asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to increase or decrease the Exchequer contribution towards the upkeep and renovation of Great Britain's canal system.

Exchequer grant-in-aid to the British Waterways Board in 1971–72 will be £2·5 million, compared with £1·5 million in 1969–70 and £1·85 million in 1970–71.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the two pilot studies in Devon and West Suffolk, in connection with rural transport problems, have yet been completed; and if he is in a position to give any guidance on this matter.

Yes; I am hoping to publish them with my views before the Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representation he has received from South-East Lancashire, North-East Cheshire concerning an underground transport system in the central Manchester area; and what funds he intends to make available for this project.

One of the main recommendations in the S.E.L.N.E.C. Land Use /Transportation Study is for an underground rail link between Piccadilly and Victoria stations. Discussions are taking place between my Department and the authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware that the proposal of his Department to close the Heavy Goods Vehicle Testing Station at Alvaston, Derby, will cause increased costs to both industry and the consumer; and to what extent the alternative stations some 30 miles away will be capable of handling the additional influx of vehicles.

Full account will be taken of all the effects before deciding whether or not to close this station. If it is closed, the alternative stations will be able to accommodate the extra vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make public funds available for maintaining in operation bowling greens in Liverpool.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, having regard to the Road Traffic (Driving Instruction) Act, 1967, and the regulations thereunder in 1969–70, whether he is aware that, following court proceedings at Luton, an unqualified person has been discharged guiltless although not registered as a driving instructor as required by statute and notwithstanding less than four years' ownership of a driving licence; and whether he will therefore introduce legislation to strengthen and amend the 1967 Act.

My Department was not a party to these proceedings. I am seeking information about them but at present I have no evidence to suggest that further legislation is needed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many driving instructors are now registered in accordance with the Road Traffic (Driving Instruction) Act, 1967, and Regulations thereunder; what steps he is taking to enforce the Act and prevent future instruction by unqualified persons in the interests of road safety; and what assurances in this connection he is giving to the representative bodies of registered driving instructors.

On 30th June, 1971, 14,408 instructors were registered under this Act. My Department is following up all written complaints of alleged breaches. Instructors were asked through their associations on 1st November, 1970 to address their complaints to the Department's Supervising Examiners locally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation requiring all British-made cars sold on the home market to be fitted with high penetrant resistant laminated windscreens.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the percentage of British cars sold in Great Britain for the last year for which statistics are available, with high penetrant resistant laminated windscreens;(2) what is his estimate of the additional cost per car of requiring all British-made cars sold on the home market to be fitted with high penetrant resistant laminated windscreens;(3) what studies have been made of the comparative injury rates between those involved in accidents in the United Kingdom in cars with high penetrant resistant laminated windscreens and those with other types of windscreen; and what were the recommendations made.

Statistics are not available, but very few cars are sold in Great Britain with H.P.R. laminated windscreens. Because of this, no proper comparison of injury rates in accidents in the United Kingdom has yet been possible, but the available evidence does not indicate any substantial difference; I am, however, continuing to examine the whole question of injuries due to windscreen glass. The additional cost of fitting H.P.R. laminated windscreens would be about £10 per car.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to provide a railway and traders' conference to represent the interests of traders, from the point of view of both passenger and freight traffic.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many vehicles were reported to him as having crossed over the central reservation on motorways in 1970; and how many of them were involved in collision with vehicles in the other carriageway.

Information is available only about accidents in which someone was injured. A total of 307 vehicles in injury accidents crossed the central reservation, and of these 157 then hit a vehicle in the other carriageway.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give an approximate figure of the payments now made by the Motor Insurers Bureau since the collapse of the Vehicle and General Insurance Company.

Up to 25th June, 1971, the Bureau has paid about £48,000 to meet claims against Vehicle and General policy holders in respect of compulsorily insurable liabilities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, because there are many owners of vehicles who have not licensed them for some time, and as the Road Fund licence form is worded they must admit an offence since the expiry of the last licence thus becoming liable to penalties, to encourage these persons to licence their vehicles, he will seek to provide a two-month moratorium on penalties if a licence is applied for within this period.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a further statement about the disposal of the subsidiary companies of the Transport Holding Company.

The Holding Company have already disposed of their interest in the Penarth Dock Engineering Company, they have appointed a receiver for Skyways, and they hope shortly to complete the sale of Lunn-Poly to Cunards. The sale of Cook's must await legislation. The operations of the remaining subsidiary, Pickfords Travel Service Ltd., are integrated with those of other Pick-ford companies owned by the National Freight Corporation to which, with the agreement of both Chairmen, I propose to transfer it. The necessary Order under Section 53 of the Transport Act, 1968 will be laid before Parliament soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many pedestrian crossings are available to the people living in the area of South-port Road, Bootle, which are located on Southport Road from the Liverpool boundary to Dunning's Bridge Road, and what steps are to be taken to increase the same.

Two and a pedestrian subway. Pedestrian crossings are a matter for Bootle C.B.C. who I understand have plans for three more.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total value, seasonally adjusted and at constant prices, of all work including maintenance and repairs carried out by contractors during the first quarter of 1971; and what percentage difference this represents relative to the corresponding figure for the previous quarter.

The total value of output by contractors at constant (1963) prices seasonally adjusted was £761 million in the first quarter of 1971. This was an increase of 0·5 per cent. over the fourth quarter of 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses were started in the private sector during the nine months to the end of March, 1971; and what increase this represents over the corresponding figure for the nine months to the end of March, 1970.

In Great Britain, 128,700 houses were started in the private sector in the nine months to the end of March, 1971, as against 108,300 in the same period to the end of March, 1970, an increase of 18·8 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the amount of grant from Government sources per unit of accommodation in stages I and II of the Greater London Council's housing development at Thamesmead; and what is the value of the grant expressed as a percentage of each unit cost.

I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member on 6th April, 1971.—[Vol. 815, c. 106.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what amount has been paid in the last 12 months to a convenient date on grants to install baths, hot water systems and inside water closets in houses needing them, how much on conversions costing over £1,000 of higher priced houses, and how much has gone to twilight areas; and what steps he will now take to ensure the poorer types of housing get improvements.

The information is not available in the form required.In the 12 months ended 31st March, 1971, standard grants amounting to £7·5 million were paid to private owners. Discretionary grants amounting to £2·6 million were paid for conversions generally. Comparable figures are not available for work done by local authorities.My aim is to get as many as possible of our older houses modernised and I have encouraged local authorities to give grants freely. The Department's extensive publicity campaign is making more owners aware of the benefits of improving their houses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total cost in the last financial year, or in the latest period for which figures are available, of housing improvement grants; what proportions of such grants were paid in respect of privately-owned houses, housing association or trust premises and local authority housing, respectively.

Grants of £22·4 million were paid to private owners and housing associations in England and Wales in the financial year 1970–71. Comparable figures are not available for work done by local authorities, but the value of work approved for Government contributions towards local authority schemes during this period was about £49 million. Of the numbers of grants approved during the calendar year 1970, 73 per cent. were for private owners and housing associations and 27 per cent. were for local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of recent increases in the cost of materials, he will reconsider his policy of requiring nationalised industries and local authorities to seek tenders from building firms for contracts of up to two years' duration only on a firm-price basis.

No. In a statement to the National Consultative Council for the Building and Civil Engineering Industries on 17th March, 1971, I explained why the Government had decided to retain the firm price tendering policy but offered to review the situation if circumstances showed this to be necessary.I have nothing to add to this statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now reconsider his policy on firm price tendering, in view of the evidence which he has received of recent increases in tender prices; and if he will make a statement.

For tenders returnable to my Department, I am advised that there is still no evidence of unduly high provision being made because of the Government's firm price tendering policy. No advice in a contrary sense has come from any other Department concerned with construction.As I told representatives of the industry on 17th March, 1971, I am keeping the position under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when it is proposed to announce the members of the Preston New Town Corporation;(2) how many women it is proposed to appoint to the board of the Preston New Town Corporation.

I shall announce the members of the Central Lancashire New Town Development Corporation as soon as I have considered the views of the local authorities which I am now consulting.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on his review of the working of Circular 57/69 issued by the former Ministry of Housing; and whether he is satisfied that all local authorities are now placing work with direct labour departments only after seeking competitive tenders.

Local authorities in general give new housebuilding work to direct labour organisations only after competition or in continuation of work won in competition. Any exception from this rule normally needs specific Ministerial approval. I am considering whether any further guidance is necessary on this question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now give instructions that Hyde Park shall be kept open all night.

No. The disadvantages of doing so seem to me to outweigh any likely advantages.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress to date of his Department's house improvement publicity campaign.

I am glad to say that the stepping up of the publicity campaign for improvement grants continues to be reflected by an increase in the number of grants approved—an increase of 26 per cent. in the first four months of this year over the same period of last year. So far, publicity campaigns comprising Press advertising, exhibitions, show houses and leaflet distributions have been held in 32 towns and cities up and down the country and a further 60 are in preparation.Work is now beginning in consultation with the London boroughs and the Greater London Council on preparations for a massive publicity campaign in Greater London in the spring of 1972. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing my appreciation of the many interests, both public and private, which are actively supporting these campaigns.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why the value of council house building orders for the first four months of this year fell by 18 per cent. compared with the same period last year, in view of the slight increase in the number of new council houses started.

There is no direct statistical correlation between the figures of orders placed and the figure of dwellings started.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what discussions he has had with the Greater London Council regarding the workings of, and contributions made by, housing associations during the past three years; and if he will make a statement;(2) what discussions he has had with the London Borough of Islington regarding the workings of, and contributions made by, housing associations during the past three years; and if he will make a statement.

A standing working party of officials of my Department and of London housing authorities is considering ways and means of helping housing associations in Greater London to operate more effectively. In March, I sent to London housing authorities, including the Greater London Council, a report by the working party suggesting, in particular, a system of zoning in order to avoid overlapping of operations. The working party is now considering a recommended scheme of assistance to housing associations by housing authorities

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will reply to the letter sent to him on 19th May by Councillor Webster, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, concerning approval for a scheme for housing in Glanton Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

A reply was sent to Councillor Webster on 23rd June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make arrangements for the County Borough of Bradford to be included within the provisions of the Housing Bill or offered special facilities, in view of the difficult housing situation in that city.

No. The Bill applies only to local government areas wholly or partly within a development or intermediate area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give a detailed breakdown of the net total of £197,802 to be spent on St. James's Palace in 1971–72, as shown in the Supply Estimates Class VI on Environmental Services; and similar breakdowns of the £385,887 for Buckingham Palace, the £377,584 for Windsor Palace, the £39,155 for Kensington Palace, the £266,766 for Hampton Court Palace, the £101,104 for the Palace of Holyrood-house, the £13,784 for other palaces, and the £21,208 for palaces generally.

Following is the information:

		New works	Supply of Furniture	Rents, etc.	Maintenance and Operating Expenses	Fuel, Gas, Water and Electricity	Maintenance of Furniture	Transport and Removals of Furniture	Gross Totals	Appropriations in Aid	Net Totals
		(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)	(7)	(8)	(9)	(10)
		£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
St. James's Palace	…	104,495	8,650	—	73,081	12,670	1,500	—	200,396	2,594	197,802
Buckingham Palace	…	43,375	—	—	271,715	35,502	28,300	11,000	389,892	4,005	385,887
Windsor Castle	…	35,080	—	25	259,600	45,279	40,900	—	380,884	3,300	377,584
Kensington Palace	…	1,800	—	—	36,790	4,529	—	—	43,119	3,964	39,155
Hampton Court Palace	…	96,550	8,300	—	218,120	18,500	1,300	—	342,770	77,004*	265,766
Palace of Holyroodhouse	…	2,500	3,000	356	95,800	9,400	7,400	—	118,456	17,352†	101,104
Other Palaces and Properties (i.e. Kew Palace, Marlborough House Mews, Sandringham and Balmoral)	…	200	—	3	8,700	7,245	—	—	16,148	2,364	13,784
Palaces Generally (This provides for contingencies or items not attributable to any one Palace)	…	10,000	3,300	—	1,000	2,875	6,450	—	23,625	2,417	21,208
Grant in Aid	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	38,000	—	38,000
											1,440,290
* Includes £66,000 for admission receipts.
† Includes £17,000 for admission receipts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last had discussions with the brick-making industry regarding brick supplies; and what was the outcome.

I met the Brick Development Association in May and was assured that, in general, demands for bricks could be met, although temporary local shortages for certain bricks might occur. I am arranging to meet the Association again for a further report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will lay down a code of practice for housing managers dealing with applications brought to their attention by Members of Parliament, medical practitioners and local councillors with particular reference to a time limit for replies to inquiries.

No. The running of a local authority office must be left to the authority itself.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now make a further statement on the progress of metrication in the construction industry, and in particular in the private sector.

Progress is in line with the requirements of the industry's programme. Latest statistics show that in the first quarter of 1971 the value of private sector metric projects reaching the design stage increased to 24 per cent. of the total. This compares with 17 per cent. in the previous quarter and an average before that of 11·5 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what discussions he has had with the Greater London Council regarding the Greve Report on Homelessness in London; and if he will make a statement.(2) what discussion he has had with the London Borough of Islington regarding the Greve Report on Homelessness in London; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services has invited representatives of the London boroughs and the G.L.C. to discuss the Report of the Working Party on Homelessness with him and myself.My right hon. Friend set up the working party to consider certain of the recommendations contained in Professor Greve's Report. The working party's report was sent to the London authorities on 27th May and the London authorities have not yet indicated when they will be ready to meet us.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the ratio between net rent and gross rateable value of registered rents of private houses in the Manchester Rent Officer's area.

The analysis of 366 case records which were analysed by the Department's computer during 1970 showed a ratio of average registered rents to average gross value of 1·72.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what, at the latest available date, is the total stock of houses in the United Kingdom occupied wholly or in part by their owners; and what proportion this forms of the total stock.

Published housing statistics relate to Great Britain. Details of stocks of dwellings by tenure for Great Britain 1966 to 1969 are published in Housing Statistics, No. 17, May, 1970, a copy of which is in the Library. Similar information showing the position at 31st December, 1970, is due to be published on 7th July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, together with local authorities, he will now establish machinery to monitor comprehensively the degree of pollution in the sea surrounding the coastline of England and Wales.

I am considering with my right hon. Friends what additional monitoring and surveillance of the sea is necessary in the light of recent expert reports; and the current discussions of possible international agreements on the control of marine pollution include consideration of monitoring arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the accident risks caused by the lights of oncoming vehicles, arising from the absence of hedges on motorways, and by the use of physical barriers, whether he will ensure that a light barrier is incorporated in all physical barriers he provides on motorways.

Experiments with the use of such screening have so far proved inconclusive from the road safety aspect but I am looking into the possibility of further trials with a different type.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will include a bypass for New Alresford, Hampshire, in his five-year special road programme.

It is for the local highway authority to propose such a principal road scheme for preparation and to justify selection in competition with principal road schemes throughout the country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will use the powers available to him under the Clean Air Act, 1968, to require local authorities to introduce smoke control orders.

Now that the shortage of solid smokeless fuel that I inherited has been overcome, I am encouraging the submission of orders by all local authorities who want to make them. I expect an excellent response.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the increased rate of reclamation, he will reduce the target for the clearance of existing derelict land in England from the 10-year period to eight years.

The 10-year target for the priority areas is an ambitious one, but any priority area authority who can improve on it can rely on my support.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the total extent of derelict land in Lancashire; how many acres were cleared in 1969–70 and 1970–71; and how many acres have been programmed for clearance during 1971–72.

Provisional figures for the administrative county showed some 10,570 acres of derelict land on 31st December, 1970, of which some 8,410 acres were considered to justify restoration. In the calendar year 1969, 265 acres were restored; in 1970, 180 acres (provisional figure). In 1971 the County Council expect 680 acres to be restored.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans have been submitted to him for re-siting from residential areas of Willesden and Acton non-conforming industries.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take whatever action may be deemed necessary to encourage local authorities to keep their public buildings open for 17 hours from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish his justification for every individual investment decision made by him involving any capital sum in excess of £10 million.

While in practice the arguments for any very large investment decision are generally made public I doubt whether a rigid rule would be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish figures for each of the London boroughs showing in how many instances landlords were prosecuted for non-compliance with statutory notices, and in how many cases work was undertaken by the local authority itself, consequent upon default by the landlord, for each of the years 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970, respectively.

No statistics are kept by the Department and the hon. Member should approach the London boroughs direct for this information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what effect the recently announced motorways and trunk roads expansion plan will have upon existing proposals for by-passes to relieve from through-traffic villages and towns not on trunk roads.

The plan is unlikely to have any substantial effect on principal road by-pass schemes already programmed or in preparation. We will continue to give sympathetic consideration to other principal road by-pass schemes local authorities may propose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware of the increasing congestion on the M6 and M1 motorways; and what plans he now has for the development of trunk roads between the East Midlands and the East Anglian ports which will take account of the growing industrial activity in the Corby and Kettering area of Northamptonshire.

The M6 and M1 motorways will be relieved by improvements elsewhere in the national network. The new route from the M1 near Northampton to the A1, will, with the comprehensive improvement of the A45 east of Cambridge, provide a high-standard link between the East Midlands and the East Anglian ports.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware of the inconvenience caused by industrial noises by night and day to the inhabitants of Bootle, Litherland and North Merseyside; what action is to be taken to lessen this; and if he will make a statement.

I have received no complaints on this subject. Under the Noise Abatement Act it is the responsibility of the local authority to require, and of the courts to enforce, the abatement of noise nuisance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that planning law is at present adequate to prevent residential accommodation being converted into hostel or hotel use; and if he will make a statement.

Planning permission is required for any material change in the use of a building. Whether there is such a change depends on the facts of each case. I am keeping the position under review. As my hon. Friend will know, several enforcement appeals are now before me in respect of premises in his constituency.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies and research are being undertaken to ensure adequate standards for the effluent which can be discharged into rivers from which water undertakings are drawing supplies.

River authorities are responsible for fixing appropriate standards and some are undertaking studies in that context: my Steering Committee on Water Quality is responsible for promoting general studies. Most of the research on the degree to which effluents need to be purified to prevent interference with the uses to which a river may be put is being undertaken by the Water Pollution Research Laboratory of my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what his policy is towards a combined approach to the multiple problems of inner city areas, such as is being undertaken by Shelter Neighbourhood Action Project in Liverpool, details of which are in his possession.

As my hon. Friend will know, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is already concerning himself through the Urban Aid Programme with the problems of urban areas suffering from multiple forms of deprivation. The S.N.A.P. experiment which I have visited on several occasions should make a valuable contribution to study in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the additional amount of building land which has been released by local authorities since the issue of his Circular 10/70.

I am still assessing the follow-up to the Circular.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress for plans for the Beverley bypass and the new Hull-Beverley trunk road.

Preliminary design proposals have now been accepted and detailed design is proceeding towards the programming decision stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will include a bypass for Twyford, Hampshire, in his five-year special road programme.

It is for the local highway authority to propose such a principal road scheme for preparation and to justify selection in competition with principal road schemes throughout the country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of planning appeals decided by him during the years 1969 and 1970.

5,469 planning appeals in 1969 and 3,083 in 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will construct the Hunton Bridge-Mi motorway link at the same time as the A41(M), in view of the danger otherwise of through traffic from the A41(M) to the M1 travelling through Hemel Hempstead.

Schemes for the further improvement of the A405 between Hunton Bridge and the A1, and of the A41 between the A405 and the Berrygrove Junction on Ml, are in preparation and it is planned to provide an adequate link between Hunton Bridge and the M1 by the time that the A41(M) and the Hunton Bridge-Maple Cross section of the North Orbital Road come into operation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will be in a position to announce the line of the new Sheffield-Manchester motorway line; and if he will make a statement.

I hope to be able to announce our general intentions before the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is prepared to seek to establish a local ombudsman so that matters of planning procedures which can cause unnecessary difficulties can be referred to him.

We have announced our intention to introduce improved arrangements for the investigation of complaints alleging maladministration by local authorities and are now considering the outcome of our consultations with the local authority associations. But these arrangements would not take the place of planning appeals to the Secretary of State or of appeals to the ordinary courts on points of law or of procedural errors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further measures he proposes to take to safeguard beaches from pollution.

On the assumption that the hon. Member is concerned about pollution of beaches by oil, I would refer him to the Answer which my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade gave to the hon. Member for the Hartlepools (Mr. Leadbitter) on 14th June, 1971.—[Vol. 819, c. 29–31.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if in respect of the totality of his responsibilities, he will state the criteria he has adopted in deciding the respective levels of public investment in trunk roads in south-east England and new rail facilities that have been requested by the Railways Board and the Greater London Council in the same area.

No such decisions have been taken. Provisional allocations are forecasts of the resources the Government is prepared to make available for worth-while projects. The level of investment will depend on the acceptability of individual projects.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of his proposals for the reform of local government, involving the abolition of boroughs who are at present not under obligation to employ the District Auditor, he will relieve local authorities of the obligation to pay audit stamp duty.

The liability for audit stamp duty is one of many detailed questions to be considered in the course of the review of local government finance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much expense was incurred by his Department in the hearing of appeals against the decisions of the district auditor in respect of the accounts of the Felling Urban District Council for the year ended 1st March, 1969.

The expenses of the appeal are not separately identifiable from the day-to-day administrative costs of the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans are in hand for dealing with the traffic over the Humber Bridge which wishes to proceed northwards on crossing the bridge.

The northern approach road will link directly with A63, along which northbound traffic will travel to Hessle and thence northwards via B1232 and A164 to Beverley and beyond. A diversion of A164 to bypass Willerby is under construction. Bypass proposals for Beverley are in preparation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will set up an inquiry into the circumstances that led to his decision partly to close 42 bridges and to delay the construction of 61 others.

My decision was the result of an inquiry in that it was taken following consideration of the implications of the interim design appraisal rules recommended by the technical committee on large steel box-girder bridges set up last December under Dr. Merrison. This consideration showed that bridges in service might be subject to some very slight post-construction risk.Whilst recognising that this risk was slight I decided in order to safeguard the public to restrict traffic using trunk road bridges until their design had been satisfactorily re-appraised and to require the design of trunk road bridges under construction to be re-appraised also. Highway authorities responsible for bridges of this type on non-trunk roads were advised to take similar action.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of his decision partly to close 42 box-girder bridges and to delay construction of 61 others, what is the cost to his Department and to highway authorities; if he has estimated the cost of traffic delays; who will carry out inspections and how long they will take; who will pay for necessary improvements; what delays are forecast in those bridges now being built; and how many of this type are planned.

The Merrison appraisal rules are complex and incorporate new procedures which those using them will need time to master. At this stage it is not possible accurately to forecast dates for the completion of design reappraisals, delays to construction, or costs likely to result. Progress is being monitored to ensure that delays are kept to a minimum.No estimate is being made of the cost of traffic delays because I consider the need completely to safeguard the public is of first importance.Design inspections are being carried out by the office responsible for the design, with additional assistance wherever appropriate to ensure that the appraisal is completed as rapidly as possible.Where strengthening is found necessary the Department will bear the cost for trunk road bridges and grant-aid principal road ones. For others the costs will need to be borne by the owner concerned.In England a further 23 road bridges of this type are at the design or tender invitation stage, and are being checked so as to ensure conformity with the interim rules.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has yet received a report from the Technical Committee on steel box-girder bridges which was set up last December; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes, I received their interim report on Friday, 2nd July. I appointed the Committee in association with the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales and I shall discuss with them the contents of the report and its recommendations.The report has two appendices. One contains interim rules for the appraisal of designs and these have been made known to all engineering offices in this country actively engaged in the design of steel box girder bridges. The other appendix is concerned with methods of construction and contractual procedures and is being studied.The Committee have found no reason for doubting the safety and general soundness of bridges of this type when these bridges conform to the rules which the Committee have formulated. These rules take account of the most recent research. This guidance cannot do other than have a constructive influence on the use of steel for bridges by providing more detailed design criteria than have previously been available.The development of this kind of steel bridge has been a great technological advance in which British engineers have played a major part. I am assured that when complying with the Committee's rules there will be no doubt as to the dependability of these bridges and that considerable economies will continue to be achieved by using this form of construction. I appreciate the work which Dr. Merrison and his colleagues have done in producing so speedily their report on this complex subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will hold a full inquiry and publish a report on the fire in the centre of Long Eaton on Monday, 28th June, with particular reference to the adequacy of the water supply.

I have been asked to reply.No. I am writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether the Railways Board has now asked his consent to withdraw the Stranraer-Euston boat train service; and what his decision is;(2) whether he will undertake to consult the Minister of Commerce in Northern Ireland before giving consent to the withdrawal of the Stranraer-Euston boat train service.

I understand that the Railways Board has now decided to continue this service for the time being. So the question of consent to its withdrawal does not at present arise. If it did, the Government of Northern Ireland would, of course, be among those consulted before any decision was made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about his intentions regarding the application of Section 20 of the Transport Act, 1968.

Ofter discussions with the chairmen of the four passenger transport authorities, I have today made the necessary Orders to apply Section 20 to the Merseyside, S.E.L.N.E.C, West Midlands and Tyneside P.T.A.s with effect from 1st January, 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many reports he has had of vehicles which were in collision with crash barriers on motorways in 1970; and how many of them were deflected from the barrier into collisions with other vehicles in the same carriageway.

Information is only available about accidents in which someone was injured, 168 vehicles in injury accidents collided with a crash barrier, and of these 10 then hit another vehicle in the same carriageway.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware of the dangers to children living in the Grove Street area of Rimrose Road in the vicinity of the new Seaforth container berth; what action he proposes to take to obviate the same; and if he will make a statement.

Bootle County Borough Council is the highway authority. A pelican crossing will be provided, with my Department's approval, on Rimrose Road and there will be guard rails between the crossing and Grove Street.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list those parts of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1968, which have been brought into force, indicating on what date they became operative and under what Orders; and which parts remain to be implemented.

The provisions of the 1968 Act which have not yet been brought into force in England and Wales are as follows:

(i) ss. 1–12 inclusive, except so far as they enable any matter or thing to be prescribed.

(ii) s. 14.

(iii) Schedule 1 (Special provisions as to Greater London).

(iv) In Schedule 9 (Adaptation and Interpretation): paragraphs 1–5 inclusive: 7; 35(a); 54; 55(a) as to the words "sections 1 to 12"; 57; and 67.

(vi) In Schedule 11 (Enactments repealed), the entries related to the following enactments:

(a) The Town and Country Planning Act 1962: Part 2 except:—s. 4(3)(b) and (c); in s. 4(4) the words "and designated as subject to compulsory acquisition in accordance with the provisions of the last preceding subsection"; in s. 5(1) the words "Subject to the provisions of this section"; s. 5(2) to (5); in s. 6(3) the words from "and any such amendment" to the end of the subsection; s. 6(4); s. 9; s. 10(5); s. 11(3).

(b) The Town and Country Planning Act 1962: s. 210.

(c) The London Government Act 1963: in s. 24(6), the words from "and in particular" onwards; ss. 25–27 inclusive; in s. 29(6) the words "8" and "199, 211(1) (a)" and the words from "and in the case" onwards.

The details requested of those parts of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1968, which have been brought into force are to be found in the register required to be kept under Section 105 of the Act, as follows:

TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1968 (COMMENCEMENT ORDERS) REGISTER OF COMMENCEMENT ORDERS: PART I
Areas affected If not whole of England
Provisions of the Act of 1968	S.I. Number	Whole of England (excluding Monmouthshire)	Whole of Greater London	Other areas (listed in Part II of register)	Date of commencement	Articles or Schedules containing transitional provisions
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)	(7)
Sections 39; 61; 62; 63; 69; 70; 71; 72; 73; 74; 75; 79; 82; 98; 99; 100; 101; 102; 103; 104; 105; 106; 107; 108; 109 (except so far as it relates to amendments to s 24(9) of the Industrial Development Act l966 and s. 8(3) of the Civic Amenities Act 1967).	1968/1908 (c. 25)	Yes	—	—	6th December, 1968	Sch. 2
Schedules 6; 8; 9 (paras. 18, 19, 30,34,43,44,45(a), 46,47,48(a), 51, 52(a), 52(b), 53(a), 58 (except so far as it relates to applications under Part V of the Act of 1968 for listed building consent) and 59 (except so far as it relates to Part II of the Act of 1968)); 10 (paras. 1, 8, 9 and 21); and in Schedule 11 the entries relating to s. 26(5)(b) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1959 and ss. 13(6), 13(10), 34(4), 37(1), 159(2), 160(1), 161(2), 162(2), 163(3)(b), 165(3), 200(2) and 203(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1962.
Parts III and V—
Schedules 5; 9 (paras. 10, 12 (so far as it relates to functions under Part V of the Act of 1968), 17, 22 (so far as it relates to Part IV of Sch. 5 to the Act of 1968), 23 (so far as it relates to Part IV of Sch. 5 to the Act of 1968), 25, 31 (so far as it relates to Part V of the Act of 1968), 32 (so far as it relates to Part V of the Act of 1968), 35(c), 35(d) (so far as it relates to listed building purchase notices and to the following decisions:—	1968/1909 (c. 26)	Yes	—	—	1st January, 1969	Sch. 2.
(k) any decision of the Minister on an application referred to him under para. 3 of Sch. 5 to the Act of 1968, being an application for listed building consent for any works;
(l) any decision of the Minister on an appeal to him under para. 7 of that Schedule;
(m) any decision of the Minister under para. 18 (5)(a) of that Schedule to grant listed building consent for any works or under para. 18(5)(b) of that Schedule to grant planning permission in respect of any works),
36 (so far as it relates to listed building enforcement notices).

Areas affected If not whole of England
Provisions of the Act of 1968	S.l. Number	Whole of England (excluding Monmouthshire)	Whole of Greater London	Other areas (listed in Part If of register)	Date of commencement	Articles or Schedules containing transitional provisions
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)	(7)
39 (so far as it relates to appeals under Part IV of Sch. 5 to the Act of 1968), 41 (so far as it relates to Part III or V of the Act of 1968), 42 (so far as it relates to Part V of, or Sch. 5 to, the Act of 1968), 45(b) (in relation to the references to ss. 30 and 31 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1962 and s. 44 of the Act of 1968), 45(c) (so far as it relates to enforcement notices under s. 44 of the Act of 1968), 45(d), 48(b) (so far as it relates to s. 49 of the Act of 1968), 49 (so far as it relates to enforcement notices under s. 44 of the Act of 1968), 50 (so far as it relates to listed buildings and buildings proposed to be listed), 58 (so far as it relates to applications under Part V of the Act of 1968 for listed building consent), 60, 68 69, 70, 71 and 74); 10 (paras. 18 19 and 20); and 11 (the entries relating to the Housing Act 1957, the Local Authorities (Historic Buildings) Act 1962, ss. 23(3), 30, 31, 33, 52, 53,54,55, 62(2), 62(4), 64(2)(b), 125(1), 125(2) and 199(2)(b) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1962, ss. 28(2) and 28(3) of the London Government Act 1963, and ss. 1(6), 2, 6(2), 7, 9 and 10 of the Civic Amenities Act 1967.
Section 81.
Schedule 9 (paras. 49(a) and 73); and in Schedule 11 the entries relating to s. 29(5) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1962 and s. 16(1) of the Civic Amenities Act 1967.	1969/16 (c 1)	Yes	—	—	10th February, 1969	—
Parts II and IV (except s. 39).	1969/275 (c. 6)	Yes	—	—	1st April, 1969	Sch. 3
Sections 13; 64; 65; 66; 67; 68; 76; 77; 78; 80; 83; 84; 85; 86; 87; 88; 92; 93; 97 (so far as it applies to orders under s. 92 of the Act of 1968); 109 (so far as it relates to amendments to s. 24(9) of the Industrial Development Act 1966 and s. 8(3) of the Civic Amenities Act 1967.
Schedules 2; 3; 4; 9 (paras. 6,8,11, 12 (except so far as it relates to functions under Part V of the Act of 1968), 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22 (so far as it relates to Part 11 of the Act of 1968), 23 (so far as it relates to Part II of the Act of 1968), 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31 (except so far as it relates to

Areas affected If not whole of England
Provisions of the Act of 1968	S.I. Number	Whole of England (excluding Monmouthshire)	Whole of Greater London	Other areas (listed in Part II of register)	Date of commencement	Articles or Schedules containing transitional provisions
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)	(7)
Part V of the Act of 1968), 32 (except so far as it relates to Part V of the Act of 1968), 33, 35(b) (so far as it relates to orders under s. 92 of the Act of 1968), 15(d) (so far as it relates to purchase notices other than listed buildings purchase notices and to the following decisions under the Act of 1968:—
(g) any decision of the Minister to grant planning permission under s. 16(5)(a) of the Act of 1968;
(h) any decision of the Minister on an application for an established use certificate referred to him under s. 18(1) of the Act of 1968;
(i) any decision of the Minister on an appeal under s. 18(2) of the Act of 1968;
(j) any decision by the Minister to confirm a completion notice under s. 68 of the Act of 1968,
para. 36 (so far as it relates to enforcement notices other than listed building enforcement notices), 37, 38, 39 (so far as it relates to appeals under Part II of the Act of 1968 against enforcement notices), 40 (so far as it relates to s. 92 of the Act of 1968), 41 (so far as it relates to Part II of the Act of 1968), 42 (so far as it relates to Part II of the Act of 1968), 45(6) (in relation to the references to ss. 28, 29, and 36 of the Act of 1962 and s. 15 of the Act of 1968), 45(c) (so far as it relates to enforcement notices under s. 15 of the Act of 1968), 48(6) (so far as it relates to ss. 20 and 92 of the Act of 1968), 49 (except so far as it relates to tree preservation orders and enforcement notices under s. 44 of the Act of 1968), 50 (except so far as it relates to listed buildings and buildings proposed to be listed), 53(6) and (c), 55 (except so far as it relates to ss. 1 to 12 of the Act of 1962), 56, 59 (so far as it relates to Part II of the Act of 1968), 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 72 and 75, Schedule 10 (paras. 2 to 7 and 10 to 17) and Schedule 11 (the entries relating to the Post Office Act 1953, the Electricity Act 1957, the Land Powers (Defence) Act 1958, the Post Office Act 1961, the Land Compensation Act 1961, the Town and Country Planning Act 1962 ss. 9 (in Part II), 45, 46,

Areas affected If not whole of England
Provisions of the Act of 1968	S.I. Number	Whole of England (excluding Monmouthshire)	Whole of Greater London	Other areas (listed in Part II of register)	Date of commencement	Articles or Schedules containing transitional provisions
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)	(7)
47(7), 62(3), 64 (except as to subsection (2)(b)), 67, 68, 69, 71, 73,74,75,76, 86, 128, 138, 139, 143, 145, 150, 163 (except as to subsection (3)(b)), 176, 179, 180, 183, 199(1)(a), 221 (except as to the definition of "development plan") and Sch. 4 and Sch. 13 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1962, s. 29(1) and (2) of the London Government Act 1963, the New Towns Act 1965 and the Land Commission Act 1967).
Sections 89; 90; 91; 94; 95; 96; 97.	1969/275 (c. 6)	Yes	—	—	1st May, 1969	Sch. 3
Schedules 7; and 9 (paras. 9. 35(b)) (so far as it relates to orders under ss. 91, 94, and 95 of the Act of 1968), 37 (so far as it relates to orders under ss. 91, 94, and 95 of the Act of 1968), 40 and 52(c).
Part I, except sections 13 and 14, so far as it enables any matter or thing to be prescribed.	1971/842 (c. 20)	Yes	—	—	1st June, 1971	Sch. 2
In Schedule 11 the entry relating to Part II of the Town and Country Planning Act 1962 as respects the following provisions:—
section 4(3)(b) and (c);
in section 4(4) the words "and designated as subject to compulsory acquisition in accordance with the provisions of the last preceding subsection,";
in section 5(1) the words "Subject to the provisions of this section";
section 5(2) to (5);
in section 6(3) the words from "and any such amendment" to the end of the subsection;
and sections 6(4), 10(5) and 11(3).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has received any representations as to possible modifications in the design of fishery protection vessels to cope with the particular problems of a six-mile limit.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the traffic flow on the A80 road at Stepps and Millerston, Lanarkshire, in 1965 and at the last available date; and if he will state the present degree of overloading of the road at these points.

In August, 1965, the A80 between Stepps and Millerston carried 25,000 passenger car units a day; and in August, 1970, the latest date for which comparable information is available, 35,000. Traffic flow of this order is within the practical capacity of the road.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the amount of money lost to the City of Glasgow in rateable values in each year since 1955 by the demolition of houses, shops, offices, and factories for the construction of motorways and feeder roads.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the mileage and value of road schemes in the preparation list on 1st July, 1971; and how much has been added since June, 1970.

Schemes for 41 miles of road, currently estimated to cost about £35·5 million, are included in the trunk road and motorway preparation list. These are additional to 73 miles in motorway and dual carriageway schemes already in hand and due for completion by the mid-1970s. No schemes

FAILURES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN ENGLAND AND WALES
			Unincorporated businesses		Companies
			Bankruptcies	Deeds of arrangement	Liquidations	Total
1965	…	…	644	34	··	··
1966	…	…	788	36	··	··
1967	…	…	860	42	··	··
1968	…	…	831	18	··	··
1969	…	…	957	39	650	1,646
1970	…	…	1,027	30	821	1,878
1971–1st Quarter*	…	…	200	6	154	360
··Not available.
* The numbers recorded were reduced in consequence of delays resulting from the postal strike.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has now given further consideration to the fact that gas boards are changing over supplies to natural gas, and that where appliances and buildings need expensive or considerable alterations made, these are being charged against the consumers; and whether he will now issue a general direction to the gas boards to ensure

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision is to be made in the school building programme for the improvement and replacement of primary schools in Scotland.

Capital investment for the primary school improvement programme will be £7 million a year for each of the three years 1973–74 to 1975–76.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the number of bankruptcies in the building industry in each of the last five calendar years and in the first six months of the present year.

Following is the information:The available figures of the numbers of bankruptcies, and of other forms of insolvency, are given below.that all costs involved in such changeover of gas supplies must be met by the appropriate gas board.

Gas boards are statutorily required to bear the cost of converting appliances. I am informed that responsibility for alterations to buildings would depend on whether these were necessitated by conversion or to remedy existing defects revealed by pre-conversion surveys.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the likely effect in East Flintshire so far as brickmaking is concerned of the Government's announcements on Monday, 28th June, concerning the steel industry.

This is a matter for the British Steel Corporation and I am asking the Chairman to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the parking of motor-coaches in Abingdon Street causes danger and inconvenience to Members of both Houses of Parliament crossing the road

APPLICATIONS FOR LEGAL AID—1970
Magistrates' Courts in England and Wales excluding Inner London and Juvenile Courts
		Committal Proceedings			Summary Proceedings			Committals for Trial
Area		Number of applications	Granted	Refused	Number of applications	Granted	Refused	Number of applications	Granted	Refused
Counties
Bedfordshire	…	177	173	4	679	637	42	198	198	—
Berkshire	…	245	243	2	606	571	35	273	271	2
Buckinghamshire	…	283	282	1	637	576	61	282	281	1
Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely	…	168	167	1	557	485	72	160	160	—
Cheshire	…	363	354	9	1,142	1,054	88	431	423	8
Cornwall	…	126	126	—	739	694	45	118	118	—
Cumberland	…	97	88	9	315	293	22	107	102	5
Derbyshire	…	269	267	2	528	492	36	277	277	—
Devon	…	179	179	—	510	483	27	178	178	—
Dorset	…	146	134	12	699	579	120	263	261	2
Durham	…	437	425	12	964	789	175	492	492	—
Essex	…	480	458	22	1,238	1,003	235	607	595	12
Gloucestershire	…	209	204	5	612	539	73	212	212	—
Hampshire	…	532	509	23	1,425	1,243	182	663	654	9
Isle of Wight	…	57	48	9	171	140	31	76	76	—
Herefordshire	…	102	101	1	186	170	16	132	132	—
Hertfordshire	…	435	424	11	1,114	990	124	478	478	—
Huntingdonshire and Peterborough	…	109	108	1	427	421	6	113	113	—
Kent	…	772	761	11	1,717	1477	240	768	766	2
Lancashire	…	1,019	967	52	2,330	1,897	433	1,152	1,137	15
Leicestershire	…	135	135	—	340	309	31	150	150	—
Lincolnshire— Holland	…	40	40	—	153	142	11	22	22	—
Kesteven	…	77	77	—	145	133	12	87	87	—
Lindsey	…	188	188	—	473	466	7	195	195	—
North East London Area	…	580	548	32	1,394	961	433	802	788	14
South East London Area	…	542	536	6	899	804	95	826	824	2

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is reviewing the arrangements to ensure that there is no conflict with the Sessional Order.Legal Aid Applications

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he hopes to be in a position to publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT statistics relating to the applications of grants and refusals of legal aid in magistrates' courts for all counties and county boroughs in England and Wales during 1970.

The figures are given in the following table:

		Committal Proceedings			Summary Proceedings			Committals for Trial
Area		Number of applications	Granted	Refused	Number of applications	Granted	Refused	Number of applications	Granted	Refused
Counties—continued
South West London Area	…	327	315	12	857	759	98	354	354	—
Middlesex Area	…	1,292	1,204	88	3,082	1,906	1,176	1,218	1,191	27
Monmouthshire	…	167	166	1	506	443	63	217	217	—
Norfolk	…	162	159	3	512	480	32	160	159	1
Northamptonshire	…	220	209	11	611	541	70	262	260	2
Northumberland	…	139	138	1	489	481	8	145	145	—
Nottinghamshire	…	249	247	2	1,147	1,058	89	354	353	1
Oxfordshire	…	133	133	—	341	310	31	152	152	—
Rutland	…	2	2	—	20	19	1	1	1	—
Shropshire	…	160	160	—	343	310	33	156	156	—
Somerset	…	277	275	2	782	731	51	276	276	—
Staffordshire	…	302	282	20	973	849	124	332	331	1
Suffolk, East	…	63	63	—	223	201	22	61	61	—
Suffolk, West	…	54	54	—	232	218	14	50	50	—
Surrey	…	402	391	11	835	673	162	511	500	11
Sussex, East	…	256	254	2	406	343	63	269	269	—
Sussex, West	…	240	238	2	626	536	90	291	291	—
Warwickshire	…	236	231	5	498	424	74	306	304	2
Westmorland	…	38	36	2	73	68	5	33	33	—
Wiltshire	…	186	182	4	737	635	102	274	273	1
Worcestershire	…	1 35	128	7	489	448	41	151	151	—
Yorkshire—East Riding	…	64	64	—	161	146	15	65	65	—
North Riding	…	114	110	4	382	315	67	117	115	2
West Riding	…	759	752	7	2,014	1,741	273	940	937	3
Anglesey	…	32	31	1	97	85	12	35	33	2
Breconshire	…	23	22	1	62	61	1	25	25	—
Caernarvonshire	…	68	68	—	199	187	12	69	69	—
Cardiganshire	…	20	20	—	66	66	—	22	22	—
Carmarthenshire	…	69	68	1	216	194	22	65	65	—
Denbighshire	…	56	56	—	380	370	10	70	70	—
Flintshire	…	54	53	1	280	265	15	87	87	—
Glamorgan	…	487	484	3	1,567	1,461	106	526	525	1
Merionethshire	…	6	6	—	36	36	—	5	5	—
Montgomeryshire	…	7	7	—	29	29	—	9	9	—
Pembrokeshire	…	62	62	—	144	135	9	59	59	—
Radnorshire	…	3	3	—	7	7	—	3	3	—
Boroughs
Luton	…	151	151	—	621	612	9	171	171	—
Reading	…	220	220	—	375	351	24	218	218	—
Birkenhead	…	90	60	30	305	200	105	61	54	7
Chester	…	82	80	2	177	141	36	74	74	—
Stockport	…	212	212	—	346	324	22	197	197	—
Wallasey	…	82	82	—	132	120	12	77	77	—
Carlisle	…	39	39	—	205	203	2	58	58	—
Derby	…	172	169	3	262	233	29	172	172	—
Exeter	…	56	56	—	224	209	15	44	44	—
Plymouth	…	225	223	2	488	243	245	267	266	1
Torbay	…	82	82	—	321	216	105	82	82	—
Darlington	…	63	63	—	237	222	15	76	76	—
Gateshead	…	87	87	—	124	120	4	88	88	—
Hartlepool	…	113	113	—	268	221	47	130	130	—
South Shields	…	75	75	—	366	324	42	78	78	—
Sunderland	…	278	271	7	512	440	72	304	302	2
Southend-on-Sea	…	47	47	—	403	322	81	102	102	—
Bristol	…	375	372	3	916	653	263	364	364	—
Gloucester	…	64	62	2	187	165	22	72	71	1
Bournemouth	…	126	126	—	449	359	90	285	285	—
Portsmouth	…	280	274	6	501	442	59	242	242	—
Southampton	…	359	349	10	589	442	147	303	303	—
Canterbury	…	25	24	1	62	40	22	36	36	—
Barrow-in-Furness	…	27	27	—	50	43	7	29	29	—
Blackburn	…	187	182	5	189	166	23	165	165	—
Blackpool	…	88	79	9	198	102	96	84	80	4
Bolton	…	141	140	1	157	90	67	166	166	—

	Committal Proceedings			Summary Proceedings			Committals for Trial
Area	Number of applications	Granted	Refused	Number of applications	Granted	Refused	Number of applications	Granted	Refused
Boroughs—continued
Bootle	74	70	4	104	48	56	68	68	—
Burnley	46	41	5	173	141	32	56	55	1
Bury	59	59	—	132	130	2	58	57	1
Liverpool	1,313	1,028	285	2,015	1,055	960	1,155	1,150	5
Manchester	738	738	—	2,543	2,366	177	817	816	1
Oldham	127	124	3	213	197	16	124	123	1
Preston	165	164	1	298	282	16	160	160	—
Rochdale	150	150	—	264	199	65	177	177	—
St. Helens	57	55	2	148	110	38	58	58	—
Salford	58	56	2	374	296	78	180	180	—
Southport	72	72	—	164	143	21	73	73	—
Warrington	58	51	7	128	96	32	53	52	1
Wigan	34	33	1	88	72	16	54	54	—
Leicester	389	381	8	505	435	70	386	386	—
Grimsby	35	35	—	126	118	8	41	41	—
Lincoln	72	71	1	184	166	18	75	75	—
City of London	131	131	—	161	151	10	135	134	1
Newport	223	222	1	444	401	43	202	202	—
Great Yarmouth	74	74	—	131	118	13	77	77	—
Norwich	166	162	4	214	187	27	156	156	—
Northampton	255	255	—	172	158	14	92	92	—
Newcastle-upon-Tyne	280	274	6	625	360	265	328	327	1
Tynemouth	53	53	—	137	122	15	57	57	—
Nottingham	371	371	—	1,314	1,206	108	529	529	—
Oxford	154	150	4	558	383	175	168	167	1
Bath	33	33	—	172	123	49	55	55	—
Burton-upon-Trent	70	70	—	182	169	13	76	76	—
Stoke-on-Trent	219	219	—	832	825	7	288	288	—
Walsall	159	159	—	420	382	38	158	157	1
Warley	101	100	1	225	185	40	81	80	1
West Bromwich	60	60	—	257	233	24	71	71	—
Wolverhampton	462	462	—	579	552	27	455	455	—
Ipswich	118	118	—	366	338	28	132	132	—
Brighton	275	275	—	610	507	103	253	253	—
Eastbourne	37	37	—	110	104	6	37	37	—
Hastings	60	60	—	83	34	49	66	66	—
Birmingham	1,524	1,518	6	2,445	1,059	1,386	1,616	1,616	—
Coventry	433	433	—	659	622	37	394	394	—
Solihull	18	18	—	43	35	8	22	22	—
Dudley	98	89	9	133	100	33	112	107	5
Worcester	57	54	3	192	107	85	46	42	4
Kingston-upon-Hull	214	205	9	255	181	74	265	260	5
Teesside	448	440	8	1,218	1,003	215	434	432	2
York	69	69	—	275	270	5	69	69	—
Barnsley	179	179	—	268	264	4	199	199	—
Bradford	385	378	7	1,174	1,089	85	365	365	—
Dewsbury	40	40	—	74	70	4	40	40	—
Doncaster	38	33	5	132	112	20	50	50	—
Halifax	106	102	4	145	114	31	117	117	—
Huddersfield	126	121	5	103	70	33	135	135	—
Leeds	802	802	—	2,347	2,219	128	888	888	—
Rotherham	109	109	—	188	170	18	98	98	—
Sheffield	488	487	1	930	865	65	555	555	—
Wakefield	61	61	—	114	105	9	62	62	—
Cardiff	715	714	1	1,250	1,009	241	726	714	12
Merthyr Tydfil	12	12	—	175	163	12	13	13	—
Swansea	124	98	26 916	195	114	81	134	123	11
Total	31,171	30,255	916	75,452	63,015	12,437	33,968	33,773	195