asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the result of the Government's investigation into the anomaly concerning the Rent Act about which he wrote to the hon. Member for Hackney, Central, on 31st August, 1970.

I understand that a case likely to test the matter is now pending in a county court, and I intend to await its outcome.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of slums cleared to the latest date in 1971 for which figures are available; and what relation this bears to the number cleared in the corresponding period of 1970.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Epping (Mr. Tebbit) on 16th June, 1971.—[Vol. 819. c. 86.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to permit agents and accommodation bureaux to charge reasonable fees for finding rented premises for clients.

My right hon. Friend is now considering the position resulting from the Appeal Court's decision in the case of Crouch and Lees v. Haridas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to facilitate the raising of capital by council tenants wishing to purchase their council houses.

I have made clear my hope that building societies will lend for this purpose. But the absence of such capital need not hold up the sale of a council house. Councils have power to agree to the price being paid by instalments or to payment of part of the price being secured by a mortgage of the property.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the change in subsidies for rented housing that the Sheffield Corporation will receive following the implementation of the White Paper, "Fair Deal for Housing".

I would expect the Council to be able to balance their housing revenue account with a decreasing amount of Exchequer subsidies and assistance from the general rate fund.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, on the basis of the proposals contained in the White Paper, "Fair Deal for Housing", he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the likely financial effects on the housing revenue accounts and disbursements for all housing purposes for each Greater London borough.

No.Such figures are better got from the individual authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what communications he has received from the Association of Municipal Corporations concerning the White Paper, "Fair Deal for Housing"; and if he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is, approximately, the annual increase in expenditure which will fall on local authorities to meet the deficits caused by his rents and subsidies proposals; and what representations he received from the local government associations on these proposals during his discussions with them.

Although no firm estimate can be made at this stage, total contributions by ratepayers will be less than at present. It would be improper to reveal the views expressed by local authority associations during my confidential discussions with them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are expected to be the maximum, mean and minimum rent increases under the Fair Deal for Housing proposals for local authority tenant households composed, respectively, of a single person, man and wife, man and wife and two children, and man and wife and four children; and how many council rents, both before and after the granting of rent allowances, are expected to rise by, respectively, more than £1, £2, £3 and £4.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply given earlier today to similar Questions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the London Borough of Islington, regarding the working paper produced by Islington Poverty Action Group regarding homeless in Islington; and if he will make a statement.

None. Many of the points raised in the paper apply to London as a whole and are already being pursued by the Government in general discussions with the London authorities. Those of particular concern to Islington are a matter in the first place for that council and I understand that they will be meeting the Islington Poverty Action Group for discussions. I expect to be informed of those discussions through the continuing liaison my Department has with the Borough Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his current estimate of the value of Exchequer subsidies for municipal housing in 1970–71; and if he will make a statement on the error in his previously published figures.

The estimated total payments of housing subsidies to local authorities, new towns and housing associations in 1970–71 in respect of new dwellings provided by these bodies in England and Wales was £156·6 million.I have already apologised to the hon. Member for the error in my answer to him of 18th May.—[Vol. 817, c.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the estimated number of furnished tenancies and of unfurnished tenancies in the area of each of the largest cities and county boroughs of England and Wales outside Greater London.

This information can be obtained from the County Volumes of the Sample Census 1966, which provide the numbers of households renting furnished and unfurnished accommodation, for all local authority areas with a population over 15,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received from the National Federation of Building Employers regarding the policy of firm price tendering; and what reply has been sent.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a similar Question from the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Mr. Cant) on Monday, 26th July.—[Vol. 822, c. 43.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to increase the number of improvement areas designated; and if he will refuse compulsory purchase orders in future in areas where existing property has a useful life ahead of it.

Local authorities have been given every encouragement in circulars and the new series of Area Improvement Notes and through direct approaches by my regional officers to give full consideration to the possibilities of improving whole residential areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if his discussions with the insurance industry on the lowering of mortgage indemnity assurance premium rates have now been completed; and if he will make a statement.

All the insurance companies participating in the option mortgage guarantee scheme have now agreed to reduce their premium rates by ½ per cent. all round. The new rates vary from 2 to 3½ per cent. of the amount guaranteed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of advances made by building societies in 1971 to the latest date for which figures are available; and what relation this bears to the number of advances in the corresponding period of 1970.

Three hundred thousand advances were made by building societies in the first six months of 1971, compared with 246,000 in the corresponding period last year.This represents a 22 per cent. increase in the number of loans made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received the report from the officer of the Department of the Environment who met members of Dalton-in-Furness Urban District Council on 28th June to discuss the provision of discretionary grants under the Housing Act, 1969; and if he will make a statement.

This meeting was in the normal course of liaison between the North West Regional Housing Office and its local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the disadvantages of keeping Hyde Park open all night.

The disadvantages flow from the fact that it would be quite impossible to control the use of the Parks adequately during the night. Damage to flower beds, trees and deck chairs would occur. Day-time users of the Park would be faced with recumbent bodies, litter and probably with fouling of the Park. The task of the police and the park-keeping staff, already very heavy, would be made well-nigh impossible. The disadvantages are not theoretical: they arose when Green Park was left open at night as an experiment in 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the current level of brick production and supply.

During the first five months of 1971 brick production has been 5·4 per cent. higher than in the comparable period of 1970; deliveries have been 12·3 per cent. higher. I discussed the situation with representatives of the Brick Development Association on 21st July. They told me that there is no shortage of facing bricks. There are, however, temporary and local shortages of common bricks, the demand for which remained high during the winter, thus preventing a build-up of stocks. Brick-makers have already introduced additional capacity which should shortly meet the increased demand. I am continuing to watch the situation closely.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reply he has sent to the representations of Islington Council about the provision of higher rented accomodation in South Islington.

I have informed the Chairman of the Health and Social Services Committee of the council that the scheme he has in mind is under consideration in the Department and is to be discussed with the Greater London Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now make a statement on the future of the National Building Agency.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to a similar Question from the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Renée Short).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from Camden Council about the proposed building of the National Library; and what reply he has sent.

Representations from the Council, including a letter dated 7th July, are being considered. I hope to be in touch with the council shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many complaints he has received from members of the public about accommodation agencies; and if he will make a statement.

Three, since June, 1970; my right hon. Friend is considering the implications of the recent decision by the Court of Appeal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has reached a conclusion on the proposal put forward by the Field Monuments Committee to secure the protection of scheduled monuments on arable or forest land by making acknowledgement payments to the occupiers.

I expect to introduce measures at the earliest possible opportunity to give effect to this important recommendation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the implications on the environment of the expected increase in the population by the end of the century.

The latest estimates of population growth are the subject of continuing study and their implications are taken into account in the policies and programmes of my own and other Departments. As announced in today's White Paper on the Population of the United Kingdom, a special panel will be studying the long-term implications of population growth, including their possible effects on the environment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many buildings have been listed as of historic or architectural interest for the first time this quarter.

2,055 in the quarter ended 30th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received this year about the inadequacy of compensation for householders affected by urban road and bridge building; and when he hopes to complete his review of the Compensation Code.

I have had a number of letters on this point including a recent one from my hon. Friend himself which is being studied in our review of the compensation code. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to his hon. Friend the Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Costain) on 7th July.—[Vol. 820, c. 1333.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress of his review of compensation, in particular for loss of livelihood, resulting from the acquisition of land for public purposes.

As my right hon. Friend told his hon. Friends the Members for Buckingham (Mr. Benyon) and Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker) on 12th May, he will announce details of our proposals when our review has been concluded and hopes to introduce legislation at the earliest possible date.—[Vol. 817, c. 359–61.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now provide a firm date when a decision will be made in regard to the provision of a bypass for Aston in the Rother Valley constituency or for the provision of an alternative route to the Ml from Sheffield which avoids Aston.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his Question on this subject on 21st July.—[Vol. 821, c. 278.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the drive towards further smoke control in towns and cities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to resume full operation and expansion of clean air policy after last year's setbacks, due to shortage of solid smokeless fuels.

I am advised that supplies of solid smokeless fuels have greatly improved and accordingly I have published a circular urging local authorities to resume an active policy of smoke control forthwith. Further details are given in the following statement:

On 26th July, in the light of advice received from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, I published a circular (D.O.E. Circular No. 53/71) advising local authorities that supplies of solid smokeless fuels seem likely to be fully adequate to meet consumer demand, that I foresee no need for the suspension or deferment of smoke control orders during the coming winter and that no supply difficulties are expected thereafter. I have expressed my hope that all local authorities who during the past two or three years have reduced or discontinued their smoke control programmes will now resume them energetically. In particular, all "black" area authorities are asked to review their programmes and consider whether they cannot achieve more rapid progress. The circular emphasises that I wish to give every encouragement to smoke control and hope to receive a large number of orders.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with present legislation covering pollution of rivers and other inland water; and it he will make a statement.

Several of the recommendations made by the Working Party on Sewage Disposal suggest fresh legislation to extend and strengthen the control of river pollution. I shall be announcing the Government's conclusions on these very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now seek to amend the Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Act, 1951, in order to facilitate the making of prosecutions for accidental pollution, and to increase the maximum fine permitted for such offences.

I hope to announce soon the Government's conclusions on the main recommendations of the Working Party on Sewage Disposal, which include a strengthening of the law relating to accidental pollution; and on our review of the penalties for all forms of pollution of the environment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to reduce the lapse of time between the receipt by his Department of planning appeals and the announcement of the decision.

The transfer in November last of further classes of appeal for decision by inspectors is already reducing the period taken to decide such cases. I am examining other ways to reduce the time taken within the Department to process an appeal. The most significant time savings can however be realised only with the co-operation of both the appellant and the local planning authority during the processes of preliminary documentation and in the fixing of inquiry arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations have taken place between his Department and the residents of Church Road, Litherland, whose premises are under planning review for the Church Road-Widening-Approach Road, to Seaforth Container Berth; and if he will make a statement.

There were discussions in March, 1970 with Church Road residents who had asked for information or objected to the proposals published in September, 1969. As a result, the proposals were modified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will arrange for consultations between the Bootle, Crosby and Litherland local authorities and his Department with a view to minimising road and traffic hazards created by the advent of the new Seaforth Container Berth; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Consultations will continue.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether it is proposed to improve the position of people residing adjacent to proposed development by extending the requirements of notification of applications for planning permission or by granting some form of right of appeal to persons aggrieved by the grant of a planning permission.

I think there is a case for giving local planning authorities discretion to require an applicant to give suitable publicity to the more important planning applications but this should not be a universal requirement. It is at this stage that people should be able to make representations to the local planning authority in appropriate cases, rather than be given a subsequent right of appeal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Latchford Place Residents' Association regarding the destruction of local amenities by the carrying out of the road improvement schemes; and whether he will make a statement.

Representations have been received from 32 residents about the widening of Romford Road by the London Borough of Redbridge.While I sympathise with these residents, I think they will find when the improvement has been completed that the adverse effect of the works will not be as severe as they fear.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total percentage of outstanding derelict land being cleared in 1971 and the total expenditure involved.

Local authority forecasts of derelict land clearance in their areas during the calendar year 1971 are being collated, together with the other statistical material which they supply for the annual derelict land surveys. Overall figures should be available by September. Gross local authority expenditure on derelict land in England in the financial year 1970–71 was £3·4 million and is likely to be more than double the 1969–70 figure in 1971–72.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reply he has made to the letter he has received from the Cornwall County Council requesting improved Government incentives for office undertakings to move to the development areas.

An official reply was sent to the County Planning Officer on 9th June. I am sending a copy of this to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the report of the Water Resources Board on possible schemes for storage and extraction of water from Morecambe Bay; and when he expects to publish the report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will put forward proposals for initiating action arising from the Water Resources Board report on Morecambe Bay; and what steps he will take to allow interested parties to consider and comment upon the report before he reaches any decision.

I expect to receive the Water Resources Board's report on the feasibility study of fresh water storage in Morecambe Bay later this year. The report will be published soon after. After the report is published there will be ample opportunity for all those concerned to express their views, and I shall of course take all these views into account before reaching any decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that his reference to a feasibility study into a proposed M1-M11 link to pass south of Bishop's Stortford has caused concern in that town by reason of its possible implications in respect of the construction of the Bishop's Stortford East-West by-pass; and if he will confirm the construction of the East-West by-pass and announce a firm timetable in respect of it.

As I told my right Friend on 16th June, I am examining the county council's proposals for programming the principal road comprising the western sector of the by-pass. This examination must clearly take account of the recently announced feasibility study into a new link between the M1 and the M11.—[Vol. 819, c. 88.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made on the London to Cambridge motorway M11.

The line between Redbridge and Stumps Cross, and the connections to the existing road system, have been fixed and draft Compulsory Purchase Orders for acquisition of the land are in preparation. Proposals for an extension of the route towards Cambridge have been published.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is now able to state his intentions in regard to the implementation of the recommendations of the Report of the Working Party on Sewage Disposal.

I hope to make a statement on the main recommendations soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware that the Marshall Committee considered that the Public Utility Street Works Act works to the disadvantage of highway authorities; and if he will consider legislation to give compensation to highway authorities for long-term damage to the fabric of roads caused by poor quality reinstatements made by the statutory undertakers.

I am aware of this recommendation. The operation of the Act is shortly to be discussed by representatives of the Department and the parties concerned. I shall consider any suggestions for amendment which arise from these discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is yet in a position to make an announcement about the date for commencement of work on road widening at Prospect Road, Hythe.

The Agent Authority, Kent County Council, have been asked to prepare a scheme, but I am unable to forecast when work could begin.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take to speed up the preparation of structure plans by local authorities.

The substantive structure and local plan provisions are to be brought into operation by a series of commencement orders applying Part I to the areas named in them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will list those local authorities which have indicated formally that they will not now proceed with previously announced sales of surplus land to private builders; what are the individual sites; and whether he will seek to dissuade local authorities from this course of action;(2) whether he will list the sites which have been notified to him by local authorities as having been sold, or designed for sale, to private builders as surplus to public sector requirements since the issue of Circular 10/70; and what action he is taking to increase the amount of land to be sold off.

As local authorities are not required to notify me of all sales of their surplus land I am unable to give my hon. Friend the details he seeks. I am aware, however, that most authorities have now reviewed their land holdings and a number of them are disposing of their surplus land to private builders, where this can be done without prejudice to their own essential needs.The decision whether or not land is surplus to requirements is entirely a matter for the local authority concerned. I have encouraged builders to discuss their difficulties with local authorities so that particular problems may be identified and appropriate solutions found.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the proposed Green Paper on Local Government Finance will be published; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the Green Paper on local government finance.

A Green Paper on The Future Shape of Local Government Finance (Cmnd. 4741) presented to Parliament by my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales, my hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and myself is published today, 28th July. Copies are now available in the Vote Office.The Green Paper is published as a basis for consultations, and the Government hope that it will stimulate wide public discussion of the possibilities set out in it. The Departments concerned will shortly be getting into touch with the local authority associtions and others concerned about the procedure for consultation with them.The Government will formulate definitive proposals after their consultations are complete, and any necessary legislation will be introduced at the earliest opportunity afterwards.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to the inclusion of the Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, Relief Road Phase II in the firm programme of principal road improvement schemes; and if he can now announce a favourable decision on this matter.

Hertfordshire County Council is looking into points raised by the Department on the Council's principal road programme report for this scheme. A programming decision will be taken as soon as possible after these have been resolved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in view of the present trends towards increasing deficit revealed in its Report and Accounts for 1970, what general directions he has given to the British Transport Docks Board to remedy them.

None. The Board's financial results so far this year show an encouraging improvement on last year's figures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the special steps which will be taken to ensure the safety of electric trains travelling at speeds of 100 miles per hour.

The safety of operation of the railways is the responsibility of the British Railways Board, but no special steps are required to ensure safety at speeds of 100 miles per hour provided that the signal spacing is sufficient and the line fitted with the Automatic Warning System.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he now proposes to take following receipt of the working party report on heavy lorry effects on the environment and lorry nuisance in residential areas.

I am considering the recommendations made by the Working Party in consultation with the authorities and organisations concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now announce his proposals for changes in goods vehicle weight limitations within the maximum of 32 tons gross weight in order to reduce the length of vehicles carrying a given load.

Not yet.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to representations made to him about the future of the town bus service in Winchester; and whether he will make a statement.

This is a matter which should be settled locally. My Department is in touch with the local authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will institute an inquiry into the costs to bus companies operating in rural areas of acquiring the vehicles of a suitable small size for such work, in view of the considerable losses which such companies are experiencing.

No. The costs of various types of vehicle are well known to operators.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy regarding the participaton of private enterprise in the operations of the nationalised transport industries.

State involvement should be reduced where this makes economic and commercial sense.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to appoint a woman to the British Railways Board.

When the right opportunity presents itself.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that the analogy between the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1969, and the British Rail Board's supplementation dated April, 1969, of pensions of railway superannuitants is maintained in relation to further increases of pension for such people.

Further schemes of supplementation of railway pensions are now matters entirely for the decision of the Railways Board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give a general direction to British Rail to submit advertising material to him before issuing it.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received the communication sent to him by the hon. Member for West Ham, North, together with a letter from the Publicity Officer of the Newham Chamber of Commerce relating to urban parking; and whether he will make a statement.

I have received the correspondence. The new zebra crossing proposals were the subject of wide consultation last year. I shall make the Regulations shortly. I am about to start consultations on the proposed junction waiting ban.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list each skid-pan that has now been constructed, and is in operation, indicating who owns it, and, so far as are available, the capital cost, the operating cost, and whether or not there is sufficient use of it to make it break even or run at a profit;(2) how many skid-pans have now been constructed, and are in operation; if he is satisfied with the amount of use that is being made of them; and what estimate he has made of the number needed to meet national requirements for the purposes of road safety five and 10 years hence.

I regret the information requested is not available. Skid-pans have a very limited road safety value and I have not therefore made the estimate referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many pedestrians have been killed, seriously injured, and slightly injured, respectively, on the section of Harrow Road, Wembley, between the Triangle and Harrow Tavern, in each of the last 10 years.

This information is not readily available for the years prior to 1969. Subsequent figures are:

	Fatal	Serious	Slight
1969	0	2	8
1970	2	1	9
1971 to 22nd July	1	2	3

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the relative safety of lay-bys as compared with a recognisable full-width continuous hard shoulder.

Lay-bys have different functions from continuous hard shoulders and it is impracticable to compare their relative safety values.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will introduce regulations requiring manufacturers of motor vehicles to provide for involuntary restraint systems, anti-lock brakes and anti-dazzle lights by 1975;(2) what proposals he has for making further regulations extending compulsory safety standards for private cars; and when these are to be introduced.

The Government are at present co-operating with other European countries in the development of new safety standards.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice and financial assistance he is giving to local authorities who wish to redesign and alter houses and public buildings to accommodate disabled persons.

I have given local authorities detailed guidance about designing and altering houses, schools, public buildings and conveniences to meet the needs of the disabled.Under the Social Work (Scotland) Act, 1968, local authorities can give financial assistance for the adaptation of houses to accommodate the disabled, and this expenditure is reckonable for rate support grant. In addition, where houses are being improved with grant under the Housing (Scotland) Acts any extra cost incurred to meet the needs of the disabled can be taken into account in assessing the grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance he has now decided to give to local authorities on the establishment of out-of-town shopping centres.

I gave local planning authorities interim guidance on 9th June in a circular, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member, and I intend to give them further guidance later.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what part of the costs of running and maintaining the fishery protection service he intends to seek to recover from the Scottish inshore fishing industry.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the names and qualifications of the people appointed to act on rent assessment committees in Scotland.

Rent assessment committees are drawn from the Rent Assessment Panel for Scotland. The President of this Panel is Professor James Bennet Miller, Professor of Commercial Law at Glasgow University, and the Vice-President is Mr. T. G. Williamson, B.Sc., F.R.I.C.S., F.A.I. The Panel includes 61 legally qualified members, 29 members qualified in valuation, and 65 others. I am sending the hon. Member a list of these 155 members.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give further consideration to the question of placing Newport, Monmouthshire in the development area, particularly in view of the proposed closure there of the British Aluminium Company's Aluminia Factory, which employs nearly 400 male employees, and bearing in mind the shortage of male vacancies in the area at the present time.

I understand that the first stage of the closure will not take place until mid-1972, thus enabling the company to give lengthy warning of redundancy to employees. I will, of course, keep the situation under review, but am not at present persuaded that the circumstances of the area warrant development area status.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide Air Information Service Aerodrome Units, organised and staffed to the standards laid down in International Civil Aviation Organisation Annex 15 and International Civil Aviation Organisation Document 8126 AN872/2 A.I.S. Manual, at the remaining 32 of the 37 international airports designated under Article 10 of the Convention and listed in International Civil Aviation Organisation Document 7383 AIS/503/26.

No. It would not be appropriate to provide Air Information Service Units up to these standards at every airport designated under Article 10 as available for the entry or departure of international air traffic.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what training facilities, including language training, exist for Air Information Service staff, and how many of the existing Air Information Service staff at the United Kingdom International Notam Office and the five Air Information Service aerodrome units are technically qualified and trained to the requirements of Chapter 2 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation Document 8126 AN/872/2, and the Recommendations 6/4 and 6/5 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation Air Information Service and Charts Divisional Meeting of 1966.

The I.C.A.O. documents referred to are not I.C.A.O. Standards but a blend of information and advice. We have no reason to believe that the training or standards of A.I.S. staff in the United Kingdom falls short of general international practice. Air Information Service staff are for the most part trained on the job. Central facilities are available for them to learn conventional French, and they are also instructed in a specialised aviation French while serving at A.I.S. headquarters. Of the 52 briefing staff at the headquarters and the five manned aerodrome units, 30 are technically qualified and trained, 11 are trained but lack aircrew experience, and 11 are relatively new entrants nearing the end of their training.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will revise the present non-standard United Kingdom Air Information Publication, Air Pilot, and publish and amend this document to the layout and standards, inclusive of the required aerodrome and other charts specified in International Civil Aviation Organisation Annex 15 and International Civil Aviation Organisation Document 8126.

The United Kingdom Aeronautical Information Publication "Air Pilot" is constantly being amended and revised, and opportunity is taken as far as is practicable to conform progressively with the standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Given the large size of the "Air Pilot", this is an extensive task and is bound to take a certain amount of time.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement about the 61-year-old pilot who flew Concorde immediately prior to its grounding; and what instructions he was given.

In the course of a test flight on 20th July, Concorde was taken momentarily just beyond its current operating limits. This was none the less below the load at which structural problems could be expected. Immediate examination has shown no indication of damage. Advantage is being taken of a routine period of maintenance to check the aircraft thoroughly. The flight test programme is expected to continue in about a fortnight.At the time, the aircraft was under the captaincy of B.A.C.'s Chief Test Pilot, with Captain Scott-Flower, the Director of Flight Development of Pan American Airways flying the aircraft as co-pilot. Captain Scott-Flower is a very experienced pilot in current flying practice, and had flown Concorde the previous day.This was one of a series of flights to provide handling experience for the senior pilots of potential airline customers. A similar programme is being followed with the French prototype. These flights are confined to experienced airline captains, and are preceded by a full briefing on the handling characteristics of the aircraft. I see no grounds to alter the present arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many air traffic controllers have been disciplined during each of the last five years following their involvement in air miss incidents.

In the years from 1st January, 1966, to date, one air traffic controller was disciplined in 1967, five in 1968 and three in 1969 following involvement in air miss incidents.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what regulations and procedures he has laid down for the reporting and classification of air miss incidents.

A pilot of a civil aircraft who considers it has been in danger of collision within United Kingdom airspace should report the incident at once by radio to an Air Traffic Services Unit, and confirm the report in writing within seven days. The detailed procedure is set out in the United Kingdom Aeronautical Information Publication "Air Pilot", Section RAC 35, and I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend. All incidents reported are investigated by the Air Miss Working Group, composed of representatives of users, and classified by it as involving actual risk, possible risk, or no risk.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why he has not published, in accordance with the provisions of International Civil Aviation Organisation practice, the differences in United Kingdom practice from International Civil Aviation Organisation recommendations of practice, nor notified them in the United Kingdom Air Information Publication, Air Pilot.

The differences are published in the appropriate International Civil Aviation Organisation Annexes. They are also included in the United Kingdom Aeronautical Information Publication, "Air Pilot", as relevant sections of the publication are revised and reprinted.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if, in his review of company law, he will consider the introduction of methods such as those employed in the United States of America, a system of contingency fees, details of which are in his possession, in order to reduce the cost of prosecution to the investor;(2) whether, in his review of company law, he will investigate methods of making prosecutions easier to institute, and the adequacy of existing penalties.

The question of the penalties for breaches of the provisions of the Companies Acts will be among the matters which we shall consider. The procedures for instituting prosecutions or civil proceedings and the expenses involved are not matters for company law.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what quantity of nylon and terylene yarn was imported into the United Kingdom during the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available, and which were the source countries.

Nylon and terylene yarns are not distinguished from other yarns of synthetic fibres in the trade statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the latest available figures and percentages of United Kingdom trade, exports and imports with the world, sub-divided for the European Economic Community, the European Free Trade Association, the Commonwealth, South Africa, the United States of America and the rest.

Figures of United Kingdom exports and imports by areas and countries are published in the monthly Overseas Trade Statistics. Following are the percentages for January to June, 1971 for the areas specified:

	Exports per cent.	Imports per cent.
E.E.C	21·4	21·1
E.F.T.A	15·7	15·6
Commonwealth	21·4	23·0
South Africa	4·7	2·4
United States of America	11·5	12·1
Other countries	25·3	25·8
World	100·0	100·0

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now make a statement on the fate of Mr. Philip Chalmers, a British citizen missing in East Pakistan since 24th June, and on the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.

Mr. Chalmers was kidnapped from the Luskerpore Valley area of East Pakistan on 2nd June and is still missing. Since my right hon. Friend told the House on 23rd June that we had been unable to obtain any definite news of Mr. Chalmers, British representatives in Pakistan and India have continued to make inquiries from official and unofficial sources about his whereabouts, but I regret to say that we still have no firm evidence about his fate. It is obvious that the grave fears for Mr. Chalmers' safety, which my right hon. Friend mentioned on 23rd June, must grow with every day that passess without news of him.—[Vol. 819, c. 1436–1443.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will specify the matters in respect of which it is proposed to seek amendments of existing Common Market law and practice after United Kingdom entry to the European Economic Community.

No. In negotiating with the Community, Her Majesty's Government have indicated their acceptance of the Community Treaties and the decisions following from them, subject only to the arrangements agreed in the negotiations which are set out in the White Paper, Cmnd. 4715. If Parliament approved membership of the Communities, we shall as a member be able to play a full part in influencing the Community's further development.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give the facts and evidence upon which he bases his assumption in the White Paper that the Community's budget will amount to £1,400 million in 1973 rising gradually to £1,600 million in 1977 and that United Kingdom receipts from that budget will rise from £20 million to £100 million over the same period; and whether he will make a statement.

A breakdown of the European Economic Community budget totalling £1,273 million in 1971 is given in paragraph 6 of Annex A of the White Paper, Cmnd. 4715. The estimates in the White Paper for the total size of the Community budget in 1973 and 1977 were carefully compiled after detailed scrutiny of information available from the European Economic Community Commission and study of trends in production and trade. The figures in the White Paper for possible United Kingdom receipts from the Community budget are the best estimates which can be provided taking into account all factors to the extent to which they can be assessed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from Hong Kong following the passage of Hurricane Lucy; whether he has any proposals for aid; and if he will make a statement.

Typhoon Lucy passed close to Hong Kong on 22nd July, causing comparatively little damage and only minor casualties. Nevertheless, the usual precautions had to be taken—public transport stopped running and offices were closed.The Hong Kong Government have most effective and comprehensive arrangements for dealing with typhoons. In view of this, and because Typhoon Lucy proved in the event to be milder than had been forecast, no assistance from Her Majesty's Government was necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the authorised expenditure by local education authorities on the replacement or improvement of maintained schools for each of the years 1966 to 1970 and that authorised until 1973, and for each year separately the expenditure on primary and secondary schools.

The following table sets out the authorised starts figures for major projects at maintained primary and secondary schools in England and Wales at constant (1971) prices:

	Improvements and Replacements (£ million)
Year	Primary	Secondary	Total
1966–67	10·6	29·3	39·9
1967–68	14·3	13·1	27·4
1968–69	7·5	8·7	16·2
1969–70	14·5	11·5	26·0
1970–71	11·5	2·0	13·5
1971–72	16·5	2·5	19·0
1972–73	43·5	—	43·5
1973–74	48·0	—	48·0

Further provision for improvements is made out of minor works allocations but the details are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has received from Nottinghamshire County Council Education Committee regarding the ending of school milk; and what reply she has sent

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements have been made for the assistance of the artist craftsman.

The Government are setting up an Advisory Committee under the chairmanship of Sir Paul Sinker to advise them on policy for the artist craftsman. The terms of reference of the Advisory Committee are:

"To advise the Paymaster General on the needs of the artist craftsman and to promote through the central office for the crafts a nation-wide interest and improvement in their products".

The Committee will be serviced by a central office for the crafts and I am glad that the Council of Industrial Design has agreed in principle that Sir Paul Reilly, its Director, should be responsible for this office. Arrangements for Scotland and Wales are being discussed with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she has reached a decision on the rates of grant for post-graduate students, following the recent review of undergraduate student awards; and if she will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have decided that the rates of grant for postgraduate studentships awarded by the Education Departments and the Research Councils will be increased as follows:

Students living in College, Hall or Lodgings
Current Rate
	1971–72	1972–73	1973–74
£550	£630	£650	£675
Students living at Home
Current Rate
	1971–72	1972–73	1973–74
£425	£485	£500	£520

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangement has been made to enable the United Kingdom to continue participating in the work of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Centre for Educational Research Innovation.

The United Kingdom has notified the O.E.C.D. of its intention to take part in the latter's programme of activities in educational research and innovation from 1971 to 1976, and will contribute accordingly about £19,000 to the 1971 Budget of the Centre.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what difficulties are being experienced by polytechnics and other colleges for which she is responsible in placing sandwich course students in industry for the practical training part of their courses.

Difficulties have arisen in finding sufficient suitable places. I greatly value this type of course, which is designed with the needs of industry as much as of the student in mind. The Confederation of British Industry recently drew the attention of their members to the great gains that industry could derive from the sandwich system of education and training and asked for strong industrial support in this area. I endorse this appeal. Any trend away from sandwich courses could well do great harm to a unique element in our higher education arrangements.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the undertaking he has given to the National Farmers' Union and the farming interests that the Government will give compensation to farmers and those in the agricultural industry who may be forced out of business or adversely affected by Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

The undertaking I gave recently to the President of the National Farmers Union related to horticulture, and was the following terms:

"I believe the arrangements we have made for horticulture will provide satisfactory conditions for efficient growers to make the necessary adjustments. But where special help for horticulture can be justified—whether to facilitate production adjustments to assist those who are potentially viable or to compensate those who have to leave the industry—the Government are prepared to consider it. This is something which we are ready to discuss with you at an appropriate stage."

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will arrange for studies of population questions to be carried out, following the recent report of the Select Committee on Science and Technology on this subject.

The White Paper Cmnd. 4748 published today setting out the Government's observations on the Select Committee's Report envisages that such studies should be carried out by a new Panel of Government and independent experts. Mr. C. R. Ross of the Central Policy Review Staff has been appointed Chairman of the Panel. It will not be possible to announce the rest of the membership before the Recess.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what investigations the Army made into firing on the Lower Falls area of Belfast on the night of Thursday, 22nd July and Friday morning 23rd July; and what were the results of these investigations.

The Army was not directly involved in these incidents.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many rounds have been recorded as being fired by members of the First Royal Anglian Regiment in Londonderry between three o'clock and three-thirty on 8th July, 1971, in the log book of that regiment.

I understand that evidence on this point was given at the coroner's inquest into the death of Desmond Beattie.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what arrangements are made for examination of firearms in the hands of members of the Armed Forces when shots have been fired during civil disturbances; and what account is made of ammunition issued to them and retained by them.

Instructions on the control of ammunition issued to individuals are contained in The Queen's Regulations for the Army 1961, Section XI, paragraphs 1042–50.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the statistics showing assaults on the police in England and Wales for each of the last five years, and the similar statistics for the Metropolis of London for the last five years.

The information available relates to persons found guilty of offences classified as "assaults on constable" the figures are as follows:

1966	6,741
1967	7,246
1968	7,609
1969	7,599
1970	7,989

The number of these persons found guilty in the Metropolitan Police District was 2,006 in 1969 and 2,242 in 1970. Figures for earlier years could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that a state of war has now arisen in Northern Ireland between the forces of the Crown and the provisional Irish Republican Army; and if he will now, as a matter of urgency, initiate a comprehensive review of Her Majesty's Government's responsibilities in Northern Ireland.

Her Majesty's Government keep under continuous review their responsibilities in assisting to control the current campaign of terrorism in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from chief constables as to how many of the four police officers from Botswana and 10 from Lesotho who are receiving training from police forces in England and Wales, are white, and have served or received training as police officers in South Africa.

None of these officers is white. I have no information about their previous service or training.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in the light of the recommendation of the inquest jury sitting at Cardigan after the death of a Wolverhampton schoolgirl in an accident while swimming involving a powerboat, what action he now intends to take to control the use of such boats near beaches.

I understand that the jury's recommendation was that local authorities should take steps necessary to ensure the safety of bathers. Local authorities have power to make byelaws for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of Captain Potarzycki's desire to bring his wife to live in the United Kingdom, in the event of his being granted naturalisation, what circumstances led the Home Office to doubt whether, if naturalisation was granted to him, his wife intended to live in the United Kingdom or a colony or a protectorate.

I cannot add to what has already been said in correspondence with Captain Potarzycki's solicitors about his application.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to reimburse costs to the local authority concerned in cases where judges order defence costs to be met from local rate funds.

Provision is made in the Courts Act, 1971, which my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor proposes to bring into operation on 1st January, 1972, for the transfer from local to central funds of responsibility for meeting costs in indictable proceedings which the court orders to be paid from public funds.