asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the early potato acreage this year, and how it compares with 10 years ago.

4,000 acres. While there is no fully comparable figure, this acreage probably represents a drop of about one-third from 1961.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action is being taken to assist the implementation of the report, A Strategy for South-West Scotland.

With my right hon. Friend's encouragement the local planning authorities are moving towards establishing a joint industrial promotion organisation as recommended in the Report. The area already has a Standing Working Party on Planning and a regional tourist association.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the steps being taken to preserve the new town of Edinburgh; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. I consider that the establishment of the Advisory Committee, under the Chairmanship of Sir John Dunbar, with financial backing on terms agreed between the Government and Edinburgh Corporation, offers the best prospect of success in tackling this formidable task.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations have taken place between his Department and Edinburgh Corporation concerning plans for the treatment of Edinburgh's sewage.

Consultations have been taking place for some time about the design and financing of the proposed scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has now given consideration to the Sidwell Report on the cost of house building in Scotland; what steps he now proposes; and if he will make a statement.

Most of the issues raised in the Report are for consideration by the house building industry, and I have discussed the Report with representatives of that industry. The Scottish Building Standards Advisory Committee has also discussed the Report, and proposals for amending the Building Regulations are being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many health centres are planned for Glasgow: and how many have been started.

About 20 health centres may be needed in the long term and planning is at various stages on ten of these. Woodside Health Centre came into operation last month.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many non-proven verdicts have been reached in the latest period for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

In 1970 Scottish courts reached a not-proven verdict in respect of 1,701 persons.I have nothing to add to the terms of the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 17th March.—[Vol. 813, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Scottish National Farmers' Union concerning the 1971 Agricultural Price Review.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent in considering his proposals for local government reform in Scotland he took account of the fact that the location of half the population of the country in the Glasgow region creates a social and industrial imbalance.

We took into account all the social and economic facts. These led the Royal Commission to conclude that the West of Scotland ought to have a single regional council. We have come to the same conclusion.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage zinc phosphate forms of the pesticides used for spraying crops; and, in view of its poisonous properties, to what extent he assesses that its use is causing the fall in the numbers of grain-eating birds.

So far as my right hon. Friend's advisers are aware zinc phosphate is not used anywhere in the United Kingdom as a pesticide.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will investigate the problem of planning blight and take steps to reduce the hardship it causes to the minimum period of time.

I am afraid there is no general answer to this problem. A local planning authority has to balance the need to make development proposals

MENTAL HEALTH BEDS IN NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE HOSPITALS IN SCOTLAND AS AT 30TH SEPTEMBER, 1970
Hospital		Mental Illness	Child Psychiatry	Mental Deficiency
Craig Dunain Hospital, Inverness	…	950	—	—
Dunain House, Inverness	…	27	—	—
Long Island Hospital, Lochmaddy	…	23	—	—
Ross Clinic, Aberdeen	…	38	—	—
Royal Cornhill Hospital, Aberdeen	…	831	—	—
House of Daviot including House of Glack, Inverurie	…	153	—	—
Kingseat Hospital, Newmachar	…	752	—	—
Bilbohall Hospital, Elgin	…	188	—	—
Eastbank Hospital, Kirkwall	…	1	—	—
Rehabilitation Centre, Kingseat, Aberdeen	…	11	—	—
Royal Dundee Liff Hospital	…	610	16	—
Maryfield Hospital, Dundee	…	20	—	—

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that a time lapse of many years is common between the serving of a compulsory purchase order and the payment of compensation and that only simple interest is paid on this; and if he will seek powers to enable local authorities to pay compound interest in future.

My right hon. Friend does not propose to seek such powers. Most of the agreed portion of the compensation may be paid at or soon after entry, and interest on any outstanding balance is payable at current market rates.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the money allocation from public funds for mental health in Scotland; how many mental health hospital beds there are in Scotland; and in which hospitals.

At 30th September, 1970, there were 26,865 staffed mental health beds in National Health Service hospitals in Scotland. Expenditure on mental and mental deficiency hospitals; which contain the bulk of these beds, amounted to over £20½ million for the year ended 31st March, 1970. Expenditure by local authorities on helping persons with mental handicap is not separately identified.Following are the details:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the need for additional accommodation for elderly mentally ill patients, and the increasing number of elderly people in the north-east of Scotland, what action he is taking to increase the num- ber of available beds in those hospitals accepting psycho-geriatric patients.

The North-Eastern Regional Hospital Board's building programme includes some adaptations and improvements which will make existing accommodation suitable for the elderly mentally ill. Major developments at the Royal Cornhill Hospital are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the research being undertaken in Scotland into the causation factors of mental retardation, and the cost to public funds of such research.

Fundamental research in many fields may produce findings that contribute to an understanding of the causes of mental retardation. My right hon. Friend's Department is at present supporting three projects which are directly related to this subject, at a total cost of some £22,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will issue a circular to local authorities urging them to give directions to all headmasters and headmistresses and staff of schools to seize and burn any copies found in their schools of the publication, The Little Red School Book, published by Stage One.

No. I am sure I can rely on the good sense of local authorities and teachers, with whom the responsibility rests, to exercise the appropriate discretion as to copies of books which may be found in the schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he estimates Gateside Prison, Greenock, will cease to be a women's prison; and if he will make a statement on the transitional arrangements.

The new institution for females at Cornton Vale, Stirling, should be completed in 1974. The women and girls then in custody in Greenock will he transferred there and the removal will be carried out within the shortest possible period of time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reply he has made to the submission sent to him by Lord Clydesmuir as Chairman of the Scottish Council of Development and Industry on 22nd March, 1971, concerning the British steel industry's future in Scotland.

The memorandum restates and expands views expressed to me on 26th February when I met a representative group from the Scottish Council. As I said at that meeting, I am fully aware of the importance for Scotland of the modernisation of the British steel industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) from information available from international sources, by how much the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in Luxembourg increased or decreased between 1959–60 and the most recent year for which statistics are available; and how this compares with the increase or decrease in the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in Scotland for the same period;(2) from information available from international sources, by how much the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in the Netherlands increased or decreased between 1959–60 and the most recent year for which statistics are available; and how this compares with the increase or decrease in the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in Scotland for the same period;(3) from information available from international sources, by how much the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in Belgium increased or decreased between 1959–60 and the most recent year for which statistics are available; and how this compares with the increase or decrease in the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in Scotland for the same period;(4) from information available from international sources, by how much the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in Italy increased or decreased between 1959–60 and the most recent year for which statistics are available; and how this compares with the increase or decrease in the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in Scotland for the same period.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) from information available from international sources, what was the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in the Netherlands in the most recent year for which statistics are available; and how this compares with the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in Scotland for the same year;(2) from information available from international sources, what was the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in Luxembourg in the most recent year for which statistics are available; and how this compares with the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in Scotland for the same year;(3) from information available from international sources, what was the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in France in the most recent year for which statistics are available; and how this compares with the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in Scotland for the same year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland from information available from international sources, by how much the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in France increased or decreased between 1959–60 and the most recent year for which statistics are available; and how this compares with the increase or derease in the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in Scotland for the same period.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) from information available from international sources, what was the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in the six Common Market countries taken as a whole in the most recent year for which statistics are available; and how this compares with the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in Scotland for the same year;(2) from information available from international sources what was the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in West Germany in the most recent year for which statistics are available; and how this compares with the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in Scotland for the same year;(3) from information available from international sources, what was the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in Italy in the most recent year for which statistics are available; and how this compares with the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in Scotland for the same year;

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) from information available from international sources, by how much the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in West Germany increased or decreased between 1959–60 and the most recent year for which statistics are available; and how this compares with the increase or decrease in the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in Scotland for the same period;(2) from information available from international sources, by how much the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in the European Economic Community in creased or decreased between 1959–60 and the most recent year for which statistics are available; and how this compares with the increase or decrease in the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in Scotland for the same period.

In so far as comparisons can be made on the basis of data which are not entirely consistent, the information required is given in the Table.

TABLE
Pupil/teacher ratio in primary schools
Country	1960–61	1967–68	Increase/decrease
Belgium	19·50	21·20(1)	+9
France	36·00(2)	26·00(3)	-28
Italy	22·44	21·88	-2
Luxembourg	26·46	23·29	-12
Netherlands	34·00	31·03(4)	-9
West Germany	29·51	26·46	-10
E.E.C.	28·00	25·00	-12
Scotland	29·75(4)(5)	28·95(4)(5)	-3

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will seek to introduce amending legislation to allow improvement grants to be made in cases where earlier grants under other legislation such as the Hill Farming Act, 1946, are repaid to the Exchequer.

I am considering this possibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) from information available from international sources, what has been the percentage increase in the number undergoing full-time education in the European Economic Community since 1958–59; and how this compares with the percentage increase during the same period in Scotland;(2) from information available from international sources, what has been the percentage increase in the number undergoing full-time education in the Netherlands since 1958–59; and how this compares with the percentage increase during the same period in Scotland;(3) from information available from international sources, what has been the percentage increase in the number undergoing full-time education in Luxembourg since 1958–59; and how this compares with the percentage increase during the same period in Scotland;(4) from information available from international sources, what has been the percentage increase in the number undergoing full-time education in Belgium since 1958–59; and how this compares with the percentage increase during the same period in Scotland;(5) from information available from international sources, what has been the percentage increase in the number undergoing full-time education in France since 1958–59; and how this compares with the percentage increase during the same period in Scotland;(6) from information available from international sources, what has been the percentage increase in the number undergoing full-time education in West Germany since 1958–59; and how this compares with the percentage increase during the same period in Scotland;(7) from information available from international sources, what has been the percentage increase in the number undergoing full-time education in Italy since 1958–59; and how this compares with the percentage increase during the same period in Scotland.

Information on full-time enrolments only is not readily available. On the basis of such information as is available from the U.N.E.S.C.O. Statistical Yearbook for 1969, comparisons of full- and part-time enrolments between 1955 and 1967 are given in the Table.

PERCENTAGE INCREASES IN FULL- AND PART-TIME ENROLMENTS
Country		First and second levels	Third levels
Belgium	…	39	—*
France	…	34	217
Italy	…	26	170
Luxembourg	…	37	724
Netherlands	…	20	152
West Germany	…	16	138
E.E.C.	…	26	174†
Scotland	…	12‡	152
* Figures for Belgium are not available for 1967.
† Excludes Belgium.
‡ On basis of published figures, adjusted to include numbers in vocational further education.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the figures of fishing boats built in Scotland under the Grant and Loan Schemes for each of the last five years.

The following list shows the number of new fishing boats for which grants were approved in each of the last five years by the Herring Industry Board and the White Fish Authority and which were, or are being, built in Scotland. The list also shows how many of these vessels were the subject of loan assistance from the Herring Industry Board, the White Fish Authority or the Highlands and Islands Development Board.

				Grant	Loan
1966	…	…	…	53	41
1967	…	…	…	62	47
1968	…	…	…	74	59
1969	…	…	…	71	66
1970	…	…	…	53	44

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to provide automatic half-barriers at level crossings on trunk and principal roads in Scotland, and to build bridges or underpasses to replace such level crossings.

I understand that there are no applications from British Rail for such provision at present before my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. I propose to substitute a road over-bridge for a half-barrier level crossing at Gollanfield on the trunk road A92. All other such crossings in Scotland are on roads for which local authorities are responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many level crossings there are on trunk and principal roads in Scotland, and how many of these are automatic half-barrier level crossings.

There are 15 public level crossings on trunk and principal roads in Scotland, of which two are equipped with automatic half-barriers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many miles of dual two-lane motorways are in use in Scotland, and how many miles thereof were constructed in a way which provided for widening to three-lane carriageways at a later date.

56½ miles, of which about three miles have been constructed to provide for later widening to three lanes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities in Scotland have decided not to subsidise rural bus services.

I do not have this information: local authtorities aproach me only when they are seeking Government grant following a decision to support a service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further progress he has made in his negotiations with representatives of the Highlands and Islands Veterinary Services Scheme for non-viable rural practices.

A reply is awaited from the British Veterinary Association who were given new proposals on 25th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ensure that the economic advisory services within the Scottish Office will in future produce a monthly digest of statistics.

The content, form and frequency of the publication of Scottish statistics is currently being reviewed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to increase the extent of nursery school education in Scotland by giving additional financial assistance to local authorities for this purpose.

Nursery education, in common with local authority expenditure generally, is assisted by the Government through rate support grant. Because of the competing claims for resources of the rest of the education service I see no immediate prospect of permitting a general expansion of nursery education. Under the urban programme, however, grant of 75 per cent. is available on approved nursery school projects in urban areas of special social need and some 1,300 places have already been approved.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now in a position to state what will be spent of the £11 million additional expenditure for health welfare services announced by him on 11th November on the disease of alcoholism; and what has been spent already this year.

The £11 million additional expenditure will be made available to hospital, local health and social work authorities. Local spending decisions are for them to take and, I have no doubt that they will give due weight to the need for improved facilities for treating alcoholism. Current expenditure cannot easily be calculated.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to reduce the number of civil servants in his Department; and what is the estimated reduction by the end of 1971.

The functions of my Department and the number of staff needed to perform those functions are being kept under review. Apart from the additional provision needed for the Scottish Prison and State Hospital Services, the rate of increase in staff numbers has already been slowed down and the total strength at 1st April, 1972, will be lower than the figure authorised by the previous Administration for 1st April, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now able to assess the results of the emergency winter works programme, in terms of additional employment provided.

My latest assessment is that the accelerated works scheme has resulted in keeping a substantial number of men in employment who would otherwise have been out of work this winter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new health centres were approved in the last nine months; how many were started; how many were completed; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous five years.

In the last nine months plans were approved for fifteen new health centres: five centres were started and six completed.Figures for the last five calendar years are as shown below:

NEW HEALTH CENTRE PROJECTS
Year ending	Plans approved	Building started	Building Completed
31st December, 1966	3	Nil	Nil
31st December, 1967	8	5	2
31st December, 1968	9	5	5
31st December, 1969	13	8	3
31st December, 1970	16	11	5

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the reduction in the amount of milk consumed by schoolchildren as a result of the abolition of cheap milk and school milk for children over seven years of age; and what effect this will have on the dairy farm industry.

It is still too early to make worthwhile forecasts of the reduction or the effects on the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the reduction in the number of school meals consumed, consequent on the recently imposed price increases.

About eight million from the present uptake of 75 million a year. The eight million is a net figure covering an increase in free meals and a decrease in meals paid for.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities have protested to him against the recently imposed increases in school meal prices; and what reply he has sent.

One—Midlothian County Council. The terms of its resolution were noted.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the latest pay award to the nursing profession; and what the awards will mean to each category of nurse, from first-year student to ward sister, taking into account the proposed increases in the charges for living-in and the inflation that has occurred since the last increase was payable.

Under the latest settlement nurses will receive pay increases of at least 8½, per cent., improved payment for night duty and shorter hours. The net increases on basic pay after deduction of lodging charges range from a little over £43 for an 18-year-old student nurse to £114 for a ward sister. It would be impracticable to make a precise calculation of the effect of inflation on these amounts. Details of the increases are given below:

Grade	Net increase after deduction of lodging charge
Student nurses:
Age 18	43·20
Age 19	47·40
Age 20	50·40
Over 21—
1st year	51
2nd year	54
3rd year	57
Student midwife:
RGN, RSCN or RFN	63
RMN, RNMD SEN—
1st year	54
2nd year	57
Post registration student nurses undertaking training other than mental:
1st year	63
2nd year	66
RFN with BTA cert, taking general, fever or SC training:
1st year	54
2nd year	57
3rd year	63
SRN, RSCN, RNMS taking RMN, SRN, RSCN, RMN taking RMNS:
1st year	57
2nd year	63
EN, RFN with BTA cert. Midwife (SCM only):
1st year	54
2nd year	57
3rd year	63
Enrolled nurse:
Minimum	69
Maximum	69
Senior enrolled nurse (with further increment):
Minimum	66
Maximum	87
Staff nurse (with further increment):
Minimum	63
Maximum	84
Ward sister:
Minimum	84
Maximum	114

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for the commencement of the building of a new general hospital in West Fife.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Dunfermline Burghs (Mr. Adam Hunter) on 4th November, 1970.—[Vol. 805, c. 371–3.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for expediting the construction of the Fife regional road.

Preliminary surveys for this scheme are in progress: until they are completed its priority cannot be finally determined.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now make a statement about the future of bull licensing.

I cannot meanwhile add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend on 24th February.—[Vol. 812, c. 145.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the delay and difficulties experienced by the Association of University Teachers (Scotland) in their application for membership of the Scottish Council for Research in Education; and if he will inquire into the circumstances, and take steps to ensure that the association's request for representation is accepted.

I am aware of the Association's desire to be granted membership of the Council, but the Council is an autonomous body and I do not have power to say what bodies should be represented on it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total annual income of the Scottish Council for Research in Education for any recent convenient date; and what proportion of this total comes from his education department by way of grant.

According to their Annual Report the income of the Scottish Council for Research in Education in the financial year ended on 15th May, 1970 was £40,105. The amount of grant received from the Scottish Education Department in that year was £30,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many National Health Service dentists there are in Scotland; and how many there are in the Hamilton constituency.

At 31st December, 1970, there were 1,091 general dental practitioners on Executive Councils' lists in Scotland; nine of them were based in the Hamilton constituency.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for speeding up the decontrol of houses which qualify for fair rents under the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1969.

I have made an order bringing forward from 1st January, 1972, to 1st July, 1971, the date on which Rent Officers can be asked to fix fair rents for houses with a rateable value of less than £30 for which qualification certificates have been issued.

asked the Lord Advocate whether Great Britain's entry to the Common Market will affect the position of Scots law.

The position of Scots law as a system of law with a distinctive identity and special characteristics should not, in my view, be altered in any material way by Britain's entry into the Common Market. Clearly a number of changes in certain areas of law relating to financial and commercial matters would be an immediate result of entry, and other changes in these and other areas would no doubt follow in the longer term as a result of continuing negotiation and agreement with other member States. But whatever changes there may be in matters such as these, the general principles of our domestic law relating, for example, to husband and wife, parent and child, succession, property, reparation and crime would, as far as can presently be foreseen, remain unchanged.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether the Civil Service have been instructed to write the date in reverse order; and whether he will make a statement.

No. There have been no such instructions and no correspondence will be affected. The effects of the new international standard will be severely limited—probably to a few computer applications only, but even then only marginally.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list those companies or similar organisations in which the Government has no direct financial interest but appoints directors; and if he will list also the number of such directors against each relevant company or organisation.

So far as can be ascertained, directors are appointed to the following companies or similar organisations in which the Government has no direct financial interest:

• Transport Holding Company: Chairman and 4 Directors (all part-time).
• Agriculture Mortgage Corporation: 3 Directors.
• Scottish Agricultural Securities Corporation: 1 Director.
• Industrial Advisers to the Blind Limited: Chairman and 7 Directors.
• Industrial Training Service: Chairman and 13 Directors.
• National Institute for Housecraft (Employment and Training) Limited: Chairman and 8 Directors.
• Remploy Limited: Chairman and 15 Directors.

NOTE.—The Government hold no shares in these companies but loans or grants are made in certain cases.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what change he now estimates in the number of civil servants consequent upon Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

It remains too early to give any detailed estimate.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he is aware that since the Government's decision to implement pay increases to the chairmen of the nationalised boards, the judges, and the higher paid civil servants, raising their salaries from £17,500 per annum, to £20,000 per annum these persons have received very large financial benefits under the Budget; and whether he will therefore now take steps to reduce these salaries by 10 per cent.

No.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply on what date Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited will take over the aero-engine and gas turbine engine divisions of Rolls-Royce from the Official Receiver, and at what price.

It is too early to say what the vesting date will be for this changeover, but as a first step Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd. have already taken over selling operations. As regards the price to be paid for the assets being acquired for the purpose from Rolls-Royce Ltd. this will be negotiated among the parties to the Heads of Agreement, as my right hon. Friend announced on 19th March.—[Vol. 813, c. 405.]

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply what forward planning has taken place for the future of Rolls-Royce 1971 either with or without the RB211 engine; whether he was consulted and approved of the recent decision to offer Rolls-Royce (Composite Materials) Limited for sale when the future requirements of the Rolls-Royce 1971 Company are not yet known; and if he will make a statement.

Planning must clearly take into account prospective work load, allowing for such things as research into future development. Consideration has also to be given to the economics of buying-in materials and parts from specialist contractors as opposed to "in-house" manufacture, especially in instances such as this where the products are by no means wholly required for aero-engines. In the instance mentioned, I saw no reason to challenge the decision on Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd. to refrain from acquiring Rolls-Royce Composite Materials Ltd.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply whether he will now give instructions and finance in order to continue the research, development and production of the RB211.

The Government are paying for the RB211 work needed to enable the project to go ahead without delay if a new contract is agreed. That is as far as we can go at present.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply whether he will ensure the maintenance of continuous and full employment at the Rolls-Royce factories in Sunderland.

I cannot give assurances of this kind since in setting up Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd. our aim is that it should operate as nearly as possible as a commercial concern with the minimum of Government control. This, in our view, will offer the best prospects in the longer term for the new company's success and for security of employment in its various establishments.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply what recommendations have been submitted to his Department by the Transport Aircraft Requirements Committee in connection with possible developments of vertical short take-off and landing aircraft techniques; and what steps he has taken to ensure that these are fully evaluated before a decision is taken on the location of a third London airport.

The Transport Aircraft Requirements Committee has been considering the possibilities of V/STOL aircraft over a long period. Much further study is required, but on present evidence there is no reason to think V/STOL developments could affect the decision on the third London airport.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply what estimates his Department had made of the civil airliner requirements of western Europe in the 1970's and 1980's; and what proportion of their needs could be met by the British aircraft industry.

Western European requirements for civil aircraft are kept under continuous study within my Department, as are the requirements for the rest of the world; in this the Department acts in close consultation with the aircraft industry. Europe's requirements will be large, indeed perhaps exceeding present American requirements by 1980. One factor relevant to the size of the British aircraft industry in the future will be the extent to which it can collaborate successfully with the European industry.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply when, on the basis of information currently available to his Department, he expects a wholly British civil airliner will again be built.

The initiative for such a development lies with the industry. I am not aware of any firm proposal to build a new wholly British civil airliner, and believe it more likely that future large projects will have to be done in collaboration with other countries.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply whether it is his policy that the research and development costs of the vertical take-off and landing project should be found from wholly British sources.

In its present studies of the prospects of civil STOL and VTOL aircraft, the Government have at the front of their mind the need for international collaboration in all aspects of any project.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of local authorities known to his Department to have reduced their rate demands for 1971–72, and, in each case, the proportion by which they propose to reduce their accumulated balances.

I have not yet received from authorities details of their rate poundages for 1971–72. I do not collect information on whether authorities expect to add to or reduce their balances in any year because this is a matter entirely within their own discretion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has now received the report of the technical working party on refuse disposal, with particular reference to the disposal of non-returnable plastic containers; and if he will make a statement.

I expect the report to be published on 28th April. Whilst on present information I have no reason to believe that non-returnable plastic containers present particular disposal problems, this is one of the matters that will have to be considered in the light of the report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to inform the West Riding County Council of the year work can commence on the road leading from the M62 to the A1, designed to avoid heavy and concentrated traffic using the A642.

My right hon. Friend is considering the results of a study to assess the feasibility of a new or improved route to relieve the A1 as an outlet to the north-east for traffic from south of Leeds. His decision will be announced as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a circular to local planning authorities advising them not to grant planning permission for private housing development unless an undertaking is obtained from the developers that the rentcharge system will not be imposed.

No. The terms of disposal of any houses erected with planning permission are not matters for planning control.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now announce his decision as to the financing of the Humber Bridge.

I regret that my right hon. Friend still cannot give a decision on this important but by no means straightforward issue. He will do as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken in conjunction with the water boards, river authorities and the National Environmental Research Council to institute research into new methods of detecting inorganic pollutants in the sub-part per million range; and how soon it will be possible for these methods to be used in the continuous monitoring of water resources.

Such research is already being carried out by the Water Research Association with the help of a Government grant, and by the Institute of Hydrology and by Universities supported by the Natural Environment Research Council. I cannot yet say how soon it will be practicable to apply the results in continuous automatic monitoring.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give a general direction to the British Waterways Board to prohibit the discharge of untreated sewage from pleasure craft using their canals.

The British Waterways Board is constructing sewage disposal points with the objective that there should be enough of them by the end of 1973 to make use of sanitary appliances involving such discharges into canals unnecessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent the security of tenure of private or council house tenants in Great Britain will be affected when Great Britain joins the Common Market.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the effect on the laws of security of tenure, in the event of British entry into the European Economic Community.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how rent and rate rebate schemes will be affected in the event of British entry into the European Economic Community;(2) what estimate he has made of the effect on housing subsidies of British entry into the Common Market;(3) what estimate he has made of the effect on housing rents of British entry into the European Economic Community.

Entry into the European Economic Community would not affect the Government's policies on housing subsidies, rents, rent and rate rebates and security of tenure. There is nothing in the Treaty of Rome or in subsequent regulations of the European Economic Community which derogates from a Member State's right to pursue its own policy on finance in the field of housing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide a table, from information available from international sources, showing the trend in owner-occupation of houses in Great Britain and in each of the European Economic Community countries.

Information is not available on which to estimate trends in owner-occupation in European Economic Community countries. The following table shows figures for Great Britain:

				Per cent. of dwellings owner-occupied
1951	…	…	…	29·5
1956	…	…	…	34·4
1961	…	…	…	42·7
1966	…	…	…	47·2
1970	…	…	…	49·5

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide a table, from information available from international sources, comparing the proportions of owner-occupied houses, and private and publicly-owned rented houses, in Great Britain and European Economic Community countries.

The latest comparable figures available on the tenure of dwellings in Great Britain and the European Economic Community countries are:

Percentages
	Year	Owner Occupied	Others Mainly Rented
Great Britain	1961	42·7	57·3
France	1962	41·5	58·5
West Germany	1961	35·3	64·7
Belgium	1961	49·7	50·3
Netherlands	1956	29·3	70·7
Italy	1962	50·2	49·8
Luxembourg		Not available

The figures are based on the censuses carried out around 1961. Separate figures for private and publicly-owned rented dwelling are not generally available. At the end of 1970 it is estimated

DWELLINGS COMPLETED PER 1,000 POPULATION
		Great Britain	France	West Germany	Belgium	Netherlands	Italy	Luxembourg
1958	…	5·5	6·5	9·5	4·5	8·1	5·7	not available
1959	…	5·5	7·1	10·7	4·9	7·4	6·0	not available
1960	…	5·8	6·9	10·4	5·3	7·3	5·8	not available
1961	…	5·8	6·9	10·1	5·6	7·2	6·3	not available
1962	…	5·9	6·6	10·1	4·9	6·7	7·2	not available
1963	…	5·7	7·0	9·9	4·3	6·7	8·3	not available
1964	…	7·1	7·6	10·7	5·6	8·4	8·8	not available
1965	…	7·2	8·4	10·0	7·3	9·4	7·5	not available
1966	…	7·2	8·4	10·1	5·6	9·8	5·6	not available
1967	…	7·5	8·5	9·6	5·6	10·2	5·2	5·4
1968	…	7·7	8·4	8·6	6·9	9·7	5·3	3·3
1969	…	6·8	8·5	8·2	not available	9·6	5·5	not available

For all countries except Great Britain and Belgium the number of dwellings is the total number of dwellings constructed, including conversions; for Belgium, from

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, what estimate he has made, from information available from international sources, of the respective proportions of average incomes spent on housing in Great Britain and in the European Economic Community.

The National Accounts Yearbook 1959–69 published by the Statistical Office of the European Communities shows the percentage of total personal income spent on housing—including imputed rent of owner-occupiers-in 1969 was 6·7 per cent. in Belgium, 6·8 per cent. in France, 7·5 per cent. in Germany, 6·9 per cent. in Italy and 5·1 per cent. in the Netherlands. The corresponding percentage for the United Kingdom was 9·4 per cent. Figures for Luxembourg are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide a table, from information available from international sources, comparing the number of houses built in Great Britain and the European Economic Community countries per 1,000 inhabitants between 1958 and the latest date for which comparable figures are available.

The figures requested are:1968, it is the number of authorisations during the year and for Great Britain it is the number of new dwellings constructed during the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the effect on the structure of local government in the United Kingdom in the event of British membership of the European Economic Community.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how local government finances would be affected by British entry into the European Economic Community.

Arrangements for the financing of local government in Britain would not be affected by entry into the European Economic Community.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his proposals for local government reform will he affected in any way if Great Britain joins the Common Market.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest available figure for the price of an average new house; and how this compares, from information available from international sources, with prices in each of the countries of the European Economic Community.

The average price of new dwellings mortgaged with building societies by private owners in this country in 1970 was £5,130. Comparable figures are not available for the countries of the European Economic Community.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he envisages any change in the rule of the road from left to right either now or if Great Britain joins the Common Market.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the Government's declared policy of cutting prices, he will give the reasons why he has, since June, 1970, taken action and agreed to price increases in goods and services of more than 60 items ranging from two and a half per cent. to 100 per cent.; and when he expects to reduce these and other prices and services coming within the control of his Department.

The reasons are various, but mostly stem from increased costs since the previous prices were approved, in many cases several years ago. Charges will be reduced if and when the costs permit, but such reductions will not necessarily require my approval.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will prevent Gloucestershire County Council acquiring compulsorily, for the benefit of a private developer, land owned by the hon. Member for West Gloucestershire, in view of the fact that the stated purpose of road-widening is not valid, and that the relevant plans are to be amended by the council to further the interests of the developer.

My right hon. Friend has no compulsory order before him in respect of the hon. Member's land and I am informed by the Gloucestershire County Council that it has no such order in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will investigate the circumstances in which the Gloucestershire County Council have approved the application to build a 67-bedded hotel together with four houses in the village of Staunton, Gloucestershire, paying particular attention to the absence of sewerage and inadequate water supplies in the village; and if he will satisfy himself that nothing untoward has taken place with this planning permission.

No. This is a matter for the local planning authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes he proposes to make in the progression of controlled dwellings into the fair rent sector.

The Secretary of State for Wales and I have made the Regulated Tenancies (Conversion from Control) Order, 1971, under our powers in Part III of the Housing Act, 1969. This brings forward from 1st January, 1972, to 1st July, 1971, the date when controlled dwellings of less than £60 rateable value in London and less than £40 elsewhere which come up to the qualifying standard can move into the fair rent sector.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will initiate discussions with local authorities, the police, traffic agencies and other interested parties on stricter and more uniform road lane demarcations in urban areas, and the replacement of broken line delineations with continuous strips.

No, we already give detailed advice to local authorities to ensure consistency. Solid lines for lane markings would conflict with other markings, cost more and impede international agreement.