asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress he has made with his studies of the proposals which have been made to him regarding the introduction of legislation to allow local authorities to pay legal expenses to council tenants wishing to move into home ownership in the private sector; and whether he will make a statement.

I am advised that if a council tenant moves out into a house of his own the local authority have power to repay his removal expenses but not his legal costs. After consultation with local authority and other interests my right hon. Friend is not as yet convinced that he should propose an alteration of the law in this respect.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimates he has made of the amount of money to be collected through the betterment levy during 1969 and 1970.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much he estimates that the Land Commission will collect in betterment levy during 1969; and what will be the administrative expenses of collecting this amount.

The Land Commission's estimate of betterment levy receipts in the financial year 1969–70 is £20 million, and administrative costs of assessment and collection £1·14 million excluding costs incurred by other Government Departments. The estimate of receipts for the year 1970–71 will be published at the appropriate time.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what representations he has received from housing associations with regard to the difficulty of obtaining finance; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received various representations about their difficulties in obtaining finance. The financing of housing associations is one of the main questions before a sub-committee, which has been set up by the Central Housing Advisory Committee at my right hon. Friend's request to consider the whole rôle, structure and finance of housing associations.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the latest available figure for the price of the average new house.

The average price of new dwellings mortgaged by private owners to building societies in the third quarter of 1969 was £4,868.

asked the Minisster of Housing and Local Government what further representations he has received regarding the forced closure of small building firms; and what replies he has sent.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to assist small and medium sized building firms to construct more houses.

My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations, mainly about the difficulties of obtaining credit. He has replied that his right hon. Friend the Chancellor maintains credit restrictions to strengthen the economy, but will ease them as soon as it is prudent to do so. Meanwhile, the Government's recent decisions to increase local authority mortgage lending this year and next and to improve the option mortgage scheme will help housebuilders.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what plans he has to arrest the decline in building in the voluntary housing movement.

There has been no general decline of building in the field of voluntary housing. Housing association starts during the first half of 1969 were 5,199 compared with 2,123 in 1968. Both figures include schemes partly financed by the Housing Corporation, which have dropped.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now take steps to give additional help to the owners of buildings of special historic and architectural interest following the recommendations contained in the 16th Annual Report of the Historic 13uildings Council for England.

The amount in grant for outstanding buildings available on the advice of the Historic Buildings Council has been increased from £550,000 to £575,000 this year. The whole problem of financial aid for owners of historic buildings is being considered by the Preservation Policy Group under my noble Friend Lord Kennet's chairmanship and they will be advising my right hon. Friend on it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is satisfied with the reduction which has taken place in the staff of the Land Commission since April, 1969; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Staff numbers have been reduced by 158 since 1st April, 1969. The adjustment of staffing to work loads is continuing.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, with a view to reducing the deaths of children by drowning, he will encourage local authorities to make swimming pools available each week for swimming instruction of non-swimmers in all local education authority schools in the area.

Most local authorities already allow their swimming pools to be used for the instruction of school children. We are continuing to encourage the dual provision of new facilities, by co-operation between local authorities and local education authorities, so as to ensure that capital resources are used to the full in increasing the number of pools available to all sections of the community.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what reasons he has been given by local authorities, in reply to his communications, for their cut-back in their council housebuilding programmes; and what estimate he has made of the effect on these programmes of allowing the 4 per cent. loans for 60 years to be backdated to the date the first brick was laid.

Authorities have so far given a wide variety of reasons, which my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary is discussing with them. To advance the date of the initial payment of subsidy would cost at least an additional £40 million a year, but I have no reason to believe that there would be a commensurate increase in the total number of houses built.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement on the Government's policy in respect of the Culling-worth Report on Ownership and Management of Housing in New Towns.

We are actively pursuing the policy of increasing opportunities for owner-occupation in new towns recommended in the report. On the future of new town assets I have, at present, nothing to add to the reply my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary gave to a Question by the hon. Gentleman on 14th October.—[Vol. 788, c. 180–1.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give an assurance, in the light of the changed departmental responsibilities for sport, that the policy of encouraging and developing the dual use schemes for educational and general community purposes will be developed and maintained.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the decision of Manchester City Football Club and Manchester United Football Club to increase admission charges for their matches on 3rd December and 17th December next is in accordance with the Government's prices and incomes policy.

I do not feel called on to pronounce about the admission charges of the semi-final rounds of important football competitions.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many applications have been made to him under Section 19 of the Leasehold Reform Act, 1967; and how many have been determined.

195 applications have been made to date, of which 30 were subsequently withdrawn. A certificate has been granted in 53 cases and refused in 25. Action is still proceeding on the other cases.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what contribution the Countryside Commission is making towards the European Conservation Year.

The Countryside Commission are making a substantial contribution to European Conservation Year. As part of the information services the Commission are providing about activities in this country during the year, they have issued an explanatory leaflet and are producing a Calendar of Events and a poster. They have prepared for the Council of Europe's European Conservation Conference in Strasbourg this country's report on the impact of leisure pursuits and they are co-ordinating the contributions by member countries on this theme.The Commission are also assisting in the Duke of Edinburgh's Countryside Award Scheme, providing displays at various exhibitions and co-operating in a number of events being organised by national park authorities and other bodies.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress is being made with plans for national facilities for rowing, canoeing and yachting.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress is being made in his consultations with the Nottinghamshire County Council and the Central Council of Physical Research about the establishment of the National Rowing Centre at Holm Pierrepoint.

I am glad to report that work has now started on the scheme to provide a national rowing and canoeing regatta centre at Holme Pierrepoint. This will also provide facilities for water skiing. I am grateful to the Nottinghamshire County Council for their ready cooperation in the planning and provision of this project. The total estimated cost of providing this centre is £570,000. I am pleased to announce that the Government has offered a grant of £247,000. It is hoped that 2,000 metres of water will be ready for use by September, 1970.I am awaiting detailed proposals from the Royal Yachting Association for the provision of an Olympic Sailing Centre at Poole.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action his Department is taking to encourage tree planting in town and country to improve environment.

A great deal has been done to encourage tree planting. Under the Housing Act, 1969, local housing authorities can obtain grants for tree planting in general improvement areas; the Countryside Act, 1968, provides for the payment of grant for tree planting anywhere in the countryside, and for the acquisition of land for that purpose; and under the Civic Amenities Act, 1967, local planning authorities when granting planning permission must ensure that adequate conditions are imposed for the planting of new trees where this is appropriate. In addition the importance of tree planting has been emphasised at the conferences on Trees and Woodlands which I have held in various parts of the country.A new and enlarged version of the Department's booklet "Trees in Town and City" will be published next year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made with the proposal submitted to his Department for the acquisition by Liverpool Corporation of Aintree Racecourse.

No proposal has yet been submitted to the Department for the acquisition by Liverpool corporation of Aintree Racecourse.The position is that discussions are proceeding between the Liverpool City Council and Messrs. Tophams Ltd., the present owners of the racecourse, following the announcement by the Government on 2nd July, 1968, that the Government would be prepared to consider helping the Liverpool Corporation to acquire the land, by way of loan sanction and public open-space grant. I understand that so far it has not been possible for the two parties to agree on terms for the transfer of the racecourse to the Liverpool Council but discussions are proceeding.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the original programme of tendered housing starts in 1969 for the London Borough of Ealing; and what has been the reduction in the programme.

In April, 1968, the council agreed a programme of 850 dwellings to be put to tender in 1969. This was to have been increased if further housing land could be obtained. This programme has now been cut by 820 dwellings, as only 30 will go to tender this year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the number of dwellings for which he expects tenders to be approved this year in the London Borough of Southwark; and what is the expected programme for 1970 and 1971.

The number of dwellings in tenders expected to be approved this year is 1,728 and the expected programme of approvals for 1970 and 1971 is 2,054 and 1,234 dwellings respectively.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the number of dwellings for which he expects tenders to be approved this year in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets; and what is the expected programme for 1970 and 1971.

The figures of tenders for the Tower Hamlets London Borough Council are 662 this year, 909 in 1970 and 1,131 in 1971, giving a total of 2,702 for the 3 year period.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that in the case of the Cove Chalet Park (Portland) Limited, the Dorset Water Board has imposed a 300 per cent. increase; whether he will refer this increase to the National Board for Prices and Incomes; and whether he will make a statement.

This consumer is now paying the equivalent of the water rate on the net annual value of the property, as the minimum charge for his metered supply. This is a standard arrangement of the Dorset Water Board which took over responsibility from the Portland Urban District Council on 1st April, 1969. The council formerly charged by meter subject to a much smaller minimum charge. This difference in treatment is the reason for the increase and I would not contemplate referring to the National Board for Prices and Incomes a charge which had increased simply because, following regrouping of water undertakings, it had come on to a basis which is common practice.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if the attention of local authorities has been drawn to the Report in Planning and People through the medium of a circular; and if he will make a statement.

Last July, in a short covering circular 55/69, my right hon. Friends indicated that they were inviting the local authority associations and a wide range of other bodies to comment on the Report by the end of this year. The sooner these comments are received the sooner we can formulate a circular of substantive advice about the Report's recommendations.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he is taking to assist local authorities in high pressure areas to release more land for housing development.

The allocation of land for housing is primarily a matter for the local planning authorities. In the areas of greatest pressure the Department, and the Land Commission, have taken special steps to ascertain the facts about land and to encourage the authorities to release more. Where proposals to bring forward more land for development in these areas require my right hon. Friend's approval he will do everything possible to ensure speedy decisions.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek powers to ascertain how many local authorities have, during the past twelve months, sold to private developers land scheduled for housing, and in how many cases such land has been used for purposes other than housing; and if he will also seek powers to ascertain the number of local authorities maintaining a waiting list of applicants for housing.

My right hon. Friend does not need fresh powers to seek such information from local authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities have not commenced building any new council houses in the period since the beginning of April.

There were 599 housing authorities in England and Wales who did not report starting any council dwellings in the seven months from the beginning of April to the end of October.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will introduce legislation to prevent any financial penalty being incurred by the householder who improves his own property by such measures as the installation of central heating.

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind the effect of improvements on rating assessments. Such assessments are based on the rents which properties would be likely to command and any changes to a property which would affect the rental value are accordingly liable to affect the assessment. My right hon. Friend has no present proposals for legislation on this subject but Local Government Finance is being reviewed in the context of the Report of the Royal Commission on Local Government.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what proposals the Government have to enable members of the public at present precluded from making formal objections to proposals for a service area adjoining a projected motorway to make their opinions known; and whether he will make a statement.

In practice there is already an opportunity for members of the public to object to proposed motorway service areas. But we are reviewing the general arrangements governing the development proposals of Government Departments; and among the changes being considered is that of enabling objections to be made to such proposals in much the same way as to statutory planning applications.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government which local authorities use their own employees to value the amount of compensation payable in respect of properties which they are acquiring compulsorily; and what alternative method of valuation is used by other local authorities.

The information requested in the first part of the Question is not available. The services of the district valuer are available to all local authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how the figures for improvement grants issued in 1969 compare with 1968; and whether he will make a statement.

The figures are given in the table below. They show a decline in the number of basic standard grants issued, but a small increase in the more substantial discretionary grants. Owners, housing associations and local authorities will now benefit from the generous new grants under the Housing Act 1969 and so can greatly increase their activities in this field.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) whether he will make a further statement about the local authority housing programme in the county borough of Sunderland, including information on the position regarding completions, houses under construction and tender approvals;(2) whether he will make a statement on the visit of his Parliamentary Secretary to Sunderland.

This year up to the end of October, the Sunderland County Borough Council had completed 726 dwellings, had 591 under construction and had approved tenders for 26. I intend to visit Sunderland on Thursday, 8th January for discussions with the Council.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has yet had any response from Luton County Borough Council to his offer of an increased allocation to their house-building programme.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will give the number of houses so far completed in Hull in 1969 to the latest date; and what is the estimated total to be built in 1970.

This year up to the end of October 1,062 houses had been completed by the local authority in Hull, and it is estimated that six or seven hundred more will be completed by the end of the year. The Council's estimate of the number of starts to be approved for tender this year is 1,700, and for 1970 is 1,200.When my right hon. Friend visited the authority early in the year he said that he would consider sympathetically any proposals the council might make for expanding the housebuilding programme.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now hold a public inquiry into the proposed development of Whitehall.

Proposals for the redevelopment of Whitehall are now on public exhibition. I propose to await the outcome of this before considering with my colleagues whether it would be appropriate to hold a public inquiry.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what further consideration he is giving to relieving local authorities of a greater share of the cost of strengthening tower blocks of the Ronan Point variety; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what further consideration he has given towards relieving the County Borough of Stockport of the burden of costs imposed by the strengthening and remedial works, and resultant delays on the Jespersen 12M type flats at Lancashire Hill; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is still considering all the representations submitted to him both by the local authority associations and by individual authorities. He hopes to reach a decision shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will publish a list of local authorities which are responsible for tower blocks of the Ronan Point variety, with details of the number of tower blocks in each authority's area and the estimated cost to the ratepayers of strengthening these buildings.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government which local authorities in the West Pennine Group of authorities are responsible for tower blocks of the Ronan Point type; how many blocks in each of the authorities are subject to required strengthening and remedial work; and what is the estimated cost to the ratepayers concerned for such works on these buildings.

This comprehensive information is not yet available—it involves detailed structural surveys by 110 local authorities in England—but I hope that its collation will not be long delayed. In Newham's case, I estimate that loan charges on the estimated cost of strengthening high blocks, after allowing for capital grants from the Exchequer at the rate of 40 per cent., would be just over the product of a penny rate.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what recent communications he has received from organisations in the London Borough of Newham about the financial responsibility for strengthening tower blocks of flats; and what reply he has sent.

The Department has received a letter from the West Ham Trades Council. The reply indicated that my right hon. Friend has offered a grant of 40 per cent. towards expenditure on strengthening, and that he is now considering representations for a higher rate of grant.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to ensure that consultants and contractors advising local authorities on the erection of tower blocks of flats take into account all the risks revealed by the Ronan Point disaster, and that they accept financial responsibility in cases where they have not done so.

My right hon. Friend has already given advice in Circular 62/68 about the standards to which new buildings should be designed. He hopes to publish amended Building Regulations early in the New Year. Any error by a contractor or consultant would he a matter for the local authority to pursue by legal action in the light of any safeguard which may by agreement be included in the building contract, and local authorities will no doubt study contracts very carefully in this context.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now make a further statement on all matters pertaining to the Ronan Point disaster, in the light of his recent discussions with the local authorities concerned.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave today to Questions from my right hon. Friend the Member for East Ham, North (Mr. Prentice) and my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport, North (Mr. Gregory).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will give an assurance that, in any financial arrangement with the authorities concerned over the Ronan Point disaster, no settlement will be arrived at which will impose any additional burdens upon the tenants of the tower blocks or the ratepayers in the London Borough of Newham.

My right hon. Friend does not consider there are any grounds for the Government meeting the total cost of remedial measures. The way in which any residual costs after grant are met will be a matter for each local authority to decide.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what representations he has received relating to the procedure and disallowance of questions at the meeting of the local government electors at the Dome, Brighton, on 17th November, 1969; and whether he is satisfied that the procedure adopted at the meeting was in accordance with the Local Government Act, 1933.

None, apart from the letter referred to my right hon. Friend by my hon. Friend. The Local Government Act, 1933, lays down no procedure in relation to the answering of questions at such meetings.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why an inquiry is to be held into the application by the Brighton Intercepting and Out-fall Sewers Board for loan sanction.

To inform my right hon. Friend of any local views of the Board's proposal to build a large new sea outfall and to establish as far as is practicable that no offence will be caused by the discharge of sewage from it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many properties owned by local authorities are still withtout hot water supply; how many are without baths or bathrooms.

I regret that current information is not available, but the position as in 1967 is shown in Table 7 of the Appendix to the White Paper "Old Houses into New Homes".

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to oblige local authorities to install a hot water supply in properties acquired for demolition or modernisation but which are unlikely to be so demolished or modernised for some years.

The Housing Acts, 1957 and 1969, already empower local authorities to get older houses in their districts impoved even where the normal requirements for life and standards cannot be met. I hope that councils will set a good example by making the fullest possible use of the new generous and more flexible Government contributions to improve their own houses. If a local authority have any special difficulty I will do what I can to help.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the original programme of housing starts in 1969 for the London Borough of Barking; and what is now the expected number of dwellings for which tenders will be approved this year.

The London Borough of Barking's original programme for 1969 was for 405 units. But the council is now expected to accept tenders for a total of 903 units before the end of the year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to make a final decision on plans for the redevelopment of Piccadilly Circus; and when work is expected to begin.

No proposals are at present before my right hon. Friend for a decision. Following the public exhibition last year discussions have been taking place between the developers' architects, the Greater London Council and Westminster City Council with a view to the submission of an application for planning permission.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government which councils in the South-West Development Area received allocations from the additional £25 million for house purchase loans in 1969–70.

No councils in the South Western Development Area received initial allocations from the additional £25 million for house purchase loans for 1969–70, but the following councils have since been given additional allocations following a review of quotas which were unlikely to be fully used:

• Bodmin B.
• St. Austell with Fowey B.
• Truro B.
• Camborne-Redruth U.D.
• St. Austell R.D.
• Wadebridge and Padstow R.D.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement about the local authority housing programme in the county borough of Gateshead, giving figures of completions, houses under construction and tender approvals.

This year up to 31st October Gateshead C.B.C. had completed 690 dwellings, had 1,563 under construction and approved tenders for 176.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in the light of the report of the Culling-worth Committee on Council Housing Purposes, he will now state what specific steps he is taking to alleviate the difficulties facing coloured people in the allocation of local authority housing accommodation.

We have sent copies of the report to all housing authorities and propose to hold discussions with the local authority associations about its excellent recommendations.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to announce his policy for the future development of Swindon based upon the report "Swindon—A Study for Further Expansion", a copy of which has been sent to him.

I hope shortly to be able to meet the authorities about this important scheme.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that one of the main reasons for the shortfall commencement of new houses in the London Borough of Newham of 496 in 1969, as compared with 1,393 in 1968, is connected with redesigning and strengthening of tower blocks, caused by the Ronan Point disaster; and what special action he proposes to take to assist this council to restore its building figure to that of 1968.

It has been customary to record the housing programmes of local authorities in terms of tenders accepted. On this basis the Newham Council's figure for 1968 was 899 dwellings and that for 1969 should be 1,228. This latter figure was a fine performance in any circumstances and quite remarkable in the peculiarly difficult situation in which the council has found itself. As to the second part of the Question, the council has suggested future programmes of 1,474 and 1,498 units for the years 1970 and 1971. These figures, in fact, propose an increase on past performance, and the Ministry's officers will help in any way they can.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is his policy towards the grant of local authority home loans as a contribution to solving the housing problem.

Local authority lending for house purchase is a useful supplement to building society activity, particularly if such lending is concentrated on helping those whose needs cannot be met elsewhere: on helping with the purchase of older properties which can be improved by local authority grants under the Housing Act, 1969; and, in general, on helping council tenants to become owner-occupiers so as to free local authority rented houses for those who cannot buy.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of local plans and structure plans reported to him for each intermediate area, indicating those areas scheduled for light and heavy industrial development, green belt and country districts designated for agricultural and amenities, and areas scheduled for housing development; and if he will publish maps detailing this information, and place a copy in the House of Commons Library.

The basis for the information which the hon. Member seeks will be readily available in that structure and local plans will be open for inspection. I do not think, however, that it would be realistic to abstract selected details from plans for certain areas or to publish special and separate maps or plans recording them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) if he accepts the recommendations of the recent Estimates Committee Report in paragraph 279(5), concerning rate fund contributions to housing schemes having general comunity benefit;(2) if he will intensify studies being carried out on the structure of housing subsidies as recommended in paragraph 279(15) of the recent Estimates Committee Report;(3) if he will make available for consideration by Parliament and public, studies carried out by his Department into housing subsidies, as recommended in paragraph 279(1) of the recent Estimates Committee Report.

My right hon. Friend intends to consider all the recommendations of the Fourth Report of the Estimates Committee in relation both to each other and to the work now being done within the Department on the issues referred to in these recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the gross value per annum averaged over a 50-year period at constant prices of the output obtainable from an acre of average hill land in Wales when growing Sitka spruce or Douglas fir and a similar acre of land devoted to hill sheep farming.

I estimate that at the end of a 50-year period the grass returns which might be expected from an acre of Sitka spruce or Douglas fir on average hill land in Wales would be of the order of £1,000. A similar acre devoted to hill sheep farming might produce on average about £9 a year throughout the period. Because of the time-lag in forestry, a comparison between these figures would not be meaningful.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the number of men directly employed each year on an average 10,000 acres of hill farming type land in Wales over a 50-year period when devoted to forestry and sheep farming, respectively; and if he will further estimate the ancillary employment due to transporting and processing the product.

I estimate that the number directly engaged in forestry in the hill areas of Wales would be about 80 per 10,000 acres and for hill sheep farming about 50 per 10,000 acres. I can make no reliable estimate of the numbers employed in ancillary activities.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many acres of hill farming land in Wales, including National Parks, he estimates are suitable for afforestation; and what is the present acreage of such land under productive woodland management.

Of the 1½ million acres or so of hill land in Wales I am advised that about two thirds would probably be technically suitable for afforestation. About 320,000 acres of this type of land are already under productive woodland management.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the annual cost to the Exchequer in the form of direct grants and subsidies averaged over a 50-year period at constant prices of an average acre of hill land in Wales when devoted to forestry under dedication and hill sheep farming, respectively.

The present cost is about £1 10s. 0d. per acre for forestry and £3 per acre for hill sheep.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales by when it is estimated that the full recommendations of the Hughes-Parry Committee on the equal validity of the Welsh language will be carried out.

The principle of equal validity in the administration of justice and the conduct of public administration, recommended in the Hughes-Parry Report, has already been implemented by the passing of the Welsh Language Act, 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he had with National and Local Government Officers Association representatives in Wales about the proposals contained in the Government White Paper on Earning Related Contributory National Pensions Scheme before the proposals were made public; and if he will make a statement.

None. This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make a statement on the results of the circular to health authorities and hospitals concerning the encouragement by them of pony riding by mentally handicapped children, and on the assistance given by private individuals to such authorities.

The results are encouraging. Riding has been started at some hospitals and junior training centres and more are expected to introduce it next spring. The assistance given by the Advisory Council for Riding for the Disabled, the National Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and, in particular, by Mr. E. Royds, of Glasbury-on-Wye, is greatly appreciated.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the way in which the grant of £101,510 for the County of Glamorgan for the Special Winter Road Programme 1969–70 is made up.

£55,025 on principal road improvements, £29,517 on principal road maintenance and £16,968 on non-principal road maintenance. A further £8,280 has been allocated for trunk road maintenance as part of the special programme in Glamorgan.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether his working party, looking into the future use of that part of the Vaynol Estate in public ownership, has completed its study; and when this will be made available to interested parties.

The report of the working party has been submitted to me. I propose to make the report available to a wide range of interests as soon as possible and to invite comments on it.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many council houses have been started and completed in the county borough of Newport in the cur rent year; and how these figures compare with each year from 1960 onwards.

In the first 10 months of this year, 34 new council houses have been started. None has been completed.The figures for the period 1960 to 1968 are:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what advice his Department has given to the county borough of Newport in respect of the number of council houses started and completed in 1969; and if he will make a statement.

The council informed me, in January, 1969, that it in-

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the schemes for the clearance of derelict land in Wales, including those schemes completed, approved and under consideration.

Following is a list giving details of the schemes approved since November, 1966 (when the Welsh Office Derelict Land Unit was set up) and showing also the schemes completed or largely completed. It is not practicable to give similar details about schemes under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to relieving the building industry from the payment of selective employment tax; and if he will make a statement.

The case for making the building industry liable to S.E.T. was carefully considered when the tax was introduced and I am not convinced that such a change in the tax as is suggested should now be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give consideration to making the basic retirement pension portion of retired persons' incomes free from tax.

I am afraid that the suggestion is open to substantial objections of both cost and principle.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors are taken into account in estimating the depreciation of the purchasing power of the £ sterling in real terms since 1964.

Changes in the internal purchasing power of the £ sterling are estimated from the movements in the consumer price index, which is published in Table 16 of the National Income Blue Book. This index is prepared by dividing total consumers' expenditure at current prices each year by the corresponding figures at constant prices. The consumer price index is only available for calendar years and when a comparison for particular months is requested the movements of the index of retail prices are used for the months at the beginning and end of the period.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he is giving to the removal of purchase tax from gummed envelopes, in view of the greater use of mechanical sorting machines and the need for all envelopes to be sealed.

The purchase tax applies to stationery generally and it would be anomalous to exclude gummed envelopes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent expenditure on the social services has increased as a proportion of national income over the last 10 years.

In 1959 expenditure on the social services was 16·5 per cent. of national income; in 1965 it was 18·1 per cent. and in 1968 it was 22·6 per cent. This is an increase in the ratio of nearly 10 per cent. between 1959 and 1964, and of nearly 25 per cent. between 1964 and 1968.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now increase the amount that can be obtained on demand from a National Savings Bank ordinary account.

Yes. The present demand withdrawal limit of £10 has remained unchanged since 1955 and I propose to increase it to £20 with effect from 1st January, 1970. The necessary Regulations have been made and are being laid before Parliament.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value of contracts entered into between savers and building societies under the Save As You Earn scheme since it started on 1st October, 1969; what is his estimate of the number of future contracts; and how many additional house mortgages he estimates the scheme will provide.

About 75,300 contracts have been entered into in the first two months and if all ran for five years the total contributions would be about £37 million. While the initial response to the scheme has been most satisfactory, it is impossible to estimate the number of future contracts, or the volume of new mortgages attributable directly to S.A.Y.E. finance.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what were the average percentage increases in industrial production at annual rates between April, 1965 and June, 1966, July, 1966 and June, 1967, July, 1967 and March, 1968, April, 1968 and December, 1968 and January, 1969 and September, 1969, respectively.

I have been asked to reply.The figures are given in the table below. I would point out, however, that the calculation of annual rates for periods of differing length does not provide a series from which meaningful conclusions can be drawn.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a further statement on the effect of a value-added tax on the price of children's clothes, coal, coke, electricity, gas, and rail and bus fares; what further consideration is being given to this tax in the light of Great Britain's application to join the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.

The effect of a value-added tax on the price of the items in question would depend on the rates and coverage of the tax. As to the second part of the Question, my right hon. Friend has nothing to add to the statements he has previously made on this subject.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received from the South West Region Economic Planning Council as to the need for plans for a trunk road to North Devon to be included in his future proposals; and what reply he has sent.

The council advised my right hon. Friend that, in its view, the one significant omission from the strategy routes proposed in the Green Paper "Roads for the Future" was a link road between North Devon and the future motorway M.5. My right hon. Friend has assured the council that the need for a link road is currently under consideration but that it may be some time before decisions can be taken about the justification, timing and line.

asked the Minister of Transport on what date he expects to announce his decision in respect of the appeal lodged by the various local authorities in North Derbyshire against the withdrawal of scholars' concessionary fares by the North Western Road Car Company Limited.

In the near future. I have written to my hon. Friend about this case.

asked the Minister of Transport when he intends to announce the scale of the subvention to local authorities for the purpose of assisting them in operating concessionary fares on buses; and if he will make a statement.

The travel concessions legislation enables local authorities to make their own arrangements for the grant of concessionary fares on buses to qualified persons. There is no provision for a subvention to local authorities for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will conduct a pilot survey of the number of local authorities using their powers to provide concessionary fares to retirement pensioners.

No, for the reasons given in the reply of 11th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Bassetlaw (Mr. Ashton).—[Vol. 791, c. 48.]

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is using the same system of assessing alternative routes in his consideration of the A41 Watford to Tring bypass as he is using for the M40 route through Oxfordshire.

Alternative routes on all schemes are assessed on the basis of traffic and engineering needs, with due regard to costs and benefits, and the requirements of local and national planning and of agriculture.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will take steps to make it compulsory to carry and use where appropriate reflective warning triangles in all motor vehicles.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now make it obligatory on all motorists to carry advance warning triangles in their car for use at the scene of an accident.

The Highway Code advises anyone carrying an advance warning triangle to place it on the road if he breaks down or has an accident.We are studying the potential benefits of the triangle as a warning device in comparison with the use of flashing indicators to give a special warning signal, before deciding whether or not either of these devices should be made compulsory.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce legislation compelling motorists to carry an advance warning triangle as an effective aid to road safety.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Rose) and Liverpool, Toxteth (Mr. Crawshaw) today.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce legislation to make the carriage and use of red reflective warning triangles compulsory.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to him today on this subject.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give an assurance that he will take no final decision about the proposed Victoria Transportation Centre until the scheme has been published and public reaction considered.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce legislation to make mandatory the present discretionary powers at present possessed by local authorities under Section 75 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960; and if he will make a statement.

We are encouraging local authorities to engage in a full range of road safety activities, but do not at present propose to introduce fresh legislation. We are, however, keeping the matter under review.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he proposes to take to ensure that applicants for driving licences have adequate eyesight.

Every applicant for a driving licence is required to make a declaration as to whether he can meet the prescribed eyesight standard. There are penalties for a false declaration. Furthermore it is an offence for anyone to drive a motor vehicle if he cannot, at the time, meet that standard.

asked the Minister of Transport what defects in the entrance lock to Grangemouth Docks were described in the recent report by the consulting engineers; and what measures they propose shall be taken to deal with these.

The contents of this report are a matter for the Forth Ports Authority, by which it was commissioned. It would not be appropriate for my right hon. Friend to disclose details of the kind requested, which are in any case still under consideration by the authority.

asked the Minister of Transport what agreements have now been reached between his Department and the National Bus Company with respect to the financing of loss-making services operated by the company.

In general this is a matter which falls within the normal management responsibilities of the National Bus Company. I understand that it intends to continue to cross-subsidise loss-making services from the results of more profitable ones as has been normal in the bus industry for many years. Its forward estimates of losses on rail replacement bus services and on London Country services are being taken into account in settling its financial target.