asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many tree preservation orders have been made in each of the years 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968.

The numbers are

1964	662
1965	693
1966	751
1967	736
1968	1,274

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is satisfied that the legislation dealing with tree preservation orders is adequate; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that this legislation is generally adequate. Increasing use is being made by local planning authorities of their powers to make tree preservation orders, and the importance for amenity of protecting trees is becoming more widely recognised.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish a further list of local authorities which have recently decided in principle to make significant cuts in their housing programmes; and what steps he proposes to take to reverse this trend.

I am conducting a survey of the future programmes of all priority authorities with a view to discussing with them, as necessary, what can be done to increase output.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many slums have been cleared in total in each of the last six years.

The total figure was 392,846. The number of houses demolished or closed under slum clearance powers in England and Wales during each of the last six years is as follows:

1963	61,445
1964	61,215
1965	60,666
1966	66,782
1967	71,152
1968	71,586

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number of houses scheduled to be demolished under the slum clearance programmes by each local authority in England and Wales in each of the years 1968 and 1969.

Details of houses scheduled for demolition in clearance areas confirmed, authority by authority, are set out in the Government's publication "Local Housing Statistics". Figures for 1968 were included in this February's issue. Those for 1969 will be made available as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what plans he has for giving publicity to the facilities available for house improvement.

We have started by issuing 300,000 free explanatory booklets to local authorities and others for distribution to the public. These will be followed by a film. I shall shortly start on a series of visits to local authorities. All this will be preliminary to a sustained national campaign next year, which will include a major exhibit at the Ideal Home Exhibition and the use of a wide range of publicity media.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much money has been spent over the last six years by the Historic Buildings Council; and how many buildings have been helped.

From 1963 to 1968 inclusive grants amounting to £2,749,105 were offered to and accepted by owners in respect of 657 buildings. Actual expenditure during this period was £2,484,828.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if the returns asked for from local authorities in Circular 61 of 1968 are yet complete; what were the total amounts paid out under the Local Authorities (Historic Buildings) Act, 1962 up to the last convenient date; and if he will list the annual expenditure.

Returns have now been received from all but 44 of the 1,244 local authorities concerned in England. The returns show a total expenditure up to and including the financial year 1968–69 of £613,735, of which £50,740 was in the form of loans. These figures include expenditure under town schemes to which my right hon. Friend also contributes, on the advice of the Historic Buildings Council. The annual figures are:

	£	£
1962–63	13,780	—
1963–64	34,603	(1,500)
1964–65	82,852	(4,838)
1965–66	92,432	(2,495)
1966–67	92,510	(4,195)
1967–68	123,339	(20,571)
1968–69	194,219	(17,141)
Figures in brackets are the amounts paid as loans.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what assistance he has given to the restoration of the Holy Jesus Hospital, Newcastle.

I have made grants under the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act, 1953, to the City fo Newcastle upon Tyne of £ to meet half the cost of buying the hospital and £11,750 to meet half the cost of its repair.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what study he has made of the evidence supplied to him by the hon. Member for South Bedforshire of a national shortage of window cleaners; if he will send a circular to local authori- ties encouraging them to set up local authority window cleaning services available equally to tenants and owner-occupiers in the area; and if he will make a statement.

I do not know of any reliable statistical evidence as to a national shortage of window cleaners. Local authorities have no power to set up a window cleaning service available equally to tenants and owner-occupiers in the area.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many names stand on the list of applicants for council dwellings of the five housing authorities comprising the Peters-field Constituency, the Petersfield Urban District Council, the Alton Urban District Council and the rural districts of Drexford, Alton and Petersfield; and how these compare with the figures five years and three years ago.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many names stand on the lists for council dwellings in the following six housing authorities, namely, Chippenham Borough, Calne and Chippenham Rural District Council, Caine Borough, Malmesbury Borough, Malmesbury Rural District Council, and Cricklade and Wootton Bassett Rural District Council; and how these figures compare with the figures three years ago.

Under Section 111 of the Housing Act, 1957, the general management of a local authority's housing stock, which includes the keeping of a waiting list, is vested in the local authority alone. We do not keep records of this nature.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he intends to bring into operation Part II of the Caravan Sites Act, 1968.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now make an order bringing Part II of the Caravan Sites Act, 1968 into operation.

My right hon. Friend will make the necessary order as soon as economic conditions permit.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many copies of the pamphlet "Money to Modernise your Home" have been ordered to be printed; and how many have so far been distributed to local authorities and the public.

:Some 300,000 copies of "Money to Modernise your Home ", revised in the light of the Housing Act, 1969, have already been distributed. A further 500,000 have been ordered to be printed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress is being made in North Kensington to improve housing conditions.

I am meeting members of the council and the Greater London Council shortly to review progress since I last met them. In the meantime a considerable number of decisions have been taken by the council and I hope soon to be in a position to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what further developments he plans to support with regard to national sports centres; if he will give assistance to placing a sports centre in the Bedfordshire-Hertfordshire area to serve East Anglia and the Northern Home Counties; and if he will make a statement.

:I have recently authorised improvements to the National Mountaineering Centre, Plas-y-Brenin, and the National Sports Centre, Lilleshall. I have asked the Central Council of Physical Recreation to prepare a phased programme of further improvements at the national centres which it sees as desirable, and this will be considered in the light of other requirements for national facilities and the resources likely to be available.The provision of sports facilities in the Bedfordshire-Hertfordshire area is primarily a matter for consideration by the local authorities concerned and the Eastern Sports Council.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the Countryside Commission has yet completed its study of coastal preservation and development.

:This is a major undertaking since individual reports of regional coastal conferences have to be considered.The commission hopes to complete its study early in the new year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he has taken to implement the 1968 Town and Country Planning Act; and whether he has yet circularised local authorities about the provisions in Sections 6 and 7 of the Act relating to the preparation of, and publicity about, local plans.

Commencement orders and related regulations and circulars have been made and issued for all the Act except Part I, which introduces the new development plan system based on structure plans. But a wide range of authorities have already been invited to start preparing for the application of Part I to their areas, and my right hon. Friend will shortly be consulting bodies concerned about the necessary regulations and circulars.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state, in relation to 1964, the percentage increase in the average cost of a new house for sale in 1966 and 1968.

There are no figures available for costs of house construction in the private sector, but building construction costs generally rose by 9 per cent. between 1964 and 1966 and a further 7 per cent. by 1968. The average price of new dwellings mortgaged with building societies was 17 per cent. more in 1966 and 31 per cent. more in 1968 than in 1964. Part of these increases was attributable to improvement in standards.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to maintain access to the open countryside.

:My right hon. Friend will shortly ask local planning authorities to carry out a general review of public access in their areas. I shall encourage them to make full use of their powers to make access agreements and, if necessary, access orders.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is satisfied with the arrangements made with local authorities for dealing with oil pollution; and if he will make a statement.

:There is now a series of interlocking schemes of organisation all round the coast. Early warning systems operating through the coastguard are working well. Authorities have made plans for helping each other in serious emergencies.My right hon. Friend has followed up the circular he issued last year by another describing features of some authorities' schemes which other authorities may wish to incorporate in theirs.A good deal remains to be done by way of training, exercises and the acquisition of equipment. The local authorities are turning their minds to these matters, having laid the foundations in their scheme.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to extend to local authority tenants the security of tenure enjoyed by the tenants of private landlords.

The position of local authorities is very different from that of private landlords and the problems that arise are quite distinct. I am not satisfied therefore that there is any urgent need to extend the provisions of the Rent Act, 1968, into the public field, but I will gladly consider any evidence my hon. Friend wishes to submit.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what plans he has to add to the number of planning authorities invited to prepare for a change-over to the new development plan system provided for in Part I of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1968.

My right hon. Friend proposes very shortly to invite some further groups of local planning authorities to join in discussions to this end with the Department, and to press on with these discussions as fast as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what amount of capital expenditure is to be made on sewage disposal during 1969–70.

Local authorities and the development corporations of new towns in England expect to spend about £110 million on capital works of sewerage and sewage disposal during 1969–70.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government in how many years housing construction has exceeded 350,000 completions since 1951.

This figure of 350,000 has not been exceeded in any year between 1951 and 1963. In 1964 and in every succeeding year the figure was exceeded. It should do so again in 1969.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT housing completions in each year since November, 1964, compared with completions in each of the previous five years.

I will circulate the figures as requested. They range from 293,391 in 1963 to 416,366 in 1968.

GREAT BRITAIN
HOUSING COMPLETIONS
				Number of dwellings
				Public	Private	Total
November, 1959–October, 1960	…	…	…	129,981	166,659	296,640
November, 1960–October, 1961	…	…	…	119,095	178,003	297,098
November, 1961–October, 1962	…	…	…	127,348	173,650	300,998
Novemoer, 1962–October, 1963	…	…	…	121,610	171,781	293,391
November, 1963–October, 1964	…	…	…	151,587	210,731	362,318
November, 1964–October, 19651	…	…	…	66,404	219,609	386,013
November, 1965–October, 19661	…	…	…	76,654	205,398	382,052
November, 1966–October, 19672	…	…	…	01,756	196,701	398,457
November, 1967–October, 1968	…	…	…	193,320	223,046	416,366
November, 1968–September, 1969	…	…	…	168,644	174,249	342,893

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the number of housing starts and completions for the year to date; what percentage change these represent from the corresponding figures for 1968; and what is the expected level of house completions for 1969.

:Following are the figures

	January-September		Percentage
	1968	1969	Decreases
	(Thousands)
Starts
Public	150·6	139·0	7·7
Private	155·4	131·1	15·6
Total	306·0	270·2	11·7

Completions
Public	137·1	130·7	4·6
Private	163·8	136·2	16·9
Total	300·9	266·9	11·3

In debate on 4th November I said that the current statistical projection was that in total about 365,000 dwellings would be completed this year. I would expect roughly half of this total to be provided by the public sector and half by the private sector.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many new houses he estimates will now be completed in 1969 in the private and public sectors, respectively; and if, in Completions have dropped currently, but I expect an increase over the 1969 and 1970 estimated figures in future and these will be added to by the number of completions of new dwellings from old properties under the Housing Act, 1969.The required figures are:view of the growing concern about the homeless following the recent report by Shelter, a copy of which has been sent to him, he will now restore the target of half a million houses a year by 1970 formerly adopted by Her Majesty's Government.

:In debate on 4th November I said that the current statistical projection was that in total about 365,000 dwellings would be completed this year. I would expect roughly half of this total to be provided by the public sector and half by the private sector. It is because of my concern with the homeless and families who are badly housed that I am taking special steps to urge authorities for areas where these problems are largely concentrated to take full advantage of the priority which the Government are prepared to give to the solution of their problems.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number of houses started so far this year compared with the corresponding period in 1968 and 1967; and what measures he proposes to take to reverse the decline.

:I am conducting a review of priority housebuilding programmes, and my colleagues and I shall have discussions with a number of the larger authorities in the near future. In the private sector we have increased the total available for local authority lending in 1970–71 by £ million, and we are improving the terms of the option mort-

GREAT BRITAIN
HOUSING STARTS
					Number of dwellings
					Public	Private	Total
January—September, 1967	…	…	…	…	166,777	186,158	352,935
January—September, 1968	…	…	…	…	150,572	155,437	306,009
January—September, 1969	…	…	…	…	139,048	131,124	270,172

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government who will be representing Her Majesty's Government at the Conference of Ministers of member States of the Council of Europe responsible for the preservation and rehabilitation of groups and areas of buildings of historic or artistic interest which is to be held in Brussels from 24th November to 28th November.

I shall be attending myself. This country's considerable experience in conserving its national buildings heritage will, I hope, be of interest to the conference, and I look forward to learning from the experience of others.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government on how many reservoirs owned by statutory water undertakings in England boating is now permitted.

Provisional figures from the British Waterworks Association's first annual recreational survey show that in England sailing is permitted on 38 reservoirs and canoeing on five.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the number of houses put into tender by the Greater London Council each year from 1965 to 1968.

:6,049 in 1965, 7,306 in 1966, 7,874 in 1967, 5,504 in 1968.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement about the future

Between 1965 and 1967 the Greater London Council exceeded its original programme of tenders for 20,250 dwellings by 979. In 1968 it fell short of its 8,100 programme by 2,596 dwellings. In 1969 it will fall short of its 9,000 programme by at least 2,000 and possibly by over 4,000 dwellings. I have therefore invited the Greater London Council to discuss with me how the shortfall can be made good and a bigger programme achieved in future.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when the Order on the Option Mortgage Rates of Interest is to come into effect.

The order will come into effect on 1st January, 1970, and subsidy at the increased rates will be payable from that date.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the extent of the scheme for pre-Olympic training as recently announced by Her Majesty's Government; whether he is satisfied with the response by the governing bodies; and if he will make a statement.

The scheme of grants for pre-Olympic training covers an extended programme of overseas competition, preparation training and specialist coaching for work with the Olympic squads and specialised equipment necessary for the training of these squads. The special needs of skating will also be met by grant assistance towards the cost of hiring facilities for approved training sessions. I am happy to say that the governing bodies concerned with Olympic sports are co-operating fully in the implementation of this scheme, which is expected to involve the Government in expenditure in the first year of up to £100,000, including the programme of overseas competition previously authorised.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement on the progress of the local plan for the establishment of a Church of England School in the Broomhall area of the Hallam constituency of Sheffield in relation to the 1968 Town and Country Planning Act.

The application for planning permission for the proposed schools in Broomhall is not being considered further by the city council because of procedural problems. A new application may be made after proper notices have been served on property owners affected. My noble Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary will he writing shortly to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement on the progress of his talks with the National Farmers Unions on the rating of agricultural buildings.

After a thorough examination of all the issues involved Ministers reached the conclusion that change in the rating law in regard to agricultural buildings in England and Wales is not warranted in advance of the reorganisation of local government. This was explained to the hon. Member in reply to a Question he asked on 24th July.—[Vol. 787, c. 481–2.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is his policy regarding the present definition of homelessness.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now undertake, in the light of the Shelter Report entitled "Face the Facts", details of which are in his possession, a national survey to assess the number of homeless people, based on an adequate redefinition, and to establish their whereabouts.

A great deal of information has become available about bad housing conditions as a result of the national sample survey of 1967 and other inquiries. The Government's policy is to do everything possible to alleviate all forms of housing need whether arising from actual homelessness or from bad housing conditions or from other causes.Wide powers and generous incentives are now provided in the Housing Act, 1969 to deal with problems of inadequate and overcrowded housing. Although slum clearance is proceeding at record levels, I am asking local authorities for their proposals to step up their attack on the unfit housing that still remains.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why house building in the private sector has shown a decline in 1969 as compared with 1968.

I would refer the hon. Member to the account I gave on 4th November, which is recorded in columns 853 and 854 of the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he now proposes to take to deal with the 29·2 per cent. of houses in rural Norfolk without internal water closet, the 25·6 per cent. without a fixed bath, the 24·3 per cent. without a hot water tap, and the 16·62 per cent. without a cold water tap.

:The Housing Act, 1969 gives local authorities and owners the means and incentives for a determined attack upon a wide range of bad housing conditions. Officers of the Ministry are ready to discuss with any local authority how a start can best be made on this, and I hope my hon. Friend's constituents will apply for grants in as many suitable cases as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will take steps to introduce special low mortgage interest repayments for mortgagors under the age of 30 years.

Available evidence shows an increase in the percentage of new mortgagors under age 30 during the past four years; but if my hon. Friend has evidence of inequity towards young families in the field of home ownership, I shall be glad to study it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will seek to encourage co-operative housing projects in areas where local authorities are not completing an adequate housing programme.

Co-ownership housing schemes are already encouraged through the Housing Corporation, and local authorities have powers to assist them, which I hope will be used in particular for improvement areas under the Housing Act, 1969.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what plans he has relating to the infrastructure of new towns; and whether he will make a statement.

:Each new town has its own plan of development, co-ordinated by the development corporation of that town.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to enable him to appoint an independent inspector or tribunal to deal with cases in which there is conflict between the Land Commission and a local authority concerning the development or purchase of land.

Where the Land Commission appeal against the decision of a local planning authority, the appeal is considered on its merits in the usual way. I see no need for legislation to change this procedure.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will take steps to adopt the formulae for calculating the prices at which leaseholders should be entitled to buy their freeholds set out in a letter he has received from William Ricketts, a specialist in these matters.

:The formula suggested was considered when the Leasehold Reform Act was being prepared, but after careful consideration it was rejected because of certain anomalies which would arise in some instances.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many compulsory purchase orders for all purposes have been served on owner-occupiers for the years 1963 to 1968 and to the latest available date in 1969.

:This information is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the need for better consultation between local planning committees and the public affected by their decisions, he will send a circular to local authorities asking them to advise all those affected by compulsory purchase orders, blight, and rehousing problems, in connection with local plans, whether landlord or tenant, of particulars of their rights and the procedures they should follow in their own interest following recent legislation including the 1968 Town and Country Planning Act.

:Much information about rights and procedures is already made available, either generally or as and when needed. A reminder about the importance of following this practice in relation to the new development plan system introduced by the Town and Country Planning Act, 1968 will be included in the relevant circular.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many instances have occurred in each year since 1951 of Government assuming any of powers of a local authority; how many of these instances related to responsibility for housing or house allocation; and if he will make a statement.

:The answer in relation to housing or house allocation is "none". It would take disproportionate labour to find out how often it has been done in other fields, but I can say that instances are rare.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what the estimated total cost will be of strengthening tower blocks to the Governments declared specifications; to what extent he has now agreed with the local councils on their portion of the costs; by how much he will increase his original offer of 40 per cent. towards these costs; and whether he will make a statement.

:The first estimate of the total cost of strengthening high system-built blocks in England and Wales was £25 millions. I cannot yet improve on this estimate because my right hon. Friend has not yet received full information from the local authorities. He is still considering further representations made by the local authority associations on the question of grant.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the text of the communication which he addressed to Councillor L. Freeman, O.B.E., Chairman of the Greater London Council, under date of 23rd October, 1969, dealing with matters connected with housing.

A copy of my letter of 23rd October, together with my subsequent exchange of letters with the Greater London Council is being placed in the Library.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why he has not increased the Cowes Urban District Council's quota for advances for house purchase for the year 1969–70; if he will consider increasing the council's quota from any amount that he may reallocate from additional quotas not taken up by other authorities; whether he is satisfied that a quota of just over £10,000 is adequate for the Cowes Urban District Council; and whether he will make a statement.

Additional quotas for 1969–70 were restricted to areas of priority housing need. I regret that it has not proved possible to consider increasing that available to this Council.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation requiring local authorities to publish details of the firms with whom they are in contract.

:The publication of details of contractors is in the first instance a matter for the discretion of each local authority. If my hon. Friend has evidence that their procedure is generally defective, I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he is taking further to his letter of 23rd October to the Mayor of Sunderland about the authority's housing programme.

:I propose to visit Sunderland in the near future to discuss local housing problems and policy.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will carry out a review of the present Building Regulations, in view of the fact that they are based on recommendations made nearly 10 years ago.

The Building Regulations are kept continuously under review. Since they first came into operation in February, 1966, three sets of substantive amendments have been issued and other proposed amendments have been circulated for comment.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to prevent the hardship at present being suffered by householders arising from problems of condensation, pattern staining and thermal bridging caused by inadequate insulation.

The Working Party on Condensation, which was set up by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Public Building and Works, has already issued a free advisory leaflet to householders. A two-part technical handbook has also been prepared. The first part should be published shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what consultations he has had with the Greater London Council about the proposals published recently by that authority for the construction of Ringway 2 between Falconwood and Norbury; and if he will make a statement.

None. The Greater London Council published these proposals for the purposes of consultation with the boroughs concerned. Once they have decided on the line they wish the road to follow the Council intend to submit their proposals to my right hon. Friend as a supplementary part of the Greater London Development Plan. In these circumstances it would not be appropriate for him to have discussions with the Council on these proposals.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to which sections of the Greater London Council's Ringway 2 proposals in North and South London he has so far given his approval.

:North of the river, from the junction with the M4 in Chiswick to the A13 at East Ham, Ringway 2 is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport. It consists for the most part of the existing North Circular Road. No approval has been given for those sections which are the responsibility of the Greater London Council.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what form of public inquiry he proposes to hold before decisions are taken whether or not to proceed with the Greater London Council's Ringway 1 and Ring-way 2 proposals.

:The council's proposals for Ringway 1 and Ringway 2 will be considered at the public inquiry into the Greater London Development Plan. On the form of this inquiry I have nothing to add at present to the reply given on 14th October to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentford and Chiswick (Mr. Barnes). This reply made it clear that, although precise arrangements cannot be settled yet, the fullest opportunity would be given for reviewing the policies and proposals in this important development plan.—[Vol. 788, c. 198–9.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will arrange for a public inquiry into the Ringway 2 proposals of the Greater London Council.

:Yes. The inquiry into the Greater London Development Plan will deal with the council's proposals for Ringway 2.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is his policy regarding the construction of dual purpose, pump-storage water schemes in England and Wales.

:My right hon. Friend and his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales always consider the possibility of combined use in relation to any water conservation scheme, and whether this would be economic and serve a useful purpose in the particular case.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to make it compulsory that all accidents or incidents endangering the public arising from the failure of water, sewage, gas or electricity, or other public works should be reported within 24 hours to his Department, and that an inquiry should be made into the reasons for such accidents or incidents.

The Ministers with specific responsibilities in connection with electricity, gas, railways and other services make appropriate arrangements for receiving reports and instituting inquiries. I doubt the need for legislation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will commission a survey of forms of dereliction outside the present official definition of derelict land.

:The present annual derelict land survey is sufficient to indicate the immediate scope for action by local authorities. I will, however, keep the matter under consideration.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will increase the subsistence and financial loss allowances paid to local authority representatives.

:The maximum daily rate of financial loss allowance for members of local authorities is to be increased from> £3 5s. to £4, and my right hon. Friend will shortly be making the necessary regulations. He is considering what increases are appropriate in the maximum rates of subsistence and car travel allowance, and will be putting proposals to the local authority associations very soon now.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in assessing proposals for zoning of land-use, to what extent he takes into account the presence of industrial employment within walking distance for employees.

:It is taken into account to the extent it proves relevant to the proposal concerned.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why he has refused to sanction the provision of a public sewerage scheme for houses in Proffits Lane, Hetsby, for which an application for grant was made by the Runcorn Rural District Council on 13th June, 1969.

:The council's application has been deferred because of the present need to restrict public expenditure, as I am advised there is no risk to health.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when the priority list used in determining allocations of money under Circular 75/69 to local authorities for house purchase loans was compiled; and if he will revise the list to ensure that the up-to-date situation of the redevelopment towns such as Kidderminster is given due weight.

:The priority list was compiled in the winter of 1965–66 and additions were made in 1967. The list of expanding towns was made up of authorities with recognised town development schemes qualifying for retrospective subsidy under the Housing Subsidies Act, 1967. In the interest of speed the additional amount allocated for the current financial year was distributed on the basis of these existing lists. The basis of allocation between authorities of the mortgage lending quota for the financial year 1970–71, which has been further increased, will be discussed with the local authority associations in the near future.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why, in view of Kidderminster's redevelopment and estimated population increase, the money allocated for the house purchase loans to the borough 1969–70 is only 18 per cent. of the average of the previous seven years; and if he will give priority to Kidderminster in the reallocation of any money which proves surplus to the requirements of authorities who benefited under circular 75/69.

:The allocation to Kidderminster for 1969–70 was made in proportion to its past lending within the limits of the overall amount available at the beginning of the year. No amounts have so far been surrendered out of the additional quotas issued to priority authorities under Circular 75/69.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why he has not increased the Isle of Wight Rural District Council's quota for advances for house purchase for the year 1969–70; if he will consider increasing the Council's quota from any amount that he may re-allocate from additional quotas not taken up by other authorities; whether he is satisfied that a quota of just over £20,000 is adequate for the Isle of Wight Rural District Council; and if he will make a statement.

Additional quotas were restricted to areas of priority housing need, and I regret that it has not so far proved possible to consider increasing that available to the council. Revised arrangements for distributing the increased total allocation for the financial year 1970–71 will, however be discussed with the local authority associations shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is satisfied that rent officers and rent assessment committees are not taking into account scarcity value in deciding on rents; and if he will make a statement.

The rent officers and rent assessment committees are properly carrying out their statutory duties. However, I would remind my hon. Friend that the Francis Committee is at present looking into the operation of rent regulation, especially in large centres of population where accommodation is scarce. I very much hope that anyone having experience in this matter will give evidence to the committee either about criteria to be applied or about any other relevant aspect.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what proposals he has to deal with the continuing problem of atmospheric pollution, particularly in the North-West and North-East of England.

:My right hon. Friend is ready to accept smoke control orders not only from any local authority in a "black" area but also from other authorities, provided they are implementing clean air programmes which he has already approved.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement on town planning inquiry procedure.

:The Minister has power to hold local inquiries on a number of matters under the Town and Country Planning Acts, including, particularly, development plans and appeals against decisions by local planning authorities.Rules of procedure made by the Lord Chancellor apply to most planning appeals, and the spirit of these rules is observed in other cases.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce measures to provide safeguards for house purchasers on new estates, who, having paid frontage, are faced with the developers going into liquidation.

:Safeguards are already available under the advance payments code, when applicable, and can also be applied by agreements made under Section 40 of the Highways Act, 1959.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will introduce legislation to amend the Clean Air Act, 1956, so as to ensure that when local authorities designate smokeless zones, council house tenants are given the same rights as owner-occupiers.

:No. Complaints about the present arrangements have been negligible. It would be wrong to pay grant to a tenant for installing appliances which, as his own property, he could later remove; and uniformity of heating on council estates is often justified economically.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the undesirability of building an oil distribution depot in a crowded residential area, he will use his powers to prevent the proposed development by Shell Mex and B.P. on railway land at Monney Road, Islington.

:My right hon. Friend cannot act in this matter unless the local planning authority, Islington London Borough Council, asks him to confirm a direction which would bring this proposal under normal planning control. The council has made no such request.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) by what date he expects to reach a decision on the recommendations in the report of the working party on housing revenue accounts;(2) whether he will publish a summary of the comments sent to him by local authority associations on the report of the working party on housing revenue accounts.

:The local authority associations have made it clear that they reserve their position on the recommendations of the report, and I do not think it appropriate to publish their preliminary comments on it. I am considering the report as part of the longer-term review of housing finance, but I cannot yet say when I expect to be able to reach firm conclusions on the complex issues involved.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will introduce amendments to the existing planning legislation to bring the lessees of statutory undertakers within planning control.

:Lessees of statutory undertakers are not exempt from planning control, though the lessees of transport undertakers have certain rights to develop land under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1963. The House was promised during the debate on the 1968 Act that those provisions would be re-examined in the impending review of the General Development Order. The review is currently in progress.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to implement the Skeffington Committee's Report.

The necessary legislation is already on the Statute Book, in the 1968 Planning Act, which lays down statutory requirements for publicity and public participation in the new development plan system. The Skeffington Committee Report is about translating the statutory requirements into actual practice in the light of local circumstances, and would therefore, be best dealt with not by further legislation but by circular.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will bring in legislation to prevent local authorities from using money from local rates to finance questionnaires to find out facts on private citizens' political beliefs.

I am not aware of any need for such legislation but if my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind perhaps he will write to me.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he has considered the proposals of the London Borough of Brent to reform its administration; what changes of administrative structure will need his consent; what will be the effect on the block grant of making the savings estimated at £100,000 materialise; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the council has received but has not yet considered a report by management consultants on the authority's administration. Without seeing the report I cannot say whether it involves changes which require the consent of a Minister.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether his letter dispatched to the Mayor of Sunderland, dated 23rd October, 1969, on the subject of the house-building programme for the county borough of Sunderland was intended for the personal information of the Mayor, or for the town council; and if he will make a statement.

I addressed my letter to the Mayor as chief citizen of the county borough, expecting that he would bring it to the notice of the council.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many new dwellings were completed by private enterprise in Shrewsbury in 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968, and what is the estimated figure in 1969; and what effect he estimates the Government's financial policy will have on this figure in future.

:4110 private houses were completed in Shrewsbury in 1965 and 443, 440 and 253 in 1966, 1967 and 1968 respectively. Up to the end of June, 1969, the last month for which figures are available, 138 houses had been completed and a further 133 were under construction.I hope that the recent increases in local authority lending, the improvements to the option mortgage scheme, and the contractual savings scheme with tax concessions for the building societies will all have a favourable effect on housebuilding in Shrewsbury—as elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the average benefit to owner-occupiers and council-house tenants, respectively, from the cost to the Exchequer, during the financial year 1968–69 of private home ownership and local authority rented housing; and what are the estimated figures for 1969–70.

:The information is as follows

	Average amount (estimated)
	1968–69	1969–70
Great Britain
Government subsidies to local authorities*	26	30
United Kingdom
Mortgage interest relief to house mortgagors†	£43 10s.	£47 10s.
*These subsidies are payable on the provision of new dwellings under all subsidy legislation, including subsidies payable to the new towns commission and Development corporations. The typical subsidy payment on new dwellings provided under the Housing Subsidies Act 1967 is of the order of £144 a year for 60 years. In practice, the cumulative subsidy payments to local authorities are not evenly spread among all tenants but ate used mainly to reduce the rents of new housing and to meet the cost of rent rebates for tenants with lower incomes.
† No separate mortgage interest relief figures for Great Britain are available.
The average figures are calculated by reference to all owner occupiers in receipt of tax relief on mortgage interest and include assistance provided under the option mortgage scheme. If the averages were calculated by reference to all owner occupiers, including those not in receipt of tax relief, the figures would be £23 and £25 for 1968–69 and 1969–70 respectively.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state the present number of aged and infirm applicants for housing accommodation to the Oldham local authority; and how many such housing units will be made available to applicants not affected by clearance orders during the ensuing year.

:Under Section 111 of the Housing Act, 1957 the general management of a local authority's housing stock, which includes the keeping of a waiting list, is vested in the local authority alone. We do not keep records of this nature.As regards the last part of my hon. Friend's Question, I understand that in the next three years the council proposes to put to contract over 1,000 dwellings, of which the majority will be one or two-bedroom flats or flatlets; but I am unable to say to which applicants these will be offered.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the aggregate contribution of the central Government to the housing revenue account of the County Borough of Sheffield in each financial year from April 1961, including an estimate for the current year.

:The aggregate contribution to the housing revenue account of Sheffield County Borough Council since 1961–62 for the provision of and improvements to council dwellings is as follows

	£
1961–62	839,983
1962–63	877,546
1963–64	942,752
1964–65	1,092,398
1965–66	1,316,843
1966–67	1,477,939
1967–68	1,629,996
1968–69	1,772,002
1969–70 (estimate)	1,805,000

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the capital expenditure of the County Borough of Sheffield in housing in each financial year from April, 1961, including an estimate for the current year, and the number of houses completed in each year.

:The information for the years 1961–62 to 1968–69 is as follows

COUNTY BOROUGH OF SHEFFIELD
	Capital expenditure on housing	Numbers of houses completed
	£
1961–62	3,910,985	1,336
1962–63	4,405,056	853
1963–64	6,433,225	2,088
1964–65	8,866.205	2,473
1965–66	9,068,474	3,444
1966–67	8,202,127	2,291
1967–68	9,640,283	2,020
1968–69	8,096,300	1,678

1,206 houses were completed during the current financial year up to the end of September, when a total of 3,576 houses were under construction. I am not in a position to say how many of these will be completed by the end of the financial year or what the total capital expenditure for the year will be. Capital payments for the first six months of the financial year, however, amounted to £4,232,090.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) if he will take steps to assist local authorities to continue the provision of public wash-houses in areas where families have no adequate facilities for;home laundry or no drying area;(2) what assistance is given to local authorities which provide public wash-house facilities.

Rate support grant is paid towards expenditure on public wash-houses. I do not think there is a case for reducing the freedom of choice of local government by substituting a specific grant.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities in England and Wales provide public wash-houses; and what was the comparative number in the years 1965, 1960 and 1955.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses in the County Borough of Bolton have no internal hot water supply.

:The 1966 Census showed that there were 4,650 households in the County Borough of Bolton with no hot water tap.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many areas of outstanding natural beauty have now been designated; and how many are being considered.

:25 areas of outstanding natural beauty have been designated in England and Wales, and a designation order for the Suffolk coast has recently been submitted to my right hon Friend for confirmation. The Countryside Commission is proceeding towards the designation of four other areas which it has approved in principle, and has other proposals under consideration.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the estimated cost of selective employment tax involved in the building of a semi-detached house around £4,000 in value.

:About £120.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what plans he has to encourage local authorities to set up local ombudsmen.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in his announcement of 22nd July, the Government accept in principle that an ombudsman system should be established by statute for investigating complaints of maladministration by local government. Detailed proposals will be worked out in consultation with the local authority associations and other interested bodies.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number of evictions from furnished dwellings in the last 12 months secured by court order.

:I understand that in 1968—the last period of twelve months for which figures can be supplied—5,677 warrants for possession were executed. The county court records do not identify the types of property to which warrants relate, so that warrants concerning furnished lettings cannot be distinguished from the rest.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much it has cost central Government funds to guarantee 100 per cent. mortgages; and if he will now extend this guarantee to more house purchasers.

:No claim has yet been received under a guarantee issued within the option mortgage guarantee scheme. My right hon. Friend has no power to extend the scheme to other house-purchasers, to whom certain facilities are available in the ordinary way from insurance companies.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) if he will reduce the burden borne by local authorities in the period during which they pay the full market interest rate on housing loans before the 4 per cent. rate begins to operate; and if he will estimate the extra sum this costs on an average-priced council dwelling;(2) if he will consider granting 4 per cent. loans on new council houses not from the time when the first rents begin to be received, as at present, but 18 months to two years earlier, when expenditure begins; and if he will estimate the approximate national cost to the Government.

:To make the present subsidies for new dwellings payable when the dwelling is started, instead of on completion, would cost at least £40 million a year extra and increase the average subsidy per new dwelling by well over £200. We could not in present circumstances contemplate such a large increase in housing subsidies.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many additional qualified planners he estimates are now required in England and Wales to bring all planning authorities up to the standard of those best staffed.

:I regret that it is not practicable to make such an estimate.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will list those local authorities which have used their power to levy half rates on empty properties, and the rate revenue thus raised; and if he will now introduce legislation requiring local authorities to levy full rates on all empty properties, or to acquire such houses compulsorily.

:Following is a list of 101 local authorities which have exercised the power in the General Rate Act 1967 to levy half rates on empty properties. No information about the extra rates collected or the extra costs of collection has been sought from local authorities because the power was introduced to discourage owners from leaving property empty, not to increase revenue; and the more successful it is in that purpose the less revenue there will be from empty property and the more from occupied property. The suggestions for legislation mentioned by my hon. Friend will be considered.Following is the list:

The county borough councils of
Bournemouth.	Exeter.
Coventry.	Southport.
Eastbourne.	West Bromwich.
The London borough councils of
Barking.	Hounslow.
Barnet.	Islington.
Bexley.	Kensington and
Brent.	Chelsea.
Camden.	Lambeth.
Croydon.	Newham.
Ealing.	Redbridge.
Greenwich.	Southwark.
Hackney.	Tower Hamlets.
Hammersmith.	Waltham Forest.
Haringey.	Wandsworth.
Havering.	Westminster.
Hillingdon.
The non-county borough and urban district councils of
Alsager.	Maesteg.
Ashby de la Zouch.	Maidstone.
Barry*	Mansfield.
Beaumaris.	Melksham.
Bishop's Stortford.	Melton Mowbray.
Cannock.	Neath.
Carmarthen.	Newbiggin-by-the
Chepstow.	Sea.
Clay Cross.	Newbury.
Hereford.	Newcastle-under-
Hitchin.	Lyme.
Hornsea.	New Sarum.
Coalville.	Petersfield.
Crawley.	Portland.
Eccles.	Potters Bar.
Gelligaer.	Ramsgate.
Hadleigh*.	Royston (Herts).
Halesworth*.	St. Albans.
Halstead.	Shoreham-by-Sea.
Heanor.	Skelton and
Tamworth.	Brotton.
Taunton.	Stevenage.
Todmorden.	Tonbridge.
Horsham.	Tring.
Keighley*.	Tunbridge Wells.
Leamington Spa.	Watford.
Letchworth.	Wellington (Somer-
Llandovery.	set).
Llanidloes.	Wimborne Minster.
Loughborough.	Wisbech.
*These authorities have now ceased to rate empty property.

The rural district councils of
Ashby de la Zouch.	Wantage.
Cannock.	Warminster and
Cheadle.	Westbury.
Long Ashton.	Warmley.
Sedgefield.	Watford.
South Cambridge-	West Dean.
shire.	Wycombe.
South Kesteven.	Isles of Scilly.
Vaynor and
Penderyn.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will issue a circular to local authorities outlining his Department's policy in regard to the admission of the Press to the council and committee meetings of local authorities.

:Local authorities are already well aware of the great importance my right hon. Friend attaches to their keeping the press and public informed of their activities. He will offer further advice if he thinks the situation requires it.

asked the Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning if he will publish a comparison of the estimated cost of local government in England on the basis of its reorganisation in accordance with the proposals of the Redcliffe-Maud Commission with the actual cost of local government as at present organised.