asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in view of the general agreement on the appropriate type of local government organisation for the South-East Lancashire and North-East Cheshire area, he will introduce legislation making special provision for this area at an early date.

I agree on the need to press forward with reorganisation but it is not practicable to deal with this part of the country in isolation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what conditions he proposes to impose on the sale of council houses.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of Circular 54/70 which, apart from removing the restrictions on numbers, repeats the conditions set out in the previous Circular 24/67.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will issue a circular to local authorities stating that in providing houses for sale every step must first be taken to ensure that the needs of those requiring houses for rent must be given prior consideration.

In his circular on the sale of council houses my right hon. Friend made it clear that he expects authorities to take vigorous action to meet the needs of those who are homeless or inadequately housed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the total number of council houses; how many of them have been sold to tenants to date; of these, how many had been sold to tenants before the ceiling of one-quarter of one per cent. was fixed; and how many he estimates will be sold within the next five years.

It is not possible to make an estimate of future sales.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will introduce legislation to compel local authorities to levy rates on empty property.

My right hon. Friend has no proposals at present for legislation on this subject.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make an official visit to Portsmouth.

Yes. I have already received an invitation from the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth which I intend to accept.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in view of the Government's intention to abolish the Land Commission, he will seek to avoid a long period of uncertainty in land transactions by making an early statement of Government policy in respect of the betterment levy and alternatives to it.

My right hon. Friend will make a statement before the Recess.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give a general direction to the Land Commission to suspend the collection of betterment levy on transactions resulting in losses to the parties on whom levy is assessed, pending legislation to dissolve the Commission.

No. But my right hon. Friend will be making a general statement about arrangements in regard to the betterment levy before the Recess.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what his intention is regarding the continuance of the Betterment Levy;(2) when he will introduce legislation to abolish the Land Commission.

My right hon. Friend will be making a statement on these matters before the Recess.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will issue a circular to local authorities on the need for cleaning up areas of housing demolition; and if he will make a statement.

I have no evidence that local authorities in general need a reminder of this kind.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make an examination of the detrimental effect of the removal of sand from beaches in Northumberland and throughout the country, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy to safeguard the beauty of the British countryside and seashore for the future.

There are very few places in England where beach workings have been permitted in recent years. Strict conditions have been attached to planning consents given for that purpose, both in Northumberland and elsewhere. I will, however, keep the position under review.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now take steps to reduce restrictions on office development.

The future of the office development control is under examination and any changes agreed upon will be announced as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to enable the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration to investigate the administrative actions of local authorities.

No, but I shall be studying the results of the current consultations between my Department and the local authority associations about a possible independent ombudsman system for local government.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will send a circular to local authorities on comprehensive housing advisory centres; and whether, in drafting it, he will take account of the proposals which have been made available to his Department by the hon. Member for Willesden, East.

My right hon. Friend is considering the most effective way of encouraging the setting up of housing advisory centres, and he is taking account of all suggestions that have come to the Department.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses were completed in 1964; and what is the current forecast for completions in 1970.

373,676 dwellings were completed in Great Britain in 1964. It is too early to make a precise forecast for this year but the total is unlikely to exceed last year's total of 366,793.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he will take to stop as a matter of urgency the pollution of the River Tees.

This is primarily a matter for the river authority, but no significant improvement can be expected without major works, such as those at present being investigated by Teesside County Borough Council.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when a decision is to be made regarding the application made to him by Liverpool City Council regarding the future of the flats at Gerrard Gardens, Liverpool, 3; and if he will make a statement.

I know that the city council has been considering converting the flats at Gerard Gardens into student accommodation, but there is no application before my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what representations he has received from the Liverpool City Council regarding subsidies for a modernisation programme of pre-war tenement flats in Liverpool; what decision has been taken; and what amount of subsidies is available.

None. Improvement contributions will be available as usual on the scale provided by the Housing Act, 1969.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to alter the rating system so that owner-occupiers are no longer penalised for making internal improvements to their property.

We will be considering the whole question of local government finance in the context of local government reform. In the meantime I have no present proposals for legislation on this subject.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will consider how new town development corporations can be helped to provide essential chemist services for new estates where the residents live some distance from bus services.

It is the statutory responsibility of the local executive council of the National Health Service to see that adequate services of this kind are provided.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what form housing subsidies on council housing will take in the future; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to my earlier answer to the hon. Members for Brentford and Chiswick (Mr. Barnes) and Watford (Mr. Raphael Tuck).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will reconstitute the panel which is inquiring into the Greater London Development Plan to include at least 50 per cent. women members.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what are his plans for the future building of council houses.

I would refer the hon. Member to my earlier answer to the hon. Member for South Shields (Mr. Blenkinsop).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will encourage local authorities to increase their building of houses.

I would refer the hon. Member to my earlier answer to the hon. Member for South Shields (Mr. Blenkinsop).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what plans he has for increasing the rate of building of council houses.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my earlier answer to the hon. Member for South Shields (Mr. Blenkinsop).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish a list of those local authorities with serious housing need which have reduced their council-house building programmes; if he will use the compulsory powers available under the 1957 Housing Act; and what other steps he proposes to increase council housing building programmes.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his earlier Question today.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state the number of dwellings started and completed, respectively, this year to the latest available date, stating separately council houses and houses built for sale, and the corresponding figures for the same period of 1969, 1968 and 1967.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will take steps to provide that the Outer London boroughs should give further help towards relieving the housing waiting lists of Inner London boroughs, including twinning arrangements for this purpose between Inner and Outer London boroughs.

The need for Outer London to do everything possible to help Inner London is emphasised in a report by the Standing Working Party on London Housing which my right hon. Friend will be sending to London housing authorities during this next week.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much he estimates rents will increase on average in the London Borough of Islington for tenants of both the borough council and the Greater London Council on the basis of housing subsidies being removed.

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Bassetlaw (Mr. Ashton) on 7th July.—[Vol, 803, c. 19.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to receive the report of the Francis Committee.

I have been informed by the chairman that he hopes that the committee will report by about the end of the year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will maintain the policy regarding the proposed expansion of Swindon.

Last April the local authorities concerned, Swindon Borough Council, Wiltshire County Council and the Greater London Council, were asked to prepare a joint management scheme to administer the further expansion of Swindon to a population of about 200,000 by 1986. I will consider this in the light of the authorities' proposals.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses built under the Birmingham overspill scheme at Daventry stand empty; and what steps he intends to take to assist the progress of this scheme.

139 houses built for overspill are at present empty, and I will be discussing with the authorities concerned what action needs to be taken.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what newly constructed council housing he inspected during his recent visit to Lambeth.

I went to see the housing advice centre and what the council was doing about rehabilitation, but I also had a general discussion with it about its housing activities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in view of the withdrawal of Circular 67/68, which recommended deferment of increased expenditure on river pollution prevention on the grounds of financial stringency, if he is satisfied that the estimated cost of improving the standard of each river will not impose an undue strain on the economy; and if he will publish the survey of estimated costs.

I am sending a copy of Circular No. 44/70 dated 4th June to my hon. Friend. It makes it clear that the pace of river improvement must depend upon the resources which can be made available for that purpose, and that when the River Pollution Survey is published next year it will be possible to draw up more considered programmes of work. The survey will include an estimate of the cost of desirable remedial works.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what has been the increase in the £ sterling paid by the domestic ratepayers in Hull as an absolute figure and as a percentage for the years 1966 to 1970.

This information can be obtained from the annual publication "Rates and Rateable Values" or from the local authority, which is responsible for the rates it levies.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that two transport yards between Abbey Grove, S.E.2, and Abbey Wood Road, S.E.2, have not been moved to sites provided by the Greenwich Borough Council contrary to his Department's Discontinuance Order which came into force on 7th February, 1970; and what action he proposes to take.

Non-compliance with a discontinuance order is a matter for the local planning authority, which can, if it wishes, enforce it through the courts.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he proposes to take to improve the standard of housebuilding by private builders.

About 95 per cent. of all houses built privately for sale are covered by the scheme run by the National Housebuilders Registration Council. The scheme includes a specification of constructional and design standards to which registered builders must conform, and I am watching closely the operation of the scheme.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he proposes to take to ensure that building contractors complete the pavements and roads on new estates within a reasonable time to standards acceptable to local authorities.

This is one of the matters which it is open to the local highway authority to provide for by a previous agreement with the developer under Section 40 of the Highways Act, 1959.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the draft scheme, outlined in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North on 29th May, for the payment of rents by the Supplementary Benefits Commission has now been accepted by the representatives of the local authority; and at what date it came into operation.

Replies are still awaited from some of the local authority associations.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce amending legislation to allow individuals and local authorities to prosecute as a criminal offence the pollution of rivers, reservoirs, etc., rather than treat matter as a civil offence as at present.

It is already a criminal offence to cause or knowingly permit to enter a river any poisonous, noxious of polluting matter.Statutory water undertakers and river authorities have power to make bye-laws for protecting against pollution any surface or underground water belonging to them or which they are authorised to take. Infringement of the bye-laws will normally be an offence.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a comparative table of average council rents in the city of Portsmouth and the 50 other largest housing authorities in England and Wales.

The Housing Rent Statistics (England and Wales) as at 31st March, 1969, published by the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants, contains the most recent readily available information on council rents.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will announce the membership of the corporation of the Central Lancashire New Town.

I have this under consideration.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in view of the fact that the Liverpool City Council has increased council house rents three times in the last three years, he will give an assurance that he will restrict the maximum yearly increase in council house rents to those already in force.

Under present legislation, local authorities can increase council house rents without my right hon. Friend's agreement by an average of 7s. 6d. a week and a maximum of 10s. a week in any 52-week period.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now give consent to the building of the covered swimming pool in the Medway Towns Black Lion Fields sports project.

I regret that this scheme cannot be fitted into the present year's programme but I appreciate the need and will keep it under review.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will introduce legislation to prevent persons being elected to the aldermanic bench of local authorities until such time as they have served at least one full year as an ordinary member of the council of which they have been elected aldermen.

We shall be considering the future of the aldermanic system in the context of our proposals for local government reform.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has made of the average weekly increases in council house rents needed for existing dwellings, in shillings, on the basis that housing subsidies nationally, and to Salford City Council, respectively, are abolished, excepting old people's accommodation; and what are the estimated weekly increases needed to offset the subsidy on dwellings under construction at 1st January, 1970.

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Bassetlaw (Mr. Ashton) on 7th July.—[Vol. 803, c. 19.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what will be the total cost to the London Borough of Newham involved in the strengthening of the tower blocks as a result of the Ronan Point disaster; what methods he intends to approve for the council to raise the balance between this total and the Exchequer grant proposed, other than increasing rents or rates; and by how much they have informed him that rates will have to be increased to find the full amounts involved.

Newham estimates total cost of £1·8 million, including items inadmissible for grant. After making allowance for insurance payments and grant, this leaves loan charges equivalent to just under a penny rate, together with a loss of revenue of £300,000. It is for the council to decide how its share of the cost should be met.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what are the latest figures for the stockpile of bricks in Scotland, England and Wales.

At the end of May stocks of bricks in Scotland were 49 millions, in England 896 millions and in Wales 39 millions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the difficulties arising both for farmers and animals in the haulage of cattle arising from the operation of the Transport Act; and if he will provide assistance to the industry to deal with this.

We are aware of representations that have been made

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he has had with bodies outside the Government about increases in the prices of New Zealand butter in the United Kingdom; how this will affect the price of United Kingdom and other imported butter; and if he will make a statement.

On my appointment I was informed that the New Zealand Dairy Board proposed to raise the first hand selling price of its butter here. The board's representative called on my right hon. Friend on 23rd June in order to explain why the board thought it necessary, in view of higher freight and other costs, to increase the price. On 24th June the New Zealand Dairy Board raised the price by 15s. a cwt. Prices of Australian, Irish, English and some minor butters have increased by a similar amount but the more expensive butters, principally Danish and Dutch, have not risen in price. The retail price of those butters which have increased in price may rise by 1d. a half pound packet.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total acreage of afforestation achieved by the Forestry Commission and the proportion of that acreage taken up by the planting of deciduous trees within each of the last five years.

The following is the information:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the present charge of 7s. 6d. for a dog licence was fixed; and what is the equivalent charge today, taking into account the fall in the value of the £ sterling.

The present duty of 7s. 6d. on a dog licence was fixed in 1878. This would be equivalent, at today's values, to approximately £2 5s.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make brucellosis in animals a notifiable disease.

No. There is no ready way of recognising the symptoms of brucellosis, and it would, therefore, be unrealistic to require owners to notify the disease.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he proposes to continue the policy for the eradication of brucellosis as outlined in the Annual Review White Paper Command Paper No. 4321, 1970; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave yesterday to Questions by the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Hooson) and my hon. Friend the Member for Torrington (Mr. Peter Mills).—[Vol. 803, c. 142–4.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make proposals to alleviate the hardship caused by the agricultural tied-cottage system.

We have no proposals at present for further changes in the legislation relating to agricultural tied cottages.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his plans for future financial support for the agricultural industry.

We intend to create the conditions in which individual framers will once again be able and willing to expand their production.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that the previous increase in beer prices has resulted in profit increases of up to 40 per cent. to many brewery companies; and whether he will refuse the requests of some brewery firms for further increases in the retail price of beer.

The profit increases which I have seen reported are not of this order. I would remind the hon. Member that the main reason for the price increase last year, which was accepted by the National Board for Prices and Incomes and the previous Administration, was that brewery companies needed such increases to finance their investment programmes. My right hon. Friend has received no requests from brewers for increases in retail prices.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present average price of sugar on the retail market; whether he will obtain from the European Economic Community or other international sources the equivalent price in France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Italy; and to what extent Great Britain's entry into the Six under the present arrangements will increase or reduce the retail price of sugar to Great Britain.

The average retail price of sugar in Great Britain is 9d. per lb. The equivalent price in France is 1s. 1d., in Belgium 1s. 5d., in the Netherlands 1s. 2d., and in Italy 1s. 6d. Entry into the Community under present arrangements would probably lead to some increase in the retail price of sugar in Great Britain over a period but the extent of the increase would, of course, depend, among other factors, on the level of prices in the Community at the end of the transitional period.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value in the latest convenient year of British investments in Africa north of the Zambesi and in Africa south of the Zambesi; and what were the comparative figures 10 years previously.

The available information is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to relax current hire-purchase restrictions as they apply to the motor industry.

My right hon. Friend has no proposals for a change in the hire-purchase controls on motor cars, but he will keep the situation of the industry under review.

ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the proportion of the gross domestic product of the United Kingdom being devoted to gross domestic capital formation in the years 1951 to 1964 compared with the proportion in the years 1964 to 1970.

In the years 1951 to 1964 gross domestic capital formation amounted on average to 19·1 per cent. of the gross domestic product at factor cost. In the years 1964 to 1969 the corresponding percentage was 21·8 per cent.; figures for 1970 are not yet available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will examine the question of exempting local authority securities from capital gains tax.

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when it is proposed to implement Stage II of the Royal Mint Project at Llantrisant.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make an announcement within the next few days.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make arrangements for the study of negative income tax.

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the reduction in the number of staff in the Inland Revenue Department to be obtained by the abolition of surtax.

About 2,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to ensure that the Inland Revenue department complies fully with the provisions of Section 13(2) of the Inland Revenue Act. 1890 requiring that department to publish an analysis of the costs of tax collection and management of each such part of the Inland Revenue.

Section 13(2) does not require such an analysis to be published, and I am satisfied that the Inland Revenue is already doing all that the section requires.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will provide an up-to-date list of changes which can be made by regulation in taxation and consumer credit facilities without legislation.

The powers taken principally for demand management purposes are the Customs and Excise Regulator (Section 9 of the Finance Act, 1961 as amended by Section 8 of the Finance Act, 1964) and the Hire Purchase and Credit Sale Agreements (Control) Orders and Control of Hiring Orders made by the Board of Trade under the Emergency Laws (Re-enactments and Repeals) Act, 1964. There is, in addition, a range of powers for making administrative adjustments to the tax system.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give consideration to the amendment of Sections 195 and 198 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act, 1970, so as to raise the limit of assessable gross emoluments beyond the £2,000 established in 1948.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in HANSARD details of the sterling expenditure on social services, &c., including the National Health Service, in 1963 and in 1969.

Figures for total public expenditure on social services and housing in the financial years 1963–64 and 1969–70, distinguishing current grants abroad, are given in Table A of the May 1970 issue of the Monthly Digest of Statistics. Those for calendar years up to 1968 may be derived from Table 50 of National Income and Expenditure 1969, while those for 1969 will be in the 1970 issue of this publication due to appear in September. Separate figures for the non-sterling content of social services expenditure are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when it is proposed to introduce legislation implementing the recommendations of the Parliamentary Boundary Commission.

The necessary Resolutions were laid on 9th July. The House will be informed in the usual way when the Government propose that they should be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to enable councillors and aldermen who are not resident in the electoral areas of their local authorities to be eligible for nomination for re-election in 1971.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead (Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg) on 9th July.—[Vol. 803, c. 86.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to prohibit the hunting of otters throughout England and Wales, in view of the fact that the number of wild otters has been much reduced in recent years.

No. My right hon. Friend's information is that this species is widely distributed in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he accepts the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on the Fire Service and what timetable he has for consulting interested parties.

My right hon. Friend welcomes the report of the committee and is most grateful to Sir Ronald Holroyd and his colleagues for the ability and thoroughness with which they discharged an onerous task. Their 200 findings, covering a wide range of organisational and technical matters, will require careful study. Approaches have been made to interested parties on methods of consultation, and my right hon. Friend hopes that considered views will begin to emerge by the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards the future of governmental community development teams in urban areas.

Progress is continuing in the four areas already taking part in the Community Development Project. My right hon. Friend hopes to announce shortly the names of a further four areas of the Project's second phase.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to provide for witness summonses in magistrates' courts in London to be applied for and issued at the Crown Office as an alternative to personal application at the magistrates' court by a party desirous of calling a witness.

Rule 88 of the Magistrates' Courts Rules, 1968, allows applications for a witness summons to be made in writing to the clerk of a magistrates' court for submission to a justice of the peace.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce legislation to ensure that local authorities increase the number of bus tokens or passes issued to old age pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now refer the recently approved 25 per cent. fares increase for the Midland Red Bus Company to the National Board for Prices and Incomes, in view of the Government's policy on prices in publicly-owned enterprises.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 10th July.—[Vol. 803, c. 113.]

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the intention of the Midland Red Bus Company to raise fares in the West Midlands by 25 per cent.; and if he will refer this to the National Board for Prices and Incomes in order to keep prices down.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 10th July.—[Vol. 803, c. 113.]

asked the Minister of Transport what roll-on/roll-off facilities exist at Welsh ports to facilitate easy transport between Wales and the Common Market countries in readiness for this country joining the Common Market.

A number of Welsh ports already have roll-on/roll-off berths. The initiative for further developments rests with the individual harbour authorities who will no doubt be ready to take any further opportunities that seem likely to arise.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give an assurance that he will not introduce the provision in the Transport Act, 1968, to reduce the permitted hours of driving for both goods and passenger vehicle drivers from 10 hours to nine hours.

I have no present intention of doing so.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will seek to amend the Transport Act, 1968, to make a distinction in the permitted hours of duty between drivers of stage carriage or express services and those on excursion or private hire operations, in view of the fact that the latter are able to take rest periods at their destinations.

The Act and the Modifications Order already make distinctions of this nature. I am sending my hon. Friend information about them.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action she is taking to eliminate any future risk of leakage from consignments to the Virus Research Institute at Pirbright; and if she will make a statement.

The Institute's instructions for sending samples were not followed by the Tunisian authorities in a recent case. All countries using the Institute are being reminded that samples should be specially packed and sent by air. As an additional precaution arrangements have been made with local postal authorities to ensure that the Institute is notified immediately if any package addressed to the Institute appears to have been leaking.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of secondary school children in Wales are taught in comprehensive schools.

Approximately 47 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of schemes of comprehensive education currently submitted to her Department by education authorities in Wales.

There are currently under consideration by my Department 11 schemes of comprehensive education submitted by local education authorities, including voluntary bodies in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the number of first-year medical students in Great Britain in the years 1951 to 1969, inclusive; and what is the expected number in the years 1970 to 1975.

Annual pre-clinical intakes in Great Britain since 1960–61 are shown below; earlier figures are not available. The figures for 1970–71 onward are provisional estimates only.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she proposes to apply pay restraints to those in the public sector engaged in teaching.

Any pay claim on behalf of teachers will be negotiated in the normal way taking account of all the circumstances, including the needs of the service and the economy generally.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will now take steps to include Flintshire in the Wales development area.

While unemployment in parts of Flintshire is above the national average, I am not convinced that its problems are of a kind that would justify the county's inclusion in the Welsh development area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take the necessary action to stop the South of Scotland Electricity Board increasing its tariffs by 8 per cent.

I have no power to issue directions to the Board in regard to the fixing or varying of its tariffs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has now received representations from Kinghorn Labour Party, regarding irregularities in the imposition of rent increases on council tenants in Kinghorn, and about the conduct of certain committee meetings of the Town Council; and whether he will hold an inquiry into the administration of the burgh.

The Secretary of the Kinghorn Labour Party wrote to me on 6th July. My information is that some increases in rents were made without being properly approved by the town council but that this error has now been put right. No evidence has been put to me which would justify an inquiry into the burgh's administration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to extend to the library service in Scotland the same legislation as in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

I recognise the need to consolidate and bring up to date the existing legislation on public libraries in Scotland. In carrying out the necessary review in consultation with local authorities and others, appropriate regard will be paid to the provisions of the equivalent English legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many consultants in Scotland between the age of 56 and 60 years, the age of 50 and 56 years and under 50 years, respectively, are presently paid for distinction awards in the categories A plus, A and B, respectively.

At 31st December, 1969 the figures for Scotland were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many part-time consultants in the National Health Service was either A plus or A distinction awards have transferred to full-time status in their last three years of service in the years 1967 to 1969, inclusive.

No consultant holding an A or A plus award who retired during the years 1967–69 had transferred to full-time service in the last three years of service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many part-time and full-time consultants, respectively, in Scotland in 1969 were granted study leave with pay and expenses involving visits to other countries; and whether the expenses were paid from endowment or National Health Service revenue resources.

This information is not available centrally and it would involve a disproportionate expenditure of time to obtain it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the weekly increase in council house rents needed for existing dwellings, in shillings, on the basis that housing subsidies to the City of Glasgow are abolished, excepting old people's accommodation; and what is the estimated weekly increase needed to offset the subsidy on dwellings under construction during 1970.

I know of no proposals of this kind. If the hon. Gentleman is pressing such a policy I trust he will write to me about it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total amount paid from Government sources in rate support grants to Glasgow in the last three years.

The total amounts of rate support grants, or their equivalents, paid to Glasgow in the last three years were:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he proposes to reduce the number of civil servants in the Welsh Office consequent upon a reduction in the number of Ministers.

The number of staff needed in the Welsh Office will be related to the work that has to be done.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the total amount of hill cattle and hill cow subsidy provided for Carmarthenshire in the two periods 1961 to 1964 and 1965 to 1968, respectively.

£157,176 and £407,851—including £106,020 for winter keep—respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications for grant have been received by local authorities in Wales from omnibus companies operating in rural areas; how many such applications have been granted; and what is the sum total of such grants paid to date.

I cannot say how many applications local authorities in Wales have received but I have received five applications from local authorities, granted one—to two local authorities acting jointly—and four are under consideration. No payments have yet been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications for grant have been received by local authorities in Cardiganshire from omnibus companies operating in rural areas; how many such applications have been granted; and what is the sum total of such grants paid to date.

I cannot say how many applications local authorities in Cardiganshire may have received, but I have authorised grant to Aberaeron Rural District Council—in Cardiganshire—acting jointly with Teifiside Rural District Council—in Carmarthenshire—to assist one rural bus service. Two applications from the Aberaeron Urban and Aberaeron Rural District Councils are being considered. No payments have yet been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to bring together local authorities in Wales to discuss steps to preserve and improve rural bus services in Wales.

My Department will be glad to discuss with any local authority problems affecting rural bus services in its area.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied that all local authorities in Wales have the financial resources to enable them to bear the cost of grants payable to omnibus operators in rural areas; and if he will make a statement.

It is for the local authorities themselves to decide the extent to which they are able to assist rural bus services in their areas. I am empowered to make a 50 per cent. contribution towards any grants they may make under Section 34 of the Transport Act, 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made by the Welsh Office in its consideration of a bypass express route running outside and to the south of Colwyn Bay as an alternative to the Route C recommended by the Collern Report of 1968.

This is one of the routes being considered by consulting engineers who were appointed in August, 1969, to examine all the possible routes in the "Colleson" Report and any others which appear to them to have merit. I expect to receive the consulting engineers report in the spring of 1971.