asked the Minister of Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the plan drawn up by the Kent County Council in conjunction with his Department, showing the area of interest for the Channel Tunnel and its approaches.

Yes. A copy of the plan is available in the Library.The plan is a working document drawn up by my Department for local authority planning staffs. The greater part of the land within the "area of interest" shown on it would not, of course, be required either for tunnel purposes or for the improved A.20 road route.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now revise the financial estimates contained in the 1963 White Paper on the Channel Tunnel.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 4th February.—[Vol. 795, c. 149]

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has to set up further passenger transport authorities in England and Wales.

None. The question of establishing passenger transport authorities in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will agree to write-off the inherited debts of the Merseyside and South East Lancashire North East Cheshire Passenger Authorities.

No. It is normal practice in transfers within the public sector that liabilities as well as assets are transferred, and this principle was followed in the legislation regulating the establishment of the P.T.As.

asked the Minister of Transport how many countries have signed the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic; and of those how many make it obligatory on motorists to carry advance warning triangles.

Her Majesty's Government have been informed that 35 countries have signed the convention. I understand that of these 11 make it obligatory for all motorists to carry advance warning triangles.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has received the representations of the Guildford Corporation concerning the deleterious effect on amenity of his proposed route for the new A3 Burpham—Ladymead diversion; and whether he will now amend his draft proposals in the light of these representations.

An objection has been received from the Guildford Corporation which will be considered with other objections before a decision is reached.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a further statement regarding the replacement of the condemned bridge at Kensington Road, Northolt, Middlesex.

As my hon. Friend knows, this bridge is on a district road for which the London Borough of Ealing is the responsible authority. I understand that it has now invited tenders and that work will start in the spring.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will issue a general direction to the Transport Holding Company to expand the trade of Thomas Cook and other travel firms, following the removal of the —50 travel allowance.

No. The Transport Holding Company and its subsidiary companies are well aware of the importance of expanding business wherever there are profitable opportunities of doing so.

asked the Minister of Transport what will be the estimated proportion of the total mileage of United Kingdom motorways in England, Scotland and Wales, respectively, in 1975.

There are about 1,350 miles of motorway in preparation, under construction or already in use in England. I hope that most of these will be in use in 1975, but this must depend upon the progress of individual schemes and the availability of funds.I am informed by my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales that the estimate for Scotland in 1975 is about 130 miles and for Wales about 30 miles respectively.A considerable mileage of high standard dual carriageway roads is also being built in all three countries.

asked the Minister of Transport how the Government's programme for building further motorways compares with that of Western Germany, details of which are available to him from international sources.

Comparisons with programmes in other countries are misleading because they cannot take full account of different circumstances prevailing in each country.

asked the Minister of Transport what proportion of the money spent on rail electrification since nationalisation has been spent in England, Scotland and Wales, respectively.

During the period 1948 to 1969 inclusive, about —260 million was invested in railway electrifications. Of this. —17 million or 6½ per cent. was spent in Scotland, and none in Wales.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the noise and pollutant qualities of conventional internal combustion engine vehicles, the Government is sponsoring the development of fast-moving passenger-carrying belts, auto-taxis, and other novel forms of transport.

We are examining the technical, economic and environmental features of both the systems mentioned by the hon. Member, as well as of other novel forms of transport.

asked the Minister of Transport how many men and women failed at the first attempt to pass a motor car driving test in 1969; and how many passed at the second and third attempts.

Information in the form requested is not available on a regular basis. A survey carried out two years ago showed that the proportion of men and women who failed the test at their first attempt in vehicles of Group 1 (most of which were motor cars) was 56·5 per cent. and 63 per cent. respectively. For all candidates, the proportion who passed at the first, second and third attempts was 43 per cent., 29 per cent. and 13 per cent. respectively, but we have no breakdown of these figures between men and women.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will take steps to strengthen his control over the routes and times of car rally clubs when engaged in car rallies through built-up areas.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) by what method he allocates grants from the special fund for additional work in development areas; and if he will make a statement.(2) why the Felling Urban District Council has received no grant during 1968–69 and 1969–70 from the special fund for additional work in development areas.

Allocations are made by the Ministry's divisional road engineers on the basis of proposal from the major highway authorities bearing in mind that the primary purpose of these special funds is to generate additional employment in selected areas.Felling Urban District Council received an allocation of —8,000 in 1968–69, not all of which was spent. Sums available in 1969–70 did not permit as wide a distribution and no allocation was made to Felling bearing in mind that the labour force in the area was likely to benefit from the grants made to Newcastle and Gateshead.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he has taken since 22nd July 1969 with the local authorities to deal with the increasing danger on the Farnley Ring Road, particularly at Butt Lane, Tong Road and Stonebridge Lane; and what report was made by his Department's Road Safety Unit to the Leeds County Borough Council.

My Department's Road Safety Unit has made a report to the council recommending measures to improve safety on this length of road. As a result, the council has provided two lengths of double white lines to prevent overtaking and is about to advertise a proposal for a 40 m.p.h. speed limit. A number of other measures are planned, including the re-siting of bus stops and other street furniture and the provision of bus draw-ins. The cutting back of vegetation which obstructs visibility is also proceeding.The council, on its own initiative, has also erected other warning signs.

asked the Minister of Transport what additional motorways provision he is to make in respect of the National Exhibition Site, south of Birmingham, including access from M6, M5, and M1; and what further links by motorway will be required for this exhibition site.

None. The site will be well served by motorways already under construction and in preparation.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the present timetable for the commencement and completion of the M11 motorway.

Work is programmed to start in 1971 with completion in 1974.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans are at present under consideration to improve the A11 road where it passes through Epping urban district.

As my hon. Friend is aware, the main proposal is to improve the junction of A11 with A122. Following a number of objections, a new layout has been designed, and revised draft proposals are now being prepared. Further south a number of small traffic management measures are planned.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans are to be put in operation for maintaining and expanding the finances and employment on the River Tyne.

The initiative in port development rests with the port authority.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give the figures for public investment in roads in the Northern Region for each of the last 10 years.

The amount of public money invested in new and improved roads in the Region (excluding land costs) has been as follows:

Financial Year				£ million
1963–64	…	…	…	8·8
1964–65	…	…	…	9·4
1965–66	…	…	…	6·9
1966–67	…	…	…	16·0
1967–68	…	…	…	25·5
1968–69	…	…	…	38·0

Figures for earlier years are not readily available. This year we expect the corresponding total to reach —45 million.

asked the Minister of Transport what is his estimate of the number of men likely to be employed on the construction of the Sunderland By-pass.

About 400 on average, rising to well over 500 at the peak.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now give a date for the start of work on the Beverley South-West By-pass.

I cannot give a date until we have received the information referred to in my reply to the hon. Member on 9th December.—[Vol. 793, c. 61.]

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement about the progress of discussions on the financing of the Humber Bridge.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull, West (Mr. James Johnson) on 17th February.—[Vol. 796, c. 70–71.]

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of the Gateshead A1 fly-over, including the total cost, amount of grant from the Exchequer and amount from the local authority, and the approximate date of completion.

This scheme is estimated to cost £3·7 million. Grant assistance of approximately —2·8 million will be paid, leaving £0·9 million to be met by the local authority. Work is so far on schedule and due to be completed by mid-1971.

asked the Minister of Transport what is his estimate of the number of men employed on the construction of the Gateshead A1 flyover; and, of the percentage employed, how many are in permanent residence in the Tyneside travel-to-work area.

About 230 men, of whom four-fifths live permanently in the Tyneside travel-to-work area.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the inability of his Department to decide between three alternative bypasses or relief roads for Bridport is holding up building on these routes, that 13 years have now elapsed since the schemes were first mooted, and that housing accommodation for the elderly is being postponed; and when he expects to reach a decision.

It is hoped to publish draft proposals for the route of the bypass by Autumn this year.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will take immediate action to reduce the danger from flying stones on the Buckinghamshire section of M4, and to devise means of improving road adhesion other than top-dressing with loose chippings.

Drivers on the M4 should observe the warning signs and advisory speed limits exhibited from time to time by the police, who are keeping the condition of the surface under close observation. Studies of the problem are continuing.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will review the allocation to the Derbyshire County Council of funds for minor works.

We are satisfied that Derbyshire County Council receives a fair share of the funds which we allocate for minor improvement works on principal roads. Funds for highways expenditure on non-principal roads and for maintenance work on principal roads are made available through the rate support grant.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has now reached a decision on the proposals of the British Railways Board for the electrification of the main line between Weaver Junction and Motherwell.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made in the House yesterday.—[Vol. 796, c. 822–7.]

asked the Minister of Transport if he has yet arrived at a decision on the proposed electrification of the main line from Crewe to Glasgow.

I would refer the hon. Members to the statement I made in the House yesterday.—[Vol. 796, c. 822–7.]

asked the Minister of Transport if he will undertake a study of the true costs of each form of transport; and if he will make a statement.

My Ministry is already carrying out a large number of studies into the costs of each form of transport, and if I feel it is necessary for any further studies to he carried out these will be undertaken.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he is taking to ensure public passenger transport services are maintained when drivers' hours are reduced as a result of the Transport Act 1968.

I have laid before the House the Order and Regulations necessary to provide for exemptions as indicated in my reply of 27th January to my hon. Friend the Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Leslie Huckfield).—[Vol. 794, c. 289.]

asked the Minister of Transport (1) if he will take steps to ensure that specifications for new roadworks will require underfill to be obtained from pit heaps wherever possible; and whether he will consult with the National Coal Board about supply and costs;(2) what steps he is taking to ensure that underfill for new motorways and roadworks is provided from pit heaps; and if he will make a statement.

Specifications for works on roads, for which my right hon. Friend is the highway authority, permit the use of colliery shale as filling material. The only shales which have been excluded are those which are physically or chemically unstable.Following consultation with the National Coal Board on supply, costs and chemical stability a Technical Memorandum was issued in September, 1968. This explained the conditions under which unburnt shales are acceptable and gave encouragement to the use of colliery shales for common filling. The degree of use of shale is dependent on its price, compared with the available alternatives and the choice of acceptable filling material rests with the contractor.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make it a condition of any future motorway service area concessions that basic facilities shall be available for 24 hours a day every day of the year.

Yes, but my right hon. Friend will reserve the right to vary hours of opening in special circumstances.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to introduce for the use of school crossing attendants signs equipped with a red flashing light, for use in darkness or bad light.

Demonstrations of prototypes have shown that putting a flashing light on these portable signs would confuse drivers rather than help them identify the message on the sign, including the obligation to stop. Illumination by a steady white light, as permitted by the regulations, is both safer and more reliable. In addition, local authorities can reflectorise the surface of the sign and, at difficult sites, can add flashing amber units to the patrol warning sign.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a regulation that any persons who wish to instruct another in driving a vehicle must have held a driving licence themselves for at least two years.

No. The holding of a driving licence for at least four years is one of the requirements for enrolment in the Register of Approved Driving Instructors. We have no evidence that to impose a condition that those who accompany learner drivers should have held a driving licence for at least two years would contribute to road safety. A similar condition related to instruction, as distinct from supervision, would be virtually unenforceable.

asked the Minister of Transport what studies he is currently making about the effect of motorway noise on adjacent householders; and if he will publish such studies.

Various studies on the environmental effects on noise, including motorway noise and the effects of noise on households, are under way or proposed. It will be some time, perhaps a year, before the results can be compared and related, and we will be considering the question of publication later.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction to the National Bus Company to carry out an assessment of the financial effects of the operation of concessionary bus fares for pensioners.

No. Local authorities which use their discretionary powers to arrange for these travel concessions on non-municipal bus services are required to reimburse to the operator the cost which he incurs.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the current annual turnover, profit and return on capital employed of British Railway Workshops; what percentage of turnover is for work outside British Railways; and how much for export.

I would ask the hon. Member to await publication of the British Railways Board's annual report and accounts for 1969, which is expected in early June and will be laid before the House.

asked the Minister of Transport what are his proposals to extend the M5 motorway from Exeter to Plymouth and Penzance; and by what date this will be completed.

None. We expect dualling of the A38 between Exeter and Plymouth to be substantially completed by the mid-1970s. Proposals for the route from Plymouth to Penzance are included in the published Green Paper "Roads for the Future" on which no decisions have yet been taken.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the total mileage of the proposed M5 motorway between Birmingham and Exeter; how much of this is open to traffic; how much is under construction; for how much have contracts been placed; for how much tenders have been invited; for how much of the remainder has a line been confirmed or proposed; and by what date will the whole length he completed.

170 miles, composed as follows:

	Miles
Open to traffic	40
Under construction (contracts let)	75
Line advertised	35
Line not yet advertised	20
	170

There is at present no invitation to tender outstanding.We hope the route will be completed as far as Huntworth in 1974.It is too soon to give firm completion dates for the remaining sections, but it is planned to have them completed or under construction by the mid-1970's.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in deciding to sanction the closure of railway passenger services between Cambridge and St. Ives, he took into account the affinity between those places increasing through Cambridge becoming a unitary authority whose area included St. Ives.

The maintenance of the railway passenger services could not be justified by this possible development.

asked the Minister of Transport, in the year ended 31st December, 1969, how many vehicles, by category and in total, including passenger cars and heavy goods vehicles, respectively, were tested under the Ministry of Transport vehicle testing schemes; how many in each category, and in total, failed; what was the percentage of failure; and how these figures compare with the previous year.

During 1969 8,832,498 vehicles were tested under the car testing scheme. Of these 7,781,424 were cars, 614,061 motor cycles and 437,013 light goods vehicles. 2,752,506 (31 per cent.) failed to pass the test when initially submitted, comprising 2,449,923 (32 per cent.) cars, 151,353 (24 per cent.) motor cycles and 151,230 (24 per cent.) light goods vehicles.During 1968 7,935,936 vehicles were tested. Of these 6,881,094 were cars, 686,556 motor cycles and 368,286 light goods vehicles. 2,385,879 (30 per cent.) failed to pass the test when initially submitted. Of these 2,098,707 (30 per cent.) were cars, 159,474 (23 per cent.) were motor cycles and 127,698 (33 per cent.) were light goods vehicles.During 1969 the statistics concerning heavy goods vehicles were kept in terms of the number of tests and re-tests conducted on vehicles at Ministry testing stations, and not in terms of the number of vehicles tested. A vehicle which was re-submitted for a test was recorded as two tests. Out of a total of 534,243 tests, 160,258 (30 per cent.) resulted in the testing station not being able to issue a test certificate because of the presence of defects.Since the scheme did not start until 1st October, 1968, in England and Wales and 1st December, 1968, in Scotland, no comparative figures are available for 1968.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has for the improvement of access by road to Bradford, Yorkshire, particularly through Shipley town centre.

It is hoped to publish draft proposals for the Aire Valley route between Bradford and Skipton before the end of the year. This will provide a by-pass of Shipley town centre.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the current value of expenditure on the road programme in Portsmouth; whether he will initiate discussions with the City Council on the delays in implementing the Commercial Road Tidal-Flow System; and whether he will make a statement.

The value of current expenditure on the road programme in Portsmouth, taken as the total value of grants authorised and likely to be authorised for principal road schemes in the city during the financial year 1969–70, is —507,329.The divisional road engineer has been in close communication with the City of Portsmouth Engineer at all stages of the development of the tidal flow system, the equipment for which, because of its highly specialised nature, has taken longer than expected to manufacture and instal. The contractors have to satisfy the City Engineer that the equipment is working correctly, and tests are continuing. The system will be brought into operation when the present equipment and circuit faults have been rectified, allowing time for public advertisement.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give particulars of the 12 firms which have received, in aggregate, the greatest value of road building contracts of over —100,000 for principal roads, as distinct from trunk roads and motorways, in the past three years, and the total value of the contracts received by each.

Principal roads are primarily the responsibility of the local highway authorities concerned. The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate expense.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) on what date he anticipates that work on the ground will start in connection with the proposed Tadcaster by-pass on the West Riding of Yorkshire section of the A64 trunk road;(2) how many stages are involved in the preparation, planning and implementing of major road schemes; and which of these stages has now been reached by the proposed Tadcaster by-pass on the A64 trunk road in Yorkshire and the West Riding of Yorkshire.

There are six main stages—preliminary investigations leading to inclusion in the preparation pool; preliminary report; firm programming; completion of statutory procedures including land acquisition: financial approval to works commitment and invitation of tenders and award of contract. The preliminary report for the Tadcaster by-pass is in preparation. It is too early to forecast a date for start of construction.

asked the Minister of Transport how many driving tests were carried out in the county borough of Stockport in 1963, 1964, 1968 and 1969, respectively.

10,100 in 1968 and 8,149 in 1969. I regret that figures for 1963 and 1964 are no longer available.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give the fatal and injury accident rate per million vehicle-miles for the non-motorway sections of the Great North Road Al, in the North Riding of Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Huntingdonshire, respectively, for the latest convenient period.

I regret that the information is not at present available but I will write to the hon. Member when it is.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the present position of the project feasibility study of the trunk and principal road network of South Humberside; when he expects that this will be completed; and whether, in view of the effect of this study on road transport efficiency in the area, he will take steps to expedite the work.

The final results are expected before the end of the year, but I hope to receive advance information within the next few weeks, which should enable me to take decisions about schemes already planned on the A.18.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the growing difficulties of the free flow of traffic on the roads and streets in big cities in general and London in particular; and what recent action he has taken, or intends taking, to speed up the flow of road traffic.

This year I expect to provide over —75 million grant towards improvements on urban roads, including those in London. I intend to encourage the development of an expanding urban road programme during the 1970's. I am also encouraging local traffic authorities to use their now very wide powers for traffic management not only to ensure efficient use of the roads but also in the interests of road safety and amenity.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now make a further statement on his policy towards amending the present arrangements for breathalyser tests.

Together with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, I am continuing to keep a close watch on the working of the Road Safety Act.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the outcome of the recent discussions with the Italian authorities on the Anglo/Italian road haulage quota; and if he will make a statement.

The Anglo/Italian road haulage arrangement provides for a mutual waiver of licensing formalities and for a quota to be fixed limiting the number of journeys to or through each country. The arrangement came into force on 1st November 1969, and the quota originally provided for 2,400 journeys per annum by each country's hauliers together with a temporary arrangement permitting 75 journeys per month by each country's hauliers on the road/rail service.Following the recent discussions, the Italian authorities have agreed to an increase in the general quota to 3,000 journeys per annum together with a quota of 1,200 journeys per annum on the road/ rail service. These quotas will apply during the calendar year 1970.Her Majesty's Government remain convinced that quota systems are a hindrance to international traffic and will continue to press for their abolition.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement on the recommendations of the committee he set up under the chairmanship of Lord Kennet, with special reference to the setting up of a tidal barrier in the River Thames, and the plans for developing and cleansing the river and providing recreational and swimming facilities above the barrier.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Mayhew) and the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) on 3rd February.—[Vol. 795, c. 69.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what improvements have been made by sewage disposal authorities since he issued Circular No. 37/66; what other action he is planning; and if he will make a statement.

The circular and its accompanying memorandum gave advice to river authorities and local authorities in circumstances where standards for effluent more restrictive than those of the Royal Commission on Sewage Disposal were appropriate. River authorities have for some years past, both before and since the issue of the circular, required more restrictive standards in appropriate cases and I expect that they will need to do so more often as the re-use of river water increases. As my hon. Friend knows, the Department is currently undertaking in collaboration with the river authorities a River Pollution Survey. The survey will show us what more needs to be done.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authority sewage disposal authorities have applied for grants or loans during the last three years for the purpose of pumping a greater volume of untreated sewage into rivers or the sea; how many applications were refused on grounds of pollution; whether alternative sewage disposal schemes have been proposed for the coastal and river districts; and if he will make a statement.

In the past three years only one authority has applied for loan sanction for a new sea outfall discharging untreated sewage. Its scheme provided for the extension and duplication of a small outfall from which untreated sewage had been discharged for 25 years without giving rise to offence or complaint. Loan sanction was issued. No applications have been received for loan sanction for new out-falls to rivers for untreated sewage. Several hundred loan sanctions have been issued for treatment works.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now take steps to provide compensation for householders affected by noise, dust, dirt and other forms of pollution emanating from urban motorways.

As the House is aware, we are reviewing the compensation code relating to the acquisition of land for new development, but I cannot anticipate the outcome.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many persons in the London Borough of Lewisham have benefited from rebates under the Rating Act, 1966, in each year subsequently; what was the value of the rebates; and how this compares with rate relief granted under the Rating (Interim Relief) Act, 1964, to the Metropolitan Boroughs of Deptford and Lewisham.

The figures for rate rebate are as follows:

		Number of rebate recipients		Amount granted in rebate
Year		First period	Second period	First period	Second period
1966–67	…	3,735	4,228	39,677	43,394
1967–68	…	3,741	3,710	40,612	40,757
1968–69	…	3,494	3,842	36,419	42,028

The figures for rate relief under the Rating (Interim Relief) Act, 1964, are:

Year	Local Authority	Number of recipients	Amount of relief
			£	s.	d.
1964–65	Deptford MB	1	2	13	0
	Lewisham MB	33	62	13	0
1965–66	Lewisham LB	43	85	8	0
1966–67	Lewisham LB	Nil	Nil
1967–68	Lewisham LB	Nil	Nil

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total amount paid from Government sources to the County Borough of Wolverhampton in rate support grants and their equivalent in each of the past seven years; and what is the estimated sum payable in 1970–71.

The total amount of the rate support grants, or their equivalents, for the county borough of Wolverhampton for each of the years 1963–64 to 1969–70 and the estimated amount payable for 1970–71 are as follows:

			£
1963–64	…	…	2,013,928
1964–65	…	…	2,105,816
1965–66	…	…	2,462,603
1966–67	…	…	4,950,650
1967–68	…	…	5,766,863
1968–69	…	…	6,276,372
1969–70	…	…	7,391.190
1970–71	…	…	8,040,949

The amounts for 1963–64 to 1965–66 are not comparable with those for later years because the extension of the borough with effect from 1st April, 1966, increased the population by about threequarters.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total amount paid from Government sources to the County Borough of Dudley in rate support grants and their equivalent in each of the past seven years; and what is the estimated sum payable in 1970–71.

The total amount of the rate support grants, or their equivalents, for the county borough of Dudley for each of the years 1963–64 to 1969–70, and the estimated amount payable for 1970–71 are as follows:

			£
1963–64	…	…	879–835
1964–65	…	…	890–452
1965–66	…	…	1,070,158
1966–67	…	…	3,298,315
1967–68	…	…	3,653,619
1968–69	…	…	4,072,131
1969–70	…	…	4,617,778
1970–71	…	…	5,025,868

The amounts for 1963–64 to 1965‒66 are not comparable with those for later years because the extension of the borough with effect from 1st April, 1966, almost trebled the population.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what plans he has for the future use of the land at Chislet Colliery.

This is best considered in the first instance by the National Coal Board and Kent County Council, as local planning authority. I understand that they are already in consultation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of houses whose value and amenities have been reduced by the construction of urban motorways and trunk roads over the past 10 years.

The information on which to base such an estimate is not available, especially in relation to a period during which property values have been influenced by a wide variety of factors.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the total amount paid from Government sources to Bootle County Borough each year from 1963–64; and what is his estimate for the year 1970–71.

The information for the years from 1963–64 to 1968–69 is as follows:

			£
1963–64	…	…	2,292,153
1964–65	…	…	2,504,710
1965–66	…	…	2,854,194
1966–67	…	…	3,127,887
1967–68	…	…	3,175,473
1968–69	…	…	3,102,398

The amounts for the years 1967–68 and 1968–69 are not entirely comparable with those for earlier years because the police grant, which amounted to £148,334 in 1966–67, was not paid to the county borough council from 1st April, 1967, when responsibility for the service was transferred to the Liverpool and Bootle Police Authority.For 1969–70 and 1970–71 the latest estimates of rate support grant amount to £2,925,048 and £3,157,497 respectively, compared with £2,673,473 for 1968–69. Corresponding estimates for the remaining grants are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much has been received by the City Council of Kingston upon Hull in Government housing subsidies yearly since 1963–64; and what is his estimate of the amount for the current year 1969–70 and for 1970–71.

The housing subsidy payments made to the City Council of Kingston upon Hull in respect of housing provided by them under the Housing Acts have been as follows:

			£
1963–64	…	…	390,427
1964–65	…	…	458,639
1965–66	…	…	520,699
1966–67	…	…	579,377
1967–68	…	…	712,473
1968–69	…	…	757,994
1969–70	…	…	910,738

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will introduce legislation to enable the courts to determine the proportion of grant payable to local authorities involved in Ronan Point-type disasters.

No. The rate of Exchequer assistance, if any, in such circumstances is a matter of Government policy.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the amount of housing subsidies paid to the county borough of Stockport in each of the past five years.

The housing subsidy payments made to the Stockport County Borough Council in respect of housing provided by it under the Housing Acts have been as follows:

			£
1965–6	…	…	184,027
1966–7	…	…	246,444
1967–8	…	…	321,971
1968–9	…	…	323,688
1969–70	…	…	353,075

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the effect of the Government's National Superannuation Scheme on the Members' pensions scheme.

We are considering this matter. Any proposals involving the changes in the arrangements for Members' pensions will be discussed through the usual channels and presented to the House in due course.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the yield in purchase tax on blackcurrant products in the last convenient year; whether this tax is levied on the products made from imported fruit at the same rate as that made from homegrown fruit; and what is the tax yield from each type of fruit.

Blackcurrants enter into various products subject to purchase tax, such as beverages, confectionery and proprietary medicines. The rates of tax are the same whether homegrown or imported fruit is used. The yield attributable to blackcurrant products is not available.

WAGES AND SAPARIES
(Number of Persons)
	Range of Wage of Salary and Percentage
Region	£1275–£499	%	£500–£999	%	£1,000–£1,499	%	£1,500 and over	%	Total	%
Northern	216,700	20·1	479,600	44·5	298,900	27·8	82,100	7·6	1,077,400	100·0
Yorkshire and Humberside	404,700	21·7	791,300	42·5	526,800	28·3	138,900	7·5	1,816;600	100·0
East Midlands	254,600	20·1	529,400	41·8	368,100	29·1	114,000	9·0	1,266,100	100·0
East Anglia	110,800	20·6	260,000	48·4	125,700	23·4	40,900	7·6	537,300	100·0
South East	1,226,700	17·4	2,620,200	37·1	2,115,100	29·9	1,102,400	15·6	7,064,300	100·0
South West	252,000	20·3	563,000	45·3	308,500	24·9	118,000	9·5	1,241,400	100·0
West Midlands	406,000	20·1	733,600	36·2	654,800	32·3	230,600	11·4	2,025,000	100·0
North West	518,500	20·9	1,021,600	41·1	697,300	28·1	244,800	9·9	2,482,300	100·0
England	3,390,000	19·3	6,998,800	39·9	5,095 200	29·0	2,071,600	11·8	17,555,600	100·0
Wales	156,700	20·2	318,700	41·1	227,800	29·3	72,900	9·4	776,100	100·0
Scotland	392,400	22·8	729,400	42·4	446,300	26·0	152,200	8·8	1,720,300	100·0

(1) Only the individual's main wage or salary is included. Subsidiary earnings and earnings from other sources are not taken into account.(2) The information is derived from the annual incomes survey for 1967–68. Reliable information below the effective tax exemption limit of £275 p.a. is not available. The lowest income limit has therefore been taken as £275.(3) Because of rounding there may be an apparent slight discrepancy between the sum of the items and the totals as shown.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average unit cost of a payment made by Paymaster-General's order.

About 6d. This is expected to fall appreciably when the Department's computer is in full operation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the level of family allowance, tax free, that

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table listing the number of wage and salary earners in the following groups, £250 to £499, £500 to £999, £1,000 to £1,499 and over £1,500 in Scotland, England by region and Wales, and the percentage of total incomes in each area that fall within each group.

Following is the latest available information:—could be paid to the first child, on the basis that the child tax allowance for that child were abolished and replaced by family allowance.

About 19s. a week.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost to the Exchequer of raising social security benefit to cover the increased cost of food indicated in the White Paper, on the basis of the United Kingdom joining the European Economic Community.

The White Paper "Britain and the European Communities —An Economic Assessment", Cmnd. 4289, indicates a range of possible increases in food costs, which would be spread over a transitional period, the length of which cannot be forecast. A precise estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of raising social security benefit to cover the increased cost of food is therefore impossible. But, for illustrative purposes, to compensate for a 1 per cent. increase in the retail price index increases on current rates of benefit of the following annual order of cost would be required.

	£
Supplementary Benefits	2·3
War Pensions	1·1
National Insurance and Industrial Injuries Benefits	25·0
Total	28·4

Of the total cost of £28·4 million approximately £8 million would be the cost to the Exchequer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many items of mail were opened, under the powers contained in the Exchange Control Act, 1947, and in customs legislation, in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous five years.

The information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what date he expects the new Inland Revenue Computer Centre in Portsmouth to be fully operational.

It is expected that the centre will be set up in the period 1977–79.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the revenue which will arise from terminating the exemption of sickness and unemployment benefits from liability to tax, and of the cost of collecting tax on such benefits.

About £140 million at a cost of about £15 million.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether, in the further consideration of the Question roster, he will arrange to allot an opportunity every fortnight during the remainder of the Session for asking Questions relating to Scotland.

I am satisfied that there are adequate opportunities for Scottish Questions.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is her policy towards the report of the Bristow inquiry.

My right hon. Friend is considering the Committee's recommendations in the light of the many representations made to her by organisations outside the port transport industry who might be affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will estimate the effect of United Kingdom membership of the European Community on the Retail Prices Indices for Pensioner Households on the basis of the data pepared for Command Paper No. 4289, Great Britain and the European Community.

Paragraph 29 of Command Paper 4289 indicates that the maximum increase in food prices which might result from entry into the European Communities would be of the order of 18–26 per cent., but that increases would only be incurred gradually over a number of years and would be less if the present gap between the United Kingdom, world and Community prices narrowed before entry and during the transitional period. A maximum rise foreseen would raise the special indices for pensioner households by about 10 per cent. owing to the greater importance of food in the expenditure of pensioner households. As Ministers have stated, any significant increase would call for special arrangements to deal with the effect on the standard of living of pensioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will produce a table showing, separately, the number of unskilled and semi-skilled male manual workers employed in each of the new towns and in Glasgow; and what proportion, expressed as a percentage, each of those groups bear to the insured male population in each case.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many persons are employed in Carmarthenshire and in Wales, respectively, in the railway industry; and what was the number employed 20 years ago.

The estimated number of employees in Carmarthenshire in railways (minimum list heading 220 of the 1948 edition of the Standard Industrial Classification and 701 of the 1958 edition) at

NUMBERS REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED
	1969												1970
Employment Exchange Area	Jan.	Feb.	Mar.	Apr.	May	June	July	Aug.	Sept.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.	Jan.
Canterbury	606	628	575	603	562	532	473	518	557	550	580	617	734
Herne Bay and Whitstable	645	687	665	677	607	571	529	589	570	638	659	668	742
Margate	1,430	1,384	1,344	1,185	972	678	644	712	783	1,247	1,330	1,399	1,446
Ramsgate and Sandwich	1,369	1,384	1,362	1,258	1,127	911	872	1,104	1,141	1,210	1,370	1,483	1,583
Deal	499	477	446	438	388	380	344	382	388	443	487	520	578
Dover	715	713	606	619	504	450	407	505	480	644	683	685	679
Folkestone and Hythe	897	953	939	808	710	691	639	732	672	830	946	1,035	1,064
Gravesend	964	868	891	855	790	727	718	838	862	844	854	943	971
Chatham	2,032	1,912	1,923	1,816	1,704	1,511	1,567	1,773	1,925	1,816	1,897	1,967	2,311
Sittingbourne and Faversham	593	572	517	470	423	420	413	552	474	462	518	627	667
Sheerness	502	547	482	482	420	353	346	404	346	406	445	453	490

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the number of male registered employees in Carmarthenshire in 1950; and what is the number today.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity why she approved the revised proposals submitted to her by the Construction Industry Training Board.

I was satisfied that the Board had made reasonable changes to take account of the various representations made by the industry on the original proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will publish figures to show the number of persons, wholly unemployed in the following areas, Canterbury, Herne Bay/ Whitstable, Margate, Ramsgate/ Sandwich, Deal, Dover, Folkestone/ Hythe, Gravesend, Chatham/Medway, Sittingbourne, Faversham, and Sheerness, for each month of 1969 and for January 1970.

The following is the information:

The estimated numbers of male employees in employment in Carmarthenshire at June 1950 and June 1968 (the latest date for which information is available) were 40,700 and 33,100 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has given official publicity to the method of extraction of blood from the thumb in cases of alleged drunken driving; and whether motorists required to provide samples of blood for analysis will continue to be required by doctors to provide a blood sample from the arm.

Whether venous or capillary blood should be taken, and where from, are matters to be settled between the motorist and the doctor. I have not heard that any great difficulty arises in practice, and my right hon. Friend has not arranged publicity on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been deported under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1962, in each year since the passing of that Act.

The figures are as follows:

	Commonwealth wealth citizens	citizens of the Irish Republic	Totals
1962 (July-Dec.)	55	95	150
1963	105	152	257
1964	93	140	233
1965	95	161	256
1966	82	171	253
1967	72	183	255
1968	100	177	277
1969	192	200	392

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to extend to Northern Ireland the proposed communications network throughout England, Wales and Scotland, in order that the Royal Ulster Constabulary may share the advantage of access to records on the central computer complex.

The possibilities are now being discussed with the Northern Ireland authorities, who have been kept in touch with the development of the project.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain why, on two occasions between 9 a.m. and 9.45 a.m. on Wednesday 11th February the hon. Member for West Ham, North was in formed for there were no Ministers or others in authority in the Under Secretary's office present to receive a telephone call, and that those in authority do not normally arrive before 10 a.m.

No. Adequate arrangements exist for messages to be taken from 9 a.m. onwards.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the South Lewisham Young Socialists regarding the proposed closure of Downham fire station; and what reply he has made.

The Secretary and a member of the South Lewisham Young Socialists have written to my right hon. Friend objecting to a proposal by the Greater London Council to close Down-ham fire station and asking him to receive a deputation. They have been told that a fire authority may not close a fire station without my right hon. Friend's approval; that no proposal for the closure of Downham fire station has yet been submitted; and that he can therefor make no comment at this stage.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what civil aircraft have been making proving flights into Ballykelly; by what companies they are owned; what type of aircraft was used; and with what result.

There have been no recent proving flights by civil aircraft into Ballykelly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what civil aircraft have been making proving flights into Sydenham; by what companies they are owned; what type of aircraft was used; and with what result.

One proving flight by a Trident 2 aircraft has been carried out by British European Airways who have reported that with some minor improvements to technical facilities Sydenham should be operationally suitable for use by their Trident, Vanguard and Viscount aircraft.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, when considering alternative or diversionary airports in Northern Ireland, what estimate he has formed of the number of days in each year upon which the airfields at Ballykelly and Sydenham are fog and industrial-haze free, respectively; and on how many occasions in the past 12 months up until 18th February it has been impossible to land an aircraft at each one.

Meteorological data are not readily available in the form requested. I am having such information as is available collated and will write to the hon. Member. I am, however, advised that both airfields would be acceptable in these rôles from the aspect of weather.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the decision of the Roskill Commission to substitute a third completely new alignment of runways for the Thurleigh site for London's third airport, he will instruct the Commission to hold a new Stage II Inquiry in Bedford and compensate out of public funds the costs of those who gave evidence in the original Stage II Inquiry last September.

This is a matter for the Commission on the Third London Airport but I understand that the Commission made it plain at Stage II that changes were to be expected in the light of the detailed studies at Stage III and this is what has happened. I understand that the question of the alignment and layout will be open to testing during the forthcoming Stage V hearing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will state the free-on-board value of total United Kingdom exports of manufactured goods to Commonwealth countries during the calendar year to 31st December 1968 or the fiscal year ended 4th April 1969;(2) if he will state the cost, insurance and freight value of United Kingdom imports of manufactured goods from each of the six countries of the European Economic Community during the calendar year to 3l st December 1968 or the fiscal year ended 4th April 1969;(3) if he will state the cost, insurance and freight value of United Kingdom imports of manufactured goods from the six countries of the European Economic Community during the calendar year to 31st December 1968, or the fiscal year ended 4th April 1969;(4) he will state the cost, insurance and freight value of United Kingdom imports of manufactured goods from Commonwealth countries during the calendar year to 31st December 1968 or the fiscal year ended 4th April 1969;(5) if he will state the free-on-board value of total United Kingdom exports of manufactured goods to the six countries of the European Economic Community during the calendar year to 31st December 1968 or the fiscal year ended 4th April 1969.

Information on manufactured goods (Sections 5 to 8 in the trade statistics) for the year 1968 is published in Volume 1 of the Annual Statement of Trade of the United Kingdom: imports, pages 220–1, exports (including re-exports), pages 250–1.

asked the President of the Board of Trade by what authority he requires prior notification of an increase in the price of the Daily Telegraph in excess of 1d. in the current year, or prevents any such increase with or without prior notification.

Under the prices and incomes policy, the managements of the Daily Telegraph and of other national newspapers agreed in 1965 to give my Department early warning of proposed price increases and the arrangement has operated on this voluntary basis.