asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will given an undertaking that grants and subsidies now given to hill farmers will be continued in the event of Great Britain entering the European Economic Community.

The methods which would be appropriate for assisting our hill farmers in the event of the United Kingdom entering the Community will depend on the development of the Common Agricultural Policy and on trends in market prices for the produce of hill farms. Our aim in any negotiations concerning this assistance will be to secure the best terms both for the hills and for the agricultural industry as a whole.As I said in reply to the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Gwynoro Jones) on 5th November at the opening of the present negotiations the Community were told that among the matters we wish to see covered is the question of assistance available for farmers in areas of special difficulty, which in our view includes the problems of hill farming areas.—[Vol. 805, c.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what percentage the price of manufactured foodstuffs has increased since 18th June, 1970.

The sub-group of the Index of Retail Food Prices which covers food mainly manufactured in the United Kingdom rose by about 2·5 per cent. between 16th June and 22nd September, the latest date for which figures are available.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply whether he has completed his review of the BAC-311 project; and when he anticipates being in a position to end present uncertainty in the industry by making a statement.

I cannot add to the statement I made in the House on 18th November.—[Vol. 806, c. 1206–12.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many courts-martial have taken place over the last two years due to actions in or about Northern Ireland; and how many Service men have been dismissed the service with or without disgrace as a consequence.

Royal Navy—none; Army—77; Royal Air Force—one.It would require protracted research to ascertain the number of men sentenced to be dismissed. About 60 per cent. of the trials were, however, for absence without leave.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many members of the British armed forces have had the death penalty passed upon them; how many of these were for offences against the various Armed Forces Acts since the beginning of the Second World War; and for how many and in which year and country were these sentences carried out.

Fifty men have been executed since 1939 after trial under the Service Discipline Acts. Forty-six were executed overseas for murder. One was executed in London in July, 1946, for wartime treachery. Three were executed in August, 1942, for mutiny with violence in the Cocos-Keeling Islands.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces were given on conviction by court martial sentences of imprisonment over the past five years.

Royal Navy—28; Royal Air Force—32. I will write to the hon. Member about the Army figures.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces have been convicted at a court martial over the last five years for act, conduct or neglect to prejudice of service discipline; and what was the range of sentences passed.

Royal Navy—78; Army—947; Royal Air Force—81. Sentences ranged from 28 days' detention to dismissal.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces have been dismissed with disgrace from Her Majesty's Service, and dismissed from Her Majesty's Service since 1946, respectively.

Royal Navy—27 and 1,000 since 1946; Royal Air Force—60 and 152 since 1st January, 1966. I will write to the hon. Member about the Army figures.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces have been court martialled for being asleep on duty while on active service since 1946; and what was the average sentence passed.

Available statistics go back only to 1st January, 1966, since when 36 men have been tried. I regret that it is not possible to give an average sentence.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many officers have been cashiered since 1946 for behaving in a scandalous manner unbecoming the character of an officer and a gentleman.

Royal Navy—12 since 1946; Army—six since 1960; Royal Air Force—one since 1966. I regret that the statistics do not all go back to 1946.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces are serving terms of imprisonment and detention, at the last convenient date.

On 1st September, 1970, 317 Servicemen were in detention. In 1968 and 1969 respectively 49 and 29 Servicemen were sentenced by court-martial to terms of imprisonment but it is not known how many are still in prison. There are also a very few Servicemen who before 1968 were awarded sentences longer than two years and who are still in prison.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many military corrective establishments are now in use; and what is the number of staff required to man these establishments.

Four establishments and 290 staff.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is his estimate of the number of Service men who will be covered by the Armed Forces Bill now before Parliament; and from what groups or trade unions he has received representations on their behalf.

About 350,000. No representations have been received.

asked the Minister of State for Defence by what date he anticipates publication of the report on the 1968 studies initiated under the auspices of his Department into toxic properties of the CS gaseous agent.

I have nothing to add to my reply of 11th November—[Vol. 806, c. 202–3.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence to what extent the 1968 studies, or other information on the nature and effect of the CS gaseous agent, have indicated that the agent damages those exposed to its action.

We have no information which indicates that CS is harmful to man in other than wholly exceptional circumstances.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will identify the 43 sets of disturbances during which the CS gaseous agent has been used in Northern Ireland by date and by location; and what was the number of cartridges and canisters used on each such occasion.

The information is not readily available but I will write to the hon. Lady shortly.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what kinds of records are kept by the armed forces in Northern Ireland of stocks of the CS gaseous agent.

Records are kept of usage, issues and receipts in accordance with normal accounting procedures.

asked the Minister of State for Defence (1) what commercial concerns manufacture the CS gaseous agent used by his Department;(2) how much of the CS gaseous agent has been produced by commercial firms for sale to his Department during each year since 1965.

None.

asked the Minister of State for Defence on how many occasions the CS gaseous agent has been discharged in Northern Ireland on the initiative of a person below the rank of major or captain in the armed forces.

This information is not readily available.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether, in the light of delays in production of the Himsworth Report and in publishing the outcome of the 1968 investigations into the nature of the CS gaseous agent, he will now instruct the armed forces to cease its use forthwith.

No.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether median lethal dosage figures of CS gas for human beings, as established by recent tests at Porton correlate with figures found by American researchers, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Mid-Ulster.

My noble Friend has received no such details from the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether, in view of the fact that Sir Harold Himsworth and his colleagues have had access to hitherto unpublished studies carried out by the Department into the toxic properties of the CS gaseous agent, he will authorise the Himsworth Committee to publish all this material as part of their Report.

Sir Harold Himsworth and his colleagues will be free to publish all information about CS supplied to them by the Ministry of Defence.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether tests undertaken at Porton during and since 1968 into the properties of the CS gaseous agent have included evaluation of the effect of the agent on civilian populations in built-up areas.

Part I of the Himsworth Report (Cmnd. 4173) dealt with the effect of CS in a built-up area.

asked the Minister of State for Defence to what extent persons on the advisory boards of scientists retained by the Chemical Research Establishment or the Microbiological Defence Establishment at Porton receive fees or expenses in respect of their activities; and in what amounts.

Members of Defence Advisory Boards, like members of boards advising other Departments, are eligible for fees and expenses for the meetings they attend on a scale laid down by H.M. Treasury.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what arrangements his Department has made with the Schermuly Company of Dorking, Surrey, and with associated or similar corporate bodies, to possess, purchase, acquire, manufacture, sell or transfer weapons designed or adapted for the discharge of noxious liquid gas or other thing.

CS is sold by the Ministry of Defence to the Schermuly Company for the manufacture of CS weapons which are bought by the Ministry of Defence. We have arrangements with no other company.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will seek powers to compel local authorities to include cycling in their curriculum.

No. My right hon. Friend sees no reason to depart from the present statutory provision that what is taught in schools is the responsibility of the school authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number of building operatives in Scotland unemployed at the most recent date for which figures are available, categorised by trade.

Following is the information:

Occupational analysis of the number of men registered as wholly unemployed in Scotland at 12th October, 1970 who last worked in construction
Carpenter, joiner, shutterer	1,072
Bricklayer	502
Mason, stone carver	51
Slater, tiler, thatcher, etc.	208
Plasterer	194
Floor and wall tiler, etc.	76
Painter, decorator, sign-writer	508
Plumber, gas fitter, etc.	401
Glazier	19
Pavior, road, etc., surface layer	63
Steel erector, sheeter	274
Electrician, cable jointer, linesman	440
Mechanical handling plant, etc., operator	345
Erector, millwright, maintenance fitter	95
Miscellaneous building and civil engineering workers	1,520
Labourers and all other occupations	12,787
Total	18,555

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the number of companies employing more than 5,000 people, in the private sector, which operate a closed shop, and the number which operate a union shop.

No. I regret that the information on which such estimates could be based is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the number of civil servants employed on the full-scale trial census.

The main task was concentrated at some 300 local offices where, on average, one clerk per office was employed on this work for about five months, supplemented by an additional one or two temporary clerks for the peak period of about five weeks. About twenty staff at Headquarters are currently engaged in compiling and evaluating the results.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what will be the estimated cost of the full-scale trial census initiated by the last Government to test the feasibility of obtaining national and regional local employment statistics by means of the census; and whether he will give an anssurance that such a census will not be repeated.

The estimated cost is about £260,000. A decision on the future of the census will be taken within the next few months when the full results have been evaluated. If the censuses are continued the annual cost would be about 20 per cent. lower than that incurred for the 1970 trial census and would be broadly the same as the cost of the current method of counting national insurance cards.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what additional industrial training facilities he intends to provide for the Yorkshire coalfield, and, in particular, the Doncaster area.

The Yorkshire Coalfield is served by the Government Training Centres at Sheffield and Wakefield, both of which have unoccupied places. There are no present plans to set up further Centres in the area, but training facilities will be expanded by the new measures announced by my right hon. Friend in his reply to the hon. Member for The High Peak (Mr. Le Marchant) on 4th November.—[Vol. 805, c. 383–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that the executive and managerial sections of employment exchanges continue to perform a valuable function; and if he will make a statement.

The continuing increase in the business done by the Professional and Executive Register does, in my view, indicate that it is performing a useful function. We keep its operation under continual review to see where improvements can be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government propose to take with regard to the communiqué issued by the Council of Europe Working Conference for the European Youth foundation meeting on 8th and 9th January, 1970.

As envisaged at the meeting in January, there have been further discussions in the Council of Europe of the proposal for a European Youth Foundation. A number of fundamental questions, including the sphere of action of such a Foundation and the basis on which its funds would be contributed and administered have still to be settled.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what talks have taken place with the Federal German Government to increase the amount of money provided by both Governments for youth exchange programmes under the Anglo-German agreement; and with what results.

Following a general review of central Government expenditure on youth exchanges in preparation for the Estimates for 1970–71, the British contribution to British-German exchanges was increased from £30,000 to £50,000 for the current financial year. The Federal German Government are understood to have made a corresponding increase, from DM 300,000 to DM 500,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions he has given either to the Tote Board or to the Horseracing Betting Levy Board with respect to the fixing by the Levy Board of this year's levy on the Tote Board; and if he will make a statement.

On 16th April, 1970, my right hon. Friend's predecessor determined the Horserace Totalisator Board's contribution to the Levy for the period 1st April, 1970 to 31st March, 1971 as being an amount equal to 1½ per cent. of the Tote Board's betting turnover during this period, reserving power, however, to reduce that amount in the event of a deficit. As appellate authority, my right hon. Friend is precluded from issuing any other instructions to either Board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek powers to give instructions to the Horserace Betting Levy Board with respect to the policy they shall adopt towards applications for renewal of permits from bookmakers who are in default on their levy payments to the Levy Board.

It would not be appropriate for my right hon. Friend to seek power to interfere in the procedural decisions of the Levy Board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek powers to give instructions to the Tote Board that they must not sponsor any more races so long as they are in arrears with their levy payments to the Horserace Betting Levy Board.

No. It would not be appropriate for my right hon. Friend to seek power to interfere in the detailed management by the Totalisator Board of its affairs.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development by how much the disbursement of overseas aid for the financial year 1969–70 fell short of the aid ceiling of £219 million; what was the similar shortfall for 1968–69 and 1967–68; and what steps he will take to ensure that the sums recently announced for overseas aid up to 1974–75 are actually spent.

The figures requested are as follows:

	Basic Programme		Additional Items	Total
	Ceiling	Outturn	Outturn	Outturn
	£m.	£m.	£m.	£m.
1967–68	205	210·3	2·5	212·8
1968–69	205	200·4	6·9	207·3
1969–70	205	205·0	13·2	218·2

The additional items were not included in the aid ceiling for the years in question and no financial ceiling was fixed for them. The aid ceiling was exceeded in 1967–68 due to special payments occasioned by devaluation.My right hon. Friend will do all he can to ensure that the programmes announced for the years up to 1974–75 are fully spent.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development how many letters, telegrams and other communications have been received by the Government objecting to the proposal to merge the Ministry of Overseas Development with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and how many have been received in support of the proposal.

Since the middle of July the Government have received 890 letters and 56 telegrams objecting to the proposal to merge the Ministry of Overseas Development with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Two letters have been received in support of the merger.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the amount of Government finance being allocated to the building of hotels in the Western Isles, the number of hotels which will be so built and their location, the projected dates of completion of each such hotel, and the number of persons who will be employed at such hotels.

The Highlands and Islands Development Board has been allocated £1 million to construct five hotels on the Western Isles and the West Mainland. The first two, on the Isle of Mull and the Isle of Barra, should open in Spring, 1971 and Summer, 1972 respectively and employ directly a total of 95 persons. Details of the other three hotels have not yet been decided. The Board has also given grant and loan new hotels in Stornoway, which should open in Summer, 1971 and employ directly about 90 persons.In addition the Scottish Tourist Board has assisted the building of one new hotel in the Isles.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the annual average of Government financial aid given to the Western Isles in the years 1959 to 1964; and what was the annual average for the years 1964 to 1970.

Figures for all Government financial aid to the Western Isles are not available. Since November, 1965, when it was established, the Highlands and Islands Development Board has approved assistance of approximately £1,055,000 in this area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of jobs created in the Western Isles by reason of Government grants in the period 1964 to 1970, and the percentage of unemployment amongst the insured population in each island.

On the first part of the Question the information available relates only to jobs created through financial assistance by the Highlands and Islands Development Board. From November, 1965 to date the number is approximately 570.The second part of the Question is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment, but I understand that separate unemployment percentages cannot be calculated for each island.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state whether the £1·75 million allocated for winter relief of unemployment represents additional public expenditure in the current financial year, or finance brought from sums already allocated.

The programme consists of projects not previously allowed for in the financial allocations for the current year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he can give of the total amount of unemployment benefit paid out in respect of men normally engaged in the building and construction industry in Great Britain as a whole and in Scotland, respectively, in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available together with an approximate indication of how much this amounts to on average per man per week.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive the report of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on the possible prescription of brucellosis as an industrial disease; and how long it will then take to announce a decision on this matter.

This subject was referred to the Council in April, 1970 and I understand that their studies are continuing. It is not possible at this stage to forecast when they will report.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make available in the Library a copy of the Liable Relative Code of the Supplementary Benefits Commission.

No. Internal instructions to staff are not published; but we are always ready to explain the substance of instructions relevant to a personal case in which an hon. Member is interested.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of persons in England and Wales who were over 80 years of age on 5th July, 1970; and what proportion of this total he estimates will qualify for the pension for the over 80's.

The number of persons in England and Wales who were over 80 years of age on 5th July, 1970 is approximately 1,085,000. About 9 per cent. of this number will qualify for pensions under Section 1 of the National Insurance (Old persons' and widows' pensions and attendance allowance) Act, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many extra civil servants will be employed to administer the Family Income Supplement.

About 200.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Service whether he will state the membership of the Attendance Allowance Board set up under the National Insurance (Old persons' and widows' pensions and attendance allowance) Act, 1970.

The membership of the Board, which has now started work, is as follows:

• Lord Amulree, President of the British Geriatric Society (Chairman);
• Dr. F. Cooksey, C.B.E., Specialist in Physical Medicine;
• Dr. D. L. Davies, Psychiatrist;
• Dr. A. W. Franklin, Paediatrician;
• Miss Mary Greaves, M.B.E., Director of the Disablement Income Group;
• Dr. P. M. Higgins, General Practitioner;
• Dr. N. L. Rusby, Chest Physician;
• Dr. C. M. S. Saunders, O.B.E., Physician in charge of St. Christopher's Hospice.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what further proposals he has made to improve on existing measures to protect inhabitants of the area around Heathrow Airport from excessive noise.

I regret that, as with my predecessors, I cannot conceive of any practicable improvements which would reduce disturbance in the shorter term. In the longer term the advent of the quieter aircraft required by recent legislation should progressively improve the situation and it may be that research into approach techniques will also bear fruit.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will introduce legislation providing for the regular inspection of undersea pipelines.

The need for legislation does not arise. The operators of undersea pipelines carry out regular patrols, surveys and inspections, the results of which are made available to my Inspectors.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will list the past and present studies undertaken by the Programmes Analysis Unit at Harwell.

The following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in his consultations with interested parties concerning the pre-lodging of export documenation, he will take account of the risk of an increase in congestion at docks which may result therefrom.

As I informed the House, we propose to consult the parties concerned precisely to minimise these difficulties consistent with the crucial objective of obtaining accurate figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support his Department is giving to studies directed towards the economic recovery of minerals from sea water especially as a by-product of freshwater production.

None at present. Experimental work by the Atomic Energy Authority on extraction of uranium from sea water (referred to in paragraph 192 of the Authority's Annual Report for 1969–70) has now been terminated. Some other minerals are already extracted from sea water by commercial processes.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give a general direction to the British Steel Corporation not to discharge toxic waste into rivers.

No. The Corporation is bound by the existing statutory controls on the discharge of effluents.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for the building of advance factories in Wales.

When more of the factories, either available now or still to be built, are disposed of, we will consider whether further advance factory building should be put in hand.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the effect of the forthcoming trade legislation in the United States of America on low-cost imports of hosiery and knitwear goods into this country.

It is not possible to estimate the effect upon our imports of new restrictions which the U.S.A. may place on imports of textile products. I am, however, aware that any new import restrictions in the U.S.A. may result in additional supplies being offered to the British market.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if a site has been determined for the proposed Doncaster advance factory; and when he expects the factory to be available.

Yes, at Shaw Lane. It is too early to say when the factory will be available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will arrange for cycling accidents in future to be assessed on a time at risk basis.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will amend the present Highway Code to allow cyclists to ride two abreast where road conditions allow.

I have consulted interested organisations about the current revision of the Highway Code. Their comments, which include this suggestion, are being carefully considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will include in the next Highway Code advice to motorists that they should, after going through water, slow down and apply the brakes to dry them out, check tyre pressures and treads weekly, check wheel nuts weekly, check tyre inflators at the local garage, change valves on tubeless tyres when fitting new tyres, and fit reflective safety plates for safety.

I am now considering the advice as to what should be included in the next draft of the Highway Code.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the percentage of motor car tyres changed at garages and by tyre factors which fall below the minimum standards permitted by law.

I have made no such estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to remind users of the MI to check that their tyres conform to standards required by law.

The need for motorists to be familiar with the standards required by the law relating to tyre maintenance is not confined to users of the M1. General advice is given in the highway code and there is more detailed information in the Department's driving manual.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future of the maternity unit at Nantyglo Hospital.

The Welsh Hospital Board propose and I accept that the general practitioner maternity facilities at Blaina and District Hospital, Nantyglo, should be transferred to St. James's Hospital, Tredegar, at the end of the year. Consultations were held on this proposal last year and I am satisfied that it accords with best modern practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many schools, respectively, in the Wrexham constituency, Denbighshire and in Flintshire use the Welsh language as their first language for teaching.

The number of "Ysgolion Cymraeg" (Welsh Schools or Departments in predominantly English-speaking areas where Welsh is the main medium of instruction) in Wrexham, Denbighshire and Flintshire are respectively two, four and seven. The medium of instruction in other schools and departments in these areas varies with the linguistic character of each school's catchment area and statistics are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will consider the setting up of a Design Centre in Wales.

I cannot anticipate the results of the general review of Government aided services to industry which is now taking place.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the cut in principal roads in Wales announced of £0·4 million in 1971–72 will relate to Carmarthenshire.

No road scheme in Carmarthenshire programmed to start in 1971–72 will be deferred.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the amount currently expended by central Government on roads in Wales per head of population; and what is the corresponding amount for England.

For the year 1970–71 the per capita expenditure is expected to be about £7·3 for Wales and £6·5 for England.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what alteration has been made to the location of the terminal points of the proposed Collern Expressway since the Collern Report was first made public in 1968; and where the new terminal points are to be.

The terms of reference of the "Collcon" study did not specify precise terminal points but the study area was approximately from Abergele in the east to Penmaenbach in the west. The consultants now examining possible routes have been asked to cover the length generally between St. Asaph and Aber. This is to ensure that the "Collcon" scheme will be capable of extension, particularly westwards, when this is required. The precise terminal points of the various construction stages have still to be decided.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for the reclamation of land for agricultural purposes in Wales.

Under the new Farm Capital Grant Scheme we shall be continuing to grant-aid the reclamation of waste land for the purposes of agricultural businesses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take in response to the resolution submitted to him recently by the Cumberland Countryside Conference regarding the A66 link road, West Cumberland to M6.

My right hon. Friend has taken note of the Conference's belief in the necessity for improved communications linking West Cumberland with the M6 and the welcome which the resolution gives to the steps which the Department is taking to this end. His studies of alternate routes include consideration of the possible environmental problems brought to his attention by the resolution and by other local interests.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what decision he has made on the details of the De Vere Hotels and Restaurants scheme for a new hotel development in Cambridge.

This case presents unusual features and my right hon. Friend is not yet ready to make a statement upon it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in view of the number of accidents on the Basingstoke road into Reading, culminating in a recent fatal accident to a small boy, and the fact that traffic will increase still further when it becomes a feeder road to the M4 motorway, if he will advance the improvements to this road and also consider increasing the total length of road to be improved.

Reading County Borough Council, the highway authority, are preparing a scheme for dualling this road from the M4 interchange to Hartland Road. It is too early to forecast when this could be included in the road programme. I understand that the Council are considering a later improvement towards the north.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the M5 to Exeter will be completed from Edithmead; and at what cost from now until the date of completion.

By the end of 1975, at an estimated cost of about £56 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the spine road from the M5 to Plymouth will be completed; and at what cost over the period from now until completion.

It will be completed to dual carriageway standard by the end of 1975. The cost of stages not yet completed is estimated at £21 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what major roadworks between now and the end of 1975 he plans to construct in the South-West development area.

The following trunk road schemes are programmed to start in 1972:

• A30—Camborne and Scorrier Bypass.
• A38—Liskeard Bypass.

The following major trunk road schemes are also in preparation and may be completed or under construction by the end of 1975:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional expenditure he proposes to make in the road programme for the next five years.

Expenditure on the English road programme is at present planned to rise by about 8½ per cent. a year on average at constant prices between this year and 1974–75. The level of expenditure in 1975–76 has still to be determined.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will have a survey made of the proposed development of areas alongside the River Thames and in particular on the Rainham Marshes which form part of the Hornchurch constituency.

As a result of the Thames-side (Tower to Tilbury) Conference, on which the Greater London Council, the London Boroughs concerned, the County Councils of Essex and Kent, the Port of London Authority, the Confederation of British Industries and the London Trades Council were represented a survey of the development potential of Thames-side areas from Tower Bridge downstream to Tilbury and including Rainham Marshes is currently being undertaken as a joint study by the appropriate local planning authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give an assurance that the building of the second Dartford Tunnel and the North Orbital Road will be advanced without delay, and that the building of the second tunnel and the adjoining roads will be carried out together.

Discussions with the Dartford Tunnel Joint Committee about the timing of a second tunnel and preparation of the orbital routes north of it are both in progress.I accept the desirability of building the tunnel and approach roads together.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received following his decision not to approve the application for the extension of the runway at Leeds-Bradford Airport.

My right hon. Friend and I have had 32 letters supporting my right hon. Friend's decision and 34 letters and two petitions protesting at it.