asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now make a statement about the work of the Central Office of Information.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will be making an announcement to the House on this subject shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what Parliamentary authority public money has been used to distribute the pamphlet, Britain and Europe, described as a shorter version of the Government's White Paper.

Votes 19 and 20 of Class X of the Supply Estimates, 1971–72.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now consider introducing policies to reduce the rise in prices.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's statement of 19th July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many assessments of the Capital Levy of 1967–68 are outstanding, due to the inability in the Inland Revenue to agree the figures with those assessed.

I regret that the information sought is not available. But it is estimated that there are some 5,000 assessments under appeal for various reasons.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state on what date he received the communication from Mr. W. J. Dennis, the secretary of the trade union side of the Joint Industrial Council at the Royal Mint; what was the nature of this communication; when he sent a reply; what was the reply; and whether he will publish these communications in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Dennis is Chairman of the Trade Union Side of the Joint Industrial Council of the Royal Mint. My right hon. Friend received a letter from Mr. Dennis on the 13th July inviting him to receive another delegation of Royal Mint employees. A reply was sent on 26th July that he could see no useful purpose in doing so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make available in the form of addenda to Command Paper No. 4715 the detailed calculations upon which he has based his judgment that neither the United Kingdom contribution to, nor the receipts from, the Community budget are susceptible to valid estimation at this stage.

The White Paper contained estimates for our budget contribution and receipts in the transitional period. The reasons why similar estimates cannot be made for the 1980s were explained in paragraph 95 of the White Paper, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures, he proposes to take to prevent leakages of capital from the United Kingdom to third countries if the restrictions on portfolio investment to Common Market countries are removed.

I must ask my hon. Friend to await details announcement of the measures to be taken until nearer the time when they may be required. This could be up to 6½ years away yet.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the gross national product of a Community of Seven would the United Kingdom's budgetary contribution set out in paragraphs 92 and 93 of the White Paper Command No. 4715, represent.

The United Kingdom's gross contribution to the Community budget would represent about 005 per cent. of the aggregate gross national product of a Community of Seven in 1973, rising to about 0·125 per cent. in 1977. This would represent about 9 per cent. of the Community budget in 1973, rising to about 20 per cent. in 1977.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent on the present known terms of Great Britain's possible entry into the European Economic Community the financial provision on the free flow of capital and investments will affect the position of British taxpayers who settle in the Channel Isles; and how this will affect their income tax and death duties arrangements.

Not at all.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will issue a further White Paper on the United Kingdom and the European Communities for the purpose of replacing items (5), (6) and (7) in Table 2 on page 24 of Command Paper No. 4715 with positive figures rather than possible estimates.

No: The basis for the estimates is fully explained in the While Paper.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the increase in money supply in the June quarter.

Figures for the June quarter are not yet available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish full details, for the longest convenient time, of the White Papers issued by Government Departments, which were circulated to the general public by or through the Post Office or any other stated official agency, and at what costs, where such White Paper had not been taken note of or agreed to by the House of Commons prior to such circularising; and on what Vote the costs were carried.

All White Papers are published by the Stationery Office. After presentation to Parliament they are sold to the general public through Stationery Office bookshops and through booksellers generally. In some instances Government Departments make limited free distributions to interested bodies after a Paper has been presented to Parliament and published. None has been distributed to the public by the Stationery Office through the Post Office, except in the normal course of business through the post. The cost of producing and distributing White Papers to the public and to Government Departments is borne on the Stationery Office Vote. Different considerations apply to popular versions of White Papers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value of paper currencies put out prior to the present issues, and not yet returned to the Bank of England.

For Bank of England notes, about £60 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the effect so far on prices of the halving of selective employment tax, he will give precedence in his next Budget to reducing existing current taxation on items of food and drink and other consumer goods which could be made more effectively conditional on the reductions being passed on to the consumer.

I am satisfied that the halving of selective employment tax has brought a real benefit to the consumer, but the hon. Member will be aware that my right hon. Friend announced further reductions in taxation in his statement on 19th July.—[Vol. 821, c. 1035–41.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in his review of the tax structure, especially in relation to the anomaly that married men may be better off out of work than when working.

I have nothing to tell my hon. Friend, beyond the information my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury gave him on 6th July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will tabulate a comparison of the take-home pay when at work, and the take-home pay when out of work, of a married man earning £15, £20, £25, £30, £35 or £40 per week with none to four children under 11 years of age.

The figures are:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total loss of revenue in the last financial year due to the granting of tax relief on mortgage interest payments in the case of those earning more than £30 per week.

As my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury informed the hon. Member on 30th March last, information is not available in a form from which an estimate could be made.—[Vol. 814, c. 325–6.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the value of the pound has decreased since 18th June, 1970.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Mancester, Ardwick (Mr. Kaufman).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further steps he now has in mind to encourage investment.

The measures which my right hon. Friend announced on 19th July will encourage investment through the stimulus to demand, the changes in capital allowances, and the better prospect of slowing down the rate of increase in costs and prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the income accruing from the Bastardy Fund, Scotland, over each of the last 20 years; what is the nature of the fund; and what are the purposes to which the revenue is put.

There is no such Fund. For at least 80 years publications detailing receipts to the Consolidated Fund have misquoted the title of the Ultimus Haeres Scotland Account by the insertion of the words "and Bastardy Fund". That error will be corrected in the next publication.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date he received a communication from the solicitors, Clayton Leach and Sims and Company, of Bedford Square, concerning the alleged illegal practice known as cube cutting; what was the nature of this communication and his reply; what action has been taken to resolve this matter; and whether he will make a statement.

We have received no communication on this matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to amend the Industrial Assurance and Friendly Societies Act so that the present maximum sum for which a child can insurance the life of a parent or grandparent can be substantially raised from £30, bearing in mind the drop in the value of money since the £30 figure was set.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the results of the interdepartmental working party on standardisation of fire precaution requirements in hospitals.

No such working party has been set up.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what date the present licence of the Richmond Clinic, Rosslyn Road, Twickenham, under the Abortion Act, is due to run out.

31st December, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ask for a report on the circumstances of the death of Mrs. Odette Bouette at the Richmond Clinic, Rosslyn Road, Twickenham, on 22nd June; and if he will thereafter place a copy of the report before the Committee sitting under the chairmanship of Mr. Justice Lane to inquire into the working of the Abortion Act.

If on completing an examination of the circumstances of Mrs. Bouette's death I conclude that there are circumstances in it which would be of concern to the Lane Committee I shall refer the matter to that Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospital authorities have now established an ethical committee to supervise the ethics of clinical investigation; how many such committees include lay members; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that some 55 per cent. of all hospital boards responded to a recent inquiry by the Royal College of Physicians and that nearly all teaching hospitals and more than three-quarters of others have now established such committees.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he will take, when considering applications from private clinics, for new licences and for renewals under the Abortion Act, to ensure that operations will be carried out only when adequate supplies of blood for tranfusions are readily available.

Before granting approval under the Abortion Act I already expect nursing homes to have made adequate arrangements for the obtaining of blood for transfusion.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many clerical and executive officers of the Supplementary Benefits Commission have so far claimed a family income supplement; and what proportion are these numbers estimated to be of the totals eligible in each category.

I regret the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he proposes to take to avoid the burying of top soil when new motorways are constructed.

I do not propose to take additional steps to avoid the burying of top soil when new motorways are constructed. An arrangement already exists whereby the first offer of surplus top soil is made to the original owners of land compulsorily acquired.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now list the sites formerly owned by the Land Commission which are still in his possession; what acreage each of these sites represent; whether he will indicate when each site will be sold; and whether it will be sold to public authorities or to private enterprise.

The following is the list of sites:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what discussions he has had with representatives from Turton about the inclusion of that district in the proposed metropolitan district of Bolton;(2) whether he will discuss with representatives from Atherton the inclusion of that district in the proposed metropolitan district of Bolton:(3) whether he will discuss with representatives from Westhoughton the exclusion of that district from the proposed metropolitan district of Bolton;(4) what discussions he has had with representatives from Blackrod about the exclusion of that district from the proposed metropolitan district of Bolton.

I would refer to the reply I gave on 15th July to my hon. Friend the Member for Northants, South (Mr. Arthur Jones). I shall be taking the initiative in arranging meetings with local authorities in the limited number of cases where I think it desirable to supplement information already available. One such meeting, dealing with various issues affecting the boundary between the proposed areas 10 and 12, was held at Manchester on 20th July when, among other matters, the proposals of the Blackrod and Turton Urban District Councils were discussed. I have no present plans to arrange a meeting with the Westhoughton and Atherton councils, on whose views and local circumstances I am fully informed, but if this proves necessary I will get into touch with them.—[Vol. 821. c. 149.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether it is his intention to wait for the findings and recommendations of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution about coastal pollution before announcing any new system of controls over the disposal of wastes in estuaries and the territorial sea.

The Government are undertaking their own studies of all aspects of marine pollution generally but are also looking forward to the particular contribution which the Royal Commission's inquiry into estuarine and coastal pollution will make. As regards controls, the Government are considering how effect might be given to any new international agreement which might result from discusions now in progress. I am also considering the recommendations on the prevention of estuarine and coastal pollution contained in the Report of the Working Party on Sewage Disposal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress of his consideration of the question of the disposal of non-returnable plastic containers.

The Working Party on Refuse Disposal recommended intensive study of packaging in relation to re-use or disposal. Officials of my Department will be considering with the other Departments concerned how best this recommendation can be taken further. The packaging industry has been responsible for considerable improvements in the packaging of food and some other consumer goods, but would be well advised to guard against over-elaborate packaging and the extension of sales practices which create disposal problems. I would wish to emphasise, however, that all unwanted non-returnable containers, whether of plastic or other material, should be disposed of to dustbins or litter bins in a manner befitting a civilised people. If this were done we would not only reduce the litter problem but we would also be in a better position to estimate the effect of non-returnable containers on refuse collection and disposal services generally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will list those local planning authorities which have indicated to him that they have released more land for private housebuilding during the first six months of 1971 than in the first six months of 1970; and what has been the acreage involved in each case:(2) whether he will list those local planning authorities which have indicated to him that they will release more land for private housebuilding in the next 12 months than they did in the previous 12 months; and what acreage has been involved in each case;(3) Whether he will list those local authorities which have indicated to him that they do not intend to increase their land release allocation over the next 12 months because they regard the present allocation as adequate; and what action he has taken to persuade them to increase their allocations.

Information is not readily available in the form requested by my hon. Friend. All local planning authorities were asked in Circular 10/70, to ensure that sufficient land was released to meet housing needs for at least the next 5 years. Where builders are encountering specific problems, they are being encouraged to approach the local authorities about these with a view to working out solutions. My officials are helping arrange such discussions where asked.Meanwhile, both I and the other Ministers of the Department of the Environment have had talks with many of the key authorities about land release, and I am giving full weight to the need for adequate supplies of land to come forward in considering the applications that come before me for planning permission and for amendments to development plans.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of recent Government pronouncements concerning the acceleration of road programmes, he will bring forward the date for commencement of work on the Chester Outer Ring Road, the plans for the construction of which are already in an advanced state.

Preparation of the Chester Southerly Bypass scheme is proceeding with all possible speed. It is at the final stage of transfer to the firm Roads Programme for start of work at the earliest practicable date, 1973, subject to statutory procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the chairmanship of the South West Economic Planning Council.

Mr. A. N. Irens, C.B.E., who has given valuable service as Chairman of the South West Economic Planning Council since 1968, has retired on completion of his term of office this year. I am, however, pleased to announce that Mr. J. F. Holman, C.B.E., has accepted my invitation to succeed Mr. Irens with effect from 16th July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will bring up to date the statistics for the volume of parcels traffic handled in the public sector given in Table E of the National Board for Prices and Incomes Report No. 162.

The volume of parcels traffic handled in the public sector in 1970 was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give the average number of persons employed by the National Bus Company's road passenger transport subsidiaries in 1969 and 1970.

According to the N.B.C.'s Annual Report, the numbers were 80,344 at 31st December, 1969. and 84,015 at 31st December, 1970. The 1970 figure includes undertakings acquired during the year, especially London Country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, having regard to the decision of the Divisional court in Woodage versus Lambie, he will introduce amending legislation to confer upon courts a discretion not to disqualify an offending motorist pursuant to the totting-up procedure in Section 5(3) of the Road Traffic Act, 1962, where two previous convictions could be regarded as being of little consequence.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce the results of the Government's two pilot studies into rural bus requirements; and if he will make a statement.

Today; and copies of the reports will be available in the Vote Office. They represent a further instalment of the Government's comprehensive approach to the country's transport problems.The two studies disclose a similar pattern despite the geographical differences. Increasing car ownership means that more transport is available than ever. The decline in public transport in the countryside does present serious problems for some, particularly the elderly, housewives and the young.Four main points emerge from the studies:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give an instruction to the Building Research Station that research projects which it undertakes should in general have commercial application; and whether he will make a statement.

Much of the work carried out by the Building Research Station concerns health, safety and amenity and finds expression through codes, standards and regulations. The Station would not be fulfilling its responsibilities to Government if research projects were limited to those having commercial application.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made in implementing the recommendations of the Construction Research Advisory Council Report that research work should be extended into maintenance, and in particular into the durability of materials.

The Building Research Station is examining the influence of materials and methods of design and construction on the incidence of maintenance. Research commissioned on the durability of building materials includes studies of the behaviour and durability of surface coatings, factors affecting the appearance of concrete, the adhesion of dirt to building surfaces and methods for its removal, and the performance of adhesives in building construction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why the membership of the Construction Research Advisory Council at the time of its last general report included 11 civil servants but only four builders; and what action he is taking to remedy that imbalance.

At the time of its report the Council included 16 external members as well as 11 civil servants who represented the wide range of interests in construction and research in Government. The creation of the Department of the Environment provides the opportunity to extend the scope of the Council and to rationalise the official membership. I hope to make an announcement shortly about new arrangements for Advisory Councils in the research field in the context of the new Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action his Department has taken to implement the recommendation of the Construction Research Advisory Council Report that the Department should support a large programme of external research in universities and research associations.

My Department has acted on the advice of the Council by placing contracts for a number of research projects with Research Associations, Universities and industrial firms. The scale and direction of future support is being examined in the context of the current review of the Department's research and development programme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many firms in the construction industry employ fewer than 10 men, how many fewer than 20, how many fewer than 80, how many fewer than 100, and how many employ over 100 men.

The figures available relate to persons (rather than to men) and the firms are grouped within slightly different size limits from those specified in the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions in the last 12 months he has indicated to public authorities that he will not be prepared to agree to the use of powers of compulsory acquisition and that the authority should proceed to acquire by negotiation; and whether he will make a statement on his policy in this regard.

The information asked for in the first part of my right hon. Friend's question is not readily available. But in general, public authorities are aware that the use of compulsory powers of acquisition will be authorised only when there is overriding justification for it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made by the panel of the Construction Research Advisory Council studying structural stability.

The panel has held five meetings and has appointed specialist working parties to consider structural analysis, the design and performance of joints and the effects of dynamic forces such as explosions in buildings.On the panel's recommendation my Department recently commissioned a survey of gas explosions involving structural damage and is preparing plans for the construction of a test cell for venting and similar experiments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the Government's economic proposals of 19th July and the Confederation of British Industry's statement he will now review the fixed-price tendering rule with regard to publicly financed works.

As I have told representatives of industry, the firm price policy for construction works is kept under regular review. The Government's recent proposals and the arrangement set out in the C.B.I.'s statement will improve the economic conditions within which the construction industry is operating.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present precentage of home ownership in the area of the former London County Council; and what proposals he has for increasing that proportion.

Recent information is available only for London as a whole, where 45·5 per cent. of dwellings are owner occupied.The steps which the Government has taken to encourage home ownership generally are set out in paragraph 18 of the White Paper—Fair Deal for Housing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been undertaken by his Department into the number of present local authority tenants who are able to afford home ownership; and what have been the findings of that research.

It has been estimated that there are about 400,000 householders in local authority dwellings with incomes sufficient to repay a mortgage advance on an inter-war semi-detached house in the region where they live. Since it is not possible to estimate how many tenants have savings which might reduce the amount required on mortgage, or on the other hand what other commitments they have to meet out of income, any such estimate must be regarded as very tentative. It is also estimated that in recent years some 50,000 local authority tenants a year have become owner-occupiers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now make a statement on the progress of his review of direct-labour building and maintenance by local authorities.

This review is still in progress, but I hope that it will be completed in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present number of private domestic garages attached to, or in grounds of, private houses in England and Wales; and what proportion that represents of garages per private house.

The only information available is in the Sample Census 1966 (Housing Tables Part I. Table 19, p. 196), which shows that 4 million private cars were normally kept in garages or car ports within the grounds of dwellings in England and Wales, a proportion of 27 per 100 dwellings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is his estimate of the number and proportion of tenants in England and Wales who are now paying controlled rents and who will pay fair rents pursuant to the provisions outlined in Fair Deal for Housing;(2) what is his estimate of the number and proportion of tenants in outer London, inner London and in the London Borough of Hackney, respectively, who are now paying controlled rents, and who will pay fair rents pursuant to the provisions outlined in Fair Deal for Housing.

It is estimated that there were some 1·3 million controlled tenancies in December, 1970 in England and Wales. Of these, some 300,000 are estimated to be in the G.L.C. area, but it is not possible to provide separate estimates for inner and outer London, or for individual London boroughs. Increased rent will normally become payable, by stages, when controlled tenancies are transferred to regulation (they will not be so transferred if the dwelling is formally notified as unfit), but what the tenant pays from his own resources will depend also on whether he needs and claims a rent allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is his estimate of the number of council tenants in outer London, inner London and the London Borough of Hackney, respectively, who will have to pay fair rents pursuant to the provisions outlined in Fair Deal for Housing;(2) what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of private tenants who will receive rent rebates in outer London, inner London and in the London Borough of Hackney, respectively, pursuant to the provisions outlined in Fair Deal for Housing;(3) what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of council tenants who will receive rent rebates in outer London, inner London and in the London Borough of Hackney, respectively, pursuant to the provisions outlined in Fair Deal for Housing;(4) what is the probable rent level of private and local authority tenants in England and Wales, outer and inner London and in the London Borough of Heckney, respectively, which would follow the implementation of the provisions outlined in Fair Deal for Housing.

I am unable to make these estimates since they depend on so many variables such as the character of the dwellings for which fair rents are to be determined, the rate of progression to those rents and the incomes and family circumstances of the tenants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the average rent level at present charged in the private sector and by local authorities, respectively, in England and Wales, outer and inner London and in the London Borough of Hackney, respectively.

The latest available information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent advice he has received from the Confederation of British Industry about the future pattern of industrial investment by United Kingdom manufacturers in the event of United Kingdom membership of the European Economic Community.

The C.B.I. are currently consulting their members about the entry terms set out in the White Paper. At a meeting of their Council on 15th July an overwhelming majority expressed the opinion that the terms were acceptable to industry and that entry would be favourable for growth, investment and employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications he has received from firms anxious to develop in the Northern Region since the introduction of investment allowances; how the figures compare for an equivalent period before investment grants were terminated and what new jobs were estimated in total for both periods, respectively.

Figures of I.D.C.'s issued move erratically over short periods. From 1st November, 1970 to 30th June, 1971, 85 industrial development certificates for projects of 10,000 sq. ft. and over were issued in the Northern Region. They were estimated by the applicants to give rise to 4,730 additional jobs when the projects were complete and fully manned. The comparable figure for November, 1969 to June, 1970, was 121 certificates for 14,740 additional jobs. There is no evidence to suggest that the recent fall in the Northern Region results from the change-over from investment grants.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what number of redundancies have been declared in Product Support (Graphics) Limited, a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited; and what plans there are for hiving off this firm to private industry

I understand that, because of a reduction in Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited's requirements for its output, Product Support (Graphics) Limited plans to reduce its workforce by about 130. Some of those affected will be redeployed elsewhere in Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd., and there may be some who will volunteer to leave; it is therefore not at present possible to say how many compulsory redundancies will arise.As regards the future of Product Support (Graphics) Limited, I understand that some areas of work will be transferred to Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited, and that the remainder, representing the major part of its activities, will be offered for sale as a going concern.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what is the Government's policy for the future development of Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, and Luton airports, following the Government's decision for a third London airport; and if he will make a statement.

When the third London airport becomes operational the new capacity can be used so as to give the maximum benefit to those around existing airports who suffer from noise, as well as providing for the future growth in air traffic in the region after 1980.It is the Government's intention to continue to provide for the development of civil aviation and to maintain Britain's share in the international field. The Government recognise that investment will therefore be necessary to improve facilities for the growing number of passengers at some existing airports in the period up to 1980.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will consider on their merits any planning applications which may come before him either on appeal or direction, having regard to aviation, environmental, noise and other relevant considerations.Both he and I consider that the British Airports Authority and the Luton Corporation should bear in mind the following considerations when planning their investment programmes between now and 1980.First, the Government do not consider that it will be necesary to construct any new runways at Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Stansted in the foreseeable future. It is therefore proposed to abandon the safeguarding of the line of the possible second runway at Gatwick.Secondly, the Government foresee the need for Heathrow and Gatwick to continue as major airports serving the London area for the foreseeable future but expect that it will be possible after 1980 to impose stricter limits on air traffic movements and to apply other restraints at these airports to reduce the impact of noise.Thirdly, the Government foresee the possibility of dispensing with Stansted as a public transport airport, and possibly closing it altogether when the third London airport becomes operational.Fourthly, the Government do not foresee a need for Luton to continue to be a major public transport airport serving the London area once the third London airport is available to accommodate the services now using Luton. The Government expect that the powers contained in the Civil Aviation Bill now before Parliament would then be used to restrict severely the hours and the routeings which might be used by public transport aircraft there. It will then be for the airport management and the airline operators to consider whether movement facilities then remaining available at Luton would be sufficient to justify keeping the airport in use for public transport. As regards the period before 1980, I propose to initiate discussions with Luton Corporation when this Bill becomes law, to see whether further measures to reduce noise can be introduced in the short term.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he is satisfied with the co-ordination among Ministers of the Government's information services; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I know of no complaints as to lack of co-ordination among Ministers with regard to the Government information services.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he is satisfied with the co-ordination between Departments concerned with Government information services.

Yes.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will refer to the Director of Public Prosecutions with a view to instituting procedings for fraudulent deception, the case of Mr. Geoffrey Williams, sometime consultant to the Ministry of Defence at £5,000 per annum in 1967 to 1968.

I have asked the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider whether there are any grounds for investigating this matter.

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to pay an official visit to Nottinghamshire.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will invite the Prime Minister of Switzerland to make an official visit to the United Kingdom.

Switzerland has no office directly comparable with that of Prime Minister.Although there are no immediate plans for official visits to this country by Swiss Federal Councillors, they are, of course. always welcome here.

asked the Prime Minister how many letters he has received following his Ministerial broadcast on 8th July dealing with Great Britain's application to join the European Communities.

About 800.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has received the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North relating to errors in the White Paper on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community; and whether he will make a statement.

I received the hon. Member's letter on 23rd July. I do not accept the criticisms of the White Paper to which he refers.

asked the Prime Minister what representations he has received from social democratic parties in Europe in the last 12 months expressing their desire for the United Kingdom to obtain entry to the European Economic Community.

Members of social democratic parties in Europe have often expressed their strong wish that the United Kingdom should join the European Economic Community. The 8th Congress of Socialist Parties of the Community held in Brussels at the end of June this year passed unanimously a resolution expressing full support for our entry.

asked the Prime Minister how many letters he has received since 11th May concerning the Immigration Bill; and what proportion of them have been critical of it.

About 160. The great majority of my correspondents are in favour of the Bill.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Cornwall.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will publish an account of the Government's efforts to improve efficiency in its various Departments.

The White Paper "The Reorganisation of Central Government" (Cmnd. 4506) announced a number of organisational developments directed towards greater efficiency in Government. These included the creation of the Central Policy Review Staff and the introduction of Programme Analysis and Review, both of which are now in being. Other major developments, for example the decision to set up the Procurement Executive, are announced as they take place.

asked the Prime Minister when he intends to make his next official visit to Brussels.

I have at present no plans to visit Brussels.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what would be the status of the Milk Marketing Board in the event of entry to the European Economic Community; and in that event what reduction in proportion of its liquid sales of milk would make its continued existence incompatible with the rules of the Commission of the Community.

The Milk Marketing Board is a non-governmental producer organisation and this would not be affected by a reduction in the proportion of milk sold for liquid consumption.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guarantees have been reached for sheep farmers as the wool producers of Great Britain during the European Economic Community negotiations.

About half the wool produced in the United Kingdom comes from hill areas, the special needs of which are recognised in paragraph 150 of the White Paper Cmnd. 4715. More generally, various measures of support for wool are operated by members of the existing Community and I see no need to seek further assurances that the interests of British wool producers also can be safeguarded.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants are employed, and what is their complement, in the administrative, scientific and professional classes for each grade; and what were the comparable figures for June, 1970, and June, 1971.

Information in respect of the numbers employed in June, 1970 and June, 1971 is not available in the form requested; the administrative class as such was abolished on 1st January, 1971 when the larger Administration Group came into being. The table below gives the numbers employed at 1st April, 1971 and 1st April, 1970 in the administrative, scientific and professional categories in the grades which most closely correspond to those given in the Question. Schedule I of Table XIII of the Memorandum by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury for the 1970–71 Estimates and for the 1971–72 Estimates give the corresponding numbers estimated to be in post at the beginning of each financial year.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what was the purpose of widespread Army searches of houses in Northern Ireland on and around Friday, 23rd July; in what towns and in what districts were these searches carried out; and what was the result.

In pursuit of the policy of seeking out those who have been fomenting and otherwise taking an active part in the campaign of violence in Northern Ireland, the Security Forces on 23rd July conducted a series of searches in Belfast and in a number of rural areas. I understand that on the basis of evidence discovered during the searches seven persons have so far been charged with offences.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances were the Army called to Jamaica Street, Belfast, early on Tuesday morning, 20th July; and what was the result of their investigations.

Shortly after 2 a.m. on 20th July a military patrol found tar and feathers at the junction of Brompton Park and Jamaica Street. I understand that the Royal Ulster Constabulary carried out a search without success for individuals involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children will be leaving school to enter employment at the end of the current term, and how many are expected to be placed in jobs, in the Doncaster travel-to-work area.

This information is not available in the Department, which does not make forecasts of school leavers by individual area. The hon. Member may wish to consult the Doncaster and West Riding Local Education Authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why she will not institute a monthly census of school meal consumption in local authority schools.

I see no justification for imposing this additional burden on local education authorities and schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will now give new advice to local education authorities about the education of immigrant pupils.

The Department will publish tomorrow a Survey, prepared by H.M. Inspectorate of Schools, which reviews several aspects of the education of immigrants.One part of the Survey significantly modifies the advice about dispersal given in Circular 7/65. The Department then took the view that no school could meet the educational needs of its pupils without experiencing considerable strain, if more than one-third of the children were immigrants. The Circular advised local education authorities to avoid higher concentrations of immigrant pupils by rearranging catchment areas or dispersing children over a greater number of schools.The present Survey draws attention to the educational and other disadvantages of operating a dispersal policy and suggests other more constructive ways of dealing with the problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking in view of the redundancies announced at Imperial Chemical Industries Fibres Limited, Pontypool, to assist in providing the men affected with alternative employment and retraining schemes.

We are in close contact with the company locally and arrangements have already been made for a job team to go into the works this week to give information and advice about alternative employment and retraining opportunities. As soon as we have details of the skills and experience of the employees becoming redundant, special approaches will be made to other employers for vacancies.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what estimate he has made of the re-employment prospects of the 740 people to be dismissed by Imperial Chemical Industries Fibres (Doncaster) Limited;(2) if he will make an estimate of the effect on the 5·4 per cent. current unemployment rate in Doncaster of the cut in the work force of Imperial Chemical Industries Fibres (Doncaster) Limited, announced on 22nd July, 1971, of 740.

Until more is known about the skills of the employees involved and the timing of dismissals, no meaningful estimate can be made of reemployment prospects or the possible effect on the current unemployment rate. We are in close touch with the company locally and arrangements are being made to give every possible assistance to all concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to amend the Representation of the People Act, 1949, to give the right to vote in local government elections to aliens who have been in this country for a continuous period of 15 years and have consistently paid their taxes over the period.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he will not take action so as to be able to give in future the proportion of outstanding fines where time for payment has not expired.

Because the complexities would be considerable and my right hon. Friend would not feel justified in imposing this additional burden on justices' clerks.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the statutory provisions which require members of the medical profession on part-time National Health Service contracts, who serve on either regional hospital boards or boards of management, to declare a financial interest when discussing the provision of pay beds in hospitals.

Regulation 13(d) of the National Health Service (Regional Hospital Boards and Boards of Management) (Scotland) Regulations, 1947 requires Boards to incorporate in their standing orders a provision that if a member attending a meeting of the Board has any pecuniary interest, direct or indirect, in a matter being considered he shall, subject to such exceptions and qualifications as may be specified in the standing orders, declare his interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a list of typical selected cases including all relevant information and evidence submitted to his Department by the rent assessment committees in Scotland.

Rent Assessment Committees operate independently, under statute, and do not submit their decisions to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a statistical analysis of the findings of rent assessment committees in Scotland in relation, respectively, to the number of cases dealt with over the previous three years, to the number of increases and decreases in rent as a result of the decisions of the rent assessment committees, and to the range of such increases or decreases and such other elevant information as is available.

A statistical analysis of Rent Assessment Committee decisions is given in Appendix 13 to the Scottish Development Department Report for 1970 (Cmnd. 4625). The ranges of increases and decreases compared with the Rent Officers' determinations were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the coming into effect in Scotland of Section 21 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.

Consultations on the regulations necessary to bring Section 21 into effect have been completed and I expect that they will shortly be laid before Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider giving additional financial support and assistance in the development of the Edinburgh arm; and if he will make a statement.

The present level of support is adequate to meet current development needs and all children in Scotland who need powered arms have been fitted. Further development will depend upon experience gained in the use of the latest version of the arm, fittings of which have commenced, and the level of support and assistance will be re-examined as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress he has made with the authorities concerned in approving a scheme for the piping and infilling of that stretch of the Monkland Canal east of Sikeside, Coatbridge, which passes through the burgh of Airdrie and the county of Lanark, in view of the hazard to life and health that this waterway constitutes.

The initiative for preparing this scheme rests with the local authorities concerned, who have been informed that I would be prepared to accept it in principle for grant purposes. I understand that Airdrie and Coatbridge Town Councils are willing to carry out a joint scheme, but that Lanark County Council is not at present prepared to give any assurance that it will extend the scheme into the landward area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce the Government's proposals for the reorganisation of the National Health Service in Scotland.

A White Paper on this subject will be published on Thursday of this week.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the number of those who will be forced out of agriculture in Wales in consequence of Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

Since agriculture generally should be more profitable in the E.E.C., I see no reason to expect any increase in the outflow of manpower from Welsh agriculture.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what considerations led to his decision that the time was now appropriate for the Welsh Economic Council to study the special implications to Wales of Great Britain's entry into the Common Market.

The decision to embark on the study of the White Paper—Cmnd. 4715—was the Council's own.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much of his public works programme is being allocated to the hospital service in general in Wales.

£2½ million with the possibility that some minor expenditure might be carried over into 1973–74 for schemes substantially completed by the end of March, 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest statistical indications of the results of the Government's regional policies in Wales.

Information on major economic indicators is available in the Department of Employment's Gazette and in Trade and Industry published by the Department of Trade and Industry. In addition the Digest of Welsh Statistics covering 1970 will be published in September.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether, in view of the concern in the area and in particular the fatal accident which occurred on 1st July, 1971, he will authorise the construction of a footbridge over the dual carriageway at Bagcar, Port Talbot.

Yes. I have decided to provide two footbridges on this road.