houses mortgaged to building societies, at the rates of interest recommended by the Building Societies Association, are as follows:

Year	Monthly Payment (Rounded to nearest shilling)
	£	s.	d.
1959	13	14	0
1960	15	1	0
1961	17	6	0
1962	18	8	0
1963	18	14	0
1964	20	3	0
1965	23	14	0
1966	26	5	0
1967	27	17	0
1968	30	12	0
1969	34	6	0

NOTES:(

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many proposed rent schemes that have been submitted to him during the past year by local authorities have been rejected by him; and how many of these schemes that were rejected contained proposals that would have involved average rent increases of less than 7s. 6d. per week.

My right hon. Friend has refused agreement to 195 proposals for rent increases due to take effect on or after 10th July, 1968. 172 of these proposals involved average increases of less than 7s. 6d. a week.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what assessment he has made of the current under-occupation of local authority accommodation.

No recent detailed assessment has been made by the Department. However, the 1966 sample census showed relatively intensive occupation of council housing with only 22 per cent. of households in these dwellings having more than two rooms per person compared with 40 per cent. of households in privately owned housing.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state for the urban district of Blaydon and urban district of Whickham separately, and for the year 1955 to the most convenient year, the numbers of houses in the areas demolished as unfit and of the units built for rehousing.

Between 1955 and 1968 Blaydon U.D.C. and Whickham U.D.C. demolished unfit houses as follows:

BLAYDON U.D.C.
1955	50	1962	68
1956	24	1963	38
1957	93	1964	90
1958	68	1965	24
1959	181	1966	50
1960	59	1967	96
1961	54	1968	55
WHICKHAM U.D.C.
1955	2	1962	43
1956	39	1963	5
1957	57	1964	10
1958	142	1965	28
1959	32	1966	140
1960	58	1967	44
1961	13	1968	18

Between 1955 and 1968 these local authorities built new houses as follows: —

BLAYDON U.D.C.
1955	158	1962	76
1956	108	1963	61
1957	137	1964	101
1958	75	1965	79
1959	140	1966	96
1960	115	1967	204
1961	88	1968	219
WHICKHAM U.D.C.
1955	87	1962	71
1956	105	1963	0
1957	9	1964	171
1958	129	1965	42
1959	119	1966	73
1960	5	1967	114
1961	0	1968	68

It is not possible to say how many of these new units were used to rehouse families displaced by slum clearance.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state the amounts of housing subsidies for completed replacement houses paid to the urban district council of Blaydon and urban district of Whickham for the years 1955 to the most convenient year.

As the answer contains a number of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.The information is as follows:Separate figures are not available for houses built for replacement. The subsidy payments made to these councils in respect of housing provided by them under the Housing Acts have been as follows:

	Blaydon U.D.C.	Whickham U.D.C.
	£	£
1955–56	35,312	27,400
1956–57	38,571	26,603
1957–58	37,490	27,399
1958–59	39,952	28,418
1959–60	43,927	35,435
1960–61	52,795	35,479
1961–62	54,660	33,729
1962–63	50,458	34,774
1963–64	55,559	35,039
1964–65	54,137	34,855
1965–66	55,103	44,892
1966–67	60,094	42,628
1967–68	63,027	48,056
1968–69	68,734	53,757

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what response he has made to representations from the county borough of Stockport for assistance towards the repairs, strengthening and completion of the 12M Jespersen deck access-type flats at Lancashire Hill, Stockport.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave today in reply to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport, South and the hon. Member for Macclesfield.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in view of the undertaking given to the hon. Member for Shrewsbury on 9th March, 1965, that work on the water supply to Vennington, Shropshire, would be begun without avoidable delay and his statement on 7th December, 1965, that work would commence in 1966, what delays subsequently occurred; when the work was commenced; and when it will be completed.

My right hon. Friend did not give such an undertaking or make such a statement. As my hon. Friend, the Joint Parliamentary Secretary, indicated in reply to a Question on 19th July, 1966, the start and subsequent progress of work on the Vennington scheme had by then become matters for the West Shropshire Water Board, to whom I would refer the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will ask all local authorities to prepare and submit a three-year forward rolling programme for the clearance of derelict land.

There is already in progress a three-year rolling programme. The regional officers of the Department are now consulting local authorities about the possibility of enlarging the programme.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when discussions will commence with the local authorities in Cornwall on the recommendations contained in the report of the Royal Commission on Local Government in England, Command Paper No. 4040; and if he will undertake to publish the views of all local authorities in Cornwall as they are made known to him.

My right hon. Friend has extended a general invitation to all local authorities to send him by the end of October their comments on the new structure of local government proposed in the Redcliffe-Maud Report. They are naturally free to publish their comments at the time they send them. My right hon. Friend will consider in due course whether it would be useful to publish centrally a resume of comments.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is satisfied that enough time and opportunity will be given local authorities in Essex and elsewhere to consider the Redcliffe-Maud Report and to submit their views; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has asked local authorities to send him by the end of October their comments on the general structure of local government proposed in the Redcliffe-Maud Report. There will be further consultations after that on boundaries and other more detailed questions.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has now issued invitations for comments from local authorities on the Redcliffe-Maud Report.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will list the draft orders for local government changes that are at present awaiting his decision.

Only one order submitted to my right hon. Friend for confirmation is awaiting decision. This is the Berkshire (Parishes of Charvil, Sonning, and Woodley and Sandford) Order.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he proposes to visit the Chelmsley Wood Development this year.

My right hon. Friend or I hope to do so.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what research he is undertaking into the effect of the increased use of nitrate fertilisers in water supply catchment areas.

A special study of the effects on the mineralisation of water resulting from the use of fertilisers on land was carried out by the Department's Chemical Inspectorate last year. The study was concerned with the effects of fertilisers on the nitrate, sulphate, chloride, potassium contents of water and on the hardness of water. It was concluded that there was no immediate cause for concern and this conclusion was confirmed by the standing committee on water quality of the Water Resources Board and the Association of River Authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, when he expects to publish the Report of the Committee on Public Participation in Planning.

On 29th July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Notice No. 78, Goods Chargeable with Purchase Tax, was last published in November 1966 and the only way for traders to ascertain the present position with regard to purchase tax is to obtain a number of loose-leaf pages issued as supplements to these Regulations since that date; and by what date he expects a new consolidated set of purchase tax regulations will be available.

A revised notice is in preparation and is expected to be ready by the end of September.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the Scottish Economic Planning Council's current examination of the failure of persons to set up new businesses in Scotland, he will allow the Scottish banks to revert to their former practice of lending on the security of their own and the guarantor's opinion of the borrower, pending the Council's report.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the 744 district tax offices are in premises of which the Crown owns the freehold; what is the value of the freeholds; and what is the total annual rent being paid in respect of those which are leasehold.

I am advised that this information is not readily available and that it would involve an unjustifiable amount of staff time to provide it especially as many tax offices are housed in premises which are occupied also by other Government Departments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will undertake to pay interest on post-war credits equivalent to that being offered in the forthcoming Save-As-You-Earn Scheme.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the total sums of equity capital invested by the State since 1964 in Wales and England, respectively.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer to his Question dated 26th July, 1968.—[Vol. 769, c. 287.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received concerning the preparation of income tax forms in the Welsh language or bilingually; and what replies he has made.

My right, hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has been in touch with me on this matter. A Welsh-language version of the standard income tax return form for the current year is available on request from tax offices in Wales.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the main qualifications required of members of the National Savings Committee, England and Wales.

There are no specific qualifications far membership of the National Savings Committee. Some members are elected to represent regions and large cities, and, in the judgment of those voluntary workers who participate in the election, must be persons capable of constructive leadership within the Savings Movement. Other members are nominated by various organisations and Government Departments whose work is closely linked with that of the National Savings Committee.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer who are the present members of the National Savings Committee, England and Wales, other than the Chairman.

The present members of the National Savings Committee are:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many speaking engagements on behalf of National Savings have been fulfilled in the most recent convenient period of three months by members of the National Savings Committee, England and Wales, other than the Chairman.

Members of the National Savings Committee are frequently engaged in speaking all over the country on behalf of National Savings; elected members undertake many of these engagements in the areas they represent.No detailed record is kept of the number of speaking engagements carried out by individual members.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give detailed reasons why, when the cost of living between October 1964 and May 1969 rose by 21·9 per cent., food by 21·9 per cent., alcoholic drink by 23·2 per cent., tobacco by 23·6 per cent. and miscellaneous goods by 25·1 per cent., services rose by 30·8 per cent.

The prices of services have tended to rise more than other retail prices because costs of services are affected to a greater extent than goods by increases in labour costs, and there is in general less scope for offsetting such increases by improvements in productivity.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, when decimal currency is introduced, he will take steps to provide that all Government Departments abandon the £ sign and use instead the symbol p following the numeral and the symbol tp for £ thousand and mp for £ million.

The small letter p placed after a number is the abbreviation for new penny or new pence chosen by the Decimal Currency Board after extensive consultation. The pound, the pound sign and the standard practice of placing the sign before the number are unaffected by decimalisation of the currency.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the total for the number of individual taxpayers who were covered by the Pay As You Earn system in 1968–69.

The number of taxpayers paying tax under P.A.Y.E. at the end of 1968–69, counting married women separately, was about 21,600,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money it is estimated was spent by Customs and Excise officials on making test bets in betting offices in the past 12 months; and how much was officially returned by such officials as winnings.

£96,275 and £78,268 respectively in the year ended 31st March, 1969.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the practice of the Customs and Excise authorities of tracing clients of bookmakers by inspecting bookmakers' records and then interviewing those clients and asking them to give details of the bets they have legally transacted, is followed with his authority.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will state the number, class and grade of members of the Civil Service responsible for the administration of the Royal Palaces.

In the Department, 83 non-industrial staff are concerned more or less full time. Thirty-three others are also involved. These are spread through 37 grades. Following is the information:

NUMBERS AND GRADES OF STAFF IN MINISTRY OF PUBLIC BUILDING AND WORKS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE ROYAL PLACES
Class	Grade	Number of Staff
Administrative	Assistant Secretary	1
Executive	Chief Executive Officer	2
	Higher Executive Officer	2
	Executive Officer	3
Clerical	Clerical Officer	19
	Clerical Assistant	10
Typing	Typist	3
Works Professional.	Superintending M & E	1
	Senior Architect	1
	Senior Building Surveyor	1
	Senior M & E	1
	Architect	1
	Building Surveyor	2
	M & E Engineer	1
	Assistant Building Surveyor	1
Assistant M&E Engineer		1
Works Technical.	Technical A (B & CE)	4
	Technical B (B & CE)	2
	Technical B (M & E)	4
	Technical I (B & CE)	2
	Technical I (M & E)	2
	Technical II (B & CE)	13
	Technical II (M & E)	8
	Technical III (B & CE)	2
	Technical III (M & E)	4
Works Drawing Office.	Leading Architectural Assistant	4
	Leading Draughtsman (M &E)	2
	Architectural Assistant	2
	Draughtsman (M & E)	1
Supplies Technical.	Technical B (Supplies)	1
	Technical II (Supplies)	1
	Technical III (Supplies)	2
Park-keeping	Assistant Superintendent of Parks	1
Conservation	Conservation Officer	1
	Assistant Conservation Officer	4
	Tapestry Worker	5
Miscellaneous	Yeoman of Signals	1
	Total	116

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what estimate he has made of the supply of bricks to the construction industry in Angus for the remainder of 1969; if he is satisfied that the supply will be adequate for all building needs; and if he will make a statement.

I have no reason to expect that the construction industry in Angus will not have access to an adequate supply of bricks for the remainder of 1969.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what were the total sums spent by his Department in 1968–69 in Wales and England, respectively.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my predecessor gave him on 23rd February, 1968.—[Vol. 759, c. 212.]

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what expenditure was incurred on Royal palaces and parks in Wales and England, respectively, in 1968–69.

There are no Royal Palaces or Royal Parks in Wales. £1,020,000 on Royal Palaces and £1,580,000 on Royal Parks in England.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what costing and accounting support is provided to the Contracts Directorate in his Department; and whether this is organised as an integral part of the Contracts Directorate or as a separate supporting activity.

A costing and accounting section consisting of a Principal Accountant and eight professional staff forms an integral part of Contracts Directorate. Advice is given by these staff both on stores and on building and civil engineering contracts.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works, of the products procured by his Department regularly for three years or more, what proportion has, within the last three years, been specifically reviewed to evaluate product design against present need and potential cost reduction.

Over the past three years the design and specification of 60 per cent to 70 per cent. of the products regularly procured have been reviewed. Product design and specification have been updated to take account of current needs on a value-for-money basis. An increasing number of staff are being trained in value engineering techniques.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what Committee exists within his Department to coordinate procurement policies; what is its composition and terms of reference: and how often it meets.

There is no formal Committee within my department. Two interdepartmental Committees, the Procurement Policy Committee and the Purchase and Sale of Goods Committee coordinate procurement policies throughout the Government service. These policies are promulgated in departmental codes of instructions, supplemented by close contact at all levels between the officers concerned.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether manuals of procurement instructions and regulations are provided for procurement officers in his Department; and what arrangements are made to ensure compliance.

Codes of instructions, the Contracts Code, the Supplies Division Code and a Purchasing Handbook, are provided by my Department for the use of procurement officers in both Contracts and Supplies Divisions. These are supplemented by circular instructions as necessary. Compliance is ensured by the normal processes of supervision, and audit arrangements.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what proportion of procurement staff in his Department are late entrants into the Civil Service with more than one year's previous commercial experience of procurement.

No proportion.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works, what are the salaries of the most senior officer with full-time responsibility for procurement, and of those reporting directly to him.

The salary scale of the most senior officer engaged full time on the procurement of stores is being negotiated with the National Staff Side but is expected to be £4,745–£5,325 per annum with effect from 1st July, 1969. The four officers reporting directly to him are on the salary scale £3,128– £3,695 per annum with effect from 1st July, 1969. Both these pay scales include the Inner London Allowance.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what staff, by number and grades, is allocated full-time to standardisation and variety reduction within his Department.

No staff are allocated full-time to this work. However, each range of items is periodically reviewed with the aim of standardisation as between different users and variety reduction. As an example, a review of domestic equipment which includes those items supplied to Ministry of Defence for use in their married quarters is approaching completion and it is expected that the list of items regularly purchased will be reduced by 40 per cent.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is the average length of service in the procurement function of staff currently allotted to it.

About five years.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works, to what extent the same organisation and staff of his Department is required to handle negotiated procurement and competitive tendering; and what proportion of staff is allocated to each.

Within certain limits, my Supplies Division handle both negotiated procurement and competitive tendering in accordance with procedures laid down by my Contracts Directorate. Above these limits, approval must be obtained from my Contracts Directorate. The limits are higher for competitive tendering, which accounts for 90 per cent. by value of the purchases, than for negotiated procurement.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is the establishment, by numbers of staff in each grade, of each directorate or section concerned with procurement; and what has been its average strength in each of the past three years.

In my Supplies Division, where nearly 90 par cent. by value of all procurement contracts are let, the average number of staff in each grade was as follows:

Grade	1966	1967	1968
Principal Executive Officer	½	1	1
Senior Chief Executive Officer	1	¼	—
Chief Executive Officer	2	3	3½
Senior Executive Officer	8	8	8
Higher Executive Officer	31	29	30
Executive Officer	87	83	86
Providing clerical assistance
Clerical Officer	195	197	208
Clerical Assistant	87	90	87

Within my Directorate of Contracts the average number of staff in each grade associated with procurement was as follows:—

Grade	1966	1967	1968
Senior Chief Executive Officer	½	½	½
Senior Executive Officer	1½	1½	1½
Higher Executive Officer	3	3	3½
Executive Officer	3	1½	—

In both Divisions the staff in post has been substantially the same as the authorised complement.The residual 10 per cent. of procurement takes place in numerous sections of my Department's regional organisation at home and overseas.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works to which professional institutes and institutions procurement staff belong; and how many of the staff belong to each of these professional bodies.

One officer is a Fellow of the Institute of Purchasing and Supply. One officer is an Associate of the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants. In addition the Principal Accountant and his staff, who form an integral part of my Contracts Directorate, are professionally qualified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many local authorities in England and Wales paid grants to community relations organisations for the financial year 1969–70 to the nearest convenient date; how many instances have been drawn to his attention of local authorities declining to make grants; and if he will seek powers to compel them to do so.

I understand that forty-seven local authorities are at present giving financial or other material support to community relations councils; and that two authorities have so far been unwilling to provide any assistance. These councils have an important contribution to make in the field of community relations, and it is clear that local authorities generally recognise this. But my right hon. Friend does not think that compulsory powers would be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for co-ordinating search and rescue organisations at present divided between the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force, the Royal National Lifeboat Institute, Her Majesty's Coast Guard, the

					1964
					Offences known to the Police	Offences cleared up	Column (2) as a percentage of Column (7)
					(1)	(2)	(3)
Indictable offences of violence against the person
Manchester	…	…	…	…	427	409	95·8
Salford	…	…	…	…	81	80	98·8
Manchester and Salford	…	…	…	…	508	489	96·3
Lancashire	…	…	…	…	831	791	95·2
Indictable offences of breaking and entering, robbery, larceny, receiving, and frauds and false pretences
Manchester	…	…	…	…	27,330	13,024	47·7
Salford	…	…	…	…	3,615	1,787	49·4
Manchester and Salford	…	…	…	…	30,945	14,811	47·9
Lancashire	…	…	…	…	36,034	14,481	40·2

					1965
					Offences known to the Police	Offences cleared up	Column (2) as a percentage of Column (1)
					(1)	(2)	(3)
Indictable offences of violence against the person
Manchester	…				441	413	93·7
Salford	…	…	…	…	92	89	96·7
Manchester and Salford	…	…	…	…	533	502	94·2
Lancashire	…	…	…	…	824	785	95·3
Indictable offences of breaking and entering, robbery, larceny, receiving, and frauds and false pretences
Manchester	…	…	…	…	28,535	13,853	48·5
Salford	…	…	…	…	4,135	1,842	44·5
Manchester and Salford	…	…	…	…	32,670	15,695	48·0
Lancashire	…	…	…	…	37,325	14,741	39·5

police, fire and ambulance services and other voluntary services for civil emergencies and for mountain, cave and other rescue teams; and if he will initiate discussions with other Departments with this end in view.

A committee set up by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is already reviewing the marine search and rescue organisation in the United Kingdom. Climbing and cave accidents are handled by the local emergency services, with such help from voluntary bodies and Service formations in the area as may be required; and I am not aware of any need for the co-ordination of these activities by central Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the detection rate for crimes of violence and dishonesty in Manchester and Lancashire during the last five years.

The figures are as follows: