asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to enable local authorities to exercise the same discretion in approving standard grants for house improvements as they now exercise in approving discretionary grants for this purpose.

No. Parliament has decided that a house owner should have the right to assistance towards providing the minimum acceptable living standards in his home.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for the reorganisation of the Welsh Office.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to provide employment opportunities in Leicester.

With its varied industrial structure the Leicester area is well placed to benefit from the recent measures, designed to stimulate a faster growth in the economy.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will establish a committee of inquiry into the future impact of automation and mechanisation on industry in the West Midlands.

No. The Department already maintains a continuing dialogue and liaison with industry on matters concerning automation and mechanisation both at national and regional levels.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many suggestions he has received from the Monopolies Commission for references to be made to it by him.

I have received from the Commission, and I am considering accepting, a proposal that the supply of primary batteries should be referred to it.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement on the investment plans of the British Steel Corporation.

My review of the financial position and development plans of the British Steel Corporation is still in progress and I shall make a statement in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is now taking to determine standards of quality of goods relating to composition, construction and performance with manufacturers and trade associations affected by the abolition of marking orders under the Trade Descriptions Act, 1968.

As I said on 19th October in reply to Questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Torrington (Mr. Peter Mills) and Leicester, South-West (Mr. Tom Boardman), I am considering the desirability of marking orders requiring goods to be labelled with information about, for example, composition, construction and performance. I hope in due course to discuss particular proposals with affected interests.—[Vol. 823, c. 104–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the number of pieces, value, and tonnage of alloy steel and ordinary steel forgings, including subsequent heat treatment and machining manufacturered by the public and private sector of the steel and engineering industry, respectively, above 75 tons in weight in each of the past 10 years; what percentage was exported; and how this has compared with corresponding imports.

No information is available in the form requested, distinguishing number of pieces and size classes, or showing imports and exports of forgings machined so as to constitute parts of machinery. The following table gives the tonnage totals that are available for the years 1960 and 1970, and I shall be glad to provide intervening figures if my hon. Friend finds that they will meet his purpose.

Briefly, the demand for forgings is declining; the private sector provides over 80 per cent. of supplies from the steel industry; each sector exports about 16 per cent; imports of forgings in the rough state are negligible.

DELIVERIES OF STEEL FORGINGS (OTHER THAN DROP FORGINGS)
		1960	1970
Total deliveries by steel industry(thousand tons)	B.S.C.	—	27·8
	Other	—	130·6
Total		198·7	158·4
Of which export deliveries (per cent.)	B.S.C.	—	17·3
	Other	—	16·0
Total		10·8	16·2
Imports as a percentage of home deliveries		0·62	0·39
N.B.—Imports are estimated, from a recorded total of iron and steel forgings including drop forgings. Neither imports nor exports include forged pieces that have been converted by machining to parts of machinery or vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will reverse his decision allowing coal to be imported into this country in view of the level of indigenous stocks.

The Government have undertaken to review the import policy not later than March, 1972, in the light of the supply-demand position then obtaining.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total cost of coal imports between 28th March, 1971, and 30th September, 1971; what was the average cost per ton of coal imported during this period; what was the cost per ton of coal imported during this period from Australia, West Germany, the United States of America, Belgium, the Netherlands, the Irish Republic, Norway, Poland, and South Africa; and how these prices compare with coal prices in the United Kingdom during the same period.

For the period April to September, 1971, the value of coal imports was £20 million, and the average values per ton were:—

	£
Total	9·35
of which:
Australia	9·26
West Germany	19·03
U.S.A.	9·42
Belgium	20·89
Netherlands	8·63
Irish Republic	11.06
Norway	Nil imports
Poland	10·39
South Africa	33·58

The average values quoted above are not true prices, as they are influenced by varying qualities of coal, transport costs, and other factors. Pithead prices of United Kingdom-produced coal varied between £4·50 and £17·50 per ton according to type and quality.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when publication is expected of the White Paper on Metrication.

I shall be giving a firm date for publication within the very near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how long the Government-built factory in Penygroes, Caernarvonshire, has been vacant; how many prospective tenants have been interviewed; and what are the prospects of letting the tenancy.

The Department obtained possession of the factory in May this year. It has been suggested to four firms seeking existing space. There is no immediate letting in prospect but we will, of course, continue actively to bring it to the attention of suitable industrial inquirers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many inquiries about industrial sites in Wales have been received during the past 12 months from industrialists in the European Economic Community.

Five.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many jobs were created in Wales from 1965 to 1970, inclusive, as a result of industrial building completion.

Over 46,000. This figure is based on estimates made by applicants for industrial development certificates at the time of application for the certificates.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total amount of Government aid to the development councils in England, Scotland and Wales in the last 12 months, giving in each case the name of each council and the amount granted, the date of the commencement of such aid and the reasons advanced at the time to justify it, and the total amount given to each one in the past 10 years.

In the 12 months ending 31st October, 1971, grants of £15,000 were made to the North East Development Council and of £1,438 to the Cumberland Development Council. Total grants-in-aid to the two development councils have been as follows:

Financial Year	N.E.D.C.	C.D.C.
	£	£
1964–65	40,000	Nil
1965–66	30,000	Nil
1966–67	20,000	Nil
1967–68	10,000	4,000
1968–69	10,000	4,000
1969–70	10,000	4,000
1970–71	10,000	2,438
1st April, 1971–31st October 1971	10,000	Nil
Totals	140,000	14,438

The grants were paid to support the councils' publicity and public relations work for the development and growth of the areas concerned. Grants-in-aid to development councils in Scotland and Wales are matters for my right hon. Friends the respective Secretaries of State.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many pairs of safety footwear were sold by manufacturers in each of the last four years; and what was their average cost.

United Kingdom manufacturers' sales of safety footwear in each of the last four years were:

		Million pairs
1967	1968	1969	1970
2·2	2·5	2·7	2·7

Information is not available about the average cost of safety footwear.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the total number of applications received or under consideration by his Department with regard to Orders in Council for origin marking and requesting that an Order should be made to cover certain products; and whether he will also give a full list of the industries or interests making such requests.

I have received 22 applications for new origin marking Orders. The industries making the applications cover the following products:

Furnishing fabrics.	Ceramic sanitaryware.
Knitted goods.
Shirts and pyjamas.	Glazed tiles.
Overalls.	Cutlery.
Gloves.	Hand tools.
Other clothing and fabrics.	Clocks and watches.
	Domestic electrical and appliances.
Hand knitting and rug yarn.
	Firearms.
Toys.	Sporting cartridge cases.
Sports goods.
Brushes.	Leather goods.
Footwear.	Matches.
Domestic pottery.

This list excludes applications covering food products which have been received by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whethe he will make a statement on his decision to appoint Mr. David Lancaster Nicolson as Chairman of the British Airways Board at a salary of £13,000 per annum on a part-time basis; why this appointment was made on this basis and not full-time; how many hours per week or per annum Mr. Nicolson will work; and whether he will additionally maintain his other directorships.

I appointed Mr. Nicolson because I am satisfied that he is the best man to do this job. His salary is £13,500 per annum. He will devote some two-thirds of his time to the job. He will retain certain of his directorships and withdraw from others.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total amount of grants made by Her Majesty's Government under the Local Employment Acts to industrialists in Wales since 1st January, 1971.

Grants paid between 1st January and 30th September, 1971, totalled £4,308,595.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the amount expended on new factories built in the regions during 1969–70 and 1970–71.

Expenditure under the Local Employment Acts on new Government factories and extensions in the assisted areas, excluding the cost of land, was £14·4 million in 1969–70 and £14·2 million in 1970–71.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will now state his intentions regarding the number of jet aircraft movements to be permitted at Heathrow next summer at night, and, in subsequent years, both at Heathrow and elsewhere.

I have decided that from 1st April to 31st October, between 2330 and 0600, take-offs by jet aircraft from Heathrow, where the noise problem is at its worst, will be prohibited next year and thereafter. Provision will be made exceptionally for exemption only where hardship would otherwise result from individual cases of delay to aircraft scheduled to depart before 2315 hours. Limits on the number of night movements next summer by jet aircraft at Gatwick. Luton and Manchester have already been announced. My intention in regard to those aerodromes is therefore to consider more stringent limitation on summer night movements in subsequent years. I hope this will bring a considerable measure of relief to those who have in the past suffered from night take offs.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total of building grants offered to the development areas for industrial purposes during 1969–70 and 1970–71.

Offers of building grants in these areas under the Local Employment Acts totalled £262 million in 1969-70 and £26·6 million in 1970–71.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now publish a commentary on the Treaty of Rome stating as precisely as possible the potential implication of each Article of that Treaty for the United Kingdom together with the respective Acts, Statutory Instruments, and Regulations which would need amendment, repeal or annulment, and indicating the object and nature of any additional measures required.

I have nothing to add to the Answers given to the hon. Member by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 29th July and by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition on 2nd November, in the course of his speech.—[Vol. 822, c. 163–4; Vol. 825, c. 34–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a special grant towards the cost of printing and exhibiting the posters, "Say Yes to the Common Market", and enable them to explain how the electorate will be enabled to say "Yes".

No. The posters were not financed from any grant from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or other official source.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his action following the prison sentence imposed by Pakistan authorities on Gonda Slaven, a British subject.

I have nothing to add to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 22nd October by my hon. Friend the Under- Secretary of State.—[Vol. 823, c. 207–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on what action the Government propose taking regarding the banning by the Russian Government of a number of British diplomats and other citizens from holding appointments and visiting the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, details of which are in his possession; and why he has decided to take no further action at this stage.

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend told the House on 4th November.—[Vol. 825, c. 348.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government have taken, or intend taking, with regard to the resolution currently before the United Nations Organisation regarding Apartheid in South Africa; and what vote will be recorded by Her Majesty's Government.

On 3rd November the United Kingdom representative at the United Nations Special Political Commit- tee on Apartheid voted in favour of the resolution to which I think the hon. Member is referring.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Czechoslovakia in relation to arms originating in that country and destined for use in the United Kingdom.

As I stated in the House on 18th October, we have been in touch with the Czechoslovak Government about the consignment of arms from Czechoslovakia intercepted at Schipol airport by the Netherlands authorities on 16th October. We informed the Czechoslovak Government that we had reason to believe the arms were intended for the Irish Republican Army. The Czechoslovak Government replied that, according to their information, this consignment was definitely not intended for Northern Ireland but for a completely different part of the world. They have assured us that it is not their policy to get involved in the affairs of Northern Ireland, and that they have no intention of supplying arms. Her Majesty's Government have noted these assurances and requested the co-operation of the Czechoslovak authorities in preventing the Irish Republican Army from purchasing Czechoslovak arms and ammunition.—[Vol. 823, c. 378.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Africans in Southern Rhodesia have been removed by the illegal regime from land of which they were in lawful occupation pursuant to the provisions of the Land Tenure Act.

Approximately 1,800 members of the Tangwena Tribe were compulsorily resettled under the Land Tenure Act. Other similar evictions may have occurred but no accurate figures are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Africans in Rhodesia are held in detention without trial by the illegal rÉgime.

I understand the latest figure available is about 100.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Rhodesian Africans have been exiled by the illegal rÉgime.

Her Majesty's Government do not have access to detailed information on this subject and in the absence of British representation in Rhodesia it is not possible to obtain it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the breakdown of capital investment in Solomon and Company on the Island of St. Helena; and what is the nationality of each group.

The major shareholders are the St. Helena Government (32,000 shares), the South Atlantic Trading and Investment Company (30,000 shares), which is incorporated in the United Kingdom, and a Mrs. Grant of Douglas, Isle of Man (27,050 shares). With the exception of a Miss Lewis who holds 180 shares, and who lives at Windhoek, South West Africa, the remainder of the total 100,000 shares are divided between persons domiciled in this country or St. Helena.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Nations or any of its agencies are at present supplying food or medicine to the Island of St. Helena.

The United Nations Children's Fund supplies dried milk powder for free distribution to pregnant and nursing mothers, but not medicines.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Russian ships are allowed to enter the harbour at St. Helena; and how many such dockings took place last year.

Russian ships visit St. Helena periodically to take on water and supplies in the same way as they visit many other ports throughout the world. Last year three tankers and three research ships called.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now examine the possibility of acquiring on behalf of the British Government and the islanders all the share capital in Solomon and Company on the Island of St. Helena.

At present 32 per cent. of the shares are held by the St. Helena Government. I do not consider it either necessary or desirable for the British Government to seek a holding in the company.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who carried out the feasibility study for the proposed airfield on the Island of St. Helena; and for whom.

This study was made by the Department of Trade and Industry in response to a suggestion from the previous Governor.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is yet in a position to announce the outcome of his study of the need for additional development divisions.

The study has been completed and I intend to set up as soon as possible three new development divisions overseas. They will be concerned with our development assistance to South-East Asia; Southern Africa; and East Africa, Mauritius and Seychelles. Their actual locations will be decided later.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many house standard improvement grants for installing bathrooms, hot water and inside water closets have been made in the North West in the last 12 months; how many discretionary grants have been granted; what is the amount of public money spent on each respectively; and if he will ensure that more is spent on the essential improvements mentioned above and less on luxury purposes.

In the twelve months ended 31st August, 1971, 9,535 standard grants amounting to £1,309,426 and 3,147 discretionary grants amounting to £1,057,373 were paid to private owners in the North West.

I have no reason to believe that discretionary grants are being used to provide luxuries. As the hon. Member knows, I want to see as many as possible of our older houses improved to good modern standards and I welcome the increasing use of discretionary grants to help achieve this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many general improvement areas have been declared in the last 12 months nationally and in the North West; what are the numbers of houses involved respectively; and what are the numbers completed.

115 general improvement areas containing 35,617 houses were declared by local authorities in England during the 12 months ended 31st October, 1971. 23 of these, containing 5,966 houses, were in the North West region. The number of houses on which improvement work has been completed is not known.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now consider increasing the Government grant for the improvement of derelict areas.

If the hon. Member is referring to grants for the clearance of derelict land the answer is "No". These grants are already at the very high rates of 85 per cent. in development areas and 75 per cent. in other priority areas. Rate support grant may reduce the local authority share of reclamation costs to as little as 5 per cent. in the development areas or 15 per cent. in the intermediate and derelict land clearance areas. Local authorities are making excellent use of these generous grants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, with a view to providing better and more economic rail services and checking further congestion of the roads in the South East, if he will now enable Southern Region of British Rail to go ahead with their major resignalling schemes at Feltham and London Bridge.

I have today approved the London Bridge proposal and agreed to pay 75 per cent. grant on this £14 million project. I am considering the Feltham proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if overtime pay is to be taken into account in calculating the gross income of a tenant for the purposes of the needs allowance as- set out in paragraphs 41–49 of the White Paper, Cmnd. 4728.

The proposal is that rent rebates and allowances should be based on the tenant's normal income, including regular earnings from working overtime.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will make a statement concerning the Report of the Central Advisory Water Committee.

Soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution to present a report on the implications for its work of the entry of the United Kingdom into the European Economic Community.

The Government is studying the implications of entry to the E.E.C. for the United Kingdom's pollution control policies. It is for the Royal Commission to consider what attention they wish to give to this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the Acts of Parliament which are relevant to the existing system of statutory control of quality of water in streams and rivers and the key Sections, Schedules, Statutory Instruments or regulations that effectively determine the measurable standards now required by law;

(2) if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table or schedule setting out the measurable standards now required by law in respect of quality of water in streams and rivers and for each standard state the equivalent standard required by any regulation of the European Economic Community, or by each of its six member States.

The Principal Acts relating to the control of water quality in rivers and streams are:—

The Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Act, 1951.

The Clean Rivers (Estuaries and Tidal Waters) Act, 1960.

The Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Act, 1961.

There are no statutory standards for the quality of river water in this country, but standards for effluents are in effect set by the conditions which river authorities may attach to consent under those Acts for their discharge to rivers. Such conditions are intended to be determined individually with due regard to such matters as the dilution provided by the river at the point of discharge and the quality and subsequent uses of its waters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the income from the toll charges at the Severn Bridge each year since it was opened; and how this compares with the estimates of the income on which decisions concerning the toll charges were based.

The actual income from toll charges on the Severn Bridge is as follows:

	£000s
Period 9th September, 1966 to 31st March, 1967.	330
1967–68	743
1968–69	808
1969–70	874
1970–71 (provisional)	927

The estimated income on which toll charges were based was as follows:

Year	£000s
(12 months from opening of Bridge)
1	663
2	725
3	788
4	850
5	913

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the numbers of broken-down vehicles removed from the Severn Bridge each year since it was opened, and the income from the charges in this respect.

I understand from the appointed contractor that the numbers of broken-down vehicles removed from the Severn Bridge and the income from charges have been as follows:

(Year 9th September to 8th September)	Number of Breakdowns	Income from Charges
		£
1966–67	424	2,155
1967–68	428	2,246
1968–69	480	2,450
1969–70	428	2,148
1970–71	493	2,499

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest estimated completion date for the M4-M5 spine road running from Bristol to Plymouth and on to Penzance.

By the mid-1970s for the M5 motorway to its present planned terminal south of Exeter and an improved A38 trunk road onwards to Plymouth. Improvement of the route to Penzance should be completed by the early 1980s.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce the final route of the A30 Scorrier-Camborne bypass.

An announcement was made on 2nd November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to obtain the approximate number of families on council house waiting lists at the latest available dates.

No. Such information would not provide a helpful guide to housing need.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he now makes of likely council house completions in each of the next three years.

I prefer not to make such an estimate. I am confident that the proposals to reform housing finance will match resources to needs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dwellings were started by local authorities during each of the first, second and third quarters of 1970 and during the same periods in 1971.

The information for local authorities and new town corporations in England and Wales is:

	1st Qtr.	2nd Qtr.	3rd Qtr.	Total
1970	20,874	35,187	31,639	87,700
1971	21,894	29,423	26,893	78,210

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many one bedroom and bedsitting room dwellings were started by local authorities during each of the first, second and third quarters of 1970 and how many were started during the same periods in 1971.

The information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Government intend to set up a committee of inquiry into the rating of plant and machinery as foreshadowed in the Green Paper on Local Government Finance.

The Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend have now appointed a technical committee to examine the anomalies which it has been suggested may exist in the way in which plant and machinery is taken into account in valuation for rating.

The chairman of the committee will be Mr. E. S. McNairn, C.B., who, until he retired, was a member of the Board of Inland Revenue. The committee will also include an industrialist, a chartered surveyor, two local authority officers and two officers from the Departments concerned. They will be assisted as assessors by a valuer from the Inland Revenue Valuation Office and a Scottish Lands Valuation assessor.

The terms of reference are:

"To review in the light of present conditions the effect of Class 4 of the Plant and Machinery (Rating) Order 1960 for England and Wales on the relative rate burden falling on various types of industrial hereditament; to consider what changes might be made to Class 4 to reduce any inconsistencies in the relative rate burden which may be found, to consider the implications of any proposed changes for Scotland and to make recommendations ".

The committee will investigate and present to the Ministers concerned the facts and arguments about the relative rate burdens within industry. They will not be concerned with the burden of rates on industry relative to that on other categories of ratepayers. When the committee have reported the Government will consider whether, as a result of the committee's recommendations, any changes need to be made in the law relating to rates.

The committee hope to be able to report in the late Spring of 1972. They are now ready to receive evidence. They will be inviting evidence from professional institutions and representative industrial and local government associations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now sell to the Camden Borough Council the land surplus to his requirements at 77-81B Hampstead High Street.

The Post Office are about to develop this site for a branch post office. The land not required for this development may become surplus but this will not be known until consideration has been given to possible other requirements of the Post Office.My estate surveyors are aware of the interest of the Camden Borough Council and will let them know if it is decided to place any part of the property on the market.

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

My right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement on the future of the National Building Agency in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the grant-in-aid for the Agrement Board in each year since it was set up; and what has been its income from fees or other sources.

The figures are as follows:

Year	Grant-in-Aid	Income from fees and other sources
	£	£
1966–67	60,000	3,060
1967–68	52,000	29,448
1968–69	60,000	39,503
1969–70	85,000	40,111
1970–71	85,000	48,616

The Grant-in-Aid for 1971–72 is £140,000.

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

I shall make an announcement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment who are the present members of the Construction Research Advisory Council; on what date each was appointed; how many times this body has met in 1971; and what is its future programme of work.

My right hon. Friend expects to make an announcement shortly about new arrangements for Advisory Councils in the research field.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much building costs have risen, without being adjusted for productivity and out- put, in the first nine months of 1971 compared with the same period of 1970; and whether the rate of increase has changed over the third quarter of 1971 compared with the rate of increase in the first two quarters.

The rates of increase in building costs for all work, based on building materials prices and labour costs (earnings and employers' statutory contributions) and without adjustment for productivity and output are:

	1970
During the first nine months:	+11·2 per cent.
	1971
	+9·7 per cent.

the latter figure being based only on provisional costs for September, 1971. In the third quarter of 1971, provisional results indicate that building costs, as defined above, have remained on average at the same level as in the previous quarter; this compares with average quarterly increases of 2·9 per cent, and 4·3 per cent. for the first and second quarters of 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action has been taken since the letter from the hon. Member for Bassetlaw in December, 1969, concerning the traffic hazard and danger to pedestrians at the junction of the A57 trunk road and the crossroads from Ragnall to Laneham, Nottingham-shire.

An improvement scheme has been agreed with the Nottingham-shire County Council. Attempts to obtain the land required by negotiation have not been successful. A Public Inquiry to consider objections has been arranged for 15th February, 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Forbes Inquiry on the Registration of Builders was set up; on what dates it has met; on what dates it has taken oral evidence from affected interests or organisations; which they were; what is its future programme of work; and by what date he anticipates the report will be available.

The Forbes Inquiry was set up following agreement at a meeting of the National Consultative Council for the Building and Civil Engineering Industries in September, 1968. It met first in February, 1969, and subsequently in September, 1969, January, 1971. and September, 1971. At its last meeting it took oral evidence from the Federation of Master Builders, the National Federation of Building Trades Employers and the National House Builders' Registration Council. I understand that the Inquiry's report is now being drafted and that it is likely to be available early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when a bridge is to be built over the Ringwood-Bournemouth spur road near the village of Holdenhurst.

This is a matter for Bournemouth County Borough Council, who are Highway Authority for the road. to decide. As has been explained in correspondence with my hon. Friend, neither the amount of traffic on the road nor the amount of pedestrian and agricultural traffic wishing to cross it justify payment of grant by the Department towards a bridge.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many miles of motorway need to be completed to link the M6 to the Ml; and when he expects them to be completed.

Nineteen miles. The 12-mile section between Ansty and the M1 motorway will be opened on 15th November. Completion of the seven-mile section between Great Barr and Castle Bromwich, planned for the end of this year, has been delayed by the need for appraisals and safety checks on steel box girder bridges, and I cannot at present give a date for its opening.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made with the proposed order changing the trunk route at Winchelsea and banning large vehicles from the Strand Gate route.

My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to announce a decision on this very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dwellings for the chronically sick and disabled have been approved by his Department in schemes submitted by local authorities during 1971.

In accordance with the requirements of Section 3 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, 85 local authorities in England have notified the Department of proposals for 327 dwellings for the disabled between 29th August, 1970, the date on which Section 3 came into force, and 30th September, 1971. Records of approvals are not maintained but arrangements have been made for local authorities to provide statistics on the number of houses for the disabled which they start and complete each month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will require tests to be carried out upon the soil of the Beaumont Leys industrial effluent dumping ground in Leicester, North-West, to ascertain whether mercury, arsenic or toxic metals other than those already found there are present, and in what quantities;

(2) whether he will take steps to ensure that planning permission for the building of homes on the Beaumont Leys industrial effluent dumping ground in Leicester, North-West, is refused until the likely effect of the lead, cadmium, nickel, zinc, copper and other metals therein upon residents has been ascertained;

(3) whether he will issue warnings to proposed purchasers of land on the Beaumont Leys industrial effluent dumping ground in Leicester, North-West, of the possible effects of lead, cadmium, nickel, zinc, copper and other metals in the soil thereof.

No. This is primarily a matter for the Leicester City Council, as local planning and health authority, who have given planning permission for the development of a pilot area only. That area is not part of the area primarily used for sludge spreading but it was for a time irrigated with sewage effluent. The Departments of the Environment and of Health and Social Security have advised, in the light of investigations, sampling and testing, that there are no medical reasons against proceeding so far, but that development of the sludge spreading area should depend on the results of further sampling. The Departments will continue to give advice and help as required.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many Rowton Houses are at present providing welfare accommodation in England and Wales; how many beds they contain; and under what regulations they are currently inspected.

I understand that these are lodging houses, and that they do not provide welfare accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average amount of time lost per employed person as a result of industrial diseases or accidents during the most recent year for which figures are available.

DEATHS FROM CANCER FOR VARIOUS SITES, BY SEX AND AGE, FOR THE YEARS 1961, 1965 AND 1970
ENGLAND AND WALLS
All cancers: I.C.D. 7th revision (1961, 1965) Nos. 140–239
I.C.D. 8th revision (1970) Nos. 140–239
		All ages	0–14	15–24	25–44	45–64	65–74	75 and over
Males:
1961	…	54,045	494	318	2,280	21,701	16,871	12,318
1965	…	58,146	545	365	2,348	22,734	18,923	13,231
1970	…	63,236	474	389	2,086	22,653	22,661	14,973
Females:
1961	…	47,188	362	211	2,729	16,869	13,085	13,902
1965	…	49,624	381	268	2,883	17,226	13,827	15,039
1970	…	53,840	370	224	2,571	18,105	15,405	17,165

Figures are available only in so far as injury benefit is claimed. On this basis the total number of days lost for the year 1st June, 1969, to 31st May, 1970, was 23 million which is equivalent to an average of one day for each person insured under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average amount of time lost per employed person as a result of sickness during the most recent year for which figures are available.

It is not possible to give precisely the information asked for by the hon. Member, since figures are only available in so far as sickness benefit is claimed. On this basis the total number of days of certified incapacity recorded for the year 1st June, 1969, to 31st May, 1970, was 211 million, which is equivalent to an average of 11 days for each person insured for sickness benefit in Classes 1 (employed persons) and 2 (self-employed persons). In calculating this average, persons whose period of incapacity had exceeded six months (i.e., the long-term sick and disabled) have been excluded.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the mortality figures from the various forms of cancer for men and women separately of different age groups over the past 10 years.

Following is the information. Further details are given in Part I of the Registrar General's Statistical Review published annually.