asked the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has held with public or official bodies in Wales concerning the likely effects to Wales of the United Kingdom's entry into the European Economic Community.

I have not held formal discussions on this subject but I am aware of the views which various bodies have from time to time expressed.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what studies have been commissioned or conducted by his Department on the likely effect on specific industries in Wales of entry into the Common Market.

Detailed analyses of this kind are not practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the possibilities of expanding sales of Welsh lamb if Great Britain enters the European Economic Community.

The enlarged Community should offer improved prospects for sales of high quality British lamb.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many English statutory water undertakings extract water from Wales; and what remuneration is received from them by local authorities in Wales.

Four. They are the Birmingham and Liverpool Corporations and the Mid-Cheshire and Wirrall Water Boards, who pay rates to the local authorities within whose areas their reservoirs and other installations are situated.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for sounding out opinion in those areas most affected by local government reorganisation.

I have already invited all interested parties and individuals to send me any comments they may have by the end of May.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will consult with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on methods of providing more employment in South Caernarvonshire.

My Department already works very closely with the Department of Trade and Industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the starting and completion dates set for the construction of the two bypasses of Carmarthen.

I cannot forecast the precise starting date but I aim to publish my proposals for the southern by-pass this summer and for the eastern by-pass as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he is going to publish his decision on Rio Tinto Zinco's drilling application in respect of land in Merioneth; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend will announce his decision when he has considered the Inspector's report.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the numbers of schoolchildren in the county of Glamorgan and in Monmouthshire, respectively, who have stopped taking school meals since 1st April, 1971.

This information is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the rank and salaries of the three most senior civil servants at the Welsh Office.

Permanent Secretary ranked as Deputy Secretary with a salary of £9,000 and Under-Secretaries with salaries of £6,750.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what detailed plans he has for improving the infrastructure in the Rhymney Valley in order to attract industry to that area.

A number of derelict land clearance schemes and other projects are already in hand or planned; and I am in addition arranging for a detailed study to be made by my office of the prospects and infrastructure needs of the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement regarding his proposals for the financing of schemes for the clearance of derelict lands in the years following 1971–72.

I cannot add to the announcement I made in the Welsh Grand Committee debate on 20th January that the Joint Working Party would be reconvened to consider, in the light of initial experience, improvements to the new capital programmes arrangements for 1972–73.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will list the road schemes announced since 18th June by his Department that were not in either the Preparation Pool or the Firm Programme in existence prior to that date.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of the population of Wales is employed in the service industries; what amount was collected in selective employment tax in Wales in the year 1970–71 and is expected to be collected in the year 1971–72; and what estimates have been made of the effect on Welsh employment prospects of the reduction in this tax.

56 per cent. of Welsh employees are in service industries but only 27 per cent. in industries bearing selective employment tax. The net yield of S.E.T. in Wales in 1970–71 is estimated at about £18 million. It is not possible to say what will be collected in 1971–72, or to make estimates of the effect on Welsh employment prospects of the reduction.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is now his policy on the report, "Water in Wales", submitted to him by the Welsh Council in 1970, following the report of the Central Advisory Water Committee.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, West (Mr. Scott-Hopkins).

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to meet the wishes of the Glamorgan County Council, with reference to its application for a grant towards the development of the Glamorgan Airport at Rhoose, near Barry.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Rhondda, West (Mr. Alec Jones) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now publish a further White Paper on national fuel policy.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to the hon. Member for Bristol, Central (Mr. Palmer) on 8th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide details of the computerised export intelligence service provided by his Department.

The Export Intelligence Service conveys overseas market information to British exporters who subscribe to the Service. A computer matches the market information to the exporter's requirements. A description of the Service was given in an article in the Board of Trade Journal of 7th January, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what instructions and training have been given to his staff regarding the confidentiality of commercial and personal information stored in computerised data-banks.

Senior computer staff are responsible for seeing that systems and procedures safeguard information. General training and instructions on security are given to all staff. These are supplemented by special instructions in the Business Statistics Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to encourage the reduction of industrial tariff barriers between the European Free Trade Association and the European Economic Community.

All members of E.F.T.A. are currently engaged in negotiations and discussions with the European Communities which will, we hope, bring this about.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the regulations which have to be complied with by those wishing to establish hotels and boarding houses; if he is satisfied that these are sufficient to ensure reasonable standards of comfort and cleanliness; and if he will make a statement.

These buildings must comply with the requirements of legislation concerning planning, public health, safety and licensing and of bylaws. In general, however, I think that we must look to competition and the need to satisfy customers, not to regulations, to provide the incentive for the maintenance of reasonable standards of comfort and cleanliness.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to protect the paper industry from unfair trading practices by overseas competitors.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has completed his consideration of the importation of paper and board from Scandinavia; and if he will make a statement.

Representations have previously been made to the principal countries concerned. In the light of further information provided by the industry I have decided to take up the question with them again.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action his Department is taking to offset the effects of redundancies in the aircraft, steel and other industries in the Manchester area by means of encouraging new employment facilities.

Employment in the area will benefit from the improvement in business confidence which the Government's policies aim to bring about: in particular, by the Budget measures and those announced last October.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the net annual contribution of the United Kingdom motor manufacturing industry to the balance of payments, after allowing for the cost of imports used in United Kingdom motor vehicle manufacture and for the cost of foreign motor vehicles imported into the United Kingdom.

Provisional input-output tables for 1968 suggest about £500 million in respect of the current balance.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied with the rate of progress in clearing old buildings and dereliction from the Newton Aycliffe Industrial Estate; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Since 1957, 730 buildings have been demolished and 278 acres of land cleared for development. Future progress must depend on the rate buildings become available for demolition or modernisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current level of employment, male, female and total, on the Newton Aycliffe Industrial Estate; and if he will give the corresponding figures for the previous 10 years.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will take steps to provide special assistance to manufacturers of electrical appliances; and if he will make a statement.

No. This industry will benefit along with others from the recent reductions in Corporation Tax and Selective Employment Tax.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many institutions accepting funds on deposit from the public do not have to publish full accounts.

91 banking companies are recognised for the purposes of Schedule 8 to the Companies Act, 1948 and are, therefore, exempt from some of the requirements with regard to accounts which apply to companies in general.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the average availability of generating plant in commissioned power stations containing 500 megawatt units for the winter of 1970–71 in the Central Electricity Generating Board system.

I am informed by the C.E.G.B. that the average availability during peak periods of all commissioned 500MW units on their C.E.G.B. system during the winter of 1970–71 was 64 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action has been taken by his Department to carry out the recommendations of the Select Committee on Science and Technology in its report Generating Plant Breakdowns, Winter 1969–70, Command Paper No. 223, published on 13th April, 1970.

The conclusions of the Report are for the generating boards and the plant industry, who have the direct responsibility in these matters, to consider.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will enter into confidential discussion with the Association of Chambers of Commerce, the Confederation of British Industry, the British National Export Council and other interested bodies with a view to stimulating a resumption of British exports to Rhodesia via third countries.

No. We are exploring the possibilities of a just settlement in Rhodesia and meanwhile sanctions will continue.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many inquiries by industrialists to set up or occupy factories in Wales have been referred by, or in co-operation with, his Department to the Mid-Wales Development Association or to the new towns New Town Corporation since the Government has taken office; and what proportion of inquiries this represents.

Seven, representing 3 per cent. of the total inquiries for industrial locations in Wales received by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the quantity and value of bottles imported into Great Britain for use by the wine and spirit trade, during the last 12-month period for which figures are available; and what were the corresponding figures for the previous 12-month period.

Imports of bottles for use by the wine and spirit trade alone are not separately distinguished. Figures for beer, wine, spirit and similar bottles are published in the Annual Statement of Trade up to 1969 and in Table IV of the monthly Overseas Trade Statistics for later periods.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which airlines now uplift JP4 fuel from United Kingdom airfields.

I am informed that no airlines are now uplifting this fuel from United Kingdom airfields.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to require British airlines to ensure that a flight attendant, or other suitably trained person, should occupy a seat adjacent to each emergency exit during the landing and take-off of aircraft on public transport flights.

Article 31(2)(d) of the Air Navigation Order, 1970, already requires the commander of an aircraft flying for the purpose of public transport of passengers to take all reasonable steps to ensure that during take-off and landing cabin attendants are properly secured in seats in the passenger compartment and so situated that they can readily assist passengers. Changes in the scale of cabin attendants required are being considered in consultation with the aviation industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT by economic planning regions how many industrial development certificates were issued for the last quarter of 1969, for each quarter of 1970, and for the first quarter of 1971; how many jobs they were expected to create; and what was the proportion of

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) in what manner non-compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards in respect of air information services is notified;(2) if the air information services of the United Kingdom comply with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards.

Notification is in accordance with the provisions of Article 38 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation. The current I.C.A.O. standards are fully accepted by the United Kingdom and, insofar as present practice differs slightly from these, changes are being made progressively toward full compliance.

I am sure that the hon. Member will appreciate that it is not the number of I.D.C.s issued which matters but the area of floor space to which they relate. Measured in this way, the assisted area proportion rose between the first and second halves of the period. The improvement is even more marked if one compares the most recent nine months with the comparable period twelve months before.Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the total amount of Australian sugar imported into this country for each of the last five years.

Figures for 1970 are published in Table III of the Overseas Trade Statistics for December 1970; those for earlier years are published in Volume II of the Annual Statement of Trade of the United Kingdom for the relevant years.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the amount of grants and loans estimated to each shipbuilding firm in the financial year 1971–72.

The amount of assistance to be provided by the Shipbuilding Industry Board to shipbuilding firms is a matter for negotiation between the Shipbuilding Industry Board and the firm concerned. To disclose estimates of the amount which individual firms may receive could be misleading and would be contrary to normal commercial practice. Details of loans or grants made by the S.I.B. will be published in due course in their Annual Report covering the financial year 1971–72.Published estimates indicate that the Shipbuilding Industry Board expect to pay £2,635,000 in grants and £5 million in loans during this period.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the height above Mean Sea Level of the highest obstruction with 15 miles of the projected Foulness airport site.

No precise site has yet been selected. The highest obstruction within 15 nautical miles of the reference point of the Roskill Commission's preferred site is the chimney of Kingsnorth Power Station near Hoo in Kent: the chimney top is 670 feet above mean sea level, but as it is 143 nautical miles from the reference point it would not be regarded as an obstruction to aircraft using an airport on that site.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he can state, from information available from International Civil Aviation Organisation sources, the number of fatal accidents to public transport aircraft caused during the years 1960 to 1970 by striking birds, and the number of similar accidents caused during the same period by aircraft striking surface obstructions during initial approach, landing, take-off and initial climb.

Information available from I.C.A.O. sources indicates that in the period 1960–70 there were three fatal accidents to public transport aircraft due to bird strikes. Information published by I.C.A.O. on a selection of the accidents reported to the Organisa- tion up to the end of 1966 and summaries of those reported from 1967–70 indicate that during the period 1960–70 31 fatal accidents involved aircraft colliding with surface obstructions in the phases of flight mentioned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many firms, whose buildings are in the process of construction, or have recently completed construction, in the Chester-leStreet, and other constituencies of the County of Durham, are awaiting his final approval on the viability of the firms concerned; and what action he proposes to take to assist such firms during 1971, naming each area separately.

I regret that the information requested is not readily available. Approval of applications may depend on a number of considerations of which viability is only one. Cases are, of course, dealt with as quickly as possible, but if the hon. Member would write to me about any particular cases he has in mind I would be glad to look into them.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the 429 individuals or companies which were the subject of complaint under the Registration of Business Names Act in 1968 to 1970 eventually complied with the Act.

181 complied. Investigation showed that the other complaints were about businesses which could not be traced or were not required to register.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a detailed list showing the number of occasions and on what dates he has received requests for an investigation into matters connected with the Dollar Land Holdings Limited, who made the requests, and what action he took in each instance.

It is not the Department's practice to disclose the identity of a person who communicates with them about the affairs of a particular company without his consent.A formal application for the appointment of inspectors under Section 165(

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance he affords to companies seeking to extend their trade with Common Market countries; and whether he will give special help to the Campaign Cologne venture which is seeking to extend trade with Western Germany.

A wide range of Government assistance is available to companies exporting to the Common Market countries. Our Embassy in Bonn are in close contact with the firm which has launched a campaign in Cologne but no special help was required for this promotion.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is aware that 90 per cent. of New Zealand's butter, 70 per cent. of her cheese, and 80 per cent. of her lamb exports travels into Great Britain in British ships, and, that as this trade will be adversely affected on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community on any known terms, to what extent he anticipates a loss in earnings to the United Kingdom's shipping industry from this source.

According to my information the figures for the year ending June, 1970, are 89·1 per cent. for butter, 76·3 per cent for cheese and 86·3 per cent. for lamb. Until the terms of our entry into the European Economic Community are known, their effect and that of other relevant factors on British shipping earnings cannot be estimated.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what for the longest and most convenient stated period of time was the amount of money earned by the British shipping industry in conveying goods and services to and from New Zealand; and to what extent this trade is likely to be affected by Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community on any known terms.

I am not able to provide statistics of the earnings of British shipping in this trade. Until the terms for our entry into the Community are known it is not possible to determine their effect on such earnings.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his latest estimate of the extent to which the present 17 per cent. tariff preference on 84 per cent. of the export of goods from New Zealand into Great Britain will be affected on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community on any known terms; and if, for the longest, most convenient period of time, he will give the financial effect that these preferences have made to Great Britain's cost of living.

The percentages quoted by the hon. Member are incorrect. Only just over one-fifth of New Zealand's exports to the United Kingdom enjoy preferential tariff treatment. It is not possible to estimate the effect of these preferences on our cost of living.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give, for the longest and most convenient period of time, the total number of requests made to his Department for investigation to be made into public companies; in how many cases he agreed to take action and refused action, respectively; how long in each case it took him to reach his decision; in how many cases, where he refused action on one or more occasions, he later agreed to investigations; and with what results in each case.

The following table relates to the period since 1st January, 1970. Similar information for the years 1958–69 was supplied in an Answer given to the hon. Member on 18th February, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why it takes so long for his Department to reply to letters from the general public and Members of Parliament on general matters, and requests for action on public companies allegedly contravening the Companies Act in particular; and whether he will ensure in future that there is no undue delay before initiating official investigations into companies who, on prima facie evidence, are guilty of illegal practices.

A reply to any letter is sent as soon as is practicable. As regards requests for investigation of the affairs of companies, every effort is made to establish as quickly as the circumstances of each case allow whether there is ground for an investigation. If there is, an investigation is set on foot promptly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will pay an official visit to Blackburn, West Lothian.

My right hon. Friend and I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to be able to make a statement regarding employees' shareholding in Rolls-Royce.

I cannot at present add to my answer to the hon. Member for Derby, North (Mr. Whitehead) on 29th March and to my earlier statements on this subject.—[Vol. 814, c. 293–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial provisions he will be making for the Air-Sea Rescue Service from Manston.

I shall be presenting a supplementary estimate for a marine helicopter service in due course; in the meantime expenditure will be met out of the contingencies fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement, giving details of the present industrial developments taking place at Llantrisant, and of those developers who have recently intimated their intention to cancel their proposed developments.

In the area covered by the Pontypridd group of employment exchanges, which includes Llantrisant, 11 new manufacturing projects are proceeding. These have already given rise to 300 jobs and are estimated by the companies concerned to yield another 1,200 jobs over the next four years. I am unaware of any recent cancellation of projects for which industrial development certificates had been issued.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply what salaries, fees or emoluments will be paid to the Chairman and directors of Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited.

I have been asked to reply.The Board of Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited have decided that for the time being directors of the company should receive no fee for their services. The Chairman of the Board is receiving a salary of £15,000; other directors with executive positions in the company are receiving salaries within the following ranges:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs as one man who took part in the murder of two Royal Ulster Constabulary policemen recently in Belfast is in the Irish Republic, he will now open negotiations with the Government of the Irish Republic to extend the terms of the present extradition treaty to include political murder.

No. Under the Irish Republic's Extradition Act of 1965, an Irish citizen may be extradited by an Irish District Court provided there is a similar offence in Irish law. While the Act does provide that the High Court may refuse extradition if it considers that the offence is a political one, the British Acts covering extradition contain similar provisions, as do those of a number of other countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reply has been given to the invitation to participate in the 150th anniversary of the Liberation of Venezuela.

Her Majesty's Government have recently received, with much pleasure, invitations from the Government of the Republic of Venezuela for British representation at these celebrations. Final arrangements are in hand for both ministerial and military representation, and a formal reply will shortly be sent to the Government of Venezuela.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is Government policy to work towards a West European confederation of States.

Her Majesty's Government's policy on political unity in Western Europe was set out in my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's opening statement to the Communities on 30th June last year. I would also refer hon. Members to what I said in the debate in the House on 20th January.—[Vol. 809, c. 1091–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it one of the conditions of British entry to the European Economic Community that the United Kingdom will accept no proposals which would have the effect of reducing her trade with developing countries to the level existing amongst the European Economic Community countries.

Her Majesty's Government believe that as a member of an enlarged Community we can with our partners make a fuller contribution to solving the problems of the less prosperous countries. The Community's imports from developing countries in 1969 were double those of the United Kingdom, and between 1962 and 1969 the rate of increase in the Community's import trade with developing countries was half as large again as that for the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date he received from the hon. Member for West Ham, North a booklet sent to him in connection with the European Economic Community negotiations and what was the nature of his reply.

I received the booklet on 26th April. My reply sets out Her Majesty's Government's position in relation to the Caribbean banana industry which has been made clear in the House on numerous occasions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, for the sake of greater accuracy, he will cause the full text of the public speech delivered by Lord Cromer, Her Majesty's Ambassador to the United States of America, to the National Press Club in Washington on 19th February, 1971, to be placed in the Library.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the work of the Research Department on Disarmament at the Foreign Office and on any published papers, proposals or recommendations it has produced.

The Arms Control and Disarmament Research Unit studies specialised, and longer-term, problems of the control, limitation and reduction of armaments; and makes available the results of its research to those officially concerned with the day-to-day conduct of British policy in this field. The Unit's studies necessarily incorporate confidential material and are themselves confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will take steps to ensure that when moneys are transmitted abroad for social purposes guarantees are provided that these funds will be utilised exclusively for social services.

It would be prudent for societies and individuals transmitting money abroad for social purposes to secure adequate assurances as to its use. As far as Her Majesty's Government are concerned, such transfers are subject to exchange control legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the official public engagements of Her Majesty's Ambassador to France for Thursday 22nd, and Friday 23rd April, respectively.

Her Majesty's Ambassador in Paris was present at the Anglo-French meetings in London on Concorde on 22nd April. On 23rd April, Mr. Soames took part in consultations with Ministers and senior officials.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the offer of financial assistance to Gibraltar for its Viaduct Housing Project, announced on 15th March, has been accepted by the Government of Gibraltar; and whether he will give the details of it.

The Gibraltar Government have accepted the British offer. The estimated cost of the project, exclusive of land value, is £5·15 millions. This will be financed through British Government Development aid. Three-quarters of the total amount required will be by way of grant and the balance by loan repayable over 25 years.The financing of this project is likely to be the major part of the Gibraltar Development Programme with which the British Government will be associated during the three years April, 1973, to March, 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on future aid talks with Pakistan; and whether he will consult with other aid donors so as to make further aid dependent upon a cease-fire in East Pakistan.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 26th April, 1971 Vol. 816, c. 27–9], supplied the following details of British projects which were under way in East and West Pakistan on 1st March, 1971. Since then the British aid programme in East Pakistan has come to a halt.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give a list of his official engagements for Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd April, respectively.

My official engagements are given daily to the Press. On the days in question they were:

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will give a list of his official engagements for Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd April, respectively.

On 22nd April I attended a lunch with the Council of the British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers Association and, in the evening, a reception given by the Polish Ambassador. On 23rd April I had meetings with Mr. McNamara, President of the World Bank, with Mr. Kirk, Leader of the Opposition in the New Zealand Parliament, and attended, the New Zealand High Commissioner's lunch for the new Zealand Prime Minister.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will ensure that in the case of all concessions granted to petroleum companies by public authorities there shall be a clause preventing the extension of such monopoly to the sale of products other than petrol.

Petroleum companies have given in respect of their own products undertakings not to impose restrictions on the sale of products other than petroleum at petrol stations. Concessions granted by my Department to petrol companies are consistent with these undertakings. I am not aware of any concessions granted by the public authorities for which my right hon. Friend is responsible which are inconsistent with them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list the plots of land still in the possession of the Land Commission, for which he is now responsible; and by what date he anticipates it will all be disposed of.

Sites in 35 places have been passed by the Land Commis-

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost in terms of Central Government grants and total public expenditure of London overspill schemes approved in 1971.

Two schemes only have been agreed so far this year—a new scheme for Hastings and a small additional one for Aylesbury. No precise calculations of grant payments can be made at this stage; but the total capital

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the difference between the designated capacity to absorb London overspill, and the capacity already in use in all the town expansion schemes to accommodate London overspill, so far announced under the Town Development Act, 1952.

The total remaining capacity of schemes is estimated at roughly 45,000 dwellings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects to open the Hawley-Lightwater section of the M3 Motorway; and if he will give an assurance that the whole of this section will be opened at the same time.

In June. The whole of this section will be opened at the same time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has, coincidental with the opening of the second Dartford Tunnel, for a system of approach roads on the Essex side, adequate to prevent traffic bottlenecks.

It is planned to provide adequate trunk road connections to match the opening of the second Dartford Tunnel. Improvements to other approach roads is a matter for the local highway authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what control is exercised by his Department on the methods of disposal of publicly owned land by a local authority.

Since the Town and Country Planning Act, 1959, local authorities have required the consent of my right hon. Friend to the disposal of land only in a limited range of cases. These include land acquired compulsorily, open space, common land held under local Acts, statutory allotments, land acquired or appropriated for planning purposes, and buildings of architectural or historic importance.My right hon. Friend's consent is also generally required if the local authority wish to dispose of any land at less than market value.Applications for consent are considered on their merits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent statutory water undertakings grant rebates on water rates; and whether he will bring in a Bill to permit them all to do so, in particular for the benefit of pensioners.

Out of 163 water undertakers in England I understand six have a permissive power to remit or reduce the charge they make for water on the ground of poverty. The power is hardly ever used. My right hon. Friend has no plans to introduce legislation in this connection. Where supplementary benefit is paid any charge for water is taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he received from city institutions, against the Mersey Docks and Harbour Bill in respect of its effect on small investors, between 29th January and 26th April, 1971.

During this period and before it, institutions have made known in different ways their concern both at the Board's financial situation and at its effects on investors of all kinds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many accidents, involving how many cars, have taken place in each of the last two years on the Ml, on the four-lane carriageway between Watford and Hemel Hempstead, and on the six-lane carriageway between Hendon and Watford, respectively.

I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the information asked for is available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek powers to oblige highway authorities to signpost all paths at their junctions with metalled roads.

No. Highway authorities are already obliged by Section 27 of the Countryside Act, 1968, to provide signposts at every point where a footpath leaves a metalled road except where the local parish authority agrees they are unnecessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take action to make it compulsory for all vehicles to carry reflective triangles for use in case of accident or breakdown.

I am considering the whole question of hazard warning devices, including advance warning triangles.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made on the introduction of safety features in the construction of new motor vehicles; and what discussions have taken place between his Department and motor manufacturers.

A wide range of vehicle safety requirements is already contained in regulations. The development and evaluation of additional safety features, either by the Department or the motor industry in consultation with each other, is a continuing process.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to provide that all future motor vehicles shall be fitted with amber headlights.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent an analysis of the circumstances of road accidents during 1970 reveals specific causes of increased fatalities and injuries, as compared with the previous year.

Detailed analyses are not yet available but the 3 per cent. increase in motor traffic was clearly one of the major factors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what comments he has now received from interested bodies on his draft circular on street name plates and house numbering; and what action he proposes to take on them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many road accidents during 1970 involved dogs not kept on a lead; and whether he will introduce legislation to make it unlawful to allow dogs without leads on major roads.

In 1969 dogs were reported as present on the carriageway in 1,471 road accidents which involved personal injury. I regret that figures for 1970 are not yet available. Local authorities already have power under section 220 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960, to make Orders designating roads where dogs must be on leads.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many and what proportion of fatal accidents during the past five years have some connection with the consumption of alcohol.

Information is not available in the precise form requested, but the following table shows the percentages of drivers and riders of motor vehicles who were killed and whose blood-alcohol levels were in the stated range.

While generally accepting the draft circular, eight of the twelve bodies consulted have commented so far and seven of these have only suggested detailed amendments. I am considering these and will issue the final circular as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to launch a new campaign to alert the public to the dangers of drinking when driving and in particular to the likelihood of prosecution under the Road Safety Act, 1967.

Breath tests under the 1967 Road Safety Act are now running at their highest level ever. I prefer for the time being to concentrate publicity expenditure on other road dangers of which the public may be less aware.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the names of the 45 local authorities to whom payments of supplementary housing subsidy under the Housing Subsidy Act, 1967, have recently been paid.

The following is a list of the authorities concerned:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his proposals for providing greater safety for road users of the A21 at its junction with Chelsfield Hill and Rushmoor Hill, Pratts Bottom.

None. This length of road is the responsibility of the Greater London Council.

asked the Secretary at State for the Environment whether he will advise local housing authorities to enable their tenants to pay rent by means of the Giro, in order to reduce the risk of robbery and to demonstrate the efficiency and value of the Giro.

Arrangements for the payment of council house rents are the responsibility of the local housing authorities themselves. I am sure that they are always prepared to look at new methods of collection but it is not for me to recommend the use of any particular banking system.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will install three-way traffic signals with filter arrows where appropriate at the junctions of The Mall and Marlborough Gate in St. James's Park, London, in order to save police manpower and to lessen the danger of collision when there is no police officer on duty.

No. Traffic lights would be inappropriate in the Mall. They would spoil the present unimpeded vista along this important ceremonial route.

asked the Minister of State for Defence when York Trailers were last invited to tender for trailers for the armed forces.

August, 1969.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many attempted suicides there have been in Portsmouth naval detention quarters since the introduction of reforms in the administration of the quarters.